Calm before the storm?

It’s been an odd week at work. I’ve been getting in at 9am, leaving around 6pm and have actually managed to take a lunch hour every single day. My workload has been perfectly balanced, not too busy, not too slow, and I've been able to leave work with a sense of accomplishment instead of leaving at the point where I feel I've nothing more to give for the day, a lengthy list of things to do still hanging over my head, such that it ends up intruding on my dreams. Work is pretty much the only thing I dream about these days. Actually I tell a lie, because last night I dreamt I was in a 2 storey house, covered in deep snow with about a dozen other people, including the actor David Boreanaz - what can I say, I rather enjoy the TV show Bones which he stars in with Emily Deschanel, and let's face it, there are worse people to be stuck in a house with, he's not exactly hard on the eyes is he? The weirdest part of the dream was that there was a bull stood at the front door, patiently watching us all through the glass. What on Earth could it mean??? The only logical explanation I can come up with is that I’ve been doing a lot of financial research this week as I dither whether to make a small investment in a mutual fund and have thus been absorbing a lot of information about bull and bear markets. Perhaps my dream was a sign that the bull market is finally coming and I should not dilly dally, but invest now while stock prices are lower. Perhaps I have acquired the power to predict the stock market!!! Wouldn’t that be fab? Move over Warren Buffet, ye Oracle of Omaha and make way for the Mystic of Manhattan. Ahem!!

But back to the work thing…I can honestly say I haven’t had a week this quiet since 2001 and quite frankly it’s unsettling. I’m so used to running around like a blue arsed fly that having a reasonable workload is an alien concept. Sometimes I sit at my desk as I'm preparing to leave wondering if I've forgotten something. Earlier this week I was convinced my Blackberry must be broken given the lack of emails I’m receiving of an evening and I’ll admit I was concerned it might be a sign that the current US financial turmoil is starting to impact us. Marketing budgets are always the first to be cut in times of trouble, but I’m a worrier by nature and fingers crossed everything seems to be on track, and it’s not like I’m sat around twiddling my thumbs, however, while I'm not usually the pessimistic type, it just seems a little too good to be true!! Trouble must clearly be brewing!!

Pushing those anxieties aside though I have to say it’s been quite lovely. I've had the time to take leisurely walks home through Central Park and marvel at the insanity of the joggers persevering with their fitness regimes despite the unpleasant levels of humidity we’ve been enjoying in New York this week, the city smells divinely like a sewer. Ugh!! I cannot wait for autumn!!

I've also had time to finally finish my book, The Prince Of Tides by Pat Conroy as recommended to me by Catweazle** and which I picked up for a paltry $5 in a used bookstore at Raleigh/Durham airport. How cool an idea is that, a used bookstore after passport control? Every airport should have one.

Speaking of the calm before the storm, my parents arrive in town tomorrow for their annual summer visit. My apartment sparkles. I gave it a good clean last weekend and I’ve barely breathed in it this past week for fear of having to clean up again. The countdown is also on to the start of my annual summer game of ‘let’s see how long their visit lasts before we have an argument.’

I’m not sure what is it about spending a prolonged period of time with my parents that eventually sees us reverting back to the relationship we had when I was a teenager. Hopefully this time I’ll outdo previous records and not argue with them once during the two weeks – TWO WEEKS!!! It’s impossible – they’re staying with me.

Wish me luck ;-)

**A book recommendation which really surprised me since, being vaguely aware of the romantic movie starring Barbara Streisand and Nick Nolte, it struck me as something of an unusual recommendation from a bloke, but he poohed the film for being too focused on the relationship between the brother and the psychiatrist which is really only a small piece of the story. Still, now that I've read the book I'm curious to see the movie. Hey with 7 Oscar nominations, how bad can it be?

By the way if you're ever feeling in need of attention may I suggest reading the Prince of Tides on public transportation! You would not believe the number of people who interrupted my reading to tell me what a great book it was, or how the movie was among their favourites. By the time I was near the end of the book - I was so tired of people declaring their adoration that I was ready to preempt every person that tapped me on the shoulder with a 'yeah yeah yeah, don't tell me, you just frickin' LOVED the book, or the film, bugger off and stop bothering me so I can enjoy it in peace' but of course I'm too well brought up to do such a thing, so instead I smiled and indulged the people who frequently almost gave away the bloody ending!!! Aaaarrrggghhhh!! Who knew the writings of Pat Conroy would be such a conversation starter.