Some might say that I'm a little chubby... I've always been a little bit jiggly. I went to the doctor a few weeks ago for an annual check-up and to my surprise I weighed ###! Ouch! I've never been that heavy before. I've tried Weight Watchers in the past but "healthy" food is getting more and more expensive for our tight budget and I also find I simply don't have the time (or patience) to prepare meals from scratch every day, which they say is better for you.
One thing that I know I am missing from my life is regular physical activity. I used to be involved in marching band and therefore was moving around a football field four days a week for at least two hours each day. I never got into a habit of going to work out at a gym or anywhere else.
Yesterday I joined a gym and I am determined to go 2-3 days a week after work. It is my goal to lose 40 pounds so I can be healthier and so I can better fit into my clothes. I hope I can stay motivated and focused! I'll let you know how it goes...
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Be in my sorority!
So my sister, Kelly, is going through sorority recruitment this week. As of last night my beloved sorority is her second choice. UGH! Not only is she rushing the exact chapter I was in, I’m still involved there as an alumnae! I’m not too thrilled about her first and third choices either so that makes me want her to be in my sorority more than ever.
Part of me has reservations about her joining because it has kinda been my thing for the past five years and I really love feeling important as an alumna at that chapter – but it would also mean so much to me to be able to share that wonderful part of my life with my biological sister! I know that my sorority has the best program on campus right now and that all of the girls there are absolutely wonderful and that she would feel so welcome and have a fantastic experience.
I know she really likes those other two houses too but I really think she would thoroughly enjoy being in my chapter and not regret her decision to do so (like she might if she joins one of the other two houses). So, Kelly, if you’re reading this – BE IN MY SORORITY!
Part of me has reservations about her joining because it has kinda been my thing for the past five years and I really love feeling important as an alumna at that chapter – but it would also mean so much to me to be able to share that wonderful part of my life with my biological sister! I know that my sorority has the best program on campus right now and that all of the girls there are absolutely wonderful and that she would feel so welcome and have a fantastic experience.
I know she really likes those other two houses too but I really think she would thoroughly enjoy being in my chapter and not regret her decision to do so (like she might if she joins one of the other two houses). So, Kelly, if you’re reading this – BE IN MY SORORITY!
Monday, September 15, 2008
Random act of camping
Each weekend we are making an effort to do something fun. The reason for this is because I tend to focus on all of the weekend projects that could be accomplished and I rarely plan big activities outside of pre-planned family events and going out with friends. And since Dave works most every Saturday he enjoys making time to do fun things with me - not just housework! So this past Saturday before we both went to work we were talking about driving up to the mountains on Sunday to look at the changing Aspen trees. I then had a crazy idea that we could just pack up that afternoon and spend the night in the mountains. So in between our work and meeting schedules we decided that we would go camping despite the online campground reservation system saying that no campsites were available and the temperature low for the evening being 36 degrees.
When we both returned home we grabbed our camping gear, warm clothes and some just-add-water type foods and headed out. We had no reservations, no real plan and no idea where we would end up resting our heads for the evening. After an hourish drive we arrived at our destination and set out to find a campground. The very first place we found had a site available for the night- YES! We set up camp and began cooking dinner... er... boiling water for our freeze dried meal. We had a lovely dinner and then discovered that if you add peanut butter to a regular s'more it's the best tasting camp dessert! Try it!
To our disappointment the Aspen leaves had not yet begun to change to Autumn colors, but we were surprised by what was happening this time of year; the elk in the area were VERY active and they were buguling all night and all the next day. The next day, instead of driving around to see changing trees we drove around to see the elk. Here are a few pictures:
When we both returned home we grabbed our camping gear, warm clothes and some just-add-water type foods and headed out. We had no reservations, no real plan and no idea where we would end up resting our heads for the evening. After an hourish drive we arrived at our destination and set out to find a campground. The very first place we found had a site available for the night- YES! We set up camp and began cooking dinner... er... boiling water for our freeze dried meal. We had a lovely dinner and then discovered that if you add peanut butter to a regular s'more it's the best tasting camp dessert! Try it!
