"Find the Good in Everyone"

There will always be someone in your life who brings you down, who will do anything to keep you there and takes cheap shots just because they can.

Today, I found myself in the most uncomfortable work situation I have ever been in. I've had the unfortunate "pleasure" of working with someone so extremely difficult for a year, and I can't find any solution to make things better, no matter which avenue I take.

It's situations like this that are the true test to character. I found my character comprimised today, at the expense of a coworker who lacks maturity and understanding, and can't grasp the concept of teamwork and basic communication.

I hate the feeling of not being understood, then looking like a crazy lunatic because the more I try to make my point (or explain my case), the crazier I appear.

It's hard to catch my breath - because this cycle continues to repeat itself - and this coworker continues to poke and prod.

I compare this situation to two siblings - one who calls names, kicks you under the dinner table, pinches you when mom's not looking, and finds any way to annoy you. And you take it - or attempt to ignore it, because you don't want to get in trouble for biting back, and you don't tell mom, because you don't want to be a tattle tale. But when you get bit for the 100th time, you finally bite back - and get scolded for biting your little sibling. And it doesn't matter that you've been tormented for months in every way possible, it's still your fault for biting back.

Sucks.

I'm ba-ack!

Wowzers. Haven't written in 2 years. Great progress. (This one's for you, Carie! But you still need to call me.)

It's amazing how different life is from my last post - Dec. 2006. Of course, I always think about that concept - how drastically different things are from a year ago, two years ago, etc.

And I could never anticipate certain events, such as another heart-breaking split from someone you love(d), moving to another state, driving a sibling to the airport so they can live in a foreign country (indefinitely). You know, all the typical things that happen every year. At least it seems that way.

I'm turning 29 in....16 days? Damnit. Damnit damnit damnit. What the hell happened to my 20s?

Things I thought I'd accomplish in my 20s (and it's looking bleak for the last year to complete this list):
-study abroad (I've never been out of this country. Embarrassing.)

-work at a magazine (although I did intern at 2 magazines - but working for free doesn't count.)

-embark on a grand road trip - preferably in an old convertible with 3 other friends, who are all witty, adventurous, bold and have long hair that will blow in the wind. ok, long hair not needed.

-live in a super-chic condo in a super-chic city. (Chicago's as close as it's going to get at this point...and it's a little out of my writer/editor budget.)

-work my way into wearing a bikini on the beaches of Hawaii- (uhhh....whatever. let's move on.)

-never move back to Wisconsin (F*ck!)

Things I accomplished in my 20s that were never on the list:
-partied at the Bluegrass Festival in Telluride with my sister, 2 years in a row
-stood at the edge of the Grand Canyon at sunset
-had a boyfriend on a Valentine's Day
-started exercising
-celebrated New Years Eve in Times Square
-graduated college
-got my first "big girl" job (currently on my 2nd and 3rd)
-became a regular at various ski resorts in Colorado
-fell in love, and consequently had my heart broken
-developed life-long friendships
-drove my car, with U-Haul trailer attached, back to Wisconsin
-published in 3 magazines and 1 newspaper
-went horseback riding on a beach in California
-witnessed hundreds of hot air balloons rising over Steamboat at dawn
-slept in a tent at 10,000 feet
-bathed in the hot springs of Glenwood Springs, CO
-read books for fun
-took a road trip to Moab, UT by myself for a weekend
-watched my mother beat breast cancer
-realized that nothing is worth doing if you don't put your whole heart into it

So here's to turning 29, and starting a new list for the last year of my 20s (and updating my blog more than every 2 years)!

snow part II

The start of the snow

It's been a while....AN UPDATE!

Most of you already know this, but I've been working for Rocky Mountain News since June. So far, so good. I have a fantastic view...staring right at the Capitol from the 10th floor in the heart of downtown Denver.

On July 4 I got into a four-car accident on one of the major highways in town. I was on my way to the fireworks at Invesco Field (free tix, too!) and out of no where, a truck plows into a Honda, which then hit me (and is now trapped in between me and the truck). I break away from the accident while the Honda attempts to pull to the side of the highway and gets smashed by a mini van. Remarkably, no one was injured. The Honda was a total mess. I'm surprised people walked out of that car alive! For the next four weeks I am driving a sweet rental car, then a pile of shit truck that I thought was going to tip over whenever I turned the corner. Good times.

In September I made it home to Green Bay for a quick visit.

During October I was making plans to move out of my ghetto apartment into a house. I will be moving the weekend before Thanksgiving into the basement of a house of a family I babysit for. They are not just any family I sit for. Anyone that welcomes me into their home with a drink is considered a friend.

Stay tuned for more.....

View from the top.



Thanks for the flowers Mom & Dad! They were beautiful!

