Concateknit

National Elisa Thinks Conference Travel is Not as Fun as You Think

Here are some truths about conference travel:

1. You are often teased with the locations for your conference travel. Last year I went to a conference that was advertised as being in Washington, DC, and I love Washington DC. Unfortunately, the conference was actually being held National Harbor, about 10 miles outside of Washington, DC, which means that I only ever got to wave at DC on my way to and from the airport.
2. When you aren't teased with the location for your conference, you often don't really get time to enjoy the city you're in. The first time I went to Las Vegas since I was in my early 20s, I was staying at the conference hotel - Caesar's Palace - and I didn't actually leave the hotel for over two days.
3. You may be in a great location, and you may actually get time to enjoy the city, but you have to remember you're travelling with people from work, so you will a) likely have to spend time with your work people and b) do things, like go to dueling piano bars, with these work people because NOT going to the dueling piano bars will get you accused of not being a team player and maybe when you said "But I don't want to go to a dueling piano bar" the response you received was "That was maybe the whiniest voice I've ever heard you use" and so then you had to go to the dueling piano bar in order to prove that you a) were a team player and b) were not whiny.
4. You may be in a great location, you may get time to enjoy that location, and maybe you really actually like the people you're traveling with and no one, not ever, not once suggests that you go to a dueling piano bar because they all know that you have Feelings about such things, and they would prefer that you be happy and not whiny. Unfortunately, you still have your real job to do, and you have to use a goodly amount of that "free" time to get it done. The emails keep coming, the phone keeps ringing, the fires keep burning, and everyone needs all the same stuff from you that they would need if you were in the office, except that now they REALLY need it yesterday and OMG, the sky is falling!
5. Should you find yourself with a great location, time to enjoy it, people you like, and a job well done, it is possible - LIKELY, even, that you will have too much fun and end up having to pay for it the next day when the sky starts falling again and all of a sudden you have too many things to do, have to talk to eleventy millilon strangers, and stand on your feet in uncomfortable shoes while trying not to think about the number of Irish Car Bombs you had last night that seemed like Such A Good Idea at 1am.

Here are some strategies I've developed for dealing with the truths of conference travel:

1. Research your location. If you're going to Schaumburg, IL (I will be going to Schaumburg, IL), resign yourself to the fact that you are NOT going to Chicago. You will likely not get into Chicago for the entire trip and you need to make peace with the fact before you get on the plane.
2. Look at the conference schedule. Are there breaks during the day or do you have to be on the tradeshow floor from open to close? Are there receptions or dinners that you need to attend? If there are, make peace with the fact that you are there for work, and work is not all about fun. Work is about work. And sometimes fun. But mostly work. And then more work. WITHOUT END.
3. Think about who you're traveling with. The people I'm traveling with absolutely influence the experience I will have. Sometimes I travel and get to go to the gym every day and get lots and lots of sleep. Sometimes, however, I end up staying out late (and having to take responsibility for being the creator of the terrible "travel pub crawl" where we pub crawl in every city, which isn't awful, except when we're in Las Vegas and I wake up with bruises that make me look like someone kicked my ass) and I wake up swearing I will never, ever pub crawl again. Until I do. The next time. Irish Car Bombs are so often a good idea that goes terribly, terribly wrong.
4. Remember that you are working and that you have a job to do first and foremost. Also, remember that you are a 37 year old growed-ass woman who rarely stays up later than 10pm when you're at home, and educate people that when you say that you're going to turn into a pumpkin at midnight, you probably mean it. (I mean it. There's no stopping the Elisa Pumpkin Train when it gets going.)
5. Be grateful that you have a job that allows you to travel, and see interesting places, even if you don't get to experience them, because you are working and are NOT on vacation. I complain about travel at times, but I am glad to be able to do it.

Speaking of conference travel, this post is brought to you courtesty of a wi-fi hotspot at LAX (HATE YOU LA). I'll be home for about 40 hours between this trip to San Diego and next week's trip to Phoenix, LA, and then RHINEBECK!

 

 

National Elisa Thinks There Are Worse Places to go Than San Diego

Or, hello, I will be travelling a lot this month.

Boy, oh boy, will I EVER be travelling a lot this month. It never fails that the Universe conspires to kick me in the ass every time I decide to commit to a NETSM. This year, though, rather than shake my tiny little fists at the Universe in rage, I will just try and go with it. I mean, we'll see how that works out for me, but that's my plan for now - going with it.

