My life almost drastically changed this morning - I was leaving home for a meeting, and on my way through the parking lot, and this guy ran right out in front of me. He just sprinted out from between a couple of cars - he noticed me just as I slammed on my brakes. It was pretty scary. He just kept running - perhaps the look on my face deterred him from speaking with me.
All this to say - life could be a whole lot more complicated right now, know what I mean?
-- Posted on the run!!
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Potential badness
It was one of those weeks, to be sure. I went to a work meeting on Tuesday, where my boss introduced a "promotion structure". Long story short, I'm the only one they're not promoting that has been there over two years. In addition, when they read the list of qualifications, it sounded like a job I would hate. It was like I'd gone to bed, and overnight someone had rewritten my job description - for someone who is not me. Added to that we have my review coming up in two weeks. Not looking forward to that at all. Spending some deep time exploring options this weekend... Suggestions welcome!
-- Posted on the run!!
-- Posted on the run!!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Mullets, and other interesting concepts...
I have never really thought about this particular hairstyle choice. The most I have ever thought about a mullet, until now, was that the people who wear them must be really committed to the look. It takes some focus, I think, to keep those layers going. I've never considered one for myself, though I have been told it is a sign of my people.
Never has this been more apparent than the bar we visited last night. I went with a couple of friends of mine, people who are a bit concerned with my dating situation. Needless to say, no progress was made on that front. I had a wonderful time with Ashley, Jackie, Drew and Melissa, though. Drew wore one of his favorite kilts for the occasion, and we had a good time dancing. I showed off some of my moves. My dancing prowess is not to be underestimated. And I did actually talk to someone I didn't know, which is progress for me... but then I knocked over my diet Pepsi. It kind of ruined the moment.
All told, we did have a great time, though I think I saw more mullets last night than I did the last time I went to the State Fair.
On to other topics... you all know I've been considering getting a PhD. This summer has been a good time to sit back and re-evaluate some things. For instance, what am I doing in school? What's my goal here? What do I hope to accomplish? I want to be able to do what I was meant to do - help people design better and more efficient computer systems. I've been doing this for years, and I wanted to find some way to make it my official job. I want to travel, meet different people, teach them how to work better, and make people laugh. Try typing that into Google and looking for a job...
I recently met someone who has the type of job that I want. She travels Monday through Thursday and is home on the weekends. She teaches people new computer systems. She doesn't have an advanced degree, either. Meeting her really helped my point of view. I made a few decisions last week, as a result. I decided to start networking and actively looking for a job. My graduation is a year and a half away, so if I start networking now, I will likely have made quite a few contacts. I also put up a website and am now doing a series of podcasts in my areas of interest. This is my world takeover plan - to use the website as a job interview/connection tool. If the people who are working the jobs that I want say that I need a PhD, I'll get one. If not, that means I'll be getting out there sooner.
I'm happy with this decision. It means that every day I can make progress on my dreams, even though the road seems long at this point. It also means that since I am taking a totally different approach with the job hunt, this time I'll probably have better results.
On a different note, last night I decided to wear my non-corrective shoes to the bar. It seemed like a good decision at the time, but I think I may have hurt myself when I was running across the street. And - here's the kicker - the knee I injured was not the one I had surgery on. I'll be telling on myself to my physical therapist tomorrow... I'll let you know what happens.
Finally, I cleaned out my closet today. Trust me, it was a good thing. Weight loss is fabulous, and I'm about halfway to where I want to be. My personal shoppers and I went out on Wednesday, and it was high time to pack away some stuff that just doesn't fit anymore. Also, I finally put my luggage away from the Arizona trip. I was a little sad about it, but I'm trying to make it so that I have many more adventures to come.
That's all for tonight, darlings - further bulletins as events warrant!
Never has this been more apparent than the bar we visited last night. I went with a couple of friends of mine, people who are a bit concerned with my dating situation. Needless to say, no progress was made on that front. I had a wonderful time with Ashley, Jackie, Drew and Melissa, though. Drew wore one of his favorite kilts for the occasion, and we had a good time dancing. I showed off some of my moves. My dancing prowess is not to be underestimated. And I did actually talk to someone I didn't know, which is progress for me... but then I knocked over my diet Pepsi. It kind of ruined the moment.
All told, we did have a great time, though I think I saw more mullets last night than I did the last time I went to the State Fair.
On to other topics... you all know I've been considering getting a PhD. This summer has been a good time to sit back and re-evaluate some things. For instance, what am I doing in school? What's my goal here? What do I hope to accomplish? I want to be able to do what I was meant to do - help people design better and more efficient computer systems. I've been doing this for years, and I wanted to find some way to make it my official job. I want to travel, meet different people, teach them how to work better, and make people laugh. Try typing that into Google and looking for a job...
