2014 Work Summary

This is my favorite thing to blog about...

2014 Breakdown -

179 Days working in the office
104 Days for the weekends
25 CWS days
22 Vacation days
15 Sick days
11 Holidays
5 Days in Training
4 Snow days

Did you see that?!? 4 Snow Days!! and I worked 2 days less in the office than last year!!

I only worked 49.04% of the year. Even better than 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013.

I don't think it can get better than this, but I hope I'm wrong.

Reading Goal - Take 2

Remember my Reading Goal?

Well, once again I fell short on my goal for the year.  I only ended up reading 14 books, not 20.  But, hey!  That is probably at least 10 more than I would have read had I not made the goal.

Here is my list -

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Making Toast by Roger Rosenblatt
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
World War Z by Max Brooks
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Bossypants by Tina Fey

I have big plans to try again.  I'm sure I can do it this year - 20 books in 2015.  I am also trying to strengthen some of my friendships & I'm trying to work on having more kindness toward others.

Wish me luck!

2013 Work Summary

Keeping the tradition going...

2013 Breakdown -

181 days working in the office
104 days for the weekends
26 CWS days
24 Vacation days
18 Sick days
10 Holidays
2 Snow Days

I only worked 49.59% of the year. Much better than 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Reading Goal

I'm not sure when it happened, when the change occurred.  Reader to TV junkie, it doesn't sound good, and to be honest, I'm not proud that it happened.

I come from two solid readers.  My dad has always been into fantasy and sci-fi, while my Mom can't seem to stop reading every incredibly sad biography that exists.  I can't remember my sister doing anything else but read as a teenager, and even my brother has been known to occasionally get lost in a book.

I can remember tearing through books as a preteen and saving my money for the "book nook" sale at the fairgrounds each spring.  I would come home with boxes (seriously lots o' boxes) of books, and often feel as though I knew it wouldn't be enough.

I have a fuzzy memory, but reaching back into the depths, my very first favorite book was "Sideways Stories From Wayside School ".  I read my copy, over and over, till it finally started falling apart.  After getting lost in both "The Baby-sitter's Club" and "Sweet Valley Twin" books, my next strong favorite was "A Wrinkle in Time".  Still to this day, that book fascinates me, and as I type this I'm wondering what happened to my copy.

In high school I found myself a little obsessed with Ann Rice & her vampire world.  I was a solid fan until I started reading "Memnoch the Devil", which actually scared me about a third of the way in.  As I threw that paperback across the room, I didn't know it was a turning point toward mind numbing years of too much TV.

I suppose I could blame the change on a scary book, but in reality it also had something to do with the fact I was assigned reading in school.  (I'm a bit of a brat, or used to be anyway, and I really just didn't want to do anything I was told.)  With all the activities of high school, work, then college my spare time was often spent sleeping or spending time with friends.  The next thing I knew, I was lazy and completely complacent with watching TV.

Fast forward through the last dozen (plus) years of my life.  Occasionally a few series have briefly caught my attention.  Although I have a sneaking sensation I should be embarrassed, to say what they are (Twilight, Harry Potter, Hunger Games) my two random favorites from the last decade are "Battlefield Earth " and "The Host ".

As I was making my new year goals, it occurred to me that I'd like to start reading again.  I'd also like to read all of the classics I missed as a grumpy adolescent.  So my goal is 20 books for 2014.  Wish me luck, and next time you see me - ask me what I'm reading.

2012 Recap

I really like being able to look back at all the many blessings that have come my way.  2012 was a great year full of friends, family and fun.  Here is a small sample of what happened last year.

January
- I held my 3rd annual New Year's Day meal at my house.
- I went to PA once.
- I bought a new set of living room furniture.
- I went to Florida with Marlene for my birthday.

February
- I tried yoga again (very unsuccessfully).
- I went to PA once.
- I played a lot of Just Dance & spent a great deal of time with some good friends.

March
- I made pierogies with Deana.
- I went to PA once.
- I was in a car accident (not my fault).
- I went to eastern Europe with Deana, Laura & Rachel.

April
- Lalana came to visit me.
- I went to PA once.
- I went to a "Lost in the Trees" concert with Deana & Lalana.
- I started a step class.