I'm so sad.....they're so happy

Look at what I missed on the cruise...... :(

When's the next vacation? I'm so sorry I missed it!

Celestial Massage

Janey Bell is a certified and licensed massage therapist rejuvenating her clients at Celestial Massage, a small business located in Denver. Having finished the 670-hour certification program from the Colorado School of Healing Arts in Lakewood, she now spends her time helping others find a balance in their lives through massage therapy. Bell was a former lawyer who decided it was too much stress saying, “I’ve always wanted to help others. Massage was and is a way to reduce others’ stress, as well as my own.”
Bell has found serenity in her new career and seeing her clients benefit from their sessions only reinforces her decision of the new path she’s taken. “Reduction of stress is one of the main benefits for me,” she says. “I also get an opportunity to serve others in a nurturing, yet therapeutic way; reduce their stress, help with chronic pain and conditions and help them get to a more balanced state.”
Her typical clients come from all walks of life. Bell creates a custom massage for each client varying the pressure, intensity and technique depending on their needs. “We’ve worked with athletes, those suffering from chronic pain and fibromyalgia, people with cancer, elderly folks and those that just need to relax and rejuvenate,” she says.
Bell has at least five days of scheduled massages a week, “so it’s a big part of my life,” she says. “But it also allows me to have a flexible schedule, so I have time to train for triathlons and to do yoga and just have downtime.” Not to worry, she also receives massages with other therapists whom she trades services with. “I end up getting a massage about once a week, which helps keep me feeling good, centered and balanced.”
She’s been practicing massage therapy for more than seven years and runs the business out of her home with her husband, who’s also a massage therapist. They have two treatment spaces so they can do two separate sessions simultaneously. Looking to the future, Bell’s wish is to see Celestial Massage and her clientele grow, “which will allow us to keep our prices low and offer excellent service to our clients.”
Her services include a 60 minute massage for $55, 90 minutes for $75, LaStone therapy for $75, Ear candling for $40 and also pet massage which prices vary depending on travel time and length of the session. Types of massages and services offered are Swedish, Deep Tissue, Sports, Neuromuscular Therapy, Reiki/Healing Touch, Applied Kinesiology, Aromatherapy, and Myofascial Release. Massage by appointment only, Celestial Massage, (303)-477-2780, celestialmassage.com.

I'm losing my mind

Most of you already know how much school is stressing me out lately. Well, this entry will prove just how nutty I am. I have been walking around in a foggy haze for the last few months...just going through the motions of school, internship, life in general without even thinking about what's happening around me....until now. Today at a red light, I turned off my engine. I don't know what I was doing! But when I stopped, I just shut everything down and didn't realize it until the light turned green and I couldn't understand why my car wouldn't budge when I pushed the gas.
My friend Karla and I exchange a lot of e-mails throughout the week. Tonight she e-mailed me about Friday night plans....here's our exchange which she requested go into my blog:

I WROTE:
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From: Claire154@aol.com
To: karlaindenver@hotmail.com
Subject: friday
Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2006 00:59:11 EDT

hey chickee,

laurie will be in town from steamboat, and we were talking about doing something. come with! i don't know what we're doing......maybe drinks downtown...who knows. neither of us could think of anything tonight. she wants to go see that bodyworld exhibit at the museum, but i think i would throw up looking at that stuff. she's a little disappointed in me... :(

i'm no fun lately, because i have no money and because i am in the "final semester, i'm graduating and don't really give a shit about anything" mood. i've been pigging out on junk food, too. a lot of it! i can't wait until school is done. it's sucking the life out of me. i can watch like 7 hours of straight tv, and not even realize i've been sitting that long! i didn't do ANYTHING on saturday or sunday. i didn't take a shower until like 1:45am on sat night/sun morning. i didn't even leave my damn apt! i ate a whole box of crunch 'n munch in the last 24 hours! what the hell is wrong with me!!!???!!!!???

alright, nuff said.

so yeah.....friday night. whatever. i'm totally in the mood for sitting at a bonfire and drinking a beer or four. man...i wish i knew people that had bonfires. actually, i want to go camping.

okay...i need to end this, before i ramble on about other jankity topics. i hope you're laughing at my craziness, not thinking that i am insane. this too shall pass!

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KARLA'S REPLY:

ok, i want you to add that last email to your blog and go back and read it in a few days. cracked me up. yeah, you're a little nuts, but that's why i love ya. it's totally ok to be freaking out about your last weeks at school. no worries. keep smokin the wookie rock sista!

we can do whatever you want on friday night. we should do something that'll get your mind off of school. we could sit at barnes and noble and read gossip magazines or go have drinks or see another movie? whudeva...

i'll be thinking about you... crazy lady.