Drop the ball!

It's New Year's Eve, at least according to my calendar. It's half past 5, and I'm tired. Perhaps I should nap before heading out to tonight's festivities?? As per past year tradition, I will be spending the waning hours of the year with friends, at a friends house, playing games and watching movies and being generally silly and fun. There will be jibing, and joking, and telling of tales, and this year I'll even get that first kiss just after the bell tolls 12 (I certainly hope, anyway).

I promised to share some of my resolutions in the last post, so here they are:**

• I resolve to keep my desk clean at work, and hide my spoon every night.
  (this is to prevent it from being 'cleaned up' and thus causing me to purloin a new spoon from the cafeteria)
• I resolve to keep my bird feeders full and my feathered friends happy.
• I resolve to make a budget for myself and the house, and stick to it (boring one this, but it has to be done).
• I resolve to get. rid. of. the. ugly. grey. landscaping. rock! It's not really ugly, I just don't want it. Lance says he does, YAY!
• I resolve to hang things on the walls of my house.
• I resolve to clean and organize the shed and the garage, and to get rid of the washer, dryer, and range that are taking up space. (Anyone need an appliance? They are cheap for the asking!)
• I resolve to spend many relaxing and enjoyable hours on my motorcycle in the nice, non- snowy/salty/sandy streeted months
• I resolve to redo the landscaping and plant a veggie garden (this is a multi year resolution!)
• I resolve to hit the softball to the green-grass!
• I resolve to improve my golfing handicap.
• I resolve to eat ice cream whenever possible (we all know that resolving to eat it less will NOT happen!)
• I resolve to renew old frienships, make new ones, and treasure special times.

So, how's that for a list of New Year's resolutions?? I'll have to print those somewhere and put check marks next to them so I don't miss anything. (Yes, I'm a list girl... AND proud of it!)

Happy 2008 everyone. May blessings come your way, and happiness find you often!


**resolutions subject to change without notice, see Tricia for further details

Almost the New Year...

2008. I recall when 2000 was a landmark not yet reached, one where the world might end, where computers might crash and eat the worlds/banks moneys. I lived in WI then. I hadn't truly defined my career path, or myself. That auspicious year came and went, the world did not end nor did all computers and banks eat all the worlds money, and here we are 8 years later...

2007 held some major landmarks in my life.

• I've had a 'permanent, real life, job' for the whole year, no mid semester break and no summer break. Only two weeks off for good behavior. Depressing, that last bit.
• I bought my first house, and have enjoyed the triumphs and dismays of such. Painting, fun but I'll stick with the colors I now have for a while. Water, in the house? Where?! ...SUCK!
• I finally own my own motorcycle, and have so far had a great time riding it, both to work and for fun rides, and for long distance rides (though a new seat for such long rides might be nice).
• A solid, steady, loving relationship.
• Bird Feeders!!! Yes, this is monumental.
• First multi-pitch climb completed (and subsequent rappel.)
  
• Skied the Canadian Rockies (and did not die, or break anything vital, and tried harder things than I thought I could do!)
  

So many other things happened to those close to me; friends have joined in marriage, other friends and relatives are expecting the birth of a wee one sometime next year, still other friends have met someone and fallen in love, and others are off having grand adventures elsewhere in the US/World.

I sat down last week to write my Christmas letter, which I still haven't mailed ...so it's now a Holiday letter, and tried to look back on all I'd done. I'm not amazed the time has flown, we've all filled our time admirably this last year.

I'm finishing up all those things at work that are needed before the end of the year, and it gets me to thinking about next year...both at work and home. What will next year bring? If it's anything like '07 I'll have to take time out to remember to breathe.

Sometimes I think I need to take a vacation day to just sleep and laze about and relax...but that never works out. I'm not sure I need more 'me' time, or more 'relaxing' time. I don't think that will happen. It would be nice to schedule in some quiet time now and again, but looking at the way my life (and that of my close friends) has been the last 2 to 3 years, I think from now until retirement, and maybe not even then, this is the pace we're forced to live at. You make of it what you will. I choose to go with the flow and make every change a positive one, somehow. It's hard, and maybe 'not right' that life has to move at such a rate, given how short a time we all have, but that's the way it is.

As far as 2008 resulutions, I have one - so far. I'll share that after the new year bell tolls. As for an outlook into the future, I'm working on that too. Today is simply to reminisce.

More Christmas-y Stuff

Oof. Yes, oof. I could be Very Minnesotan and say Uff-da but 1. I'm not Minnesotan, and 2. I have no idea how to spell it. Still, it's been a long day no matter how you say/spell it. Work was crazy busy and I sat at my own desk for a grand total of 10 minutes today. Yup. I checked Voice Mail, looked about my desk, and went home at the end of the day.

Last night I put lights on the tree and my decorations. Trev still needs to put on his (he is doing this now). Tonight when I got home from work I helped put up our outside Christmas lights. BRRRRRRRRRR. They look GREAT though. A pick when I get my camera working again.

We're doing secret santa at work, so I had to find and wrap a white elephant present and also I am making gluten free lasagna in the slow cooker for our pot luck tomorrow.

I am very tired, but I still have to pack for GB and wrap presents for the fam, and also finish up w/ the lasagna. It's smells very good and I desire to eat it now, but must refrain myself. Perhaps later I will have the yummy yummy iced cream.

I had my time, now preparations galore

I had a lovely Thanksgiving, though I never wrote about it. There was a lot of driving, but I'm used to it.

We have had almost 10 inches of snow since Thanksgiving, and it looks like we'll have a White Christmas this year after all. YAY!

This past weekend my parents and aunt and uncle came to town, and we got a tree. It's not decorated yet...tonight!

The next two weekends I have to drive to Green Bay. This first weekend -my brother is graduating! Yay! Next weekend for Christmas.

I can't believe it's almost the end of the year - whee! Um. yeah. This is kinda a lame post, but I had to get something online as I hadn't posted for practically a month. Better posts later!

Give me just Three. More. Days, People!

What is it about American culture that always wants something faster, sooner, bigger, better, now? Take Christmas for example. What is supposed to be a religious holiday has turned into a commercial nightmare. I remember when you could shop for Christmas things starting December 1st. Now, it seems, the garlands and wreaths hit the shelves before the Halloween candy. Call me old fashioned, but I do NOT like mixing my holidays.

Case in point. Today I went to purchase my all-time favorite breakfast, a cinnamon chip scone, from the little coffee shop place at work. I arrived in time to have a warm scone, score for me! Unfortunately, my ears were assailed with "Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas". Now, if I choose to listen to Christmas music out of season, that is one thing. To have it forced upon my unsuspecting ears, right when I was thinking of turkey and cranberry sauce (or rather my cinnamon chip scone) was not the wake up call I was looking for.

