Me, the update

Posted by sarah3030 in blogging, Cat, Hair, Oliver and tagged with , ,
  1. I am in love with grad school homework.  My first assignment was to get involved in a case study simulation game, interviewing stakeholders and diagnosing an organizational issue.  It may sound strange to you, but for a nerd like me this is a gooood time.
  2. New job is going well!  I learn about 100 new things every hour about the grocery business and I think I have some valuable suggestions for the training program I’ll be running.  Yay!
  3. I saw Beauty and the Beast in 3D at the movies last night.  It was a magical movie event when I was 12 and is still a fantastic movie 20 years later.
  4. I got a facial and a hair cut yesterday.  It’s nice to have those small indulgences.  I also bought a new pair of shoes, although not the fancy work shoes I’ve had in the past.  Since new job is so much on the floor, running a grocery store, I bought some black tennis shoes for work.  I kind of love that I wear khakis and tennis shoes to work.
  5. I’m a bad money manager.  Nothing like a conversation with the ex-husband who was a fantastic money manager to remind me of that fact.  Must pay more attention to finances.
  6. I’m supposed to be writing a ten page paper *right now*.
  7. I signed up for another 5K on February 12.
  8. I’m a freak for Amazon.com.  I love my Kindle Fire, I love Amazon Prime and I love free two day shipping.
  9. My hair stylist has some kind of super powers to make my hair curlier than I ever know it can be.  She only trimmed it, but with how curly it is right now, it looks like I got 3 inches cut off.
  10. Oliver, the cat, is still a total pain in my neck at the exact same time he’s the most adorable cat ever.  It’s tricky to be both of those, yet he pulls it off.

And that’s ten.

Back to my paper.

The New Year is here

Posted by sarah3030 in blogging, friends, growth, running, Sarah, The job. and tagged with , , ,

I don’t have any resolutions to share.

I am proud of myself for not waiting for this new year to put into place the things I wanted to happen.  I applied and was accepted to grad school when I had no idea how I was going to pay for it.  But thousands of people figure out how to pay for it, right?  I knew I would too.  I didn’t wait for this year to start to begin my longest half marathon training process ever, I ran my first 5K a couple of weeks ago.  I didn’t sit around and collect unemployment and wait for a job to fall in my lap.  I took on my random part time jobs where I met new people, learned new things and got out of the house, even though the combined total from those two part time jobs was never more than an unemployment check was.  My friend Claire likes to point out that I was essentially volunteering during this time because I still got partial unemployment during that time.

I have a “word” for 2012.  It’s FOCUS.  I have three big undertakings in 2012, things I began in 2011 and are only going to get more intense:

  1. Disney Princess half marathon training for Feb ’13  (I know – longest training process ever.  I know.)
  2. New job.  As a corporate trainer that has just moved to an entirely new industry (casinos to groceries) I know there is much to learn on top of a very rigorous training schedule.
  3. Grad school.  So much reading!  I’ve always been smart, but I’ve never been an exceptional student.  Creating good study habits is going to be a challenge.

Making time for all of these things in addition to life getting in the way is going to be my challenge.  Therefore, I choose to FOCUS this year.  So, instead of creating a list of lofty goals and books to read and instruments to tackle – I’ll FOCUS on these and see what else happens.

This new year snuck in.  I’ve been sicker this week than I can remember being in a long time.  I’m fortunate to never have sinus or allergy issues.  I’m experiencing my first sinus infection and it is wiping me out.  From a couple of days before New Years Eve until last night I was pretty much bed bound.  I had a few friends over for New Years Eve, but even they were out by 10pm.  I was even driven to purchase and experiment with a Neti Pot for the first time.  I have a few friends who swear by them and I will admit I felt relief after using it.  Also glad I live alone while using it.  Least sexy thing ever, I imagine.

Happy New Year to all of you.  I’m excited to enter this year with intent and purpose.  And a place to share it all.

Scenes from Christmas at my house

Posted by sarah3030 in baking; food, Cat, Christmas, Quinn and tagged with , ,

I woke up with no Christmas obligations until 2pm, meaning I had a lovely morning all to myself.

