Irony

I'm pretty far behind in my photo challenge, but I'm still plugging along.  I may end up combining some days into one post, just so I can catch up.
The 8th photo on the list was for one that makes me laugh.  Yes, I have all kinds of pictures of Boo that make me smile and giggle and outright laugh.  But there was one, lurking in the back of my photos on Flickr that really makes me grin.  Maybe not laugh so much, but I really appreciate it.
This is from a trip out to Arizona in 2007.  I was in Phoenix and I had a little free time, so I went exploring.  Just outside of Phoenix I saw this sign:

There wasn't really a tree in sight.  There was lots and lots of scrub and some cacti, but nothing I, as an Easterner, could really call a forest.  Therefore, to me, this sign is pure irony.
That's not to say that there weren't any trees.  Just that they were few and far between.  Like this cottonwood.

Anyhow, the whole situation seemed a little surreal to me.
But I love that kind of thing.  Thanks to my dad, I've got a fairly unique perspective on the world and sense of humor.  Dad loves word play, finding the absurd in the literal and the literal in the absurd.  You're never quite sure exactly how he's going to twist something around on it's head and make you laugh.  Or, at least I laugh because I can see the humor in it.  Unfortunately for me, too many people just don't get the humor in it.
This caused me some real problems in school, especially in college where half my professors were stuffy old men.  (Not Big Wolf though, he was an old man and a Marine, but there was a big heart and a small sense of humor lurking underneath the gruff exterior...)  And most of the ones that weren't stuffy old men, were young professors or adjuncts who were trying to prove themselves serious to these stuffy old men.  That left someone like me, who has taken Dad's advice that life is to serious to be taken seriously to heart, a little bit baffled and misunderstood at times.  I can't tell you how many times something that I thought was quite witty and funny fell flat because my audience just didn't see the humor.  But, that's OK.  Some people get it, and I get it, so that's why I keep trying.
For example, I pointed out the irony of the National Forest sign to some people at work saying how it amused me (fully understanding the designation, but still finding it funny) and I start to get a lecture on National Forests and blah, blah, blah (I tuned out about here since they totally missed my point...).  But, I still enjoy it.  I still try and find the humor in the every day.

Peace to you all and may you find humor in your life.

Whirlwind Week?

OK. I haven't written all week. Mostly due to being busy until late, not having my power cord for my laptop and just not getting to it. Below is something that I wrote on Wednesday morning, but never did manage to post. I meant to post it that evening, but it was 9pm when I got back to my room. Like I said, I didn't have my power cord with me, so I was trying to stretch my battery power as long as I could.
I'm home now. I'm tired, cranky and feeling very much behind the 8-ball so to say. There are a few things I've let fall through the cracks and are catching up to me. I've not pulled my share of work around the house and it shows and is making me cranky. I'm on the road again next week and only slightly looking forward to it. I should be home Wednesday evening though, so that should be good. There's a lot of crapola going on and well, I am just feeling overwhelmed and out of time. This being busy non-stop is almost worse than the terrible boredom from March when I was home the entire month. (Admittedly, there are a couple of things I'm sweating now that I should have paid attention to then...)
Anyhow, read my 'post' from Wednesday and enjoy. I hope to do better with it next week. Peace and enjoy the weekend!

Written during the opening remarks of the conference I am at:
This week is the annual user group and trade show for my business. Last year we were in Columbus, and that wasn’t so much fun. It was cool and damp and just not a pretty city. This year we are in Phoenix. I like Phoenix.
Monday was a travel day. The trip was uneventful. I got in around mid-day so I had a chance to wander around a bit.
Yesterday was our user’s group. Overall it went well. One of out presenters went a little long and was a little too geeky for many people. I didn’t have to actually present anything, which was a nice change.
Normally the evenings are filled with taking customers out to ‘wine and dine’ at crowded, noisy restaurants. It really isn’t very fun to me. Last night was different though. One of our customers who is helping host the trade show invited a handful of people over for dinner. There were probably around 20 people there. It was nice and laidback and a good time. There were several ‘competitors’ there, some of whom used to work for the same company as me, and we could just relax and hangout. I like those kinds of events.
Today is the first day of the trade show. The customer who hosted the party last night is running the opening session. Very fun. I hope today goes well. It should. I get to be ‘demo girl’ and show off our system. Not too different from training some days.
On another note, I got a call from my mom yesterday afternoon. My Gram had her 3-month procedure done after the removal of that mass that was first found back in November.
The results were not good. The mass is back and bigger than ever. It looks like they may have to actually remove the kidney. This is major surgery. Gram turned 84 in February. This would be tough surgery on anyone. I’m really worried and scared. I know there isn’t anything I can do from here, but it still nags at the back of my mind. We’ll know more in a couple of weeks when Gram has her next doctor’s appointment. Mom will be there and keep me in the loop.Well, I should be paying attention to the speakers; I am here for work. Peace.

