Hot Flying Monkey

I'm moving to the Equator (aka: my pipes froze)

2006-02-20T08:33:00.000-07:00

It isn't supposed to get this cold in Colorado. Its just not. -13*, people. As a result, my pipes froze. No water. I've been having to give my cats bottled water. Do you know how sick I feel about that?

Pray for warmer weather. I need water.

4 Things

2006-02-10T16:57:00.000-07:00

Four jobs in my life:
1. Retail beeeyotch
2. strawberry picker
3. volunteer coordinator
4. HR Generalist

Four movies I could watch over and over:
1. Office Space
2. Top Gun
3. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
4. The Mission

Four places I have lived:
1. Omaha, NE
2. Denver, CO
3. Colorado Springs, CO
4. Waterloo, IA

Four places I have been on vacation:
1. Vancouver, BC
2. San Francisco, California
3. Cancun, Mexico
4. New York City

Four websites I visit daily:
1. foxnews.com
2. stuffonmycat.com
3. freerepublic.com
4. 9news.com

Four of my favorite foods:
1. skittles
2. sushi
3. steak
4. spaghettios

Four places I'd rather be right now:
1. at home in my pajamas sleeping
2. on a beach in Hawaii working on my tan
3. New York City, running in Central Park
4. getting a massage from my personal hottie man-slave.

Four people I'm tagging: Uh, the 4 people I know who have blogs already tagged me. So, I will tag the next four people that read this.

In Honor of our Vets

2005-11-10T12:46:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is Veterans Day, and in honor of the day I wanted to encourage everyone to read this article from the Rocky Mountain News. Its an amazing story about casualty officers based at Buckley AFB in Denver, CO. Warning: please read when you have plenty of tissue handy, plenty of time, and plenty of privacy. Its a very heartbreaking and sad article.

God Bless our vets in all services, past and present. God Bless their families who support and love them. May God watch over our troops currently in harms way. Thank you, vets, for your service, commitment and sacrifice.

Held

2005-09-30T09:53:00.000-06:00

I've mentioned countless times that the past few years have been pretty tough for me. As time goes on, the happier moments outnumber the sad. I still have rough days, though – times when I feel lost, lonely and shaken. Yesterday happened to be one of those. It was an incredibly stressful day at work; one of those days where you question what you’re made of, and if its worth it. To shake off some of the stress, I met up with some friends for a beer at our local watering hole. The bar happen to have the Air Force/CSU football game on … I realized that was the first AFA game I had watched in two years. It was surreal. There are a lot of memories attached to AFA football, and I haven’t been able to stomach it in a long time. Last night was hard.

Around halftime, my friends and I parted company and headed home. I walked to my car with tears in my eyes, overwhelmed with the events of the past two years. As I turned the ignition to start my car, the radio came on. As if on cue, one of my favorite songs started to play. It has been so powerful and meaningful to me the past few months, and it came on at the exact moment I needed to hear it.

Natalie Grant - Held
From the album Awaken

Two months is too little
They let him go
They had no sudden healing
To Think That Providence
Would take a child from his mother
While she prays, is appalling
Who told us we’d be rescued
What has changed and
Why should we be saved from nightmares
We’re asking why this happens to us
Who have died to live, it’s unfair

Chorus: This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and know
That the promise was when everything fell
We’d be held

This hand is bitterness
We want to taste it and
Let the hatred numb our sorrows
The wise hand opens slowly
To lilies of the valley and tomorrow

Chorus

If hope if born of suffering
If this is only the beginning
Can we not wait, for one hour
Watching for our Savior

While listening to the song, I felt a sort of comfort and reassurance that everything is going to be OK. God is good. He holds his children. I have nothing to fear.

I LOVE the Internet (subtitle: Oregon Trail Memories)

2005-09-21T01:01:00.000-06:00

Remember playing the Oregon Trail as a kid in the Apple lab? Or perhaps you played John Elway's Quarterback, or Jeopardy, or Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? Miss playing those games? Well, you can relive those fond memories of the elementary school computer lab thanks to the internet and THE BEST WEBSITE EVER.

New Hair

2005-09-18T21:35:00.000-06:00

I could probably write volumes about my hair - not in a vain way, but what I think my hair represents. I've dyed my hair countless colors ... its my small way of rebelling that isn't too terribly permanent. I've been platinum blonde, platinum blonde with pink streaks, medium blonde, dark brown, red, auburn, blond and brown ... you get the idea.

