The story of me overdoing it...

This title may be misleading.

I didn't really overdo it but I thought my cold was almost gone, but then I woke up last like feeling that heaviness in my chest.  Gosh darn congestion - I hate you.

I have taken some drugs and hopefully it's really on its way out.

I suppose I shouldn't have gone out with friends last night.  Yeah, I know - you're asking yourself did she just say that?  Did she actually go out on a Saturday night?  Well, yes I did.  Now I am paying for it...

I was home by 9pm...  and all I get is this...

Oh well.

A few more days and I go back to my crazy schedule.

Today I shall clean and watch football.

....and try to shake this dang cold.

oye

Friday is here - yeehaw.

My cold is getting a little bit better - I managed to get to the gym yesterday afternoon and hang out on the treadmill for an hour... it was just enough to get me going, but not make my cold any worse (and don't worry - I totally cleaned off the treadmill when I was done)...

This afternoon I am meeting one of my friends from Vermont who is in town for the holidays.  It will be nice to see her - it's been almost a year.  I stayed with her when I went down to LA in February for the CAA conference.

This weekend I don't think I have any plans other than cleaning up my apartment and sleeping.  I watched an episode of Hoarders the other day -  I didn't feel as superior about myself as I usually do, I need to go through a few piles of recyclables.  That's my problem - magazines and receipts pile up.  Maybe I'll do some winter cleaning and get my holiday decorations down.

Okay - let's talk resolutions...

I'm not usually big on resolutions but here are a few things I have in mind.

Save more money!  I was able to pay off the majority of my credit cards this year and now I plan on saving more of what I make.

Limit Sweets - I managed to do it for August and October of this year, why not the whole year?  I'm not going to beat myself up if I slip, but I'm not going to go out of my way to seek out sweets.  No more buying cookies (that will surely help me save more money).

Work on doing a pull up. - yeah, that's my "I'd like to do this" goal...  I'm sure I could - I just have to hit up one of the trainers at the gym to coach me...  I'm nice enough I'm sure one of them would help me out.

Curb my love affair with the grocery store...  - I go grocery shopping far too often.  Perhaps this year I will start eating what I currently have in my teeny tiny refrigerator and cupboards.  It's possible...

I think that's good enough for the resolutions...

I'm hoping that my cold gets better before New Year's Day... I'm planning on doing the Polar Bear Plunge at Matthews Beach... why I can't get more of my friends to do it I don't know why...  maybe I'll get my Mom to go down with me and take photos..

I'm trying to decide whether or not I want to go to the gym before work or after...  I'm enjoying my coffee right now, and not really wanting to get out of my robe...  but I'm meeting my friend after work so I may not make it to the gym... oh the dilemma....

I'll probably just end up sitting here a while longer... once I give up the sweets and start teaching again AND get over this cold things will click back into gear.

What is a girl to do?

Post Christmas report

I have a cold.

That's all I know.

Well, actually I know a lot more.

I am not so sick as that I can't go to work.... luckily I only have to work for four hours.

Last night I got home around 4pm.  I took a bath and then changed into my pj's by 5pm. 

I was in bed by 8.

fun time...

Today I am heading into work in a little bit... then I may go to the gym to ramble on the treadmill... it depends on how I feel.

I have an activity monitor which I wear, the past 24 hours it's not seen that much movement...  it's a great motivator, but when I don't feel too hot and don't workout I feel a little bit guilty.  I know, I'm more active that 95 percent of my friends even when I am sick...

Okay - my report from Christmas - here it is.

My sisters and their families went to visit Dad on Tuesday - the visit went pretty well, although Dad was a bit sleepy, he was awake for more of the time than he was at his Birthday celebration.

My oldest sister brought a story Olive the Other Reindeer, and she read it to us..  my Dad used to read to us when we were little (he's a retired librarian) so it was nice to have it come back around.

We sang a few songs and had a good time overall... it was much better than last year.  A little less stressful.

After our visit we went to mom's for the traditional Christmas enchiladas!  okay, it's not traditional, but what the hell.

The dogs bought me some sympathy presents - a steamer for my clothes and a sweater... they are pretty good shoppers.