May
- I went to New Jersey to visit my brother & his family.
- I went to PA twice.
- I went to a "Legwarmers" concert with Jami & Marlene.
- I went to the DC Greek food festival with Deana, Erin & Marlene.

June
- I attended a week of work training in West Virginia.
- I went to PA twice.
- I went to Chicago with Deana, Holly & Teresa.
- I went to another "Legwarmers" concert with Marlene & Deana.

July
- I went indoor climbing with Deana & Holly.
- I went to PA three times.
- I went to Utah to visit my sister & her family.  While there, I also got to attend Laura's wedding.

August
- I went to Kirtland, OH with Deana & Marlene.
- I went to PA twice.
- Erin came over and taught me to make scones.

September
- I installed a new faucet in a bathroom of my grandmother's house.
- I went to PA once & to the fair with my dad.
- I went to an "Owl City" concert with Deana

October
- I went to Boston with Deana.
- I went to PA once.
- Lalana came to visit me.
- I celebrated 16 years free from cancer.

November
- I started taking a kickboxing class.
- I went to PA twice.
- I went to the beach with Deana, Mandy & Marlene.
- I went to Utah to visit my sister & her family.

December
- I had to move up my 4th New Year's Day dinner.
- I went to PA three times.
- I bought a really expensive camera.
- I went on vacation to Antarctica. 

Many other "normal" days were enjoyed spending time with such good friends that fill my life. Writing all of this down helps me to know how much I'm loved.

2012 Work Summary

So the movie goal was a lot of fun, but overall unsuccessful.  Life is always moving ahead, and although I did quite a few amazing things since December, I will only go back and blog about a few.  I find that it is better for me to just "try again" and not worry too much about what I have missed.

So, I always find it helpful to breakdown days spent working vs. days not working.  Even though I've done this for 2010 and 2011, I still find that I wish I had even more fun days in my life.  Don't get me wrong, I'm incredibly grateful to have such a good job. (I just wish I was independently wealthy.)

2012 Breakdown -

183 days working in the office
103 days for the weekends
25 CWS days
20 Vacation days
12 Sick days
10 days (out of the office) in training
10 Holidays
2 days off for Hurricane Sandy

I only worked 52.88% of the year.  I hope 2013 is even better!

#56, 57, 58 & 59

The first few days of August, I was so sick.  Sick enough to be off work for 3 days.

I'm such baby when I get sick.  All I want is for someone to sit with me, rub my back, play with my hair, and maybe make me some tea or get me some orange juice.  Of course I don't know anyone who wants to do that for me, besides my mom, and she just doesn't live close enough.

So instead, I decided to drown my sorrows in mindless TV viewing. I love to watch movies in order, and I like to stick with a series, even when they go crazy.  The Terminator movies (edited versions, of course!) are some of my family's favorites.

They have some serious action - Kyle Reese: "Come with me if you want to live."

They also have some great pick up lines - Kyle Reese: "I came across time for you, Sarah. I love you. I always have."

Hands down I think the second movie is the scariest, and the last movie has the most heart pounding action.

Utah - July 2012

   

At the end of July I went to Utah with double purpose - to see my sister's munchkins and to go to Laura Hanna's wedding.

Laura was beautiful and it was fun to wear the matching dresses with the girls.

I had outings with my sister (pedicure & ice cream), my neice (craft store), and my nephew (Toys R Us).  We also went to swimming lessons (three times) and to see the Lorax movie (dollar theater). 

It is always good to see the family and it was such a fun bonus to join in Laura Hanna's joy :)

#55

This is one of my favorite Tim Burton movies.

"Jack Skellington, king of Halloweentown, discovers Christmas Town, but doesn't quite understand the concept."  He really gets things messed up, but the good thing is that he has friends to help him get things fixed.

The music is brilliant and the boogie man is my favorite character.

Happy Halloween (in July)!

#54

I just love this movie!  The music, the dancing, the sass - all good.

Every time I listen to the music or watch the movie, I can't help but sing along. 

I was a little worried about the re-make being as good as the old one with Ricki Lake, but it was great.  Two Thumbs Up!

#52 & 53

 

Still in July, watching too many movies, I enjoyed both of these 80 style flicks.

