Here you go: the link to our Scandinavia Cruise Blog
http://scandinaviacruise2009.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Chaos
It has been absolute chaos. These past few weeks have been crazy. My parent's visit went well, I was very happy to see them and of course to see Dane. We got a lot of work done and some relaxing. Someday I'll post pics of my graduation.
I found out I failed the Audit exam by one lousy point. I don't even know how that happened. I felt I did really good on it. Shows what I know. I haven't got my diagnostic yet, so I'll know more after I receive that to see where I went sideways.
Then, after my parents left, Dane and I found out that the lending on our Palomino Park condo did not go through because it was a non-FHA approved condo. They could have gotten spot approval, but since Dane went from a W2 employee to 1099 and didn't have 2 years of 1099 history, they wouldn't approve us. So our loan officer suggested we look for a house, an automatic FHA approval, as an alternative. We found several houses that we liked and Dane went to visit them and even put an offer down on one, against our loan officer's suggestion. We should find out today or tomorrow if the loan goes through.
I am flying out to Denver with the cats tomorrow. It was the best and only option left since the cats wouldn't fit in my car and I don't have anywhere to keep them from now till September. Why? - you ask? Because our landlord has to short sale his home to forgo foreclosure. We need to be out by July 31st. Not a big deal because we were planning on being packed by then anyway, but it put a couple wrenches in our moving plan, particularly the cats. Originally Dane was going to drive our stuff home after we returned from Europe with the cats. Since we have to leave in July, we were going to pay one of our friends to drive our stuff home (with the cats) in July. That didn't pan out so we had to opt for professional movers (my preference) and shipping the cats via airplane (nerve-wracking). It dawned on us to have the cats just fly out with me and turned out to be cheaper as well. I feel that will be less stressful on the cats all things considered. Now, instead of them living in an empty house for a month and then going on a 3 day car trip or having a stranger drive them on a 3 day car trip and then us not come home for a month (both VERY stressful options for my spoiled animals) they just have to deal with a 3 hour plane ride and then get to be with us for a couple days, with Dane for a couple weeks while our friend who is taking care of them meets-n-greets them before we leave for our trip.
In the meantime I'm trying to juggle packing up the house, sorting out items for the garage sale and studying for my last CPA exam. As an extra bonus, I get to deal with realtors calling me every day asking to show my house. They call at 8 am, 8 pm - they want to put the cats in the garage. It's a nightmare. At this point I've resigned to having to take 3 exams over again, so I'm trying not to stress myself out too much over the Regulation exam that I take on July 18th. It will be a good practice exam. I am getting stuff packed little by little each night. I've got the whole art room, foster kitty room, linen closet, medicine closet, and upstairs bathroom packed and sorted out. I still need to do the TV room, the office, the kitchen, the storage room, the guest room, the downstairs bathroom, the laundry room, the garage, and our bedroom. The garage sale is on July 11th so I have time. I've been calling on all my friends to help out. Jacob is taking me to the airport tomorrow and helping with the sale, Heather is taking a day off to help pack and sort for the sale, Nick is picking me up from the airport and helping with the sale and Mark and Angela are letting us stay at their place both before and after the Europe trip. I need all the help I can get if I'm going to make it through the next 3 weeks.
I'm looking forward to spending the weekend with Dane in Denver. It's going to be a turn and burn trip but we have dinner plans for our second anniversary (time flies!) and then who knows what we will do for the 4th of July. Sunday I'm going to Jamie's baby shower - FUN! It will be nice to be with Dane. And I'm happy he gets the cats. I love my cats but honestly, with everything I have going on right now, it will be nice to shove off that worry/duty.
I'm also trying to figure out this crazy matrix of clothing and packing. I'm getting rid of about 2/3 of my wardrobe because I no longer fit into the clothes (they are too big - a good "problem" to have) or if I did shrink enough to fit in them, they are no longer appropriate/my style. I even have some pre-surgery clothes that no matter how much weight I lose, they will never fit right again. So I'm unloading all that. Then I have to figure out what clothes I want to bring with me to Europe and of those clothes, which clothes I can wear to work in Seattle when I return. Then I need to figure out what clothes I'm not bringing to Europe but will need for work in Seattle. What's left can be packed and shipped home with the rest of our stuff. However, what I take with me for Europe must fit in two suitcases and what I keep in Seattle for the rest of my time here must fit in one suitcase (that's all that will fit in Iza). So once I get back from Europe, I'll have to pack all my stuff that I can't wear to work and then check two bags when I fly to Denver for Labor Day weekend. Leaving one bag of work clothes in Seattle. Crazy, huh. Good thing I love problem solving. This is almost like a word problem on some SAT thing: Crystal is leaving Seattle over three separate dates with three tons of clothes that must fit in a.....
Finally there's Europe. Wow. So much is happening all at once and so fast, I just can't believe it! Dane and I secured our shore excursions. I guess now is as good a time as any to release the Scandinavia Blog. I'll go make that now and post our trip details. Link to follow.
I found out I failed the Audit exam by one lousy point. I don't even know how that happened. I felt I did really good on it. Shows what I know. I haven't got my diagnostic yet, so I'll know more after I receive that to see where I went sideways.
Then, after my parents left, Dane and I found out that the lending on our Palomino Park condo did not go through because it was a non-FHA approved condo. They could have gotten spot approval, but since Dane went from a W2 employee to 1099 and didn't have 2 years of 1099 history, they wouldn't approve us. So our loan officer suggested we look for a house, an automatic FHA approval, as an alternative. We found several houses that we liked and Dane went to visit them and even put an offer down on one, against our loan officer's suggestion. We should find out today or tomorrow if the loan goes through.
I am flying out to Denver with the cats tomorrow. It was the best and only option left since the cats wouldn't fit in my car and I don't have anywhere to keep them from now till September. Why? - you ask? Because our landlord has to short sale his home to forgo foreclosure. We need to be out by July 31st. Not a big deal because we were planning on being packed by then anyway, but it put a couple wrenches in our moving plan, particularly the cats. Originally Dane was going to drive our stuff home after we returned from Europe with the cats. Since we have to leave in July, we were going to pay one of our friends to drive our stuff home (with the cats) in July. That didn't pan out so we had to opt for professional movers (my preference) and shipping the cats via airplane (nerve-wracking). It dawned on us to have the cats just fly out with me and turned out to be cheaper as well. I feel that will be less stressful on the cats all things considered. Now, instead of them living in an empty house for a month and then going on a 3 day car trip or having a stranger drive them on a 3 day car trip and then us not come home for a month (both VERY stressful options for my spoiled animals) they just have to deal with a 3 hour plane ride and then get to be with us for a couple days, with Dane for a couple weeks while our friend who is taking care of them meets-n-greets them before we leave for our trip.
In the meantime I'm trying to juggle packing up the house, sorting out items for the garage sale and studying for my last CPA exam. As an extra bonus, I get to deal with realtors calling me every day asking to show my house. They call at 8 am, 8 pm - they want to put the cats in the garage. It's a nightmare. At this point I've resigned to having to take 3 exams over again, so I'm trying not to stress myself out too much over the Regulation exam that I take on July 18th. It will be a good practice exam. I am getting stuff packed little by little each night. I've got the whole art room, foster kitty room, linen closet, medicine closet, and upstairs bathroom packed and sorted out. I still need to do the TV room, the office, the kitchen, the storage room, the guest room, the downstairs bathroom, the laundry room, the garage, and our bedroom. The garage sale is on July 11th so I have time. I've been calling on all my friends to help out. Jacob is taking me to the airport tomorrow and helping with the sale, Heather is taking a day off to help pack and sort for the sale, Nick is picking me up from the airport and helping with the sale and Mark and Angela are letting us stay at their place both before and after the Europe trip. I need all the help I can get if I'm going to make it through the next 3 weeks.
I'm looking forward to spending the weekend with Dane in Denver. It's going to be a turn and burn trip but we have dinner plans for our second anniversary (time flies!) and then who knows what we will do for the 4th of July. Sunday I'm going to Jamie's baby shower - FUN! It will be nice to be with Dane. And I'm happy he gets the cats. I love my cats but honestly, with everything I have going on right now, it will be nice to shove off that worry/duty.
I'm also trying to figure out this crazy matrix of clothing and packing. I'm getting rid of about 2/3 of my wardrobe because I no longer fit into the clothes (they are too big - a good "problem" to have) or if I did shrink enough to fit in them, they are no longer appropriate/my style. I even have some pre-surgery clothes that no matter how much weight I lose, they will never fit right again. So I'm unloading all that. Then I have to figure out what clothes I want to bring with me to Europe and of those clothes, which clothes I can wear to work in Seattle when I return. Then I need to figure out what clothes I'm not bringing to Europe but will need for work in Seattle. What's left can be packed and shipped home with the rest of our stuff. However, what I take with me for Europe must fit in two suitcases and what I keep in Seattle for the rest of my time here must fit in one suitcase (that's all that will fit in Iza). So once I get back from Europe, I'll have to pack all my stuff that I can't wear to work and then check two bags when I fly to Denver for Labor Day weekend. Leaving one bag of work clothes in Seattle. Crazy, huh. Good thing I love problem solving. This is almost like a word problem on some SAT thing: Crystal is leaving Seattle over three separate dates with three tons of clothes that must fit in a.....
Finally there's Europe. Wow. So much is happening all at once and so fast, I just can't believe it! Dane and I secured our shore excursions. I guess now is as good a time as any to release the Scandinavia Blog. I'll go make that now and post our trip details. Link to follow.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Almost Here!
So these past few months have flown by at warp speed but this week is taking FOREVER to go by! I can't wait for my folks and Dane to come to town! But, having said that, we have so much to do this weekend. Check it:
Thursday - visit Pike Market for fresh produce for the weekend, pick up D from the aero-puerto, watch Stardust.
Friday - clean garage, sort sale stuff from keep stuff, errands, Alki beach with friends for a beach sunset and beach bonfire smores.
Saturday - graduation and dinner at Pink Door.
Sunday - more packing and sorting, take D to the aero-puerto, watch Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
Monday - rest, relax, whatever.
Tuesday - folks go home, back to work and studying.
It's going to be a fun weekend. I can't wait to have both my folks in town.
