Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Awkward Reuben
Last Friday, I spent the day "demo-ing" sausages at work. During the first hours of the demo, a man—let’s call him Reuben—approached my station holding a jar of mango vinaigrette from the produce department.
"Should I buy this?" R asked.
I nodded, "Yes, it's great!"
Dumb answer.
R grinned/glared at me. "So, you've tried it then?"
Oopla. (One white lie in retail is perfectly acceptable--if not necessary. But, two? I just couldn't.)
"Ugh. Let's open it and give 'er a try," I said, remembering from my training that we can open a product for a customer to taste.
I called Cedric (who works in produce) over, and he brought some carrots to try the dressing with. It was delicious. R gave my arm a tight squeeze.
"Thank you, Jaime. Thank you. I will buy it. Thank you."
A few minutes later, R brushed past my station again and whisperingly (made-up word) asked, "Did ya miss me?" He then became Awkward Reuben. You'd have to see this gentleman to understand. He was originally Reuben with a small build, flannel shirt, and thinning hair who asked about dressing. Arm squeeze, no problem. Perhaps he was really into his veggies and wanted them to play dress-up with something other than ranch. No problem. But, his question made it more about veggies.
"You weren't gone long enough, sir!" I chuckled (remembering my mom's favorite thing to say to us when we wanted to call an estranged boy: "How can he miss you if you keep bugging him?").
I don't remember the exact point I set out to make here, but the bottom line is, I anticipate I'll soon have many more interesting stories to tell.
"Should I buy this?" R asked.
I nodded, "Yes, it's great!"
Dumb answer.
R grinned/glared at me. "So, you've tried it then?"
Oopla. (One white lie in retail is perfectly acceptable--if not necessary. But, two? I just couldn't.)
"Ugh. Let's open it and give 'er a try," I said, remembering from my training that we can open a product for a customer to taste.
I called Cedric (who works in produce) over, and he brought some carrots to try the dressing with. It was delicious. R gave my arm a tight squeeze.
"Thank you, Jaime. Thank you. I will buy it. Thank you."
A few minutes later, R brushed past my station again and whisperingly (made-up word) asked, "Did ya miss me?" He then became Awkward Reuben. You'd have to see this gentleman to understand. He was originally Reuben with a small build, flannel shirt, and thinning hair who asked about dressing. Arm squeeze, no problem. Perhaps he was really into his veggies and wanted them to play dress-up with something other than ranch. No problem. But, his question made it more about veggies.
"You weren't gone long enough, sir!" I chuckled (remembering my mom's favorite thing to say to us when we wanted to call an estranged boy: "How can he miss you if you keep bugging him?").
I don't remember the exact point I set out to make here, but the bottom line is, I anticipate I'll soon have many more interesting stories to tell.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Cedric
There's this man named Cedric. I've known him for two days and seen more life in him than most anyone I know. Perhaps it's because he's simply lived more life. Or because he skips the hi-how-are-yous and just says it.
"Are you a dancer?" he asked me.
"I was as a little girl," I said.
He smiled. "You still got it."
This was our second and longest conversation. Do our newest friends see us the best?
He laughs more in one hour than I have in my entire life. (I laugh a lot.) Every story he tells, every story he hears, he laughs. He laughs before, after, and in between. He laughs when it isn't funny. He is tall, black, and comes from a big family. He is from the south but doesn't have a chip on his shoulder. He doesn't impress yet leaves an impression. He eats things like fruit tarts for lunch.
Who is this person? He's probably someone's grandpa. I hope he's missed where he's from.
"Are you a dancer?" he asked me.
"I was as a little girl," I said.
He smiled. "You still got it."
This was our second and longest conversation. Do our newest friends see us the best?
He laughs more in one hour than I have in my entire life. (I laugh a lot.) Every story he tells, every story he hears, he laughs. He laughs before, after, and in between. He laughs when it isn't funny. He is tall, black, and comes from a big family. He is from the south but doesn't have a chip on his shoulder. He doesn't impress yet leaves an impression. He eats things like fruit tarts for lunch.
Who is this person? He's probably someone's grandpa. I hope he's missed where he's from.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Arizona
Josh and I spent the week before Easter Sunday with my grandparents in beautiful Phoenix. Our road trip to Arizona was long overdue; the rest of my family lives in Minnesota, where we have been a few times since being married.
We loved our time with Grandpa Don and Grandma Shirley. Our first full day greeted us with temps in the mid-90s. It was so nice to temporarily escape the freezing winds in Colorado. (My grandma says she gets cold when the temp drops to 70 in AZ. I go without a coat around 45 degrees in CO!) We filled our days with a drive through Apache Trail (It was very scary for me. There were even a few guard rails with words written on them like "We will miss you, Dave."), trips to Trader Joe's and In-N-Out, a day at the Grand Canyon. And, who can resist a quick trip to the flea market for some bling-o-riffic sunglasses? My grandma also bought me a spray tan and highlighted my hair. I felt like a new woman!
Of course, my grandma's hospitality topped the list of memories (Why goes Grandma's house always seem impossibly clean? Is there some special line of cleaning products unknown to anyone below the age of 70? And, why does Grandma's food always taste better? Grandma, if you are reading this, I want your secrets!), and she and I shared lots of stories and memories throughout the week.
Another highlight of the trip was seeing my childhood dog, Sami. My grandparents took her in a couple of months ago for my dad. She's only nine and has some good years left!
