who's got the time?

so. it's been almost a month since we last spoke. i was obviously in a speakish kind of mood, no? on a roll for no good reason but to push my personal diary on you. you so loved it! let's catch up... i've missed you.

hard hats, hamburgers, heart-felts, and one hot mess

yesterday was habitat for humanity day here in ct&d at the great genentech [heretofore noted as "gne"]. when i arrive to these sorts of things i have to continuously wonder why [WHY?] must and do i sign up for them? i get dirty. i get sweaty [at times]. i have to wear an ugly, previously used, notably disgusting hard hat... and gloves... and belt thingy. most of all, i get hungry... quite early on.

we arrived by 9a and by 9.25 we, all four of us ckpy ladies, were still standing over the glove pail trying to find matching items to wear. the fact that they were sandy and sweaty was not lost on me, mind you, and i finally had to choose a pair that resembled ov'gloves... you know those... and, really, i'm not positive that they weren't.

by 10 i wanted to know what was for lunch. WHAT were we going to have to eat? more importantly, what the heck time was it? my back already hurt and chadrick [what a name!] had us building walls. the nerve. well, i guess since i was there after i personally signed up for this manual labor activity and then volunteered to actually build walls, he had the right to tell me to follow-through. off to work i went, me, my lowes belt, and my hideous hard hat.... motto for the day? safety first!

noon didn't come soon enough. by this time my sweatshirt was off and i was fully sporting the wife-beater [when written it just seems so awful, doesn't it??] removing nails from a misplaced wall. i was still dwelling on the fact that someone actually put a wall on backwards when we decided to take it to the streets to grab food. mcdonalds [!!!] it was. o.m.g. sogood. soooooo.good. today, a day later, my stomach hates me for it. after cleansing myself [nearly three months ago] from such utter toxins by body rejects that sort of processed/fake food like kim jong il pushes out the year 1968. it HATES it. i, however, loved it... every second of my delicious big mac [one of which i haven't had in circa 10 years].

it was here that i noticed i was one hot mess. seriously. my pants seemed to be see-through. my cheap tank was see-through [don't you worry, i sure did have a sports bra on underneath], i was just all around trash central. to make it better, after we were finished with our do-gooding for the day we went to grab a margarita, all of us looking disheveled and accomplished, at the most poppin' place in burlingame... my hot city. i'm not sure what i think of when i wake in the morning and pick out some of the clothes i do. i mean, i'm a fashionable gal, to be sure, but there are times where i think i lose my mind on these matters.

i had to go home immediately after the final bite of burrito was taken in because justin called and i needed to shower. justin is one of my besties. seriously, i had a bff just like him in college but that went south and i am so glad that i can sit over a beer with him for two hours, talking about the most random things - encouraging each other. i loved it! i can tell him anything and he doesn't, to my face, think i'm nuts... we talked about everything going on in life - from jobs, to crushes, to, well, the unmentionable and quite questionable story. it made my day.

in the end the day ended up being a stupendous success - i worked, i felt useful, and, most fantastically, i gained another tan line that i'll have to rid myself of before 9p on saturday night when i don a black-tie dress to the black and white ball in s.f. really, this event has been 10 years [give or take two years] in the making and i'm going to look like a crazy doof on speed street [that's for you north carolinians out there!]... i loved that i had no contact to the internet for at least 8 hours, i was outside, and i was helping others. will a peace corps application be in my future? it's possible. and i think i would love it. i love this stuff... i really wish i hated money as much as i love working with other humans in servanthood. well, i'm getting there. and, soon, i'll be wearing the same outfit day in and day out while i commune with those i serve with... yeah right, if by serve with i mean "race" with because i'd be on the amazing race wearing the same clothes, then sign me up!

in san diego, i am i am...

12.37p - (on plane) realize that though i finally chose dan in real life, i didn't choose to actually rent it. no internet connection = no video rental = sucks to my asthmar. way to pay attention to the most important details, nicole.

