Irons in the Fire
Ok, here's the long-overdue update on what's shaking in my world.
1) THE JOB. I've been at Microsoft roughly two weeks now. The scope of my job is slowly getting clearer -- I wonder if it's really that complicated, or me wondering if I'm qualified/sharp enough to really get what I'm supposed to be doing. What am I supposed to be doing? I'm redesigning a Web site for a group that serves several large and small stakeholders and other groups, who are sometimes split within themselves or seem to have little or no relevance to the main group... so I'm learning new Web management applications, and trying to sort out the structure of the old site, the new site, and reality. I hope I catch on. I hope I fulfill all of Jeff's expectations (he's the guy who offered me the job, after working with me years ago and keeping in touch as friends).
2) THE RADIO SHOW. I "practice" for the first time live by subbing for another night-time DJ for the next four weeks. The show is "Ampbuzz," on from 1 to 3 a.m. Monday night/Tuesday mornings. The format for the show is pretty trance-y, ambient, long drawn-out hypnotic instrumental numbers. Since my shtick is world music, and there are some liberties I can take, I will play lots of droney Turkish, Indian, Gamelan music... maybe even some American Indian chants... so my nickname for the show (or an idea for another one?) will be "opium den." If you have broadband and are up late, tune in to KBCS.fm -- but let me warn you, I'll be practicing, so be prepared for mumbled cursing and false starts on the tracks...!
3) THE CHOIR. I have about 14 women lined up to audition for Seattle's new Balkan women's choir, and new inquiries keep coming in from the online ads. I'm excited! I'm nervous! Again some little voice is telling me I don't know what the hell I'm doing... and it's probably right, but how else will I find out?
4) THE OTHER CHOIR. I'm breaking the rules and taking a break from the big choir of Seattle Pro Musica, while still singing in Schola. Gasp! But only for the March concert. Then the break will be complete. My heart is not in the classical repertoire right now. But the choir is such a social bunch -- that's an aspect I will really miss, hanging out with all my choir buddies once a week.
5) THE BOYFRIEND. He's off and moved to Bellingham, to get his teaching degree, and I'm calling it quits...! Heartless guttersnipe. My heart is not in this as a LDR. I can't keep it up for a year and a half. I just talked to him, he was really cool about it, so I think we can be friends.
6) oh, and how was NEW YORK?? It was cool. The plane didn't crash. I had a fantastic time with Zina's family, and bouncing around Manhattan, and bouncing to Zagnut Cirkus Orkestar and Zlatne Uste. That city has an amzing world music scene!
7) RUNNING hasn't been happening at all, and y'all should chastise me for it. I've been way too lazy. But it's cold, it's dark, I need new shoes... I need to get motivated again. I'm putting on winter fat. But what routine can I commit to, time-wise...? (Rhetorical question) I've been thinking about ... rock climbing...
Last week I was pretty overwhelmed by my schedule, but right now it just feels.... good. It's good to be really into everything I'm doing, and able to get out of the things that aren't working anymore. The only problem is finding so many things that I am/could be into...!
1) THE JOB. I've been at Microsoft roughly two weeks now. The scope of my job is slowly getting clearer -- I wonder if it's really that complicated, or me wondering if I'm qualified/sharp enough to really get what I'm supposed to be doing. What am I supposed to be doing? I'm redesigning a Web site for a group that serves several large and small stakeholders and other groups, who are sometimes split within themselves or seem to have little or no relevance to the main group... so I'm learning new Web management applications, and trying to sort out the structure of the old site, the new site, and reality. I hope I catch on. I hope I fulfill all of Jeff's expectations (he's the guy who offered me the job, after working with me years ago and keeping in touch as friends).
2) THE RADIO SHOW. I "practice" for the first time live by subbing for another night-time DJ for the next four weeks. The show is "Ampbuzz," on from 1 to 3 a.m. Monday night/Tuesday mornings. The format for the show is pretty trance-y, ambient, long drawn-out hypnotic instrumental numbers. Since my shtick is world music, and there are some liberties I can take, I will play lots of droney Turkish, Indian, Gamelan music... maybe even some American Indian chants... so my nickname for the show (or an idea for another one?) will be "opium den." If you have broadband and are up late, tune in to KBCS.fm -- but let me warn you, I'll be practicing, so be prepared for mumbled cursing and false starts on the tracks...!
3) THE CHOIR. I have about 14 women lined up to audition for Seattle's new Balkan women's choir, and new inquiries keep coming in from the online ads. I'm excited! I'm nervous! Again some little voice is telling me I don't know what the hell I'm doing... and it's probably right, but how else will I find out?
4) THE OTHER CHOIR. I'm breaking the rules and taking a break from the big choir of Seattle Pro Musica, while still singing in Schola. Gasp! But only for the March concert. Then the break will be complete. My heart is not in the classical repertoire right now. But the choir is such a social bunch -- that's an aspect I will really miss, hanging out with all my choir buddies once a week.
5) THE BOYFRIEND. He's off and moved to Bellingham, to get his teaching degree, and I'm calling it quits...! Heartless guttersnipe. My heart is not in this as a LDR. I can't keep it up for a year and a half. I just talked to him, he was really cool about it, so I think we can be friends.
6) oh, and how was NEW YORK?? It was cool. The plane didn't crash. I had a fantastic time with Zina's family, and bouncing around Manhattan, and bouncing to Zagnut Cirkus Orkestar and Zlatne Uste. That city has an amzing world music scene!
7) RUNNING hasn't been happening at all, and y'all should chastise me for it. I've been way too lazy. But it's cold, it's dark, I need new shoes... I need to get motivated again. I'm putting on winter fat. But what routine can I commit to, time-wise...? (Rhetorical question) I've been thinking about ... rock climbing...
Last week I was pretty overwhelmed by my schedule, but right now it just feels.... good. It's good to be really into everything I'm doing, and able to get out of the things that aren't working anymore. The only problem is finding so many things that I am/could be into...!