Tuesday, December 2, 2008

What am I?

Am i:
Neive?
Unexperienced?
Supid?

What? What am I? I don't understand why my company failed to tell me my friend was "let go" - even if it was due to the economy. My friend was one of the first three I made during my move to Arizona. Now don't get my wrong, I fully understand WHY he was let go - unreliable, made the most - but he also delivered the most (in his defense). He was my friend, so forgive me for wanting to defend him a bit. Yes, he was unreliable. Yes, it would irritate me. You better beleive it would irritate me - but if i was asked, I would rather have him on my team than be without him. I am bitter, sad, upset, and today was the first day all that came to a head. He was let go Monday of last week, last week being Thanksgiving. Not much happens Thanksgiving week as we all know. So today was my frist day in dealing with his departure...it did not go as well as hoped. So here i am...writing y'all...fixin to grab a beer. I don't know how to handle it right now. He is one of my closest friends...and was a major part of my personal and work life. Work life alone right now is sucking. Personal - he knows i am a constant is his life...so that is a plus. But work...I didn't see it coming at all, blind sited. Not to dramatize it, but I am that kid standing out in the winter white cold starring off into space...so...

What am I?

Monday, October 20, 2008

You never know what you had….

Until you lose it. I have known, since I moved to Arizona, that I enjoy having the four season. However, you give certain things up to try to better yourself and your career. Right? As for me, I gave up living near family and the four seasons.

Last week, work took me to Seattle. Seattle was never on my “must see” list, it ranked right up there with Israel – right at the bottom. That didn’t matter, I was Seattle bound. Although, when I travel with work, I could be in Timbucktoo, and I wouldn’t care. You see the event location and your hotel room. That is about it. Not in Seattle. We had easy hours which provided us ample time to see the city.

Gloves, scarves, jean s and sweat shirts went on to walk the city. Now, if you know me, right there I am happy. Those are my favorite things to wear! The first night we froze as we walked down to the Pier to meet the client for dinner. Just the smell of the water and the fall leaves, I was in heaven. The week just got better and better. The more we walked the happier I was. Ask me ten years ago, two years ago, 20 days ago, and even today – Fall is my favorite Season, and having that Season back, even for 10 short days, I was one happy camper.

Now that I am back in Phoenix, it is great to be home, but I am back to the 96 degree weather. Back to summer. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Phoenix weather. It is great. Never a thought as to what I should wear (just as long as the jeans and tank are clean), and it is always sunshine and blue skies – how can you not love that. When it gets to Fall, that is the time when the family activities begin…going to the pumpkin patch to find that perfect pumpkin you will carve that night; baking apple pies; going to Bristol Mt with the family to ride the chairlift to see the beautiful colors that Fall brings. Then it takes you to Thanksgiving and all the talk of who’s going to make the turkey, the smashed tatters, and the squash! This is the best time of the year, and I got to share in that for my 10 days.

Thanks Seattle! Thanks for my 10 days of the Fall flavor.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Dear Daddy

A lot of who we are, we get from out parents. For me, that is true; there is a wonderful mixture of parents that make up who I am. But first and for most, I am and will always be a daddy's girl. That is something I have always prided myself on. Always.



Dear Daddy,


Last night wasn't the best between us. I'm sorry. There are some things I think you should know, things I think about when I think of "who dad is":

Growing up, you were the one I feared (I mean that in a positive way). It was as if you were the punisher and mom, well, mom was mom. Mom was who we thought wouldn't notice when we tried to "get away with murder". Come to find out, mom was smarter than us (shocking, I know!) and ratted us out. Then it was "wait till your father comes home..." That was never a fun couple hours, and those couple hours were worse than anything you could have said to us. Little did we know mom was punishing us before you got home! It was as if she planned it. (Way to go mom!)


For my dance recitals, you always brought my flowers before my performances, as if you knew I would be great. And when I wasn't (we all know I wasn't a prima ballerina) I still had that pink rose that my daddy gave me. I was my "good luck/have fun/I know you will be great" rose. You didn't make every performance (Japan got in the way a time or two, I believe) but I always remember having that rose. Now that I look back, I remember that rose more than my recitals.


The most influential time is a time I go back to when I need that "pep talk." Christmas Night back at Countryside, on our Christmas walk with the whole family, I was walking next to you and out of no where (at least to me it was out of no where) you told me you were proud of me. It was the end of 1st semester freshman year at Purdue, I got a 3.0 on the dot. That isn't major for most, but that was huge for me, after all, I didn't get good grades High School. I will never forget that night, where we were on Countryside Road, and what I was wearing when you said "I'm proud of you". That was the night I thought "I can do it - he believes!"

