shopping!

So, taking advantage of my day off today [thank you Federal govt] I went shopping. First to the Value Village thrift store to look for jean clothing. Added bonus, all Federal holidays are 1/2 price day at these thrift stores. VAP and are attending a "Jarty" aka, Jean Party after Thanksgiving. The premise is that you wear all denim. VAP does not own any jeans, so I had to buy him a whole outfit- jean pants, denim shirt, and sweet denim jacket. He's going to have the whole "Canadian tuxedo" going on. I just got myself a jean jacket. Not sure if I'd wear it anywhere but this party, but hey, it was only $2.50.

I wanted to buy myself another pair of jeans- new, not at the thrift store, so I headed to Arundel Mills. You could tell it was a holiday b/c the parking lot was pretty full. I don't want to think about what that place is going to look like when the holidays get closer. I can't really complain though because I pretty much always go shopping the day after Thanksgiving. While on the hunt for jeans I got distracted and started trying on just about anything. I think I experience the whole range of shopping emotions- happy to sad/depressed. How is it that the size you wear in one store is so completely different than another store? One store can make you feel good about yourself and then another can totally crush that. Besides the size issue, why is it so hard to find a pair of pants that fit right? Even in the same store trying on the exact same jeans I literally wore into the store that I've had for a few years- the new pair I tried on, didn't fit the same. Ugh. I feel the same way about bathing suits. Why can't I find a bathing suit bottom that fits as well as my underwear. No butt cheeks hanging out, not super low cut, just comfortable and covers all the right stuff.

All complaining aside, I did find a pair of jeans I could live with, and for $30! And...I found a new suit for work. I'm super happy about that, I haven't bought a suit since 2005 and I needed a new one. This one is actually separates that all match and are interchangeable which is sweet. I have a jacket and then either a skirt, or a dress. And it all looks flattering on me :-) Now I just need some place to wear it...

need to vent

so, at work I have been working over the past year to become somewhat of an expert in a certain field. Coworker A started working on this field a few years ago and was ahead of the crowd. In the past few years, I have worked hard to learn about this field, become professionally certified as an accredited professional and have been doing my own research, reading professional journals, and trying to give presentations to different organizations about this topic. Coworker B has also been doing this and we work together often. Recently, coworker A has been giving presentations on the subject, but has not really kept up her knowledge base over the years, hasn't gotten professionally accredited, and does not read journal articles. Coworker B and I have edited some of her papers and presentations and tried to kindly suggest she keep up her knowledge b/c we are constantly correcting her information. Part of me would like to let her fail and be recognized as not knowing her stuff, but when she goes out and makes presentations I feel that it reflects poorly on the office if she looks uninformed and stupid. So I'm torn, she's constantly asking coworker B and I about things that she should know, and should take initiative to learn and I feel like I can't confront her. I want to tell her off and tell her to stop taking credit for our knowledge- she'll take the info we give her and then go off and act like she discovered it herself and she's such an expert, when in reality she doesn't even understand the basics. It's so frustrating. I don't know how to solve the problem without being rude and refusing to help her, but at the same time I feel like I am going to explode and yell at her one day for being so selfish and rude. She always has the have the last word and look like the expert in the room, when often, she isn't and I feel like I may not get the respect I deserve for the work I've done. Ugh. It makes me super mad when I think about it, but I have no idea what to do. Tell the boss when I have my performance review next month? Then I feel like I'm acting like a cry baby. Otherwise I have no idea how to talk to her personally about it without ruining the professional relationship we have going now. Any suggestions?

sweet dreams

I had a great dream last night. I don't even really remember what the dream involved except that a good friend I haven't seen in years and sadly don't get to see anymore was there. Even in the dream I knew it was special that he was with me. I have to wonder if we get these special glimpses of people when they are thinking of us on the other side. All I know is that I woke up happy to have had that extra time with him, even if it was only in my dreams :-)

