The best way to resign (is there one?)

It turns out there is a good and a bad way to resign from your job. I recently experienced the bad so thought it a good idea to jot down a few key points to ensure that I do a better job when it comes to my resigning at some future date from some future job.
1. Don't waste their time. If you use 'the job just doesn't fit' as your reason for leaving, how bout you come to that realisation a little sooner. Say, 2 months ago before a lot of time, effort and money is invested in you. And before you're made permanent after an extended probation period, perhaps?
2. Get out already. Look, if a job's not right for you then it's not right - and better to get out before you get sucked into a spiral of unhappiness. But seriously, if you've known it's not right from the start, don't delay and just go away!
3. The complaining game. There's nothing worse than people that complain all the time. The long commute, the traffic, the strict deadlines, the workload...... we all experience it every day I promise. Instead, just get on with it and/or do something about it. (I suppose this relates to points 1 and 2 too).
4. Be professional. When I resign I will certainly take this point to heart and go about the process in a professional and curvaceous manner. Rather than waiting for the end of the day to deposit an envelope on the ME's desk and mention 'By the way' to the person above you, why not sit them down and discuss the matter (I realise this is awkward but rather help them understand, surely?)
5. Say thank you. I think it is a fair way to end a working relationship to thank the person who has (hopefully) guided and taught you in your position. A simple thank you really would go down well. Instead of, say, 'Do you know if the ME will be paying me today for the 6 days I've worked this month'.

**Disappointed and bitter much?

"Lord grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can, and
the wisdom to know the difference."

  --  Saint Francis of Assisi

I am

I am... happy with my life right now

 I know... there is still so much more to learn

I want... to get my phone back from Curly's house

I wish... I had not bumped my head on the wall and proceeded to leave my entire handbag at his house

I hate... missing out

I miss... good friends from the past

I fear... becoming another crime statistic in SA

I feel... a little hungry - perhaps time for an orange

I smell... nothing much at all really but would love to smell freshly mowed grass

I hear...the constant whirring of the computers around me

I crave...my phone? chocolate? for time to hurry up?

I search...to find my greater purpose on earth

I wonder..if/when I will discover it

I regret...not cherishing every moment I have with my family

I love...being loved and loving

I ache...nowhere right now but that might change after boot camp tonight!

I am not..wearing any makeup today because I left that at Curly's house too!

I dance...really badly but that doesn't stop me from doing it

I sing...off key but think I sound great sometimes

I cried last…this morning after I bumped my head on a wall

I fight…seldomly - I hate confrontation!

I write…for a living, who would have thought my creative writing essays from school would have sparked my career!

I win…no board games - I'm the best person to play with

I lose…my phone in my bag all the time

I am never…going to settle for complacency

I always…try to be there for others - but need to stop using sleep as an excuse to fade early

I listen…to 702 on the way home for intelligent discussions to end my day

I can usually be found…drinking tea with a biscuit with a book after work

I need…my handbag quite desperately

I am happy…where I am in life and who I share it with

I imagine…a world where every day is Mandela Day!

Bootcamp Chronicles

 So housemates, B, R, S and I started bootcamp on Monday.
We've had over a month to prepare for this after purchasing a fantastic wicount voucher for a month's training for just R80 (always game for a bargain - the real price is R450 - we didn't hesitate signing our bodies away).

We definitely didn't think the decision through so overwhelmed were we by the bargain and bonding opportunity.
Because its already practically dark by the time the 6pm class dawns (or is that sets?) - not to mention the fact that we are in the middle of winter (with a cold front conveniently adding to the bite of that first class). No wonder it was such a bargain!

B fell to the wayside on Day 1 (flu + a weekend of binge partying at Durban July) so us three muskateers headed to the battle ground, nervous as hell.

Observation 1 - there are no fat people (so much for being able to show up anybody in class some of our competitive natures cried)
Observation 2 - we had to rate out fitness and join a group accordingly (wise decision to choose 'average') and fall in the green 'easy' group
Observation 3 - green  ain't no walk in the park
Observation 4 - hot instructors. Now at least that works on our motivation!
Observation 5 - At least we weren't 'yes, yes sir-ing' like we imagined but WOW we are going to be so stiff tomorrow!

And that we were - R the most so (despite plans to move up to yellow in the next class)
but by day 2 I was even worse than her - couldn't stop laughing at myself as I hobbled down the stairs at work, holding on to the wall.

I just have to keep reminding myself that it'll all be worth it when summer comes....
And at least we're so stiff that we aren't even remotely tempted to get off the couch to find biscuits or chocolate to make us feel better!

