The weekend started yesterday...

I'm thinking this is not the best time for me to be posting. I'm not in a good place. I'm crabby, I'm in pain and I have nothing new to contribute for this week.

My arthritis is bothering me today. I even caved in and took 2 Aleve (Or at least the OTC kind) at 8:00AM today. My neck has been out of joint since Wednesday and that is bothersome. It comes and goes. Depending on how I turn or where I reach. It's HELL getting old.

I think I'm crabby because I'm in pain. If I felt better, maybe I'd want to do something outside of the house or go somewhere. But I will most likely just stay in. I do have to color my hair today. I have an appointment for a cut tomorrow at 1:00PM with Diane T. I have to ready myself for my big reunion in two weeks. I should give up the effort. These are all people I knew back when and there's no way we can hide how old we are. We all know. I think we'll all just try to erase the mileage we have on our faces and torsos. After all, most parts of us all have gone south LOL

As for the past week, it was just more of the same. The boss lady had been out of the office the week before so she had to play catch up, and then the Executive Committee decided they wanted some production charts done - you got it - 20 minutes ago. So for 3 days, I had to drop EVERYTHING and work on the project for her. These are things I really love doing. Putting together the spreadsheets with the variable scenarios and putting those figures into charts are a lot of fun for me. But these people have a set goal in their minds so even after we tweaked the numbers, they retweaked them to come up with what they wanted to see. I redid them three times. When I was done with the main chart I busted out laughing because it was the reproduction of the Productivity chart I had done for the boss a week earlier, only a different color. I called it to her attention - she looked at it and started to chuckle. She said "Shhhhh don't tell them. Let them figure it out". She did thank me several times for deviating from my routine to jump into the project for her.

That left Thursday for me to get caught up on things I had to do from the beginning of the week. Several people on the project were complaining to their specific supervisors, that things weren't done on time by me and I was forwarded several emails regarding these points. I sweetly replied that I was on a special project for the Program Manager and if there was any problem, they should direct their inquiries to her - and I copied her on the email. Never heard another squeak.

Yesterday when I got to work I realized that I didn't want to be there at all. I was in a rotten mood, I felt awful and if I stayed there, I knew I'd mouth off to somebody so at 10:00 I told the boss I was caving in and going home. She was all for it. That is one thing about her. She is not at all possessive about her staff wanting time away. I finished up a thing or two that I had and went home at 11:15, hence my weekend started early. I called David only to find out he was in Centreville with another patient and he came by when he was done. He worked on my aching body for a good long time and I did feel a lot better. In fact, now that I think about it, my leg does not hurt at all today. It was awful in the early part of the week. Like I said, it's HELL getting old.

I took a snooze, had a bite to eat and that was my day. Very enjoyable. Hopefully the rest of this day will be the same way.

I'm going to do some internet searching to see if I can find a reasonably priced Ipod or MP3 player. I don't want to spend a whole bunch but I'd like to be able to take 'my music' to the office with me. (Mosie, if I remember correctly, you had a sweet little player when you were here. Send me an email about it, if you can)

For someone with nothing to say today, I've rattled on and on so I'll just say

God bless you all.

Short work week took too long....

I gave myself a gift of a vacation day on Monday, which I thoroughly enjoyed. However, trying to catch up with myself on Tuesday was tough. Luckily, the boss-lady was at a week long conference and she was not in all week. By Friday I was caught up and even managed to tackle a very boring job she had assigned me more than a month ago. I think I made good progress and will be able to show her that I did gain ground with a very futile task.

Today is a gorgeous day. It was a slow start with low lying clouds, but now at nearly 11:00AM, it's lovely. Bright, sunny, with a slight breeze.

I did a little research on flights for Thanksgiving in Atlanta and I can get one now for under $250. I'll ask for the Friday after as leave and if I get the go-ahead I'll book the flight. Sandy has offered to pay half the ticket. I'm still thinking about whether to let her do it or not.

I may try to go to Arcola UMC tomorrow. It seems to be calling me. Maybe I can find peace there and join an adult Sunday School class. I really miss that. I attended one for a long time but as people in this area fade away, it just fell by the wayside. I have hopes.