To our disappointment the Aspen leaves had not yet begun to change to Autumn colors, but we were surprised by what was happening this time of year; the elk in the area were VERY active and they were buguling all night and all the next day. The next day, instead of driving around to see changing trees we drove around to see the elk. Here are a few pictures:
I think I'll be spontaneous more often! We had a fantastic time and, to my surprise, the world didn't end when I didn't finish all of the laundry that weekend.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Another one bites the dust
Today was my supervisor's last day. This is the third time in the two years that I have been here that the person in the position above me has resigned. I know this past one was justifiably frustrated with the organization and how it is being run and was even frustrated and the interaction they and I have had. But even so, this person left in a very unprofessional and disrespectful manner.
When they first started I was treated as almost a secretary – being asked to do their mailings, return phone calls, update contact lists, etc. Once job duties were straightened out we finally began to work as a team and things seemed to be going well. Every so often they would get frustrated with the many, many “brick walls” they hit with their own supervisor, but they seemed to be really determined to succeed and move the organization forward no matter what.
In the last month I was beginning to get dumped on. More and more tasks that were not their responsibility were being handed down from their supervisor and then, quite frankly, crap has a tendency to flow downhill and unfortunately I was at the bottom. Things that had previously been cleared up (like job descriptions) seemed to get fuzzy again. I was being asked to find sponsors, fund raise and to do grant reports – things that absolutely do not fall under my job description. I was being bullied into doing these things - being literally cornered in my cubical and being told I didn't have a choice. In trying to stand up for myself (in a very professional and respectful manner I will add) there were some heated conversations that ended with this person throwing paper at me and telling me I was a failure and worthless.
They decided to go back to their previous position and I can’t say that I’m broken up about it. In their resignation memo they stated that “I will miss some of you very much”. Ouch! I’m not sure who all that was directed at, but good grief! People at this organization certainly didn’t deserve that. I am baffled as to why things took such a dramatic turn in a hurry but in the end I think they made the right decision for both themselves and for our organization. I still don’t think that I deserved to be treated the way I was but I have learned a lot about myself through the experience.
At 2:00 this afternoon they decided to peel their name off of their mail box and take off – with not a word to anyone. No goodbyes, no notes, no emails, nothing. I don’t suspect that we’ll see them around here again but, for now, that’s ok with me…
When they first started I was treated as almost a secretary – being asked to do their mailings, return phone calls, update contact lists, etc. Once job duties were straightened out we finally began to work as a team and things seemed to be going well. Every so often they would get frustrated with the many, many “brick walls” they hit with their own supervisor, but they seemed to be really determined to succeed and move the organization forward no matter what.
In the last month I was beginning to get dumped on. More and more tasks that were not their responsibility were being handed down from their supervisor and then, quite frankly, crap has a tendency to flow downhill and unfortunately I was at the bottom. Things that had previously been cleared up (like job descriptions) seemed to get fuzzy again. I was being asked to find sponsors, fund raise and to do grant reports – things that absolutely do not fall under my job description. I was being bullied into doing these things - being literally cornered in my cubical and being told I didn't have a choice. In trying to stand up for myself (in a very professional and respectful manner I will add) there were some heated conversations that ended with this person throwing paper at me and telling me I was a failure and worthless.
They decided to go back to their previous position and I can’t say that I’m broken up about it. In their resignation memo they stated that “I will miss some of you very much”. Ouch! I’m not sure who all that was directed at, but good grief! People at this organization certainly didn’t deserve that. I am baffled as to why things took such a dramatic turn in a hurry but in the end I think they made the right decision for both themselves and for our organization. I still don’t think that I deserved to be treated the way I was but I have learned a lot about myself through the experience.
At 2:00 this afternoon they decided to peel their name off of their mail box and take off – with not a word to anyone. No goodbyes, no notes, no emails, nothing. I don’t suspect that we’ll see them around here again but, for now, that’s ok with me…
Monday, September 1, 2008
Surprise!
This year, my mother is having a pretty big birthday... we won't mention numbers, but during this year I'll be exactly half of her age. In celebration of this great milestone my father decided to throw her a surprise party. Now, if you know my mother at all you know that keeping secrets from her is next to impossible. It took great orchestration and many white lies to keep this quiet, but in the end it was pulled off beautifully!
Balloons!
Each Labor Day weekend it has become a tradition for me and Dave to travel down to Colorado Springs for the Colorado Springs Balloon Classic. When Dave was younger, he regularly entered the photo contest and has won many first, second, third and even grand prize awards! Although we go and take hundreds of pictures every year we haven't entered any in the contest in a while. This year, we both took some really great pictures and will be entering them in the photo contest - wish us luck!
Here are a few of the pictures I took this year:
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