Work is forbidden!

I have been working 7 days a week for a month now and tomorrow is the last day in the project that has forced this ridiculous schedule. Words can’t describe the sheer elation I feel at the prospect of a weekend without work. I can’t wait. No getting up at 5:30 to start system jobs. No working through the afternoon on updating database numbers. No answering my Blackberry at any time of the day. In fact, the damn Blackberry will be shoved in a soundproof drawer (cause I seriously don’t think I even know how to turn the damn thing off – it’s never been off before) and I don’t plan to answer it at all. The weather is going to be perfect, the work will be pushed out of my mind and every minute of freedom will be enjoyed! Wheeee!

78? Really??

I can hardly believe it. My inbox is currently sitting at 78. I haven’t seen numbers that low in months. It took a huge investment in time but the elation I feel at being back in the double digits is definitely worth it. Woohoo!! Now how long will it last? My money is on it being back up in the triple digits by noon tomorrow.

Enough! Relax already!

I have been noticing lately that I feel guilty if I just sit down in one place for more than 5 minutes doing nothing. I can’t sit still for any length of time. I always seem to feel that I should be doing something productive. Where has this feeling come from? Why can’t I just enjoy being somewhere doing nothing? Do you ever feel guilty when you are asked the “what did you do this weekend/last night/etc.” question and you say “nothing”? I do. I seem to think that if I do nothing that I have somehow failed. Productivity is an important part of life but isn’t relaxing and rejuvenating just as important? Isn’t it necessary in order to continue being productive?

As much as the idea of doing nothing appeals to me – I just can’t get my mind and body to co-operate with the plan. Perhaps I will just have to try a little harder – hell I think I will start doing nothing right now. Who cares if it is only 4:30pm and I have a ton of work to do. I think this “do nothing” plan is worth starting ASAP!

It’s all about location I guess

Why does the rain make everything cosier when you are curled up at home, but makes everything more annoying when you are sitting in the office? There is just something about an overcast day that makes working just seem more irritating. And I don’t think I was alone in that feeling today. There were some pretty crabby people in our office on this dreary Monday. In a meeting this morning, one of our directors asked if everyone rolled out of the wrong side of the bed this morning. Maybe that was the problem – maybe we all should have stayed in bed. I sense it is going to be a long week. SIGH!

Great job Jordan and Tina!

I am TIRED today. I went to bed at 3AM and was up at 8AM. But it was more than worth it! Jordan’s wedding was a blast. We had a great time! There was alcohol, there was conversation, there was dancing and there were hula hoops. Man, I just don’t think adult hips are meant for hula hoops- quite a challenging operation that hula hoop business. The hula hoops were the “make the bride and groom” kiss trick. They kissed for as long as people could keep the hoops spinning. Thank goodness there were kids in the crowd or else the happy couple wouldn’t have been getting much action. The wedding was really well done and Jordan and Tina should be very happy with the results of all of their hard work. Everyone really enjoyed themselves.

Now I have to get some sleep. Hanging out with university buddies is fun but it really drives home the point that I am not 19 anymore. This gal needs a full nights sleep.

I am NOT sober

This will be brief. I am NOT sober, I had a great time at Jordan’s wedding and I will give you an update tomorrow on my activities cause I am way too drunk to write tonight. I will say however that I had a GREAT time!!

What life should be about

Today was a fantastic day. The weather was perfect, the activities were perfect (minus the work tasks), the company was perfect. Jeff decided to join me on my cardio workout this morning and so we headed out around the parliament buildings. He is a pretty motivational coach and so after some walking, a stair climb and some jogging intervals we wound up at the juice bar for a breakfast smoothie. Then it was on to Second Cup for a well deserved coffee and to read the paper. It was a great way to spend a morning. After our coffee we strolled around taking in the sights, eventually making our way back to the hotel so I could do some work – sad but necessary. I did some work and then we headed out for a picnic lunch in the Byward Market. Another great activity. Tonight we met up with our friend Bryce for dinner. It has been a long time since the 3 of us just sat around talking. I really enjoyed it.

So if you haven’t been able to figure it out yet – I had a fantastic day!! This is what life is supposed to be about. Doing simple things with the people you care about. It just doesn’t get better than that!

Different but very familiar

Written September 22, 2005
I arrived in Ottawa with a smile on my face. The thought of seeing my friends and visiting the city where I basically went from a kid to an adult made me grin. I think I scared the cab driver but who cares. The fact that a smiling face seems strange to people will most likely be a topic for a future post. Why are we so put off by people smiling for no obvious reason? My trip was uneventful and I arrived safe and sound. I visited with my friend Jeff who I haven’t seen in a couple of years and it is like a day hasn’t passed since we saw each other. That is just the way our friendship has always been. It’s great! It’s so strange to be back in Ottawa. It seems smaller than I remember. Smaller but so familiar with so many good memories. I had dinner with my cousin Trevor and his wife Janice (the boys were all off having bachelor party fun which I was very happy to miss) which was fun and then I went to bed. All in all – a good first day.

Another one gone.

What the heck happened to summer?? I remember June but I don’t remember anything since. Can you believe that it is officially fall tomorrow? Another summer gone already. Where does the time go? So many plans still unfinished. So many days wasted on things that do matter in the grand scheme. So many missed opportunities for life altering experiences. Will recognizing that I am missing out on life help me to break the habit? Will acknowledging that I need to cherish the time help me actually do it? Or will I be saying the same things next year at this time?

Wedding…work…whee!

I am off to Ottawa on the weekend. Well actually I leave on Thursday. My friend Jordan is getting married on Saturday. Jordan is one of those university buddies I mentioned in a previous post who has some interesting drinking stories to tell. Unfortunately I will have to work while I am there but thanks to the wonderful world of laptops and blackberries it will be just like being in the office. Arugh! I am looking forward to the trip though. It’s like a step into the past. Lots of great memories! I haven’t been back in a long time so it should be a good time. Oh and now that I have a digital camera (well actually I still have two and am waiting for the third) I will be able to post some pictures of the trip. Woohoo – illustrations for me wee blog!