today's entry is brought to you by the letter S for Susan, because she is my new inspiration and I feel her (as in, "i feel ya giiiirrl.")

First off...

Happy Year of the Dog!!!

This is my year... and if you know Chinese astrology, you know that means I will be 24 this year (this August). Woot. I'm a big fan of this stuff. If you want to find out what year you are, and what this says about you, check out this site. This is what they say about the dog:

Dogs are honest, straightforward, and friendly. They are extremely protective of themselves and their loved ones. With a passion for fair play and justice, they never fail to rescue you time after time. They may rant and rave, but they never rest until they right the wrong. They are true humanitarians and suffer with the world. In spite of their concern for others,social graces and fancy parties do not impress them. Having sharp eyes, they will see through people's motives. They are quite private about their personal lives and someone prying into their affairs make them secretive and withdrawn. Once you gain their confidence, they open up freely.

Once Dogs classify you, they rarely change their minds. There are few in-betweens. Dogs perceive things either in black or white. You are either friend or enemy. Luckily, they are good judges of character and have superb insight into human nature. Dogs are tolerant of their friends. Before they approve of you, the friendship must develop slowly with a variety of meetings and conversations. If they look you over and decide they can trust you, you remain in their hearts forever. If you need them, Dogs will be there.

When the time is right, Dogs work long and hard, but they know how to relax, and enjoy their home and loved ones. The Dogs have playful moods and a great sense of humor. They have quick emotions and if you offend them, they will snarl and insult you with expertise. They forgive with the same speed. Dogs are intelligent and well-balanced. With their stable minds, they make good counselors or psychologists. They endure during any crisis situation. They are trustworthy people and know how to keep a secret. Being efficient and very diplomatic, they can hide their prejudices well. Most Dogs have a comfortable home and do well. Dogs always defend what is theirs and have a high sense of value. Home and family come first, and Dogs will work to see that they have the best!

So the weekend was nice. Very fast paced and busy, which made it fly by, but nice all the same. Pat stopped by on Friday night. Ro was out with some friends and a coworker, so Pat wanted some company. He relaxed with us for a bit and watched some TV, then was nice enough to take Ro's bridesmaid dress home with him.

Saturday morning we woke up early to get ready for the day. I had a hair appointment to get to, and was dropping Travis off at Willy's on the way. We thought we were spending the night so we had bags to pack too. All was uneventful getting up to and back from the hair appointment. I decided to go the extra distance back to our house to grab the one thing we forgot, and called travis to let him know about my progress. Turns out the extra bedroom was being used for the evening, I didn't have to drive back to the house... so I ended up with three times the deja vu (especially when we drove up there again the next day)... and determined that sometimes i just hate driving. At least it was a gorgeous day.
I also made myself feel better by stopping at TJ Maxx and getting the coolest earrings. I LOVE earrings... the way some women love shoes. I could wear the same jeans and long sleeved t-shirt and shoes every single day for a year, as long as I have a different pair of earrings everyday!

At Willy's Trav and I were helping get things ready for his party. Today Willy will be 82 years old, can you believe it?

Happy Birthday Willy!!!

This man loves to party, so we were preparing for one. His sisters, neighbors, and many friends came. It was a great time... tiring, but fun. And I loved getting to hang out with his sisters (Trav's great aunts), they are hilarious women. Cookie takes the cake.. "Get those puppies outta my face!"
After a long day we headed home to get some sleep... the party was still going strong without us, but our early morning, long day, and the impending arrival of another early morning combine to wipe us out.

Sunday dawn foggy and gray. Lovely. Just what we were going for with our engagement pictures! See the storm that is our relationship!! Lol. All in all I think the shots went well. We were able to take some inside while it rained, and it stopped quickly enough that we were able to get plenty outside. I'm waiting to get the email from the photographer that she has them up on the website for our review. I can't wait to check them out, and I will certainly post some of my favorites.

