Stressful Times

So...I have to admit that I'm getting a bit stressed out. I only have 5 weeks left at work and have SO much to do! It is looking very likely that I will be working virtual for Boeing for a couple months after I move home, so I will still have time later to get stuff done, but I still have a lot to do before I leave. Some days I wonder how in the world I'm supposed to get anything done when I spend from 7:00-3:00 in meetings all day!

My movers are also coming in just 2 weeks to take all my stuff so I've been working hard to get all packed up. It's so hard to pack when I still have to spend 3 weeks here after my things leave, then I have to spend an unknown amount of time at home and the rest of my things will be in storage. So, I pretty much have to pack for things I need in Scottsdale, things I'll need once I get home and then things that can go into storage for who knows how long. This is not an easy task!

I'm trying my best to stay calm and realize that it will all be over soon! Somehow, I always seem to get through stressful times and I know this will be no different. I think I'll go take Sophie for a walk and try to relax before another week of work!

Technology

For some reason lately it's been hitting me how quickly technology changes.  It's amazing that I am only 25 but in some ways feel like technology is already passing me by!  Not necessarily because I don't understand it or am intimidated by it, but simply because I don't use it.  I didn't start this blog until recently and in some ways, a major reason I started it is because it's a more modern way to journal.  I had committed myself to journaling after finishing my MBA and decided this might be a better way to do it....an easy way to capture my thoughts while learning a little about the blogging world!  But back to technology in general, there are so many things out there that I don't use at all...ringtones, podcasts, wikis, rss feeds, mobile apps, DVR and HDTV, etc., etc., etc.  Recently I heard a quote, and I have no idea how this can be proved to be true, but it said that when children who are being born today are entering the workforce, the six biggest jobs will be jobs that don't even exist today!  To me, that's just a perfect example of how quickly things are changing.

Maybe I'm just going through a quarter-life crisis, but I'm committing myself to doing everything I can to learn about emerging technologies and make sure I still understand their usefulness.  Thinking about it more, some of this could be stemming from all the people I work with who are in their fifties and act like they're practically seeing a computer for the first time.  It amazes me how much that holds people back in their jobs and has opened me up to the realization that that's the last place I want to be because in many ways, it's a decision to let the technology use you instead of you using the technology.  Now that I've gotten on my soap box about technology, I'll do what I can to help by posting an image and link below to explain RSS (Really Simple Syndication).  I have been seeing the little RSS logo everywhere lately and this is really what spurred this post.  Hope you enjoy this information, as I found it very helpful!

RSS Explained: www.backinskinnyjeans.com

Work

Well...now that most people know at work, I can officially announce that I will be moving back to Oregon on November 1st! It's a big leap of faith at this point because I don't have a job lined up yet, but I figure things always work out one way or another. There were too many things going on at work where I felt like I just had to tell them several weeks ahead of time, and in a lot of ways it's a big relief to have it out in the open. Things have been pretty good here in Scottsdale, but I just decided I wanted to be closer to friends/family and it worked out well because my lease was up at the same time as I made this decision and I had my one year anniversary at Boeing (I have to stay at least a year to not pay back relocation). I'll be moving in with the parentals until I get a job so I'll be in Eugene but I'm looking at jobs in Eugene or Portland. Anyways, I'm currently starting the packing process, working with the movers, etc. and am spending almost every night job searching! I've had a few leads so far but hope to keep having a few more interviews. There's also a possibility I could transfer to the Boeing Portland plant or have the opportunity to work virtual from Eugene, so we'll see. The next couple months will be an adventure so I'll keep the blog updated!

Engagement

One of my best friends recently got engaged which was very exciting. Leave it to Shannon to have the most AMAZING engagement photos so I had to post them. She's now currently planning her perfect Italian wedding! Congrats Brian and Shan!! All photos below are by Hollye Schumacher.

The setting...so gorgeous!

Shannon realizing what's about to happen

Walking back

After watching the video...they sat there talking FOREVER...but it's cute!

The proposal

After she said yes!

Shan w/ friends and cousins

Parents and soon to be in-laws

I'm going to be an aunt again!

