"Business trip" sounds so grown up! I don't know why I have such a hard time believing I'm an adult considering I'm 30 years old, but I still think of myself as a 20-year old sometimes.
Anyhoo, this weekend I'm off on a business trip to Portland, OR. When I decided to stay at my job, I was put in charge of the industrial hearing test division of the company. Actually, there wasn't a division until I decided to stay, but that's being a bit pedantic. I'm in charge of making the industrial hearing test division of the company - I set up contracts, perform the tests, send out reports, etc. One of my official titles is Occupational Hearing Conservationist (OHC) and as such I decided to become a member of the National Hearing Conservation Association. Well, this week is the annual NHCA convention, and it is being held in Portland, OR. Hence, the business trip!
The last time I went to a convention was last April when I went to the American Academy of Audiology convention with my boss and his wife. They were having some insurance coding and billing classes, and since Insurance Biller is another one of my official titles, my boss decided I should attend. It was a lot of fun; I love staying in hotel rooms by myself, the classes were very educational (I spent more time in classes than my boss!), and I met a lot of interesting people. It's funny because it was during this convention that I found out that Adam liked me and our relationship started. Huh.
This time, I'm going by myself. I'm flying to Portland Wednesday morning and will be picked up by a woman with whom I've been talking about doing hearing tests for the various locations she has around the state. We're going to go out to lunch and will discuss what her expectations are and finalize prices and dates for the testing. With this contract, I'll be doing a lot of traveling! Yeah! I'm hoping to spend some time with my former mission companion Wednesday night, as well as a few other times when I don't have a class or NHCA event. Again, I love staying in hotel rooms by myself, so I'm really looking forward to that. I'm also excited because I'll be alone at the conference. This will enable me to meet a lot more people than if my boss and his wife were there. When they were with me last year, I talked to them most of the time. With them absent, I'll feel free to mingle and introduce myself to as many people as I want! I can't wait! Events like this really bring out the social butterfly in me that lays dormant a lot more than it used to.
The trip is coming at a good time. I'm starting to freak out just a little about how fast things are going with Anthony. He drops little comments about our life together that make me think his feelings are pretty strong, or that he's making some pretty big leaps. Either way, a little freaky. And a little nice. Sigh. Anyway, a little break will be nice; it will give me a little breathing room and a little time to think without him distracting me with his good looks and charm.
Speaking of, because it's my blog and I can bring up topics that aren't related to the post's title, I invited Anthony over to my mom's house this weekend to hang out with my family. My brother and his fiancee were down, so as many of us that were in town got together and played games. I was very impressed with how well Anthony fit in with my family. I know my mom was a little worried about how to communicate with him, but he's so easy-going and patient that it never seemed to be a problem. I was struck with how happy Anthony seems to be; not only does he make me (and others) laugh, but he laughs a lot. I like that. I'm a naturally happy person, so I like that he seems to be, too. I also noticed that Anthony is a bit competetive. I'm not sure if he's as competetive as our family, but he likes to win. So, he fits in with my family that way as well! It was a fun evening and I thoroughly enjoyed having him there. My family seemed to like him; my future sister-in-law said he was "a hoot" and "really good-looking". What else could you ask for? Okay, there's more, but I'm not there yet.
Back to the subject at hand, my trip to Portland, in case you've forgotten, I'll be gone 'til Sunday night. At one point, my flight was getting in around 6:30 pm. That would have been nice; I could have relaxed a little Sunday evening. The flight changed, though, and now I get home around 10:30 pm. This means I'll get home in time to go to bed, wake up, and go to work. Yeehaw! Oh well, I guess that's the price you pay for an all-expenses paid trip to a city you really enjoy!
Monday, February 18, 2008
Friday, February 15, 2008
My Valentine
Even though I'm usually single on Valentine's Day, I have never hated the holiday. It ends up being a day like any other except for the fun graphics on Google and MSN. Maybe a chick flick with friends to make me feel depressed, in a good way. In my thirty years on this earth I've only had a boyfriend for V-Day twice until last night. The first time was in 1995 and it was with my first love, Keith. If I remember correctly, my friend Missy and I made dinner for our boyfriends and we ate it at my house. I think Keith gave me a couple roses and a card. I think. The second time was ten years later when I dated Adam the first time. He had to work on V-Day, so I took him a little present (a book, I think), and we chatted for a little while. A couple days later he took me to dinner. So, all-in-all, my experiences with boyfriends on V-Day have been quite nice.
Last night, Anthony blew me away. Again.
When he came to pick me up for dinner, I opened the door to see him standing there (looking amazing!) with a huge grin, a huge teddy bear, a huge heart-shaped box of chocolates, and a dozen red roses! I couldn't believe it. He later said that the look on my face was totally worth having to save up for a few weeks. He told me he's never had a girlfriend on Valentine's Day and he wanted me to feel special. Say whatever you want about me because of it, but it felt incredible to have someone do that for me. I'm not used to being pampered by guys, I don't need it, but Anthony pampered me last night. It wasn't just the presents; it was him making sure I didn't slip on the ice, dishing up my ice cream for me (we had dinner and watched a movie at his sister and brother-in-law's house), holding my hand during the movie (finally!), looking at me like he couldn't take his eyes off me, not wanting to stop talking to me even though he had to wake up in less than four hours, holding me a little longer and a little tighter at the end of the night, telling me he loves me with a little catch in his voice. I felt like the luckiest woman in the world and couldn't believe that a guy so wonderful likes me so much.
