Thinking Travel

Week 28 :: got laid off

Cate — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 15:54:22 +0000

Tuesday: Back from vacation, I focus on getting caught up. With renewed energy for my projects, I look forward to diving back into things.

Wednesday: I’m packing up my cube and driving home in the middle of the day (along with numerous colleagues). What a difference a 5-minute meeting makes.

While I wasn’t surprised by the layoff (we knew they were coming), I was a bit shocked, if that makes any sense. It hurts and I’m sad, and that’s to be expected. But when I got the news I felt an overwhelming sense of peace and freedom, so I know this is going to be good transition.

I’m so grateful for my husband, family, and friends whose support made this sudden transition easier. I’m also grateful that I already have consulting projects and am in the process of launching a cool new collaborative thing (which will be the focus of one of my weeks in August)!

Week 27 :: ate a voo doo doll

Cate — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 20:40:37 +0000

I went out to Oregon this week for my yearly visit and got to visit the newly opened Voo Doo Doughnuts. I got there at 11 a.m. and most of the good doughnuts had been snatched up already, but I did get their signature voo doo doll, a maple bar, a chocolate bar, and a lemon chiffon cruller. And OMG: they were delicious. Next time I’ll get up early so I can try the grape and other intriguing selections.

Week 26 :: supported my husband when his dad died

Cate — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 20:36:22 +0000

Yup. This new thing totally sucks: Aaron’s Dad passed away earlier this week. We got Aaron on a plane ASAP so he could be with his Mom. In July we’ll go back for the memorial service. Bob was a wonderfully thoughtful, kind, and intelligent man. He will be dearly missed.

Week 25 :: Mad Mimi vs. MailChimp

Cate — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 20:28:43 +0000

This update is short and sweet (’cause I”m reeeaaalllly busy): This week I researched and registered for Mad Mimi and MailChimp. I’m getting to know both so I can choose which one to use, at least for now.

Week 24 :: HootSuite, PayPal & FreeConferencePro

Cate — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 20:21:33 +0000

In preparation for a project I’m collaborating on and will be launching in August, I got to know some new applications this week.

I’ve totally slacked off Twitter in the past few months so I’m going to try scheduling tweets through HootSuite. I tried TweetDeck a while back but wasn’t thrilled with it, so I thought I’d give HS a go.

I also made some upgrades to CulturallyTeaching.com in preparation for launching the project, set up PayPal, and got an account at FreeConferencePro.

Next up: learning CSS. But that’s for another week.

Week 23 :: Ordered Cool New Phone (Finally!)

Cate — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 20:02:18 +0000

Aaron and I decided to stay with Verizon so we ordered two HTC “Incredibles” phones. We went out to a Verizon store to purchase the phones but the wait was over 45 minutes. So I stepped outside the store, called Verizon, and ordered the phone in less than 10 minutes. Unfortunately, it will take 3-4 weeks for the phones to arrive. Oh well. I’m glad we finally made a decision and ordered the phones.

Week 22 :: Buy Strange Fruit

Cate — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 19:51:13 +0000

Notice the word buy instead of eat in the title. Here’s what I did this week: while shopping at Whole Foods I tossed a small round piece of unfamiliar fruit in the cart. It seemed like a good week to eat something new. Unfortunately, I completely forgot about it until it was shriveled up and inedible. Looks like I’ll have to give this another go.

Week 21 :: Start the Day with Relaxation

Cate — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 19:47:26 +0000

I did something very, very small this week that had a huge impact.

On Friday morning, the first day of my 4-day long weekend the first thing I did after getting out of bed was brew a cup of coffee, grab Fast Company and Better Homes & Gardens, and snuggle into a lawn chair.

I sat in the early morning sun and simply read and drank coffee. It was heavenly. Soooooo relaxing, soothing, and at the same time energizing. I sat out there reading for about an hour before getting started on my day. It was delicious and set the tone for a fab long weekend – one of relaxation and productivity.

This is a practice I will definitely continue!

Week 20 :: Lost

Cate — Mon, 24 May 2010 03:08:36 +0000

As I type, people throughout the US Eastern time zone are watching the first hour of the Lost series finale.

I am not.

If I had a TV that picked up the ABC broadcast signal, I’d be on the couch glued to the TV like everyone else.

Alas, I do not have a TV that picks up the ABC broadcast signal. (I’m not even sure the 14-year old mini-TV that I bought during my first year of grad school even qualifies as a TV anymore. I mean, Aaron’s computer screen is bigger than my old TV.)

Anyway. I’ve been watching Lost since the first episode in fall 2004. I was staying with a grad school friend in Michigan when we channel surfed to the pilot. We were hooked. I lean towards the obsessed side of things when it comes to Lost (by that I mean reading Lost message boards and theorizing with colleagues, not taking notes during the show or plastering my home office walls with theories like some really obsessed Lost fans), and I’ll be sad when I no longer have new episodes to theorize about. But I’m also kinda relieved that the show will be over and I can stop spending so much time thinking about a freaking TV show.

Tomorrow, as soon as we get home from work, Aaron and I will settle into the Lost series finale. Even though we can’t watch the final episode until tomorrow, I’m counting this as my thing for this week because it officially airs tonight (right now! oh, I can’t even think about it). Maybe next week’s thing will have to be making it through my first week with no new Lost to look forward to. Lol.

Week 19 :: Denver

Cate — Mon, 24 May 2010 02:11:26 +0000

My not-so-little cousin graduated from college on May 15 so I flew to Denver to spend a few days with my family. Since I was in high school when she was born, and then in college and a long move-as-far-away-from-the-family-as-possible phase, I experienced her growing-up years largely from afar. Anyway, it was a fun weekend visiting a new city (LOVED the view of the Rockies), seeing my grandma (who flew out from Oregon), and visiting with my uncle. Even though I spent the weekend with family, the location and combination of family members is what made it my one new thing for the week.

By the way, I decided not to tweet about my things, at least not for now. I’m doing this project for me, not for anyone else, and it really doesn’t matter if anyone knows about my little project. I’m having fun with it, and that’s what matters.

Also, I’m totally sticking to my 10-minute max per post rule. Time to click “publish.”