Someone breathed on me.
I'm not sure who, but there are many suspects.
All I know is that I felt fine when I woke up and like shit about 4 hours later.
Now I'm tired. And my head has a constant low hum. And my eyes feel hot. Which may be weird, but I can usually tell if I'm running a temp by how my eyes feel. And they feel hot.
I have an office full of sickies. Over the past month, various people have been sick. Like they're taking in shifts or something. And every single one of them was given the following directions ...
... Back up and don't breathe towards me.
Really. I said that. Over and over and over. Apparently someone didn't listen.
I don't know that this is the start of the flu. I did have a shot this year. This could just be the start of a really nasty cold.
In any case, I'm going to bed early. I have no choice but to be at work tomorrow as I'll be the only manager in my department.
But I can't promise I'll put in a full day.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
The haircut didn't happen on Saturday.
I got there and they didn't have an appointment for me. They apparently didn't believe I had an appointment there at all - they asked if I was sure I was at the right place. I had them check this Saturday, thinking maybe I had the day wrong. Nope, nothing for me for this Saturday either. They called the woman I said I had an appointment with to see if she could come in a bit early. She wasn't able to. They tried to squeeze me between one person's color and another person's color in a weird, haircutting tag-team match. I refused that option - I didn't want to be bounced back and forth and I didn't want anyone rushing (a rushed hairdresser with scissors isn't a good idea).
I had a thought and asked the woman to check the previous Saturday. And there I was. The guy that made the appointment made it for the previous Saturday. Einstein.
So I'm rescheduled for this Saturday at 3:30.
In my new-found role of nosey neighbor, I've decided the house across the street doesn't hold any actual adults. I'm sure the occupants qualify as adults, but they're late teens / early 20's. And Saturday night, around 1am, one of them was screaming at someone else. Fun times.
My time of 11- 8 is almost over. I have just this week and next week. Yay.
I got there and they didn't have an appointment for me. They apparently didn't believe I had an appointment there at all - they asked if I was sure I was at the right place. I had them check this Saturday, thinking maybe I had the day wrong. Nope, nothing for me for this Saturday either. They called the woman I said I had an appointment with to see if she could come in a bit early. She wasn't able to. They tried to squeeze me between one person's color and another person's color in a weird, haircutting tag-team match. I refused that option - I didn't want to be bounced back and forth and I didn't want anyone rushing (a rushed hairdresser with scissors isn't a good idea).
I had a thought and asked the woman to check the previous Saturday. And there I was. The guy that made the appointment made it for the previous Saturday. Einstein.
So I'm rescheduled for this Saturday at 3:30.
In my new-found role of nosey neighbor, I've decided the house across the street doesn't hold any actual adults. I'm sure the occupants qualify as adults, but they're late teens / early 20's. And Saturday night, around 1am, one of them was screaming at someone else. Fun times.
My time of 11- 8 is almost over. I have just this week and next week. Yay.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Yay for Saturdays!
By 7:30 this morning, I had the cat pans cleaned, the animals fed and watered, and the poop in the basement picked up.
Yes, I said poop in the basement. Our older girl, Pearl, stays in the basement for the most part (it's heated). And instead of letting us know each time she has to go, she just ... goes. So there's poop. The only thing I can be grateful for is that it's a concrete floor (she has cushions to lay on).
I had her in the back yard this morning (I was outside with her to keep her from barking too much ... which she does) and I remember how someone once commented on her name and how it doesn't fit her. And it doesn't. The word pearl invokes images of soft sleekness. The dog Pearl is anything but soft and sleek. If she were a human, she'd wear work boots and drive a semi.
I have an appointment to get my hair cut later this morning. With a new stylist. Argh. The woman (I say that but she's a good 13 years younger than I) I'd been going to got married and moved a couple hours away. Really. Packed her shit and moved. I had been going to her for a few years and she knew my hair and ... uck. So I haven't had a decent hair cut in a few months. Luckily my hair's longer and layered, so I was able to get away without having it done for a while. But now it's at the point where it really needs to be cleaned up.
