Eclectic

In Phoenix there is a coffee shop called Lux.  Right now I'm enjoying a coffee and chocolate almond banana bread between jobs.  There are large tables here with nametags in the middle and little lamps.  There is a movie room and a bar type area, no cieling tiles, just exposed floor trusses.  cute little couches and chairs from the 50s.  hipsters galore.  Looking for a job is much more enjoyable in this type of environment. Got some art supplies and books on ukelele, maybe i'll actually start pursueing those hobbies.  Wishing it was easier to form lasting friendships. 

Sunshine and snow

Well my complete unemployment lasted 2 weeks. I found a part-time position conducting special inspections for a structural engineer who designs apartment buildings. It's really interesting to be able to see the whole building process after having taken all these classes. Seeing how the design actually gets put together is really interesting.

So I am still looking for a full-time design position, but I am grateful to have found work in my field so soon.

Intentional sunshine of the day: "Don't think too much. You will create a problem that didn't exist in the first place." Unknown.

Also it snowed in Phoenix today. Unusual. Supposed to be up to 70 by Saturday though.

Photo: Binks enjoying the Arizona winter.

Change coming...

The big news this week is that I was laid off from work.  It's been coming, they just didn't have enough work/money for me. My feelings are mixed about it.  Depressed, because now I don't have work, and it was a good job.  Relieved, because it was unstable for the last couple months and my plans for the future were always followed with "if I'm still working at ANCO".  Reflective, I learned a lot and was flattered to be kept on as a permanent employee even when I moved out of state.  Excited, I know God has new things in store for me and I can't wait to find out what!

So if you know any engineers in Arizona, please refer me!

Also if you have any ideas for "Intentional Sunshine" I will definitely be looking for things to do. 

Intentional Sunshine for today: Feed your Soul - read a good book, sip tea, sit outside, eat more veggies, pick one thing to do.  (credit goes to Julianne and Serena in my Bible Study for this idea)

Resolution update.

Okay so I am not doing so well with the complaining resolution. But I did sign up for a volunteering opportunity today. And I ran 22 miles last week! So I'm doing good on those two. I'll keep trying to complain less. Don't have much to complain about the weather. 75 in January is quite pleasant.

Whirlwind of life.

Of course it has been a while since my last post.  It is now a whole different year with new resolutions to keep and things to see.  Resolutions are just like the intentional sunshine posts I write, little goals to make things a little brighter and happier.  My resolutions this year (and I'm scared to post them because now people will know if I fail):

1. No complaining
2. Run 50 miles a week at least once this spring
3. Start volunteering

I'll try to update on Thanksgiving and Christmas later on. 

The stars as seen by Emerson...

"To go into solitude, a man needs to retire as much from his chamber as from society.  I am not solitary whilst I read and write, though nobody is with me.  But if a man would be alone, let him look at the stars.  The rays that come from those heavenly worlds will separate between him and what he touches.  .... If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore; and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God which had been shown! But every night come out these envoys of beauty, and light the universe with their admonishing smile."  - Ralph Waldo Emerson "Selected Essays, Lectures, and Poems"

 

 



Intentional Sunshine: Go out and look at the stars

 

 

 

 

*photo source unknown*

Fall in the Desert

Well I was lamenting the fact that there aren't really seasons here in the desert. Just temperature changes. But there are no leaves changing color or pinecones falling. There are no crunchy leaves to step on and apples are still not cheap down here. Then my friend Brittany, who is in my Bible Study, suggested that we make Christmas wreaths later on. That sounded difficult but it turns out you can buy these pre-made twig wreaths and just add things to it. So I decided to make one for fall:

 

 

 

 

Things you need:  1 twig wreath any size

sprigs of fake leaves, flowers, berries, etc

scissors or wire cutters

 

Instructions:

Cut off branches of the leaves

Insert stem into the twig wreath

You are done!

 

I don't have any art for this wall yet so I hung it by my dining table.  Should have picked a bigger size I guess. 

 

Intentional Sunshine:  Don't be sad over something you don't have (like fall), do something to make it happen (make a fall wreath!), this can apply to anything else as well. 

