Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Phew!

Done with another session of classes. Just finished two finance classes that were pretty fun. I had to do a huge analysis project about two publicly traded companies and calculate financial ratios for three years (using income statements, balance sheets, and stock information). I feel very smart that I completed it and didn't feel totally lost when I was doing it.

Tomorrow I start into two new classes for another six week session. The two classes are Cultural Diversity and Human Relations which is a psychology class...guess I missed out on those two 'generals' before. I'll be glad to get them out of the way. I definitely have lots of PE credits from playing basketball...and I took a hip-hop dance class...and a piano class...those were the fun days of college. haha. Seriously, though, they do require classes like that!


I just mapped out my seven mile run for the morning. We live at the base of the south hills of Missoula and I decided I really need to run somewhere different than down 39th and Higgins. So I'm going to run straight up the hill, across the hill and back down, making a seven mile circle back to my house. That'll get the legs burning.

Fitting running into the schedule has been tough - but I'm always glad when I go...and I HAVE to do it or I won't be able to finish the marathon, so...14 miles on Saturday. I ran the Missoula Half Marathon a couple weekends ago and was very pleased with how I felt, and with my time. I ran with Carla, who I worked with at GB in Kalispell, and her sister - both Chicago marathon veterans. I'll be running with Carla this year in Chicago...her sister will be way ahead as she is trying to get a Boston Marathon qualifying time.


My job is getting better. At first I did not enjoy it and found it not to be what I was expecting it to be. Luckily, my supervisor just asked me to move into a different position and tackle a huge monster project. I won't get into the details - but let's just say that it's a challenge that I'm excited about. My work days are so busy, and there are big rewards ahead. I told the girls at GBCI before I moved, that I was going to take on a new persona at my new job as the "Quiet girl" They all laughed and took bets on how long it would last. Well...two people today told me that I was the quietest person that's ever worked in the office! I was glad to hear that for two reasons: 1) It means that I CAN go without telling stores and blabbing... and 2) It means that I am working hard and getting stuff done. The reason I have such a huge monster project is probably because the person who's position I moved into is no longer there because she DID talk too much and work too little. Best part is (about the new position) that I don't have to deal with the truck drivers. If they were all as nice and gentlemanly as Uncle Ed it'd be alright, but they're not! Enough about the job.


Jesse starts school on the 22nd of August and is looking forward to it. He has a jam-packed schedule and will be very busy. For now, Paige and him are hanging out in the day and they're just the best little buddies. He's been working at Gold's gym but will probably not even be able to do that when school starts - then he'll focus on school and training a few clients in the evenings.


Paige is sweet and fun as ever. She gives us kisses all the time. She loves all of our neighborkids. We live in a great kid-friendly neigborhood. Some very nice kids. One girl calls Paige "pay-pay," and Jesse told her one day, "Anytime the silver car is out there you can come knock on the door because that means that Brenda and Paige are home." She knocks on the door everyday! She's sweet though, so it's ok. Paige stands on the sidewalk and yells at the kids until they come running over and shower her with attention.


Enough writing - here is a picture of our place. Come see us sometime - we can go shopping!


Monday, July 28, 2008

Here it is...

Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird. *Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.* Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. I love sneezing.
2. I can NOT keep a plant or flower alive even when I really try :(
3. Now that I work at a trucking company I look at trucks to see if I recognize the drivers' name. I remember when I used to think it was so funny that my dad always checked out the U-haul's as they drove by.
4. I haven't had a piece of white bread in YEARS!
5. We live within one minute walking distance to Safeway and WalMart - it's great!
6. My favorite candy is the purple bag of skittles, and candy canes at christmas. Oh yeah, and cinnamon bears.
7. I finally started drinking coffee - only as a form of office etiquette :) and weekend shopping fun. I fill the cup about half coffee and half water, then mix in a packet of sugar-free hot chocolate and some sugar-free vanilla or white chocolate creamer. (Sugar-free is the trick to keep it from being too sweet).

Jesse's 7....
1. I'm not really that wierd.
2. I keep my thoughts to myself, mostly. Especially when they're just ideas that haven't happened yet.
3. I really like blueberries and cream protein shakes.
4. I am a much better cook than my wife. (She says so).
5. I can eat the exact same thing every meal everyday for weeks on end.
6. I used to trick my brother into making me sandwiches everyday by telling him that I would time him to see how "fast" he could do it...I never counted...and he still made them.
7. I can clap.....with one hand!


Paige's 7... (this was the most fun)
1. I say "uh-oh" and THEN throw something on the ground.
2. I like to empty sock and underwear drawers...and it's really fun to pull paired socks apart.
3. I haven't spit-up for months!
4. I can still wear 6 month size clothing, even though I'm more than twice that age!
5. I poop about three times a day.
6. I make my parents look alike...I really bring this family together nicely.
7. I have a huge shoe collection - and at this point I can only fit into four of them.

We tag.....
Grandpa and Grandma Braaten http://www.daleandbonniebraaten.blogspot.com/
Dan and Elaine Parsons http://deparsons.blogspot.com/
Danelle Parsons http://danelleparsons.blogspot.com/
Becky Nachtigal http://bbnachtigal.blogspot.com/
Tom and Jo Clark http://tomandjoandco.blogspot.com/
Alison Harris http://hugsfromus.blogspot.com/
Heather Thompson - oh wait nobody knows what your blogspot is!