The end is coming. In just a few hours I'll be back to a routine, back to work, back to an alarm clock. When my first stay at home vacation started 11 days ago I didn't have many plans, just Christmas day and the fact that I wouldn't have to set my alarm clock. And it turned out to be a lovely 11 days. I spent Christmas with my family and a couple days later join them for a sushi lunch. I went out with some girlfriends to lunch and a movie and lost $30 in about 1o minutes on the slot machines in Black Hawk. I was privileged to share a lovely and elegant dinner with friends who were celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary. And there were quite a few quiet days when I never left my home and didn't see another person. Those days I read and slept, watched TV and movies, did some cooking or had food delivered. I probably could have been a bit more productive but wasn't but that's okay. The only thing that could have made it better was if I was doing all that with the beach and ocean outside my door.
And I admit I get a sick feeling in my stomach thinking about where I'll be this time tomorrow, sitting at my desk, drudging my way through a week's worth of e-mails, catching up on things and feeling the same frustration I felt when I was last there. But you've got to have an income and to get that you have to work. And for now I have to be thankful that I had this time. The only place I've been in the last three days is the grocery store so I will probably venture out to B&N, use the great gift cards I got for Christmas and daydream about my next vacation.
May 2012 be a great year for everyone.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Post-Christmas Bliss is....
. . . lying on my bed in clean, comfy sweats after a long hot shower and knowing that every trace of Christmas is gone (except for a few gifts I need to give to people). Don't get me wrong, I like Christmas well enough (although I don't think we need to celebrate it for an entire month and it's gotten too materialistic) but it's just so much work.
I don't decorate my home for holidays. I just don't care, don't have the room for all the stuff and would rather spend my money on other things. The one exception is Christmas and that is only when my Mom & Sister are coming over on Christmas. Then I feel I need to make an effort. I want to make Christmas special for them so I decorate. If nobody is coming over there are absolutely no decorations. No light are hung, no wreaths, no Christmas decorations at all. But this was a year when I was "hosting" Christmas.
I don't go overboard but I do get a Christmas tree, a real Christmas tree. That's what I grew up with and that to me is Christmas. I'd rather have no tree at all than a fake, plastic tree. And I know that a real tree is a lot more work. A week before Christmas I went to get my tree. A nice guy working at the place I got it put it in my car for me (note: the tree was wrapped up tight with string so I wasn't sure what size it was - only how tall and that I could carry it). Then when I got to my apartment my neighbor's boyfriend offered to carry my tree up three flights of stairs to my door. So far so good. I get the tree in the stand, untied it and decorated it. Everything was going great until my completed decorated Christmas tree fell over, not once but twice and the second time it fell on top of me as I was under it trying to adjust the screws in the stand.
As I was trapped under my Christmas tree I thought this would be it, it was a slow news week and the story of my Mom and Sister finding me dead under the Christmas tree would definitely make the evening news. But I averted death and got myself out from under the tree covered in pine needles, my hand covered in dirt and sap and only a few cuts and bruises. I cleaned myself up, called my Sister and told her I would never again put up a Christmas tree.
And while it wasn't as much of a life threatening experience, it was just as stressful to get the darn thing out of my apartment. The de-decorating started almost immediately after Mom and Sister left on Christmas. By Monday the ornament and lights were off the tree and boxed up. By noon today the tree was out of the apartment and everything has been cleaned up and put away. The tree turned out to be much bigger than I thought. I wanted to recycle but couldn't get the darn thing in my car. And after carrying it down three flights of stairs, it left behind so many pine needles I got out the broom and brushed them all the way down the stairs so my neighbors wouldn't complained (of course, less than five minutes after I finished this task a maintenance person came by and vacuumed/blew all the pine needles away).
But it's all behind me now and I feel like I can enjoy the rest of my week. And if I ever mention even the possibility of wanting to put up another Christmas tree, please just say, "Remember Christmas 2011 when your tree almost killed you?" That should do it.
I don't decorate my home for holidays. I just don't care, don't have the room for all the stuff and would rather spend my money on other things. The one exception is Christmas and that is only when my Mom & Sister are coming over on Christmas. Then I feel I need to make an effort. I want to make Christmas special for them so I decorate. If nobody is coming over there are absolutely no decorations. No light are hung, no wreaths, no Christmas decorations at all. But this was a year when I was "hosting" Christmas.
