.....ok, maybe not a pro, but I did come in 2nd place last night playing with my friends from work and won $75! Not too shabby considering I haven't played any live action poker since the end of last year. I got started off kinda rocky losing half of my chip stack on the first hand but I calmed myself down and got back into the game and played a bit more conservatively the rest of the night. It definitely paid off and I'm pretty proud of myself! I'll be ready for my trip to Vegas in no time!!
After heading into the gym for a morning training session, I'm on my way out to my Dad's to chill with my awesome Bro and tonight we're going out to party with some of his friends. It should be a great weekend once again!
Hope you have an awesome weekend too!!!
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Thursday, April 09, 2009
I'm probably going to hell for this...
...but I'm going to happy hour on Good Friday anyway. I guess I'm just going to have to be extra good the rest of the year. :) I'm really ready to party too! I got my rest and relaxation in today so I should be a twice as good of a mood tomorrow.
Let the weekend begin!!!
Let the weekend begin!!!
Day off
I was given the day off from work today as part of winning a raffle at the company Christmas party and this is what I decided to do with my free time -- make a delicious birthday cake for my dear friend SM. I'm actually fairly happy with the way it turned out and I just hope it tastes as good as it looks. It's a triple chocolate fudge cake with strawberry icing and shaved milk chocolate. Hopefully everyone will like it!
Besides baking, I got my phone fixed and I can now send picture messages (yay!), repainted my nails, and just kinda took it easy, which has been a good thing since I went to the baseball game last night and didn't get to bed until fairly late. Tonight I have a training session at the gym and I'm just going to spend the rest of my time trying to gain back some of my sanity that I've lost in the past few weeks. It seems so weird to be home in the middle of the day and really I'm not sure what to do with myself. I never seem to find the time just to have "down" time and now that I do, I feel like I should be going 100 different directions.
Hope you all are having a terrific week! I'll catch up again soon!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Happy Birthday Ryan!!
I hope you have a great day celebrating both St. Patrick's Day and your birthday and we'll be sure to party like rock stars next weekend!! It's hard to believe that you're already 22!! Geez, where has the last 20 years gone? You're a great friend and brother and I wish you all the best today and everyday!!
Love you Bro!!
Love you Bro!!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Proof...
...that I am indeed going crazy came this morning when I hurried up and wrapped my Bro's birthday present and used a Christmas bag rather than a birthday gift bag. I could have swore that when I left my apartment this morning it said Happy Birthday and had pictures of little presents on it....instead after I hurriedly wrapped it at my Dad's and then gave it to my Bro did I notice that the little gifts were actually Christmas trees and snowflakes and the wording on the bag said CHRISTMAS as plain as day. Naturally everyone, myself included, got a good laugh out of my stupidity. Guess that's what I get for waiting until the last minute to actually wrap his present while still a tad bit hungover.
Everything else is going alright. I've kept up at work and actually feel like I've got more control over my job than I ever have before. Sure, I can't make everything run perfectly but for the time being I am able to handle most of what's been thrown my way and that's all that I'm looking for at the moment.
I've been working out almost daily and have found myself in a good routine of cardio and weight-lifting. I'm starting to notice my muscles becoming more defined and toned and it's exciting to know that all of the sweating is paying off. I'll be ready for summer in no time! Just gotta work on getting a tan now. :)
I got to see the Blues beat up on the Dallas Stars front row on Tuesday night. It was an experience of a lifetime sitting that close to the ice!! I think I jumped every time a player hit the glass in front of me, but nonetheless I had a blast! And what made it even better was that the Blues won 5-2!!
This upcoming week should be a lot of fun as well with Tuesday being St. Patrick's Day. In true Lindsay fashion, I will be out celebrating my Irish heritage. (I'm not even sure if there is any Irish in me, but we can all just pretend for one day, right?!?)
Hope you all have a great week and I'll catch up with you soon!!
Everything else is going alright. I've kept up at work and actually feel like I've got more control over my job than I ever have before. Sure, I can't make everything run perfectly but for the time being I am able to handle most of what's been thrown my way and that's all that I'm looking for at the moment.
I've been working out almost daily and have found myself in a good routine of cardio and weight-lifting. I'm starting to notice my muscles becoming more defined and toned and it's exciting to know that all of the sweating is paying off. I'll be ready for summer in no time! Just gotta work on getting a tan now. :)
I got to see the Blues beat up on the Dallas Stars front row on Tuesday night. It was an experience of a lifetime sitting that close to the ice!! I think I jumped every time a player hit the glass in front of me, but nonetheless I had a blast! And what made it even better was that the Blues won 5-2!!
This upcoming week should be a lot of fun as well with Tuesday being St. Patrick's Day. In true Lindsay fashion, I will be out celebrating my Irish heritage. (I'm not even sure if there is any Irish in me, but we can all just pretend for one day, right?!?)
Hope you all have a great week and I'll catch up with you soon!!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Valentine's Day
While I'm not a fan of Valentine's Day, I can say that I had a good day and I was surrounded by people that I love and deeply care about.
My philosophy is that your loved ones should be shown that you love them every day, not just one day a year and I will continue to make that my top priority. It's the little things in life that make it worth living and knowing that someone loves you is enough to get by most times.
Hope you had a great day! I'm heading to bed because I'm exhausted. More of Lindsay's philosophical thoughts later....
My philosophy is that your loved ones should be shown that you love them every day, not just one day a year and I will continue to make that my top priority. It's the little things in life that make it worth living and knowing that someone loves you is enough to get by most times.
Hope you had a great day! I'm heading to bed because I'm exhausted. More of Lindsay's philosophical thoughts later....
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Birthday extravaganza details...
As promised, I'm detailing all of the fun from my birthday happy hour/karaoke party. Sorry it's a few weeks late, I've been somewhat preoccupied with everything else going on.
Work that day was great. M and KZ were both very thoughtful. They both know my love for marshmallows and it was reflected in my gifts. M also gave me a live, laugh, love picture frame with pictures of her and I from the Christmas party and a picture of all of us girls in Chicago last February. I couldn't tell you how appreciative I was for the awesome gifts. M also made me a chocolate chip cookie cake which I ate without feeling guilty about the extra calories. ;)
I was lucky enough to have exciting lunch plans as well. And really after that, I wished I could have taken the rest of the day off but instead, I went back to work for more celebration.
If you have seen me in recent weeks, you know about my weekly cravings for ice cream in the early afternoon. Well, AB remembered that and on her lunch went and bought 2 half gallons for me to share with the others in the office. My diet was completely out of whack for the day, but it didn't matter much because I was so thankful for having such great friends and co-workers.
At 5, we all high-tailed it out of the office for the much anticipated happy hour at Hotshots. We had a fairly good turn out for dinner and drinks and we even had a little impromptu dance party break out at one point. Nothing gets ya going like dancing to Buckcherry and my theme song nonetheless!! The crowd started dying down but there were four of us that decided there was no time like the present for karaoke and we settled on going to Charlie's for a few songs. I was the opening song for the night and I sang "When I'm Gone". I was thoroughly impressed by my performance too, especially since 5 years ago, you wouldn't catch me up there singing with a huge group let alone by myself. I also sang "Seven Bridges Road," "Shook Me All Night Long," and "Don't Stop Believin'". Since it was a Thursday night and I still had to try to get some work done on Friday, we all headed home around 11.
Friday was a rough day at work for sure. I was extremely tired for staying out and only getting 5 hours of sleep but I plugged through my day and then decided to hit the gym for a much needed workout!!
That Saturday, Shell called and asked if I wanted to go out to lunch for my birthday. I filled her in on all of the happenings from the holidays and the last month or so and we had a great time catching up. Afterwards I had to run a few errands and pick up a very special birthday present before going to my Mom's for dinner with her, Michael and my Grandma. We had the pork steaks I requested along with baked potatoes, salad and my absolute favorite, broccoli. I hung out there the rest of the evening and watched a movie before heading home and then straight to bed.
