Dillon the Ref ready to Bzzzzzzz Andrea. Next game, Andrea is being drafted to Team LFB.

Dillon the Ref ready to pounce.

Gotcha!

No mercy. She goes after the Guest of Honor.

Even though it will be less confusing to have one less Amie/Amy(We've still got Jeannie/Jamie to keep us confused), Martz, we're going miss you and your three inch heels. Stay Warm in Michigan.

"Eat Drink and...Who's Mary?"

I went to an extravagant 30th Birthday Party the first week in January. I was a guest of a guest and on the way over I had to ask "Um, Who's party is this?" The birthday girl must've known it was going to be big party with friends of friends because the title of this post was also printed on the cocktail napkins.

Here I am at the cake, imagining that I'm 30. Oh wait...

Jamie’s 2008 Resolutions

(yeah, yeah, should’ve been posted on 1.1.08).

Once again, I’m going to get more personal than I’m inclined to be on a blog, but somehow sharing these goals with my readers, um reader, will help me stick to them and perhaps tie back and give meaning to some of my silly stories.

Also, this is purely organizational. If you’re the type of person who even writes down resolutions what are the chances you’re going to be able to find them a year later? I’m certainly not going to forget my URL.

The good news is that I delivered on my resolutions for 2007. It was a good year.

So, here’s 2008. Also, having turned 30 this year and all, maybe some of these are “New Decade Resolutions.”

Health

My resolution for this year is not so much about weight loss as it is about strength gain. I am very close to being able to do a pull-up so I’m going to make doing that pull up my fitness resolution. I hope to have that nailed in the first two months of the year.

Also, I have this crazy idea in the back of my head that I should get certified to be an Aerobics Instructor. There are times when I think that was my calling.

I eat like crap. Seriously, I sneak to the vending machine at work at eat packaged Rice Crispy treats. We're always celebrating something at work and I don't do well with sheet cake. At social events I pick and pick and eat without even realizing it and then I feel yicky. Sometimes I don’t eat during a “mealtime” because I’m just not hungry and I always end up eating later anyway, and it’s usually junk.

I go out to eat way too much. It’s expensive and the food just isn’t going to be as healthy as what can be prepared at home.

I’m trying really hard to plan meals and be more deliberate and aware about what I feed my body.

I’m attempting to cook but I often lack the motivation to do so.

I’m taking care of my body with exercise. Now I need to take care how I feed it.

Community

McKinney provides me with wonderful, wonderful friends. Still, there’s a bit of a yearning for a sense of community. I’m not exactly sure how I’m going to address this one but I hope that at year’s end I feel a deeper sense of connectedness with my place.

I’ve become active in the North Carolina Carleton Club. I have a dentist. I know exactly where to find the things I want at Whole Foods. I see people I know when I go out. I’m learning my way around and finding new surprises, theaters, restaurants, trails and bike rides. I found a place that can fix my Dyson vacuum. That’s all a start.

Professional

Mentors have made a huge difference in my life – professional and otherwise. I’m in a place where I can be that mentor and it makes me happy to know that in some way I’ve affected the people I work with and perhaps provided some wisdom or direction or support that was meaningful. I want to continue to do this.

I want to improve my poise. I get very energetic sometimes which makes me appear nervous (and sometimes I really am nervous and need to learn how to mask it). I want to improve my ability to articulate my thoughts cleanly (sometimes I repeat myself) without interrupting (my interrupting has something to do with my energy. I’m even interrupting my writing with all of my parentheses. I should use footnotes). I think that this, above all, will help me professionally.

But, there are some hard skills I need to continue to acquire.

Ten years ago I kept in touch with friends and family by sending letters and making phone calls (from a land line). I recorded interesting events in a journal. Now, I have a blog. In other words, we’re living in an interactive world and I’m extinct professionally if I don’t continue to learn about this.

Being in a creatively driven environment is still what makes my heart beat. A TV spot that evokes something. I am lucky to have that passion. I need to continue to seek creative outlets outside of work, because there are many ways I can get creative fulfillment.

I want to turn up my career a notch. There are many ways this could happen in 2008. I hope I have the opportunity.

Dancing

I did some East Coast Swing in college and loved it. When I moved to New York City I continued to dance all nights of the week at a club called Swing 46. Then I moved to Minnesota, got out of the habit, and when I returned to New York, Swing 46 was closed and the pals I used to dance with either moved, married, parenting, or busy.

