whirlwind

The weekend went by in a whirlwind. We had errands to run on Saturday, including a trip to the golf store for the hubby and a trip to the jewelry store for me. No new bling, just repairs. I also took my phone to the apple store as the camera was crashing. They 'restored' it and of course as soon as I started to take prom pics, it crashed again and again and again. I managed to get the pics I wanted, but it is on the fritz and I need to find time to get back over there and get a new phone.

While we were out the kids cleaned the house and bought me flowers for Mother's Day.

Prom was Saturday. We made two photo opp stops with the girl before delivering her to the boy's house. Everyone was meeting there to get the party bus. Helped the boy's mom get set up for the kids and the food buffet and met his grandma. Really nice and fun people. Took some great pics too!

Came home and went through pics, got them edited, and slapped an album up on Facebook. Sunday the hubby and I went to Mass, the kids slept, and we hit the grocery store after to get some food.

Made it home and called my Mom!! Yay!  Had lunch and then took both the girls to the soccer field for their game. The oldest was the super sub...who played the entire game. They were seriously short players as the majority of the seniors didn't show up.UGH! The game tied 0-0.

After the game we came home and got cleaned up for baccalaureate. That lasted 2 hours. Always interesting to hear the verses the kids select and to listen to their meditations. No representatives from our church on the planning committee this year.

Then we came home and I made dinner. We ate. We watched some TV. I went to bed.

That was all. Up this week is an assortment of activities for graduation. It is going to be a busy one!

Monday. Ready or Not, the week is beginning.

banquet hell

Off to a banquet I go tonight. Ugh. It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have to drive into the city to attend this function. But, I do. At least my coworker is going with me. We will be taking pictures for the office. The banquet is the closing event for an annual continuing education meeting. They have dinner, a silent auction, and some awards. We were told 90 minutes, tops. I hope that holds true.

We are already joking about banquet chicken. That dish is truly an universal food experience. Sort of like McD's.

On the plus side, I will get to finally meet my friend's dog! Looking forward to seeing Miss Stella.

I will have to recap our lunch bunch's field trip yesterday to TSC another day. Suffice it to say, it was an experience.

Happy Thursday.

bwahahahahaha

We laugh a lot at work. A lot. So much so that the assistant executive director once came out to 'shush' us. I don't even remember what got us started that day, but it doesn't take much.

I guess it is just a fatal combination of a crazy Brazilian, a single "Peter Pan" of a boss, and me that makes for a rather dynamic situation. When you toss in the nutty PhD from the education department, well, all bets are off.

The PhD's department never laughs. They don't joke around. It is all Serious Business over there. So, she has to come to our department to get her daily dose of fun.

Yesterday, the bosses computer was being restored by the IT department after the blue screen of death showed up  not just once, but twice. So, he camped out in my cubicle. That did not lead to a productive work environment for me. But, we did manage to get some more changes made to the June issue. He actually found more things, things I had missed, to correct. Thank Goodness for fresh eyes.

Bottom line is this. We have fun at work when and where we can. Laughter truly is the best medicine. I'm very fortunate to be working in the department I am with the people I am working with.

summer work

The oldest walked in from her first full day at her first full time job and said, "I'm exhausted. I'm so tired." She stumbled to her room and collapsed on the bed.

After I stopped laughing and wiped the tears from my eyes, I asked her how her day went. She said it went great. Everyone was super nice to her. She spent the morning learning their software program and then the afternoon converting old drawings into the new system. She had lunch in the breakroom with  a bunch of the guys, who made fun of what she had brought for lunch (half a grilled chicken breast and some chips). She was told to be sure and NOT tell her Dad about whatever comments are made about The Architects! Ha Ha.

She seems to be off to a good start. The drive in wasn't too bad she said. And other than the office being cold (which I warned her about) she said things were just fine.

Good!

The other kid took her first AP test of the week. One down and three to go. This was the APES test, aka AP Environmental Science. Today is Spanish. She thought APES went well, but does not hold out high hopes for Spanish.

