Pobble Thoughts
Monday, November 23, 2009
Finding ThanksIn the past, I have been accused of being optimistic to the point of Pollyanna. I know; it's hard to believe. The cynical, jaded Pobble that optimistic. It is, however, truer than I often like to admit. I truly believe things will work out. Maybe it's years working domestic violence and the perspective that gave me. Maybe it's being hospitalized at 17 for depression and the perspective that gave me. Maybe it's four years with a really excellent therapist and the perspective that gave me. Maybe it's just foolhardiness. I don't know. I do know that, eventually, I come out of my funk and start putting one foot in front of the other and then...something happens. I remember that, whatever it is, it isn't forever. Guess where I've gotten over the last three weeks?
Because there is still so much for which to be thankful:
* I'm going through this with Lithus by my side;
* when the Lovely Cats said "let me throw you a birthday party" we said "okay" instead of deciding to be somewhere else between the Oregon job and the Malaysia one;
* there wasn't another gig after my birthday party so we hung out here at the Cathouse, instead of ending up in Utah or somewhere, stuck, with no one and nowhere to go;
* unemployment insurance;
* the fact that we do have a place to be, to live, to stay, until the answers start being "when can you start" instead of "nothing right now";
* the timing on the sale of the jeep ~ and the fact that the deal hadn't quite closed;
* the knowledge that if it turns out we really need to be on the west coast or the gulf coast, we have places we can be there, too;
* that Lithus is discovering what this kind of family means;
* that I know what this kind of family means.
And it's the holiday season, for which I am always thankful because, well, it's the holidays.
Blessed be, everyone. May you find your own thanks this week.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Are You Fucking KIDDING Me?Friday, the Lovely Cats and I head to Worcester, MA where my storage still is to check in on it and drop stuff off. I tell her that, according to Lithus's morning phone call, we need to be ready for me to leave the country Monday. On the way to Worcester, my phone rings. It is Lithus. In the 2 hours between the time he had called to say good morning and then, the company had lost their contract and was sending him home because they could no longer afford to keep him on. He'll be back in NYC Tuesday.
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME???????????????????
First, we weren't told there was a contract outstanding. We were told all contracts had been signed and there was GUARANTEED work through 2012. Second, he turned down 2 BETTER PAYING JOBS to take this one because it was the most interesting one AND THEY KNEW IT. Third, we have made several financial decisions based on this job (sold the jeep, made some large payments to get ahead on a few things, you get the idea). Fourth, we have jumped through our asses for them to get Lithus there in time to get to work on their timeline (remember the unexpected trip to Canada? Yeah.). We also made little decisions based on this (new clothes for both of us for my b'day party; buying Halloween costumes). And while these aren't big, even added together, they are only two things. We've been making these little choices since mid-September when John and Gary PROMISED us *they* were different because *they* had been pilots and *knew* what it was like for pilots to get dicked around by companies and had *sworn* they would never do this to *their* pilots once they started their own company. And they are sending him home after a week and a half.
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME???????????????????????
So now I had to call the guy who gave me a $50 deposit on the jeep and was expecting to pick it up this afternoon and get him his deposit back; Lithus has to find another job; I have to research unemployment and see if he has to be in the same state where he was last employed in order to collect; blah blah blah...
I was coming home from Worcester and making my plane reservations, wiring a deposit to the place we wanted to live in KL and canceling both my car insurance and our COBRA. TTG I had all that planned for Friday and no sooner.
My friends and family have said their goodbyes ~ some of them quite touching. We have been stressed and on overload trying to relocate overseas. Our friends and family have been patient and understanding and calming in spite of the craziness that this stretch of our lives has put them through. And now...
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?????????????????????
I am angry, hurt, speechless, overwhelmed, you name it, I'm feeling it. The reality hasn't quite set in yet but it's coming.
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME???????????????????
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee, if I can stand to be around you (and you can stand me, too) right now.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
In 24 HoursYesterday afternoon, Lithus and I left the Lovely Cats' house for JFK International Airport in NYC to put him on a plane to Malaysia this morning. Only this morning, it turns out that, due to an unforeseen glitch, Lithus couldn't go to Malaysia until he renewed his passport (which hasn't expired, for the record). So we researched options in New York City ~ to learn that when Canadian citizens in NY need passport assistance, they are told to go to Montreal. Time to go to Montreal.
Except, being in my own country and not traveling to Malaysia today, I didn't have *my* passport. Off we went, back to the Lovely Cats' house.
Tonight, we're in Montreal.
Tomorrow, we get Lithus' passport renewed.
Tuesday (please, oh please), we get Lithus' passport.
And the story goes on from there.
You know I'll keep you posted.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Catching Everything UpWith apologies to you who read it in your email box...