You have been proud of me many times in my life, probably more than I can count. But that is one of the times it has stuck out more than any other time. That is something I aim for everyday when I am at work. I want to make you proud. I want to make you smile when you say "that's my daughter" just as I smile when I say "that's my dad". I am not as strong as you, but trying, not nearly as intelligent (but again, trying!) but more than anything else, I love being your daughter. I couldn't ask for a better dad.

I love you daddy!
Your daughter

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Reminicing Time

A long time ago (or at least if feels like a long time ago) I met a girl named Julie while working at Chase-Pitkin. Typically I don't get too close to girls, but Julie was a girl I could talk to and get advice from (she is the only person who actually knew who i was dating...since it was against company policy), and she was also someone I could act 5 with. Each week while writing the schedule, I would try to put Julie and I together as much as possible!! HELLO FUN. We would sit up in the rafters and act like 5 year old girls giggling over everything. It was as if Chase-Pitkin was our own personal playground and we got paid for playing. There was always some project that needed to be done, and it just so happened to be better to have two people working on it rather than one. Oh, and it took all day to do it too. Why bust your butt and get it done in two hours when we could spend Julie's entire shift on it?! Seriously people - it was all about having fun rather than work.

Each day we worked together was full of laughter. And on the ceiling on that empty store is "Julie and Kelly were here :)". I miss those days, where your main responsibility was to make sure your orders got in, the shelves were stocked and you gave good customer service. In the midst of all that you had fun. Most everyone got along, and it was just good plain fun. Watching the new people come in and get "broken in" by the veterans - we would always tell them to do something the wrong way and laugh our butts off while they made a fool of themselves. Life couldn't get any better.

As the days went on, Julie and I talked about having a slumber party and watching Disney movies that both had yet to see. That night came...we both got out of work, we rented a couple movies and we to my place. Julie proceeded to tell me that her dad thought I was a lesbo since I invited her over for a sleepover! He didn't believe I had a boyfriend. Our sleepover was a bust. We had both worked all week and neither of us even made it half way through one movie before we were fast asleep. A couple days later, while at the St. John Fisher football game with my boyfriend, Julie happened to be there and so was her father. I grabbed "dickies" hand and ran him over to meet Julie's father. Ya, he didn't buy it. :( And to this day, he knows I am straight, but he calls me the lesbian friend. haha! Gotta love it.

THANKS MR. L! Although, he being the best seafood manager EVER, i need to call him for good fish cooking techniques and recipes.

Thanks for the fun Julie.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Fish

As a child, it is safe to say that fish wasn't a favorite. We can even take that further, fish, if it touched my plate, it took a lot for my parent to get me to even take one bite.

As an adult (if 29 counts for an adult) I have to say I am trying to open up my palate a bit. Fish or seafood is still not something I crave, but little by little more fish is finding it's way to my plate. Tonight I am cooking fish for my very first time. It may not come out well, but at least effort was made. As for seasoning, I went for more heat than zest. After looking at a couple recipes, this is my seasoning:

EVOO on the bottom and lightly over the top of the Tilapia
salt and pepper
little lemon juice (after all this is fish we are talking about)
a mixture of ground red pepper and chili powder
sprinkled on top is crushed red pepper and a bit of garlic.

I may have went a bit crazy with the garlic and the lemon, but you gotta try if you are going to learn! As a side dish, creamed spinach. Thought about serving some rice or noodles with the fish, but I am opting not to. It doesn't seem as if it will fit in well with the spinach.

Cooking is an art...one I enjoy testing my abilities in! My brother my cook for a living, but I love to be in the kitchen just as much creating my own masterpiece. :)

In the frig are some mushrooms - LOVE mushrooms. I am trying to come up with a tasty recipe to put those in. Maybe tomorrow night will be pasta with broccoli and mushrooms on top. Food for though.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Me Again - 4 Topics

One - The Little Family....I LOVE YOU! You crack me up! And are soooo right.

Two - I love my job. Love what I do, love the feelings you get during show set up, show start and end of show. You had a hand in it, no one may know it but you, and it feels great! It is that time in my pre-show prep that I am stress, overwhelmed, frustrated, exhausted...you name it. Everything that is in place changes, things are added - it is the exciting/stressful/exhausting part or show prep. If you look at my right now my cheeks are red, my eyes are puffy - I look H O T T hot! oh yea. This is the time one questions why we do what we do. I even text my dad last night asking him why I do my job. Even I know that answer - the challenge, the feeling you get when you pull it off, the learning curve. But I could sure go for that big bear hug right about now. Thankfully I have the support of my co-workers and bosses - that helps even though it can still be long days.