I feel like I'm at the top of the roller coaster again, just about to fall, and the only thing holding me back is fear. I'm afraid to fall again, honestly. And yet, I can feel the strain on the cord holding me back, and it won't be long before it snaps. Heaven help me when it does. Seriously.
You never know, though, I may get impatient and just cut the dang thing myself.
Last night, Anthony blew me away. Again.
When he came to pick me up for dinner, I opened the door to see him standing there (looking amazing!) with a huge grin, a huge teddy bear, a huge heart-shaped box of chocolates, and a dozen red roses! I couldn't believe it. He later said that the look on my face was totally worth having to save up for a few weeks. He told me he's never had a girlfriend on Valentine's Day and he wanted me to feel special. Say whatever you want about me because of it, but it felt incredible to have someone do that for me. I'm not used to being pampered by guys, I don't need it, but Anthony pampered me last night. It wasn't just the presents; it was him making sure I didn't slip on the ice, dishing up my ice cream for me (we had dinner and watched a movie at his sister and brother-in-law's house), holding my hand during the movie (finally!), looking at me like he couldn't take his eyes off me, not wanting to stop talking to me even though he had to wake up in less than four hours, holding me a little longer and a little tighter at the end of the night, telling me he loves me with a little catch in his voice. I felt like the luckiest woman in the world and couldn't believe that a guy so wonderful likes me so much.
I feel like I'm at the top of the roller coaster again, just about to fall, and the only thing holding me back is fear. I'm afraid to fall again, honestly. And yet, I can feel the strain on the cord holding me back, and it won't be long before it snaps. Heaven help me when it does. Seriously.
You never know, though, I may get impatient and just cut the dang thing myself.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
What A Crazy Life!
*I just want to warn you that I'm turning comments off for this post. I'm writing somethings that I can't believe I'm going to write, and the only way I'll be brave enough is to turn off the comments.
Do you want me to tell you something absolutely C-R-A-Z-Y???
I have a boyfriend.
Yep, it's true. I am dating someone. I am someone's girlfriend. I am in a relationship. I have a boyfriend! Crazy!!
I'm sure you can guess who it is. If not, check out this post, or this post, or this post, or this post, or even this post.
Yes, it's Anthony. Don't ask me how it happened, because I seriously don't know. I mean, I can tell you all the events that have happened, everything that was said and done, but I'm still fuzzy about how they all have rolled up into me having a boyfriend.
As you know, I've had a crush on him on and off since Nov./Dec. 2006, and I've always (even since the first time I met him) thought he was very attractive, but nothing ever happened. My boss has said for years that he thought Anthony liked me, but since Anthony wasn't doing anything about it, I didn't believe him. He'd come into the office every few months, we'd flirt, then I wouldn't see him again for awhile. Then I fell in love with someone else and didn't want anything to happen with Anthony, though I did go on a date with him during that time because I had agreed to months earlier, before Adam. Once Adam and I broke up, I almost rebounded with Anthony, but fortunately, common sense restrained me - rebounds are usually quite unhealthy.
Here's where the fuzziness creeps in. I'm not sure how Anthony went from popping into my life every so often to us dating. Something must have happened in his mind that I don't know about. Anyhoo, from September to December of last year, I saw him a small handful of times. Each time we'd flirt, talk, and laugh a lot, but he never asked me out. I made the logical conclusion that he wasn't interested in me.
Then the week before Christmas, he IM'd me and asked me out on a date. I tried to pretend I wasn't as pleased as I was, but I really was. On that date, he talked about all the things in the future he wanted us to do, like we'd be spending a lot of time together. He asked me out for New Year's Eve, and, as many of you know, he ended up kissing me at midnight. Yeah!! I figured this meant things were going to start going somewhere, but then it stalled. I went awhile without seeing him for various reasons; work, he got sick, his uncle died, etc. Doubts started creeping in, and I wondered if the kiss was just a token New Year's Eve kiss.
If I didn't tell you, you wouldn't realize that at this point in the story I had to pause and try to figure out what happened at this point, it's that fuzzy in my head. We went out a couple times fairly close together (especially considering our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd dates were each separated by months), but he didn't kiss me again and didn't even hold my hand. However, he did hug me at the end of each date. I finally accepted that he might like me a little bit but because of shyness and inexperience (according to his sister), he was just taking things slow. I was okay with slow.
So, imagine my surprise when this past Saturday, after spending an enjoyable evening together eating, talking, laughing, and watching movies without cuddling or holding hands, Anthony gave me a nice long hug, kissed me softly, and dropped the "L" word. THE "L" WORD, PEOPLE! As in, "I l*** chocolate" or "You l*** to look at the stars". It absolutely blew me away. Heck, it still blows me away when I think about it!
Yesterday, I got a call from a mutual friend, a woman who works with Anthony and who I met when I tested the hearing at his work. She told me back then (September) that she thought Anthony liked me, and I admitted to having the occassional crush on him. Well, she left a voice message saying this week Anthony kept mentioning his girlfriend at work and she finally asked who it was. He looked at her like she was a tad slow and said, "You know her, it's Julie" and she was so excited she did a little jig (her word, not mine). I was a little surprised by "girlfriend", but then I usually am. It always seems like the guy thinks of us as girlfriend/boyfriend before I do. Not that I mind, I just don't get to that label very quickly. Anyway, it was a nice surprise. A bit mind blowing, though.