Long story short, I have been going through a very difficult and trying time this past year and I felt that blonde was no longer me. During one of my lowest times, I randomly got a bottle of some dark color from the local grocery store and went to the dark side - I dyed my hair dark brown on New Years Eve 2004. Its been a few variations of the brown since then.

After my trip to Michigan for John's memorial service over Labor Day weekend, I felt it was time to go back to the blonde. My "dark" period was over - it was time for a change. Yesterday I visited Julie at the Vito Pini Salon in Cherry Creek, and she changed my life. She is slowly, but surely, getting me back to my fabulous blonde self.

More blonde to come. Its a process.

The Moonlight Classic (aka: another drunken evening)

2005-09-18T21:13:00.000-06:00

A few of my homeboys from work (and yours truly) participated in the Moonlight Classic in mid-August. Its a 15 mile bike ride through the streets of Denver at, you guessed it, midnight. I'm no bike pro - I know how to ride one and thats about it. I know zilch about bike parts, bike care, bike tires, bike gears. But I've wanted to get into biking, and I thought this ride might be a good place to start.

How wrong I was. The first 8 or so miles went splendidly well. Had a lot of fun - there is something so refreshing and nifty about riding a bike through the streets of Denver with thousands of other Denverites at midnight. As I was heading down Downing Street trying to catch up with my friends, the unthinkable happened: my front tire blew. I had nothing. No spare, no tools, no nothing - my bike ride was over. I call my friends to let them know and arrange for another friend to pick me up. The friend calls me a few minutes later and encourages me to have a beer at the HandleBar and Grill while I wait for them. I think you all know where this is going ... one beer turned into three (and a few shots, purchased by fellow bar patrons that felt sorry for the girl with the flat tire).

In any case, it was a great time, but I learned a valuable lesson: if your bike is going to break, make sure it does it in front of a bar. And yeah, I'll think about biking again ... someday.

Pictures from the evening here.

Its been a while ...

2005-09-18T21:11:00.000-06:00

I kinda fell off the face of the earth for a few weeks. Reflecting on the past year and all the events and changes that have taken place ... hard work. Very sad and emotional and depressing, but also hopeful and forward-looking.

So I'm about to post some long-awaited updates ... hang tight, kittens.

In Loving Memory

2005-09-05T16:27:00.000-06:00

I'm Free
Don't Grieve for me for now I'm free,
I'm following the path God has laid you see.
I took His hand when I heard Him call,
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day,
To laugh, to love, to work, to play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way,
I found that peace at the close of day.
If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joys.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,
Oh, yes, these things I too will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow.
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I've savored much,
Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief,
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your hearts and peace to thee,
God wanted me now, He set me free.

- Anonymous

Rest in peace, John. We will always miss you.
December 19, 1977 - September 5, 2004

I have a new favorite site

2005-08-17T15:59:00.000-06:00

My Cat Hates You. Its a must-see.

Back in the day ...

2005-08-12T20:55:00.000-06:00

Every once in a while, when I am feeling a bit nostolgic, I head on over to Air Academy High School's alumni site and see what my fellow 1994 grads are up to. I really don't know why. I only keep in contact with one or two people from high school, and thats because our families are friends. High school is a long forgotten memory - I was such an ugly duckling with no self-confidence. How I survived, I'll never know. I'd rather forget those memories ... like my junior year prom date making out with someone else at the freaking prom. And then not getting asked to my senior prom. Braces. Having a two-year crush on a gay man. Tripping and landing flat on my face in front of said crush during track practice.

I'm glad its all over. Time has been very kind to me. But I will admit its kinda nice to check in on everyone and see where they are.

GO KADETS!

I'm blowin' this pop stand

2005-08-02T13:44:00.000-06:00

Finally. Its vacation time, kiddos. I'm off to the Big Apple for 6 days of sun, fun, debauchery and bedlam. On the agenda: running in the park, a weekend on the Jersey shore, shopping, seeing Steve-o for the first time in a year, getting a cupcake from Magnolia, eating terrific food, and most of all - having a fantastic time with fantastic people in a fantastic city.

I'll be sure to take plenty of pictures and post 'em when I get back. Bis Spater, my friends ...

PS: Yes, the semester finally ended. I made it out alive. Two more to go ... only two more to go ...

Vacation in 9 days

2005-07-24T22:46:00.000-06:00

I'm going to New York in 8 days. It can't come fast enough. Vacation. Must. Come. NOW.

That is all.