Phil then graced us with his drunken presence at McGrady's for a birthday lunch, which was enjoyable... and certainly amusing. After that it was on the see Laura and the kids. And low, they can read! It makes me miss them all the more to see them growing and learning in leaps and bounds. I mean, Anna! She is amazing... I'm sending a big "shove it" to all the people that think or thought she not as smart as her siblings because she doesn't talk as clearly. She was reading all the months of the year, all the days of the week, names, action words, etc! I think she is reading ahead of her sisters! HA! These kids are just amazing. I'm so proud off them, and love watching them grow up. I can't even imagine how it will feel when I have my own kids!

So after that we headed to see my family... specifically my brother, who will be turning 16 this weekend. He is a great kid, but definitely your typical teenager.

Well, its Monday now... the weekend, over. Today is work. Just like every other day. But the evening has fun things in store... including a family birthday dinner for Willy at: The Mandarin. I cannot wait to eat sushi, and have a nice relaxing fun family evening. It will also be my chance to say goodbye to Trav's mom who is returning to Arizona tomorrow.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

So can I take a moment and discuss something completely unrelated? Good.
Lately I feel like my body has turned against me. I feel sluggish, softy, pudgy, and basically just unfit. Dieting is not an option for me. I love food too much. I do try to take care to eat only when I am genuinely hungry, and not just bored or such... and I am trying to eat better foods. But I know that I need to get moving more. It's just so hard when it is dark before I get home, and cold/miserable outside.
Momma H got me these neat leg bands that can be added to most any activity to jack up the calorie burning and muscle strengthening quota, so now I just have to get my lazy ass to break them out. I know that every little bit helps, so I am thinking that if I just take the stairs more, and pop these babies on when I'm at home... well hopefully I will start feeling at least somewhat better. I can't let myself turn into a slug every winter. But right now, I can't wait for spring... we can start playing tennis again, maybe I can find somewhere to swim, and I can just get myself outside and moving again. Minus the expensive gym membership, how do you keep yourself in shape in the winter months? I'm starting to outgrown clothes and it is very depressing.... Encourage me!!

On the above note: If I just wrote about topics that Susan wrote about a day or two after her, would people notice? Would they think it was just a coincidense... or realize that work and wedding plannin has sapped all the creative and independent thinking right out of me. I swear, for the past few days everytime I read Friday Playdate I am reminded of something that I wanted to write about anyway, but that I haven't had the time, energy, or creativity to form coherent thoughts on until Susan inspired me to do so. I swear I will try to stop.

Well, I really should get back to work... oh look, its sunny out again (I'm so glad that apparently yesterday was the ONLY craptastic day). How nice.

Smile, its the year of the dog... and I loves ya.

in the eye of the beholder

This is mostly brought on by what Susan had to say... but it is something that I think about often as well.

Why do we bloggers blog (or as dooce might say, blobbers blob)?
In a word (well, two): to entertain. To entertain ourselves, to entertain others, just for the hell of it. No where in my contract with the outside world does it say that I cannot exaggerate, story tell, or otherwise deviate from the rather monotonous existance that is my life. I don't come out with blatent falsehoods... but if my night was more of a meow and i make it sound like a ROAR, well that is my perogative, and I think you are all happier for it. (Can you pick out the four words in the previous paragraph that I had to sound out in an attempt to spell them?)

Honestly, if I wrote only the exact progression of my daily existance M-F would go something like this:

January 26th, 2006: I woke up today, which was an amazing feat in and of itself. Then I lay there and stare at the ceiling for a few minutes wondering what I did to deserve morning to happen to me. I got up, peed, brushed my teeth, showered, brushed my hair, put on deoderant and yummy smelling cranberry perfume, then dressed (meaning tried on 37 different outfits because while I am low maintance, this morning was particularly difficult), grabbed my backpack, and left for work. I took the train, looked at girl scout cookies in the train station, lammented my lack of money, and froze my nipples off walking the 4 or so blocks to work. I worked, or at least was a bodily feature in my office at work, ate lunch at lunchtime (normally something in a box that says microwave meal), then left at 5. I froze my nips off again walking back to the train station. I read as the train carried me home, where Travis was waiting (preparing dinner, deciding on dinner, staring at the fridge in confusion... whatever), and we eat. Then we lounge. And maybe watch Tv. Then we sleep.

