Have a good day...

Yesterday I went shopping in the Chicagoland area with some friends. I have to tell ya, I feel kind of bad for those gals- they were such troopers through the whole thing. They didn't run away in embarrassment when I tripped over some randomly placed ill-designed cart rail thing. And, they even volunteered to put my cart on the cart-escalator for me (so it wouldn't tumble the whole way down again). And when I got my feet stuck in the handles of a shopping bag and danced across the drive to keep from falling on my face they laughed with me, not at me (at least I think that's what they were doing).

Despite, well...me, it was still a good day and we had a lot of fun. I'm pretty sure there wasn't a single topic of conversation that we didn't cover and some of us (not me) even came in under-budget at the check-out lines. It was a good day.

Jake called me at Noon to inform me that our 9-month old "baby" had just walked across the living room and was currently dining on a cracker, which was also a first for her.

Yep, a good day indeed.

The heat is on....

Last night I worked late. I was sitting here typing, with gloves on, almost able to see my breath, when it occurred to me just how ridiculous the situation was. My little Pooh Bear was all snuggly and warm and ready for bed and I was sitting in a cold fluorescently lit office miles away from her.

Tonight I'm taking her trick-or-treating and this morning the heat finally came on in my office...all is right with the world again.

I missed something...

Don't get me wrong, I love my new job but there are a few things I miss....



1. I miss blogging. I hardly ever have time to take lunch breaks anymore so my blog life is suffering greatly. How dare my professional career impede on my social blog life, right?



2. I miss heat. My office is new and they're not done with the renovations yet so the heat can't be turned on. It's 40 degrees outside but we all have our windows open because it keeps the place warmer (you think I'm kidding or exaggerating here, but I'm not....that's the crazy thing).



3. I miss common sense. I hate feeling like I don't know anyone or anything and I'm tired of having to ask questions about everything. I'm a true know-it-all kind of gal so having to admit that I'm not? Well....that's tough.



4. I miss having time to walk over my lunch break. I'm getting fatter again. My normal-person jeans fit for about 2 weeks and the other day I tried to put them on and actually heard the button scream for mercy? Do you know how awful that sound is? It's worse than a dump truck driving through a nitroglycerin plant (extra credit goes to those who know the reference here).



5. I miss my old co-worker. I like my new co-workers but none of them sit right across from me and can't share stories about flying poo or have the ability to chat about all the things we have in common.



6. I miss facebook. How will I ever know what everyone is up to?! And, what if I miss "liking" the newest hip hop happenin thing?!



7. I miss the staff discount at the hospital cafeteria. Did you know that people on this side of the river actually have to pay full price for the food they buy at University eating establishments? Gasp!



8. I miss filing cabinets. Mine on are back order and should be here in 4-6 weeks. Oh holy cow.



9. I miss my wireless keyboard and mouse. My computer lost the connections with those things all the freaking time but at least I didn't ever have to fight with cords. Plus, it just really ties the room together (more movie-line extra credit there) when cords aren't present.


10. I miss flavored coffee. My new co-workers and I share the coffee costs but no one else will drink flavored coffee so I either have to make an entire pot just for just me or suffer in silence.



But, on the bright side I don't miss my old job, my old boss, my old building, my old desk or my old duties.....and an office with a window isn't so bad either.

I know I'm stressed when...

Let's celebrate Working Moms Wednesday!

There is a small handful of people who might find some irony in my previous comment...you know who you are.

I know I'm stressed when...

I realize that my diet consists mostly of junk food, Diet Coke, and coffee.

I cry.

I make other people cry.

The thought of taking a vacation makes me tired.

I refuse to look at my to-do list because there is just too much to do.

I find Jake's socks in my drawer, Rachel's diapers in our closet and my coat hanging on the back porch.

All of my conversations begin with, "ummmm...ahhhhh...."

I can't sleep at night because my brain won't shut off.

I find myself praying that the Domestic Fairy will come along and fold my laundry, take the trash out and cook meals....and I catch myself actually thinking that such a thing could possibly exist.

I throw everything on my desk into one pile so it appears to be less overwhelming (since it's taking up less desk space).

and...of course....