I did the smart thing and asked women at work about their stylist - but only if I really liked their cut. I finally settled on one and made the appointment for today.
I'm nervous about it, though. I cheated on my hair dresser once ... once ... and that was enough. My impatience caused me to go elsewhere (I have a tendency to call just a few days before I want my hair done, which is tard since she was always booked a couple weeks up) and I regretted it. Not only did I get a lousy cut, but then I had to go back to my stylist to have it fixed. I felt like an ass (not to mention a good $100 poorer between the two cuts) and vowed to never stray again.
Then she left me. And I have to start over with someone new. And she's not here to fix it if this woman messes it up.
Gah. I'm going to be a wreck by the time I get there.
Yes, I said poop in the basement. Our older girl, Pearl, stays in the basement for the most part (it's heated). And instead of letting us know each time she has to go, she just ... goes. So there's poop. The only thing I can be grateful for is that it's a concrete floor (she has cushions to lay on).
I had her in the back yard this morning (I was outside with her to keep her from barking too much ... which she does) and I remember how someone once commented on her name and how it doesn't fit her. And it doesn't. The word pearl invokes images of soft sleekness. The dog Pearl is anything but soft and sleek. If she were a human, she'd wear work boots and drive a semi.
I have an appointment to get my hair cut later this morning. With a new stylist. Argh. The woman (I say that but she's a good 13 years younger than I) I'd been going to got married and moved a couple hours away. Really. Packed her shit and moved. I had been going to her for a few years and she knew my hair and ... uck. So I haven't had a decent hair cut in a few months. Luckily my hair's longer and layered, so I was able to get away without having it done for a while. But now it's at the point where it really needs to be cleaned up.
I did the smart thing and asked women at work about their stylist - but only if I really liked their cut. I finally settled on one and made the appointment for today.
I'm nervous about it, though. I cheated on my hair dresser once ... once ... and that was enough. My impatience caused me to go elsewhere (I have a tendency to call just a few days before I want my hair done, which is tard since she was always booked a couple weeks up) and I regretted it. Not only did I get a lousy cut, but then I had to go back to my stylist to have it fixed. I felt like an ass (not to mention a good $100 poorer between the two cuts) and vowed to never stray again.
Then she left me. And I have to start over with someone new. And she's not here to fix it if this woman messes it up.
Gah. I'm going to be a wreck by the time I get there.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Happy Humpday ...
My new hire class is doing well. I think this group is really getting it. They're also probably the most eager and level-headed class I've had. No one's freaked out, no one's spazzed over our system, nada. They're making the connections they need to and they're asking what I consider to be really good questions - I can see the links they're making and the lines of thought leading them from one point to another.
So that rocks.
I haven't been online much from home the last few nights. Between training the new associates and doing other work, I'm pretty much pooped by the time I get home. And then there's American Idol to watch.
Oh, yes. I watch American Idol. And I already have my fave guy, so there.
By the time that's over, it's 10 and I just don't have the oomph to get off the couch.
We're slowly moving towards our goal for IVF. I'm going to start looking into financing options in the next week or so to finish it out. I've looked some, but not all that seriously so far. I guess I'm just nervous to take on a loan - and another monthly bill. What I try to keep reminding myself is that I will be able to claim most of it on next year's taxes (we'll have to file separately, though). So if I can find one with a payment low enough to coast until tax time, then we should be ok.
Plus my company will be passing out our bonuses in the next couple of weeks and that'll go towards it, too. It won't be a lot, but it'll be that much less that we'd have to finance.
So ... my brain is working on a plan.
So that rocks.
I haven't been online much from home the last few nights. Between training the new associates and doing other work, I'm pretty much pooped by the time I get home. And then there's American Idol to watch.
Oh, yes. I watch American Idol. And I already have my fave guy, so there.
By the time that's over, it's 10 and I just don't have the oomph to get off the couch.
