The things I love, The things I hate,

Hello my favorite elves and sugarplums! How I have missed you! I promise in the next few days and weeks I'll let you in on the craziness that has been my life. Ever feel like you are rooted up and dumped in a new spot? That's been me. After time and thoughts I'm coming to peace. I promise to share all. The good. The bad. The worst. The light. But today I feel like sharing a little of me in the now rather than what brought me to now. So here it is 3 things I'm hating and 3 things I'm loving.

3 Things I'm Hating
1. Those 40+ hairs that I accidentally fried off while round brushing my hair last month. Those mutinous bastards are sticking straight up any more on my forehead aka Something About Mary style. Yeah. That's just awesome.

2. I'm hating people who think only of themselves at Christmas. It was once my favorite holiday and honestly I carry around cash just to stuff in the red buckets of bell rings. The moment you make a difference in anyone's life means a lot to me and the fact that they will never know means the most. So to all those people who bitch about how Christmas time is to stressful, open your eyes. This isn't about you. Open your heart.

3. No snow. It's Christmas time in Colorado and down in the metro Denver area we've seen as little white as a Hilton sister wedding. Nilche. I miss the snow.

3 Things I Love Right Now
1. I'm loving this Barbie. Maybe it's a little Dexter meets Oxygen Networks Snapped, but way to take control Barbie! Check out the little poochie in the corner just staring at headless Ken.

2. The text I got from my girls today who recently moved to the Lonestar state. "Hey girl I miss ya!" That's the type of thing that makes me smile for a random instant in the day. Big mental hug to one of my besties. Hope she felt it.

3. And I'm a country girl no matter where I go in life so a little country music makes me happy. At this moment I'm smiling to a little Blake Shelton's Who Are You When I'm Not Looking on repeat.

What are you loving (or hating) right now?

27 may have a bite, but hey, I've got teeth too.

I’ve been absent. My blogging buddies as we all know absent bloggers often mean something big is happening in our lives or a few somethings big. In my case it is the later. Big, I mean BIG things are happening in my little corner of the world.

As all of you know I took turning 27 a little hard.  I was panicking with my “what the hell have I done with my life?” and my 20s are just seeping away like a bottle of tequila on margarita Monday in a sorority house. A strange thing happened when the actual birthday came. I was perfectly calm and unaffected.

I’m convinced it was due to my new plan to grapple with that bitch 27, and I’m not above pulling hair or eye gauging in this case. After the initial calm 27 poked her catty head in the door, snickered at me and with the wrathful indifference only she can have threw up all kinds of suckiness on my new comfy pillow top couch and my life. Hello bad news and angry feeling. Make yourself at home. So yeah, round 1 went to 27.    

But despite the crap she brought in her wake I'm coming out the winner. 27 is going down. I've come up screaming, gasping for air and fists swinging. One month in and volatile 27 is vacuuming up my living room and tipping her head to me. And maybe we will one day be friends. Maybe. 

I’m taking that step I whined so much while tucking my head in between my knees because 26 was panicking about coming to an end. 27 seems to be respecting that as she snidely remarks "It's about damn time. That cowering whiner isn't you." I'm taking all the crap 27 brought in on her arrival in stride and stomping the hell out of it when it peeks at me in a manner other than meekly. And in the mists of all of this there was that step I'm taking that will make an exciting change for the better. The BIG change for the good that is exciting, slightly nerve racking because of the constant talk of economic issues, but exciting none the less. 

What BIG thing are you making happen?

The time I woke up on the floor

Let me preface this post by saying that, surprisingly enough, this incident wasn’t caused by alcohol. Oh there was alcohol in my system, but that was decidedly not the culprit that led me to wake up on the floor.

Last night I decided I seriously needed to relax, especially since my back muscles were still incredibly sore from my lovely episode with the masochistic masseur. I’m a big fan of Absorbine. I use it all the time when boarding for days in a row to keep my muscles from knotting up and cutting short my next day shredding the mountain. (BTW – It’s a topical anesthetic that relieve sore muscles) And of course I don’t use the Absorbine Jr. you can find in the pharmacy. Nope that stuffs for wimps. If you’re going to use it you might as well get the full strength stuff that they sell at the feed store and use on horses. I swear it’s perfectly safe.

In happy anticipation of relieving my battered muscles I dumped a good cup of Absorbine into the bathtub, filled it up and settled in for a good soak with a glass of wine and a book. For good measure I squirted some on my back too to give my muscle relief plan a little jump start. After pruning myself for about an hour I was feeling nice are relaxed. Yes, my night was looking pretty good.

I hopped out, toweled off, wrapped my hair in the towel and headed into the bedroom where Oz was laying on the floor. I bent over to give his belly a quick rub and when I stood back up again my vision went wonky sort of like tunnel vision, but more like I was falling into a deep hole. Oh wait, I was falling. Next thing I know my ass is waking up on the floor and I realized holy crap! I’d just fainted!

I’ve never in my life fainted. I always thought it was some ridiculous thing people with weak constitutions did and I’m made of sterner stuff than that. Apparently not. My next thought was damn that hurt! Anything you’ve seen in the movies is a lie. When you faint you don’t gracefully crumble to the ground. You crash land with a thud and how that does instantly snap someone back to reality again I don’t know. That’s all it took for me to become coherent real quick.

And yes, my nice little Absorbine soak was at fault for my sudden inability to stay vertical. Part of why it works is because it relaxes your capillaries allowing blood to flow more freely. After bending over a standing up really quickly about 6 times in less than a minute all the blood must have been rushing in and out of my head. Oops! At least my back feels awesome today. ;)

Hump Day - Get Over It

I'm completely addicted to massages. If I could get them on a regular basis I would. One of the things I loved about The Man when we got together was that he was constantly offering to give me massages. It was wonderful though now I've made him acknowledge that it was blatant false advertising since that didn't last very long past the initial trying to get in my pants phase. Anyways, I found an awesome deal on Groupon for a new place that opened up by my house and since I'm a sucker for their deals I bought one. I went into the place toting my little Groupon deal and psyched beyond belief. Big mistake!! Apparently my masseur was over giving all these damn massages by that point because it was the absolute work massage of my life. A four-year-old wacking me with a rolling pin and a wooden spoon would have felt better. The worst part - that ass actually gave me bruises on my back! I have olive skin and I don't bruise easy so here's a tip to that masseur - find a new line of work cause you suck! Here's to getting over it.

Your Touch - The Black Keys

Sitting with My Head in a Paper Bag

So I’m sitting here thinking about what is coming up on Friday and I’m panicking. Literally, I’m getting nervous, short of breath. Hell, I’m going to start sweating and may need to put my head between my knees and scream until my lungs are empty. I’m panicking. I have 4 more days before I reach the big 2-7.

Okay, I know 27 isn’t typically one of those age numbers that people get worked up about, but for me it’s began to fill like this giant drop off point and there’s a big orange and white blockade with one of those incredibly bright orange rotating lights that is trying to warn me of something. Oh, that’s right. It’s warning me that my 20s are seeping away. It’s warning me that I’ve been out of college for 5 years (where the hell did that time go?) and I haven’t been to even half the places I was so eager to go and I’m standing here staring at a computer screen wondering what the hell I’m doing.

I always figured 26 would be the one that hit me in the gut. The one that said that I’m officially closer to 30 then to 21. The one that says I can’t just act like a dumb ass or screw up monumentally if I feel like it, because I’m an adult. It doesn’t matter that I’ve been fiscally responsible for myself since I was 18. Nope. Still didn’t feel like an adult then, just a teenage with a lot of life pressure and bills.

