Thursday, December 6, 2012
There's no place like home!
After ten days away from my house, I am so happy to finally be back. There really is no place like home...except my other home in Florence! :)
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Q Center Woes
It's after midnight and I can't sleep. It's just part of another wonderful day at the Q Center. Or not...
I've been here for three night now and this is the first night I absolutely cannot sleep. I think I still needed to catch up from Disney the first two nights. Now, I'm just hot, claustrophobic and bored. Plus, I almost fell asleep earlier, but almost rolled off my twin bed which certainly got me awake.
The rooms here are tiny. I've tried to upload a picture I found on the Internet that is of a similar room. It's clean, but tiny. My dorm room at Auburn was double the size of my "closet" here. Also, the thermostats don't seem to work since my room is approximately 80° right now. I am very cold-natured and like warm rooms, but this is taking it a bit overboard.
It's not easy to leave the compound since we're an hour away from Chicago and finding a taxi is not the easiest thing. We ate deep dish pizza at Gino's East on Monday night and that was certainly the highlight of my trip. Now, I'm just looking forward to the limo ride that will take me to Midway and eventually home.
I've decided this experience is very similar to being in a minimum-security, white-collar Federal prison. I've got some space to roam (only on campus), hot meals (not of my choosing) and a bedroom (although small and cell-like). I've got an overwhelming feeling of claustrophobia and I can't wait to be back in Nashville. I know this sounds melodramatic, but I've never been to another place that I dislike so much.
I'm hoping for better and more interesting training tomorrow and maybe another trip off campus tomorrow night. Thank goodness I'm not here alone and have work friends to spend time with while we're here!
I've been here for three night now and this is the first night I absolutely cannot sleep. I think I still needed to catch up from Disney the first two nights. Now, I'm just hot, claustrophobic and bored. Plus, I almost fell asleep earlier, but almost rolled off my twin bed which certainly got me awake.
The rooms here are tiny. I've tried to upload a picture I found on the Internet that is of a similar room. It's clean, but tiny. My dorm room at Auburn was double the size of my "closet" here. Also, the thermostats don't seem to work since my room is approximately 80° right now. I am very cold-natured and like warm rooms, but this is taking it a bit overboard.
It's not easy to leave the compound since we're an hour away from Chicago and finding a taxi is not the easiest thing. We ate deep dish pizza at Gino's East on Monday night and that was certainly the highlight of my trip. Now, I'm just looking forward to the limo ride that will take me to Midway and eventually home.
I've decided this experience is very similar to being in a minimum-security, white-collar Federal prison. I've got some space to roam (only on campus), hot meals (not of my choosing) and a bedroom (although small and cell-like). I've got an overwhelming feeling of claustrophobia and I can't wait to be back in Nashville. I know this sounds melodramatic, but I've never been to another place that I dislike so much.
I'm hoping for better and more interesting training tomorrow and maybe another trip off campus tomorrow night. Thank goodness I'm not here alone and have work friends to spend time with while we're here!
Monday, December 3, 2012
Long time, no blog...
Oh my, it's been a long time since I've updated. I want post about my Christmas decorations and my awesome trip to Disney, but for now I really need to pay attention in my continuing education classes. I'm at a training center about an hour and a half from Chicago and so far I'm about bored to death--only four hours in!
We're (four other from work and myself) are going to eat pizza at Gino's East tonight, so I'll try to take a picture of the yummy pizza we order. That's the highlight of the trip for me!!
I'll try to catch up soon, I promise!
We're (four other from work and myself) are going to eat pizza at Gino's East tonight, so I'll try to take a picture of the yummy pizza we order. That's the highlight of the trip for me!!
I'll try to catch up soon, I promise!
Monday, November 12, 2012
It's beginning to look at lot like Christmas!
I brought back boxes of ornaments and other decorations from Florence this weekend and I can't wait to put up my tree! I'm so excited about it that I think I'm going to get started tomorrow night!
I heard Christmas music in a store for the first time tonight and I've been listening to the CD of our choir cantata, so Christmas music is definitely in my head. I think it's time to set up a Spotify playlist for my work computer!
I went to the mall in Franklin after work and did one of my infamous marathon shopping trips. I think the store count topped out at 7, but I think I'm about halfway finished with the gifts I am responsible for. I'm going to be back in Franklin tomorrow afternoon for CPE, so it might be a good opportunity to knock a few more things off my list!
I love getting to shop for other people and seeing their faces when they open their gifts, but I know I'm going to have the hardest time not telling Mother about what I bought! I need to go ahead and wrap everything as I go so I can forget what I've bought. That way we'll all be surprised on Christmas Day!
Hopefully I'll have everything up by the end of the weekend and can post a few pictures!
I heard Christmas music in a store for the first time tonight and I've been listening to the CD of our choir cantata, so Christmas music is definitely in my head. I think it's time to set up a Spotify playlist for my work computer!
