Sunshine

What a glorious weekend we had here. I was definitely beginning to feel spring fever before this weekend, but after this weekend it's in full force! We had blue skies and decent temperatures, what a blessing.

John and I went to Target and wandered around looking at everything and spending like $10 after an hour or so of browsing, then we hit Fred Meyer where John read a magazine and I wandered around the store. After subway for lunch we both wanted to spend some time outside, so we went over to my MIL's and kidnapped her doggies (2 of the cutest shih tzus ever) and took them to the dog park in our neighborhood.

The "girls" had a great time sniffing other doggie hind ends and trying out a new place to go to the bathroom. At first they were a little nervous, but then they started to have fun and seemed to really enjoy being out.

I got to enjoy sunshine and good conversation today when I went on a walk with two of my friends. Sarah and I walked in Baxter Bog which I'd recommend - it was a great walk, and then Bean and I walked up to our neighborhood lake.

Anyway ... I'm mostly caught up on laundry and enjoying a somewhat clean house...so all is wonderful!

Valentines Day and other stuff

So today was the first day of my new job. It went really well - there's so much to learn (you know the typical learning curve) but I think I'm going to really like it. The people that I met were wonderful - good times.

I spent Saturday in Juneau over the weekend. It was way too beautiful. It was totally clear out and about 25 degrees - perfect winter weather. I was there for work so I spent most of the day taking minutes for a meeting (oh so exciting) but then we headed out to the glacier and drove around town a bit. That night we went to the Wearable Art Show -very exciting a super cool show. I would recommend it to anyone - the pieces that people were modeling were incredible. So yeah - I spent Valentine's Day away from my sweetie...but we made up for it today. We're adjusting to our crazy schedules and trying to spend as much time together as we can when he's home. Life is always interesting around here.

Last Day Reflections

Though it's not technically my "last day" I feel like it is. I'll be back at work next Friday, but I won't have my desk, or my "stuff" anymore. weird.

I have worked for Girl Scouts for the last 6 years and it was pretty much my first job out of college. I had worked as a nanny, waitress, receptionist and in retail until I got this job, so it was my first big girl job. And wow - I learned a lot about work ethic, professionalism and how to get along with people that are nothing like me. It's been fun. I've made amazing friends - and I will especially miss my office mate - Marlene. She has made it fun to come to work every day.

But today as I'm thinking about starting a new job on Monday - I'm also thinking about the fun I'm leaving behind. An office that you can burst into laughter in, listen to the radio and try to win those dumb tickets to the Nutcracker, duck into the CEO's office to vent a bit, check your personal email now and then without getting in trouble, wear clothes that don't quite go together if you haven't yet done laundry...it's just flexible, and I'm going to miss that.

I'll miss how hot it is in the summer, and complaining about sweating in my work clothes, I'll miss going to the coastal trail at lunch because I'm so close, I'll miss going home whenever I need to because it's right around the corner...sigh.

I'm not going to cry - I'm not. So there.

Stress - go away!

I'm one of those lucky people that has visible stress. I think most people visibly show stress - and it might come out in huge sighs, yelling fits, folding into oneself...and many other ways. My stress is coming out physically. When I'm stressed - you won't really find my crying in a corner, yelling at anyone, hiding out forever, but you will see it when you look at me.

Why you may ask?

Because - I like to grown giant, nasty cold sores on my bottom lip. That's right - 2 in the last 2 weeks. And that's not all...I also like to magically grow grey hairs and add pounds to my middle. So when you see me, it will be clear I'm stressed.

AAAAAA - but here's the deal, I know that God will get me through the next few weeks as I transition and I know HE IS FAITHFUL...and I know that I need to trust that. So there it is Lord - I am giving it all back to you again...and I'm trusting that you'll help me leave it there.

Here's my tip for anyone undergoing stress - keep exercising. I stopped after Wednesday last week because it just seemed like "one more thing" that I was responsible for...and guess what, it was awful. Hitting the gym, treadmill, walking outside whatever it is you do to keep in shape (or try to get there) is so worth the time when you are feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders. Plus it's a great time to pray and leave those issues at God's feet..walking away with your body feeling reinvigorated and your hands free of those burdens. I'm preaching to myself here...

Wow this is one all over the place blog...and anyone who knows me knows it sounds just like me!

This just in

This is big (I mean BIG) news. I accepted a job with Crisis Pregnancy Center and start there on February 16. I am very excited for the new adventure and for the new pace of work. The job is part time (I have Fridays) off and I'm really looking forward to having that extra day off this summer.

