Work is for the Birds

I'm sitting at work and I keep hearing this tap, tap, tapping sound. Every time it happens I think "What is that damn noise?" I look around but I don't see anything. Finally, I look up. There is a skylight above my desk. Let's in lots of light--I love it. So, apparently, do the crows and pigeons. These birds eat seeds, but instead of dropping them on the ground to open the pods, they take their find to my skylight and peck at the seeds to get at the inside. The skylight is frosted glass and dome-shaped. I can see the critters up there. The stupid birds don't fly to the flatter part of the glass, they attempt to walk up the slope. Glass on an incline must be slippery to bird feet because I watch as they slide back down. Up they go again. Up and down. Up and down. When they make it to the top, they drop the seed, which I can see through the glass, and frantically peck at it. Tap. Tap. Tap. Over and over and over. Of course, in their zeal to open the pod, they slip on the glass, and slide back down. God, it's entertaining! Fortunately it doesn't happen daily, but every so often that glass must hold special appeal for the birds. And obviously, special appeal for me, too!

A year and a half

Well, as most of you know, I start a new job tomorrow. After a year and half being unemployed, it'll be nice getting a paycheck again. But, I must admit I had a good run this past year. My life didn't change too much, although I did give up my addiction to shoes and Perrier. I got to do and see things that I couldn't have done with a full-time job. I learned where to find deals, discounts and freebies. Day trips to the Grammy Museum, Olvera Street, a Buddhist Temple, Koreatown, a National Cemetery and San Diego were great ways to spend my time. I got to ride the Goodyear Blimp--definitely a major highlight! I volunteered as a tour guide for grade-school field trips at the wetlands, worked food drives with the Fire Department, and got to play tennis when the courts are empty during the weekdays. As a sports fan, it was a good time to be off work. I saw all of the Olympic curling matches, and learned to love the biathlon. I only missed a few of the 4:30am World Cup soccer games, and I caught all the action of the Masters and Wimbledon, in addition to all the golf and tennis majors. I got to attend town hall meetings, a city memorial service, and be available to friends who needed rides to the doctor or when their car was in the shop. I ate shrimp and crab because I started reading grocery store ads and only bought what was on sale. I learned that Pantene works as well or better than Paul Mitchell, at one-fifth the price. And I can read a ton of books for free from the library instead of wasting money at Barnes and Noble. So, being laid off was a good learning experience--and there is no other way to take that long of a break mid-career. So, I'm looking forward to my new chapter of life, starting tomorrow.