about getting from point A to point B in the most interesting ways possible

If you're a large woman in America, your whole life is an opportunity to feel self-conscious, embarrassed, resentful and way too big. You can hide in the corner or on the couch, you can go to therapy, or you can put on your lycra bike shorts and get out there and move.
—Jayne Williams, Slow Fat Triathlete

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November 14, 2005

What would you fight for? permalink

Hippies use Side Door
who did blue green her you (Magnets and flames)
Taps of Hair of the Dog
Sierra Nevada Celebration vertical testing
The session with career dude went well on Friday. I was really really happy to get out of the house, and feeling actually better, and we talked about my feelings about power and when I lost faith in myself. This guy is so good. We talk, and he teases these strands out that suddenly make it perfectly clear what occurred. I was reminded that I knew even before I accepted the job that it wasn't a good fit, that I flourished under my old boss, but have flailed since. There's more there, of course. But essentially the questions arose: am I willing to champion myself and my ideas? And what's worth fighting for?

I am reminded that I am naturally competitive in some areas, such as athletics and driving. That doesn't necessarily mean that I'm good at it, but I am in there wholeheartedly. It's important, dammit! In actual interactions with human beings, however, I'm very fragile, or at least I think I am. Is it reasonable to think I can toughen my skin at this stage in the game?

What's worth fighting for? I think that's the key. In some parts of my life, I feel like I'm not attached to myself, I'm looking down from far away, and I, the I that is so far away, wants things, but feels powerless to change things.
...
It was chilly, overcast, and grey as we got into the truck to go to the Hair of the Dog annual sale. Perfect weather. Couldn't ask for better. As we're driving through the maze of mud and gravel streets that make up that part of the SE Industrial railyards, I am so very excited. We are going to Hair of the Dog! We're only maybe 15 minutes late, and we're already in a motorized line of men trying to figure out where to abandon their trucks.

I see Nita right off. Couldn't be easier. Female, not in a truck. And, of course, there's a cyclist, probably in his fifties, with a bike trailer.

We walk though the industrial garage door into the party. There is a line around the fermentation tanks, everyone talking and laughing, clutching little juice glasses with a smidge (or much less) of Hair of the Dog's wonderful beers. There are a surprising lot of little kids, who are all well-behaved.

We fell in line, got tasters of different ales, met folks, ran into others, bought beer and talked about buying more. I gushed to one of the brewers about how much I loved his beer. And I admit, I was glad to go to breakfast at a dive around the corner, to get some carbs into my system.

Next stop, to one of Sweetie's cow-orkers who home-brews. Home-brewing to me suggests a weekend project, small in scope, one style at a time. D. has a garage that is entirely full of brewing equipment, and a spare fridge with 4 different taps: a hard cider, a pale ale, a porter, and an imperial stout. Tasty and impressive!

Then we head up to Woodstock Wine and Deli for the Celebration vertical tasting. Sheesh, such a lot of beer and it's not even 2 in the afternoon! Sierra Nevada Brewery created the original American winter ale. Now, us westcoasters complain about the rain, but are so excited for all the new and old favorite winter ales. The proprietor had kegs from 2001 forward, hence the vertical aspect. Incredible. I liked the 2003 best—the hopes had mellowed, but it hadn't yet moved towards barleywinedom as earlier years were.

The Sierra Nevada owner/brewer was sitting behind us, and he opened an older bottle and started pouring tasters for his table. I guess we were a bit obvious, because then he poured one for us too. 1993. Incredible. We passed it around, smelling it, sipping it, feeling our eyes roll back into our heads... Sweetie didn't miss a beat. He ran out to the truck and got Mr. Grossman a couple of Doggie Claws that we had bought at the Hair of the Dog sale.

Posted at November 14, 2005

Comments

what's worth fighting for? A good question for lots of us to think about.

Posted by: susan at November 14, 2005 3:44 PM

sounds like a grand weekend! Do you feel like the whole career thing is coming into focus? Reading your questions is very thought provoking btw.

Posted by: neca at November 15, 2005 4:36 AM

Wow, what a great weekend. I love the "hippies use side door" sign. Oh, but to live on the west coast!

Posted by: Liz at November 16, 2005 11:51 AM

Hey there, I can't find a link that explains how to email you. So I am resorting to comments. I too, am looking for some career advice and I too, live in beautiful Portland, Oregon. Can you email me? I have questions.
Thanks,pcc

Posted by: Patricia at November 17, 2005 1:30 PM

I wonder if Patricia above is thinking
along lines similar to myself--Vicki would make an
amazing career coach!

Posted by: Theo at November 18, 2005 9:31 AM

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