What I've Been Doing While You Weren't Watching

7 weeks! 7 Long, boring, weeks.  None of it was really that relaxing since stress was my roommate. But alas, I can relax again. I was unemployed for 7 weeks and now I am not.

That's right, I was offered a job this week and am thrilled and relieved to have a paying job before the pending vacation.  Phew.

I'm going to be on contract at Hotel CaliforniaSoft again.  Its a 3 month gig currently, and will most likely be renewed in June. See HotelCaliforniaSoft can't have a purchase order, or contract, that expands their fiscal year. Their fiscal year ends June 30th. So I've been told that they will renew. This girl isn't going to pretend they'll be renewing, no she'll be planning that they won't. I have learned my lesson a number of times...well maybe not "learned" it before, but I have this time.

I interviewed for this job on Monday and by Monday evening I had an offer. I wasn't sure if they'd hire me when I left the interview. The interviewers didn't really show their hand and I couldn't get a good read. So I strolled out of there assuming I'd be unemployed for another week. But alas, I am not. I'll fill you in on what I'm doing once I really understand what it is I'll be doing.

Also in the life of Jenn, I forgot to tell you about Sunday dinner - which was last Sunday. I've been, apparently, distracted - I've been finishing up working through the writing exercises in the book GlobeJotting.  I have filled up an entire notebook - well almost, there's like 2 pages left .  I have about 20 journals that I'll be converting to blogs at some point. The book is about travel journaling and I'm finding the exercises and information so useful as it relates to blogging that I'm going with it. There isn't any right or wrong here.

So...Sunday dinner, that's what I was talking about. There was a little incident during the day of Sunday dinner that had me off my point a little.  Something was said on FB from one of my would be Sunday dinner guests that made it sound like we were the most boring crowd of all time.  It had me miffed, honestly, and I wasn't really willing to confront this person at Sunday dinner. Not interested in ruining Sunday dinner because of short minded, condescending comment. I did what any Sunday dinner host would do...I opened a bottle of wine early.

This Sunday dinner was a themed Viva Italia.  Figured since next Sunday dinner I'd be in Italy, I might as well prepare by eating like an Italian before hand. I made Creamy Pest Lasagna and OH MY GOD it was good.  We finished the evening off with Affogato - which is essentially a scoop of gelato topped with a shot of espresso. Again...OMG...I need to have that in Italy (watch it will be one of those "Italian" foods that was made by an "American" and so doesn't exist in Italy).

We figured we'd all stare at Mr. Braspir since he was the only guy in the room. He's one of my favorite people and am glad he doesn't care at all if he's the only guy in the room. He's there to spend time with family and that's exactly what Sunday dinner is all about.

It's not about deep, dark conversations. It's about a light hearted, fun loving, relaxing evening to spend with people you love. And if some folks don't enjoy that and think we're not "deep" enough or have enough interesting conversations, that person can easily be removed from the invite list.

Journaling in the form of a blog

As you may be aware I've been reading this book about travel journaling. I've taken the information gleaned in this book and have pivoted it to be used towards blogging. After all my blog is my journal...mostly. There are some personal, very few, things that I just don't blog about. Not only are they not interesting, but I'm not prepared for the backlash some of those thoughts would have.

In this book, GlobeJotting, there are exercises to do in order to get better at journaling, and more importantly opening your  mind to more than just "first we did this, then we did that, then we at this, etc.  It's about picking all the details out and expressing them in a journal so in 15 years you can not only remember the experience but to live it through your writing.

I just came across an exercise that made me laugh out loud. 

Being that I'm unemployed this exercise is going to be all but impossible. Here's the exercise:

Write 3 to 4 things that happened today - do not exceed 4 - that you consider journal worthy. 

Um, 3-4 things that happened today to an unemployed person ... ? Right, I can't come up with 3-4 things interesting this month.

I can tell you about one interesting thing that happened last night...Sunday Dinner. 

God I love Sunday dinners.  It brings people I love together and allows us all to be ourselves and get caught up on the world, happenings in our lives, and the lives of others. We get to eat, drink and be merry without any effort. Last night as we sat around chatting I felt myself warm all over at the fact that I knew any person in that room had my back no matter what. 

The night started out with an Italian theme. I've been reading so much about Rome that it only felt right to have the Sunday dinner before the trip be all about Italy.  I made lasagna and we drank Italian wine. We had affogato (gelato with a shot of espresso over the top) for dessert.  What we didn't do is speak in Italian, and that's ok.

We did take our usual not so normal photo.  I didn't bother taking a "normal" one since I never used it for anything, seemed like a waste.  Mr. Braspir was the only man in the room and so his harem decided we should all stare at him in admiration. Even the kittens were taking part.

These are some of my most favorite people in the world. I'm so thankful that they are in my life. I'd be even more thankful if I had a job, but that has nothing to do with those people.

La Dolce Vita

Ah yes, the sweet life. We all dream of it. We all have differing definitions of what "it" is. Right now for me, it's all about researching for my trip. I'm researching everything from, best types of photos to take that aren't tourist trap photos to how best to document it all.

It's the latter that I'm thinking about today with regards to the sweet life.

I love to write. I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, GREAT at it. And that's ok with me. I still feel inclined to put my thoughts down for all the world to read. I've had plenty that I've needed to say and feel that 99% of the time, most folks really don't care. But if I can entertain my readers for just a moment with a tale of a day in the life of a tourist in Rome, and allow that person for one moment to be transported to the small café I'm sitting in (or will be sitting in sometime in April) then I have done what I've set out to do.

