Random Me

Peoria

2007-07-01T14:34:00.000-07:00

I'm still alive, I moved, life is fun. For anyone wondering, the linear kitchen is mine. It is 1 mile from Ben, which is great his place is right off a loop I run quite often so I can run, pick him up and we can go to my place. No driving required. Oh the no driving thing is fabulous. It's a pretty well known fact I don't like to drive, and I have only driven on weekends since moving here. It does mean I don't get to see much more than my neighborhood during the week, which does get slightly boring, I can deal with boring as a minor downside to not driving. My crazy old landlords make fun of me for how little my car moves.

My landlords are a hoot. They live in my building and are also here all the time (seriously their car does not move too much more often than mine and oftentimes it only moves to take the lawnmower out of the garage) The husband brings in the mail and puts it by everyone's door...everyone except me. He doesn't understand that "running thing" I do and feels I should have a destination and a reason for my run so I need to get my own mail from the mailbox across the street. I have so many great stories about my landlords. I pretty much never want to live in an apartment community again for the sure entertainment value I have gained from the crazies.

Work is work, sometimes it's a bit quiet working from home, but for the most part I'm enjoying the commute.

Changes

2007-04-29T16:41:00.000-07:00

I have lived in my little apartment for over 2 and a half years. My first apartment post college. It's little but all I really need. In a few short weeks I'll be leaving this place to live over 400 miles away in a yet to be determined location.

My new kitchen could look like this spacious model.

I could have the world's most linear kitchen. Seriously this is the entire kitchen, one neat line.

My third option is this little, dated kitchen.

Anyone that feels the need to give me advice on where to live should really be able to decide just on kitchen alone. You can also know each has a garage, the first and third choices are attached. Number two I'd have to walk in the elements a couple feet. Two of the places have washer and dryers. The third has a "laundry room" with hook ups but I would rather turn that into an office because I am me and weird.

Also, I am concerned with office space because I will be working from home. I am keeping my current job and telecommuting from 400+ miles away. This is, in the words of my manager, "to be closer to 'friends' and family." It's all very exciting and scary at the same time. It's giving that "friend" and I a chance to finally see each other without planning ahead at least 6 hours. We get to be more like normal couples (if you didn't already know are you surprised that the "friend" is my boyfriend of nearly two years) I am still in shock and incredibly ecstatic that this is actually happening.

I am going to miss my little apartment, this city, and my friends. I will be back to visit regularly all except the little apartment. In four weeks when I pull out of the parking lot it will probably be the final time I see my first little apartment.

Darwin

2007-03-13T18:47:00.000-07:00

Sunday I set out for an 11 mile run. The weather was beautiful, 50s maybe? not much wind...so perfect for a run. I ended up running a couple extra miles because I'm a little crazy but whatever. I was a little surprised I didn't see many other runners out. During my um 2ish hours out, mostly on a trail, I saw maybe 3 runners. I guess I really don't live in a running city. I did see lots of people walking and more biking. Not really a surprise a suppose. The only surprise came shortly after I had turned south to head home. I saw a lady out with her two dogs. The lady was on a BIKE! and yes, the dogs were on leashes. Seriously, Darwin award anyone? It's hard enough to run with dogs on a leash, dogs don't want to go at a steady pace forward, they want to stop and smell for places to mark their territory, sprint towards other dogs, circle around, just be dogs. The lady seemed to be doing pretty well keeping the dogs going and herself upright on the bike, but really I wouldn't be surprised if she fell or lost hold of the leashes before making it to her destination.

I'm back...

2007-02-05T18:23:00.000-08:00

running again of course! It's wonderful to be able to run without worrying about how my knee is going to feel later. I'd say I'm 90% healthy, which is pretty healthy considering it's winter and how horribly I felt just a couple months ago.

Of course my body decides it has healed at the coldest time of the year. The time of year where it takes 10 minutes just to put on the layers on, including insulated tights, warm socks, 1 or 2 layers of gloves, thermal shirts, a jacket (a bright yellow one with a red light even..I am the biggest running nerd thanks to my mom), and two ear bands (one for my ears, one for my mouth.....I look hot). Don't worry about me, I'm not going to freeze out there.

I have seen people that are freezing. Like the couple playing with their dogs in the park (seriously people don't you realize it's negative wind chills?) Or the people playing disk golf... I know it's possible to get a work out playing disk golf, but really these people were standing in the too-cold-for-a-sane-person-to-be-outside temperatures in snow watching each other throw Frisbees. Seriously people, you are crazy.

Speaking of crazy I'm thinking people see me running down the road complete with my red flashing light on my super cool jacket (yep my mom worries about me) and feel sorry for me. People in their cars wave me across the street when they have green arrows. Seriously besides the stupid lady that didn't feel the need to um look at the road or stop at the STOP sign I have encountered nothing but super courteous drivers this winter. My theory is they don't want to be the reason I caught hypothermia so they help me get on my way faster. Purely selfish reasons, you know? Could drivers please find selfish reasons to treat me like this year round?

Injured

2006-12-20T18:39:00.000-08:00

I hurt my knee two weeks ago tomorrow. Anyone that's known me for any period of time probably isn't surprised. I've been beating up my knees for years. I've been relatively injury free for awhile now. Nothing has sidelined me for more than a day or two since 2003. But two weeks ago tomorrow...

Two weeks ago tomorrow my knees started hurting so badly I was afraid I'd have to actually go to a doctor again. Before anyone else asks no, I didn't fall or run into anything. I wasn't even running in the cold (as had been planned for that night) or on a hard surface. I was running on a treadmill, I really don't know what went wrong. I only ran 4 miles.

But when I was done with those measly 4 miles on the dreadmill(seriously who runs on a treadmill for fun? Running outside=fun and relaxing, Treadmill=painful) I couldn't walk right. I stretched, iced my knee and went to sleep hoping it'd be better in the morning. I didn't sleep well that night. Stupid knee hurt to be touched, the next day I hobbled around work, stairs were the devil. Slowly, slowly I've been able to walk without limping. I couple days ago I started taking the stairs without thinking about the pain.

The worse part of this is I haven't been able to do any sort of exercise. Without my exercise I'm a sad little girl. I've read up on my symptoms and I think I have Patellar tendinitis sound advice says stay off it. Don't run. I even read that I should rest for 3 weeks. 3 weeks! and from what I've read that's for an injury that isn't as debilitating as mine, I don't want to go another week. I want to run again asap. I think I can do it, I mean I can walk without pain now so that means I can run, right? But of course now the weather's getting icky. Seriously last week the weather was wonderful and now winter decides to come. Is the weather trying to tell me to take more time off? I am going to choose to ignore it and run as soon as I get time (holidays and work are trying to get in the way of my running time) I guess I really am a crazy runner...

ATM

2006-11-14T18:15:00.000-08:00

When I need cash I run to the ATM...literally. I don't think it's weird. I live less than a mile from my bank and my bank happens to be on a course I commonly run when I don't want to go far, so why not? Very convenient and I hate driving so yep running makes perfect sense. Anyway tonight I needed cash so I went for a run. When I ended up at the bank someone was at the ATM (they drove, weird) so I jogged around the parking lot for a minute but they were taking forever so I ran around the block. When I got to where I could see the ATM he was gone so I was happy, until I saw another car pull up. Grr... I this time walked to the end of the parking lot to stretch, then /another/ car came. No No you are not going to take my place. So even though I feel very strange and rude standing right by the ATM while someone else is there(I'm shy, timid little ol me after all). Finally the man left and it was my turn, I left and someone else drove up. Seriously. I don't understand why this ATM was so busy. Did I mention this was at a branch of the bank and there was also a drive up ATM (which I have ran up to before and used but feel a little silly doing, especially when on the other side of the bank there's an ATM designed just for people like me, a "run up" ATM if you will) and there was not a line at that ATM? I understand not wanting to waste gas having the car idle but um starting the car again, that wastes gas as well doesn't it?

So today I decided if there's no line in the drive up ATM and you drove to the bank, that is the one you have to use. Let us runners use the ATM and get home. It is winter, it's dark, no one wants me running in the dark. We all know how coordinated I am running in the light, just imagine the dark. Next time you have your choice please think of the clumsy runners.

It's November 5th...

2006-11-05T13:20:00.000-08:00

and I saw people putting up Christmas decorations today. I understand the weather was really nice today which makes for a great time to put up outdoor decorations but seriously. Halloween was last week. Thanksgiving isn't for another few weeks. Christmas is 2 months away. I grew up in a family that didn't consider putting up decorations until at least the day after Thanksgiving and really preferred waiting until Advent started and keeping the decorations up through the entire Advent season. I'm not saying everyone has to wait to put up decorations but really, isn't the first weekend in November a bit early?

Some people

2006-10-27T17:42:00.000-07:00

I drive a lot. I see all kinds of things while I'm driving, I felt the need to write letters about some notable nuisances.

Dear People of Minnesota,
What is different in the way you learn how to drive versus the rest of the country. Why is it that during a drive through Iowa I often come upon people with license plates from the land of the lakes that just don't seem to be able to drive with um consideration for the rest of the people on the road. On my most recent trip through Iowa I came upon two separate cars from your state that clearly have no idea what cruise control is. Both cars were newer and I assume they both have cruise control, yet both failed to maintain a consistent speed for 5 minutes at a time. One felt the need to remain in the left lane, without any cars in front or next to them, and never going an exceedingly fast speed. Personally I try to avoid passing on the right as I feel it is rude. Well have several miles not at a consistent speed and slower than I wanted to go I was forced to go to the right lane, for my sanity. People of Minnesota, I have friends from your state, I even spent a summer living on one of the 10,000 lakes, but when I see I car with plates that say Minnesota...I become quite sad. Please learn some consideration and everyone take lessons on cruise control.

Signed,
The very frustrated Elantra driver.

Dear Creepy Suzuki driver,
I do not appreciate when large, hairy, creepy looking men blow kisses at me and make gestures through their cars. What possessed you to do such a thing? Were you trying to flirt? Really, it is not going to get girls if you act in such ways. In fact, girls will try to stay away from you. No, I did not feel at all flattered, I was disgusted. I felt trapped and tried my best to fall way behind you. I was beyond relieved when I finally saw you take the exit off the interstate.

Signed
Disgusted in Omaha

Stupid People

2006-09-17T16:18:00.000-07:00

Do you know what happens when someone requests the utilities in a certain location get switched to their name? The current resident of that location has their account closed, the security deposit returned, ect. ect... Just like that, a flip of the switch. This weekend I got a notice that my account was closed with the Omaha Public Power District. I called a little confused. The guy was pretty much like yep you don't live there anymore. Well sir, all my things are here and I still pay rent so I'm afraid I still live here. Apparently some Alicia something or other (I got her bill in the mail along with my notice) thinks she lives in my apartment. I haven't noticed any strange girls around so I don't think she's actually living here.

I guess maybe I didn't need to call, then I wouldn't have gotten a bill until Alicia decided she wanted electricity at her actual home. Oh well.

And then there were 3

2006-07-09T09:18:00.000-07:00

As of Saturday morning at 4:02 AM there are now 3 babies in my family. Brady Robert was born 6 minutes after Ashley Hope. My dad tried to tell me the babies were born 6 seconds apart when he called and told me about the births. Honestly I'm not sure if I managed to convince him that 4:02 is 6 minutes after 3:56, we'll just blame it on the lack of sleep he had the night before and his long week.

It's a little crazy to think all the babies are born. This summer is flying by. So many things have already happened and others are about to happen. I have seen my family more this summer than well I honestly can't remember the last time I saw this much of my entire family maybe freshman year of high school..maybe. I will be making another trek to see them all before the summer is over making that the 4th trip for family since the end of May.

Have I mentioned I hate driving? Hate's a strong word and oh, I mean it. I like to always be doing something and in the car there's really not much to do. Especially along I80, there is nothing exciting to see. I have been brushing up on my Spanish, but really there's only so much of that this girl can handle. Why isn't there a better way for me to get across the state of Iowa? Flying is too much of a hassle for the places I'm going. Teleportation needs to actually work.

I think I successfully rambled enough for today.

Runners are good people :)

2006-06-18T17:54:00.000-07:00

This weekend I was running along a stretch of a fairly busy road just minding my own business. Then I see a man in the middle of the road picking up tree branches. I was quite confused. Especially when I saw he was alone and didn't have a car, cart...anything. He was just picking up branches from the middle of the road and moving them to the median. By the time I got to where he was here were only a couple twigs left in the road. The man saw me staring at m grumbled about inconsiderate people that litter and ran off in the opposite direction from me. Oh it was a strange site apparently during this man's morning jog he saw branches in the road and didn't want there to be an accident so he took it upon himself to clean up the mess. Makes me proud to be a runner.

