Well - it's practically here and passed, but audit season is full swing. I actually feel very prepared for the audit this year. So far everything is tying, everything looks to be in place and we are ahead of schedule with preparing stuff. Part of that has to do with a great fiscal year with sound, consistent management and the other part is we pushed the audit back two full weeks which seems to be making all the difference in the world.
The budgets are still a little scary, but they've been entered in FE and they are materially correct for Oct so we are just going to fly with them for this month, then after the audit I can focus on correct the issues that are presenting problems.
Then its off to complete the 990 before Cmas break (whoot whoot - once again I'm taking Friday, December 19th - January 2nd off). After the holidays I can focus on all the backburner tasks that I've pushed off for almost 2 years and get cracking on a better way to manage the books here.
I still don't know if my big idea to merge all the Education departments will prove to be more work with better drill down capacity or just more work. We'll see. If it's a big failure, I have work arounds to get us through the year before we go back to the old way of doing things, if necessary.
School is plugging away. I'm in the last week of my 3rd to last class. Only two more after this. But it's Audit and Taxation. Lame. Looks like I'll be walking with the Washington Campus on June 20th, which is nice because my folks can come up and see it and it won't interfere with our trip to Europe in July.
I start my Becker CPA review on my birthday, so I'll have 2 weeks of doubling up on UOP and CPA review. That's going to be crazy.
Big Dave is in town and that's AWESOME!! I miss him. We are going to the burlesque show tonight. Speaking of, I gotta scram. See ya!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Monday, November 03, 2008
Election Eve
Well here we are - another election. I'm scared. It's funny to me that both parties are ready to take up residence in Canada should their opposite canidate win. I know that I'm terrified that McCain/Palin will win. I'll be getting up early in the morning to go vote, Dane didn't trust the absentee ballot. Anyway - after work tomorrow Dane, Big Dave, and I will be taking part in our most favorite election day tradition which is to have a: DRINKING PARTY!!
~~~~~~~~fade back to 2004~~~~~~~~~
We were living on Lameria Drive. Dane took me to the polls so we could "cancel out each other's votes." Then we got Panera Bread for dinner (I got broccoli cheese soup and a sandwich). We came home to watch the election. We had our shot glasses out for the night. Our Pucker, tequila, vodka, Tequila Rose, and various other alcohols. For every state that Bush won, I had to drink a shot. A small shot of Pucker with a hard (but small) shot every 5th state. For every state Kerry won, Dane had to do a shot. Observe:
As you can see, the Red took over our great country like a plague. Dane had only 19 states to my 31!!! I made it to 20 states, which is yes - 20 shots. Including a tall shot of tequila when Colorado turned red. I still remember the state that did me in. The 20th state. Montana. I took my shot for Montana - a shot of straight vodka - and immediately vomitted into my Panera Bread bag. I said "EFF YOUR SH*TTY PRESIDENT!!! He won. I'm going to bed." And sure enough, Bush won.
~~~~~~~~flash back to current day~~~~~~~~~~~
Well this year Dane will not be voting Republican. He and I are on united fronts and will be voting for Obama this year. So for every state that McCain gets, Dane and I will be doing a shot together. A shot of jungle juice so no doubt we'll be pretty sh*tty pretty quick. Even if Obama wins, there sure are a lot of Red states.
My laptop is suddenly going to die, so I best be gone. I'll post an update tomorrow as the drinking, I mean election party progresses.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
These Things I Know for Certain
Men love a woman in a pair of boots and never, ever, under any circumstance put pumpkin guts down your garbage disposal. EVER!
So I have so much to blog about - I'll try to be brief. Which means this will be about 3 internet pages long. So going in chronological order:
AMEX: so AMEX decided to put a limit on my credit. They did this without informing me. They did this based on information that is not correct (they said my credit was below 700 and it's not and they had salary info from 3 years ago). They did this after I put Dane on my credit line, obviously increasing our spending power. They did this without looking at my spotless credit history not only with AMEX but with other credit agencies. They put the limit at an amount that was under what I had already spent in the month. After 3 hours on hold with various agents going all the way up to corporate, I got a $1000 extension on my credit and the account will be reviewed sooner than 90 days. AMEX has idiots running the organization. I just won't use my AMEX. Apparently AMEX can afford not to get paid during these economic times of crisis. I get safeguarding the company what with all the credit fiascos going on, but they need to make their decisions on several variables, not one (a credit score, a credit relationship, etc.) I've paid my bill on time in full as long as I've had that card. And now we are going into the holiday season. Needless to say I'll be making all my purchases on my Visa. And I just charged almost $2000 yesterday. AMEX could have gotten 3% of that from vendors. That's $60 on two transactions. No a lot you say? Well times that by 100,000 people (an easy number of people with AMEX) That's 6 million dollars. Catch my drift...A friend heard about this on NPR and she said all the people interviewed said they'd stop using their AMEX. And that doesn't even begin to speak to all the admin costs AMEX is fielding regarding this issue. Dumbasses.
San Diego: OMG - I had such a good time in SD. I really, really miss Jamie. I let loose around her like none of my other friends. It has to be because we've known each other for so long and always under nothing but carefree circumstances. It was very easy to pretend we were 18 again that weekend. Partying, staying out late, flirting with guys. So fun. And good, innocent fun. We got a pedicure and went shopping and drank coffee. Got midnight pizza. I stood out on the balcony in my underwear at 2 am. Some dudes were getting arrested for a bar brawl and I thought I'd be a good samaritan and give them something to look at while they waited. I'm so nice. The wedding we went down there for was beautiful - absolutely fabulous. And funny - it was a gay wedding so Kat (the "dude") stood on the wrong side at first and then they got it sorted out. Good food, good drink. Lots of dancing and fun - I got a whole new soundtrack from the weekend.
Leavenworth: Dane and I went to Leavenworth to honor Isis and the 7th year of her passing. Crazy. We had a wonderful time. We rested, read, took a bath in the big tub (we had the bridal suite), went shopping, walked around, ate good food, and got a little tipsy. I got a speeding ticket on the way home though. Lame.
Plumbing: So I put about 20 lbs of pumpkin guts down the garbage disposal. DONT EVER DO THAT!!! I ended up backing up our kitchen sink, the downstairs shower, and the washing machine. We had to get a plumber (a cute Romanian) to come fix it. He spent all day snaking out the pipes. Nightmare. He didn't even charge me for one job, gave me a discount on another. It cost about $700 all discounts considered. I'm lucky Dane is out of town right now, otherwise he'd skin me.
Halloween: The awesome Halloween party is this weekend. On Friday. I'm a Fanta girl. Our house is decorated to the hilt and it's going to be a blast!
Well its time for these boots to be walking. More later on school and other things. Life is definitely on the upswing for me. I feel better about myself and more lively and friendly and back to the normal Crystal. The Krazy Crystal that dances on furniture and flirts (with everyone so it's not like I'm being scandalous) and has fun. YAY!
So I have so much to blog about - I'll try to be brief. Which means this will be about 3 internet pages long. So going in chronological order:
AMEX: so AMEX decided to put a limit on my credit. They did this without informing me. They did this based on information that is not correct (they said my credit was below 700 and it's not and they had salary info from 3 years ago). They did this after I put Dane on my credit line, obviously increasing our spending power. They did this without looking at my spotless credit history not only with AMEX but with other credit agencies. They put the limit at an amount that was under what I had already spent in the month. After 3 hours on hold with various agents going all the way up to corporate, I got a $1000 extension on my credit and the account will be reviewed sooner than 90 days. AMEX has idiots running the organization. I just won't use my AMEX. Apparently AMEX can afford not to get paid during these economic times of crisis. I get safeguarding the company what with all the credit fiascos going on, but they need to make their decisions on several variables, not one (a credit score, a credit relationship, etc.) I've paid my bill on time in full as long as I've had that card. And now we are going into the holiday season. Needless to say I'll be making all my purchases on my Visa. And I just charged almost $2000 yesterday. AMEX could have gotten 3% of that from vendors. That's $60 on two transactions. No a lot you say? Well times that by 100,000 people (an easy number of people with AMEX) That's 6 million dollars. Catch my drift...A friend heard about this on NPR and she said all the people interviewed said they'd stop using their AMEX. And that doesn't even begin to speak to all the admin costs AMEX is fielding regarding this issue. Dumbasses.
San Diego: OMG - I had such a good time in SD. I really, really miss Jamie. I let loose around her like none of my other friends. It has to be because we've known each other for so long and always under nothing but carefree circumstances. It was very easy to pretend we were 18 again that weekend. Partying, staying out late, flirting with guys. So fun. And good, innocent fun. We got a pedicure and went shopping and drank coffee. Got midnight pizza. I stood out on the balcony in my underwear at 2 am. Some dudes were getting arrested for a bar brawl and I thought I'd be a good samaritan and give them something to look at while they waited. I'm so nice. The wedding we went down there for was beautiful - absolutely fabulous. And funny - it was a gay wedding so Kat (the "dude") stood on the wrong side at first and then they got it sorted out. Good food, good drink. Lots of dancing and fun - I got a whole new soundtrack from the weekend.
Leavenworth: Dane and I went to Leavenworth to honor Isis and the 7th year of her passing. Crazy. We had a wonderful time. We rested, read, took a bath in the big tub (we had the bridal suite), went shopping, walked around, ate good food, and got a little tipsy. I got a speeding ticket on the way home though. Lame.
Plumbing: So I put about 20 lbs of pumpkin guts down the garbage disposal. DONT EVER DO THAT!!! I ended up backing up our kitchen sink, the downstairs shower, and the washing machine. We had to get a plumber (a cute Romanian) to come fix it. He spent all day snaking out the pipes. Nightmare. He didn't even charge me for one job, gave me a discount on another. It cost about $700 all discounts considered. I'm lucky Dane is out of town right now, otherwise he'd skin me.
Halloween: The awesome Halloween party is this weekend. On Friday. I'm a Fanta girl. Our house is decorated to the hilt and it's going to be a blast!
Well its time for these boots to be walking. More later on school and other things. Life is definitely on the upswing for me. I feel better about myself and more lively and friendly and back to the normal Crystal. The Krazy Crystal that dances on furniture and flirts (with everyone so it's not like I'm being scandalous) and has fun. YAY!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Propaganda
I cannot take credit for this post below, rather it is from my friend Jim in Colorado who received a propagandous email. Read for yourself:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm sorry, but this is an angry response.
According to Snopes.com this is absolutely false.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/money.asp
This kind of hate-filled, fear-mongering garbage is what got us 8 years of George W. Bush. In case you've forgotten, "The Swift Boat Veterans for Peace" were outright liars.
Obama's alleged "association" with William Ayers is also flat out, outright bullshit. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2008/02/obamas_weatherman_connection.html
If being alive and 8 years old when Ayers was active in the WX underground is guilt by association--we are all guilty. If serving on a community education board assembled by others -- a board on which Ayers was also an invited participant after he had earned his stripes as a dedicated and generally respected community activist (years after his radical activities) -- is guilt by association, then we are all guilty of THAT kind of guilt by association for ANY kind of community service we render. While we're at it, why not blame Obama for Al Capone and Mayor Daley's outrageous behavior at the Democratic Convention in 1968. After all, he IS a Democrat, isn't he?? He "CHOSE" to live in Chicago, didn't he?? And we may as well dredge up the fact that he went to church and his pastor actually has a mind of his own. Surely Obama's responsible for Jeremiah Wright, too--wouldn't you say?? After all, doesn't my growing up Catholic make me responsible for all the priests who molested boys? That MUST be my fault.
