[Well That's Just] INSANITY

Before I get into the meat of this entry, this is a dedication for Ali:

If you are reading this and in a spot today where you need a little encouragement, I hope maybe that helps. I know my friends are each irreplaceable for their own reasons, and I'm grateful to have them as support. I hope I can be an equally-supportive shoulder for each of them when it's needed, too! So Ali - chin up, dear friend.. it all happens for a reason. Love you!

This also seemed appropriate, in the spirit of supporting others, and because it's just. so. daggone COLD out there! [thank you, Facebook!]

Wouldn't it be amazing if we all DID this?! #Dreamer

Anywho, my day consisted of the standard whirlwind of work, after which I headed home thinking it would be straight to the kitchen for dinner. Instead, Rob surprised me with suggesting we open up and dig into my copy of Insanity.

I said, well... OKAY! :D

I will take the standard "body shots" for the before & after records a little later on; tonight was just the fit test :)

insanity... rawwrr!! 

Stay tuned! We'll be bustin' out of winter clothes just in time for summer fun haha.. Maybe. Cheer for us in the meantime, ok? :p

xo | cmd

Mega.. Monday.. Meltdown.

Monday doesn't have a track record of being my favorite day of the week. That being said, today was like the highlighted version of chaos in motion.

reasons i miss her.. already.. lol.

We lost another one today. I mean that to say that the Express crew is yet another man short after Christine tendered her resignation today. It's been a long time coming, and honestly, I admire her for sticking in there as long as she did. Major kudos for all her hard work. It was bittersweet to watch her go, but we're all in agreement that there are bigger, brighter opportunities awaiting her gracing, and I definitely hope they're ready. Best of luck in your next move, Christine.. I definitely hope to see you very very soon [as in.. we're scheduling a shoot, soon soon soon, yeah? Yeah :)..].

Now, I called it mega Monday meltdown because the early morning resignation business boiled quickly into an honest rant session during which myself and a coworker let loose, upon managements' beckoning, on the list of reasons life as we know it between 8am and 5pm has morphed into something more closely resembling a chore than the realization of anyone's real passion. *sigh. It might be a stretch to think we made a dent in the bubble, but I'm goin' that way..... anyway. Chyeah. Keep ya posted.

meltdown .. kiiiiiinda what i felt like today.

Phewwwwwwww.

Softball tonight was a chillier experience than Sydni and I had anticipated, spotted by poor little Easton taking a spill and taking a bleacher corner through the front of his gums. Ouchy... He's a little trooper though! I was reminded of those moments as a mom during which panic must be traded for the cool, calm and collected fixer-of-boo-boos. Thanks for the reminder, Robin :)

Well it has beeeeeen a day. I rounded it off with the first day of week 2 of INSANITY. Nothin' like rounding out one of those Mondays with some cardio resistance. Yep...

G'Nite :)

xo | cmd

Happy Birthday, Dad!



my dad. ♥

She spins and she sways
To whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I'm sitting here wearing
The weight of the world on my shoulders

It's been a long day
And there's still work to do
She's pulling at me
Saying "Dad, I need you

There's a ball at the castle
And I've been invited
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone...

She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed
She wants to know if I approve of the dress
She says, "Dad, the prom is just one week away
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone, she will be gone

Well, she came home today with a ring on her hand
Just glowing and telling us all they had planned
She says, "Dad, the wedding's still six months away
But I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone
- "Cinderella" by Steven Curtis Chapman
^That was the song to which I danced with my father at my wedding. I love it because it is my dad and me, and reminds me just how quickly my childhood flew by. Moreso it reminds me of the fact that my father is a remarkable man with a heart of gold and fierce passion to love his family and his friends. I love him so dearly and hope that today is the best birthday yet. Happy birthday, dad! ♥

----
Our pastor is back from vacation, and made with it to bring us a solid message on the parallel between olympian dedication to running the race and our plight to prevail in our own race of life. Very inspiring. Following closely behind the service was lunch at Applebee's with Becky, the kids, and Becky's mom before she headed back out of town. Jimmy, Mo, Jarod, and Julie made for great company, and we had some inevitable moments of laughing fits before we parted ways and I headed home to rest up before volleyball.

