monthly update

1.  Lose weight.  Last year I set a goal and failed.   This year I am going to not set a number and just hope it is less than what I started at. This includes good eating habits and exercising.  I tried.  I failed.  I am hopeful... although I have no reason to be.
2.  Read at least 1 book a month.  I liked this one from last year and have decided to keep it.  Nope.  But we did start going to the library again.  And I did start a book.
3.  Get at least 8 hours of sleep at least 4 times per week.  I liked this one from last year and I think it is wise that I keep it this year. This one seems impossible these days.  I do understand the important -- I just can't do it.
4.  Blog at least 12 times per month.  I am lowering the number but keeping the goal.  Success!
5.  Refinish the new kitchen table.  Really.  Nope.  Not even an attempt.  But I am not going to worry about it until my landlord fixes the hole in the dining room wall.
6.  Start a 529 account.  No.  But my employer might do it for me.  Just waiting for the "orientation" to figure that all out.
7.  Start a savings account. I am still adjusting to the new finances.  I will worry about this in the fall.
8.  Eat out no more then 2 times per month.  I think it is important to keep this one from last year.  Turns out this is fairly easy to accomplish when you live in a tiny town.
9.  Learn how to use the video feature of the camera and learn how to use Photoshop.  Nope
10. Pay all bills on time. I think this is an important one to keep.  Nope. 
11. Make a decision about going to graduate school.  If going then start the process of making it happen.  Not going to grad school this year.  Will re-evaluate next year.
12.  The secret.  Not ready to say it out loud but need to make a decision and make it happen.  See above.

 I might need to adjust these goals for next month now that EVERYTHING in my life has changed.  Any suggestions???

Mean Mama

O-Can-A-Da

My job requires that I work out of 2 different offices.  Not that I spend much time in either of them lately.  Today I was at the office that is about 40 minutes north of here.  Here is a picture of the building.

Kind of a cute building.  And from my office window...

Oh wait I don't have a window...

Oh wait I don't have an office...

I borrow the desk of who ever is out for the day.  But if I had an office with a window this would be the scene.

It could be a nice summer ... if it ever stops raining.

Mean Mama

karma?

Today I headed to the capital for yet another work training.  An evil necessary for getting a new job.  But since yesterday was a holiday I had to just do it this morning.

I realized that I forgot where I was going so I pulled up my email on my cell phone (work phone).  Only all my emails were gone.  All.  How did that happen over a holiday weekend?  Where was I to go.  So I pulled my paper file -- old school -- and found a "free parking" map for the event.  Well that helps.  It at least gets me into the neighborhood.

So I headed out.  About half way there the sky opened up and let loose.  Ridiculous rain!  I mean it rains every day here but within about 30 seconds I was hydroplaning.  I slowed down.  Other passed me.  I didn't care.  The sky turned black... despite being 8am.

By the time I arrived in town, the rain had stopped.  At least temporarily.  So I went looking for parking.  I drove around in ever widening circles until I found a spot.  Just shy of 1 mile from my destination.  I grabbed the umbrella and went for a walk.

It is good for me.  Right?

It started to down pour about 1 block from the building.  But I found it with just wet feet.

All day in training there was no rain.  None.  Just threats.  Nothing.  Until we walked out of the door at the end of the day.  But of course.

But I sucked it up and went for a walk.  It was a little humiliating to be easily passed by an overweight guy smoking a cigarette.  Guess who is fatter?  Guess who is more out of shape?  Yep, me!

Time to do something I guess.

Mean Mama

changing my tune

So yesterday's post was all positive and happy.  Today??? Not so much.

I tried to stay positive.  It didn't work.

Remember that co-worker I mentioned in a previous post?  The one who ignored me?  Well today we had meetings.  Almost all day.  She sat across the circle from me -- and scowled.  So I decided she was just a pissy person. 