My friend Claire met me for a walk though Tower Grove Park.

I needed to make marshmallows to package with some hot chocolate mix I was giving as gifts.

I needed to make something for myself to eat for breakfast.

Marshmallows proved more of an adventure than I was prepared for.  I made them years ago and what I remember is that when I added hot liquid sugar to cold gelatin in the mixer there was an explosion of white mess for a minute, and then marshmallows were made.  That’s not exactly what happened here.  I used Martha Stewart’s marshmallow recipe, and while the result I got is indeed a marshmallow, I don’t think I would use this again.  I feel somewhere along the way I needed more water or less gelatin.  They are tougher than I would like.

Hmmm...not easy to get marshmallow out of whisk beater.

They do include my new obsession! Vanilla bean paste so you can see seed specks!

Marshmallows!

My kitchen is covered in powdered sugar.

Buttermilk nutmeg scones for breakfast - with real nutmeg

Have you used real nutmeg before?  It’s beautiful on the inside, it has a swirly pattern.  And I had eggnog for breakfast with my scone with more fresh nutmeg grated on top of that.

Nutmeg

After all of this I watched a bit of the Disney Christmas parade.  Then I turned on Lifetime for bad Lifetime Christmas movies.  Guilty pleasure.  Then it was off to grandma’s for Christmas, part 3.

Today I did take a few pictures of what my place looks like at Christmas time.  I’ll change my table setting up in a couple of days to get ready for a couple of friends coming over on New Year’s Eve.  I love having my table set throughout the year, but especially at Christmas.

Chargers, Christmas China and mismatched glasses

Place cards, sort of.

Years ago my grandmother got me these ornament place card holders, which I love.  I rarely have parties where place cards are required.  I was in Paper Source one year and saw 25 cards with holiday words on them, designed to be used in a scrapbook.  They were perfect!  So, now my table is set for “celebrate”, “peace”, “magic”, “generosity” and such.

This year the only Christmas tree I put up was the artificial white tree I bought years ago to be the Disney Tree.  I was hesitant to put up a real tree because of Oliver the kitten.  I don’t care that much if he destroyed the $30 Wal-Mart tree I bought years ago.  Which, consequently, he has.  Artificial tree limbs do not take the weight of a growing kitten.

how many Cinderella references can you find in this picture alone?

I only put non breakable ornaments on it.  It’s not the prettiest tree I’ve ever had, but it’s functional and has plenty of Disney character.  I didn’t get out my heirloom ornaments either.  Just a few of the toy like Disney ones.

..some of my favorite word ornaments...

And there you have it – Christmas is over.  I’m going to spend today monitoring Quinn, who came home last night, and watching the final 2 Harry Potter movies!  My dear friend and former roommate Meg sent me one of the best Christmas presents this year – all 8 Harry Potter movies and some chocolate frogs!

Harry Potter year!

I’m so happy to be wrapping up the holidays and 2011.  2012 has such exciting prospects!

Must go make hot chocolate to watch movies.  And dunk one of my marshmallows in it.

Save the drama for your…cat

Posted by sarah3030 in Cat, Christmas, Quinn and tagged with , , ,

Oh, cats.

Let me start by saying there is a happy ending to this story.  A small, harrowing tale comes first.  A couple of weeks ago I threw several of you for a loop by telling nice stories and then dropping a “Hey – and then it turns out this guy died” bomb in a post and I don’t want to do that.

I make her take a lot of photos with me.

Quinn.  My first “born.”  My baby cat. The reason I can say I’ve slept on every floor in every house I’ve had since the day we brought her home.  She would get scared and hide behind appliances or toilets and I would sleep on the floor the first night or two until she came out.  I picked her.  Colin had a different kitten when we went to pick one up and I insisted on her.  She was so tiny!  She was the runt, had been bottle fed back at a foster family’s home because she was so small and was just brought to the shelter that morning.  They called her Princess.  I knew this was my cat.

I got antlers on her for about one minute last Christmas!

Quinn, whom when I left for Chicago back in 2009 I left with my ex-husband.  It was the right thing to do.  When I moved back to St. Louis and into this apartment 6 months later – he gave her to me.  It was the right thing to do then also, he traveled a lot and she was getting lonely.

