This just in! Looks like I will be making yet another "cross-country" move with a Uhaul!! This time to Monterey Bay/Carmel, California. During the past week negotiations have been made and an offer confirmed as of this morning. At the end of April, I will help my mom and dad move from Denver to Monterey Bay. I am so excited for them, I can hardly stand it! Most of all I'm excited because it gets my dad out of Colorado's extreme winter tempuratures and into the sunny beaches of CA. And they will be closer to me and Dane. And it's just plain exciting.
So since I have extensive experience (smirks) in driving Uhaul trucks, I have agreed to drive one of the two trucks it will take to get my folks down there. While no concrete dates have been set, it will most likely be the end of April. With this move, it changes plans a little bit for our summers and the anniversary celebration. Instead of me coming down in June and then all of us going to Mexico for my parent's 40th wedding anniversary, I will take some vacation time in April and help them pack in CO, move across the States, and unpack in CA. I'm very excited!
Now that this has changed things, it frees me/us up for Moab 06 (don't forget your hitch) and the Fremont Parade. On top of all that, it looks like we might tentatively schedule a celebration in October/November '06 to celebrate my parent's wedding anniversary, my dad's birthday, Dane's birthday, Isis's memorial, and my college graduation. Seems like a better time to set sail than June.
Other than that, I'm looking forward to Hawaii, the Super Bowl Extra Large (XL), and my birff-day. More details later as they come in.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Friday, January 27, 2006
The Charmed Life
So Dane and I will be spending my birthday in Hawaii next weekend. It forces me to think about several things:
1) the energy I had the first time we went
2) the fiascos that ensued each time I've traveled
1) The first time we went to HI I prepared MONTHS in advance! Seriously. We went in March and I had all our activities planned inJanuary. And when I say activities, I mean I had every spare minute booked down to the second. L-I-T-E-R-A-L-L-Y. Anyone who knows how I've been in the past wont have a hard time believing that. Dane and I would wake up at 5, be at the pier at 6:30 and go non-stop all day between whale watching, a submarine dive, a tropical plantation tour, a catamoran ride to Lanai, a Jeep trek, a snorkel dive, sunset cruise, a luau, the aquarium, the sugar cane train, another snorkel dive, ANOTHER snorkel dive, tons and tons of stuff - it was insane. Now I think back and I adore those memories but I'm getting more laxed in my age and I told Dane only a few activities for the whole trip (rather than our 2 - 4 activities a day). So this time we have a shark dive, a snorkel dive, and a scuba dive planned and that's it. We will watch the Super Bowl too. And go to a luau. Otherwise I think a lomi lomi massage and lots of beach side reading are in order.
2) Dane and I are both nervous about what our travels will have in store for us. A recap:
A. First trip to HI: we sky-capped our bags and sent them to Outer-DIA-Space. Then we discovered a slight schedule change in our itinerary (thanks United), but significant enough for us to miss our connecting flight out of San Fran. At first United was saying they couldn't get us out there till the following morning - to which I sobbed uncontrollably explaining the activities and our bags are already GONE! So United got us on an American Airlines flight that just barely by the skin of our teeth made the Pacific coast cut-off time for flight departure from LAX (put simply, the last flight of the day leaves for Hawaii no later than 2pm, after that you can't depart till the next morning). So we were going to HI but United told us we "may or may not receive our bags". So the whole flight to HI I was stressed and hurt and sobbing over the fact that I might not have my bags. In the end we got the bags and all was well and I stressed for no reason. Lessons learned: book flights to HI landing in LAX/San Fran by 11:00 am so if you miss that flight, you can catch the 2:00. Second lesson: NEVER, under ANY circumstance, sky cap your bags at DIA if there is a connecting flight. EVER! Third lesson: don't stress about it till it's actually a problem.