Things are still progressing forward with the house. The contract is with the lender and we are ironing out the final inspection details. The Bellevue house was served with a Notice of Default this morning. I guess our landlord hasn't made payments since January 09!! Scary. We took it as another sign that it is time to move on.
Work is going well. Looking for a job is going well too, but it is a bit soon to really get any bites. I've sent a few resumes out, so far nothing. I hope to work with Robert Half in Denver, they already list an auditor position with an emphasis on nonprofit - that's exactly what I'm looking for. But I'm not going to stress about my job situation too much. I feel like the right job will come along in the right time and I'll know it when I see it. Dane is much more freaked out and trying to rain that stress down on me but I'm not having it. All this is happening in it's own time. Besides, it really is too early to be looking. And then when I should really heighten the search, I'll be in Europe for crying out loud! I'm thinking of asking a friend to watch the market for me and send my resume out. Or maybe I'll just have Robert Half do that while I'm out of town. We'll see. All in due time.
CPA stuff is going well. I should find out in the next few days what my score is for AUD. I'm almost done with my last set of classes for Regulation. I've been pretty bored - taxes can only be so exciting. I'm slightly behind on my studying but hope to catch up over the next few weeks. It's going to be tough trying to juggle getting the house ready for a garage sale, packing, studying, and preparing for a month in Europe all at once. I can do it though.
My diet has been on the fritz since April. BUT I haven't gained any weight either, so that's good. My body is not budging from its current weight but again, I haven't done much to deserve a loss. Summertime is always hard. Parties, beer, BBQ. I figure once I get to CO and the cold settles in, I'll be back in the gym and dieting hardcore again. It will be so nice having a gym less than a quarter mile from my front doorstep AND not having a ton of homework and studying to do. I can't imagine what I'll do with all my free time! Course, if I am an auditor, I'll be working 40 - 60 hours a week, so there goes any free time I might have banked on. I can only dream to be so lucky.
You should see our new house. It is so beautiful. Part of what makes it so beautiful is the furniture though, which doesn't stay with the house but hopefully we can find some nice equivilent furniture to fill the place up with. We are only supposed to have 2 cats though, so we are smuggling 2. Hopefully the HOA won't find out. That would be bad. We won't move out or get rid of any cats.
That's all for now. I'm sure I'll post soon with the results of my AUD exam and my parent's visit.
Thursday - visit Pike Market for fresh produce for the weekend, pick up D from the aero-puerto, watch Stardust.
Friday - clean garage, sort sale stuff from keep stuff, errands, Alki beach with friends for a beach sunset and beach bonfire smores.
Saturday - graduation and dinner at Pink Door.
Sunday - more packing and sorting, take D to the aero-puerto, watch Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
Monday - rest, relax, whatever.
Tuesday - folks go home, back to work and studying.
It's going to be a fun weekend. I can't wait to have both my folks in town.
Things are still progressing forward with the house. The contract is with the lender and we are ironing out the final inspection details. The Bellevue house was served with a Notice of Default this morning. I guess our landlord hasn't made payments since January 09!! Scary. We took it as another sign that it is time to move on.
Work is going well. Looking for a job is going well too, but it is a bit soon to really get any bites. I've sent a few resumes out, so far nothing. I hope to work with Robert Half in Denver, they already list an auditor position with an emphasis on nonprofit - that's exactly what I'm looking for. But I'm not going to stress about my job situation too much. I feel like the right job will come along in the right time and I'll know it when I see it. Dane is much more freaked out and trying to rain that stress down on me but I'm not having it. All this is happening in it's own time. Besides, it really is too early to be looking. And then when I should really heighten the search, I'll be in Europe for crying out loud! I'm thinking of asking a friend to watch the market for me and send my resume out. Or maybe I'll just have Robert Half do that while I'm out of town. We'll see. All in due time.
CPA stuff is going well. I should find out in the next few days what my score is for AUD. I'm almost done with my last set of classes for Regulation. I've been pretty bored - taxes can only be so exciting. I'm slightly behind on my studying but hope to catch up over the next few weeks. It's going to be tough trying to juggle getting the house ready for a garage sale, packing, studying, and preparing for a month in Europe all at once. I can do it though.
My diet has been on the fritz since April. BUT I haven't gained any weight either, so that's good. My body is not budging from its current weight but again, I haven't done much to deserve a loss. Summertime is always hard. Parties, beer, BBQ. I figure once I get to CO and the cold settles in, I'll be back in the gym and dieting hardcore again. It will be so nice having a gym less than a quarter mile from my front doorstep AND not having a ton of homework and studying to do. I can't imagine what I'll do with all my free time! Course, if I am an auditor, I'll be working 40 - 60 hours a week, so there goes any free time I might have banked on. I can only dream to be so lucky.
You should see our new house. It is so beautiful. Part of what makes it so beautiful is the furniture though, which doesn't stay with the house but hopefully we can find some nice equivilent furniture to fill the place up with. We are only supposed to have 2 cats though, so we are smuggling 2. Hopefully the HOA won't find out. That would be bad. We won't move out or get rid of any cats.
That's all for now. I'm sure I'll post soon with the results of my AUD exam and my parent's visit.
Sunday, June 07, 2009
We Bought a House!!
Well a lot has happened since my last post. So much it's almost overwhelming to think of everything. Chronological order always works for me, so here goes:
CPA - I took the AUD exam and did very well. I don't want to be too cocky or count my chickens before they hatch but I would be shocked if I didn't pass. I know I did well because I got the extra hard testlet for the second and third multiple choice. I even laughed out loud because the difference was so apparent. I had to read the questions two to three times before I even understood the call of the question. None the less I still good. I should know the final results by June 20th or so.
I got my results from FAR. I passed!!! Just barely, but I passed! That was such a relief, I went into that test expecting to have to take it again. I still gave it my best shot but after losing a week of studying and putting too much pressure on myself I didn't expect a passing score.
Colorado - wait...Dane's job comes first...
Dane's job - As you know, Dane got laid off in April - same day I failed BEC. And maybe I mentioned it, maybe I didn't, but we also qualified to purchase a house the same day. Since Dane lost his job, we decided that it wasn't the right time to buy a house. Which sucks cause the house we were looking at was beautiful. Anyway, Dane put his resume out and got hits back from a Blackberry company in Toronto and Comcast in Denver, of all places. After much discussion, we decided that Denver would be the best option for him so he accepted a 6 month contract position there. We pulled some strings and I took a couple extra days off of work so I could make the drive down to Denver with him, since I was planning on being there for Memorial Weekend anyway. Now I can move on to Colorado. :-)
Colorado - I've been back to Colorado 3 or 4 times now but during this trip something in me snapped. I can't pinpoint the exact moment but I can remember a few highlights where it became very clear to me that it was time to come home. Maybe it was because it was the first time I had to drive back in to town, prolonging the excitement. Maybe it's the fact that Dane isn't tethered to his job anymore. I don't know what it was but sitting out on the patio enjoying beer with friends, I knew it. Hanging at Dave & Busters, I knew it. Dancing at LoDo's, I knew it. Standing on the 16th Street Mall with some of my favorite people in the world, I knew it. Driving to my favorite restaurant, I knew it. If you would have asked me before Dane and I drove down there, I would have told you I had no intention of leaving Seattle. In fact, Dane and I even discussed - AT LENGTH - the possibility of moving home and came to the conclusion that it wasn't the right time. By the end of my CO trip, which was really great. I had such a great time meeting up with everyone - I forgot how deep my roots run there, I was begging Dane to find a way to get us home.
The Decision - But really I was the one attached to Seattle, what with my beloved job at Treehouse. I decided that I would use TH and how they handle my CPA certification as a gauge to see if it was time to move on or stay put. I had several conversations with Jim, really good conversations, but frank. Basically I've worked myself out of a job at TH. I've taken 2 full time positions and a company with a near adverse audit opinion into a fully functioning, smoothly operating accounting department that really only needs 1.75 staff members with half the qualifications that I have. It would be a disservice for me and for TH if I stayed there. #1 - I wouldn't be challenging myself, and #2 - TH would be overpaying for a position that could be staffed by an employee with less qualifications. Once that became clear I realized that Colorado aside, it was time to move on from Treehouse. At first that was a hard pill to swallow - that TH wouldn't pay me what I wanted, but the more I thought about it the more I realized that I am the reason why they are in the position they are in. They don't need to pay someone like me a high salary anymore. I cleaned up all the mess and got things in order. Now it's time for me to fly away and find another damsel in distress. So I started looking at housing in Highlands Ranch and then in Palomino Park last week and decided that it might be fun to see if we could qualify for a loan again, considering the changes to our stitch, and to see if we liked the PP townhome. I figured between the signs in CO and TH that things were shaping up like I should move home. I asked God to be the decision maker and if we were approved for the loan, then I would take that as his final sign that I should move home.
The House - well we got the loan. Actually Dane did, I will still sign on the loan, but it was all his qualifications that got us the house. So the final sign was there. Unfortunately by the time we got the sign, we were too late to put an offer in on the 3 car garage, 3 bedroom townhome we wanted, but its mirror image was still for sale, with a better kitchen. We put an offer on the house yesterday and found out today, after much haggling, that our offer (several times countered) was accepted. VERY EXCITING!! Of course we still have to go through all the red tape, but barring unforeseen and extenuating circumstances, we are home owners!! And Palomino Park is just beautiful. I'm so excited to live there. Fitness center, pool, 1 mile walking track around a pond and park, gated community in a PERFECT location! I've lusted after PP for a long time now and I just can't believe that my wonderful husband got me a nest there!! It hasn't really set in yet. I spent all day today shopping on Pottery Barn and dreaming up decoration schemes.
The Reality - so now comes the hard part - the logistics of moving, finding a job and juggling all that with studying for my final CPA exam. Plus living apart from Dane, it's tough. We plan on getting rid of a lot of our belongings, only taking the few things that we need/have spent money on. At this point we still plan on going to Europe and I plan on working at TH till at the very least August 31st. Probably closer to the end of September before I actually leave. Crazy stuff! I can't believe I'm actually going home! I'm so excited!!
More to come as I have time to blog. I always say I'm going to post more often and never do. I'll try but with the CPA and the move and my folks coming to town I'm not sure I'll get much done.
Yay us!!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Confirmed Fail
The test results are in! I have officially failed my first CPA exam, the BEC section. I knew this was coming, knew I'd fail. What I was not prepared for was to fail by only 2 points. I thought for sure I would get a 40, maybe 50. I was not prepared to get a 73, needing just a 75 to pass.
