Monthly Archives: September 2010

Idle Hands

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So there’s the old saying that Idle Hands are the devil’s playground. (Also, Idle Hands is the name of a super ridiculous movie from 1999 which I wound up working into a paper in undergrad for my English Essay writing class because the professor was a total scifi freak. That has nothing to do with this post at all actually…) When my hands/social calendar/personal calendar are idle and empty I just get really bored.

Over the course of the last few weeks several of my friends and family members have asked me just what I intend to do come October 15th (well likely October 12th if I have my way) when school is officially over.

My first reaction? A big, fat nothing. As in come home after work, get in a workout and then literally laze about from couch to bed back to couch with books in hands and DVDs by my side. I will be taking book + movie recommendations when the time comes.

However, that will only fly for the first week or two after school is done. Then I’ll want to be busy again with something. I’m rarely sitting still. I thrive on a busy schedule both socially, professionally, personally. So on the short list (I know, I know, I should give myself some time to relax but I’m a list girl. It’s part of who I am), in no particular order:

* Take tennis lessons again.
* Get involved with the local USO if they’ll have me, or another equally awesome charity.
* Find another 10k to train for preferably in December.
* Organize my recipe magazines + recipe binder and then bake/cook up a storm.
* Send more snail mail!
* Spend one entire Saturday in bed reading a book (I think this will be repeated often throughout the winter months).
* Tackle a few of those 30 before 30 items (which reminds me I have an update to share on that list soon!)

But first I must endure less than 25 days of books, notes, case studies, group work, discussion questions. I can’t quite fathom that I’ll have my M.B.A.  (with honors most likely). When I can fathom it I realize that it’s kind of freakin’ awesome.

(Also for all of my lovely readers and friends who have been here thoughout my life journey so far something for you: There will be a giveaway when school is all said and done (likely the week of October 10th) as a thank you for all your support, encouragement and believing in me when I thought I couldn’t do it. )

What about you friends: after you accomplish a big goal of any kind do you enjoy it for awhile or get on to the next thing?

Books & Boys

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It’s no secret that I spend some time at my local Barnes & Noble. And that three out of the five trips there I buy something other than hot chocolate.

What you do not know is that my B&N (as we so affectionately call it in my family) hires some adorable guys. One’s the store manager, the other is what I suppose you’d call a regular store clerk. On the rare occasion that I a) actually need assistance finding a book or b) they are the ones who check me out, both times have been totally embarassing.

Embarassing moment #1:

Saturday afternoon, hanging out in the cafe working on my econ case study. Parents are there as well, enjoying a latte or some such (not being a coffee drinker I never know the difference between the various kinds of drinks). My dad kindly offers to treat us all to a book if we like, so of course Darling & I scatter immediately to find a book on our wishlist. Couldn’t tell you what my mom and I purchased but my dad picked up a book about non-violent communication for a work-related project. Cute store manager was working the register so my dad sends me up with the books, the money and of course, our B&N member card. He was all chatty, checking out the books and then he gets to the non-violent communication book. Silence. Not another word except to ask me how I’m paying for my books.

Embarassing moment #2:

So last week I put my study mode on and powered through two really boring chapters of stuff that you probably don’t care to hear about. I love books of all kinds and one of them happens to be a totally embarassing kind of book: vampire romance + mystery. Yes, you read that right. It’s a guilty pleasure. There’s a total of eight books in the series, I’m three in over the course of the last two years (I read them sparingly even though they are addictive) and so I thought that since for the most part class is going well and I am a mere 25 days from being done, I’d treat myself to a book. This time the cute store clerk was the only person checking people out at the cash register. I tried to distract him from the title of the book by asking about random books & trinkets behind the counter and it worked for the most part, but he gave a good long look to the book cover (which is of course a dude kissing a half nake woman). At least I had my grad school books in my hand. That’s what I’m telling myself, anyway.

I know it could have been worse but not exactly the first impressions I’d like to make, especially around cute boys who love books at a place I go to on the regular.

What’s the most embarassing book you’ve purchased before? Any similar stories where something you’ve been doing or bought clearly surprised a guy (or girl) who was helping you?

