For Today…November 11, 2008
Outside my Window…it is chilly, sunny and slightly breezy out today. We had been having some beautiful warmer weather, but alas, I guess the fall chill needed to return. The leaves are almost off, and the remaining ones are essentially brown.

I am thinking…of how I would like the database to work. Of how I would like to get my photos from Oregon off my camera, and of how I wish it were time to go home!
From the learning rooms…I am learning to be patient with new found technologies, and look at it as a chance to get to write something instead.

I am thankful for…the fact that I actually have a job, my good health, and this delicious salad I am consuming.

From the kitchen…tonight I am making a Spaghetti Bolognese – a recipe that I found about a year ago and have made a few times since. It was created by Emeril Lagasee, and can be found here: Spaghetti Bolognese. I modify this recipe greatly and actually omit about half of the ingredients. I’m sure it’s good either way!

I am wearing…Business Casual, because we have visitors in the office today. So Grey slacks, a purple long sleeve shirt, covered by a knitted (and hooded!) toggle sweater. I’m not really that dressy, but more so than usual.

I am reading…A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle – on CD, in the car, on my commute.

I am hoping…that I can begin work on the database soon…This task really needs to be completed!

I am creating…a mess of paperwork in my office. And a masterpiece for dinner – hopefully.

I am hearing…small chatter of co-workers, keyboards clicking, and printers churning.

Around the house…I’m in a holding pattern for my work, and am waiting for a database to be fixed before I can continue. I am listening to co-workers discuss items for a final report.

One of my favorite things…is a good night’s sleep, and a better day’s work. A good home-cooked meal is up there, too

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week…Wednesday the family is going out for dinner, I’ll be skating a few days, and then taping my skates on Friday evening. Great way to spend a Friday, I know :)

Technology?

Technology: a manner of accomplishing a task especially using technical processes, methods, or knowledge .

My work has tried to incorporate a ‘new technology for information storage’ into our everyday activities. Currently this technology is not exactly working correctly, which is causing much frustration on my end. I am supposed to be entering tons of data into our storage device over the next few weeks (exciting, I know); however, our storage device seems to still have some bugs.

What bothers me about this entire situation is that this is supposed to be the ‘new, improved’ way of doing this…however, if the technology isn’t working, then how is it any better than the paper copies we’ve used in the past?

Clearly just a complaint, but seriously…so for now, I’m in a holding pattern, and waiting for the green light.

So I’ll just watch these guys:http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/news_cut/archive/2008/11/timewasters_puppycam.shtml?refid=0 until it’s ready.

Pondering

Im thinking about what I want to do with this blog...so far it's very haphazard, and as much as my life is haphazard, I would like to think my thoughts are not.

hah, after that sentence, they clearly are.

Vacation

My vacation starts tomorrow, and it couldn't come at a better time.
Work is making me crazy, but I must maintain this level of output for only a few more hours.

Vacation is only 1 week, but it sure is welcomed!

Counting down the hours until im in the Pacific NorthWest!

Oh...

And the HOKIES beat Nebraska! Whee...

6 Sleepin's!

Only 6 more sleepin's until I make my way to the Pacific NorthWest! yeeehaw!
I have not had a vacation in an extremely long time, so I am very much looking forward to this.

We hope to head up to Seattle at somepoint during our trip, but we'll see.

More later, must do work :)

Well I am back home again..yippiee!

Listed for time saving:::
1. The game was fun, rainy (hurricane Ike), but fun. Not a very close game, but at least I got to see one.
2. VT keeps managing to pull it off - somehow. I don't know how they do it, but they play a full game - all out, and it works..that's how teams win, I suppose.
3. My trip home was uneventful - which is always welcomed. I was picked up at the airport at 11am and then we trekked over to American Flatbread for some delicious pizza. We visited WF's and then went home to watch VT vs. UNC...another one pulled off..somehow. Hats off to the hardworking football players (and coaches, too)
4. Saturday evening found us at my Aunts 50th birthday party...which should be entitled to a post all in itself, though Im too lazy (err, busy working) to get around to that.
5. Sunday was spent watching the GAA All-Ireland finals...always fun. Then a nap was in order, then I went skating - arriving an hour before I was supposed to be there b/c of my inability to read a clock.
6. This brings us to Monday, which was first day back in the office in 2 weeks, and also another skating practice...whee!
7. Yesterday was Tuesday - did nothing much besides work and hit up Pizza Paradiso. (can you tell I like pizza?)
8. Today is Wednesday - so far I have skated, been starving, ate too much, and not worked enough.

