My last post touched on my financial concerns about my upcoming trip to England in February. Well, The Man has announced kazillions of new tour dates. He's going to be in Montreal and Toronto with Beck. Then in the US with Roger Daltrey and again in Europe with Steve Winwood (I saw them twice and WOW! what a show!). So now the dilemma - this economic downturn is forcing me, with white knuckles and clenched teeth, to reconsider the feasibility of making enough money for England in just 10 weeks. THEN, and this is no biggie: Clapton is playing in Raleigh in March, just 2-1/2 hours away, modest ticket price, no way I'm not going but why not hop on down to Orlando and also see his show there LOL If I had the money and time, I'd just follow him across the world. Alas, I'm not independently wealthy.
Another option: I really, really, really want to see Clapton with Winwood, and thought why not Paris, instead of London again? . . . Remember Laverne and Shirley and the bug/insect climbing up the rubber tree plant - that's how I feel with my extravagant trips HAHA. I haven't completely lost my perspective though. I realize how very fortunate I am to still have job(s) and a home, car, food, and utilities - some people don't. My family is being taken care and all this Clapton traveling is such a desire, not a necessity. At least, I'm level-headed enough, at least most of the time, to understand that!
The most amazing aspect of all this Clapton groupie nonsense is that I never thought I'd be in the position to even consider trips to Europe and Florida. When I was able to make enough money for that trip to England last year, I couldn't believe it! I did it - all by myself! The concerts were amazing, London was fascinating, I loved the accents, and the history, but the best part of all of it was that I had a goal, worked damned hard, and accomplished it - doing something I never, ever thought I'd do - travel to Europe. I need to keep that feeling in mind as I contemplate the Angels' Race.
When I'm faced with this kind of indecision, the answer comes to me as I wake in the morning. I'll let you know what it is! Or you can certainly offer suggestions.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Random Happenings
After being sick for two weeks, I'm beginning to feel somewhat like my "old" self (don't like that word!). Instead of running of 4 cylinders, I'm running on 7. For those of you who don't understand the cylinders metaphor, a car runs on 8! However, my getting sick was inevitable with Daisy, then Missy, being sick. But whenever I get congested with a cold, it always progresses to something more; this time it is bronchitis. In the last week, there's been a little going on and here's the update:
Angels Race
I'm still committed to participating. I bought a couple of training books, have research extensively online (isn't the internet great?!), and put money down on, what to me, is a very expensive road bike. This "sport" is expensive but I have 20 weeks to the actual race so can spread out my equipment purchases. I'm still looking for someone to join me. I have a friend who may be interested but our schedules are sometimes flipped with her working nights and my working days. We'll see how it goes. At this point, I can't breathe that well so training is going to have to wait for a few more days.
Scholarly Work
I have four (hopefully) papers to write between now and the end of May. I'm still waiting to hear about one for the Sport and Society: Mirror of Culture conference in May. The first priority is a postfeminist analysis of the television series, The Closer; it's due February 28th. The next is revising my master's thesis for submission to a journal; it's a semiotic analysis of the films Days of Thunder, Cars, and Talladega Nights. The other is a "queer" reading of Roseanne, Will & Grace, and Boston Legal. Finally, the paper for the conference, if accepted, is a discourse analysis of the Michael Vick scandal, focusing on African American quarterbacks in the NFL. Lots of work, because with all that I have to put together the syllabi for my classes next semester and work on applications for PhD programs, which are due January 15th.
All of these commitments, other than the syllabi, are voluntary. Why am I doing this to myself? First and foremost, I enjoy writing the papers. Well, maybe enjoy isn't the right word, but it's not a chore like it may be for a college student. I learn while I'm doing it and what an incredible sense of accomplishment when a lengthy paper is finally finished! Definitely, a "Wow, look at what I am able to do!" The triathlon is just something that I've always considered and never thought I could; you know, it was one of those, "Someday, later on, when x is done, etc." but I realized I don't have to wait - I can do it now. My inner demons, like procrastination, will be my biggest challenge. All in all, this is all do-able; the only thing stopping me is ME! Sometimes, I can just be my own worst enemy . . . can you relate?
