12.08.2008

new position...

My new position has kept me busy. While I absolutely love what I do so far, it’s the prep I don’t like. I spend a good portion of my time in meetings. Meetings with whom might you ask?

Everybody. My team decides or approves every marketing piece. It took 2 hours to go through 4 weeks of stuff, ugh.

I’m not complaining. I’m happy to have a job and I actually like this position better than my last. My bosses seem pretty cool. Even the crazy lady is starting to rub off on me. It’s the other people I’m worried about.

After our first team meeting with 12 of us, I realized this is a team full of A-type personality people. A type personality people are usually impatient workaholics who constantly strive for high achievements (myself included).

It’s just after that meeting, I felt like if I turned my back for too long somebody might stab me. There are three people on the team I’ve worked with a little and quite frankly don’t care to work with again but will do it if I have to. They exemplify these characteristics to the T. Nevertheless, it should be fun.

On that note, with my busy schedule this will probably be my last post of the year. Have a wonderful holiday!

12.02.2008

for the record...i probably would have gone crazy too

I just got through watching that Britney For the Record special on MTV and it left me feeling really bad for her. I know we shouldn’t feel bad for her because she has millions of dollars and is a celebrity but all of this started when she was only 15 or 16. She was kid. The attention and paparazzi following her is normal to her. It’s been like that for nearly half of her life. I can’t say I wouldn’t have gone crazy if I had that kind of life.

She says creating music and being in the studio makes her happy and I think that’s why she’s been able to put out two CD’s during all of this mess. I really don’t think her dad wanted her to get back into all of this. It seems like for a while he wanted her to do television for the more structured schedule so she could raise her kids. That’s why she did some appearances on How I Met Your Mother. But Britney got back in the studio and started writing and boom here’s a cd.

I wonder about her financial state. You might think, she’s earned millions but, when you are rich, you can blow through tons of money living a certain lifestyle. And I wonder if this tour and everything else is her dad’s way of making her some more money for those kids. We all know Britney is going to have to provide for those kids at least until they are 18.

Then maybe after all of this she will retire. I think she needs to. She deserves it. She truly doesn’t know what normal, as we know it, is. In the meantime, I think we can all enjoy her latest cd and quite possibly her last tour.

11.18.2008

i'm a walking disaster...

I didn’t realize until a couple days ago, what a walking disaster I’ve been for the past couple of months. Since I have so many other important things to take care of, I tend to brush off my “scrapes and bruisies.” It wasn’t until one of my friends pointed out the reoccurrences of my scrapes and bruises.

Back in August, I got hit by a baseball at a minor league game. I don’t like baseball. I only went because the tickets were free and I got an all-you-can-eat pass. Well, I was near the concession stand when the baseball ricocheted off the stadium and hit me on the head. I ducked and tried to try to miss it, but it hit me anyway. It was so embarrassing. I felt like everyone was looking at me. The medic came over to examine me. Then I immediately left the game. No biggie – there just happened to be several co-workers at the game since we all got free tickets.

In September, I got stung by a swarm of wasps in the backyard. I had no idea wasps could sting you through your clothes until that night. I was stung all down the side of my back and right arm. It really was no big deal to me until I started webbing and stinging didn’t go away after 30 minutes. Several hours later after medicating the wound and drugging myself up I was fine.

In October, I burned myself while cooking. I accidentally touched the small part of the skillet that isn’t cool-to-touch. I really didn’t think it was that big of a deal until my wrist continued to burn 30 minutes afterwards.

I suppose this month’s injury could have been prevented had I not been drinking. So I don’t want to get into the details of how it happened, but I severely injured my knee. I really didn’t think it was a big deal until I started bleeding. But I have to say this one was totally worth it since it was a sex injury.

11.16.2008

my soap opera...

Sometime between now and the end of this year I was supposed to be tested to see if I’m a match to be a kidney donor for my dad. It was going to be perfect timing because I take a lot of vacation days in November and December, so I would have plenty of time to do the full work up. Then if I was a match, we can go ahead and do the surgery next year.

Of course that plan is now halted. Nothing ever goes the way it’s planned. Before my dad can become a kidney recipient, he has to pass all of these test and get approval from several doctors. So I wasn’t surprised when I was told my dad has to go in for an angiogram to get approval from the heart doctor. Unfortunately, there is something abnormal with his heart so they have to find out what it is. That could result from doctors doing nothing to putting in a stint or opening up his chest for heart surgery.

The good news is everything is done at once. So dad has to have the angiogram. If doctors see nothing he goes home. If doctors see he just needs a stint, they will do it right there and then. That also means he’ll have a longer hospital stay. If doctors see he needs something more, then they wait for our approval; do the surgery and a longer hospital stay.

The bad news is I have to plan for all three scenarios which has kept me pretty busy lately. For those who don’t know my dad is the worst patient ever. So about 20% of my time is spent on health-related issues. If it isn’t one thing it’s another. Sometimes I feel like my life is a soap opera between family, men and work…I just hope I’ll be able to make some money off of it.

11.10.2008

there's something in the water.

There are a lot of people at my job popping up pregnant. So either something is in the water, or this theory my co-worker (we'll call her M) and I have, must be true. There are about six people M and I know who are pregnant (one is including her).

We truly believe it is due to the recession we are in. People don’t have the money to go out, so they stay in and make some nookie. Think about it, why else is everyone getting pregnant?

11.02.2008

silver lining of a recession

Everyday I watch the news when I come home and I tell you it has never been this depressing. Everyday when I watch the world news they give a run down of what companies are laying off and how many people they are laying off. Each day it’s a new set of companies. Twenty minutes of the 30-minute newscast is about the economy, its effects and of course the election (which also eludes to the current economic state).

It has never been this bad in majority of Americans lifetime and the outlook even looks bleaker. I can’t help but think that maybe all of this means something a little deeper. Maybe perhaps we as a whole are not living the way God intended us to live. We have gotten all caught up in the material things of life – clothes, electronics, cars – that we’ve taken for granted the necessities.

Whatever happened to the days where you only buy something when you had the money? It has become a regular thing for us to get loans (or put on credit) things that are not a true necessities. I was watching 20/20 one night and they quoted an older man in his 80’s saying when they didn’t have the money to buy something they just didn’t.

Now isn’t that a concept? I hate this recession as much as anyone else, but maybe…just maybe we can all learn something from this. Maybe we will learn how to manage our cash a little better. Maybe we will learn not to spend all of our money or so much of our money on frivolous items. Maybe we will learn its not all about keeping with the Joneses, but more of living out your dreams and goals. Maybe we will learn to appreciate people, experiences and moments more than material things. But more importantly maybe we can learn to be a little more grateful for every thing we do have. So next time the economy is doing well and money is "overflowing" our pockets we won't go out on a shopping spree but instead cherish the important things.

