Hello fellow bloggers. I have been neglecting this world. The new year has been super busy and we are trying to keep everything "in order." Tomorrow we are heading to NC to visit family for the weekend. We are also going to a Sara Evans concert. The funny part is that I don't know a single song she sings! So that should be interesting.
We have run around all week- last night our "date night" was a dual trip to the eye doctor. We have vision coverage with the new year and both got our sight checked. The outcome- my eyes are not as young as they were last year! : ) It is recommended to wear glasses while driving and for distance related things at my discretion. OK? Insurance covers this, so I will be sporting some new lenses sometime soon.
In other news- my job is once again evolving. For those of you who follow my days at this mysterious firm I have held many roles in the past 14 months and it looks as though I may be gearing up for yet another one. One that meshes my two worlds: HR and Global Equities. More to come on that development.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Generation Y (hmmm)
I found this article very interesting. I pasted the below article in to make it even easier than opening a link. Rather than me talking about it for a while, see for yourself:
GENNEXT'S GOALS, PROBLEMS
By Sharon Jayson, USA TODAY
The views of young people today on politics, social attitudes and even life goals are far different from those of their baby boomer parents, suggests a new national survey of 18- to 25-year-olds.
More than two-thirds (67%) believe immigrants strengthen American society; a quarter favor increasing legal immigration.
Just 47% of those ages 41-60 say immigrants strengthen society; among those 26 and older, only 16% say immigration should increase.
While young people are split over gay marriage (47% in favor, 46% opposed), those over 25 are not: 64% oppose same-sex marriage; 30% favor it.
"This is a more tolerant generation than its predecessors," says Scott Keeter, director of survey research for the Pew Research Center, which surveyed 579 young adults and 922 adults age 26 and older.
The poll also finds that this generation's top life goals are to be rich (81%) and famous. (51%)
"It's their perception," Keeter says. "It's what they're getting from the culture about themselves."
By contrast, a study of college freshmen in 1967 found that 85.8% thought it was essential to "develop a meaningful philosophy of life" while just 41.9% thought it essential to "be very well off financially."
The Pew telephone survey of young people (alternately dubbed Generation Y, "millennials" or echo boomers) asked more than 75 questions on issues from world events to national politics to tattoos and binge drinking. Keeter says the study, which called 130 young people on cellphones because they don't have a landline, is among the most extensive of this age group.
Keeter says he doesn't expect their attitudes on such social issues to become more conservative with time. One can imagine the complexion of these issues changing pretty significantly when this generation is in positions of power and authority," he says.
Among other findings:
32% attend church at least once a week; 20% have no religious affiliation or are atheist or agnostic.
48% identify more with Democrats; 35% with Republicans.
91% are satisfied with their relationships with their parents; 64% say parents have helped them with errands, housework and home repairs and 73% say they parents helped them financially in the past year.
85% are unmarried. Of those singles, 57% say they definitely want to marry and 28% probably do; 12% say they don't. Just over a quarter (27%) already have children. Among the childless, 52% definitely want children and another 34% probably do.
39% say they keep up with the news "a lot," 64% check in "from time to time." Only 34% do watch or listen to news regularly.
81% exercise at least weekly. One in five say they are in excellent physical condition and another 56% say they are in good condition.
But their habits are not all positive. In the seven days prior to being surveyed, 41% say they consumed alcohol; 31% smoked cigarettes and 9% took illegal drugs. Thirty percent believe it is OK to drink a lot of alcohol; 41% believe it's OK to smoke marijuana.
36% got a tattoo and 30% a body piercing in a place other than an ear lobe; 25% have dyed their hair a non-traditional color.
46% said sharing music or video files without paying was OK.
Overall, these young adults are content with their lives and extremely optimistic about the future: 84% say their life is excellent or good; 14% say fair or poor.
Of those who are employed, 70% don't think they make enough money to lead the kind of life they want, but 65% expect to earn enough in the future; 5% expect not to. make enough money.
