Well, HI everybody!
I missed you. How are you?
For the last two weeks I have been out of town on “business”. Which sounds, I guess, kind of grown up and stuff. But, it was hard. And long. (That’s what she said…HA!) And I am so glad it is over.
Traveling on business is not all it is cracked up to be. When you are like 14 years old, it sounds so exotic, and exciting, and maybe a little bit fancy. I have learned over the years that it is none of these things. It is boring. Lonely. And just something you exist through.
For really the last two months, I have been prepping for this trip. It has been mentally and physically exhausting. It is weird to work so hard to give your job to someone else. I really still cannot wrap my head around that.
I love my job. I really do. As much as someone can love a corporate/office-y type job. I love the people I work with. I have made some really great friends there. I think the company does good things, and tries to be a good corporate citizen. I have a really good boss, who finds the right balance of being a friend and being a boss. She encourages me to continually grow, helps me when I need it, and stays out of my way when I don’t.
And I am really good at this job. It’s weird to say. It’s weird to realize. I have worked my way into a position where people respect me and listen to what I have to say. It’s really weird to think about trying to start over again somewhere else.
I hate that they laid me off. Its been one of the hardest things I’ve ever gone through. The morale in the office is basically in the toilet. Lots of people have given up or are downright angry and let everyone around them know it. It is a soul sucking, depressing place to be. My boss, has been struggling to stay on task and to make sure that the training of the new people gets done. She hasn’t had a lot of help or support from the other managers in the office.
So when my boss basically begged me to go with her to Tampa for two weeks, I let out a big sigh and said…ok. I will help you.
The last two weeks consisted of the same routine over and over and over again.
I got up at 6:00.
Showered.
Packed my bag for the day.
Went downstairs and ate breakfast with my boss at the little buffet/cafe type thing they have in the Courtyard Marriott. A lady named Yasmin worked there, and brought me coffee every morning. My boss hugged her on the last day we were there. She was sweet, and made a good omlette.
Off to the office by 7:30.
Work like hell. Get lots of questions. Talk more than I have ever talked in my life.
Go outside look for alligator in back pond. (I only saw him once!)
Realize made right decision about not moving to Tampa for this job based on crappy Tampa office politics, bugs, alligators, horrific rain/thunderstorms, and that it is the most hot/humid place on planet Earth.
Leave office at 6:30 PM.
Have major discussion with boss about where to go to dinner. Start to sound like married couple.
Find a place to eat. Eat.
Go back to hotel. Change clothes. Call Andrea.
Go out back to meet boss by the pool. Am shocked to find her smoking. It is like having a cigarette with my mother.
Learn more about boss’ actual real self. Discuss new hires and next day’s training activities.
Go upstairs. Call Andrea again. Maybe cry a little on a couple of days.
Take cold shower (see hottest/most humid place on Earth).
Watch NBA basketball….fall asleep.
Repeat. For what felt like forever.
Staying over the weekend proved to be not so bad. On Saturday, my boss and I ventured to a questionable part of town and find a laundromat. I quickly realized that THIS was actually the hottest place on Earth. But it was good to have clean clothes.
Also, dropped of my dry cleaning. That was the first time I had ever done that, and let me tell you, if I had money….Damn. I send everything to get dry cleaned! I loved it. Especially in the heat and humidity…everything on my wilted by the end of the day. My hair, my clothes, my spirit. So, having my clothes not wilt so bad…kind of awesome.
After the laundromat, we went to the Florida Aquarium. That was cool! They had a great display on Seahorses. Which I love!
Then we went to the airport to pickup MANDY! WOOOOO! I was so happy to have a buddy. It was great to see her.
On Sunday, we drove over to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It was blast! Although, even the Floridians admitted that it was SUPER hot that day. But, we managed.
I have never gotten a picture from an amusement park ride before…but the one they snapped of us on the Dinosaur ride was awesome!
Looks staged doesn’t it??? But those were real reactions. My boss is on the far left, then Mands, then me.
If you are wondering what we are all freaked out about…a giant T-REX jumped out at us. I screamed like a little girl. As did the other two.
The 2nd week was a repeat of the first. Just with Mandy being there to help keep me sane and the LOST finale on TV.
I have never been more tired. Or worked so hard. It was strange saying goodbye to the new people who are taking our jobs. They are all good people. And most of them had been in my exact situation before they found this job. So, I couldn’t even hate them. Or be mad. And they were all sweet and thoughtful about what we are all going through.
It was emotional leaving. I really felt like I just had nothing left in the tank to give.
Today, when I was back at work, it was equally weird. The office is mostly empty, and now my job consists of passing everything to the new girl who is taking my place, double checking her work, and sitting on the phone. After June 8th, they will be doing it on their own, and we will mostly just be sitting there….waiting for a question…and possibly playing Rock Band or watching movies or something.
Since I am an hourly employee, I had to fill out a timesheet today for the two weeks we were there. I had 42 hours of overtime. Yah. FORTY TWO. Whoa.
I was nervous that my boss would be shocked….freaked…getting in trouble, etc.
But all she said was…”HOLY SHIT. No wonder we were so fuckin tired!”
My sentiments exactly.
So, maybe you didn’t hear. Bear and I went to Hawaii for a week. It pretty much ruled the planet Earth, and was much needed for my mental health. The whole losing a job thing some might see as a reason to not go on a vacation. But, after much debate, much worry, and a stark increase in the number of panic attacks I was having, it was determined that it was worth it.
I have to believe that it will get me through the next few months…which let’s face it, are going to be pure hell.
