July 25, 2008

Who needs a beer?

OK, so I haven't written in a while...but I have real excuses this time. So...here is a brief synopsis of what has been going on. My last post found me in Chicago, where I was surrounded by some of the brightest people in the country. The annual HR conference was amazing. A ton of learning and leisure and I can genuinely say that I walked away with a new appreciation for what I do. I also got to enjoy some friends that I never get to see. Beanie stayed with me in our boutique-ish hotel and we laughed constantly. I got to hang with KC and Mike and spent a ton of time with Jerald and his friends. It had been a while since I was able to really just be "me" with people that know me that way and that well. Here are some pictures.




Immediately after that experience came Panama (or as I have been referring to it, "Panama-a." Not much I can say that the pictures won't say better. Amazing trip -- gorgeous. Here are my favorites.



It was really amazing. Then, midtrip, I found out that my stepmother, aunt, and Dad were in a car accident. Things didn't turn out very well. So...that is the real reason for my departure -- family obligation has retained control over my life for a few weeks now...but I should be able to become a more frequent commentator in the next few weeks. Buh bye for now...EKM

Posted by Erin Kate at 05:22:27 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

June 23, 2008

Some unlight reading and the Chicago skyline

So, I am in Chicago for this HR conference and I am having a blast. Beautiful weather, beautiful friends, beautiful learning.

When I was last traveling in May, I bought a book that has sat on the shelf for a month. I liked the cover which was the reason for the purpose. It was nice to think that I would have no preconceptions about a book before opening the pretty cover. I opened it on the plane.

I just finished reading Picture PErfect -- by Jodi Picoult. I have liked some of her other work -- not to rave about it, but enough to know her name and her typical genre. This was different. This was a book about abuse within a marriage -- yes, I know, not my typical choice in literary undertaking, but what the hell. I thought this book would be a cliche -- and maybe it is (I know almost no interpersonal data about this topic) but what I read was beautiful and angry and pathetic -- which is my typical undertaking. What I enjoyed most about this work was that the characters were so vivid and human that it made me shut the book multiple times just to take it all in. I haven't read anything of note in recent months (save The Painted Veil) that was so perfect in its approach to human nature and human justification. I couldn't fully hate or love anyone in the novel because they were too human. I loved that. I found myself so engrossed that I thought about it the rest of the day -- I started to people watch to figure out the flaws and perfections in us all. It felt really good. This book won't be everyone's cup of tea -- but it may be everyone's glass of water. 

More about Chi town later. Just had to get these thoughts on the page for now.  
Posted by Erin Kate at 05:30:55 | Permanent Link | Comments (1) |

May 27, 2008

Entourage

Seriously...if you haven't watched this show, start now. I heart Jeremy Piven and Kevin Dillon. Hysterical. One of those "great" shows.
Posted by Erin Kate at 06:36:45 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Do not fear, for I live!

I was informed today that it had been over a months since my last post. Though that is a lie, it has been a while. I have been busy with the traditional workload that I have become accustomed to over the last year -- and have celebrated my 1 year anniversary with said job. I love it. I am just exhausted. All the time. I need more protein, as the anemia has reared its ugly head again. Oh well, just chalk it up to my obsession with my phlebotomist. He is hot.

I have enjoyed my month with only 1 trip in it, even though it snowed on May 1st. What the hell? I just don't get that seasons are different from AZ. I am SO used to it that when I go away I am literally in shock. My world perception is off.
Celebrated my Mom's retirement (almost) party with her friends and coworkers. My Aunt flew in to surprise her, and well, it worked. This had been an elaborate scheme in place for at least 3 months. There was a little show and I took the opportunity to get up and read my brother's letter to my Mother and her friends (as he was out of town for work). I, of course, turned it into a stand-up routine. And I killed, as always. I found the entire event strange yet wonderful. It is nice to see people literally start crying when speaking of my Mom, as she is the bomb, but it was also a little eerie. My Mom is a fairly inspirational woman, and I recognized it from a perspective wholly unrelated to me. It was nice to see. Plus, anytime old people drink margaritas you should bring a camera. Ha! Also, she has lied to all of her coworkers. Sad to say, but it is true. They all kept asking how "wild Erin" was. Then they began to recount stories that my Mother had told them....so maybe she didn't lie afterall, but she should learn to shut her trap! I also began to think about my own impending retirement (What? 40 years will just fly by -- I celebrate my birthday for a whole summer, I can start counting down to retirement). I have decided that i need to have money. Not a ton but enough to do exactly what I want when I want to. My Mom isn't going to have that. At least not now. I just know that when I stop working, I want to do exactly that. I don't know much else, but I do know that.  

Gearing up for two more trips before Panama at the end of June. That should be fun...unless a monkey jumps on me and makes my arm his prisoner. Then I might cry.

Enjoy this link shamelessly stolen from Jamie. Had to. Hysterical.
Posted by Erin Kate at 06:33:20 | Permanent Link | Comments (1) |

April 28, 2008

Careful, dear...your age is showing.