Baby girl sleeps with me.

Let me get to today.  For the last several days I’ve noticed her wheezing and heaving.  I thought she was just working out a hairball and didn’t think much of it.  Thursday morning I made sure she was eating by giving her some treats and she seemed okay so I let it go another day, always coming straight home to check on her.  The heaving was more consistent and her voice was raspy.  Friday night she was not interested in food and was more lethargic.  My concern was growing.  This afternoon I got home from my last afternoon working the chocolate shop and went straight into my room to find her.  One look at her and I knew we were going to a doctor.  Laugh all you’d like, I could look at her and know something was wrong.  I felt she was looking at me with a face that said, “What else do I need to do to demonstrate I’m sick?!”  I called the clinic and told them we were on our way.

Important to note that even sick she fought getting into her carrier with everything she had.  Too bad, Quinn.  We got to the vet and they examined her and felt around and decided to take X-rays.  I stayed until those were developed and the doctor showed me the scans.  It’s clear that her stomach and small intestine are 2.5 times the size they should be.  There is a blockage in her intestine and this is not good.  The vet says she would like to wait for confirmation from the radiologist, but the chances are Quinn needs to have surgery.  She explains what they’ll do and what the risks are and that it should be straightforward but there could be complications, etc.  I agree that surgery is what we should do.  The doc says she’ll have a tech come out and give me an explanation of the surgery estimate.  I wait a little longer there and then am presented with a surgery estimate.

Quinn with last years Christmas tree

Surgery can cost anywhere from $1500 – $2400.

I know pet owners who believe there is a number where surgery or treatments for an animal aren’t worth it and just putting them down is the right answer.  My baby Quinn is 6.5 years old and the outlook was positive on this procedure.  So, I don’t know what that number is, but for me, clearly this wasn’t it.  I called Colin to tell him what was going on and he seconded my decision – he said if it was a matter of me needing more money for the surgery – he’d help foot the bill.  Neither one of us were willing to say Quinn wasn’t worth every penny.

Look at that belly!

Having made the decision, all there is to do is to leave her in the clinic’s care, think positive and be hopeful.  I may wig out and get over emotional about some things, but when there’s real crisis – I’m good.  I’m strong and calm and rational like at no other time.  There’s no sense in worrying until I hear more from the surgeon, so until that time, I trust they’re doing their best.

Quinn loves a windowsill

Meanwhile, it’s Christmas Eve, so I head to my grandmother’s house and wait on a phone call from the doctor.  Which I get.  Doc says, Good News!  The radiologist doesn’t think surgery is the first option.  They think the blockage can pass with some more fluids, as Quinn is dehydrated, and, well, kitty laxatives.  That’s their first course of action anyway.  She says they’d like to watch her overnight and they’ll call me in the morning to see how she’s doing.

YAY!

My princess cat.

I pass on the good news and enjoy the rest of the evening with the family.

Here is my conundrum.  Quinn and new cat, Oliver, are still not getting along.  See all these great pictures of Quinn?  I used to take photos of her all the time because she was relaxed and around and wanted to nap where I was napping and waited for me to get home from work and let me pet her and pick her up, etc.  Ever since Oliver the Interloper has come to be, she is anxious and avoids where he is, which is often where I am as well.  Even when I can pick her up she’s always on the lookout for Oliver.  The only time we still have is bedtime.  I keep Oliver out of my bedroom and Quinn and I still have some together time where she gets all of my attention.

I thought after almost 7 months there would be less tension.  There have been improvements.  Small ones.  They can sleep on the same bed now or nap on contiguous couch cushions.  Oliver is getting bigger and seems to be tormenting her more.  At times I think it’s good for Quinn to have environmental stimulation like this.  Other times I think Quinn was born to, and really misses, her spoiled rotten only child days.

My ex-husband Colin doesn’t travel for work any longer.  I know he misses Quinn.  His phone wallpaper is still a picture of her.  I found that out and some of my strong dislike for some of the things he’s done over the past year and a half melted away a little.

