It's been so long since I've blogged that I wasn't sure I remembered my password! I thought I had forgotten it and then realized that someone had turned the numbers lock key off. @@ But just for my friend, Kelli, I wanted to post something so I can say "There! I blogged!"
I go from thinking I have nothing entertaining to write so this little corner collects cobwebs to I still have nothing entertaining to write but let's share it with the world anyway! (Hey, I never forced any of you to click your way over here to read my ramblings now did I??? )
Life has been a roller coaster ride lately but hopefully I'm headed in the right direction to take care of some of that with my appointment with the allergist next week. Apparently while living in my head dealing with my own "doctor drama" I've been missing some drama going on around me. You know what? I have no problem with that! I used to feel like I had to know everything but the older I get the less that urge hits! And the more I'm able to let some of the family drama go as well. It's no fun for people if they don't have an audience...or so I've heard! I hope that's true but even if it isn't...not my problem!
So there's my teaser of a blog and Kelli, I'll try not to have it be months before I blog again!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Anybody out there?
Now that the link to my nonsensical ramblings doesn't appear on my FB page anymore and the fact I went from part time to full time in a big way I haven't really paid this poor little corner much mind. I'm not even sure anybody's out there anyway...tap...tap...tap...is this thing on???
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Rambling Thursday
I had the day off from work today so I deep cleaned the kitchen this morning. I'd much rather have gone to work! But now all the greasy dust bunnies are banished and for a moment all the dog hair is off the floor. Sad thing is these people are going to expect me to actually COOK in there tonight! And mess up my masterpiece?!?
Day two of school and I'm almost feeling guilty to say I wanted to cheer when I saw the boy's bus lumbering around the corner this morning. His bus driver (same wonderful woman that drove when Katie went to that school) said she would pick up and drop off in front of our house "just like I did with Katie" because according to her the kids are not supposed to be crossing the street to get to the bus stop. I told her it's been that way every year since we've been here and I did let the transportation office know two years ago. She said "Well, he's not crossing the street when I'm driving!" Love her! The "problem" is that the boy is already fretting over NEXT year when his friend who is a year behind him will be riding the same bus. "But I want to be with him at the bus stop!!!" Two days into the school year and he's gnashing his teeth over a year from now. Not one of my finer moments to admit that it's these moments I want to go running into the night or rather early morning in this case. I THINK that he's feeling out of control with all the changes and Stinky is trying to get the better of him so he's stressing over, what to me, are silly things, at the moment. It's sometimes hard to keep reminding myself of that when all the drama is unfurling.
Which I think is possibly the root of my next rambling and this lovely hivey rash I seem to suddenly have going on since yesterday. I have problems with eczema so I think it's a branching off of that and stress but it's definitely annoying.
Oh, where is my deserted isle? Where's the S.S. Minnow when I need her and her crew?!?
Day two of school and I'm almost feeling guilty to say I wanted to cheer when I saw the boy's bus lumbering around the corner this morning. His bus driver (same wonderful woman that drove when Katie went to that school) said she would pick up and drop off in front of our house "just like I did with Katie" because according to her the kids are not supposed to be crossing the street to get to the bus stop. I told her it's been that way every year since we've been here and I did let the transportation office know two years ago. She said "Well, he's not crossing the street when I'm driving!" Love her! The "problem" is that the boy is already fretting over NEXT year when his friend who is a year behind him will be riding the same bus. "But I want to be with him at the bus stop!!!" Two days into the school year and he's gnashing his teeth over a year from now. Not one of my finer moments to admit that it's these moments I want to go running into the night or rather early morning in this case. I THINK that he's feeling out of control with all the changes and Stinky is trying to get the better of him so he's stressing over, what to me, are silly things, at the moment. It's sometimes hard to keep reminding myself of that when all the drama is unfurling.
Which I think is possibly the root of my next rambling and this lovely hivey rash I seem to suddenly have going on since yesterday. I have problems with eczema so I think it's a branching off of that and stress but it's definitely annoying.
Oh, where is my deserted isle? Where's the S.S. Minnow when I need her and her crew?!?
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Back To School
Tomorrow the kids go back to school. The boy will be going to a different school this year and thanks to how the district lines are drawn only one other kid from his class will be going to the same school. The rest of them will just go across the street from where they were last year. He'll be going into 5th grade and this year he'll have different teachers for different classes and be moving around a lot. A situation that makes a mom worry about her OCD/ADD labeled child. I worry that "Stinky" (the name we gave the OCD) will rear its ugly head and he'll lose some of the ground he worked so hard to gain. I keep telling myself to have faith and I really do want to but it's difficult! It's part of a mom's nature to want to protect, the hard thing is part of what he needs to be protected from is how the OCD can make him think. And when you have an "smart" kid to boot it's not like you can try to "trick" him into thinking differently! He's already thought through everything a million different ways himself!
So I worry about him and then wonder if I've sent enough concern in his going into 8th grade sister's drection too. You couldn't pay me to go back to junior high!!! She's Miss "Julie Joiner" so I think/hope/pray she'll be ok. It should just be the typical mean girl garbage we face on occasion....at least I hope so!
Ok, I've poured out some angst and now have a slippery hold on things again! If you think about it tomorrow send up a prayer for both of my going back to school kiddos and their frazzled mom too! ;-)
So I worry about him and then wonder if I've sent enough concern in his going into 8th grade sister's drection too. You couldn't pay me to go back to junior high!!! She's Miss "Julie Joiner" so I think/hope/pray she'll be ok. It should just be the typical mean girl garbage we face on occasion....at least I hope so!
Ok, I've poured out some angst and now have a slippery hold on things again! If you think about it tomorrow send up a prayer for both of my going back to school kiddos and their frazzled mom too! ;-)
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Attending the symphony, dahling
I don't know why I feel the need to talk in a voice that is MY interpretation of an actress playing some hoity toity part in a 1950's movie when I talk about the symphony but I do. Pretending I'm cultured or something I guess! LOL But anyway, dahling, tonight my family is attending the symphony, go ahead and be fabulously impressed! "How is she getting her children including an almost 10 yo boy to the symphony???" you ask? Ok, I'll admit it....it's Video Games Live! Music from video games with scenes from those games playing on a big screen behind the symphony! And now you know the truth about how cultured I really am...not! LOL I looked up some videos on YouTube to get an idea of what we'd be seeing and Robbie was hiding his head under a blanket and pillow. "I don't want to hear or see it and ruin the show, Mooooooooooooooooooom!!!"
Now I wonder....is it permissible to take your camera into the symphony??? Or would that prove how uncultured I really am?! LOL
Now I wonder....is it permissible to take your camera into the symphony??? Or would that prove how uncultured I really am?! LOL
Friday, August 6, 2010
Inching back to the land of the living
I've been dealing with some sort of germfest that's been holding me hostage for a couple of weeks. I'll spare you the gory details but suffice it to say that if felt like a Mack truck had run me over a few hundred or so times! After a few phone calls and two doctor visits the doctor ordered blood tests. Turns out I'm "seriously anemic" according to the nurse on the phone. Had I felt better at the time and been thinking quickly on my feet I would have asked if there was a way to be "humorously anemic"! ;-) She told me a number on a scale but that meant nothing to me! But I've been taking a slow releasing iron tablet (to help with the tummy issues) for a few days and I'm already feeling more human. It's amazing how being low on one itty bitty mineral can really wreak havoc with your system! The fatigue was no bueno and throw in the inability to think clearly and WHOA Nellie! (Throwing in a mixture of slang and languages there! See?! The iron is working already!)
And there's my, what seems to have become, monthly update!
And there's my, what seems to have become, monthly update!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
I know, I know
Once again I am a blog slacker which I guess is better than being a log snacker. Can you imagine how the bark must get stuck in your teeth?!?
Once again I have no good reason to not have blogged and once again I'm not all that sure it matters to anybody out there anyway! LOL I have been "busy" taming the wild frontier and fighting off bears, groundhogs, foxes and snakes though! Ok, so it's just over on Frontierville via Facebook but it's still a jungle...er....a frontier out there!
