Woof

After 13 working days in a row, I had today off. I started off by running some errands and finished with a pedicure and drinks with my friend, Joe, from high school.

I was the only person at the nail salon when I showed up, so I think she was extra special with me. The girl spent a lot of time massaging my feet. I love a good pedicure and it really is the epitome of "me time" for me.

What do you do to pamper yourselves?

Insecurities

I have been struggling with insecurities since I got back from my Birthday Weekend with the Boyfriend.

Work has been steadily picking up and last week, we hit the high point. I literally have worked every day since Monday, 1/24. I'm exhausted, it's been snowing, and as a result of 12 hour work days, I haven't been back to the gym since the 24th.

I'm tired, I feel like I don't have a life, I feel fat and slobbish, and I'm very afraid I'm taking it out on the Boyfriend. All my insecurities about myself make me feel even more insecure about my relationship with him.

I have to stop.

Lovely weekend

Boyfriend surprised me with a trip to Hudson Valley. We stayed at the Castle on the Hudson in Tarrytown, NY and had dinner at their wonderful restaurant, Equus. I was even surprised with candles and rose petals on our bed when we finished up with dinner

The space as wonderful, our room was comfy and inviting, and our meal was to. die. for.

Boyfriend started with Gnocchi (our favorite pasta) with braised lamb shank and had tuna as his main course. I had a mushroom and goat cheese tortellini appetizer and has sea scallops as a main course. It was absolutely delicious.



I am the luckiest girl!

Random Thoughts for Friday Night

1) It snowed today, so I worked from home. 12 hours. My back aches from sitting in the same love seat all day. I'm ready for bed.

2) During a break from work this morning, I spoke to the director of my local chapter of Girls on the Run. After a while of doing nothing but working, exercising and blog reading, I decided it was time to give back to the community of which I am a part. I was inspired by Caitlin and will be a running buddy and a member the committee planning a 5k in May.

3) Speaking of running, tomorrow is a 4 mile training run for my half marathon. I need to be at the gym at 7 am when it opens to pound this baby out.

4) After the gym, I'm going to New York and the boyfriend is taking me on a surprise excursion to celebrate my birthday! His surprises have been lovely in the past, so I can't wait to see what's in store for us this weekend.

5) Lastly, if anyone (besides Carla) is reading this, a small request: My 99 year old grandmother fell right after New Year's and the recovery has been rough. Many days she is heavily medicated and many days she is hysterical and no longer wants to live. I hope everyone will keep her in their thoughts. It's a struggle of emotions, but I'd really like to her to be in peace, whichever way that may be.

Goodnight!

Annuity or Not?

This post may make me sound old. You've been warned.

I've mentioned before that I work for a Financial Services Firm. I process applications for annuities. Without being too much of a bore, an annuity is essentially a way to save and invest for retirement. Once one reaches a certain age, money earned from said investments will be distributed monthly. A 401k is an annuity.

My firm is changing some of our benefit packages associated with our annuities (hence my temp job) and I have about 4 days to decide whether or not I want to invest in an annuity and take advantage of some of the benefits that will be going away.

I've never had a job that's offered a 401k or any other type of savings plan and at the rate my job, the economy, and the job market are going, I won't be getting one anytime soon.. This would be a good opportunity to start saving for retirement.

What do you think? Do you have a retirement plan? Do I sound old?

Financial Services Firm Comes Through!

I woke up this morning to howling wind and a neighborhood that looks like an ice-skating rink.

I called my Boss-Man, who told me we could only work from home if the firm was closed completely. This is the reaction I expected, so I can't say I was terribly surprised.

Fast forward an hour, Boss-Man called back. He negotiated me working from home today, since I worked for the firm yesterday.

Thank you, Financial Services Firm and thank you, Boss-Man.

Tired

I spent the day working from home. And I'm exhausted.

When I'm in the office, I'm a member of a team of 16 people. We have one manager who runs herself ragged every day. I'm so impressed by her patience with all of us.

Today, they requested that less than 10 of us work. It was easier to get cases to process and easier to have our questions answered. It was even easier to get in touch with the necessary people. I was surprised at how many people were working, too.

It's supposed to ice tonight. :( I'm already missing going to the gym. Is it Spring yet?

Half-Marathon Training: Week 3

I begin my third week of half marathon training tomorrow. Gym Schedule (because I am a pansy and refuse to run in the cold and snow) is as follows:

Monday: 2 miles
Tuesday: Weights
Wednesday: 3 miles
Thursday: Calisthenics
Friday: 4 miles

This weekend, my boyfriend is taking me away for my birthday. I can't wait for a special weekend away, just the two of us.