10.30.2008

ain't this some hot shit...

After three hours of layoffs and a 30-minute “we hate to, but we had to do this” meeting with the “powers that be,” I got my reassignment. They basically broke up all the teams and formed new ones.

As of Dec. 1, I will be on the creative consistency team. I was apprehensive, but interested. And seriously after the morning we had I was just happy to still have a job.

So we all had one-on-one meetings with our new boss. I knew nothing about my new boss. I had just seen and heard of her. We’ll call her KP. The times I’ve seen KP she was dressed in tights, leg warmers, bright colors. (She’s a woman in her 50’s.) KP is very high up in the organization and she is looked well upon. I slowly realized, as I talked to people, it was a good thing to be on her team. I was told she’s crazy, but apparently this is the team everyone wants to be on.
I had a five-minute meeting with her. This is how it went:

“HI! IT’S SO NICE TO MEET YOU!” she said. I write in all caps because she’s very hyper and talks really loud.

I just smiled said the same and sat in her office. By the way, she has office. At my job, you don’t get an office unless you are very high up…very.

“I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU WE HAVE THE BEST TEAM. ONLY THE BEST IS ON THE TEAM. OUR TEAM IS HOT SHIT. AND YOU CAN GO BACK AND TELL EVERYONE THAT” she said.

She got out the organization chart and showed it to me. Our team is on the level of all the other 5 teams, but says “WE MAY LOOK LIKE WE ARE HERE ON THIS CHART, BUT WE ARE REALLY HERE.” She points to the top.

According to my new boss, we may be called creative consistency team, but we are really the creative lead team. We determine the direction of every marketing piece that goes out the company. In other words we set the tone, the voice, environment, etc. We determine what style is used, both art and copy-wise. We are more on a concept level. I will no longer be working on physical tasks so to speak; I will be developing concepts with a small group of people.

So no more Internet or catalog writing. I will now be the one my former co-workers hate. Because I will be the one telling them how they should write things in everything across the board - internet, catalogs, etc.

After listening to her and thinking about it, I think it’s a good move. Basically, I’ve been put on the team who initiates change. There’s only two copy positions. I was picked for one. So maybe someone was looking after me after all. It’ll make more marketable and it will make it much easier for me to move throughout the company.

Now if I can handle my new boss. My old boss was crazy, but this…is a whole other different kind of crazy. My old boss ain’t got nothing on this lady. It’ll be interesting…

10.29.2008

a sad day...

It was like they were randomly shooting at people. I knew it would be bad, but its totally something you do not ever want to experience. Good news: I’m safe and I could potentially have a very good job for the future. (We’ll talk about that in another post.) Bad news: There were a lot of people laid off.

We knew it would be a crazy day when we saw a mouse run across from my cubicle to my co-workers. I was pissed. I can’t work under these conditions, I kept saying. I said this would be a good day to do layoffs. Because if they lay me off I won’t be so sad today. I started applying for other jobs after a mouse was found in another co-worker’s drawer. Mice poop was on her desk. This was the fifth mouse sighting we had encountered.

Who knew 15 minutes later the layoffs start? It’s been a year since they told us there would be layoffs. It was like they were randomly shooting people. Six people were set up meetings with HR for packages, one was told he had until Nov. 30, then his position would be eliminated. Thirty minutes later it became apparent, this was the day. They started calling people and asking them to go down to the other side of the building. One by one people’s phone started ringing. You did not want to get that ring.

For three hours everyone was on edge. It was the longest 3 hours of our lives. Whenever a phone rang, someone jumped. After a while, the rule became, “don’t call anybody.” Because whenever someone got that call, they just walked down to the other side of the building. Each person was gone for a while, then came back, got their stuff and left.

I will never forget one of my co-workers who started packing up his stuff. We asked where we was going and he said, “They are going to let me go.” We all looked kind of like, you don’t know that. He hadn’t gotten the call. Then right there and then his phone rang.

It wasn’t just the people who had been there for 20 years and were over 60; there were even some people in their 20’s and 30’s.

There were about 120 in our department. Calls were made randomly on teams. By lunch a whole team was let go along with about 20 other people. That’s not including the people upstairs who were laid off. It was bad.

My boss who was part of the committee that outlined the reorganization came back after noon. She told us they were done laying off people. “That was the hardest thing I ever had to do,” she said. She just started crying and hugging all of us.

I’m not so sure if I like the fact of being warned a whole year in advance or not. But to endure three hours of lay offs was exhausting. It was sad…very sad.

10.21.2008

etiquette in the workplace...

I have a lot of pet peeves, but one that bugs me more than most is unprofessionalism in the workplace. I’ve never met so many rude people in my life. Since when it is appropriate for a manager to ask what rumors are going around in the middle of a staff meeting? It only spurs more rumors.

When is it appropriate to ask about someone’s health problems in a middle of a meeting? Even when that person isn’t there.

I think I hit my boiling point this week when I got a political e-mail from a co-worker earlier this week. It’s really not about the fact that I didn’t agree with the e-mail (it was completely endorsing mccain/palin, that’s another entry), but it’s the fact that the workplace is not for political e-mails nor conversation. What really pissed me off is the fact that my co-worker e-mailed it to my immediate boss who has made it (inappropriately) clear she was voting for obama and was pro-choice. So why e-mail it to her? My co-worker fell short of e-mailing it to our higher up who has also made it (inappropriately) clear she was a democrat.

I thought the bad etiquette would end there, but it didn’t. A manager asked a co-worker of mine how much she bought her christmas tree for. It wouldn’t have bothered me so if much, if it hadn’t been the third time I’ve had her ask somebody how much something cost. It’s none of her freaking business! I know she won’t ask me something like that because I will tell her exactly that.

All of this has got me thinking, where has good etiquette gone. Should I insist that our team take an etiquette course? Or maybe it’s that these people don’t have any common sense?

The older I get the more I realize I’m a lot smarter than I have ever given myself credit. I should start aiming a tad higher.

10.13.2008

cowboys...

I love how this city is so in love with the Cowboys. If anything happens to our beloved Cowboys, it’s front-page news; top story of the broadcast.

This has been a disappointing week for our boys. I think the headline that summed it up the most (and the one I loved the most was, “pinky panic.”

In any other city, the top news story would not be about how the quarterback will be out for four weeks. Or how Pac Man got into an argument in a restroom of a club (big surprise).

