What happened to the weekend? It seemed like only yesterday it was Saturday. I look around me and see that there is not much done, yet I managed to do a lot.
Yesterday I made a trip to Target for under $80. Now that is a feat. I had cleaning supplies that needed to be replaced. Windex, Tilex, Comet - that kind of boring stuff. I took a friend's advice and bought a Clorox bleach pen to see if I could remove some stains on a white shirt and a sweat shirt. Sometimes I think I have a hole in my lip because I manage to wear what I eat. We had a pizza party at the office and I managed to drip Pepperoni goo down the front of my white shirt. Of course it was noontime and I had to walk around the rest of the day with the stain in the middle of my boobs. A neon arrow flashing on and off would have been less noticeable. Well the thingy works. I tried it on some old tomato stains on my favorite Centreville Methodist sweatshirt and they came out too. So I guess it's dribble on, Joanna.
I went out to dinner with my friend BJ and her fiance. Our usual dinner spot was so crowded there was a 2 1/2 hour wait, so we tried a new place a few doors down. It is an Irish Pub and I really enjoyed the food. Two large beef kabobs (from filet no less), ample savory polenta and a melange of broccoli and cauliflower, nicely seasoned. All for $14. I thought that was very reasonable. The only draw back (for me that is) was that there was a guy with a guitar singing Irish songs and the sound system was very loud. It was difficult to carry on a conversation. Other than that one thing, I will go back there again.
Today I awoke with a nasty headache so I skipped church. It was difficult to get moving but I managed to get out and do my weekly grocery shopping. I had just enough time to get back, shower, change and meet my nephew Chris and his wife, Dana. We met at the place that was overcrowded last night and it was a delightful lunch. I managed to keep firing questions at both of them so the conversation moved along. Not like it usually is with many blank places.
We exchanged Christmas gifts (a little late) and I received three wonderful CDs that I immediately put on my iPod. All Brazillian, I'm afraid. One is YoYa Ma and his cello, one is Joao Gilberto and one is Rosa Passos. (I know, dear reader, Greek to you) but they are all lovely. Then I received the last two books in the Mitford series, by Jan Karon, a wonderful Christian author. I had followed Father Tim through all seven of her books and missed number eight and the final one. So now, I am all engrossed with the delightful lives of those people in the North Carolina town called Mitford. I turned on the iPod and hit my recliner with my new book. It took about 20 minutes and I was gone. :o)
Now I wait for the pressure cooker to tell me my beef stew is ready. Sure do love that machine. I usually hide it under the counter and I forget about it. When I do manage to use it, I love it.
So, Monday is approaching and I can hardly wait. (UGH)
God bless you all.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Catching Up
Here I sit with a thousand things running through my mind and I have nothing to write. This past week was a blur and went by entirely too quickly. All of the RIFed investigators have returned their company owned equipment and materials and it all passed through my hands and was inventoried. It was a big job. If the company choses to shut the contract down completely, rather than just a stop-work, next week will be more of the same. Management has promised help for me. I hope so.
Last year, I visited my friend Donna in Missouri. I had the pleasure of strolling through her pasture, meeting her horse and dog and seeing with my own eyes places she has written about over the past five years or so. It was one of the most enjoyable vacations I ever had and hope to repeat it. While there, her husband Cliff took the picture below, of us standing below her cabin in the woods with the Missouri River bottom in the distance.
Recently she mentioned the snow that had fallen in her part of the country and I told her I'd like to see that view in a winter scene and she obliged.
Equally as beautiful
Today I had planned to go to the 8:15 at church. When I woke up I knew I wouldn't go so there was no sense kidding myself. I have a really nasty headache and want to knock it back to salvage the day. I have a date with my nephew and his wife at 11:30 today to exchange our Christmas gifts. We're meeting in a restaurant whose ventilation system allows very little cigarette smoke filter over into the non-smoking section. So I should be able to endure.
