read the book

Saturday night on what was our last date, P and I went to go see "The Time Traveler's Wife". I was really looking forward to seeing the movie because I read the book last year. My recommendation is to read the book skip the movie. The movie was good, but definitely not as good as the book.
The relationships were much deeper in the movie so you get more attached. The movie did however portray the telling of the time travel very good. Both Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana were great actors in this movie. I wish the movie showed more of Chicago, because in the book the city was kinda like its own character.
If you haven't or don't want to read the book I would definitely check out the movie. The story itself is unique, heart warming, and a love story.

no such luck

P and I are no longer. I can't say we broke up, because to breakup you have to be together. And we were never officially "together". This is exactly why I never posted a picture and why I never typed out his name.
I knew right around date 2 or 3 that he wasn't "the one". ....my first big indicator was he said THOSE three words on our 2nd date (red flag), but what's even worse is on our 4th date he said those three words again as if it was the first time he was telling me. ...so he had forgotten he told me the first time. again another huge red flag, but for entirely different reasons. on top of those things, it just became a lot of work 2 to 3 weeks in. we argued a lot and granted i don't have a lot of relationship experience, but i know that the beginning of a "relationship" are when things should be best. then most recently i found myself just keeping him around just to have someone around. and i'm so not that girl. i don't have someone just to have someone. so this has been going on in my mind for awhile.
this afternoon was highly emotional. i knew he wouldn't want to let me go. and it is hard when we are together because we are best when we are together. i'm going to miss his many compliments and his touch. his touch. this is the hardest part. i knew this would be the hardest part when Aaron (the ex) and I broke up because we were very touchy feely the 2 years we were together. and when we broke up i knew i would miss that the most. and although it is a different level because P and I only dated for 2 months but the pain is very much familiar. to be able to have that intimacy of touch with someone, to become used to that, and then have it be taken away. this is what hurts. knowing i don't have someone to hug, someone to touch my leg. not knowing when/if i'll have that again.
but i know that this is what best. that at some point the bad was more than the good. but that this 2 month experience has helped me greatly, and i have learned a lot from it. i know that i am better for having met him because of what he taught me about me.
i will continue to pray and hope for that experience of what will lead me to my true love. i will hope for that relationship where everything just works. i want that so bad. i want to have that experience.

Summer Time Fun!

Kim, Melanie, Me, Vanessa

Vanessa and I ~ we were girl scouts together!

The outdoor pool, with the slides.

I'm sad to say that summer 2009 is just about over. Today was the last swim class in the outdoor pool at the gym, so therefore most likely the last time for me to go swimming in an outdoor swimming pool(for this season). I'll be out of town next weekend which will be the last weekend the pool is open. I have to say that I'm going to really miss having swim class outdoors. The outdoor pool has 2 slides and today at the end of class we went down the slides! It was seriously so much fun. We had the pool all to ourselves, and it was great to see all of us adults goofing off. Every Saturday that I've gone to this class there has always been this cute old lady at class. And today she said after going down the slide "that was so much fun. I'm glad that at 74 I did that!" Isn't that amazing!? Just as I am dreading the three oh this woman is having the time of her life! It made me look forward to what the next 35 years might have to offer. If nothing else, water slides!
Last night I went to go see an old friend from HS that I haven't seen since HS 11 years ago. We were really close in elementary school, and then went our separate ways. But reconnected via Facebook. She was up in Denver this weekend and invited me to her friends BBQ. It was a lot of fun, and it was great to catch up with Vanessa. P even came with me and we enjoyed socializing with a group of people we had never met.
I'm sad to see the summer go. But will look forward to its appearance again in 2010!

Who is Shiny?

Who is Shiny? She is a super cute adorable little girl, around the age of 4 or 5. Running around enjoying her mom and grandma chasing her, laughing and having a great time. Who is the mom you ask? The mom is me. The grandma is my mom. This was my dream last night. I had a little girl. I had a daughter. In the dream I called her Shiny. In the dream I'm pretty sure "Shiny" was a shortened version of her real name. I of course knew what my daughters name was in my dream, but when I woke up all I could think of was Sunshine. And although their is nothing wrong with the name Sunshine, when/if I ever have a little girl, I'm pretty sure I won't be naming her Sunshine, or Shiny for that matter.

