Iceberg! Right Ahead!

It is COLD here right now. Like, "you-have-to-run-to-keep-warm-but-not-so-fast-you-fall-down-on-the-ice-covered-streets" cold. Like, "frozen-solid-dog-pee-spilled-coffee-leaky-trash-and-anything-else-unlucky-enough-to-leave-its-warm-receptacle" cold. Like, "icebergs-in-the-Hudson-River" cold. No, really, there are actual icebergs in river. See Exhibit A:
Small ones, yes, but icebergs nonetheless.

But, all that being said, I THINK I still prefer this to the "stick-to-anything-you-touch-because-you're-that-sweaty-and disgusting" heat of July and August. And anyway, a little arctic blast is nothing compared to horror that is the wintry mix. At least it's sunny out, and nothing is pelting my face.

Wintry Mix.....

...which today equals a grey, freezing cold drizzle, with just enough wind to require a death grip on your umbrella, lest it will either bust itself or fly away forever. It's the type of day where someone is getting drenched in "cab-splash" on every street corner and where the wise and the lucky will stay inside, not at a desk, but on a couch, preferably curled up with a book, a kitten, and the last of that holiday nog.

But no, we are made to go out in the dreaded wintry mix, braving the horizontal icy rain, umbrella-destroying gusts, and ever-present threat of tidal wave when a cab passes by.

January, why you gotta be like this? What did we ever do to you?

Another one bites the dust

I'm still wondering how we've already said goodbye to 2008. I mean, sure, I started writing the right date (2009? what?) at work, and I counted down to midnight on the 31st, and I suppose somewhere in my head I can comprehend that it is now January, but I can hardly believe that 2008 passed by us so quickly.

It was a truly incredible year: a first year of an incredible marriage, a promotion at work accompanied by a year of living dangerously (ie- not having a clue at all of how to do my job, but yet, having some kind of success at it), several weddings, pregnancies, engagements, and heartbreaks among friends, a new (AMAZING- have I said it enough yet?) apartment, the end of torture/grad school, and another year counting my blessings for the health, support, and generosity of my family.

As I come down from the high of another perfect Christmas in Colorado, I'm trying to take time to reflect on what I accomplished last year, and what I want for myself in 2009. It's easy to fall into January's emotional rollercoaster- you know, where one moment you're excited and determined to really take on the world this year, and the next you're all crumpled up, wishing for nothing more than another glass of champagne and just one more night of frying bread and vegetables and meat and dipping them in cheese with your family (ok- could just be my family, but you get the idea...).

Eric and I talk all the time about all the things we want to do- travel, run a marathon, keep our apartment clean, to name only a few- but we tried on our loser New Year's Eve to come up with a few resolutions that we can really accomplish, and maybe change small parts of ourselves for good. First, I'd like to revisit my list of "rules" I posted several months ago:

1. It is what it is.
2. Think for yourself.
3. Show up (on time).
4. Finish what you start.
5. Play hard, play fair.
6. Clear your desk every day (editor's note- have you seen my desk??? this is going to be the hardest one I think...)
7. Don't complain (editor's note- even about grad school.)
8. Be brave, be bold, let not your heart grow old.
9. (editor's personal addition) Sing, dance, floss, travel.

So every now and then I think about these, and, you know, I think I'm doing ok! I'm the QUEEN of "It is what it is." No sense in freaking out about something that is done. Or happening. Or beyond my control. Try it sometime.

I've been flossing, traveling, singing to my ipod, and dancing in my living room like a fool. So that one's good to go.

I think I play hard and fair. And I think I'm at least a little brave and bold.

Now the rest? The rest leave room for continous work. Let's check in again next year. At least, it gives me something to strive for!

So now that I write those out, it turns out I don't need any more resolutions! That's enough to keep me busy forever! But, I promised the short list of the Vierhaus goals for 2009, so I must deliver (see rule #4.):

Here we go, 2009!
Be better friends (and son, daughter, and sister). You guys better get ready for us to actually answer the phone! And even call you sometimes!

Send cards and presents when we're supposed to.

Eat and drink (just a little) less. (We don't want to be lame-o's--- we just want to give our livers and tum tums a small break, to help us avoid feeling like crap. Seems simple enough.)

Find a new hobby. Now that we don't have to use our minds to survive grad school, we need to keep those things sharp. Any suggestions?


And that's that. Don't worry, this is not the official send off for 2008- you can still expect a good blog about the Hoerl/Strietelmeier/Vierhaus Christmas Escapades (as soon as I can figure out a way to effectively sum up the fun), but this is definitely the kick off for 2009. Which, hopefully, will be the most inspiring, interesting, and hilarious year yet.

And her middle name was trouble...

And I'm of course referring to our dear friend, Tequila.

When combined with our other friends Loco Tuesday, $2 Coronas, Nachos Problem, The End of Grad School, two very tired but easily excitable Hon Hon's, and one extremely hungry and thirsty Paul, Tequila Trouble also brings Really Great Times. But mostly trouble, let's be honest.


Paul managed to work his way through the largest plate of nachos that my family has ever seen. And so Nacho's Problem was, in fact, no longer a problem.



We practiced posing for arty magazine covers.


After much contemplation, we all agreed that salt is by far the best and most necessary spice.

And even had a visit from Junior Birdman.

As the first real snow came down outside, we got PRETTY silly, and it was a PRETTY good way to celebrate the end of an era.

The Goose Is Getting Fat

And here's why:



Oh man Christmas is so tasty.

Oh, the inhumanity!

So, this morning when I dragged my sleepy behind out of bed while it was still dark out to diligently go to the gym (ok- confession: it was only still dark out because it was raining. But, it was dark nonetheless...), I was greeted with a nasty surprise:

The TV's in the gym WEREN'T WORKING. I mean we're talking absolutely nothing. Just a little (supposedly friendly) message to tell us that our service has been changed to digital and to call 1-800-Yourworkoutjustgotharder,morepainful,andextremelyboring to get a converter box.

Needless to say, it was much less fun to "run" (if you can call it that) on the elliptical machine without my morning dose of Zack Morris and the rest of the Saved By The Bell crew to cheer me on. How did I ever workout before the dawn of personal tv's at every machine... :)

do a little dance

Ladies and gentlemen- tonight was my last class EVER for this pesky old Masters degree! Holy cow! I could not be more excited. Ok, maybe I could if I was done with my Independent Study. But, mostly, I am giddy, jumping, ecstatic, gleeful- you name the cheery adjective and it probably describes me right now.

So, unless I lose my mind at some point in the future (and, should I go temporarily insane and choose to go back to school again someday, please, pleeeeease, I'm begging you- point me back to this blog and remind me of my glee today. Then ask me one more time if I really want to do that to myself again...anyways, as I was saying...), I will never have use my brain cells to pretend to create something such as a magazine or a nonprofit or a marketing plan or a strategic plan with a bunch of strangers. Should I have to do these things, I will actually be a) getting paid and/or b)care. OK- enough with the cynicism. Today is a celebration!!!!

No more grad school classes!!

Aaaaaand, I will now resume my dancing in my living room.