Would it be too much to ask to celebrate Thanksgiving on time, and leave Christmas to start on that maddening 'I'm stuffed so now I need to fight with supermom, hyper-kid, and the entire planet for one of 10 super-sale TVs left in the store because I have no football to watch' day? After this Thursday, inundate my ears w/ carols, I will be putting up my own lights and buying my own tree and breaking out the Mannheim Steamroller.

But right now, let me think fondly on family and friends and too much food, and my short work week. Thank you.

My house smells like sawdust.

First of all, is anyone else annoyed by the christmas shopping commercials that are already happening??!?

My house smells like sawdust. We have just finished installing a door. Oof. I was going to write more, but I was interrupted to help finish the door and now it's midnight. I'll have to write more later.

Weekend Trip

This weekend Trev and I drove to my parent's place to celebrate my mom's birthday. It was a nice weekend, but it went too quickly. We drove back today after having lunch with family friends. A high note - we went to the ski swap, and I learned more about the shape skies. Then I found a very cute hat, and I bought it. A low note - I hate allergies. Enough said.

Today there was no Packers game again, because they play Monday night. It was Ok though, as we were driving during much of the football games. Instead on the way there and the way back I knitted. I finished one project and started my afghan. It's a whole 3.5 inches long. (It will be 94...) Yup, I have a long way to go.

Boring post, I know, but it was a nice weekend. Also, I had crazy dreams but I can't remember enough of them to post them. I'll try to recall. Now I'm going to see if the Rockies can come from behind and force a game 5 in the World Series...

Update: Poo.

Sunday Sunday

And no Packers game to watch :( What's a girl to do? She tried to sleep in late, but was awake at 10, and gave up on the sleeping in about 10:15. She then decided to clean and cook. Yup - I've cleaned and cooked all day. (Of course, cooking has entailed putting things in crock pot and then being tantalized by the nice smells all afternoon.) I have cleaned a good portion of my house. The office!? No. The office is the one room that is still bothering the heck out of me, but it's not the deceptively small project it looks to be. I have to organize. Yes, that is the scary bit. So, I wait and hope that it doesn't bother me so bad that I start and get halfway done and then stop.

What I really need is a (weekend) blizzard. Yup - you read right. Something that will make me stay inside, and then I can clean and organize to my hearts content. Because I know that if I start in the office, then I'll organize all the closets, which will lead to organizing and sorting the understair storage, which will lead to the garage (maybe not a blizzard for that part) and then eventually the shed.

For now, I'm going to get a snack so I don't eat all the food in the crockpot before dinner, and then perhaps do some writing or play a game. Yay for breaktime!

Adventures in Dreamland

I had an interesting night while sleeping last night. It started before I could go to sleep. I went to bed, curled up intending to fall straight to sleep (we all know how well that works...) and promptly felt sick. It was the beginning of a allergy/asthma/anxiety attack (not sure which, but they all have the same symptoms...tummy ache, then tummy discomfort leading to sickness, then no ability to breath, then chills, then tiredness - which I can usually not fall back asleep because of the inhaler I've used). So, I waited in the warm bed as long as I could, the got out, got cold, took care of attack, and went back to bed.I finally got back to bed - over an hour later than I had started - and I lay there trying to sleep. I don't know how much later it was, but I had the strangest dreams.

My dream started with me knowing I had to go get something from Lambeau Field. I don't know now what it was, only that it was small enough to go in my pocket, extremely important, and it was my job to break it and get it from the bad guy who was there keeping it. In order to do this I had to go through the Country Club. Whose, I have no idea. But I snuck in through some lady's subterranean office. Then, on the theory that if I acted like I was supposed to be there, noone would stop me, I walked right out onto the golf course and walked up the cart path all the way to Lambeau. Don't ask me bow the Stadium and the Country Club were connected, they just were. I went into the stadium, onto the field, and sat on the sidelines watching the game. I then explained to the kicker the strategies of kicking the ball through the uprights....believe me, this wasn't your normal strategy. It involved math, and some sort of device on the side lines...I went over to Mr. Favre, asked for the game ball (why he had it during the game when the other team's offense was on the field is also beyond me). I then used said game ball in some form of experiment in which the other players jerseys turned bright pink. I decided that was the cue to get what I came for, and left promptly.

Then came the fun part, going back through the Country Club in order to get the object (whatever it was) safetly to wherever I was taking it. (strange what details a dream keeps in and out). I walked through the golf course OK, and picked up a partner along the way. I don't know who, but I kept explaining we had to act casual, and then noone would suspect us. (this statement comes into play later as well). We went into the club house, down the stairs and into the pool room (the game, not the water). There were Gladiators there. Not the nice, Roman kind, but the 80's American Gameshow kind. One of the chicks was very built, with blonde hair, and a pool cue. She was about to shoot. I nodded at her as though I belonged and continued - taking particular care not to do anything that would make me have to do The Eliminator to get back the way I came. I instantly knew it was her office I had come through to get this far, and had to go back through to get out. We went through the rest of the rec room's worth of Gladiators (they were wearing regular clothes, not their outfits from the show), and snuck back into the office area when it was safe. Somehow on the golf course I had gotten mud on my hands, so I had to use the water by her door to clean them, then use the towel I had confiscated to clean the muddy water, then hide the towel. I had to do all that so I could open the door without making mud.

I went in, closed the door, and went back out the office window up onto ground level...and ended up on a Spaceship. My companion had become Chewbacca. We were having a converstation as to what to do now with the object...I still don't know what it was, and I needed desperately for him to keep his voice down. That didn't work and he was caught. I escaped and he told me to go run for something, I think a stun gun, to get him free...and then I woke up.

I have no idea why I have dreamed such a dream. I just wish I would have gotten more sleep.

Finally Friday

Whee, and ouch. I woke up this morning after a wonderfully silly and somewhat scary dream about myself in a gorgeous blue evening gown running around saving the day. There was a child in a mandarin style black suit, but he was older than I was. He was also NOT a vampire. He was...other. He was eerie, but smart and he was on my side. There was also my old, old apartment, the one I lived while finishing my Undergrad. Except, instead of being a four-plex it was a duplex - upper and lower. Also there were hidden rooms and staircases and it wasn't on the same street. Still, I knew it was that place. I bought it, and Trev and I were going to remodel it and sell it, or live below and have other live above? I don't remember those details so well. So, somehow I ended up dressing in this blue gown (with matching blue shoes) and the child showed up and we were in the lower apartment and it was our headquarters and I went off to an english style garden with tall hedges around and about it in, and was attempting to save the day. The details of said dream have faded since this AM when I woke up to have my phone misbehaving for the third day in a row (saying I was online?), came to work, and now am writing it down. Note to self, wake up with time to write crazy dreams down before coming to work.

