THE TEN MOST IMPORTANT LESSONS I LEARNED IN 2006 | DECEMBER 31, 2006

Here we go...

1) Not everything has to be planned in advance...

When I was offered the opportunity to stay in Rome and work for an architect over the summer, it threw me off balance. It wasn't part of my plan. It wasn't until a few days before I was supposed to go home that I made the decision to stay and work. Only, at that point, it was too late to change my flight, so I ended up making the decision to go home for a week, then come back and work for three months.

I came home for a week and had no idea where I would live when I got back to Italy, or what my daily schedule would be like there. But my friends who were still in Italy helped me set everything up, so I had nothing to worry about at all.

It worked out really well for me, but it made me realize that things do sometimes just fall together. This also happened often while sight-seeing - I made loose plans, and just followed whatever caught my interest. It was more stress free that way.

2) It's possible to feel a close connection with people even if you have never met them...

Yeah, yeah, yeah... I have said it a thousand times before, but I have met so many cool people blogging that I continue to be amazed. Some of the people I know through blogging keep in better touch with me than my "friends" that I see almost everyday! They know my fiance's name, my cat's name, what is going on in my life... they wish me well wishes, they ask me how I am... it is always nice to know that I have these friends here. And I try to keep up with their lives, on their blogs. Thanks to blog family!

3) Life goes on without the internet...

And ironically, as much as I love to use the internet, to the point of an obsession, I learned that I can live without it. This may not seem like a big lesson to other people, but this means I learned how to keep myself entertained without an internet connection. Over the summer, I only had about two hours of internet time a week, so I spent most of my free time reading about Buddhism and Psychology and other things that interested me.

4) I am not mature enough to plan a wedding...

I know what I want, but I have no idea how to financially obtain it. Luckily, Steven is more mature than me, and has a mortgage, a car payment, etc., so he is able to help me out (okay, take care of completely) with the things I am not so knowledgeable over. I am happy to be in a relationship with someone so helpful and (mostly) patient.

5) Don't take what you have for granted...

This is probably the most important thing I learned - cherish what you have. I love and appreciate my family, but when my uncle Tom passed away and I was not there to be with everyone and mourn his death properly, it tore me up inside. I regretted not visiting him when I was home for a bit in May, I regretted not sending him more postcards or emails... I felt awful. And there is nothing that I did wrong, I just wish I would have spent more time with him.

6) You can never completely know a person...

This stems from #5... there are still things I am learning about Tom that I did not know about him before he passed away. Why didn't I know? Because I was young and did not ask. Now I want to make more of an effort to ask the questions that I do not know. I rarely have real conversations with my siblings. Why? We all get along, we are just too busy/lazy to take the time to understand one another's goals and interests. I believe you could know someone all your life and never know everything about them... I hope I can change this about myself - take the time to listen and ask questions.

7) Make the most of every opportunity...

I could give a million examples of this, but the point is to be positive, not negative, and try to look at the bright side of every situation. There, you will find opportunity you could not see before.

8) You will never accomplish anything if someone else is pushing you to do it...

I have to do things on my own terms. I do not do well with people telling me what to do. Now, I am not talking about work or school assignments, I am talking about life decisions and goals. I believe in taking the time to discover what I want, then put my best effort towards that. I could never lose weight when I was trying to do it to please someone else, but now that my best interests are in my own health, it is actually working!

9) You choose who you stay in touch with...

It is possible to say in touch with friends who live far away, if you make the effort. Rixa, my friend from the shelter in Rome, just called me to wish me a Happy New Year! I have been writing letters to her, and emails to my friend who lives in Paris. I love these people and I choose to make the effort to stay in touch with them, so our relationship does not suffer.

On the other hand, I can choose who to fall out of touch with, like colleagues from school.

10) There's hope for me yet...

I am not doomed - I learned how to walk in high heels this year, put eyeliner on my upper eyelid, enjoy exercise, take care of myself in a foreign country... I am constantly trying to learn and better myself, and I am happy to see the results!

Happy New Year everyone! I wish you all health, happiness and good times!

CAREER PLANS | DECEMBER 30, 2006

A lot of people have been asking me where I plan on working or what I plan on doing after I graduate - my family, friends, people I don't even know... I am honored that so many people are interested enough in me to ask, but here is the answer:

I don't know.