January 27th, 2006: Repeat.

To be honest, I don't really deviate much... but hasn't everyone learned by now to take things with a grain of humorous salt. Nothing (and no one) in this world is 100% "angle-free" (except for all those adorable babies).

Okay, so maybe you are getting the impression that I am talking about the "million little..." whatever stuff. I am and I'm not. It encouraged it. But suddenly people are feeling the need to explain themselves, to defend themselves, and frankly there is no need. And f-it, I won't!*

(*I guess technically one could say that this whole entry is an explination/defense, but that wasn't exactly what I was going for... and frankly, going out on "I won't" sounds a lot better then going out on "well, I just did!")

the silly things i think of when i am alone.

Last night Travis went to bed around 8ish... obviously he was still feeling not quite up to snuff, and I was left to entertain myself for the last two hours before bedtime. There was no way I could go to bed that early because I would just be laying there, staring at the ceiling, like a DeathRow Inmate at T-minus 1 damn night.
But that is something else completely.

I entertained myself on the computer for a while, picking out what will be the first of many many bridal shower gifts that I buy this year. This one happens to be for a friend getting married in May. Then it was time to head downstairs and watch one of my favorite shows... House. We LOVE House... with his sharp British wit, and his American accent, and his i don't care but secretly I do attitude... well, honestly what is not to love about this shows quirky main character. Just the fact that I can describe him as quirky is good enough for me... because believe me, I know quirky, and well, I like quirky.
But lo, there was no House to be found due to the PHENOMENON that is American Ideal (or, at least, that is what the TV tells me... and the TV is to be believed always). I was a tad bit disappointed until I remember the fun to be had watching teenagers making asses of themselves on camera. Obviously something was not right about these individuals... because if there is one thing that my parents taught me it is: if you are going to make an ass of yourself make sure it is not on camera.

Now maybe you are all reading this wondering what the punchline will be... because I just realized that I set this all up like a story that was Going Somwhere. But in fact it isn't because it pretty much ends with me going to bed at my normal time.
But this story does have a BIG SCARY THUNDERSTORM!!!!!!!! (By the way, I Love thunderstorms.) But, in fact, thats about all there is to the story anyway... um, after the show, I went to bed, and there was a BIG SCARY THUNDERSTORM. Then I went to sleep. But the Thunderstorm was big... and bright, blinding me even with the shades completely closed.

But moving on. A great big thanks to Twist of Kate where the got the loverly Top Ten below. I hope to see some triva about you as well...

Ten Top Trivia Tips about ANewDay!

1. Olympic badminton rules say that ANewDay must have exactly fourteen feathers.
2. ANewDayomancy is the art of telling the future with ANewDay.
3. The pupil of an octopus's eye is shaped like ANewDay!
4. In the 1600s, tobacco was frequently prescribed to treat headaches, bad breath and ANewDay.
5. The number one cause of blindness in the United States is ANewDay.
6. Britain's Millennium Dome is more than double the size of ANewDay!
7. ANewDay can squeeze her entire body through a hole the size of her beak.
8. Ostriches stick their heads in ANewDay not to hide but to look for water.
9. The Australian billygoat plum contains a hundred times more Vitamin C than ANewDay!
10. California is the biggest exporter of ANewDay in the world!

I am interested in - do tell me aboutherhimitthem

So anyway, on that note... well, actually, on this next note... I will leave you.

I just realized (son of a b*tch), that I left my grandfathers birthday card at home. grr.

Okay, that's all. Ciao!

impatience, not exactly a virtue.

Two big important things (that both involve about 37 smaller things) that both need to be done NOW for work. Pain in my ass.
All I really want is my dooce... but she is not updating. Where are you Heather?! Let the updating commence. No pressure to be funny, but I'm in the want it now kind of mood.

This morning was freezing and icy... and I was a bit snippy with Travis, which I feel very bad about (he's kind of sick). But I am not what one might call a bit morning person.


