Happy Hump Day

For once it almost seems as though Mother Nature got hold of our calendars, noted that Autumn had begun, and shaped the weather to suit. Although it looks nice out, it is quite windy and chilly up in Z-town. Burr. Maybe it just seems colder, and too early for the chill, because summer seemed to slip by with little overheating to complain of.

Today has been our lil' family fun day. The three of us are home together on this sunny hump day. BigCat was laid off beginning last Thursday, so again we are becoming accustomed to a new, but familiar, routine. There is no word on when the work will pick-up (isn't that just the story of today??); our hope is no later than next spring. So, in the mean time, if you know anyone that needs some handyman work done...

With so many things in life, there is an upside and a downside to this development. Although there is plenty to worry about, my hope is to focus on the positives for as long as I can... little housework on the weekends, cooked dinners at my homecoming, my bonding boys with a side of me on Wednesdays.

Happy fall to all!!

Whew! Week

In case you're missing me in the next week, I want you to know why. You haven't been forgotten, I'm just uber-busy!

* Friday, 1/30 - Dinner, drinks and games with family friends
* Saturday, 1/31 - 'Dirty 30' birthday party for a friend
* Sunday, 2/1 - Superbowl... 43??
* Monday, 2/2 - Dinner with all, or most, of my girls
* Tuesday, 2/3 - A couple of my dearest friends are taking me out for my birthday
* Wednesday, 2/4 - Lunch with the ladies
* Thursday, 2/5 - So far, NOTHING!
* Friday, 2/6 - OSP Outing... It's with a few gals who all worked at the Office of Sponsored Programs at SCSU. BigCat refers to this as my Old St. Cloud People outing. And no, he doesn't mean old in age, just former! We'll eat lots of appy's and enjoy drinks for about 8 hours in a booth at Houli's!
* Saturday, 2/7 - Dinner with that old friend... definitely have a bit of anxiety about this one
* Sunday, 2/8 - Birthday celebration at D&B's with my families!

Thank goodness I have all this happy to look forward to. Today is the start of my incredibly busy and stressful work week. In fact, I'm even working every day next week. Yikes!

Although I may not visit Blogland, it's a comfort to know it's there for me if I need it. It is an amazing relief for me to write... so I may just find my way here at some point.

Happy Weekend!!!!! :-)

Begin Again

It's 8:15 and I just got to work. I'd like to start this day over, already.

* Woke up late - will blame yesterday's sedative
* Hit head on top of car door frame
* Due to aforementioned head injury I yelled loudly, hurting my sore throat from yesterday's scope
* Car pulled out in front of me on a 55 mph road although they shouldn't have - I slammed on the brakes and proceeded to shoulder narrowly avoiding rear-ender
* Car proceeded to brake, brake, and brake again, finally putting flashers on although staying in lane
* Started honking and yelling at person in said car to get onto the shoulder being other vehicle's were flying in at 55 mph +
* Due to aforementioned yelling, again hurt already sore throat
* Realized a mile from work that I forgot my lunch, and I was really looking forward to it
* Was late to work

Ok, I feel a little better already. I'm hoping to put this all behind me now that I've gotten it out and change the direction my day was heading.

Baked Goods

Last night, I wrote a long blog about why my ERCP procedure has been moved to February 17th, a month later than originally planned. In short, it's because of work, but my original blog went into great detail. As I was reviewing it, the Bird came up, smacked my laptop, and bam! it was gone. My stomach dropped - I was left with nothing after a good amount of time and thought went into it. I asked myself... is this a sign I should not post it? I was indeed venting and didn't have a whole lot of good to say about the workplace. Eh, I thought, I'll still write it.

After detailing the happenings of my Friday in the office again, I took a brain break in order to read it later with a fresh(er) mind. At 7 o'clock, I decided to bake some banana chocolate chip muffins I've been craving for months. I
never start projects so late in the evening (yes, I consider this late... it's my time to unwind, not get started), but last night I made an exception considering how fired up my mind was.

I cannot remember the last time I baked something other than pre-made cookies. Last night I learned that baking is quite good for my mind, and soul. After writing a therapeutic blog - twice - and baking some muffins, I knew I didn't need to air all of the dirt behind the date change.

Verdict

The verdict is in... I didn't get the position. At this time, I am trying to force some positive thoughts:

* Both the Bird and I still have Wednesday's to enjoy together
* I am content with my current position
* With my recent health issues, a department that understands is helpful
* The supervisor "wishes they had a position for me"
* She also stated that a great fitting position may be opening in the future
* They now know me and were very impressed
* If they did have someone in mind when this all began (which is what I believe), I have a chance of being that someone the next time around.

