Christmas Memories

Tis the season for holiday cheer and family fun. It is a well known fact that my mother LOVES Christmas, her house rivals that of the Mistletoe Ranch (minus the clutter) and...well...that is the most Christmasy place I can think of right now. Anyways, one year, she had a record of 11 decorated Christmas trees, including a specialized one in each room of the house representing the individual that resided in that location and a forest complete with snow, bears, and a wolf. The lighting on the outside of the house is perfectly matched and laid out like nothing I have seen before. And, did I mention, the dog even had his own Christmas tree? So, the last several years (well, okay, I have only lived in my house for three Christmas', so take that how you want), I have been pretty hard-pressed to put up a Christmas tree, even after Mom donated two pre-assembled trees complete with all of the ornaments and lights needed to decorate them. One might even say I have been somewhat of a Grinch. I can't say it was intentional, maybe more lazy than anything. Really - buying lights, getting on the roof to hang them, taking them down - that is a LOT of work. Okay, not really, but that's the best excuse I have right now. THIS year though, I hung lights, in part due to the fact that they were donated by Mom, but still, I hung them (and, yes, she supervised). I also put up the trees AND decorated them. I even turned them on a few nights. Yep, no Grinch at the T-K Stadel Residence this year. In reality though, I feel kind of like I owe it to my family to decorate - not that it is a bad thing, but Mom goes to a huge effort to put everything together and have a beautiful house for the holidays, so I can probably do a little something, too. Truthfully, there are few things better than going home for Christmas and walking into her beautiful house all full of Christmas cheer. When I first see her house after the two or three weeks of decorating, it always makes me smile. We joke about it and give her a hard time, but, even though it is a lot of work for her to do, she doesn't realize how much it means to the family. Where else can you sink into a super comfy couch, find leftovers in the fridge, and get all the holiday pizzaz you need than at your parent's house? Here are some other Christmas Memories that make me smile...forever and always. 1. McDonald's on Christmas Eve. So, this tradition was more relevant when I was a kid, but there is something great about going through the drive-thru wearing a Christmas dress (yes, once upon a time I wore a dress on Christmas). 2. Opening presents on Christmas Eve and having Santa deliver his while we were at church. This year was a little bit different, I had to work on Christmas Eve. But, my wonderful family compensated and we did this on Christmas Day instead. It. Was. Weird. 3. I am the sole deliverer of Christmas presents. I get the privelaged duty of handing them out to everyone as they sit around the living room. I love trying to guess what is in each one as I hand them out. 4. Wrapping presents. This is the best part of giving presents. I don't even care what they are, I LOVE wrapping presents. And I don't mean throwing some paper on them, I mean, ribbon, perfectly sealed edges, folded over seams. Wrapping presents is the best. 5. Dinner with the family. My family meets up with my cousins, Aunt, Uncle, Grandma, and usually at least one four-legged kid. We take Christmas dinner seriously, it is the event of the season. Sweet potatoes, prime rib, turkey, stuffing, cranberries, at least three types of salad, two types of Jell-O something, mashed potatoes, and the list goes on and on. And then there is dessert. Homemade ice cream, cheesecake, brownies, apple pie, hot fudge. YUM. 6. Doing the dishes. This may be my favorite part. My cousins and I are designated dish duty. We all clear the table, stuff the dishwasher as full as we can, put the leftovers away, and clean whatever other dishes don't fit in the dishwasher. It is like a fine-tuned machine. Maybe not, but we have a great time doing it. 7. Sitting around after all the work is done. This pretty much tells it's own story. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday...365 days 'til we do it again! Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Inspiration

Here we are, me, Koda, and two of our SAR team members headed to Colorado. We are going to work with some of the best search dogs and handlers in the country. Koda is relaxing in the seat next to me, watching the miles tick by, probably wondering when we get to go play. He knows, I packed up the search pack, his vest, his toy, my boots. But to him, what does it mean? He works hard for a ball, to get praise and play after he follows someone he doesn't know by anything other than smell. Usually in the dark, snow, rain, or heat. And he does it with a purpose, never complaining, never asking why, and always putting his heart and soul, and nose, into every trail. As a search dog, Koda gets spoiled more than what one would call normal, but he deserves it. He trains hundreds of hours a year and is always ready to go. He does dozens of public appearances, letting kids pull on his tail and ears and never flinching. My pup is my inspiration, the reason I train hard at the gym, study hard to learn search behavior and management, get out of bed at two am in a blizzard to go find someone. When I don't think I can do something, I think of a dog, because they don't know they can't do it, they keep going because it is what they know. A dog who does what he loves to do, and helps others not questioning his ability or the reasons why. What a novel concept, and an amazing creature. If more people were like dogs, sure, we would have an overabundance of hair, but we would also have unconditional love.