I came home around 6:30 and did some Christmas laundry.

Overall, the holidays didn't blow this year which is nice.

maybe I'm finally growing up.

Christmas Catastrophe...

Okay, so it really wasn't a catastrophe, but I did manage to spill coffee all over myself and the kitchen floor. 

I survived...

To punish myself even further I decided to go out for a run... I ran to Starbucks to get a gingerbread latte... it was pretty good.  Running in the rain wasn't too bad, except I forgot about all the tummy troubles I can get when I go running.. I will not get into it here.

Last night was fun - my niece gave me a pot holder and a coffee mug.  I also got a pair of socks and meat from my friend Ken... it was a good time overall...  I only had two slices of prime rib...

I'm holding out a little while longer before I head out to my Dad's place for a visit... then it's off to the maternal unit's place for an authentic dinner of chicken enchiladas...

Ole.

pretty low key day - tomorrow I'm working 10 - 2.  No plans beyond that - except for working out...

I don't know much beyond that today...

Christmas Eve is here.....

Yep - it's Christmas Eve... I have made it through the majority of the Holiday Season in a fairly good mood for the first time in years (I realize the majority of it is yet to come, but I'm going to venture out on a limb and say I'm doing well).

I am one of the fortunate ones that gets to go into work today...  I am not going to complain - at least I have a job...  I work until noon and then I am going to head to the gym for a last chance work out.

I only have one more gift left to buy and wrap...  and then I'm heading over to my sisters house for dinner (I'm going to have to work out extra hard to get rid of some of that prime rib I'm going to eat)...

Sleeping in (okay it's not really sleeping in) was nice this morning.  I don't mind getting up early to teach, but it's nice to spend some time in the morning just pooping around my apartment...

This weekend I tried to made peanut brittle but it didn't work out... it's a little overdone.... I guess the Weight Watcher Gods are looking after me I guess... Damn them.

I don't know much more than that.

What I know today (Saturday).

I don't think I've posted since Wednesday or Thursday...

this is what has happened since.

Holiday party on Thursday - Canlis.  I checked in on Yelp and because of that Canlis is now following me on Twitter.  I wonder if they know that I posted from the ladies room there (only a few Facebook checkins)...

I received a Holiday bonus that was nice.

And a raise.

I will not have to give notice anytime soon (unless I find a benefactor).

We drank Coffee Diablo after dinner - basically it's alcohol which is set on fire and then served... pretty good...  Mark Canlis made them for us - he laughed at a joke I made... I talked about "Ladles of Fire" being a great name...  I suppose if you can make a Seattle dining landmark's owner laugh, you must be funny - or he hears a lot of lame jokes.

Yesterday I took the day off and was planning on sleeping in but it wasn't happening... I managed to make it until 6am.  BOOOOO!  I did some shopping, went over to the parental unit's house to comandeer the washing machine and then I went to the gym.

After all I ate last week I was expecting to gain weight this week when I weighed in at Weight Watchers.

Guess What?  (what Jen?)   I lost 2 stinking pounds!

WTF?

I will take it.

If you only knew what I ate last week...  I wasn't horrible, but I could have been a lot better.

Oh well, I will take it.

Right now I'm watching the Maaco Las Vegas Bowl... other than that I think I am going to stay home for the rest of the day (minus a walk later on).

I am officially not teaching after tomorrow's class... yeah!  I can sleep in like a semi-normal person.

I think tonight I will wrap the few presents I have for people...  maybe watch the Hallmark Chanel - for a guaranteed happy ending...  and make peanut brittle... the brittle is not a definite, but I'm think I would make it, eat a tad and then give the rest to my apartment manager - he has seen me through two rounds of ants this year and the new fridge fiasco (it's really small, but I think I will get used to it).

Okay, now is the time to go round up some lunch so I don't go crazy and chew off my art.

Oh, I forgot - I went running last night and chaffed my inner arm... ouchy.

The worlds smallest refrigerator...

There was a miscommunication with the appliance company...

my fridge is small...

I am going to try to live with it - I'm thinking that I will keep less food in it so there will be fewer choices and less chance of me buying crap to put in it. (go along with me here - I'm trying to convince myself this is the case. 

