Wednesday, July 30, 2008

It's getting better

I feel like quite a bit has happened in the past week or two. There was some time of feeling a little confused about stuff, life, love, work, etc. and sort of feeling like I was at a major crossroads. Granted, I tend to be a peddle to the metal kind of person so once I get an idea in my head I don't really go at half speed. Anywho. This week a lot changed. I got a new account at work and am SO happy about it. I had begun to essentially loath my job...yes, I said it, loath. I had essentially taken a step back and wasn't pleased about it. So now, my new account, I'm the account manager in it which means I oversee everything and that's pretty sweet. Usually I oversee the events stuff but someone oversees that and other elements, but now that's me! Woohoo! It's not yet a full promotion but my review is in less than 3 months so things are looking up! My new client is pretty funny too...Durex condoms. Yep. You heard me.

The second biggest plus of the new account is that I get my summer back. It had really been bumming me out to be gone basically every weekend, miss fun events/trips, etc. but now I get my weekends back and actually will get to enjoy VT summers which are my favorite!! So many things to do, places to go, friends to see, hikes to do, etc. Woohoo! And much more time to run and bike which is huge.

Speaking of running, I have found the 10K I'm doing in August in Richmond, and pretty sure the half I'm going to do in fall is the Shelburne Half Marathon which is super exciting!! However, last night I bummed my foot and can't run for at least a few days and hopefully no more...we'll see how this week goes. I can't really walk much on it right now which is a major bummer since I'm itching to run. Grrr injury. But I'm loooooving track workouts and just how awesome the running makes me feel. And for my bike, Betty Davis (she received her name at my event 2 weekends ago), I'm going to get the rest of my gear today so I can begin riding her. I'm SO excited. I'm thinking of doing a biathlon in NYC in September...run, bike, run, so that is exciting too. It's so nice to be back in the healthy realm, exercising not just regularly but actually training and working towards improving. I grew up an athlete and it's nice to feel like I'm finally getting back to where I want to be athletically.

What else...my oldest sister and I are planning a vacation this fall to Thailand. I'm SO pumped about that...I've always wanted to go and had considered an African Safari this year but she's going to be down in SE Asia and wants to travel together so Thailand is a great next option. The planning is just barely beginning but I already feel so excited about it.

That's all for now.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Running goal #2

Yes, it is true...I'm a convert. I have come to love running .Bizarre, I know. I recently found a weekly track workout with legit coaches...sponsored runners and triathletes, and it has inspired me even more. I don't want to just run to run, I want to be decent...maybe not change my career or anything, but instead of just running a race to finish, I'd like to at least be somewhat decent. I have found that having goals really helps me stay motivated, pushes me further, keeps me excited. At the recommendation of one of the track workout coaches, I am going to do a 10K as a pre-half-marathon prep race. So I have decided to do the Round Church 10K in August. I'm pretty pumped! We talked about my running plan for the next 5 weeks and will be working specifically toward the 10K for the next 5 weeks of track workouts. And now that I know what I need to fix on my stride and foot placement, I'm hoping I begin to see some serious improvements in the coming weeks. Woohoo!

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Hauntings

I was discussing something with a friend yesterday and she used a word that so perfectly described what I was talking about...haunting. Have you ever had an encounter with a "ghost of Christmas past" and found yourself confused and Helen Keller-ing your way through the aftermath of it? I had en encounter that was good, nice, necessary that then turned into a reminder of things past, empty promises, throwing of a bone and taking it back, watching a wrench be thrown into some plan and then that's it, throw in the towel instead of figuring something else out.

When you find that a ghost has come to haunt you, do you embrace it and hope to make friends or do you exorcise the demons? Will it be fulfilling to just kick it out with full force without asking why it's there, figuring out it's motives, seeing what's up? Or is it better to wait it out, see if the ghost is trying to figure things out itself, trying to move into the next realm of after life. Perhaps we are trained to want to control things too much, to force answers out of situations when in reality, only time and growth will give answers, will make things better, will allow ghost and human to co-exist peacefully, and who knows, maybe even become friends.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

On time

My google "horoscope" this morning ended with a very interesting quote, one I'm surprised I had never heard before - "Appointments with destiny are always on time." I don't know why this struck me as so interesting, so intriguing but it did. Now, let's be honest, it doesn't take much to quickly distract me and send my mind reeling so this was no different.

You know when you can sense something but don't know what it is? Maybe you don't, but I can almost smell a change about to occur, an event about to happen, a shift in the works. Familiar things start to look slightly different, the feel of things is a bit morphed, sounds affect me differently. I don't know how to explain it.

I found myself picking up one of my favorite books two nights ago, The Celestine Prophecy. I read this book many years ago and it was one of those books I read at the exact right moment in my life, it left a profound effect on me. I am not sure what compelled me to pick it up again but as I read I am reminded of these little "instances" that I've noticed, reminders, tiny things that only make sense when coupled with other tiny things. Celestine Prophecy is based around that, sort of...it is based around the thought that there are no coincidences in life. You know when you think about something and then all of a sudden they call or you see a few things that remind you of someone and the next thing you know they are at your doorstep? Yep...these are not coincidences, but the systems of the universe, pointing out what is about to happen in an oh so subtle way. It's curious to think about that...it's curious considering the little here's and there's I've had of late.

