Rebellin

I wrote an entry on Friday, I really did… When I pressed the ‘publish’ button, my browser timed out and the message was lost in the never never land of cyber space. So I’m not as much as a slacker as it may appear…

The big event last week (that I wrote a very long, thoughtful entry about and it is now GONE) was that I gave a presentation to the Board of Directors for my organization. This was a pretty big deal, as our BOD are very influential and high ranking in Reno business and politics, plus all of our top execs were there, including the CEO and VPs.

The presentation itself went really well. However, the night before wasn’t as smooth. I was so worried about the presentation that I woke up at 1 am rehearsing it in my head. At about 2 am, I thought of some statistics I wanted to add, and at 2:30 am, I sat on the couch with my notebook booted up as I made the final tweaks. Needless to say, by 12 pm, the presentation was over, and I had hit a brick wall.

There was a reporter from our local newspaper at the Board meeting, and he wants to interview me this week… Even wants my picture (ugh). Our Board meetings are broadcast on community cable, and one of my coworkers said that a friend of his who is a high school teacher saw me speak and wants me to come speak to his class. Wow, word travels fast, eh?!

On another note, it has been decided (mostly by [The Man Now Known as The Ex]) that we are moving. We’ll be moving into a two story, two bedroom, two and a half bath, two car garage home (perfect for two!). It’s only about 5 miles from where we currently live, but the mess of moving has begun. The boxes are out. God, I hate moving!!! Since leaving my parents’ house at the tender age of 17 (I turned 18 one week later), I have moved eight times. This will be my ninth. [The Man Now Known as The Ex] has moved twice. When he moved to Reno, he brought everything he owned in his Cavalier. When I moved to Reno, my stuff came in a semi-truck, and took 6 grown men 5 hours to unload everything into the condo. According to [The Man Now Known as The Ex], moving ‘isn’t a big deal’. According to me, he’s going to learn a lot over the next few weeks about Lynnette’s definition of moving.
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Last night when I ran the dishwasher, a cheap plastic bottle fell down on the heating element and burned up. [The Man Now Known as The Ex] discovered this (as I was fast asleep), and said that the entire dishwasher was filled up with smoke.

When I awoke this morning, the whole condo smelled of burned plastic, which is a horrible smell. I grabbed a water bottle out of the dishwasher, filled it with water, and headed for the pool. I took a few big swigs, and noticed that the water tasted like the horrid smell in the condo.

‘Water doesn’t have a taste’ I told myself, and purposefully held my breath while I took the next swig. That swig was OK. The third swig came while I was at a stoplight, and it was so gross that I actually gagged. Not sure what the people behind me at the stoplight thought when I rolled down my window and spit out the disgusting water. Blek! I couldn’t get the taste out of my mouth.

After I returned home, I started the dishwasher again, putting it in ‘Heavy’ mode. When it was finished, I grabbed another water bottle and a tupperware container for my lunch. Well, I just tried to eat my lunch. First, I took a swig out of that bottle, and gagged again. Then, I opened up my tupperware and realized that my cottage cheese smelled distinctly of burned plastic.

Did I just ruin every dish that was in the dishwasher last night?! I still have a horrible feeling in my stomach from that nasty taste that has greeted me multiple times today.

It sure seems that lately, all bad guys come to Reno. Check this out:

• They caught the murderer that had kidnapped a 14 year old Michigan girl earlier this month. He was in Susanville, which is just North of Reno, and there had been reports of him being in Reno-Sparks this past weekend.
• The Elizabeth Smart and her abductors passed through Reno a few times before she was found.
• The guy that abandoned his kid in a Salt Lake grocery store was found at his home in Reno.
• The mailbomber was caught just outside of Reno.

What gives?!

I went to the University of Phoenix on Friday evening to be assessed for becoming an instructor there. While I was there, I discovered that they have a Doctorate program.

I’ve always regretted not going on for my Doctorate, and always thought that I’d really enjoy being a college professor full time. A light bulb went off in my head…. University of Nevada at Reno offers a PhD, but they don’t hire their own PhD students. Hence, if I got a degree from the University of Phoenix, I assumed I could teach at UNR when I was done.