Nobody should allow themselves to be so easily fooled. Even John McCain himself discounts most of this kind of outrageous bullshit! The other day he dejectedly looked into the eyes of a woman who asked him if Obama was a Muslim and said that Obama does not have ties to radical Muslims and that he's an "honorable man." Even McCain is horrified by what his vile, hate-filled campaign has wrought.
Know when you're being lied to. Know when you're being manipulated. Bush lied his way into Iraq. Are we governed by liars? Or are we governed by thinking people? Right now--the choice is yours.
This kind of trash should not be influencing ANYONE's vote.
So as the message says below, "Check it out on your own and then vote correctly on November 4th." I wholeheartedly "support this message." Remember the source of this crap is our own version of RADICAL FUNDAMENTALISTS, aided and abetted by the GOP and the 527s and corporations who are absolutely terrified of a real democracy--and absolutely afraid of Barak Obama.
P.S. As a courtesy, I supressed the original distribution list, and I will not email to those who are not my friends again. But in a free society, one of the most important things a person can do is stand up and call a lie a lie.
Jim
----- Original Message ----Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 11:08:02 AM
Subject: Fwd: Pass it on: If half of this is true we will have another serious problem...
I don't send forwards often. But I've never been so scared of an election before. Ask yourself this too: where is he getting the millions and millions of advertising dollars for all those ads on the interenet, TV, billboards, he even has his own 24/ TV channel? Wasted egotistical selfish spending that we are going to see lot more of if the asshole is elected. Educate yourself, then Vote. If half of this is true we will have another serious problem.
"About a year ago I would have voted for Obama. I have changed my mind three times over since then. About six months ago, I started thinking 'where did the money come from for Obama'. I have four daughters, who went to College, and we were middle class, and money was tight. We (including my girls) worked hard and there were lots of student loans. I started looking into Obama's life. Around 1979 Obama started college at Occidental in California . He is very open about his two years at Occidental; he tried all kinds of drugs and was wasting his time but, even though he had a brilliant mind, did not apply himself to his studies. 'Barry' (that was the name he used all his life) during this time had two roommates, Muhammad Hasan Chandoo and Wahid Hamid, both from Pakistan . During the summer of 1981, after his second year in college, he made a 'round the world' trip, stopping to see his mother in Indonesia, next Hyderabad in India, three weeks in Karachi, Pakistan where he stayed with his roommate's family, then off to Africa to visit his father's family. My question... Where did he get the money for this trip? Neither I nor any one of my children would have had money for a trip like this when they where in college. When he came back he started school at Columbia University in New York . It is at this time he wants everyone to call him Barack - not Barry. Do you know what the tuition is at Columbia ? It's not cheap! to say the least. Where did he get money for tuition? Student Loans? Maybe. After Columbia , he went to Chicago to work as a Community Organizer for $12,000 a year. Why Chicago ? Why not New York ? He was already living in New York . By 'chance' he met Antoin 'Tony' Rezko, born in Aleppo Syria , and a real estate developer in Chicago. Rezko has been convicted of fraud and bribery this year. Rezko, was named 'Entrepreneur of the Decade' by the Arab-American Business and Professional Association'. About two years later, Obama entered Harvard Law School . Do you have any idea what tuition is for Harvard Law School ? Where did he get the money for Law School ? More student loans? After Law school, he went back to Chicago . Rezko offered him a job, which he turned down. But, he did take a job with Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland. Guess what? They represented 'Rezar' which is Rezko's firm. Rezko was one of Obama's first major financial contributors when he ran for office in Chicago . In 2003, Rezko threw an early fundraiser for Obama which Chicago Tribune reporter David Mendelland claims was instrumental in providing Obama with 'seed money' for his U.S.> Senate race. In 2005, Obama purchased a new home in Kenwoood District of Chicago for $1.65 million (less than asking price). With ALL those Student Loans - Where did he get the money for the property? On the same day Rezko's wife, Rita, purchased the adjoining empty lot for full price. The London Times reported that Nadhmi Auchi, an Iraqi-born Billionaire loaned Rezko $3.5 million three weeks before Obama's new home was purchased. Obama met Nadhmi Auchi many times with Rezko. Now, we have Obama running for President. Valerie Jarrett, was Michele Obama's boss. She is now Obama's chief advisor and he does not make any major decisions without talking to her first. Where was Jarrett born? Ready for this? Shiraz , Iran ! Do we see a pattern here? Or am I going crazy? On May 10, 2008 The Times reported Robert Malley, advisor to Obama, was 'sacked' after the press found out he was having regular contacts with 'Hamas', which controls Gaza and is connected with Iran . This past week, buried in the back part of the papers, Iraqi newspapers reported that during Obama's visit to Iraq, he asked their leaders to do nothing about the war until after he is elected, and he will 'Take care of things'. Oh, and by the way, remember the college roommates that where born in Pakistan? They are in charge of all those 'small' Internet campaign contribution for Obama. Where is that money coming from? The poor and middle class in this country? Or could it be from the Middle East ? And the final bit of news. On September 7, 2008, The Washington Times posted a verbal slip that was made on 'This Week' with George Stephanapoulos. Obama on talking about his religion said, 'My Muslim faith'. When questioned, 'he made a mistake'. Some mistake! All of the above information I got on line. If you would like to check it: Wikipedia, encyclopedia, Barack Obama; Tony Rezko; Valerie Jarrett: Daily Times - Obama visited Pakistan in 1981; The Washington Times - September 7, 2008; The Times May 10, 2008. Now the BIG question - If I found out all this information on my own, Why haven't all of our 'intelligent' members of the press been reporting this? A phrase that keeps ringing in my ear - 'Beware of the enemy from within'!!! " Check it out on your own and then vote correctly on November 4th.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm sorry, but this is an angry response.
According to Snopes.com this is absolutely false.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/money.asp
This kind of hate-filled, fear-mongering garbage is what got us 8 years of George W. Bush. In case you've forgotten, "The Swift Boat Veterans for Peace" were outright liars.
Obama's alleged "association" with William Ayers is also flat out, outright bullshit. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2008/02/obamas_weatherman_connection.html
If being alive and 8 years old when Ayers was active in the WX underground is guilt by association--we are all guilty. If serving on a community education board assembled by others -- a board on which Ayers was also an invited participant after he had earned his stripes as a dedicated and generally respected community activist (years after his radical activities) -- is guilt by association, then we are all guilty of THAT kind of guilt by association for ANY kind of community service we render. While we're at it, why not blame Obama for Al Capone and Mayor Daley's outrageous behavior at the Democratic Convention in 1968. After all, he IS a Democrat, isn't he?? He "CHOSE" to live in Chicago, didn't he?? And we may as well dredge up the fact that he went to church and his pastor actually has a mind of his own. Surely Obama's responsible for Jeremiah Wright, too--wouldn't you say?? After all, doesn't my growing up Catholic make me responsible for all the priests who molested boys? That MUST be my fault.
Nobody should allow themselves to be so easily fooled. Even John McCain himself discounts most of this kind of outrageous bullshit! The other day he dejectedly looked into the eyes of a woman who asked him if Obama was a Muslim and said that Obama does not have ties to radical Muslims and that he's an "honorable man." Even McCain is horrified by what his vile, hate-filled campaign has wrought.
Know when you're being lied to. Know when you're being manipulated. Bush lied his way into Iraq. Are we governed by liars? Or are we governed by thinking people? Right now--the choice is yours.
This kind of trash should not be influencing ANYONE's vote.
So as the message says below, "Check it out on your own and then vote correctly on November 4th." I wholeheartedly "support this message." Remember the source of this crap is our own version of RADICAL FUNDAMENTALISTS, aided and abetted by the GOP and the 527s and corporations who are absolutely terrified of a real democracy--and absolutely afraid of Barak Obama.
P.S. As a courtesy, I supressed the original distribution list, and I will not email to those who are not my friends again. But in a free society, one of the most important things a person can do is stand up and call a lie a lie.
Jim
----- Original Message ----Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 11:08:02 AM
Subject: Fwd: Pass it on: If half of this is true we will have another serious problem...
I don't send forwards often. But I've never been so scared of an election before. Ask yourself this too: where is he getting the millions and millions of advertising dollars for all those ads on the interenet, TV, billboards, he even has his own 24/ TV channel? Wasted egotistical selfish spending that we are going to see lot more of if the asshole is elected. Educate yourself, then Vote. If half of this is true we will have another serious problem.
"About a year ago I would have voted for Obama. I have changed my mind three times over since then. About six months ago, I started thinking 'where did the money come from for Obama'. I have four daughters, who went to College, and we were middle class, and money was tight. We (including my girls) worked hard and there were lots of student loans. I started looking into Obama's life. Around 1979 Obama started college at Occidental in California . He is very open about his two years at Occidental; he tried all kinds of drugs and was wasting his time but, even though he had a brilliant mind, did not apply himself to his studies. 'Barry' (that was the name he used all his life) during this time had two roommates, Muhammad Hasan Chandoo and Wahid Hamid, both from Pakistan . During the summer of 1981, after his second year in college, he made a 'round the world' trip, stopping to see his mother in Indonesia, next Hyderabad in India, three weeks in Karachi, Pakistan where he stayed with his roommate's family, then off to Africa to visit his father's family. My question... Where did he get the money for this trip? Neither I nor any one of my children would have had money for a trip like this when they where in college. When he came back he started school at Columbia University in New York . It is at this time he wants everyone to call him Barack - not Barry. Do you know what the tuition is at Columbia ? It's not cheap! to say the least. Where did he get money for tuition? Student Loans? Maybe. After Columbia , he went to Chicago to work as a Community Organizer for $12,000 a year. Why Chicago ? Why not New York ? He was already living in New York . By 'chance' he met Antoin 'Tony' Rezko, born in Aleppo Syria , and a real estate developer in Chicago. Rezko has been convicted of fraud and bribery this year. Rezko, was named 'Entrepreneur of the Decade' by the Arab-American Business and Professional Association'. About two years later, Obama entered Harvard Law School . Do you have any idea what tuition is for Harvard Law School ? Where did he get the money for Law School ? More student loans? After Law school, he went back to Chicago . Rezko offered him a job, which he turned down. But, he did take a job with Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland. Guess what? They represented 'Rezar' which is Rezko's firm. Rezko was one of Obama's first major financial contributors when he ran for office in Chicago . In 2003, Rezko threw an early fundraiser for Obama which Chicago Tribune reporter David Mendelland claims was instrumental in providing Obama with 'seed money' for his U.S.> Senate race. In 2005, Obama purchased a new home in Kenwoood District of Chicago for $1.65 million (less than asking price). With ALL those Student Loans - Where did he get the money for the property? On the same day Rezko's wife, Rita, purchased the adjoining empty lot for full price. The London Times reported that Nadhmi Auchi, an Iraqi-born Billionaire loaned Rezko $3.5 million three weeks before Obama's new home was purchased. Obama met Nadhmi Auchi many times with Rezko. Now, we have Obama running for President. Valerie Jarrett, was Michele Obama's boss. She is now Obama's chief advisor and he does not make any major decisions without talking to her first. Where was Jarrett born? Ready for this? Shiraz , Iran ! Do we see a pattern here? Or am I going crazy? On May 10, 2008 The Times reported Robert Malley, advisor to Obama, was 'sacked' after the press found out he was having regular contacts with 'Hamas', which controls Gaza and is connected with Iran . This past week, buried in the back part of the papers, Iraqi newspapers reported that during Obama's visit to Iraq, he asked their leaders to do nothing about the war until after he is elected, and he will 'Take care of things'. Oh, and by the way, remember the college roommates that where born in Pakistan? They are in charge of all those 'small' Internet campaign contribution for Obama. Where is that money coming from? The poor and middle class in this country? Or could it be from the Middle East ? And the final bit of news. On September 7, 2008, The Washington Times posted a verbal slip that was made on 'This Week' with George Stephanapoulos. Obama on talking about his religion said, 'My Muslim faith'. When questioned, 'he made a mistake'. Some mistake! All of the above information I got on line. If you would like to check it: Wikipedia, encyclopedia, Barack Obama; Tony Rezko; Valerie Jarrett: Daily Times - Obama visited Pakistan in 1981; The Washington Times - September 7, 2008; The Times May 10, 2008. Now the BIG question - If I found out all this information on my own, Why haven't all of our 'intelligent' members of the press been reporting this? A phrase that keeps ringing in my ear - 'Beware of the enemy from within'!!! " Check it out on your own and then vote correctly on November 4th.
