Interesting habits I have...

The "Good to Great" course yesterday went over well. I think they will appreciate the second session after they take their department inventory and get to write action plans on the areas they see for improvement. That's the good thing about having classes with time in between, we can give them practical homework and check back to see how it's going.

We had a snow/ice storm come through here last night, which delayed me getting to work this morning... which I have to say I didn't mind at all. I stayed in bed to around 8:30am, then piddled around before getting to work around 10:30am. We seem to have a new truck plowing our community, which did a better job this morning.

Today I'm focusing on our website and updating that. Hopefully when we hire the new person I can turf this over to them... as I enjoy it, but it's not something I want to do always and forever. We'll see what happens when the new person comes on board.

I'm taking a mental holiday from school work until after this weekend. I've been trying to finish Ryan's Christmas present, and I'm almost there. Too bad my school books don't come on tape... as I can do both at once. I always find myself constantly prioritizing everything I'm working on. But if I'm not doing that, then I'm bored. That's when I start looking for other projects to do, or social things to do, so I can prioritize. It's not really the prioritization that keeps me jazzed, it's that ability to have multiple choices of something to work on... that's a personality trait thing from MBTI. Interesting habits I have...

rambling on a monday night

I really think the full moon continued over the weekend. A random cousin called me for family history information, a friend ended up in the ER about 2 times, another friend got engaged, I had a weird dream about an ex who got drunk in a KFC (it's a bar hybrid in my dream) and then proceeded to take a pooh in the parking lot while skipping (I have no idea where that came from, it was a dream), had a conversation with someone that will likely be forgotten, and learned a heck of a lot at school. I don't think I left anything out...

Today I did the Employee Survey Train-the-train workshop and I hated every minute of it. I don't like nor completely understand the subject and in mid-teach I found out that they didn't know as much about the subject as I thought they did. Basically I was reviewing what the real training session will contain, and I got a lot of blank looks. It goes back to knowing your audience, but again, I have to rely on the information I was given. Luckily I seemed to be able to pull them through it... I kept reminding them its only a 2 hour training.

Once I got back to the office I finished helping my coworker with the "Good to Great" workshop we are doing tomorrow. I wrote the participant guide for it, and it looks damn good if I say so myself. But, there's a huge threat of snow, so I don't even know if we'll have the session in the morning. I have to be up at the butt crack of dawn again in order to be at HH at 8am. Then I have a meeting in Columbia at 2pm, and another meeting back at the office at 4pm.

My last 3 weeks have been this crazy, with me in high producing mode and the work continuing to pile on top of me. However, my world looks lighter (not holding my breath) in the sense of having to develop new work over the next few weeks. I will be training managers most days on how to set goals and write action plans, but at least it won't be designing from scratch.

Valentine's Day is coming up... I know, it's a hallmark holiday. I know, it's over rated. I know, it's so commercialized and love should be spread every day, not one centralized day. (These are all comments I've heard from men regarding this day.) However, I love it. What can I say, I'm an NF in MBTI - I just want to be physically close to people and share my love with them. It's like a whole holiday written with me in mind. I just need to find someone who respects me enough, and actually has my interests at heart instead of their rigid views and will enjoy the day with me.

I'm still thinking about class this weekend. Actually, I was telling me coworker about it who happens to know my instructor at a professional level. I mentioned that somehow I found a kinship with him, and he kept checking in with me about his behavior all weekend. She said that I bring that out in people. Then she started giving me some examples, and she had a valid factual opinion. Apparently people feel like they can vulnerable with me and share their insecurities, and they actually seek me out to do it. I never thought of that before, so it just gives me one more thing to ponder.

Speaking of MBTI, I've been browsing through "16 Ways to Love Your Lover" and it really gives some insight in how to handle relationships with someone who is the opposite type. The book explains where the confusion comes in, as it's almost as both types are speaking separate languages. Very fasinating stuff, and the it's good to be aware of it so I can work on my own stuff. "Better Self-Management through Self-Awareness." That's something I like to keep in mind...

is it a full moon?