In the first installment of "Where in the world is Concateknit" I'll be travelling to San Diego for work. I'm going to be working a booth for my parent company, and although I've worked for my organization for four years now (how did that happen?) I am suddenly nervous that I do not know enough about my parent company. So I brought parent company type homework with me in an effort to alleviate my "I don't know enough about my parent company and I don't want to look like an idiot in front of Important Work Type People" nerves.

Because OH HAI, I am always the same worried and nervous person, even when I move across country and change industries completely (no, that shouldn't be surprising, but YES, it was surprising to me when I realized it). I have never claimed common sense as one of my charms.

For tonight, though, I'm packed appropriately for both the conference and the San Diego weather (it will be chilly because not every spot in California is 80 degrees and sunny every day), I've written my note (and check) for the dog sitter (we all LOVE Heather), I've got my knitting planned (three projects for two and a half days is reasonable, right?), I've got my books planned (Game of Thrones, anyone?) and I plan to shut down my computer after I post this and spend some quality time cuddling with my doggies, who may very well think that Heather is their new "That Lady" by the end of the month, considering how much I'll be gone.

Talk to you again soon from San Diego!

National Elisa Thinks She Doesn't Run Day, Except Apparently She Does

Or, isn't it fun to talk about one's self in the third person?

Actually, I find it a little creepy when people talk about themselves in the third person so I will try to never, not ever, not ever never, do that again.

But I probably will.

SO!

I am running a 5k on Thanksgiving morning. No one is more surprised by this than I am (and yes, I do remember hitting the "register" button and yet I'm still surprised). Not only am I running it, but my WHOLE team at work is running it too, and someone keeps telling people about this 5k and suggesting that these people might also want to run it, and these other people keep saying "Hey - that sounds like a great idea, how do I sign up?" and OH MY GOD it is ME that keeps telling people to run with us, because apparently I need the spectre of public humiliation to complete a health and fitness goal.

Honestly, though, I had this realization recently that to really live a fit and healthy life, I can't relegate exercise to a single 35 minute session per day, even if that session happens six times a week. To be healthy and fit, I have to live an active life, and to me it seems that I need to do that in addition to workouts that require special equipment or gyms. I need to be more active - walking the dogs, working in the yard, going for hikes (except - no hills - hills displease me mightily) - just generally using my body MORE and my remote control less.

Also, I have believed for pretty much my whole life that I. Can't. Run. And then realizing that just the idea that I couldn't run has kept me from running really pissed me off, and so - POW - I'm running a 5k.

(Are you also starting to think that this is sounding like a Flogic post? I am. Oh boy.)

I'm sneaking up on this whole running thing by doing the Couch to 5k program, and here's the really fun thing - I'm doing it with my herd of little dogs. Yep - imagine - Concateknit who really has no idea how to run, interval training with three little dogs. The fact that the little dogs don't really have to run in order to keep up with me? Well, we're not worrying about those kinds of details right now. We're also not worrying about how I look running with three little dogs (who can keep pace w/out running) while carrying bright purple "LOOK I AM A RESPONSIBLE PET OWNER I HAVE PICKED UP THEIR POOP FROM YOUR LAWN" bags in my leash-carrying hand.

A minor aside: One awesome thing about interval training with a herd of little dogs (at least, with MY herd of little dogs) is that my little Miss Rosie girl greets every morning  now with three (little dog) big barks, and then immediately starts to run. She's at least 9 in dog years, people, and totally kicks Zorro and Dezi's butts at the whole running thing. I start off every run with a big laugh at her silly exuberance.

But! Also! So! Later this week I will get to do my whole "kind of running, but more like jogging, okay, let's be honest, it's really more like a quick weird shuffle-step" thing in San Diego on the water and I am totally looking forward to making myself look like an ass, which y'know, is a good thing, because I do that whole "look like an ass" thing on a pretty reliably regular basis.

I don't run, but I guess I do. Or something. #POW.

 

Welcome to National Elisa Thinks Stuff Month, Version 2.0

Oh hi!

Some years ago, I decided that since every organization, person, or idea seemed to get their own special day and/or month, I should have one too. I've dedicated my month to all the weird things I think, and to all the reasons that the world would run better if I was the boss of everything.

I used to do my public thinking of things in February, since that's the shortest month of the year, and therefore requires the fewest number of posts, however I was in absolutely no shape to share any of the things I was thinking with you this past February.  So here we are, tomorrow is my birthday, and October will be my new month of thinking things. Since I plan to totally kick 37's ass, I figured the timing is right for getting back to blogging and getting back in touch with myself (and you all).