Seriously, they are both weird, but I like them.

Thoughts?

#51

I love this movie. I love the idea of finding a secret passageway to another world and to be able to share the adventure with those closest to you.

My favorite quote is from Mr. Beaver -

[Mrs. Beaver is packing food before they flee from the wolves]
Peter Pevensie: What's she doing?
Mrs. Beaver: Oh, you'll be thanking me later. It's a long journey, and Beaver gets pretty cranky when he's hungry.
Mr. Beaver: I'm cranky now!

#50

One word - Aliens!

Favorite quotes -

[Hiller opens the spaceship, the alien screams, Hiller smacks him in the head]
Captain Steven Hiller: [beat] Welcome to earth.

Captain Steven Hiller: I ain't heard no fat lady!
David Levinson: Forget the fat lady. You're obsessed with fat lady. Just get us out of here!

Julius Levinson: It's the White House for crying out loud, you can't just go up and ring the doorbell.

David Levinson: A toast, to the end of the world.

#47, 48 & 49

   

July was a good month for movies.  I was borrowing my Mom's small TV/DVD player and I watched a lot of movies in bed, when I should have been sleeping.

I love pirate movies - they are full of action / crazy creatures / hot men.  Do you sense a theme in the movies I enjoy?  I've heard many people say that they only like the first one, but I love all three.

#45 & 46

 

I watched the first four movies last year for my birthday weekend.  The next two sometime in July.  It's fun watching the kids grow up and even though Harry has such an attitude, I still want him to win :)

Maybe I'll watch the last two this year for my birthday.

#44

The end of June was a good time.  I'm a fan of all movies X-Men.

Great action!  Victor scares me quite a bit, but I'm sure that is what the writers intended. 

This movie breaks my heart and makes me cry, every time. 

But how cool is Wolverine??  Is he your favorite of the X-Men??

#43

I watched this one toward the end of June.  This is the last movie I ever watched with my cat, Tory.  Every time I miss him, I break it out and reminisce.

I'm a pretty big fan of end-of-the-world kinda movies.  This one gets me every time they draw the line across the U.S. map.  All I think is that, all of my family is above that line.  We would all die!!!!

Good thing it is just a movie.  Love it!!

#42

We also watched this fun one in Chicago.

Lots of girly moments, clothes - makeup - boys - romance.

Funny quotes include -

Jenna: Wait, listen to me. I'm 13!
Lucy: Jenna, if you're gonna start lying about your age, I'd go with 27.

Young Jenna Rink: I don't want to be beautiful in my own way. I want to look like these people.
Beverly Rink: Oh those aren't people honey, those are models.

Lucy: OK, you can wipe the doe-eyed-Bambi-watching-her-mother-get-shot-and-strapped-to-the-back-of-a-van look from your face.

#39, 40 & 41

    

When I was in Chicago, I had a lazy day and I stayed in my pajamas the whole day.  I watched these three awesome action flicks while Deana and her sister went to an amusement park.

These 3 movies are full of exciting action, beautiful men and amazing far off places.  It may seem silly to you, but these movies inspired me to have the courage to go to Egypt.  I remember thinking that someday I would see these places with my own eyes. I thought that I would be an old lady when I finally got the chance to go, but fate intervened and I went in 2010.  Now I want to go everywhere:)

Chicago

Back in June - Holly, Teresa and I went to visit Deana's homeland.

We went to a Cub's game (where they won, beating the Red Sox), to an Al Green concert at the Ravinia, the Field Museum, China town, went on an architectural boat tour, ate amazing hot dogs at Gene & Jude's, and saw the "Bean" twice!  We also saw a zombie invasion, ate deep dish pizza from Lou Malnatti's and rode the ferris wheel at Navy Peir.  Holly and Teresa had to leave on Sunday, but I stayed till Wednesday!! 

With my three extra days of fun, I went to a Willerth family BBQ, swam in the pool, slept an amazing amount of hours, experienced my first real family FHE, ate an Italian Beef sandwich at Portillo's, and watched 4 movies (next post!).

It was great to meet Deana's family and to experience a small part of Chicago, and it was exactly the summer vacation I needed.