Perhaps the greatest thing about having graduated, next to being able to spend time with TJ, is that I can read for pleasure again. I'm going through a good 3-4 books a week and I LOVE it. That said, I'd love some book suggestions! I'm going to the library tonight and would love some ideas on what to pick up.
Hint: I like happy endings.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Dear Annie
Dear Annie,
Please tell me your email address. I lost my phone contacts and though I think I remember your phone number I don't want to risk it. :)
Rachie
Please tell me your email address. I lost my phone contacts and though I think I remember your phone number I don't want to risk it. :)
Rachie
Monday, November 5, 2012
Rhapsody in Blue
First, a shout out to Froggy: I love you. Thanks for reading.
Second, please, one of my six readers, tell me you know Rhapsody in Blue. TJ surprised me with tickets to the Utah Symphony on Friday where I was (this will sound unbelievable, but I promise it's true) moved to tears by the beauty and magnificence of Rhapsody in Blue. I sat in the gorgeous Abravanel Hall (in the aisle seat, because TJ knows that's always my preference) thinking This is it. This is the kind of moment I'll look back on in the future with fondness. This is a moment that is creating a memory: right now I'm not in a rush to be anywhere else, I'm not waiting for the concert to end, the night to be over, the dinner tomorrow, Church on Sunday - I am here and now and my gosh, this is gorgeous.
It was a feast for both my ears and my heart. I was so grateful to be there, to be blessed with a love of music - not the kind most people listen to, admittedly, but the beauty of Classical music - and to be with the love of my life watching and listening to something so magnificent.
I think the world would be much happier if everyone started the day listening to Rhapsody in Blue.
Second, please, one of my six readers, tell me you know Rhapsody in Blue. TJ surprised me with tickets to the Utah Symphony on Friday where I was (this will sound unbelievable, but I promise it's true) moved to tears by the beauty and magnificence of Rhapsody in Blue. I sat in the gorgeous Abravanel Hall (in the aisle seat, because TJ knows that's always my preference) thinking This is it. This is the kind of moment I'll look back on in the future with fondness. This is a moment that is creating a memory: right now I'm not in a rush to be anywhere else, I'm not waiting for the concert to end, the night to be over, the dinner tomorrow, Church on Sunday - I am here and now and my gosh, this is gorgeous.
It was a feast for both my ears and my heart. I was so grateful to be there, to be blessed with a love of music - not the kind most people listen to, admittedly, but the beauty of Classical music - and to be with the love of my life watching and listening to something so magnificent.
I think the world would be much happier if everyone started the day listening to Rhapsody in Blue.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Dinner: A Love Story
Perhaps more than anything, this book made me want to start cooking more fancy dishes: fish tacos with pineapple salsa, pork ragu with pappardelle, the works. It was a refreshing read that I've got all marked up: highly recommend it, especially if dinner is important for you.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
And That's a Wrap
Yesterday I finished my final for my last class of my MBA. I did it. With all the support and encouragement I received along the way, I think it would be better phrased WE did it.
And it feels really, really good.
The Happiness Project
I just finished reading The Happiness Project and it seems everyone I've spoken to has gotten an earful about how wonderful it is: the ideas! the genuine voice of the author! the captivating tone! I really enjoyed it (and would recommend you read it!) A few of the great ideas I've pulled from it:
1. Doing little things often can have a big impact (just as doing a huge thing every once in a while).
2. Act the way you want to feel.
3. Make your passwords (to email, your computer, etc.) single word reminders for goals you have.
She has a new book, Happier at Home, that I've already preordered coming out in September.
Happy reading!
1. Doing little things often can have a big impact (just as doing a huge thing every once in a while).
2. Act the way you want to feel.
3. Make your passwords (to email, your computer, etc.) single word reminders for goals you have.
She has a new book, Happier at Home, that I've already preordered coming out in September.
Happy reading!
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Sunday, May 6, 2012
"Red File" - Part 1
I attended a preparedness class yesterday that has me very motivated to get prepared. This class was one in a series of four on preparedness, including things like food storage and financial preparedness. Perhaps what struck me most about this class was that much of what we discussed costs nothing to do, but could mean the world to you if a disaster were to happen.
My blog doesn't really have a theme, but forgive me if for the next little while I post things on preparedness: I feel like everyone should do SOMETHING to start being prepared.
