Steve's dad, Frank, is in Iraq for the third time. He works as an employee of the federal government, working with the military, and his job is to troubleshoot mechanical problems on the equipment. He's on a base in Baghdad.
He calls Steve when he can, and he's reported that they are experiencing almost constant mortaring, much more than he heard on his previous trips. Yesterday, he called Steve and told him they were under heavy ground fire. He said they knocked out communications on the base for a long while and that two GI's were hit with mortar rounds on the base today but are still alive. He said they keep having black outs on the base to avoid being targeted during the night hours.
I know there are thousands of families like us that are riveted to the television when news of the Iraq war is played. It seems even more difficult to be separated by the war during Christmas.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Friday, December 22, 2006
It's Friday!
It's so nicely quiet here at the office. That is, except for the kids who were brought to work since daycare is closed. :-)
One of our newer employees made the comment the other day that we've had more holiday parties/lunches/happy hours than every place he's ever worked added together! (He's young, so he probably hasn't worked many places, but still...) Everyone is in a festive mood, even though the weather has been unseasonably warm. And we work so hard during the year, it's a good time to show our appreciation for their great work.
Our new building has some new features, some good and some that just take getting used to. Most of the windows on my floor face West, and the Texas sunsets have been spectacular to view. We have a parking garage, which I like as protection against spring hail storms and shade in the hot summer, and you have to have a security card to open the doors to the elevator and into our suite. One tricky thing is the bathrooms are located outside our suite, so you have to remember to take your card with you to get back in!
Janet, my BF, and her daughter Annie, my goddaughter, are coming up today to see my new digs and then we're all going to lunch. Annie just had all four wisdom teeth out, and she's milking the sympathy! (She's doing well and has good painkillers.)
One of our newer employees made the comment the other day that we've had more holiday parties/lunches/happy hours than every place he's ever worked added together! (He's young, so he probably hasn't worked many places, but still...) Everyone is in a festive mood, even though the weather has been unseasonably warm. And we work so hard during the year, it's a good time to show our appreciation for their great work.
Our new building has some new features, some good and some that just take getting used to. Most of the windows on my floor face West, and the Texas sunsets have been spectacular to view. We have a parking garage, which I like as protection against spring hail storms and shade in the hot summer, and you have to have a security card to open the doors to the elevator and into our suite. One tricky thing is the bathrooms are located outside our suite, so you have to remember to take your card with you to get back in!
Janet, my BF, and her daughter Annie, my goddaughter, are coming up today to see my new digs and then we're all going to lunch. Annie just had all four wisdom teeth out, and she's milking the sympathy! (She's doing well and has good painkillers.)
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Travel Hell
I left the office Monday night and headed to the airport, as I was scheduled for a 7:30 flight to Cincinnati.
After a lovely (?) meal at the airport, they made an announcement that the plane was delayed 3 hours. It would now be arriving in Cinci at 2 a.m.! I decided to take a flight in the morning instead and have a nice sleep in my own bed. The only catch was I didn't get my checked luggage back. It went on to Cinci with all my toiletries and my special pillow. (I have a bad neck, and my pillow makes a huge difference in my comfort. This was the first time I decided to take it on a trip with me. Oh well!)
I stopped by the grocery store on the way home and picked up some make-do make-up. Steve was happy to have me home, even though I did have to get up early the next morning for another flight.
Since I had packed my black suit, I decided to wear my brown one. That is, until I clumsily splattered small droplets of the make-up I had just bought on the pants. Argh...it wasn't coming out, so I wore my last available suit.
Got to the airport on time, checked the monitors, and guess what? FLIGHT CANCELLED due to mechanical failure. Oh, geez.
I was able to catch a flight to Dayton, which is where I needed to end up that afternoon anyway. (I had a meeting in Cinci in the morning and was driving down with a colleague from there to a pitch in Dayton. I obviously missed the morning meeting, but I did finally make it to the pitch!)
The pitch was in the smallest, warmest conference room ever. There were 12 people crammed around a table, and the heat was almost unbearable. Our presentation was good, but the main decision maker was doing the slow blinks of sleepiness.
And, not to be outdone, our returning flight was delayed an hour. I finally got back to Dallas and found my luggage, which had travelled its own path to Cinci and back without me, and climbed into bed at 11 p.m.
After a lovely (?) meal at the airport, they made an announcement that the plane was delayed 3 hours. It would now be arriving in Cinci at 2 a.m.! I decided to take a flight in the morning instead and have a nice sleep in my own bed. The only catch was I didn't get my checked luggage back. It went on to Cinci with all my toiletries and my special pillow. (I have a bad neck, and my pillow makes a huge difference in my comfort. This was the first time I decided to take it on a trip with me. Oh well!)
I stopped by the grocery store on the way home and picked up some make-do make-up. Steve was happy to have me home, even though I did have to get up early the next morning for another flight.
Since I had packed my black suit, I decided to wear my brown one. That is, until I clumsily splattered small droplets of the make-up I had just bought on the pants. Argh...it wasn't coming out, so I wore my last available suit.
Got to the airport on time, checked the monitors, and guess what? FLIGHT CANCELLED due to mechanical failure. Oh, geez.
I was able to catch a flight to Dayton, which is where I needed to end up that afternoon anyway. (I had a meeting in Cinci in the morning and was driving down with a colleague from there to a pitch in Dayton. I obviously missed the morning meeting, but I did finally make it to the pitch!)
The pitch was in the smallest, warmest conference room ever. There were 12 people crammed around a table, and the heat was almost unbearable. Our presentation was good, but the main decision maker was doing the slow blinks of sleepiness.
And, not to be outdone, our returning flight was delayed an hour. I finally got back to Dallas and found my luggage, which had travelled its own path to Cinci and back without me, and climbed into bed at 11 p.m.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Draggin'
Can you believe Christmas is just a week away?
It sure doesn't feel like it in Dallas. It's been 75-80* here! Crazy. My new office, on the other hand, is as cold as a meat locker. I'm hoping we can get that adjusted to something more normal once all the construction is complete.
Steve and I were pretty sedate this past weekend. Steve is recovering from a cold, and I must be fighting it off because my energy has been really low. We did get our Christmas shopping complete. Steve's list sure is a lot simpler than mine: his kids and me. We also picked out frames for his new glasses. We were suprised to realize he had gotten his prescription in October. How time flies! (I'll post a picture of him with his new specs once he gets them home. He says he can turn in his walking stick now.)
We are sending out cards. We finally picked out a picture and are getting them created. They are supposed to be ready tomorrow or Wednesday. I hope they get to England on time!
It sure doesn't feel like it in Dallas. It's been 75-80* here! Crazy. My new office, on the other hand, is as cold as a meat locker. I'm hoping we can get that adjusted to something more normal once all the construction is complete.
Steve and I were pretty sedate this past weekend. Steve is recovering from a cold, and I must be fighting it off because my energy has been really low. We did get our Christmas shopping complete. Steve's list sure is a lot simpler than mine: his kids and me. We also picked out frames for his new glasses. We were suprised to realize he had gotten his prescription in October. How time flies! (I'll post a picture of him with his new specs once he gets them home. He says he can turn in his walking stick now.)
We are sending out cards. We finally picked out a picture and are getting them created. They are supposed to be ready tomorrow or Wednesday. I hope they get to England on time!
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
New Digs
Well, I almost got choked up leaving the office yesterday for the last time. Since joining the company 6 and a half years ago, I had a lot of memories in that building. I've grown a lot, too.
The drive took me an hour and 15 minutes as expected. I now have an OFFICE with a WINDOW. Although the window overlooks a concrete courtyard, if you lean over, you can see trees. Most everyone is happy and excited about the new digs, and people are busy milling around, finding where others are sitting and eating the breakfast our owners set out for us.
Plus, we have a parking garage, and they're building a gym in the building that we will have free access to. Not bad!
The drive took me an hour and 15 minutes as expected. I now have an OFFICE with a WINDOW. Although the window overlooks a concrete courtyard, if you lean over, you can see trees. Most everyone is happy and excited about the new digs, and people are busy milling around, finding where others are sitting and eating the breakfast our owners set out for us.
Plus, we have a parking garage, and they're building a gym in the building that we will have free access to. Not bad!
Monday, December 11, 2006
Long time no post
Yes, I'm still alive. [in response to Stephanie's call]
I've just been busy with all the changes going on here (mostly work-related) and didn't think you'd want to read another post about my busy work!
We are moving offices, to a new building across town. We have completely outgrown our current facilities, and because we are adding another 24 or so new employees before the end of the year, we MUST move now to accommodate them. We have no additional space in this building or in the parking lot, which has become quite competitive just to get a space.
I'm in the first of three waves of the move, and my stuff will be relocated on Tuesday night. I've packed up the majority of my things, but I still have more to do today.
I'm excited about the new space and about the fact that I get a window office, but the new location is so much further from my home. I'm estimating on a good day, it will take me 75 minutes to drive there.
So, Steve and I continue to work on the house and hope to move closer into town. We nearly killed ourselves this weekend with yard and pool work, and we met with realtors Saturday afternoon. We are hoping to get from them a condensed list of what needs to be done to sell as well as a market analysis and estimated sale price.
When I think about that drive, I'm ready to move now.
I've just been busy with all the changes going on here (mostly work-related) and didn't think you'd want to read another post about my busy work!
We are moving offices, to a new building across town. We have completely outgrown our current facilities, and because we are adding another 24 or so new employees before the end of the year, we MUST move now to accommodate them. We have no additional space in this building or in the parking lot, which has become quite competitive just to get a space.
I'm in the first of three waves of the move, and my stuff will be relocated on Tuesday night. I've packed up the majority of my things, but I still have more to do today.
I'm excited about the new space and about the fact that I get a window office, but the new location is so much further from my home. I'm estimating on a good day, it will take me 75 minutes to drive there.
So, Steve and I continue to work on the house and hope to move closer into town. We nearly killed ourselves this weekend with yard and pool work, and we met with realtors Saturday afternoon. We are hoping to get from them a condensed list of what needs to be done to sell as well as a market analysis and estimated sale price.
When I think about that drive, I'm ready to move now.
Monday, December 04, 2006
Gettin' Lovins in Houston
Posting from Houston, where I arrived last night. My bro-in-law Al, my mom and the twins came to pick me up. Paige and Graham kept saying "Auntie Emily! Auntie Emily!" in a singsong voice. It was great. I got BIG hugs and whopper kisses, too.
Today, we helped Steph decorate the outside of her house. She is SERIOUS about her decorations! Every year, she finds new additions after the season (on sale). She has three gingerbread houses with six gingerbread kids, two snowmen, two lighted garlands, a blow-up snow globe and a blow-up penguins with candy canes. Then there are wreaths and additional lights sprinkled throughout the front yard.
Steph is still recuperating from last week's hospital stay, but she is in good spirits. Tomorrow, more family is coming in to join in her annual Christmas Tea, ladies only. Should be fun!
Today, we helped Steph decorate the outside of her house. She is SERIOUS about her decorations! Every year, she finds new additions after the season (on sale). She has three gingerbread houses with six gingerbread kids, two snowmen, two lighted garlands, a blow-up snow globe and a blow-up penguins with candy canes. Then there are wreaths and additional lights sprinkled throughout the front yard.
Steph is still recuperating from last week's hospital stay, but she is in good spirits. Tomorrow, more family is coming in to join in her annual Christmas Tea, ladies only. Should be fun!
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Week in Review
I've been trying to think of something good to write all week. I haven't thought of much.
First, my sister Stephanie was in the hospital with kidney stones. She's fine now, but that is so very painful. And I feel like that is more her place to tell the story.
Work is busy, but that's hardly new.
It was unseasonably warm early in the week, and last night, a big cold front came through. Today we had ice, sleet and snow. I looked outside at one point, and the snow was swirling all around with the wind. It looked like I was in a snow globe!
One new thing I'm trying this week is based on an article I read, "What does it take to lead a happier life?" Researchers are studying how to increase happiness, and the article refers to a simple exercise: every night, think of three good things that happened that day and analyze why they occurred.
It's a bit like the Gratitude Journal that was made popular by Oprah and Sarah Ban Breathnach, author of Simple Abundance, a few years ago. The thing I like about this exercise is the analysis of why those things happened.
On Monday, one of my good things was this snuggly baby I got to hold at the hospital. My analysis of why this happened? Because I volunteer. That made me give credit to myself and realizing how much I get out of giving.
Anyway, I figure it can't hurt, and who knows? It might just increase my happiness level.
First, my sister Stephanie was in the hospital with kidney stones. She's fine now, but that is so very painful. And I feel like that is more her place to tell the story.
Work is busy, but that's hardly new.
It was unseasonably warm early in the week, and last night, a big cold front came through. Today we had ice, sleet and snow. I looked outside at one point, and the snow was swirling all around with the wind. It looked like I was in a snow globe!
One new thing I'm trying this week is based on an article I read, "What does it take to lead a happier life?" Researchers are studying how to increase happiness, and the article refers to a simple exercise: every night, think of three good things that happened that day and analyze why they occurred.
It's a bit like the Gratitude Journal that was made popular by Oprah and Sarah Ban Breathnach, author of Simple Abundance, a few years ago. The thing I like about this exercise is the analysis of why those things happened.
On Monday, one of my good things was this snuggly baby I got to hold at the hospital. My analysis of why this happened? Because I volunteer. That made me give credit to myself and realizing how much I get out of giving.
Anyway, I figure it can't hurt, and who knows? It might just increase my happiness level.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
A Good Start
Everything went well!
The kids arrived on Wednesday night, and we went out to a Japanese hibachi restaurant. Steve's son Declan was very comfortable around me, acting like he sees me all the time. (We met in February.) His daughter Hayden was shy as Steve had predicted. She only spoke to him through dinner, and I tried to make comments, to which she would politely smile and then turn back to him.
Thursday was the Big Day, and I started by cooking the pies. The kids helped peel the apples for the apple pie, and Hayden helped me with the stuffing. Otherwise, I was pretty much on my own. I didn't want to make them help if they didn't want to. I was also really missing my sisters and parents. We usually are all in the kitchen talking and preparing together.
The kids were thrilled about the shrimp cocktail, which I served in martini glasses. They tried everything, including my family recipes for spinach casserole, turnips & carrots and Chachie's cranberry relish.
On Friday, Steve took the kids to a museum and bowling. I went shopping by myself and almost got my whole Christmas list done! We met back at the house for dinner. I made a cheese fondue appetizer (big hit) and turkey pot pie (also enjoyed). Later, Hayden helped me wrap some gifts, and we had a great talk.
Saturday was a short day with the kids as they headed back to Albuquerque that afternoon. We had a nice breakfast together and some shopping. They were so sad to say goodbye to their dad, and he is still sad at having to say goodbye to them.
The kids arrived on Wednesday night, and we went out to a Japanese hibachi restaurant. Steve's son Declan was very comfortable around me, acting like he sees me all the time. (We met in February.) His daughter Hayden was shy as Steve had predicted. She only spoke to him through dinner, and I tried to make comments, to which she would politely smile and then turn back to him.
Thursday was the Big Day, and I started by cooking the pies. The kids helped peel the apples for the apple pie, and Hayden helped me with the stuffing. Otherwise, I was pretty much on my own. I didn't want to make them help if they didn't want to. I was also really missing my sisters and parents. We usually are all in the kitchen talking and preparing together.
The kids were thrilled about the shrimp cocktail, which I served in martini glasses. They tried everything, including my family recipes for spinach casserole, turnips & carrots and Chachie's cranberry relish.
On Friday, Steve took the kids to a museum and bowling. I went shopping by myself and almost got my whole Christmas list done! We met back at the house for dinner. I made a cheese fondue appetizer (big hit) and turkey pot pie (also enjoyed). Later, Hayden helped me wrap some gifts, and we had a great talk.