Napping and Stuff

I am addicted to being busy. I hate downtime, not having stuff to do. When I am just sitting here, doing nothing, I have this feeling that I should be doing something. This is the reason don't nap. I think it wastes time I could spend doing stuff. Whatever 'stuff' is...
I have never understood the concept of taking a nap in the middle of the day. I mean, if you're that tired, you should have gone to bed earlier. Really. Plan ahead. I use my morning shower time planning essentially every minute of my day, or, at least, roughly planning. Days I dink around and don't shower right away in the morning really mess with my planning skills, unless I have another plan and am going to kick some serious to-do list butt before my morning shower. But that is another topic.
Lately, I have broken all my rules. I have been taking naps. I have just sat around and watched TV. Wow. What have I been doing all these years? Seriously. Napping in the middle of the day - crazy! Who would have thought, when you're tired, sleep? And just sitting around, really? Huh, I didn't know you could actually watch a movie without doing something else at the same time.
After being up all night running calls last shift, then going to job number two, there was absolutely no way I was going to be able to stay awake for the hockey game. So, I embraced the power of a nap. (Of course, I did so after all of my to-do list was checked off, because who can sleep when they have a ton of stuff to do?) And I slept good, even if it was only for an hour. Then I sat around and mindlessly stared at the thing called a TV. It was like drinking a huge cup of hot chocolate. Refreshing. Totally worth it.
That all being said, I don't think I will be making it a practice to take naps every day and just "relax". Because who has time to sit around and sleep when you could be doing...stuff?

I just wanna scream!

Be the bigger person.
Just step up and walk away.
Don't say things out of rage because you might not mean them later.
Blah blah blah. Why is it always so important to do the right thing? Why do you have to "step up and be the professional person you are"? Don't call people names. Don't make faces at them. Don't post mean messages on their Facebook page...
Yea, I get it. Even when you are mad or having a bad day, sure, it is the "right thing" to do. But some days, and some people, just don't deserve it. It's probably not appropriate to put yellow sticky notes up all over the office broadcasting how your co-worker is a dirty, rotten, pen stealing, food robbing snob because he parked in your favorite parking spot. But, some days, it makes you feel so much better to call someone a pickle-footed pillow fluffer.
Yep...today is one of those days...

Customer Service

I have worked in customer service all my life. I love it, I enjoy the people, and I strive to meet the expectations of my customers and my fellow employees. But I am not always good at customer service, and that is usually a choice I make. Sure, some days I am tired (like when I just got off shift and have only had three hours of sleep) and some days I am just in one of those moods. And some days, the rest of the people I work with are crabby, which wears on me and defines the kind of day I am going to have. But, those are all choices I make, and how I serve my customers is solely up to me.
Customer service is the backbone of any good business. And any crappy business. People rarely go out and tell all of their friends how they had the best customer service ever. If you get what you expect, you don't notice it. However, if your service somewhere is horrible, it spreads faster than mono through a middle school.
So...because everyone works in the customer service department, regardless of your job description, here are some tips to help you out:

1. Smile and be friendly, especially when the person you are helping is not. It will drive them crazy.
2. If your customer calls you a moron, readily agree with them. At least you will both be in agreement on one thing. 
3. Always hang up with a smile, regardless of whether it is because you are truly happy or because the guy on the other end is not the sharpest tool in the shed. 
4. Always, I repeat, ALWAYS make sure the phone is on hold before you start laughing at their question. 
5. If you aren't 100% sure of the answer, make sure you give them someone else's business card.
6. Don't say "What?" more than three times, after that, you just seem rude. Instead, smile and nod. 
7. Don't give them a blank stare, even if they deserve it. Instead, muster up a few "I see" and "Okay" comments. It makes them feel engaged in conversation.
8. Always offer a suggestion to their problem. If they don't want one, then they shouldn't have come for help.
9. Even when they are wrong, don't gloat that you knew the answer.
10. No customer is ever an inconvenience. At the very least, they are someone who makes the good customers be appreciated!

Showering...Post WOD Style

My fellow CrossFitters and rock climbers can relate...if you've never experienced this...strongly recommend it!

