Tales From The Testosterone Zone

The End of the Beginning

Alto2 — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:10:46 +0000

As if life did not suck enough, I just got off the phone with the big boss of Belle’s realty company. He informed me that, as much as they liked my writing, they are going to stick with the copywriter they’ve been using for the last 20 years. Never mind the complaints I heard about her, she’s experienced; she can write about estates from Greenwich to the Gables; she’s the bomb. I’m not.

Fired from yet another job. That makes at least four in the course of my short-lived careers.

Begin With Breakfast

Alto2 — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:01:09 +0000

Wild Thing, mindful of the family’s stresses — and desirous of a small privilege — brought me a little breakfast in bed today. It was a warm muffin, and it made everything better.

Protected: Where To Begin

Alto2 — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:50:17 +0000

This post is password protected. You must visit the website and enter the password to continue reading.

Morning in The Zone

Alto2 — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:34:52 +0000

Begin Working

Alto2 — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 23:23:59 +0000

Just in case you’re new to The Zone, I am a lawyer. I have not actively practiced law in many years. I blame it on my children, especially Wizard, but that’s a tale for another day. Since my youngest child is now 9, lots of people have been asking me “Alto2, when are you going back to work?” I typically answer with a grunt. I despised job-hunting when I was a “real” lawyer, mostly because I never had much luck. Financially, I don’t need to work. Intellectually, I do.

Several weeks ago, Belle sprung an idea on me: writing precise, descriptive copy for real estate advertising — expensive real estate … verrry expensive real estate. I was interested, but she had to check with the big bosses at her company. This morning, I interviewed with the big boss-lady, who offered me the job! Belle’s local agency receives 2-3 listings per week, and I am now her wordsmith. I’ll get paid per piece, and I will have access to the lavish estates and condominiums Belle sells regularly. How cool is that?

I am excited and a little bit nervous. Wish me luck!

The Excuses Begin

Alto2 — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 23:23:35 +0000

Dear Bloggie,

I confess I’m an inconsistent blogger. This is a postcard from the edge of my sanity.

Kids went back to school. My mother is here for a visit. Endless appointments, and 5 people simultaneously demanding my attention. Aieeeee — overloaded! Back soon

Begin Cleaning

Alto2 — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 01:07:40 +0000

My birthday was in the middle of December, and at the end of the year, I was still waiting for a birthday present. Sometimes it takes my husband a while to figure out what he’s doing. On the very last day of the year, WineGuy decided on my gift: a new iMac computer! ::happy dance::

The current computer a 20″ PowerPC iMac from 2004, is nearly lame (slow processor) and blind (dying video card). So, this big-ass woman ordered herself a big-ass computer:

a 27″ iMac with 3.4GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7 processors; 8GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM – 2x4GB; 1TB Serial ATA Drive; AMD Radeon HD 6970M 1GB GDDR5 video card; and a Magic Trackpad. It’s mine, ALL MINE, and I’m not going to share it with anyone else … except for my husband … because I should. The new computer, to be named “Mama Mac,” should be here by the beginning of next week. In preparation, I am backing up iMac20 to an external hard drive. I have the proper cable to migrate data from the old computer to the new one, when it arrives, and then I’ll move everything into iCloud.

However, in order to actually work with two computers on my desk next week, I need to be able to actually see the top of the desk. The holidays wreaked their usual habit on my deskwork. Now, my desk looks like a refuge for lost mail. The old Rolodex is trapping the phone next to the computer. The pile on the left contains this year’s school pictures, which need to be filed. The pile in the left corner contains books I’m supposed to read. The giant pile on the right contains everything: mail, fliers, magazines, bills to pay and file. There could be a small child in there for all I know. I just need to clean it this weekend. Riiiiiight: my mother is coming for a visit tomorrow and just decided to extend her stay a day. No desk-cleaning for the next three days. Oh well.

Maybe I’ll just order the new printer instead. I can perch it on top of the old printer and all the flotsam surrounding it.

Begin With Sleep

Alto2 — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 03:40:54 +0000

I did walk today and run lots of errands and sing at chorale rehearsal. Now it’s late, and I’m tired. So, I’ll chalk up another beginning: a good night’s sleep!

Beginning With Books

Alto2 — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 02:37:06 +0000

Trying to create positive habits for the new year, beginning with blogging daily. First news is that I emailed 2 friends and asked if they would walk with me. One replied “yes” right away and suggested we start tomorrow. Yay! I’ll check back in here when I’m sore and short of breath.

Another new thing I’m exploring is free downloadable digital media. The local library system offers lots of titles through the Overdrive system. I learned how to use the system a few weeks ago by checking out Jean Kwok’s “Girl In Translation”. Learning the new media was as fascinating as the book itself, which I highly recommend. However, I had to dig way down into my Goodreads “to-read” list to find an available title. I really wanted something higher up on the bestseller list.

Yesterday, being unduly influenced by a book review in the current “Costco Connections” magazine, I requested “A Discovery of Witches,” which was unavailable. Today, the library emailed that the title was available for me! Unfortunately, you cannot download the book from a mobile device. So I hopped on the computer and downloaded the book. Tonight, I will snuggle under the comforter, prop my iPad on my lap, and discover some witches.

I’ll give a shout-out to a daily Facebook feed of free Kindle books. The website is Ereaderlove. She lists freebies for Kindle, Nook, Kobo and others. You can receive an RSS feed or like her Facebook page to get updates that way. Discover something new for yourself.

What new things will you try in the New Year?

2012 Begins

Alto2 — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 00:08:16 +0000

NaBloPoMo says the theme for blogging this month is “beginnings”. However, as this year begins, I wonder whether blogging is worth the effort if the world is supposed to come to an end exactly one week after my 50th birthday. Do I spend this year checking off items on my bucket list? Do I finally get my rear in gear and commit to a healthy lifestyle, or do I just say “to hell with it” and enjoy another piece of fried chicken?

Sorely lacking the motivation to do much, I did some half-baked research into this whole Mayan end-of-times prediction. The first (and only) website I consulted reassured me that, should I not have a heart attack like DocBro did at 50 (he’s fine), the world will not come to an end in December 2012. The author explains that the seminal date will mark the beginning of a new epoch of time, a new cycle much like the turning of an odometer from 999,999 to 0. In the course of transition from one epoch to another, there will allegedly be lots of meteorological and astronomical phenomena. Fine: the weather might suck for my 50th or it might be the most glorious day ever. Whatever.

I have the desire to turn over a new leaf. I do every year. What I lack is motivation. I’m not afraid of hard work, I just am feeling entirely lazy about taking care of myself. If even one of you readers comes back at me with “do it for your kids,” I’ll smack you. If you had to live in the fetid hell that is my home, you’d check out tomorrow.

What I need from you is inspiration: what do you do to get yourself motivated for a task?