I blog when I should be working.

It's one of those days (again)...

Today is one of those days....you know the type... I can't seem to shake a horrible feeling of guilt because I know that my daughter sees our babysitter more than she sees me. I hate these days. I usually have some guilt eating at my soul (like I've said before, you name it and I probably feel guilty for not doing it, thinking it, or even knowing what it is) but today the guilt is just a little bit harder to carry.

The other day, out of concern that I was missing some sort of pivotal piece of information on raising a child, I got out one of the many (worthless) parenting books that Jake and I bought and sure enough....my hunch was correct....I'm a horrible mom (or so I feel). Okay, so maybe I'm not horrible, after all, I can't possibly be the worst one (the same thought process is also applied to doctor's visits and annual pelvic exams), but still, I can't help but wonder how one person can possibly miss so many cues. Duh...she's not eating well because she's ready to be moved up to less squishy food. And those "words" she says like momma, dadda and grandpa...she's actually SAYING those, she's not just spouting off a string of consonants and vowels anymore. And teeth...more of those are on their way.

This past weekend I finally found the nerve to put away her 6-months clothes and I actually found some newborn stuff that I had obviously resisted packing earlier (yes, they're in storage now; I put on my big girl pants, grabbed a box of kleenexes and shut the lid on the storage container). We just took her 9-month bear picture and we're already making plans for her big one-year birthday party. Really? When did all this happen? Where did all the time go? And, why is this little girl choosing to crawl to Jane (our amazingly wonderful babysitter) instead of me? Ouch.

Oh well....I do know one thing...I know this winter is going to be difficult. She already refuses to wear socks and knows how to yank shoes off. Oh child.....sigh.....

So, how's it going....

My first week at my new job is coming to a close and I have to say, it has definitely been interesting. I was expecting to have some problems getting my email moved over and I wasn't surprised when I called at least 3 people by the wrong name and flat out embarrassed myself when I mistook one of our Directors for a student employee. However, I have to admit that a few things have caught me off guard...

1. My office is freakING cold. I don't just mean a little chilly. The gal next door wears a blanket and uses a hand warmer to keep her blood flowing. I opened my window to let in the warm fall air.

2. Meetings. It's not that I hate them, in fact some of them have been rather informative and almost enjoyable. But...when do people get their work done? Which leads into my next point...

3. I get here by 8:00 and leave around 5:02. Last night I almost tripped over the printer trying to get out the door because everyone else was long gone and the lights were all off. My thought was...huh? When do people ever find time to get things done?

4. I am exhausted. My feet are killing me. This afternoon I am putting my comfy shoes on because, in my opinion, running shoes DO match dress pants quite nicely.

5. Moving into a recently renovated office is heaven. My desk drawers aren't full of anyone else's crumbs and I can order new office furniture. In fact, who needs Christmas when your new 3-drawer lateral filing cabinet is on it's way?

6. I am working with my brother-in-law. Not really but there's a guy here that reminds me so much of my sister's husband that I can hardly remember his real name. I keep having to stop myself from calling him "Crazy-uncle Jeremy."

7. Steps suck. We're on the 3rd floor, which doesn't sound too bad until you see the amount of steps it takes to get up here. All of the ceilings in this old building are about 50,000 feet high so it's really like we're climbing 6 flights of stairs. And no one...takes..the elevator. ugh! I would die before I become "that person"...you know...the one that is perceived as being too lazy to walk up the stairs.

8. There are only 2 women's bathrooms in this building and neither of them are on my floor (insert complaint related to the previous point). But, I really can't complain. The men only have one restroom and it's in the basement. (evil laugh coming...hahahahaHAHAHAAH)

9. Who needs water when the coffee pot is just across the hall?

and finally...

10. You can have a Ph.D. AND a sense of humor. My new supervisor has both.

This is me...

I might be struggling to get things done but there is always time for Mama Kat's Weekly Writer's Workshop entry.

This is how I see myself...

Last year at this time I looked like this:

But secretly, I wanted to look like this:

Some days, this is a pretty accurate picture of how I feel

:

But, I should probably look at least half this good:

I am almost positive that this is NOT what my family sees because....

This is me...