By the time I go to brunch, I hope to have done my grocery shopping. After that I need to get to cleaning my house. I've been putting if off and it's awful, which makes me nervous, so I better get to it.
So you see, there was very little to catch up with. I've made the decision to skip this trip to Russia and the trip to Spain at Christmas. I think I'll revisit the option of going to the Dominican Republic for BJ's wedding. It wouldn't hurt to check it out.
God bless you all.
Last year, I visited my friend Donna in Missouri. I had the pleasure of strolling through her pasture, meeting her horse and dog and seeing with my own eyes places she has written about over the past five years or so. It was one of the most enjoyable vacations I ever had and hope to repeat it. While there, her husband Cliff took the picture below, of us standing below her cabin in the woods with the Missouri River bottom in the distance.
Recently she mentioned the snow that had fallen in her part of the country and I told her I'd like to see that view in a winter scene and she obliged.
Equally as beautiful
Today I had planned to go to the 8:15 at church. When I woke up I knew I wouldn't go so there was no sense kidding myself. I have a really nasty headache and want to knock it back to salvage the day. I have a date with my nephew and his wife at 11:30 today to exchange our Christmas gifts. We're meeting in a restaurant whose ventilation system allows very little cigarette smoke filter over into the non-smoking section. So I should be able to endure.
By the time I go to brunch, I hope to have done my grocery shopping. After that I need to get to cleaning my house. I've been putting if off and it's awful, which makes me nervous, so I better get to it.
So you see, there was very little to catch up with. I've made the decision to skip this trip to Russia and the trip to Spain at Christmas. I think I'll revisit the option of going to the Dominican Republic for BJ's wedding. It wouldn't hurt to check it out.
God bless you all.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Back to Normal ? (whatever that is)
This last week has been a three ring circus at the office. I was still sending out empty boxes to RIFed staff when they started to come back. I sent out 85 sets, each box holding 3 to 4 return boxes, so do the math. They came back with a vengeance. I finished shipping on Tuesday morning and with each day's mail delivery I've received a mountain. I have had help from inside staff who may have been sitting idle, but that stops tomorrow. The remaining people will be sent to training classes and then off to new assignments, either on other contracts or to the field. I think we will be left with 6 inside. I cringe when I think of it, but I'll plod on.
During this past week, sleep was a very evasive scamp. It would come to me at 6:30, when my stomach was full and I was relaxing in my recliner. I'd wake with a start, head off to bed and of course, couldn't fall back to sleep. When I did get back into the rhythm I'd wake at 2:30 or so and never get back. Some nights I caught only 3 hours. By Friday I was exhausted, but slept very well that night. I did very well last night, in fact I overslept and could spend only a few minutes in my favorite weekend chat room because I went to 8:15 church. Yes, I went to church.
Paston Allen preached and he was OK. Not stellar, but at least I didn't revert to making out my grocery list. His message was on stewardship. In a nutshell - what have you done for HIM lately. It hit me right between the eyes relating to my decision to go or not to go to Russia in April. I've been struggling with the decision since I found out from Jerry, my new boss, that I could plan the trip. I think I'm gun-shy after the layoff. (They say there won't be another anytime soon, but we didn't expect to see 85 of our co-workers cut) I don't want to do anything that will put my career in jeopardy. He feels that after 90 days on the new project, we should have it running smoothly.
The last two trips to Russia made decision making easy because I 'felt' it was ok to go. The first trip I clearly heard God tell me in my ear "Go To Russia" and I went. The second trip's only apprehensions were about several of my team mates who had made the first trip difficult. :o) But this trip is not giving me a green light in my gut. This morning I asked myself if my reason for going was personal or as a disciple of the Lord. It was ashamed to say at this moment, my reasons are personal because my main reason for going it to see Lida. I don't really know any of the little kids in the orphanage any more and honestly, I don't know if I'm emotionally stable enough to get involved with another child. I have my heart full for Lida. My heart is broken because I'll never see my Sasha again. He is going to another school in another town, living with his father, quite a distance away. Unless I can find one of his pals to get word to him to come, he will not be there. So that is a distant dream also.