So, yes, the whole point of this post....It's Friday. Yup, that's it. Friday Friday Friday. Wednesday for part of the day I was convinced that the next day was Friday (so I must have thought it was Thursday), then I realized my error and was depressed for a whole hour. This morning I woke up, and knew I had an early meeting to prepare for so I knew I HAD to get up. I didn't want to. But I did, because tomorrow I can sleep in somewhat. Also I can go to bed early tonight if I wish. Yay!

Tomorrow I'm going to go try to catch roommate's rugby game, and there is a b-day party for a certain lady I know, and also sleep. Sunday is football, and more sleep, and perhaps knitting as well.

Oh, and also - WE CAUGHT A SECOND MOLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, I am excited. Yes, it's dead. And no, I don't feel bad about that. That corner of our house has caught two now, I think we'll keep the trap there.

Ooh- note to self, I need to get my sprinkler system blown out this weekend or next week...before the F word returns.

Ah, the peace that comes from a severed head.

What? Ok....I've been reading too much sci-fi and fantasy, and it almost Halloween. In this case, the peace that comes from knowing Trev's teeth have been safely removed from his head, and he's on the mend. Trev had his wisdom teeth taken by the nice doctor today. I've been at home taking care of him and working from home. Perhaps the reason I couldn't sleep last night had something to do with him having an operation? No.

I think I was still mad at the poor coaching job the Packers did to hamstring nice Mr. Favre and his offense. So what if there were a couple of fumbles, they were still winning. Somebody give Mr. McCarthy a time-out.

I know I'll sleep better tonight. I've begun the healing process of having my favorite team beaten on by the Bears, and I Trev is home safe - sans four teeth. Also, I'm exhausted from only 4 hours of sleep last night....

Good night, and good luck!

I'd call this post Sleepless in Cottage Grove, but it's not love I'm out to find...it's sleep. For some reason, even though I should be exhausted - even though I am exhausted - I can't sleep. I went to bed at 10:30. I laid there w/ no luck for 2 hours. I almost achieved sleep once, but it was stolen. I decided since I wasn't getting any sleeping done, I might as well get up and play on the web, move around - see if I could make myself tired to sleep again. Not sure it is going to work, but I can try. If this doesn't work, I'll whip out my work computer and do a few hours of work.

what I really want is a good thunderstorm. The news promised me one, and I've seen them on radar taunting me, but always they move around me. I think if it were thundering and lightning and raining, I could sleep. Is that odd? Probably. But for some reason it feels as though it would work.

Anyway - good night all, hope your sleep is better than mine.

Ahhh CHOOOO!

The nice men are pulling wire in my building today. They are removing ceiling tiles and then pulling the wire this way and that. It's making dust fall down. I'm sneezing muchly. Oof. Time for more tea, I think.

Speaking of tea, I got some Chai Spice Black Tea (brand Stash Tea) at the Squire House Gardens last weekend. YUM! W/ some of the honey I got at the farmer's market it is the perfect afternoon soothing drink.

It's been a hectic week, I'm just glad tomorrow is Friday. I just have to get home in time to mow the yard before the rains hit again...

Can I have a nap, please?

It's Wednesday. It's almost 4PM. I'm tired, I'm grumpy, and feeling overwhelmed. What can I do about this? I can't have my nap. I am going to gym class, even though I really don't want to. I'll probably feel better after.

Today was the nasty day of my week, too many meetings. Tomorrow will be better, and Friday will be...well...Friday.

Saturday we're having the Fall Softball team to our house for a end of ball party. The house is clean for that, but there is so much else to do to it.

Oof. I'm going to go crawl in a hole.

Repeat as Necessary.

On another note, in the conference room next to my desk there is 'learn to speak Chinese' class happening. They learn by repetition. Instructor says 'ah*' class says 'ah'.

*Note: 'ah' is an example note. I have no idea what they are actually saying, or rather- no idea how to type what they are saying. I also have no idea what it means.

I woke up, and Minnesota was already crying.

Ok, I'm waxing eloquent, but it was a wet weekend. Saturday I woke up, went to Afton w/ Karin to get bulbs and tea from Squire House Gardens. When we arrived, there was an art fair. We walked about looking at the pottery and jewelry and paintings and such, and had a hot dog, and then ran to the Squire House Gardens when it started raining. We found our bulbs, and some tea, and other things. We then borrowed an umbrella to get back to the car as it was still pouring and, returning the umbrella via drive by, went up to the mall. We didn't find anything there we liked, and went back to my house. I then had Trev return me to Afton where we bought more tea, a few more things at the garden store, adopted a plant, and found some pictures.

Saturday evening, Chris came over to eat dinner and teach me to knit on double pointed needles. I am now one thumb away from a wrist warmer (fingerless glove). I will attempt the thumb tonight.

Sunday started more rain. Trev and I went to the farmer's market in St Paul to get honey, and then came back to our place, changed and went to Lance's for the game. The Packer's won...only fitting w/ Brett Favre breaking the Touchdown Passes Record. They are 4-0 for the first time in something like 9 years. Who knows what's going to happen next...

Last night I continued knitting, and then went to bed at 7PM. I was tired. I still am. Good thing it's a slow day at work today. Now I should get back to writing reports and such.

Rivalries

This weekend is Packer/Viking weekend. The first of two per season. This season, the packers are 3-0! The Vikings....are not. We plan to go to Erin and Lance's to watch the game, along with many Packers fans...and a few Vikings fans that happen to be dating or married to the Packers fans, and are thus required to watch the game in the company of Packer's fans.

I wore my Packers shirt to work today. It's a cute little black T w/ yellow and white writing, and then a little 'G'. I was walking through the hallway and a gentleman with a Vikings jersey passed me. We sized each other up...If I were a kicker he would have been a line backer...and gave each other the 'acknowledgment nod' and continued on our way. Most people were saying good morning to me, and me to them. Not him. We had the mutual understand that - for today at least, we were rivals. Our teams were rivals. On Monday, one of us will be able to gloat, the other will be quite sad.

Let's hear it for rivalries!

A world without stairs, amen.

I have turned over a new leaf. Or perhaps it was the leaves falling on my house in the small thunderstorm last night. Whichever the case...yesterday I went to gym class, and I intend to continue doing so. I started the week by climbing on Sunday. Monday, I didn't want to - but I went to Step Class. No one was forcing me to with candy posing as guns. No, it was self bribery, and the candy the reward. I went to step and for 45 minutes I steped on and off and over the little staired platform, and side to side, and did steps I can't even name. By the end I was winded, and uncoordinated, and feeling rather good about myself. By the time I left the gym and went back to my desk to collect my things, I knew I would pay the price. This morning, when I hopped (yes, hopped and it was a dumb idea) out of bed I just about fell over in pain. I needed a remedy.

