Thoughts on the plane

I travelled to California this week. I went out there to interview for the Presidency of my national professional association - same thing I went after last year and didn't get. Maybe this year is my year - if not, I'm not trying again. Anyway - I had lots of things running through my head while I was on the plane, so I wrote them down, planning to post them on my blog when I got home. So - here it is, as written, no editing (except to protect the innocent). It's really just a stream of thoughts.

I'm on a plan. Flying west. Feeling lost, scared, nervous. I'm out of my element. Missing A. I'mnot the same person I was before him - not as independent and self-reliant. I wonder where she went - that woman I was. But I love who I am now. Wife, partner, friend, lover. I am a better me with him. It's not easy to be apart from him. I want to do this. It's scary. It means more to me than last year maybe. Is that an advantage? I will be the outsider tomorrow night - not part of the in group. I'll feel welcome, but a little odd. Need to put on that persona - the at ease, confident woman they expect. I hope that made the trip wiht me. It will be okay as soon as I'm with everyon. I'm sure I'll fall into the groove. Is she really me? Will I be ready tomorrow? Will I impress? I need to practice, find the second me, not the scared lonely me who is missing her other half.

Later - I got a little more practical. You have to understand that when I have a big presentation or something like this interview, I feel that if I look my best, all put-together, then I don't worry about that and I feel more at ease going in - you know - not all focused on "will they notice how flat my hair is" kind of thing. I also look for omens - I'm superstitious. So - here are the rest of my thoughts from my trip, from right before I went in for my interview.

Cell phone dead. Two nail chips - can only band-aid one. Too much mousse, sticky hairspray - but looks okay - just kind of stiff. Dolphins! So - good omens or bad? Anderson Cooper is funny, but it's weird to watch "live" shows that are taped.

And, off I went. I think I did a good job in the interview, but who knows. So much of this is whether or not you are the type of person they are looking for to lead the group. Hopefully I fit the bill this year. If not, well, I'll just indulge in some retail therapy.

I'm still here

I've just been busy. I've thought of multiple subjects that would make good posts - but haven't had time to follow through. My fave - and I will get to it - is the subject of visible panty lines. There's always my driving pet peeves and photos and rants. I'll be back - not until the weekend though. I leave tomorrow for Laguna Beach. Before you go getting all jealous - I am flying most of tomorrow, will be busy in the morning and will have only Thursday afternoon to enjoy the scenery before heading home Friday morning.

Happiness is...

...being able to sleep in - which is what I'm hoping for on Saturday - so someone tell my dog please. I'm glad it's hump day. Tonight is the last of the meetings for the week - thank God. The last two have each gone until 10 pm - that's tiring. I can't get home and drop right off to sleep on those nights.

Happiness is also getting to work on a deal that will be good for the Town. We have the potential to save a decent chunk of money over the next few years by refunding some of our debt. It means some extra work for me during one of the busiest times of the year, but the payoff is worth it. This is the finance geek in me coming through.

Lastly, this week - happiness is my husband making a commitment to get in shape. I think he really means it this time. I really hope he does. His weight is not healthy - particularly not considering the work he does.

Christmas is over...and other thoughts

I went for a walk today - actually two walks. While walking around my neighborhood, I couldn't get over how many people still have their Christmas decorations out. Not winter stuff, but the wreaths, the Santa flags, the reindeer - that kind of stuff. I can't tell you how many! Literally - I can't tell you because I didn't count - but the point is - Christmas is over people! Heck, it's almost Valentine's Day.

On the first walk, I took the dog. Boomer is mainly white. When snow is melting, the ground is kind of muddy, spits that stuff up. So - white dog, mud spray - you get the picture. He loved it though.

I think Mother Nature is messing with us. No way is winter over. She's just trying to lull us into a false sense of security - then WHAM - we're going to get hit with more snow. It will be sad.

We have grass in our backyard. I had forgotten. It had been so long since the yard was anything but a blanket of white!

I'm watching the pro bowl. Football's last gasp for the year. Good thing pitchers and catchers report soon - it gives me something to look forward to.

Oh - speaking of baseball - not sure which is my favorite - A-Fraud, A-Roid or A-R*d. He's not exactly my favorite - that would be Derek Jeter - but I always respected that he achieved what he did naturally. So much for that.

Update on the diet

It's been a while since I talked about weight loss. I hit my goal weight almost 6 months ago. I've been able to stay actually a couple of pounds below it for all this time. I did notice that, with the help of a couple of events, I had crept up a little - not even a full pound - but that little bit made me say - WHOA! I have lost that same 15 pounds at least 4 or 5 times in the last 15 years. I want this to be the last time. So, I'm back to one of the WW basics - the food diary. I have to say it's helping. I'm very conscious of what I'm eating. I've got to get active again. It's hard during the winter when I have so many night meetings. I've got to squeeze exercise, along with housework, time with A, projects, all of that into precious little free time in the winter. The milder weather this weekend will help. It looks like the next week will be decent enough that I will be willing to walk at lunchtime. Another alternative is this new ropeless jump rope I got - just need to hook up the DVD so I can watch the how-to video. And I do have a Wii fit. I like it - but I don't think the fit program provides the level of cardio that I want. So I'm looking for other options. Anyway, I'm bound and determined not to gain back the weight this time and being active is key in that.

Friday Photos

Just thinking spring with the flowers here. Plus I've been too busy to take photos this week.

A day late but..Happiness is...

...the forecast for the weekend - 50 degrees! WOOOHOOO! Life is crazy busy due to work - but I think I will get some relaxation time this weekend - so I can do stuff around the house. But - I will be outside walking, getting some exercise, getting the Boom Doggie some exercise and just loving the break from the dregs of winter.

Time for a Boomer Post

I cheated on Boomer Sunday. He knows it too. I went to a friend's house for a Super Bowl party. They have a cute basset hound puppy. I let Bentley sit on my lap. When I got home, Boomer did the sniff test. I failed. He still loves me though.

A & I did a little teasing thing to Boomer a couple of times lately. I had been outside with Boomer when A came down to breakfast. Being a dog, therefore being vertically challenged and unable to see over the counter, Boomer couldn't see A sitting in the dining room. I told Boomer to go find A. He understood and went into the living room, then tore up the stairs and raced around the bedroom looking for A. He then came downstairs again, confused, then went to check the dining room. We did it to him a second time with the same results. Mean - I know. Today, I decided to try it again. Well - he learned from the last two times and did not go racing up the stairs to find A - he looked in the living room first, then went to the dining room. Gotcha! A was still in bed. I know - shouldn't tease the poor dog. He's such a love!

He gets so excited to eat his meals. It's kind of cute. But I wonder where it comes from. I think back to him being abandoned in a park and wonder if that poor little puppy thought he was never going to eat again, so maybe that's why he's so freakin' excited to eat everyday. Or maybe he just loves to eat. And he loves his treats. He sticks to me like glue when I'm leaving for work. It's not because he's sad at the prospect of me leaving him. I give him a treat when I leave. He loves these things. We have a little routine where he gives me his right paw, then his left paw, then he lies down and I give him the treat. You should see him start trying to give me his paw as soon as I approach the cabinet. And damn can that dog rush through pawpawdown - lickety split I tell ya'!

Anyway - despite the pain that it can be to suit up to take him out to do business in the middle of the winter with 6 inches of snow on the ground - I love the Boom Doggie.