Baby Finances

The problem with working in a small company is that you see/hear more than you want to. Sometimes as a 23 year old I wish I did not have as much responsibility as I do -- both to customers and internal contacts. It's hard to hear all the complaining and still stay possitive about the company and people I work for. It's really difficult to not let it get to you and start screwing with your head. When ever one person leaves a huge gap is left -- because there is so little bandwidth to start with -- percentage wise -- losing one person is huge. Unfortunately those who are search/need some leadership -- which is sorely lacking at times -- are really reaching -- meaning that they start complaining -- acting negatively -- and generally just start becoming unpleasant to work with. Even going so far as admitting that a lot of their frusteration was due to a lack of a "boss" - aka leadership -- someone telling them what to do. It's really hard for me to work with pe...

I actually watched SNL this Saturday -- it was suprisingly amusing. Unlike many of the SNL episodes in the last few year which are completely inane and senseless -- it was amusing and laughable. While it is sad that more americans have been injured by roadside bombs -- which is it so suprising that a journalist has? Do american's think that journalists are immue to attacks in a warzone? How many other countless american -- who have been fighting and living in Iraq have been injured -- why has only Cindy Sheehan's protest for her son been in the news so much? American's want to ignore the fact that a war is going on right now. Why are we so against any miltary action since Vietnam? The lack of support and outpouring of rage against American military action in Iraq that has swept across America since this war has started is rather startingly in light of past military history. Only in recent times have we so totally morally against military action that we do not want to...

I get asked the dumbest questions at work -- by people who should know better -- people who work here. It really agrivates me that I have to do everyone's dirty work. Just because you don't want to be the bad guy and tell someone "no" don't make me do it ALL the time. I waste so much time telling someone "no -- we dont' have that -- and no we won't make it for you." When anyone else who is answering the phones could do the same thing. I don't know why I get tasked with doing it. At first it is fun, but lately it has been starting to grate on my nerves. I guess I'm just in a mid-winter slump. I'm really amazed at some people at my gym -- some of them really lift a lot of weight -- and do a lot of exercise. It's amazing! I'm still -- sadly -- in pretty bad shape -- hopefully that will change in the next few months. I'm glad that the New Year's resolution season is coming to a close -- no longer do I have to wai...

It's amazing what you can accomplish with a little concentration. I have to say that I'm not learning that much at work anymore -- I'm slowly but surely leveling off. Which means soon I will start to get very very bored with my job because it will be the same thing day in and day out. Sad but true. It's sad that I already know that it's starting. Hopefully they will add some responsibility or something to keep it challenging. The most challenging part of my job is being able to really concentrate long enough, with all the distractions going on, to be able to really get anything done. We'll see how it goes. It felt so good to go to the gym today and really stretch and work all the muscles that I used all weekend. I didn't know that they were stiff -- but apparently they were -- as it was very apparent after my work out. Yeah for the gym! Yeah for all the people quitting on their new year's resolutions so it's not really busy anymore! Yeah for...

It was a fun weekend. I came back relatively unscathed. My arm is actually feeling better -- thank god you don't need your arms to ski. The only thing that is even sore -- are the side stablization muscles from my knees to hips -- which I knew was going to happen -- who works those out in a gym? If anyone knows how to better target those muscles let me know -- it would be very useful when ski season comes around. I came home this morning and basically had nothing to do. I got a gift card to target for a present -- so I bought a video game. I know! I bought a video game. And then I cam home and proceeded to play it for the rest of the afternoon -- so I guess it was money well spent. I did have to stop playing because "The Bachelor" came on. I really have an issue when it comes to "reality" tv. I love watching the train wreak that is some sad person's life -- or rather what some producer protrays that person as. Editors are amazing when you have over...

I think I hurt myself -- sad but true. Hopefully I'll feel better by this weekend though when I go skiing with my parents. It's probably going to be a really crappy ski trip b/c it's supposed to be rainy/in the upper 30's/low 40's -- clearly not good weather for keeping snow around. Though it is supposed to be colder on Sunday -- so hopefully we'll get at least one day of good skiing in. If my arm doesn't get better by tomorrow I think I"m going to have to make a doctor's appointment to make sure that there is nothing serious wrong with it -- so that I don't hurt it even more this weekend. At least it's my arm and not a leg or something -- it definately won't keep me from skiing -- nor running -- just temporarily keep me off any weight lifting with it :-( Poor me. They have been trying to add some more cubes at work this week -- meaning that they completely took appart all the old cubes so that they could move them -- and then are ...

FURITURE! I bought a couch and a chair this weekend -- so in 6-8 weeks I should be the proud owner of real furniture. I still have a lot more stuff to buy to make it look like a real place -- but it's a step in the right direction. Then I got the oil changed in my car (opsy! it went over an extra like 500+ miles -- it was a lot of highway driving so it's okay right?). Then I bought some layering clothes for my ski trip this weekend (yeah.... the weekend of my birthday spent with my parents.... perfect.... just where I want to be). Which I probably won't need them because it's supposed to be like 40 degrees F and raining. I guess we'll watch a movie? Roast some marshmellows? I did a lot of cleaning -- my appartment finally looks like not a slob lives there. I didn't get to doing my laundry yet -- I think that's on the plate for tonight. I went to the gym -- everyday it gets a little easier to run -- and I can go a little longer and a little faster. Sl...

