Quote of the Day

A mother is not a person to lean on, but a person to make leaning unnecessary.

— Dorothy Canfield Fisher

This is perfect for a belated Mother's Day! And since I didn't post anything for that day (cause I was at IKEA with my mother and father)... Here's to you Mom!

Quote of the Day

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.

— Walt Disney

Amen to that! So, how do you get the courage to pursue them? What if you're too fearful of all of the possible negative outcomes?

Blogging Roots

I've been blogging for about a year and a half now. And I thought I'd reflect back on how I got started, and who I read regularly these days. So sit back, and prepare to click links to different people.


I once knew a girl who blogged (don't worry, I still know her), and I decided that I could do that too. Why not? What do I have to lose? So I started one. I wasn't consistant on when I posted, but then again, I'm still not. But I read her blog regularly. From there I found out that another friend has a blog, but she was even more inconsistent than I was/am. But that's ok, it's still good to read up on the going ons. I didn't venture out and view other blogs that often. Sometimes I visit his blog (even though he's a jerk and I don't like him).


Then one day while reading her blog I saw a link to this blog. So I checked it out, "hey, cool recipes" I thought to myself. And after looking around there a couple times I noticed that she had another site (since then both sites have been combined into one with more added). I love her site! I want to marry it. Not really.


And since then, I've found dozens and dozens and dozens, well you get the picture, of more blogs to read. Like her's, and, well, too many others to type in right now (plus they are all bookmarked at home).


I've even influenced my sister to start her own blog. Which will be good since she's looking to transfer to a college in the LA area.

And now I'm hooked. I'm a blog junkie.

Don't even get me started on food blogs!



I need help.

Quote of the Day

The great thing about getting older is that you don’t lose all the other ages you’ve been.

— Madeleine L’Engle

Yes, but you may want to forget them...

Quote of the Day

A loving heart is the beginning of all knowledge.

— Thomas Carlyle

Quote of the Day

Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day.

— Anonymous

All good things must come to an end...

At least for the summer. This time of the year is always a little bitter sweet for me. I lose the lives I've been following and getting caught up in, while gaining time in my own life back.

That's right. It's the time of the year when shoes take a summer break. Season finales are airing. And really, I don't have that many shows that I must watch. But there is a little handful of them.

Although, I personally don't think any of them should be taking a summer break. How many months were we stuck with bad reality shows because of the writer's strike? Seriously now!

So until September I'll be missing you...

Gossip Girl

One Tree Hill

Grey's Anatomy

The Hills

Good thing TIVO hold most of this past season. I'll get my fix one way or another!

Oh, and no worries. I've got 4 more seasons of Sex and the City to get through. And boxes to unpack. And a housewarming to plan. I'll stay busy.

Quote of the Day

I am thankful for the mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends.
— Nancie J. Carmody

Amen to that!

You know where I wanna be right now?

In bed. On the couch. Anywhere laying in a horizontal position, with a pillow. Sleeping. Checking my eyes for leaks.

It was a late night. And I'm pooped.

2008 Goals: Update #2

My goodness! We're moving into June, the year is almost half over. Can you believe it?!? and 10 to go. I think I'll occasionally will update you on how my goals for the year are going. So here ya go...

• Lose 10 pounds...by May. - completed!
  Then another 10 by the end of the year.
  addition: And 5 pounds by the end of June (aka 10 year HS reunion).
  As of this morning, according to my scale, I'm down 10 pounds. As of the wedding on the 10th, I was down 10 pounds. Part 1 of this goal met! Now to reach the rest of it.


• Get a tattoo.
  In the process of finalizing the image that will be forever on my body. Once that is picked out I'll be going in.


• Move out. - completed!
  I've been sleeping there for the past week. Granted I still have a ton to unpack, at least I'm moved in.


• Go to Hawaii.
  Need to sit down with Dad to work on plans. But still looking at October.


• Look into Grad School.
  No progress.


• Take and pass the GMAT.
  No progress.


• Weekend wine tasting trip with friends.
  No progress. Although, last weekend I went wine tasting at a cousin's tasting room in Santa Margarita. I highly recommend Pozo Valley Wine. And no, I'm not bias!


• Make it to at least one concert. - completed!
  Going to a Carrie Underwood/Josh Turner concert today. Maybe I'll go to the John Mayer concert in Mountain View in July. We'll see.