Saturday was a short day with the kids as they headed back to Albuquerque that afternoon. We had a nice breakfast together and some shopping. They were so sad to say goodbye to their dad, and he is still sad at having to say goodbye to them.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Getting Ready
This Thursday is Thanksgiving, and instead of the usual big family get-together, Steve and I will be hosting his two kids, Hayden, age 13 and Declan, age 11. I'm excited and nervous and anxious. But I will miss all my family, getting together at Jennifer's house.
It's a little strange to only have four people for Thanksgiving. (that's four including me!) I don't even need my extra leaf in the table! But Steve and I both agreed that it's best to have a small gathering for me to get to know the kids better. We also thought it might be a little overwhelming to introduce them to all my family just yet!
To make it a little easier for them, I asked Steve what they traditionally have in the menu. I'm making apple and pumpkin pies for dessert (I will miss your pecan pie, Daddy!). And for an appetizer, we're having shrimp cocktail, which became a family tradition for them when they lived in Germany and couldn't get a turkey.
It's a little strange to only have four people for Thanksgiving. (that's four including me!) I don't even need my extra leaf in the table! But Steve and I both agreed that it's best to have a small gathering for me to get to know the kids better. We also thought it might be a little overwhelming to introduce them to all my family just yet!
To make it a little easier for them, I asked Steve what they traditionally have in the menu. I'm making apple and pumpkin pies for dessert (I will miss your pecan pie, Daddy!). And for an appetizer, we're having shrimp cocktail, which became a family tradition for them when they lived in Germany and couldn't get a turkey.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
A New Experience
Thursday and Friday were a completely new experience for me. We were interviewing and filming the patients I mentioned in my post last week about What's Real. I learned I'm pretty good at interviewing. The hardest part for me is that I couldn't make verbal or auditory cues, like saying "Oh" and "Mm hm" while they were speaking. We're editing out the questions altogether, so all you'll hear is the person's story. I gave a lot of thumbs-up and big smiles. And if they said something particularly funny, I had to do a silent laugh! I wanted to encourage them and make them feel as comfortable as possible to tell their story while being as quiet as possible. I almost felt like I was doing charades.
After our first day of filming on Thursday, my cheeks hurt from smiling so much! I also found that I was completely exhausted. I went to bed at 8:30 (which I never do) and slept soundly until the next morning.
Each of the people we were interviewing aren't actors, so everyone was nervous in front of the camera with the hot lights and many production people in the room. I tried to make each feel comfortable and let them know that their unique story is important and inspiring. We got some incredible footage -- more than we had expected -- and the clients were thrilled.
After our first day of filming on Thursday, my cheeks hurt from smiling so much! I also found that I was completely exhausted. I went to bed at 8:30 (which I never do) and slept soundly until the next morning.
Each of the people we were interviewing aren't actors, so everyone was nervous in front of the camera with the hot lights and many production people in the room. I tried to make each feel comfortable and let them know that their unique story is important and inspiring. We got some incredible footage -- more than we had expected -- and the clients were thrilled.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
How would you describe me in one word?
On the radio this morning, one of the DJs brought up the idea of describing each other in one word. They got a variety of responses from listeners and coworkers.
It got me thinking. It's difficult to sum someone up in just one word. We're all so multifaceted, and it forces you to choose the most evident characteristic.
So, readers, here's your chance! How would you describe me in one word?
It got me thinking. It's difficult to sum someone up in just one word. We're all so multifaceted, and it forces you to choose the most evident characteristic.
So, readers, here's your chance! How would you describe me in one word?
Monday, November 13, 2006
The Dog with Three Families
A week and a half ago, my uncle Tom came to visit to pick up a piece of furniture I had been keeping for him. Tom used to live in the Dallas area, and he lovingly opened his home to me after my first divorce. We were roommates for awhile, until he decided to move to the Austin area to be closer to his daughter. Since he was significantly downsizing his living area, he asked me to keep his dog Scout, an energetic shepherd-greyhound mix. Scout had a heart of gold and had a way of wrapping you around her toe.
When I remarried, my new home came with two large dogs that made Scout very nervous. I was concerned for her, and my best friend Janet offered to take her into her home. It was a great situation for Scout, since Janet and her family had a huge common ground area for Scout to run around and tree the squirrels, and someone was always home to share her company.
Scout has been slowing down fairly significantly lately, showing signs of arthritis in her stiff joints and the advancing stages of dementia. I told Tom he needed to come visit to say goodbye.
Tom was here on a Tuesday. We had a lovely visit with Scout, including all three of us: Tom, Janet and myself. Then we had dinner and toasted what a beautiful spirit she is.
Last Friday, Janet had to make the excruciating decision to put her down. Scout had gotten so restless and animated, she didn't sleep for three days and then collapsed. Unfortunately, the procedure didn't go as smoothly as hoped, but we know now Scout is in a better place, hopefully full of squirrels to chase. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
When I remarried, my new home came with two large dogs that made Scout very nervous. I was concerned for her, and my best friend Janet offered to take her into her home. It was a great situation for Scout, since Janet and her family had a huge common ground area for Scout to run around and tree the squirrels, and someone was always home to share her company.
Scout has been slowing down fairly significantly lately, showing signs of arthritis in her stiff joints and the advancing stages of dementia. I told Tom he needed to come visit to say goodbye.
Tom was here on a Tuesday. We had a lovely visit with Scout, including all three of us: Tom, Janet and myself. Then we had dinner and toasted what a beautiful spirit she is.
Last Friday, Janet had to make the excruciating decision to put her down. Scout had gotten so restless and animated, she didn't sleep for three days and then collapsed. Unfortunately, the procedure didn't go as smoothly as hoped, but we know now Scout is in a better place, hopefully full of squirrels to chase. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Ready to Blow
Oh, I'm so overwhelmed! I've been working all morning and still have 200 unread emails in my inbox. My supervisor told me people are telling him they can't get enough of my time on their particular projects -- no wonder since I'm overallocated as it is. He said they weren't complaining about my work, just that I'm not focused on their projects. Huh. I'm going 100 mph and not able to keep up.
I haven't had a vacation since March when Steve & I went to Hawaii. I started feeling really burned out in August. Now, mid-November, I feel whipped.
Do you ever have so many emails, phone calls, lists of things to do that you don't know where to start? Everything's urgent, making it difficult to prioritize. I can't wait until Thanksgiving, to have a couple days off, but then I don't know how I'll have time to take it off. There's too much to do!
This is why I have no interesting blog stories. I think about topics to write about and sometimes create the stories in my head, but I'm either away from a computer (flying) or am too tired by the time I get to a computer. Or, I decide the topic isn't blog-worthy.
I haven't had a vacation since March when Steve & I went to Hawaii. I started feeling really burned out in August. Now, mid-November, I feel whipped.
Do you ever have so many emails, phone calls, lists of things to do that you don't know where to start? Everything's urgent, making it difficult to prioritize. I can't wait until Thanksgiving, to have a couple days off, but then I don't know how I'll have time to take it off. There's too much to do!
This is why I have no interesting blog stories. I think about topics to write about and sometimes create the stories in my head, but I'm either away from a computer (flying) or am too tired by the time I get to a computer. Or, I decide the topic isn't blog-worthy.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
What's Real
Are you still reading? Did you think I dropped off the face of the earth?
Tonight I'm in Indianapolis. Work has been rough lately. I've been travelling every week for the past 4 weeks, and clients have been coming into town for meetings, too. At the end of the year, they all seem to find budget dollars that must be spent before year-end. It's good, but it's crazy busy.
Monday and Tuesday of this week, I was interviewing people who have a particular life-threatening disease, which I'm not mentioning on the blog because the project is still confidential. It was so moving hearing their stories. It reminded me why I chose health education as my major in college. It just felt so real, listening to their real-life struggles, and it puts most everything else into perspective.
These people -- men, women, black and white, young and old -- told how they now appreciate the small things, like rain, the breeze, and especially family and friends. Many of them spoke of God and said they felt they had a reason to be here. They sounded so certain. I've never felt that certain about my purpose. It makes sense to me that one man described his disease as "a blessing and a curse."
Tonight I'm in Indianapolis. Work has been rough lately. I've been travelling every week for the past 4 weeks, and clients have been coming into town for meetings, too. At the end of the year, they all seem to find budget dollars that must be spent before year-end. It's good, but it's crazy busy.
Monday and Tuesday of this week, I was interviewing people who have a particular life-threatening disease, which I'm not mentioning on the blog because the project is still confidential. It was so moving hearing their stories. It reminded me why I chose health education as my major in college. It just felt so real, listening to their real-life struggles, and it puts most everything else into perspective.
These people -- men, women, black and white, young and old -- told how they now appreciate the small things, like rain, the breeze, and especially family and friends. Many of them spoke of God and said they felt they had a reason to be here. They sounded so certain. I've never felt that certain about my purpose. It makes sense to me that one man described his disease as "a blessing and a curse."
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Hellacious Travel Day
I had to travel for a client visit yesterday. Dallas to Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina and back in one day, and I didn't have direct flights. I had to get up before the sun (5 a.m.) and wasn't home until 11 p.m.
My colleagues and I were delayed at our stop-over, so we called to let the client know we were running a bit late. Then, the cab driver we got didn't know how to get to our client's. He called a friend and spoke a foreign language and supposedly got directions. However, I've been there several times and could tell he was going the wrong way. We asked him to turn around, and from the left lane -- not the turning lane -- and without looking, he proceeds to do a U-turn. Unfortunately for him, another driver was coming up in the left turn lane, and they collided. A little whiplash makes the day that much better, doesn't it?
We got to meet a friendly North Carolina state trooper as we waited on the side of the road for our client to come pick us up.
Our presentation went well, and the cab ride back to the airport was uneventful. We took our two flights home, only slightly delayed, and when I landed, I called Steve.
"I've got some news," he said.
Something in his voice made me cringe inside. "Okay..."
"Al's coming through Dallas/Fort Worth and is going to stay with us tonight."
Al (not Steph's Al, this is formerly-dairy-farmer-Al from Wisconsin) was Steve's late sister's boyfriend up until her death from lung cancer three years ago. He is like family and was extremely generous to us when we visited Wisconsin in July, allowing us to borrow a car and stay at his farmhouse. He has recently sold the farm and cows and traded it for the open road, trucking across country with various loads on a flatbed. I like him, and of course, he's always welcome, but after a long day of travel, I didn't really feel up to entertaining.
But Al is very easy-going, and Steve did most of the "entertaining." They were understanding when I went to bed. And luckily, we cleaned the house this weekend in anticipation of my uncle Tom's visit today. He should be arriving any minute now.
P.S. The Cakebread wine dinner was FANTASTIC!
My colleagues and I were delayed at our stop-over, so we called to let the client know we were running a bit late. Then, the cab driver we got didn't know how to get to our client's. He called a friend and spoke a foreign language and supposedly got directions. However, I've been there several times and could tell he was going the wrong way. We asked him to turn around, and from the left lane -- not the turning lane -- and without looking, he proceeds to do a U-turn. Unfortunately for him, another driver was coming up in the left turn lane, and they collided. A little whiplash makes the day that much better, doesn't it?
We got to meet a friendly North Carolina state trooper as we waited on the side of the road for our client to come pick us up.
Our presentation went well, and the cab ride back to the airport was uneventful. We took our two flights home, only slightly delayed, and when I landed, I called Steve.
"I've got some news," he said.
Something in his voice made me cringe inside. "Okay..."
"Al's coming through Dallas/Fort Worth and is going to stay with us tonight."
Al (not Steph's Al, this is formerly-dairy-farmer-Al from Wisconsin) was Steve's late sister's boyfriend up until her death from lung cancer three years ago. He is like family and was extremely generous to us when we visited Wisconsin in July, allowing us to borrow a car and stay at his farmhouse. He has recently sold the farm and cows and traded it for the open road, trucking across country with various loads on a flatbed. I like him, and of course, he's always welcome, but after a long day of travel, I didn't really feel up to entertaining.
But Al is very easy-going, and Steve did most of the "entertaining." They were understanding when I went to bed. And luckily, we cleaned the house this weekend in anticipation of my uncle Tom's visit today. He should be arriving any minute now.
P.S. The Cakebread wine dinner was FANTASTIC!
Friday, October 27, 2006
Sweet Ending to a Busy Week.
What a crazy week this has been! I've had two new business pitches and an in-office client visit, leaving hardly any time to do my project work. Am I glad it's Friday! Unfortunately, I will be travelling again on Monday to visit another client. I'm very disappointed that Monday is the day my company has decided to have its annual Halloween costume party. It's one of my favorite days here at work with everyone dressed in costume, and I'm sorry to miss it.
But I'm really looking forward to tonight. Steve and I have a date night planned at the restaurant where we met. They are hosting a Cakebread Vineyards wine dinner, featuring Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The chef is preparing a four course meal to go along with these fantastic wines, including scallops and filet mignon.
But I'm really looking forward to tonight. Steve and I have a date night planned at the restaurant where we met. They are hosting a Cakebread Vineyards wine dinner, featuring Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The chef is preparing a four course meal to go along with these fantastic wines, including scallops and filet mignon.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Baby Work
It was a busy night at the hospital tonight. They are short-staffed, so all the nurses were really happy to see me.
I fed three babies and held a fourth. One of the babies was born 3 months ago at 26-27 weeks -- about as early as they can survive. He's having trouble breathing and is still on oxygen. He scared us all at one point holding his breath and making all the alarms sound. He's also been constipated for the past five days (!) and finally had a good bowel movement after a suppository.
Another little girl is getting a chemotherapy agent to treat cytomegalovirus (CMV). It's a common virus that's part of the herpes family of viruses, but in premature infants, it can cause all sorts of problems, including hearing, vision and neurological problems. Poor little thing. She's obviously going through a very tough treatment.
The second little girl I fed was born without any opening for urine or poop to come out. So strange...she currently has an ostomy and a catheter of sorts to allow the waste to get out of her body. I don't know what the doctors will do long-term for her.
So keep these little ones in your prayers.
I fed three babies and held a fourth. One of the babies was born 3 months ago at 26-27 weeks -- about as early as they can survive. He's having trouble breathing and is still on oxygen. He scared us all at one point holding his breath and making all the alarms sound. He's also been constipated for the past five days (!) and finally had a good bowel movement after a suppository.
Another little girl is getting a chemotherapy agent to treat cytomegalovirus (CMV). It's a common virus that's part of the herpes family of viruses, but in premature infants, it can cause all sorts of problems, including hearing, vision and neurological problems. Poor little thing. She's obviously going through a very tough treatment.
The second little girl I fed was born without any opening for urine or poop to come out. So strange...she currently has an ostomy and a catheter of sorts to allow the waste to get out of her body. I don't know what the doctors will do long-term for her.
So keep these little ones in your prayers.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Just like the rest of us
On Friday, I flew up to Cincinnati for a client meeting and back to Dallas all in one day. It’s a grueling schedule, starting at 6 in the morning. And it’s on American Eagle. So much for their “more legroom” advertising campaign. This plane is cramped.
All I want to do when I get onboard the airplane is sleep, but I have to prepare for the meeting I’m going to since I haven’t had time this week to review the materials. Still, comfort is important.
Before we take off, a small child is screaming loudly somewhere behind me. Great, I think. (I love children, but when I’m travelling, especially this early in the morning, my patience for them is greatly reduced.)
Then the person behind me keeps messing with my seat back. Any traveller expects some jostling as people get settled, but this just keeps going and going. I finally do the half-turn of my head to signal my annoyance, thinking perhaps this person is so self-absorbed they don’t realize the effect they are having on me.
The woman sitting next to me says, “Do you know who that is?”
Since I didn’t actually turn all the way around and see the person’s face, I say, “No.”
