I always wonder what my life will be like when I am 30. It sounds terrifying, but I don't think it will be.
Example: I was looking on facebook at an old friend from my PP days, who is about 30 (or even 35, gasp!) who has two kids. She was at a book club with her friends, and it looked like something I would enjoy; educated women talking about books and drinking wine and eating food. There was also a picture of all the wine they drank - 11 bottles of wine for 15 people. And one of them was Three Buck Chuck.
I will be cool like this when I am old. Book clubs and Charles Shaw wine.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Work parties.
Today was our post-campaign, postponed-holiday party bash for the UM development crew (all 450 of us) at the UM golf course clubhouse. We celebrated raising OVER $3.2 billion dollars over 8 years for tons of fantastic programs and research that save lives, educate minds, and do lots of other sweet stuff.
The room was kind of hot, with fairly low-ceilings, and people packed in around the food tables. There is also a student jazz quintet playing loudly in a corner, so people are shouting a little to make themselves heard. As I'm talking to my boss and one of my other colleagues, the VP for Development comes up to me, Heineken in hand, and shakes my hand while loudly exclaiming, "Kelly! How are you? ...How old are you?!"
...to which I immediately start blushing and say, "22...," much to the amusement of my coworkers. I always am slightly terrified of people at work talking about my age, mainly because I am a baby.
"Hah!" he said. "That young, and look at what you'll already have on your resume. $3.2 billion!" And he walked away smiling. It was nice of him, and pretty funny. And then the other woman I was standing with said, "And you have braces! Sorry, I thought since we were already talking about your age, might as well throw that in!"
Right. But, all-in-all, it was pretty fun.
The room was kind of hot, with fairly low-ceilings, and people packed in around the food tables. There is also a student jazz quintet playing loudly in a corner, so people are shouting a little to make themselves heard. As I'm talking to my boss and one of my other colleagues, the VP for Development comes up to me, Heineken in hand, and shakes my hand while loudly exclaiming, "Kelly! How are you? ...How old are you?!"
...to which I immediately start blushing and say, "22...," much to the amusement of my coworkers. I always am slightly terrified of people at work talking about my age, mainly because I am a baby.
"Hah!" he said. "That young, and look at what you'll already have on your resume. $3.2 billion!" And he walked away smiling. It was nice of him, and pretty funny. And then the other woman I was standing with said, "And you have braces! Sorry, I thought since we were already talking about your age, might as well throw that in!"
Right. But, all-in-all, it was pretty fun.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
A change has already come.
I feel like the political changes that were promised during Obama's campaign will take months and years, but this is a change that has already happened, regardless of the political changes that may or may not take place, that will have social implications for America. To me, this quote just speaks volumes about what the Presidency of Barack Obama means for this country.
"For well over two centuries, the United States has been vastly more diverse than its ruling families. Now the Obama family has flipped that around, with a Technicolor cast that looks almost nothing like their overwhelmingly white, overwhelmingly Protestant predecessors in the role. The family that produced Barack and Michelle Obama is black and white and Asian, Christian, Muslim and Jewish. They speak English; Indonesian; French; Cantonese; German; Hebrew; African languages including Swahili, Luo and Igbo; and even a few phrases of Gullah, the Creole dialect of the South Carolina Lowcountry. Very few are wealthy, and some — like Sarah Obama, the stepgrandmother who only recently got electricity and running water in her metal-roofed shack — are quite poor."
From New York Times article "Nation’s Many Faces in Extended First Family" by Jodi Kantor
January 20 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/21/us/politics/21family.html?em
"For well over two centuries, the United States has been vastly more diverse than its ruling families. Now the Obama family has flipped that around, with a Technicolor cast that looks almost nothing like their overwhelmingly white, overwhelmingly Protestant predecessors in the role. The family that produced Barack and Michelle Obama is black and white and Asian, Christian, Muslim and Jewish. They speak English; Indonesian; French; Cantonese; German; Hebrew; African languages including Swahili, Luo and Igbo; and even a few phrases of Gullah, the Creole dialect of the South Carolina Lowcountry. Very few are wealthy, and some — like Sarah Obama, the stepgrandmother who only recently got electricity and running water in her metal-roofed shack — are quite poor."
From New York Times article "Nation’s Many Faces in Extended First Family" by Jodi Kantor
January 20 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/21/us/politics/21family.html?em
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Vagina!
This awkward encounter happened because I had to spend another night in Traverse City to go to an Alumni Club board meeting tonight.
I walk into the hotel lobby to check into a room. As often happens in lobbies, there's a TV on. But usually they're quiet TVs, on CNN or something. This TV was loud, and was playing what could, I suppose, have been a CNN special called "Ask Our Doctors and Specialists". So the first thing I hear, loudly, when I walk into this hotel lobby is something like, "...the first state will be a red rash on the vaginal lips...", which caught me slightly off guard.