• Reread all of the Harry Potter books.
  Still need to get through the stack of books I have first. I'll at least get the HP books started by the end of the year.


• Attend church more often. - completed-ish...!
  I've kinda slacked the last month+. So it's time to get going again. At least weddings are done, and so is traveling for awhile.


• Get my passport.
  I've got my picture taken, and application filled out (again), now I just need to make an appointment. Oh yea, and and find my birth certificate.


• Make a real quilt, for myself by myself.
  I had a bit of a frustration with the quilt. I just need to finish the binding and it'll be done. Can I just say, the quilt is freakin' huge!


• Take a fun class at a local college or adult school.
  It might be too late for summer school, which is ok, there are better classes during normal semesters anyways. So time to research more.


• Visit my siblings at where they are living more often. - 1/2 completed...!
  Visited Chris last weekend while traveling for cousin's wedding. I know he'll probably say it doesn't count, but I say it does. I'll be seeing Paige tonight when I go down to Fresno for the concert. In fact, she and Coleman are making us dinner.


• Let people know how much I truely appreciate them.
  Still haven't. Maybe I don't really appreciate people... Nah! I do. I really do. Just so you know, I appreciate you and value your friendship.


• Take more day trips. - completed-ish...!
  Let's see. I've gone to Santa Cruz for a bachelorette. I've gone to San Juan Baptista, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo/Santa Margarita for a wedding (yes, one wedding), I've gone to IKEA in Sacramento. So, yea, I guess I've done that.


• Date more.
  Again, how?!? I've signed up for eharmony and have gotten no where with it. I've been googling speed dating. I'm still waiting a set up by a friend or a co-worker. Anything!


• Focus more on God and spending more time with Him.
  A daily struggle to work on.

For my past update, please visit here.

Movies I've Seen in 2008: April and May

It just dawned on me that I never posted my viewed list of movies for April. So you're getting a combo month for May. Hope you don't mind. 'Cause really, I don't remember what I watched in April vs. May. But this is what I do remember:

April/May
27 Dresses (DVD): This was the first movie that I watched on my TV, on the same day that I put my couches in the house. I love this movie. It makes me feel good. Please see February's list for more of my review of this movie. But you know, I enjoy Katherine Heigl as an actress and James Marsden is adorable. I could look at him all day long.

John Tucker Must Die (DVD): Cute, fun movie. I'm sure every girl has can understand the main female roles in this movie. They all want revenge because of either being burned by a guy, or because they were totally ignored by a guy. And of course the popular guy, no matter how hard you try, will never be brought down.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (theater): Go see this movie! I'm not going to tell you anything that happens, but I will tell you it's totally worth it. At least it is if you grew up watching Dr. Jones. And just like every other Indiana Jones, there are parts that are a little far fetched, but still great entertainment. So, go see this movie!

Made of Honor (theater): This movie looked super cute from the previews, and it was. But I must admit, I was a bit skeptical because it looked like it was going to be a lot like My Best Friend's Wedding, but roles reversed. And it kinda was, but at least it ended better. And Patrick Dempsey is so easy to stare at for 1 3/4 hours.

Eek Gads!

I just got back from an outing with Kait. We went to the movies and then grocery shopping. I've been avoiding the grocery shopping knowing that it would be a costly trip. And it was just that. Although I did save $87 with my club card and coupons, and then $0.10 per gallon on fuel.

And you know what sucks? I'm already thinking of things that I forgot.

Personality Profile - Part 5: Extraversion

Introduction to Extraversion
Some days you want to hang out by yourself, not answer the phone, and make the world go away. The next day you e-mail everyone, schedule lunch with a friend, and try to find an evening gathering to take part in. It may be the phases of the moon, or something you ate; some days are just like that. In actuality, your desire to be with others or to be alone reflects something deep in your personality. Some of us are more comfortable by ourselves or with one or two friends, while others of us crave the crowd and can't stand it when the house is empty or the phone doesn't ring. The following paragraphs describe your fundamental desires about being with other people; whether you are generally an outgoing person or more reserved, if you seek adventures with others, if you tend toward assertiveness or kindness.