Follow the rules much?

2006-06-11T18:13:00.000-07:00

I understand rules are made to be broken and there are very few people if any that follow every rule. That said oftentimes rules are made to make situations better. Case in point Flying J truck stops are, in my experience, almost always busy and to cut down on the congestion of cars facing every which way to get gas they have the direction you are suppose to be facing posted by every fuel island(or whatever they are called) as well as signs that let you know that the hoses will reach around cars, so please use the first available pump. Simple, right? Well the lovely patrons of the Flying J in Davenport, IA just do not understand this. Cars at this truck stop seem to enjoy causing traffic jams and holding up others that are trying to spend the rest of their life savings on a tank of gas. Really, I swear the hoses really will reach around cars, it's not tough. Sorry I just got back from a weekend of driving far more than anyone should in 72 hours.

Also,
To whom it concerns at Flying J of Davenport, IA:
If all of the pay at the pumps are broken please put signs up.
Signed,
A less than satisfied customer.

It's all in a name

2006-05-26T18:32:00.000-07:00

The last year or so it seems as though everywhere I turn someone is talking babies. Friends and family. Maybe I really am growing up. My sister-in-law gave birth to the first great-grandkid on both sides of my family last night. Sadly there are no great-grandparents to enjoy such their first great-grandson. Even so my brother and sister-in-law honored my granddad by naming their son Jack after him.

When I was told the baby's name I was surprised I hadn't guessed that would be the name. While my brother, sister and I were never close to my grandparents (due in part to never living less than a two days drive from them), my brother always had some sort of connection with my granddad. My brother even looks eerily like my granddad did.

I love it when babies' are named after people. It is like a legacy for those they were named after. I was named after 3 glorious ladies named Alice, each one lived/lives a notable life and I hope I can live up to the name. I had wanted to name a son after my granddad although I'm happy my brother beat me to it. It shows how great a person he was that two of us had the same thought.

With the parents Jack has, I am confident he will grow up to be someone people want to name their babies after.

Half Marathon

2006-05-07T12:59:00.000-07:00

I ran my second Lincoln National Guard Half Marathon today. Sometimes things aren't quite as fun the second time around for me because I miss the excitement of the unknown of new things. Today was, however, a good time. I wasn't sure how I'd run this year because I've been sore and I haven't been training as fast. I ran a better race this time around, however. I think I was more even..I am bad at remembering splits and I don't have a garmin and hearing times that are off my by like 20 seconds just confuses me. I was dead tired at the end again and decided I really am in no shape to do a marathon 26 miles is so intimidating.

Anyway fun things I saw/heard today

I watched an 11 year old run his second marathon...if he kept up his pace for the second half he did pretty well.
I saw a girl be proposed to at the finish line of the half.
I saw 2 men run barefoot marathons
I ran with a man I know who forgot his shoes at home and ran in socks!
I heard a man talking about ultra races he has run. He almost ran in a 24 hour race last weekend but no one would drive him to the race. Yet he was worried what the surface would do to his legs. Seriously you put tons of miles on your legs I think you can handle 26 miles on a road.
I heard many people yell "go girl(s)" at me and other girls near me. Made me laugh, I was always around men when this happened. I guess people don't care about the guys.
I saw the man that wears a tux to hand out water.
I saw unfortunate cars that were stuck at intersections for a very long time.
I saw some creative messages written on the ground.
I saw people do push ups after finishing running.

A guy stopped me after I got my finishers medal to take a picture, I'm sure I look great drinking red gatorade completely exhausted. At least that's better than a picture during the race... Why must people insist on taking pictures of runners?

Cheap

2006-04-24T19:09:00.000-07:00

Most people that know me know I am not a fan of spending money. In many cases I'll go without instead of paying a couple dollars. I am the one that will shop around for the best price and I'm not a fan of full price. I blame it on growing up in my family. (Except I don't think my brother and sister ended up quite like me..eh I grew up much later than them) So you'd think I'd always shop at the cheapest place for what I need.

That my friends is definitely not the truth. I avoid Wal-Mart if possible. I recently read The Wal-Mart Effect and I have a renewed determination to avoid the original big box store. Wal-Mart is undoubtedly the cheapest place to buy everyday items as the store forces its suppliers to sell products to them cheapest in exchange for pushing the products in thousands of stores. Sure that sounds all great. Because of the size Wal-Mart has gotten the retailer has been able to bring prices down in many stores, it has even caused businesses to streamline their processes. The book begins with a stores about how Wal-Mart forced deodorant manufactures to get rid of useless packaging; lowering prices, creating more space on the shelves, and helping the environment.

I'm sure you've also heard all the nasty things people say about Wal-Mart as well. "Wal-Mart moves jobs overseas" "Wal-Mart forces mom and pop stores out of business" "Wal-Mart forces people to work in horrible conditions". It's for these reasons and more that I avoid the big box I come to every mile or two. Back when Sam Walton started the store it was no frills, good quality, good price. COmpletely something I stand for. Now the store forces manufactures to lower the prices on goods every couple years. Everyone must realize this simply isnt possible without something hurting. This causes manufactures to go bankrupt, move manufacturing out of the country, or lower the quality of product or a combination. When Sam Walton was around he encouraged employees to go to competitors and see what they were doing better than Wal-Mart. Now Wal-Mart will not give information about itself to anyone. How is any company expected to compete if Wal-Mart doesn't even share information. Fed Ex was given an award by Wal-Mart, the only thing they were allowed to say in response was a small blurb about how proud they were ect ect. I understand not sharing company secrets but the company just goes too far. In my opinion.

End rant, time for me to go on being cheap.

Creepy!

2006-04-17T16:43:00.000-07:00

Nope I'm not talking about creepy little bugs (although I did see some rather spine tingling creatures at the zoo this weekend) I'm talking about creepy older men. For the most part I encounter decent people in my every day life. A couple old men I met last summer at my apartment complex do not fit in this category. One has two teenage sons, is divorced, was in the Navy, and from what I can gather just sits around all day trying to pick up younger women. He's so pathetic I almost feel sorry for him. (I'm just not that nice) Every time I run into him I get invited out to dinner or drinks or something. Sadly, I never take him up on such offers.

Another guy I don't encounter quite as often just stopped me as I was walking back to my apartment from lifting weights. This guy lives in an apartment on my way to the gym and always has his blinds open. He was saying how he never sees me blah blah. "and it's sad because I enjoy watching you walk past my apartment" Gah creepy old man. What possesses people to open their mouths?

Makes me want to walk the long way to the gym.

Cutting Edge?

2006-03-27T19:12:00.000-08:00

I'm pretty sure I never thought traffic lights (or stop lights, or if your from middle of nowhere Wisconsin stop and gos) could be cutting edge. They are plain and simple lights with red, yellow, and green to let you know when you can go through an intersection. There are some variations of course, each town likes to come up with the best version of this simple traffic device.

A certain town I have been visiting on a pretty regular basis over the past year seems to want to be on the cutting edge of traffic lights. The first variation I had the pleasure to experience I would not recommend for any town that does not have an unusually high population of blind people. I know several towns have the lights that beep when changing...this town's was the first to keep me up at night. This experience with the lights actually was one reason I had a bad opinion of the town for several years (this girl likes her sleep)

This past weekend I was back (as I often am now adays as I have found a reason to overcome my dislike for the town) They have begun to upgrade another set of lights. This upgrade I am actually a fan of. The lights have a display positioned below the walk/don't walk sign. The display counts down for 10 seconds before the light turns yellow. I am such a fan in all regards and more towns need to adopt such lights.

I guess I am silly and such a thing should not excite me, but eh I'm random and weird and proud of it :p

Rude

2006-03-21T18:38:00.000-08:00

Omaha received the biggest snow storm of the season the past couple of days. Really that's not saying much seeing as this is probably the 3rd or 4th time for it to snow all winter. Me being the silly girl that people tell me is crazy went running in the wonderful snow. It was perfect snow running weather. It hadn't been too cold so the sidewalks and roads weren't getting a lot of accumulation and there was no ice so really it was just all pretty and a change of scenery. I had a great run for 6 miles. Then as I'm just about home I encounter a rude teenager who needs to have his drivers license taken away. I know driving in the snow is a bit different and sometimes it is hard to control your car. But this kid was clearly aiming to do what he did. He drove right next to the curb. You know that space where the snow plow deposits the snow so there's a nice little pile? He only did this right when we passed me clearly in an attempt to get me all snowy, wet, and cold. Luckily I was an alert runner right about then and got to the opposite side of the sidewalk and stayed dry. Seriously who does that? I thought the rudest thing people did to runners in the snow was neglect shoveling. No this deliberate action clearly awful. /end rant/

Bananas!

2006-02-22T15:21:00.000-08:00

When we went to help my parents move into their retirement house. A certain someone remarked that if he didn't know better he'd think we were moving a family of 12. Either my dad thinks my mom and him are a family of 12, there are 10 people I don't know about living in their new house, or my dad has no concept of portion control.

In a recent conversation with my mom she told me about a trip my dad made to a grocery store (my dad is the buyer of the groceries after all because that makes sense since he never cooks) My mom said my ever bargain hunting dad came back very proud because he got a good deal on bananas. 12 pounds of bananas to be exact. My mom was taken aback by the purchase. Her response to my dad was, "you know we are going to be gone all next week?" didn't seem to faze the proud owner of 12 pounds of bananas. As I was talking to my mom she was making banana cake. Hopefully that put a small dent in their supply.

Blog worthy

2006-02-17T15:29:00.000-08:00

So I recently took a trip to middle of nowhere Kansas. I don't think I had visited that state for quite some time. And it was an experience. I love small towns, not to live in but to visit. They have such charm. The particular town we visited had some sort of odd fascination with old houses and pointless museums, seriously Greyhound Hall of Fame? Really reminded me of a place my family would have gone on vacation. Maybe we did at some point.

Anyway...On to the most blogworthy part of the trip. Our hotel had a hot tub which we decided to test out. Good plan, right? So we turn the knob for a half hour and suddenly can't hear ourselves think. This thing sounded at times like a car trying to start other times like some sort of ogre or something. In order to quite the poor hot tub we clogged up the hole above one of the jets with a towel. I have never before been in a hot tub that sounded as though it was in some serious amounts of pain.

Politics

2006-01-31T19:39:00.000-08:00

Ben asked me to take one of the silly "where do you stand politically?" tests after Bush and the state of the union tonight. Here's my results

You are a
Social Liberal
(65% permissive)

and an...
Economic Moderate
(43% permissive)

You are best described as a:

Centrist

Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid
Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