I still needed this lesson though. I've learned so much about myself, my life, my role in this life, in the past month that it was another [good] lesson to see the 73. That is not a discouraging number at all - especially when I was expecting much less. To know that I just need to apply myself a little more during the next test and I will pass is great news. I was expecting to have to do all sorts of odd study tricks and invest in different learning materials.
Dare I say this score is close enough to passing that had I not turned into a balling mess during the exam, I bet I would have passed. Lesson learned. Had I kept my head on straight, I probably would have been able to muscle a few of the tricky questions rather than be immature and get all fussy and frustrated that I didn't "get it" right off the bat.
Indeed I have learned a lot already from this half finished journey. I should know my FAR score by the 19th. Considering that I thought I bombed BEC and got a 73, I actually have high hopes that I passed FAR. I felt that I did much better on FAR. We'll see.
I take AUD this weekend and feel like I'm in a good spot. I have done well on the homework and do well in the real world so now it's time to put my money where my mouth is. Actually, out of all the exams, I knew that I would struggle with AUD the least. Not saying that I will ace it, just saying that it comes more naturally to me.
I take REG on July 18th. I originally scheduled it for July 3rd and literally woke up in the middle of the night with a sudden realization that I absolutely HAD to change the date. I had to push it back and give myself more study time. So I bought 2 weeks and I think those 2 weeks will come in handy. I'm a little worried about REG as it covers taxes and I suck at taxes but I plan to take it slow, study hard, and give myself room to learn. That's all I can do.
Stay tuned.
I still needed this lesson though. I've learned so much about myself, my life, my role in this life, in the past month that it was another [good] lesson to see the 73. That is not a discouraging number at all - especially when I was expecting much less. To know that I just need to apply myself a little more during the next test and I will pass is great news. I was expecting to have to do all sorts of odd study tricks and invest in different learning materials.
Dare I say this score is close enough to passing that had I not turned into a balling mess during the exam, I bet I would have passed. Lesson learned. Had I kept my head on straight, I probably would have been able to muscle a few of the tricky questions rather than be immature and get all fussy and frustrated that I didn't "get it" right off the bat.
Indeed I have learned a lot already from this half finished journey. I should know my FAR score by the 19th. Considering that I thought I bombed BEC and got a 73, I actually have high hopes that I passed FAR. I felt that I did much better on FAR. We'll see.
I take AUD this weekend and feel like I'm in a good spot. I have done well on the homework and do well in the real world so now it's time to put my money where my mouth is. Actually, out of all the exams, I knew that I would struggle with AUD the least. Not saying that I will ace it, just saying that it comes more naturally to me.
I take REG on July 18th. I originally scheduled it for July 3rd and literally woke up in the middle of the night with a sudden realization that I absolutely HAD to change the date. I had to push it back and give myself more study time. So I bought 2 weeks and I think those 2 weeks will come in handy. I'm a little worried about REG as it covers taxes and I suck at taxes but I plan to take it slow, study hard, and give myself room to learn. That's all I can do.
Stay tuned.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Cell Phones in Bathrooms
I started this post on April 21st with every intention of finishing it within a week or so but, as weeks often do, time slipped away from me. Inspired by Sarah's recent post, I felt compelled to finish my thoughts on the subject.
I don't have a shy bladder. I have no problem using public restrooms and have never been afraid of germs or conversations in bathrooms or any other frequent nuance that others may experience. But I do have adversion to people who talk on their cell phones in the bathroom. For some reason that just bugs the heck out of me. It's one thing to have to use a public restroom where others are privvy to your body functions, it's quite another to have some unknown person, male or female - you never know, on the other end of a cell line listening in on the goings on in a public bathroom. Not only is it disgusting it's just plain rude and screams trashy.
Certainly there is an empty hallway, an outside location, your office, your car - someplace you can go to carry on your conversation without disrupting the privacy of others on a restroom break. Now, I'm all about efficiency and carrying on two tasks at once is awfully appealing, especially in the hustle and bustle of today's world. However, there is a fine line between efficiency and laziness.
Have some couth. Hang up the cell phone before you enter the restroom. Don't pick up the phone if you are in there doing your thing and wait till you have washed your hands and exited before dialing.
I don't have a shy bladder. I have no problem using public restrooms and have never been afraid of germs or conversations in bathrooms or any other frequent nuance that others may experience. But I do have adversion to people who talk on their cell phones in the bathroom. For some reason that just bugs the heck out of me. It's one thing to have to use a public restroom where others are privvy to your body functions, it's quite another to have some unknown person, male or female - you never know, on the other end of a cell line listening in on the goings on in a public bathroom. Not only is it disgusting it's just plain rude and screams trashy.
Certainly there is an empty hallway, an outside location, your office, your car - someplace you can go to carry on your conversation without disrupting the privacy of others on a restroom break. Now, I'm all about efficiency and carrying on two tasks at once is awfully appealing, especially in the hustle and bustle of today's world. However, there is a fine line between efficiency and laziness.
Have some couth. Hang up the cell phone before you enter the restroom. Don't pick up the phone if you are in there doing your thing and wait till you have washed your hands and exited before dialing.
Dane's Hair
Here is a picture of me and Dane taken about two years ago. His hair was long and he had about 50 extra pounds on him.
Now here's a pic of Dane taken recently after getting his hair cut and losing over 55 pounds!
This blog is to take note and give credit to the man for all his efforts to lose the weight and update his look to his current tastes and his place in life. He's done such a great job, I'm so proud of him. Right away I could tell a difference in his attitude and self esteem. He has always been a good looking man but now you can really see it shine. Albeit he's more "mainstream" now but I think it was about time to do that. He'd had long hair pretty much his entire adolescent and adult life up till now. It's been such a difference. Many people almost didn't recognize him.
We've been getting along better recently and I think that has to do with quite a few variables, his weight loss and haircut to name a few. I think we've both matured and become more comfortable in our marriage and what that means for our relationship and our roles within the relationship. I can honestly say, from personal experience and from my recent dealings with Dane, that when your partner feels good about themselves, it shows in their attitude all across the board. Not just in day-to-day circumstances or the bedroom but in general and far reaching.
I feel Dane needed this confidence boost, especially as he embarks on finding a new job. While long hair might not be a big deal in Seattle, he is expanding to a much broader geographic location with his job search and talented as he may be he can't afford to be judged by his appearance.
I think his new hair makes him look younger yet more mature and definitely manlier. Instead of looking like the softy pony-tail guy, he looks like he could hold his own. I always knew he could despite his appearence.
I loved his long hair - hell - it was one of the reasons I was attracted to him. But that was almost 10 years ago and we are different people now. I'm glad to be witness to Dane's transformation to a beautiful butterfly. :-)
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Fail
This wont be a long post but enough to say that I know without a doubt that I failed my first exam. I thought I was prepared but ended up leaving the exam in tears.
Update: I started writing this post several days ago. And while I still feel like I failed the exam, I was told by several of my classmates and teacher tonight that I should not completely give up hope. They maintained that the tests are weighted or "normalized" and that I could very well pass. I still feel like an epic failure though. I'm quite sure I failed.
I say this because over 1/3 of the questions I felt like I didn't even know what they were asking let alone how to answer them. Of the questions I thought I knew how to calculate I would go through the motions and arrive at an answer that wasn't even listed. I studied the material extra hard and gave little thought or attention to comprehension or how to pass the questions on this exam. Sounds silly but hear me out. I felt like I had a good handle on comprehension and the trickery that the CPA exam pulls. I'm a critical thinker so I felt I didn't need to focus on that as much as the material. Boy was I wrong! It does NO good to know the material if you can't even decifer what is being asked!
I've spent the past week in a funk. A depressed funk. I was actually crying during the exam and barely got out of the testing center before having a complete meltdown in the bathroom and again in my car. I managed to drive to Mark and Angela's and took a 20 minute pout nap before rallying to go out for the evening. Then I didn't do a lick of studying on Sunday and have spent the past week briefly going over the FAR material but not really caring because I've resigned to not passing the BEC or FAR exam (I take the FAR exam this Saturday).
What would be hysterical is if I passed BEC and failed FAR because I lapsed on my studies from being hurt over life. I would definitely deserve that! I will go to this exam on Saturday with the intention of playing to win but with the reality check of knowing that I will probably be going to this Super Bowl again.
I've Googled some great resources and feel like I have a new understanding of the exam and study techniques I can employee to pass the final two: AUD and REG. The clock resets this Saturday and there's still hope for these exams. Then, in Fall, I can take the BEC and FAR exams one at a time and pass.
Having said all this, Dane was able to put things in perspective for me. He has been laid off from his job (the same day as my failed exam actually - guess Dane wanted to out-do me, hee hee) so we have much bigger fish to fry. He's got a few things lined up so it should work out but it definitely put a damper on our spirits and put the brakes on moving forward with any big plans like purchasing a house, even though interest rates are AWESOME right now. It's okay - we need to pay off more bills anyway before we can do anything like that.
Work is going well, the weight loss has stalled out a bit (see above depression) but I'm getting back on track. I'm excited to go to Colorado in May and see all my CO buddies and as an added bonus I get to see Peck and Amy - whoot whoot!!!
That's all for now, folks!
Update: I started writing this post several days ago. And while I still feel like I failed the exam, I was told by several of my classmates and teacher tonight that I should not completely give up hope. They maintained that the tests are weighted or "normalized" and that I could very well pass. I still feel like an epic failure though. I'm quite sure I failed.
I say this because over 1/3 of the questions I felt like I didn't even know what they were asking let alone how to answer them. Of the questions I thought I knew how to calculate I would go through the motions and arrive at an answer that wasn't even listed. I studied the material extra hard and gave little thought or attention to comprehension or how to pass the questions on this exam. Sounds silly but hear me out. I felt like I had a good handle on comprehension and the trickery that the CPA exam pulls. I'm a critical thinker so I felt I didn't need to focus on that as much as the material. Boy was I wrong! It does NO good to know the material if you can't even decifer what is being asked!
