If You came into my office, what would you find? Galoshes!

My Galoshes Love.

These are my new galoshes that I love. I got to wear them into work today since its raining. Why didn't I buy these last year when I tromped all around DC everyday outside? Oh well, better late then never!

After work I hope I get to prance about in them and even wander a few puddles.

10:56am Wisdom

This one is titled: My Best Friend. Think me as a little girl. Yep.

from here

Pumpkin Head

I'm getting really excited about Halloween. Since the weather has changed it really gets me in the mood for all the fall activities you couldn't do otherwise. Plus The Boy has been callling Gibson "Pumpkin Head" because of the orange coloring he has on his noggin. All this has me wanting to carve a pumpkin! Hopefully well do that soon on our date night (which is a made for fun evening after work).

These pumpkins as seen on Martha Stewart are pretty rockin! I'm thinking about these Pumpkin Owls and trying to carve and create one myself. If I do I'll be sure to post results!

So far this week has a) gone by fast and b) been pretty good. The Boy and I said goodbye to my Oma and Opa after spending a week just outside of Gatlinburg, TN. We had the pleasure of exorting them around the Smokey Mountains a bit this weekend, which was just beautiful. Then last night The Boy's company hosted a delicious dinner in celebration of the past year they've had. It was at one of the nicest restaurants in Knoxville. Not only did we have very good filets but the red velvet cake we split for dessert was scrumptious.

I think I was feeling pretty good because I just got my haircut and for only $15.00 total! Thank you Great Clips. In the past I have avoided this place because of fear...but now I think if you get lucky once, maybe it can happen again. So far hair is still bouncy and in tact:)

Now a few more days at work, and then more visitors to town. This weekend The Boy's best friend from college is coming for the football game and festivities, and then next week my best friend and her fiance' will be coming! Can't wait for all this fun! Oh and Pumpkin Head is pretty excited too!


P.S. Remember three things you should never discuss with co-workers: "Religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin."
Thanks Charlie Brown for that tip!

Library Card Catalog

So I saw such a great idea that I had to post! Using a library card catalog as a decoration and organizer for a home, studio or library. Since I was an English major and love anything having to do with books, and also adding personality / character to a home through vintage and unique items (not just the same stuff all folks buy) I love this! See below! I think having one of these in an office or home library would be great!

Things to dream about...

(via here)

(via here)

Cozyied up in Fall

So the weather has finally changed here in East, TN and it makes me want nothing more then to come home after work and...:

Play with the puppy outside and take a walk in the woods
Carve a pumpkin with a smiley face with my honey!Curl up in front of the fire and take a nap while watching a movie...Drink delicious coffee in the afternoon..

Cupcakes Election Style! HA.

Bella Boo

My Uncle and the newest itty bitty of the family. My cousin just had her baby about 2 weeks ago. And here she is. Precious Isabella!

Fall Inspiration Board.

Encyclopedia of Ordinary Moments: E for Early Morning Light

Early Morning Light:
Our days are filled with quote "ordinary moments". Moments when we are sitting at our computers, with a sandwich for lunch and our senses are sparked by nothing but the ordinary.

For me it was this morning. Walking the dog before the sun rose, feeling my toes get wet by the dew that had gathered over night and hoping he'd hurry up, but then when I looked up I saw the full moon. It was huge and seemed to nearly swallow the sky. And the fog that had settled at my eye level only added to the fact that Fall has arrived. In this misty October land. And there we walked in the early morning light, the dog and I.

picture courtesy of here.

I eat soup for lunch.
I carpool a few times a month.
I do what I can to save.

I make dinner at least 5 times out of the week.
And it's tasty.

Sometimes I just get overwhelmed, but hey adult life is becoming.

9am Inspiration.

“There is in every true woman's heart, a spark of heavenly fire,

which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity,

but which kindles up and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity.”

-Washington Irving (an American author, essayist, and historian)

Beach Pics.! Take 1.

the beach. take 1. love.

snuggly by the window sunning.

Bells Ringing

The wedding I was in. Talk about beautiful fall bouquets of fresh Gerber daises, calla lilies, and red roses. Add orange leaves and red berries.

Hiatus

I've been on hiatus.

1) Vacation last week but now

2) Neck and upper back pain. This has kept me away from not only the blog but out of work also.

I have a wedding I'm in this weekend and then will be down in Atlanta for training.

Hope to post pictures from the beach soon!