To squelch my panic-ridden-aging-self, I’m taking another step. In truth, 26 has been filled with lots of steps from giving the idea of having a life plan my middle finger to embracing my new desire to do something good for others and not only myself. But this one is a big one. I’m making my dreams and wants a priority. No more focusing on the what I should be doing. Should is over rated anyway.

I’m not selfish; I’m just living my life for me, for the enjoyment, pleasure and fulfillment of me. I’m embracing that mantra. I’m going to tattoo it on my forehead so that when I wake up every morning it’s in my face saying “Hey. Remember me? What you said you’re going to do with your life?” I’m stopping just being and getting back to living. Maybe I'll make a bucket list for my 20s. Who said it had to be for when you die?

What is your priority?

Hump Day - Get Over It

I'm having one of those days. The one where you feel like yanking at the roots of you hair - not to pull it out cause then you'd be bald, but merely to give it a good stretch praying it will relieve some of this tension you feel. At the very least it should at least pull the skin on my forehead a little tighter like a natural botox treatment getting rid of these two little lines that are becoming permanently embedded between my eyebrows. And I know the two instigators are causing those lines: one- the man, two - the j-o-b. So for today's Hump Day we are going to relieve some of that tension.

Dear Dryer. I hate you.

Let me begin by saying I’m not the kind of person who automatically resorts to blaming others for my shortcomings. However, since this obviously isn’t my shortcoming, but a morbid plot that my laundering machinery has hatched out, I feel the need to call that bitch out.

Let me assure you that it hasn’t started all at once. She’s been sneaky about it. She started by shrinking one article then another. It was all done so casually that I even began to blame the man for a short amount of time. After all, he’s a guy’s guy and those types are notorious for being less then efficient in any domestic matters. I probably owe him an apology since it wasn’t him who shrunk two of my favorite sun dresses so it now looks like I’m purposely trying to show the world what color my thong is. Natural to think he may have had something to do with that.

However, now that overgrown piece of soon to be scrap metal is being just plain unforgiving. I went to put on my favorite pair of jean shorts last weekend, you know the kind all worn and comfy and glorious in the summertime, and she’d done it again. The damn things wouldn’t button!

I was forgiving when she shrunk my capris to the point that they now cut off the circulation to my legs. I may walk like I’m on stilts because I can’t bend my knees in my only pair of expensive rock republic jeans, but I didn’t hold it against her.

I checked in with every girls arch nemesis, the dreaded scale. And no, he’s not out to get me. He happily told me I’ve only put on two measly pounds this summer, most likely from all that South American vacation food. I’m very doubtful that all two pounds somehow managed to migrate directly to my ass.

Which leaves me with one conclusion, that harmless looking lint pot has it out for me.  With this last assault she has gone too far. I hate her. I’m calling her out. This. Means. War.

Who would you like to send hate mail too?

Duck Tape Prom Dresses?

Have you ever seen something so creative it makes you stop and stare for a minute? Literally, you stare at it for a whole minute. That’s what I just happened to me. I was baffled. The creativity and talent some people have truly amazes me!

I read about the Duck Tapes Stuck at Prom Scholarship Content today and was completely envious of some serious talent these people have. That and I was baffled that apparently this has been going on for 10 years and I’d never heard of it before. Seriously though, I can’t even wrap a bowl in saran wrap without it looking like serious mess let alone make something wearable out of duct tape. The crazy part (yes, aside from the fact that it is tape) is that you can’t even tell this is tape!

It's a Monday - My brain isn't working & I'm digging random crap day!

I'm obsessed with random crap. Random facts, talents, urges, thoughts, misadventures, whatever. And no, not the dirty kind of urges all you pervs who's head instantly sank to the gutter and is probably still bobbing along in there, but the odd kind like that sudden urge you have to stick gum in someone's ear because it is a hole and you suddenly have the random urge to plug that hole. Or maybe you feel the need to suddenly visit every town in the U.S. with a sexually innuendo in it's name. Whatever that randomness may be I love it. Love to hear about it, Love to share it.

My randomness today is filled with a few things. First, I decided to hop onto the Mingle Monday at Life of Meg this morning and check out some new random blogs that I would never of found otherwise.

Second, I came across this sweet ad (go figure I'm in marketing) promoting the Bloody Mary Tudor exhit at the London Dungeon. This is truly amazing and would definitely catch my attention! And apparently I'm not the only one. It's now been banned in train stations and tubes where it ran because of complaints form parents who's children crapped their pants upon seeing it. Literally! Now that is a good ad.



Third on my random plate today are these fun suitcase stickers from TheCheeky.com. Yes, they may cause a few odd looks from people as you wheel your suitcase through the airport and you may have to do some explaining in the security line, but you'd never pick up the wrong bag or have some random guy fondle your bag ever again.

   

What is your randomness today?

Blame it on the Booze. Blame it on Jenny.

I realized the other day that it has been way, and I mean WAY too long since I've gotten together with some of my best girlies from college. I was telling the man how it was time for me to have a random girls weekend. We all live only a few hours apart, so we try to get together and hang, drink beers, make snarky comments at anyone in the vicinity – in essence be our fabulous selves - every few months. Unfortunately March was our last go round. The man’s comments to my spur of the moment idea? “Sure, but don't get thrown out of a bar this time.”

Damn! I swear he never forgets anything. That instantly got me thinking about the last time we were together and how I managed to get my happy ass bounce out of a bar for the second time in my life. Now I feel the need to share. Settle in. It's not a short story, but it's definitely worth it.

The last time the girls all came into town we were going out and getting shitty in true college throw back style which meant a hotel room would become mandatory. (Remember kids, never drink and drive.) After bouncing around to several bars we finally ended up hitting a very cliche clubby style place complete with $8 beers, posers getting bottle service to get girls to talk to them, and a 22-year-old wavering between puking in the toilet and passing out with her face on the seat. This is not my kind of scene at all being a sports bar, live music scene or hidden dive bar kind of girl myself, however some of the others live in the W-Y-O so clubs are a rarity to be explored whenever possible.

Before arriving the night had been fairly tame. We were tipping back drinks, throwing back the occasional shot and laughing about everything out of the other's mouth. Nothing too excessive. I should have known we were in for trouble when Jen sauntered up to one of the poser's with bottle service, grabbed the bottle and topped of all of our drinks with Grey Goose (thank god we were already drinking vodka or that could have gotten nasty.)

Sometime shortly after, and several top offs later, the dancing vibe took hold of us all. As we elbowed our way onto the overcrowded dance floor we somehow managed to get stuck along the side by the velvety roped off booths. I honestly can't remember how it happened, maybe it was just to crowded and Jen didn't realize that the rope was right behind her, but the next thing I know she's falling head first onto the privileged side and dragging me down with her. Apparently they weren't so thrilled to have us literally crashing their little party.

I was up and on my feet quick enough, but Jen definitely wasn't having somehow tangled herself up with the rope and poles that hold it. She did have some assistance though, unfortunately it was in the form of three pissed off bouncers who picked her up  -two at her legs and one with her arms - and began to drag her out of the club. Nothing pisses me off more then rude ass people. They could have asked us to leave or hell better yet turned her over so they weren't carrying her out face down to insure they didn't smack her face on the steps as they hauled her down the stairs and out the door (her face ended up being safe by the way). And since I don't know how to keep my mouth shut and if my friend's ass is getting physically tossed out it's likely I'll be right there mouthing off enough to get tossed too. I'm nothing if not loyal.