I am excited about beginning the job search, and modifying my resume and portfolio, but I will not be interviewing until Spring Break. Architecture students usually search for their jobs in spring semester, when firms are more sure of whether or not they will need people. Some of my classmates have already been offered jobs, but mostly in their home town.

The first step is fixing up the resume and portfolio, which I am excited about. I will post the updated stuff here when it is ready.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY | DECEMBER 29, 2006

Today my baby, Kimbot, turned 100,000! Happy birthday baby! (Yes, my car is named "Kimbot")

I am sure it won't be long until it hits 200,000. I am pretty good at racking on the miles!

2006 IN REVIEW | DECEMBER 27, 2006

I keep watching dumb tv shows on VH1 and E! like The Top 50 Music Videos of 2006, The 10 Worst Break-ups of 2006, The Top Ten Blunders of 2006... you get the idea.

I was thinking, I could probably make a few lists like that about my own 2006 - The Top Ten Mistakes I made in 2006, The Ten Most Important Lessons I Learned in 2006, The Top Ten Places I visited in 2006, Ten Things I am grateful for from 2006, The Ten Dumbest things I said Out Loud in 2006, The Ten Coolest New People I met in 2006, Ten Things my family did in 2006 to make me crazy, The Ten Worst Movies I saw in 2006 ...

Tell me which list you would most like me to actually create, and I will post it here on Dec 31st. Or, propose a completely new one!

STUFFED | DECEMBER 26, 2006

I ate so much food in the past four days... I think I could easily NOT eat for the next four and I would feel fine! But what fun are the holidays if you don't spend 90% of it in a food induced coma?

Steven and I had a really good time visiting with my family. I got to see some of my relatives that I have not seen in a long time... such a long time that they had not even met some of my extended family yet!

Now we are excited for our next big event - a little New Year's celebration with my parents, sister and her boyfriend, and the 5K on the first. This is my last big holiday before I graduate. It is going by really fast, but I am having a lot of fun.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS | DECEMBER 25, 2006

ONE STEP CLOSER | DECEMBER 21, 2006

One of my personal goals is to live a healthy lifestyle - get enough sleep, exercise regularly and eat a variety of healthy foods (with a treat every now and then!).

But I think that is a personal goal for almost all of us, and all of us definitely know how difficult it really is to follow.

Well, today I am one step closer. I just finished a 6 week 5K training. I like to run, and knew that I needed to get in shape and lose a few pounds, so I thought a 5K race was a good goal to motivate me to get in shape. The race I chose is the 22nd Annual New Year's Day 5K Run/Walk in downtown Chicago.

When I first started this training I could barely run for two minutes without feeling out of breath! All of my muscles were sore and I thought I wouldn't be able to finish the training. But I stuck with it, and now it feels good to run! I know that I will be able to run the entire 5K on January 1st (that is my goal - to complete it, not to come in first).

The best part about the training is that it makes me look and feel better. I have dropped about twenty five pounds, by doing the training (along with extra exercise on the "off" days of the training) and following a healthy eating plan. I am excited to re-format the training now that I am finished with it. I hope to run longer runs, and start doing strength training (and hopefully slim down even more).

A - Z OF ME MEME | DECEMBER 20, 2006

I stole this meme from History Chic at Confessions of a geeky blogger. Check out her cool site and the others I have listed in the "Blogs" section on the links page.

A - AVAILABLE: No, not for the past 4+ years
B - BIRTHDAY: July 31
C - CRUSH: Currently it would have to be Gerard Butler (I have a thing for UK guys - it's probably the accent)
D - DAD'S NAME: Todd
E - EASIEST PERSON TO TALK TO: Data
F - FAVORITE BAND: Does Christina Aguilera count as a band? If not, then the Black Eyed Peas or Van Halen.
G - GUMMY BEARS OR GUMMY WORMS: Sour gummy worms! Yum Yum!!!
H - HOMETOWN: Evansdale
I - INSTRUMENT: Violin
J - JUGGLE: I have tried... but no!
K - KILLED SOMEONE: Fantasized maybe
L - LONGEST CAR RIDE: Cedar Falls IA to Arizona
M - MILKSHAKE FLAVOR: Strawberry
N - NUMBER OF SIBLINGS: 1 older brother, 1 younger brother, 1 younger sister
O - ONE WISH: I am going to be selfish and wish that all of my family and friends enjoy a healthy new year
P - PERSON WHO EMAILED ME LAST: Haloscan, to tell me I had comments. Real person? My brother-in-law Andrew.
Q - QUICK FACT: I love sending cards in the mail!
R - REASON TO SMILE: I am on break and I am having fun!
S - SONG YOU LAST LISTENED TO: Glamorous - Fergie
T - TIME YOU WOKE UP: First time today - 7:30 a.m. Second time - 11:20 a.m. ha ha
U - UNKNOWN FACT ABOUT ME: I am Greek, therefore I like to eat, I like to drink, and I like to sleep (muah ha ha)
V - VEGETABLE YOU HATE: Brussel sprouts, but not because of the taste
W - WORST HABIT: Picking at things that I shouldn't
X - X-RAYS YOU'VE HAD: Left wrist, right foot, and teeth
Y - YOUR NUMBER OF EMAIL CONTACTS: 60
Z - ZODIAC SIGN: Leo - couldn't you tell?

