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a single event can have infinitely many interpretations - LiveJournal.com
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OMG WTH! A post by me!
There’s quite a bit going on that I don’t post on FB, or anywhere, and even if FB allows me to manage friends it’s still not as thorough as what I can do with LJ.
As most of you are aware I’m finishing up applying to the MIM (master of info management) program at UMD. I’m waiting on one last letter of recommendation which I am informed will be submitted shortly and for the school to credit receipt of my transcripts from GMU and St. Rose. I’m confident I’ll get in and I hope by this time next year I will be starting my 2nd semester there.
I’m not sure how paying for it will go exactly (erm student loans cough cough) but I know I’ll work at least part of the time to defray costs. I’m kind of considering maybe moving PT at REI because they have a killer benefits package (it beats what I have now at my FT job!) and I could probably transfer to the College Park store so I’m closer to campus. Everything hinges on everything else, though. Either way I plan to quit this job so I can focus on my studies full time.
There’s a lot of drama in the parents’ household. Over the Christmas holidays Gramma came down with an infection which was causing diarrhea which also meant she was dehydrated. She wound up in the hospital on the 27th and during the interim my mom and dad discussed nursing home options. They were crossing their fingers she would end up at a place across the river called Ferncliff and thye luckily had a spot open. So, for the time being Gramma is in there and it looks like it will be permanent. However she actually really likes it which doesn’t totally surprise us. She’s lonely even if she does have my mom and dad around but she was always a very social person. She belonged to God knows how many social organizations that old ladies typically belong to and losing her car was a huge blow. Now she’s got people who can constantly check in on her and my dad’s job is really close to the home. My parents were quite literally at their breaking point with caring for her at home – she’s too heavy to really carry and every time she gets sick she’s too weak to move. The last time she got seriously sick and dehydrated and weak my dad threw out his back trying to lift her. If anyone wants the address, let me know.
Second is that my parents are considering Chapter 7 or 11. There are a lot of factors going in to this and what’ll come down to is whether or not they can work out a deal to keep the house. My mom is warming to the idea of perhaps just selling the house, paying everything off and renting somewhere. Possibly totally relocating. As sad as I would to be to not have that house to come home to and sad that their financial situation is so out of control that they need to look at this, I really do like the idea of them having a “fresh start”. Their house is also getting quite old and appliances are always breaking and if they are already barely scraping by affording to fix things really isn’t an option. Neither of them qualify (or have the option) to enroll in health plans at their respective places of unemployment so they are paying out of pocket for their health plan. My dad has Parkinson’s and the expensive monthly medications that go with it and while my mother is luckily in very good health, who knows what could happen? If they were even ten years younger I don’t think they would be looking at bankruptcy proceedings.
So that’s the major stuff. Other than that (ha ha!) things are as normal. I’ve been working crazy hours at REI but with the Jackson Hole trip in less than a week and with a car repair earlier in the month it’s good to have the chance to pay those things off right away. I remain optimistic that this year will turn out pretty good.
It's been awhile since I last rapped at ya...
Wow, its been awhile since Ive bothered updating this thing. Its easy (for me) to forget the ole LJ when so much of my day to day happenings are posted on facebook.
As most of you probably know by now, my group (including me) transitioned from Lockheed Martin to another company partially owned by Lockeed, called DS2. I was working a crazy amount of hours between Job 1 and Job 2 (like, 60- 70+ hour weeks) from right around Labor Day until the first week of October so I am beyond happy thats finally over. Now the dust is settling on that and I can get back to finishing my web design class (I have until February 2010). My goal is to have everything done by the end of this year and to start looking for jobs at that point. All I know is by next summer I would ideally like to be working closer to home and in a more creative field. Well see how that goes. There is a position within Lockheed (LOLZ) that I saw that might be promising. I'm having an old coworker who has access to LM's hiring system look up some information for me. I think I know who the hiring manager might be and if I can talk to them first before applying, I might have a good shot at it.
Weve booked our travel to Jackson Hole for my birthday week. My birthday falls on a Tuesday this year so its not like I could have some HUGE birthday bash the day of. I might still have a getogether the following weekend or something? Were leaving for JXN on the 24th of January and coming back on the 29th. As luck would have it, Jackson Hole Ski Resort has a facebook and twitter presence and theyve had a Trivia Tuesdays contest for the past couple months. About a month back I won the contest and received a pair of 3 day left tickets so that opened up our lodging options considerably. We still opted to stay at the same hotel we stayed in last winter because we loved it (the free breakfast in the morning was AWESOME not some crappy ass bagels and croissants but full on eggs and bacon and sausage and waffles and fruit and EVERYTHING). One activity we are adding on to this year is a snowmobile tour to Granite Hot Springs. I initially really wanted to do a tour into Yellowstone but opted for this one since its a little bit cheaper and Ive at least driven through Yellowstone before. Anyway, needless to say, Im really excited about this trip and I can not WAIT.