Josh and I started the drive back to Colorado on Easter Sunday. We wanted to stay in Arizona longer, but my sister Mel happened to be in Colorado Springs for one more night, and I really wanted to see her! (She and her friends drove down from MN a few days earlier to visit.)
Now we're back home and enjoying the snowy weather yet again! Thanks for hosting us, Grams! I have a lot to learn from you. :)
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Jury duty
Have you ever wanted to tell a big story but feared you would leave out important details or include meaningless ones which would pollute your real experience? Have you ever wanted to tell a story but wanted more for the experience to remain untouched?
I have a little story. I can't promise I will tell it in just the right way or that you will walk away with the "wow" feeling, but here it is. Why should I tell it? I'm just so humbled and thankful. In October of last year, I saw our justice system in action, and I was proud to be a part of it. Sure, our system fails. It sometimes both faults and protects the wrong people, but our system has a lot to teach us.
Why did this experience change me? It was just jury duty, after all. Everyone will be called in at one point or another, and some may even be chosen to sit on a 3-, 5-, or 12-person panel to decide on an individual's future. It's not like I was specially chosen for this role, right? I don't know. It happened too perfectly in the midst of human weakness. The waiting, the selection process, the trial, the deliberation, the momentary friendships. God could have used anyone, but He used us.
I've never been summoned before for jury service, so when I got the notice in the mail, I was somewhat uncomfortable. One of my first thoughts were, "What if I get lost downtown?" I get lost easily. Well, the day came, and I arrived at the courthouse a bit early and I was happy and relieved I found everything in time. I had no idea what to expect. I checked in and waited like the other few hundred people who wondered how long they would be inconvenienced.
The first group of jurors was called randomly. Probably 30 or more people were called. I wanted to be called! (I'm sure it was something like waiting to be picked for a team on the playground, hoping against all hope.) We watched a short educational video earlier and I thought the process was so big, bigger than me, and I wanted to be a part of it. Suddenly I did not care about how this long process interfered with my day; I thought about the many parties who had waited so long for this day to come: the defendants, the plaintiffs, etc. I knew this day was important for so many people not unlike me.
A second group was called, a smaller group this time. I got picked! There were 18 of us, and we were to be narrowed down to 6 for a misdemeanor trial. Our clerk lead us straight to a courtroom where the defendant, his attorney, and the DA were already waiting. WHAT?! I couldn't believe it. I tried to forget about all the CourtTV I'd watched growing up. I tried to take in the moment for what it was: reality. The "voir dire" process began; the judge polled us and the attorneys asked us more specific questions. I was terrified. When it came time for me to answer certain questions, my nervousness shone through, which I thought would eliminate me. I remember looking at the defendant, listening to the questions asked, and wanting so badly to be a part of this case for no apparent reason.
18 became 6. I was still sitting!
The trial began before we could get a break! Each attorney presented his opening statement, and I tried to take it all in. Supposedly, the defendant "Dave" (a bail-bondsman) initiated contact without consent, twice in a few hours, with "Laura," a woman (who he bonded out of jail). After opening statements, we were allowed to go to lunch. When we returned, the trial became even more surreal. The plaintiff was the first of the witnesses. I will never forget her. Interestingly, she was already a five-time felon. We tried to put aside her past as we listen to her testimony. We saw her cry, shake, push back her tangled brown hair with handcuffed wrists. Her dirty white shirt and orange suit told me so much of her story. The trial itself lasted through the end of the day, and by five o'clock, we had not begun the deliberation process. There was just enough time for closing statements, and it was time to go home. Our decision would be easy. This "Dave" guy scared some of us, and one juror even whispered, "Let's just convict him and get it over with!"
The second morning of duty arrived, and I sat in my warm car in the juror parking lot before I went in. I asked the Lord to reveal the answer to us. Give us wisdom. I hardly slept the night before, worried about what we would eventually choose for the defendant's future. I sensed he was guilty, then I sensed he wasn't. What if we didn't make the right choice? I feared our deliberation would look something like a scene from "12 Angry Men." What if it's up to me to change the jurors' minds?
9 o'clock arrived, and we began deliberation. It was nothing like "12 Angry Men." Everyone had the same general feelings except an older woman, Loretta, who had a gut feeling "he did it." Another juror, Doug, admitted that his gut said "guilty" as well, but there were just "too many holes in the [victim's] story".
A few hours passed, and we knew we couldn't convict a man based on gut feelings. We couldn't settle on such a heavy label for this man without being sure. So, we decided he was "not guilty" on both counts (two separate incidences). We waited a little while for our clerk to return to our deliberation room to escort us back into the courtroom.
(Note: Everyone in the courtroom [judge included] stands for the jury when they enter the room...what a feeling of honor, somewhat undeserved, and totally surreal.)
When the verdicts were read for each count, I looked over at the defendant. After the first count, he showed restrained relief; after the second count, he was crying. His face was red, and he unabashedly wiped tears from his eyes. Shortly after this, our duty was fulfilled, and I shook hands with both attorneys and said "you did a great job" to both of them. I exchanged nods with the defendant.
The trial was over. We'd only been away from our jobs and families for one-and-a-half days, but it felt like a lifetime. It also felt like we'd blinked and everything was over. I wanted to hold on to what I felt at that moment. My heart was so heavy, and I was so thankful. I hadn't quite absorbed everything. This man went free after two years of waiting for this trial.
