It has been such a great weekend. Very relaxing.
I got my first official "long run" day in yesterday with 3.02 miles in 32:42. It will stay at 3 miles on Saturdays until mid February, when it moves up to 4. Right now it also has me running 30 miles on Mondays and 25 minutes on Wednesdays, with cross training on Fridays (I did P90X yoga on Friday and it felt GREAT....even though I always forget how hard yoga really is!). I'm really starting to feel my endurance build - which is a good thing! I just peeked ahead and on March 19 I have a 9-miler scheduled! It then drops down for a couple weeks and then builds up to race day. It's now offically less than 14 weeks away, but I'm going to be ready!
We went to Chili's last night with Chris' old boss and his wife, who we always have fun with. We watched the Super Bowl at their house last year - we were united in our mutual hatred of the Colts (they're Pittsburgh fans)....but it should go without saying Chris & I WILL NOT be cheering on the Steelers this year, so we wished them luck and went on our way!
Watching the NFL Pro-Bowl, where the NFC just went up 28-0. It's a meaningless game (well not for the players, the difference in pay between the winners & losers is about $30K), but I still watch and cheer on the Cowboys playing (6 this year!). I alsays forget how bad Sunday afternoons & evenings suck with no football. I was like a kid who lost her puppy today with no football to watch. Super Bowl next weekend, and then the long offseason.......which could be made longer if a new CBA doesn't get in place. It better!!!!!!!!
I went tanning today. I know, I know. It's horrible. And I actually have my annual derm appointment on Tuesday (which I forgot about until my reminder phone call). Sjhould probably hold off on anymore til after that appointment is over......................I know how bad it is and I've really not tanned near as regular as I used to, but it just is SOOOOOOO relaxing!
This week is going to be killer. It's my end of month week (we've billed about a million in snow). They're calling for 3 straight days of ice, freezing rain, rain and snow.....which will be a nightmare for my guys this week, and at the end of it, a nightmare for me to get everything out and done on time! Then, on Friday, my branch manager, 2 account managers and myself are locking ourselves in the conference room to start work on a major project - Corporate is rolling out some new software (a new customer database) and it's going to take a lot of prep work before we start....training is for 2 days straight in 2 weeks, so if I can just make it to then........we'll see!
Time for shower and BED. Have a feeling it's going to be a lonnnnnnnnnnnng week.......wish me luck!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Tired and tidbits
I am exhausted. Absolutely exhausted. I've gone to bed every night this week fully confident that I would fall right asleep b/c I have been SO worn out. But no. I read, turn out the light, and toss. And turn. And toss. And turn. I haven't fallen asleep within 2 hours of turning out my light in I can't tell you how long. Today I finally fell into a deep sleep when I woke up and saw my clock said 5:22. Sweet. My alarm goes off at 6.
I don't know what the deal is. My back has been giving me problems but I've been working through it as best I can. It's not like I can't "turn my head off," I literally just can't fall asleep. Chris finally pushed me out of bed at 6:35 this morning (good thing I shower at night). I literally got up, brushed my teeth, washed my face, threw my hair in a ponytail, got dressed in the dark, and was out the door at 6:45. I don't even care.
I'm grumpy today, and I know me being tired doesn't help. My best bet is probably just to keep my mouth shut all day today so as to not overly piss anyone off.
Even worse is here at work we have instant messenger which is really nice when you have a quick question for someone at another office but don't want to call them.......or just to bs now and then.....and the girl I'm closest to (BA at another office) has been on vacation for a week. I've had no one to vent to, and I'm about to lose it.
I guess no tidbits for now. I'm too worn out. And annoyed.
I don't know what the deal is. My back has been giving me problems but I've been working through it as best I can. It's not like I can't "turn my head off," I literally just can't fall asleep. Chris finally pushed me out of bed at 6:35 this morning (good thing I shower at night). I literally got up, brushed my teeth, washed my face, threw my hair in a ponytail, got dressed in the dark, and was out the door at 6:45. I don't even care.
I'm grumpy today, and I know me being tired doesn't help. My best bet is probably just to keep my mouth shut all day today so as to not overly piss anyone off.
Even worse is here at work we have instant messenger which is really nice when you have a quick question for someone at another office but don't want to call them.......or just to bs now and then.....and the girl I'm closest to (BA at another office) has been on vacation for a week. I've had no one to vent to, and I'm about to lose it.
I guess no tidbits for now. I'm too worn out. And annoyed.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Humble
I'm feeling very humbled at this precise moment.
Blogs are wonderful things, aren't they? I had one in college through Xanga (it's still active....I just can't bear to take it down!) and I just laugh to myself when I think about it and read through some old entries. There's a lot of history in that blog 'o youth. One of my first entries was late late late one night my freshman year, as my roommate Jenine and I watched our country launch its "Shock & Awe" attack on Iraq. That was March of 2003. A lot has happened since then!