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. I’m just saying if the world was ending and at the same time Dallas Cowboys starting QB was out of the whole season or Pac Man went on another one of his “adventures,” the Cowboys would triumphant.

I learned a long time ago when I first moved to the city when they interrupted a regularly scheduled program to show the Dallas Cowboys parade for winning a championship.

9.28.2008

my own mini recession...

So if you haven’t figured out, I’m on break or a recession; much like our economy haha. In light of rising costs, job loss and other things, I’ve been picking up freelance work here and there to subsidize.

But no fear, I’ll be back with tons of stories soon. So much has happened from my exciting dating life (haha, as if…) to layoffs. I have been keeping notes so hold tight. I have plenty to talk about!

6.10.2008

noise...

Do you ever feel like sometimes there’s just too much noise?

I’m not just talking about the sounds of vehicles, children or video games. I’m talking about noise. Even the noises in your head. (I’m not going crazy, I promise.) Sometimes there are just so many thoughts going through my head - from the daily things I have to do to the decisions I must make.

I have had such a hard time blocking out all the noise. Sometimes it so much that I can’t even hear myself.

Now I’m finding that there are these rare instances in my life where I’m able to block out the noise. (It all started a couple of months ago.) I don’t think about anything else but the present - the here and now. It makes things so easy.

Life really isn’t hard. Just live for now. I keep saying this over and over again, but I haven’t been this happy in a very long time.

6.08.2008

handicap perks...

I am so bored. I’m so ready to go back to work. The highlight of my week was riding the cart in my favorite grocery store, Central Market. I figured since I’m handicapped I should take full advantage of it. I already begged my doctor to give me a note or something so I could get a handicap sticker, but he said I wouldn’t qualify.

But riding the cart wasn't bad at all. It was nice being able to breeze down the aisles faster. People just kind of move out your way. I did get looks though. All the kids kind of kept looking at me. But I’m just going to chalk that up to beauty. Or maybe they just wish they could have driven the cart, hehe. The only bad part is having to reach for the items on the top shelf or out of reach. But did I get first-class service at the check out line. The cashier at the 1 through 10 item line let me checked me out immediately (even though I had about 20 items).

She said, “Don’t get up. I’ll get everything. You just rest.”

It was great. She put everything back in the cart’s basket and told me I could use the cart in the parking lot. I was having a good time, until my cart ran out of battery in the middle of the street. Thank goodness no cars were coming, or I would have been road kill. I had to get out and push the cart to the side. Being handicap is so hard…

6.06.2008

on the wrong foot...

Just when I thought doc/nurse and I were getting off on the right foot (pun intended), boy was I wrong. I’m so mad. I went to the doctor for my follow-up appointment today. The doctor wanted to take a look at the foot and make sure everything was okay. He did and everything is fine. I even got good news. Doc said he didn’t have to cut nearly as much as he thought he would have to therefore, I should heal a lot faster. So he’s hoping to get me out of the boot and into a tennis shoe in four weeks, instead of the five he initially estimated before the surgery. That was the good news.

From there on, the entire appointment went downhill. First off, I’d like say, I know I’m not an easy person to please, especially when I spend hundreds of dollars on something. I feel like I am doing you a service my giving you my money, specifically $574 of my money. So you better do a damn good job.

The day after the surgery I noticed my third toe wasn’t hurting. It should have been because they were supposed to take the knuckle out of the toe since it rubs up against my shoes. It was one of those minor things that the doctor suggested I go ahead do while they were doing the bunionectomy. It’s not necessary.

So imagine the way I reacted when Doc basically told me he forgot to operate on the third toe. Then he tried to blame it on me. Doc said he wasn’t sure if he was supposed to operate on that toe. When he came into the operating room that morning, he talked about the big toe and I said ok. Since I didn’t say anything about the third toe, he didn’t do anything once in the operating room. Doc also said, “and it wasn’t on the paperwork. And if it’s not on the paperwork, I can’t do it.”

That’s where he is wrong. It was on the paperwork. I brought the freaking paperwork to the surgery center that morning. It was on there. I also didn’t like the fact that he tried to put it on me. I'm so mad.

Then he tried to mitigate it by saying, well I can give you a local anesthesia and do it in the office real quick. Hell no, I don’t want to do it in the office while I'm awake. I wanted you to do it all at once while I was under the first fucking time. I don’t want to be in pain a second time. Grrr…I was pissed.

Then I asked the nurse if I could have a smaller boot, because the one they gave me at the surgery center was way too big. I had already tripped over my foot twice in it. She gave me one that fit perfectly to me but she said it was too small and I may hit my big toe on it. It’s better than me tripping over my own foot and falling over. Now that’s going to hurt! They cut me at the top of my foot, not on my toe. Hell, I tripped on the way to the X-ray room at the doctor’s office. I was fuming by the time I left the office. Shit, I’m still mad.

My mom and dad recommended this doctor. In fact, he did foot surgery on my mom last year and it turned out really well - no problems. But of course, with my luck something always gets screwed up. I think I’m going to find a new doctor.

6.05.2008

real pain...

I thought I had experienced pain, until Monday morning. The anesthesia wore off the most horrific pain I’ve ever encountered set into my foot. I took the Vicodin the doctor prescribed 2 hours earlier but it still hadn’t kicked in. Thirty minutes later the nurse called me back to tell me to cut slits in my bandage because it was probably too tight, since my foot swelled up more. I was also given the go ahead to take my migraine medicine to try to get rid of the pain. An hour later, I felt much better. I slept practically the rest of the day. That was my worst day after the surgery.

I guess you could say the surgery went well. I wasn’t actually awake for the procedure. The last thing I remember is the doctors pushing me down the hallway in the gurney. Dr. H., the anesthesiologist, just asked me if the meds were starting to work. I told him I wasn’t sure if it was the meds or the bed moving that was making me feel weird. Then the next thing I knew, I woke up and a nurse took the breathing mask off of my face. It only took about an hour, so the actual surgery wasn’t bad at all.

The only thing I knew was that had all males operating on me with the exception of one female. It was interesting because I had never seen so many males in the operating room. I had a male nurse, male doctor, male anesthesiologist, another male who walked in there to introduce himself as someone who would be in the room, another male doctor who was assisting my doctor and then there was an Asian female who would be helping. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, as we all know I love males, but it was interesting. The other thing I do know is that they must have strapped me down while I was sleep, because when I woke up I notice an indent on my upper thigh. I guess they didn't want me to move. It was weird because I didn't remember having the surgery, yet it was evident I had it because my foot was in a blue boot now.

