Saturday, December 22, 2007
Friday, December 21, 2007
Merry Christmas and Happy Anniversary!
I will be trapped in my house with the kiddos for the next couple of weeks. With brief reprieves at work. How sad that my respite will be at work...
Anyhoo, I probably won't be able to write much ...This post is to say Merry Christmas to all of you AND Happy Anniversary to hubby. We will be married 16 years on December 31st. We met on December 31st in 1982. We were 15. We were introduced by our dear friend Marni http://www.its-a-pugs-life.blogspot.com/. He wouldn't talk to me because he was so shy. I wasn't particularly interested at the time. But, he got the nerve to ask Marni for my phone number. He called me and piqued my interest with his deep deep voice (that's all it takes at 15!). We went out when I turned 16, and he treated me like a queen.
Here is to 16 years, and what I still love about him:
Anyhoo, I probably won't be able to write much ...This post is to say Merry Christmas to all of you AND Happy Anniversary to hubby. We will be married 16 years on December 31st. We met on December 31st in 1982. We were 15. We were introduced by our dear friend Marni http://www.its-a-pugs-life.blogspot.com/. He wouldn't talk to me because he was so shy. I wasn't particularly interested at the time. But, he got the nerve to ask Marni for my phone number. He called me and piqued my interest with his deep deep voice (that's all it takes at 15!). We went out when I turned 16, and he treated me like a queen.
Here is to 16 years, and what I still love about him:
- He would give his life to protect his family from harm.
- He is very sensitive and knows when he has said something that hurts your feelings.
- He can still say "I am sorry."
- He likes to sit and listen to old records with me.
- He thinks I am funny.
- He knows when to be serious and when to be hilarious and silly.
- He loves the ocean like I do.
- He rolls up his sleeves, changes poopy pants, gives baths and does laundry with the best of 'em.
- HE IS STILL HOT!!!! Even though is hair is completely gray, his body is closer to a 25 year old than a 40 year old!
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Let me try again....
Ok...my posts posted backward for some reason. I am trying to say Happy birthday Donny and then post a video...
Whatever
Well, I don't have to worry about working 40 hours for now. The big boss didn't go for the whole thing. I found a work-at-home job with my current company, 40 hours, that I applied for. We will see....It requires me to use more of my skills than I am now. A lot of financial analysis, heavy use of Excel, which is good. I feel like I am losing my skills there.
It is unbelievable how demanding my job is. I get constant questions which I wouldn't mind so much if I didn't have such a heavy workload. I am the "Excel spreadsheet person" because no one on my team has used it that much. I love creating spreadsheets, but I created one to simplify things, and it evolved into a bear that I constantly have to update. Still, I would rather be doing that than just my normal work which i could do in my sleep. I actually have 40 hours worth of work that I am required to complete in just 25.
Ok...blah, blah, whine, whine. All in all, I am thankful for my job. My immediate boss is great. It is her boss that I am not fond of.
Yesterday I got a nice surprise from one of the sales persons I have to tolerate...A gift card to Target-my favorite store!! The sales people know they drive us insane, so that was their way of trying to make it up, I guess. It was very nice though.
So, Christmas shopping is not going well. I can't get to the store without my kids! I went on my lunch break at work the other day, but I had to get back....I was going to go yesterday, but I was
pulled in 100 different directions at work and barely got to go to the bathroom.
I ordered many things online, but G is 8 now, so everytime something comes to the door, there is 100 questions. And her little smarty-pants friend is telling her there is no Santa Clause.
I think I convinced her otherwise, but why do kids do that?
All of this stress and confusion...I forgot to wish Donny a happy birthday on the 9th!!!!
Here's to you sweet Donny... ( My baby was born on the 10th--just missed it by one day :)
It is unbelievable how demanding my job is. I get constant questions which I wouldn't mind so much if I didn't have such a heavy workload. I am the "Excel spreadsheet person" because no one on my team has used it that much. I love creating spreadsheets, but I created one to simplify things, and it evolved into a bear that I constantly have to update. Still, I would rather be doing that than just my normal work which i could do in my sleep. I actually have 40 hours worth of work that I am required to complete in just 25.
Ok...blah, blah, whine, whine. All in all, I am thankful for my job. My immediate boss is great. It is her boss that I am not fond of.
Yesterday I got a nice surprise from one of the sales persons I have to tolerate...A gift card to Target-my favorite store!! The sales people know they drive us insane, so that was their way of trying to make it up, I guess. It was very nice though.
So, Christmas shopping is not going well. I can't get to the store without my kids! I went on my lunch break at work the other day, but I had to get back....I was going to go yesterday, but I was
pulled in 100 different directions at work and barely got to go to the bathroom.
