Take Away 70 - Wrapping Up January 2012

Goodbye to another January. I'll see you again soon. It has been a long month but I survived. As difficult as winter months can be for me, I know the payoff is coming soon.  Last year about this time, we were seriously considering moving back to Arizona. A quick, crazy winter road trip in February to Phoenix (see The Death of An Idea) nipped that notion in the bud. I'd be lying if I didn't admit that Phoenix is sounding good right about now. 

I'm heading for a weekend getaway to Seattle this Friday to visit a friend. I checked the forecast and it's going to be sunny there!  Sunny in Seattle? Who needs Phoenix?

TAKE AWAY: Although I'm a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of girl,

it's smart for me to make plans for January and February. 

I really need something to look forward to.  

• Take Away 69 - Weekends
• Take Away 68 - Overtime
• Take Away 67 - Write It Down
• Take Away 66 - Full Circles
• Take Away 65 - Appreciation
• Take Away 64 - Nothing to Take Away
• Take Away 63 - Buddy Up
• Take Away 62 - Bugaboos
• Take Away 61 - Nobody Cares
• Take Away 60 - Road Trip 101
• Take Away 60 - Pleasant Surprises
• Take Away 59 - Ask the Questions
• Take Away 58 - The Best Intentions
• Take Away 57 - The Work Week
• Take Away 56 - Make Time and Space for Friends
• Take Away 55 - Attitude Adjustments

Take Away 69 - Weekends

I am a person who really likes to work.  That's no lie. I love the structure of a work day, the people I work with, and right now I'm loving the work I'm doing.  Having said all that, when I get up on Monday morning, I always wish I had just one more day off.  That always makes me laugh a little. The truth is when I'm working, I'm looking forward to time off. When I have too much time off, I'm looking forward to going back to work.  That's just me.

TAKE AWAY: I'm right where I'm supposed to me.

Happy Monday everybody!  

Take Away 68 - Overtime

I got to work 6 hours of overtime today. It was sweet! Those of us who chose to work decided to go in at 5:00 a.m to 11:00 a.m.  I was surprised by how productive I was with no background noise or distractions.  It helped knowing I was making enough to cover my r/t bus ticket to Seattle next weekend.  And, because I started so early today I still have lots of weekend left.  Overtime?  Sign me up, baby!

TAKE AWAY:  I have an idea for something I'd like to 

buy with any future overtime.

Take Away 67 - Write It Down

• Don't you just love lists?
• Do you make lists?
• What kind of things do you put on your lists?
• I've discovered my lists are different depending on the season of the year.
• Right now, my lists are not very concrete.
• Just ideas and musings and a little bit of "to do's".
• In the summer, my lists are way more detailed and focused.
• Hmmm

TAKE AWAY: I forget I have a little button on my blogger that 
allows me to make bullets.

I love lists with bullets! 

Take Away 66 - Full Circles

Today I saw a photograph of a co-worker's daughter whom she has not yet held in her arms. She is in the process of adopting a 10 month old baby girl who was found abandoned in an apartment in China. I got goosebumps as I ventured over to her cubicle to sit down for a few minutes to hear about her. After 5 years of being on a waiting list, she found out yesterday that she and her husband will be traveling to China in about 8 to 10 weeks to get her. She was overwhelmed with happiness!  It was nice to be on this end of things. I was adopted some 50+ years ago. I went back to my desk and thought about my own parents and what it must have been like for them when they discovered my sister and I were available for adoption. 

TAKE AWAY: Life has a funny way of bringing me full circle. 

What a joy for me to witness! 

Take Away 65 - Appreciation

I had not been to the theater to see a *movie on the big screen for over a year, until today. I think the last movie we saw on the big screen was "Unstoppable" last year (Nov. 2011). It isn't that I don't love going to movies more than just about anything else. It's the time factor. I feel like there are so many other things to do that it's hard to give up a couple of hours to go sit in a chair. Having said that, I felt the excitement of sitting in the comfy theater chair today with the surround sound speakers turned up and the vivid colors on the screen. I'm not sure I would have appreciated it so much if it hadn't been so long since the last time.

TAKE AWAY: There are some things that just do it for me. 

I love going to the movies! 

* "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo". It is a dark, demented, well-acted movie in my humble opinion. It was hard to watch in some places. Not for the faint of heart. 

Take Away 64 - Nothing to Take Away

We were released from work at noon today due to some horrendous winter driving conditions. I got up, got showered, went to work for 1/2 day and then home.  I truly can't think of one take away today.  Sad, isn't it? (shakes head and laughs) 

TAKE AWAY: Some days are just ho-hum. 

Thank goodness not all days are

like this. 

Take Away 63 - Buddy Up

I buddied up with a work friend to get accountable for exercising. We started texting each other on Friday when we completed whatever exercise we are doing that day. Just the thing I really need! Up late out of bed this morning but still got 16 minutes on the treadmill.  I'll take it!!

TAKE AWAY: Being accountable works.