What a hell of a week! I don't even know where to begin, but mostly my Friday left me reeling. I did an information gathering meeting which turned into a huge employee relations nightmare. There was so much back-stabbing and retaliation that the manager was telling me about, I didn't know what to do! I spoke with HR and things are being investigated, but it was nuts! I called my director later in the day and told her, and she nearly fell on the floor.

After that meeting, which went on for almost 2 hours, I ran into an intervention with my client's IS department. They are having a huge communication issue, and I spent most of the afternoon flip charting. I had to run out of that meeting at 2pm, and then go into a meeting with a director and AVP, plus their director of HR to share my observations from one of their offices. They asked, "can we just fire them all and start over?!?!?!" I'll be in there for awhile doing intense work with them.

I'm in DC this weekend for school. It's been an interesting class so far, as our professor is really confrontational. He throws our questions back at us, and challenges where our thinking is coming from... which I like. I haven't been this intellectually stimulated since high school, and I'm really enjoying it. It just mentally drains me.

I have 2 classes to teach on Monday and Tuesday... and that should end the craziness for the rest of the week, before I start hitting roadshows through the month of February on the Employee Survey. I've decided that I am going to get drunk this coming weekend. It's not something I normally do, but I think it will be an interesting release.

horoscope i am not

So, I'm just about as good as predicting the future as my horoscope is. I did not go to the gym last night; instead I watched the parade coverage and the Balls on CNN. I don't know, I like formality and ceremony and the idea of tradition that carries on. I'm someone who believes in roots and honoring them. I am always open to change and a new way, but something about tradition appeals to me.

I taught the Resume Writing and Interviewing class this morning for the IS department. That went well, but I don't think we are really helping them. Okay, that's an extreme. I am helping them, but they don't even know what job they are applying for in the new company, as the company hasn't written the JDs yet. I found out after the fact that they are going into these interviews and are expected to just explain what they do all day, and the company will figure out if they need someone who does that. That's not a real interview. I can't help but think that they aren't really getting the good end of the stick with this deal. It's a "good faith" effort, but not something that's going to be very helpful.

I went out to lunch with my coworker today and we caught each other up on our drama from the dating world. We are having similar experiences and it is good to know that we aren't alone. I think our personality type (we are both ENFPs) plays in to how we behave and our need to be inclusive. Which makes us openly available and accommodating - that doesn't help the situation. Nor is it helping our sex lives.

I'm trying to decide what I want to do the rest of my afternoon. I can work on something work-related and bust my ass to make it better. Or I can do my homework assignment. I think it will be a better use of my time to work on my homework, as I can work on the other thing tomorrow.

Fun things happening

History is happening, and I can't watch it! Darn this needing a paycheck thing!

Busy day today, trying to get things done.... and I will be going to the gym this evening. That is in the cards!

Hopefully I'll get to watch a replay of the parade and all of that other fun stuff.

THIS JUST IN - they have the TV on in the Conference Room! We get to watch!

3 fun outings

I had 3 fun outings planned for this past weekend, but I only got to go on two of them because someone fell asleep after doing their homework. And... this time it wasn't me. Actually, it worked out for the better as I don't think I would have liked to be in a Ravens bar when they lost tonight. There was just too much shady planning and calls going on, and then with the injury... my 6th sense claims that it wouldn't have been pretty.

My friend Joel took me out to dinner on Friday night after work. I got to the city from Columbia much earlier than I thought, got an awesome parking spot on the corner, and parked myself in Starbucks for the duration. Joel always finds the neatest places to take me. Well, he knows me well enough to always know what I would like... I guess that's why we've known each other for so long. :) We went to this place on Charles Street called XS, which is a pan-Asian, sushi, coffee, and dessert bar. It's actually 4 levels of modern art and wood work that's very striking. I flirted with the bartender, and he gave me my very own extra pair of chopsticks that I got to take home. They are an awesome metal pair with a beveled tip that's really cool. We had another drink at a bar around the corner, and then went back to XS for dessert. I know... I'm not supposed to have dessert on my diet, so I made sure we shared the piece and I just took tiny bites.