I went to the mall in Franklin after work and did one of my infamous marathon shopping trips. I think the store count topped out at 7, but I think I'm about halfway finished with the gifts I am responsible for. I'm going to be back in Franklin tomorrow afternoon for CPE, so it might be a good opportunity to knock a few more things off my list!
I love getting to shop for other people and seeing their faces when they open their gifts, but I know I'm going to have the hardest time not telling Mother about what I bought! I need to go ahead and wrap everything as I go so I can forget what I've bought. That way we'll all be surprised on Christmas Day!
Hopefully I'll have everything up by the end of the weekend and can post a few pictures!
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Time to catch a breather!!
The last major deadline of the filing season is finally behind me!! I finished getting signed forms from clients around 6:30 last night and it felt so good to be done!
November 15 is a deadline for some Not-for-Profit entities, but most of mine will be extended until February and can be extended again until May.
I looked at my calendar for the rest of the year yesterday and, at most, I will be in Nashville for four weekends between now and the new year. Between trips to Gatlinburg and Florence, Thanksgiving, my trips to Disney World (fun trip) and Chicago (work trip), the choir Christmas cantata and my Christmas break from work the weeks add up! I think since I'll be working for most of the first four months of the new year, I should enjoy weekends away as much as possible!
I'm also, most likely, not going to have to work outside of 8-5 until January. That is, hands down, the best part about the slower time at work. I did have to work late today because of a wreck that shut down Interstate 65. My 20 minute commute became close to two hours, but thankfully that is the exception, not the norm. It's an extra (and much needed) incentive to get moving in the morning when I know I only have to work for 8 hours and not 10-12!
Hopefully, now that I have "extra" time on my hands, I can get to a dry cleaner. Otherwise, I am going to be completely out of work clothes. It's starting to get ridiculous!! :)
I can't keep my eyes open any longer, but I'll try to post pictures of the changing leaves in Gatlinburg after the weekend!
November 15 is a deadline for some Not-for-Profit entities, but most of mine will be extended until February and can be extended again until May.
I looked at my calendar for the rest of the year yesterday and, at most, I will be in Nashville for four weekends between now and the new year. Between trips to Gatlinburg and Florence, Thanksgiving, my trips to Disney World (fun trip) and Chicago (work trip), the choir Christmas cantata and my Christmas break from work the weeks add up! I think since I'll be working for most of the first four months of the new year, I should enjoy weekends away as much as possible!
I'm also, most likely, not going to have to work outside of 8-5 until January. That is, hands down, the best part about the slower time at work. I did have to work late today because of a wreck that shut down Interstate 65. My 20 minute commute became close to two hours, but thankfully that is the exception, not the norm. It's an extra (and much needed) incentive to get moving in the morning when I know I only have to work for 8 hours and not 10-12!
Hopefully, now that I have "extra" time on my hands, I can get to a dry cleaner. Otherwise, I am going to be completely out of work clothes. It's starting to get ridiculous!! :)
I can't keep my eyes open any longer, but I'll try to post pictures of the changing leaves in Gatlinburg after the weekend!
Thursday, October 11, 2012
The Klutz is Back
Mother wanted to name me Grace when she was pregnant with me. Daddy said no. For years, I've said it might have helped to make me more graceful had Daddy agreed. Either it would have been helpful or very ironic!
Anyway, I've showed just how much of a klutz I am over the past few weeks. It all started because I was cleaning my kitchen after dinner one night. I put a baking sheet away and somehow managed to dislodge my pizza stone which rolled out of the cabinet and on to my big toe. I know I shouldn't keep a round object on its side in a cabinet, but I don't have a drawer that is wide or deep enough for it. To make a long story short, I cried for several hours, took some medicine and didn't sleep all night from my poor throbbing, rapidly-brusising toe and toenail. I couldn't walk easily the next day and ended up at the doctor for an x-ray. I also expected they would drain the blood under my toenail to relieve the pressure, but they didn't. I ended up with this:
Two weeks later, I finally felt better and, of course, on the first day I wore heels, I broke another toe. I was rushing to get to work early because I had to give a presentation and had yet to print my PowerPoint slides. As I was going into my closet to get shoes, my foot had a close encounter with the closet door. After straightening out my now crooked toe, I put my big girl panties on, shoved my aching foot into a heel and went to work. Needless to say, I did not have the best day.
So far, I don't have any new injuries. Knock on wood!! Let's hope I've gotten a good bit of my clumsiness out of my system and will have an injury-free several months. That doesn't mean I'm not going to hold on to the handrail going up AND down any stairs. We don't want a repeat of the Florence Post Office incident*.
*Really embarassing story: I was 9 and fell down all the Florence Post Office stairs. I was wearing a dress. People stopped and got out of their cars to make sure I was ok. Not my finest moment.
