Light the Night, spiders and streams ------> Week in Review, Day 296-302

~ participated in Light the Night, a walk to raise awareness for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I volunteered for the event last year. This year, I walked, and even had a small speaking part in the ceremony!

~ spent over an hour in a lighting store, enjoying the conversation with the passionate proprietor. (Yes, I did buy something - photos another time)

~ killed five spiders in one day. All different shapes and kinds. Where the hell did we move to? (Disclaimer: 4 of the 5 were outside, hanging on the house. And yes, I do feel bad to an extent)

~ discovered how potent lemon oil is in killing spiders (again, my apologies to the spiders. But you're creepy.)

~ ate a new spin on my favorite Halloween treat - a Happy Apple with colored sprinkles (a Happy Apple is a caramel apple - you must try one!)

~ delivered work to four different client in one day. Huzah!

~ after the fourth hour of a rain storm, discovered we have a stream next to our house! It was dry the next day.

Hardly Strictly Average --> Week in Review, Day 274-281

~ met with a team of creatives and started to plan ways we can conquer the world (or at least, the business world of SF) Inspiring and motivating.

~ met the two new babies of two friends, a 5-month-old boy and six-month-old girl. They are both so adorable and good-natured - we hope they grow up and marry each other!

~ Checked out the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival. Watched all of Bonnie Prince Billy and checked out pieces of Buddy Miller, Richard Thompson, and Jackie Green.

~ bought a vintage lamp at the Alameda Antique Fair. From the 1950's. It's all bubble-wrapped up so will have to photograph it another time.

~ tried African food - pan-fried talapia in coconut sauce with rice and plantains. Yum-o.

~ tried goat meat, in a gorgeous Mexican-style sauce. Really tender, pretty delicious.

~ had a conversation about James Bond through the years with another girl! So fun. (we voted Daniel Craig as the man, the reasons probably being very obvious)

Settling In ---> Week in Review, Day 267-273

~ drove about 450 miles in two days

~ unpacked boxes for three straight days

~ spent four hours at the DMV. My new Subaru Forrester and I are now officially Nevada residents! It's a bit sad to not be a California girl any more.

~ finally purchased a real bedroom furniture set, the wedding gift from my mom (yes, that was a few years ago)

~ purchased a coffee maker with a timer. It's the simple things in life that make me happy.

*Sigh* ----> Week in Review, Day 209-215

~ tweeted about the speech while attending a online seminar. Hey, I didn't say my new things were progressive - just new to me. I'm a good listener and don't multitask, so this was big!

~ bought a fiction book on recommendation alone, no idea what the story was about. So far, so good. (The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett)

~ survived our first hellish client.

~ felt left out for not having a baby.

~ splashed water at my friend's dog for 15 minutes, on the dog's request as she tried biting the water.

~ indulged in food and drink over the weekend, and paid for it in yoga on Monday. REALLY bad class.

New Things Happen Every Day

Day 152

If you look carefully over the last few weeks, you will see I've shirked my responsibilities. Only sporadic writing since mid-May. Alas, a person gets busy and some things must go by the way. This blog was the left on the side of the road as I sped past.

I have been doing new things. A lot of them centered around work or food. But mostly work. Lots of coffee meetings, lots of networking, lots of new contacts. Intermittent in that was good news and bad news, old friends and new stresses. I de-cluttered my mind and then filled it back up again.

New things are happening every day, I'm just no longer recording it. It seems more reasonable at this point to check in once a week. I will try my hand at one new BIG thing every week, and celebrate the smaller things as a week-in-review.

Through this project, I've learned a lot about myself. Looking back on this blog at the end of the year will be heart-warming and full of good memories. For that reason, I'm disappointed I could not keep up with it every day for one year. Hey, six months isn't too bad. Another six months of new stuff is bound to be memorable, as well - a more compact shape should not tarnish that. Look how cute and fantastic the Smart Car is.

Day 114 - Marveled at strength

My old boss lost her long battle with cancer recently. She was 42 years old. She had survived breast cancer, and a year later, was diagnosed with leukemia. She went in and out of remission for over a year. She was a sweet, generous, caring, laughing, smart woman who I wish I got to know better.

Her family and friends that spoke at her service today were amazing. They struggled with their intense feelings of loss while honoring this courageous woman through such heartfelt words. Her mom, her sister and brother, her uncle and cousin, friends and coworkers all spoke to her greatness while showing such strength. Truly amazing.

The chapel could barely hold everyone. Attendees spilled out into the street, squished into pews. It was no surprise, but as her mom said, it would have surprised her. She just was that wonderful person to her core. Those of us that worked with her felt it every day. How often do you find a boss that works hard to build a family at the office? Rarely. She was one of those people.

She was the one that encouraged me to sit for the CPA exam. She signed off on my paperwork. She guided me when I became a manager for the first time. She always impressed me with the way she would stop in to say hello to each individual in our department every morning, one by one.

I believe we learn a little something from each person we come across in this world. From some, we take away more than others. Alison was one of those people that made you want to be a better person just by being herself. We are all better just for knowing her.

Day 96 - Visited the ocean

In tough times, I find solace in the ocean. The far-off horizon reminds me how small I am, and the continuous waves remind me that life goes on. The motion and the sound is soothing. With the news that a sick friend is deteriorating, a dose of sea water seemed apt. The Big Being Upstairs did an amazing job with the sea, though my photo does it no justice.



And a follow-up: I re-visited the tulip garden in Golden Gate Park, and this time, the tulips were in full bloom. As were the tourists.