Dr. says - hair of the dog that bit you. So I went climbing. I climbed this afternoon on some easy climbs, and some hard climbs...and wouldn't you know it - most of them called for foot switches, or toe rises, or some other action that required much use of my muscles of leg. I felt stretched and better. Good Dr.

Nope. BAD Dr. I stretched when I got done, but not enough, I fear. Now my shoulders and neck and feet and hands AND calves hurt. I should clarify. This is all good hurts. The kind of hurts you get when you work out. The pain that says, 'this is a good thing, it will help me if I just keep at it.' It is that ' I'm accomplishing something' kind of pain. Still. It hurts. I am also thirsty (I'm going to fix that as soon as I'm done typing though).

So, tomorrow, will I rest? NO! Tomorrow is Abs and Gluts class! I like that class. Plus, those muscles don't hurt yet. If you're going to get wet, you may as well jump in the deep end...or something like that. Still, it would be nice if the whole world had elevators and escalators where hills and stairs might be....just for one day, just til my legs feel better.

A wonderful, wet weekend.

Wet? You ask. It was lovely. Well, yes...Friday through Sunday were. Thursday on the other hand was a monsoon. We had water again, and Saturday Trev and my dad determined the source of the water to be the plugged down-spouts outside my house. So they worked at unplugging them. They also found water in the smaller downstairs bedroom (the one right next to the understair storage.) We are now frantically trying to dry that carpet.

Otherwise the weekend was lovely. Mom and I shopped most of Saturday, getting outfits for her, and shirts for me and also some really cute new shoes for me that I have nothing to wear with. Seriously. I loved the shoes so I bought them, and now I have to go shopping to find something to match them.

Friday and Saturday night Mom, Dad, Trev and I played Sheepshead. I made some dumb mistakes as I haven't played in a while, but it was really fun. Sunday we went to brunch and then Mom and Dad headed home. So...Trev and I headed to Redwing on our motorcycles with our climbing gear in the saddlebags. We met Karin and Nate there, and climbed until almost 7 before heading back home. We got home in the dark, so now my nice bike is covered in bugs. Oh well. It was great fun and if the weather holds, we'll probably go again this coming weekend.

No One Hundred and Eleventyth Birthday for me

But I enjoyed mine just the same. I have been listening to the Lord of the Rings trilogy on CD Book in my car for the last month, or more, and I am wrapped up in that world again. They are unabridged - hence the amount of time it's taking me.

Last Friday was my B-day. Friday night to celebrate - I went to my golf banquet and became VP of the couples golf league. What does that get me? The ability to go to meetings, run a tournament, and get a box of balls at the end of the season (oh, and the ability to be president the next year). Then I talked Trev into signing up to be League Secretary, where he'll get to do lots and lots of math. Don't laugh, he likes math.

Saturday we had a cookout and bonfire w/ a few friends and Trev's family. Smallerish party this year than in years past, but it was fun. Lance and Trev decided to do a 'scientific experiment' in which the placed a cardboard box full of small bits of wood on top of the bonfire. I'm not sure what the hypothesis was, or if they proved or disproved it. Still, it was amusing to chase bits of burning box around the yard and stamp them out, and then watch as the contents of the box (Volume in box was NOT equal to volume left in pit) spill out into fire, and around the fire. Then Lance and Trev had to shovel it all back into fire and hope it stayed. Don't worry though - they are both Eagle Scouts, and so there was no danger of burning down. Burning up from the heat of the fire was another problem entirely - and left for a different day.

Sunday we went over to my friend Chris's house for apps, dessert, and cards. Great fun was had by all as Tricia tries, in vain, to master a card game that the other three have been playing for years. I started to do better, really. I blame the cards. Yes - bad cards :P

This past week I was sick for a few days, always fun. I actually took time off of work to get better. I also cleaned the house, and played my last two softball games. It's sad really. I FINALLY am getting good at hitting the ball, and I have to put my bat away until next season.
This Tuesday and Thursday we had much much rain, and Thursday we had a big storm. We were spared any damage from wind, but because of the amount of water, we have a wet storage area again. This time we realized our sump is not burping, our walls are leaking. This is a MUCH bigger problem, that may involve having to have some foundation redone. We are going to call the homeowners insurance people and determine if this is covered or if we are up the creek - as it were. Luckily, this only happens when we have lots and lots of rain, and should be an easy, if not inexpensive, fix.

So, today I'm working, and then Tomorrow and Sunday (along w/ tonight) will be chill w/ the parents time. Then, Sunday, depending on weather and timing, Trev and I may head down to Red Wing to do some climbing. Anyone else want to go???

Water, Water, Everywhere!

All summer we were in a drought. Since Friday night though, it hasn't stopped raining. Raining, pouring. Southern Minnesota is being hit the worst, with entire towns being evacuated because of the flooding. My little corner of the world has not gone untouched, however.

I think I blogged about my lovely surprise when I moved into my house. Do you recall my rant on the sump that had no pump? Well, if not, let me sum up- I have a sump (hole) under the stairs in my under-stair storage area. This sump has no sump-pump. The problem with this: If water comes in, it has no way of going out again. I looked at the drain tile system, or what I thought. I called the nice company. they say that water below a certain level will drain right back out again...

Apparently, the caveat to this is that water ABOVE a certain level will not. That is what we learned the hard way last night, though I highly doubt that the bloop happened last night. We went downstairs after making and eating dinner to watch the Twins game. ::Sniff, sniff:: What is that smell? It smells wet. Around the basement went my nose, right to said sump. Hand to carpet - sure enough, there is water here.

So I spent last night with Trevor, pullling all the things out of the storage, pulling out the carpet, using the shop vac to get the water out of the sump (which was back to it's normal half-full after blooping all over my carpet), finding a fan, using said fan to dry out under stair storage area, drying carpet in main area that got wet from shopvac being emptied outside, moving fan to dry that carpet, putting carpet from understair storage out in 3 season porch with windows open to hopefully dry it before mold grows on it, and getting the can of Lysol and spraying it EVERYWHERE.

The problem with this situation is that I still don't know where we'd plum in a pump for our sump. There is really no power down there, we'd have to put in an outlet. We'd also have to cut through finished basement bits to get the water to go outside, because it is illegal to drain a sump pump into a floor drain. Even if we were to do the illegal, we'd still ahve to cut through the bathroom and into the laundry room, and by then, why not just cut to outside.

Sigh. In retrospect, it was really a small amount of water, probably only 2-5 gallons, and it probably was only there for a day. There was no carpet pad in the storage area (though the carpet that got wet in the main area does have it. It could have been so much worse. Now I just have to borrow a carpet cleaner again, as the water from the sump is yucky muddy.

Hopefully all you that I know in MN did not also have this problem.

Motorcycle Mama...

Well, not the Mama part anyway. But, I am the owner of a motorcycle. I finally got my own! I'll post a picture when I upload them from my camera.

