I'll spread my wings,
And I'll learn how to fly,
Though it's not easy to tell you goodbye.
I gotta take a risk,
Take a chance,
Make a change,
And breakaway.
Out of the darkness and into the sun,
But I won't forget the place I come from.
I gotta take a risk,
Take a chance,
Make a change,
And breakaway.
today
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So this has been an interesting weekend. I've got to focus on so many things since I'm finally in town for once. This has been a LONG, depressing winter. And I'm sick of feeling sorry for myself, being tired and grumpy at least part of every day, missing the things I love the most. So progress of the weekend:
I've finally dealt with something I let go on in my head too long. I've known for months that I was wasting my time and energy, but until I actually concluded what I knew I should have, I was clouded. The situation had me convinced that I was being unfair by trying to deal with it. Anyways - I'm better now, I know better, and should have respected myself more 5 months ago. I feel better already.
And I've got the chance to be a friend this weekend, without being to busy, for a couple situations. As my cousin states: God will not ask how many friends you had, he'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend. I'm glad I've got to be a friend.
After a training session this week, it was easy to conclude that I have many of the tools already needed to be successful, so why have I been so stressed (you can be very successful, but you should enjoy work, not be stressed by it)? After a deep breathe this weekend, I feel much better about the coming months. I can focus on learning to be a good manager, getting projects accomplished, and making sure that everything gets done. It also helps that the last month is over, as there were a million deadlines and office commitments to get through.
A few trips home I think will really make me happy. I'm soo proud of my sister following her dreams, some of which will become a reality within the month. I'm excited to be there with her and my family for it.
So anyways, as I clean my kitchen from top to bottom this afternoon, I hope I remember it's spring, things are fine, it's a clean beginning.
It's been a busy...however long since my last post
I should update just a bit. On Sunday, I returned from the West Coast. A friend and I spent 9 days driving from San Jose to Seattle. We stayed on the coastal highway up until just above coos bay in Oregon. The main word of the trip: Beautiful! I have 503 pictures, mainly because around every corner was another amazing view. The trip in general was great too - my friend and I got along the whole time, we ate and drank lots of great stuff...including beef from 'happy (Californian) cows', and lots of wine and microbrews, and saw a few friends from the past. It was tiring though, getting up every day pretty early and being on the go the full day. I was exhausted by the end of the trip, but it was all worth it!
So then this last week didn't go so well. Being tired and having an international meeting coming up, I worked almost 60 hours counting time yesterday, and have to go into work as soon as I finish this blog to finish up what I didn't get done. Then I have to interview someone over lunch for a position we have open, then pack up and leave for the international meeting. The thought alone tires me out - being that it's from 7am until at least midnight, every day, and includes lots of alcohol. It's great to see all my international co-workers, being that I talk to each office at least 2 times a week, but it's stressful. Try being drunk and keeping every conversation appropriate! Half the time the CEO or a VP are in the conversation with you! Oh well - it's done Thursday, then after work Friday, I FINALLY get to head HOME! Oh how I miss it...and my puppy who my parents are sooo nicely watching. She's a handful! Of course I get back Sunday, and have to attend management/effectiveness training Monday, but home always puts a big smile on my face.
Hopefully things slow down at least to the point where I sleep in my bed for more than a few days before heading out again. I just booked rooms at a resort in PA for the end of March with my family so I can finally bring Ellie home, so that should be fun. It's a march madness weekend, so we plan to mainly hang out and watch basketball in the middle of no where, PA. Sometime in March/April, I have to spend a week+ in Chile for work, but after that, I hope the slow down thing takes place!
Anyways - Time to head out again, but I felt like doing something for a couple minutes and this won out. I also have to wait for my curling iron to cool before I can pack it to leave...so really this was just a time filler!
Side note - I always blame me rushing on my bad typing skills on IM/blogs, etc...but I think I am now going to blame my keyboard. I think the wine I spilled on it like a year ago is really still messing with it...I need a new one.
Happy March to all, spring should be here soon!