Anytime I hear Swing music or see it on TV I get excited and say to myself “I want to do that!”

I’m off to a good start. I had a few private lessons, I’m taking a Monday night class, and I’m showing up at events here and there as I get more comfortable with my dancing skills and meet more people.

In fact, I’m supposed to be dancing at the Durham Armory tonight but the micro-layer of snow we’re having resulted in a canceled dance, so I’m home.

I had attempted to kick this one off early in December by going to a Dance Camp in Asheville (“One time, at dance camp”…There. I beat you to it). I ended up not feeling well and stayed in town. There’s another Dance Camp in Seattle on Memorial Day Weekend and I hope to attend so I can dance and see my sister.

Travel

Speaking of seeing my sister, Teri and I are planning a trek to Mt. Kilimanjaro for October 2008. There are a lot of moving parts but here’s hoping it’s another incredible life experience (In 2007, we went Southeast Asia).

I’ve flirted with the idea of living out of this country. Vacations are great, but I’ve never had the experience of living or studying or working in another country - that’s an experience worth having.

On occasion I think about the American work ethic and my own work ethic and there are times when I’ve felt if you put these two things in the same person (me) well, you end up pretty stressed and do things like checking your Treo under the table at dinner (people make fun of people like that).

I wonder what life would be like in, say, Italy, where nobody works for the whole month of August.

Stressing Out

Speaking of stressing out, I’ve got to stop letting work stress and frustrations follow me out of the office. This is crucial. Sometimes I come home so tired I end up just staying home and then I end up working more. Not good. Need to work just as smart and I do hard.

Needing to do things all the time

This may sound dumb, but sometimes I get really mired in lists and having to take care of things. I’m very good at getting stuff done but I need to get away from the list otherwise I’ll have to start putting “have fun” on the list. And that's pathetic

Like the shows on my DVR. Because they’re stored I feel like I need to watch them. I really don’t

I've got a sense of whimsy (at 4:00 pm on New Year's even I entertained the idea of driving 3 hours to watch the "pickle drop" in some random NC town).

I think it’s good that I need to be engaged and active. Consider the alternative. But I need to turn it down.

Friendships

I wrote about this in an end of the summer post but I have met many “Waukeela-like” gal pals down here and my goal in 2008 is to maintain, strengthen and initiate friendships.

Being 30 and figuring out some stuff

It’s funny. When I was in my 20’s everyone said, “Your twenties are all about working hard and you can have fun because you’re young and energetic and then you’ll be in your 30’s and you’ll want different things.”

I do feel like a different person than I was ten years ago. Had I made a list like this at 20 I know I would have checked off some key boxes.

But now, like clockwork, I’m like “Hmmm, I’m 30. How am I living my life? What do I want?” It’s changing.

I’m not in any kind of “need to get married panic” (I should be, based on the number of weddings I’ve attended).

And I’m not even sure if I want children (there are tummies and babies sprouting all over the place around me). I’m not sure you can know until you’ve got the other half.

I am at the point where I’m feeling a need for connectedness as much as I feel a need to be accomplished.

Can a woman have a family and have a kick ass career? To be honest, I’m not sure. Sometimes I joke that I want a stay at home husband. A woman should be able to “have it all” and I struggle with what that looks like and how to achieve it.

I’m in place in my life right now where I have a lot of freedom and flexibility in my choices. At times it’s empowering to know that “I can do whatever the hell I want” but at times the freedom makes me feel lonely.

The best thing I can do for myself is take advantage of the freedom – I have no mortgage, college tuitions to worry about. The only person I have to take care of is me and I oughta do a damn good job of it.

That’s all.

Jetta Got Jumped!
By a hot, brand new, black, Audi.

Or, the tale of how I spent my holiday vacation.

Actually, Jetta died. And got jumped by Dodge. And worked. For ten minutes. So,
she got another jump from Audi. And then she sputtered. And I called roadside assistance.

And the tow truck wouldn't fit in my parking garage and the Roadside Assistance guy told me I would have to push the car out of the garage. And I first I was like "Are you kidding me? Push the car?"

But then I tried. And it moved. I felt like I was on a strong man competition. It was kinda fun because the car really got going on the slopes down. And she was pure weight.