NO MORE LISTS | DECEMBER 19, 2006

I had all these lists on my computer before it crashed - blog topic ideas, new year's goals, wish lists, etc. They were all a part of konfabulator, the pc version of "dashboard" for Macs. But when my computer crashed, all the list went bye bye, and there is no way to restore them.

Tonight would have been a good night to use the blog topic list! I feel like my brain is absolutely dead today! After two days of relaxing at home with the cat, I have nothing to say. Oh well, it could be worse!

BACK ON TRACK | DECEMBER 18, 2006

The nice thing about having a set fitness schedule is that I have to stick with it. If I miss too many days in a row, I will not be able to catch up, and I will not meet my goals.

The other nice thing is that if you want to get away from everyone, you can just say "I have to go exercise now."

But that didn't happen this weekend. I wanted to exercise each day that Steven's family was here, but I was having such a good time, that I did not want to leave the fun to go hang out with the treadmill by myself! I only ended up exercising one day. And even then I felt a bit sad that I was all alone and everyone was watching movies and having fun.

So now I am a few days behind, and will have to work hard (but also be careful) to catch up. Good thing I like to exercise. Now I will have to see how well I do when we travel to see my family this weekend.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT MEMORY LOSS | DECEMBER 17, 2006

Steven keeps mentioning some Nintendo DS video game made for older people that is supposed to help them keep their memory in check. I haven't seen the commercial for the game, but apparently, two men are introducing their spouses to one another, and one man can't remember the other man's name.

That doesn't only happen to older people - it happens to me too! Since I had a free schedule this semester and did not spend much time around my classmates, I forgot a lot of their names. When I saw everyone at the final semester reviews, I struggled to say "Hi... uh, Cody? That's it, right?"

I don't see how a game could help me with that kind of memory loss, unless you manually enter a person's photo and name then play some matching game (maybe that is a good idea?).

JUST WORN OUT | DECEMBER 16, 2006

I thought I would be re-energized by now from the end of the semester, but I still feel as tired as ever. I am either super busy with a jam-packed schedule, or I am working really hard. I am looking forward to the days of this break when I get to be just a bit lazy. This is probably the last time I will actually enjoy it - over spring break I will have to interview for jobs!

NAP TIME | DECEMBER 14, 2006

 

No, Data is not dead... he is taking a nap! He knows that Steven and I are putting up the Christmas tree tonight, so he has to take a preparatory nap to conserve his energy to climb it later.

SOMEONE AT MY OFFICE HAS A SENSE OF HUMOR | DECEMBER 13, 2006

THE HORROR CONTINUES | DECEMBER 12, 2006

Well, I got my computer back yesterday...but, it has a completely new hard drive and motherboard. So this means I have to spend PAINSTAKING hours trying to get my settings back, and figure out what the hell is going on with my computer now. It is not going to be simple, and it is already giving me a headache. And along with my internet not working at home right now, I want to scream!

But besides all that, I am great. I get to leave tomorrow for Chicago, and I am finished with all of my courses for the semester. I am looking forward to seeing Steven's family this weekend for an early Christmas, and looking forward to helping Steven put up decorations and do other preparations.

I am just going to focus on the fun plans in my future when I get frustrated.

MENU MODIFICATION | DECEMBER 10, 2006

I was reading Shape magazine the other day, and there was a little reader poll about whether or not restaurants should be obligated to post calorie information on their menus. Some people said yes - "it should be their job to provide this information to the public," and others said no - "the menu would be as big as a book and it would ruin the fun of eating out."

