Dodging the Squirts...

Flag football season ended well for The Hershey Squirts. We ended up as 4th seed in the Playoffs and fought a good fight. Shortly after football season ended, I started playing volleyball on a league at work. Fun group of people - but the game sucks! Okay, okay, the game doesn't suck...I do. I am HORRIBLE at volleyball. Just plain horrible. I've decided that I need more aggressive sports.

Dodgeball season started last week...also with the Harrisburg Young Professionals organization we played football with. The Hershey Squirts are back in business!!

You may be surprised, but dodgeball is a serious workout! So serious that the day after our first game, we all shared emails back and forth about how much pain we were in, how sore our arms were, ...how pathetic we were that dodgeball had kicked our butts physically!! And emotionally. We lost the first night.

We were ready to come back with a vengeance this week. We lost. Again.

There's always next week... :-/

Blizzard in PA!

So, it's a Friday night in Pennsylvania...and it's snowing! Surprise, surprise! Although we're expected to get about 15-18 inches of snow over the course of the weekend, I have to admit that I'm kind of excited about it! The last time it snowed like this this winter was the weekend of December 19 when I was supposed to be headed home for the holidays. I ended up being stuck here in Harrisburg for days until I could find a flight back to sunny Florida.

This time is different. Last blizzard, I could hardly enjoy the laziness of sitting around the house, watching movies, and enjoying the company of people you care about. Instead, i was so concerned that I'd never make it back to Jax for Christmas - that I spent the better part of that weekend stressed out. This time around, it really is different.

When I got off work, I packed a bag with a couple outfits, my work stuff, a couple DVDs, and hit the door! Off to spend the weekend, snowed in, with the 'bf'!! There's something really relaxing about sitting on the couch, watching a good tv show, playing on the computer, and watching the snow fall outside. I have to admit, it is surprisingly pretty.

Tonight on my way over here, I had my first rough experience driving in the snowy, wintery weather. At first, my car fish-tailed a bit as I turned a corner...and just shortly after I had gotten back on track, I drove about a quarter of a mile or so...and lost complete control again. The second time was very scary though - there was another car coming in my direction and started to also lose control. Next thing I know, my car was no longer moving forward, and moving sideways toward the car on my left, then the sign on the right, the curb....it was bad. By the grace of God, I managed to regain control - and slow the car down and stop safely. Whew - that was scary!! Fortunately, when I moved here...everyone gave me little tips about how to react in that sort of situation...that definitely helped! (thanks!)

Thankfully, I'm safe and sound, cozy and warm, and ready for a good night's sleep!!

I completed 37% of my 2009 New Year’s Resolutions.

So, if you’ve followed me since last year, then you know that I had some pretty lofty resolutions for 2009. Before I go crazy with my 2010 resolutions…let’s take some time to evaluate how I did in ’09, shall we? Feel free to refer to the original post for more detail, if interested:

• I will be working a job that I enjoy (SUCCESSFUL)
o Got a promotion and started my new role in June 2009!
• Manage finances responsibly and well (WORK IN PROGRESS)
o I’ve created a budget and now manage my money better than I ever have…yet have a lot of room for improvement.
• Physical exercise (SUCCESSFUL)
o Joined a flag football and volleyball league, start dodgeball in Jan
• Smile often (SUCCESSFUL)  That was a gimme.
• Half marathon (FAIL)
• Travel to Philippines (FAIL)
• Travel to Panama (FAIL)  where the hell did that one come from?
• Church 1x/mo (FAIL)
• 10% take home into savings acct (FAIL)
• Work out 3x/week (FAIL)
• Salsa Lessons (SUCCESSFUL!)
• Quit cursing (WORK IN PROGRESS)
• Wake up daily, thank God for my Blessings (SUCCESSFUL)
• Go to Jess’ baby shower (SUCCESSFUL)
• Paint artwork for my place (SUCCESSFUL)
• Keep in touch with fam in Philippines (FAIL)
• Start my own business (FAIL)
• GMAT or LSAT (FAIL)
• List of grad schools (FAIL)
• Write letters to friends/family (FAIL)\
• New friend every month (SUCCESSFUL)
• Order checkbooks (SUCCESSFUL)  huge win!
• Big screen TV (SUCCESSFUL)
• Bedroom furniture (FAIL)
• Cookware Set (FAIL)
• Limit red meat intake to less than 3x/wk (SUCCESSFUL)
• Fruits/Veggies serving in ea meal (SUCCESSFUL over last 3 mo)
• Volunteer 5 hrs/mo (FAIL)
• Sew and wear complete outfit (FAIL) that one was dumb
• Sew pillows for my couch (FAIL)  also dumb
• Set up wireless printing (FAIL)
• Practice spanish (FAIL)
• Start to learn Tagalog (FAIL) bought the cds/book. Darn.
• Always have a book to read (SUCCESSFUL)
• WSJ Subscription (SUCCESSFUL)
• NYC w/ friends (FAIL) Sorry, Alexia! 
• Cruise (FAIL)
• Scrapbook (FAIL)

Typical Collins-Chavez Family Time...

