Today We Feast

Today is Mister's 40th birthday. When I asked him what he wanted for his birthday dinner, he said Arby's. Seriously.

Maybe it's because we are going out to a nice restaurant with his family on Saturday. Or maybe it's because everytime I want to grab something quick and he suggests Arby's I say "No, that crap's not good for you and I am not driving over to Arby's" (expect maybe I say sh*t instead of crap)

I guess we are a living example that refinement doesn't always come with age.

I work hard for the money

The review process at work is complete with the exception of learning what increase we receive. So my funk is about over. But let me ask you. Who gives a review without telling you your increase? According to my boss the experts say you should do them separate so that you focus on performance during the performance review. Well my research tells me that it's the money that gets people to get up in morning roll out bed and put their clothes on and come into work. ( I may or maynot have said as much)

This is my 3rd yr going through this review process. While I work for a great company with great people this process has been nothing short of disappointing. Part of the issue I think is that we went through a change in management and it really has been like starting over, maybe even worse than starting over. There has been a lot of talk of getting to the "next level" which has seemed to be a moving target. This year an example of wanting to see me using a industry tool was sited which was maddening since nobody in my department even used or knew about the tool until I walked in the door 3 yrs ago. When I get past the bitching I believe I am really being taught a lesson in humility and it's extremely painful.

While looking up my current salary today for something unrelated, I stumbled across my increase. I am beginning to think that pay isn't tied to performance or my boss total under estimates my awesomeness.

Ground Hog Day

On Ground Hog Day I can never remember do we want the ground hog to see his shadow or not. What I do remember is my Great Grandma because Feb 2nd is/was her birthday.

I spent may days and nights with my great grandma growing up.

I remember picking lilacs and lilly's of valley in her yard

I remember playing dress up in her formals and costume jewelry

I remember eating burnt toast and drinking hot chocolate in her tiny kitchen

I remember the countless trips to the zoo and the park

I remember how she crocheted a baby blanket for my future baby before I even cared about babies or marriage because she knew that time would come after her.

But most of all I remember how much I miss her and how truly blessed I was to have her as my great grandma.

Feel Better Trifecta

I tried cupcakes and a massive amounts of sugar in candy form to work myself out this work-inflicted funk. Upon good recommendation, I moving on to alcohol, from there shopping.

The trifecta of feel better goodness - sugar, wine, and shopping.

I had a bad day

Thank goodness I thought to leave early to take a conference call from home because the last place you want to bust out crying when a team announcement is made is when you are sitting among your co-workers. So much better to do it in the quiet of your home office with the mute button pressed.

Regardless of today and yesterday, I am a happy person dammit!

Advice

What do you do when everyone and everything is on your nerves? I mean really on your nerves and for no apparent reason. I've taken the counting your blessings approach to no avail.

Do you think it would be a bad idea to go into the boss's office and say " I need to go home, I am in deseparate need of an attitude adjustment and I am certain that it can't happen while I am sitting out here in a cube."

If my performance review wasn't next Monday, I'd do just that. Man, I hope this mood passes before Monday.

Very Happy Person

When I got home today there was two packages waiting for me from Zappos. One was my shoes and compression pants. And can I tell you those pants stinking rock! I tried them on immediately and was so inspired that no I didn't run, it was dark out, but I did the 30 Day Shred. (For those of you who haven't been initiated to the Shred, nobody wants to do the Shred). The pants are that great. I can't wait to get to the gym tomorrow morning so I can run in them.

The second package was notifying me that I was a member of Zappos Very Happy Person (VHP) program for my enthusiastic support of the launch of Delivering Happiness, which is a great book and should be required reading for anyone running a business. How fun is this little package. It included a signed book and t-shirt.

I am off to spread happiness...

Ode to Zappos

I love you. I love how easy and worry free you making shopping. If you were a man, I'd marry you.

I just order these and I can't wait for them to arrive tomorrow.


I have heard great things about these compression pants. However in my shopping excitment, I forget to research if they make your butt look smaller. Cause I tend to neglect what I don't see and that hasn't served my back side very well.

But so be it, because if I look scary in them I know I can return them with no problem because I love Zappos and Zappos loves me.

Report for Duty

As most people know Atlanta has been shut down due to ice. Everyday since Sunday I've gotten the very nice automated phone call saying "Don't report to work" (I am paraphrasing) Today's call said "Tomorrow, business as ususal".

Mixed emotions - happy to escape the constant call of the food in the kitchen. Sad - I have to put on work clothes tomorrow. Will said call of the kitchen allow anything to fit tomorrow morning...

National Championship

Is it just me or has there been a stinking bowl game of some kind on almost every single night since Christmas? Honestly, I am not real invested in the game tonight. I'll pull for Auburn for the sake of Lolly and her dad's side of the family.

What I am really invested in is the end of the bowl season. I woke up to this.

the head of Ilya Kovalchuk on the living room floor. My best guess is that poor Ilya was chucked from the office into the living room after Mister checked some score, line or what have you that didn't sit well with him.

What's not sitting well with me right now is Mister.

The amount of snoring that woke me up and kept me up this morning lets me know that Ilya's untimely death probably involved a whole lot of this

I am assuming that Mister's head is going to be feeling awful lot like's Ilyas this morning.

