Thankful Thursday- Snow!

Well it's Thursday which means that the week is almost over! It is also the day that a lot of my friends are taking time to think about what they are grateful for (Tiff, Jill, Jo and Linn-their pastor's wife http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/search/label/Thankful%20Thursday). I've been noticing that I can tend to be a little bit negative and I hate when I get that way some I'm going to take my eyes off me and put them back on what I'm thankful for.

So here goes my Thankful Thursday for Thursday March 26, 2009:

1. Making it home safe! We had about 2 feet of snow while I was at work this morning. Athough it took me about 2 hours and I almost got hit after spinning out God protected me and now I get to spend the evening with my husband. We'll see what tomorrow brings...it could be another snow day.
2. My husband Jesse. Best friend, comedian and my generally favoritest person to be around.
3. My parents- although I don't see them as much lately I love that they always have great advice!
4. My puppy Calvin! His energy makes me happy :)
5. My kitties- they are such good cuddlers.

I'll keep thinking about what I'm grateful for. You should do the same!
Have a happy Thursday :)

New Computers

So Jesse and I both got new laptops this week. I got mine because I'm looking into some new business adventures and Jesse got his because he'll be starting back to school in a few weeks. I'm excited for him because he's going to be studying web/graphic design. The computer projects he's done in the time I've known him have been really great! So I'm excited to see what he'll be able to do with a degree.

On that note, my boss shared this forward with me and I thought it was appropriate! Happy Hump day!

You have to be old enough to remember Abbott and Costello, and too old to REALLY understand computers, to fully appreciate this. For those of us who sometimes get flustered by our computers, please read on...
If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their infamous sketch, ?Who?s on First?' might have turned out something like this:
COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO : Thanks. I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking about buying a computer.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO : No, the name's Lou .
ABBOTT : Your computer?
COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one.
ABBOTT : Mac?
COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou .
ABBOTT : What about Windows?
COSTELLO : Why? Will it get stuffy in here?
ABBOTT : Do you want a computer with Windows?
COSTELLO : I don't know. What will I see when I look at the windows?
ABBOTT : Wallpaper.
COSTELLO : Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.
ABBOTT : Software for Windows?
COSTELLO : No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do you have?
ABBOTT : Office.
COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?
ABBOTT : I just did.
COSTELLO : You just did what?
ABBOTT : Recommend something.
COSTELLO : You recommended something ?
ABBOTT : Yes.
COSTELLO : For my office?
ABBOTT : Yes.
COSTELLO : OK, what did you recommend for my office?
ABBOTT : Office.
COSTELLO : Yes, for my office!
ABBOTT : I recommend Office with Windows.
COSTELLO : I already have an office with windows! OK, let's just say I'm sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need?
ABBOTT : Word.
COSTELLO : What word?
ABBOTT : Word in Office.
COSTELLO : The only word in office is office.
ABBOTT : The Word in Office for Windows.
COSTELLO : Which word in office for windows?
ABBOTT : The Word you get when you click the blue 'W'.
COSTELLO : I'm going to click your blue 'w' if you don't start with some straight answers. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO : That's right. What do you have?
ABBOTT : Money.
COSTELLO : I need money to track my money?
ABBOTT : It comes bundled with your computer.
COSTELLO : What's bundled with my computer?
ABBOTT : Money.
COSTELLO : Money comes with my computer?
ABBOTT : Yes. No extra charge.
COSTELLO : I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?
ABBOTT : One copy.
COSTELLO : Isn't it illegal to copy money?
ABBOTT : Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.
COSTELLO : They can give you a license to copy money?
ABBOTT : Why not? THEY OWN IT!
(A few days later)
ABBOTT : Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO : How do I turn my computer off?
ABBOTT : Click on 'START'.............

My "Babies"

I thought I'd toss up some pictures of my "kids".

This is Calvin. He's our Black Lab/Golden Retreiver mix. Right now he's about 4 months old. We're learning all the commands and potty training. It's been an adventure but he's also made Jesse and I learn how to depend on each other more and ask for help. I'm looking forward to when he calms down a little bit but for now he's a joy to have around :).

This is Truman. He's our "middle child". He's about 3 1/2 years old and we rescued him at the Dumb Friends League. We picked him because he was sweet but also independent and we thought he could stand up to our other kitty. He's definitely my cat. He sleeps with me and follows me. My favorite thing is that he waits in the window until I get home and then Meows at my until I pick up him when I get home. He is also very forceful when his bowl is empty.






This is our first kitty Grover. We got him the day we got back from our honeymoon which was about 4 1/2 years ago :). He is the sweetest Cat. He has big paws and is polydactal (which means he has a extra toe on each foot). He loves to cuddle. So much so that he'll push you off your pillow at night trying to be close to you. He loves me, but I think he loves Jesse more. He also has big green eyes (depending on how he's feeling and the light they may be greener than other times). He is super friendly with everyone. My favorite thing about Grover is that he loves to spin in the office chair we have downstairs. He used to hop up in the chair and spin and spin until he would get out of the chair and fall over from being dizzy. The next second he would hop back up in the chair and meow to be spun again!

