59 posts tagged “work”

Gah!

Nov 13, 2009
4 comments

I had a down and out panic attack this evening...somehow I feel like I am forgetting some major deadline for work. But I am not. I don't think. I think maybe it has to do with wrapping up this big joint venture project that I've been working on. There were so many document due dates and database update requests - now that they are over my brain doesn't know what to focus on. My adrenaline is STILL pumping...I want to go to bed at a reasonable hour because I have a busy morning tomorrow, but I don't think sleep will be coming anytime soon.

Of course, I still have a crap-load of stuff to do on Monday before I leave town again, but nothing that can't wait until then to get done, and nothing Earth shattering if it doesn't get done then. So, I don't really know what my deal is. I think maybe that it might be that I agreed to help out my sales partner at work and do a coaching call with one of her branches in the very near future (a yet to be determined date). I love what I do because it is mostly one on one and face to face. I dislike group conference calls with people I have not met.

That and I think I am stressing out about the up coming year. We have a TON of changes coming at us and I don't think our team has the manpower to handle them all.

Also, there is Thanksgiving...and Christmas. So, my big plan was that this year was my year to relax...no family, no big functions. Just some peace and quiet with the dogs...well, OK, romping and playing too. Instead, my quiet Christmas turned into a trip to New Orleans and Thanksgiving week I am going to Seattle - I will work out there Monday and Tuesday and then spend Wed and Thursday with family and then travel home (an all day trip) on Friday. It is going to be a whirlwind trip...the cost of extending the ticket over the weekend was insane...and it would also have put Moo at the kennel for almost two weeks straight due to a work trip the following week. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful and even excited to get to go home for turkey day. And Christmas should be neat. I've never been to New Orleans before - we will be staying in the French Quarter - but I seriously feel like I was cornered into going. As much as I want to see the place, this isn't the time of year or way I wanted to do it. And both trips mean that Sadie will be with friends the entire week of Thanksgiving and at the kennel with Moo over Christmas...and Moo is at the kennel for both trips. That added with all the travel for work that has come up and I feel like she is ALWAYS at the kennel and that I am NEVER at home.

And next year, I had hoped to get home a few times throughout the year to see Caleb - but we are now being pressured (at least I feel like we are being pressured) into saving our PTO for the end of the year since it is dead around Christmas and New Years. Except that that isn't my problem and I shouldn't be expected to use MY time off because of planning and management issues. Bah. I guess I just have a lot frustrating me right now...mostly these holiday trips. So much for a nice quiet season at home.

And don't get me started on the electrician issues. I am never here and since Neil said he'd be taking care of it, trying to coordinate with his recent travel isn't something I want to try to do. He knows (or ought to know) what his schedule is...since he needs to be here, it seems that it would be easiest for him to just call and schedule. But between the first guy never calling back and then more travel, it just isn't getting done. The next major fiasco is going to be replacing the carpet since it is all fraying at the seams and along the room edges...the list is never-ending.

Right now I just need to focus on not completely losing my cool over the holidays. And my New Years resolution is going to be to just say no next year. I WILL have my peaceful holiday at home...even if I celebrate it all by myself (with the critters, of course!).

"Blah blah blah, Ginger."

Nov 12, 2009
4 comments

(If you're wondering about the subject line...go look up Gary Larson's Far Side comic about what dogs hear.) :)

Not much new happening here - yesterday was Veteran's Day, as you all probably know...it is a new "paid holiday" for us which was strange. I did end up doing a tiny bit of work, but then spent the rest of the day watching movies and doing laundry.

Last night Neil took me out to a Spanish tapas place. The food was great, but I think all the staff was on heroin. No one was talking to each other, the guy who sat us looked annoyed that there were people there he had to deal with...you know, those pesky customers and all! And you'd think for a place that makes its money selling small portions/plates of food they would check back regularly to see what else they could bring out...but no. That was not the case here, unless of course you were the two, blonde thirty-something females at the table behind us. I'm guessing we won't be back since there are plenty of other places with great food and matching service that are easier to get to.

Work is...work. Lots of travel through the end of the year. Lots of change. Lots of people stressing out. Eh, it pays the bills. Right now I hesitate to move to any other team because who knows what is going to get reorged after the first of the year. Right now, I figure better safe than sorry, even if it is a lot of travel. And today I finally wrapped up my portion of a huge project, so that feels good. Now tomorrow I just have to do some second level file reviews for a couple team members and sit through a couple con calls before the weekend is finally here.