Sunday was the Super Bowl and the big party over at the boss' house so I took it easy most of the morning and made it over there a little before kickoff. The game was a good one and I enjoyed hanging out with everyone. The only thing that would have been better was if the Cardinals had won the Super Bowl or if I actually won money from all of my betting. There's always next year though!!
Last week, I skated through work and had a crazy weekend of consulting and trying to take care of everything I put off during the week. Saturday night, the girls went out to dinner to celebrate Sherri's life and commemorate her birthday which was January 27th. Sherri's mom gave all of us a beautiful picture of Sherri and I was extremely emotional and grateful that she thought of me as one of her close friends.
Sunday, my mom and Grandma and I went to the movies to see, "He Just Isn't That Into You" and I spent the afternoon hanging out with them and then at the gym working off my dinner and drinks from the night before.
That brings me up to this week and what can I say, so far so good. Work is going fairly well and I'm just trying to stay on top of my accounting duties and get financials done for last month. Last night I had a personal training session at the gym and I have another one tomorrow night; Friday is happy hour (again!) after work; Saturday is Valentine's Day (nothing planned for that as of yet!) and Sunday, I have another baby shower.
Hope you have a great rest of the week! I'll catch up again soon!
One final note for the night, Happy Birthday M! She celebrated her 48th birthday yesterday! M, I hope you had the best birthday yet!! We'll definitely party it up on Friday night! :)
Work that day was great. M and KZ were both very thoughtful. They both know my love for marshmallows and it was reflected in my gifts. M also gave me a live, laugh, love picture frame with pictures of her and I from the Christmas party and a picture of all of us girls in Chicago last February. I couldn't tell you how appreciative I was for the awesome gifts. M also made me a chocolate chip cookie cake which I ate without feeling guilty about the extra calories. ;)
I was lucky enough to have exciting lunch plans as well. And really after that, I wished I could have taken the rest of the day off but instead, I went back to work for more celebration.
If you have seen me in recent weeks, you know about my weekly cravings for ice cream in the early afternoon. Well, AB remembered that and on her lunch went and bought 2 half gallons for me to share with the others in the office. My diet was completely out of whack for the day, but it didn't matter much because I was so thankful for having such great friends and co-workers.
At 5, we all high-tailed it out of the office for the much anticipated happy hour at Hotshots. We had a fairly good turn out for dinner and drinks and we even had a little impromptu dance party break out at one point. Nothing gets ya going like dancing to Buckcherry and my theme song nonetheless!! The crowd started dying down but there were four of us that decided there was no time like the present for karaoke and we settled on going to Charlie's for a few songs. I was the opening song for the night and I sang "When I'm Gone". I was thoroughly impressed by my performance too, especially since 5 years ago, you wouldn't catch me up there singing with a huge group let alone by myself. I also sang "Seven Bridges Road," "Shook Me All Night Long," and "Don't Stop Believin'". Since it was a Thursday night and I still had to try to get some work done on Friday, we all headed home around 11.
Friday was a rough day at work for sure. I was extremely tired for staying out and only getting 5 hours of sleep but I plugged through my day and then decided to hit the gym for a much needed workout!!
That Saturday, Shell called and asked if I wanted to go out to lunch for my birthday. I filled her in on all of the happenings from the holidays and the last month or so and we had a great time catching up. Afterwards I had to run a few errands and pick up a very special birthday present before going to my Mom's for dinner with her, Michael and my Grandma. We had the pork steaks I requested along with baked potatoes, salad and my absolute favorite, broccoli. I hung out there the rest of the evening and watched a movie before heading home and then straight to bed.
Sunday was the Super Bowl and the big party over at the boss' house so I took it easy most of the morning and made it over there a little before kickoff. The game was a good one and I enjoyed hanging out with everyone. The only thing that would have been better was if the Cardinals had won the Super Bowl or if I actually won money from all of my betting. There's always next year though!!
Last week, I skated through work and had a crazy weekend of consulting and trying to take care of everything I put off during the week. Saturday night, the girls went out to dinner to celebrate Sherri's life and commemorate her birthday which was January 27th. Sherri's mom gave all of us a beautiful picture of Sherri and I was extremely emotional and grateful that she thought of me as one of her close friends.
Sunday, my mom and Grandma and I went to the movies to see, "He Just Isn't That Into You" and I spent the afternoon hanging out with them and then at the gym working off my dinner and drinks from the night before.
That brings me up to this week and what can I say, so far so good. Work is going fairly well and I'm just trying to stay on top of my accounting duties and get financials done for last month. Last night I had a personal training session at the gym and I have another one tomorrow night; Friday is happy hour (again!) after work; Saturday is Valentine's Day (nothing planned for that as of yet!) and Sunday, I have another baby shower.
Hope you have a great rest of the week! I'll catch up again soon!
One final note for the night, Happy Birthday M! She celebrated her 48th birthday yesterday! M, I hope you had the best birthday yet!! We'll definitely party it up on Friday night! :)
Thursday, January 29, 2009
I'm officially 26...
...and with that being said, I can also attest that I have the best friends in the world! Thanks to all of you that sent me messages, called me, took me to lunch, took me out to happy hour and karaoke and made my day the all around best birthday yet! I appreciate every single nice gesture I received today.
I will detail the birthday extravaganza later, but for now, I'm heading to bed. Good night all!
I will detail the birthday extravaganza later, but for now, I'm heading to bed. Good night all!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
An equation...
Lindsay having to fore go a personal training session at the gym because the weather was not cooperating = one disappointed chick.
Would it be completely uncool of a newly 26 year old like myself to spend a Friday night at the gym trying to make up for the fact that I couldn't get in my workout in tonight? Maybe...but I'll take my chances with being uncool and settle on gaining a sexy swimsuit body by May. :)
Hope you're having a great night and staying warm!!
Would it be completely uncool of a newly 26 year old like myself to spend a Friday night at the gym trying to make up for the fact that I couldn't get in my workout in tonight? Maybe...but I'll take my chances with being uncool and settle on gaining a sexy swimsuit body by May. :)
Hope you're having a great night and staying warm!!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Beer Pong, Baby Showers & A Birthday
Winter is officially upon us here in the Lou. We're expected to get 4-6 inches of snow tonight and another few inches tomorrow during the day. Ugghh! Definitely not what I want right now. Let's hope that the morning commute is a somewhat decent one. I need to get to work on time and safely. I also need to get to the gym tomorrow night for my personal training session.
Speaking of the gym, my workout is going great! I'm slowly settling into a routine and I'm enjoying the time I'm spending getting fit. I'm also finding that the time I'm working out is allowing me to think and de-stress a bit which is something I've needed to do for quite some time. I joked with my trainer tonight that I'll be ready for swimsuit season in no time if I keep up this pace!! :)
I ended up having a really good weekend as well. Saturday I went to the gym for a few hours and then relaxed for a bit before going to MO's for a quarters/beer pong party. The party was AWESOME!! I had a blast joking around and just shooting the bull with all of my friends. SS and I owned some of the others playing beer pong, MO and I serenaded the crowd with karaoke and M and I ended up leg wrestling just for the hell of it. I think I provided comic relief most of the night too just by letting loose and having fun and showing a side of me that usually only my close friends see. I also have to thank my great friends for looking out after me and making sure that I got home in one piece.
