Working and playing hard

Tomorrow is the last day of the month. We will be swamped, but hopefully everything will work out and bonus will be good - woo hoo! Then another 4 days until a 3 day weekend. I am really looking forward to that (Marc's bday weekend - uh oh!).

After work Joe and I met up with Marc, D, Matt, Rob, Richard, Darah and Danny. Everyone except Joe and Danny piled into a limo that took us to see Kelly Clarkson! Fun show. She has an amazing voice and I really enjoyed the songs I knew. Unfortunately being at the Woodlands Pavilion was really HOT and HUMID. Rob is a huge KC fan and he had the best time of all of us! And the limo is definitely the way to go - no traffic worries.

Needless to say, leaving Joe and Danny together for 5 hours in Montrose had us back to 2 drunk boys. I didn't stay out much longer after we got back and Joe came home about an hour later.

This morning I had to see patients for about 1 hour. Yoga was out of the question. I don't sleep very well after drinking any amount of alcohol. We met up for our usual brunch at little Berry Hill. This afternoon was spent in front of the TV - Madonna's I'm going to tell you a secret and Garden State. Both very entertaining.

I've been trying to motivate myself to scrap - I just don't know what yet.

Ting finished her race and seemed to be in good spirits. I am so proud of her!

The weekend (what little I had) is almost over - ugh. Just 5 more days to go...

Post 151

Ting was asked to be a blogger for her race across the Atacama desert this week. I'm so glad because her posts have made me feel more connected to her and kept me updated on her progress. Poor thing, this race is really testing her limits but I know she can do it! Luckily the athletes can receive emails so I have been trying to mail her 2x per day. Hopefully the mail brings some smiles to her face!

I got some fun scrapbooking books yesterday! Ali, Elsie and the Me book. Yummy! I am very inspired to scrap, just have to find the time! Work, as predicted, has been fairly busy. It's a good thing, as the day goes by very quickly.

Joe cooked a yummy Rachael Ray meal last night. Hmmm, an Ironman and he cooks?? I think he's a keeper!

Inspiration

Here is photos of my studly husband and sister. Joe running the last leg of his ironman.








Ting is doing a 150 mile 7 day race across the Atacama desert, in Chili. She just completed the 3rd leg. I've seen some beautiful pictures of the desert, but it looks like a tough race. She is one of the competitors who have a blog (!!) so I've been keeping up with her that way. She is awesome!

Call me Ironwife!

Looks like blogger is having trouble with photo uploads, so I'll post them later. Joe did awesome in Lake Placid. He finished the swim in an amazing time of just over 1 hour. The bike took a little over 6 and the run about 4.5. So his overall time was about 11:42. He is so awesome and I am so proud of him for accomplishing this. Whew! Training time over!

Of course the trip home was from hell. We didn't leave Albany until 5. Our flight from Newark was supposed to leave at 8:30 but we didn't leave until 10:40 because our plane was delayed in from Florida. That sucked! I finished A Million Little Pieces, the controversial "memoir" during the delay and on the plane flight home. A pretty good book, even if most of it was a heavily embellished truch. I was entertained and even a little touched. Too bad though - it's hard to distinguish what really happened from the embellishments so you end you believing most of it is embellished.

Well, gotta get geared for work today - we are going to be crazy busy this week. Wish me luck!

Inspired

I love this photo of Joe. I took it during the water show at the Bellagio when we were in Vegas this February. He's such a beautiful man! {again, edited with PSE}

I have been in a scrapping mood but haven't scrapped it like 2 weeks!! After this trip I should be able to do some. We are actually getting out second room organized and I have lots of my stuff more accessible to me. We got a new desk from Ikea as well as a scrapbook cart from Container Store. I knew we should have bought 2 at the time, but I ordered another one on Tues so hopefully it will be here next week.

I am torn on whether to get PSE or Microsoft Digital Suite. I'm liking how to change the B+W photos with layers a la Elsie Flannigan, but I'm thinking there must be a way to do it on MDS as well. For now I am going to try to convert as many photos as I can with my trial version as I would like to get one of these for Christmas (that's a long time to wait!).

