enfin, j'y fais face

It's finally happened. I've started taking French-Canadian calls at work. No kidding, very likely one of the scariest things I've ever done in my life. It shouldn't be, right? But it is. This is it. My degree, in action. There's no more "whatever, it's just for class." No one cares if I still consider myself learning. It's French-on-demand, understand and be understood or... it's my job.

The first day (Thursday), I coulda cried all day long. I was so unnerved. I don't remember the last time I had myself so freakin' worked up over something. I survived but I was completely frazzled. Thursday night I was so unnerved about doing it again Friday that I couldn't sleep. Friday was a smidge better. I figure it'll get better every day.

And besides, behind all my nervousness lies excitement. I mean... FINALLY! I wanted to use French and here I go. Holy cow. I'm also really excited about the doors that will be opened up by knowing Québecois. As far as being in North America goes, that's gonna be a good, marketable skill.

It's going to continue to be a challenge for me for a while, and there's probably going to be days where I really do cry... but oh well. That can only last for so long, right?

Right?...

it's the thought

Well, it was a good and romantic thought I was having, when I thought I'd be better at keeping up with a blog the nth time around. It would have worked like in the past, perhaps, if all other variables were held constant. But that's not life, now is it?

So, in keeping with that, a lot's changed since March 1. First and foremost, there was the departure of Audra. She's gone to bigger and better things in Texas. I'm naturally very happy for her and naturally very selfishly sad she's gone.

Again I find myself pondering this phenomenon in my life that always has my best friends moving away. Holly. Erin. Laura. Audra. Le sigh. It's been so long since I've had a best friend conveniently close that I can hardly remember what it was like. But I guess that's just the times in which we live, eh? Everybody's global. Everybody's moving... And it was pointed out to me last night (this is such an easy point to overlook...) that I did some of that moving away myself.

Aaaah, touchée.

The other big news is the arrival of Lily, the kitty, into my life. She's been with me for almost two weeks now. She's a pretty great kitten; we have a swell time together.

Work's work. I've been relatively busy there lately, which I guess is a good thing. I learned the English part of the client that also speaks French. Now that I've had about a week to get used to their procedure, I think they're adding the French part in around Friday or Monday. That should be fun. I'm getting eager to start using the French. I think it'll make things more interesting.

Today and tomorrow are my days off this week and I've given myself a special project. It's called: make my apartment look less like a dorm room. Sounds fun, huh? I got me a little budget set aside for some bookcases, slip covers etc, etc and we're gonna nip this thing in the butt, once and for all. My other special project is to get a mini-garden started here soon. Or at least to get the things I need to grow something. I'm thinking cherry tomatoes. Or peppers.

Next exciting thing in life is that tomorrow my beloved Hodes will be in town along with Hilary Clinton. Whee! By great luck I'm off and I get to go with him to watch her speak. Chris even made us t-shirts! Mine says, "Hoosier President? Hilary 08". I'm so clever...

At any rate. Special project calls... Must be scootin'...

hip to be square

Things I have:

• a cubicle
• an telephone extension
• a work email
• a server's apron
• a server's book
  

Things I don't have:

• free time

This morning is the first time I've felt like I've had a moment to breath, yet even this is going to be short lived because I have obligations that will keep me busy for most, if not all, of the day. And there's no day off this week, either. I'm in the middle of a 12-day working marathon. Errands have to be done in the few precious hours between working and sleeping. Next priority in line is finding time to see friends. If there's a minute or two left after that, I'm trying to get some pilates in. Then comes blogging and facebook and the internet fun I used to put above everything else.

WHAT?! Yes folks, you heard it here first: I only check facebook about once a day.

I don't know yet whether or not I'm complaining about my new priority set. I don't think I am. It's not bad. It's just different. Life is just different these days. It's still weird that I'm not on a school schedule. It's still weird that I'm not going on spring break in a few weeks, or ever again , for that matter. And it's weird that I don't miss it. Whatever it is I got going on right now... I think I kinda dig it.

What's coming up for me is the 2 month mark in Evansville. 2 months?? Is that it? I haven't been here for a year? It sure feels that way, at least. Things change fast. The distance between me and college-me is growing greater every day. I guess it's kind of weird, but it gets trumped by the normalcy of it all, in the end.

On that note... The sun is out and the day promises to be beautiful. It's time to get off my butt.