Road Trip

Once upon a time, circa two years and four months ago, I stepped onto a plane and begun my journey to Boston.  I remember that day pret-ty well.  I had known I would be moving a year before it happened, but naturally this little fact did not set in until a few hours before boarding my one-way flight.  Those were a sad, sad few hours.  And they were followed by quite a few equally sad days missing the people and the town and the life that I had left on the ground.

However, I am convinced these past couple of years were meant to be.  If you want to prove that you can be a grown up and fend for yourself, then picking a new city and starting over ought to do the trick.  It has definitely been a life experience I won't soon forget.

Now I will once again be missing the people and the town and the life that I'm leaving behind.  Last week I loaded up my little SUV until you couldn't fit so much as another shoe inside or the poor car might burst, and then I set off on my second cross-country trek.  This one was by car, and this time I was headed back to sunny California.

I think there were a number of reasons for this move.  It wasn't tied to any particular person or place or weather forecast.  Sometimes you just feel like it's time to move on, and that's what has to be done.  In this case, I know I will be returning to the East Coast many times (courtesy of my job, which I will continue to do, but with San Francisco as my home base) and I know I will see all of my favorite Bostonians again.  That knowledge is helping me enormously in my efforts not to be sad.  Along with the fact that this move has required me to take TWO WEEKS of vacation.  The sheer happiness of vacation is pretty much canceling out any sadness I may have otherwise felt.  Sorry, Boston friends.

Moving on. You can't drive 3,000 miles across the country without snapping a few shots with your iPhone.  So here's what I got.

This little car was a trooper.  Here's what it looked like right before we took off.

Because it was the middle of December, most of America was cold, gloomy, and dead.  My view from New York to Nebraska looked exactly like this:

And this:

We did make a few interesting stops.  Like this restaurant in Kearney, Nebraska where each table is served a bucket of peanuts:

...and then you toss the shells here.

Or our lucky discovery of this ultra 'classy' restroom....

In case you were wondering what a classy restroom in the middle of Nebraska looks like, here you have it.

We did see this pretty sweet windmill farm in Wyoming.

However, the rest of Wyoming was covered in snow.  This was just the beginning...

After stopping at this little diner in Rawlins, Wyoming the snow began to come down very hard.  The final twenty-four hours of the trip were really tough.

Fortunately I had my driving buddies to snuggle with me:

And after several days on the road, I was practically elated to see this sign.  (Yes I did pull over on the side of a busy interstate to snap this photo.)

Of course it didn't hurt that I was greeted by glorious 60-degree sunshine... a very welcome change from the frigid 3-degree conditions I had experienced only the night before while stopping for gas.  And so 3,000 miles later and 3,000 miles wiser, I am a Californian once again!  For now anyway.  No promises that I will stick around here forever.  But until the next thing comes along, you can find me here on the West Coast.. hopefully warm and happy and tan!

Moving Out

What an exhausting feat to go from this:

...to this:

And I'm way too embarrassed to show you what my closet looked like. Suffice it to say it was not pretty. Good thing I made these neat signs to help get organized:

And so only a day and a half behind schedule, I left my empty little apartment behind and hit the road. Goodbye, apartment. You were great to me and I will miss you lots! 

Hello December

In merely 12 DAYS my grandpa is coming over and we are going to begin our road trip across the USA. That is not a lot of time. Especially for a serial procrastinator, who incidentally has not begun packing. But you know, I have been doing every other possible thing I can think of that doesn't involve packing (like shopping for earmuffs, getting oil changes and haircuts, doctors appointments, gym-time, hockey games, brunch outings, hot baths, watching football, you name it).


I woke up this morning feeling a tiny bit sick. Which I knew was a sign that I was about to feel A LOT sick. So in a aggressive maneuver to outsmart the germs which are attacking me, I have consumed no less than 12 chewable Vitamin C tablets today, each one with more than 400% of the recommended daily Vitamin C allowance. Because that's supposed to supercharge your immune system, or something like that. (And perhaps they were citrus-flavored and delicious and tasted like pure sugar.) ANYWAY, it did not work. So much for natural cures! I need real drugs. You know, like nasal sprays and Excedrin and Dayquil. 


