Busy Season: The Refresher Course

Often when we take a subject in school (or rather, when I used to do that whole school thing) we'll gain sufficient mastery over the material and benefit from that knowledge, but eventually we begin to forget a few things. Hence the refresher course.

At the beginning of the year I learned quite a few things while working long hours, but it turns out I needed a refresher course because I'd forgotten some of them. My firm graciously accepted my need for the refresh and gave me the chance to brush up and sharpen those skills I' learned in the winter, such as the following:

• Murphy's Law--if you don't check to make sure a food order is complete, the most senior person on the job will end up without food.
• One can never bring back too much hot sauce. Or any sauce.
• Going home before sunset is for sissies.
• All those things you thought of as necessities are actually optional (socializing, grocery shopping, laundry, bathing, etc).
• Changing straight from work clothes to pajamas is a move toward efficiency (as long as you do it at home). Jeans are overrated anyway.
• Your Facebook feed is only interesting the first time you scan it.
• A watched blogger doesn't blog.
• Pressure makes any work more interesting.
• Auditors, when left unattended, may develop cabin fever. At any sign of cabin fever, be sure to increase your computer-locking vigilance, lest you be Hasslehoffed* or otherwise pranked.
• As the audit-time continuum progresses, the number of sodas consumed by an audit team will increase exponentially.

I did learen a few more impacting things, though:

• Having a light at the end of the tunnel helps morale immensely. During this last audit, we worked 55+ hours each week, but that was going to last only 4 to 6 weeks; I had the added carrot of a two-week vacation at the end of the long hours, and that especially helped me focus during work. 
• Taking time during the month before the audit to mentally prepare myself for working all day definitely helped; when the work started and the hours became long, I was ready for it. Getting home with enough time to sleep 7 or 8 hours each night especially helped me cope.
• Physically preparing to have (almost) no free time also helped--getting in doctors visits, car repairs, and shopping done the weeks before the audit started was hugely helpful.
• Making a priority of personal things I wanted to do each day helped me make sure to do them. 

That last one included sleeping, making a good breakfast for myself, packing food I would want to eat during the day (instead of delicious snacks I knew I could get but shouldn't eat), doing my physical therapy homework (oh bruised patella, please heal!), and especially spending time reading the Bible and the Book of Mormon. I've noticed a distinct and direct correlation between the days I spend solid reading time with the scriptures and the days I'm more calm and patient at work--and just better able to handle problems in general. That, I think, has been the biggest takeaway--that even when I'm super busy all the time, taking time to read scriptures will help my day go by so much better than whatever else I thought I could spend that time on. I've learned that no matter what else I do or don't do in the day, taking time to read in the morning will have the biggest impact on how I feel and how I handle my problems, or how I handle other people (though sometimes those two things are synonymous).

How to Win Friends and Influence People

Pool Runnings

So I got to do a 10K mud run in June (which I walked a good chunk of, for the record). Afterward I tried to keep up with the new and improved exercise regime, and I got up to a 5 mile run the week before Independence day this year--but then my knees started hurting every time I walked up or down stairs (and if you've been to my current home...well, it's pretty much all stairs. We have four levels in our home). Eventually, I went to see a doctor, who decided that because he couldn't see anything else wrong and because I felt pain on stairs, I must have bruised the underside of my patella.

So, I have bruised kneecaps.

I'm supposed to do physical therapy, and I'm supposed to refrain from running. And since I've been working on a June 30 year-end client, I'm pretty much refraining from all exercise. Finally last night, my roommate Erin and I decided to give the exercise thing another try. Only, I couldn't run, and she didn't have a bike, so we headed to the pool. We did pretty good swimming for a bit, but then my bruised patellas made themselves known. So we then started jogging in the pool. Maybe not the most exercise I've ever had, but I was impressed nonetheless--it was just the right amount of exercise for someone who's been a bum for a while. The whole troupe of teenagers that was sharing the pool with us probably thought we were a little crazy--but that's okay. We probably are. At any rate I've found something relatively fun to do that I can tell myself is a form of exercise.

