busy and tired!

today's update:

last night was one of those nights that when you wake up you wonder what the heck happened and where was the smart part of your brain? I am paying for it today.

In brighter and moving-on news, tonight is the office Holiday Party, my office is full of raffle baskets, I have a cable box that records tv shows so I can fast forward during commercials, I lost another pound, I went for a bike ride yesterday, Adam put letters of resignation in to both his jobs, I bought a blue tooth from my coworker, I have a NEW COMPUTER, and I am very, very tired.

More later. Today is crazy. Tomorrow is movie night. Then weekend. Thankkkk goodness.

work and sister

I mailed 1500 copies of the most recent newsletter to my clients last week, so this week I am swamped at work with finalizing the events and registering participants. I use junky old excel spreadsheets that I formulate - which are fine for your basic stuff, but don't do half the things I need to do (for a very simple example: print mailing labels, make payment invoices, etc.) Anyways, so it's a busy time for me at work, plus I am co-in-charge of our holiday party which is TOMORROW, so my office looks like drunken frat boys broke into Santa's workshop and went crazy. Not to mention, this is piled on top of birthday decorations that I just haven't had time to take down. I haven't checked my phone messages yet today either. Yikes.

My dad sent me a few photos from the turkey tournament from this weekend. They're pretty spiffy. Ladies and gentlemen, my little soccer playin' sister Rosie:

needle felting

So for my bday I got some Alamitos Bay gift cards, and I went down there..bought some yarn, and some needle felting tools - just for kicks. Then I was talking to a coworker, who ordered a coin purse for her sister with "princess" embroidered on one side, and a crown on the other and I had an epiphany for how I would do the crown! Here I come, needle felting!
woohoo.
I finished a pair of socks yesterday - a project that has been half done for about 3 years. Man. They're cute. I also have a child sized scarf I am almost done with - I think I want to weave some other colors through the white yarn. I am also working on a purple bag - which I plan on felting and then incorporating needle felting and beading into. Then there's NV's sister's gift, Reggie's kufi, and the other half to the manos del uruguay pair of fingerless gloves.

Good night for projects.
Oooh - also a good night for making things with my new Magic Bullet - I made guacamole and a smoothie yesterday and am excited to make more. I wish I was more creative - all I can think of is throwing in fruit. Any ideas for fancy blending, anyone?

survey time!

I felt like wasting some time today, so here is a survey that will hopefully provide some insight into ROYA: THE HUMAN BEING.


What is the best part of your job?
Getting to travel for work.
Are you touchy feely?
I am definitly in that end of the spectrum, yes
Are you Irish in any way?
I think so - although my Grandma always made us go to the Scottish games, so...
What last made you laugh?
Adam's explanation of the dogpoop and blanket incident this morning.
Have you ever drank Jack Daniels?
yes
When was the last time you got a good workout?
I went for a bike ride yesterday
What were you doing at 11:59 pm last Friday night?
I was probably asleep. Last Friday was my birthday, we got back from dinner around 11 and I headed for bed.
Is your bedroom window open?
Nope, it's cold!
Who is your favorite person to have a serious conversation with?
Serious conversations with Adam have been my thrill for the past 4 years.
Whats the last thing you said and to who?"
"you bankers are ridiculous" directed to Stacy, a coworker
Does talking about sex make you uncomfortable?
I am all for akward conversations.
Do you remember the person you first kissed?
Joshua Karl Engle, I was 14 years old.
Have you ever kissed someone you weren't dating?
Yup. But hey, that's what the train ride back from NBTSC is all about. ;)
Do you like sharpies?
Especially the silver ones.
Kissed someone that had a gf/bf?
Yessiree.
Ever kissed someone younger than you?
Yes.
Older than you?
Every day!
Have you ever kissed someone you didn't like?
Yeah - it was actually one of those in-the-movies-revelationary moments. I kissed him, realized I didn't like him, and never kissed him again!
Do you regret your last kiss?
No way man.
hats the last thing you did?
Read an intern's application.
What time did you get up today?
7:30am.
What are you listening to currently?
My officemate complain about being cold, one of the banker's make loud phone calls, and people out near the reception desk.
What is the status of you and the last person you texted?
My "work mama" Pam - whose birthday it is today.
Whats wrong with you right now?
I am not at liberty to say.
When did you last cry?
yesterday. but it wasn't a lot of cry. Just a little. I was mad.
Who/what do you hate?
Anyone else driving on the road with me. I have road rage kinda bad.
What do you want back in your life right now?
Alaska.
Are you happy?
For the most part.
What do you smell like?
My shampoo is lavendar, my conditioner is coconut, my perfume is Calvin Klein. You do the math.
What’s your favorite thing to have on your bed?
su madre.
Do you tend to make relationships complicated?
noooooooooooo not meeeeeeee not at allllll
How do you feel about the person you got this survey from?
She's my little sister. I adore her guts.
What’s something you wish you could understand better?
other languages and adam.
What is the last movie you watched?
In the theater - Role Models. At home - I saw part of Men in Black last night. The day before I watched a Knights Tale.
What are you excited about?
Marina's wedding, Adam starting police academy, riding my bike
Do you want something you can't have?
yes
What’s on your mind right now?
How to help Adam eat really healthy, movie night (for work), and my extreme lack of fundage.
Who was the last person to make you cry?
probably Adam. he makes me the most frustrated. :)
Do you trust people easily?
yes
Do you think you'll be married in 10 years?
yes
Whose next to you?
Rosie, my office mate, is behind me.
Who was the last missed call?
My dad
Do you plan on moving out within the next year?
I think I am staying put for at least another year. Then Adam and I will see.
What happened at 10:00 am today?
I was calling all of my movie night clients.
What is a realization that you have come to?
I need to get outdoors.

