Small World

I was feeling a bit homesick on Easter Sunday, so I decided to open up the sun roof and go for a nice drive. I ended up  just North of Santa Barbara at the Camarillo Outlet Mall (surprise, surprise). I did my fair share of shopping, thanks to a giant sale at Banana Republic and ended my trip at the Adidas store to pick up new shoes for tennis. As I was browsing the aisles for shoes, I noticed a familiar face. As I searched further, I confirmed my suspicions. I ran into my old co-worker and main anchor of the TV news station I used to work at in Oregon. I hadn't seen Brian in almost two years and randomly enough, he was road tripping with his family and they stopped at the outlet mall as a pit stop. So, out of all the days to go shopping, I choose Sunday, out of all the places, I choose Camarillo and out of all the stores, I choose Adidas and out of all the times in the day, I choose late afternoon and I saw a face that reminded me of the great times I had in Southern Oregon. It was nice to play catch up and it was nice to be reminded that it really can be a small world after all. 

Sick Days

We are given sick days for a reason. The reason of course is to stay home from work or school and get better. So, why should I feel guilty for taking a sick day? I can't pinpoint the exact time in my life that all of a sudden my work proceeded my health in order of importance, but I would like to find out. I have worked at the same job for two  years and have have only taken one sick day. Then, on Wednesday, I was feeling sniffly and knew that I needed to rest because I was running my body ragged, but still emailed my boss to let her know I would be in coming later that day. When I arrived at, I realized I probably should have just stayed home the entire day. But, a part of me felt guilty for coming in late! We are given five free sick days a year, if you don't use them, they go away. Why even give us those days or let us know we have those days if they don't want us to take them. 

Of course, then I work with co-workers that take super-advantage of those sick days and decide to over extend them by calling in sick at the drop of a hat. I guess I don't know what is better: never taking a sick day because I am so dedicated to work that I know things won't get done without my presence, or crying wolf and taking sick day after sick day knowing like people like me will pick up where I slack off? I guess there is no real answer, except I should be expecting my next sick day around sometime in 2009. 

FIve Years of War

It was brought to my attention that today is the five-year anniversary of the war. It really seems like just a year ago the majority of our nation were protesting the invasion of Iraq and hoping the Bush Administration would back down, realizing their moves would be haste and irrational. Well, obviously, that didn't happen and instead, we did invade and not only that, we re-elected the man who wrongfully led us into war to begin with. Sometimes, I think it's a bad dream, but it's not. Instead, it's a scary thought to be living in a nation of war and peace. We watch network news with lead stories about Britney Spears breakdowns and Lindsay Lohan drunken rampages. I guess the war is just too depressing to follow-up on. But, with attitudes like that, it's really no wonder why we are going into the fifth year of this unnecessary war to begin with. 

Here is hoping that 2008 brings some global changes that will work towards peace. Along that note, I will sign off with my favorite John Lennon quote- "If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, there would be peace". 

Sad, but true. 

A Fork Stuck in the Road

I celebrated my two year anniversary at my job last week and it was kind of bittersweet. I was reflective of all the things I had accomplished since arriving, the awards, the famous people, the friendships, the travel and so on. But, when is it time to call it an end to a run and continue a journey somewhere else. I know my place of work is not going to be with me forever. I know that I have other goals I would like to accomplish and other things I would like to try. But, I guess what I really want to know is when do I end the run I have been so accustomed to for the last two years. I look at hit TV shows and wonder when the producers or actors decide that it's time to create a finale. When does that fire in the belly decide it's time to be put out? So, I guess that is where I am at. A fork stuck in the road. I am at a town with amazing possibilities and opportunities. I guess all I can really do is nurse that fire and I will know when it's time to spring from those work doors and on to something new. Until then, I guess I can enjoy a few more of the work perks that come my way. 

Aches and Pains

How do I know it's time for me start hitting the gym, again? When I decide to go surfing and a 60-year-old man is less winded than I am when paddling out past the waves. Or...when I decide to go for a five mile steep hike with three other women and I am in last place. I survived, but I HATE being in last place. So, I am back on my health kick. I am given one body and I haven't treated it the best these last few month. Less gym time, my parties, more junk food. It's time to get back in shape. I am only 10-15 pounds away from my goal weight, the closest I have ever been and for some reason, I always feel ready to sabotage myself around this time. I need to turn that attitude around. Maybe it's covering The Biggest Loser that is making me feel this way, or the fact that the finale is around the corner and I'll be facing the trainers and I want to impress them, or the fact I have friends visiting next month, or the fact I have a Vegas reunion with friends I hadn't seen in years coming up, or the fact I am in a wedding in Boulder, but, whatever it is, I feel ready to achieve my goal and to keep it!

My next assigned show is Nashville Star, I wonder if I will begin to feel the urge to take up country singing? Hmmm.