Muddy Buddy

I was looking through old photos and ran across this one. Funny pics like this just need to be shared. It's from 2003 when I participated in the Muddy Buddy race. You have a buddy and throughout the race you switch off between mountain biking and running. Between each switch you complete an obstacle. At the end you wait for your buddy then go thru the mud pit together. Georgia red clay is not good mud. It was gritty and I tore up my knees. I was laughing through most of this though. In case you were wondering I pretty much threw away everything I was wearing (except the helmet). I noticed the race will be in Boulder, CO in August of this year. Something to consider.

Kelly and Harold's Travels

I mentioned back in January that Kelly was engaged and going on a year long trip through Europe, India and Asia. The trip has begun! I've added a link to Harold and Kelly's blog on the right.

Catching Up With Old Friends

Eileen and I met up with Megan at Zengo for dinner.






When Eileen and I showed up at this restaurant, the Valet asked if we thought it was a little early in the week to be needing a happy hour. I told him we were there to catch up with an old friend. Then Megan came, and he asked her if she was there with the 20 person party. Megan said she was catching up with old friends. The valet said "the old friends" were already inside.

Easter Brunch

We started our brunch with fruit and mimosas. Eileen made two different fruit dips. I made Ham puffs (ham, swiss cheese, onion, parsley in crescent roll dough in mini-muffin pan). Eileen got really creative and also made ricotta cheese pancakes. It was all excellent.

We then got to egg decorating. Eileen kicked it up a notch this year with her internet research. We were using rubber bands and electrical tape. Someone brought up the idea that putting the eggs in snow would display them best. I don't know... It was snowing.

Copper Mtn Weekend

I spent the weekend with Eileen, Joan, Ellen and Fred and Vicki were in town. We stayed up at Copper Mountain. Eileen and I got 2 good days of skiing/boarding in.

Quotes

"The thing about plans is they don't take into account the unexpected. So when we're thrown a curveball...we have to improvise. Of course some of us are better at it than others. Some of us just have to move on to Plan B and make the best of it. And sometimes what we want is exactly what we need. But sometimes, sometimes what we need is a new plan." - Grey's Anatomy

A Big Mountain of Dirt

I've had a pretty nice view for nearly the 2 years that I've lived in my apartment. Ah, but it couldn't have lasted.

They finally tore up the plot of land next to my complex. It is now a huge pile of dirt. I believe it's going to be more apartments or condos.

The Introvert Advantage

I always struggle with getting myself motivated to go out and do things. I have a million excuses why I don't need to go and then end up feeling guilty for not going.
Recent example:
I was debating if I wanted to go to a work happy hour. My internal argument was it was a Friday afternoon, I was tired, I was leaving from class so the location was out of the way, and near the end of the happy hour I can never find a good way to excuse myself and go home. I usually don't have anything I need to get to after the happy hours, but after 2 hrs I'm done and I just don't want to be there anymore. I always feel awkward leaving and never have the right thing to say to excuse myself gracefully.

I read "The Introvert Advantage" by Marti Laney. A lot of the items I have felt in the past were mentioned in the book. Indicators on the Myers-Briggs test can change over time. I took it in the 8th grade, high school, college, after college and the item that has never changed is I am as introverted as you can get.

Some interesting facts/comments regarding introverts from the book:
* Only 25% of the population is introverted
* Introverts have more blood flowing to the brain indicating more internal stimulation. And blood is flowing to different areas than extroverts - for introverts it is to the parts involved with internal experiences like remembering, solving problems and planning
* Walk around with a lot of thoughts and feelings in their heads. They often have internal dialogue with themselves.
* Can forget things they know well, might temporarily forget a word they want to use
* May not be aware of thoughts unless they write or talk about them
* May have trouble getting motivated or moving, might appear lazy
* "I enjoy social gatherings - as long as I know I'm leaving soon."
* It is often a struggle for introverts to decide whether or not to go to a social gathering. We all get caught up in what we should do, and we forget to think about what we want to do. Many introverts tend to foreshadow. They think ahead about what could go wrong, or remember how tired they felt the last time they went out.
* Phone phobia - it's an interruption that drains energy, requires losing internal focus, requires expending energy for "on-the-feet thinking"
* Tend to run cool and get chilled easily. Their normal body temperature is often below the average 98.6. If introverts feel too cold, it can be even more difficult for them to get going and leave the house.
* Are more sedentary than extroverts. They are not motivated to move as much.
* Introverts constantly evaluate what they have said.