I ordered many things online, but G is 8 now, so everytime something comes to the door, there is 100 questions. And her little smarty-pants friend is telling her there is no Santa Clause.
I think I convinced her otherwise, but why do kids do that?
All of this stress and confusion...I forgot to wish Donny a happy birthday on the 9th!!!!
Here's to you sweet Donny... ( My baby was born on the 10th--just missed it by one day :)
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Why is 40 the magic number?
I did it...I committed to 40 hours a week after 7 years of part-time. On one condition, that I can work 3 days from home. My new boss has to check with his boss but says he thinks he will go for it to get me off of my part-time schedule. It is with the same company, same dept. just a different manager. I have never worked directly for him, but I have known him since I came to work there 8 years ago, and I like his management style MUCH better than my current boss...His employees speak highly of him. You don't find that everyday. And that is certainly not the case with my manager.
He had a job posted, and I went in to ask if he could use a part-time person, and he brought up full-time. When I said, "no", he asked would I consider it if he could get me some work at home days. I panicked after I told him I would do it, but over the past couple of days I have thought about it. If it doesn't work out, then it wasn't meant to be. I have to find childcare for 2 extra days AND his boss has to say yes, so we will see...
I said yes because quite franky, I am tired of being broke! I made the sacrifice to stay home with my kids, and we did okay for a few years, but after hubby got laid off and got shafted by someone he was trying to start a business with, we started going down. We have struggled ever since. He and I discuss full time from time to time, and he says he wants what is best for the kids and ultimately leaves the decision up to me. The problem is, I am the primary breadwinner (working full-time, that is). I struggled for years wishing I wasn't. Wishing I could be a full-time stay at home mom...even resenting him at times. But he never forced the issue of me working.
Can I get on my soapbox for a moment? Thanks
Society has made it nearly impossible for women to make the choice of being a full-time stay at home mom. Now, I believe working outside the home is usually a personal choice, but our tax system, the women's libbers, and many times, the fathers, have put so much pressure on women. We are educated now. We can make almost as much as our male counterparts (that is another soapbox for another day!) In many cases, we are the primary breadwinners. Men just don't break their backs working over-time or 2 jobs for their families they way they used to. Maybe that is a good thing, I don't know. Maybe it is because they know their wife could contribute and make almost as much or more than they can. But, anyway, we feel the pressure. Then come the children. God gave us a nurturing soul. Most of us want our primary job to be taking care of our children. Some people have jobs outside the home that allow them to do that. Some are able to leave the outside job and be stay-at-home moms. Some are stuck in a 40 hour job just trying to make ends meet and take care of their family. Then, there are women like me who work part-time. We feel some financial responsibility toward our families, but we long to be stay-at-home moms. But, I am here to say, despite what the women's libbers (I call them women's fibbers) say, you can't have it all..You can't have the ultimate career and be the ultimate wonderful mom. You may pull it off for awhile, but you have to "give" somewhere. And usually it results in such wear and tear from trying to be superwoman, that you lose your sanity. I personally would like to be a stay at home mom with no financial responsibility to my family, but at the same time, I am so glad that I have a degree and somewhat of a career because my mom struggled to take care of 2 children as a single parent with no education. Still, I am glad that I have chosen to sacrifice material things and my finances for now.
Now, what about my teaching job? I hope to get there when Mu enters school. That is another area I have sacrificed in.
But, I still don't know anything about the job. The big boss may say no, and I may continue to be part-time....Anticipation...I beleive God will work it out for the best....
He had a job posted, and I went in to ask if he could use a part-time person, and he brought up full-time. When I said, "no", he asked would I consider it if he could get me some work at home days. I panicked after I told him I would do it, but over the past couple of days I have thought about it. If it doesn't work out, then it wasn't meant to be. I have to find childcare for 2 extra days AND his boss has to say yes, so we will see...
I said yes because quite franky, I am tired of being broke! I made the sacrifice to stay home with my kids, and we did okay for a few years, but after hubby got laid off and got shafted by someone he was trying to start a business with, we started going down. We have struggled ever since. He and I discuss full time from time to time, and he says he wants what is best for the kids and ultimately leaves the decision up to me. The problem is, I am the primary breadwinner (working full-time, that is). I struggled for years wishing I wasn't. Wishing I could be a full-time stay at home mom...even resenting him at times. But he never forced the issue of me working.