Now that I am awake and thinking about this dream and her name in the dream, maybe it was because when I was little, my mother would always sing to me "...you are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray...." and maybe just maybe if I ever am lucky enough to be a mom and to have a little girl, my nickname for her will be "Shiny" as in my Sunshine.
In the dream the 3 of us (me, my mom, and my daughter) were at a outdoor flea market. Walking around, enjoying the day, not really looking for anything in particular. Shiny (I really wish I could remember her real name) was running around enjoying getting all of the attention from her mom and grandma. I remember having this very specific feeling in the dream of "wow, I am a mom. This is what it feels like. My mom is a grandma." In that moment I felt so happy and content. Although in this dream, I knew that I wasn't a mom, that I didn't have a daughter, that my mom wasn't a grandma. But feeling it in my dream gave me some hope. That maybe those relationships could be out there in my future somewhere. That someday I'll be a mom, which will create grandparents. Even though I may only experience motherhood in a dream, I'll take what I can get and document those feelings so that I can always remember them.

another funny character

Book Review
Finger Lickin' Fifteen~A Stephanie Plum Novel
By Janet Evanovich

It wasn't too long ago that I wrote about Tori Spelling and her funny ways in life and motherhood. Now onto another funny lady. Although this time she's fictional. Her name is Stephanie Plum. She lives in Trenton, NJ has a full time job as the worse bounty hunter ever, so to cover herself she works part time for the hot mysterious Ranger, at Rangeman. Her best friend is a full figured woman who only wears animal print spandex. She is a very steamy love triangle, but can't seem to figure out what she wants out of life. Like the fourteen before it, this is classic Evanovich. These books are super entertaining and easy to read. I like this book because the person being chased after wasn't Stephanie Plum, but that didn't stop her from getting drenched in red paint, tossed in flour, and blowing up a car or two. I like these books because they are more comical than suspenseful even though a lot of the events are life and death situations. Check it out!

stolen x2

...from emily. i am quickly running out of blogging ideas so here are 65 things you might not have known (or ever cared to know) about me:

1. First thing you wash in the shower? my face.
   
2. What color is your favorite hoodie? red.
   
3. Would you kiss the last person that you kissed again? yes.
   
4. Do you plan outfits? monday - friday, yes. weekends, no.
   
5. How are you feeling right now? good. have a great work out and didn't overeat at dinner!
   
6. What's the closest thing to you that is red? a book.
   
7. Tell me about the last dream you remember having? i was at work trying to manage 6 people's calendars.
   
8. Did you meet anybody new today? no.
   
9. What are you craving right now? something sweet.
   
10. Do you floss? negative. ...oops.
    
11. What comes to mind when I say cabbage? salad
    
12. Are you emotional? not really.
    
13. Have you ever counted to 1,000? no.
    
14. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it? lick.
    
15. Do you like your hair? yes. it's one of the physical things i like about myself.
    
16. Do you like yourself? yes i do, thank you very much.
    
17. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush? yes, lots of questions to ask that man.
    
18. What are you listening to right now? my cousin kari talking on the phone.
    
19. Were your parents strict? my dad yes, my mom no.
    
20. Would you go sky diving? probably not.
    
21. Do you like cottage cheese? eww, no thank you.
    
22. Have you met a celebrity? no, sad day.
    
23. Do you rent movies often? hardly, maybe twice a year.
    
24. Is there anything sparkly in the room you're in right now? my jewelry on my dresser.
    
25. How many countries have you visited? 4
    
26. Have you made a prank phone call? yes, circa 1992.
    
27. Ever been on a train? yes.
    
28. Brown or white eggs? white, i think brown eggs are an east coast thing.
    
29. Do you have a cell phone? yes.
    
30. Do you use chapstick? everyday.
    
31. Do you own a gun? no, but i've thought about it.
    
32. Can you use chop sticks? on a good day.
    
33. Who are you going to be with tonight? Otis and Denali.
    
34. Are you too forgiving? not really.
    
35. Ever been in love? yes.
    
36. What are your best friends doing tomorrow? one is probably working - saving lives. one is being a FT mom to 2 boys. and one is selling houses and getting her kids off to school.
    
