my goodness, have i neglected LJ

Facebook is where I spend most of my time anymore....

Facebook has reconnected me with so many people! Part of the reason I recently went back to Toronto.. and now I've been reconnecting with many of my camp friends from the 80's. It has been amazing, camp was probably one of the most momumental experiences of my life. My favorite counselor, "Fish" came out from California to visit - we met up with Jodi M, Kathi H, and Carole Saltzman, the head counselor... what a blast from the past.

I reconnected with some of the masons who made camp possible... it has been great.

work on the other hand has been a mess... the new guy is much more genuine, and he is also a serious MICROmanager! aye. This is challenging for an overqualified person working in a gym. So I spoke to one of my bosses and have been traveling to different locations for work. I went to Somers and got to reconnect with one of my favorite campers and her kids. I also got some awesome positive feedback from the management at the Somers club. The GM called my boss and basically asked what in the workd she was doing with me... so this may lead to some thing bigger and better - hopefully out of my home club, because the environment there is really draining me.

jv is still in the picture and gr called me today out of the blue.
spring, right...

So... on Monday we all got called inot the office and the GM, who has been a nightmare, told us he was moving on. Finally! Now lets hope the new guy isnt as much of a nightmare! Please!

Been in Canada since lat Thursday. Have had a great time visiting with Andrea and Mark and meeting their gorgeous little boy Paolo. He is 17 months and sooo cute and fun. What a personality! Pics will be on FB when I get back home.

Before I came I had emailed cbc to see if there was anyway to get in to watch an episode of Q live. They told me they only really do that when they film on location. So no luck. Yesterday I was downtown and just happened to be passing the cbc building around 1130am. Spent the entire day in the city so little did I know that jian was all over the airwaves due to his most recent interview with Billy Bob Thornton! It was definitely big news up here in Canada, I kinda wish I had the US perspective. Not many people down there know jian, so I imagine most of the hype was about Billy Bob - but pay attention to the interviewer! He is an amazing friend of mine!

how professional he stayed!



so, he's made it to tmz, perez and even cnn!
me, I fly back home tomorrow!

I am tryingto plan a trip to Toronto.....
maybe april 2-9
or maybe
april 14-21
or maybe
april 16-23.

now if my boss would stop hating
and approve my time.
grrrrr

I drove to nyc to pick up Jodi M. We drove out to Long Island to meet some camp friends(Alyssa, Melanie, Jodi B., Ro, Danielle). We had lunch and said some goodbyes. Jodi M, Danielle, Ro and I stayed a bit longer and caught up. It was so great to see everyone. I havent seen Danielle at least 20 years! She brought me flowers, cuz she was so grateful that I set up te reunion. So cool, cuz it really was no big deal.

At around 6pm we headed back to nyc. I dropped off Jodi, parked the car and met up with Michele to go checkout LIGHTS at Piano's on Ludlow.

LIGHTS:


About a half anhour before her show, Jian walked into Piano's. Jian has been her manager for a few years. Michele and I were intrigued to see his fb status say he was in nyc. Turns out he came for the show and we got to spend some more casual time with him. He asked about my trip to Vancouver (he had emailed me some suggestions for the trip) and was a little disappointed that we didnt take all of his advice. We took some....
In any case, it was really nice to see him, in person, and just chat.
You can see him, too... on Q.

Jian on Q(with Gordon Ramsey):



Great day!

So.. I went to Washington State for the first time last week. Visited, Seattle, Kirkland and Redmond mostly and took a day trip to Vancouver.

I flew in on Tuesday, February 24th. Got up 5am NY time and was pretty tired when I got there. Pete picked me up from the airport then brought me to his house and went back to work for a bit for some meetings... I relaxed and played some Wii - Mario Brothers, old school fun. :) Kat called and invited me to go out with some friends after work, but I was kinda sleepy so I opted to stay home. Pete came home and we got some.. er, LOTS of yummy sushi.

On Wednesday I cleaned a bit and then walked to downtown Kirkland to do some grocery shopping, it was pouring rain. Not a bad walk, mostly down hill, so I was glad when Pete called and offered to come pick me up with the groceries on his way home. He had to work summore from home so I had gotten in touch with Kirk. He came over and saw the paper room (all pictures are on on facebook) then we went out and he gave me a tour of seattle. We saw the skyline, went to gasworks park (it was kinda dark) and to see the troll under the bridge. Pete texted me when he was done working, so we went back to the house to pick him up and had dinner at claim jumpers

On Thursday Pete was off of work, we met Kat for lunch then went to Pike's place market we bought some fish and stuff. I got fruity pasta, havent tried it yet, but it was interesting. We went to the locks, in the summer you can see tons of salmon, but not in February :( we watched a tugboat go through the lock, it was a cool experience. Pete went and got a digital antenna, he didnt have regular tv. No real need for it, I guess. He attached that while I made some dinner and we watched Kevin Smith. Kat came over and we had some drinks.

