Lessons Learned

Do you ever have those days that start out great, hit a bump and then go downhill quickly? That was my day yesterday. I woke up feeling better than I had in a week: my sinuses were starting to clear, I didn't sound like an 80 year old chain smoker anymore and I was chipper. I had high hopes for the day, and up until lunchtime things were lookin' good.

And then ...dun dun dun... shit hit the fan.

I'm not going to go into the details but I will tell you there has been a workspace issue in my office for a few months now and what should have been a simple mole hill was turned into a freaking fourteener in a matter of minutes. Things were misinterpreted, feelings were hurt, I was turned into the bad guy and at the end of the day 2 supposed adults were acting like children, my patience was worn out and my Catholic guilt was kicking in hardcore. Obviously this was a pleasant situation.

After working through it all via venting to my parents, to the boy (yep, he made an appearance, but things are shaky there) and to the bestie, I came to the conclusions that I had nothing to feel guilty for, I didn't appear to be in the wrong and that I'd learned some valuable lessons:

- It's nice to be on friendly terms with the people who share your space, but you don't have to be friends with them.

- I am not as comfortable with confrontation as I used to be, or is it as I used to think I was?

- Age has nothing to do with how mature a person acts.

- From now on, I will go directly to the supervisors with problems and let them work it out themselves.

- Personal work space is valuable and shouldn't need to be sacrificed.

- Communication and planning from the start can decrease headaches later on.

- When I know in my gut that I'm right, I need to fight off my feelings of guilt.

- I need to work on my clarity in a heated discussion; when I'm feeling threatened I don't express myself as well as I know I am able to.

- No matter how snotty it sounds, validation is a fantastic feeling.

Thank goodness I had a dinner date planned with one of my dearest friends, otherwise I probably would've dwelled on this all night. As it was, I got everything I needed to off of my chest, had a nice evening, enjoyed a Guinness (my latest guilty pleasure) and went to bed feeling good. There have been a few bumps today in regards to yesterday's show down (like I said, mountain out of a mole hill), but I still feel like I did the right thing.

Today's song obsession

I think in the grand scheme of things I'm actually a little late in loving Mumford & Sons, but that's ok. To be honest, when I first heard them a few months ago, they didn't really strike a chord with me, but I heard The Cave on the radio last week and I fell in love.

So, without further ado, please become as obsessed as I am:

It was an Italian getaway kind of night

I've been battling a nasty sinus infection since last week, and I felt absolutely horrible last night, so I stayed in and had a quiet evenings. It was lovely. I played along with the suffering-from-a-cold stereotype and ate chicken noodle soup, drank tea and orange juice and curled up on the couch with a movie.

I'd gotten The Tourist from redbox (love the availability of redbox) earlier in the day and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Angelina Jolie's character was the epitome of wealthy, British class and she plays parts like that so well. She was beautiful. And, in my book, Johnny Depp can rarely do any wrong. He played the part of Wisconsin tourist who gets thrown into the middle of an international plot well, and also took on his character's twist with perfection. I know this movie didn't get the best of reviews, but I thought it was well casted, enjoyed the thrills and the plot twist and loved the Venetian scenery.

This movie made me want to hop on a plane and start my own Italian adventure. Since that wasn't a legitimate option, I opted to follow up The Tourist with Roman Holiday. Audrey Hepburn, the original American royalty and epitome of class, and Gregory Peck, tall, dark and handsome. I left behind the winding canals of Venice for the history of Rome. If only I could tour the Eternal City from the back of a vespa with Gregory Peck as my guide.

Fill in the blank Fri...er, Saturday

1. My most prized possessions are my pictures, both family photographs and artwork that I've purchased/ been given. I adore old, black and white family photographs, and probably have more framed than most people my age. I'm also a sucker for inundating my walls with artwork that speaks to me. I love art.

2. If I could be one age for the rest of my life, I would want to be in my 20's, I guess. Having no clue what my life may look like once I'm out of this stage, I really can't pick any other time of my life. I'm not one to wish to go back in time. I like moving forward and seeing what's next for me. My 20's have had their ups and downs just like any other age, but I've enjoyed discovering myself these past few years.

3. The best way to spend a weekend is doing whatever makes you happy! Weekends are the time to not think about work, maybe do a little house-keeping, check a few things off of the to-do list and have fun. I love getting to do whatever I want on the weekends (and yes, this includes watching cheesy Hallmark Channel movies).

4. My outlook on life is mostly positive. Like I said, I prefer to look forward and be optimistic about what's to come, rather than regretting past choices and wishing I could re-write history. I firmly believe that I am in control of my future and I can make my life what I want it to be (maybe with a little of the unexpected thrown in to keep my on my toes).

5. If you want to annoy me, just underestimate me. I really hate when people don't give me enough credit, or when they incorrectly judge me. I'm a judgemental person, so I understand the judgement piece, but don't voice your thoughts unless you can back them up.

6. I am completely defenseless when it comes to carbs, just like Lauren. Breads and cookies are my main weaknesses, and not only do I love to eat them, but I love baking them, too...definitely problematic!