OH guess what? It turns outs that I love December! I don't know how I forget about this fact every single year. I think I accidentally associate December with January and February. But that is silly... they're completely different. December means pretty lights and Christmas decorations and vacation time to look forward to. And holiday music and trees inside houses. And cute boots. And vacation time. 


Man I really can't wait for vacation time. 

Goodbye November

After four glorious days of Thanksgiving "vacation," it is unfortunately time to return to grown up life tomorrow (or later today, if we're being technical, since it's almost 2 am. Don't ask why I am awake). As luck would have it, I am spending the coming week in rainy Ohio.

I forgot to bring my Kudo bars to Ohio, which I specifically bought to snack on during this trip.  Every time I try to be organized and plan something in advance, it always seems to backfire. I was especially excited because I don't think I have eaten Kudos since the fourth grade. What a bummer.

I forgot to bring something else too, but I don't want to say what it is.

Anyway. This was a fabulous break of sleeping in, going out, watching movies, and being thankful.  And in between living this good life, I managed to be a little bit productive, too! Today I washed two whole loads of laundry! That is two more loads than I have done all month... so, a great triumph.

My countdown to leaving the East Coast is down to three weeks. I really, really need to pack. I also really, really hate packing. It's such a terrible activity where all of those things I have shoved into the black hole at the back of my closet will inevitably come back to haunt me.  

On another note, this year more than ever it has seemed like SO. MANY. PEOPLE. are getting engaged / married / pregnant / giving birth.  My News Feed is crawling with these kinds of announcements every day, along with the typical photographic proof which accompanies them. And when it's not on the internet, it's somebody telling me in person about their news. I am truly happy for everyone's life milestones. But meanwhile I am figuring out how I can go back in time and be in college again (i.e., grad school) and feeling slightly like an old maid at the grand old age of 24.  However, I'm not complaining. Not today, anyway. Right now I kind of love being happy and free and unable to predict the future.

Besides, as the now widely-circulated message goes:

Maine

I have this goal in my head of someday traveling to all 50 states.  Being as that I am moving to the West Coast in 5 weeks, I thought I had better take advantage of the remaining time I have here in the Northeast to visit the three nearby states which I have not yet been to -- which includes Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.  This weekend I was able to cross Maine off my list.

Caught the tail end of fall...

Downtown Portland.  Now I have been to the Portlands on both sides of the country!

Very pretty state park. Now if only we could find the lighthouse....

Found it! The famous Portland Head Light lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth.

Everything in this state looked very nautical...

The Black Point Inn.  Maine's version of The Cliffs at Pismo Beach.  EXCEPT apparently things out here are seasonal... so no happy hours in November :(

But pretty ocean views nonetheless.

And last but not least... Maine sunset!

I think that's 28 states down.  22 to go!

This Week

My apartment is CLEAN and I am so so happy! It feels refreshing and wonderful and liberating. I should clean more often than.. almost never.

This is extremely embarrassing, but I have watched the Twilight movies. All of them. And I am a tiny bit obsessed. Jacob Jacob Jacob.

Please let the record show that I completely called the breakup of Kim Kardashian's marriage based on inherent personality conflicts. Although I gave them up to 2 years to call it quits. But then it only took 2 months. You can't reconcile strongly opposing personalities.

As of yesterday I am officially in a new group at work. I went from IT Risk & Assurance to IT Risk Transformation. Big moment.... (not really).

November is here! That means Thanksgiving is coming up and winter is on its way. As evidenced by the fact that it's getting COLD. I even put on my gloves today. (Which I found buried at the bottom of a massive pile after I CLEANED!) I could really use a boy to keep me warm during these cold days. Just saying.

Also, this November will be my last month in Massachusetts. Because I am moving to California in 7 weeks.

Yikes, when you put it that way, that's not a lot of time.

How to Win My Heart

 

Impeccable grammar is extremely attractive. Throw in good spelling skills and I'm sold :)

Falling for Fall

It has been a nutty summer of working and playing and traveling around the world.  By some stroke of craziness, I have been everywhere from Salt Lake City to New York to Paris to Munich - where I can officially say I have celebrated the "real" Oktoberfest. The world is an awfully big place, and it's both lucky and humbling that in the past two years I've been able to see so much of it.

