thoughts

Defying Logic – sometimes you have to wonder.

There are many things in life for which I just have to laugh. One of those is related to phone conversations. The following is a phone conversation I had at work – where I’m more connected (I’d like to say) than a street corner hooker selling crack. (3 phones, 3 different IRC Chats, 2 Skype Chats, an AOL account, 4 email in boxes, 3 ticketing systems, 2 shout boxes, and a partrige in a pair tree – if you can’t reach me – you’re not trying!). The Names have been changed to protect identity of the individual involved.

Ring Ring –
me: Good Morning, this is (department), (me) speaking.
Caller: Hi (me), XX here, I need help
Me – Ok how can I help you?
Him – is it ok if I call you?
Me – Yes, what’s up?
Him: I’m not interrupting?
Me: No, how can I help?
Him: You’re sure?
Me: Yes
Him: I have a problem.
Me: Ok
Him: I have a question for something with (project name) can you help me?
Me: Yes, can you tell me more?
Him: You’re sure I’m not interrupting and you don’t want me to email?
Me: You’re fine, I’m listening – tell me what’s up

* Caller finally tells me the problem and I answer – but continues asking at random interfals if it’s ok that he’s called me and am I sure he’s not interrupting something.

Thing is – to me – My Logic says:

a) Why would you call someone and then ask at least 4 times if it’s ok. If it’s not okay or you are interrupting, don’t you think I would have NOT answered?

b) If I was busy and couldn’t help you at that moment but had answered anyhow, don’t you think I would say “I’m busy with xx at this moment, can I call you back or would you please email and I’ll get to it when this is done?”

c) If after 2 assurances that it’s fine you called, why do you keep asking? Self-esteem issues perhaps?

Ahhh… it’s oneof those days, where all I can do is laugh and be puzzled.

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Living the Dream… MLK and Obama

January 19 in the United States is Martin Luther King Day.

Wow.

This
year, it’s particularly significant because it feels like all the fight
for Civil Rights is finally coming to its reward. Tomorrow, less than
24 hours away, Barack Obama will become my nation’s first African
American President.
What would MLK say?  What would he do?

MLK dared to dream the dream, Obama is daring to live it.

I
think that MLK would be proud, and yet he would say that we still have
a long way to go.  Why?  Because Until we can accept that NOT only
those who are of different races should be treated equally – but also
those of different sexual orientation – in the eyes of the law – we are
still not done.

So, I remind everyone
that the fight is not over, the fight is not done.  We need to take a
deep breath, be happy for a moment, and then go to work.  We must surge
forward with the rights for our Gay and Lesbian individuals – and say
that if they want to have a union (even a civil one) they should be
able to do so – and have equal rights where healthcare, home buying,
and death benefits are concerned.   We cannot stop, for this is America
– and true Equality for All is still for some just a Dream.

And
while the fight is not over, we have made a baby step… And that Baby
step Is worth Celebrating.  I’ll be at the Inauguration Party here in
Berlin Tomorrow, cheering for our new President, Our Dream’s Partial
Fulfillment, and encouraging that dream for those who are still not
treated equally.

Reservation for Obama Inauguration party

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Three weeks….

It’s three weeks until my birthday. Literally, it’s 3 weeks. March 16, I’ll be 32. I think I am not really taking it well.

Turning 25, well, it was no big deal. Mom (who turned 50 that year) took it alot harder than I did – it’s like she said she was officially old. And I guess it really hit her that I was the same age as she was when I was born. (She was 25 when I was born – and now I was 25 too.) At the time, I just thought – lord woman, you’re crazy. I couldn’t imagine having been married for 5 years, being pregnant on my 25th birthday, and then having a kid a week later. Times have changed since my mom grew up (obviously) as that was more the norm – married and kids before you were 30.

Thing is that my 30th birthday didn’t bother me too much either. At 30, I was packing up, selling my house, and basically hedging my bets on a move to Europe with my job. I was way too busy to stop and think “God… I’m 30!!”. To me, I felt very young, I was anticipating the new experiences that the move would bring, and yet dreading leaving my friends (and my “new” boyfriend) behind. Sure, I wasn’t where I thought I would be – had you asked me at 27 where I was going to be – I surely would have said married – but sometimes, things don’t work out as you’d planned and you make alternate plans.

Anyhow, fast forward 2 years from 30. I’ll be 32. I’m in Germany, and Berlin is fun, amazing, and all it’s cracked up to be. It’s been a wild ride. I’ve made new friends, had a ton of crazy experiences, travelled a bit more (checked several things off my bucket list), and even learned some German in the process. I would say I’ve grown up a little more – gathered some wisdom – and learned more tolerance. And, now I’m taking stock and not sure what I want to do.

Literally, the world is my oyster. I am thinking of a new job, and checking out wanted ads to see if there’s anything that catches my eye in Europe or in the US. I’m considering moving – whether it’s into Berlin or somewhere else, I don’t know. I desperately want to travel – but money is an object, so wherever I go, I need to make sure there is enough to be self supporting when I’m done. I’m restless – my gypsy feet are itching – and yet – I’m undecided – waiting for … SOMETHING. Only, I don’t know what that something is. I’ll know it when I see it but… yeah in the meantime, I’m looking… undecided… and this, I suppose would be termed “mid-life indecisiveness”. Joy.

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