Monday, September 29, 2008
The Shoe Has Dropped
Well it seems like the other shoe has fallen. Last night Dane and I spent the better part of the evening arguing about money and then, of course, the bigger issues. I'm beginning to understand that a lot of couples seem to go through this sort of cycle. ~phew~ Not that I wish this on anyone but it's nice to know I'm not alone.
I'm not unhappy in my marriage to Dane, quite the opposite. And the poor guy. He got me roses last week for no reason. I love that. But at the same time he totally makes me feel inferior. Everything has a value with him and coming from an accountant that means something. Like I'm not upholding my end of the deal if I don't weed when he mows the lawn. Seriously? Are we REALLY arguing about this?! I just looked at him. His favorite thing in the world is to attack me with some obscure irritation whenever I confront him. And most the time the irritation means little to him but sometimes he packs such a hard punch that it leaves a mark on me and I learn to walk on eggshells with whatever irritation it is. Later when I bring it up, he oft has no idea what I'm referring to. Then I can usually pin point something else that was going on in our lives at that time that he was really frustrated about. Again, those frustrations were probably aired to me when I least expected it, out of nowhere, and with half a bottle of booze. It gets old. Can't we talk like adults? Don't you think it would be easier to tell me how you feel when you feel it or when the scenario comes up so I can figure out a productive way to alleviate your stress?
Ugh - I'm just bitching at this point. But let's just say my excitement from last week is definitely muted.
I'm not unhappy in my marriage to Dane, quite the opposite. And the poor guy. He got me roses last week for no reason. I love that. But at the same time he totally makes me feel inferior. Everything has a value with him and coming from an accountant that means something. Like I'm not upholding my end of the deal if I don't weed when he mows the lawn. Seriously? Are we REALLY arguing about this?! I just looked at him. His favorite thing in the world is to attack me with some obscure irritation whenever I confront him. And most the time the irritation means little to him but sometimes he packs such a hard punch that it leaves a mark on me and I learn to walk on eggshells with whatever irritation it is. Later when I bring it up, he oft has no idea what I'm referring to. Then I can usually pin point something else that was going on in our lives at that time that he was really frustrated about. Again, those frustrations were probably aired to me when I least expected it, out of nowhere, and with half a bottle of booze. It gets old. Can't we talk like adults? Don't you think it would be easier to tell me how you feel when you feel it or when the scenario comes up so I can figure out a productive way to alleviate your stress?
Ugh - I'm just bitching at this point. But let's just say my excitement from last week is definitely muted.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
What Am I, 14?!
Ugh - I couldn't stop myself. Before I knew it I gave in to my guilty pleasure. Instantly I thought "what would my husband think?" I didn't care - I just had to do it.
Your Results:
Jasper Hale
You are Jasper Hale. You are very charismatic and have an uncanny ability to put others at ease. You are also a dependable leader and intuitive friend. You have a hard time ignoring temptation, as you are not naturally inclined to repress the way you feel.
Yep. I took the "Which Twilight Character Are You?" quiz. And on top of that I was duped in to liking a Miley Cyrus song. ALL IN THE SAME WEEK!!! What am I, 14?!
I've been very distracted this week. Not sure what it is. I'm all happy and sing-along Crystal. I've even gone so far as to dissect what this time of year means to me and I'm beginning to think my rebellious tendencies go beyond Isis. As long as I can remember Fall has always been a crazy time of year for me. It's like I'm rebelling that Summer is over or something.
Anyways - I'm particularly excited about nothing in particular these days and I'm waiting for the bomb to drop. Or something to happen. I'm all quued up and no where to go. I haven't felt this silly since I was 14. What's going on? Is it Dane's birthday? Is it work? Is it school almost being over? Is it the thought of me in my yellow Fanta Soda girl costume? I don't know what ~it~ is but it sure has me going.
I'll post more as something comes up. I'm dying for answers here. Check this nonsense out, it's my horoscope:
Are you getting bored? The best cure for an uninteresting life is to take risks!
You are way out on the cutting edge today, but the people who matter most are right behind you! It's a really good time to experiment with new ideas and ways of living to see what you like.
What sort of risk should I take?
Your Results:
Jasper Hale
You are Jasper Hale. You are very charismatic and have an uncanny ability to put others at ease. You are also a dependable leader and intuitive friend. You have a hard time ignoring temptation, as you are not naturally inclined to repress the way you feel.
Yep. I took the "Which Twilight Character Are You?" quiz. And on top of that I was duped in to liking a Miley Cyrus song. ALL IN THE SAME WEEK!!! What am I, 14?!
I've been very distracted this week. Not sure what it is. I'm all happy and sing-along Crystal. I've even gone so far as to dissect what this time of year means to me and I'm beginning to think my rebellious tendencies go beyond Isis. As long as I can remember Fall has always been a crazy time of year for me. It's like I'm rebelling that Summer is over or something.
Anyways - I'm particularly excited about nothing in particular these days and I'm waiting for the bomb to drop. Or something to happen. I'm all quued up and no where to go. I haven't felt this silly since I was 14. What's going on? Is it Dane's birthday? Is it work? Is it school almost being over? Is it the thought of me in my yellow Fanta Soda girl costume? I don't know what ~it~ is but it sure has me going.
I'll post more as something comes up. I'm dying for answers here. Check this nonsense out, it's my horoscope:
Are you getting bored? The best cure for an uninteresting life is to take risks!
You are way out on the cutting edge today, but the people who matter most are right behind you! It's a really good time to experiment with new ideas and ways of living to see what you like.
What sort of risk should I take?
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Along Came a Spider Who Sat Down Beside Her
*sigh* I've had THREE run in's with spiders recently. I'll explain:
The Wall: Dane was out of town. It was Tuesday (the 9th). I had just gotten done with an hour long Body Pump class at the gym, ate dinner, and was ready to crawl in to bed to read Breaking Dawn. Yes, I'm reading the Stephenie Meyer teenie-bopper vampire series. I'm on the phone with Dane when I notice a HUGE spider on the wall where it meets the ceiling over my bed. I panic. I try to use a broom, can't do it. I'm too scared. Of what? I don't know. I'm a sane, rational (most of the time) person with a completely insane, irrational fear of spiders. I try a vacuum. Worse. Even with the extension. I tell Dane I'll call him back. It's just too hard not to be the damsel in distress around him. I look at my phone. 10:45 pm. Too late to call my dad. I try texting HG. Nothing. I stare at the spider while holding the broom. 5 minutes goes by and I'm sobbing because I'm a grown woman that can't "take care" of a spider. I give up and call Dane again, fueled by the anger for crying over a spider. I yell at poor Dane because clearly it is his fault there is a spider in my room when he's out of town. Dane is stressed, he doesn't mind my yelling he's just trying to provide options for me. "Put my motorcycle helmet and gear on...Try the hot tub vacuum...What about a blanket or paper?" I finally gurgle "I have all the tools to complete the task, I just lack the gumption." My voice cracks like I'm going through puberty on the last word. Dane suggests his walking staff. That's not a bad idea. I grab the 10 foot staff. I put the phone down - Dane has to at least hear this if he's not going to be here to save me. I work up the courage, get my aim just right, and stab the staff at the wall. I keep it there for a minute, twisting it to make sure the spider is dead. I finally release and see the squished spider on the wall. Crap. Now I have to get him down because I don't want him falling on me in the middle of the night. Okay, I try the broom and barely manage to sweep him off the wall onto the floor. Now he's on the floor, he's not going to fall on me, so I can finally vacuum him up. I get the vacuum and just as I'm going for gold the spider twists up and scurries under the closet door!!!! THEY ARE NEVER DEAD!!!! So like any horror story, what do I do? I run UPstairs! I grab the phone but not before having a complete and total nuclear meltdown. I was able to get upstairs, grab a beer, open said beer, and drink 1/3 of it before I finally calmed down enough to blubber what happened to Dane. Till that moment all he could hear were my shrieks and shaking sobs. I'm not sure he's ever heard me cry like this before. I finally have to get off the phone with him - it's too much. I need to call HG. I get a hold of her and tell her right away that I sound much worse than I am and I'm being silly. As I start to unfold my story I slowly calm down and HG infuses humor into the situation and by the end of the call I'm laughing and she's helped me build a safe fortress around my bed so the spider doesn't come back to get me. I jokingly think to myself that I'd rather deal with ghosts than a spider. Of course late that night I wake up because something stirred and I look up the stairwell (outside of my room -I've been sleeping downstairs in the comfy bed) and see a glowing light. From the computer obviously, but why is it on? I decide it's because my prayer has been answered and instead of a spider I now have a ghost to contend with. It's a full minute before I assume that a cat must have bumped the monitor. Or maybe it was the spider?
A Fair Match: So last night I'm laying in my bed on my side reading. I feel something fall across my chest. Some of my hair probably. Then the something extends down my arm. Odd. I look - there's a spider. A teeny tiny itsy bitsy spider. No bigger than a large freckle. And clear so I can't really see his freaky legs (all spiders are "he's" except for black widows). I calmly brush him off me and squish him with my bookmark. I make a point to tell Dane though - just because it's almost humorous. Dane agrees the size of the spider made it a fair match.