Anyway, I'm on this site a lot checking for friends' updates - thank goodness for technology when you live a state away from your family & friends! Through one of my friends' blogs (thanks, Ashley!), I came across a blog called "Bring the Rain," which happens to be a song by one of my favorite Christian bands, Mercy Me. I'm only sad that I just found her blog, because what a phenomenal woman this lady is. She & her husband had a small family going and found out they were expecting another child - a little girl. Early in the pregnancy, they found out the baby had major growth complications and wouldn't likely survive birth, let alone outside the womb. Still, they decided to continue on with the pregnancy and delivered a little girl who actually lived long enough for her parents & big sisters to love on her awhile.
Another one I just found - "To Bring Him Glory" - another amazing story. Your typical couple; married, bought a house, found out they were pregnant. Healthy pregnancy, normal birth, happy little girl until one day she got a fever & wouldn't eat - and 4 days later was gone. GONE. They got pregnant again almost right away - another healthy pregnancy - only to find out in her last trimester that her husband had a BRAIN TUMOR. A brain tumor!!!!!! He's doing okay.....and fortunately, their little boy was born healthy and they just had another one :)
But the common theme between these two women - their faith. Their absolute, unwavering, steady - faith. Faith in God. Faith that He would bring them through everything okay. Faith that He knew what He was doing and that He wouldn't steer them wrong. That He DID have a plan.
What faith. I'm literally shaking my head as I write this post. If I could even physically survive any of those things - I'm not sure my faith would make it, too. How easy it would be to blame God, that faceless 'being' in my life - this 'being' of good-doing and wonder - how could He do something like that?
I've seen first hand what happens when God chooses difficult paths for people. What happened to my dad - my dad's faith survived, but only because of the faith he had instilled in him before November 1, 1980 ever happened. My Nana - not so much. I think she believes in A God....but the great, wonderful, merciful God? I don't think so. My own husband had his own father taken from him when he wasn't even 10 years old, and not that his family was "super-religious" before that - but who wouldn't blame them for turning their backs to God? What kind of God takes a father of 3 and a husband of 10+ years away in an instant?
I'm proud of my faith and I'm proud of my Catholic upbringing. But I truly have to question myself - how would that faith stand up against tragedy? I turned to my faith in some rough moments in the last year or so and I know without a doubt that it is my faith that kept me from....well, kept me from a lot of things. It was that single, shining beacon of light that was HOME. Maybe I take my faith for granted. Maybe faith is like exercise. You need to work on it daily to make it stronger. I pray. I go to church (not as often as I should). I try to watch my language. But is that enough?
What else can I do to make my faith as strong as these women? Talk about heroines. I think I just found some for myself. :)
Blogs are wonderful things, aren't they? I had one in college through Xanga (it's still active....I just can't bear to take it down!) and I just laugh to myself when I think about it and read through some old entries. There's a lot of history in that blog 'o youth. One of my first entries was late late late one night my freshman year, as my roommate Jenine and I watched our country launch its "Shock & Awe" attack on Iraq. That was March of 2003. A lot has happened since then!
Anyway, I'm on this site a lot checking for friends' updates - thank goodness for technology when you live a state away from your family & friends! Through one of my friends' blogs (thanks, Ashley!), I came across a blog called "Bring the Rain," which happens to be a song by one of my favorite Christian bands, Mercy Me. I'm only sad that I just found her blog, because what a phenomenal woman this lady is. She & her husband had a small family going and found out they were expecting another child - a little girl. Early in the pregnancy, they found out the baby had major growth complications and wouldn't likely survive birth, let alone outside the womb. Still, they decided to continue on with the pregnancy and delivered a little girl who actually lived long enough for her parents & big sisters to love on her awhile.
Another one I just found - "To Bring Him Glory" - another amazing story. Your typical couple; married, bought a house, found out they were pregnant. Healthy pregnancy, normal birth, happy little girl until one day she got a fever & wouldn't eat - and 4 days later was gone. GONE. They got pregnant again almost right away - another healthy pregnancy - only to find out in her last trimester that her husband had a BRAIN TUMOR. A brain tumor!!!!!! He's doing okay.....and fortunately, their little boy was born healthy and they just had another one :)
But the common theme between these two women - their faith. Their absolute, unwavering, steady - faith. Faith in God. Faith that He would bring them through everything okay. Faith that He knew what He was doing and that He wouldn't steer them wrong. That He DID have a plan.
What faith. I'm literally shaking my head as I write this post. If I could even physically survive any of those things - I'm not sure my faith would make it, too. How easy it would be to blame God, that faceless 'being' in my life - this 'being' of good-doing and wonder - how could He do something like that?