Unfortunately I haven't been able to walk until today. It still hurts a little, but more when I walk. I’m supposed to get this surgery done on my left foot too, but I don’t know. Monday was pretty horrific. If I could avoid a Monday like that I’ll be fine. But if there’s another Monday like that one, I’m not so sure I want to have that surgery again. Maybe it’ll be worth walking in pain on the left foot for the rest of my life.

6.01.2008

duck hunt...

Its been about two months and the ducks are still here. About two weeks ago as I was leaving for work, I saw one of the ducks in the middle of the road. I ran to get into my car, started up the engine, revved it up, but as soon as I got down to the street, he had moved -- right in front of a car. That damn bird! I would have hit the car if I tried to hit him. Grrr…I was so mad.

At least the birds stayed out of the pool for my graduation party. But that was only because people were in the pool. I say "out of the pool" because the night before they circled our house and decided not to land after they saw my cousins 9-year-old son in the pool. I swear they keep a watch on our house.

So after a reader suggestion I contact Bird-X, Inc.. They have some neat stuff, but much of it is very expensive. After talking to one of their staffers we decided an affordable option was buying a fake gator and putting it in the pool. So we did that last weekend. The gator’s eyes light up and even a light breeze will keep gator moving around the pool. I have to say it worked for a while. That is until one morning we woke up and a duck was in the pool with gator.

This morning again, there were two ducks in the pool with gator playing with him. As soon as I saw them I went out there to shoot them with the Co2 gun. They left feathers all in the pool. Those damn ducks! There’s only one real affordable way to get rid of them for good.

5.28.2008

oh please help me mr. hottie...

I’m not excited at all about having this foot surgery. The only thing I’m remotely happy about is the fact that I’m probably going to get some really good sleep. For those of you who don’t know, I love sleep. I could sleep all day if I had the time. In fact, I love drug-induced sleep. You know the kind where you take some type of medicine that makes you drowsy and you don’t wake up the slightest little noise. Oh, I love that sleep. That’s the greatest for me because I’m a really light sleeper. I hear the newspaper guy throw the paper every morning at 5 a.m., unless I’m having a drug-induced sleep. I’ll get plenty of that after my surgery.

Other than that, I’m not really digging this blue boot for 5 weeks. It’s so ugly and big. I have got to come up with something else. I asked Nurse Ellen if it comes in other colors, but she looked at me like I was crazy. Nurse Ellen and I have built a wonderful relationship these past couple of months. After we got past the day she got snippy with me because she thought I wasn’t taking the surgery seriously. We built inroads when she realized who I was (the daughter of two of her other patients they’ve done surgery on. Now we’ve got a pretty good friendship going. I call her once every couple of days to ask her questions and see how she is doing. She does the same for me.

Now I just need some good pick up lines. Earlier today I was thinking and I could really use this whole foot thing to my advantage.

“Oh, I’m in so much pain Mr. Hottie.” I’d say. “Can you pick me up and take me anywhere you want.” (Preferably with your shirt off.)

My co-worker said she’d try to help me think of some good lines. See, there could be a good side in all of this…

5.27.2008

cake


watch...


Weekend wrap-up...

Weekends go by so fast - even the ones where we have an extra day off. I slept all day yesterday after the graduation party, which turned out well. I think I spent too much time outside. You know how you feel a bit hungover after a night of drinking? That’s the way I felt Monday, except I didn’t have a drop of alcohol. I felt icky after swimming and spending hours outside because of my sinuses.

I was elated it didn’t rain and everyone got a chance to take a dip in the pool. Almost everyone came who RSVPed, which made for a packed house, but I think everyone had fun. The cake turned out beautifully. I’ll have to post a photo soon. It was delicious too.

Overall, it was a great party. I got all of these presents, which was kind of unexpected. I knew my parents’ friends would bring presents, but I didn’t expect my friends too. I just wanted them to come and get the free food. Most surprisingly, I finally got the watch from my parents I had been saving up for. For the past year, I’ve been saving up my Nordstrom gift cards to by this Burberry watch. Well, I finally got enough back in April. I just hadn’t bought it yet. But my parents bought it for me as my graduation present. Totally unexpected! I didn’t think they were getting me anything because the party was kind of a present. That and I usually can find a present beforehand since I’m so nosy. But this, I had no idea about.

It was good to see everyone though. I feel like it was a good time to have a party, since I’ll be having surgery next week. My dad will be having surgery next month too. So it’s right before we get back to all of our health business.

5.20.2008

graduation extravaganza

My small graduation party has turned into a huge extravaganza right before my eyes. I invited about 20-25 people. Many of them were four hours way, out of town so I didn’t expect them to come, so it was more like an announcement.

Imagine my surprise when all of them start calling last weekend to let me know they are booking their hotel. The grand total – 46 people.

The party is technically supposed to be a pool party. We plan on having barbecue among other things. I hope it doesn’t rain or I don’t know what I’m going to do.

So yes, I have a big weekend coming up. My cousin will be the first to come in town on Friday. Everyone is excited about swimming in the pool. Meanwhile, I have to get everything ready – mainly the food. Then I have a wedding to attend on Saturday. Not to mention, I have to get ahead on my work a bit, since I’ll be out for my surgery. I’ll work from home some, but I have a bunch of Internet stuff to do. By the way, my gripe for the day is having to spend $574.26 for them to cut on my foot and put me in pain. They should pay me for getting a stab at my foot (pun intended). Anyways, then there’s freelance stuff (hey, I have to bring in some extra cash to at the least pay to fill up my tank.).

However, the party should be interesting. There’s going to be a great mix of people there, which always creates an electic atmosphere.

5.19.2008

he's back and they are alive...

S finally came back and all of the fish are alive. I had never been so happy to see him. He also brought me back a bottle of tequila. It was expensive and supposed to be one of the best. We are going to open it in a couple of weeks after I have my surgery. I will need something to numb the pain.

So I’m going under the knife in less than 2 weeks. I decided to go ahead and get the surgery over with after my foot locked up on me for the second time while I was driving. I guess I didn’t realize the severity of it until suddenly my big toe on my right foot collapsed while I was driving on the freeway. I had this excruciating pain in my right foot that wouldn’t go away. So I pulled over on the side of the freeway until the pain subsided. I knew what the problem was and how to temporarily fix it. After all, I’ve had this problem almost all my life. It’s just my big toes has never collapsed on me like this and caused as much as it did that day. I called my friend I was going to meet to tell him I was going to be late. He offered to come and get me, but I declined. I would never condone anyone getting out of the car on a freeway (especially that already has a speed limit of 70 mph) - yet alone, myself getting out of the car. In order for the pain to subside, I had to put something in between my big toe and second toe to straighten it out. Unfortunately, that week I had cleaned out my car and had nothing in my car except for one thing – a sanitary pad (I always keep an extra one in my car, in case I have an unexpected period). In shame, I ripped the pad and put part of it between my toes. As if this couldn’t have happened at worse time. After about 10 minutes the pain subsided and I was able to drive to my destination with a pad in between my toes. Try not to laugh too hard. My co-worker couldn't stop laughing as I was telling her what happened. (I'm the only one in my group who's not married and doesn't have kids; so everybody at my job lives vicariously though my adventures.)

