OUCH!

sorry it's been so long...

i've been running outside a lot lately, usually 3 or so miles a day at wash park. it's nice because the track is gravel and has saved me a lot of knee pain. well, the past two days i ran on the treadmill at my apartment instead which has wreaked HAVOC on my knees (i forgot how brutal running on a surface with no "give" is.) not only did i run on the treadmill, but i ran a mile and a half more, and minute and a half faster miles...yeah. ouch. i have notice how toned i'm getting though, which is reason enough to keep running!

I'm trying to keep my messages shorter so you don't have so much to read lol. to sum up the past two weeks:
1. i'm still seeing cute french intern (no chemistry at all, but i love his background and culture)
2. my stalker gave up (i told him that all the times i said "no," NO is what a really meant)
3. the guy i met on myspace and i have a date tonight
4. i turned 21 (yay!!)
5. school is out for the summer...i have no idea what to do with myself...

What to do with your life? Welcome to my world.

Madelaine, It took me awhile to digest your long commentary and I am now finally blogging my comments. I know each generation has its fashion does and don't's and the tuck in your shirt rule of yesteryear doesn't make sense to you. I can appreciate that. I came from the generation and so did those before me that did tuck in our shirts so it seems like a very sensible thing to do -- and to me seems more attractive and put together. Since I've had six children, the untucked look has came in handy as my waistline expanded. But it was more of a cop out for me or an acceptance of the fact that I looked better with the untucked look. I aspire, however, to once again tuck in my shirts as a sign of slimming down and getting back to my former slender self.

To answer your question about whether I was ever confused about my life, the answer is yes and to this day, I am still confused about what to do about my life. When I was your age, I pursued studies that interested me but I never really had a passion about what career I would have. My personal relationships ended up dictating my direction and for that I am sorry. So, for example, I gave up my dream to go to medical school to accomodate plans to get married. And then I had you and that was that. I am very happy to see that you are determined to find your career and pursue it before entering into a permanent relationship. Along the way, I end up getting my education and working wonderful jobs but kept having children that steered my focus back to family and home. I have been able to pursue small dreams and passions but have had to devote most of my energy to my family. I don't regret that my life turned out this way but part of me still wishes I could pursue a career passion of mine. I even thought that maybe I could still do the medical school thing -- if they even accept people as old as me. But for today and this summer, I am pursuing my triathlons, my gardening, my volunteer work and my quest to keep my life in order.

What are you thinking about doing with your future? Mom

was this EVER in style?

I'm sorry, let me forewarn you that i'm about to have a slight rant.

alright, so we all know that the 70s, 80s, even 90s have all come and gone, but are now very apparently creeping back into the fashion world. hey, i'll admit it, half the time i'm probably dressing like you did mom when you were my age. maybe minus the gigantic permed hair and the high waisted pants, but regardless, "old school" is definately cool now...

one thing i don't understand, and may never understand, is the t-shirt tucked into jeans look. WHO CAME UP WITH THIS?! honestly. a tshirt? and jeans? neither one is dressy, nor will either one EVER be dressy, so why do people have the compulsion to tuck one into the other like they are instantly glamifying themselves? i don't see the logic...i mean, i can understand maybe, if a middle aged man with little to zero fashion sense was trying to pull this off, but anybody born after 1970 should probably not be commiting this fashion faux pas. example: i was walking around campus today and out of the corner of my eye noticed a poor, unfortunate soul who was obviously running very late for class. he was practically tripping over himself and his rolley back pack to get where he needed to be. as if this sense of urgency (and the rolley backpack) weren't enough, he had on high water jeans, white tube socks and white tennis shoes, a polo buttoned to the top that was tucked ever so meticulously into his jeans...WHY???? albeit a small one, i think one of my new life missions is to destroy this trend entirely...

so i think i told you i had a date with philippe the other night. not exactly a date...i went out to dinner with friends, then he came over afterwards, around 10pm. he brought a bottle of wine, which i have got to say is one of the coolest things about him...i don't think we've had a date yet where he hasn't brought wine. i don't mean to stereotype, but this whole french thing is really cool. so far so good...the more i get to know him, the more interested i'm becoming. it definately wasn't an instant thing. we're not "dating" persay (i wouldn't say anyway) but he has let the word slip on occasion. already though, i like him more than andrew, the very persistent youngin (who by the way invited me to go to mexico this weekend...he doesn't give up!), so i don't mind the "d" word. we only talked for an hour or so before he got an urgent call from his roomate (one of their old friends had just died...) and had to leave.

ok, just for curiosity's sake, mom were you EVER confused about what you wanted to do with your life? i mean, you always seem so secure in what you want, and so secure in the fact that you HATE that i don't. do you have this mentality because you went through a colossal phase of confusion like me, or simply because you don't understand what it's like to have your head in a million different places? i STILL can't decide what i want to do with my life...i wish i could have 10 or more different professions and just switch among them every year or so...

