Alt Summit

I'm so inspiried by all the wonderful creative people that are blogging. I remember the moment of discovery that this blog world existed, and I've been captivated ever since. Of course, I spend way more time devouring others' blogs than trying to develop this little blog.

As I've been reading blogs of those attending Alt Summit and the list of speakers, I've gained motivation to continue my creative quest and find out what I can be. I'm encourged to use my own sense of creativity for some purpose and I hope that I can contribute to the creative world in my own way someday.

Fill in the Blank Friday.

1. My favorite quote is "'Tis better to be silent and considered a fool than to speak and remove all doubt." I have to say I'm not sure I always follow that guideline anymore. Perhaps I should, especially at work. 

2. A bad habit I have is saying "that's fine" when it's really not or when I don't want to do something but feel like I don't want to disappoint someone. I always just say that's fine. (Hmm...this seems to contradict #1. At work, I do not usually say "that's fine," instead I do express my opinion, but to other people, I often so this.)

3. The first time I felt like a "grown up" was I'm honestly not really sure...I have moments of "really?! I have a house (a mortgage)!, a kid!, car payments!, I'm 32!, when did this all happen!! Ten years ago this year, I graduated with my bachelor's degree. Crazy, I say! I guess I should get my act together real soon, huh?

4. Weekends are too short! Who wants to lobby with me a for a four day work week. Seriously, I would do everything in four days just to get one extra weekend day. I really think people would be more productive if they had less hours to spend at work.

5. When I was a child I wished my name was  Kristen or maybe Amanda. Anything by Angela, which I actually don't ever remember being called (except by two of my aunts and an uncle that I rarely ever saw). In fourth or fifth grade, I decided to spell the shortened version of my name with only an "i" as in Angi (not Angie). It's been that way ever since. There was no discussion about this with my parents or anything, I just did it, but I don't remember them ever questioning it at all.

6. I wish I could travel more. (So in other words, I wish I had enough money to be able to travel more.) I don't necessarily mean lay-on-a-beach-travel, rather big-cities-little-cities-backpack-countryside-explore-travel.

7. A secret I have is that I also can't swallow pills. Sometimes I can, but sometimes I just can't. I also can't chug anything. Shots, nope. A glass of water, lemonade, pop, anything, nope. The hubs thinks this is hilarious, but it's serious. I'm a sipper and that's all I can do.

Found here. Join in.

Happy Birthday To Me

It's my birthday, and I feel pretty good about it.

On my Facebook wall, a friend wrote "So you're 25 today, right?" At first I thought "Oh, yeah, I wish," but in reality, I don't want to be 25 again. That was a tough time. Now, I have a better sense of direction and I'm less worried about what people think. There are certain ages that I wouldn't mind going back to, but only if I knew what I know now. I'm sure everyone could say that.

So, it's my birthday and I'm going to enjoy it.

Fill in the Blank Friday

1. Blogging is a challenge for me. I'm a very private person, but some piece of me needs a connection and I see this whole blogging world as one I'd like to be a part of.

2. A current fashion trend I wish I was brave enough to wear is tall boots with skinny jeans tucked in. I'm not sure I'll ever be comforatble even trying skinny jeans on, but I love the look on others.

3. My greatest accomplishment in life thus far is giving birth.

4. If I had to choose between a mountain or a beach vacation I'd choose a mountain vacation hands down. I think know I'd get bored at the beach; I'd rather be hiking and climbing.

5. A talent I wish I had is being able sing. I love the emotion of it and listening to others who are so talented.

6. A talent I do have is baking(?), and of course, being able to eat my baked goods too.

7. This week seemed long, but tomorrow is Saturday and I get to row at a regatta despite being out of the rowing scene pretty much all year.
 
Found this here via here and decided to join in.

Finding Time

I have post-its, notebook pages and brainwaves full of things I want to post/say, pictures I want to share, and more. Yet I seem to have difficulty finding the time to do everything or anything at all. Maybe though, it's not really about finding the time, but rather being purposeful with my time. I need to find some balance and a way to feel like I can enjoy the little guy but also write, create and share.

Keeping Up

Ahh...my intentions are good, but by follow through is not. I have ideas for blog posts daily, but lack the time and inspiration to actually sit down and write. And I like to write so why am I not bothered enough to actually do it?

Today though...I have about 30 hours of FML left so I decided to take this afternoon off just for myself. I'm head to the boathouse to row (for the fourth time this year). My rowing attempt on Tuesday evening was called off due to threatening skies and thunder. Today, however, is beautiful.

Lots to do, of course. The in-laws are coming tomorrow. I have floors to dust (good thing Wyatt can't crawl yet; by necessity, my house might be cleaner when he does). I have cookies to make.* I have chicken spaghetti to stir up for the in-laws to eat while they are babysitting tomorrow (the husband and I will be at the Ohio State v. Miami game). I have laundry to fold. Milk to pump. A stovetop to clean. More milk to pump. Etc.

But, I am taking the rest of the afternoon for me.

*Cookies were made once, but we ate them all. All of them. Really, it's true. I probabaly ate 75% of them myself. So I have to start again...

Back At It

After 11 and a half weeks at home with the little guy, today is my last day at home. I am excited about retunring to work; I'm looking forward to interacting with other people and feeling a sense of accomplishment at completing work-related tasks.

The first two months at home were really hard! I'm used to being quite active and on the go. Instead, I found myself struggling as I sat on the couch feeding or holding the little guy and watching Living with Ed, Renovation Nation, A Baby Story/Bringing Home Baby, and Say Yes to the Dress. During that time, I rotated between about three outfits consisting of t-shirts and running shorts. Before having the little guy, I didn't really think it was possible to have a day where I didn't even have time to take a shower or brush my teeth, but it's true and it happened!

The last few weeks have been better though. The little guy isn't crying as much and he's become more interactive. We can spend a good 30-45 minutes playing in the morning when he wakes up before he even wants to eat. In the past week or so, he's also (finally!) developed something of a nap pattern, taking one nap during our walk in the morning and another mid-afternoon.

Despite comments from the parents and in-laws, I do not feel guilty about taking him to child care. I really do think it will be good for him in the long run. I do, however, feel challenged about having a 45 hour/week job and knowing that he'll be spending more of his waking hours at child care than he will at home. But for me and my personality, I know that I will cherish my time with him even more when I do see him and spend time with him in the evenings and on weekends. I am anxious about the first day/week in terms of dropping him off, picking him up, and learning the whole process as well as developing our routine.

Starting Fresh

Seven or eight months ago, my life was on a different track. I was consumed with traveling to places I'd never been, running faster than I've ever run, rowing semi-competitively with big goals. Life was full and busy and good.

Now, May 11, 2010, and I am exactly four weeks removed from a date in my life that I, by choice, didn't intend to let happen. But, it did. And, well, here I am.

In that time lapse, I've been considering this blog as a reflection of my life. When I started this, I had one direction in mind, but now the direction has changed. My seven month pause was necessary for me to begin to sort out this new direction and to reflect on how to proceed. What do I want this to be? I'm filled with self-doubt. I don't want to "mess up." The perfectionist in me doesn't even want to start because I might fail. But, I need to be accountable to myself, and starting fresh again with this little project is a way to do that.

Here goes nothing...