La la la la la. I don't know any other words to that song.
So the trip to see the folks was wonderful. Dad said he wouldn't even know he had a heart attack if not for the hospital bills. And of course the other things like medications and diet changes. But still, he's doing great and it was great to see them.
We had a great, relaxing weekend full of good homecooked meals. I hadn't realized how much I missed my parents till this weekend. So many things I miss like going to their house and just gazing in the pantry and fridge. I miss the sound the pot makes when steam escapes it and the release valve bounces off the pan lid (that sound always comforted me because it meant food was on the way). I miss wearing my dad's robe. I miss using my mom's hair products. I miss being wrapped up in their bed. I miss looking at the pictures of my life and my family's life.
I liked talking to my parents and just plain hanging out with them. We went to my mom's work on Friday at Dole Berry and I got a tour of the place. Pretty cool how they take care of the fruit. Then we went to lunch and got to see the sea otters and sea lions - fat crazy loud animals that they are. We went to the store and got some supplies for our meals. The grocery store by their house is so cheap that we got what we needed for 5 meals for 4 adults for just over $100! Can you believe that!
Saturday Mom and I went to get some pedicures, which was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed that time with her to sit and chat. Mom is going to help make my parade costume. She took my ideas and gave them girth and brought them to life with a little of her own creativity. It's so nice to have her help with that. Then we made a late lunch, early dinner then watched the Indiana Jones movies. Sunday we slept in then went to see the new Indiana Jones movie, good flick, then went home and hung out talking and what not. We had a lot of good chats.
Monday we slept in again, packed, then went to the airport and we were back home before we knew it. It was a nice quick trip that I think we can and should do more often. At least till they come live up in Seattle. :-P
School is coming along, in my last week of my second to last on campus class. Then its 5 classes of accounting online then graduation! YAY! Dane and I are talking about our options for graduation travel and gifts, which might be a couple of new cars. We're not sure.
Other than that work and the parade are going well. It's tough being a manager sometimes. You have to make decisions you don't want to. *sigh* We'll see how that plays out.
I'm on a crash diet for the next 4 weeks. Dr. E is going to kick my ass when he sees how fat I am. If I can lose a solid 10 lbs then I'll be in better shape. Not just physically but for when I see him for my surgery. Sarah will be here soon and that will be fun. I can't wait to see her. The final details are being worked out. It's gonna be a blast.
I'm off to bed. Dane is in PDX again and I still have some homework to do.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Last Year vs. This Year
So I looked at my post from this time last year and how much stuff I was doing and all that jazz and I have to say that I'm shocked I survived it and have lived up to my promise of not packing my schedule so tightly.
In fact this year all that I have going on right now it school, work, and parade. I'm working in a trip to see the folks this weekend and a surgery revision next month, which will put a slight damper on my summer hence plans, but nothing that I can't handle. I'm on track with school and work and even though I have projects on the horizon, I have them scheduled out with enough time to accomplish them all.
In other news I went kayaking this weekend for the first time ever and loved it! It was a little nerve racking at first, but we (Angela and I) stuck it out and had a great time with Alexia and Cieran (Key-err-ann). I can definitely see more of it in my future.
I also stayed home on Saturday night by myself. I had the option to go out but decided to stay home and loved it. It was nice to have some weekend solitude as Dane was mountain biking with friends in Portland. I'm glad he was able to get out and be active.
Our financial plans are in order and on budget despite setbacks. Of course my overage check from UOP helped that but still. Dane's debt and our Egypt debt (the wedding has long since been paid off) are almost cleared up. Like in a matter of months we will have a lot of cash on our hands that we haven't had in a long time if ever. We are working on plans for this money as it will be a lot and we don't want to get used to living with that kind of excess cash, rather save it away for whatever we want to do in the next few years, be that buy a house, a car, travel or a combo of the three. I'm scared of buying a house but could be coerced.
Other than that things are plugging away just fine. I'm looking forward to the parade and Sarah's visit. It will be a lot of fun.
Now if I could just drop about 20 lbs I'd be set. :-)
In fact this year all that I have going on right now it school, work, and parade. I'm working in a trip to see the folks this weekend and a surgery revision next month, which will put a slight damper on my summer hence plans, but nothing that I can't handle. I'm on track with school and work and even though I have projects on the horizon, I have them scheduled out with enough time to accomplish them all.