Honestly, I feel like I'm all over the place right now.
We have a lot of busy weekends ahead of us, but other then work, during the week it is very quiet around here. This weekend we have a hair appt. (well I have a hair appt.), Willy's birthday, and our engagement shots up at Lehigh. The following weekend is my brother's 16th birthday, and of course, the SuperBowl. After that we are meeting with the women at our reception site to take care of some details, and maybe arrange for the tasting... and we might (hopefully) be meeting with a DJ then too. We also have about 6 other birthdays coming up (not including the two biggies listed above) for close friends.
But during the week, we have quiet nights. We eat dinner at the dining room table, and talk. Then we maybe check our email or do some chores or something like that... then if one of our shows are on, we'll flip on the TV for a little... then we're in bed at 10. Doesn't make for much blog fodder, but it is exactly what I need to counteract the busy weekends and the stressful work days.

Anyway, that was a tangent in and of itself. So off I go, I really do have a ton to complete.

ps.

you probably can't really tell from those pictures (of the dancing), but I am grooving my new jeans.

love it.

here we go... da, da-da-da-da... pittsburghs going to the superbowl...

Friday was long... good, but long. All day at the Union League working our conference... and I was even in early (due to Travis having to drop me at the train station, and due to him deciding that it needed to be done at 7:15 in the am). But the conference stuff went smoothly, and all was well, and after a quick train ride to Willy's house we headed off to Seven Springs with Willy and Barb for the weekend.
The drive went pretty quickly. We only stopped once and got there in about 4 hours. Not too shabby. It was great getting to see so much family(-in-law) and family friends(-in-law?). I love the condo up there, its so cozy and we're so comfortable there... and we had a lot of fun. We were up late, and slept in some too. We ate so much good food, including homemade eggrolls. Saturday night we went to the lodge and did some of this:

Then some of this:

And oh yea, some of this:

It was great, although after the weekend I was a tired girl!

Sunday we started off the morning in the hot tub, then relaxed and watched the game. Travis and I snuck away for a little before the game started to grab some lunch at the lodge, which was really nice. Love family, but sometimes you need a little quiet! Then it was game time, and in that household it is all about the Steelers!!! I was routing for them too... being that my Eagles (where my real and everlasting devotion lies) are long out, it will be awesome to have PA represented in the SuperBowl. That plus the fact that I LOVE Troy Polamalu!!

That hair, that energy... he is just awesome!
And he was no slacker yesterday!

Of course, everyone was pumped up after the game... and we used those high spirits to carry us through our ride back home. Travis and I took Barb and Willy home, then headed off to our own humble abode where we opened, played with Henry, and quickly got to sleep.

Now it is back to work, but work should also be back to normal now. Our events planner is here and we have a bit of a brake before anymore conferences... SO, hopefully I can catch up on my other work and have a bit more relaxing time at it.

Okay, away I go.

working lunch, i am moving up in the world

Now this, this is what good blogging is all about.

I'm off to a working lunch for last minute details for our conference today and tomorrow. Wish me luck that this goes smoothly. Wish me luck also that I don't spill dressing down my shirt front or some other equally stupid lunch faux pas.

Ciao.

rain and paperwork and receptions... oh my...

Work is so not all its cracked up to be.
Yesterday I stayed late due to insurmountable pipes of paper work, which I did in the end get done (surmout?). This morning I stood in the rain waiting for my train for an hour. Despite the use of an umbrella, my backpack and pant legs were soaked. What a way to start the day.
Tomorrow I also get the honor of staying late, but that shouldn't be too bad because it is for a reception. At least I hope it won't be too bad.


On another note, what the hell happened to So Not Martha?! She is gone, disappeared... her whole blog just wiped out!
Come back to us SNM!!! We miss you!



Ps. If you like cute things... check out this site, appropriately entitled Cute Overload. Even I can only look at it every few days, but here are two too cute examples.

(Okay, so there are actually three... but I just couldn't decide... they are all just so damn cute!!!)

back to work

Yesterday was great and i think gave me enough uplift to survive the week in tact. We agreed on a photographer! And I got to sleep in! I figured out wording for our wedding save the dates and invites!! Then I got chores done! And then, best of all the goodness, I went shopping and FOUND JEANS!! That fit!!! TWO WHOLE PAIRS!!!!! That FIT!!!