Last night, he texted me and asked to show me the four trucks he'd like to buy. Afterwards, we ate and he helped me with my sign language homework (he's deaf, remember). Throughout the evening, he repeatedly referred to me as his girlfriend. It sounded nice. As it got closer to 10, he kept saying he should go home because he works really early, then he'd start talking about something else. I was pleased because it seemed like he didn't want to go, that he'd rather be with me, even if it meant getting less sleep. I'm like this when I like a guy, so it was kind of nice to have it reciprocated. Finally, I insisted he go home, trying to be considerate of his need for sleep, even though I wanted to keep talking to him. He hugged me tightly and for a long time, kissed me, talked some more, kissed me again, and said that he loves me. It wasn't quite as big of a shock as the first time, but it still floored me a little. Of course, the rest of the night I couldn't stop thinking and was pretty much floating on cloud nine.
I just realized something; I've never really told you much about him except that I find him incredibly attractive. There's more to him than looks, of course. So, here's a "quick" rundown of Anthony:
Physical: Tall - definitely over 6' - I have to stand on my tiptoes to hug him, with him bending down a bit. He has long, wavy, dark blond hair, a neatly trimmed beard, blue eyes (I'm pretty sure! yikes!), medium build, nice hands, and a great smile. What can I say? He's hot.
Personality: Talkative. This pleases me to no end. He loves to tell stories and crack jokes. He also asks me questions about myself and is very open to answering my questions about him. He has a great memory and often surprises me when he remembers things I told him years ago. A gentleman. No, he doesn't always remember to open the door for me (most of the time, though), but he makes up for it in many other little ways that I won't go into right now for the sake of brevity (too late!). Funny. He makes me laugh so hard and so often. He also laughs a lot, a good sign. Masculine. Seriously, he's a man through and through, for good and bad. Sometimes I think, "Uh, he is such a man", and other times I think, "Ahhh, he is such a man!". Catch the difference? Again, I won't go into more detail, just take me at my word. He's certainly not perfect, but I think he's pretty great.
So...I know what you've been wanting to know...I've been evading your question on purpose. No, I don't love him. Not yet. I'm not sure I'm ready to fall in love again so soon after the last time. However, I really like Anthony a lot. I look forward to the times I get to be with him and always enjoy the time we spend together. In short (ha!), I may not be ready to love him, but I'm on the path that could lead to it. And, I'm okay with that. Yes, it makes me nervous, but in an excited, happy way.
And, to top it all off...I have a date for St. Valentine's Day! Yeah!!
Life sure keeps you on your toes!
Do you want me to tell you something absolutely C-R-A-Z-Y???
I have a boyfriend.
Yep, it's true. I am dating someone. I am someone's girlfriend. I am in a relationship. I have a boyfriend! Crazy!!
I'm sure you can guess who it is. If not, check out this post, or this post, or this post, or this post, or even this post.
Yes, it's Anthony. Don't ask me how it happened, because I seriously don't know. I mean, I can tell you all the events that have happened, everything that was said and done, but I'm still fuzzy about how they all have rolled up into me having a boyfriend.
As you know, I've had a crush on him on and off since Nov./Dec. 2006, and I've always (even since the first time I met him) thought he was very attractive, but nothing ever happened. My boss has said for years that he thought Anthony liked me, but since Anthony wasn't doing anything about it, I didn't believe him. He'd come into the office every few months, we'd flirt, then I wouldn't see him again for awhile. Then I fell in love with someone else and didn't want anything to happen with Anthony, though I did go on a date with him during that time because I had agreed to months earlier, before Adam. Once Adam and I broke up, I almost rebounded with Anthony, but fortunately, common sense restrained me - rebounds are usually quite unhealthy.
Here's where the fuzziness creeps in. I'm not sure how Anthony went from popping into my life every so often to us dating. Something must have happened in his mind that I don't know about. Anyhoo, from September to December of last year, I saw him a small handful of times. Each time we'd flirt, talk, and laugh a lot, but he never asked me out. I made the logical conclusion that he wasn't interested in me.
Then the week before Christmas, he IM'd me and asked me out on a date. I tried to pretend I wasn't as pleased as I was, but I really was. On that date, he talked about all the things in the future he wanted us to do, like we'd be spending a lot of time together. He asked me out for New Year's Eve, and, as many of you know, he ended up kissing me at midnight. Yeah!! I figured this meant things were going to start going somewhere, but then it stalled. I went awhile without seeing him for various reasons; work, he got sick, his uncle died, etc. Doubts started creeping in, and I wondered if the kiss was just a token New Year's Eve kiss.
If I didn't tell you, you wouldn't realize that at this point in the story I had to pause and try to figure out what happened at this point, it's that fuzzy in my head. We went out a couple times fairly close together (especially considering our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd dates were each separated by months), but he didn't kiss me again and didn't even hold my hand. However, he did hug me at the end of each date. I finally accepted that he might like me a little bit but because of shyness and inexperience (according to his sister), he was just taking things slow. I was okay with slow.
So, imagine my surprise when this past Saturday, after spending an enjoyable evening together eating, talking, laughing, and watching movies without cuddling or holding hands, Anthony gave me a nice long hug, kissed me softly, and dropped the "L" word. THE "L" WORD, PEOPLE! As in, "I l*** chocolate" or "You l*** to look at the stars". It absolutely blew me away. Heck, it still blows me away when I think about it!