My Weekend Workout and the Garden

My weekend wasn't quite as exciting as yours was given that you're in the dating scene. My excitement revolved around getting my garden going with my partner Julie -- we woke bright and early on Sunday and worked all morning laying down soaker hoses and fabric, digging mounds for the pumpkin patch, raking in compost, and building rows of raised beds for our vegetables. Good "clean" fun. This photo is of the boys last year in garden. So cute.
Saturday morning I headed off to Cherry Creek Reservoir for a Transition Clinic with CWW. We worked on getting through T2 in the triathlon where you ride in on your bike, dismount, change shoes and start running. We did two whole loops -- 3 mile bike ride, 1 mile run around the track, 3 mile bike ride, 1 mile around the track. A nice little workout which I topped off with a stop at Jamba Juice. And you'll proud of me for downsizing my Berry Fulfilling to a 16 oz. Afterwards, I took a 1/2 walk to my new favorite playlist and then enjoyed a neighborhood barbeque hosted by the cute 6th grader next door. Dave graciously handled all four soccer games on the kids calendar to accomodate my gardening and workout plans.
So this week I'm back at the daily workout with plans to take off Friday to pick up Harrison in Gunnison. What you doing these days for your workout? Or are you just trying to survive finals this week? Any new diet tips for me? Mom

weekend recap...

My weekend was full, and very fun!! Friday night I went over to a girlfriend's house to hang out. We had a few friends over to have a few drinks and watch movies. Justin, my ex, came over to hang out to. It went really well, I'm so glad we've been able to stay good friends. He's really one of the best people I have ever known and it would be such a shame to lose that relationship...who knows, maybe in the future the timing will be right for us, but for now I'm just glad that we are able to stay friends. I didn't get to sleep until 5am as the sun was coming up...
Saturday I had to work a double at my restaurant. This means I went in from 12-3 for the lunch rush, then again from 4.30 to 9pm for the dinner rush. During my break I squeezed in lunch with a friend. After work I ran to the Bluebird theater to meet two other friends so we could see our coworker, kyle, and his band play a show. It was a lot of fun to go out and see some new bands. Because I'm not 21, the bouncer drew two big, black Xs on my hands; I couldn't help but laugh because in 3 short weeks I'll never have to be Xed again!!! I can't wait...
Today was very eventful. I woke up around 10am and worked on homework for a few hours. I had a date with cute French intern too. I was actually very surprised yesterday when he called me and asked for a second date...I hadn't felt much chemistry the first time. Fortunately, today went much better. We stopped at Whole Foods to get lunch, then went to Wash Park and set up our little picnic. It was all very picturesque; we had a blanket, books, a bottle of wine and plenty to talk about. We talked for a couple of hours before I had to dash off at 3 to run an errand before work at 5pm.
Hmm what else...oh I bought a desk today! I finally decided that after 3 months of living in my new apartment, it's about time to stop sitting on my floor with desktop on an upside down laundry basket...i totally lucked out. i found a perfect desk for $5 on craigslist.com. The only catch was i had to pick it up today or the guy selling it would give it to somebody else. so...given the stipulations, i had to quick run to home depot to borrow justin's truck, race to broomfield, load the desk, race back to denver, switch cars with justin again, and be at work by 5.

All in all, not too terribly exciting. This week will be a busy one, but only 2 more weeks until I'm done with school for the summer!!!

Myers Briggs Inventory

Madelaine, I've taken the same test several times so I recognize your results and you in them. What a perfect match -- especially you connecting with the cosmic whole. You were like that even as a baby -- connecting with every one in the room through smiles, coos and eye contact. You have always been able to feel the vibe of every one around you. And you reacted strongly if you felt a negative aura from someone. You've always tried for harmony in the relationships around (putting out the flames of conflict) you and helped steer everyone toward getting along and being happy. Also, the part about you changing your mind, trying new things and getting bored easily is so true. Your sincerity and interest in someone or something has always been evident but you do move on easily and quickly. Adaptibility was always a strong point of yours. My results were a little bit different especially the sensing part. I am more objective and don't get the vibe from people like you do. I am more of a doer -- more interested in accomplishments than the way people feel. As you know, I am more likely to trample on people'ss feeling on my way to getting things done. I am very good at implementing ideas and seeing a project through to the end. (although I have many I'd like to finish) I'll have to dig out my old files to see exactly what four categories I fall into. I think it was ENTJ or something like that. More later.

i took this personality test today...do you think it sounds like me? i think it's eerily dead on...

