The Sun is Shining!!!! Happy Happy Happy!!!!

The sun is out today and oh man I didn't realize really how much I really needed that until I woke up and saw it! It's still cold as heck but at least it is sunny! :)

Last night I took a break from my responsibilities and just relaxed all night, ate stuffed crust pizza, had a cocktail, and spent time talking to Robbie and also some of my friends. It was GREAT. I feel refreshed today after having a night of fun. :)

I found an interesting article today on CNN that I wanted to share, it talks about how they are coming out with electric bandages. Yes, you read it right, electric. Apparently they help you heal faster! Sara, have you seen or heard of these? It said that they are already using them at some hospitals and they are soon going to be available over the counter. Pretty cool! :)

Ginger Was Cold This Morning

Remember how yesterday I was asking where spring is? I guess it is still far away because this morning my car was completely covered in a solid 1/2-inch-thick sheet of ice. Fun times. When I actually got into work today, my team lead informed me that he was just writing me an email saying that I could work from home today if I wanted to, since the roads suck. Imagine my dismay when I found this out. It's still strange to me that I could actually work from home to begin with. I guess I'll be keeping that in mind for next time! Woot!

I found out some fun news this past weekend - it is going to be Restaurant Week in DC while Robbie is visiting! Basically, twice a year, a lot of the super fancy and expensive restaurants offer a set/discounted menu! I am very excited to try something new. :) I love trying new places.

I have finished reading books 2 and 3 in the Twilight Series recently...and I like both of them a lot better than the first one actually. This weekend I will probably to go get the fourth and final book...and I must say that I will be sad when it is over. :( In the mean time I am reading a book Julie lent to me, Sula by Toni Morrison. It's pretty good, but there are SO many characters, I think I'm not paying close enough attention to keep up sometimes. Finally, I'm really thinking about going to get Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates. The movie piqued my interest.

That's all for now!

Country Music and Crappy Weather

I don't know why, but for some reason the combination of country music and crappy weather always reminds me of home. Well, I know why the crappy weather part does...but I guess I used to listen to country a lot while I was living in Michigan? I don't know. LOL. This morning it was snowing like crazy on my way to work, not sure what it is like out there now because my new office doesn't have any WINDOWS. Well, there are some, but they are waaaayyyy at the front of the building and not near where I sit at all. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I am again sitting in a cave every week for 40 hours just like I did at my first job. Not so bothersome right now, but once spring rolls around I am definitely going to have to have a picnic lunch like EVERY single day to make up for it.

Speaking of that, I am about to go INSANE with cabin fever. I can't stand having to be inside all the time. Omg. Spring WHEN will you be here?!?!?! I really, honestly am considering bundling up and going hiking this weekend. I have all the stuff to keep warm, from when I went snowboarding. I'm totally doing it. I just can't take being indoors non-stop for so long! Ahhh!

Speaking of my office, it is really strange for this area and this industry - but most of the people that I have met so far are extremely LIBERAL. I know, right? I don't know if it is because it is an R&D environment, but everyone seems beyond happy that George Bush is out of office and they are NOT afraid to talk about it for hours. Personally I like to avoid topics like religion and politics at work...but hey...what do I know? LOL. What if I were a die hard right wing Republican!? Also, there is a radio in here and they play a different station every day! I love love love it! I had my own radio in my last cube but it got sucky reception. Woot!

Back in the Saddle

Hi peeps!! I'm back! How is everyone doing on this fine Monday afternoon? Me, I'm doing considerably well for a Monday actually.

I had a super fun weekend. Friday I got some well-needed rest. Saturday I went to dinner and out dancing with Jessie and Jessi. Sunday I went to brunch at a place in Chinatown in DC I haven't been to before - Co Co. Sala. Oh man was it yummy!!!! We all felt like we needed to be rolled out of there afterwards. Sunday night I went to see Revolutionary Road with Jessi, Alice, and Stephanie. I thought it was good but it is really messed up in some parts (infidelities, etc. etc.), and also sorta sad. I won't go into details in case you're going to see it! I thought Kate Winslet was really, really good in it, and also it did make me laugh a lot - but it was sort of dark humor. :)

We selected our next book for book club, Lucky by Alice Sebold. I've already read it, but I'm still excited because I do think it will lead to a good discussion.

