I'm Knitting

Oh yea! I'm knitting...I'm so excited. I'm not sure why I kinda stopped knitting but the flair is back :) tee hee. My swatch for my blanket has been measured and is in the wash room to be washed dried and rewashed. I'm starting a bag from Stich'n Bitch that I'm not sure I'll like but I think it'll make a great gift. I'm going to cut the booga bag proportions a bit and make me another...smaller version or maybe I'll just find something different to make. I have that song "I'm so excited" screaming thru my head...making me giddy :) lol Oh, yea I've got this great yarn to make me a shawl out of...just gotta find the right pattern. I want it to come to a v in the back but still slightly cover my front. The yarn is real thin and I want it to be a large stich so that what ever I'm wearing will show thru...a dressier outfit if ya will. And I think I'll make another kerchief...maybe out of baby blue - I have some of that sitting around.

Hee Hee - Chat with ya later blogland. Sorry for rambling - well not really but hey sleep well.

Whew!

Wow, it's been a busy week! Here's what I've done in the past last two days - Your'e probably not terribly interested but it will make me feel good to type it out so...

- Took CRM Exam this morning (I'm about 75 % sure I passed).
- Completed class assignment that was due yesterday (on time).
- Submitted my slides for group project today.
- Learned how to increase stiches. I know your wondering how I can call myself a knitter and not know how to do increase, but I've always knitted simple stuff and I can't guarantee that will change. However, I did make this great kerchief. Check it out! (Ignore fact that I have no make up on and look like a complete dufuss). I did this in no time and I like it - may have to make a couple gifts :)



Now, I'm done for the weekend. Yes the house still REALLY needs to be cleaned up and I may work on that. No guarantees though - I'm tired and now I get to relax - WOOT! I'm going to watch tv and play EQ and probably clean. Have a great weekend blogland!

On the Path

Ok, so I'm on the path to getting my list done and I see the light (kinda)! This is what I can mark off the list!

- Overdue assignment is done!
- Knitting of bag complete! Need I-cord still.
- Knitting of Swatch complete! Need to wash and dry several times.
- Research for some of assignment due tomorrow started.
- NAIW meeting attended. I'm now a committee chair of 2 committees for the 07 state convention. Oh, Joy (rolls eyes). Nah, it won't be that big of a deal! Any marketing reps out there that want some cheap advertising? Let me know ... we have need stuff for goody bags and money! Over 100 in attendance so you would get your moneies worth. (ok plug complete).

Now I'm done for the day by golly! My head can't handle anymore and I have 8 more hours of CRM tomorrow. This class is really statistics and it's relation to insurance so my grad course from last semester is coming in handy! I will need to study a lot before the test Sat but it doesn't seem entirely alien to me. Need sleep though or staying awake is difficult.

I wish you a relaxing night's sleep - may you wake up rested and stress free tomorrow morning. Don't you wish just for one day you would wake up and for at least an hour nothing stressful came into your mind; none of those nagging worries, thoughts that cause stress or bad memories - just one hour every morning of peace! Man wouldn't that be nice! Well, that is what I wish for each of you tomorrow - smile you deserve it!

Dedicated??

Well, whether I'm dedicated or not is yet to be seen but I'm getting it done despite my lack of want to. So here is my list - hopefully typing it out will give me some drive to get'er done!

• I finished the assignment that was due last night and turned it in (only a day late).
• I worked some on my group project (8 slides due Saturday to my group - haven't done 1 yet).
• I started the Certified Risk Manager class (2nd in series) - Essay Exam is Saturday at 8 am! BAH - must stay awake in class and study.
• Have a discussion board assignment due tomorrow.
• Still have an assignment that is over a week late - 7 to 10 slides.
• Still haven't finished my swatch but I'm taking my knitting to class w/ me tomorrow.
• Still haven't done any knitting really...I want to - I shall knit by golly!
• Still haven't' scrapbooked in like 6 months. I want to but I find when I'm sitting at my area the computer draws me in. I'll get back at it one day - it's a hobby so why stress?
• I will vacuum and mop this weekend!
• I will dust this weekend!
• I will wash some cloths this weekend!
• I will put cloths up this weekend!
• I will by Golly I will!