In other news I went kayaking this weekend for the first time ever and loved it! It was a little nerve racking at first, but we (Angela and I) stuck it out and had a great time with Alexia and Cieran (Key-err-ann). I can definitely see more of it in my future.
I also stayed home on Saturday night by myself. I had the option to go out but decided to stay home and loved it. It was nice to have some weekend solitude as Dane was mountain biking with friends in Portland. I'm glad he was able to get out and be active.
Our financial plans are in order and on budget despite setbacks. Of course my overage check from UOP helped that but still. Dane's debt and our Egypt debt (the wedding has long since been paid off) are almost cleared up. Like in a matter of months we will have a lot of cash on our hands that we haven't had in a long time if ever. We are working on plans for this money as it will be a lot and we don't want to get used to living with that kind of excess cash, rather save it away for whatever we want to do in the next few years, be that buy a house, a car, travel or a combo of the three. I'm scared of buying a house but could be coerced.
Other than that things are plugging away just fine. I'm looking forward to the parade and Sarah's visit. It will be a lot of fun.
Now if I could just drop about 20 lbs I'd be set. :-)
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Oops
Well, I've done it again. I haven't posted in a while. My bad. Let's recap:
Work - going well, I'm neck deep in budgets after a short closing month (finance committee meets tomorrow) and I feel that I am doing very well for the budget process. I'm sure I haven't thought of everything but I feel like I'm ahead of the game, thanks to help from my staff. I present the budgets to the managers tomorrow and have even prepared a PPT presentation that I hope will go over well. I'm really taking charge of the budget process this year (and I might even ask Jim to "own" it more than he does) which I feel will help alieviate the issues we ran into this current year. Up next: prepare for audit which will absolutely require the next 5 months. It wont be cleanup like last year, instead preparation and getting inline with all the new standards for 08.
School - going well too. I made a post that got some classmates in a funk but all seems well now. I really feel sometimes like people need too much guidance and just can't function without clear, step by step guidelines. Sometimes its okay to just go with an idea, but I get that that's not for everyone. One more class and I'll be done with the general portion of the MBA then on to the core accounting portion. I should be done with classes by March of next year, set to walk in Phoenix in July.
Travel - speaking of - there are plans in the works for next July's vacation. I am talking with RBMBA about Central or South America but these plans aren't concrete and I have some other ideas that I'm rattling around in my head, such as buying a new car from Volvo, Mercedes, or Audi and doing a Europe trip to pick up the car. Not sure, depends on money and several other factors. In the meantime, we are going to California next week to see my folks and I'm really looking forward to that. We've talked about going to the Midwest to see my grandparents but I'm not sure that we can afford that. Same for my ideas to go to Colorado in August and somewhere in October. I honestly think that we just can't afford to go anywhere till next year and I'd rather save our money for another big trip anyway.
Surgery - is still a go for next month. A slight revision and some touch up work. All paid for, so we are good with that but I'm nervous about the healing process and I feel I've gained some weight that I just can't shed.
Fitness - I am still going to spinning on Mon and now that the parade is almost here I'm going to class for that 3 nights a week. Otherwise, I'm not really going to the gym. I am taking the bus almost everyday and that in itself adds about a mile of walking each day. I'm trying to stay active on the weekends and now that the weather is starting to get nicer that should be easier.
Parade - is going to awesome this year! First and foremost, Sarah will be in town (see more below) but also I really like the theme. It's pink for peace and I'm totally on-board with the costuming and meaning behind the parade. Meaning being taking back the woman's carnal power of beauty and attraction (real beauty not the media's idea of beauty) and turning that into the power of persuasion which leads to negotiation which leads to peace and love and everything that is wonderful and woman! I'm in the advanced string this year w/ HG and while it is a big committment, it's well worth it. And with Dane gone in PDX all the time it gives me something to do and stay out of trouble.
Dane - is doing well. Traveling a lot and dealing with his staff but overall he's enjoying life. He's going on an all-dudes mountain biking trek this weekend outside of PDX that I think will be great for him. He's finally conceded to giving up and selling the banshee and montero. About time.
Sarah - is coming to town in a month. I'm happy to be hosting her and can't wait for her to see our place and hang out. What's more is Max will be with her and I'm excited to see how he's grown! What's on the docket? Burlesque, spa trip, Pike Place, parade, party, rest, then she goes to the North while I go on my surgery leave, then she's back home as quick as she came, but it will be a good visit.
Cats - are doing good. Willy almost has his meow. Stinker and Boo are still fat and Dewey is cute as ever. He has some troubling blood on him (this just happened tonight) but I think we can manage it and he'll be fine.