The poll was conducted Sept. 6- Oct. 2 as part of MacNeil/Lehrer Productions' Generation Next project. USA TODAY is a reporting partner in the project but did not participate in funding the research. Margin of error for the subset of young respondents is plus or minus 5 percentage points; for the overall poll it is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
Posted 1/9/2007 2:46 PM ET
GENNEXT'S GOALS, PROBLEMS
By Sharon Jayson, USA TODAY
The views of young people today on politics, social attitudes and even life goals are far different from those of their baby boomer parents, suggests a new national survey of 18- to 25-year-olds.
More than two-thirds (67%) believe immigrants strengthen American society; a quarter favor increasing legal immigration.
Just 47% of those ages 41-60 say immigrants strengthen society; among those 26 and older, only 16% say immigration should increase.
While young people are split over gay marriage (47% in favor, 46% opposed), those over 25 are not: 64% oppose same-sex marriage; 30% favor it.
"This is a more tolerant generation than its predecessors," says Scott Keeter, director of survey research for the Pew Research Center, which surveyed 579 young adults and 922 adults age 26 and older.
The poll also finds that this generation's top life goals are to be rich (81%) and famous. (51%)
"It's their perception," Keeter says. "It's what they're getting from the culture about themselves."
By contrast, a study of college freshmen in 1967 found that 85.8% thought it was essential to "develop a meaningful philosophy of life" while just 41.9% thought it essential to "be very well off financially."
The Pew telephone survey of young people (alternately dubbed Generation Y, "millennials" or echo boomers) asked more than 75 questions on issues from world events to national politics to tattoos and binge drinking. Keeter says the study, which called 130 young people on cellphones because they don't have a landline, is among the most extensive of this age group.
Keeter says he doesn't expect their attitudes on such social issues to become more conservative with time. One can imagine the complexion of these issues changing pretty significantly when this generation is in positions of power and authority," he says.
Among other findings:
32% attend church at least once a week; 20% have no religious affiliation or are atheist or agnostic.
48% identify more with Democrats; 35% with Republicans.
91% are satisfied with their relationships with their parents; 64% say parents have helped them with errands, housework and home repairs and 73% say they parents helped them financially in the past year.
85% are unmarried. Of those singles, 57% say they definitely want to marry and 28% probably do; 12% say they don't. Just over a quarter (27%) already have children. Among the childless, 52% definitely want children and another 34% probably do.
39% say they keep up with the news "a lot," 64% check in "from time to time." Only 34% do watch or listen to news regularly.
81% exercise at least weekly. One in five say they are in excellent physical condition and another 56% say they are in good condition.
But their habits are not all positive. In the seven days prior to being surveyed, 41% say they consumed alcohol; 31% smoked cigarettes and 9% took illegal drugs. Thirty percent believe it is OK to drink a lot of alcohol; 41% believe it's OK to smoke marijuana.
36% got a tattoo and 30% a body piercing in a place other than an ear lobe; 25% have dyed their hair a non-traditional color.
46% said sharing music or video files without paying was OK.
Overall, these young adults are content with their lives and extremely optimistic about the future: 84% say their life is excellent or good; 14% say fair or poor.
Of those who are employed, 70% don't think they make enough money to lead the kind of life they want, but 65% expect to earn enough in the future; 5% expect not to. make enough money.
The poll was conducted Sept. 6- Oct. 2 as part of MacNeil/Lehrer Productions' Generation Next project. USA TODAY is a reporting partner in the project but did not participate in funding the research. Margin of error for the subset of young respondents is plus or minus 5 percentage points; for the overall poll it is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
Posted 1/9/2007 2:46 PM ET
Monday, January 8, 2007
Monday Monday
It is a stinky Monday here in the city. http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/01/08/nyc.odor/index.html
Changing out the text of a link only works for me some of the time, but if anyone is interested they can read about the mysterious smell.