See? This is the face of someone who finally remembered how to relax a little.
Bear getting ready to catch some serious waves in Waimea Bay.
I myself got my ass handed to me by some serious waves there.
Yeah, a wave kind of like that. First time I walked down into the surf, trying to be brave, and smart, and cool. Wave hit me and knocked my feet out from under me! It was shocking, and reminded me that I don’t need to get in the big waves. The little ones do just fine for me.
These little tiny ones in Lanikai are just the right size. Plus, the sand there?? Feels like baby powder. Heavenly. 
My Mom came over for a few days, because you know…she can.
So did my Dad. The NUT! He was on the island for about 26 hours. It was fun.
Oh YEAH….and we found a LOST shoot! Everyone doubted I could find it. Dude. It wasn’t that hard.
Those tents behind us? As Jin would say…”OTHERS! OTHERS!”
My friends. That is Kate’s trailer. KATE. No, I didn’t see her, and a big polynesian body guard guy stood in front of the trailer who was just patient and kind enough to let me take pics from a distance.
The DHARMA BUS! WoooHOOO!
Oh my god. I needed that.
So, this is how I am feeling about work today. Particularly, some folks I work with.
On the other hand…LOST is on tonight.
This is what has gotten me through today.
Go. Me.
And thanks be to Jesus for the hotness of Evangeline Lilly.
Ben got his own central command from which to rule.
And some new shoes for kickin ass.
Look how cute! Benjamin tries out his high chair for the first time. I think he looks like a dolly in this chair. Still teeny, but getting those super cute chubby cheeks.
My sister sent me this picture, and it is what got me through a rough day.
Plus, stripey onesies on little guys are the bomb.
Last night Andrea and I were in bed watching TV and waiting for the weather report. Yeah, I know it was early, but dude…I am getting old. I go to bed before 10:00 PM most nights, and am asleep by 10:30.
So, weather comes on, and the Eubanks kid is wearing his snow coat. So, all is normal and fine and you know…just watching some tv here. Nothing weird to see. Nothing weird going on.
When all of a sudden…the satelite dish has a little hiccup. It froze. Just for a few seconds. I was laying there, not thinking much about it. The dogs were asleep. I knew that it would come back momentarily. I was quiet and still.
That is when Andrea freaked the fuck out.
AJ: What? What is happening?
RO: ***silent***
AJ: Babe? BABE???
RO: What?! (Meanwhile, the satelite has come back on and Eubanks is telling me the morning drive will be potentially horrible.)
AJ: Oh my GOD!!! I thought that I was having some kind of problem!!!
RO: Like what?
AJ: Like the world just stopped! Like everything! Like you weren’t moving or breathing and the dogs weren’t moving or breathing, and it was just me. Everything else had ended!
RO: ***BURSTS INTO HYSTERICAL UNCONTROLLED LAUGHTER***
AJ: Babe! Stop! Why are you laughing!?! ***then starts to chuckle herself***
RO: ***Still laughing my ass off and nearly in tears***
AJ: Whatever, dude.
RO: Whatever?? Dude, you thought the Earth stopped moving.
I couldn’t stop thinking about it, while trying to fall asleep. The bed kept shaking with me trying to hold my giggles in and calm down. Which prompted a sleepy…”Babe! Stop it!” from Andrea every single time.
I was still laughing about it when I woke up this morning.
Most of the time, I could not care less about the Superbowl. Except for the commercials of course! Because you know, that’s just good ol’ fun really. And the halftime show, if Janet Jackson is participating at all. You never know when you might get some crazy boob shot.
But what is popular in our house is…THE PUPPY BOWL! Two hours of adorable puppies running around and playing???? If that doesn’t put a smile on your face, I don’t even want to know what your problem is.
Wilson is an avid fan. Involved in every play and rooting hard for his favorite players.
Buster, I guess you could say, is a little more of a casual fan.
I don’t know why I am so hesitant to paint. I guess I am scared that it will look terrible, and then we will have to do it all over agan. We have lived in our house for almost 4 years now, and the bathroom is the only room we have touched with any color. That is, up until last weekend.
Andrea really wanted to paint. I think if she could, she would paint all the rooms in the house. Finally, I gave in to my fear of painting, and we tackled it last weekend. We picked a lovely shade of blue called “Marine Harbor”. At first, I wasn’t digging it much, and thought it reminded me of a hospital. But, Andrea the brave pressed on, and with a little help from Arjay, we got it done in no time flat.
Andrea is, after all, a speed painter. And did an excellent job of taping.
Can you believe Arjay VOLUNTEERED for this? (Thanks, Arjay!!!)
This was my little corner of the world. No spills!
A very long and trying trip to IKEA later and we were decked out with some new art, new tables, new lamp…
and a new TV stand! It seems to compliment all the Gordon Ramsay we have been watching very well.
It is still a work in progress, as we discovered the smaller end tables leave us with a heck of a lot of wasted space. I think we need some cool bookshelves to give some height to the room. But, all in all, I think it turned out really great. Now we just have to paint the other walls, which look very smingy next to the crisp new blue ones.
Volunteers?
The official Presidential portrait of our beloved President Elect came out today. I think it rocks. He looks so much more presidential than George ever has.
I have set my TiVo for all the inaguration coverage. I can’t wait!
I promise to actually post some actual real stuff…but right now, my brain is just on empty. All I know is that when I get these pictures from my sister, I can’t stop smiling.
A better shot of the super cool bear suited Ben.
And this, is pretty much how you find me at my Mom’s lately. I tend to hog the boy. But my sister let’s me, so it pretty much works for me.