B. Second trip to HI (solo - what a nightmare): I reserve an early morning flight (lesson one, previous chapter). I remember the flight time from the original booking and continue as planned. Dane walks in at 6:05 am "Why does your itinerary say your flight leaves at 7:15 am, I thought it left at 8:20 am..." I look at the clock, I look at myself in my underoos and socks, I think about the 55 min drive to the aero-puerto from our house and sigh. I know I won't make the flight. Not a chance in hell. DAMNIT! Why didn't I read the itinerary last night?! (lesson one, part deux) I get to the airport at 7:05 am (record time - good jorb Dane) and miss the flight. No big deal, I can catch the 9 or 10 am flight and still make it to LAX in time (thank you lesson one, previous chapter). I originally booked a 4 hour layover between flying into Oahu and flying over to the Big Island, so I know I will still make it to my retreat, sans layover now. I get to LAX and board the 2:00 pm flight there, it's pushing my original 4 hour layover to around 30 minutes, but I will still make my connecting flight. I breathe easy. 1/3 of the way over the Pacific ocean the Captain informs us of mechanical failure in the plane and we are heading back to LAX. WHAT?! To make a boring story long: we wait for an hour or so while they do whatever to fix it. Ultimately this was the best scenario as it would have taken longer to find and then board a completely different plane. At this point I will miss my connector but I have a good excuse so I'm sure I can catch the 10 pm flight, IF we make good time and my bags come right off the belt in front. We land safely and wouldn't you know it-my bags are FIRST off the conveyor belt! FINALLY - some luck! I'm on the other side so I have to wait for them to come around. When they do, only one is there - the other is gone. So I wait, thinking someone mistakingly grabbed mine but they will put it back once they realize it's not theirs (from the name tag and sheer weight - it had all my belly dance costumes and such in it). Normally I don't pack all of one type of item/thing in one bag, I disperse it in case a bag is lost, but because of weight issues and the delicate fabric of the dance costumes I had no choice but to keep things separate. So I wait. And wait. Nothing. I start to panic. I'm by myself and can't just leave all my other baggage there. So I grab all my bags and start running around squawking for my bag. Come to find out it's on a shuttle truck on its way to a cruise ship. You've got to be kidding me. I run, full tilt, 50+ lbs of luggage in tote (pun intended), after the truck. I catch it! My bag is in the farthest corner in the back. I wait. And wait while they unpack the whole truck. I get my bag and I start running - I might make it! And I run. And run. And jog. And trot. And walk. And drag. WTF?! The sign said "Aloha Airlines *arrow*" like it was just this way?! What I didn't know was that the Honolulu airport is shaped like a 'U' and I was on one end (U - for United) and Aloha was on the other end (A - for Aloha). By the time I get there it's after 11 pm and there is no one, I mean no one. The overhead lights are dark, there is no phone, no number, no nothing. I'm stuck. And United can't do anything for me because "they fulfilled their obligations by getting me to Honolulu, they have no contract to get me to Hilo (that was Aloha's job)". I sit down on the bag scale between ticketing podiums and start weeping uncontrollably. I only brought enough money to buy food. Everything else was prepaid and expensive as is. I don't know what to do once I get to Hilo, I'm supposed to be with a dance group. And since my 25th birthday isn't until next week, I can't rent a car to drive to the retreat. I'm stuck. I cry and cry and cry and then I notice my weight on the scale read out and burst into hysterics. At this time a janitor comes by and asks if I need help. I manage to say "supervisor" and "Aloha" between sobs. He runs away and I never see him again. A manager materializes and gets me booked for the 5:00 am flight so I can get to Hilo in enough time to meet my retreat shuttles before they leave. I ask about where I can sleep. I'm told (and I quote) "You can sleep on the lawn. But beware of hoodlums will try to mug you. But don't worry, there's security guards patrolling every hour." (end quote). I start crying again and don't stop till he takes my bags and locks them for the night (not a normal practice courtesy of 9/11). So now it's midnight HI time, about 3 am Denver time. I call Dane. I tell him everything and he declares no woman of his will sleep on the lawn, and demands me to go to a hotel on his dime (thanks Babe!). I get to hotel. They are booked. I simply stare at her. She goes to see what she can do. A room is suddenly available. I go to sleep for 3 hours. In the end I made it to my retreat but I learned some POWERFUL lessons on that trip. Most importantly, ALWAYS CHECK YOUR INTINERARY!!!
C. (Yes there's more) Cabos San Lucas: I'll make this very short - we "won" a trip to Cancun to be taken in October. Hurricane Wilma hit and we changed our tickets to Cabos San Lucas since we couldn't go to Cancun. While in Mexico, the company that "gave" us the "free" trip got a refund for our tickets, leaving us stranded in Mexico. 2 minutes before the flight was scheduled to leave, we had to spend $1000 on two one way tickets to Seattle from Cabos or stay in Mexico forever. We are given official sharpie and scratch paper tickets and RUN to the plane. We are seated in the back having to look at all the passengers on the way in. We ARE the assholes. I get seated and try to relax (remember lesson three, chapter one - it doesn't accomplish anything to stress). I look down at my cartoon-esche ticket and realize that it is dated for the next day. So this ticket will get us to the States, but not to Seattle. Only as far as SLC. I start to sob again. As the flight attendant starts to speak, she is distracted by my muted sobs and (on the intercom) asks if I'm okay. I shake my head "yes" dying from MORE embarrassment. She asks (over the intercom) if the other attendant can bring me some water. I could die. We make it home, despite the tickets and the mess of everything else, and another canceled flight.
So you can clearly see why I'm scared to travel. I'm almost half excited to see what this trip has in store. We are leaving on a 6am flight (lesson one, chapter one), we are not sky capping our bags (lesson two, chapter one), I have already checked our itinerary on a daily basis (lesson one, chapter two), and we booked the arrangements sans scandalous travel company (lesson one, chapter three), so I'm anxious to see what's left to learn. Stay tuned for the post after Hawaii!
