Ready to go!

For the past week or so, I've been kind of in a productivity funk. I just felt like I wasn't accomplishing much, on any front. Maybe I just needed the weekend to rest or maybe my brain just needed to rest itself, but yesterday was a great day and today promises to be the same.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and I have so much for which to be thankful. I have a wonderful marriage and a strong relationship with God; I have an amazing family and awesome friends; my work is fulfilling, my body is healthy and my mind is helping me overcome the challenges of grad school. At this moment, I'm so content. Joyful, even.

And now my calendar has reminded me to make my way to Student Life to interview a couple potential Orientation Committee candidates. Time to change out of my heels and into the practical shoes that will get me there safely!

Alma Jersey Photos

Yeah, Go Scots! Look at us training in our brand new Alma College jerseys! Yes, we are monster nerds. No, we're not on an Alma College "team"or anything...such a group does not exist. But we, and about fourteen other people, will now proudly promote our alma mater as we're flying down the road or through the woods.







By the way, it appears I will have an extra jersey to sell. It's a medium, classic fit (40-42" chest, 34-36" waist) and costs $55 (including shipping). Let me know if you or anyone you know might be interested!

I'm picky.

I'm not what you would call high maintenance. I'd rather eat at home than go out to a nice dinner; I'd rather tromp around in the woods than spend a weekend shopping in the big city. My jewelry is limited to my lovely, traditional wedding ring and some simple, sentimental pieces.

But gosh, I'm picky.

When I get it into my head that I want something, it's usually a very specific something. I might have a hard time describing it but I can picture it perfectly in my head. Once it was a brown sweater, but it had to be a particular kind of brown sweater. Not bulky. Not too thick, not too thin. Not light brown, but a nice, dark brown. Not dressy, not a cardigan. Maybe with a hood or pockets. I looked all over and eventually found it - a year after I started searching.

I waited months for the perfect glass shelves. I scoured scores of stores for the perfect black fleece mittens (found in Macy's, by the way - I should have bought a few pairs). And, just today, I found the perfect Christmas decoration to accent my Precious Moments nativity scene and the manger my dad made to house the Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and the lambs. I'm still looking for the right wall hanging for our dining room.

This is why, I think, I'm a terrible bargain hunter. I don't go shopping; I go buying. Because I'm so gosh-darn picky, I buy things when I see the right ones and generally give the price tag no more than a cursory glance. Yes, I try to make use of coupons and I do have my limits...we do not carry credit card debt so I always know I have the cash to pay for what I purchase. But I will drop some big bucks on that perfect sweater, even if it means that's the only one I buy all winter.

Opening Day Success

It looks like the hunting beard Mitch grew worked after all: at 8 am on opening day, he got an eight-point buck! He and his brother are processing it this week, so we'll have lots of venison soon.

For my part, I was not as productive as I would have liked to be over the weekend. I was still getting over my cold, and since strength training class didn't go so well on Friday afternoon, I didn't even attempt to get on the trainer. I did, however, bake a pie (homemade; apple raspoberry) and four dozen cookies (frozen dough; mint chocolate chip). I also completed what I think will be my last finance exam and got started on my final paper for communication. My first term of graduate school is almost done: only five more to go!

Goals for this week: strength training Monday and Friday; trainer Tuesday and Thursday. Wednesday is a play-it-by-ear day, as I took the day off work. I plan to complete most of my paper, do some housework and take a quick shopping trip to start getting ready for the holidays.

UPDATE: My day got even better around 9:30 am when our Alma College cycling jerseys arrived. They look awesome - I'll probably post a photo later!

It's Just a Cold!

What I wish I could say to every coworker who has suggested I go home/take a day off:

It's just a cold. I'm not going to die. I'm drinking fluids (the Nalgene next to me is almost empty) and getting sleep. Yup, I'm tired and I don't feel all that great, but I don't stay home for colds. Taking sick days only when absolutely necessary is part of my work ethic, so you're just going to have to deal with me. I'll shut my door so you stop feeling obligated to say "Bless you" every time I sneeze.

Thanks. Now I need to blow my nose.

Ahead of Schedule

Those awesome Alma College jerseys were shipped out of Washington State yesterday and should be here next week! AW YEAH!

AND I got the dates for the 2009 CPS races. The appropriate weekends have been booked (excluding Pando, I think)...now if we can just get Mitch an Iceman entry, we'll be all set. And I have to conquer my newly-acquired cold so I actually feel like working out again!

Pretty Good Column

Some Positive Reactions from the Right

My favorite paragraph:

"The treatment of President George W. Bush by liberals has been despicable, undeserved and unprecedented. We who oppose Barack Obama's policies will, hopefully, act in accordance with conservative values of decency. Hence my simple announcement on the day after the election: I did not vote for him. I did not want him to be president. But as of January 20, 2009, Barack Obama will be my president. "

I find it terribly disrespectful for people to refer to President Bush as Mr. Bush. Whether you agree with him or not, he earned the office of President of the United States and deserves to be addressed respectfully. Therefore, when Barack Obama is President of the United States, I will not disrespect him by referring to him as "Mr." For the next four years, he will be my president and I will refer to him appropriately, whether I support or disagree with his decisions.