Saturday I worked on a few chapters of reading, before heading out with my other friend to Roller Derby. Most our saying that I'm not the Roller Derby type, but I think I could get into it. I'm still unsure of the scoring, but it was really exciting. I was screaming along with the crowd, while enjoying some Pabst Blue Ribbon.. in the can. That's right, I'm classy. Apparently the dress code for this is punk/gothic... so I need to break out my fishnets. We are definitely going back for another game! Another first for me, I actually ate at the Sip and Bite on Boston Street. I've driven by the place so many times, yet never went in. Their grilled cheese is "okay" - the bowling alley is much better. I will be posting pictures on my Picasa site soon.

Today I read some more after Mass this morning and doing an Ikea run. I'm looking for a new table to put my new TV on... hopefully I'll find one soon! I finished all of my design projects that I was working on last week, so now I need to focus on cleanup before facilitating them. Plus I need to write my paper and get ready to go to school this coming weekend.

Snow and Foot Massages

I woke up this morning happy to see that we had a light dusting of snow. I really don't know why schools were delayed, but it was a beautiful sight to behold! Now we just need some real snow!

I've been reading about reflexology for awhile, and decided to pick up a book with techniques over the past weekend. It's really fascinating to me that all the parts of the body are represented in the foot, and doing some work on those points gives positive results. I've started over the last week giving myself nightly foot massages with some lotion after I get into bed. With this weather, my feet can use an extra dose of lotion, and I've been benefiting from the positive effects. I've been sleeping so much better, I feel more balanced, and I feel alive and refreshed in the morning.

Now I just need a humidifier so when I sleep my nose doesn't dry out as much. The head of my bed is right by the heat source, and when it blows hot air all night, my nose gets the brunt of it. They have cute piggie ones at Target, so I may have to go and see if I can find one.

I seem to be the only one at the office this morning... I guess everyone is taking their time getting in, oh well! More time for me to actually focus on work. I get so distracted by one of my coworkers. She likes to talk a lot, and it's easy for me to get pulled into the conversation. Such is life! hehe

Shake that Ass

So a friend of mine made me a CD, and one of the songs on the CD was Shake that Ass by Eminem. I've listened to it several times, and I cannot get it out of my head. I constantly here it as background music, and the refrain is in my head. It's been a few weeks! Arrrrggggh!

I got to go to a Caps game last night - which was hugely a lot of fun! They were playing sucky, and I think they could have played a hell of a lot better. I don't know what was going on with them, but it was still a lot of fun to be there. And... I got to ride the metro - I love taking the train!

I'm refraining from BINGO tonight to get a jump start on school work. Actually, I have to interview 4 people in the organization, and I think I'm going to send them an email asking them the question this afternoon. That way I can write my paper and get it out of the way. I'm trying to manage everything during the week, so I have free time on the weekend to go out. I'm a social animal, not a recluse.

I signed up for www.sparkpeople.com again, and I've begun to track all of my eating. I need to be accountable for something in order to do it well, and with my goal calories for the day in front of me, and it automatically subtracting every time I enter something, I clearly see what I need to do. It's interesting that the mere thought of having to enter it into a journal curbs my appetite. I also find it interesting that if I'm left to my own devices, I hardly eat because I'm not hungry. I eat because I know I should.... one more should to live up to.

But, there have been times when I've had friends visiting that I've only eaten one meal a day. Or when I've been on vacation with friends, we've did the same thing. I'm thinking that's probably why they are so skinny. They don't eat on a schedule, and they eat when they are hungry. Maybe I need to take that approach, but it's a matter of changing my mother's mindset. Living with someone has the benefit of them worrying about your eating habits. She's old school, and people should have 3 meals a day, and dinner is always at the table enjoyed together. It's a slow process.

My goal is to lose 100 lbs by this day next year. I will be so much healthier!

Pilgrimage from Reality

I like snappy sayings/random quotes... they make me giggle. Here are a few for your viewing pleasure:

"Pilgrimage from Reality"
"You can be bitter or you can be better"
"Will you just land the plane already" (that's for someone who is not getting to the point)
"Every loose nut deserves a worm"
"Get off your ass and throw some darts" (on finding a man)
"Pain is weakness leaving the body"


- Courtesy of friends and coworkers

New week...

