Light Weather Humor

So in Indianapolis, we get some winter weather. Not as much as the northern region, where they have lake effect, but we still get our storms. And before every "big" storm, the grocery stores get hit hard. Why is it the main items you hear people focus on are bread, milk, and eggs? What are people making? French Toast?? Does French Toast ward off the snow and ice? Are they having French Toast parties??

Eric and I always get a good laugh right before a storm hits when we see or hear of this happening. If we even go to the grocery store, it's a normal run for normal groceries. This day and age, there's no reason to go into panic mode when you live in the city. Now, I understand if you live way out in the rural country - then, yes, you want to make sure you have food on hand because roads might get closed due to the weather conditions. But if you live 5 minutes from a full grocery store... guess what? You can walk to get stuff if you absolutely have to. But you won't have to.

We live in a society where we have this crazy thing called 'technology and advances' where they can better get you OUT of a nasty scenario (unless you're in NYC and the plow drivers are trying to make a point with the mayor). Especially in the Indy area... I've been here for nearly 10 years and I've never seen the City or surrounding area completely close down due to weather. Plows will (and do) run continuously until the main travel routes are as clear as a cloudless day. And the vehicles built today for us are made to get us to those routes without too much hassle... the tires, the AWD, the ABS... you just can't still drive like a bat out of hell! But we just don't typically see so much snow and/or ice in this area that INDOT and local DPWs can't handle it.

So why do people want to make French Toast so bad? I like it every so often with some cinnamon sugar and syrup, or maybe some fresh fruit and powdered sugar... but do I use it to clear the sidewalks or to ward off the evil winter spirit? No. I'd rather do that with a cup of hot chocolate while watching something good on TV.

Now, I write this as an impending winter storm approaches... up to 2" of ICE for our area. We'll see if the forecasters got it right this time. Regardless, I'm glad I won't have to deal with it in the morning... a true advantage to being unemployed.

Photography

So everyone who knows me knows I love taking pictures and photography in general. I always seem to be the one that whips the camera out and/or has pictures to show from something. But I still need to learn how to use my 'new' camera!

I've mentioned a few times in earlier blogs that I'm taking a photography class (finally!!). It's only a 5 week course, and there's only been 2 classes, so far. But I've already learned so much more about my DSLR!! Granted, I've had my camera for almost 9 months and I've played around with it some. But all the manual modes and settings have been foreign to me, no matter how much I read the user's manual or messed with it!! So Eric has been urging me to take a class, which I've wanted to do. Finally, in an effort to get out of the house more, I did sign up for a class at the Indianapolis Art Center.

What have I learned so far? Well, two key things so far... Aperture and Shutter Speed (Lighting Adjustment/White Balance is this coming week). And, WOW, what a difference those settings make! I never realized how much you could really control the scene. Auto mode is fine if you have to snap things quickly... but if you have a minute to make adjustment in Manual mode, it's worth it!

Anyway... once I have some worthwhile pictures to post with my new knowledge, I will. It's been too nasty to go outside and play much, though... maybe I'll hit one of the museums one day when the roads are at least okay. Until then, I'll just keep soaking up more knowledge. So much to learn!

I Was Right...

I can honestly say I'm glad this week is over. Not because it was bad, but because it was busy! Just like my last blog said. I'm beat!

I figured I'd check back in since I'm sure some of you are wondering how the interviews went. I believe they went well, but it occurred to me that it's currently an "employer's market" out there. Just like it's a buyer's market for houses, where they can pick whatever house they want, employers have the pick of the crop, too, since unemployment is so high (especially in my field). So here's hoping I'm what employers are looking for.

Other than that, I kept busy with "me" stuff, like yoga, photography class, and volunteering at the Make-A-Wish offices. Oh, and going through my Pampered Chef stuff that arrived from my party last week... I love Pampered Chef! I ended up with a great party, despite the nasty, snowy night! Yay!

Anyway... other that a few dinners out, this weekend should be low key, so that's good. Though I'm sure Eric will want to take advantage of the off weekend and do some house project(s)... but at least I'll be home!

The Start of a Busy Week

I've grown accustomed to my slow weeks where nothing is happening...maybe a trip to my house to shovel for a showing, but nothing on the job front and too cold and snowy to go anywhere for leisure. But this week? This week got busy really fast as of last Friday.

For starters, I dropped the price on my house. It hasn't generated any new showings yet, but we do have another open house this weekend. Keeping my fingers crossed that the price drop will generate (or regenerate previous lookers) more showings. We'll see.

Secondly, I ended up with not one, but TWO job interviews this week. Two very different position (of which I will NO go into detail about on here for now). One's this afternoon, and the other is Friday. So we'll see if I can remember how to pull off a good interview.

I also planned to do a little volunteering at the Make-A-Wish offices this week. They needed a little help and I figured why not? Of course, I did this before the interviews came up...

Finally, I have my normal weekly rituals... yoga on Wednesday morning and my photography class on Thursday evening. So yesterday was my only down day (and I did try to enjoy it for that).

Now I can only hope that this busy week leads to good news somewhere down the road...

Positive Thoughts

With everything the way it is in my life right now, you have to stay positive. Anyone who knows me knows I'm a very optimistic person. So normally, staying positive is no problem for me. But there's always a breaking point and I'm worried I may hit mine soon. So I'm starting to look at day to day positive things instead of big picture positive. I'm not sure this is a good way to go, though.

For example... I had a second showing on my house yesterday. That's a positive thing. But the big picture is I'm one of three they're still looking at and I'm coming to the point that I need to drop my price. Not so positive. So am I just giving myself the illusion of being positive?

