Gambling & Wicked Weather

Sorry for my lack of posting my friends, work has been busy! I am officially in week 3/4 for my first training class of new associates. I've had my fair share of up's and down's regarding my first class, but for the most part it's going great! I have a class of 22 students which I co-facilitate with two other colleagues. I'll be ready to just have the first class under my belt and over! 

This past weekend, MB stayed with me a few days while they were working on her apartment. She talked me into going to the casino to spend the day since it was supposed to rain anyway. I walked in with $60 and walked out with $173... I'll take it! 

After the casino, we decided just to drive around a bit, and found ourselves at the summit of South Mountain, and what a view! The pictures don't even do justice! It had just finished raining, so there were a lot of clouds so we didn't get to see the distances that we could on a clear day, you can even see the rain coming down in the distance in the pictures! 

The next day (Sunday) I was enjoying my normal Sunday routine.. surfing the internet.. when I heard what I thought was thunder. It could have been the stupid neighbors upstairs because they constantly sound like they are rearranging the entire place, but then I saw a flash of light and heard the familiar rumble of thunder again! Oh how I love when there is a bit of a thunderstorm here...... or so I thought.

This storm was not the normal rain, a bit of wind, some thunder and some lightening type of storm... oh no.. this one was different.

It began to rain, and as I've become accustomed to, I like to open the door and sit out on the patio as the rain comes down. This time as I opened the door to go outside, out of nowhere came this huge gusting wind and I immediately saw the trees begin to bend and then I heard branches snapping off left and right.... maybe I should just close the door and stay inside. Then I could hear the wind whooshing down the fireplace... that's sure never happened before. Then the power began to flicker on and off, and then it went off for good. Great.... this is really going to cut into my 'True Blood' and 'The Leftovers' HBO time.

Just as quickly as this little storm began it was over, in the span of about five minutes. Storms are a great way to meet ALL your neighbors by the way, as everyone began to come outside and confirm everyone else's power was out as well.

We were all also able to see the damage that had been done too. I was told 'Welcome to Arizona' and 'this is the worst I've ever seen' and several occasions, good to know this isn't the norm. I took a little walk around our complex to survey the damage and this is what I found.... some apartments had their windows blown in, luckily no one's car had anything fall on it, and we don't even know where that big piece of what looks like a roof came from.

... what a mess right? There was debris and branches and limbs all over the place. The great gardeners/grounds crew here works fast though, and they had it all cleaned up by time I got home from work on Monday.

Just look at this before and after! Minus the obvious missing branches from the trees you wouldn't know anything had happened! 

I know my Audrey and Oliver fans are surely wondering what is up with those two... well I'm happy to report they are kinda friends now! 

They chase each other around, one time they come running through and Oliver is chasing Audrey and the next Audrey is chasing Oliver, it's funny to see them play. They still aren't BFF's yet, but they do at least share the bed now.

I couldn't find them the other day and then I heard some noises coming from the bathroom, I turn on the light and look in the tub and find this! I'm sure they were up to no good right? 

Workweek Rewind

What a week! Week 2 of the new job and week 3 of being an Arizonian. Lets talk about work for a minute. This was our first week at our actual office, well Monday through Wednesday anyway for me. The last two days of the week were spent at another building for some required training, but we'll get to that in a minute.

First off this job is going to be great, though it will have it's challenges I think it's a great place for me to be, it's kind of the rockstar job. Basically I'll be helping to train new employees, essentially a glorified teacher. I've always wanted to be a teacher in some way so I can't wait to get going and see if that truly is what I want. Great thing here is, soooo many opportunities. In my old area we just didn't have that. My coworkers are so nice and positive. It's basically the exact opposite of my old department, which is something I desperately needed.

So this training.... well it was basically a speech/presentation class. We had to give seven impromptu speeches and one prepared speech AND they recorded us = my.worst.nightmare! Overall the class was amazing. I learned a lot. They gave us pointers on some of our strong points and some things we can work on to improve. I need to work on using the room a little more, aka, walk around more. I also need to pause rather than saying um, so, or and. Learning to not hold my hands in front of me is also something to work on. Tons of great pointers. Luckily they weren't as concerned with the content of the speech rather they focused on the mechanics you used. My prepared presentation was about cupcakes and I made some to bribe everyone and make friends... I know what's up.

Honestly though, the worst part of the whole thing wasn't getting up and rambling in front of a group of people or having homework from work, it was sitting there having to watch yourself. You see after you gave your presentations they would take you into another room and make you watch it! TORTURE! Here is a screenshot of one of my speeches on day 2.