Sunday was a bit rough. I got up feeling extremely hungover and sore. I had to be to my mom's early to do my laundry before we had to leave for a baby shower for my cousin Mary. I was in no mood for doing anything but I got my butt in gear and got everything accomplished before we ventured out at noon. The shower went very well. Mary got a lot of great stuff that I'm sure will be put to good use here in the next month and a half. Probably the hardest thing for me to realize was that she is actually pregnant and having a kid of her own. I always think back to a few years ago when we were strolling around town and just having a blast as teenagers and young adults. It also got me to thinking about my own age and where I'm at with my life. In a few short days, I will be closer to 30 than to 20. Whoa!! On Thursday, I hit the big 2-6. I never thought of myself at this age and I'm not exactly sure what I want to accomplish before I turn 27. I know I'm satisfied with my personal life and my position at work, but what else makes me tick? I guess that is one thing I need to think about and make certain aspects of my life more of a priority this year.
But first things first...it's time to celebrate!! We've planned a happy hour for Thursday night after work and I'm sure I'll celebrate with my family over the weekend, as long as the pork steaks are in season. HA! (Inside joke between my mom and I from a conversation we had driving home from the baby shower yesterday. I can say that I'm such a dork every now and again.) Sunday is also Super Bowl and I've been invited a party for that, so it will be a busy weekend once again.
Hope you have a terrific week! I'll be sure to update after all of the festivities. :)
Speaking of the gym, my workout is going great! I'm slowly settling into a routine and I'm enjoying the time I'm spending getting fit. I'm also finding that the time I'm working out is allowing me to think and de-stress a bit which is something I've needed to do for quite some time. I joked with my trainer tonight that I'll be ready for swimsuit season in no time if I keep up this pace!! :)
I ended up having a really good weekend as well. Saturday I went to the gym for a few hours and then relaxed for a bit before going to MO's for a quarters/beer pong party. The party was AWESOME!! I had a blast joking around and just shooting the bull with all of my friends. SS and I owned some of the others playing beer pong, MO and I serenaded the crowd with karaoke and M and I ended up leg wrestling just for the hell of it. I think I provided comic relief most of the night too just by letting loose and having fun and showing a side of me that usually only my close friends see. I also have to thank my great friends for looking out after me and making sure that I got home in one piece.
Sunday was a bit rough. I got up feeling extremely hungover and sore. I had to be to my mom's early to do my laundry before we had to leave for a baby shower for my cousin Mary. I was in no mood for doing anything but I got my butt in gear and got everything accomplished before we ventured out at noon. The shower went very well. Mary got a lot of great stuff that I'm sure will be put to good use here in the next month and a half. Probably the hardest thing for me to realize was that she is actually pregnant and having a kid of her own. I always think back to a few years ago when we were strolling around town and just having a blast as teenagers and young adults. It also got me to thinking about my own age and where I'm at with my life. In a few short days, I will be closer to 30 than to 20. Whoa!! On Thursday, I hit the big 2-6. I never thought of myself at this age and I'm not exactly sure what I want to accomplish before I turn 27. I know I'm satisfied with my personal life and my position at work, but what else makes me tick? I guess that is one thing I need to think about and make certain aspects of my life more of a priority this year.
But first things first...it's time to celebrate!! We've planned a happy hour for Thursday night after work and I'm sure I'll celebrate with my family over the weekend, as long as the pork steaks are in season. HA! (Inside joke between my mom and I from a conversation we had driving home from the baby shower yesterday. I can say that I'm such a dork every now and again.) Sunday is also Super Bowl and I've been invited a party for that, so it will be a busy weekend once again.
Hope you have a terrific week! I'll be sure to update after all of the festivities. :)
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Fitness update...
Over the past 4 days I've logged 4.5 hours in at the gym and I didn't even get to go last night because of a work happy hour commitment, but I'm feeling good and I'm getting toned and nothing could be better than that! I'm loving the gym and my trainer has done wonders for me in the two nights that I was able to meet with him. Note to anyone else working to become a physical trainer: the more motivational you are in the introductory session the more willing people like me are willing to pay for the additional services at the gym. The first night my trainer really inspired me to keep pushing through the rough parts of the workout and he focused on what was really important to me. He also complimented me for never giving up during my session and working through everything he threw my way, but I think he realized that I'm the kind of person that when I put my mind to something I will not give up and call it quits. I'm definitely excited to meet with him again on Tuesday. I'm budgeting now to see if I can afford the one-on-one sessions for at least a few more months and that way I'm 100% ready for when swimsuit season rolls around! Don't get me wrong, all of my measurements were really impressive but I really want to know that besides the fact that I'm mostly skinny now, I am also fit, trim and healthy. I want to look into the mirror and like my abs, arms and legs and not think, "wow, my ____ could use some work." And eventually, I know I will get to that point.
The gym has also given me back a little peace of mind as I am able to spend some quality time thinking and getting out any of the pressure and tension I'm faced with day in and day out. Nothing could be greater than knowing I'm relieving some of the stress of my daily life.
It may seem like I'm gloating a bit about how great my decision to join the gym has been but I'm just very happy with the way my life it working out right now. I'm still trying to find that balance between my personal life (both having fun and taking care of myself) and work but I think I'm heading down the right path and I'm enjoying the experiences along the way.
Right now though I'm going to go find something to do to enjoy my weekend off!! Catch ya later!
The gym has also given me back a little peace of mind as I am able to spend some quality time thinking and getting out any of the pressure and tension I'm faced with day in and day out. Nothing could be greater than knowing I'm relieving some of the stress of my daily life.
It may seem like I'm gloating a bit about how great my decision to join the gym has been but I'm just very happy with the way my life it working out right now. I'm still trying to find that balance between my personal life (both having fun and taking care of myself) and work but I think I'm heading down the right path and I'm enjoying the experiences along the way.
Right now though I'm going to go find something to do to enjoy my weekend off!! Catch ya later!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
I did it!!!
As a way to maintain my motto for 2009, "Live the life you love. Love the life you live" I decided to finally make good on the ideas and goals that have been floating in my head the last few weeks.
First, in trying to bring me back to my faith, I went back to the Catholic Church for Eucharistic Adoration. It was nice to be able to spend the time meditating and praying and trying to straighten out all of the important aspects of my life. Sometimes I feel as though I never slow down enough to sort out my thoughts and this was the perfect answer. I spent a good 25 minutes sitting in the peace and quiet and bringing myself back to the point where I am able to think clearly and without much hesitation. (All of the hesitation isn't gone just because that's not my style. I have to over-analyze most situations at least once in order to maintain normal Lindsay behavior.)
After adoration, I decided it was also the time to take care of my physical health and I went to check out the local gym. I was inspired just walking in there and I joined pretty much on the spot. I have been thinking about joining a gym ever since I finished my sessions at Attilio's but I never truly found that I could keep up the commitment. Now, I realize that the goal of maintaining my current weight and getting toned can only be reached if I decide to throw in a little extra effort and joining the gym seemed like a good fit. My first night of my new workout begins tomorrow at 6 pm when I meet with a personal trainer who will get me on a routine that fits my goals. Needless to say, I'm very excited!! I definitely think that I'm on the right track for the new year and I feel much better knowing that I'm taking care of myself.
Right now though, I need to get ready for bed because tomorrow is another early day and I have plenty to keep me busy at work. Hope you're having a terrific week. I'll update again soon!
First, in trying to bring me back to my faith, I went back to the Catholic Church for Eucharistic Adoration. It was nice to be able to spend the time meditating and praying and trying to straighten out all of the important aspects of my life. Sometimes I feel as though I never slow down enough to sort out my thoughts and this was the perfect answer. I spent a good 25 minutes sitting in the peace and quiet and bringing myself back to the point where I am able to think clearly and without much hesitation. (All of the hesitation isn't gone just because that's not my style. I have to over-analyze most situations at least once in order to maintain normal Lindsay behavior.)