I visit the chiropractor this evening, which is welcomed, especially after extended work trips. *sigh*

overall, I am happy to be back...finally, and hopefully for longer than 2 weeks this time...though that's a lie b/c Im going on VACATION soon! Huzzuh

Tigers?!

It's Saturday! I have no work, and I have less than a week left out here. Truthfully it hasn't been too bad yet, and with sampling on Monday and Friday, I feel it should move somewhat quickly!

Today I am planning on jaunting over to the Mizzou football game :) Im really excited about this b/c I have spent a good amount of travel time here. Im curious to see how it stacks up to a VT game...we'll see :)

Speaking of VT my second plan is to return to the hotel and see if they're on TV out here...not sure b/c Arkansas is playing Texas, which is probably a more wanted game than VT vs. GT out here...but not to me!

If the game's not on, Im guessing a nap will be in order. Then some dinner, then some more hanging out....tomorrow is Sunday and I plan to head into the office at some point and then hit up the winery...yay. Then it's next week, and I go home that week!

Off to see the Tigers play!

On the Road Again!

I am on travel for work...again. I feel like I was just out here, but that was roughly a month ago. This time it's just me - no co-workers to entertain, or have entertain me.

My flight this afternoon was fairly uneventful. There was some turbulence as we were climbing, but once we were over the mountains, it was smooth sailing. I read my book, took a snooze and peered out the window. Perfectly fine. I do wish that my seatmate had moved to one of the many empty seats around us, but what can you do...it was fine.

After my flight, I found some food (a bagel sammich!) and waited for the shuttle bus. They arrived and we all loaded in and departed for Columbia. The drive that was supposed to be 2 hours seemed to last forever. Perhaps it was because I was the last to be dropped off, or because I thought I was sleeping, but I was merely 'dozing'. There were 3 chatty Cathy's on the bus, and I found that annoying, but otherwise, it was a good trip and I will definitely travel with this company again.

I checked into my 'hotel' and proceeded to settle in. I say 'hotel' because it might as well be an apartment. I have a full kitchen, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 3 TVs, and a doorbell. It's pretty sweet and places like this seem to make these trips better.

The hotel has a 'social hour' where they provide snacks and beverages - beer, wine, juice. Tonight was soft pretzel and nacho night..no complaints :) While I truly have not eaten much today, this is basically my only option (no car til tomorrow)...unless I wanted to hit up the Hooters next door - eh, no thanks.

So tonight I'm hanging out and relaxing...watching TV and nothing much else :) Tomorrow my co-worker will meet me at the hotel and take me into the office (about 30 minutes away - no hotels there!) so I can get ready for sampling on Thursday. I will acquire the company truck and will be free to purchase groceries, make dinner, and entertain myself.

The rest of the week will be work, and then the hard part comes - the weekend. Not sure what I'll do this weekend, but I could hit up the football game, or go to the winery. We'll see.

Blah.

There isn't any more to say.

Goldfish

Goldfish crackers...I love you so.
However, why did I just stuff myself on them?? Gross!

whirlwind

Im back. Back home. Back at work. Back TO work. Back skating. Back to MY life.

I have much to say, but haven't had the motivation, desire or time to say it. I get home too late at night, and sleep til too late in the morning (8am usually) then spend the rest of my day at work - 8 hours at daytime job 4 hours at nighttime job. Then I start over again.

But don't worry - my non-existent blog readers, you - I'm Back!

The Wait

Tomorrow I embark on yet another work trip. This time it is for 10 days, which falls somewhere between the regularly scheduled 3 day trips (used to be once a month), and the 3.5 week trip I made last year.

