Alright, so everyone who knows me has described me as either anal, organized, structured or a combination of any of the above. I will admit it, I like structure I like to have a plan and stick to it. I love having a list and checking things off them as I accomplish them. I don't know I just function really well with that. So I decided to email my family asking them for their Christmas lists. I thought now is as good a time as any to get started. I travel a lot and sometimes in my spare time I get to go shopping at stores that I don't have at home and I see different things I want to pick up for different people.
Everyone has heard of "Christmas in July." Well, I wanted to start with "Christmas in June." You should have seen the responses I got from my sister, mom, and dad. I don't believe Bill has opened his email for a few days so he didn't get my emails yet. I'm sure he will give me his normal response, "Auty, are you really serious about this?" My sister responded with "Are you crazy? Christmas is so far away then proceeded to ask me what I wanted for my birthday. I don't want much for my birthday-in fact I can't think of one thing. My mom proceeded to call me anal with a laugh and again wanted me to produce a list for my birthday. However, my Dad's response was the BEST of them all. He had said that he thought I was submitting my Christmas wish list to my parents and he was straight up SHOCKED that I had beaten my sister to the punch in submitting the list. I died laughing. For those of you who don't know my sister for every birthday, anniversary, christmas, or any holiday that would require gift giving she always comes up with this MASSIVE list of things she MUST have. It's down right hilarious some of the stuff that she desires. It's the running joke in my family. Traditionally, I am one of the last folks to submit a list of wants/desires for any kind of gifts. I like to get gifts but I love to give them more. I always come up with "Oh, I don't really want anything this year" or "I will let you know what you can get me then I just forget to submit a list or something like that.
I'm serious about wanting my family to give me lists for Christmas. I usually do really well with a direct, specific, and detailed list. I'm not great at just random things that I think people would want or like.
I was missing my sister a lot this week so these emails seemed to hit the spot with her wacky sense of humor and her personality. It's fun to reflect on the past with my family. We are lucky to be so close!
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
P.S I love you
I'm pretty behind the times as we have just rented the movie P.S I love you. I had heard good things about the movie from a few folks so I decided to give it a chance. Let me tell you it's one of the better movies that I have seen in a very long time.
The message in the movie is both moving and inspirational. It puts things into perspective pretty quickly. It really makes you think about who is in your life and the role they play. It really makes you take a hard look at your life and how you plan to spend it. Different things are important to different people.
It's true everyone in my life occupies a spot in my heart. Some have more space than others, but nonetheless I wouldn't be the person I am without the roles they have played in my life.
I highly recommend this movie.
The message in the movie is both moving and inspirational. It puts things into perspective pretty quickly. It really makes you think about who is in your life and the role they play. It really makes you take a hard look at your life and how you plan to spend it. Different things are important to different people.
It's true everyone in my life occupies a spot in my heart. Some have more space than others, but nonetheless I wouldn't be the person I am without the roles they have played in my life.
I highly recommend this movie.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Crackberry and Corporate America
I finally broke down and decided that I needed to get a Blackberry. It's odd my professional world used to consist of Emergency Room Patients and Bed side manner. Now, I have added Corporate America to the mix. My days now are filled with numerous emails, phone calls, strategic planning meetings, and pre implementations.
I was on the golf course last Tuesday and I had no way to check my emails. I had received a phone call from a coworker citing explicit instructions on making travel plans and informing me of where I needed to be for the first two weeks of June. As I listened to the message I made a mental note of what I needed to do when I got home. Well, when I got home I had 17 emails requesting my attention. One of which was an email from my boss on the importance of being available by phone. For the most part, I am available by phone but I do need to respond quicker to my emails...which led to the purchase of the "Crackberry."
It makes me feel slightly grown up to own one. We will see how it all turns out. I will keep you posted...as if you really wanted to know.
Have a safe memorial day weekend!
I was on the golf course last Tuesday and I had no way to check my emails. I had received a phone call from a coworker citing explicit instructions on making travel plans and informing me of where I needed to be for the first two weeks of June. As I listened to the message I made a mental note of what I needed to do when I got home. Well, when I got home I had 17 emails requesting my attention. One of which was an email from my boss on the importance of being available by phone. For the most part, I am available by phone but I do need to respond quicker to my emails...which led to the purchase of the "Crackberry."
It makes me feel slightly grown up to own one. We will see how it all turns out. I will keep you posted...as if you really wanted to know.