100 Things About little ole me

2006-01-21T15:51:00.000-08:00

1. I've never lived anywhere more than 5 years
2. I've lived in 6 states
3. 11 towns
4. I went to 7 schools k-12
5. I was asked today if I was in high school or college
6. I've been out of college for 2 years
7. While I am young for my grade I was not the youngest girl on my floor freshman year of college by 3 months
8. My birthday is September 10th
9. Sometimes that is grandparents day
10. I only met 2 of my grandparents
11. The 2 I'm told I would have liked I never met
12. I say I am a youngest child and an only
13. My brother and sister are 11 and 13 years older than me
14. I only drink carbonation when drinking alcohol
15. The last time I had a pop (or soda or whatever you call it) while sober was my senior year of high school
16. I rarely wear nail polish
17. I once had a pedicure, if I were less cheap I'd probably have more
18. I am not a fan of spending money
19. I rarely wear makeup, more now than ever before, though
20. There are only 3 states I've never been to (Alaska, Hawaii, and Florida)
21. The only country I've been to besides America is Canada
22. I almost went to Japan one summer in high school
23. I've been running competitively since I was 14
24. I was afraid of running cross country until my senior year of high school
25. In college it was my favorite sport
26. I didn't own a car until I was 21
27. I didn't really want one before that
28. I am hopelessly addicted to peanut butter
29. I still keep in touch with my best friend from elementary school, I moved away from that town when I was 10
30. I love camp
31. I have either been a camper, volunteered at camp, or worked in every position possible for 11 summers
32. Last summer was my first summer in recent memory not to be involved with camp, I was not a fan of last summer
33. I used to hate beer, now I have beer I actually like
34. I drank strange combinations in college
35. I find excuses to not clean
36. I like to cook, not for my lonesome though
37. I took piano lessons before I owned a piano
38. I took violin lessons in 4th and 5th grades, I wanted to play longer but the next time I had an opportunity wasn't until 9th grade
39. I learned to cross country ski my senior year of high school and good a varsity letter for it
40. I love that I have running partners
41. Sometimes I have to force myself to run, I'm always glad I did
42. My brother and sister both ran in high school
43. I'm the only one that kept it up all 4 years and continued in college
44. I wasn't planning on running past high school
45. Strawberries used to be my favorite fruit
46. I still love strawberries, but bananas are my favorite now (especially with peanut butter :))
47. I lived off pasta in college
48. I love going to local places even if it costs a little more
49. I once ate a 2 lb burger
50. All in one sitting
51. I've been told I'm skinny and accused of being anorexic throughout my life...I'm not
52. I love finding bargains
53. I can't imagine life without google
54. My parents and I went on a 2 week long marathon college visit tour visiting 13 campuses between Nebraska and Maine
55. I didn't want to visit Ripon, but ended up loving the school
56. Legos are cool
57. I like strategy games
58. I don't like it when people younger than me get married or have kids, they are just kids
59. The last time my family all lived together was in 1988
60. In 2004 we were all within an hour and a half of each other, until I moved 7 hours away
61. I'm glad I've had a chance to live completely on my own, away from everyone I knew
62. My mom was more nervous about me moving out on my own after graduating from college than she was when I was a 17 year old going to college several states away
63. Sometimes my mom doesn't make sense to me
64. I love my family
65. I have gotten closer to my sister since moving away from her
66. Oh the power of cell phones
67. When I was little the only seafood I would eat was shrimp
68. While I still like shrimp I would always choose another type of seafood over shrimp
69. I love mushrooms, yay fungus!
70. I was born with my foot broken
71. My first tooth came in with a cavity
72. While alive I have never broken a bone
73. I cried when my dog died when I was 15
74. I brought of picture of my dying dog to show and tell in second grade, my sister told me that was morbid, it was how I coped
75. I fall often
76. My brother, sister and I were all born in state capitals
77. I was born in Springfield, IL
78. I don't watch very much tv
79. I do watch Gilmore Girls most of the time, however
80. It doesn't bother me if I miss an episode
81. I only own 2 dvds, most movies I don't care to see multiple times
82. I hate making decisions
83. Until I am comfortable in a situation I am pretty quiet and people tend to think I'm shy
84. Once I'm comfortable, however, it's a different story
85. I like to be silly
86. Once I put my mind to something I see it through to the end
87. I am stubborn
88. I had my ears pierced twice, both times I had to let them close up
89. I hate dancing
90. Unless I'm very hyper
91. I'm allergic to milk, I love dairy products anyway
92. I used to be a pack rat
93. I quickly realized that's silly for a person moves so often
94. I love candy
95. If I don't run for a long period of time, I suggest avoiding me
96. I love going back to places I've lived and seeing how they have changed
97. I want to retire in Wyoming
98. That might change between now and retirement
99. I'm pretty random
100. I have a bell collection

Piano

2006-01-10T18:29:00.000-08:00

I need some advice. When I was 10 I was given a piano. The deal was I would get it when I grew up and had a house of my own. My parents graciously moved it around with us tuning it a couple times even though I only played it for a couple years, but I loved that piano, it was mine, the biggest bestest, most unexpected present ever. An older lady was moving into a nursing home and had no family of her own so she gave it to me because she wanted it to go to someone that would appreciate it. Well now some people think I'm an adult and my parents are once again moving, this time to their retirement house. They apparently don't think it will fit in their house or something silly like that. My brother sister-in-law told me I can keep it at their house, "for a little while." But I think with that plan I would need to pay to move it over there. Pianos are expensive things. Well I have no clue when I'll have a house of my own, so I can't promise that I'll only need it at my brother's house for a short time. Should I just get rid of my piano? And if so should I be a nice kid and give it away because it was given to me by a kind lady or should I sell my piano?

Christmas Cards

2005-12-16T05:02:00.000-08:00

This is the season people like to keep in touch will old friends or at least make a half-assed attempt at keeping in touch and seeming interested in old friends', acquaintances'', and families' lives. As a result of that I receive quite a few Christmas cards. Some are really sweet and are a card with a hand written note. Some just have a newsletter type letter that goes to everyone that person knows. Some of the newsletters have a line or two at the bottom personalizing the letter for the recipient. I think both of these types of letters are great even though most of the time 90% of the letter is about the good things going on in the writer's life and they just make you want to puke and feel like lesser of a person because you didn't win the peace prize or find a cure to cancer. But the third type of Christmas letter..this type is just not worth the time. This would be the cards that just sign your name. What is the point. Two lovely people in my family did this this year and I just don't get it. Is that worth the effort to get cards, find addresses, and the price of a stamp? I don't think so. Maybe these people think quantity in cards is more than quality of cards. But I don't think so. Maybe the cards with simply a name is ok if you see the person daily and just hand the card to them. But if you live across the country and rarely talk to the people..no card is almost better than a card with just a name. End rant.

Daylight Savings

2005-11-05T20:06:00.000-08:00

I'm not a fan of daylight savings time. It already gets dark pretty early in the winter and the last Sunday in October you have to put your clock back an hour to make it get dark an hour earlier! It means I get very little daylight time after work. The added darkness makes me want to sleep, not run so much. But when I run with others...it can be entertaining.

Wednesday I was running with my friends, me met at 6 just like we have been since last October..so clearly it had to have been dark for a few months while we were running last year but we didn't remember it being quite so dark. One of the girls is apparently very afraid of the dark, dogs, and fish. Running by water or the woods is a frightening experience for her. Apparently once she was chased by a see through fish.... Wednesday we added another animal for her to be afraid of. We ran by a skunk that had its tail up. Luckily it didn't spray us. Could you imagine me explaining that stench the next morning? "Um I was running by a skunk..." I'm told it takes a lot to get skunkd but really I don't want to find out...

Silly

2005-10-04T16:49:00.000-07:00

So this is an insanly warm fall so far. I know we'll probably have an awful winter with tons of snow and subzero days. But I guess there's nothing we can do about that. But today, October 4th in Omaha it was over 90. Yesterday was in the 80s. Yesterday the air conditioning went out in my building at work. So this morning there were construction guys trying to fix the air conditioning, something I found funny because well tomorrow it's suppose to be 30 degrees cooler and my desk is in the coldest part of the building at the moment, so I wasnt bothered...until...The "fix" turned out to be this massive ac unit (I'm talking as tall as a door and takes up a corner) that blows cool air up and little box fans on the floor at the end of every row. We think the goal was for the box fans to blow the cool air towards the middle of the building. But um the cool air was going up and the fans were on the floor. Anyone see an issue with this? I actually think the whole "fix" ended up making the place hotter and really really noisy by my desk as the massive contraption was at the end of my row. Oh well it better be gone tomorrow because it suppose to be 60.

Safety part 2

2005-09-15T18:54:00.000-07:00

So with the safety campaign came a silly contest of sorts. The department with the best safety ideas or whatever would get this trophy the construction department made. This really really tacky thing with toy trucks glued to the base and the trophy part is an outline of a person and there is a place cut out of the head for a light bulb. But that's not all the stupid light has a motion detector. So yeah a guy on my team submitted an idea, the slogan on our trucks is ""Driven to succeed" and he suggested adding safely to the end. Seriously I think he's the only one that submitted anything so we get this silly thing and it goes on top of his cube. I now have a blinding light in the corner of my eye all the time, occasionally it clicks off for a second but people are moving so often it's generally on all the time. I think this is taking away from the safety of my department and me and it is a fire hazard! We have it right next to the ceiling and the guy on the other side of the cube from the "trophy" put up a paper shield so that he wouldn't get blinded or get a sunburn from the great thing. AND when we plug things in at work they have to a sticker on them saying they were inspected by construction. (granted this was built by the construction department) The silly "trophy" has no such thing!

ok end safety rant.

Safety

2005-08-08T17:43:00.000-07:00

Recently a big safety campaign has started at work. I work at a trucking company so really I understand the need, it's a big deal when there aren't any accidents for a week or two. We even have a salvage store because so many trucks roll over. But this safety thing has gotten a bit carried away. Darth Vader came through the office and gave everyone suckers that said "Think safety" and told everyone "May the safety be with you" The next week Elvis came. Guys were given combs and girls got handkerchief...I don't remember what his safety message was. Oh but that wasn't all. Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz came bearing foam bricks, "Follow the yellow brick road to safety" Last week this all was summed up during a lunch where the crash test dummies handed out bracelets like the Livestrong ones with safety messages. Oh and we got to watch a movie about a trucker that drove too many hours and hit a school bus killing a girl.

Seriously we get the point. Be safe. Don't push the drivers too much and use common sense. But really...I think they could have gotten the point across in um a cheaper way. Last year the company launched a champaign for everyone to find ways to lower costs and increase profits, 85/20...um don't spend so much on silly safety things. We also had a truck and car that were involved in an accident on display in the parking lot, seriously reminded me of a drunk driving prom display. I know they say no matter what position you have in the company you can help with safety...um I have nothing to do with drivers AT ALL, sometimes I say hi when I see them in the parking lot or in the cafeteria but that's it. Um I'll try to keep them safe because Elvis told me to.

Cell Phones

2005-07-10T16:03:00.000-07:00

2 blogs in 2 days? Yep I'm feeling motivated for the time being. Those of you that I talk to on the *gasp* phone know that I have less than perfect reception in my apartment. It's kinda sad that it actually has improved since I first moved in. Anyone remember that? Back in the day when I was stuck with a Chicago number because Omaha didn't have Cingular yet. I was stuck in a contract and was assured everything would be switched to Cingular in a couple months so I dealt with it. Well now my contracts up and it's time to get a new phone or a new provider. I went and talked to the guy in the Cingular store yesterday. I asked if service was suppose to improve at all and how much better my reception could get with a new phone. Of course the guy told me things would get better, what salesman would say any differently? Apparently the towers were just upgraded in Iowa and now they are working on Omaha so in a couple weeks things should be better. He also told me a new phone would work so much better than what I currently have and I should get a phone from him and not online...he didn't actually have a good argument for this one. So I think my current plan with my stupid phone is to wait it out till August or so and if things aren't noticeably better I'll probably switch to Verizon, if they improve I'll get a pretty new phone and stick with Cingular. One day you'll be able to call me and not wonder how long it'll be till the conversation gets dropped.

running

2005-07-09T20:59:00.000-07:00

What you thought I'd talk about something your actually interested in? Nope it's about running again. Everyone I work with think all I'm interested in is running so why try proving them wrong at this point? Even if it isn't true at all I mean look at my friends...Ok done with that ramble and onto running.

Today I decided would be a running day. A certain someone had taken me last week to my running store in Omaha to buy new shoes (I probably would have procrastinated on going if it weren't for the certain someone, thanks :) )Anyway I ended up with shoes that were one size too small, you'd think I could figure out what fits in the store especially after this long of buying running shoes but what can I say I'm special. So today I went back to the store and exchanged my shoes for the bigger size which had been decided last week was too big, but no it's the right size...It's the same size I have in my old shoes why would I get smaller shoes? I really like my running store though they were so nice about exchanging my shoes. It took forever though because they only have one register and pretty sure there was someone buying something the entire time I was in the store.

So anyway running day continued as I found 2 races today in Omaha. One this morning at a lake that I run at kind of often and one tonight downtown at an art gallery place. Of course I picked the night race, I don't get very many chances to run races at night. This was quite an interesting experience. I guess there were about 75 runners/walkers. A lot of the people were there just to support the art projecty thing. Eh whatever. And there were a few serious runners. It was a 5k which is what I used to always run, it's what I was good at. I looked around the starting line and I could tell already there would be really fast people and really slow people. That's normal. We started running though and 3 girls and a bunch of guy go out fast, I run a little behind them and um there's NO ONE by me. For the first mile I could see the fast group and hear no one behind me. After that I was running by myself through the city, keeping my eyes peels for cops..both because they were directing traffic for the race and um we weren't in the best neighborhood. (For the 1 reader from Omaha, we ran by Creighton) It was just crazy to me, I've never been in that position. Sure I wasn't going to be the fastest, I don't train for 5ks anymore and the people in front of me are college runners...(I talked to one of the girls) but seriously usually in a road race there's um guys at my pace at least. Nope they were a couple minutes behind me or ahead of me. So strange. Usually I just follow the people in front of me but this time I had to pay attention to the course. Oh well it was still a good time and I'm glad I did it. I like running in different places and this was definitely the best race tshirt I've ever gotten. They had girl sizes! AND the picture is um artsy, it was for an art gallery place thing.