I called for more details on the program today. Their program takes 2 years and 8 months, much easier to swallow than the typical 5 years of most programs. I also learned that faculty at the University of Phoenix get a 1/3 discount off of the $56K program. That, combined with the salary of being an instructor, and an educational reimbursement from the Convention and Visitors Authority, would practically pay for the entire progam. Man, was I psyched.

Then I called UNR and talked to the Assistant Dean. He said that the University of Phoenix doesn’t have the proper accreditation, so they wouldn’t recognize a degree from them. Drat. I had this all worked out in my head. I was going to be Dr. Cook by the time I was 30.

So much for that idea. I’m not putting that kind of effort in unless I can actually use the education to teach in the future.

Update: I just got this e-mail from a representative at the University of Phoenix…

Lynnette, all of UoP is North Central Accreditation Association certified. This is the same group that certifies UNR. We get this continually from UNR, probably because we have cut deeply into their business enrollment numbers in the last couple of years

That doesn’t really help… I need UNR to recognize the degree BEFORE I put almost 3 years of effort into a degree!!!

Last night really brought back memories of the Persian Gulf War. When it started, I was sixteen years old… Prior to the war starting, I had written seven letters to soldiers, per the instructions of Dear Abby. I got seven responses. Six were really nice, and I corresponded with them throughout the war. One was a woman who was really mean and wrote this nasty letter about how immature I was. I didn’t bother to write her back.

When I watched the news that night in February of 1991, I had already had several correspondances with my six soldiers, and it really hit home to me. I had read what it was really like over there, and knew that these men had families, friends, and pets, just like anyone who wasn’t out there fighting.

I remember sitting in my parents’ kitchen after swim practice that night watching the Scud missles through the night vision lenses of the news cameras. I was so scared for all of the soldiers, but was really worried about my pen pals.

I was also convinced that one of those six men was my ‘Mr. Right’. At that time, I didn’t know which one, but the idea of writing a service man abroad was very romantic to my sixteen-year-old self.

After the war, I lost touch with all of my pen pals except for one, Kern. Kern was the one I corresponded with the most. He sent me a cassette tape that recorded him hanging out with civilians in Baharan, Kuwait. He played the guitar for them that night under the stars, and recorded the whole interaction for me. He also recorded interactions with his fellow soldiers. He told me what his bunker was like, and sent me pictures. He even sent me a necklace from there.

When Kern returned to the States, we started calling each other regularly. He was 22 at the time, a good six years older than me. My parents were not happy about this 22 year old soldier calling their daughter. Kern even talked about coming out to be my prom date that year. My parents dismissed that idea QUICK.

I conversed with Kern until I was a freshman in college. He would call at all hours of the night, high on pot, and many times wouldn’t care if he talked to me or his roommate, as long as he had a woman to talk to. We had talked about meeting for a long time, but at that point, I decided that this ex-soldier — who was living in Maine in his trailer, and rebuilding a Chevy Nova — was really on a different plain as I was. We really didn’t have anything in common, except for the letters we exchanged for three years.

I haven’t talked to Kern for almost ten years now. I really wonder what he thinks about the current war. I wonder what he ended up doing with his life. It was a great romantic fantasy while it lasted, plus it was a priceless history lesson for me. I think this weekend I’ll try to dig out that tape he made for me and will listen to it again.

I had another pen-pal contact me about four years after the war was over. Back when I was sixteen, I was very religious, and I had exchanged scriptures and thoughts on God with this man. Well, he sent a letter to my parents’ house four years later, and my parents forwarded it on to me in Michigan. He had gotten a divorce, and it was obvious he was looking for a new woman in his life. In that letter, he said he wanted to come thank me in person for all of my letters during the war.

I wrote him back and told him all about [The Man Now Known as The Ex], and that stopped his letters.

So this time around, I don’t have any pen pals… If I did, I’m sure they’d be e-mail buddies now. I just pray that our soldiers will remain safe, and that this war will be ended quickly.

So I spent the weekend in Las Vegas. Part of the trip was really enjoyable. Another part of it really wasn’t….

The whole purpose of [The Man Now Known as The Ex] and I going down to Vegas was to hook up with my old college roommate and her boyfriend. After we made plans to do this, my old roommate, we’ll call her Jenny, decided to invite a ton of other people.

