13 posts tagged “updates”
Okay, here are the good things I did yesterday:
- Maintained my Weight Watchers food log. Out of the 20 points I'm allotted each day, I consumed 23. But I'm not beating myself up over it because of those glorious 35 Flex Points. Sadly, there will be a birthday gathering of sorts this weekend (probably tomorrow), and I was hoping to save up all my Flex Points for that.
- I walked for 45 minutes yesterday while getting a birthday present and an early Father's Day present, thus earning me an extra point for Weight Watchers!
- I had two tall glasses of water and one short one.
- I skipped laundry because I was actually caught up on stuff that was in the hampers.
- I flossed. I didn't like it and I didn't want to do it, but I did it, and that makes me happy.
- I balanced my checkbook and even scheduled payment for some utility bills. Yay!
- I cleaned one bathroom. Well, I cleaned the toilet, anyway, and the mirror. The sink doesn't look terrible and the tub could use a good scrubbing, but I figure I'll tackle one of those next week and the other the following week.
- I (sort of) cleared off the dining room table and put away a lot of things on the kitchen counters. Are they completely cleared off? No. Will I finish the job this weekend? Gosh, I really hope so. I want to, anyway.
- I picked up enough toys so that we could forge a path from our bedroom to the kitchen without piercing our feet with any trucks or Little People. We're going to IKEA tomorrow, and I have every intention of getting proper bins to put these toys away.
- I did not go out for lunch. I ate food I already had at work.
- I prepared The Boy's lunch for today (today's school lunch is fish sticks, which are on his banned list for now) and had his bag ready to go before I went to bed (and a good thing, too, because we completely overslept!).
- I Swiffered the kitchen floor.
- I put out the recycling.
- I took my vitamins.
I did not, however, clear off my desk at work or begin reading a book. And instead of posting my craft scissors on Ebay, I donated them, instead, to The Boy's school. Besides, I can still post something this weekend.
So, it's not too bad for a first day! I'm determined to keep this up...
Sorry I had to skip a week of my much-anticipated updates – last Friday was crazy busy and I didn’t get a chance to breathe, really, until late afternoon this past Tuesday as I was waiting for our Finance gurus to post the week’s P&L. But enough about that.
Halloween is upon us and, once again, I have no idea what I’m going to be this year. You’d think that I would start planning this – it’s not like it’s one of those once-in-a-great-while holidays, after all. And, since October (almost?) always immediately follows September, which is immediately preceded by August, you’d also think that I would start thinking ahead and plan my costume in the spring or summer months. I am, after all, the girl who starts work on her Christmas cards in the summer. (Well, I was – I’m kind of at a loss on this year’s card design, so I’m behind on that, too.) [sigh]
So, for my friend Laura’s annual shin-dig (at which I must make an appearance this year – if for no other reason than to reconnect with old friends), my costume may well be a surprise to everyone (including me). Maybe I’ll be the Chiquita Banana girl (or not – the thought just crossed my mind as I began eating my breakfast banana).
As far as office antics in the forbidden zone go, as I alluded to earlier, it’s been a crazy busy couple of weeks. I’ve been setting up new reports, honing some old ones, and briefing folks on what these reports mean so they can speak about them intelligently with others. Plus there are a few tests that we’re running in several markets, and keeping up with those is a little crazy, too. I’ll say this much, though – it’s so nice to be in an environment where I don’t feel stressed. Busy, yes, but not stressed.
Of course, year end is only two and a half months away, so I may well be eating my words come 2007!
It’s hard to believe I’ve been a fan of the Go-Go’s for more than a quarter of a century. Even more amazing is how true Jane Wiedlin’s song about my hometown still resonates, even after all these years.
Chris and I returned Tuesday night from our trips to Las Vegas and Los Angeles. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, and it was hard to believe that we had been gone a full week. By the way (shameless plug ahead), we both highly recommend flying Jet Blue. We flew out on Delta, which, as Delta flights go, was largely uneventful. From Vegas to Burbank and from Burbank to Orlando, we flew Jet Blue, and Chris could definitely feel a difference. For one thing, he wasn’t cramped, sore, or tired getting off the plane in Orlando (a miracle in itself) – and we weren’t even sitting in the emergency exit row on that flight! And I may be totally wrong, but it felt like the seats were all a little wider (not that I take up that much room, but it does make a difference).