In a peculiar turn of events, I am suddenly excited for chilly air, cloudy days, and being a little closer to home.  I've even been liking the rain lately.  

This week I started working on a new project in Princeton, New Jersey.  Princeton happens to be the one town in New Jersey that I love.  Probably because it reminds me of college and trees and pretty architecture.  If I were a brainiac with a lot of money who was cut out for the Ivy Leagues, I would have almost certainly chosen to go to school at Princeton.

Earlier tonight I went to scope out the sushi scene in Princeton. I am slightly embarrassed to admit that I have eaten sushi no less than five times in the past week and a half.  Also, I have a lunch date on Thursday, and guess where we're going?  Yes.  Pretty soon I'm going to turn into a fish.

I started keeping a list of all the important things I have learned in life (well, since yesterday).  If I ever get really, really wise, maybe I'll turn it into a book.

Speaking of books, I am in process of reading Harry Potter #5.  Sure, I'm a little behind after a 6-year gap since reading the previous book.  But I have recently made it a life goal to finish this series.  Consequently, I dreamt that I was in a Harry Potter book last night and let me tell you, it was extremely scary!

In other news, I am completely afraid of boredom and complacency.  I can't follow the same routine for long.  (Maybe it would be different if I found a routine that I really loved?  Then I could probably stick to it, with little variations.)  Even though I wouldn't say that my days qualify as routine -- mostly due to being in a different city every week -- I have decided that I need some life changes.  So I am currently working on those.  Even though I don't have a clue what's ahead, I'm awfully excited to find out.

One final thought of the day:

Stop the World, I Need to Catch Up

This is what the post-its read which are currently on my refrigerator. 

And you know what, a more fitting plea has never been spoken.

As part of being a grown up, there are so many things to think about.

· Work. Work. More work.
· Paying bills. 
· Cleaning up. 
· Grocery shopping. 
· Exercising. 
· Making new friends. 
· Making time for old friends. 
· Staying in touch with the Universe. 
· Laundry. So. Much. Laundry. 
· Finding a boy. 
· Staying healthy. 
· Flossing.
· Thinking about the future.  
· Staying sane.

All of these things can lead to a life that is overwhelming. And evidently this have been taking its toll on me.

For instance, the other day a waiter commented to me about how sad I looked. He suggested that I smile more.

And then a little later, after I had boarded a plane, a man came along and sat next to me in the middle seat. I must have been looking pretty unhappy. So much so that the man told me he would find another seat so that I could have some extra space and he wouldn't squash me. And so he moved. Instead of being happy about gaining three hours of unrestricted use of the armrest, I just felt ashamed of myself for scaring this man away. Since when do I give off such strong vibes of negativity that perfectly entitled paying customers on airplanes feel the need to give up their assigned seats to get away from me?

The most troubling part is that every day I start out with good intentions. I say a little prayer to the Universe for the strength and patience to make it through the day ahead. And yet too many times I walk away hours later feeling defeated. Or I resort to hiding out in bathrooms where I secretly have mini-breakdowns. That is really embarrassing to admit.

I don't know if I'm too disorganized, or too slow at life, or just crazy. Or all of the above. And I'm not sure what the best course of action should be. However, I do know that I am awfully grateful for the people in my life who help me stay afloat. And also for good sense, an open mind, and of course, vacations.

I Know it Must be Summer When...

I find these pretty sunflowers from the Copley Square farmer's market while waiting for the bus. (Unfortunately I'm pretty sure I don't know how to keep sunflowers alive. Am I supposed to give them plant food?)

 

It is still bright and sunny outside when I leave work at 6 o'clock.

My toenails are bright pink and shiny. Which you can sometimes see when I violate the dress code and wear my flip flops around the office.

The shorts and sundresses have come out of hibernation.

I am polishing up the good old softball skills.

Two Californian vacations less than two weeks apart. Complete with palm trees and pool-time.