If you’ve stayed with me through this post about cat memories and stories of surgeries that weren’t, here’s the question: For the potential quality of life improvement for both cat and ex-husband – should I give custody of Quinn back to Colin?  I love her and would miss her, but I really do think she’s unhappy with Oliver.

Of course…I would have to then get another cat for Oliver to play with.  He loves a friend.

 

#1 Make a List

Posted by sarah3030 in blogging, My story continues and tagged with , ,

I feel like there are a LOT of moving parts in my life right now and I would like to make  a list.  I’m going to make that list here.  I got home from work and sat down around 7:20pm.  It’s now 9:20pm.  I’ve been sitting here for about two hours.  I haven’t turned on the tv, I’ve been catching up on a few things, uploading the photos I took at my family’s Christmas party, etc, but I still have much to do and I’m feeling a little overwhelmed.  So…

  1. Make a list
  2. Get a hold of the financial aid office at BGSU.  Must get this straightened out ASAP.
  3. Watch White Christmas
  4. Mail Meg’s Christmas present
  5. Make chocolate chip cookies
  6. Make sugar cookies
  7. Attempt to make marshmallows
  8. Paint my fingernails
  9. Plug in new alarm clock
  10. Watch Meet Me In St. Louis
  11. Go for a run!!
  12. Crack open new Zumba 2 for the Wii
  13. Fold so much laundry
  14. Make a grocery list and shop
  15. Read a text book or two
  16. Download biography to read for class
  17. Scrapbook the racing number bib from my run last Saturday
  18. Blow up my new work out stabilizer ball (to help my non existent core muscles)
  19. Wash my hair
  20. Make a cocktail

Hey look!  I can cross one off.  Maybe I can pop in a Christmas movie while folding laundry and having a drink as well… Tomorrow morning I MUST start with a run and then BACK to the chocolate shop.  I also want to make the sugar cookie dough tomorrow morning.  If I don’t get to the chocolate chip cookies, it’s not the end of the world.  The marshmallows can wait until Friday.  I haven’t grocery shopped in what seems like weeks for actual food and not just holiday appetizer or dessert dishes I’m bringing somewhere.  This means I’ve been eating junk and eating out and neither of those are good for wallet or waistline.

Okay.  I think I like the idea of laundry/movie/drink.  I may go do that.  I also must get to bed at reasonable hour for the morning tasks.  Which means I should probably put the computer down.

Okay.  I’m going.  Really.  Send productive thoughts.

 

Update: I managed to make a cocktail.  An almond peppermint patty.  2 oz chocolate liquer, 1 oz peppermint schnapps and a splash of amaretto.  Pretty excellent.  I plugged in my new alarm clock.  This should not have been the task that it was – but word to the wise – never let your tech deficient mother buy you a fancy alarm clock.  I wanted one I could plug my iphone into and will make me up to a playlist of my choosing.  I don’t know that that is what I have here.  Or if it is, I do not know if I programmed it correctly.  I have a back up alarm set just in case.  Technology is supposed to make our life easier, right?  Also, I did email my professor about which biography I’d like to read for one of my classes.  Once she approves it I will start reading/downloading depending on what she says.  I gave her two options – one book I already own but have never read.  The other I’ll need to get.  It’s now 11:30pm.  I’m going to sleep.  No laundry folded.  No White Christmas.  Tomorrow is another day.  

Under 35

Posted by sarah3030 in Event, work it out and tagged with , ,

Not only is it my general age category, I wanted it to be the goal for my 5K race this morning.  My training has been stunted in the past ten days with the weekend in Toledo/Cleveland, the seasonal & part time jobs needing more time and general holiday merriment.  I was still committed to the 5K race this morning.  I had two goals:

1. finish under 35 minutes

2. it would be cooler if I finished at 33:38

Why that time?  I follow a blog called Meals & Miles and Meghann says that her first 5K was finished in that time.  I think her running history is a lot like mine (not a runner at all when she started) and I needed a goal, so there it was.

I finished in 34:30.

Sigh.  So close.  You know what the total bummer is?  Shoestrings.  At two different points in the race each shoe came untied.  I learned the value of double knotting.  I’m not saying that took a full minute, but I could have ben closer.  The race took place in the park a block from me, I intend to practice the route I ran today more regularly.  I may ween off treadmills and do outside running more.  I also think elevation played a factor in my performance today.  If I do run on a treadmill I’ll need to include some interval hills.