Oh and since it was at an art gallery I wandered around and saw lots of great paintings, statues, clothes (oh it made me think of Leslie), pottery and other random things. Sebastian you'd love this place, they have a resident art program, my friend's friend is actually a part of it and they seem to do art of whatever medium they feel the need to do.

After the race I decided I wanted ice cream and I was downtown near a really good local ice cream place so I drove over there but I couldn't find a parking space and was too lazy to really search for a spot so I drove home :( gah laziness strikes again!

Ok now the people complaining that I never blog are probably wondering why they encouraged this post....oh well. Maybe I'll write something interesting later

working towards leadership

2005-06-16T17:53:00.000-07:00

My whole life my parents have thought I was a natural leader. Not too many other people seemed to agree, including me. I mean I'm pretty quiet and shy. I have had a few leadership roles in my lifetime but most of them Ive gotten by default. Like being captian of the cross country team my senior year at Ripon. Clearly I was only a captian because I was the only senior girl left. I've gotten myself into leadership positions at camp but pretty sure that's just because I stuck around camp so long. But as I was talking to my boss about my career goals it became clear I want to take on more of that responsibility. I actually told my boss that down the line I'd like to get into management. My boss is a great guy and he's seriously helpping me make the steps to getting more confidence and be more of a leader. He was always going to meetings with me, talking to whatever customer I had done a project for with me. After we had our talk he still went with me but made a point to force me to talk. This week he's been skipping out on meetings and sending me as his representative. At first I thought it was because he really was busy but pretty sure the last time I went to a meeting without him he was goofing off in his cube. When I realized the real reason he was sending me alone, it was like wow I really need to step up. Wish me luck

age

2005-06-05T17:26:00.000-07:00

I know age is relative and I always say I don't feel old. And really why should I, I've always been around people older than me, in my family, at school, and now at work. But I was talking to my mom and she got an invitation to a girl's high school graduation. I babysat that girl! How can someone I babysat be graduating? Then I thought about it, I know a bunch of kids graduating this year. My friend's baby brother for one. I remember when he used to wet the bed, totally not old enough to be out of high school!

This is funny to me. The fact that I'm out of college makes my boss feel ancient because I was in kindergarten when he graduated from high school. I guess when you don't see someone for a few years you think of them as the same age they were when you last saw them. It's kind of a shock to the system to see/talk to/hear from them again.

Spring

2005-05-23T17:08:00.000-07:00

I'm loving the spring. I've had company, friends and family with more to come. It's always fun to have people visit. I wish it'd be slightly more spread out but I'm not complaining. It's been a good time. Running has been fun, it's always funny how many more people start exercising when the weather gets nice, really they should exercise when it's gross out so that they look good when it comes time to wear summery clothes but whatever. That's just my humble opinion. It's nice to see more people on the trails and sidewalks but it gets crowded too, I don't think I'll ever be happy. Oh! My boss fell this weekend. Much to my delight and he told me about it, he said it made him think of me.yeah I'm pathetic people think of me when they fall. So this morning when we were getting water and the boys asked if I ran/fell this weekend like they always do I informed all of them of my boss's fall. He was rollerblading not running but still, this is his second time falling. The last time he blamed a dog but this time yeah it's all his fault. I'm not the only one! :) Really shouldn't make me happy but it does so maybe that says something about me, oh well.

family

2005-05-08T17:59:00.000-07:00

Well I survived my second weekend of family visiting, only have my brother left to visit sometime this summer. My parents were here Wednesday to Saturday. It was an up and down weekend but all in all a good time. They liked the things I got them for Mother's Day and my dad's birthday and they places I took them for dinner were a big hit. Apparently they are impressed how well I know my way around Omaha. Seriously I've been here 7 months, I better know my way around pretty well otherwise life could be pretty boring for me.

Anyway after spending time with my parents and talking to various friends on the subject it got me to thinking how kids turn out the way they do. My rbother sister and I all have our similiarities but wow are we different. To be fair I was raised a decade after my brother and sister so of course I'd end up with a slightly different outlook but my brother and sister are 2 years apart and they value such different things. A friend of mine is pregnant and she's all worried she's going to have some devil baby that she wont be able to handle. You have to hope with good parents the kid will turn out well, but sometimes it just doesnt happen. Parents can't be everywhere and parents can't be perfect. Sometimes kids manage to fall through the cracks. I was talking to a friend today that is blaming himself for his little brother. His little brother is looking at 40 years in Jail for robbery and drugs and he's only 17. My friend doesnt understand how his brother could turn out the way he has after being raised by the same people he was, he thinks if he had been there for his brother more things would be better. But really until recently my friend was there for his brother, driving him around, giving him advice, just being there.

not sure if that made any sense, it's just kinda on my mind

Time Warp

2005-04-30T17:51:00.000-07:00

Last weekend my sister and I felt like we were in a bit of a time warp. We listened to 80s music and visited places from our past. The big attraction for my sister was going to the town she graduated from high school in. It really felt like it was 1990 or before again. The population sign when we drove into town had virtually the same amount of people as it did when we moved from there, the Dairy King is still there, the school is the same (still one school k-12), our house is a different color but really minor things like house color are the only changes. We also went to eat at a place in Omaha that our family would go on special occasions. I think even the waitresses are the same there.

I know time doesnt stand still. Since 1990 my sister and I have changed a lot, the rest of the world has as well. But Arlington and Johnny's Cafe are stuck in a strange time warp. Nothing will change them. I guess it makes it easier to go back to visit when places stay the same, that way you still know your way around. But it's a little spooky I think, everything should change at least a little, I like change.

Long hours

2005-04-21T19:08:00.000-07:00

I guess I never really imagined life past college. I really didnt know what I wanted to do. Because I had seen my parents work some odd hours, I never really imagined myelf in a 9 to 5 world. I also never imagined I'd have a cubicle. Even though I did joke about it...remember Junior year girls? I have found myself in the work a day world. I have a cubicle, my very own drab cubicle. But I really am not in the 9 to 5 world. A few weeks ago my boss came to my team and requested that we all work 8 and a half hour days until further notice. Really I'm not sure if he realized we automatically had been putting in extra time, but whatever. That extra half hour turned into extra hours. Which, while tiring, really wasnt so bad. Today the big presentation finally happened. Hopefully we'll have good news next week. My boss told us we can go back to 8 hour days. I'm not so sure if I'll know what to do with myself. I don't know if I'll ever know what to do with free time.

The weekend

2005-04-10T17:19:00.000-07:00

This weekend is not going to go down as a great one. One thing after another happened to bring my mood down. Saturday I fell again while running (seriously what's wrong with me?) Then I had to go into work to get a project done by Monday. I spent 8am - 2pm in the office. I really didnt mind going in, I didnt like that it wasnt so much my choice though. Then last night I woke up at 2am and couldnt fall back to sleep till 6am. I don't generally have that problem, I'm blaming in on my most recent injuries from falling.
To top the weekend off my parents just called to let me know that my dad's uncle died yesterday. Uncle Bill was so poor that they werent going to even have a funeral. My parents have decided to fly out Friday and come back Saturday and my dad is going to have the make shift service at Uncle Bill's house. It's all so sad, he was sick but still it was pretty sudden. I guess my Uncle's latest thing was that he owned a used car lot. Saturday he was happy because that morning he sold a truck, in the afternoon he died. My grandparents on that side of the family died before I was born so Uncle Bill and his wife and my other great aunt and great uncle have stepped in and been grandparent figures to my family. I just have memories of Uncle Bill standing around in overalls, no shirt. Apparently that's all he really wore. His son was joking that's what everyone should wear next weekend in honor of him. I can't imagine that side of my family getting together for a sad occasion. Everytime I'm with them is for something happy and everyone is joking around. My tiny extended family is shrinking even more :(

Randomness

2005-04-05T17:38:00.000-07:00

So I went grocery shopping and needed to buy bread, I had a coupon because it came with the last loaf of bread I bought. But when I was in the store I looked and the coupon had expired. No big deal I ended up buying a different kind of bread anyway. My dad would be all disappointed because he is coupon king, seriously the man brings a bag of coupons with him into grocery stores and a folder full of coupons for restaurants, going anywhere is an ordeal with him. I have a special father. Anyway....I go to check out and somehow the coupon got stuck to some food or something because the next thing I notice the checker is scanning my coupon. Yeah the coupon actually worked I thought the bar code had something to check if you actually purchased whatever the coupon was for. No no apparently all the barcode has on it is the discount and if you have a stupid high school boy scanning your things even if the coupon expired and you didn't buy what it was for you get the discount. Score one for me :)

Church...I thought I had picked a church but Sunday the minister seriously felt the need to lecture the congregation on how much it is not involved and such. On one hand I sympathized for the man, I have witnessed my dad struggle with such things. But on the other hand really he just went off and church ended up going like an hour an a half. I really don't have that long of an attention span, I'm not sure if he chose the correct time to give his lecture and I'm not sure if I want to become a member of a church that's like that. Oh well. I'm amazed that I even want to go to church. Neither my brother nor my sister go to church regularly. Growing up I would take any excuse possible to miss church. I really really didn't like church, in my mind church was boring and caused a lot of grief in my life. And I still have issues with it, I hate all the politics involved and I don't necessarily agree with everything it stands for. But something keeps drawing me back to church. Maybe it's the familiarity of it, I pretty much grew up in church, literally. Who knows. I doubt I'll ever fully understand myself, but what'd be the fun in that?

Long time no blog

2005-04-02T20:59:00.000-08:00

I was informed I didn't update this enough so here I am :)
The church thing. I ended up going back to church closest to me. They still aren't completely friendly, but every time I go they seem slightly friendlier. I think I'll stick with this church for now. I'm still contemplating letting the churches know how unfriendly they really were, but it's not a high priority for me.

Work has been work. It's stressful but it's a constant learning experience, I hope one day to feel I'm good at what I do, as someone in my past used to say "it's a process" I know that quote is from a movie, but I never saw the movie and can't remember the name of it.

I just associate it with someone that just keeps popping in my thoughts. (Pretty sure most of you figured out by now who I'm talking about) I went shopping today and was reminded of him by some clothes, actually a pair of boxers...so random. Ahh frustrating, I need to meet people here and get on with my life. I need to stop going to people in my past. I need to stop hurting people :( This "process" thing sucks.

In happier news...... running is going well. My little club has 8 people in it now, 4 girls, 4 guys. Much fun. We run twice a week. It's actually something to look forward to. I need to run more on my own. But after having a rather unfortunate fall last Sunday (laugh now, everyone else has) I'm not so sure it's a great plan for me to be running the streets of Omaha on my own. Oh well.....scrapes heal, right? I'm such a klutzy person. 3 of the people I run with play soccer, they were saying I should start playing with them. Wow, could you imagine the injuries?

Oh! I'm getting visitors! A little strange, everyone in my family wants to visit. My sister has bought a plane ticket she's coming April 22. In the 4 years I was at Ripon she came twice, once for my birthday and once because some of my stuff was left at her house. I've been here 6 months and she's already coming just to see me. Maybe our relationship is getting better? I still think my sister is "special" and Jessica Simpson reminds me of her. Yeah. But we get along pretty well now and I'm happy about that, I complain that she calls me whenever she's driving but really I like that. In college we talked on our birthdays and sometimes on holidays, this is much better. I don't want to be like my mom who is just now getting to pretty good terms with her sisters, now that their parents are gone. My parents are talking about coming Mother's Day weekend for Mother's Day and my Dad's birthday. A little backwards for them to visit me on their days but whatever. And my brother and sister-in-law(still want to call her his fiance) are talking about Memorial Day weekend.

Thing I forgot about Nebraska. Tornados. There are actually Tornado drills in this state. Werner even stages it's own drills, we ignored the statewide sirens but we will have one at a later date. I remember many times when we lived in Nebraska having to head to the basement because of Tornado warnings. I will forever remember one time in 2nd grade a boy in my class called a radio station and dedicated a song to a bunch of girls in my class during a Tornado warning, cutest little boy ever :)

Enough of the randomness for now.

Poll

2005-03-13T19:10:00.000-08:00

So I havent felt like posting lately. I've been in a really mopy/feel sorry for me kind of a mood lately. I'm pulling out of it, stress just got the best of me for awhile.