Day 1 speeches I could barely pay attention to what I was supposed to be listening to all I could focus on was my outfit. My mirror lied to me that morning. I left the house thinking I looked nice, whoa wrong! I was rocking one major spare tire in the mid-section. Yikes. This day 2 outfit was able to hide a major portion of the midsection and I hope that the camera added like 20 lbs but I don't think that is the case. Homegirl needs to stop feeding her face some crap and get it together.

The whole moving thing was stressful and now hopefully that things have settled down I can get into a nice routine and add healthy things in there. Eventually I will get a weekly meal plan down and get some actual food up in here rather than the quick and easy things, because we all know quick and easy is no the healthy way.

The rest of my weekend has been very easy and non busy. I did have to get up early on Saturday and drive 20 minutes to the Ford dealer so I can get Edgar's strut replaced. I arrived at 7:45 am and left at was done at 10:50 am, not too bad. I had planned to spend most of my whole day there so when it was just the morning I was pleasantly surprised.

Though I did keep getting distracted by Spiderman 2 playing loudly on the TV I was able to get a book started, Wild by Cheryl Strayed. So far so good, not quite what I was expecting but not bad.

Today I did not much. I vacuumed and put a few things away. I went and returned a pair of shoes I bought at Payless because the soles were talking to me already, I've worn them like 3 times, come on people! Then off to Petsmart to pick up a few things for Oliver, he's less meowy. I think he just meows at me because he wants me to give him soft food, but once he realizes I'm not he meanders away to play with something or sleep. I also picked up a few foamy hand soaps from Bath and Body Works. I love being close to everything. I'm literally 4 mins from a Target, it's awesome! 

More of the same for the coming week at work anyway. It's like being in college again or something with all the classes and training we are doing, but we are getting paid! I'm trying to get the rooms presentable enough to take a picture to show you my diggs, just be kind and remember it's still a work in progress.

I hope you all had a great weekend, enjoy your workweek! 

A Look Around the New Office

The office I'm in is pretty sweet. It's very modern looking with modern colors and accents. The break area/lunch tables are probably my favorite thing right now. They have TVs in the break area and even have a balcony AND couches! Oh and don't forget the awesome view of the palm trees! Here's a picture for you. I'll try to creep other pictures from around the building (don't want to get caught looking like a weirdo so soon lol) 

Stay tuned for more! ;) 

The Goodbyes for Now

The hardest thing about moving to another state is saying goodbye to your dear friends. I have been in the same department for the past seven years, and it's the same department I started the insurance company at. Seven years is a long time to spend 5 days a week with people. They become your very best friends and then they become family. I am seriously going to miss all of these people, and these are just a few of my extended work family.

I knew I had friends at work, but I was completely overwhelmed by their graciousness. On my last day, which was last Friday, there were so many people who gave me gifts and cards, which was completely unexpected, a goodbye hug would have been enough, but being the people they are, they wen't completely above and beyond.

Here, is myself and skinny on his last day a week prior with Pat.

These people know me so well! I got my favorite guacamole and chips! 

Pat was very sad that I was leaving so we decided to pack her up and take her with! 

My Screaming Pumpkin buddy and I have planned to meet up (when we are both in better shape) to do a very awesome race since we won't be around for the annual running of the Screaming Pumpkin race at Halloween this year.

My girl T and I on the last day

... and this is what is left of the awesome '6 Pack' the others have moved on as well. You can kinda tell from this picture that the tears are starting to build as Pat is getting sadder and sadder. Don't worry for Pat though, I have made her my IL secretary. She will be the first one to get updates and then pass them around. She had already done an awesome job with her first assignment! 

It was hard to say goodbye to friends but I hope they will look me up if they are ever out in AZ. 

The other surprising thing is how much stuff you accumulate in your little cube after 7 years. I tried to consolidate it down to 1 box, which I kinda did, but ended up bringing another box home with me, which as you'll find out in the next post, I didn't have quite as much space as I thought I did in the Escape! 

But thank you again to all my friends who have been so good to me since I have began in the department at the insurance company. I will miss you all very very much! Words cannot express how thankful I am for each and every one of you! Love ya lots! 

I Read it Somewhere: Eleanor Roosevelt

I'm in that weird stage at work. I have a few weeks left in my current job and have already checked out kinda mentally. I guess it's more ADD than checked out per say. I still put forth a quality work product, it's just not nearly as productive as it could be.

