On the way to the gym this morning, Chad was bemoaning the fact that he couldn't remember the combination of his new padlock.
(Side note: We left our old gym for a brand-spanking new one that's both amazing and about 40% cheaper...it was a no-brainer, even though I miss the guy who reminds me of Grandpa Howard.)
At any rate, this new gym has lockers and you need to bring your own lock to store your stuff. We bought a pack of two padlocks a few weeks ago, both with the same combination (super-smart if you ask me, as long as you're not trying to keep something from your husband or your kids). But for the life of him, Chad can't remember the combination.
"It's really easy to remember," I told him. "It's the age you look, the age you act, and the age you are."
The combination? 27-12-32.
I'll bet he doesn't forget again!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Weekend Update
So you don't have to endure another one of Chad's Cubs videos (though I wouldn't blame him for posting a clip of last night's game-winning Grand Slam...even I thought that was impressive), I wanted to send off a quick update of what we've been up to.Over the weekend, we hosted our annual summer party, called Hootiepalooza (the name is random and I'll tell the story another time). The party always has a theme and this year we all went redneck to make up for last year's "preppy" party. People from West Virginia, Missouri, Florida and Georgia traveled to DC for Hootiepalooza, which started at 4 and ended around 1 a.m. Since 2004, when this party began, our group has expanded...sometimes literally: This year's party included
four pregnant women and five kids (one of our friends at the party had her baby two days later!).I'm still thinking about which pictures I should share with the world and which ones should stay protected by the 50 or so people who witnessed the hilarity.
So for now, I'll post three photos: our two men who took home award for the "best guy" ensemble (who both cut long hair just for this party -- and promptly shaved it on Sunday) and our "best couple": a photo of my good friend April and her husband Tom. She really is pregnant and they really don't normally look like this...
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Bonus round
One of our most vibrant members passed away over the weekend at the way-too-young age of 41. I met him once or twice, but wish I would have known him better: from everything I've read, he seems like an incredible guy. My colleague, Larry, wrote an incredibly poignant blog post about this well-respected man, who seemed to have a refreshing viewpoint on life.
My favorite part of his blog post was about the eulogy his wife gave during yesterday's funeral. She said, basically, that her husband always had a lot of ideas, one of which was this concept of a "bonus day." In this concept, you take a routine, "normal" day and make something special out of it that can live in your memory.
As my friend Larry said, "Whether Alan was scrapping dinner plans to make something adventurous in the kitchen, taking his kids sledding when they should be sleeping, or some other zany activity — Alan’s life was filled with bonus days. If you take nothing else from his life, we should all try to create as many bonus days in our own life as possible." Man, isn't that the truth?!?
So I've been thinking about the idea of a "bonus day" ever since I read Larry's post. I have a slightly different take on it, in that I decided a "bonus day" means to me that every day I get is a day that I am 1) not owed and 2) can't "do over."
To be honest, I've lived 30 wonderful, healthy, fun, successful years (and I hope to live, hmmm...60 more!). But I realize that a zillion different things could have hypothetically happened to me that would have cut my life short, and everything I get on top of what I have should be considered a bonus. Let me tell you: that shift in perspective really makes a difference to me.
With this buried in the back of my mind, I went to girls' night after work with four great friends. We talked about everything: babies, weddings, showers, Europe, the Harvard professor, health care reform...you name it. As I was walking back to my car after we dispersed into five different directions, I realized this was my "bonus" for today: an evening surrounded by good friends, way too much laughter, and a dinner bill that didn't even come close to the value that can be put on memories like this.
My favorite part of his blog post was about the eulogy his wife gave during yesterday's funeral. She said, basically, that her husband always had a lot of ideas, one of which was this concept of a "bonus day." In this concept, you take a routine, "normal" day and make something special out of it that can live in your memory.
As my friend Larry said, "Whether Alan was scrapping dinner plans to make something adventurous in the kitchen, taking his kids sledding when they should be sleeping, or some other zany activity — Alan’s life was filled with bonus days. If you take nothing else from his life, we should all try to create as many bonus days in our own life as possible." Man, isn't that the truth?!?
