I haven't had a Clarinex since Monday night. Why? Because I am getting more allergy testing done next Thursday and I have to have it out of my system. I can still take the Singulair and the Veramyst but they aren't doing jack squat for me right now. I went home on Tuesday because I thought I was going to die. The rest of this week isn't much better. I'm hacking up a lung, sneezing constantly, blowing my nose until it's raw, my ears hurt and are clogged and are ringing and I feel like I am constantly on the brink of a migraine! Add to that the fact that I can't really breathe and my throat is burning so badly that you would have thought I poured jalapeno juice down it, and we have a fun week on our hands! I don't think I'm going to survive another week of this. I really, really don't!
The good news is, I got my grades for my first semester of grad school yesterday...4.0!!! I was a tad worried about my last class as we had some last minute drama on our paper, but we pulled off an A in the class so who cares! This week started my Maymester class. Yes, it's the same two weeks in which I feel like dying. I have timing like no other! It's a lot of work, but it's more busy work rather than really hard work. So, it's not too overwhelming. Luckily work has slowed down for a couple of weeks and our admin that's always out finally is back in the office. Maybe during my review next week I will be able to switch my hours from 7am - 4pm. I have my review the same day as I am having my allergy testing. So, I'm sure I will be hacking up a lung and sneezing all the way through it. Considering I feel like I am always underwater and dazed, I'm not sure if I will be able to have a conversation by that time! Wish me luck!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Chicken Little
OK, so I can give absolutely no credit for this post to myself. A very temporary, yet the absolute best, ex-VP of my last job writes these little e-maily/bloggy type things to all of her "girlfriends." I usually find them very inspirational and find myself figuring out how I can pattern my life more like hers as I grow up. I thought the email today was great so I would like to repost it here.
I love the tale of Chicken Little. The story goes that one day there was this Chick walking around in the woods when an acorn popped her on the head. It scared her so bad and she shook so hard, that half her feathers fell out. The Chick (now looking pretty darn scary, I guess) further wigged out and started crying, "Help! Help! The sky is falling. I have to go tell the king!" But on the way she spread the awful story of impending doom by telling her girlfriend Ducky Lucky; and then she carried on to Goosey Loosey; and, of course, Turkey Lurkey had to hear the bad news, too. Chicken Little's fear, based on her limited knowledge and experience, spread negativity and panic through her network like a bad rash.
I have a C.L. in my life, and you probably do, too. Like Chicken Little, my C.L. also chooses to operate in a state of fear. Without fail, at lunch or dinner, the storm clouds gather as she breathlessly broadcasts the demise of our country, the unraveling of our social fabric, and the end of our economy. She casts such a foreboding shadow over the conversation that by the time dessert is served - everyone around the table is ready to slit their wrists. Not because she's an expert in politics or finance or societal issues -but because she's an expert in being a Chicken Little!
Fear is contagious. Once a C.L. starts talking trash, just watch - all the rest of us will fall in line. Steve and I recently spread the contagion to each other. We had become so convinced that our condo building wasn't going to close, we worked ourselves into a tizzy. And like Chicken Little, we stressed. While we didn't lose our feathers, we did lose sleep . . . and peace.
Our C.L. episode came to an end one morning when, independently, we came to the conclusion that our negative thinking was choking out hope. Hope for this great home that we had planned for and saved for and...waited almost two years for. We realized that we had chosen to operate in a state of fear, based on nothing more than rumor and our vivid imaginations.
The uncertain outcome for our condo cottage-in-the-sky had dragged on for months, so you can only imagine our amazement when two days later - the deal and the closing date were confirmed. (We closed this morning.)
Wasted energy. Operating in a state of fantasy-based fear is just useless. Yes, bad things can happen, but our fear (whether real or imagined) won't fix it. It can, however, choke all thoughts of a bright future from our heart and mind. But maybe worse than that, the resulting negativity steals precious conversations and exchanges of hope with others.
So, I've decided to shift my thinking. By operating in a state of confidence, I now consciously hold onto words like "promise," because my life story, while not always rosy, could have been a lot worse. And I wait expectantly on the future - knowing that good things happen every day and good things will continue to happen for our country, our economy, my family, and ...me.
