Celebrating Five Years

I can’t believe how quickly the time has flown by here on the job. Five years ago yesterday, I started at my current job a bit intimidated by the size of the office, the number of fellow worker bees, and the sea of acronyms I found myself working in. But it has been a good career ride for me thus far, and I am continually grateful for this opportunity.

I had never worked in the legal realm before my experiences here, and I’m not quite sure what I expected, but today I certainly have a different opinion about attorneys and more respect for their efforts – at least patent or IP (Intellectual Property) attorneys. There is no shortage of projects and work to get through, but we also laugh a lot and enjoy each other’s company. Yep, I work with amazing and fun people.

I am blessed to be here. I don’t know where this career path will lead me, but I’m grateful for each day. Here’s to another 5, 10, 20, 30, 40 years! GULP!

Two Hands...Lifted High

My friend Becky is a BIG Jars of Clay fan. Now I like some of their songs, but Becky really likes their music. She had to buy their latest CD the day it was released. I guess I can’t give her too hard of a time about that. I’m the same way about books, and really, Becky was nice enough to wait with me for more than 2 hours at Borders when Harry Potter book 7 came out, and it was way past her bed time of 9 PM. She deserves a medal really. Hee hee!

Anyway, because of Becky’s insights, I decided to listen to the latest Jars of Clay cd, and I really liked what I heard. One song in particular gripped me. "I use one hand to pull you closer, the other to push you away..." Isn't that honest and real? I live there. I’m wanting GOD close but not too close. I’m wanting HIM involved in my life just not in this area or that one over there. I need my space. But like it or not, it all belongs to HIM because HE wants all of me.

And I love the line: “I’m a liar who thirsts for the truth...” WOW! That’s good stuff! I think we’re all there, desperately seeking truth and yet bogged down in our own deceit. In a way, we're all bipolar. Scary, isn't it? Give this song a listen. I think you'll like it, too.

Jars of Clay - "Two Hands" - Official Music Video from Jars of Clay on Vimeo.

Indulgences

I've been indulging lately...

1. On Sunday, August 16th, I had a donut hole. I said "a donut hole", and it really was only one (1) tiny little morsel, but it brought along a wave of desire and need. HA! I broke down and bought a couple of whole donuts on my last trek through Marsh on Friday, August 21st, and quickly inhaled them in the car. My donut-free vows have now been broken. [BIG SIGH!] Yes, I went for over 16 months donut-free and then I caved. Now, I don't quite think that rehab will be required, but I've got this issue to work through privately for the time being.

2. I went to the Indiana State Fair a second time yesterday, and while I opted not to return to my new favorite (the deep-fried, fat-laden chicken-on-a-stick), I did enjoy a corndog, chocolate-covered cheesecake on a stick and a Red Barn elephant ear. [GULP!] It was so worth it, but I'm still detoxing today.

3. I decided to buy myself flowers this weekend. No special occasion really. I saw some beautiful yellow and bright pink gerbera daisies on display, and then I spotted some orange gladiolas, and I just knew those cheery souls all belonged with me. I even brought in some of the blooming gladiolas to work with me today so that I could enjoy them in both locations. I mean, how can you not be happy around glads? The name alone makes you smile.

It's been good to relax on the diet for a bit, but I'm back on Weight Watchers today and refocusing my efforts on what works. And as for the flowers, I think this is one indulgence this girl needs more of... :)

British Luncheon

On Saturday I had some girlfriends over for some English-inspired cuisine and to share photos of the trip to England. It was a lovely way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

We started off with a salad and pasties, followed off by warm apple crumble and creamy vanilla ice cream. YUM! And I put together a slideshow to play on my TV, which only included 377 photos. OK, that might sound like a lot, but most of you know that I took over 4,000 photos on my adventure, and so I had made some serious cuts. However, it was still probably a bit too long. Oh well! I did try.

I think it was fun for Becky, Jessica and I to recount our stories, relive the funny moments and share the experience of a lifetime, and I hope the other ladies enjoyed it, too. It was great seeing some dear friends I don’t see very often and getting reconnected. And my friend Pollyanna brought along her beautiful 4-month-old baby girl, Annabelle, and so we took turns holding her. She is a fun bundle of joy. Yes, it was a great day!

Lunch with friends. Fabulous!
Becky’s warm apple crumble. Delicious!
Time with baby Annabelle and hearing her giggle. PRICELESS!

Going to the Fair

Last weekend, I got to introduce my friend Lisa and my sister Barbara to the Indiana State Fair. Personally, I had never been to a state fair before I moved to Indianapolis, but now I’m quite the fan. I try to visit every year, and this time, I sure had a blast, and I think they had fun, too! Yep, there sure is a lot to love about the Indiana State Fair.