37. Ever have cream puffs? i'm sure i have, because i know enough to know i'm not a fan.
    
38. Last time you cried? saturday.
    
39. What was the last question you asked? i couldn't tell you.
    
40. Favorite time of the year? summer. colorado summer's are too short.
    
41. Do you have any tattoos? yes, three.
    
42. Are you sarcastic? me? absolutely.
    
43. Have you ever seen the Butterfly Effect? yes.
    
44. Ever walked into a wall? i don't think so.
    
45. Favorite color? blue.
    
46. Have you ever slapped someone? i don't think so, but i do know i've been tempted.
    
47. Is your hair curly? sorta.
    
48. What was the last CD you bought? um i couldn't tell ya.
    
49. Do looks matter? yes, but not in the long term.
    
50. Could you ever forgive a cheater? i don't know.
    
51. Is your phone bill sky high? no. i work for the telephone company.
    
52. Do you like your life right now? for the most part.
    
53. Do you sleep with the TV on? yes, i put it on sleep every night.
    
54. Can you handle the truth? yes.
    
55. Do you have good vision? yes, thank you LasikPlus!
    
56. Do you hate or dislike more than 3 people? probably.
    
57. How often do you talk on the phone? everyday.
    
58. The last person you held hands with? P.
    
59. What are you wearing? sleep shirt.
    
60. What is your favorite animal? dolphins, peacocks, flamingos.
    
61. Where was your profile picture taken? in a church at a wedding.
    
62. Can you hula hoop? not really.
    
63. Do you have a job? yes.
    
64. What was the most recent thing you bought? a pastry and coffee.
    
65. Have you ever crawled through a window? i'm pretty sure.

The Places I've Been: AK

Hubbard Glacier

via

Denali National Park

via

In the Summer 2003 (July I believe) myself and 11 other family members met in Anchorage, Alaska to go on a 2 week tour of Alaska. It was a fabulous vacation. The first week was an inland tour. We traveled to the Denali National Park, Talkeetna, and other places that I can't remember. The second week we were on a cruise from Seward, Alaska through the inside passage with the final stop in Vancouver, British Columbia. Alaska in the summer time is amazing. There is sunlight 20 hours a day, and 4 hour of dusk. It was one of the best vacations I have ever been on. I got to spend a lot of quality time with my family, have great food, and see and do things I had never seen previously. This is a place I would love to go back to, and if you have the opportunity to go, I would highly recommend it.

my mom's green chile chicken enchilada's

This recipe is one my mother has done for as long as I can remember. Growing up my mother didn't really cook. But this is one of my favorite meals of hers. She not one to really follow recipe's so I don't have exact measurements for the seasonings, so just go with it! With Fall in the air and fresh hatch green chile feeling the New Mexico air I thought it seems appropriate to share this meal. It's a very easy meal, enjoy!

What you need: a can of white chicken, 505 green chile, a can of cream of chicken soup, a can of cream of potato soup, oregano, garlic powder, corn tortilla's, cheese, and cilantro.

Drain and cut up the chicken, cook in a large deep skillet.

Add your soups: cream of chicken, and cream of potato

Add about 3/4 of the 505 green chile. If you are lucky enough to have some hatch green chile, add that right about now. Mix all together, and add some oregano and garlic powered. I probably do about a tablespoon of each, maybe more.

Layer a square pan with 4 corn tortillas.

Pour in half of your chicken mixture.

Top with cheese.
Repeat.

Cook in a 350* oven for 30 minutes.