After the sermon I've been talking to myself to come to grips with should I go or not. I do have several more days to submit my paperwork. I'm really torn. Dear reader, if you have it in your heart, please pray that I receive guidance.
It's finally snowing. The weather guessers say only an inch or so, but at least winter is here. I really is quite pretty.
I'll be back again when I make my decision.
God bless you all.
During this past week, sleep was a very evasive scamp. It would come to me at 6:30, when my stomach was full and I was relaxing in my recliner. I'd wake with a start, head off to bed and of course, couldn't fall back to sleep. When I did get back into the rhythm I'd wake at 2:30 or so and never get back. Some nights I caught only 3 hours. By Friday I was exhausted, but slept very well that night. I did very well last night, in fact I overslept and could spend only a few minutes in my favorite weekend chat room because I went to 8:15 church. Yes, I went to church.
Paston Allen preached and he was OK. Not stellar, but at least I didn't revert to making out my grocery list. His message was on stewardship. In a nutshell - what have you done for HIM lately. It hit me right between the eyes relating to my decision to go or not to go to Russia in April. I've been struggling with the decision since I found out from Jerry, my new boss, that I could plan the trip. I think I'm gun-shy after the layoff. (They say there won't be another anytime soon, but we didn't expect to see 85 of our co-workers cut) I don't want to do anything that will put my career in jeopardy. He feels that after 90 days on the new project, we should have it running smoothly.
The last two trips to Russia made decision making easy because I 'felt' it was ok to go. The first trip I clearly heard God tell me in my ear "Go To Russia" and I went. The second trip's only apprehensions were about several of my team mates who had made the first trip difficult. :o) But this trip is not giving me a green light in my gut. This morning I asked myself if my reason for going was personal or as a disciple of the Lord. It was ashamed to say at this moment, my reasons are personal because my main reason for going it to see Lida. I don't really know any of the little kids in the orphanage any more and honestly, I don't know if I'm emotionally stable enough to get involved with another child. I have my heart full for Lida. My heart is broken because I'll never see my Sasha again. He is going to another school in another town, living with his father, quite a distance away. Unless I can find one of his pals to get word to him to come, he will not be there. So that is a distant dream also.
After the sermon I've been talking to myself to come to grips with should I go or not. I do have several more days to submit my paperwork. I'm really torn. Dear reader, if you have it in your heart, please pray that I receive guidance.
It's finally snowing. The weather guessers say only an inch or so, but at least winter is here. I really is quite pretty.
I'll be back again when I make my decision.
God bless you all.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Fair sailing ahead
After freaking out for two days, I think I have gained control of myself. I wasn't afraid of getting cut, but the shock of all of my co-workers packing up their belongings, en-masse, and being escorted from their work stations was very emotional for me. Several of the women were in tears and I know several of the men with more than five years tenure were also upset.
Once I settled back, I realized EXACTLY what my task will be for the next few weeks and it is enormous. Really not a one person job. I awoke early yesterday morning after a fitful sleep and decided I didn't like being twisted in nine directions. I got a pad of paper and wrote down what needed to be done. Then I rewrote it in order of timeline and priority. This made sense to my methodical mind. If I put in an hour or so, every day over this long weekend, I can be in a good place to proceed on Tuesday.
I went to the office yesterday, picked up some things I could organize from home and completed those tasks. I emailed myself some forms which I will get printed today, after church. With these simple things done, tomorrow I can round out the procedure.
With all of this in place, I came home, had a nice lunch and while watching TV slept for over an hour, in my chair - with my Jakie on my chest. He seemed to know I needed soothing. I baked a Tombstone for dinner,(No, not a real one, a pizza.)and indulged; went to bed early and managed to have a decent sleep for the first time since Wednesday. I had been warned that something was coming down and to expect something. The sleep was needed and today I am refreshed.