This month, we'll think about the usual things - flogic, my weird dogs, and why I will never support black and brown being worn at the same time, but we'll also be thinking about new things, like how I've developed even more complicated feelings about bananas, and how I'm very concerned that my hair will get too long and I will start to look weird.

So, y'know, it'll be pretty much just like always, with some new crazy thrown in for Super Fun Times.

I hope you'll check back with me throughout the month, and I hope you'll share your own special brand of crazy with me. Should be fun.

Also? I'm in South Lake Tahoe for the weekend with Kim and my friend Amy and my three goofy dogs, and it is Good. We're going to dinner tonight, and later we have a date with some fancy cheese, some hot salami (minds out of the gutter, people) and some sexy gluten free crackers. If we get really adventurous, we may throw a little honey in the mix. Who knows? We're very dangerous.

Photo taken by Kim. Dezi and Zorro helping me blog from our sweet little cabin in the woods.

  

Let's See How Things Go, Or NETSM, V 2.0

I've spent some time re-reading my archives, and let's just say that it's clear to me that I have been off my game for a long time. Like, for years. I have a birthday coming up in about a week and a half, and I am determined to say good bye and good riddance to 36 and to welcome 37 in with open arms.

So...how to do that?

I think it means I have to start thinking things again.

Make no mistake - it's not like I've ever stopped thinking things, but if I had tried to put thoughts to blog for the last...oh, like three years, they'd probably come out leaving you feel like maybe you needed to come visit me to make sure I hadn't totally lost my last hold on my sanity.

But, y'know what? Screw it. Let's start thinking (wierd, I mean fun) things again.

Because it is my month and I make the rules, this year October will be the month that I Think Things. I've been making lists, and taking notes, and even laughing to myself a little bit when I think of a thing I want to Think About.

Maybe by 37 I should be more of a grown up. But I've felt decidedly old and grown up the last few years and let me just say - I am DONE with that nonsense.

I certainly hope that you'll come along for the month of October - it should be...well. It'll probably be nuts. But a much friendlier kind of nuts that I've felt for the last few years. So, there's that.

Edited because SO MANY TYPOS.

 

National Elisa Thinks It's Time for a Little Fun Day

Suffice it to say, work is totally kicking my ass. When I initially chose the month of February to do NETSM, February did not always kick my ass, but now?

February. Totally. Kicks. My. Ass.

So. Let's do something fun today. A raffle maybe? With some super fun prizes perhaps? And one very awesome prize? And maybe another? Yes, I think that's a great idea. Let's do that.

Here are the details: As you know, I've been volunteering at Animal Rescue of Fresno for the past couple of months, and people - I feel like I've found my niche. ARF has already become like a second home to me and I love the people, I love the dogs, and I love the work. It's rewarding in a way I could never have imagined.

ARF is an all volunteer run organization, and the work they do is tremendous. They've got strong support in the community, but everyone is suffering right now, and when our rescue organizations suffer ultimately it's the animals that suffer. So, let's have a wee little raffle and see if we can't drum up a bit of support for ARF, okay?

So - we're going to have a raffle! Yay!

1) The raffle will go until March 8th, the day I am taking Kim out for dinner to celebrate her birthday. Together, she and I will draw the winners of the raffle.

2) You'll need to make a donation to ARF. They're online direct donation button is down right now (I'll update when the link is back up) but you can still send them a donation via Paypal. Just go to Paypal, select "Send Money" and make a donation to canine@arf-fresno.com.

3) The amount you donate will determine the number of entries you have in the raffle. You'll get 1 entry for every $5 you donate.

4) You'll need to let me know that you've donated, because there's no real way for me to know otherwise. If you want to, you can just leave your donation amount in the comments, or, if you would prefer, send me an email at concateknit at gmail dot com letting me know the number of raffle tickets you've purchased, and I'll add you to the list.

And now, the prizes!

There will be two grab bags, each of which I guarantee will have no less than $40 worth of yarn in it. In all likelihood, there will be more than $40 worth of yarn in each grab bag, but I am comfortable guaranteeing at least $40.

There will be one fiber grab bag, which I also guarantee will have no less than $40 worth of fiber.

But my most favorite raffle prize of all is this: A Tiny Painting, donated by nrlois. You can choose a random portrait, or you can have a custom portrait made. The quality and the charm of these paintings is exceptional.   

Best of all, of course, you're going to help out some wonderful dogs and a wonderful organization.

In advance I say thanks. :)

National Flogic Day

It's hard to believe it's been a year since we last talked about flogic. You'd think that I'd keep a little list or something of the flogical things I've done since last February, but really, I just don't want that kind of evidence hanging around for anyone to find.

