well that stinks

So I came home from work today, and grabbed my mail from my mailbox. I started heading up the hallway stairs to the second floor and I almost walked into a man going in the opposite direction as me. He was walking pretty fast and I was coming around a corner but we were able to dodge each other last second. When we walked by each other I didn't smell a thing, but after we passed one another I smelt a really awful smell that I guess he left behind. I guess now I know why he was walking so fast.

wanting to stay at home when the world tells you to work

The days of women staying home are slowly coming to an end. Especially here in Silicon Valley, more and more women are working instead of staying home. The women's right movement has been going strong for many years and now we have women CEOs, doctors, dentists, women in the military, and even a woman running for President. The company I work for has a majority of women, including all executive positions held by women. And to all these women and any in the working world, I say "Congratulations!" But what about the women who stay at home, the women who sacrifice to be with their children, the ones who cook and clean and care for their loved ones. They also deserve a congratulatory pat on the back.

These days, women are encouraged to work rather than stay home. There are fewer classes in home economics, families go to restaurants for dinner instead of eating at home, there is a high demand for daycare centers and many people use a maid service to clean their homes. Now, I understand that many people don't have the luxury to choose to stay at home, especially here in the Bay Area where the cost of living is higher than mostly everywhere else in the country. However, these days, no matter where you are, it seems like there is a trend of women heading into the work force. Some people look down on the June Cleavers of society as if she was forced into staying home rather than starting her own career.

In the end we must have a choice. We must be able to pursue our dreams to have a career, but also to be able to stay home, whichever road we wish to take. Some women take both and work part time so they may be with their children for most of the day. Whatever a woman decides, she should have the support of society, whether she is a stay at home mom or an important CEO.

being young but growing up

I am in a transitional age in my life... between the young me and the grown up I am supposed to be. I graduated from college almost 3 years ago and I since then I married, got a full time job, and bought a house (okay, its a condo). Sometimes I feel like someone has pressed the giant fast forward button on my life. But I do love being married, having a steady job and turning this condo into a home. I a domesticated wife that loves to go out on the weekends. I am both a child and an adult. Although I'm not perfect, I do believe that I have and am continuing to try to have a balance of both. There are times when it's okay to be a kid and times when its needed to be an adult. In most aspects of life there can be both youthfulness and being grown up. At work it's important to be professional, but it's also important to stay youthful by asking questions and learning as much as you can about the career that you're in. At home I can take a more relaxed and youthful approach, playing video games and watching TV, but I have to be grown up as well, making sure there is food on the table, the dishes are washed and the laundry is done. Going out on the weekends, I can have fun with my husband and our friends, and have a couple drinks, but as an adult, I have to be responsible and know when I should and should not drive home. Even hobbies have both aspects. I was in a hula class for 6 months last year and although it was fun and I enjoyed myself, I lacked the adult responsibility of commitment and unfortunately I no longer take the class.

In everyone's life there needs to be a balance of both. There are people in my age range who spend their checks the second they get them, not thinking about the future and the need to save. Some people party every weekend and some weeknights and do not understand their own limits. Others, however, go too fast in life, wanting to always grow up and never enjoy the simplicities of the present. I lean more towards the latter. I can't wait for the day that I have kids in a huge house, and I can stay home and cook all day and clean house. But I also don't think I can give up my weekend life and the joys of only being responsible for myself and my husband.

So right now I must have a balance of both, both enjoying the present but being aware of the future.