Speaking of Facebook I followed a link from a friend's wall to some stranger's blog. She had blogged about the mayor of her small community killing her older teen daughter and then herself. I guess there was an uproar about having a joint funeral and a memorial service being held for the mayor which led the blog author to talk about how judgements from people like that are probably the very reason this woman and her daughter didn't reach out to anyone while they were in so much pain. It seems the husband/father had died of cancer two years prior and the home had been close to foreclosure four times among other problems they were dealing with. I don't know what was going on in the woman's mind or that of her daughter but the whole story saddens me. Not only for the loss AND the pain they were going through and now their family and friends are going through but also because I know there are other people struggling out there who either don't know how or won't ask for help simply because of the judgements they fear. And sad to say in many cases they're probably justified in that fear.
Depression is an evil thing. It can quickly sneak up on you and try to pull you under. Or it can just linger around like a haze tainting things just enough that nothing seems right and you don't know quite why. I used to have somewhere that I thought I could go to for some support but found out the hard way that either support wasn't known how to be given or just didn't want to be, or so the judgements I faced there seemed then and admittedly still do. Thankfully there are a couple of good friends from that place that still hold me in the palm of their hands and hopefully they think I do the same for them.
I'm just as guilty of being judgemental at times. We are all human and therefore fallible. I will rant about "stupid people" and even judgemental people which kind of lumps me into that same boat doesn't it? And I'll also admit that if I catch someone lying to me I'll get judgemental pretty fast, I dealt with a liar for far too long way back when and just don't have the patience to do it anymore. But I do hope that anyone I know, whether in person or online, knows that if they feel like they are at the end of their rope and it's fraying fast that they can count on me to be there. I may not know any good words of wisdom but if I can throw a lifeline to someone so they don't feel alone and that they don't feel they have to choose the path the woman I mentioned earlier did then hopefully that will be enough for that moment. Sometimes day by day is too much and you just have to go minute by minute.
And now I'll get down off my soapbox and go fight a bear or something!
Once again I have no good reason to not have blogged and once again I'm not all that sure it matters to anybody out there anyway! LOL I have been "busy" taming the wild frontier and fighting off bears, groundhogs, foxes and snakes though! Ok, so it's just over on Frontierville via Facebook but it's still a jungle...er....a frontier out there!
Speaking of Facebook I followed a link from a friend's wall to some stranger's blog. She had blogged about the mayor of her small community killing her older teen daughter and then herself. I guess there was an uproar about having a joint funeral and a memorial service being held for the mayor which led the blog author to talk about how judgements from people like that are probably the very reason this woman and her daughter didn't reach out to anyone while they were in so much pain. It seems the husband/father had died of cancer two years prior and the home had been close to foreclosure four times among other problems they were dealing with. I don't know what was going on in the woman's mind or that of her daughter but the whole story saddens me. Not only for the loss AND the pain they were going through and now their family and friends are going through but also because I know there are other people struggling out there who either don't know how or won't ask for help simply because of the judgements they fear. And sad to say in many cases they're probably justified in that fear.
Depression is an evil thing. It can quickly sneak up on you and try to pull you under. Or it can just linger around like a haze tainting things just enough that nothing seems right and you don't know quite why. I used to have somewhere that I thought I could go to for some support but found out the hard way that either support wasn't known how to be given or just didn't want to be, or so the judgements I faced there seemed then and admittedly still do. Thankfully there are a couple of good friends from that place that still hold me in the palm of their hands and hopefully they think I do the same for them.
I'm just as guilty of being judgemental at times. We are all human and therefore fallible. I will rant about "stupid people" and even judgemental people which kind of lumps me into that same boat doesn't it? And I'll also admit that if I catch someone lying to me I'll get judgemental pretty fast, I dealt with a liar for far too long way back when and just don't have the patience to do it anymore. But I do hope that anyone I know, whether in person or online, knows that if they feel like they are at the end of their rope and it's fraying fast that they can count on me to be there. I may not know any good words of wisdom but if I can throw a lifeline to someone so they don't feel alone and that they don't feel they have to choose the path the woman I mentioned earlier did then hopefully that will be enough for that moment. Sometimes day by day is too much and you just have to go minute by minute.
And now I'll get down off my soapbox and go fight a bear or something!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Hormonal Women Shouldn't Blog
Doesn't that sound like a great title for a movie?! Sounds like a Mike Nichols movie to me! I see the opening....a frazzled looking woman driving a tank in a big city and there in her sights is that annoying Mother Nature character from those stupid commercials! It would be "poifect" I tell ya, "poifect"!
So THAT being said....hee hee hee... I'm smacking my fingers today to not reply to a variety of FB statuses (statui???) today. There's no reason for me to take any of them personally but they're causing some reaction just the same. Sometimes I'm not a fan of maturity and would love to let loose with some catty remarks of my own but somewhere in my head that ol' fuddy-duddy reminds me that there are consequences of such actions. She's such a stick in the mud!
I'm starting my vacation/staycation. I should be h-a-p-p-y!!! (You have to spell that like you're cheering folks!) But Hormonal Woman is battling Fuddy Duddy Woman......where the heck does that leave ME?????? And thus I'm in a bit of a funk today. This too shall pass but probably not fast enough! ;-)
We're still waiting for the family doctor's office to get the insurance referral before the pediatric orthopedist's office will schedule an appointment. That's not helping the HW vs FDW wars either! lol
And so I shall stop blogging and go on to figure out the closing scene for the aforementioned movie!
So THAT being said....hee hee hee... I'm smacking my fingers today to not reply to a variety of FB statuses (statui???) today. There's no reason for me to take any of them personally but they're causing some reaction just the same. Sometimes I'm not a fan of maturity and would love to let loose with some catty remarks of my own but somewhere in my head that ol' fuddy-duddy reminds me that there are consequences of such actions. She's such a stick in the mud!
I'm starting my vacation/staycation. I should be h-a-p-p-y!!! (You have to spell that like you're cheering folks!) But Hormonal Woman is battling Fuddy Duddy Woman......where the heck does that leave ME?????? And thus I'm in a bit of a funk today. This too shall pass but probably not fast enough! ;-)
We're still waiting for the family doctor's office to get the insurance referral before the pediatric orthopedist's office will schedule an appointment. That's not helping the HW vs FDW wars either! lol
And so I shall stop blogging and go on to figure out the closing scene for the aforementioned movie!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Just rambling
We lost a tree during our thunderstorm yesterday evening. It wasn't a huge tree but still it had nest in it and had been home to some baby birds. I'm hoping they were strong enough to fly away before the recorded 74 mph wind gust came through! Or they were at least strong enough to "wind surf" with the gust. They're probably setting up home in Ohio or Pennsylvannia at this point! But that makes two evenings in a row when storms have rolled through. Makes me wonder what tonight may bring!
I'm taking the boy to the doctor today and I'm a little nervous about it, hence my rambling! His gait has always been a bit "off" compared to other kids. A doctor two years ago told us to try getting him on a bicycle because she had read that can help. We tried to get him on a bike and even got the kid a new bike (since his other one was too small) for his birthday last year when that was not what he really wanted. He tried to ride it but he just can't keep his balance on it. I noticed about a month ago when I was following him down the stairs that his one leg turns almost perpinduclar to the other when he goes downstairs. You can also notice it when he runs. He's made comments about how he's no good at the things they do in PE and I think other kids may have been saying things. This week-end after scout camp he mentioned to Mark that he thought he needed to see the doctor about his leg and feet so we're wondering if something was said at camp too. Which with kids being kids is a good possibility.
I feel so badly for him. He's had a tough road the past couple of years. But he's developed a wicked sense of humor with a flair for sarcasm! (No idea where he may get that DNA from!)
I'm hoping they can refer us to physical therapy or something and not in the direction of surgery which is where my worried Mom mind wants to go but I keep telling it to STOP! Hopefully there will be some exercises or stretches or something we can do.