We're slowly moving towards our goal for IVF. I'm going to start looking into financing options in the next week or so to finish it out. I've looked some, but not all that seriously so far. I guess I'm just nervous to take on a loan - and another monthly bill. What I try to keep reminding myself is that I will be able to claim most of it on next year's taxes (we'll have to file separately, though). So if I can find one with a payment low enough to coast until tax time, then we should be ok.
Plus my company will be passing out our bonuses in the next couple of weeks and that'll go towards it, too. It won't be a lot, but it'll be that much less that we'd have to finance.
So ... my brain is working on a plan.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Sunday drive without leaving the house ...
Things I did yesterday ...
huh ... when I broke it down in the order I did it, it sounded like a lot more work.
Maybe it was that I didn't do it all at once. I was up and down.
Today's agenda includes staying in my jammies, vacuuming (with these cats, it's a daily must), and cleaning the cat pans (again, it's a daily must).
And that's it. No grand plans for this Sunday.
- A bit of shopping
- 2 loads of laundry
- emptied / loaded / ran / emptied the dishwasher
- cleaned the kitchen
- cleaned the cat pans
- vacuumed
- made spaghetti sauce (for what was supposed to be dinner)
huh ... when I broke it down in the order I did it, it sounded like a lot more work.
Maybe it was that I didn't do it all at once. I was up and down.
Today's agenda includes staying in my jammies, vacuuming (with these cats, it's a daily must), and cleaning the cat pans (again, it's a daily must).
And that's it. No grand plans for this Sunday.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
The soup was a big hit. And the only one to be aaalll gone before the meeting was over.
Go me.
Pros for working 11 - 8:
Yeah ... that's all I got for that.
Work still has me in a place that I'm not comfortable posting about right now. Maybe in a few weeks. It just depends on which direction a few things go.
Go me.
Pros for working 11 - 8:
- I get to sleep until 8 if I want
- The office is generally calmer after 5 and I seem to get more work done
- Um ... er ....
Yeah ... that's all I got for that.
Work still has me in a place that I'm not comfortable posting about right now. Maybe in a few weeks. It just depends on which direction a few things go.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Day of the Soup ...
Today is one of our monthly department meetings. We normally have some sort of lunch during it as it covers the normal lunch hours. We post a sign-up sheet so reps can sign up to bring something (think pot luck style).
This month is soup.
So I made this (minus the vinegar). I made it a few times in the past and it really does come out just like the restaurant's soup.
I usually tweak it a little, adding a bit more oregano and basil because it can come out too tomatoey. And I don't use vinegar. I don't know why it calls for it, but I don't use it.
I also use the Italian Style diced tomatoes for extra flavor.
And where it calls for a full pound of pasta, I learned to only use 1 - 2 cups. And to cook the pasta before you put it into the soup. Otherwise you'll end up with something that looks like fancy Hamburger Helper, just way tastier. If you don't cook the pasta first, it sucks up all the soupiness. Which you'd think I would have realized the first time I made it ... but no. I learned that (obvious) lesson the first time.
Oh and it calls for a pricier shaped pasta - ditali. I just use the small shells. I used the ditali the first time and there really isn't any difference in flavor. So why pay more for a fancy shape?
It is a bit labor intensive at first. You have to dice the onion and celery, cook the meat, then throw the veggies (onion, celery, shredded carrots) together to saute for about 15 minutes. Then you add the rest of the stuff. I try to go cheap and easy where I can - I bought the pre-shredded carrots and the canned stuff was store brand.
Just as good, but much cheaper.
Not that it's a cheap soup to make. All told, it was $16 for the ingredients.
But I did end up putting some of the the meat & veggies into a smaller pot and kind of splitting the rest of the ingredients between them. The full recipe I needed (to feed at least 10 people) was too large for the largest pot we have. But it works out as I'm leaving the smaller pot here for Patrick and I.
So now I've already reheated it, gotten the crock pot out, a larger bowl out (my crock pot is small), and the pasta is on its way to boiling.
It's a lot of work, but it really is worth it. I highly recommend printing it out and trying it. It's especially good on a cold day.