I have put about 350 mi on it so far. I've had it for about 2 weeks :) 230 of those mi were on Sunday, just two days ago. Trev and I went out w/ his dad and his dad's group for a Sunday ride. Many curvey roads were found. By the end I was a bit sore, and a bit tired, but I had fun (thought I've developed 'glove tan').

I've taken to riding it to work. I've added a windshield and saddlebags to it, but that's about all.

WHEEeeeeee.

Summer of Weddings

This weekend starts our summer of weddings. By our I mean Trevor and I, and by summer of weddings, I mean that between this weekend and mid September, we will be attending 5. I will be in 2. Two of my best friends, whom I've known since Kindergarten, will be getting married this summer. One this weekend, and one in early August. Another friend, who I met much later - college, will be getting married in September, ending the summer of weddings. In the middle, one of Trevor's friends will be wed, and one of his cousins. 5 weddings. All are people my age.

This weekend I will drive to Green Bay to stand by my friend's side as she says "I do" (or it's equivalent) to a man she loves. She has found a man that makes her happy, who challenges her, who cares for her, and who she can be both friend and lover with. I know all is not picture perfect (that would be boring anyway), but they do so very well together. The only caveat to this driving home for the weekend - I haven't packed yet. :P I'm in the process of making a list so I don't forget anything.

The next wedding happens a few weeks later up in NW Minnesota, a friend of Trev's that I haven't met yet, though I will know at least 2 other people at the wedding. The weekend after that we drive back to GB to the second wedding of a childhood friend. Now she is an adult friend with a child of her own and a man who loves her, and their son, with all his heart. A few weeks after that will be Trev's cousin's reception, and then my friend of college years will end the summer of weddings with her own.

It will be a whirlwind summer. I know it will be fun, exciting, emotional, crazy, and it will be sad to see it go. I will post more about the weddings after they happen. Right now I have to buckle down and finish up some work things, pack for the first wedding this summer, and finish my tea.

Jumping Rocks

This weekend Trevor and I discovered something interesting. We have jumping rocks at hour house. Along our driveway, we have rock and bushes. We were weeding the rocks, as the mole** and the ants have created tunnels for the weeds to get through the barrier and up into the rocks. As we were weeding, we began to notice something peculiar. The rocks were jumping away from us.

As we watched, it happened again and again. Finally, Trevor decided to catch a jumping rock. He stalked through the rock bed, looking for a jumping rock. I went back to weeding. A bit later he came over with a rock for me to look at. I looked at the rock in his hand. The top of it looked suspiciously like a grasshopper. He gave the 'rock' to me. It bounced off my hand.

How long does a species take to adapt to it's surroundings, to evolve? Not long apparently, because the rock in front of our house has only been there for 2-3 years. The little hoppers of grass were not green, or brown, but grey and speckled. They looked exactly like our rock. They are now hoppers of rock, or 'jumping rocks', at our house. They look silly when the perch on a plant and try to blend in.

We weeded the rocks up the driveway and in front of the house for 2 hours on Saturday and 1-2 on Sunday. That got that area cleaned up, but we have more to go. It was just to darned hot to weed more than that, and I'm not getting up on a Saturday at 6 AM unless I have Very Good Reason. Weeding doesn't constitute a Very Good Reason. I'll get to the rest of it piecemeal, this week.

**Sidebar - the mole has attacked our back yard in earnest. Apparently it did not like me jumping on it trails. It has made them everywhere!! Trevor has set the trap, and we will be setting bait and perhaps even feeding it caster oil. We will not be bested by a mole.

On Adventure:

Life is an adventure, right? Some days are more than others. Don't get me wrong...any day in my imagination is a huge adventure. You never know who you'll be, what world you will be in,etc.

This past Tuesday, the Super Saturn gave me a scare. A coworker and I went out to lunch. We tired to go out for Nepali food, but the place we were going to go was closed. No worries, let's try another. We go back to car... Nothing happens. I try the key over and over and over, but no luck. I was so worried I'd broken something vital.

I had the car towed. Trevor was our Knight in Shining Spyder, and took us back to work. Saturn called later in the day, I had a very deaded battery. I got the car back on Thursday AM.

In other news, work progresses on the story I'm writing. I have finished Chapter one. I will post this, and begin chapter two. Should you like to read it, drop me a line.

Also, I'm drinking rather a lot of margaritas tonight. And watching Family Guy. I cleaned earlier. Is that a lame Friday night? I hope not :)

Yuck Yuck!

I have been busy lately. Apparently, so busy I don't notice when things cling to myself for all night.

Let me 'splain. I got home the other night, and went out back to water the garden. I did so, then came back in. I watched the twins, and wrote some...I'm writing a story, more on that later...and then went to bed.

The next morning I woke up, showered, and began to towel off. What's this? I ask myself, looking at my foot. I don't remember a mole there. I don't look closer. I have a sneaking suspicion, and I'm NOT bringing my foot closer to my face if that is what I think it is.

I run to Trevor. I tell him to look at my foot. He says, "oh, you have a tick." in a very conversational way. I squeak. I shudder, I wimper. I make him get rid of it, then throw myself into his arms. Yucky yucky yucky! I hate ticks. I hates them, precious. rrrrrr.

I still shudder when I think on it. Bleah.

I flew to St. Louis, MO, and didn’t get to see the Arch!

My vacation was awesome! I had a great time climbing Red Rock Canyon and surrounding areas out near Las Vegas. During the day we would climb, at night we would eat and see some sights. I didn’t drop one penny into a casino (other than to buy food at various buffets and restaurants). No gambling with money for me, only with my life….good thing my climbing partners new what they were doing.

The day we got there we climbed on “Magic Bus”. Lots of good routes, and I even led one. Lot of sunscreen was required, for the whole week, but especially day one, as the sun is very hot in the desert. Day two we hiked a rather long time to get to a climb (missing the turn a few times), but then climbed in the afternoon. I had to rest for a while, because the heat was too much for me after the hike – though it was fun to just hike around. Reminded me of the adventures I’ve had with Rachel…except in heat instead of rain and cold. I did climb a 5.9 or a 5.9+ in my old old climbing shoes. The next day we did a multi-pitch 5.8- with 400 or 450 feet of vertical height. First ever multipitch, was a great experience, but my head and my body were warring over who was correct. My body thought I was going to fall to death, and was having applicable reactions. My head knew I was just fine. After a day of multi-pitch climbing, the girls (two girls and four boys on this trip) decided to let the boys do a 7 pitch 5.8 while we shopped and played by the pool. I needed the rest day. The next two days we went to Calico Basin to climb. The first of those I only bouldered about, and the second was our last day there, and I did manage to climb - even with sun burned feet. (One day of forgetting sunscreen + sandals = very interesting tan lines, likely for the rest of the season.)