Ive started circuit training again and while I havent been hitting up the gym as much as Id like, Ive been making it down 2 or 3 times a week. If I could work some more cardio days around that Id be doing pretty good. Considering all the hours I was putting in lately with this transition, I guess any workout is better than none? One sort of not-immediately-obvious benefit to the circuit training is that nobody really uses the weight machines (I dont think they know how) so I can usually whip through a circuit pretty quickly which is ideally what I should do in order to keep my heart rate up. Im trying to get in better shape in general but I would also like to be in better shape for snowboarding this winter. By our last day at Jackson Hole last year I was EXHAUSTED pretty early in the day so Id like a little more stamina I guess.
Ummm Nothing else really major to report at the moment. Im talking with my mom about taking a trip out to the west coast the end of next summer/early September. I know shed really dig the redwoods and just the scenery in general. After taking the road trip down to TN last year I really realized just how much she doesnt get out. She was constantly calling or texting me to tell me about this or that she was looking at.
Speaking of TN, I would like to make a trip down to the Smokies again at some point. I thought it might be fun to get a group together and drive down and camp out for a few days? Its about an 8 hour trip but it was really nice. And, hello? DOLLYWOOD?
Oh, and sorry about the Corpse Bridge user pic - no, I don't know what Corpse Bride is up to. I only used it because Halloween is coming up and y'all better show up to our party on Saturday! Word.
holy shit! I AM alive!
I know its been a really long time since Ive had any kind of substantial update. I know others on my FL here on el jay are sort of dealing with the same thing as me in a world where Twitter is the New Internet Revolution and those updates can link to Facebook updates and since everyone I know is on FB I feel like most people are able to keep up with me on FB, providing that they actually want to.
Im not saying Im getting rid of el jay or anything but I wonder a little if there might be a better platform that integrates better with everything else? I have a tumblr account but fail to really to get into it. I do like the convenience of Twitter, though, and I sort of like that I have to force myself to be as succinct as possible (or just use the worst slang imaginable but I find that aspect kind of hilarious).
I got an extension on the web design distance course thing Ive been taking and as I start to draw to a close on that I feel like Id like to experiment more with Wordpress or some other platform which might allow me more options for customization (for free, no less!). So dont be surprised if someday Ive got a new blog somewhere else.
The times, they are a-changing, right?
Anyway, yes, Im still alive. Hours at REI are becoming a little more consistent. Im almost always on Sundays, though, so if anyone needs to find me they know where. Im itching for Fall to show up only because Im supposed to cross train in the bike/ski/snowboard department.
Were supposedly transitioning to another war machine-wholly owned subsidiary within the next month or two but my optimism about that is waning. It doesnt seem like itll ever happen! Im itching to get out of here if only because I feel like Ive been severely pigeonholed in my current position and its hard to break out of this mold Ive shaped myself to. Since I feel like Im hitting my head up against a wall here I know Im not putting anywhere near 100% into anything I do here.
Related to this is my desire to go to grad school. Im currently applying to UMD in their Masters of Information Management program. Im kinda pissed because I cant get in state tuition there (I could if I were a VA resident!). f**king DC. Im pretty excited about the program and it seems like I could set myself up to explore a variety of different paths. I have a couple things in mind but Im not sure exactly what Id like to concentrate on. But, first, I need to get in. Which also means getting recommendation letters (three f**king letters!). Ive got someone to write one for me but Im at a loss for the other two. Blaaaaaah.
I also need to figure out how to pay for this (Im trying not to cry thinking about out of state tuition!). Im not sure if the war machine will pay for it although I could probably make a case for it. Thing is, the money Id get a year would barely cover anything plus Id have to stay here for a year after the last pay out to not owe anything back. Im envisioning going really part time a semester or two (starting next winter or maybe next summer) and then perhaps going full time or almost full time after that. If thats the case, Id be leaving anyway. Lots to think about, lots to plan.
Oh, yeah, speaking of planning, ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) lonecellotheory and I are planning to go to Jackson Hole for my 30th birthday. Some non-ski people know about this and anyone is free to come but I pretty much figured nobody would/could. I put it out there to some ski/snowboard people so Im putting it out there now. We havent booked anything yet but Im already crazy looking forward to it. Im also hoping to be in better shape than I was last year. I really want to get the full experience.