Appointments with destiny are always on time.

Monday, July 7, 2008

Oh the weekend, the weekend

When you spend more weekends in hotels and airports than not, it is amazing to feel a weekend, a real weekend in your own town with your own plans. This past weekend was the best weekend of the year so far I believe (although a few here and there are quite close). I took Thursday off and we had Friday off which also made for a nice little treat. Some dear girl friends of mine had been planning on a trip up to Burlington for the weekend which I was counting down their arrival for weeks. I spent Thursday doing some errands and laundry and such and spend the majority of the day planning a menu and cooking for my fireworks cocktail/dinner soiree with the girls. They arrived in the evening and showed up to champagne filled with strawberries and blueberries (my attempt at patriotic colors). This was followed by Brierley's delicious Peach Mojitos. I started the feast with some Caprese salad (tomatoes, basil, mozzarella, balsamic and olive oil) followed by some cheese and crackers. Next up we had ginger-lime shrimp and zucchini and red onion flatbread. We attempted to eat this outdoors but after many many bug bites we took it inside.

Dessert was a new concoction with my awesome ice cream machine - Olive Oil Gelato w/balsamic strawberries. I know, sounds weird, olive oil gelato but it's divine! We attempted to watch the fireworks from Emi and Kev's porch (I was "house sitting") but the trees obstructed the view so we took to the streets..literally straddling the yellow lines of College St. A little downtown action followed with some interesting sights.


Friday was a lovely day laying out on
Shelburne Bay and watching Louis the chocolate lab attack rocks in the water...quite entertaining. Friday night we had another awesome cookout hosted at Brierley's place and ended up seeing multiple awesome fireworks shows right from her living room.

Saturday was one of those days that you just love good weather and beautiful sights. The girls all woke up early and met at Starbucks and then we took to the road and headed to Lake George, NY to hang out with Eve at her family's house.


The drive was beautiful and quite fun with an interesting trip to Walmart...no hummus to be found anywhere. We had an interesting trip out onto the lake on someone's boat
only to get stranded. He neglected to tell us upon climbing aboard that he was planning to stay on the lake until late in the evening. So we hitched a ride w/another boat, who then took us in their minivan sans back seats to Eve's dad's house where her friend picked us up and dropped us off back at the original beach we were at. We had nothing with us except a few pairs of sunglasses and hats...no shoes, no cover ups, no food or water. It was pretty hilarious. A beautiful drive back and then I headed to Emma's birthday dinner at the Trat which was amazing. Soe and I had some delicious digestivs that I'm still thinking about. Green Room was fun and many laughs, secrets in the bathroom and Penelope dancing up Main St.

Sunday was spent enjoying brunch at PennyCluse followed by some accidental shopping (oops!). The afternoon was spent cooking Honey-Oat Bread and Chocolate/Chocolate Chip cupcakes with vanilla cream cheese frosting topped with raspberries. Then we were off to one of the most amazing summer nights...an outdoor concert at Shelburne Museum.
Feist played and she was amazing. There was a gorgeous sunset, cool breeze and we packed an amazing picnic. Zoe was being the cutest thing ever (minus a bit of excess drool on my arm). It felt like heaven. I don't think I could have been in a more amazing setting.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

My new living room

Sweet and satisfying after bitter and bad

Yesterday was an interesting day. It was a Monday, which can always be a bit rough especially since I took Friday off so I was coming off of a 3 day weekend. The bitter and bad unfortunately refers to work. Things have been...well, surprising lately to say it nicely. I suppose my expectations and reality are not quite in line with each other and my non-work life is being affected more than I had expected or hoped. So, it's tough...forging through unexpected territory, trying to find my way and figure it out without getting totally bummed out. Not to mention the stresses of dealing with people who think they are the only account in existence (not co-workers or client, but other groups involved in the events I am working on). It made for a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth upon leaving work.

And then came the sweet and satisfying part of the day. First off, I put my new ice cream machine to work and made a delicious, no, ecstasy filled creation - Pina Colada sorbet. Divine. I wanted to eat it until it was completely gone and than lick the icy cold freezer bowl (visions of "A Christmas Story" danced in my head). Following my sweet post-work treat was another enjoyable event. It was finally nice out...warm, sunny, cool breeze. Oh how glorious a sun dress feels, flowing lightly against sun flecked legs, the breeze dancing across my bare shoulders as I strolled down to Church St. I met a new friend for drinks. This new friend I was introduced to through a Bostonian friend whom insisted that we would become instant friends. The new friend just moved back to Burlington. We had met once before but this was our first official "girl date". We sat outside at Half...a thing I have been dreaming of since the last day of summer last year. Mojitos and wine. Great conversation. So much in common it's almost like we came from the same pod. It's always exciting making a new friend. And it was such a positive note to end what had been a rough day.

Summer...oh how I've been longing for thee.