Get A Life! Reno

Woo Hoo!

2007-12-19T14:22:00.000-08:00

I passed one section of the CPA Exam! Yipee!!! Got an 86% on the Audit section. I am jumping for joy.

Still have 3 more sections to pass, but at least it's a start.

Once I pass all 4, I'll have time to actually do the things I wanted to do when I started this blog. Won't that be nice?

The first thing I want to do is register for a digital photography class so I can learn to use the expensive camera my hubby bought me for Christmas a couple years ago and quit taking horrible photos. This blog needs photos, darn it!

Washoe County Leadership Academy

2007-12-11T19:05:00.000-08:00

I just wrapped up 12 weeks of the Washoe County Leadership Academy. Anyone looking to get more involved in the community should check this out. It was an amazing experience.

The academy is 12 weeks long and meets every Thursday night from 5:30 - 9:00PM. Every week we learned about a new aspect of our county. There were about 20 participants, all inspiring people in and of themselves. I also had the opportunity to meet our county commissioners, district attorney and public defenders, county manager, treasurer, sheriff, and the head of just about every department in the county. I also met our county epidemiologist. Yep - look that one up.

My favorite week was the night we visited the Jan Evans Juvenile detention center and the county jail. Visiting the juvenile detention center was a mixture of sadness and hopefulness. It was sad to learn that children as young as thirteen come from homes that are so messed up that they wind up entering the justice system at such a young age. On the other hand, our county is dedicated to working with the children and their families to address the root of the problem. Locking a child up is a last resort. Seeing the proactive approach they're taking was really inspiring.

We also visited the county jail that night. Not so inspiring, but definitely a once in a lifetime experience. At least I hope I'll never be back there! :-) We got to visit a cell block that was being "tossed" for contraband. Very eerie to be wandering about with the inmates. The women inmates were actually scarier and more aggressive than the men.

On the last night of the academy, we had the opportunity to present ideas for new programs or initiatives for the county. Tell me, when else would a citizen have the opportunity to present an idea to their county manager, commissioners, and several department heads? I noted several of the commissioners taking notes during the presentations. Several ideas from past academies have already been implemented. Again, when else would an opportunity like this present itself? How awesome is it to be surrounded by people who are dedicated to making our community a better place?

On the whole, I was excited to see that almost every department is taking a proactive approach to addressing our county's issues. I was so excited about what's happening in our community, I was inspired to apply to the Citizens Advisory Board for my district. Now I'm just waiting to hear back from my commissioner on whether my application was accepted.

If you have 12 weeks of Thursdays free, I highly suggest you apply. One of the most incredible things about this program is that it is absolutely free! An opportunity like this is rare. Get involved. Get inspired!

The Leaves are Falling

2007-10-24T19:22:00.000-07:00

Fall is officially here. (Forget the fact that we've already got a little snow.) The leaves are every color of the rainbow.

The other morning I walked outside my front door to grab the newspaper. All of the leaves on the huge elm tree in my front yard have turned yellow and the sunlight coming through the leaves bathed the entire yard in gold. It was a warm and fuzzy moment.

Between studying for the CPA exam and my frantic work schedule, I haven't done much that is blog worthy, but I had to share my love for Reno in the fall. After 24 years of living in Las Vegas where the seasons consist of Summer and Wind, it's nice to enjoy the sweater weather and colorful leaves.

This weekend I will be participating in a general clean-up of the area for Make a Difference Day. Yay!

Reno-Tahoe Young Professionals Network Leadership Summit

2007-09-29T16:38:00.000-07:00

Friday I volunteered at the Reno-Tahoe YPN Inagural Summit. The theme was "Challenge for Change" and our keynote speaker was Rebecca Ryan of Next Generation Consulting. Her entire speech was amazing and spoke to me on so many levels, but the point that really hit home to me was her advice to choose to be positive about Reno. Just like when we hear someone make a racist joke and we let them know we don't find it funny, don't keep quite when someone makes fun of the city we love.

