My computer was being sticky and telling me some pages were potentially unsafe, but it seems to have changed its mind, so I was able to check out the Enneagram personality test Grant recommended. I did the sampler test ('cause, you know, that one's free) and ended up as a cross between a one (The Reformer) and a two (The Helper). After reading the descriptions, I think I'd classify myself more as a Reformer, but I definitely see some of those Helper tendencies come out in my relationships with other people.
What are you?
Friday, May 23, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Zoo-de-Mackinac
I did it - I completed the whole Zoo-de-Mack! Here's me and Andi (Bobby's girlfriend) at the finish:
Distance: 50.72
Time: 3 hours, 43 minutes
Average speed: 13.65 mph
Maximum speed: 32.5 mph
It was a great ride. The first 10 miles were pure hell: hill after hill after hill. Then I coasted into the Tunnel of Trees, right along Lake Michigan, and had a lovely 15 miles of beautiful views. It was still tough and I was glad to hit the halfway point and stretch out. I even had enough energy to smile for the camera:
It was also nice to meet up with the guys again, as Mitch, Bobby and Dad all left me in the dust. Here we all are, getting ready for the second leg:
The final 25 miles were great, especially because Mitch and Bobby rode with Andi and me. They served as a wall for us, blocking the wind and pushing us to keep about a 15-17 mph pace most of the way. We had a lot of laughs, too...I think this girl could be The One for my brother, and I couldn't be happier.
***
On a separate note, I would like to officially acknowledge our status as D.I.N.K.s. Please welcome the newest addition to our collection of two-wheeled toys:
Yes, we bought a motorcycle. It's a Suzuki Katana 600, for anyone who knows bikes. The high gas prices finally broke my resistance, and Mitch is using it for his daily commute. Of course, he placed a high value on the "fun-itude" of having a motorcycle! Once I get my helmet (it's kind of hard to find one small enough), we'll be cruising the back roads of mid-Michigan!
***
And on another completely unrelated note, we leave for Mammoth Cave on Friday! That's only four more days - I can't wait!
Distance: 50.72
Time: 3 hours, 43 minutes
Average speed: 13.65 mph
Maximum speed: 32.5 mph
It was a great ride. The first 10 miles were pure hell: hill after hill after hill. Then I coasted into the Tunnel of Trees, right along Lake Michigan, and had a lovely 15 miles of beautiful views. It was still tough and I was glad to hit the halfway point and stretch out. I even had enough energy to smile for the camera:
It was also nice to meet up with the guys again, as Mitch, Bobby and Dad all left me in the dust. Here we all are, getting ready for the second leg:
The final 25 miles were great, especially because Mitch and Bobby rode with Andi and me. They served as a wall for us, blocking the wind and pushing us to keep about a 15-17 mph pace most of the way. We had a lot of laughs, too...I think this girl could be The One for my brother, and I couldn't be happier.
***
On a separate note, I would like to officially acknowledge our status as D.I.N.K.s. Please welcome the newest addition to our collection of two-wheeled toys:
Yes, we bought a motorcycle. It's a Suzuki Katana 600, for anyone who knows bikes. The high gas prices finally broke my resistance, and Mitch is using it for his daily commute. Of course, he placed a high value on the "fun-itude" of having a motorcycle! Once I get my helmet (it's kind of hard to find one small enough), we'll be cruising the back roads of mid-Michigan!
***
And on another completely unrelated note, we leave for Mammoth Cave on Friday! That's only four more days - I can't wait!
Monday, May 12, 2008
It's Official!
Moments ago, I paid my enrollment deposit at U of M-Flint...I'm really going to grad school now!
I am also pumped my upcoming five-day weekend, followed by a total of eleven days off for our exciting Mammoth Cave trip!
Life is good - now I should get myself in gear and WORK!
I am also pumped my upcoming five-day weekend, followed by a total of eleven days off for our exciting Mammoth Cave trip!
Life is good - now I should get myself in gear and WORK!
Thursday, May 08, 2008
The Fine Art of Salary Negotiation
Aside from my feeble attempt at getting more money when I first hired on at Alma, I just had my first real experience with salary negotiation. It felt uncomfortable, and I don't know how well it went.
Here is the situation, in a nutshell: everyone across the campus received a certain percentage increase and then, due to my promotion, I received an additional raise. The problem is that the merit portion of my raise is at a lower percentage than my previous promotion, back when they moved me from regular ol' rep to assistant director in 2006.