The book offers a bunch of ways that introverts can fit into a world made up of 75% extroverts. The author also goes into scientific details about neurostimulators and what is physically happening in the body. The book combats the stereotypes of introverts being hermits or shy, as it has nothing to do with this but is rather if you get energy from being around other people(extroverts) versus you get your energy internally (introverts). It also goes into the details of introverts/extroverts dating/relationships. Generally, it helped me to understand there is a reason for my thoughts and actions and I am part of the minority which is why I usually thought I wasn't "normal".

Fast Food Nation

I finally got around to reading "Fast Food Nation" by Eric Schlosser which originally was published in 2001. Fast Food Nation seemed to me to focus on the history of fast food which I found interesting. And just the general history of franchises both food or retail.

Back in November, I watched the documentary "Super Size Me" and haven't eaten McDonald's since. I think my generation has been groomed that fast food is a way of life. Much like I have a hard time remembering what life was like before I had a cellphone or email. I used to not give it a second thought if I was hungry just to pull over and get something. After reading the book and seeing the documentary I do give it a second thought, and so far I've always decided I can do without it.

UNC Chapel Hill

I interviewed at UNC-Chapel Hill on Monday for their Master's in Health Administration program. It was everything I expected. Quality program, good professors, good networking opportunities and career direction. It's ranked 2nd for that type of program. The school I'm currently at is ranked 25th. I was upset this past fall with my classes to the point where I didn't think I could stand paying for or attending them. I'm happy to say this semester is much better but I expect only because the 2 classes I'm taking have guest speakers for every class. I was accepted into UNC. It's a full-time, 2 year program starting in the fall. The choice is now do I continue part-time and working full-time and finish in Spring 2009 or switch and have loans to pay back? If anything, it's nice to have options...of course with them come more decisions to make.

Snowshoeing

I went snowshoeing with my two aunts in Evergreen, CO. It was a great day for it. Miss Kitty enjoyed herself also and got quite a workout in.

Kerri's Surprise Shower

Kerri had a surprise bridal shower. Here she is wearing the ribbon hat made from all the gifts. Both her sisters and mother flew in for it. Based on the look on her face when she walked in the door, it was definitely a surprise.

Where are they now? (Vol 2)

I wrote my first "where are they now" entry on 8/15/06. I have a new addition, so this is volume 2. I met Kelly in middle school. In the 8th grade we were signed up to do the 3-legged race together for the "Olympics" (field day). Kelly and I actually practiced the race beforehand. I'm not quite sure why we took it so seriously. I guess we wanted to win; we did get 3rd place. This picture is of us our junior year at band camp. Yes, band camp. I love to embrace the dorkiness of this picture. Hehe. Yes, nothing beats spending an entire week out in 100 degree weather in August in the humid south.

So where is Kelly now? She's been teaching English in Japan. And she has fabulous news in that she just got engaged to Harold. After the school term ends this year, they will both be taking the year off and travelling throughout Europe, India and China.

Cute picture

Denver Pioneers Hockey

I went to a Denver Pioneers Hockey game. It's the University of Denver team; DU is actually a really good school, very small and private. Condoleezza Rice was an AXO there. People kept asking me why I didn't switch to DU's MBA program. It's known as a good school in Colorado, but outside of Colorado no one would know that. Due to expenses I decided to stick with CU-Denver (University of Colorado - Denver). DU played Wisconsin. It reminded me of how much fun I had going to all the GT Hockey games. The NHL isn't the same as college hockey fans. There were some Wisco students sitting behind us on their holiday break. Their cheers were hilarious, and they knew all the players. That's what I used to like about GT hockey; it's more interesting if you know the players. There is quite a difference between a club team versus a team that won the National Championship. I have to say Denver is pretty darn good. They won the game I was at, but the next night Wisco beat them 4-0.