DON'T FEEL OVERWHELMED. I'll break this down into workable sections. :)
The first thing to do is get your "Red File" in order. This is the file you would grab if someone knocked on your door and said "There's been a chemical spill, you have 1 minute to be out of the house." The best part is that it doesn't cost money to put this together.
Please note that leaving this marked "Important Documents" or "Emergency File" is like gift-wrapping identity theft. Though I believe these should all be stored together, you want them in a secure (or very unassuming) place that nobody would find if they didn't know it was there.
To keep things simple, we'll call this "Red File Part One". Gather the following:
1. Copy of driver's license
2. Birth Certificates, naturalization papers
3. Social Security Cards and information
4. Immunization records
5. Deeds, Titles and Trust information
6. Mortgage loan information
7. Insurance policy information for auto, home, life, business
I'll post more in a few days: happy gathering!
My blog doesn't really have a theme, but forgive me if for the next little while I post things on preparedness: I feel like everyone should do SOMETHING to start being prepared.
DON'T FEEL OVERWHELMED. I'll break this down into workable sections. :)
The first thing to do is get your "Red File" in order. This is the file you would grab if someone knocked on your door and said "There's been a chemical spill, you have 1 minute to be out of the house." The best part is that it doesn't cost money to put this together.
Please note that leaving this marked "Important Documents" or "Emergency File" is like gift-wrapping identity theft. Though I believe these should all be stored together, you want them in a secure (or very unassuming) place that nobody would find if they didn't know it was there.
To keep things simple, we'll call this "Red File Part One". Gather the following:
1. Copy of driver's license
2. Birth Certificates, naturalization papers
3. Social Security Cards and information
4. Immunization records
5. Deeds, Titles and Trust information
6. Mortgage loan information
7. Insurance policy information for auto, home, life, business
I'll post more in a few days: happy gathering!
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Graduation
Oh yeah - tomorrow is graduation. I'm walking, receiving my MBA. Maybe earning would be the better word. Either way, it's kind of exciting - I am ecstatic about having merited a hood and am looking forward to celebrating the day. For me it's a pretty big deal.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Our Neighborhood Now
These pictures show what our neighborhood looks like now. In the past two years, since we've lived here, we've probably seen 30 homes go up. I realized that if we're still here in thirty years, it would be fun to reminisce about how things looked now. So here are some pictures to show how things look now: trust me, they're changing every day.
I love where we live.
Hopeful
Is there anything in this world more hopeful than seeing the trees you planted last fall come into bloom in the spring?
Friday, March 2, 2012
Brazil Through Pictures
The hotel - floor eleven, room 1110 
Turn 90 degrees from the hotel and...ta da! The office - the tall building. Just a very quick walk past all the beer-drinkers (this restaurant is always open) and, at night, a good 30 sets of eyes staring at me.
The front doors to the store/showroom of the office. We don't work here - the office staff is on the first and third floors.
The office I work in - Leonardo, Joao, Carol and William. Elias and Marcio are missing.
My little work station, the filing cabinets, the fridge, water and coffee (they have a person that works in the building that just brings pitchers of coffee and water and washes everyone's glasses - very interesting) and the bathrooms behind.
And...that's about all I saw of Brazil. :) Oh, and traffic - lots and lots of traffic (which the first two pictures don't show - this was the best part of the traffic. :))
Dear Sao Paulo, I'm really happy to go home to my family. But I will miss your sunshine and your 75 degree weather.
Brazil Through Emails - Day 4
Hi Mama,
It's nearly 11 - I'm still up working. Not enough hours in the day.
My flight leaves at 9:30. To make it in time, I'm leaving between 4 and 4:30 - people at the office said 2 hours to get there and allow 4 hours for Customs. That means I need to cut an hour somewhere. :) I hope I don't have any issues - I just want to come home.
I love you,
Rachel
It's nearly 11 - I'm still up working. Not enough hours in the day.
My flight leaves at 9:30. To make it in time, I'm leaving between 4 and 4:30 - people at the office said 2 hours to get there and allow 4 hours for Customs. That means I need to cut an hour somewhere. :) I hope I don't have any issues - I just want to come home.
I love you,
Rachel
Brazil Through Emails - Day 3, Part 2
Hi my dear,
I am glad to be missing the dreary also. The weather here has been fantastic - 75-80 degrees and sunny most of each day. Don't worry, I cherish my 90 second walk to the office in the morning. :) When I leave at night it's already dark, but still warm. I so appreciate the warmth and have liked the walks to and from lunch every day (though frankly I wish we could skip the lunches and leave the office earlier, but alas).