So I've been thinking about the idea of a "bonus day" ever since I read Larry's post. I have a slightly different take on it, in that I decided a "bonus day" means to me that every day I get is a day that I am 1) not owed and 2) can't "do over."
To be honest, I've lived 30 wonderful, healthy, fun, successful years (and I hope to live, hmmm...60 more!). But I realize that a zillion different things could have hypothetically happened to me that would have cut my life short, and everything I get on top of what I have should be considered a bonus. Let me tell you: that shift in perspective really makes a difference to me.
With this buried in the back of my mind, I went to girls' night after work with four great friends. We talked about everything: babies, weddings, showers, Europe, the Harvard professor, health care reform...you name it. As I was walking back to my car after we dispersed into five different directions, I realized this was my "bonus" for today: an evening surrounded by good friends, way too much laughter, and a dinner bill that didn't even come close to the value that can be put on memories like this.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Vacation? Oui!
Chad and I were planning to go on vacation at the end of August. We had it narrowed down to Barbados and Aruba. I was ready to sit at the pool and read books. Maybe snorkel.
Then Rachel randomly brought up that a hotel they stayed at in Hawaii was discounted at the end of August. We did some research, put together a budget, and planned our trip. I was ready to go check out the volcanoes and hike through the mountains and see Pearl Harbor.
After mom sent an email with some deals for Europe, we got on the Italy bandwagon. Rome...Tuscany...Venice...Sorrento...oh, so many options it was almost overwhelming. But, the wine! The pasta! The music! I was ready to do it all.
And that brings me back to our final decision, as today we booked tickets to France. (How did that happen, again?) We'll spend four or five days in Paris followed by four or five days in Nice. The way I see it, this vacation has it all: the history, the food, the art, the beach...I even know a little bit of the language. I'm ready for a lot of things about this trip but, most of all, I'm ready to go!
Then Rachel randomly brought up that a hotel they stayed at in Hawaii was discounted at the end of August. We did some research, put together a budget, and planned our trip. I was ready to go check out the volcanoes and hike through the mountains and see Pearl Harbor.
After mom sent an email with some deals for Europe, we got on the Italy bandwagon. Rome...Tuscany...Venice...Sorrento...oh, so many options it was almost overwhelming. But, the wine! The pasta! The music! I was ready to do it all.
And that brings me back to our final decision, as today we booked tickets to France. (How did that happen, again?) We'll spend four or five days in Paris followed by four or five days in Nice. The way I see it, this vacation has it all: the history, the food, the art, the beach...I even know a little bit of the language. I'm ready for a lot of things about this trip but, most of all, I'm ready to go!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
I told you so
Well, I said that the holiday season would be here before you know it. I didn't really mean literally...
And yes, I know, it was apparently a bad hair day today. Better luck next time.
And yes, I know, it was apparently a bad hair day today. Better luck next time.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
My new love
Nine times out of ten, when I get a recommendation from someone (a new product, a magazine, an article, a website), I'll check it out. When I get that same, completely unsolicited recommendation from someone else, I can't move fast enough.
And that's how I met the Pioneer Woman. "Met" is a loose term, I suppose. After all, I just know her from her website. Thanks to my friend Megan and someone-completely-different-than-Megan-though-for-the-life-of-me-I-can't-remember-who-exactly, who mentioned to me weeks ago that I should check out this site, I have become obsessed. In a good way. I think.
Long story short: This woman left a high-powered, big-city lifestyle in her mid-20's after accidentally meeting the man of her dreams, who just happens to be a cowboy, in a local bar near her hometown in Oklahoma. After falling in love, she abandoned her
thoughts of going to law school in Chicago and now lives on a ranch in Oklahoma (though she's hardly "roughing" it -- I've seen pictures of her house). She home-schools her four kids, helps her husband on the farm, and documents their life on her blog.
She also takes amazing photos, regularly updates a section about cooking, and gives things away. And she never takes herself too seriously. I appreciate a little dollop of humor to go along with everyday life.
