My company is awesome in its celebration of all sorts of peoples- big, small, varying backgrounds, races, religions, as well as disabilities. We even have some focus right now on introverts. Managers have realized "hey, these techies aren't super social- maybe we should stop making them do embarrassing ice breakers and acting like they are friendly and help them work in a manner that fits their introverted real selves". I am social online, but I am actually an introvert. I hate forced social situations, and have to force myself to attend morale events for work.
Don't get me wrong, morale event planners- I appreciate your effort but I do not want to finish work, drive to Seattle and spend hours with my team (who I sometimes see more than my family) at a baseball game (which I do not enjoy) watching them drink (which I don't do) and if I am lucky, as the evening progresses they will drink more and more and begin to repeat themselves. I am happy to be around this behavior in people I am friends with- I'm a well known designated driver. But my coworkers? I'd rather have the afternoon off, thanks. If you want to morale boost me, let me spend BEFORE 3 pm not working with my coworkers. Or give me something I'd like. One team near me did no morale events and all got Kindle's for Christmas. WIN! I wish I was on that team. But alas, I am not.
Anyhow, the whole reason I am writing this post is because I was just clearing my calendar- I have lots to do and too many 'soft' meetings and trainings that I just don't have time for. One thing I cancelled was the Introvert Round Table, this was my big chance to connect with other people who don't want to connect. And I am just too introverted to do it.
:)
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Skinnybuns and the Trekking Ligers
Oh my goodness, I think I could write a children's book. The adventures of a girl with very skinny buns, and her sidekicks. They head out to walk a zillion (100- but still, that feels like a zillion) miles to raise funds for Oxfam.
Oxfam is not a family of oxen, though that would be adorable.
Oxfam's name comes from its origins- the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief. Oxford as in the place in the UK. Not as furry but still very important.
Their mission:
"Working with thousands of local partner organizations, we work with people living in poverty striving to exercise their human rights, assert their dignity as full citizens and take control of their lives."
Take control of their lives? YES! I love it! Human rights, a hand-up in getting out of poverty, all these things are important but taking control of their own lives- most important. That is the key to breaking the poverty cycle.
Anyhow, SkinnyBuns and Eagle Guru are joining a couple friends and they are going to walk 100 miles and they've been given 30 hours to do it. But that is not good enough for them because they're going to do it in 24 hours. (How do I know the Eagle Guru is somehow behind the reduction in time?). This hardly allows for stops to pet animals along the way or nap breaks, or anything of that sort. They shall have to entertain themselves with music and such. I shall provide them with a few of our favorite time killing family games from when we go walking. We trade off questions, among them are:
Anyhow, Skinnybuns is blogging here: http://trekkingligers.wordpress.com/ so you can read her goals and progress...
and their fundraiser page is here http://www.justgiving.com/TTL2013 (you will notice it's under her teammates name, Julie) if you are so inclined to support their effort. Remember, the funds go to the Oxfam's amazing work, not to the Trekking Ligers team shirts or after-race festivities. And Oxfam deserves the support.
Go Ligers!
 |
| Oxen mom and calf- a tiny oxen family. Cute, but not doing a whole lot of charity work.. |
Oxfam's name comes from its origins- the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief. Oxford as in the place in the UK. Not as furry but still very important.
Their mission:
"Working with thousands of local partner organizations, we work with people living in poverty striving to exercise their human rights, assert their dignity as full citizens and take control of their lives."
Take control of their lives? YES! I love it! Human rights, a hand-up in getting out of poverty, all these things are important but taking control of their own lives- most important. That is the key to breaking the poverty cycle.
Anyhow, SkinnyBuns and Eagle Guru are joining a couple friends and they are going to walk 100 miles and they've been given 30 hours to do it. But that is not good enough for them because they're going to do it in 24 hours. (How do I know the Eagle Guru is somehow behind the reduction in time?). This hardly allows for stops to pet animals along the way or nap breaks, or anything of that sort. They shall have to entertain themselves with music and such. I shall provide them with a few of our favorite time killing family games from when we go walking. We trade off questions, among them are:
- if you could be a
what would you be? - what is your favorite
- if you could eat anything right now what would it be?
- if you could have anything right now what would it be?
- if you could get a new car, what would you choose?
- if you had one wish (or 3, depends on how much time... and no you cannot wish for more wishes) what would you wish for
- if you could give one person something, what would it be
- if you could solve one world problem what would you fix?
- how do you think
could be fixed?
Anyhow, Skinnybuns is blogging here: http://trekkingligers.wordpress.com/ so you can read her goals and progress...
and their fundraiser page is here http://www.justgiving.com/TTL2013 (you will notice it's under her teammates name, Julie) if you are so inclined to support their effort. Remember, the funds go to the Oxfam's amazing work, not to the Trekking Ligers team shirts or after-race festivities. And Oxfam deserves the support.
Go Ligers!
Sleeping Olympics
Seriously, I do. I love it. Naps- yep. Snoozes? Yep! Night time- I am like a hibernating bear. Or wait- maybe a ferret.