“It’s Daryl Johnson!” (former Cowboys football player and local celebrity)
I turn around again, and sure enough, it is.
“He keeps bumping my seat,” I explain to my neighbor.
Celebrity or no, he should still be more considerate.
I’m not one to get too excited about celebrities. When I was about fourteen, visiting my aunt in California, we saw Sylvester Stalone at an outdoor shopping mall. I was so excited and politely asked him for his autograph. He was so rude to me, not even glancing my way, signing the paper and disdainfully handing it back to me while blowing cigar smoke. I was so unimpressed, I threw the autograph away. Since then, I’ve seen Jamie Lee Curtis at an airport (she’s angular and too thin) and had the opportunity to meet Paula Zahn (I was a big fan at the time, and a bit starstruck. She was also rail thin and looked like she needed to eat. Still, she was polite and let me take a picture with her. I have no idea where that snapshot is now.)
I guess I adhere to the idea that they are just human beings like me. We all put our pants on one leg at a time. We all have our foibles and our baggage, our own crosses to carry, even if some are better at concealing theirs than others.
All I want to do when I get onboard the airplane is sleep, but I have to prepare for the meeting I’m going to since I haven’t had time this week to review the materials. Still, comfort is important.
Before we take off, a small child is screaming loudly somewhere behind me. Great, I think. (I love children, but when I’m travelling, especially this early in the morning, my patience for them is greatly reduced.)
Then the person behind me keeps messing with my seat back. Any traveller expects some jostling as people get settled, but this just keeps going and going. I finally do the half-turn of my head to signal my annoyance, thinking perhaps this person is so self-absorbed they don’t realize the effect they are having on me.
The woman sitting next to me says, “Do you know who that is?”
Since I didn’t actually turn all the way around and see the person’s face, I say, “No.”
“It’s Daryl Johnson!” (former Cowboys football player and local celebrity)
I turn around again, and sure enough, it is.
“He keeps bumping my seat,” I explain to my neighbor.
Celebrity or no, he should still be more considerate.
I’m not one to get too excited about celebrities. When I was about fourteen, visiting my aunt in California, we saw Sylvester Stalone at an outdoor shopping mall. I was so excited and politely asked him for his autograph. He was so rude to me, not even glancing my way, signing the paper and disdainfully handing it back to me while blowing cigar smoke. I was so unimpressed, I threw the autograph away. Since then, I’ve seen Jamie Lee Curtis at an airport (she’s angular and too thin) and had the opportunity to meet Paula Zahn (I was a big fan at the time, and a bit starstruck. She was also rail thin and looked like she needed to eat. Still, she was polite and let me take a picture with her. I have no idea where that snapshot is now.)
I guess I adhere to the idea that they are just human beings like me. We all put our pants on one leg at a time. We all have our foibles and our baggage, our own crosses to carry, even if some are better at concealing theirs than others.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
My New Teeth
Well, I survived 2 hours and 45 minutes at the dentist this morning. My face was all puffed up and I was numb from my cheekbone to my nose and down to my chin for several hours, but I have minimal pain now. The temporary crowns look good, and he also fixed a chip in another tooth and a small cavity in another.
I went into work afterwards, but since I looked like I had suffered a stroke (the left half of my face was just not responding), it was difficult for anyone to look at me and hear what I was saying. Besides, I didn't feel so great, so I took my laptop home and am now sitting on the couch working, looking out the window at a beautiful sunny day and having my snuggly Sabrina beside me. And Steve brought me some beautiful flowers that are brightening up the room.
I went into work afterwards, but since I looked like I had suffered a stroke (the left half of my face was just not responding), it was difficult for anyone to look at me and hear what I was saying. Besides, I didn't feel so great, so I took my laptop home and am now sitting on the couch working, looking out the window at a beautiful sunny day and having my snuggly Sabrina beside me. And Steve brought me some beautiful flowers that are brightening up the room.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Bad News
I had a regular dental cleaning appointment this afternoon. I haven't had any major problems, but I did mention I've had periodic sensitivity in the top left teeth. Nothing overwhelming. I figured it was a small cavity.
"Which one? Second from the back or third from the back?"
I'm not sure. Can't really specify.
"Oh...it looks like you have a hairline crack across both of those teeth."
WHAT?!?
Oh yes, since I clench and grind my teeth at night, I have created two new cracked teeth. (My first cracked tooth resulted in my first crown earlier this year.)
And it gets better! Since the other crown was also in this calendar year, I'm nearing the end of what my insurance will cover. I have to pay an additional $2000 out of pocket for these lovely crowns.
"The sooner you get this done, the better."
How soon is soon?
"Tomorrow wouldn't be a bad idea. If you wait, they may crack deeper, requiring root canals. The deeper the divide goes, you may not even be able to save the tooth with a root canal and that would require extraction."
I am too young to have a partial! I have an appointment tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. And I am NOT a morning person.
"Which one? Second from the back or third from the back?"
I'm not sure. Can't really specify.
"Oh...it looks like you have a hairline crack across both of those teeth."
WHAT?!?
Oh yes, since I clench and grind my teeth at night, I have created two new cracked teeth. (My first cracked tooth resulted in my first crown earlier this year.)
And it gets better! Since the other crown was also in this calendar year, I'm nearing the end of what my insurance will cover. I have to pay an additional $2000 out of pocket for these lovely crowns.
"The sooner you get this done, the better."
How soon is soon?
"Tomorrow wouldn't be a bad idea. If you wait, they may crack deeper, requiring root canals. The deeper the divide goes, you may not even be able to save the tooth with a root canal and that would require extraction."
I am too young to have a partial! I have an appointment tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. And I am NOT a morning person.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Happy Monday
I called my mom this morning to wish her a happy birthday. She and my dad are in Niagra Falls, and she sounded so happy. She had told my dad she wanted to go to either Niagra or the Grand Canyon, and about a month ago, it didn't look like either one was going to work out. Fortunately, it did, and they are enjoying the Falls and their time together.
Birthdays are a great time to reflect how much someone means to you. My mom is such a special person to her family and friends. She's an organizer, from making lists to getting people together. She's incredibly loyal to her family. Her sweet demeanor and polished appearance hide a lioness ready to protect those she loves. She's an incredibly hard worker. I've seen her not only at home but also in an office situation, and she's well respected for her diligence and persistence.
And she's a Baby Boomer. She was conceived after her dad came home from WWII, and I think they must have been delighted with this petite, darling, blonde-haired, blue-eyed baby girl after their firstborn was a beautiful son. Now, she definitely fits the description of Boomers that state "60 is the new 40."
Happy Birthday, Momma.
Birthdays are a great time to reflect how much someone means to you. My mom is such a special person to her family and friends. She's an organizer, from making lists to getting people together. She's incredibly loyal to her family. Her sweet demeanor and polished appearance hide a lioness ready to protect those she loves. She's an incredibly hard worker. I've seen her not only at home but also in an office situation, and she's well respected for her diligence and persistence.
And she's a Baby Boomer. She was conceived after her dad came home from WWII, and I think they must have been delighted with this petite, darling, blonde-haired, blue-eyed baby girl after their firstborn was a beautiful son. Now, she definitely fits the description of Boomers that state "60 is the new 40."
Happy Birthday, Momma.
Friday, October 13, 2006
A Noise in the Night
Texas has a lot of pests. Mosquitos are one of my least favorite.
One night, shortly after we had turned out the lights to go to sleep, both Steve and I heard the telltale whining noise of a mosquito buzzing around our heads. Steve said, "It's a mosquito! Quick, turn on the light!" I did, and he successfully killed it. I was so relieved. I don't think I could have easily fell asleep waiting for that bug to feed on my blood and leave a whelp.
Sometimes, Steve wakes up in the middle of the night for an hour or two. He gets up and watches TV in the living room. He did this a few weeks ago, and as he was lying on the couch, he heard a loud whining, buzzing noise. It was louder than the one we had heard before. This thing must be massive! He turned off the volume on the TV in order to locate the bugger.
Last month, we celebrated my cat Sabrina's 13th birthday. For her special day each year, she gets wet cat food and a catnip toy. This year, I also splurged on an electronic litter box. Fifteen minutes after the cat leaves the box, a metalic rake combs the litter and moves any waste into a receptacle. It also rakes once every three hours.
As you've probably figured out, the noise Steve heard that night, his "massive mosquito," was Sabrina's new litter box!
One night, shortly after we had turned out the lights to go to sleep, both Steve and I heard the telltale whining noise of a mosquito buzzing around our heads. Steve said, "It's a mosquito! Quick, turn on the light!" I did, and he successfully killed it. I was so relieved. I don't think I could have easily fell asleep waiting for that bug to feed on my blood and leave a whelp.
Sometimes, Steve wakes up in the middle of the night for an hour or two. He gets up and watches TV in the living room. He did this a few weeks ago, and as he was lying on the couch, he heard a loud whining, buzzing noise. It was louder than the one we had heard before. This thing must be massive! He turned off the volume on the TV in order to locate the bugger.
Last month, we celebrated my cat Sabrina's 13th birthday. For her special day each year, she gets wet cat food and a catnip toy. This year, I also splurged on an electronic litter box. Fifteen minutes after the cat leaves the box, a metalic rake combs the litter and moves any waste into a receptacle. It also rakes once every three hours.
As you've probably figured out, the noise Steve heard that night, his "massive mosquito," was Sabrina's new litter box!
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Flipping a House
All last week, Steve has been in Virginia working on his rental house. I joined him last weekend to finish it up. It's amazing how much work he got done in a little over a week, and it's horrifying to see how much filth and damage the tenants had created.
We expected to paint and clean. Steve was even aware of the garage door which had been accidentally smashed by the tenant and needed replacing. But what we weren't prepared for was the overwhelming stench of cat urine in every room.
Although according to the lease agreement pets were not allowed, the former tenant let his cat use the house as his large personal litter box. That smell is so rank! Steve had professional carpet cleaners do their best, and while it lessened the odor, it was still noticeable. So he pulled out all the carpet and used Kilz to seal all the floors. New carpet has been ordered and should be installed in the next two weeks.
We also found that they must have had a small fire. There was smoke damage in the master bedroom and the adjoining hallway, and we found a spent fire extinguisher.
Then there was the filth. It appeared to me that these people had shook up soda cans and allowed them to spray on the walls and doors. The cobwebs in the corners of the ceilings were so laden with dust even the spiders had moved out. Everything was just disgustingly dirty, so it was amazing to see the transformation when we were finished.
Fortunately, Steve had help from his neighbor, who offered all his tools, and his dad, who can fix anything. They replaced faucets, fixed leaky sinks and toilets and did other repair jobs. We are also SO grateful that he already found new tenants! It's the sheriff's son, who is a policeman, and his fiance, who is an EMT. They are so excited about the house, they offered to help us clean and paint! We are hopeful that they will take better care of the place, and they promised to treat it as their own.
Steve and I often watch TV shows about flipping houses. Now, we know we could do it.
We expected to paint and clean. Steve was even aware of the garage door which had been accidentally smashed by the tenant and needed replacing. But what we weren't prepared for was the overwhelming stench of cat urine in every room.
Although according to the lease agreement pets were not allowed, the former tenant let his cat use the house as his large personal litter box. That smell is so rank! Steve had professional carpet cleaners do their best, and while it lessened the odor, it was still noticeable. So he pulled out all the carpet and used Kilz to seal all the floors. New carpet has been ordered and should be installed in the next two weeks.
We also found that they must have had a small fire. There was smoke damage in the master bedroom and the adjoining hallway, and we found a spent fire extinguisher.
Then there was the filth. It appeared to me that these people had shook up soda cans and allowed them to spray on the walls and doors. The cobwebs in the corners of the ceilings were so laden with dust even the spiders had moved out. Everything was just disgustingly dirty, so it was amazing to see the transformation when we were finished.
Fortunately, Steve had help from his neighbor, who offered all his tools, and his dad, who can fix anything. They replaced faucets, fixed leaky sinks and toilets and did other repair jobs. We are also SO grateful that he already found new tenants! It's the sheriff's son, who is a policeman, and his fiance, who is an EMT. They are so excited about the house, they offered to help us clean and paint! We are hopeful that they will take better care of the place, and they promised to treat it as their own.
Steve and I often watch TV shows about flipping houses. Now, we know we could do it.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Amazing Devastation and Hope
One of my friends (and a fellow coworker) suffered a tremendous loss a little more than a week ago. She and her husband awoke in the middle of the night to a raging house fire. It completely destroyed their home and most of their possessions, including her car. Fortunately, both her and her husband were able to get out safely with their two dogs and cat.
On Saturday, several additional coworkers and I went over to the demolished house to help her clean up. Thankfully, she had renter's insurance, and they already made plans to buy a house (which they've now closed on). But the loss of so many things makes you ponder. She lost all her clothes, Christmas decorations, antique family lamps, mementos from trips, including their honeymoon...
It was strange to see how some things were left unscathed. She was grateful that the fire skipped their office, where all their photos and documentation were kept. And all the electronic equipment in that room was also not touched by the fire, but it was ruined by the water.
Our clean-up on Saturday was to remove and take to the dump any and all personal items. The house will likely be torn down, but the insurance company requires that all of their items be removed. We rifled through roofing material mixed in with the ashes to throw away burned and soaked clothing and tossed furniture out of the second story window. There were at least 14 people there, and we got the job done in about two hours.
My friend's attitude is what really amazes me. She's such an optimistic person, and she has approached this just like anything else. She just doesn't dwell on the losses, and honestly says she's grateful they and "their babies" got out safely with a smile on her face.
She gave me a tour of the destruction, including her grill, which was melted down to a twisted mass of metal due to the intense heat of the fire. I'm thankful I've never had to experience something like that. If I ever do, I hope I can meet the challenge with the enthusiasm and optimism that she does.
Today, just to be on the safe side, I bought a fire-safe security chest for our important documents.
On Saturday, several additional coworkers and I went over to the demolished house to help her clean up. Thankfully, she had renter's insurance, and they already made plans to buy a house (which they've now closed on). But the loss of so many things makes you ponder. She lost all her clothes, Christmas decorations, antique family lamps, mementos from trips, including their honeymoon...
It was strange to see how some things were left unscathed. She was grateful that the fire skipped their office, where all their photos and documentation were kept. And all the electronic equipment in that room was also not touched by the fire, but it was ruined by the water.
Our clean-up on Saturday was to remove and take to the dump any and all personal items. The house will likely be torn down, but the insurance company requires that all of their items be removed. We rifled through roofing material mixed in with the ashes to throw away burned and soaked clothing and tossed furniture out of the second story window. There were at least 14 people there, and we got the job done in about two hours.
My friend's attitude is what really amazes me. She's such an optimistic person, and she has approached this just like anything else. She just doesn't dwell on the losses, and honestly says she's grateful they and "their babies" got out safely with a smile on her face.
She gave me a tour of the destruction, including her grill, which was melted down to a twisted mass of metal due to the intense heat of the fire. I'm thankful I've never had to experience something like that. If I ever do, I hope I can meet the challenge with the enthusiasm and optimism that she does.
Today, just to be on the safe side, I bought a fire-safe security chest for our important documents.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Regretful
While I was watching Jenn's kids, I made one horrible mistake. One evening, as we were sitting down to dinner and trying to get the kids away from the TV, the dog (Francesca) was chasing the cat, Claudio. Claudio escapes by jumping on the kitchen chairs and table, and there was a lot of chaos going on around that table. I asked my mom to open the door to the backyard to let the cat out, so he could have a respite from the dog.
That was Saturday night. Claudio hasn't come home still.
I feel awful. Claudio is a great cat, and I really enjoyed loving on him. I know Jenn loves him so.
I'm so sorry, Jenn. I wish I could undo that decision.
That was Saturday night. Claudio hasn't come home still.
