Mission: 2010 math

My boyfriend and I were talking about just how quickly time goes by, especially when you work 40hrs/wk (at least!), volunteer, lead a healthy lifestyle, have a social life, and, most importantly, spend quality time with family, friends and loved ones.

For the most part, Mondays through Fridays are attributed to work.  From 8.30am to 5.30pm, your time is pretty much accounted for.  Considering federal holidays, sick days, personal days and days off and accounting for overtime, that's roughly 250 days out of the year that's spent working.

The weekend brings us only Saturday and Sunday, and let's face it...Sunday is the most bittersweet day out of the week.  Yes, we don't have to work but we have a full Monday of work ahead of us.  Oy.  If you think about it, there are only 52 weekends in a year.  Fifty two.  That's a little less than a month and a half of guaranteed days off...and that's not counting any overtime! So that's less than 15% of the year where we get two days at a time to do whatever we want to do.

On a smaller scale, let's look at a typical week where you don't have any days off or work any overtime.  On any given day from Monday to Friday, you spend about 9 hours at work.  Let's say the average commuting time to and from work is one hour.  You spend time at the gym for about an hour.  Showering and personal hygiene would probably take up to one hour.  So right now, out of the allotted 24 hours in a day, you have now used up half that.  Being realistic, say you'd get 6 hours of sleep (if that!).  Now that leaves 6 hours to do what you want/need.  But wait....you have to do dishes, laundry, volunteer, whatever.  Still doesn't seem so bad? Let's look at it from a schedule point of view:

6:30am Wake up
6:35am Morning bathroom routine including shower
7:10am Do hair and makeup
7:45am Have a good breakfast
8:00am Leave for work
8:30am Arrive for work
5.30pm Leave for home
6:00pm Arrive home
6:15pm Work out at home/gym
7:00pm Have dinner
7:30pm Insert activity here
12:00am Bedtime

So from 7:30 to 12, you have 4.5hours to take care of whatever you want....but 4.5 hours out of 24? That's less than 20% of your day! If you add up your "free" hours from Monday to Friday, that equals one day...so out of 5 days, you only get 1 day of "free" time.

My mind is boggled right now.  I'm sure there are lots more equations but for right now, I gotta get off the computer and start living life!

At 5.30, of course....



MISSION: ACCOMPLISHED

Mission: Charger

If you're wondering why I haven't posted any pictures in awhile it's due to 2 reasons:

1)  The house, while beautifully updated, is still in disarray.  My family has yet to find the time to put everything back where it was.

2) I CAN'T FIND MY CAMERA CHARGER! So even if the house were spotless, I still couldn't take any pictures.

#2 is just killing me.  Anyone who knows me knows that I am a picture whore, almost to the point of irritating...that is, until they see that awesome picture of themselves in one of my FB albums.  Anyway, I'm in a frenzy right now because one of my resolutions was to take more meaningful pictures, aka pictures for the sake of capturing a moment and not just for the sake of taking a picture.

This weekend is chock-full of fun.  Tonight is date night, tomorrow is movie night, and Saturday to Sunday will be spent in VA w/ one of my besties.  All the above = MEANINGFUL PICTURES.  I'm out of my mind right now.  Hopefully I just left it at the bf's house otherwise, I have no clue where else it could be.

Woe is me.



MISSION: IN JEOPARDY

Mission: Champps

So, trying new things? Check! Well, it's not really new.  I went to meet up with one of my girlfriends at a sports bar called Champps yesterday.  It was new for me because it's a group I usually don't get a chance to hang out with often; some of them I've never even met!  It was a great time.  Beer, chicken fingers, football, laughs...the Saints WINNING after holding on, playing tough, and giving it their all...yes, a great time.

If only it wasn't a school night.  I was in the mood to keep hanging out but while Cinderella got to stay out 'til 12, this sleepy beauty (hehehe) hustled on home.

It wasn't a big step but it got me going.  Now I'm just looking forward to this weekend when I get to visit one of my besties!

Oh, dear diary.


MISSION: ACCOMPLISHED

Mission: Bruce Banner

Not that I'm angry or furious about anything.  I don't want to transform into some angry, green monster and start busting people's asses.  Let's call it more of a Hulk-ish craving to just bust out of my shell and just be the person I really want to be.  But who am I? I know I'm not this person that I've become in the past 3 years.  I am insecure, unsure, indecisive, unmotivated, and worst of all...lost.  Not that I'm super emo (well, maybe I've become a little more dramatic) but these are all qualities reminiscent of a teenager, and let's face it, I'm so far past a teenager.

