Mmmm...valves

So I just finished my second week of work at my new job...and I have to say that there is a lot more to valves and actuators than what I previously thought. :)

I can now look at a 15 digit part number and tell you what type of valve it is, what it is made out of (the body, seat, stem, and disk), what size it is, whether it has a handle, a gear or comes bare stem, and whether it has any special add-ons. Looking at a different 15 digit number, I can even tell you what actuator is on the valve, what the supply air is in psi, and whether or not it's a dual-acting or spring return actuator. I know, it may not sound too exciting, but it's progress and it's actually fun. I spent the first week learning about them and our business and this past week, I worked in the shop and actually put together the valves. Yay! :) Incidentally, if anyone knows any cool ways to get tough grease (silicone, etc.) out of my most favorite St. Pat's sweatshirt, I'd be forever in your debt.

This week in the shop has proven more educational than just learning about valves. I also now know many more words to "SexyBack" by Justin Timberlake and have been exposed to a country song called "I Want To Check You For Ticks." I'm not kidding. We also got to listen to a Spanish radio station (obviously, the workers got to fight over which stations they were listening to), but since I don't know what the words were to the songs, one could've been called "Cacahuates" for all I know.

In other news, I turn 30 this week...which is more than a little weird. At first, I thought that it would be no big deal, but as it turns out, I think it IS a big deal. :) I don't feel that weird "I'm not where I thought I would be, so I'll just sit at home and feel bad about it" but I guess I feel like I should be acting a tad more grown up...meaning, taking better care of my body and start saving for retirement, etc. But it's not all bad...I'm sure being 30 has it's perks. For starters, I think I've really started to accept who I am. Now, before I get all Oprah on you, just know that it's been a long time coming. While I may not be insanely pleased about every aspect of who I am, accepting it is a start.

I'm meeting with my realtor early this week so we can start working on selling my house...aparently several companies are expanding and transferring people to Denver, and many are looking in HR - so we're going to put it up a little sooner than what I thought. But I would love to ditch this high house payment as soon as possible...so keep your fingers crossed!

Some of you have asked about Elizabeth, so here's the update: the doctors don't think that it's cancer according to some further testing, etc. that they have done. Long story short, she'll have a biopsy on May 11th and then we'll know for sure after that. For now, it seems like it's a mass that they'll most likely remove so that it doesn't turn into anything bad.

I guess that's it! Sorry for these blogs as a way to update people - things have just felt super busy these days, so I haven't been in as good of contact as I should've. :(

Hope all is good in your world!

Just like the 4-Non Blondes Song...

What's goin' on?

Okay, okay...so I've been a tad distant lately. My only defense is that I have a lot going on these days.

About a month ago I was told that I would be moving to a different position within my company - essentially it's a lot more work for the same pay and was not a promotion. Yeah, not exactly what I was looking for. So I had to leave my dealers - that I really do like - and switch to ones who, although nice, I do not especially like. It's just not the same and it stinks. :)

Around this SAME time, I was fostering a dog through the Rocky Mountiain Great Dane Rescue. The dog, Tawny, had some medical issues that I was going to have to take her to the vet for and I asked for some flexibility in my job time that day - in fact, I really thought we were going to have to put her down. Anyway, my boss said "if it was for you or a child, I could understand. Since it's just for a dog, you'll have to take vacation time." There was another big frustration that day which re-lit my fire to find a different job/career.

So, I started taking a course through Colorado Free University (note, it is NOT free!) to try to decide what I want to do when I grow up. There was a lot of testing, but what came out of it was that my personality was not like a typical engineer. Again, not exactly what I was looking for. BUT I did get some good insight to who I am as a person and some types of things that I find interesting. Top career choices that were computer generated were a little interesting. Like one was a math teacher. I might be open to that, but I would have to completely change my wardrobe! I mean, I'd need to get long skirts and sweaters that have apples or various holiday celebrations all over them...so no.

Where am I now? Still the same job - although I've had one (and kinda' a half) interviews for a job that seems very promising. It'd be a pay cut, but also a way to get back into the technical side of things without losing my outgoing personality. :) The hiring manager seems really interested in me and the job seems like one that I'd enjoy.

The dog, Tawny, got adopted to a great lady...she's happy there. :) I've been doing other things to help the rescue out where I won't need the flexibility of my current job.