Visiting Teaching!

Last post tonight, I promise. Last post for a while, actually, as work will be picking up again soon.

So another thing that happened while I was in Denver--I was asked to be president of the ladies organization (called Relief Society) in my local congregation. I've had a good amount of time to think about the responsibility on my shoulders. In accepting, I've agreed to serve as an example of trying to live according to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I've agreed to be a ready friend to every single woman in our congregation--to those who do come every week, as well as to those I've never met. I've agreed to help shoulder their burdens and to do all I can to help them. Essentially, I've agreed to walk in the footsteps of my hero and Savior.

One of the ways that I get to help make sure that the sisters are cared for is to visit a handful of them each month and to share or teach them a lesson. It's a system of watching over each other and making sure that our needs are met; it's known as "visiting teaching." I love it, because it's a chance for me to visit sisters that maybe I never would have met otherwise; it's a chance for me to build trust with these sisters and to learn what I can do to help them. It's a chance to learn to love people I may have not even known for a month. 

I wish I had more time, so I could visit every sister in our congregation. Since I don't have quite enough time for that each week or even each month, I love that the sisters in our congregation were all assigned visiting teachers so they can each find out how the other sisters are doing, and let me and others know how the branch can help need their needs. 

I respect all religions and I am grateful that we may choose to follow the example of our Savior Jesus Christ. I know that our Savior love each of us which is why He died for us--to help us come back to Him, and to help us through the many struggles we will be facing throughout our lives. I know that the Bible and the Book of Mormon are both the word of God, and I know that when I put into practice the principles they teach, I am happier, more relaxed and much more at peace. I love that I have been able to grow up as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and learn more and more about my Savior. 

And I love being able to share the gospel with the sisters that I visit teach.

Harry Potter!

Opening night. In 3D.

When it ended, I got about 3 hours of sleep, then staggered into work.

I was disappointed by the first half of Harry Potter VII, so I had reservations about seeing the second half; I had really big reservations about seeing it opening night, since I wouldn't have any time to recuperate. But the night was a blast, thanks to the fantastic company, a well-made production, and some very large, caffeinated sodas. Very large sodas. At a fairly crucial scene, I had to run across the lobby to the restroom, then run back to the theater, because I couldn't wait any longer. I hope I at least amused the theater employees who were lounging around.

Mud Run!

Around the middle of May, I got an email at work requesting a response from those interested in running on the firm's team for the Camp Pendleton Mud Run. I furiously dashed off an email expressing my exuberant interest and then waited with baited breath for a reply. For about five minutes. Then I looked up the mud run and realized that it was a 10K. And I had signed up for it with only three weeks notice. Ohhh crap.

I had fair confidence in my ability to do a 5K, but I had never run that much in my life. Plus, the team from our office competes with the team(s) from the San Diego office each year, so that was extra pressure to not drag down the team with my presence. Still, I'd wanted to do a mud run for the last couple years. So my self-interest held out over my concern for the good of the team and I didn't quit, like I was tempted to do.

I managed to train a little for the run, but I was definitely one of the slower people in the whole race pack. But I got muddy, and nasty, and disgusting, and exhausted...and had one of the best days of my year.

My friend Alejandra and I, after the race

The morning of the race, one of our team members unfortunately couldn't make it--so we almost got disqualified. But another coworker who happened to be awake at 7:00 am was able to save the day--he drove down to Camp Pendleton with no advance notice or training, and joined us behind the starting line about ten minutes before the race officially started. And, of course, he was one of the first on our team to finish.

Chris, our hero of the day

That was a day of many firsts for me: first 10K, first timed race, first mud run, first time in a communal shower...oh what a day, oh what a day.

Denver!

Just under a month ago, I flew to Denver to see the one and only Sadie Lee (well, the only one I know. That has red hair, anyway). Sadie and I have had some pretty awesome experiences together--we were roommates during the Timpanogas Lemonade Stand which we both attended. We rocked the 80s scene

What were the 80s were really all about? Total Eclipse of the Heart pretty much says it all.