Below the Belt: This morning I'm driving my car to the MB service center. It's due for its 1000 - 3000 mile inspection. Free, MB just wants to make sure all is well and topped off. How sweet. So I'm in the fast lane of I-90, on the floating bridge part, traveling at about 70 MPH. A spider makes his way from the left side of my car dash to the middle. I start hyperventilating. This is a serious situation. I'm driving (my NEW CAR), nowhere to go, and I can feel myself start to lose control. The spider runs up to the front of the middle of the dash to inspect my current speed. I blow on him knocking him back to the back of the dash. That works. He runs up, I blow. This goes on for 2 miles. I leave Dane a scathing voicemail (not directed at him but definitely asking "why me?", how dramatic can I be?!), I try calling HG. Nothing. The spider gets tired of being blown (perhaps proof that it is a female spider?) and settles on the passenger side dash. I'm okay with this till I see the spider start to spin up a storm. Instantly I ascertain that the spider is preparing my cocoon for death. I need to act quickly! I'm watching him so intently that I miss my exit! Now time really speeds up. I'm trying to figure out where to go and the spider starts ascending to the top of the car. Now he's ABOVE ME!! (I really have a problem with spiders when they are above me and can jump or fall down on me) He's webbing towards me, I don't have much time to get to my destination. I start wondering if I passed it. The spider closes in on me. I don't know what to do. I turn but I'm not sure it's the right street. The spider is at my rear view mirror. I'm not there yet! I panic - I blow on him, it worked last time, right? This time he's on his web and swings away only to swing back towards me with velocity. I lose it. I look up just in time to see I'm going to hit a curb and continue on to a tree. I swerve then slam on the brakes in the middle of the road (it's not a busy road) and shove the car in park and quickly exit. I'm vaguely aware that there are no cars around but there could have been. I run to the back of my car and start shaking - TREMBLING in my boots! I'm crying now and hoping that a passerby will help me. Nope. They scream and cuss at me. Even a bicyclist yelled at me. Why? Did I really cause him any grief? He certainly didn't have to go out of his way to go around me. I call my MB service rep hoping he'll come save me. I can barely get his name out - the receptionist wants to know the nature of my call. I tell her "CAN I PLEASE JUST SPEAK TO BILL IN SERVICE?!" my voice shaking from trying to conceal my tears. He answers and I tell him that I'm in the middle of the road (due to a spider) and how do I get there. He says I'm half mile away - see ya in a minute. I ask about the spider. He says what about it? Since I wasn't getting anywhere with him I decide to call out the big guns: Dad. It was too late to call him last time but not this time. He answers. I blurt out the situation. I'm sure all he heard was "spider" and "help." He gets me to turn my hazards on and take the keys out of the car so I can remotely take the top down. That way the spider doesn't have the upper advantage. Success! Then he coaxes me into my car - I only have a half mile to go. I assess. I jump in, slam it into D and jam on the gas. Instant gratification. We are doing 60 in no time and practically turn on two wheels into the MB service station. I jump out, leaving the keys in, car running, top down, and purse inside. I tell Bill I'm here for the inspection and to get a spider taken out.
Clearly I have a problem. HG and I have agreed that the spiders have put a hit out on me. I wont live long. Unless I face my fears. It's a terrible feeling being a sane person with completely insane fears and literally uncontrollable responses. I can't believe I almost wrecked my new car over a spider. A spider. And trust me - the fact that I put myself, others, and my car in danger has not been lost on me. I've been brainstorming all day what I can do to help myself. Control my reactions. I'm not coming up with anything. Thoughts? How have you overcome your fears?
The Wall: Dane was out of town. It was Tuesday (the 9th). I had just gotten done with an hour long Body Pump class at the gym, ate dinner, and was ready to crawl in to bed to read Breaking Dawn. Yes, I'm reading the Stephenie Meyer teenie-bopper vampire series. I'm on the phone with Dane when I notice a HUGE spider on the wall where it meets the ceiling over my bed. I panic. I try to use a broom, can't do it. I'm too scared. Of what? I don't know. I'm a sane, rational (most of the time) person with a completely insane, irrational fear of spiders. I try a vacuum. Worse. Even with the extension. I tell Dane I'll call him back. It's just too hard not to be the damsel in distress around him. I look at my phone. 10:45 pm. Too late to call my dad. I try texting HG. Nothing. I stare at the spider while holding the broom. 5 minutes goes by and I'm sobbing because I'm a grown woman that can't "take care" of a spider. I give up and call Dane again, fueled by the anger for crying over a spider. I yell at poor Dane because clearly it is his fault there is a spider in my room when he's out of town. Dane is stressed, he doesn't mind my yelling he's just trying to provide options for me. "Put my motorcycle helmet and gear on...Try the hot tub vacuum...What about a blanket or paper?" I finally gurgle "I have all the tools to complete the task, I just lack the gumption." My voice cracks like I'm going through puberty on the last word. Dane suggests his walking staff. That's not a bad idea. I grab the 10 foot staff. I put the phone down - Dane has to at least hear this if he's not going to be here to save me. I work up the courage, get my aim just right, and stab the staff at the wall. I keep it there for a minute, twisting it to make sure the spider is dead. I finally release and see the squished spider on the wall. Crap. Now I have to get him down because I don't want him falling on me in the middle of the night. Okay, I try the broom and barely manage to sweep him off the wall onto the floor. Now he's on the floor, he's not going to fall on me, so I can finally vacuum him up. I get the vacuum and just as I'm going for gold the spider twists up and scurries under the closet door!!!! THEY ARE NEVER DEAD!!!! So like any horror story, what do I do? I run UPstairs! I grab the phone but not before having a complete and total nuclear meltdown. I was able to get upstairs, grab a beer, open said beer, and drink 1/3 of it before I finally calmed down enough to blubber what happened to Dane. Till that moment all he could hear were my shrieks and shaking sobs. I'm not sure he's ever heard me cry like this before. I finally have to get off the phone with him - it's too much. I need to call HG. I get a hold of her and tell her right away that I sound much worse than I am and I'm being silly. As I start to unfold my story I slowly calm down and HG infuses humor into the situation and by the end of the call I'm laughing and she's helped me build a safe fortress around my bed so the spider doesn't come back to get me. I jokingly think to myself that I'd rather deal with ghosts than a spider. Of course late that night I wake up because something stirred and I look up the stairwell (outside of my room -I've been sleeping downstairs in the comfy bed) and see a glowing light. From the computer obviously, but why is it on? I decide it's because my prayer has been answered and instead of a spider I now have a ghost to contend with. It's a full minute before I assume that a cat must have bumped the monitor. Or maybe it was the spider?
A Fair Match: So last night I'm laying in my bed on my side reading. I feel something fall across my chest. Some of my hair probably. Then the something extends down my arm. Odd. I look - there's a spider. A teeny tiny itsy bitsy spider. No bigger than a large freckle. And clear so I can't really see his freaky legs (all spiders are "he's" except for black widows). I calmly brush him off me and squish him with my bookmark. I make a point to tell Dane though - just because it's almost humorous. Dane agrees the size of the spider made it a fair match.
Below the Belt: This morning I'm driving my car to the MB service center. It's due for its 1000 - 3000 mile inspection. Free, MB just wants to make sure all is well and topped off. How sweet. So I'm in the fast lane of I-90, on the floating bridge part, traveling at about 70 MPH. A spider makes his way from the left side of my car dash to the middle. I start hyperventilating. This is a serious situation. I'm driving (my NEW CAR), nowhere to go, and I can feel myself start to lose control. The spider runs up to the front of the middle of the dash to inspect my current speed. I blow on him knocking him back to the back of the dash. That works. He runs up, I blow. This goes on for 2 miles. I leave Dane a scathing voicemail (not directed at him but definitely asking "why me?", how dramatic can I be?!), I try calling HG. Nothing. The spider gets tired of being blown (perhaps proof that it is a female spider?) and settles on the passenger side dash. I'm okay with this till I see the spider start to spin up a storm. Instantly I ascertain that the spider is preparing my cocoon for death. I need to act quickly! I'm watching him so intently that I miss my exit! Now time really speeds up. I'm trying to figure out where to go and the spider starts ascending to the top of the car. Now he's ABOVE ME!! (I really have a problem with spiders when they are above me and can jump or fall down on me) He's webbing towards me, I don't have much time to get to my destination. I start wondering if I passed it. The spider closes in on me. I don't know what to do. I turn but I'm not sure it's the right street. The spider is at my rear view mirror. I'm not there yet! I panic - I blow on him, it worked last time, right? This time he's on his web and swings away only to swing back towards me with velocity. I lose it. I look up just in time to see I'm going to hit a curb and continue on to a tree. I swerve then slam on the brakes in the middle of the road (it's not a busy road) and shove the car in park and quickly exit. I'm vaguely aware that there are no cars around but there could have been. I run to the back of my car and start shaking - TREMBLING in my boots! I'm crying now and hoping that a passerby will help me. Nope. They scream and cuss at me. Even a bicyclist yelled at me. Why? Did I really cause him any grief? He certainly didn't have to go out of his way to go around me. I call my MB service rep hoping he'll come save me. I can barely get his name out - the receptionist wants to know the nature of my call. I tell her "CAN I PLEASE JUST SPEAK TO BILL IN SERVICE?!" my voice shaking from trying to conceal my tears. He answers and I tell him that I'm in the middle of the road (due to a spider) and how do I get there. He says I'm half mile away - see ya in a minute. I ask about the spider. He says what about it? Since I wasn't getting anywhere with him I decide to call out the big guns: Dad. It was too late to call him last time but not this time. He answers. I blurt out the situation. I'm sure all he heard was "spider" and "help." He gets me to turn my hazards on and take the keys out of the car so I can remotely take the top down. That way the spider doesn't have the upper advantage. Success! Then he coaxes me into my car - I only have a half mile to go. I assess. I jump in, slam it into D and jam on the gas. Instant gratification. We are doing 60 in no time and practically turn on two wheels into the MB service station. I jump out, leaving the keys in, car running, top down, and purse inside. I tell Bill I'm here for the inspection and to get a spider taken out.
Clearly I have a problem. HG and I have agreed that the spiders have put a hit out on me. I wont live long. Unless I face my fears. It's a terrible feeling being a sane person with completely insane fears and literally uncontrollable responses. I can't believe I almost wrecked my new car over a spider. A spider. And trust me - the fact that I put myself, others, and my car in danger has not been lost on me. I've been brainstorming all day what I can do to help myself. Control my reactions. I'm not coming up with anything. Thoughts? How have you overcome your fears?
Friday, August 15, 2008
Taco Bell
I'd like to think that at 28 I am not too old to dine at Taco Bell when the circumstances call for it. Yet I can't quite get over their ridiculous Mild/Hot/Fire sauce packets. What marketing IDIOT came up with the catch phrases I find on them?! Phrases like:
- I'm taking the day off. See next packet.
- The feeling is mutual.
- Will you marry me?
Are the youth of today taking advice on love, relationships, and work ethic from fast food condiment packages?! Is that REALLY what marketing executives think of us? Of the coming generation?!
It makes me wonder, with horror I might add, if today's youth have been completely underserved by their elders. Our kids can barely read and speak and when they do it's in ebonics, text-speak, or something in between. Reading a book has been replaced with watching TV and playing on your DS or iPhone. The will to work and earn a living has been replaced with a sense of entitlement and expectance. And now dinner conversation has been reduced to "what does your packet say?"
I'm sickened by this. I KNEW I shouldn't have gave in to my double decker taco craving....I am much too young to sound like this!! DAMN YOU, TACO BELL!!!!
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Colorado Trip
Hi folks - it has come to my attention that more than one person is expecting me Colorado this week. Not true. I'm flying in NEXT Wednesday, August 6th leaving on Sunday, August 10th. Here's my current itinerary - there are plenty of opportunities to come say hi - I'd love to see everyone even though it is a short trip.