Normally, I don't have an issue with discussing sexually transmitted diseases and the like, but this seemed like a strange topic to be blasting on TV in a public space. Not everyone is as comfortable with the subject as I am, I would imagine.
I also thought that they were just covering a story and would go back to other news. But, they continuted talking about vaginas and breasts throughout my check-in process. To make matters a little more awkward, the man at the desk was a little strange. His name was Jon, and he looked like he's probably in his late 30's, with patchy brown hair that is depressingly combed over his balding head. He had a very soft-spoken demeanor, and was very polite. Our conversation went something like this:
Jon "Can I have your last name?"
Kelly "Reinhardt. R-e-i-n..."
TV "Now, if you make the incisions around the nipple, the woman will still have sensation around her breasts..."
Kelly "...h-a-r-d-t."
Jon "Your telephone number?"
Kelly "734-272..."
TV "Vagainas are great! You can't imagine what it is like to have a vagina! Vagina!"
Jon "Great, you'll be in room 247."
TV "VAGINA!"
Kelly "Thanks so much."
I'm not kidding about how much they said the word 'vagina.' I was signing some papers for good old Jon, and I had to keep myself from laughing because they kept saying things about vaginas. It was very strange.
I walk into the hotel lobby to check into a room. As often happens in lobbies, there's a TV on. But usually they're quiet TVs, on CNN or something. This TV was loud, and was playing what could, I suppose, have been a CNN special called "Ask Our Doctors and Specialists". So the first thing I hear, loudly, when I walk into this hotel lobby is something like, "...the first state will be a red rash on the vaginal lips...", which caught me slightly off guard.
Normally, I don't have an issue with discussing sexually transmitted diseases and the like, but this seemed like a strange topic to be blasting on TV in a public space. Not everyone is as comfortable with the subject as I am, I would imagine.
I also thought that they were just covering a story and would go back to other news. But, they continuted talking about vaginas and breasts throughout my check-in process. To make matters a little more awkward, the man at the desk was a little strange. His name was Jon, and he looked like he's probably in his late 30's, with patchy brown hair that is depressingly combed over his balding head. He had a very soft-spoken demeanor, and was very polite. Our conversation went something like this:
Jon "Can I have your last name?"
Kelly "Reinhardt. R-e-i-n..."
TV "Now, if you make the incisions around the nipple, the woman will still have sensation around her breasts..."
Kelly "...h-a-r-d-t."
Jon "Your telephone number?"
Kelly "734-272..."
TV "Vagainas are great! You can't imagine what it is like to have a vagina! Vagina!"
Jon "Great, you'll be in room 247."
TV "VAGINA!"
Kelly "Thanks so much."
I'm not kidding about how much they said the word 'vagina.' I was signing some papers for good old Jon, and I had to keep myself from laughing because they kept saying things about vaginas. It was very strange.
Coffee Observations - A Little Hope
So I'm sitting at a coffee shop in Traverse City waiting for my lunch meeting to start. There is a guy who looks like he's about 17 or 18, kinda lanky, with a sweathirt on underneath his leather jacket. He has a mop of red hair, and earlier he was looking out the window very dejectedly. Playing with his hands, kind of wringing them, looking off in the distance and not at the book or the newspaper that lie unopened on the counter.
I hear him make a phone call, and he gets someone's voicemail. "Hi Mom," he says, "I'm just calling to say that I'm sorry...if I was curt with you earlier today. This whole thing has been pretty stressful and hard for me, as I'm sure it has been for you too. So I just wanted to say I'm sorry."
It was so sad and touching, that I don't know what he's talking about and I don't know what they are going through but obviously there is a little hope because I heard it in the message.
I hear him make a phone call, and he gets someone's voicemail. "Hi Mom," he says, "I'm just calling to say that I'm sorry...if I was curt with you earlier today. This whole thing has been pretty stressful and hard for me, as I'm sure it has been for you too. So I just wanted to say I'm sorry."
It was so sad and touching, that I don't know what he's talking about and I don't know what they are going through but obviously there is a little hope because I heard it in the message.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Entitled to My Opinion
I was listening to some great anti-choice radio on the way up to Northern MI today, and I heard a woman talking about how obvious it is that life begins at conception. "These unborn babies are people, humans as much as you and I," she said, "they are just like us, they are Americans."
...Hang on a minute.
Now, we can debate for hundreds of years when the beginning of life occurs, so I won't go there right now. However, the idea that each of these unborn babies is American points out, to me, exactly where the flaw in the anti-choice logic lies.