So I pointed this out, along with the fact that they had been saving money by paying only one person to do the job of two for the past few months. My VP tried to use the, "Well, I got you the car" line, but I was quick to point out that I was clear about my expectations for that right from the beginning: either let me keep the car or pay me what it's really worth, or I won't take the position. I also enumerated the hurdles before me: unique challenges that no other position faces, and a negative history with which no rep must directly deal.
We'll see...she took my request under advisement, and I provided her with documentation of my previous salaries, with increases broken down by percentages. Strangely, she hadn't even considered the idea of percentages - her merit increases for promotions were strict, round dollar amounts. Even if I look back and apply this new salary rubric to my previous salaries and positions, their current offer is still off by a bit.
Here is the situation, in a nutshell: everyone across the campus received a certain percentage increase and then, due to my promotion, I received an additional raise. The problem is that the merit portion of my raise is at a lower percentage than my previous promotion, back when they moved me from regular ol' rep to assistant director in 2006.
So I pointed this out, along with the fact that they had been saving money by paying only one person to do the job of two for the past few months. My VP tried to use the, "Well, I got you the car" line, but I was quick to point out that I was clear about my expectations for that right from the beginning: either let me keep the car or pay me what it's really worth, or I won't take the position. I also enumerated the hurdles before me: unique challenges that no other position faces, and a negative history with which no rep must directly deal.
We'll see...she took my request under advisement, and I provided her with documentation of my previous salaries, with increases broken down by percentages. Strangely, she hadn't even considered the idea of percentages - her merit increases for promotions were strict, round dollar amounts. Even if I look back and apply this new salary rubric to my previous salaries and positions, their current offer is still off by a bit.
Monday, May 05, 2008
My bike is SO FAST!
Well, my first mountain bike race was a success! No crashing, only minimal pain, very few "I hate this" moments, and a second place finish!
So here we are, just a few moments after I got in. The course was about 8-9 miles or so, and I finished in 55:41. Mitch also got second place, and finished in 42:25. Full results are here, if you're interested. Keep in mind that beginners (we're in that class) do one lap; sport racers do two laps; expert racers do three laps; and elite racers (men only) do four laps. Yikes!
You can't really tell from the picture, but we're both a bit wet and muddy. Near the end of the course, there was a water crossing, where the creek was about 5-6 feet wide and about a foot deep. You just have to barrel through it...and then there's a climb. Huff puff, huff puff!
I actually felt pretty good throughout the whole thing. In cross-country racing, everyone in the same class and age group lines up and starts at the same time and you have to jostle for position before the trail narrows down. In a time trial - the kind of race Mitch did a few weeks ago - they start everyone 15 seconds apart because you're racing the clock, not each other. Anyway, I came off the start in second place and managed to hold it. I got passed by some women in the next age group up, and I probably got passed by some sport riders on their second laps. But I also passed some people (sport riders on lap #2?) and even beat some guys. Best of all, I found that my climbing ability is not as bad as I thought. Yes, I'm a bit slow and I still hate hills, but I actually overtook some riders on hills and sustained my lead afterwards. I did have a bout with stomach cramps that really slowed me down for awhile, but I rode through them and finished strong.
Here's me, proudly posing with my second place prize:
Unfortunately, our next race is not until the end of July. We're skipping the next two races because one is the day after we get back from Mammoth Cave - which, by the way, is only 18 days away - and the other one is a "marathon" XC at Boyne Mountain. Marathon=extreme misery!
So it was a good time, and we have some great times ahead! A wedding and Mother's Day this weekend; Zoo-de-Mack next weekend; and then it's off to Mammoth Cave. Summer fun begins!
So here we are, just a few moments after I got in. The course was about 8-9 miles or so, and I finished in 55:41. Mitch also got second place, and finished in 42:25. Full results are here, if you're interested. Keep in mind that beginners (we're in that class) do one lap; sport racers do two laps; expert racers do three laps; and elite racers (men only) do four laps. Yikes!
You can't really tell from the picture, but we're both a bit wet and muddy. Near the end of the course, there was a water crossing, where the creek was about 5-6 feet wide and about a foot deep. You just have to barrel through it...and then there's a climb. Huff puff, huff puff!