I don't go overboard but I do get a Christmas tree, a real Christmas tree. That's what I grew up with and that to me is Christmas. I'd rather have no tree at all than a fake, plastic tree. And I know that a real tree is a lot more work. A week before Christmas I went to get my tree. A nice guy working at the place I got it put it in my car for me (note: the tree was wrapped up tight with string so I wasn't sure what size it was - only how tall and that I could carry it). Then when I got to my apartment my neighbor's boyfriend offered to carry my tree up three flights of stairs to my door. So far so good. I get the tree in the stand, untied it and decorated it. Everything was going great until my completed decorated Christmas tree fell over, not once but twice and the second time it fell on top of me as I was under it trying to adjust the screws in the stand.
As I was trapped under my Christmas tree I thought this would be it, it was a slow news week and the story of my Mom and Sister finding me dead under the Christmas tree would definitely make the evening news. But I averted death and got myself out from under the tree covered in pine needles, my hand covered in dirt and sap and only a few cuts and bruises. I cleaned myself up, called my Sister and told her I would never again put up a Christmas tree.
And while it wasn't as much of a life threatening experience, it was just as stressful to get the darn thing out of my apartment. The de-decorating started almost immediately after Mom and Sister left on Christmas. By Monday the ornament and lights were off the tree and boxed up. By noon today the tree was out of the apartment and everything has been cleaned up and put away. The tree turned out to be much bigger than I thought. I wanted to recycle but couldn't get the darn thing in my car. And after carrying it down three flights of stairs, it left behind so many pine needles I got out the broom and brushed them all the way down the stairs so my neighbors wouldn't complained (of course, less than five minutes after I finished this task a maintenance person came by and vacuumed/blew all the pine needles away).
But it's all behind me now and I feel like I can enjoy the rest of my week. And if I ever mention even the possibility of wanting to put up another Christmas tree, please just say, "Remember Christmas 2011 when your tree almost killed you?" That should do it.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Ready for Vacation
For me one of the very best things about Christmas is getting time off work. For the last two weeks work has been absolutely CRAZY. I’ve worked overtime pretty much every day. That along with just keeping up with personal daily stuff (laundry, grocery shopping, new tires on the car) hasn’t helped. Then all the stuff with holidays (I’m behind on my gift shopping and I don’t decorate for the entire month, if I decorate at all – that an entirely different blog for a different time)…I am ready for a vacation.Here in corporate America vacations aren’t what they should be. As I’ve posted before, most countries give their employees way more vacation time than we get here in America. I think for the first time in my working life I’ve finally worked somewhere long enough to get 15 days of vacation a year. Before I’ve always gotten 10 days per year (think about that – that’s less than one vacation day a month).
I like to travel and have been very blessed to be able to go somewhere once a year and it takes up a good chunk of that vacation time. Any days I have left I usually spend on other special stuff (within the last year I took a vacaiton day to watch the royal wedding or be with my friend when she had her baby). So I don’t really take vacation and stay at home. Most people take vacation during the Christmas holiday and I’m stuck at the office with not much to do (and sometimes I’m the only person in the office – honestly). Working Christmas Eve sucks. Working the day after Christmas sucks. If you’ve every worked retail it triple sucks. But for the first time that I can rememver I am taking substantial time off at Christmas, specifically the entire week between Christmas and New Year. With holidays at either end that means I will have seven business days off. SEVEN!!!! Whoahoo!!!!!! (can you tell I’m excited).
I have absolutely nothing planned for my time off. I will probably squander it away with naps and reading and eating and watching tv/movies and naps and reading…. I can’t wait.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Rude Awakening
I love Friday nights because I know when I go to bed that night I won't be awoken the next morning before I'm ready by an alarm clock (as my frequent blog readers know, sleep is very important to me).
This morning I was awaken a little after 6 a.m. by a snow blower outside my window. It had started snowing the night before and was still snowing at 6 a.m. Apparently the apartment management people thought this would be a good time to clear the sidewalks. Yes, 6 a.m. on a Saturday. Of course they didn't start clearing the sidewalk of snow that the previous Thursday morning until 8 a.m. Go figure.