Yesterday, I got a call from a mutual friend, a woman who works with Anthony and who I met when I tested the hearing at his work. She told me back then (September) that she thought Anthony liked me, and I admitted to having the occassional crush on him. Well, she left a voice message saying this week Anthony kept mentioning his girlfriend at work and she finally asked who it was. He looked at her like she was a tad slow and said, "You know her, it's Julie" and she was so excited she did a little jig (her word, not mine). I was a little surprised by "girlfriend", but then I usually am. It always seems like the guy thinks of us as girlfriend/boyfriend before I do. Not that I mind, I just don't get to that label very quickly. Anyway, it was a nice surprise. A bit mind blowing, though.
Last night, he texted me and asked to show me the four trucks he'd like to buy. Afterwards, we ate and he helped me with my sign language homework (he's deaf, remember). Throughout the evening, he repeatedly referred to me as his girlfriend. It sounded nice. As it got closer to 10, he kept saying he should go home because he works really early, then he'd start talking about something else. I was pleased because it seemed like he didn't want to go, that he'd rather be with me, even if it meant getting less sleep. I'm like this when I like a guy, so it was kind of nice to have it reciprocated. Finally, I insisted he go home, trying to be considerate of his need for sleep, even though I wanted to keep talking to him. He hugged me tightly and for a long time, kissed me, talked some more, kissed me again, and said that he loves me. It wasn't quite as big of a shock as the first time, but it still floored me a little. Of course, the rest of the night I couldn't stop thinking and was pretty much floating on cloud nine.
I just realized something; I've never really told you much about him except that I find him incredibly attractive. There's more to him than looks, of course. So, here's a "quick" rundown of Anthony:
Physical: Tall - definitely over 6' - I have to stand on my tiptoes to hug him, with him bending down a bit. He has long, wavy, dark blond hair, a neatly trimmed beard, blue eyes (I'm pretty sure! yikes!), medium build, nice hands, and a great smile. What can I say? He's hot.
Personality: Talkative. This pleases me to no end. He loves to tell stories and crack jokes. He also asks me questions about myself and is very open to answering my questions about him. He has a great memory and often surprises me when he remembers things I told him years ago. A gentleman. No, he doesn't always remember to open the door for me (most of the time, though), but he makes up for it in many other little ways that I won't go into right now for the sake of brevity (too late!). Funny. He makes me laugh so hard and so often. He also laughs a lot, a good sign. Masculine. Seriously, he's a man through and through, for good and bad. Sometimes I think, "Uh, he is such a man", and other times I think, "Ahhh, he is such a man!". Catch the difference? Again, I won't go into more detail, just take me at my word. He's certainly not perfect, but I think he's pretty great.
So...I know what you've been wanting to know...I've been evading your question on purpose. No, I don't love him. Not yet. I'm not sure I'm ready to fall in love again so soon after the last time. However, I really like Anthony a lot. I look forward to the times I get to be with him and always enjoy the time we spend together. In short (ha!), I may not be ready to love him, but I'm on the path that could lead to it. And, I'm okay with that. Yes, it makes me nervous, but in an excited, happy way.
And, to top it all off...I have a date for St. Valentine's Day! Yeah!!
Life sure keeps you on your toes!
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Sunshine On A Cloudy Day
It's been a tough week.
I've been on the verge of getting sick for about two weeks, I haven't been sleeping well, and work is stressing me out. Oh, and I've been confused about what's going on with Anthony. So, my patience has been pretty threadbare, as has been my ability to cope with unpleasantness. Monday, my boss placed the proverbial straw that broke this camel's back, and I kind of came apart. Fortunately, he did it over the phone, so he couldn't see how mad he made me. Unfortunately, my coworker did. (Side note: I once told Adam that I don't feel guilt; I was wrong. I recently realized that I feel guilty when I get angry/frustrate/irritated/etc. and let it show. Main reason: I don't think it's fair that someone else has to cope with my inability to cope.) So, I felt mad all day at work then guilty all evening after work.
On Tuesday, my coworker expressed her appreciation for being able to witness my meltdown. She said she sometimes feels like a "horrible monster" because she gets mad more often than me, so it was good for her to see that I get upset, too. Glad to help. Later, in between patients, my boss and I were able to discuss things and get them kind of resolved. One of my issues was that he wasn't doing things that he promised to do that I needed to be done, and because they weren't getting done I was stressed. Another issue was that he didn't seem to care that he was causing me stress. After numerous apologies on both sides, we were okay again.
Tuesday night, I set myself up for not feeling good on Wednesday by staying up 'til after 2am reading a book (Stone Cold by David Baldacci). Knowing that I was mega tired and even more susceptible to irritability, I made a determined effort to walk into work with a smile on my face. However, before I even had a chance to take off my coat, I was told something was wrong. My computer wouldn't turn on, and since it's the hub of our network, the other computer couldn't access the files my coworker needed to do her work. An hour and one taken-apart computer later, the telephone tech support person decided that an on-site technician was needed and said one would be calling in 1-2 business days. As you can imagine, with neither computer functional, yesterday was pretty unproductive.