Friday morning, Pete and I hung out. We watched some Jake and Amir, played a silly rabbid game for Wii then went to the space needle and had lunch. We went to Gas Works park again, this time in the daylight (Pete had never been) there's a nice view of the skyline, we got some photos. We came home and Pete put together the grill he had gotten for xmas. We were gonna cook the salmon we bought at pikes place, but had no gas, so we used the oven.

Saturday we were gonna try to go have brunch at the space needle, but opted for a place called Hectors downtown. Kat had to go home to pack, Pete and I walked home from the restaurant and ended up getting crazy addicted to winning Mario Brothers... it was kinda exciting, really.... Kat came over after packing and we went to the Redmond Town Center had a bite to eat and did some shopping then Kat had to go work, so we went back home. I cant remember what we did.... I think we started to do some organizing and got side tracked looking for the fluxx card game....

Sunday, Pete and I drove up to Vancouver. I was put in charge, that stressed me out a bit. We first stopped at the granville island market, I'd go there a lot if I lived there. Then we drove around some of the cool neighborhoods, like yaletown (which was actually kinda boring) and gastown, that was by the water, better. Then we went down (I think it was robson or burrard) a few main streets found a place to have some lunch and did some shopping. As we were walking back to the car it started to rain. That turned out to be a bit of a bummer as we explored Stanley Park. The park was pretty awesome and I'd love to go back on a sunny day. I'd also like to head a bit more north to do somethings, there is a suspension bridge and a skyride at Grouse Mountain which sound like fun, but we needed more than a day to do it all. We headed back home around 5 or 6 and that was the first time I actually began to feel tired on the whole trip. We stopped in town for some wings and headed home, we watched a movie and by like 11 my eyelids were HEAVY.

On Monday, Pete worked a bit from home and then had to head back to work. I did some laundry and started packing up to go home. Pete had mentioned meeting for lunch, I thought he was gonna come home, but he suggested meeting him at Redmond Town Center, we met up and had some Thai. I had talked to Kirk about possibly meeting him while Pete was at work, he didnt get out til about 4, so I walked around the mall a bit and made some phone calls. I couldnt buy anything really, cuz my suitcase was gonna be too heavy from some of the drinks I bought in Canada! :) So mostly window shopping. I decided to venture out and see if I could find Kirks place.. it took some time, but I did find it. He got held up at work for a bit then came and and I got to see his place. He has two kitties.. and I am allergic, so after a little while I started getting stuffy (although I had taken an allergy pill). So poof the worlds greatest tour guide :) swept us off to Snoqualmie falls - which was beautiful. We went up to Mukilteo and checked out the shore, we watched some of the ferries before having dinner at Ivars. We drove through Boeing, where they make some airplanes and then drove around to some random spots before heading back to Kirks. I drove back to Pete's and we talked a bit, after I got a shitty email from work, then went to sleep.

On Tuesday, Pete worked from home in the morning, I finished up packing and got ready and we headed out to the airport. It was an awesome trip, as time with Pete always is. Now that I am home it feels like it was very short and went buy too quickly...

I worked Wednesday and Thursday and was off today. I tried to take it easy today. Tomorrow I am off to Long Island to meet up with some camp friends and to see a Torontonian singer perform in the city.

tomorrow morning I leave for Seattle! yay!

busy.... busy....

Sarah somehow got me to work out just about every day this week.. Sun - Thurs. Thursday eve we went out for salads at Arcuri's. Friday morning I got up and coached a client, then I packed and drove outt o queens to get my hair cut. My hairdresser is dominican and so is his partner. They remind me how much I miss dating latin guys.... so cute. and I love being called "mami" or "mamita" cute. cute. cute.

Dinner with the girls. The girls: me, Amy and Claudia Dinner: sripraipri thai food.
Lots of laughter and fun, we want to have a slumber party. You are never to old for one!

Saturday went to LI, got mani's and pedi's did some shopping. I dropped Amy at her house around 645 and had to rush to White Plains to meet Will so we could drive up to Stamford to see Lauren in Nunsense by 8pm. It was really very cute. We(Margo, Maleak, Robbie, Matt, Paola, Will, Lauren, Phil and someothers) all went out for some drinks afterwards. I just got home and have to work tomorrow.

I work again on Monday, then I fly out to Seattle to visit the PWord.