But emails have started rolling in from my new boss with updates about my new job. Most of the emails have been about training sessions that I have been signed up for and curriculum that has been added to my course listing, today's email was asking if we needed new mouse pads as they were placing an order. Yes I could use a new mouse pad, something that never gets asked in my current position.

Anywho, at work when you get an email you can usually see everyone that it was sent to. Slowly people have started to update pictures on their email profile so when I get an email from the new department I like to take a look and see if my new coworkers are hideous or not... I kid. Just trying to familiarize faces. But on your profile you can also add a "what are you up to" status (it's basically a Facebook for work) most people use this space to add a quote or something funny. One of the girls had this quote from Eleanor Roosevelt.

 " Do not stop thinking of life as an adventure. You have no security unless you can live bravely, excitingly, imaginatively, unless you can choose a challenge instead of a competence. "
~ Eleanor Roosevelt"

I like this quote. I think it just stood out to me because the word 'adventure' just stands out more these days. After I read this quote I was quickly sucked down the internet rabbit hole searching for more of Mrs. Roosevelt's wisdom. 

“The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experiences.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

“We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt


“Friends, you and me... you brought another friend... and then there were three... we started our group... our circle of friends... and like that circle... there is no beginning or end.”
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

One Week of 2014

I have sat down several times to write my first post of 2014 but I feel like this first week of 2014 has been so much longer than a week and every time I sat down to do it, I didn't so let's go back in time for a sec to catch up! 

NiBo and I spent NYE playing Mario Kart and Mario Tennis on Nintendo 64...

Then New Years Day I worked OT...

On the 2nd day of the New Year it snowed...

The 3rd was just another lazy day...

On the 4th I prepared for the giant snow storm by washing my car (I was 8th in line at this point, and it took me an hour to get to the front)...

Then as the snow was coming down on the 5th Oliver tried to eat my breakfast...

Then on the 6th it was time to clean the snow off the cars, oh and the windchill was -39°F, and we had a Snow Day at work! :)

It warmed up on the 7th to -24°F, the roads were still icky so I took another snow day,

We couldn't leave town because of the roads but we could go down the street! You see, the city dumps all the snow they pick up from the downtown area to an empty lot, we call it Mt. GC, and as the pile got higher and higher we had to go climb it! 

A.drama

That's me! 

Oh hey down there

Then we noticed the giant icicles on the side of Gpa's workshop

Which brings us to today. Today I went back to work the roads were snowpacked in spots and the snow was still in half the lane in some places too, but I made it to work (oh hooray) Tonight all I have done is this blog post and watch the People's Choice awards. If you were impressed that I remembered what I did each day of the new year, you have my #Project365 to thank! A picture a day for a whole year, you can follow along on Instagram! (hlb_7)

Hope everyone has had a wonderful first week of 2014! Stay tuned for this year's Word of the year! 

Bah Humbug!

Work has been a giant headache this week. Something about the holiday's just brings out the impatience and meanness in people. But you know what makes everything better?! Cookies and eggnog in the atrium and a visit from Buddy the elf. Go ahead and try not to have a good day after that! 

10 Things: What's a Happenin'

Not a whole lot going on right at the moment but here's 10 things: 

* We had a fire drill at work today and this lady couldn't find the time to put her shoes on. This is only a drill, I repeat only a drill. You have time to put your shoes on!!

* Poor gma fell up the stairs and broke her arm. Of course it had to be her right arm. But Sophie the puppy dog came for a visit and is helping to make her feel better. Get well soon Gma!

* One of my postcards made it to their destination! It traveled 4,264 miles in 12 days on it's way to the Netherlands.

* The Walking Dead was back Sunday, I thought it was a little slow until the end.

* Last nights Sons of Anarchy was my favorite of the season so far. It felt very old school SOA, LOVED IT! 

* Edward Norton is going to be on SNL this weekend! 

* My favorite Pandora station lately has been 50's rock n' roll. Sometimes all this modern era crap gets old. I yearn for simpler times.

* Move over Candy Crush, Dots is my new addicting game.

* I'm a little off the wagon and need to stop stuffing my face with food and get back on track with my eating plan and back in the gym.

* Dad and I's Navy vs. Notre Dame tickets and parking pass arrived! I am so incredibly pumped! 17 days away! 

Correct Me If I'm Wrong...

...But this is dead right? 