Travel Trials

Today went really well. We ended up doing all of the EDR stuff today, so we don't have to get together tomorrow. Unfortunately, it's costing me a bundle to change my flight, but I don't really care. I haven't changed that many flights this year and I've already put in a full week. My boss can yell at me later. (He probably won't, but I'd understand if he did....)
I really liked my group this week. They were all good people. I really enjoyed my guy from Alabama and my guy from Ireland.
Today for lunch we went to Alice Cooper's restaurant, which is near the stadiums. It was quite good. I ended up back there for dinner with my Irish friend. I had run out (and around in circles) trying to find a charger for my phone. It decided to start running out of charge while I was on the phone trying to change my flight. As I'm walking back into the hotel, my Irish friend was walking out. He invited me to join him for dinner. I said sure if I could go plug in my phone. It was quite nice. I really do enjoy talking with people from outside this country. It is nice to get a new perspective on things. We talked about all kinds of things. Including our spouses. Yes Gak, I talk about you. Probably I bore most people to tears with how much I talk about you. Mostly we talked about a little bit of everything. Like I said, it was quite enjoyable to have dinner with someone for a change.
Now I'm getting ready to crash so I can wake up in the morning and pack. I'll be home by 10pm tomorrow. That's almost 24 hours early! I can't wait! (I do have work I should probably at least look at over the weekend, since I've got to do training for the service group Tuesday and Wednesday. That's a whole different story and not one I'm looking forward to...)
Well, peace to all and good dreams.

Wandering Wednesday

Today I had an off day.
Not as in, a bad, cranky or just not working day, but a day I didn't have to teach.
Monday and Tuesday we managed to get through the content that was supposed to take us through this morning. Therefore, everyone decided to have today off and resume Thursday and into Friday.
This meant I got to get out of Phoenix.
Don't get me wrong, I like Phoenix. It's a city though and I only like being in a city for so long.
I wasn't sure where I was going to go or what I was going to do. There are lots of things to do and see.
I ended up starting my day driving through Tonto National Forest.
Yes, a forest in Arizona.
It's a forest of mostly cacti, and some mesquite scrub.
I didn't really stay there very long. There were signs posted in the parking lots about needing a parking pass. Supposedly you were supposed to know this back in town (8 or more miles away) and pick one up. I did pull over a few places and took some pictures.
After wandering around a bit, I decided I would head towards Tuscon and see what I could find. Someone had suggested I head to Old Tuscon, but I had no idea exactly where this is. I ended up at Picacho State Park. (No, I do not mean a little yellow annoying critter... it's a mountain.) I wandered along one trail for a good 1.5 hours or so. I think I went about a mile or so in and back out. The trail itself actually headed up to the summit and is quite difficult further on. The first two miles or so are pretty easy. I took lots and lots of pictures, playing with my new camera.
Unfortunately, you won't see any right now.
I'm at war with my laptop.
I was having problems getting the computer to recognize the camera.
I bought a card reader to solve this problem.
It all installed quite easily, including the driver.
When I rebooted and tried to use it, I got an error that it couldn't be used because the registry may be corrupt.
Forget it. I'll wait until I get home.
I tell you though, my soul was fed quite well today. I didn't walk far, but I enjoyed every step. Unfortunately, I had to head back to Phoenix. Like I said, it's a nice place, but it is still a city.
What is really funny though is what happened when I walked along the 1/4 mile kids trail. There were about 5 or 6 signs along the trail talking about habitat and what makes one. I found myself thinking about activities I'd do at each station with the kids and the kinds of responses I'd be likely to get. I really truly do miss the nature center. By my response today to the trail, I guess you can say that I am an environmental educator to the core. It's just too bad that I can't seem to figure out how to get it to pay as well (or even half as well...) as my current job. Ah well. my soul will have to be content with these periodic wanderings and orienteering adventures.
Well, I've got a little work do and stuff to get ready for tomorrow.
Peace to all and may your electronics play nice and you find somewhere to enjoy the beauty that is this world.

Phinally Phoenix

Ok. I couldn't resist that headline.
So far this trip is going a lot better than I had feared.
Other than the construction. I'm glad I don't live here, the construction is planned to last two years. What construction you ask? They are putting in a new above ground light rail system. And Central Ave. is just that, the central avenue and so therefore is the most torn up. This created a fun adventure just getting to the hotel. It sits back off the road behind a couple of office buildings and no prominant sign on the road. Oh well. I got to see a lot of downtown Phoenix in the dark.
The setup this morning went extreamly well. I was done in about 45 minutes. I like when that happens. I ended up running a little late to the class myself though. I was waiting for my student from Ireland and finally gave up. It turns out he was already over there. *sigh* Oh well, now I know not to wait for him tomorrow.
The class went well today. It should be a good day tomorrow. I do have one guy in the class who was forced to switch to our software from a company he liked a lot. He's a little cranky and bitter, but I can deal.
Tonight we're going for dinner. It should be interesting. I'll let ya know.
Phoenix really is a nice looking place. Hopefully Wednesday and/or Friday I'll be able to get out and about a bit and see some of the neat places.
Well, I've got to go meet my group for dinner. Peace to all and enjoy where you are!