Photo courtesy of Amazon

I'm knee deep into a book I randomly bought off Amazon called "Globejotting - How to Write Extraordinary Travel Journals".  This book called to me on so many levels. Not only can it help me to have "extraordinary" travel journals, but perhaps it can help me have "extraordinary" life journals.  This blog is, after all, my journal.

Our trip is a trip of a lifetime. I've not been back to Rome since I was a junior in high school The experience I had then was one I will never soon forget. Back then in 1986 the Internet didn't exist. Facebook didn't exist. I couldn't, back then, tell my friends at every second what I was doing. No, it all had to be written over and over again in letters back home.

But now, as an adult I want to experience Rome as an open-minded adult who wants to share it with you.  Not everyone likes to travel. For some the thought of getting on an airplane feels them with such anxiety they just don't do it. For me, travel is in my blood. I haven't been to Europe in a long time - unless you count the work trip to the UK in 2007. And I want to remember it all. Thus the book.

I'm on page 49 and just started reading it today (life of an unemployed PM, right?). This book is well written with a hint of humor and enough knowledge without being condescending. It's really a guide book for writing. Dave Fox, the author, has little exercises throughout. I'm not doing them all today, choosing to take my time with them and go back and work through them once I'm done with the book.

So here's the thing, this book has awaken another layer of what I want with regards to my writing. My current writing is shallow, at best. Boring at worst. I tell the story of my daily life without any real depth. And at times, that's ok. But what about telling deep stories? What about some of the memories I have that have stayed with me? Can I tell those stories to you in a way that will make you want to come back and read more? I think I can. And with Dave's book, I plan to try.

My trip is a mere 33 days away. So much needs to happen before then - primarily I need a job.  Aside from that, I'm taking this time off to practice writing/journaling, and learning Italian. In the next 33 days I hope to bring you some tales of the past trips to Europe, and have you ride along side my anxieties, excitement, expectations, etc of this coming trip.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to the book.

Weekend Review

Because I know you're dying to know what I did this weekend, I'll put you out of your misery and tell you.

Friday - I did a whole lot of nothing...

Saturday - I did a whole lot of nothing...

Sunday - I did a whole lot of....wait...no that's wrong. I'm getting my weekend confused with my week days (oh hahahaha I misspelled "week" as "weed" - now that would have a WHOLE other meaning.)

Right, so back to the weekend. Did you know in Saudi Arabia their "weekend" is Thursday and Friday? True story.

My weekend, however, started on Saturday morning. I got up at my normal time. I had my normal coffee and I took my normal but to West Seattle to have breakfast with the Pantry Goat. I specifically wanted to go to the Chelan Café in West Seattle because it's the one place I know has corn beef hash out of the can. I love that stuff. Its funny to me that I "search" for places that serve you stuff out of the can.  Homemade corn beef  hash on the menu? No thanks.

After breakfast, the Pantry Goat had "talked me into" ripping all her CDs onto her iTunes account so I headed to her house to get her computer and CDs.  She really didn't "talk me into it" cuz I'm bored and I needed something to do during the week.  Plus she said I could have any of the music I wanted.

Saturday night I took the Seattle SIL as a plus one to my friend Photogirl's birthday party.  She really knows how to throw a party too. The venue was this little place called The Stables and it had the coolest, vintage-y stuff all over the place. I could spend hours in there with my camera.  But alas, we weren't there to take photos, we were there to help PhotoGirl ring in her 50th birthday. And ring it in we did.

You may recall that The Yank, PhotoGirl and I went wine tasted some weeks ago to find wine for her to serve at her party.  SSIL and I made almost a beeline to the bar to get our wine on.  We did get stopped momentarily by the birthday girl and her husband to welcome us to the party and introduce us to some family members. 

You'll notice my glass is actually empty. I had two glasses by then and knew I had to drive home so I refrained from further drinking. SSIL stopped at 2 too, but she totally could have drank me. She deserves it. She's a great plus 1 to take with you, always willing to go and have fun.

Sunday I was up at my normal time, and set out to meet my friend Meg-A-Roonie in Ballard to go to lunch and then potentially go shoot some photos.  We landed ourselves at Skillet in Ballard and after feasting on really good comfort food, we both decided a nap was more likely in our future than photography. But we did have to top on our way home and visit the new Starbucks in Ballard that's made of shipping containers. I love that they're doing that.

If you're ever in Ballard, and are hungry, I highly recommend Skillet. OMG, sooo good. I had their chicken Sammy and if you can imagine it, it was two thighs deep fried in a fennel crust on a potato roll with pickled jalapeno aioli. Yah, feel that? Its your arteries hardening. But once in a while it's worth it.

Today I got some sad news that my good friend Mike's mother passed away. We lost Mike on Feb 10th last  year and to lose his mom just a year later just breaks my heart. My heart aches for his sister and his dad who are left to feel such a significant loss again. 

Check, check, check

For years I've kept what I affectionately call the "Jenny Do List". It gets moved every month and I keep track of how long shit has been on the list. Just because I really like to see just HOW lazy I am.

Being that I now seem to have a permanent job in the unemployment line (song lyric...know from where?) I figured the least, very least, I could do was get that list done.

Today I cleaned out the garage. It was the last thing on my list of things to do. I've been patiently waiting for nice-ish weather so I can have the garage door open. Today was that day. I organized, repacked, reorganized, repacked and swept the garage. It's clean!

There are still a few things I need to figure out how to get rid of (Mrs. Landlord at one point decided to hack at a tree out front that's a pain in our collective arses. The branches are in a bag that needs to be disposed of somehow. I suppose I could cut them down and put them in the garbage.

There's also now some boxes that need to be recycled. Today is trash day so the recycled bin is FULL and now I have to wait until it's empty.