Workouts are going well - I'm actually really liking weight training again and following this lifting plan is nice. I can already see some more definition in my arms!! :) I could probably do without the lunges though, mainly because I hate them. Ha ha. But I'm totally doing it and not skimping at all! Basically all you do is this lifting plan 2 times a week, and then the other days you do cardio, and also eat healthfully (duh). The plan is in this month's Fitness magazine if you want to check it out! I think it's called "Lose 10 Pounds in one Month" or something like that.

Blogging Hiatus

Hi everyone. I just wanted to let you all know that I am going to take a hiatus from blogging for a while...a week, maybe two, maybe more.

Talk to you then.

Fastest Blogging Ever

I have to write this super fast because I apparently have to run as fast as I can over to my new building to get some stuff to read or some crap like that. So here goes.

Friday - went to a new place with Jade called Guarapo, super fun hookah bar in Arlington that was packed to the RAFTERS. Saturday went to dinner with Jessi and gorged ourselves on mexican food at Uncle Julio's Rio Grande Cafe. So yummy. Last night, Alice made dinner for me - chicken parmesean. Omg it was sooooo good and I ate way too much. Overall a very very nice and relaxing weekend.

Today I was looking forward to slacking off all day but I guess that is not going to be the case. And guess what? I just got an email saying that Lockheed is looking for people who want to relocate to Los Angeles. LOL!

Thank the LORD

Oh man I am SO stressed - I am so so so so so so so glad that it is FRIDAY and I can finally just relax this weekend and try to decompress. I am STRESSED. I don't know what my deal is seriously. I feel like my fuse is like 1 millimeter long, the stupidest shit is either frustrating me, making me upset, or making me cry. I need a vodka IV and I need one now. Holy cow.

I have some fun stuff planned this weekend so hopefully that helps.

Yesterday I went and got briefed in for my new job and let me tell you it was super exciting. Not really. Today I am going to get my badge and meet some people...and next week I start! New year, new job! :)

Also, my class got cancelled next week because pretty much the entire metro area is going to be shut down because of the inauguration. They're expecting 4 million people to be in DC on Tuesday. Isn't that insane!?

StReSSEd

I am sorta feeling a little....negative today. I know. I'm trying not to be. But it seems that I am very stressed and I cannot shake it. I think it there are a lot of factors that are contributing, and I don't know what to do because some of them are out of my control. I guess I can work on the things that are, and just realize that there's nothing I can really do about people being not so nice these days. It's unfortunate when it is unexpected though. I can't wait to have some wine tonight. :)

My co-worker and friend Julie organized a going-away lunch for me tomorrow, so that should be fun. I've been working extra this week so I can have a half day tomorrow and just leave right after the lunch. So that's nice. Also, I have been being good about working out and I signed up for this free progress tracker at Fitness Magazine - it tracks your workout program, activity, calories burned, and even a food journal if you want. You can input your goals and everything. It seems pretty cool and has all kinds of really useful resources on it too. It puts your progress into pretty graphs. LOL.

Finally, the economy sucks and the Bush's bought some $500,000 plates! Are they doing their duty to stimulate the economy? I don't know!!!

Happy Thursday!! :)

W-w-w-w-endnesday!!!!

Hi people. I am so glad it is Wednesday!! That means we are so much closer to the weekend! :) I don't have any plans right now but I am really thinking of dropping in on a yoga class either Saturday or Sunday morning. I want to check out this studio that is pretty close to my house to see what it is like, and then maybe register for a class. Woot!

On another note...I thought this story was interesting. The police in New Zealand used Facebook to catch this dude who tried rob a pub...they had him on video from one of the security cameras, and they posted a picture on Facebook and had him in custody the next day!!! Isn't that crazy?!

