SKI!

Greetings form Colorado! I am attempting to write this post on my iPad, which is incredibly challenging for someone with fat fingers (me!). So, excuse any spelling and grammar issues. I am sure there will be plenty.

So, yeah, skiing. So far, it's been a great trip...fantastic snow, lots of sun and GREAT company who can challenge me on the blacks. That said, the trip started off with a bit of a hiccup.....

I got into Denver on Friday night. My dad and the rest of my family decided to fly in Saturday, so I spent Friday night with my friend Wynand Dempers, a cool South African dude who recently moved from Houston to Denver. On Saturday morning, we headed out to Vail with Ty, Demper's friend from college. So far, so good - we woke up early so we missed traffic, stopped for delish coffee and even got discount lift tickets through Demper's season pass. By 9 am I had my lift ticket, caffeine in my system and was about to hit the slopes. Then, I saw....

MY SKIS WERE GONE.

Yes, gone. I had left them out when I went inside to buy my ticket (a common practice...everyone does it despite the fact that skis cost more than most people's rent) and when I came out they we gone. I found a Vail ski guy and he told me not to worry, someone probably mistakenly swapped skis and would be back soon when his error was realized. "Just sit tight and wait here for a few minutes." Ok, cool. Easy enough.

30 min. later and still no skis. Now I began to freak. If someone had accidentally grabbed my skis, he or she would have to know by now that the skis were the wrong ones...the likelihood of our skis being set for the same size boot was pretty slim, so he or she wouldn't even be able wear them. However, if they were stolen....well, that would explain why they hadn't been returned.

So, I start to cry. (yeah, yeah, I'm a sensitive cry baby. Whatever.) Fortunately, the Vail ski guy was awesome, and he got me a pair of comped K2 Rictors (awesome skis!) for the day. So I wiped away my tears away, took the comped skis and tried to move on.

By lunch, still no word on the skis. It was looking more and more likely that they wouldn't come back. But by this point I didn't really care....instead I was wondering: "Is there anyway I can afford these Rictors I'm on?"

But alas, as many of you know, I'm a lucky mama and by the time I finish my last run of the day at 4pm, the skis have been uncovered. Apparently, someone accidentally swapped my skis with his, even though they were different brands AND colors AND proceeded not to notice ALL day. Hmmm, right. The whole thing is weird.

But who cares. I'm just glad to have my babies home!

OMG, I AM UPDATING MY BLOG.

Eek. Wow. (Hides head in shame.) Bad, bad, BAD JEN.

So it's been almost ONE YEAR since I have updated my blog. ONE YEAR. My only (poor) excuse is that I've been busy -- and that's actually the sad truth. I fell off the wagon. I thought that I would be able to keep updating my blog regularly, even when marathon training got underway, traveling became more frequent, and my work hours got longer and longer...

But I wasn't.

So here we are, A YEAR LATER, and I am (hopefully) back on the blog track. But I'm going to be realistic about it -- balanced you could say. In fact, it's an approach I want to take with EVERYTHING in my life...suppress my competitive side a bit (seriously -- I compete in yoga class! who competes in yoga???) and enjoy a slower paced life. Read and write more. Work out less intensely. Meditate for more than 30 seconds. Take my vitamins. Stretch everyday. Take up art again. (I actually used to be a pretty good artist in HS.) Relearn French. Go to church.

So alas, without further ado, let's do this. I'm not aiming to update it everyday, or even every other day, and I know some weeks will be busy and I won't be online as much as I should. But let's see how it goes -- hopefully I'll keep the momentum up.

And if I fall off the wagon again, just yell at me. Seriously. It works.

The Mile High Club...

....just got a bit easier to get into. If you fly Air New Zealand, that is.



Y'all know that I'm not usually a fan of the whole sex sells thing (because let's be real -- how uncreative can you get?) but this one is pretty cute. It's meant to illustrate that Air New Zealand's fares have nothing to hide - unlike all those damn US airlines, Air New Zealand won't use hidden fees to, er, screw you over.

Even the happiest place on earth is, well, unhappy

Apologies for the recent downer posts, but as an unemployed chica, I gotta keep my eyes out for all things related to the economy. Check this out...courtesy of the NYT:

The Walt Disney Company said on Wednesday that it would lay off an unspecified number of workers as it revamped its theme parks after declines in attendance and revenue. The latest job cuts follow Disney’s offer last month of voluntary buyout packages to about 600 executives in the parks division....Weeks earlier, the company reported a 32 percent decline in quarterly profit amid the recession.