No baby can be American until it is born. If you took that baby, and put the woman in another country, and she became a citizen of another country, the baby would also be a citizen of Sweden, France, Russia, or wherever it was born. Even if the baby was born in America, it could be adopted and it could go anywhere. It could become African, Indian, Czech, or even a fundamentalist member of Hamas that grows up to learn a hatred of America. The baby could be born to a anti-choice mother and grow up to work for Planned Parenthood. I'm just saying.
You cannot be American in the womb. You are not American until you LEARN to be American.
I'm not sure how sound my logic is either, but I'm hoping you'll get the point.
...Hang on a minute.
Now, we can debate for hundreds of years when the beginning of life occurs, so I won't go there right now. However, the idea that each of these unborn babies is American points out, to me, exactly where the flaw in the anti-choice logic lies.
No baby can be American until it is born. If you took that baby, and put the woman in another country, and she became a citizen of another country, the baby would also be a citizen of Sweden, France, Russia, or wherever it was born. Even if the baby was born in America, it could be adopted and it could go anywhere. It could become African, Indian, Czech, or even a fundamentalist member of Hamas that grows up to learn a hatred of America. The baby could be born to a anti-choice mother and grow up to work for Planned Parenthood. I'm just saying.
You cannot be American in the womb. You are not American until you LEARN to be American.
I'm not sure how sound my logic is either, but I'm hoping you'll get the point.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
The Day in Pictures
10:30 a.m., January 20th 2009
The most powerful man in America
12:00 p.m., January 20th 2009
The most powerful man (and woman!) in America!!!
YAY YAY YAY!!!(Thanks to the NY Times for this picture that I messed up a little.)
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Note to Self - Valentine's Day Lunch!
I think it would be fun to have a Valentine's Day lunch at our house, since it's on a Saturday. And invite my parents, and Sarah and some of her friends, and Linda and her friend and the kids, and Daphne and Darby, and Aaron's parents, and Tony and Kelli, and Josh and maybe his parents, and Britain if he's around, and Lauren and Chuck, and Teja and anyone she'd like to bring, and Parker, and Aaron and Rory maybe. And anyone else who would maybe like some love.
Everyone can bring something shaped like a heart, like a side dish or something, or cookies, or drinks that are red. And Aaron and I can do a main dish in the slow cooker, and we can maybe watch a movie or something!
This might be fun.
Everyone can bring something shaped like a heart, like a side dish or something, or cookies, or drinks that are red. And Aaron and I can do a main dish in the slow cooker, and we can maybe watch a movie or something!
This might be fun.
Monday, January 12, 2009
On future plans.
At this point in my life, I would rather live in a city with things to do (be aware that my definition of city includes Ann Arbor) than in a giant house in a tiny little suburb or town. I thought of this because I was considering my options for what my next move is after this job. Being well aware that I haven't even been at my job 6 months, I do think I get to at least ponder broadly about future plans.
What I decided is that I am pretty open. Lots of things sound cool and I am going to have lots of great skills to take me various places.
So here's hoping I'm brave enough to let the wind carry me somewhere interesting for a couple years.
Also, today is the 50th anniversary of Motown Records. I do love that sound.
What I decided is that I am pretty open. Lots of things sound cool and I am going to have lots of great skills to take me various places.
So here's hoping I'm brave enough to let the wind carry me somewhere interesting for a couple years.
Also, today is the 50th anniversary of Motown Records. I do love that sound.
Monday, January 5, 2009
New Year's Resolutions
1) Read more books. Currently on the list: Twilight (yeah yeah...); "A Fraction of the Whole" by Steve Toltz; the book Dad gave me for Christmas about living the good life, "Simple Prosperity" by David Wann; "Dreams from my Father" by Barack Obama; "Three Cups of Tea," and others.
2) Make more delicious recipes and keep baking bread. This includes using my Dutch Oven and our slow cooker.
3) Eat healthier and smaller portions.
4) Walk home for lunch more often.
5) Start running two days per week instead of one.
6) Close a gift at work.
7)Open a Roth IRA (Due no later than January 15th). YAY! Start fundings it...
8) Learn a new video game (like Lego Star Wars II!).
9) Travel to Chicago, New York, L.A., and Portland to visit my friends.
10) Decorate my damn office (Also due no later than...being generous...January 30).
11) Take more pictures and post them on Picasa. Maybe get Flickr if I overload there.
12) Be nicer to everyone and more compassionate.
2) Make more delicious recipes and keep baking bread. This includes using my Dutch Oven and our slow cooker.
3) Eat healthier and smaller portions.
4) Walk home for lunch more often.
5) Start running two days per week instead of one.
6) Close a gift at work.
7)
8) Learn a new video game (like Lego Star Wars II!).