One of my coworkers has had this plant on her desk for months, thinking she can bring it back to life. The previous owner, who shall remain nameless, used to feed this poor plant left over soda and tea. This thing was DOA, but P.Whitty believed that she could fix it. She left early today so we decided to help her out. After I checked for vital signs, we said our goodbyes to the rotting corpse of a plant. The soil was still wet so she had still been watering it, but the "leaves" snapped right off when I went to check for any sign of green; and with a slight tug, the whole root system came right out, it didn't even try to hang on for dear life.

But Just Look! It's all fixed! A little bit of coworker love, some very efficient use of office supplies, and an on the clock art project and Voila! new plant! And oh so beautiful! 

I'm a Cool Dude

Today at work we had system issues for pretty much the whole day which makes for a really really long day. We actually missed being able to work. It's kind of hard to keep yourself entertained while still trying to be Re3markable. I'm glad the day finally ended though, tomorrow could be interesting with all the work we didn't get to do today, but at least it will be FRIDAY!

This should be a fairly busy weekend, tomorrow night we are hitting up the fair for the lawnmower demolition derby and to a tailgate party with the Feudin Hillbilly's and Saturday A.drama and I are going to venture up to Page Turner's town for the grand opening of her candy shop!

I Had To

I didn't want to but I had to. I finally gave in and put the window a/c unit in. I feel like I'm abandoning Spring too soon, but Summer is just around the corner and with that brings the heat. Tomorrow the high is 92. Gross. So tonight I shall sleep in less humidity, bought air bliss.

As the heat climbs so does the inside temperature at work. It had been an icebox and I was ok with it, little chilly but ok with it. Then someone had to complain they were too cold and now it's starting to creep up to the stuffy side. I guess I'm going to have to start shaving my legs and break out the capri's and Bermuda shorts, be warned the legs are still transparent white, you might need sunglasses just to look at them.

Also inching closer and closer is this Sunday, not only is it Father's Day but it is also the 2013 Warrior Dash... yikes, that kinda snuck up didn't it?! :S The weather so far promises to be cooler than last year so maybe I won't do as terrible. 

Keep cool my friends.

Happy Trails To You

My Dear Page Turner, 

Do you remember that one time where we...

... Painted Christmas Pottery when it was after Christmas?

... or that time we were caterers at a recycled wedding?

... or to add a little sunshine to our day we had a Hawaiian shirt Thursday?

... what about that time 2009 when Michael Jackson died and we gave him a one glove salute?

... remember when the goose was the CP mascot, then it got held for ransom and adopted to the CSA's? 

... or when we had bookclub in your town on that patio at the mansion?

Because I do. I remember all these fun times we've had and all the ones that don't have pictures to caption.

I've tried very hard to remember back to when we first met and became friends. I guess it's kind of cool that I don't remember, that must mean it just came so natural. I'm sure OL took me over to the street one day and I just kept coming back for more. You guys made it look so cool to be a CP (man was I fooled)

I know you won't be far away but I'm sure going to miss you. I'm going to miss the sarcastic IM conversations, who is going to keep my chair warm now during the stand ups?! Who will I go to if there are executor paperwork questions? I'm honestly too young to be going through the retirement of a good pal and I fear your partner in crime won't be far behind, then what will I do? How do you even begin to explain the awesomeness of the two Alice's? How would you even begin to tell that story?

We've shared so many laughs, most of the time at other's expenses, you got me to pick up books again, given solid advice pulled from your wise years, got me started on my blog and you know what? You are irreplaceable. I'm going to miss you. 

I hope you had a great last day, I wish Skinny and I's plans to keep you here would have worked a little better. But you've inspired us all that it's never to late to take a chance on happiness and follow your dreams. Good Luck Page Turner and I hope all your sweet dreams come true! 

This is going to be hard to look at for a while though, every time I walk by I'll make a bird call in your honor. It'll be hard to fill your seat.... no really, they have to talk to like several people and get corporate to agree that there is a business need to replace you, then it will have to go to a committee to be approved, then there will have to be a posting (with lackluster applicants) and then they will have to interview and take their pulse and make sure they have one before they put in a job offer..... I mean literally, it's going to be hard for them to replace you.

As you ride into your last sunset away from the Farm... Happy Trails Page Turner and best of luck! I'll see ya real soon.

Happy trails to you, until we meet again.
Happy trails to you, keep smilin' until then.
Who cares about the clouds when we're together?
Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.
Happy trails to you, 'till we meet again.

Some trails are happy ones,
Others are blue.
It's the way you ride the trail that counts,
Here's a happy one for you.

Happy trails to you, until we meet again.
Happy trails to you, keep smilin' until then.
Who cares about the clouds when we're together?
Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.

Happy trails to you, 'till we meet again.