Hang in there - summer is coming. Some people have started planting their "starters" for gardens. I suppose I should start thinking about finishing our yard now, huh? :) We're skipping out on the Europe trip with my family to be able to finish it - I can't hardly wait to have a barbecue.
I'm just hanging in there out here. I slept very poorly last night because I didn't take a sleeping pill. I'm very much on the fence for tonight - I know it causes weight gain, but I'm so desperate for the rest. What's a girl to do?
Guess what? I'm over halfway! I leave Friday afternoon. The airport is only 15 miles from here, but we drove out to the area today for a warehouse visit and it took over 2 hours. It took that long for me to get to the hotel Monday also. Some of my coworkers have sat in traffic for 3-4 hours and others have sat in Customs for that long... So, my flight leaves at 9:30 PM on Friday and Friday is the heavier traffic day. Suggestions on what time to leave? I'm thinking 4:00. Does that just sound insane for an airport the same distance as we live from ours? I can't quite get over it. Seems like I should rent a bicycle, which I'd feel a lot more comfortable doing if I wasn't convinced I'd be killed - these people are CRAZY drivers. Wow.
Anyway, it's nearly 10:30 here and I just am going to call it quits with work. I'm going to get ready for bed, call TJ, and (hopefully) get some sleep. I hope you're doing well.
Lots of love,
Rachel
I am glad to be missing the dreary also. The weather here has been fantastic - 75-80 degrees and sunny most of each day. Don't worry, I cherish my 90 second walk to the office in the morning. :) When I leave at night it's already dark, but still warm. I so appreciate the warmth and have liked the walks to and from lunch every day (though frankly I wish we could skip the lunches and leave the office earlier, but alas).
Hang in there - summer is coming. Some people have started planting their "starters" for gardens. I suppose I should start thinking about finishing our yard now, huh? :) We're skipping out on the Europe trip with my family to be able to finish it - I can't hardly wait to have a barbecue.
I'm just hanging in there out here. I slept very poorly last night because I didn't take a sleeping pill. I'm very much on the fence for tonight - I know it causes weight gain, but I'm so desperate for the rest. What's a girl to do?
Guess what? I'm over halfway! I leave Friday afternoon. The airport is only 15 miles from here, but we drove out to the area today for a warehouse visit and it took over 2 hours. It took that long for me to get to the hotel Monday also. Some of my coworkers have sat in traffic for 3-4 hours and others have sat in Customs for that long... So, my flight leaves at 9:30 PM on Friday and Friday is the heavier traffic day. Suggestions on what time to leave? I'm thinking 4:00. Does that just sound insane for an airport the same distance as we live from ours? I can't quite get over it. Seems like I should rent a bicycle, which I'd feel a lot more comfortable doing if I wasn't convinced I'd be killed - these people are CRAZY drivers. Wow.
Anyway, it's nearly 10:30 here and I just am going to call it quits with work. I'm going to get ready for bed, call TJ, and (hopefully) get some sleep. I hope you're doing well.
Lots of love,
Rachel
Brazil by Emails - Day 3
Hi Mama,
Sorry I didn't write last night - I was having internet issues for quite some time and gave up at 10:30 and went to bed.
Wow - what a day today. We left at 10:15 this morning to go visit two facilities located 15 miles away. FIFTEEN MILES. It took just over 2 hours to get to the first place, and we spent 45 minutes there. About 45 minutes. It was not incredible. Then, it took an hour and 15 minutes to go 3 miles to the next location. I thought I was going to die - it was totally miserable. We then walked through their facility for about 40 minutes then I sat in a really hot room wtih everyone (7 people) while they negotiated a contract - entirely in Portuguese. I didn't udnerstand and accidentally kept yawning. I couldn't keep my eyes open! Anyway, I was truly praying in my heart that the traffic back wouldn't be bad and it was a miracle - only an hour and fiften minutes for those 15 miles! Can you imagine if it took an hour and fifteen minutes to get to Fashion Place? That is about the equivalent! My goodness. We were supposed to stop at a third facility and I said it wasn't worth my time - takes way too long. They will come to us tomorrow. :)
So, what am I doing in Brazil? I am looking to implement some new methods of operations to decrease costs. The goal is to have made great progress in 90 days. Well, at this point we have only about 70 days left. So I am here learning as much as I possibly can about operations, issues, challenges, and areas of potential. We are making a list of priorities and then we will execute against the list to see the benefits. It is a difficult job because nobody here will commit to anything: I can get the to agree completely with my proposal one day then the next day when we look at it in writing (my writing!) they say no way. It is very discouraging. But, I will keep working hard.