After adoration, I decided it was also the time to take care of my physical health and I went to check out the local gym. I was inspired just walking in there and I joined pretty much on the spot. I have been thinking about joining a gym ever since I finished my sessions at Attilio's but I never truly found that I could keep up the commitment. Now, I realize that the goal of maintaining my current weight and getting toned can only be reached if I decide to throw in a little extra effort and joining the gym seemed like a good fit. My first night of my new workout begins tomorrow at 6 pm when I meet with a personal trainer who will get me on a routine that fits my goals. Needless to say, I'm very excited!! I definitely think that I'm on the right track for the new year and I feel much better knowing that I'm taking care of myself.
Right now though, I need to get ready for bed because tomorrow is another early day and I have plenty to keep me busy at work. Hope you're having a terrific week. I'll update again soon!
Monday, January 12, 2009
Who Are You?
Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...
You Are a Marilyn!
You are a Marilyn -- "I am affectionate and skeptical."
How to Get Along with Me
What I Like About Being a Marilyn
What's Hard About Being a Marilyn
Marilyns as Children Often
Marilyns as Parents
Marilyns are responsible, trustworthy, and value loyalty to family, friends, groups, and causes. Their personalities range broadly from reserved and timid to outspoken and confrontative.
How to Get Along with Me
- * Be direct and clear
- * Listen to me carefully
- * Don't judge me for my anxiety
- * Work things through with me
- * Reassure me that everything is OK between us
- * Laugh and make jokes with me
- * Gently push me toward new experiences
- * Try not to overreact to my overreacting.
What I Like About Being a Marilyn
- * being committed and faithful to family and friends
- * being responsible and hardworking
- * being compassionate toward others
- * having intellect and wit
- * being a nonconformist
- * confronting danger bravely
- * being direct and assertive
What's Hard About Being a Marilyn
- * the constant push and pull involved in trying to make up my mind
- * procrastinating because of fear of failure; having little confidence in myself
- * fearing being abandoned or taken advantage of
- * exhausting myself by worrying and scanning for danger
- * wishing I had a rule book at work so I could do everything right
- * being too critical of myself when I haven't lived up to my expectations
Marilyns as Children Often
- * are friendly, likable, and dependable, and/or sarcastic, bossy, and stubborn
- * are anxious and hypervigilant; anticipate danger
- * form a team of "us against them" with a best friend or parent
- * look to groups or authorities to protect them and/or question authority and rebel
- * are neglected or abused, come from unpredictable or alcoholic families, and/or take on the fearfulness of an overly anxious parent
Marilyns as Parents
- * are often loving, nurturing, and have a strong sense of duty
- * are sometimes reluctant to give their children independence
- * worry more than most that their children will get hurt
- * sometimes have trouble saying no and setting boundaries
Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy
Sunday, January 11, 2009
2009 is off to a crazy start!!
I spent the first week of the new year feeling rundown and utterly exhausted and I really couldn't explain why. So after 4 days of not being myself, I finally decided to visit a Walgreens Clinic and see what was wrong. Turns out there was a reason for feeling that way...I had strep throat. First time that I can remember getting strep as an adult, but I guess it can happen. This weekend, I started to feel like myself again which was good news, especially since the next few weeks at work are going to be unbelievably busy with getting 1099s completed and out the door, financials finished for 2008 and just trying to stay on top of my normal work load.
In the meantime, I'm also trying to figure out what I want to do for my birthday this year (18 days and counting!) and I'm ironing out a few thoughts in my head in regards to that. 26 really is not that big of a deal, but I want to definitely do something fun and out of the ordinary for the "normally reserved and overly responsible" Lindsay. ;) A few thoughts came to mind, but I haven't firmly planned anything yet. We will just have to see what I come up with....
Right now though, I'm going to go relax and enjoy the last few hours of my weekend before the work week starts all over. I'll check in again soon! Have a great week!!
I spent the first week of the new year feeling rundown and utterly exhausted and I really couldn't explain why. So after 4 days of not being myself, I finally decided to visit a Walgreens Clinic and see what was wrong. Turns out there was a reason for feeling that way...I had strep throat. First time that I can remember getting strep as an adult, but I guess it can happen. This weekend, I started to feel like myself again which was good news, especially since the next few weeks at work are going to be unbelievably busy with getting 1099s completed and out the door, financials finished for 2008 and just trying to stay on top of my normal work load.
In the meantime, I'm also trying to figure out what I want to do for my birthday this year (18 days and counting!) and I'm ironing out a few thoughts in my head in regards to that. 26 really is not that big of a deal, but I want to definitely do something fun and out of the ordinary for the "normally reserved and overly responsible" Lindsay. ;) A few thoughts came to mind, but I haven't firmly planned anything yet. We will just have to see what I come up with....
Right now though, I'm going to go relax and enjoy the last few hours of my weekend before the work week starts all over. I'll check in again soon! Have a great week!!
Thursday, January 01, 2009
A Year in Review...
Well, I figured now is as good of time as any to review my 2008. So here we go....
I started the New Year at home thinking about how I was going to make it a better year than the end of 2007 had been. Looking back...WOW....2008 turned out to be much better than I could have ever expected!
January:
* Middle of the the month (January 18th to be exact!), I was promoted and my job duties at work included administrative payroll, 401k coordinator and also being the right-hand person to the President of the Company. It was a huge step up for me and I was nervous but anxious to move up in the ranks.
* 29th of the month, I celebrated the quarter-century mark. For once, I was not sweating a birthday, but I also didn't plan much celebrating because my new position was turning out to be quite the handful. I managed to survive the day though and I came home to a quiet apartment.
February:
* Chicago trip with M, Angie, Bryanna and Kristin. The trip was fun but the Bon Jovi concert was even more amazing than I could ever imagine.
March:
* My awesome Bro turned 21. I think his birthday was more difficult for me to comprehend than my own. As a birthday present, we planned a trip to the Memphis in May World Championship BBQ Festival.
* I had a huge meltdown at work. Now normally this would not be a highlight for the year considering I was a complete mess for 3 or so days, but the meltdown helped me come to grips with a few things in my life and made me realize that I need to take a step back and think about myself every now and again.
The meltdown also had another perk to it as you will see in the month of April.
* At the end of the month, the guys from work decided to hold the first annual racquetball tournament. I was a mere spectator for the night but I had a blast hanging out with all of my work friends.
After the tournament M and I were able to get SS to go to karaoke with us and even though he was adamant that he would not sing with us, he got up there and showed us what a sport he was. Our play list included "Wanted Dead or Alive," "The Joker," and "Shook Me All Night Long."
I think that this night is one of my top 5 nights of the year.
April:
* One of the perks from my meltdown was tickets to a Cardinals game. I was given 4 tickets for a game in early April and I couldn't think of any better people to ask to go with me than M, SS and TL. They all graciously agreed to go with me and after work one Friday night we loaded up TL's truck and headed down for the stadium. We sang and joked around all the way down to Busch stadium, watched the game and had a great time on the ride home.
Again, this is another night in my top 5 of the year.
* Around the middle of the month I was invited to attend an afternoon Cardinals game with both of my immediate bosses and the rep from the bank. This was the first business outings I was invited to attend and I was grateful that my bosses thought of me.
* We had an earthquake centered a little over 120 miles from St. Louis that shook me up. It wasn't a huge quake but enough for everyone to realize that something was not right. I was scared for the simple fact that I never experienced tremors like that before and especially ones that woke me up from a sound sleep at 4:30 in the morning.
May:
* The much anticipated trip to Memphis with my Bro. We bonded and had a great time partying on Beale Street and seeing the sights of the city. Since my bro was in high school, I've considered him more of a friend than just my brother and I think that this trip helped strengthen that friendship. I learned so much more about him and I realize that we are more alike than I previously thought. It's kinda scary! :)
June:
* Nothing extremely significant stands out. I spent many weekends hanging out at my Dad's and BBQing. It was nice to be able to spend more time with my family. We did take my Dad to the driving range for Father's Day and I was able to test out my new golf clubs.