So, that's that. Onto the weekend to recover.

Driving Miss Crazy

Make copies
Check phone
Meet with co-worker
Check phone
Little Girl's room
Check phone
Get mail
Check phone

Nothing
Nothing
Nothing

It's making me nutty.

Ahhhhh!!

I just can't keep it in anymore! I think if I share this with you, I will feel better and maybe, just maybe, my wishes will come true with more positive thoughts coming my way.

I have applied for a position within my org... but not just any position, basically it's what I've had in mind since I graduated that windy day back in May 2003. I had my first interview last week, and have since interviewed a second time after making it into the top five. Whew! I expect to hear back by tomorrow, or on Monday at the latest... Lord help me if I have to wait the weekend, good news or bad.

On the side of superstition, I'm not sure whether I should be bloggin' so openly about this, but I just have to let some of this excitement out somehow.

Judging Sarah

If you were to ask me if I was glad I did it? Absolutely. Will I do it again? Absolutely. However, after a 16 hour day at the polls (and endless commercials, political calls and campaigning mail) I am quite relieved it won't be for quite some time.

Today's Faves:

* Being an important part of something we have the "right" to do
* Sampling all of those good treats brought to share
* Meeting some of the family behind "Honor Road" - 1 of the 3 (remember?)roads surrounding us
* Recognized name = First cousin once removed
* Talking with Roger about family, Z-town and sheep
* Inadvertently becoming referred to as the "Head Judge in training"
* Meeting yet another neighbor after 3 years in an unconventional way (I met one just recently when she helped me at a store 30 miles from our houses...)

Even after the Primary Election, I was quite anxious about today. The verdict is in... it has been a good day!

Primary

The other night, some of us were discussing primary numbers in preparation for GMAT's (unfortunately, not my own), but tonight I'm talking Primary Election. This is an odd topic for me especially since I don't consider myself to be especially political. I do, however, find it interesting. As I told the Bird's daycare lady today, I was serving as an election judge, but not exactly sure why. I mean, I knew how I ended up here; because the township letter stated they were in need of judges. I thought it would be interesting, I'd meet the people of the town, and bonus... I'd learn something! However, as my judging time neared, I grew anxious and wondered what I got myself into.

It proved to be all I could have hoped for in a judging experience. It was a slow day, as I hear they usually are, which proved to be perfect. The Precinct 2 group turned out to be fairly fun people. Throughout the day I learned there was a wealth of town knowledge in that hall. I met one prominent person in town, Roger, who happens to be the sheep farmer behind us, my new wanna-have Grandpa. I silently wondered to myself if he'd let me adopt him. If you know me at all, you know how much I love those cute, old, wise, wrinkled men, even some ornery ones. Grandpa's are hard for me to come by. I've lost all of mine too early, two of my own and one adopted.

Thinking back, I completely remember Rog from when I voted a couple of years ago. I had a soft spot for him then (mooshy really, not just soft), and that was within just the couple minutes I stood by him waiting to vote. This whole time he's lived right in my backyard and I never knew it.

My "aha" moment was Roger, that's really why I was there. I made him very aware of the fact that I'd be around, probably bopping by with the Bird to look at the cute lil' lambs. He seemed quite alright with that.

Running

It's amazing to me that I can constantly sleep through the exact same portion of my alarm clock almost every morning. I hear it go off, maybe twice and hit the snooze (I know, bad habit). Then I don't hear it again for about a half an hour. So, I tend to always be running behind and running quickly to work. I suppose my best option is to set my alarm for when I actually need to get up, and to force myself out of bed immediately. I am just not a morning person so this proves to be quite difficult for me.

Thank goodness I have my Wednesdays when Peanut is my only alarm clock.

Ugh!

This is day #2 this week of no daycare for Peanut, which means I have to miss work. I was okay with yesterday, although I would rather use my time off otherwise, but now today, I'd much rather be at work. Mainly because it's going to be a busy day there and because I'm going to be cutting my time awful close for the more important July 4th vacation. And then it also complicates things for me tomorrow, my normal day off. I'd be more than willing to work if daycare is open, but we have an appointment for Peanut (just pics) and plans to go meet a friend's baby. Ugh!

I do hope my daycare lady's son is okay, I know he's extremely sick, but I hope his recovery comes much sooner than later.

For now, I tend to Peanut.