Drained

Ok, so I'm tired but haven't done anything. Not physically tired though I could go to sleep and sleep for a week, but mentally tired. We moved the office this weekend; which means by hubby put in the computers. That means I had the stress of him being stressed, the stress of me feeling like I have to teach computers to morons, the stress of trying to explain to my hubby that the little things are often what is most important to the user (i.e. me), the stress of school that I really need to do and really can't get motivated to do, the stress that is just there and won't go away. The amount of time I've spent watching TV when I should be finishing my swatch (would only take 5 min), or finishing my bag, or studying or washing cloths, or vacuuming, or doing anything other than watching tv - but yet I find myself watching tv. It's a state of unrest with no energy to be active; I'm confused about my career, unmotivated with the other areas of my life and generally lethargic in everything I see/do. It's funny because I'm so up and down. One day I'm all over the world with joy and sunshine and the next day I'm like this. I have no idea why this roll a'coaster exist; I do know I need to get some exercise - that would make me feel better but I find myself sitting here debating on when and how instead of doing it. I need to do school, I really need to do school - I have an overdue assignment, another one due tomorrow, a group meeting on Wed with Queen B and the other members, my CRM class/test Wed - Sat of this week, a NAIW meeting Thursday, and no desire to deal with any of it. I want to curl up in a ball on the couch and watch tv; I want to cuddle my hubby and be lazy, I want .... I have no idea what I want but it's something and it's right there I can feel it on the tip but can't quite grab it. I know it's close - just have to get the will power to grab hold and pull myself up to grab it. Just....

School Confrontation

She backed down - I backed down and I think we met somewhere in the middle - maybe. I'm done fighting it so ah well. Here is the entire email conversation - hopefully I wasn't tooo bitchy...
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I may be the only one and if so I'm sorry but the attitude you have taken toward this project is slightly rubbing me the wrong way. I will get my part done and I will communicate with group members but I don't appreciate being told by someone what to do and when to do it. If I would have known this group had elected a "leader" to dictate how things were done I would have not joined it. Lines such as "If choices are not made within a timely manner, I will assign an individual barrier to you" and telling me that I must check discussion board daily and etc... just rubs me wrong. I want us to be a team and communicate clearly so I thought I would share my frustration openly so that we could proceed forward together.

Respectfully

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Lisa,

I am sorry if I offended you in anyway, however this is a project management course, and the purpose of project management is for groups of people to work together on projects. In order for a project to be successful it is necessary for the project to have a project manager. We all need to work together as a team in order to pull this group project off that is quite extensive. In order for the project to be successful there has to be structure,meetings,deadlines etc. The deadlines for the project are not going to change. I can not force you to participate in the discussion board, but that is where all the information for the project will be. We felt as a team that it would be better to post there, since some people can't always check email. However, I will send emails out as well. If you choose to participate and can make it, our next meeting will be on the 19th of July at 7pm CST. If not you can review the chat archives in the group discussion chat room. However I would greatly appreciate your input and cooperation in making this project a great success!!!If you still have any questions or concerns please let me know. If you feel the issue still has not been resolved then you may contact the professor for further guidance.

Thank you,

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I appreciate what you are saying and I have no problem working and I understand the need for deadlines. What I am saying however is that the past groups I have participated in with CTU decisions such as deadlines, expectations and etc...were decided together in chats and on the discussion boards. From reading the discussion boards, emails and the online chats it appears that you are just deciding what they are and telling everyone and that irks me because this is a team project and while it is about project management no one appointed you or of any of us the "project manager"; it should be team decisions. So if you wanted a Friday deadline for the topics you should have asked in the chat what everyone thought of a Friday deadline instead of just deciding it and saying " I have posted a message in the discussion board giving a deadline of Friday, the 14 of June 2006 to have chosen barriers or they will be assigned one." And you say "they" like those not in the chat were horrible people who don't contribute. Many of us took online classes because we didn't have the luxury of guaranteeing we would be able to be at a certain place at a certain time. I've seen no one in this group that is not participating in some manner so why the attitude?

I will do my part and I will be in the online chats whenever my work schedule allows, it's just your tone that irritates me. I check the discussion boards almost everyday anyway- it wasn't what you said that irritated me it was the way you said it. Your ideas so far have been great and I agree with the deadline and would have if I had been asked, but when demands are made when request would have sufficed it can irritate people quickly, including myself.