July:
* The Girls Weekend at the Lake was at the end of the month and we had a blast! It was one of the last memories I had spending time with Sherri along with M and all of the other girls. And even though Sherri was not feeling 100% for the weekend, she still tried to make the best of it and I'll always remember all of the fun we had at the pool and taking Amy out to party.
August:
* A group of us played in SS's golf tournament towards the end of the month and had a good time raising money for an extremely important cause. I was honored to be able to help with collecting prizes beforehand and I realized what a special thing he and his family does to help others who have been faced with losing a child to SIDS.
The tournament ended up being a lot of fun and I think I got a little better at playing the game of golf. The only downside is that I'm fairly certain that my Dad will never think of me as his sweet little girl any more. :)
September:
* We celebrated Boatfest 2008 on the river. There are only a few other happy hour events that can top BBQing, drinking and playing in the river and on the waverunners. This however was a very relaxing and enjoyable time that also provided a good end to the summer.
* I experienced a NASCAR Craftsmen's Truck Series race at Gateway International Raceway. My uncle, aunt, Dad and I finally got to see a NASCAR race and followed it with a trip over to Fast Eddies. Nothing beats a cold beer and cheap yet yummy food!
* Work held a 'baby shower' in a party box at the Cardinals game for the owner of our company at the end of the month.
October:
* I lost my dear friend Sherri to breast cancer and was faced with an emotional overload. Yes, I realized that she was in so much pain and had fought a valiant fight, but it still was very difficult for me to understand why such a good person was taken away too early. I also realized that you can't take the little things in life for granted and I now try to live each day to the fullest.
* The day after Sherri passed away, MO had a birthday/housewarming/poker party at his new place. The party ended up being a nice break from the stress we had faced earlier in the week. I played poker with the boys and actually faired better than I expected.
And while I won't mention the other reasons on here, I can say that this this night is my #1 night of 2008.
* I was summons for jury duty and was forced to sit through an entire day at the courthouse in the jury assembly room without being called for duty. That didn't bother me but the fact that I hadn't taken any time off of work for myself and then was forced to for jury duty bothered me, especially since I had work that needed to get done and I couldn't be there to handle it.
* M, MK, SS and I played in the SFC Memorial Golf Tournament at Forest Park. M and I got lost going to the first hole and then were separated but we ended up spending the day laughing and being silly and having a grand time.
* The Halloween party at TL's. This night got started a bit late and lasted well into the morning hours with us singing Whitesnake and dancing in TL's driveway and watching a NY Giants/Dallas Cowboys game that didn't exist. (Ok, it did exist but it was a replay of an older game, which we didn't know while we were watching it.)
November:
* My mom had knee replacement surgery 3 days before Thanksgiving. While this is a big deal for anyone who goes through this, it was an even bigger deal for her as she was not released from the hospital on schedule. Come to find out, they left a drill bit in her knee and it was causing her to have a few complications. She was sick and in pain for days and was forced to stay in the hospital on Thanksgiving. As a result, my Thanksgiving consisted of spending the morning and early afternoon with my Dad and his side of the family and then spending the rest of the afternoon and evening trying to spend quality time with my mom and Michael in the hospital. Finally in the late afternoon the next day my mom was released from the hospital and we were able to celebrate our Thanksgiving after I got off of work.
December:
* This month seemed to be a whirlwind when it came to work. I spent many hours trying to plan Christmas/holiday celebrations for our drivers and terminals and our own office. Our Christmas party was on December 18th and it was a huge success!! Dinner was great and I had fun mingling with all of my co-workers. As luck would have it, I ended up winning two of the raffles during the night -- lunch with the President and a co-worker and Cardinals tickets! Go me!!
I've now earned the nickname Brown Noser since this was my second time winning lunch with the boss.
* Christmas was fabulous! I was able to spend a good amount of time with both sides of my family and I cherish all of the memories made Christmas Eve, the day of and the day after.
The day after Christmas one of the last nights of my top 5 of the year.
* New Years Eve ended up being the exact way I planned it and while it may not seem that exciting to most, I was content with my decision to stay home. I was able to keep my creative juices flowing and finish my Memphis scrapbook in the wee hours of the morning and in the end, I put together something that I am proud to show off. I'm definitely planning on continuing this hobby and now I'm trying to figure out what set of pictures will be scrapbooked next. :)
So that is the year in review....hope you enjoyed reading about my 2008 as much as I have had living it. My only hope is that I will continue to learn and grow in 2009 and make it the best year yet. If you were keeping track, I don't have the full 5 best days/nights listed out. There are only 4 on here. While I tried to think of one to finish out the 5, too many things came to mind and there is a tie for the last one. I can say that 2008 ended up being nothing like I had planned but I experienced many things and in the end, I am a stronger person now than I was when the year started.
As for the first day of 2009, I spent the day doing things I enjoy. Besides just relaxing for a bit, I went shopping at Kohls for work clothes, browsed 2nd Wind Fitness Equipment for an elliptical machine and hit Walmart for everyday essentials. I couldn't just take the day and do nothing because that's not in my nature. I'm ready for another busy day tomorrow at work but the good thing is that at 5 pm, I have a weekend to enjoy as well.
Have a terrific rest of the week and happy 2009!!
I started the New Year at home thinking about how I was going to make it a better year than the end of 2007 had been. Looking back...WOW....2008 turned out to be much better than I could have ever expected!
January:
* Middle of the the month (January 18th to be exact!), I was promoted and my job duties at work included administrative payroll, 401k coordinator and also being the right-hand person to the President of the Company. It was a huge step up for me and I was nervous but anxious to move up in the ranks.
* 29th of the month, I celebrated the quarter-century mark. For once, I was not sweating a birthday, but I also didn't plan much celebrating because my new position was turning out to be quite the handful. I managed to survive the day though and I came home to a quiet apartment.
February:
* Chicago trip with M, Angie, Bryanna and Kristin. The trip was fun but the Bon Jovi concert was even more amazing than I could ever imagine.
March:
* My awesome Bro turned 21. I think his birthday was more difficult for me to comprehend than my own. As a birthday present, we planned a trip to the Memphis in May World Championship BBQ Festival.
* I had a huge meltdown at work. Now normally this would not be a highlight for the year considering I was a complete mess for 3 or so days, but the meltdown helped me come to grips with a few things in my life and made me realize that I need to take a step back and think about myself every now and again.
The meltdown also had another perk to it as you will see in the month of April.
* At the end of the month, the guys from work decided to hold the first annual racquetball tournament. I was a mere spectator for the night but I had a blast hanging out with all of my work friends.
After the tournament M and I were able to get SS to go to karaoke with us and even though he was adamant that he would not sing with us, he got up there and showed us what a sport he was. Our play list included "Wanted Dead or Alive," "The Joker," and "Shook Me All Night Long."
I think that this night is one of my top 5 nights of the year.
April:
* One of the perks from my meltdown was tickets to a Cardinals game. I was given 4 tickets for a game in early April and I couldn't think of any better people to ask to go with me than M, SS and TL. They all graciously agreed to go with me and after work one Friday night we loaded up TL's truck and headed down for the stadium. We sang and joked around all the way down to Busch stadium, watched the game and had a great time on the ride home.
Again, this is another night in my top 5 of the year.
* Around the middle of the month I was invited to attend an afternoon Cardinals game with both of my immediate bosses and the rep from the bank. This was the first business outings I was invited to attend and I was grateful that my bosses thought of me.
