I survived my presentation today. I actually wasn’t as nervous as I had thought I would be. I know a big part of that was that I knew that many of my friends were praying for me this morning, praying for me to feel calm and confident, for my presentation to be clear. And it was!

I ended up driving to the city instead of taking the train so I could focus on something other than the nervousness. Then when I got to the conference, I was busy getting ready and then suddenly I was being introduced.

When I talked to my mom last night, I was telling her that people had advised me to picture the audience in their underwear. I’ve heard this before and I hate it – I can’t do that, first of all, and second of all, it might make things worse. I thought it was a better technique to look for a friendly face or two in the audience and speak to them. I was able to do that and it really helped me to relax and feel confident in my talk. I was actually somewhat surprised when I was finished and the other speaker was up. After her talk, we had the participants break into groups and discuss some case studies we had developed and then we each took turns engaging them with some questions. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and a couple people even came up at the end to thank us.

I think the best part of the day was when I got back to work. I know that sounds weird but wait for the rest…the way our new offices are set up, we can see right out to the parking lot. We have a back door that we use and as I came around, all three of my colleagues were waiting for me! I didn’t even have the key in the door before they were opening it, asking how I did, how things went, etc. They said they were going to text message me an encouraging message but didn’t want my phone ringing during my presentation. It was just so sweet that they cared that much – it really made my day!

It’s my second week! Yay!

Monday – Chili- Mac Skillet
Tuesday – Morrocan chicken -another great Dream Dinner
Wednesday – Tortellini
Thursday – Morrocan chicken
Friday & Saturday – no cooking for me this week!

Check out other Menu Plans at Org Junkie’s great blog!

Better late than never!

So, the update on my new habits:

Vitamins – not so good this week. I need to eat them with breakfast in order for them not to keep me awake at night, apparently, but my breakfast habits are sporadic at best…so I think I only had them once this week.

Water – I am actually doing much better with this one. It’s not always water I am drinking (sometimes hot chocolate, chai tea, caffeine free soda) but I am definitely taking in my fluids. And I am definitely drinking more water by having the bottles here in the house.

Menu planning – I started Menu Plan Monday last week and did fairly well. I ended up switching one of my meals but stuck with it for the most part.

So this week…hmm. I need to focus more on my home and things like wash and dishes. These are the first things I toss by the wayside when I am busy and I know it can’t go on this way. To help, this week my habit will be to implement
FlyLady’s Weekly Home Blessing Hour. I’ve tried FlyLady before and think it is great way to jumpstart and get back into the habit of cleaning, etc. And so it is time to get back on track! I’m setting Monday as my Weekly Blessing day.

For more Smart Habits Saturday ideas, visit the Lazy Organizer!

Another busy weekend is winding down. Friday I ended up working late and then Michelle called to say let’s go to Lobsterfest…and well, who can turn THAT down. I got a ridiculously expensive meal with lots of lobster and was quite in heaven. Then I got up the crack of dawn yesterday to drive up to our state’s capitol for my denomination’s general conference. It was a long ride but we had some good conversations (I just typed “God conversations”, which they really were as well) and the conference was good. We saw our old pastor and it was really great to spend even a little bit of time with him. With all that is going on, I really do miss him.

Then off to Fuddrucker’s for a wonderful burger (but odd service – what’s up with the self-serve thing? Weird.) and then on home. I had to do the church bulletins, other copying and prepare to teach Sunday school today. I was so totally exhausted that I was actually in bed by 8:45, which is completely unheard of!!

Today I taught Sunday school, then ran home for a wee bit, then out again to see one of my youth in the local high school’s production of “Peter Pan”. I love Peter Pan. It was quite well done – and a great shout out to my favorite Indian, Kristin! Good job, girlfriend!

Now I am finally in for the evening, making dinner and procrastinating. Blogging is a very good thing to do when you want to procrastinate. What I really should be doing is laundry and preparing for a presentation I am giving tomorrow. I was first told there would be 30 people in my session; we are now up to 120 and I’ve never done this before. The slides are ready, my speaker notes are finished, and I am just nervous. I need to run through it a couple times tonight but I am determined not to go crazy over this. I am just praying for calm and clarity in what I am presenting.

Today, I took the plunge.

I cut back on my cell phone extras – down to the bare minimum now.

And then, the unthinkable.

I got rid of my digital cable and DVR.

Oh, yes, I did.

And I bet I will live to tell the tale.

Money is tight. Money is always tight and I am terribly tired of this state of affairs. But it came to a head a few weeks ago when, still several days away from pay day, I was down to $2.31 in my checking account.

