Take Away 54 - Make the Call

I've noticed since we moved to Washington and have been with Charter Communications for our internet and basic TV cable, they play a game that drives me crazy. We started out with a decent pricing for basic TV cable and internet but I noticed the price changed after 12 months. I called and they magically "found" a better deal and that lasted for 6 months and then my bill went up again.We've been playing this game for 3+ years now. I just called again today because I noticed they were vying for new customers in the newspaper with a dirt cheap price. I played the game with "Lisa" at Charter and finally I nicely said, "hey, what pricing would you give me if I was a new customer?"  I finally got the price I was calling for and it only took about 10 minutes of my time and patience.  I will save $180 in 2012 for making the call. I can think of a lot of things to do with $180 versus giving it to Charter. And the cherry on top?  We're going from 15 megs to 30 megs for $15 less a month from a simple phone call.   

TAKE AWAY:  Play the game. Be kind. Ask for what you want.

Take Away 53 - Do One Thing

My friend Becky once said if we all did just "one thing" to lighten up our carbon footprint that it would make a difference in the world.  I think about that a lot. With the new year arriving next week, I can't help but think about my resolutions. 

TAKE AWAY: Do just one thing. I will try to recycle everything 

I possibly can this year.

Take Away 52 - Back to Normal

While the holidays were a hoot, I am elated about getting back to a normal schedule that doesn't include stuffing myself silly with food I don't normally eat on a daily basis. It seems fruitless (pun intended) to try to maintain any kind of good diet during the month of December.  I simply can't do it.

TAKE AWAY: Be grateful every day is not a holiday. There is something to be said for

a good salad. I am craving one today.

Take Away 51 - Bake Cookies for Holiday Spirit

I baked a wagon load of Russian Tea Cakes last night to take to a cookie exchange today. I haven't been involved in a cookie exchange in probably 15 years. People just don't do them much anymore. I was thrilled to pieces as my energetic "mother-of-five-children/college-student/co-worker" lit up when I asked her if she wanted to do it. She not only said yes, she sent the email out to get others involved. She is my current hero! While normally a cookie exchange involves 12 people with 12 dozen cookies, she rounded up 6 people so we're just exchanging 6 dozen.  Easy peazy!!!

TAKE AWAY:  Not in the spirit of the season?  Bake cookies.

Take Away 50 - Look Out the Window

There are windows at my office that are not far from where I sit. It has been pretty gloomy the last two weeks but today I happened to look out the window and noticed some patches of blue sky. What a difference sunshine and blue sky can make!!

TAKE AWAY:  Don't give up.  The sun will return eventually.

Take Away 49 - Enjoy Every Waking Moment

When I got news today of a friend who is in the process of dying, I am forced to take stock of my life and remember this day is a day that is not promised.

TAKE AWAY: There are constant reminders for me to be 

mindful of all the people in my path regardless of (fill in the blank). 

Take 48 - Clean Your Room

I woke up in a funk today.  I am disliking the gray weather. I can't seem to find anything to eat that sounds satisfying. I don't want to say "I'm bored" but maybe I am. When I was a kid, if I said "I'm bored", mom would say, "your room needs cleaning".  I usually found something else to do.  Today, I probably should just clean my room.  Mom had some pretty good advice.

TAKE AWAY: Mom knows best. This is so true.

Take Away 47 - Make Appointments

Going to see my hair stylist today for a haircut and hi-light. Yay! I made the appointment 7 weeks ago when I got my hair cut. Amy is a very busy stylist who also happens to be the shop owner along with being a wife and mom to two children. She doesn't work every Saturday so it's a crap-shoot if I don't schedule ahead. The last hair stylist I had before Amy just up and quit her job, leaving me scrambling to find someone new. I like a hair stylist who will make a commitment to be there in 6 or 7 weeks when I need a new "do".

TAKE AWAY: Making appointments and placing them on my calendar 

on the fridge makes my life so much easier to manage. 

Take Away 46 - "Just Say No" Doesn't Work

The holidays are tough for those of us who overeat. Luckily, I work with some awesome women who are trying, just like me, to minimize weight gain and look for healthier options in our diets.  I failed a bit this week but I'm not going to quit. We had a potluck at work on Tuesday and I definitely overate and was miserable the rest of the day. I had good intentions of eating moderately early in the day and even if there had been good, healthy choices on the potluck table, I gotta be honest ~ I would have passed up carrot sticks for the ham roll-ups.

TAKE AWAY: I may have to skip the next potluck. Seriously.

Take Away 45 - Take the Camera

Left work early today for an afternoon of bowling with 60 co-workers. Fun!  On the way to the car I could have kicked myself for not having my camera today. We have stagnation in our air system so the fog is sitting low and still, leaving hoarfrost on the trees.  IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL!  Luckily I have tomorrow off and the frost is promising to stay another day so I should get some good shots. Lucky me!

TAKE AWAY:  Carry my camera with me every single day 

even if I don't think I'll get it out of the case. 

Take Away 45 - New Friends

So ... yesterday I ventured over and chatted with the administrative assistant in our group. She can scale tall buildings with a single bound. Read: she is one busy chica!  I've been at this assignment for 3 months now and I don't know why it has taken me so long to approach her but I'm so glad I did!!!

TAKE AWAY: I think most people have just a little bit of

fear about making new friends. I just need to

remember to push past that fear and go for it. 

Take Away 44 - Cheapness Pays Off

I ventured down to the vending machine yesterday afternoon to see if I could find a cure for my afternoon slump. I had a big whopping dollar bill in my pocket and an uneaten cucumber in my lunch bag. I swaggered up to the machine, intending to buy myself a Snickers bar. When the reality of giving away my dollar in exchange for a quick sugar fix, remorse, regret and likely added poundage to my already overweight vessel, I left the dollar in my pocket and ate the cucumber instead. Some days, a dollar is just too much for a candy bar.

TAKE AWAY:  One dollar is too much to pay for regret.

If I could resist that candy bar yesterday, I can do it again today, right?

Take Away 43 - Try It

I went to a potluck yesterday and sat with some good friends. The Mister made a sweet potato pie and since I've never tried it before I decided to put a small sliver on my plate.  I ended up going back to get two more small slivers!  It was sooooooo good!

TAKE AWAY:  Try new things even if 

you think you won't like it. You might be surprised!

Take Away 42 - Do With What You Have

Now that it's winter, I am in soup-mode. I love filling the crock pot with soup and eating it for days. Yesterday I stopped at the store to pick up a couple of items I needed to get a soup started. I didn't have the recipe or a list with me so just had to go on memory. While I was  missing a main ingredient, I improvised with something I had in the pantry. The soup turned out great and I was glad to use up some items from my freezer.

TAKE AWAY: Improvise whenever possible. 

It will make you feel creative!

Take Away 41 - Looking Ahead

I love it when I have plans scheduled on my calendar. November was a busy month and December is stacking up nicely. Yesterday I had lunch with my old work friends. It was something I really looked forward to and enjoyed very much.  I think we all need stuff to look forward to.

TAKE AWAY: Write events on your calendar and 

stand back to see what you are filling your life up with.