The New York Times recently posted an article which listed the questions that couples should ask prior to marriage, according to the unnamed author. I was drawn the article myself for good reason, as many of my close friends will tell you.
I've gotten to the point where I flippantly advise younger women to not get married. It's not worth the hassle, I tell them. But as they're younger and more idealistic than I am now, I don't think they truly listen and that's probably best. Although I can tell my ill-fated advice is colored by my experience, I feel a need to share my "wisdom," however wrong it may be.
I DO feel certain that it is wrong. I know many couples who have been married for quite a while, most of whom exude that happiness that exists for couples who really love each other. I can even see it in couples who are just married: I call it the "angels-sing wedding." This phenomenon is perhaps all in my head, but there's something about some weddings that makes them different. It doesn't happen at every wedding. It doesn't happen at all the weddings in which I've participated and it certainly doesn't happen at weddings where I intimately know the bride and/or groom (like those of my brother and sisters; I'd like to think that my perception for their weddings is unreliable because of that intimacy).
I also feel certain that the artists in the world wouldn't idolize love and all its wonderful qualities if it didn't happen that way, somewhere, somehow. Truly, I can't remember a time when I was able to read a Nicholas Sparks novel and think, "Why can't I have a relationship like this?" And what am I supposed to think in the closing scenes of Phantom of the Opera, when the Phantom loses the girl, but only because of his love for her?
The question becomes love vs. marriage. One is not necessarily dependent upon the other, a fact all too often overlooked in the case of young children, especially young girls. It also encompasses the difference between familial love and sexual love, about which I once heard a great homily which truly clarified the two for me. And one must not forget the precursor to both love and marriage itself: lust (or longing, if you want a kinder, gentler word). Simply said, without lust, neither love nor marriage (at least not voluntary marriages) would ever happen.
Throughout my fairly short life, I've heard of many reasons why people marry. Love, money, sex, opportunity, stability, children, family, expectations of others and self, social consequences, etc., etc. Earlier, I would have said that most of these are particularly bad reasons to wed. However, I've since met several couples who've had an arranged marriage - and who seem to exude that marital happiness. Thus, an argument can be made that a marriage can work if it's not based primarily in lust and subsequently love.
What's the difference? Why is it that marriages which aren't arranged can be held to a standard which necessitates a basis in love? Any why aren't arranged marriages more often considered a failure by Western observers? How can an arranged marriage, not based on love, grow into one that is not only based on love, but exudes it, while marriages by choice, for reasons other than love, seem unable to morph into a strong, loving relationship?
Here's my theory: often, those in arranged marriages are told that the marriage must work by others, and thus it appears so, as the individuals work on the appearance of stability and happiness. But that appearance is also completely transparent to others who are paying attention.
A "for love" marriage, as my Indian friend in an arranged marriage calls them, one truly based in love, has the motivation for both partners to fully pursue happiness and a strong relationship. However, a "for love" marriage based on any other reason needs strong, dedicated, patient, and willing individuals to morph the relationship into what it could truly become. Therefore, I'd argue that every marriage, at the beginning, has the possibility of being a true, strong, exuding happiness kind of marriage. It's simply what the partners bring to the relationship and their reaction to the other that either makes that union successful or not.
The Times' article does bring up good points that should be addressed before "tying the knot." However, one must remember that although discussing such questions beforehand will help overcome potentially serious problems later in the marriage, it must not be considered a cure all. A serious evaluation of each partner's needs and wants in a relationship, with the help of a good counselor, may be much more effective and a much better predictor of the success of the marriage.
12.29.2006
12.26.2006
The amazing power of the arts
Just got finished watching The Kennedy Center Honors and it's perhaps the best two hours I've spent watching television in quite sometime. I don't often get to watch the show and I don't really care about any other awards show out there, but the Honors always catches my attention.
This year, they honored a bunch of people with quite varied artisitic backgrounds, as they do every year. Steven Speilberg. Dolly Parton. Smokey Robinson. Zuben Mehta. Andrew Lloyd Weber.
All of them have made significant contributions to the arts. All of them have done so much more than the benefactors of the arts could ever hope to do - by using their inherent talents to mold and shape the world and the lenses through which normal, everyday people see and understand the world.
