Well, it has clearly been much too long since I have last posted. In fact, I am somewhat ashamed about how long it has been especially given the insane amount of things that have happened the last 6+ months. So here is a quick listed re-cap...
1. New Job - I am not the Director of Development at the Utah Association of Public Charter Schools
2. Legislative Session - we dominated, Union: 1 Children: 12
3. Dating (takes so much time, but worth it)
4. Spontaneous weekend in Disneyland
5. Visit family in Detroit
6. Re-brand UAPCS
7. Complete (still putting up content) rebuild of UAPCS Website
8. Plan and held UAPCS Annual Conference - huge success
9. Weekend in San Antonio for Jessica's (friend from DC) wedding
10.. Kids arrive home for 6 weeks (were down to only about 2 weeks left)
11. Heidi comes back from Detroit
I likely missed a few things in there, but I believe that covers the highlights. If I regret anything it is not taking more pictures - I am so terrible at that! I am hoping to get a new camera soon (crossing fingers) and I think that will make me more motivated to take some good pictures, regularly.
It has been great to have the kids home - I miss them a lot. And while the house stays cleaner, I get more sleep and can stick to a routine when they are not here, it is worth all the chaos to have them!
So moving on from the very brief summary of what has happened over the last 6+ months I have determined recently that I need a hobby - I don't have one. I mean I like to read, shop, run, and...I am sure there is something else. But for the most part I am just a work-a-holic. I am up early in the morning, when I go to the gym I read my scriptures and then do email. Then I get ready and go to the office all day. I leave typically around 6 and then I go to Ben's or Ben comes to my house and we hang out and then it off to bed between 10-11pm and it starts all over again. Ben and I have things we do together, but nothing that you could really consider a hobby of sorts - as I have never and will never consider watching movies, TV, or sports as a hobby (I am sure there are people that do consider this a hobby and they likely could quote movies and shows for days, however I find this to be mostly a complete waste of time and energy).
So, I need a hobby - but here are the conditions of this hobby. I am not creative or crafty - so stamping, scrap booking, and anything that would require similar abilities are simply not feasible as they stress me out more than I enjoy them ( I should note there that I am no longer a craft virgin - my aunt KAren has been very patient with me as I have made 3 different bridal shower invitation with her. Which has been a very fun experience, but that is due to good company and someone I can follow the lead of. For me to take that type oft ask up on my own would be way too much). Next, the hobby cannot be something that takes a long time to do and likely can be quit at any given moment. My life is fast paced and busy I can't go hiking regularly where it would take me 10-20 minuted to drive to the trail head and then spend a few hours going up and then come down, my schedule is quite full and to fit in any activity that takes a significant amount of time out of a given day would be very difficult and I could not do it.
I do want the hobby to be fun, easy, enjoyable, helps me to relax and focus on something other than work. I suppose I am looking for suggestions...
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Saturday, December 18, 2010
How many are we feeding?
7 Hams
336 Home-made rolls
36 lbs Shredded potatoes
10 lbs Shredded cheese
60 oz Cream of Chicken Soup
180 oz Green beans
8 lbs Spinach
14 Cheesecakes
As we were standing in line to check out (we had already bought the hams at another store), the couple behind us says,
"That is a lot of cheese, you must be making tacos."
To which my Mother replied, "no, we are feeding a bunch of young men...120 of them."
The reaction was priceless. I think there jaws were on the floor for a full minute and honestly thinking about it, feeding 120 is one thing, but feeding 120 young men? There is only one place in the world any one person would be willing to do such a thing, let alone find 120 young men who would be well enough behaved for any person to handle it.
336 Home-made rolls
36 lbs Shredded potatoes
10 lbs Shredded cheese
60 oz Cream of Chicken Soup
180 oz Green beans
8 lbs Spinach
14 Cheesecakes
As we were standing in line to check out (we had already bought the hams at another store), the couple behind us says,
"That is a lot of cheese, you must be making tacos."
To which my Mother replied, "no, we are feeding a bunch of young men...120 of them."
The reaction was priceless. I think there jaws were on the floor for a full minute and honestly thinking about it, feeding 120 is one thing, but feeding 120 young men? There is only one place in the world any one person would be willing to do such a thing, let alone find 120 young men who would be well enough behaved for any person to handle it.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Mall Walking
Day one of Detroit I experienced something I have never experienced before, mall walking. Apparently this is done across America, however I will forever and always think of it as a Michigan thing.
Too cold to walk outside, not a problem! Go down to you local mall, open as early as 6:00am and join a hundred other people as they cruise through the mall. No shopping, only walking (and some coffee drinking). I couldn't believe it - we walk in and practically get run over by an old woman on a mission, a walking mission. We jumped in the rotation and off we went. I would have to say we passed up many people were there, apparently many are regulars which my Mom pointed out, others were new like myself, except about 40 years older.
I reckon you will be able to find me at the local mall here around 8am for the next 19 days.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Airports
I love airports.
I think they are exciting - there are hundreds of people all going a hundred different places, Grandmas, Grandpas, newly married couples, teenagers with their ipods as permanent fixtures to their heads, families, singles, business, a leisure travelers, and little ones - some not even big enough to walk, others who drag their Dora rolling bags behind them full of crayons, puzzles and books all packed with the hope that they won't ask "are we there yet?".