Congrats to CARLA and her half marathon time! :)

When should you do the right thing?

I work for a Financial Services firm, processing paperwork. It's a job of which college dreams/degrees are made, but in this current economy I'll take it. I like having a reason to get up in the morning, something to occupy my time, and like everyone else, I enjoy receiving my paycheck every 2 weeks.

All that said, it is a temp job. When I was hired, I was asked not to take any time off during the 5 week training class. I have not been late and usually arrive early. Work has been slow and I haven't had a paycheck for 75 hours since my first month there. But that's fine, a paycheck is a paycheck.

On Wednesday, my boyfriend and I were discussing President's Day weekend. We want to go to Charleston (where we met) and Savannah. I suggested we both take Friday, 2/18 off from work so we could drive. I immediately emailed the people in charge of such requests.

Fast forward to yesterday, when all of us were tired and looking forward to our long holiday weekend. I received the following email:

I have been asked by Financial Service Company management to reach out to you to inform you that you will be required to work from home this coming Monday (1/17/11). Here are the specifics about working:

Insert Random facts about work here.

ONLY THE PEOPLE RECEIVING THIS EMAIL ARE BEING ASKED TO WORK FROM HOME.

Have a great weekend!

OK, that's fine, I guess. I had plans to go to the mall with my friend Katie, but I could move that to Sunday. But then it dawned on me: if they could require me to work on MLK Day, I might be required to work on President's Day. I called my boss, who had no idea and said he could find out for me on Tuesday (irony, anyone?), but when I got home, I had an email saying my request for the 18th (over a month from now) had been denied due to projected volumes.

I cried. We have meetings sometimes and the way we are addressed, it seems like we should be looking for new jobs now. We have never been told how long our assignment will last. It's so frustrating, doing everything as we are asked to do, just to be told no. I guess I could have waited and called out sick. It probably would have gotten me farther.

That brings me to my question: Do you do what's right? Or do you do what will benefit you?

Top Chef: All Stars

I've spent the last few years becoming a foodie. I like good food and nice restaurants and chefs are my rock-stars. Just ask the the friends who were at my 26th birthday dinner at FIG Restaurant in Charleston, SC when I got to meet 2009 James Beard Award Winning Chef Mike Lata. Girlfriend likes her chefs.

So it should come as no surprise that I like Bravo's show Top Chef and this season's All Star competition is so much more addictive because I haven't had to take the time to get to know and like any of the competitors. I have my favorites from past seasons and the people I don't like and have even been blown away to see how some people have evolved.

My two favorites and picks to go to the finals are Carla Hall and Richard Blais. I like both of them because they work hard and to be honest, I've never heard either one say something truly negative about any of their competitors.

Now that I'm training and working 8 hours and commuting an hour each day, I can't really stay up late to watch (I'm so old) but I can catch them online, which I did last night.

I was sorry to see Tiffani go because she seems to be so much nicer compared to who she was on her season. She made a point of acknowledging that fact in her exit interview and I have nothing but the utmost respect for her now.

Jamie, on the other hand, was on her way out from the very beginning, which is a shame because she was one bad-ass chef on her season.

Anyone else out there a Top Chef fan?

New Year's Resolution

I have a ton this year! Even though we're almost 2 weeks in, there's no reason not to share:

1) Give up coffee and diet soda - I think it would be fair to say I'm a caffeine addict. I decided in October to cut the diet soda but found myself slipping during the holidays. So far, it's been almost a solid 2 weeks without either. I drink tea in the mornings (and I wholeheartedly believe it's the cold and my body wants something warm) and at lunch I drink Seltzer for some fizz. Other than that it's been water water water (with an occasional cocktail thrown in ;) )

2) Run a half marathon - I'm registered for the St Luke's Half in Allentown, PA on May 1st and I'm 2 weeks into training!

3) Read a book a month - I just bought a handful of books by my favorite Irish author Marian Keyes. I read a lot of her stuff when I was abroad in Germany and very much enjoyed it!

4) Just be healthier and happier in general - Baby steps, people, baby steps. ;)

And a shout out to Carla! Someone reads my blog! And this girl kicks ass.

Starting Fresh

One of the best movies I saw in 2010 was Julie and Julia. I love how a girl working a cube job in New York found meaning in food.

As a girl currently working a cube job, I'm in dire need of finding some meaning. Somewhere. Anywhere.

I spent the last 6 months reading a lot of blogs by girls who cook and eat and run and generally seem to love life and over time have become incredible envious of their passion.

I've started this blog to follow my journey to find my passions and things I love. I'll begin today, while working from home (hooray for snow!)