My 200th Post!!

So this is apparently my 200th post according to Blogger. Sadly, I don't have any news to share that is deserving of such an occasion.


This past weekend was a hoot! Friday after work I attempted to go get another piercing but alas my body isn't set up for the type of piercing I wanted. Any other piercings that I want to do will have to wait till after we get back from Mexico because they take so long to heal. So after that disappointment we met up with HG, RBMBA and crew at a bar for dinner and drinks. We ended up having a really good time! Nothing special, just good food, drinks, and fun. We learned a new game from MR called "Edward Fortyhands". For the game you have two 40's strapped/taped to your hands and you have to drink both 40's before a certain time limit (flexible). The catch is you can't go to the bathroom, you can't do anything that requires the use of your hands till you drink BOTH 40's. So HG and I decided to train for this game (whenever we play it). We got a pitcher and started out with 2 pints each. HG won (though not by much). Needless to say, Dane and I stayed at HG's house but on the way home we stopped at Safeway to get the essentials: more beer, chips, salsa, etc. On the way into Safeway, I happened across a shopping cart that needed to be taken back up to the store. I say back up because the parking garage is underneath the building so you have to take an elevator to the actual store. At any rate, I jumped in the cart and made Dane give me a shopping cart ride through the garage, in the elevator and out into the store. Good times. But it gets better than that - after our purchases were made, we convinced HG and MR to go for shopping cart rides. We had a race but the dudes won because Dane's heels were shorter than mine. Stoopid shoes. After the race we went back to the house. HG and I had a "special" time talking in her room. I was all happy and giddy and bouncing on her exercise ball and she was fretting thinking I was surely going to crack my head on the dresser or something. After another two beers it was definitely time for bed for me. I crawled to the couch and time traveled to 6:36 am.


Saturday HG and I were up and at em early in the am for my hair appointment. We got breakfast then I got some more highlights while HG patiently waited. Then we went shopping at Old Navy, Victoria's Secret, Claire's, and Hot Topic. Believe it or not all that took about 3 hours. By the time I dropped HG off I was tired and fussy. I immediately went home for a nap and was this [ ] close to canceling our Saturday plans but Dane said he really wanted to go. So I put on some of my new clothes and we headed out the door. We met Angela and her fiance Mark (they are getting married in Cancun in November) and their friends for dinner at their house. It was Mediterranean themed so there was all sorts of good food and wine there. It was fun talking to everyone and learning about what they do and how they live. I was ready to call it quits at 10:30 when I ended up driving one of the gals to her friend's house to get some stuff (she was too tipsy to drive). I don't know if it was the drive or what but I got my second wind after that. We decided to go to a dive bar around 11:30 and closed the place down. I wasn't ready for bed yet so we went BACK to their house and talked, drank, and hung out. It wasn't till the sky started getting lighter that I realized it was 5:30 and definitely time to go home. Dane and I got home around 6 and laughed because we can't remember the last time we stayed out that late.

Sunday we slept in and then dedicated the whole day to watching movies. We watched De Ja Vu (great flick) and Babel (profound movie) and Borat. I just can't get enough of Borat. Eeesa verry niice.

I don't feel so bad about being lazy because on Friday afternoon I spent 3 hours clearing ivy out of a public park as part of a volunteer job for work. It was great exercise and I'm STILL sore but it felt good to do all that tactical work. Made me wish I had a part time manual labor job and part time desk job. :-)

I got a weave on Saturday. Check it out:




Pretty cute eh? It took me 2 mintues to do this look. I put my wet, freshly showered hair in a bun, put the weave around it, snapped on the headband/sash and I was out the door. FABU!

Prince Albert

Dane wont get a prince albert. *sigh* I guess he's not really a PA guy but still.

So not much has been going on in da hood (whatcha gonna do when I bend da blawk!). Work has been going well, school has been going well, the wedding details are coming together, I'm getting out and doing more stuff with people (like kickball, wine and dine at friends' houses, dinner and drinks). I haven't been working out as much as I'd like but I'm still doing it. This next week I will jump back in the saddle hard core.