The youngest took his EOC, End of Course exam, in Algebra I. I believe he has two other EOCs to take, one for Physical Science and one for Spanish I. I still haven't been able to access the AP/Honors portal for him. The girls had summer work to complete prior to their freshman year at the high school. All this merger bull $h!t is messing with the system it seems. Ugh.

School is winding down. Jobs are getting started. This will be a different kind of summer with all different kinds of "summer work!"

let the internship begin

She's a bit nervous. Heck, I'm  nervous for her! The oldest begins her internship today. No rest for that girl. She was home Friday afternoon after an 8:00 a.m. final in Calculus and now she is off to work. Well, not quite yet as she will leave later this morning. She will be departing each morning before I have to leave for work and she will be home after me.

Welcome to the real world, baby girl.

Hoping and praying for safe travels and good experiences.

It was an interesting weekend. The middle daughter had her birthday gathering on Friday night. The kids ate large quantities of fried chicken from Gus's, went bowling, and then came back for cake and ice cream. It seemed they all had a good time. Saturday the hubby and I made the major Costco restock the pantry shopping trip. Sunday I took the oldest to buy a few new pairs of 'work' pants and three new tops. She has more dresses than you can shake a stick at, but not all are work appropriate, and pants are going to be more comfortable if she goes to any job sites with any of the engineers.

Next weekend is PROM and baccalaureate and Mother's Day!

It is going to be a crazy, crazy summer. And today is Monday. Let's go.

check

Paper at the end of the driveway by 5:15. Check. Paper retrieved, cookie gobbled, kibble gobbled. Check. Morning work done, nap time. Check.

All is right in Duke's world today.

Hilarious meeting yesterday. The sort of sad funny that happens sometimes. So, revenue is down at my place of employ. Lots of contributing factors, but one major one is that 'we' have done things the same way for a very long time and the business world has changed. We need to change too.

Off the soapbox now and back to my story. Fourteen of us, from different departments, are watching a webinar on increasing ad sales and adopting a new model for marketing which involves breaking down silos. Apparently this culture is rampant in associations. One of the presenter's main points was a concept promoted by Malcolm Gladwell. Gladwell suggests that you need 'connectors' in your marketing/advert department. Folks who are curious, energetic, and eager to work the knack they have for having a wide circle of connections for your association's benefit. I look around the table and there is our advertising sales gal dead asleep. There is the IT guy dead asleep. There is my BOSS, dead asleep!! OMG.

We put the E in Energetic I guess. LOL. Granted, this webinar started at 1:00 p.m. and most folks had just returned from lunch. I wonder if the Executive Director was there if they'd nodded off?

After the 90 minutes webinar, a short discussion burst out. Of course finger pointing began in the polite Southern fashion it does in our office, and then our past retirement age marketing director states that he's been tasked by the Executive Director with coming up with a marketing plan by the end of May.

Oh, REALLY? Like maybe we should have one already in place?? LOLOLOLOL

Like I said, a fairly hilarious meeting, but in a very sad, sad, way.

Is it going to be an interesting third and fourth quarter? CHECK!

well, okay then

Duke, our dog, is having an anxiety attack. The paper is not at the end of the driveway yet and it is now 5:41 a.m.

He wants to get that paper, get his cookie, and go on with his day!

Talk about a creature of habit. He most definitely has a routine and right now the paper delivery guy is really messing with it. I will let him out to check again after the girl next door leaves for seminary. No need to startle her with Duke running out there like a maniac looking for the paper. She is a brand new driver and just learned to drive a stick shift, so she needs to focus!

Speaking of focus...our new Focus is growing on me although I'm still thinking that when it is time to replace the minivan that I would like a vehicle that sits up a bit higher. I guess I'm a creature of habit when it comes to that.

I better go look and see if the paper is here yet. Duke just cruised through the kitchen, gave me one of his pitiful looks, and wandered back to his post by the front door.

Wednesday!! Hump Day!!