In all honesty, this is one area Eric does not help on. He claims he's being 'realistic' about things, but when it all is broken down, he just sees the glass half (or more) empty. He's trying to plan for 6 months out when I'm still unemployed and my house still hasn't sold. That doesn't bode well with me. In fact, it tears me up to even remotely think that, let alone have someone say it so boldly! I understand the situation sucks, but thinking like that just makes it worse, in my opinion.

Do I need to be realistic? Yes. And I believe I am very realistic. I don't think my house will have multiple buyers in a bidding war on my house and I accept that I will need to lower the price (even if that doesn't make me very happy). I know I'm not going to land my dream job, at this point... I'll be happy just to get something remotely in my field with this economy. But you have to stay positive. And sometimes that means putting all the negatives around you out of your mind and NOT thinking about them at all. At least for awhile. Sure, you may have to face them eventually, but if we dwelled on it, we'd be a society of very miserable people.

But in the meantime, fool yourself... think big... stranger things have happened to me. Things happen for a reason - I'm a big believer in that. Granted, I'm still trying to figure this one out... but eventually, I'll see the big picture for what it really is.

National Champions!!!

It's finally happened!!! Auburn's 3rd undefeated season within 20 years has finally yielded us a National Championship!!

Last night, the anticipation finally burst as the kick-off got closer. Oregon had been hyped up all week leading to the game, many of the commentators picking them to win because of their 'speed'. Not to say Auburn was the underdog... by kick-off, it was seemingly dead even for who was picked to win.

I, of course, headed out to watch the game with the local Auburn Alumni club. I would have loved to been able to go out to Glendale for the game - a lot of my friends were out there and I can honestly say I was quite jealous! We ended up with a decent local crew to watch the game with, so it turned out to be quite a good time, though!

The game. The 1st quarter was all defense! No score, but a lot of stops. Both teams got into more of a groove after that, and both quarterbacks started getting pressure! Both teams had some scores (including a safety for Auburn), but ultimately, Auburn went into halftime with the lead. Random stat from the announcers - the team that leads the BCS Championship game at the half with the game. 3rd quarter starts and, as always, Auburn comes out of the locker rooms ready to fight! But so did Oregon. The tigers only manage a field goal. Finally, the 4th quarter, with a score of 19-11 Auburn. Technically, a one score game to tie it (if Oregon went for a 2 point conversion). The 4th quarter WAS the game, essentially - all the significant plays really happened here. First, they caused Cam to fumble, which led them to have a scoring drive (right after we stopped them at the goal line). And they went for, and got, the 2 point conversion. Tied ball game 19-19 with just over 2-1/2 minutes to go. They we saw the play of the game... Dyer ran the ball, got tackled... but was never ruled down as his knee NEVER touched the ground! He rolled over the defensiveman and stood back up. He thought he was down... but the alert Tiger sideline told him to keep running - the play was still live!! He did and got down to the Oregon 23! A review of the play confirmed he wasn't down! Auburn managed the clock well and then Dyer got into the endzone!! or so everyone thought. They reviewed this play and determined his knee WAS down at the half yard line. With 10 seconds left. Cam comes in to try to punch it through for the touchdown, but was sopped. But that's okay - we have an awesome kicker in Wes Byrum, and he come him to kick the winning field goal as time expires! Auburn Wins - 22-19!!! 2010 bring the school 2nd National Championship!

This game wore me out! And I was thousands of miles away!! I've said it before and I'll say it again, Auburn football will be the cause of my first heart attack! But WOW!! What a game! All I can say to that is War DAMN Eagle!

Deconstructing Christmas

I think this is one of the saddest times of year... those few days right after taking all the Christmas decorations down. But maybe that's just me... I am "Christmas Crazy", as Eric puts it.

Nahh... I've heard others say similar things... the trees come down, the twinkling lights go dark, and the snowmen stop dancing... the rooms just look so bare. And when you're in the house most of the day, like I am, that's when it seems really sad. The corner where the tree once stood proudly in the TV room... empty. The centerpiece on the dining room table... gone. The fireplace mantle... unadorned. It seems like all the color has left the rooms... everything just seems so still.

The weather in Indiana doesn't help matters... so gray a dreary. We actually had a couple of says of sunshine this week... but it was still so cold! It's been snowing the past two days, though... which means gray, dreary skies. Why does the weather have to be so bleak this time of year? This, by far, is when I miss being in FL the most.

Alas, Christmas is over. And as with anything when it's done, it's must be put away for another day (or in this case, another year). I must just live with the memories, once again, of my favorite time of year.

A New Year

A new year has begun... but we can't start the new without a little reflection on last year. At least in general terms.

For me, it was a LONG year, full of ups and downs, and A LOT of change. Started the year with planning a wedding (always fun when it's a destination wedding), doing a wedding (it rained at our start time), doing another wedding reception (will the outdoor thing work in our backyard??), loosing my job (obviously not by choice), moving (going through my entire life, box by box, deciding what was important to keep and what could be given to Goodwill), trying to sell my house (after doing a small remodel of it)... and do I even need to go into all the stress and complications that go along with all of those things?? Isn't there some well known psychologist out there that says you should not do more than one of those things at a time? I know I've heard something like that somewhere...

So for me, I hope the new year brings a lot of calmness and serenity. Or at least some stability. I don't have resolutions for the new year, just many hopes and desires... I hope my house sells. I hope I get a job. I desire there to be less stress from all the above noted things in my daily life. I know it won't happen overnight and it may take all year to get back to where I'd like to be with my life, as far as the level of stress and anxiety goes... but if I can get there, that's all I want. My emotions went from one extreme to another way too many times in 2010... I don't think I can handle another year like that.

So here's to a new year. And here's hoping not so much that it's better than the last, but I do hope it is at least smoother than the last.