New Year's Eve

On New Year's Eve Day we went to Copper Mountain. It was actually my first day out for the season, and as you can see from the picture, it was a beautiful day. Suzanne and Eileen rented skis. Aunt Ellen drove us up and then she went hiking while we made it down one run. We then all met for lunch. Eileen and Suzanne were scoping out the next runs. Suzanne had enough for the day and Eileen and I closed out the day after a couple more runs.

Here is Ellen and me at the bottom of Copper. The next day Suzanne and Ellen took Miss Kitty for a hike.

Christmas

Despite the weekly blizzards, the whole family made it to my Aunt Joan's safely for the holiday. Here is a picture of my mom and I preparing the potatoe salad.




And a picture of Eileen and my Dad waiting to eat or just hanging around for a picture.






Miss Kitty was very spoiled over the holidays. She got plenty of turkey and ham and got to go on a lot of walks. This is a picture from Joan's neighborhood while Suzanne and I were out.

Blizzard 2006

Yup, so I think I'm going to be stuck here for awhile. I barely made it home from work yesterday around 11am. I was slipping and sliding all over the road back to my apartment.

First, my porch. This picture was taken without opening the door, or the snow might have fallen in. My porch is covered, so you can tell there was a bit of wind.

Outside my porch, looking down on the street I'm supposed to drive on. You can see the car below. Yes, they got stuck. There's another one stuck in the place where you're supposed to turn into the complex. Eileen and Joan made cookies last night. They called and asked what kind I wanted. I just joked that they should bring me some with milk. I live about 2 miles from them. Around 9pm, there's a knock on my door. Dave used his truck to drive Joan, Eileen and himself to my place. The cookies were good.

In case I was planning on going anywhere anytime soon, this is what is in front of my garage. I'm the furthest one on the left.

Here's the road off the main street to the entrance to my apartment.

These geese are just chillin' outside my window in the field between the apartment complex and a nearby office building. Click on the picture for a larger version.

Work Holiday Party

We had our department's holiday party (Happy Hour) at Senior Ric's.

Here's a picture of myself, Marty (worked with me up in Boulder when I first started), Jane (one of our trainers) and Nguyen.

Sweet Charity

I convinced Eileen's friend, Jay, to go see the musical "Sweet Charity" with me. It's touring right now with Molly Ringwald as the starring role. It was written in the 1960's. It had an Austin Powers feel to it. Generally, there was no substance to the story. There is one hilarious scene of people trapped in an elevator, that however was the highlight.

Crazy Story

My professor for my "Managing Teams and Individuals" class had a family emergency and couldn't teach the remainder of our class. He was replaced by an 80 yr old guy. His name was Charles Rice. To help us remember his name he said, "what do you do at the end of a wedding?" Answer: Chuck Rice. Nope, I won't forget his name.

Anyway, he had us do a creative assignment. He handed out a black and white picture. The picture was a man half sticking out of a US Postal service mailbox. The picture looked like it had been taken in a city and the man's legs are flaying about as his entire upper half of his body is inside the blue container. Our assignment was to write a quick creative story to explain the picture. What this has to do with Managing teams and individuals is beyond me. I think it's something he has his undergrad students do. Anyhow, I went out on a limb with this one.

My Story:

This picture of half a person’s body sticking out of a mailbox was captured today on a busy street in downtown Denver, Colorado. It will be published in the National Enquirer this week. This photo has confirmed our suspicions that there are indeed aliens roaming among us. The aliens are now using the United States Postal Service to move around the country undetected. As the aliens go through the mail slot their bodies are transformed into regular looking letters with the appropriate information and postage. It is amazing that this alien was caught on camera, and that he was performing the transformation in broad daylight. This is very alarming information. There must be some sort of emergency going on in the alien community for them to risk their exposure to the world’s people. The real question is where are they having themselves mailed to? Are they meeting for an attack on a particular city? Did they all want to take a trip to Disney World? Or is it a huge family reunion? We can only speculate what will happen in the next few days. The country is reacting quickly to this news. Postal workers are being assigned to watch the receptacles for any more incidences of alien infiltration. UPS, Federal Express and DHL do not seem to be taking this dire situation seriously and have begun advertising discount rates for aliens choosing to be transported by air express. It makes one wonder, if we could somehow harness the alien’s technology, could we be on the brink of changing transportation today as we know it?