**Hope my neck gets better too**

Football Weekend 1

Since last weekend was my FIRST official football game as a Knoxville, TN resident, UT employee, and orange wearing gal I took a few pics. from the game. They actually turned out pretty great! Look for little Smokey at the end!

Teams getting ready.

The Power T line up.

Little Smokey at home cheering on!

My Monday List

I had a really great time at the UT game!

I'm making more friends!

Fall weather is here! Thank God! :)

The Boy and I leave for vacation 6 days from now!

I Choose Love.

Everyday we have choices to make. I choose love. Continuously.

If you Squeeze an Orange you get Juice.

"When you squeeze an orange, what comes out? … Juice. When you squeeze an orange, whatever is inside, comes out. It doesn’t matter when, who or how you squeeze it, juice comes out. When you put pressure on a person, whatever is inside, comes out…and anger and hatred comes out, its not the person who’s doing the squeezing that makes that come out… its because that’s what’s inside that person… and when someone cuts you off on the freeway and you get mad as hell and you’re going to get in front of them and cut them off and make them see what its like, it isn’t because they cut you off that you're so upset, its because that’s what you carry around inside. When you stop carrying that around inside, nothing that ANYONE does can upset you. "

Think about this folks! I love it. What would we find inside of you...?

The Weekend: My Favorites.

The Backstory: On Thursday evening Mom flew in for her first ever visit to Knoxville, TN to see where her baby was living exactly. Her and I spent the evening listenign to the tunes of legend Leon Russell. The rest is in pictures. We had a wonderful time as you can tell, and I'm sure they'll be many more visits again!

On Friday evening we enjoyed a historical tour of Knoxville, starting out with appetizers sponsored by the Knox Heritage group.

A daughter and mother. All smiles here~

Another favorite person in my life. Smiles here too.Saturday's trek was into the Smokey Mountains --- this is the BEFORE picture. Yes, I do love that hat!

My woodsman.Hike, hike, see the creek, hike, hike, look ahead to see...and then we made it to the falls!Mom did the Mom thing and we smiled and obliged.
Then we pretended to be Lewis and Clark. Or i did.Mom and Me!The Boy "less pictures more hiking" :)The AFTER picture.

After hiking we were pretty hungry and had dinner at "Deadbeat Pete's" which from the outside was a little scary. But once we were seated on the porch outside that overlooked the little creek and the food came - we quickly changed our minds. It was some of the best southwestern food ever!

I loved having my mom visit! The weekend was spent with my two favorite people. ♥ .

Inspiration Station

I've been inspired by the NieNie Dialogues and the outpouring of support for the family since the airplane crash. I feel compelled to write about her story because it has impacted me on an individual level.

Stephanie was a woman whose blog emanated love, family, good values, and hope. She shared her life with the blogging community through her pictures, colors, and tales of daily life with four kids and a great husband. In response to the accident the blogging community has responded through online auctions, prayers, donations, and events across the globe to help raise awareness and support for Stephanie and Christian and their 4 kids. Stephanie's sister has kept the public updated on their medical status as well as how the children are doing - CjaneEnjoyit blog. This story has had such momentous support from the community that the family was actually on the Today Show this morning.

This story speaks to the human spirit, specifically the power of hope. Keep life in perspective. There are people whose lives you touch and you may be totally unaware of it.

2:12pm Wisdom

Sometimes a puppy dog is all you need to remind you unconditional love exists.

What is...A Job Task Analysis

Recently I finished working on producing and tabulating a Job Task Analysis pertaining to Crime Scene Investigators, specifically looking at how applicable our training was to real life tasks.

What is a Job Task Analysis

• Inventory of tasks related to daily work
• People from the field are asked to rate the tasks according to Importance (how task relates to success in job) and Frequency (how often task is done)
• Using a likert scale tasks are rated from 1 - 5 (1 being least important to 5 being most important)

Why is it important?

• A job task analysis can measure the relevance of job specific training
• Reveals what the most important tasks are to know and understand how to do
• Reveals what tasks are done more frequently
• Each task can illustrate a different depth of knowledge for a given task, therefore showing what depth to teach to E.g. demonstrating, synthesizing, analysizing (Bloom's Taxonomy)

Who uses a job task analysis?

• Trainers - to create occupation training
  
• Teachers - to illustrate depth of knowledge needed
  
• Universities and professors - to validate curriculum

** Large companies typically have the resources to create, publish, and distribute job task analysis. These can be extremely useful to ensure quality training for employees.