"You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your despair." - Anonymous
Have you fallen into the rathole of Chicken Little thinking? Choose today to operate in a state of confidence for your future and share that state with others by gently deflecting the negative chatter. The sky ain't fallin'.
Source: http://www.ellenmiller.com/2009/05/a-state-of-confidence-vs-the-s.html
As I always tell my friends, you can handle anything that comes your way. Things might suck at the present moment, but in time you will be fine. Everyone has to have a little suck in their life. It's in some rule book somewhere. Promise!
I love the tale of Chicken Little. The story goes that one day there was this Chick walking around in the woods when an acorn popped her on the head. It scared her so bad and she shook so hard, that half her feathers fell out. The Chick (now looking pretty darn scary, I guess) further wigged out and started crying, "Help! Help! The sky is falling. I have to go tell the king!" But on the way she spread the awful story of impending doom by telling her girlfriend Ducky Lucky; and then she carried on to Goosey Loosey; and, of course, Turkey Lurkey had to hear the bad news, too. Chicken Little's fear, based on her limited knowledge and experience, spread negativity and panic through her network like a bad rash.
I have a C.L. in my life, and you probably do, too. Like Chicken Little, my C.L. also chooses to operate in a state of fear. Without fail, at lunch or dinner, the storm clouds gather as she breathlessly broadcasts the demise of our country, the unraveling of our social fabric, and the end of our economy. She casts such a foreboding shadow over the conversation that by the time dessert is served - everyone around the table is ready to slit their wrists. Not because she's an expert in politics or finance or societal issues -but because she's an expert in being a Chicken Little!
Fear is contagious. Once a C.L. starts talking trash, just watch - all the rest of us will fall in line. Steve and I recently spread the contagion to each other. We had become so convinced that our condo building wasn't going to close, we worked ourselves into a tizzy. And like Chicken Little, we stressed. While we didn't lose our feathers, we did lose sleep . . . and peace.
Our C.L. episode came to an end one morning when, independently, we came to the conclusion that our negative thinking was choking out hope. Hope for this great home that we had planned for and saved for and...waited almost two years for. We realized that we had chosen to operate in a state of fear, based on nothing more than rumor and our vivid imaginations.
The uncertain outcome for our condo cottage-in-the-sky had dragged on for months, so you can only imagine our amazement when two days later - the deal and the closing date were confirmed. (We closed this morning.)
Wasted energy. Operating in a state of fantasy-based fear is just useless. Yes, bad things can happen, but our fear (whether real or imagined) won't fix it. It can, however, choke all thoughts of a bright future from our heart and mind. But maybe worse than that, the resulting negativity steals precious conversations and exchanges of hope with others.
So, I've decided to shift my thinking. By operating in a state of confidence, I now consciously hold onto words like "promise," because my life story, while not always rosy, could have been a lot worse. And I wait expectantly on the future - knowing that good things happen every day and good things will continue to happen for our country, our economy, my family, and ...me.
"You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your despair." - Anonymous
Have you fallen into the rathole of Chicken Little thinking? Choose today to operate in a state of confidence for your future and share that state with others by gently deflecting the negative chatter. The sky ain't fallin'.
Source: http://www.ellenmiller.com/2009/05/a-state-of-confidence-vs-the-s.html
As I always tell my friends, you can handle anything that comes your way. Things might suck at the present moment, but in time you will be fine. Everyone has to have a little suck in their life. It's in some rule book somewhere. Promise!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Jen Freaking Lancaster, Bitches!!!!
So, I got to meet my hero last night. Jen Lancaster. It was awesome. :) If you haven't heard of her or if you haven't read her books, I strongly suggest you do so...NOW! Here's the list of her books, full titles included:
To my back right side:
To my front left side:
And, finally, to my back left:
I'm sure I have everyone's permission to post these. It was supposed to be a big 80s party, but the fact that a lot of us are just coming from work, it just didn't end up being that way. I saw 3 people decked out in their 80s finest...including the woman in that last picture with the white shirt and red camisole. I liked her 80s. :) I was going to go in my NKOTB concert outfit...but I didn't think that would lend itself well to my "appointment" excuse I gave work for leaving an hour early. Too bad I didn't think that through, because I had roughly 3 hours before Jen even got there to get ready! I could have crimped my hair at the very least. I owed that much to her.