Can I get on my soapbox for a moment? Thanks
Society has made it nearly impossible for women to make the choice of being a full-time stay at home mom. Now, I believe working outside the home is usually a personal choice, but our tax system, the women's libbers, and many times, the fathers, have put so much pressure on women. We are educated now. We can make almost as much as our male counterparts (that is another soapbox for another day!) In many cases, we are the primary breadwinners. Men just don't break their backs working over-time or 2 jobs for their families they way they used to. Maybe that is a good thing, I don't know. Maybe it is because they know their wife could contribute and make almost as much or more than they can. But, anyway, we feel the pressure. Then come the children. God gave us a nurturing soul. Most of us want our primary job to be taking care of our children. Some people have jobs outside the home that allow them to do that. Some are able to leave the outside job and be stay-at-home moms. Some are stuck in a 40 hour job just trying to make ends meet and take care of their family. Then, there are women like me who work part-time. We feel some financial responsibility toward our families, but we long to be stay-at-home moms. But, I am here to say, despite what the women's libbers (I call them women's fibbers) say, you can't have it all..You can't have the ultimate career and be the ultimate wonderful mom. You may pull it off for awhile, but you have to "give" somewhere. And usually it results in such wear and tear from trying to be superwoman, that you lose your sanity. I personally would like to be a stay at home mom with no financial responsibility to my family, but at the same time, I am so glad that I have a degree and somewhat of a career because my mom struggled to take care of 2 children as a single parent with no education. Still, I am glad that I have chosen to sacrifice material things and my finances for now.
Now, what about my teaching job? I hope to get there when Mu enters school. That is another area I have sacrificed in.
But, I still don't know anything about the job. The big boss may say no, and I may continue to be part-time....Anticipation...I beleive God will work it out for the best....
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
The Wish List
I don't mean to be a scrooge, but I am so tired of the requests for "just $5" for our Christmas party, decorations, etc. I have about 10 of those requests-you do the math.
I understand that it is Christmas, but I have 2 kids and G's birthday is this weekend. The requests at work really get under my skin. I asked that we just donate something to charity. They did a canned food drive, but then came THE email asking for a $5 donation for decorations and then a $10 donation for gifts for our bosses. THEN yesterday came the email stating that not everyone has contributed and "that really isn't fair". Ok, who asked me if I wanted to decorate or buy my boss a gift? I can do that on my own if I want to.
Again, I am not trying to be a scrooge, but let me just share a little story with you....
There was a lady who decided to follow her "charitable gifts" (that she donated for each person on her gift list) around the world to see if they were actually helping people.
Here is what she found:
$25 BOUGHT A BABY PIG FOR A FAMILY IN CAMBODIA
It became pregnant and they sold the tiny piglets because they needed the money so badly. With the money they are sending their daughters to school.
$25 BOUGHT A GOAT FOR A FAMILY IN SENEGAL
This almost single-handedly lifted a family out of poverty by providing nutritious food and extra income.
$50 BROUGHT CLEAN WATER FOR A FAMILY IN NORTH AFRICA
It is now piped into their house. This family had watched 4 of their children die because of the dirty water they drank. The mom smiled and said, "Maybe now, my children will live."
$100 STARTED A WOMEN'S SMALL BUSINESS IN INDIA
This woman was afraid her children would starve, but this contribution provided the training for her to do beautiful decorative stichery. Today, she able to support her family.
This $50 that I am asked to donate for decorations and gifts that will go mostly unnoticed by "rich" Americans seem so meaningless.
I understand that it is Christmas, but I have 2 kids and G's birthday is this weekend. The requests at work really get under my skin. I asked that we just donate something to charity. They did a canned food drive, but then came THE email asking for a $5 donation for decorations and then a $10 donation for gifts for our bosses. THEN yesterday came the email stating that not everyone has contributed and "that really isn't fair". Ok, who asked me if I wanted to decorate or buy my boss a gift? I can do that on my own if I want to.
Again, I am not trying to be a scrooge, but let me just share a little story with you....
There was a lady who decided to follow her "charitable gifts" (that she donated for each person on her gift list) around the world to see if they were actually helping people.
Here is what she found:
$25 BOUGHT A BABY PIG FOR A FAMILY IN CAMBODIA
It became pregnant and they sold the tiny piglets because they needed the money so badly. With the money they are sending their daughters to school.
$25 BOUGHT A GOAT FOR A FAMILY IN SENEGAL
This almost single-handedly lifted a family out of poverty by providing nutritious food and extra income.
$50 BROUGHT CLEAN WATER FOR A FAMILY IN NORTH AFRICA
It is now piped into their house. This family had watched 4 of their children die because of the dirty water they drank. The mom smiled and said, "Maybe now, my children will live."
$100 STARTED A WOMEN'S SMALL BUSINESS IN INDIA
This woman was afraid her children would starve, but this contribution provided the training for her to do beautiful decorative stichery. Today, she able to support her family.
This $50 that I am asked to donate for decorations and gifts that will go mostly unnoticed by "rich" Americans seem so meaningless.
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