The doing laundry part (from above) was largely washing clothes that had been sorted into piles for organizing that the cats had decided to pee on. Not sure what is up with that, but it all got a good soaking in enzyme odor remover and washed. And now I have learned to only organize what I can get put away the same day.

I am almost done going through all my clothing. I have t-shirts, shorts, and sweaters left. And then a huge trip to Goodwill to drop off all the excess. It feels good to get it all cleaned out, if not a bit depressing when looking how much I am getting rid of. However, if I am to be realistic, they are items I will never wear...ever. Or they are items that I simply will never fit into comfortably again, no matter how much weight I loose.

Both dogs seem to have gotten past whatever made them runny yesterday which is good. Now if this weather would just move along...the post-Ida dreariness is getting old. I feel like I am back in the Northwest again!

I have nothing else to report. Just plugging away at life, one day at a time.

Almost there...

Sep 2, 2009
3 comments

My refi is scheduled to close on the 21st. Yay! After hearing the horror story behind a friend's recent refi, I did make sure they did the escrows correctly. I shouldn't have to bring much (if anything) to closing. The best part is that the internal service we use sends a notary to my home with the docs to be signed!

OP is a total snuggle-cat. If I am watching TV, he is in my lap snuggling. If I am working in the office, he is either in my lap or in the chair smushed up behind me....snuggling. At night, I find him wedged either between me and Neil or if he isn't here, between me and the Moo. I do also catch him romping with Bonnie, which is good. I imagine my being gone for a week will have him be extra snuggly when I return! (I do have folks checking in on the kitties while I am away...)

I might get to go away for Christmas... Part of me is excited to see someplace new. The other part of me really just wants to stay home with the pups and hang out. Especially since it looks like I have more travel coming up again this next quarter. I am torn.

OK time for one last phone interview and then I am done with this branch...whhhheeeeeee!

OP Update & Other Stuff

Jul 30, 2009
1 comment

Last night the need for love and snuggles finally won out. I got to spend some time hanging out with the sweet boy. He is a lover! Petting and holding and snuggling seem to be the best things in the world (next to canned food). He got brave and explored the room...I think he even attempted to come out of the room a few times last night, but was immediately accosted by two very curious dogs.

Bonnie goes in there and hangs out with him...not too close, but not as wary as before, either. I think once the dogs lose some intensity to their interest in him, he will come right out. He is still not too sure what to make of Neil. That will come too, though.

Tonight Neil is taking me to our favorite Italian restaurant. They are hosting a dinner by (for?) Slow Food of Charlotte. The dinner will be made with local foods (meats, veggies, and I think even cheeses). I forget exactly what the menu is, but it doesn't really matter since everything their chefs make is good!

Monday night we will be back there for a wine tasting/pairing dinner. I am not into wine much, but the menu looked divine and a couple good friends whom I never get to see will be there too (along with some of Neil's other friends). Twice in less than a week...I must have done something that the universe likes!

Right now I am off to take Neil into the office so we will just have one car later tonight when we head to dinner. Then it is back here and back to work on my project stuff. (Work project stuff, not house project stuff...unfortunately.) Maybe OP will venture out of his room this afternoon while the dogs are napping.

Whattaweek!

Mar 26, 2009
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It has been long and exhausting and I am sure I am fighting something (other than just fatigue). I crashed last night at 8pm and slept straight through until 7am this morning. And could have kept sleeping if it weren't for the fact that I need to be to the branch here by 9.

The only good part about today is that I get to go home this evening after this review is done. Next week I am working from home before heading off on another week-long trip the week after.

My good friend up in NJ forwarded me an announcement today that contains some local job openings with the company, so I am going to research those tomorrow. We'll see - in this economy I am leery of joining any project teams (this group has been developed to serve a very specific function with limited longevity). On the other hand, new experience is always a good thing. We'll see what the actual available positions are and what they pay.

Georgia...

Mar 23, 2009
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I am in GA for the next couple days and then will be in SC before finally getting to go home. The up-side is that with my diamond status with the Hilton Hhonors program, I got put in a really great two room suite. And room service is provided by Carrabas which is right next door. The down side is that the stupid soda vending machine charges $2.25 for a 20oz Coke. Gah! I think I shall buy several cans at the branch tomorrow for $0.25 a can (the branch gets the proceeds for pizza dinners and such, so I am cool with that).