I used to be so sure of my future and of myself.  I used to make good decisions and stand by them whether they were right or wrong.  I used to be confident about myself and satisfied with my appearance.  Where has that all gone? I lost my sense of direction and priority.

Well, guess what? It's back.  That inner desire to be someone better, to be the best I can be (no Uncle Sam, not talking to you) is ready to bust out.

2010, you're something else.  You're the pain-in-my-ass I've been waiting for, you're the swift kick in the butt that I've been needing.  I'll be the 25th birthday present to myself.

2010 is the year of a stronger, better ME.


MISSION: IN MOTION

Mission: Renovation

I haven't had the chance to take a picture with my camera since last time but I used trusty ol' Dbrickashaw Phonason.  He's great guy, super focused. =)

So Mission: Renovation, Appliance Edition (with a sneak peek at the counter tops).  The dishwasher was almost a dish-aster (muahaha) because the tiles were so high, a result of the cement board and cement.  The reason we got a new dishwasher at this time was because we were warned that to change the d/w after the counter tops were put in would be a big deal so if we were ever planning on changing it, might as well do it now.  My dad took the bait.  However, the countertops were put in on Monday.  The d/w came on Wednesday.  What was the point? The very nice delivery/installation man huffed and puffed and moaned and groaned about how hard it was to squeeze the d/w into the tiny hole (TWSS) but finally after some tinkering, he got it in (again, TWSS).  The final product?

Voila!

Have you seen the final Friends episode where Monica and Chandler only signed up for one baby but came home with two?  Well, when my parents went out d/w shopping, they came back with an oven as well.  She's a beaut and I can't wait to start cooking on it.  A week and a half spent using the microwave and fridge in my brother's room has me hankering to try out some new fancy schmancy recipes...dinner party, anyone?

I'm guessing there'll be a new microwave soon.

Yes, folks, this mission is winding down to a halt.  Just a few more touch-ups to the bathroom and putting all the furniture back and we're back to living in a house, not a construction zone.

Side-note: I just heard a fantastic, little love song today.  I can't get it out of my head and I don't want to.  It puts me in such a good mood and every time I hear it I think of my bf.  (Oh CB, you put the bf in barf!) Whatever, it's the truth.  Please, indulge yourself.



MISSION: ALMOST DONE

Mission: Renovation

I was away for the weekend so I couldn't follow along with the renovation.  When I spoke to my dad on Saturday about the progress, he complained that they got the color of the stain wrong and that the fumes were suffocating.  He was downright sick and tired of the whole thing and just wanted things to be over with.

I was expecting calamity when I finally arrived home today.  This is what greeted me:

Ten points if you can spy a special guest star

The floors were magnificent.  My dad admitted that the floors had started to grow on him and that he liked it more and more each day.  I told him, well, yeah, it's hard not to fall in l-u-v with the artistry we would be walking on for the rest of our lives...in this house.

She's a beaut.

My mom was simply dancing with joy.  They hugged me and greeted me hello, then went right on prepping the furniture for their return to the rooms by sticking the undersides of every single piece with those felt-ish things.

Look how nicely that tile matches the floor...wood really adds some character.

Oh, and the smell? Well...it's a bit troubling to admit that I quite like it.  I'm sure it's just getting to my head, though.  

MISSION: IN MOTION

Mission: Haiti

So by now, you should have heard about the devastation in Haiti.  I won't go into it only because everywhere you look, you'll read, hear, see, or feel something about it.  Not that it's not important to know, it's just that I understand it might be information overload.

What I DO want to point out is that what's done is done...that 7.0 earthquake has already done its destruction and now it's up to US to do something about.

So HERE.

It's a list of legitimate ways you can help out.  Please make sure to note the article following the list about how to avoid those pigs who will take advantage of this heartbreaking incident to make a quick buck.

Hey, ASSHOLES, I hope you get what's coming to you.  

Pardon my french.  Anyway, let's not fret about the negatives and focus on how we can bring some hope back to all those affected.

Even if you can't afford to donate anything, do your part by passing along this link and spreading the word.  Thank you.