A third vacation is already in the works. I need something to look forward to during all of the days which I am not on vacation.

I spend certain Wednesday afternoons sitting in the square outside the office and enjoying the sunshine.

 And people-watching by the fountains...

I become obsessed with the color yellow. Would it be weird to have yellow toenails? I don't want to look like I have a gross toenail fungus.

I accidentally forget to blog for the entire month of June. Mostly due to keeping busy with summer activities. Oops. I will do better in the future.

Is it possible that I love summer? Hmm. Yes!

Dear Marriott,

Thanks for letting me spend a rare night hanging out while ordering room service and watching the American Idol finale!  Even though I was rooting for the other person to win.

I am very sorry that I spilled salad dressing all over your nice white bedspread.  I didn't mean to.

But then again, I'm not that sorry, because you gave me a view overlooking the top of a parking garage instead of overlooking the lake.  Even though you assured me you had no more lake views, I know that's not true because you gave my smug travel buddy a lake view when he checked in 15 seconds after me, despite the fact that I rushed inside to beat him in line like a 12-year-old just in case there was only one lake view room left in the entire hotel.  I promise I'm not that picky.  I just get very excited by having pretty views.  But I will forgive you.

Sorry, also, for all of the random junk I have left you during our visits.  I'm sure you have an entire collection of phone chargers, hair pins, and shiny beads dedicated especially to me.  Along with some stranded items of clothing.  And probably some underwear. You can toss those away.

Anyway.  Thanks for being a good sport and for taking such good care of me during that past two years.  Our 102 nights together have been special.

Love, 

Your Favorite Guest

Dear Mean People,

You stink.

I am normally a pretty cheerful person.  But you know what, right now I am grumpy, and it's mostly because of you.

First, my Blackberry goes missing, prompting me to launch a full-scale investigation. (Which included tracing my steps around town, creating a detailed timeline, reviewing my call and data logs, creating a list of facts and assumptions.... I really should just be an investigator for a living.)  My efforts have led me to the conclusion that the phone went missing during the short time I carried groceries from my car to my apartment the other night.  Which means that one of your kind stole it.  Yes, stole.  Did you mistake it for your own Blackberry?  Did you not see my hand-crafted signs?  Did you not think of turning it into the building's lost-and-found?

And then yesterday a package gets delivered to my apartment at 2:48 pm, which I am able to see on UPS.com in this sophisticated age of technology.  But of course I am not home at 2:48 pm, or for several hours afterward.  So what happens?  You took that, too!  I sure hope you are getting great use out of the $20 sweatshirt which I ordered to wear to the gym.

I'm not so certain that you're not somehow responsible for the fact that I got trapped in an elevator today, too.  I almost missed a plane because of that.

And you know what is the worst part, mean people?  Let me tell you.  It's not that you have taken my beloved Blackberry, or that you ripped off a package which obviously wasn't yours, or any of the other wrongs you have committed.  It's that you have caused me to walk down my very own hallways with bitterness and suspicion.  And that you have put an ugly blemish on my optimistic view of humanity.

You see, mean people, unlike you, I like to imagine that humans are good and decent and honest.  But I guess that's probably not very realistic.  So instead I imagine that your kind does not immediately surround me, but instead exists somewhere out there on an island community of mean people.  But  it would appear that is false.  You are in my very own town, in my safe neighborhood, and maybe even living down the hallway from me.  You are like that gross rotten spot hiding within an otherwise crunchy and delicious apple, just waiting to show up and ruin someone's afternoon snack.  (That was an odd analogy. I don't know why I thought of that.)

Anyway, mean people, thanks for nothing.  My only consolation comes from knowing that the world has a mysterious way of working things out just when you feel like you are flying high.  And that is probably not good news for you.  But that's between you and the world.  Good luck with that.

Okay, and my one additional consolation comes from the knowledge that this recent stroke of bad luck has thrown me off balance, and that is no good; it must be remedied.  Does this mean I'm going to get very lucky during the next few days?  During this upcoming holiday weekend, perhaps?  If so... I'll take it.

Vanished.

Now everybody in my building knows that the spaz in Apartment 35 lost her Blackberry.