Whats new?
A Toast to End All Toasts
While I was getting an eye exam last Tuesday, my brother calls me at the last minute and leaves me a voicemail asking if I'll give a toast at his wedding. Hanna's sister is doing one so it seemed only fitting that I'd do one, too. Of course, I agreed and after much fretting I wrote this, pool side, hours before the wedding (and yes, I ad libbed some stuff, especially at the very end):
Welcome everyone tonight to celebrate the union of Hanna and Adam. I am Angel, older and only sister of the groom and I am honored to speak tonight at such a beautiful event.
Adam and I are only one year and some months apart but when I was a little girl that year and 4 months was a huge deal. Any opportunity I had I made sure to take the time to put him in his place. Maybe in my own way I was preparing for his wedding day!
Once when Adam was still in diapers, I opened our front door,ran out in the yard and called to him to join me. He was in a walker so when he hit the front steps, he fell flat on his face. Needless to say, I thought this was hilarious but my mom? Not so much. I think it shows he can take a lot of abuse still not harbor any resentment towards the person doling it out.
As we grew older we become pretty good friends. By the time we reached high school our social circles overlapped and you could usually find us at the same parties. Being here today has been a great reunion for me, seeing so many familiar faces in person, sometimes for the first time in years. I may call him my brother but that is a convenient shorthand for a relationship that means much more to me than that.
It is a sad fact of modern life that we are all frequently separated from those we love. I wish I could see him more often and hope for more happy events like these to create further opportunities to build memories that will last a lifetime.
It is unfortunate that I have not gotten to know Hanna better through their time together so far. I hope in the future the distance -physical or otherwise- does not get in the way of all of us seeing who truly matters.
Tonight I urge everyone to have a good time and celebrate love, friendship and family for after that, what do you have?
(and here is where I mentioned some stuff about loving my brother and I start crying and I hope some other people were, too)
Couldn't you just DIE!?
The National Zoo has some totally awesome pictures up on their website. I totally want to bring these guys home and love on them like crazy! The camera are triggered by heat so cold blooded creatures won't be captures on here (unless they happen to be eating something warm booded?).
From the Flickr photostream: Like the previous one, this photo of a red brocket deer with a fawn provides information about the timing of breeding and birthing events as well as parental behavior.
National Zoo scientists set up camera traps in a remote section of the Amazon rain forest to gather data about the variety of species that inhabit it. Learn more about the project here: nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationAndScience/MAB/research/ar...
Uploaded by Smithsonian's National Zoo on 28 May 09, 1.36PM GMT+2.
Pre-weekend update
- I rarely update this now since most people are on the Facebook and probably have a pretty good idea of whats happening in my life based on my status updates. NONETHELESS, before I decide to totally retire this thing I might as well use it a little.
- I tried on a dress Ive had for a few years because Im thinking of wearing it to an upcoming wedding. Its a cute dress, fairly timeless, but apparently my body is not. It was a wee bit tighter than I wouldve liked. I think I remember the dress as fairly form-fitting anyway but I wasnt too happy with the fit. Dieting and exercise goals MUST be met!
- Ive been doing *okay* in the diet/exercise department. Ive all but cut out Starbucks and Ive been getting salads again from Trader Joes. Ive picked up my yoga habit again and I go on a couple decent bike rides a week. I need to amp up the exercising a little more. Im getting there, slowly.
- I am SICK of my job. I saw a position today that Ill probably apply for. It almost seems like it was written about me. There would be a slight pay cut but its in DC so I wouldnt have to drive (in theory, depending where the place is).
- Speaking of weddings, finally got the invite to my brothers wedding so were starting to make our plans for hotels and such. Its only a few hours away from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park so well definitely camp out for a night, probably two. I didnt realize that admission is free into the park so thats a bonus, too! Were looking at maybe going on a horseback ride through the park which Im amped about because its been YEARS since Ive gone riding. Im also looking forward to eating some good BBQ and the cocktail hour before the wedding.
- My throat is sore. Im patiently waiting for Zyrtec to work its magic but I might need to get some reinforcements. The pollen this year is nailing me like WOAH!
- Were having red velvet ice cream cake for a birthday celebration today. So much for the diet!
How can I concentrate when it's so beautiful outside and summer's knocking on my door?