But the assholeness didn't stop there. The jerk who'd decided to help me leave the premises didn't just set me down on the street. Nope he felt the need to set me in the middle of the sidewalk and proceed to chest bump me off the curb into the street. I'm 5'4" so having a 6' something guy do this seemed excessive and I wasn't having any of it. I hopped right back up on the curb informing him the sidewalk was public domain and he couldn't evicted me from it with his giant man boobs.

At this point a cop decided to intercede and find out what the issue was. I happily explained my argument and my concerns at the lack of the bouncer's knowledge of the zoning laws, which likely weren't his fault given my doubts that his IQ ever developed past that of a toddler. To my surprise the cop laughed, actually laughed, told the bouncer to desist in harassing me and kindly offered to hail us a cab.


Life Lessons Learned:
1) You can't man handle her, she's a girl! is not a valid argument with bouncers. (Sorry H. It was a good try.)
2) Yelling Put her down now and we can walk out douche bags! will get your ass picked up a hauled out right along with your friend.
3) I can apparently make intelligent legal arguments while bombed.
4) Some cops do have a sense of humor at 1 a.m.

Relationships. Forget the a la carte menu. Go for all inclusive.

2010 has been a seriously interesting year so far. For several of my friends it has been filled with some major life changes and undoubtedly when you’re in one of those moments you get to see the good, the great and the downright eFFed up relationships that you have.

A guy who has repeatedly begged my friend to move clear across the country with him acts surprised when she is hesitant when he can’t even text, yet alone call her, on V-day, her birthday or even within the same 24 hours when she has called him. (douche alert.)

I call bullshit.

A guy friend who asks his girlfriend to move in with him and after she does rips his ass in front of his friends and always takes off for days at a time over every little fight. They she has the nerve to act surprised when he asks her to move out. (Seriously? WTF did she expect to happen?)

I call bullshit.

A girl friend at long last after lots of trying, fertility drugs, one miscarriage, several rounds of AI action and buckets of tears was finally pregnant. At a time in the pregnancy when the baby’s health was in serious question and doctors were preparing her for the possibility of aborting the pregnancy pending some test results her sister-in-law decides to announce that she is pregnant. Oh it gets better, the in-law is only 5 weeks along (hello, you don’t tell people that early) and, get this, doesn’t want my friend to tell her husband cause the in-law wants to tell him on his birthday! (Did she really think he would be thrilled to hear that when they may have to abort his own baby?)

BULLSHIT!

Relationships, whether it is family, friends, hell even business, are a two way street driven by communication and respect. No one should just expect someone else to do something for them just because that is what they want. We have to earn it!

You can’t just pick when it is convenient for you to be part of that relationship and forget all about the other person any other time. A relationship is an intricate dance of give and take. It’s never ending. If you want to be part of it strap on the ballet shoes and bring an extra pair for them.

The beauty of the best relationships are the unexpected little perks that you will get out of them. The friend you’ve spent months listening to vent all their frustrations suddenly stops talking a gives you a big hug because they instinctively know that everything isn’t alright in your world and they’re going to be there for you to cry to, vent to or just lean on. The love of your life who buys 3 avocadoes at the grocery store when it only takes 2 to make guacamole just because he knows you will want one to eat with garlic salt because you do the same for him all the time.

The people who don’t return the sentiments, don’t return the respect, are the ones that you end up being better off without. I’ve spent 5 years weeding out the relationships that haven’t been mutually gratifying to me and invested myself in cultivating the ones that have. As such I’m a happier person.

I do my best to never treat anyone like they are the mustard. You should never be anyone’s condiment. Be the entire entrée with a little dessert thrown in on the side.

Image: healingdream / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Hello Liam. Welcome.

Today was a weird day for me. I'm not, repeat NOT, a kid person and even less of a baby person. Honestly I believe that humans and birdies have the ugliest offspring. We are not attractive in our first few hours and months of our lives. I'm the last person who will ever ask to hold a baby. I don't get why people get so excited and want to cuddle them, make stupid cooey noises and faces at them and tell people that they are the cutest baby ever.

Yep that's me. I'm a bit of a baby hater. My tolerance and mild interest in children begin when they are like 2 or 3 and they have a personality. Then I like to teach them to do things like drop ice cubes down their mother's cleavage or pick coins out of fountains (okay, maybe that is only with my sister's kids. Other people get really pissed off if you do that). At this stage their kind of funny and their view on everything in life is very amusing.

But the odd thing is, I was incredibly excited to hear about Liam making his grand debut this morning. One of my closest friends, Des, is the proud new mother. I'm incredibly excited for her. I was moved by the story she told me of how he made it into the world, how it felt to her, and how the last several hours have been since. I was warmed to the depths of my little baby indifferent heart.

And (gasp!) I find myself excited to say hello to the little guy. Maybe it's because I've been here to hear about everything from his first kicks to all the disgusting things that your body does. Maybe it's because we've been such close friends. Who knows. All I can say is that I'm truly happy for them - not the kind where you say you are happy and wish congrats - but the kind that makes your face tingly and you can't help but smiling.

Welcome to the world little guy!

A Gypsy at Heart

It's true. I have a gypsy's heart. I get the itch. I can't sit still. I can feel an antsiness in my blood. It's all I can do not to pack myself a light bag, grab a case of rockstars and all my favorite CDs, and take off in the car. I don't even really care where I'm going. I wouldn't make a plan of what to do. I'd just know it when I get there.

I've never been very good a staying in one spot. Maybe it comes from living in so many different places growing up or having a revolving door on the houses that brought so many different kind of people into my life. I like newness and change.

We are all wanderers on this earth. Our hearts are full of wonder, and our souls are deep with dreams. 

During the college years I would pick off and take off for days at a time whenever I got the urge. I miss those kind of days. I really miss being able to pick everything up and take off at a moments notice. Sometimes the restrictions of having a steady job, car payments and student loans seem more stifling then rewarding.

I'll be honest. One of the reasons I may be so itchy right now is because my birthday is barely a month away. It's been another year and I tend to become unsure if I'm doing enough with my life. I get that feeling that I'm not living it enough. Then again what is enough?

I often wonder if I'll ever be content and relaxed in the place I am. Will I ever free comfortable and at home with where I am, or am I destined to always feel this itch a couple time a year and yearn to uproot myself and find something new?

Is there any substance that that elusive feeling of home?

The Boobie Jingle

I’ve talked about my job before, but in case you are new here’s a little background: I’m an Account Manager for an internet marketing company. One of our client niche areas is plastic surgery, so I’m constantly cruising through plastic surgery sites all day long.  So yes, I know a ridiculous amount about plastic surgery now. So when I finally get the girls done (It’s going to happen even if it isn’t till after I have kids and make The Man pay to put my body back in the shape it’s supposed to be in. If by some random chance I do have kids that is.) I’m going to know exactly what to look for and what I want.

Anyways, part of my day is spent checking out my client’s competitors to figure out what they are doing and how we can virtually kick their asses. So today I stumbled across something that cracked me up. One of my client’s is in Phily and that, my friends, is where I found what I’m now fondly calling The Boobie Jingle. You can listen to it here.

This is terrible marketing! Whoever came up with this needs to be smacked - repeatedly.

Seriously ladies, does this make any of you want to visit this surgeon?

My Hump Day Pick Me Ups

It's hump day again. Wednesdays for me are always a beotch, and I can always use a little something something to help me get through without napping under my desk or jabbing my eyes out with a pencil.So I figure this week I'd share what's getting me through. Cut to me bouncing in my office chair and yes, I may even bust out a quick air guitar. Aw hump day - here's to getting over it!