I'm taking the boy to the doctor today and I'm a little nervous about it, hence my rambling! His gait has always been a bit "off" compared to other kids. A doctor two years ago told us to try getting him on a bicycle because she had read that can help. We tried to get him on a bike and even got the kid a new bike (since his other one was too small) for his birthday last year when that was not what he really wanted. He tried to ride it but he just can't keep his balance on it. I noticed about a month ago when I was following him down the stairs that his one leg turns almost perpinduclar to the other when he goes downstairs. You can also notice it when he runs. He's made comments about how he's no good at the things they do in PE and I think other kids may have been saying things. This week-end after scout camp he mentioned to Mark that he thought he needed to see the doctor about his leg and feet so we're wondering if something was said at camp too. Which with kids being kids is a good possibility.
I feel so badly for him. He's had a tough road the past couple of years. But he's developed a wicked sense of humor with a flair for sarcasm! (No idea where he may get that DNA from!)
I'm hoping they can refer us to physical therapy or something and not in the direction of surgery which is where my worried Mom mind wants to go but I keep telling it to STOP! Hopefully there will be some exercises or stretches or something we can do.
Friday, June 11, 2010
I actually scrapped!
Ok, it's been a work in progress for a few weeks but I just finished it last week. I always want to scrap but can't seem to sit down and do it for some reason.
But anywho.......last year we got free tickets to the 4th of July Indianapolis Indians ball game. Of course a weird weather front came through and it was a chilly monsoon all day long. We decided to head down there anyway since there was a "chance" that the rain would let up.....it didn't! At one point the cement steps on one part of the bleachers was the backdrop for a lovely waterfall! We were all soaked and miserable but it was still kind of fun!
As for the layout...I bought the "baseball" sticker but I made the question mark and the "rainfall!" using my Cricut and Glossy Accents. How is it I have never used the GA before??!! That stuff is so cool! It makes me want to make all kinds of glossy stickers! lol Oh, and I used tiny Doodlebug rub on letters on the baseball too.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Stupid is as stupid does
Conversation with Katie today....
Katie "So how was work? Any stupid people today?"
Me: "Just me."
Katie: "Mooooooooooooooooooooooooooom, you're NOT stupid!"
First let me point out that it's my 13 yo saying I'm not stupid. A notable feat in and of itself! lol
Secondly, I know I'm not stupid but I just feel that way a lot at work. I really feel like I'm thinking through all the things I need to before I do something but it's still been an "interesting" few weeks. And I should note that no one I work with/for is treating me like THEY think I'm stupid and I was told that I'm harder on myself than my supervisor ever would be. But I still hate feeling stupid! Yes, I know, NO ONE likes feeling that way! Some MIGHT, MAYBE, PERHAPS say that I have some control issues. Ha, ha, ha, I scoff at that! ;-) I don't have control issues, I just want to know it all! Where's the problem in that?!?
Katie "So how was work? Any stupid people today?"
Me: "Just me."
Katie: "Mooooooooooooooooooooooooooom, you're NOT stupid!"
First let me point out that it's my 13 yo saying I'm not stupid. A notable feat in and of itself! lol
Secondly, I know I'm not stupid but I just feel that way a lot at work. I really feel like I'm thinking through all the things I need to before I do something but it's still been an "interesting" few weeks. And I should note that no one I work with/for is treating me like THEY think I'm stupid and I was told that I'm harder on myself than my supervisor ever would be. But I still hate feeling stupid! Yes, I know, NO ONE likes feeling that way! Some MIGHT, MAYBE, PERHAPS say that I have some control issues. Ha, ha, ha, I scoff at that! ;-) I don't have control issues, I just want to know it all! Where's the problem in that?!?
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Blog slacker
Over a month since I've blogged?! What has my vast audience done without my pearls of wisdom?! coughcoughhackhack...yeah, that last one was a little hard for me to swallow too!
I wish I could tell you I haven't blogged because I was too busy doing wonderful acts of humanitarism....orrrrrrrrrrrrrr.... traveling around the world....orrrrrrrrrrr....skipping down the lane with singing woodland creatures living a fairy tale life but sad to say...NOPE! It's just been a busy time.
The kids are now out of school for the summer so things may slow down a bit which would be nice! We took a Memorial Day week-end trip in to PA and Mark got to see his mom, siblings, his oldest two kids and their kids. Katie had a great time being Aunt Katie too. Busy jam-packed week-end and a few debates on how to pronounce the word "CREEK". And I stand by my saying a "crick" is what you get in your neck!
And now for a random (it's not really but I don't feel like going into details!) shout out to my friend, Jeanne. Who told me in an e-mail the other day that I'm strong. She said other nice things to me too but I needed that particular shot in the arm! Especially after spending several days feeling like I shouldn't be burdening anyone with my thoughts. I never think that about anyone else and tell people to stop being silly if they say it but for some reason it's ok for me to think it. I don't know! But Jeanne is one cool lady and also has one of the coolest blogs I've ever read! I want to be more like her! Thanks Jeanne!
I wish I could tell you I haven't blogged because I was too busy doing wonderful acts of humanitarism....orrrrrrrrrrrrrr.... traveling around the world....orrrrrrrrrrr....skipping down the lane with singing woodland creatures living a fairy tale life but sad to say...NOPE! It's just been a busy time.
The kids are now out of school for the summer so things may slow down a bit which would be nice! We took a Memorial Day week-end trip in to PA and Mark got to see his mom, siblings, his oldest two kids and their kids. Katie had a great time being Aunt Katie too. Busy jam-packed week-end and a few debates on how to pronounce the word "CREEK". And I stand by my saying a "crick" is what you get in your neck!
And now for a random (it's not really but I don't feel like going into details!) shout out to my friend, Jeanne. Who told me in an e-mail the other day that I'm strong. She said other nice things to me too but I needed that particular shot in the arm! Especially after spending several days feeling like I shouldn't be burdening anyone with my thoughts. I never think that about anyone else and tell people to stop being silly if they say it but for some reason it's ok for me to think it. I don't know! But Jeanne is one cool lady and also has one of the coolest blogs I've ever read! I want to be more like her! Thanks Jeanne!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Friday......???
Musings goes well with Monday but for poor old Friday all I can think of is Flatulence and while that may be an accurate description of my bloggings I still don't want to use it! lol
Friday Findings??? Well, I don't think I'm really finding anything though.
Friday Fiascos??? No, that doesn't work either, it's been a calm day today.
Friday FillInTheBlank/ForgetAboutItAndTypeAlready??? Ding, ding, ding we have a "weiner"! Although the alliteration is not that good!
I picked Katie up at the school an hour ago after her three day 7th grade camping trip. We hadn't even pulled away from the light at the school when the 'TUDE made it's presence known. I had hoped that she'd either be so weary or so thankful to be home that we'd get through the night at least before Tudezilla showed up. Alas, it just wasn't meant to be! I know I'm asking too much of a brain that will turn 13 on Sunday but in all my parental glory I've been known to slip and wonder WHY??? Why almost 13 yo brain would you think it's a good idea to get that snot-nosed tone in your voice and to talk in the manner that is going to get you into trouble?!? And then, it hits my 43 yo brain....."WHY ARE YOU ASKING WHY?! IT'S AN ALMOST 13 YO BRAIN, FOOL!!!" And then I clear away the steam that came pouring out of my ears and go find a quiet spot until the next eruption!
Monday at work we are starting Mission SlimPossible. It's open to everyone who works for the bank no matter what building/state they are in and it's going to last for six weeks. it will work something like The Biggest Loser. We'll turn in our percentage of weight loss each week (after the initial weigh in Monday) and see who wins. I'm not sure if we're just winning bragging rights or what but it's certainly a good motivational tool to finally get me started and to keep going. I can get started, I just quit! One of my co-workers pointed out the other day that if we don't try during the week it affects the whole team and not just ourselves. That was the point I thought "Oh craaaaaaaap!" GUILT! Guilt is a good motivator! I do well during the day but for some reason at night I want to snack. And exercise and I have not been very close buddies either. Time to get reacquainted! UGH! I don't mind hiking or doing stuff like that but I hate exercising just for the sake of exercising. I know it's good for you but it feels like I'm wasting time because I'm not accomplishing anything right then and there, you know? Like getting to point B, or smacking a ball, or whatever! Oh well, time to just do it anyway! Almost sounds like a sportswear ad, doesn't it?! Hey?! Does that count for anything?!!
If anyone has any good "gettin' healthy" tips, lay'em on me!
Friday Findings??? Well, I don't think I'm really finding anything though.
