The Things We Do For Crushes....

Last night at around 2:30 am (had some issues sleeping due to my sinus congestion & asthma) my mind started to wonder to obscure topics. Right after my second hit of my Albuterol inhaler (odd because I rarely have to rely on it in non athletic pursuits) I laid in bed and began to think of all the curiously stupid things I have done in the past for the sake of crushes. Some I did when I was younger and others I did when I was older and probably should've know better not to be so over zealous with my actions.

After taking a mental inventory as I tossed my sheet on and off and did the fourth rotation of pillows under my head in order to aid my breathing ailment, I came to the conclusion that the one that takes the cake has to be when I decided to take a summer class during college just because a crush of mine was going to be taking the class. Looking back, it was a a great class, in fact on of my favorites that I took at Mount Union but my rational behind initially deciding to peruse the class was humorous and logically flawed.

Anyone else want to share what they have done in the name of a crush? Come on, I know you got some good stories out there....

Back In The Saddle

Well, trying to get my head and body back on track. Besides this plaguing cough and sinus pressure, I am getting there. Started my night class this evening. It seems like a great group of students. I have a lot of automechanics, nursing students and even a future chef in my class. Yee haw boys and gals, the fall semester is in session!

A Penny For Your Thoughts Concerning My Next Career Move...

With rapid rumors flying around Key/McDonald Operations that UBS will be buying out Key, I decided to put some thought toward my next career choice. Every few months the rumors heat up that another firm will buy out Key. In the two and a half years since I have been there I have heard National City's name thrown around quite a bit. Towards the end of work today I heard more people talking about it and I even heard that some were crying. As for me, I choose not to think too hard about it since it is not really a secret that I have been looking actively for employment elsewhere even before I heard of the serious rumors. I refuse to get my stomach all in knots and risk getting diarrhea over something that I inevitably have no control over. But I guess I can see some being upset. Especially those that have spent a majority or even their whole careers with this one company.

So, dare I ask, if fate does have me making another move, what should be my next choice? Perhaps taking a huge loan and opening that bar that me and my one friend always discussed or should I start to finely tune my fire juggling skills?

A Little Bit Loose & A Little Bit Tight

The entertaining drunken bachelor party boys from Detroit (sporting U of M gear and all!) that we met at the Tribe game on Saturday kept making references to the subject line so I think I'll use it to give the weekend round-up! They did buy us beer so they earned their shout out.

The weekend was a pretty good one. Headed over to The Budapest Blonde martini and wine bar with some friends for a belated b-day gathering. I really enjoy that place. Very low key, intimate and smoke-free. I realize that the drinks can be a little pricey for some but they do use top shelf alcohol and use a good amount in all their mixed drinks. After two you are flying pretty high.

The run on Saturday morning with Jen went fairly well despite the humidity. The both of us both felt pretty well physically which is a step in the right direction considering that we have both seemed to be plagued by injuries while training for the Marine Corps. Marathon. I think we are finally starting to get our crap together for this one!

Went to the Tribe game on Saturday night. The seats were pretty sweet (thanks Uncle Thud!) but we did have some grievances about the thick heat because we were under the overhang. However, the icecream after the game helped to remedy that.

Sunday was mostly devoted to getting all my school crap organized for my night class that begins on Tuesday. Finished all the stapling of the syllabuses and junk so I think I am in pretty good shape. Also went for a long walk with Deb while we managed to mostly avoid the rain. Watched half of "Broke Back" and had some serious concerns about the caliber of movies being released this year considering the dynamite showcase last year. I know it is still early in the game and the holiday hype has not yet begun but I am still thinking that it might be a light year for Oscar worthy contenders.

Things I Would Really Like To Do When I Am 27

Okay, one day into it and I am going to start thinking big. We shall see how long this motivation lasts! It is the job of all of you out there to make sure that I do not fall off the horse or if I do fall off, I dust myself off and get right back on.