Even though it's just a phone and probably not a healthy toy to have in the first place, I am really bummed out by this.   

I don't know what's more frustrating... the fact that the phone is missing, or the fact that I haven't got the slightest clue how it went missing. For once, I can't think of a single dumb thing I did to cause this misfortune. I kept track of it while out and about all afternoon, and then it mysteriously disappeared somewhere between my car and my apartment

Just in case you've seen it... please refer to flyers above.

P.S. According to Blogger, this is my 100th post. I'm sorry it couldn't be more uplifting.

Little Details

If you have ever met me, you have likely noticed that I tend to be a little bit forgetful, and at times I don't always have my brain screwed on straight. I am that person who looks all over for my sunglasses, only to discover that they are on top of my head. I blame this unfortunate condition on my mother. It's most definitely genetic.

Exhibit A: I left for work this morning like any other day. Keys, cell phone, laptop, and bus card successfully in tow. (My sunflower key rack has been a huge life saver.) Except what I didn't realize was that I had accidentally forgotten to put on underwear.

I was wearing a dress. I didn't notice this little mistake until I was outside walking to the bus, and things were feeling a little more breezy than usual.

You will be happy to know that I did turn around and go back home to fix this problem. I think there are some things worth being late for. And how is a person supposed to act professional, and have serious discussions about business-related things, while secretly knowing that they have forgotten to put on their underwear?

Sometimes it's really ridiculous to be me.

Community Service

Sometimes you just need to spend a day away from your grown-up job and go golfing.

And by golfing, I mean having picnics on a golf course and riding around all day in a golf cart, while you take occasional team photos and sell raffle tickets to much more sophisticated people than yourself who actually know how to play golf. All for charity, of course.

(Let me tell you, selling things to rich people is the easiest selling I have ever done. Way easier than back in the days when I used to sit at a booth and sell Girl Scout cookies to strangers in front of grocery stores.)

And then for all of your hard efforts, you even get to participate in the fancy post-golf dinner party inside the country club. Did you know that the restrooms in country clubs have hairspray? And mouthwash?! 

I can't think of any better way to spend a Monday.

Spring Things

Normally I would have told you how excited I was for the first day of spring. Which supposedly happened in March. But unfortunately, Boston did not receive the memo about spring this year. I mean, It snowed in April. Luckily I have been traveling to some places where winter is truly over and spring actually exists, such as sunny South Carolina.

Just in case you were skeptical about my newfound obsession with the Carolinas... I skipped out on work for a day and spent the afternoon riding a horse-drawn carriage around pretty Charleston, SC. (Well maybe they were mules, if we're being technical here). This made me so very happy! 

I fall in love with the silliest things.... Don't be a crab unless you're in a shell! I think we should all heed this message.

Of course no South Carolina adventure would be complete without Atlantic Ocean beach time. I had the very best barefoot beach walk ever. And I very carefully avoided stepping on any Atlantic Ocean jellyfish.

When I got back home, I discovered they had finally planted tulips in Boston! This is a hopeful sign that sunnier days are ahead.

Happy spring!

Starting Over from Scratch

This has been the theme in 2011. As such, there are a couple of options in front of me in life:

Scenario 1 - Return to my long-lost homeland of California. Become happily re-united with my favorite ocean. Throw away all of my winter hats and scarves once and for all to make room for new sundresses. Return to a year-round sandal rotation. Become very tan. Find a Cal Poly boy who understands the enchantment of SLO and convince him to marry me on Dexter lawn. Eat a lot of sushi. Live a sunny and adventurous life.

Scenario 2 - Pack up and head south to the Carolinas. Become a Southern Belle. Learn how to cook?? Say goodbye to my life as business lady and head to grad school. Marry a shy Southern boy with a good brain and an adorable accent. Develop my own adorable accent. Make friends with the Atlantic Ocean. Become very tan. Buy a plantation and raise some kiddos. Invite all of our Southern friends over for barbecues on the patio.