1. ANIMALS: I mean, come on -who besides my sister, who merely tolerated our trips into the animal barns - does not like seeing goats, lambs, pigs, horses, cattle, mules and other farm animals? Yes, it is true that you do have to watch where you step when you tour the animal barns, but I’m not the one who wore flip-flops to the fair. I’m not judging her lack of good choices, mind you. I’m just stating the facts here and that’s all. Hee hee!

2. FOOD: Hold me back. There are some tasty treats to be had at the state fair. Who doesn’t like elephant ears? [OK, besides the few of you who actually prefer funnel cakes.] I mean, who wouldn’t savor a crispy, cinnamon-covered deep fried pastry? Sigh! Good stuff that! And then there is the pork tenderloin, the ribbon chips, cheese fries, the wet burrito, the turkey leg, and the steak sandwich all followed by cotton candy, another elephant ear or funnel cake, a deep fried Reese's peanut butter cup, a frozen banana, lemon shake-up, salt water taffy, fudge, deep fried oreos, and then a trip to the dairy barn for some ice cream. NAH! I didn’t really eat that much. Diet Girl has not completely fallen off the wagon here, but I did indulge in some Indiana delicacies.

This year I fell in love with the chicken-on-a-stick. It’s basically a giant breaded chicken tender on--you guessed it--a stick! It was tasty. I needed some dipping sauce because that breading was a bit too salty, but it was still so good. Now I have yet to try the deep fried Pepsi (it’s still a bit of a mystery to me) or the chocolate-covered bacon (yes, you read that correctly – it’s called “pigs in the mud,” rather catchy don’t you think?), but I’m going to keep them in mind on my next visit. It might be good.

3. EXHIBITS: There are always lots of exhibits, and the truth is that I never seem to get to them all maybe because I'm too wrapped up in items 1 and 2 above. Naturally though, I love touring the art and photography galleries, but I know that there are many others to explore as well.

4. PEOPLE: OK, so some of the carnival people might seem a bit scary. But they are just people. And isn't it fun seeing new faces and people-watching a bit. We're all so different, and yet the same somehow. OK, that was profound, wasn't it? HA!

5. RIDES: I never ride the rides. Does that seem wrong? Maybe it's the fact that I'm cursed with my mother's fear of heights these days or my last experiences on ocean motion at Cedar Point. YIKES! I would love to bring my nieces and nephews for a visit, and maybe I’ll plan on doing just that next year. What a blast that would be! Actually, I think some of the rides could be fun, but it’s not really on the top of my agenda (see items 1 through 4 above).

Yeah, I prefer walking around and seeing all the sights, savoring or choking on the smells, tasting the mouth-watering delights, and hearing the sounds of music and laughter. After all, it’s hard NOT to be happy at the state fair. Well, I wouldn’t be happy if you tried to snag my chicken-on-a-stick, but other than that, I find it all highly enjoyable.

So, my friend John and I are hitting the Indiana State Fair again this weekend. I can’t wait. It will be the last day of the 2009 fair, and we want to take it all in once more. And hey, if y’all want to come along, just holler. The more, the merrier. Be there or be square! HA!

Being a Kid Again

My friend John throws some of the best get-togethers. You never know who will show up and what an evening at John’s will hold, but it is always memorable and fun.

This past Saturday was a hot and humid day, and it didn’t cool off much that evening. After enjoying a fabulous dinner, most of the adults were in the house around the tables, chatting and getting caught up on who was doing what, etc. There were a few kids, and they had all scattered outside, catching fireflies and playing with several balls in John’s yard.

Well, a few of us opted to step outside and enjoy the evening, too, and we ended up getting a kickball game going with the kids. We played for over an hour until we could barely see the ball any more. It was awesome! It was the kids vs. the adults, and that was the way the kids wanted it. Then a few more adults came and joined the kids team to make things a bit more even. We never did keep score, and so I'm not sure who won. But no one seemed to care, we were just having fun.

I got to be on the adult side for a change and was the only female on my team, too. I got called “the little lady,” which just made me chuckle. The kids were a riot—chasing the ball down the hill, trying to tag the “big boys,” etc. I think the adults had just as much fun as the kids, maybe more. We were all running the bases, trying to determine how hard we should really kick that ball, etc. I really enjoyed that game.

Unfortunately there are no photos of the priceless moments. I had my camera in tow that evening, but hey, I was working hard out there on the pitcher’s mound. And who ever said that kickball wasn’t a workout? HA! It can be. We finally called it quits about 20 after 9 and headed indoors for drinks. I was surprised to find my hair rather damp. We were all pretty sweaty actually.

After the game, we rested for a few minutes, and then the kids tried to teach me how to play bumper pool. I’m a hopeless cause, I’m afraid. One boy told me he was going to go easy on me. I really appreciated that. I didn’t want a 7-year-old showing me up too badly. HA!