That is so true. I've chosen to be a champion of the city I love and I won't abide by anyone bringing it down with stereotypes and negativity.

Another benefit of being there was meeting so many amazing and like-minded young people, including Pete Parker of Sage Ridge School. His passion for giving back to the community was palpable and inspiring. I spoke to him about what I'm trying to do by bringing the CoolPeopleCare.org presence to Reno and I look forward to getting him and the rest of the RTYPN Give Committee involved.

I must have something wrong with me, but when I come home at the end of a day of volunteering bone-tired and nearly starved to death because I've been too busy to sit down for a moment or eat, I feel better than ever. Even though my feet were so sore I could hardly walk by the time I got home, I was looking forward to getting up this morning and volunteering for the annual Truckee River Clean-up with Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful. I spent the morning at Mayberry Park wrapping trees with chicken wire to prevent beavers from eating them and cleaning up trash along the river. I had no idea there are beavers in Reno! A group of about 40 high school students from Upward Bound were there for the clean-up. I was psyched when a bunch of the girls commented on my Cool People Care shirt and wanted to know where they could get one. I told them all about the website and one of the girls said that I've started a movement and I'm going to start seeing people all over town with that shirt on. I told her I hope so!!

My house looks like a bomb went off in it, I haven't been grocery shopping in over two weeks, and I haven't cracked open my CPA Exam study materials in over a week. I wonder what I can get involved in tomorrow . . .

Cool People Care

2007-09-24T15:31:00.000-07:00

While reading one of my favorite blogs, Modite, I discovered a really cool website that is right up my alley: CoolPeopleCare.org. Reno wasn't on the list, so I emailed the creator, Sam Davidson. He contacted me right away and we're working on getting Reno "on the map" so to speak.

I am so excited about this that I'm checking my email every five minutes to see if he's sent me the press release announcing Reno's inclusion on the site. I want to do everything I can to get the word out about this site because I think there is a real need for this here. The RGJ carries a weekly listing of volunteer opportunities, but I've noticed that there are a lot of opportunities missing. I don't know if the non-profits aren't sending them in or the RGJ just doesn't have room to print them all, but we really need one comprehensive source for active people to turn to when they're looing for ways to get involved.

Spread the word . . .

Great Reno Balloon Races

2007-09-13T08:39:00.001-07:00

I recently became involved with the Great Reno Balloon Races. For the past six years I've lived just north of Rancho San Rafael Park. I'd be driving to work on a Thursday morning in early September, I'd turn a corner and all of a sudden the sky in front of me would be filled with colorful balloons of all shapes and sizes. Still, I was a little blase about hot air balloons, but a partner in my firm asked me to get involved, so I did. It turned out to be one of the most moving and beautiful experiences of my life.

If you've never been to the Great Reno Balloon Races, or just observed from afar, you simply MUST go next year. The charm of our event is that the public is allowed full access to the field. There is nothing like strolling through the field while 100 balloons are being inflated just before a mass ascension. It is like being in another world. I took a million pictures, but no photo can do it justice.

The most moving experience was my first time at Dawn Patrol on Saturday morning. Just thinking anout it makes me emotional. I can't even put it into words. There is just so much beauty in the world. There are so many opportunities to do and see and experience things, but so often we fill our lives with the mundane. Instead hiking in the mountains, we watch TV. Instead of gazing at the stars, we flip through a magazine. Instead of getting out of bed a little earlier one weekend a month to witness the magic of flight, glowing orbs against an onyx sky, we stay in bed or enjoy our coffee and newspaper in our own kitchens.

Believe me, I value the mundane as much as the next person. I love television, reading, sleeping, and a hot cup of coffee and a newspaper as much as the next person. It is comforting and calming sometimes. But don't let that be all there is to life.

Running

2007-08-17T10:54:00.000-07:00

For over a year now, I've been a sporadic jogger. I bought one of those Nike+ things for my ipod nano last tax season and joined an online challenge with my co-workers in order to stay motivated during our busy season. The challenge worked to motivate me, but as soon as tax season - and the challenge - were over, my motivation to run fell by the wayside. I'll jog a mile here and there, but nothing very challenging.