(The Spill Canvas - Our Song)

And these are a few of my tried and true make me feel all fuzzy and happy songs:

Modest Mouse - Float On

Snow Patrol - Hands Open
The Barenaked Ladies - The Old Apartment

Racking Up Life's Brownie Points

“Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more.” - Anthony Robbins

In the last several months I've hit this weird stride where I'm being more consiencious of what I'm doing. I'm being all charitable and racking up a few brownie points with life. Knowing me I'm going to need them one day, likely sooner then later. I'm convinced that all those odd random little things that have happened to me are becuase I deserved it in some way. Okay, I know that sounds a lot like Karma, but I'm convinced Karma is only for the really big stuff that you do. Like say you sideswipe an old lady hobbling along with your car or you sleep with every boyfriend your college roommate has had since you started living together. (I know someone who did that second one and I'm convinced that is why all her boyfriend cheat on her now.)  That's when Karma kicks in and bites you in the ass.

The rest is all just lifes little brownie points. You've got so much of them and when you run out those things like someone side swiping your car, breaking a heel, or falling off the curb and spraining your ankle happen. It's the universes way of saying "Hey, asshole. Time to make a contribution for the greater good." Well universe, I got the message. So now I'm working on racking up some of life's little brownie points.

I've mentioned before my recent decision to put in some charity hours at PPRM, but I'm doing more then that. Don't get me wrong, that's the only big thing. I'm not quite willing to give up too much of my time and that's not how you get life's brownie points anyway - remember it has to be little things.

So first I decided to start donating a little money when I got those little please donate to this cause things in the mail. The only ask for $10 so what can that hurt? Beware. I'm convinced that all charities share a database and they flag you when you do this. Not only will you receive tons of requests from them, but then everyone is all over you for money. I killed that idea pretty quick and kept working on my other brownie point gathering tactics that are much easier like letting someone infront of me in traffic and not hitting every free sample stand at Costco on Saturdays 4-8 times and callilng it lunch.

Yesterday I did something big! I'm talking 20 point worth at least. I found a credit card in the parking lot at Target and instead of just leaving it there where anyone could steal it and use it, I took it inside and asked the customer service people to page the lady who's name it was on the card. When no one showed up I made the guy cut it up for me. (Your welcome Agnes something or other.) And you know what? It actually felt pretty damn good. I got the warm and tingles for about 10 minutes. So I guess even if I didn't earn all 20 brownie points, then that's okay.

What are you doing to rack up life's brownie points?

Tuesdays - WTF?

I saw this today, loved it and felt it was a must share cause this is how my week is feeling.

You ever have one of those weeks when everything makes you want to scream and punch coworkers, the guy that was riding his brakes all damn morning and eventually random old ladies on the street for walking slow and smiling at you? (I promise that isn't an everyday occurrence, but more of a random feeling today, and yesterday, and maybe tomorrow.)  Well, that's my week so far. It's one of those that sends me home on a Monday to veg on a coach and watch Leverage on the DVR with 2 giant pint size glasses of homemade Sangria because a wine glass just wasn't going to be big enough.  And it's only Tuesday. 

Makes me seriously wonder where this week is going to end up. But wait, Friday is a half-day of work and Monday is off thanks to the independence of America. God bless the USA, bottle rockets, hot dogs, apple pie, beer koozies, and most importantly our soldiers. Without you I'd be working on Monday and speaking in a funny British accent that would most likely resemble a combo of Kiera Knightley and Charlie Hunnam's real accents (it wouldn't sound to pretty). 

So that brings us to next Tuesday and wondering: WTF will it bring? 

The Misadventures of Lake Powell 2010

So my most recent adventure to Lake Powell was a combination of hilarity, dreams of mice, sunscreen, water floaties and banana hammocks saturated in booze and tossed onto a houseboat that by day two reeked of septic backup. Here are a few highlights:

While some people fly pirate flags, our crew in true Nebraskan fashion flew a Husker flag. That’s right a great big ass red flag with a white N. There was no question where most on this boat hailed from.  And if that wasn’t enough to proclaim where the patrons of that boat belonged then the giant “N” that we was resurrected at our first docking spot definitely was.

And just when I thought I was finally too old to get obscenely drunk and pass out in an odd spot I do, but at least I can blame it on The Man.  Pomegranate Pearl Vodka and a little Sprite Zero go down way to easy! Four ridiculously strong drinks later and a realization that I’ve become a pansy since leaving college, I took a look at the bottle and suddenly felt myself hit a wall. My drunk sea legs weren’t going to cut it anymore.  I was done. Out for the count. So what do I do? I crawl up underneath the 8 plus inflated floaties in one of the staterooms and proceed to take one the of best siestas of my life. Only to wake up with a fairly significant buzz hours later. That’s right. I can’t hang like I used to.

Also, there is nothing quite like resurrecting a game of truth or dare. Thanks to that I’ve seen a drunk guy sing I’m a little teapot while twirling around on a cooler, friends play bucking bull and try to dump each other into the dirt, and just about everyone in a banana hammock (yes, some of the girls too).

Did you know that mice (and apparently other disgusting creatures) will crawl up the lines at night while the boat is docked? All it took was one mention of this and I was dreaming of little mice crawling across my bed every night. While it never happened, the mere thought was enough to have me kicking out randomly at least 20 times per night. Tip: bring something to put on the ropes to fend off the little creepy, disease-ridden rodents.

Oh and one last antidote. When packing of course I remembered all the essentials like sunscreen, bug spray, water floaties and several cases of beer, but who would have ever thought to pack mass amounts of Febreeze? Well, I’m telling you that is another must have with 10 people all using the same crapper, and one in particular dropping 4-6 loads a day. The smell is builds up quick and at a whopping 10 miles an hour cruising speed you can’t generate enough wind flow to carry away the smell.

All in all, it was a hell of a time. What was your favorite random vacation with friends?

Why should I work when I could perpetually be on vacation?

The worst part about any vacation is coming home. I know some people are ready to crawl back into their own comfy beds and gorge themselves on American hamburgers, but not me. Okay, that’s not fully true. I did gorge myself on the Wendy’s frosty/fries combo. (God bless you Dave!) I am already missing you Costa Rica. What more could I ask for from my little adventure then the sound of waves crashing into the beach (off both coasts), several species of crazy monkeys and buttery plantains with every meal.

I know! Another vacation because hey, who really needs to be at work anyways? Definitely not me. That’s right kiddies. I’m off to Lake Powell with the NEB crew. Translation: hello to more sun (Yes, I’m getting seriously brown) and a houseboat full of booze. Ain’t summer grand?

Where would you go right now if you could?

Does this high school grad make me look old?

It’s official. My little bitty baby bro isn’t so little bitty anymore. Yes, I know he has dwarfed me since he was 14, but the kid –ahem, excuse me- guy is finally grown up. I can attest to that since I spent the entire weekend coming to that realization. It didn’t happen right away, it was more like a 12 step, okay 2 step process.

1. The military dress
I showed up in Riverton and caught up with the bro on Saturday, after he had spent half the day on orders, which I learned is what it’s called when you’re on duty for your one-weekend-a-month with the National Guard. Since he was done with his tasks but still technically on call he had to stay suited up in his uniform for the rest of the day just in case the call and need him somewhere.  So when I saw him he was still in uniform.
That’s when it slowly began to set in. Yes, he did really sign up for 8 years in the guard and he is going to basic training next month. Sure, I’ve seen pictures of him in the gear, but it’s not the same as seeing it in person.