Oh, and in all of her spare time, she just finished writing an online book about how she met and fell in love with her husband, whom she calls Marlboro Man. (It's kind of sick how much someone can accomplish a 24-hour period, isn't it? It's all I can do to go to the gym and go to work and walk the dog and keep my house clean.) Check her out for yourself, but don't get mad at me when you look up and three hours have passed.
So anyway, I love her. It's not that I love her like I want to marry her. It's that I love her like I want to be her. After spending the last week soaking in everything I can on her blog, and I'm nowhere close to finished, I feel like I've known her forever. For some reason, how she writes and what she accomplishes makes me feel so incredibly inspired. More than Oprah does, and that's saying something.
I want to take more pictures. I want to write. I want to move to the country, which I've said before). My three biggest challenges: I don't know anybody who wants to give me any land, I'm not sure what I'd really do there, unless the Pioneer Woman is looking for an understudy, and I don't think Chad wants to be a cowboy. (That said, I may have talked him into letting me spend a lot of money on a new camera and taking a few classes, which is something. All I had to promise is that I wouldn't make him carry it around.)
So, in lieu of cashing it all in and moving to the country, for now, I will live vicariously through the Pioneer Woman and soak in all the inspiration she gives me.
And that's how I met the Pioneer Woman. "Met" is a loose term, I suppose. After all, I just know her from her website. Thanks to my friend Megan and someone-completely-different-than-Megan-though-for-the-life-of-me-I-can't-remember-who-exactly, who mentioned to me weeks ago that I should check out this site, I have become obsessed. In a good way. I think.
Long story short: This woman left a high-powered, big-city lifestyle in her mid-20's after accidentally meeting the man of her dreams, who just happens to be a cowboy, in a local bar near her hometown in Oklahoma. After falling in love, she abandoned her
thoughts of going to law school in Chicago and now lives on a ranch in Oklahoma (though she's hardly "roughing" it -- I've seen pictures of her house). She home-schools her four kids, helps her husband on the farm, and documents their life on her blog.
She also takes amazing photos, regularly updates a section about cooking, and gives things away. And she never takes herself too seriously. I appreciate a little dollop of humor to go along with everyday life.Oh, and in all of her spare time, she just finished writing an online book about how she met and fell in love with her husband, whom she calls Marlboro Man. (It's kind of sick how much someone can accomplish a 24-hour period, isn't it? It's all I can do to go to the gym and go to work and walk the dog and keep my house clean.) Check her out for yourself, but don't get mad at me when you look up and three hours have passed.
So anyway, I love her. It's not that I love her like I want to marry her. It's that I love her like I want to be her. After spending the last week soaking in everything I can on her blog, and I'm nowhere close to finished, I feel like I've known her forever. For some reason, how she writes and what she accomplishes makes me feel so incredibly inspired. More than Oprah does, and that's saying something.
I want to take more pictures. I want to write. I want to move to the country, which I've said before). My three biggest challenges: I don't know anybody who wants to give me any land, I'm not sure what I'd really do there, unless the Pioneer Woman is looking for an understudy, and I don't think Chad wants to be a cowboy. (That said, I may have talked him into letting me spend a lot of money on a new camera and taking a few classes, which is something. All I had to promise is that I wouldn't make him carry it around.)
So, in lieu of cashing it all in and moving to the country, for now, I will live vicariously through the Pioneer Woman and soak in all the inspiration she gives me.
Unintended consequences
So, sometimes, a fall-out of getting a lot of great press (which we did earlier this week) is that you get picked up in the most bizarre sorts of places -- namely, comedy shows. You've got to have a strong backbone and a sense of humor in this business or, well, it really isn't any fun.
Here's a snippet from last night's Colbert Report with a quick appearance by our senior vice president:
Here's a snippet from last night's Colbert Report with a quick appearance by our senior vice president:
| The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| The Word - Guns, Credit, and Corn | ||||
| ||||
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Fast-forward to February
Well, the back-to-school season is underway (according to us, at least, and the 20% of people who say they have already started shopping). And after this comes Halloween and after that comes the holiday season and after that comes our Annual Convention and...oh dear Lord, I don't know if I'm ready for this!