The Bottom Line of JTA

• Must have a job inventory of tasks large enough to cover a wide range of activities
• Must distribute job task analysis to enough people to ensure validity and reliability
  
• Tabulation can take large amounts of time
• After distribution at least 1/3 of those who participated in JTA should assemble to discuss tasks to make sure language used is clear and speaks accurately to daily work

11:15am Wisdom

"Creativity arises out of the tension between spontaneity and limitations, the latter (like the river banks) forcing the spontaneity into the various forms which are essential to the work of art or poem.” -Rollo May

The Weekend in Pictures!

It all started with...

      Friday afternoon = Naptime with the Gibs.

Tennis with The Boy 

after naptime.

Saturday's dinner date! 

While The Boy went to a workshop Chef Em made baked brie with raspberries.  

Surprise 

"romantic" 

candles 

too!

One of our "things".  We each have a name card on the table, with a note written inside for the other.

On Saturday 

The Boy received a second one.

Sunday was spent 

outside at the

dog park.

Contemplating life.

THE END.

I love the Little Things.

Little things:

- Notes from days of the week see post

- Wearing the my new "research" NFA hat driving home and when I walk the dog post work
- Name cards on the dinner table with special notes inside. Still. Even though its just the two of us at the table.

- Going to sleep on the dot at 10:30pm. I'm a good sleeper.

- Burning my hand on the hot cookie sheet. Yikes!Watching Hero's too much lately - I'm a cheerleader, but not that kind.

- Tennis lessons after work with my favorite coach

- The dog crying after I leave the house and sitting by the door.

- Fun little buys from Walmart.

- Walking into a house with 75 college boys and feeling like a school girl. "But I'm the only girl honey." Said after entering the frat. house.

Favorite.

Favorite:

Loyalty
Commitment
Reliability
Steadfastness
Constant
Companion

And it feels good.

This has been one of my favorite summers.

Cub to Smokey

From this




To this

A Note from Friday: A Couple that Works:)

Happy Weekend.

WOW: My Cousin at Grand Teton National Park

Women & Politics Institute: At Yale.

The Women’s Campaign School at Yale University
The Women & Politics Institute is pleased to announce that Sarah E. Brewer, Ph.D., Associate Director, was the keynote speaker for the 2008 graduating class at the Women’s Campaign School at Yale University. The Women’s Campaign School at Yale University provides training for women who want to run for an elected office. Read more here.

Women and Politics is where I worked during graduate school - at American University. I'm happy to see that Women & Politics is getting coverage at Yale and at Elle Magazine's September issue. Be on the look out for Dr. Sarah E. Brewer!

The Night Bookmobile

Short stories - just started to remind myself of how much I like them.

Audrey Niffenegger author The Time Traveler's Wife , one of the books that probably makes my top 50 list also does some illustrations, and most recently I found out, comics as well. I had listened to her do a live reading in Chicago since she's a professor at Columbia College and heard her short story - The Night Bookmobile read. While it hasn't been published in complete yet (at least it looks that way) she does put out a comic sketch and parts of the chapter in bits on guardian.co.uk How fabulous! See below an excerpt from The Night Bookmobile. Anyone who loves reading and books will see themselves transparent throughout this story and really start to hope that the Night Bookmobile exists and you will find yourself on a corner of a Knoxville street one day talking to the strange driver and wandering inside.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/may/31/nightbookmobile#zoomed-picture

FRIDAY

Last night's Merle Haggard concert at the TN Theater was quite the experience. I really loved the 2 openers he had - they got the crowds all jazzed up. The concert is what I refer to as authentic country. Beyond the occasional yell of "I love you Merle" by the 38 year old behind us, there was also the family who attempted to take a family portrait during the concert. But Merle was in prime and certainly has a legendary voice.

Hope to make a homemade pizza tonight with the Boy. We've been getting so much better at it compared to when we first did it and it was basically a big ol chunk of dough - to give us credit we did try to make a deep dish pizza. Tonight well do a thin crust. Mmm nothing is better on a Friday night then a homemade pizza. It's fun to work together in the kitchen, one person chopping away while the other one is layering on the cheese. The Boy also put on all the toppings and then the cheese on top last time and it turned out great. Love the smell of it cooking and getting hunry in anticipation.

Olympics start today - well see how the U.S. does. While I don't like watching every sport I have some favorites. Also fun to get excited and watch the little towns where the athletes come from get coverage back in the U.S.

Our Best Sleeper: Funny Dog

We caught our dog sleeping like this! Too funny! Rough life! :)