* We had an earthquake centered a little over 120 miles from St. Louis that shook me up. It wasn't a huge quake but enough for everyone to realize that something was not right. I was scared for the simple fact that I never experienced tremors like that before and especially ones that woke me up from a sound sleep at 4:30 in the morning.
May:
* The much anticipated trip to Memphis with my Bro. We bonded and had a great time partying on Beale Street and seeing the sights of the city. Since my bro was in high school, I've considered him more of a friend than just my brother and I think that this trip helped strengthen that friendship. I learned so much more about him and I realize that we are more alike than I previously thought. It's kinda scary! :)
June:
* Nothing extremely significant stands out. I spent many weekends hanging out at my Dad's and BBQing. It was nice to be able to spend more time with my family. We did take my Dad to the driving range for Father's Day and I was able to test out my new golf clubs.
July:
* The Girls Weekend at the Lake was at the end of the month and we had a blast! It was one of the last memories I had spending time with Sherri along with M and all of the other girls. And even though Sherri was not feeling 100% for the weekend, she still tried to make the best of it and I'll always remember all of the fun we had at the pool and taking Amy out to party.
August:
* A group of us played in SS's golf tournament towards the end of the month and had a good time raising money for an extremely important cause. I was honored to be able to help with collecting prizes beforehand and I realized what a special thing he and his family does to help others who have been faced with losing a child to SIDS.
The tournament ended up being a lot of fun and I think I got a little better at playing the game of golf. The only downside is that I'm fairly certain that my Dad will never think of me as his sweet little girl any more. :)
September:
* We celebrated Boatfest 2008 on the river. There are only a few other happy hour events that can top BBQing, drinking and playing in the river and on the waverunners. This however was a very relaxing and enjoyable time that also provided a good end to the summer.
* I experienced a NASCAR Craftsmen's Truck Series race at Gateway International Raceway. My uncle, aunt, Dad and I finally got to see a NASCAR race and followed it with a trip over to Fast Eddies. Nothing beats a cold beer and cheap yet yummy food!
* Work held a 'baby shower' in a party box at the Cardinals game for the owner of our company at the end of the month.
October:
* I lost my dear friend Sherri to breast cancer and was faced with an emotional overload. Yes, I realized that she was in so much pain and had fought a valiant fight, but it still was very difficult for me to understand why such a good person was taken away too early. I also realized that you can't take the little things in life for granted and I now try to live each day to the fullest.
* The day after Sherri passed away, MO had a birthday/housewarming/poker party at his new place. The party ended up being a nice break from the stress we had faced earlier in the week. I played poker with the boys and actually faired better than I expected.
And while I won't mention the other reasons on here, I can say that this this night is my #1 night of 2008.
* I was summons for jury duty and was forced to sit through an entire day at the courthouse in the jury assembly room without being called for duty. That didn't bother me but the fact that I hadn't taken any time off of work for myself and then was forced to for jury duty bothered me, especially since I had work that needed to get done and I couldn't be there to handle it.
* M, MK, SS and I played in the SFC Memorial Golf Tournament at Forest Park. M and I got lost going to the first hole and then were separated but we ended up spending the day laughing and being silly and having a grand time.
* The Halloween party at TL's. This night got started a bit late and lasted well into the morning hours with us singing Whitesnake and dancing in TL's driveway and watching a NY Giants/Dallas Cowboys game that didn't exist. (Ok, it did exist but it was a replay of an older game, which we didn't know while we were watching it.)
November:
* My mom had knee replacement surgery 3 days before Thanksgiving. While this is a big deal for anyone who goes through this, it was an even bigger deal for her as she was not released from the hospital on schedule. Come to find out, they left a drill bit in her knee and it was causing her to have a few complications. She was sick and in pain for days and was forced to stay in the hospital on Thanksgiving. As a result, my Thanksgiving consisted of spending the morning and early afternoon with my Dad and his side of the family and then spending the rest of the afternoon and evening trying to spend quality time with my mom and Michael in the hospital. Finally in the late afternoon the next day my mom was released from the hospital and we were able to celebrate our Thanksgiving after I got off of work.
December:
* This month seemed to be a whirlwind when it came to work. I spent many hours trying to plan Christmas/holiday celebrations for our drivers and terminals and our own office. Our Christmas party was on December 18th and it was a huge success!! Dinner was great and I had fun mingling with all of my co-workers. As luck would have it, I ended up winning two of the raffles during the night -- lunch with the President and a co-worker and Cardinals tickets! Go me!!
I've now earned the nickname Brown Noser since this was my second time winning lunch with the boss.
* Christmas was fabulous! I was able to spend a good amount of time with both sides of my family and I cherish all of the memories made Christmas Eve, the day of and the day after.
The day after Christmas one of the last nights of my top 5 of the year.
* New Years Eve ended up being the exact way I planned it and while it may not seem that exciting to most, I was content with my decision to stay home. I was able to keep my creative juices flowing and finish my Memphis scrapbook in the wee hours of the morning and in the end, I put together something that I am proud to show off. I'm definitely planning on continuing this hobby and now I'm trying to figure out what set of pictures will be scrapbooked next. :)
So that is the year in review....hope you enjoyed reading about my 2008 as much as I have had living it. My only hope is that I will continue to learn and grow in 2009 and make it the best year yet. If you were keeping track, I don't have the full 5 best days/nights listed out. There are only 4 on here. While I tried to think of one to finish out the 5, too many things came to mind and there is a tie for the last one. I can say that 2008 ended up being nothing like I had planned but I experienced many things and in the end, I am a stronger person now than I was when the year started.
As for the first day of 2009, I spent the day doing things I enjoy. Besides just relaxing for a bit, I went shopping at Kohls for work clothes, browsed 2nd Wind Fitness Equipment for an elliptical machine and hit Walmart for everyday essentials. I couldn't just take the day and do nothing because that's not in my nature. I'm ready for another busy day tomorrow at work but the good thing is that at 5 pm, I have a weekend to enjoy as well.
Have a terrific rest of the week and happy 2009!!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Fairwell 2008.....
Because I don't have the brain power to put together a real post highlighting 2008, I'm completing a survey about the year. Don't worry, I'll give you my year in revew in the next few days (hopefully!) Today was just a long day with year-end at work and I've decided that I'm just going to stay here at home tonight and try to finish my Memphis scrapbook and relax. So for your reading pleasure, here is my 2008 in survey form:
Where did you begin 2008?
At home…I had dinner with my work friends and was home before midnight.
What was your status by Valentines Day?
Single and confused
Were you in school anytime this year?
Nope
Did you have to go to the hospital?
For myself no…but I visited numerous people throughout the year.
Did you have any encounters with the police?
Yes a few. It’s alright though, I didn’t get into a lot of trouble!
Where did you go on vacation?
Chicago in February, Memphis in May, Lake of the Ozarks in July
What did you purchase that was over $100?
Off of the top of my head, I don’t really know anything besides clothes.
Did you know anybody who got married?
Yes, Melissa from work
Did you know anybody who passed away?
Yes, one of my dear friends, Sherri
Did you move anywhere?
No, I stayed put.
What sporting events did you attend?
A few Cardinals games and a Blues game.
What concerts/shows did you go to?
Bon Jovi in Chicago – that was awesome!!
Describe your birthday:
I think I just stayed home. It was during the week and I had just been promoted and was super stressed with my new position at work.
What is the one thing you thought you would not do, but did, in 2008?
Ha! Wouldn’t you like to know!! ;)
Nah, I was good through the year. I guess I would have to say, work a lot.
What has been your favorite moments?
Chicago with the girls in February, the racquetball tournament with the guys from work in March, the Cardinals game in April, the trip to Memphis with my bro, the numerous happy hours, the lake trip with the girls in July, Mike O’s birthday party in October, Christmas
Any new additions to your family?
