Lovely Weekend

I can't remember the last time I had a weekend and didn't think about work AT ALL!! I was so amazing to just "have a life" and hang out with friends enjoying life! IT WAS AMAZING! I don't even dread going back to work tomorrow, so what did I do to make all this happen??? I went out with some friends to the city on Friday night...not something I would usually do, but my friend Mark is an expert at giving me a guilt trip. Going out with Mark isn't like going out with normal people...one night we drove to this restaurant in Oakland and when we got there were told that we were going to have to wait an hour and a half for a table. Well Mark went outside made a phone call (he knew the owner) and we had a table in like 2 minutes later. The funny thing is when you meet Mark you wouldn't think this of him in fact he is really down to earth and a super nice guy who grew up in Oakland and worked very hard to make something of himself. He has an amazing amount of contacts from growing up mainly because he is just a GREAT person. I don't know why expected anything less on Friday night....as we approached the club with a long line I thought to myself "what am I doing out after 9pm on a Friday night", but in true Mark fashion we walked to the front of the line and were immediately escorted the VIP section of the club. It never ceases to amaze this small town girl from Idaho the lengths that city folk go to or the amount of money they will spend.

Saturday I paid for going out all night on Friday, but it really was worth it. I ended up taking care of myself by getting my nails, toes, and eyebrows done. I hadn't done that in FOREVER either so I was looking a bit tore up! Then hung out with some friends...I was suppose to go to San Jose for a coworker Birthday party, but I didn't have the energy to do that. So dualing pianos it was and it was fabulous...again not enough sleep but the time with friends was much needed. I really need to get out more....

Sunday was left to clean up this apartment which was much overdue. Now that it is done I feel I can face the week head on. Tomorrow morning is up and at them early so I can workout before heading to the office. If I can get through the end of the month sticking to the workout schedule I might just be tempeted to sign up for a Marathon again...we will see how the foot holds up, but so far so good!!!

Insanity...

Webster definition:
1: a deranged state of the mind usually occurring as a specific disorder (as schizophrenia)
2: such unsoundness of mind or lack of understanding as prevents one from having the mental capacity required by law to enter into a particular relationship, status, or transaction or as removes one from criminal or civil responsibility
3 a: extreme folly or unreasonableness b: something utterly foolish or unreasonable

I have heard a definition that I like better though:
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results.

I have several times over the past months said this and felt like I am doing this at work. I am trying to figure a way to break the cycle without completely losing my cool at work and trust me I am right on the edge most days. The funny thing is I go into these meetings expecting to get some kind of resolution and actually move forward, but we end up having the same circular conversation over and over again. What a waste of time...and with the economy in the state that it is now is not the time to be looking for a new job. To top it all off I am going to be eligible for my sabbatical Dec 08 and will be entitled to 6 weeks off with pay. I can also add my vacation time on to that so I will end up being over 2 months off....I think I can stick it out until then. Besides I keep telling myself I can use the time to look for another job.

So where am I going with this...sticking it out and collecting a pay check is really hard for me because I was raised with this crazy thing called a work ethic. I guess I am actually throwing out the question when is enough, enough and when do you just throw in the towel. I was also taught never to quit so in a way I feel like a failure for not making this work, but in the same sentence I am not sure it will ever work.

Santa Cruz

Yesterday Sly and I headed to Santa Cruz with two of my coworkers Elizandro and Marco. We hiked around UC Santa Cruz for about 2 hours and then went to the boardwalk and checked out the band "The Smithereens" I guess they are an 80's band, but I don't remember them. It was nice to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather. On the fourth we went to my friend's Mina and Mark's for a BBQ. All in all a relaxing weekend. I am thankful for the extra day of rest tomorrow. Then back to work on Monday! I am going to take up surfing just so I have a reason to go to Santa Cruz more often :-)

Sly and Kona Chillin

Last night after I went to dinner with my friend Carol I went to Mark and Mina's to watch Entourage. As we watched the Entourage Marathon both the boys thought they would chill with me after they got done playing

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Day at the Beach!

Yesterday was suppose to be a day of nothing and a lot of relaxing, but Sly had other plans. After about 2 hours of him driving me absolutely crazy I gave in and headed to Fort Funston in San Francisco. We usually go to Fort Funston in the morning, but thought we would check it out in the afternoon. Plus I would be guaranteed a tired dog at the end of the day which was the plan in the first place. We got a surprise though because the wind was blowing really hard so we got a little treat of mini sand storms. Which wasn't so much fun, but we did spend about an hour on the beach getting some exercise.
Sly was really good and even though he wanted to chase the horses he listened to me and just watched them go by on the beach. All in all it was a nice day and everyone had a good time.

It could always be worse....

I really hate it when people say that because it is so true, but this time I am just going to pray for good news. One of my best friends called me tonight and told me she was going to the doctor on Monday for a MRI because the doctor thinks she might have a tumor in her head. I would really appreciate every one's PRAYERS! The good thing is being in my family with all of the brain problems (physical not mental people) we have had I realize that the medical technology has come a long way. Not only that but God is bigger then all of this. Just remember her through out the week. Little Bean I am here for you always and forever!

My Person

For all you Grey's Anatomy fans you get the the title, but for those who don't your "person" is your best friend. I have a lot of great, wonderful, best friends, but MY PERSON and the girl that has ALWAYS been there for me is Brenda. Who I so fondly call Bren and she returns the favor by calling me Rash if you want to see some funny looks watch when she calls me that in public. We went to college together in Lewiston and then transferred to Pocatello our Junior year. It was really the first time I had been that far away from home and I spent my first holiday away from my parents with Bren, we took a night long road trip to Portland together where I fell asleep and made her drive all by herself. A lot of times I will be driving down the road a a song will come on the radio and the memory of that song includes some crazy thing that Bren and I did in our youth.

That being said we don't get a lot of time together these day as she lives in Virginia and I live in California. We don't even spend a lot of time on the phone since our lives gets so busy with her two kids, my dog, work, and throw in the time zone difference sometimes it is near impossible to connect. This week was a long rough one for me and several times during all the stress, crying, and frustration the one person I wanted to talk to was Brenda. I never did get around to calling her, but as I walked Sly to the park yesterday my phone rang and guess who it was. See your person always knows when you need them and even though we don't get to spend the time that we would like being together or talking on the phone nothing ever changes between us. She always makes me laugh even when I want to cry....I want you to know I love you very much Bren! It reminds me that the simplest things in life such as a phone call have the biggest and most lasting impact on our lives.