Here's my short (and when I say short, I mean two-minute) CNBC interview from this afternoon on our survey. (Just scroll your mouse over the arrow below if you have high-speed internet and want to watch.)
I'll be back in February.
Here's my short (and when I say short, I mean two-minute) CNBC interview from this afternoon on our survey. (Just scroll your mouse over the arrow below if you have high-speed internet and want to watch.)
I'll be back in February.
Monday, July 13, 2009
This just in...
A little less than a week ago, my boss (who is also my good friend, Scott) came up with a fabulous idea on how to really stick it to some groups with whom we had an ax to grind. Long story short, his fabulous idea morphed into a letter we wrote to our members, which worked its way into a conversation I had at lunch with the Wall Street Journal last Friday, which turned into an article that ran in today's paper, which led to appearances on CNBC and Fox and an Associated Press article and a Reuters story and a bunch of other things.
It also morphed into an entire Sunday worth of work for me, but I am not complaining. It's so fun to be the person behind the scenes pulling the strings with otherwise totally clean hands.
At any rate, after I had spent about 12 hours working on this yesterday, coordinating interviews and talking through messaging with our spokespeople and finding data and uploading things to our website, I was finished. And then I waited. For three hours.
That window of time, where you've done everything you can to get a story perfectly right but the magic hour of seeing the finished product has not yet arrived, can be a bit paralyzing. Little pieces of doubt start to creep into your mind: Did they find a retailer who is against our stance? Did our spokesperson say something that will be taken totally out of context? Did the "other" group or company or person say something that will just take us to the cleaners? Is this reporter out to get me or us...am I sure we have a good relationship? Are there any typos in my letter? Yikes, perhaps I should read it again...
So anyway, as I sat up last night watching the Cards beat the Cubs (sorry, Chad, it happened...) I was wondering how this manifesto in the Wall Street Journal would turn out. I hoped for a slow news day (if it wasn't, the piece might get bumped or put into a really crappy spot in the paper) and a good article. I got both.
At 12:17 a.m., as I
went online, I saw our story in all its glory on their front page, the article call us "the retailers' trade group" (with no mention of the "other" group that we almost merged with -- ha!), a link to the blessed letter I had just posted on our website and, oh, a quote from one of our retail CEOs completely supporting our position. A magnificent sense of euphoria flooded my entire being.
And then I couldn't sleep. But it was worth it!
It also morphed into an entire Sunday worth of work for me, but I am not complaining. It's so fun to be the person behind the scenes pulling the strings with otherwise totally clean hands.
At any rate, after I had spent about 12 hours working on this yesterday, coordinating interviews and talking through messaging with our spokespeople and finding data and uploading things to our website, I was finished. And then I waited. For three hours.
That window of time, where you've done everything you can to get a story perfectly right but the magic hour of seeing the finished product has not yet arrived, can be a bit paralyzing. Little pieces of doubt start to creep into your mind: Did they find a retailer who is against our stance? Did our spokesperson say something that will be taken totally out of context? Did the "other" group or company or person say something that will just take us to the cleaners? Is this reporter out to get me or us...am I sure we have a good relationship? Are there any typos in my letter? Yikes, perhaps I should read it again...
So anyway, as I sat up last night watching the Cards beat the Cubs (sorry, Chad, it happened...) I was wondering how this manifesto in the Wall Street Journal would turn out. I hoped for a slow news day (if it wasn't, the piece might get bumped or put into a really crappy spot in the paper) and a good article. I got both.