Case of the Mundays

There's nothing like starting out the day to total back-up on your way to work. Keep in mind, this is something I normally do not come by staying north of the cities. However, this morning it took me approximately 35 minutes to travel abou 3 miles or so. Yuk. So, I got to use a half an hour of my precious FTO (Flexible Time Off) because of some random traffic quirk.

On top of that, I'm sick again. I spoke too soon last week about finally recovering. I made it through the weekend staying fairly low key which helped some, hopefully. We did however have lots of company... Saturday the Larsen family came over. They got their Peanut fix, grilled some burgers and dogs and played my all time fave Catch Phrase. Good times! Sunday my rents came over to get their Peanut fix, and that they did.

Now on with the work week...

Dragonfly Friday

**

I wasn't entirely sure how this day was going to go. Yesterday was a rough one at work for numerous reasons and today started out with a ginormous spider on the run in the kitchen. Wasn't lookin' good.

I'm happy to report that it hasn't been what I was first anticipating. Not only has work gone really well thus far (my month-end balanced without touching a thing) but I had a special delivery from a co-worker. She dropped off a string of the cutest dragonfly lights. I've hung them in my cube. It's a happier place now. She is making every effort to let the people in her life how much she appreciates them. This is something I wish I was better at, I need to make a real effort. It's so good to be reminded that wonderful, good-hearted people do exist.

*

Thank you SE, you have made my day!!!

Emergency Team Member

We're having a tornado drill at work today and it's my responsibility as my department's Emergency Team Member to make sure all other employees are out and safe before myself. Yep, that's right, I'm putting my life on the line for others {firm pat on the back}. What I don't really understand is why we need to practice this drill. We learned so early in school what to do and now as adults still need lessons? And really, if there were a tornado, or fire, or other extreme condition, are people really going to listen to me, or just run for their lives? I think I'd probably be running for my own at that point. If you can't figure it out, too bad. Hard lesson learned. So, in a bit here, I'm heading to the basement to sweat it out with hundreds of other county employees. Good times.

Chit Chat

Everday there is more than one moment that I think to myself "now here's what I should blog about", if only I could telepathically get it to my computer. I've stayed clear of my computer after the last week of fighting with it... long story short, no pictures will be posted anytime soon. Now I have too many things floating around in my head, so here it goes.

Peanut, work, dumpling day, Peanut, BigCat, Pup, Mexico and last but not least Peanut! He is doing great! Just had his 3rd tooth break through, now he's in much better spirits than the past couple months. Whew... fine with that being over! His personality is coming through more and more all the time, so much fun **cute picture of Peanut's new teeth here**.

Dumpling Day was a great time for Peanut to take in the family. I kinda think of it as a family holiday. We don't get together for the typical ones (Easter, Turkey Day, President's Day), only Christmas, so this is one day to get all those who can make it together. We eat lots of good ol' food and enjoy the company.

On to the rest... BigCat is in a lull with fishing (I think) which means we have more time together **insert picture of BigCat**, but I'm sure he'll be itchin for the next season very soon **BigCat w/ fish**. The pup needs her teeth cleaned, really hoped we wouldn't have to do it yearly, but her breath keeps sneaking up on us **cute puppy pic**. Work - tough day, the awesome PT hours and benefits are keeping me there. And last but not least... T minus 12 days til Mexico!!!

Work Shmork

That's right, I should be working right now. However, my internet is down at home (ugh!) so in order to keep up with my bloggin', I gotta sacrifice a little of the paid hour. Oh darn!

MIL said it... our dress shopping was a complete success! Yay! That woman is what I call a 'Shopping Charm', really the best I know. Not only did we find one dress, but 4! And not a single one of them needs altering, it truly is a gift. The bad news is that I may not be getting my #4, after some calling by Macy's to locate another one, it has now been lost. I'm bummed but am going to do what I can to find another just like it. Thanks to the WWW, it may be very possible. For those of you looking, I found one (my fave) at Black House White Market... that one is for my very special SIN's (sister-in-law) wedding. The other 3 were from Macy's, two of which are very summer wedding, beach or no beach, appropriate.

About this name thing... I won't be using people's real names (I'm copying my bloggin' cousin on this one) so need to become creative. I don't think my SIN probably likes SIN as a name, so what shall I call her... Maybe SeaShell... The hubby will be BigCat for now and the babe Peanut. Just so we're all on one page. As people are brought into the bloggin' equation, I'll strike up some names.

Back to work, all of you! Oh, maybe just me...