Woo... you do not even understand what that does for a girls self esteem and whole outlook on life. So the final buy (after this debacle): Kohls, a pair of Levi's 515s and a pair of Sonoma jeans. Even better... Both on sale!

After that I headed out and picked Ro up for work and delivered her to the shop where her Jeep was being given a little fix. Then it was off to home for a relaxing evening. It was a good day.

Today is back to work and business as usual... but I'm still in a good mood!

PSA: todays regularly scheduled post will be MIA... I'm lazy

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! What an amazing man... what would he have done in his life if he had not been killed? What would he be doing now?

We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" we can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair. I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slaveowners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.

Hopefully we all share his dream... hopefully we will all continue to push for all men to be created equal.

lets go steelers...

I have to route for the Steelers since the Eagles are out (... out isn't even a strong enought word), come on PA!!

I'm happy... I think we may have found our photographer.
And tomorrow I have off of work. :-)

I'm going to try and have a productive Monday. I like productive, it makes me feel good... and especially when its private life productive and not just work productive.

Happy Sunday People!

9 months to go...

Counting down the days...

The wedding, and our 6 year anny (same day), are approaching so fast... There is so much to do, but I also just want to sit back and enjoy this time with Trav, our family, and our friends. Weddings are overwhelming... although I am enjoying the planning.

Here's the list:

Bridal Party DONE
Ceremony Site DONE
Reception Site DONE
Officiant DONE
Guest List DONE
d.j. IN PROGRESS
Photographer IN PROGRESS
Cake Baker and Design BAKER DONE, DESIGN IN PROGRESS
Dress DONE
Save the Dates COMING SOON
Wedding Bands CHOSEN (not ordering for another few months)
Linens COMING SOON (meeting in Feb.)
Flowers
Decorations IN PROGRESS
Music
Bridal Party Attire GIRLS DONE, BOYS NOT SO MUCH
Invitations
Timeline IN PROGRESS
Parent's Gifts
Bridesmaid's Gifts IN PROGRESS
Groomsmen's Gifts
My Jewelry IN PROGRESS
Rehearsal and Rehearsal Dinner IN PROGRESS
Programs DESIGNED (waiting on finilizing, printing, etc until about three weeks before)
Favors
Old
New DONE
Borrowed
Blue DONE
etc!!

Oh boy, oh boy. And we have two to three weddings to attend before ours. One of which we are both in, and one of which Travis is a reader for. I think after this year I will be all weddinged out for a little while.

Okay, work time.

indifference

When I was in middle school and high school, I really thought that I could change the world. I signed petitions, I talked about morality and equality, I drempt about adoption of kids, pets, and wild animals alike.

Yesterday, in the train station, I avoided someone who was talking to people about a petition. Not looking for money, not looking for volunteering time, just looking for 30 seconds to sign a petition.
And I avoided them.

I wonder about growing up in general, and now about being in the city. Am I becoming indifferent? Calloused? Jaded?

I no longer feel like I can completely change my own world, let alone the big wide whole. I still feel strongly about many of the same things, but now I also feel like fighting, for the most part, is just not worth it. They are either going to be no where near their signature goal, or they are going to meet it... my one name is not going to make the difference.

In my head I know differently, but in my heart I'm tired. And I am too young to be tired.

more drugs, more more more drugs.

Last night I took two sleeping pills, the recommended dose, of a sleep aid that picked up a few days ago. It said, take at bedtime, so I assume they are supposed to kick in after the normal amount of time... maybe 15-20minutes. So I took as I was running through my evening ritual... brushing teeth, taking the pill, peeing, etc.
At the conclusion of said ritual, I was very excited, and eagerly jumped into bed to await the promised sleep. I closed my eyes happily, and slowed my breathing (a technique i use to try and make myself fall asleep everynight, with little result), and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

And waited.

An hour later, i was still waiting for the blessed sleep.
Sure I felt a little loopier (woo woo!), but otherwise, nada. Not one iota drowsier then before I took the stupid blue pills.