In the evenings we watched the Fountains of Bellagio, we saw the Pirates vs. the Sirens show at Treasure Island, we walked about, and we slept.

On the way back, we spent an extra night in Denver as our plane had mechanical problems, so I had not much sleep Tuesday night and flew from Denver to St. Louis to Minneapolis to get home. Now I’m jet lagged, but happy, and will post pictures when I get the chance.

Don't Follow the Lights!...

It's 2AM CDT and I'm sitting at the rental car place at the Las Vegas Airport. They have free wi-fi here, so I figured I'd make a post. I am on vacation for 6 days. 6 days of climbing! Woot! Also, I hope to take in a show, maybe...maybe pull on a slot machine or two, eat yummy food, and relax. Saw the lights on the Strip as we flew in. Impressive, most impressive.

Oh dear, I'm mixing and maching my Movie quotes. I must be tired.

Have a good Memorial Day everyone.

Bright new colors, pretty new furniture.

Finally. Am I done? No. But I have finished the painting and the moving about of the major furniture. Now all that's left are the hard things. The organizing of the things that are still in boxes. Things I don't use everyday, because they are still in boxes, and I am not so very keen on taking them out again. Oh, I'll do it. I'll hate it, but I'll do it.

This weekend my parents brought over the piano, a couch, a loveseat, and a table, and a chair. We moved those into the house, and then we spent the weekend doing various odd jobs about the house and doing yard work. LOTS of yard work. I think I pulled weeds and did garden bits for a total of 9 hours over 2 days. I am a sore self. Oof.

So, what's on the agenda for this coming weekend then? Will I be planting my garden, or will I be unpacking the dreaded boxes? Nope. This weekend I will be off climbing at Red Rocks. Whee. I'm excited and nervous. I don't do well in heat, and I just bought two pairs of capri pants and am wondering if I should have bought long pants. Oof. Oh well. Wish me good climbs, and a safe return (and no encounters with scorpions or large, furry spiders).

Already a whirlwind weekend!

It's 10:30 on a Saturday night. What are you doing? I'm sitting at the desk in my office, posting to Craig's List the apartment I just moved out of, and blogging. How cool am I? Not very, apparently.

This weekend has been a whirlwind already! Friday right after work Trevor and I drove to visit my cousins in the Madison area. I have a 9 month old baby cousin, and was able to play with him all this morning. Whee! Baby fix! Then this afternoon we drove to Wollersheim Winery for the spring case club tasting, and bought a case of wine. We then drove back here. Now it's even later, and I'm almost ready for bed.

Tomorrow we're going to check out some bedroom furniture, unpack some more, and perhaps install the dishwasher! Slowly, the house comes together.

Just about there.

I go tonight to pick up the food in the fridge, gather the cleaning supplies, and turn off the lights for the last time. It seems sad, knowing that a chapter in my life is just about to close. I have lived in that house, in two different apartments, for a very significant part of my life. I ended my Bachelor's there. I fumbled with my life, then decided to do my Master's. I completed the Master's there. I ended one job, did some research, and started a new job while living there. I had 4 different roommates, some for a very short time, others for longer.

I am...sad to leave it, and excited. I am slightly scared, but mostly anticipating the next chapter of my life. I have all my things at the new house, and I've begun the sorting and putting away process. Things are going in the trash, and sometimes those things are mementos. It is hard to get rid of them, like throwing away a piece of my past, but I can't keep it all. I have to be choosy. What to keep and what to recycle/throw away. I know I will always have the memories, but will a physical reminder help keep the memory strong? Without something tangible, will it fade away?

I look at this blog, and where it's taken me. All the way from my first apartment to my first house. Yet, as things go on, is this the forum for me? Will I keep writing here or shall I write somewhere else? Will changing the blog title really change anything? I want to keep writing, but does anyone even read this? Would it be better to start with my paper journal again, or is that just another thing I should put in a box on a shelf to read another day?

Don't mind my waxing eloquent on the blog, and the chapters of my life. I'm tired. I moved for 12 hours on each day of this weekend, as well as preparing for a major presentation today at work. I also have errands to run at lunch, and my brother is back from Canada and I'd like to see him today or tomorrow. It seems lately my life is in hypermode, with not enough time to do all that I'd like.

Hopefully, sometime very soon, life will slow down a bit, so I can just relax and enjoy it.

Connected with the world.

Here I sit at a desk, this post. I have my desk put together and my computer upon it and internet attached to the computer. I have set up a new wireless internet account and will put in a network for the computers here when I have the chance. I have cable TV too, for the first time ever. I'm not sure we need it, but we got a deal for 6 months. We'll try it and if we decide we don't need it, we'll switch. I've never had it before, but Trevor has. We'll probably be keeping it :)

My clothes have made it to the house. My bedroom stuff has been organized, and the bathroom stuff and the kitchen stuff that is here, and some office. I need to put the downstairs bedroom back together but that is a chore for a different day. Now I'm tired, and I want to crawl into my new bed and fall asleep. I am going to work for fairly early tomorrow. I will be done about 3:30 or so, and then I'll begin the process of bringing one more load to the house, cleaning, wiring, and organizing again. Ooh, and a target run. Time to go spend money!

PS. Painting party on Sunday. Anyone want to come???

Move In Begun.

I am sitting on the floor in my living room of my house. It's 10 PM. I have been a home owner for almost 17 days. Maybe 18. I can't be bothered to do the math right now. Last night was the first night I slept here. It was kinda scary and kinda sad. Scary, because it's a neighborhood I've only driven through, been in my yard. There are a lot of kids, I know it's safe, but I was all by myself and I am only half moved and was feeling very discombobulated. I was also sad. Sad to leave Como Park. Sad to leave the current roommate. Oh, I know we'll be seeing each other, hopefully often. But it is different when you live with someone, and you live together well. I was also hyped up on emotion because of all that had happened last weekend. I painted downstairs and finished the whole bottom level while Trev did wiring and putting together upstairs rooms and such. Sunday Trev and I moved most of my stuff with the help of his friend Tim. Sunday night I picked up roommate from the airport. By the time I got back to the apartment and got the few things I needed and made sure I was OK for work....I was over emotional. Weepy almost. It was odd. I think the house finally became real to me in that moment. I was leaving renting. I was growing up. It was odd, and scary, and I"m still in a weird mood about it. (but still very happy, I assure you.)