Fortunately, things started to pick up a bit at this point. I had decided to do laundry last night since I was in need of clean clothes and because I wanted to just sit around and do nothing all evening. I got on my grubbiest clothes, washed off all my makeup, and (thankfully) decided against putting my hair in pigtails. I went to my mom's house, put in a load of laundry, and watched an old episode of "America's Next Top Model". At 10 minutes to eight, Anthony texted me asking me out to dinner. I said I had already eaten but thanked him anyway. He then suggested we watch a movie together. I mentioned that I was at my mom's house doing laundry, and he asked if he could come over and watch a movie with me at her house. Keep in mind that I looked horrible! I thought it over; I wanted to see him but I didn't want him to see me like that (not yet anyway), so I suggested he meet me at my apartment in 30 minutes, he agreed, and I rushed home (leaving my laundry uncompleted) to throw on decent clothes, apply a little makeup, and tidy my apartment. This is why I was glad to have opted against pigtails - once my hair is in pigtails, my hair has to stay in pigtails until wetted and redone. Just as I finished doing everything, he knocked on my door. We talked for awhile then watched 3:10 to Yuma. We both really liked it and spent awhile after the movie talking about it and other movies. I yawned a little bit after midnight, he apologized for keeping me up so late, he gave me a big hug, and we said goodbye. Sigh. I really do like him. I'm not sure how much, but I do like him. He confuses me, but that's a whole 'nother post!
Today, after months of waiting, I finally got to go into the trailer that I'll be towing around to do industrial testing and was able to start setting things up. The fact that I haven't been able to do this has caused me no end of stress! Especially since I'm using it to test 200+ employees in less than 2 weeks and none of the equipment was installed and I havn't had a chance to do any trial runs. And because I'm a perfectionist, I like to have a lot of time to make things perfect. I spent a few hours getting the trailer ready and will need a few more hours until I feel like it's perfectly ready, but I feel ages better now that I've started. My brother, J., was in town and he helped me do some initial practice tests, just to make sure the equipment worked, so I took him out to lunch to say thank you. By the time I got back to the office, the computer technician had come and gone, and both computers now work perfectly! H-O-O-R-A-Y!!!
Now, all I need is a good night's sleep and I'll be doing just dandy! So, you don't have to avoid me anymore. :)
I've been on the verge of getting sick for about two weeks, I haven't been sleeping well, and work is stressing me out. Oh, and I've been confused about what's going on with Anthony. So, my patience has been pretty threadbare, as has been my ability to cope with unpleasantness. Monday, my boss placed the proverbial straw that broke this camel's back, and I kind of came apart. Fortunately, he did it over the phone, so he couldn't see how mad he made me. Unfortunately, my coworker did. (Side note: I once told Adam that I don't feel guilt; I was wrong. I recently realized that I feel guilty when I get angry/frustrate/irritated/etc. and let it show. Main reason: I don't think it's fair that someone else has to cope with my inability to cope.) So, I felt mad all day at work then guilty all evening after work.
On Tuesday, my coworker expressed her appreciation for being able to witness my meltdown. She said she sometimes feels like a "horrible monster" because she gets mad more often than me, so it was good for her to see that I get upset, too. Glad to help. Later, in between patients, my boss and I were able to discuss things and get them kind of resolved. One of my issues was that he wasn't doing things that he promised to do that I needed to be done, and because they weren't getting done I was stressed. Another issue was that he didn't seem to care that he was causing me stress. After numerous apologies on both sides, we were okay again.
Tuesday night, I set myself up for not feeling good on Wednesday by staying up 'til after 2am reading a book (Stone Cold by David Baldacci). Knowing that I was mega tired and even more susceptible to irritability, I made a determined effort to walk into work with a smile on my face. However, before I even had a chance to take off my coat, I was told something was wrong. My computer wouldn't turn on, and since it's the hub of our network, the other computer couldn't access the files my coworker needed to do her work. An hour and one taken-apart computer later, the telephone tech support person decided that an on-site technician was needed and said one would be calling in 1-2 business days. As you can imagine, with neither computer functional, yesterday was pretty unproductive.
Fortunately, things started to pick up a bit at this point. I had decided to do laundry last night since I was in need of clean clothes and because I wanted to just sit around and do nothing all evening. I got on my grubbiest clothes, washed off all my makeup, and (thankfully) decided against putting my hair in pigtails. I went to my mom's house, put in a load of laundry, and watched an old episode of "America's Next Top Model". At 10 minutes to eight, Anthony texted me asking me out to dinner. I said I had already eaten but thanked him anyway. He then suggested we watch a movie together. I mentioned that I was at my mom's house doing laundry, and he asked if he could come over and watch a movie with me at her house. Keep in mind that I looked horrible! I thought it over; I wanted to see him but I didn't want him to see me like that (not yet anyway), so I suggested he meet me at my apartment in 30 minutes, he agreed, and I rushed home (leaving my laundry uncompleted) to throw on decent clothes, apply a little makeup, and tidy my apartment. This is why I was glad to have opted against pigtails - once my hair is in pigtails, my hair has to stay in pigtails until wetted and redone. Just as I finished doing everything, he knocked on my door. We talked for awhile then watched 3:10 to Yuma. We both really liked it and spent awhile after the movie talking about it and other movies. I yawned a little bit after midnight, he apologized for keeping me up so late, he gave me a big hug, and we said goodbye. Sigh. I really do like him. I'm not sure how much, but I do like him. He confuses me, but that's a whole 'nother post!
