Closing Time

I get tired of things closing.

Two months ago, my favorite Thai food joint.   Last month, the little Italian bakery in the area where I worked.

Then, just heard one of the truly elegant venues for live music in St. Pete, the venerable "Dave's Aqua Lounge"... a dive bar of the highest standing.   Sigh.  Breathed its last. 

Not a lot of unique places I love to haunt in the Bay Area any more.  Not recession proof.   Plenty of chain resturants, naturally.  Still, I can get tickets to the Bucs games (because no one else wants to see them) and tickets to the USF Bulls games (because no one else wants to see them; bad football juju in the TB area).

But, I can go to 3-4 days of the Clearwater Jazz Festival this weekend.   And see Tower of Power.   And Amos Lee.   And Brandi Carlisle.  That'll do. 

quid

Struggling Through December

I have been in transition for the three weeks that have gone by this month...non-blogging! I left one job and started another....managed to get a little XMAS shopping done, but I must admit, I am in a financial headlock until the first paycheck from the new job arrives. I muddle on.

It was hard to leave Macy's at the holidays... most employers play the holiday season politically correctly -- to the chagrin of most employees. Decorations revolve around "snowman" themes, and the phrase "happy holidays" is used. Most big employers make the mistake of outlawing traditional Christmas themes (trees, Santa, carols, etal...) to make sure they don't risk offending non-Christians. Macy's is realistic; probably over 60% of their total profits accrue to the Christmas habits of the Christian world. Thus, while there, I was bastioned with trees, Santa, elves, carolling music tracks, a choir.... all the things you used to get in the workplace. Macy's proudly displayed their "holidays around the world" table, with a ton of information about Kwanzaa, Hannukah and holidays in general. They had a diversity day where people brought their holiday ethnic desserts from home, and small plates of each were sold to raise cash for a charitable organization. There was a can drive for the food pantry and a toy drive for All Children's hospital. All in all, it was like the holiday traditions I experienced in corporate America in the 70's and 80's, when we weren't so damn politically correct.

I have only worked at the hospice for 2 training days and this was my 5th day of "real" work. In that time, I have had a holiday appetizer/cooky reception, a lunch from the VP at the Cheesecake Factory (yes, I confess, I ordered tiramasu cheesecake)gifts, holiday coffee flavors in the breakroom... and not a lot of work to do since so many people are out for vacation. It will start in earnest in January. Until that time, I am trying to figure out what I will do at a company that doesn't, by the workload, demand that I work at least 50 hours a week. Don't get me wrong; I'm not complaining. I'm just not used to the cheer and the lack of driving-us-into-the-ground mentality. I can get used to it.

Tonight, and until I get out at 2 pm tomorrow (early release for the holiday, another perk!) I am nursing a sinus infection and will part with the copayment money tomorrow to insure that I get seen/antibiotics so that I can get rid of this thing. Tom and I are decorating late (tomorrow) and I will have Christmas Eve with friend Allen while Tom goes out with his dad, and Christmas Day together. We're doing Beef Wellington (all groceries bought early and paid for, whew!) and movies at home. I'm thinking a lot of sloth...before we go to friends' for the evening.

I am sending out e-cards to all for whom I have email addresses, but wanted to thank those of you who practice the paper card tradition for helping my place look so festive. And, if I don't have your email address, I wish you, in advance:

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!