I'm off!

Oh my goodness. Work. I've had quite enough of it from the past few months. Six months actually. And no vacation time.

I don't have the most realistic view of work since my past forays into the working world have been mostly in camping ministry and volunteer teaching. Both are jobs that require 24 hour vigilance and almost complete dedication to even accomplish the most basic tasks. For instance, feeding people sounds pleasant enough and doesn't seem as though it would take the entire day. But at camp? The number swells to over a hundred and means early mornings, long days and late nights. And feeding people is only a small portion of the overall program that must happen.

So my "new job". At staff meetings, I volunteer to do everything. Every single thing, I raise my hand and say, "I can do that." Sometimes I wait while no one volunteers and feel that uncomfortable eagerness to put my supervisors at ease. I just can't not say yes. In fact, I am constantly fielding requests from my coworkers to help them out or work late with them. I do, of course, because they need me. And serving them is the best work anyone can be given to do. In fact, I wake up with a prayer of thanksgiving each morning for the work that God has given me to do. It may sound strange, I don't particularily have a love affair with the work I do, it has more to do with my coworkers. I would do anything they asked- because I can.

The down side to this (however slight) is that I'm busy. Frazzled busy. But that's okay, because my employer takes care of me. My work hours are set each week and if I work more, then I take it off the following week. I've never had an set such amazing boundaries and keep me to it. I love it.

So, in short, I'm blessed. So blessed. I have a job. I have a great apartment. I have the best neighbors anyone could ask for. I get to walk to work each day. I have so much good food to eat. I'm just so happy to be providing for myself- taking care of myself. I didn't know that this would be such a great feeling, but it is. I'm self-sufficient and I love it.

I have the next day and a half off work and I'm home enjoying my time off. I hope you are all doing well, and hopefully I'll be back blogging more than ever.

Also, Terri (check my friends and family blog list) is back to blogging!!!!!!! I spent most of the day smiling when I found that out. Smiling. Because her writing, no matter the topic, makes me happy. Good to have you back. I missed you.

keeping up appearances

I bought a new coat yesterday. It is a beautiful shade of green.

I really like it.

hmm, what? I was sleeping.

Okay, I'll admit it: today knocked me out.

I don't know what it was, perhaps getting measured just short of a million times, perhaps it was the too-warm lab, or maybe just the randomness of the day the eventually made me feel like the walking dead.

After helping my neighbor move a washer and dryer, I went home, fell asleep and did not wake up for a long while. Now I have ten minutes before I normally go to bed, and I'm not sure what to do. I guess I feel like I could sleep another eight hours. So that's what I'm going to do.

So much for going out tonight.

Sigh.

drip, drip, drip

I've had the past two days off. I thought this would be a great time to do fun things, go fun places, talk with fun people. But, as it turns out, I don't have any fun things to do or fun places to go, and all the fun people I know live in far, far away places.

So, I was bored.

And then I began to think that maybe I don't need days off. If I have nothing worthwhile to do outside of work, then perhaps I should stick to doing worthwhile things at work.

Here's the deal though. I don't want one of those lives where I crazily run around trying to keep up all my social engagements and remember which group meeting I promised to bring cookies to or which activity I said I would sponsor. No. None of that. I'm not happy being a busy-body. I like a nice, quiet routine that can be jazzed up when needed.

I tend to shudder inside when someone tries to pin me down for becoming a member of a group, or long-term volunteer me for leading a project. I've never had this much freedom to plan my own schedule before. So, let me plan it! Also, don't count on me volunteering for anything that involves evenings in the winter. First, it's dark out. Second, it's below zero. Not much would convince me I'd have a good time outside of my warm, cozy apartment. Actually, I can't think of anything at all.

But jazzing up my routine is very difficult because I don't have any friends within driving distance that I can just "call up" to go out for appetizers, or see a movie, or go for a walk.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is this: I didn't do much but sleep, eat and watch TV on my days off. But, they're mine. I'll fill them as I please, and hopefully I'll meet some people who share my philosophy on time management.

Here's to happy, wonderful bleak rainy days. God bless them.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times

I went to bed early last night in anticipation of a morning run. But.

I woke up to howling winds- the type that make you wonder if the world outside has transformed itself into English moors complete with Jack the Ripper, or into the tumultuous seas of Moby Dick. I surely cannot be the only one who must periodically check to make sure she's not been transplanted into a story. Preferably a facinating story with a handsome prince and not just a little adventure. Sigh.

I digress. No early morning run. Just some yoga and a fantastic omelette.

And coffee...

So if I'm not falling asleep by the end of the day, I'll have another chance to run at the gym. Indoors. In a not so storybook landscape.

Also, I'll be able to record my workout at the dailymile and be cool like Sara.

Where have I been?

No honestly, where?

It seems that life has grabbed a hold of me and blogging has slipped away. But! I vow, VOW, to do better.

Because you might be interested...

I've moved into a new apartment.

I walk to work every day, and it makes me very happy.

I also walk one block to the library.

This also makes me very happy.

I led a training that made every one bored.

Thank you, new job.

I've become a god-parent/sponsor, again.

Thank you, cousin for your beautiful, amazing sons, and for sharing them with the rest of the family.

Hmmm...

I've decided to learn German.

I'm terrible at it.

I'm thinking of giving it up.

Which won't be hard since I don't know it in the first place.

Oh, and I learned how to make a database in Access.

Who knew databases could be so difficult and yet so cool.

Okay, that's all I've got for now.

But I'll be back. Promise.

It was a good run...

For the last fourteen years this guy was my constant sidekick; always happy to see me, always willing to eat my food, and always willing to listen to whatever I had to say.

He was a good friend.



Walter.