This morning, I felt about normal when getting up. Not anymore groggy then normal, as one might expect when ingesting sleeping medication and, you know, not sleeping (side note: well, i did sleep, but no more or sooner or deeper then normal, but you get my drift). Apparently my insomnia laden body eats blue pills for breakfast. Ha! Take that blue pill! You have no power over me!

*sigh*

Tourist for a day...

It was fun to play a tourist for the day. To do a tour, and really look at the things that because of living here it is easy to overlook. We all had a great time (me and the real tourists). All of the delegations members were wonderful. Polite and eager.
I have some pictures for your viewing pleasure... (that's right, take note, I took pictures and uploaded them ON THE SAME DAY!).

First the Liberty Bell... you can see Independence Hall through the window behind it.

And me with the Liberty Bell...

Here is the Christ Church... its old and lovely.

Here's Washington's Pew in Christ Church... I sat my ass where Georgie did!

And here is the gorgeous Philadelphia skyline from in front of the Art Museum.

The show at the Constitution Center is wonderful and well worth seeing. And honestly, who could think of a better way to spend a Monday! It was great. Today things are pretty much back to normal... normal work stuff, normal schedule. That is fine with me, last week was enough stress to last a while.

Okay, back to... ciao.

loafing...

Our schedules have been all out of wack this weekend. Normally our bedtime is 10ish... even on the weekends we tend to head to bed not too long after that (unless we are out or something special), but Friday night we were up until after 1... for no reason at all. The surprise of all surprises, while I did wake up around 7:30 like normal, I was able to fall back asleep until 10:45!!! That is an eternity. I can't remember sleeping in that long for ages. And Travis slept until almost 1!!! Last night was the same thing, up real late... but things were back to normal for me this morning and I was awake for good around 7:30.

I'm in a great mood though. This weekend has been pretty nice and relaxing. Yesterday, when we finally got up we headed out to see Willy, helped him out with some food stuff, then headed to Borders to use the gift card we got from my brother for Christmas. After that we headed out to the mall so I could try and find some jeans. My current pair (my perfect, fits like a glove, super comfy, make me feel sexy jeans...) are just getting too worn out. I'll still wear them and home and out on the weekends until they literally fall apart, but they are too worn out for casual fridays at work now, or for other casual (but not too casual) times. Unfortunately, no jeans were found. Five stores (Strawbridges, Gap, Express, NY&Co., and one other that I can't remember the name of), about 20 pairs of jeans, and not one fit me. Not One.
It's a little hard on a girls self esteem. All jeans are too big in my waist, but too small in my butt and thighs. It's hard having a tiny waist, and a HUGE caboose. :-( I love my curves, but they are a b*tch to dress. Any suggestions would be appreciated!!

Today we are lounging about some more... will run out later for a bit to pick some stuff up, but otherwise it is all about relaxing. Just what I needed after this past week. But that stuff is basically over now. The conference participants are getting in tonight and tomorrow, there is an all day tour of Philly tomorrow for the foreign delegates (which I get to attend!), then the actual conference stuff from tomorrow evening until wednesday morning. I'm pretty excited for the tour... I've never seen a lot of the tourist stuff in Philly (even the liberty bell or constitution center).

I also found a beautiful barrette and veil on ebay, which I won and am bidding on respectively, and makes me very happy in the wedding department.

Okay, off I go... but here are some pictures I snapped of Trav and I a bit after midnight on New Years Eve (well, then it was New Years Day)... we were drunk and happy!

This one is so cute because he was brushing the hair out of my face.

This one is just cute!

Ciao!!

complaining... because its my blog and i can complain if i want to...

I just have to vent, and you just have to bear with me. After today, things should be better. Because no matter what, the conference will be in effect, and the planning itself will be over. For better or worse.