Anyway, these are my "kids". Right now they are keeping us busy but I couldn't imagine life without them.

Office Pet Peeves

I've been working in an office type environment now for about 8 years (between things I did at college and since graduation). I don't think until you've worked in an office you can truely appreciate some of the strangeness that goes along with working in an office. I'm not going to make a habit of complaining but given that I've had a couple of these building this week.

1. Strange repetitive noises that annoy people around you. Clicking pens, blowing air through your teeth, singing, putting the radio at such a volume where specifics can't be heard but you know it's still there.
2. Smelly foods! Even though you think your smelly garlic bread tastes good it doesn't smell good hours and hours later! Also Tuna fish in the office is a no-no!
3. Share the fridge. Don't bring in two weeks of groceries and make it impossible for anyone else to put their lunch away.
4. People that think the "maid" will clean it up. This applies to all parts of the office but specifically the fridge. Don't spill something and expect that someone else will clean up!
5. The One-Uper. I know you think your story is better than mine but didn't your mother teach it was rude to talk over someone.
6. The Butinksy- Don't but into other people's conversations. It's rude to walk into the middle of a conversation....didn't your mother teach you any manners!
7. The Whiner- Nobody really cares if you're having a bad day so don't walk around whining about it.
8. Captain Obvious. I really don't need you to walk through the office and tell me it's hot/cold outside. I do have skin and can feel it.
9. People who don't read. If a sign that says the copier is broken is posted on the copier, it's sort of stupid to walk back out of the mail room and ask "Is the Copier broken?"
10. And my all time pet peeve (this week anyway)....Don't take a peice/bite out of a donut and put it back in the box. This is nasty! I don't want your left overs!

Ok. I'm done whining now but I just had to blow off a little steam. Happy Friday! Here's to a weekend away from the office.

First Post

So I've had this blog set up for a long time but never had gotten around to writing a post. Part of it is that I can't believe that I would have anything interesting to say. After all I'm no theologian or academic. I'm an Accountant. My job although somewhat fulfilling for me is not very interesting for anyone else (Trust me I've gotten those looks when I tell people what I do). My friends in Durango have started blogging in the last couple of years. I love reading their posts. I love having a glimpse into their lives. At the same time I'm sure it helps sort of try to make sense from life when you are thinking about how to share it with others. I'm hoping that it will help me do that.

I'm in sort of an odd place in my life. Sort of at a crossroads that I'm trying to navigate.

I spent the last five years of my life working for a CPA firm as an auditor. In that time I got married and settled into a life with my husband, Jesse. I loved it, mostly. I got to go all over the city and work with a bunch of people within about 10 years of me in age (on either side). Most everyone was smart and nice and we all cared about our clients and doing the best we could for them. It was like college all over again but I was making good money and learning real world stuff. I also made very close friends while I was there.

About two years ago I started to realize that I was not living as happy a life as I probably could have been. There so many weekends and nights that I spent working. Because everyone around me was doing this I thought I should too. My relationship with husband and my family was suffering though. I can remember so many times of putting my job first that I'm ashamed to have been that person. Telling my husband we'd hang out "later" (whenever that was...) and telling my aging parents that I was too busy to see them just makes my heart break.

I also started to notice that my health was suffering. One thing I learned while I was auditing is that I really love food! Between eating out all the time for lunch and not having time to go grocery shopping to take care of myself I gained about 50 lbs from the time that I started at the firm until I left. 50 lbs!! That's like a child! I also never slept or did things for me. I was starting to get sick.

I also was getting to realize that I was never going to be the best again. I was a great staff! (CPA firm is structured so you're a staff first, then a senior, then a manager, then a senior manager and then a partner). I worked hard, I anticipated what people around me would need and I followed directions. I also learned a ton. A ton about people, about how to ask questions and alot about Accounting. When I became a senior things fell apart for me a little bit. I wasn't good at my job anymore. Then a bunch of family stuff happened and I really wasn't a good senior (I'm sure I'll talk about it in future posts). I was tired of only being adequate, not great. After working late into the night for several nights and have a manager basically tell me I wasn't doing enough, I gave up. I spent the next several months finding another job.
I found a job with a small privately owned company as a senior accountant and started in June. It seemed like it was going to be exactly what I wanted. A place to continue working within accounting and grow my skills to eventually move to a higher level accounting position, while at the same time being able to maintain a family/home life. So far things have been good. I've learned a fair amount about how the accounting system works here and I've been home a lot more. Even during the year end stuff I was able to work any over time (which was minimal) from home. It's been great. I'm getting along well with my husband and I've even lost a little weight (according to the Dr.). We also got a puppy and I've been working on settling into the house we bought this summer. Life sounds great doesn't it?
I find myself missing how busy I was. It's like I'm waiting for something else to come along. I thought for a while that I was just ready to have kids but I'm not sure that's it. I'm searching and waiting but in the mean time I'm figuring out my new life. Life is very different and perhaps it will take some time to get used to. Anyway that's my first post...probably a good starting off point to talk about where I'm at now.