But then I got distracted... by the woman sitting next to her.  She was wearing a dress that was about mid thigh.  And every time to adjusted herself in the seat -- crossing her legs, tucking her legs under her bum, etc -- she exposed her flower panties to me.  I didn't say anything -- because I didn't want it to seem like I was looking.

And then in an afternoon training the trainer switched us up a little -- and little miss pissy pants got seated right next to me.  And she talked to me!  During a break.  I mean she didn't actually have to speak to me.  But she did. 

Score one for me.

Oh did I mention the topic of the training?  This is an important part of the story.  We were having a training on teaming.  How to create and manage an effective team in a work environment.  The trainer started out by talking about how successful we have been at this.  Apparently my office is the example used around the state for setting up successful teaming.  But there is always room for improvement.  So we got trained.

Towards the end the trainer asked about how they bring new people onto the team.  What is the process for "onboarding" a new member?  He decided he wanted to have the newest member speak about the experience.  So he asked who the newest member of the team was.  And they all said -- J.  J???  You mean the person who started in January -- after being a temp worker for 2 months?  Not me??  The person who has been there for less than 1 month? 

Nope!  Not me.  And they knew what they were saying.  Almost everyone looked at me during this part of the discussion.  I got the message... I am not a part of the team.

I left the training pissed.

Mean Mama

Getting to know...

In an effort to get to know my new state, and love my new state, I have decided to carry my camera with me at all times.  I will stop and take some photos of the beauty of my new home.

Right now that should be easy because my boss is having me drive around the entire state for various trainings.  So far I have driven over 700 miles since starting my job -- just for work purposes.

So today I was coming back from a training and I stopped to take these photos...

Mean Mama

Making an impression

I like my new supervisor.  She has been very supportive.  I like my co-worker who has the same title as me.  She has been very welcoming.

The rest... not so much.

I am one of 3 people in the state (yes, the state!) who do what I do.  So I sit in an office among others who do not do what I do.  And most of them don't want me there.  For various reasons.  Some seem, to think they know everything and don't need my input.  I am a SPECIALIST.  Says so in my job title.  I know things that could help them.  Others seem to just not trust the "new girl."  I get that.  I don't always trust new people.

But there is one girl (I am having a hard time calling her a woman because she looks about 12) who appears to really not like me.  I am not sure why.  I didn't even notice it at first.  I mean she wasn't friendly.  She didn't say hi.  She didn't include me.  But, hey, most of the rest of them didn't either.

But last week I ran into her at the after school center.  Her child attends day care there.  We were both picking up our children.  She didn't even say hi to me.  I tried to say hi to her.  She was having none of it.

And then I ran into her at the grocery store.  She pretended to not know me.

And that is when I got a clue.

I wonder what I did?

Mean Mama

Small town living

There are advantages to small town living.

Today we headed out to the library.  We need to get back into that practice.  And it is only .7 miles from our house -- yes, I measured it.  We walked.  It was a beautiful day out.  So why not enjoy the walk.  Well, I enjoyed it.  Whiney girl -- not so much.

Then we got to the library and I asked for a library card.  I needed an ID and proof of address. 

Well, dang!  I haven't changed my license yet and it didn't occur to me to bring my lease to the library to check out a book.  And we walked.  So I was going to be happy just to read a few books with Ladybug and go home.  Ladybug wasn't so happy about that -- until we found some princess books.  But as we were standing next to the check out desk a second librarian came up to the desk and asked what was going on.

I explained.  She asked me where I lived.  I told her.  Turns out the librarian has been BFFs with my landlord since she was 8 years old.  She knew of me.  So I got a library card.  Without all the normal requirements. 

Which I am happy about because I really needed a book to read that I haven't already read and I was out of options in my house.

And then we walked .7 miles home.  I walked.  She whined.  It wore her out.  She collapsed on the couch -- hanging upside down -- and slept for 2 hours.

Mean Mama

I hate mornings!

I have never ever ever been a morning person.  I think getting up before 10 am is obscene.  I think there is no reason for it.

My employer feels differently.  Ladybug's school feels differently.  So I must control my natural instincts.  I must not get cranky.

