Almost Normal ... Is is ever?

This morning I planned to write that my life was returning to normal. I will have my first weekend off since before Thanksgiving. I've nearly finished re-finishing the piano (pictures coming soon!) at the new house, and I'm nearly caught up at work.

Then a co-worker announced she was leaving - today. I was stunned. And, as always, it happened just as life was returning to normal.

I think abnormal is the normal state of affairs for my life.

I think "normal" should be stricken from the dictionary - and with it, abnormal. Why bother trying to qualify the undefinable?

More apt would be "common" and "uncommon." It is common for my life professional life to be in a state of constant upheaval.

And so, today, I attempt to remain on my feet (in a more or less graceful fashion) as life continues to shift around me.

It is tiring trying to maintain balance (and lately I have been quite unsuccessful, I must admit).

I look forward to my post-Christmas holiday break when, over 1000 miles away from Boston, I will be able to stand still -- at least for a few days.

The Scourge of Lingo

Every industry, every job, has associated lingo. IT guys talk about ... OK, I don't even know what they talk about ....

In construction folks discuss roof pitch, the merits of Bostitch and DeWalt over all other brands of power tools, and the appropriate uses for 16-penny and 12-penny nails.

In institutional advancement at a nonprofit, I end up throwing around phrases such as signage and verbage.

Ugh.

I hate business lingo. I cringe at marketing words like "momentum" and phrases like "generating buzz."

I despise discussing "signage" instead of "signs" and "verbage" instead of "words."

It's a scourge! It's suckage!

I should be a mime. There can't be much lingo when you're a mime.