The fattest bridesmaid

Yes that is all that is left of the hypothetical wedding cake after me, hypothetical fattest bridesmaid, ate it all at the wedding. That is where the term 'Fat Cake' comes from!

Yes that person that everyone hopes they'll never be....well that has become my reality.

I am to be the fattest bridesmaid at my best friend's wedding. Besides this large issue (ha ha), the other maids and bride have dabbled in modelling...and one of them is up for bride of the year after her own wedding!

BUT - at least there is a but - it is only in January.

That gives me 7 months to tone up and weigh down (or is that tone down and weigh up?).

Plus it will be summer (I'm from South Africa and the wedding's in New Zealand so a bit of a tan might distract from the lumps and bumps sticking out through the planned Grecian dresses.
Or maybe one of the others will get pregnant to detract the attention from me?
Or I can take myself in hand and get serious.
So here it is - my latest pledge.
Long term goal = be a (I'm not even asking for the!) skinny bridesmaid.
Short term goal = fit in to my skinny jeans (It is possibly officially winter now and I really can't get away with only 4 pairs of pants for the season)
The how:
Gym. Hard and properly. Have also signed up for a month of boot camp with digsmates...now if a screaming tyrant is not enough to scare the kgs off, the cold weather we're doing it in certainly will!
Eat properly. Healthily. And do not deny myself things that I crave. My typical method is to simply give 'bad' things up (chocolate, cake!) for long sessions of time but then when that time is up and I pat myself on the back..I go gobbledy gook - literally. This is also where my Treat Tin comes in too - time to start saving up some serious petty cash!
Because I absolutely to be THAT girl - the fattest bridesmaid! 

Dear new relationship

I am very happy for the spark and flourish that is your new love affair.
The excitement at getting a surprise knock at your door, the agony you go through waiting for your bbm message to deliver, be read....and then his reply!
I understand that you can think of nothing better than being holed up in your love nest all weekend - taking breaks only to order take-out or visit the gym (if you don't feel you're getting enough exercise already).
I also get the nervous anticipation when you introduce the new guy or girl in your life to your friends - will they like him/her? will he/she like them? Will you all get on fabulously and he just slips into the group dynamic?
Even more scary is the meet-the-family - because as much as you might not like to admit, you do care if your mom or dad doesn't like your new other half.
Walks around the neighbourhood hand-in-hand
Coffee and dessert dates at Sandton Square
Going to movies and missing the whole show
Sharing one box of popcorn (pretending to like salt & vinegar when really salt is the only pure topping for popcorn)
Talking hypothetically about which dogs you would like (a little Daschund called Poppie please, fine you can have your staffies - no Daschunds are still cuter)
I understand all this - I've been there too - And just for the record I still want a Daschund, I now have my own box of popcorn, salted and Curly and I went for a walk around the dam hand-in-hand just yesterday.
But.
What I CANNOT condone is letting go of all your mates for the sake of the latest love thing.
Of stopping inviting friends over to your house when you've been the social Mecca of the town. Btw, he's now building a bar in his house...but we're wondering who's going to be standing around it?
Of not going out with one of your good mate's on her birthday.
Of never being able to do anything without your other half.

I understand this is a budding romance and the honeymoon stage is very much in progress....I just have to wonder what's going to happen if a romance dies, or the honeymoon settles into something permanent - who are you going to invite round for a Sunday braai? Or a double date?
You've managed to forget about all your friends as you become 'that couple'
I guess all I can do is wish you happiness on your island then.
I think I'm going to organise a braai.

Wedding lessons

1. Having a huge enormous family is amazing - having cousins getting married on a regular basis so we can all get together and party? Priceless.
2. Leaving both your personal and work camera locked up in the office is really just quite silly.
3. Choose a beautiful setting for your ceremony - that's where the real important stuff in front of God happens.
4. Choose a relaxed setting for your reception - so you can have plenty of people to party up a storm.
5. Don't serve steak as the main - everyone likes it different and it's hard to make sure that you don't serve any tough pieces.
6. Do hire a wedding DJ and give him a good idea of your guests and the types of music they enjoy (old school all the way!)
7. Do trick people by saying cash bar on invitation and then turns out it's free :) 
8. Wise idea not to have shooters available so everyone just gets to the merry level all night.
9. Do party with your guests until 2.30am - you invited them coz they special, so celebrate together!
10. Do spend that first night in a romantic place - even though you're exhausted - a lovely tent overlooking the gorge on your farm is a good idea if you have one available :)