This article really scares me http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/diet.fitness/01/12/fat.attitudes.ap/index.html Look at the last couple of paragraphs. "Wann, who won't use the word "overweight" because she says it's judgmental." Are you joking me? If you are not within the medically acepted weight range for your height -- get over it -- accept it -- whatever you have to do -- but you are overweight. I have absolutely no respect for people who think that being obese is "okay" and that "fat people are the target of a witch hunt in a fitness-obsessed nation" That is absolutely ridiculous. Being overweight is a choice -- you choose what to put in your body -- you are choosing not to change your diet or exercise habit -- you are choosing to remain fat. I sympathsize (and respect) [with] every overweight person who is out there who is trying to do something about it (not like I couldn't stand to loose a few pounds myself) -- it's hard to l...

I think that I've finally! found the furniture that I want -- it's been a months long dream of mine to have real furniture -- the only problem is that with the little leg thingies it's an inch to big to fit into my appartment. I'm going to try to go back after work today and see if they can take the little leg thingies off when they deliver it so that it can fit through my door. -- then my life would be very very happy -- and I would be able to have real furniture. It's a little stunning to think of how much money I owe to people -- this of course after I got my consolidated student loan stuff today (ahhh! it's a lot of money). Then looking at my debit to see how much money is in my account and realizing that all the bills I paid this weekend have still not posted!!! I hate that. I still haven't paid off my credit card from last summer -- sucks to not have a job for about four months. Plus the typical monthly bills like internet and phone and such. Ren...

I've decided that running, or my lack of ability to, is more of a mental thing than a physical barrier for me. More often than not, I hear myself saying "this is too difficult, I need to stop" or "I'm not going to make it the whole 5 minutes" -- I think this is really detrimental to my progress. My short-term (3 month goal) is to be able to run for half an hour straight -- my longer term goal (6 month) is to run a 5K. I would love to be able to run a marathon like my 40-50 year old uncles. That would be pretty awesome. I think I might need a year or two to make that goal -- with some serious training and speedwork involved. Cross my fingers I'll be able to run at least 2.5 miles striaght in three months! A 5K isn't that much longer only 0.6miles. Hopefully my knees will hold up -- I'm excited about this goal. As the week has gone on the gym has been slowly decreasing in participants -- everyday there are less and less people who show. Th...

Some of the manufacturing people have been bitching at work about our new "2nd shift". Which is not a true second shift -- it is 7 hours a day mon-friday with saturday's manditory every other week. This shift offers a 10% (I believe) differential for working these hours. Some people where hired in a while ago -- knowing full well that they would have to work the second shift -- and are really bitching and complaining about how it's "not fair." Then they started talking how some other company is paying $14 to $16 across town and they need people. They thought that was great money. Most of these people are like in their 30's, 40's, even early 50's -- they think that is good money? I'm 22 and make more than that an hour. I would scoff at $16 an hour. They are also complaining b/c of the saftey goggles that they have to wear now... from a combination of things -- one woman got stuff in her eye, and some other stuff happened. So now they...

This is an open letter to all you New Years Gym Rats. I think it's awesome that you're going to the guy and working out. It's great for your body and well as your mind. Though you are really annoying. Prime examples of last night: (1) Fat guy who wanted to know why he couldn't hear anything when he plugged in his headphones. It's not an IPod Buddy -- you have to pedal to get the radio to work -- you fuel the power to the radio. (2) Old guy who didn't know how to use the machines. How difficult can it be to push the start button and choose a program? (3) Overweight guy who was definately not lifting enough weight. Do not, i repeat, do not use the machine directly in front of me in the circuit (TWICE!). If you are going to skip around on the machines and not use everything you MUST leave at least one machine in between -- so that when I finish my set I don't have to wait for you to finish your two sets before I can use the machine. (4) Really bad form ...

So so so so so so sad ND is losing -- badly. They have not played well today -- it's very hard to watch something like this. It makes me sad. Still sick -- yucky. Sad... very sad. Gym was uber busy today. Guess people are really making those new years resolutions. I only recognized like 2 people there today -- in the middle of the day. I give it three weeks before it starts to get back to normal. Traveling made me not do so well in December ... opsy! Back to the grind this month. I'm going to go cry now.... poor ND.

NYE was pretty sweet. Went to a bar in Cleveland with Josh, Joe and his chica, and Josh's friend from UD Chaz. The night was fun. I won't go into details since everyone probably knows them already. But if you are reading this and you want details let me know (sorry I found out my dad reads this so I'm not going to say anything more.) To sum up: Drinking, dancing, band, dancing, yeah.... Josh -- I realized on the drive home today that you definately heard my lie outright to XXXX (I definately saw the confused look -- thanks for not saying anything at the time, I totally forgot about Thanksgiving break). Sorry about that, one person doesn't want to talk to XXXX, and I'm trying to keep out of it. Why I always get asked questions like that by XXXX, I don't know, but everytime I see XXXX he asks me. I don't know the whole story -- but I'd rather have XXXX think that the other person hasn't talked to any of us. I'm sure this will bite me in th...