This month is soup.
So I made this (minus the vinegar). I made it a few times in the past and it really does come out just like the restaurant's soup.
I usually tweak it a little, adding a bit more oregano and basil because it can come out too tomatoey. And I don't use vinegar. I don't know why it calls for it, but I don't use it.
I also use the Italian Style diced tomatoes for extra flavor.
And where it calls for a full pound of pasta, I learned to only use 1 - 2 cups. And to cook the pasta before you put it into the soup. Otherwise you'll end up with something that looks like fancy Hamburger Helper, just way tastier. If you don't cook the pasta first, it sucks up all the soupiness. Which you'd think I would have realized the first time I made it ... but no. I learned that (obvious) lesson the first time.
Oh and it calls for a pricier shaped pasta - ditali. I just use the small shells. I used the ditali the first time and there really isn't any difference in flavor. So why pay more for a fancy shape?
It is a bit labor intensive at first. You have to dice the onion and celery, cook the meat, then throw the veggies (onion, celery, shredded carrots) together to saute for about 15 minutes. Then you add the rest of the stuff. I try to go cheap and easy where I can - I bought the pre-shredded carrots and the canned stuff was store brand.
Just as good, but much cheaper.
Not that it's a cheap soup to make. All told, it was $16 for the ingredients.
But I did end up putting some of the the meat & veggies into a smaller pot and kind of splitting the rest of the ingredients between them. The full recipe I needed (to feed at least 10 people) was too large for the largest pot we have. But it works out as I'm leaving the smaller pot here for Patrick and I.
So now I've already reheated it, gotten the crock pot out, a larger bowl out (my crock pot is small), and the pasta is on its way to boiling.
It's a lot of work, but it really is worth it. I highly recommend printing it out and trying it. It's especially good on a cold day.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Gah ...
When we moved in, the house across the street was for sale. And empty.
People moved in about a week ago. I'm not sure if it's 2 adults and 2 teens or what ... but the car count ranges from 1 - 4 on most days.
How do I know?
Because I've turned into that nosey neighbor that's forever looking out her window.
The thing is that I'm not use to hearing car sounds from that direction. There's a house around the corner that has a kind of loud van with visitors that have this insanely loud car and I'm use to that. I hear either of those vehicles and I know exactly what it is.
But the door thudding from across the street throws me every time. So I get up to look. And it's just the new neighbors.
I know they must think I'm nuts, looking out my window every time they turn around.
I have another new hire class at work. Right on the tale of my last one (they actually overlapped by 2 days). I normally run a class 8 - 5 - it makes it a bit easier to get some of my other work done and most are glad they don't have to start working 11 - 8 just yet.
But this class is running 11 - 8. For 3 weeks. So I'm working 11 - 8 for those 3 weeks, plus an extra week when they hit the floor.
That's a month of 11 - 8. Yuck.
But I'm trying to look at it more positively. Since almost all of my direct reports work 11 - 8, my working their schedule should make it easier to meet with them.
It will make it more difficult to do recurrent training as I'll be with the new associates until at least 3pm most days, but I'll just have to ask for help getting training done during the earlier shifts.
It's just weird sitting at home (like I am now) and watching the clock (like I am now). By the time I need to leave, I'll be struggling with the "eh, just stay home" mentality that kicks in if I have too much down time before work.
People moved in about a week ago. I'm not sure if it's 2 adults and 2 teens or what ... but the car count ranges from 1 - 4 on most days.
How do I know?
Because I've turned into that nosey neighbor that's forever looking out her window.
The thing is that I'm not use to hearing car sounds from that direction. There's a house around the corner that has a kind of loud van with visitors that have this insanely loud car and I'm use to that. I hear either of those vehicles and I know exactly what it is.
But the door thudding from across the street throws me every time. So I get up to look. And it's just the new neighbors.
I know they must think I'm nuts, looking out my window every time they turn around.