But it's the benefactors, too, who have made these individual's journeys possible. It's the people who have given them permission to pursue a dream, support when the times got tough, and challenged them to find focus when focus may have been lost. Now, they're an inspiration to many others - artists and non-artists, alike.
I'm blessed to be surrounded by amazing, budding artists myself. Pianists who win world competitions - like Dima, who will go to teach in the Czech Republic this summer after he completes a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, sharing his talent and knowledge with other great artists. A friend who has a dream of beginning his own conservatory to pass along the love of the art to a new generation - and perhaps has the ability and resources to establish such a place now. Friends who've studied classical guitar - and one currently pursuing a master's degree in cello. (I'd put her up against Yo-Yo Ma any day, but my ear isn't as trained as others, perhaps.) Filmmakers who yearn for the strenuous journey of their senior year, just to be able to travel to Los Angeles to show off their work - to people who can truly discover and appreciate their talent. Classical ballet dancers who know all too well that a career in classical ballet is often over before most even consider a career.
The president of the Kennedy Center shared his thoughts about arts and the Center's mission during a brief vignette in the show. He noted that art bridges the gaps in society and makes us all realize the humanity we share. He noted that art cannot be left to survive on its own, that it is often overshadowed by the reality of the world events happening around it. Art must be supported and encouraged everywhere, regardless of the roadblocks and setbacks it faces.
Art has the power to heal and to teach. Nowhere is that more obvious than the annual Kennedy Center Honors awards - and those who have been blessed enough to receive such an honor.
This year, they honored a bunch of people with quite varied artisitic backgrounds, as they do every year. Steven Speilberg. Dolly Parton. Smokey Robinson. Zuben Mehta. Andrew Lloyd Weber.
All of them have made significant contributions to the arts. All of them have done so much more than the benefactors of the arts could ever hope to do - by using their inherent talents to mold and shape the world and the lenses through which normal, everyday people see and understand the world.
But it's the benefactors, too, who have made these individual's journeys possible. It's the people who have given them permission to pursue a dream, support when the times got tough, and challenged them to find focus when focus may have been lost. Now, they're an inspiration to many others - artists and non-artists, alike.
I'm blessed to be surrounded by amazing, budding artists myself. Pianists who win world competitions - like Dima, who will go to teach in the Czech Republic this summer after he completes a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, sharing his talent and knowledge with other great artists. A friend who has a dream of beginning his own conservatory to pass along the love of the art to a new generation - and perhaps has the ability and resources to establish such a place now. Friends who've studied classical guitar - and one currently pursuing a master's degree in cello. (I'd put her up against Yo-Yo Ma any day, but my ear isn't as trained as others, perhaps.) Filmmakers who yearn for the strenuous journey of their senior year, just to be able to travel to Los Angeles to show off their work - to people who can truly discover and appreciate their talent. Classical ballet dancers who know all too well that a career in classical ballet is often over before most even consider a career.
The president of the Kennedy Center shared his thoughts about arts and the Center's mission during a brief vignette in the show. He noted that art bridges the gaps in society and makes us all realize the humanity we share. He noted that art cannot be left to survive on its own, that it is often overshadowed by the reality of the world events happening around it. Art must be supported and encouraged everywhere, regardless of the roadblocks and setbacks it faces.
Art has the power to heal and to teach. Nowhere is that more obvious than the annual Kennedy Center Honors awards - and those who have been blessed enough to receive such an honor.
12.20.2006
Ten Lessons Learned From Vacation
1) Save the shopping for the day when it rains. Relish in the sun and outdoors every other day possible.
2) FLY to Florida, if you're further away than Georgia - which means everywhere except in Florida itself. The state's so freakin' large, it takes forever to get south of Orlando.
3) Go on vacation with people who eat like you do. I like Indian food, but I don't think I can eat Indian for quite a while now. And I'd love to have a cheeseburger, but that's not happening on this trip to paradise!
4) Pay for your massage with cash - and don't wait for the incompetent hotel staff (where you're not staying) to figure out how to charge your credit card. Yep, they were using the old carbon copy papers and that ridiculous machine that requires one to push really hard to get an imprint of the numbers.
5) Get more than one type of beer.
6) If you don't want to get into a fight about answering the phone, keep it on silent. Check it only when you want to return calls. It's vacation, for heaven's sake.
