Today I wish I was spending the noon hour with my kid. Because he'll be watching the inauguration in class - and I'll be watching with colleagues. And I'd really like to see him at noon. Because really, a 7 year old may not be totally into watching the oath being delivered - but he'll totally be into the fact that Abraham Lincoln's hands touched the bible Obama will be using.
He wore red, white and blue today to school. And he is planning on visiting DC to see three things:
The Lincoln Memorial (because after you look at a penny under a magnifying glass it seems cooler)
The Spy Museum (he has his night vision goggles ready)
The First Puppy - (I did explain that would be hard - but he said he's up for it)
Enjoy the day. It's a new one.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Fresh Starts
Fresh starts are for everyone, right? Well, our little family is undergoing a bit of a change, as one of us will be traveling to the west coast with enough frequency to just about claim status in another zip code.
I was sitting in church today and thought about all the new beginnings and fresh starts. In this economic time it's a rare, brave, and possibly foolish soul that says "no, boss, I'm not going to do that" - unless of course, it's illegal and then I expect the old "do the right thing" motion. And so we find ourselves at the beginning of a new adventure, a fresh start. For a week a month, on a regular basis, one of us will be based on the west coast. A new beat, a great company, and probably the expectation that we'll all be west coast based in a bit more than a year.
So sitting in church I began to place my thoughts into two categories - the denial and the adventure. Because otherwise this will seem too much like the slowly-pull-off-the-bandaid approach. I prefer the rip and the clean break.
Maybe this will just be more traveling - and heck, people travel tons more than this. And maybe this will mean traveling to a great west coast city for vacations and part of the summer holiday. And maybe this means not taking each other for granted so much, simply because the luxury of rolling over in bed and saying "no, you let the dog out" just won't be there.
I am trying to adjust slowly - since for years it's been me on the travel train. And now it's not. And since I know his appointment on Thursday is with a realtor I am also certain that only huge prices and icy cold weather could dampen his enthusiasm for sunshine, fog and great views. He may not realize it yet, but he's falling in love with another girl - the west coast girl. And she's going to tempt him with fabulous restaurants, new construction, sunshine and attitude.
I'm only certain that home is where my family is - and for now, it's in the east. I'm not cheering for either team - just hoping for the opportunity to make our own choice, and fall in love together.
I was sitting in church today and thought about all the new beginnings and fresh starts. In this economic time it's a rare, brave, and possibly foolish soul that says "no, boss, I'm not going to do that" - unless of course, it's illegal and then I expect the old "do the right thing" motion. And so we find ourselves at the beginning of a new adventure, a fresh start. For a week a month, on a regular basis, one of us will be based on the west coast. A new beat, a great company, and probably the expectation that we'll all be west coast based in a bit more than a year.
So sitting in church I began to place my thoughts into two categories - the denial and the adventure. Because otherwise this will seem too much like the slowly-pull-off-the-bandaid approach. I prefer the rip and the clean break.
Maybe this will just be more traveling - and heck, people travel tons more than this. And maybe this will mean traveling to a great west coast city for vacations and part of the summer holiday. And maybe this means not taking each other for granted so much, simply because the luxury of rolling over in bed and saying "no, you let the dog out" just won't be there.
I am trying to adjust slowly - since for years it's been me on the travel train. And now it's not. And since I know his appointment on Thursday is with a realtor I am also certain that only huge prices and icy cold weather could dampen his enthusiasm for sunshine, fog and great views. He may not realize it yet, but he's falling in love with another girl - the west coast girl. And she's going to tempt him with fabulous restaurants, new construction, sunshine and attitude.
I'm only certain that home is where my family is - and for now, it's in the east. I'm not cheering for either team - just hoping for the opportunity to make our own choice, and fall in love together.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
It's the most scary time of the year.
The week started with a bang. A Monday morning meeting in which we heard from the CEO saying...no layoffs or restructuring... through December. Then yesterday the state budget came out - with an $8 million dollar cut aimed squarely at my heart. And then I remembered I needed to bring in 4 dozen un-iced and un-decorated sugar cookies.