Hello. I am back in AZ after a few days in Las Vegas. Don't get too excited -- it was work. It really was. I will spare you the work details about designing a comp structure and how to best incent your employees through through metrics. I want to talk about me in this blog, and how I have become old. Yes, old.

OK, I am not saying I need a wheel chair or a walker or anything (at least not again at this point), but I have begun to feel my age. I was fairly stoked about going to "Sin City." I hadn't been in at least 4 years. I thought, "I will go and learn, but then drink and smoke and gamble and dance until they kick me out" -- I was wrong. Sure, I enjoyed a few cocktails as I socialized at the bar, and I gambled all of $50 on this trip. I even went to a bonafide grade A club...which was just a good as a shitty bar where I could have gotten cheaper drinks ($15 for a rum and coke). I would go back to my room each night and would be exhausted. I just can't hang like that anymore. Don't get me wrong...I can live it up with the best of them. I will "shot" drink you under the table...as many of you have seen. However, I can't do "that" scene anymore. I can't party like some of these 20-25 year olds do. I saw a girl shotgun 4 beers in a row. Big ones. I watched her for a while and it seemed as if there was nothing phasing her. As I walked back to my hotel one night, I passed a group of people (average age approximately 22) and this was the synopsis of the conversation they had:

(11:30PM)

Girl 1 - "My feet hurt, can we sit...puh-leese?"
Girl 2 - "We have only gone to 5 clubs so far...we have to hit double digits!!! We are in VEGAS!!! Whoo hoo!"
Girl 3 - (drinking from a flask) "Who has the room key...I want to stop and get condoms. I have to go out and get laid!"
Girl 2 - "Just pick some up in the next gift shop....it's not like you won't use those later "
Girl 1 - "Maybe I just need another shot....let's go!"

I remember when I used to be able to drink all night, every night, with no real problem. Now, I know that there were problems...hangovers, life in disarray, etc. But I honestly didn't realize until I was in the city of Sin that I no longer could do that. I was overwhelmed and nursed my rum and coke. When did I outgrow that? When? Now, I am not really wanting to go back to that. I love where I am now....but when??? Just a little wistful as I walked down drunken memory lane.


Age is something that doesn't matter, unless you are a cheese.
Posted by Erin Kate at 01:47:22 | Permanent Link | Comments (1) |

April 15, 2008

A little Bon Jovi blog

Just a short one today, since I have to get back to screening resumes...

I went and saw Bon Jovi on Friday and I must say that the concert was excellent. 23 songs....and all the giddy 40yr olds you could handle. Biggest surpise? Richie Sambora. Now, I never understood the appeal of that guy. Locklear, Anderson, Richards...they all felt the pull to the Sambora...but not Erin Kate. Not until Friday, when I fell a little in love. He gets up and sings "I'll be there for you" with only his guitar and earnest voice. Just a spotlight, me, and Richie. I have a new crush. Sigh.

Great show. Stupid Jerome trip (which is odd for me). That was my weekend. That and my AC not working. Damn you 96 degree house!

Posted by Erin Kate at 04:13:20 | Permanent Link | Comments (6) |

April 10, 2008

Sometimes...

Sometimes I am just brilliant...I mean really brilliant. I have been trying to solve a problem at work and it has been more difficult than we imagined it would be initially. I solved it today. Go me. I rock the house!
Posted by Erin Kate at 03:47:20 | Permanent Link | Comments (2) |

April 03, 2008

The Political Blues

I love politics...I really do, but lately...I don't know...I am just pissed off. I have two candidates whom I like, but since I have chosen my favorite to be the one that is "losing" all I am getting from people is, "how dare you not fall in line" and "don't you know who she is?". How insulting. I mean, HOW INSULTING. I do know who she is...as I do the other candidates. I have watched television and, God forbid, read about them and then I came to my own conclusion. My party has two incredibly viable candidates. I have chosen to support my party and their candidate, but until the Convention, I will follow my top candidate until the end, which is apparently pretty bitter. Do I think she has a chance. Yes. I really do. If she doesn't win the nomination, will I be disappointed? Yes, but I will support the new candidate. The idea of change is what is driving my party right now, but the very people I know to be part of this "Progressive" movement are resenting it, and, her to a degree. It is an election. An exciting one. I find it ridiculous that I get criticized for not being a "team player" -- bite me. At least I know enough to know that this is a political "process" and not a crowning. Get over it.


Posted by Erin Kate at 04:40:16 | Permanent Link | Comments (18) |

April 01, 2008

"There she goes, walking on my skin again..." -- Counting Crows

So, it seems as if it has been forever since I have blogged. Really. Forever. So, I thought I would do a mega blog with some pictures about the past few weeks of my life (which, have been chaotic as always).