I have another new hire class at work. Right on the tale of my last one (they actually overlapped by 2 days). I normally run a class 8 - 5 - it makes it a bit easier to get some of my other work done and most are glad they don't have to start working 11 - 8 just yet.
But this class is running 11 - 8. For 3 weeks. So I'm working 11 - 8 for those 3 weeks, plus an extra week when they hit the floor.
That's a month of 11 - 8. Yuck.
But I'm trying to look at it more positively. Since almost all of my direct reports work 11 - 8, my working their schedule should make it easier to meet with them.
It will make it more difficult to do recurrent training as I'll be with the new associates until at least 3pm most days, but I'll just have to ask for help getting training done during the earlier shifts.
It's just weird sitting at home (like I am now) and watching the clock (like I am now). By the time I need to leave, I'll be struggling with the "eh, just stay home" mentality that kicks in if I have too much down time before work.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
I feel all culturized ...
Knoxville has (had, as they lost their grant .. go them) a contract to bring Broadway shows to the city. For the past couple of years, Broadway shows to have come through the city include Annie, Cats, and Stomp (there's more, but that's all I can think of at the moment).
Last night, Patrick and I went to see Movin' Out - a show choreographed and produced by the legendary Twyla Tharp.
It was different.
I hadn't really heard much about it outside of it being an excellent musical and that it won a number of Tony awards for its Broadway run. But that was really about it.
So the lack of dialogue was really surprising. The cast only dances - there is no dialogue between them and none of them sing. They dance the story while a group suspended at the top of the stage sing Billy Joel song after Billy Joel song. So the storyline relied completely on the songs and the dancers' ability to show emotion in their movements.
It was hard to follow at first. If I didn't have the booklet that showed who was who and explained the storyline, I would have been clueless as to what was going on. And it was still a bit difficult in the early part of the story.
We were probably into the 2nd or 3rd song before I found any type of cohesiveness between the songs and the dancers.
The dancers aren't the original Broadway cast, of course. But I doubt anyone would be able to tell the difference. And while a co-worker explained the need to have 5 different men available for the lead role, I didn't really get it until I saw the amount of energy they had to expend. How the person playing the role of Eddie made it from start to finish with the same height of jumps and same enthusiasm in his movements, I have no idea.
2 hours of dancing (with a 15 minute intermission) is crazy.
The dancing was a blend of contemporary and ballet. There were maybe just a couple times when there wasn't constant movement on the stage. And there were a few times I was sure the arm and leg gestures were just to fill space. But the majority of it flowed and made sense.
At least to me. Patrick's take on it was ... if they would just dance and play music, it'd be fine. But the story line distracted him.
As for me, I repeatedly found myself completely immersed in the story.
Overall I give it a thumbs up. The beginning was a bit choppy for me, but it was well worth it.
Last night, Patrick and I went to see Movin' Out - a show choreographed and produced by the legendary Twyla Tharp.
It was different.
I hadn't really heard much about it outside of it being an excellent musical and that it won a number of Tony awards for its Broadway run. But that was really about it.
So the lack of dialogue was really surprising. The cast only dances - there is no dialogue between them and none of them sing. They dance the story while a group suspended at the top of the stage sing Billy Joel song after Billy Joel song. So the storyline relied completely on the songs and the dancers' ability to show emotion in their movements.
It was hard to follow at first. If I didn't have the booklet that showed who was who and explained the storyline, I would have been clueless as to what was going on. And it was still a bit difficult in the early part of the story.
We were probably into the 2nd or 3rd song before I found any type of cohesiveness between the songs and the dancers.
The dancers aren't the original Broadway cast, of course. But I doubt anyone would be able to tell the difference. And while a co-worker explained the need to have 5 different men available for the lead role, I didn't really get it until I saw the amount of energy they had to expend. How the person playing the role of Eddie made it from start to finish with the same height of jumps and same enthusiasm in his movements, I have no idea.
2 hours of dancing (with a 15 minute intermission) is crazy.
The dancing was a blend of contemporary and ballet. There were maybe just a couple times when there wasn't constant movement on the stage. And there were a few times I was sure the arm and leg gestures were just to fill space. But the majority of it flowed and made sense.
