Here's a photo of one of the {many} panhandlers we saw in Seattle - he certainly was the most creative!
One of the nicest things about having this blog is its ability to allow me to look back. Hard to believe that just a year ago, I was working at {Big NY Investment Bank} nervously waiting for {Little Philly Co} to make me an offer to return. Wow, that seems like ages ago! On Halloween last year, I left early to have dinner with my dad and sister, completely screwed something up at work, and got my team royally pissed off at me, right before I (out of the blue, in their eyes) quit to work at my old job.
Ah, those were the days. UM, NOT!
I can barely keep track of my virtual self these days!! I finally caved and signed up for facebook this morning. Jen just threw a sheep at me!!! I've gotten a bunch of emails and posts on my "wall" today - yeah, real productive day of working at home. It seems like a fun server, but how many of these can I really keep up with? Myspace was fun for the first week or two and I've since ignored it. Will my facebook page suffer the same fate?
I have three email addresses (work, hotmail, gmail), I'm on Flickr and Picassa Web for photos, and now I'm on three different social networks; Myspace, Facebook, and LinkedIn (no idea if the links actually work!). Not to mention this little blog. And, for the most part I'm not able to access this stuff at work, so to keep up with it all, I need to do it at home -- as if I don't stare at a computer screen enough during the week! How much is too much? (I sound like Carrie writing an article for Sex & City with that question -- OK, I know, I know, I gotta stop watching so much TV).
My point is, it's a whole other universe out there. I don't know how much I can, or am interested in, keeping up with it. This is exhausting! One of the funniest things about these social-networks is that I have "friended" some of my cousins. In my mind, they are all frozen in time at the age when I went off to college and stopped seeing them as much (so they should be 8-14)... in reality, the youngest is already a sophomore in high school, and two of the others can legally drink... I can see their photos on their webpages and its BEYOND STRANGE to see my little cousins drunk in photos and making references to pot. Hey, not saying I wasn't getting in to that stuff too, just so weird to see evidence of my sweet, young cousins doing that.
I added a link to this blog on facebook so, HELLO to those of you that stumbled over here!!!!
I studied like a mad-{wo}man this weekend... and have resigned myself to not having a life for another three weekends as well (with a fun wedding vacation slipped in). Friday, I took a vacation day - I have lots of days I won't be able to use up, so I figured I might as well get some study time in ahead of my busy season (which starts Thursday). I only got in about 3 hours of studying, but I got in a workout and some much needed sleep too. And, I caught up on some TV (bad vice, must stop watching TV until the exam is over!!!)
Saturday, Adam and I played some tennis - such a nice way to start the weekend!!! AND, no construction noises because of the rain! In the afternoon, I hid out in my office's employee lounge (where I was last weekend) and got in about 4 hours. Sunday, after some NY Times reading and a tasty-breakfast sandwich, I headed BACK in to the office. I probably got 6 hours of studying in, plus an hour or so of work. {Patting myself on the back.} I was hoping to do a little more that evening, but my brain was shot. Who was I kidding?
I've been trying taking time at lunch to squeeze in some studying, and I hope that will make a difference.... If I can find time to get in an hour a day at work that would add 5hrs/week - I think that could be a big help. Unfortunately, its not always easy to find the time and/or make studying a priority.... and sometimes, when I go upstairsthe TV is blaring or people are super loud (hey, it is their break), so I can't concentrate.
What's my life like for the next few weeks? Well, plenty of more weekends of studying await. And in two weeks, I get to juggle the dreaded earnings season into my studying routine - can't wait..... Unfortunately, December is shaping up to be a busy month at work..... I plan on ducking out early when I can for the next couple of weeks ahead of the exam, but I am really going to have to kick it up a notch afterwards.
Assuming I PASS, WHICH I BETTER!!!! I will need to start studying for the Level 2 Exam, which takes place the first Saturday in June, around the end of January -- not much of a break at all. Now at the end of my study time, I have finally found my groove, and I hope that makes a difference the next time around. One thing at a time, need to pass in December first.
Cross your fingers for me!!!
I just can't catch a break when it comes to get a good night's sleep these days.