Long-term - plans include some more legislative and lobbying work for me. I have some grand ideas in store for how I can help Treehouse with their strategies for the next 3 - 5 years as well as how I can help the foster child system in the US. Probably all just pipe dreams right now, but I feel like I'm on the course to something really big and life changing. Stay tuned!
So that's about it for now. I'll try to be better at posting as things happen, but life seems full tilt all the time yet not much worth "writing home about." I'm sure that will change and I'll have fun stuff to blog about soon enough.
Work - going well, I'm neck deep in budgets after a short closing month (finance committee meets tomorrow) and I feel that I am doing very well for the budget process. I'm sure I haven't thought of everything but I feel like I'm ahead of the game, thanks to help from my staff. I present the budgets to the managers tomorrow and have even prepared a PPT presentation that I hope will go over well. I'm really taking charge of the budget process this year (and I might even ask Jim to "own" it more than he does) which I feel will help alieviate the issues we ran into this current year. Up next: prepare for audit which will absolutely require the next 5 months. It wont be cleanup like last year, instead preparation and getting inline with all the new standards for 08.
School - going well too. I made a post that got some classmates in a funk but all seems well now. I really feel sometimes like people need too much guidance and just can't function without clear, step by step guidelines. Sometimes its okay to just go with an idea, but I get that that's not for everyone. One more class and I'll be done with the general portion of the MBA then on to the core accounting portion. I should be done with classes by March of next year, set to walk in Phoenix in July.
Travel - speaking of - there are plans in the works for next July's vacation. I am talking with RBMBA about Central or South America but these plans aren't concrete and I have some other ideas that I'm rattling around in my head, such as buying a new car from Volvo, Mercedes, or Audi and doing a Europe trip to pick up the car. Not sure, depends on money and several other factors. In the meantime, we are going to California next week to see my folks and I'm really looking forward to that. We've talked about going to the Midwest to see my grandparents but I'm not sure that we can afford that. Same for my ideas to go to Colorado in August and somewhere in October. I honestly think that we just can't afford to go anywhere till next year and I'd rather save our money for another big trip anyway.
Surgery - is still a go for next month. A slight revision and some touch up work. All paid for, so we are good with that but I'm nervous about the healing process and I feel I've gained some weight that I just can't shed.
Fitness - I am still going to spinning on Mon and now that the parade is almost here I'm going to class for that 3 nights a week. Otherwise, I'm not really going to the gym. I am taking the bus almost everyday and that in itself adds about a mile of walking each day. I'm trying to stay active on the weekends and now that the weather is starting to get nicer that should be easier.
Parade - is going to awesome this year! First and foremost, Sarah will be in town (see more below) but also I really like the theme. It's pink for peace and I'm totally on-board with the costuming and meaning behind the parade. Meaning being taking back the woman's carnal power of beauty and attraction (real beauty not the media's idea of beauty) and turning that into the power of persuasion which leads to negotiation which leads to peace and love and everything that is wonderful and woman! I'm in the advanced string this year w/ HG and while it is a big committment, it's well worth it. And with Dane gone in PDX all the time it gives me something to do and stay out of trouble.
Dane - is doing well. Traveling a lot and dealing with his staff but overall he's enjoying life. He's going on an all-dudes mountain biking trek this weekend outside of PDX that I think will be great for him. He's finally conceded to giving up and selling the banshee and montero. About time.
Sarah - is coming to town in a month. I'm happy to be hosting her and can't wait for her to see our place and hang out. What's more is Max will be with her and I'm excited to see how he's grown! What's on the docket? Burlesque, spa trip, Pike Place, parade, party, rest, then she goes to the North while I go on my surgery leave, then she's back home as quick as she came, but it will be a good visit.
Cats - are doing good. Willy almost has his meow. Stinker and Boo are still fat and Dewey is cute as ever. He has some troubling blood on him (this just happened tonight) but I think we can manage it and he'll be fine.
Long-term - plans include some more legislative and lobbying work for me. I have some grand ideas in store for how I can help Treehouse with their strategies for the next 3 - 5 years as well as how I can help the foster child system in the US. Probably all just pipe dreams right now, but I feel like I'm on the course to something really big and life changing. Stay tuned!
So that's about it for now. I'll try to be better at posting as things happen, but life seems full tilt all the time yet not much worth "writing home about." I'm sure that will change and I'll have fun stuff to blog about soon enough.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)