1.) Lose some pounds and get in better shape. Marathon running had kept me in pretty good cardiovascular shape over the years however my crappy diet has kept the pounds on. I need to eat more of the good stuff and leave out so much of the sweets and fats. I was looking back at pictures this week from my junior year of high school and I had some definition in the ab area going on. Not sure if I will ever be able to make that happen again but I am going to give it a shot!

2.) The weird passive aggressiveness needs to stop. My mom is the queen of this tactic and currently my attitude has been leaning towards assuming her ranking. If I am upset I need to express it in a diplomactic means. Life is too short to keep things bottled up or wreck relationships over dumb reasons.

3.) I need to meet different types of people. Dahler and I have been having a discussion of specific types. I have met some AWESOME new folks this year (Liz, Brian, Lisa K just to name a few) I need to keep this trend going because the more people I meet the more I learn. : )

4.) Get my career path on track. Alot of you know my job dilemmas recently. I am trying to make some changes and I need to remember to keep being persistent and not let minor set backs discourage me too much. The important thing is that I keep the faith and push forward with my efforts.

An Overdue Apology Redux

Sorry that I left so odd and quickly a year ago. As you guessed, it was not the sour stomach from food poisoning that sent me home so shortly after I had arrived. And no, I was not intent on watching the N.C. on tv after I got home. Things are in a better place now and I guess no guarentees that it will happen again but as for now I think that roads are alot clearer and the communication has been better than ever. And as Mr. Joel put it, "And so it goes, and so it goes.. And you're the only one who knows..."

When You Are Finally Ready To Admit That There Needs To Be A Change

These past two weeks have been stressful for me and I have not been in my usual spirits. Throw the extra additive of pms in there and then you have a dangerous mixture. For the past two and a half weeks I had to work a co-workers desk while she took a much deserved vacation to Florida with her family. Our department was recently consolidated a few sort months ago so alot of us are still learning all the ropes. Before I even took over her desk I had major anxiety issues because I knew that my overall knowledge still had alot of holes and I also was aware that she had the busiest desk in the department. Everyday I faced a new challenge and soon learned that the branches that my co-worker tended to posed the oddest and difficult questions to be answered. My co-workers helped me out alot during the time that I tended to her desk yet I still was constantly worrying and would get upset if I could not immediately solve an issue.

This made me realize (well, not so much realize as enforce) that I have unfortunately inherited two of my parents' worst traits. My mom, even though she has the ability to talk to anyone and never really have a phobia of meeting new people is also a constant worrier. She worries not only about herself and loved ones but also events and people that have no real impact on her life. I always harp on her for biting her nails and worrying her stomach sick but I now know that I do the same. I have discovered that running has helped me relive alot of my anxiety but unfortunately I have not been able to do alot of that over the past 2 weeks do to a leg injury. I need to learn to take things one step at a time instead of looking at the huge picture and freaking out about how everything is going to get solved in one grand swoop.

My dad is a pretty happy and easy going guy with a finely tuned sense of sarcasm. Both my mom and brother claim that he mellowed out alot after having a daughter and I like to believe that helped his attitude even more. However, my dad also has a bad anger streak. Now we both share the same stupid habit of smashing or kicking walls or doors (as I learned from going postal on a steering wheel and bathroom door recently). I am not really sure why we do this. Maybe it is just that we have the immediate need to release our energy and violent actions seem like the easiest of ways. I know this is not really a productive way and I am really going to start to look into some deep breathing exercises or calming mediation methods.

Five Random elevision Beliefs...

~ FX currently has the best originals series on television.

~ Six Feet Under is the best written series ever.

~ Soap never reached its creative potential due to the time period when it aired.

~ Everyone does not love Raymond because I do not love him.

~ ER, how many more times can you jump the shark? It is time to shutdown the
hospital.

Michelle's Weekend of Fun

So this weekend was Michelle's bachelorette party on Friday night and wedding shower on Saturday afternoon. On Friday Lynn and I were the BW and MUC members adopted for the evening into the Miami gang as we partied it up at Lynn's pad and Shooters.