2. The cap and gown
Sunday came and so did graduation day. In Riverton it took place in the gymnasium since that’s the only place big enough to hold all those people inside – hey, its Wyoming and you don’t hold anything outside in May. It may very likely snow. As we sat down I quickly realized I hadn’t seen the inside of a high school gym in 9 years. It was a little awkward being in one again and you think I would have remembered how wood bench can make your butt numb in 2 minutes.  I seriously wish I would have thought of bringing a blanket, pillow, butt donut, anything to sit on! I digress…

With an 8 year difference, I’ve always seen Chans as my baby bro, but in a cap and gown my thinking really had to start changing. After all he was done with school and taking the diploma. Funny enough when they began playing the senior video and his face popped up and he waved at the camera I got teary.  Awww! It was ridiculous. I didn’t get teary at my own graduation, was actually rather nonchalant about the whole thing, but his I got a little choked up. Don’t worry I quickly recovered.

Congratulations Chans! May  your road never be too rocky, may you always appreciate each and every success, and may you always remain as humble as you were that day.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Explore. Dream. Discover. - Mark Twain

Hello Costa Rica!

Image by Salvatore Vuono
Costa Rica, my friend, I love you! God bless 80 degree days filled with humidity. I know that sounds weird, but toss in a little trade winds and I’m in paradise – or better yet Costa Rica! New Orleans, don’t be jealous. I still love you too!

Though after the five and half hour red-eye flight and the annoying guy who got up to pee 6 (yes 6!) times and still insisted on having a window seat, I required some much needed ZZZs . FYI – I never got the expression red-eye till now because that is definitely how you look after one of those flights. Thank god for super early check-ins and really friendly front desk people who tolerate exhausted Americans trying to speak Spanish, but are too tired to form actual sentences in my first language.

After several hours sleep I woke up refreshed and ready to explore the city that was bustling just below my window. That’s when I realized that in our sleep deprived state earlier we hadn’t been given any instructions for the next leg of our adventure. While I’m fine with winging things most of the time, The Man definitely is not, so we’d arranged a travel package that would take us from one stop to the next and several tours at the various locations.  Not an ideal situation.

After several attempts to reach someone at our travel companies local office who knew what was going on (it was lunch and siesta hour and the poor girl who answered the phone didn’t speak that great of English and my Spanish isn’t good enough for that conversation) we had a time to meet the guide tomorrow and still half of the first day to catch some of the local sites in San Jose.

So here is to 10 days filled with nature, culture and adventure!

Life isn’t about finding yourself, It’s about creating yourself!

You ever hear people say “I’m finding myself”? Well, I absolutely hate that saying. It’s ridiculous and makes no sense. How can you find yourself? It’s not as if you were somewhere then whoops turned around and you’re gone. You didn’t misplace yourself somewhere. No one is going to hand you a map or plug the coordinates into your GPS and presto! There you are. It’s you! The one you’ve spent all this time looking for.

In life we don’t find ourselves, we create ourselves!

We have never been here before and we will never be here, in this moment in time again. With every choice, every action, every thought - we create. We Hope. We dream. We embrace. We cry. We fall. We love. We lose. We explore. We live. 

Our life and the people we become are our creation.

I believe I’m still creating myself. The self I want to be. The better me. The more involved me. The more humble, more compassionate, more dedicated, more inspired me.  Every day I continue to work toward creating the me I want to be. 

It's not about being content with who you are, but continuing to strive to achieve a better you. Everyone of us is beautiful in our own right. We do not need to find ourselves, for we are already here. We already know who we are. The question is, "Is this the best person I can be?" I resoundingly say NO!

Because of this I will never stop creating. Never stop evolving. And most importantly never stop learning. I learn, I live and I create. 

May you always appreciate the you, you are and you, you are creating. Who will the you, you create be?

A head full of useless facts & absurd skills

Sometimes I wish I could delete all the useless information that has accumulated in my brain over the last 26. Out with the old and in with some stuff that may actually be useful!

Most importantly I would delete the ability to say the ABC’s backwards. There was some very stupid myth in the 90s that cops would make you say the ABC’s backwards if you were pulled over. At the ripe of 11 I decided that I better learn how to do that. I was terrified of being hauled off to jail on suspicion of a DUI when I was only speeding all because I couldn’t say them backwards. The things kids will believe.

Fifteen years later it is more of an inconvenience than anything. I do now have it on good authority that cops will not ask you say your ABC’s backwards for any reason. It’s apparently not a common thing people can do. Plus it screws me up when I’m trying to figure out what letter comes after which. I actually have to stop and think (okay, yes and sing a little) is it N-O-P-Q or Q-P-O-N?

Amazingly being able to recite every state in the US alphabetically still comes in handy! I’m keeping that one. Thank you 5th grade! Everybody sing it - Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas….

So with a head full of useless facts what is a girl to do? Looks like I'll just have to stick to rocking at trivia games.

If you could purge your brain of useless knowledge what would you delete?

The Almost Vacation -But Not Quite Here Yet- Blues

It’s official. I’m finally going to get another stamp in my passport! The St. Lucia stamp was starting to get lonely, so what else could I do but give it a little company? The bad thing about scheduling a vacation is that the waiting period suddenly becomes so much longer. May 28th why, oh why, can’t you just get here?

If you know me then you know that when I get an idea in my head or a notion to do something I do it. I don’t sit and talk about how I would love to do this, or it would be so fun to do that, or I’ve always wanted to try… I take charge, pull the lever and send myself in there guns blazing. I’m proud of the dedication and determination I have to embrace every opportunity and challenge. Without it I would never have rode waves of the coast of Hawaii, jumped out of an airplane on a beautiful October morning, or had the courage to explore school again and a change in career.

Yes, I admit that sometimes things can go awry. Otherwise I would never have had the pleasure of cruising through airports in a wheelchair on the way back from New Orleans. But to me it was completely worth it. When else would I have randomly stumbled onto a pirate’s convention and spent the weekend hanging with swashbucklers?

You see, one of my biggest goals is to truly see and do everything. Anything from cruising the canals of Venice in a gondola, and eating native nuts with the Pigmies, to fishing the anchovies run in South Africa and even seeing that damn 5 legged calf in Kansas. Yes, everything. The important thing is gaining the experience. Feeling something, learning something, exploring my understanding, expanding the mind and embracing another day that could have and would have just gone by.

As with anything, the key to reaching a goal is to make that first step. So, here I go again taking another step.  This time I will be stepping into Costa Rica where I will spend 10 days touring the canals in the rainforest, hiking up volcanoes, sea kayaking along the coast, and embracing the local culture from the Gulf side clear to the Pacific. Who knows, with a little luck I may even get the chance to put those surf lessons to good use again.

Now if only I can make it the 3 weeks till I take off for some vaca time.

Friendly Friday - An Ode to True Friends!

I received this email today and it truly does remind me of what friendship is like to me. Thanks to all of my rockstar friends! I love ya! Enjoy!

1. When you are sad, I will jump on the person who made you sad like a spider monkey jacked up on Mountain Dew!!!

2. When you are blue, I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you..

3. When you smile, I will know you are plotting something that I must be involved in.

4. When you're scared, we will high tail it out of here.

5. When you are worried, I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be until you quit whining, ya big baby!!!!

6.. When you are confused, I will use little words.

7. When you are sick, stay the hell away from me until you are well again. I don't want whatever you have....

8. When you fall, I'll pick you up and dust you off-- after I'm finished laughing my ass off and pointing at you!!

This is my oath.....I pledge it to the end.

'Why?' you may ask; -- because you are my FRIEND!