Top with cilantro. Serve with rice, black beans, and sour cream.

my mom's green chile chicken enchilada's
1 can white chicken, drained and shredded
3/4 bottle of 505 green chile
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of potato soup
1 T oregano
1 T garlic powder
8 corn tortilla's
2 cups shredded cheese
chopped up cilantro

Mix chicken, green chile, chicken soup, potato soup, oregano and garlic powder in a large deep skillet. Bring to a boil. Layer 4 corn tortilla's on bottom of square pan, top with 1/2 chicken mixture, and top with 1 cups shredded cheese. Repeat. Put in 350* oven for 30 minutes. Top with desired toppings and sides. Enjoy!

she's funny

Book Review
Mommywood by Tori Spelling

I wanted to read this book because I read her first book sTori Telling. Plus I've been a fan of her since 90210, and I've followed her closely since she started her reality show: Tori and Dean. She's one funny chick. Very funny, even. Her first book had quite a few of Laugh Out Loud moments that took me by surprise. I thought I would like her first book fine, but I didn't think she would be funny in her writing. Her second book Mommywood, is a good book. But not as good as her first, I think. It talks about her role as mommy while balancing her life. She talks about being a new mom to her little boy Liam and her newborn baby girl Stella. I think part of the reason I didn't like this book as much, is because I couldn't relate as much. I can't help but think that if I was a mom I would have enjoyed this book much more. None the less, Tori Spelling is a good writing, and her details of humor and ways of relating to her readers are what keep you reading. This is an easy read, and reminds all of us that we are just trying to live our lives as best we kind, while finding our own version of "normal". I would definitely recommend this book if you are a mom, like Tori Spelling, or wanting something very easy to read.

lIFe

what is this thing called life? why do we lead it when it isn't up to us? why do we make these decisions, when just about everything can be reversed? what is the point? yesterday my work life as i have known it for the last 15 months got swept underneath me. my boss got laid off. he had no clue, i had no clue. i don't want to go into all the details, but it has me questioning everything. right now i have a huge fear that my job is next. everyone says i'll be fine, but nobody 100% knows i'll be fine. you really don't ever know anything at all. that's my point.

throughout the events of the last 36 hours my heart has been aching. not for me, or my fear of my job, but of the relationship i have/had with my boss. i miss my boss. we had a great routine, we worked really well together. i like my boss. he made it easy for me to get up and go to work in the morning. we meshed really well together. and now all of it is gone. although not completely. he still calls me. we talked a handful of times both yesterday and today. he has access to nothing, and i still have access to everything, including all of his information as i always have. he was with Qwest for 11 years. so has his whole life is in his contacts and calendar, and i'm just trying to help him out. but soon, he won't have a reason to call. soon it will truly be all over. i'm not looking forward to that. talking to him isn't easy. every time we talk i want to tell him how grateful i am to him, how he was such a great boss to work for. but as i try to form the words in my mouth i get choked up with too many tears in my eyes all while trying to be professional. i have sent him an email. letting him know some of feelings. but i feel it just isn't enough.

i haven't really let myself go. and honestly i don't really know what it is that i'm waiting for. yesterday i kept telling myself to make it through the day, to get home, and then i can have my own little melt down. but it didn't happen. i've cried on and off the past 2 days. but i haven't really let it all out.
i feel so supported. it feels amazing. i had know idea this many people cared. yesterday was a huge shock to everyone, and so many people stopped by my desk to see how i was doing. to see if they could do anything for me. to let me know that they are there if i want to talk. they realize that a piece of me is gone, and they want to make sure i'm ok. honestly, it a very foreign feeling for me. to have support, to have people to lean on. i've gone the past few years without that. and on some level i still feel like i don't have it. these people are my co-workers, yes we have some level of a personal relationship, but at the same time they aren't my closest friends. i have all of these people wanting to be there for me, and i find myself questioning who i should turn to? my first instinct is to turn to myself. because that's what i do. but they can empathize with me. they know Sandy, they know my relationship with him. they can understand. i know that at a time like this, that is what i need. i know that i don't have to go through this alone. but that is what i'm used to. all of this is so overwhelming. i talked to both my mom and P about this last night. but with them, i have to tell them what happened. i have to explain all the details, which is hard because i feel like i don't even know all the details. whereas with my co-workers they already know what happened. so i don't even know how my closest friends (who are outside of work) can be there for me. because all of it just seems too much to explain over and over.

it's so weird how we create work to be just work. but when it comes down to it, its not just work. it is our livelihood. we spend 8+ hours with these people most days. when you meet someone, after knowing their name, what is usually the number one thing you always ask? "what do you do?" we ask about a persons job. but at the same time our job doesn't define us, we like to think it doesn't take up majority of our lives. but, doesn't it? right now i'm trying to figure it all out.

over the next couple of months i'm going into the unknown. i suppose everyday is unknown, but this is a totally different level. as of right now i'll be providing administrative support for 5 people. possibly 6. it'll definitely be interesting how this all plays out. wish me luck!