I recently met someone who has the type of job that I want. She travels Monday through Thursday and is home on the weekends. She teaches people new computer systems. She doesn't have an advanced degree, either. Meeting her really helped my point of view. I made a few decisions last week, as a result. I decided to start networking and actively looking for a job. My graduation is a year and a half away, so if I start networking now, I will likely have made quite a few contacts. I also put up a website and am now doing a series of podcasts in my areas of interest. This is my world takeover plan - to use the website as a job interview/connection tool. If the people who are working the jobs that I want say that I need a PhD, I'll get one. If not, that means I'll be getting out there sooner.
I'm happy with this decision. It means that every day I can make progress on my dreams, even though the road seems long at this point. It also means that since I am taking a totally different approach with the job hunt, this time I'll probably have better results.
On a different note, last night I decided to wear my non-corrective shoes to the bar. It seemed like a good decision at the time, but I think I may have hurt myself when I was running across the street. And - here's the kicker - the knee I injured was not the one I had surgery on. I'll be telling on myself to my physical therapist tomorrow... I'll let you know what happens.
Finally, I cleaned out my closet today. Trust me, it was a good thing. Weight loss is fabulous, and I'm about halfway to where I want to be. My personal shoppers and I went out on Wednesday, and it was high time to pack away some stuff that just doesn't fit anymore. Also, I finally put my luggage away from the Arizona trip. I was a little sad about it, but I'm trying to make it so that I have many more adventures to come.
That's all for tonight, darlings - further bulletins as events warrant!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Prepare yourself. This one is the equivalent of a chick flick (no one dies at the end, though).
Our Arizona reunion story actually begins with another story - the tale of my 35th birthday.
Last summer, I took a class called Research Methods. It sounded like it was going to be a class about using Google, but it was certainly not as easy as that. In fact, it's all about statistics (math, in other words). For those of you that don't know, math is not exactly my strong suit. I knew it was going to be difficult, and at first I had the old attitude. You know, the voice in the back of your head that says - don't do it!! You'll never make it!! Quit before you make a fool of yourself!!
I'd been coming to a crossroads with this way of thinking for a long time. It has never served me well, but it's always the first thing I think when I'm in a tough situation. The default setting, one might say. I decided to try another way, for a while. I decided that no matter what, I was going to tell myself that I could do it, that I would find a way to make the class work.
It worked. I ended up with an A+ in the class, and as I was looking at the grade, I remember wondering what the rest of my life would look like if I applied that single idea. I began to think about my 35th birthday, and how I really hadn't celebrated my birthday in a long time. I decided that this would be the year that I would do something that I had previously thought I couldn't do, something that I was afraid of. I considered different possibilities, including jumping out of an airplane. However, it's just too cold to do that in November, and I am horrifically afraid of heights. No matter what I considered, it just didn't seem like it fit. I ended up taking an Economics test on my birthday, which may be one of the least fun ways to celebrate. I decided I would put off the celebration until I could find something I really wanted to do.
Fast forward to to spring 2009. Facebook is fabulous, and through it, Brandy found me first. I was a little hesitant to write her initially. I honestly don't remember too much about my personality when I was in the seventh grade, but I do remember that I didn't like myself too much. I wondered if I had anything I needed to make amends for, actually. We met up soon after the first contact, and it turned out I had been afraid for nothing. See past editions of the blog for the story about that event - it was momentous.
I found Shawna on Brandy's friend list. There were three of us that hung pretty tightly in those days, and these girls were my two best friends. We passed notes in class, and did things regular seventh graders do. I had some bad stuff going on at home, but I really loved school (still do) and seeing the two of them always made things seem better. Then, through a series of awful circumstances, we were split up. We kept contact for a while through letters. I really looked forward to the letters, and I kept every one of them in a trunk that I've carried with me all these years.
I never thought I'd find them again, but it happened. And I found a way to celebrate my birthday after all - by kidnapping Brandy and getting on a jet plane to see our Shawna. I think all three of us were a little scared, at first. Not that we wouldn't get along, but that after @#$# years (that was for you, Brandy) we wouldn't be able to relate to each other any more. What if our lives were so different that all we had in common was the past?
It was on my mind when Brandy and I were walking out of the gate. Then I caught a glimpse of a woman in a business suit, standing just beyond a column - and then she was coming toward us, as fast as her high heels could carry her. @#$# years vanished in about a minute. There was the usual hugging you'd expect, and I did get a little bit moist around the eyeballs. Another feeling came up at this point: gratitude. I was finally reunited with women to whom I never really got to say goodbye.