I will miss my friends at Girl Scouts - I've worked here 6 years and it's going to be hard to leave, I actually cried when I gave my notice. My co-worker Marlene is like my work spouse and it will feel like the left side of my body (the side she's usually on) got cut off. I'm going to be doing some contract work for them through March to help with a project I've been working on so I'll be around some. It's going to be a somewhat stressful transition, but I'm looking forward to being on the other side of this.

In other news - I am usually a "throw it away as soon as the date is old" kind of Nazi in my fridge. But lately (considering that I will be making about half my usual paycheck) I've been thinking of how we can economize and I thought - maybe eating that yogurt with the "sell by January 15" stamp isn't so bad. So I've been eating it for the whole week - and guess what? I haven't died or even have one little cramp. Interesting. I think I might chance it on a few other things as well - within reason of course. I just feel so bad throwing any food away - and since i have some rubbery celery and carrots to use up I think I'll pick up a chicken at Costco tonight and make up a pot of chicken noodle...watch out celery and carrots you're about to get eaten.

Fun at the dentist

So I went to the dentist yesterday for a cleaning and of course it was time to have an exam too. Fun. It's not that the dentist hurts or anything it's just that every time I go he finds something wrong. Seriously - I am beginning to think it's a hereditary thing or something...or at least I'm telling myself that. I have "great gums" but Jeni and know how great "great" is! :) (sorry for the inside joke to those of you on the outside but I coudln't resist) so at least my teeth aren't in danger of just falling out when my gums give out. I won't go into the down and dirty of what's wrong with my stupid teeth...it's a long list...but I will tell you about the weirdest thing.

So we're looking at the x-rays and my dentist says "there's nothing going on with your impacted canine tooth - I always like to make sure of that."

Stephanie says: "my impacted canine tooth?"

Dentist says: "Yes - I've shown it to before, see here where it's lodged in your mouth but it hasn't moved and it isn't infected, it's just hanging out in your gums."

Stephanie thinks to herself: interesting, I have been going to this dentist for eight or so years and never once has he mentioned that I had an impacted canine tooth. It makes sense considering that I have never had a single tooth pulled and yet am missing 5. it is good to know that it's there...I mean at least one of them is hanging out. Good thing I have a smallish mouth or I would have the spaciest smile ever.

Stephanie says: "so it's there, it just never came out?"

Dentist says: "yes, haven't you noticed it in the x-ray before?"

Stephanie thinks to herself: yes, I am an expert at reading x-rays and spend much time in my file looking at everything. (side note: why do they guard your file at the doctor and dentist when you're there - I WANT to see it, you know?)

Stephanie says: "no, I guess I never noticed it before."

Dentist says: "So also you're going to need a little maintenance on this filling, oh and a crown on this tooth over here..."

Uh-huh. A crown. Gross. Thank the Lord for insurance (seriously...thank you God!)

Awana Grand Prix

I had a great time at Awana tonight - it was one of those rare nights where you could enjoy the kids and talk to the adults and not get in trouble for doing so!

The kids and their parents made cars to race in the great Grand Prix - they were rated based on speed and creativity. I don't know how people think of some of the ideas they come up with for themes of their cars, it's pretty incredible. I didn't make a car, but I did root for a few of the underdogs. I gotta admit, I really want the kids who don't win much to win - I always vote for them. I've never been very competitive so it's always fun when the kids who don't get upset over not winning win! YAY! I'm not competitive, but I do like to be right! Ask anyone who knows me.

We have a new pastor at church, and I have really enjoyed getting to know his wife. She's like another mom-type to bounce things off of and I'm always thankful to have women like that in my life. We chatted quite a bit tonight - there's so many things I appreciate about her and I'm looking forward to them being around for quite a while.

Wipe Out

Have you seen that show "Wipe out?" I watched it for the first time tonight - I laughed my head off. It's a funny show with people competing in this insane obstacle course. The guys doing the commentary were really making me laugh. It reminded me of this time my friends and I taped a couple of guys trying to get their car out of the mud. It was so funny, we were videoing them out of a window and one of my friends put the "Last of the Mohecan" ( really have no idea how to spell that) soundtrack on in the background. We talked for these two guys and laughed so hard. They eventually noticed us taping and started to perform...so we quit taping. But it was fun while it lasted, and Wipe Out might be as funny as we were.

We went to Disneyland over the weekend and had a great time. Each time I go, I think of new strategies that might make it even more fun. This time my tip is not to let Stephanie pick out the hotel. We were 1.5 miles away from the park. Fine when we were walking there in the morning, not so fun after a day of walking. The weather was great - it couldn't have been better, and we had such a great time together. I love my husband. I'm just saying.

Home again and back to regular life. Laundry is mostly done, and I'm about to put nice clean fresh sheets on our bed...ahhhh...who doesn't love clean sheets?