So I'm sitting at home tonight, slightly bored, slightly unwilling to go out in the snow that the rest of the city is avoiding. Down on the street below my apartment, there are two police cars. They don't seem to be doing anything other than flashing their lights (which makes Ellie bark) and holding up traffic. It’s funny how I will never really know why they are there, what they are doing, who they are even here for. In my home town, by contrast, if car lights are flashing, everyone knows why they are there, what they are doing and who they are there for. I miss being nosey sometimes!
This brings me to my next pondering question from Thursday. My department was out to lunch at a Thai restaurant. We were comparing different Thai and the best in the neighborhood. One restaurant was decided on because it was the most authentic. I'm slightly confused as to how one would really know what 'authentic' food tastes like when no one at the table had ever been to Thailand. Can we really say 'most authentic'? I never used to worry about such things, in a small town; you can basically get American, American, and American.
So while my mind was being rather preoccupied, I almost forgot the fact that I take off for the west coast for 10 days, starting Friday. My friend and I are starting in San Fran and ending in Seattle with plenty of stops in between. Then while talking to mom today, I had a feeling I might have bought plane tickets home on a weekend when I am not here. After checking, I did indeed buy tickets for the weekend before the weekend I'm scheduled to head home. So now I have to exchange my tickets that used to be cheap for not so cheap ones. Another case of my mind being overwhelmed...I blame work.
Anyways - I'll continue to watch the flashing lights, listen to Ellie bark, and eventually fall asleep, hoping to keep track of things this coming week so I can leave for vacation and remember where I was suppose to be going!
It's not even very cold here and I'm still down...as I seem to always get at the end of January, beginning of Feb.
I think it doesn't help that the majority of the people I hang out with down here are all leaving within the next 6 months. Some are going to school, some are just moving, and it seems the majority are going as far away as the west coast! So now after finally getting to know people, having fun, liking the city alright, everyone's leaving. I'm sure I'll find more people to hang out with, and I really don't see myself here past next summer, but it could be a long year if I don't have people to hang out with. Good thing for travel!
Other than that, work is getting annoying due to being under staffed and having too many people believing their problems are the only ones that exist. My recliner for my birthday still isn't here. Desperate housewives is a rerun. and I should stop complaining...Life isn't really that bad - its just been a long few days.
I would go to bed, but I'm not ready to start another week...
So I've done a lot of thinking and decided to not resolve anything this year. I have enough work goals to worry about, I'm pretty happy with my weight/body, I know many great things will happen this year, so I'm just going with that. I'm going to be happy, and go after all that will keep me that way!
So since last time, the Holidays were EXCELLENT! I am calling them 'holidays' not because I don't want to call it Christmas, but because it encompasses Christmas, New Years and my Birthday. Its sad that I'm justifying things due to DC
So now I'm back in DC. It's been incredibly busy at work, even more than I expected. I've got a million projects that are to finish up by our international meeting, the first week of March. My boss mentions bonuses, I'm hoping if I get everything done, I get one of those! A bonus in March, then tax refunds somewhere after that will make me a happy girl! I'm doing my taxes all by myself (well, mom will have to help some, I don't know where everything is!) with the motivation to get them done soon so I know what the refund number will be! We had out of town staff in the office this week too, so that always adds stress and extra work. Next week my boss will be out, so really, this year won't slow down for a bit at work. Last weekend we celebrated 3 birthdays in one with plenty of drinking, and a great dinner of course! I think I'm not drinking this weekend at all! I spent last Sunday sleeping until about 5pm.
Traveling/Visiting this year is shaping up nicely as well. Next weekend my family minus my brother will be in town for a Basketball game (DUKE!). Then my brother will be down the first weekend of February. After that, my friend and I are planning a west coast trip. I think we're going to spend a week driving up the coastal highway, starting in LA and ending at our friend’s new location on a houseboat in Seattle. That will be mid Feb, followed by our international meeting for work in Virginia. Then, also for work, we are really for sure this time (we'll see when I have a ticket bought) heading to Chile for a bit in March. So that takes me through March, other trips will be Spain, maybe more of Europe, maybe Rochester, and absolutely home a few times! Oh then there's the weddings of June/July in various areas of NYS.
