So it's Christmas Eve. To me, this is the one of my favorite days. Not so much for the present (which are a nice perk) but it's the one holiday in my family that everyone is together for. And when I say everyone, I mean everyone. All 26 or so cousins, aunts and uncles. It's also the best day, culinarily speaking. The amounts of food that are prepared is obscene - it makes Thanksgiving look like a warm up. So I'm preparing to head to my Aunt's, and have a great night. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
My thoughts on whatever passes through my line of sight.
12/24/2003
12/16/2003
12/09/2003
So I just checked my friend Stacy's blog and she was complaining how this past snow bound weekend left no-one with updating their blogs. So I got the hint and decided to share a few thought.
Life's been ok lately - christmas shopping, prepping for my birthday, decorating the house and getting ready for my niece to arrive. (Place bets now on the due date). And then the snow hit. Who would have thought that the first weekend of December would have brought a Nor'easter.
Happy news on friday was that they decided to close the office early. So at 3:00 I happily went out to my car, popped in a new fun cd from my recent cd exchange (more another day) and brushed off my car. I then hopped in to drive away when I realized my wipers were not clean enough. So I hopped back out and somehow locked my car...with it running...and my bag inside. Luckily my boss was leaving and let me back into the building where when I called AAA, they told me because of the weather, they could only help those on major roads. Great, I pay them for service, but can't get it. So I call Saturn and after being transferred, I finally get a sweet lady who asks a million questions but finally says she can send someone out. And go figure, 45 minutes later AAA shows up on behalf of Saturn. So yeah to Saturn, boo to the AAA lady I first spoke to.
Life's been ok lately - christmas shopping, prepping for my birthday, decorating the house and getting ready for my niece to arrive. (Place bets now on the due date). And then the snow hit. Who would have thought that the first weekend of December would have brought a Nor'easter.
Happy news on friday was that they decided to close the office early. So at 3:00 I happily went out to my car, popped in a new fun cd from my recent cd exchange (more another day) and brushed off my car. I then hopped in to drive away when I realized my wipers were not clean enough. So I hopped back out and somehow locked my car...with it running...and my bag inside. Luckily my boss was leaving and let me back into the building where when I called AAA, they told me because of the weather, they could only help those on major roads. Great, I pay them for service, but can't get it. So I call Saturn and after being transferred, I finally get a sweet lady who asks a million questions but finally says she can send someone out. And go figure, 45 minutes later AAA shows up on behalf of Saturn. So yeah to Saturn, boo to the AAA lady I first spoke to.
11/07/2003
I have a wonderful friend, by the name of Brian. One of the many silly reasons that I adore him is because he loves his birthday even more than I love mine. This year he is turning 30 and Birfday Bash is all set, including a game of football and yummy Italian dinner. But that's not all - this year he has designed a logo and is having t-shirts printed up. Yes, t-shirts. And if that's not silly enough, he includes a program for his Birfday Bash. This program, each year, is to list what all of the "non-birthday boy" people are celebrating as well.
See it is this program that makes me think. What am I celebrating? It's actually not that easy. If I look at my life I can find a million reasons to celebrate. They range from the sentimental (another year of a happy healthy family) to the sarcastic (I survived another year at work), from factual (recent promotion and raise) to frivolous (I’ve discovered a love of Netflix), and even explore the trivial daily joys that make me smile (Angel & Buffy are both in syndication).
But in the end, I always wimp out. I can never find something creative and I pick the first thing that pops into my head (for the past 2 years I've moved in the fall so it was easy - this year, no move). This year, I am going the personal/family sentimental route – I’m going to be an aunt for the first time come Jan 1. So let’s celebrate.
See it is this program that makes me think. What am I celebrating? It's actually not that easy. If I look at my life I can find a million reasons to celebrate. They range from the sentimental (another year of a happy healthy family) to the sarcastic (I survived another year at work), from factual (recent promotion and raise) to frivolous (I’ve discovered a love of Netflix), and even explore the trivial daily joys that make me smile (Angel & Buffy are both in syndication).
But in the end, I always wimp out. I can never find something creative and I pick the first thing that pops into my head (for the past 2 years I've moved in the fall so it was easy - this year, no move). This year, I am going the personal/family sentimental route – I’m going to be an aunt for the first time come Jan 1. So let’s celebrate.
11/06/2003
10/23/2003
I went apple picking over the weekend with my best friend and her family – but the cool part was that we did it with her son! See, Christine and I have known each other since we were born, our parents being best friends. Growing up together we did all sorts of fun things – apple picking, Christmas tree hunting, maple sugaring and countless trips to area museums. Well now we are all grown up and she has a son of her own. Doing these things together again makes me feel connected to our tradition. So, in short of it, it was cool – and Jack is quite the apple picker for a 10 month old.
10/13/2003
Had a slightly damp, althought enjoyable weekend at Camp Henlopen. I did learn a few things however:
1) Don't be hungry in the town of Lewes between 3 and 5 - none of the restaraunts are serving.
2) I will not open a Wilminton Bank account if I ever move to Deleware - a mean lady yelled at us for no reason!!! (actually the reason was we pulled into the bank parking lot because there was no sign and we couldn't park there)
3) A DQ Brazier is a Dairy Queen with a grill.