8/6 Wed - flying in late, will probably have enough time to get my rental car then go to the hotel. BUT, if you are up late - gimme a call/text!
8/7 Thur - Rockies game w/ Joe in the afternoon, party in town in the evening. This is the ideal night to meet up with folks who haven't already gotten a hold of me.
8/8 Fri - zoo w/ Kailea, evening with Mel at the Lure Lounge on 14th and Blake. Come meet us there.
8/9 Sat - visit Isis, spend afternoon alone chilling, get ready for HS reunion party, go out w/ buds afterward. Another great time to call/text.
8/10 Sun - brunch with my awesome cousin, hang out with the lovely Sarah, then fly home.
Clear as mud? :-)
8/6 Wed - flying in late, will probably have enough time to get my rental car then go to the hotel. BUT, if you are up late - gimme a call/text!
8/7 Thur - Rockies game w/ Joe in the afternoon, party in town in the evening. This is the ideal night to meet up with folks who haven't already gotten a hold of me.
8/8 Fri - zoo w/ Kailea, evening with Mel at the Lure Lounge on 14th and Blake. Come meet us there.
8/9 Sat - visit Isis, spend afternoon alone chilling, get ready for HS reunion party, go out w/ buds afterward. Another great time to call/text.
8/10 Sun - brunch with my awesome cousin, hang out with the lovely Sarah, then fly home.
Clear as mud? :-)
Monday, July 21, 2008
SITC
So of course I went to go see SITC when it came to theatres and whenever reruns are on TBS I can't help but watch the rest of the episode even though I've seen every episode at the very least 3 times. Not only do I love the story and the characters but I also love to remember the time in my life when I first watched SITC.
The feelings are bittersweet as I can't share them with the person that I experienced them with but I will never forget that summer and the wonderful times I had with this person. I also know that it would not be the same even if we were talking. Time and distance has a way of doing that. I know that this person is doing well through the grape vine and I couldn't be prouder! All I ever wanted was to see this person succeed. I think in my efforts to help I hindered her more than anything, but the intentions were golden.
I've been thinking about that a lot lately and just today I had a phone call from Peck. Now here's someone where time and distance seems to stand still for me. For us really. No matter how many days have passed since we last talked, it always seems like it has only been a few minutes even when we spend hours on the phone catching up. I love talking to her and reminiscing our past - the good and bad. I miss her. Of all my friends, I haven't seen her in the longest time. In fact - I want to say when she was last living in our house was the last time I saw her. Wow. It would be nice to see her again and I'd love to meet Big D.
I'll be traveling to CO soon - I'll put the details in a separate post, so there goes any notion of going to TX to visit Peck but it's never quite off my radar. I hope to see her soon.
The feelings are bittersweet as I can't share them with the person that I experienced them with but I will never forget that summer and the wonderful times I had with this person. I also know that it would not be the same even if we were talking. Time and distance has a way of doing that. I know that this person is doing well through the grape vine and I couldn't be prouder! All I ever wanted was to see this person succeed. I think in my efforts to help I hindered her more than anything, but the intentions were golden.
I've been thinking about that a lot lately and just today I had a phone call from Peck. Now here's someone where time and distance seems to stand still for me. For us really. No matter how many days have passed since we last talked, it always seems like it has only been a few minutes even when we spend hours on the phone catching up. I love talking to her and reminiscing our past - the good and bad. I miss her. Of all my friends, I haven't seen her in the longest time. In fact - I want to say when she was last living in our house was the last time I saw her. Wow. It would be nice to see her again and I'd love to meet Big D.
I'll be traveling to CO soon - I'll put the details in a separate post, so there goes any notion of going to TX to visit Peck but it's never quite off my radar. I hope to see her soon.
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Update
It's been awhile so here are some updates:
Surgery - went well but was more extensive than expected. Recovery has been longer and the pain is more intense than expected but I'm handling it. I keep thinking I'm being a baby about it but you know it's bad when you go home to lay down for a minute and end up sleeping for 4 hours. I've been trying to get to the gym to do some light walking (I did make it on Sunday) but haven't been able to after work, I"m just soooo tired. Anyway - every day gets better. Special thanks to Dane for all his help with me and working from home so he could care for me. He's actually out of town now which makes it hard to some things but I think I'll be okay.
Sarah's Visit - was great! I was so happy to see her and spend time with her at the spa and what not. I wish she hadn't fallen and broken her ankle while at my house (can't help but feel some degree of responsibility) but what can you do. It was great to see Max and what a great kid he's turning into. Dane and I discussed and decided that we want to keep him. Hee hee. All kidding aside, we really wish we were closer to Sarah and Max to be a bigger part of their lives. We did our best to convince them to move up to WA.
School - OMG! My LAST day of my general MBA is this Saturday! Then its nothing but 5 online classes left. I'm excited and already anxious for what I'm going to do with my life when school is over. First I'll have the Becker CPA review to do, which will be 5 months of studying and testing beginning on my birthday, Feb 5th and lasting through my anniversary, July 3rd. I'm registered for classes and have nothing left to do but register for the actual exam. Can't believe the time is almost here. Afterwards I think I will go to law school. I am going to take the LSAT on Oct 4th and apply to Seattle University. Only 1/3 of applicants get accepted so we'll see but I'm going to try. Crazy, huh?
Work - is going well, I'm kinda behind schedule due to the extensive recovery or rather unexpected recovery. I'll make it work though. Jim is out this week so I've been able to take it easy which is good, but I haven't been able to focus (including right now) so I'll definitely have to bust ass the next two days.
Dane - we celebrated our 1 year anniversary last Thursday be going to dinner at The Melting Pot. It was a great dinner - we talked about the highs and lows of the year, our wedding, and what we wanted to do in the next 1 thru 10 years. It was a great discussion and I'm lucky to have such a wonderful husband.
Cats - are doing well. Willy is the craziest cat ever. EVER! Dewey is darling. Boo is demanding. And Stinker is stubborn. I love them so much.
Other - been driving Nick's Mini Cooper since it's an automatic and is easier to drive. Love it. Really think I might want one. But I still hold out hope for my Mercedes. We'll see what's in store. If I go to law school then I can't afford a Mercedes till AFTER.
I feel higher than a kite right now so I'm going to sign off and enjoy the ice cream social at work then go home and get some reading and homework done. I only have tonight and tomorrow night left to do it. Yikes! I don't even know what I'm supposed to do. Whatever.
Till next time.
Surgery - went well but was more extensive than expected. Recovery has been longer and the pain is more intense than expected but I'm handling it. I keep thinking I'm being a baby about it but you know it's bad when you go home to lay down for a minute and end up sleeping for 4 hours. I've been trying to get to the gym to do some light walking (I did make it on Sunday) but haven't been able to after work, I"m just soooo tired. Anyway - every day gets better. Special thanks to Dane for all his help with me and working from home so he could care for me. He's actually out of town now which makes it hard to some things but I think I'll be okay.
Sarah's Visit - was great! I was so happy to see her and spend time with her at the spa and what not. I wish she hadn't fallen and broken her ankle while at my house (can't help but feel some degree of responsibility) but what can you do. It was great to see Max and what a great kid he's turning into. Dane and I discussed and decided that we want to keep him. Hee hee. All kidding aside, we really wish we were closer to Sarah and Max to be a bigger part of their lives. We did our best to convince them to move up to WA.
School - OMG! My LAST day of my general MBA is this Saturday! Then its nothing but 5 online classes left. I'm excited and already anxious for what I'm going to do with my life when school is over. First I'll have the Becker CPA review to do, which will be 5 months of studying and testing beginning on my birthday, Feb 5th and lasting through my anniversary, July 3rd. I'm registered for classes and have nothing left to do but register for the actual exam. Can't believe the time is almost here. Afterwards I think I will go to law school. I am going to take the LSAT on Oct 4th and apply to Seattle University. Only 1/3 of applicants get accepted so we'll see but I'm going to try. Crazy, huh?
Work - is going well, I'm kinda behind schedule due to the extensive recovery or rather unexpected recovery. I'll make it work though. Jim is out this week so I've been able to take it easy which is good, but I haven't been able to focus (including right now) so I'll definitely have to bust ass the next two days.
Dane - we celebrated our 1 year anniversary last Thursday be going to dinner at The Melting Pot. It was a great dinner - we talked about the highs and lows of the year, our wedding, and what we wanted to do in the next 1 thru 10 years. It was a great discussion and I'm lucky to have such a wonderful husband.
Cats - are doing well. Willy is the craziest cat ever. EVER! Dewey is darling. Boo is demanding. And Stinker is stubborn. I love them so much.
Other - been driving Nick's Mini Cooper since it's an automatic and is easier to drive. Love it. Really think I might want one. But I still hold out hope for my Mercedes. We'll see what's in store. If I go to law school then I can't afford a Mercedes till AFTER.
I feel higher than a kite right now so I'm going to sign off and enjoy the ice cream social at work then go home and get some reading and homework done. I only have tonight and tomorrow night left to do it. Yikes! I don't even know what I'm supposed to do. Whatever.
Till next time.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Ch ch ch changes!!
I almost forgot! I'm going in for my second dose of the knife. While this time will not even be in the ballpark that my last surgery was, I will be under for a spell and get some minor touch ups done. Mostly scar revision but a little contouring to make sure everything is evened out. Surgery is on Monday and the lovely HG has offered her services (again) with helping me out. AND over her b-day! I'm a lucky gal!
While that's going on, Sarah will be visiting her fam in upper WA which is just fine cause she can take my car without me needing it. Perfect. I'm excited for her to come down! I feel bad because my priority the first couple days she's here will center around the parade but I'm lucky that Sarah is easy-going and excited for me and the parade. I am soooo happy that she'll get to see the parade and ME in the parade! I'm like a boasting peacock! And she'll get to meet work friends, and RB, and my other crew of buddies. It's going to be so much fun!
The parade is ready to go with some minor changes here and there. Costumes are done, dances are memorized - now lets' just hope it doesn't rain on our parade!
Work is going well. I'm a little bummed that they wont be able to help at all with my financing the CPA review but I understand why they can't. I fear that I may be quickly outgrowing my job there. Not a bad thing, but definitely sad. I'm cinching up the Policies and Procedures book this month and starting on the Audit/Internal Controls book next month. I should be ready to nail the audit this year - YAY!
School is going well - I'm in my last core MBA class - less than 3 weeks left then it's online only for the remaining 5 accounting classes. My last day of class is officially 2/23 which means for 3 weeks (right during my b-day) I'll be doubling up on CPA classes and UOP. It will be daunting but I can do it. Then I plunge right into my CPA exam for Business. The review process is grueling but I know I can do it - I made it this far, right? I'm meeting with a gal in 2 weeks to discuss the process and what I can do to be the best prepared for it.
Dane is doing well too -nothing really new on that end. Things are good and he's been very helpful and kind the past couple weeks.
Cats are good too. They are so cute.
That's about all for now! I'll post next week in my surgery drugged out haze! Fun!
While that's going on, Sarah will be visiting her fam in upper WA which is just fine cause she can take my car without me needing it. Perfect. I'm excited for her to come down! I feel bad because my priority the first couple days she's here will center around the parade but I'm lucky that Sarah is easy-going and excited for me and the parade. I am soooo happy that she'll get to see the parade and ME in the parade! I'm like a boasting peacock! And she'll get to meet work friends, and RB, and my other crew of buddies. It's going to be so much fun!