I’m a bit stubborn so it took one more time for this to happen for me to book my surgery. Luckily, the second time I had my brother in the car with me, so he had to take over driving. And you know it must have been some pain if I let my brother drive my car.

So in two weeks I’m going under the knife while knocked out. I wonder what I will dream of...

5.12.2008

fishsitter...yes I am

I never thought I’d say this but I’m fish sitting. They aren’t just ordinary fish. These amazing salt water fish and I’m scared I’m going to kill them. Or I guess I’m more scared that my best friend S will kill me if I kill his fish.

He says he won’t be mad at me if I do, but I’m not so sure about that. I can barely take care of myself, yet alone some living and breathing fish. My track record isn’t so great with fish. The first fish I had named Trixsy lasted the longest and that was for about a month.

S’s fish aren’t just regular fish, like mine were. It takes so much to feed them. He has like 10-15 of them in this huge tank. There’s Big Daddy, Sharky, Nemo, Tigger (I named him)…the list goes on.

I have to feed them every other day until S gets back. Then it's not just feeding them. It's filling up the tank with water, putting cap fulls of these green stuff and even cleaning out the poop container (eww...). The things I do for S. I swear if this was anybody but S I wouldn't do it.

But man, I hope he comes back soon. I don’t know if I’m doing everything right. Did I put enough water in? Did I put enough food in? Did I put the seaweed in right? Oh my goodness, I hope that fish doesn’t bite me. This could be the end of S and I as we know it.

Ooo, idea. Maybe I should use this as a test. S wants me to move in with him, but I’m hesitant because I don’t want to ruin our friendship. I already feel like we are some old married couple. All we do is fight all the time and we know each other a little too well. But arguing is our thing. That’s what we do and we do it well. S might drive me crazy sometimes, but it is what it is.

So I think I'm going to use this as a test. Let’s see how well this goes first. Then we’ll talk about the moving in thing. Hey and maybe I won’t have anything to worry about. I did everything he told me to do right…I think.

And he did leave me the number to the fish doctor. If all else fails I can just call him. He’s $75 an hour, but I think it just might be worth it, if it means saving our friendship.

5.04.2008

it's war...

Those damn ducks! They won’t go away. They keep coming back. We got a bb gun, hit them and they still keep coming back. This is unreal. I called the city and they said since it’s a mallard duck, they can’t touch them; they are protected by law. Protected by law my ass. We didn’t get a $40,000 pool to be harassed by some damn ducks.

We went to Academy to get the gun last week. The salesmen had never heard of ducks so bold. They said they put up a fake owl to get rid of ducks, but they were unsure if it would get rid of ducks. I doubt it because these ducks are bigger than an owl and quite frankly seem to be fairly smart.

So we’ve been shooting the ducks since Wednesday. No change. Saturday I go out there to shoot the duck again. I missed with the first shot. After that, I realized I needed to reload. I turn the door knob to go back in the house to get the ammunition and that’s when I realized I locked myself out. That damn duck! I’m sure he was just laughing at me. So I had to go to my neighbor’s house to get the extra key.

Seriously, I can’t believe these ducks keeping coming back. Tonight there were about four of them circling our house. They’d fly into our pool leave them come back. It’s like they were mocking us. I’m mad now.

So I searched the Internet for solutions to get rid of ducks. Here are some answers I found:

“I know of a suburb of st louis that had a problem with wild geese. They got themselves a border collie if you cant have a dog in your area or dont know someone who has a dog that will chase them off I think they also have something that makes a noise that wild birds do not like whenever they come in a certain area that works like an invisible fence. I dont know where to find it but I hope this info helps.”

“There is a company that puts out "natural" repellents for landscapes called "liquid fence". They make something for every kind of animal, including ducks. Here is a link with the product. You apply it on the lawn and it is unpalatable to ducks and geese when they feed, making them go elsewhere to eat. I talked to a company Representative a few months back and he said that they have had great feedback from customers. It even has a 100% money back guarantee included. Hope this helps you out..”

“leave some crocodiles in ur pool.”

“first you need to find out where they are coming from and then when you find that out you need to make a food trail from your pool to that place and lead them further on dump a lot of food run and pray they don't follow you.”

“if you pound stakes in the ground ,or use existing trees ,and run fishing line from one to the others in a square like pattern ,it is not only invisible to the naked eye ,but NO birds will fly OVER NOR UNDER the lines . works great for pool decks also.”

“Point 12 gauge in general direction of ducks.....pull trigger.”

They are all very interesting answers. I don’t know about making my whole backyard a war zone, although it’s almost kind of that way now. But the longer this goes on, the longer I’m liking the last suggestion…I’ve never had duck for dinner, but I’d sure like to try it.

4.30.2008

that rascally duck...

I’ve had it with those damn ducks! They are going down.

Ever since we got this pool 2 years ago, two ducks have tried to make it their home. In fact, these two ducks have made my neighborhood their neighborhood. One is a huge green duck (male) and the other is a gray smaller duck (female). I swear they've gotten bigger. Somebody must be feeding them around our neighborhood and that's why they keep hanging out here. They peruse our front yard. Fly into our backyard and swim in our pool. In years past, I could just go outside, throw some ice at the ducks, they leave and never come back (at least for a couple of days).

Well, imagine my surprise yesterday when they came back for the second day in a row. This time the two weren’t in the water. Instead they were sitting next to our pool pooping! I was livid. When I chased them off yesterday afternoon, the male came back 20 minutes later. (He checks out the backyard first, then goes back to get his wifey once its clear.) So for an hour yesterday afternoon, I was chasing the ducks out of the water because they kept coming back.

I’ve had it now! I’m going to Academy this afternoon to get a pellet gun. I’m taking them down and they are going to go back and tell all of their friends not to ever come back to my house. Or at the least pick someone else’s yard to go back too. There are several other pools in the area they can go wade in. They just choose ours because we don’t have a dog. But I know of a pool two streets down and they have no animals either.This is it. Since I don’t have school anymore, I can duck hunt all afternoon.

4.29.2008

do you believe in miracles...