So now what?

I'm done with all my scrapbooking.

I've searched for a job all week.

I've cleaned out every single cabinet in the kitchen and all the bathrooms.

I've cleaned out and organized the laundry room.

I've cleaned and organized the closets.

Ugh...what else?

I need a job. I'm starting to feel very antsy and a bit discouraged.  I'm anxious too and I hate all those feelings.

I'm taking my anxious, antsy and discouraged butt out for a wog. That's what I'm going to do.

Flash cards from the edge

Back in the day, you know, elementary school, we used flash cards for everything. Math, spelling, definitions etc. Flash forward (hahah get it?) to 2005. I used flash cards to help me study for my PMP exam.  I find them useful and I'm very good at memorizing in that way.

Tonight I was telling my friend BeagleBabe that I think I'm too late to find an Italian class for our cruise in April. I've been wanting to take a super simple, tourist Italian class and just haven't gotten around to it.

And then I became unemployed and couldn't really defend spending $$ on an Italian class.

Tonight I got home and found this site. I went through ALL the phrases and was happy to find out that some, ok very little, of the Italian I learned while at TASIS came back.

Then I read through them again. And in the second round I realized, I need flash cards. I am, after all, unemployed and so have the time to make me some flash cards. 

I simply think learning a few phrases in the language of the country you're visiting is the polite thing to do.  And I love that it's something that comes to me relatively easy.  I won't, by any means, be able to carry on a conversation, but I will be able to order a beer and find the bathroom.

And that is, after all, all I really need to know.

Buona Sera!!
AKA - Good night

February Sunday Dinner...and a few other things

This month Sunday Dinner was hosted by the Braspirs.  You may know Mrs. Braspir by her other code name of Queen PopUp.  After much deliberation - and a vote between the kittens and me - I've determined that Queen PopUp will henceforth be known as Mrs. Braspir.  They are, after all, family - sorta. In fact, I ran into someone who knew Mrs. Braspir's daughter-in-law and without skipping a beat I told the person she was my niece. So you, see, I've said it, therefore it is.

Moving on ...

Sunday dinner was out in BFE...also known as Carnation.  And those of you not from around here, yes it's THE Carnation where Carnation Dairy once (and still may) exist. It has absolutely nothing to do with the flower though. I don't think.

Anyhow, back to BFE. It's a beautiful drive out there and such a lovely place to visit. I'm not country folk and so wouldn't really like to live out there - unless the price was right.  Still, the Braspir's have a beautiful home that always makes me feel so welcomed. 

We ate 7 layer dip (and by "we" I think I mean me and Mrs. Landlord - cuz I swear I ate almost the whole platter of it), fudge, brie/crackers...and wine. That was just the starters. Oh the wine.

So remember, maybe you don't, but recently I purchased 10 bottles of wine within 2 days because all my favorite wines went on sale, and well, you can't NOT purchase your favorite wines when they go on sale, right? 4 of the bottle's were, actually, not a "favorite" wine in as much as wine's I thought would be my favorite if I had a chance to try them. So they went on sale at Cost Plus and I purchased them. ONE of those bottles, we drank last night. After two sips I debated hiding the bottle and not letting anyone else have any. Mr. Braspir poured himself a glass and I almost whimpered when I realized it was almost the end of the bottle.  I did take a photo of the bottle, and will be driving my butt to Cost Plus sometime this week and purchasing another bottle, or 2, or 3.

After I gorged myself on appetizer, we were served Baked Ziti, salad, and garlic bread that may or may not have gotten slightly burnt. No fire alarms went off, but those of us not in the kitchen helping smelled burnt toast and heard a suspicious scraping sound going on in the other room. It still tasted spectacular and it didn't stop me from having two pieces.

Dessert was a layered cake that was white cake layered with raspberry jam and topped with frosting. OMG...so good. I may have to request that again.

By the end of the evening I was stuffed, as usual, and I didn't have to do dishes. It was, for me, a win win.

The Pantry Goat thought it'd be a great idea to reverse the photo from below. I cropped out my fat butt...

In other none Sunday dinner related news, the job search continues. I had another interview today and three "outstanding" interviews - meaning the recruiters have my resume in front of people who want to bring me in for an interview, but we just need to nail down availability. Ugh.

My screwdriver

So here I am in the 3rd week of unemployment. I'm bored. I've managed to get most everything on my list done. The things that remain require purchasing of some objects so I'm not going to do them now (read: not spending any $$).

Did you ever see Sleeping with the Enemy with Julia Roberts? In the film she's a kept woman abused by her OCD husband.  Controlled is putting it mildly.

Anyhow, there's a part in the beginning where they are sitting at the breakfast table. He asks her what she's going to do today and she replies "I'm going into town to buy a screwdriver."  He asks why and she responds, "Because we don't have one." Basically telling the viewer that she's bored and has nothing better to do but make up things to do.

I am going into town to buy a screwdriver. 

My "screwdriver" is wiping down all the light switches.

My "screwdriver" is wiping out all the cabinets.

My "screwdriver" is buying a plastic container (cheap) to organize the paint brushes.

My "screwdriver" is moving, rearranging, moving back my entire scrapbook room. (At least I got to vacuum under things.)

And the list goes on. 

I admit, I've enjoyed this time off. I've gotten to read a lot...a LOT and get caught up on all  my TV shows I've taped.  Now, well now I'm bored.

Yesterday I laced up the shoes and started the Couch to 5K process again - just for something to do (and well yes it's good for me). Today I would go out but I'm super sore so am resting a day.