Today, after months of waiting, I finally got to go into the trailer that I'll be towing around to do industrial testing and was able to start setting things up. The fact that I haven't been able to do this has caused me no end of stress! Especially since I'm using it to test 200+ employees in less than 2 weeks and none of the equipment was installed and I havn't had a chance to do any trial runs. And because I'm a perfectionist, I like to have a lot of time to make things perfect. I spent a few hours getting the trailer ready and will need a few more hours until I feel like it's perfectly ready, but I feel ages better now that I've started. My brother, J., was in town and he helped me do some initial practice tests, just to make sure the equipment worked, so I took him out to lunch to say thank you. By the time I got back to the office, the computer technician had come and gone, and both computers now work perfectly! H-O-O-R-A-Y!!!
Now, all I need is a good night's sleep and I'll be doing just dandy! So, you don't have to avoid me anymore. :)
Monday, January 21, 2008
Step Away From The Angry Woman!
I'm in a bad mood today. If you can avoid me, do. For your own sake.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Resolutions Update
Don't think that I'm going to update you about my resolutions throughout the year - I may but I may not, depending on my mood. Anyhoo, here's how they're going so far:
Guitar: Hurts like a mug. Seriously, no one warned me (until afterwards) how painful playing the guitar is. My left-hand finger tips are sore, sore, sore. My teacher, Tyler, promised that as soon as I develop calluses that it won't be painful, and Cassie confirmed this during our cousins weekend, so I have hope. Pain aside, things are going okay. I'm certainly not a natural, though. My hands were made to play the clarinet and tenor sax; my fingers are short, stubby, and unflexible. Again, I'm hoping that with practice I'll be able to play decently; I'm not shooting for mega superstar, though if that happens I'll survive, I guess. It's been interesting to start over on an instrument - I haven't had to do that since 1993 with the saxophone, but it's not the same because the sax and clarinet were similar enough that I didn't feel like I was starting completely over again. Never mind my seemingly negative feelings. I'm actually really enjoying this experience, and I look forward to practicing every evening. Tonight is my second lesson, and I hope I've made a little progress.
Sign Language: Doesn't hurt like a mug. Thankfully! My first class was on Tuesday, and I really had a good time. The teacher seems fantastic; laid back, knowledgeable, humorous, nice. She knows Anthony, so she kind of teases me (I won't go into how she knows I know him, it's irrelevant). Fortunately, I don't mind being teased. In fact, I tend to think that people who tease me do so because they like me. I'm sure that isn't always the case, but it's easier to believe. Sometimes I wonder if I'm like an ostrich with her head buried in the sand. Sorry, tangent. My teacher, Debbie, said my hand movements were very graceful (which surprised me) and asked if I had taken sign before. I had learned the alphabet years ago and Anthony had shown me a few signs, but that's it. My family has always said I'd be a natural at signing because I tend to use my hands for emphasis while speaking. I'm excited to learn sign, and I met a few people that I look forward to knowing better. All in all, it should be a good experience. I'm already planning on taking the second class when this one finishes.
Shakespear: Honestly, it's going slowly. Fortunately, my friends and I finally finished "As You Like It" last night, so that's one down, many to go. I haven't read much on my own because I've been so busy and am reading other things. I'll definitely need to prioritize my time if I'm going to get this goal accomplished - why do I watch TV when I have better things to do? Seriously. It's not like I haven't seen every episode of Friends a million times!
Weight: I've lost 2 pounds! I had lost more until cousins weekend last weekend. (Thanks, Cassie, for saying you'll write about it - I'll write about the next one!) I'm not exercising as regularly as I'd like, due to being so busy lately, but at least I'm exercising. Thank heavens for PIUE and for my "Walk Away the Pounds" DVD! I would rather walk outside, but not in this cold. I went two weeks without eating out, until the aforementioned cousins weekend, and don't plan on eating out again 'til next weekend (plans with a high school friend I haven't seen for awhile) unless I go out with Anthony this weekend (a possibility - his sister wanted us to go on a double date last weekend but I was getting together with my cousins - how many times can I mention that? - so we postphoned it for this weekend but then their uncle died and they went to the funeral in Wyoming and will be gone 'til Friday and may not feel up to it Saturday after her baby shower to which I was invited and am planning on attending). How was that for a paranthetical comment!
Sabbath Day: Cousins weekend would have blown this except for the exception I gave myself for traveling. The Sunday before went well, though. I even kind of fasted.
Wow - that turned out longer than I had planned. You should know by now, though, that I tend to be wordy, so I'm sure you weren't surprised. :)
Guitar: Hurts like a mug. Seriously, no one warned me (until afterwards) how painful playing the guitar is. My left-hand finger tips are sore, sore, sore. My teacher, Tyler, promised that as soon as I develop calluses that it won't be painful, and Cassie confirmed this during our cousins weekend, so I have hope. Pain aside, things are going okay. I'm certainly not a natural, though. My hands were made to play the clarinet and tenor sax; my fingers are short, stubby, and unflexible. Again, I'm hoping that with practice I'll be able to play decently; I'm not shooting for mega superstar, though if that happens I'll survive, I guess. It's been interesting to start over on an instrument - I haven't had to do that since 1993 with the saxophone, but it's not the same because the sax and clarinet were similar enough that I didn't feel like I was starting completely over again. Never mind my seemingly negative feelings. I'm actually really enjoying this experience, and I look forward to practicing every evening. Tonight is my second lesson, and I hope I've made a little progress.