I've spent the past week in a funk. A depressed funk. I was actually crying during the exam and barely got out of the testing center before having a complete meltdown in the bathroom and again in my car. I managed to drive to Mark and Angela's and took a 20 minute pout nap before rallying to go out for the evening. Then I didn't do a lick of studying on Sunday and have spent the past week briefly going over the FAR material but not really caring because I've resigned to not passing the BEC or FAR exam (I take the FAR exam this Saturday).
What would be hysterical is if I passed BEC and failed FAR because I lapsed on my studies from being hurt over life. I would definitely deserve that! I will go to this exam on Saturday with the intention of playing to win but with the reality check of knowing that I will probably be going to this Super Bowl again.
I've Googled some great resources and feel like I have a new understanding of the exam and study techniques I can employee to pass the final two: AUD and REG. The clock resets this Saturday and there's still hope for these exams. Then, in Fall, I can take the BEC and FAR exams one at a time and pass.
Having said all this, Dane was able to put things in perspective for me. He has been laid off from his job (the same day as my failed exam actually - guess Dane wanted to out-do me, hee hee) so we have much bigger fish to fry. He's got a few things lined up so it should work out but it definitely put a damper on our spirits and put the brakes on moving forward with any big plans like purchasing a house, even though interest rates are AWESOME right now. It's okay - we need to pay off more bills anyway before we can do anything like that.
Work is going well, the weight loss has stalled out a bit (see above depression) but I'm getting back on track. I'm excited to go to Colorado in May and see all my CO buddies and as an added bonus I get to see Peck and Amy - whoot whoot!!!
That's all for now, folks!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Random Memory: First Time Applying Make-up
In an effort to spice up my blog, I thought I might put random thoughts and memories up and chat about them.
The other morning I was putting my make-up on in a rush. I had just applied my eyeliner and was getting ready for the mascara when my blond eyelashes, sticking out from my lined eyes, reminded me of the first time I ever applied make-up.
It was a warmer day, I might have been 12 or 13, and my mom ran inside to some place, could have been a bank, the grocery store, tanning -I don't remember but I recall staying in the car while she completed her errand. I played with the music (my favorites were the Oldsmobile cassette tape that came with the car and had Cyndi Lauper's Time After Time or Conway Twitty's greatest hits - hey, it's what was available), toyed with the car's controls and when that got boring I decided to rummage through my mom's purse (apparently whatever errand occupied her time only required her wallet). I found my mom's make-up: a bulky black eye pencil, a brown eyebrow liner, hot pink blush, blue eyeshadow, and some mauve lipstick. I decided to take a stab at becoming beautiful. Having never applied eyeliner the lines I made on my eyes were thick, squiggly, and incomplete. The blue eyeshadow was applied much too dark. The pink blush served more as paint for my cheeks than a gentle rouge and the lipstick collected more on my teeth than on my lips. I looked hot. By the time my mom got back to the car she was shocked but so amused (although not wanting to laugh in my face) that she concealed her laughter and said something very simple like "What's that all for?" I told her I was bored and she dropped it. She could have launched into a bit about how I was too young for make-up (though nowadays girls are wearing make-up by 8!) or how I shouldn't mess with her stuff. Instead she just put the car in reverse and carried about her day. I paraded around in the make-up like I was Cindy Crawford and eventually started asking for my own. Course all I could afford on my lawn-mowing and weed-pulling allowance was Wet-n-Wild, but it did the trick.
I looked down at the collection of make-up I had before me now, in present day, and smiled at the memory of it all. The cheap Wet-n-Wild and the crazed glitter and Ben-Nye products have been stored and shelved in favor of soft shades of Clinique liners and mascaras, Bare Minerals foundation and Chanel quads and lip gloss. Funny how just 10 years ago the purpose of make-up for me was to be as bold and dark as possible and now I purchase make-up based on how "natural" it will look.
It's funny how we grow and mature. It seems like such a rollar coaster in so many ways and aspects. I remember hating "crotch rockets" as a teenager only to own one at 19! I remember turning my nose at expensive and/or designer products in favor of a sale priced item. I recall the days when I loved wearing some flimsly, scantily clad outfit and now I find myself gravitating to more coverage and classic, almost retro styles.
Makes me wonder what I'll be like 10 years from now. Will I grow even frumpier? Will I wear no make-up like I did during my TSA stint? Will I be a total fashionista? Will I be a borderline cougar and wear outfits that would have made my 21 year self blush? I dunno. I can't wait to see though.
The other morning I was putting my make-up on in a rush. I had just applied my eyeliner and was getting ready for the mascara when my blond eyelashes, sticking out from my lined eyes, reminded me of the first time I ever applied make-up.
It was a warmer day, I might have been 12 or 13, and my mom ran inside to some place, could have been a bank, the grocery store, tanning -I don't remember but I recall staying in the car while she completed her errand. I played with the music (my favorites were the Oldsmobile cassette tape that came with the car and had Cyndi Lauper's Time After Time or Conway Twitty's greatest hits - hey, it's what was available), toyed with the car's controls and when that got boring I decided to rummage through my mom's purse (apparently whatever errand occupied her time only required her wallet). I found my mom's make-up: a bulky black eye pencil, a brown eyebrow liner, hot pink blush, blue eyeshadow, and some mauve lipstick. I decided to take a stab at becoming beautiful. Having never applied eyeliner the lines I made on my eyes were thick, squiggly, and incomplete. The blue eyeshadow was applied much too dark. The pink blush served more as paint for my cheeks than a gentle rouge and the lipstick collected more on my teeth than on my lips. I looked hot. By the time my mom got back to the car she was shocked but so amused (although not wanting to laugh in my face) that she concealed her laughter and said something very simple like "What's that all for?" I told her I was bored and she dropped it. She could have launched into a bit about how I was too young for make-up (though nowadays girls are wearing make-up by 8!) or how I shouldn't mess with her stuff. Instead she just put the car in reverse and carried about her day. I paraded around in the make-up like I was Cindy Crawford and eventually started asking for my own. Course all I could afford on my lawn-mowing and weed-pulling allowance was Wet-n-Wild, but it did the trick.
I looked down at the collection of make-up I had before me now, in present day, and smiled at the memory of it all. The cheap Wet-n-Wild and the crazed glitter and Ben-Nye products have been stored and shelved in favor of soft shades of Clinique liners and mascaras, Bare Minerals foundation and Chanel quads and lip gloss. Funny how just 10 years ago the purpose of make-up for me was to be as bold and dark as possible and now I purchase make-up based on how "natural" it will look.
It's funny how we grow and mature. It seems like such a rollar coaster in so many ways and aspects. I remember hating "crotch rockets" as a teenager only to own one at 19! I remember turning my nose at expensive and/or designer products in favor of a sale priced item. I recall the days when I loved wearing some flimsly, scantily clad outfit and now I find myself gravitating to more coverage and classic, almost retro styles.
Makes me wonder what I'll be like 10 years from now. Will I grow even frumpier? Will I wear no make-up like I did during my TSA stint? Will I be a total fashionista? Will I be a borderline cougar and wear outfits that would have made my 21 year self blush? I dunno. I can't wait to see though.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Whoa
Has it really been a month since I blogged?! I was certainly a fool for thinking I'd have more time to blog now that I'm done with school. I guess since I'm studying for two classes at once it soaks up any spare time and thoughts I have. Plus a lot has been going on - seems like too much for one little blog so I decide to just ignore blogging. I don't like doing that.
Update on current events: still studying away. I've participated in another, what I like to call, "Bad Decision Sunday." I last wrote about BDS on my 2/23 blog. Basically I had another day on the couch eating bad foods on Sunday which really put my studies in a tailspin. To the point that last night I pretty much resigned to the realization that I piled it on too much too fast and will most likely not pass the CPA exams. But an opportunity has come up this and next week that may provide more study time than anticipated so I will see if I can get caught up again and regain some spirits and steam. In the meantime I must absolutely stay current on what each day's study plan is or this will never work.
Weight loss is going well. I am down almost a total of 25 pounds. By the end of this week I should hit my first 12 week goal (yay!!) and I will definitely be able to wear the outfit that I photographed and put on my work desk as a reminder to stay true to my goal. I'll photograph myself wearing the outfit and go shopping for my next outfit to be worn at the end of my 2nd 12 week goal, which will be the end of June and another 25 lb loss. I've dropped two sizes and feel great though I had to discontinue going to the gym - it was just too much with all the studying. Dane continues to go to the gym and has lost a total of 45 pounds if you will believe that! He looks great, is gaining muscle, and has done much to be proud of. We cheat at least once a week but have still managed to meet and maintain our goals.
Work is another story altogether. I may or may not have blogged about my assistant before but the truth is we've been having issues with her, let's call her Alice, since last April. The first four times I spoke with Alice were non-documented verbal warnings and by that I mean that I documented the conversations and filed them away in my own files hoping I wouldn't have to return to them. Well in October I had to give her the first written warning and put her on what is called a PIP. She, like she is want to do, picked up the pace for a few months - especially during her first 30 days "do or die" of the PIP but then, as usual, things started slipping again. So we revisited her PIP progress (or lack thereof) in January, wiped the slate clean and decided to start over again this time I would be sitting with her at her desk retraining her. That was going as good as can be expected except she had some personal issues keep her from work. Unfortunately those personal issues were just not acceptable reasons to miss work (excuses such as: "my dog ate chocolate and I'm afraid he'll get sick." "I'm moving out of my apartment and breaking up with my BF - can I take two days off?" She never moved out - BTW. "I stayed up all night talking to my BF and now I'm tired, I'm not coming in." Interestingly enough this was the day after St. Patty's Day.) And that was just all in the last 2 weeks!! So after all that nonsense my boss and the HR person (who have traditionally been the ones to talk me out of firing her in the past) finally said "enough is enough" and we terminated her employment. So now I'm left doing most of her work AND my own work, but it's only temporary for now. If I have it my way though, Alice's job will permenantly be split between me and the part-time accounting assistant, who we will call Cindy. Cindy is great and we are lucky she can boost her hours. I really do think we can make it work just fine. Case in point - we aren't even half way through the week and I've already accomplished everything Alice would normally have gotten done. And that speaks nothing to the other little stuff I've done and the pieces of my job I've accomplished as well. Not saying that I'm the cats pajamas (I am) but it sounds like Alice was really inefficient and spent most of the day on the internet, according to Cindy - who never wanted to "tattle" on Alice. I get that. But Cindy felt very discouraged and frustrated about the whole situation thinking Alice and I were buds. Apparently in my efforts to reach Alice and make the whole "boss re-training you" as smooth as possible, I made it seem like Alice got preferential treatment. I knew she was screwing around, but I didn't realize how much she was - like HOURS a day were wasted away! I don't know if I should be embarrassed or feel good knowing that we really did do EVERYTHING to give Alice every chance to change and shape up. Just goes to show that once you start taking advantage of a system or person, it is near impossible to recover - even if it is for your own good.