When I walked away from the courthouse, I felt a little sad--like I was leaving this place that I had called home for not even two days. I so enjoyed the experience. Everything was over, and I was back to my real life at work. Not long after being back at the office, I received a text from Linda, another juror, who said the defendant approached her outside the courthouse after the trial ended. He thanked her and us for giving back his life. I called Linda back, and she gave me more details about their conversation. He had confirmed a few doubts we had about the plaintiff's testimony, and told her what could have become of his life had he been convicted. He could have lost his business and gone to jail for the rest of his life, all over what may have happened within a few minutes. He told her, "These past two years have been a nightmare."
I consider what happened to be little miracle, because it could have happened differently. At the same time, I'm humbled to think that just because something isn't what I expect doesn't make it miracle. Or does it? I felt so certain that we would decide a different fate for the defendant. Also, it was amazing how six completely different people came together for one cause. There was hardly any dissent, and any disagreement between us was frank and handled properly. We became good friends in that short time.
It was over, and my heart was heavy and so thankful. I was so glad to have been a part of the process. I wanted to bottle that feeling. It would prove useful when I feel apathetic about life--like a spankin', a swift reminder that life is bigger. Someone's life was in our hands.
Because of God's grace, his nightmare was over and a new chapter began.
I have a little story. I can't promise I will tell it in just the right way or that you will walk away with the "wow" feeling, but here it is. Why should I tell it? I'm just so humbled and thankful. In October of last year, I saw our justice system in action, and I was proud to be a part of it. Sure, our system fails. It sometimes both faults and protects the wrong people, but our system has a lot to teach us.
Why did this experience change me? It was just jury duty, after all. Everyone will be called in at one point or another, and some may even be chosen to sit on a 3-, 5-, or 12-person panel to decide on an individual's future. It's not like I was specially chosen for this role, right? I don't know. It happened too perfectly in the midst of human weakness. The waiting, the selection process, the trial, the deliberation, the momentary friendships. God could have used anyone, but He used us.
I've never been summoned before for jury service, so when I got the notice in the mail, I was somewhat uncomfortable. One of my first thoughts were, "What if I get lost downtown?" I get lost easily. Well, the day came, and I arrived at the courthouse a bit early and I was happy and relieved I found everything in time. I had no idea what to expect. I checked in and waited like the other few hundred people who wondered how long they would be inconvenienced.
The first group of jurors was called randomly. Probably 30 or more people were called. I wanted to be called! (I'm sure it was something like waiting to be picked for a team on the playground, hoping against all hope.) We watched a short educational video earlier and I thought the process was so big, bigger than me, and I wanted to be a part of it. Suddenly I did not care about how this long process interfered with my day; I thought about the many parties who had waited so long for this day to come: the defendants, the plaintiffs, etc. I knew this day was important for so many people not unlike me.
A second group was called, a smaller group this time. I got picked! There were 18 of us, and we were to be narrowed down to 6 for a misdemeanor trial. Our clerk lead us straight to a courtroom where the defendant, his attorney, and the DA were already waiting. WHAT?! I couldn't believe it. I tried to forget about all the CourtTV I'd watched growing up. I tried to take in the moment for what it was: reality. The "voir dire" process began; the judge polled us and the attorneys asked us more specific questions. I was terrified. When it came time for me to answer certain questions, my nervousness shone through, which I thought would eliminate me. I remember looking at the defendant, listening to the questions asked, and wanting so badly to be a part of this case for no apparent reason.
18 became 6. I was still sitting!
The trial began before we could get a break! Each attorney presented his opening statement, and I tried to take it all in. Supposedly, the defendant "Dave" (a bail-bondsman) initiated contact without consent, twice in a few hours, with "Laura," a woman (who he bonded out of jail). After opening statements, we were allowed to go to lunch. When we returned, the trial became even more surreal. The plaintiff was the first of the witnesses. I will never forget her. Interestingly, she was already a five-time felon. We tried to put aside her past as we listen to her testimony. We saw her cry, shake, push back her tangled brown hair with handcuffed wrists. Her dirty white shirt and orange suit told me so much of her story. The trial itself lasted through the end of the day, and by five o'clock, we had not begun the deliberation process. There was just enough time for closing statements, and it was time to go home. Our decision would be easy. This "Dave" guy scared some of us, and one juror even whispered, "Let's just convict him and get it over with!"
The second morning of duty arrived, and I sat in my warm car in the juror parking lot before I went in. I asked the Lord to reveal the answer to us. Give us wisdom. I hardly slept the night before, worried about what we would eventually choose for the defendant's future. I sensed he was guilty, then I sensed he wasn't. What if we didn't make the right choice? I feared our deliberation would look something like a scene from "12 Angry Men." What if it's up to me to change the jurors' minds?
9 o'clock arrived, and we began deliberation. It was nothing like "12 Angry Men." Everyone had the same general feelings except an older woman, Loretta, who had a gut feeling "he did it." Another juror, Doug, admitted that his gut said "guilty" as well, but there were just "too many holes in the [victim's] story".
A few hours passed, and we knew we couldn't convict a man based on gut feelings. We couldn't settle on such a heavy label for this man without being sure. So, we decided he was "not guilty" on both counts (two separate incidences). We waited a little while for our clerk to return to our deliberation room to escort us back into the courtroom.
(Note: Everyone in the courtroom [judge included] stands for the jury when they enter the room...what a feeling of honor, somewhat undeserved, and totally surreal.)
When the verdicts were read for each count, I looked over at the defendant. After the first count, he showed restrained relief; after the second count, he was crying. His face was red, and he unabashedly wiped tears from his eyes. Shortly after this, our duty was fulfilled, and I shook hands with both attorneys and said "you did a great job" to both of them. I exchanged nods with the defendant.