1.40p - flight was on time.... of course! have arrived to san diego with no incident... however, am feeling quite ill on the mr. pibb recently consumed. hopefully the bathroom is in near proximity at all times. speaking of which,

1.46p - the line for that joint. long. and the stalls! i mean, they are so small. so small. i don't want to be in confined spaces any more. as the bag lady of today, my laptop bag, purse, two large stinking books and my sack lunch are getting unruly. oh the wendy's. can someone get this away from me? i'm not hungry. and that soda freaked my system out.

2.05p - i look up. enter: total weirdo staring at me in THE most intense way possible. i stifle my laughter because it's just hilarious that he is sitting there, leaning forward, and staring like i've never seen before. hilarity.

2.08p - flight is now delayed. are we surprised? no. hopefully it's only the five minutes as listed.

oh to be back in the beautiful bay in two hours. having this layover has afforded me another opportunity to rent a movie. which shall i choose? the way we were? live free or die hard?! the assassination of jesse james by the coward robert ford? the truth about cats and dogs? our time restrictions limit and and dan in real life it is. justin lewis, i trust you. hopefully my computer won't conk out in the middle of it....

Of course I'm going to San Diego today!

just as planned... i'll be heading straight to SAN for a quick 35 minute trip. notsomuch.

let me begin my first chatter_flow write-up by saying my trip (obviously) started off quite well. it was last night that got me bugged this morning and out of sorts. whenever i have work trips that are about to end, i get all whacked out about leaving in the morning. i'm not sure when the day will come that i realize i cannot take morning flights! hello. seriously. helllloooo.

now, it's true that i am late for every flight i take - and every flight i've ever taken (unless i'm forced into a pre-45 minute arrival by an anxious relative... please).

let me describe (in great detail....):

10p, May 21, 2008 - decided it's better to sleep in next day, will call united/travel agency in AM to discuss alternate options of travel.

7.35a, May 22, 2008 - don't want to get up... am so glad flight will be changed. of course i can't make one at 10.30! that's nutty, i mean, who could get themselves together in three hours?

8.00a - decide i want to leave phoenix. i've been away from home for a week and a half and need to do nothing in my lovely room. must write emails first.

8.03a - don't want to go as there are clothes all over the room, bathroom, (walk-in!) closet... arrange a new flight with Fred which happens to be FIVE hours after my pre-arranged flight.

8.45a - have realized i've waisted no less than 45 minutes (give or take) on emails and music arranging on itunes... quite important given the circumstances, to be sure.

8.46a - call Fred and request original flight... have already paid money to confirm stand-by.

9.03a - panic. start to pack. frenzy sets in as time flies by. why doesn't it all fit!? eventually, after subtle throws of oneself on suitcase in (walk-in!) closet, zipper goes. wild-woman run around room ensues... ensuring all but my bridesmaid roses are ready to go.

9.35a - call bell desk and arrange a car to pick me up from my room. stupid computer will not shut down but before throwing it onto the patio, decide to just do a hard stop. we'll deal with that later! knock on the door, car is here... hallelujah! no hotel receipt is needed, they can email it. i'm going to make it as united has always been the most accommodating airline...

9.56a - think again. i've missed the 45 minute window and, thusly, my flight. crap in the toilet. that's what it felt like. daaaaangit! ronnie at the sky cap explains my options, like i don't ever fly... pay for car, credit card won't work. i have no cash. i'm so glad i'm paid to be a planner.

10.07a - reality sets in. i've missed the flight. go talk to stephanie about my options, as though i'm in the hospital talking about treatment decisions. stephanie has 'tude with me and i wonder if, by 10a, stephanie has had a bad day. then i realize she just works for united.

10.11a - next united flight is at 3.21p... ah, yes! that one i was supposed to be on in the second place. get real. i've been overzealous and am already at the airport. i'm flying out NOW!