My friend Becky laughs at me when I tell her that meeting new kids doesn’t scare me in the least. It’s just the adults that freak me out. HA! But I really do love kids, always have. They make me laugh and enjoy the little things again--something I think we could all do a little more of. On Saturday night when I left John’s house to head home, I got a couple of hugs from some little people I had just met, which totally tugged at my heart’s strings. [sigh!]

Thanks for a great evening, John! Let’s do it again soon.

Homemade Desserts: $10
Catching up with old friends: Wonderful!
Time with other people's kids and playing kickball: PRICELESS!!!

Where Has the Time Gone?

I got a phone call last week from my oldest niece Janet. She is in North Carolina at the Nascar Technical Institute, and she was calling with some BIG news: she had gotten engaged. WOA! Once I picked myself up off the floor and caught my breath again, I relayed my congratulations and excitement back to my nineteen-year-old niece. I am delighted for her, and I can't wait to meet Chris and get to know this newest (or soon-to-be) member of our family, and I certainly will be praying for the duo as they make plans for the future. I confess that I was more than a wee bit shocked, but life is full of surprises.

A year ago, I rode along with her family as we took Janet down to her new apartment in NC and got her settled in. Months before that, the family watched her graduate from high school and enjoyed her fun open house. A couple of years prior to that, we celebrated her sweet 16th birthday with a girls' only weekend. Before that, it seems like just yesterday that I lived with her family for a few months before I headed off to college myself. I was there as Janet's nanny while she underwent a medical procedure as a toddler. And further back still, I remember seeing her for the first time and snuggling with the cute little bundle and wondering what it be like to have her call me "Aunt Mel." [SIGH!]

And now, she went and got herself engaged. WOW! I'm old. Granted, I did become an aunt at just under 16 years of age, and so this was bound to happen sooner or later, but goodness, time has just flown by. And if I'm feeling old, I wonder how old my brothers feel? My brothers are 10, 12 and 14 years older than I am, and I'm sure they are thrilled that I am reminding them of that fact. Hee hee!

LORD, thank you for the blessing of having Janet Renee in my life. She is a darling young woman, and I am so proud of her. I pray that YOU would bless and keep her, that YOU would direct her and Chris as they plan their life together and draw them ever closer to YOU. AMEN!

P.S. LORD, please help the crazy aunt who is feeling a bit elderly at the moment. :)

Family Fun Part 2

On Saturday, we all headed to West Park in Carmel. It was a beautiful day. We had a picnic lunch and then hit the playground and free waterpark. Jacob (almost 7) got soaked quickly. He loved running in and out of the sprinklers and sitting down in the water. Grace (almost 4) was a bit more timid about getting drenched, but she still had fun. Eighteen-month-old Harrison loved walking up and down the whole area, splashing and kicking along. Every few minutes, the water would shut off for a bit, and so Jacob and I dared each other to run through while the water was off. Of course, my timing was all wrong, and I got a bit wet a few times. (Wanna see more pics?)

Afterwards, we took a short walk on the boardwalk over the wetlands. Along the way, we ran into some kids that had just caught a small turtle in their net. He was so cute. He even poked his head out a couple of times to say hello. Everyone knows that Mel has a thing for turtles (another long story), and so I was thrilled. Hmmmm...I just might need a pet turtle someday.

Saturday evening, the gang headed back home. I was exhausted, but I rather found my apartment a bit too quiet all at once. [sigh!] Thanks, All, for a great 24 hours!

Family Fun

My sister and her family came to my place on Friday evening. We hit the pool right away and then had a late dinner, after which I put the adults to work on making pasties. Growing up in Michigan, pasties were a family favorite, and my sister and I are carrying on with the homemade tradition. It just takes A LOT of time and prep, and so I typically make them with my sister and her husband. Jonathan chopped up the meat, Barbara worked on cleaning and chopping up the carrots, potatoes and onion, and I supervised. I’m kidding. I was working hard, too. Honest! In fact, I starting making the pie dough around 4:30 PM before they arrived a couple hours later.

Basically a pastie is a meat pie you can hold in your hand. While in England, I was pleased to discover that pasties are English fare, and that back in the day, women would send their men off to work with these hearty pastries for their lunch. In the mines, the fields or wherever the men were for the lunch hour, they would pull out their pastie and gobble away, holding onto the braided crust with their unwashed hands. When they finished eating the filling and the crust up to where their fingers were, they would toss the crust away. This was before hand sanitizers, and so in a way, I suppose, this was their preventive way of not contaminating their food with their filthy hands. This whole scenario makes me laugh. In my opinion, the crust is the best part. I mean, yes, the steak, potatoes and carrots are tasty and delicious, but it is the crust that makes it all delectable, and yet, it was originally made to be discarded. Interesting!

We made over 40 pasties on Friday night and early Saturday morning. It was around 2:30 AM when my sister and I finally headed to bed. YIKES! But the tasty pasties were worth it. Despite their high Weight Watchers point value, I’ve sampled a couple since, and I have enjoyed every tantalizing morsel. YUM!