Traveling during the holidays adds to the excitement of each traveler as they look forward to hot chocolate, fires, snow, family, friends, the presents, lights and pure happiness that accompanies the holidays. And then there is TSA...
The TSA is probably the most unhappy group of individuals ever to cross the planet during the holidays, and for that matter most of the year. They stand, stare, wonder who will be their next victim they can legally grope. Honestly I am surprised they do not fall asleep standing as they point, grunt, and tell you to take off your shoes, your belt, your sweater and whatever else will cause the metal detector to go off, oh and you can't bring that toothpaste tube, or any other liquid larger than 3oz and no more than can fit in a quart bag. And then after all that can you step into this full body scanner that will then give me a naked picture of you, thanks.
Fortunately, my trip to Detroit did not entail any pornographic pictures or sexual assaults - so I am counting my blessings. Overall it was a smooth trip, and now that I have arrived I am grateful to be with my family.
Bring on the hot chocolate, warm fires, late movies with the siblings, time with the missionaries, and the pure joy of Christmas.
I think they are exciting - there are hundreds of people all going a hundred different places, Grandmas, Grandpas, newly married couples, teenagers with their ipods as permanent fixtures to their heads, families, singles, business, a leisure travelers, and little ones - some not even big enough to walk, others who drag their Dora rolling bags behind them full of crayons, puzzles and books all packed with the hope that they won't ask "are we there yet?".
Traveling during the holidays adds to the excitement of each traveler as they look forward to hot chocolate, fires, snow, family, friends, the presents, lights and pure happiness that accompanies the holidays. And then there is TSA...
The TSA is probably the most unhappy group of individuals ever to cross the planet during the holidays, and for that matter most of the year. They stand, stare, wonder who will be their next victim they can legally grope. Honestly I am surprised they do not fall asleep standing as they point, grunt, and tell you to take off your shoes, your belt, your sweater and whatever else will cause the metal detector to go off, oh and you can't bring that toothpaste tube, or any other liquid larger than 3oz and no more than can fit in a quart bag. And then after all that can you step into this full body scanner that will then give me a naked picture of you, thanks.
Fortunately, my trip to Detroit did not entail any pornographic pictures or sexual assaults - so I am counting my blessings. Overall it was a smooth trip, and now that I have arrived I am grateful to be with my family.
Bring on the hot chocolate, warm fires, late movies with the siblings, time with the missionaries, and the pure joy of Christmas.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Waiting for "Superman"
If you have school age children or pay taxes - you need to see this movie! Going into it you need to know that it is a documentary, so it is a bit slow and can seem long, however you must stay till the end - it is one of the most heart wrenching, emotional films I have seen in a long time.
It is currently showing at the Broadway Centre Theatre on Salt Lake. You can watch the preview below.
It is currently showing at the Broadway Centre Theatre on Salt Lake. You can watch the preview below.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Falling backward
Looking back at my previous post it seems strange to write what I am going to write now, it is amazing how quickly things can change - and when it comes to depression and anxiety I have learned it is a daily battle. It often feels like I am juggling several things and if I drop one, they are start to come tumbling down one by one... the good part is I am recognizing it - and that gives me the opportunity to change it!
The last couple of weeks have been awesome. In fact there have been several times I have looked back to the days even before I knew what was wrong with me and thought, "I cannot even replicate those feelings, it is hard to even imagine them". And then before I forget them completely - I stop doing something I know I need to be doing...this time it was exercise. I have been so busy with a million other things that I have not been properly exercising. I have been walking in the mornings 2 or 3 times a week, and then I have run on the treadmill downstairs once or twice, but not a good hard workout. And this week - nothing.
So, just as I drop the ball on that one I begin to feel a shift in my mood. I am more irritable, distracted, can't seem to figure out what to accomplish, sad, exhausted (much more than usual), and broke into tears diving home for no apparent reason.
The answer - looks like I better get up in the morning and run it out, then get back to my gym routine!
The last couple of weeks have been awesome. In fact there have been several times I have looked back to the days even before I knew what was wrong with me and thought, "I cannot even replicate those feelings, it is hard to even imagine them". And then before I forget them completely - I stop doing something I know I need to be doing...this time it was exercise. I have been so busy with a million other things that I have not been properly exercising. I have been walking in the mornings 2 or 3 times a week, and then I have run on the treadmill downstairs once or twice, but not a good hard workout. And this week - nothing.
So, just as I drop the ball on that one I begin to feel a shift in my mood. I am more irritable, distracted, can't seem to figure out what to accomplish, sad, exhausted (much more than usual), and broke into tears diving home for no apparent reason.
The answer - looks like I better get up in the morning and run it out, then get back to my gym routine!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Productivity
Just writing that word makes me happy, and today was a very productive day. Nothing special - I woke up, ran, read my scriptures, went to work, ran all my errands for the week, and finished up some work. If only every day could be as productive.
I am not sure what stands in the way of always having a productive day, however some days are simply better than others. And you know, I still went to the Barfuss' to use the Biomodulator and watched a little TV.
One day, every day will be as productive.
I am not sure what stands in the way of always having a productive day, however some days are simply better than others. And you know, I still went to the Barfuss' to use the Biomodulator and watched a little TV.
One day, every day will be as productive.
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