The only real drawback to the small fridge is less space to store my Cascade Ice  and frozen dinners...

I shall adapt.  At least this gives me a reason to dump the two year old beer that's been living in my fridge.

The good news of a small fridge is that I have more space in my already petite kitchen.  I may be able to set up a dining area in there after two years...

okay, enough about the fridge.

Today is our holiday party - dinner at Canlis... if you're a big fan of Top Chef they did a challenge this season at Canlis.  It's old school, pretty swanky and very good.  I am not really looking forward to it this year...  sure I'm looking forward to eating, but I'm not looking forward to the social interaction aspect.  I really don't like talking to people that much..  If I could just sit there and blog I would.

Tomorrow I am taking the day off.  yay - sleeping in... I didn't have any problem sleeping last night and I don't think I will have a problem sleeping past 7 tomorrow morning.

maybe I shall take myself out to breakfast and then go to the gym.  Sounds exciting doesn't it?  Then I may do laundry!

This is what my life boils down to.

teaching, eating, working, sleeping, television, laptop, showering.

I think that's it. 

I suppose I should get moving.  I have to figure out what I'm wearing to the party and I have to hose myself off.

RIP Clunky Old Fridge

Today I get my new refrigerator.  I woke up at 4:10 to make sure I got everything out of it and into coolers... it was more than enough time for me to do a quick post.

I will not miss the three-inch coating of frosty buildup on your freezer compartment...  I will not miss the low rumble you emit constantly... nor the drainage stains down the inner back...

you served me well, but it's time to go.

The world is coming to an end.

Um....  I don't think the world will end on Friday (is that the day?)... but you never know..

I don't have any regrets.

My new fridge arrives tomorrow - for that I am excited... what I am not excited for is having to get up extra early and/or staying up late tonight to clean out the old one.

Too bad I have to teach tomorrow morning - I would do it then...  aye aye aye... it will get done.

Perhaps I will take a collection of frozen items into work today to stock my lunch supplies...  I don't know.

Last night I got a phone call from one of my friends from the Vermont Studio Center residency - she grew up in Seattle and will be here for the Holidays...  we are going to get together when she is here.  It should be fun.  I also talked to my best friend Karolina from Chicago last night... she and another friend were trying to figure out and 80's synth pop song and they called to ask me.  They were a little bit drunk (not too much) so the conversation wasn't the deepest - but it was nice to hear her voice.

I am looking forward to next week when I don't have to work so hard...

My Dad's birthday celebration was fairly uneventful.  He slept through most of it... oh well...

I was thinking for Christmas that I would try to have dinner with him, but I am thinking now that I will just do the group visit with everyone else...  hopefully it will go alright... gone are the days of old time holiday activities.  That's okay, I've never been a big fan anyway...

Last weekend I scored some deals at a sample sale for the big brother clothing party company that I have parties for sometimes... I managed to score a pair of bright pink pants for 15 bucks...  maybe someday I will post a photo... it's not as bad as it sounds...  I was looking super-cute yesterday when I was wearing them... here's a link to how I should wear them...   I just wore them with a black top.  I think I like them because they remind me of a pair of pants I had when I was in High School... oh the 80's how I miss you sometimes.

I woke up early today so I managed to do the dishes and now I'm icing my feet.  I'm happy to report that as 2012 comes to an end I think my plantar fasciitis is finally gone and/or curbed itself into submission.  All I can say is that it's about time.... 2 and a half years is long enough.  That's what I get for running a stupid half marathon.

I think that's all I have for you today - new fridge, new pants, drunken phone calls, fancy feet.

The end (of the world as we know it)...

Heat Back On - Headache on board!

they fixed the heat in the building - I came home last night to a less chilly apartment... it was still cold, but it's toasty now.

The party went better than expected... I also stayed later than expected.  Overall it was pretty fun.

I even had a beer.

Today I am taking a quick break before I head over to my Dad's to celebrate his birthday.  he turns 86 tomorrow... we're going to have cupcakes.  Yummy.

This afternoon I am going to do laundry and try to get ready for the week ahead.

At some point I have to move furniture around so that they can deliver my new fridge on Wednesday.  I picked up a cooler from the parental unit's house so that I can pack my fridge contents in it...