Finally there's been some interesting shifts in the story of Isis that I have yet to get to the bottom of but it's certainly been on my mind. I won't post too much, if anything at all, but I will definitely say I'm not very shocked and I feel closer to the truth now than I've ever felt before.
So lots of stuff going on. I imagine for the next several months there will be nothing but updates on the blog, maybe recaps of certain events coming up like my Colorado trip and my MBA graduation. Eventually I'll set up a blog for the Baltic Capitals trip. Once I return from Europe I can get this blog back on track once and for all!!
Update on current events: still studying away. I've participated in another, what I like to call, "Bad Decision Sunday." I last wrote about BDS on my 2/23 blog. Basically I had another day on the couch eating bad foods on Sunday which really put my studies in a tailspin. To the point that last night I pretty much resigned to the realization that I piled it on too much too fast and will most likely not pass the CPA exams. But an opportunity has come up this and next week that may provide more study time than anticipated so I will see if I can get caught up again and regain some spirits and steam. In the meantime I must absolutely stay current on what each day's study plan is or this will never work.
Weight loss is going well. I am down almost a total of 25 pounds. By the end of this week I should hit my first 12 week goal (yay!!) and I will definitely be able to wear the outfit that I photographed and put on my work desk as a reminder to stay true to my goal. I'll photograph myself wearing the outfit and go shopping for my next outfit to be worn at the end of my 2nd 12 week goal, which will be the end of June and another 25 lb loss. I've dropped two sizes and feel great though I had to discontinue going to the gym - it was just too much with all the studying. Dane continues to go to the gym and has lost a total of 45 pounds if you will believe that! He looks great, is gaining muscle, and has done much to be proud of. We cheat at least once a week but have still managed to meet and maintain our goals.
Work is another story altogether. I may or may not have blogged about my assistant before but the truth is we've been having issues with her, let's call her Alice, since last April. The first four times I spoke with Alice were non-documented verbal warnings and by that I mean that I documented the conversations and filed them away in my own files hoping I wouldn't have to return to them. Well in October I had to give her the first written warning and put her on what is called a PIP. She, like she is want to do, picked up the pace for a few months - especially during her first 30 days "do or die" of the PIP but then, as usual, things started slipping again. So we revisited her PIP progress (or lack thereof) in January, wiped the slate clean and decided to start over again this time I would be sitting with her at her desk retraining her. That was going as good as can be expected except she had some personal issues keep her from work. Unfortunately those personal issues were just not acceptable reasons to miss work (excuses such as: "my dog ate chocolate and I'm afraid he'll get sick." "I'm moving out of my apartment and breaking up with my BF - can I take two days off?" She never moved out - BTW. "I stayed up all night talking to my BF and now I'm tired, I'm not coming in." Interestingly enough this was the day after St. Patty's Day.) And that was just all in the last 2 weeks!! So after all that nonsense my boss and the HR person (who have traditionally been the ones to talk me out of firing her in the past) finally said "enough is enough" and we terminated her employment. So now I'm left doing most of her work AND my own work, but it's only temporary for now. If I have it my way though, Alice's job will permenantly be split between me and the part-time accounting assistant, who we will call Cindy. Cindy is great and we are lucky she can boost her hours. I really do think we can make it work just fine. Case in point - we aren't even half way through the week and I've already accomplished everything Alice would normally have gotten done. And that speaks nothing to the other little stuff I've done and the pieces of my job I've accomplished as well. Not saying that I'm the cats pajamas (I am) but it sounds like Alice was really inefficient and spent most of the day on the internet, according to Cindy - who never wanted to "tattle" on Alice. I get that. But Cindy felt very discouraged and frustrated about the whole situation thinking Alice and I were buds. Apparently in my efforts to reach Alice and make the whole "boss re-training you" as smooth as possible, I made it seem like Alice got preferential treatment. I knew she was screwing around, but I didn't realize how much she was - like HOURS a day were wasted away! I don't know if I should be embarrassed or feel good knowing that we really did do EVERYTHING to give Alice every chance to change and shape up. Just goes to show that once you start taking advantage of a system or person, it is near impossible to recover - even if it is for your own good.
Finally there's been some interesting shifts in the story of Isis that I have yet to get to the bottom of but it's certainly been on my mind. I won't post too much, if anything at all, but I will definitely say I'm not very shocked and I feel closer to the truth now than I've ever felt before.
So lots of stuff going on. I imagine for the next several months there will be nothing but updates on the blog, maybe recaps of certain events coming up like my Colorado trip and my MBA graduation. Eventually I'll set up a blog for the Baltic Capitals trip. Once I return from Europe I can get this blog back on track once and for all!!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Study Study Study
Well - I've been so busy with all my studying that I literally have not had the time in a day to do primary activities like laundry, errands, clean the dishes, let alone blog time. Now that I am done with school (YAY!!! Happy MBA to me!!!) I think I might have bit more time to blog. For now this is just a quick note to mention that I am still here and I am hanging on for dear life.
When I look back on this blog years from now, I'll remember what was going on and will recall how crazy I am to push the envelope this far. I really hope I didn't shoot myself in the foot by trying to do in 6 months what most people take 18 months to do. Oh well, failure is not option so I'll just have to muddle through it.
As of today, I study 2 -3 hours on my off-class nights and 6-8 hours on Saturdays. As of next weekend I'll be studying 6 - 8 hours on Sunday too. On top of that, I have changed my schedule around at work to work 9 hours on Mon - Thur and leave 4 hours early on Friday. Then every other Friday I will take 4 hours of unpaid time (we are being encouraged to do so given the state of the economy) so every other Friday I will have entirely off.
So I'm studying all the time and (believe it or not) I'm still behind. WTF. This schedule is grueling but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, I know when this will be over and I can practically taste my goal. I'll get there - but it really will take blood, sweat and tears.
In other news - I had a blast on Saturday night. Went out for a "quiet dinner" with friends that turned into an all night fun fest complete with lots of booze and karaoke. I even sang Garth Brooks "Friends in Low Places" and didn't even get my mic turned off. Success!!! Needless to say I spent all day Sunday paying the price but it was nice to get out and cut a rug. Considering my schedule, I have to get an outlet somehow, right?
The weight loss is going well. I'm in a new digit bracket and have lost a total of 17 pounds since I started on January 5th. People are starting to notice and I feel great! HG joined NS so I love having a buddy on it so we can compare notes and whine to each other about the joys of bread and bacon (which we obviously can't have on the diet). I only need to lose 8 - 10 more pounds to reach my first 12 week goal. Yay!
I booked a trip to Colorado in May. I can't wait to go. It will be during a much needed CPA break and I will get to visit my bestest CO buddies. I will definitely cheat on the NS diet to have the following items: Chick-Fil-A's chicken nuggets dipped in mayo (don't judge), China Taipei's combo fried rice, Monaco Inn's dolmades, Greek soup, and turkey souvlaki, Dave & Buster's chicken parmesean or a number of other goodies, Le Peep's white lightening omelette, and I may give House of Kabob another try - depending on the schedule.
That's all for now - stay tuned for more, though who knows when. :-)
When I look back on this blog years from now, I'll remember what was going on and will recall how crazy I am to push the envelope this far. I really hope I didn't shoot myself in the foot by trying to do in 6 months what most people take 18 months to do. Oh well, failure is not option so I'll just have to muddle through it.
As of today, I study 2 -3 hours on my off-class nights and 6-8 hours on Saturdays. As of next weekend I'll be studying 6 - 8 hours on Sunday too. On top of that, I have changed my schedule around at work to work 9 hours on Mon - Thur and leave 4 hours early on Friday. Then every other Friday I will take 4 hours of unpaid time (we are being encouraged to do so given the state of the economy) so every other Friday I will have entirely off.
So I'm studying all the time and (believe it or not) I'm still behind. WTF. This schedule is grueling but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, I know when this will be over and I can practically taste my goal. I'll get there - but it really will take blood, sweat and tears.
In other news - I had a blast on Saturday night. Went out for a "quiet dinner" with friends that turned into an all night fun fest complete with lots of booze and karaoke. I even sang Garth Brooks "Friends in Low Places" and didn't even get my mic turned off. Success!!! Needless to say I spent all day Sunday paying the price but it was nice to get out and cut a rug. Considering my schedule, I have to get an outlet somehow, right?
The weight loss is going well. I'm in a new digit bracket and have lost a total of 17 pounds since I started on January 5th. People are starting to notice and I feel great! HG joined NS so I love having a buddy on it so we can compare notes and whine to each other about the joys of bread and bacon (which we obviously can't have on the diet). I only need to lose 8 - 10 more pounds to reach my first 12 week goal. Yay!
I booked a trip to Colorado in May. I can't wait to go. It will be during a much needed CPA break and I will get to visit my bestest CO buddies. I will definitely cheat on the NS diet to have the following items: Chick-Fil-A's chicken nuggets dipped in mayo (don't judge), China Taipei's combo fried rice, Monaco Inn's dolmades, Greek soup, and turkey souvlaki, Dave & Buster's chicken parmesean or a number of other goodies, Le Peep's white lightening omelette, and I may give House of Kabob another try - depending on the schedule.
That's all for now - stay tuned for more, though who knows when. :-)
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
D-Day and B-Day!!!
Well. It's here. Doomsday and Birthday. On the same day even. Tomorrow I will begin the first real step on the mountain that is my CPA. I've been trekking through fields and forests to get here. Now I'm here. I'm not looking up. I'm just going to focus on the patch of road ahead of me and making sure that I successfully lift up one foot after another. Of course all this is a metaphor for taking the exam step by step, page by page, chapter by chapter, section by section. I read a quote (and I'm paraphrasing) that a man who had climbed Mt. Everest said: If I had looked at the entire mountain, I would have never made Mt. Everest summit. I just took it one step, one day at a time. That quote hit me like the liberty bell and has been resonating in every fiber of my being since. I dare say the quote (and the Macbook laptop, and the Becker classes/flashcards/final study review, Master's degree, support from friends and family) has given me the gumption and determination needed to successfully get through this journey. The final hours of what has been building for over 6 years. Pretty amazing.