The trial was over. We'd only been away from our jobs and families for one-and-a-half days, but it felt like a lifetime. It also felt like we'd blinked and everything was over. I wanted to hold on to what I felt at that moment. My heart was so heavy, and I was so thankful. I hadn't quite absorbed everything. This man went free after two years of waiting for this trial.
When I walked away from the courthouse, I felt a little sad--like I was leaving this place that I had called home for not even two days. I so enjoyed the experience. Everything was over, and I was back to my real life at work. Not long after being back at the office, I received a text from Linda, another juror, who said the defendant approached her outside the courthouse after the trial ended. He thanked her and us for giving back his life. I called Linda back, and she gave me more details about their conversation. He had confirmed a few doubts we had about the plaintiff's testimony, and told her what could have become of his life had he been convicted. He could have lost his business and gone to jail for the rest of his life, all over what may have happened within a few minutes. He told her, "These past two years have been a nightmare."
I consider what happened to be little miracle, because it could have happened differently. At the same time, I'm humbled to think that just because something isn't what I expect doesn't make it miracle. Or does it? I felt so certain that we would decide a different fate for the defendant. Also, it was amazing how six completely different people came together for one cause. There was hardly any dissent, and any disagreement between us was frank and handled properly. We became good friends in that short time.
It was over, and my heart was heavy and so thankful. I was so glad to have been a part of the process. I wanted to bottle that feeling. It would prove useful when I feel apathetic about life--like a spankin', a swift reminder that life is bigger. Someone's life was in our hands.
Because of God's grace, his nightmare was over and a new chapter began.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Wordless
I'm working on a few posts, none of which I'm satisfied with! What's going on? I think my brain is made of scrambled eggs. With cheese and peppers.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Graduation
What a day. Last Friday Josh and I and Josh's parents made our way to the ceremony, and it flew by! So many names were called that I can barely remember the brisk walk across the stage. We then had dinner at Ted's (of course). After dinner, I went to Jack Quinn's with two close friends from highschool. Our time together was fun and meaningful.
After graduating, I now feel like I can travel a little lighter. No books to lug around. No papers to write. Yet, I feel strange when I think I can no longer disappear in my never-ending homework, lack of free time, my "student" status. Traveling a little lighter means leaving what I used to hide behind. I've never felt more adult. Turning 18, graduating highschool, starting college, turning 21, even getting married did not give me this kind of adult-y feeling.
It is a feeling that my life can be mundane if I allow it. It's now up to me to make something of myself. My free time won't be spent in class. I was successful by default then, and now I must decide what to do next. In the meantime, I will rest. I feel like I can breathe for the first time in a while!
Josh started his new job last week. It seems as if we have been in separate worlds these past few weeks. I can't wait for Christmas! We will enjoy a simpler holiday this year. Josh and I will be alone on Christmas Eve, and we'll spend most of Christmas Day with his parents eating gumbo and seafood chowder.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Weekend in Minnesota
Last weekend, I flew out to Minnesota. For the weekend. It was the quickest trip EVER but probably one of the funnest times I've had to date! Most of my family lives up there, including my mom and three sisters.
Here are the few of the adventures we had:
1) My cousin Andy played Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music at his highschool. He was AMAZING! He blew our socks off right away. From the whistle-blowing to the Edelweiss-serenading, he was right up there with Christopher Plummer. We brought air horns and plastic maracas to cheer Andy on as he made his final bow. I know he was proud to call us family at that very moment. :)
2) My aunt, mom, grandma, and I enjoyed a few short hours at the Mall of America. I think we hit two stores and one restaurant total, but we did a lot of damage and I came home with an extra suitcase!
3) Our entire family had some fun meals together. It was hard not getting to spend quality time with everyone one-on-one, but we had MANY laughs and emotional moments that I will always remember.
4) On Sunday afternoon, hours before my mom had to take me back to the airport to fly home, she had a fellow photographer come over and take some fun pictures of us. I can't wait to see how they turned out.
I had too much fun to take pictures. It took some willpower to NOT pick up my camera, but I didn't want to interrupt all the special moments. Thankfully, my mom had her camera with most of the weekend, and she got a few of the cousins after Andy's play. Here's one of my favorites:
Sometimes short and sweet makes for the best memories.
Here are the few of the adventures we had:
1) My cousin Andy played Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music at his highschool. He was AMAZING! He blew our socks off right away. From the whistle-blowing to the Edelweiss-serenading, he was right up there with Christopher Plummer. We brought air horns and plastic maracas to cheer Andy on as he made his final bow. I know he was proud to call us family at that very moment. :)
2) My aunt, mom, grandma, and I enjoyed a few short hours at the Mall of America. I think we hit two stores and one restaurant total, but we did a lot of damage and I came home with an extra suitcase!
3) Our entire family had some fun meals together. It was hard not getting to spend quality time with everyone one-on-one, but we had MANY laughs and emotional moments that I will always remember.
4) On Sunday afternoon, hours before my mom had to take me back to the airport to fly home, she had a fellow photographer come over and take some fun pictures of us. I can't wait to see how they turned out.
I had too much fun to take pictures. It took some willpower to NOT pick up my camera, but I didn't want to interrupt all the special moments. Thankfully, my mom had her camera with most of the weekend, and she got a few of the cousins after Andy's play. Here's one of my favorites:
Sometimes short and sweet makes for the best memories.
Thanksgiving
What a fun Thanksgiving!
Josh and I spent the day with good friends Jonathan and Joy. Josh's parents and Joy's dad were with us as well, and we enjoyed quite the dinner together. Joy and I spent most of the late morning and early afternoon in the kitchen, and we cooked up all sorts of goodies for our families.