So I went back to sleep. I had a dream that involved several people I know and if I remember correctly cooking. And then there was a ringing in my dream. Of course it took me a minute to realize it wasn't in my dream but my phone. It was 9 a.m. on the dot.
Now this is significant because I have nine o'clock rule. For the most part, don't call me after 9 p.m. during the week or before 9 a.m. on the weekends. Because I usually speak with Mom every Saturday morning I thought it might be her but I so rudely awaken I was too disoriented to get out of bed and to the phone before it went to voice mail. It wasn't Mom but the pharmacy calling to say a prescription is in. Is 9 a.m. on a Saturday too early for businesses to be calling? I think so.
I tried to go back to sleep but to no avail. My wonderful Saturday sleep-in had been ruined. And now I have to wait another week for Friday night to come along.
This morning I was awaken a little after 6 a.m. by a snow blower outside my window. It had started snowing the night before and was still snowing at 6 a.m. Apparently the apartment management people thought this would be a good time to clear the sidewalks. Yes, 6 a.m. on a Saturday. Of course they didn't start clearing the sidewalk of snow that the previous Thursday morning until 8 a.m. Go figure.
So I went back to sleep. I had a dream that involved several people I know and if I remember correctly cooking. And then there was a ringing in my dream. Of course it took me a minute to realize it wasn't in my dream but my phone. It was 9 a.m. on the dot.
Now this is significant because I have nine o'clock rule. For the most part, don't call me after 9 p.m. during the week or before 9 a.m. on the weekends. Because I usually speak with Mom every Saturday morning I thought it might be her but I so rudely awaken I was too disoriented to get out of bed and to the phone before it went to voice mail. It wasn't Mom but the pharmacy calling to say a prescription is in. Is 9 a.m. on a Saturday too early for businesses to be calling? I think so.
I tried to go back to sleep but to no avail. My wonderful Saturday sleep-in had been ruined. And now I have to wait another week for Friday night to come along.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
What I Am Thankful For
Every day I thank God for my family and friends, the food in my stomach, the clothes on my back, the roof over my head and my job. But at Thanksgiving I also think about those things that I am so thankful for but might take for granted. They include:
Pharmaceutical Drugs - Nope, not kidding. Anyone who deals with health issues know how important drugs are. I have to take pills (yes, plural) every day and without them I literarly would not be able to function.
Glasses/Contact Lens - They can be a pain and expensive but without them I'd be legally blind. I could function but it would be very difficult. I'm near-sighted which means I can't see things far away (far away being anything farther than four inches from my face). Standing at the bathroom counter, I can make out my toothbrush, the tube of toothpaste, the hair brush and the curling iron. But if you asked me what brand of toothpaste I use, I'd have to hold it right in front of my face. Life would really suck without glasses/contacts.
My Car - Yes, I'm still making payments on it but I would be lost without it. And I always expect it to be out there waiting for me (yes, one day it wasn't - stolen) and in working order (yes, I could do better with preventative maintenance).
Hot Showers - I don't like to be dirty so I take a shower every day. Even on the weekends, I can go until about noon and then I have to shower and wash my hair. Earlier this year I had surgery on my ear. I had stitches all behind my ear and was told I had to keep it dry for seven days. Seven days! There was no way in hell I could go seven days without washing my hair. Yes, I bought those products to dry wash your hair but they just aren't as good as the real thing. And washing my hair in the sink was going to provide too much of a challenge. So I devised a contraption using gauze, rubber bands and these plastic wraps with elastic already in them that normally go over the tops of bowls to cover my ear. That's how far I'll go to wash my hair (and I kept those stitches dry).
Washer/Dryer - I don't own either of these so even though I have to schelp my basket of dirty laundry to the laundromat (or if I'm lucky, someone's house), I can't even image hand washing clothes.
My Bed - This is the most favorite piece of furniture that I own. Just last year I got my first big girl bed (bigger than a twin - whole other story) complete with a great headboard and comforter set. It's next to a window and my most favorite thing to do in the whole world is to lie on my bed under a blanket, next to the open window with a lovely breeze coming through and read a book. Best thing ever! And speaking of books...