I like the days when we don't have treatments going on at work. Definitely less stressful, for whatever reason. Probably because there are not a million people in the office. Last day of less stress today! Next week is going to be CRAZY since we didn't have any procedures the last 3 days.

Am off to the post office this morning before work. I ordered the Elsie Polka Dot Stamps along with my a million memories monthly kit. Can't wait to play!

Ironman here we come!

I dropped Joe at the airport bright and early this morning - his flight left at 6:58 am. I can't believe the BIG DAY is almost here! All his training for the past 7 months boil down to one day, this Sunday. I am so proud of him!

I even made it to the gym for 30 minutes of cardio. I don't know why I'm so unmotivated.

Other random thought for the day: my left wrist starting hurting some time yesterday. It still aches and I cannot put very much pressure on it (i.e. doing a push up would be very uncomfortable). I hope I just slept on it funny and it will get better on its own in the next few days.

2 more days and I'm off to Lake Placid as well. I am looking forward to being away from the city and in cooler weather.

Lazy lazy

I have not been motivated to work out these past few months. Sleep is just too good. I can't remember the last time I went to the gym! Tomorrow I have to get up early to take Joe to the airport (Ironman this weekend!) so I will drag my a$$ there. Must. Go. To. Gym.

Arizona is HOT

We got a lot of sun, worked out, ate a lot of good food, drank a lot of wine and enjoyed some good company. The Sanctuary Spa at Camelback was nice but not 100% luxurious - our A/C was working overtime to keep the rooms liveable. My favorite part of the rooms were the Fresh toiletries. Brought lots of samples home! My first big trip with my Houston girls was a success - no huge dramas other than the usual "How are we going to get Amy to go to bed?"

We'll be planning another trip next year, hopefully to somewhere just a little bit cooler!

Having fun with PSE

This is silly me being inspired by Elsie with the self-portrait and photo editing in Photoshop. I uploaded a trial version and am having fun play with it, but I may ultimately get the newer version of Microsoft Digital Suite. I'll have to think about it. But look at the cool non-colors!

I am going to Phoenix this weekend with Peg, Trista, Amy, Laura, Wendy and LT. I'm hoping for a nice relaxing weekend with good conversations, reading by the pool, facials, eating good food and a lot of nothing. I definitely need to get away.

All for now. Be back in 3 days.

Uninspired

My blogging has been like my work outs lately - few and far between. I have not been very inspired to write - which is surprising to me considering how much I have been obsessing over scrapping lately.

In the realm of baby news: my oldest, dearest friend Veronica Connor, who lives in AZ, recently adopted a baby girl from China. She looks so cute! And Shaila, of only wants one child philosophy, is preggers again!! 12 weeks already, with a little boy. I am so excited for them both. Gives me a little baby fever...

So to give me inspiration here are some questions to answer:
1. How old are you? 35 (ugh, hate that number!).
2. How many kids do you have if any? none, yet...
3. Are you married, single, divorced, widow,? Married.
4. What is your occupation? optometrist for lasik center. who wants to sell contacts and glasses??
5. What are your passions? scrapbooking; photography
6. Are you a dreamer or a dream seeker? dreamer - as is what i would do if i won the lotto, but i never buy a ticket!
7. Are you happy with the way you life has turned out? so far... yes. I still feel, however, there's lots more out there for me.
8. Are you a scrapper and if so how many hours a week do you scrap? yes and maybe 5-10 hours, if i'm lucky. it takes me a long time to do a single page as i usually don't have a plan until i sit down to scrap. i should work on that.
9. What do you want to do before you die? travel to more places I haven't been such as South America, Australia, more countries in Europe; become a mommy; become an auntie (on my side); eventually own more rental property; live in a bigger house; retire early!
10. What is your favorite food? hard one; i love all sorts of food, but my everyday go to is cold cereal.
11. What is the food you hate the most? black olives.
12. What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you? Cried in front of a patient. Mostly of anger and frustration and not at said patient, but couldn't stop them.
13. What is the happiest day of your life thus far? i am generally a happy person and would not like to pick just one.
14. Are you a neat freak? Or a dirty house cleaner? Joe wishes I were a neat freak, but unfortunately I fall under the latter category.