Ive decided I need to meet more people or get involved in more things in Omaha. So I decided to continue my quest to find a church. Before Christmas I visited 3 UCC churches in the area. None of them were bad, but none of them were too friendly. I visited one of them twice before Christmas. Then last week I visited a another one of them for a second time and today I went to the third one for a second time. I think I like the third the best but I'm bothered by how unfriendly the churches are. They all have a fellowship time after the service but no one personally invited me. At each of the services the minister stood at the door shaking everyones hand as we left. At each church the minister would talk to people around me, but to me they just said "hi" and shook my hand. Really I'm the new person, I do not feel the need to be super outgoing in a strange place. I was talking to my parents about this and they agree that the churches should be more welcoming. Seriously. I jokingly said I should email the ministers of each of the churches and tell them they arent friendly. My dad was like yeah you should contact them, either call or email...... This is how I end up doing stupid things. So I'm opening this up to my loyal reader (It's spring break so I'm doubting Rebecca will comment) Should I a)give it another try at the churches, they all have good points I'm just bothered by the fact that no one trys to start conversations with me at all. I'm a visitor they should make me feel welcome. b)take my dad's advice and email the churches (what excatly should I tell them anyway) c)give up on those churches and try different onesd)go to different services for the churches...they all have multiple services every sunday and I havent tried every service e)any other suggestions....

I'm odd. But anyone that knows me already know that.

Running is part of me

2005-03-02T18:15:00.000-08:00

Ive been really down lately. A lot of you know that, and when I dont run I get sader and when I dont run and I dont feel like running and it's an awful cycle. Well I broke the cycle tonight and ran with my girls and a new guy. He's like 36 and thought I was far older because of my name oh well, I think he enjoyed himself. The moral of the story is running makes me far happier and I need to tell myself that. It's like some awful drug. Only it's not awful because well it's good for me. End of ramble. Off to be a happier Alice. :)

The Wedding

2005-02-28T18:47:00.000-08:00

Oh what a weekend. I flew away on Thursday. My flight was only like 10 minutes late, which is good considering my track record. I still didnt get to Rockford till after midnight though because silly brother dragged me to his work because they forced him to take Friday off and he wouldnt leave his office a mess. So we went and finished up things. Then I took him to a yummy dinner at the cheesecake factory. YUM.
Friday I got my dress fitted, nothing like last minute alterations. Yes my dress was loppsided but only I could tell so I guess that's a good thing. The rehersal was a fun time. I ate with my sister, her husband, my cousin, and my brothers friends.......those guys crack me up. My mom suprised us all because she made 19 sock monkeys. 1 for every family unit at the rehersal........so silly.
Saturday. Got my hair and make up done. My sister and I felt all promed up. The wedding was a good time and the reception was fun. I'm not a dancer but everyone felt the need to try making me dance, including my drunken brother in law.......picture below.
Sunday, watched the happy couple open a room full of presents. Seriously they were suprised how much they came away with. Then I flew away to get back past midnight.

Sorry I didnt feel like typing more details, you can make up your own stories from the pictures. Like how the mothers both managed to wear dresses in the same color as the brides maides? My mom had no idea when she picked her dress out. So strange.

Time to get back to my monotonous Omaha life.

drunkenjason

2005-02-28T18:28:00.002-08:00

drunkenjason
Originally uploaded by ifitinacup.

mother_inlaws

2005-02-28T18:28:00.001-08:00

mother_inlaws
Originally uploaded by ifitinacup.

sarascottmonkey

2005-02-28T18:28:00.000-08:00

sarascottmonkey
Originally uploaded by ifitinacup.

guyswithmonkeys

2005-02-28T18:27:00.001-08:00

guyswithmonkeys
Originally uploaded by ifitinacup.

bridalparty

2005-02-28T18:27:00.000-08:00

bridalparty
Originally uploaded by ifitinacup.

What a week

2005-02-12T20:40:00.000-08:00

This has been a roller coaster of a week and I have a feeling next week will be the same. Last weekend kind of randomly I decided to drive to Wisconsin. What do I have to do that's any better? So Friday night I spent the night at Becky's in P-ville and Saturday I went to surprise Chandra in Dodgeville. So funny. I had arranged with her parents that Rebecca and I would be coming to surprise Chandra, then Kate ended up joining the fun. I showed after Chandra had woken up and she answered the door "Why are you here?!" Yeah not exactly what I was expecting but funny all the same. It was a good weekend, well worth the boring drive through Iowa. It was great to be able to see Becky, Chandra, Rebecca, and Kate. It was just like the end of second semester last year. It was very unlike me and like me, does that make any sense?

I came back Sunday intending to finish a project at work.....Yeah I finally emailed off everything Friday afternoon. It was not such a great week at work, but I guess you'll have those. We have a new guy on the team so I am no longer the rookie. Hell yeah! He's nice, but I am still the youngest by a few years. Will I always be the baby?

I didn't talk to Nik very much this week. That is a fact that I knew would happen but I didn't want it to :( It's hard because I know I wont be seeing him for a couple years and communication will be hard with the time zone differences but he's that person that understands without explanation. Especially now it's nice to have that. I have people to talk to on the phone and I have my couple running partners but it's just not the same. I know I'll develop closer friendships with time but for now, I wish I could have that person to lean on. I went a long time without talking to him before, I don't want to do that again. My sister doesn't make it any better when she asks about him every time I talk to her......Which would be every time she's in the car. She thinks we'll get married some day. She told me that this summer when I explained to her how we weren't dating and wouldn't date until the day when we were in the same place which I still wonder if we'll ever be in the same place. Nik makes no sense and every sense in the world to date. I guess that's why I'm in that long distance relationship I tried refusing to be in...the pure contradiction of it all makes it make sense in my head.

I think I should stop blogging now....I don't think that paragraph made any sense. Oh well. Time to get ready for another crazy week at work then a stressful weekend in IL for my brother's wedding.

I feel like I'm growing up a little more

2005-01-29T20:23:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure what I've got myself into. My life is odd. I think I've always known that. Nothing has ever come easy, and I've never let that stop me, telling myself it makes it more rewarding. I hope that's true.

Moving to Nebraska by myself has been a good thing. I've been meeting new people and learning lots of things about myself and the world. I am fully capable of living on my own. Paying my bills, cooking for myself, doing my own shopping, remembering other people and their important days. I also know I can't survive without having other people to support me. It's like in About a Boy (you know my only dvd) they start out saying a man is an island. Yeah freaken right. What the hell would be the point if you didnt need anyone else? Or if other people didnt need you. I'm doing things at work now on my own, so I am needed to come through with results....lots of money is on the line. I need people to help me find tools to get everything done. I am always needed outside of work, people (including family) call and ask for advice. Now I know they can get advice from other people, but they value my opinion enough to actually call. And I need other people, not just for advice, for sanity. I think I am realizing that family is important. Ive always known family was important on some level, but really did I fully believe that? Probably not, I've always taken family for granted and as something that caused a lot of grief in my life. But without all the weirdness and bad things I know I wouldnt be where I am right now. and honestly I like this place. I like my job as much as it scares me that there is so much more to learn and the thought that I might not ever measure up...but I'll always try hard so I think I will measure up. I like Omaha. I have met people and will continue to try to meet more people. It's just a slow process, but then again life is a slow process. It took 22 years for me to not be dependent on my family financially at all.

I think the thing that brought up this rambling is my boyfriend in Germany. Oh so weird to actually call him my boyfriend again. For months weve been denying it. Saying we'd love to date but it just did make sense, how can you possibly date someone you won't see for 2 years? Well we eventually decided to go for it. Weve already spent the majority of the 4 and a half years weve known eachother apart yet weve always had that connection. I mean B.J. was jealous of Nik I always said he had nothing to worry about, Nik was so far away and I never saw him. But the truth is I always had feelings for him and I never stopped thinking about him. So now Nik is in the Army. And he was given a chance to volunteer to go to Iraq. At first he volunteered, it's $200 a month more and Iraq doesnt scare him. But then he turned it down, the job would just be a guard job. Which is not at all what he wants to do, as he says he'd be bored for that year. I think that takes a lot of maturity, to turn down all that money when you really arent worried about the danger just because you would be bored and would rather do your job. I'm proud of Nik. I really am. He's in a place where he really has to make adult decisions. I think he's doing a good job at it. Now I just hope these two years will go by quickly and maybe I'll get to go visit. I've always wanted to travel abroad.

This long rambly post is over. I hope I made maybe a little sense for those of you that actually read the whole thing. Oh and happy birthay a day late to Kate and Becky......I talked to both of them but hey, I can mention it in my blog as well. I almost started playing clue over the phone with Kate and company but yeah I dont think that's quite possible. I think I might actually take a weekend roadtrip sometime. Anyone wanna host me? Ok I'm done now for real.

and he talks.......

2005-01-22T15:30:00.000-08:00

Currently I'm on the phone with my dad. I called my mom over and hour ago, my dad was outside learning how to use the snow blower. Now he's inside and he's talking err reading to me. Wow it's special and ridiculous, I can hear my mom laughing at my dad reading. Seriously why are they on the phone with me?

So I'll write about my week. It was a great time and now I'm lonely. Nik came and it was amazing. I wish I could see him more than once every two years. At least we get to see each other. It was fun times. We bought a DVD player/home sound system thingy for me. I wanted a DVD player and this was the one that Niky approved of. So now I have a DVD player and one movie, About a Boy. Nik hadn't seen it and I actually like it so I bought it. Oh we also went on a date. Much fun, a real date. And he planned the whole thing, researched places online and everything. I'll spare you the details of the week it was a nice time and now Nikys in Utah seeing his family then he's off to Germany for at least two years. Chandra has already volunteered to go to Germany with me :)

Oh in other news I have a laptop for work now. And someone around here has wireless internet so I can be online in my living room if I want to be. Yep I'm a dork. When Nik was here we sat on my couch with our laptops.......yeah special.

This one could be long

2005-01-05T18:48:00.000-08:00

Where to begin? New Years was a good time. Becky came on Friday and we went to three casinos and played penny, nickel and (whoa) quarter slots. We also called Chandra and Kate at midnight and Nik called at his midnight :). Becky and I can be very silly. We stayed up way past my bedtime on Friday. Becky got to be the first person to sleep on my couch and new sheets. She says the couch is suprisingly comfortable. Yay. I wouldnt want people uncomfortable in my home :)

Saturday we went shopping and whatnot. Michelle and her friend Ben came over at night and we watched the 24 hour Monk Marathon...yes kids marathon. We played Pooh Candyland or as Ben said, Candyland Pooh.

Sunday Becky left. Boo. Michelle and I went to Sams club and spent way too much money....but the stuff will last a long time, so it's ok right?

I already wrote about Monday :)

The last couple days have been ok filled with snow and work. Today Omaha schools were canceled again. That meant I got to wear jeans and it's not friday and I didnt pay two dollars. My life is so strange . Everyone seems to think I come from the land of lots of snow. And they are talking about Wisconsin not Wyoming. Um guys Wisconsin and Nebraska have really similar weather. I've been in about as much snow in the last few years as you have. Whatever, I'm already sick of driving in the snow and this is the first week....I can see this being a long winter. I wish I had a garage but none of the garages by my building are ever open so it'll be a winter of clearing my car off everytime I want to go anywhere. It's crazy to think of how warm it was um last week, Amber and I saw people wearing shorts while we ran, yeah I doubt we'll be seeing too much of that for awhile.

Oh. Yay to more people reading my blog. Raeanne you got a robot dog? (who else would comment on 'special' being said around me :)) When I was little I wanted a robot dog, of course I never got one... I didn't have anything cool.

Oh and can the color blind people read my blog better now?

Winter is finally here!

2005-01-03T19:55:00.000-08:00

So just a quick post until I get a phone call from someone I havent been able to talk to in awhile :)
Today was finally winter, it snowed a little and was really icy. Seriously they canceled school here. Which I still don't quite understand, in Wyoming they never ever cancel school and it gets far worse. I know that I can dress casual when Omaha schools have snow days but seriously didnt dawn on me that today would be one till I was in my car and they were talking about closures. It was really icy though which meant people werent even going 40 on the interstate, good thing I am only on that for 1 exit. Work was pretty good. Dave and I worked on rates all morning then in the afternoon I was back to dollar general scenarios.....yeah I've got more of those to do. I was suppose to be done and get to work on family dollar. Oh well I met an important man in the company....ring ring it's time to talk on the phone and go to bed. night all. I'll talk about my fun fun weekend with Becky some other time :)

When will it be easier?