Random pictures

2005-07-24T22:41:00.000-06:00

I've been trapped in my condo most of the past two weeks due to school stuff, so I have no interesting stories or commentary to post, unless you want to hear my thoughts on the functionality of staples.com or the regulatory statutes of the banking industry. But I did take some pictures. Enjoy.

The Cats.
The Condo.
The Party.

A few of my favorites

2005-07-18T22:22:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite websites in the whole world is fark.com. From time to time, they post photoshop contests with themes, such as "Photoshop the final battle between the Keebler Elves and Snap, Crackle and Pop" and "Photoshop rejected tombstones." Today the photoshoppers were on fire: "If the South had won the Civil War" and "Theme: Posters for more CSI spinoffs".

Among my favorite on the CSI spinoffs:

Another favorite? The Phat Phree. Some of the best satire around. Articles that are a must read:

Look at My Striped Shirt!
Popin' Ain't Easy:An Interview
This Gangbang is Awkward

I could go on and on listing some of the fine humor on the site, but I'll limit it to that for now.

Oh! One more photoshop ... a few weeks ago, they had a theme of photoshoping P Diddy's potential designs for the new McDonald's uniform. My favorite?

Someone needs to fess up

2005-07-14T17:30:00.000-06:00

OK, so who send me flowers? I honestly don't have any clue. The card was blank. So, whoever sent these - thank you. They are beautiful!

And the good news just keeps coming!

2005-07-13T10:51:00.000-06:00

God really truly does answer prayer:

NHL reaches agreement in principle with players

Finding humor in other's misery

2005-07-12T00:21:00.000-06:00

I'm a sick woman. This made me laugh for 15 minutes straight. My regards to Victor Plata. (And thanks for the link, Curly Meatballs).

Prayers have been answered!

2005-07-11T23:43:00.000-06:00

I really don't know why I'm writing this on my blog, as its a pretty insignificant turn of events in the grand scheme of things, but I'm very relieved and happy and positively overjoyed over this nifty bit of news.

Background: right now I'm in the midst of summer semester midterm hell. Even though I'm only taking two classes, it still means I have a shitload of schoolwork due this week. Last weekend I spent most of my time working on this monster of a finance midterm (currently I've worked on the bastard for about 23 hours and I'm about 85% done). I have a tedious and very focused case study due on Wednesday night for my IT Management class. Of course, all my academic pursuits are secondary to my crazy ass job where I am currently managing 3 very important and high visibility projects. And of course, the projects have to be balanced with the usual day to day crap, like kissing employee ass and fixing the stupid situations that managers get themselves into.

Today I was ready to jump off a bridge. Between the shitty workload AND the shitty schoolwork AND unexpected (and shitty) hormonal issues ... I came home today and lost my shit. Complete meltdown - I was ready to quit my job and grad school to become a bartender on a beach somewhere, kinda like Tom Cruise in Cocktail. But then I realized I didn't really want to become a brainwashed, couch-jumping, cult-loving alien actor, so I got my shit together, had a beer, and prepared myself for an all-night date with a certain finance midterm. I honestly wondered how I was going to pull off an all-nighter tonight, work a tough day tomorrow, then rally tomorrow night to write a coherant analysis on Cisco Systems. But you see, God answers prayer. The heavens opened up with a call on my celly. A friend from my IT class just called to inform me that our professor moved the due date of our case study to Monday AND eliminated the last case study on the syllabus. This means an all-nighter tonight won't be so painful. I can go home and crash tomorrow night. However, I would like to enjoy a nice glass of wine and watch the Tour de France coverage for stage 10, but thats a whole other Oprah.

The end is in sight. At least for the summer semester. THE LAST SUMMER SEMESTER OF MY ACADEMIC CAREER. If I ever mention to any of you that I'm thinking of getting my phD, please lob me over the head with a crowbar. Its faster and a lot less painful not to mention cheaper.

The White Party ...

2005-07-10T11:39:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago, my friend Greg hosted a white martini party. In pure P Diddy style, we all had to wear white. Here are pictures of the most fabulous evening.

Images

2005-06-21T17:12:00.000-06:00

via Ankahgirl. Search for images via google and post the first or best result.

Where I was born.

Where I live now.

My name.

My grandmother's name.

My favorite food.

My favorite drink.

My favorite song.

My favorite smell.

My favorite shoes.

Pause for Reflection ...

2005-06-21T16:14:00.000-06:00

This past weekend I took some time to reflect a little on the past year of my life. Earlier in the week, I had talked with John’s mom, Rita, about the recent developments in the investigation of John’s death. Our conversation reminded me of the intensity and pain and anguish of last September … and how far I’ve come. It was a reflection wrought with emotion: joy, contentedness, anger, guilt.

