i am a normal person!

march 18

I have the beginnings of a normal life. Last week, I was out of the office by 6 PM every night, except one, where I was out by 7. This is a minor miracle. I even did some actual socializing during the work week--one night out for pizza with friends, another "working" at a chi-chi wine tasting (which means I got in for free) thanks to my Food World Rock Star friend, Polly.

This all came about, however, as a means to survival. After that several week stretch where Lisa and I were killing ourselves on that pitch, and then where I worked on another even though it wasn't something I should have spent my energy on, I got really sick. In bed with the flu for almost six days. 104 degree temp. Aches, shakes, the works.

And my immune system was obviously seriously compromised because in the middle of that illness I came down with this bizarre viral rash that is supposed to last for months. Greaaaaat. The rashy part is mostly hidden under clothes, but it's keeping me from a full recovery. I'm always thirsty, always tired, and usually have a headache. However, I can safely say that I've learned my lesson.

In the end, though, it was kind of worth it because...WE GOT THE ACCOUNT!! Woo hoo! It was very exciting. We so deserved it. We kicked ass. We sign the contract today. This thing may fly after all. Who knew.

The other fabulous news is that A* gets to keep his job. They realized that he was responsible for over half of their quarterly revenue and that they wouldn't be able to deliver on the accounts they have now without him. Duh. You'd think people would evaluate these things before they start laying people off. At least they figured it out before it was too late. It did mean that some poor marketing guy lost his job, but apparently he was dead weight.

A* is still looking into opportunities at companies with real profit that aren't venture funded--because as long as you're venture funded you're never secure--but at least he's not moving to San Diego.

Thanks to my (probably irrational) feelings of financial security, and my new commitment to domesticity, we poured more money into the house this weekend. Really, they were all things that had to be done anyway. Like finish the repainting of our second bedroom that we've been working on for THREE YEARS. I shit you not. It's only because we can live without it.

We bought the paint and the glaze and the picture-hanging molding we'll replace. The scheme is this: painting below the molding in a sage green with a darker shade of glaze over it and combing it to create the effect of a grass mat. Or something like that. Above the molding and the ceiling will be a warm cream color. The trim will be dark brown. The idea is to have a somewhat Japanese look.

I also planted hundreds of annual seeds, and a few perennials, in starter trays. Why does that take so blasted long? I swear I spent eight hours over the two days poking little microscopic seeds into dirt. If all goes well, though, I will have tons of coleus and columbines and zinnias and sunflowers and alyssum and cosmos. And I won't have to buy them and will be able to spend money on more shrubs instead. That's my plan.

And back to those irrational feelings of financial security, I just ICQ'd A* and asked him to contemplate the pros and cons of having a kid right now. I'll let you know how that turns out.

- march 18