And then it's my birthday, which is clearly overshadowed by the CPA. In fact I'm not even celebrating my b-day this year. That's a lie, a small group of friends celebrated with me at the Wig & Wine event last weekend - which was sooo much fun. I definitely drank more than I should have/wanted to but I don't regret it. It was the last time for a long time and I got it all out of my system. I'll post a pic soon. We aren't celebrating Valentine's Day either. We aren't doing anything for the next 5 months. However, I will have a break over Memorial Weekend but no money, so I'm not sure what I'm going to do with my break - I'm sure something will come up.
The Diet Regime has been going well. Dane and I have religiously hit the gym 6 days a week. I upped my cardio to 40 minutes on Monday so I'm now at a workout time of an hour and 45 minutes. But it goes by fast. I also have built in plateau busters - those weeks are KILLER!! Between that and the Nutrisystem I have lost 13 pounds since January 5th. Not bad at all. Especially considering the three cheat meals I've had all in the last week!! Even though I cheated by eating outside of NS, I still kept it under control with the portions and calories. Go me! Dane is down over 25 pounds since mid-December. He's about to reach a weight milestone that he's really proud of. I think he'll hit it in the next day or so. I still have a week before I break another digit bracket.
So that's it. Good luck to me for the next 5 months! I'm more excited than terrified these days. We'll see if that lasts.
Bonus (taken from my 2/5/05 blog - the first one, but updated for this year):
It's all about: OBAMA!!
Self-pity: pffft - what about self-pep!!
I think: January sucks.
I also think: government workers are lazy.
Cheap beer is: not my cup of...pint of beer anymore - but Hoegaarden is!
The Gothic World: is a just a step above Emo.
Some people: think I'm crazy.
My favorite jeans: are a size 9 that hopefully I can wear again soon!
Friends cannot: stay with you throughout your entire life, that's just unrealistic.
However: they will always be loved, at least in my world.
Driving: my Mercedes never gets old.
There are always: birds facing the same direction on the I-90 bridge.
I wonder: what I'll be doing 10 years from now.
I can be very: demanding.
I don't like: excuses.
Yoga: has been missing from my life, sadly.
A good diet: is absolutely the difference between gaining and losing weight.
My mom is going: to come and see me for my graduation.
And you know what: I'm really looking forward to it.
Amy is: really far away and I miss her and our Boston's nights.
And then it's my birthday, which is clearly overshadowed by the CPA. In fact I'm not even celebrating my b-day this year. That's a lie, a small group of friends celebrated with me at the Wig & Wine event last weekend - which was sooo much fun. I definitely drank more than I should have/wanted to but I don't regret it. It was the last time for a long time and I got it all out of my system. I'll post a pic soon. We aren't celebrating Valentine's Day either. We aren't doing anything for the next 5 months. However, I will have a break over Memorial Weekend but no money, so I'm not sure what I'm going to do with my break - I'm sure something will come up.
The Diet Regime has been going well. Dane and I have religiously hit the gym 6 days a week. I upped my cardio to 40 minutes on Monday so I'm now at a workout time of an hour and 45 minutes. But it goes by fast. I also have built in plateau busters - those weeks are KILLER!! Between that and the Nutrisystem I have lost 13 pounds since January 5th. Not bad at all. Especially considering the three cheat meals I've had all in the last week!! Even though I cheated by eating outside of NS, I still kept it under control with the portions and calories. Go me! Dane is down over 25 pounds since mid-December. He's about to reach a weight milestone that he's really proud of. I think he'll hit it in the next day or so. I still have a week before I break another digit bracket.
So that's it. Good luck to me for the next 5 months! I'm more excited than terrified these days. We'll see if that lasts.
Bonus (taken from my 2/5/05 blog - the first one, but updated for this year):
It's all about: OBAMA!!
Self-pity: pffft - what about self-pep!!
I think: January sucks.
I also think: government workers are lazy.
Cheap beer is: not my cup of...pint of beer anymore - but Hoegaarden is!
The Gothic World: is a just a step above Emo.
Some people: think I'm crazy.
My favorite jeans: are a size 9 that hopefully I can wear again soon!
Friends cannot: stay with you throughout your entire life, that's just unrealistic.
However: they will always be loved, at least in my world.
Driving: my Mercedes never gets old.
There are always: birds facing the same direction on the I-90 bridge.
I wonder: what I'll be doing 10 years from now.
I can be very: demanding.
I don't like: excuses.
Yoga: has been missing from my life, sadly.
A good diet: is absolutely the difference between gaining and losing weight.
My mom is going: to come and see me for my graduation.
And you know what: I'm really looking forward to it.
Amy is: really far away and I miss her and our Boston's nights.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Booked Till Next Year
Isn't that crazy? Hear me out. I had (what I thought was) an appointment today to get my wisdom teeth extracted. When I called to confirm the appointment I was informed the appointment was not for the extraction but a consultation. I have taken off work and built my schedule around getting my teeth extracted this weekend because I can't afford to have another block of 4 days to lay around the house high and in pain till quite literally next year. Check it: I am hosting the last hoo-rah next weekend, a Wig and Wine party. The following week I begin my CPA review which will last till July. Then we go on out Scandanavia trip and won't be back till late August. By then it is fiscal year end and audit season followed immediately by the holidays. It's crazy!
I was able to get an appointment for tomorrow with another dentist all the same so that's good. It actually turned out for the best because it gave me tonight to catch up on homework, posting, blogging, getting all my diet stats in the NS website, and just enjoy a quiet night at home. I am looking forward to having the weekend to play Little Big Planet. That's all I'm going to do. My laundry is done, my homework is mostly done, my work is done, I really have nothing to do but wallow. Awesome.
I am reading two books: Diet Girl and Why We Suck. Both are good books, very light reading. I can read it for hours straight or only a few pages at a time.
In other news, I am finally above water at work. Not just on top of it, above it. It feels nice to have the time to get to back burner projects. I'm excited to both move the company forward the next few months (on the accounting front) but also let the books coast while I focus on the CPA.
On the diet front I have lost about 8 pounds in the last 3 weeks. Dane has lost over 20 since mid-December. We have been very good a sticking to the diet, only cheating for one meal a week. We've also been hitting the gym 6 days a week for an hour and a half each day. It's not as bad as it sounds. We've gotten into a routine and I love it. I don't like waking up early but I have to admit it is kinda growing on me. It's really nice to have my workout done and over with and I've noticed other benefits like increased energy thorought the day and I sleep better at night. Waking up at 5:15 is not as hard as waking up at 8, as weird as that may seem. It must be because I'm in a different sleep cycle or something.
I enjoyed watching the inauguration the other day. What an amazing event to watch. To be there for. I love listening to Prez Obama talk - he's such a great speaker. I feel like he will bring this country around but I also understand that he is only one man and he's only as strong as the weakest link. It's really up to the people of this country to pull it together. We'll see. I'm hopeful, excited, and for the first time patriotic. I am PROUD to be an American.
I was able to get an appointment for tomorrow with another dentist all the same so that's good. It actually turned out for the best because it gave me tonight to catch up on homework, posting, blogging, getting all my diet stats in the NS website, and just enjoy a quiet night at home. I am looking forward to having the weekend to play Little Big Planet. That's all I'm going to do. My laundry is done, my homework is mostly done, my work is done, I really have nothing to do but wallow. Awesome.
I am reading two books: Diet Girl and Why We Suck. Both are good books, very light reading. I can read it for hours straight or only a few pages at a time.
In other news, I am finally above water at work. Not just on top of it, above it. It feels nice to have the time to get to back burner projects. I'm excited to both move the company forward the next few months (on the accounting front) but also let the books coast while I focus on the CPA.
On the diet front I have lost about 8 pounds in the last 3 weeks. Dane has lost over 20 since mid-December. We have been very good a sticking to the diet, only cheating for one meal a week. We've also been hitting the gym 6 days a week for an hour and a half each day. It's not as bad as it sounds. We've gotten into a routine and I love it. I don't like waking up early but I have to admit it is kinda growing on me. It's really nice to have my workout done and over with and I've noticed other benefits like increased energy thorought the day and I sleep better at night. Waking up at 5:15 is not as hard as waking up at 8, as weird as that may seem. It must be because I'm in a different sleep cycle or something.
I enjoyed watching the inauguration the other day. What an amazing event to watch. To be there for. I love listening to Prez Obama talk - he's such a great speaker. I feel like he will bring this country around but I also understand that he is only one man and he's only as strong as the weakest link. It's really up to the people of this country to pull it together. We'll see. I'm hopeful, excited, and for the first time patriotic. I am PROUD to be an American.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Routine
For the last week I've been getting up at 5:30 am to get to the gym by 6:15 (w/ Dane or 6:30 on days he's in PDX). Anyone who knows me knows that I am NOT a morning person. I've been fired from more than one job for not being able to make it to work by 8 am and even now it is a struggle for me to get to work before 9:30 am. But I am committed to this goal of mine to lose weight and once I start Becker the only way I'll have time to workout is if I do it in the morning. So I wanted to get in to the habit of a morning routine before I start Becker so I can hit the ground running.
I can say, 9 days into it that the second week is definitely easier and every morning it seems easier and easier to get up. I have built in 15 min of "hate the world and talk myself out of the gym" time before I finally get up and go but I'm noticing that time is slowly just turning into "get ready for the day" time. I like my morning routine and every single day at 5:30 when I leave work it feels AWESOME knowing that I have already taken care of that. It's done. I like to laugh at my gym bag when I get in to my car at night. But I have noticed that I seem to be addicted to the gym. Just last week I could have slept in (cause I worked from home) and gone to the gym later but I preferred to stick to my 5:30 am routine. I ended up taking a nap later. It was great!
So that said, I am down about 5 pounds since last week. I have been working out for an hour and half, staying true to my diet, and tracking everything I've done and will do. I have also found tremendous support on the Nutrisystem website and they have a fantastic calorie tracking system that is user friendly, fun, and EASY! Dane is down about 16 pounds since December and he's doing great too. Well, as good as he can do on the NS diet. He's eating his vegetables and enjoys the convenience and ease the NS diet offers. He looks forward to eating pizza again.