Finally, I'm concerned about getting to London in February. I bought a ticket to the Jeff Beck/Eric Clapton concert at the O2 on February 13. My birthday is February 15th and as a very unattached person, Valentine's Day is just another day but this is kindof my gift to myself. My concern is finances. Business at the restaurant has decreased drastically, with my income from that source being reduced about 50-80% a week - not conducive to a pricey trip abroad. Along with the slowdown in business, there are too many people on the schedule, so EVERYONE is trying to pick up shifts. I'm going on Monday to put in applications but the downturn in business maybe going on at all the restaurants - I'm still hopeful though. Earlier this year, I went through the same thing. I had a ticket to see EC at Royal Albert Hall in May, and busted my butt to make the money. I was anxious about it until a week before, but I kept plugging away. The only way I wasn't going on that trip is if I was in a coffin! One thing for sure about my personality: I'm incredibly determined, not stubborn, but focused on my goal. Even my ex-husband offered that compliment: when I set my mind to do something, I do it! I'm counting on that trait to get me through the next six months.
All in all, lots going on, but good, good things!
Angels Race
I'm still committed to participating. I bought a couple of training books, have research extensively online (isn't the internet great?!), and put money down on, what to me, is a very expensive road bike. This "sport" is expensive but I have 20 weeks to the actual race so can spread out my equipment purchases. I'm still looking for someone to join me. I have a friend who may be interested but our schedules are sometimes flipped with her working nights and my working days. We'll see how it goes. At this point, I can't breathe that well so training is going to have to wait for a few more days.
Scholarly Work
I have four (hopefully) papers to write between now and the end of May. I'm still waiting to hear about one for the Sport and Society: Mirror of Culture conference in May. The first priority is a postfeminist analysis of the television series, The Closer; it's due February 28th. The next is revising my master's thesis for submission to a journal; it's a semiotic analysis of the films Days of Thunder, Cars, and Talladega Nights. The other is a "queer" reading of Roseanne, Will & Grace, and Boston Legal. Finally, the paper for the conference, if accepted, is a discourse analysis of the Michael Vick scandal, focusing on African American quarterbacks in the NFL. Lots of work, because with all that I have to put together the syllabi for my classes next semester and work on applications for PhD programs, which are due January 15th.
All of these commitments, other than the syllabi, are voluntary. Why am I doing this to myself? First and foremost, I enjoy writing the papers. Well, maybe enjoy isn't the right word, but it's not a chore like it may be for a college student. I learn while I'm doing it and what an incredible sense of accomplishment when a lengthy paper is finally finished! Definitely, a "Wow, look at what I am able to do!" The triathlon is just something that I've always considered and never thought I could; you know, it was one of those, "Someday, later on, when x is done, etc." but I realized I don't have to wait - I can do it now. My inner demons, like procrastination, will be my biggest challenge. All in all, this is all do-able; the only thing stopping me is ME! Sometimes, I can just be my own worst enemy . . . can you relate?
Finally, I'm concerned about getting to London in February. I bought a ticket to the Jeff Beck/Eric Clapton concert at the O2 on February 13. My birthday is February 15th and as a very unattached person, Valentine's Day is just another day but this is kindof my gift to myself. My concern is finances. Business at the restaurant has decreased drastically, with my income from that source being reduced about 50-80% a week - not conducive to a pricey trip abroad. Along with the slowdown in business, there are too many people on the schedule, so EVERYONE is trying to pick up shifts. I'm going on Monday to put in applications but the downturn in business maybe going on at all the restaurants - I'm still hopeful though. Earlier this year, I went through the same thing. I had a ticket to see EC at Royal Albert Hall in May, and busted my butt to make the money. I was anxious about it until a week before, but I kept plugging away. The only way I wasn't going on that trip is if I was in a coffin! One thing for sure about my personality: I'm incredibly determined, not stubborn, but focused on my goal. Even my ex-husband offered that compliment: when I set my mind to do something, I do it! I'm counting on that trait to get me through the next six months.
All in all, lots going on, but good, good things!
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