Have a safe memorial day weekend!
Friday, May 16, 2008
Band Wagon Fans
The world of sports is a crazy place. I truly believe that sports can unite people and divide them in the same breath. People will stand around the water cooler and discuss 9th inning heroics, championships won and lost, the greatest upsets, the underdogs, overrated and underrated athletes and teams alike. Then the heated debates set in, Redsox vs Yankees, Cubs vs Sox, Yankees vs Mets etc...you get the drift.
There is one thing that does really bother me about sports teams and sports fans. I can't stand Fair weather fans and Band Wagon Fans. I can't grasp the concept. Maybe I don't understand it because I don't fit into either category. I love sports, I'm a huge sports fan and I'm rather knowledgable about certain teams. I loved the Braves when they sucked and everyone made fun of me for liking them. They were at one point bottom feeders, losers if you will. They couldn't hit anything, their pitching was horrible, and their roster didn't possess any one "superstar." Enter Glavine, Smoltz, Maddux, Murphy, Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones, and all of a sudden they become contenders. They are winning and everyone is suddenly a fan of the Atlanta Braves. Funny how people flock to winning teams. The Braves are okay today, nothing too spectacular but I am still a fan.
Take the Boston Red Sox. My Dad's family is from Western Massachusetts, we are Red Sox Fans. I can remember as a kid watching ESPN televise Red Sox games, living in Florida we rarely got to see them on TV so when we did we made a night of it. Sometimes my mom would make us hot dogs and we would have a "ball park dinner" featuring hot dogs, beer (for my dad), peanuts, and sometimes soft pretzels. We loved that we could see the Sox play...Mike Greenwell, Tony Pena, Tim Wakefield, and Wade Boggs. They didn't possess near the talent that the modern day Red Sox have but they were fun to watch. They were usually in last place and the laughing stock of the league with the "Curse of the Bambino" and all. They always posed the question, "When would the curse be lifted?" When would the Red Sox finally win the World Series. Fast forward a few years, the Sox now have 2 World Series Rings and all of a sudden we have a "Red Sox Nation." Where were these fans when they were losing? Was Fenway sold out during those years? Funny how everyone now loves the Red Sox!
Last but certainly not least. You all know that I have verbalized my eternal love of the Chicago Cubs. It's no secret that I have been a fan for years. Remember I loved them when they were in last place year after year, no mention of post season, let alone a contention for the world series. So after a long week of work, I decided to go to TGIF Friday's have some lunch, grab a beer and watch the Cubs game. It's funny as I watched on TV, Wrigley Field was full to capacity with standing room only to watch the Cubs. They still wear the same uniforms, the positions are the same, and the games are still held at Wrigley. I can remember watching the Cubs of old, you know the Cubs that couldn't buy a win, the stadium wasn't sold out and the fans weren't as numerous. The biggest difference between the Cubs of Old and this year's Cubs is that the Cubs this year are WINNING! Yep, they have won 7 of their last 8 games, they are 10 games above 500 and they are in FIRST PLACE. Isn't it funny when the Cubs are winning the whole state of Illinois turn into Cubs Fans. Maybe Barack Obama should start sporting a Cubs tee shirt on the campaign trail. He is after all, the Senator of Illinois. Wonder if he likes the Cubs or the Sox?
So I hope I get to see a game or two in my travels to Chicago. I am trying to get tickets for my next visit. It appears that many of the games are sold out. Not to pass judgement but I wonder just how many of those tickets were purchased by bandwagon fans?
GO CUBS!!! THIS COULD BE OUR YEAR!!!!
There is one thing that does really bother me about sports teams and sports fans. I can't stand Fair weather fans and Band Wagon Fans. I can't grasp the concept. Maybe I don't understand it because I don't fit into either category. I love sports, I'm a huge sports fan and I'm rather knowledgable about certain teams. I loved the Braves when they sucked and everyone made fun of me for liking them. They were at one point bottom feeders, losers if you will. They couldn't hit anything, their pitching was horrible, and their roster didn't possess any one "superstar." Enter Glavine, Smoltz, Maddux, Murphy, Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones, and all of a sudden they become contenders. They are winning and everyone is suddenly a fan of the Atlanta Braves. Funny how people flock to winning teams. The Braves are okay today, nothing too spectacular but I am still a fan.