For the first time in my life, I am really content and happy with where I am at. I have a dedicated and loving family that supported me through a pretty dark place, a terrific set of friends, a fabulous job that I love (how many people can say they are excited to go to work when they wake up in the morning?), wonderful co-workers, a new home that I own. I’m loving school. I am back to running with a new-found, almost organic passion (and I’m actually getting FASTER). I passed my SPHR certification exam. I am single and I love it. I love my life. I love how I’ve made changes for the better – I laugh a lot more, I don’t take myself as seriously, I am more patient and kind when dealing with people. I am so thankful I’m here and I have the opportunity to connect with a wide variety of people. I’m learning to love the person God created me to be.

This all sounds so sappy and sick and contrived, but its not. I had to experience some downright awful crap to get to this good part. That’s where the guilt kicks in … I don’t think I’d be at this place if we had not lost John. How sick is that? If I could somehow bargain with God and ask Him to bring John back if it meant I’d be the same person I was a year ago, I would. If I would lose the job, my family, the positive attitude, the contentedness – everything – if it meant John could roam this earth once again, I’d do it. Without question. It kills me that Rita is barely making it through each day. It makes me ache to know his brothers, sisters and friends hurt so much. I hate it. I’m angry at the hurricane that brought T. to Michigan. I’m angry at C. for being so irresponsible and selfish. I’m angry at Northwest Airlines for offering a cheap plane ticket that weekend. I’m angry at John for going home when he wasn’t supposed to be going home. My anger is accompanied with a guilt for having received so much positive growth out of his death.

I can’t bargain with God. Boy, have I tried. The best thing I can do is live the best life I can as a way to honor John’s memory. I don’t think John would want us all to be bitter, miserable, and depressed. He’d want us to continue living in the way he lived: courageous, energetic, thoughtful, full of laughter, disciplined, kind. Nichole Nordeman has a song called “Legacy.” My favorite part of the song is the chorus:

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

Every time I hear her song, I think of John. John definitely left a legacy. And I hope that others will say the same about me when God calls me home.

I PASSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2005-06-17T13:38:00.000-06:00

This morning I took the SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources) exam. Its a certification exam for HR professionals - kinda like the CPA designation is for accountants, but not near as intense. Anyways, I have been studying for this thing for months ... close to a year. Today was the big day. 225 questions and 3 hours later, I passed! I can officially say I'm SPHR-certified. This is a pretty big deal, as I will never, ever have to study for that exam again.

And it also means I can demand more money because I'm a damned good HR person. Hell yeeeeeeah.

Camera phone

2005-06-10T18:01:00.000-06:00

I went over to the dark side and upgraded to a camera phone last week (c'mon - TMobile was basically giving me the phone for free, and I needed a new phone anyways). It proved to be quite convenient, as Mira looked so damn cute while I was studying last weekend.

Moving pictures

2005-06-10T17:42:00.000-06:00

Ok, I swear - this is the last time I will post about the damn move. Many of you have asked for pictures of the condo, so I'm posting pictures. I don't have pictures of the completed condo, as its not completed yet. I'll post pictures when its done. But for now, you will all have to settle for moving day shots (and sadly, not a lot has changed from these pictures).

Sherri's Competition

2005-06-10T17:30:00.000-06:00

I work with a lot of fantastic people. One of them is my friend, Sherri. Sherri and I used to be cohorts on the 5th floor before I got promoted. She's the best. Well, Sherri has been involved in bodybuilding. She took a hiatus while she went through some personal crap ... but she came back with flying colors. Last weekend she competed in the The 2005 N.P.C MILE HIGH NATURAL BODYBUILDING, FIGURE AND STATE HIGH SCHOOL BODYBUILDING CHAMPIONSHIPS in Denver, CO. And you know what? She won the open division. It was an experience beyond words to see her kick some physique ass. I was just like a proud mama when I saw her take those trophies. I'm just so proud of that girl!.

More pictures of the competition here.

Why "Hot Flying Monkey"?

2005-06-06T12:47:00.000-06:00

I've had this blog a couple of months, and by far the most popular question I get asked is "Why is your blog called 'Hot Flying Monkey'?"

The Answer: Back when I was in college, my friends and I started saying "well, hot flying monkey!" whenever we surprised, perplexed, or impressed. I really don't know where it came from - it just was. Perhaps it was all the drugs we took. In any case, when it came time for me to name my blog, I tried to think of a name that was inventive, funny and representative of me. And well ... Hot Flying Monkey was it.

