Detours

July 3rd, 2009

Anyway. So, since I had to be at work today, I decided to take a nice long walk on the way in, and take a detour to actually look at this house.

It might be my favorite house, ever. Despite its slightly weathered appearance. There’s a sign for a construction company up in front of it, but no real evidence that anything’s being done to it. Who knows, though. It would be a shame for it to just continue fading. Seriously - do you see those ridiculously awesome window frames? Also. Round house. Dude. Fantastic.

One day, I will live in a house this awesome. Until then, I think I am going to make it my goal to wander around town finding all the interesting buildings - there are a lot of them.

Respect

June 29th, 2009

It’s such a small thing, respect.

Two stories:

A staff member asks management why a store is open early, even though there are very rarely customers in the first hours of operation. Management says labor is so cheap that it’s cost effective, even for two or three customers.

A new management position is created and filled without any mention to non-management employees, and revealed in an email stating only that a member of management has taken on this new position.

I believe, in my cynical old age, that perhaps I am asking too much. What I would like, in an ideal world, is for people in management positions (or other positions of arbitrary authority; I hear fascinating stories about business school PhDs from friends of mine) to remember that those of us who are not part of management are not lesser beings. We do just as much work, often more difficult work, for less money and fewer perks.

It would behoove those of you in management to treat those of us on the floor with the same level of respect you believe you are entitled to from us.

On the other hand, the more frustrated I get with the way management casually dismisses staff, the more creative projects I get work done on. I’ve got a fabulous wooly blanket on the needles (and how awful is that, the idea of it being cool enough in June to knit wool?), I’m working on writing again, and I have grand schemes for handspinning (although I have to finish a skein of silk first). So maybe some good will come of it anyway.

There are interesting things afoot, and that’s part of the problem - I don’t get to play. Ah, well, I can make my own fun - although teaching myself to tapestry weave is going slowly, and so I may not get that particular project started anytime soon. Which is ok. There are cotton towels on the drawing board, too, and it is always particularly satisfying to make useful things.

I suppose it shouldn’t surprise me that management is so dismissive. That is tradition, after all.

Iris

June 28th, 2009

So we’re not really getting summer yet, and I’m a little bit cranky about it. There are some pleasing aspects, I suppose, but … well, we’ll see.

I got a tomato plant. If I get homegrown tomatoes out of the season, well, that counts as a win.

Proto-grapes.

June 26th, 2009

In a few months, these are going to be delicious.

Details of old buildings, and another thing low-quality lenses are good for.

June 3rd, 2009

City.

May 30th, 2009

So one of my favorite things in the parts of New England I’ve visited is the Porter Square T station. For one thing, it has the most crazy ridiculous awesome escalators. And the best public art: it’s got piles of gloves. Gloves scattered down the escalator rails. Gloves stuck in the floor. It fills the cockles of my heart with such joy, I can’t stand it. Except when the escalators are broken. Then I walk to the next stop, because that’s easier.

What is it?

May 25th, 2009

Yes, that is Tang.

May 16th, 2009

In an effort to drink things that aren’t coffee every now and then, I’ve been experimenting with beverages that come in powder form. Like Tang. Which is, unsurprisingly, sort of vile but also sort of wonderful. I mean, space juice! It has to be awesome, right? Anyway. This is my belated eighties childhood. I’m sorry, Mom. You did a really good job, and I appreciate it. Even if sometimes it might look like I’m totally screwing up every attempt you made to raise me right.

I’m thinking lemon juice and water might be the solution, though, because in fact I find this Tang stuff alarming. I’m pretty sure it’s not actually food at all, even if it does taste kind of amazing.

Bear?

May 15th, 2009

I walked to work today, because I am too much of a wimp to bike and I’m tired of driving.

Swan, bike, duck.

May 10th, 2009

I swear, it’s actually a swan. If I was smart, I would’ve gotten a canada goose or two for scale; this bird was huge.

Also, I went biking for the first time in years. It was lovely. The bike mechanic/shop down the street from my place is completely wonderful. Not only is it open on Sunday, but the guy who runs it is just an absolute darling.