This is bad, bad, bad. I know.

But with enormous student loans, rent, car payment, utlities, and so on, things are often not so pretty around here. I do the best I can and most times am able to keep my head above water. But I had fallen a bit behind with said student loans and the only way to get caught up was to use every cent. I’m still not totally caught up but should be with next pay.

It’s really ridiculous. I have a good job (which I should, considering the student loans!) but I cannot seem to get ahead or get a handle on budgeting. I know there is no way on this earth I could take on a part-time job outside the home but thankfully I do have a lead on something I can do in my “free” time that will make a couple bucks now and again.

And so, it is time to try to cut corners, do what I can, see where I end up!

I just received an email from Petsmart, addressing the Menu Foods pet food recall . What’s so very cool about it is I have their “Perks” card – basically a frequent shopper card – and in the email, it says that their records show I bought some of the recalled brands of pet food in the past and they wanted to alert me to this.

How amazing is that? Thankfully, the kits have been off the recalled brand for some time now and our current brand is not included in the recall but I just think it is so cool that they actually took the time to check customer records and send that email. It’s especially helpful because much of the information about the recall has been confusing and difficult to decipher for many people; an email like this one can really make a difference in a situation like this.

Petsmart, you’ve got a customer for life!

Another fitful night last night.

I am speaking at a conference on Monday – the first time I’ll be doing this. Initially, I had been told there would be about 30 people in my three hour session. As of today, we’re up to 120.

Last night, my dreams were full of ridiculous things – having our room moved into part of a cafeteria and trying to speak over and control the situation in there. Leaving the building for some reason and then being late and unable to find where I was to go.

I’d wake up in between and think, “Are you kidding me? I’m seriously dreaming about this stuff?”

I know it will be fine. I am planning to spend a good portion of my day tomorrow and Sunday preparing for the session. I know that, logically, I will be nervous but I will get through it. I keep trying to convince myself that this is not unlike when we get up for our Workcamp Sunday at church and I talk about the trip and interview the kids and adults who went.

In reality, I know it is different. There is an opportunity here for questions to be asked and answers to not be easily found in the recesses of my mind…but to there goes all the prep time.

There are other stressors put upon me right now too which I’m sure are contributing to my just feeling bone tired. I wish I could figure out how best to healthily cope in times like this. Mostly, I end up feeling frustrated and ready to cry at the drop of a hat (or a comment). One thing I do more in times like this is read – hence the Spring Reading Thing. I started my Max Lucado book last night (and literally cried through the first chapter because it completely hit home) and today went to the bookstore for the first Becky Miller book, then on to the library for The Other Boleyn Girl.

Interestingly, that was a rental. The sign said “1.50 per week” so I rolled up the desk with my card in hand and $3. First, the woman at the desk told me my card was expired. What? I said three times, “I didn’t know library cards expired” before she said, “Oh, well, it’s just a mechanism to check your address and phone number so we can follow up on fines and overdues.” It really isn’t EXPIRED then, is it? Oddness. Anyway, she now renewed me through 2010 but said I could not rent the book for two weeks. I can rent for one, bring it back next Wednesday, and re-rent it.

Where is the sense in that?

Plus, their sign should say there is a one week limit on rentals.

But enough about that. I have books, I will read. I am currently Tivo-ing Grey’s Anatomy, though I truly believe they jumped the shark with Meredith’s drowning. And don’t EVEN talk to me about the George and Izzie thing.

I also have two new movies from Netflix that will occupy my whirling mind – The Holiday (love Jack Black!) and Stranger Than Fiction. I hope the previews were a good indication on these movies – I certainly didn’t feel that way about Click.

Well, for some reason, Norman is wandering about wailing this evening. Not sure what his trouble is, but I guess I should find out!

Please click here & pray for baby Addison

I found this interesting idea over at Embroider the Silence

1. Go to Wikipedia and type in your birthday, month and day only.
2. List 3 events that occurred on that day.
3. List 2 important birthdays.
4. List 1 death.
5. List a holiday or observance. (if any)
6. Tag 5 other bloggers.

Birthday: February 7

Events:

1795 – The 11th amendment to the constitution was passed
1964 – The Beatles arrive for their first visit to the US
1985 – New York, New York becomes the official city anthem of New York City

Two important birthdays:

1867 – Laura Ingalls Wilder
1885 – Sinclair Lewis

One death:

2001 – Anne Morrow Lindbergh

One holiday or observance:

Independence Day in Grenada (1974)

And I tag whomever would like to play!