Valentine's day came and went... I refuse to let a holiday like that get me down about my single state in life. Not that I wasn't tempted, but seriously, life is too short.
Good things about Valentine's day as a single person, okay, maybe just as me:
1. No reason to scout around for the perfect romantic gift, evening, card, etc.
2. Received a flower and chocolate from the boss, very thoughtful.
3. Received no flowers or chocolate from large, dirty man at work who has a crush on me. Whew. That would have been awkward.
4. I left work "early" (before 5) after working an 11 hour day. Made it to Mass and then home for a movie. Definitely low key. No expectations.
5. Suzie always wants to be mine, no matter what day it is (and Maggie bitterly resents being mine).
6. I downloaded photos from my camera, posted a few on here, and enjoyed looking at the pictures of the last couple months -- and a lot a really cute munchkins that I love.
7. Home sweet home.
8. And I slept like a baby having gotten only a few fitful hours the night before, the combo of war movie, relaxed evening, and extreme exhaustion made for a great night's sleep.
There you have it. Happy un-Valentine's day friends.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Recommendations
I am watching a series called "Island at War" by Acorn Media (thank you Saline library). It's about the Channel Island of St. Gregory during the nazi occupation. Reminds me of a great book I re-read recently and highly recommend: "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. History is so full of heroism and heartbreak.
I highly recommend the book, and the DVD series was mostly good ...But you should know there were a couple scenes that were well, unnecessary. Brief, but still unncessary. The first four episodes were so good but the last two included less than recommendable behaviour -no matter how historical. Sigh.
I highly recommend the book, and the DVD series was mostly good ...But you should know there were a couple scenes that were well, unnecessary. Brief, but still unncessary. The first four episodes were so good but the last two included less than recommendable behaviour -no matter how historical. Sigh.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Mid-February
The Good:
-- I love Sundays. It is soooo good to have a day set aside to worship, and to rest, and to be.
-- Today I sewed a bag for my ice skates out of an old curtain. Sometimes I am proud enough to post pics of a sewing project, in spite of knowing sewing geniuses like Jodi and Karen who can literally make amazingly beautiful things out of nothing (You ladies inspire me!). This bag, however, is not worth posting. It is great because: a) I reused a sunfaded curtain b) it fits my ice skates and gets them off the closet floor c) I started and finished it in one day and d) it got me sewing and doing something creative on a sunny Sunday afternoon. But it sure isn't pretty and now that I've finished it, I know what is wrong with the design. Ah well, live and learn :)
-- My February list is proving to be a good distraction and I'm getting some stuff checked off. More on that later. But if you don't have a February list, you should probably make one. :)
-- After weeks of sunlessness, and the last few days with the high temperatures around 15 degrees F, the sun came out today! And the high was upper 30's or lower 40's. It was glorious, felt practically like spring! And the robins are back- they were congregating in the tree out front while I sewed. I'm hoping they remember how awesome that rosebush nest was and do not remember the scary lady with the camera who peeked in several times a day.
-- I had a Saturday at home and got some little things done around the house. And cleaned out the front cleaning closet-- that had become disorganized, dirty, and ridden with dog hair. Sure, I could have worked on other things and probably should have, but it feels nice to accomplish something- no matter how insignificant.
The Bad:
-- I am still feeling like I am no where near achieving my work life balance again. Just when I think there's a light at the end of the tunnel, I am proved wrong and land back in the overwhelmed and working a lot of hours camp. That being said, I am SO grateful for a job that I like, fun coworkers, and good work to do. God is so good to me. So although I am whining about it some, I am also profoundly grateful for the gift of work and this work even.
-- I miss my friends, my kiddos, my people... near and far.
-- I am never as productive as I want to be. Ever.
-- Flumaggedon... I'm still optimistic about avoiding it, and in the past week was around several people who were in various stages of getting over it... but two of my housemates are sniffling now, and it feels dangerously close all the sudden. And I clearly do not have time to be sick! So I'm taking vitamins like it's going out of style and hoping for the best.
The Ugly:
-- I have no idea what Suzie ate (and I know it wasn't the usual culprit -rawhide) but she is making smells that no person should have to endure. It's like something died in there (and worse yet, it isn't staying in there).
-- The end of a weekend...
-- I love Sundays. It is soooo good to have a day set aside to worship, and to rest, and to be.
