Monday, June 29, 2009

In which my boss is nice to me

Nora: So, I was wondering if I could leave a little early today.

Boss: What's up?

Nora: Well, I feel silly saying this, but it's my dog.

Boss: You have a dog?

Nora: I do. She's pretty old.

Boss: How old is she?

Nora: 14. And...

Boss: 14?!

Nora: Yes. She was my mom's dog, and now she's mine.

Boss: Why is she yours?

Nora: Because when my mom died she came to me. Anyway...

Boss: Aw. What kind of dog?

Nora: *makes approximate Daisy shape with hands* Small. A rat terrier.

Boss: Aw!

Nora: Yes. And she wasn't quite sick this morning, but she was not herself.

Boss: No?

Nora: No. And I'm just worried about her because she's old. It's probably the heat, but...

Boss: Go! Go!

Friday, June 26, 2009

Like Halle Berry

OK, so things are admittedly a little weird these days at the California Legislature. But after seeing this video on Wonkette, I realized they could be considerably weirder.

I am not clear on the nexus between the artist known as Hurrican Chris, the Louisiana Legislature and Ms. Berry. It's lovely that he wants all women to know they're "like Halle Berry," whatever that means, and paying tribute to her is fine, too. But -- what?

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Ennui at 17

N: Well, honey, I think I'm going to head home.

C: You had a long day, huh?

N: Yep. And my feet hurt.

C: Those shoes are great.

N: Thank you, but they are pretty much killing me.

C: *fiddling with her cell phone* Beauty is pain, girl.

N: What?

C: Beauty is pain. *big sigh* You know it is.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Song of the day

I'm not a huge Dave Matthews fan. I like his kind of laid-music well enough, I guess, and his lyrics can be alternately funny and insightful. But while it's all pleasant enough, I don't find myself reaching for it too often. Sometimes when driving, sometimes in the heat of summer when I'm in a mind of music festivals and dancing.

But this song is haunting to me. It takes the fragility of his voice, some spare repeated lyrics and simple minor chords to tell a really sad story. I'd forgotten it was on my iPod until it came up on random play yesterday, at which point I hit repeat like six times.

Dave Matthews' "Some Devil." I wish I could find a better version on YouTube, but such are the vagaries of the Internets.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Missing

Over the past couple of days, I've been the grateful recipient of some attention. Phone calls, emails, personal visits at work. "Is everything OK? You all right?" Some of have noticed my considerable blogular absence. Others, that I've missed a few Sundays of church and still others that I just haven't sounded good when they've talked to me.

The truth is my head's pretty bad these days. I have some level of pain nearly every day anyway, but June has been like a blur of medication and no sleep and trying to get through work days and nausea and just generally hanging on 'til I can get home and sort of fall apart. Sunday was, I hope, the apex of the current cycle -- none of the drugs in my considerable arsenal touched the pain at all. I even considered going to the emergency room for something, anything, to make it all stop.

I haven't talked about this -- largely because it's boring. Who wants to read me going on and on about how crummy I feel or describing my little personal struggles with pain? No one. It's so uninteresting, I don't even want to write about it. But on the other hand, it's true and real for me, and I don't want anyone to worry or think something out of the ordinary's up.

Last June was just like this, too -- I was remembering that when I started at CM, I was so hopeful that the change of scenery and reduced stress (ha!) would lead to fewer headaches. Instead, the whole month was this like pain-filled swirl with a new job thrown in. This year, I'm back in the political trenches, and the headaches are right back with me.

So. That's the deal. If you pray, I would covet your prayers that I would walk in a manner worthy through this particular season that God has ordained for me. And, that if it's His will, He'd let it stop. If you don't pray, I'd appreciate your holding a good thought for me. This, too, shall pass -- it always does -- but it's a bit wearing in the process.

Friday, June 5, 2009

A day in the life of a legislative staffer

*ring, ring*

Nora: Office of Assembly Member Tony Mendoza.

Caller: Hi. Can I get your Sacramento mailing address?

Nora: Sure. It's State Capitol, Room 2188, Sacramento, 95814.

Caller: 2118?

Nora: Room 2188.

Caller: 2218?

Nora: 2188.

Caller: OK, 2118. I think I've got it.

Nora: No, it's...

Caller: *click*

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Genius

From Shu!. As he said, there are no words.