Josh and I have spent a few holidays with Jonathan and Joy this year, and each one has been fun, laid back, and always accompanied with an adventure or two. We can't wait for holidays to come.
The Christmas season has begun!
Monday, November 3, 2008
Grandma Margie and Aunt Stefni
Josh's Grandma Margie and Aunt Stefni came to visit for a few days last week, and we had a fun couple of days with them. We enjoyed a few outings together and time at our house or Josh's parents house.
Grandma Margie and I have a few interesting similarities: We have the same Myers-Briggs personality type (which is supposedly one of the rarest of the types) and don't like weird textures (like chalk) on our hands. It's amazing what we can learn about each other in such a short time!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Peace about the future
I talked with my dad the other day on the phone. I told him: "The closer I get to graduating, the more unsure I am of what I want to do."
I started off as an English major with a concentration in Creative Writing. It was so fun for a while, but I decided to switch to Applied Communication during my sophomore year. I can still practice writing skills, but it's a far more interactive major. For example, nearly every Comm class guarantees a group project; these are learning experiences whether one gets a "good" or "bad" group. Communication is a general major, and success is pretty attainable in these classes. I'll be honest and say the past few years haven't been too challenging--apart from the workload and time management, of course. The work ITSELF has been simple. (A friend told me I'm probably just ridiculously smart and my classes SEEM easy. Thanks, friend!)
Anyway, I'm two months away from putting on the cap and gown once again, and so many thoughts have crossed my mind:
I want to be a pastry chef
I want to be a speech pathologist
I want to teach ESL somewhere far away
I want to write and edit
I want to go to graduate school
I feel like a little kid again trying on different outfits and pretending to be different characters. It's hard to pick only one!
Right now my struggle is to invite peace and live in it. I'm very much a planner and want to KNOW what's to happen. My husband is very much the opposite. He's a NOW guy.
Speaking of NOW, Josh is currently in a job interview. He looked so handsome with his tie on this morning.
Oops. Tangent. More on this later.
I started off as an English major with a concentration in Creative Writing. It was so fun for a while, but I decided to switch to Applied Communication during my sophomore year. I can still practice writing skills, but it's a far more interactive major. For example, nearly every Comm class guarantees a group project; these are learning experiences whether one gets a "good" or "bad" group. Communication is a general major, and success is pretty attainable in these classes. I'll be honest and say the past few years haven't been too challenging--apart from the workload and time management, of course. The work ITSELF has been simple. (A friend told me I'm probably just ridiculously smart and my classes SEEM easy. Thanks, friend!)
Anyway, I'm two months away from putting on the cap and gown once again, and so many thoughts have crossed my mind:
I want to be a pastry chef
I want to be a speech pathologist
I want to teach ESL somewhere far away
I want to write and edit
I want to go to graduate school
I feel like a little kid again trying on different outfits and pretending to be different characters. It's hard to pick only one!
Right now my struggle is to invite peace and live in it. I'm very much a planner and want to KNOW what's to happen. My husband is very much the opposite. He's a NOW guy.
Speaking of NOW, Josh is currently in a job interview. He looked so handsome with his tie on this morning.
Oops. Tangent. More on this later.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Colorado Autumn
Here are pictures of some recent Green happenings.
A couple weekends ago, Josh, his parents, and I took a Sunday drive toward Cripple Creek and enjoyed the fall colors. I just love his mom's face in this picture.
Also, here's reason #46 why I shouldn't be a car model.
(Meet "Mabel" Green. We traded "Saabrina" in for her when we realized how fast the Saab was losing value.)
We carved our first pumpkins a few days ago. Josh used a flashlight to show off the intricate details of his superhero pumpkin man. His pumpkin did take more time and effort than mine! I have to say, though, carving a pumpkin is no easy or simple task! It took me forever just to get the stringy flesh out of the pumpkin, and I hadn't even starting carving yet. :)
Here's how Josh succeeded with his pumpkin:
Fall is here! I'm excited to bake something with pumpkin. So far I've just roasted some pumpkin seeds. :)
A couple weekends ago, Josh, his parents, and I took a Sunday drive toward Cripple Creek and enjoyed the fall colors. I just love his mom's face in this picture.
Also, here's reason #46 why I shouldn't be a car model.
(Meet "Mabel" Green. We traded "Saabrina" in for her when we realized how fast the Saab was losing value.)
We carved our first pumpkins a few days ago. Josh used a flashlight to show off the intricate details of his superhero pumpkin man. His pumpkin did take more time and effort than mine! I have to say, though, carving a pumpkin is no easy or simple task! It took me forever just to get the stringy flesh out of the pumpkin, and I hadn't even starting carving yet. :)
Here's how Josh succeeded with his pumpkin:
Fall is here! I'm excited to bake something with pumpkin. So far I've just roasted some pumpkin seeds. :)
Friday, September 12, 2008
Thank you!
I've been a bit slow at getting back to normal since coming home, and I can't really complain about all the work I've had to catch up on since being back, because, hey, I was on vacation. It's all "part of the fun" (as my dad used to say - he said it at our hottest, stickiest, crabbiest moments as little kids, and I used to complain when he said it, but now I find myself saying it all the time!). I've just floated through the third week of school. I say "floated" because I'm already starting to procrastinate.
But, I didn't want to procrastinate about thanking everyone for an amazing birthday! (And, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Aunt Kris who celebrates the same day.)