I also had a talk with myself and realized that I had let this whole thing govern my life and that has to stop right now. I need this job, but my life is also very important too. I made time for me this morning and will continue to do so through the weeks. Even if it is only walking outside to clear my head. Making myself important will give me the strength to move forward.
Today should be a good day. I'm heading out to church now and then will stop by the office for an hour or so. Then the rest of the day is mine. I may spend it cleaning the house - or I may not. :o) We shall see.
God bless you all.
Once I settled back, I realized EXACTLY what my task will be for the next few weeks and it is enormous. Really not a one person job. I awoke early yesterday morning after a fitful sleep and decided I didn't like being twisted in nine directions. I got a pad of paper and wrote down what needed to be done. Then I rewrote it in order of timeline and priority. This made sense to my methodical mind. If I put in an hour or so, every day over this long weekend, I can be in a good place to proceed on Tuesday.
I went to the office yesterday, picked up some things I could organize from home and completed those tasks. I emailed myself some forms which I will get printed today, after church. With these simple things done, tomorrow I can round out the procedure.
With all of this in place, I came home, had a nice lunch and while watching TV slept for over an hour, in my chair - with my Jakie on my chest. He seemed to know I needed soothing. I baked a Tombstone for dinner,(No, not a real one, a pizza.)and indulged; went to bed early and managed to have a decent sleep for the first time since Wednesday. I had been warned that something was coming down and to expect something. The sleep was needed and today I am refreshed.
I also had a talk with myself and realized that I had let this whole thing govern my life and that has to stop right now. I need this job, but my life is also very important too. I made time for me this morning and will continue to do so through the weeks. Even if it is only walking outside to clear my head. Making myself important will give me the strength to move forward.
Today should be a good day. I'm heading out to church now and then will stop by the office for an hour or so. Then the rest of the day is mine. I may spend it cleaning the house - or I may not. :o) We shall see.
God bless you all.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
An awful day
The day after my birthday, the company made a company-wide layoff. Approximately 83 people in our location were RIFed (reduction in force); 28 of those were from our project. I don't know if it's good luck or not, but I was not one of those 28.
Our company is ceasing work on our contract due to difference with 'the customer' as well as one other contract within the company ceasing work for similar problems with their customer. Our wind down should take from 3 to 6 weeks. I'll be involved in that process and then I will be assigned to a new unit being formed. I won't be working with my current boss. She is unsure of what she will be doing. I will support a program chief, but at this point exactly what that program will be is still being formed.
Right now, I'm working at top speed to be able to do what I have to do to recall company equipment from those who have been RIFed. It clearly is a 3 person job and of course, I have no help. The suggested timeframes and volumes are not realistic and I'm losing sleep over it. This is a three day weekend and for peace of mind, I'll go in one of those three days. I just don't know which one. I've got to organize my thoughts and see what I have to do around here and then move forward.
I hate unrest. I don't like change. And to quote myself "ARGHHHHHHHH"!!!!!! Knowing myself, I know things will get done, the project will shut down and I'll be instrumental in forming the new unit. They tell me, that's why I was chosen. I was flattered when my new boss told me he had specifically requested me on his team. I've only worked around him since early December when he replaced our interim Field Chief Michael. Michael and I worked very well together and I hope to have that same rapport with the new boss. I don't know if I'll be able to make the Spring trip to Russia due to all of this. I should know this coming next week.
I know I sound all mixed up. I am. There are many things whirling around in my head and I feel I need to do them all - NOW. I did manage to get a little sleep last night so I am better rested than yesterday when the night before I woke at midnight and never went back to sleep.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention my nephew was included in the RIF.
Please pray for me.
God bless you all.