So...after a grueling CrossFit workout with pullups, KB swings, or anything that makes your hands go "ouch" afterwards, it is always interesting trying to follow up with your day...this is often the events following one of these workouts:

1. Carefully drive home so as not to touch the palm of of your hands to the steering wheel.
2. VERY carefully peel clothes off using only your fingertips and trying hard not to close hands.
3. Wash face with the tips of your fingers only.
4. Pour shampoo into the palm of your hand. As your eyes tear up, quickly try to rinse the shampoo off your hands while cussing because the water hurts just as bad.
5. Pour shampoo directly onto your head and use your fingertips to massage the shampoo in. Repeat with conditioner.
6. Grab soap. Eyes tear up again. Carefully lather up the washcloth with the soap while mentally making a note to buy liquid soap and a puff ball.
7. Look at razor and shave gel. Decide to wait until next week to attempt that.
8. Shut off shower, start to run hands through hair to wring it out, then remember (painfully) not to do that.
9. Towel off, only getting partially dry for fear of catching your now throbbing hands on the cloth.
10. Comb through hair and get dressed, ensuring you use only your fingertips.
11. Start to dry hair. Decide to wear hair up today.
12. Spend the rest of the day bragging to all your friends about the awesome workout and your crazy beat up hands.

A Watched Pot Will Boil

Physics says so. The laws of time also say a minute has 60 seconds and each second is the same. Always. So why does it seem like some days take forever and some days fly by? Why does time crawl when you are waiting for something to happen? It's all about perspective and mind over matter.
Lately, I have been a slacker. I have been making up excuses to not go to the gym - I have a headache, I'm too sore, I don't feel good. Just like everything in life, it is me convincing myself it is okay to not be the best at what I do. I am accepting less from myself than what I am capable of.
And I know it.
I will change my perspective. When I am feeling weak, I will figure out why and change it. When I am feeling sick, I will not do whatever it is that makes me sick. I will not let a crappy perspective of life limit what I do, but rather limit my limitations in life.

Just like that pot, focusing on what is not happening makes it seem like it will never happen. Instead, focus on what is happening, and you will boil.

Airport Observations

I love people watching and fortunately, I had many hours in the Syracuse Airport this week to get some done...here are some of the observations I made...

1. Just because they make cloths in certain sizes doesn't mean they should.
2. There is a remarkably large number of people who either don't own a mirror, didn't look in the mirror before they left, or just don't care.
3. Whenever someone near me talks in another language, I immediately get self conscious and think they are talking about me.
4. Guys should not carry laptop cases that look like purses...
5. No one can gracefully sleep in the blue chairs with armrests no matter how they slouch, shift, stack, or squirm.
6. Kids with cell phones no longer seem weird. Neither does the 80+ year old guy playing on his Droid.
7. They need a "family zone" for people with kids. I know you think your 3 year old who is picking her nose and running around is cute, but I have had a long day and really don't.
8. Weather is the number one conversation topic.
9. I am incredibly intrigued by names on shirts, jackets, laptop cases. No sir, I am not staring at your chest, I am checking out your logo.
10. Women who travel in stilettos have evidently never had an 8 hour delay or a 10 minute layover where they had to run from gate B88 to B35.
11. The people at the airline counters don't think it is amusing when you are on your phone trying to look up a flight while they are on their computer trying to rebook you...I should really be more sympathetic about this one, because it happens to me all the time and is annoying...but if they did what I wanted, then it wouldn't happen.....
12. Airport pizza, however good it smells, is NEVER a good choice.
13. Cell phones should be on silent when in a room full of strangers, especially when you're a biker and have a ringtone of "You Light Up My Life".
14. People who get mad at the TSA people because they question what they are bringing on the plane should be politely escorted out of the building and given keys to a Chevy Cavalier. The rules are readily available for what you can and cannot bring on the plane. Deal with it. (Note for future reference, they questioned why I had a jumprope, but it is TSA approved and safely in the terminal with me ;-) )
15. Getting my shoes shined looks so cool. But apparently they can't do much for my Keen sandals...
16. Everyone is going somewhere and coming from somewhere and people like to relate. This really amuses me because we all do it. Person A asks Person B where they are going. Inevitably, Person A either knows someone from there, has been there, or wants to go there.
17. Walking around while talking on your cell phone makes you look important.
18. The loudspeaker is either blasting too loud to understand it, or too quiet to hear what they are saying. There is no happy medium.
19. The more tired you get, the funnier the people look.
20. Where do dogs who fly go potty?

Add your observations, funny stories, and airport experiences. As much of a pain in the bum traveling is, it can be quite humorous at the same time.