Saturday Pictures

The beautiful birthday girl!

Enjoying some cake!

Opening presents!

Sarah and I

So cute Family!

Just me

a roller coaster

Today has been a roller coaster. A lot of highs, and a lot of lows. Although the main event was a definite high. I woke up early this morning and for the first time in a long time and went to my swim class. It was a lot of fun, and it was great to go back and enjoy one of my favorite workouts. This afternoon I got my hair "did". It was much needed since it has been 4 months since I had last gotten it done.
Then I was off to my friend Sarah's daughters first birthday! Chloe is the cutest little girl. Seeing my friend in the role of mother is so heart warming. It was a super fun party, and thankfully the weather was perfect. Chloe celebrated with her cake, and enjoyed have the day being all about her! I'll have to make this a two part post because my little cord that connects the camera to the computer is at work, so I can't upload any pictures to share.
Overall this was a great week, I was back in the gym 6 times!, and it feels good!

i did it!

My New Year's Resolution for 2009 was to work out at least 150 times. And I'm proud to say that as of today, that goal as been accomplished! Technically I've worked out 152 times, but this is the official 150th post for this year. I want to focus on this being a positive thing, because soon I'm going to go on a negative rant ....eventually I'll have to get this off my chest, but this post isn't the time for negativity. The goal was to average at least 12 work outs a month, and I'm definitely above that number. I'm happy that this pattern is a way of life for me now, and just part of my daily routine of my life. Even though I'm not getting the results I want on the scale, it does give my heart a good feeling, and I don't see it as something I will give up on anytime soon.

Flash back to the 80's

I'm an 80's child through and through. I remember my dad playing 8-tracks in his red and white truck during our fishing trips when I was little. I loved Olivia Newton-John. Tonight at Lifetime they had a 90 minute tribute to the 80's. I seriously can't remember the last time I did 90 minutes of consecutive cardio like I did tonight.
We had 30 minutes each of a Jane Fonda, tight-wearing, type of girl, followed by a hip hop Run DMC chick, ending with a Richard Simmons wannabe. Imagine the grapevine meets high knees, then laying on the floor doing leg lifts. Mixed in with all your favorite 80's music of course. My personal favorite "Forever Your Girl" by Paula Abdul herself.
Their were head bands, leg warmers, and bright colors too!

sorry

Nothing to say, except I went to the gym today.

Life Changing

Book Review
The Shack by William P. Young

This book was life changing. It was that good. I recommend this book to everyone. Seriously check it out. This book is up their with Same kind of Different as Me.
This book is about Mack who takes his kids on a camping trip only to have his youngest daughter abducted. After the family tragedy Mack questions his relationship with God, and why he would possibly do what He did. Four years after this trip, Mack gets a note apparently from God inviting him back to the place where his daughter was taken from him.
This book takes you on a journey of your own relationship with God, and how to make it stronger. This book touched me in a lot of different ways. It talks about how people enter your life, the love you have in your life, and how regardless of any situation God is always there. Always.
Here is a powerful excerpt I want to share:

"You, on the other hand, were created to be loved. So for you to live as if you were unloved is a limitation, not the other way around."
Mack nodded his head, not so much in full agreement, but more as a signal that at least he understood and was tracking. That seemed simple enough.
"Living unloved is like clipping a bird's wings and removing its ability to fly. Not something I want for you."
There's the rub. He didn't feel particularly loved at the moment.