Take the Boston Red Sox. My Dad's family is from Western Massachusetts, we are Red Sox Fans. I can remember as a kid watching ESPN televise Red Sox games, living in Florida we rarely got to see them on TV so when we did we made a night of it. Sometimes my mom would make us hot dogs and we would have a "ball park dinner" featuring hot dogs, beer (for my dad), peanuts, and sometimes soft pretzels. We loved that we could see the Sox play...Mike Greenwell, Tony Pena, Tim Wakefield, and Wade Boggs. They didn't possess near the talent that the modern day Red Sox have but they were fun to watch. They were usually in last place and the laughing stock of the league with the "Curse of the Bambino" and all. They always posed the question, "When would the curse be lifted?" When would the Red Sox finally win the World Series. Fast forward a few years, the Sox now have 2 World Series Rings and all of a sudden we have a "Red Sox Nation." Where were these fans when they were losing? Was Fenway sold out during those years? Funny how everyone now loves the Red Sox!
Last but certainly not least. You all know that I have verbalized my eternal love of the Chicago Cubs. It's no secret that I have been a fan for years. Remember I loved them when they were in last place year after year, no mention of post season, let alone a contention for the world series. So after a long week of work, I decided to go to TGIF Friday's have some lunch, grab a beer and watch the Cubs game. It's funny as I watched on TV, Wrigley Field was full to capacity with standing room only to watch the Cubs. They still wear the same uniforms, the positions are the same, and the games are still held at Wrigley. I can remember watching the Cubs of old, you know the Cubs that couldn't buy a win, the stadium wasn't sold out and the fans weren't as numerous. The biggest difference between the Cubs of Old and this year's Cubs is that the Cubs this year are WINNING! Yep, they have won 7 of their last 8 games, they are 10 games above 500 and they are in FIRST PLACE. Isn't it funny when the Cubs are winning the whole state of Illinois turn into Cubs Fans. Maybe Barack Obama should start sporting a Cubs tee shirt on the campaign trail. He is after all, the Senator of Illinois. Wonder if he likes the Cubs or the Sox?
So I hope I get to see a game or two in my travels to Chicago. I am trying to get tickets for my next visit. It appears that many of the games are sold out. Not to pass judgement but I wonder just how many of those tickets were purchased by bandwagon fans?
GO CUBS!!! THIS COULD BE OUR YEAR!!!!
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Wisconsin
It's true that I don't know a lot about Wisconsin. I am here this week for work and my visit has been interesting. I know where Wisconsin is on a map. I enjoy watching the occasional Green Bay Packers Game in the snow. I know Wisconsin is famous for it's cheese. I also know that people here have midwest values and funny accents.
What I didn't know or realize is how incredibly beautiful it is here. I am staying in Fond du Lac, in the southeastern region of Wisconsin. Let me tell you the land is unbelievably gorgeous, farm land forever, rolling hills, and bright blue cloudless skies. I'm sure the scenery is quite different in the dead of winter but I was in awe upon my drive up from the airport.
It's kinda funny because I had a crazy morning trying to fly into Wisconsin earlier on Monday. I had missed my flight due to idiots posing as TSA employees at the security line. As a result of that my patience was already shot and I wasn't in the most pleasant mood when I arrived. However, when I arrived (safely) it was like God was sending me a message, take a deep breath and enjoy the view that he has created. It was like he was telling me to take some time and really relish this incredible landscape. I know why they call it "God's Country." Now, Florida is nice and I live in a great area but it pales in comparison to Wisconsin. The good news I can enjoy both places regularly.
I know some may think the above sounds corny and the description doesn't appeal to everyone. It's just what I get to experience on a regular basis and it always leaves me asking this question "Is this really my life?" Kinda scary.
Enjoy your view! I will enjoy mine as I'm looking out my hotel room!
What I didn't know or realize is how incredibly beautiful it is here. I am staying in Fond du Lac, in the southeastern region of Wisconsin. Let me tell you the land is unbelievably gorgeous, farm land forever, rolling hills, and bright blue cloudless skies. I'm sure the scenery is quite different in the dead of winter but I was in awe upon my drive up from the airport.
