aroraborealis

Puerto Morelos continues to be delightful. I've fallen into a rhythm of chillaxing during the day and then venturing into town in the evening, for the most part, though the last couple of days, I've visited town (about a mile away) during the day AND the evening.

Today, I geared up and ventured in to catch a boat ride and snorkel tour of the nearby reef, which was just great. It was a totally lively and beautiful reef ecosystem, with (among others) multiple sightings of barracuda and trumpetfish and of course all the other little colorful tinies you see in a thriving reef setting.

I lucked into a small, inexpensive operation, where they also gave me the Mexican price for the tour, since I speak Spanish. I had my doubts about this (everyone always promises a good price, after all), but the other folks on the boat mentioned what they'd paid, and it was, in fact, a bit more than my price (but not so much that I felt incensed on their behalf). Then it turned out I was the only client who spoke Spanish, and the tour guides had pretty rudimentary English, so I got to play translator, which I always enjoy, so I think everyone won. I'm thinking about going out again tomorrow, because, well, it's not normally every day that you get to splash around a gorgeous reef, after all.

Now, I'm just waiting for the sun to get a little lower before I dive back into the water here at the B&B. MOAR splashing!

The vast majority of my time here is in motion in some way or another: hammock, bed suspended by ropes, swimming, boating, walking, biking, taxiing ... so I'm slightly discombobulated those rare times when I'm sitting in a chair that rests on the ground. I think that means everything is just the way it should be.

2.5 years ago:

Before I started at my current job, there was a minor ruckus about my position that I don't really know much about, but a result of it was that when I came on board, there was some ruckus about me in a small corner of the organization that didn't matter a whole lot to me. One woman in particular -- Cindy -- made it very clear right away that she didn't like me or the job I'd been hired to do, and she's the sort of person who takes a lot of pride in being harsh and "tell it like it is", so she was quite explicit in letting me know the ways that I was not up to snuff in her opinion, starting with my hair and continuing to my professional background as she knew it. Okay, fine, this is someone I have to deal with very infrequently (though not never), so, ok, I'll ignore all the bullshit and just do my job as professionally as possible around her. Which I do.

2 years ago:

Cindy had led an irrelevant campaign trying to prevent my promotion. I got promoted.

1 month ago:

Cindy said to Michele, who reports to me, that she'd like to move to supporting someone in our division. Michele says to Cindy, "Of course that would mean reporting to Rosa ..." and Cindy responds, "Well, that might not be so bad."

This week:

Someone I've never heard of emails me to ask if we can have lunch, saying Cindy suggested she contact me. Later that day, I run into Cindy and say, "Hey, your friend emailed me. We're gonna have lunch sometime!" Cindy says, "I've known her since she was born and she just started working here and she's having a real hard time finding people who are weird and interesting, and I told her she could reach out to you, that you know all the best weird people to know and that you could really help her. Thanks for taking her under your wing."

The most absurd parts of my job are always when I'm doing something super fun but feeling stressed about it. Like, I'm running late for the boat party and have to stop to buy 30 pool noodles and I can't find the entrance to the Target parking lot. Or, I'm so hungover from the first night of parties at the retreat, but I have to restock for night 2, so I'm miserably buying two grocery carts of booze that I can't imagine ever wanting to drink ever again.

Last night, my four (4) three-liter (3L) cocktail aging barrels arrived. Hooray!

Except, uhm, this means that I need 12L of spirits to start using them. If your typical bottle holds 750mL, this means I need 16 bottles, assuming I use the full contents of each. So, uh, I guess I'm investing in booze this weekend.

"Hello!

"You just received what I can only describe as a wine bouquet, it will be here at reception whenever you would like to pick it up, thanks!"

People, how is this job even real?

I just organized a field day for the portion of my team participating in a pilot mentor/mentee program. We had tug o' war and egg relay and egg race and water balloon toss and hilarity and general awesomeness.

Seriously, I get paid for this?

I got up this morning before the fingers of dawn had become rosy, and along with veek, eestiplika, moominmolly, dilletante, and little N, ventured to the banks of the Charles River with small boats made of folded paper and candles to set them afloat and afire and welcome the solstice sun.

We watched the sun peek over the horizon, a distant dim pink at first, slowly brightening as it rose above the haze of Boston. Welcome, summer, we're glad you're here!

Today's song is Hope on Fire by Vienna Teng:

Hey, do you love crazy inspiration, creativity, and playfulness? Do you want there to be more of it in the world? Do you have a little money to contribute to the cause? If so, please consider pitching in for the Boston Circus Guild's current kickstarter, here.

This is going to be an awesome show, and not only do I want them to have the money to really run with it, but I also want to see what they come up with next!

Last night, moominmolly, dilletante, N and I went to see Bobby McFerrin in Providence. Thanks to whoever it was who pointed out to me that show!

I've been having a super stressful week, and I actually got some extra-stressful news just before the concert, so there was a big part of me that was wishing it was happening any other week. Earlier in the day, I briefly considered skipping it.

But I didn't skip it! and I am so glad.

Bobby McFerrin's music is so wonderful and utterly playful, and hearing him live takes it to a whole new level, because it's not just the music he's playing with, but the people, too. His whole body is an instrument -- and an incredibly versatile one -- and also the auditorium and the people in it are instruments he plays with a grounded glee that is captivating.

And because each audience and venue is different, and he's always improvising, each time seeing him is completely different, so I really can't wait for the next time.

On the bright side!

Things I love today, also an incomplete list:

1. beer fridge
2. dubstep
3. having my to-do list under control
4. clever and humorous responses to things I hate
5. writing my new job description!

What do you love today?