Battle 360

Last weekend a friend of mine and I ran across this TV program called Battle 360 on the History Channel. It was about the USS Enterprise during World War II. Because of a prior engagement, we could only see half of one episode. Now normally I don't get into a series on this topic. However this one is amazing. There are interviews with surviving members of the USS Enterprise, great CGI animation, video and photo footage taken during that time frame as well as interviews with historians. It is a 4 disc set with 10 episodes. I ran the gambit of emotions watching it. Very cool.

Ahhh...

A good way to end my week...a day off. It is a good way to work on my, my stuff and my attitude.

One of those days...

There are some things in this world that I finally learned...delegate and make sure that senior staff are not left in the dark. The last one I learned the hard way a number of years ago because I was afraid that if I let other people know what was going on, then I wouldn't have purpose in my job. That was complete BS! Once my senior co-worker was called to a meeting when I was out of town and was asked about the stuff I was working on and they could not answer. Yeah when I got back it was not pleasant. Now it is happening to me and I am not a happy camper. Unfortunately it looks like things may continue this way...lovely.

Just in case...

It is nearly 2am and I am awake. Not because I haven't gone to bed yet but because my body decided that I needed to be awake. How did it do this? Simple, it gave me a leg cramp on both my right shin and right calf at the same time. When it hit...I was awake in seconds and boy did it hurt. You can't straighten your leg and walking on it only makes it feel worse. Fortunately I know a great remedy to quickly disengage the cramp. I got out of bed and went to the kitchen (this was not fun). The following may sound odd but it really does work. I grabbed the honey. You just need a teaspoon. It worked like a champ. The cramp disappeared in less than 30 seconds...ahhhhhh.

Now I can hopefully go back to sleep...Hopefully...

As a person

It takes a deep commitment to change and an even deeper commitment to grow.
-- Ralph Ellison

Happy New Year

Today is Chinese New Year. We now begin the year of the Ox. The years represented by the ox are: 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997 and 2009. People who are born in the Year of the Ox are patient, speak little, and inspire confidence in others. However, they tend to be eccentric, and bigoted, and they can anger easily. They have fierce tempers and although they speak little, when they do they are quite eloquent. Ox people are mentally and physically alert. Generally easy-going, they can be remarkably stubborn, and they hate to fail or be opposed. They are most compatible with Snake, Rooster, and Rat people.

To those who were born in the year of the ox in my life, I hope you have a good year.

Festivities abound

Tomorrow in our side of the world will be Chinese New Year. this weekend has been filled with activities for Chinese New Year. We have had performances of music, tai chi and games. The food has been wonderful and spending it with a large number of friends has been great. I know today that I will not see some of my Chinese friends on the other side of the world but I want them to know I am thinking about them.

Happy New Year!

Wahoo!

Yes, it's done!

Ohhh Yum!

One of the things in life that I was spoiled by was great red enchilada sauce a friend of mine made for her restaurant before she sold it. After that it just wasn't the same. I have wandered through many a Mexican restaurant hoping to catch that flavor with just enough spice...but alas not yet. So several months ago I was in dire need of enchiladas. So while wandering through a grocery store I happened to see a can of Hatch Enchilada Sauce. It comes in both green and red. So that night, I made enchiladas with shredded turkey and it was great! My taste buds were happy. On a side note, I know I can make red enchilada sauce myself but currently I am lacking time in my schedule. So if you are ever in the mood for enchiladas and you want to make then yourself, pick up a can of Hatch Red Enchilada Sauce. It comes in Mild, Medium and Hot. Enjoy!

Following nature

Whatever is flexible and flowing will tend to grow, whatever is rigid and blocked will wither and die.
-- Tao Te Ching

Life shaking its head....

Today was an odd one. I thought something was lost and then it was found. Panic was avoided. Realized that you know...I need to step back..evaluate things and determine my next steps. Fortunately I was able to do that....Lunch with one of my friends always makes me smile. I enjoyed today...now it is back to many things. Hopefully with more of a smile.

Wandering...

This morning walking to class, I walked through our student union to hear the blaring of television sets. For some strange reason, I thought the inauguration was later in the day. So I was at first quite surprised to see people glued to the sets and listening intently to a period of time very significant in their lives. For many who were standing around, leaning on rails and listening intently just had their first chance to vote for our President. It made me think about all the other elections since my first official one and this is the first time I have seen some many people care to stop, watch and listen. We as a nation can't just pin our hopes to one person, we need to look inside ourselves and change as a whole.

Stop...Look...Listen

Tomorrow begins a step towards change. Many welcome it but in many ways resistant to it. It is hard for human beings to change. We have seen that over and over and over. As a person who has lived through a lot of change these past few years both personally and professionally, I know that it can be hard and during those times, I have been resistant and down right stubborn. So I hope at the sun rises tomorrow that people will look at themselves and think....I am changing only for me...not for anyone else.

I know I am....for me.

Bleeding Black and Gold!

Piled Deep

It is amazing how laundry piles up. I have sorted the piles and have realized I have 14 loads of laundry to do. 14! From towels to rugs to sheets to blankets, it has all added up. Good thing I don't have to do this all the time....which is probably why I have allowed it to pile up.