This week we also have our office holiday dinner at Canlis - it should be good..

It's my last week of teaching before the break... it will be nice to have some time to recharge..

I have a bit of a headache and I'm feeling a bit congested - hopefully it won't get full blown... 

Friday I have the day off.  errr.... hopefully I can make it until then.

That's it.  I wish I could just take a nap...

Brrrrr.....

Last night when I got home I thought my apartment was a little chilly...

I was right.  A whole section of my building is without heat.

Damn radiator/boiler...

at least the repair guy is here working on things.

I have a couple of parties to attend tonight.  I've been gone most of the day so I think I will most definitely hit one... it's another instructor from the club who is throwing it - I went last year so I know a few of the people who will be there and I won't have to overly social if I don't want to be.

I read an article about introverts the other day and I think I might be one.  Don't get me wrong... I have some extrovert tendencies at times...  but for the most part I like to be alone.

ooops  I got sidetracked and forgot to post this stupid thing...  I have sucessfully put on some makeup... now I just have to find something to wear and head out.

I'm am stinking freezing.  It reminds me of Chicago... brr.... I have to go out tonight. I would freeze my ass off if I stayed here.

At least I have wool socks and a lot of blankets...  I really don't want to change my clothes because I will freeze my patooty off.... brrr... I'm going to have chattering teeth!  Maybe I'll use my hair dryer to warm me up..

Tomorrow we are going to have a birthday party for Dad...  I realized yesterday that I think I'm past the point where I can buy him ornery cards...  he might take offense to it..  I'm thinking I will have to find a sappy one tomorrow.

I guess I will deal with that then.. for now I must do a bit of jogging in place and then try to find something to wear...

3,000 posts?

Can it really be that this is post number 3,000?  I guess so...

what have I learned over 3,000 posts?

Not much.

Still like to complain, still have less that skinny thighs (I used to rant about my thighs a long time ago)..., still lamenting on what I want to do with my life....

hmmm...


This morning I woke up thinking it was Saturday.  It's not, it's only Thursday.  I thought it was Saturday on Tuesday as well.

That really sucks when you think it would be nice to sleep in, but you can't.

This weekend I have a bunch of events in the hopper plus beautification appointments PLUS my Dad's 86th birthday party.  That will be low key. 

Work is a bear... too much to do, too much going on.  I sure hope they realize how much I do around there...  I don't think I can do much more.

what else?  15 more minutes and I have to lug myself off of the sofa and hose myself down.  Oh joy.

not much to say

I don't have much to tell you today.

I'm a bit cranky for the usual reasons...

I will let you decide what the usual reasons are.


I am looking forward to the holidays only for one reason....

I DON'T HAVE TO WORK FULL TIME!

the week between Christmas and New Years we only work 10 - 2 and I don't have to teach... I am looking forward to sleeping in and working on art related things...

I can use a break.

This weekend I have three parties to go to on Saturday (say what?)... we will see if I can actually make it to one.


oh  - on a different note I have decided to do the Polar Bear Plunge again this year.  Yeah, I know - it's bound to be a lot colder than last year... but what the heck.  I did it once, I can do it again.

noon, Matthews Beach, Seattle... New Years day - be there.  Maybe I should build up my fake tan before I go... don't want to blind people with my pasty white legs.

Okay, I'm feeling a little bit better after ranting a bit.

ho ho ho

Ho ho ho - photos...

Stinky

Lunch last week

 Ceiling at my office...

Christmas lights at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.

This afternoon I am watching football and will head over to see my dad in a little bit.

I'm not really in the mood to leave the house but I will....

I had a few too many french fries last night and a salted caramel shake.  I thought I was going to barf.  I didn't.

If any of you are interested - you can buy me an ipad for Christmas...

okay, that's it...

yay same sex marriage!

Up One, Down for the Count!

um.....

what do I know today??

I was up a bit at ww this morning but it's not unexpected...

tonight I am meeting my sister and her family and a few of their friends to go to dinner and then possibly the Bellevue Botanical gardens..

I am watching a few episodes of Hoarders to keep me from eating too much tonight...