Ick. This comes just a couple of weeks after Obama's negative comments about Vegas (and subsequent conference cancellations -- "In the last month, 30,000 hotel room nights booked for conferences have been canceled at an estimated loss of $20 million to the city, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.")

You know things are really bad when even Mickey Mouse is getting fired....

Staying positive when life throws you lemons....

Today I got word from a third employer that the job I interviewed for was put on hold. Major bummer....especially since this is the third time I have been faced with this kind of news.

Staying positive in this job market is a monumental task, but I haven't given up yet. Given that a lot of you are probably going through the same hell that I am suffering through now (or if you're not, some of you probably will be soon....although I hope not!!!) I thought I would share some of the ways I am keeping my head up during this recession.

- Set a schedule: I try to apply for jobs, work my network, etc. for at least 6 hours a day -- sometimes it's closer to 10, and sometimes it's closer to 2. But I have a general schedule in mind that I try to stick to.

- Focus on new professional interests: Since I got the axe, I've spent a lot of time developing this blog, Tweeting, growing my LinkedIn network, learning Google analytics, etc. Landing a new post is about more than just sending off resumes and emailing your old contacts. It's also about developing new skills and investing in yourself. Use this time to grow professionally.

- Make some moola: I have been babysitting and freelancing to make some extra cash. It's not much, but it helps keep my wallet a little fatter. (Or, more appropriately, a little less anorexic.)

- Excercise: This is the one silver lining to my losing my job -- I've dropped 5 lbs! Woohoo! Since I have so much extra time now, I am able to hit the gym more frequently.

- If you have the cash, travel: I am a pretty lucky cookie. After all, I was able to spend close to a month in South America without any job or income. I know that most people don't have this luxury, but at the very least, try to get away for a short weekend. To save cash, stay with friends, eat in, and just chill and relax. (Note: traveling can mess up the exercise benefit I spoke about before. Remember this post?)

- Get help: You can't do this alone -- you need a support network. Thank God I have a great family, awesome friends, and a fab therapist. If you don't have a support network behind you, get one. Go back to church. Reach out to old colleagues. Join a professional networking group. Trust me -- there are a ton of people out there who are willing to help you. You just gotta ask.

- Take a break: You don't work non-stop when you're employed, so you can't job search non-stop. You gotta give yourself a break. This is especially true during the weekends. Hang out with your friends. Treat yourself to a cheap dinner out. And have a glass of wine :) Trust me, it will help you relax. (Or at the very least, help you sleep!)

- And most importantly -- be patient. This one has been really hard for me, especially since this is my first job search where I have interviewed for positions and not gotten offers. Until recently, I had NEVER interviewed for a job that I didn't get. You gotta remain upbeat and give yourself time -- everything will work out. Or at least, that's what I am telling myself...

GOOD LUCK!

Went hiking today....

...and saw this! Ew!













More pics below.














Me and Chris. Yeah, I look scary.














Chris, looking like a freaking model. How does he do that at 10 am on Sunday?














Crazy people. Kayaking. In February.














Little Igauzu!

Coolest Web Site Ever

Since I'm on a superlative kick (see yesterday's post)....introducing the Coolest Web Site EVER.

Check it out: www.uncorneredmarket.com. The site design is far from revolutionary, but wait 'til you read the content. Here is the summary:

We have been described as adventurers, adaptable professionals, and - most recently - as full-time travelers. Our passions: creativity, personal development, technology, public diplomacy and street food. And yes, we do believe there is a common thread woven between them all.

So who are "we" and what's the site really about? Audrey Scott and Daniel Noll are an American couple who have been traveling full time since 2006. Um, jealous anyone??? So far they've seen Asia and Europe, and South America and Africa are next on their list. They are funding their travels through freelance work, savings, and (I quote) by staying in "bug-ridden lodges." Ick. Anywho, they seem like a pretty cool couple, and the stories they share are both enlightening and funny. Definitely check it out and get passport envy. I'm especially feeling the Annapurna Circuit jealousy. Anyone up for a trip to Nepal?