Sign Language: Doesn't hurt like a mug. Thankfully! My first class was on Tuesday, and I really had a good time. The teacher seems fantastic; laid back, knowledgeable, humorous, nice. She knows Anthony, so she kind of teases me (I won't go into how she knows I know him, it's irrelevant). Fortunately, I don't mind being teased. In fact, I tend to think that people who tease me do so because they like me. I'm sure that isn't always the case, but it's easier to believe. Sometimes I wonder if I'm like an ostrich with her head buried in the sand. Sorry, tangent. My teacher, Debbie, said my hand movements were very graceful (which surprised me) and asked if I had taken sign before. I had learned the alphabet years ago and Anthony had shown me a few signs, but that's it. My family has always said I'd be a natural at signing because I tend to use my hands for emphasis while speaking. I'm excited to learn sign, and I met a few people that I look forward to knowing better. All in all, it should be a good experience. I'm already planning on taking the second class when this one finishes.
Shakespear: Honestly, it's going slowly. Fortunately, my friends and I finally finished "As You Like It" last night, so that's one down, many to go. I haven't read much on my own because I've been so busy and am reading other things. I'll definitely need to prioritize my time if I'm going to get this goal accomplished - why do I watch TV when I have better things to do? Seriously. It's not like I haven't seen every episode of Friends a million times!
Weight: I've lost 2 pounds! I had lost more until cousins weekend last weekend. (Thanks, Cassie, for saying you'll write about it - I'll write about the next one!) I'm not exercising as regularly as I'd like, due to being so busy lately, but at least I'm exercising. Thank heavens for PIUE and for my "Walk Away the Pounds" DVD! I would rather walk outside, but not in this cold. I went two weeks without eating out, until the aforementioned cousins weekend, and don't plan on eating out again 'til next weekend (plans with a high school friend I haven't seen for awhile) unless I go out with Anthony this weekend (a possibility - his sister wanted us to go on a double date last weekend but I was getting together with my cousins - how many times can I mention that? - so we postphoned it for this weekend but then their uncle died and they went to the funeral in Wyoming and will be gone 'til Friday and may not feel up to it Saturday after her baby shower to which I was invited and am planning on attending). How was that for a paranthetical comment!
Sabbath Day: Cousins weekend would have blown this except for the exception I gave myself for traveling. The Sunday before went well, though. I even kind of fasted.
Wow - that turned out longer than I had planned. You should know by now, though, that I tend to be wordy, so I'm sure you weren't surprised. :)
Thursday, January 03, 2008
2008!
Have I ever mentioned how much I love new beginnings? New years and new journals are my favorites because I'm so curious to see what will happen in the upcoming year and what events and people will fill the blank pages of my new journal. As luck would have it, this new year I'm also starting a new journal!
I didn't spend a lot of time thinking about my new year's resolutions this year; they kind of just fell in to place. Not that they'll be easy per se, but I feel pretty good about my ability to achieve them. If I don't complete them perfectly, that's okay, because sometimes it's okay to shoot for the stars and miss.
My Goals for 2008
1. Learn sign language. Yes, for the reason you think, but not just because of the reason you think. Even if whatever is happening with Anthony doesn't last long, sign language is a good skill to have. My classes start on the 15th and will be once a week for a couple months.
Side note: whenever I'm having a hard time expressing something to Anthony, my first inclination is to try it in French! Seriously!
2. Learn to play the guitar. My dad gives us money for Christmas, we buy what we want, then he wraps them, and we open them at Christmas. This is the second year he did this, and both times I wanted to buy myself something I wouldn't have bought otherwise (last year I bought a Playstation 2 and a dance video game), this year I bought the guitar. My lessons start next Thursday and will be once a week all year (though there will be breaks).
3. Read the complete works of William Shakespeare. My friends and I have read 1 and 3/4 plays (all of Othello and most of As You Like It), so I'm counting those as having been read, but all the others I'm going to either reread (Romeo and Juliet, for example) or read for the first time. My mom gave me a beautiful book with all his writings, so I'm all set to accomplish this goal! The first play I'm reading is Comedy of Errors. It's my first time reading it, so I'm pretty excited.
4. Lose 20 pounds. I need to lose a lot more than this, but I figured this is a good start. I had this goal last year and actually achieved it - I had lost 26 pounds before my cruise in August. Unfortunately, I gained a lot of that back due to lack of consistent exercise, stress, and eating out more than ever in my entire life. This year I'm starting out in a better position that last year (I didn't gain it all back, fortunately), and I feel pretty committed, but not obsessesive. You'll still see me eat pizza and chocolate and bread and... I'm getting hungry, so I'll stop that list!
5. Keep the Sabbath Day holy. This may be bad to admit, but I don't have a testimony of doing this. I understand the reasons I've been told all my life, but they don't really mean a lot to me, so I'm going to gain a testimony of it through doing it and through prayer. *Ahem* Of course, because I'm still me, traveling and other exceptions will still exist. *Ahem* I just won't break the sabbath habitually. *Sheepish grin*
I would also like to work on my posture again this year (it was a 2006 goal), but since I had a hard time quantifying my progress last time, I'm just making it something I'd like to keep in mind, and not an actual "goal".
Plans for 2008
1. Trip to Portland in February. I'm beginning to realize the perks of deciding to stay at this job; a new laptop, getting to drive a cool, huge truck, and a trip to Portland to name just a few. As part of my new job duties, I became a member of the National Hearing Conservation Association and get to go to the annual convention which is being held in Portland this year. One of the reasons I'm going is to meet with my contact at the new account I established; she's based in Portland. I love Portland, so I'm super excited for this all-expenses paid trip!