1) the energy I had the first time we went
2) the fiascos that ensued each time I've traveled
1) The first time we went to HI I prepared MONTHS in advance! Seriously. We went in March and I had all our activities planned inJanuary. And when I say activities, I mean I had every spare minute booked down to the second. L-I-T-E-R-A-L-L-Y. Anyone who knows how I've been in the past wont have a hard time believing that. Dane and I would wake up at 5, be at the pier at 6:30 and go non-stop all day between whale watching, a submarine dive, a tropical plantation tour, a catamoran ride to Lanai, a Jeep trek, a snorkel dive, sunset cruise, a luau, the aquarium, the sugar cane train, another snorkel dive, ANOTHER snorkel dive, tons and tons of stuff - it was insane. Now I think back and I adore those memories but I'm getting more laxed in my age and I told Dane only a few activities for the whole trip (rather than our 2 - 4 activities a day). So this time we have a shark dive, a snorkel dive, and a scuba dive planned and that's it. We will watch the Super Bowl too. And go to a luau. Otherwise I think a lomi lomi massage and lots of beach side reading are in order.
2) Dane and I are both nervous about what our travels will have in store for us. A recap:
A. First trip to HI: we sky-capped our bags and sent them to Outer-DIA-Space. Then we discovered a slight schedule change in our itinerary (thanks United), but significant enough for us to miss our connecting flight out of San Fran. At first United was saying they couldn't get us out there till the following morning - to which I sobbed uncontrollably explaining the activities and our bags are already GONE! So United got us on an American Airlines flight that just barely by the skin of our teeth made the Pacific coast cut-off time for flight departure from LAX (put simply, the last flight of the day leaves for Hawaii no later than 2pm, after that you can't depart till the next morning). So we were going to HI but United told us we "may or may not receive our bags". So the whole flight to HI I was stressed and hurt and sobbing over the fact that I might not have my bags. In the end we got the bags and all was well and I stressed for no reason. Lessons learned: book flights to HI landing in LAX/San Fran by 11:00 am so if you miss that flight, you can catch the 2:00. Second lesson: NEVER, under ANY circumstance, sky cap your bags at DIA if there is a connecting flight. EVER! Third lesson: don't stress about it till it's actually a problem.
B. Second trip to HI (solo - what a nightmare): I reserve an early morning flight (lesson one, previous chapter). I remember the flight time from the original booking and continue as planned. Dane walks in at 6:05 am "Why does your itinerary say your flight leaves at 7:15 am, I thought it left at 8:20 am..." I look at the clock, I look at myself in my underoos and socks, I think about the 55 min drive to the aero-puerto from our house and sigh. I know I won't make the flight. Not a chance in hell. DAMNIT! Why didn't I read the itinerary last night?! (lesson one, part deux) I get to the airport at 7:05 am (record time - good jorb Dane) and miss the flight. No big deal, I can catch the 9 or 10 am flight and still make it to LAX in time (thank you lesson one, previous chapter). I originally booked a 4 hour layover between flying into Oahu and flying over to the Big Island, so I know I will still make it to my retreat, sans layover now. I get to LAX and board the 2:00 pm flight there, it's pushing my original 4 hour layover to around 30 minutes, but I will still make my connecting flight. I breathe easy. 1/3 of the way over the Pacific ocean the Captain informs us of mechanical failure in the plane and we are heading back to LAX. WHAT?! To make a boring story long: we wait for an hour or so while they do whatever to fix it. Ultimately this was the best scenario as it would have taken longer to find and then board a completely different plane. At this point I will miss my connector but I have a good excuse so I'm sure I can catch the 10 pm flight, IF we make good time and my bags come right off the belt in front. We land safely and wouldn't you know it-my bags are FIRST off the conveyor belt! FINALLY - some luck! I'm on the other side so I have to wait for them to come around. When they do, only one is there - the other is gone. So I wait, thinking someone mistakingly grabbed mine but they will put it back once they realize it's not theirs (from the name tag and sheer weight - it had all my belly dance costumes and such in it). Normally I don't pack all of one type of item/thing in one bag, I disperse it in case a bag is lost, but because of weight issues and the delicate fabric of the dance costumes I had no choice but to keep things separate. So I wait. And wait. Nothing. I start to panic. I'm by myself and can't just leave all my other baggage there. So I grab all my bags and start running around squawking for my bag. Come to find out it's on a shuttle truck on its way to a cruise ship. You've got to be kidding me. I run, full tilt, 50+ lbs of luggage in tote (pun intended), after the truck. I