4) Box of wine is a wonderful thing at a campsite
5) Propane gas can make a 3 hour car ride very stinky if not enclosed
1) Don't be hungry in the town of Lewes between 3 and 5 - none of the restaraunts are serving.
2) I will not open a Wilminton Bank account if I ever move to Deleware - a mean lady yelled at us for no reason!!! (actually the reason was we pulled into the bank parking lot because there was no sign and we couldn't park there)
3) A DQ Brazier is a Dairy Queen with a grill.
4) Box of wine is a wonderful thing at a campsite
5) Propane gas can make a 3 hour car ride very stinky if not enclosed
9/23/2003
Happy Autumnal Equinox to all you out there. Fall is on its way, I can feel it in my bones. Soon the days of jeans and sweatshirts will be around. Time to start cooking with squashes and root vegetables. Christmas shopping and the best thing of all to happen - my birthday (which is just a day or two before the winter solstice). So here goes the countdown!
9/10/2003
9/03/2003
I did it! I finished my CD mix for my most recent CD exchange (14 people, each make a mix and then send them off to everyone on the list). A friend from grammer school got me hooked on the first one, and I had such a blast that I did another one with my best bud from college (yes Brian, that is you).
This time, my theme CD was titled, "Under the Covers" - and contained only cover songs. I had Neil Diamond covering Elvis, Sheryl Crow covering Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton covering everybody and my favorite - Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. Check 'em out. That's all I will say for now.
This time, my theme CD was titled, "Under the Covers" - and contained only cover songs. I had Neil Diamond covering Elvis, Sheryl Crow covering Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton covering everybody and my favorite - Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. Check 'em out. That's all I will say for now.
8/29/2003
Just got back from a very needed vacation in Maine - lovely. (Although for some reason, every time Jack & I go away, there's a crisis. This latest one, the blackout the night we were leaving. Although since there was no way to get gas in NY - no-one was on the roads and driving through NY & Conn was a breeze).
Yesterday I watched the first-years students move into the dorms. It was a beautiful day and I really miss being a student. They don't know how good they have it. Yes, studying was hard but college was GREAT. There was constant variety (new classes each semester, new schedules everyday). You felt everthing passionatly from first love, to what you ate at the dining hall. Emotions were extreme, friends were right next door and blowing off class on a sunny day was the greatest feeling in the world. Ahhhhh, to be there again instead.
Yesterday I watched the first-years students move into the dorms. It was a beautiful day and I really miss being a student. They don't know how good they have it. Yes, studying was hard but college was GREAT. There was constant variety (new classes each semester, new schedules everyday). You felt everthing passionatly from first love, to what you ate at the dining hall. Emotions were extreme, friends were right next door and blowing off class on a sunny day was the greatest feeling in the world. Ahhhhh, to be there again instead.
8/01/2003
It's friday, but more importatantly, it's August. When did that happen. What ever happened to living for wonderful summers, where you go to Great Adventure, and daytrip to the beach, and never, ever have to wear anything other than cargo shorts and a tank top. In essence - getting your summers off. I think that the world has it backwards. As a child you get summers off. But as an adult, your reward for years and years of learning is to work year round. That sucks.
So I'm willing to compromise, cause after all, work needs to be done. Taking off for 3 months could be detrimental to some companies so how about summer hours. I figured it out - Fridays off in the summer. By summer I mean June, July and August. Let's say you did all three months - that's an extra 12 days of vacation for your staff. That may seem like alot, but think of how happy and productive they would be. And think about energy costs you will save by being able to keep the office closed. And most of your staff takes summer vacations anyway so on average I would say its really only 10 days. And 10 days could really make the difference between a happy contented staff or one that is constantly trying to sneak out early and catch some rays.
I worked a job that shortened each day by 1 hour in the July - August (till 5:00 instead of 6:00) and gave us half days on Friday's for about 8 weeks. That rocked and I have to tell you, if my current job offered that plan - I might never leave.
So I'm willing to compromise, cause after all, work needs to be done. Taking off for 3 months could be detrimental to some companies so how about summer hours. I figured it out - Fridays off in the summer. By summer I mean June, July and August. Let's say you did all three months - that's an extra 12 days of vacation for your staff. That may seem like alot, but think of how happy and productive they would be. And think about energy costs you will save by being able to keep the office closed. And most of your staff takes summer vacations anyway so on average I would say its really only 10 days. And 10 days could really make the difference between a happy contented staff or one that is constantly trying to sneak out early and catch some rays.
I worked a job that shortened each day by 1 hour in the July - August (till 5:00 instead of 6:00) and gave us half days on Friday's for about 8 weeks. That rocked and I have to tell you, if my current job offered that plan - I might never leave.
7/30/2003
7/23/2003
7/22/2003
I just want to say I love my friends. I had a great weekend with my best friend and her family and unfortunately came home to some bad news. A student who worked in our office passed away over the weekend - she was 22. So for all my friends - I just want you to know that I really, really, really appreciate each and every little thing about you, even if I don't show it all the time. And you really really really are special!
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