Today at work I felt a little like Elaine from Seinfeld. I heard stirring in the office, and soon I found myself in a circle of our agents singing to me. We ate some delicious lunch from Thai Basil and talked a bit. I'm blessed to work in an office among such fun and energetic people.
Josh and I went to dinner at the Caspian Cafe, a little Mediterranean restaurant near our house. We'd never tried it and really enjoyed ourselves. There was even a belly dancer there - who was very talented - but Josh and I didn't really know how to react at first. She danced around the small restaurant between and in front of every table. We thought, "Do we look at her while she's dancing? Where do you look - her face, her...belly? Haha. It was fun and a new experience. We ended the evening with our favorite show, MacGyver. :)
Thanks again everyone! I'm so blessed today and everyday.
But, I didn't want to procrastinate about thanking everyone for an amazing birthday! (And, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Aunt Kris who celebrates the same day.)
Today at work I felt a little like Elaine from Seinfeld. I heard stirring in the office, and soon I found myself in a circle of our agents singing to me. We ate some delicious lunch from Thai Basil and talked a bit. I'm blessed to work in an office among such fun and energetic people.
Josh and I went to dinner at the Caspian Cafe, a little Mediterranean restaurant near our house. We'd never tried it and really enjoyed ourselves. There was even a belly dancer there - who was very talented - but Josh and I didn't really know how to react at first. She danced around the small restaurant between and in front of every table. We thought, "Do we look at her while she's dancing? Where do you look - her face, her...belly? Haha. It was fun and a new experience. We ended the evening with our favorite show, MacGyver. :)
Thanks again everyone! I'm so blessed today and everyday.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Hello from San Diego
My title is slightly misleading, because we're currently back to reality in Colorado! There's nothing like coming home to the mountains, but we LOVE the coast; the ocean is beautiful, and the sea air is so refreshing. I love walking on sand (more of a workout than I remember!) and feeling the waves.
Josh and I arrived back from San Diego last Sunday, and we had so much fun. Little to no agenda, beautiful weather, and lots of good food always makes for a great time.
We left on Saturday, Aug 30 at 3:00 AM for the Denver airport, and we arrived in San Diego around 8:00 AM. The neighborhood we stayed in (Hillcrest) was just starting to wake up, so everything was quiet—a perfect morning! We enjoyed breakfast at our hotel near Balboa Park before heading to the San Diego Zoo. Josh really wanted to go there; I'm not a big zoo person, but I really enjoyed it. The zoo is HUGE and has so many animals we’re not used to seeing. I'm sure my mom (especially) will appreciate this green snake we saw.
As the afternoon passed, we were exhausted. The heat, the animal smell, and hardly any sleep started to wear on us. We explored more of Balboa Park before returning to our hotel. After a much-needed late-afternoon nap, we headed to a restaurant called the Fish Market, and decided on a more fine dining restaurant above that called Top of the Market. Fine dining turned into a big headache after a long wait, sub-par service, and mediocre food, but we were so happy to be on vacation, and we were so tired we didn't really mind. We paid our high bill, took a few pictures outside (including one of an enormous Navy aircraft carrier), and headed back to the hotel for a nice sleep.
The next morning, we spent some time in Horton Plaza, purchased an all-day bus pass, and headed to Seaport Village. It was a little more touristy than we'd thought it'd be, but we loved the view of the ocean and the walkways around the shops.
We ate fish at a little restaurant overlooking the ocean and breathed in the sea air. Ah. We then took the bus to Coronado Island and explored the beach for a while.
After our time there, we waited for about an hour at the bus stop. By then we were too tired to clean up for a night on the town, so we stopped at Fuddrucker's in the Gaslamp Quarter for a quick dinner and headed back to our hotel for yet another nice sleep.
When Monday morning arrived, we got ready and walked several blocks to try a breakfast place. We then checked out of our hotel and took a taxi to the cruise terminal where the Elation was waiting for us. :) We were both somewhat sad to leave San Diego, but we looked forward to the next few days on the ship.
Our first stop was in Cabo San Lucas. Josh convinced me to try a mini-Jeep excursion with him. I don't regret it at all, but it was my first time off-roading, and I was a little nervous at first. (Most of my family will likely be surprised I did this; I have a record of being a little wimpy!)
Before we left Cabo, we stopped at Medano Beach for a little swimming. The water was so warm--like taking a wonderful salty bath.
Our second and last stop was in Ensenada (it's funny that it's only about an hour out of the States). We opted for a tour of the city which took us to one of three "blowhole" sites in the world (the others are in Australia and Hawaii), La Bufadora, and we shopped around afterward. Josh tried a fish taco, and I sampled a margarita in the very place it was supposedly "invented." SO good!
(The following picture was also taken in Ensenada outside the civic center. Notice the lovely palm tree growing out of Josh's head. Totally didn't notice that until AFTER I took the picture.)
Overall, our time on the cruise was great. We noticed movement the entire time (in fact, I still feel like I am bobbing around), yet the ship wasn't moving violently at all. We ate lots and lots of food.
We met a great couple—Juan and Diane—who we sat with for dinner every night. Here's Diane and I (we bumped into each other near the blowhole site).
Finally, I got a heat rash! Boo. Nearly every time I was out in the sun for more than 30 minutes, it felt like I was being poked with little needles all over my body. And, the itch felt like chicken pox. Supposedly the rash is called "milaria" (not to be confused with malaria of course) and it's downright terrible. But, I didn’t let that stop me from enjoying everything.
