It's Been Busy...

i've learned i can do magic.

i can be incredibly busy, and yet have nothing to show for it.

(and as this post will prove, i can also be incredibly long winded w/o actually saying anything worthwhile!)

last wk was nutty. had an offsite retreat for 2 days, where we discussed strategy and did a DISC assessment.

it was good to be out of the office and forced to take time out for lunch, but it was also 2 days w/o access to email or phone so i had to spend every evening catching up on the most pertinent stuff i missed. and what didn't get caught up on, finally got looked at this wknd.

and since we opted for potluck both days, it also meant i had to bake a carrot cake w/cream cheese frosting and dark chocolate sour cream cupcakes w/vanilla frosting. waking up early to whip up frosting and smear it on baked goods is not something i would recommend doing at 6am 2 days in a row. it was uber yummy, but that was 30 more mins of sleep i could've used each day!

i would, however, recommend doing a DISC assessment w/your team if you get the chance. for those of you that haven't done one, it's essentially a test that gives some insight on your personality and work style. i'm a 'D', which means my primary style is dominant: i plow ahead, accept challenges, and am afraid to be used or bored. i also learned it means i can be daring, belligerent, and retiring. my team tells me i'm NOT the retiring type, but yet accept that i can belligerent...

and not that any of these things are new to me. i already knew i was the type that couldn't take a 3 wk vacation w/o thinking about work. and that i was the type that didn't like it when others waste my time. but what i didn't know was that i'm the kind of person that's generally leads teams cuz my type can handle the lonely job at the top.

funny, cuz i don't know if i want this job anymore...

besides the retreat, i've been mostly wrapped up in work. on sat i did take a little time out for brunch and a movie. i've eaten dinner at parish and brunch in their market, but i had never had brunch in their main dining room before. now i'm debating whether or not to spend every sat AM there cuz they bring you fresh beignets while you wait for breakfast.

BEIGNETS! how awesome is that??? you know if there's anything remotely resembling a donut in this town, i'm going to find it...

after brunch i did a little shopping for new eyeglasses (the cute optician from WI told me i was cute, and even tho he was probably lying to get me to buy something, i might just go back for a self esteem boost) and some new earrings (bought some big vintage looking silver flowers w/bling). then spent the afternoon drinking wine at apres diem and watching a movie (my 3rd offical time in a theater this year!).

today wasn't much more exciting. went to solstice for brunch (cuz i'm trying to eat my way thru atlanta), and found that it's the perfect place to go on sunday when you've gotten out the door too late to beat the church crowd (or mob, which might be a more accurate characterization here in the south). they were open, not busy, and brought me a small tub of apple butter w/my toast. all good things should come in little tubs!

and unfortunately for all you reading this and wondering when my life is going to get more exciting that the mundane play-by-play you've just received, you'll have to sit tight and wait. this wk is non-stop work, followed by an airport visit on sat. my month of home stay is over, and i'll be going to singapore for 5 days. i'm excited cuz i've never been there before, but i'm not looking forward to the 20 hour plane ride, 3 hour layover, or having to leave the gum at home...

(top to bottom, L to R: me & my MN/wellstone buddy michael at the retreat; making chocolate cake batter; cupcakes fresh out of the oven; best carrot cake recipe ever; colleague katie's daughter nayeli, aka beanie, at a post-retreat dinner; the cutest 4 mos old puppy sitting next to us at solstice)