I was frustrated by my overall performance.  It didn’t feel quite as good as I wanted.  I do want to focus on the good stuff: I woke up, I made it out, and I finished.  I have my baseline.  I have a lot of work to do.

I am happy to say the cold didn’t bother me.  Dri-tech running clothes really do work!  Also, my awesome rhinestone headband arrived in time.  When I started running with the Disney Princess Half in mind I kept envisioning pieces of my fun running outfit for that event.  I was so lucky to find the dream piece in an etsy shop!

I have some really terrible photos, but I like you, so I’ll share.

Please forgive my morning face

Yes, that’s a mirror self portrait, which I’m generally not a huge fan of.  Oh well, at 6:45, I was not setting up self timers and such.  Also, you can see my “finish!” sign.  Those are sticky letters I found at the dollar store and sometimes I like to leave myself motivational messages.

Close up of the headband

The headband kind of played today.  This run was part of a winter series, and there were lots of holiday accessories on people.  I fit right in.  My plan is to wear this headband at every race I take part in leading up to the Princess Half.

So, there’s my recap.  The first of many, I sincerely hope.

Amazon love

Posted by sarah3030 in Christmas and tagged with , ,

I am a huge Amazon.com fan.  I have ordered everything from books to blenders from the site.  I find it affordable and convenient and think it’s recommendations know me better than my own family does.

Today, my incredibly generous and kind chocolate shop boss gave his staff their Christmas presents – and we all got the Kindle Fire.  

Kindle Fire

Holy Tablet, Batman!

I’m so excited.  Last weekend at Grad School orientation (seriously – still more to come on this) they mentioned how handy having a device like this was and I’ve added this to my shopping list once I start getting paychecks again.

I spent some time abusing my 30 day free trial period for a few magazines and updating my Amazon wish list.  I had a few books I have downloaded previously and are sitting out on “the cloud” waiting for me.  I feel having this makes me want to curl up and read more!  With that – goodnight!!

Glitter shoes!

Posted by sarah3030 in Crafty and tagged with , ,

Pinterest love is paying off.  It is officially doing what I believe it’s intention was, which is to share ideas and inspire crafty-ness.

I saw this picture:

 

I read these instructions.

I did this:

Take shoes that had been ruined by grates along the streets of Chicago.

Channel Martha Stewart with glue and glitter.

Start painting the heels while watching Top Chef.

Take a moment to congratulate yourself for picking the PERFECT color glitter.

Clean up mess before glitter cat footprints are everywhere, including this laptop.

Enjoy party shoes that have been given a new life!  Now…must find place to where the party shoes…

Love is tricky

Posted by sarah3030 in Uncategorized

Warning: rambling ahead.

I have some of the greatest friends.  I may not always have a lot of them, but I have fantastic friends who are true and to whom my loyalty runs deep and severely.  I believe with absolute certainty that they love me and I love them; as in have deep and sincere appreciation and affection for them.

Where is the line that crosses into romantic love?  Why do I automatically diminish someone who looks me in the face and says “I love you” thinking that can’t possibly be?  They don’t know me, they can’t love me, etc…

I don’t want to go so far or be so dramatic as to say I’m unlovable or unable to be loved or something like that – but is there something to being unwilling to be loved?   Is this learned behavior?  Which came first, the feelings or the actions by other people?  Do I treat people to teach me this way – as Liz Lemon quoting Oprah would say.

This might be a thing.

I have much other stuff to discuss – my orientation day at BGSU in Ohio and a weekend in Cleveland eating so much pork and the best ice cream in the whole wide world.  The amount of school work getting the master’s degree is going to be and how excited I am about it.  My plans to see movies and finish Christmas shopping and bake cookies and get all holiday spirited this week.  All these things I will discuss soon.

End note: I’m not in a feeling sorry for myself kind of place.  Just a curious self examination moment.

Sarah vs. the Weekend, in pictures

Posted by sarah3030 in Christmas, vs. weekend, work

I am too tired to write a true to the “vs. Weekend” post.  So I’ll give you the cliff notes version.  With photos.