While in Vegas, we saw 2 shows: the Blue Man Group at the Venetian (tons of fun!) and Cirque du Soleil’s Love at the Mirage (by far my favorite Cirque show). I honestly think I could watch both of those shows several more times and still not feel like I saw everything – there was so much going on, I didn’t know where to begin to look! I have to confess, though, that I needed to break out my sunglasses a few times for the Blue Man Group; they had these super bright lights that would blind the audience, and the sunglasses certainly came in handy.
Regarding the buffets (because you have to eat at a buffet at least once when in Vegas), we ate at the Harrah’s buffet twice (once for breakfast and once for dinner) and at Caesar’s Palace once (for lunch on the day we left for LA). The Harrah’s dinner buffet was not my favorite, but I thoroughly enjoyed breakfast at Harrah’s and lunch at Caesar’s. My favorite thing at Caesar’s? It was the caesar salad – go figure!
We didn’t do too poorly at the tables; between the two of us, we about broke even. I lost about $13 playing craps, but Chris more than made it up at blackjack. Then he introduced me to this type of roulette table, and that’s where we really made it all back. My husband, I discovered, is very good at understanding odds (though it’s no surprise that he’s better at it than I am!).
The visit home was bittersweet. It’s always great to see my parents and the friends I left behind, but it’s been so different visiting since my parents sold their house almost 5 years ago. They live in the artsy district of North Hollywood now, east of where we used to live in Van Nuys, and in territory that I didn’t explore nearly as much as the West Valley (where I went to school, to the mall, to friends’ houses, etc.). So, even driving around their condo is (almost) like being in completely new territory. Only the key street names are familiar – I knew what connected with what and could get us to our final destination… eventually!
My parents hosted an “At-Home Day” for us on Saturday, complete with lechon (roasted pig) and tons of other food. I had a chance to reconnect with old friends, and Chris got a chance to meet the rest of his extended family. All in all, it was a lot of fun.
On Sunday, I couldn’t find DuPar’s in Studio City, so we had breakfast down the road at Mel’s in Sherman Oaks. We had lunch at the Los Angeles Hard Rock (the very first one in the United States, located at the street level of the Beverly Center and very difficult to get to because they closed the damned escalator) and made our way to Griffith Park. It was kind of disappointing; the observatory was under construction/renovation, so we couldn’t even walk around the perimeter. Chris discovered a hiking trail (go figure – I’ve been there dozens of times and never noticed it), which we started up, only to turn back because we weren’t appropriately equipped for a hike. Then we had dinner with my parents and cousin at Lido’s in Van Nuys (best antipasto salad in the world). Lots of good eating.
We went to Disneyland on Monday and were able to do everything we wanted to do except ride Big Thunder Mountain (ran out of time) and Indiana Jones (it was closed whenever we passed it). The saddest thing of all, though, is that we missed the Halloween version of the Haunted Mansion by only 4 days.
It’s always so much fun to go to Disneyland with Chris because he knows the Magic Kingdom here at Disney World so well, he can pick out minor differences. We ate at the Blue Bayou in New Orleans Square before going on Pirates of the Caribbean (no matter what, I still say the Disneyland version is the best), and Chris stopped for a Dole Whip while we were waiting for the Enchanted Tiki Room to start. After getting used to the size of Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, I finally realized how small Disneyland’s Magic Kingdom really is. It never fazed me before this trip.
Of course, once we got back, it was back to work for both of us, jet lag and all. Thankfully, it’s Friday, so we’ll both get a chance to sleep and readjust our circadian clocks over the next few days.
As much fun as we had, though, Chris and I were so happy to come home. My tomatoes are still growing (one is even changing color now!), our TiVo is full, and Chris fits comfortably in the shower without needing to duck.
There really is no place like home.
Today’s title/quote comes from a long-forgotten Big Audio Dynamite song that I must have listened to a thousand times back in the day (1988, for those playing along at home). And I felt it was appropriate for how I feel today.
I’m starting to settle into a new routine now, and there are always better days than others. Yesterday, for example, I forgot to pack my shoes in my gym bag (not great) and broke dress code and wore my flip-flops (they matched my shirt). See – it’s not tragic, but it’s not great, either. (BTW, no one talked to me about my shoes, even though I ‘fessed up to a few people. It’s just how they do things here.)