I feel awful. Claudio is a great cat, and I really enjoyed loving on him. I know Jenn loves him so.
I'm so sorry, Jenn. I wish I could undo that decision.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Playing "Mom"
Last time I visited Anna and Colin, Colin kept mistakenly calling me "Jessica" -- his favorite babysitter's name. This time, he called me "mom" more than once, but I know I can't quite fill those shoes.
I don't know how Jenn does it all. I took two days off work, so I only had to focus on the very busy routine of raising a 3 and 5-year-old. She works, too!
Mornings are a little hectic. While Colin springs from bed ready to greet the world, Anna wakes more slowly. And Colin doesn't want to get dressed or eat breakfast, he wants to play or watch TV -- neither of which are in the tight schedule. Friday morning was a little crazy, but I managed to finally get them both dressed, fed and packed up, heading out the door...oh, but Anna doesn't have her shoes on! Ack!
Adding to the chaos is the dog, Francesca. She's so sweet, but she's very high maintenance. Jenn has been training her to walk on a leash properly, but she struggled with me. Still, we took a walk every day. Then there's the cat, hamster and chickens...
We had some great fun. On Friday after school, I took the kids to Dairy Queen for an afternoon ice cream. They had a blast running around the playscape, and then we drove to the airport to pick up Nana. Saturday brought a car trip to Waco, and lunch at Peter Piper Pizza. I ran around with the kids, playing all the games and trying to keep them together. I looked and felt exhausted at the end, but I think everyone had fun.
My favorite moment was on Thursday, my first full day with them on my own. Anna called to me from the bathroom, announcing she had "pooped in the potty." I went in, and she asked me to wipe her bum, which I reluctantly did. As she bent over, putting her head between my knees and wrapping her arms around my legs, she said very sincerely, "I love you, Auntie Emily."
"I love you, too, Anna." (that's why I'm wiping your bum.)
I don't know how Jenn does it all. I took two days off work, so I only had to focus on the very busy routine of raising a 3 and 5-year-old. She works, too!
Mornings are a little hectic. While Colin springs from bed ready to greet the world, Anna wakes more slowly. And Colin doesn't want to get dressed or eat breakfast, he wants to play or watch TV -- neither of which are in the tight schedule. Friday morning was a little crazy, but I managed to finally get them both dressed, fed and packed up, heading out the door...oh, but Anna doesn't have her shoes on! Ack!
Adding to the chaos is the dog, Francesca. She's so sweet, but she's very high maintenance. Jenn has been training her to walk on a leash properly, but she struggled with me. Still, we took a walk every day. Then there's the cat, hamster and chickens...
We had some great fun. On Friday after school, I took the kids to Dairy Queen for an afternoon ice cream. They had a blast running around the playscape, and then we drove to the airport to pick up Nana. Saturday brought a car trip to Waco, and lunch at Peter Piper Pizza. I ran around with the kids, playing all the games and trying to keep them together. I looked and felt exhausted at the end, but I think everyone had fun.
My favorite moment was on Thursday, my first full day with them on my own. Anna called to me from the bathroom, announcing she had "pooped in the potty." I went in, and she asked me to wipe her bum, which I reluctantly did. As she bent over, putting her head between my knees and wrapping her arms around my legs, she said very sincerely, "I love you, Auntie Emily."
"I love you, too, Anna." (that's why I'm wiping your bum.)
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
And Finally, Part Two
Sorry for the delay. When I wrote the "AHA moment," I was expecting to write the second part within a couple days. Then, this powerful, nasty cold virus knocked me on my a$$.
So, recognizing the Drama Triangle and the role you are playing is half the key.
The other half is changing how you react.
The opposite of Victim is Creator.
Instead of focusing on problems, which is how a Victim views the world, a Creator focuses on their long-term Vision or Outcome. They actively take baby steps towards making that vision a reality. They take full responsibility for themselves and their actions.
There are two other roles in the Creator Orientation, too: Challenger and Coach.
Again, a Challenger can be a person, situation or circumstance. Challengers may also be constructive or deconstructive. In the deconstructive state, they help you take apart a situation to learn from it. You may learn how you don't want to be. (This could be a Persecutor viewed in a different light.) In the constructive state, Challengers invite you to be your best, helping you to improve or develop. Challengers elicit a response, rather than Persecutors who provoke a reaction.
A Coach sees themselves as a Creator and views others similarly. They help facilitate progress by asking questions (not providing answers as a Rescuer would do).
To help remember the differences between the Victim and Creator Orientations, remember the acronym AIR:
Attention – Are you focused on a problem or your long-term vision?
Intention – Is your intention to get rid of (or get away from) your problems? Or is your intention to bring into being the outcomes you envision?
Results – In the Victim orientation, the results are temporary and reactive. In the Creator orientation, the results are much more likely to be satisfying and sustainable.
Good luck creating the life you want!
So, recognizing the Drama Triangle and the role you are playing is half the key.
The other half is changing how you react.
The opposite of Victim is Creator.
Instead of focusing on problems, which is how a Victim views the world, a Creator focuses on their long-term Vision or Outcome. They actively take baby steps towards making that vision a reality. They take full responsibility for themselves and their actions.
There are two other roles in the Creator Orientation, too: Challenger and Coach.
Again, a Challenger can be a person, situation or circumstance. Challengers may also be constructive or deconstructive. In the deconstructive state, they help you take apart a situation to learn from it. You may learn how you don't want to be. (This could be a Persecutor viewed in a different light.) In the constructive state, Challengers invite you to be your best, helping you to improve or develop. Challengers elicit a response, rather than Persecutors who provoke a reaction.
A Coach sees themselves as a Creator and views others similarly. They help facilitate progress by asking questions (not providing answers as a Rescuer would do).
To help remember the differences between the Victim and Creator Orientations, remember the acronym AIR:
Attention – Are you focused on a problem or your long-term vision?
Intention – Is your intention to get rid of (or get away from) your problems? Or is your intention to bring into being the outcomes you envision?
Results – In the Victim orientation, the results are temporary and reactive. In the Creator orientation, the results are much more likely to be satisfying and sustainable.
Good luck creating the life you want!
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
An "AHA" Moment
As I take on a new role in my company, they are providing me and my compadres with leadership training. I've found the material to be very thought provoking and relevant not only to my work life but also to my personal life.
Last week, we reviewed a concept called "The Drama Triangle." It was coined by psychologist Stephen Karpman to describe a common model of human interaction. The model explains how two to three people interact in a dynamic or "game" with unsatisfactory outcomes for all. The game has three roles, which the individuals may shift between: Victim, Persecutor and Rescuer. Usually, someone has one role that they most often play and a second role that they switch to.
The Victim usually feels like others (Persecutor and Rescuer) are one-up on them. They don't take responsibility for themselves and usually react in a fight, flight or freeze behavior.
The Persecutor often finds fault and is critical, although he/she may feel inadequate underneath. They lead by threats and orders, and their main interaction is domination.
The Rescuer may show up as an enabler, protector, mediator or one who wants to "fix" the problem. They may have an unconscious need to take care of others, which is how they feel important and validate themselves.
In this model, the Victim feels overwhelmed by the Persecutor, which could be a person or a circumstance in their life. They may run to a Rescuer for help (flight), or they may decide to "fight" and become a Persecutor towards the original Persecutor. Unfortunately, this dynamic rarely ever solves the true problem.
Being aware of the game is half the battle to ending it...
Last week, we reviewed a concept called "The Drama Triangle." It was coined by psychologist Stephen Karpman to describe a common model of human interaction. The model explains how two to three people interact in a dynamic or "game" with unsatisfactory outcomes for all. The game has three roles, which the individuals may shift between: Victim, Persecutor and Rescuer. Usually, someone has one role that they most often play and a second role that they switch to.
The Victim usually feels like others (Persecutor and Rescuer) are one-up on them. They don't take responsibility for themselves and usually react in a fight, flight or freeze behavior.
The Persecutor often finds fault and is critical, although he/she may feel inadequate underneath. They lead by threats and orders, and their main interaction is domination.
The Rescuer may show up as an enabler, protector, mediator or one who wants to "fix" the problem. They may have an unconscious need to take care of others, which is how they feel important and validate themselves.
In this model, the Victim feels overwhelmed by the Persecutor, which could be a person or a circumstance in their life. They may run to a Rescuer for help (flight), or they may decide to "fight" and become a Persecutor towards the original Persecutor. Unfortunately, this dynamic rarely ever solves the true problem.
Being aware of the game is half the battle to ending it...
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Visit to Houston
Steve and I visited with the twins, Steph, Al and Nana & Grandad this past weekend. I was very anxious to show them the book I created for them. It's a fictional story with Paige and Graham as the main characters. I think they liked it...we had to read it 20 times!
See the video.
See the video.
Friday, September 01, 2006
What's Going On
I haven't posted recently. Sometimes it's hard to think of something witty to write or to put into words what I'm feeling.
This was a really stressful week for me at work. I somehow got put as the negotiator between two coworkers who were really at each other's throats. Not fun, but it seems to have finally been resolved. And we're having growing pains...lots of new business, but finding good people to fill open positions is taking more time.
Steve and I were planning on having his kids this weekend, but for many reasons, it didn't work out. For one, Declan is really sick. He caught a virus that's going around at school, and it developed into pneumonia. Poor kid. Now, Hayden seems to be coming down with it. So, I guess it's for the best that it didn't work out for this weekend, but it's still disappointing.
So...at the last minute, we've decided to descend upon my family in Houston! I'm so looking forward to seeing the twins and Steph. It's been since Easter that I saw them.
This was a really stressful week for me at work. I somehow got put as the negotiator between two coworkers who were really at each other's throats. Not fun, but it seems to have finally been resolved. And we're having growing pains...lots of new business, but finding good people to fill open positions is taking more time.
Steve and I were planning on having his kids this weekend, but for many reasons, it didn't work out. For one, Declan is really sick. He caught a virus that's going around at school, and it developed into pneumonia. Poor kid. Now, Hayden seems to be coming down with it. So, I guess it's for the best that it didn't work out for this weekend, but it's still disappointing.
So...at the last minute, we've decided to descend upon my family in Houston! I'm so looking forward to seeing the twins and Steph. It's been since Easter that I saw them.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Operation Remodel
Operation Remodel made steady progress last weekend with continued wallpaper removal, patching, sanding, priming and painting. The entrywall is now mostly complete (tape is still up for the painting of the trim), and two bathrooms are in the midst of overhaul. The entry hall is a lovely shade of creamy yellow, which the lady of the house was quite sure would be perfect. (The handyman was doubtful but came around once the paint was dry.)
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Please Excuse My Absence
It's been a week since I last posted. (that sounds a bit like how they start confession, doesn't it?)
After 10 years of treatment, I decided to take a stab at going without antidepressants. I feel like I'm in a good place emotionally, and I have learned healthy skills to deal with different situations and stresses. But I didn't expect it to be this difficult physically.
There's actually quite a bit of dialogue and documented journal articles in the physician community about what they are now terming "serotonin discontinuation syndrome." The idea of how antidepressants work is pretty brilliant. Serotonin is one of the naturally occurring chemicals in your brain. In depression, it is diminished, so one of the major classes (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) of antidepressants helps increase those levels. The effect, for me, was finally feeling "normal." I actually thought, so this is how normal people feel! It doesn't make you high, and you still have ups and downs. What it did get rid of was the hopelessness, the unstoppable crying, and the lethargy.
Fast forward to now, when my life is basically running smooth. I asked my doctor about getting off of them, and after a few months of a reduced dose, she recommended I start taking it every other day. That was three weeks ago. Every other day (my "off" day), I would feel dizzy and nauseaous. The dizzy feeling is similar to if you've ever been really drunk and had the spins. I also noticed if I moved my head or eyes quickly, it felt like my brain would follow a few seconds behind.
After three weeks of feeling like crap, I called it quits, at least for now. I've missed several days of work (including today -- who can work when you're trying to keep your head completely still and not think about heaving?) and went to talk to my doctor again this morning. She agreed it's not working for now, so I will continue on my low daily dose, and we'll try an even slower withdrawal in a few months.
I'm thankful that these medications are available, and I know it's made my life more bearable (except for lately). For today, though, I'm just glad to be able to hold my head up without feeling pukey.
After 10 years of treatment, I decided to take a stab at going without antidepressants. I feel like I'm in a good place emotionally, and I have learned healthy skills to deal with different situations and stresses. But I didn't expect it to be this difficult physically.
There's actually quite a bit of dialogue and documented journal articles in the physician community about what they are now terming "serotonin discontinuation syndrome." The idea of how antidepressants work is pretty brilliant. Serotonin is one of the naturally occurring chemicals in your brain. In depression, it is diminished, so one of the major classes (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) of antidepressants helps increase those levels. The effect, for me, was finally feeling "normal." I actually thought, so this is how normal people feel! It doesn't make you high, and you still have ups and downs. What it did get rid of was the hopelessness, the unstoppable crying, and the lethargy.
Fast forward to now, when my life is basically running smooth. I asked my doctor about getting off of them, and after a few months of a reduced dose, she recommended I start taking it every other day. That was three weeks ago. Every other day (my "off" day), I would feel dizzy and nauseaous. The dizzy feeling is similar to if you've ever been really drunk and had the spins. I also noticed if I moved my head or eyes quickly, it felt like my brain would follow a few seconds behind.
After three weeks of feeling like crap, I called it quits, at least for now. I've missed several days of work (including today -- who can work when you're trying to keep your head completely still and not think about heaving?) and went to talk to my doctor again this morning. She agreed it's not working for now, so I will continue on my low daily dose, and we'll try an even slower withdrawal in a few months.
I'm thankful that these medications are available, and I know it's made my life more bearable (except for lately). For today, though, I'm just glad to be able to hold my head up without feeling pukey.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
BagLady
Some women love shoes. For me, it's all about bags.
I LOVE bags, from purses to suitcases. I've realized that I have a compulsion in this area, so I refrain from going to bag shops. I have at least a dozen of bags I've gotten free at conferences or other activites, and many other tote bags that were too cute to pass up.
I keep my bag urges in check, but sometimes, a girl's gotta have a new bag.
I found one yesterday that just HAD to come home with me. See, it's actually practical because it's a laptop backpack. I travel a lot for work, and my briefcase with laptop gets very heavy. My chiropractor has told me it's not good for my back since all the weight is on one shoulder. Plus, it's just not comfortable.
My new bag evenly distributes the weight across my back. Plus, it will come in handy when I take my laptop home and want to ride my motorcycle the next day. (It's just not feasible to carry a briefcase on the bike.)
In addition to the cleanliness and nice smell of a new bag, I love exploring all it's compartments and organizing my things. You may be shaking your head at my pecularity, but everyone has something. Mine just happens to be bags.
I LOVE bags, from purses to suitcases. I've realized that I have a compulsion in this area, so I refrain from going to bag shops. I have at least a dozen of bags I've gotten free at conferences or other activites, and many other tote bags that were too cute to pass up.
I keep my bag urges in check, but sometimes, a girl's gotta have a new bag.
I found one yesterday that just HAD to come home with me. See, it's actually practical because it's a laptop backpack. I travel a lot for work, and my briefcase with laptop gets very heavy. My chiropractor has told me it's not good for my back since all the weight is on one shoulder. Plus, it's just not comfortable.
My new bag evenly distributes the weight across my back. Plus, it will come in handy when I take my laptop home and want to ride my motorcycle the next day. (It's just not feasible to carry a briefcase on the bike.)
In addition to the cleanliness and nice smell of a new bag, I love exploring all it's compartments and organizing my things. You may be shaking your head at my pecularity, but everyone has something. Mine just happens to be bags.