Important to know while Saturday and Sunday are “the weekend” I volunteered and worked all weekend.  During the morning/early afternoon each day I volunteered at a big trade show the St. Louis Convention & Visitor’s Commission hosts called Holiday Magic.  It’s essentially a giant indoor carnival with lots of kids crafts/activities/rides/Santa and a shopping area that seems to be populated with lots of things you can find on an infomercial.  Local attractions have a booth and local chefs are on the culinary stage and it’s a way to get people downtown.  Since I love the CVC, I try to volunteer for large events they have.

Me in my cute volunteer apron uniform!

I look at that picture and feel I was having a weird face day.  Do you ever think you’re having a weird face day?  Anyway…  When I signed up to volunteer they asked me if I had any preferences – a job you can sit, with a lot of people, without a lot of people, etc…  I asked for as few kids as possible.  Wish granted I was put in the “Alpine Village” hosted by a local brewery and where higher end food was for sale as well as the beer tasting and bar set up.  I just answered questions about what was inside, when the beer sampling would begin, what was on the entertainment stage, etc.  Life was good.  I was told I’d be in the same spot Sunday.  Excellent.

Saturday night I went to work at my cooking class assistant job.  Saturday night’s class was not so much about cooking, but about gingerbread house making. Around this time of year, the Kitchen Conservatory hosts several gingerbread making workshops.  I should say gingerbread house construction workshops.  All the gingerbread baking and cutting out has already been done.  The workshop lets people do the fun part, the decorating!  We make loads of royal icing (with peppermint extract in it so it smells like the holidays!) and have so many candies, cereals, pretzels, gums and more ready for decorating.  And then the total mess making decorating begins.  Saturday’s group in particular was 18 sixteen year old girls who have been doing this since they were about 8.  They were honestly just fine teenagers, but as someone who does not have a lot of exposure to children, ever, it was a tad trying for me.

Decorations galore! M&M's, licorice, gum, neccos, sno caps, marshmallows, gumdrops and more!

One of our sample houses

More sample house fun - frosted mini wheats are great because they are already snow covered!

After a crazy long day, including the clean up of the gigantic mess that 18 girls making gingerbread houses makes, I came home to a hot shower and warm bed.  Sunday morning I was hoping to sleep in some, but was up around 6:30am, and finally really got moving around 8am.  I ran downstairs to get coffee and the paper, made a cheese plate for breakfast (warm bread, delicious drunken goat cheese and fig jam – it can be breakfast) and climbed back into bed to read said paper and eat said cheese.  It was a really relaxing couple of hours.  I reported back to the CVC at 11:30am and found out my post had been reassigned by accident.  And would I please work the football zone.  Kids get to line up and throw footballs at large inflatable with targets cut into them.  Kids.  Sports.  Oh hell.

Lined up and ready for action

Best part of day - Tweety caught a rogue football and posed for a picture with me

I left the convention center to go straight back to Kitchen Conservatory for another teen group.  This time, 10 seventeen year olds were in for a hands on cooking class for a birthday party.  Granted, this is a way cooler birthday party than I ever had as a kid, and I gotta respect the teenage girl who thinks a cooking party is cool.  However, I was not super excited to back up a 2nd teen group in two days.  Also, the menu this young lady picked out to make with her friends consisted of fried ravioli (it’s a St. Louis thing – called toasted ravioli here – essentially breaded and fried ravioli), tempura vegetables, roasted vegetables, teriyaki chicken and tempura shrimp.  That’s a lot of fried stuff.  This group was super fun and very sweet and it was really interesting to hear their conversation and what goes on in their world.

The good news is that I had Friday off and got up some Christmas decorations!

My mantle and faux fireplace

Quinn & Oliver have stockings!

The village is starting to come together

And there you have it.  There is my last three days recap.  I’m exhausted.  I’m also happy I volunteered.  I’m happy I think about someone else sometimes.  I’m happy I work in a fun kitchen store/cooking class place sometimes.

I’m also happy that tomorrow morning I go in to officially sign all of my new job paperwork!

Good night!