On Friday, the four of us hung out, and had a grand time. Jenny and I picked right up where we left off six years ago, and I really enjoyed my time with her. [The Man Now Known as The Ex] and her boyfriend, ‘Ted’, also got along really well, and we had a good time together. Then we started adding other people to the picture.

There were two other girls in particular, who were extremely nice at first. Then, on Saturday, they started acting really bitchy towards [The Man Now Known as The Ex] and I. They were doing high school crap like glaring, rolling their eyes and not talking to us.

After we got out of the show on Saturday night, Cirque du Soleil, we had about ten people hanging out. That’s when I noticed that no one was talking to [The Man Now Known as The Ex] and I. Thinking that I had blown this whole thing out of proportion, I asked him if he felt the same, and he said that it was blatently obvious.

[The Man Now Known as The Ex] was scheduled to leave at 6:30 am on Sunday morning. I was scheduled to leave at 3:55 pm. I kept telling [The Man Now Known as The Ex] how I was dreading Sunday, when I had the choice of hanging out with people that obviously don’t like me, or hanging out by myself. Although I usually don’t mind hanging out by myself, it was supposed to rain all day Sunday, and since this was my 7th trip to Vegas, I’ve pretty much seen all of the indoor attractions, and I don’t gamble.

So I called up Southwest and decided to come home early. It cost me $46, but it was worth every penny. I was home by 8:30 am that morning, and spent the whole day with my dog and cat, who were much better company.

The whole experience was a huge flashback to high school. Most of the people we were hanging out with were from the East Coast, and did about 2-3 outfit changes a day. They were also drinking a lot, which I was trying to say away from because of my Body for Life crusade. You could tell they really looked down on me for not dressing to the hilt and getting all sloshed.

The difference, though, was that I’m an adult now. I don’t really care what these people think about me and my casual dress, and I have the money now to get myself out of such situations. It was really empowering to leave without an explanation. All I could think was ‘Bite me’.

There were some good parts to the trip. It really wasn’t all bad. We saw two shows: Blue Man Group and Cirque du Soleil’s Mystere, which were both phenomenal shows.

We had a delicious dinner and desert at the Cheesecake Factory, which consisted of corn tamales for appetizers, Asian lettuce wraps for my entree, and Dutch Apple Carmel Streusel cheescake with whip cream on top for desert. (Body for Life gives you one free day where you can eat whatever you like, and I did just that on Saturday night!!!) Going to the Mirage’s Secret Garden was also very enjoyable, as the dolphins and an elephant really hammed it up for us. Oh, and Friday afternoon at the Treasure Island pool was divine… Until some kid laid a doodie in the pool!

Overall, though, I’m glad to be home. I’m glad I live in Reno and not in Vegas. It’s a bit too pretentious and ‘big city’ for me.

Here’s my latest source of motivation to get myself into phenomenal shape:

The Alcatraz Sharkfest Swim

That’s right, my brother, my former college roommate, and I are all planning on escaping from Alcatraz by swimming from the island to the shore — 1.5 miles in freezing cold, rough water. Sounds like fun, eh?! I need to get myself a full wetsuit…. Don’t think my shortie will cut it!

My very best friend in the world gave birth to a baby girl this morning at 6:00 am. Mother and baby are both doing very well.

It is so weird for me to think that BFF, my constant companion since age 14, is now a mother herself. I’m really happy for her. I’m really envious of her. I’m so glad that my best girlfriend had a girl.

Things won’t be the same from now on, which is a bit sad. She’s married with a house and a baby, and tons of animals. I’m not any of those things, though I really want to be (I could do without the loot of animals, though). I feel so left-out and guilty that I can’t be there for her right now. I talked to her on the phone twice yesterday (once from the hospital), and once this morning, but it’s just not the same. She’s my soul sister. I should have been there.

Months ago, we had agreed that I’d come out to meet her daughter after things had calmed down and the two of us could actually spend some quality time together. You know, wait for all of the in-laws to leave and for the husband to get back to work. So, in a month or so, I’ll be headed to New Mexico to meet my honorary neice, God-daughter K.

Some day, I’ll be able to tell God-daughter K some great stories about her parents. And when she gets to be an adult, I can let her in on some REALLY interesting details! hahahahha….

Rest up, BFF. After you recover from childbirth, you’ll have a demanding little bundle to tend to!