Scenario 3 - Try my luck with a different state on the West Coast. Move to Portland, Oregon. Become a hippie. Spend my days bumming around parks. Buy some cute galoshes and a sturdy umbrella. Finish writing my novel (yes, I have a novel, and I am currently on the first chapter). Get it published and become mildly famous for being the girl who wrote that one brilliant novel. Live happily among the trees. Never pump my own gas again.

So there you go. Yes, these are all perfectly feasible. Except maybe I wouldn't become too much of a hippie. (I will probably never become a vegetarian or wear a leather headband or refuse to shave my legs.) And I'd probably find a day job in Portland just in case my brilliant novel doesn't work out. But one of these could describe my future! Stay tuned.

Just Another Manic Monday

I am a girl who isn't shocked by much, and who doesn't get thrown off guard very easily.  But you know what. Sometimes you encounter things that are just... for lack of a better term... whack.

Call me crazy. But I think the universe sometimes disguises the forces of good and evil as any number of places, things, experiences, and - most deviously - as people.

And sometimes when you have been afflicted with the forces of whack in a given day or a lifetime, the best thing you can do is shake you head while remembering to keep your values close by and your humor in tact.

Happy Marathon Monday + Patriot's Day + tax filing deadline!

Fenway Park

In case you are not familiar with Fenway, it happens to be the oldest standing park in baseball, right here in Boston. It will be 100 years old in 2012!  As such, it is smaller than most parks, and tickets are very hard to come by.

However, I was lucky enough to get invited to a Red Sox game this weekend with awesome seats. Not just any seats... box seats!  Which means VIP treatment and more importantly, really sweet views.

  

 

 

How am I ever supposed to go back to the bleachers and nosebleeds now...?

(I'm only kidding. I'm sure I will find a way. But it was awfully fun while it lasted!)

The Little Things

This Monday's Ripples message was all about taking notice.

When I read this one, I got excited. Because I immediately thought, "yes! I do that!"

You see, some people might call me a space cadet. It's true that I frequently have my head in the clouds. Sometimes this comes at the expense of having my head focused on whatever task happens to be in front of me.

However. I secretly like to think of this is one of my best attributes.

Maybe it's because the author of Ripples has the same personality type as me, but we are clearly on the same page. Meaning that we like to pay attention to little things in the world which single-minded, highly-focused, head-in-the-moment types of people might never bother to notice.

(No offense if you are one of these single-minded, highly-focused, head-in-the-moment types of people. I'm sure I can think of dozens of reasons why you are very bright and may end up being more successful than me.)

For instance, when I first walked down the hallway and to the restrooms in the gloomy building where I am working this week, I immediately noticed the pretty piano / orchestra music playing in the background. Which made me think of classical concerts, Disneyland, and France. (Common theme: places I'd rather be than at work.) This was an instantly welcome sound. And a simple reason to be happy during an otherwise boring afternoon.

Or when I was driving through the not-so-glamorous outskirts of Dallas last night, I instantly fell in love with all of the green trees, open fields, and big storybook houses which I stumbled upon after taking a wrong turn. (No, I am not moving to Dallas. This was a temporary kind of love.)

I later fell in love with the walnuts in my salad. They were really good walnuts.

Other examples of things which tend to be worthy of noticing include window views; blue skies; people, along with all of their actions and reactions; and anything else which happens to create a peaceful / cheerful / interesting moment. Admittedly this could be a lot of things.

I'll be honest. During the past two years I have wrestled and struggled and racked my brain to understand why anybody would ever want to be a grown up. Sometimes it seems like grown up life is inherently filled with routine boring-ness. I have even wondered if all of the happiest and most thrilling days are behind me. At a minimum, grown up life seems to involve longer stretches of predictability, broken up by fewer moments of excitement. Which is not really my lifestyle of choice.

I tend to be pretty keenly aware of people around me. As such, I've noticed that many people deal with these dull patches by maintaining a constant stream of busy-ness, by focusing on what is in front of them rather than worrying about the future, and sometimes... by drinking a lot.