Transitions

While the sun was shining and the balmy temperatures coaxed me outside, autumn was sneaking out. I didn't notice her departure, didn't see the breeze stripping the trees of their browning leaves. In the shortening days, I was mesmerized by the warmth and the sunshine, unaware of the inevitable but unfortunate transition from glorious autumn to a limbo of waiting.

When the transition was all but complete, rain stole in on the back of cold wind. The clouds blocked the sun and cast into sharp relief the skeleton trees. Now the damp chill permeates and rather than reveling in the beauty of autumn, I'm waiting. He teased me yesterday with a few fleeting flakes, but I'm waiting for him to arrive in full. Winter. Waiting.

Positive Pants

At work, we tease one of my coworkers about his somewhat negative attitude, encouraging him to put on his "positive pants." I want to write a post about grad school with my positive pants on, so I'll choke back my complaints. For what it's worth, I'm posting during class. That should tell you something about how valuable I perceive this session to be.

This morning was good, though. (Aside from getting a flat tire on my way into Flint and being an hour late.) In financial management, we did group presentations on assigned chapters and I think I learned quite a bit. I especially like it when my classmates illustrate their points with specific examples from their workplaces. Everyone has such a variety of experiences; it makes for a rich atmosphere.

And out comes the super-nerd: in communication, my group is doing a paper on communication breakdowns in crisis situations. We've chosen, at my encouragement, the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Time to revisit Spring Term 2002 - thanks, Dr. Payerhin!

Back to Biking

The lovely weather has made it easy to reach my workout goals for the week. Yesterday, I brought my bike to work and rode at lunch time. It was awesome! The robust crosswind didn't even bother me much, so happy was I to be cruising along. I returned to the office after an hour, sporting red cheeks and a helmet line on my forehead.

I think I did around 10 miles, but I'm not sure because I forgot my computer at home. I plan to ride the same route tomorrow so I can figure it out. I love the fall's cold weather but I will admit, this week's temperatures were a pleasant surprise!

Finally proud?

I understand if you're proud to be an American today. If you support Barack Obama, you should be proud.

I understand if you're especially proud to be an American today. If you don't like the direction in which America has been heading and believe Barack Obama will take this country in a better direction, should should be especially proud.

I understand if you're once again proud to be an American. The American people and her leaders have undoubtedly made decisions of which we were not proud at one point or another. If you see this as a positive, defining moment for a currently struggling nation, you should be once again proud.

But if you're finally proud to be an American, I pity you.

If you're finally proud, it means you have been blind to the good things about America. We are not an ignorant, arrogant, selfish nation. We are a generous nation, a nation where people from all walks of life come together in support of each other. Think of the outpouring of American support during disasters like the tsunami a couple years ago. Think of the masses of volunteers who helped (and continue to help) in the areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Think of the organizations we support in our communities. Think of the many, many American nonprofit groups dedicated to service in third world countries. Think of the soldiers who put their lives on the line for others. Think of your ancestors who scrimped and saved and sacrificed to get you to this land of opportunity.

Today, you can be proud. Be especially proud. Be once again proud. But don't insult the people of this country by being finally proud.

Get out and vote!

I prayed at the polls this morning. Not for a victory by any one candidate, but a prayer of thanks for the privilege of living in a democracy like the United States of America. My friend Bruce, who did two tours in Iraq with the Marines, once told me how people there ventured bravely to the polls even though their lives were threatened by doing so. We are so blessed to live here, friends. Let us not take the blessing for granted.

Sunday at the Toledo Zoo

My mom loves going to the zoo, so we took her down to the Toledo Zoo on Sunday to celebrate her birthday. It was a grand surprise: we packed a cooler with sandwiches and snacks, then six of us piled into Bobby's truck without telling her where we were going. She only guessed about 20 minutes before we actually arrived!

The Toledo Zoo is probably a bit smaller than the Detroit Zoo. Things are less spread out and I think the exhibits aren't quite as large, but I don't remember ever seeing more activity. The big cats were lazy (did you know lions sleep up to 20 hours per day?) but there was a young elephant playing with boxes, tires and five-gallon pails. The monkeys were chasing each other, and a baby monkey seemed to be learning how to be a bit independent. The seals swam all over in their aquarium and the orangutans (especially a father and baby) were really active with each other. I won't say I love the zoo like my mom or Mitch, but I enjoyed myself.

***

I can feel it: this is the week to hit all my goals. Riding the trainer will be torture, though, since the weather is so nice. I wonder if it may be worth it to ride at lunch on Tuesday and Thursday rather than doing homework...I can make up that study time at home in the evening, right? OK, let's add changing my tires and packing up my gear to the to-do list tonight!

Time to Brag

It's Friday at midnight. I'm not barhopping in a bumblebee costume with my friends. Foregoing the festivities, I just finished my most recent communication paper. I've also already taken my finance test for the week, so I'm ready for a weekend of quality time with my family rather than spending long afternoons glued to my computer. Yes! (And goodnight.)