Even though I was COMPLETELY exhausted last night for some reason, and had a little trouble keeping my eyes open, class was actually really good. My professor is awesome and she actually has us have a discussion during class, and does not just kill us with powerpoint. I really like her teaching style. And, I actually felt like I learned something worthwhile. :)

Weird but Funny Dream

Last night I dreamed that I met the members of the band Metallica, at first had no idea who they were (which would not happen), and then proceeded to tell them that I used to be a fan - but ever since they started suing kids for downloading their music I decided that I would never buy another one of their albums again.

So there.

But honestly...where did that come from? LOL.

I had a pretty boring night last night and I was EXHAUSTED when I got home from work. I didn't feel like working out at all but I still did some weight training. I signed up for the Get Fit Challenge at work again - can you believe that since the first time Jessi and I organized it, it has grown and grown and now somebody else entirely is running it? It now includes anyone that wants to join...even if they don't work with us. This is the first time either Jessi and I, either as a team or individually, have not been in charge of it. Strange indeed. Well, I decided to join again because I needed some motivation to get my workouts to the next level. Hopefully that works because I've been feeling pretty lazy lately. I'm thinking about joining a yoga class...especially after I talked to Fitzalan last Sunday and she said she took one that was amazing! I want to do Vinyasa!!!

Project!!! And other Stuff :)

Hi peeps. I had a pretty awesome weekend. A little of this, a little of that. Stayed in Friday, went dancing with Jade on Saturday, book club on Sunday.

My main project though...was re-doing my rocking chair that I have in my living room. It was in awful shape and I have been trying to decide how to fix it for years now...I didn't want to get rid of it because it has been in my family for ages. It was my great-grandmother's. I finally found a cushion at Ikea that fits perfectly...and I took off the arms and recovered them with some fabric that I got at JoAnn's. See below for before and after pics!!!! Woot!

BEFORE (with crazy cat lol)

AFTER

How crafty am I? I was very, very proud of myself when I was done. The girls helped me put the arms back on last night after we were done discussing the book at book club. :)Woot!

Below are also pics of my new luggage...Sara asked what it looked like so I thought I'd post some pics from the website! :)

How to Entertain Your Cat

Steps as follows:
1. Order luggage from Victoria's Secret
2. Once received, remove luggage from cardboard box - save the box!
3. Remove feather from NYE 2009 headband
4. Notice a hole already poked in the cardboard box from delivery man
5. Let cat get inside the cardboard box - this will be the easiest step!!!
6. Let cat try to get feather through hole in the box.

Exhibit A - If you look closely you will observe a cat in the cardboard box:

Can you believe stuff like this still happens?

Can you believe that in the 21st century...people are still being burned at the stake for suspicion of witchcraft? And girls are being banned from getting an education?

I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried...

More NYE Pics and Others

Me and Alice

Alice and Matt
My mom's new kitten hiding in the Christmas tree!! LOL

You gotta see this....okay, these are the fire logs that I buy from the store...Caution: Risk of fire?!?!? Duh!!!

Nothing Nothing Nothing

I have absolutely nothing to talk about today. How does that happen?!

Hmmmm.

Hmmmm.

Ooooh I thought of something!!! My new professor for my class I started last night is female!!! I think this is the very first time I have ever had a female professor for an engineering class. Isn't that crazy, especially considering I have been studying engineering for almost 7.5 years now? The class is Management of Research and Development, and, coincidentally, the new job I just accepted is for an R&D group!! I've never worked in R&D before so it should be interesting. I won't acutally be doing research work, it's just working with the group and assisting the management. Cool, huh? Omg and I forgot to mention last time...my new job title is Senior Systems Engineer! Senior! Isn't that super fun!!! I can't wait to put it on my stupid resume that I hate updating! LOL.

I just got done reading Water for Elephants. It was actually really, really good. It's about a guy who is one exam away from graduating from vet school and runs away with the circus. I'm not gonna tell you why - you'll have to read it! I couldn't put it down, even though the parts about how they don't take care of the animals so well were really sad. Now I am reading the second book in the Twilight series - New Moon. It's really good so far, I am about half way through it. This weekend is book club - I haven't read the book. I can't find it anywhere!!! I don't know what I'm going to do!!

