Two cool things happened within the last 24 hours.
1). Got to serve a flaming shrimp dish to the guitarist of the B-52's.
My first night at this new place and the job was not to set the B-52 or his friends on fire. He was very nice and one in the group commented with a slight joke, slight tone of concern: "They let the new girl serve fire?"
Never did I think I'd be serving something flaming to a B-52. Shouldn't that be the other way around? It took all my strength not to shout "Love shack, BABY" in Fred Schneider's voice.
2) Swam with a dolphin at Ft. Zach today
Went for my "day off" swim and on entering the water with snorkel; heard some clicking noises. Didn't think too much of it until I stopped to adjust my mask and seagrass blew straight up out of the water scaring the crap out of me. Looks like I had a swimming buddy.
Things have been shifting. I've felt it for the last few months and I'm sure you know how that goes. It's kinda like a game, pieces start moving one by one and by the time you notice it, you're on a completely different game board. This does not happen by accident but by hard work.
It starts by surrounding yourself with people, places, activities that align with what you're about; who you are; what you enjoy. I've felt a bit scattered this past month but have had a couple interesting things pop up as they do to ask me again what I want. Do I want to do the shit I've done before or am I creating a new path? I choose the latter.
First off, I got a chance to look at a cheaper place to possibly rent. It's was a bit cheaper and a bit bigger but looked abandoned. The property had dead leaves everywhere and when I asked about screens for the windows, the guy told me I really didn't need them. Living here in summertime the bugs might as well have a blood donation van parked out front. On the second questioning and a silent response, I knew there were no screens.
I sat in it for a long time and thought to myself - anyone would snap this up, it's a good deal. I could use the extra space to work in; save a little cash. Sitting there, I went through a montage of the places I've lived in and a lot of them were like it. Rental properties where the owner is sorta there, will do the bare minimum and the reward is low rent.
Then I thought of the place I'm in now. It's well kept, there's a lot of life there (even if it is tourists) they're happy and the owner is definitely present bending over backwards to make it nice. There's a lot of love and you can feel it. It beams light as soon as you walk in. Something that I find priceless. I cannot go back to those abandoned homes - I want to be taken care of.
I went to one of my jobs where I work one day a week. The owner has been doing gangbuster business this year but she really works for it. They have an organic working style that shifts but is quite organized. They do a good job, are relaxed and welcoming. She asks me if I have everything I need cause they want to keep me happy and here - something I find amazing for a one day a week job.
"I have everything I need. I'm very happy to be here, in fact I love it." Let us know if you need anything and we'll make sure you get it she tells me. I cannot go back to abandoned businesses - I want to work hard for someone who cares.
Go to lunch with an old friend and meet a new one. The conversation is lively and interesting. After the visit, my old friend and I revel in the great group dynamic we just experienced.
It can be that easy, fun and stimulating. Those people are gems you cherish and appreciate the time you have together. When you surround yourself with peeps who aren't a drag or don't suck everything out of you; they can be like manna from heaven or maybe the scene in the Shawshank Redemption after Tim Robbins climbs out of the jail poop pipe he snaked through for hours. Glorious!
Hell, you might even get a chance to grow your business out of meeting such an individual which this week came so easily and naturally it was frightening. I will create space for myself - it pays off.
So here we are today. The pieces are moving and the sky is opening. A path is being created without force and I see it. A good bright orange DETOUR sign. As much as I loved where I've been, sometimes you realize it doesn't exactly match where you are now. In that instant, like tonight, I know it's time to say goodbye and it's not scary. It's just time.
Most people can't stand the void or staying still for that matter but it's then that your life is examined and change begins. Learning to be still creates movement in the right direction.
Time to get still and go with the motherfucking flow.
Just another day at the office. Something I got to thinking today at work. I've recently been informed that the kayak place needs more of me since the cruise ships have been rerouted due to a global pandemic. Damn you swine flu!
That means I will get my regular shift back. Not a horrible thing but I was trying to cut back a bit for sanity and other on-going projects. April was a slow month and quite the life saver. I needed to feel what it was like to have some continuous down time.
Because of that, I got to thinking about getting rid of the regular boat job schedule. As much as I like it, after working Saturday night, the last thing I want to do is get up early Sunday and work some more. It's the right thing to do. Time to go to fill in status, yup that's the ticket. Until we got out there today. Damn it, boat job. I just can't quit you!
The boat job started out as a band-aid for a bad situation I was in. I was trying to ease my way out of a not so hot job. You know how that goes.
I also chose it cause it was a challenge for me. I've never really been so great in water and actually was quite afraid of it at times. So learning to do the job, was a good chance to test and embarrass myself weekly in front of customers and fellow employees. After a few weeks and a few screams it quickly sank in and I grew to love it. In fact saved my ass in many, many ways.
The picture up top was snapped today by my captain as I pondered giving it up. I cannot fathom it.
We went to Cottrell Key which is probably my absolute favorite place to go and we only go there as a last resort usually due to rough winds. At Cottrell, the water is three shades of jewel-like green and everything looks wild. As soon as we enter the area I feel at peace. I feel such a strong connection to it. Ah, the torture!
Eh, it's not that bad. In fact it's great. It's exactly what I wanted.
After working in offices most of my professional life, I couldn't take it anymore and devised a plan to get out. I wanted to find a way to survive outside working in the only thing I knew. Think prison break but no orange suit, just a suit. Never really cared for being cooped up and in an office. Restriction and hierarchy not to mention those very scary team building retreats. It was all about boxing you in. Right down to the tiny windowless gray cubicle.
The prison break plan started off bumpy (unemployment for a full year anyone?) but after seeing what I did today, I realize it was a rousing success. That combined with the fact that I am currently doing the job I used to, but sans office.
This week I got a chance to write up some correspondence to a designer for changes to a client's website. She was going to talk to the designer herself but was nervous about getting everything we had discussed right.
I told her I could do it for her no problem if she wanted. Hell, I used to do this kind of stuff with my eyes closed at the agency. Making sure everything you want gets communicated clearly and implemented. After I sent it off, I realized how much I had been missing it. We've been doing a lot of strategic thinking, brainstorming, writing and revamping. It's been a blast.
On top of that, a summer promotional idea I came up with is being used at the restaurant starting this week. Things that I used to do for a company in a cubicle, I'm now doing for me sans office. I guess I just needed the right working conditions (see above).
It might seem extreme but it works and works pretty darn well. The right mix so to speak give or take a minor schedule adjustment. So I'll keep it for now and be mighty grateful for what I got. That's what I've been feeling as of late. Just keep going and look forward to seeing how it all unfolds.
Had a couple big saves today. Swam furiously to catch a rouge pool noodle and dove under the boat to retrieve a lost mask. Not a bad day at the office.