All for now! Going for a picture walk.

I am trying to upload a picture but it's not working correctly. Maybe later...

MIA

I can't believe it's been over a week since I've blogged. Bad Blogger! The long weekend went by too quickly. We didn't get much done but had a good time - too good, probably.

Work is still stressing me out as usual. Not the actual work (although patients can wear me out) but thinking about scheduling and how it's all f**ked up and everything I have planned for vacation for the rest of the year is messed up. Although it is not stopping me from taking whatever trips I have planned, it's just more stressful to take them. I'm also a little stressed about going to see patients this morning. I'm a little afraid that in the confusion on who would be working with me today, NO ONE will show up. Hopefully it will work out.

I signed up for a class with Elsie the Monday before CKU so am excited about that. I think scrapping is what gives me most joy lately. That's a good thing.

Only 32 hours

...of work left until a 4-day weekend!! Work kind of reminds me of school. It's not so bad once you are there, but thinking about it leaves me with dread. Not a good thing. I need to change my attitude. I think it's just that it's never ending. There is always going to be another month. Always another target to hit. Always more patients to see. Good and bad, I guess.

I haven't been blogging as much lately because I haven't had much to say. Still into the scrappin'! I need to find more WRMK linen albums. I love them. HL had lots and I should have bought more when they were half off. But they didn't have all the cool colors. We really need to organize our "office/guest room" as well. Hopefully we'll be getting a new desk soon.

I just joined Netflix, and I am enjoying it. Not having to go to the video store is a plus, as well as no late fees. I also like having a bunch of movies that I've already chosen and they send them one by one. My kind of store!

Where does the time go?

Ting and I. About 27 years ago and now. We've definitely grown! And our love and affection for each other has grown as well. I love being able to say that my sister is one of my best friends in the world. She is so adorable. I just love how cute she looks in the older picture.

This Library of Memories class is really making me thinkof (obsess over) my photos and memories in a whole new perspective. I can't get enough.

I like that most of my photos are digital because they are easier to sift through, but I like scrapping with paper. So I need to print off way more pics. I'm liking the black and white conversion too because then, a la Cathy Z., I can pick any colors that strike my fancy. I am slowly making the conversion.

Well, it's off the work now. Save the fun for later.

Scrapbook nerd

That's me. I am currently taking 2 classes at BPS: A Library of Memories and Product Playground. The first is more of an organization and re-think the way you scrapbook class. I really love it because I have been a chronological, event-based scrapbooker my whole life and I want to get more into my pages. The Why-factor. I still am having a hard time with the photos, though. Most pic I take are at "events" or "things" we do, but I think this class will help me focus on what other pictures I should or want to take.

The second class is about using your products in layouts. This is great for me because I have countless scrapbooking supplies but am loathe to use them (because they are so cute!). But the only reason I have them is to use them on scrapbook pages! So this class will compliment the first because it will take the pictures I'm organizing and help me make pages with them. I am very excited about that. Now my only problem is having time to scrap! Work is going to be crazy until the end of the month so I probably won't be scrapping too much until then. My goal is one page a week for the product class. I can do it!

Yay!!

Joey is coming home tonight. Or this morning, I should stay. I am getting very sleepy waiting for his plane to arrive. Poor thing, he had 2 flight delays on his way back. He will probably be even more tired.

I slept pretty poorly last night - I think it is mating season for frogs or something, because that's what it sounded like last night. I woke up at 3:30 am and kept waking up every hour after that. I hate when that happens. So today has been in a sleepy haze. I was somewhat productive - cleaned dishes and house.

Mom and Dad are in Japan for the next 6 weeks. I wish we were there too. I guess I should just be happy that tomorrow is a day off.

Gotta keep awake to pick up my Joey. toodles.