Friday Fiascos??? No, that doesn't work either, it's been a calm day today.
Friday FillInTheBlank/ForgetAboutItAndTypeAlready??? Ding, ding, ding we have a "weiner"! Although the alliteration is not that good!
I picked Katie up at the school an hour ago after her three day 7th grade camping trip. We hadn't even pulled away from the light at the school when the 'TUDE made it's presence known.
Monday at work we are starting Mission SlimPossible. It's open to everyone who works for the bank no matter what building/state they are in and it's going to last for six weeks. it will work something like The Biggest Loser. We'll turn in our percentage of weight loss each week (after the initial weigh in Monday) and see who wins. I'm not sure if we're just winning bragging rights or what but it's certainly a good motivational tool to finally get me started and to keep going. I can get started, I just quit! One of my co-workers pointed out the other day that if we don't try during the week it affects the whole team and not just ourselves. That was the point I thought "Oh craaaaaaaap!" GUILT! Guilt is a good motivator! I do well during the day but for some reason at night I want to snack. And exercise and I have not been very close buddies either. Time to get reacquainted! UGH! I don't mind hiking or doing stuff like that but I hate exercising just for the sake of exercising. I know it's good for you but it feels like I'm wasting time because I'm not accomplishing anything right then and there, you know? Like getting to point B, or smacking a ball, or whatever! Oh well, time to just do it anyway! Almost sounds like a sportswear ad, doesn't it?! Hey?! Does that count for anything?!!
If anyone has any good "gettin' healthy" tips, lay'em on me!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Monday morning musings
1. No, I'm NOT your mother, 4th grade girl at the bus stop, but when you and others are pushing each other for "fun" on the sidewalk and I envision a busted head I'm going to tell you to stop it. And all the "who do you think you are?!" looks and walking away muttering won't intimidate me in the least. This ain't my first dance at the rodeo, chickie!
2. I'm very appreciative of the fact my husband made the bed this morning while I was in the shower in the attempt to brighten my mood. A dark funk descended last night and it's still hanging out but I appreciate what he did and his offer to clean the bathroom tonight.
3. I adore spring but I'm hating the high tree pollen count that is causing misery for me, Katie and countless others!
4. Similar note, I like the dandelion patches I see on the side of the roads as I drive to work. Reminds me of when I was a kid playing in the yard. And the inevitable game of "Mama had a baby and it's head POPPED off!" as we snapped the not yet bloomed dandelion heads off the stems. Did you ever stop and think how so many nursery rhymes and things are kind of gruesome in their basis?! Ring Around The Rosy, etc, etc. That might explain a lot!
5. I wasn't sure I wanted to drive the 2+ hours to Alumni in two weeks but now that I realize due to other things going on that week-end I can't make it that makes me kind of sad. And I'm not sure why since the people I was closest to in high school can't make it anyway.
6. I wonder what it will take to kick this dark gloomy funk out of my head!
2. I'm very appreciative of the fact my husband made the bed this morning while I was in the shower in the attempt to brighten my mood. A dark funk descended last night and it's still hanging out but I appreciate what he did and his offer to clean the bathroom tonight.
3. I adore spring but I'm hating the high tree pollen count that is causing misery for me, Katie and countless others!
4. Similar note, I like the dandelion patches I see on the side of the roads as I drive to work. Reminds me of when I was a kid playing in the yard. And the inevitable game of "Mama had a baby and it's head POPPED off!" as we snapped the not yet bloomed dandelion heads off the stems. Did you ever stop and think how so many nursery rhymes and things are kind of gruesome in their basis?! Ring Around The Rosy, etc, etc. That might explain a lot!
5. I wasn't sure I wanted to drive the 2+ hours to Alumni in two weeks but now that I realize due to other things going on that week-end I can't make it that makes me kind of sad. And I'm not sure why since the people I was closest to in high school can't make it anyway.
6. I wonder what it will take to kick this dark gloomy funk out of my head!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
The Donut Whole
This place didn't open until after I had moved away but it was while Sam still lived in Wichita so she was able to check it out and wanted to show it to me while we were in town. We went around noon on Friday and the light coming in the windows was AMAZING! It was an ameteur photographer's dream! Such a cool, ecclectic place! I asked the woman behind the counter if she minded if I took photos and she said they had photography students in there snapping away all the time. I would have liked to take more time and take some more artsy-fartsy shots but Sam was making her way for the door!
We went back Saturday evening with Sarah. It was getting dark and cloudy so the lighting wasn't as good but the donuts were just as good as they were Friday! This is not your ordinary donut! Interesting flavors and combinations and all made fresh right there! YUMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!! They also have live music some nights too. It was such a cool place and I wish it was closer to me but maybe with as good as those donuts were it's a good thing it isn't! And no, I do not know what a rooster has to do with donuts but there were a lot of the little guys decorating the place!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Home again, home again...
but I'm too tired to do any jiggity jigs. And a headache decided to join me yesterday morning and hasn't decided to leave just yet. Some guests just don't know when they've overstayed their welcome!
I had a great time traveling with my oldest young'un this week-end and seeing all my scrappin' peeps back in Wichita! There are people there that I miss greatly and I'm sure I always will. Working with some of them was really like working with family, things weren't always sunshine and roses but all in all we worked well together, knew and accepted each other's little quirks and STILL liked each other! Where I work now is good too but it's a different environment being a bank and not a store where you can get creative so the atmosphere is understandably different. Not as many occassions to break out in boy band dance moves or to quote movie lines incessantly! lol
But with all that said I think that, after almost two years here, it's finally hit me that this is really now our home. Floating around in the back of my head was that after the three years Mark would have to work here so we wouldn't have to pay back any moving money that maybe, just maybe, he could get his old job back in Wichita. I've associated so many negative things that have happened to this move, some probably less fairly than others. I still have flares where I take issue with how it all went down but it is what it is at this point. Moving back to Wichita isn't going to make Robbie's "issues" go away, it won't make Samantha's life any easier and I definitely wouldn't be getting my old job back! And Katie hit the ground running here and I doubt we'd be lucky enough to have it happen in reverse too. I don't think the job here for Mark was as big a bonus as he envisioned. The cost of living is definitely higher here so the extra money in the paycheck is a wash but he tells me that there's more chances for advancement here. If that makes him happy in his work life then I have to accept that. It's time to try to force some roots in Indiana.
Samantha had her own revelations this week-end. We both are full of conflicting emotions right now but we both agreed that growing up is sometimes "pretty sucky". ;-)
I had a great time traveling with my oldest young'un this week-end and seeing all my scrappin' peeps back in Wichita! There are people there that I miss greatly and I'm sure I always will. Working with some of them was really like working with family, things weren't always sunshine and roses but all in all we worked well together, knew and accepted each other's little quirks and STILL liked each other! Where I work now is good too but it's a different environment being a bank and not a store where you can get creative so the atmosphere is understandably different. Not as many occassions to break out in boy band dance moves or to quote movie lines incessantly! lol
But with all that said I think that, after almost two years here, it's finally hit me that this is really now our home. Floating around in the back of my head was that after the three years Mark would have to work here so we wouldn't have to pay back any moving money that maybe, just maybe, he could get his old job back in Wichita. I've associated so many negative things that have happened to this move, some probably less fairly than others. I still have flares where I take issue with how it all went down but it is what it is at this point. Moving back to Wichita isn't going to make Robbie's "issues" go away, it won't make Samantha's life any easier and I definitely wouldn't be getting my old job back! And Katie hit the ground running here and I doubt we'd be lucky enough to have it happen in reverse too. I don't think the job here for Mark was as big a bonus as he envisioned. The cost of living is definitely higher here so the extra money in the paycheck is a wash but he tells me that there's more chances for advancement here. If that makes him happy in his work life then I have to accept that. It's time to try to force some roots in Indiana.