Ah well I just will chalk it up to two personalities that are not easily compatible. It happens and I have no plans of letting it interfere with this project if you don't; all I ask is that you tone down the demands. You don't have to ask less; but I'm not in your employee nor am I your student so please ask instead of demand.

Respectfully,

Lisa

P.S. If you need any help putting the power point together let me know. I like the format you choose - very professional looking. Thanks for volunteering to take that on; I'll try to go ahead and have my page in the chosen format to save you some work.

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Everyone that was in the group chat on Tuesday evening agreed with the deadline and didn't have any problems with how things are being done and has agreed with everything so far.

In my last group project a 1/3 of the grade was participating the the group discussion board, so I thought that I was looking out for everyones best interest grade wise! :) I will do my best to communicate thoughts and ideas in a better way.

If you would like to help put the final presentation together, that would be greatly helpful and appreciated!!! Whatever you can do would be a great help. If you cant attend the meetings, if you wouldn't mind could you please either post your thoughts and ideas on the db or just send me an email and I can act on your behalf.

Just let me know if there is anything else that I can do to help make this project go smoother and make it easier on all of us, I would appreciate it and I hope that we can still work together and make this project a great success!

Sincerely,

Inspiration

Tonight I think I may have gotten my knitting mojo back. I went to have dinner with Lotus Knits; who is btw one of my favorite people in the world and of course we had to go to the knitting store! I got my Secret pal some gifties :) and I couldn't leave with out this great funky yarn (pic tomorrow - I'm too lazy to go downstairs). I think it is scarf bound or maybe a shawl....hmmm

Well, anyway back to my inspiration, other than all the lovely yarn, knitting books and nice people, I took my swatch (the blanket) to Lotus and she said a smaller needle may be in order - I was right! woot. I'm going to bind the swatch I have and wash/dry it first to see how it does but I think I'll have to go down in size. I actually got something right when it came to knitting - I should have called her sooner, but....ah well.

We also talked about doing some cool stuff like the botanical gardens in Athens and this great restaurant in Atlanta! I'm so glad she moved back to where we can do stuff; still an hour drive but man it's so much closer and it's good to have a girlfriend who I seem to have alot in common with that I can see and talk to who isn't in another state. No offense to my online buddies! She's family so she probably puts up with me because of that but I love her for it :) tee hee

Well, I really need to be doing an assignment that may or not be completed tonight. Oh, speaking of assignments there is this girl in my group assignment that is totally pissing me off. She seems to want to play dictator. I sent her a really nice email to try and tell her the shut the ---- up ... we shall see if it came across appropriately. Let me know your opinion - was I too bitchy?

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I may be the only one and if so I'm sorry but the attitude you have taken toward this project is slightly rubbing me the wrong way. I will get my part done and I will communicate with group members but I don't appreciate being told by someone what to do and when to do it. If I would have known this group had elected a "leader" to dictate how things were done I would have not joined it. Lines such as "If choices are not made within a timely manner, I will assign an individual barrier to you" and telling me that I must check discussion board daily and etc... just rubs me wrong.

I want us to be a team and communicate clearly so I thought I would share my frustration openly so that we could proceed forward together.

Respectfully,

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Welp, I'm off to work on it and drool over my yarn! I wish you dreams of fluffy clouds made of soft yarn :)

Birthday

Today was my birthday and it was a good one. It's hard to believe I'm 25; though not old to most it is still hard to believe that I've been on this earth that long. It's hard to believe that I've been out of high school 7 years, that I've been dating Jack for 5 years, married to him for 2, that I'm old enough to rent a car without a penalty! Triple woot on that one. It's just hard to believe.

So I know you want to know about my birthday goodies :) Well, Saturday we went on a little day trip that I will detail more thoroughly (with pics) at a later date. It was fun and well worth the drive, my mother is crazy and I love her, but that is another story all together. I mention the day trip only to point out that Jack and I had discussed that this trip would be my birthday present. And while I secretly hoped for a little something from him I didn't think I would get it. Well, he is a great man and I love him :) He came home today and I heard him come in but he didn't come upstairs so after about 15 min I went lookin for him. I found him outside hooking up my new XM radio in my car! It's so cool! It can go out of my car and be played in the house or at work! I just love it. Then I came in and walked right past the other part of my present without even noticing it (idiot I know)! He got me roses and a card! So sweet. I love him bunches and bunches! Then he took me out to dinner at my fav restaurant! It was cool and really made my day.