But, I was still an uber-fan by being the VERY FIRST to get my book signed! Behold:
Also? The very first to have my picture taken with her:
1.) Bitter is the New Black : Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass,Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office
2.) Bright Lights, Big Ass: A Self-Indulgent, Surly, Ex-Sorority Girl's Guide to Why it Often Sucks in the City, or Who are These Idiots and Why Do They All Live Next Door to Me?
3.) Such a Pretty Fat: One Narcissist's Quest To Discover if Her Life Makes Her Ass LookBig, Or Why Pie is Not The Answer
4.) Pretty in Plaid: A Life, a Witch, and a Wardrobe, or, the Wonder Years Before the Condescending,Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smart Ass Phase
I love, love, love all of her books! They are all about her life and her first two books are a direct result of her blog. Yes, folks, she is a blogger turned author. In fact, one of the first! I am almost done with the last book and it's just as great as the first. I've laughed out loud with all of these, but I think the third book made me laugh the hardest. Basically, she decides to go on a diet and hilarity ensues. The yoga part is the best...by far!
Currently, Jen is on tour for her latest book, the Pretty in Plaid one. She came to Dallas last night. When she announced her tour dates, she said she had to fight to come to Dallas so we had better represent. And at about 300 women (with a few men squeezed somewhere in there), we did! My mom is the best...she got there at 2:30, which secured us front row seats and Group A passes to get our books signed.
Jen seemed very surprised when she came up the escalator to see all these people:
To my front right side:
To my back right side:To my front left side:And, finally, to my back left: I'm sure I have everyone's permission to post these. It was supposed to be a big 80s party, but the fact that a lot of us are just coming from work, it just didn't end up being that way. I saw 3 people decked out in their 80s finest...including the woman in that last picture with the white shirt and red camisole. I liked her 80s. :) I was going to go in my NKOTB concert outfit...but I didn't think that would lend itself well to my "appointment" excuse I gave work for leaving an hour early. Too bad I didn't think that through, because I had roughly 3 hours before Jen even got there to get ready! I could have crimped my hair at the very least. I owed that much to her.But, I was still an uber-fan by being the VERY FIRST to get my book signed! Behold:
Also? The very first to have my picture taken with her:
You might not be able to tell in this picture, but we are wearing the EXACT SAME pearl necklace and earrings. That was pretty freaking awesome, too! Jen is the one that taught me it is, in fact, ok to love pearls. I always secretly have like them, just thought I had to be a lot older. After reading Jen's first book, I busted out the pearls as often as I could. Also, I was trying to plan out the perfect witty remark that would get her to want me to become her BFF in Dallas...but I just stared in awe. Then, after my mom's book was signed, I blurted out, "I am totally the 28 year old you!" Yeah. Smooth. Like she hasn't heard that a thousand times!
However, I also had the chance to have the best revenge of my life last night! Ok, in my book, this is totally revenge...might just seem dorky to everyone else. So, as I am sitting completely antsy in my chair (front row...did I mention that?)...because it's 5 minutes before Jen arrives...who do I see coming up the escalator? Heinous Bitch! For those that don't know, this is what I call my old boss. She was horrible to me. Completely rude and horrible. So, I'm freaking out, my mom is dying laughing, we are both not being subtle. I caught her eye for a second right as I was telling my mom that she was coming up...she then looks away...and as I am loudly saying, "Oh! My! God!" and my mom is laughing as loud as she can....HB gives me the most evil side-eye I have ever seen in my life! Then she proceeds to make her way behind all those people in the photos above. She even had to line up in the bookcases to get her book signed. While I was first. I think I look pretty decent despite the incredible humidity that day. She looked like a wet ragdoll. That, my friends, was sweet fucking revenge. :)
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