I saw this video
When my kids were little, I'd sleep through their wake ups. Nightmare? Check with Daddy, I do not hear you. Crying? I'd ask my husband the next day what he was talking about when he described the crying and how he'd gotten up to soothe a screaming toddler. They could climb in my bed and I wouldn't wake up. In the morning I'd just wonder where they came from. Of course I am a kicker, so I am highly likely to give you the boot (literally boot/kick you HARD) if you encroach on my space in bed.
Anyhow, I've never used the sleep tracker on my fitbit. I tried, but didn't realize why it wasn't working- well the fitbit may be worn for step tracking on your belt, bra, pocket, or in your hair- but when you sleep it's wrist only. It comes with a nice little pouch and you just wear it to sleep. I was pretty certain I'd yank it off in my sleep, but I didn't.
The other challenge is you hold the button down for 3 seconds once you've crawled into bed and are ready to sleep. It looks like it's starting a timer, which really panicked me. "That can't be right!" I thought, but it is. Just hold it down- see a weird timer thing start and you are ready. I did this after reading, as I shut off the light.
Then I stared into the dark trying to see my wrist. What was my fitbit thinking? Was it judging me? Do I get extra steps for when I kick my hubby for snoring in the night? (answer- nope).
But it DID evaluate my sleep. And I got an A. 99% sleep efficiency. Of course, I *said* I love sleep. So I am going to do this more often, now that I know how to set it. And maybe someday fitbit will start ranking us against our friends for how awesome we sleep (because I am so far behind Skinnybuns in steps I could circle the earth and still not match her!). Ahhh yes, I've found my skill!
I saw this video
When my kids were little, I'd sleep through their wake ups. Nightmare? Check with Daddy, I do not hear you. Crying? I'd ask my husband the next day what he was talking about when he described the crying and how he'd gotten up to soothe a screaming toddler. They could climb in my bed and I wouldn't wake up. In the morning I'd just wonder where they came from. Of course I am a kicker, so I am highly likely to give you the boot (literally boot/kick you HARD) if you encroach on my space in bed.
Anyhow, I've never used the sleep tracker on my fitbit. I tried, but didn't realize why it wasn't working- well the fitbit may be worn for step tracking on your belt, bra, pocket, or in your hair- but when you sleep it's wrist only. It comes with a nice little pouch and you just wear it to sleep. I was pretty certain I'd yank it off in my sleep, but I didn't.
The other challenge is you hold the button down for 3 seconds once you've crawled into bed and are ready to sleep. It looks like it's starting a timer, which really panicked me. "That can't be right!" I thought, but it is. Just hold it down- see a weird timer thing start and you are ready. I did this after reading, as I shut off the light.
Then I stared into the dark trying to see my wrist. What was my fitbit thinking? Was it judging me? Do I get extra steps for when I kick my hubby for snoring in the night? (answer- nope).
But it DID evaluate my sleep. And I got an A. 99% sleep efficiency. Of course, I *said* I love sleep. So I am going to do this more often, now that I know how to set it. And maybe someday fitbit will start ranking us against our friends for how awesome we sleep (because I am so far behind Skinnybuns in steps I could circle the earth and still not match her!). Ahhh yes, I've found my skill!
Monday, February 25, 2013
Welcome to Holland
In my doctor's office, on the wall, is a story about disability. It was originally written by the mother of an autistic child, but it applies to anyone whose life may not be the life they thought they'd have or planned to have. My life has been different than I planned, or expected, but I love it. I wouldn't trade my friends or life for the one I dreamed of, despite it all. By the way, I've been to Holland- it's magnificent!
Welcome to Holland
When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting. After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."
"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."
But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay. The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place. So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.
It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts. But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned." And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.
But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.
Emily Perl Kingsley 1987
Welcome to Holland
When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting. After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."
"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."
But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay. The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place. So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.
It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts. But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned." And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.
But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.
Emily Perl Kingsley 1987
Friday, February 22, 2013
You're Fired!
I have to fire someone. She's been working for me, but here are a few of her issues:
- She doesn't do what she promises
- She's super full of excuses
- She gets mad when she doesn't get promoted/see improvement (even though she's not doing the work)
- She's inaccurate with her counting and numbers
and she's me.
I'd never treat my paid job or my job as wife, mom, horse mom, pet mom, or otherwise this badly- why am I doing this for the most important job I have? I am the only one who can do the job of taking care of my health, getting back to goal weight and getting in shape. And I've not been a great employee. But I can't fire myself so it's time to plan for improvement.
I got a great tip from a work friend who I shall call Little Momma because she's having like her 3rd kid and she's one of those pregnant gals who has a fit cute figure with a baby belly on it. Seriously, if I had to be pregnant I'd want to be her. But she is very disciplined, so I am utilizing her brilliant ideas.
Here's one- she has a reminder pop up every day early in the morning on her Outlook calendar. It's called GOALS and has a list of things she wants to do (exercise, etc) and things to remember. I set one up for myself- I'll share it here.