Samantha had her own revelations this week-end. We both are full of conflicting emotions right now but we both agreed that growing up is sometimes "pretty sucky". ;-)
Friday, March 26, 2010
Road Trip
After a somewhat chaotic afternoon at work Sam and I hit the road. We stopped in Vandalia, IL at a Sonic and got our first Sonic fix of the week-end...YUM! However it caused the need for a rest stop and for some reason Sam didn't think we should stop in a rest area late at night! Just because I mentioned the most recent Criminal Minds episode we watched?! We stopped for gas and a potty break in a well lit area but even that felt kind of creepy. It's funny how even though I think I'm an independent "hear me roar" kind of woman I still feel safer with Mark around in certain situations! But we made it through some rain and some heavy traffic in spots and got to Columbia, MO and stopped for the night. I just don't sleep well outside of my own home anymore for some reason so I slept for maybe 15 minutes at a time and not too many times! A cup of coffee or two the next morning though and I was ready to hit the road.
We hit some rain and a lot of areas that looked like they had had downpours but thankfully we missed that while driving! We got through KC and stopped at a QT (and it wasn't me who needed the potty break that time! lol) and I got a French Vanilla cappacino...aaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!! Yes, it's a convience store cappy but it's the BEST one I've ever had!
We got to Wichita at lunch time and Sam picked Louie's for lunch. Fried green beans?! Who knew they'd be so yummy?! We got to check into the hotel early and then Sam dropped me off with Mary and she met up with some of her friends. And now I'll spare you the play by play for now! LOL
It's good to be back here visiting but I also think that we both have found some closure. I can't speak for Sam but I think it's finally hit me that while I loved living in Wichita and it will always be full of fond memories it's no longer "home". I guess it's time to start forcing some roots in Indy. (But Mark and I both agree we'd like to find a different neighborhood to live in within the next couple of years!) Sam and I agree that growing up sometimes sucks (and I hate using that word but it fits this situation).
And I'll cut this short because soon it will be time to head to Get Scrappy!!!
We hit some rain and a lot of areas that looked like they had had downpours but thankfully we missed that while driving! We got through KC and stopped at a QT (and it wasn't me who needed the potty break that time! lol) and I got a French Vanilla cappacino...aaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!! Yes, it's a convience store cappy but it's the BEST one I've ever had!
We got to Wichita at lunch time and Sam picked Louie's for lunch. Fried green beans?! Who knew they'd be so yummy?! We got to check into the hotel early and then Sam dropped me off with Mary and she met up with some of her friends. And now I'll spare you the play by play for now! LOL
It's good to be back here visiting but I also think that we both have found some closure. I can't speak for Sam but I think it's finally hit me that while I loved living in Wichita and it will always be full of fond memories it's no longer "home". I guess it's time to start forcing some roots in Indy. (But Mark and I both agree we'd like to find a different neighborhood to live in within the next couple of years!) Sam and I agree that growing up sometimes sucks (and I hate using that word but it fits this situation).
And I'll cut this short because soon it will be time to head to Get Scrappy!!!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Westward ho!
I go to work in a bit and then after work Samantha and I will be hitting the road. Mark and the kids are going to come over with Sam in her car and pick up the van and then we'll jump into evening rush hour traffic--oh the joy of that timing. @@ Sam seems to think she can drive the night away. I'm useless once it's dark thanks to the kerataconus and no night vision so things could get interesting tonight! We'll make it at least to St. Louis but she wants to push further. We'll see what happens. I have visions of her being juiced on Amp and my wondering how I can safely knock her out and get some peace and quiet! lol
I have mixed emotions about going. I'm excited to see Mary and Sarah and everyone but feeling guilty about leaving too. Katie has a busy schedule these days which means Robbie will have to ride along as Mark ferries her about. Which they would all say it's no big deal but it's just the tip of the Mommy guilt iceberg. We'll all survive though and Mark already told them it was Ci-Ci's for supper tonight so they were pretty happy about that!
So look out, Wichita, I'm on my way!
I have mixed emotions about going. I'm excited to see Mary and Sarah and everyone but feeling guilty about leaving too. Katie has a busy schedule these days which means Robbie will have to ride along as Mark ferries her about. Which they would all say it's no big deal but it's just the tip of the Mommy guilt iceberg. We'll all survive though and Mark already told them it was Ci-Ci's for supper tonight so they were pretty happy about that!
So look out, Wichita, I'm on my way!
Saturday, March 20, 2010
A month??
Almost a whole month since I've blogged! I started a couple but never finished them. What can I say?! Apparently not a whole lot..at least not on the electronic page!
My first Saturday off in a month and we had to get up at 0 dark thirty to get Katie to the school by 6:50 this morning so she could board the buses with the rest of her junior high band and go to their competition. I'm surprised the kids were walking a straight line that early on a Saturday let alone play three pieces of music beautifully in my opinion! All three judges scored them in the GOLD category so way to go FJH Varsity Band!!!! I was trying to take a picture of Katie on the stage before the concert and you could tell when she spotted me in the crowd from the expression on her face! LOL It was like "Oh geez, here she goes again with the camera!" Then I had to sneak pictures during the concert since the announcer said no photos as the flash could interfere with the musicians, but I didn't USE my flash so I don't think I'm really a rule breaker!
After the concert we brought Katie home for about an hour before Mark ran her to an event she had to volunteer at to get her hours in for National Junior Honor Society. The girl is in 7th grade, I thought we had another two years before she was overbooked!!! She also joined the track team too. Whoda thunk a child of mine would enjoy track?!? But so far she seems to be enjoying the practices so good for her! So band, NJHS, track, Girl Scouts, Campus Life and CTV.....I THINK those are all her activities on top of classes and home! No wonder I'm so tired all the time, it's from watching my kids go in a gazillion different directions!
Robbie went down to the playground today and evidently climbed a tree and has said several times since he liked it. I've seen those trees, they're rather young and I'm not sure their branches are strong enough to hold a tall 9 yo boy for very long! I envision a trip to the ER in our future! I miss our old house and backyard! There was a GREAT tree for climbing in the back! Katie used to climb it all the time.
Speaking of the old house, Samantha and I are leaving after work Wednesday night for Get Scrappy 5 in Wichita! Well, she had a gazillion plans with all her friends but I'M going to hit Get Scrappy both days and she'll be there on Saturday. I have plans to hang out with Mary on Thursday evening and I'm really looking forward to that! I miss our talks, the phone is great but sometimes you just need that face to face interaction with a few "Are you NEW????"'s thrown in! lol And Samantha and I will re-create the "noisy table" from last year with Sarah! I miss her a lot too! I miss working with people who understood my "quirks" like talking to and answering myself or dancing in an aisle to 80's music and getting caught doing it by a customer! I just miss my "peeps"! I guess Toni and Nikki can't make it to Get Scrappy this year and that makes me kind of sad but that's life. sigh
And I really should get off of here and start figuring out what I'm going to pack for the crop! You think Mark would get worried if I just packed it all?????
My first Saturday off in a month and we had to get up at 0 dark thirty to get Katie to the school by 6:50 this morning so she could board the buses with the rest of her junior high band and go to their competition. I'm surprised the kids were walking a straight line that early on a Saturday let alone play three pieces of music beautifully in my opinion! All three judges scored them in the GOLD category so way to go FJH Varsity Band!!!! I was trying to take a picture of Katie on the stage before the concert and you could tell when she spotted me in the crowd from the expression on her face! LOL It was like "Oh geez, here she goes again with the camera!" Then I had to sneak pictures during the concert since the announcer said no photos as the flash could interfere with the musicians, but I didn't USE my flash so I don't think I'm really a rule breaker!
After the concert we brought Katie home for about an hour before Mark ran her to an event she had to volunteer at to get her hours in for National Junior Honor Society. The girl is in 7th grade, I thought we had another two years before she was overbooked!!! She also joined the track team too. Whoda thunk a child of mine would enjoy track?!? But so far she seems to be enjoying the practices so good for her! So band, NJHS, track, Girl Scouts, Campus Life and CTV.....I THINK those are all her activities on top of classes and home! No wonder I'm so tired all the time, it's from watching my kids go in a gazillion different directions!
Robbie went down to the playground today and evidently climbed a tree and has said several times since he liked it. I've seen those trees, they're rather young and I'm not sure their branches are strong enough to hold a tall 9 yo boy for very long! I envision a trip to the ER in our future! I miss our old house and backyard! There was a GREAT tree for climbing in the back! Katie used to climb it all the time.