So here I sit on the floor in my living room at 10:06. I have my speaker system hooked up so I can listen to music as I clean and work. Tonight I've done 2 loads of laundry and put it away in my new closet. I've vacuumed one room and steam cleaned two. I'm about to organize the bathroom stuff and take a shower. Shower, you think...that's not that odd. It is, when it's the first time you've used the shower. I have no idea if it gets too hot or too cold. How the water pressure is. If the bottom of the surface is slippery, and if I need to add some stickies to it. I had meant to organize the kitchen stuff, but the vacuum and steam cleaning and laundry took longer than I expected. Always that is the way with things for this house. I think I estimate the time well, but something happens to make it take longer. Part of me just wants to take the shower and go to bed. I can do the bathroom stuff tomorrow when I'm fresh. I'm wanting to put everything in a place. To pick the place now. To stick with the clean, organized self that lives inside me...deep, deep down. I think I may just put away enough to get into the shower for tonight. Yes. Then I will sleep. It's been a long day.

Tomorrow I will go get a new license :( I will miss my WI one. So here I stand, at 10:11, to go finish my evening, curl up with Eeyore, and go to sleep.

I can’t believe all that has happened. I have been so busy I have not even blogged.

After I blogged about not having my house, I got it back. It’s a long story and not worth getting into here, but I closed March 30 and I am now a proud homeowner. Proud, and tired. I have been painting for the last week and a half or so…almost every room in the house needs paint. After tonight the 4 bedrooms will be done. I still have the kitchen, living room, family room, hallways, and main entrance to paint. Luckily it will only be three more colors. I just have to pick them. Sometime I am going to paint the two bathrooms, but not now. Also the laundry room can stay the way it is. I have to figure out a few more things as well. Such as what is going where for when I move my stuff.

I know where most of the things I’m bringing over will go, but not all. I will start with the bringing things soon. In fact, this weekend I will probably move most of my stuff. That doesn’t leave me with much time. Tomorrow I will pick up the rest of the paint and pack up things, Thurs/Friday I will try my best to get most of the painting in the downstairs done. Saturday I will move a majority of things, if the weather is nice. Sunday too there will be moving, and more painting. Next week I hope to finish the painting and start some organizing. Either that Sunday or sometime during the week I’ll finish moving the stuff from my apartment. That next Friday (we’re up to the 27^th now folks) My new appliances will be delivered, so I have to have things ready for them to go into place. I also have to find out if I have to plumb in the new gas line or if the installers do that. (for the gas dryer). By the end of April I have to be completely out of my apartment.

Even though appliances come with a house, and even though they are in perfectly good working order and quite nice, I decided I wanted new ones, so I have For Sale:

1 desk, slightly bruised but in fine working condition.

1 electric coil oven (30 in width)

1 washer

1 dryer

Pictures and pricing available upon request, with more items for sale to follow

Anyone who wants to try their hand at painting with me is more than welcome!

No House for you!

That's right, you heard it hear first folks. No house for me. I was denied by, well. I'm going to be adult and not go into details over the internet. If I speak with you in person, or you email me, I'll give you all the gory details. The quick summary: I felt as though I were in an HGTV channel episode of "Buy my House". Only I didn't.

In the end it was my decision to pull the plug. I'll look at more houses on Sunday.

Back to the drawing board, kids.

Offer Accepted

I made my offer last Tuesday. They countered and I countered and they tried and I said no. Finally they accepted my original counter and I am now in the process of purchasing a house. Yesterday and today are call people frantically days. Tomorrow is the home inspection. Thursday is 'contact the sellers with any and all consessions needed from said inspection' day. Then Friday they get back to me on what they will give me, then by Monday I decide if I agree with that. Then, by March 30th I have to have the mortgage, the insurance, and the titlework all set so I can close at 2PM. Then...I own a house!

That weekend, March 31/1 will be major clean of new house and picking paint colors for Unfortunate Choice of Paint Color Rooms in the house. The weekend after I'll paint (Easter, I know). The weekend after that I'll do my major move I think. Sometime after moving most of my stuff I'll have to do the major clean of my current apartment and the check out with my land lord there.

I still have to do the 'normal' move things, like contact the post office with my new address and let every one else know that too. I have to do the not quite every time things like change my drivers license and license plates and tabs. I have to do the necessarys like inform Excel of cancelation of my apartment electric and gas on a specific day, transfer of my cable internet, adding (perhaps) cable TV and determining where, finding out about wanter/sewer/garbage and what one does with those, and anything else that I find out I have to do.

Can you tell I'm making my list here so I can access it anywhere?? Yeah, I have a zillion lists and many copies of them all. I am hoping everything goes smoothly, but at least I have the entire month of April to do the above before I have to leave my apartment.

So, sometime after all of this, I'll be ready to have a new house party at my new place. Whee!

A major step.

I’ve talked about my search for a home before on this blog. I’ve talked about some of the motivating factors in my moving sooner rather than later (i.e. my downstairs neighbors). I’ve talked about the many houses I’ve looked at. Sometimes on here, but mostly just to people. I’ve been in over 50 homes with open houses and showings. I’ve looked at over 1000 listings. (Whew!) I found a house I like, and this time I’m not going to just sit and watch it. I have talked with some mortgage people and gotten good faith estimates for this house. I’ve talked to people who have lived/live in and around the area. I’ve done online research on house values in the area and appreciation in the last few years. I’ve done the homework.

Today, I did something I have not done before. I wrote an offer. Rather, to be more precise, my realtor wrote the offer and I signed my name and initials upwards of 25 times. Sheesh. It took about a half hour to write the offer. I then sent it off to be looked at by a professional (read lawyer). I got word is was good, with a few small changes, and then I gave the realtor the OK to send it.

I heard back about 30 min later that the selling realtor is occupied this evening with family, but will present the offer to the sellers first thing in the morning. They will have 1 day to tell me if they will, reject, accept, or counter. Then it will be my turn. If the reject….it wasn’t meant to be and I will go back to looking. If they accept…!!!!! IF! Whee! If they counter – which is the most likely, then I will have to gamble and see how much more they are willing to give.
All in all I’m nervous and excited and not going to be able to sleep a wink tonight. I am drinking some wine to help me out with this. Also I did some work at home, and laundry. All sleepy activities. Good night, and wish me luck.

Pictures from Canada

Here I am on the ski Hill

Trevor and I on the Ice Falls Walk

One of the ice Falls

Pretty Drives

Dawn breaks over the three sisters.

Where did I go?

I went to Banff, Alberta, Canada and the surrounding area for 8 days to visit my brother. I went skiing in the most glorious of powder, on hills steeper than I’ve been on in a long time. I even did moguls. I did a double diamond, and lots of regular diamonds, and also some bowls. I went in the hot tub and to the hot springs. I ate yummy home cooked meals in the condo with my mom, dad, brother, and Trevor. I watched the stars come out over the Canadian wilderness. I didn’t see the Northern Lights. I went on a walk to see frozen waterfalls on a snowy and icy trail in my tennis shoes. Why; because I’m stupid and left my hiking boots in the USA. Did I buy new ones? Heck No! I’ve learned that Canada, especially Calgary and Banff, as well as Fernie, BC is rather expensive. Beautiful, though. I would really like to go back there in summertime.