This touched me particularly hard, because I often feel like nobody loves me. Mainly it is the feeling that I don't feel loved how I want to be loved. The deep, romantic, type of love. But this touched me, because it reminded me that I am loved. I am loved deeply and truly by the people who do love me, most importantly I am loved by God. I am here to love, and to be loved.

This book is an easy read, and very touching. I would highly recommend it if you want to establish that connection with God, or re-connect with God. This book is told from a completely different point of view, which opens you up, and makes you realize that we all have our own view on God and how he works in our lives. This book makes you view God and His Spirit like you have never imagined, and because of that it is very eye-opening.

a new series

So I had this idea back in June before I went to Rhode Island. I was thinking about my travels, and how much I love to travel, and how I could incorporate my past travels into my blog. When I thought of "The Places I've Been", and making it a weekly series on my blog. I've stated that I want to visit all of the 50 states. This series will hopefully help me complete that goal, while telling you all about it. Below you will find a list of all the United States as well as the places I've been Internationally. My goal is to at least post once a week a different state that I have been to. Enjoy!

1. Alabama

2. Alaska*

3. Arizona*

4. Arkansas

5. California*

6. Colorado!

7. Connecticut^

8. Delaware

9. DC

10. Florida*

11. Georgia~

12. Hawaii

13. Idaho

14. Illinois*

15. Indiana

16. Iowa

17. Kansas

18. Kentucky

19. Louisiana

20. Maine

21. Maryland

22. Massachusetts^

23. Michigan

24. Minnesota*

25. Mississippi

26. Missouri

27. Montana

28. Nebraska

29. Nevada*

30. New Hampshire

31. New Jersey

32. New Mexico!

33. New York*

34. North Carolina~

35. North Dakota*

36. Ohio*

37. Oklahoma*

38. Oregon^

39. Pennsylvania

40. Rhode Island*

41. South Carolina

42. South Dakota^

43. Tennessee

44. Texas*

45. Utah

46. Vermont

47. Virginia

48. Washington*

49. West Virginia

50. Wisconsin

51. Wyoming

London*

Mexico*

Canada*

I have a color coded system as follows:

*I've stayed
! I've lived

^ I've visited

~ Will be going in the near future(within the next 12months)

The purple, are places I've been, but I've haven't stayed the night. I'll be going in alphabetically order.

fun night!

I've had one of those fun classic nights packed with a bunch of randomness. It started off after work, when I went to happy hour with some co-workers. I then went to Dance Jam at the gym. Once I got back home, I heard from an old friend I used to work with, who stopped by my house for awhile, and we visited. Then I got ready, and headed to the D-Note to see P. All of this took place between 4pm and 9:30pm, which is when I left to go see P. Very fun-filled!

above is a pic that was on the bathroom door outside of the ladies restroom at the bar i had happy hour at, which i will bring up again in a future post.

~something I love~

the pictures don't do it justice

This bracelet.

I got in Florida 2 years ago,
in this cute little shop.
The owners grandfather was
in a war (I don't remember what war)
and collected silverware from
around the world.

The sides of this bracelet are spoons
that he collected from his military travels.

Plus, it is a real pearl.
I'm not much of a pearl type of girl,
but I just had to have this.

Plus...
I thought to myself when I bought it,
"one day if I ever get married,
this will be the perfect piece of jewelry
to wear with a wedding dress."

Girls Trip

I've had an upcoming girls trip on my mind recently, and I think that is where last nights dream came from. Let me tell you about it.
But first a little bit of history. Back in HS I was never really part of a "clique" until my senior year. Michelle, Sarah, and I were The Spice Girls Trio. I'm not one to be in or have a group of friends, and I was individual friends with Michelle and Sarah, and then the three of us bonded. We were a group. Our senior year the three of us went to visit Michelle's dad in Los Angeles for spring break, and it was such a fun trip, we even went to Las Vegas. Unfortunately once HS ended we went our separate ways. Throughout the years Sarah and I have stayed close, but Michelle now lives in Chicago, and I'm happy to report that our friendship rekindled last year at our 10 year HS reunion. Anyways, last nights dream included these two ladies.
We were in Florida, on a girls trip. Just the three of us. We started in Orlando, and then at the last minute we decided to go to Miami, which is about a 4 hour drive. Michelle knew exactly where to go, and was very prepared with a map, and a place to stay once we arrived in Miami. We drove down having a blast. Once we got to the hotel, we checked in and arrived at this child center, were Sarah and Michelle got to bond over motherhood. I was happy to be along for the ride. I had a part of me feeling extremely sad that I couldn't talk to them about being a mother, but happy that they could talk about it with each other.
I'm not too sure how exactly the dream ended, but I woke up misses these girls so much. Since our HS days and beyond I've had some pretty amazing experiences with these girls, and I miss the bond we used to have.