Tomorrow I plan on doing some re-organizing of my recipes (they're all pretty organized already). Scrapbook stuff is organized. Receipts are organized (not too many cuz I'm not buying anything). Went through my file cabinet and tossed 7 year old taxes, old manuals, old stuff in general. 

Now I'm bored.

On the job front, I have a few irons in the fire, but nothing solid yet. I'm still trying to keep a positive feeling about one potential job, but as each day passes and I don't hear, I just assume it's a no. I've emailed them and have heard nothing. So moving on.

Project Life 2013 - Done!

I've been a scrapbooker since 1998. I have 47 scrapbooks to prove it and could easily have bought 2 houses with the amount of $$ I've put into this little hobby. But I love it. I go back and forth with wanting to quit at times, and soon realize that it is my creative outlet and I'm going to keep going. I really scrapbook for myself. No one really looks at them. Only on a rare occasion.

This last year I jumped in both feet first with this "newer" scrapbook craze called Project Life. Long time Queen of Scrapbook Becky Higgins developed this system. The basic concept is to get your daily life scrapped with minimal effort.

The "layouts" are pages with pre-defined slots for your photos. Thing very old school photo albums - minus the gross glue adhesive background.  My good friend BeagleBabe started it and is an expert at it. She's not a scrapbooker (she says) and so found Project Life to really fit her. The simplicity in just putting photos in slots (with some fun embellishments) was just for her.  So I thought I'd give it a try.

I've gotta say, it's not simple for me. You would think it would be, but I found it more difficult to be "limited" to a pre-defined slot for my photos. Still, I pushed on and completed the entire year.  I'm happy with the output but will probably not be doing this for 2014 - most likely not that is. I think I'll stick to traditional scrapbooking - which seems easier to me.

I chose to do this Project Life thing with the project 365 (one photo every day for a year) photos.  I, obviously, didn't use every photo.  One of the concepts with Project Life is to capture your daily lives - including journaling.  Because I used project 365 there wasn't much of a need to journal. So I made lists of the photos.


Here's my 2013 Project Life. 

Interviewing

So I'm in week two of the Great Unemployment Adventure 2.0. While I'm "enjoying" the time off, I'm ready to get back to work. The interviews are happening and are being scheduled, though I'm still waiting for that one job offer.

I have a couple of friends who are also looking for jobs. Some for over a year. It surprises to me that it takes so long to find a job, but I also realize that being willing to take contract jobs really ups the possibility.  I was having a conversation with an unemployed friend and was a bit surprised she really didn't know, or understand how to find a job.  Her "process", for lack of a better word, is to keep checking with some of the same companies sites over and over. She's very focused on wanting to work for these companies.  But doesn't look any further. She's also put her resume up on Monster and is "stunned" nothing is happening.

Here's the thing, looking for a job is a job. There are ways to make it easier, but at the end of the day, you have to be creative in your job hunting.  You need to know what type of job you want, what type of company you want, and be willing to say no to a job offer that you know in your heart isn't the right job.

There are a bunch of sites out there to help you find job posting. I use Indeed.com to help. Essentially Indeed does half the work. It goes out and searches job postings all  over the Internet with key words - in my case project manager.  I get a daily email with brand new job posting. I look through them ALL - this is important.  You have to read them all cuz you never know when the title of a job description isn't accurate and the job description might have more details. You just gotta take the time to read them.

I also think you have to keep your applications organized. I have a, wait for it, excel spreadsheet of my applications. I keep all the information there to remind me of the  job posting should I get a call. I not only keep the URL of the job description, but I also copy and paste the job description information into OneNote - because the URL has, and will, be useless once they take the job posting down.

Places I've found useful to look for jobs besides Indeed.com are LinkedIn and Craig's List. All are good places to start, but you really do need to make a job out of finding a job.

I've had some good interviews and feel after each on the same. I've done the best I can and now it's just a wait and see. So far nothing has worked out. I'm convinced the right job will come along and I'm ready to do what I need to find that job.

In other exciting news, the Seahawks won the Superbowl.  If you live in Seattle you certainly couldn't have missed that.  I have never seen the city get so hyped up over a team. But man everywhere you look you see the number 12 for the12th man.

Celebrate

I've been meaning to write this blog for a week now, and I just haven't had it in me. I've come down with a nice little cold and for some reason it has wiped out all my energy. There are things I've wanted to do, and should have been doing, and I just haven't had the energy.

Even now as I sit here typing away I'm feeling a bit sleepy. I'm debating between continuing to write and taking a nap. I figure the nap is eventual, so might as way write my thoughts.

BigBro's Celebration of Life was something to marvel at. At least 300 people were there to tell stories and to celebrate a man that was so loved by so many people. It was a bit overwhelming to see so many people from all the different aspects of BigBro's life.

I got a chance to chat with his friends from Boeing. It put me to tears to listen to a woman who still swung by BigBro's desk every day to say hi, only to remember too late that he won't be back.

Another Boeing friend told me about how BigBro would answer his phone and would be all about helping whomever was calling and never really complained about it. I know for a fact he complained about his job, but I love that his co-workers see him as someone willing to help in any situation. He was, mostly like that after all.

I spoke with some high school friends who had stories about his "antics" - all innocent enough, but still he was a talker and never stopped telling a story or chatting someone up.

Then there were the friends from Demolay.  Demolay is a dying society it seems, but the brothers were all part of this in the 70's.  So many friends told me stories of BigBro's dedication to the fraternity (for lack of a better word for it). One gentlemen retold a story of the first time he met BigBro and how welcomed he felt into the fold.