We did some shopping over the weekend. I used a couple of gift cards from christmas and had a great time. After shopping we used a gift card to Ruth Chris steakhouse. It was great food and the night did not cost us much! Here are a few photos of my purchases:
Store 1: The pottery barn. I liked my table the way it was decorated before, but now I love it! One of my complaints about how the house ended up (decorating wise) was that I made it too modern. So, this helps put the traditional look back into the house. I also bought pillows that match the runner. That will help tie the two rooms together since they are open to each other. The wood bowl I love!
Store 2: Macy's Macy's was tricky- there are so many departments and choices, but I made my mind up before going in that i would go to the home section. I picked out some dishes- really some I had been eyeing for some tome. It is hard to justify new dishes when you already have plates, so a gift card made it easy. Here is one of the place settings. I chose white because it seems timeless.
I also took photos of the den and spare bedroom yesterday. I just need to shrink them to upload.
More photos later...
Friday, January 5, 2007
Book Review
So, I finished "Everyone worth knowing" over Christmas and I really enjoyed it. I recommend the light read. I have picked up and read some of "Living the Seven Habits." It is not exactly a page turner, but I am still going to continue to give it a look. My sister gave me Bergdorf Blondes a while ago and told me I have to read it. So, that is probably next. It is supposed to be funny. A perfect bus read. I do want to pick up Mayada, Daughter of Iraq again. I had read a quarter or so of it and it was very good, but then we moved and I put it down for too long. The author (Jean Sasson) visited Wurzburg and Rebecca Sinclair initially told me about her. She visited around the time 1ID came home from Iraq the first time and there were the rounds of seminars for commanders and spouses. If you were part of the "coffee club" you may recall this conversation. In this book she tells a true story of a woman living in Iraq in the early 90's. She has many others as well. Very interesting.
Update
It turns out MW's ribs are not out of place at all and that he just had a freak tear or strain in a muscle. It is rather bazaar. The good thing is that he is starting to feel better. He has muscle relaxers that really help and the rest will take time.
I am so relieved it is Friday. I had another short week this week, but lately it feels like any time in the office is too much. Things were looking slightly up (from the deep abyss in the ground that I am lying in) around the office, but not up enough. I think my days are nearing an end here. I am hesitant to write this in a public domain, but I have had enough of this firm. MW is interviewing as we speak and once he decides his next move I will follow suit with a move of my own. It is important to have one person with stability at the very least, so I am sitting tight- Thinking long and hard - what next? A move is probably on our horizon, but we are movers so it is not a huge worry. I am not eager to leave my home. I LOVE my home. It takes so long to get comfortable in a new place. All of you Army wives know what I am talking about. If we move before May it will be our 6th move in five years. But, mark my words- I will not move again for a very long time! So this time we will make sure we have a yard and a little more space.
I hope everyone is well. Stay in touch- drop me a call, a message, or a reply on the blog. Take care.
I am so relieved it is Friday. I had another short week this week, but lately it feels like any time in the office is too much. Things were looking slightly up (from the deep abyss in the ground that I am lying in) around the office, but not up enough. I think my days are nearing an end here. I am hesitant to write this in a public domain, but I have had enough of this firm. MW is interviewing as we speak and once he decides his next move I will follow suit with a move of my own. It is important to have one person with stability at the very least, so I am sitting tight- Thinking long and hard - what next? A move is probably on our horizon, but we are movers so it is not a huge worry. I am not eager to leave my home. I LOVE my home. It takes so long to get comfortable in a new place. All of you Army wives know what I am talking about. If we move before May it will be our 6th move in five years. But, mark my words- I will not move again for a very long time! So this time we will make sure we have a yard and a little more space.
I hope everyone is well. Stay in touch- drop me a call, a message, or a reply on the blog. Take care.