Welcome to Central Pennsylvania!

...I haven't really written any blog posts since I moved up here to central PA, so I figured it was time to get everyone caught up...here are some pictures to give you an idea of the last 4 months of Central PA living...

Hershey Park!

The view from the Ferris Wheel @Hershey Park
Rascal Flatts/Darius Rucker VIP Experience before the Concert (next 3 pictures)...

@ the Mall in HBG (Pro Bass Shop)

Gina...loitering @ the Mall

The most ridiculous Rollercoaster EVER.

Beautiful church a few blocks from my place...

I have finally "arrived"...

The State Capitol...a few blocks from where I live...College football Saturdays @ Arooga's - after Flag Football practice

Welcome to Hershey, PA!!

This is where I work...

Me! Gotta love living in downtown Harrisburg...

Homemade chips from Amish Country. Pretty tasty.

The Greatest Sandwiches in Central Pennsylvania, "Sandwich Man"Eating @ Cafe Fresco in Downtown Harrisburg when Crystal was visiting from FL
Hangin' out with my buddies who work @ Ceolta's Irish Pub in Downtown HBG
In Lancaster, PA...Amish Country...posing by an authentic buggy

Ceolta's!
Aww! Look who it is - Jonathan stopped by on his way through PA!

Chillin' @ my very own "Chavez Bar"Molly Branigan's w/ Crystal. She loves Plaid.

Beautiful State Capitol: Harrisburg, PA

Hangin' out with Patrick when he came to visit me :D The makings of kabobs for my 4th of July cookout

Indian Echo Cavern...oooh very cool!!

National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD with my mom!!

My very first pretzel dog. Delicious.Some buddies and me eating pretzel dogs! Yummy!

A delicious variation of the pretzel dog...bacon/egg/cheese in a pretzel!

My 1st trip to Gettysburg, PA....

Hershey Park w/ Jessica when she came to visit :D

More fun with Jess in Downtown HBG

4th of July Fireworks by the river, two blocks from my place!

It's just a mild concussion. I'll be fine...

I live for the weekends ever since I joined a co-ed flag football team. Yes, I know, that sounds really pathetic. Whatever. It is such a blast! Our team, The Hershey Squirts, (isn't the name endearing!?) has a record of 1-1-1. One Win, One Loss, One Tie...in that order.

It's pretty intense, I cannot lie. Last game...I was basically pummelled by the largest man I've seen. In life. Ever. BUT, the good thing is...i caught the ball. The bad thing is...I proceeded to get tackled. Nice. I had one of those 'out of body' experiences...you know, where everything happens in slow motion...and you can see yourself getting tackled by a large man...or...freight train! Same difference.

I've had a throbbing headache and blurry vision for the last 5 days. My headache finally responded to Advil today...but when it came back, it came back with a vengeance!! Egh!

Practice on Saturday and Game 4 on Sunday. I bought flags so our team can practice how we play...I'm pretty excited about that, too! I'll be sure to provide an update after our game on Sunday! Wish us luck!

Goodbye, Fort Pierce!!!!

It's official!! I'm leaving Fort Pierce...finally!!!!!

After nearly 10 months of living in this God Awful place (which I actually started to really enjoy recently...lol), I am gettin' out of here! I started the application process for a promotion about two months ago - when I had only 7 or 8 months under my belt with the company. I recognized that it was a little early for me to try and earn a promotion...to a higher position, requiring some pretty hefty experience. But, with the help of my manager, I went for it anyway.

I just found out on Monday, May 4, that I was offered the position of Category Development Manager on the Convenience Store side of the Hershey business. (www.hersheysconvenience.com).

As a CDM, I will be responsible for (copies and pastes job description summary):

Responsible for acting as Category Management Consultant to CSE partners and Sales Management Team to drive consistent top-line/net sales growth/share target. Assesses trends, analyzes data and identifies key customer opportunities consistent with overall company strategies and brand marketing plans. Acts as the category/customer expert in co-creating strategic business plans.

I'm very excited about this new position.

Over the course of the next few weeks, I'll be traveling quite a bit...both on previously scheduled trips, and trips to work toward my new move. I'll start on the 18th for training, but will be back and forth until the first or second week of June when my belongings will be moved up north. I plan on living in Harrisburg, PA, which is about 20 minutes outside of Hershey, PA.

I'll be updating this more as I continue the process...but with all the excitement, I had to update this right away!!!