2004-12-29T19:46:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry I havent updated in awhile kids. I've been pretty busy. I think that's everyone's excuse this time of the year. Time just gets away from you. There's so much I'd like to do and yet it seems like I dont do any of that. Oh well I guess.
So the last time I wrote I was kind of excited for Christmas. That was a bust. I think eventually I'll be able to handle my family. But at this point I'm not sure what it is but something always sets me off. They are always like you can control yourself. They are right, I can...with everyone except them. Other people annoy me but I can just ignore it or laugh it off. With my family it's different. Maybe because they are so out of touch with my idea of reality, or they are incredibly hyprocrtical, or maybe it's the naive factor, maybe it's the fact that no matter what my role is always that little kid and something just causes me to act the role. I don't know I don't get it, I don't like it. I'd rather just stay away from family all together, until I can figure out what makes it so hard to deal with. I find it harder when everyone is together, but pretty much whenever it's really bad my parents are around. I can handle my brother and sister. Today my parents sent me letters...each indivdual...arent they special. My dad was trying to patch things up and whatever but really it just made me mad, I could see his goal but no not with what he wrote, not what he said. Maybe I'm just too stuborn, maybe I'm too much like my dad. I'm not like my dad, am I? Please say no. The man makes enemies so easily and never understands why, I don't want to be like that. Ok enough about my problems with my family.

Christmas presents were ok, I got some decent things, deffinatly not everything I wanted, not even things that I really wanted, but whatever I guess, it's better to pick out things on my own I suppose. It taught me not to give my family a list, it gets my hopes up that I'll actually get something I want, next year I'm going back to telling everyone I don't know what I want, that way I'll have my hopes set incredibly low.

My flight absolutly sucked. I was suppose to leave at 5:30 thanks to snow in Baltimore I got on the plane at 8:15. Yeah for getting to Chicago at almost 10, my brother actually stayed at work 14 hours just so that he could pick me up. We went out to eat and got to his house at almost 1. I was suppose to stay at my parent's house the first night but yeah my parents were in bed and it was just simpler so I stayed at my brother's house. The way back my plane was only delayed like an hour, so that's not so bad. Michelle wouldnt let me drive to the airport, so she picked me up and we went out to eat. There's a fast food place here you can get 99 cent Margaritas. Yep.

Monday...back to work...blah..actually I like it, I wish I knew more and could do more things, but that'll come. Monday was also Michelle's anniversary. Kris isnt here so we went out. Michelle is a good date :)

Tuesday I ran on my own. Sometimes that's nice, just to think about things, clear my head. Oh I ran on Christmas Day too because well I just had to get out, it was the second year in a row that I ran on Christmas Day, I think I'll make it my tradition.

Wednesday...today...ran with Amber. It's nice to have scheduled times to run, it forces me to actually run on a regular basis and it gives me reason to run other times.

This weekend Becky's coming. I wish I could be in two places at once. Make that three. I want to be here with Becky and Michelle. Dodgeville with Chandra, her family, and Kate and Craig. Casper with Nik. Did that really suprise anyone? At least this year will be a good new years. I'll be with my friends. Not someone elses like my past three new years. Not that that's bad, it's just nice to be with your own friends, maybe a mixture. But not like one person you know than a big click of people that you don't know at all.

That's enough of that ramble.

ho hum

2004-12-18T14:50:00.000-08:00

I'm feeling kind of bored so you get an update. This week was ok, work and running on wendnesday and today with Kristy and Amber. Nothing too special there. I actually had stuff to do at work so that was a good thing.

I'm all ready for Christmas, it just needs to come. All the presents are bought including things I probably shouldnt have bought. All I need to do is put them in my suit cases and get on the plane.
I'm also ready for my brother's wedding. I have now paid for everything. Bah being in a wedding is expensive.
$100 plane tickets
$120 dress
$50 shoes
1 day off of work
? altering the dress
? present
It's not so bad, it's just hard to coordinate everything since I'm so far away and my sister is such a pain. Friday I called the bridal shop and paid for my shoes, I was told they wouldnt order them before I paid, but they went ahead and ordered them mainly for me because I need them died(yeah ugly purple shoes) and ready to pick up by next Thursday. The correct size was ordered for me so everything was good. I called my sister, but she was at work so I didnt end up talking to her till after work when I informed her that our shoes had been ordered. She was like I didnt tell anyone my size, me being the nice sister I am called the bridal place and asked what size shoes they ordered for my sister, suprise suprise it was the wrong size and the lady was getting ready to close the store for the day. I asked if she'd stay there a couple minutes so that I could confirm the size with my sister, I called my sister confirmed her shoe size and called back the bridal place begging them to somehow get the correct size shoes for my princess of a sister. Thanks to me my sister will be wearing shoes that fit. Who is the older sibling? This occured after I had called my sister Wednesday I think it was begging my sister to order shoes asap and her saying she wouldnt because our future sister in law hadnt called to tell her what was going on. Yeah sorry she doesnt want to deal with your whining....Everyone has somehow decided I get to deal with that, thanks family. Whatever that round of wedding plans is done, hopefully everything will be ready so that my stuff can be picked up before I arrive in IL on Thursday so that I can try it all on and find out how major the alterations are going to have to be and if I'll have to bring the dress back on the plane with me or if everything can be done in IL. I'd rather not have to bring $120 dress back and forth on a plane with me if I dont have to.

Oh and when I go to IL next weekend I wont be seeing my princess of a sister till the 26th because she cant possibly split up Christmas between her in laws and my parents, even though my mom's birthday is on Christmas and my dad is a minister. Seriously I'm paying to fly in for Christmas she can alter her plans a little to see my parents on the 24th or 25th. No she's going to make my last day in IL a pain because I'll have to do things with her instead of maybe being able to see friends. Bah.

Wow I'm being ranty sorry. In better news, Becky is planning on visiting for new years. So exciting to have a visitor. AND Nik finally bought his tickets so it's offical he's visiting in less than a month. SO crazy not to have seen him in 2 1/2 years. I like the idea of visitors, Michelle and Olivia are the only ones that have seen my fully decorated apartment. I want to show it off. Is that so bad? It's not a great place, but it is my place and it's not a bad place.

Ok enough of this marathon post. Miss you all.

and now I can relax

2004-12-12T19:26:00.000-08:00

I love Sundays. They are great days, I have nothing I have to do. Today I decided to go to church, I tried the church in Ralston which is small and really close by. I drove past it yesterday after returning my library book to the Ralston library (I finished Empire Falls.....thanks for the suggestion Claire it was a great book, I was sad at the end though...) and discovered it has services at 9 and 10:30. I decided if I was up I'd go to the 9am one, I know normally later services are geared towards younger people but at the other church I've gone to in Omaha the earlier service is the contempary one and anyway if I'm up I'd rather go early rather than wait around than go. So I show up at the 9am service, walk in everyone is a senior citizen. They are really nice and talk to me and whatever, but I look in the bullitin, sure enough they have sunday school during the second service, also they dont even have a children's time scheduled for the early service I guess they figure no kids will be dragged with their grandparents and greatgrandparents, seriously I was the youngest by like 30 years at least. So if I decide to go back....I think I'll go to the 10:30 service even though I'd rather go to church at 9...weird because when I lived with my parents I always wanted church to be as late as possible, no matter when it was I'd wake up like 10 minutes before church, throw clothes on and walk across the parking lot to church, yeah I'm cool. Now that I live on my own, I guess I'm more responsible or something, odd.

Oh I finally settled on something for my brother! After you know going to 3 mall type places today and 2 other stores I finally bought stuff for my brother and his finace. Funny thing is when I'd call and tell my parents how frustrated I was that I couldnt figure anything out for my brother they'd laugh and say how ironic it was because my brother said I was the easiest one to buy something for. Yeah, I would be the easiest this year, I sent everyone a damn list so that I'd at least get a present instead of checks and giftcards. As much as checks and giftcards are nice and let you get what you want, I really like suprises. That and my sister sucks at buying gift cards for me, I still have the one from last christmas and the one for my birthday, I settled on something I didnt really want just so that one wouldnt go to waste. So even though I guess checks are less thoughtful than giftcards, I think on some level they are more thoughtful, I mean at least the person can pick from anything at all versus hey go buy something at that store that has nothing you like or everything you want is several times the value of this gift card. Yeah my sister, she's special. ok enough on that rant, time for bed

You need to goof off more at work

2004-12-10T19:12:00.000-08:00

This was a good week at work. It started off not so briliant. Monday wasnt special and Tuesday.....yeah I over slept, I woke up when I was suppose to be at work, but I got there only a half hour late so not so bad, especially compared to my boss who was an hour and a half late today.....sheese. Two of the guys were on site at a distribution center Tuesday thru Thursday so it was just my boss, two other guys and I most of the week. Which made for a pretty laid back time. We were all informed that two guys are getting promoted to other teams to do things that interest them more. Which is really cool except it leaves 3 Analysts on my team and none of us have been on the team for a year. So that means I have to stop taking it slow and be able to take over some processes. Wow! My boss pulled me aside to talk to me about this yesterday. He wants me to be able to be more of a leader, I think you all know I can be extremely quiet. I'm less quiet now than when I first started but yeah....He wants me to begin being more outspoken and goof off more. Ha! He's not with us very often because he has meetings most of the time, so when he stops by we end up having silly conversations, he wants me to take part in these more. He was like I cant believe I'm telling you to goof off more, usually I'd tell people the opposite. I'm so special I get odd requests. The thing is though.....it isnt the first time I've been told to talk more in fact all the way through school we are talking junior high through college I've been told to talk more....often times the teachers end up regretting this request eventually, but eh I always think it's funny. I really do try not to be so shy but, I dont think it's really a shy thing as much as a, I need to get comfortable and figure out how to react in these situations, what's acceptable. Once I figure it out I'll be all over it. Yep.

Oh I went running Wednesday with Kristy. It's our first time to meet during the week. We ran downtown, it was so pretty with all the lights and we didnt get lost! WooHoo! Afterwords I went to her apartment, it's about the size of mine and I know she pays a lot more. But her apartment is in a really cool artsy building and downtown and the exercise room has lots of neat things. But it makes me feel good because well, my apartment is a good size. Yep that's the moral of that story.

I spent lots of money again. This time on my brother's wedding. I now have the plane tickets. I'm crazy, my brother talked me into taking the latest flight back to Omaha the Sunday after the wedding so I'm not getting home till like midnight and that's as long as my plane doesnt get delayed. I'm going to be a tired girl at work the next day, but how many times will my brother get married..?

Oh and I will hopefully have another visitor next week! I love visitors!

Shorts in December?

2004-12-04T21:36:00.000-08:00

Let's see what'd I do this week? It was a rather uneventful week at work. My team is really slow right now and since I don't know how to do much I'm stuck without things to do sometimes. So one day I actually folded shirts. Everyone in my department was given shirts to promote this new thing one of the groups developed and we are going to be forced to use. So in the big presentation to the big shots of the company they gave them shirts and of course they wanted to give them nicely folded shirts.....yeah to me having nothing better to do than fold shirts. I ended the week pretty productive though, I've been working on reports to show how a program some people developed call MO is being used and how effective it is. I had a meeting with the person that wants the reports and now have lots more to add. But it looks good so far, I want to impress.

Tuesday I went to see Napoleon Dynamite with a couple guys from work. It finally made it to the cheap seats in Omaha so we went. I recommend it, it's a funny movie, it's sad when you can imagine your friends doing some of the things in the movie but eh...I already knew I had special friends.

Wednesday maybe it was Thursday... I got a call from Chris! I hadnt talked to him in a long time. Good times good times. It makes my day to hear from people out of the blue.

Friday night I went to the company Christmas party. Seriously feels odd to be thinking about Christmas already, but I guess that's what I say every year. It was a big debate with myself if I'd go or not. Everyone I talked to told me to go, so I went. But I left it up to the very last minute to decide. I got to the place and got a call from my boss asking if I was going. So very odd, I was like I'm here....so he made sure I sat with him and the other guys from my team. It was nice, but odd. I was the only one there that hadnt grown up in or around Omaha. There were multiple people at the table that knew eachother from high school or went to the same high school. Also 6 of the 9 people at the table all go to the same church. Odd.....did I mention I work with conservative (in all aspects of their lives) people. My boss's wife was making fun of a gay guy that was walking around, I'm used to being with slightly more liberal people. It's not bad, I just know what not to talk about with these people (politics, religion...)

Oh this week I'm on call, it's my first time ever all it really means is a carry around a pager and make sure emails come through when they are suppose to and don't say they have errors, if something goes wrong I get to call someone because I cant do much else.