Giant had a sale last week on top round and I bought a 2 lb piece. I have it marinating in fresh lime juice, olive oil, garlic and Paul Newman's Lime Salsa. I'll broil it to med. rare and serve it on a whole wheat tortilla like a fajita. I also found a recipe on Sparkpeople.com for a black bean dish. It calls for onion, garlic and tomato juice to be added to a can of black beans. Well, I have this jar of Newman's..........................I'll use that. Oh yum...I can hardly wait and it is all healthy and within my calorie range.

BJ will be back from the beach late today. I hope to talk to her tomorrow and see how her trip was. David and Sharon have gone off to Myrtle Beach for a weekend away. I hope they enjoy the time away.

I miss them all...............

I'm just hanging out today. May do a little laundry, but I'm not rushing into anything.

God bless you all.

It Almost Seems As Though All We Did Was Eat.......

Sandy has come and gone. I always hate to come back to the house after she's been here. It's so quiet and Jake is walking around with a look like "Where is she?". He did the same thing after Donna left.

We did all fun things. We didn't spend time with her brother. She said she felt badly about not contacting him this trip, but I tried my best to convince her that it was OK - it was her choice. They have drifted apart over the past 10 years, both with different political and religious views. She believes it's OK to have your own opinion on those things, he does not. What he believes is right, so that causes some friction. Enough said there..........

We ate dinner at her favorite restaurant here where she was able to get Ahi Tuna, seared just the was she likes it.

On Saturday,we went shopping in Old Town Alexandria. I had not been there in at least 7 years and the renovations made are very refreshing. We had lunch and walked around. BJ told us of a little boutique that sells handbags and of course, we indulged.

Then we headed off to Tysons Galleria, where we had high tea at the Ritz Carlton. BJ and I had gone once before and loved it and at that time said the next time Sandy came to town, she had to come. We sat there for nearly 2 hours, chatting, nibbling the little sandwiches and sweet treats, sipping some of the best teas and enjoying the view of the Tysons skyline. (I had almost forgotten that Bryan has set up office in the adjacent building) I chose blackberry/black currant, Sandy had a ginger/spice combo and BJ had passion fruits flavors. One would think we would never have to eat again.

We bid BJ goodbye and wished her a fabulous vacation. She and JC and the boys were heading to Bethany Beach the next day to spend a week in JC's Dad's beach house. She has been working too hard this past month, filling in for another director who had left the company, so this respite was well earned. Being the selfish person I am, I will miss her.

We headed home and in a few hours, were looking at the 'frig. The night before, I had ordered ribs and brought home 1/2 rack. We also had Tex-Mex eggrolls and one was left over, so like little vultures, we gobbled up the left overs. No really needing food, but something to calm the palate. We both whispered yummmmmmmmm.

On Sunday we slept in and once again headed to Tysons, but to the main mall, not the Tysons II side. The have added wings and remodeled the old portion to the point that I didn't recognize any part of the place. Once again, I was in another town. Sandy needed a birthday gift for her dear friend, Linda and when we found the Swarovsky crystal shop, we went in. She found a lovely crystal necklace for her and I was almost envious. It was gorgeous.

We plodded onward and next found the L'Occitane shop so she could replenish her stock of skin care items. The gal in the store gave me some samples and warned me I would become addicted. I grinned and said "We'll see". (Remember, I am a creature of habit).

Once again it was time to eat, so we found a nice quiet restaurant where I overinduged in a Reuben Sandwich. It was so good. It's been a very long time since I've eaten real bread, fatty meat and grease. ROFL I loved it; I went face first into it.

We shopped a little longer and we both decided we were tired and our backs were sore, so we headed home. She had about an hour and a half before I had to take her to the airport so we both rested on the couch.

I think she had a good time. I know I did. I had a chance to talk to her and see how she has changed and matured. Her Mom would be so proud of her. I am......

She has invited me to come for Thanksgiving. I am considering it.

Today I'm just taking it easy.

God bless you all.

The honeymoon is over

All I am going to say here is that the honeymoon is over, with my job that is. Something happened, which I won't dredge up, but it let me know EXACTLY what my boss thinks of me and that I've been busting my hump to support someone who really does not care about me.

I hate it when I get this way because it diminishes the quality of work I generate. No more worrying about whether WE meet deadlines. It's about whether I meet my deadline with her. No more being concerned that I look good for her to the Executive Committee, only that I cover my butt.

Sorry to say I'm being selfish because now my job is all about me. I will generator the best work I can, but I do it for me. I know that what I do is good and that when I do make a mistake, I can make it better and fix it. But no more running interference for her.

Enough said.

God bless you all.