A few years ago, Ruby Tuesday modified their menu to have a bunch of "healthier" options on it. Then, they did the unthinkable and added the calorie information, along with Weight Watcher's points. With this information provided, I did make healthier choices. It is easier to say no to the Artichoke and Spinach Cheese Dip when you see it has 900 calories per serving.

But the last time I was at a Ruby Tuesday (in late October), the calories were missing off the menu. And they had added a lot more fattier dishes. It made me wondered what happened at Ruby Tuesday that they decided to remove that information, because I discovered that I liked having it there.

I haven't seen a menu with calorie information since then. The menu at Applebee's has Weight Watchers points on some dishes, but that does not mean a lot to me, because I do not understand the points.

I don't think that all restaurants should be obligated to provide calorie information on the menus. But I do think it should be available on their websites, it somewhere in their stores - like on a chart or in a book that a manager can grab for you. A few times I have gone to dinner at Old Chicago, and I tried to find their calorie information online before I went there, but I could not find it anywhere on their site. I was a bit frustrated by that.

If you don't eat out that often, you probably don't worry that much about the calories and type of food you are eating. But I eat out a lot when I am with family, and over the holidays, and I am just one of those people who likes to know. In the end, it is everyone's personal responsibility, and I obviously know that a dish like spaghetti marinara is healthier than fettuccine alfredo. But sometimes you just want to know what the hell they put in their dishes.

HOLIDAY PARTY | DECEMBER 9, 2006

I am done with my review (went good, all of the comments were expected) and now it is time to prepare for the office holiday party! This is my fifth year working at Environmental Health & Safety, but my first time attending the party!

A few days ago on yahoo there was a post about how to behave at the holiday office party. I have a knack for making a fool out of myself, so I thought I better read it. But all it said was to not drink too much alcohol, not be a brownnoser, mingle, wear an appropriate outfit and bring an appropriate date. The problem with me is that I do not have to have alcohol in my system to say something inappropriate! At least I do not have to worry about a date... I am going alone.

I feel kind of weird going to the holiday party all by myself, but it is too far for Steven to drive just for a party. So I will try to have fun without a date. We are doing one of those gift exchange games where you steal other people's gifts, so I think that may be fun... here is what I am bringing (that dish set is what is inside the wrapped box, along with candy!).

I'M BACK... SORT OF! | DECEMBER 8, 2006

My computer is still dead... somewhere in repair land right now, but I have a quick chance to post and say hello.

I spent most of the week getting headaches from weird glue fumes and the heat in the computer lab. But all that is almost over. I review tomorrow (I am not sure when or where), and I will use the rest of the night to prepare my presentation.

Here is a little preview of my work. The rest of it will be up in the portfolio section eventually.

PREPARED | DECEMBER 3, 2006

Breathe in... breathe out... don't scream...

I am on a schedule - get all drawings done by early Monday morning and spend the rest of the week working on a spectacular model of the animal shelter I have been designing all semester.

Now my schedule is a bit f*cked. I am not sure if I will still be able to follow it. My computer had a strange crash at 9:15. I was able to back up to my external hard-drive while it was crashing (not worth explaining), but now it is unusable.

SO. PISSED. OFF.

But I am handing it well. I was prepared - I backed everything up and went to the school to use a computer there. I got one of the last computers available (tons of Macs free... but duh, can't use CAD on a Mac!), and now I am trying to work. Instead of being pissed off anymore, I am going to tell you what I am happy about then GET TO WORK!!!

I am happy that I am smart enough to have an external hard-drive and that I back up to it!

I am happy that my school has computer labs and that they happen to be open 24/7 until Friday evening.

I am happy that Steven gave me noise-canceling headphones, so I can listen to streaming Christmas music and drown out everyone else.

I am happy that now I can have a good internet signal since I am at school, directly connected.

Most of all, I am happy that I am more calm then I used to be. If this would have happened to me this close to a final deadline before, I would be in tears, and screaming and yelling. Now, I just want to work hard, leave the lab at 5:30 a.m. then go to the gym to release the stress there.

Arg.

(But this definitely increased my chances of not posting or commenting for ... a long time)

DECISION | DECEMBER 2, 2006

I am trying to decide if I should keep posting here this week, or if I should take a week off to focus on my schoolwork. I spent the whole day working on AutoCAD (well, that plus going to the gym). I wanted to post something here, but didn't feel like I had anything to say. I have one of those "things I would like to blog about" lists, but everything on there seemed too complicated for a busy day like today.