Jason was breakfast skipper Friday at work meaning he brings the doughnuts. But he went to Hyvee and they were already out so he went to the resaurant part of the grocery store and asked if they catered for small groups with no notice. Hell yeah we had pancakes, sausage, hash browns, and scrambled eggs. That's a tiny step up from doughnuts. It's the little things in life that excite the logistics analysts at Werner Enterprises everyone.

Today I went running with Kristy and Amber (another girl that just moved here...actually she just moved back, she went to college here) I was actually early and watched people running around my car while I was waited, it was so warm people were wearing shorts. Seriously it's December. I had a Christmas party last night. We were running on a trail that Amber knew from when she was in college. But don't let that make you think we didnt get lost....Kristy and I were there. Hell yeah we got bored and didnt want to go the same way back so we ended up trying to take a trail that looked like it was parallel to the way we went orignally. Um we ended up running down the median on a really busy street (72nd Michelle) Yeah we are special. But hey an hour and a half later we made it back to our cars. At least it was a nice day to be outside for long amounts of time.

Ok this is rambly enough. Night all.

Oh what a week

2004-11-26T17:31:00.000-08:00

So I guess a lot happened this week. I don't really remember Sunday, so I'm saying nothing happened. Monday though.....Monday I went to work like usual. Things were going pretty well in the morning, I was a little tired and my tummy ached a little but I figured eating would solve that problem. So at lunch I came home and made myself some soup. I went back to work and threw up...3 times. I didn't tell anyone till the 3rd time and of course they sent me home. I came back home and took a shower and went to bed. I couldnt fall asleep though. And I threw up a couple more times. After a couple hours of this I gave up on sleeping and went to watch Oprah's favorite things in the living room. I continued throwing up.....I didnt stop until like 7. I thought about going to the urgent care place down the street but I really didnt want to. I called my mom because that's what your suppose to do when your sick, right? Well my mom succeeded in frustrating me, so I decided just to hold out and hope I started feeling better. At like 9 I finally fell asleep(7 hours after originally trying to sleep) I woke up in the morning feeling fine at first....until I got up and I was incredibly weak. I couldnt decide if that was because I hadnt eaten at all the day before or if I was still sick. I waited until the very last minute to decide to go to work...in fact I was 15 minutes late for work. The whole day I told everyone I was fine while secretely hopeing I wouldnt throw up again. I made it through the day but I was really tired infact at lunch I came home and took a nap. Wednesday was better, I was still incredibly tired but I had no doubt that I was better. AND Chandra and her family stopped in Omaha for breakfast. Chandra said they'd get here around 7......she called at 5:45 to tell me she was just outside town. Geez.....I got ready in a hurry and met them at Cracker Barrel. Good times, I finally met Alice! That family cracks me up....especially when they are all half awake because they drove all night. I wish my family got along that well.....we'd be fighting thta early in the morning after spending all night in a van together.....

Thursday...Thanksgiving I slept all morning. I really needed the sleep. For Dinner I went to Michelle's grandma's house. I'm really glad Michelle is from Omaha. It's just the strange way my life works I guess. I'm not sure what I would have done without her and her family....it would have been a lonely holiday. We had so much food....so much food. Luckily my appetite was pretty much back so I ate enough to make everyone proud. After dinner, Olivia(Michelle brought her home from Ripon) and I went to play with Michelle's little cousins because we felt useless in the kitchen and we ended up watching most of Spiderman. While the little cousins jumped on us. I wish I wasnt the youngest cousin :( I like little kids. Later Michelle, Olivia and I went to see Bridget Jone's Diary. It wasnt an amazing movie, but it was funny and we all laughed and I needed laughter.

Today. Work was ok....it got pretty good when the guy in charge of my department came around and told my team to go home 3 hours earlier than we normally do. Yay. I decided to go shopping during my new found free time. I didnt find any presents though.....I need to become more decisive.

I just want to thank all of my friends. I really don't know where I'd be....I don't think I'd be sane....or as sane as I am without you guys. My move could have been horrible and lonely but you guys are there for me when I need to complain and even visit when you can. I don't think I could ask for anything more. I hope I can be for you as much as you are for me.

progress

2004-11-20T19:11:00.000-08:00

remoting in to another computer..um pretty much that means I use my computer as a pretty little interface....like just the shell to use another computer. Physically I'm using my computer, but I am actually running a program on another program, which means I need permission to do so. Yeah that's the part that made last week interesting, repeatedly I had to go request more permission. Bah. Oh well I didnt have much else to do at work. In fact Friday when I was waiting to get permission to do yet another thing I got bored and so I decorated my cube. Haha my boss said he has to get used to "girl flair" It's feeling more like home at work, as in I'm getting comfortable and I can now joke with the guys. I hope I can be actually productive at work soon, it's frustrating knowing there's lots to do and yet I don't know how to do it.

What else exciting happened this week? Oh I have a new phone number, yeah to being local to where I live. That was an experience getting that switched over, but it's all done now.

Also today I got my health insurance stuff in the mail, I don't understand, it started on the 1st but they didnt feel the need to give me my information till the 20th, wow.

Oh I got my expense check for moving here. Most of the money goes to my parents since they are the ones that paid for the trailer and such. My check came in 2 parts. They can only give me so much without taxing it. So I got one expense check and the rest showed up on my check as a bonus, which gets taxed. So my boss was afraid I wouldnt get the whole amount, but Werner is a smart company. They gave me more than the amount so that after taxes it ends up being the right amount. Does that mean I actually get reimbersed more if I get money back when I do my taxes? This could work in my favor, silly government with limits on what can be counted as moving expenses.

Today I went running with Kristy. We tried running at a new park, except we didnt know where to park. I pulled into the park and saw her driving ahead of me a couple cars, so I followed. She didnt see me, she ended up passing me 3 times. Before I lost her, she then went to a gas station and called me....we parked at the gas station and ran to the park from there. We are special girls. Very directionally challenged, special girls.

So Christmas is coming and I actually know someone that is practically done shopping. I don't understand this. I have no idea what to get anyone. I'm so bad at buying presents. I generally end up buying last minute things. There has been more than one year where I've had to go shopping on Chrismas Eve. This year I think I need to be done buying things by the 23rd. Because that's the day I fly to Chicago and it could be bad to ask my family to take me shopping so that I can buy them things. I sent my family lists of things to get me because well they are all always clueless and normally I say I dont know what I want which is true this year as well but I did put things down.....though um I doubt I'll be getting a house or a dog.....So I think I should make them all send me lists, but I always like to be creative, I think that's why it takes me so long to pick presents I don't want to get something stupid and I like suprises so the people that recieve my presents should like suprises too. Ok I'm beginning to ramble. I'm excited for next week I get to see people and do things. I only get a 4 day week though, not a 3 day week like some people, but oh well, take what you can get I suppose.

i create work yep i do

2004-11-16T19:35:00.000-08:00

So in debating my options for the night I have decided I am lame. My options at 9:15 on a Tuesday night are a.) go to bed b.) update my blog c.) call Nik or d.) read. I already read a little tonight....I write about that later. Nik generally calls when he gets back from study hall, yes study hall, and well 9 is really early. So a quick blog entry. I wonder how quick this really will be.

Today work was well interesting. I finished up one part of my project and starting making a report for it. Well I didnt know how to make the report so I walked down the row and started asking the boys questions. While I was already there I asked Tom if he knew how to get my access to remote in to another computer I'm using. He couldnt do it so the boys agreed I needed to email the RAD group and told me what to say. I obeyed...AHH stupid RAD group decided I didnt need to remote in....they also decided to take my privalges I had for that computer away because one of the guys set that much up for me and apparently did it really wrong. So I sat the rest of the morning waiting for my boss to get back from his meetings because well....for the report I needed to hit that computer either the way I was before or remoting in and for the other project I'd be working on later I'd been told I'd need to remote in. Grr..So after much annoyance we finally got my permissions back to almost normal this afternoon. That is how I create work. Bah. But the guys kept saying it wasnt my fault at all....and seriously is wasnt I was following their instructions. Sorry I'm sure you didnt quite follow that but I dont feel like going more indepth than that right now.

I'm done. Just got in a fight with my mom. Awsome. I just want to go to bed

I get to see Chandra and Michelle next week though so things are going well.

Moving is hard

2004-11-14T09:42:00.000-08:00

I think anyone that talked to me this week noticed I'm on a rollercoaster of emotions. Trying to settle in and make new friends is a difficult task. I did the comedy club thing and that was ok but I don't know I probably should have gone to watch the boys from work play Halo 2 instead....

Friday was the hockey game and I chose the restaurant. It was a pretty good place and the game was fun. But throughout the night I realized it's going to be a tough task to actually become friends with these guys. How did I become friends with you? I don't give up a lot of information at first and I really won't let my opinion show at first. No matter how much I try I just can't. The best example from Friday would be the ride to the game. I road with my boss and another guy. My boss decided I needed to pick the music we listened to on the way there. I said I didnt care, I honestly didnt. Well he turned of his ipod and said we'd ride in silence. He couldnt handle that, so my windows got rolled down and locked so that I couldnt put them back up. He tried to force me to make a decision...that's more of a reason not to decide :) Then he started blasting kid's music, I never did decide. My boss actually said he didn't know if he'd like to have a wife like me....one with no opinions. AH! I do have opinions, I just I don't know have problems sharing them with other people. As Nik said, I always just want to make sure everyone around me is happy first. I put myself towards the back...not the last priority but not the first. So once I understand what other people like, then I guess that's when I start showing more of my opinion, is that right? Is that what I do? This is going to be hard considering I just work with these guys. I'm doubting I'll get invited to too many other activites because I've already turned down Halo 2...I didnt even get invited to play after work really...that's why they all came over to pick me up at my apartment. I don't have much in common with the guys, but they are my best shot at meeting people and I have to spend a lot of time with them so I want to get along with them. :(

Ok enough of that. I would also like to say I think I'm abnormal when it comes to phone usage. Lots of people used to find it hard to believe that B.J. and I talked on the phone nightly for at least an hour. They couldn't understand what we could possibly talk about, you just have things to talk to your boyfriend about you know? I know a couple of you understand because well you deffinatly take part in such activities. Well now I'm repeating this with another person, actually one of those doubting people. We talked for hours last night, I think close to 8 hours....I know a bit excessive, but we really don't realize how long we are on the phone for. He now understands how B.J. and I talked so much...I don't think I really do, I also don't understand how we got into this routine of talking every night. I'd like to remind everyone I am single, so this person is not my boyfriend, just a friend. A really close friend but just a friend. My life is so damn unfair.

Enough sad thoughts for one entry. I'm going running with Kristy today, so hopefully I'll be in a better mood later. I miss you all.

Three days in a row!

2004-11-09T17:54:00.000-08:00

You should all be proud of me...3 days in a row! I'm shocked that I'm accomplishing this.

Thank you everyone for the comments and suggestions. Keep the book suggestions coming please :) I'm debating buying books or finding a library. Apparently there's 2 within 2 miles from me and I'm cheap so leaning towards finding one of them.

I got another email from someone about running. I have noticed something. Apparently Omaha is like the rest of the world and there are more guys than girls that run...at least that respond to my silly post. Also the guys emails are all about their speed and such. They like to brag. The girls on the other hand, both just moved to Omaha as well and are more concerned with just meeting someone to run than someone of a certain pace. I think girls and guys exercise for different reasons and the responses to my post show that. It's interesting to me. I am lame.

Oh so I have to pick a place for the guys I work with and I to eat at before we go to a Hockey game Friday. ummmmmmmm I just moved here and I hate macking decisions...not fair. I like to make sure everyone is happy with whatever we are doing and well the guys dont all have the same tastes. Sheese. I even almost didnt sign up to go to the game because there's 5 tickets and 6 of us. My boss said he wouldnt go if everyone wanted to go, but I'm not a big hockey fan so I was like I'm not taking anyone's place. One of the guys can't go because his wife is working so he has to watch the kids, I thought about offering to babysit.......But I'm going to the game so that's cool. Hopefully I'll have fun. Dave(the guy not going) isnt a big hockey fan either so I dont feel too badly, but he is better friends with the guys...but well I just havent known anyone very long so of course I'm not great friends with them.

Oh along with the book suggestions everyone should tell me if I should go a my boss's boss's house to watch boxing.....I know nothing about boxing and have no interest, but it's social and saturday, but I think I'd be out of place.

books

2004-11-08T17:57:00.000-08:00

SO I have decided I want to start reading books for fun again. I used to read like crazy, then I got really busy and that slowed down a lot. Now I have some time and find myself wanting to read. I don't know what to read though. There's so many books and so many things that interest me. I don't know where to start. That's where you come in, lots of you maybe even all of you read a lot, so I'm sure you have suggestions for books for me to read, I'd like your input...because well your opinion means something and you know me..I'm not one for decisions. So leave comments, let me know your choices for books I should read.