1. We left Medford the last week in September and drove to Reno where Crow Mother lives.
2. Spent 2 days there, being Aunt Mame and Uncle Lithus.
3. Hit the road on Sunday for a cross country trip...in the jeep...that has no catalytic converter....or air conditioning....or heat...or much of an exhaust system. It was a BLAST. We laughed our asses off for 5 days and plenty of beautiful (and boring) countryside.
4. Arrived at the Lovely Cats' in CT by (late-) dinner time on Thursday.
5. Friday friends started to arrive and there was much craziness and last minute running around before my birthday party.
6. Saturday, my friends who arrived early and I hid in the basement while the Lovely Cats and Lithus pulled off the coup of a lifetime and finished the party prep.
7. Saturday night, I had the best night of my life, bar none, as the Lovely Cats and Lithus threw me a party for my 40th birthday. I had very intentionally kept it small, small, small. 20 people were there. It was a once in a lifetime event for me and everything a 40th birthday should be.
8. For a few days, we recovered.
The rest...
Here's the big news, first ~ we're moving to Malaysia. Lithus goes Sunday out of JFK. I join him the end of the month. I've also learned there's no way to build up to it so I just drop it like that. rofl. Don't know for how long ~ six months or 16 years. It depends on so many factors, not the least of which is how much we like Malaysia and living in Kuala Lumpur. He will be logging in the darkest jungles of Borneo 7-10 days a month and we will be in the city the rest of the time. I do expect it to be a while given that we are too much about the adventure to not find a way to enjoy living overseas.
But there's still more ~ FALL INTO ME is available for preorder on Amazon and the proofs got sent back to NY yesterday. Meanwhile, I am writing on Carter Anne's story, too. That got hung up for a bit because I forgot for a while that I write trashy romance novels and not great literature. Instead of just letting my male character be an archetypal Super Man, I tried to make him just an ordinary guy ~ only there was no conflict unless he was indeed the son of the influential politician who managed to get Carter Anne her job in DC (unbeknownst to her, of course). So, I gave in and let him be the archetype and am moving forward once again.
On a related note, and I feel remarkably guilty making this about me and my career because it is so much bigger than just that, HOWEVER my fabulous editor who has been considered THE premiere editor of romance novels for years now actually died on the 28th of September. She had taken a leave of absence at the beginning of summer, explained I would have to write Bobby's story without her but she would be back in time for Carter Anne's and we would pow wow about where we would go with my career and all that once she got back in the first week of October. Turns out, the leave was for cancer treatments. It was a slow moving, not terribly aggressive form of cancer and she was doing great and then...she died on the 28th. So who knows what happens now. *sigh* It's so strange to think I won't ever hear "Pobble! Kate!" when I answer the phone again.
Lithus is no longer working for New Company but is now working for Newer Company. New Company couldn't get contracts for the winter. The industry is still reeling from the economic crash last year; Carson released a whole bunch of really good pilots into the pool recently; and there are more helicopters and pilots than there are contracts these days. Plus, as the war in Iraq winds down, there will be still more pilots looking for jobs here. So, we're grateful to be getting out of the country for a bit and for Lithus's reputation that allows him to keep flying. He's actually turned down jobs that have been offered because we are so excited with Newer but the fact that they came his way makes me hugely proud of my love, especially given that one of the companies literally has pilots standing in line at their door and Lithus hadn't even applied with them. Yep, they came to him.
And that, I believe, brings you up to date. *whew*
From here out, I will (hopefully, anyway) be better about posting semi-regularly. And am even considering a travel blog once I hit Malaysia. I'll keep you posted. For now, though,
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Position AvailableNeeded: Temporary, Full-Time Gestalt Observer
After 40 years, the Gestalt Observer for Pobble Thoughts Inc. is taking a much deserved sabbatical. Qualified applicants will possess the following qualities:
- flexibility
- nonjudgmental attitude
- lack of any sense of personal self
- ability to maintain composure under duress and/or unusual situations
- great sense of humor
- a notable lack of need to run screaming
Position is expected to last 4-6 weeks. Please forward resumes, with cover letter and chocolate requirements, to HR Manager, c/o Pobble Thoughts.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Monday, September 28, 2009
The Adventure ContinuesWe left Medford Friday.
We arrived at Crow's house that evening. Spent two lovely days and nights being Aunt Mame and Uncle Lithus.
Left there Sunday.
Arrived in Wendover, NV Sunday night.
Left there Monday (today), had lunch in Evanstown, WY and are now spending the night in Sidney, Nebraska (and I don't know how to abbreviate that so...)
By Thursday night, we will be in Connecticut with the Lovely Cats et al.
For those of you who have been in touch and haven't heard from me, that's why. Postings to follow. Because yes, I'm taking notes. :)
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
For BDS Over at $$
And he knows why.
Those are Pobble Thoughts (a day or two late). That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
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