So I will try to be around this week, both here and commenting on other blogs, but I am not sure how busy I will get!

TOO BUSY | DECEMBER 1, 2006

Enter frantic preparation mode - I have my final studio design review next Saturday, so I am copping out with posting something funny I found on someone else's site.

From here: FUN AND WITTY INSULTS.

1. Don't get lost in thought; you'll be a total stranger there.
2. You're good looking in a way, away off.
3. The more I think of you, the less I think of you.
4. When you were born something terrible happened, you lived.
5. You look like a professional blind date.
6. Don't you ever get tired of having you around?
7. I don't know what makes you tick, but I hope it's a time bomb.
8. Someday you'll find yourself, and will you be disappointed.
9. I know you have to be somebody, but why do you have to be you?
10. If you said what you thought, you'd be speechless.
11. You think you're a wit, and you're probably half right.
12. Why don't you go blow your brains out, you've got nothing to lose.
13. I like you, I have no taste, but I like you.
14. I'd like to say I'm glad you're here; I'd like to say it.
15. If there's ever a price on your head, take it.
16. You were born at home, but when your mother saw you she went to the hospital.
17. Someday you'll go far, and I hope you stay there.
18. If you stop telling lies about me, I'll stop telling the truth about you.
19. I wish I had a lower I.Q., so that I could enjoy your company.
20. I'm not going to get into a battle of wits with you; I never attack anyone who's unarmed.
21. Is your family happy, or do you go home at night?
22. You're someone who would make a perfect stranger.
23. Let's go some place were we can each be alone.
24. My I have the pleasure of you absents?
25. You have an open mind, and a mouth to match.
26. Next time you give your clothes away, stay in them.
27. Some people bring happiness wherever they go; you bring happiness whenever you go.
28. I like you better the more I see you less.
29. You're something that someone would only meet in a nightmare.
30. I wish your parents had never met.
31. The sooner I never see you again, the better it'll be for both of us when we meet.
32. You have such a big mouth; you could eat a banana sideways.
33. There's only one thing that keeps me from breaking you in half, I don't want two of you around.
34. Was the ground cold when you crawled out this morning?
35. Why don't you freeze your teeth and give your tongue a sleigh ride.
36. You've got a great personality, but not for a human being.
37. I enjoy talking to you, my mind needs a rest.
38. If you ever need a friend, you'll have to get a dog.
39. You're outspoken, but not by anyone I know.
40. There's enough people in this world who hate you, without you working so hard to get another one.
41. Thank you; we're all challenged by your unique point of view.
42. I don't know what your problem is, but I'll bet it's hard to pronounce.
43. Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental.
44. I will always cherish the initial misconception I had about you.
45. How about never? Is never good for you?
46. I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter.
47. I see you've set aside this special time to humiliate yourself in public.
48. I don't know what makes you so screwed up, but whatever it is, it works.
49. You do serve at least one useful purpose in life, as a horrible example.
50. You've got more talent in your little finger than you have in your big finger.
51. I'm busy now; can I ignore you some other time?
52. Are you always this stupid, or are you making a special effort today?
53. Me, getting smart with you? How would you know?
54. It's too bad stupidity isn't painful.
55. Don't say things like that; it just makes you sound stupid. In fact, don't talk at all. It just makes you sound stupid.
56. Thinking isn't your strong point, is it?
57. I would probably find you more interesting had I studied psychology.
58. You're not being sensitive, I really don't like you.
59. You're good, being gone.
60. If I've said anything to offend you, I mean it.
61. I would love to insult you, but you wouldn't understand.
62. Is there no beginning to your good taste?
63. One good thing about you, you're easy to ignore.
64. Why do you get up in the morning?
65. You're a person of rare intelligence; it's rare when you show any.
66. Hey, I'm sorry, I'm not being rude; it's just that you don't matter.
67. I'd explain it to you, but I don't have any crayons with me.
68. I wish we were better strangers.
69. Why do you have to be that way, you seemed normal until I got to know you?
70. Do you want me to accept you as you are, or do you want me to like you?
71. You are no longer beneath my contempt.
72. Are you a moron, or are you possessed by a retarded ghost?
73. I can please only one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't looking good either.
74. So tell me, as an outsider, what do you think of the human race?
75. I notice that you never let an idea interrupt the flow of your conversation.
76. Don't try so hard, I couldn't like you any less.
77. You're having delusions of competence.

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