That is until one of my favorite co-workers convinced me to run the Big Sur Half Marathon with her in November. Why oh why can't I resist her enthusiasm? Now I am training for a half marathon.

I started out running the track at North Valleys High School. That was cool at first, but for some reason it's recently become a very popular place at 5:30am. The last thing I need when I'm huffing and puffing at the beginning of mile 2 is group of gazelles bounding around me, forcing my brain to suggest once again that perhaps my short, somewhat mushy, top-heavy body just isn't really built for running.

I'd like to be able to just jog around my own neighborhood, but I live in the foothills around Peavine Mountain and it is WAY to hilly for me at this point. I recently discovered the Sky Vista neighborhood. Instead of sidewalks surrounding the development, they have gorgeous wide asphault paths that seem to be relatively empty at 5:30am. Those lucky ducks.

So I'm on the hunt for good jogging spots in Reno. I think I'll give Rancho San Rafael a try this weekend. No, scrap that idea: Blues Festival this weekend in RSR. I wish I could go, but it's way too expensive. I just paid nearly $400 for the 1st two sections of the CPA exam and I need new running shoes. Can't afford $150 festival tix. Maybe next year when I'm a 1/2 marathon-running CPA making the big bucks . . .

The "W" List

2007-08-14T11:24:00.000-07:00

This is a little off topic for my blog, but in a recent entry on the Downtown Women's Club blog, I came across the "W" List, a list of great blogs powered by women. I need to add my favorite: Ask Liz Ryan and Practical Job Search Advice by Liz Ryan. I stumbled across her in a Business Week online column a few years ago and I've been a faithful follower ever since.

Here's the list:

The W List - Women who blog
45 Things by Anita Bruzzese
advergirl Leigh Householder
Ask Liz Ryan by Liz Ryan
Back in Skinny Jeans by Stephanie Quilao
Biz Growth News by Krishna De
BlogWrite for CEOs Debbie Weil
Brand Sizzle Anne Simons
Branding & Marketing Chris Brown
Brazen Careerist by Penelope Trunk
CK’s Blog CK (Christina Kerley)
Communication Overtones Kami Huyse
Conscious Business by Anne Libby
Conversation Agent Valeria Maltoni
Corporate PR Elizabeth Albrycht
Customers Rock! Becky Carroll
Deborah Schultz by Deborah Schultz
Diva Marketing Blog Toby Bloomberg
Dooce by Heather B. Armstrong
Email Marketing Best Practices Tamara Gielen
Escape from Cubicle Nation by Pamela Slim
eSoup by Sharon Sarmiento
Feministing by Jessica, Vanessa, Samhita, Ann, Celina, Jen and Courtney
Flooring The Consumer CB Whittemore
Forrester’s Marketing Blog Shar, Charlene, Chloe, Christine Elana, Laura and Lisa
FunnyBusiness by Elana Centor
Get Fresh Minds by Katie Konrath
Get Shouty by Katie Chatfield
Hey Marci by Marci Alboher
Inspired Business Growth by Wendy PiersallJ.T. O’Donnell Career Insights by J.T. O’Donnell
Kinetic Ideas Wendy Maynard
Learned on Women by Andrea Learned
Learning Optimism by Nataly KoganLindsey Pollak by Lindsey Pollak
Lip-Sticking by Yvonne DeVita and Lena West
Liz Strauss at Successful Blog by Liz Strauss
Little Red Suit by Tiffany Monhollon
Lorelle on WordPress by Lorelle VanFossen
Manage to Change by Ann Michael
Management Craft by Lisa Haneberg
Marketing Roadmaps Susan Getgood
Moda di Magno by Lori Magno
Modite by Rebecca Thorman
Narrative Assets by Karen Hegman
Practical Job Search Advice by Liz Ryan
Presto Vivace Blog Alice Marshall
Productivity Goal by Carolyn Manning
Spare Change Nedra Kline Weinreich
::Surroundings:: by Linda Merrill
That’s What She Said by Julie Elgar
Tech Kitten by Trisha Miller
The Blog Angel aka Claire Raikes
The Brand Dame by Lyn Chamberlin
The Copywriting Maven Roberta Rosenberg
The Engaging Brand by Anna Farmery
The Origin of Brands Laura Ries
The Podcast Sisters by Krishna De, Anna Farmery and Heather GorringeWater Cooler Wisdom by Alexandra Levit
Wealth Strategy Secrets by Money Gym author and Founder Nicola Cairncross.
What’s Next Blog B L Ochman
Wiggly Wigglers authored by fellow Podcast Sister Heather Gorringe
WomensDISH by Diane K. Danielson and friends
Ypulse by Anastasia Goodstein

