"Life can only be understood backwards - but must be lived forwards."



Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Hold On Tight, Spidermonkey

Okay....if you know what my title means...we have to talk! :-)
















I'm having a Carrie Bradshaw moment...I remember there was an episode of SATC where she talks about the 3 big things you're always looking for...
-The perfect man
-The perfect apartment
-The perfect job

At that point, Carrie had the perfect job and apartment - but was missing the man. She talks about "when we have 2 out of the 3, it should be a great thing - but why do we let the one thing we don't have bring us down even though we have the other two?" That's a bit how I am feeling currently. I definitely have the perfect guy for me in my life and couldn't be happier in that respect. I am also truly lucky because me and my guy are looking for and going to buy a house together. It is a process but it is so much fun and so exciting for us and our future. So here I am with two amazing things in my life - yet the one thing that I don't have - a decent job - seems to be bringing me down. This has been a constant struggle for me for the past 3 years, pretty much. My current job has been a disaster. Nothing about it has been what I thought it would be. It was actually a step backwards for me from my previous job - I didn't think that was possible. Because of certain people around me and what they think I'm capable of and the potential I lack - it has lead me to start to believe some of those things. It is hard not to start to believe things when they are presented to you day after day - hard to not let those negative things seep in. I wish I had my college-self back. My mind was so much more clear about what I could do if I set my mind to it. I did SO MUCH in college - so much of what I set out to do and what people didn't think I would be able to do. But, I did it - and things just kept falling into place for me. My career was one of the biggest motivators for me and through that it became so much of my identity. It was a part of who I was and I clung to it. I had so much passion for what I was doing - it was always such a rush for me. I would sit back and look at all I have done and all I wanted to do, and I would be so proud of myself. It lasted for a little bit after I graduated college - but definitely completely disappeared when I left my last job working at the Hennepin Theatre District. That was where I wanted to be, I just wasn't in the position I wanted to be in. And, I wasn't going to make any more money there or move up in the near future - so I left. Among other reasons - I also left because I wasn't being treated the way I thought I should be - definitely lacking in respect from authorities. On the contrary, I had/have so many amazing friends there. People that I am still in contact with and who definitely care about my happiness in the work place. It is so hard when the head people ruin things for you and don't see the potential and passion that people have. But, you can't control other people - trust me, I've tried - and sometimes you just need to move on. So I moved on. Moved on to a job that I thought would help me develop my skills more and give me room to succeed. Boy, was I mistakened. I know that I could ramble on and on about this - and probably have to most people reading this - but it comes down to the fact that my job shouldn't even exsist. There is not enough work or responsibility for this position and it is a waste of time and money. It doesn't quite make you feel too good when you know that you aren't really needed. And there isn't as much purpose for your job or your time doing any work. I'll try to wrap this up, because the "poor me" get's old. Like I've told my sister, at this point, sometimes I feel a little guilty that I have a job yet I'm looking for a new one since there are SO many people who have gotten laid off and are looking for work. I understand the situation and I completely sympathize. I FULLY know that I am extremely lucky to have my job and have insurance and the whole nine. but at the same time, I think-I KNOW- I deserve job happiness. I know that not a whole lot of people love their job - I get that - but I would just like to go to work and not get a stomach ache or feel anxious about what will go wrong or who will be upset and unfairly let it out on everyone around them. I don't have to LOVE my job (at least for now), I just really want it to be bareable and for me to walk away knowing that whatever I was doing was making a difference, even in the smallest way. And I want to be surrounded by people who have a bigger sense of the world and of life. People that enjoy my sarcastic humor and inappropriate jokes. I'm just looking for people with a little perspective. That is so lacking these days - and I am constantly in need of it. Perspective is my word of 2009. So often we need it to pull us back to reality. In my reality, I'm looking for a satisfying job or more fulfilling way to spend 40 hours a week - if you know of anything.... ;-)
So there is my job/work shpeal.
I know I have to practice what I preach and put things into perspective of how lucky I am to have a job, but more importantly that I have people around me that love me and care for me and are there for me when I need them. In the end, that's all that really matters.

Sunshine and Lollypops,

noelle m.

Friday, January 9, 2009

Lucky

Check out this brand new video of Jason Mraz's song Lucky featuring Colbie Caillat!

One of my very favorites....




Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Typical Situation....

2009 - Who knew?!?!

I still can't believe that this decade is almost over!!! Where did the time go?
2008 was a good year. Got a new job - wait, that wasn't a good move. haha

But I became (kinda) an aunt this year, so that is an EXCELLENT thing!
Went on some amazing vacations -

Disney World.....
New York City.....



















and some fun
mini trips - ie: Milwaukee, Kansas City. All in all, it was a good year - but I'm onto bigger and better things.

Christmas was nice though - I had so much fun watching othe
rs open the gifts I gave them and had some fun opening gifts of my own! hehe

Here is a picture of Elizabeth & Bryan with their gifts from Rian and I. We made them a big basket full of different movies and all of their favorite treats to go along with movie watching! That is one of the only things that they get to do together and spend time with each other because of the busy schedule of Bryan - and we figured movies would come in ha
ndy for those 3am feedings as well! :-)
Including the best gift of all - from my nephew - he wrote me a card and everything! He gave me a picture of him in his Momma's belly! The best part of it all was that my sister asked me to be his Godmother and it is one of the most special things to ever happen to me.
I cried, of course, cuz that's what I do. But it just really adds even more to everything.
I keep thinking I can't love that little guy any more than I already do - but I do! :-)
Here is a bad picture I just took of the frame that I got with an ultrasound of the little guy. He really is a tiny miracle that I can't wait to meet!!!

New Years Eve was fun as well. We went to my friend Kelly's house for a party. The theme was - What is going to come back and be big in 2009?
I have no idea how I got Rian to do this but Rian and I wore a couple of my old *NSYNC shirts! It was great! I would die if they came back in 2009, but I think I have to wait a f
ew more years for that reunion. lol
All in all, it was a super great night and so much fun to be with my high school friends who I love so much but do not get to see very often. Here is Monica, Me and Kelly on the couch at Kellys.

It is funny how when you are in high school - the friends that you have, you are around them 24/7. I remember entire weekends I would stay at my friend's houses and not think twice about it. Pretty much every single weekend I would spend at least one maybe two nights at either Monica or Kelly's houses. Of all the ages that we are, it seems like those high school years are the most friend intense years - and then college comes along and everything changes! Stupid growing up! But I will say that I treasure those years of friendship - and even though living that way and seeing friends that often isn't really plausible from now on - it is amazing to have those memories and a blast reliving those times. These days, it certainly isn't the quantity of time you spend with people, it is the quality of that time, even if it is limited.

So far 2009 has gotten off to a decent start. Looking forward to many changes in the coming year....relationships and babies (not mine) and houses and lots of change - which I'm awesome at adjusting to...maybe not....but maybe 2009 will be the year of the good, not so scary changes!
That sounds like a plan!

I'll drink to that!

Happy 2009!!!

**This blog is in part brought to you by Jaclyn Davern - who consistantly reminds me to update my blog....without her - many of these blogs would not be possible. This one's for you JD!