Friday, September 10, 2010

How Did I Ever Do It?

Today is Friday. So that would normally mean that I wouldn't be working, right? WRONG! Because of the tax deadline that is coming up on Sept. 15, I have been working for the past couple of Fridays. It's been pretty busy around here and I probably shouldn't be blogging right now, but I need a mental break while I eat lunch.

So now that I've had to go back to working 5 days a week I'm really wondering how I used to do it. It's hard! I get so ready to be done with work by the time Thursday afternoon comes along that it's really hard for me to get out of bed Friday mornings. Oh - and I didn't even have work on Monday due to Labor Day and it was still hard this morning. I think it's a mentality thing.

Money-wise I'm going to really enjoy working an extra day each week and I kind of wish it would last longer than just through the tax deadlines (Oct. 15 is the last one until April). But physically and emotionally I miss my extra day off each week.

Plus the days I have worked this week have been long ones. Not NYC PwC long, but ya know - 10 hour days. But that also makes me wonder how I was able to put in those long hours at PwC for over 2 years. I can't imagine working a 18 hour day right now. The thought makes me tired.

Well...I know this post was really pointless and maybe didn't even make sense, but I felt like I needed to write down my thoughts. So there you have it.

Monday, August 23, 2010

A Little Let Down

You know when you have something big & fun planned it's not going to turn out exactly the way you want it to. No matter how much planning you may do, things will inevitably not be perfect.

People who say they are coming won't show up.

Good friends will leave after only an hour and not say good-bye or thank you.

You are tired and have PMS.

The friend you're introducing to everyone doesn't feel welcomed.

When everyone finally leaves you wonder why you even bothered throwing that party. Did anyone even have fun?

You promise yourself that it's going to be a while before the next party you host. 

I'm not saying my weekend was bad...I was just a little let down - that's all.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

I Have Done Some Cool Stuff

I, like most people, can be pretty hard on myself. I often look at my life and complain about all I don't have or haven't done. But as I was reading my friend Katie's blog post about things she has accomplished in her life, I started thinking about all that I have done in mine. I must say that I've done some pretty cool things. So here is my list of great things I've done in the past 26 1/2 years (ok...we're not going back THAT far.)

1. Awarded Academic Allstate for Drill Team
2. Graduated in the top 10% of my high school class
3. Received multiple trophies for dance competitions - both group and solo
4. Won 1st place at the drill down competition at region
5. Got 1st place in every dance at region
6. Sang a solo as the Olympic torch came to my school for the 2002 Olympics
7. Struck out one of the top athletes in the 6th grade (when I was in 6th grade ps)
8. Got my Masters of Accountancy from one of the top schools in the nation
9. Did a study abroad in Europe where we visited 7 countries in 4 weeks
10. Did an internship in NYC at one of the largest accounting firms
11. Worked for that same accounting firm for 2 1/2 years in NYC
12. Received an early promotion
13. I have less than 10 places left on my "must visit" list
14. Lived in Costa Rica for 6 weeks while volunteering my time to work with kids
15. Bought a car all on my own
16. Bought a HOUSE all on my own
17. Made friends from all over the world
18. Ran a 5K
19. Learned how to snowboard
20. Learned how to wakeboard
21. Learned how to surf
22. Received an award for excellent work at PwC
23. Listed in the Who's Who of Collegiate Scholars
24. Was a vegetarian for 6 months (I REALLY like meat so this was a BIG accomplishment)
25. Got a tatoo
26. Went to some events for the World Cup in Germany in 2006 (I was in Berlin)
27. Ate escargot, oxtail, caviar, foie gras, and other scary foreign food
28. Saw a flamenco dance in Spain
29. Fed the birds at Trafalgar Square (like in Mary Poppins)
30. Been to over 50 Broadway shows (this includes plays I've seen multiple times)
31. Was hypnotized during half-time at a Utah Jazz game
32. Hiked Angel's Landing
33. Survived a bear encounter
34. Won multiple medals and ribbons for swimming and diving (when I was young)
35. All the countries I've been to: Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica, Germany, England, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, France, Czech Republic, Poland, and Belize (I think that's it. I might have missed one or two)
36. Learned what it means to have a broken heart
37. Gained a testimony of Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father
38. Learned how to be a good friend, sister & daughter (and hopefully one day a wife & mother)
39. Read the Book of Mormon
40. Learned that I'm a daughter of a Heavenly Father who loves me

Wow! When I look at this list I realize how much I really have accomplished in my life so far! It's really cool to think back on all I've done. There are definitely still a lot of things I want to do before I leave this earth, but no one could ever say I didn't do anything with my life when I have a list like that!

Monday, August 9, 2010

And My Answers Are...

First - thanks to everyone who played along. You totally entertained me! I loved reading your answers.

Second - I figured I needed to answer as well. So here you have it:

Round 1:
M - Patrick Dempsey. I really have a thing for him. I think he would make me happy for eternity.
D - Ryan Reynolds. He's hot AND funny. Love him!
K - Bradley Cooper. Oh that one hurts. I have such a crush on him. Can I at least make out with him before I kill him?

Round 2:
M - NY. We all know how obsessed I am with NYC
D - London. I could totally live there for a few years. Then move back to NY to live out my days.
K - Paris. Been there. Done that. It's great. I love it. But I think it's the whole language barrier that gets me.

