Looking back

Tonight I went back and read my blog from start to finish. It is so funny, oh my goodness. There are times where the past few years have felt like a completely different life and than there are times where I can look back and remember everything I didn't tell you. It was so much fun, there were moments I was actually laughing out loud. Looking back allows me to see how far I've come. I find that I can't usually see the bigger picture or God's hand in every aspect of my life until I look back.

Time for a change...

First, Gatsby received his summer hair cut. It's like a brought home a completely different dog. I think he lost at least 5oz in hair and he has the energy to prove it. It's exhausting to be the most popular house in the courtyard :) Don't tell him we're going to the vet next week for a bit more than shots...



Next, I decided it was time for a change. I took the plunge and changed positions. Instead of the global Process Improvement Lead for HR, I'm now the HR Business Partner Support in the Americas. Granted this comes with less travel, since Australia isn't exactly considered the Americas...but the hours are GREAT!!! It's been the most bizarre change. For the last couple of weeks I've been working about 45-50 hours a week and I have no idea what to do with myself. I'm thinking about taking up tennis. It's been such a long time. We're still trying to figure out what I do which is half the fun. This gets me closer to HR Generalist again while still keeping a lot of project work that I've discovered I really enjoy.

Since I know I'll be coming home while the sun is up and spring/summer has finally come - its time to ride my bike to work. Every summer I realize there are muscles in my legs I just don't use often enough.

How do you celebrate all these great changes you might ask...you go to DISNEYLAND!!! I was told that I needed to take some time off as a condition of my new offer :) so one of my friends and I are going to one of the happiest places on earth. It's been almost 8 years since I've been to Disneyland, I'm totally excited.

Gatsby

So this is a picture of my little guy. This picture is a couple months old, but its the best one I have. Every time I try to take one his black eyes disappear into his face. I'll have to get Ashley to try again once we get cleaned up.

By no stretch of the imagination am I trying to compare having a puppy to having a baby, but it was a lot harder then I remember. The potty trips in the middle of the night, going to the bathroom all over the house (even after we just came inside), and chewing everything except his toys. We are making progress and its been so much fun.

Its amazing how quickly your life can change when someone else depends on you. I need to make sure I'm not gone for long stretches of time so I can take him outside, going outside in my pj's for the potty run (my neighbors are seeing a completely different side of me). Gatsby is also the favorite in my courtyard. On warm days our door bell rings about 10 times asking if Gatsby can play. And to go out of town for a weekend I needed to find a puppy sitter - thanks mom & dad :)

He weighs just over 6 pounds and is getting all his shots taken care of. We start puppy school in 3 weeks, I'm pretty excited - hopefully we both learn something new.

New Arrival

Isn't he cute? His name is Gatsby and I'm hoping to pick him up in the next couple of weeks. Apparently he's a bit of a mama's boy and is more content to drink milk then eat solid food. I'm really excited about the new adventure. My mom is also getting his brother, Kirby. Kirby is the black and white one.

Catch-up

So we've all accepted the fact that I am terrible at keeing you updated on my life. Does it help everyone if I tell you I'm REALLY boring? I feel better already. Let's see what's happened...

I arrived safe and sound. I can't tell you how exciting it was to leave 90 degree weather, 80% humidity and land in 24 degrees and snowing. It would be an understatment to say that I was cold - I'm fairly sure my lips turned blue walking in the parking garage. All I could think was that I sure hope no one asks me where I'm from because I wasn't handling it like a Utah girl. Once I made it home I was immediately on vacation. Did you know I only took 2 days leave before December, not counting holidays? I didn't either. Even though I was on vacation, I was still on call as HR finished year-end activities. There's nothing better then getting that phone call and knowing they can't live without you :)

Otherwise I've been pretty boring. Christmas at my mom's with my niece and nephew (grown-ups too), party downtown for new years eve and an awesome mocktail party to start off the new year.

And now its back to life as I know it - work, work, work. I am trying to pay attention to my work-life balance, but I'm thinking that's what April is for.

Time to go home again

So it looks like I'm not much better at updating my blog when I'm away from home.

I can't believe that its already time to go home again. The past 4 weeks have gone by so quickly that it feels like it all happened in a snap of my fingers. Overall it was really productive and I got so much done so much faster then I could have from SLC. Its been so humid and so hot, I'm not sure how I'll do in the freezing cold snow. I'd like to tell you that my hours got better, but they only marginally improved.

Its been fun to come back again and see so many friends and places I love. When I moved to Brisbane in July of last year I absolutely hated it. The food made me sick, I didn't know anyone outside of the office and I had no idea how the city worked - just to name a few. It took me probably a good 2 months to learn to enjoy my time here and to figure things out. Coming back, I'm not sure what I expected. Interestingly enough, while SLC will always be home this trip felt a little like returning home as well. Its been fun to see and hangout with friends that I normally only talk to on the phone or chat with online and see some of my favorite places. Its something to stop and think about, or maybe its just me. Its one of those bittersweet moments.

What happens when...

So what happens when you mix flat shoes, a flat surface, cell phone in bag, no ice, no water, no snow? What happens is you get Monica falling face first onto the sidewalk for no reason other then my inability to walk in a straight line. The goodnews is that the hotel has been fantastic and I'm using crutches (kind of) in a country without any ice or snow. The bad news it that my left foot is the size of my thigh. We all know how well I handle pain, so lets just say its not going well. Oh and did I mention that overnight all the other bruises on the rest of my body appeared and its nearly impossible to use crutches when the palms of your hands are bruised?

Don't worry, the x-rays prove that its only a sprain. Hopefully a minor one since I am supposed to be working.

Happy Thanksgiving!!! I'm thankful for tylenol and room service.