Can’t Believe I’m Typing It…

Thanks God for McDonald’s – The largest international chain of public toilets.

A Lesson In Zoology

A picture I would have taken if I could pull my camera out of the bag quickly enough: Orange reinventing zoology on one of the transport busses in Ben Gurion Airport as part of its directions campaign by displaying a couple of penguins under the title North.

Last Minute

I have to be at the airport in approximately two hours, and I’m beginning to feel a bit stressed, just like I tend to be before every trip. This time I may have a good reason, though. It’s the busiest time of the year at the airport, and I want to be there on time, but so far there have been a few things that caused slight delays.

Yesterday I was trying to pack my stuff into my new rucksack. I started by laying everything I thought I will need on the bed, and then trying to pack it all, in what seemed to be a reasonable order that will save space and make sure everything would fit in. Soon enough the bag was filled, but there was still a pile of stuff on the bed, and a few things that I remembered that I forgot to add to the pile. I took everything out, decided about a few things that the will not be needed after all, and tried again. It all went fine until I tried packing my towel. It just took too much space. I was tired and my mind was just not working. I decided that it will have to wait until the morning.

This morning, on a last minute rush, I went to the outdoors equipment shop that was opening earliest to buy one of those super thin hi-tech towels. I hope it will work, but at least now everything fits in the bag.

Another slight delay may be caused by the cleaner. I sent her a message yesterday, asking her to come in early today so I can get everything done on time. Apparently, she recently changed her phone number and forgot to mention it. So the message never got there, and the cleaner only showed up later while I was out shopping. I do hope she finishes here soon; there are still a few things to sort out before Lone Wolf will be here to take me to the airport.

Add to that a stomach ache that attacked me this morning, and there’s a bad start to a holiday. I hope everything will sort itself out very soon, and except for maybe some teary goodbyes at the airport, everything should go smoothly. Keep your fingers crossed.

Happy Birthday Biking Geek!

Another one of my dearest friends is passing the big divider between silly people with Nearly Thirty complications (like me) and the real world.

Have a wonderful birthday! See you at the party tonight.

Taking a Break?!

I never thought I’d be so busy, while I’m supposed to be on holiday. There are so many things to sort out, so many people to see, and already some meetings in my new workplace. However, all that running around does not stress me a bit. It’s not like all that time at work when I was busy and kept worrying about the things I don’t get to do. I guess that when I was working, the things I worried about are the things I don’t do that are outside of work, and now I just do all these other things.

I also try to spend as much time as I can with Lone Wolf. I know I am going to miss him when I’m away, despite all the latest communication technologies which I will do my best to use. We just spent a magical afternoon together, and even though I’m exhausted and have to be up early tomorrow, there is still a big smile on my face.

A strange statistic comes to mind. All my recent relationships have started while I was in late stages of planning a holiday or a business trip, and all were paused at early stages while I’ve been away. During all my recent travels I had someone at home that I missed to bits. I’m not sure, but I think it may be a good thing. It may be just a cliché, but seems to me that distance does make the heart grow fonder.

Free at Last

That’s it, I’m done with my old work place, and here comes the new one.

Yesterday was very emotional, though still very busy. There were a lot of things that needed to be done before I leave, and this was supplemented by soppy goodbyes. Actually, the whole week was like that, from the day I announced my departure. Just to get things done and pass them on to the next person. With my head already in Ireland, concentration was not easy. To add to it all, there were Lone Wolf’s sweet whispers in my ear and touching words through my IM that made my heart race and my head wonder.

No, I am not complaining at all. I’m so excited about all my new beginnings. My holiday is starting today, but the realisation of my new situation hasn’t quite sunk yet. I’m looking forward to my trip away so much. It is all so good; I just don’t want to jinx anything.

Initial Irish Plans

I’m starting to plan my holiday. I will take advantage of the fact that I’m being released early from my current job, and will try to find a flight to London for as early as a week and a half away, and from there it shouldn’t be too difficult to continue to Dublin. This is the easy part.

The difficult part seems to be to find a partner. So far I asked most of my friends, and some of my family, and for everyone it’s either too expensive or too short notice. Would any of you, dear readers, like to come to Ireland with me? Please drop me a note in the comments or by email.

Changes

For a while now I’ve been fantasizing about the moment in which I will be sitting in my boss’ office, with a big smile on my face, and the words “I’m quitting” will just come flowing out of my mouth. However, since my boss is away on holiday, and so are the rest of the senior management in the company, my pleasure today was reduced to sitting in front of the HR administrator and telling her that I am handing in my notice.

Yes, my friends, it finally happened! I found a new job and I’m moving on! Today I’m too excited to think clearly about anything, but tomorrow I will be planning my trip to Ireland, and get all my dates sorted out. The new job will start as soon as I’m back, and I am looking forward to it.

More information about my plans will be posted as soon as my head starts working again.

Flying High Above My Head

Once upon a time I used to care about what’s going on in my job, but not things have changed. I haven’t handed in my notice yet. I haven’t even found a new job yet (though things are looking good at the moment), but I already feel like I’m not quite here. People come to me with requests and tasks to be done, and the only thought that goes through my mind is “Why do they care about such trivial nonsense? Don’t they have better things to do?”

Still, I try to stay low and not make it shown. I do my tasks to the best of my ability, though without any joy. Limbo periods are never nice, but I have a feeling this one will be over very soon.

Nearly Thirty Crisis Update: My Friends Turning Thirty

It is not only me; most of my friends are turning thirty this year. Actually, I think that I will be the last of my friends who were born in 1974 to be moving on to the next decade of my life. Each one of us is taking it differently, but it is quite obvious that for everyone that turning point provides a little personal crisis, even for those who claim they don’t care.

This is not a bad thing. On the contrary, my friends turned their crisis and age related reflection into a chance to take control over matters that have been disturbing them, and move on. One friend changed her whole career path, from a successful hi-tech job into travelling around the world, and from there she moved on to teaching. She now wears a constant smile on her face. Two other friends decided they don’t want to be alone anymore, and signed up to a dating site. For the first time in many years they took a break from work to try out a relationship, and both now have new girlfriends that make them happy.

Last night we celebrated the thirtieth birthday of Adi (Happy Birthday!). She is the one who once declared that there are three forms of death: marriage, kids and the age of thirty (in Hebrew it even rhymes). Yesterday she reached one of these, and as far as I know, she is still alive. She organised a party on the beach, which unfortunately I couldn’t stay at for long. Despite her usual morbid jokes, she seemed happy.

If Adi can make it, anyone can! (Biking Geek, you’re next…)