It's about 7:00 PM now. I am back to the office to work on emails - missed 131 in the hours I was gone, so am trying to catch up. I worked hard this morning to get my Inbox down and now it's filled up again. Anyway, am hopeful that I will get to a better place before I go home. If not, I will just work at home.
My stomach has been having a dickens of a time since arriving here - I've been totally miserable. This morning I barely ate anything for breakfast and that seemed to help. I also ate just my American food last night for dinner (Tuna sandwich, applesauce and pringles). I'll probably do the same again tonight and hope it stays steady. Everyone here takes 60-90 minutes every day for lunch and then stays at the office very late because of it - I would far rather work straight through lunch and leave earlier, but I'm not making the rules here. :) It's hard to change a culture, and that's okay.
Two more days. The airport is the same place as the warehouses we visited today and Friday's traffic is supposed to be worst so...I think I'll be leaving like 5 hours early on Friday. That gives me 2 hours for traffic and 2 hours for Customs - I have coworkers that have taken 3-4 hours for each before, so I hope I won't have any issues. I really, really hope....
Can't wait to be home.
Rachel
Sorry I didn't write last night - I was having internet issues for quite some time and gave up at 10:30 and went to bed.
Wow - what a day today. We left at 10:15 this morning to go visit two facilities located 15 miles away. FIFTEEN MILES. It took just over 2 hours to get to the first place, and we spent 45 minutes there. About 45 minutes. It was not incredible. Then, it took an hour and 15 minutes to go 3 miles to the next location. I thought I was going to die - it was totally miserable. We then walked through their facility for about 40 minutes then I sat in a really hot room wtih everyone (7 people) while they negotiated a contract - entirely in Portuguese. I didn't udnerstand and accidentally kept yawning. I couldn't keep my eyes open! Anyway, I was truly praying in my heart that the traffic back wouldn't be bad and it was a miracle - only an hour and fiften minutes for those 15 miles! Can you imagine if it took an hour and fifteen minutes to get to Fashion Place? That is about the equivalent! My goodness. We were supposed to stop at a third facility and I said it wasn't worth my time - takes way too long. They will come to us tomorrow. :)
So, what am I doing in Brazil? I am looking to implement some new methods of operations to decrease costs. The goal is to have made great progress in 90 days. Well, at this point we have only about 70 days left. So I am here learning as much as I possibly can about operations, issues, challenges, and areas of potential. We are making a list of priorities and then we will execute against the list to see the benefits. It is a difficult job because nobody here will commit to anything: I can get the to agree completely with my proposal one day then the next day when we look at it in writing (my writing!) they say no way. It is very discouraging. But, I will keep working hard.
It's about 7:00 PM now. I am back to the office to work on emails - missed 131 in the hours I was gone, so am trying to catch up. I worked hard this morning to get my Inbox down and now it's filled up again. Anyway, am hopeful that I will get to a better place before I go home. If not, I will just work at home.
My stomach has been having a dickens of a time since arriving here - I've been totally miserable. This morning I barely ate anything for breakfast and that seemed to help. I also ate just my American food last night for dinner (Tuna sandwich, applesauce and pringles). I'll probably do the same again tonight and hope it stays steady. Everyone here takes 60-90 minutes every day for lunch and then stays at the office very late because of it - I would far rather work straight through lunch and leave earlier, but I'm not making the rules here. :) It's hard to change a culture, and that's okay.
Two more days. The airport is the same place as the warehouses we visited today and Friday's traffic is supposed to be worst so...I think I'll be leaving like 5 hours early on Friday. That gives me 2 hours for traffic and 2 hours for Customs - I have coworkers that have taken 3-4 hours for each before, so I hope I won't have any issues. I really, really hope....
Can't wait to be home.
Rachel
Brazil Through Emails - Day 1
Hi Mama,
The hotel is fine – costs a fortune (ie $1500 for 4 nights) but is not what you’d get in the US for such a price. :) The hotel is really just across the street from the office, which I feel very glad about. It is overcast but very warm and humid (ie 75 degrees) so that’s been nice, though I haven’t been able to spend much time out there.
