(no subject)

( Gaeilge )

If this is an example of what the next two-ish weeks are going to be like, I want a pre-emptive day off. Sadly, not gonna happen.

So, basically, while I intended to spend yesterday writing at work since it looked to be relatively quiet, I instead spent the day running frantically around the store packing things for other stores, the stuff we sell retail. Because apparently that was the day for two huge orders to come in and one of my co-workers to call out sick. Not that I grudge her that, she damn well sounded sick, but it didn't alleviate any of the head explodie. By the time I got home I was exhausted.

And yet, still somehow managed to pick up somewhat in my craft room, cook a healthy dinner, and get a chunk of blogging done and still have time to knit. I have no idea how the hell that happened. (Answer: With help, A was kind enough to do a good five episode minutes of blogging for me and the boy chopped the chicken and fed the cats while I prepped the rest of dinner.) I'm almost done with the boy's arm warmers! Then I have no idea what I'll be working on, maybe the second set of arm warmers. Maybe take a break from those and work on some laceish scarf.

So. Today, attempting to get the writing done that I was going to do yesterday? During the day, and then in the evening some more picking up in the living room and tv-watching and finishing blog things. And maybe actually relaxing and knitting while TV watching. But more probably writing and outlining and note taking. Work, work, work.

(no subject)

( Маленькая девочка и коробка )

Only about 50 words in Russian today.

So, in random and fascinating things I learned today about my family...

I grew up raised by my mother and her parents. You've probably heard me mention this a lot. There was a father (okay, stepfather, but we left my biodad when I was 3 so I never knew him and don't care to) for a while, till I was about 12-13, then he became much less present. But I was raised by my mother and her family, and remain close with them; when I say "my family" I pretty much mean my mom, grandparents on my mom's side, and all the myriad aunts and uncles therein.

My grandfather worked first for the State Department, then for the World Bank. Somewhere in there was a stint in the Merchant Marines, but I don't know much about that. (I should ask.) I don't know specifically what he did apart from advise people on how to put their country's economy back together, but to me, that's pretty much what he did. In Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Moscow, Kazakhstan, um. Various other countries, several former Soviet Republics. He went to a lot of places. And as a result of all this and the State Department, my mother and her sibs grew up in Spain and in Chile. And in Portugal for a year, which didn't come up until now because my mother wasn't yet a year old when they moved to a castle in Portugal (I'm not even kidding, though it wasn't a grand affair type thing, more like a big house.) and my aunt was seven or so. Old enough to remember things. After Portugal came Spain, then Chile. So...

So, these are the people who raised me. My mother didn't return to the States till she was maybe 14, 16? You wouldn't think that would make a difference, but it does, in odd ways. I keep finding ways in which my instinctive mindset doesn't reflect what seems to be the average American. Anyway, this whole ramble is also by way of explaining that my aunt told me in the car today, when Grandpa was being moved from Portugal to Spain for work, he and my grandma took a holiday between in Rome for a week or two, and she went ahead with the two littlest while Grandpa drove leisurely with the elder three, including the aunt I live/work with now. (Well, for a same-small-town value of live with.) And apparently they went across the Bridge d'Avignon. And if you've ever heard that child's rhyme, or maybe it's just me, Sur le Pont d'Avignon, l'on y danse, l'on y danse. Well, it turns out my grandfather actually stopped at the Bridge d'Avignon and made everyone get out and dance a little dance, because opportunities like that don't come every day. Or something. My grandfather, for all his sobersrs job and his sobersrs work clothes, can be a really whimsical and doofy guy sometimes.

This is my family, y'all. This probably explains a lot about me, assuming it required explanation.

(Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure my grandfather spent most of his career cosplaying as a sobersrs adult.)

Right. Gods and Monsters and day jobligations for the rest of the day, and then ... I don't even know what for the rest of the day. It's on my calendar. I'm not doing too badly, except for the fact that I'm frazzled and need rest and am not getting it. At least I'm getting good sleep at night, that's sort of helping keep me on my feet and on an even emotional keel.