Nikki Beach

2007-08-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

Ahhhhhh. I spent last Saturday hanging out by the pool at the Grand Sierra Resort. My BFF Leah and I arrived around 10:30AM and walked right in - no cover! Yeah! We were there early enough to snag a big two-person lounger. Spent the day soaking up the sun and downing mimosas. Ally, the bartender, knows how to make mimosas: a full glass of champagne with just a splash of OJ for color. Yum.

I'm so glad I found a place to waste away the weekend.

July in Reno

2007-08-10T14:09:00.000-07:00

I spent the month of July avoiding studying for the CPA exam by volunteering for Artown. For the uninitiated, Artown is a month-long celebration of arts and culture in the Reno area. Near mid June, the "Little Black Book of Artown" appears in newspapers and various locations throughout the city with a day-by-day listing of all Artown events. Every day in July there are dozens of events to choose from, many of which are free. Check out www.renoisartown.com for more info.

Anyway, I volunteered for Wednesday night "Food for the Soul" concert series and Friday night Movies in the Park. Both events are held in Wingfield Park by the Truckee River. I'm not usually a very outgoing person, so when I was asked to take surveys I was a little hesitant. It turned out to be so much fun. Thank you to everyone who graciously took a few moments of their time away from picnic dinners, family and friends. I loved talking residents and visitors and seeing the love there is for this event. I'm already looking forward to next year.

My favorite concert by far was Fiamma Fumana, a group from Northern Italy. I don't even know how to describe their music except that it was beautiful and it rocked at the same time. I'll be picking up all of their CDs on Amazon.com in the very near future.

Artown is truly an amazing event. The organization brings world-class entertainment and culture to a little city that outsiders and viewers of Reno 911! think is nothing but meth addicts and trailer parks. Sure we have that, too. But we've also got the American Ballet Theater, Pink Martini, and Mikhail Baryshnikov. So HAH!

My Wittle Baby Blog

2007-08-10T13:48:00.000-07:00

I moved to Reno, NV in August of 2001. This month marks my sixth year as a resident of the Biggest Little City in the World. I moved here when my (now) husband asked me to leave my quaint little home town (maybe you've heard of it: Las Vegas?) to live with him while he finished his degree at UNR. Here's a short summary of the past six years:

Year One: "As soon as you finish your degree, we are leaving this podunk town and moving back to Las Vegas."

Year Two: "Reno doesn't have the great shopping and restaurants that Vegas has, but at least my morning commute is short."

Year Three: "The commute is short and it's not as hot. Might as well buy a house."

Year Four: "Wow. Shopping and dining options have really improved here. This isn't so bad. I've almost finished my degree, too. Might as well stick around for a while."

Year Five: "Excellent! I'm a college grad, I'm engaged, and I just landed a job at a great firm. Life in Reno is good."

Year Six: "Reno is the greatest place on earth. How dare anyone suggest I move back to that hell-hole in the bottomless pit of this state?"

So here I am, loving my adopted home town so much I want to shout it from the rooftops. But I realized that I spent my first few years here ignoring the possibilities this town has to offer. The more I do, the more I realize there is to do. So I dedicate this blog to exploring the possibilities Reno has to offer (outside of gambling, er - "gaming" and close proximity to legalized prostitution).