Location, Location, Location

Why is it that these candy bars can sit in a bowl on my desk at work and cause me no harm? I couldn't care less about them. But when they are located in a glass jar with lid shut in my pantry at home they scream my name.


photo credit

January Reads

For business/knowledge - Social Nation by Barry Libert. I was asked if I'd like to recieve a copy of this book to review and I anxiously awaited its arrival. Unfortunately it hit my door right the day before Thanksgiving. I read a few pages while waiting in the car for Lolly and then the book ended up in my trunk during the holiday season. But now I am ready to dig in to it.







For fun -Sliding Into Home by Kendra Wilkinson. Truth be told, this is just a book of convenience. I was starting to worry because I didn't have a fun book picked out or have I been able to get to the library Lolly bought it with some Christmas money while at her dads' and loved it. So we'll see.


I hope to knock these both out pretty quick so I can get back to reading Thou Shall Prosper by Rabbi Lapin. It's been a slow read for me and I know it's a slim chance I could get the rest read this month.

2011 Goals

Without further ado. Far from original.

1. Lose about 10 lbs - Starting at 118 or it could be 120. I haven't stepped on the scale in two days. I am shooting for 108 but probably would be happy at 112. It's kind of a moving target. The weight charts say I should weigh in around 100-112 but I am really going by how I look and how my (old) clothes fit.
2. Stick to a budget.
3. Read 2books a month. One for fun, one for some sort of learning.

There are other areas and things I would like to focus on through out the year but I didn't want to put them in goal form and over complicate things. My intention is to post at least monthly on my progress - what's working, what's not working, etc.

Just a word or two on the weight goal. I know that to some my goal of 112 is enough to elicit an eye roll but remember I am only 5' and I am rounding up and 3 months ago I was weighing in at 130and starting to feel the effects. My second bit on weight is this, especially if you are younger, learn to eat healthy, to get exercise, and love yourself they way you are. If you do that weight will not be an issue. I promise you the last thing you want to do is spend the next 10, 20, 30 years focusing on your weight because you'll wake up at 44 and think you wasted a hell of a lot time. There's a great big wonderful world out there just waiting for you and it's hard to enjoy when you spend decades making your weight your focus.

I am stepping off my soap box - older and wiser.

2011

I didn't want the day to go by without saying that I hope 2011 brings you everything you hope for and more!

I'll be back to talk about my goals for 2011. But for now I am working on getting New Year's Day lunch prepared early because I off to the Resolution Run at noon. Let me just add that it's raining. I mention that because running on New Years Day is one thing, but in the rain is a whole another thing. I hope you are impressed because I assure that will be the only thing impressive about this race. It certainly won't be my finishing time. But hey, I have a whole year ahead of me to improve on my time and distance.

Grinch or Genius

Last year the day after Thanksgiving I pulled out all the outside Christmas lights and got to work. The day after Thanksgiving this year I pulled out thisAnd then I quit. It could have been laziness or it could of been that I wasn't emotional prepared to find any of the lights for bushes not working. However, I was beginning to feel like the Grinch because we have quite a few houses in the neighborhood that go all out with Christmas lights. Then today as I watched my neighbors tackle their decorations and all I had to do was thisI was feeling pretty pleased with my decision.

Proof That Nobody is Perfect

Reese Witherspoon, super cute. Paul Rudd, super cute. This movie, blah. It's not bad, but it's not good. I can see where they tried but it just missed the mark for me.

Did anyone else see it and love it? Am I missing something?

What's It Gonna Be

I love this time of year, the verge of a new year. Oh the possibilities. Anything can happen in a years time. I've had years that stood still, years with huge steps back, and years with huge improvements. What kind of year will 2011 be?

I am working getting some goals on paper for 2011. Decisions, descisons...stay tuned.

Celebration Gone Wrong

In honor of the birth of the sweet baby Jesus, I spent the last few days consuming enough food to gain the weight of an avg new born - 7lbs 8oz.

I am not even going to tell how close I came. Pretty darn close.

photo credit

Merry Christmas

14 and 4

14 - the number of pounds I've lost since my birthday. 4 months too late for my class reunion.

Better late than never, dang it.

Facebook Status I'd like to Post

Shut the hell up already, it's winter, it's suppose to be cold.

It Was 30 Years Ago Today

photo credit

I am Starting To See It

For the longest time I didn't get it. What's the big deal I thought. I don't see it...but the more times I watch The Proposal I am starting to see it.
Yeah, I am starting to see it...

Defining Moments

I was born a natural critic. Raised by a mom with no filter. I am a tell it like it is person. I have a hard time faking anything.

Many years ago I had a priest tell me "Ann, God doesn't require you to like everyone, but you do have to love everyone." It was a relief because can I love anyone especially if I don't have to look at, speak to, or deal with them.

Truth be told until I hit my 30's I didn't really like most people. Blame it on my early retail career. Nothing can make you hate mankind like working at the mall.

I guess we mellow with age because I am not anywhere near as hard to get along with as I am sure I was in my younger years. I've developed a filter, somewhat small but it's a filter. My years of recruiting have taught me to understand people better. I now live by - you fly your freak flag and I'll fly mine and as long as we aren't hurting anyone it's all good.

I am still not fond of everyone and there are days that Facebook makes me a hater. (Really, do we need to be update about every ache, pain and doctor visit your daughter has?) But the blog world has introduced to more fantastic people that I just love than I can count. It's progress.