Public Libraries - Think about this for a moment. You give them your name, address and phone number and in return they give you a little plastic card that allows you to take home books, DVDs, and CDs for FREE and all you do is have to return them in usually 1-3 weeks. How cool is that? That is taxpayer money being put to good use.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Pharmaceutical Drugs - Nope, not kidding. Anyone who deals with health issues know how important drugs are. I have to take pills (yes, plural) every day and without them I literarly would not be able to function.
Glasses/Contact Lens - They can be a pain and expensive but without them I'd be legally blind. I could function but it would be very difficult. I'm near-sighted which means I can't see things far away (far away being anything farther than four inches from my face). Standing at the bathroom counter, I can make out my toothbrush, the tube of toothpaste, the hair brush and the curling iron. But if you asked me what brand of toothpaste I use, I'd have to hold it right in front of my face. Life would really suck without glasses/contacts.
My Car - Yes, I'm still making payments on it but I would be lost without it. And I always expect it to be out there waiting for me (yes, one day it wasn't - stolen) and in working order (yes, I could do better with preventative maintenance).
Hot Showers - I don't like to be dirty so I take a shower every day. Even on the weekends, I can go until about noon and then I have to shower and wash my hair. Earlier this year I had surgery on my ear. I had stitches all behind my ear and was told I had to keep it dry for seven days. Seven days! There was no way in hell I could go seven days without washing my hair. Yes, I bought those products to dry wash your hair but they just aren't as good as the real thing. And washing my hair in the sink was going to provide too much of a challenge. So I devised a contraption using gauze, rubber bands and these plastic wraps with elastic already in them that normally go over the tops of bowls to cover my ear. That's how far I'll go to wash my hair (and I kept those stitches dry).
Washer/Dryer - I don't own either of these so even though I have to schelp my basket of dirty laundry to the laundromat (or if I'm lucky, someone's house), I can't even image hand washing clothes.
My Bed - This is the most favorite piece of furniture that I own. Just last year I got my first big girl bed (bigger than a twin - whole other story) complete with a great headboard and comforter set. It's next to a window and my most favorite thing to do in the whole world is to lie on my bed under a blanket, next to the open window with a lovely breeze coming through and read a book. Best thing ever! And speaking of books...
Public Libraries - Think about this for a moment. You give them your name, address and phone number and in return they give you a little plastic card that allows you to take home books, DVDs, and CDs for FREE and all you do is have to return them in usually 1-3 weeks. How cool is that? That is taxpayer money being put to good use.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Baby, It's Cold Inside
I am a hot person (temperature wise, not in a sexy way) and I rarely get cold. I don’t typically drink hot beverages, don’t like tea or coffee but will occasional have a hot chocolate. I have only a sheet and a comforter on my bed, no blankets, and I sleep in a tank top and shorts year around.
But something has changed and I think I know what it is.
This is where I started working about six months ago:
I was rather excited about moving to this office space because it has windows. Now you may not think windows are such a big deal but when you spend years working at desk with no windows, no natural lighting, believe me, it makes a difference. But then I realized that while I can now just turn my head to glance outside and feel the sun on my face, these are really crappy windows. I have learned that they don’t keep out the heat of the summer and they are not keeping out the cold of winter.
Last week the high temperature was in the low 40s and by mid-morning my feet (with socks on and in a pair of work shoes) were as cold as ice. So cold that at lunch time I was compelled, compelled I say, to buy these:
They are not the prettiest pair of slippers (although they have rubber soles so are they technically slippers?) but I was looking for something warm and these are warm. And it’s all because of those darn windows. They don’t keep out the cold and now I’m going to spend the next several months wrapped in layers of clothing like never before. I’ve decided I will probably have to buy a fashionable wrap because I would not be caught dead in one of those awful Snuggies. I have a “work” cardigan but it’s hard to put on over a sweater.
And then it hit me. I come to work and take off my shoes for warmer ones and then put on a cardigan…. who does that reminder you of? Hint: It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood… Yes, I’ve turned into a reverse Mr. Rodgers!!!!