When it comes to Extraversion you are:
SOMETIMES OUTGOING, SOMETIMES RESERVED

Words that describe you:

Moderate Amiable Laid-back

Temperate Relaxed Poised

Civil Uncommitted Pleasant

A General Description of How You Interact with Others
Lucky you! You enjoy your own company as much as you enjoy the company of others. You are a great conversationalist and thrive in the wonderful kinds of connections you know how to have with your family and friends. You also equally enjoy your own company, whether sitting in a favorite chair with your book and soft music playing or meandering in the woods by yourself. You like coming home to your family or your roommate; but if no one is home, you find quiet, solitary time to be just as pleasurable. What a great combination to enjoy being outgoing and to be just as comfortable being reserved. Lucky you!!

Because you are so amiable and relaxed, you are comfortable with almost any group of family or friends. Whether they are pumped up and lively or calm and subdued, you remain at ease. If someone needs to take over the conversation, you are comfortable taking the lead; you can also lay back and let someone else be in charge. If the conversation gets rowdy, your moderate demeanor will often draw it down to a more temperate level. If someone in the group loses their cool, you will most likely maintain your poise, and if they get nasty you know how to keep a civil tongue.

You may find yourself out of balance on occasion. If you're alone too much, you may need to get in touch with someone. If you spend too much time with your family and friends, you may need to sneak off for a day by yourself, to putter and read and clear your head of the noise of too much conversation. When you're at your best, you live with a rhythm of time with others, time alone, time with others, time alone It's a satisfying, comfortable balance. Lucky you!

Negative Reactions Others May Have Toward You
You may occasionally run into problems with other people. Since not everyone is as balanced as you are, close friends and family may get frustrated with you, or you with them. They may be more sociable and outgoing, and find you too laid-back and relaxed. They want conversations to be lively and passionate while you keep things amiable and civil. Or others may be more quiet and reserved than you, and when you're in one of your more animated moments they may wish you would back off. You may be ready to put more energy into a conversation than they are comfortable with.

And your balance may be a problem. Other people may be consistently more sociable or more reserved than you, and find you to hard to read, some may even say you ride the fence. Others may find themselves envious of your ability to be outgoing at times, and at other times comfortably reserved. If you pay attention to pick up these cues you will be in a better position to know how you want to interact with such folks.

Positive Responses Others May Have Toward You
Most people will truly appreciate your flexibility in social situations. They will like you for your amiable warmth and your willingness to engage, and for your ability to sit back and let others take the lead or the spotlight. They will appreciate ways in which you temper what could become intemperate moments; by remaining poised and relaxed when others; temperatures are rising, you keep things civil and sane.

You are as good at listening and following as you are at talking and leading, and people will often appreciate your ability to adapt to the situation. Because you are sometimes outgoing and sometimes reserved, you will make most people comfortable in your presence, and they will truly enjoy your company.

A little birdie told me...

Actually two little birdies.

Remember a week or so ago I posted about Mrs. Coo-Coo and her two eggs? Well I've got news for you. 1) I've changed her name to Mrs. Dovey-Dovey. 'Cause that's what I call her when I go "visit", Dovey-Dovey; and 2) Both eggs have hatched. So now instead of two eggs we have two doves. One is kinda fiesty. I think that one is the boy.

The birds have yet to be named. Any suggestions?

Where am I, the Panhandle?

I feel like I'm in Texas. Have I been transferred to the the Dalhart plant without even knowing it? My word has it been windy! We're talking 30 mph all day long.

And of course, you know me, I took pictures. Just a handful though. And I took them while I was leave work yesterday.

Is that fog? No. It's sand. Dust. Dirty grit that is everywhere!

Sand puddle. They are everywhere!

Fields like these are part of the sand storm problem.

Do you see the trees leaning? And that wasn't the worst of it!

I'm tired of the wind, and dust, and sand. I want to be able to see with out getting granules in my eyes and grit in my mouth. When I scratch my head, I don't want want to get sand under my fingernails.

But I've heard that the flip side is it's either predicted to be hot or it's supposed to be nice, but windy.

Which would you choose?

I broke down and did it!

But not without a lot of long decision making.

You see, I fell in love with this machine. It's a Krups Espresso/Coffee maker. I love me a fancy froo froo coffee drink, and I like especially when I make it for myself.