Boy oh Boy do you miss power steering when you don't have it.

Below, Jetta, and the brand new Audi that jumped her.

Doesn't it kind of look like the car ran someone over?

She's waterskiing.

Winch?

When you buy a new car here, they just drive it inside.

10 miles probably from the test race track in Germany. Das ist cool.

I'm watching 20/20. It's a special on Happiness.
Happiest place in the USA? Asheville, NC.

Paris (my former foster kitty) wouldn't know what to with herself at The Carnivore Preservation Trust in Pittsboro, NC (Yes, there really is a town called Pittsboro. We have Boro everything down here. I'm driving to Jamieboro this weekend.)

Precious Little Kitties. Mrrrrow.

Day off for Jamie.

I woke up. It was rainy and cold and grey. Perfect day to not have to go to work.
Cable guy is scheduled to arrive 8-12. He arrives at 12:02.
I watch a Lifetime Movie. And then another movie :)
I needed this day.
Tomorrow, I head to Asheville for Dance Camp, I mean, Dance Workshop.
It will either be fun or depressing but either way, amusing. And I need some time away. My head is slowly clearing.

I have an unusual obession with Dexter - an original Showtime series. I need to remind myself that none of these people really exist. I am so excited that Michael C. Hall (from Raleigh!) has been nominated for a Golden Globe that I am considering having a Golden Globe party. But from what I understand, that guy from House will win. Grrrr. I feel like a beauty pageant Mom.

Jamesy and Mumsy at Cousin Laura's Christmas Eve Celebration.

Now I am really a tourist taking pictures of me and my Mom in the subway and at Lincoln Center. People who really live here don't do that.

We saw a circus at Lincoln Center. There was a dog walking a cat. That was the best part. There were lots of acrobatics. They made me nervous.

HO HO HO-down. At the Farm.

So, the HO happened a while ago, but what better time to post about the HO HO HO than a few days before Christmas?

My old HO-me. It was kind of funny to get an invitation to the place I used to live. Ellen invited just about everyone and it was a full HO-use.

The guest of HO-nor was definitely the goat.

Greeting Goat.


Goat discussing the set list with the band.


HO-stess at computer playing party tunes. No HO-liday tunes at this HO.


The HO Band


The Band Needs a Name. HO-w about...


I am feeling HO-mesick and mark my territory with a post it note.

Ho Ho Ho Holiday Party at Watts Grocery McKinneystyle.

BR Style (is there any other style?)





Jamie and the Daddy of the Roaming Gnome

We're running out of water in North Carolina.
It's not funny.
But this sign is

So, we've put a McKinney employee in a snow globe and he's going to stay there for a few days to set a record. Check it here

Oh, my mom's precious puppy, Adam, died today. He was a good puppy - I always felt like he was taking care of my mom up in Connecticut - he was a good, trustworthy, loving companion and he will be missed. My mom and Adam below (isn't my mom pretty?)

Happy Thanksgiving. It's 70 degrees. I love Durham.
Photo from a sunny quiet morning walk.

Hockey in North Carolina in November. Colder inside than out.
Go Canes (they totally lost, tho)

There is a dog in my apartment. Bizarre. It was fun playing tug of war with said dog, Parker. Not fun when Parker chew chew my designer pillows. Poopie!

Three days until Thanksgiving. Time to bust out the Thanksgiving Decorations

Several radio stations have already gone 100% Holiday.
Ho Ho Ho. I love it.

Teri and Jamie Labor Day Weekend

Jamie and Barb moments away from getting thrown from the tube. I am not sure what that code is below.
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzeEjSVtZKRjm4pnbbui8od15tWVm_gAYl0uc7SScNlfeVkjYz6hcouXoc_TFpCUXzR61_5BGftRIf7CEkyDL1iGVQfTHjgjzw2KyYRSJdqvU4cZMGKv0OZn1jcJ6QXsoFBFjJw/s1600-h/100_0363.jpg">

Finally, almost two months after the fact - Barb hands over the Labor Day pics.

Jamie and Barb atop Mt. Kearsarge

Family atop Mt. Kearsarge

My pal Jess, from college (Carleton) just started a blog about food.
I rotate through an endless cycle of not even ten dinners, but maybe two dinners I actually make, and then 3 dinners I order at restaurants, so I'll take an advice I can get.