I woke up early and ran today, I really like running in the morning. The only problem is actually getting up and running, my bed is so nice. But after I run, I'm happy and awake. It's a great feeling. The back of my knee is sore though, I hope it's just a sore thing and not an injured thing, I think it's just because I'm starting to run consistantly again. I hope I keep up running here, I like it and it's a great way of exploring my surroundings. I know my limits though, I'm not like one of the guys I work with...he called in sick this morning, he's been feeling sick for at least a week, he decided to call in sick because on his way to work out he almost threw up, seriously if you arent feeling well, stay in bed a little longer, don't push yourself to exercise.

Work was work, I'm done with updating that stupid program. YAY. I'm now learning about another process, it's rather slow right now but hopefully we'll get into it soon. I talked more at work today, I think they still think I'm really quite, you know the truth.

Tomorrow I might stop putting off the envitable and go get Nebraska license plates for my car...or I'll just keep pushing it off. I think it's the last thing I have to do that involves moving

I think that's it for now. I miss you all. Chandra I'm not dissing you. I'm just lazy and Becky volunteered to visit :p I actually want to host someone here in my little home, it'll be fun times. Everyone is invited, maybe not at once, that could be kinda crowded...I'll try visiting you sometime as well. I still want to meet Alice. I've never met an Alice that wasnt crazy and I like crazy. I'd also like to go to Dodgeville, it'll happen, I promise. You can show me around. If you stop by on your way to Thanksgiving though, that'd be fun too.

growing up

2004-11-07T18:36:00.000-08:00

Sorry I'm a slacker in the blogging department, but Becky and Claire isnt this far better than I did on my first attempt?

This week hmm...I got to sit in some meetings at work, they are starting to give me more responsiblity, hopefully I can live up to expectations. Jason (the guy I work with the most) and I had 2 senerios to have done by Tuesday and 3 by friday, Which meant I did 2 of them, I did them mostly on my own and got the expected results so that's a good thing. Then Thursday afternoon damn Dollar General assigned us 2 more senerios...they wanted them by 8am Friday. This time there was lots of analysis needed and such. Jason told me to get what I could done on Thursday and he'd finish it all up. Well I wanted to get one of the senerios done so I stayed until like 6 to finish it up. Jason had left early because he had to do some wedding planning things(he got engaged last weekend)...Jason came back at midnight did the remaining senerio and analysis, he worked all night and had his full days work done by like 9 but at to stay till 10 for a phone conference that didnt end up happening. CRAZY.

Friday I worked on the program that I've been fixing the rest of the day and even worked with the intern(who wrote a lot of the program) teaching her things and having her explain things to me. We get to finish that up tomorrow. I hope I get another nonprograming project to work on, they are more rewarding I think.

So this weekend I didnt do too much. I called around for car insurance..it costs more in Nebraska than Wisconsin boo. But I am now all paid up for another 6 months so that's a good deal. I also figured out the rest of my bills I hate spending money, even if I do have it I know that I have loans that I'm going to have to start paying back as well....boo.

Today I went running with Kristy again, this time we went the other way around the lake we got lost at last week, we figured out how we got lost so that's a good deal.

I have now gotten emails from 2 guys about running together. The one I met last weekend at the run and we are suppose to get together sometime to run...hehe I did get his number :P FunnyFunny. The other said he's pretty fast, I replied and said I'm much slower but if he's up to it I'd be glad to run with him. Kristy thinks we should form a group to meet and run together, we don't understand why the Omaha Running Club doesnt already have that. Oh well.

I went to church again today, I didnt like it as much as last week. It's not bad...maybe I just wasnt in the mood I dont know, they admited they were trying new things. I still dont understand why they are making the early service the progressive one, I thought that was normally reserved for late services. A lot of senior citizens go to the 9:30 service...but younger people also go to the service, there are a ton of kids. But it's a big church maybe I should go to the later one, but I like church at 9:30, grocery shopping, lunch, and running with Kristy on Sundays. It'd be like church then running if I went to the later one. I dont know I may try the church that's closer to me and much smaller. Or a friend of mine from high school just moved back to Omaha and she invited me to her church but it's on the other side of town and not the type of church I normally go to. I'll figure something out.

Oh today I also washed my car, I think it's going to take me a few times to actually get all the bird crap off it...I left it a little too long, but my car does look prettier now.

So Becky you are more than welcome for New Years I just get New Years Eve off, but that's a Friday so it's a long weekend for me. I know you get a week but I'd get bored...yeah that's what we'll say I'd get bored with a week off.

Wow this has gotten long again. Maybe I'll update during the week to cut down on the length....or maybe not we'll just have to see.

The more that I'm settled in the more I'm ready to meet people and actually be social. I hope that happens soon

The good and the bad

2004-11-01T18:53:00.000-08:00

Life is nice for once. I have a job, an apartment, a car, friends, everything I could really need. If only my good friends were a little closer...but eh this is my life, I'm destined to always have friends far away from me. I feel like I'm getting the hand of my job, I'm starting to like it and not just because it pays me, because I get to solve things and I like to solve things. Sorry random.

I'm so excited to have someone to run with, it's great. Even if it is just on the weekends. Today it was rainy to I worked out in the exercise room. I even talked to a couple people in there. If I keep going at around the same time I'm thinking I'll get to know some people. It'd be nice to know people in my complex. I knew it'd be harder to meet people after Ripon...Really it hasn't been too difficult though. The internet is wonderful...At least for finding running type things (races, partners..)

Oh today at work we got invitations to the company holiday party. WooHoo chance to see my co workers drunk December 3rd. Good deal, I've heard stories now I get to see the ridiculousness for myself. So I can bring a guest...too bad Nik isn't coming until January. And everyone else, I know you want to visit but I also know it's hard to come such a long distance, I'm sure we'll see each other again eventually. Visiting will happen.

So the bad, being this far from my family, does not make family life easier. I know that should come as no surprise since I haven't lived with my parents since high school, but it's still sad. I would really like to not get in fights with them, I wish they had people to spend time with near them. My parents seem really lonely right now and I think that's why we aren't getting along. They want to feel like people care about them and need them, I want to show that I am capable of being on my own, sure I need them for their advice at times, but they really want to help me and when they talk to me it's like they are trying to find ways in which I cannot live on my own. It's like when I went to college and my mom was like "it's ok if you need to call us all the time, your sister did.." Yeah um, that was her way of saying "I'm here for you", I took it as hey if you can't handle it on your own, you can always crawl back to mommy. So yeah that's that. I am officially going to IL for Christmas, and it officially wont work for me to get my dress for my brother's wedding fitted while I'm there so that's yet another sort of fighting between my mom and I, which is completely unnecessary. My mom was like well I'll fix it for you or someone in our church can. Excuse me, I would rather get this taken care of in Omaha thanks. Two reasons. 1.) I'm in IL December 23-26 and the next time I go back will be for my brother's wedding...I would like to try on the dress after it gets altered/before the wedding to make sure it fits correctly.
2.)If something goes wrong with altering, I would rather it not be yet another source of fighting with my mom. Let's just blame this on me.

Ok this has gotten far to long. I feel like there's more I could write but seeing as I am telling more and more people that I have started bloging again, I feel it wouldn't be nice to make you read such a long post.

A good weekend

2004-10-31T16:36:00.000-08:00

So Friday came and I figured I would have a boring weekend. I didn't want to shop for things, I have the necessary things, I figure other apartment things can be Christmas presents. I've been staying busy other weekends by shopping because I have had a lot of things I had to get. So I figured I was going to be lame this weekend, which wouldn't be the end of the world. Instead I decided to run in a race on Saturday. Nothing big just a Halloween race. I did horribly but that wasn't the point of going. I ran with other people and there were people cheering me on, even if they had no clue who I was. I also talked to some nice guys...no numbers though hehe. I won $15 in gift certificates to a hair place in the drawing....pretty sure I got my hair cut last weekend and I liked the place I went but oh well. I came back to my apartment, decided to lift weights...I'm gonna be a strong kid next time you see me. Then I checked my email and I had a response to the post I put on Omaha Running club's website to find a running partner. It was a girl that had also recently moved to Omaha with her husband. Well we emailed back and forth Saturday, then I called her and we decided to meet to run today. Very exciting. It's so nice to have a running partner. She ran in college too, a big school, Iowa State, but still we have much in common. She's finishing up grad school this semester at Iowa State so she's only here on the weekends, but that's ok 1 run a week with a buddy is better than no runs. Yep very exciting.

I also went to church today. I looked online for UCC churches in Omaha, there's a couple pretty close by so I decided to try Countryside Community Church. It's a very big church. Like the 25th biggest in the denomination, so kinda odd for me, but nice too. The senior minister and minister in residence were joking back and forth... I don't know if I'll continue going there or if I'll try out the church that's closer to me and much smaller. We'll see.

Yep so no trick or treaters yet, I didn't think I'd have any, you either have to live here and have a key to get in the building or get buzzed in and I'm not thinking kids are going to do that, so I bought some candy just in case (so that I can have some :)) Yep.

So yeah there ya go another update of my life. Sorry nothing exciting about during the week. I made lots of anklets for the cross country team and the boy situation became less complicated I guess. Why can't my life be simple? I guess it keeps me from getting bored.

Post number 2

2004-10-21T15:29:00.000-07:00

Wow! 2 posts less than a week! I'm on a role, I'd probably have written more this week but Michelle has been here.

So Sunday I went to her grandma's house and had Sunday Dinner with her extended family, that was fun I got to play with 5 year olds. I wish I had little cousins. I spent like 6 hours there, I got back I don't know before 9 and was fast asleep by 9:30 yep I am lame.

Monday I resumed running :) after work, I had run a couple times since I moved before but this time I ran outside, I live in like a real neighborhood. Not like the silly subdivision crap that my sister lives in, I like that the houses don't look particularly like cookie cutters and they aren't all brand new. There are some pretty nice houses close by and an elementary school and a community center and well other apartment complexes of course. Work was pretty good Monday, I actually got things accomplished and it felt great. Tuesday I got put on a stupid project and I've been kinda down on work since then but now I'm feeling better and I joked with the guys at work today, so all is good.

Oh Tuesday night I went to dinner with Michelle and a couple of her friends, it was nice to go to a sit down place and have company. I'm fine with being alone but it is also nice to be in social settings sometimes, ya know?

Wednesday....I don't remember much about Wednesday that's noteworthy. I ran again, I've decided that this week I'll run every other day.

Thursday, today Michelle met me for lunch at a place in walking distance from work, it's funny when she realized where exactly Werner was she was like oh there's a good restaurant near there. Yeah it's the place my boss took me my first day of work...he let me pick I refused, he was like well atleast pick a type of food...I made him give me options ( you know me) we were already outside the gate of work I choose Mexican and he spun around and parked in the parking lot next to us, he was like uh usually we walk here. Silly man. It was funny but I guess you had to be there. So Michelle and I had a good lunch and I went back to work and played around on the computer, laughing at the boys. Now I'm thinking about calling Michelle and asking her if she wants to go shopping, it's her last night here she has to get back to do some hw. boo.

so there you go my one loyal reader :) two posts in one week

blogging again

2004-10-15T20:12:00.000-07:00

So I thought I'd start blogging again. But not on xanga, I'd like to think what I had on xanga while it was like 5 posts or so is behind me. I've got a new odd life. Now in Omaha...who woulda thunk it, knowing me in elementary school that I'd end up back in Omaha. and my boss went to high school with my brother and sister. Life is a little odd sometimes. I like Omaha enough, I've been too busy to be lonely yet and lots of people have promised to visit. Hopefully I'll make friends soon though. The guys I work with are nice enough, I don't have too much in common with them, though. They are all in much different places in their lives than me, but hey maybe I'll do social things with them, who knows. But I'm not particularly into sports or poker and that's two of the big things they do together. Oh well. I'm just about all moved into my apartment, I just need to get a desk. I'm being incredibly picky about getting a desk though. I just cant find any that are cheap enough that I like. I don't want to spend a few hundred dollars on a freaken desk. Boo. I'll probably buy a desk this weekend though. I really need to get my hair cut and get new shampoo, my hair is so gross. Sorry random thought.

All in all I'm a happy kid right now, glad to finally be on my own, finally be in the "real world" I don't think it's hit me though that this isn't a temporary thing, I'm here indefinitely that's such and exciting and scary thought.