Not that I can recall
What was your best month?
Probably October…I seemed to have a handle on my job and everything else going on in my life.
Made new friends?
Yes, I’m sure I’ve made a few
Favorite Night out?
The Cardinals game with my friends back in April
Except at home, where did you spend most of your time?
For sure, at work…I’m there more than I am at home!
Have you lost any friends this year?
Yep, it happens though as people start moving in different directions with their lives.
Change your hairstyle?
Yep…it’s blonde and naturally wavy now.
Have any car accidents?
No
Do you have a New Years resolution?
Yes, I’m going to continue to be true to myself. I got a ring for Christmas that says, “Live the life you love. Love the life you live.” I’m going to make that my motto for 2009.
Do anything embarrassing?
I’ve done quite a few embarrassing things. The thing everyone remembers the most is when I fell over my trash can at work and landed on all fours. It was a sight!!
Buy anything new from eBay?
No, not this year
Get married or divorced?
Neither
Been snowboarding?
Nope. I'm too scared to even try it.
Did you get sick this year?
Yeah...a few times, mostly the common cold though.
Are you happy to see 2008 go?
You know when the year started, I just wanted to get it over with. 2007 didn’t end that well and I was afraid my 2008 was going to be the same way. However, 2008 ended up being a great year and I am a bit sad to see it go, but I’m anxious to make 2009 as awesome as this year has been!
I hope you have an enjoyable New Years Eve and I wish you all the best in 2009. Please be careful if you happen to go out tonight to ring in the New Year!!
Where did you begin 2008?
At home…I had dinner with my work friends and was home before midnight.
What was your status by Valentines Day?
Single and confused
Were you in school anytime this year?
Nope
Did you have to go to the hospital?
For myself no…but I visited numerous people throughout the year.
Did you have any encounters with the police?
Yes a few. It’s alright though, I didn’t get into a lot of trouble!
Where did you go on vacation?
Chicago in February, Memphis in May, Lake of the Ozarks in July
What did you purchase that was over $100?
Off of the top of my head, I don’t really know anything besides clothes.
Did you know anybody who got married?
Yes, Melissa from work
Did you know anybody who passed away?
Yes, one of my dear friends, Sherri
Did you move anywhere?
No, I stayed put.
What sporting events did you attend?
A few Cardinals games and a Blues game.
What concerts/shows did you go to?
Bon Jovi in Chicago – that was awesome!!
Describe your birthday:
I think I just stayed home. It was during the week and I had just been promoted and was super stressed with my new position at work.
What is the one thing you thought you would not do, but did, in 2008?
Ha! Wouldn’t you like to know!! ;)
Nah, I was good through the year. I guess I would have to say, work a lot.
What has been your favorite moments?
Chicago with the girls in February, the racquetball tournament with the guys from work in March, the Cardinals game in April, the trip to Memphis with my bro, the numerous happy hours, the lake trip with the girls in July, Mike O’s birthday party in October, Christmas
Any new additions to your family?
Not that I can recall
What was your best month?
Probably October…I seemed to have a handle on my job and everything else going on in my life.
Made new friends?
Yes, I’m sure I’ve made a few
Favorite Night out?
The Cardinals game with my friends back in April
Except at home, where did you spend most of your time?
For sure, at work…I’m there more than I am at home!
Have you lost any friends this year?
Yep, it happens though as people start moving in different directions with their lives.
Change your hairstyle?
Yep…it’s blonde and naturally wavy now.
Have any car accidents?
No
Do you have a New Years resolution?
Yes, I’m going to continue to be true to myself. I got a ring for Christmas that says, “Live the life you love. Love the life you live.” I’m going to make that my motto for 2009.
Do anything embarrassing?
I’ve done quite a few embarrassing things. The thing everyone remembers the most is when I fell over my trash can at work and landed on all fours. It was a sight!!
Buy anything new from eBay?
No, not this year
Get married or divorced?
Neither
Been snowboarding?
Nope. I'm too scared to even try it.
Did you get sick this year?
Yeah...a few times, mostly the common cold though.
Are you happy to see 2008 go?
You know when the year started, I just wanted to get it over with. 2007 didn’t end that well and I was afraid my 2008 was going to be the same way. However, 2008 ended up being a great year and I am a bit sad to see it go, but I’m anxious to make 2009 as awesome as this year has been!
I hope you have an enjoyable New Years Eve and I wish you all the best in 2009. Please be careful if you happen to go out tonight to ring in the New Year!!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Tis the season!
I wish you all a very merry and blessed Christmas!
To all of my friends and family --
I can't say it enough, I'm grateful to those of you who have continued to stick by me through all of the craziness of the past year and of previous years. You are the reasons why I love the holiday season and why the bad times never truly seem that bad. I appreciate your kind words when my life is hectic and your guidance when my life feels truly uncertain.
I'm off to spend my Christmas with both sides of my family. I will catch up with you later!!
To all of my friends and family --
I can't say it enough, I'm grateful to those of you who have continued to stick by me through all of the craziness of the past year and of previous years. You are the reasons why I love the holiday season and why the bad times never truly seem that bad. I appreciate your kind words when my life is hectic and your guidance when my life feels truly uncertain.
I'm off to spend my Christmas with both sides of my family. I will catch up with you later!!
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Happy Holidays!
Usually when it comes to November and December, I'm not really ready to celebrate the holidays. Thanksgiving is normally a very stressful day since I try to spend time with all of my family and have numerous dinners with both sides. Then I go back to work exhausted and still stuffed from all of the goodies when I head back into the office on Friday.
At Christmastime, I rush at the very last minute to try to bake Christmas cookies, decorate a little (if I even feel like it), shop for the all important presents and rack my brain to figure out if I forgot anything else that I promised to take care of for my friends and family.
I don't know if I had a change of heart with the holidays this year or if I just haven't had the panic that I've experienced in years past, but Thanksgiving went off without a hitch and this weekend I started decorating both my place and my parents and I'm starting to get into the holiday spirit. I spent Thanksgiving with my Dad, Bro, Aunt, Uncle and cousins at my Dad's house and then on Friday I had Thanksgiving with my Mom, Michael and my Grandma after I got off of work in the early evening. We were planning on doing Thanksgiving on Thursday as well, but because my Mom was not released from the hospital until Friday morning from her knee surgery, our plans were postponed. It worked out for the best though and I ended up having a great Thanksgiving with both sides of my family.
Saturday morning I woke up and decided that I should get out my ceramic table-top Christmas tree and other decorations and try to get into the spirit. While most people would make fun of my little tree, I love it. It's perfect for my apartment and I can't imagine trying to fit anything bigger in my living room.
While I was looking forward to starting my Christmas shopping, I decided to hold off and wait until I have a better idea of what I need to get for my family and friends. I'll probably start on that next weekend.
Instead, I ended up going over to my parents' house again today, both to check on my Mom's progress almost a week after her knee replacement and to cook them the dinner I promised. I also found that this was the perfect opportunity to get their tree up and the house decorated for Christmas.
And this was the end result:
Doesn't it look great?!? It's kinda funny though, that tree always looked gigantic when I was a little girl and we were decorating it in my childhood house. In the new house and now that I'm older the tree really doesn't seem that big and really it took no time at all to assemble and decorate. We worked very hard on that tree and I'm proud of it. And, I'm even more excited for Christmas now!
Tomorrow is the start of a new week and month at work. I'm ready to head back into the office but I know it's going to be a crazy month with trying to get everything finished before the end of the year. I am reminding myself to stay focused, do what I can and not get too over-whelmed by the number of tasks I have to accomplish. I'm sure I will be fine. I've got a great group of friends and family that will get me through everything. :)
I will definitely try to put together another post or two before the end of the year. I know there will be many exciting things coming up in the next few weeks with both work and everything else and hopefully I will find the time to check in every now and again. Have a terrific week!