PS: I also have a thing for monkeys. I call everyone a monkey.

Moving is DONE!

2005-06-01T15:39:00.000-06:00

YAY! I'm finally in my new place. Everything was like buttah - the closing, the packing, the moving ... nothing broke, nothing was stolen, the movers actually came in $100 less than their estimate, I got money back at closing (how many people can say that?), and now I am one happy home owner. I did about 6 loads of laundry my first day there ... it was so nice not to have to search high and low for quarters.

The one drawback: I miss my old neighborhood. I miss the big trees, and the variety of people. I miss the proximity to downtown Denver. I miss Cheesman Park. But, I do love the new commute to work: 10 minutes.

I *heart* my new place. Its mine, all mine.

Funky Buddha

2005-06-01T15:28:00.000-06:00

I have some most wonderful friends, namely Suz-pac, who organized a celebratory happy hour for my recent promotion at work. We started the evening at the Funky Buddha. You can view some pictures of the evening here. A great time was had by all. Almost too great, at times. There is something about the Buddha that brings out the rock star in me.

Just for the occasion, I wore my "I love dorks" shirt. Dorks rule.

Overwhelmed, Part Deux

2005-05-24T19:25:00.000-06:00

So its finally sinking in that I will be a homeowner in two days. Less than two days, actually. This afternoon around 3:15 I suddenly remembered all the things I need to do, like change my address with most of the western world, transfer insurance to the new place, confirm the scheduled pickup with the Salvation Army, pack my apartment, etc etc.

In the meantime, I'm training for my new job, while training the replacement for my old job. I've got some crazy deadlines I need to meet. And yet ... here I sit, in the office, at 7:30 pm, updating my blog. (To my defense, its been on my list of things to do for a couple of weeks.)

As I told my wonderful friend Ginny when she was wiggin' out: one thing at a time. Tackle one thing at a time. And right now, I will tackle going home.

I have to admit, it is pretty exciting being a homeowner. And life in general is exciting ... I've undergone some pretty serious changes in the past year. Really heartbreaking, challenging, killer hard stuff, but its been amazing to see where its lead me. Life is pretty damn cool.

Moab

2005-05-24T18:21:00.000-06:00

Last weekend I got the distinct pleasure of taking a mini-vacation to Moab, UT, with a couple of my co-workers. Wait ... they are more than co-workers; they are good friends.

Some highlights of the trip:
1. My bike almost became an I-70 casualty. One of the straps from the bike rack fell off, and it started bouncing around. The only thing that saved it was the bungee cords that Howard had wrapped around the wheels of both our bikes. WHEW. Howard and I eventually fixed the rack, and we didn't have any more close calls. Howard now makes jokes about how he hates my rack. Jackass.

2. I puked on my very first mountain bike ride. 'Tis true. I had a pretty heavy breakfast, then went out into the 100* heat to attempt something I've never done before. And to be honest, I'm kind of a flower in the heat - I wilt. I felt a ton better once I tossed my cookies, but I decided to take it easy after that.

3. Dane Cook is a hilarious comedian. Check out his show, if you haven't already. "ACIDITY SPIT! I WANT THAT!"

4. My friends are truly great. I had a super time with them in a place other than 9191 S. Jamaica Street. I learn something new from them everyday. And hopefully they learn from me as well.

View the rest of my Moab photos here.

My brother rules

2005-05-11T13:58:00.000-06:00

Check out his blog. I admire the heck out of that kid:

http://www.bloglicious.com/nate

The world is officially coming to an end

2005-05-11T13:54:00.000-06:00

I was happily going along my merry way yesterday when I got the most unnerving news: Kenny Chesney and Renee Zellweger tied the knot over the weekend. Kenny - here I've been waiting for you for years, and you go all Hollywood on me. She can't even see through those squinty eyes of hers.

And when I was recovering from that mess, I heard my University of Colorado changed their logo. Granted, its a subtle change, but still - its change.

Surely these are signs of the end times.

Overwhelmed

2005-05-09T17:34:00.000-06:00

I'm sitting here completely perplexed at what to say ... I'm completely overwhelmed, yet excited at whats to come in the next few months. I was officially promoted last week, so I'll be learning a completely new job. I'm buying a home at the end of this month. I'm in the home stretch of my MBA. So many changes, so little time. Its unnerving. Exciting, yet unnerving.