Anyway, I've showed just how much of a klutz I am over the past few weeks. It all started because I was cleaning my kitchen after dinner one night. I put a baking sheet away and somehow managed to dislodge my pizza stone which rolled out of the cabinet and on to my big toe. I know I shouldn't keep a round object on its side in a cabinet, but I don't have a drawer that is wide or deep enough for it. To make a long story short, I cried for several hours, took some medicine and didn't sleep all night from my poor throbbing, rapidly-brusising toe and toenail. I couldn't walk easily the next day and ended up at the doctor for an x-ray. I also expected they would drain the blood under my toenail to relieve the pressure, but they didn't. I ended up with this:
Two weeks later, I finally felt better and, of course, on the first day I wore heels, I broke another toe. I was rushing to get to work early because I had to give a presentation and had yet to print my PowerPoint slides. As I was going into my closet to get shoes, my foot had a close encounter with the closet door. After straightening out my now crooked toe, I put my big girl panties on, shoved my aching foot into a heel and went to work. Needless to say, I did not have the best day.
So far, I don't have any new injuries. Knock on wood!! Let's hope I've gotten a good bit of my clumsiness out of my system and will have an injury-free several months. That doesn't mean I'm not going to hold on to the handrail going up AND down any stairs. We don't want a repeat of the Florence Post Office incident*.
*Really embarassing story: I was 9 and fell down all the Florence Post Office stairs. I was wearing a dress. People stopped and got out of their cars to make sure I was ok. Not my finest moment.
Monday, October 8, 2012
New Recipe: Sugar Cookie Bars
I needed a quick and easy recipe for a sweet coworker's birthday last Wednesday and guess where I turned? That's right, my good friend, Pinterest! It's pretty obvious that I like to cook (and eat) since nearly half of my total pins are food-related.
I decided to make these sugar cookie bars from High Heels and Grills. I love how I keep finding new food blogs to follow from pins I like on Pinterest! There are tons of interesting recipes on this blog and I can't wait to try something else soon!
Ingredients:
Cookies:
2-1/2 cups bread flour (or all-purpose flour is fine)
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1-1/2 Tbsp. sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup half and half
1 tsp. vanilla
Pinch of salt
Several drops of food coloring (optional)
Directions:
COOKIES: Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. I sifted my dry ingredients. Just something I always do when baking.
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. (The longer you beat it, the fluffier your cookies will be.)
Add egg and combine well.
Add sour cream and vanilla and mix until completely blended.
Slowly add the flour mixture and stir until well combined.
Gently press the batter into the greased baking dish and spread out with hands. (If you butter your hands, this will help with the stickiness.)
Bake 17-20 minutes, or until edges become lightly golden.
Set aside to cool completely.
FROSTING: In a medium bowl, cream together butter, powdered sugar, and half and half until light and fluffy.
Stir in vanilla and salt, combine well.
Add food coloring until desired color.
Frost your cooled cookie bars evenly.
Cut into squares and serve.
These cookies are VERY good! The cookie turns out to be almost like a shortbread cookie. Since shortbread is one of my favorites, this was a definite plus!
I made one recipe for work last Wednesday and there were none left at the end of the day. I liked them so much (and I had sour cream and half and half left), so I made another recipe on Saturday for my family. I think it would be fun to use different colors and maybe add sprinkles for different holidays or occasions!
I'll definitely make these cookies again!
I decided to make these sugar cookie bars from High Heels and Grills. I love how I keep finding new food blogs to follow from pins I like on Pinterest! There are tons of interesting recipes on this blog and I can't wait to try something else soon!
Ingredients:
Cookies:
2-1/2 cups bread flour (or all-purpose flour is fine)
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1-1/2 Tbsp. sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup half and half
1 tsp. vanilla
Pinch of salt
Several drops of food coloring (optional)
Directions:
COOKIES: Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. I sifted my dry ingredients. Just something I always do when baking.
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. (The longer you beat it, the fluffier your cookies will be.)
Add egg and combine well.
Add sour cream and vanilla and mix until completely blended.
Slowly add the flour mixture and stir until well combined.
Gently press the batter into the greased baking dish and spread out with hands. (If you butter your hands, this will help with the stickiness.)
Bake 17-20 minutes, or until edges become lightly golden.
Set aside to cool completely.
FROSTING: In a medium bowl, cream together butter, powdered sugar, and half and half until light and fluffy.
Stir in vanilla and salt, combine well.
Add food coloring until desired color.
Frost your cooled cookie bars evenly.
Cut into squares and serve.
These cookies are VERY good! The cookie turns out to be almost like a shortbread cookie. Since shortbread is one of my favorites, this was a definite plus!
I made one recipe for work last Wednesday and there were none left at the end of the day. I liked them so much (and I had sour cream and half and half left), so I made another recipe on Saturday for my family. I think it would be fun to use different colors and maybe add sprinkles for different holidays or occasions!
I'll definitely make these cookies again!
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