Extraverted iNtuitive Feeling Perceiving
by Marina Margaret Heiss

Profile: ENFP
Revision: 3.0
Date of Revision: 25 Feb 2005

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[The following comes partially from the archetype, but mostly from my own dealings with ENFPs.]

General: ENFPs are both "idea"-people and "people"-people, who see everyone and everything as part of an often bizarre cosmic whole. They want to both help (at least, their own definition of "help") and be liked and admired by other people, on bo th an individual and a humanitarian level. They are interested in new ideas on principle, but ultimately discard most of them for one reason or another.

Social/Personal Relationships: ENFPs have a great deal of zany charm, which can ingratiate them to the more stodgy types in spite of their unconventionality. They are outgoing, fun, and genuinely like people. As SOs/mates they are warm, affectionate (l ots of PDA), and disconcertingly spontaneous. However, attention span in relationships can be short; ENFPs are easily intrigued and distracted by new friends and acquaintances, forgetting about the older ones for long stretches at a time. Less mature ENFPs may need to feel they are the center of attention all the time, to reassure them that everyone thinks they're a wonderful and fascinating person.

ENFPs often have strong, if unconvential, convictions on various issues related to their Cosmic View. They usually try to use their social skills and contacts to persuade people gently of the rightness of these views; his sometimes results in their negle cting their nearest and dearest while flitting around trying to save the world.
Work Environment: ENFPs are pleasant, easygoing, and usually fun to work with. They come up with great ideas, and are a major asset in brainstorming sessions. Followthrough tends to be a problem, however; they tend to get bored quickly, especially if a newer, more interesting project comes along. They also tend to be procrastinators, both about meeting hard deadlines and about performing any small, uninteresting tasks that they've been assigned. ENFPs are at their most useful when working in a group w ith a J or two to take up the slack.

ENFPs hate bureaucracy, both in principle and in practice; they will always make a point of launching one of their crusades against some aspect of it

No huge plans as of yet, but you should know that! have i ever been one to make advance plans? i can't believe it's the weekend already...time has been flying by so fast these days. tonight i might go to boulder to see some friends. i'm not sure i want to drive that far after i get off work though (around 9 or 9.30). every now and then i'll go...a good friend of mine (i think i told you about him a few weeks ago...tall nice guy, one of the only ones i've stayed in touch with since i left) is leaving to go home in about two weeks so i might go up just to see him. tomorrow i work all day, then have a potential party in littleton to go to. i'm not sure i'll be going because i know my "stalker" will be there. he's a nice enough guy, but when you come on too strong too soon, it's never a good thing. Sunday i'm supposed to be seeing a friend and having a "girls" day, but i have too much homework to do...next week is the last week of school before finals, then summer time!!! i can't wait to have a few months off...i get horrible spring fever.

Nina and Madelaine and Harrison 1991

Christina,

Of course, I remember your battered but well loved little Snoopy -- a little friend who accompanied you through childhood and beyond. I think he ended up coming to our Madison home and living out his golden years in our toy chest. Here is a photo of you with the kids back in the days that I only had two bambini -- Madelaine is four and Harrison is almost two. You were a very attentive aunt to my two little ones at the time and they nicknamed you Nina -- a name that all your nieces and nephews call you to this day. Incidently, the story about dating in the work place that I was going to share with Madelaine happened about the same time. And the photo of the main character in my story was literally on the next page of the scrapbook.

Madelaine,

You were asking about if I have any bad experiences with romance in the office. Well, I've been thinking about it and of course, I can't remember all the bad things, only the good things. So, here is a good story. When I moved to Madison in 1990 to work for the Alumni Office, I was newly single having been in a relationship for more than 8 years. So, I was a bit dense about all the male attention I was getting. One young man who showered me with attention was Forest -- a new college graduate who worked in the Alumni Office. He would walk me to my car every night and often went out to lunch with me. When I purchased a house several months after arriving, he offered to help me with everything from moving in to removing carpet to getting the fire place started. He was so nice to me and I was so dense. I didn't even realize that he liked me -- duh!!! How could someone four years younger than me and so cute be interested in me? Well, as I look back, his attention was just what I needed after having my heart broken. He was happy to help me out and spend time with me without anything but good conversation -- and occasionally a home-cooked meal in return. To thank him for all his help with the house, I knitted him a sweater; the one he is wearing in the picture. We were friends for years after that. I will never forget the time he sung a song he had written for me. It was a tune to an old Beatles song that he played on his guitar. Very romantic and unforgettable.