7) Give the people credit for at least trying to make it feel like Christmas - even though it's 80 degrees out and sunny. It was their decision to move somewhere that there's only one season, so they've got to mark the yearly changes somehow. (I can't really get over hearing "White Christmas" so often down here, though.)
8) Buy - and read - at least one "bodice ripper." If nothing else, it provides fodder for daydreaming.
9) Make a list of what you want to do while on vacation and do it. One caution: keep it short.
10) Never, never, never take any work with you.
2) FLY to Florida, if you're further away than Georgia - which means everywhere except in Florida itself. The state's so freakin' large, it takes forever to get south of Orlando.
3) Go on vacation with people who eat like you do. I like Indian food, but I don't think I can eat Indian for quite a while now. And I'd love to have a cheeseburger, but that's not happening on this trip to paradise!
4) Pay for your massage with cash - and don't wait for the incompetent hotel staff (where you're not staying) to figure out how to charge your credit card. Yep, they were using the old carbon copy papers and that ridiculous machine that requires one to push really hard to get an imprint of the numbers.
5) Get more than one type of beer.
6) If you don't want to get into a fight about answering the phone, keep it on silent. Check it only when you want to return calls. It's vacation, for heaven's sake.
7) Give the people credit for at least trying to make it feel like Christmas - even though it's 80 degrees out and sunny. It was their decision to move somewhere that there's only one season, so they've got to mark the yearly changes somehow. (I can't really get over hearing "White Christmas" so often down here, though.)
8) Buy - and read - at least one "bodice ripper." If nothing else, it provides fodder for daydreaming.
9) Make a list of what you want to do while on vacation and do it. One caution: keep it short.
10) Never, never, never take any work with you.
12.19.2006
Leadership Responsibility Without Authority (LRWA)
For me, the clarification of this phenomenon by codifying it is new, but the phenomenon itself is not. I'm currently participating in a leadership position in a non-profit where I certainly have responsibility, but often do not have the authority to make decisions. I can suggest decisions and hope that the "powers that be" think the decisions are useful and beneficial, but it is implied and understood that you only make decisions without further approval in the most extreme circumstances.
However, it doesn't seem that everyone in a leadership position in this organization is subject to these same rules. In fact, it might be said that some (well, particularly one and perhaps others) reject the notion of responsibility without authority and instead claim that authority. It might be said that this individual is one of the best leaders in the organization, perhaps simply because he refuses to give into the notion of LRWA. I'd bet that it's quite a bit easier to fulfill those requirements of your position if you categorically claim what you know you need to do your job.
Herein lies a great question: what are the motivations of the leader? Are they personal gain or the good of the organization? Should leaders without authority be encouraged to take the authority they need to complete the job? Is this a skill that should only be encouraged in more senior leaders, allowing the newest leaders of an organization to learn about the norms, values, and mission of the organization more fully? Perhaps an even more apt question: if you don't trust that your leaders know the organization's norms, values, and mission, why do you select them as leaders?
I'd postulate that sometimes an organization's leadership cannot be selected with the perfect individuals in leadership positions, but that the individuals who show the potential and willingness to be developed may become the perfect individuals for leadership positions.
In such a case, I'd say that more senior members of such a leadership team should be encouraged to take the authority to effectively carry out their duties, but only if an individual has the following skills:
- an understanding that their decisions are perhaps the best possible decisions for the organization
- the intelligence to seek out advice and counsel for any decision in which they feel some sense of unease in making, especially from other senior individuals within the organization
- the strength and persistence to explain their reasoning and choice to the "powers that be" or others in the organization, when questioned
- the knowledge and acceptance that mistakes do happen
- the willingness to try to correct mistakes
- acknowledgement of those mistakes and that they happened as a direct result of their decision (I'd bet that this fear is what moves many organizations to permit leadership responsibility without authority.)
- acceptance of a challenge to continually improve their leadership within the organization
Certainly, I must concur that experience is the best instructor. That said, encouraging leadership experiences in new leaders may be the best possible method of training future leadership. LRWA is an integral part of this training, but may also limit the education that the organization's future leaders can receive.
However, it doesn't seem that everyone in a leadership position in this organization is subject to these same rules. In fact, it might be said that some (well, particularly one and perhaps others) reject the notion of responsibility without authority and instead claim that authority. It might be said that this individual is one of the best leaders in the organization, perhaps simply because he refuses to give into the notion of LRWA. I'd bet that it's quite a bit easier to fulfill those requirements of your position if you categorically claim what you know you need to do your job.