Now that we're home, we're getting down to business. School has started, and I'm no longer at Ted's, so I can fully concentrate on work and school. Josh will finish his lawn-mowing season soon, and fall will be here! I can't believe it. We came home to a 58-degree night in Colorado. It was a nice, swift reminder that we were home. No easing back into reality allowed. But, a few escapes now and then are so nice. :)
We're so thankful we had this time. Everything came together so well, and we made some memories. Our favorite part was just being together. You may be the judge of whether or not that's a good thing.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Vacation!
Josh and I are going on vacation in less than three weeks. It's actually our first "official" vacation, or so I'd like to think. We've driven to Minnesota a couple times for holidays, we've driven to Texas for a wedding, and we've driven to Denver for our first and second anniversaries. Those were all great and meaningful trips, but we're so excited for this one.
We're flying down to San Diego (which happens to be my birthplace but not technically where I'm "from") and staying there for a few days, then we're off to a few stops in Mexico, thanks to a great last-minute deal through Carnival. (If you've never been on a cruise before, head on over to Carnival's website and do some research!) We're so excited to have a week to ourselves.
In the midst of all the excitement is a bit of anxiousness for me. I've been working as an office manager for a real estate company for the past few months, and the previous office manager hardly left for vacation, so . . . overall, the company is not used to functioning without someone there all day, every day, taking every phone call, putting out every fire (while it's still just a spark!). It will be good for me to not only get away, but get away AND try to manage composure as I think about what fires I may have to put out when I get back. That's a little pessimistic, I know! Though so much can happen in an 8-hour day around here, I trust that everything will go smoothly and I won't have to check my cell phone messages too often! :)
We're flying down to San Diego (which happens to be my birthplace but not technically where I'm "from") and staying there for a few days, then we're off to a few stops in Mexico, thanks to a great last-minute deal through Carnival. (If you've never been on a cruise before, head on over to Carnival's website and do some research!) We're so excited to have a week to ourselves.
In the midst of all the excitement is a bit of anxiousness for me. I've been working as an office manager for a real estate company for the past few months, and the previous office manager hardly left for vacation, so . . . overall, the company is not used to functioning without someone there all day, every day, taking every phone call, putting out every fire (while it's still just a spark!). It will be good for me to not only get away, but get away AND try to manage composure as I think about what fires I may have to put out when I get back. That's a little pessimistic, I know! Though so much can happen in an 8-hour day around here, I trust that everything will go smoothly and I won't have to check my cell phone messages too often! :)
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Update
Sorry, this is a QUICK update!
The past couple of weeks have involved:
1) Lots of working
2) Lots of fun
3) A visit from my sister Lindsay
4) Meeting our "nephew" Caspian (our friends' new puppy)
5) A dear friend's wedding
6) More working
7) More fun
8) Hiking to the Punch Bowls (Glen Eyrie)
Some highlights:
1) My sister Lindsay encouraged me to start writing more again, and she also inspired me to FINALLY plant some flowers in my front yard. :)
2) I saw August Rush for the first time. Great movie. Rent it.
The past couple of weeks have involved:
1) Lots of working
2) Lots of fun
3) A visit from my sister Lindsay
4) Meeting our "nephew" Caspian (our friends' new puppy)
5) A dear friend's wedding
6) More working
7) More fun
8) Hiking to the Punch Bowls (Glen Eyrie)
Some highlights:
1) My sister Lindsay encouraged me to start writing more again, and she also inspired me to FINALLY plant some flowers in my front yard. :)
2) I saw August Rush for the first time. Great movie. Rent it.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Work story
A recent (and unfortunate yet valuable) serving experience of mine:
I arrive for my 4:00 PM shift right on time, and a co-worker tells me I already have a table.
The gentlemen order a bottle of red wine which I deliver to the table, complete my wine presentation, watch as one of them tastes the cabernet and approves it, and pour both gentlemen a glass. I place the bottle back on the table and wrap the white serving cloth around the bottle. This is the exact moment I completely regret talking with my hands, because as I ask the men what they'd like for dinner, I swing my left hand precisely enough to hit one of the guest's wine glasses. The red wine projects perfectly from the glass right onto my guest's ivory polo shirt. He tries to scoot away, but the wine finds him like a liquid magnet.
I felt like crawling into a corner and never coming out. I apologized and wiped some of the wine from his side of the booth with the serving cloth. I walked away and found my boss and a couple servers taking a break in the back, and I said, "I just pulled the biggest serving faux pas ever!" When they asked, "What?" my lip quivered. I started CRYING. I just couldn't hold it in! My boss gathered from the tears that he should go visit the table, and some of the other servers took turns visiting the table with washcloths as I calmed down. When I felt more emotionally stable, I went back to the table and apologized again. The gentleman covered in wine told me everything was alright, "mistakes happen," and that I shouldn't worry. For the rest of their visit, they jokingly shielded their wine glasses when I came to the table.
Needless to say, we purchased their dinner and offered to buy my guest a new shirt and pair of pants.
Has anyone else been though a similar experience? :)
(Random thought: How is "server" more gender inclusive than "waiter"?)
I arrive for my 4:00 PM shift right on time, and a co-worker tells me I already have a table.
The gentlemen order a bottle of red wine which I deliver to the table, complete my wine presentation, watch as one of them tastes the cabernet and approves it, and pour both gentlemen a glass. I place the bottle back on the table and wrap the white serving cloth around the bottle. This is the exact moment I completely regret talking with my hands, because as I ask the men what they'd like for dinner, I swing my left hand precisely enough to hit one of the guest's wine glasses. The red wine projects perfectly from the glass right onto my guest's ivory polo shirt. He tries to scoot away, but the wine finds him like a liquid magnet.