Upcoming: going to get my hair did, traing for the 3Day, hanging out with friends, homework, getting work done on my lips and brows for the wedding, going back for more laser junk appointments, that's about it. Oh - going to Portland again in May.

Gearing up for the Amsterdam trip - I cannot wait for that on so many levels. Obviously the fun factor of being in a town like that with Amazing Amy, but also just the girly aspect. I can't wait to sit at a local coffee shop and just chat with her. We can talk for days and probably will since we haven't really seen each other much. We used to meet on a weekly basis over pasta and rum and just shoot the shit. I really, really, REALLY miss that. *sigh* So needless to say I'm counting the days till we meet. And I wont have any school at all (it's a bye week) so I wont have to bring my laptop or worry about getting homework done - how nice is that!! I will need to think about my luggage situation though, I don't want to be "lugging" around all sorts of rolly suitcases and what not.

The parade will be here soon. More on that as the details come in.

Cinco de Mayo should be fun, I'm looking forward to that.

What else...not much. I will post soon about MySpace and all the goings on there - some weird stuff, man.

My (not) Awesomeness!

As said in a Borat voice.

So I didn't mean to blog, I actually meant to look at others but my hand/mouse drifted here and here I am. So a meaningless blog will probably ensue.

In a bout of cleverness I issued an unbalanced balance sheet to the Finance Committee. Awesome. That's like a total newb mistake!! You ALWAYS check your figures. Alas I didn't, I got too cocky and good for myself to double check. D'oh - if I had a dollar for everytime I've learned that lesson, I wouldn't have to work anymore. :-)

However, I have been making a good mark here at the office despite my efforts to otherwise thrash my outstanding reputation. A kudos from the Executive Director:

"I tried to catch you in person yesterday. I want to thank you for your “can do” attitude, your promptness and thoroughness in handling this issue. You are earning a lot of confidence from folks from the way you are working, responding and sharing information. Great work! Janis"

Go me! In true accounting fashion, I have cleared out my "kudos" account with a debit (the balance sheet nonsense) and offsetting credit (can do kudo). *sigh*

What else is going on....! I had my first live personal training session at 24 Hour Fitness and my trainer, Ryan, kicked my ass. But I have high hopes that he will whip me into shape. Currently I am slimming down for Amsterdam, the wedding, and training for the Breast Cancer 3-Day and now a triathlon. I learned yesterday that Treehouse is hosting a triathlon this year and all proceeds will go to benefit our organization. So I'm excited about that.

The Fremont Solistice parade is right around the corner. I got signed up for that and am looking forward to that. It will be nice to get my abs in shape again now that I can see them. :-)

The scar is still healing but at warp speed now. I should be all cleared up in another couple weeks or so. And the Doc will repair my scar later on down the line if I choose.

The MBA program is going well. I'm starting to get the swing of things. So far I have two A's. We start a new class this Saturday called Human Capital Development, which is just a fancy way of saying HR issues-n-sh*t.

Had a great weekend with the crew last Saturday. I haven't had that much to drink in a long, long, looooooooonnnnnnnnnngggggggggggggg time. And I wasn't even meaning to party hardy, it just sorta happened. But all was well and we all had a great time despite my rock star status (it was karaoke night at the local watering hole). They finally turned off my mic but let me stay on stage and rock out. As Dane said, not only did I think I was a rock star, they would have had to convince me that I really *wasn't* a rock star. Ahhh, good times. I swear, me+whiskey+karaoke/Gwen Stefani/No Doubt=entertaining show at Crystal's ego's expense. We will definitely be going back to that place as I intend to host a party there in the summer to help fundraising efforts for the 3-Day.

Our new foster kitty is finally turning around. She's decided that we aren't going to eat her and in fact we provide her with food so we can't be all that bad. It took longer than any other cat but it has paid off. She's still a little kooky at times but I think we are mostly past that.

I can't wait for Amsterdam!!!

I can't wait for the wedding!!!!

That's all for now.

Seattle Breast Cancer 3-Day Event

This year, I'll be participating in the Seattle Breast Cancer 3-Day event.

I'll be walking 60 miles over the course of three days with thousands of other women and men. The net proceeds will support breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment through Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund.