Along with settling into a new routine, I’m beginning to feel more comfortable about what I do, evidenced in how I present my findings at meetings. While our corporate speak has always been second nature to me, I’ve developed a better understanding of how the retail side of the business works, and I can answer more questions than I ask now.
One thing that will take a bit more adjustment is the fact that I’m always looking at the calendar, focused on each week and, by extension, each month. I’ve had several jobs in which I lived by the calendar; my most previous role simply wasn’t one of them. Thankfully, I only look at either the current week or the most previous, and not ahead by 2 or 3 weeks (in one of my previous lives, I was so confused about dates, I baked Valentine’s Day cupcakes in the middle of January). All the same, the end result is that time seems to pass so much quicker because I consult my calendar daily. It’s hard to believe that we’ll already be in 4th quarter when I get back from Vegas!
I still don’t like exercise, but I see to it that I keep up with it. I figure that I don't like liver or brussels sprouts, either, and exercise really is the best of the three. I’m forcing myself to get up early – at least 3 times a week – and go to the gym. I like my new trainer, and I like the exercises that he’s having me do. I especially like the big exercise ball that I work with in the mornings – it looks deceptively easy, but I really get a good workout on that thing! I keep saying that I need to get one – I really do need to buy it already.
I broke my fast food fast this week, making a trip to Wendy’s for chili, fries, and a baked potato. And I promptly broke it again two days later for a chicken Caesar salad. The plus side is that, except for the salad, everything was off the dollar menu, so I didn’t spend a fortune clogging my arteries! I believe it did, however, contribute to an acne outbreak, the likes of which I’ve not seen since, oh, 1988. (Is there are resonating theme? I believe there may be!)
And speaking of health... I’ve laid down some ground rules about the candy dish in my office, and, though they aren’t popular rules, I’ve been able to enforce them. First, I’m only filling it once a week. To give you an idea of how quickly it disappears, by the end of the day Tuesday, there were only 8 pieces left of the heaping mound that I set out on Monday. On Wednesday, I took the empty dish and tucked it away in my desk, to be brought out again on Monday.
Second, anyone who blames me for his or her inability to control his or her candy consumption will be banished from my cubicle, never to be granted candy access again. Finally, anyone asking for specific candy will be asked to provide funds for said candy, or else be banished from my cubicle, never to be granted candy access again. (Believe it or not, there are people who actually do that. It’s crazy, I know.)
To date, no one has been banished. That makes me very happy.
My older niece began Kindergarten this week, and I’m anxious to find out from her how she liked her first day of school. (She’s been in preschool for a few years, of course, but this is real school we’re talking about now.)
It’s been a pretty crazy week, I think, for everyone. Short weeks are like that. You get more time to relax on Monday, only to play catch up on Tuesday to make up for having Monday off. Well, maybe not everywhere, but that’s what I experienced on Tuesday. We have weekly meetings on Tuesday in which we discuss the previous week’s sales, and I went into the office über early to run the reports and distribute them. From now on, of course, when we have Monday holidays, the meetings will move to Wednesdays, but I can pat myself on the back for having (almost) all my stuff together for our 10am meeting this week. (I was only missing commentary on 3 districts. That was easy enough to complete before lunch.)
This was a tough week for my workouts, too. I didn’t go Tuesday because I was in the office early that day, and I skipped Thursday because I didn’t get enough sleep on Wednesday. Fortunately, my new trainer, Luis, is whipping me back into shape; I survived my first session with him today. No complaints, though. Any complaints I have are due entirely to my own gluttonous, sloth-like behavior (evidenced by this morning’s 3-donut breakfast).
As for the diet, well, I can proudly report that – aside from the chocolate cruller I had for breakfast - the only chocolate I’ve had since coming here has been in the form of a chocolate chip granola bar or hot chocolate. The former disappeared about a month ago (the South Beach Diet brand – only 100 calories in each bar!) - I haven’t replenished them - and the second I allow myself to indulge in once or twice a week. Breads and pastas are seriously my undoing, but I can honestly say that I’m trying. Well, this morning doesn’t count. But it’s a lot easier now that I’m over having cheese with every meal (and snack).
