Date 70 - Dinner in Paradise

There's alot going on these days. Plenty of day to day details and trying to corral various work and personal projects, in the hope of someday seeing the bottom of my email inbox, a laundry basket or my closet floor. But it hasn't been all mundane, there's been a bit of soul searching too. I've felt a bit juju deficient lately. A bit run down. Not quite melancholy, just weary, and also unsexy. The soul searching has been about big things... trying to open myself up to various "potentials" and "opportunities".

Some of these are opportunities that 1300 people a day apply just to get a shot at, but not me. I'm being sought out by Goodco and instead of being elated, I'm feeling stressed out by what the interview will do to my already full schedule, and how psycho my dog may become after more time away from home. Then there's the 3 million what-ifs about relocation and cost of living. It would be poetic irony for me to finally complete the remodeling projects and never get to live in the finished house, but it's not what I want.

What DO I want though? Ay, there's the rub!

It's an interesting time. I've been taking some initiative lately. Had a little "Come to Jesus" meeting with my new boss to let her know that I'm a bit frustrated and although committed, needing to manage my own career and ensure I'll be appropriately utilized and valued. I think she understands that I'm a flight risk without me giving her an ultimatum.

My career is doing much better outside of the office though. My panel at SXSW was accepted and we kicked off Geek Open Season at the SXSW party at Beauty Bar. It was cool to reconnect with old colleagues and meet new random tipsy geeks. Funnier still was looking for an old colleague I saw walk in the bar, but lost sight of, only to be called out by some random guy I've never seen before.

At least I thought I'd never seen him before. He didn't look familiar at all and the nametag didn't tell me anything. Turns out it was Elvis from the annual holiday bar crawl. I didn't recognize him without the wig and shades... and was shocked to realize that anyone could identify me! I mean, I somehow thought that wearing a costume would render me anonymous, but evidently reindeer antlers aren't much of a disguise.

We chatted for a bit; he introduced me to a few folks that I needed to meet (including my latest crush Hugh Forrest *sigh*... so dreamy). We enjoyed a few cocktails and then he took me to a late dinner at Paradise Cafe a few blocks down the road.

We talked for a few hours and enjoyed some interesting and offbeat conversation. Ah, these alternative males. He's creative and cool, but will he be normal enough to sustain my long term interest? Time will tell.

He's already called to schedule our next date, but deadlines, previous theater plans, a friend's gig and the superbowl are looming. It'll have to wait.