Lunch

So after another morning of hitting snooze one to many times I rushed out the door and completely left my wonderful lunch in the fridge!! I felt so bad as I had been looking forward to it so much. Ryan had exhibited his culinary skills and created a wonderful batch of tortilla soup of which I had snagged a bowl of leftover soup just so I could enjoy it today.

Thankfully all is not lost. The soup will be in the fridge for my lunch tomorrow....and I didn't have to starve either as it was Stephen's Birthday and as a surprise Jacques took Stephen, Lien and myself out to lunch at the Pacific Rim. It was yummy!!

Back on the Non-profit Bandwagon again

Today has been amazingly productive!! I have registered to participate in three walks/runs for organizations such as the American Lung Association, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Aids Arms Life Walk. All for different months going all the way through November of this year. In addition I also signed up to volunteer for two different walks - the MS walk in March and Runner's World - Kids Running/Walking event in April.

It feels wonderful to know that just by giving a few hours of time on a Saturday or Sunday a difference could be made in another persons life. It feels good to get re-involved with non-profit activities again. When I lived in MN I think I participated/volunteered in at least two events a month beginning in March and ending in September...but then I didn't travel nearly as much as I do now and I was in better shape!

So it is a little by little process to get re-involved but nonetheless I'm excited about the upcoming events.

And btw....NO I do not do the who fundraising thing. If funds need to be raised I pay them out of my own pocket....I intensely dislike people who constantly ask for donations for this or that...good thing I'm not in sales!

Fun!

So I'm jamming out here at work today listening to Katherine McPhee and this awesome song called "Open Toes"......this sums up so many of the good things about being a hip, young happening woman. It really is all about Open Toe (shoes)!!

If you can get your hands on a copy of this CD - I think it is just called Katherine McPhee (at least that is what itunes listed it as when I loaded it) - I would highly recommend it....it is just fun!!

Insulted already!

OK.....I thought I looked really good when I walked out the door this morning. My hair was edgy, my make-up good, pants fit ok....I'm still struggling with finding good pants that don't make me look like I have a bubble butt (my mom's wording not mine), I had on a nice fitted white button down shirt and a cute scarf - Thanks Sarah!! And of course complimentary black peep toe heels.

Then I arrive at work....after not doing much for the first hour and a half a co-worked who had just arrived swung my door and said "Hey, you look like you are all 'cowgirled up' today" What the heck!! I was going for a fun, sophisticated, FRENCH OR 1950'S look. NOT COWGIRL!! So if anyone has any ideas on what to do drop me a line.....I can't take the scarf off as I don't have a necklace here and I have no idea on how else to tie the scarf aside from as I have it now. Off to the side, and tied.

Men have no fashion sense. And to top it off my shoes make funny noises when I walk.....this is not turning out to be a good Monday.....can we start over??

Cowgirl......how could he even fathom that that would be appreciated??

Key Lime Pie

So I'm rather bored at work although I have papers stacked up to my eyeballs and I must admit that I have visions of the most wonderful Key Lime Pie floating through my head. Mmmmmmmmm. But I must resist as I just finished lunch with the RC and have much to do before I call it a day.

The weather in Miami is still wonderful and although it is a little cloudy today it is in the 80's and soooo nice. I cannot stay focused this trip.....I don't know if it is spring fever or something else but I would love to be outdoors right now doing something non-work related. So sad to have such a short attention span.

What to do, what to do.....how to be productive when you want to go swimming and soak up some sun (if it wasn't cloudy that is).

Hmmmm. I could use a drink. Something fruity with pinapple juice and rum.

Challenges

So, a new day is here and so is my recovery from the sideswipe of yesterday. A friend told me this morning that the reason people are blindsided by someone tearing their work apart is God's funny way of teaching us humility. Of course in my own blunt fashion I replied back that I am already blessed with plenty of humility---and that all I want is just to feel like I'm on par with the rest of society who is blissfully going about their business. God has an odd sense of humor.

So my thought for the day is that I'm going to overwhelm a certain person with kindness, happiness and no matter what they say or do I will rise above them. I am going to learn and absorb all I can from them so when circumstances change guess who is ready to step into their shoes...or a comparable pair of shoes somewhere else.

I guess I not going to hold my breath for anything to happen in my personal life and just focus on what I know I can attain. Complete my MBA within 4 years, transition further upward with ACCOR within 6 years, a home within 8 years, and within 12 years complete either law school or a MLA. Perhaps I'm not one of those people who can have it all (family, home, relationship and career) but I'll make my own version of having it all -- in my case it will be great friends, career, home and travel. I heard somewhere that you make your own happiness.....well guess what - my time is coming. Do what you are doing and do it well. That will be my motto for the foreseeable future.

To New York and back again

Bad things happen when you don't take the time to blog.....of course I don't mean "bad things" literally but more along the lines of experiencing so many unique things that by the time I get around to blogging about them, they are rather faded like an old photograph...the excitement and energy felt while exploring a new city has faded behind the tedium of yet another day in the office.

So let me just say that New York was a complete experience like none other. I was fortunate enough to spend some time with a friend who came up for a couple of days (although I did end up working more than I wanted to during the visit), I had the opportunity to see two Broadway shows - "The Producers" with Tony Danza and "Avenue Q" the puppet show, which is a cross between Sesame Street and South Park. I also saw Chinatown - Prada anyone?? I had a cookie from Elanis Bakery, cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery, drinks at the "G-Spot" and "Therapy". Dinner one evening was at a wonderful little French restaurant in the Meat Packing District and of course a slice of authentic New York Pizza at 2:30am on a Saturday morning. In addition, I saw the ice skating rink at Rockefeller Center, I shivered in the early morning air while standing in the crowd for the Today Show with Al, Meredith, Ann and Matt and the worlds largest fondue, and of course spent way to much money at the huge Virgin Records Store in Times Square.

All in all a very unique experience.

And thus life returns to normal. I'm in Dallas for a week then it is off to Miami - this should be a quiet trip as I've visited Miami before so not to much running around but more working and fine tuning the audit process.