At Christmastime, I rush at the very last minute to try to bake Christmas cookies, decorate a little (if I even feel like it), shop for the all important presents and rack my brain to figure out if I forgot anything else that I promised to take care of for my friends and family.
I don't know if I had a change of heart with the holidays this year or if I just haven't had the panic that I've experienced in years past, but Thanksgiving went off without a hitch and this weekend I started decorating both my place and my parents and I'm starting to get into the holiday spirit. I spent Thanksgiving with my Dad, Bro, Aunt, Uncle and cousins at my Dad's house and then on Friday I had Thanksgiving with my Mom, Michael and my Grandma after I got off of work in the early evening. We were planning on doing Thanksgiving on Thursday as well, but because my Mom was not released from the hospital until Friday morning from her knee surgery, our plans were postponed. It worked out for the best though and I ended up having a great Thanksgiving with both sides of my family.
Saturday morning I woke up and decided that I should get out my ceramic table-top Christmas tree and other decorations and try to get into the spirit. While most people would make fun of my little tree, I love it. It's perfect for my apartment and I can't imagine trying to fit anything bigger in my living room.
While I was looking forward to starting my Christmas shopping, I decided to hold off and wait until I have a better idea of what I need to get for my family and friends. I'll probably start on that next weekend.
Instead, I ended up going over to my parents' house again today, both to check on my Mom's progress almost a week after her knee replacement and to cook them the dinner I promised. I also found that this was the perfect opportunity to get their tree up and the house decorated for Christmas.
And this was the end result:
Doesn't it look great?!? It's kinda funny though, that tree always looked gigantic when I was a little girl and we were decorating it in my childhood house. In the new house and now that I'm older the tree really doesn't seem that big and really it took no time at all to assemble and decorate. We worked very hard on that tree and I'm proud of it. And, I'm even more excited for Christmas now!
Tomorrow is the start of a new week and month at work. I'm ready to head back into the office but I know it's going to be a crazy month with trying to get everything finished before the end of the year. I am reminding myself to stay focused, do what I can and not get too over-whelmed by the number of tasks I have to accomplish. I'm sure I will be fine. I've got a great group of friends and family that will get me through everything. :)
I will definitely try to put together another post or two before the end of the year. I know there will be many exciting things coming up in the next few weeks with both work and everything else and hopefully I will find the time to check in every now and again. Have a terrific week!
Monday, November 10, 2008
The Good, The Bad and The Not So Pleasant...
The good news -- if the Arizona Cardinals win the game against the 49ers tonight and total points scored is 41, I win the football pool at work. First time a girl would win this season. Of course, I think there are 7 or 8 of us who could win, so I don't have any bragging rights just yet.
The bad news -- Jamie McMurray placed 3rd in yesterday's NSCS race in Phoenix and became engaged earlier in the week. I'm not upset about the 3rd place finish because that's awesome! I'm a tad bit peeved that he's engaged. Guess I don't have a shot with him after all....damn! My little dream has been squashed.
The not so pleasant -- it's fricken cold here in St. Louis. How do we go from 80 degrees last Monday to a brisk 28 this morning. Where the heck did fall go and why are we already faced with winter temperatures?
Other than that, things are fairly peachy. This weekend flew by and I kept myself fairly busy. I slowed down in just enough time to start over this week at work. Work is about the same as always, but I can't complain...it's just how I like it.
Hope you have a terrific week!!
The bad news -- Jamie McMurray placed 3rd in yesterday's NSCS race in Phoenix and became engaged earlier in the week. I'm not upset about the 3rd place finish because that's awesome! I'm a tad bit peeved that he's engaged. Guess I don't have a shot with him after all....damn! My little dream has been squashed.
The not so pleasant -- it's fricken cold here in St. Louis. How do we go from 80 degrees last Monday to a brisk 28 this morning. Where the heck did fall go and why are we already faced with winter temperatures?
Other than that, things are fairly peachy. This weekend flew by and I kept myself fairly busy. I slowed down in just enough time to start over this week at work. Work is about the same as always, but I can't complain...it's just how I like it.
Hope you have a terrific week!!
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Domesticating Lindsay
I don't know what's gotten into me this week, but for some odd reason I have felt the need to become more domesticate. Wednesday night, I made homemade zucchini muffins (from a recipe that I ended up tweaking to make it my own!); Thursday night, I helped make dinner at M's for us and for TL's family; and then today, I actually cleaned my entire apartment and tried to plan out dinners for next week and for my potluck at work on Tuesday. I don't know what's gotten into me....I'm sure it won't last long though!
In other news, I ended up having a blast last night!! In fact, I think this is the first time I can remember actually enjoying my Halloween as an adult. I still was unsure about what I was actually going to do when I left work after month end at 6:30 last night, but I got into my car and called M just to check in since I was leaving so late. TL and his wife had invited the work bunch over to his house for chili and relaxing by the fire pit that night and we both had tentatively planned on going. My intentions were to go to the casino first and then since I would be out that way, just head to his house. Well, the plan on going to the casino quickly changed as M invited me over and told me that it would be easier if we just rode out to TL's later in the evening together. I was not in any sort of arguing mood and since I knew there were a few others that would also prefer that I not go to the casino by myself, I told M, I would meet her at her house after making a quick stop at home. We ended up getting out to TL's house about 10 pm and I was already starting to feel exhausted. I didn't think there would be any way I would be very good company, but soon after, we all started joking around and I forgot all about being tired. It was such a beautiful night for being the last day of October -- you can not beat temps in the low 70s and high 60s for Halloween night, especially in St. Louis. After bs-ing with C, MO, TL and B (TL's wife), singing Whitesnake and having just an all around good time, I finally got M back home at almost 2 this morning and then I high-tailed it home so I could get to bed. What a change from the last two Fridays where I went to bed so early I thought I was going to lose my "hip 25 year old" status. Ha! :)
This hip chick needs to get back to uploading some new tunes to her Ipod. I'll catch up with you later. Don't forget to "fall back" tonight. I'm sure the extra hour of sleep will help everyone! Have a great weekend!!
In other news, I ended up having a blast last night!! In fact, I think this is the first time I can remember actually enjoying my Halloween as an adult. I still was unsure about what I was actually going to do when I left work after month end at 6:30 last night, but I got into my car and called M just to check in since I was leaving so late. TL and his wife had invited the work bunch over to his house for chili and relaxing by the fire pit that night and we both had tentatively planned on going. My intentions were to go to the casino first and then since I would be out that way, just head to his house. Well, the plan on going to the casino quickly changed as M invited me over and told me that it would be easier if we just rode out to TL's later in the evening together. I was not in any sort of arguing mood and since I knew there were a few others that would also prefer that I not go to the casino by myself, I told M, I would meet her at her house after making a quick stop at home. We ended up getting out to TL's house about 10 pm and I was already starting to feel exhausted. I didn't think there would be any way I would be very good company, but soon after, we all started joking around and I forgot all about being tired. It was such a beautiful night for being the last day of October -- you can not beat temps in the low 70s and high 60s for Halloween night, especially in St. Louis. After bs-ing with C, MO, TL and B (TL's wife), singing Whitesnake and having just an all around good time, I finally got M back home at almost 2 this morning and then I high-tailed it home so I could get to bed. What a change from the last two Fridays where I went to bed so early I thought I was going to lose my "hip 25 year old" status. Ha! :)
This hip chick needs to get back to uploading some new tunes to her Ipod. I'll catch up with you later. Don't forget to "fall back" tonight. I'm sure the extra hour of sleep will help everyone! Have a great weekend!!
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