Challenge vs. Obsession

Everyone loves a good challenge. I mean, come on, what's not to love? Winning is AWESOME. The feeling when you come in first, get the highest grade, or make the winning pie is great. But when has it gone too far? What takes healthy competition to the next level, an obsession?

At some point, whether it is a challenge against yourself or a challenge against someone else, someone is going to get hurt. Maybe emotionally, maybe physically, and maybe it won't be the people directly involved in the challenge getting hurt. When road to achieving the mission of whatever you are doing, whether it be to get stronger, faster, healthier, save lives, or make money, becomes so much of an obsession that you are so focused on the here and now, and not the mission, it is time to take a step back. When the challenge has consumed everything and you no longer focus on the main goal, reevaluate what you are doing and where you are going.

The road to the challenge is the best part of reaching your goal, but reaching your goal - achieving that mission - is the most difficult.

Better than the me I was...

You may be faster than me....but I am faster than I was.
You may be stronger than me...but I am stronger than I was.
You may be healthier than me...but I am healthier than I was.

The only true comparison I have to who I was and who I am is me. So go out and beat me. But remember, the only me I can beat, is me.

You may be prettier-smarter-taller-richer-faster-stronger-healthier-BETTER than me...but I am BETTER than I was.

Confessions of a Stoplight Texter

It all started off with my first cell phone, a black Nokia. Way back then (I'm talking 2002 here....), cell phones were used to talk on. My second phone brought me right into the "upper class". It was an LG and boy was it awesome. It took pictures (and had a flash) and was a flip phone that would vibrate AND ring at the same time. That was the phone where I was introduced to texting. And it all went downhill from there. My next phone, an LG 8100, was the big sister to my first LG...it was a prettier color, had an antenna, and turned me into a texting machine. I got so good at it, I could send a text without even looking at the keys I hit, knowing exactly how many times I needed to hit the "next" button to change it from no to on.
And then, because texting wasn't good enough, I got my first Blackberry. A Blackberry Pearl...nothing compares to constant Internet access, 24 hour availability via email, and the ability navigate via cell phone. Unfortunately, that is when my texting abilities were tested. It's rather hard to text on a BB while driving (which is a no-no...) And then, with my next BB (the Curve), my texting while driving came to a screeching halt. Now I have a Droid...
Reality is, I've become so accustomed to having 24/7 access to everything, it's been hard to table the urge to see what's going on all the time. I'm getting better and I'm a lot less "in touch" than I was last year, but there are times I'm still praying for a red light so I can finish up that text.

Smells...

I remember being a little girl and running to the door when my dad came home from work. It was my favorite time of day and I loved to jump into his arms and take a deep breath. The smell of machine shop was on his clothes and in his pickup. Whenever I smell that scent, I can close my eyes and remember being a little girl again.
There are certain smells that bring back certain feelings and thoughts. I will be walking around the shipping and receiving area at NAPA and smell apple Jolly Ranchers, thinking of my long-time co-worker Larry, who passed away from cancer. He always had candy and a smile on his face. Whenever I smell sawdust, I think of my Grandpa and Dad working in the basement at our Ponderosa Court house. The smell of gear oil makes me think about the first time I was "allowed" to change gears in the late model. And the smell of wet dog reminds me of Koda - my prince and best friend.
I often wonder what Koda thinks when he smells familiar scents. He can pick me out of a crowd of 100 and can follow a scent that is 24 hours old, but what about familiar scents. Does he remember the smell of his first find? Do we hike through the Black Hills and he recognizes the smell of a tree someone he knows brushed up against?
Whatever the case, take note of the things that make you smile and remember the good times.

The Dealer of the Cards

It's called the dealer's advantage. The point in the game where everyone else has made their decision and the dealer is the only one left to play. The dealer's decision can make or break the game. Sure, it's only money at the Blackjack table. 
But what if you were the dealer of the cards in the game of life? And it was all your choice whether everyone else won the game or lost the game...
Would you be the kind of dealer who flipped an ace when the player was showing a jack? 
Would you be the kind of dealer who kept passing out 17's and 18's, but dealt yourself a 20 every time?
Or maybe you're the dealer who readily hands out the low cards, not giving anyone a chance to succeed? 
Everyone has the power to encourage others to succeed and fail alike. A kind word, a group cheering you on at the finish line, a word of advice...can all give someone the extra push needed to do good things and be who they have the potential to be.
Deal those deserving a good hand in life. 