I went to San Francisco about a week and a half ago for some much-needed rest and recuperation. I feel as if I have been burning the candle at both ends lately. I also feel like some things have been out of my control or reach as of recently, so I wanted to find that balance of control and being controlled for a while. San Francisco helped. Now, some of you may know that I HATE California. I always have. I feel like it there is "too" much for one person. I don't like the mentality that most of the Californians I know have; like CA is their own country and we should be so lucky to be part of it. Now, faithful readers, I don't hate all Californians, but they do get lumped together. It takes an act of nature to get me out there...this time that act took 7 years to get me back to the Bay Area. The draw was intense. I have a very select group of friends that I would do ANYTHING for. I believe it gets smaller every year as I age and people lose their core. NoCal has two of those people whom still fall into the 'anything' category. I had been promising for years to get up there, and now seemed like the ideal time,  since one just went through a really bad break up with his longtime girlfriend, and the other just had a baby with his wife. Now, I won't go through all the details of the trip, but I will say that these people remind me on a daily basis that you should never quit your dreams. I know, what a cliche. But I needed to see someone live the optimism that they preach. I am surrounded by inaction and those who decide to let go of their nature. I forget that there are others out there who are truly immersed and living what they truly want. I miss that optimism. I really do. I miss it within myself at times. It was nice to reconnect and rejuvenate. If I have to thank California for that, I begrudgingly will...even though someone stole my debit card number in Sausalito. Bastards.

In other news, the new Counting Crows album came out last Tuesday. Adam and the boys never fail to disappoint me - and this is no exception. The lyrics are haunting but different from every album they have ever released. I can't really describe at this point where I stand on it....obviously, I love it, but I am trying to figure out the place in which it fits. I really do think it to be incredible. I really do. Also, they have announced their summer tour schedule and they are playing in Arizona two days after I get back from Costa Rica...so, obviously, I am going (PS...Maroon 5 and Augustana are going to be playing there as well). My excitement abounds!

April's schedule will bring the following:
- Bon Jovi concert
- Jerome overnight trip
- Vegas
- Inevitable trip to Utah

My Mom was at the White House this weekend for her High School Reunion with the Bush clan. I will post pics as soon as she figures out how to send them to me (this could take a year for Linda)

The Beccanator had her 8th birthday -- that made me feel my age -- a lot. One of her presents was Monopoly Jr - Disney edition...I knew ton of the tweeners on the cover. None. Age, how funny!

That may be it for now....

here are some pics of recent trips. enjoy!

 



 























Posted by Erin Kate at 03:37:44 | Permanent Link | Comments (3) |

March 16, 2008

Legislationland

So I am back (have been for a few days) from the land of policy. I was there for a conference on employment law and legislation/lobbying. D.C., as I have always said, is a strange place. Such poverty and such opulence reminds me of how divided we are as a nation. I won't say too much else about that, but it is something to behold.

I stayed across the street from the White House and, sadly, didn't leave the immediate area more than twice over the 5 day period. These conference don't give you the touristic freedom that others may, plus, i still had to work at night since I am in the process of hiring about 26 million people.

OK, so the conference....we had pretty awesome guest speakers (James Carville, Mary Matalin, Mark McClellan, etc.) and they were good at what we paid them for. I would work as a janitor for Carville. Seriously. I am not joking...that man gets it...and me....the Ragin Cajun is my kind of progressive. This whole conference focused on changes to the FMLA, ADA and HR 5515 (e-verify/identity verification) which were, oddly enough, the positions that we were going to lobby on. These are all issues that I have had to deal with on a daily basis --especially E-Verify which, frankly, sucks. I learned too much....I felt that I reached capacity by the end of the first day...It was incredibly chaotic, but useful.

We had to go to the Hill (which is what I was made to call it) on Wendesday where I had to meet with our congressional representatives and lobby their support. That was pretty cool. I have to say it. That was also the day that they shut down the Captiol...which was not so cool...and kind of scary to be around the cops that day.

I ran into Victoria A. Lipnic, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment Standards, while racing to meet with Rep. Shadegg (whose staffer I HATED)...I got to have a nice 5 minute conversation with her, which made me feel like Queen of the World -- yeah, I love that kind of stuff. I kept acting like "josh lyman" and as if I was very important with my very important legislation to discuss. So did everyone else.

As for any sightseeing, I went to the National Archives, National Geographic Museum, and walked part of the Mall. It was ok....just wish I had more time.

Good trip...kind of long and busy, but good. Now I am going to San Francisco to visit some friends as the tour continues. Sigh.

In other news:

My long-awaited new camera....has yet to arrive...should be in by Tuesday (grumble grumble)

I am excited to see some old friends this weekend

Jamie and Spencer (and Alyssa if you can stand us) -- following weekend for rousing political debate? I promise I won't throw a pencil at you, Spence!

I still need new towels

I am going to Matchbox 20 tomorrow night instead of Flogging MOlly...you may mock me now

COunting Crows album due in a week

Laundry never ends

Girl Scout cookies came in...yay!
Posted by Erin Kate at 23:25:26 | Permanent Link | Comments (3) |