As you probably already have read, I've heard that the average American family rotates through an endless cycle of the same ten dinners. This seems depressing to me and I really can't imagine that it's true. I propose to post what my husband (M), our toddler (T), and I (J) are eating each day in hopes that we'll be above average! Also, though, it's most important to hear from you. What are you eating? If we all share maybe we can up the national average by inspiring one another.

Also, added to my blogroll.

Jamie and Mini Kiss played at our office Halloween party.
Yeah, It was a little odd.

McKinney "Dress as a Rocker" Halloween Party 2007
Barb, and VMA Britney. Isn't Britney hot?

Look at me. This was the adolescence my parents thank god I never had.

Participated in a "Light The Night" walk in September.
Here's our team.
It was two miles. I did it in heels.

Every now and then the traffic lights in Durham don't work.
It feels like you're playing frogger.

Little Victories

When it comes right down to it, I live in an overpriced dorm for Duke grad students. There's a great gym in my building and I make use of it. As far as I'm concerned, if someone is waiting, you use a cardio machine and you give it up after 30 minutes. That's common courtesy. As far as these Dookies are concerned 65 minutes on the elliptical during "peak hours" (before 9:00, as if any of these people even have a job) while other people (ME) are waiting is perfectly fine. There's one 90 pound woman who is particularly guilty of doing this and she really should concentrate on eating donuts in the morning instead of 65 manic minutes on the elliptical.

I became frustrated with this situation and e-mailed management suggesting they put up a sign "30 minute limit on cardio while others are waiting." Weeks went by and nothing happened. I considered printing a sign myself and hanging it.

Anyway, on Friday morning I went to the gym and alas, signs were posted - these were official looking real plaques trumpeting my message.

Little Victory.

There's another courtesy I'm working to instill. If I get to the gym before anyone is there, I get to chose the TV channel. I just do. I got there first. It's rude to just walk into the gym and chance the channel without asking the other folks if it's OK. But this happens. Even thouh I would prefer to blast VH1 and I just can't get enough of Fergie if someone ASKS, I will put up with the today show.

Rant over.

"This place is fantastic; it's like "Gone With The Wind" on mescaline. They walk imaginary pets here, Garland - -on a fucking leash. And they're all heavily armed and drunk. New York is boring!"

-From "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil"

I stand corrected.

There are not one, but two days when I can say "I got stuck in traffic in Durham"

Duke Move in Day.

and

North Carolina Gay Pride Day.

Last year, I ended up on one of the floats in the parade.

It's funny to me that I've been here long enough for things to start happening twice.

I just got my brand spanking new digital camera.
This blog just got a heckuva lots more interesting.

I was in NYC six years ago.
This is never an easy day.

Turkey Candle

The turkey candle rivals the MONKEY HOOK for inanimate objects that make me happy.

"Here a goat, there a goat, everywhere a goat goat."

Went to a county fair in New Hampshire with dad, sister and Barb. Couldn't keep away from the goats.

Hmmmm. No commment.

Where are the goaties ears?

Barb and goat.

Teri stole my ring. The goat is kissing the ring. My sister is the goat pope.

I spent quite a bit of time selecting what I thought was the perfect apartment in my apartment complex. I wanted Southern exposure, I wanted to face the pretty open field and see the old tobacco factory. What I did not factor in was the streetlight outside of my room which makes my whole apartment GLOW all night. It's horrible. I got so frustrated not being able to sleep that I took my boxes from moving, and blankets and towels and anything I could find to make a fort using my bed frame.

The ONE day of the year when I can arrive later at work and say "I was stuck in traffic in Durham" and someone, just someone, might believe me.

They're back. Welcome Doooooooookies. I can't even keep track of the new incoming class, Class of 2020 or something futuristic like that.

The heat is making me sick.
That's not an expression
I really have not felt well am I'm losing both sleep and work-time over this.
It's so hot, most of my time is spent indoors lately.
I tried to get fresh air tonight so I opened my window and turned up the A/C.
Given that I am feverish - already hot and cold interally - this A/C window open method didn't really work.
So now I've got Pepto Bismol and Ginger Ale.
I'm going to pop the Pepto in the fridge, chill it down, have it on the rocks.
Yummy yummy pink drink.
Who wants to hold my hair?

This really isn't pleasant.