Thursday, January 31, 2013

good old friends

Had a lovely call yesterday from one of my college friends. I met Anne my first week at IU. We were in a Journalism class together and became buddies in a matter of minutes. It was so good to catch up with her over the phone instead of over Facebook.

Another old friend, well her hubby, who is also an old friend, spent an hour of his time last night on a skype call with the oldest. You see, having a physics PhD enables you to tutor Physics 105 with ease. The oldest was super impressed with his mad teaching skills and is much better prepared to take her first exam tomorrow.

It is good to have friends, but it is even better to have old friends. Those folks who have stood the test of time and still stick by you and your kids. They are with you through thick and thin and even physics.

It is Thursday. Our magazine proofs arrived yesterday. I have a lot to do today as we try and wrestle this debut issue into form. It looks pretty good. Not too many things to fix or rework.

Off we go.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

torrents

We had torrential rain last night, but no tornado sirens! Yes!! I actually slept really well for a change.  I guess the oldest will have a delayed start this morning due to the weather. The university is super cautious after the horrific tornado that went through that area a few years back.

The middle daughter collected several soccer sign up sheets and checks and delivered them to the team manager's house. We are hoping that by turning in everything together they will grant our wish and place that group of kids on one team. I'm keeping my fingers crossed on that one. Watching those kids play soccer would be a great way to spend weekends this Spring.

I am nearing the end of the ebook I am reading. This title was another free one from Nicky Charles and is the third in her werewolf series. So far, I've enjoyed the second title the best. I'm ready to move on.

Keep seeing the movie preview/trailers for "Beautiful Creatures." The authors of that YA series were at our library a few years back. Sort of neat to know we met them and have an autographed copy of that book. I hope the movie is decent. With Jeremy Irons and Emma Thompson in the cast, it has some acting chops to help it along. I think Viola Davis is in it too.  Big budget production I guess.

Off into Wednesday I go. I've already had a text message from my boss and he won't be into work today. Stomach bug or some such nonsense.


Tuesday, January 29, 2013

read a page and fall asleep

I managed to read more than just one page before I fell asleep, but I guess the daughter didn't. I heard her tromping up and down the stairs and the printer zipping along around 4:00 this morning. I guess she fell asleep, didn't get her reading done, and didn't get her reflection paper written. So, she did all of that sometime between 2:30 and 4:00 this morning.

Nice.

Of course, she has managed to go back to sleep. I'm wide awake and have been since 4:00. Lovely. Just Lovely. Good thing I'm not doing anything detail oriented at work today.

Monday, January 28, 2013

rocky top and all that orange

The middle kid has thought and thought and decided to head east for college instead of west. It was hard to walk away from the scholarship offers they put on the table and to ignore the lure of being with a big group of friends to start collegiate life.

So, Rocky Top it is. I need to add some orange to my wardrobe.

The weekend went by super fast this time around. We were very busy, lots of errands to accomplish including a Costco run yesterday. The daughter picked out her computer. The hubby got his new glasses ordered, including a pair just for using the computer. I stocked up on some pantry items.

The only thing I didn't do much of was read. I did manage to get a few pages in last night before I fell asleep, but with so many other things to do, it just wasn't a priority.

Next weekend is the Super Bowl already! January went by too quickly and before we know it, February will be gone. When they were talking about Ash Wednesday at Mass yesterday, I couldn't believe Lent is just around the corner.

My busy Spring is almost upon me. Wow.

But, for now, enjoy Monday. Let's get this week started!!

Friday, January 25, 2013

medium rare friday post

I woke this morning and didn't have a headache! And it is Friday! And the lunch bunch is going out to lunch today!

Happy Friday and even better, Happy Weekend!

Thursday, January 24, 2013

ouch

I woke up way too early this morning with a pounding sinus headache. Ouch. It is going to be a very, very long day.

Last night I finished my 7th book of the new year. This was another of the free downloads I had loaded onto my Nook.  "The Keeping" by Nicky Charles is a self published paranormal romance. The second novel in a trilogy about the same werewolf pack, this novel was an entertaining read. Nothing ground breaking, but one of the better self pubbed novels I've read. Charles does a nice job with her characters and is continuing to build on the world she has created. I believe I have the third book already on my Nook, so that one will be up next.

Off to get more coffee and some pain relievers.