I will see how much I can actually eat after watching a woman show the therapist her "slop bucket" in the kitchen...  it's basically her poop bucket.  Ick.

I used to feel a bit guilty about the cleanliness of my place when I'd watch Hoarders... My place looks fabulous compared to these spaces...  I FEEL GOOD!

The past few days I've been feeling a bit of the Holiday blues... it's better today... I decided to go out tonight to help with it...

overall I think I'm doing rather well compared to last year.

At least this year I'm not going to have to cart my Dad around places and help him use the facilities...  His birthday is in just over a week and I think we're planning a small celebration at the Hearthstone..  I asked him the other day what he wanted for his birthday and he said "freedom"... I was thinking about food (of course)...

I'm less stressed about the whole thing this year.

okay, next up...

I ran at the gym this morning, then I picked up a door prize I won at my former ceramics instructor's sale last weekend... I stopped by Sky Nursery and bought a few houseplants for me to murder in the near future...

Okay, I have to get a move on... I have a burger to eat soon (if I can stop thinking about dead cats on Hoarders)...

I know you are but what am I?

I don't have much to share this morning...

Same sex marriage licenses were available starting at midnight last night - way to go Washington!

Marijuana is legal in small amounts... whatever... it's not something that has ever interested me...
all the people on the news they showed lighting up at midnight at the Space Needle definitely had a particular look about them...  a bit scruffy.  I'm being highly judgmental here - but it's the same old thing... the people who show up for the "protest" or whatever it is - usually are just there because they've got nothing better to do and they think it's cool... (see WTO rioters, May Day protests...) I'm sure I'm not articulating myself very well, but hey... it's early.

Some other random thoughts...

Taylor Swift is quickly becoming the female version of  John Mayer don't you think?

The Duchess is pregnant.

My feet hurt.  Actually my heels are doing much better - it's now the ball of my foot that hurts.

I'm going to apply for a show at 4Culture.... I had a show there in 2009 and enough time has passed that I can apply again.  I probably won't make the cut (that's just me painting my expectations low..)... but you never know unless you try.

I am coming to the realization that even though I'm on the Storefronts roster for the year that it's probably not going to happen... There is still time - but at this juncture it's not looking good...  oh well.

Work is getting busy again... we're going to be remodeling starting the first of the year - I'm not looking forward to having to deal with people in that regard...

I really don't like social interaction that well... that's why I have an online presence...

I just wish people would leave me alone.  

Did I mention yet that I'm getting a new fridge in my apartment?  I'm pretty excited about that...  I will post photos when it arrives.

That's all I know - it's gotten a bit random here at the end... time for more coffee.

Blah Blah Blah - Yadda Yadda Yadda

the title of this post is exactly how I feel this morning...

working for a living is for the birds...  I think I would make a great unemployed person..  too bad it's not socially acceptable...

I'm feeling pretty good overall but a little dissatisfied with things...  you know, that little kernel of discontent you feel when things are going pretty good, but not exactly to your satisfaction.

It's the whole "I need to be doing more art stuff" feeling.

Maybe I will get my act together soon...  a few more weeks and I'll have my annual abbreviated post-Christmas work schedule... which if you don't know means I only work from 10 - 2 the week between Christmas and New Years...  I also don't have to teach at the gym during that time so I can focus on art stuff (and sleep in a bit)...  it's a rather sweet deal.

Okay, enough complaining...

Last night at the gym someone told me that different cycle instructor's class was a cake walk compared to mine.  I think that was a compliment.  I would like to think that I know what I'm doing...

The rest of the week shall be pretty uneventful... work, teach, teach, work, teach.... sleep shall be thrown in there as well.

That's it.

Sayonara.

Today's Report

Yesterday was a busy day.

Here are the high points....

I worked at SAIC Grad info day and I got to meet some new fun people... makes me want to get an art job somewhere...

I found out I am going to get a new fridge in my apartment!  woo hoo!  now that's exciting...

I spent most of the day out yesterday - today I may do some cleaning but I will do that after I stop by the studio sale of my first ceramics instructor...

That's about all I know....

The end of my four day weekend...  I like taking time off... I think I should take more days off more often...