Only one day to go

Working on Saturdays stink, but at least tomorrow and Monday are days off! And Joe comes home tomorrow - woo hoo! I think part of the reason I've been in such a bad mood lately is 'cause my baby is gon.

I went to dinner with Marc, Darryl and Darah last night at Thai Spice. Then we went to see The Break Up. It was pretty good - funny parts and sad parts. I enjoyed it overall.

Gotta gear myself up for work. Laters.

Deep breaths

I am still obsessing over this whole work/vacation thing. I think I need to just chill out. Everything should work out in the end. Staffing is out of my control so I shouldn't stress about it so much. Just take each day as it comes. And if I have to take an extra sick day, so be it.

Breathe in, breathe out. Enjoy your life. It could be much worse. Now rinse and repeat.

Working is for the birds...

The problem with having a 3 day weekend is that it is all the harder to return to work on Tuesday! Lately I have been unhappy with the job. Not the actual work itself, but our crazy schedule. I don't mind being busy - in fact I like that it makes the day go by quicker. But being chaotic is another thing. And we have been really chaotic for at least 2 months now. We simply don't have enough people to work the volume of patients we are seeing. This has been an ongoing problem with no end in sight. That's what frustrates me. I try not to think about it and just do my work but, as usual, when I start thinking about it I start obsessing about it.

My motto is to take things day to day. Enjoy each day for what it is. That's what I need to do. It's just that sometimes work gets in the way of life.

Sigh. I miss my Joey!

I have been in a George Michael kind of mood lately. Listen without Prejudice is probably one of my favorite cds. It reminds me very much of the angst I felt in college. But it's just good music as well. I really would like to create a scrapbook of the music that moves me. It would be a work in progress as I have so many different musical influences over the course of my life! But a fun project nonetheless. Need to ponder that one...

Scrapaholic

So while Joe has been away, I have been compulsively organizing my photos (a la Stacy J's class at BPS), scanning my negatives (almost done with the box I dragged back from my parents' place) and scrappin (done a total of 6 layouts over the weekend. I even used the newest kit I got from A Million Memories. Days of hoarding are over. Yes, I can use up my scrap materials. That way I don't feel guilty for buying new stuff!).

I have barely even left the house all weekend - hee hee. On Sat I had to see post-ops and afterwards I made a trip to Wally World and Hobby Lobby. I want to get more linen We R Memory Keepers albums, but HL's supply is running low. After scrappin' all afternoon I watched So you think you can Dance?, my new summer show. And I had cereal for breakfast. And lunch. And dinner. That is so sad, but when I'm involved in something sometimes I just don't feel like eating (yes, very rare for me, so I need to take advantage!).

On Sunday I ran/walked and got a newspaper. Went to yoga in the morning. Cleaned house a litte. Actually made a sandwich for lunch. Darryl came by around 3 and we went to La Strada for a bday party for a client of his. His friend was cute and the people watching was entertaining but after about 2 hours I was done. When I got home, I drank lots of water to sober up and attempted to get something organized in my scrap room, but didn't get too much done.

Today has been fairly productive. I went by the post office as well as the g-store to stock up on some Rachael Ray staples. Went to the library and half price books. Scrapped and scanned. Got my new CK and some books from my friend Amy for my bday. So it has been a good mail day.

That's all for now. My life has been pretty boring lately but I'm ok with that. I like being at home and creating. It's all good.

Obsessed

I am obsessively organizing my photos and scanning my negatives. I have spent the last 4 hours doing so. I guess it doesn't hurt that Joe is gone for 10 days!!! I don't know what my fascination with old photos is due to...I just love looking and them. I wish I could remember things more. I really need to blog more details because they are so easy to forget!

This is an old photo of my dad's side of our family. Sadly, I haven't seen my youngest Aunt LuLu in probably over 10 years. And look at that 'fro on Ant Jy-Ming! You know this must have been taken some time in the '70s!! My parents are younger in this picture than me and Joe are now...can you imagine that???

Thinking about how time passes by like that makes me really want to treasure every moment. This is why I love scrapbooking - I don't want to forget my life.