Uuuuuuugh, I'd left my lunch in the car this morning so I had to walk outside to get it and experience the beautiful weather. I prefer not to know about it when I'm work because I just get distracted. Like now. I did bring my bike and gear so I can ride home and I'm pretty amped about it. Originally I intended to ride home yesterday but didn't sleep well Sunday night (stupid lack of AC) and didn't have all my shit together. It's just as well since we got out early due to a network outage so I would've been riding my bike during the hottest part of the day.
lonecellotheory and I did ride our bikes to the Red, Hot and Blue on Wilso Blvd since I had an intense BBQ craving. It's 3.5 miles there (7 round trip) and I'm glad we did that. The ride there was pretty warm but the way back was really nice. The nice breeze from last night seems to have stuck around and as a bonus, I believe it'll be to my back as I ride home (woot!).
Austin City Limits announced their line up this morning. I already knew about the major headliners but it was good to see some other bands on the list that I really want to see. Curerntly I'm looking into the feasiblity of going because it's been a few years and I miss Austin. We'll see, we'll see.
So that's basically what's new with me. Been picking up some extra hours at REI but I'm thinking it'll scale back again some after the Anniversary Sale coming up. I had my review and it was okay - could've been better if I'd sold more memberships but it's really tough selling memberships in clothing. Most of my contract with customers is "Do you this in a different size/color?" and that's the extent. I got high marks in customer care/product knowledge blah blah which I think is important. So I think me and REI brass differ on our priorities. Whatevs!
A (wo)man with a plan!
Today is pretty much the last sedentary day for the next month as I have a NEW "Get Fit Quick Plan" (herein referred to as the "GFQP").
I've been pretty half-assed about losing weight/getting toned this Spring. For awhile in Feb I was fairly active between snowboarding, walking to the metro and training for the 100k (sniff, sniff) and lost a couple pounds. Then I started adding the C25K training and bike rides with Susan and started eating like a PIG. I could NOT get enough.
Aside from the bike rides, I've been pretty lazy about exercise and stuff and earlier in the week I was disgusted by how my arms look and just everything so I've decided I need to "grab hold" of my "fitness goals" (like all the management/corporate speak? And acronyms for things? All I do is work and it's starting to creep into my everyday vocabulary).
First off, aside from the insane sugar cravings, my diet is overall not *horrible*. I've decided I need to cut out the sweets, or rather, the random snacking on sweets. I was doing SO good for awhile and just sort of fell into the habit of eating whatever, whenever. No more!
I've also decided I have to stop with the Sbux habit. Usually 3 or so times a week I'll stop in and get some kind of "skinny" latte (vanilla, carmel machiato, whatever) with madeline cookies. These two things alone are something like 500 calories for a meal that is deprived of any nutritional value. So, I'm stopping with that.
Other than, I'm planning to add exercise. A whole freaking ton of it. I'm also pretty sure I'll start up with the hot yoga again. My ultimate goal is to lose 10 lbs by mid-June. It's a fairly aggressive goal but I think it's doable if I start, like, now. That's a month and a half so basically a pound and a half a week.
Once I reach that goal I'll scale back considerably so I'll actually have, like, free time again and stuff. It'll be awesome.
Lots of stuff this weekend to look forward to. Tonight will probably be low key - I am craving thai and since I haven't been to Thai X-ing yet, I'm thinking of maybe getting some carry out. Tomorrow I'm trying to spend as much time outside on my bike as I can stand after my haircut. Oh, and hitting up a housewarming in the evening. Sunday will be spent working :(((( but I'm going to try fit in a short mtn bike ride after work.
Next week will be crazy... I still need to figure out what I want to do. But I'm resolved - I need to do this. If I don't have some crazy goal to reach then nothing will happen.
This work day can end, like, NOW
This week has been the Week From Hell. My boss is out for a family emergency (her son, like, tore up his knee or something horrible in gym class and had to get surgery this week) and there are a million initiatives and other work-shit going on and I have to pretend like I know what she's been doing. I think I'm doing a good job of acting like I have some kind of authority, but, seriously?
+ We've got temporary HR help on loan from another area and since I'm not sure what all we wanted her to do, I had her file today. I felt bad since it's so mind numbingly awful (one of the reasons I let it pile up) but I don't want to order to do something without finding out WHAT we are doing. Blah. I bet she's wishing she hadn't volunteered to do this. Ha ha. Her name is Katie and I just realized this morning that it's been years since I've met someone named Katie. I'm serious!!
- *SOBS* BEAUTY ISLAND IS CLOSING!!! I mean, where else am I going to buy expired hair dye and $2 earrings? What's going in its place? A goddamn CVS! The last thing this city needs is another den of ineptitude and rude service that is a DC CVS. Whatever, one less reason for me to walk over to Columbia Road.
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