Side Note: Friendship is like peeing your pants, Everyone can see it, But only YOU Can feel the True warmth...

Damn You April - Damn You!

It’s official. I’m jinxed. Or April is jinxed. Or maybe it’s a little bit of both. Any which way you look at it, April and me, we apparently don’t get along. More specifically April has it out for me. At the very least it has it out for my knees.

I spent last Sunday giving the Skyla a few last runs before she returns to the basement for the long summer season. Springtime on the mountain is great. There is always a chance of a freak storm that will dust the resorts with upwards for 2 feet of snow. It’s the days Coloradans dream of. On the flip side the temp can also creep into the 50s and the runs begin to take the consistency of mashed potatoes. Then the following morning all that slushy greatness has frozen packing the runs with ice. That’s the down side and last Sunday it gave April the chance to come back and bite me in the ass again, or the knees.

About 4 hours into my farewell to winter day, the ice was turning back to gooey softness again and I was picking up speed with each run. Then fate stepped in and I managed to find the last patch of ice with my toe edge. Slam! Knees go down, both cracking against said ice patch. After rolling stopping my downward spiral down the mountain I proceed to rock back and forth for a good ten minutes grabbing my knees before proceeding cautiously down the remainder of the run. That was it. My day was done.

Several days later the left one is still sporting a nasty purple moon and the right has what I can only describe as a mini-tumor growing just beneath the cap. After little change and significant prodding by the man I’m finally going to the doctor to have them looked at.  

What I realized in the process of setting up said appointment is this isn’t the first time my knees and April have crossed paths and I’ve lost.  If you know me you know that my knees are practically my nemesis by themselves. Four times they’ve failed me and you guessed it, almost all of those have been in April. Who could forget the so called pirate incident in New Orleans exactly a year ago. ;) After all it’s not really a vacation unless someone comes back in a wheel chair. (Side note – Beware of the Hurricanes & Hand Grenades in the Big Easy)

This one goes to you April, but be warned – next year will be mine even if have ride in a damn little rascal scooters like an old person all month. In the meantime let’s call us square this year.  

FYI: The job title is Account Manager not Whipping Post

It’s one of those days. You know the one. The day where anything that can go wrong will. The day where tempers run hot and mouths seem to be running off at decibels that shatter ear drums. The day where you just want to clock out and say “See you world! Until tomorrow!” then curl up in an oversize chair with a glass of wine or even a strong martini and stare at the wall because that’s all your brain can take at this point. That’s my day.
 
I work in an environment that is filled to the brim with big egos, where each one is a little more pompous then the next. My day is filled conversing with legal minds and plastics’ artists. My time is spent talking to the heads of these practices who are often used to speaking down to everyone in their general vicinity. And the joy of being the representative and face of my organization for my client s is that when things go wrong I’m the one to feel the lash.

Sometimes that can be ridiculously hard. The urge to lay blame where it belongs dances around on my tongue though never quite escaping. I bite it back and swallow it down. I sit and allow the verbal mounds of complaints to lash out at me never breaking my calm, never pointing my finger at another, never making an excuse and always accepting the blame.

And when it’s through and I’m ready to wrap my fingers around the neck my teammate who didn’t think before doing something without my permission, I stalk down the hall to their office mumbling explicitives all the way. But before I can begin launching projectile missiles in the form of staplers and keyboards at my colleague, I reign in my temper. I politely let them know what the issue is. I don’t scream how I need this crap fixed in ten but right now damn it! I haggle, I bribe and I beg to get it done today.

Why? Because that is my job. Yes, I’m the project overseer, strategist and account manager. But I’m apparently also the fundamental hidden titles not listed in my job description – the listener, the peacekeeper and the whipping post.   I’m the one who maintains control of my emotions, never blinking no matter how bad it stings. That’s what makes me good at my job.

Ripped Out & Toned Up

Photo by: DJCodrin
When you’re on a workout program the best thing you can possibly hear is a compliment on how you look. It fills you with bright and shiny feelings and maybe all those hours you spent dripping buckets of sweat and guzzling gallons of water were actually worth it. On Saturday all of those bright and shiny I’m-a-fitness-rockstar feelings were all mine thanks to my semi-dedicated attendance at LA Boxing.

Saturday night I ended up club hopping with a few old college buddies who had decided to pop into town for a little girlfriend time. By the second bar, we were finally warm enough to shed our almost parka like coats (Colorado in March can be so cruel). That’s when one of them noticed my stomach, or apparent lack thereof, thanks to the skin clinging tank top I’d opted to wear. I’ve never had much of a tummy so I hadn’t really noticed that it had changed that much, but apparently it had enough to get some attention.

Miss Jen has never been shy so she quickly proceeded to poke my abs with a little “Damn, that’s solid!” thrown in. That was queue for the others to poke away and for me to shamelessly start grinning. And yes, thanks to two dirty martini’s and my lack of an inhibition, I was soon pulling up my shirt for a firsthand look at the abs, as well as taking everyone in the vicinity to the gun show.  Those bright and shiny feelings were working overtime.

Over the years I’ve jumped into numerous workout programs only to find myself shamelessly straying within a few weeks. It’s not that I don’t like to work out, I’m big on fitness. I just have a very limited attention span and I get bored easy. I can’t do the same routine day in and day out. I can’t have a perky instructor bouncing around me in circles encouraging me. I need variety. I need someone to push me. And I need results. Lucky for me I recently found that at LA Boxing.

LA Boxing is a gym that totes its workout generates 800-1000 calorie burn in one hour. That sounded awesome to me, as well as a just a little intimidating. I know how much a generally burn in an hour of working out so I had an idea of how hard I was going to be pushed to hit even 800.

But that wasn’t the only thing that drove me to try it. The instructors at the gym I go to are actual fighters. Some are retired pros and others are amateur. But during each of the classes I hit up, I’m working with someone who actually knows what they’re doing. You’re not only punching a bag, you’re learning form and that actually makes a huge difference. Throw in some ass kicking cardio, muscle ripping ab exercises and a different setup and routine each class and I’m definitely hooked!

Overbooked or Living?

I over book. Chronically. No, not in my work life. Somehow I can prioritize that to perfection. But my personal life is a polar opposite.  I’m afraid I’m going to miss out on something that I will later wish I hadn’t. So I overbook.

Honestly, I think it originally stems from parents that were often over controlling and required at least 48 hours notice before I could go do something. No spur of the moment slumber parties for me growing up and deciding I wanted to go to a football game two hours before was definitely out. When I got to college I wanted to experience everything. No one could tell me no so I embraced it all. House party at 11 pm on a Tuesday or Random road trip to Vegas? Bring it on!

So you think after the college years I would have gotten over it. Nope, I still continue to overbook now. Being home before 11 only one or two nights a week is okay with me. The down side? I keep myself running to point that I forget to take some “me” time. I also tend to forget to make “us” time with the man. But, I’m happiest when I’m embracing the possibility of enjoying myself.

Then a day like Wednesday hits. It dumps so much snow the little kids down the block are seriously trying to build snow caves in their front yard. And I hit a wall. I get tired. Not the take-a-30-minute-power-nap tired, but the kind when my brain has powered down, I’m sputtering nonsense, and I feel like my butt is dragging on the ground. But it’s only mid-week and slipping in a PTO day isn’t an option (I refuse to use one unless I’m really sick or doing something fun). So I grab a case of diet coke (literally), vow to spend a weekend filled with “me” and “us” time, and strike out on another day.