The parade is ready to go with some minor changes here and there. Costumes are done, dances are memorized - now lets' just hope it doesn't rain on our parade!
Work is going well. I'm a little bummed that they wont be able to help at all with my financing the CPA review but I understand why they can't. I fear that I may be quickly outgrowing my job there. Not a bad thing, but definitely sad. I'm cinching up the Policies and Procedures book this month and starting on the Audit/Internal Controls book next month. I should be ready to nail the audit this year - YAY!
School is going well - I'm in my last core MBA class - less than 3 weeks left then it's online only for the remaining 5 accounting classes. My last day of class is officially 2/23 which means for 3 weeks (right during my b-day) I'll be doubling up on CPA classes and UOP. It will be daunting but I can do it. Then I plunge right into my CPA exam for Business. The review process is grueling but I know I can do it - I made it this far, right? I'm meeting with a gal in 2 weeks to discuss the process and what I can do to be the best prepared for it.
Dane is doing well too -nothing really new on that end. Things are good and he's been very helpful and kind the past couple weeks.
Cats are good too. They are so cute.
That's about all for now! I'll post next week in my surgery drugged out haze! Fun!
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Time For a Change
So all my posts recently have been all about what I'm doing. No girth or depth. Recently I haven't had time to think about much other than the day to day stuff but believe me there are thoughts twirling around in my brain.
For starters I get really sick of Dane's attitude with me on a lot of stuff. He often asks like I ask the world of him when asking for help around the house or to do things that should be on his radar (considering he's an adult) like getting his hair trimmed in a timely manner. Then he lays this guilt trip on me about how he provides such a nice life for me and I'd be in a cardboard box w/o him (my words, not his). And while I appreciate what he does for our life together, I hate having him dangle it over my head like I'm some stay-at-home wife that doesn't earn her keep.
I'm just venting really, but it does do a mind f*ck on me. I get so mad sometimes that I wish we weren't married and I could just leave. Sometimes I think "what's the point", I don't want to change the way he is but at the sametime he's not what I want/need. What to do, what to do?
In other aspects I'm so happy with Dane. I really don't want to leave him but I get tired of being his shadow. I'm sure everything will be fine. Just some thoughts to chew on.
For starters I get really sick of Dane's attitude with me on a lot of stuff. He often asks like I ask the world of him when asking for help around the house or to do things that should be on his radar (considering he's an adult) like getting his hair trimmed in a timely manner. Then he lays this guilt trip on me about how he provides such a nice life for me and I'd be in a cardboard box w/o him (my words, not his). And while I appreciate what he does for our life together, I hate having him dangle it over my head like I'm some stay-at-home wife that doesn't earn her keep.
I'm just venting really, but it does do a mind f*ck on me. I get so mad sometimes that I wish we weren't married and I could just leave. Sometimes I think "what's the point", I don't want to change the way he is but at the sametime he's not what I want/need. What to do, what to do?
In other aspects I'm so happy with Dane. I really don't want to leave him but I get tired of being his shadow. I'm sure everything will be fine. Just some thoughts to chew on.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Do You Know the Way to San Jose?
La la la la la. I don't know any other words to that song.
So the trip to see the folks was wonderful. Dad said he wouldn't even know he had a heart attack if not for the hospital bills. And of course the other things like medications and diet changes. But still, he's doing great and it was great to see them.
We had a great, relaxing weekend full of good homecooked meals. I hadn't realized how much I missed my parents till this weekend. So many things I miss like going to their house and just gazing in the pantry and fridge. I miss the sound the pot makes when steam escapes it and the release valve bounces off the pan lid (that sound always comforted me because it meant food was on the way). I miss wearing my dad's robe. I miss using my mom's hair products. I miss being wrapped up in their bed. I miss looking at the pictures of my life and my family's life.
I liked talking to my parents and just plain hanging out with them. We went to my mom's work on Friday at Dole Berry and I got a tour of the place. Pretty cool how they take care of the fruit. Then we went to lunch and got to see the sea otters and sea lions - fat crazy loud animals that they are. We went to the store and got some supplies for our meals. The grocery store by their house is so cheap that we got what we needed for 5 meals for 4 adults for just over $100! Can you believe that!
Saturday Mom and I went to get some pedicures, which was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed that time with her to sit and chat. Mom is going to help make my parade costume. She took my ideas and gave them girth and brought them to life with a little of her own creativity. It's so nice to have her help with that. Then we made a late lunch, early dinner then watched the Indiana Jones movies. Sunday we slept in then went to see the new Indiana Jones movie, good flick, then went home and hung out talking and what not. We had a lot of good chats.
Monday we slept in again, packed, then went to the airport and we were back home before we knew it. It was a nice quick trip that I think we can and should do more often. At least till they come live up in Seattle. :-P
School is coming along, in my last week of my second to last on campus class. Then its 5 classes of accounting online then graduation! YAY! Dane and I are talking about our options for graduation travel and gifts, which might be a couple of new cars. We're not sure.
Other than that work and the parade are going well. It's tough being a manager sometimes. You have to make decisions you don't want to. *sigh* We'll see how that plays out.
I'm on a crash diet for the next 4 weeks. Dr. E is going to kick my ass when he sees how fat I am. If I can lose a solid 10 lbs then I'll be in better shape. Not just physically but for when I see him for my surgery. Sarah will be here soon and that will be fun. I can't wait to see her. The final details are being worked out. It's gonna be a blast.
I'm off to bed. Dane is in PDX again and I still have some homework to do.
So the trip to see the folks was wonderful. Dad said he wouldn't even know he had a heart attack if not for the hospital bills. And of course the other things like medications and diet changes. But still, he's doing great and it was great to see them.
We had a great, relaxing weekend full of good homecooked meals. I hadn't realized how much I missed my parents till this weekend. So many things I miss like going to their house and just gazing in the pantry and fridge. I miss the sound the pot makes when steam escapes it and the release valve bounces off the pan lid (that sound always comforted me because it meant food was on the way). I miss wearing my dad's robe. I miss using my mom's hair products. I miss being wrapped up in their bed. I miss looking at the pictures of my life and my family's life.
I liked talking to my parents and just plain hanging out with them. We went to my mom's work on Friday at Dole Berry and I got a tour of the place. Pretty cool how they take care of the fruit. Then we went to lunch and got to see the sea otters and sea lions - fat crazy loud animals that they are. We went to the store and got some supplies for our meals. The grocery store by their house is so cheap that we got what we needed for 5 meals for 4 adults for just over $100! Can you believe that!
Saturday Mom and I went to get some pedicures, which was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed that time with her to sit and chat. Mom is going to help make my parade costume. She took my ideas and gave them girth and brought them to life with a little of her own creativity. It's so nice to have her help with that. Then we made a late lunch, early dinner then watched the Indiana Jones movies. Sunday we slept in then went to see the new Indiana Jones movie, good flick, then went home and hung out talking and what not. We had a lot of good chats.
Monday we slept in again, packed, then went to the airport and we were back home before we knew it. It was a nice quick trip that I think we can and should do more often. At least till they come live up in Seattle. :-P
School is coming along, in my last week of my second to last on campus class. Then its 5 classes of accounting online then graduation! YAY! Dane and I are talking about our options for graduation travel and gifts, which might be a couple of new cars. We're not sure.
Other than that work and the parade are going well. It's tough being a manager sometimes. You have to make decisions you don't want to. *sigh* We'll see how that plays out.
I'm on a crash diet for the next 4 weeks. Dr. E is going to kick my ass when he sees how fat I am. If I can lose a solid 10 lbs then I'll be in better shape. Not just physically but for when I see him for my surgery. Sarah will be here soon and that will be fun. I can't wait to see her. The final details are being worked out. It's gonna be a blast.
I'm off to bed. Dane is in PDX again and I still have some homework to do.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Last Year vs. This Year
So I looked at my post from this time last year and how much stuff I was doing and all that jazz and I have to say that I'm shocked I survived it and have lived up to my promise of not packing my schedule so tightly.
In fact this year all that I have going on right now it school, work, and parade. I'm working in a trip to see the folks this weekend and a surgery revision next month, which will put a slight damper on my summer hence plans, but nothing that I can't handle. I'm on track with school and work and even though I have projects on the horizon, I have them scheduled out with enough time to accomplish them all.
In other news I went kayaking this weekend for the first time ever and loved it! It was a little nerve racking at first, but we (Angela and I) stuck it out and had a great time with Alexia and Cieran (Key-err-ann). I can definitely see more of it in my future.
I also stayed home on Saturday night by myself. I had the option to go out but decided to stay home and loved it. It was nice to have some weekend solitude as Dane was mountain biking with friends in Portland. I'm glad he was able to get out and be active.
Our financial plans are in order and on budget despite setbacks. Of course my overage check from UOP helped that but still. Dane's debt and our Egypt debt (the wedding has long since been paid off) are almost cleared up. Like in a matter of months we will have a lot of cash on our hands that we haven't had in a long time if ever. We are working on plans for this money as it will be a lot and we don't want to get used to living with that kind of excess cash, rather save it away for whatever we want to do in the next few years, be that buy a house, a car, travel or a combo of the three. I'm scared of buying a house but could be coerced.
Other than that things are plugging away just fine. I'm looking forward to the parade and Sarah's visit. It will be a lot of fun.
Now if I could just drop about 20 lbs I'd be set. :-)
In fact this year all that I have going on right now it school, work, and parade. I'm working in a trip to see the folks this weekend and a surgery revision next month, which will put a slight damper on my summer hence plans, but nothing that I can't handle. I'm on track with school and work and even though I have projects on the horizon, I have them scheduled out with enough time to accomplish them all.
In other news I went kayaking this weekend for the first time ever and loved it! It was a little nerve racking at first, but we (Angela and I) stuck it out and had a great time with Alexia and Cieran (Key-err-ann). I can definitely see more of it in my future.
I also stayed home on Saturday night by myself. I had the option to go out but decided to stay home and loved it. It was nice to have some weekend solitude as Dane was mountain biking with friends in Portland. I'm glad he was able to get out and be active.
Our financial plans are in order and on budget despite setbacks. Of course my overage check from UOP helped that but still. Dane's debt and our Egypt debt (the wedding has long since been paid off) are almost cleared up. Like in a matter of months we will have a lot of cash on our hands that we haven't had in a long time if ever. We are working on plans for this money as it will be a lot and we don't want to get used to living with that kind of excess cash, rather save it away for whatever we want to do in the next few years, be that buy a house, a car, travel or a combo of the three. I'm scared of buying a house but could be coerced.
Other than that things are plugging away just fine. I'm looking forward to the parade and Sarah's visit. It will be a lot of fun.
Now if I could just drop about 20 lbs I'd be set. :-)
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Oops
Well, I've done it again. I haven't posted in a while. My bad. Let's recap:
Work - going well, I'm neck deep in budgets after a short closing month (finance committee meets tomorrow) and I feel that I am doing very well for the budget process. I'm sure I haven't thought of everything but I feel like I'm ahead of the game, thanks to help from my staff. I present the budgets to the managers tomorrow and have even prepared a PPT presentation that I hope will go over well. I'm really taking charge of the budget process this year (and I might even ask Jim to "own" it more than he does) which I feel will help alieviate the issues we ran into this current year. Up next: prepare for audit which will absolutely require the next 5 months. It wont be cleanup like last year, instead preparation and getting inline with all the new standards for 08.