Work is going well. I just got all the budgets ironed out and just need to journal a few things for December then button up the month and I'm done! At that point all my projects will be done. I won't have anything lingering in the que. My job will be all about maintaining. I do have a few project ideas that I will work on. Things I never thought I'd have the time for. This is so awesome I can't even begin to describe. This is right where I need to be now in order to focus on Becker. It's nice when things fall together.
I started my last class of UOP tonight. Wow. My last class. It hardly seems possible. I'll be working extra hard the next 3 weeks so that I can take the last 3 weeks off to begin Becker. HG was kind enough to agree to a schedule like this and it works well for her because she just had hand surgery. I'm happy to repay the debt I owe her and help out. I can't believe in 6 weeks I'll have my Master's degree! OMG - where did the time go?! Just yesterday I was starting out in school in Colorado. Well, I'm not done yet. I still have the roughest section of water to pass coming up. Wish me luck!
Dane and Dave are doing good. I adore having Dave at the house. We tell him he should just live with us. Life is peachy right now I guess. So far I'm loving 2009!
And next week - OBAMA'S IN THE HIZOUSE!!!
I can say, 9 days into it that the second week is definitely easier and every morning it seems easier and easier to get up. I have built in 15 min of "hate the world and talk myself out of the gym" time before I finally get up and go but I'm noticing that time is slowly just turning into "get ready for the day" time. I like my morning routine and every single day at 5:30 when I leave work it feels AWESOME knowing that I have already taken care of that. It's done. I like to laugh at my gym bag when I get in to my car at night. But I have noticed that I seem to be addicted to the gym. Just last week I could have slept in (cause I worked from home) and gone to the gym later but I preferred to stick to my 5:30 am routine. I ended up taking a nap later. It was great!
So that said, I am down about 5 pounds since last week. I have been working out for an hour and half, staying true to my diet, and tracking everything I've done and will do. I have also found tremendous support on the Nutrisystem website and they have a fantastic calorie tracking system that is user friendly, fun, and EASY! Dane is down about 16 pounds since December and he's doing great too. Well, as good as he can do on the NS diet. He's eating his vegetables and enjoys the convenience and ease the NS diet offers. He looks forward to eating pizza again.
Work is going well. I just got all the budgets ironed out and just need to journal a few things for December then button up the month and I'm done! At that point all my projects will be done. I won't have anything lingering in the que. My job will be all about maintaining. I do have a few project ideas that I will work on. Things I never thought I'd have the time for. This is so awesome I can't even begin to describe. This is right where I need to be now in order to focus on Becker. It's nice when things fall together.
I started my last class of UOP tonight. Wow. My last class. It hardly seems possible. I'll be working extra hard the next 3 weeks so that I can take the last 3 weeks off to begin Becker. HG was kind enough to agree to a schedule like this and it works well for her because she just had hand surgery. I'm happy to repay the debt I owe her and help out. I can't believe in 6 weeks I'll have my Master's degree! OMG - where did the time go?! Just yesterday I was starting out in school in Colorado. Well, I'm not done yet. I still have the roughest section of water to pass coming up. Wish me luck!
Dane and Dave are doing good. I adore having Dave at the house. We tell him he should just live with us. Life is peachy right now I guess. So far I'm loving 2009!
And next week - OBAMA'S IN THE HIZOUSE!!!
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Get The Funk Out!
While I was getting ready this morning at the gym I paused to watch Obama address the nation about the economic crisis. His message was powerful, hopeful, and prepared us for a tough road ahead but also showed us the light at the end of the tunnel. It's been a long time since I've heard a President speak the way Obama does. Often when watching old time news reels of Kennedy and Roosevelt I marvel at how those President's addressed their nation. It was with authority but with a touch of humility. Perhaps that's not the best word. It's like they cared and working with the rest of America in the trenches to fix the problems and provide the best possible government.
The Bush Administration seems to be like a bunch of proud fools. Their attitude defensive and very indignant like they had every right to be there, earned and educated or not, and like the Presidency was some sort of award rather than a J-O-B. Ugh. How can our country rally behind a fool who speaks the way Bush does. No wonder we lost sight of what makes this country AWESOME. And I'm here to tell you, I think Obama is bringing sexy back. Not in the JT way, but he's going to motivate all of us to get America back where it needs to be - a strong, responsible country. We've become a nation where instant gratification and faking it trumps honest, hard work. Sounds like President Obama will restore our country to what it needs to be.
I noticed during his speech that many other ladies in the locker room were stopping what they were doing and gravitating towards the tv, unable to cast their glance away. It was like we were in the Obama Gravitational Pull. This is what I mean about the difference between Bush and Obama. Not only that, Obama asked us to put aside party differences and work together where it seemed the Bush Admin liked to pit the parties against each other which never solves anything, only creates more drama. No, Obama is here to change things and he's not going to let petty differences and personal agendas get in the way. For the first time, possibly ever, I really felt patriotic. It seems that Bush thinks that patriotism is bombing Muslim countries, racial profiling, shooting guns on vacation, wearing the flag all over, and keeping our troops overseas for world domination.
Today I saw different. Today I watched a man who I personally feels restores my faith in the government and this country that I am sooo, sooo, sooo proud to be a citizen too, Bush and all. So it is not with a heavy hand that I wave goodbye to the Bush Administration, in fact I'll even get the door so he can get the FUNK out!
The Bush Administration seems to be like a bunch of proud fools. Their attitude defensive and very indignant like they had every right to be there, earned and educated or not, and like the Presidency was some sort of award rather than a J-O-B. Ugh. How can our country rally behind a fool who speaks the way Bush does. No wonder we lost sight of what makes this country AWESOME. And I'm here to tell you, I think Obama is bringing sexy back. Not in the JT way, but he's going to motivate all of us to get America back where it needs to be - a strong, responsible country. We've become a nation where instant gratification and faking it trumps honest, hard work. Sounds like President Obama will restore our country to what it needs to be.
I noticed during his speech that many other ladies in the locker room were stopping what they were doing and gravitating towards the tv, unable to cast their glance away. It was like we were in the Obama Gravitational Pull. This is what I mean about the difference between Bush and Obama. Not only that, Obama asked us to put aside party differences and work together where it seemed the Bush Admin liked to pit the parties against each other which never solves anything, only creates more drama. No, Obama is here to change things and he's not going to let petty differences and personal agendas get in the way. For the first time, possibly ever, I really felt patriotic. It seems that Bush thinks that patriotism is bombing Muslim countries, racial profiling, shooting guns on vacation, wearing the flag all over, and keeping our troops overseas for world domination.
Today I saw different. Today I watched a man who I personally feels restores my faith in the government and this country that I am sooo, sooo, sooo proud to be a citizen too, Bush and all. So it is not with a heavy hand that I wave goodbye to the Bush Administration, in fact I'll even get the door so he can get the FUNK out!
Sunday, January 04, 2009
To the Fans!
Ha ha! Just kidding. But to anyone who might be reading this and noticed that I have updated, you may (or may not) be interested to know that I have posted not one, but FOUR (five if you include this one) new posts! Read to your heart's (dis)content!
Added Chapters Include:
Letter to my Future Self
2008 Reflections
Visualization Board
Fattie Fattie 2 by 4
Added Chapters Include:
Letter to my Future Self
2008 Reflections
Visualization Board
Fattie Fattie 2 by 4
Letter to my Future Self
Dear December 31, 2009 Crystal Ewers:
Hi - I hope this letter finds you well. Of course I wonder if you got your MBA, CPA, if you are still at Treehouse, if you lost all that weight you committed to, if you built your character at all, and if you enjoyed yourself on the Baltic Cruise.
Aside from that I'm interested in your personal relationships. Who do you consider your closest friends these days? How is Dane? Has he finally convinced you to play WOW? How are your parents? Your cats? What about Iza?
As usual I have more questions than stuff to say. I suppose if you want to see anything nostalgic, you'll just look it up yourself. Perhaps you will have some fancy scrapbook on your new Mac or something. Will you make a visualization board for 2010? What do you have in store for the new decade? For so long you've had your work/school/CPA goal to focus on. Now that all that is behind you, what are you looking forward to? Have you made arrangements for your big 30th birthday? Are you on to the next big thing? Painting, piano, PhD, law degree, or something else not even imaginable to me now?
I hope so. I am really looking forward to what we will be doing in the future. I also have no wish to berate you for your attitude or style. You are learning how to be you and how to live with you in the world around you in your own time and that's all anyone is doing. So what if you have passion and are quick to say things. There are those who never stand up for themselves or use their voice and they spend their whole lives pining over that. You have a voice and you know how to use it. And you are learning to use it well, which is all I can hope and work for. Stay the course, Lovely. You'll get there just fine.
Enjoy the moment,
Crystal Ewers
January 3, 2009
Hi - I hope this letter finds you well. Of course I wonder if you got your MBA, CPA, if you are still at Treehouse, if you lost all that weight you committed to, if you built your character at all, and if you enjoyed yourself on the Baltic Cruise.
Aside from that I'm interested in your personal relationships. Who do you consider your closest friends these days? How is Dane? Has he finally convinced you to play WOW? How are your parents? Your cats? What about Iza?
As usual I have more questions than stuff to say. I suppose if you want to see anything nostalgic, you'll just look it up yourself. Perhaps you will have some fancy scrapbook on your new Mac or something. Will you make a visualization board for 2010? What do you have in store for the new decade? For so long you've had your work/school/CPA goal to focus on. Now that all that is behind you, what are you looking forward to? Have you made arrangements for your big 30th birthday? Are you on to the next big thing? Painting, piano, PhD, law degree, or something else not even imaginable to me now?
I hope so. I am really looking forward to what we will be doing in the future. I also have no wish to berate you for your attitude or style. You are learning how to be you and how to live with you in the world around you in your own time and that's all anyone is doing. So what if you have passion and are quick to say things. There are those who never stand up for themselves or use their voice and they spend their whole lives pining over that. You have a voice and you know how to use it. And you are learning to use it well, which is all I can hope and work for. Stay the course, Lovely. You'll get there just fine.