Hopefully this is a start to getting back on track and being a good employee to myself :)
You want one too? just click here for instructions on setting a recurring appointment in Outlook. (I did set mine to "private" by clicking the tiny lock symbol, just so everyone at work won't see my goals.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Seriously do NOT feed the Birds at Mt Rainier
Crows and ravens (my two favorite birds) walk, not hop. I've always loved the way they walk along, with their little feather pants fluffed out. I can't resist feeding them. So much so that this weekend I got a flipping TICKET at Mt Rainier for feeding the birds.
I went to Mt Rainier on Saturday in one of 8 cars full of teenagers, a day trip to go sledding and have a parking lot hot dog cookout (boiled, not fire). I wore my pedometer and only managed about 3500 steps on the outing because I was really there to cook and coordinate. But seriously- no good deed goes unpunished so when we had a break from sledding my hubby threw some dog food out for the ravens to snack on. We were enjoying watching them when a Ranger car pulled up.
Earlier that day a Ranger had asked a few of our less-obedient kids to stop sledding in a "no sledding zone" and of course we complied. This gal was so nice she posed with a broken no-sledding sign for me (our kids did not break the sign, just for the record).
So, flash back to the parking lot- Ranger pulls up and we assume he's ticked we fed the birds. We're anticipating a warning, maybe he makes us clean up the tiny pile of food.
No such luck. Not only does he CALL FOR BACKUP but he gets out and loudly asks "DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS??!!" and points to the ground as if he's inquiring about a dead baby. My husband immediately admits we fed the birds, and offers to clean it up.
Crabby Ranger proceeds to take his driver's license and go to his car, after telling my husband and I about how they cannot just warn us- this is VERY serious and we'll be getting a ticket. At this point I am in shock- they're wasting TWO cars to ticket someone from a church group for FEEDING A BIRD? I wasn't sneaking marmots out of the park for pete's sake. And there wasn't a flock of birds eating, so don't act like I was drawing attention. There were about 2 ravens max. Oh and the other birds were eating from trash cans and other visitor's cars.
He tells hubby to clean up the food, so I go get a plastic bag and hubby on hands and knees cleans up the dog food. Never mind the raven who insists on walking around the crime scene eating bits right in front of us all, almost sending my daughter and I into fits of laughter.
Then Ranger Crabby proceeds to lecture us about how animals starve after they become dependent on people. Yeah, yeah- nature nature. We know the story. But I am pretty educated when it comes to Corvids and I assure you they're not only smarter than the guy who gave us a ticket they are amazingly self reliant, humans or not. Then he starts telling us foxes are going to come ("foxes?!!where!" I try not to yell) and they are all going to be HIT BY CARS because of us.
I realize feeding animals is probably against the rules. And I can even understand scolding us or lecturing us but calling for backup and giving us a ticket for $125 seemed like overkill... all on a day I gave my time to volunteer with a bunch of teenagers. My mom would say no good deed goes unpunished!
Here's a pic I snapped while we were ticketed.... I guess we'll feed the ravens nevermore.
I went to Mt Rainier on Saturday in one of 8 cars full of teenagers, a day trip to go sledding and have a parking lot hot dog cookout (boiled, not fire). I wore my pedometer and only managed about 3500 steps on the outing because I was really there to cook and coordinate. But seriously- no good deed goes unpunished so when we had a break from sledding my hubby threw some dog food out for the ravens to snack on. We were enjoying watching them when a Ranger car pulled up.
 |
| Nice Ranger dutifully shoos kids from the No Sledding Zone |
So, flash back to the parking lot- Ranger pulls up and we assume he's ticked we fed the birds. We're anticipating a warning, maybe he makes us clean up the tiny pile of food.
No such luck. Not only does he CALL FOR BACKUP but he gets out and loudly asks "DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS??!!" and points to the ground as if he's inquiring about a dead baby. My husband immediately admits we fed the birds, and offers to clean it up.
Crabby Ranger proceeds to take his driver's license and go to his car, after telling my husband and I about how they cannot just warn us- this is VERY serious and we'll be getting a ticket. At this point I am in shock- they're wasting TWO cars to ticket someone from a church group for FEEDING A BIRD? I wasn't sneaking marmots out of the park for pete's sake. And there wasn't a flock of birds eating, so don't act like I was drawing attention. There were about 2 ravens max. Oh and the other birds were eating from trash cans and other visitor's cars.
He tells hubby to clean up the food, so I go get a plastic bag and hubby on hands and knees cleans up the dog food. Never mind the raven who insists on walking around the crime scene eating bits right in front of us all, almost sending my daughter and I into fits of laughter.
Then Ranger Crabby proceeds to lecture us about how animals starve after they become dependent on people. Yeah, yeah- nature nature. We know the story. But I am pretty educated when it comes to Corvids and I assure you they're not only smarter than the guy who gave us a ticket they are amazingly self reliant, humans or not. Then he starts telling us foxes are going to come ("foxes?!!where!" I try not to yell) and they are all going to be HIT BY CARS because of us.
I realize feeding animals is probably against the rules. And I can even understand scolding us or lecturing us but calling for backup and giving us a ticket for $125 seemed like overkill... all on a day I gave my time to volunteer with a bunch of teenagers. My mom would say no good deed goes unpunished!
Here's a pic I snapped while we were ticketed.... I guess we'll feed the ravens nevermore.
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