Which of course means that I've forgotten (shut UP - I did TOO forget) the best examples of flogic. I do have a sweet little flogical story to share with you that happened just recently.

In my work, I do a lot of editing, and my boss and I edit each others' stuff on a pretty regular basis. It's one of the parts of my job that I really like, actually. I am much better at editing than I am creating.

Anyway - she called me over to her desk to read something that she had written, and I started to read it out loud (because that's the easiest way for me to tell if it's right, by listening to how it sounds) and she said "You can't read it out loud because I have to read it too, and I won't be able to concentrate if you're reading it out loud).

My response?

Without even thinking about it, I stuck my fingers in my ears and read to myself.

Because apparently I felt that sticking my fingers in my ears was the appropriate response.

Flogic. I haz it.

What flogical things have you done recently?

Flogical action recreated tonight while catching up on my bloglines feed.

National Bossy Day

For years now, I've believed that I am a very easy-going person. That I am content to let people have their own opinions, that sometimes it's difficult for me to take a side because I can, too easily, see both sides of an argument, and that I am really a live and let live kind of gal.

Turns out, I was wrong.

It started innocently enough. I found myself starting a lot of sentences with "No, actually..." or "I can understand how you'd think that, but..." or "I think it would work better if...". Then I started saying things like "Well, if I were the boss of it..." or "That's the reason I should be the boss of everything".

Apparently, at some point, I developed opinions.

That's right - I have an opinion, and I'm not afraid to share it!

On just about every topic imaginable.

Don't MAKE me tell you to get ripe.

I'm not *exactly* sure when it happened, except it must have happened while I was in Boston. I know for shit sure that I did not possess this spine before I left for Boston in 2000 (I admit I may have been thinking that I should be the boss of everything back then, but I sure know that I wouldn't have said it out loud) so it can only be that at some point during my professional career at Big Non-Profit Cancer Hospital (BNPCH) I started sharing my opinions (and by opinions, I mean, the details about why I am right).

And now I think the train has left the station and I feel a little sorry for anyone who has to have an IRL conversation with me.

I'm working hard to reign it in a little - I'm deciding on the topics I think it's okay to be abrasive about (should the situation warrant it) or blunt about, and I'm trying to accept that there are situations where it's better for me to just keep my big ol' mouth closed.

Man, keeping my opinions to myself is hard.

Because...and here's the really tough embarrassing part...

Mostly, I think I'm right.

And mostly, I think that the world would run better if I was the boss of it.

Plus, I just kind of like saying that I should be the boss of things. Ahem.

But, the fact is, that the sudden onset of opinions and bossiness has become apparent as contrasted with my very non-bossy Californian co-workers. It's like, I know I'm from California, but I seem to have bought a fair share of Boston back here with me.

In part, it's because I could start a sentence in Boston with "No, actually..." and the person I was talking to was just as likely to say the same thing right back to me. Here, I say something contrary and my co-workers laugh at me and call me bossy.

No, really...they do. Including my boss. And the scary thing is, they are totally right.

So, I'm trying to reform my bossy ways and as I mentioned above, develop a list of things I think it's okay to be bossy about. But the fact is, I've apparently grown a bossy bone, and it's not likely to go away. The fact that I live with two bossy dogs (both of my dogs have bossy bones, too, and would like you to stop reading and pet them right now kthxbai) and a bossy husband (he's totally bossy, too, and he knows it) means that I've got to be able to hold my own or risk being totally crushed under the heavy weight of bossiness in my house.

As much as there is a part of me that is truly horrified by the fact that I've become this crazy, bossy, opinionated, opposite of laid back broad, there's also a part of me that can't believe that it's ME that says the stuff I say. I mean - me? A bossy broad? There's something a little awesome about that.

So even though I am kind of outing myself about my bossy ways, I'm also celebrating them. Because having an opinion and being willing to put it out there does allow for the possibility of honest discourse and I know that I've spent many years and countless conversations seething but not saying what I felt.

So, Happy National Bossy Day! Are you bossy? If so, how does your bossiness find its outlet?

Bossy. I haz it.

Welcome to the 5th Annual National Elisa Thinks Stuff Month

Oh hai!

I guess, considering I'm starting to think stuff on February 10th, that we could call this year, "National Elisa Thinks Stuff for Most of the Month" except that takes too long to type and since it's my month, I'll call it what I like.

So, we'll stick with the shorter, less truer version and call it a day, okay?