So dad goes to the doctor and we were told they’d probably have to put him in the hospital immediately to do one more surgery before he starts dialysis. But for some odd reason his creatinine levels hadn’t gotten higher. (The higher the levels the more his kidney is failing him.) The doctor had no idea why. So we’ve been warned once again, when he goes back to the doctor in June if his creatinine levels are any higher he has to go into the hospital immediately.

Anyways, several people have asked me how did my dad get in this situation. Was it from bad dieting or what? The answer is no.

Years back, dad had kidney stones. He had to have surgery to get them out. The doctor didn’t get them all out. Therefore it damaged one of his kidneys. That left him with one kidney and he’s a diabetic. So that’s the story folks.

Meanwhile, we have plenty to celebrate. Instead of walking, I decided to just have a party for my graduation. It’s kind of funny, because my list started with 25 people, but it has slowly grown to about 35.

I think my parents are excited about having a party, since dad’s surgery has been delayed. That way all of the family can come up and see him before everything starts. This all means I get everything I want for the party. Well mostly… dad only cut half of my food list (usually he cuts it down to ¼.). I think he was pleased I put barbecue on the list. For those of you who know me, I’m not that crazy about barbecue. But my people will expect barbecue on Memorial day weekend. So I just added a bunch more stuff that I actually like to eat.I have to get a bubble blowing machine, a cake, ice cream maker.

Ooo and I ordered two new swim suits today! Since I lost 20 pounds my old ones don’t fit. Should be interesting…

4.25.2008

just like a piece of cake...

So I called the nurse a couple of days ago because I had a more questions about the foot surgery I’m supposed to have. My questions were fairly easy: are you for sure it will be 6 weeks before I’m able to drive? Are you sure you can’t do both feet at once? How long will it be until I can get in a dress shoe? (All of this is a.k.a. when exactly will I have my social life back.)

I tried to explain to her my situation. It is after all, unlike no other. See the entire month of May I have very important things to do. I’m pretty much booked solid. Then I have a bridal shower to go to in July at Schlitterbahn. Then I have a vacation in October. I also have a wedding I’m in in February. I also have this thing I like to call restlessness, so I can’t stay at home for long periods of time. It makes me sick. No, I mean it…really, really sick. I start having driving and shopping withdraws and then I’ll get a horrible migraine.

After explaining all of this to the nurse, she tried to use a scare tactic. I quote her, “You need to take this seriously. This is a major surgery. He will be cutting and taking out some bones. You are going to have to give your foot time to heal. You need to make time for it.”

Whatever.

I guess I have hard time with this because I don’t consider this “major” surgery. When I hear major surgery, I think heart bypass, leaky valve (or is that a car?). Not cutting some bones in your foot. It’s just a foot! After all, it’s only day surgery.

I don’t mean to downplay it. I get that it’s important and all, but it always could be worse. Maybe all of this comes from watching my parents go in and out of the hospital since I was a kid. They’ve had organs taken out, veins tied and a lot more other major parts of the body cut into. So compare that to foot surgery and it should be a piece of cake right?

As I took my dad to the hospital today, I was thinking this is really all normal to me – register at the desk, go back to the room, change into the hospital gown, get the IV put into you, have the anesthesiologist come in, he/she makes you count back from 10 as he gives you the sleepy medicine, family leaves as they roll you out. (Believe it or not, there are some nurses that know my family and I by first name.) The only difference is I’m the one who will be in the bed.

4.24.2008

no more school...

I’m done! I’m officially done with school! I finally have my life back. It feels so good to do nothing. Well not nothing…I always have something to do. It’s just I don’t have to do school stuff. No more group projects. I think that’s the most exciting thing.

4.17.2008

seriously, why do doctors get paid so much?

I keep asking myself that question after I went to the doctor on Monday. It’s Thursday and I’m still sick. I knew I was in trouble when she started asking me if my allergist had given me any medicine.

“No. I’ve tried everything on the market and it doesn’t work.”

Then she gave me a sample of some other medicine to take. And told me if that didn’t work to continue taking Sudafed. Nevermind the fact that I took that all day Sunday and progressively got worse.

I don’t have time to be sick. I have a huge project due a week from today, an interview tomorrow and a birthday party to go to Saturday.
So why do doctors get paid so much?

4.16.2008

are you a gambler?

I’ve never been much of a gambler. I don’t like to gamble because I don’t like losing. You see with gambling you have no control over it. It’s much like that game show Deal or No Deal. It’s all about luck.

I like to have control. It doesn’t matter to me whether it a little or a lot I just have to have control. So even if I am gambling, if I have at least a little bit of control, I’m okay with it.

With that being said, have you ever done something knowing that you were walking into fire, but just couldn’t help yourself? You know nothing good will come of it, yet you do it anyway. I tend to do that a lot in my life. The funny thing is I never end up regretting it. Maybe its because I am very fully aware of what I’m getting myself into or it’s the fact that I have control over it.

4.13.2008

what's life without some risk?

Do you ever fear that you’ll wake up one day when you are 60 and realize you’ve been living most your life for everyone else? Or that you haven't really lived at all?

I do. I can seriously say I have lived most of my life trying to please everyone else. (That’s one of my faults.) I think it comes from me always wanting to please my parents when I was kid. Then from there it started spreading. There have been certain people in my life that I want to approve of things that I do. I’m tired. I’m tired of trying to please everybody and make everyone happy.

What about how I feel? So what if I am “ruining” my life. There’s nothing that can’t be fixed. Truthfully, unless, it has to do with my career, I don’t think I will truly be devastated.
If there is anything I take away from the EMBA program there is one thing - you have to take risks. In order for the payoff to be big, you have to be willing to take the risks. And I think that can apply to almost everything: work, school and even your personal life.

I’m tired of playing it safe. It’s time to take some risks. I may crash and burn a few times (which might be a little fun), but what’s life without some risk? Isn't that what living is all about?

4.08.2008

to weddings, health and school...

I can’t believe its already April. Time flies! I feel like I’ve been going a million miles an hour for the past two months, but truth be told, I wouldn’t want it any other way. So here’s the run down:

Weddings… Who isn’t getting married? Me (and thank goodness!). I think 2008 is the year of weddings – four to be exact. There’s always something wedding related going on. While I am so happy for all of my friends and family making that huge commitment, could they have not spread these things out? You would think all of this wedding stuff would make me want to get married someday, but oddly enough its kind of doing the opposite. It makes me want to get married even less. I guess I just see marriage a bit differently than most. I think of it as nothing but a contract. Afterall, don’t you make your undying commitment to that loved one before you get married to him/her? Let’s hope, lol. I guess the thing I’d be excited about is the party…and what a party it is! I think I’ll just have a party and skip the whole vows thing. It makes things so much easier – you don’t have to worry about merging anything.