Wednesday, January 23, 2013

no soup for you

I was never a big Seinfeld fan, but the soup nazi episode is pretty hilarious. I'm sure we will hear the "no soup" line today at work. Of course, I'm not taking soup to work. I did last year, but this time I thought I'd take the easy way out and bring a warm dip and some tortilla chips. I bought both at Costco. Such a slacker.

My goal of clearing out my Nook and actually reading the 20+ books I have downloaded over the past year is on track. Right now I've started reading a self published novel about werewolves. It is pretty entertaining.

Brrrr. I'm a bit chilled this morning and wondering why hot flashes don't hit when you need them most?

Off into Wednesday I go. Love that hump day is here already. Having Monday off was so nice!

Enjoy the day. Stay warm. Eat soup.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

stop and smell the roses

It was so nice to have yesterday off from work. I was able to take care of all my annual medical exams and have lunch with a dear friend. Good day! I also finished reading one book, one novella, and got one load of laundry finished. It was a good way to end a very good weekend. Saturday, hubby and I ventured all the way in to the big city and had breakfast at one of the premier-favorite-highly regarded breakfast cafes. The food was delicious and totally deserving of all the praise it receives.

One item has been checked off my 2013 to do list. Only 3 more meals to eat at restaurants of note away from our little town.

Up for the rest of the week, well, I'm not quite sure. We have odds and ends to do at work including a 'carry in soup lunch' tomorrow. Those are always fun.

With being in waiting rooms or exam rooms for a good portion of the day, I wasn't able to watch much of the inauguration. I did read the speech. Good Stuff. And the best part was his unscripted moment of turning and savoring the view before him as he left. He was right, that sight is one he will never see again. Being able to recognize and savor those special moments in life is something too many of us don't do. We rush headlong from one thing to the next and forget to acknowledge that moments pass us by, never to return again. If the president can take a few seconds and pause and reflect on what just happened, we surely can do the same in our daily lives. Cliches have truth. We all have moments when we need to stop and smell the roses.

My thanks to Rachel Maddow on MSNBC for sharing that clip. It was important and a good reminder for all of us.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

ready for the weekend

We have a three day weekend ahead. One thing that is a really nice perk about my play of employment is our holiday schedule. We have almost every federal holiday off  plus a few extras. So, there is rarely a month that we don't get a three day weekend. That is perfect for making doctor appointments. I am going to two of them on Monday. Going to be a busy day, but at least I don't have to use PTO to have my physical and such.

Hubby and I have plans for a Saturday morning breakfast date. We may drive all the way into the big city and eat at one of the very famous breakfast diners near the university campus. In the 10 years we've lived here, we've never eaten there. Time to start seeing if all the talk is true.

We may also venture to the cell phone store and see about getting my Christmas present. Yep. I may leave the 'stone ages' and take the leap into the iPhone world. The kids, my boss, and assorted other people all think I'm missing out on a lot of fun by not having an iPhone. Hmmmm. Perhaps. Having one may be quite useful as I travel for work. Sitting in booths at conventions can be a bit dull and if I can play word games with my boss and friends, I could keep myself entertained!

The conference call yesterday went well. We think. The design gal seemed a bit 'out of it.' We weren't sure if she was caught off guard by the fact that instead of a 32 page piece we are going to be closer to 60, or if we really sent her a hot mess in regards to how we organized the content. I'm sure the owner of the company is thrilled that we will owe more money for the production of the piece. Our BOT is thrilled we sold so much ad space. Maybe she just thought her design work was over and when we included two new columnists, she was surprised. Who knows.

We are anxious to see the initial layouts and get this thing off to the printers.  Our first brand new emailed newsletter was sent yesterday afternoon to rave reviews. One of our editorial advisory board members emailed us her congratulations and compliments. Plus, she copied the executive director on the note. Always good when that happens.

So, the boss and I had a good day after several rough ones last week. Things, for the moment, are looking okay-dokey. And it is Thursday. Yeah!


Wednesday, January 16, 2013

dodged that wintry weather threat

There might be some icy patches out there, but for the most part, it seems we dodged the worst of the icy threat. Yeah! It was pretty nasty yesterday. Cold, wet, freezing stuff. Glad today will be in the 40s and life will get back to normal.

So, off to school and work we all go. As the headline on the paper says today, "Iced tease."

