Fine, I can't keep quiet

Ok so I'll write some more. Blogging is way too addictive. And I have lots of free time.

So I got a new tattoo yesterday. It kinda matches my other one, both on shoulder blades. It was something I wanted for well over a year and decided to just get it done. I also had a facial, which was weird but nice. I didn't think I'd like it (the whole hating people touching my face thing) but I did.

Then I went to a party with my boss and found myself ensconced with the Who's Who of people in my profession in this area. I was playing pool against people I have read about in magazines and seen from afar at speeches and conventions. I did some major networking and it turns out I actually have a name out there too! I mean nothing huge, but when I introduced myself, several of these people could tell me something they had heard or seen that had to do with the organizations I'm involved in. It was really cool. It probably means nothing to anyone here, but to me it was a huge deal to be socializing (and not just about work stuff) with people I've looked up to for awhile. Not as cool as meeting a movie start, but awesome enough to write about. I was shocked to find that these high falutin professionals thought it would be funny to flip the mattress on the host's bed so that the box springs are on top. They did all kinds of crazy stuff to this poor guy. It was hilarious. (Glad it wasn't my house!) Anyway, it was a really fun evening, and I was glad for the opportunity to make a few more connections in my field. I got some numbers and emails of some women that I have really admired who offered to help me with programming or whatever, or clinician stuff, so it was totally a worthwhile evening. Yay!

Then this morning I went to my region meeting and for whatever reason volunteered to make myself even busier.  I will be coordinating an event and preparing stuff for it, which won't really take a huge amount of my time if I make sure to do a little bit of work each week. Anyway, I guess I felt inspired by the previous evening's events and felt like maybe I should contribute more on a larger scale. But the weird part of this story is... on the way home I passed a billboard and saw myself on it!!! (No, this was not like the time my ex husband advertized me as "available for services" on craigslist-- which BTW I was NOT and he did this entirely behind my back). The billboard was advertising one of the symphonies I play for and there was a shot of me and a few others on the sign. It was so trippy! Apparently the picture of me playing oboe (I played oboe for that particular symphony until only recently) and a few others playing various instruments says "Culture is Alive!" or something like that. I called my mom and she said to turn around and go take a picture. Um no. I was hungry and didn't feel like going several miles out of my way, stand in 100+ degree heat just to take a picture of it. When my dad was on the news frequently we would see his face on a billboard, and I thought it was cool but kinda weird. He said it didn't bother him, he was used to it. I think it takes some getting used to!

Anyway, that's my story. And yes Caesar, English is sopken here (for today). I am trying to be a better person so I shall only say ugly things quietly inside my head, or in French here if I just can't contain myself. Really not out to make enemies or make things worse. Just trying to get my life back on track and make something good come from it.