At least to me. Patrick's take on it was ... if they would just dance and play music, it'd be fine. But the story line distracted him.
As for me, I repeatedly found myself completely immersed in the story.
Overall I give it a thumbs up. The beginning was a bit choppy for me, but it was well worth it.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
I'm still standin ..
This past week has been a rough one. Last night was the first night I didn't do any work from home. But I did bring my laptop home to do some more work this weekend.
I'm sure my stress level isn't helping my ovaries any.
Donations have started to trickle in again. Thanks to those who posted a link on their blogs and myspace accounts. Every little bit helps.
Although it'd be nice if someone with more money than they knew what to do with would just make one huge donation *grin*
My cousin gave me a few really good fund raising ideas, too. I'm currently trying to get more information about one of them, but their web site keeps giving me fits.
I'm (im)patiently waiting for our tax return to be processed. We always file electronically, so it doesn't take anywhere nearly as long as mailing in paper forms. But it seems to be moving more slowly for my tastes this year.
So it's been slow going, but we're still working towards our goal.
I'm sure my stress level isn't helping my ovaries any.
Donations have started to trickle in again. Thanks to those who posted a link on their blogs and myspace accounts. Every little bit helps.
Although it'd be nice if someone with more money than they knew what to do with would just make one huge donation *grin*
My cousin gave me a few really good fund raising ideas, too. I'm currently trying to get more information about one of them, but their web site keeps giving me fits.
I'm (im)patiently waiting for our tax return to be processed. We always file electronically, so it doesn't take anywhere nearly as long as mailing in paper forms. But it seems to be moving more slowly for my tastes this year.
So it's been slow going, but we're still working towards our goal.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Still Standing ...
The storms that tore through Tennessee overnight didn't affect us here in Knoxville - the other end of the state from Memphis. We got some rain this morning, some good thunder, but nothing major.
I really haven't been in a blogging mood lately. I can't blog when I'm stressed.
And I'm stressed.
Hopefully, going to see this Saturday night will fix some of that.
I really haven't been in a blogging mood lately. I can't blog when I'm stressed.
And I'm stressed.
Hopefully, going to see this Saturday night will fix some of that.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Blah about sums it up ...
After just a couple hours of work today, my latest work project is just about done. I can't finish finish it as the rest is on my computer at the office. I should have brought my laptop home.
But seeing as I headed out the door like my ass was on fire, grabbing my laptop was the last thing on my mind yesterday.
Until after I got home and thought ... huh ... this would be easier to finish if I had my laptop.
More on that another day.
But seeing as I headed out the door like my ass was on fire, grabbing my laptop was the last thing on my mind yesterday.
Until after I got home and thought ... huh ... this would be easier to finish if I had my laptop.
More on that another day.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
I just haven't had the oomph ...
Work has me so frustrated right now that I can't see straight.
Really. I'm pretty close to the edge of "I give a rat's ass". Which isn't a good place to be.
So most nights I've just come home and either watched TV or read a book. I've barely done anything else.
Today I need to go in for a bit and I have no motivation to.
We need to win the lottery so I can be a stay at home ... whatever.
After the first flurry of activity on my donation blog, it's been quiet. I keep reminding myself that it's ok. Donating isn't something everyone will be eager to do, so it being slow is perfectly normal.
Slow doesn't fit my patience level, though.
I'm just all over frustrated, I suppose.
Really. I'm pretty close to the edge of "I give a rat's ass". Which isn't a good place to be.
So most nights I've just come home and either watched TV or read a book. I've barely done anything else.
Today I need to go in for a bit and I have no motivation to.
We need to win the lottery so I can be a stay at home ... whatever.
After the first flurry of activity on my donation blog, it's been quiet. I keep reminding myself that it's ok. Donating isn't something everyone will be eager to do, so it being slow is perfectly normal.
Slow doesn't fit my patience level, though.
I'm just all over frustrated, I suppose.
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