down with the sickness

So, I'm sick. It started in my throat and permeated (I love that word) throughout my head and chest within a day.

I admit that I was kind of complaining about it when I got into work on Monday morning, that is until I got a really big slap in the face (not literally, thank goodness) that put things in perspective. This week is our sector's Diversity and Inclusion week - which, I think, is sad that we need to remind our employees to celebrate diversity, but that's a completely different topic. Anyway, the speaker to kick off the week was a Holocaust survivor, Nesse Godin, who shared with us her story from when she was 13-17 years old during the Holocaust. It was amazing, inspiring, and horrific. I was completely enthralled with the fact that she did not feel the need to shock us in order to awe us. The stories she told could have been extremely worse, and although she alluded to certain sights she saw, and even shared anectdotes of specific days she remembers, she reminded us that some things are just better left unsaid.

Man, did I feel stupid after I left. Here I was whining because I missed ice cream after a meeting...

Now here I am, at 9 p.m., sipping on some theraflu, hoping to induce me into a drug-minded sleep. Just grateful for being alive! Grateful that I can appreciate diversity without someone telling me to do so. Hopeful that our world will never let anything like that happen again.

Can I change gears a little now? I'm also excited. I get to go to Texas this weekend for work (which means it's FREE!) and participate in an event for a few days. This is very important for me, as I'm kind of pinch hitting for my manager, who is unable to go. I know I'm expected to provide a lot of input and feedback, as I am representing her! So that's me putting on my corporate hat.

Then, the day after I get back from that, I get to let my (newly cut) hair down and throw on some flip flops, and head to Costa Rica for 5 days! I am especially excited about this trip, as I am going with Natasha, and although we have a structure in place of what we want to do - this is going to be a trip of relaxation and adventure. The things we have set to do are:

• Hike the Arenal volcano
• Zip line down the volcano
• Hot Springs/La Fortuna waterfall
• Canopy Tours
• Go to a banana plantation!
• Observe all 5 species of turtles on a Carribean coast beach

Did you know there are only 5 species of turtles in the world? I did not. But those are the things we are going to do - and everything else is just extra. My life is wonderful, how could I be complaining about a silly little cold? Pssh...

Happiness IS contagious!

Here's the question:

Is Happiness Catching?

Apparently, it very well could be. It's a rather lengthy (but very interesting) article surrounding the effect that your friends' moods and habits have on you.

Essentially happy friends=happy you.

Thus, I choose to be happy, if not for me, at least for the sake of those I love! :)

Say cheese!

This is what my Saturday night consisted of. I started volunteering for Aspen Dale Winery today, and got three free bottles of wine for doing so. Yes, I drank rose tonight. It is delicious. I paired it with a Gruyere and some Cabot sharp cheddar. You should really learn about/buy from this farmer's coop, it's really worthwhile to pay just the little extra to help the farmers who are busting their asses to stay in business - and they sell all over the world! Their horseradish cheddar is magnificent, and the habanero cheddar is magically delicious if you like it spicy.

Oh, I also ate the entire baguette...and drank almost the whole bottle of wine. It was gluttonously delicious. Although, I really do think that I'm getting to be a bit lactose intolerant, and my tummy has already started to retaliate. Good thing I didn't think about getting that ice cream I was pining for earlier as well.

I rented "Gigantic" with Zooey Deschanel. I'm not 100% positive I understood everything completely, so if anyone else has watched it, I would love to be enlightened as to what the premise might have actually been.

I'm going to bed now feeling slightly bloated and defeated - yet again, my cravings overpower what my body is telling me it wants. But I can't lie, it felt oh so good.

Buenas noches.

Welcome to Thursday Night

I used to look forward to Thursdays back in grad school as the beginning of my weekend. Now I usually dread them, as my work weeks tend to get busier as it progresses. Fridays always drive me to either relieve me stress through heated yoga, or drinking excessively. Obviously, the former is probably a more productive use of my time, and I do enjoy a nice Friday yoga session after a long week, but sometimes I am suckered into a happy hour turned into a night of overindulgence.

I really do have mixed feelings about drinking these days. While it is true that it can help you relax or loosen up. I am definitely more talkative and courageous after a few drinks. But sometimes I wonder, am I seriously incapable of doing that without the liquid courage? Why do I have a desire to alter the me that makes me, me? If that even makes sense. I mean, I like myself! I still like myself while drinking, and I don't think I'm one to change into a completely different personality while consuming the rum and diets...soooo, yeah. Who knows. That's just what I think right now. I'm sure it will change soon. And yet I continue to booze. Gah, I'm so hypocritical!



Speaking with Katie Barry tonight made me realize that I change my mind about everything in my life - sometimes I catch myself telling people that I think one way, and in my head I'm thinking "I have never thought that before...what possessed me to tell someone that that is my opinion/view of something?" Is that just me?! Probably. I need to stop saying things just to say them, and really think more about what I'm saying. I know I'm allowed to change my views, but I don't want to express something without actually believing that's what I think at the time at least.

WOW, I'm really not making much sense tonight. I'm listening to a musician called Adrianne right now. I just went to her myspace page to make the hyperlink, and I found out that she'll be playing in a small little venue by me! What luck. It's on a Tuesday, but I think I will still go. Maybe even by myself. I'm feeling a little saucy like that. I just listened to her song "Flashlight"

All I want tonight
is a friend who can love me
like a flashlight
Shine what's good in me
I've lost sight of it
You see
Shine on me

I like that part. That's what my friends do for me - they help me see the best parts of myself, which I often lose sight of. THANK YOU!

This blog has been so completely random. I apologize to whomever reads this, as I doubt you will be able to make much sense of it. Word vomit tends to be a recurring theme in these writings, but I guess since I'm not saying them, it would be...thought vomit? Yes, I will give you a moment to ponder the idea.


I'm getting a haircut tomorrow. I'm doing it up big time. It's going away. My tresses will be several inches shorter. You will all see. No mas of this long hair! :) It will be liberating. I'm just hoping it looks good too. One of my most listened to artists, Missy Higgins, is inspiring it: