Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Pieces and parts


Lately, it feels like i am doing everything in pieces. Always running around trying to do a million things at once but never really accomplishing anything. Checking email while I talk on the phone, reading journal articles for work while I sit on the bathroom floor, watching Riley play in the tub. I eat dinner while I am folding laundry. Writing is done throughout the day, during naps or late at night, sometimes in the middle of the night. Phone calls are fragmented, often ended with a hurried "I gotta run, Riley is ...". Even sleeping is broken into slices, going back and forth between Riley's room and mine, to soothe, to comfort, to calm. I work out over the course of the day...abs in the morning while Riley plays by me, gym right after work or late at night, pushups in the office when I need a break. Watch a movie from start to finish....can't remember the last time I did that. Read a book for an uninterrupted hour....yeah, right.

I know that a lot of this is due to circumstances being what they are: I have an 8 month old daughter, I am a single parent, I work at a very demanding job, I am trying to accomplish some huge personal goals. But still, for a type A, goal oriented person like me, this type of life is very hard. I like to see projects completed. I like to cross things off my lists.

So, I am trying to remind myself that these little snips of action are what life is actually made up of. Remember that as long as the pieces add up to something beautiful, that's all the matter. recall that the small snippets of joy and moments of laughter and fragments of peace are a whole lot greater than the sum of their parts, even with some slices of problems that are thrown in for good measure.

I can't really complain, though, because even though this isn't how I would choose to operate in an ideal world, these fragments of life, these pieces and parts of my existence, all strung together, are adding up to something pretty wonderful.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Gratitude Friday

I'm all about finding joy in the little things, and today's list is composed of a lot of little things that are making my life pretty great. Grateful today for:

1. A great weekend! I saw a lot of friends and family, and instead of feeling tired from yet another weekend full of work and obligations, I feel renewed from spending time with loved ones. My oldest girlfriends provided some much-needed humor and hilarity and my cousins and their families are so much fun to be around. Riley and I both had a good time.
2. My little girl's crazy new face: She scrunches up her nose and bounces up and down. So cute.
3. 80 minute massages. Enough said.
4. My new workout playlist. I've been singing the songs from it all day. Even the dumb Miley Cyrus song that I downloaded from I-tunes makes me smile (and yes, I am aware that some day it will make me vomit.)
5. Voice messages left by Hallee Jo. I have a message she left me a few days ago saved and have listened to her cute little voice at least 17 times since I saved it. What a doll!
6. Yummy new recipe for Tabouli. So good...definitely joining my list of healthy food obsessions. I'm making another batch tonight.
7. Apple I-mac computers. My new one is one it's way and I can't wait!
8. A good friend of mine is very likely buying ski condo/cabin close to here. It will be nice to see him on a more regular basis with less effort on either of our parts.
9. Looking forward to a week on the Sunny San Diego beach with my little girl. I SO need a break.
10. Speaking of vacations, I have decided the locale of my overseas vacation for next year. Greece. Any suggestions, comments, advice are welcome!

Saturday, April 12, 2008

On my mind today

Another poem by Mary Oliver that has been jumbling around in my head today....

Praying
It doesn't have to be
the blue iris, it could be
weeds in a vacant lot, or a few
small stones; just
pay attention, then patch

a few words together and don't try
to make them elaborate, this isn't
a contest but the doorway

into thanks, and a silence in which
another voice may speak.
~ Mary Oliver ~


Friday, April 11, 2008

Gratitude Friday

Wow. What a crazy week! Between a trip across the country, a broken dryer, an almost flooded condo and visiting family, I am exhausted. But not too tired to write about the things I am grateful for this week:

1. Trip to Florida: I went to Florida for four days this past week and it was a good trip. This was the first national work conference I have attended since having Riley and it was good to be back in the swing of things. I had a couple of presentations that went well, I had a chance to meet some people who are very involved in the same things I am doing from different parts of the nation, and I attended some scientific sessions and workshops that reminded me again why I do what I do professionally. It was very mentally stimulating and gave me some good ideas to work towards. The weather was rainy most of the time, then very hot on the last day. I had a chance to do some "girl-bonding" with some of my coworkers and spend an evening with a friend from DC. Also, there was a lovely surprise in my room on arrival. Thanks, NR, very sweet. All in all, a good trip.

2. My sister, my mom and my sister in law. THANK YOU for everything you guys do for me and for Riley. We love you!

3. I have great neighbors who really helped me out while I was in Florida, helping arrange for a plumber to save my condo from flooding. Thanks, Beckie, Madi, Laurie. You guys rock!

4. There are several exciting things coming up on the job front. I'll keep you all in the loop as things happen and plans are made. I am so grateful for a job, experience and education that allow me to do work that REALLY MATTERS!

5. My cousin, Megan, had her baby last week. I haven't met her in person yet, but the pics of her are SO DANG CUTE!!! You can take a look at them here. I love Megan and Alec and I can't wait to meet Paige. So happy for them!

6. Finally, I am grateful that today is Friday and I have a whole weekend ahead of me to spend with my daughter. She seems to be growing up so fast and she is so much fun right now. I am excited to have a couple days to spend with her with no other obligations.

I know I always say this, but I have SO much to be grateful for. Life is really crazy right now, and it is hard being a single mom, but writing about a few of the blessings in my life on Fridays really does help me keep things in perspective. Sure, I have my challenges...we all do. But look at all the amazing things I have in my life. It's hard to complain much when I take a minute and just LOOK at the great people I know and positive experiences I am able to take part in. I truly am very, very blessed.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

For NR

Well, you asked for a self portrait...

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Wrapping up



There are still loose ends left over from my marriage and my pre-mama life, and I am feeling a desperate need to tie them up. If you have ever met me, you know I am the type of person who likes to have things done, taken care of, completed (Hey, I'm a Virgo). Loose ends bug me, and I have quite a few right now.

Taxes for starters. I didn't want to have to file with X, but since we were married for all of 2007 and since it makes better financial sense for me ( I don't really care about his finances, although it benefits him, too) we are filing together. Guess who is in charge of getting it done.... Yep, you are right, that'd be me. But I am charging X my consulting rate to do said taxes, so he will be paying me $100/hour for me to complete my own taxes. Plus the refund goes to Riley's college savings, so i guess it's an okay deal all around.

I also am in the process of changing my married name back to my maiden name, and it is truly amazing all the places that have me listed as Amy Wuthrich-XXXXXX or Amy XXXXXX. I have been keeping a list of all the places I need to contact to change it, and I noticed the other day that every time I cross one item off the list, I write down two more. Will it ever end? I've been Amy Wuthrich-XXXXXX for so long that it feels like I'm burying a part of my life (which I am, I guess) and trying to resurrect a whole different person. So weird. And sort of bittersweet. When things were good, I loved being Amy XXXXXX. When things weren't, the name was just another reminder of the problems. Still, the name has to go...one more thing to wrap up.

Another thing I'm working on is getting my house put back together after the "operation IWAD" or the installation of the washer and dryer. This took major plumbing and electrical work, which necessitated several large holes in the wall, so I have a few things still to patch up and paint. I'd really like to get these taken care of, but all I have been doing lately is working and taking care of Riley, so these things get put to the side. I'll get them done soon, I hope. Very soon.

Finally, I am working on finishing a very large project that dates clear back to the "30 by 30 list" (I'll post on that sometime soon, for those of you in the know about the list). It's almost done, just a few more things to do, but i can't seem to find time to get them done and out of my way. I keep telling myself I'll feel SO MUCH better when it's completed. Still, at the end of the day, after Riley is asleep, the dog is fed, laundry is folded and dishes are done, and I can either work on this project or go to bed....Well, let's just say that sleep has been winning the war so far.

I'm working towards getting these things taken care of, but I can see it will still take a while. Oh, well. Here's to getting things done and moving on!

Friday, March 28, 2008

Gratitude Friday

It's been a hard week. I am grateful it's almost done.

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