But staying focused isn't really my strongest skill, and drinking too much just makes me feel sick the next day. So, instead, I do the very thing my mom used to tell me to do when I was a bored kid stuck inside the house during summer vacation: use my imagination. Enter "head in the clouds" philosophy. I daydream about happy things. I write blog entries when I should be working, and I linger too long in bathrooms just to hear the orchestra music. I make a point to notice little things, and I hold onto these things all day long. I try to let in the positive while filtering out the negative, and I make a point stay connected with the world around me. Because it's so much bigger and more interesting than the mundane realities of grown up life would sometimes have me realize. And in doing so, I like to think that I am able to create my own meaning. At least enough to hold me over until those intermittent moments of excitement come along. And those seem to be sneaking up on me more frequently. Which is a good sign.

Isn't there some expression that goes "stop and smell the flowers" or something like that? I think that's pretty much what I've been getting at. So I'm not going to pretend to be startlingly original, or anything. But what a good philosophy this has been for a girl like me to keep in mind.

I guess what I'm really trying to say is thank you, Paul, for helping me to rationalize the act of being a space cadet.

Circle the Cat

If you happen to enjoy wasting time, then you might appreciate this game. 

(Thank you to my fellow time-wasting pal for sharing.)

Please note that I assume no responsibility for any time that is wasted as a result of this post.

Learning in Style

Remember how I was teaching a training in Texas earlier this week?

Well, the first day was a "learn by PowerPoint" kind of day. I think it went pretty well given that I had not rehearsed any of my slides and instead elected to wing it. (In all fairness, I had very sincere intentions to practice beforehand. It just never happened. I was too busy / distracted this weekend. And then I was way too sleepy on the plane ride to study PowerPoint slides. Not too sleepy to watch The Tourist, though. I can't decide if it was clever or awful.)

Then, yesterday, I was left on my own to lead some hands-on training.  

So how did THAT go?

Terrific. We ate gumdrops and evaluated one another's personalities.  I had an astoundingly high accuracy rate, mind you.  And we had some very insightful personality chats.  One guy asked me if I would be able to offer some advice that might help him along in his quest to find a girlfriend. I happily agreed to send him some links. (In between all of this fun, I taught them a few boring things about auditing, too. Bleh.)

...this is what happens when I'm left in charge.

A Couple of Things

Happy (belated) opening day! I happen to love baseball season for several reasons: (1) It means spring has arrived, and summer is just around the corner; (2) It makes me think happy thoughts of sunshine and hot dogs and all things summery; (3) It means I will probably get to go on some baseball outings with friends / travel buddies / whoever happens to invite me; (4) It's America's favorite pastime, and one of mine, too; (5) There is a brand new chance that these guys will win the World Series! 

In addition, happy (belated) April Fools' Day. As an April Fools' joke, certain people filled my umbrella with "confetti" so that when I started to open it up last night, I was greeted with a nice surprise. I'm pretty sure I screamed loud enough for all of Boston to hear.

Maybe it's because spring is in the air, but the number of people I know who have gotten engaged lately has been an awful lot. Seriously, people are dropping like flies everywhere I turn! In fact, I took a Facebook hiatus for a little while, and when I came back, I discovered that FOUR people had gotten newly engaged while I was gone. And one had gotten married. And those are just the ones I've noticed. When did I become old enough to be friends with engaged / married people anyway?

In other news, I have never fancied myself as a girl who would like the South. Or who would enjoy the drawl of a Southern accent. (Except maybe when walking around the Atlanta and Memphis airports talking in my own wonderfully authentic Southern accent. When in Rome, ya know?) But I have discovered recently there are many different varieties of the "Southern accent." And it just so happens that I really like the variety from the Carolinas. Alabama accents? Not so much. Texas? No way. But I might just consider becoming a Carolina girl in order to hear these people talk.

So I have a hot yoga date today. And you have to read that as "hot yoga" date. Hot yoga is basically doing yoga in a sauna. You sweat out all of the negativity in your life while becoming happier and more flexible and more in tune with the universe. Cool, huh? (That might be kind of a skewed description, though. For a more accurate one, you would probably have to look it up.)

And next week I am going to be a teacher. Sort of. I'm going to teach part of a training to a group in Texas (where there will inevitably be no good accents). Could this be practice for my future career as Professor Nicole...? Hmm.

That may have been more than a couple things, though. Happy April.