She went to the kitchen and opened the cabinet above the stove. On her tip-toes she reached in, past the spice jars, and struggled to feel if the recipe box was stashed in the back of the cabinet. The tips of her fingers brushed a bag of popcorn kernels, some paper cups for muffins, but she just couldn’t locate the box.

“Alright,” she thought to herself, “I guess I’ll get the step stool out.”

Now, tall enough to see into the back of the cabinet, it is clear the recipe box is not in its proper place. She frowns, wondering where it might have ended up.

Several minutes later, she pulls the recipe box off the top shelf of her husband’s office bookcase and muses about how their organizational methods differ.

I’ve heard that sometimes the thing that stops people from becoming who they want to be is simple forgetting. Forgetting that each moment builds into the next, forgetting that time is one of the most valuable resources we have, forgetting the power each of us has to make decisions, forgetting to match the things we say we value with our actions. To quote one of my favorite Modest Mouse songs “It’s hard to remember to live before you die.”

It’s so nice out today, I really should go for a walk. Then again, I really should do homework so that I’m not scrambling next week when I have two papers and some accounting stuff due. Only 9 weeks until summer vacation…

Yesterday, I also started a new diet. One of the things I thought about before taking my new job was what I’d do with my extra time. I feel like there’s really no excuse for me to eat like crap and not exercise. I have the time to learn to make tasty new dishes and time to go for walks.

I’m also working on getting the apartment cleaned up a bit. Finally. The last two months of me taking 4 classes and working 45-50hrs a week have not left the place clean and tidy. Sorry, husband and roommate!

There are more things on the horizon, like blogging more and maybe getting to a couple of neglected sewing/costume projects for SCA after the semester is over. And hopefully spending more time with friends and family. And taking more photos. And. And. And. *grin*

~3/6/12 Update~
Looks like I may have spoken too soon! I guess I’ll be working 3 & 1/2 days a week, not 2 & 1/2 days. One day a week my old boss’s boss is going to have me do… something…? As long as it’s valuable for the business, I’m game. *grin*

School is going ok so far. I have a Supervision/Leadership project due in two weeks, and a Marketing test coming up. I think that if I can make it to spring break with good grades, I’ll be just fine.

The new job is… hmm… new. As much as I will miss my old job, I’m looking forward to focusing on just one thing. Having my attention split in so many different directions with the two jobs and school is difficult. Also, I know observation is important for learning, but I’m so used to doing things when I’m at work (cause that’s what they pay me for – doing things) that just watching makes me nervous. I feel anxious like I’m going to get in trouble, even though rationally I know that’s silly. Technically, because of the split with the old job, I’ve spent an equivalent of 9 days training. There’s only so much a person can contribute in their first 9 days, right?

Stupid work ethic.

My brain is either going to love me for challenging it so much in such a short period of time, or it’ll spontaneously combust.

I know summer seems a long way off today, but it’ll be here before I know it and the slower pace will be quite welcome. I foresee strolls along the river bank and juicy peaches! *grin*

Why am I so shocked by the whole ordeal? Because I’m going to be working in Human Resources. Yep, that’s right, this introverted thinker is going to have to work on her people skills. The strategizing, planning, and implementing aspects of the job sound ridiculously fun though.

It’s a good thing I don’t have kids, or my life would really start to resemble that of Sally Forth.

The problem with being up so early is that it’s hard to be productive without making much noise. My husband will sleep until about 7min before he must leave for work, which limits the activities I can do in the bedroom until roughly 10am.

Slightly different topic – I’ve been more annoyed than usual at the sound of buzzing electrical white noise. I think that once everyone is awake it will be a music or movie filled day in order to drown out the refridgerator compressor.

Maybe I’ll pile on some warm clothes and go for a walk. It’d do me good to get away from all these devices for a bit.

My dad had the day off so he drove up to visit for a few hours. It was nice to see him, and we finally went to The Machine Shed in Lake Elmo. That was a drive from our apartment, but it was worth it because we walked in to see a big round table of old pals chattering away, just like my uncles and their fishing buddies do at the Rockford, IL location they frequent.

Here’s hoping December has just the right amount of intrigue.

Green beans.

What is there to say about green beans?

They are green, and they grow on bushes or poles. They are the main ingredient in a delicious holiday casserole, though as a child I did not appreciate it one bit. That was the dish I avoided, and I usually got away with it as long as there was another vegetable option on my plate. (I favored creamed corn, and still do.) The kind of green beans I most enjoy are the garlicky sauteed variety that come from Chinese restaurants.

These look pretty good though…