Adam and I felt that we had been going to bed too late, so starting last night, we decided we would shut off the TV at 10:30pm. After a little chit-chat, I realize that I wasn't close to being tired, and instead of tossing and turning, I decide to get up and read. At 11:15pm, I crawled back in to bed... After about about 10min, I hear this odd howling/whistling noise - definitely not construction related. After much tossing and turning, I decide that I would rather sleep in a room that is a bit warm, but quiet (this is after getting up numerous times to play with the blinds, switch pillows, etc).... All of my tossing and turning woke up Adam and he was supportive of shutting the window, if it would make me stop.
Even after our super-thick windows were closed, I could still hear this noise. The best way I can describe it is that it sounded like a tuning pipe. A little after midnight, I get up and grab some earplugs (that we got in first class on our way to Japan). All the other noises completely disappear, EXCEPT this damn howling/whistle noise. It must have been the wind - whipping around the construction site maybe - that's my best guess.
I give up! MERCY! I just can't take the city noises anymore... I'm ready to move somewhere peaceful and quiet. Man! I sound like such a little old lady! In all seriousness though, I got the "bad sleeping gene" from my mom. On a good night it takes me at least 30min to fall asleep. It's a little odd that after 5+ years of living on this block, the noise has suddenly become unbearable. I guess I just reached my breaking point. Make the madness stop!!!
My MOO cards arrived today, as did the postcards I made up for my mom. Her postcards came out splendly (especially for just $20!) and I can't wait to give them to her as a little surprise.
I think my MOO cards turned out pretty cool, BUT, I was expecting them to be the size of a normal business card, and they are smaller. Adam thinks I'm a dork and would never have a reason to give them out. I like the idea of having a way to give people our personal contact info, without it being a business card. I plan on stashing some in my wallet. Hey, ya never know. Besides, it was $20 - not the end of the world!
I selected around 10 photos from our FLICKR collection and then they take a sliver of the photo to make the card. Here are the ones I choose - It ended up being more flowers than I planned, but they made the best photos. Left column: Feldstadt, Germany: Flowers, Philly: Killington VT; Right column: Kyoto skyline, example of the back of the card, Golden Palace, Kyoto.
Across (L-R): Sunflowers from farmstand in Seattle; Golden Palace, Kyoto; Rittenhouse Square, Philly; Black Forest, Germany; Flowers, Philly
Yesterday, I decided that I wanted to carve a pumpkin. I can't even remember the last time I had. Trick-or-treaters come through the building and I was feeling in the Halloween spirit. I had bought a little pumpkin last time I was grocery shopping, but there was no way we would be fitting a face on that little guy. Adam was a trooper and bought me a pumpkin on the way home.
I had such a fun time after dinner. The event was a bit more stressful for Adam who spent the time he was watching me nervously concerned that I would be slicing open my hand. Me. As I'm I'm uncoordinated/klutzy or something!! He probably had plenty of reason to be nervous.
I think the final result turned out pretty well!
So excited to see that Amazing Race is coming back!!! The first episode airs on Sunday, November 4th!
Really looking forward to a show that Adam and I can enjoy watching together!!!
Looks like they have some interesting pairs competing this time around. Most interesting is the Goth couple. There's also two sibling teams, a team of gay minister lovers, and a grandfather/grandson. I really enjoy guessing which team is going to get eliminated before the episode even starts....
Over a million iPhones have been sold. Have you: bought one, considered it, or decided it's not for you?
IPHONE - No thanks! I'm an electronic moron. Today I learned that I am hopeless with a financial calculator -- not good for my exam! I can barely get the phone I have no to work. The more bells and whistles something has, the less likely I am to buy it. I sound like an old lady!
I don't even have an ipod, so I think I can do without a $400-$600 phone.
Why, you may ask.... because if it's rainy, they can't do construction!
What a nice change of pace to wake up without hearing jackhammering!!! I believe its supposed to continue raining throughout the weekend. Doesn't really matter to me, since my weekends are full of un-fun studying anyway.... I say, let it rain EVERY WEEKEND between now and December!
Wishful thinking on my part, I'm sure.
Update: Sunday morning, no rain. Construction noises began at 6pm - right on cue. Argh.
