auto-flush = shamu

ps i HATE the toilets that flush automatically. Seriously, I must pee funny or something bc they always flush before I'm ready... maybe i'm too much of a multi-tasker bc I'm on the phone (with only a select few who can talk while I pee) or reading or checking my toes out while I'm peeing and then the stupid sensor goes off and whoooosh, water spurts up and freaks me out... then i have stage fright because shamu just splashed me... then I've gotta get back in the game, do my thing, and I stand up to wipe (yes, i know this is weird and I've tried the sitting method but it just doesn't work) and boom, it goes off again. Jeez, it takes more time to wipe than that (unless I speedily throw the TP in as quick as i can... but then i don't thoroughly wipe and that's just awkward) so now I've got toilet paper in a clean toilet so i have to finagle the stupid button and I've just wasted all this water. piss! Never again!

Too much information for some, but really let's just be honest, the auto-flush is awkward.

In the spirit of the auto-flusher I found this great cartoon:
I normally wouldn't share bathroom stories, but its been a long week and my mind is tired of the serious talk.

feedback

Today I realized:
When I want someone to buy into my idea I don't let them respond. I wanted very badly to be doing my work correctly so I went to a quasi-supervisor and asked for his feedback. Rather than letting him review my work and independently respond I chose to give him my overview of what I had done, telling him in a "selling" tone so he would be more inclined to agree with my conclusion of "so I'm doing it right, huh?" Of course, bc I smiled and didn't leave him much opportunity to correct me I got my desired response "Yeah, wow thats going to be helpful." In reality, which is where I have to live when I talk to my actual boss, I was not doing the project correctly... kinda close, but still had to go back over my work and adjust things. Honest feedback is important, but I have to set the table for it or I will never get it.

Places I spent the night, 2008

Stolen from Katie who stole it from Lindsey, who stole it from Bethany, who stole it from…anyway, you get the idea. Thanks KT:)

Watford, England (Williams family unit)

Clapham, South London (thank you Kristina...wink)

Rickmansworth, England

Brecon, Wales

Bentonville, AR

Siloam Springs, AR

Kansas City, MO

Las Vegas, NM

Pagosa Springs, CO

Ruidoso, NM

Denver, CO

Chugwater, WY

NYC, NY

Las Vegas, NV

Santa Fe, NM

Albuquerque, NM

Colorado Springs, CO

Chicago, IL

hmmm... and I wondered where my small paychecks went? I think Denver is going to be housing me most of 2009.

if you do what you've always done ...

Included in a note to a friend of mine about my new job:

"I'm on the cusp Cody... that point where you see your potential and you wrestle with pushing to reach it or sitting back comfortably knowing you're the only one who realizes what you're capable of. At least that's what goes through my mind in my 4th day of work at this new place.
I need to get my name out there. I know we replay this conversation a lot, but until I start consistently living it out I will wrestle in my mind."

When I asked my boss for my next project he replied with, "You need to get your name out there, Leah! Write an article or something to get people familiar with your work and your thoughts." I do have good thoughts but if I do what I've always done I will get the results I've always gotten. This translates to me not pushing myself as much as I can and then complaining that I'm not being more utilized. Most, if not all, of the argument depends on me. And like I said, I may replay this conversation a lot, but until I start consistently living it out I will wrestle in my mind. I want greatness, not money or fame kind of greatness, but the feeling when you're in the zone, really tapping into your strengths. My job in several organizations has been to help managers tap into their people like this, but now I need to mirror it with my own life. There... now here's to blogging about it so you can keep me accountable.

3pm dance parties

I worked three days at my new job this week. I have an office with a computer, thumb tacks, sticky notes and a break room with seemingly good options for tea and/or juice. The first day I mainly soaked up information - reviewed projects, read documents and tried to familiarize myself with the way they do business. Since leaving the Soderquist Center I have intentionally avoided office jobs. Monday I remembered a few things I miss from my SCLE office days.

One highlight for me was my SodaFellow crew + interns or staff under the age of 30 (aka Heather, Dromi, Flora, etc.). We would have brainstorming sessions in the kitchen, take breaks to discuss the pressing issues of our lives and my favorite - the 3pm dance parties. Around 3pm you get that itch, the "Can I really last two more hours? Why did I eat Mexican food for lunch because I'm about to fall asleep while all my body attempts to process the lard?" These thoughts necessitate movement. Depending on the season or mood of the 3pm partygoers, we were bustin out Gnarls Barkley's Crazy, Kanye or some Justin Timberlake jam. Either way, around 3:15 we were awake, energized and ready to tackle the next couple hours.

I'm not sure if this company will really be down with the 3pm dance party but I sure do miss my SCLE office crew. I'm not an office-job girl but they made it worth it.

From friends

My first year SodaFellow crew

From scle team meeting

Second year

squash... or was it cricket? or maybe lacrosse

I woke up this morning, fresh from a dream about my new squash team... or cricket, or lacrosse. Since I have no idea how to play squash and cricket bores me to tears, I think it was lacrosse. I actually really want to learn to play lacrosse. Am I too old for that? Maybe I'll start out with a kit from wal-mart and see how it goes from there. Also, a vital part of this dream were my teammates - really humorous actually - megan lamb, childhood bff; Elena Schrader, childhood friend's big brother's wife; Abby Schrader, childhood friend's wife. I think we'd make a great lacrosse team!

new job!

Today I start a new job! I have been on the job hunt since I returned from London in March. Applying for jobs in Denver while living in NM didn't work so I made the move in September with hopes of proximity solving the problem. After two months of searching, applying, praying, crying and changing my theme song, I have gotten a job! Mind you, these past months I have been working - substitute teaching at a couple really great charter schools and nannying for a couple families. Though the charter school gig is an area of interest for me, these two weren't cutting it financially. I interviewed with a company a couple weeks before Thanksgiving for a position in curriculum development and as of Wednesday of last week I now have a job! In one hour I will start this new job... I'm really blessed to have found something in my area of interest and experience at this point in our economic status. I'm sure there will be tough moments and you might here about them sooner than later, but I'm hopeful... hopeful for purpose and an avenue to pour my energy toward.

Prayers for peace and thanksgiving today.