I've seen first hand what happens when God chooses difficult paths for people. What happened to my dad - my dad's faith survived, but only because of the faith he had instilled in him before November 1, 1980 ever happened. My Nana - not so much. I think she believes in A God....but the great, wonderful, merciful God? I don't think so. My own husband had his own father taken from him when he wasn't even 10 years old, and not that his family was "super-religious" before that - but who wouldn't blame them for turning their backs to God? What kind of God takes a father of 3 and a husband of 10+ years away in an instant?
I'm proud of my faith and I'm proud of my Catholic upbringing. But I truly have to question myself - how would that faith stand up against tragedy? I turned to my faith in some rough moments in the last year or so and I know without a doubt that it is my faith that kept me from....well, kept me from a lot of things. It was that single, shining beacon of light that was HOME. Maybe I take my faith for granted. Maybe faith is like exercise. You need to work on it daily to make it stronger. I pray. I go to church (not as often as I should). I try to watch my language. But is that enough?
What else can I do to make my faith as strong as these women? Talk about heroines. I think I just found some for myself. :)
Friday, January 21, 2011
Excuse me while I step up on my soapbox
You have to have a license (or be of a certain age) to do a lot of things.
You have to be 16 to get your license, and you have to have a license to drive.
You have to be 18 to buy cigarettes.
You have to be 21 to buy alcohol.
You have to go to school for, and get a license to be, a doctor. A teacher. A CPA. A beautician, for crying out loud.
You have to get a license to get a gun. You have to be 18 to vote (and, you know, be an active part of society).
You know what you DON'T have to have a license for? You know what you DON'T have to be of a certain age for?
To have a baby. The only requirements to have a baby is to have the right organs, and for someone of the opposite sex to have the right organs, and to get those organs together at the same time and place (haha). Isn't that insane? One of the biggest responsibilities a person can have, if not THE biggest - and you don't have to take any tests for it. Have anyone else deem you "ready" for it. Hell, you don't even have to prove to anyone that you have the MEANS to support a child!!!!!!!
There is little else that really gets me up and going on a great big soapbox when people are having kids that (I'm sorry, yes, I'm judging here) have ZERO business having them.
Teenagers? No!!
Not married? Generally I'd say no, but there are exceptions; my cousin Courtney and her b/f have been together for a long time and just probably will never get married, but they just had a baby. At least the baby has 2 parents that support themselves. But yeah, otherwise - really, how much does birth control cost? Who isn't married but TRIES to get pregnant? Yeah, not very many people can say, "me!"
Girls that do it to "keep" the guy around? Ha. Good luck with that....
Live off MY tax dollars? HELL NO. No, no, no, no!!!!!!!! I am sorry. Okay, yes, there are SOME people out there that have hit a rough patch, use welfare or Medicaid or unemployment for a short period of time. BUT. But. More often than not, those people living off my tax dollars can barely afford to "support" themselves, LET ALONE a child. And I'm not saying money is everything. When my mom and dad had me, they were 22 and 21 and had both lost their jobs 3 weeks after finding out they were pregnant with me. But you know what? They both BUSTED THEIR BUTTS to support us. My dad worked at Burger King. He was an insurance salesman for awhile. Drove for 7Up. My mom worked in the proof department at the bank. But they did without a lot of stuff during those times. New clothes for themselves, cable tv. They only had 1 car back then. I never went without, because my parents made sure THEY would go without before I did.
When Chris and I choose to have a child, it is because we feel that a) we are strong enough in our relationship to bring a life into this world, b) we are in a position that at least is favorable, financial-wise, to bring a life into this world, and c)....oh yeah that's right, make sure that we're able to SUPPORT OURSELVES FIRST!!!!!!! When Chris & I have a child, we will have costs involved. Yes, through my work we have great insurance. But it's 90/10. We'll have to pay 10% of the costs of having a baby, and I know the total cost is a lot. Oh, and yeah, all the prenatal stuff - we'll be paying for that too (maybe not, I'm not entirely up to speed on my insurance's policy for baby stuff).
I have a real problem with people that a) still live in someone else's home b/c they can't afford to live on their own, b) aren't that great of parents to the TWO children they already have since they are basically still kids themselves, c) have the newest cell phones, computers and high speed internet but their kids are in clothes that are too small - and are expecting another one.
I can't even wrap my head around it. I know people that are good people....that have tried and tried and tried, or are trying as we speak - are more than ready to have a baby, that will be good parents......but can't.
And then there are other people who all but make a mockery of being parents.
I can't stand it.
You have to be 16 to get your license, and you have to have a license to drive.
You have to be 18 to buy cigarettes.
You have to be 21 to buy alcohol.
You have to go to school for, and get a license to be, a doctor. A teacher. A CPA. A beautician, for crying out loud.
You have to get a license to get a gun. You have to be 18 to vote (and, you know, be an active part of society).
You know what you DON'T have to have a license for? You know what you DON'T have to be of a certain age for?