Monday, August 14, 2006
An Impromptu Visit
When I was able to catch an earlier flight back to Dallas from North Carolina, I called Anthony to see if it was okay if I drove down for the weekend. He said sure, so several hours later, I was pulling up to their house. It's funny how Anna and Colin differ in their reaction to my arrival. Anna runs up smiling and giggling, and Colin runs inside to hide. It's almost as if he's overwhelmed by the excitement.
His potty-training is going very well. No one had any accidents all weekend. He has a difficult time getting his pants back on after a visit to the loo. He just avoids putting anything back on altogether!
So after his morning wee, he came and snuggled with me on the couch. I "flew" him up in the air. His little body is so perfect and smooth. I was extra lucky on Sunday morning when he awoke WAY TOO EARLY and came to sleep with me for the last 90 minutes or so. He snuggled up against me and pushed his feet onto my leg. It was so sweet.
His potty-training is going very well. No one had any accidents all weekend. He has a difficult time getting his pants back on after a visit to the loo. He just avoids putting anything back on altogether!
So after his morning wee, he came and snuggled with me on the couch. I "flew" him up in the air. His little body is so perfect and smooth. I was extra lucky on Sunday morning when he awoke WAY TOO EARLY and came to sleep with me for the last 90 minutes or so. He snuggled up against me and pushed his feet onto my leg. It was so sweet.
An Impromptu Visit, continued
Anna is so sweet. She starts kindergarten tomorrow (Tuesday). I was amazed at how mature she looked when I drove up. Jenn told me she's been very conscientious at choosing new clothes for school, keeping in mind that she will be going to the bathroom by herself. Jenn said she chose to put back anything with zippers or difficult buttons.
I also enjoyed how much she and Colin enjoy each other's company. They do have the few spats over toys, but for the vast majority of the time, they play together very well.
Since I slept in Colin's room, they were both in Anna's double bed. They had a difficult time falling asleep, though, because they kept giggling and talking. Jenn finally separated them until they fell asleep, and Anna howled, "I miss my brother!"
I also enjoyed how much she and Colin enjoy each other's company. They do have the few spats over toys, but for the vast majority of the time, they play together very well.
Since I slept in Colin's room, they were both in Anna's double bed. They had a difficult time falling asleep, though, because they kept giggling and talking. Jenn finally separated them until they fell asleep, and Anna howled, "I miss my brother!"
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Rant
Here I am, back in North Carolina again for another new business pitch. I HATE the way we prepare for these presentations. We began almost 4 hours ago. It's just so unorganized, everyone interrupting everyone else. I'm ready to go, and yet I have to wait through all their silliness. It's now 10:45 here, and I'm exhausted. I haven't had a chance yet to unwind. And one of my coworkers laughed when I said I was tired, stating it's an hour earlier back home (so it should only feel like 9:45 to me). Does that really matter? I'm tired, dammit!
This is the same girl who earlier today, at the airport, asked if I wanted to get a Frappucino with her from Starbuck's. I settled for iced tea, saying I'm watching my calories because I've gained some weight. Instead of saying, "You don't look like you have" or "I think you look great!" or some other appropriate, supportive response, she said, "Not me! I'm down to 113!" [bitch.] I don't think I've been at 113 since junior high.
Do I have a sign on me today that says "Be an ass to me?"
On the plane, I was trying to review my presentation (I prefer to prep alone), and the guy sitting on the aisle was super-chatty. I made monosyllable answers and kept turning back to my papers, and he asked, "Are you taking a test or something?" I explained I was preparing for a presentation. Luckily, the middle seat occupant sat between us, and he engaged her in a full conversation. I got through my prep work and picked up the in-flight magazine, when he leaned over and said, "I hope we're not interrupting your PREPARATION."
No, I said, I'm done. (obviously)
I just like time to myself. I don't always like to talk. I like to think about things quietly, without interruptions. And I definitely need time to rest and get geared up before our morning pitch.
I wish I could be more assertive, like yelling, "LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE!" but instead I try to be polite. Inside, though, I'm yelling.
I'm also really missing Steve. He's been on a business trip since Tuesday. I feel more grounded when I'm around him, I guess because he's my main and strongest supporter. And he balances my personality with his.
This is the same girl who earlier today, at the airport, asked if I wanted to get a Frappucino with her from Starbuck's. I settled for iced tea, saying I'm watching my calories because I've gained some weight. Instead of saying, "You don't look like you have" or "I think you look great!" or some other appropriate, supportive response, she said, "Not me! I'm down to 113!" [bitch.] I don't think I've been at 113 since junior high.
Do I have a sign on me today that says "Be an ass to me?"
On the plane, I was trying to review my presentation (I prefer to prep alone), and the guy sitting on the aisle was super-chatty. I made monosyllable answers and kept turning back to my papers, and he asked, "Are you taking a test or something?" I explained I was preparing for a presentation. Luckily, the middle seat occupant sat between us, and he engaged her in a full conversation. I got through my prep work and picked up the in-flight magazine, when he leaned over and said, "I hope we're not interrupting your PREPARATION."
No, I said, I'm done. (obviously)
I just like time to myself. I don't always like to talk. I like to think about things quietly, without interruptions. And I definitely need time to rest and get geared up before our morning pitch.
I wish I could be more assertive, like yelling, "LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE!" but instead I try to be polite. Inside, though, I'm yelling.
I'm also really missing Steve. He's been on a business trip since Tuesday. I feel more grounded when I'm around him, I guess because he's my main and strongest supporter. And he balances my personality with his.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Project Completed
The nice thing about finishing a baby quilt after the baby is already born is that you have a perfect excuse to meet the baby!
This quilt was for Quinn, the new son of my friends Forrest and Kym. He's quite a cutie, with a full head of brown hair.
Their nursery theme is monkeys, so the black fabric has many jungle animals, including monkeys, and I decided to complement it with the banana material.
This quilt was for Quinn, the new son of my friends Forrest and Kym. He's quite a cutie, with a full head of brown hair.
Their nursery theme is monkeys, so the black fabric has many jungle animals, including monkeys, and I decided to complement it with the banana material.
New Project
So here's what Steve and I began to tackle this weekend. Our entry hallway had two layers of the tackiest wallpaper from the style of the 60s and 70s. We decided to splurge on a steamer to help remove it. But since it's slow work and only one person can really use the steamer at a time, I decided to tackle the popcorn ceiling. I sprayed and scraped the ceiling while Steve steamed and scraped the walls. It looks bad, but this is actually progress! Not sure why some of the drywall underneath the wallpaper has a brown stain to it, but all of it will be covered over eventually with a nice paint.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Overkill
So I've been having this pain in the middle of my foot for the past six months (I guess I have a pretty good tolerance for pain), and it's been getting worse. I decided to finally talk to my doctor about it and see if we can fix it.
She said it might be a stress fracture and sent me to the adjacent hospital for an x-ray.
I took my one-page request form from her office down to the hospital, where I was interviewed by an intake associate and asked questions such as:
Do you have an advance directive?
What is your religious preference, or do you prefer not to answer?
Point of contact in case of emergency?
This is just for a simple x-ray of my foot!
Yes, she nodded, while continuing with her procedures.
I even had to wear a hospital bracelet with my name!
(The x-ray technician let me view the pictures. I didn't see any obvious fractures.)
She said it might be a stress fracture and sent me to the adjacent hospital for an x-ray.
I took my one-page request form from her office down to the hospital, where I was interviewed by an intake associate and asked questions such as:
Do you have an advance directive?
What is your religious preference, or do you prefer not to answer?
Point of contact in case of emergency?
This is just for a simple x-ray of my foot!
Yes, she nodded, while continuing with her procedures.
I even had to wear a hospital bracelet with my name!
(The x-ray technician let me view the pictures. I didn't see any obvious fractures.)
Monday, July 31, 2006
A MUST See
Ironically, after my post yesterday, Steve and I went to see the documentary "An Inconvenient Truth." It was a powerful, fact-filled presentation of how our global environment is changing directly as a result of our ever increasing use of fossil fuels. I highly recommend everyone see this movie, and visit the website Climate Crisis.
The website has a list of things everyone can do. Here are some that Steve and I are working on:
* Choose energy efficient appliances when making new purchases
* Use less hot water
* Use a clothesline instead of a dryer whenever possible
* Turn off electronic devices you’re not using
* Unplug electronics from the wall when you’re not using them
* Insulate and weatherize your home
* Be sure you’re recycling at home
* Plant a tree - A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.
* Switch to green power
* Reduce the number of miles you drive by walking, biking, carpooling or taking mass transit wherever possible
* When it is time for a new car, choose a more fuel efficient vehicle
My sister Jennifer and her husband Anthony have made huge progress in these areas, with solar panels and wind generators on their roof to their hybrid vehicles. They are an inspiration for us, and now, having seen the evidence, I feel compelled to follow their example.
I strongly encourage you to see the movie for yourself.
The website has a list of things everyone can do. Here are some that Steve and I are working on:
* Choose energy efficient appliances when making new purchases
* Use less hot water
* Use a clothesline instead of a dryer whenever possible
* Turn off electronic devices you’re not using
* Unplug electronics from the wall when you’re not using them
* Insulate and weatherize your home
* Be sure you’re recycling at home
* Plant a tree - A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.
* Switch to green power
* Reduce the number of miles you drive by walking, biking, carpooling or taking mass transit wherever possible
* When it is time for a new car, choose a more fuel efficient vehicle
My sister Jennifer and her husband Anthony have made huge progress in these areas, with solar panels and wind generators on their roof to their hybrid vehicles. They are an inspiration for us, and now, having seen the evidence, I feel compelled to follow their example.
I strongly encourage you to see the movie for yourself.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Heat Waves
Can you believe it's the end of July already? Time keeps flying by. I am glad that one of our two hottest months is coming to a close. Now if we can just survive August...
I'm actually grateful it's only been in the high 90's lately, not over 100 like a couple weeks ago. Still, all the grass is yellow or brown -- it crunches when you walk on it -- and I can hear locusts singing their rhythmic song. Funny how that sound is connected in my mind with heat.
Texas has a lot of problems with the foundations of houses. It's partially because of the drought and heat conditions and partially because of the layer of clay under the soil. Our house seems to be okay, but we may have another leak somewhere around our pool. Water has been disappearing from the pool faster than usual, but unfortunately, Steve's thorough inspection yesterday didn't turn up anything obvious. Might be time to call in the professionals.
At least the trees are still green. And thank God for air conditioning.
I'm actually grateful it's only been in the high 90's lately, not over 100 like a couple weeks ago. Still, all the grass is yellow or brown -- it crunches when you walk on it -- and I can hear locusts singing their rhythmic song. Funny how that sound is connected in my mind with heat.
Texas has a lot of problems with the foundations of houses. It's partially because of the drought and heat conditions and partially because of the layer of clay under the soil. Our house seems to be okay, but we may have another leak somewhere around our pool. Water has been disappearing from the pool faster than usual, but unfortunately, Steve's thorough inspection yesterday didn't turn up anything obvious. Might be time to call in the professionals.
At least the trees are still green. And thank God for air conditioning.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
The View from North Carolina
I'm in North Carolina this week for work. Here through Thursday, since I'm participating in two new business pitches (Tuesday and Thursday) and decided it didn't make sense to fly back and forth in between.
It's GREEN here. It rained this morning. The steady, hard rain that I haven't seen in so long. It was welcome to the natives, but since I didn't have an umbrella and was in a suit and had curled my hair, I wasn't thrilled. My suit ended up damp, especially the extra long cuffs on the bottom of my pants, and my hair went its own direction. Some flat, some frizzy. Great first impression!
Our pitch today went OK. One of our VPs was with us and made a point of reminding us in the car ride over our rule of not interrupting to add something unless it adds three times the value. His part of the presentation was at the beginning, and then another colleague and I passed back and forth through the middle. HE INTERRUPTED EVERY SLIDE. I finally had to pass him a note and ask him to PLEASE not add some comment on EVERY slide.
Tomorrow, I'll be working via telephone and internet all day, and then preparing for pitch #2. They have a really dinky gym here that I used today, and the food at the hotel is just passable. But at least my remaining colleague and I tonight went out for a nice dinner. (I had lobster! Yum.)
It's GREEN here. It rained this morning. The steady, hard rain that I haven't seen in so long. It was welcome to the natives, but since I didn't have an umbrella and was in a suit and had curled my hair, I wasn't thrilled. My suit ended up damp, especially the extra long cuffs on the bottom of my pants, and my hair went its own direction. Some flat, some frizzy. Great first impression!
Our pitch today went OK. One of our VPs was with us and made a point of reminding us in the car ride over our rule of not interrupting to add something unless it adds three times the value. His part of the presentation was at the beginning, and then another colleague and I passed back and forth through the middle. HE INTERRUPTED EVERY SLIDE. I finally had to pass him a note and ask him to PLEASE not add some comment on EVERY slide.
Tomorrow, I'll be working via telephone and internet all day, and then preparing for pitch #2. They have a really dinky gym here that I used today, and the food at the hotel is just passable. But at least my remaining colleague and I tonight went out for a nice dinner. (I had lobster! Yum.)
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Babies, Babies Everywhere...
The hardest thing about turning 29 was realizing I wasn't going to meet my expectation of having a child before I was 30. It hit me hard, and it took quite some time before I felt comfortable letting that go.
And now...five years later...I guess I'm still struggling with it. I think at that time, I adjusted my expectation to have a child before or at age 35. Looks like I'm going to miss that one, too. There are a lot of health risks that make it better to have kids before 35. I know, lots of women have successful pregnancies and healthy babies later in life. I just didn't think I would be in that group.
Several of my friends and colleagues are having babies. My friend Chad and his wife had their first in May. Tori had a huge baby boy in early June, and Forrest and his wife had their first in late June. My friend Ian and his wife are due next month. They are keeping me very busy making baby quilts (almost done with Forrest's).
Volunteering at the hospital in the Neonatal ICU helps. I was there this Monday after missing the previous two. I think it helps fill that gap for me, being able to hold these beautiful little ones.
And sometimes, I really value the freedom Steve and I have. We can sleep late (if our bodies weren't programmed to wake up at our usual time), and we can choose to go and do anything without the limitations a baby puts on you. We can travel more easily than couples with babies, lugging all that stuff you might need, and our schedules are more flexible.
I guess I just always pictured myself as a mom. It makes me chuckle and wonder how out of the three of us girls (Jenn, Steph and me), I ended up being the "career girl."
And now...five years later...I guess I'm still struggling with it. I think at that time, I adjusted my expectation to have a child before or at age 35. Looks like I'm going to miss that one, too. There are a lot of health risks that make it better to have kids before 35. I know, lots of women have successful pregnancies and healthy babies later in life. I just didn't think I would be in that group.
Several of my friends and colleagues are having babies. My friend Chad and his wife had their first in May. Tori had a huge baby boy in early June, and Forrest and his wife had their first in late June. My friend Ian and his wife are due next month. They are keeping me very busy making baby quilts (almost done with Forrest's).
Volunteering at the hospital in the Neonatal ICU helps. I was there this Monday after missing the previous two. I think it helps fill that gap for me, being able to hold these beautiful little ones.
And sometimes, I really value the freedom Steve and I have. We can sleep late (if our bodies weren't programmed to wake up at our usual time), and we can choose to go and do anything without the limitations a baby puts on you. We can travel more easily than couples with babies, lugging all that stuff you might need, and our schedules are more flexible.
I guess I just always pictured myself as a mom. It makes me chuckle and wonder how out of the three of us girls (Jenn, Steph and me), I ended up being the "career girl."
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Steve's birthday dinner
Here's a picture of us from Saturday night. (Don't know why my face is so shiny!)
Monday, July 17, 2006
Thirty-nine
(No, not me! It's Steve!)
As the fifth of six children growing up in a lean family, Steve only remembers having one birthday party. I set out to make up for that with this year's birthday.