7. When dressing for the day one should check the weather (let's be practical, folks!) and then dress in whatever makes them feel beautiful, comfortable abd representative of themselves.

I love when a movie trailer gives me chills

I think this movie looks wonderful. I'm a sucker for anything based on a true story, and, even though he's a total bad boy, I do enjoy Colin Farrel. I also love movies that go to my town's local, small and kind of off-beat theater that caters to those of us who enjoy foreign and independent films. It's a ghetto-fabulous little treasure!

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a Mother-Daughter movie date soon (hint hint, Mutti).

ps- obviously, I haven't fallen off of the face of the blogging earth, but I think you'll know notice less substance to my posts than usual...blogging is serving as my little escape from work right now.

I want to see my world.

"I don’t know what I want to do with my life, I just know I want to do it. I want to see my world. I want to meet every single person breathing on this earth. I want to give everyone a hug or a handshake and I want to make someone’s life a little easier. I want to be different than the people I know because that’s what makes us beautiful."
-unknown-
via Little Reminders of Love

P.S.

HAPPY SPRING!!

Just in case I disappear this week...

...I wanted to stop in for a quick hello. My week has started off with a bang and keeps getting crazier, so I may be MIA for a bit.

Here's a little glimpse into my world:

I'm on a search committee for a new hire at work, which is moving at a very quick pace due to people's travel plans in April (yes, I'm one of the guilty travelers). I should've worked more on this over the weekend, but seeing as I didn't, I get to play catch-up now. I really hope I can review applications while on the eliptical or bike because I foresee some multi-tasking in my future!

I have some editing to do tonight, both for work and for personal stuff. This becomes the top priority tonight because the documents are needed in the morning.


As most of you know, I work in wildland fire finance, and Colorado's fire season has started early this year. We already have 2 fires under our belt from the past 2 weeks, and have been dealing with 4 separate fires just today. 2 of these 4 are already contained, but the other 2 are making national news. The issue right now is finding enough resources to staff the fires, and making sure that we're staying on top of funding opportunities. My office tends to empty out when there is a local incident, which only leaves a few of us to answer questions and get requested information out to the fire. Because requests from the fire tend to come in waves, we seem to be taking phone calls, tracking down people and faxing information like crazy, and then all of sudden we'll hit a quiet lull. It's really quite fascinating. Anyway, if anyone's interested in some more information on our 2 big fires, check out these links: Indian Gulch Fire and Grass Fire.

May the luck o' the Irish be with you!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day, everyone!!

This is one of my favorite holidays, and I love being able to show off a little Irish pride...I have just enough in me that I feel entitled.

If I could, I'd wish myself off to the green hills and gorgeous cities of Ireland because it's one of the places that I've always longed to visit, but haven't made it to yet. But, since wishing is about as close as I'm going to get today, I'll settle for enjoying an Irish coffee or maybe a Guinness with the ladies tonight in celebration of both this fabulous holiday and the homecoming of one of our friends. 'Tis a lovely day!

ps- I know I haven't blogged in a week, and I apologize. Work has been crazy busy, but I'll be back soon.

The power of the braid

I love having short hair, and highly doubt I'll ever really grow it out, but if I did have long hair I think I would rock the braid as often as possible. It's so simple, yet so pretty and classic. Plus, the braid has become all the rage recently, which means people are getting creative with it. It's no longer just a simple tail down the middle of your back; now it's worn as a headband, intricately woven with flowers, and used to liven up a basic bun. Truly lovely.

Kate Winslet and the Platinum Pixie

(story and more pics here)

Has everyone seen Kate Winslet's new hair?
I think it looks fabulous!
Kate is one of my ultimate girl crushes, and I just love this daring new look. According to British Vogue, she's "embarking on a new chapter in (her) adult life." If embarking on a new chapter means totally awesome hair and a move to Paris, I may just jump on that bandwagon, too.

These little escapes

Noah: Would you just stay with me?
Allie: Stay with you? What for? Look at us, we're already fightin'
Noah: Well that's what we do, we fight... You tell me when I am being an arrogant son of a bitch and I tell you when you are a pain in the ass. Which you are, 99% of the time. I'm not afraid to hurt your feelings. You have like a 2 second rebound rate, then you're back doing the next pain-in-the-ass thing.
Allie: So what?
Noah: So it's not gonna be easy. It's gonna be really hard. We're gonna have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, you and me, every day. Will you do something for me, please? Just picture your life for me? 30 years from now, 40 years from now? What's it look like? If it's with him, go. Go! I lost you once, I think I can do it again. If I thought that's what you really wanted. But don't you take the easy way out.
Allie: What easy way? There is no easy way, no matter what I do, somebody gets hurt.
Noah: Would you stop thinking about what everyone wants? Stop thinking about what I want, what he wants, what your parents want. What do YOU want? What do you WANT?
Allie: It's not that simple.

