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The 12 Days of Gazellemas: Day 2 (Tradition, tradition!)

Dec 24th, 2011
by gazelle.
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Yesterday was almost as productive as I’d planned – and in my world lately, that is a definite win.  Today is not so  much about productivity.

One thing I’ve been very concerned about (perhaps a little too concerned if you listen to certain other humans who live in my household) is traditions. I want holiday traditions.

The architect & I grew up in fairly different environments. He is from Hot-lanta (read: URBAN!) and I am from a small (~120 peeps) town in South Dakota (i.e. not so much urban there). My family tended more towards religious observations than his (lots more). Different (relatively speaking) cultures = different ideas of how things are done AND different foods that should happen during said holiday observations.

I was reminiscing about my christmas eves when I was growing up, but I’m pretty sure that what I remember was not the rule, just the rule that I made in my own head. It’s possible that my memory is correct – for one or two of the years, but I’m not sure it was a written in stone tradition.

In my memory, on Christmas Eve, there were 4 important things: (a) lasagna, (b) xmas eve candlelight service at church, (c) eggnog (homemade, natch), and (d) one present.

I am 100% confident that (b) was something that happened every year, but the other three things? Not positive.

So – for the architect, there was cards & television and one present.

Last year, I decided that our xmas eves would be oyster stew, cheese and crackers, nog & one present.

Turns out that while I make a wonderful oyster stew, I actually hate it, so that won’t make it to the tradition list.

I would like to have xmas music, candles, nog, and one present, and think I’m going to have to work to make that happen. It is the season of light festivals – everyone seems to have one. The solstice is over and the sun is coming back – candles and happy songs seem to be a good way to celebrate, regardless of religious affiliation.

Only one more dilemma – what to serve for noms? (Very important dilemma.)

 

On the 2nd day of gazellemas, Amy gave to me:  two empty boxes, and

A Pooh Bear outfit, adorable and twee!

Recovering from the weekend

Nov 7th, 2011
by gazelle.
6 comments

I had a pretty fantastic weekend. Friday morning I worked, worked worked, but then got to have a more relaxing afternoon – complete with yoga and dinner with the architect.

Saturday I spent all day at a Toast conference, and feel pretty good about that. I learned lots, and although I left before it ended (TIRED!), it was a good day.

Yesterday, you already know I went for a run. And that it was pretty awesome. BUT – what you don’t know is what happened after I ran. I took a shower, and then decided to just lay down for a couple of minutes. And then I didn’t get out of bed again until after 7, when I was up for approximately 90 minutes (for dinner).

You guys – that hour-long trail run? Wiped me out.

I was so exhausted and tired and sore that I could barely motivate myself to move.

Maybe, after not running more than 30 minutes in the last 8 weeks, jumping up to a 60 minute hilly run was not the way to go. Maybe.

Today, I am not sore at all, but still exhausted.

People who weren’t exhausted this weekend were the architect. He finished tiling the bathroom! It looks awesome. Now, all that’s left is cleaning & caulking the tub, sealing the tile, and then painting & putting in the shelves. We are so close to victory! And also close to things I can help with again! YAY!

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Lola helped me relax for a bit this weekend:

Lola loves the xbox!

 

Gratitude Journal

November 7, 2011: I am grateful for weekends and the opportunity to relax and recharge.

November 6, 2011: I am grateful for running – and grateful that I am still able to run. I am also grateful for my proximity to the most awesome running park in the history of the world: Forest Park.

November 5, 2011: I am grateful that I was able to discover enough courage to join Toastmasters. I know this sounds super cheesy, but it’s really made a HUGE difference in my life.

November 4, 2011: I am grateful for the internet, which gives me the ability to work from home, in my pajamas, this morning.

November 3, 2011: I am grateful that I have a good job that is challenging & interesting, if not necessarily catering to my life interests.

November 2, 2011: I am grateful for the architect, who is simply wonderful. He picks up the household slack when I’m busy with schoolwork, brings me chicken fingers on his way home from work, and is simply the most wonderful husband I could ask for…

November 1, 2011:  I am grateful for my (so far, knock on wood) easy and wonderful pregnancy

 

 

Three (3!) Things Thursday

Oct 20th, 2011
by gazelle.
15 comments

1. This has been such a beautiful week; cool, alternating between sun and clouds, crisp fall smells. I love autumn.

 

2. Tomorrow is my last day of my last class for grad school. Last. I mean, I still have my final project, but this is my last class. CRAZY!

 

3. I am having a lot of trouble motivating myself to exercise. Lots. Some of it is definitely pregnancy-related fatigue. Most of it is a combination of shorter days + sheer laziness + my all or nothing mentality. If I can’t exercise an hour+/day for 6 days/week, what’s the point? Also, since I’m getting fat anyways, why bother, right? (And yes, I know I’m not getting fat, I’m growing a human. And yes, I know I shouldn’t care, but you can take your shoulds and *mumble something really c/rude mumble*.) If I’m not dripping in sweat, it’s not worth it, right? WRONG! I just need to remind myself that a 30-45 minute walk, or easy bike, or easy swim, or 3 mile jog is better than nothing.  How do I convince myself of this? Any motivational tips? Anyone want to volunteer to yell at me every day I don’t exercise? (I need a drill sergeant.)