It's kinda funny because I had a crazy morning trying to fly into Wisconsin earlier on Monday. I had missed my flight due to idiots posing as TSA employees at the security line. As a result of that my patience was already shot and I wasn't in the most pleasant mood when I arrived. However, when I arrived (safely) it was like God was sending me a message, take a deep breath and enjoy the view that he has created. It was like he was telling me to take some time and really relish this incredible landscape. I know why they call it "God's Country." Now, Florida is nice and I live in a great area but it pales in comparison to Wisconsin. The good news I can enjoy both places regularly.
I know some may think the above sounds corny and the description doesn't appeal to everyone. It's just what I get to experience on a regular basis and it always leaves me asking this question "Is this really my life?" Kinda scary.
Enjoy your view! I will enjoy mine as I'm looking out my hotel room!
Monday, May 05, 2008
TSA Employees
This week I am scheduled to be in Wisconsin for a new facility that we are bringing on board. I was originally pretty excited for two reasons, first, I am going to be in charge of running this facility and second I haven't been to Wisconsin before. I enjoy traveling.
So I get to the airport at 5:30 for my 7:00am flight. As I finish checking in and round the corner to proceed to the security check in I see a huge mass of people milling around. Upon closer examination I see this huge amount of people are standing in line waiting to go through security. Are you kidding me? It's 5:30 in the morning and the place is packed. So as I join the line I figure this will take longer than I expected but I will be okay.
Fast forward 1 hour and 30 minutes I am just now getting up to the front of the security line. As I make my way to the front of the line, I see they have exactly 4 lanes open for people to go through. Again, are you kidding me? It's monday morning one of the busiest traveling days, there are tons of people in line and yet we only have 4 lines open....C'mon People! So, I eventually get through security and when it's all said and done I get to my gate at 7:15am. Yep, I missed my flight but I was handed a postcard typed message from Airtran apologizing to me for me missing my flight and IF I wanted to write to TSA about my experience this morning regarding my delayed trip through security I was more than welcome to.
I honestly believe that TSA will hire anyone off the street. If you have a pulse, and you submit an application you are bound to get hired. You need NO training. Gosh, it's just so frustrating dealing with these people.
But nonetheless, I will breath in, breath out, and Move on.
So I get to the airport at 5:30 for my 7:00am flight. As I finish checking in and round the corner to proceed to the security check in I see a huge mass of people milling around. Upon closer examination I see this huge amount of people are standing in line waiting to go through security. Are you kidding me? It's 5:30 in the morning and the place is packed. So as I join the line I figure this will take longer than I expected but I will be okay.
Fast forward 1 hour and 30 minutes I am just now getting up to the front of the security line. As I make my way to the front of the line, I see they have exactly 4 lanes open for people to go through. Again, are you kidding me? It's monday morning one of the busiest traveling days, there are tons of people in line and yet we only have 4 lines open....C'mon People! So, I eventually get through security and when it's all said and done I get to my gate at 7:15am. Yep, I missed my flight but I was handed a postcard typed message from Airtran apologizing to me for me missing my flight and IF I wanted to write to TSA about my experience this morning regarding my delayed trip through security I was more than welcome to.
I honestly believe that TSA will hire anyone off the street. If you have a pulse, and you submit an application you are bound to get hired. You need NO training. Gosh, it's just so frustrating dealing with these people.
But nonetheless, I will breath in, breath out, and Move on.
Disney World
My mom, Bill and I got the pleasure of going to Disney this weekend with my cousins and my aunt and uncle visiting from Philadelphia. It truly is the "happiest place on earth." Whenever I go there, I look around and every single person is smiling and appearing genuinely happy. It's magical and they do a fantastic job at keeping the magic alive.
It was the first time that my cousins had been on an airplane and it was their first time at Disney. It was awesome to see the park through their eyes. They are so pure and unbroken, it's as if they see all good in people without casting judgements and/or blame. It was neat to see the excitement and experiences register on their faces. Pure joy!!
All in all, we had a GREAT time with them. It always leaves me wanting to spend more and more time with them. In a way, I'm sad that they live so far away and we don't get to see them grow up. However, the visits are always nice.
It was the first time that my cousins had been on an airplane and it was their first time at Disney. It was awesome to see the park through their eyes. They are so pure and unbroken, it's as if they see all good in people without casting judgements and/or blame. It was neat to see the excitement and experiences register on their faces. Pure joy!!
All in all, we had a GREAT time with them. It always leaves me wanting to spend more and more time with them. In a way, I'm sad that they live so far away and we don't get to see them grow up. However, the visits are always nice.
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