Beginning on July 1st, I gave him a small gift to open each day leading up to his actual b-day, the 15th. His boyish grin and enthusiasm about opening these gifts was delightful to watch. Most of them were small things -- special cycling socks, boxers, camping soap, a shirt -- and others were sentimental, such as frames for his pictures of his kids.
I call Steve my Mr. Sentimental, and I think the best reaction I got from a gift was the framed collage I had made for him of pictures of his kids and him. I dug around the house finding pictures from the past, and there were several he hadn't seen in awhile. It brought a tear to his eye.
We finished off the birthday celebration on Saturday with a trip to the Dallas Art Museum, a visit to the Farmer's Market, and dinner at Cool River, where we met 10 months ago. He declared it his best birthday ever.
As the fifth of six children growing up in a lean family, Steve only remembers having one birthday party. I set out to make up for that with this year's birthday.
Beginning on July 1st, I gave him a small gift to open each day leading up to his actual b-day, the 15th. His boyish grin and enthusiasm about opening these gifts was delightful to watch. Most of them were small things -- special cycling socks, boxers, camping soap, a shirt -- and others were sentimental, such as frames for his pictures of his kids.
I call Steve my Mr. Sentimental, and I think the best reaction I got from a gift was the framed collage I had made for him of pictures of his kids and him. I dug around the house finding pictures from the past, and there were several he hadn't seen in awhile. It brought a tear to his eye.
We finished off the birthday celebration on Saturday with a trip to the Dallas Art Museum, a visit to the Farmer's Market, and dinner at Cool River, where we met 10 months ago. He declared it his best birthday ever.
Friday, July 14, 2006
Friends & Colleagues
It's so nice when you like the people you work with.
A couple months ago, my long-time friend Lauren joined the company I work for, and I've been meaning to blog about it for some time. It's been such a pleasure to work with her again, both because I respect and admire her intelligence and work ethic AND because I have a friend to goof around, eat lunch and talk with!
I'm actually very lucky that I work with a terrific group of people. The vast majority are incredibly smart and talented. But I don't socialize with many of them.
I guess it's mostly my choosing. When I began to carve out "personal time" for myself last year and not be such a workaholic, I started distancing myself from coworkers outside of the office. It's hard for some people not to talk about work when you are with others you work with, and I found I really wanted a break from "shop talk."
Now, having Lauren here, I have a trusted friend with whom I can talk about the rest of my life. In addition, she's filled a professional void I've experienced since my friend Lisa left the company over a year ago. And, just to sing her praises, EVERYONE in the company keeps telling me how impressed they are with her and how glad they are she's joined our team. Yea for Lauren!
(Now, if we can just convince Wendy to come join us...)
A couple months ago, my long-time friend Lauren joined the company I work for, and I've been meaning to blog about it for some time. It's been such a pleasure to work with her again, both because I respect and admire her intelligence and work ethic AND because I have a friend to goof around, eat lunch and talk with!
I'm actually very lucky that I work with a terrific group of people. The vast majority are incredibly smart and talented. But I don't socialize with many of them.
I guess it's mostly my choosing. When I began to carve out "personal time" for myself last year and not be such a workaholic, I started distancing myself from coworkers outside of the office. It's hard for some people not to talk about work when you are with others you work with, and I found I really wanted a break from "shop talk."
Now, having Lauren here, I have a trusted friend with whom I can talk about the rest of my life. In addition, she's filled a professional void I've experienced since my friend Lisa left the company over a year ago. And, just to sing her praises, EVERYONE in the company keeps telling me how impressed they are with her and how glad they are she's joined our team. Yea for Lauren!
(Now, if we can just convince Wendy to come join us...)
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Oh, Yah...
I really enjoyed hearing the Wisconsin accent. Steve and I tried to emulate the "Oh Yeah" that is the affirmative response in so many conversations.
It was great finally meeting all of them. Steve is number 5 out of 6 kids, and he has 5 nephews that are all in their early twenties, as well as several nieces. He's very close with his nephews, and so it was important to me to get to know them and figure out who's who! There were also aunts, uncles and cousins to meet, and of course, his mom.
Steve's mom celebrated her 65th birthday on Saturday, and Steve's birthday (39th) is coming up this Saturday. His niece Sara turns 16 later in the month, so we had a joint birthday celebration at a friend's farm on Saturday. Almost everyone hugged me right upon meeting me. Then we just hung out around a campfire, drinking beer and eating all the good food everyone had brought along. The kids ran around playing croquet, chasing the dogs and cat, and messing in the large water container for the cows, which also housed a catfish. As it got dark (and cool!), Steve put on a sweatshirt, and I donned a jean jacket. The Northerners got a kick out of that! I told them it felt like December in Texas. (just kidding, but our last morning was a crisp 57*! I thought of you, Anth!)
Some of the nephews shot off some fireworks, and the cows stampeded to the far end of the field! Poor cows. They were scared out of their skins.
We also went fishing up north (like Wisconsin isn't north enough) to the U.P. (Upper peninsula of Michigan). The lake we were fishing on was terrific, and all three of us (Steve, his nephew Chad and I) got many bites. My largest catch was about 7 inches long. Not huge, but lots of fun. Plus, the guys did all the worm hooking and fish stuff for me.
That night, we stayed in an extremely rustic cabin, owned by Chad's best friend's dad. You could tell it's a man hangout from all the 80s girlie posters and the lack of amenities -- no running water, no electricity. There was an outhouse, jugs of water, and gas lamps. We cooked over the campfire. Oh, and several mice families have made the cozy cottage their home. I thought I'd never be able to sleep after hearing them scurry and squeak, but exhaustion won out. (and they didn't bother us)
The farm, by comparison, was terrific! There was the ever-present strong smell of cows, but that's not all bad. I got to milk one of them. Steve told me how to do it, and sure enough, it worked! I squirted at his feet while he danced out of the way. The farm actually uses milking machines, as they milk 50 or more cows twice a day.
It's beautiful land in Wisconsin. Lots of tall trees and rolling hills. And everyone was so nice to me. One of his nephews even introduced me to his kids as "Aunt Emily." :-)
It was great finally meeting all of them. Steve is number 5 out of 6 kids, and he has 5 nephews that are all in their early twenties, as well as several nieces. He's very close with his nephews, and so it was important to me to get to know them and figure out who's who! There were also aunts, uncles and cousins to meet, and of course, his mom.
Steve's mom celebrated her 65th birthday on Saturday, and Steve's birthday (39th) is coming up this Saturday. His niece Sara turns 16 later in the month, so we had a joint birthday celebration at a friend's farm on Saturday. Almost everyone hugged me right upon meeting me. Then we just hung out around a campfire, drinking beer and eating all the good food everyone had brought along. The kids ran around playing croquet, chasing the dogs and cat, and messing in the large water container for the cows, which also housed a catfish. As it got dark (and cool!), Steve put on a sweatshirt, and I donned a jean jacket. The Northerners got a kick out of that! I told them it felt like December in Texas. (just kidding, but our last morning was a crisp 57*! I thought of you, Anth!)
Some of the nephews shot off some fireworks, and the cows stampeded to the far end of the field! Poor cows. They were scared out of their skins.
We also went fishing up north (like Wisconsin isn't north enough) to the U.P. (Upper peninsula of Michigan). The lake we were fishing on was terrific, and all three of us (Steve, his nephew Chad and I) got many bites. My largest catch was about 7 inches long. Not huge, but lots of fun. Plus, the guys did all the worm hooking and fish stuff for me.
That night, we stayed in an extremely rustic cabin, owned by Chad's best friend's dad. You could tell it's a man hangout from all the 80s girlie posters and the lack of amenities -- no running water, no electricity. There was an outhouse, jugs of water, and gas lamps. We cooked over the campfire. Oh, and several mice families have made the cozy cottage their home. I thought I'd never be able to sleep after hearing them scurry and squeak, but exhaustion won out. (and they didn't bother us)
The farm, by comparison, was terrific! There was the ever-present strong smell of cows, but that's not all bad. I got to milk one of them. Steve told me how to do it, and sure enough, it worked! I squirted at his feet while he danced out of the way. The farm actually uses milking machines, as they milk 50 or more cows twice a day.
It's beautiful land in Wisconsin. Lots of tall trees and rolling hills. And everyone was so nice to me. One of his nephews even introduced me to his kids as "Aunt Emily." :-)
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Alright, Alright...here's a quick post
I know I haven't been a good blogger. I must admit, the dwindling comments got to me a bit, and I figured not many people would miss my drab musings.
I thought about posting some pics from 4th of July. We had a few friends over for a cookout and pool time, and it was really nice.
I just finished a long weekend in Wisconsin (cheese country!) to meet Steve's family (I met at least 25 people) and have just arrived in Philadelphia for business. I'll be back in Dallas late tomorrow night, so I probably won't blog about the Wisconsin trip until Wednesday. But I will say that everyone was so nice and welcoming to me, and it was great to finally meet them all.
Now, it's past midnight, and I must sleep. It's nice to know you missed me!
I thought about posting some pics from 4th of July. We had a few friends over for a cookout and pool time, and it was really nice.
I just finished a long weekend in Wisconsin (cheese country!) to meet Steve's family (I met at least 25 people) and have just arrived in Philadelphia for business. I'll be back in Dallas late tomorrow night, so I probably won't blog about the Wisconsin trip until Wednesday. But I will say that everyone was so nice and welcoming to me, and it was great to finally meet them all.
Now, it's past midnight, and I must sleep. It's nice to know you missed me!
Friday, June 30, 2006
To Sleep, Perchance to Dream
Last night, I dreamt that my sisters and their kids and I were all together. My adorable nieces and nephews were laughing and having fun, and I distinctly remember getting sweet little kisses from them. I awoke missing them. I wish we lived closer and that I could see them more often. At least I get to see pictures and hear stories on my sisters' blogs. (vetmommy.blogspot.com and pgdaddyandme.blogspot.com)
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Addendum
I wasn't specific in my previous posts, and it seems from some of the comments that my posting was taken differently than I intended.
To clarify: Steve didn't invite these people to our house. Tom did! (read Invasion, Part 1)
Steve and I did our best to be good hosts and make them feel comfortable. He helped with all the cooking and cleaning, and neither one of us felt much like overindulging with so much going on. He was also very appreciative of all my work and was very supportive letting me get away for a couple hours each day.
To clarify: Steve didn't invite these people to our house. Tom did! (read Invasion, Part 1)
Steve and I did our best to be good hosts and make them feel comfortable. He helped with all the cooking and cleaning, and neither one of us felt much like overindulging with so much going on. He was also very appreciative of all my work and was very supportive letting me get away for a couple hours each day.
Monday, June 26, 2006
The Invasion, Part 2
Invasion: An intrusion or encroachment.
Perhaps I want to control too much. Or maybe I shouldn't be so particular about cleanliness. But if I see an empty bottle (or two, or twenty), I just can't leave it there. And if the trash can is full-to-overflowing, I can't just try to shove another piece of debris into it without wondering how the hell I'm going to get the bag out.
Perhaps our guests are used to servants (or their mothers?) taking care of everything. Someone to fix your food before you even have to ask, and definitely someone to clean up after you. And you don't thank these people because it's their job. And you can even tell them how to do their job better.
I'm amazed at the audacity of some people:
* walking into my home and lighting up a cigarette (what the...?!)
* breaking bottles of food/condiment from the fridge and not apologizing
* telling the one volunteer who cooked breakfast for the group that it would have been better if he had remembered to add cheese
* leaving empty beer bottles at the bottom of the pool
* taking the best seats and towels with no thought for others
I shouldn't paint it as ALL bad, though. It was great to see Steve laughing and goofing around with his buddies. And I guess that's what it was all about. But next time, we're going to Vegas.
Perhaps I want to control too much. Or maybe I shouldn't be so particular about cleanliness. But if I see an empty bottle (or two, or twenty), I just can't leave it there. And if the trash can is full-to-overflowing, I can't just try to shove another piece of debris into it without wondering how the hell I'm going to get the bag out.
Perhaps our guests are used to servants (or their mothers?) taking care of everything. Someone to fix your food before you even have to ask, and definitely someone to clean up after you. And you don't thank these people because it's their job. And you can even tell them how to do their job better.
I'm amazed at the audacity of some people:
* walking into my home and lighting up a cigarette (what the...?!)
* breaking bottles of food/condiment from the fridge and not apologizing
* telling the one volunteer who cooked breakfast for the group that it would have been better if he had remembered to add cheese
* leaving empty beer bottles at the bottom of the pool
* taking the best seats and towels with no thought for others
I shouldn't paint it as ALL bad, though. It was great to see Steve laughing and goofing around with his buddies. And I guess that's what it was all about. But next time, we're going to Vegas.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
The Invasion, Part 1
Last weekend and all this past week, Steve and I have been preparing for an onslaught of guests...his 20th high school reunion, centered on our house.
It all started with a misunderstanding. The reunion (several years of graduating classes) was planned for Las Vegas, and although Steve wanted to go, we decided we really couldn't afford it at this time. His best friend Cris decided not to go, too. Then, their friend Ron decided if they weren't going, he wouldn't either. Tom, a friend of theirs in Germany, was already planning to come over to the States for the reunion and spoke to Ron, who told him those three guys weren't going and that we'd all get together some other time in Dallas at Steve's and Cris' houses.
Tom sends out an email, stating "the reunion's moved to Dallas! Free room & board at Steve's and Cris'!"
Uh...
And people start RSVP-ing.
Ok. Guess we're having a party!
We had 8 guests here, and Cris had another 4 at his house. During the day, they were all here at our place, though, since we have the pool. Steve and I worked our butts off getting everything looking great, including a lot of yard work and setting up a cabana near the pool. (I'll post pictures later.)
I guess you could call it a success, in that everyone came and ate and drank. But I'm exhausted. I have a difficult time relaxing if things are messy, and with a total of 16 people here, there was a lot of mess (and not a lot of cleaning up). I think I need a weekend to recover from my weekend.
It all started with a misunderstanding. The reunion (several years of graduating classes) was planned for Las Vegas, and although Steve wanted to go, we decided we really couldn't afford it at this time. His best friend Cris decided not to go, too. Then, their friend Ron decided if they weren't going, he wouldn't either. Tom, a friend of theirs in Germany, was already planning to come over to the States for the reunion and spoke to Ron, who told him those three guys weren't going and that we'd all get together some other time in Dallas at Steve's and Cris' houses.
Tom sends out an email, stating "the reunion's moved to Dallas! Free room & board at Steve's and Cris'!"
Uh...
And people start RSVP-ing.
Ok. Guess we're having a party!
We had 8 guests here, and Cris had another 4 at his house. During the day, they were all here at our place, though, since we have the pool. Steve and I worked our butts off getting everything looking great, including a lot of yard work and setting up a cabana near the pool. (I'll post pictures later.)
I guess you could call it a success, in that everyone came and ate and drank. But I'm exhausted. I have a difficult time relaxing if things are messy, and with a total of 16 people here, there was a lot of mess (and not a lot of cleaning up). I think I need a weekend to recover from my weekend.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Wonderment Of Life
[I received this via email from my mom, Beverly, and wanted to share it.]
The Things We Take For Granted
Most of us begin our days with a continuous list of things we need to do to keep our lives running smoothly, but we rarely take time to note all the things we don't need to do. For example, we don't need to figure out how to breathe. We don't need to find a way to make sure the earth continues to revolve around the sun. We don't need to concentrate to ensure that our heart beats and our cells regenerate. All of these things, and many more, take care of themselves without our having to think or do anything at all. This is the miracle of life on earth.
Beyond the wonder of the natural world, we have the wonder of human-created conditions such as indoor plumbing, electricity, automobiles, airplanes, telephones, and the Internet to name a few. Someone living just a hundred years ago would be overwhelmed by the ease with which we can communicate with people all over the world. Every day, millions of us jump on airplanes and fly to distant locations in a matter of hours. If we have access to a computer, we can read obscure information about any subject, free of charge, at any time of the day or night. And yet, it's only when one of these miraculous inventions fails that we notice it at all.