True Love Can Last

True love can last!! I knew it!!! Read this article! They even back it up with science. LOL :) I'm not joking when I say that I plan to remain in the honeymoon phase for my entire life. :)

Also, if you're looking for a job...the FBI is looking for 850 special agents!! How cool would that be!? I may actually check some of them out just for shits and giggles. I could totally be the next Agent Scully.

So, a few more news items of note...I finally accepted a new position within Lockheed. I was very nervous about it at first, but now I am actually very excited. I was offered another position that would have me doing a lot of the same work that I did before, but I decided to take this one instead because I want to have a challenge. I need something new. Also, it came with a promotion and more $$$!!!!! So you can't beat that!!! Another good selling point is that it is currently only funded for 6 months, which means it will be coming to an end right around when I want to make my move to Cali. It is a little longer of a commute...but not much.

The other piece of news is more boring...I start class again tonight. Bummer. But the good news is that I only have two left!!!! Wooooot!!!!

I Feel Loved!! <3

News news news news!!!!!!! I feel very loved lately!! Not only is Robbie coming to visit me over my birthday...but my sister bought a ticket to visit me the first weekend in April!!!!!! She is coming during the Cherry Blossom Festival, so hopefully that will be a good weekend to see them. They can't always predict exactly when they are going to be in full bloom. Isn't that exciting!!!?? And, when Robbie visits, I have already gotten us tickets to go see a comedy show at the DC Improv. John Witherspoon is going to be the act - he is the guy who played the dad in the movie Friday. We can't wait!!!! Wooot!!!

Last weekend was so much fun omg. Friday night I went to Mr. Days in Arlington...which is essentially a dive sports bar but it is still fun all the same. They play good music and the bartender always gives us the hook-ups! Saturday morning I went to brunch with a group of friends down in DC - at the Tabard Inn Restaurant. It was so yummy, and it is in one of the oldest hotels in Washington DC. It was really cool. Afterwards, we went to the National Museum of American History - and omg I LOVED IT! I think it is by far my favorite Smithsonian museum so far. They had tons of cool exhibits, including one of the Star Spangled Banner, the flag that inspired our national anthem. I can't wait to go back, because there is just no way that you can see everything in one day at those museums. They are too huge. I will probably take my sister and Robbie there when they each visit! :)

Here is a button that was in the exhibit about how they developed and introduced the birth control pill!! I laughed. :)

All the Single Ladies!!!

NYE 2009 Pictures

Hey Good Lookin'

I think I am one of 5 people that are here in the office today. Oh man, I didn't think it could get any quieter in here than it was the other day and now I have been proven wrong. Thank the Lord nobody is calling me and bugging me though. :o)

So, this article caught my eye and also made me laugh. It's about what people will and will not do in front of their significant other - like going to the bathroom with the door open and stuff like that. It's just funny to hear different points of view about the subject, especially because myself and many of my friends have relatively new relationships...and it seems that the subject has come up a few times recently! I'm going to have to agree that there are some things that I just don't want to see. Or hear. LOL.

Welp I do have some pictures from New Years, but yesterday when I tried uploading them my internet kept crapping out and I got so mad I was about to chuck my computer off of my balcony. So some day soon I will post them when I have had some vodka and I can handle the irritation. :o) Yesterday I swear I feel like I didn't do anything worthwhile at all. I slept in super late, did some stuff around the house, worked out, and cooked something new in my crock pot - salmon. It was the first time I have ever made fish, period. It turned out yummy!!!

All this talk of food is making me hungry for lunch.

OMG and I forgot to mention - I am going to have the best brithday EVER! Robbie is coming to visit me!!!!!!!!! :o) WooOooOOOOooottt!!!

Apache Blessing

May the sun
Bring you new energy by day

May the moon
Softly restore you by night

May the rain
Wash away your worries

May the breeze
Blow new strength into your being

May you walk
Gentlly through the world and know its beauty all the days of your life

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!