catch it! My bag is in the farthest corner in the back. I wait. And wait while they unpack the whole truck. I get my bag and I start running - I might make it! And I run. And run. And jog. And trot. And walk. And drag. WTF?! The sign said "Aloha Airlines *arrow*" like it was just this way?! What I didn't know was that the Honolulu airport is shaped like a 'U' and I was on one end (U - for United) and Aloha was on the other end (A - for Aloha). By the time I get there it's after 11 pm and there is no one, I mean no one. The overhead lights are dark, there is no phone, no number, no nothing. I'm stuck. And United can't do anything for me because "they fulfilled their obligations by getting me to Honolulu, they have no contract to get me to Hilo (that was Aloha's job)". I sit down on the bag scale between ticketing podiums and start weeping uncontrollably. I only brought enough money to buy food. Everything else was prepaid and expensive as is. I don't know what to do once I get to Hilo, I'm supposed to be with a dance group. And since my 25th birthday isn't until next week, I can't rent a car to drive to the retreat. I'm stuck. I cry and cry and cry and then I notice my weight on the scale read out and burst into hysterics. At this time a janitor comes by and asks if I need help. I manage to say "supervisor" and "Aloha" between sobs. He runs away and I never see him again. A manager materializes and gets me booked for the 5:00 am flight so I can get to Hilo in enough time to meet my retreat shuttles before they leave. I ask about where I can sleep. I'm told (and I quote) "You can sleep on the lawn. But beware of hoodlums will try to mug you. But don't worry, there's security guards patrolling every hour." (end quote). I start crying again and don't stop till he takes my bags and locks them for the night (not a normal practice courtesy of 9/11). So now it's midnight HI time, about 3 am Denver time. I call Dane. I tell him everything and he declares no woman of his will sleep on the lawn, and demands me to go to a hotel on his dime (thanks Babe!). I get to hotel. They are booked. I simply stare at her. She goes to see what she can do. A room is suddenly available. I go to sleep for 3 hours. In the end I made it to my retreat but I learned some POWERFUL lessons on that trip. Most importantly, ALWAYS CHECK YOUR INTINERARY!!!
C. (Yes there's more) Cabos San Lucas: I'll make this very short - we "won" a trip to Cancun to be taken in October. Hurricane Wilma hit and we changed our tickets to Cabos San Lucas since we couldn't go to Cancun. While in Mexico, the company that "gave" us the "free" trip got a refund for our tickets, leaving us stranded in Mexico. 2 minutes before the flight was scheduled to leave, we had to spend $1000 on two one way tickets to Seattle from Cabos or stay in Mexico forever. We are given official sharpie and scratch paper tickets and RUN to the plane. We are seated in the back having to look at all the passengers on the way in. We ARE the assholes. I get seated and try to relax (remember lesson three, chapter one - it doesn't accomplish anything to stress). I look down at my cartoon-esche ticket and realize that it is dated for the next day. So this ticket will get us to the States, but not to Seattle. Only as far as SLC. I start to sob again. As the flight attendant starts to speak, she is distracted by my muted sobs and (on the intercom) asks if I'm okay. I shake my head "yes" dying from MORE embarrassment. She asks (over the intercom) if the other attendant can bring me some water. I could die. We make it home, despite the tickets and the mess of everything else, and another canceled flight.
So you can clearly see why I'm scared to travel. I'm almost half excited to see what this trip has in store. We are leaving on a 6am flight (lesson one, chapter one), we are not sky capping our bags (lesson two, chapter one), I have already checked our itinerary on a daily basis (lesson one, chapter two), and we booked the arrangements sans scandalous travel company (lesson one, chapter three), so I'm anxious to see what's left to learn. Stay tuned for the post after Hawaii!
Monday, January 23, 2006
Evil Cupcake vs. Rio: Warrior Princess
The Evil Cupcake from one year ago has challenged Rio: Warrior Princess to a duel. :-)
Last year my get up was a cute black and pink tulle gothic number complete with pigtails and lace and tribal eye make up. The pink contrasting the black coined the name "Evil Cupcake" which in turn started the name of this blog. However, a new year needs a new name I think.
So the outfit on the right is the most recent gothic excursion. The headdress is created using my eBay dreads - long red, black, brown, and blond dreads extending to my lower back. The red mesh and such is from a little girl's princess pony tail holder and the feathers are modeled after Chinese hair pins. The eye make look I was going for was an 80's version of futuristic and in the end I looked like I belonged in a Duran Duran video, hence the name Rio.
For more pictures from the Noc Noc night, including the lovely Amy in her 40's glam outfit, go to my comments.