I found this beautiful machine while out shopping for a wedding gift one day quite a few months ago. I himmed and hawwed about it. I really liked it and wanted it, but without knowing how much counter space I would have I knew I shouldn't get it. Oh, and it was $299.99 at BB&B as well as other stores that I saw it.

Then one day while strolling through Lowe's, cause that's where you go when you're remodeling a house, I saw it. It was a little less the the other store, but I still wasn't totally sure.

Some time went by, and I went back to Lowe's with my parents to get house stuff. And there it was again, but this time it was on clearance for $189.99. WOW! Big difference. But still, counter tops weren't in and I wasn't completely sure.

But guess what. Counters are in and I have space. So while out running some errands last night, including stopping at Coldstone's for my free birthday ice cream, I stopped and got my fancy coffee/espresso machine.

So, now I just need to get some beans (coffee and espresso) and some syrups and I'll be all set to make fancy froo froo drinks.

It's a darn good think I know how to make them too.

And 2 became 1

On May 10th, 2 of my dear friends, Jenn and Anthony, married one another. And I was honored to stand with them in support of their wedding day and their marriage. So, please forgive me. Being a bridesmaid kinda takes away from the chances to actually take pictures of the day. So here is a selection of what I have. I may jump and borrow some pictures from a friend.

Getting ready to ride in style to take pictures out at "the college". Anthony was nice enough to not clean out his truck for us. That's ok though, my car acted as a temporary holding tank for all of the guy stuff.

In transit (notice the radio buttons in the background?), I decided to take some pictures of the bridemaid bouquets. They were very pretty with lilys, and roses, and other flowers.

Looking down the head table. If you squint, you'll see the wedding cake back there. And delicious it was!

Shout out to my homies, the little people out in the crowd! You can tell they were thrilled to be sitting out in the hot sun. Thanks for the seefood, and the one-fingered salute. Boy was I feeling the love! No really, it's ok. They were my entertainment for the afternoon.

The top of me.

The bottom of me. I must say, those shoes were comfortable when we picked them out. Then hot and sweat happened. They weren't so comfy anymore.

The departure. And bubbles, good for the environment. Better than rice that birds choke on.

To Jenn and Anthony! Congratulations on your beautiful day and all the best in the future.

(picture compliments of KMac)

I'll see what I can do for you as far as "borrowing" pictures from their photographer.

Day of Excitement

I'm all about getting myself presents. And I don't mean, "hey, I'm at Target and need some toothpaste" present; I mean the "it's my birthday/Christmas and I deserve to get myself something nice" present. So a couple weeks ago I did just that.

And you know what I order? Of course you don't. Silly me, you weren't here.

I order myself a Wii Fit. Ok, I know, you're probably asking "why did you order it online instead of picking it up at a store?" Well, this is a hot item folks. Plus I work during normal hours and by the time stores opened and released it, I'd still be at work. And by the time I was out of work, they'd be sold out. So I'll wait a few extra days for it to ship to me.

So coming up, as soon as it gets here, I'll post about my Wii Fit adventures.

My Life Line

I have an extra appendage. Or a carry on bag. Or a diaper bag, sans the child's gear. Whatever you want to call it. I just carry a big purse. And sometimes this purse collects more than it's intended to. Then I have to dump it out and go through things. So that's what I'm going to share with you. Please note, I did this purse cleaning exercise during work yesterday. Shhh.... don't tell anyone.

My Purse: It's large, yes. But it carries just about everything I need.

Here you will see my camera carrier, which always has my small camera, iPod, and a few accessories for them; and my cosmetic bag, which holds the random lip glosses that I don't use all the time but might need for a later date (re: hardly ever/never).

My wallet. It’s full too. We’ll clean that one out at a later date.

And the reason that I could never find a hair tie, because they were all at the bottom of the purse.

Hand lotion, for my dry hands. This is good stuff!

Trash pile. The empty pill bottle is not mine. They are Izzie’s pills that needed to be refilled. I carried the bottle around as a reminder.

The necessities for fresh breath! The best gum ever, 5 Flare.

Gavin Degraw’s new CD. I need to get that onto my computer and iPod. Must upload tonight!

Pens (and lipstick, oops) from pen pocket. Notice the Tide “pen”, it counts!

Business card holder. You never know when you’ll be at a restaurant that you can drop one in to win lunch!