Three (3!) Things Thursday

Oct 13th, 2011
by gazelle.
10 comments

1. All of my top search hits this week are for “gazelle attacks bicyclist” or some variation thereof. I have never attacked a bicyclist, nor would I. This gazelle is a lover, not a fighter.

Gazelles with freaking laser beams

 

2. I had a flu shot yesterday, and I can barely move my arm….by about 4:30 yesterday afternoon, it hurt very badly, and I spent most of the evening lying about moaning theatrically (not really, that would’ve been obnoxious, I only moaned theatrically in my own head). Having had influenza when I was younger, I know that is infinitely worse than how I feel right now, and I know that getting the flu shot is good, especially now, but I just want to crawl into bed and do nothing but nap and read trashy books for the rest of the day. Stupid meetings.

 

3. I’ve been having lots of big thoughts lately, which I suppose comes with the upcoming parenthood gig I’ve got going on. A year ago, my plans for the future were vastly different than they are right now – partially because of upcoming baby nomming responsibilities, and partially due to the big-ass job changes I’ve gone through in the past 7-8 months. I apparently like to cram in as many things as possible into short periods of time (between July 2006-May 2007, I moved to Portland, got a new job, got married, and bought a house; between April 2011-April 2012, I got a new, very traumatic promotion, got pregnant, will finish school, and then have a baby [at least I understand that's the most likely outcome]). My only regret is that I couldn’t just throw a marathon into the mix on that last one, too….I should’ve done an earlier marathon, but it is really hard to go for long runs while constantly nauseated, FYI.  ANYWAYS – big thoughts: I actually quite enjoy my job; it’s kind of career-like now. But it’s not what I ever anticipated doing, and I don’t want to get stuck in something that really isn’t big & meaningful to me. But then I wonder, does a job really have to be big & meaningful? Is what’s wrong with kids these days that they want to follow their dreams at work instead of just doing the mothereffing work and enjoying themselves in their leisure time? Should I just be grateful for my paycheck and the job stability and look for emotional fulfillment outside of the office? Big, obnoxious, thoughts.

Three Things Thursday

Sep 29th, 2011
by gazelle.
4 comments

1. Yesterday was the last full day with the in-laws. To celebrate, I took the day off work and we went to the Coast range for a hike. We hiked along an abandoned railroad, through two tunnels, over a few trestles (which I was not actually warned about ahead of time; a perhaps wise decision on the part of the architect, because I may have actually gone to work if I’d known I’d be crossing abandoned trestles), to our destination – another trestle. For someone with a fear of plunging to her death, this was an interesting hike. Also interesting? Apparently hiking along rail lines & having to step on rail ties, thus rendering the gait jerky and uneven, causes great soreness. Ow. (The last photo is more of a dramatic re-enactment; the other photos are from yesterday’s hike.)

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Dramatic Re-enactment

 

2. I know everyone’s been on pins & needles about my Toast contest.  It was an interesting contest. There was the humorous speech contest for two areas (5 contestant, 2 winners) and then the Table Topics contest for the same two areas (6 contestants, 2 winners).  My club had one contestant in each category. The contest itself was one of the most disorganized things I’ve ever experienced.  What should’ve taken no more than 90 minutes took 2.5 hours. We had to fill out bio forms before the contest, but they lost a few of them in that 2.5 hours. There weren’t enough certificates for everyone, and the names on the program were incorrect. CRAZY.

So – the humorous speech contest. The other area’s contestants went first. As they spoke (it was three men), I found myself wishing I was in their area – I would’ve kicked ass.  Then, it was my area’s turn. There were only two contestants from my area. Me and another woman. I drew first speaker. My speech was about overcoming fear, and was pretty funny.  Near-death experiences always make an audience laugh (seriously!). It was my best delivery of the speech EVER! I sat down knowing I had the contest in the bag.

And then, the other woman got up to speak. I’m not sure if her speech was better than mine, but it was definitely funnier. When she sat down, I knew it could go either way. We’d both delivered excellent speeches. Hers was funnier – and it was a humorous speech contest – but mine was both funny AND inspirational. I had a feeling that she would probably win. And I was right. I did get 2nd place, but since there were only two of us, that wasn’t as meaningful as it could’ve been!

But – at least I know that I didn’t lose because I did poorly, but rather because my opponent did better. And even more awesome? Although I was nervous as the speech time approached, the second I got on stage, even though I was speaking in front of more people than I’ve ever spoken in front of before (and lots of people I didn’t know, as well as my husband and in-laws), I felt fine. No nerves at all. I stumbled over a word in my introduction & skipped the 2nd line of my speech (I only memorize a brief intro and conclusion, and the middle parts are outlined, but I don’t try to memorize the entire speech).

So – I didn’t win, but I think I’m kinda sorta still a winner, and all that crap! :)

3. Tomorrow night I am hosting a fancy (more or less) dinner party (see #17). I am very excited. Because of limited space (and the number of plates I own), I had to limit the number of people I could invite, so if I didn’t invite you, it’s not because you’re not the awesomest person I know! You are! I promise!  Anyways, I hope I remember to take lots and lots of pictures, I hope no one notices that my table settings don’t all match, and I hope the wine is delicious and no one leaves hungry (my greatest fear!).

It will look just like this....I just need to pick up the extra chandaliers

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