At 12:17 a.m., as I
went online, I saw our story in all its glory on their front page, the article call us "the retailers' trade group" (with no mention of the "other" group that we almost merged with -- ha!), a link to the blessed letter I had just posted on our website and, oh, a quote from one of our retail CEOs completely supporting our position. A magnificent sense of euphoria flooded my entire being.And then I couldn't sleep. But it was worth it!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Black and white
Some friends went out of town this weekend and we offered to watch their five-month-old puppy, Cooper. In the last two days, I have remembered how much puppies are like babies: they're cute, but man, they're a lot of work! (Just guessing on the babies part, obviously.)Friday night was complete insanity (think two boisterous dogs running sprints around our main level -- we didn't even eat dinner until 10:30), Saturday was a bit more tempered, and today I hesitate to say it seems calm. I think they've just worn each other out. Still, any thoughts I ever had about getting another dog have been entirely put to rest.
It's been funny to spend so much time with another dog that is so different than Lucy. She's super-timid, hates loud noises, and her definition of "playing" is chasing something around in circles. Cooper is much more bold and isn't afraid of anything--he sent something clattering to the floor and it didn't faze him while Lucy made a beeline in the opposite direction--and he loves to bite at Lucy's ears and tail. (She is not amused.)
Minus the ear-biting part, Lucy does like having her new buddy around. The past two mornings, she has walked over to the room where we keep Cooper's crate and sits outside it until we go in and get him. I think she enjoys the constant entertainment that another dog brings. But I have a feeling when Cooper goes home this afternoon, she'll be happy to take a nap without worrying about a puppy yanking on her tail. And I'll get out the mop. After having two rambunctious dogs in the house, my floors are disgusting!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Mind over matter
Ever since I decided to just get over it already, I've had a pretty magnificent week.
On Tuesday afternoon, I won a $100 gift card to a well-known restaurant in DC during a drawing at work. I put in $5 in the raffle, which went to our fund to send things to the troops, and came out the winner. Chad and I have never been, but we're excited to go!
On Wednesday night, we walked down to Shirlington and ate outside at a cute little sushi restaurant. It was a beautiful, magnificent evening that reminded me why I like summer.
Yesterday Chad appeased me and we watched a chick flick, He's Just Not That Into You. I liked it, he tolerated it. Beforehand, he even made me dinner while I went to the dog park with Lucy and our friend April (and their puppy Cooper).
And today, I got up and went to the gym, then had an incredibly productive--and busy!--day at work. I was even quoted on the front page of Marketplace in the Wall Street Journal!
On Tuesday afternoon, I won a $100 gift card to a well-known restaurant in DC during a drawing at work. I put in $5 in the raffle, which went to our fund to send things to the troops, and came out the winner. Chad and I have never been, but we're excited to go!
On Wednesday night, we walked down to Shirlington and ate outside at a cute little sushi restaurant. It was a beautiful, magnificent evening that reminded me why I like summer.
Yesterday Chad appeased me and we watched a chick flick, He's Just Not That Into You. I liked it, he tolerated it. Beforehand, he even made me dinner while I went to the dog park with Lucy and our friend April (and their puppy Cooper).
And today, I got up and went to the gym, then had an incredibly productive--and busy!--day at work. I was even quoted on the front page of Marketplace in the Wall Street Journal!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Pity party
I have done an admirable job feeling sorry for myself for...oh, about three months. To be fair, life has been a little chaotic. In addition to the merger and then the un-merger, I got an amazing job offer and turned it down, which I now regret. (Apologies to my faithful readers that I didn't clue you in on that little element.) I haven't been eating well or going to the gym, so I don't feel as good. My house is a mess (or at least it was until I went on a cleaning rampage Sunday). We've been eating out a lot and letting perfectly good food in our fridge go bad. In sum, I feel fat, wasteful, slovenly, broke, uninspired, and about a million other things.
It's time for this pity party to end.
This morning, I went to the gym and had a great workout. I decided somewhere between miles 1 and 2 on the treadmill that my woe-is-me mindset has gotten ridiculous. There is absolutely nothing that has happened to me lately that has been outside of my control, which means that it's time for me to take charge of what I can, work around what I can't, and embrace everything that's good in my life (really, there is so much!).
It's truly amazing how a change in perspective instantly makes things seem better. In the last three hours, I noticed how good the air smelled, savored my morning cup of coffee, sang along with the radio on the way to work, and already tackled a mundane task I'd been dreading.