2. Trip with my mom, Cassie, and her mom in August. We don't have all the details planned (we really need to), but we're leaning towards Chicago. I've never been there, so I'm excited to go somewhere new. Of course, we may end up going somewhere else, but frankly, I'm happy to go pretty much anywhere - especially if I've never been there before.
3. Utah Shakespearean Festival. Since I'm staying put, I'm planning on attending this annual event with my family again this year. I'm especially excited to see Othello, since I've only read it (just a couple months ago) and can't wait to see how it's interpreted by the director and actors.
4. Traveling all over the state. This is another work perk. One of the accounts I set up has locations all over the state, so I'll get to travel a lot this year. Did I mention the tricked out truck I get to drive? It's so huge that I feel like I'm climbing Mt. Everest to get in. Fortunately, we're installing a step (not the correct term, but I'm drawing a blank) so I'll be able to get in more easily. I am a bit nervous about driving such a huge truck - did I mention that I'll also be towing a 35-foot trailer with thousands of dollars worth of equipment???
5. Spending lots of time with the people I love. I am so extremely blessed with such amazing friends, a loving family, and wonderful coworkers. I know this year will bring a lot of interesting, fun, educational, and just dang good times with them (you) all.
I didn't spend a lot of time thinking about my new year's resolutions this year; they kind of just fell in to place. Not that they'll be easy per se, but I feel pretty good about my ability to achieve them. If I don't complete them perfectly, that's okay, because sometimes it's okay to shoot for the stars and miss.
My Goals for 2008
1. Learn sign language. Yes, for the reason you think, but not just because of the reason you think. Even if whatever is happening with Anthony doesn't last long, sign language is a good skill to have. My classes start on the 15th and will be once a week for a couple months.
Side note: whenever I'm having a hard time expressing something to Anthony, my first inclination is to try it in French! Seriously!
2. Learn to play the guitar. My dad gives us money for Christmas, we buy what we want, then he wraps them, and we open them at Christmas. This is the second year he did this, and both times I wanted to buy myself something I wouldn't have bought otherwise (last year I bought a Playstation 2 and a dance video game), this year I bought the guitar. My lessons start next Thursday and will be once a week all year (though there will be breaks).
3. Read the complete works of William Shakespeare. My friends and I have read 1 and 3/4 plays (all of Othello and most of As You Like It), so I'm counting those as having been read, but all the others I'm going to either reread (Romeo and Juliet, for example) or read for the first time. My mom gave me a beautiful book with all his writings, so I'm all set to accomplish this goal! The first play I'm reading is Comedy of Errors. It's my first time reading it, so I'm pretty excited.
4. Lose 20 pounds. I need to lose a lot more than this, but I figured this is a good start. I had this goal last year and actually achieved it - I had lost 26 pounds before my cruise in August. Unfortunately, I gained a lot of that back due to lack of consistent exercise, stress, and eating out more than ever in my entire life. This year I'm starting out in a better position that last year (I didn't gain it all back, fortunately), and I feel pretty committed, but not obsessesive. You'll still see me eat pizza and chocolate and bread and... I'm getting hungry, so I'll stop that list!
5. Keep the Sabbath Day holy. This may be bad to admit, but I don't have a testimony of doing this. I understand the reasons I've been told all my life, but they don't really mean a lot to me, so I'm going to gain a testimony of it through doing it and through prayer. *Ahem* Of course, because I'm still me, traveling and other exceptions will still exist. *Ahem* I just won't break the sabbath habitually. *Sheepish grin*
I would also like to work on my posture again this year (it was a 2006 goal), but since I had a hard time quantifying my progress last time, I'm just making it something I'd like to keep in mind, and not an actual "goal".
Plans for 2008
1. Trip to Portland in February. I'm beginning to realize the perks of deciding to stay at this job; a new laptop, getting to drive a cool, huge truck, and a trip to Portland to name just a few. As part of my new job duties, I became a member of the National Hearing Conservation Association and get to go to the annual convention which is being held in Portland this year. One of the reasons I'm going is to meet with my contact at the new account I established; she's based in Portland. I love Portland, so I'm super excited for this all-expenses paid trip!
2. Trip with my mom, Cassie, and her mom in August. We don't have all the details planned (we really need to), but we're leaning towards Chicago. I've never been there, so I'm excited to go somewhere new. Of course, we may end up going somewhere else, but frankly, I'm happy to go pretty much anywhere - especially if I've never been there before.
3. Utah Shakespearean Festival. Since I'm staying put, I'm planning on attending this annual event with my family again this year. I'm especially excited to see Othello, since I've only read it (just a couple months ago) and can't wait to see how it's interpreted by the director and actors.
4. Traveling all over the state. This is another work perk. One of the accounts I set up has locations all over the state, so I'll get to travel a lot this year. Did I mention the tricked out truck I get to drive? It's so huge that I feel like I'm climbing Mt. Everest to get in. Fortunately, we're installing a step (not the correct term, but I'm drawing a blank) so I'll be able to get in more easily. I am a bit nervous about driving such a huge truck - did I mention that I'll also be towing a 35-foot trailer with thousands of dollars worth of equipment???
5. Spending lots of time with the people I love. I am so extremely blessed with such amazing friends, a loving family, and wonderful coworkers. I know this year will bring a lot of interesting, fun, educational, and just dang good times with them (you) all.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)