Keys. Can’t go anywhere without them. Literally!

Lipsticks, glosses, and chapsticks more frequently used. Oh, and American Eagle perfume, a few more hair ties, cell phone, medication.

Entire pile of loot. Notice the stripy thing on the left. Those are the colors I’m doing my living room in. I carry the fabric around with me to match colors. Behind that is a stack of papers. I accidentally deleted the picture, but we’re going to go through the pile together.

The pile all sorted out. Yes, there was stray money in my purse, therefore loose paper. Don't worry, I put it away in my wallet.

Pile of brochures. On the top are business cards for Bonnie’s Kitchen (bride from past weekend’s wedding) and Pozo Valley (cousin’s winery). I highly recommend the Pozo Valley Cab, it's delicious!

Coupon book – a necessity these days; my to-do book – where I keep track of all of my thousands of to-do lists; and my Weight Watchers Dining Out Companion guide – another necessity to know what is ok to eat vs don't even put it in your mouth.

All better. So neat and tidy (somewhat). Don’t worry, in 3 days it’

Thank you for joining me while I clean out my purse. Maybe it's time to down size...

So what's the oddest thing you carry in your purse?

Personality Profile - Part 4: Conscientiousness

Introduction to Conscientiousness
It's a work day, breakfast is over, and you're dressed and ready. So how will you approach the tasks at hand? Some people work best with a clear schedule, a set of priorities and a due date for every step in the process. Others are, shall we say, less regimented. They approach a task with as much imagination as organization, and with a willingness to bend and modify in order to exercise some urge of creativity.

How about you? Do you walk in a straight line toward a clear goal, or are you more likely to dance your way down whatever path will get you wherever it is you're headed? The following paragraphs describe ways in which you approach the tasks life brings to you, and to what extent you are focused or flexible in how you choose to proceed.

Your approach toward your obligations is:
FOCUSED AND FLEXIBLE

Words that describe you:

Casual Informal Compliant

Reliable Organized Solid

Dependable Uncommitted Genuine

A General Description of How You Interact with Others

When you take on a task at work or at home, you are reliable; you get the job done. In an organized way, you define the goal, lay out a plan, figure how long the task will take, and get to work "solid and dependable you".

But and this is important you're not a slave to the plan. You're committed to it, but not chained to it; the connection is more casual and informal. You know that sometimes "the best laid plans" fall off the tracks; when this happens, you clean up the train wreck and start over, undeterred.

Though not happening often, when plans change, you're okay with it. In fact, sometimes you change the plan. It's too nice of a Saturday to finish organizing the garage. Let's go for a bike ride instead. True, the next rainy Saturday will likely find you back in the garage, but for now the work can wait.

What an interesting combination of qualities in you're organized, but casual; solid, but compliant; and dependable, but informal. At home and at work, people know they can rely on you. You take great satisfaction in knowing that people think of you as disciplined and responsible, but you also know that you have something of a free spirit in you, and when this spirit moves you, off you go, following the impulse of the moment. You are rightly proud of your work ethic, but you also enjoy your willingness to lay the tools down, crank up the music and play like a child.

Negative Reactions Others May Have Toward You
Some people live like Marines: duty-bound, disciplined and driven. To these people you might seem uncommitted; where they would never leave work for play or change plans in the middle of their life's forced march, you let the circumstance sway you and move in a different direction, and they don't understand.

Others live like kites on a string, attached by thin threads to the solid ground of responsibility and are blown about by every gust of impulse or imagination. To these people you might seem too cowardly, like you'll flirt with your impulses but never give in fully, play on a Saturday but never blow of the entire work-week to "follow your bliss".

While these Marines and kite-flyers might look down on you for your combination of focus and flexibility, others might be envious. They can't free themselves from a sense that they're not doing enough, or from the equally frustrating feeling that they're not free enough.

And here you are with your accomplishments and your pleasures, getting the job done but also getting your hair blown back as you run with the wind. As far as these people are concerned, you're lucky you've got the best of both of the worlds in which they feel they fail.

Positive Responses Others May Have Toward You
What a great life you have, and a great attitude to boot. You know when to buckle down and push ahead to get the job done, and you do it well. You know when to lay the tools of your trade aside, grab your kite and head for the meadow where you can run with the wind. Many people will see and admire in you this lovely combination of a person who can focus, but who is flexible enough to know when to let the spirit move you in some new and livelier direction.

