Aimless Chatter

So, the painting of my hall and stairwell continues. I’m going from a mossy green to a stark white, so this is not exactly a one coat thing. I liked the green but just too dark for a windowless area with average height ceilings (that being the hall upstairs). Even incomplete, I am much happier with the open feeling. When I’ll finish is anyone’s guess. So, I may be walking across tarps for awhile yet.

Long days at work this week tho better than some. Today, I didn’t have to check any projects, so I spent my time doing some documentation. One of my friends insists this new paradigm will eventually bore me, but so far this arrangement is working better. I get to stick in my two cents and help others get their projects moving down the road. Do I want to stick to this path forever? No, of course not. But my Achilles heel no matter what is that I bore easily. My manager suggested at my annual review this week that maybe I might want to work in our programming group. No idea how soon a move that would be and equally uncertain that’s what I want to do. On one hand, I did study it at one point. On that same hand, I eventually went into other majors and left that one behind. Would I enjoy the change of scenery so to speak. Probably so. But I’m not sure if it’s worth it to do in the long run. But it’s nice to have options to mull over.

Still mulling over the possibility of AZ and Mexico in May. My favorite band plays a twice yearly show in Mexico on the Pacific Coast. The best way to get there is to fly into southern AZ and drive down. I would love one day to drive cross-country, but the cost of gas has now made it so steep that flying is cheaper if less attractive. But I have enough frequent flyer miles for a free ticket for domestic travel anyway. The only catch being that I would need to fly out and back mid-week. The show is on a Saturday night. The last time out, I stayed in Mexico Friday night through Monday morning So, if I did the same approx. time in Mexico, I’d have a few days to kill both ends of the trip. The gears got to turning and I realized that I also have enough Amex points to virtually pay for a rental car for a week. That would leave me with lodging expenses… hhhhmmmmm…

I’m kind of waiting to see what my dental insurance decides to pay for my work on my teeth (next visit end of the month…). But I’m also trying to figure out if there’s another use I’d rather make of the time and money. No question I’d like to see the guys and the American Southwest is the only part of the U.S. that I’ve even vaguely thought, “gee, it would be nice to live here.” But using some Amex points to get some more flyer miles instead could get me to Peru… And I do want to see Machu Picchu. With no airfare, I’d only have to worry about lodging, a cost for a group guide deal for the Incan Trail. hmmmm…

Oh well, worse problems in life than what to do for a holiday. After all, there are people going to bed somewhere without food right now. I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned it in my BLOG, but every trip has been marked at some point by acute middle class guilt. At some point in the trip, if not multiple points, I’ll get hit up by a panhandler. And whether that person is genuinely in need or not, it reminds me that while I’m frolicking so far from home, there are people with real problems and needs that aren’t getting met….

On that note, it’s time for some reading and bed…