We left the airport and ran off to enjoy a fabulous couple of days. Shawna and Steve really know how to show people a good time. We got to meet new friends, catch a boat ride, hunt for rocks, and listen to the chronicles of Lake Havasu, as told by Shawna. We spent time with Shawna's son, Shay, who was fun to be with. We also had the opportunity to catch up a bit, and look through the letters that I had saved. It was interesting, looking at life through the eyes of our teenage selves. My favorite part of the trip was late Thursday night, sitting in the jacuzzi, talking about our lives.
All of us are doing tremendous things, in our own way. Brandy's raising a wonderful family, Shawna's busy with a son, a Steve and the beginnings of a career in politics, and I'm on my way to following my dream to be an IT consultant. All three of us are surrounded by people who love us.
In the end, I didn't have to jump out of an airplane to prove that I was fearless. All I had to do was be willing to risk a little bit, and it's really all I have ever had to do. It's funny, isn't it? The things we think we have to do to prove to people that we are worth their time. The people in our lives that really matter are the people we never have to rehearse for, people that love us as we are.
This is the part of the chick flick where someone usually goes off the end of a cliff - but not this time! Our visit seemed to be about putting away some of the past. Next time (next June!) we'll get to focus on the future, I'm sure. No matter what is ahead of us, it's better when we face it together.
Thanks again to everyone - it was the most fabulous birthday present ever.
Last summer, I took a class called Research Methods. It sounded like it was going to be a class about using Google, but it was certainly not as easy as that. In fact, it's all about statistics (math, in other words). For those of you that don't know, math is not exactly my strong suit. I knew it was going to be difficult, and at first I had the old attitude. You know, the voice in the back of your head that says - don't do it!! You'll never make it!! Quit before you make a fool of yourself!!
I'd been coming to a crossroads with this way of thinking for a long time. It has never served me well, but it's always the first thing I think when I'm in a tough situation. The default setting, one might say. I decided to try another way, for a while. I decided that no matter what, I was going to tell myself that I could do it, that I would find a way to make the class work.
It worked. I ended up with an A+ in the class, and as I was looking at the grade, I remember wondering what the rest of my life would look like if I applied that single idea. I began to think about my 35th birthday, and how I really hadn't celebrated my birthday in a long time. I decided that this would be the year that I would do something that I had previously thought I couldn't do, something that I was afraid of. I considered different possibilities, including jumping out of an airplane. However, it's just too cold to do that in November, and I am horrifically afraid of heights. No matter what I considered, it just didn't seem like it fit. I ended up taking an Economics test on my birthday, which may be one of the least fun ways to celebrate. I decided I would put off the celebration until I could find something I really wanted to do.
Fast forward to to spring 2009. Facebook is fabulous, and through it, Brandy found me first. I was a little hesitant to write her initially. I honestly don't remember too much about my personality when I was in the seventh grade, but I do remember that I didn't like myself too much. I wondered if I had anything I needed to make amends for, actually. We met up soon after the first contact, and it turned out I had been afraid for nothing. See past editions of the blog for the story about that event - it was momentous.
I found Shawna on Brandy's friend list. There were three of us that hung pretty tightly in those days, and these girls were my two best friends. We passed notes in class, and did things regular seventh graders do. I had some bad stuff going on at home, but I really loved school (still do) and seeing the two of them always made things seem better. Then, through a series of awful circumstances, we were split up. We kept contact for a while through letters. I really looked forward to the letters, and I kept every one of them in a trunk that I've carried with me all these years.
I never thought I'd find them again, but it happened. And I found a way to celebrate my birthday after all - by kidnapping Brandy and getting on a jet plane to see our Shawna. I think all three of us were a little scared, at first. Not that we wouldn't get along, but that after @#$# years (that was for you, Brandy) we wouldn't be able to relate to each other any more. What if our lives were so different that all we had in common was the past?
It was on my mind when Brandy and I were walking out of the gate. Then I caught a glimpse of a woman in a business suit, standing just beyond a column - and then she was coming toward us, as fast as her high heels could carry her. @#$# years vanished in about a minute. There was the usual hugging you'd expect, and I did get a little bit moist around the eyeballs. Another feeling came up at this point: gratitude. I was finally reunited with women to whom I never really got to say goodbye.
We left the airport and ran off to enjoy a fabulous couple of days. Shawna and Steve really know how to show people a good time. We got to meet new friends, catch a boat ride, hunt for rocks, and listen to the chronicles of Lake Havasu, as told by Shawna. We spent time with Shawna's son, Shay, who was fun to be with. We also had the opportunity to catch up a bit, and look through the letters that I had saved. It was interesting, looking at life through the eyes of our teenage selves. My favorite part of the trip was late Thursday night, sitting in the jacuzzi, talking about our lives.