I think I can speak for most girls of my generation when I say the love story of Noah and Allie will always be an epitome of tried and true love. Yes, it's fictional, and yes I'm aware that life isn't a romance novel, or a novel at all for that matter, but the theme of love overcoming the odds doesn't have to be entirely far-fetched. Life is real, love is real, pain is real and choices are real. But I don't think that knowledge has to get in the way of a little wishing and a whole lot of swooning. And if that means I look like a sappy, romantic fool for posting more than my fair share of quotes on here, well, then I can handle that. I spend more time being logical and fretting over reality than you might imagine, so these little romantic escapes are good for the heart, soul and psyche.

Sunday Quotes #10

I love her for what she dared to be, for her hardness, her cruelty, her egoism, her perverseness, her demoniac destructiveness. She would crush me to ashes without hesitation. She is a personality created to the limit.
-Anais Nin-

Your task is not to seek love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.
-Rumi Again-
(thanks, Jess)

When you get to the end of all the light you know and it's time to step into the darkness of the unknown. Faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: either you will be given something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly.
-Edward Teller-

If you could hear me, I would say our fingerprints never fade from the lives we touch.
-from Remember Me-

She wanted him to see all of her and also none of her. She wanted him to be dazzled by the bits and blinded by the whole. She wanted him to see her whole and not in pieces. She had hopes that were hard to satisfy.
-Unknown-

Adventure is a path. Real adventure - self-determined, self-motivated, often risky, forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world. The world the way it is, not the way you imagine it. Your body will collide with the earth and you will bear witness. In this way you will be compelled to grapple with the limitless kindness and bottomless cruelty of humankind - and perhaps realize that you yourself are capable of both. This will change you. Nothing will ever be black-and-white.
-Mark Jenkins-

Exciting News!

Well, I finally did it. I bought my tickets to visit Jamie in AUSTRALIA!! I will be in a land down under from April 9th through April 23rd...two whole weeks abroad! It was exhilarating, a little scary and definitely exciting. Hearing how excited Jamie was when I told her pretty much made my day! I cannot wait. We spent the rest of the evening skyping and basically just saying different forms of "oh my god, you're going to be in Australia soon!". So fabulous!

I've said before that Australia was never high on my list of places to visit, but I want to explore this country that has stolen my best friend's heart, and I am legitimately excited to do so. I need to experience this piece of her life that is so important to her, and therefore important to me, because Australia and the time she has spent there has become part of the definition of Jamie.

But, dear readers, I haven't traveled internationally in 10 YEARS, nor have I ever done it by myself, so if you have any tips for me please feel free to share. I know it's going to be a wonderful adventure and things will go smoothly, but a little preparation never hurts.

Happy Friday!

Fill in the blank Friday

Hellooooo, Friday!

I have been waiting for you, and I am so happy to finally have you here.
Feel free to play along with Lauren's blanks.

1. The phrase or punctuation I overuse most is ". . ." and "seriously". Like Lauren, I love ellipses and, more often than not, do not use them correctly. Surprisingly, my inner grammar nazi isn't bothered by this.

2. Today I am thankful for my amazing parents who have made it possible for me to travel abroad 3 times in my short 24 years.

3. My best friend is the hilarious adventuress, Miss Jamie Lynn; and the lovely Mama-to-be, Miss Corey Anne. I have truly wonderful best friends.

4. A quirky thing about me is that I rarely take the first item off of the shelf...it's one of my little OCD things; I'll take the 2nd or 3rd item instead.

5. This weekend I plan on taking it easy, playing a little trivia, making some lists, getting some cleaning and organizing done and attending a baby shower for a coworker.

6. Something that worries me is something happening to my family and friends, especially my parents. It might have something to do with being an only child - although I'm sure everyone worries about something happening to their parents - but I do have a fear of being left alone in this world much earlier than I'm prepared for (not that I'll ever truly be prepared).

7. On my night stand you would find my alarm clock, stack of books, chapstick, bobby pins, a lamp, picture of my parents and box of kleenex.

What I read in February

In the spirit of the coming Spring...

...I thought we could do a little wishful shopping for dresses at Anthropologie. These are by no means all of the dresses that I'm currently drooling over, just a smattering.

(kingston road)

(in an instant)

(annona)

(memory of feathers)

(sunny soiree)

(esmeralda)

Where's the energy?

Please tell me someone else is as tired as I am right now. I don't know what my deal is, but I seriously think I could close my office door, lay my head down on my desk and be out like a light! I'm not a napper, so the urge to do so always catches me off guard...especially at 10:00 am. Wait, would it really be considered napping this early in the day, or is that just "going back to bed"? Whichever the case, I would have no problem turning in my boots and jeans for slippers and sweats, throwing on a comfy tee and curling up on the couch with a movie. Or even wrapping myself up in a blanket and sitting on my porch. It's not super warm, but the sun is out, so I could fool myself into thinking Spring was here. I'd love to say that I'd actually fall asleep and wake up refreshed, but chances are I'd just indulge in a little lazy and drink too much coffee and tea...surprised? I doubt it.