In Living Color

I am so tired of people who don't love COLOR.  

Colorful clothes, colorful paint colors, colorful couples.

Don't live your life in BEIGE.  Beige is BORING.

Paint the damn walls turquoise.  Or purple.  Or red.

Dye your hair, and dye it again.

Buy the cupcake shoes.  Get the mint green necklace and the coral bracelets.

Take a chance on the animal print wallet or the Christmas green tote bag.

And for God's sake, stop looking at interracial couples like they're mutants.  They/We are becoming the majority, so keep your dirty looks and whispered comments TO YOUR DAMN SELF.  Because our babies will be cuter than yours.

The next time you want to wear black, DRESS IT UP with some COLOR.  Or if you want to paint your walls Boring Beige, put some bright art or bold furniture back in the room.

Life is not black and white.  It's bright and beautiful.  

Love it.  Accept it.  Respect it.  Embrace it.

Ali, what have you learned so far?

Learning a whole new job after being at the same place for almost 4 years is hard!  But, I feel important here.  I'm doing work that feels more important than making file folder labels and designing event invitations.  Sure, I was good at those things, but it was so boring I could have stabbed myself in the leg just for something to do.  I need more.

So, here's what I've learned so far, after only 4 days at VSP:

1. Whoever sat at my desk before me likely NEVER wiped down the desktop.  It was covered with dust, and I spent 20 minutes scrubbing it all off.

2. I've peed in all 4 bathroom stalls on my floor, and I've picked a designated stall for all my future potty needs.

3. The coffee provided isn't really coffee at all.  It more closely resembles muddy water.

4. Everything you say and do is potentially being monitored.

5. My supervisor is amazing.

6. I have to scan my security badge before I try to go through the turning doors of all the buildings.

7. The supply room supervisor's last name is Ali.  We're obviously best friends already.

8. It only takes 20 minutes to get to Rancho from our house in the morning if we do 70 mph down Fair Oaks Blvd...30 minutes if we do the speed limit and hit the red lights.

9. My phone battery doesn't die that quickly when I use Pandora all day.  I can actually listen to it for 8 full hours and only use about 12% of the battery life.  Score.

10. Just because we pass the gym on the way home from work, doesn't mean we'll go.

I like to learn something new every day, and I'm on a roll so far.  Despite my list, I really have learned a lot about the actual job duties as well.  My official training starts July 8th, so I'll be better prepared after that.

IN OTHER NEWS...

We are finally FINISHED with all the major changes for the summer.  We're done moving, my parents are done moving, Megan's wedding is finished (and was GORGEOUS, pics below), and the new job is under weigh.  We can finally, finally relax and enjoy this house and each other.  Our anniversary is in 2 weeks!  And to celebrate, we're going on a weekend camping trip with some of our greatest friends and family, KID FREE.  I don't have kids, of course, but I'm excited for all of our friends to come and have a great weekend without their kids around.  Let loose, man!  

Very quick recap of the wedding...Megan & Drake had an amazing ceremony and reception at La Rivage in Sacramento, right on the river.  The whole day was just beautiful.  Megan was a stunning bride, and Drake was a dapper groom.  I was so privileged to be a part of their special day.  I love them, and I know they're going to have a lifetime of love together.

Cheers to you and your friends/family!!  

XOXO

My bridesmaid gift.  A mimosa coozy with an ice pack in the middle! It can also hold 6 beers.

"Cousins, Cousins, There were never such devoted Cousins"

7 of 9 bridesmaids aka sexyBitches

The De Tomasi wedding cake.  No, I did not make it.

Watching the bride and groom walk back up the isle.  I have no idea what I'm doing with my boob.

My studly date.

Team Ginger, walking down the isle.

At the rehearsal dinner.  He is just so damn cute!

Oh yeah, we get down!!

Success is...

What is SUCCESS?

Success isn't measured by how much money you make, your job title, if you're married or divorced, or what kind of car you drive.  Success is measured by hundreds of different factors.  As I sit here at my desk for my last Friday afternoon in this building, I find myself thinking about all the changes coming my way in 10 days.

I'm taking a huge pay cut for this position.  That doesn't mean that this new job will not be successful for me. It has unlimited growth potential, advancement and relocation possibilities, and an amazing corporate structure.  Sure, I'll be making way less money for a little while, but that doesn't mean this won't be a successful change.

This is how I measure success, in all areas of life:

1. Making one Swapportunity (Google it) per day.

2. Getting an up-front parking space at Target.

 3. Finishing my laundry the day I start it.

4. Finally beating level 29 of Candy Crush.

5. Being able to buy the fancy fountain pens at work with your name on them.

6. Having a business card.

7. Owning a home.

8. Being in love.

9. Making it through an entire string cheese without just biting into it.

10. Making it to the gym at least 3 days that week. This includes making it to the parking lot and calling it a day.

11. Fitting into your bridesmaid dress without having to starve yourself for a week. (YES!)

12. Finding free wi-fi.

13. Finding cash when you're doing someone else's laundry. Finders keepers. 

14. Finding that missing earring I've been searching for over the last 6 months.

15. Finding a job with better opportunities for my future.

16. Leaving work early on a Friday.

Any or all of these factors can contribute to your personal success.  It really just depends on how you look at life.  Are you a glass-half-full kind of person?  Or are you a pour-another-shot-in-my-empty-glass kind of person?  Whatever you decide your success is, be grateful.  