To have a baby. The only requirements to have a baby is to have the right organs, and for someone of the opposite sex to have the right organs, and to get those organs together at the same time and place (haha). Isn't that insane? One of the biggest responsibilities a person can have, if not THE biggest - and you don't have to take any tests for it. Have anyone else deem you "ready" for it. Hell, you don't even have to prove to anyone that you have the MEANS to support a child!!!!!!!
There is little else that really gets me up and going on a great big soapbox when people are having kids that (I'm sorry, yes, I'm judging here) have ZERO business having them.
Teenagers? No!!
Not married? Generally I'd say no, but there are exceptions; my cousin Courtney and her b/f have been together for a long time and just probably will never get married, but they just had a baby. At least the baby has 2 parents that support themselves. But yeah, otherwise - really, how much does birth control cost? Who isn't married but TRIES to get pregnant? Yeah, not very many people can say, "me!"
Girls that do it to "keep" the guy around? Ha. Good luck with that....
Live off MY tax dollars? HELL NO. No, no, no, no!!!!!!!! I am sorry. Okay, yes, there are SOME people out there that have hit a rough patch, use welfare or Medicaid or unemployment for a short period of time. BUT. But. More often than not, those people living off my tax dollars can barely afford to "support" themselves, LET ALONE a child. And I'm not saying money is everything. When my mom and dad had me, they were 22 and 21 and had both lost their jobs 3 weeks after finding out they were pregnant with me. But you know what? They both BUSTED THEIR BUTTS to support us. My dad worked at Burger King. He was an insurance salesman for awhile. Drove for 7Up. My mom worked in the proof department at the bank. But they did without a lot of stuff during those times. New clothes for themselves, cable tv. They only had 1 car back then. I never went without, because my parents made sure THEY would go without before I did.
When Chris and I choose to have a child, it is because we feel that a) we are strong enough in our relationship to bring a life into this world, b) we are in a position that at least is favorable, financial-wise, to bring a life into this world, and c)....oh yeah that's right, make sure that we're able to SUPPORT OURSELVES FIRST!!!!!!! When Chris & I have a child, we will have costs involved. Yes, through my work we have great insurance. But it's 90/10. We'll have to pay 10% of the costs of having a baby, and I know the total cost is a lot. Oh, and yeah, all the prenatal stuff - we'll be paying for that too (maybe not, I'm not entirely up to speed on my insurance's policy for baby stuff).
I have a real problem with people that a) still live in someone else's home b/c they can't afford to live on their own, b) aren't that great of parents to the TWO children they already have since they are basically still kids themselves, c) have the newest cell phones, computers and high speed internet but their kids are in clothes that are too small - and are expecting another one.
I can't even wrap my head around it. I know people that are good people....that have tried and tried and tried, or are trying as we speak - are more than ready to have a baby, that will be good parents......but can't.
And then there are other people who all but make a mockery of being parents.
I can't stand it.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
?????????
I have lots 'o feelings right now. I don't really know how to put them into words. I just went for a run and that helped, and now I'm about to have some dinner, take a shower, and hopefully fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. Maybe all I need is a night of NO tossing and turning!!!!!!!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Success!!!!!!!
So, the last couple of months at work have been....well, hard. Stressful. Exasperating. Exhausting. Literally high-blood-pressure-making (both times I had a doc's appointment during a workday, I had way-higher-than-normal-for-me BP). Tiring, emotional, BUSY.
I had a minor meltdown right before Thanksgiving. I had HAD it. I put my thoughts, concerns, complaints, etc onto paper and had a nice, calm (okay, I started breaking out in hives midway through, but still kept it together and managed to sound like the intelligent, has-it-together, multitasking BA they hired) meeting with my regional controller.
Long story short - way overworked. Underpaid. Underappreciated.
Well, a lot has changed since that meeting. I'm having more frequent check-ins with my manager. He has really taken a lot off my plate (and I've practiced saying that nasty "n-word" - NO!!), which has really eased my workload. I'm now being able to focus more on my core tasks and doing them WELL.....as opposed to doing my core tasks just okay (and pushing more and more to the back burner) and doing a lot of unncessary work, too. I'm leaving work at the end of (most) days feeling like I really accomplished things, rather than just feeling like a hampster in a wheel.
And today, what I've really been sticking to - without being SUPER obnoxious - the "funds" part came through, too. I have gotten 2 raises since I started in 2008 and I KNOW that is more than most people have gotten in the last 2 years in this economy - but my branch alone grew 38% (THIRTY-EIGHT PERCENT, not a typo, and not just pocket change when you do commercial landscaping for over 100 job sites) last year, and I felt like a bone thrown my way wouldn't break the bank. With the growth we experienced last year, we got 2 new trucks which meant 2 new supervisors and 5-6 new crewpeople. We ALSO got a new Operations Manager, bringing the grand total in my branch up to 5. But still only ONE me! Only one me to absorb all of that extra billing, all of the extra payables, all of the extra payroll, and the extra receivables.
