2010 in (brief) review

It was a big year. I realize it isn't over yet, but you must understand how busy my life is now!

I'm still not sure I like it. :-/

Suffice it to say, I began the year at my old job gearing up for another busy season filled with long hours and longer days, workworkwork, and a new expectation of guiding a team. It was taxing, it was challenging, but it was a lot of learning I'm thankful I received.

Plus, I knew that at the end of it I was fixing my foot. No complaints there. I rode the tidal wave of work and it only stopped when I took vacation to visit the great state of Virginia prior to my surgery.

The nerves were there, as I'd never gone under the knife before, and as much as I tried to prepare myself for the lack of mental stimulation and the inability to move for weeks on end, I wasn't ready. I was melancholy and distracted and frustrated all rolled into one nearly inanimate object.

But it passed, as I expected it to. I started to walk again and wear a regular shoe. I could drive and relished the freedom. In fact, I need to recapture that feeling to remind myself while I'm sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic on my way home from work how much I disliked not being able to drive.

I visited my Grandmother and enjoyed every moment, truly realizing what a clever and funny woman she is. Then it was time for a new job, a new place, a new me.

Like the first day of class in the new semester, I was nervous and excited and curious. It didn't take long to realize I'd lucked out tremendously with the group of people I get to work with.

The months have now flown by and more in my life has changed as I've hosted parties, watched my sister-in-law's belly grow big and bulbous, seen my neice hit 10 (and the resulting attitude) and my nephew turn 3 (and go mental...random trust falls, anyone?) and grown as an individual.

My bucket list has grown, too. I have got to start scratching those items off!

With all these things combined, my quarter-century marked a good year and I'm looking forward to what's to come.

Cheers and here's to a New Year!

Numerous

The list has grown too long. The emails have expanded past page one. It's time to learn some new words.

Vilify - to speak ill of someone

• When the cheating husband and stealing wife met in court, they vilified one another in hopes of garnering more money from the other.

Affable - pleasantly easy to approach and to talk to

• The judge presiding over their case was an affable man and vehemently disliked their foul and inappropriate behavior.

Vituperation - sustained and bitter railing and condemnation

• After hours of the unhappy couples' vituperations, the judge banged his gavel and ordered, "Silence in the Courtroom!"

Anecdote - a short account of an incident or event of an amusing nature, usually biographical

• Years later, the now remarried and happy couple told anecdotes of their divorce proceedings and laughed merrily.

Four down, infinity to go...it will never end!

Listen!

I am a loyalist. I am stubborn. I am unbending.

eBooks, eReaders, Audiobooks were all pebbles in my shoe. Until recently.

Well, I'm still a bit anti-electronic books and still absolutely love the feel of a book in my hands and the sound of pages flipping.  But I have been introduced into the wonderful world of audio books. And I am not turning back.

Fantasy Football chat has been flying around the office since the season started and four of the ladies in our group were in the same league.  The IT guru on our team and I have a long-standing nerdy relationship up to this point where we've conversed about Ender's Game at length as well as really cool things you can do with Excel. He comes up to me one day and suggests I give the audio book, The Rookie by Scott Sigler, a chance. This was because he had been privy to many a conversation revolving around hurt Quarterbacks and ridiculous Defense/Special Teams and losing by just one point and if I had only started him instead of him I would have won! Round and round, and then repeat.

I was hesitant, due to my stubborn standing on physical vs. electronic books, but I took his suggestion and plugged in my mp3 player.

I was enthralled from day one. The story itself is interesting, combining the elements of football with a science fiction universe, and the author, who is the one reading it, wrote notable characters and a captivating storyline.  He reads very well, too. His pitch and intonation fluctuate in the right places and he does the voice changes between characters very well. I learned so much about football, I impressed myself!

I quickly followed up The Rookie with The Crypt, also by Sigler. I liked that one even more. I was mad when I realized I'd finished what was released thus far and that I would have to wait for him to complete the next part of the story. These two stories are available for free...yes, free...through his website.

He has recently released the sequel to The Rookie called The Starter...get it?...in physical book format, as well as eBook and audiobook, but has yet to be released for free. Soon, I hope...

Thank you, IT guru. He also introduced me to podiobooks.com where you can find free audio books by different authors in different genres.  You won't necessarily find tomorrow's best seller there, but you just never know!

I've recently started listening to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone read by Jim Dale and so far, I'm hooked. He does the voice changes and reads at a good pace and his actual voice is mesmerizing. There's just something about those English accents...