MISSION: UP TO YOU

Mission: Renovation

Day 5

Dusty and dirty...but it's already looking much different...

...that's real hardwood, folks; gorgeous...

...really sets off the fireplace now; seamless 

...unfinished actually works well with the tiles.

It's getting there, people.  Actually, I'll be going away for an extended weekend getaway, from tomorrow to Monday.  Hooray for Martin Luther King, Jr. day! Anyway, when I get back they'll pretty much be done with the floors.  I won't be able to get any shots of the first step of staining, but oh well.  Sounds pretty dull anyway.......actually, it doesn't.

MISSION: IN MOTION...and it's almost there

Mission: Nostalgia

Vintage JJAKAS <3

MISSION: ACCOMPLISHED

See ya soon, ski bunnies <3

Mission: Renovation

Day 4

Some grout, a little wipe-down, and Mini-Mission Tile should be done by tomorrow!

MISSION: IN MOTION

Mission: Life Apart from Renovations

A-looky what I got!

Yes sir, those are indeed 3D glasses which can only mean ONE THING...After a month of hearing rave reviews, I caved and watched Avatar.  Now, I'm not feeling a hundred percent right now so to give you a synopsis or even an opinion on it would not do the film justice, so I'll refrain for now.  Let's just say that I'm motivated to lose half my body weight, grow 2 feet taller, and paint my body blue so I can be a Na'vi.  And no...not just for Halloween.

And the Reese's? Well, of course my darling bought 'em for me at the movies.  Sweets for a sweet from a sweet.

Toothache.

MISSION: ACCOMPLISHED

Mission: Renovation

Day 3 (Saturday)

Using the brother's room as a temp pantry.

Works out pretty nicely, actually.

Cool cement board things.

In other news...sniff sniff....I'm sick!!! Boo...right now my nose is stuffed and my eyes are a little scratchy.  Thank goodness for Vick's Dayquil, Kleenex tissues, Lipton Chicken Noodle and Vaseline Petroleum Jelly (for the redness around my nose...just to be clear).  Oh, and my sweet, sweet Serta mattress that I'm looking forward to later tonight. Rawr.

MISSION: IN MOTION

Mission: Renovation

Day 2

And they're off!

It's like a furniture warehouse...

No more ugly, stained, standard contractor's carpet...

It's all in the basement...

I guess the powder room is out of commission...and a sink and toilet...

I spy the sink...but where's the toilet?

In the garage, next to the dishwasher, duh.

I guess if some had to really go, the toilet's still got some water left in there.

MISSION: IN MOTION

How exciting. =)

Mission: Renovation

To be precise, my parents are just replacing our ugly, standard linoleum floor with hardwood throughout and ceramic tiles in the kitchen and laundry room.  It's really exciting.  Anything that could be on HGTV or Food Network, I LOVE.  So obviously, I want to know everything that's happening and what's going on and why and how and when and where...but also obviously, these guys don't wanna be bothered when doing work.

Empty Spaces

I tried.  I told them to please ignore me while I look on, it's just something I'm really interested in.  They say nothing the entire time until the lead contractor feels obligated to make conversation with me, thereby distracting him from the task at hand.

Where it's all being hidden: guest and Brother's room

After politely nodding and pitching in the occasional "mm-hmm", I excuse myself and as soon as I slip upstairs I can hear them talking, laughing, just being more relaxed.

I guess I'll have to stick with HGTV to get my home improvement learning on...oh wait, I can't.


MISSION: IN MOTION

Mission: Resolutions 2010

So it's taken me 5 days but I think I've whittled them down to the following:

1. Find a CAREER to settle into.
2. Save more money.
3. Get fit.
4. Get more involved with volunteering.
5. Remember people's birthdays and send bday cards/gifts.
6. Forget the petty stuff.
7. Drink more water.
8. Experience new things.
9. Take more pictures.

Maybe I'll add on, but I definitely won't be taking off.



MISSION: IN MOTION

Mission: 2010

So it's the first day of the new year.  2010 is officially upon us and I couldn't be any more excited.  Last year, I was in no way looking forward to 2009 and whether it was premonition or self-fulfilling prophecy, 2009 turned out to be less than stellar.

2010 is a different story.  I can feel it in my blood...I can feel it in my bones.

So CHEERS 2010...let's get this show on the road.


MISSION: ACCOMPLISHED