But something has changed and I think I know what it is.
This is where I started working about six months ago:
I was rather excited about moving to this office space because it has windows. Now you may not think windows are such a big deal but when you spend years working at desk with no windows, no natural lighting, believe me, it makes a difference. But then I realized that while I can now just turn my head to glance outside and feel the sun on my face, these are really crappy windows. I have learned that they don’t keep out the heat of the summer and they are not keeping out the cold of winter.
Last week the high temperature was in the low 40s and by mid-morning my feet (with socks on and in a pair of work shoes) were as cold as ice. So cold that at lunch time I was compelled, compelled I say, to buy these:
They are not the prettiest pair of slippers (although they have rubber soles so are they technically slippers?) but I was looking for something warm and these are warm. And it’s all because of those darn windows. They don’t keep out the cold and now I’m going to spend the next several months wrapped in layers of clothing like never before. I’ve decided I will probably have to buy a fashionable wrap because I would not be caught dead in one of those awful Snuggies. I have a “work” cardigan but it’s hard to put on over a sweater.
And then it hit me. I come to work and take off my shoes for warmer ones and then put on a cardigan…. who does that reminder you of? Hint: It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood… Yes, I’ve turned into a reverse Mr. Rodgers!!!!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
It's Not Easy Being a Blogger
For me, writing a blog isn’t as easy as you’d think. Coming up with topics can be hard. I know other bloggers will write about anything and everything but there are some topics I have decided to stay away from. Not because I don’t want to address these issues, share my views or piss people off. It’s just too easy. So here are some topics I don’t ever plan on blogging about (but never say never) and maybe just a little bit of my insight on them:
1. Politics. Let me just say that anyone who can’t finish a four-year term as governor is not qualified to be President of the United States (notice I bolded anyone). And now I don’t have to think about moving to Canada.
2. Religion. Nine cities (including Denver) have seen TV ads sharing the Mormon faith. (See http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/upshot/tv-ads-mormons-pitch-message.html). They claim these ads are trying to explain the Mormon faith but, as the article states, Republican Mitt Romney from Massachusetts is contemplating running for the Presidency and guess what? He’s Mormon. So these ads aren’t really about religion but politics.
3. Totally stupid reality television shows or people who are on totally stupid reality television shows. How can you not think that Kim Kardashian isn’t a total narcissus and her wedding and divorce are just about publicity? And Jersey Shore has had its 15 minutes of fame. Please, let’s move on. Better yet, read a book.
4. Myself or my family. I am not going to share everything about myself on this blog. Yes, I will make fun of myself (or my mother) on occasion but some things are going to be kept private. I don’t feel the need to Twitter every step I take, every move I make (can I use that phrase with paying royalties?) so don’t expect a tell-all here.
So if you’ve been reading, thanks and please keep reading. You never know, one day something might just push me off the edge and I’ll write a scathing blog about one of the above topics. But until then, hope you enjoy!
1. Politics. Let me just say that anyone who can’t finish a four-year term as governor is not qualified to be President of the United States (notice I bolded anyone). And now I don’t have to think about moving to Canada.
2. Religion. Nine cities (including Denver) have seen TV ads sharing the Mormon faith. (See http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/upshot/tv-ads-mormons-pitch-message.html). They claim these ads are trying to explain the Mormon faith but, as the article states, Republican Mitt Romney from Massachusetts is contemplating running for the Presidency and guess what? He’s Mormon. So these ads aren’t really about religion but politics.
3. Totally stupid reality television shows or people who are on totally stupid reality television shows. How can you not think that Kim Kardashian isn’t a total narcissus and her wedding and divorce are just about publicity? And Jersey Shore has had its 15 minutes of fame. Please, let’s move on. Better yet, read a book.
4. Myself or my family. I am not going to share everything about myself on this blog. Yes, I will make fun of myself (or my mother) on occasion but some things are going to be kept private. I don’t feel the need to Twitter every step I take, every move I make (can I use that phrase with paying royalties?) so don’t expect a tell-all here.
So if you’ve been reading, thanks and please keep reading. You never know, one day something might just push me off the edge and I’ll write a scathing blog about one of the above topics. But until then, hope you enjoy!
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