I'm a convert. I was steadfast through the heavy deluge of transitioning to electronic and audible literature...but I've caved ever so slightly with these newfound stories.

We'll see when I'll be willing to take on an eReader. We'll see...

Efforts Week Four

I'm back to the working world and temptation once again.

This week though, and going forward, I'm changing things a bit. Caffeine is not so bueno for the ladies I've recently been informed, and then read about. Therefore, I will be requesting decaf drip coffee from here on out. I really just like the warmth and the feel of a cup in my hands. I can live without the energy rush.

I hope.

That being said, I've kicked off my week to a great start with a Tall Sugar-Free Hazelnut Decaf Drip w/room. Add in my usual non-fat milk and cinnamon and I think I actually liked it more than my usual!

The cupcake truck is still on vacation, thank goodness, so I can resist easily one more week.

Combine all this with a skeleton crew at work and it makes the temptation to eat out and the influence and peer pressure to boot to dissipate.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas! Here comes the New Year!

Efforts Week Two and Week Three

I was on repeat for Week Two.

I limited myself to three Starbucks runs, having to back out on Friday with the crew, only drinking coffee.

I went out to eat twice, somewhat varying from the week prior.

But the cupcakes...those damn, delicious, delectable desserts. I had two free ones again. Must they have these clever questions revolving around Christmas? Of course, I'm going to play! Again, I may have surpassed my quota, but I did not spend a dime. Justification, I realize this. Don't judge me!

For Week Three, I really wanted to stick to the coupons. Yesterday, I used a free drink Starbucks coupon and splurged on a Grande Skinny French Vanilla Latte. Yes, not coffee...but yes, "free". I use the term "free" loosely as I earn the "free" drinks by buying drinks...and I get a "free" one every 15 purchases. So..."free". One coupon down...

This morning, the crew trekked over to Starbucks and I ordered my usual: Tall Sugar-Free Hazelnut Drip w/Room. I add in my non-fat milk and a dash of cinnamon and voila...good enough in a cup! Two coupons down...and the third is reserved for D and our quarterly coffee/book date on the 'morrow!

Here's the best part, ladies and gents, the Cupcake truck is on holiday! Therefore, despite my hankering and craving, I cannot fulfill my desire for those desserts. That coupon will stay well-protected in my little hand-made holder. Good! I'll be eating bad enough as it is over Christmas Eve Eve through Christmas Day!

This coupon thing really helps, though. Having something tangible to show you what you've done thus far during the week really makes you take notice of how much money you're spending and calories you're intaking.

Efforts Week One

Week one of my new efforts proved mostly successful.  It took by Day two to realize that I was going to need more than just two Starbucks coupons a week. I decided that reducing lunches out would be much more beneficial, both calorie-wise and dollars spent.

I made a third Starbucks coin and placed it in my handy-dandy handmade holder (picture to come) removing a Lunch square in the process.

However, all that to say, I did make my coffee quota by Friday...and only had coffee. No Espresso. Check!

I went out to eat once. Double check!

Damn you, Cupcake Truck, and your easy ways to win free cupcakes. They are currently running a giveaway a day (or were last week) and they would Tweet and FB post what the secret clue was for the day. One day was singing the first stanza of Jingle Bells and my days (shame on me) were what my true love gave to me on the seventh day (Seven Swans a-Swimmin') and what brought Frosty the Snowman to life (the Top Hat). I consumed two cupcakes, one passed my allowance. But...I didn't spend any money which is the second half of this quest I am on...save calories and save money.

All in all, I give myself a B for the week. Only one lunch out, two cupcakes (for free), and three cups of coffee (Tall Sugar-Free Hazelnut drip w/room; I add non-fat milk to it and a dash of cinnamon).

Let Week Two commence!

Efforts can be valiant and fruitful!

I'm embarking on an attempt to curb some very bad habits I've developed as of late.

I'm allotting myself 3 lunches out, 2 Starbucks cups of coffee and 1 cupcake a week. Wish me luck.

I've Gold star'd twice over and am currently sprinting towards a third. A Gold star means I've used my registered Starbucks card 30 times. It's sick, I know.

Also, I've gotten a calorie-filled cupcake up to three times in one week...and that just won't do for the woman striving to be a healthier version of her current self.

And to really clinch the change, I will only order coffee and no Espresso-laden concoctions. I tend to steer down the path of sugar and cream and all things nice when I order from that smorgasbord of dangerous deliciousness.

In all, I hope to begin the New Year already resolved to these changes and work to keep them as habits rather than challenges.