Happy New Year

Just posted to Facebook: "has a simple resolution ... to make every day in 2012 count"

1. Loose 5 pounds ... seriously.
2. Slow down and enjoy things more.
3. Engage.
4. Run more, bike more, work out better.
5. Keep my day job.

Spoke to Siri today

So it has finally happened. I got the iPhone. I thought I wasn't due for an early upgrade until March 2012 but when my Berry, which I truly loved started eating batteries, I decided it was time.

So here I am. Typing on a tiny keyboard while my work computer reboots. To be honest, I could probably do most of my job right here on my phone. That's how cool the phone is and how easy my job is. Funny really.

Siri helped me get to Staples today to buy one last gift. She had helped me get to Walpole for a run on Sunday too but I hadn't asked her. Mapquest just started talking to me which was nice. I am trying not to be a junkie about it but it's hard because its so fun. I am a little obsessive about cleaning the screen though. This too shall pass.

Best.Work.Day.Ever

So I was 3/4 of the way to work this morning when I realized I had left my compute at home. Turned off of 128 and decided to work remotely again today. AWESOME sauce.

Last night I bumped my head while doing a handstand! It really hurts today but I am proud of myself for attempting it and then I did what I thought was impossible last week. The December challenge at Fitness by D is a crazy one, but I did it in 14:33. 10x 20# ball drop, 10x 35# KBS, and then 10x burpees 10x. So that's 100 of each if you just count like the rest of us. It was hard - especially the KBS which I usually like, but don't think I have done 35# before. I wasn't going to do it at all because the current winner had done it in 11:07 but I spoke with her at a party on Saturday and she said, "just don't stop" and I didn't, but it was hard.

Visited UNO land yesterday and it was a great visit, but I am so glad I didn't have to stick around. Miss the people (well most of them), no question, but not the stress. Love the flexibility of my new gig ... working at home is great. My boss is great. And the people I work with are all very nice and supportive even if I don't ever see them face-to-face.

Oh, and did I mention I pick up my Iphone today?

Attitude of Gratitude

I am thankful for the following things:

• My awesome 12-year-old daughter who is smarter and funnier than I ever imagined
• My crazy old dog and not-so-old cat who make every day more entertaining than it is when they are not around
• My good relationship with my ex husband because without him, life would be a lot more difficult
• My boring but well-paying job that affords me the ability to clean up after myself, literally and figuratively
• My health that continues to improve daily because I am working harder physically than ever before
• My friends—near and far, real and virtual—who provide support without always knowing it

And now, to enjoy the holiday season ... 6 weeks until 2012

Day Job

It is amazing to me that people get paid a lot of money to do what I do. Not that I am not good at it mind you, but a lot of the time, it's not that hard. I have no formal education for it, I keep getting paid more and more each time I make a move, and yet, it's never enough to make me feel like I am accomplishing anything.

What am I, you ask? Currently my title is Account Manager. In the past it has been Senior Manager, Account Executive, Project Manager, Packaging Specialist, and so on. I am a project manager. I try to help others help themselves and do their jobs. My ability to multi-task and schedule and remember more than one thing at a time makes me able to help clients, restaurant managers, creative folks and production people all get the information they need in a timely enough fashion that they can do their jobs. I am the one who is responsible for everything and nothing simultaneously.

I like what I do. I am good at it. I have learned over time that it's not personal (though some of you know I don't always practice what I preach). And truth be told, at the end of the day, most people like working with me because I help them get what they need ... even though most of the time, they don't know it : )

And today at work, I am just bored ... it always happens when I am new to a place because I just don't know what I don't know. I am trying to enjoy it because soon there will be days with no breaks from calls and no way to leave my desk. The best part about this new gig though, is that tomorrow, I work from home.

My friend Walter

He died a week ago today and his memorial service was yesterday. We were friends in the sense that when we saw each other we were happy to fall into a comfortable conversation about anything, but usually books and movies when we were on our own. He was older than me ... almost 20 years but still too young to die so soon though I do believe he is in a better place because I know he hadn't been himself for a while. Though I had known him almost 10 years, looking at the pictures that were around the room, I realized I barely knew him at all. When he first met his current wife, #3, (I met #1 yesterday and know #2 from Dedham), he looked like the Marlboro man! For the last few years, I mostly saw Walter walking his dog since I drive by his house

I think my biggest fear is that no one will come to my memorial service. And not because I don't believe I have friends and that I have affected their lives in one way or the other, but as the consumate project manager that I am, I fear that no one will find out the details and mostly because I don't know who will share the information ... whatever it may be. Looking at Walter's photos, I know that no one has that many photos of me, mostly because I never let my photo be taken in the old days, and often was the only photographer in the group, but also because my family, mostly my Mom, doesn't hold on to stuff that way.

I went to Legalzoom on Monday and started a will ... and haven't been back since. What makes it so difficult to make these arrangements? I am not worried I am dying tomorrow (though you never know about the big red bus) but I want to make sure that the details don't torture anyone else. Having been through it when my Dad died, I don't want Emma to have to deal with all that, but no one else either.

Don't know why I am even worried since I won't be here ...

Pumpkin Beer Addiction

It's really crazy how much I am enjoying the various types of pumpkin beers that are out right now. I am drinking a Shipyard Pumpkinhead right now which is delicious which could only be improved by being sipped out a chilled glass with a cinnamon-sugar rim, but that just seems excessive to do for one's self at home.

On the eve of yet another first day of a new job, I look back to the last week of vacation between jobs. What can I say? It was awesome. Packed a lot of fun and rest and all that good stuff. House is clean. Grocery shopping and laundry done and all I have to do is get up and go tomorrow.

Had a fun run with the TIR's today. It felt really good while I was doing it ... why don't I do it more on my own? I am hoping that the lack of soul-sucking from my day job will help me be more motivated about everything else I do. It's that busy time of year ... Emma's schedule and mine are conflicting but we'll figure it out.

Need to lose 5 pounds by Sunday morning ... MUST FOCUS and track! Practice what I preach and all that. PointsPlus2012 has a lot to offer. Glad I got a preview today. Try something new this week with the new job, the new commute and all that other new stuff.

Happy fall!