Ladybug is doing everything she can to make mornings miserable for me.  She wakes me before the alarm goes off -- and my alarm goes off at 6am.  She must interrupt my shower several times to make sure her clothes match. 

Then she spends a ton of time packing things she doesn't need for the day into her backpack... photos, books, toys, money, etc.  This requires me to unpack her bag.  Which causes us to fight about what should be allowed to go to school.

Then she remembers she needs socks and shoes... which are upstairs.  So she heads back up.

Meanwhile I up dressed... making her lunch... making my lunch... packing my bags.  And yelling at her to come take care of her shit.  Okay -- I don't use the word "shit" -- but I want to.

Then she tells me to stop yelling at her.  But she is not doing what she needs to.  She is not making or eating her breakfast.  She is not finding her jacket.  She is not brushing her teeth.  She is not cleaning her face.  She is not packing her bag with the things she actually needs to have for school.

So I lost it with her on Thursday morning.  She yelled at me to stop telling her to do her things.  I told her I would love to but since she wasn't taking care of her stuff -- what choice did I have?  She made herself breakfast -- 3 cheerios in a bowl full of milk.  She spilled more that 3 cheerios on the floor. 

And then I came up with a plan.  One that would motivate her.  She needed to have a good morning.  She had to take care of her stuff.  She had to stay positive.  She had to not yell at me.  Or she loses the TV for a week. 

NOOOOOOO!  Tears.  Wailing.  But then I reminded her it was in her control.  She wanted her TV -- take care of her stuff (since she had just finished telling me that she knows what she needs to do int he morning).  If she refuses -- no TV.

This morning was a great morning!

Mean Mama

But I took Spanish

I took Spanish in high school.  I took Spanish is college.  I did not take French.

But today I went to my satellite office.  It is about 40 minutes north of my home.  And about 3 miles from the Canadian border.  I have been told to turn off my personal cell phone when up there because it might be bounced off a Canadian tower and I will be charged for an international call.

As I drove up today I scanned the radio looking for musical entertainment.  At least 50% of the stations were in French.  Maybe more.

Yep.  Life has changed.

Mean Mama

Monthly update

I tried to post this earlier in the month.  Internet sucked.  Wouldn't post.  So posting now without editing.

1.  Lose weight.  Last year I set a goal and failed.   This year I am going to not set a number and just hope it is less than what I started at. This includes good eating habits and exercising.  Who cares what I lost.  I loved.  900 miles.  I changed jobs.  I changed homes.  Ladybug changed schools.  Ladybug changed after school programs.  Who cares if I lost weight.
2.  Read at least 1 book a month.  I liked this one from last year and have decided to keep it.  Nope.  Not reading.  Not doing anything fun.  I moved 900 miles.
3.  Get at least 8 hours of sleep at least 4 times per week.  I liked this one from last year and I think it is wise that I keep it this year. My new job requires me to be at work at 7:45am.  Are you kidding????  I go to bed before the sun these days.
4.  Blog at least 12 times per month.  I am lowering the number but keeping the goal.  Failure.  And I don't care.  Have I mentioned that I moved 900 miles?
5.  Refinish the new kitchen table.  Really.  Yeah.  Whatever.  Not April.  Not May.  Check back at the end of summer.
6.  Start a 529 account.  HAHAHAHAH! Dang!  I need a new bank account these days.
7.  Start a savings account. HAHAHAHAHA! See above.
8.  Eat out no more then 2 times per month.  I think it is important to keep this one from last year.  FAIL!  But I was moving 900 miles.
9.  Learn how to use the video feature of the camera and learn how to use Photoshop.  Nope
10. Pay all bills on time. I think this is an important one to keep.  Bills??? 
11. Make a decision about going to graduate school.  If going then start the process of making it happen.  Not going to grad school this year.  Will re-evaluate next year.
12.  The secret.  Not ready to say it out loud but need to make a decision and make it happen.  See above.



Mean Mama