I actually worked on a Friday night. I brought home the laptop and all of the stuff, and even turned down a great offer to go out in order to do work-work (opposed to school-work). I thought I had until February to plan for a class, and I was told on Friday that I have to be ready to go on Wednesday with it - that's right, in two days.

I wrote my part of it, and Judy, my coworker, is doing her part. But she is out today getting a root canal. I created a great guide book, now I just need to get them printed in time for the class. This is crazy!

I went out last night with a friend, which was a good time... I played DD, but one night we need to get a cab so I can go wild too. I haven't been drunk in a long time, and not that I'm much of a drinker, but it's fun. I tried a Dr. Pepper Shot, (it was his shot, I just sipped it), did a chocolate cake shot, had a taste test between Pabst Blue Ribbon and Natty Boh, and enjoyed a double chocolate stout. Good times! He's living close to Fells Point, so we may just walk next time :)

Tonight is bowling - GOOOOO TURKEY CHASERS! And then I get to a CAPS game with Ryan on Tuesday. I'm so excited, not only do I get to ride the metro, but I get to enjoy an awesome team play. SWEET! I'm almost finished his CAPS scarf, so he can wear it proudly tomorrow night.

Did I mention I have a paper to write and 14 chapters to read for school.... it will all get finished! :) I'm an overachiever!

Hectic Day Part 2

My hectic day seems to continue into today. It started with my computer being slow to boot, as I was waiting to print something from my C drive. The meeting I was going into with the papers was left waiting while I had to wait... I hate to keep people waiting.

Then we had a crisis after that. Well, again, not really a crisis, just my boss catastrophes a conversation she had with a superior. It's all around the printing of quick reference cards I created. I will stand by my vote until the end that they all drink the kool-aid down there and take stupid pills. They, and I'm intentionally not saying who, but they are a hospital, intentionally sabotage projects. It's just a bunch of crap.

I have about 5 HUGE things on my to-do list... 4 of which include creating courses from scratch. I will do it, it's just I need to stop being interrupted by trivial things. I started designing a "newsletter" for my client today. Really, it's just a job aid for managers to use with their staff on the educational themes of the month, but I figured some continuity may be helpful. It turned out really well, and they love it. I like when I can have an easy win with a client.

Tomorrow should be crazy too. I may go hide in the conference room and work from there, just so I can get a lot done.

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2009, the year of change!

A lot has happened since Dec 30th, so let me catch up with the details.

New Years Eve - I spent at my friend Ryan's house, becoming addicted to the Wii. I got to ride a cow - and I loved it. I now want a Wii, as my Mii is just too much fun to not play with. She actually looks like me! I got to sleep in the living room listening to one of my bowling teammates drunkenly snore all evening, which was funny in a not funny way. But it was a good laugh when it was all over! LOL

The next few days - I spent them on the couch, resting, as I had taken vacation days from Dec 30 - Jan 6. I slept in, watched a lot of the history/discovery channel and just vegged. I also got addicted to The Dog Whisperer - please be aware, I'm using my Cesare Millan skills of the "shush with a claw" on unsuspecting humans. It seems to be working... LOL.

Saturday night - a friend of mine actually came back into town, and I wasn't expecting him so soon. We went out drinking and found a great little place in Hampden that had blues music. I'm still convinced that two of the "women" were men, but the vote is still out. He then held me down and made me eat ice cream (that's my version of the story, and I'm sticking to it) which is not helping my diet. I'm so happy he'll be here for two months!

Sunday to Tuesday - another friend came in to town from New Orleans for a visit for a few days. We went bowling Sunday night - I think we played 5-6 games, and my arm was so tired. Again, I seem to do as well left handed as I do right handed - that is just odd. Then there was lots of vegging on the couch, and then a yummy dinner at the Lebanese Taverna downtown. He flew out yesterday and after one small delay made it home safely.

I like to kid that St. Anne sent me a 2 for 1 deal - but she seems to be working. I don't want to be one of those women who blogs about the men in her life, because that is just rude... so I'm staying vague intentionally. But it's awesome to have new friends!!