Looking Down

This morning while coming into work, something made me look at the concrete I was walking on. It is that usual concrete color and showing the winter time stress. I must have walked down this one sidewalk on campus hundreds of time and never noticed them. Maybe it has been the light, my thoughts or I wasn't suppose notice yet. The imprints of a
aspen leaves are not many but each one shows its uniqueness.

So this morning I noticed and smiled.

It took awhile...

Things happen when they are suppose to happen and it can take awhile. For many years I have been a doodler. It use to get me in trouble in meetings but along the way someone noticed and realized it was a good thing for me. I realized this when he defended me when another colleague got all over my case during a meeting. At that moment many things changed. Up until this week, I had never taken a formal drawing class. Mostly because I thought that I needed to focus on those classes that would help me get through school and into a career. Even since college (an eon ago), I focused on taking classes that would either help me physically or at work. Since becoming staff, I have looked to see if a drawing class would fit into my schedule. At long last it did. I had to make some temporary sacrifices for 16 weeks but fortunately my friends were willing to adjust. My class meets twice a week and I was so nervous going in. But what I have learned is that not everyone is good at it and their want out of the class is different. Tonight I had to draw my hand. It was interesting because as you look at it, you gain a different perspective. The lines and creases mean so many things. It may have taken me awhile but it is never to late to learn.

Drawing a blank

Doesn't it just frustrate you when you know what you need to do but as you look at the screen you can't pull that creative thread from within the confines of your mind?

Yep...I am.

Thoughts...

Paradise is exactly like where you are right now... only much, much better.
-- Laurie Anderson, Language Is A Virus

Mysteries

The wonderful thing about Netflix is that I am able to come across shows that I haven't seen in ages. There is a British series called Inspector Alleyn Mysteries. These are based on several books written by Ngaio Marsh. She was one of the classic women mystery writers in the middle of the 20th century. A contemporary of her's was Agatha Christie. The books are wonderful (there are a lot of them). Not everyone will enjoy the video adaptations but decide for yourself.

The march is on...

What an interesting NFL weekend. I ended up picking 3 of 4. Like many, I didn't choose the Arizona Cardinals to win. A week from today we will know who will be in the Superbowl. Time for a party!

Yes Man

Anyone who knows me understands that I am not really a fan of Jim Carey movies. One of my fellow blogger's talked me into seeing Dumb and Dumber when it came out an eon ago. I sat through the movie just shaking my head and plotting my revenge. So when I saw this preview I thought ok, I would give it a go especially since another friend loves Jim Carey movies and has probably seen Dumb and Dumber as many times as I have seen An Affair to Remember. Last night we went and saw it. It was predictable and there were only a few moments of head shaking but over all it was funny. I found this image of one of my favorite scenes in the movie. Terence Stamp is the "Saying YES" guru and is always great in everything he is in. Thinking about things, can you imagine saying YES to every thing someone asks of you? Life would be rather wild, I am not sure I could do it. So if you need a laugh, I would catch the show.

For a review of the movie, check here.

Are you sure this isn't a Monday?

Today my cell phone and I got into a disagreement and it decided that my LCD screen needed to crack all over the place. Now normally this is fine except my work is connected my cell phone. Not being able to figure out why I am being paged at 2AM would probably make me a bit cranky. When it comes to phones and work I do have one requirement...It is not going to be a smart phone or a blackberry. I mean who really wants to be that connected to the office. I know I don't. A friend suggested Nile's Radio. They were great and gave me a great deal on a new phone -- The LG enV. The rest of my day went according to a Monday as well. Sigh...

Note to self...

When you know that you are going to have a long day and that you are going to meet with friends, remember to bring another blouse in the car. So that way when you spill lunch AND your afternoon protein shake on you, you don't look you need a bib.

Umm...Yep

My brother is awesome

For Christmas my brother got me a Wii Fit and had it shipped to me. It arrived today! I am so excited. I got through the initial steps of getting it set up and off I went. I have figured out that balancing on that small of a space it going to be a challenge but hey, isn't life a challenge? Goals for the year are set and now I have another tool to help.

THANK YOU!!!!

Countdown

In a week, life goes back to schedules and trying to figure out the what, why, when and where.

Sigh...

Questions

Have you ever wondered where you fit in everything?
Why you do what you do?
What you want out of life?
Are you doing what you have to do or what your passion is?

Yes
Because I am me.
Working on that.
Have to do.

For 2009

We find no real satisfaction or happiness in life without obstacles to conquer and goals to achieve.
-- Maxwell Maltz, Communication Bulletin for Managers & Supervisors, June 2004

My Students...

They are an amazing bunch and I wouldn't trade them for the world. They have learned the value of teamwork and communication. That is all a supervisor can ask for.

Today they worked above and beyond by being patient (most of the time), working in odd conditions and laughing through it all. It was a long day and we all Thank You!

So it begins...

Ok...got off a little bit on the wrong foot. Good thing it is only day one.