Health… But then again who needs a husband when you have a wonderful best friend who’s willing to take care of you even when you are one less foot. I have to have foot surgery on both of my feet (but I can only do one at a time.) Long story short, this has been a problem all my life, its just progressed to the point where I’m in pain. So doctor has to cut some bones, take some out and anything else to make my feet the best in the world (after all, if I have to have surgery, I better go all the way and have the perfect toes ever). Bad news: I won’t be able to drive for 5 weeks (for the right foot, which has to be done first)! And I’ll have to wear that ugly boot. All of this totally means death to my social life! I am so not having my dad be my chauffer and take me to the club. Eww! Meanwhile, my best friend offers to put me in a wheel chair and hook me up to the back of his car, lol. I think I’ll just hire my brother to chauffer me around. After all, he’ll be 21 in two weeks – slightly cooler than taking dad to the club.

School… 16 days to go and it can’t come fast enough. This group project is killing me. I’ve always known that I work better alone, but this whole project just confirms it. My group decided to do everything together. So we have met everyday this week and have plans to meet for the rest of this week after work. (eeek!) I get so much more done by myself. It’s not just the fact that there are five people doing this. I guess I’m just realizing I run 3 times faster than the rest of society. Seriously, I’m 26, clock is ticking…I’ve got so much more left to do.

4.06.2008

between italy and now...

I just realized, but sometime in between the time I left for Italy and now I actually feel normal again. Well, not exactly “normal,” but a better normal. I know that might sound weird, but for almost two years I hadn’t felt right. I didn’t feel like myself at all. I wasn’t having fun when I went out. It’s hard to explain, but it’s almost like I was trapped in this bubble. I felt like I wasn’t me. And somehow in between Italy and now that went away.

I know all of this probably makes no sense, but I guess what I’m trying to say is I’m happy. Not to say I wasn’t happy before. It’s a different kind of happy. I feel like I’m in control again.

3.27.2008

i'm back...

I’m back from Rome. Sorry I haven’t updated this in a while. I’ve been very busy, so I’m going to make this short.

Rome
It was absolutely beautiful. I love it! I want to go back. I didn’t want to leave. Many people don’t get this: but for the first time in a very long time I felt alive. I felt like I was actually living. That’s why I think I liked it so much. I didn’t have to worry about pleasing anyone. I could do whatever I wanted and not have to worry about what people thought or anyone judging me. It seems so simple, but sometimes it’s the hardest thing. I think it was so much easier when you are thousands (not hundreds) of miles away to do it. Therefore, I don’t regret anything. I am so happy I went on that trip and I hope to go on more. I’m thinking at least once a year out of the states.

Work
It’s been crazy! We sure do have a lot more work for a department that supposed be laying off people. So there is still that fear going around. I’m over it. I’ve already been applying for jobs - done some interviews. So now I’m doing the waiting game, while still applying for jobs. The good news: I got a raise - a significant one too! However, I have my suspicions about that, but that’s for another entry when I have more time.

2.24.2008

"the clique"

Periodically I’ll get the most random person telling me a story or their thoughts at work. I mean a person who I never really carry a conversation with. Today this woman (I say woman, not co-worker because I’ve never worked on any projects with her) stopped me in the hallway to find out my thoughts on the training of Photoshop. I thought it was fine with me considering I already know the basics. Like many conversations, she was the one who had a problem with the training. Then after about five minutes of talking she finally admitted it had nothing about the training – it was about who was leading the training. A group of three girls came up with the idea – the same group of girls this woman doesn’t like. She didn’t really give a reason. She just said she thought they were fake.

I felt kind of bad for this woman because she’s in her 40’s and still hasn’t figured it out yet. For blogging sake, lets call these girls “the clique” (because that’s what they are). You know how there is always that clique that hangs out together. The clique tends to stick with their own crowd. It’s much like high school but it transcends into the workplace. These are the girls that typically go to lunch together, get coffee together, do happy hour together and occasionally do a double date together.

I imagine one day the woman overheard “the clique” talking about going out to lunch or the mall. The clique didn’t invite her. Probably a couple of months later “the clique” finally realized the woman and decided to invite her since she was sitting there by herself. By that time, the woman thought it was a pity invitation so she declined.

I felt bad for the woman. I’ve been there. You keep wondering why they haven’t invited you or why they don’t talk to you. The woman just hasn’t figured out yet. Do you really want to be part of something like that? Not to mention the minute you are in “the clique” and you start sharing your personal life; the next thing you know it’s all around the office. Call me unsociable, or maybe it’s just the fact I was never in “the clique,” but why care? After being rejected all in grade school, it doesn’t faze me. I enjoy being alone, considering I can’t carry an intelligent conversation with half the idiots in this world. In fact, I think its great when you are not the clique because it makes it that much easier when you become their boss.

So there was only one thing I could tell the woman today – just let it go!

2.07.2008

dreaming of Italy...

It’s about a month until I officially go to Italy. People keep asking me if I’m excited, but truthfully I haven’t had much time to think about it between school and this job mess going on.
But apparently on some subconscious level I haven’t forgotten about it. For the second time I had a dream about being in Italy. In this most recent dream, I forgot all of my money. The only thing I had was my credit card. I had no idea what kind of fees came with it. I just knew I could withdraw money from it.

It’s kind of weird because both of the dreams I’ve had, has to do with losing or leaving something here. All I have to say is, I’m going to start making a list. I have a feeling its going to be a headache packing.

2.02.2008

the week of hell...

No, I haven’t fell off the face of this earth. I’ve just been super busy and not necessarily with school. It’s been more or less work.

This past week was like hell. For three months now we’ve known our company would be doing layoffs. So the clock has just been ticking to when they would actually happen.

Well imagine this…you wake up one morning and as you are getting dressed you hear about the 200 layoffs to happen at your job. No big deal right? We’ve known this since November. So I look at a national newspaper to read the story. The story is about cutting job specifically in our division.

I really do like my job, but this was the first time I did not want to go to work. So when I got there everybody had heard about it on their way in except my boss. Around 9 a.m. our CEO posted an announcement. It basically summed up the articles stating they are gong to start laying off people now and forward. Meanwhile, our boss is in a regularly scheduled meeting with her boss. Oh, the thoughts going through our minds.

We immediately saw a pink slip being given to her. She was also being told to let us all go. Well, 10 minutes later she comes back to see us chatting in the hallway. She had no idea about the article. No idea about the announcement. She said the meeting lasted 3 minutes because her boss was out today.