Michelle really did not consume too much alcohol but she must still be a light weight (well, I guess her barely weighing over 100lbs also contributed!) because she was still feeling the rough affects on Saturday afternoon at the shower. Despite the stomach and head issues, I must say that she put on a good front acting interested and excited about all the guests and gifts. I know, that usually no noise and a dark room seems like the best option for a hangover but she was not luck enough to have that choice. Good job, girl! You are one tough cookie!

One Day You Are Going To Get To The One That Really Hits You...

These were the words that one of my friends mentioned to me a few years ago right after college graduation. During the time period consisting of the years directly after college many of my close collegiate friends started to get engaged and married. It is during this time period that we like to refer to by the terms "Weddingpoloza" or "Mount Marriage" since they seemed to be happening like rapid fire and every season became a non-stop party of planning, showers, ceremonies and receptions. It was a great time and I loved ever part of it.

In lue of all the excitement, I remember one of my friends saying the subject line because even though it was a little crazy at first to think of my friends as married women it was somewhat, well, I guess, expected for me to see them that way. The friends I had met in college were either dating or soon started dating their soon to be husbands while I knew them. My friend knew that some day I would get to that friend that I knew for a longer period of time, the one that I knew for almost my whole life and when that engagement happened it would probably be the biggest change.

Well, that moment has come. Last week, while on vacation with John, Alicia got engaged. I was so happy and honored that I was the second person that she called to tell the good news to (after her parents). Even though I did threaten her many times that if I was not one of the very first to know that I would be seriously pissed at her! The news has made me happy and excited for them. It has also made me quite nostalgic this week.

Alicia and I have been friends since kindergarten. And this is no joke. I know that sometimes friends can use that line as a cliche' in front of others just because they "knew" or "occasionally hung out" with someone back in those grade school days but with us it is 100%. Even got the pictures to prove it. Back in those Mrs. Shunk days. I swear, that lady had to be close to 100 when we had her and I think she had at least 10 more years of teaching after we moved to 1st!

After grade school (we did the kindergarten - 8th grade deal because of Catholic schooling) it was on to different high schools. She went on to the the Catholic school on one side of Parma and I went to the Catholic school on the other side of town. During that freshman year we talked but not as much, giving each of us some breathing room to meet new people and make new friends. As high school progressed we had some new buds to our claim but our friendship was still just as strong.

After high school it was on to college. Alicia decided upon a bigger state school in Southern Ohio known for its academic prestige. I opted for a small liberal arts school pretty close to home. The college years were kind to the both of us. Alicia stuck with the clarity and focus of an ice arena while I claimed solace at the track or wooded trails. Alicia took the medical and science path while I found a joy in the English humanities. Science vs arts. That was just the tip of the iceberg when it came to the differences between us.

Alicia was always the perfectionist. The one with the hair always perfectly in place. We used to joke about all the hair clips that she had in her collection. I, on the other hand, was lucky enough to make it out the door with clothes on my back and a brush run through my hair. The perfection penetrated past the exterior and into the interior of herself considering how smart and talented she was at academics. Mostly the straight A student, Alicia excelled at most things involving education. I on the other hand, the student that really did not start paying attention or giving an ounce till about 7th grade, preferred the mediocre mentality. Years later I wonder why I never tried cheating off of her in matters concerning book smarts. I guess that better part of me containing my conscious just got the best of me as it sometimes does.

If I tried to sit down and list all the reasons why we are still friends and why Alicia is so important to me, it would be impossible. It is hard to sum it all up and put into words why I am so happy to soon see her share her life with John. A man that is a great person and a perfect match for her.

I think a major reason why we have been able to stay so close is because she makes friendship easy. I can count on one hand the number of major fights that we have had over the past 21 years. And that is alot considering that friendship between girls can have the tendency to be petty at times. We have been through some good and challenging times over the years but we have always been able to go through these events with open communication and mostly smiling faces. I can't wait to see what the next twenty-some years bring.