Weekend O' Amy
So this weekend was a blast!! Analogy: seeing Amy and spending time with her can be likend to the feeling of eating fast food for 4 months and then coming home and having a nice, home cooked meal. I like my friends here a lot, but there's just something special about the tried and true lifer friends. :-)
Thursday night was filled with Burlesque at the Fenix and then a quick stint at the Last Supper - total raver club. Friday it was all I could do to get through the day. That evening Amy, Mog, Bina, and I went to Jet City Improv and watched a comedy show then went to Fremont to meet up w/ Bina's friends but ended up going to a totally F-A-B thai restaurant instead. Dane was busy at work doing a roll out that was supposed to end at midnight but by 12:30 he was still there so Mog took us home and we passed out. When I woke up at 7AM Dane was not in bed so I called and the poor guy was STILL working!! At this point he had been working about 18 hours straight. I told him to come home and get some sleep but he still didn't make it home till 9:30. Meanwhile Amy and I went to an all vegetarian restaurant by the house with AWESOME food and cool jasmine flower tea. Basically they put a wrapped jasmine flower in a french press w/ hot water and it blooms inside - fascinating! Then we had tofu cheesecake - better than real cheesecake! No joke! After that we went to Pike Place Market and hung out for a while. Amy bought Kailea some princess tiera type stuff and I bought myself the same for my newest goth get up. I also bought an Isis hooka for my tobacco cravings late night. Course I didn't buy charcoal so now we have no way of keeping it lit. D'oh. Saturday night we went to Noc Noc w/ Mog, Bina, Johanna, Crystal, Derek, and Dustin. Good times - I'll post the pic. I was wearing my crazy shoes and only fell once at the end of the night. We all had a great time, Amy looked absolutely amazing in her 40's glam gear - I'll post those pics as well. After the Noc Noc we went back to Huish House and hung out till about 4:00. Sunday we took the ferry to Bainbridge Island, so much fun! We fed flying seagulls, took all sorts of pics and had an awesome time before we even got to the island. Once there we watched the fooseball games. Boo for the Broncos, Stars for the Seahawks!! Our FIRST superbowl appearence EVER!! Exciting times!! Amy and I tried to find the alleged antique shops on Bainbridge but it was a loss. After that we dropped Amy off at the airport and I went home and crashed!
Amy and I decided that any time the airfare is cheap enough, she will come up here. We've already planned out several trips for the summer time and she is for sure coming for the Fremont parade - awesome!
Other than that not much to report. Work is going well, even though I won't have December closed. No big deal. I love working here.
I start yoga again today. Not Bikram's but more of a hatha - we'll see how I like it. And of course I am continuing Rhi's Regimented Routine at 24 Hour Fitness. I'm sure if I lay off the smoothies and lattes I will notice a difference in my waistline. :-P
Thursday night was filled with Burlesque at the Fenix and then a quick stint at the Last Supper - total raver club. Friday it was all I could do to get through the day. That evening Amy, Mog, Bina, and I went to Jet City Improv and watched a comedy show then went to Fremont to meet up w/ Bina's friends but ended up going to a totally F-A-B thai restaurant instead. Dane was busy at work doing a roll out that was supposed to end at midnight but by 12:30 he was still there so Mog took us home and we passed out. When I woke up at 7AM Dane was not in bed so I called and the poor guy was STILL working!! At this point he had been working about 18 hours straight. I told him to come home and get some sleep but he still didn't make it home till 9:30. Meanwhile Amy and I went to an all vegetarian restaurant by the house with AWESOME food and cool jasmine flower tea. Basically they put a wrapped jasmine flower in a french press w/ hot water and it blooms inside - fascinating! Then we had tofu cheesecake - better than real cheesecake! No joke! After that we went to Pike Place Market and hung out for a while. Amy bought Kailea some princess tiera type stuff and I bought myself the same for my newest goth get up. I also bought an Isis hooka for my tobacco cravings late night. Course I didn't buy charcoal so now we have no way of keeping it lit. D'oh. Saturday night we went to Noc Noc w/ Mog, Bina, Johanna, Crystal, Derek, and Dustin. Good times - I'll post the pic. I was wearing my crazy shoes and only fell once at the end of the night. We all had a great time, Amy looked absolutely amazing in her 40's glam gear - I'll post those pics as well. After the Noc Noc we went back to Huish House and hung out till about 4:00. Sunday we took the ferry to Bainbridge Island, so much fun! We fed flying seagulls, took all sorts of pics and had an awesome time before we even got to the island. Once there we watched the fooseball games. Boo for the Broncos, Stars for the Seahawks!! Our FIRST superbowl appearence EVER!! Exciting times!! Amy and I tried to find the alleged antique shops on Bainbridge but it was a loss. After that we dropped Amy off at the airport and I went home and crashed!
Amy and I decided that any time the airfare is cheap enough, she will come up here. We've already planned out several trips for the summer time and she is for sure coming for the Fremont parade - awesome!
Other than that not much to report. Work is going well, even though I won't have December closed. No big deal. I love working here.