I think this past week was like a nightmare for everybody. There were all of these rumors and so many changes going on. Whenever there was a message left for one of us, we'd be too scared to pick it up because it could be about letting us go. I was already prepared not to pick up the phone if I saw on the caller id the "big boss" was calling.

Therefore all of this has prompted us all to do some major drinking this weekend.

1.22.2008

22 days...strep still here

So you know how I was trying to make this year better. I'm still trying - while I still have strep! I'm on my second dose on antibiotics.

What a way to ring in the new year. Spend the first 22 days sick on and off with strep

1.13.2008

i love sleep...

I love to sleep. I think that’s one of my favorite things. Or maybe its just the fact of waking up refreshed. I am able to be 10 times more productive. Normally I have to have 8 hours of sleep to be refreshed. No less than 7 to not be cranky. I went to bed around 9:30 Friday night and slept 9 hours. It felt so good. I think I’m going to start sleeping 9 hours every night if I can fit it in.

Anyways, I just woke up and I had another premonition. I often have them. Although sometimes I know it’s a premonition after I wake up. Other times I don’t even remember the dream until it starts to happen. I’ve had them ever since I can remember. And they’ve been about the most mundane things, like going to go eat. I have had them about my best friend, even when we weren’t talking. I guess I should just consider it a blessing that I can sometimes see these things beforehand. It’s just hard to see the things that don’t want to happen before they happen.

1.11.2008

Talk about stress...

I officially start my last class of the MBA program tomorrow. This whole program has felt like it has gone by fast (after all, it’s only been a year), but in some respects it seems like last year was the slowest. Sitting in those classes 9 to 5, some were easier than others. But those that drug throughout the day were so slow.

I have one last group project and unfortunately how well we do on this group project hinges on whether I pass this class or not. I have to pass the class because it’s the exit class to receive my degree.

We have to pick a public or private company and create a 3-year strategic plan with an exit strategy. We also have to do an environmental analysis. We have from tomorrow until April 26 to complete it. From what I hear, you end up practically turning in a book. And we have to give a presentation.

Talk about stress. Everything rides on this project. It includes everything we’ve learned – accounting, finance, marketing, international business, etc. The dean of the program is our instructor.

So if I’m freaking out in April – don’t mind me. I’m just trying to pass this class so the past year won’t be worth nothing!

By the way, no more school after this…at least for the next couple of years.

1.08.2008

so 10 more it is...hopefully

I headed back to the gym this week. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I started on a Monday, because I tend to have my most energy. Therefore it was easy to finish my 40-minute workout.

I finally determined what my goal weight will be - 125. To some that may sound a bit too much, but I would be satisfied at 130. I say 125, because we all know it’s a lot harder to “maintain” your weight. So I’d like to have some breathing room. I picked 125 after Mischa Barton’s arrest for a DUI. Her mugshot with all of her stats were plastered all over the television. Height: 5’9; Weight: 125. I’m 5'7 or 5'8, so I figured I should be about her weight.

I’m quite surprised with all of this though. On my weigh-in day, Monday, I was way too scared to step on the scale. (I haven’t been officially on WW since Christmas.) When I went to the doctor in between that I had gained 2 pounds (eek!) Imagine my surprise when I stepped on the scale and I’ve lost even more weight. Overall, I’ve lost a total of 12 pounds since I started this endeavor in late October. (I lost those 2 pounds somewhere in between. Maybe guilt?)

I guess I keep having these visions of me laying poolside all flabby and overweight. I’ve got to look decent this summer. Last summer, I used school as an excuse. This summer there’s no excuses. I have six months to look acceptable.

So 10 more it is…hopefully

1.04.2008

what a way to start 2008...

I have strep. I have strep. I had to write it twice, because I can't quite believe it. What a way to bring in the new year. Here I go finally trying to be positive and I end up with strep.

I was so happy to go back to work on Wednesday. I got bored at home, off from work for almost 2 weeks. I tried to ignore my sore throat but when it had gotten worse by Thursday morning, I decided to go to the doctor downstairs at work. (I felt like I was in grade school again, going to see the nurse.)

She tested me for strep, which I was surprised I ended up having. I haven't had it in ages. But I guess the test doesn't lie and it came back positive. I was told I was contagious for the next 24 hours and not to cough, share drinks or etc. with anyone.

Once I came back to my desk with the diagnosis, everyone treated me like I was alien. No one wanted to come near me (not that I was trying to get by anyone), so I worked from home. I went in for half a day today to do the things I couldn't do at home.

What a way to start 2008...

1.01.2008

2008...time flies

I’m glad 2008 is here. I think this year will be a bit brighter for me than 2007. I don’t want to dwell too much on the past two years which have been, let’s just say, not the best for the books. I spent practically the entire 2007 in school. I'm not complaining. I did it to myself. I knew exactly what I was doing when I signed up for school. I'm just glad that's over with. I felt like I was dreaming the entire year. Now I just want to look forward, because there’s a lot to look at.

For one, I’m going to Italy! I keep forgetting about it and the weeks are going by fast. So there is a little more than two months left until one of my friends and I leave for Italy. I think it’s really going to be an adventure. I’m going to try and remember every minute of it.

There will inevitably be bad times. It's no doubt dad will only get more sick, until he gets a kidney. I'd be wise in guessing there will probably be another death in the family. There has been at least one since 2006. (I think people are just getting at the age.) Not to mention, there is a chance I will get laid off in the next month, but I'll try to be optimistic.

The good news is I’ll be officially graduating with my masters degree in May. Mother has talked me into walking. I still don’t see the point – I really don’t remember my last two graduations, so why this one? But she agreed to pay for everything from the invitations to the cap and gown. I’ll just be happy to have that piece of paper.

While we are on the subject of school – yes, one class left – and I have a major group project. The best part is my whole year won’t be bogged down in classes. Life can go back to normal, or at least as best as it can.

I hope to do some more travelling this year too. After all, I won’t have school to take up my time – at least two more trips. (I have to put that new camera to use).

Not to mention, I’ll be going to at least two weddings this year. One of my friends and my mom’s godson is getting married. And, another friend just got engaged (last night!). Man, that’s a sign. Almost all of my friends will be married. Am I getting old or what? Pretty soon, they will be popping out babies. (Hey, just don’t call me to babysit. – j/k)

I was looking at pictures not too long ago of my friends and I when we were in college. It seems so long ago; we look so young. We are adults now, which is a little scary to me. You remember when people always asked you, “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?” We are almost at the 10 years.

Wow, now ain’t that something.