I actually felt pretty good throughout the whole thing. In cross-country racing, everyone in the same class and age group lines up and starts at the same time and you have to jostle for position before the trail narrows down. In a time trial - the kind of race Mitch did a few weeks ago - they start everyone 15 seconds apart because you're racing the clock, not each other. Anyway, I came off the start in second place and managed to hold it. I got passed by some women in the next age group up, and I probably got passed by some sport riders on their second laps. But I also passed some people (sport riders on lap #2?) and even beat some guys. Best of all, I found that my climbing ability is not as bad as I thought. Yes, I'm a bit slow and I still hate hills, but I actually overtook some riders on hills and sustained my lead afterwards. I did have a bout with stomach cramps that really slowed me down for awhile, but I rode through them and finished strong.
Here's me, proudly posing with my second place prize:
Unfortunately, our next race is not until the end of July. We're skipping the next two races because one is the day after we get back from Mammoth Cave - which, by the way, is only 18 days away - and the other one is a "marathon" XC at Boyne Mountain. Marathon=extreme misery!
So it was a good time, and we have some great times ahead! A wedding and Mother's Day this weekend; Zoo-de-Mack next weekend; and then it's off to Mammoth Cave. Summer fun begins!
Friday, May 02, 2008
You'll have to wait...
...for puppy pics, because I don't know how to get the one I have off my phone. When I go down for Mother's Day, I'll try to remember to get some digital ones from my parents.
House hunting was fun but we didn't really see anything we liked well enough to want to buy it. Our new agent is awesome, though; he gave us a ton of information, including background on constructions companies and the reputation of certain seller's agents. We'll definitely keep working with him.
Today is the Board of Trustees meeting and I'm sure everyone will be happy to report our deposit milestone. I get to go to the Enrollment and Marketing Committee's session: good, because it will be neat to hear the inside scoop; bad, because I'm in a suit rather than the standard Friday uniform of khakis and a polo.
House hunting was fun but we didn't really see anything we liked well enough to want to buy it. Our new agent is awesome, though; he gave us a ton of information, including background on constructions companies and the reputation of certain seller's agents. We'll definitely keep working with him.
Today is the Board of Trustees meeting and I'm sure everyone will be happy to report our deposit milestone. I get to go to the Enrollment and Marketing Committee's session: good, because it will be neat to hear the inside scoop; bad, because I'm in a suit rather than the standard Friday uniform of khakis and a polo.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
This Week's Awesome-ness
Finally got scholarship applications into U of M-Flint. Also applied for tuition reimbursement from Alma (50%!).
Had great spaghetti dinner with new friends, Amanda (works in Alma PR Office, carpools with me) and David (husband). Watched Super Troopers while Mitch and Amanda drink two bottles of red wine.
Rode Murray Lake trail at Brighton Rec, including "Lost Loop." Crashed once - softly, into a pile of leaves - and still felt pretty good.
Took parents' new puppy, Roxi, for a walk in the woods. Cute little thing fell asleep on my lap on the car ride home.
Registered for my first mountain bike race, the Fort Custer Stampede. Also sent in forms for the Zoo-de-Mackinac.
Got 400 gross commitment deposits by May 1 - huge success! By reaching the office goal, the boss will now be decked out in a kilt, dancing to bagpipes in the lobby on Monday. GO SCOTS!
Going to see five houses with great new realtor tonight. Trying not to be excited, but some of them look very nice!
Count down to Mammoth Cave: 22 days!
Had great spaghetti dinner with new friends, Amanda (works in Alma PR Office, carpools with me) and David (husband). Watched Super Troopers while Mitch and Amanda drink two bottles of red wine.
Rode Murray Lake trail at Brighton Rec, including "Lost Loop." Crashed once - softly, into a pile of leaves - and still felt pretty good.
Took parents' new puppy, Roxi, for a walk in the woods. Cute little thing fell asleep on my lap on the car ride home.
Registered for my first mountain bike race, the Fort Custer Stampede. Also sent in forms for the Zoo-de-Mackinac.
Got 400 gross commitment deposits by May 1 - huge success! By reaching the office goal, the boss will now be decked out in a kilt, dancing to bagpipes in the lobby on Monday. GO SCOTS!
Going to see five houses with great new realtor tonight. Trying not to be excited, but some of them look very nice!
Count down to Mammoth Cave: 22 days!
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