I start yoga again today. Not Bikram's but more of a hatha - we'll see how I like it. And of course I am continuing Rhi's Regimented Routine at 24 Hour Fitness. I'm sure if I lay off the smoothies and lattes I will notice a difference in my waistline. :-P
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Mean People
I don't want to waste too much time on this, but today was the worst work day of my life. I came to work to a sooprise team of internal auditors and I was supposed to have a HUGE 3 ring binder full of reports for them to start on. No one told me this was the "procedure" for internal audits. My regular work team felt bad for me and did all they could to help me and tell me not to worry - their bad. The auditors however took every attempt to make snooty remarks, attack my intelligence, and basically make me feel bad. At one point an auditor (who is also a Major ranking in the Salv Army) made a special trip downstairs to my office just to tell me "it looks like you missed the little email." Her tone and comment was so atrocious that all my boss and I could do was stare at her. We watched the blood fill her face with embarrassment at her comment and then watched her fumble all over herself while she tried to tell me not to panic - she didn't mean it. Whatever. It gets worse with the auditors making comments about how I should know what I'm doing after 6 months. First of all I've been just over 4, second of all this is my first internal audit and many of the reports are audit specific meaning I don't print them in daily routine. Also - I am still learning TSA terminology (for example the REST of the accounting world calls a profit and loss statement either that or an income statement, TSA calls it a Statement of Activities - whatever) and I was told by my boss not to beat myself up over the learning process, it takes well over a year (her words verbatim) to understand the nature of TSA. So to hear from the supposed good Christian soldiers that I am an idiot made me cry all day. By the afternoon they laid off a little bit, probably because they saw my wet eyelashes and puffy cheeks, but it was all I could do to keep plugging along.
Now I'll be the first to admit - this was my mistake (I misread the original email) but to continue dragging me through the dirt and attacking me is uncalled for especially when I actually know how to do my job and I understand accounting. Just because I haven't learned all of TSA policy does not mean I'm a ding bat. Have some compassion people! In all of this though my boss, my co-workers, my dad, and my Dane helped me through the day. Dane didn't even know what happened till I sobbed it to him at dinner over a double shot martini. The tab wasn't pretty but I definitely feel better - thanks Babe!
So all in all, it's not a big deal. This will never happen again, I learned my lesson, and I was told several times (by the people who matter) that I am doing a great job and this will not reflect on me in any way. The internal auditors will be gone after this week and it will only set me back on my closings by a day or three, which will have to be made up in extra hours over the next week (not including the weekend cause Amy will be here - THANK GOD). This will blow over, just like everything else. What caused me to cry was the humanity of it all. I can't believe that people can actually be this mean purposely - with intent and malice. I know only two other people in the world who get off on being this mean/manipulative/controlling to people and my only idea is that these people are in such pain, they must hurt so much for love and acceptance that until they get it or perhaps to protect them from it, who knows, they build these walls and deliver awful blows to others in an effort to keep them afloat in their world.
It's hard, but I wish these people the best. I don't want them to hurt and I don't want them to hurt others. I wish I could give them something to help them let go. I wish I could give myself something to help me let go. It's tough, but these people need to stop themselves.
Here's to hoping for a brighter tomorrow. *weak smile*
Now I'll be the first to admit - this was my mistake (I misread the original email) but to continue dragging me through the dirt and attacking me is uncalled for especially when I actually know how to do my job and I understand accounting. Just because I haven't learned all of TSA policy does not mean I'm a ding bat. Have some compassion people! In all of this though my boss, my co-workers, my dad, and my Dane helped me through the day. Dane didn't even know what happened till I sobbed it to him at dinner over a double shot martini. The tab wasn't pretty but I definitely feel better - thanks Babe!
So all in all, it's not a big deal. This will never happen again, I learned my lesson, and I was told several times (by the people who matter) that I am doing a great job and this will not reflect on me in any way. The internal auditors will be gone after this week and it will only set me back on my closings by a day or three, which will have to be made up in extra hours over the next week (not including the weekend cause Amy will be here - THANK GOD). This will blow over, just like everything else. What caused me to cry was the humanity of it all. I can't believe that people can actually be this mean purposely - with intent and malice. I know only two other people in the world who get off on being this mean/manipulative/controlling to people and my only idea is that these people are in such pain, they must hurt so much for love and acceptance that until they get it or perhaps to protect them from it, who knows, they build these walls and deliver awful blows to others in an effort to keep them afloat in their world.
It's hard, but I wish these people the best. I don't want them to hurt and I don't want them to hurt others. I wish I could give them something to help them let go. I wish I could give myself something to help me let go. It's tough, but these people need to stop themselves.
Here's to hoping for a brighter tomorrow. *weak smile*
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Shame Shame - know your name
Ugh - so I am a horrible friend. In a crazy turn of events, I ended up lying to a friend rather than confessing. And there really is no excuse for that. I can explain (not justify) why I did such a thing, but it still doesn't erase the ugly fact that I lied. And I'm so horrible at it anyway.