It's a life they aspire to, and they delight in seeing it played out in your life. They may ask your advice and turn you into a mentor of the full and balanced experience. They will want to know how you do it, what the costs are, and if you get frightened that you're not working hard enough or playing often enough. They may make you think about your own life more than you have, so you can share it with those who want to emulate this balance between flexibility and focus. They may be correct lucky you!

I'm back!

I survived my weekend long wedding celebration, honoring my cousin Claude and his beautiful bride Bonnie. It was a ton of fun. I'll report back more later with pictures. Cause you know I took pictures.

Also to come... The contents of my purse. It needs a good cleaning. So why not show you what I carry around on a day to day basis.

So check back later today. Or tomorrow. No promises.

Oh! And I still need to tell you about the wedding I was in on the 10th.

Dang! I'm behind.

Out of Office

This weekend one of my cousins is getting married. Actually, the wedding is today and the reception is tomorrow. I'm so looking forward to going to San Luis Obispo, seeing family, and getting away. I'll report back sometime next week with pictures.

I'm out!

Peace!

It's just another day...

Except that today there was a platter of (fat free) muffins waiting for me at my desk, and there were "Happy Birthday Courtney" signs all around my desk (in those colors too!). That's right folks, today I turned another day older.

Wow, wouldn't it be great if every day you were treated like that. "Phew! I made it another day! I pray I can make it through this next day like I did the last one. Muffin, anyone?

So today, I am officially 336 months old; or 1,461 weeks old; 0r 10,227 days old; or...are you ready for this...? 245,463 hours old. That's one way of putting a perspective on it. In otherwords, I'm 28. And you know, 28 doesn't sound quite so old when you compare it to 14,727,783 minutes old!

So today I'm 28 young. Tonight I'll go to dinner with my family and work on the house. Maybe I'll even go to Lowe's to get curtains, and maybe I'll splurge and get myself the Krups Coffee/Espresso machine that I really want, that ironically happens to be on clearance right now. Sometime next week I'll try to gather my friends together to go to dinner and maybe paint some pottery. And at some point when I have myself a housewarming party I'll call it a Housewarming/Birthday Party.

I'll drag my day on if I want! That means more presents, right?

Personality Profile - Part 3: Emotional Stability

Introduction to Emotional Stability
We're born with the capacity to feel deeply, so it's as natural as breathing to experience a range of emotions. Fear and joy and sadness, anger and shame and disgust lie somewhere within each of us. Ah, but to what extent do we control these emotions, and to what extent do they control us? How you answer this question of how your emotions play out in your life has a great deal to do with your levels of personal satisfaction and with the character of your relationships with others. Do you manage your emotions well, keeping them in check with your thinking and your willpower, or are you someone who lets emotions have their way, giving in to the wild dance of feelings? The following paragraphs describe your emotional range in terms of being a person who is emotionally steady or someone who is responsive to whatever feelings swell up in you.

On Emotional Stability you are:
SOMETIMES STEADY, SOMETIMES RESPONSIVE

Words that describe you:

Adaptable Engaged Able to Cope

Passionate Perceptive Flexible

Receptive Aware Avid

A General Description of Your Reactivity
In some ways, you've got the best of emotional worlds. When emotions rise up from inside you or are brought forth from a conversation by a friend, you know how to engage them. You deal with sadness, fear, joy, anger - whatever comes up - in ways that are perceptive and flexible. You can adapt to whatever level of emotion is appropriate to the moment. At other times, you are able to cope with your emotions in a more reserved manner. Because you are aware of what does and does not make emotional sense in a particular situation, you will decide when it is an appropriate time to express your emotions and when it would be best to keep them to yourself.

All of this gives you a rich emotional life. You are free to express your passions about certain subjects with appropriate people. But you are also emotionally adaptable; if the conversation needs to be more cerebral, you'll keep it "in your head" and talk calmly through whatever issue is on the table. This emotional awareness serves you well. You seldom get in over your head, either by opening up to the wrong person or by triggering in someone else's emotions they may not be able to deal with.