For the scariest time of the year -- the holiday party. I should mention that for the past several years it's been a potluck affair - that our department slogs in on mass transit. This year we only need to supply dessert. Our group offering - a cookie decorating party. Don't groan. Our party also includes caffeine, a bluegrass band that plays in the subway and some poetry, along with audience participation. The cookie decorating part is tame. It also provides some directed conversation for several hours - hours in which no one complains about work - but instead gets a major sugar rush from the baked goods. So what if the crash hits hard in a few hours. They won't be sitting next to me!
The prepared employee that I am - I carefully shopped for the dough ingredients, budgeted time on Sunday to make the dough, and then chill for 24 hours. Monday night was designated as baking night. Which was all well and good until I knocked one tray of cookies to the floor, and then managed to crush the cookies that were carefully put into the air tight containers.
My brain raced - what could I do? Aha! I called the bakery when I woke up - because, well, that's one place that answers the phone at 6 am.
Do you sell plain sugar cookies - the kind I could use for a cookie decorating party?
Yes.
Can you make custom shapes?
That depends.
I have two cookie cutters, both copper.
Bring them in and we'll take a look. If they won't work you can go through our supply to see what will work.
Okay. I'm coming in.
(grab kid, school lunch, school backpack, office gear and head out. Arrive at bakery with promise of buttered seeded italian roll and a mini-bottle of milk for said kid, and coffee for me.)
May I help you?
Yes. I need to see if the baker can use these cutters to make me some cookies for a holiday party.
I hand over the cutters.
Greeted by silence.
When do you need these for?
Friday at this same time.
Pause.
These are for a holiday party?!
Yes.
The baker comes out.
We can make these, but I've never heard of Christmas Poodles or Winter Retrievers.
Now, I know it was weird. But still, I just needed to pay and get out of there. Because as I've said, the late bell always rings at the same time. So, today, my time was worth more than reshopping and baking, and I got coffee out of it.
My philosophy --- there can only be so many stars, trees, candy canes and bells to decorate. Why not a few poodles. At least people will have something to talk about...
For the scariest time of the year -- the holiday party. I should mention that for the past several years it's been a potluck affair - that our department slogs in on mass transit. This year we only need to supply dessert. Our group offering - a cookie decorating party. Don't groan. Our party also includes caffeine, a bluegrass band that plays in the subway and some poetry, along with audience participation. The cookie decorating part is tame. It also provides some directed conversation for several hours - hours in which no one complains about work - but instead gets a major sugar rush from the baked goods. So what if the crash hits hard in a few hours. They won't be sitting next to me!
The prepared employee that I am - I carefully shopped for the dough ingredients, budgeted time on Sunday to make the dough, and then chill for 24 hours. Monday night was designated as baking night. Which was all well and good until I knocked one tray of cookies to the floor, and then managed to crush the cookies that were carefully put into the air tight containers.
My brain raced - what could I do? Aha! I called the bakery when I woke up - because, well, that's one place that answers the phone at 6 am.
Do you sell plain sugar cookies - the kind I could use for a cookie decorating party?
Yes.
Can you make custom shapes?
That depends.
I have two cookie cutters, both copper.
Bring them in and we'll take a look. If they won't work you can go through our supply to see what will work.
Okay. I'm coming in.
(grab kid, school lunch, school backpack, office gear and head out. Arrive at bakery with promise of buttered seeded italian roll and a mini-bottle of milk for said kid, and coffee for me.)
May I help you?
Yes. I need to see if the baker can use these cutters to make me some cookies for a holiday party.
I hand over the cutters.
Greeted by silence.
When do you need these for?
Friday at this same time.
Pause.
These are for a holiday party?!
Yes.
The baker comes out.
We can make these, but I've never heard of Christmas Poodles or Winter Retrievers.
Now, I know it was weird. But still, I just needed to pay and get out of there. Because as I've said, the late bell always rings at the same time. So, today, my time was worth more than reshopping and baking, and I got coffee out of it.
My philosophy --- there can only be so many stars, trees, candy canes and bells to decorate. Why not a few poodles. At least people will have something to talk about...
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