BINKS!

Well we got a dog!  His name is Binks, as in Jar-Jar Binks.  He is a 1 year old miniature Australian Shepherd.  So far he is really fun to have around, he's very active and runs and hikes with us, and during the day he sits by my feet while I work.  Doesn't like the crate at all though, any advice is appreciated!  He is hard to get good photos of, but here are a couple:

 

 

 

Just an average Sunday in the Desert

Before I left for VA it was getting pretty lonely here because I didn't know anybody and Nate is pretty busy studying.  But yesterday was an improvement.  We liked the church we went to in the morning.  Not sure if it will be the one, but definitely a positive since I had started to think the kind of church we were looking for didn't exist out here.  In the afternoon I painted some cardboard boxes to look like baskets and started getting a bit more stuff organized. Our apartment complex had a bbq so I showed my face there (didn't really talk to anyone except the host) and then I went to a Bible study at a girls' house.  There were 5 of us total and they seemed like really nice, quality people that I might get to be good friends with.  So I was really excited about that and then after that I decided I am going to pursue an xc assistant coaching spot at a high school around here.  It could be too late for it already, we'll see if they still want me, but it would be a lot of fun I think and would get me involved in things. 

So things in the desert aren't looking so bleak anymore :) 

Lynchburg, VA

Well this week I returned from a business trip to Lynchburg, VA.  I went to help install a seismic shake table at Areva which is a huge power company.  They will use it to test their nuclear equipment.  This table is a huge undertaking for my company.   Torquing bolts and making hoses is a new experience for me, but it really shows you what goes into the construction of a project and seeing your designs built is always exciting.  So Lynchburg is in the South, and everyone speaks in the Southern drawl and calls you "honey" or "love-bug".  Running was wonderful in the cooler, more humid air and the tree-covered hills.  I stayed in a little hotel apartment and was able to cook for myself and grill even, so I didn't have to eat fast food every day which was great. 

Intentional Sunshine #?

Smile. 

Even if there is no one around to smile at.

The Last Month

Well it has been a while since I posted, and quite frankly, it seems a little silly.  I don't have some interesting blog idea that people want to read about.  But for those of you who do actually read this, you all know me, so I'll just tell you what I've done in the last month. 

Got my first engineering job in Boulder building seismic shake tables. 
Moved out of Colorado
Drove to NM for a wedding
Drove to Phoenix, found an apartment, got a drivers licence
Drove to LA, visited friend Dan Koster, drove to Portland, visited friend Jordan Welling, saw Nike headquarters, drove to Seattle.
Spent time with family out at the beach house
Flew to Vietnam for work for two weeks, 24+ hour trip back, hung out, went to a wedding, went whale watching, went to the new car museum in Tacoma, watched the Mariners win
Drove to Stockton, LA, then Phoenix. 
Have been unpacking, swimming, and working the last week. 

Well, that was a lot of things.  Maybe I'll write more about some of them sometime. 

Tips for a lovely day:
Smile
Dress nice
Tell others to have a lovely day
Give compliments

Today

Today I ran the Bolder Boulder.  Have not been running tons and most of it by myself so I really didn't know what pace I should/could run.  Ended up running faster than last year.  Got my free massage afterwards, finally found Nate back and went to a barbeque at some friends' house.  Was really nice and relaxing to hang out in a yard with the kids and the grill and have people interested in my life.  On Saturday we went to the Creek festival and the race expo.  Love looking at all the things and being around so much activity.  Such a beautiful place we live in.  Crossing my fingers still, but my hamstring felt good in the race and my preceding two workouts, so that's definately a good sign.  Now to pack up our wordly possessions.  Brain is a bit scattered these days.  Using my degree at work now though, so that's nice. 

Surgery Day

Nate had hip surgery yesterday.  It was a very long day, starting with us waking up at 4:30 am to get to the hospital, then waiting around for a long time.  Then he went into surgery, and even though the surgeon said there were very few risks and those were not life or death types of risks, I was still scared.  But the doc came back out half an hour sooner than he thought and was very happy with how it had gone.  Nate was pretty loopy right after surgery, but recovered quickly from the anesthesia and didn't really sleep at all afterwards.  We finally left the hospital and headed home.  Today was a lot of running around getting Nate's equipment set up and then switched out and getting out pudding cups and ginger ale.  Thanks to Gary and Allie for staying with Nate while I went to get his prescriptions and for bringing us dinner today.  Appreciate it so much.  Hope that Nate can heal and be healthy again. 