10.17a - board shuttle bus to pop two terminals down to go to us airways... i still want my stinking united miles! sweet sauce - southwest is here and they're cheap. not that it matters... the biz will pick my faux pas up.

10.23a - arrive in terminal four. am hit with thought about discussing current situation with mother, harsh opponent to my airline arrival decisions. go through monologue about how irresponsible it is to miss flights and not plan, waste of money, time, yadda yadda yadda. decide to not tell mother unless abosolutely necessary.

10.35a - still in line at southwest. really?! call courtney. clothes are still in monica's wash in north carolina - it's been a week. they're rotten. discusting. we'll need to figure something out as no one wants to return from a honeymoon to wet, smelly clothes. will email michelle upon arrival in SF.

10.39a - my turn! boy, is girl at southwest so much nicer. too bad i can't remember HER name to save my life. discuss options again - apparently i needed a second opinion. flight going to san jose (note: not san francisco) leaving in less than an hour. have layover. no biggie, i'll take it. stupid system won't sell the ticket in short time period. crap in the toilet.

10.41a - will take flight to SFO via san diego leaving hour even later. 12.30p it is. i'll take it! credit card will not work. cursing plastic and all other fiascos happening today. boy comes over and brags about his ability to make it work. it works. i proceed to pet his is ego by saying what a hand he has at these sorts of things... fantastic!

10.47a - have officialy purchased first ticket at the counter for a flight taking off same day, noticing it was quite cheap given the circumstances.

10.54a - am finalized but wonder if us airways had something better. of course they did, i just didn't ask. i deserve my two hour flight to home to last circa four hours... which means i could be going to new york. decide not to think about it.

10.55a - want to throw two large books in my possession away... they have been nothing but a bother for the past week. feel it's better to keep them as one was a gift, the other is kristi's and she probably wants it back.

10.57a - through security without incident! am not hungry but there is food around. since i'm feeling sorry for myself i decide i'm depressed and therefore more than deserve wendy's. buy chicken meal with copious amounts of "stuff" in my hands - girl too quick for me and so i must grab it all and scuffle to the side.

10.59a - am in depression and need to get soda instead of something healthy... mr. pibb it is. wonder what it'll be like since i haven't had it since the tenth grade. can't find a top. locate all of my accessories including top and straw are directly in front of my face.

11.00a - where is my ticket. WHERE IS MY GOSH FORSAKEN TICKET!? have lost said ticket... panic ensues. if only that girl hadn't been so hasty! push people out of line to realize ticket is not on counter by hasty chick. decide to sit down at gate and figure this all out.

11.03a - walk with "stuff" circling my neck and arms - including two ridiculous books - wondering whether i'm going to make this flight. is someone going to be me? this mr. pibb is as good as remembered.

11.05a - ticket found! it was only upside down in my little holder. well of course that's where it would be.

11.06a - time to write-up experience as though a real-life autobiographist...

11.11a - mother calls to find out about travel plans. act as though i was always coming in at a quarter to four in the afternoon and don't know where she got 1.15p from. we'll attack this "miscommunication" head on upon my arrival home. oh yes! we'll see you soon... can't wait!

11.54a - realize that my wendy's, which i was never hungry for, is now cold and soggy on chair beside me. fries do not = mcdonalds'... dissapointing but not surprising.

11.55a - will rent movie on itunes... my treat to me! there will be blood it is. "i'll DRINK your milkshake! i drink it up!". i just can't wait. i've been through a day... and, according to me, deserve the most irresponsible travel award. i'm sure debs will concure as soon as we discuss my antics... which is nothing new and nothing less than typical...

12.05p - there will be blood not available for rental. atonement? do i want to be depressed even more than i am? yes. but maybe dan in real life? oh my...

12.06p - boarding has begun. how does southwest work? do i have a seat? who cares... i'm going to san diego today!

12.09p - wonder how this could all happen in five hours. it's really only noon? there must be more to come...