Quick Project

The other day while checking out cute stuff on www.etsy.com I found these patterns: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32429275 All kinds of cute knitted toys/stuff animals. VAP's favorite animal is the rhino. So, I realllly wanted to make the rhino for him. Not that he really wants a stuffed rhino, but because I though it would be cute. I started the project this afternoon and after looking up some knitting tips and instructions for things I was apparently doing wrong, I finished it a little while ago. It really is a quick project. You can make legs for these little guys too if you want, the pattern comes with 3 different choices. But I'm pooped for now. VAP left early this morning for Alabama for a work project. He comes back tomorrow night. I leave tomorrow morning for Nashville until Saturday for a conference for work. I haven't really packed yet [eeek] but I really haven't felt like it all day. I really wanted to see how far I could get with this project and I'm really happy I got as far as I did. I'll leave the little rhino on his pillow for him to find when he gets home. I'm bummed I'll miss him as our planes fly by each other. 5 days is a good while to be away, but at least I'll be busy with work. My major presentation is Friday so hopefully I won't be freaking out all week until it's over. Sad thing is I have another presentation at another conference next Friday too. Phew, I can't wait to be done with all this. I'll have been at 3 conferences in 5 weeks. Alright, I guess it's time to get packing!

*shower update*

[see previous blog]
So, my shower yesterday was awesome, I literally did a little dance when I stepped in b/c it was super hot and I didn't even have the knob at the all-the-way-hot side...and it lasted for my whole shower! I forgot how calming a nice hot shower can be. I really do enjoy them. Especially this time of year when it's getting cold outside and the bathroom steams up and the warm water and air inside the shower envelopes you for a little while making you feel safe and warm.

I might just go take another shower!

dreaming of a steamy shower...

Just took my last luke warm shower with the old water heater. Some time in June our water heater stopped working well. I think one of the two heating elements went out, so it took forever to get hot water and then it didn't last long. I'll be honest, I like to take HOT showers. My skin is pink when I get out. I like the almost scalding feeling, kinda like the hot tub, but during my whole shower. And I like long showers, I like to just stand under the shower head and let the water beat on my neck and back. So I noticed right away when the shower wasn't getting as hot. Andrew sort of noticed, but he likes his showers must less hot than I do. When we've been in the shower, um... at the same time...we have to keep changing the temperature so he's not getting 'burned' and I'm not getting goose bumps.

So, after like 4 months we are getting a new one tomorrow, and I am going to take the hottest, longest, best shower ever! watch out hot water heater, I'm gonna put you to the test!

OMG babies!

So VAP and I attended a birthday party for a friend yesterday. This friend is our age and is married and has two kids. So, the party was family friendly and anyone w/ kids was able to bring them. So, VAP and I ended up being the ONLY people at this party without children. EVERYONE else had kids and brought them. They were all nice cute kids, babies to toddlers, and the moms and dads were nice too, but I couldn't help feeling out of place or odd. No one really made us feel that way on purpose, but when conversation inevitably steers towards..."she's really not sleeping well lately, and she won't go down for naps...what kind of breast pump do you like best..." it's kind of hard not to feel a little out of place when you don't have kids, aren't sure if you ever will, but are sure you won't have any kids any time soon.

The thing is, after having gone to about 15 weddings in the past 24 months, including our own, we are about to be thrust into this lifestyle. Where your friends who have kids start getting new friends with kids and then they all hang out with each other and those kids, and where does that leave the childless couples? Now I know a lot of groups of friends go through this with married vs. unmarried couples and some people fall off the face of the earth once they get married or only hang out with the other married couples, but I think we have done ok staying social and seeing everyone when we can. I'm just a little interested [maybe worried] about seeing how this new thing [babies] could affect our group of friends.

At least one friend is expecting and that is really exciting too. This will be the first close friend who will be having a baby and I'm excited to give little baby gifts and hear all about the process and see her go through it. All rambling above aside, I think it will be cool and eye opening to see someone go through this first hand. I'm sure VAP and I will figure more out about what we think we want in the kids department as we see other people experience it. And I know that you will never be ready for such a big change in your life so you can't go around waiting until you feel ready. Still...I'm not ready!

Alright, enough of that, time to relax for the last bit of the weekend. :-D