Ten on Tuesday: The Travel Edition

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1. Favorite way to travel (plane, train, automobile, etc.)
I am sadly not a fan of traveling by plane but I will do it if I must and once I’m in the air I’m ok. I think that if trains were a more viable option in the States, I’d be all about it. Otherwise, I’m always up for a good road trip.

2. Where’s your favorite place to travel to that you’ve been to?
Florida, hands down. Palm trees. Fruity drinks. The ocean. Sand. Far and away my favorite place.

3. Where’s the place that you want to go but have never been?
Italy. Greece. Paris. Alaska. Prince Edward Island. (There’s a family trip to Italy in the works for 2011 and I’m super excited. I may try to steal extra time and go backpacking through France/Switzerland/Spain with my brother before he starts his post-college life.)

4. Do you deal with traffic well?
95% of the time I do. The other 5% I’m like a sailor: cursing, shouting, flipping people off.

5. Ever had an emergency while traveling?
Yes, unfortunately. Spring break when I was in 8th grade, my grandfather passed away suddenly. I was in North Carolina with the family so we drove to Upstate NY for the funeral. It was the worst spring break ever.

Sixth grade camp, which maybe counts as traveling, I broke my ankle in three different places and my parents had to come pick me up in the middle of the night.

6. Do you have a passport? What countries have you been to?
Yes, I do. England twice. Canada twice. That’s all so far, since the islands I’ve been to are US territories/protectorates.

7. Are you’ve light packer or do you pack everything but the kitchen sink?
Depends on where I’m going. If it’s a place I’ve already been, I’m a pretty light packer. However, girls’ trips and new cities/countries I tend to overpack.

8. Do you take the fastest route or the road less traveled?
Going: the fastest route.
Coming home: the road less traveled.

9. Do any activities on the road? (like road games, reading, sleeping, etc. )
I always have books and crossword puzzle books on hand, plus my Nintendo DSi. If I’m on a road trip, I’ll do road games! Oh, and sleeping on long road trips is a given.

10. Use a paper map or GPS?
Google maps! I just got a GPS a few months ago but I try not to use it too much.

Cheers! (aka Tales of Bar Crawl & Lessons Learned)

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This past weekend I embarked on a charity bar crawl: Five Bars. Three pitchers per bar, split among seven friends. One hour at each bar.

We dashed in between rain drops to get to the second bar. Thankfully looked to the sky when the sun came out. Played card games (aka drinking games) at one of the bars. Declared that next year we would wear wigs as part of our team uniform. Shared high fives with other teams on the street because they liked our gray shirts. Reminisced about high school, college and birthday parties past. Took a shot (or two) of some new purple vodka, which tastes a lot like children’s medicine.

(Above:  Me and two of my very best friends from high school)

We sang Journey. We ate greasy bar food. We (well, me, since my gal friends were with their husbands) scoped out the cute guys that were on the bar crawl. We sang the Star Spangled Banner at one of the bars in honor of our country and 9/11. I ran into friends from college that I haven’t seen in years and made promises to see them sooner rather than later.

The day ended a bit abruptly with a teammate declaring he was more than ready to go home, at which point I was tasked with grabbing lots of water and bags for the car ride home, “just in case.” Moments later, one of my other teammates manage to spill water all over me, leaving me with a soaked, really cold pair of jeans in the most inopportune spot for the 30 minute car ride home.

A few lessons learned/reminders from Saturday’s event:

* There are so many causes and charities that need support; this was a new event for me and I can’t wait to get involved with more volunteering and charities after October 15th!
* I have amazing friends and as soon as grad school is done I will be spending a lot more time with them. They feel like home to me, even after 13 + years.
* If I want to see cute boys I have to go to Soulard. They are always there, without fail.
* StL is a scarily small world. You’ll always run into someone you know.
* I can drink all day and be totally fine but apparently when I stop drinking there is trouble. Suffice to say I forgot how much I hate hangovers. Thank goodness for water, goldfish crackers and greasy food the next day.

Any bar crawl stories you have to share or lessons learned from your weekend?

Grace in Small Things: The Revival

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A long, long time ago I did a weekly post on Grace in Small Things so I wouldn’t overlook all the good in my life. Today I feel like bringing it back.