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

longing for a snow day

My kids are longing for a snow day, but Mother Nature didn't grant their wish. We had some nasty freezing rain yesterday, but school let out after the worst of it rolled through and everyone made it home without trouble. I think it took me five minutes longer and that was from increased traffic. Our local police had shut down our portion of the bypass due to icy conditions, so all those cars came down to the main arteries I use to travel to and from work.

This morning it is quite chilly, but the streets and dry. A good breeze took care of what little water was left. So, off to school they will go and they will carry with them continued hopes for a snow day this school year.

I remember the first year we lived here and school was canceled because we had the threat of snow. All of us just about lost it as we watched the weather folks get so excited over what amounted to a 4 inch snowfall. But, when you live in the South, and the county has just a couple of salt trucks, things get dicey quick. Add to that the fact that most people drive on tires that have little to no tread....yep. A recipe for disaster.

My kids are acclimated by this point and they too freak out over a promise of a few inches of the white stuff.

We all adapt, don't we?

I'm off to work a few minutes early today as I need to leave a few minutes early to make a 3:30 appointment.

Enjoy the day.

****** Update ********* The schools were dismissed 4 hours early. So, the high schooler went from 7-10 today and the middle schooler went from 8-11. I was sent home at 2:00 p.m. The ice is starting to accumulate on everything but the roads at this point. Yuck!!

Monday, January 14, 2013

slacker weekend

I'm going to pay for this later. I had such a slacker weekend. I did manage to get the laundry caught up, but besides that, nothing else was accomplished on the home front. I didn't even step foot inside a grocery store. I did, however, spend a lovely part of my Sunday afternoon visiting with Kim Smith. So good to see you!! We really need to do that more than  just a few times a year.

Should be an interesting week at work. We will upload all of our stories, articles, and pictures to the graphic design team for the debut issue of the new magazine. Then we will have a conference call with them to discuss the March issue.

And I need to start gathering material for the June issue. The beat goes on.  I also learned late Friday afternoon that work is sending me off to a convention in March. I will get to visit the great state of Texas and check out San Antonio. I've wanted to see the River Walk and now I will get my chance. It will be an interesting week. I'm going on behalf of the magazine and the other gal they are sending is going on behalf of the bookstore/online training departments. Although she isn't one of my work 'buddies,' it is nice that neither of us has to go alone. Being alone at a convention like that is not easy.

So, apparently my fretting about possible 'austerity measures' at work is not grounded in reality, at this point. As the executive director came and asked me if I could go to this convention, I see that as a vote of confidence in me and my position.

It was a bit of good news.

On the reading front, I am almost finished with Julie Kagawa's, "The Lost Prince." Not quite as in love with this story as the other four she has written about the Fae. After I finish this, I need to make a concerted effort to read all the books I have already dowloaded onto the Nook. It is getting a bit crazy. I need to clear the decks.

And for the record, my favorite dress worn at the Golden Globes has to be Taylor Swift's gown. Amazing. So simple, so elegant.

Off into Monday I go!


Friday, January 11, 2013

silence

No rain pounding the roof this morning! Yeah! And with the way the wind was blowing last night, maybe the stuff has moved east.

I have one chapter to go with Harry Dresden. He is off the coast of Chicago, out in Lake Michigan, with the Summer Knight and they've got to figure out how to stop crazy Lady Winter, Maeve, from destroying the world...or at least the Midwest.

Lunch out with the gang from work today. And the weekend is almost here!!

Friday, it is good to see you again.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

ready for the weekend

Ugh. Yet another rainy morning. Two in a row is just about more than I can handle. I need the sun!! I watched the weather forecast last night on the TV and it looks like Friday is going to be our only partly sunny day out of the next six. Where is my Memphis winter? You know, the one with temps in the 40s and clear skies?

Managed to read a couple more of my Dresden book after I was sucked into watching three episodes of The Borgias. I'm now in season two. Such a guilty pleasure.

Time to refill the coffee cup and read the newspaper. Off into Thursday I go. I'm ready for the weekend!

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

mid week crazies

I woke up to the sound of rain. I knew it was coming, or at least that is what I had read in the paper. Ugh. Ick.  I've enjoyed getting out of the office the last two days and walking. Yesterday the HR manager asked to join and I coerced one of my friends in another department to come along as well. It was  25 minutes well spent.

Work is going to be a bear until we get this magazine off to the printer on February 21. Until then, Ugh. Ick. We are in the not fun portion of this process. The long slog. Yesterday was a rough day and strangely enough, the song on the alarm when it went off this morning was "Everything's going to be all right." I need to keep telling myself that.

The oldest daughter is back on campus. Hubby dropped her off yesterday. Let the second semester begin.

I managed to read another chapter in my Dresden book even after I got sucked into watching two episodes of The Borgias. Showtime has added season one into the OnDemand cue, and I'm enjoying watching Jeremy Irons play Pope Alexander. Of course, my favorite supporting cast member so far has been Niccolo Machiavelli. Had an immediate flashback to high school and my senior year Political Thought class with Mr. Haas. Instead of reading Machiavelli, Aristotle, Socrates, and Plato the kids here take Economics.

Into the mid week crazy we go. Everything's going to be all right.





Tuesday, January 8, 2013

rammer jammer

As my daughter posted on facebook last night: "That stadium looked like a big bowl of lucky charms. The leprechauns were drowning in the Tide. After all, lucky charms is the breakfast of champions." The fat lady sang early for the Irish and the Tide rolled to another championship. Speaking of rolling, my Hoosiers rolled to an easy win over Penn State. Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoosiers!

Got to love those teams in crimson.

In other news, when I stopped in the library last week, I spent some time talking to the director about the future expansion of the library. They are at the point where it is now a 'one book in one book out' policy for the collection. Ugh.  The Friends have saved about $80K towards the expansion. That will grow to the promised $100K in the next 18 months. Then the Town can approach folks to match those funds and the project can, I hope, get underway. Sort of neat to be on the Library Board for this project. Although, if hubby's firm were to try and get the work, I'd have to recuse myself from any votes.

I didn't do any reading last night, too much football to watch! I did make it outside on my lunch break yesterday and took a quick 15 minute power walk. We are going to have some nice weather for the next several days. It was so sunny and mild yesterday and today should bring more of the same.

Off into Tuesday we go! Wonder what kind of tee shirt the oldest will procure to celebrate her 'first' National Championship??


Monday, January 7, 2013

this is going to be one long week

I really hope the week flies by, but I fear that it is going to seem extra long. Instead of a 3 day work week, we catapult straight into a full 5 day week at the office.  The hubby heads out of town for a work session and he is taking the oldest with him so he can deliver her to school tomorrow. They are going to watch the BCS National Championship game together tonight.  His work session is in a neighboring county, only about 45 minutes northwest of campus.

Hard to believe the oldest is ready to start her second semester. Hard to believe she is going back to school today. Ugh. I'm going to miss her something fierce.

We took down the Christmas decorations yesterday. I can't remember ever leaving things up until Epiphany Sunday. It was kind of nice to have the tree around that long and to see those lights in the morning. Looking rather bare in the family room today.

The weekend was filled with many, many things and I think we accomplished most of what I had listed on Friday. The only thing we didn't do was go see The Hobbit. Ran out of time. So, maybe this next weekend.

We did get to see the soccer girls play basketball. Well, sort of play basketball. When they describe the half court line as midfield, you know you have some teaching to do! I'm sure our stellar coaching staff can handle it!  The ladies of Team Rondo won and provided the parents in attendance with plenty of reasons to laugh, cheer, and applaud.

I've started reading my third book of the new year. I'm half way into Jim Butcher's latest Dresden novel. Oh, how I love reading about Harry Dresden!!

Off into Monday we go.




Friday, January 4, 2013

the rare friday post, or is this medium rare

We are going to opt for medium rare on this blog post. I may start posting on Friday just so I can sift through what I want to accomplish on the coming weekend. After I get through working at the place that pays me, I will come home and face quite a bit of work at the place where I sleep!

Up first, we have to take the mama-soccer-mobile to the Honda dealership for its 75K mile check up. Yikes. The dealership is a good 45 minute away, but we can have it there by 7:30 in the morning and let them tinker with it all day.

Next, I need to do some grocery shopping. I may try and stop by the dreaded Kroger store on my way  home this afternoon. We really need fruit and milk. We could use some meat, but I think I'm going to save that for the butcher shop and get good beef. I saw on facebook they are having a sale!

I will need to take the oldest shopping to restock her essential items for school. This is mainly toiletries and such. I can't believe she is going back to start the second semester on Monday! Sniff, sniff. I have loved having her home - even if she has been out running around a lot visiting friends.