Then there was the 3Day gang. I was not surprised to see so many of them there to celebrate his passion for the cause. The stories this group had were nothing short of tear jerkers. Each had a special story of when they first met BigBro and how big his hugs were. In fact, the big, all embracing hugs were a common theme throughout all the groups of friends.

A gathering of young women caught my attention too. I stopped and chatted with two of them and they told me that Coach Ric was one of their favorite coaches. Turns out these girls all were part of a soccer team and coached by BigBro. It was a mini reunion for these girls and each one seemed to have taken something from their days of being coached by BigBro with them in their current lives.

Family, of course, was there.  A Celebration of Life wouldn't be complete without the clan there.  Brothers, sisters, cousins, daughters, mothers, in-laws were all on hand to recount the man and his life.  BiggerBro (the oldest) said a few words to the crowd and I smiled when he said he could talk all day about BigBro and say anything - and for once not be interrupted.  I then broke down in tears with BiggerBro choked up a little in his closing. For some reason him, and my MiddleBro, crying just causes a gush of tears.

The Buckhorn crew was there too. One of the wives of one of the Buckhorn crew made ribbons for everyone to wear. The Buckhorn guys all got ribbons that had camo, pink, and orange ribbons. It was very special to me and I was so thrilled that these people who loved BigBro and his love for hunting were there to say goodbye and tell some stories I'm sure BigBro would have preferred to not be told.

The last group was of friends. People who wasn't part of any of the other groups of his life, but was fond of the big guy and knew him through me or through other avenues of his life. Neighbors who lived next to him for years. Teachers who knew him years ago.  Family friends who lived in the old neighborhood - so many stories and not enough time.

We had a beautiful photo movie playing non stop throughout. So many people stopped me to tell me how wonderful it was to see his life played out before them. And how really blessed his life was.  We had a bunch of stories people sent me that we displayed.  Every time I walked by it someone was standing there crying.  The stories all had a common theme...his love for life, his big hugs, and his passion for what he believed in.

It was a bittersweet day for me.  I was tired and overwhelmed just by the putting it all together, and then I was tired and overwhelmed by all the people there. When I got home I had a "moment" to reflect and I had a small melt down.  I spent the day hearing stories, seeing so many old friends/family, and by the end of the day I had to smile a bit. He was loved and he touched so many lives.  I'm proud to have called him brother.

Peculiar

Is that a hard word for you today? It is for me. I have to stop and think about it before I say it.

Tomorrow is BigBro's Celebration of Life. I'm not sure if I'm ready for it to happen, but it will take place whether or not I'm ready for it. It'll be a good chance to listen and hear stories of the big guy.  I'm hoping it won't be as emotional as I expect it to be.

I just finished the February book club book, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. I choose this book for one simple reason it mixes fiction with photography. The author, Ranson Riggs, wrote this book using some interesting, antique photos he had found throughout the years.  He spun an interesting story while using the photos throughout the book.  I find that fascinating.  The book is good, and is definitely an easy read. In fact, I was just told it is a teeny bopper type book. Regardless, it was entertaining and a bit different from anything I've read.

The author has a second book, a sequel, that mixes photography and the story again. It fascinates me that an author can take unique photos and spin up a tale that is entertaining and interesting.  I highly recommend this book. It's a quick and easy read - just 246 pages.

Finishing this book is 5 books for me this year already. Is it peculiar that I read so much?

A Note to my BigBro

BigBro's Celebration of Life is upon us. This Saturday we'll all gather to remember the larger than life man he was. 

In prep for this event, we've been asking people to write stories about BigBro and send them to me. I plan on printing them, displaying them there and then putting them in a scrapbook for the girls.

I've been procrastinating writing my letter/story. I've started and stopped it a hundred times. Finally, last night after the Seahawks win I was able to write my letter/story.

Get the Kleenex if you're an emotional type. I put my heart into this and I think it's sitting on the desk next to me weeping.

To My BigBro -

I've started and stopped this  note a hundred times.  Unsure where to begin telling the world the person you were and, more importantly, the person you made me. I wish I had one more day with you to tell you just how important you were to me. I hope you knew. I think you knew. I'm sure you knew. 

I don't have a memory of actually meeting you. You were just there - in  my life - bigger than life itself. You always had a smile, a twinkle in your eye and a big, HUGE hug for me. Never letting go until I made the move first. I miss those hugs. 

You weren't a perfect man or brother, far from it. But who of us are perfect. You were perfect to me, and that's all that matters. In fact you used to pretend shock when I'd say, "you were right." You'd smile and say, "I don't know why you can't just accept that." 

I could spin a tale or two of how many times you made me smile. A tale about how many times you had mischievous in your eyes and tried to bring me along with you...I never said no. You were my big brother and I would have done anything to spend time with you.  I just wish I had one more chance to spend more time with you. Just one more day. 

You and Janet were always the family I did things with for holidays and birthdays. We never really hung out until we started training for the 3Day. I'll forever be grateful for the 3Day because that training gave me a brother, and a friend. You learned WAY more about me than you probably ever wanted to know during those countless training hours. But I learned something about you too brother. I learned that you were first and foremost a compassionate person who cared deeply. Who smiled in an instant and who would talk to anyone. In fact I used to joke that you'd even talk to a stump.  Your constant chatter and happy attitude kept my feet moving forward. 

And then during the event itself I saw how much people loved you. My god do people love you.  I lost count of the number of people who'd run up for a hug, or high five you, or stop and ask how it was going. Everyone knew you...everyone.  When I'd be chatting with someone on route and I'd mention you were my brother, they'd get a big grin and say, "I love that guy." And they did...they still do. 