Things today that made me want to yell, stamp my feet, cry, or some combination of those three:

1. 2 days ago we met to discuss what was yet to be done, boss said at that time that he would talk to guy A about his hotel needs. today i ask him for said information and he replies, "oh right... um, can you just ask him?" grrr. (he's not in office yet, so we agree i will try to "catch him" on the way in)
2. yesterday we had completed one side of some packets that needed to be put together to hand out to participants. boss promised completion of items for second side this morning when he arrived (we have a committee meeting in the library today, which is also were we put together our packets, so they needed to be completed to get them out of the way for the meeting). instead he started on them this morning. grrrr.
3. coworker insists on moving packets parts to an office so they are out of the way of the meeting (1 hour before meeting time)... office is too small, we have no real room to work, but still manage to finish in about 25 minutes (aka plenty of time to have moved completed packets before meeting, instead of having to work in the damn office!). grrr...
4. just get done with packets, head back to my office to check emails and make a few phone calls for conference items... boss pokes head in. "did you talk to guy A?" um no, i was crammed in a too small office with 2 other people putting together packets, with stuff that you didn't have completed when you said you would have it completed, and couldn't see him come in. however, how nice of you to ask when you obviously say him come in, and probably even talked to him before coming to me. grrr.....
5. i talk to guy A to vacillates between one night and two nights, "deciding" on one, then "deciding" on another, for about 10 minutes with me standing there before finally making a real decision. i let my boss know what he decided. "oh, yea, that's what i was going to tell you to do anyway" grrrr......
6. get emails from coworkers telling me what i need to do with some information, when we do not have said information, and they are the ones that are getting me said information! I know what i need to do, do your part, and then we will talk. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry, I know I probably sound like a whiny baby with my comedy of errors list (hey, i never got to use my number feature before!)... but I just needed to vent.

At least monday I get to go on a tour of philly with the chinese and japanese delegation... I've never been on a tour here. It is my grand reward, and I deserve it! :-)

Okay, I feel better now. Have a nice weekend.

ps. I should mention that dispite todays tribulations, I heart every single one of my coworkers (well, almost every single one). They are wonderful, and normally very good to me. This is just a trial for us all, but this is not their blog, so they do not get equal say or a side. This is all about my side.

So for now, they all suck... even though I love them.

a neat short

Check out a neat indie short located here, called the Christmas Chronicles... created by the husband of one of my high school friends. He is very creative, and I think this one is gorgeous.

Let me know what you think.

full speed ahead!

Well, this new year has certainly started off at full speed! I feel like I have hit the ground at a flat-out run, and I'm already starting to lose my breathe.
The conference stuff is progressing rapidly, and I'm getting everything done, but its just so much to do and think about, and I feel like I can't take a second (well, i suppose i can take a second, because I'm here writing this, but this is the only break i'm getting until i go home).
Plus I had doctors appts to make, and wedding appts to make, and its just so much.

In lieu of me having to come up with actual interesting things to say here, please read this from Dooce. Heather always makes me want to be a mommy now, like right this second, and with that piece (her monthly letter to her daughter) even undid all the damage to my female yearning done by Brenna's painful birth story (in three parts, just click the next button at the top of the page). Here is a highlight (of the painful birth):

It made me CRAZY, the contractions took over, and the pain was incredible. I could see the pain in my head (it was in the form of a fence post being knocked down, very crazy). I was screaming to get into the tub! And that's when the nurse said, "how about an epidural?". Casey said, "doesn't she have to be 4 CM for the epidural." I grabbed his arm, and said, "Are you asking a question or making a statement because that sounded like a statement?" He very frighteningly looked at me, then the nurse, and said, "I'm asking a question?".

Which, by the way, leads me to say a big old HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRENNA!!!
And here is a highlight of the Heather which undid the painful birth:

You often sing your ABC’s and stop after T because the rest of the song doesn’t interest you. I don’t blame you, after T it’s all down hill and one of the last lines of the song? Hello? “Now I know my ABC’s?” Why do you have to point that out when you just SANG THE WHOLE ALPHABET. If people would pay attention they would come to that conclusion ON THEIR OWN. A few days ago after getting you dressed for the day I asked you to walk with your father to the living room so that I could go Pee-Pee. At first you didn’t want to go, but your father finally convinced you to let me be alone, that sometimes human beings like to be by themselves when they go Pee-Pee. As you walked away I heard you sing, “L-M-N-O-Pee-Pee.”