Take Away 62 - Bugaboos

"Bugaboo". It's a word that came to mind today while I was entering data. Every day I get a report from my supervisor with errors to correct from the previous day's entries. Every person has "bugaboos", which means there is a letter or number series that they type consistently incorrect. I know what mine are so I try my hardest to slow down when I'm typing those particular sets of keys. Still ... I make mistakes.

TAKE AWAY: My bugaboos are trhough (through), RWD (RWP), etc.

P.S.  Don't you just love the word BUGABOO?

Take Away 61 - Nobody Cares

We met some friends for karaoke last night after our road trip. Typically, I am not one to stand up in front of a room full of strangers, much less good friends, to show them what a bad singer I am. However, in the spirit of joining in the fun, I did it! Belting out the first song, I was so nervous and shaking like a leaf. The 2nd song was a very poor choice. By the third song, I was wondering if my future agent was in the room. Lots of laughter, a little dancing and something I can now cross off my bucket list. 

TAKE AWAY: Nobody cared that I am a bad singer. 

I was in super good company.

Take Away 60 - Road Trip 101

We headed out on a road trip this morning at 9:00 a.m.  Over the last 10 years with Gene, I've learned about the basics of getting out the door with all the things we need for a fun road trip. A steaming hot thermos of coffee is at the very top of the list. Sunglasses, check. Coat, check. Missy's leash, water dish and a treat, check. Today we visited the Salvation Army Thrift Store in Wenatchee and then found a real treasure of a thrift store (Philadelphia House) after we had lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant recommended by 2 locals we met at Sally's.

TAKE AWAY: Never doubt the recommendation of locals.

Take Away 60 - Pleasant Surprises

I had a one-on-one lunch with a co-worker yesterday and from that conversation I'm working on a little blog post for my other blog, http://freezerburned-suddenlysusan.blogspot.com/.  It will be called "The Sweater".  It was a little awkward at first because I don't know this person well but within 10 minutes I asked the questions that got me right where I wanted to be. We laughed, I cried, and laughed and then I cried again when I went back to my work station. I need to write my blog post and run it past her before I post it up. (She did give me permission to blog about it.)  I want to make sure I convey correctly the things she told me. In exchange for 30 minutes of her time, I got so much in return. The post will be about love, loss, friendship, moving on, traveling, and who knows what else will reach the keyboard. 

TAKE AWAY: Don't be afraid to let someone know you just a little.

Take Away 59 - Ask the Questions

At work the other day, a co-worker was wearing a bulky, brown hand-knitted sweater.  I overheard her telling another co-worker the story of that sweater. I was moved to tears by the short version of "the sweater" and I have to know more about it.  I asked her if I could sit with her at lunch and ask more questions about the sweater and her life so I could blog about it.  She said yes!!  I am hoping to do that today and write about it on my other blog.  Everybody has a story. 

TAKE AWAY: Ask the questions and listen mindfully to the answers.

Take Away 58 - The Best Intentions

I get up in the morning with the best of intentions to do better than I did yesterday.  Today is no different.

TAKE AWAY: Never give up.

Take Away 57 - The Work Week

I've discovered while working four 10-hour days that I cannot really do anything during that four day stretch except work, sleep and eat. I started out knowing that and then tried to add a few after-work activities and it just messes up my sleep pattern. I must hit the hay by 8:00 p.m. as I am up at 3:30 a.m., although I don't have to leave my house until 6:10 a.m.  I love mornings and that's when I get stuff done.  Now .... off to the treadmill.

TAKE AWAY: Find a sweet spot in my schedule and stick with it.

My life goes to smooth when I get enough sleep, eat right and exercise. 

Take Away 56 - Make Time and Space for Friends

One of my New Year's resolutions that I didn't add to my official list is to invite more people over to our house this year. My home is my castle and refuge but when we moved here I envisioned having friends over. I'm usually paralyzed by fear that my house is never clean enough or decorated well. I am no Martha Stewart. I suspect I am in good company regarding this fear. But I've decided to invite people over anyway. Today I have 2 friends coming over for lunch and visiting. Yesterday I had a friend over for coffee and fresh home-made cookies. She is just back from 8 weeks in Costa Rica and we spent nearly 3 hours talking about it. I hope she felt comfortable enough to come back.  The day before that a friend came over to teach me how to knit and I cooked her some brunch. Great fun!  That's how you do it.  Just do it.

TAKE AWAY:  Whatever it is you want to accomplish, sometimes you just 

have to push past the fear and do it.

Take Away 55 - Attitude Adjustments

I spent some of my afternoon helping set up the New Year's dance. It's a lot of work and there were a lot of people helping who were there way longer than I was. Truth is, I'm feeling my age. When I got home from decorating, I took a 30 minute nap and woke up not wanting to go back out to the dance. I really just wanted to go back to bed. Wait for it ..... HERE COMES THE CHANGE IN ATTITUDE: It just so happens the movie "Saturday Night Fever" was on TV. Who can sit in their chair when John Travolta is dancing to the Bee Gee's? And that's exactly how it happened. My mood changed in a split second, I got dressed, slapped on some make-up and my favorite dancing boots and decided to go dancing with my handsome husband.  We hardly sat down for 3 hours!

TAKE AWAY: My attitude can change if I allow it to.