Fast forward two days to today and what do you see? Have I slowed down like I promised? Nope. I’ve done it again. I’ve booked myself solid. That wall dissipates as usual, but not through resting and doing nothing. That wall dissolves with every laugh that escapes my lips, every smile that reaches my eyes, and all of the little moments I’ve embraced. For me, those are what life is about.

To reform or not reform – that is the question

With the passing in the House last night I felt the need to discuss the topic that has been on Americans’ minds at one point or another over the last year. And if you are like most Americans (myself included) your confused on what it’s all about. Sure we’ve heard what the most highly debated area of the reform is - abortion always sparks aggressive political and religious debates. But want about the rest? Why is one party so aggressively for it while the other will do anything to squash it? And yes, the most important questions to most of us “What does it mean for me?”

I have to give a big kudos to media outlets that have picked up on this and started pushing out various information on the pros and cons of healthcare reform. However I’ve noticed pretty quickly that like all things media it definitely isn’t a bipartisan view. So after all of the research I’ve done today here are my thoughts on the pros and cons I see:

Pros
1. No more pre-existing conditions or discrimination! I come from a family filled with all sorts of issues from knee problems to diabetes to high blood pressure. In April of last year I damaged my knee while on vacation. The orthopedist diagnosed me with a severe sprain and partial tears in my lateral and medial ligaments. But what if he missed something? Under the new government plan, the insurance couldn’t call it a pre-existing condition if I every hurt it again! Also, no more discrimination over if a procedure is covered or if it is too experimental.

2. Healthcare will be available to the 33 million Americans without coverage!  Hurrah! As a poor college student who was conveniently removed from my parent’s health insurance, I remember praying that I wouldn’t get sick. After all I couldn’t afford any medical bills. At that rate even student health would be too expensive for me. I couldn’t afford to buy a prescription. Circumstances didn’t change much in the first few years out of college either. On the flip side, it may be more affordable and realistic for poorer, health Americans to simply page the $695 fine for not having insurance rather than $2,500 for government insurance.  That said the tax credit for having the insurance better make it worth it.

Cons
1. I have health insure through work and a pretty damn good plan. However there is the distinct possibility that companies will shift away from private healthcare plans to the government healthcare plan in the near future. That means the killer coverage I’m receiving now for fairly cheap could very easily go away leaving me with the standard government care. My next two points are the areas I find issue with on the government plan.

2. What about the freedom to choose my doctor? I’ll say it. I’ve had a crappy doctor before. You know the one, that primary care physician you’ve been seeing regularly for years and yet every visit is like the first time. Yes, sir. We’ve already had this conversation before. Maybe you should actually look at my chart or maybe you need to learn to take better notes. I trust you with my health and you aren’t taking the time to be informed about me, so I’ll just find a doc who will. But under the Medical Home plan that won’t be an option. You can’t just quit your doc and find a new one. He doesn’t think you need that test or to see that specialist. Too bad! We are a country founded on freedom and our right to choose. How can it possibly benefit us to remove that right?

3. Why the hell have I bothered with a healthy life style? I’m going to pay the same premium as the 26-year-old bar fly who drinks 5 nights a week, smokes a pack a day, leaves her panties in at least 2 new guys apartment a week, snorts coke on a daily basis, and lives off of cold pizza and fruit pies. Sure, she’d be able to rehab for free and so could I, but why should I have to pay for the same plan as her? Maybe I don’t need rehab, but I’m still paying for that service. I don’t smoke. I’m less likely to have health issues. I live healthy so why should I have to pay $2,500 or more in premium costs when I only cost $800 a year to insure?

I don’t mind that those with a significant income will pay a 1% tax increase to pay for the plan. I believe that the wealth should take care of their less fortunate majority. However, I’m a believer in having government working in the background rather than on the forefront controlling healthcare.

So where am I? I’m still riding the fence. I still need answers to bigger questions. Will universal healthcare jeopardize the quality of healthcare we receive? Will we lose our ability to receive speedy healthcare? Will we become like Canada and the countless other nations that have a waiting list to receive care? Will government run healthcare be worth it in the long run?

YXN77HCCSRR9

So What’s the F&*#@^ Plan?

Photo from freedigitalphoto.net
From the time we are can talk and toddle around we start making plans. We plan what we want to be when we grow up (the policeman and ballerina occupations never looked so good). We plan where we are going to live (I’m going to live with Mommy forever!). We plan and we plan and we plan. Then we grow a little bit and those plans change. And that’s okay (being a Mommy clinging ballerina isn’t that healthy anyway).

Throughout our lives we make plans and then we change them. Why? Because we, as people, are constantly changing. So why is it that when we reach adulthood we are supposed to have it all figured out and have set our master plan?

At the ripe age of 26 I can honestly say that I don’t have the master plan laid out. And you know what I’m okay with that, I’m even happy about it. Eight years ago I had my life laid out if the perfect plan. I was going to be a vet. I was going to get my doctorate at CSU and practice medicine on horses for the rest of my days. Then college happened and my life and goals completely changed.

I've spent the last 4 ½ years exploring a few various marketing communication jobs trying to figure out where I fit, what was my niche, where would I be the most happy. One I even loved! Then the economy bottomed out, the unemployment line came beckoning. And what have I learned from that? That no matter how much you plan, everything can change in the blink of an eye. And you know what? That’s okay too. It’s not the end of the world. It’s an opportunity to learn more about yourself and who you are.

I’ve had the “What am I doing with my life?”, “Where am I going?”, and “What’s my plan?” conversation with many close girlfriends and several random people too.  And guess what? A good number of us aren’t really sure. We may not be where we thought we would be 2, 3 or 4 years ago. We aren’t working in the job or industry we had planned. We have found that our dream job wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.  We haven’t found that love of our life yet. Some of us have and still aren’t ready to make the family step yet (after all we’re in our 20s – what’s the rush?).

So here I sit at 26 - and yes, I’m employed again and have a great job. Is it what I want to do with the rest of my life? No. Do I know what I want to do? Maybe. And you know what? I’m okay with that. I’m perfectly happy not having everything planned. This is my life. It’s my one time to live and be me. And if it doesn’t all work out the way it was “planned” I’m going to continue being okay with that.

Happy Feelings & Protest Signs

Image by Ian Kahn
Recently I felt the philanthropic call ringing in my head again. It's been a while since I've answered it so I felt the need to pick up the receiver and get back in touch. A few years ago when I was residing in the remote state of WYO, I volunteered at the local Planned Parenthood working on education and outreach. Since Planned Parenthood is an organization that's mission is very close to my heart I felt that volunteering with PPRM would be the perfect way to get back in touch with my sense of community giving. 


After contacting the organization I was scheduled for an informal interview to make sure I was volunteer material. As I headed to headquarters on the day of my interview I fully expected to encounter some protesters. After all, it's a well known fact that where there are abortion services the nay sayers won't be far behind. I was even prepared for signs with more controversial imagery. What I was prepared for was the overly aggressive verbal messages that were hollered my way.


The facility does an excellent job with security. Visitors enter through the gate and protesters are kept behind an 8 foot fence, though the unwelcoming committee does make use of ladders so they peek over the trees and fence to hurl comments at visitors. The protesters seem to ignore the blinding fact that the majority of patrons are there to take advantage of the numerous other services that the facility offers, instead opting to insult me, my mother, my intelligence and my soul.


As a strong supporter, and often horn tooter myself, I support everyone's right to free speech, even if their opinion is opposite my own. I  welcome intelligent and thought provoking arguments on any topic. However, I fail to see how anyone can think that yelling derogatory comments at other people will make them change their minds about anything. I fail to see how that will make me think twice about anything. 