I made a 5 day trip and a 2.5 week trip earlier this year. I am getting used to these longer stints away from home, but they certainly do not get any easier. I usually complain the entire time leading up to it, and then it generally isn't too bad (some of the 3 day trips we took were intense, though)

Just when your life gets some sort of normalcy, and some sort of flow, it becomes interrupted. You just have to learn to deal with it and move on - there are 365 days in a year- 10 days isn't enough loss to cause you harm.

With that, I am currently waiting for my last load of laundry to finish in the washer. Once it's done it shall be thrown into the dryer, and then it's lights out for this one, as my flight is at 6am.

4am is going to come all too soon...

Week-END

so, here I am - 30 minutes before the very end of the weekend. Always such a sad time :(
I always get super bummed when it's time to return to the norm's of a busy week, but I know it has to be done.

This week is going to be different...only 1 day in the office, and 1 lesson, a few bag packings and Im off to the Mid-west for 10 days. woo! Only, not so woo. It's a work trip and is going to involove a TON of driving, which I am not so fond of.

For now, Im going to catch a nap before tackling the week. Will fill in more later :)

Better

No worries!
I seem to be better this morning...perhaps it was the full night of sleep I managed to sneak in. I am truly thankful that I slept well last night, and am looking forward to an even better night of sleep tonight. I may just end up in bed at 7pm, and as of right now that sounds perfect.

Tension Headache??

Another quick one this evening, as it is about 2 hours past my usual bedtime :p

Last night I got very little sleep and was wide awake from 1:30-5am, which wasn't fun. Before I went to bed I got a 'headache' right, smack on the top of my head. It's more like pressure, but whatever it is, it's unpleasant. Of course this concerned me because usually my headaches are sinus related and more towards the front of my head.

I took some OTC meds before bed, then at the party I was having in the middle of the night. They help to some degree, but not entirely. Of course I have been freaking myself by reading 'stuff' on the internets. I don't know why I allow myself to do that.

Anyway, I am still suffering from this 'headache' tonight - it's been 24 hours. I am not sure what kind of headache this is, but I think I have narrowed it down to a Tension Headache. I read on the Mayo Clinic site about them earlier today, and my symptoms fit the bill (insomnia, achy jaw, etc.). It's just unfortunate because it's a pesky type of headache and the normal OTC's do not cut it!

But what I'd like to know is what caused this? Anxiety? Stress? Diet? Lack of Sleep? Contacts? it could be a number of things, which is just unfortunate because I would like to try and avoid this in the future.

If it keeps bugging me this weekend I'll get examined on Monday. Let's hope it doesn't get that far!

Hello Blog!

Im not even sure where to start, but I know it will be brief.

This is my 3rd(maybe??) attempt at beginning a blog (I read waaay too many), we'll see if it actually sticks around this time! My newest motivation? The fact that I have just purchased myself a laptop, and I have always (day) dreamed of typing while lying in my bed, which is what I am currently doing :)

So aside from wanting to sit in bed and type, there are other reasons that I would like to begin a 'journaling' of my not-so-exciting life, but hey, this is for me!

1. Travels (for work and pleasure) - between now and the end of the year I will be out of town at least 6 times. My first travels begin next Tuesday, and I hope they're somewhat enjoyable, even though it will be LOTS of driving - boo. I guess things could be worse.

2. 'Diet' - I use that term loosely - it's not that I am going on a diet, it's that I want to change my diet. You see, I am going to try change a lot of my diet to a raw diet, for body and mind. It will probably not be 100% raw b/c I love *cooked* food so much - and I am highly short on time...it may even take me a HUGE amount of time to get even partially raw - what did I eat raw today you ask? umm a tomato. Yeah, long way to go, but perhaps this will give me some motivation.

3. Photography - I somewhat recently bought a Digital SLR camera. I am learning the ropes of trying to shoot in Manual, not easy, but it's progressing. I shall hopefully use my plot of the internets to post some - if I ever figure it out!

4. General - for moments like this, when I am just hanging out watching awful T.V., or well listening to it. Somewhere for me to complain, or not. Keep notes? perhaps. We'll see, I hope to stick to this and that this blog evolves into it's own awesome space!

That's it for now, I'm tired and I want (err NEED) to skate in the morning.

So pull up a chair and stick around, or not, I'm not promising things will improve, but hopefully they will!