-- Today I sewed a bag for my ice skates out of an old curtain. Sometimes I am proud enough to post pics of a sewing project, in spite of knowing sewing geniuses like Jodi and Karen who can literally make amazingly beautiful things out of nothing (You ladies inspire me!). This bag, however, is not worth posting. It is great because: a) I reused a sunfaded curtain b) it fits my ice skates and gets them off the closet floor c) I started and finished it in one day and d) it got me sewing and doing something creative on a sunny Sunday afternoon. But it sure isn't pretty and now that I've finished it, I know what is wrong with the design. Ah well, live and learn :)
-- My February list is proving to be a good distraction and I'm getting some stuff checked off. More on that later. But if you don't have a February list, you should probably make one. :)
-- After weeks of sunlessness, and the last few days with the high temperatures around 15 degrees F, the sun came out today! And the high was upper 30's or lower 40's. It was glorious, felt practically like spring! And the robins are back- they were congregating in the tree out front while I sewed. I'm hoping they remember how awesome that rosebush nest was and do not remember the scary lady with the camera who peeked in several times a day.
-- I had a Saturday at home and got some little things done around the house. And cleaned out the front cleaning closet-- that had become disorganized, dirty, and ridden with dog hair. Sure, I could have worked on other things and probably should have, but it feels nice to accomplish something- no matter how insignificant.
The Bad:
-- I am still feeling like I am no where near achieving my work life balance again. Just when I think there's a light at the end of the tunnel, I am proved wrong and land back in the overwhelmed and working a lot of hours camp. That being said, I am SO grateful for a job that I like, fun coworkers, and good work to do. God is so good to me. So although I am whining about it some, I am also profoundly grateful for the gift of work and this work even.
-- I miss my friends, my kiddos, my people... near and far.
-- I am never as productive as I want to be. Ever.
-- Flumaggedon... I'm still optimistic about avoiding it, and in the past week was around several people who were in various stages of getting over it... but two of my housemates are sniffling now, and it feels dangerously close all the sudden. And I clearly do not have time to be sick! So I'm taking vitamins like it's going out of style and hoping for the best.
The Ugly:
-- I have no idea what Suzie ate (and I know it wasn't the usual culprit -rawhide) but she is making smells that no person should have to endure. It's like something died in there (and worse yet, it isn't staying in there).
-- The end of a weekend...
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Take Down the Sign Reenie
I know, another recurring theme... today it was my boss coming into the office early afternoon and begging for someone to take his three girls for the night, he'd had a business meeting he really needed to be at rescheduled for the day he has the girls. He cajoled R, one of the auditors, at length trying to get him to take them. Both J and R gave flat "no". Then he pulled one of those mean sales tactics on me, where he says he feels bad asking me since its too much like piling on... but he really does need someone to watch them... I resisted as long as I could, and then agreed to take them. I know (hangs head in shame), this clearly isn't the balance I'm searching for... but really his girls aren't that bad. Don't get me wrong, the afternoons he has brought them into the office are completely unproductive, but they really are sweet kids.
This foiled my "work from home thursday afternoon" plan, but tomorrow I'm planning to work from home. Though E, the CFO, caught me as I had my arms full of J's kids stuff and said we should meet tomorrow. Ugh. I said I was working at home for at least the morning but heard myself agree to a noon meeting. What is wrong with me? When my boss got the girls tonight (at 9:15 pm), he said to work from home all day and rolled his eyes at the meeting... maybe this means I can skip out... we shall see.
I will also say that I did enjoy the time with John's girls. They are really entertaining kids, ages 10, 8, and 4. The older two are great and the youngest is a pistol but was very well behaved for me. She even fell asleep on the couch before the evening was out.
Besides "kids" is on my February Survival List. So technically I couldn't have said no...
This foiled my "work from home thursday afternoon" plan, but tomorrow I'm planning to work from home. Though E, the CFO, caught me as I had my arms full of J's kids stuff and said we should meet tomorrow. Ugh. I said I was working at home for at least the morning but heard myself agree to a noon meeting. What is wrong with me? When my boss got the girls tonight (at 9:15 pm), he said to work from home all day and rolled his eyes at the meeting... maybe this means I can skip out... we shall see.
I will also say that I did enjoy the time with John's girls. They are really entertaining kids, ages 10, 8, and 4. The older two are great and the youngest is a pistol but was very well behaved for me. She even fell asleep on the couch before the evening was out.
Besides "kids" is on my February Survival List. So technically I couldn't have said no...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)