School - going well too. I made a post that got some classmates in a funk but all seems well now. I really feel sometimes like people need too much guidance and just can't function without clear, step by step guidelines. Sometimes its okay to just go with an idea, but I get that that's not for everyone. One more class and I'll be done with the general portion of the MBA then on to the core accounting portion. I should be done with classes by March of next year, set to walk in Phoenix in July.
Travel - speaking of - there are plans in the works for next July's vacation. I am talking with RBMBA about Central or South America but these plans aren't concrete and I have some other ideas that I'm rattling around in my head, such as buying a new car from Volvo, Mercedes, or Audi and doing a Europe trip to pick up the car. Not sure, depends on money and several other factors. In the meantime, we are going to California next week to see my folks and I'm really looking forward to that. We've talked about going to the Midwest to see my grandparents but I'm not sure that we can afford that. Same for my ideas to go to Colorado in August and somewhere in October. I honestly think that we just can't afford to go anywhere till next year and I'd rather save our money for another big trip anyway.
Surgery - is still a go for next month. A slight revision and some touch up work. All paid for, so we are good with that but I'm nervous about the healing process and I feel I've gained some weight that I just can't shed.
Fitness - I am still going to spinning on Mon and now that the parade is almost here I'm going to class for that 3 nights a week. Otherwise, I'm not really going to the gym. I am taking the bus almost everyday and that in itself adds about a mile of walking each day. I'm trying to stay active on the weekends and now that the weather is starting to get nicer that should be easier.
Parade - is going to awesome this year! First and foremost, Sarah will be in town (see more below) but also I really like the theme. It's pink for peace and I'm totally on-board with the costuming and meaning behind the parade. Meaning being taking back the woman's carnal power of beauty and attraction (real beauty not the media's idea of beauty) and turning that into the power of persuasion which leads to negotiation which leads to peace and love and everything that is wonderful and woman! I'm in the advanced string this year w/ HG and while it is a big committment, it's well worth it. And with Dane gone in PDX all the time it gives me something to do and stay out of trouble.
Dane - is doing well. Traveling a lot and dealing with his staff but overall he's enjoying life. He's going on an all-dudes mountain biking trek this weekend outside of PDX that I think will be great for him. He's finally conceded to giving up and selling the banshee and montero. About time.
Sarah - is coming to town in a month. I'm happy to be hosting her and can't wait for her to see our place and hang out. What's more is Max will be with her and I'm excited to see how he's grown! What's on the docket? Burlesque, spa trip, Pike Place, parade, party, rest, then she goes to the North while I go on my surgery leave, then she's back home as quick as she came, but it will be a good visit.
Cats - are doing good. Willy almost has his meow. Stinker and Boo are still fat and Dewey is cute as ever. He has some troubling blood on him (this just happened tonight) but I think we can manage it and he'll be fine.
Long-term - plans include some more legislative and lobbying work for me. I have some grand ideas in store for how I can help Treehouse with their strategies for the next 3 - 5 years as well as how I can help the foster child system in the US. Probably all just pipe dreams right now, but I feel like I'm on the course to something really big and life changing. Stay tuned!
So that's about it for now. I'll try to be better at posting as things happen, but life seems full tilt all the time yet not much worth "writing home about." I'm sure that will change and I'll have fun stuff to blog about soon enough.
Work - going well, I'm neck deep in budgets after a short closing month (finance committee meets tomorrow) and I feel that I am doing very well for the budget process. I'm sure I haven't thought of everything but I feel like I'm ahead of the game, thanks to help from my staff. I present the budgets to the managers tomorrow and have even prepared a PPT presentation that I hope will go over well. I'm really taking charge of the budget process this year (and I might even ask Jim to "own" it more than he does) which I feel will help alieviate the issues we ran into this current year. Up next: prepare for audit which will absolutely require the next 5 months. It wont be cleanup like last year, instead preparation and getting inline with all the new standards for 08.
School - going well too. I made a post that got some classmates in a funk but all seems well now. I really feel sometimes like people need too much guidance and just can't function without clear, step by step guidelines. Sometimes its okay to just go with an idea, but I get that that's not for everyone. One more class and I'll be done with the general portion of the MBA then on to the core accounting portion. I should be done with classes by March of next year, set to walk in Phoenix in July.
Travel - speaking of - there are plans in the works for next July's vacation. I am talking with RBMBA about Central or South America but these plans aren't concrete and I have some other ideas that I'm rattling around in my head, such as buying a new car from Volvo, Mercedes, or Audi and doing a Europe trip to pick up the car. Not sure, depends on money and several other factors. In the meantime, we are going to California next week to see my folks and I'm really looking forward to that. We've talked about going to the Midwest to see my grandparents but I'm not sure that we can afford that. Same for my ideas to go to Colorado in August and somewhere in October. I honestly think that we just can't afford to go anywhere till next year and I'd rather save our money for another big trip anyway.
Surgery - is still a go for next month. A slight revision and some touch up work. All paid for, so we are good with that but I'm nervous about the healing process and I feel I've gained some weight that I just can't shed.
Fitness - I am still going to spinning on Mon and now that the parade is almost here I'm going to class for that 3 nights a week. Otherwise, I'm not really going to the gym. I am taking the bus almost everyday and that in itself adds about a mile of walking each day. I'm trying to stay active on the weekends and now that the weather is starting to get nicer that should be easier.
Parade - is going to awesome this year! First and foremost, Sarah will be in town (see more below) but also I really like the theme. It's pink for peace and I'm totally on-board with the costuming and meaning behind the parade. Meaning being taking back the woman's carnal power of beauty and attraction (real beauty not the media's idea of beauty) and turning that into the power of persuasion which leads to negotiation which leads to peace and love and everything that is wonderful and woman! I'm in the advanced string this year w/ HG and while it is a big committment, it's well worth it. And with Dane gone in PDX all the time it gives me something to do and stay out of trouble.
Dane - is doing well. Traveling a lot and dealing with his staff but overall he's enjoying life. He's going on an all-dudes mountain biking trek this weekend outside of PDX that I think will be great for him. He's finally conceded to giving up and selling the banshee and montero. About time.
Sarah - is coming to town in a month. I'm happy to be hosting her and can't wait for her to see our place and hang out. What's more is Max will be with her and I'm excited to see how he's grown! What's on the docket? Burlesque, spa trip, Pike Place, parade, party, rest, then she goes to the North while I go on my surgery leave, then she's back home as quick as she came, but it will be a good visit.
Cats - are doing good. Willy almost has his meow. Stinker and Boo are still fat and Dewey is cute as ever. He has some troubling blood on him (this just happened tonight) but I think we can manage it and he'll be fine.
Long-term - plans include some more legislative and lobbying work for me. I have some grand ideas in store for how I can help Treehouse with their strategies for the next 3 - 5 years as well as how I can help the foster child system in the US. Probably all just pipe dreams right now, but I feel like I'm on the course to something really big and life changing. Stay tuned!
So that's about it for now. I'll try to be better at posting as things happen, but life seems full tilt all the time yet not much worth "writing home about." I'm sure that will change and I'll have fun stuff to blog about soon enough.
Monday, April 28, 2008
I'm Back
Well I've been back [from Egypt] for almost a week now and I can honestly say that I haven't entirely recovered. My body is still weary, I dont' have all my energy back, nor my appetite (unless it's first thing in the morning), my innards are still queezy, and I'm still waking earlier than I might normally (and going to bed WAY early) but I think that within the next few days I will be right as rain.
We are going to the gym tonight in an effort to get back on track of normal life and try to get some energy. There is so much to do around the house. I have to finish laundry, clean up the storage room, the garage, the office area, my art room, and bedroom. I have to balance my books, return some items purchased for Egypt that weren't used, homework, the list goes on. Not to mention I have to work the next two Saturdays.
The parade classes start next week. I'm looking forward to that. It will be nice to participate in it without all the craziness that was going on last year.
The busy season is about to start at work. I have to get the budget process rolling, then prepare for fiscal year end/audit, then go through with the audit. Seems like I just got out of busy season.
I only have two more oncampus classes for UOP then 5 online classes. So just over halfway done. Another year and I'll be studying for the CPA exam, right on schedule! After that I will take a long ass break. Who knows what I'll do - nothing, law, nothing, more accounting, nothing, bartending, nothing. I'm not sure. I'll let time decide, I'm weary of making decisions.
So while I'm happy to be home, I'm already considering my next big and small travel plans. We had thought about going to San Juan over Memorial Day, Colorado over Labor Day, Houston in October but it was also suggested to go to Hawaii and I would looooove to do that. I also want to see my folks and my grandparents. Not sure what I can do about all that. I know that it will be a year before we go on another big excursion. RBMBA wants to do Jamaica - that would be fun. Then there's France. Or Antartica. The list goes on. Seems like there's not enough time to do what we want. Oh, and I'll graduate from UOP, so there's a trip to Phoenix. Yikes.
Anyway - all is well and continues to be well and I'm hopeful that that wont change. :-)
We are going to the gym tonight in an effort to get back on track of normal life and try to get some energy. There is so much to do around the house. I have to finish laundry, clean up the storage room, the garage, the office area, my art room, and bedroom. I have to balance my books, return some items purchased for Egypt that weren't used, homework, the list goes on. Not to mention I have to work the next two Saturdays.
The parade classes start next week. I'm looking forward to that. It will be nice to participate in it without all the craziness that was going on last year.
The busy season is about to start at work. I have to get the budget process rolling, then prepare for fiscal year end/audit, then go through with the audit. Seems like I just got out of busy season.
I only have two more oncampus classes for UOP then 5 online classes. So just over halfway done. Another year and I'll be studying for the CPA exam, right on schedule! After that I will take a long ass break. Who knows what I'll do - nothing, law, nothing, more accounting, nothing, bartending, nothing. I'm not sure. I'll let time decide, I'm weary of making decisions.
So while I'm happy to be home, I'm already considering my next big and small travel plans. We had thought about going to San Juan over Memorial Day, Colorado over Labor Day, Houston in October but it was also suggested to go to Hawaii and I would looooove to do that. I also want to see my folks and my grandparents. Not sure what I can do about all that. I know that it will be a year before we go on another big excursion. RBMBA wants to do Jamaica - that would be fun. Then there's France. Or Antartica. The list goes on. Seems like there's not enough time to do what we want. Oh, and I'll graduate from UOP, so there's a trip to Phoenix. Yikes.
Anyway - all is well and continues to be well and I'm hopeful that that wont change. :-)
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Egypt Tour
Hello folks - those of you interested in our trip to Egypt should turn your sights to my Egypt blog which will have all the information anyone would need to know where we are, how to reach us, and what we'll be doing.
We will also update this blog during our trip as internet cafes become available. Also, our house/cat-keeper, Nick, will be updating the Egypt blog as he speaks to us when we call in for check ups. We figured it would be easier to have all the information in one spot and have one point person rather than email everyone or make dozens of calls or wake people up at 3 in the morning.