Speaking of the old house, Samantha and I are leaving after work Wednesday night for Get Scrappy 5 in Wichita! Well, she had a gazillion plans with all her friends but I'M going to hit Get Scrappy both days and she'll be there on Saturday. I have plans to hang out with Mary on Thursday evening and I'm really looking forward to that! I miss our talks, the phone is great but sometimes you just need that face to face interaction with a few "Are you NEW????"'s thrown in! lol And Samantha and I will re-create the "noisy table" from last year with Sarah! I miss her a lot too! I miss working with people who understood my "quirks" like talking to and answering myself or dancing in an aisle to 80's music and getting caught doing it by a customer! I just miss my "peeps"! I guess Toni and Nikki can't make it to Get Scrappy this year and that makes me kind of sad but that's life. sigh
And I really should get off of here and start figuring out what I'm going to pack for the crop! You think Mark would get worried if I just packed it all?????
Monday, February 22, 2010
At least it wasn't snow!
After a beautiful sunny Friday (and with 40 degrees it even felt warm!) we've had nothing but dreary drizzle since early Saturday morning. It's helping to melt the snow (we found we still have a deck!) but it's creating yucky, dreary looking mud pits instead. But at least it isn't more snow! And the yucky dreary looking mud pits were going to have to happen eventually so maybe we'll get it all out of the way in the next week or so just in time for March and hopefully the beginning of spring! But I really hate looking out and seeing nothing but dirty snow mounds and mud buuuuuuuuuuuut at least it wasn't more snow! (Notice a theme here?!)
We had a scout filled week-end this past week-end. Robbie's Blue and Gold Banquet was Saturday evening. Next year he'll be a Webelos II and crossing over to Boy Scouts and if next year's ceremony is like this year's I'm sure I'll be a bawling mess! I appreciate the value of ceremonies and marking achievements but boy is that rough for a parent sometimes! ;-)
Sunday we spent over five hours at Thinking Day for our local Girl Scouts. Katie's troop's booth was Costa Rica and they did a great job! It was really neat seeing all the different countries that were represented. Some of the troops went all out on their booths! And there was a group of Pakistani dancers that were just awesome! I know the dancing told a story and I wish I knew what the story was! But it was so cool to watch even if I was clueless!
Today I had the day off from work so I've cleaned bathrooms and have spent the day washing towels and bedding. Wheeeeeeee! I've also been listening to Celtic Thunder's latest CD. I think they could sing the phonebook and I'd buy the CD and enjoy it! They just make me happy and when I think back to Katie's excitement at the concert last November and Ryan putting his arms around me and Katie ("He touched my shoulder!" "I know, he touched mine too!") it just makes me even happier. I can't remember another group that I can listen to over and over and never get sick of listening! And their version of Amazing Grace IS amazing. That was my Grandma Lambert's favorite song and even though she never got to meet Katie (whose middle name comes from Grandma) listening to this song with Katie just makes those family ties seem tangible. I'm not putting it into words very well but it's an amazing thing!
Now I think I'm going to maybe go scrapbook!
We had a scout filled week-end this past week-end. Robbie's Blue and Gold Banquet was Saturday evening. Next year he'll be a Webelos II and crossing over to Boy Scouts and if next year's ceremony is like this year's I'm sure I'll be a bawling mess! I appreciate the value of ceremonies and marking achievements but boy is that rough for a parent sometimes! ;-)
Sunday we spent over five hours at Thinking Day for our local Girl Scouts. Katie's troop's booth was Costa Rica and they did a great job! It was really neat seeing all the different countries that were represented. Some of the troops went all out on their booths! And there was a group of Pakistani dancers that were just awesome! I know the dancing told a story and I wish I knew what the story was! But it was so cool to watch even if I was clueless!
Today I had the day off from work so I've cleaned bathrooms and have spent the day washing towels and bedding. Wheeeeeeee! I've also been listening to Celtic Thunder's latest CD. I think they could sing the phonebook and I'd buy the CD and enjoy it! They just make me happy and when I think back to Katie's excitement at the concert last November and Ryan putting his arms around me and Katie ("He touched my shoulder!" "I know, he touched mine too!") it just makes me even happier. I can't remember another group that I can listen to over and over and never get sick of listening! And their version of Amazing Grace IS amazing. That was my Grandma Lambert's favorite song and even though she never got to meet Katie (whose middle name comes from Grandma) listening to this song with Katie just makes those family ties seem tangible. I'm not putting it into words very well but it's an amazing thing!
Now I think I'm going to maybe go scrapbook!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
It's been awhile
It's been almost a month since I've blogged. I wish I could tell you (and by you, I'm thinking it's just Jeanne and Kelli who are reading!) that it's because I've been living a fabulously exciting life and had no time to write but alas, I'd be lying! (It's so easy to use the word "alas" when writing but how often do you hear it used in vocal conversation?!)
It's just been a routine kind of life lately which sometimes is a nice thing. Take care of the family, go to work, fight this never-ending crud that won't seem to completely let go of any of its victims, be Cookie Mom for Katie's troop and swear, once again, that I will NEVER do it again. I think I mean it this time though. I don't want to go publicly into details but it's just been frustrating on my end. I was told I was the "odd one" for being responsible and on top of things (and not saying all the other parents are irresponsible parents) and I just don't have the need to add that frustration to my life again.
There's also been the never-ending snow this year. I think this year it's just been spread out over a longer period so it just feels worse. We did have glorious sunshine yesterday but today it's lightly snowing again and the weather folks are saying it's going to get pretty ugly Sunday and/or Monday. I was threatening to find the bleepin' groundhog and hang him last week.
Bright spot is, even though I didn't think I'd make it this year, I'm going to Get Scrappy in Wichita at the end of March! I'll get to hang out at the "noisy, cool kids" table again and hopefully get some mass quantities of layouts scrapped! Ok, with all the laughing and noise there may be not be mass quantities!
And now I've rambled for a bit and it's time to go serve some food at my cafe on Facebook!
It's just been a routine kind of life lately which sometimes is a nice thing. Take care of the family, go to work, fight this never-ending crud that won't seem to completely let go of any of its victims, be Cookie Mom for Katie's troop and swear, once again, that I will NEVER do it again. I think I mean it this time though. I don't want to go publicly into details but it's just been frustrating on my end. I was told I was the "odd one" for being responsible and on top of things (and not saying all the other parents are irresponsible parents) and I just don't have the need to add that frustration to my life again.
There's also been the never-ending snow this year. I think this year it's just been spread out over a longer period so it just feels worse. We did have glorious sunshine yesterday but today it's lightly snowing again and the weather folks are saying it's going to get pretty ugly Sunday and/or Monday. I was threatening to find the bleepin' groundhog and hang him last week.
Bright spot is, even though I didn't think I'd make it this year, I'm going to Get Scrappy in Wichita at the end of March! I'll get to hang out at the "noisy, cool kids" table again and hopefully get some mass quantities of layouts scrapped! Ok, with all the laughing and noise there may be not be mass quantities!
And now I've rambled for a bit and it's time to go serve some food at my cafe on Facebook!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
The brighter side of my old job
My Sunday paper was missing the actual paper this morning. I had the ads and the Sunday magazine but no newspaper sections at all which meant it didn't take too long to peruse it! So I got on the computer, and while listening to what sounds like the wind trying to blow the house apart, I got onto the 2 Peas website and started perusing CHA sneak peeks.
There are so many cute lines coming out! And bright, vibrant colors in some of the lines! You wouldn't know it looking at my house but I like bright colors! It's hard NOT to be happy when you're scrapping with bright colors! And I hesitate to admit this again out loud to some people but I could take or leave most of the Basic Grey lines. There have been a couple that caught my eye in the past but they often seemed "darker" to me so I was never a BG junkie like some people I know! lol But they have some cute lines coming out and there's one out right now, I think it's called Sugar Rush, that is really cute too! And I loved all the Bo Bunny peeks I saw and then there was Fancy Pants and...and...and...!!!!