I'm very excited cause I'm going to be an aunt again! Blake and Andie are expecting a little one in early May. At this point, they aren't going to find out the sex of the baby so it will remain a mystery. For Blake's sake, I'm hoping it's a boy, although I know he's doubtful. Boys don't exactly run in the gene pool on Andie's side of the family! In honor of being an aunt, here's a picture of Miriam as a little one...

Miriam

Starbucks

I've been trying REALLY hard to save money lately because I may be without a job in a couple months (my choice, I'll go into that later) and as a result, I haven't had Starbucks in 11 days. I'm having definite withdrawals and when I drive to work in the morning I swear my car tries to take me to Starbucks on the way. I just may have to give in one of these days and let myself have just one drink!

So, in addition to not going to Starbucks, I'm trying to come up with cheap hobbies now that I'm done with school and actually have time on my hands. Not very creative, but here's what I've come up with so far, please let me know if you have any suggestions!

• Reading (libraries are free!)
• Redbox DVD rentals (only $1!)
• Taking Sophie to the dog park (when it's not 110 degrees outside)
• LONG walks
• Blogging
• Working out
• Cooking
• Knitting (I haven't started this yet, but I'm thinking about it)
  

New York

As soon as I walked off the graduation stage, we got in a car and drove to New York City! This was the first time I've been there in two years so I was excited, to say the least. Our lives were slightly endangered with Steve driving (just kidding) but we made it to our hotel safe and sound. We only had three days in the city and it was the first time my parents have ever been so trust me, we covered the entire island of Manhattan in those three days! I was already exhausted when I got to NY because of the work at residency, the late nights and lots of walking around campus, so I was dragging day one. That being said, I was a trooper and we had a great time. In the three days we were there we saw ground zero, the statue of liberty, south street seaport, canal st, little italy, empire state building, rockefeller center, times square, broadway show, soho, greenwich village, etc, etc, etc. I had Pinkberry for the first time, which I have to admit I wasn't thrilled about. I also went to Spice, one of my favorite restaurants in the world, and Dale and Thomas, the best popcorn ever! Here are some photos from the trip.

Typical Times Square shot

This has also become a typical shot...Dale and Thomas, yum!

Dinner in Little Italy...great fettuccini and sangria

Central Park

Mary Poppins on 42nd St

Current Favorites

Listening to:

Madly - Tristan Prettyman

Living in:

Lululemon Reverse Groove Pants

Graduation

Immediately after residency was graduation! My parents flew in on Friday night and we went out and walked around State College. The next day we walked around campus in the morning, had ice cream at the Creamery and then went to grad! It was a great ending to a great week and some pictures are posted below.

On campus

My boys

Grad with my parents

Ninja Monkeys, i.e. my residency team

AJ and me

Residency

I recently got back from Penn State where I spent a week in residency for my last week of grad school. You'll see from the pictures below there was a lot of hard work and maybe a little more play. We started working around 7:30 each morning and didn't get done any earlier than 11:00 each night. Then the partying had to happen on top of that! Believe it or not, I'm really missing my MBA classmates as we actually got fairly close even though it was all done online. We had two residencies throughout the program and they were a great opportunity to see our classmates we had gotten to know so well. Now I just have to make sure and stay in touch with everyone!

Me and Steve...you can ignore the seven drinks you can see in this photo!

Monica: Chief Ninja CEO, she's famous for this pose throughout the cohort

Action shot before...

Action shot after...

Most of my year 2 team: Hasby, Angie and Jenn

Another year 2 teammate, Lindy

4th of July

Since I had a day off and my whole family happened to be in Eugene, I decided it was necessary to make the trek home...and I'm so glad I did! This was only the 3rd or 4th time I've seen Miriam in her life and wow, she grows up so much each time! She was just starting to say different words so she called me "Ollie" although she can now say my name pretty well. Here are a few of my favorite photos:

So much fun making her laugh

So cute

Fun in the pool

Way Too Long

Ok, clearly I've been bad about actually writing on here, but I swear, I say with the best intentions, that it will start from here on out. I have finished traveling for a while and I'm done with grad school so things have definitely slowed down. We'll see how well I do at this thing this time!