So this is a long enough entry for now, I will try to keep it updated, but there are no guarantees. This weekend is a 3 day weekend, where I plan to relax plenty and get things in order. I should get back to the relaxing part now...
I know I complain about this often, but this blog lets me insert a Flash object, but not spell-check?! WHAT IS WRONG WITH SPELLCHECK? Some people (me) forgot to how to spell when word processing was invented!
oh - 24!!! starts Sunday - don't plan to see/hear from me Sunday and Monday from 8-10, then every Monday following that from 9-10. I love the show!
So I had to come into work at 7:15 to meet an electrician to get some much needed work done. He's not here, it's 8:30, I deserve to take time at work to update :)
In January, I actually resolved stuff. Let's see how well I did...
1- Stop being critical of people and accept them for the way they are...different than I am. (Applies mostly to family, but of course to life in general) I did very well at this for me. For example, Jenna's wedding. I didn't try to change one thing about it and it was perfect for her. I think overall I'm more relaxed about everything anyways.
2- Go to the gym (curves counts 
) at least 2 times a week. I don't care if I loose weight or inches so much, I just want to stay dedicated to something...especially since I'm paying money for it! I'm still paying for it, and go at least a few times a month. I ended up loosing both weight and inches too, and need to buy new clothes that fit better now. Will continue membership into the new year. I like the interaction with the ladies at the gym anyways, it's always enjoyable and relaxing.
3- During conversations, make sure I focus on the person I'm talking to, and don't only talk about me. (mainly with mom...but definately others as well) Much more attentive to this...I didn't really have that dramatic of a year, so it was easy to focus on everyone else instead.
4- Drink Less at a time: My goal is no more 'blackouts' for 2005. 2004 had too many, not to mention too many bruises the next mornings... I think there were 2 nights I don't fully recall, I would say that's WAY better than 2004. Although my tolerance is way down now, since I still drink lots of days, just not so much on each day.
5- Volunteer for at least 1 good cause. Socially it could be fun, grad applications will look better, and it's just an all around good idea! My intentions were good, but overal I think I failed this one. I did train to be a WARL dog walking volunteer, but it's just so far away and hard to get to on work days, and I travel too much on the weekends.
6- Of course - hitting all my work goals will be good too. Hit them, exceeded some, and got promoted again. I think it was a good year for the working girl. Now to survive until I move back to NYS...
In the blogging world, I updated at least 1 time each month this year, so that's another good thing...
So in January, I might list out new things, but overall, I'm sick of writing goals, accomplishments, reviews, etc. I have to do it too much at work! Other than that...hmmm - what have I been up to all through November and into now?
I went home for Turkey, Mom and Dad visited for 5 days, a college roommmate visted for a weekend, went to NYC for a couple days, I've attended parties for birthdays, holidays, and housewarming, I've worked millions of hours, survived a board meeting and had an intern start and on and on and on. After this week finally finishes, I get to go *HOME* for 10 days! This week is really busy though, finishing up shopping, more holiday get-togethers, packing, taking care of a christmas present that move/bark/needs attention, and then finally driving home. But oh well - it's the holiday season, I get to spend it with those I love most, I couldn't be happier!
So if I don't update before the New Year, Merry Christmas to All and Here's to an Excellent 2006!!
I'm not really looking forward to Christmas that much - I just needed a different title than 'WOW - Already November?!'. 
Since my last post, there was a wedding, I moved into an office, and I went to Rochester...twice! Yep - that takes up every bit of weekend time I had in October. The wedding was perfect, I think everyone had fun, it's always great to see everyone, I think I slept a total of 10 hours from Wednesday-Monday, and drank more than my body was happy about. All in the name of a great time! My dress turned out fine - it was strapless and I didn't have to cheat at all by putting the straps on. Good thing my chest didn't seem to loose anything while I was loosing weight! If you know me well enough to ask - I can point you to 667 WONDERFUL pics taken of the joyous occasion.