I do miss that part of my former job. The CHA review nights and then seeing everything when it started arriving in the store. Standing up there at the counter, pulling stuff out of the boxes, and sometimes squealing in delight or hearing one of my co-working friends squeal in delight! I miss that! The stashes that were started in the hold drawer. Certain people who could look in the computer system and see how much money employees had spent that year being sworn to secrecy! lol It was always baaaaaaaaaad when CHA stuff started coming in! They should have just paid me in merchandise and saved the paper check during that time frame!
And I miss working with some outstandingly creative women too! It was so easy to appreciate everyone's different styles because they were all so great at what they were creating!
sigh......I miss my peeps! So now in between scrubbing bathrooms today and maybe doing our taxes maybe I'll sneak in a few more peeks at what's to come and then go try to use up some of my stuff so I can make room for the new!
There are so many cute lines coming out! And bright, vibrant colors in some of the lines! You wouldn't know it looking at my house but I like bright colors! It's hard NOT to be happy when you're scrapping with bright colors! And I hesitate to admit this again out loud to some people but I could take or leave most of the Basic Grey lines. There have been a couple that caught my eye in the past but they often seemed "darker" to me so I was never a BG junkie like some people I know! lol But they have some cute lines coming out and there's one out right now, I think it's called Sugar Rush, that is really cute too! And I loved all the Bo Bunny peeks I saw and then there was Fancy Pants and...and...and...!!!!
I do miss that part of my former job. The CHA review nights and then seeing everything when it started arriving in the store. Standing up there at the counter, pulling stuff out of the boxes, and sometimes squealing in delight or hearing one of my co-working friends squeal in delight! I miss that! The stashes that were started in the hold drawer. Certain people who could look in the computer system and see how much money employees had spent that year being sworn to secrecy! lol It was always baaaaaaaaaad when CHA stuff started coming in! They should have just paid me in merchandise and saved the paper check during that time frame!
And I miss working with some outstandingly creative women too! It was so easy to appreciate everyone's different styles because they were all so great at what they were creating!
sigh......I miss my peeps! So now in between scrubbing bathrooms today and maybe doing our taxes maybe I'll sneak in a few more peeks at what's to come and then go try to use up some of my stuff so I can make room for the new!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
New job
I've only been back to work a month and I'm already relishing the fact that I have tomorrow off! I like the job but I had become such a quasi-hermit that this interacting with the public every day is rough! lol
I've hit my assigned goal for mortgage referals and the contest isn't over until the 12th so that's pretty good! Today I had a customer in the drive thru asking about the "4's and 5's" hanging in our window so I explained to her about our mortgage rates. She said to have the mortgage banker give her a call next week. It was during "power hour" where we were to ask every customer if they wanted to donate to St. Jude's so I mentioned that to her and she said to take money out of her cash she wanted back for it. My co-workers were complimenting me and I kept saying "It's beginner's luck!" I don't want the to upset the Fates with too many praises, doncha know?! ;-) I did say though "If I knew I was going to be validated like this I would have been here a long time ago!" LOL
We started a conversation about family taking each other for granted but then a customer came in so we got side tracked off of it. I think that's probably just a natural part of family life is you can take each other for granted. All I know is no one has ever sang my praises over how clean a bathroom was! LOL And considering the owners of my former place of employment....well, let's just say praise was not exactly forthcoming. Which is not something I really expect so it's sort of hard to get used to with this new job!
There's still a lot to learn but I definitely feel better about it than I did a couple of weeks ago during "school"! And everyone at the branch has been great about answering questions and not making me feel like a nuisance or an idiot when I need help with something! Including when I forgot I had put the card with all my safe codes on it in my pocket and washed it the other night! I felt like a kid saying "My dog ate my homework." but instead of getting upset my supervisor and the co-worker that I share codes with and had to write them all out for me again both just laughed and said at least I hadn't lost the card somewhere and everyone had to get new codes. Definitely would not have been that calm of a response at a former place of employment!
I'm afraid to say this in case those pesky Fates are listening but my work life is good! Maybe the fact I got salt water out of my bathroom sink this morning (stupid water softener is going haywire!) is the balance of karma?! ;-)
I've hit my assigned goal for mortgage referals and the contest isn't over until the 12th so that's pretty good! Today I had a customer in the drive thru asking about the "4's and 5's" hanging in our window so I explained to her about our mortgage rates. She said to have the mortgage banker give her a call next week. It was during "power hour" where we were to ask every customer if they wanted to donate to St. Jude's so I mentioned that to her and she said to take money out of her cash she wanted back for it. My co-workers were complimenting me and I kept saying "It's beginner's luck!" I don't want the to upset the Fates with too many praises, doncha know?! ;-) I did say though "If I knew I was going to be validated like this I would have been here a long time ago!" LOL
We started a conversation about family taking each other for granted but then a customer came in so we got side tracked off of it. I think that's probably just a natural part of family life is you can take each other for granted. All I know is no one has ever sang my praises over how clean a bathroom was! LOL And considering the owners of my former place of employment....well, let's just say praise was not exactly forthcoming. Which is not something I really expect so it's sort of hard to get used to with this new job!
There's still a lot to learn but I definitely feel better about it than I did a couple of weeks ago during "school"! And everyone at the branch has been great about answering questions and not making me feel like a nuisance or an idiot when I need help with something! Including when I forgot I had put the card with all my safe codes on it in my pocket and washed it the other night! I felt like a kid saying "My dog ate my homework." but instead of getting upset my supervisor and the co-worker that I share codes with and had to write them all out for me again both just laughed and said at least I hadn't lost the card somewhere and everyone had to get new codes. Definitely would not have been that calm of a response at a former place of employment!
I'm afraid to say this in case those pesky Fates are listening but my work life is good! Maybe the fact I got salt water out of my bathroom sink this morning (stupid water softener is going haywire!) is the balance of karma?! ;-)
Thursday, January 21, 2010
I am a rock star!
Whose drawer balanced yet again? And WHO got her first referral for our mortgage banker today?! Yeah, that's right! ME!!!! We're supposed to get so many referrals each month anyway but right now there's a contest on and I have to get five in the next month. My second official day on the job (minus training) and I have a referral! Go meeee, go meeee!
Certainly helped turn my day around after the first two people I asked said they had already refinanced or just weren't interested.
And I have caught Katie's cold and feel like my head is stuffed with cotton balls and just generally feel cruddy but go meeee, go meeee!!!
Certainly helped turn my day around after the first two people I asked said they had already refinanced or just weren't interested.
And I have caught Katie's cold and feel like my head is stuffed with cotton balls and just generally feel cruddy but go meeee, go meeee!!!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
A midweek entry!
I'm actually posting before the week-end! I'm sure my fan base of maybe...two?....are ecstatic! lol
I did my first day "without a net" yesterday. I say without a net but I did have to ask my supervisor a couple of questions but she was great about it. But anyway, I had a couple of large deposits and one person who wanted their cash back in an odd assortment and I still balanced at the end of the day! Oh happy day!
I wish I knew why I've been getting so overly nervous and anxious about this job. I've had new jobs before and would get nervous at first but not the levels I've been hitting this time around. And the people that have trained me and that I'm working with now are great so it's not that. And I've worked with money before so that shouldn't be it either. I don't know! But at least, hopefully, maybe, perhaps I'm on the downside of that anxiety! Although in the shower this morning I realized I had put something in my proof work that I should have put elsewhere. sigh But I balanced!
Katie's had a cold for almost two weeks now and I've been fighting it. I have lost that fight. I dropped the dogs off for their grooming appt and then went straight to CVS to restock some cold meds. Hopefully they kick in soon! I've actually done pretty well in the cold/flu dept this winter (knock on wood). I'm hoping all the germs didn't just join forces to have one helluva party in my body!
Robbie has a new bus driver who apparently is "MEAN!". From what Robbie said the man stopped the bus in the middle of the road and yelled at everyone and he's going to make the 4th grade boys sit with 1st grade girls. I guess Robbie was upset when he got off the bus yesterday and Mark said all the kids looked downcast. The boy has RTC (resistance to change) along with the other issues. I think the RTC is probably a big factor for most people with OCD though. It's difficult dealing with a 9yo with this conditions in this situation. Change is a big part of life and you can't escape it no matter who you are. But what's the best way to help a 9yo who is already navigating a minefield to deal with change? We're muddling through it though. And I explained to Robbie that the bus driver is the "boss" of the bus and he has to do what he deems neccessary to keep all the kids safe on the bus. Robbie said he didn't like being told what to do and I told him he might as well accept that as a fact of life because he already has people telling him what to do and it's not going to stop! He replied "That's why I'm never gettting a job or moving out." I said "Oh.yes.you.are!" lol Oh, to be 9 again and have the whole rest of your life mapped out so certainly!