Volleyball proved to be more food than play at first; we were celebrating all of the August birthdays and Irene's farewell as she returns to college in a week or so. The perk behind having a barbeque before volleyball: getting home two hours earlier than I would have on a typical vball night when we make our stop at BDubbs after play is over. The weather was beautiful, the friends were awesome, and for a break in the INSANITY routine, it wasn't bad at all.

Not too shabby for a Sunday. Let's see what Monday has in store :)

xo | cmd

Doodles, Birthdays, & Sunglasses 8-)

Click Me. 

I had fun with that today.

There's a whole bunch of these fun lil' Olympic-themed guys. Haha
Yeeesh. Haha.

*****
Do ya one better though on the daily highlights:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JUSTIN!!!

russia & china! haha.. happy birthday!!

^^ Happy birthday, friend!! This is one of Joe's best friends from back home, and he's a riot. Hope today is the best birthday yet - we hope to see you soon, JB!! 

****

swag! LOL... 

Oh, and here's a silly thing from today that made us laugh at the office: Each of us staffing consultants have that handful of "favorite associates," the ones who will snag last minute assignments, grueling labor work, odd hours, and fill-ins. They're reliable, work with great urgency and ethic, and are predictable, in a good way. Today, I landed an interview for a long term position for one of my best associates, and he showed up with a token of gratitude [no fear, this wasn't a bribe, and it was clearly in a non-creepy context]. He lived in Hong Kong for quite some time, and had some knock off numbers - you can't tell by looking at them, and they're not typically in my range of style, but I thought it was pretty thoughtful.. and a reminder of the fact that my job is in fact affecting people's lives :). Pretty funny. 

P.S. - I'm on a whopping day 3 of INSANITY.
Slowly but surely... and sweaty, too. (: 

Happy midweek! 

xo | cmd

Friends On Tuesday

Nancy came back from Spain today! Welcome back from Spain, Nanc.. It's been a roooodeo here. So glad to have her back. That being said, it's been somewhat of a flurry of events from last week to now, and it doesn't look to be dissipating any time soon.. I have to admit, today was one of those days in which I left work feeling completely defeated, even in spite of leaving an hour early [to compensate for not taking a lunch]. Go figure.

I carried that irritating defeat home with me and channeled that into day TWO of INSANITY. In hindsight, it's probably a good thing I had some pent up emotion to use as fuel for that, because this thing's no joke, folks. Haha. I made it through day 2 though, and I'm still standing. I have high hopes :).

What I really didn't expect was be sought out in conversation by two different, unrelated girls I've known for years now, who've both been integral parts of my life at various stages, and both of whom I hold so dear still to my heart.

jen | circa 2008

Jen || Welp, it's been a long, winding, hill-infested road since I met her in in middle school. I was in 7th grade, she was in 6th, and we were quite the dramatically 1990's lookin' things.. I love everything about it. We've been through many of those angsty adolescent things that girls so typically go through feeling alone.. I was fortunate enough to see some of those things through with Jen, and her with me.. and from that stemmed a friendship that's lasted from then, until now, and I'm hoping for years to come. We've had roles in each others' weddings, shared in the joy and strains of new parenthood, but more importantly the transforming power of the GRACE of God that works so evidently in the real life struggles we seem to face individually but on parallel timing. Love. Her. to Pieces. 

arley | circa 2010

Arley || There's something to be said about a girl who helps you survive parts of your high school career without feeling like you're completely lost. Not just that, but someone who looks out for you after that when it comes to certain things, places and people about which you might've forgotten from being away for so long. I know without doubt that if and when I make it back to the good old Vern that I can find Arley, her adorable kiddos, and the rest of our friends from over the years ready to catch up, hang out, and kick back. She's always been the level-headed one in the midst of sticky situations, and for that I am oh-so-stinkin'-grateful. Hah. It also goes without saying that I need to arrange a high priority to reflect making a trip home.. SOON. Thanks lady, for everything (:

Anyway, I am anticipating something of a grueling 8-5 throughout the rest of this week at least, but I am so thankful for the refreshing conversation I had tonight, and for the timing it so precisely carried. I needed to slow down for a moment, and just breathe. I even feel pretty amped for day 3 of INSANITY tomorrow. We'll see if that particular resolve lasts past noon tomorrow ;). Just kiddin'.

Okay, week. Bring your best....

xo | cmd

[This is] INSANITY.

INSANITY, meet Cori.

INSANITY

Day 1: Done.

Holy cow.

I'll keep you posted.

xo | cmd