And this:

Sometimes I see you playing across the room by yourself and I will selfishly interrupt you and ask you if you’d like me to scratch your back. You’ll look up and say, “Scatch!” and walk over and lie belly-down across my lap so that I can scratch your back and the palms of your hands. My mom used to scratch my back just like this, and I used to worry that she would grow tired of it because I wanted her to do it so much. But now I think that she was worried about the same thing, that maybe I would get tired of it because she liked to scratch my back. So I want you to know just in case you ever get worried, I won’t ever get tired of this.

Don't you all just want to pop out babies now, tons of babies with all of their adorable babyness?!
So until I can catch my breathe, all that wonderfulness will just have to do.
Right now I have to go go go go go some more.

... back jack, do it again ...

So it's back to the daily grind as we all know and love it. Vacation was nice, with lots of celebration and fanfare, but now its time to return to your life. Already in Progress.

For me that means conference details to organize before the week is out (ahhhhh!!!!!), wedding planning (i can finally say this year!), a house to clean up (although the Christmas decorations are away as of yesterday), etc.

We watched a movie yesterday and lounged about, and it was nice.
I didn't sleep much last night, which was not so nice. I think I might break down and buy some OTC sleeping pills today. But maybe not, I might chicken out. Those things scare me more then not sleeping does.

So who's made their new years resolutions? I like thinking about the New Year as a chance for rejuvination and a fresh start of sorts, but resolutions just end up being broken and making you feel bad. I would rather just say that right now I am very content in most parts of my life, and as long as I am happy and content in more parts of my life then parts I'm feeling bad about... well thats pretty darn good, and I don't need to strive to some weird measure of perfection that isn't realistic.
Sure there are things I hope to accomplish in the new year... the completion of wedding planning without losing my mind in the process, getting myself in a bit better shape (so I feel better)... but I'm not hanging those things on a pass or fail resolution.

But I am nosey and do want to know about your resolutions!!

Okay, time to finish lunch.

Happy 2006!!!!!

First, a great Meme from Twist of Kate...
Here it is....you take the first sentence of the first post of each month...and you get a sort of year in review.

January: Wow, I can't believe it is 2005 already! I mean... it was just Halloween yesterday, wasn't it?

February: What's new, what's new? Well last week and the week before were the weeks of birthdays, 8 birthdays in 9 days.

March: So first off, let me just state for the record that I'm on the same page as Stella being a little disappointed in the "new and improved" easyjournal... although it is a little easier on the eyes, it isn't suddenly great.

April: Greeting, on this sunny and warm spring day.

May: So 90% of what I thought I was doing this weekend has changed in some way... but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

June: So I am happy to report that you all brought me to a new time high in visits to my little corner of the internet in May... numbers that had not been reached since March, and I am happy to think that it is because you all come here to watch my slow decay into insanity.

July: Welcome to my new blogger page!

August: I cannot believe that it is August already. This is ridiculous!

September: Three weeks to go until autumn is finally here... that excites me in ways that you don't even know.

October: Well it is now my favorite month of the whole year... and despite the fact that it is going to be EXTREMELY busy at work for the whole month, I'm going to try and enjoy it to the best of my ability.

November: It seems like blogger is as tired as I am today.

December: Once again it is time for... Half Naked Thursday!

So now I officially say, goodbye 2005...

Happy New Year!!!!
2006

Can you believe that it's the new year. What does it hold for us? What's in store? No one can know until it gets here. Goodbye 2005, you were a pretty good year all in all. Lots of excitment, some disappointment... and now its over.

There is so much more to come, most of it as yet unknown. Here is your very own sneak peek preview of what we do know:


February: my baby brother turns 16! crazy...
March: Kim & Harry's wedding
April: Brian & Stacey's wedding
May: Travis' b-day, and two years at my job
July: Megan & Mike's wedding
August: My 24th...

Then, of course, it's OUR Wedding (October)!!!


Oh the things to come... Everyone enjoy your fresh start.
I'm getting married this year!

ps.

Congratulations to Slink & Lindsey on your engagement!!!!!!!!!!