Our company is ceasing work on our contract due to difference with 'the customer' as well as one other contract within the company ceasing work for similar problems with their customer. Our wind down should take from 3 to 6 weeks. I'll be involved in that process and then I will be assigned to a new unit being formed. I won't be working with my current boss. She is unsure of what she will be doing. I will support a program chief, but at this point exactly what that program will be is still being formed.
Right now, I'm working at top speed to be able to do what I have to do to recall company equipment from those who have been RIFed. It clearly is a 3 person job and of course, I have no help. The suggested timeframes and volumes are not realistic and I'm losing sleep over it. This is a three day weekend and for peace of mind, I'll go in one of those three days. I just don't know which one. I've got to organize my thoughts and see what I have to do around here and then move forward.
I hate unrest. I don't like change. And to quote myself "ARGHHHHHHHH"!!!!!! Knowing myself, I know things will get done, the project will shut down and I'll be instrumental in forming the new unit. They tell me, that's why I was chosen. I was flattered when my new boss told me he had specifically requested me on his team. I've only worked around him since early December when he replaced our interim Field Chief Michael. Michael and I worked very well together and I hope to have that same rapport with the new boss. I don't know if I'll be able to make the Spring trip to Russia due to all of this. I should know this coming next week.
I know I sound all mixed up. I am. There are many things whirling around in my head and I feel I need to do them all - NOW. I did manage to get a little sleep last night so I am better rested than yesterday when the night before I woke at midnight and never went back to sleep.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention my nephew was included in the RIF.
Please pray for me.
God bless you all.
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
A Sight To Be Seen
Here I sit, on the eve of my 69th birthday. I am dressed in my light blue bathrobe, with my iPod plugged into my ears and my wonderfully warm Uggs on my feet.
Now what could be sweeter.
God bless you all.
Now what could be sweeter.
God bless you all.
Saturday, January 6, 2007
Week End
I've created this new journal because several people who accessed the old one make off hand comments to me, so I've decided that rather than block access to that journal, I'd limit entries and make this new one for those of you who are special to me.
Today is a beautiful day. Going to hit the 60s. I have a shopping/supper date with my dear friend BJ. We're going to get ourselves in trouble because we are going to hit the Discount Shoe Warehouse year-end sale. At least we think it's still on. If not, I fear I'll be in greater trouble because prices will be higher.
I was originally scheduled to visit my nephew and his wife, for our Christmas present exchange before I meet BJ. But he has been struggling with a cold all week and he called this morning to say he wasn't up to visitors today. I'm all for not visiting somebody who may give me a germ. I don't need to be sick. I will visit my friend Steve for our gift exchange right after lunch. We don't get to see each other often and when we do get together, we try to out talk each other. I love that guy.
I'm feeling good today. My back is in decent shape and even though things are precarious at the office, I'm in a good mood. If the project tanks, it tanks. I can't do anything about it. I have to rely on my faith that God will take care of me. He did the last time and he will this time.
I'll check in tomorrow, after the shopping trip. :o)
God bless you all.
Today is a beautiful day. Going to hit the 60s. I have a shopping/supper date with my dear friend BJ. We're going to get ourselves in trouble because we are going to hit the Discount Shoe Warehouse year-end sale. At least we think it's still on. If not, I fear I'll be in greater trouble because prices will be higher.
I was originally scheduled to visit my nephew and his wife, for our Christmas present exchange before I meet BJ. But he has been struggling with a cold all week and he called this morning to say he wasn't up to visitors today. I'm all for not visiting somebody who may give me a germ. I don't need to be sick. I will visit my friend Steve for our gift exchange right after lunch. We don't get to see each other often and when we do get together, we try to out talk each other. I love that guy.
I'm feeling good today. My back is in decent shape and even though things are precarious at the office, I'm in a good mood. If the project tanks, it tanks. I can't do anything about it. I have to rely on my faith that God will take care of me. He did the last time and he will this time.
I'll check in tomorrow, after the shopping trip. :o)
God bless you all.
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