Listening....better

I enjoyed a fun night out yesterday with three other friend couples. (Unfortunately, my hubby had class so I flew solo, which was fine, but I felt bad for him for missing the fun.) We chatted, reminisced about crazy experiences together and talked about where our lives are going in the next few months, some of which is quite undetermined.

After I left them, I began over-analyzing my conversations for the evening and felt like I was so eager to talk to them that I had thrown out random thoughts (about me) all over the place. This has actually been a complex of mine for a long time. I worry that I'm not a good listener in some social settings. Over about the last six months I have noticed an increase in my concerns in this regard. This leads me to believe that if my concern is growing, this behavior is likely growing.

Perhaps I'm not getting enough social, non-work interaction. I found myself babbling on a few weeks ago during lunch with a girlfriend and afterwards I felt as if I had talked all the way through our time together. I was so excited to see her, catch up and suck in a little estrogen interaction, that my logic and consideration flew right out the window. She probably didn't notice but I did. I don't want to be a person regarded for dominating conversation, especially with random thoughts all about me.

During college I participated in a listening workshop that was very enlightening. I think I may try to review some of these pointers and see what I can do to emphasize my listening skills. By listening skills, I don't mean the basic, "did I follow directions given orally" - I'm talking about real, meaningful listening. It will probably be helpful at work also.

Given that I'm not even sure where the list of written New Year's resolutions is at, perhaps I'll call this my April Fool's resolution. I can attempt to improve this aspect of myself, in an attempt to feel less foolish after a fabulous time spent with friends, family and acquaintances.

Eleven hours of blissful sleep

I woke up around 6:45 this morning, realizing that I had slept for nearly 11 hours. I fell asleep on the couch at about 8:30 yesterday, after my husband cooked a great dinner and I talked to my mom on the phone for a bit. (My husband and I had intentions of a walk but I guess that will have to wait for another night- Opps!) I moved to the bedroom about 9:15 and quickly went back to sleep. I believe my body is still trying to get back to a normal schedule after a great vacation.

We enjoyed a wonderful three days/four nights trip at Disney World, spending time with my husband's sister, who is interning there for seven months. There is still something so magical about being there, even if I am nearly 26 years old. While I was watching the "Wishes" fireworks at the Magic Kingdom, I was thinking about how whimsical and less stressful childhood seemed. I yearned to have that childhood spirit again. Taking in the music and the fireworks for just a little over 15 minutes was a true escape and made me want to be a little more diligent about remembering to enjoy the small things - like going for walks, watching the bulbs come up in my yard, and frankly falling asleep at 8:30 at night if that is what my body needs.

When we returned from 85 degree weather, we were greeted with a winter storm warning early this week but other than annoying, blowing snow, we avoided the 6 inches that some people south and west of us were handed. Each morning, as I scurry out the door in still chilly temperatures, I take a look at the bulbs coming up in the front of the house and attempt to remind myself that spring can't be that far away - I hope.

My apple and the vacation countdown

I was sitting in a satellite teleconference today with a few other professionals. Our office had provided some light snacks and bottled water that were put out in an obvious place for all to partake. I knew that this meeting would be over the lunch hour so when I brought the other supplies for the meeting, I also included an apple for myself. The apple was sitting next to my purse (across the room from the shared food) and this bizarre professor takes and eats my apple without even asking who it belonged to? Hello! It was right next to my purse. Who does that? It was just an apple but I've been perplexed by this guy's action the remainder of the day.

The pre-vacation rush is on - at the office and at home. We leave in FOUR days. I'm trying to tie up several loose ends before we take off for four days at Disney World. Eighty degrees here we come! In the mean time, I'm finishing a paper and trying to get the house in order. There is something peaceful about coming back from vacation to an organized house.

I'm also fighting off a cold. No one wants to be sick on vacation, so I think I will log off and get some rest.

March means spring

I have been extremely remiss in writing in my blog. I could probably list a variety of bad reasons why but mainly I just have not prioritized it. Shame on me. It's always refreshing to get my thoughts out.

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of a weekend at my parents, while my husband worked over 24 hours of high school wrestling. This was quickly followed by my first exam in my class. The feelings related to that were quite bizarre. As I began to study, I felt as if studying for an exam was a lost art. I didn't know where to start or what to do. The exam went alright and I'm anticipating getting it back to see how I did.

We celebrated Valentine's Day with a special dinner at the University. Hospitality Management seniors have to produce a fine dining meal in their capstone course. We attended one of the 21 meals. It was an Italian theme and the food was fabulous. Check out the menus the students create at this address: http://www.ag.uiuc.edu/~food-lab/355/schedule02.html

We started looking for carpet for our house last weekend. Who knew they created so many different types of carpet? By the time we left the first store, I had taken numerous notes and couldn't even remember what I looked at. It will likely be several months before we move forward with this but it could take that long to figure out what we are looking at, what we want, and how much we should be paying for it.

Here we are in the month of March and there isn't really anything major happening in our day to day lives. I am so proud of my husband for his dedication to schoolwork. I'm also happy to say that we are getting back in the habit of taking a walk together in the evening. Not only does this make us get moving but I think it is a great time for us to talk - no television, no computer, no telephone.

March makes me think of spring so hopefully we'll see warmer days, even more daylight and the opportunity to get outside more very soon.