Here's what happened - I was supposed to sync up with several different people for New Years Eve. Then Dane's boss invited us to a shindig at his place and that seemed like the best option, if not career suicide if we didn't go. All the way up until NYE we were planning on doing that, I was even going to get my hair done up all nice. But at the last moment we decided not to go to the boss-man's party. We had spent the evening before whooping it up and having a ball and we were just too tired and miserable to go do anything. Not wanting to try and explain that to others, we just pretended that we stuck w/ the original boss-man party plan. Now that would have been fine, no big deal. But for some STOOPID reason when I was asked about what we did for NYE I concocted this grandoise lie about being at the boss-man's house and hiding out in the coat room when we got this person's phone call. Why did I do that? Why did I lie? Why didn't I just say "Ya know - as it turns out, we just decided to stay home." I felt that if I didn't play it up like we went to the party, this person might think we were personally rejecting them and/or their plans for NYE when we just wanted to be alone.
For some reason I always feel like I'm letting people down to tell them "No" or to say "I'm going to sit this one out." In reality this person probably would have said something like "Are you sure? Well you are always invited out with us anytime. Have a good evening - talk to you tomorrow." Instead I had to make it into this big drama and LIE *hangs head*. I haven't done anything like that in a long, long time and I am very disappointed in myself.
In the grand scheme of things, this is not that big of a deal. I'm sure my friend has a raised eyebrow towards me now and might not trust me as much as they once did (and rightly so) but this person isn't going to throw in the towel over something like this (and rightly so). I just feel like a great big disappointment and wanted to catalog my thoughts and feelings so the next time I get the bright idea to lie, I'll think twice.
I doubt my friend mentioned above reads this blog, I don't even know if they have the address anymore. Regardless - Friend I am sorry. There is no excuse for a lie and I am in need of your forgiveness which I think I will ask for in person when I can explain my blunder. Till then I'll wallow in my guilt and remorse. *slaps hand for effect*
Here's what happened - I was supposed to sync up with several different people for New Years Eve. Then Dane's boss invited us to a shindig at his place and that seemed like the best option, if not career suicide if we didn't go. All the way up until NYE we were planning on doing that, I was even going to get my hair done up all nice. But at the last moment we decided not to go to the boss-man's party. We had spent the evening before whooping it up and having a ball and we were just too tired and miserable to go do anything. Not wanting to try and explain that to others, we just pretended that we stuck w/ the original boss-man party plan. Now that would have been fine, no big deal. But for some STOOPID reason when I was asked about what we did for NYE I concocted this grandoise lie about being at the boss-man's house and hiding out in the coat room when we got this person's phone call. Why did I do that? Why did I lie? Why didn't I just say "Ya know - as it turns out, we just decided to stay home." I felt that if I didn't play it up like we went to the party, this person might think we were personally rejecting them and/or their plans for NYE when we just wanted to be alone.
For some reason I always feel like I'm letting people down to tell them "No" or to say "I'm going to sit this one out." In reality this person probably would have said something like "Are you sure? Well you are always invited out with us anytime. Have a good evening - talk to you tomorrow." Instead I had to make it into this big drama and LIE *hangs head*. I haven't done anything like that in a long, long time and I am very disappointed in myself.
In the grand scheme of things, this is not that big of a deal. I'm sure my friend has a raised eyebrow towards me now and might not trust me as much as they once did (and rightly so) but this person isn't going to throw in the towel over something like this (and rightly so). I just feel like a great big disappointment and wanted to catalog my thoughts and feelings so the next time I get the bright idea to lie, I'll think twice.
I doubt my friend mentioned above reads this blog, I don't even know if they have the address anymore. Regardless - Friend I am sorry. There is no excuse for a lie and I am in need of your forgiveness which I think I will ask for in person when I can explain my blunder. Till then I'll wallow in my guilt and remorse. *slaps hand for effect*
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Hello 2006!
This weekend was a blast starting with Jojo's birthday party complete w/ sushi, drinks, replacement drivers license, happy hour, playing pool, drinks, eating Moroccan food, wine, singing really bad karaoke, drinks. I haven't partied like that in a long time, it was awesome! Dane even got video. It's pretty bad - it's enough to make anyone think twice before getting intoxicated again. Hee hee, good times. Then Saturday we recovered and I put some dark chocolate low-lights in my hair. I'm phasing out the blond because I'm tired of the maintenance on it. Seriously, I can't believe how hippy dippy I'm becoming on some levels. No more make up, no more fake nails. However, I have re-vamped my wardrobe to include matching shoes, coat and purse at all times, a classier business and casual dress code, and of course I still tan, though only about one to two times a week. Just enough to keep my color a shade up from gothic white - I don't look good with dark hair and pale skin.