I've agreed to raise at least $2,200 in donations. My team goal is to raise over $5000.

According to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, approximately 200,000 American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and nearly 40,000 will die from the disease. Even scarier - 1 out of every 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. That's insane! I need to do something bold about breast cancer NOW. Too many women have struggled and perished to this plague. It's got to stop!

I walk in honor and memory of three women: Carmen Lilley, Carin Carper, and Martha Alder. I can't really explain why I want to do this so bad other than the obvious reasons (for the cause and to honor these women, even though I didn't know two of them). I've seen the legacy these women have left and I've also seen the pain their loved ones have endured and they've all spoke of the pain these women endured. And I just can't imagine not doing something to try to stop this from ever happening again. The stats on any kind of cancer are daunting and perhaps it's high hopes to think that just one single person can make a difference, but you know what? I can and I am.

If you are interested in supporting me and help contribute to the cure of breast cancer, please visit my Breast Cancer 3-Day website. Again, 50 cents helps. There is no donation minimum or maximum. All donations are appreciated and will go recognized.

You are beautiful.

http://www.the3day.org/seattle07/crystaljoyewers

No Drama

It occured to me this morning that I have not updated my blog in over a week. I keep waiting for something worth "writing home" about to happen, but alas it's been a fairly non-dramatic week. But I guess I can still chat you up about a few minor instances.

New buddy: I've met another gal my age who is getting married at a destination wedding in Mexico this November. We've become instant friends and are swapping secrets. She's cool and independent and I totally dig her.

Work: has been going so well. I love it here so much. Everyday I drive home smiling a big grin because I'm just so blessed to work here. I'm wrapping up the March closing (and it's only 9 days after the month closed!) and then I'll begin working on A/R reconciliation and budgets. The Director of Admin/Finance position is still available and we're still looking. Our ED gave me mad props in front of the entire board last Thursday - I was very honored.

Social life: has been good too - I've been to dinner, happy hour, 2 send-off parties, and a movie with my new buddies here at work and I've only been here 4 weeks. Went and saw Blades of Glory (awesome) and Grindhouse (even better) this weekend. We also hit the traveling fair. The rides were fun but the bumper cars killed me. The safety bar fell right across my scar and I had to stop the ride to get out. The carny asked what the deal was and I told him the stitch. All in all we had a blast and went to dinner at the Tuna House afterwards.

Training: so I upgraded my 24 Hour Fitness membership to all clubs and hit the gym last week. It was good to be back in the saddle and I even got suckered into getting a personal trainer. I start meeting with him tomorrow. I've asked him to be a drill sargent and whip me into shape. We'll see how well he does. I'm excited and the Bellevue gym is nice. I've also started training for the 3-Day (post to follow shortly). We walked just under 5 miles on Sat. I went for a walk on my own yesterday that lasted about 1 hour/3.5 miles or so. The training walks will be every Sat/Sun from now till the 3-Day in September. I'm going to try and make at least one day a weekend. Not sure though on the weeks I go to school. I like my sleeping in and don't want to wake up early two days in a row. :-P

School: going good - I like the class we are in right now. We are moving into W6. I was supposed to get a head start on my project last week and didn't so now it's balls to the wall to complete my individual assignment and put together the team presentation. Shouldn't be too bad though. I think after this class our group will break up though. At least one person, I think the other will stay on for another class. Then HG and I take a break (timed well for the wedding and Solstice parade) then back on track. I take another break in October while HG takes a class. I think during that time I might visit Colorado. It will be a good time to do it.

Other: The parade classes will start soon, I'm looking forward to that especially since it's an Egyptian theme this year. Going to Amsterdam in about 7 weeks - I can't WAIT for that! I'm taking it unpaid though, so that might sting. I'm also going to visit PDX again in June when all the guys from Connecticut come down, that will be a blast! I haven't seen these guys in years! Hopefully Zac will be off his fixator by then too. The wedding is moving along though I haven't heard from my planner in months. I will phone her today. I hope she's okay.

That's about it for now. Maybe something dramatic will happen....the phone just rang!!! Dun dun dunn!! BORING - just my old boss following up on a question I had. Perhaps more later.