In fact I found that the words spoken by the protesters had the opposite effect than what they intended. Was I ashamed to be there? No. I was even more proud of the work the organization does even when faced with such open hostility and opposition. In the end as I smiled and silently walked toward the building I felt a even greater pride on being on the other side of that fence.  

Breathing a Sigh of Relief

I often wonder how it has become such a norm to hear that a business is downsizing yet again and to see yet another business go under. Last year it seemed as if another one bit the dust every night only to leave behind an empty office space or shop window and ex-employees nervously trying to figure out where their next paycheck was coming from. We all know at least one person who fell into this category (and yes that did include myself).

In the beginning when we heard a close friend or mere acquaintance had been let go due to company restraints we rushed to tell them it would be okay. We are here for you. We'll let you know if we hear of an opening. But as time went by the shear number of people we know found themselves set out of the daily grind, our sympathy seemed to be less and less needed or even expected.

I for one always tried to keep an upbeat response to the whole situation. If you did some freelance work like I did then you weren't unemployed, just "underemployed". Or if the contract work wasn't there then you were "practicing for retirement" or "working toward your trophy wife (or husband) certification."

As time wears on and various industry's continue to be hit by ripple after ripple of our economic downturn, I've seen a different mentality being adopted by numerous people who find themselves taking a hiatus from their employment. Oddly enough, anxiety seems to be giving away to sighs of relief. As more companies siphon off a few employees here and a few there, people spend their mornings dreading the coming hours of the work day and their days developing ulcers and worrying "Will I be next?" or "what can I do to save my job?". When that ax comes down to severe their employment cord it's accompanied by a whoosh of air as victims finally gain some sense of certainty.

To me, it's a strange and slightly unsettling new norm. Will we continue to find relief in unemployment and what does that mean for our job market?

Snope Out the Truth

One of the biggest boons and issues I have found with the handy forward option in emails and texts is the possibility of finding out about information I may never of heard about otherwise. Denzel Washington donated a substantial amount to the Fisher House Foundation - a organization who like the Ronald McDonald house only for military families? Who knew? Not me until I was forwarded an email about it.

But for as many great new things I'm hearing about, I'm also hearing about a ton of things that really amount to only B.S. And FYI - No, Starbucks did not deny sending coffee to Marines fighting in Iraq, Afghanistan or any other place in the Middle East. So whats a girl to do when bombarded with tons of information, both fact and fictional? How am I supposed to know what is accurate or not? It's called Snopes.com and I'm constantly surprised by how may people haven't heard of it yet. (It is no where near a new phenomenon.)

Before I ever forward on an email that I find stuffed with interesting or startling facts I hit up Snopes and check out what the people there have to say about. Saves me from looking like an idiot by sending on false information. I encourage everyone to try to be more responsible source of info rather than just hitting the forward button.

A Valentine Flash Back - Fast Flying Hearts

Since the holiday of love is upon us I feel the need to share one of my favorite Valentine's Day flash back memories. Sorry to the sappy of heart, but this one isn't for you. It's no secret that if something can go comically wrong it's more than likely going to happen to me.

A couple of years ago I decided to try and do something cute for my Valentine. I bought 20 red and pink balloons and wrote 20 little "Why I Love You" notes. I rolled the notes up, stuffed them into the balloons, blew those suckers up, and filled the bedroom with them. Cute right?

As a sucker for sweets I felt the need to add a little candy treat to each of the balloons. For V-day and love notes what would go better than candy hearts? Nothing! So I stuffed between 4-10 in each balloon. Sure they made fun rattly sounds when the balloon moves around, however the only way to get the stuff back out is to pop the balloons. Here is where my adorable idea went all wrong.

Apparently when you pop balloons hard little objects such as candy hearts turn into projectile missiles! After several attempts at popping the balloons, a small dent in the wall and few heart shaped welts on our bodies, the man and I found that throwing a blanket over the balloon and stabbing it through it was the safest option.

While sentimental gestures seem like the best idea, it is sometimes the funny ones that stick in our heads. Happy Valentine's Day!

Mountain Days & Snowboarding Dreams

For snowboarders and skiers there is nothing like a great weekend on the mountain. Last weekend I had the pleasure of spending 3 glorious days in Steamboat Springs, CO aka Ski Town USA! I've wanted to go there for years and loved almost every minute of it. I was surprised at how affordable condos were. Here are some of the cool places I found and things we did.

Nightlife

If you are into live bands then Ghost Ranch Saloon is a must. The staff is great, the drinks are stiff and the music is always bumping. Shake your thing up front on the dance floor, enjoy from one of the back tables, or scope the scene from one of two balconies.

Runs to Ride

Blue - Buddy's Run - is an awesome ride for intermediates. Steep enough to get you into your turns but not enough to have you on one edge or your face half of the run. Hop on the Storm Peak Express or Bar-U lift and enjoy the ride down.

Blue/Black - Flying Z Gulch & Longhorn - Situated on the far North side of the mountain you can catch these runs off the Pony Express lift. These runs aren't groomed as often and are perfect if your ready to step up your technique in some powder or soft moguls. 

Shops to Stop by

Epilogue Book Company - If you love to read check out this independent bookstore filled with antiquarian books.

All That Jazz - This place carries a ton of funky items aside from the traditional CDs. Find sassy t-shirts, earrings, jewelry, hilarious cards, vanity products and tons more!

Sweet Potato Lingerie - Spice things up with a trip to this store. A little pricey but some incredibly sexy and tasteful items.

Place to Pass On

One night we ended up at the 8th Street Steakhouse. While the food is good, they take the "Grilling Experience" concept a little too far. Unless you get seafood or prime rib your cooking your own meet on the grill. Some of the ala carte sides are also grill yourself. The price is steep considering you do everything yourself. After a long day on the mountain or in the shops, I'd recommend passing on this place for one of Steamboat's many sit down restaurants.

As a snowboard enthusiast and a mountain town junkie, I think Steamboat officially makes my top 5 list. Maybe it has a little to do with this beautiful morning scene from my first day out? Nothing beats being above the clouds your first run of the day. See you at the bottom!

  

Why Be Smart When You Can Be Stupid

As a person who has worked in Public Relations and Marketing for the last six years I'm definitely a sucker for great advertisements. I absolutely love the ones that are creative genius or push the envelope. Forget conventionality.

Diesel Jeans has an awesome new "Be Stupid" campaign and it has definitely shot to the top of my favorite list. In my opinion it is absolutely brilliant! It's all about embracing a way of life. Forget rules - Let's live!

So here is to Being Stupid and the relentless pursuit of a regret free life! I'm off to run around the streets naked.

Back To School Again

I've officially decided to take some time to explore other career paths. As a Marketing Communications person it has definitely been a hard year. As I sit at the mid-twenties mark I feel it is time to make some decisions about whether I want to do what I'm doing now in another 10 years. Do I still want to be sitting behind a desk then? What do I need to be happy with my professional?

The first step is looking at other careers as well as my own. I've always had a very keen interest in medicine, after all I was destine to be a veterinarian as the surgery on my stuff animals would indicate. Alas, at the ripe age of 20 I decided I was not willing to go to 4 years of medical school only to make in the high 30s. What about a nurse? Well I'm the type of persona that needs more authority and complex tasks. So now I'm looking into becoming a physician assistant.

Step two was speaking to an adviser about what I would need to do to become a PA.At his advice I'm back into the classroom two nights a week for a refresher biology course. During this time I'm also working on shadowing a few PAs to get a better sense of the job and working on doing some volunteer work at a hospital.

Any journey in life begins with the first step. I'm taking mine.