Now you're gone. It kills me to write that. But you're gone from this world physically at least. Yet, I find comfort in seeing you in the smile of people we know, the smile of your girls, the love that people have for you and share with me, the countless stories that are told about you and, above all, I can see you in my heart anytime I want. Because brother, that's where you'll be forever. 

Love you,

Jenn -

PS - You used to say I was the sister you never wanted. You'd smile when you said it, and then pull me into a huge hug.

Immigrants

I've struggled internally with the recent "immigration" issue that has been thrown to the front page of all our major newspapers in Washington. Like many cities around the nation, we had a march here of immigrants.

Again, I find myself in a quandary of how I feel. But alas, a writer for the Seattle PI wrote a column on this and wrote what I was feeling:

"The truth is the 11 million people -- many from Mexico -- who are in this country without permission are here illegally. Period.

"Their reasons for coming are understandable, even a reason for empathy. They want to work to better themselves and their families.

"This, however, doesn't give them carte blanche to freely enjoy the benefits of American society, from public education to free medical care. They've bypassed means of legal entry that millions of immigrants from Asia, Africa and Europe line up just to apply for.

"Granting blanket amnesty to all illegal Latinos would be a slap in the face to immigrants who've followed the rules.

"The majority of Latinos who've come here without papers are no doubt good, hardworking folks. I do wonder about those who are not. Really, how do we know who is crossing the border? Do they have a criminal background? Or affiliation with terrorists or bloodthirsty gangs like Mara Salvatrucha?

"We don't know -- and that uncertainty should be a cause of national concern."

-Robert Jamieson
Whole article here

A Sunday with a Headache by any other name...is still a Sunday with a Headache

Whoa...and what a headache I have. I blame myself though. But nothing that a couple of Tylenol and water and a little bit of coffee can't fix. I get ahead of myself though. Let me back up as to why.

Thursday night I got a text from The Yank asking if I wanted to join him and PhotoGirl for some wine tasting on Saturday.  PhotoGirl is looking for wine for a birthday blowout she's having.  Ultimately I said yes I'd go, but let me walk you through the thought process for me.

Since I've been working from home, I've discovered that going out and doing things - where it used to be an immediate YES - has become a thought process.

Leave the house?
Oh man, I'm not sure about that.
But wine tasting could be fun.
Yah but you have to leave the house.
I enjoy The Yank and PhotoGirl.
Yah but you have to leave the house.

And so it goes.

I really am not sure where this thought / feeling comes from. I do realize I could become a hermit a little too easily.

Anyhow, I did ultimately say yes and I'm glad I did. The two of them are a bunch of fun and really know their wines.  I learned new ways to explain how wine tastes, "gripping tannins" was perhaps my favorite description.

We hit 4 wineries in Woodinville. Woodinville, for those of you who don't know, is our winery town. There are about a 120 wineries in Woodinville (this is not a full list BTW) and growing.  These are all mostly small wineries who produce some pretty damn good wine.

Our first stop was diStefano - they had a cat that lived in this winery.  The Yank and PhotoGirl had some wines to pick up there. We tasted I think 5 wines there. But see here's the thing, The Yank and PhotoGirl SPLIT their tasting. I drank mine all by myself.   I do realize that you can toss the wine after a taste. And I do realize that a real taster doesn't actually swallow it. But come on. It's wine. And in most cases really good wine.

Then we stopped at Isenhower Cellars. I'd been here before. Seattle SIL got donated wine from this winery for her wine tasting parties.  Their wines are good to me and reasonably priced.  They had two vendors there sharing some food too - which was good cuz I needed something to soak up the wine.  They had a baker there who had cheesy bread that was - ZOMG so good - and bacon bread that was - you guessed it - ZOMG so good. There was also a cheese maker there who had some fantastic cheese.

We tasted I think 4 there. I bought a bottle of The Last Straw wine they had. Just loved it. The Yank and PhotoGirl bought a case of The Last Straw for her birthday.  Glad I could introduce them to a new winery.

After that we headed to Novelty Hill / Januik winery. This place was PACKED. "Rick" behind the counter was quite the character and while we paid for 5 tastings, we got two extra from him.  One was one of their reserved wines and it was delicious. It was $65 a bottle sadly, so I did not purchase one. It was like drinking a buttery goodness though.

Finally we ended our drinking binge (well my drinking binge) at Patterson Cellars. They had super friendly pourers (I'm sure they have a technical name) and kept the wine flowing. We tasted 4 or 5 there too. Good but not great wine in my opinion. The first taste was of a white wine that tasted like what I imagine sweat socks to taste like. Needless to say, I dumped it.

After we headed across the street for some much needed food and had a great dinner at The Commons.

By the time I got home I was so glad I went and can't wait to go taste some wine with these two again.  I was super tired when I got home and managed to stay awake until it was bed time.  Since I was gone all day I had to entertain the demons a bit - they weren't all that happy I had been gone all day.

And so that's why I have a headache this morning. Aside from all the wine, I did mix reds and whites and that is a big no-no for me. I'm not a white wine fan at all, but feel obligated to at least taste them once in awhile. I do have to admit there were a couple yesterday that I could drink if I had to.

The day started great yesterday too. I got to have breakfast with some of my favorite ladies.  I've known these ladies for 8 or 9 years now (since about 2005) and while we only get to have breakfast/lunch/dinner a couple of times a year, I treasure those times like crazy. These ladies are so grounded and often offer up some good advice, a great listening ear, and unconditional love.  I just adore them.  I can't wait until we get to spend time together again.  I don't have nicknames for them yet, but I'll work on it. KA and J - you know who you are and I love ya both.