On another note, when I did realize that Forest liked me, I thought carefully about if I should date him while we were working together. What would happen if things didn't work out? And what would my supervisors think of a professional dating a student intern? I decided not to date him but just keep up the friendship/flirtation as it was. I thought I'd wait until either my situation or his changed. He eventually took another job but by then the moment for us had passed and I had met someone else. We continued to be friends for years and in some ways that was better. I'm not sure we could been friends for so long if we'd gotten more involved. He was a bright spot during a very sad and difficult time in my life.

I'll keep thinking about my other dating situations in the workplace. At your age, I worked in primarily women centered work places so the opportunites were slim. On another note, what are your plans for the weekend? Mom

Thanks for the invitation

Ladies,

Thanks for the invitation to participate in your blog. I appreciate the gesture. And, I notice a part of me is already involved in your blog before I began to type.

Does anything in the Ana and Baby Madelaine photo jog your memory about me? I was living on 79th Street at the time and you are sitting in the bedroom Kate and I shared. Check out our wallpaper. What drew me to the photo aside from you two is my Snoop Snoop. I wonder where he is right now? I believe it was Madelaine who pulled off one of his eyebrows.

It takes me back to a time that was a lot of fun. Back to 'the duck' face Madelaine and dad use to make...all the time. The days of dad's homemade mini eggrolls he made for Madelaine. And, the days before Ana moved to Madison to be closer to work at the UW Alumni House.

My first blog, I think I'm going to enjoy this.

Nina

they should rename it "confusing"

Whoever came up with the name "dating" obviously didn't have much experience or they would have named it "confusing" instead. I swear, maybe it's just because I have been out of the game for the past three years, dating is just a gigantic mess of push, pull, and rules. I used to be so sure of myself and my "skills" when it came to harnessing the opposite sex but now I'm blissfully lost. Don't get me wrong, it's wonderful getting the attention but i have no idea how to interpret it and that is what drives me nuts.
Tonight I had a date with a cute boy I work with. I was very excited yesterday when he asked me to dinner because for weeks I have been endlessly amazed at how much we have in common and at how seemingly interesting his life has been up until now. He's French; born and lived there until age 12, went to high school only a few miles from me, has traveled all over the world, and has many of the same interests and outlooks as I do. Well, much to my dismay, despite the steady flow of conversation, dinner lasted little more than an hour before i found myself being dropped off at the curb in front of my apartment...the date was alright, but oddly enough, the spark we have during work was unfortunately absent one on one. Barely half an hour went by (after of course I filled my friends in on the interesting outcome) when cute French intern sent me a text saying that he had a great time with me and thanks for the company...is he interested or just showing off impeccable manners?

In any case, I'm glad to have something other than my recent stalker on my mind...I can't seem to get rid of him. I finally caved in and called him tonight, just like you advised mom. It went well enough. I told him how I was still recovering from a 3 year relationship with a wonderful person and that I needed my space to invest my time in other things...he said he completely understood and was sorry for coming on too strong, then proceeded to tell me how he almost stopped by my work to "surprise" me today, and also beg me to show up at a party a mutual friend of ours is having this weekend. Did I mention I haven't even known him two weeks?

Aside from dating drama, today I have to admit I wasn't very healthy...I woke up late for class and downed a huge glass of skim milk and packed some high fiber cereal in a bag to eat on the drive to campus. That was 8.30am. I didn't eat again until 8pm when cute French boy and I went out for sushi. It filled me up, but caloric wise, it wasn't much. Now I'm sitting at home, writing my very first blog entry while taking a break from chemistry homework. I'm sipping a margarita and thinking about baking cookies...not so hot for a nutrition major.

So tell me mom, do you have any "I dated the coworker" gone wrong stories?

The Conversation Begins...

Madelaine --

Tell me this. What's new in the dating department today? Did you have a healthy day?

A beginning

My daughter Madelaine and I talk almost everyday. And what we talk about is endlessly interesting because we lead such interesting lives. As her mom, I love to hear about what's going on with her as she discovers the world living on her own, working and going to school. And what I find amazing is that Madelaine, who was once my little baby girl, has grown up and is not only an inspiration to me but one of my biggest fans. What would I do without her positive support and encouragement? When I'm feeling down about a naughty child, a difficult project or difficulty losing weight, she's the first to step up to applaud my successes. This is not to say that all our conversations are harmonious. There is the inenvitable clash of our opinions -- often my efforts to give too much advice or my motherly opinion. This dialogue between mother and daughter is what we want to share with our friends and family. Our stories, our debates, our thoughts -- and consider your input as well.