Morning amusement

I am a girl of habit and my morning ritual is down to the point that I am sure I walk over my footsteps from the morning before. I need ritual to make sure I get to work at the moment I have relented I am going to get in by determined by what time I actually step out of bed.

So, yes. The writing on the box of cereal DOES entertain me. Currently, my Cheerios box says something to the effect of, "Think of oats as sponges that can help soak up some cholestrol." This simple mental image always makes me smile a little more in the morning.
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One day in Glasgow, Jorge and I were hanging out cleaning or reading or vegging or something. I looked outside and saw these clouds which were absolutely amazing! Literally looked like large grey pillows or cotton balls. Everywhere! They eventually burned off and the day became normal, but it was sensational in the meantime. Loved them!!

Yes, it is over and life is heading back to normal

So I had a big presentation today. It was more big just because I made it a big deal. I am typically never bothered to talk in a crowd especially when they are not random strangers. This presentation was to the Practice Forum of my company. They are the people who say we need this tool or that. They are not the most important people in my company, but they will make decisions that can make a difference in everyone's life while we work through the day. They will say whether people will use hotmail or outlook because of the intensity of each program.
I self-taught myself this program that will do some energy models (long story exceptionally short ... you should be able to plan a building and tell EXACTLY down to the pennies how much your utility bills will be over the next 30 years and prove that I, as your ARCHITECT, made it as cheap and efficient as possible.) I am not great at teaching myself programs, but I did it well enough!! It definitely made its point. I am really happy that it elicited lots of debate.

Why do I care so much??? I don't know. Why is this arbitrary part of my job so important? This is really the first project or initiative that I think I pushed all on my own. I sat in meetings with two of my bosses and the other people that would work on the project and was willing to tell them ALL what to do! I took it on and was not led by anyone ... this is what I want to do. It went well. It was comprehensive ... and pretty much all the people on the project were equally satisfied in what they did to contribute. The people that pulled through REALLY pulled through. It is great and I want this to lead to the next level.
Yay! It went so well!!
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If life were a musical, this is how we would do the robot.

-Erica Loynd in a moment of genius.

It was 100% something you had to be there to appreciate, but this comment made my friend Lisa and I laugh A LOT. Loved it.
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A good building is worthy of contemplation. A great one rewards that contemplation.

Lawrence Creek, Special to the Seattle Post Intelligencer

The people that make up my little universe.

These are the people in my life that I need around me for very different reasons. I pretty much always deliberately keep friends from different groups mixing for no other reason than I like to have these people around me for very specific times. Not all of these people are still a constant in my life by any means, but they have definitely affected me somehow.
Here they are ... all that I can remember (present company will be at the end).
1. Lori makes my day at work seem do-able.
2. Sheri makes my day AFTER work seem do-able.
3. Noah stands up for himself in every action and will stare anyone down that doesn't appreciate him.
4. Jenn plans my social calendar (or at least makes sure I am invited to everything in hers).
5. Lisa makes me feel like I belong.
6. Raven will save the world one small step at a time, and Dario is holding on for the ride of a lifetime.
7. Haily and Aaron were destined to be my friends. I know it was meant to be.
8. Margot makes it easy to ask for a friend.
9. Julie wears glitter with me to every party so I don't seem weird.
10. Greg lets me be crude.
11. Denise makes Greg happy.
12. Aaron keeps me on my toes with quick wit and brainy comebacks.
13. Darrell and Devi never let my parties be forgotten no matter how different they are than their normal evening together.
14. Michele inspires me to read more.
15. Colette makes us all look beautiful.
16. Darron never lets me be a wallflower.
17. Paul makes you laugh with him.
18. Raquel is a rockstar.
19. Jackie flat out rocks. She is awesome without being in your face. She is subtle without disappearing in a crowd.
20. Janna is a future friend that I want to know more.
21. Judy made me feel like I was the only person in the world.
22. Elisabeth puts all her passion into you PLUS gives you a hug so hard to seal it right into your core.
23. Jorge reads me poetry ... still.
24. David taught me about the music that still makes my feet jiggle.
25. Isobel has conquered the world and gives me some of the credit.
26. Allison took half of myself in a completely different direction.
27. Brenda never lets time forget me and brings me into her life full stop when she can.
28. Meg reveals more of herself every time we talk ... she has some secrets. :)
29. Lynn fought to be my friend after time and life separated us.
30. Together, Missy and Jessie explore the world, not only physically but philosophically as well. No boundaries can really separate them from the world.
31. Jessie cherishes friendships more than the life itself, and gives you all her love when she feels a genuine partnership.
32. Missy just does what she does and brings you into her life full steam. Life is under her control.

33. Jesus (Hay-suess) answered Missy's hopes and dreams.

34. Dan pushes me in design.
35. Ashleigh knows just when to tell Dan to back off.
36. Ivan taught me everything I know. Tara keeps Ivan in touch with me.
37. Aaron O. is the coolest person I have ever met ... and somehow was able to call my friend.
38. Sara remains strong as life pushes her. Together, we started a new connection when we realized we had grown more together than our previous relationship would allow. Now we have the world to explore.
39. Des never forgets true friends for the attention of another. She remembers the promises and commitments and pays loyalty with quality conversations that share more than news and updates ... they are true experiences and emotions.
40. Angela shares her love for the world unconditionally, never expecting something in return. She accepts me for who I am and continually lights up when she learns more about me. She constantly reminds me that her life is not the same without me through her actions and emotions, not even needing to use the words.
These are the people that make up my world and made me who I am. I can't see them all mixing, but I cherish them each as individuals.