gray outside

Just a quick update - it's gray and cold outside, strangely unmotivating. It was hard to get out of bed this morning. I've been feeling a little -flat- lately... needing something to happen to distinguish my days or my life, or my..something. Thanksgiving was nice. Eating dinner on my birthday was nice too. The 40 minute bike ride I went on yesterday was fiercely blissful. I was angry yesterday, and frustrated, and didn't want to sit and stew at home, so I got on my bike. It was almost sunset, and cold, and I enjoyed the parts where I had to work hard over the gravel surfaces of ghetto HB and I enjoyed the hill on Gothard where I didn't pedal and just felt wind. I rode for about 40 minutes and didn't notice the time. When I got back my cheeks were pink and I felt like I'd worked out, even though I didn't feel like it while I was riding.

Then Adam and I carved the turkey I'd roasted - oh - yeah, did I mentioned I roasted a whole turkey yesterday? Criminey. Turkeys are huge. I was fine until I reached in to pull out the neck. I felt violently ill, and threw it across the room into the sink. Then I went to the front yard, jumped up and down and squealed a little to get out my disgust, and then went back inside and dealt with it. The turkey was a little overcooked I think - and next time I'd add more spices. But we now have a ton of meat for leftovers.

Thanksgiving/birthday weekend

This week has been very, very full. So full I haven't had two seconds to process, much less write on here. Thursday, Thanksgiving, we went to my mom's with my extended family, then to Adam's aunt's with his family, then back to my mom's and then bowling with my family again. I was really proud of Adam and I. Typically, holidays come with a fair amount of stress - from everything from just sharing the mirror to figuring out timing of when we leave one family to go to the other, to feeling neglected or left out at the other person's family, etc. But last year I made some resolutions about getting through what is supposed to be a happy day of thankfulness and family, and I am so thrilled to say it was perfect.

Part of what made it better is that Adam is getting more comfortable with my family, so that helps tremendously. Also, I made a point to not be touchy or sensitive about ANYTHING, no matter how stressed I might be. It felt good feeling almost like I was...outsmarting him. Does that make sense? I don't mean it maliciously, I just mean - it was nice to feel like I had control over how pleasant the day was. I could look beyond my own petty wants, and make everything fun.

Friday was my birthday - I did absolutely nothing all day, then went out shopping with my sister/mom, went to my sister's soccer tournament, and then went out for dinner with Amber, Adam, Daniel and family. It was really nice, really fun and low key - Amber, Rosie, and Roxana got me YARN gift certificates, Adam got me diamond earrings and a BIKE, and my family got me the game Hive, and the coolest blender ever (yes, a blender, hush, I am thrilled). Oh, also Roxana made me the coolest CD of "shower songs."

Then yessstterrrday...I spent all day studying for my psychology test, took that, and then went to the Alamitos Bay Yarn Company and knitted there for a while. I got a needle felting kit, which will be fun to use, and some manos del uruguay and lamb's pride wool/mohair. Very very yummy. After that I went running for a while in Seal Beach, then went home and got ready to go see Tom Russell at McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Monica. Adam and I met Linda and John Wilson, and Tracy and Matt there (all the director/co director of the daycare I used to work at and their husbands) at a mexican restaurant, then we went and listened to the absolutely wonderful southwestern crooning of Mr. Russell.

Today I did dishes, half a load of laundry, grocery shopping, finished a scarf and a pair of socks, and am roasting a whole turkey! It's crazy. I've never cooked a whole animal before. :P It smells really good - I hope I don't screw it up. It's got an hour and a half left to cook and I am resisting the temptation of opening up the oven to look at it.

The rest of the day holds finishing laundry, eating turkey, going bike riding or running, maybe going to my sister's soccer game, maybe going shopping with my mom, and then Sunday night tv with the boyfriend. Tomorrow it's back to work as usual.

I've of course been taking photos of all of this - so as soon as I can I will put up the illustrations. :)

birthdays at work

So my place o' employment has the tradition that the night before someone's birthday, their friends/supervisors stay a little late and decorate their office for them. That way, when the birthday person gets into the office the next morning, they are greeted by streamers, balloons, etc. I've seen some entertaining office decor before - top prize goes to Emily and myself for filling Monice's office top to bottom with balloons, and then ceran-wrapping them in to the cubicle. I'd say second prize goes to yours truly for Emily's office, just due to the sheer difficulty she had in finding her computer and chair under the streamers. I shoulda known payback was coming.

So the day after tomorrow is my birthday, but since we have thanksgiving tomorrow, they decorated my office for me this morning. I completely forgot about that, until I walked into the office and it looks like a clown exploded. There are streamers. Balloons. Ribbons. Bows. Banners. And confetti like you w0uld not believe. To top that off, Rosie made me a sash and a crown that I have to wear all day. I will post photos eventually.

I just wanted to write this post right now, even without the photographic evidence, because I was feeling sort of down the last few days, and this picked me right up. Three cheers for Rosie and Emily. It's good to have friends.