Surviving Busy Season: Have Fun!

We’re about a month into busy season now, and I wanted to talk about having fun.  This seems like an oxymoron when used in the same sentence as busy season, but I promise it is possible.  Remember a few weeks ago when I mentioned a beer pong tournament we were having after work?!  Let me tell you – it was the best idea ever!  I know that sometimes it’s hard to imagine socializing with the same people you spend 60+ hours a week with, but it is different when there is competition+alcohol involved.

We had the best time that day – I was on a team with one of my seniors… and we lost every time we tried to play.  But there was the requisite smack talk, and in between rounds, I got to learn some fun things about my co-workers.  Robert stopped by too, and even joined the fun at one point.  It was the best way to spend the first Saturday in busy season!

Another good example of having fun was this past Friday.  It was a pretty slow day, and we decided to go to a team lunch.  About six of us went, and spent an hour telling stories about pranks we’ve pulled on various staff and interns.  They got pretty bad – one year they hooked up a wireless mouse to a girl’s computer, and told her that she’d have to pay for a new computer since her cursor was broken!

Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that busy season isn’t all just no sunshine and spreadsheets.  I met some of my best friends at work, and learning how to laugh with them is key to making busy season fly.  And if all else fails, and no one wants to go out to lunch… start blasting miley cyrus from your computer, and wait for the dance party to start.  Trust me on this one.   Hands up!
Do you ever have fun at work?!

Moderation?

Happy Saturday!

It’s beautiful today here in Philadelphia – almost 50* and sunny!  I’m a little bummed out because I’m stuck at work right now, but at least I’ll see the sunshine later this afternoon.

Yesterday was gorgeous too.  I started off the day with a run – but it was inside.  I ran on the treadmill, doing Fitness Mag’s Bikini Body “Slim with Intervals” podcast from Motiontraxx. 

[ 1.67 mi : 10:05/mi ]

I was planning on running for 2.5 miles, but my knee started bothering me again.  I really don’t want to push myself too hard and really injure my knee so I walked for a while after that.  It really sucks not being able to finish a workout, but one of my goals for the year is to be better at rolling with the punches.  Sometimes life just doesn’t go as planned!  I made myself feel a little better by taking a little walk at lunchtime.  I hadn’t seen the sunshine in a few days (I’ve been eating my lunches at my desk lately), so it was good to move around… and it was GORGEOUS weather.  I’m hoping to take a quick walk every day I eat at my desk now.  (remind me I said this when it’s 20* outside!)

Lunch was good too.  I’ve come to rely on Annie Chung’s noodle and soup bowls for quick lunches.  I was getting a hunger headache so I supplemented the light soup it with some snap peas, one slice of roasted chicken, and asparagus from the salad bar next door… oh and two dark chocolate covered pretzels!

After work… well thats when things started to go downhill.  Remember date night?  That didn’t work out so well.  I went out with my friends to get a mani/pedi right after work so I’d miss the traffic out of the city, and Robert went to the bar with his work friends too… where I met him after my mani/pedi.  And had 2 beers on an empty stomach.  (Ithaca Apricot Wheat beers at least… my favorite!)  Well I’m usually not the biggest lightweight, but when there is no food in my belly, it hits me like a wall.  Needless to say, I didn’t drive home. 

We were still going to go out and get something healthy-ish… but by the time I got home to get changed, all I wanted to do was curl up on the couch… so we got delivery!  Unfortunately it wasn’t my brightest moment, as we got the cheesiest meal ever – mozz sticks and chicken parm stromboli.  Whoops!  It was SO GOOD though… and I guess you could say I did alright… I mean I used to wolf down half of the HUGE stromboli… last night it was only a quarter.  Plus three mozz sticks.  Umm… baby steps towards healthy changes, right?  …Right?!  Oy.

Anyway, we ended up watching some tv (Robert wouldn’t let me watch jersey shore )  and passing out so I could wake up on time for work today.   It was still a great night… tonight will be more fun though!  The asset management teams at my firm are having a beer pong tournament, and then we’ll be celebrating a friend’s birthday later.  I can’t wait!

Gratitude Journal – 1.16.10

1) I’m grateful to have a fiancee who is so willing to come into the city to hang out with my friends from work this afternoon!

2) I’m grateful for the millions of people who have donated their money, time, manpower, and prayers to the people in Haiti. 

3)  I’m grateful for the thought of spring weather… winter always seems too long!