Hanging out P* style

I've had a good dose of P the past two days, and it is quality time well spent. We spent majority of the day together yesterday (which is why I didn't post yesterday, because I didn't go to the gym.) just hanging out. P has a very busy schedule, so very rarely do we have together where it is relaxed and time doesn't conflict. But, yesterday we literally just hung out. I shared with him some of photo albums, which I love since I am a big picture person. It was a fun Sunday.
Tonight we had a nice laid back dinner. And he insisted on me blogging on about him.
I enjoy the time when we can just relax. I've told him that we need to find jobs, where someone will pay us six figure salaries to just hang out with one another. Needless to say I'm still looking for that someone, so if you know anyone, let me know! I'm pretty sure we are both qualified for the position! ;)

Weekly Re-Cap

St Julien Hotel, Boulder, CO

I've had a great week. Things were very productive and fulfilling at work. Every summer the department I work for puts on an event called The Advisory Council, or AC for short. The Advisory Council members are our Top Partners. They come into town to basically tell us what we are doing good, and what we need to improve upon. Basically they bring us in the most money, so we truly value their opinion. This year it was in Boulder at the St Julien Hotel. On Tuesday 7/28 we held a pre-AC meeting in Boulder, with my boss, his directors, and the marketing team. I was invited to go as well. At first I really didn't want to go, but it was nice to get out of the office. For lunch we all drove to Sandy's (my boss) house (he lives in Boulder) for lunch. This was a nice little get away, and I was super excited because I got to meet his wife! It was a good day.
Wednesday 7/29 was the first official day of the Advisory Council, and it was the activity day. A group went golfing, and another group went on a hike. I unfortunately wasn't invited for the fun part, so I was in the office. But that night I had a good date with P, at the Melting Pot. It was very nice. P had never had fondue before, so it was an extra special treat for him.
Thursday 7/30 was the 2nd day of the Advisory Council, and it was the meeting day. I headed back to Boulder for the day, to take notes, and get what my boss needed. The meeting wasn't all that exciting for me, just because I don't really know what everyone is talking about. But I got a lot of stuff done. I worked literally side by side with Sandy, which was a first, and helped us with creating some rapport with one another. After the long day, we all went to have dinner at Brasserie Ten Ten. This was a great dinner. Sandy brought Christie (Sandy's wife). At one point Sandy was out of his seat talking, so I decided to go and talk with Christie. She was asking me if I was working tomorrow (Friday) and I said yes, but that I was planning on asking Sandy if I could come in late. Christie responded, by saying I'll approve it for you, of course you can go in late. As Sandy comes by Christie tells Sandy that I'm coming in late. Sandy says that that's fine. Then he asks me "are you exempt or non-exempt?" I say "I don't know, but I do have to track my time daily."
Sandy: "Then you are working right now. You need to make sure you leave early tomorrow. You need to make sure to keep me on track about this, because my time is different."
at this point in time it is almost 9pm.
Me: "Well I did get hear at 7:30am."
Sandy: "Then I say you just call tomorrow a day. Take tomorrow off."
Me: "Really?!"
...do I have the coolest boss ever?! Needless to say, I had yesterday off! It was awesome. Now Monday will be a crazy day, because I do have a lot to do, but it was super nice. Sandy recognized me quite a bit throughout the past week, and it was super nice. It is so nice to be at the place in a job where you feel like you know what you are doing, but not only that, you are good at doing it. I know I have improvements to make, but for the most part everything is going great!