When you wake up tomorrow, take time to notice how many things are running smoothly, how many small miracles compose your day. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, as you put them on, take a moment to appreciate the fact that without them, you would be unable to see. Your life would be entirely different if someone hadn't invented corrective lenses (or Lasik!). As you take in your world, you might feel a moment of gratitude for the basic fact that, once again, the sun has risen to illuminate the abundant earth, and the earth's gravitational field holds you and all that you hold dear in a tight, life-affirming embrace.
The Things We Take For Granted
Most of us begin our days with a continuous list of things we need to do to keep our lives running smoothly, but we rarely take time to note all the things we don't need to do. For example, we don't need to figure out how to breathe. We don't need to find a way to make sure the earth continues to revolve around the sun. We don't need to concentrate to ensure that our heart beats and our cells regenerate. All of these things, and many more, take care of themselves without our having to think or do anything at all. This is the miracle of life on earth.
Beyond the wonder of the natural world, we have the wonder of human-created conditions such as indoor plumbing, electricity, automobiles, airplanes, telephones, and the Internet to name a few. Someone living just a hundred years ago would be overwhelmed by the ease with which we can communicate with people all over the world. Every day, millions of us jump on airplanes and fly to distant locations in a matter of hours. If we have access to a computer, we can read obscure information about any subject, free of charge, at any time of the day or night. And yet, it's only when one of these miraculous inventions fails that we notice it at all.
When you wake up tomorrow, take time to notice how many things are running smoothly, how many small miracles compose your day. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, as you put them on, take a moment to appreciate the fact that without them, you would be unable to see. Your life would be entirely different if someone hadn't invented corrective lenses (or Lasik!). As you take in your world, you might feel a moment of gratitude for the basic fact that, once again, the sun has risen to illuminate the abundant earth, and the earth's gravitational field holds you and all that you hold dear in a tight, life-affirming embrace.
Monday, June 19, 2006
What Would You Like Your Service to Be?
Last Thursday, Steve and I took a road trip to Oklahoma City for a funeral.
Richard lived in Florida but was buried in Oklahoma where his parents and sister live. I never met him in life, but he and Steve talked weekly and had known each other for 20 years. I had heard many stories about him, so I was somewhat taken aback by the service.
It was held in a small chapel on the cemetary grounds. Most of the congregation were friends of his parents. They had an open casket, and I felt strange to be "meeting" Richard for the first time this way. The casket had birds on the lid with the words "Heading Home" printed on it.
Throughout the service, tinny music was piped through the speakers. I recognized some acoustic versions of hymns, but other songs weren't familiar to me. The worst were the ones using banjos. The music seemed out-of-place and didn't fit the solemnity of the scene.
The minister who spoke was long-winded and mostly quoted various, unrelated scriptures from the Bible. (I zoned after the 4th or 5th one.) His main message was that we have life eternal if we believe in God and Jesus. Well, Richard didn't go to church as an adult. He probably didn't go after elementary school, so I don't know how reassuring this message was for his family.
It was interesting people-watching, too. We didn't know who anyone was other than his parents and sister. His sister was very dramatic and perhaps a bit in denial, emphasizing to Steve that Richard had "gone fishing! He's just fishing. He's on a BIG fishing trip." Another woman (with a blonde mullet) was visibly upset, and we wondered if she had been a high school sweetheart in Richard's past.
Steve volunteered to be a pall-bearer, and the most comforting thing for Steve was that Richard's resting place was on the side of a lake. Richard loved the water and spent all his free time fishing. So that, at least, seemed like a fitting place for him to rest.
It sure made us think about our own services. We talked about what we would each like, when the time comes, and how most services are really for those left behind.
Richard lived in Florida but was buried in Oklahoma where his parents and sister live. I never met him in life, but he and Steve talked weekly and had known each other for 20 years. I had heard many stories about him, so I was somewhat taken aback by the service.
It was held in a small chapel on the cemetary grounds. Most of the congregation were friends of his parents. They had an open casket, and I felt strange to be "meeting" Richard for the first time this way. The casket had birds on the lid with the words "Heading Home" printed on it.
Throughout the service, tinny music was piped through the speakers. I recognized some acoustic versions of hymns, but other songs weren't familiar to me. The worst were the ones using banjos. The music seemed out-of-place and didn't fit the solemnity of the scene.
The minister who spoke was long-winded and mostly quoted various, unrelated scriptures from the Bible. (I zoned after the 4th or 5th one.) His main message was that we have life eternal if we believe in God and Jesus. Well, Richard didn't go to church as an adult. He probably didn't go after elementary school, so I don't know how reassuring this message was for his family.
It was interesting people-watching, too. We didn't know who anyone was other than his parents and sister. His sister was very dramatic and perhaps a bit in denial, emphasizing to Steve that Richard had "gone fishing! He's just fishing. He's on a BIG fishing trip." Another woman (with a blonde mullet) was visibly upset, and we wondered if she had been a high school sweetheart in Richard's past.
Steve volunteered to be a pall-bearer, and the most comforting thing for Steve was that Richard's resting place was on the side of a lake. Richard loved the water and spent all his free time fishing. So that, at least, seemed like a fitting place for him to rest.
It sure made us think about our own services. We talked about what we would each like, when the time comes, and how most services are really for those left behind.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Life for Rent
The song "Life for Rent" by Dido has been on my mind lately, particularly these lyrics:
"...If I am so afraid to fail that I won't even try,
how can I say I'm alive?
If my life is for rent, and I don't learn to buy
Then I deserve nothing more than I get
'Cause nothing I have is truly mine."
I wasn't into sports as a kid. I don't have natural ability in that area, and I definitely was afraid to try anything for fear of failure.
There were moments during the triathlon when I thought "What the hell am I doing?" and just wanted to stop, to quit. But I silenced that quitter voice and pushed on. As I had heard from others who have done these types of races, it truly is a mental challenge as much as a physical one.
I like the song by Dido. It starts off "I haven't ever really found a place that I call 'Home.' I never stick around long enough to make it." I have moved around quite a bit, both growing up and just here within the Dallas metroplex. I like to start over. I like new places, and I'm used to it. But it's nice to have stability, too. I think I'm finally getting to a place in my life where I'm ready to "buy" -- to make a true commitment to something (or someone). When you buy, there's a risk that it won't be exactly what you thought it was, but there are rewards to sticking with it.
"...If I am so afraid to fail that I won't even try,
how can I say I'm alive?
If my life is for rent, and I don't learn to buy
Then I deserve nothing more than I get
'Cause nothing I have is truly mine."
I wasn't into sports as a kid. I don't have natural ability in that area, and I definitely was afraid to try anything for fear of failure.
There were moments during the triathlon when I thought "What the hell am I doing?" and just wanted to stop, to quit. But I silenced that quitter voice and pushed on. As I had heard from others who have done these types of races, it truly is a mental challenge as much as a physical one.
I like the song by Dido. It starts off "I haven't ever really found a place that I call 'Home.' I never stick around long enough to make it." I have moved around quite a bit, both growing up and just here within the Dallas metroplex. I like to start over. I like new places, and I'm used to it. But it's nice to have stability, too. I think I'm finally getting to a place in my life where I'm ready to "buy" -- to make a true commitment to something (or someone). When you buy, there's a risk that it won't be exactly what you thought it was, but there are rewards to sticking with it.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Triathlon Pictures
Warming up while Jenn surveys the scene
Can you see me? I'm waving!
I'm in the middle of this shot. Crazy...
Whew! The swim is done. Now uphill to my bike.
Just finished the bike and now heading out to the run/walk
Just crossed the finish line!
Getting a big hug from Anna.
Exhausted but happy after the race, with Steve and Anna
Monday, June 12, 2006
Victorious
(Sorry I didn't post much last week. I tried several times, but between travelling for work and Blogger having problems, I wasn't successful.)
Yesterday (Sunday) was the Austin Danskin Triathlon. Beginning with the end, I'm happy to report that I finished!
We got up at 5 a.m. to get over to the race site by 6 a.m. There were 3,000 women participating, plus spectators and volunteers, so the traffic was intense. We set up our equipment in the transition area, where we had left our bikes the day before. Then we headed over to the swim start to watch the elite athletes.
Jenn was in wave 14, and I was in wave 16, and even though they were launching every 4-5 minutes, we had time to wait. I was nervous, excited and anxious to begin!
Jenn had warned me that with your adrenalin up, you feel like swimming faster at the beginning and told me how important it is to pace yourself. I felt the adrenalin, but I was overwhelmed by the number of women beside and around me. The first few times I came up for air, the waves in the lake crashed into me, and I gulped in water. Sputtering, and still trying to navigate around everyone, I started to panic and couldn't catch my breath. The density of the lake was also distracting. I couldn't see underwater at all. Then my goggles started fogging up, so even when I came up for air and to look around, I couldn't see! (Still panicking at this point.) I finally just put the goggles up on my forehead and tried to calm down. It took me half the swim course before I sort of got my rhythm back. People from the wave behind me are passing me at this point, but I just focused on breathing (still too many waves hitting my face when I wanted to breathe) and kept moving, albeit slowly. I was disappointed in my swim portion, but I didn't have to ask for help and finally finished.
The bike portion was my favorite. Although there were some impressive hills, I had trained on hills and did fine. I wasn't prepared for the number of people passing me, which can be somewhat discouraging, but most of the women would cheer each other on as they passed you. I only had to stop once to open my Gatorade. (I learned I should have opened the seal before I started so it would have been easier.)
On the last hill of the bike course, you can see the run course to your right. I figured Jenn should be there about the same time, and I called out "JENN!" to one girl before realizing it wasn't her. Several of the runners were encouraging the cyclists, "Go, bikers! It's the last hill!" and then I heard "EM! You're doing it!" It was really great to see Jenn and gave me a boost of energy.
I felt good coming off the bike and started the run strong. I soon learned how wobbly my legs were and how different it is running on the uneven ground from the paved ground I had trained on. My ankles felt like cooked noodles. I jogged up to another girl who was walking and began walking with her. We stuck together through the rest of the run/walk, talking and encouraging each other on. It was her first Tri, too. We ran short spurts, but mostly walked. It was hot by this time, too, and it took a lot of effort just to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I saved a little bit of energy to run across the finish line, and I saw Steve, Jenn, Anthony, Anna and Colin off to the left cheering me on. What a relief! I was so glad to be done.
I'll post more pictures tomorrow. Steve took some great ones, but I forgot to download them to my computer last night. I crashed as soon as we got home, sleeping for at least 2 hours. I got up, cooked dinner and then crashed again, sleeping soundly until this morning. Otherwise, I feel pretty good. Not too sore (thanks to lots of stretching and ibuprofen) and happy that I did it.
Sisters, before the race
Yesterday (Sunday) was the Austin Danskin Triathlon. Beginning with the end, I'm happy to report that I finished!
We got up at 5 a.m. to get over to the race site by 6 a.m. There were 3,000 women participating, plus spectators and volunteers, so the traffic was intense. We set up our equipment in the transition area, where we had left our bikes the day before. Then we headed over to the swim start to watch the elite athletes.
Jenn was in wave 14, and I was in wave 16, and even though they were launching every 4-5 minutes, we had time to wait. I was nervous, excited and anxious to begin!
Jenn had warned me that with your adrenalin up, you feel like swimming faster at the beginning and told me how important it is to pace yourself. I felt the adrenalin, but I was overwhelmed by the number of women beside and around me. The first few times I came up for air, the waves in the lake crashed into me, and I gulped in water. Sputtering, and still trying to navigate around everyone, I started to panic and couldn't catch my breath. The density of the lake was also distracting. I couldn't see underwater at all. Then my goggles started fogging up, so even when I came up for air and to look around, I couldn't see! (Still panicking at this point.) I finally just put the goggles up on my forehead and tried to calm down. It took me half the swim course before I sort of got my rhythm back. People from the wave behind me are passing me at this point, but I just focused on breathing (still too many waves hitting my face when I wanted to breathe) and kept moving, albeit slowly. I was disappointed in my swim portion, but I didn't have to ask for help and finally finished.
The bike portion was my favorite. Although there were some impressive hills, I had trained on hills and did fine. I wasn't prepared for the number of people passing me, which can be somewhat discouraging, but most of the women would cheer each other on as they passed you. I only had to stop once to open my Gatorade. (I learned I should have opened the seal before I started so it would have been easier.)
On the last hill of the bike course, you can see the run course to your right. I figured Jenn should be there about the same time, and I called out "JENN!" to one girl before realizing it wasn't her. Several of the runners were encouraging the cyclists, "Go, bikers! It's the last hill!" and then I heard "EM! You're doing it!" It was really great to see Jenn and gave me a boost of energy.
I felt good coming off the bike and started the run strong. I soon learned how wobbly my legs were and how different it is running on the uneven ground from the paved ground I had trained on. My ankles felt like cooked noodles. I jogged up to another girl who was walking and began walking with her. We stuck together through the rest of the run/walk, talking and encouraging each other on. It was her first Tri, too. We ran short spurts, but mostly walked. It was hot by this time, too, and it took a lot of effort just to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I saved a little bit of energy to run across the finish line, and I saw Steve, Jenn, Anthony, Anna and Colin off to the left cheering me on. What a relief! I was so glad to be done.
I'll post more pictures tomorrow. Steve took some great ones, but I forgot to download them to my computer last night. I crashed as soon as we got home, sleeping for at least 2 hours. I got up, cooked dinner and then crashed again, sleeping soundly until this morning. Otherwise, I feel pretty good. Not too sore (thanks to lots of stretching and ibuprofen) and happy that I did it.
Sisters, before the race
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Monday, June 05, 2006
Weekend Review
I didn't post anything at the end of last week because I was too grumpy. I didn't sleep well (for no obvious reason) and was seriously irritable and not fit for human interaction. Doing better now.
I got my hair cut on Friday, although there was a bit of drama. I got the name of a new hairdresser from a coworker whose new haircut really complements her face. I was glad to get an appointment Friday afternoon, since I'd be seeing family on Saturday at my cousin Robert's high school graduation.
I left work early to get to the salon. It was EMPTY when I arrived, except for a teenage boy who was also waiting to get his hair cut. I finally asked him if anyone was working there, and he pointed me to the lone hairdresser in a back room. She informed me that my hairdresser had gone home sick and didn't I get a call from them? Sure enough, I had a voicemail on my cell phone.My fault -- I just hadn't checked it. Dammit...my hair was so long and boring and just shapeless. I really needed it cut! And, I was finally ready to make a change.
I decided to go to Ulta, where they have a walk-in salon, and hope for the best. Thankfully, I got a great gal who was able to add some shape and life back into my hair! Yipee!
On Saturday, I drove to Waco, picked up Grandma and Sudie and drove them to Lexington (small town in the middle of nowhere) for Robert's graduation ceremony. It was really nice. The home school co-op planned the whole affair for their five graduating seniors, an impressive group of young people. Each senior had a video presentation that was made by them and their families, and I cried as Rob's started with an audio recitation of him taking the pledge to protect and defend our country and constitution. The tears continued to roll as pictures of his young life were projected. I'm so proud of him, the first of our family to be accepted to West Point. He's a kind, thoughtful, intelligent young man (not to mention TALL), and it's exciting and bittersweet to see him leaving to start his life as an adult.
I got my hair cut on Friday, although there was a bit of drama. I got the name of a new hairdresser from a coworker whose new haircut really complements her face. I was glad to get an appointment Friday afternoon, since I'd be seeing family on Saturday at my cousin Robert's high school graduation.
