Workin' 9-to-5 (ok, 8-to-6)

This week Cole started his first post-college "grown-up" job as an analysis with the operations office of Goldman Sachs here in Salt Lake. We are really excited for this opportunity but believe me, it wasn't a quick process...

July:
Cole did an internship with GS and L-O-V-E-D it.

September:
Cole was offered a full time position for January (and accepted it, of course).

October-November:
Maura and Cole feel pretty comfy during Cole's last semester of school.

December:
Maura and Cole wonder why he hasn't received a start date for January.

January:
The first of the month comes and goes, Maura starts to think maybe, February 1?

February:
Month begins and Cole gets an email saying March 2.

February (one week in):
Cole gets another email saying July 16. (With the economy being what it is, we were excited to still have an offer but honestly bummed that Cole would have to wait so long to get started.)

Then, three weeks ago Cole gets a call asking if there is any chance he can start in just 10 days...

We respond, Heck Ya!

Pictured: Cole on his way out the door with water bottle and brown bag lunch in hand.

2-for-1

Want a free meal on T.G.I Fridays? Take your sweetie on a date before Sunday. I know I am!

http://www.fridays.com/promos/bogo_2009_02.aspx?fromhome

Love is in the Air

Given a busy Saturday morning schedule with family in town, Cole and I celebrated our day of love on Friday evening instead of Saturday. In loo of some exciting Valentines gifts, we decided to forgo a busy and expensive dinner out on the town and instead stay in.

We made the agreement that I would handle dinner if Cole would cover desert. I found this was easier said than done given the fact that I had never cooked a piece of red meat in my life. Lucky for me, I married a hero who volunteered at the last minute to handle the fillets. I turned my attention to the super creamy mashed potatoes, steamed asparagus and store- bought rolls.

As if saving me from the meat wasn't wonderful enough- Cole agreed to watch All the President's Men (one of my all time favorites) with me. Despite falling asleep half way through, he was able to stay awake long enough to unveil his exciting desert, Winger's Asphalt Pie. Unbenounced to me, this is what Cole remembers as our first desert together. Beyond feeling a little guilty at forgetting this detail, him remembering was sweet enough for me.

Our point and shoot camera (pictured on the end of the table) was completely dead so please enjoy the slightly grainy camera-phone photo below.

Don't Be Stupid...

And try to honk at the jerk cutting off your neighbor in traffic and forget to look at the car in front of you. You will inevitably rear end a Windstar mini in your Kia Spectra.

Word to the wise, the van's bumper will win.

However, at least you will be pushed into the parking lot of the ever-classy Del Taco on Minuteman Drive while all of 5 o'clock traffic drives by thinking, "Bummer, but I'm glad that isn't me."

All drama aside, while I was sad to see the car of my college (and postcollege) years bite the dust, Cole and I are having fun looking for a gently-used replacement.

Farewell, Kiosk, Farewell.

Winning Windstar Bumper

Local's Version of a Sick Day

After a very busy and stressful week of trade show work, my boss volunteered to treat interested members of the team and spouses to a ski day at Snowbird. Cole and I have season passes there this year, so gratefully this beginner was on her home turf.

As you can see from above, I had to work hard to keep up with the more experienced veterans, but boy, was it a fun day.

Below is a picture of my co-worker, Liz. She started the day on this pair of skis that her parents had picked up at a rummage sale many moons ago. They served her well until after lunch when she went to clip in, we all heard an ominous snap...needless to say, they had skied their last run. We left them in the snow where we knew they would have wanted to remain.

Never fear though, Liz did get seriously hooked up with a pair of demo skis (pictured below).

Thanks, guys. We all deserved this local's version of a sick day...