Three - my dear friend kelly called me last night and we talked for a while. She pointed out a good point - she or my other friend need to pull me from work when i need a break. I don't stop and take a break by myself. Kelly made me realize i need to find my stopping points. I have no idea where to begin in doing that or how to go about it. I keep telling myself that I just need to get through September...but Kelly is right, what happens after September? Food for thought on my end.

Four - (and last) - Bart. Not sure he is big on Phoenix. Last night we camped out in the bathroom until 4am. This is the only room, besides the laundry room, that has no windows. With it been monsoon season, phoenix can have some interesting nights. Bart was terrified last night and the bathroom is seems as shelter from all scary things. Now, i am not one to make fun seeing i am terrified of thunder and lightening. Bart however, is terrified of wind as well. Last night it was lightening and strong wind. Bathroom it was. We are needing to have a "need to leave Phoenix talk" tonight per Bart. I am sure that will go over real well with the person that actually brings home the bacon, not the one that just eats it. :)

Well I am off to sign off at work. Have a good night all.

Friday, July 25, 2008

Guests

I am one that loves to have people over...mi casa es su casa or how ever that is spelled. Right?! When you have people over, you want them to feel comfortable not like a stranger. One needs to feel free to sit on the couch, get a drink from the frig, and so on. Maybe it is me, but as long as you respect me and my place, please, make yourself at home.

I let a good friend and his little brother stay at my place this week. They arrived when I was out of town for work, but I made sure they had keys, and were all set up needs wise with my place. A couple days later when walking through my front door, panning the place - it was a mess. Never in a million years would I ever have imagined I would have walked into my place looking the way it did. It hadn't looked that bad since the day I moved in. Clothes, water bottles and glasses half full, dishes - all that everywhere and they, they are just chillin on the couch. Granted my arrival was just before midnight, but still, when the owner of the place you are staying at is coming home, you don't let the person come one to nothing but a clean place. Especially when they arrived it was clean. (I can be anal at times.) Not only that, but they did not take a visitor parking spot allowing my to park in my spot knowing I was coming in with all my "stuff" (luggage/server/notebook) and exhausted. Nope, I got to drive around to find anything close so I didn't have to carry things far. Needless to say, I was not a happy camper. Being almost midnight, thought it would be wise to keep those thoughts to myself.

The next morning I am up early (getting used to the time change) and clean, and start working. I was working from home that morning. The guys began to wake around 9 - 9:30. If they noticed the place was much cleaner, they didn't say anything. "sorry we left your place a mess" would have been sufficient, but nope, nothing. About an hour later, we need to begin getting ready to meet one of my friends for lunch before we took her to the airport. I get out of the shower, get ready - come back to the living room - again food/drink/clothes EVERYWHERE. What the hell! Seriously, but again I bit my tongue. Still exhausted from a long work week, and it was my birthday, the last thing I wanted to do was get mad at my "friends" on my birthday.
I would go on, but not worth it - this is how the week continued. Catering to them. Tuesday was my afternoon off, my day to choose what I wanted to do, which was sleep by the pool and relax. NOPE. They didn't want to do that. We spent three hours looking up things to do - trying to get them to say something. Finally I said movie. They weren't thrilled - BUT WHO CARES, right?!
We went to see The Dark Night. Not a movie I really wanted to see, but it got them to stop bitching for three hours!

Kelly paid for my lunch on my birthday and Bob paid for my dinner. What did my out of town friends do for me...nothing but be a pain in my ass.

Last night they were getting ready to leave. Again, leaving crap everywhere for me to pick up once they have gone. Dishes, water bottle half full, my camelback I let them borrow - was still on the floor where they threw it (still waiting for them to pick that up)...so i began to say "are you taking these half full water bottles? Are you done with that camelback? Are you finished eating the food on that plate?" Stuff they have left out for days - but come one, how do they not clean up after themselves at someone'splace. Phil then got the hint that my shoes to go to dinner were not going on until he helped pick up their crap.

To me, when you stay at someones place there are rules:
1. You find it clean, you keep it as clean as you can (unless the homeowner is making the mess with you - then you all clean it up)
2. Be respectful of their things - you borrow something, you clean it (if needed) and return
3. Do something for letting you stay with them (even if it is a small gift just to show your thanks)

It isn't much - it is common courtesy! I listed three rules - and if you can't follow those - don't stay at someone's place.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

DJB

Sometimes I walk alone at night
When everybody else is sleeping
I think of him and then I'm happy
With the company I'm keeping
The city goes to bed
And I can live inside my head

On my own
Pretending he's beside me
All alone
I walk with him 'til morning
Without him, I feel his arms around me
And when I lose my way, I close my eyes and he has found me

...