Escape

This month was the one year anniversary of a book club I started last January. It's a select group of women (not really but it sounds good) and the taste in reading material differs greatly.  The book club has been fun and a bit of a reading adventure for me. So many books chosen last year I never would have taken off the shelf and given any of my precious reading time. Now I look back and just smile at the wonderful stories I got to be a part of because of women I adore.

This year we started off with a book by Carolyn Jessop called Escape.  The book is a biography

written by Carolyn as she recounts living in a polygamist family in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS).  She was married to a man quite a bit older than her and she recounts all the abuse and issues that plague the FLDS.  She ultimately escapes with her 8 children and tells her story of how she got to the day she knew she had to get out.

If you aren't familiar with the FLDS, you may know the name Warren Jeffs. He's their leader and is currently in prison for having sex with under age children - he married a 12 year old.

The general consensus of book club is that these extremeist sects are nothing more than cults. And when your born and raised believing one thing, you never have any reason to question if life could be any different. In this world Carolyn was essentially owned by her husband. He controlled everything she did, her money, her children, every single aspect of her life.  He dictated when they'd have sex - and sex was only for procreation by the way, and if she refused she and her children would be punished and mistreated by the other wives and older children. She learned that sex kept her kids safe and ultimately became her currency.

Could you imagine living like that?

The book really opened my eyes to how these communities exist and are not that different from prison camps.  These guys, religious fanatics, who rule and claim to have a direct connection to God just baffles me. Their whims - or sorry visions - change the daily lives of hundreds, if not thousands, and they all fall into line with whatever the new rule is. Subservient doesn't even begin to describe them.

The book is a good read and really does shed some light into a religious group that, in my opinion, really has some issues. Aside from the polygamy - I don't really care if a man marries multiple wives - but to treat women as nothing more than property really gets my dander flaking.

Our next book is Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. It's my pick and I can't wait to read it.

Sunday Dinner for January

Sunday dinner this month came up too quickly for me. It seems like we just had a Sunday dinner and BAM there it is again. I'm not complaining, quite the contrary, it makes me happy to see all these people whom I love so frequently.

Okay, I'm going to talk about the elephant in the middle of the room. Sunday dinner just isn't the same without BigBro.  The December Sunday dinner I was able to delude myself that he was just not there. Like he was traveling, or hunting, or doing something ... this Sunday dinner it felt all to real.

I felt off yesterday. Like nothing seemed to be snapping correctly. I still think I pulled off a great meal and good times.  It just felt wrong.  I miss that damn guy so much.

I think the Sunday dinner stuff was triggered by pulling together all the photos for the photo show for his Celebration of Life. I should have taken a break while scanning the hundreds and hundreds of photos. Instead I pushed through and realized when I was done that I was numb with sadness. I think Sunday dinner was a causality of that.

That aside, I think everyone had a fantastic time. I made a 7-bone pot roast - even though I followed a recipe for a brisket. You gotta try this recipe by the way.

The cooking started at / around 1:30 and it didn't take long for the house to smell so delicious.  Someday technology is going to allow us to collect smells and share them on the blog.  Wait? I wonder if that's a good idea...never mind. Use your imagination.

That's a lot of beef. I had to call the MomUnit to find out if a 5lb 7-bone would feed 10 people. She suggested cooking them both and using the leftovers in tacos. Um, great idea ... I think I might. I sent some leftovers home with a couple of guests. I have enough for me and maybe some for the Pantry Goat.

So, the table looks bare to me, but the food that's on there was delicious!  We had a BBQ chicken salad, minus the chicken.  Another deli type salad, mashed potatoes and gravy, veggies and bread. 

We had a good time last night.  Lucy got a little annoyed because Zoe the Dog was here. In fact, she got so annoyed she lashed out and drew blood from Zoe. Poor Zoe .. she's such a sweet dog and all she did was look more pathetic. She got a couple of good treats for her pain though. Lucy got a tongue lashing that she ignored.

Then there's the gang.  The amusing thing about this photo is Mr. Hotlanta is almost a ghost in this photo.  He at the last minute decided to put the bag over Blueberry. Hilarious if you ask me...

The job hunt continues. I had another good phone interview today and will be brought in for an in person interview later this week. As for the outcome of the interview last week...well we are in the "wait and see" phase. I'm feeling ok about both and am just letting whatever is going to happen just happen.

A Few More Goals

I think you all are aware that I'm a big fan of organization. I figure I spend more time organizing and then reorganizing than I do actually doing anything. Case in point, my scrapbook room. Just when  I think I have it organized enough to actually work, I find something else to organize.  Rinse, lather, repeat.

Along with this organization quirk (I call it a quirk but I'm so glad I can and do organize) I tend to get rid of stuff in the house on a regular basis. 

And on top of that, as organized as I am, there are still things that don't have a place to live.

You won't be too overly surprised that I read a blog called Everyday Organizing. She just posted a blog post that I have to talk about and comment on because I'm going to revise a couple of goals and update a couple of items on my task list. I'm going to be opening hood on some habits that I'm not proud of here, but hopefully it'll help someone, anyone, with organizing and being an organized person.

First her blog post is about her 2014 goals. And I am going to adopt them to some extent.

Her first goal is to get rid of everything that doesn't belong in the house.  She calls herself an "over-purger" and I think I'm going to adopt that new nickname. I too tend to get rid of stuff really quickly and then at times need whatever it is I got rid of.  The majority of time though, the things I'm tossing on a regular basis I don't really ever miss.

I've slowly become somewhat of a minimalist - in every room by the scrapbook room apparently.  I work through rooms and start plucking stuff to "get rid of." The problem is, some of this stuff never makes it to the garage, then to the garage sale pile or the good will.  Upstairs in the "den" I have a pile of items that have been up there for over a year that needs to go down into the garage.  A YEAR.... It has everything to do with pure laziness and nothing to do with the organization bug.