Together we celebrated our last first day of school, and our first last day of school. But she went east, and I went west, and we both ended up in cool places where we spent the first few months just scrambling to figure out life and make friends. A few months ago, we decided it was time for a reunion--so at the end of June I fled the state of CA and visited her in Denver.

We sang, we danced, we laughed, I probably cried at some point...and we definitely played the piano.

Scattered around the 16th Street Mall in Denver are several pianos. They're painted in crazy patterns, and definitely aren't in tune--but they're a fun combination of art and self-entertainment. Ms. Lee entertained me with the piece she played above...and then she played a piece upside down. She was upside down, that is. And I do have a picture of it, but she'd kill me if I posted it (those interested in seeing for themselves may send me $5 and a SASE).

We also explored Red Rock, and the Red Rock Ampitheatre. A few highlights there:

Walking where Igor Stravinsky walked

People watching at its finest

Red heads in their natural habitat

Finding Pride Rock

I learned  a few new games while I was out there--one was called Crud. It's the equivalent of Horse, but involving a billiards table. That game resulted in more than a few scrapes and bruises. We had to keep the eight ball moving on the table, but sometimes that meant running to a different side of the table. And because everyone else wanted you to lose a point, they would block you from getting where you wanted to go--and sometimes just block you from moving altogether.

The other game I learned was an old game...Signs. At first, I was scared that this would be like most games of Signs where I absolutely dread getting caught and being in the middle. In fact I thought it was going to be even worse than normal signs--because we were playing signs in pairs. It sounded like a recipe for disaster. But it ended up being awesome. Sadie and her partner started off in the middle, and their sterling example of teamwork must have inspired us all.

How do you play Signs in pairs? Well, first you pair up. Half the ward was at a giant casual group date that evening, so we were all set there. Next, you pick a sign that you and your partner can do together, like so:

Signs may involve contact, or may just involve awesome
gestures from bygone generations

Then, of course, you have to pass the sign. Together. To a pair who will receive your sign. Together. And a couple in the middle, looking to see who has the sign. Together. 

I think that Team Signs was a success because the group knew each other fairly well (except for me) and because we'd had a rousing game of Crud before we played...thereby breaking down any inhibitions against such awkward things as giving each other high fives, or other such frightening physical contact. But having someone else looking to receive the sign definitely made it fun--having to communicate with your teammate in an incognito manner added a new dimension to the game--and my favorite part was having someone else help me when we were "it", in the middle. I hate that part...oh how I hate it. 

Other highlights of the trip included 

• The location of Sadie's house. She lives near a prison...and hers is the first house you'd pass if you happened to be escaping the prison. That gave me a little thrill some nights.
• Bunny rabbits! I felt like I was experiencing the Curse of the Were-Rabbit...except, of course, without the were-rabbit. They would come out of nowhere, lazily hop across their chosen path, and then disappear again.
• Despicable Me. Saw it for the first time, and thought it was awesome.
• Focaccia and Ciabatta baking extravaganza. We got excited about Italian breads, and started making focaccia...and since we were going to be up anyway, and we had a movie going anyway, we decided to get fancy and make ciabatta also. They were delicious. Kudos to Sadie and her Bosch.
• Two naps a day. I blame it on the altitude (Denver being the Mile High city and all)...but really I was probably just exhausted anyway and feeling extra lazy.
• Widespread panic at Red Rock. Err, Widespread Panic, that is. We didn't see their show but Sadie was telling me that there would be widespread panic at Red Rock that day, and my first thought was, how do you even schedule that? 
• Eating at SAME cafe. The idea is that you order a meal and then pay what you feel is a fair price. If you don't have money, you can volunteer for an hour to earn a meal. 

Altogether, an awesome, awesome trip. Special thanks to Sadie for putting up with my naps, my one-track mind, and all my talking. She's a quiet girl, you see, so I fear I may have overwhelmed her :)