So. I wasn't going to be a brat about it, and I wasn't going to back off doing my job as well as I could possibly do. But to be recognized, and compensated fairly, for the hard work you've done, and are doing on a daily basis, feels really good.
I had a minor meltdown right before Thanksgiving. I had HAD it. I put my thoughts, concerns, complaints, etc onto paper and had a nice, calm (okay, I started breaking out in hives midway through, but still kept it together and managed to sound like the intelligent, has-it-together, multitasking BA they hired) meeting with my regional controller.
Long story short - way overworked. Underpaid. Underappreciated.
Well, a lot has changed since that meeting. I'm having more frequent check-ins with my manager. He has really taken a lot off my plate (and I've practiced saying that nasty "n-word" - NO!!), which has really eased my workload. I'm now being able to focus more on my core tasks and doing them WELL.....as opposed to doing my core tasks just okay (and pushing more and more to the back burner) and doing a lot of unncessary work, too. I'm leaving work at the end of (most) days feeling like I really accomplished things, rather than just feeling like a hampster in a wheel.
And today, what I've really been sticking to - without being SUPER obnoxious - the "funds" part came through, too. I have gotten 2 raises since I started in 2008 and I KNOW that is more than most people have gotten in the last 2 years in this economy - but my branch alone grew 38% (THIRTY-EIGHT PERCENT, not a typo, and not just pocket change when you do commercial landscaping for over 100 job sites) last year, and I felt like a bone thrown my way wouldn't break the bank. With the growth we experienced last year, we got 2 new trucks which meant 2 new supervisors and 5-6 new crewpeople. We ALSO got a new Operations Manager, bringing the grand total in my branch up to 5. But still only ONE me! Only one me to absorb all of that extra billing, all of the extra payables, all of the extra payroll, and the extra receivables.
So. I wasn't going to be a brat about it, and I wasn't going to back off doing my job as well as I could possibly do. But to be recognized, and compensated fairly, for the hard work you've done, and are doing on a daily basis, feels really good.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Scorpio turned Libra??!?!
So, in the past 2500 years or so, the Earth has wobbled slightly off its axis, which means astrological signs that were developed then no longer apply. Allegedly.
I've never really bought into all of that; my interest really goes about as far as looking at my horoscope in my monthly magazines ('Oh, sweet, money coming my way around the 12th!') and occasionally looking at my horoscope online during rare slow moments at work.
But when I saw this past week that the zodiac signs have changed, I was a little curious. I thought there was no way mine would change b/c as far as signs go, I felt I was pretty well locked into my current sign as a Scorpio....
Scorpios:
passionate, observant, dynamic....jealous, obsessive, manipulative.....firecely independent, not social butterflies, can be downright moody for no reason.....excellent memory, inability to let things go....fierce competitors, capable of hiding feelings, need to be in control at all times......very emotional and intuitive.....FEAR OF FAILURE......always want to know why, what, where and any other detail....weary of other people and games they can play.
Seriously. Textbook. More or less, I have all of those traits (obviously some I didn't list) and am generally proud that I'm that way. On the other hand.....
Libras:
romantic, charming, easygoing, indecisive, kind, gentle, sensitive to the needs of others, loathe vulgarity, detest conflict, artistic more than intellectual, compromising during times of conflict, impatient of routine ?!?!?, most successful in artistic careers (ie, fashion design, composers, critics, writers, interior decorators).
Ha!
Anyway. Not too bought into it, but it does seem funny to say "Libra" when asked "What's your sign?" by a guy in a bar....oh wait. Never mind. I've never been asked that. But still. At least I've never had my sign tattooed on my body........... :)
I've never really bought into all of that; my interest really goes about as far as looking at my horoscope in my monthly magazines ('Oh, sweet, money coming my way around the 12th!') and occasionally looking at my horoscope online during rare slow moments at work.
But when I saw this past week that the zodiac signs have changed, I was a little curious. I thought there was no way mine would change b/c as far as signs go, I felt I was pretty well locked into my current sign as a Scorpio....
Scorpios:
passionate, observant, dynamic....jealous, obsessive, manipulative.....firecely independent, not social butterflies, can be downright moody for no reason.....excellent memory, inability to let things go....fierce competitors, capable of hiding feelings, need to be in control at all times......very emotional and intuitive.....FEAR OF FAILURE......always want to know why, what, where and any other detail....weary of other people and games they can play.
Seriously. Textbook. More or less, I have all of those traits (obviously some I didn't list) and am generally proud that I'm that way. On the other hand.....
Libras:
romantic, charming, easygoing, indecisive, kind, gentle, sensitive to the needs of others, loathe vulgarity, detest conflict, artistic more than intellectual, compromising during times of conflict, impatient of routine ?!?!?, most successful in artistic careers (ie, fashion design, composers, critics, writers, interior decorators).
Ha!