Herein lies a great question: what are the motivations of the leader? Are they personal gain or the good of the organization? Should leaders without authority be encouraged to take the authority they need to complete the job? Is this a skill that should only be encouraged in more senior leaders, allowing the newest leaders of an organization to learn about the norms, values, and mission of the organization more fully? Perhaps an even more apt question: if you don't trust that your leaders know the organization's norms, values, and mission, why do you select them as leaders?
I'd postulate that sometimes an organization's leadership cannot be selected with the perfect individuals in leadership positions, but that the individuals who show the potential and willingness to be developed may become the perfect individuals for leadership positions.
In such a case, I'd say that more senior members of such a leadership team should be encouraged to take the authority to effectively carry out their duties, but only if an individual has the following skills:
- an understanding that their decisions are perhaps the best possible decisions for the organization
- the intelligence to seek out advice and counsel for any decision in which they feel some sense of unease in making, especially from other senior individuals within the organization
- the strength and persistence to explain their reasoning and choice to the "powers that be" or others in the organization, when questioned
- the knowledge and acceptance that mistakes do happen
- the willingness to try to correct mistakes
- acknowledgement of those mistakes and that they happened as a direct result of their decision (I'd bet that this fear is what moves many organizations to permit leadership responsibility without authority.)
- acceptance of a challenge to continually improve their leadership within the organization
Certainly, I must concur that experience is the best instructor. That said, encouraging leadership experiences in new leaders may be the best possible method of training future leadership. LRWA is an integral part of this training, but may also limit the education that the organization's future leaders can receive.
12.17.2006
Bad night, good morning
It's the beach, and yes, it took forever to get here, but now I'm happy. About to go for a run while the camera battery charges. May try to figure out how to post some photos for you guys.
Beautiful weather. Reminds me of a JB song - "The weather is here, I wish you were beautiful . . ."
Going to hit the beach!
Beautiful weather. Reminds me of a JB song - "The weather is here, I wish you were beautiful . . ."
Going to hit the beach!
12.14.2006
Liz, MBA
Yep, it feels good to actually have those letters after my name now. Actually walked in graduation today. Forgot the book I'd hoped to have read during the boring parts, but realized I could get a lot of text messages out instead, so I did. Here's my favorite of the day, courtesy of my long lost friend, Ashley: "Congratulations to you, congratulations to you, you look like an MBA, and now you are one, too!"
So, tomorrow might be the diatribe about leadership and responsibility without authority. Got more ideas today when I got the Center for Creative Leadership's newsletter.
And since I keep losing my connection to Blogger, I'm going to read.
So, tomorrow might be the diatribe about leadership and responsibility without authority. Got more ideas today when I got the Center for Creative Leadership's newsletter.
And since I keep losing my connection to Blogger, I'm going to read.
12.12.2006
Headaches suck.
Not that this was a great epiphany for me, but mine's annoying right now, and I thought I'd share the sentiment. The Imitrex is hopefully coursing through my veins right now, and soon I can think about sleeping.
Last day of work is tomorrow. Sent the email today, but evidently some had already heard. No matter how much you try to control the grapevine, you just can't sometimes. At least for this grapevine message, people will ask you whether it's true or tell you what they heard. For others, they just file it away in their memory. (*&^ing gossips.
Had a pretty good day, regardless. Got another chance to eat at Undercurrent (yep, I'm seeing my new friend, Ben, all too often these days) and the food was great again. Now, if I can only find out where the check from my firm for the party last week has disappeared to . . .
And here's the interesting quote of the day, courtesy of John Alexander from the Center for Creative Leadership: responsibility without authority. Ok, so perhaps it's not a quote, but it is a truism, or at least I think so. I've had several positions (paid and more so, not) where I've had responsibility, but not authority - to make decisions, to implement ideas, to solve problems. It's perhaps a problem, especially with volunteer leadership: you want true leaders, but you won't empower them to truly lead.
That one requires more thought for when my head's not throbbing, so perhaps I'll expound later. Time to feed the cat so she quits crying.
Last day of work is tomorrow. Sent the email today, but evidently some had already heard. No matter how much you try to control the grapevine, you just can't sometimes. At least for this grapevine message, people will ask you whether it's true or tell you what they heard. For others, they just file it away in their memory. (*&^ing gossips.