Earthquake/GPS

Today our company was testing out the seismic shake table we built.  A company had asked to test out some GPS equipment on it, and we needed to test the software anyway, so I got to help out with that.  Well really I mostly observed, but I tried to ask good questions and at least hope I understand how to install the system.  Anyway, it was close to what I was doing in grad school and was really exciting for me to see everything working.  I wish I was working here longer and I could get more involved in this side of the engineering work. 

Also, Nate got another interview at a med school in Arizona.  Not sure why God sends along all these little complications in life.  Arizona is more west than Florida though. 

Boulder Experience

An Anecdote: Today I was running on a path that follows a creek and runs next to a cow pasture.  Coming the other direction I saw a man wearing bib overalls, a plaid shirt, a bandana tied around his neck.  He was carrying 3-lb weights and smiling from ear-to-ear and singing.  Some people just enjoy life.

Question: What do you do when you have too many things to do and not enough time and you feel too overwhelmed to do any of them?

Praise: God provided a good job for me here in Boulder.  Now I need to trust that he will provide for us when we move. 

Job!

Well yesterday I got a message from an engineer in Boulder asking me to call him back.  I called back and he offered me a job!  So I started today.  The company is a mechanical engineering company that designs and builds seismic shake tables.  So I'm not a mechanical engineer, but I know what a shake table is and how it works.  Mostly it seems like there will be some design, some drafting, ordering parts, explaining drawings to the people who build it, and many other tasks.  Today I helped with testing some carbon fiber tubes.  So it seems like it will be a really interesting job.  So much better than being a receptionist for 3 hours a day.  And way better than sitting around worrying about how we will live this summer.  I'm really excited to have an engineering job.  This is where I work:

 

new beginnings

Job - got a small receptionist job for about 12 hours a week, not too exciting, mostly just answering the phone, but at least I'll be making some money. 

Fish - Nate suddenly decided he wanted a guinea pig.  Apparently he thought they lived less than a year.  So we got a fish.  This is our new pet, Sebastian. 

Lent - I have decided to stop watching tv while I eat breakfast and do devotions instead for Lent. 

Intentional Sunshine - Eat more whole grains, fruits, veggies, and less processed stuff.  Maybe try just keeping more fruit on your counter. 

Psalm 37 (first 7 verses)

Do not fret because of evil men

or be envious of those who do wrong;

for like the grass they will soon wither,

like green plants they will soon die away. 

Trust in the Lord and do good;

dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Delight yourself in the Lord
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Committ your way to the Lord;

trust in him and he will do this:

He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,

the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. 

Personality

One thing I have been learning about in the past year or two is how important it is to understand yourself and other people.  And what I mean by that is that everyone has a different personality type and quirks and understanding those and how those translate to strengths and weaknesses. In college I took the Meyers-Briggs personality test twice. It gives you a result in four categories and then a list of different strengths and weaknesses of those types.  The first time I took it I was an ISFJ (Introvert, Sensing, Feeling, Judging)  I don't remember what those all mean but it definately helps to know what you are.  I recently took a research job with a woman who is the complete opposite of me according to the Meyers-Briggs.  It has already been difficult because she is very artsy and somewhat vague, whereas I would rather write everything down on a list.  Frustration can surface pretty easily when you don't really speak the same language, but understanding how the other person thinks allows for better communication.  It also helps to understand yourself. As an introvert in an extroverted society it can be hard to not feel beaten down about certain things, but understanding that my feelings are not actually bad, but rather part of how I am wired and learning to use my strengths can be hugely liberating. 

Intentional Sunshine #5:  If you have the opportunity, take a personality test.  It will help you understand yourself better and explain yourself better to others.  If you don't have that option, or it costs too much, make a list of things that you know about yourself and read articles about it.