Anyway. Not too bought into it, but it does seem funny to say "Libra" when asked "What's your sign?" by a guy in a bar....oh wait. Never mind. I've never been asked that. But still. At least I've never had my sign tattooed on my body........... :)
Monday, January 10, 2011
You know you're a nerd when.....
you're at work for literally 12 hours straight, no lunch, barely a pee break (had to fit a couple in; lots of caffeine on the menu today......nap yesterday afternoon = BAD idea - I was up til after 12:30am) - start the day off $740,000 off for my 2011 reconciliation...........
end up only $40 off (out of $2.9 million) -
and leave work not completely pissed off. actually leave work feeling kind of.....accomplished. and cool. because my boss would've taken daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaays. i'm just that cool.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just give me my super-thick glasses and pocket protector and I'll be on my way :-)
end up only $40 off (out of $2.9 million) -
and leave work not completely pissed off. actually leave work feeling kind of.....accomplished. and cool. because my boss would've taken daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaays. i'm just that cool.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just give me my super-thick glasses and pocket protector and I'll be on my way :-)
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Life Cleanup
I am done with people whose only impact in my life is negative.
I feel that I hardly have the emotional backbone to deal with what comes my way on a day-to-day basis, let alone deal with the crap that people bring into it, frivolous or not. (That is not to say that I don't deal with my problems. I do. I just don't feel like I need to deal with everyone else's, too).
So today, I again went through my facebook "friends" list. No impact in my life in the last however-long-of-time? Gone. Generally annoy me with your consistent negativity? Gone.
As much fun as I used to get out of a good football argument, or the joy of feeling like I've helped someone through a tough situation - at some point, enough is enough. Regardless of what some may think, I DO know there is life outside of the Dallas Cowboys, and no matter how much I argue, there will always be someone out there that just wants to push my buttons and get me fired up. And there will always be those people out there whose life is just always miserable, no matter how good or bad they have it, no matter what I say, no matter what I do.
So another "resolution," if you will - staying focused on the positive. Not getting caught up in the day to day bullshit (gossip and petty arguments). And again.........living my life in such a way that makes people PROUD to say they know me, and makes me proud to look in the mirror at myself.
I feel that I hardly have the emotional backbone to deal with what comes my way on a day-to-day basis, let alone deal with the crap that people bring into it, frivolous or not. (That is not to say that I don't deal with my problems. I do. I just don't feel like I need to deal with everyone else's, too).
So today, I again went through my facebook "friends" list. No impact in my life in the last however-long-of-time? Gone. Generally annoy me with your consistent negativity? Gone.
As much fun as I used to get out of a good football argument, or the joy of feeling like I've helped someone through a tough situation - at some point, enough is enough. Regardless of what some may think, I DO know there is life outside of the Dallas Cowboys, and no matter how much I argue, there will always be someone out there that just wants to push my buttons and get me fired up. And there will always be those people out there whose life is just always miserable, no matter how good or bad they have it, no matter what I say, no matter what I do.
So another "resolution," if you will - staying focused on the positive. Not getting caught up in the day to day bullshit (gossip and petty arguments). And again.........living my life in such a way that makes people PROUD to say they know me, and makes me proud to look in the mirror at myself.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
EOY, Chris @ Work, Football!
What a week!
This past week was a killer. 2010 is almost officially, completely put away and the books closed....but man oh man what a process! I felt much more in control this year end than in the last 2, which was great. I felt like I had a very methodical process to getting everything done, and outside of leaving my AP pak on my desk Friday (when it should be well on its way to Longhorne, PA via UPS), it was a great week. I said "no" to lots of people this week that asked for my help - which doesn't feel that great at the time, but at the end of the day, I need to make sure my core tasks are being completed and all of the little extra tasks I take on each day make that really difficult.
Chris got some great news this morning! He got what came out to be a 13% raise in October (at his 90 day review), which was amazing in itself (not because he didn't deserve it, but b/c you just don't hear of those numbers in raises anymore) - but today he was informed he got ANOTHER raise for 2011 which was about another 4% increase. Hes been working really hard and some really long hours, and it is really paying off. The other Ops Manager stepped down/ was demoted, so Chris is pretty much on his own with what the two of them managed, and the owners of the company have really shown they trust him....the nice thing is that they are backing it up! Plus, he was informed today that he'll now be receiving a monthly insurance stipend since his company doesn't provide any health/ dental/ vision insurance. We figured it would be pretty small, but it's fairly sizeable AND not taxed. Since Chris is covered under my insurance, that money will come in major handy!
Wild Card weekend is half over, and although my Cowboys aren't in it, I'm still a football fan and am sad that there are now just 9 games left of the season :( Seahawks pulled off the major upset today against the Saints (thought there was no way in HELL that would happen, but any given Sunday....or Saturday! I guess). Colts also got beat at home, which as you all know, makes me gleeful. Just as gleeful as it makes everyone that Dallas did so poorly this year, so I don't feel bad. Tomorrow's picks: Baltimore over KC / Green Bay over Philly (I hope!)