So I'm adding this to my goals. Not only am I going to make sure nothing is in the house that should be, but I'm going the extra step and getting that stuff to the garage.  Some will go to the annual garage sale, some will just go to the goodwill. That extra step is critical to me.  I need to get it out of the garage too in order to consider it "out of the house."

Kristin's second goal is a place for everything and everything in its place. My problem with this is the kitchen counter.  That counter collects piles like nothing I've ever seen. And many times I just keep piling stuff and not putting it away. Then one day it bugs me enough to clean off the counter (usually the night before the cleaning lady comes).

I'm adding a task/goal to put things away within a day. And if there isn't a place for it, find one.

On top of all of this, I got a new notebook to start my 2014 notes, tasks, grocery lists etc. This book goes just about everywhere with me. I've not yet been able to get rid of the hard type of notebook and put all this stuff in my iPhone. I like having that book handy for whatever reason.

Anyhow, I started transferring the "Jenny Do List" and noticed that there are 4 items on this list that were put on the list in February 2013.  Are you kidding me? Tasks that are almost a year old and haven't been done? Ugh. They are easy tasks, but again, the lazy wins. This year I've added a column if you will to my task list that I do every month, I am adding a note as to when it was put on the list. I'm curious just how lazy I can be. I think I know, but now that I'm aware of this, I wonder if by putting the date when it was added will help trigger the "get it done".

So there you go, a peak under the hood of Chez Jenn's and how it is to live here.  What about you, do you have things on your task list that just don't get done? What stops you?

And have you done your goals yet?

Ringing in 2015

No that's not a typo, its a thought.  I had an idea this morning that I'm excited about and want to share with you all, because I know you care.

Here's the back story. I have a friend who was telling me one day about letters she's written to her loved one's to be read upon her death.  I think this gift is incredible and one thing I'd like to consider doing someday.  Naturally, I'm thinking that anything I put in that letter should be said to the loved one before my last day on this planet, but I still think the gift of giving that after your gone is one that is incredible.

That idea coupled with a clip from Back to the Future I saw yesterday, you all know that movie right, gave me another idea. A gift, if you will, to myself.  I'm going to write a letter to my future self. I was thinking about what was going on right now in my life, how I feel about it, how I felt about 2013, what I think will happen in 2014, etc.  Wouldn't it be interesting to read on New Year's Eve this year, what I thought would happen this year?

Take a moment to think about that. 

I don't think writing the letter will guide me to do anything. In truth, I'll likely forget about the letter by next week anyhow.  Which means I have to put a reminder somewhere to remind me to read it on NYE. 

When I think about all the personal stuff that's floating around in my head, that I don't dare put in this blog because, well it's persona, and I wonder how I'll work through those thoughts, I can't help but wonder if on Dec 31, 2014 if any of them will be resolved. Will I even remember I had these thoughts?

What would you tell your future self?

So long 2013....hello 2014

Who's ready to say goodbye to 2013? This girl, that's who.
 
I've been working on my goals for 2014 and am ready to reveal them. The  new year always seems like a clean slate to me.  Starting fresh. All the old goals are out the door whether I completed them or not (I do know, but am not going to bother sharing at this point).  
 
Here's what I'll be working on in 2014!

Courtesy of eCoast

Personal
These are all things that help develop me as a person, enhance my already quirky personality, and/or are my every day activities that make up who I am.
 
Read:
1. Read a total of 50 books by Dec 31st
2. Read all 12 books in book club.
3. Include in the 50 books all those books taking up space on your night stand.
 
Blog:
1. Write a minimum of 3 times a week. 
2. Focus your writing beyond just daily activates. Start writing thoughtful blogs that trigger emotions. Use the blog topics already collected.
 
Cultivate Relationships:
There any number of friends who live here in the Pacific NW - almost in my own backyard - that I want to work on seeing more than once a year.  I have a list.  You've been warned.
1. Reach out to friends you haven't seen in years
2. Work on how you deal and react to some folks.  Don't break any spirits this year.
 
Scrapbooking:
This one is an every year goal.
1. Cease purchasing randomly.  Purchase only items that are specific and have a project.
2. Stay caught up. Scrap photos within the same quarter they are taken.
3. Work on getting heritage photos scrapped.
 
Photography:
1. Up to 6 photo strolls with themes
2. Try to spell Wraspir in photos
3. Continue with Project365; scrap them as project life
 
Finances:
The never ending finance goal. 
1. Do the 52 weeks of saving challenge (you basically put away in savings the amount of $$ that equals the number of the week. So for example, the first week I'll put away $1, the second week $2, the third week $3 and so on. And no this isn't the ONLY form of saving, but I thought it would be fun to do - and physically do it by putting it in my money jar.
2. Through March, track every single receipt. Keep all receipts and track what is purchased. Note anything that wasn't on the "list" when going shopping. This should help me understand where some of the money goes.  Sad that one can go into Walgreen's for a toothbrush and $60 later not know what you purchased.
3. Get 3 months of salary saved (this is in progress already - and will need true up once I find a job)
 
Health:
1. Work out 3X a week minimum.
2. Focus on good healthy food choices.
3. Lost 3-4 lbs a month
 
Professional:
This is a new category this year. My PMP certification is up in August and I'm 15 credits away. 
1. Get 15 PDUs by August
2. Read 3 PM or career focused books

I have some other more personal goals that I'm electing to not share with you all...they are a bit too personal for this medium. What about you? Got any goals?