Fall

Fall

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

The Christmas season is upon us

I am actually in the Christmas spirit this year. A friend asked me today, "You are going on year two of holidays without Mike...how are you feeling?" I am actually feeling great and ready for the holidays. I had a wonderful Thanksgiving-I ran the entire four miles of the Turkey Trot and was so proud that I pushed myself to cross the finish line. I had dinner with my family and ate so much that I needed my elastic waist pants for comfort! We played a game and relaxed which was nice.

I finished most of my holiday shopping over the weekend. I actually enjoyed the trips to the mall and the Christmas music. I was excited to find gifts-not gift cards-this year for family and friends. I also took myself to see Harry Potter which has left me hanging for the final installment. I even took a Christmas picture that included Ches and Stan and made photo cards (You should be getting one in the mail!).

Of course, Mike is never far from my mind, and the holidays are no exception. But somehow this year I am feeling much more grateful than I am feeling sad or lonely. I have really been able to do the personal healing and growth this year that I needed after losing my best friend. While it will never be easy, I am glad to have back that spirit of the season that will make the holidays that much more cheery.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

20 things to be thankful for

1. The circle of love-family and friends make life so much more meaningful
2. Chester and Stanley-we are the three musketeers
3. Having been married to a really awesome guy
4. A Whole Foods within walking distance
5. Living so close to a popular recreational park
6. A part-time job-allowing me to create more balance in my life
7. Unearthing my creative self
8. Wireless internet
9. All the places I have travelled to, all the sights I have seen
10. Quiet and reflective time
11. Discovering yoga!
12. NPR-Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, Morning Edition, Talk of the Nation...
13. Natural beauty-the mountains, the ocean, and everything in between
14. Owning my home
15. HGTV and The Food Network
16. Being a part of an excellent book club
17. A really comfy bed and a good night's sleep
18. Food and the comraderie a good meal brings
19.My Ipod
20. My Mac computer


Happy Thanksgiving! May this be a time to reflect on what you are thankful for and to spend time with family and friends.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Craft shows

Who is Samantha Robinson? She is some sort of merchandising, crafty genius of Denver who can get all sort of creative people together for one big eye candy event.

Aim and I went to two craft fairs today. The first was put on my women who live in the Willow Creek neighborhood. Crafty gals, I tell you. I bought all sorts of stuff-a detangler hairbrush, a tea mug, and a gift for a friend who reads this blog. Aim and I then went to Sam Robinson's Gifts for Yule craft show http://www.giftsforyule.com/ and just marveled at the creative people out there.

I bought a small shadowbox made by this white haired man with a booth that had good prices. I plan to make that my Mikey memorabilia box. It is funny how things that are meant to be just jump out at ya...it is just that I need to be attentive in recognizing when it happens.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Reflections on work and leisure

Yesterday I started my part-time job. I fell so easily into this position-I had worked one day a week at this community college in the past and got to know the advising and student services staff. They were all such great people to work with, and when I quit Regis the supervisor told me to call her if I wanted a part-time advising job. Over the summer, I toyed with jobs in retail but realized to make any money I would have to work full-time. So, I contacted this woman and she hired me part-time, which had a payscale that would equate to a full-time retail job.

Can I tell you? How did I manage to work 8 hours before?

After taking a full summer off plus a few months, I have become an advocate for the idea of balance. In order to have balance, I know I can't take things to either extreme. So, instead of working an 8 hour day with good pay and owning a brand new mini-SUV, I choose the part-time job and keep the two 10 year old cars that are paid off. The trade off is...my morning walk followed by a yoga class; getting out of work in the winter while the sun is still shining; after a heavy snowstorm, brushing off my car at 8am instead of 6am. The impact on my quality life-part-time vs. full-time-I can tell already is amazing.

That said, I am referring to a job where career development is not necessarily the primary reason to work there. While I love the staff and the job itself is interesting and fun, I know my passion will be in the social work field. I already feel it when I work with the homeless for the art projects. So, I have a feeling once I start pursuing my MSW I will need to re-read this post about balance. Until then, though, I am really loving life.