So here you go - http://huishegypt.blogspot.com/
We will also update this blog during our trip as internet cafes become available. Also, our house/cat-keeper, Nick, will be updating the Egypt blog as he speaks to us when we call in for check ups. We figured it would be easier to have all the information in one spot and have one point person rather than email everyone or make dozens of calls or wake people up at 3 in the morning.
So here you go - http://huishegypt.blogspot.com/
Monday, March 03, 2008
Nothing but DNA...
After a fun evening with Dane (to celebrate our "marriage date night") at McCormick and Schmicks courtesy of a coupon my dad got in December after Alaska Airlines delayed his flight, it became apparent to me that I should blog on my divorce with my sister.
First and foremost, I did not come to this decision lightly and I take it very seriously. I am not happy that it has come to this but I have decided that I cannot endure anymore hardship because of it.
Basically for the past couple years, I really can't put my finger on when though, my relationship with my sister has been strained. I have tried and tried and tried to be her friend, be a good sister, and do the things that family is supposed to do. I'll admit, I'm not the best. I forget birthdays, I never send out cards, and the best gift you can hope to get from me is a gift card. Anyway, I've tried to reach out to her and connect and I'm always met with this surface sister. Stacy plays her cards very close to her chest and there are only a select few that she allows in to her circle. Sadly, her family has never been on that list.
This could be for a lot of reasons, I imagine and I must disclose at this point it is all my opinion and speculation based on events, emotions, and facts as interpreted by me. I could be very far off base but the truth is I will never know because Stacy is so shut off and whatever answer(s) I would get from her couldn't really be trusted for the same reasons.
Here it is: the foundation for our demise is probably best layed out as we are two different people in every way. Personality, family, friends, lifestyles, goals, interests, and values. Put simply, the only thing that binds us is our DNA, our parents. We are 10 years (almost to the day) apart in age, she being older, and for that reason she has always been placed as an authority figure in my life. I really feel like that stunted our growth as sisters and the bond I see so many siblings have. That aside, we differ as follows:
Personality - I am very outgoing, what you see is what you get. You will always know exactly what I'm thinking and how I feel. Stacy is passive aggressive, shy, pensive, and bottled up.
Family - Dane and I will always be a family of two plus our beloved cats. Stacy has two kids and feels a sense of entitlement because of her kids and family, as if people owe her, or her kids, a special piece of themselves simply because they are her kids.
Lifestyles - I am very career driven and motivated to excel. I live life in the fast lane, relatively speaking. I love to have a great time but also know my limits and responsibilities. Stacy lives for her family - every waking breath is for her husband and kids and everything else is a byproduct.
Goals - I want to travel the world, lead a successful professional life, and be a life-long learner. Stacy simply wants the best for her kids by any means necessary (I should note that our differing characters aren't right or wrong - just that - different).
Interests - I like motorcycles, traveling, partying, learning, dancing, and so on. Stacy's interests lie with her kids. I really have no idea what she likes as an adult.
Again, I'm not saying that I'm right and she's wrong, I'm just laying the foundation for why we are different and don't really connect. So now that I've layed that out there, I'll try to cite examples or explain why I think that I don't fit in to her life and will never be her friend/sister.
She feels that people should make an effort to see her and her kids, not the other way around. She should not be put out to make the relationship work, nay, if you don't make all the effort then you are a bad person for not being involved in her/her kid's lives. While I understand that having children definitely complicates things, it shouldn't be your default excuse as to why you can or can't do something or why people always have to come to you and work around your schedule.
I am hurt that Stacy and her family did not even try to make an effort to come to my wedding or even really acknowledge or show interest in it. That really showed me where I rank in her life, especially considering she's traveled to Mexico before (twice) with her friends AND even has her own travel agency where she could have received a discount for her/her family's travel.
But even then I didn't shut the door on our relationship. I wanted to but decided against it. Instead I made a point to visit with her one last time, this time assessing her actions and what I was to her. She barely acknowledged me, would not let me talk about my wedding much less ask about it, never asked one question about me or my life or how I am in Washington, everything was about her and her kids.
So when I try to have a relationship with her kids outside of her, I am met with a flood of excuses, including (and I quote) "Ashley can't come see you in WA! What if terrorists fly the plane into the Space Needle?" Admittedly she was trying to be funny but she was also making a point and the point is "you cannot have contact with my children without me being present."
This leads me to my final conclusion about our relationship. One that is entirely separate of the other. I firmly believe that she blames and judges me for Isis's death. Whatever she believes, I'm not certain, but her tone is loud and clear "you are an unfit mother that cannot be around kids." Now that I think about it, I have never been able to have one on one time with my niece and nephew and doubt that I ever would. Then I am made out to be a monster for not "being a part of their lives." She won't let me!! I am closer to my god-daughter Kailea and Peck and Sarah's kids than I am to my own flesh and blood!
Also, I can't stand how Stacy talks about our parents. Whatever she thinks of mom doesn't matter, she's still our mom and I love her, especially all her quirks! And Stacy is so quick to put her hand out and say "gimme gimme gimme [for my kids]" to our parents, as if our parents OWE her that, yet she doesn't love them unconditionally or even enough to justify the gifts she and her family gets (not that children have to love their parent's in order to receive gifts, but more that she feels its a one-way street). And then she wonders why mom had more of a bond with Isis, nevermind that mom was practically her sole caretaker.
Whatever - it gets me boiled and I felt it necessary to document my thoughts on the matter so that I can come back and reflect and adjust as necessary.
To end this blog on a lighter note, Dane and I have been saving our money for Egypt and in doing that we have started sharing entrees when we go out to eat. Not only does this cut the costs, but it also cuts the portion size. We have found that by splitting our meals we leave with full bellies but not grossly full, we have bonded in a cute way that is only possible when a meal is truly shared, and we will be able to afford our excursions without compromising Egypt.
It's tough because it's hard to say no when friends ask to do something or a movie comes out that we really want to see or we feel like we need a night out. I keep telling myself it's only a month. I think as school and work picks up I won't think about it as much.
Till next time!
First and foremost, I did not come to this decision lightly and I take it very seriously. I am not happy that it has come to this but I have decided that I cannot endure anymore hardship because of it.
Basically for the past couple years, I really can't put my finger on when though, my relationship with my sister has been strained. I have tried and tried and tried to be her friend, be a good sister, and do the things that family is supposed to do. I'll admit, I'm not the best. I forget birthdays, I never send out cards, and the best gift you can hope to get from me is a gift card. Anyway, I've tried to reach out to her and connect and I'm always met with this surface sister. Stacy plays her cards very close to her chest and there are only a select few that she allows in to her circle. Sadly, her family has never been on that list.
This could be for a lot of reasons, I imagine and I must disclose at this point it is all my opinion and speculation based on events, emotions, and facts as interpreted by me. I could be very far off base but the truth is I will never know because Stacy is so shut off and whatever answer(s) I would get from her couldn't really be trusted for the same reasons.
Here it is: the foundation for our demise is probably best layed out as we are two different people in every way. Personality, family, friends, lifestyles, goals, interests, and values. Put simply, the only thing that binds us is our DNA, our parents. We are 10 years (almost to the day) apart in age, she being older, and for that reason she has always been placed as an authority figure in my life. I really feel like that stunted our growth as sisters and the bond I see so many siblings have. That aside, we differ as follows:
Personality - I am very outgoing, what you see is what you get. You will always know exactly what I'm thinking and how I feel. Stacy is passive aggressive, shy, pensive, and bottled up.
Family - Dane and I will always be a family of two plus our beloved cats. Stacy has two kids and feels a sense of entitlement because of her kids and family, as if people owe her, or her kids, a special piece of themselves simply because they are her kids.
Lifestyles - I am very career driven and motivated to excel. I live life in the fast lane, relatively speaking. I love to have a great time but also know my limits and responsibilities. Stacy lives for her family - every waking breath is for her husband and kids and everything else is a byproduct.
Goals - I want to travel the world, lead a successful professional life, and be a life-long learner. Stacy simply wants the best for her kids by any means necessary (I should note that our differing characters aren't right or wrong - just that - different).
Interests - I like motorcycles, traveling, partying, learning, dancing, and so on. Stacy's interests lie with her kids. I really have no idea what she likes as an adult.
Again, I'm not saying that I'm right and she's wrong, I'm just laying the foundation for why we are different and don't really connect. So now that I've layed that out there, I'll try to cite examples or explain why I think that I don't fit in to her life and will never be her friend/sister.
She feels that people should make an effort to see her and her kids, not the other way around. She should not be put out to make the relationship work, nay, if you don't make all the effort then you are a bad person for not being involved in her/her kid's lives. While I understand that having children definitely complicates things, it shouldn't be your default excuse as to why you can or can't do something or why people always have to come to you and work around your schedule.
I am hurt that Stacy and her family did not even try to make an effort to come to my wedding or even really acknowledge or show interest in it. That really showed me where I rank in her life, especially considering she's traveled to Mexico before (twice) with her friends AND even has her own travel agency where she could have received a discount for her/her family's travel.
But even then I didn't shut the door on our relationship. I wanted to but decided against it. Instead I made a point to visit with her one last time, this time assessing her actions and what I was to her. She barely acknowledged me, would not let me talk about my wedding much less ask about it, never asked one question about me or my life or how I am in Washington, everything was about her and her kids.
So when I try to have a relationship with her kids outside of her, I am met with a flood of excuses, including (and I quote) "Ashley can't come see you in WA! What if terrorists fly the plane into the Space Needle?" Admittedly she was trying to be funny but she was also making a point and the point is "you cannot have contact with my children without me being present."
This leads me to my final conclusion about our relationship. One that is entirely separate of the other. I firmly believe that she blames and judges me for Isis's death. Whatever she believes, I'm not certain, but her tone is loud and clear "you are an unfit mother that cannot be around kids." Now that I think about it, I have never been able to have one on one time with my niece and nephew and doubt that I ever would. Then I am made out to be a monster for not "being a part of their lives." She won't let me!! I am closer to my god-daughter Kailea and Peck and Sarah's kids than I am to my own flesh and blood!
Also, I can't stand how Stacy talks about our parents. Whatever she thinks of mom doesn't matter, she's still our mom and I love her, especially all her quirks! And Stacy is so quick to put her hand out and say "gimme gimme gimme [for my kids]" to our parents, as if our parents OWE her that, yet she doesn't love them unconditionally or even enough to justify the gifts she and her family gets (not that children have to love their parent's in order to receive gifts, but more that she feels its a one-way street). And then she wonders why mom had more of a bond with Isis, nevermind that mom was practically her sole caretaker.
Whatever - it gets me boiled and I felt it necessary to document my thoughts on the matter so that I can come back and reflect and adjust as necessary.
To end this blog on a lighter note, Dane and I have been saving our money for Egypt and in doing that we have started sharing entrees when we go out to eat. Not only does this cut the costs, but it also cuts the portion size. We have found that by splitting our meals we leave with full bellies but not grossly full, we have bonded in a cute way that is only possible when a meal is truly shared, and we will be able to afford our excursions without compromising Egypt.
It's tough because it's hard to say no when friends ask to do something or a movie comes out that we really want to see or we feel like we need a night out. I keep telling myself it's only a month. I think as school and work picks up I won't think about it as much.
Till next time!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)