This week really was a good one. I only got 5 miles in between last Sunday and today, but for the crazy week at work that was this week, I don't feel TOO awful about it....but it is time to get focused! Mini is a mere 17 weeks from today - 119 days! Time to get my butt in gear :)
This past week was a killer. 2010 is almost officially, completely put away and the books closed....but man oh man what a process! I felt much more in control this year end than in the last 2, which was great. I felt like I had a very methodical process to getting everything done, and outside of leaving my AP pak on my desk Friday (when it should be well on its way to Longhorne, PA via UPS), it was a great week. I said "no" to lots of people this week that asked for my help - which doesn't feel that great at the time, but at the end of the day, I need to make sure my core tasks are being completed and all of the little extra tasks I take on each day make that really difficult.
Chris got some great news this morning! He got what came out to be a 13% raise in October (at his 90 day review), which was amazing in itself (not because he didn't deserve it, but b/c you just don't hear of those numbers in raises anymore) - but today he was informed he got ANOTHER raise for 2011 which was about another 4% increase. Hes been working really hard and some really long hours, and it is really paying off. The other Ops Manager stepped down/ was demoted, so Chris is pretty much on his own with what the two of them managed, and the owners of the company have really shown they trust him....the nice thing is that they are backing it up! Plus, he was informed today that he'll now be receiving a monthly insurance stipend since his company doesn't provide any health/ dental/ vision insurance. We figured it would be pretty small, but it's fairly sizeable AND not taxed. Since Chris is covered under my insurance, that money will come in major handy!
Wild Card weekend is half over, and although my Cowboys aren't in it, I'm still a football fan and am sad that there are now just 9 games left of the season :( Seahawks pulled off the major upset today against the Saints (thought there was no way in HELL that would happen, but any given Sunday....or Saturday! I guess). Colts also got beat at home, which as you all know, makes me gleeful. Just as gleeful as it makes everyone that Dallas did so poorly this year, so I don't feel bad. Tomorrow's picks: Baltimore over KC / Green Bay over Philly (I hope!)
This week really was a good one. I only got 5 miles in between last Sunday and today, but for the crazy week at work that was this week, I don't feel TOO awful about it....but it is time to get focused! Mini is a mere 17 weeks from today - 119 days! Time to get my butt in gear :)
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Insomnia
My body doesn't want to believe that it has to be up, awake, coherent and moving in about 6 hours..........I'm a bear with not a lot of sleep.............here's hoping when I go to bed for the 2nd time tonight I'll fall asleep quick (although hearing Chris' snoring all the way from the other room may mean that might not happen.............)
First Post of 2011
2011. I've now been alive to see the start of my 4th decade (80s, 90s, 00s and now the 10s). Crazy!
New Years Eve was pretty uneventful for us. We actually started dating on New Years Eve of 2002-2003, so we've now passed 8 years together. We had fun at dinner trying to think back all of our NYE's together:
02/03 - Days Inn in Terre Haute - ended up being me, Chris & his best friend (and best man in our wedding) Bill - pretty uneventful!
03/04 - a double date party with one of Chris' former friends, Joe, and his girlfriend....can't remember her name and Chris hasn't spoken to him in years due to a fairly major fallout some years back....
04/05 - if memory serves, there was a party at Sigma Chi that turned out to be pretty lame, so we came back to Bethel and hung out by ourselves.
05/06 - party at Chris' house on North Street + party at the AOII Calvert House
06/07 - another party at Chris' house on North Street....I think....
07/ 08 - Jazz Kitchen in Indy with Chris' Sigma Chi friends and their g/fs and wives
08/09 - our first married NYE, in Cincinnati.....dinner at the top of the rotating restaurant with the same group from 07-08
09/10 - NYE in Columbus! Sigma Chi group convened here for a Blue Jackets game, dinner @ Boston's and some minor hoopla in a downtown hotel
This year was a little different - we had friends with a 4-week old baby, so they were out - another couple due in 3 months, so they were out - which left 3 (couples) of us. Plans went back and forth for weeks, but Chris had to work until 1 on Friday and it just wasn't going to be conducive for us to go anywhere. So, we got dressed up and braved Cheesecake at 7pm....I was fully expecting to have to wait for 2 hours, but we were in within 45 minutes. We enjoyed a yummy dinner and then tagged along with some friends to a party. We ended up leaving at 11 to come home, watched the ball drop with some champagne drank from our wedding flutes and being in bed shortly after. It was kind of nice to ring in the new year, just the two of us.
I've had 3 pretty "easy" weeks at work, as far as actual working days go - a 4 day week, then a 2.5 day week, and a 3-day week last week......so a full 5-day week this week is going to be killer.....not to mention that it's my end of month/ end of year, so it's going to be a busy one.