Life is good. If I start feeling sorry for myself again, please remind me of this.
It's time for this pity party to end.
This morning, I went to the gym and had a great workout. I decided somewhere between miles 1 and 2 on the treadmill that my woe-is-me mindset has gotten ridiculous. There is absolutely nothing that has happened to me lately that has been outside of my control, which means that it's time for me to take charge of what I can, work around what I can't, and embrace everything that's good in my life (really, there is so much!).
It's truly amazing how a change in perspective instantly makes things seem better. In the last three hours, I noticed how good the air smelled, savored my morning cup of coffee, sang along with the radio on the way to work, and already tackled a mundane task I'd been dreading.
Life is good. If I start feeling sorry for myself again, please remind me of this.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Lucy's life
We received the following email from Lucy this morning. She apparently dictated her thoughts to Janice, who is hanging out with her over this long weekend.
------
Dear Ellen and Chad,
I just wanted to say thanks for going out of town! What a surprise that Janice came to pick me up yesterday after spending a day by myself. Woo hoo! We had SO much fun last night! We went on a walk, played fetch, ate dinner and then I found a brand new tennis ball in her purse which I helped myself to. After that I was so excited I couldn't contain myself anymore so I had to do a few shuttle runs. But then I got thirsty and drank a bunch of water so then I had to pee 4 times within an hour. Phew...
When she said 'time for bed' around 11 I knew she was just kidding. So I decided to sit by her bed and let her know I was still awake...playing her game. It was really fun. After that I had a GREAT nights sleep and woke up this morning at 4:00am refreshed and ready to go! Janice apparently didn't hear me get up, even though I vocally let her know I was awake, but she did around 5:30 and then we went for a 45 minute walk and played fetch AGAIN! Wow....so great. And then I had breakfast and played with my tennis ball while she got ready for the day.
So now I am just hangin around the house while Janice is at this thing called 'work'. Rumor has it, though, that Nick is going to stop by and play with me. Oooh boy I am so excited!
I'm having a great time here so don't hurry home. Anyway, I need to go. I'm going to go sit by the window to watch for Nick to come.
love, lucy
------
Dear Ellen and Chad,
I just wanted to say thanks for going out of town! What a surprise that Janice came to pick me up yesterday after spending a day by myself. Woo hoo! We had SO much fun last night! We went on a walk, played fetch, ate dinner and then I found a brand new tennis ball in her purse which I helped myself to. After that I was so excited I couldn't contain myself anymore so I had to do a few shuttle runs. But then I got thirsty and drank a bunch of water so then I had to pee 4 times within an hour. Phew...
When she said 'time for bed' around 11 I knew she was just kidding. So I decided to sit by her bed and let her know I was still awake...playing her game. It was really fun. After that I had a GREAT nights sleep and woke up this morning at 4:00am refreshed and ready to go! Janice apparently didn't hear me get up, even though I vocally let her know I was awake, but she did around 5:30 and then we went for a 45 minute walk and played fetch AGAIN! Wow....so great. And then I had breakfast and played with my tennis ball while she got ready for the day.
So now I am just hangin around the house while Janice is at this thing called 'work'. Rumor has it, though, that Nick is going to stop by and play with me. Oooh boy I am so excited!
I'm having a great time here so don't hurry home. Anyway, I need to go. I'm going to go sit by the window to watch for Nick to come.
love, lucy
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
On the road again
Chad and I are leaving this afternoon for a long weekend in Chicago. While there, we'll go to The Taste of Chicago, meet up with some of our friends in the city, go to the Cubs/Brewers game, and then head to Paul's 4th of July party in the 'burbs.
As I was packing my suitcase this morning, I thought about all the times I've packed it in the last two months (this is why I have not been blogging):
As I was packing my suitcase this morning, I thought about all the times I've packed it in the last two months (this is why I have not been blogging):
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Shenandoah Valley
- Charlotte
- Home
- LA
- Nashville
- Chicago
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