February Plight for Light

I decided I need sun in February. Time to break up the gloom and get a little vitamin D restoration. So I took myself on a little joyride- to Vegas and St George. My aunt had a condo rented out in St George that I took advantage of and I spent a day and night with Katrina in Vegas. I watched the weather and picked a week that by the end reached 70 degrees. That may not sound tropical, but the week before it was 0 degrees and 70 degrees made me giddy (and sunburned). Just a little pink... but I was so excited to be pink. I decided that I would treat myself to the things I had never given myself the expense to do. Besides, it was also Valentines weekend and no one else is going to treat me to a fantastic getaway- so I gave it to myself. I saw Cirque's O, went shopping at the Vegas outlets and was going to hike Angels Landing- but ran out of time so I hiked through a ravine and scampered on boulders and watched some climbers in an area next to the condo instead. Dangerous- that is all I have to say about the outlets in Vegas- 2 watches, a wallet, purse, belt, and fabulous pair of boots later... PS I would go and see O again in a heartbeat. By the end of the great February plight for light I was rejuvenated. It is amazing what a little light can do.

Winter

Winter is not the easiest of seasons for me. I like it- I really do- but only for 2 months. After that, I'm done. Done with the cold, done with digging my car out of the snow to go to work in the morning, and done with being light deprived. So this year I invested in skiing. A ski pass, skis, and a couple of lessons. I figured with all my time off I could really put it to use. I am not sure I have accomplished as much as I set out to do... but I have made progress and I think it has helped. I realize I could do more than I have with my ski pass. But without it I am not sure I would have made it up there much at all. There is something about doing everything by yourself all the time that makes motivation more difficult- even when you love something. Why is it that most things are better shared?

I am definitely not to the point of loving skiing, yet. I am not sure that I destined to love skiing as much as my friends. Perhaps the patients I see during my work week make me a little more cautious than the average skier. All the broken backs, necks, legs, arms... There was one skier who we thought might end up with an amputated leg. But... I am enjoying having a better reason for the snow.

But it is March and I am really ready for the blah of winter to fade into the brightness of spring.

Christmas Pictures 2010

By the time I was done writing about Christmas, I didn't have the patience to add pictures. So here they are. Christmas breakfast, the stocking Santa left for me, the beautiful front room my roommates create every year, and all my friends that where there with me on Christmas in their paper picture form.

Kaylee McOmber

Kaylee Nicole was born Dec 8, 2010. It will be nice and easy to remember how old she is... She managed to claim her own day from her sister by 5 days. It is the first time I have been able to visit the new arrivals in the hospital. All the others did not plan well for Aunt Heather to welcome them early on. The funny thing is that Kaylee was unintentionally named after my mother and I. Heather Kenna- one of the older sisters of Kaylee was intentionally named after my mother and I. But Kaylee is my middle name and my mothers middle name combined. Tim and Andrea didn't even realize. I will take it- gladly. Aunt Anginette and cousin Clara were also there to greet the newest McOmber.
So happy to have you here Kaylee~

Thanksgiving 2010- Homeward Bound

It's time to get caught up again. I realize Thanksgiving was a while ago- but there it is. My parents and I back home in California. Truly a beautiful place. And doesn't my mom set a nice table. The clock is a famous spot in San Fran- Meet me at the clock- it's in a hotel at Union Square. The history behind it was very interesting. Emily would be proud of me for stopping to read about it.

Just as an update... no goals set yet. I know- a little pathetic. I'm working on it...

New Year's Resolution

It's a new year. 2011. Not only is it a new year but it is a solid 16 days and counting into the new year. And, I haven't any resolutions for the year. It's true. I don't really like goal setting- I find myself at times overwhelmed at the prospect. But I do love the theory behind goal setting and new year's resolutions. Perhaps my resolution might be to start to set and meet goals. I had a friend once tell me about the studies done on setting and meeting goals. Goal setters have increased satisfaction and joy in life than non goal setters. AND there is little to no difference in the amount of satisfaction and joy gained by meeting small goals verus big goals. This has actually helped me start to make some small goals. For example- everytime I have gone skiing I have set a small goal for me to accomplish that day. In the beginning it was getting off the chair lift and making it down the hill. The next time it was to go down the green run 6x. And it continued on from there. I must admit- there has been a sense of success at the end of the day because of these goals. I could look at the fact that I am still a beginner and obviously so, but thanks to my goal setting I see it as an accomplishment. It does make my stand against goals start to weaken some. I wonder if there is a good formula for setting goals. I am sure there is an organizational behavior thesis out there on goal setting designed to help all theh poor people like me who sit there with a blank stare wondering what goals should I make when an attempt to write some out is made. Perhaps I have a serious case of goal writers block. I feel like I need to "look around at what other people wrote" and copy off their ideas. Truly am I the only one who suffers with this? Maybe the only one who will admit it. So I think I am going to stick with my new years resolution- as odd as it may sound- I resolve to start setting and meeting goals. Objective and measureable goals. Many small ones, a couple moderate ones, and perhaps one big goal. Now I just have to decided what they will be.