Thursday, January 4, 2007
Well wishes for MW
The new year has not started off with the best of circumstances. Yesterday, while on a run, he managed to hurt his back. I say it in that way because it is sort of a mystery. For those of you who have known him since way back when you may recall back in OK his ribs dislocating on a run. It appears this has happened again, only this time the doctors "have heard of it, but never seen it before." He had x-rays and a cat scan yesterday. They could not see anything on the x-rays and we are waiting on the cat scan results. He has a visible bump or bumps on his back where it is hurt that when you rub your hand over feels like two ribs. Anyway, that is the assumption of what has happened, with no real explanation as to why. We are hoping for some answers today. Aside from the worry of extreme pain MW is also having trouble breathing. So, please keep him in your thoughts and prayers and I will post his diagnosis / cure as soon as I hear.
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
Happy New Year
Happy New Year Everyone!
It is hard to believe it is 2007! Crazy.
We ended up forgoing our plans to travel to NH this past weekend and opted to stay home. We were so tired from friends and family visiting that we really needed a minute to rest. Our New Years consisted of sitting on the couch and we could not have been happier about it! Next year we will do something exciting, but this year we were just happy to be awake at midnight.
I decided to dust off my sewing machine this weekend and pulled out some old material I bought for a quilt over two years ago. I tried something new - an inspiration from "the mama" and made a rag quilt. How to make a rag quilt(I did not make this "blossom" pattern quilt, but this is the idea). It was a lot more work than how I am used to quilting. I probably spent five hours cutting. In the end i am happy with the outcome, but am certain to go crazy pulling on the "ragged" edges. I am hesitant to post the quilt: Note: It is a baby quilt, but there is no baby! This will be the forth baby quilt I have made. So please do not jump to conclusions when you see it! Thanks. I have tried making quilts to give away, but in the end there is so much work that goes into them that I end up keeping them. So, I learned my lesson this time and know that this quilt will go in the pile of baby quilts for sisters or my own someday. There are all kinds of pressures from family members so I feel the need to stress this. Sorry to everyone else for the overkill on the topic.
On a different note, we have made two resolutions this year. One is to take better care of our bodies - be it nutrition, exercise, or mental health. The other is to save money. We got swept up in the new home and have not been saving like we should. So, we are now of frugal mind.
I will post photos soon of the newly completed den that we are spending ALL of our time in and the now infamous quilt.
Congratulations to JM on her engagement!
It is hard to believe it is 2007! Crazy.
We ended up forgoing our plans to travel to NH this past weekend and opted to stay home. We were so tired from friends and family visiting that we really needed a minute to rest. Our New Years consisted of sitting on the couch and we could not have been happier about it! Next year we will do something exciting, but this year we were just happy to be awake at midnight.
I decided to dust off my sewing machine this weekend and pulled out some old material I bought for a quilt over two years ago. I tried something new - an inspiration from "the mama" and made a rag quilt. How to make a rag quilt(I did not make this "blossom" pattern quilt, but this is the idea). It was a lot more work than how I am used to quilting. I probably spent five hours cutting. In the end i am happy with the outcome, but am certain to go crazy pulling on the "ragged" edges. I am hesitant to post the quilt: Note: It is a baby quilt, but there is no baby! This will be the forth baby quilt I have made. So please do not jump to conclusions when you see it! Thanks. I have tried making quilts to give away, but in the end there is so much work that goes into them that I end up keeping them. So, I learned my lesson this time and know that this quilt will go in the pile of baby quilts for sisters or my own someday. There are all kinds of pressures from family members so I feel the need to stress this. Sorry to everyone else for the overkill on the topic.
On a different note, we have made two resolutions this year. One is to take better care of our bodies - be it nutrition, exercise, or mental health. The other is to save money. We got swept up in the new home and have not been saving like we should. So, we are now of frugal mind.
I will post photos soon of the newly completed den that we are spending ALL of our time in and the now infamous quilt.
Congratulations to JM on her engagement!
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