Here are some pictures, just a few, to highlight some sights (to be added soon...).

On Making Changes…

Often times life throws changes at you. We all know this. We all respond to it differently. Some people throw themselves at each thing that comes along, forgetting the tasks that came before like so much litter on a trail. Some people freeze up with the thought of so many changes and so many decisions. Some people craft elaborate action plans, make lists, and prioritize. I fall into this latter category.

Why is the way I adjust to change important? Because in the last 6 months my life has thrown a lot of changes at me, and the next six months promises many, many more. The next 2 – 5 years will change my life utterly. Sound ominous? It could be. It could also be extremely valuable, fun, exciting, etc. I don’t wish to pontificate, but with the beginning of the New Year it is human nature, almost, to look towards the upcoming changes.

Let’s review: In the last 6 months I’ve finished grad school, started a new job, begun looking for a house to buy, gotten financing in order for said house, and had LASIK surgery to improve my eyesight (which went very well though I’m still adjusting.) At work alone there have been many changes. Without going into unnecessary detail, since I’ve started, my department has gained one employee and had 2 retire. One supervisor took a different job, and recently two more employees have switched to different jobs. One of the two retirees has come back part time as a contractor. That’s +1.5 and -5 in 6 months. Each time I think I have my feet under me in terms of who does what and what my responsibilities are, they change because of changing personnel. I love my job, but I’d like to make everyone promise to stay where they are for 6 months so I can get my feet under me. I know it won’t happen though as things are rather fluid at work.

Let’s project: In the next 6 months I will buy a house, move into said house, have to get home insurance, have to change my state of residency, have to change my car insurance, get a new driver’s license go through a bunch of different trainings to learn more about my job, pick up (and lose) job responsibilities, go on vacation to Canada, finish adjusting to my new eyesight (believe me, it is an adjustment), buy a motorcycle, begin remodel projects on new house, make a garden at new house, and possibly teach a class at the U (just one lecture as a guest speaker).

Make a list and check it twice: I’ve always been a list person. Making a list abd being able to check things off of it makes me a very happy person. I’m also a bit of a paradox. I am a major procrastinator, but I also like to do things WAY ahead of time. How do I do both? Why, I procrastinate on the smaller things and plan out the larger things. Or maybe it’s I procrastinate on the things I don’t want to do and plan out the fun things, like buying a house. As the list of changes infront and ahead of me grows, I do the things that I can do now and make lists on the others. I also create action plans – what do I have to do to get x done. Lately, so much has been going on I have to prioritize. I am almost more busy that I was in school, and I don’t even have real homework!

Life changes utterly: I feel as though I am finally growing up. In light of all of the above, I don’t feel like making resolutions this year…save one. I will complete the half marathon (running) and the training program I just signed up for. I have enough changes going on in my life otherwise, I need no other resolutions. I think, 2-5 years from now, I may not even recognize my life…I will still have the friends, the family, the job, if the changes keep coming as fast as they are now, whew! I’ll still be me, just in a completely different situation, and I’ve decided that’s a good thing, as long as I’m planning on it.

Major Life Change:

A major part of my life will change on Friday. For the first time since I was in second grade, and perhaps even before, I will be able to see without glasses. I will be having LASIK on Friday AM. I’m really really excited, but also a bit scared. After all, they are my eyeballs. I only have one set, and there are no returns or exchanges on this sort of thing. Still, the notion of waking up and being able to see without reaching for glasses or putting in my contacts has been a dream of mine for at least 5 years. I knew I was a good candidate for LASIK, just didn’t have the money. My reward for working 6 months (exactly today) at a full time job is a refurbished set of eyes.

So, if I see you this weekend, it will be truly seeing with my own eyes for the first time in years. Wish me luck, and if you can, send a bit of courage my way!

2007 Off and Running

It's 2007! How crazy is that?! Yes, I realize that 2007 follows directly on the heels of 2006, but it's the fact that we've made it this far. I remember back in grade school thinking fondly of how the world would be 'different' when it was 2000. Changing from 19XX to 20XX was an abstract concept at the time. Now we are '07. 7 years past that magical year from my past. Did anything particularly special happen in 2000? Not really. By the time 1999 had rolled around, the aura of mystique around the concept of a year 2000 had dissipated, left only with some computer folks wondering if their old equipment would handle the century/millennium change and a few crazies touting the end of the world. Seven years later, the world has not yet ended and computers are doing quite well.

Now that it is 2007, I look back on the year 2006 and realize how many significant events in my life happened. It was also a year of lifestyle changes. 2006 was the year I finally met and dated a man for longer than 1 month of 'serious' dating. 2006 was the first year I fell in love. 2006 was the first year that I could look ahead to the rest of my life, and not see school in it. It was the year I went to my field's national conference to present my research work. It was the last year I will be a full time student (in the foreseeable future), it was the year I received my Master's. It was the year I began my first full time job, that I didn't plan on leaving or going back to part time when school started...a job that I may have in some iteration for the next 40 years. And it was the year where I began to plan what the 'rest of my life' might look like.

There were ups and there were downs, and I would have to sit here awhile to come up with a good list. I am happy to say, however, that there were more ups that downs. Similar to the girl scout adage, I've met new friends, but kept the old...with a few unfortunate exceptions throughout the last few years, and learned some interesting life lessons in the process.
I've learned to be who I am. I am not who everyone wants me to be, and that's OK.
I've learned to let others be who they are, it is not my job to change them.
I've learned that when two peoples' paths go in different directions, even if they have walked side by side for many years, that it is better to point your feet down your own path and continue solo, remembering fondly the time you spent sharing the path. It's sad when the paths diverge, but new paths may merge with yours just around the corner.
I've learned that asking the 'stupid question' is many times the right thing to do...after all, if I have the question, someone else might too.
And I've learned that there is a time and a place to listen, and to ask questions, and to speak - though I'm still working on the implementation of this.
I've learned what love is. I love my family and always have and always will, but it is different - the love that grows from childhood - from the love that develops for another as an adult. It is, and is not, as easy as the storybooks say.
I've learned the value of quiet, of loud, of boisterous, and of calm.
I've learned to assess the situation before I get angry, and to look at things from more than the 'front' angle. There is often more to a situation, and often less. Some things are not worth my anger, or my joy. Some things just are.
I've learned not to fear the unknown, though a well placed whimper is not out of the question.
But most of all, I've learned to look fondly behind me and expectantly ahead of me as the events of 2007 begin to unfold.

I think it will be a good year. I plan to buy a house. I plan to be in the same job all year long. I plan to go visit my brother in Calgary, Alberta, Canada in February. I plan to be active and take a more active roll in my health this year. I plan to be positive. I plan to be suprised (oxymoron, I know). I plan to enjoy myself, and I plan on having fun with family and friends.