My office is cool - I LOVE having windows - but I hardly look out them. I was on the phone with dad yesterday while in my office, waiting for some stuff to finish so I could go home, and he asked when it got dark out. I had to turn around and look to even see if it was dark! 1 entire wall of mine is a window - so you would think it would be hard to miss! But it's nice having my 10X14 space - it reminds me of the size of my college dorm room, only now it's all mine! I have a big desk, a side table and extra chair, another table w/ servers and whatnot, and a book shelf. OO and a door! I'm still working on art work for the walls, but that takes time... 
So then onto Rochester area...Those visits were to see a friend that's normally in Afghanistan...but the Army let him out for 15 whole days. It's always nice to go to NYS, and these trips didn't let me down. Busy the whole time, but what else is there to do?! I think I met more people in a few days than I've meet in a whole year down here! And anyone who knows me knows I am horrible with names and faces and keeping everything straight! I would say I did rather well for me! 
Of course it was also very good to see my friend and his family. Since he reads this, there's no point in going into too many details 
, but I'm glad I went up! And unless the US decides to randomly pull out of Afghanistan, he won't be home for another 5-6 months, but time flies, hopefully especially for him! Oh and I should mention the FIRE - It rivals some of the pallet fires we are known to have back home!
So now onto November...It's not starting so great - I'm 'working from home' right now so I could take a nap this afternoon to actually function at all. That's the only downfall of NYS, about 90% of the times I come back here after being there, I get sick. And I'm not normally one to get sick very often, so this isn't good. Luckily I'm only feeling yucky for like 3-4 days, and I'm on day 2, so I'm almost back to health I would guess?! Other than that, I have 3 weekends until I get to go home for Turkey. At this time, all 3 are empty! I've not stopped since before the wedding, so I think I'm very open to the idea of relaxing for all of them! Maybe start some shopping and whatnot- but all very casual.
I think that's it for now, so much more happened than I wrote about, but hey - this is a blog - what kind of detail do you expect from me?! I'm also tired again - I think it's time for another nap...
Until next time...Happy dia de los muertos (day of the dead/all saints day)! 
and glad I didn't really sleep through September! It was a crazy month, all in all. I'm glad I went through it!
I'm getting programs and what not done for the wedding, did all my shopping for jewelry, shoes, etc, have my dress and shoes for the actual wedding, and am ready to head home next Wednesday for 5 days of plenty of family, fun, drinking, tiredness, and of course a new brother in the end. I'm glad most things are in order on my end - Jenna's rather nervous already. My goal is to not question anything she says/does/wants for the whole weekend. I'm sometimes more critical than is helpful, so it'll be Jenna's weekend! I get one more day at home now too, cause the Army is no fun and doesn't do as they hope! So no Rochester this time, but a weekend in October should still work.
Friday afternoon was crazy and a bit weird in the end. I went to help my leaving coworker move out of my office at like 4 and just ended up hanging out while he did stuff. It's really crazy to think he won't be there Monday. I think I'll hold off on moving into the office for a bit. I've got to finish the IT budget for next year before I head home Wednesday. So anyways - we didn't really do any 'good-bye' thing although many others stopped in while I was there. So then he decided to go around to finish up g'byes, and I went to shut down and get ready to leave. He was around, but still didn't do any good-bye, then I was talking with some girls about the weekend and went to head over to really say some kind of good bye and he was already gone! Oh well - I HATE endings anyways - so I guess it's okay, but it was just...weird!
Anyways - Just wasting time before I head out for the night. It's been a bit since I've drank here...well...only a couple weeks....but still! :) Thursday night in G-town doesn't count - it was during the week! Anyways - off to the blue room, have a good night all!
Soo much to do, Soo little time, but I'm just being lazy tonight...