Dane and I spent New Years safe and sound at home. It was quiet and awesome. Of course our wonderful friends called to bring in the new year w/ us, we are so spoiled. Sunday we lounged around the house till Steven and his friend Tim came over and we went to dinner. It was on the 21st floor of a downtown Bellevue building and it was amazing!! The food was awesome and the tab was enormous, but it was all in good fun. We really enjoy hanging out w/ Tim. And I think we turned Steven on to sushi. After dinner we saw Memoirs of a Geisha - which was excellent I thought. Sunday was spent watching King Kong (Dane felt he earned "monkey movie points" for watching the Geisha movie). It was good.
We let our foster kitty out for a bit and our cats got upset. I spent the evening doing chores and painting with water color. I found that when I use my left hand to paint (I'm normally right handed) I paint better. That's not entirely shocking as my dad is left handed and ambidexterous and I use my left hand for a lot of things including the 10-key at work. It makes it easier to write while I 10-key. I can also use both hands on the 10-key at once, one on the actual 10-key and one on the keyboard 10-key. It freaks out the other accountants here but I sure save a lot of time, even if I key slightly slower.
Dane has his annual review in January and his salary review in April. Based on his most recent performance w/ the RAC test though, the company has decided to combine the two so tomorrow he gets to meet w/ his boss in Bellevue for dinner. This is extremely exciting because obviously he's going to get a raise! I also think Dane should ask to see if he can get a degree on the company dime, but we'll see - baby steps.
I'm at the off-site warehouse all week destroying old records so I only have a few minutes of online time this week.
I'm excited for Amy to come visit, it will be a hoot!! And in less than a month I will be celebrating my 26th birthday on the Oahu island of Hawaii!! I am so spoiled. On that note, I really can't believe how well my relationship with Dane is going. I have nothing but positive influences in my life to help out and be cheerleaders for us. Tim even sent us an email saying how impressed he was with how we act with/around each other. Jojo has said the same things, Laura Rose, Mog - the list goes on. And I also think that me being out of my comfort zone helps a lot too. I used to threaten Dane a lot with leaving him or moving out. Needless to say, I haven't threatened that once since here in Seattle - where would I go? I don't have the family, friends, and resources here that I had in CO and I never really wanted to leave anyway - that was just a shoddy defensive reaction. So Dane + Crystal - bad influences - comfort zone = REALLY awesome relationship!
That's all for now, I should get back to work. I am so lucky. :-)
Dane and I spent New Years safe and sound at home. It was quiet and awesome. Of course our wonderful friends called to bring in the new year w/ us, we are so spoiled. Sunday we lounged around the house till Steven and his friend Tim came over and we went to dinner. It was on the 21st floor of a downtown Bellevue building and it was amazing!! The food was awesome and the tab was enormous, but it was all in good fun. We really enjoy hanging out w/ Tim. And I think we turned Steven on to sushi. After dinner we saw Memoirs of a Geisha - which was excellent I thought. Sunday was spent watching King Kong (Dane felt he earned "monkey movie points" for watching the Geisha movie). It was good.
We let our foster kitty out for a bit and our cats got upset. I spent the evening doing chores and painting with water color. I found that when I use my left hand to paint (I'm normally right handed) I paint better. That's not entirely shocking as my dad is left handed and ambidexterous and I use my left hand for a lot of things including the 10-key at work. It makes it easier to write while I 10-key. I can also use both hands on the 10-key at once, one on the actual 10-key and one on the keyboard 10-key. It freaks out the other accountants here but I sure save a lot of time, even if I key slightly slower.
Dane has his annual review in January and his salary review in April. Based on his most recent performance w/ the RAC test though, the company has decided to combine the two so tomorrow he gets to meet w/ his boss in Bellevue for dinner. This is extremely exciting because obviously he's going to get a raise! I also think Dane should ask to see if he can get a degree on the company dime, but we'll see - baby steps.
I'm at the off-site warehouse all week destroying old records so I only have a few minutes of online time this week.
I'm excited for Amy to come visit, it will be a hoot!! And in less than a month I will be celebrating my 26th birthday on the Oahu island of Hawaii!! I am so spoiled. On that note, I really can't believe how well my relationship with Dane is going. I have nothing but positive influences in my life to help out and be cheerleaders for us. Tim even sent us an email saying how impressed he was with how we act with/around each other. Jojo has said the same things, Laura Rose, Mog - the list goes on. And I also think that me being out of my comfort zone helps a lot too. I used to threaten Dane a lot with leaving him or moving out. Needless to say, I haven't threatened that once since here in Seattle - where would I go? I don't have the family, friends, and resources here that I had in CO and I never really wanted to leave anyway - that was just a shoddy defensive reaction. So Dane + Crystal - bad influences - comfort zone = REALLY awesome relationship!
That's all for now, I should get back to work. I am so lucky. :-)
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