All of us are doing tremendous things, in our own way. Brandy's raising a wonderful family, Shawna's busy with a son, a Steve and the beginnings of a career in politics, and I'm on my way to following my dream to be an IT consultant. All three of us are surrounded by people who love us.
In the end, I didn't have to jump out of an airplane to prove that I was fearless. All I had to do was be willing to risk a little bit, and it's really all I have ever had to do. It's funny, isn't it? The things we think we have to do to prove to people that we are worth their time. The people in our lives that really matter are the people we never have to rehearse for, people that love us as we are.
This is the part of the chick flick where someone usually goes off the end of a cliff - but not this time! Our visit seemed to be about putting away some of the past. Next time (next June!) we'll get to focus on the future, I'm sure. No matter what is ahead of us, it's better when we face it together.
Thanks again to everyone - it was the most fabulous birthday present ever.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
They said I needed to update, soo....
Top five things going on in my life this week!
1) I made a luggage purchase this week - something that will be quite useful in my future career of getting on planes, trains, and automobiles. (The virgin voyage, of course, will be my rather exciting trip to Arizona. 17 days and counting, kids...) The piece of luggage is a Swiss Army 20" pilot's case - it matches my backpack, which I find necessary to take everywhere. {PS - If the Swiss are neutral, then why would they need an army? Points to ponder.}
2) I have decided that at my wedding, there will be no break between the wedding and the food. I attended a really lovely outdoor wedding this weekend (I have the sunburn to prove it). I had a pretty good time, but there was a two hour gap between the end of the wedding and the food. Wow, darlings. This is too much for a hungry RJ. I had some wonderful entertainment, of course - provided by my two nephews and my newest niece. I have long been an honorary member of the Upah family, and since Tom always works Saturday nights, I get to be Cindy's date at all official functions. The fam was quite entertaining, and I hadn't seen them in a while, so special bonus. Now if I can just find a bride....
3) To PhD or not to PhD? Dammit, why do I always have more questions than answers? I am still trying to make this decision. It's a helluva commitment, and also a high risk-high reward situation. I do want to do it, but I need time to sit down and do some productive research. {PS - Facebook apparently doesn't count as productive research.}
4) Physical therapy is good. It hurts, but it's good. Apparently, the arthritis that I have in my knees is a result of problems I have in my feet (not age, as my surgeon said). So, after thirty-five years, I am learning how to take care of myself. Better late than never, I have to say.
5) Tomorrow, as a result of my weight loss, I get to go shopping. My pants just don't fit me any more, so I'm taking action tomorrow night. My personal shoppers have been alerted, and we set off for wherever they suggest when I get off work. I must look my best for Arizona, after all.
All right, that is the update. Feel free to post commentary, suggestions, and requests - complaints will be deleted immediately.
1) I made a luggage purchase this week - something that will be quite useful in my future career of getting on planes, trains, and automobiles. (The virgin voyage, of course, will be my rather exciting trip to Arizona. 17 days and counting, kids...) The piece of luggage is a Swiss Army 20" pilot's case - it matches my backpack, which I find necessary to take everywhere. {PS - If the Swiss are neutral, then why would they need an army? Points to ponder.}
2) I have decided that at my wedding, there will be no break between the wedding and the food. I attended a really lovely outdoor wedding this weekend (I have the sunburn to prove it). I had a pretty good time, but there was a two hour gap between the end of the wedding and the food. Wow, darlings. This is too much for a hungry RJ. I had some wonderful entertainment, of course - provided by my two nephews and my newest niece. I have long been an honorary member of the Upah family, and since Tom always works Saturday nights, I get to be Cindy's date at all official functions. The fam was quite entertaining, and I hadn't seen them in a while, so special bonus. Now if I can just find a bride....
3) To PhD or not to PhD? Dammit, why do I always have more questions than answers? I am still trying to make this decision. It's a helluva commitment, and also a high risk-high reward situation. I do want to do it, but I need time to sit down and do some productive research. {PS - Facebook apparently doesn't count as productive research.}
4) Physical therapy is good. It hurts, but it's good. Apparently, the arthritis that I have in my knees is a result of problems I have in my feet (not age, as my surgeon said). So, after thirty-five years, I am learning how to take care of myself. Better late than never, I have to say.
5) Tomorrow, as a result of my weight loss, I get to go shopping. My pants just don't fit me any more, so I'm taking action tomorrow night. My personal shoppers have been alerted, and we set off for wherever they suggest when I get off work. I must look my best for Arizona, after all.
All right, that is the update. Feel free to post commentary, suggestions, and requests - complaints will be deleted immediately.
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