Rich people are still, well, rich

Interesting post that came in through one of my LinkedIn groups. Not the most statistically sound study, I am sure (agh! My days at MaPS won't stop haunting me!) but it is interesting nonetheless.

http://tinyurl.com/cmq7xy

According to Peter Yesawich, chief executive officer of Ypartnership, "Although affluent travelers have also been adversely affected by the financial turmoil that has emerged in recent months, particularly as it relates to the degradation of the value of their investment portfolios, they remain rather optimistic about their intentions for both leisure and business travel."

Yesawich concluded, "While affluent travelers intend to spend more on travel services in the year ahead, other insights revealed in the survey suggest they will still demand far more for their travel dollar."

Side note: affluent is described as an annual income of $150K or more, which isn't actually that much money. (OK, it's a hell of a lot more than what I make, but these are not the Trumps we're talking about....)

What do you think? Are you cutting back on your travels -- or are you still enjoying lavish voyages? I am cutting back. I may have spent a month in Argentina, but the $1 US = $3.5 Pesos made that possible. And as for my trip to Alaska in July -- I spent most nights camping or crashing on Gloria's floors. (HI GLORIA!) But I'm not technically affluent, so I don't really count anyways.

I do, however, get the very affluent Travel and Leisure magazine, courtesy of my lil' bro. Too bad I can't afford anything in the mag other than the mag itself.....

I'll win the lottery one day, right?

Writing samples galore!

Yesterday, I had an interview at an oil and gas company. At the end of the interview, I was asked to produce a few writing samples. One question the company wanted me to answer was:

Write 500 words on something that you’re passionate about. Objective is to grab readers’ attention, as well as demonstrate your writing skills.

Wow. 500 words, 24 hours, and an infinite number of subject possibilities.

After about 12 hours of procastination, I settled on traveling as my subject. It makes sense given my upbringing, and heaven knows I have done a lot of it lately. So I'm posting what I wrote below - my brain is too shot to write about anything else (like how my PARKED CAR was hit and severely damaged. Yeah, we'll discuss that another day...)

So enjoy the little essay below! It's definitely not my finest work, but I don't think it is half bad. And if you see any mistakes, DO NOT let me know. 'Tis too late to make any changes, and ignorance is bliss for chica.

XXOO,
Me

They say people travel for a variety of reasons. Some travel to see their families. Others travel to learn new things. A few travel for the simple pleasure of taking pictures.

I travel because it is my passion. I travel because it brings me home.

I come from a military family. My parents lived in Europe when I was born, and by the time I was one, I had visited more countries than most Americans see in a lifetime. My family moved back to the states when I was two years old, and my childhood was shaped by my father’s changing assignments. Every two years, like clockwork, a moving van would appear at the house in which we lived, ready to pack up our belongings and take us somewhere new. I have called three countries, seven states, and thirteen cities home. I have visited much of the world and all but four states.

Some people might find this sort of upbringing unsettling, erratic and confusing. I loved it. I thrived on the novelty of every new location, embracing the distinctive cultures and new accents, the varying landscapes and disparate terrains. As a tow-headed child in the California desert, I climbed sand dunes and chased tumbleweeds. My pre-teen years were spent in southwest Louisiana, where I discovered gumbo and acquired a slight southern accent. In New York, I lived on the Adirondack Mountains, climbing them in the summer and skiing them in the winter. I felt like the luckiest girl alive, exploring the world and experiencing new locales, each one so different from the last, each one distinctly unique.

Eventually my father retired from the military and our constant relocations ceased. I began to appreciate the stability of living in one place, and I threw out my moving boxes once and for all. However, my thirst for traveling and exploration remained unquenchable. As a college junior studying in Paris, I re-experienced my first European travels. In between semesters at the Sorbonne, I danced flamenco in Seville, devoured Florentine gelato, and tasted Riesling in Berlin. College graduation only fueled the fire; funded by employment that paid more than $10 an hour, I hiked in Patagonia, snorkeled in Micronesia, and camped in Alaska. Every vacation day became sacred, each one providing me with another opportunity to explore and experience something new. Traveling became an integral part of who I was and what I did. Traveling became me.

If you met me today, I would tell you that my home is in Houston. It’s where I reside and work, where my friends live and where my parents come when they visit.

But traveling is my real home, the place I am most myself. Traveling has helped mold me into the woman I am today, and it will shape the woman I am to become. Traveling is who I am and what I need to be myself. It is my passion. It is my home.