Enjoy the moment,
Crystal Ewers
January 3, 2009
2008 Reflections
Top 5 2008 Moments
1. Egypt. Hands down.
2. CLEAN AUDIT – NO write ups, NO adjustments, NO other comments!!!
3. Buying my Mercedes Benz. Fantastic moment.
4. Forks trip with Dane in September.
5. All the trips I’ve made with friends this year: Tampa w/ Amy, San Diego with Jamie, my Colorado trip to see Sarah, Jamie, and Melanie, the trip I made in May to see my folks. All wonderful highlights of the 2008 reel.
6. Okay, I had to add this last moment – OBAMA!!!!
Bottom 5 2008 Moments
1. Damian almost drowning and my father's heart attack.
2. Watching Sarah get hurt so bad in my house and then the ongoing surgeries.
3. Work in January and having to tell Jim to back up off me.
4. Almost ruining my Benz over a spider. Twice.
5. Some unmentionables that I don’t want to share outwardly but I want to be accountable for. I know what they are and if years from now I forget and want to remember, all I have to recall is: rock bottom pumpkin mess.
Resolutions for 2009
1. Obtain CPA!
2. Lose 50 – 60 pounds.
3. Graduate.
4. Find my career path.
5. Remember past, be in the present, embrace the future.
6. Build character.
7. Rest, relax, rejuvenate.
What I'm looking forward to in 2009:
1. Baltic Cruise!
2. Being done with school and studying and finally having a life!
3. Our second anniversary.
4. Reaching all my goals.
2008 Reflections
Well as predicted in my 2007 Reflections and projections for the new year, 2008 was a relatively quiet year. In fact, I find it hard to believe I’m already typing memoirs. As I was reading 2007 it feels like events that happened in 07 just happened. I can’t believe it has been a year. None the less, it has been and though I didn’t quite stay true to all my resolutions for 2008 I have grown, solidified and even stabilized my life a bit. And the timing couldn’t be better what with what’s in store for 2009!
Egypt certainly was the highlight of the year, just as anticipated. I’ve already talked about the trip at length so no need to do it again, suffice it to say the trip lived up and exceeded the expectations. I have continued to grow in my career and position at Treehouse. What was fear in 2007 was confidence in 2008. Everything that I doubted myself on in 07 turned out to be everything that I excelled in 08. My roots have grown deep and I am thankful for the job I have and where I can go. Really, outside of work and school, this year was shaped by all the different trips I took. I honestly think there was a trip for almost every month. January – Tampa, April – Egypt, May – California, July – Colorado, August – Sun Lakes, September – Forks, October – San Diego and Leavenworth. Crazy! Finally this year was an amazing political year, even if the economy is going down south. The credit crisis, the home foreclosures, all the businesses needing bailouts, gas prices – it’s a pretty terrifying climate right now but I’m hopeful for the future. I don’t think Obama is the end all be all to all our problems but I have high hopes for him.
The worst parts of 2008 are probably better left untouched. The hurt and pain is over now and all the bottom moments that I listed for 2008 have happy endings so alls well that ends well, right? But perhaps a lesson can be learned there. Every single bottom moment turned out okay. Now I admit, there could have been so many ways the events could have turned sideways and I wouldn’t be typing this but the fact is things are okay. And the people involved will be okay. Sure, they have their struggles, who doesn’t? I’m sure Jim struggles everyday to deal with my mouth, but the point is we deal and we get by and life goes on and things even out.
I can’t imagine a better ending to 2008.
1. Egypt. Hands down.
2. CLEAN AUDIT – NO write ups, NO adjustments, NO other comments!!!
3. Buying my Mercedes Benz. Fantastic moment.
4. Forks trip with Dane in September.
5. All the trips I’ve made with friends this year: Tampa w/ Amy, San Diego with Jamie, my Colorado trip to see Sarah, Jamie, and Melanie, the trip I made in May to see my folks. All wonderful highlights of the 2008 reel.
6. Okay, I had to add this last moment – OBAMA!!!!
Bottom 5 2008 Moments
1. Damian almost drowning and my father's heart attack.
2. Watching Sarah get hurt so bad in my house and then the ongoing surgeries.
3. Work in January and having to tell Jim to back up off me.
4. Almost ruining my Benz over a spider. Twice.
5. Some unmentionables that I don’t want to share outwardly but I want to be accountable for. I know what they are and if years from now I forget and want to remember, all I have to recall is: rock bottom pumpkin mess.
Resolutions for 2009
1. Obtain CPA!
2. Lose 50 – 60 pounds.
3. Graduate.
4. Find my career path.
5. Remember past, be in the present, embrace the future.
6. Build character.
7. Rest, relax, rejuvenate.
What I'm looking forward to in 2009:
1. Baltic Cruise!
2. Being done with school and studying and finally having a life!
3. Our second anniversary.
4. Reaching all my goals.
2008 Reflections
Well as predicted in my 2007 Reflections and projections for the new year, 2008 was a relatively quiet year. In fact, I find it hard to believe I’m already typing memoirs. As I was reading 2007 it feels like events that happened in 07 just happened. I can’t believe it has been a year. None the less, it has been and though I didn’t quite stay true to all my resolutions for 2008 I have grown, solidified and even stabilized my life a bit. And the timing couldn’t be better what with what’s in store for 2009!
Egypt certainly was the highlight of the year, just as anticipated. I’ve already talked about the trip at length so no need to do it again, suffice it to say the trip lived up and exceeded the expectations. I have continued to grow in my career and position at Treehouse. What was fear in 2007 was confidence in 2008. Everything that I doubted myself on in 07 turned out to be everything that I excelled in 08. My roots have grown deep and I am thankful for the job I have and where I can go. Really, outside of work and school, this year was shaped by all the different trips I took. I honestly think there was a trip for almost every month. January – Tampa, April – Egypt, May – California, July – Colorado, August – Sun Lakes, September – Forks, October – San Diego and Leavenworth. Crazy! Finally this year was an amazing political year, even if the economy is going down south. The credit crisis, the home foreclosures, all the businesses needing bailouts, gas prices – it’s a pretty terrifying climate right now but I’m hopeful for the future. I don’t think Obama is the end all be all to all our problems but I have high hopes for him.
The worst parts of 2008 are probably better left untouched. The hurt and pain is over now and all the bottom moments that I listed for 2008 have happy endings so alls well that ends well, right? But perhaps a lesson can be learned there. Every single bottom moment turned out okay. Now I admit, there could have been so many ways the events could have turned sideways and I wouldn’t be typing this but the fact is things are okay. And the people involved will be okay. Sure, they have their struggles, who doesn’t? I’m sure Jim struggles everyday to deal with my mouth, but the point is we deal and we get by and life goes on and things even out.
I can’t imagine a better ending to 2008.
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Visualization Board
Wow - so I had to fight with my Mac to get this picture on here but I did it! I love my new Mac, it's just hard getting used to it after all these years with PC. Anyway, not the point. The point here is to talk about what this board is and what it means to me.
2009 is undoubtably a big year for me for a variety of reasons all expressed above on my visualization board (VB) and explained below.
Upper left corner - My MBA
The ULC of the VB represents my graduation with a Master's Degree in Accounting. Years ago, starting in 2003 to be exact I started on the journey to get my Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Accounting so that I could sit for the CPA exam. Here I am just 7 weeks from graduation. I will walk in June with the local campus which will be fun since I didn't walk for my Bachelor's graduation.
Lower left corner - Career Path
The LLC of my VB represents the choice(s) I have with my career. Suggested by my father and supported by my own meandering thoughts I have dedicated a portion of my VB to help me find a way for what I want to do with my career now that I (almost) have all the credentials I've worked so hard for. Should I stay with good ol' faithful Treehouse, which I love and am not interested in leaving, or should I embark on new challenges - ones that test the skills I've learned and earn me a paycheck worthy of my student loans? I'm not sure but it's definitely something I will be thinking about over the next 6 months.
Inside left side - My CPA
Ah, what I have been working for and what has me scared to death right now. My CPA. As you can see I have visualized a whole section for my CPA - what it means to me to have worked so hard for it, what it will mean to get it, what it will mean to have it, how it will look when I do have it (meaning visualizing my name with those initials), and a host of encouraging words to get me there.
Middle thought cloud - Character Building
Inside that little cloud I have included a quote that really sums up the next 6 months and some words that I want to work towards in regards to my attitude and overall character.
Middle stalk - The Three R's
Rest, relaxation and rejuvenation. I'm going to need to keep these 3 R's in mind as I am going crazy preparing for the CPA and all these other goals and afterward when life equalizes again.
Middle bottom - Foundation
I am thankful. That is the very foundation for my visualization.
Lower right corner - Past, Present and the Future
I am in the last year of my twenties and I want it to be a year of remembering what I've done this past decade (I've even included some pictures of some memories over the years - they are the tiny index pictures though, so I was limited to which ones I had available). I want to be fully present in the now this year and not get wrapped up in the end result. College flew by and now I want to feel every moment of the CPA and my other goals. I want to be in the Now. I also want to consider my future and what the next decade might have in store for me. Big possibility.
Inside right side - Physical Loveliness
I've really let myself go with my weight and after all I've done to shape my body I am really ashamed of myself. Not any more. This year I pledge to lose the pounds the old fashioned way - diet and exercise. This part of the board visualizes me in a smaller size. I have a lot of weight to lose and I'll need a daily reminder. At the same time, I want to learn to love myself for who I am - always, even if I am currently overweight. I want to celebrate my beauty. MY beauty, not Cosmo's or the Paris Hilton's of the world.
Upper right corner - Baltic Cruise
So in all this visualization, this is the funnest one to think about and fantasize on. For all the work, the school, the CPA, the clean audit, the weight loss, our 2nd wedding anniversary - EVERYTHING for all of those reasons and then just simply the reason: because, we are going on a 20 day cruise of Northern Europe. I've talked about this before and no doubt I'll create a separate blog when the time draws near but for now the URC of my VB is dedicated to this celebratory exploration.
So that's it. The VB hangs above my mirror in my "get pretty" area. I look at it everytime I look at myself in the mirror. So each day I will hold myself accountable for my actions and have to answer to myself if I fail at making my visualization a reality. I spent over 5 hours putting the VB together and I think about that when I look it. It will take that kind of focus and energy everyday to make these dreams come true. I also have the picture on my iPhone so I can think about it on the road if I so choose.
Well that's about all I can say about my board. Now it's up to me to keep this blog posted on my progress!
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