The best day EVER!

Yesterday was the best day ever.
I bet you can't guess why...

No, it wasn't because I got cute new heels and could wear them to work.

No, it wasn't because I got complemented on my coffee making skills. 

And, no, it wasn't even because I got to walk to the post office

twice (let me tell you, on these beautiful spring-like days, a 

walk to the post office is a real treat!).

Like I said, you'll never guess.

I guess for the sake of this blog I should probably tell you why, or this will get boring pretty fast. Let's just say I have certain perks for being the administrative assistant/office manager of a small wealth management firm. Not only do I get to water the orchids and buy piggy banks and mouse pads online, but I get to screen sales calls and salesmen.

Now coming to the point... Yesterday, a fine gentleman from an office supply company came to our office and must have been horribly near-sighted because he blatantly disregarded our "NO SOLICITORS" sign in our front window (not to mention the one at the entrance to the office building).

For those who know me, you know that I'm a terribly nice person, and I hate awkwardness. I like to think I'm pretty good at putting people at ease.

This gentleman could not be helped! And I tried! Really, I did!

He started out awkward with his clammy handshake and his small talk, was awkward through the middle with his venting of the Olympics (let's just say he didn't win any points with me for that one), and ended awkwardly with an incredibly awkward and unfunny joke. He was so awkward that I started to feel awkward and self-conscious.

And boy could he TALK. About anything and everything. Plus all the too personal questions. And not to mention telling me that he was late to another appointment like I was keeping him there against his will when he was the one who stepped into my office to sign me up for his program. Seriously though.

You might be asking, Then why did you listen to him? Why did you give him the time of day?

Well, the answer is this: He was offering a really good deal on products I already used. It really was a win/win situation in that regard.

My favorite part of the day though is when my co-workers--who were eavesdropping the entire time--couldn't control their laughter because of all the ridiculousness. That sounds horribly mean, and maybe it is, but it was so awkward I couldn't tell if I wanted to laugh or cry.

Bless his heart. But seriously, there's a reason why charismatic people are better at sales--no one likes to feel awkward because of you!

Here's to random funny days at the office, that ease the stress of tax season! And to awkward sales reps who really are trying, but don't realize just how awkward they make everyone else feel.

Letters from Taiwan

Yesterday I got a letter.
A real letter.
From Taiwan.
And...it made my day.

I had forgotten that I'd even given my students my mailing address, but lo and behold, Miss Madline sent me a real live letter. Well, maybe not live.

And like Marcel's madeleine, this letter triggered a whole slough of memories. Who wouldn't like that?

So I thought I'd make a list commemorating the greatest memories I have of Taiwan that I can think of at this moment in time. And this is in no meaningful order whatsoever.

• playing basketball in the rain and getting huge blood blisters on my feet
• my first kiss
• teaching my students how to play baseball and American football (the latter was hilarious)
• hikes with Gloria
• talks with Fenny
• our unofficial book club
• Temple trips to Taipei, including hot chocolate and fried dumpling runs
• my many scooter mishaps
• classroom pranks
• being pranked
• Secret Santa
• school dances
• pinatas
• making horcata with left-over rice
• bingshas from Hello Kitty
• dong gwa neo nais (I'm craving these like none other!)
• Thanksgiving on the roof
• naked speedo man
• the bike trail
• "training" for a 10 k that I never did run (in my defense, my knee started to hurt to much to really run on it)
• cute little Taiwanese kids in their cute little clothes doing peace signs for pictures
• strawberry milks!!!!
• the rivers
• mosquitos (yuck)
• Captain Recycling

And that's about all for now. It's funny how feelings toward a place can change after a while. This time last year, I was in a really bad spot and thought I'd made a humongous mistake coming back to the States. This time around I feel at peace with my decision to return State-side. I still miss my students and my friends, but it's not the same kind of agonizing pain that I felt before. I'm so glad I was able to go back to Taiwan and spend more time with the people that I love and leave on a satisfactory note.

And....

....I'm especially grateful that I taught my fifth graders how to write letters because now I get to reap the rewards!

Here's to Taiwan and all its goodness!

Olympic Crush

{Image courtesy of Business Week}

As long as I can remember, I've been obsessed with the Olympics. When I was little, my neighbors and I would pretend that we were gymnasts and have "floor routine" contests across our front yards. Or we would strap on our roller blades and head over to the near-by water tower where we would pretend to be Kristi Yamaguchi or Michelle Kwan (the water tower had the best pavement, just so you know--it was practically pebble-free, therefore perfect).

Sometimes my brother and my across-the-street neighbor, Da-veed (we pronounced everything with silly French accents)  had to participate and we just couldn't ignore their begging. In those cases we would judge their BMXing and one-on-one basketball tournies.

At times we would participate in crazy relay races, or have flexibility contests. All in all, we were pretty competitive. And it was great.

In 2002, I was a freshman at BYU. The Salt Lake and Utah Valley's were chalk full of excitement and anticipation for the upcoming Winter Games. My friends and classmates who had cars volunteered at various events, and performances. The rest of us tried every way we could to get tickets to the events. And I'd have to say I scored. I got two tickets to women's luge! Awesome huh? 

I have to admit at that point in time, I didn't even know what the luge was. I knew what bobsleds were (who hasn't seen Cool Runnings?) and I knew that lugers used the same track. That was the extent of my knowledge.

I went. I climbed the Gold Medal Mile. I got a pin. I had a blast!

My friend Jordan and I stood next to the German bobsled team, and had our pictures taken with female Virgin Islands bobsled team. Nothing can compare to the magic that was in the air.

The Winter 2002 Games were also the debut of Appollo Anton Ohno, a fellow Seattle-ite. Perhaps I didn't get the appeal at the time for the short track star--I thought his soul patch was hideous. But I have to admit, over time, I've become a fan.

And I'm stoked that he and Celski won silver and gold in the 1500 m men's short track.

Here's to the Olympics and the unity and hope it brings to the world! And here's to Ohno!

Love is in the Air

I know Valentine's Day was yesterday, and my final report for being a single lady-- it wasn't so bad. I got a valentine from a friend--holographic, GI Joe, Channing Tatum. Let's be honest--could it get any better than Channing Tatum? I think not. 

Last night I ate scrumptious cupcakes and hung out with new-found friends. It was pretty awesome. But this post really isn't about my Valentine's Day. It's really about what happened this past week to this lovely lady:

 

My dear friend Lex, got engaged to that handsome gent this past Thursday. There is no one else more deserving. Lex is a peach, and I'm so incredibly ESTATIC for her!!!

Lex, we may have to have one humungous, Bonfire of Awesomeness extravaganza to celebrate this thing! 

Love really is in the air.

It's so cute, I couldn't not post it!

So this is a holler back to my days in Taiwan. I've already done a post of the Christmas dances that we had, but here's a video of the practices. My students are just too cute!

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