Opportunity Costs

While some of you know my aspirations for international experience, to some this could be a surprise. My undergraduate degree has an itty bitty minor attached in International Business, and my MBA has an international and entrepreneurial focus.

I like to travel. Most of the time I look for opportunities to leave home at least once a month, but sometimes more. It amazes me that I get this urge to pack up an leave every now and then because I sure do love coming back home. Three days is the perfect vacation in my eyes.

This is all coming up because within the next year it is our plan to move. The jury is still out on foreign v. domestic, but the move is on. My immediate options in the US would be Boston, MA, Reston, VA, Redwood City, CA, or Minneapolis, MN. Internationally we have Mississauga, ON, Canada; Bangalore, India; Bogota, Columbia; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Syndey, Australia.

It is important and more convenient to have these international experiences earlier in order to better position myself for future career opportunities, but there are many things to think about. What are your thoughts?

The Hunt for Red (& Blue) October

No, this is not a review for a movie that came out in 1990.

It's now the 3rd week of September... and guess what? We're three games away from the division championship -and it's been a while since Boston did that. I was excited to see Manny this morning on Sports Center (Haven't seen him for the last 25 games) and we're on our way! Granted... it's not May anymore -we're not 11 or 15 games ahead of the Yankees, but I'll take 3. The next 6 games are against the A's (who Boston beat last night) and the Twinns -which don't have the best record in the league (.490). So... that's promising.

Not to mention that the Yankee's have 5 more games to TRY and catch up. (They're playing the last 2 ranked teams in the division... but they lost to Tampa Bay last night -so there's hope.)

Kathy -looks like you'll get your money's worth out of that extra cable package you purchased for the play-off games afterall!

How to Run a 5K

I'm not a runner. I do, on occasion run on a treadmill or at Sugar House Park, but I'm not a 'runner'. Thanks to my spinning classes (oddly enough I'm not really a 'biker' either, but I'm enjoying spinning) I feel like my endurance has increased quite a bit... but my achy joints do not appreciate much running.

However... I wanted to share my running program for the last 2 weeks in order to get ready for this Saturdays race. (http://www.drapertheater.com/)

Spinning twice a week. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Elliptical's every other that I'm at the gym. No running so far. Actually, I did run for 12 minutes last week -it nearly killed me.

How is it that I can practically race on an elliptical -not to mention during spinning class- but when it comes to actually running I fall short. We'll see how Saturday goes!

How much is too much?

This is a question that can be asked of many different things. I asked myself this last night in regards to estrogen. How much estrogen (in a room) is too much? I'm not a real 'girly girl' and I've never had large groups of girlfriends -although my numbers did got up when my guy friends started marrying off and I needed a new group of friends. The idea of a large room full of (mostly) women frightens and intimidates me. I could only IMAGINE how poor Justin felt last night.

Justin was one of 4 or 5 guys last night at a 'special guests dinner' at a golf course we went to. He almost left me there by myself to go hit a few golf balls, but I showed him a couple of other men, and he reluctantly joined me.

This is all leading up to WHY we were in this estrogen-filled room last night. And, here it is... my big announcement... I don't know why I'm stalling...

I've decided to give Mary Kay a chance. -Not THE Mary Kay (she passed away a little while ago) but her company. I've been thinking about it for over a month now, and after Justin gave the marketing plan a solid OK, we decided to take the plunge. I'm not that big into make-up, but I've really liked the Mary Kay product over the years and would like to use it, and if I can make a little money while doing it, why not, right?

Actually, I could give you a list of "why nots"', -it's right next to my list of "'why to's", but I've nearly forgotten them, and I'm looking forward the upcoming challenge. Sort of.

So... please don't start screening my calls, I promise not to be a 'Mary Kay Stalker' (one of their terms, not mine), but, I might beg a few of you to be my guinea pigs and let me try out my sweet party skills on you one of these days. I promise to not put hot pink lipstick on any of you -unless that's what you're in to!

A Dear Friend

I got a call from my friend, Tracy, from New Zealand last night. Actually she's called a couple of times this weekend, and I've always missed her calls. We finally caught up last night. She mentioned that they have the Internet at her house now, and when she googled my name (or searched, I guess I'm not sure if she actually 'googled' it) she ended up find this blog!

YEAH!

Tracy, I love you and miss you. You're an inspiration to me everyday. I wish you and your family all the best. Hope you get to stay out of hospital and start feeling better soon. Tell Paul that I'll be around one of these days for that coffee he's aways promised me!

Tagged

This was from my cousin Annie...

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car)
Barney Legacy

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)
Americone Dream Oreo

3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name)
M-Laf
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)
Purple Dog
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)
Hardcastle Provo (yet one more reason why girls need middle names)

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first)Laf-Me
7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink)
The Red Water
8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers)
DeWayne Donald

9. STRIPPER NAME: (the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy)
Happy Kit Kat

10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names )
Petersen Bryan (Another reason why girls need middle names)

11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter)
Neiswander Newark

12. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower)
Spring Daisy

13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”)Watermelon skirty

14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree)
Fiber One Cottonwood

15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”)
The Reading Rain Tour

A night out

Justin and I bought season tickets to the symphony and went last night. The music was great and the guest who played the piano was really good and quite entertaining.
Here are my other observations of the evening...

1. A guy in jeans with white adidas shoes and pink stripes

2. A girl wearing a hot pink dress that looked like it couldn't decide to be a prom dress or a night gown.


3. Said girl in pink had on high heels that had CLEAR HEELS and they lit up like kids sneakers -I'm not joking.

4. A women with TWO of those walking poles that look a awful lot like ski poles

5. A guy in a tux wearing a bolo tie where the middle thing was at LEAST 5 inches tall.



6. A banana clip

7. A couple sat down next to us and said that we were in their seats. Justin looked at their tickets, and we were indeed in their seats. But, since their tickets were for the 15th, and it happened to be the 14th, we decided to stay just where we were.


8. A guy sitting next to me wearing green pants, blue socks, brown shoes and a black jacket.


9. Two gentleman in front of us who might have wished they were somewhere else. Before and during intermission they were talking about their fantasy football leagues.


10. And my favorite was an older man in front of my in line at the drinking fountain during intermission. He was wearing a red suit (it was made out of that fake silk looking material that's really thin and almost scratchy). It wasn't just a red suit... it was jacket, shirt and tie, all made out of the same material. Along with the matching pants, that were AT LEAST 6 inches too short and brown socks and shoes. Hot.