* A note left on my desk by a client telling me to have a great day. (Things have been a little stressful at the office as of late.)

* Hot chocolate which especially hits the spot when the office you work in feels like a meat freezer.

* Spending a night at Barnes & Noble plowing through my school reading and maybe treating myself to a (cheap) book as a reward. Studying at home is well and good but a few days into the week and I just need a change of scenery. Bonus for cute guys who work at Barnes & Noble.

* Jack cuddles. Enough said.

* Treating myself to 30 minutes of “fun reading” time each evening before bed time. It’s easy for me to get overloaded with school and work stuff after hours so setting this time aside is super important to me.

* e-mails from old friends.

* My facebook wall feed which lately is one giant “I had a baby!” announcement. The sweet baby faces and the joy in my friends’ eyes is sure to bring a smile to my face every single time.

Tell me what some of your Grace in Small Things are these days?

My Butterfly

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I stumbled upon this quote the other day and the more I thought about it, the more it resonates with me.

I’ve spent the last few months making myself finish graduate school (six weeks and counting), setting positive goals for myself with regards to my health and fitness (thank you 10K training), examined my life, reunited with friends and made new ones and a plethora of other “normal” activities. Nothing crazy. No wondering when certain events will take place. No pressuring myself into things I’m not quite ready for.

When I look at what I’ve done day in and day out it is simply this: I’ve Lived.

In that living, the daily grind, the day-to-day ups and downs, I’ve realized I’m happier than I’ve been in a long time.

I want to bottle up this feeling and store it away for a day where I’m feeling blue. Or better yet, never let it go.

Lessons Learned on a Girls' Weekend

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Things Learned on a lovely girls’ weekend in Minneapolis…

… the merits of dating older men (they die faster), that it’s possible to move your shoulders in three different directions and look awesome while doing it, and that if you want to hold a chicken, you just have to be confident.

… you are never too old to go to an all children’s bookstore. Ever.

… Lisa makes a damn good margarita. Kyla brings the tastiest treats (ketchup potato chips!!). Mandy’s laughter is totally contagious.

… Oreo ice cream is the best invention known to man. That is until you try a cheese curd and Sweet Martha’s Cookies at the State Fair. Then those become the best inventions known to man.

… French Gypsy Calypso Jazz is rather catchy.

… laughing until your sides hurt is one of the many benefits of having friends who truly get you.

… Music Bingo is a fabulous invention and probably my new favorite game.

… two-story Targets are incredibly impressive but sadly they do not have chocolate animal crackers.

… the view from the top of the Guthrie Theater is gorgeous, the Farmer’s Market smells of nature and goodness, and Minneapolis is far more progressive than STL.

… Listening to “Let It Be” performed live under the stars, standing next to three fabulous women, tears are going to fall, possibly from your own eyes. Moments like this remind you that life is really good.

… soaking up the moment and really living is so freeing, so worth it.

… the moment you get home, you’ll want to turn around and do it all over again.

 

On Being a Big Sister

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Today my brother is 22.

That means that 22 years ago I was staring at him while he slept, holding him while I sat on the couch, and doing my best to be a doting big sister at the ripe age of five years old.

That also means that 22 years ago one of my best friends entered into my life; it has taken us quite a few fights, straight up conversations and bonding time to get where we are but I wouldn’t change any of it for the world.

Being a big sister has taught me patience, to be a good role model, how to screen girlfriend-want-to-bes for my brother, all about tattoos and piercings, that I’d go to the ends of the earth for my sibling, how to be a good babysitter, that New Year’s Eve will forever be associated with watching Grease and eating pizza (a ritual of ours for years, even though my brother doesn’t remember), that the Mary Martin version of Peter Pan is the best forever and always. It’s taught me unconditional love, allowed me to understand (kind of) the way men think and that no matter what, brothers are always there for you, even when you least expect it.

This weekend he’ll be coming home and though I have no idea what the plan is yet, I know we’ll have laughs, beers, classic brother/sister time, he’ll teach me something new just like he does every time he comes home, and I’ll bug him incessantly by asking for a hug every time he walks into the room.

I love you, CR!

******
I’m looking for one more present for my brother for his birthday so if you have any suggestions, let me know! Feel free to share stories about your siblings with me too.