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.