Had a pretty good day, regardless. Got another chance to eat at Undercurrent (yep, I'm seeing my new friend, Ben, all too often these days) and the food was great again. Now, if I can only find out where the check from my firm for the party last week has disappeared to . . .
And here's the interesting quote of the day, courtesy of John Alexander from the Center for Creative Leadership: responsibility without authority. Ok, so perhaps it's not a quote, but it is a truism, or at least I think so. I've had several positions (paid and more so, not) where I've had responsibility, but not authority - to make decisions, to implement ideas, to solve problems. It's perhaps a problem, especially with volunteer leadership: you want true leaders, but you won't empower them to truly lead.
That one requires more thought for when my head's not throbbing, so perhaps I'll expound later. Time to feed the cat so she quits crying.
12.11.2006
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
Cocoa, no grumpy. No cocoa, grumpy.
Luckily, there's cocoa in my house.
So, the house looks kinda like the holidays now, thanks to my entire Sunday afternoon being dedicated to decorating. Just don't have a tree. I've been told we should get a live tree - you know, the ones with the root ball still attached? Well, although the Farmer's Market does have some (five, to be exact), when you want to plant the tree later, you have to dig a hole double the size of the root ball. In this case, we're talking about at least 5 feet in diameter and a 1.5 feet deep. Yeah, right. I'm not digging a hole like that.
Went to the NCSA's presentation of The Nutcracker last night - on 6 hours of sleep. Pretty awesome. I never realized that the Sugar Plum Fairy was the prima donna of the show. I always thought it was Clara. Honestly, I'm still trying to commit the story to memory, so I can say that misconception probably came from that lack of understanding.
I also think it's funny that many people think it's over after the first act. You get these odd, quizzical looks that say, "That was it?" I can't be too critical though - I'm pretty sure I did that one year.
And I've gotten perhaps my biggest Christmas present this year: I'll be starting a new job the day after Christmas. Hope that it's a job that I really like. Doesn't really pay more than the job I'm leaving (a bonus at next Christmas, but bonuses are never guaranteed, so I'm not counting it), but I certainly think that I'll enjoy it more. More variety, a chance to really shape the job (since it's a new position), and some pretty cool people.
Mmmm, off to enjoy the cocoa. Bonne nuit.
Luckily, there's cocoa in my house.
So, the house looks kinda like the holidays now, thanks to my entire Sunday afternoon being dedicated to decorating. Just don't have a tree. I've been told we should get a live tree - you know, the ones with the root ball still attached? Well, although the Farmer's Market does have some (five, to be exact), when you want to plant the tree later, you have to dig a hole double the size of the root ball. In this case, we're talking about at least 5 feet in diameter and a 1.5 feet deep. Yeah, right. I'm not digging a hole like that.
Went to the NCSA's presentation of The Nutcracker last night - on 6 hours of sleep. Pretty awesome. I never realized that the Sugar Plum Fairy was the prima donna of the show. I always thought it was Clara. Honestly, I'm still trying to commit the story to memory, so I can say that misconception probably came from that lack of understanding.
I also think it's funny that many people think it's over after the first act. You get these odd, quizzical looks that say, "That was it?" I can't be too critical though - I'm pretty sure I did that one year.
And I've gotten perhaps my biggest Christmas present this year: I'll be starting a new job the day after Christmas. Hope that it's a job that I really like. Doesn't really pay more than the job I'm leaving (a bonus at next Christmas, but bonuses are never guaranteed, so I'm not counting it), but I certainly think that I'll enjoy it more. More variety, a chance to really shape the job (since it's a new position), and some pretty cool people.
Mmmm, off to enjoy the cocoa. Bonne nuit.
12.07.2006
Hormones and holidays
Yep, evidently my hormones are working well. No problems there at all, not that I was concerned that there might be a problem. It's just that for years - and I mean years - almost 13 of them - my hormones were fairly stable all the time, not just 3 out of 4 weeks of the month. It really, really sucks to be a woman sometimes.
Anyway, the hormones also got me to finally use my $10 Vickie's card, which has been burning a hole in my pocket for a while - and they made me very, very indecisive when I was trying to find something to wear to the office holiday dinner tomorrow. Most people who know me understand that indecisiveness is a part of my personality; multiply that by 10 and you know how bad off I was tonight.