I did my first day "without a net" yesterday. I say without a net but I did have to ask my supervisor a couple of questions but she was great about it. But anyway, I had a couple of large deposits and one person who wanted their cash back in an odd assortment and I still balanced at the end of the day! Oh happy day!
I wish I knew why I've been getting so overly nervous and anxious about this job. I've had new jobs before and would get nervous at first but not the levels I've been hitting this time around. And the people that have trained me and that I'm working with now are great so it's not that. And I've worked with money before so that shouldn't be it either. I don't know! But at least, hopefully, maybe, perhaps I'm on the downside of that anxiety! Although in the shower this morning I realized I had put something in my proof work that I should have put elsewhere. sigh But I balanced!
Katie's had a cold for almost two weeks now and I've been fighting it. I have lost that fight. I dropped the dogs off for their grooming appt and then went straight to CVS to restock some cold meds. Hopefully they kick in soon! I've actually done pretty well in the cold/flu dept this winter (knock on wood). I'm hoping all the germs didn't just join forces to have one helluva party in my body!
Robbie has a new bus driver who apparently is "MEAN!". From what Robbie said the man stopped the bus in the middle of the road and yelled at everyone and he's going to make the 4th grade boys sit with 1st grade girls. I guess Robbie was upset when he got off the bus yesterday and Mark said all the kids looked downcast. The boy has RTC (resistance to change) along with the other issues. I think the RTC is probably a big factor for most people with OCD though. It's difficult dealing with a 9yo with this conditions in this situation. Change is a big part of life and you can't escape it no matter who you are. But what's the best way to help a 9yo who is already navigating a minefield to deal with change? We're muddling through it though. And I explained to Robbie that the bus driver is the "boss" of the bus and he has to do what he deems neccessary to keep all the kids safe on the bus. Robbie said he didn't like being told what to do and I told him he might as well accept that as a fact of life because he already has people telling him what to do and it's not going to stop! He replied "That's why I'm never gettting a job or moving out." I said "Oh.yes.you.are!" lol Oh, to be 9 again and have the whole rest of your life mapped out so certainly!
Saturday, January 16, 2010
weekly update
I seem to be just getting here on the week-ends lately. But now that all my training is over and I'll be going into a "regular" schedule starting next week maybe I'll be here a tad more often once we get the routine down in the home....then again, knowing me who KNOWS what may happen! lol
My mentor week went well. I don't know why I was as nervous as I was Tuesday morning. I've started new jobs, moved to new states (and a different country once!), etc before and had been nervous but nothing like I was feeling Tuesday morning for some reason. I'm not sure if I was thinking "old dog/new tricks" or what. But my mentor was great! He's not much older than my oldest kidlet but he didn't make me feel like a dinosaur! He seems to have the same dry sense of humor I do too so that helped. I know I'm still going to have to ask my supervisor for some guidance time to time in the beginning but I'm pretty confident I can at least get people's deposits done correctly!
So now I have this three day week-end laying before me and I'm wondering what to do with it. There's the typical household cleaning stuff and I need to go do some shoe shopping for work. Mark and Robbie both need some shoes too....have I ever mentioned how much I HATE shoe shopping? And then the trick will be to not waste so much time online and maybe get some scrapbooking accomplished or try to read through the stack of library books due back soon. And at some point I think Mark and I are going to have to take the dishwasher apart and see why it's not rinsing well at all. I pray they didn't crimp the water line or something when they were fixing the leak and then pouring in new cement!
And I was going to borrow something from Jeanne's blog but can't get it to c/p for some reason. I'll try again later...hopefully before next week!
My mentor week went well. I don't know why I was as nervous as I was Tuesday morning. I've started new jobs, moved to new states (and a different country once!), etc before and had been nervous but nothing like I was feeling Tuesday morning for some reason. I'm not sure if I was thinking "old dog/new tricks" or what. But my mentor was great! He's not much older than my oldest kidlet but he didn't make me feel like a dinosaur! He seems to have the same dry sense of humor I do too so that helped. I know I'm still going to have to ask my supervisor for some guidance time to time in the beginning but I'm pretty confident I can at least get people's deposits done correctly!
So now I have this three day week-end laying before me and I'm wondering what to do with it. There's the typical household cleaning stuff and I need to go do some shoe shopping for work. Mark and Robbie both need some shoes too....have I ever mentioned how much I HATE shoe shopping? And then the trick will be to not waste so much time online and maybe get some scrapbooking accomplished or try to read through the stack of library books due back soon. And at some point I think Mark and I are going to have to take the dishwasher apart and see why it's not rinsing well at all. I pray they didn't crimp the water line or something when they were fixing the leak and then pouring in new cement!
And I was going to borrow something from Jeanne's blog but can't get it to c/p for some reason. I'll try again later...hopefully before next week!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
trials, training and tests
I spent this past week in "school". The bank has a training center in Greenwood which is south of Indy...I am northeast of Indy...so that meant driving in rush hour traffic to and fro all week. Just on a typical week I wouldn't be making that drive every day to a job! Too many crazy people out there driving like they're in the 500! But throw in the snowstorm that hit Thursday morning as rush hour was picking up and you get oodles of joy and fun...NOT! There were part of I-465 where you could not see the road nor tire tracks of the vehicles in front of you. It basically looked like a white field out there and not a highway. A drive that had been taken me roughly 45-50 minutes to make took two hours that morning. By the time I got to the training center I had a splitting headache and a ton of body aches from being tense and clenching the wheel. No gouda as we say around here!
But the good news is I aced my test even after feeling like the stupidest person alive on Tuesday. I was fighting tears driving home Tuesday and the only thing that kept me from saying "Curse it (not what I was actually thinking!), I'm quitting." was the whole setting an example for my kids thing! Don't you hate how often that can come around to bite you in the butt?! But I maintained and got through the course. I don't think, however, that the test is a good indicator of knowledge learned in that class! Most of the 50 questions are worded in a way that makes the answer more than obvious! But I aced it all the same. This week I go to a different branch than the one I'm assigned to so I can work with a "mentor". I'm told the guy I'm assigned to is a "real whiz kid". Great, another situation to make me feel like an idiotic dinosaur! Can't wait! cough cough. But I'll be working three full time days and then I guess if I pass that then the following week I'll start part time at my branch. I'm ready for it to be a year from now and all this being routine! Not that I want to rush the year but I just want the comfort level already!
I'd also like a maid but that's another story....
But the good news is I aced my test even after feeling like the stupidest person alive on Tuesday. I was fighting tears driving home Tuesday and the only thing that kept me from saying "Curse it (not what I was actually thinking!), I'm quitting." was the whole setting an example for my kids thing! Don't you hate how often that can come around to bite you in the butt?! But I maintained and got through the course. I don't think, however, that the test is a good indicator of knowledge learned in that class! Most of the 50 questions are worded in a way that makes the answer more than obvious! But I aced it all the same. This week I go to a different branch than the one I'm assigned to so I can work with a "mentor". I'm told the guy I'm assigned to is a "real whiz kid". Great, another situation to make me feel like an idiotic dinosaur! Can't wait! cough cough. But I'll be working three full time days and then I guess if I pass that then the following week I'll start part time at my branch. I'm ready for it to be a year from now and all this being routine! Not that I want to rush the year but I just want the comfort level already!
I'd also like a maid but that's another story....
Friday, January 1, 2010
2010
I have high hopes for you, 2010! Your older sibling, 2009, had the grace to end on a positive note in my house but a good chunk of it was a naughty, mean spirited little year! But look at you, 2010, you even have a pleasant way to say your name, Twenty-Ten! Your two looks curvy and fun, your one stands tall and steadfast and your zeroes look like they're just chockful of hope, happiness and goodness! I think you are going to be a splendid year indeed! It's wonderful to meet you today!
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