I felt like crawling into a corner and never coming out. I apologized and wiped some of the wine from his side of the booth with the serving cloth. I walked away and found my boss and a couple servers taking a break in the back, and I said, "I just pulled the biggest serving faux pas ever!" When they asked, "What?" my lip quivered. I started CRYING. I just couldn't hold it in! My boss gathered from the tears that he should go visit the table, and some of the other servers took turns visiting the table with washcloths as I calmed down. When I felt more emotionally stable, I went back to the table and apologized again. The gentleman covered in wine told me everything was alright, "mistakes happen," and that I shouldn't worry. For the rest of their visit, they jokingly shielded their wine glasses when I came to the table.
Needless to say, we purchased their dinner and offered to buy my guest a new shirt and pair of pants.
Has anyone else been though a similar experience? :)
(Random thought: How is "server" more gender inclusive than "waiter"?)
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Job updates
Go Green Lawn Care (Josh's new business) is growing! Josh comes home stinkier than usual on the weekends, but I know he enjoys it. He is passionate about lawn care, and I love hearing him talk to his clients over the phone. We're still discussing making it an "official" business, but as of now we're still working with a relatively small number of lawns. We'll see!
Earlier this week, our office manager (who I work under) told us that she accepted a job opportunity and will move on. I will take her place as the office manager (an exciting promotion), yet since I heard the news, I've been full of mixed feelings. I'm ready to tackle the new challenge, though, and will keep everyone posted.
Here we are smiling at you! Have a great weekend.
Earlier this week, our office manager (who I work under) told us that she accepted a job opportunity and will move on. I will take her place as the office manager (an exciting promotion), yet since I heard the news, I've been full of mixed feelings. I'm ready to tackle the new challenge, though, and will keep everyone posted.
Here we are smiling at you! Have a great weekend.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Two years!
Josh and I celebrated our two-year anniversary last week. What a wonderful day!
The day started with a relaxing morning. We got ourselves ready and went to Wade's Cafe for breakfast. Josh tried the pancakes and I had the french toast. Their homemade maple syrup was amazing! Josh and I couldn't get over how good the food was. We felt like we were on vacation, because the weather was so beautiful (we ate on the patio) and the cafe felt far from home.
After that, we ran a couple errands and drove to Denver. We love going to the Cherry Creek mall; it's just so fun for us to walk around, see all the different people, and go into Neiman Marcus and pretend we can afford a $300 belt for Josh! One of my favorite parts was probably when Josh tried on sunglasses at the Diesel store.
We spent a good couple hours at the mall and then decided to go see Indiana Jones. I've never seen the past movies, but I did enjoy this one. After the movie, we went on a little walk along the path by the mall.
We were quite hungry by then, and we drove downtown to see what was for dinner. :) Josh had heard about a Mexican place called Lime, but we weren't quite sure where it was, so we decided to look around for something else. We approached the Brown Palace, which is an upscale hotel in downtown Denver, and went inside (we've been curious about it for a while). After looking around the inside of the hotel, we asked a couple of gentlemen if they knew where Lime was. They told us, and they said they had a courtesy shuttle service for their guests. I promptly told them we weren't guests of the Brown Palace, but one of the gentlemen said, "We also do it for people we like," so we followed our driver out to a Mercedes SUV and rode one mile in style to Lime. After arriving, we anticipated great food, and though we didn't enjoy the food as much as we'd thought, it was great to try it. It was 9:00 PM, and we walked the mile back to where we'd parked. The night weather was beautiful!
It was a fun and beautiful day and reminded me of all the little reasons I fell in love with my Josh. :) Sometimes we all need a day away to restructure our thinking and get back to a place of simplicity.
The day started with a relaxing morning. We got ourselves ready and went to Wade's Cafe for breakfast. Josh tried the pancakes and I had the french toast. Their homemade maple syrup was amazing! Josh and I couldn't get over how good the food was. We felt like we were on vacation, because the weather was so beautiful (we ate on the patio) and the cafe felt far from home.
After that, we ran a couple errands and drove to Denver. We love going to the Cherry Creek mall; it's just so fun for us to walk around, see all the different people, and go into Neiman Marcus and pretend we can afford a $300 belt for Josh! One of my favorite parts was probably when Josh tried on sunglasses at the Diesel store.
We spent a good couple hours at the mall and then decided to go see Indiana Jones. I've never seen the past movies, but I did enjoy this one. After the movie, we went on a little walk along the path by the mall.
We were quite hungry by then, and we drove downtown to see what was for dinner. :) Josh had heard about a Mexican place called Lime, but we weren't quite sure where it was, so we decided to look around for something else. We approached the Brown Palace, which is an upscale hotel in downtown Denver, and went inside (we've been curious about it for a while). After looking around the inside of the hotel, we asked a couple of gentlemen if they knew where Lime was. They told us, and they said they had a courtesy shuttle service for their guests. I promptly told them we weren't guests of the Brown Palace, but one of the gentlemen said, "We also do it for people we like," so we followed our driver out to a Mercedes SUV and rode one mile in style to Lime. After arriving, we anticipated great food, and though we didn't enjoy the food as much as we'd thought, it was great to try it. It was 9:00 PM, and we walked the mile back to where we'd parked. The night weather was beautiful!
It was a fun and beautiful day and reminded me of all the little reasons I fell in love with my Josh. :) Sometimes we all need a day away to restructure our thinking and get back to a place of simplicity.
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