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My very best friend in the world gave birth to a baby girl this morning at 6:00 am. Mother and baby are both doing very well.

It is so weird for me to think that Amber, my constant companion since age 14, is now a mother herself. I’m really happy for her. I’m really envious of her. I’m so glad that my best girlfriend had a girl.

Things won’t be the same from now on, which is a bit sad. She’s married with a house and a baby, and tons of animals. I’m not any of those things, though I really want to be (I could do without the loot of animals, though). I feel so left-out and guilty that I can’t be there for her right now. I talked to her on the phone twice yesterday (once from the hospital), and once this morning, but it’s just not the same. She’s my soul sister. I should have been there.

Months ago, we had agreed that I’d come out to meet her daughter after things had calmed down and the two of us could actually spend some quality time together. You know, wait for all of the in-laws to leave and for the husband to get back to work. So, in a month or so, I’ll be headed to New Mexico to meet my honorary neice, Kylie.

Some day, I’ll be able to tell Kylie some great stories about her parents. And when she gets to be an adult, I can let her in on some REALLY interesting details! hahahahha….

Rest up, Amber. After you recover from childbirth, you’ll have a demanding little bundle to tend to!

My organization will be participating in the City of Reno’s Corporate Challenge, which includes athletic competitions in 25 events. I’ve signed up for the road bike race, the mountain bike race, the swim, and the 5K. So, every Saturday for about a month, I’ll be competing. Time to up the ante on the cardio workouts!!!

Update on the Trans Am: Would you believe that the dealer actually admitted that they took the t-tops off to get to my stereo speakers? Yep, they admitted complete fault. On Monday, they will replace my t-top AND give me a loaner car for the day. I was very impressed! I had like 5 service guys gathered around for my story of the run away t-top. When I left, they asked me to rev up my engine so they could hear my Borla exhaust system at work! I think they were rather entertained by a girl being a bit of a gear-head….

That is what I heard this morning as I was driving 80 miles per hour on the freeway in between Reno and Carson City. That Wooshing sound was my Trans Am’s t-top flying off of my car. Let me tell you, this was a riveting experience!

You see, I had my car in the dealership last Friday to replace the rear speakers. I’m sure that they took the t-tops off to replace the speakers, and neglected to latch the passenger side one.

So, I pulled off the road, put my hazards on, and walked a good 1/4 mile down the side of the highway in my suit and high heels. I then found the t-top about 30 feet off in the bushes, so I trapsed through all of the dirt and weeds to get to it.

It is in remarkable shape considering the ride it had, but I’m pursuing the dealership at full force to replace it for me. I went straight to the dealership after this happened, but the service manager was in a meeting. I just tried to call him, and he wasn’t available.

They really don’t know who they’re dealing with, considering I used to work for General Motors. I already have the names and numbers of the Area Service Manager and the Zone Manager if they don’t respond appropriately.

Well, it’s been quite a while since I talked about my Body for Life crusade. I’ve been on the program since December 30, so I’m in the last month of the three month program.

Yes, miracles do happen, as I have been getting up and making it to the gym every morning before work. I’ve been so diligent, and have been increasing my weights regularly. I honestly haven’t noticed a huge difference in my body, though. Some of my pants fit better, and I’ve lost about 6 pounds, but it isn’t the drastic difference I was hoping to achieve. I’m sure I’ve gained muscle and lost some fat, but I didn’t have the nerve to do true measurements when I started, so my only guage is my clothes.

Part of my problem has been adhering to the diet. I’m really good during the week, but on the weekends, we’re going out for dinner/drinks with friends, and in February, we had three sets of company staying with us. It’s really hard to stick to my regimine of 6 small meals a day when I’m feeding my company 3 meals of ‘normal’ food.

Now that it’s March, though, I’m back in full swing. I’m planning to increase my cardio from 20 minutes 3x/week to 25 or 30 minutes each time. The book completely warns against ‘over training’, but I’ve heard that they actually recommend increasing the cardio in the other materials published.

So that’s it. I feel better, and am much stronger. I don’t even get sore after hitting the ski slopes hard for two days in a row. I can actually run again after 11 months of working back from my knee last year.

I plan to just keep this up. I have a high school reunion to prepare for!