9) Travel to Chicago, New York, L.A., and Portland to visit my friends.
10) Decorate my damn office (Also due no later than...being generous...January 30).
11) Take more pictures and post them on Picasa. Maybe get Flickr if I overload there.
12) Be nicer to everyone and more compassionate.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Goodbye 2008
I was thinking about what things 2009 might bring while I was out running today, and thought that perhaps I would blog about it.
So far in 2009, I have organized my pictures on my computer, gone to New York City, cooked some food, and walked fewer times on my once-per-week mile run than in 2008.
Things that will be exciting in 2009 will be: Amy and Bill's wedding, Scott and Trisha's wedding, John and Becca's wedding, and Spencer and Cindil's wedding. Lots of weddings. Also, Aaron will be doing something exciting with his life, and that will be fun (hopefully not sad) to have happen. I will still be in my job, there will be lots of things to do and places to see, and hopefully I will close my first gift. It would be great if everyone could be happy and healthy this year.
I don't know what 2009 will bring, but 2008 was definitely a rollercoaster of a year. Lots of funerals, lots of scary news and surgery. But that surgery was followed by good news. I graduated from college, have a fantastic job that still freaks me out, and have wonderful friends. Tony and Kelli got married! Friends left, new friends came. Lots of events happened in the world that were both wonderful and tragic. Barack Obama will be our next president. My Wolverines football team had a dissapointing albeit record-breaking (sigh) season. There was love and loss and hope and scary things.
Here's to 2009!
So far in 2009, I have organized my pictures on my computer, gone to New York City, cooked some food, and walked fewer times on my once-per-week mile run than in 2008.
Things that will be exciting in 2009 will be: Amy and Bill's wedding, Scott and Trisha's wedding, John and Becca's wedding, and Spencer and Cindil's wedding. Lots of weddings. Also, Aaron will be doing something exciting with his life, and that will be fun (hopefully not sad) to have happen. I will still be in my job, there will be lots of things to do and places to see, and hopefully I will close my first gift. It would be great if everyone could be happy and healthy this year.
I don't know what 2009 will bring, but 2008 was definitely a rollercoaster of a year. Lots of funerals, lots of scary news and surgery. But that surgery was followed by good news. I graduated from college, have a fantastic job that still freaks me out, and have wonderful friends. Tony and Kelli got married! Friends left, new friends came. Lots of events happened in the world that were both wonderful and tragic. Barack Obama will be our next president. My Wolverines football team had a dissapointing albeit record-breaking (sigh) season. There was love and loss and hope and scary things.
Here's to 2009!
Friday, January 2, 2009
Two dreams about weddings...
A few months ago, I had a dream that my sister got married. Nothing was how it was supposed to be, like we didn't have control of any of the details. I can't remember exactly how it went, but Sarah had her bridesmaids wear T-shirts, and her dress was a weird orange color.
Then last night, I had a dream that I was getting married, but I didn't want to and again, nothing was right. I didn't get to plan anything, and I don't think I was even wearing a gorgeous dress. I had just gotten back from the gym, my hair was a mess, and all of a sudden the wedding started. There was no one in the bridal party that I knew, distant relatives of people that I didn't know kept talking quite loudly, it was in a small room, and in the middle of the ceremony (which wasn't really officiated by anyone in particular) my friend Zach gave a toast with a small TV that played a clip from Seinfeld. None of it made sense.
Dreams like that probably mean I'm stressed.
In other news, work is very quiet today. I installed a new kind of power strip that is attached to a motion detector that has some outlets which will switch off when you don't move for awhile.
And last night Aaron, Josh and I got back from New York City around 8:30 pm. We had a fantastic time! I am so glad I went.
Happy New Year everyone! I hope this year will be better for the Reinhardts than 2008 was.
Then last night, I had a dream that I was getting married, but I didn't want to and again, nothing was right. I didn't get to plan anything, and I don't think I was even wearing a gorgeous dress. I had just gotten back from the gym, my hair was a mess, and all of a sudden the wedding started. There was no one in the bridal party that I knew, distant relatives of people that I didn't know kept talking quite loudly, it was in a small room, and in the middle of the ceremony (which wasn't really officiated by anyone in particular) my friend Zach gave a toast with a small TV that played a clip from Seinfeld. None of it made sense.
Dreams like that probably mean I'm stressed.
In other news, work is very quiet today. I installed a new kind of power strip that is attached to a motion detector that has some outlets which will switch off when you don't move for awhile.
And last night Aaron, Josh and I got back from New York City around 8:30 pm. We had a fantastic time! I am so glad I went.
Happy New Year everyone! I hope this year will be better for the Reinhardts than 2008 was.
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