I did get back on track today with my mini training - 2.25 miles, outside - in about 22 minutes. It was COLD and WINDY today, so it was a hard run, and my new running gloves basically left me with frostbitten fingertips, but I got through it. Come February I'll be on an actual mini-training schedule, but until then I'm giving myself a little flexibility with distances and days ran to get myself back into it. I'm giving myself a goal of 10 miles/ week between now and 1/31, which I think is very doable.
Besides getting into a concrete schedule for the mini, the only other real goal I've made for myself is to cut out the gossip. At work, with people I know, with friends. I recently read an article in Cosmo....Glamour, maybe? talking about gossip, how easily it spreads, how nasty it can get - and an easy way to stop yourself from being a target (outside of not doing anything "gossip-worthy") is to not be a hub for gossip yourself. It's a hard goal, and I know it. But there's a quote out there..........another one to live by besides my one yesterday:
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people."
I also think this will help me with last year's goal of not living my life for other people....maybe if I quit being so concerned about everyone else, everyone else won't be so concerned about me and what I'm doing in MY life. It's an egocentric thought, I know - no one's world revolves around me. But the more I can just go about my business, with my loved ones, without the drama - the better.
Oh, and the Cowboys finished their dismal season at 6-10 with a just barely win over Philly today (their 2nd stringers, nonetheless), which is their worst in over 5 years....I'm already itching for next season....if there is one.
Happy 2011!!!!
New Years Eve was pretty uneventful for us. We actually started dating on New Years Eve of 2002-2003, so we've now passed 8 years together. We had fun at dinner trying to think back all of our NYE's together:
02/03 - Days Inn in Terre Haute - ended up being me, Chris & his best friend (and best man in our wedding) Bill - pretty uneventful!
03/04 - a double date party with one of Chris' former friends, Joe, and his girlfriend....can't remember her name and Chris hasn't spoken to him in years due to a fairly major fallout some years back....
04/05 - if memory serves, there was a party at Sigma Chi that turned out to be pretty lame, so we came back to Bethel and hung out by ourselves.
05/06 - party at Chris' house on North Street + party at the AOII Calvert House
06/07 - another party at Chris' house on North Street....I think....
07/ 08 - Jazz Kitchen in Indy with Chris' Sigma Chi friends and their g/fs and wives
08/09 - our first married NYE, in Cincinnati.....dinner at the top of the rotating restaurant with the same group from 07-08
09/10 - NYE in Columbus! Sigma Chi group convened here for a Blue Jackets game, dinner @ Boston's and some minor hoopla in a downtown hotel
This year was a little different - we had friends with a 4-week old baby, so they were out - another couple due in 3 months, so they were out - which left 3 (couples) of us. Plans went back and forth for weeks, but Chris had to work until 1 on Friday and it just wasn't going to be conducive for us to go anywhere. So, we got dressed up and braved Cheesecake at 7pm....I was fully expecting to have to wait for 2 hours, but we were in within 45 minutes. We enjoyed a yummy dinner and then tagged along with some friends to a party. We ended up leaving at 11 to come home, watched the ball drop with some champagne drank from our wedding flutes and being in bed shortly after. It was kind of nice to ring in the new year, just the two of us.
I've had 3 pretty "easy" weeks at work, as far as actual working days go - a 4 day week, then a 2.5 day week, and a 3-day week last week......so a full 5-day week this week is going to be killer.....not to mention that it's my end of month/ end of year, so it's going to be a busy one.
I did get back on track today with my mini training - 2.25 miles, outside - in about 22 minutes. It was COLD and WINDY today, so it was a hard run, and my new running gloves basically left me with frostbitten fingertips, but I got through it. Come February I'll be on an actual mini-training schedule, but until then I'm giving myself a little flexibility with distances and days ran to get myself back into it. I'm giving myself a goal of 10 miles/ week between now and 1/31, which I think is very doable.
Besides getting into a concrete schedule for the mini, the only other real goal I've made for myself is to cut out the gossip. At work, with people I know, with friends. I recently read an article in Cosmo....Glamour, maybe? talking about gossip, how easily it spreads, how nasty it can get - and an easy way to stop yourself from being a target (outside of not doing anything "gossip-worthy") is to not be a hub for gossip yourself. It's a hard goal, and I know it. But there's a quote out there..........another one to live by besides my one yesterday:
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people."
I also think this will help me with last year's goal of not living my life for other people....maybe if I quit being so concerned about everyone else, everyone else won't be so concerned about me and what I'm doing in MY life. It's an egocentric thought, I know - no one's world revolves around me. But the more I can just go about my business, with my loved ones, without the drama - the better.
Oh, and the Cowboys finished their dismal season at 6-10 with a just barely win over Philly today (their 2nd stringers, nonetheless), which is their worst in over 5 years....I'm already itching for next season....if there is one.
Happy 2011!!!!
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