I left work early to get to the salon. It was EMPTY when I arrived, except for a teenage boy who was also waiting to get his hair cut. I finally asked him if anyone was working there, and he pointed me to the lone hairdresser in a back room. She informed me that my hairdresser had gone home sick and didn't I get a call from them? Sure enough, I had a voicemail on my cell phone.My fault -- I just hadn't checked it. Dammit...my hair was so long and boring and just shapeless. I really needed it cut! And, I was finally ready to make a change.
I decided to go to Ulta, where they have a walk-in salon, and hope for the best. Thankfully, I got a great gal who was able to add some shape and life back into my hair! Yipee!
On Saturday, I drove to Waco, picked up Grandma and Sudie and drove them to Lexington (small town in the middle of nowhere) for Robert's graduation ceremony. It was really nice. The home school co-op planned the whole affair for their five graduating seniors, an impressive group of young people. Each senior had a video presentation that was made by them and their families, and I cried as Rob's started with an audio recitation of him taking the pledge to protect and defend our country and constitution. The tears continued to roll as pictures of his young life were projected. I'm so proud of him, the first of our family to be accepted to West Point. He's a kind, thoughtful, intelligent young man (not to mention TALL), and it's exciting and bittersweet to see him leaving to start his life as an adult.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Have You Seen This?
Oh, I just had to share this! I think Sabrina, my cat, talks to me in her own way, but she could learn a thing or two from these cats:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=iV6DQuEh4UQ&search=talking%20cats
http://youtube.com/watch?v=iV6DQuEh4UQ&search=talking%20cats
I am a 1 Gallon Donor!
On and off over the past six years, I have donated blood to Carter Blood Care. They were at work last week, and I donated again. I have type O+ blood, considered the "universal donor." You get free juice and cookies (not the reason I donate), and they also give you your cholesterol level.
I also learned that my blood is CMV negative. When I inquired about this, the phlebotomist told me it's Cytomegalovirus, and because my blood is negative for the antibodies, my donation can be given to babies. This really made me smile, since I volunteer with the babies at the county hospital.
And good news! My cholesterol is within normal levels (under 200). I'm currently at 180. On their website, I can see all my cholesterol levels over the past 6 years, ranging from 139-181. And, it says I've given 9 times, making me a 1 gallon donor (and I'm 1 pint into my second gallon)!
I also learned that my blood is CMV negative. When I inquired about this, the phlebotomist told me it's Cytomegalovirus, and because my blood is negative for the antibodies, my donation can be given to babies. This really made me smile, since I volunteer with the babies at the county hospital.
And good news! My cholesterol is within normal levels (under 200). I'm currently at 180. On their website, I can see all my cholesterol levels over the past 6 years, ranging from 139-181. And, it says I've given 9 times, making me a 1 gallon donor (and I'm 1 pint into my second gallon)!
Monday, May 29, 2006
Moving Sucks
Long holiday weekend: perfect for remembering the soldiers who have fought and died for our way of life, cookouts and pool time, getting together with friends and/or family, and... moving?
Fortunately, we had a long weekend to move all my stuff to Steve's house. Unfortunately, we didn't get to relax and enjoy the weekend.
I took Friday off from work to pack everything. I'm always amazed at how much STUFF I have. It took a solid 8 hours. Before embarking on that task, though, I doubled the size of my backyard garden to accommodate the plants from the old place. Steve met me at the house after work, and we packed up both our cars with boxes and pictures and then raided the garden for the substantial tomato and basil plants. As soon as we got home, we planted them and hoped for the best. Then we unloaded our cars and limped into the house.
Saturday morning came much too soon, and my back was still considerably sore from the previous day. My ever-frugal boyfriend convinced me we could move everything ourselves and discouraged me from hiring a moving company. We rented a truck from U-Haul (their largest), as well as hand-trucks or dollies.
Steve did impress me with his ability to navigate the larger pieces with the dollies. But I made him PROMISE me that if we get any more furiture, he'll let me hire a moving company the next time we move. He [reluctantly] agreed.
We got it all the furniture and most of the boxes here on Saturday. On Sunday, we returned to do a cursory cleaning and pick up the remaining boxes and what-not, which still took a couple trips with both our cars.
So it's all here, but it's not organized. The chaos drives me crazy, but my body is too worn out to do much at this point. I'm looking forward to my massage appointment this afternoon. And at least we got our new king-sized mattress on Thursday.
Fortunately, we had a long weekend to move all my stuff to Steve's house. Unfortunately, we didn't get to relax and enjoy the weekend.
I took Friday off from work to pack everything. I'm always amazed at how much STUFF I have. It took a solid 8 hours. Before embarking on that task, though, I doubled the size of my backyard garden to accommodate the plants from the old place. Steve met me at the house after work, and we packed up both our cars with boxes and pictures and then raided the garden for the substantial tomato and basil plants. As soon as we got home, we planted them and hoped for the best. Then we unloaded our cars and limped into the house.
Saturday morning came much too soon, and my back was still considerably sore from the previous day. My ever-frugal boyfriend convinced me we could move everything ourselves and discouraged me from hiring a moving company. We rented a truck from U-Haul (their largest), as well as hand-trucks or dollies.
Steve did impress me with his ability to navigate the larger pieces with the dollies. But I made him PROMISE me that if we get any more furiture, he'll let me hire a moving company the next time we move. He [reluctantly] agreed.
We got it all the furniture and most of the boxes here on Saturday. On Sunday, we returned to do a cursory cleaning and pick up the remaining boxes and what-not, which still took a couple trips with both our cars.
So it's all here, but it's not organized. The chaos drives me crazy, but my body is too worn out to do much at this point. I'm looking forward to my massage appointment this afternoon. And at least we got our new king-sized mattress on Thursday.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
A Funny Story
On Monday, I was out-of-town with a client, helping lead a strategy session to redesign their website. One of the tools we often use is a graph where we plot their current site and their competitors' websites against an x-axis of Cumbersome to Intuitive and a y-axis of Emotive to Clinical. This allows us to get a pretty good picture of where each site fits on these continuums and where missed opportunities are.
One of the male participants in our discussion remarked that their site had only moved an inch from its previous version.
I remarked, "One inch can make a big difference."
Everyone cracked up, and both the commenter and I turned red.
One of the male participants in our discussion remarked that their site had only moved an inch from its previous version.
I remarked, "One inch can make a big difference."
Everyone cracked up, and both the commenter and I turned red.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Inspiration
Jennifer, my incredibly-athletic-Energizer-bunny sister, challenged me to join her and her husband in their local 5K (3.1 miles). I agreed it's a good step towards getting ready for the Danskin Triathlon, which is quickly approaching. My training has included jogging short distances, interspersed with walking, as well as biking and swimming, but running is my weakest sport.
Jenn set the pace with Anthony and I following. They soon broke away from me as we ascended a fairly steep hill. I realized I did better just focusing on the road directly in front of me, rather than looking down the road.
I walked a few times to catch my breath but kept moving. After a mile and a half, there were several people who I kept pace with, including an older man, a mom and teenage daughter, and a young boy.
I noticed the boy seemed to not have his right shoe on correctly, but then I realized his right leg and foot were slightly twisted. He struggled to throw his right leg around each step and would only run for a few steps before walking a few. But he kept running again and again.
Wow, if he can do this, I have no excuses.
When Jenn and I told Grandma about our upcoming participation in the triathlon, she simply responded, "Why would you do that?" We laughed but later discussed how we are doing it to challenge ourselves physically. After watching this little guy fight for each step, I also realize I'm doing this because I can. I'm doing it out of appreciation for the body I've been given and my health.
I finished the 5K in just under 40 minutes. Jenn did it in 31 minutes; Anth in 34 minutes. Nineteen days until the triathlon!
Jenn set the pace with Anthony and I following. They soon broke away from me as we ascended a fairly steep hill. I realized I did better just focusing on the road directly in front of me, rather than looking down the road.
I walked a few times to catch my breath but kept moving. After a mile and a half, there were several people who I kept pace with, including an older man, a mom and teenage daughter, and a young boy.
I noticed the boy seemed to not have his right shoe on correctly, but then I realized his right leg and foot were slightly twisted. He struggled to throw his right leg around each step and would only run for a few steps before walking a few. But he kept running again and again.
Wow, if he can do this, I have no excuses.
When Jenn and I told Grandma about our upcoming participation in the triathlon, she simply responded, "Why would you do that?" We laughed but later discussed how we are doing it to challenge ourselves physically. After watching this little guy fight for each step, I also realize I'm doing this because I can. I'm doing it out of appreciation for the body I've been given and my health.
I finished the 5K in just under 40 minutes. Jenn did it in 31 minutes; Anth in 34 minutes. Nineteen days until the triathlon!
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Update
No worries...the rash and hives were gone within an hour. The Benadryl must have helped but did make me feel like I was dragging through the rest of the day.
The new antibiotic I'm on lists as its most common side effect abdominal cramping and diarrhea. Great. Should be a fun 7 days. Oh, and it coincides with my monthly cycle.
Sorry I don't have anything fun or interesting to post. I feel yucky.
The new antibiotic I'm on lists as its most common side effect abdominal cramping and diarrhea. Great. Should be a fun 7 days. Oh, and it coincides with my monthly cycle.
Sorry I don't have anything fun or interesting to post. I feel yucky.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Itchy
I've never before had an allergic reaction to antibiotics, but boy, did I experience one today!
It's hard to see much from the picture, but my hands and forearms had red splotches and hives. The palms of my hands were very red and itchy.
Being me, I thought it was pretty fascinating. (I didn't have a serious reaction -- no wheezing or swollen airway.) I took some Benadryl, called my doctor and will try a new antibiotic tomorrow. Cool, huh?
It's hard to see much from the picture, but my hands and forearms had red splotches and hives. The palms of my hands were very red and itchy.
Being me, I thought it was pretty fascinating. (I didn't have a serious reaction -- no wheezing or swollen airway.) I took some Benadryl, called my doctor and will try a new antibiotic tomorrow. Cool, huh?
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
You Know You're in Texas When...
...there are fields full of cattle, even longhorns, right down the street from your neighborhood.
...football is king.
...the locals draw out single-syllable words into two or three syllables.
...all the politicians are backed by oil.
...half the population only speaks Spanish.
...you can travel for 12 hours in a single direction and still be within the state's borders.
...football is king.
...the locals draw out single-syllable words into two or three syllables.
...all the politicians are backed by oil.
...half the population only speaks Spanish.
...you can travel for 12 hours in a single direction and still be within the state's borders.
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
A Born Swimmer
It's so nice to have a pool in the backyard. As I train for the upcoming triathlon, it's very convenient, too!
Last week when I jumped in, I found I wasn't the only one swimming. This baby turtle, no more than 2 inches long, was diving in the deep end. We fished him out and cleaned him off.
I tried to feed him strawberries and lettuce, but he wasn't interested. After consulting Dr. Jenn, it was determined the best outcome for little-no-name-turtle was to be set free in the community pond.
Steve and I walked with him down to the pond on the country club's golf course. We put him in a marshy area and watched as he sat very very still for a minute or two. Then, as if realizing he was free, he scurried into the murky water and disappeared.
Adios, little guy.
Last week when I jumped in, I found I wasn't the only one swimming. This baby turtle, no more than 2 inches long, was diving in the deep end. We fished him out and cleaned him off.
I tried to feed him strawberries and lettuce, but he wasn't interested. After consulting Dr. Jenn, it was determined the best outcome for little-no-name-turtle was to be set free in the community pond.
Steve and I walked with him down to the pond on the country club's golf course. We put him in a marshy area and watched as he sat very very still for a minute or two. Then, as if realizing he was free, he scurried into the murky water and disappeared.
Adios, little guy.
Monday, May 08, 2006
I am an experienced garage salewoman.
As my sisters reminisced on my previous post, we would often visit garage sales on Saturday mornings with our dad. It was a great way to get new toys for low cost. My strongest memory is wanting the board game "Operation." We finally found it at one sale, but the woman wouldn't sell it to us, emphatically stating it was a "boy's game." I was furious -- my first personal experience with discrimination.
As an adult, I've realized the value of holding my own garage sales. I've held a couple over the last 10 years, so I was able to guide Steve this weekend in his first. Fortunately, the heavy rain we've been experiencing held off during the sale, and since this weekend was designated by the community as its garage sale weekend, there were several sales and lots of traffic.
We made a little over $200. We still have a few things we're going to try to sell online, and the rest is going to be donated. We decided against selling hot dogs when Steve heard we might need a special permit for food sales, but we made several dollars selling soda and water. I got to use my pidgeon Spanish several times, as the majority of our shoppers were Hispanic.
Both my sisters mentioned buying beads at garage sales...Steve had several strands of old Mardi Gras beads. They were picked up a dozen times but never bought. They'd ask, "how much?" 50 cents each, was our reply. Then they'd put them back and walk away! Is 50 cents really too much to ask?!?
As an adult, I've realized the value of holding my own garage sales. I've held a couple over the last 10 years, so I was able to guide Steve this weekend in his first. Fortunately, the heavy rain we've been experiencing held off during the sale, and since this weekend was designated by the community as its garage sale weekend, there were several sales and lots of traffic.
We made a little over $200. We still have a few things we're going to try to sell online, and the rest is going to be donated. We decided against selling hot dogs when Steve heard we might need a special permit for food sales, but we made several dollars selling soda and water. I got to use my pidgeon Spanish several times, as the majority of our shoppers were Hispanic.
Both my sisters mentioned buying beads at garage sales...Steve had several strands of old Mardi Gras beads. They were picked up a dozen times but never bought. They'd ask, "how much?" 50 cents each, was our reply. Then they'd put them back and walk away! Is 50 cents really too much to ask?!?
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Quick Update
I saw Annie last night. She's at home and glad to be able to sleep in her own bed without nurses coming in to wake her every few hours. Her scar is longer than the doctor originally told us (about 6 inches from just below her breastbone down to her belly button), but she isn't too concerned about it. I think she has a healthy outlook on the whole thing.
Another note/correction: I was trying to be witty and cute when I wrote that the "owners are busy renovating" in the story New Beginnings. I didn't mean to imply that Steve doesn't own his own home. He does. The second "owner" I was referring to was me. Although I'm not on the mortgage, he's treating me as an equal in all decisions, and we are planning our future together there.
And boy, have we been busy! Last weekend we worked our butts off on the bedroom ceilings. We've scraped off the old popcorn, patched the gouges and sanded them flat. Now we have to wipe off the leftover dust from the sanding, prime and paint them. We've also been shopping for new carpet for the bedrooms. The measurement guy comes out tomorrow, and we should have new carpet in a week or so.
This weekend, we're having a garage sale in conjunction with the rest of the community. So we've also been sorting through things to identify what we want to sell. It's amazing how much junk two people can collect, but as they say, one person's trash is another's treasure. Steve has also decided to cook some hotdogs on his grill to sell and to entice people to our house.
Life is busy, but really really good.
Another note/correction: I was trying to be witty and cute when I wrote that the "owners are busy renovating" in the story New Beginnings. I didn't mean to imply that Steve doesn't own his own home. He does. The second "owner" I was referring to was me. Although I'm not on the mortgage, he's treating me as an equal in all decisions, and we are planning our future together there.
And boy, have we been busy! Last weekend we worked our butts off on the bedroom ceilings. We've scraped off the old popcorn, patched the gouges and sanded them flat. Now we have to wipe off the leftover dust from the sanding, prime and paint them. We've also been shopping for new carpet for the bedrooms. The measurement guy comes out tomorrow, and we should have new carpet in a week or so.
This weekend, we're having a garage sale in conjunction with the rest of the community. So we've also been sorting through things to identify what we want to sell. It's amazing how much junk two people can collect, but as they say, one person's trash is another's treasure. Steve has also decided to cook some hotdogs on his grill to sell and to entice people to our house.
Life is busy, but really really good.
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