The other up-side is that I will have enough time tomorrow during normal business hours to do my work. Which means this evening and tomorrow evening I can actually relax and even go to bed at a normal hour.

Right now I am going to watch some movie that is on TV while I wait for the Advil to kick in. Allergies are killing me.

Sloooowlllllyyy...

Mar 20, 2009
1 comment

but surely my horrid haircut is growing out. I am going in this morning to get the back trimmed up and the color touched up. However, my hairstylist will lose a hand if it touches the top or sides with anything sharp.

Work has been absolutely insane. Today is jam-packed full of con calls and trying to wrap up administrative crap from this week. Next week starts with a very, very early Monday and is nonstop again through Friday. *sigh*

Luckily, the week after that I am working from my home office and will hopefully have time to catch back up on the "other stuff" I need to get done. I have two projects that I am heading up in addition to all I do...but no promotion or raise for me this year. What is wrong with this picture? If these projects don't push me over that promotional edge by the end of the year then I give up. And maybe by then there will be other job options available for me. We'll see. On the other hand, I am thankful to have a job. Especially one as good as I do have, even if the travel is wearing me out.

As far as the state of the economy as a whole, employment rates, the rate at which private organizations are becoming nationalized, and our current national leadership...I am appalled and dismayed and yet not at all surprised. And that is really all I have to say about that right now. (Maybe I will become a hermit up in some remote country mountain range somewhere and simply drop off the societal-radar. Heh.)

Not much else is happening - Moo keeps growing into a better and more mature pup each day, but she still has many episodes of badness. Sadie has been a pill herself lately. I think it is Spring Fever. My yard is in much need of attention...maybe this weekend I will get to some of that. And the cats are cats...as long as they have food and can come in and go out as they please they have promised not to smother me in my sleep or otherwise take over total control of the household - at least not this week.

Back to work!

Mar 3, 2009
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Well, it is back to work today after taking almost a week off. The day has been (and will continue to be) spent wading through emails. Doesn't look like I really missed much last week. And this week is just more of the same-old, same-old. It is scheduling week, which I always abhor, but it must be done. Tomorrow I will start sending out notifications to the branches and wait for the replies of, "can we reschedule?" Heh. No. We can't.

Last night Neil took me to see Slumdog Millionaire. Great movie. Not really at all what I was expecting, though, I don't really know what I was expecting. As we were leaving for the movie, somehow both Neil and I forgot to latch Marly's crate. Probably because she was already sleeping in it as we got ready to go. So, she got to spend about four hours with free-reign of the house. Considering all she could have gotten into, the results when we got home were pretty good. She ate my birthday card from my sister...and when I say ate, I mean there is no trace of that card to be found anywhere in the house. She also chewed through the heating pad cord (which was still plugged into the wall). For that, she got seriously scolded - thank goodness we didn't come home to an electrocuted dog! And one of Neil's shoes was found in the middle of the living room (no, not where he left it). Luckily, it wasn't chewed. When I walked in from the garage, Moo was actually asleep again in her crate. Crazy.

She is driving me bonkers today - whining. "Mom! Hey Moooooommmmm! There's snow, Mom! Common...I want to go play in it!!!!" Yes, we still have snow on the ground, though yesterday it melted completely off the paved areas. And today it is slowly, but surely melting everywhere else too. It must be nice to be a dog and have no real responsibilities other than to eat and not go potty in the house. Alas, "Mom" here has to work...sorry, Moo!

And with that...I must get back to it. *sigh* I need to win the lottery so I can make my own schedule doing things that I really want to be doing.

Dog-proof doorstops?

Feb 15, 2009
2 comments

I am coming up blank for ideas for door stops that would be Marly-proof. My office door tends to swing shut on its own and I'd usually rather it stay open, but the doorway area is somewhat cramped due to the layout of the room so I can't put anything too bulky in front of the door. I did have just a regular rubber doorstop, but then we got Moo and discovered she liked to eat them.

Any ideas? I will continue to scour the house for something suitable.

In other news - I got a second shelf installed in the office closet so I have more office-supply storage space now. I also have room to put the paper recycle bin in there which is how I am now able to keep the office door open (once I get the desks cleaned off).

I never made it to Home Depot to get another gallon of paint to finish the bathroom ceiling, so that will have to wait until next weekend.