Negative Reactions Others May Have Toward You
When it comes to dealing with emotions we all meet some people with whom we don't match well. You bring a balanced approach to your emotional life. As such, those who are at the extremes are most likely to have a negative reaction to you. Those who live in their emotions may feel you tend to "live in your head" while those who go through life as an emotional rock may feel that you are a bit too "touchy feely" for their approach.

And of course it is always possible that because you do balance your emotional approach to life you may misread others - we all do at times. So there have undoubtedly been those times when you have misread cues and stayed in your head with someone who hoped for a more open emotional approach or you may have opened up emotionally with someone who keeps their emotions bottled up. But these things happen and since you do have a good balance of being in touch with your emotions and not being overly impacted by emotional swings, you undoubtedly are able to adapt.

Another potential problem is that as people get to know you well, they will discover that you have a great balance between emotional expression and emotional control. If they don't have this balance they may wind up envying you. They can't express feelings as well as you, or they are too often out of emotional control and resent you for your ability to cope so well with the very emotions that may trip them up.

Positive Responses Others May Have Toward You
Many people will be grateful to find a friend like you who can stay in control when emotions verge on chaos, but who can also go into the tangle of emotions when it is safe and appropriate to do so. Because of your ability to engage them at whatever level they are comfortable, to adapt to whatever changes in emotion emerge in the conversation, and to cope so well with all of it - well, they'll be very glad they found a person like you. You may, in fact, wind up as something of an emotional mentor. Your awareness of the emotional temperature of a situation, your ability to adapt to either heat or cold, and your ability to cope with whatever winds up happening in the conversation could be models for them to follow as they come to terms with their own emotional worlds.

What's Coming Up

What is to come? You know. I've got so much going on in my life right now. But that's not what I want to share with you. I want to let you know what you can look forward to seeing here in the near future.

1. More pictures of the house! I know. You're super stoked about that. But what I'm gonna do is show you the house in it's full completed (= me moved in and unpacked) glory compared to what it was before we broke in fixed it up.

2. Now that I'm just about moved in and living on my own. Finally. Do you know what that means? That's right, I'm gonna have a kitchen all to myself. I knew that's what you were thinking too! And you know what that means? Yep. I'll get to cook and bake and entertain without being a burden or imposing on my parents. So, I've been contemplating starting a second blog with recipes, and food pictures, and maybe reviews on places that I eat, wines I drink alone with friends. Well, you get the picture.

3. Well, ok, so far I've only thought of two things. But look at that. I just turned that into a 3rd thing. So tell me your thoughts and opinions. Is there something you'd like to hear more about, less about. Hum? Please share.

4. Ok, so I just thought of a 4th. Yeah me! How about as I find pictures of my youth that triggers memories I share them. Any kind of memory, embarrassing for me, funny, serious, embarrassing for others.

Yea, ok, so that I think that's gonna be enough to keep me busy. Please share ideas if you have any.

These people got married!

Wedding #3 of 2008

Yea, yea. So they got married almost a month ago on April 19th. So I'm a little behind. But I'm catching up now.

Funny story about this couple, they were both in my brother's class. So they're 4 years younger than me. Melissa taught me how to make espresso drinks when I started working at Hilmar Cheese. We worked together for the next 2 years. After I moved out of the Visitor Center, we regularly had lunch to keep each other caught up with the going ons. Aaron, the little punk he was, would poke fun at me when I'd see him around town. He knew my brother, and looking back, I'm sure it was all in good fun. Aaron also works for Hilmar Cheese, but he transferred to the new plant in Dalhart, Texas almost 2 years ago.

They both looked wonderfully happy on their special day. So in love with one another and ready to start the next chapter in their book.

The cake was beautiful and delicious. It even featured a little bit of "Shimmer shimmer shine shine".


The reception site was very well decorated. Although, I wouldn't expect anything less from Melissa. She's has an eye for detail.


Danny even got the night off from work and got to dress up. (he was a groomsman.) Lookin' sharp Danny!


Hilmar Cheese out did themselves with the food. The presentation was great, as well as the flavors.


Chelsea and Melissa. Two of my favorite VC people.


And then the dancing began. Did you know it's not that easy to take a clear picture when you're dancing?

Congratulations Aaron and Melissa! I wish you all the best in Texas. If I ever make it out there for work, you're the first I'll make aware. And Melissa, call me when you come to California to visit. We'll do lunch!