Changes Aren’t Permanent, But Change Is

Sometimes it seems like nothing changes but then I look at where I was just a year earlier and I’m amazed at all that has happened. This year I did a relay for life skate event and I was thinking about the event the previous year. A new car, a new job, a lost boyfriend and 3 vacations later…Wow a lot HAD happened and changed.

I really enjoy reflecting on where I am in my life now compared to previous years. It’s a good way to see how I’ve grown and reminds me of my life experiences. Next time an annual event occurs take some time to see where you are compared to a year or several years earlier. It can be quite entertaining and enlightening.

Cat “Change Changing Places” Cathy

Mental Health Hotline

I heard a song that included an intro for a mental health hotline. I liked it so much I used it a few times when leaving voice messages for friends and even added a few of my own. Here it is for your reading pleasure:

Welcome to the mental health hotline.

If you have OCD please press 1 repeatedly.

If you are co-dependent please have someone press 2 for you.

If you have multiple personality disorder please press 3,4,5 and 6.

If you are delusional please press 7 and you will be transferred to the mother ship.

If you are paranoid you don’t need to push any buttons. We already know who you are and what you want. Someone is already on the way to get you.

If you are schizophrenic listen to the voices in your head and press what ever number they tell you to.

If you have dyslexia please press 69696969.

For short term memory loss press 0 after the beep. Remember, that is 0 but after the beep. Wait for the beep and push 0 for short term memory loss.

If you have problems with procrastination please press 8………………..we’re waiting…………..we’re still waiting for you to press 8.

Anyway, I thought it was really funny and I wanted to share.

Cat “Jumping from number to number for A-D-D” Cathy

Jane of All Trades

'They' say the average person will have 3-5 careers in a lifetime. When I started thinking of all the different jobs I’ve had I realized I have far surpassed that number already. Granted some were not profitable and some were college jobs and hardly considered ‘career’ opportunity but still….there will be no 25 years and gold watch for me, that’s for sure.

In some ways it is stressful having so much to do and so many career paths but in many ways I like it. I enjoy variety and each new career provides a little insight into a different life I can lead and introduces me to different people. So I try to look at it as a positive thing and unless I had the perfect job (i.e. Rock Star) I think I would rather hop around and experience new things a bit.

Here is just a short list of some of my professional and non professional careers:

Asbestos Coordinator
Petroleum Cleanup Engineer
Roadway Engineer
Podcaster
Roller derby skater
Pro-am Jet Ski racer
Freelance news producer
Parade performer

When I look at my list I’m actually impressed and have lots of great memories. It also explains my blogging which has covered topics from travel to sports adventures to balloon dresses to Tiger Woods. I guess my personal life is just as A – D – D as my career life!

Cat ‘which hat to wear today’ Cathy

Cathy the Tailor

My grandfather was a tailor and apparently a very good one. I guess some of that runs in the family blood since I had to use my mad tailoring skills on my work clothes recently.

I purchased some new work pants but they didn’t quite fit right and I wanted to get them synched up in the back just a bit. The tailor wanted $16 for each pair! Well that equates to more per hour than I make as an engineer and was almost as much as I paid for the pants so I just couldn’t justify it.

So I decided to put my sewing skills to the test. Keep in mind the last time I touched a needle and thread was probably high school so this was not a small task. But I did it and the pants look pretty good! It was simple, saved me a bit of money and made me feel like Martha Stewart. (I’m assuming she sews but I’ve never seen her show and could be totally wrong).

So the moral of this story: if you are cheap like me you will realize that you can accomplish many things on your own to save money. Actually a better moral is: it’s good to challenge yourself and try new things!

Cat “Thanks Grandpa” Cathy

Fashionable Memories

I took stock of what I was wearing… running shoes, overall and a blue t-shirt. Nothing special you might think but this outfit starting bringing back all kinds of memories. I used to think clothes were just a way to keep from being naked and making my figure look its best but this recent moment of clarity changed my opinion. Clothes can be a fun external statement of who you are and what is important to you. They can also be reminders of friends and fun times just as this basic overalls outfit was for me.

The overalls were from a group mountain bike vacation in Oregon. I bought them in a vintage (that means used) shop with a biker girl friend of mine. I remember wearing them during the whole trip whenever we weren’t biking. The girl on the trip recently passed away from a motorcycle accident so the overalls reminded me of her and all the good times we shared.

The running shoes I bought while shopping with my best friend from college. The employees judge what type of shoes you need based on how you walk and then make suggestions. I found out I pronate badly and apparently that meant I could only wear ugly shoes. So while my girl friend was shown all these cute shoes to try on, I was given shoes that only a 80 year old Jewish woman with bad bunions could love. I would have been hurt and upset if I wasn’t laughing so hard at all the ugly shoes. Finally the last pair looked almost normal and were very comfy so I bought them.

The blue t-shirt was from a recent vacation out west with my boyfriend. We mountain biked all day using a ski lift to get up and gravity to get back down. I’ve wanted to do this for years since it’s all the fun and none of the work. It was a good day of riding with perfect weather and the simple t-shirt reminds me of this great day every time I wear it.

So next time you go shopping make sure you bring a good friend so you can create your own fashionable memories. Also, next time you get dressed pay some attention to the good memories associated with your clothes and smile.

Cat “Fashion Diva” Cathy

Jumping Around…Again

I rarely blog about the same subject more than once since I assume it would get old but my second attempt at jumping stilts was definitely blog worthy…especially with the low amount of readers we have anyway.

I decided to try the stilts at Lake Eola in downtown Orlando on a Sunday afternoon/evening. Not the best place for a neophyte stilter since this place gets crowded, but I had confidence from my first experience and I wanted to ‘ham it up’ a bit too.

This time I walked a lot better and even jogged and jumped a bunch. Best of all, even though I had some close calls, I didn’t fall. I got lots of stares and questions and enjoyed all the social time. I told some little girls that if they took their vitamins they would get tall like me too. The parents got a good chuckle over that and appreciated the help I’m sure.

The most interesting part of this adventure was my trip to the bathroom. I think I set the world record for hovering. I must have been 4 feet above my target and I have to admit I didn’t have the best aim. I can’t believe I’m sharing this but some advice for beginners - use the bathroom before you put these things on or wear depends!

As an added bonus the space shuttle was going up for it’s last night launch and I watched it from the west side of the lake while I balanced on my stilts. I had the best view on the lake!

With such cool things as jumping stilts and shuttle launches it’s a great time to be alive!

Cat “Tigger” Cathy