I love him
But every day I'm lonely
All my life I've only been pretending
Without me, his world will go on turning
The world is full of happiness that
I have never known

I love him...
But only on my own...

I remember going to see this production years ago; watching an 17 year old sing this song as if she were singing about her own life. Music...music has a way into your heart and it stays there. We hear certian pieces and reflect back or smile when a certain someone/situation 'pops' onto your head. Music is the camera the in your mind, it allows you to reflect on your life and remember times that you never thought you would recollect. Then seconds to minutes later you snap back into reality and have a tear in your eye or a smile on your face and realize that hearing that particular song just made your day.

Lately, I have been meeting more people who truly care for music the way I do, and sometimes more. This is a blessing. For the past couple weeks, in our office, we played sad songs. Nothing else, no one wanted anything butt. Watching Airplanes by Gary Allen; Open Arms by Colin Ray; Anywhere but Here by Chris Cagle; Home by Blake Shelton. These songs help us get through the days, it is what music is there for.

Yesterday's post, I mentioned DJ and how not a day goes by where I didn't wish he would walk through the doors of where ever I am. This song came on today, and immediatly DJ came to mind...he is dating, so that leaves me 'on my own'. DJ, he I will always care about. He will be the one that let me hide behind him during a thunderstorm, made be burp a lobster, started my shower in the morning so I could spend more time talking to his father, and will always be the guy I fell in love with and never got to date.

The first time we ever hung out alone, I drove to his place in Dulles and he drove us to a pub/bar to hang out. Ever since that night I always wanted to be beautiful to him. There was something about him that was different. He had the 'bad boy' exterior, but he was the softest, kindest guy you could meet. DJ was nothing but kind to me, and for the longest time I thought it was because his best friend was one of my closest friends and boss. DJ became this guy I would drive 2 hours for, just to have a beer and hang out for a couple hours than drive an hour and a half home. He was different.

In the end, I am truely thankful I have him as a friend, and one I hope I never lose.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

New Day

Wednesday - those are typically good days, right? It's hump day! You can finally start counting down for weekend without feeling depressed knowing that you started that count down on Monday morning.

Tuesday was rough. Major stress with work, although I still love what I do. But as I began, today is Wednesday - a new day. I get up, get ready for another day in the office, arrive on time - I am off to a great start if you ask me! Get into the office, turn on my computer to find a massive amount of emails. What do I do - bang head on desk! (in the movies, that always seems to help.) That didn't do me much good but give me a headache. :) Did my best to get through all those emails with keeping my heart rate down. Today I learned that my blood pressure is way to high. Haha! Needless to say, I wasn't all that shocked with how stressed I have been. Now I need to do some research on how to control that, when given the option, I opted for no meds.

After that apt - I headed off to see Sandy. Who's Sandy? Well only the bestestest bartender known to man. She is the sweetest thing ever. Works at Carlos, and Carlos is our cheers. You walk and and hear HEY KELLY! and you don't even have to order a thing...for Sandy knows it all. She is the greatest. Hung out there for about 45 min then headed back to work. Get back to realize the major project I needed to get done I am unable to do. Fantastic. Turned off the computer and left. Blood pressure was high enough, no need to make it any higher.

I am home, about to have a beer and relax for the night. I might even play myself in a game of scrabble - that always makes me happy.

Talked to Dad, and like Paul Meyer used to do, he reminds me - "you am not performing brain surgery, this is not the cure for cancer." I need to breath and realize that it is okay to make a mistake. It is my stubbornness really. I don't want to make a mistake, I want to do it right. That is how I have always been and probably always will be.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Been a While

It has been a while since my last post, and that was recently brought to my attention. :)

I started with a new company about two months ago. Moved to Arizona to work for T3 and was not thrilled with the past year and a half with them, so I moved on. The company I now work for (WJ) is great. Much better company, better atmosphere...you name it, better. The only part I could do without is all the stress. It makes me wish I had someone to come home to and talk about their day or anything but work. Maybe someday. It's funny, I can't tell you the last time I have been this stressed over work. But it is good - makes me work hard, keeps me on my toes. Love what I do, love my job!!

Social life - pretty non existent. I hang out with the co-workers every once in a while. Rarely see Kelly - schedules just don't match. And if they do, we are both exhausted and choose to have a lazy day. We are sad, what can I say.
DJ is dating - that sucks. DJ is a guy I met back at Dulles Wegmans. He is from Rochester, but we met in Virginia. He and I hung out a lot, never dated, always wanted to. He has moved back to Rochester around the time his mom passed...and there isn't a day where I don't wish he would walk through the doors and I would see him. Me in Phoenix and him in Rochester - that will never happen.