The people at work also made it a special day for me. The receptionist who I have referenced in another post made me a cake, which made me feel slightly guilty about said post, but then again not! They office also pitched in and got me a goodie bag! It had this cute pink shirt, some adorable greeting cards, big fat pens because I'm always looking for my "special" pen and a card then they took me out to lunch. It was really nice and made me feel liked!

I also go some calls / comments from Amanda, Jean, Lotus Knits, Andy and my mother left this cute song on my voicemail! And Jae was sweet enough to send me this great e-card! Like I said overall it was a great day!

See you later blogland! I hope you had a great day as well.

General Tidbits

Well, it's been a while since I really blogged and I'm sure you all are wondering what I've been up to. No you haven't? Well, too bad because I'm updating you anyway :)

I've been extremely lethargic - why you ask? I have no clue, probably because I need to get off my ass and do some exercise instead of sit in front of the computer or on the couch all the time. I have a doc appt today for my annual physical - I'm sure she will agree with the above diagnosis, but ... No buts I need to get off my ass and do something - will I? Probably not.

School is getting ramped back up. The next four courses are about project management and they are all 5 hour courses crammed into 5 1/2 weeks so I'll be really busy. I think I'll enjoy the subject matter though. When I'm done I'll have a graduate certificate in project management and if I went and got some on the job training I could become a certified project manager. Will I? I'm not sure. My mind is circling around the idea of going and finding a beginners position in an event planning firm; learn everything I can - get some contacts built up - maybe take some classes on etiquette and etc... and then start my own business (Extreme long term goal there). I don't know. It's a big leap to change careers but I might as well do it now while I'm still young. But then there are all the doubts will someone hire me with zero experience? Will they pay me what I need to survive? I want to go up in salary upon getting my MBA not down...but I may have to go down if I take this leap. Just some ideas roaming around in my head. I mean I would have training - what is an event other than a project? What does everyone think? Does anyone know anyone in event planning that could give me some advice?

Monday is my birthday. I'll be 25 - a 1/4 of a century old and I'll finally be able to rent a car without a surcharge. LOL, something to look forward too huh? People keep asking me what I want and honestly I have no idea. I have more scrapbooking stuff than I can use now (I really need to do some pages)...I have yarn but haven't' really been knitting. The blanket I want to make hasn't gotten past swatching. I really just can't get in the groove of it. I hate to purl and the pattern is knit two purl two. And the swatch just seems loose to me; I wouldn't want a blanket with that loose of a stitch. Maybe I need to change needle size, but what do I know. My inspiration has taken a vacation.

EQII on the other hand is coming back for me. I've been in a couple really good groups lately and have had a good time. Yes, I should be doing something more constructive with my time but I enjoy it so ...

We are taking a day trip tomorrow to the "little grand canyon" in GA and to a wildlife reserve. It is about a 3 hour drive and I can't wait. We are packing a picnic lunch/dinner and off we go...low cost and out of the dang house away from those 4 walls. I can't wait. I should clean the house before we go but I have an assignment due tonight so that probably will not get done. Do I care? Yes but not enough to clean it...what does that say about me? I'm not sure but it's something to contemplate.

I find I really like the my space thing and it is addictive. I've found and am chatting with several people from high school; it's really neat to see where peoples lives have gone and the paths they have chosen.

Well, I really need to get to work. I hope everyone has a good day!

Cornflakes

Do you have that person at work that takes everything as a personal attack? You say "How was your weekend?" and there response is fine with this attitudinal voice that makes you want to hit them. Then everything they does has a level of attitude that makes you wish you could carry them outside beat them until they couldn't think, bring them back in sit them in their damn chair and let them try to eek out some more attitude so you can do it all over again. Well, that is our receptionist who thinks she is mother, boss and the nicest person in the world when in fact she is a self rightous bitch that needs to go do something I won't mention here. Yea she needs to eat some cornflakes, get an attitude adjustment and give a real smile instead of that plastered thing on her face. Or she could retire!

Just had to vent before I vented in a bad way and did the things mentioned above :) Is it time to go yet?