The library has two books I put on hold ready for pick up! Yes! I can get the latest Dresden Files novel and the Iron Prince by Julia Kagawa. I'm in love with Kagawa's faery world and can't wait to see how Ash goes about getting a soul. Because you know, faeries don't have souls.

The tree and all the Christmas decor is coming DOWN on Sunday as soon as we get home from Mass. The oldest pleaded to leave it all up until right before she went back to school. She didn't get to enjoy it like we did from Thanksgiving on, so I gave in and it is still on display. It has been nice, a wonderful treat in many ways, to get up for work these last three days and see the tree lit up and twinkling at me as I sip my morning coffee.

After the tree comes down, we need to clean and do laundry. It is going to be a very busy weekend.

Happy Friday!




Thursday, January 3, 2013

the great gatsby

The middle kid rented a couple of movies while we were at the library last week. She chose Rock of Ages and Mirror, Mirror. I had seen Rock of Ages already as hubby and I rented it one weekend, but we had not seen Mirror, Mirror.

But, this post isn't about either movie, although both were fun to watch. I particularly enjoyed singing along with Rock of Ages. And even though Tom Cruise was in the movie, I have to admit he did a great job playing the drunken, aging rocker. Mirror, Mirror was humorous and Julia Roberts stole the show with her snarky queen.

I digress. What I was really excited to see was the preview for The Great Gatsby. Leonardo DiCaprio is going to play Gatsby. Brilliant! The sets, costumes, and cinematography visible in the preview looked incredible. I know that is what a preview is supposed to do. They are designed to make the film look awesome, and this one did. What really hooked me was the billboard. Yep, there were those eye glasses looking down from on high. Took me right back to my freshman year in Mr. Van Goey's class when he had us offer up ideas on just what those glasses might mean.

Now, the preview said the movie was going to be released Christmas 2012. Guess that didn't happen. Not sure what is going on with Baz Luhrmann and this film. Guess I need to head over to IMDB and check things out.

And remember, Dr. T.J. Eckleburg is watching!!

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

things to do in 2013

I have quite a list of things I want to do during the new year. Some are more ambitious than others, but here goes.....

Continue to save $$ for my 50th birthday/our 25th anniversary trip to England. I want to take hubby there, he will love the architecture. I want to see my pen pal again, before we are both old ladies!

Sneak away this year for a long weekend with the hubby. The kids are old enough to stay on their own for a couple of days.

Take a family vacation to somewhere! Even if it is for only a few days.

Go out to eat, beyond our normal stomping grounds, at least 4 times. We are such creatures of habit and with so many good places to eat within 5-10 minutes of the house, we rarely leave our little Town. It would be fun to explore a bit, and allow the time to do so.

Read at least 52 books. I managed to do that this past year, even if the list on the blog doesn't reflect all those titles. Some of those books, I just plain forgot to record.

Walk on my lunch half hour. Sitting all day at the computer terminal is not conducive to my mental health. I need to get up and move! A group of us made a good effort on this last year and I want to continue.

Watch the middle kid graduate high school and the boy will graduate 8th grade and get confirmed. This is a big year of transitions for my kids. Wow. Come August we will have two out of the nest.

Enjoy the heck out of the final bit of soccer I will see the middle kid play. She is playing rec ball this spring with her group of soccer girls. I love these girls and their parents. This season is going to be FUN!

So, that is my list. Some big items, some small items...but things I want to do.


Tuesday, January 1, 2013

a hearty welcome to 2013

I was explaining to the oldest how after I graduated from college I made a list of all the things I had done the previous year and then made another list of things I wanted to do in the new year. I kept those lists in my wallet and had accumulated several of them, but after my purse was stolen, I got out of the habit of keeping a written list around.

I never called the items on my list of things I wanted to do resolutions. Nah. They were more fun than a resolution. One year I listed that I wanted to learn how to ride a horse. So, I called a stable and arranged lessons. I took them for about a year, but ended up stopping when I needed to save that extra money for my wedding.

It may be time to begin that tradition again. While the house is quiet and everyone is still asleep, I can sit here, enjoy my coffee, recap 2012, and come up with a short list of things I'd like to do in 2013.

2013 is upon us and a whole year of days is ahead. May those days be filled with more joy than sadness and more good than bad.  Happy New Year!