I did sleep some on the plane – more than I ever have before, but one only sleeps so well on a flight. :) I’m exhausted, but will be alright. I’m not sure what I’ll do for dinner, maybe Room Service, and just work/relax at the hotel. I do have some homework that’s due tomorrow that I need to get in.
The drive from the airport to the hotel was miserable – 40 kilometers (about 20 miles) and took 2 hours! I kept falling asleep in the most awful position for my neck. There was not a whole lot to do on the drive because my driver didn’t speak any English and very little Spanish. We exchanged conversation for maybe a total of 3 minutes, and I was very glad when we arrived at the hotel.
I am on the 11th floor of the Mercure Hotel in Sao Paulo. I arrived here this morning at about 9:00 (5:00 your time) and got a hold of TJ right away: I tried calling him 3 or 4 times before but couldn’t get it to go through. I was very relieved to finally hear his voice. I spoke with him for just a couple minutes then jumped in the shower and got ready for the day. I got to the office around 10 and we spent a couple hours working before going to lunch with a group from the office. Lunch is their biggest meal so we had a lot of food, but I was full after 1 plate (we went to a buffet). We went back to the office and I worked until 7: others stayed later.
I came back to the hotel and ate a delicious sandwich downstairs (Panini with cheese and tomato) which was quite an adventure since they didn’t speak a lick of English. :) They would carry me out things to show me and I would point. It was, in the end, a good sandwich. Now I am back to my room. I’m going to do some more work, talk with TJ once he’s off work, and get my homework done for tomorrow. Then I’ll hit the sack!
All in all, I’m doing well. Having flashbacks of being in Spain and feverishly writing you every day, wishing I was there – funny, I still feel the same way.
I love you,
Rachel
The hotel is fine – costs a fortune (ie $1500 for 4 nights) but is not what you’d get in the US for such a price. :) The hotel is really just across the street from the office, which I feel very glad about. It is overcast but very warm and humid (ie 75 degrees) so that’s been nice, though I haven’t been able to spend much time out there.
I did sleep some on the plane – more than I ever have before, but one only sleeps so well on a flight. :) I’m exhausted, but will be alright. I’m not sure what I’ll do for dinner, maybe Room Service, and just work/relax at the hotel. I do have some homework that’s due tomorrow that I need to get in.
The drive from the airport to the hotel was miserable – 40 kilometers (about 20 miles) and took 2 hours! I kept falling asleep in the most awful position for my neck. There was not a whole lot to do on the drive because my driver didn’t speak any English and very little Spanish. We exchanged conversation for maybe a total of 3 minutes, and I was very glad when we arrived at the hotel.
I am on the 11th floor of the Mercure Hotel in Sao Paulo. I arrived here this morning at about 9:00 (5:00 your time) and got a hold of TJ right away: I tried calling him 3 or 4 times before but couldn’t get it to go through. I was very relieved to finally hear his voice. I spoke with him for just a couple minutes then jumped in the shower and got ready for the day. I got to the office around 10 and we spent a couple hours working before going to lunch with a group from the office. Lunch is their biggest meal so we had a lot of food, but I was full after 1 plate (we went to a buffet). We went back to the office and I worked until 7: others stayed later.
I came back to the hotel and ate a delicious sandwich downstairs (Panini with cheese and tomato) which was quite an adventure since they didn’t speak a lick of English. :) They would carry me out things to show me and I would point. It was, in the end, a good sandwich. Now I am back to my room. I’m going to do some more work, talk with TJ once he’s off work, and get my homework done for tomorrow. Then I’ll hit the sack!
All in all, I’m doing well. Having flashbacks of being in Spain and feverishly writing you every day, wishing I was there – funny, I still feel the same way.
I love you,
Rachel
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Grandma's 84!
Yesterday was Grandma Savage's birthday - 84 years old! What a woman. :) Over the past 2-3 years I've become especially close to my sweet grandma and talk with her at least once a week. She is wonderful. She wore a stunnine red velvet sweat suit with a bow on front. We ate pizza, brownies, pumpkin roll, and carrot cake to celebrate (all her favorites). What a day! What a celebration!
Monday, January 30, 2012
I just have to ask...
I confess - I blog stalk. During my average 12-14 hours at work/school each day, glancing at blog updates provides me a few moments of distraction. But I just have to ask - are people really like that? Am I the only person that reads blogs and sees smiling families with stories about how wonderful every day is and how much they love their lives? I don't want to tear any of that down, and deep inside I hope they are sincere, but I just have to ask... do people really live like that?
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