Things I learned today while shopping this evening:
(a) if it's this cold (currently, 27 degrees, but it feels like 13 with the wind, which is flying at 21 mph), it's probably better to shop at an indoor mall;
(b) you need a coat, gloves, AND a hat - or ear muffs, at least;
(c) a cowl neck sweater isn't the best thing to be wearing - nor are tall boots - when you know you'll be trying on lots of clothes;
(d) I really can't afford stuff from White House/Black Market.(I'd post a link of the dress with the photo, but they don't have it on their website. Think it might be one of those dresses people say "damn" about again. Figures.)
Also what's been on my mind:
- I'm much too busy for not being in school any longer. Haven't had a free night this week, and I've almost completely booked my weekend. I've got projects I've promised people I'd do that are waiting for me, in addition to cleaning the rest of the house, mailing the graduation announcements, trying to make it feel like the holidays in my house, and getting ready for vacation. (No, Jim, you shouldn't ask me to do anything else at least until I come through on something you've asked me to do so far.)
- I absolutely can't wait for vacation. I'm very, very jealous that a friend of mine is livin' the dream in the islands of Turks & Caicos where the weather seems to be pretty good - 77 degrees, no wind, maybe a little rain. Damn. I'd like to be there. Have I mentioned I don't care for winter at all?
- I think we ought to be able to physically check out of work and other not-so-appealing parts of our lives when the holidays roll around and we're mentally checked out anyway. Seems to always happen that I'm very busy right before the holidays (and I do my shopping earlier than most - usually done by Thanksgiving - so that's not the problem). I worry more about the stuff I've got to be doing in my personal life more so than what I need to be doing professionally and it completely shifts my perspective. I tend to focus on the stuff I can't get done and it just stresses me out.
And, may I mention, that Undercurrent has an awesome bar and a pretty cool private room in which to have parties? Had a couple of drinks there earlier this week with the aforementioned friends and love the atmosphere. Hosted a reception for work there last night and it went over fantastically. If you ever feel like having a martini or a wine in an awesome spot, this is it.
Anyway, the hormones also got me to finally use my $10 Vickie's card, which has been burning a hole in my pocket for a while - and they made me very, very indecisive when I was trying to find something to wear to the office holiday dinner tomorrow. Most people who know me understand that indecisiveness is a part of my personality; multiply that by 10 and you know how bad off I was tonight.
Things I learned today while shopping this evening:
(a) if it's this cold (currently, 27 degrees, but it feels like 13 with the wind, which is flying at 21 mph), it's probably better to shop at an indoor mall;
(b) you need a coat, gloves, AND a hat - or ear muffs, at least;
(c) a cowl neck sweater isn't the best thing to be wearing - nor are tall boots - when you know you'll be trying on lots of clothes;
(d) I really can't afford stuff from White House/Black Market.(I'd post a link of the dress with the photo, but they don't have it on their website. Think it might be one of those dresses people say "damn" about again. Figures.)
Also what's been on my mind:
- I'm much too busy for not being in school any longer. Haven't had a free night this week, and I've almost completely booked my weekend. I've got projects I've promised people I'd do that are waiting for me, in addition to cleaning the rest of the house, mailing the graduation announcements, trying to make it feel like the holidays in my house, and getting ready for vacation. (No, Jim, you shouldn't ask me to do anything else at least until I come through on something you've asked me to do so far.)
- I absolutely can't wait for vacation. I'm very, very jealous that a friend of mine is livin' the dream in the islands of Turks & Caicos where the weather seems to be pretty good - 77 degrees, no wind, maybe a little rain. Damn. I'd like to be there. Have I mentioned I don't care for winter at all?
- I think we ought to be able to physically check out of work and other not-so-appealing parts of our lives when the holidays roll around and we're mentally checked out anyway. Seems to always happen that I'm very busy right before the holidays (and I do my shopping earlier than most - usually done by Thanksgiving - so that's not the problem). I worry more about the stuff I've got to be doing in my personal life more so than what I need to be doing professionally and it completely shifts my perspective. I tend to focus on the stuff I can't get done and it just stresses me out.
And, may I mention, that Undercurrent has an awesome bar and a pretty cool private room in which to have parties? Had a couple of drinks there earlier this week with the aforementioned friends and love the atmosphere. Hosted a reception for work there last night and it went over fantastically. If you ever feel like having a martini or a wine in an awesome spot, this is it.