Okay. (Also - I am too lazy to type all those extra words.)

Now - if you only started reading my blog recently (hi!), you probably don't know about National Elisa Thinks Stuff Month (NETSM). Five years ago (shocking, no?) I decided that since every group, bird, person, thing and food group seems to get their own month to be celebrated, the only fair thing was that I get my own month for celebrating the things I think.

Because apparently I have at lot of opinions, which is as shocking to me as it is to you.

Well, I suppose it might not be shocking to you that I have so many opinions, but in fact, it IS shocking to me.

Moving on.

For the rest of the month, you can expect regular *cough* posts from me about all of the things that I think about and how I think that life should work (aka: Elisa's Rules of Engagement). We'll get some flogic posts, we'll probably have at least one bathroom habit post, there will be a National Kim Day, I'll ramble about my dogs a lot, and you'll probably end the month thinking I am way crazier than you initially thought, but HEY! Guess what?

The world would run better if I was the boss of it.

Srsly.

And because we are celebrating the fifth year of NETSM (super fantastico!) there will be some prizes (details to come) and other cool stuff (I am going to Stitches West at the end of this month and I am looking for reasons to SHOP, people).

Anyway - welcome to the month that celebrates just how nutters I am - sit down, buckle up, and keep your arms inside the car at all times!

PS: Allie says "hi".

 

National Elisa Thinks That It's Time To Wrap This Thinking Stuff Up Day

Wrapping Up Thing the First: I Have a Problem, er Collection:

If you'll notice in the picture above, behind the wheel is my living room, which means that this wheel is in my living room. In fact, this wheel IS in my living room because it lives at my house. Carole, I blame you. It's your fault that I first fell in love with the Lendrum DT back at SPA 2005. Because of your Lendrum, no matter what other wheel I spin on, I always come back to the Lendrum DT. I am in love with my new wheel. Deeply, totally, inappropriately, in love with this (as yet) nameless wheel.

Wrapping Up Thing the Second: I Have a Problem:

I fell down at Stitches. If the wheel isn't enough to clue you in, there's the fiber and the yarn. I'll take and post pictures of said fiber and yarn soon (I promise) but let us just say...ouch.

Wrapping Up Thing the Third: Being Fat Sucks:

Those of you who have been reading for a while (and THANKS for that, btw) know that two years ago I hit 154 lbs, freaked out, and over the course of the following few months, lost about 20 lbs. What you might not know (unless you know me IRL) is that during 2007, I gained that weight back, plus some (A LOT some). I really believed that 154 lbs was it for me - that I'd never let myself get to that point again, and well. I lied, apparently, because I seriously blew right by 154 lbs with nary a pause. For the last two months, I've been working on losing the weight, and getting healthy again.

To give you (and me) some perspective on how my weight loss is going, I present two photos, both taken in my office's bathroom mirror, one month apart:

At the very least, my stomach and my butt have stopped pooching out quite so much. I mean, good lord, do you SEE the butt pooch going on in that first photo? That's just...wrong. I should mention that I am wearing the same pants/shoes combo in both photos.

With any luck, I will stop being fat soon.

And also? If you happen to weigh more than me, please do not think that I think YOU are fat. I do not. I think you are gorgeous and perfect just the way you are (I really do) I just think I am F.A.T.

Wrapping Up Thing the Fourth: Zorro says "thanks".

And also "Please come visit me now and rescue me from the crazy lady who dresses me up in dragon costumes and who may or may not already have planned out my next Halloween costume. In return for rescuing me, I will keep you safe from paper bags, beetles, spiders, deer, Allie when she's being spazzy, strangers, the next door neighbor's dog, Ninja Warrior, and dogs on TV. Sincerely, Zorro. And also? Come soon."

(Does he look like he's in his doggie happy place or what?)

Wrapping Up Thing the Fifth: It's Been Fun

Or, Thank God February Is Almost Over.

To be honest, I really, really love Thinking Stuff. Every year I make progress in the writing of My Manifesto, and every year you all crack my shit up. It's good times, I learn stuff about you that I didn't know before, and I am certain that you learn stuff about me that you wish you DIDN'T. ;) It's been a fun month, and I'm already looking forward to February 2009, which will be the 5th Annual NETSM, and will likely be filled with randomness, rules, puppers, and well, crazy ol' me.

Just hopefully there will be less of me. Much, much less of me.

A Final Note: On Monday I am going to the dentist and he is going to fix my tooth. What does that mean for you? Likely it will mean you will get some kind of loopy "This is Concateknit on val*um" post. Good times, people. Good times.