Well that is all my scoop. Short, but sweet. I work...that is my life.

Monday, January 21, 2008

TOGA TOGA TOGA

This past weekend was a success if I must say. I have had some nice weekends here, but this one was exceptional. Why? Well, I am stepping out. Last week was a tough week, one that brought on extreme exhaustion. The puffiness in my eyes gave away how stressed and sleep deprivation I had. On Thursday I received an email asking if I would participate in a Habitat 4 Humanity Build. The build took place Saturday from 7:30am to 2:30pm. Habitat is an organization I volunteered for while I lived in the DC area, so I decided to say 'yes' to the build. After I replied with my yes did I decide where this build was taking place. Come to find out, it was an hour drive from where I live. Tears began to fill my eyes, the last thing I wanted to do on Saturday morning was wake up at 5:30am when all I wanted to do was stay in bed all day. Saturday morning came, alarm began ringing at 5:00 and by 5:30 I was in the shower. Kelly participated in the build with me, and I was at Kelly's by 6:15 for our hour drive to the build site. The day was spectacular. Kelly was called #2 for the day and I was CAULK or SPACKLE. Why did she get a name and I get CAULK? We both can say we excelled at our tasks of caulk and spackle. Wait, let me clarify...she master spackle while I mastered caulk. Luckily I have had a bit of practice in both area (I more spackle that caulk) - so when it came to mastering caulk, Kelly seemed to let me take on that challenge. The day went quick. The other volunteers we friendly making the entire experience an enjoyable one. We (or at least I) will be going back to help on the 2nd.

After the build, I came home, showered and began to get ready for the Greek Beer Olympics/Toga Party that night. By the time I was on my way to the event, it hit me - I was ready to go to bed. It was hard to keep going to that party when the thought of my nice warm bed kept coming into my mind. Once I got to the house, walked in the door, all the thoughts of being tired escaped me. As for my night - it was the best toga part I have ever gone to! We broke into teams for the Greek Beer Olympics - my team was called Beer Mafia! Oh yea baby, and WE WON!! The games: Case Race, What Beer is it?, Beer Pong, Flip Cup, and a Scavenger Hunt. Beer Mafia kicked ass!!! I can't wait to attend another event to see all these people again!

Sunday, it is safe to say I didn't get out of bed until two. I was exhausted. It was hard to even get out of bed then. Oh wait, I think I actually rolled out of bed around 2:30 only because I had to be somewhere by 4:30 - and I figured I should say hello to the roommie first. After all, that is the nice thing.

Well I best bounce. Got work to do before bed.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Remember Me?

Hey! Remember me? This is probably the longest it has taken me to write a post. No one really reads/updates theirs anymore...well at least not those that I used to read on a daily or weekly basis. What brought me back? Two things actually.

One - this is a way for me to look back and remember the events in my life. So in a way, this in my journal. My thoughts and reasons and stupidity and fun. You have to admit, it is always fun to look back at what you did a year or so ago and laugh. It is a good way to remind yourself who you were. Was it someone you liked? Is is someone your miss? Or did you grow up? You can learn so much from yourself, and people tend to forget that.

Two - I am trying to make some progress in my life. Trying to be somebody. I am an outgoing person, always ready for a good time. However, in the past year, you wouldn't know that about me. Yes, I have made my mistakes in life...but I am here to keep living and keep making those mistakes and correcting them for the future or learn from them. I am getting out there and trying to meet more people. I joined a "Night Life" group and a "Singles" group. Both groups look to be involved in events that looked fun. (Oh, and the singles group isn't to meet someone to date...it is to go and have fun.) This weekend, or today, I went to Dos Gringos for a mid-day happy hour. I met some really nice people! They were fun, up beat, around my age, and nice. It was so nice to get out and do something different. (Oh, I did take my book in case I didn't like it and decided to go somewhere and read instead. 70 degrees and sunny, you can read anywhere!) It made me happy that I took a chance. Next week - Greek Beer Olympics/Toga Party. All and all, I am doing it, I am putting myself out there to make friends. I am on a mission. If I want to make Phoenix work, it is my job to make it work. No one else's. Right? I decided to move, so I have to make friends. My efforts were out there about 8 months ago, then I took a sabbatical, and now I am back! (I just hope I am stronger this time. You tend to forget how hard it is to make a friend.) I'm trying. Even if I cried first...I am still trying.