Round 3:
M - 30 Rock. SO SO FUNNY! Love it!
D - Community. I love this show! But I have to say it was really hard to decide between the last 2...I think my love for Joel McHale made Community come out on top.
K - Big Bang Theory. Oh this hurts. I really love that show.

Round 4:
M - Ice cream. I can never get enough.
D - Cookies. YUM!! PS...cookies + ice cream is my FAVORITE dessert
K - Brownies. Good...but not not as wonderful as the others

Round 5:
M - Selena Gomez. She's adorable!
D - Miley Cyrus. I'll admit that I'm a total fan!
K - Demi Lavato. I like her too...I've just had a longer relationship with Miley so I had to pick her over Demi. Plus I like Hannah Montana more than Sunny with a Chance. (oh - PS...Demi's also in Camp Rock & she used to date Joe Jonas - that one's for you Shannon)

There you have it. My answers to these MDK's.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Entertain Me PLEASE!!

I came into work today and have NOTHING to do. That's right. 
NOTHING. 

I have one return on my desk...but I've actually completed it. I'm keeping it in front of me so I feel like I actually have something to do in between my blogging, chatting, and internet surfing. 

Ugh! Why did I even come in today - oh yeah...
 I NEED MONEY!

Why can't money grow on tress like I used to pretend it did?

Anyway...

I need to be entertained. And if you know me well you will know that I loved to be entertained by a great game I like to call MDK (marry, date, kill for those who aren't familiar with this).

Here are the rules - yes...there are rules because this is audience participation time:

1 - I list 3 things/people and YOU have to decide 
which one you will marry, 
which one you will date, 
and which one you will kill.

2 - You MUST marry, date, and kill something

3 - There are no affairs allowed in this game

That's it! Simple enough, right?

Round one:

Bradley Cooper
Ryan Reynolds
Patrick Dempsey

Round two:

New York
London
Paris

Round three:

30 Rock
Community
The Big Bang Theory

Round four:

Cookies
Ice cream
Brownies

Round five:

 Selena Gomez
Demi Lovato
Miley Cyrus

Let the games begin!

When you post your answers also include the reasons behind your decision :)

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

I Need to Start Training

For this:

my first 10-K...

IN MUD!!!!




I have one month and 22 days!!!
 










(pictures courtesy of www.thedirtydash.com)

Monday, August 2, 2010

In a Funk

I don't know why, but I feel like I've kind of been in a funk lately. It's kind of hard to explain what I mean by that, but I guess simply put I haven't really felt like myself. I've felt withdrawn - not really wanting to see anyone. When I do see my friends I'm quiet and shy. It's like I don't know what to say to these people I've become really good friends with. I feel awkward - almost like it's my first time hanging out with them.

I don't think I'm depressed. I've been there before and it was a lot worse than where I am right now. But I'm not happy. I'm not sad though either. I'm kind of just there. Living my life. Going through the motions. Not really feeling much. Sure I've had my moments when I've been happy and others when I've been sad. But for the most part, the past couple of weeks I've felt kind of like an emotionless zombie.

I haven't really wanted to be around people who know me well. I think partly because I know they will notice something is off and I don't want them to think that it's them. I also thought that if I took a break from my friends it would get me out of this funk quicker. But I haven't wanted to totally cut out my friends so I've tried to be social - just not as social as I was a few weeks ago.

I've done my best to put on a happy face when I'm with people or talking with them either through text or gchat. When people ask me how I am I usually say that I'm doing well. I try to act engaged in the group - talking when I'm supposed to, laughing at things that are funny, asking the right questions when someone has a story to tell. But it's all been an act. I've thought that if I kept playing along, then hopefully it would stop being and act and I could go back to my normal, cheerful, funny, and caring self. It hasn't worked.

But last night as I was getting ready for bed it hit me that I wasn't just having a funk with my social life, but with my spiritual life as well. OK...I knew this before last night, but it dawned on me last night that the two are probably related.

I haven't been that diligent in my scripture reading or prayers. I haven't had a strong desire to go to church and when I'm there it takes a lot of effort from my friends to keep me there - but I'm not focused on what is being taught. I go church because I know that's what I'm supposed to do. I feel like the church has become more of a social vehicle for me and since I haven't really had a desire to be social, I've had no real desire for church.

I know what I need to do - to fix my spiritual funk at least. I need to start reading my scriptures. I need to start praying. I need to grow closer to my Heavenly Father. This I know...the problem is actually doing it.

So I'm going to make a challenge for myself (that seems the only way I've been getting things done lately...make it a challenge). Today is Aug. 2. That means there are 5 months until the end of the year. In the next 5 months I'm going to read the entire Book of Mormon. In theory this shouldn't be hard - seeing as I've already read 1.5 books this past week. But in reality I know I'm going to struggle with it. That's why I'm putting this challenge on my blog - I have to be held accountable for this or I never will do it.

I'm hoping that by starting out with reading the Book of Mormon I will have more motivation to get down on my knees and pray. Then hopefully that will get me to want to go to church. And maybe this all can get me out of this funk.

As I was coming up with this plan last night before I went to bed, I was reminded of President Gordon B. Hinckley when he quoted his father's wise words: "forget yourself and go to work." So I'm going to try and do just that.

Lastly...for those friends who I have been pushing out of my life I'm sorry. I do love and care about you...but just be patient with me for a bit longer.