And I started going through my house to get rid of a lot of stuff...because I'm planning on moving. I'm planning on having my house on the market at the beginning of April...along with the nine million other houses in Highlands Ranch. :) Essentially, I'm going to be moving into a house that costs a lot less...debt is just icky sometimes and stuff is just stuff. I'd rather be free and happy to do what I want with my money and my job choices. I don't ever want to feel trapped again. :(

As far as stuff with Jon, things are great! We are planning on going "home" to El Paso for Easter to visit my mom and sisters. I personally think that he's brave for driving 12 hours with me in an enclosed space. :) Really, things should work out just fine...he's already met my family and they seem to really like him.

So, if I haven't really responded to you - or it's been major slow, I'm sorry. :(

I'll update you more on things as they progress!

Poop is raining from the ceiling! Poop!

Okay, so for those of you who are not familiar with "The Office," you're missing out.

It has to be one of the funniest shows I've seen and I look forward to it every week. Last night's episode was a great one. It made me laugh, it almost made me cry, and it made me want to convince someone today that I am a vampire. It would make work much more bearable.

Anyway, I found this website and I highly recommend you "Office" fans checking it out. I've laughed so hard I have literally started to cry. :)

Weathering the storms

So I had to take this defensive driving class today (don't ask!) and in the class our instructor said that joke we've all heard before, "Well, if you don't like the weather in Colorado, just wait five minutes!" She paused after that - perhaps expecting the class of people who were forced to be there to laugh, giggle, or shout out an "Amen!" Alas, none of us did.

This got me thinking...pretty much every town/state I've lived in, people from that place said that at one time or another. And I can tell you that in each of these circumstances, never did the weather actually change notably in the subsequent five minutes.

So...is it that all places have weather that changes quickly or that some random person thought up that clever saying and someone visiting that town stole the phrase? Then they brought it to their town, said it, and then someone else stole the phrase?

Come to think of it, when I lived in El Paso, no one said that the weather changed...that's because it's hot pretty much all the time.

So maybe we should all stop saying that phrase as it applies to almost everywhere. Then the poeple in El Paso, Phoenix, and Antartica can say things like, "Well, if you don't like the weather here, move...because it's not like it's going to change anytime soon!"

One of my favorite quotes

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deeest fear is that we are are powerful beyond measure. It is our Light, not our Darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you NOT to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shirinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own Light shine we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fears, our presence automatically liberates others.

--Nelson Mandela

What's in a name?

Well, there used to be a skit on SNL (in the days of Mike Myers and David Spade) where they had a commercial for Happy Fun Ball.... essentially it was a toy that had tons of warnings in the commercials (such as "Happy Fun Ball contains a liquid core, which, if exposed due to rupture, should not be touched, inhaled, or looked at"). One of the warnings was "Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball." I found this vastly amusing. (The actual commercial language is here). Don't be shocked if you don't think it's hilarious - most people fall into this category. :)

Okay, so fast forward (using Wayne's World sounds and hand motions if you'd like - doo doo doo) to 1995... I was on a trip to California with my friend Jill to visit our friend Marissa's graduation and I spotted a pair of plaid flannel pants (they had pockets and were sold in the pants section, so I don't think they were pajamas). I'll admit - they were as ugly as homemade soap, but the attractive factor was that they were very comfortable. Yes, this was pre-Friends days when people wore them often....

At any rate, they looked comfy and me being the person I am, I bought them. My two friends thought that these were hilarious, so I decided to call them my Happy Fun Pants - and instructed them to not taunt them. :)

Anyway, I went to college and had so many pairs and wore them very often that people started calling me Happy Fun Pants, or Fun Pants for short. I still have several pairs of fun pants, but do not wear them too much in public any more. :) What I think is funnier is that many of my friends have picked up on the terminology and call their lounge pants "fun pants" and have instructed their friends that their pajama pants are indeed fun. :)

The end. :)

How not to end a date...

So, since joining this thing, I've caught up with some people that I've lost touch with along the way - this always leads to the question of what my relationship status is...which got me thinking about a couple of the most recent dates I've been on.

One of the dates ended with an out-of-the-blue question: "So, are we going to make out or what?" It was out of the blue because we had not been flirting or even remotely talking about doing anything like that after the date. In fact, during dinner the major discussion point was of how he dislocated his dog's eye ball with a tennis ball at the dog park. I know what you're wondering, so I'll just answer the questions: (1) no, I am not making up the story - he really did discuss that in painful detail during dinner, and (2) I didn't know that an eyeball could be dislocated either.

The next date ended with another question of "So, they're double d's right?" This was said looking at my chest. I was shocked and said the only thing I could think of, which was "I can't believe you just asked me that!" To which he responded, "Because I'm right?" That he was right was hardly the point....

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