Damn, that only killed about 20 minutes of my afternoon. 

Until next time, have a save weekend and love they neighbor...just not thy married neighbor, or thy underage neighbor...

Taylor Renee

What do you say to your friend when she gets pregnant?

Me: "Shut up! I have a pregnancy test here. I want you to take it right now. Just so I can see."

What do you say when you're asked to make the baby shower cake?

Me: DUH!  

What do you say when you find out she's in labor as you're flying home from vacation?
Me: Damn it! I told her to wait 'til I got home!

What do you say when you find out the baby couldn't breathe on her own?

Me: I'm here for you, whatever you need.

What do you say, 2 1/2 years later, when you find out your friend has lost her daughter?

There are no words.

There are no words to console a friend who has lost a child.  And in this case, TWO friends.  I met Justin & Danielle working at Chili's in Lincoln, CA back in 2007.  They were young and in love, and you could just tell that this was a couple who would really make it.  I was fortunate enough to be a part of their lives, and was even asked to be a bridesmaid in their wedding.  

This family was perfect.  Immediate and extended.  They are the epitome of "family."

I was completely overjoyed when Danielle told me she was pregnant in 2010.  They had been trying for so long, and I could think of no two people greater suited for parenthood.  They always say that no one is ever ready to have kids.  Well, Justin & Danielle WERE.

The last two years have been a struggle of joy and tears for them and for Taylor.  I've watched Taylor grow up, mostly in pictures.  There's never a good excuse to lose touch with someone. I never really lost touch with Justin & Danielle, we just didn't see each other as often.  We both had a lot of hard things going on in our lives the last couple years, but we had our dinner/wine dates when we could, and it was always so fun to see Taylor and spend time with her.  

The last time I saw her, she was in the car.  They were getting ready to go somewhere and when she heard my voice, Justin said, "Ali, Taylor wants to say hi."  So I poked my head into the car and said "Hi, Taylor!" She said hi, and she was happy. As I left, "Ali, Taylor wants to say bye." So I poked in again, and she said bye!

She didn't really know me, but like the pastor said during the service today, she was aware of people.  She was aware of everyone, and she wanted you to be aware of her.  Her voice was precious, her smile was contagious, and her laugh was infectious.  She was a blessing. A miracle.  

As her condition worsened in the last month, we all prayed for a miracle.  I never believed in the power of prayer, but I prayed hard for her.  I prayed for a miracle recovery.  But the truth of the matter is, Taylor IS a miracle.  It's a miracle she had such an amazing 2 1/2 years here with her family.  It's a miracle that she was able to touch so many lives, even those of people whom she'd never met.  Her entire life was a miracle.

I can't imagine the devastation of losing a child. Especially a child so small and so full of life.  No parent should ever have to bare that burden.  But it happens all too frequently.  I am blessed to be a part of this family's lives.  I'm blessed to have known Taylor. And I'm certainly humbled by her passing.  She was such a fighter.  The next time I feel like I want to complain about a headache, being tired, being sore, or whatever the case may be.....it will be NOTHING in comparison to the fight Taylor fought.  She fought long and hard. And she did it with a smile and a laugh.  There is nothing in this world worth complaining about, when there's a stronger-than-me 2-year-old fighting for her life and asking to get her nails painted at the same time.  She was a diva to the very end.

The only peace that I can take from Taylor's passing is imagining her finally having some energy.  Finally, being able to sleep, to eat, to play.  I hope that Justin & Danielle can find comfort knowing how incredibly loved their child is; how inspirational.  She touched so many lives and so many hearts.  She'll live forever in each of us.

Please, donate to the Lawhead family here.  Every penny helps.  

Big Changes, Life Rearranges

Well, I've finally done it.  I got a new job.  OMG.

What am I doing?!

It's a pay cut, it's further away, and I'm starting all over.  However, I'll finally work for a corporate office with some STRUCTURE.  Most of you already know about my crazy stories here.  It's not the most professional place to work, but it definitely had its perks.  Now, it's time to move on.

I have 3 weeks left here, and then I'll start my Accounts Receivable Specialist position at VSP.  I've been trying to get hired there for months, and now that I'm settled into my house, I finally found something perfect. It's finance, it's corporate, and there's LOTS of room to advance and move up.  I could transfer to another state, even another country eventually.  The possibilities here are endless.  I'm so excited for this opportunity, I can't even stand it.

More news to follow shortly...