Tuesday I head to PA (again). I hope it doesn't snow on me there...I am ready for spring. The week after that I am taking more time off - the excuse is that it is my birthday week, but mostly I am SO tired of work that I just need the break. Maybe I will start the last painting project...the final coat in the dining room will be easy. After that I can get started on the kitchen. Or, maybe I will postpone that a bit longer and just take the week to relax.

Stuff...

Jan 30, 2009
5 comments

Consumer Whoredom: So, I got my tax return and it is time to stimulate the local economy a bit. I have two "splurge" items that I am going to get...the first is a coat rack/bench to put by the back door to house shoes, coats, dog leashes, etc. I found this one at Pier 1 (actually via their little catalogue that comes in the mail) and really like it. I am going to call around today and see if any of the local stores have it in stock.

The second item is a bit of a toss-up. I either want to replace my current (very nice, but not functioning properly) coffee maker with a new one or I want to get myself a pair of cowboy boots. The coffee maker I have is very nice and makes fabulous coffee, but I have to babysit it to make sure that the beans feed properly into the grinder and then that the basket gets itself in place properly so that it will actually brew. All of which defeats the purpose of having an auto-brew timer. The boots may seem silly, but are something I have wanted for years. The reason I have never gotten any are that they are truly a splurge. They would be weekend/personal time wear and I want good ones which aren't cheap. I am at a point though, where I have wanted them long enough that I feel like it is time to get them. The only real question is, black or brown?

Aside from those splurges, the rest of the spending portion of the return is going toward house projects - sheers for the bedroom and living room so I can open the blinds and let some light in without the neighbors staring into my house. Rock for the yard (lots and lots of rock) and of course supplies for spreading it - wheelbarrow, shovel, etc. A shelf for the office closet. An oil change for the truck. An electrician to fix the blown circuit breaker.

Weekend Projects: This weekend I am going to try to get both bathrooms painted. At the very least I will get them taped off so that I can get them painted next week during some days off that I am taking. Then I shall tackle the kitchen which is the last, unfinished room! The dining room needs one more coat as well, but that will happen along with the kitchen.

I am so excited! The inside of the house is almost done. At least for now...I still have all sorts of other projects that I want to do - tiling bathrooms and counter tops, new floors, etc. But once the paint is all complete the rest can wait a bit without the place looking too shabby. The yard is really the next focus...and hopefully by the end of the year the front yard (at least) will be looking "done".

Dogs: In doggy news, the ladies at the kennel BOTH told me that Marly was very well behaved this week and that overall she is being remarkably better during her stays there. Thank goodness! I never thought she was going to learn to behave around others. She still barks somewhat inappropriately, but we are working on that too. I also asked that she get a nail trim while she was there, which she did. But I think she also got a nice bath which they didn't charge me for. I thought that was rather cool of them!

Work: Holy cow, what a week! My original plan for the week was that I was in Columbus, OH on Tuesday and Wednesday and that Wednesday night I would drive to Cleveland to do a review there and then fly home from there. Riiiiiiight! I was stuck in DC for over an hour waiting on my flight to Columbus...once in Columbus I had an exciting, slippery drive to the branch. Worse, was trying to get from the branch to the hotel. It was dark, the roads covered in packed snow and ice, rush-hour...gah! Wednesday I was stuck in the hotel since the entire city pretty much shut down. I did the remainder of my review via phone. I also canceled Cleveland and worked with a fabulous travel agent in our corp travel department to rearrange my flights so I could fly home from Columbus.

The airlines are all a joke anymore...it ended up being WAY cheaper for me to buy a one-way ticket on AirTran to get home than it would be for me to change the flight with United. Their ticket change fee is $150 plus the cost difference between the tickets (which was going to be another couple hundred AFTER the credit for the remainder of my original ticket). The AirTran ticket was only $110.

Yesterday morning I spent over an hour chipping and chiseling the layer of freezing rain off my rental car. It was like a layer cake...6 inches of snow on top of about a half and inch of ice, with another inch or so of snow on top of about and inch and a half of ice that was directly on the car. And it was 9 degrees out with a wind-chill factor of bone crunching cold. Thankfully I was on top of things enough to go out and do that fairly early in the day so I had time to go back to the room, warm up, and dry my clothes and shoes using the room heater and hair dryer.

Right now I am going to call some electricians and see if I can get anyone out to fix the breaker. Yay! Later, I might even see about making some doctor/dental/eye appointments.