Moving On

Having goals and dreams gives everyone something to strive for in life. An optimist would say you have to do whatever it takes to achieve those. A realist would say there is a time and a place to say the heck with it. How and when you do this is the difference between giving up and moving on. 

Giving up is done when the going gets tough. Quitters choose to give up. It is a conscious choice. 

Moving on is different. Moving on is what you do when you have exhausted all other options, when there are external factors that are stopping your accomplishment. Maybe it's a raise you've been holding out for, dreaming of making the big bucks. Or that guy you've been chasing for years, hoping some day, he'll suddenly realize he is madly in love with you. There are some things you can't make happen. You just have to accept it, move on, and look for new goals, new achievements. 

There is a whole world of opportunity out there just waiting for you. Don't get stuck in a rut because there is one thing you can't get. If you spend your whole life focusing on what you can't have, you will miss the beauty in what you do have.

Move on...to brighter pastures and a fantastic future.

The Journey

People often say it's not about the destination, but the journey to get there. 
We tend to become focused on where we are going, we completely miss everything it takes to get there. The journey is what makes life special, what makes the destination and what makes that accomplishment worth it. 
After you accomplish something big - whether it was graduation, a fundraiser, a marathon, whatever it is - there seems to be a let down. Almost a disappointment that the event is over. So much work went in to it and then - BAM - it's done. I've felt this experience so many times. But, reflecting back, if you focus on just the accomplishment, all of the work that went in to it gets put by the wayside and it feels like your big achievement meant nothing. The fact of the matter is, when you look at it in this light, there is little to be proud of. But when you look at the big picture, at EVERYTHING it took to get to where you are, then that is something to be proud of.
I often think of the thousands of miles I've put on chasing race cars around the country. Driving through the night so we can get to the next track and have time to rest before we race - then pack it all up and do it again. Passing tons of beautiful places and thinking to myself "Wow, that would be an AMAZING picture" as we flew by, not taking the five minutes to stop the truck, jump out, and take that picture. When we get home, so tired from the hustle and bustle, what is there to show of that last adventure? A few fuel receipts, a lot of fast food, and some good times at the race track. But what about everything in between? That's what I miss now. 
It reminds me of Garth Brooks' song, "Pushing Up Daisies"...There's two dates in time that they'll carve on your stone and everyone knows what they mean what's more important is the time that is known in that little dash there in between...
Maybe we would get a lot more out of life if we didn't have a destination? If we just focused on going...somewhere...anywhere. Enjoy what you're doing while working towards where you are going. Don't forget the journey.

Challenge Yourself

What kind of a person are you? Are you the one who takes the easy road or the one who blazes their own path? My dad always says "if you have a hard job, give it to a lazy man and he'll find an easy way to do it." Some may call that ingenuity. But if you don't embrace every challenge that comes your way, then what are you living for? You are cheating yourself out of an experience. Maybe it's not always going to be wonderful. Maybe you're going to sweat, cry, bleed, hurt. But you will be a better - stronger - person for taking on that challenge.
People run from challenges for fear of failure, fear of change, fear of fear. But fear can be overcome. Fear is a bar you set to allow yourself an easy way out. It's an excuse to not do something. People I admire are those who will try something they are terrified of. Push forward regardless of self-limitations. Sometimes they succeed. Sometimes they don't. But they stepped up to the challenge. They challenged fear.
Here is my challenge for you:
Along with setting goals for 2011, challenge yourself. Whether it's a 100-day burpee challenge, an eight-week paleo challenge, or a challenge to read 12 books, do it. Whatever it is. Succeed. Fail. Just don't take the easy road out. 
Embrace your fear. Run past your limits. Challenge yourself.

How Far?

Everyone and everything has limitations. An engine will only turn so many RPMs. A dishwasher will only clean so many dishes. And a person will only push themselves so much. No one can do it all, but they can do all they can. The question you need to ask yourself is: How far will you go? 

How far would you go to tell someone you loved them? Drive across the street? Across the state? Across the country? How long would you wait? And what happens if they don't return the sentiment? Then what? 

People live every day with the decision of how far. Some people go until they get uncomfortable, then quit. Some go until it gets hard. But a few - very few - go until they can go no farther. They have either succeeded, exhausted all options, or their goals have changed over the course of the chase.

It seems a common theme these days where people just accept the things they are handed but don't fight for what they really want. Don't accept life as it is. There are so many better and brighter things out there for you. You don't get to watch the most amazing sunrise over the mountains from your couch - you have to climb to the highest peak. So get out there. Fight for what you want. Go far.