Ive been meaning to get better at this....

Lets see...
Went to Brooklyn to see Scott and Nichole and celebrated Nichole's Bday.

I am supporting the FCW teleclass on Monday evenings. An opportunity to learn some and to coach some, maybe get some clients. I got an awesoem compliment from my coach who had never heard me coach prior to last Monday. He said I have a gift. That is an amazing compliment.

Finallymade a dentist appointment, getting a cleaning and I guess, I have some thing wrong with one of my teeth. something about bonding and a crown, all I know is it hurts.

Went up to Mahopac this weekend and visited with one of my old campers and her 3 kids!

Got a cold earlier this week and it is still here, had no voice this morning, now its an annoying dry cough.

Going to seattle in 11 days. I've never been to Washington State, exciting.

I think this may have been the worst week ever at my current job.

One of my best skills is being resilient in change... I think I have so much of it it really doesnt phase me too much.

Anyway....
I have a dentist appointment in the morning, I think I have a cavity :( my tooth is very hot/cold sensitive. On Saturday I am going to Long Island. My friend Melanie hooked me up with a mechanic so I am gonna get my timing belt changed and save my self about $400.

Booked my trip to Seattle to see PWord.
We've talked about roadtripping to Vancouver.
Talked to Andrea, who invited me to stay with her and her family, and am planning a trip to Toronto.
and I tink we are booking our October flight to St. Martin.
Airline ticket prices are pretty impressive.


I heard a rumor that my "big" boss(jodie)offered some one else a job I had expressed interest in. So I sent her an email asking about it... she did not respond. must be true.

I've got the day off today, yay!
I'm still going in tonight to train and work out.

I woke up EARLY and fell back to sleep for like 3 hours! wow!

Nothing major planned for the day, gonna get some shopping done, relax, then the gym.
I've been eating more natural foods lately, I wanna do some research and see what fruits and veggies are actually in season in the winter - mostly fruits. cuz they are so disappointing when they arent good.

I peeled a pomegranate today, at a friends suggestion put the seeds in warm oatmeal, it was actually pretty good.

may get to spend some time with J this weekend, then lunch with my old camp friends, Jodi and Melanie! Very excited for that.

...and the high school people emerge on facebook.....


open house at work today...
the otehr manager gets all stressed out.
ugh.

supposed to go out for Dalia's bday tonight, but the snow got in the way.
:(

oh...and....
we have to meet with the new DM and our GM
next week.
interesting.

work is pretty crazy, the phone seriously rings every 2 minutes.
we have a contest, if we finish at the highest percentage by monday and for the month, we win money.

I should note we never seem to win. :P phooey.

I have to work saturday AND sunday.. iew!
I'm off tomorrow and Monday to compensate.. so so.

Jeannot called me yesterday, I forgot to call him back today, so I will tomorrow.
I've really got to make some appointments
car, dentist, etc....

maybe I'll discover the motivation tomorrow... :)

today was interesting....

I walked into work and the new DM came up and introduced himself, then he handed me a piece of paper with 3 circles on it and told me to draw the 3 club managers how I see them around the club. It turns out everyone drew sad or bad faces for one particular manager. no surprise there.

Talked to Sarah B today, she is still sticking to her oath not to come to our club. Its a bummer, she has been my sunday and monday workout partner. I enlisted Christine, she used to train with Will, so I'm gonna share my sessions with her on Mondays

Everyone is back from school vacations so work is pretty busy, I have to work Saturday this week. blah. Gonna take off Friday and Monday.

got another email from jian this morning.
that makes me happy.

I've been investigating some of his Q interviews and he has gotten to meet and interview some pretty cool people. I'm so excited for him.

so one of my new years goals is to catch up on some of those interviews.
Here is one if youre interested:
Deepak Chopra

I think I'm gonna try to be better at posting... this year.

The holidays were good, nice and relaxing. Not as many gifts this year, and lots more after christmas sale stuff was available. Found some great stuff.

This year I had to work on New Years Eve Day. I belive this is the first time in my life I've had to work during that time. Although, I enjoy the low stress of my current job, I really enjoy the paid holiday time of working in higher education. so.. i keep looking.

I spent New Years in Brooklyn at Scott & Nicole's with a few other couples. We sampled Patron Anejo, Reposado and Silver. I thought I'd like Anejo best, but Reposado won. I'm excited to have found some tequila lovers.

the 13th will be one year since Ive been working out/training with Will. I am thinking about what type of reward i can get to celebrate. So far
-add something exciting to my trip to seattle, like an overnight in vancouver
-get nintendo ds
-
still thinking....