Life Updates of a Larger Magnitude

(A blog of thoughts for my sister's paper...) There are a couple of aspects to touch on:  work/life balance, the increase is men's parenting role, macro versus micro thinking, and training. Work/life balance:  I think that work/life balance is one of the reasons why fewer women are in leadership roles.  It's self-selecting.  I think that we've reached a point in history where there are plenty of opportunities for females to take the lead, but that they see the lifestyle choices that those before them have made to attain "success", and choose to define it in other ways.  The culture has not shifted enough though to recognize that opting out of 80 hour workweeks and blackberry tethering does not mean you're weak or unfit.  Note Sheryl Sandberg's comment about leaving work at 5:30 in this article .  I personally get very frustrated with the inefficiencies I see in 10-12 hour workdays and working weekends. I'm convinced that we...

This pregnancy stuff is exhausting.  Like any athlete, or professional, or person who has ever pushed their boundaries knows - the more you learn, the easier the stuff before it seems.  So this pregnancy has been pretty easy so far.  We haven't stressed about each new week and each minute little change, because with 2 other wee ones in the house, there is just too much other stuff to think about.  My work has been so consuming and when I wrap that up, it's time to do the work of teaching 2 sassy and willful little girls how to be polite, intelligent, and semi-decent in public. And go to bed and stay there. Why is that such a hard concept to grasp?!   It's also time to remember to eat something nutritious (because I probably ate PBnJ lunch at my desk. Again.) Maybe get some exercise in (because this time let's just say that I'm not as concerned with my weight gain, and exercise is low on my priority list.)   Try to have a conversation with my ...

Doesn't it just drive you insane when you're stuck explaining things to people because they're not willing to put in the effort to think about it themselves first.  It's much easier to say, "I don't understand", than to actually engage your brain in understanding, I get that.  And I'm even guilty of it myself sometimes (just ask mattshea about my run in with the Roku and Epix the other night, or the broken garbage disposal.)  But he's married to me, and I pay him back by doing things that he hates - like talking to people.  NOT when I'm getting paid to do a job.  So dear coworkers, please at least TRY to solve the problem yourself before you call me.  Unless I really like you.  But if I really like you, it's probably because you do try first... Also, if this is a recurring theme, I have to wonder if I do something to encourage people to avoid trying.  Perhaps I need to be less accommodating.  And more cranky.  With my lu...

Usher's infamous, "You make me wanna leave the one I'm with, start a new relationship with youuuuuu, this is what you dooooooo" has been rolling around my head all morning.  And making me chuckle because it reminds me of a boy I once dated.  He used to sing it pretty often around me, and I didn't think anything of it until a few months after we parted ways and he told me that he was actually seeing someone else at the same time.  Oh, boys.  You silly silly creatures. (PS - this is actually not a bitter note for me, although I'm sure there were some psychological repercussions that I'm not even aware of and that Matt had to deal with at some point.  I actually just chalk it up to the fact that I'm irresistible. ;) )  HAHAHAHAHAHA! Happy Wednesday.

Today I am annoyed with selfish people.  If you see yourself as a victim all the time, then that's what you will be.  The best advice in the world won't help you dig out of your self-pitying hole, you need to do that on your own. I am annoyed that I can't have multiple cups of coffee today because of this pregnancy thing.  It just seems like a 3 cup o' joe day. And actually, that's it.  I don't have much else to complain about.  I'm a lucky girl. :)

You know, cuz he went to bootcamp.  A few months ago the McD's started planning a visit to the Tampa area to visit us (or maybe Cathe's parents, but I think it was really us :P).  Right around the same time that Monica started planning Art's going away bash, actually.  And I thought to my pregnant self, "Self, as much as you want to go drink your face off and celebrate Art's last weekend of freedom, you can't and you would really be miserable.  But it's only right that you make the effort to send him off!"  Lightbulb!  Bring the bear to the mountain!  (ermm, that is not the right phrase, but whatevs.)  So we coordinated schedules with Team McD and Naomi, bought him a plane ticket, and hung out in Chez Shea for a very chill and wonderful weekend.  Pregnant ladies and people with small children didn't even ruin it. Note, I felt extreme guilt that I could not own a giant epic ski lodge/beach house to bring the entire party down here, but on the ...

Its Friday evening and I am waiting for my take out gyros.   And I am sitting on a boardwalk, late day sun on my face, scent of jasmine in the air, water fountains and birds in the background, a warm breeze on my arms...  life is freakin' fantastic.