So I'm officially promoted! I'm a 'manager' now (Enterprise IT Manager) ...mainly meaning I get an office. That's fun - at first a bit intimidating due to the monetary increase...but I'm thinking it's just more project management and delegation...I can handle that! Unfortunately, it means more hours occasionally, and really on call 24/7...but of course I plan to make my network sounder so it doesn't go down off normal hours! OO - I get to go to Chile - THIS YEAR! - and Spain either this year, or preferably next year...I like to space out my travel at least a little bit! The Spain part might be to train someone - so that will more than likely get to be a month+! Besides mom not liking it (she thinks Spain is more dangerous than Chile and DC!), it will be fun!
Other than that...WEDDING time is crazy! I've got soo much to get done, but have to wait on all the parts...so instead I just get to worry about getting it done. It also doesn't really seem like it's in 2 weeks! I can't believe it's really finally happening. I guess I could finish my speech... Now that JJ shared his home dates (YEA!! I was first to know!
Last week I had GREAT company too! I'm not used to people being here all the time, but I actually got to like it! It's kinda quiet here now... Also, Heather and Jason were really good apartment guests...they handled Ellie WAY better than most! I think she misses them too! I miss having Heather around
So posting has calmed me down a bit, Martha's on TV now with her little challenge...I do like the Donald a bit better since it's business, but we'll see how the homemaking/business stuff works!
Always Remember ~ September 11, 2001 ~
I'm actually posting from home! Since I just posted last week, not too much has happened. It's been a busy weekend though, so that's cool. Friday night we took out our receptionist who is leaving for happy hour. Then we came to my house (7 people in my apartment - I think that's a record!) before heading to a birthday party of some girl a friend lives with. We got to the bar, but there was no room to sit with the group we were there to meet up with, so we just sat in our own area. I was tired though, so left around 1 and cheated by cabbing home. Yesterday I actually went to an art exhibit at a Smithsonian! I guess it was okay - I'm not really good at that, nor do I love art exhibits. I'm the person who walks though, reads little, then finds a nice place to sit and wait for the others to finish up. This one had lots of video though, so that helped take up some time. From there we walked to the water front in hopes of a new place to eat. It was much smaller than we thought, and went through my very first real fish market, but we found nothing that looked good. So it was off to China Town for Tappas. Very good meal, I love Tapas! There were 4 of us girls, and we finished off 10 tapas and a pitcher of Sangria, so it was a great! Then we headed back to NW and Dawn and Becca came over to use my VCR to watch the taped OC. We were going to go to a party, but were really lazy and watched the MTV hurricane special instead. Now it's sunday, I'm up and moving. I think I'm going to take Ellie to Adams Morgan Day cause it's not too far away and she LOVES walks outside. Other than that, I think I'll just be around, enjoying the day off before a LONG 5 day work week. I don't like those...Although I think Heather is here this week, so that will help time pass!!
So I have to through a Bachlorette Party for Jenna, but I've got MANY limits. 1- Everyone is not 21 and no one can afford to go to Canada: meaning we are staying in. 2 - Mom doesn't want it at her house and the guys will be at Jenna's house: meaning I lack a location all together. 3 - It's the Thursday before the wedding: meaning if I want to not deal with a bunch of grumpy bridesmaids and bride for the next day, we can't really drink that much. 4 - Most of the wedding party is cousins, younger ones: meaning it's got to stay relatively clean, I would rather they not know all about Jenna's sex life! I hate planning parties that have the potential of being really boring, cause there is no other choice. But, she deserves a party, so a party she will have. Other than that, I'm actually helping with the wedding, I get to make programs. I also have to go shopping, I need ruby jewelry. The ones I like onilne are expensive though, but if I'm buying me something nice, it will be nice! I also want cowboy like boots. My outfit for the rehersal dinner will be perfect with them! I think that's all I have to do for wedding, but I'm getting more excited for Jenna now, and can't wait! It will be a long weekend of little sleep and lots of work, but it only happens once (I hope)!
Well - it's almost 11 already, so I won't write any more. Have a great day/week/month!
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