12.02.2006
I'm baaaack!
Ok, so it's been just a really, really long time since I've blogged, but now that I'm unofficially done with school, I figure I'll have more than enough time to take care of blogging now.
So here's what's happened in a nutshell recently:
- Still got the job that I don't like; Is anyone out there hiring a marketing manager?
- Will officially finish the MBA on December 14. Classes are now over, so I feel like I've been freed, but I bet I'll feel bored pretty soon.
- Golf tourney was wonderful and is marching on. Has been without me for a while, but I haven't had time to deal with it.
- Rolled off of two boards as well, so I'll have even more time.
What's next with all this free time?
Well, I'll find a job I like.
I'll read books I want to read, when I want to read them. (A nice little trip to Ed McKay's last night set me up nicely for that.)
I'll get to go on a real vacation for the first time in over a year and a half - Marco Island, FL. Yes, it will be December, but it will be Florida and a beach - two of my favorite places.
I'll actually walk and get the MBA (because my husband walked to get his MSA last year and I sat through it, so he's got to, too).
I'll cook.
I'll knit. And then I might learn how to knit with more than just one type of stitch.
I might clean the house, but given the situation it's remained in this morning, I might not do that until I really, really have to.
I'm gonna go out with girls to celebrate to the Wake Forest v. Ga Tech game tonight.
I'll watch more of the boys in blue try to play the way they're destined to: beating everyone's butts and winning the national championship.
I'll work out again, so that I can wear that black dress that people say "Damn!" about - and look good in it. (I'm sure I could wear it now, but whether I'd look good in it now is up for debate. Now, granted, that was just under two months ago, so I'm not that bad off, and truly, I'm still trying to gain back the 16 pounds I've lost in that time, but there's no muscle there and at least I can tell I don't look the same as I did then.)
I'll find another reason to wear that black dress. :) There are evidently people who are more than upset that they missed the dress. Too bad there's not a picture yet.
And I'll read the book that came with my Canon EOS 350D Digital Rebel XT so that I can remember how the thing really works. And then I'll figure out how to post some of those photos on the blog.
I could write more (oh, lots and lots more, but my tolerance for blogging isn't back to what it used to be yet), so you'll just have to wait.
So here's what's happened in a nutshell recently:
- Still got the job that I don't like; Is anyone out there hiring a marketing manager?
- Will officially finish the MBA on December 14. Classes are now over, so I feel like I've been freed, but I bet I'll feel bored pretty soon.
- Golf tourney was wonderful and is marching on. Has been without me for a while, but I haven't had time to deal with it.
- Rolled off of two boards as well, so I'll have even more time.
What's next with all this free time?
Well, I'll find a job I like.
I'll read books I want to read, when I want to read them. (A nice little trip to Ed McKay's last night set me up nicely for that.)
I'll get to go on a real vacation for the first time in over a year and a half - Marco Island, FL. Yes, it will be December, but it will be Florida and a beach - two of my favorite places.
I'll actually walk and get the MBA (because my husband walked to get his MSA last year and I sat through it, so he's got to, too).
I'll cook.
I'll knit. And then I might learn how to knit with more than just one type of stitch.
I might clean the house, but given the situation it's remained in this morning, I might not do that until I really, really have to.
I'm gonna go out with girls to celebrate to the Wake Forest v. Ga Tech game tonight.
I'll watch more of the boys in blue try to play the way they're destined to: beating everyone's butts and winning the national championship.
I'll work out again, so that I can wear that black dress that people say "Damn!" about - and look good in it. (I'm sure I could wear it now, but whether I'd look good in it now is up for debate. Now, granted, that was just under two months ago, so I'm not that bad off, and truly, I'm still trying to gain back the 16 pounds I've lost in that time, but there's no muscle there and at least I can tell I don't look the same as I did then.)
I'll find another reason to wear that black dress. :) There are evidently people who are more than upset that they missed the dress. Too bad there's not a picture yet.
And I'll read the book that came with my Canon EOS 350D Digital Rebel XT so that I can remember how the thing really works. And then I'll figure out how to post some of those photos on the blog.
I could write more (oh, lots and lots more, but my tolerance for blogging isn't back to what it used to be yet), so you'll just have to wait.
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