And if that hasn’t been it, my phone at work was down all week! It finally came up again this morning. Not that anyone calls me (this would have been much more tragic at any of my former jobs), but it does make life difficult when I need to ask someone else for help. My only course of action is {shudder} to walk to whomever’s desk and make my requests in person. I know – it’s terrible!
All in all, I think I’m hanging in there just fine.
I’ve always loved that song by the Police, and its lyrics are quite deep, if you get past the silliness of the title.
So, I’m very sad I couldn’t join everyone yesterday for that hour of happiness. If it was tonight, of course, I’d be able to join, but it’s kind of hard to have that farewell party vibe if one of the guests of honor isn’t there. Perhaps we can all get together for lunch next week, as short of a work week as it is.
I know the most pressing question on everyone’s mind is, “Has she made any friends at that new job of hers?” and I’m delighted to say that, yes, I’ve found a number of people whose general interests mirror mine. Remember last week how I said that we all march to the beats of our own drums, but it just so happens that our own drums are pretty much in sync? It’s the most amazing thing, but I don’t think I’ve ever worked at a place where there were so many people in one area who have the same general interests!
Don’t get me wrong – I haven’t invited anyone over for tea or anything. But I’ve had lunch with a few folks and feel very comfortable with everyone here. There’s also a great deal of good-natured bantering that happens here (they like me because I give as good as I get), and my quirky, offbeat sense of humor is welcomed – applauded, even. The other day, I was wearing my Angry Little Asian Girl T-shirt, where Kim, the main character, is scowling and holding up a finger on each hand. Chris said it was a little offensive, but everyone here loved it! One of the guys has started calling me Angry Asian Girl whenever I talk back to him – which is often. It’s all in good fun.
Well, it’s going to be a short day in preparation for the long weekend (leading into a short week – see how that cycle goes?), and I’d best be off to prep next week’s reports. It’s hard to believe another month has come and gone. And, except for a small mix-up in which distribution group gets which report (and 2 e-mail recalls), my first shot at running End of Month reports solo (and my second EOM here) was fairly painless.
Now, if only my boss would stop telling me I look like I’m about to cry… I still don’t know what that’s about.
I really tried this morning to come up with a clever quote from the Sex Pistols, but all I could think of was "I is the best, I is the rest", and it just didn't seem all that appropriate. I'm not that much of a braggart, and that whole thing of incorrect grammar just gets to me. So, I went with one of my favorite songs by the woman who is practically the Grunge era's answer to Nancy Spungen: Mrs. Courtney Love Cobain herself. Say what you want about Courtney - I still think her music showcases some amazing talent vocally, lyrically, and musically. (The runner-up quote from the song was "I was punk, now I'm just stupid - it's so awful", but it just didn't feel like me today.)
I always wondered why the lyrics didn't include the western side of California, but I guess "South California" just doesn't sound right. And why did they leave out everything to the northeast of New York? Hmmm...
Anyway, here's my long-awaited Friday update. Life is good - really busy, but good. I began my early morning workouts at the gym this week and some part of my body has been sore every day. The plus side is that those areas that were hurting Monday aren't causing me grief today, but I do have a very sore elbow, still, left over from my Wednesday workout. My mornings at the gym are stories of their own - the very first day found me running to my least favorite retail establishment to purchase a critical article of clothing I forgot to pack! After that, my clothing issues were fine, but I nearly passed out when I met with my trainer on Wednesday for my first personal training session. Oh, the horrors of getting back into shape.
I've got most of the weekly recaps down pat (and will be even more effective when the software I need is fully installed on my machine), so that's been nice. I think it will take a few passes at this end of month business to get it down pat (it's almost a shame that it only happens once a month), but as Alexa and Martin can attest, I'm a fairly quick study. I've also been taking copious notes (my notebook is filled with detailed, step-by-step instructions) so that I can understand the process better. And that's what a lot of my learning has been this month - all about processes.
I finally took pictures of my desk for all to see. No pictures yet of coworkers; I don't want to scare them off immediately. But don't worry - with my new blog and the ongoing antics here, there will be photos taken. Probably often.
That's it for me; I'll write again next week. Rock on!
