Phew!

I've been totally worried sick the last month about work. I mean, not sleeping kind of worrying.

While I'm normally scheduling my travel months in advance I had nothing on the horizon past June. I figured that the great project that I've been on for the last two and a half years was coming to a close because after the end of June we have the new software rolled out to all of our companies.

With the job market the way it is, and seeing some downsizing going on I was really getting nervous. However, yesterday I had my annual evaluation and was assured not only of continued employment but some choice on what project I would like to be on.

The week before that, one of our companies offered me a lucrative position there too-but that would mean relocating. But at least it was nice to be asked and nice to know that I will still be employed!

So thankfully, until I hit the right combination of lottery numbers, which I don't even ever buy tickets anyway, I can at least continue earning a living which these days is a wonderful thought.

Joys of Working From Home

When I’m not on the road somewhere I am lucky enough to be able to work from home. There are great advantages to that.

I can wake up at 7:59, roll over and turn on the computer and I’m ready to go. The commute is great. I can stay in my jammies all day.

But there are negative thing too to balance it off: such as-easy accessibility to food. I’m working on that one though, trying to keep only healthy stuff around. Although right now I have a carton of Breyers Rocky Road Ice Cream in the freezer calling my name.

Then the other day I’m on a conference call in my living room with one of our companies in Iowa. The front door is open with a real nice breeze blowing in the screen door. Then my next door neighbor comes to the door ringing the doorbell incessantly and hollering through the screen. I gave him ‘The Look’ and tried waving him off. Fortunately he gave up but not until he put chaos into my call for a solid minute. Turns out he wanted to let us know where hanging flower baskets were on sale.

But I’ve gotta say that I’m really grateful to be able to work from home when I’m not travelling. And now I must go find the source of that sound that’s calling my name from the freezer.

A Carpe Diem Day

A Carpe Diem Day!

(Carpe Diem is Norwegian – it means ‘Eat Carp Every Day’ referring to their healthy lifestyle because they eat so much fish)

So we got out of the meetings earlier than expected today and my flight isn’t until tomorrow so ‘Team Jean’ headed for the hills. We drove to the Shenandoah Mountains and it was beautiful. There were a lot of Civil War sites and buildings that still exist which of course for me means a lot of stops.

Although as usual, I wish history let us daydream about more positive things that happened before us. Like instead of battlefields it’d seriously be nice to see a site where ‘A mom once baked an apple pie with her kids’ here.

After that we hit the Luray Caverns. This was not only cool caves but it also had an organ that the sound came off of the stalactites. Somehow it was hooked up to certain stalactites that gave off a certain sound when the key was pressed and the entire song was played by hitting them. It sounded very cool in this large underground chamber.

It was great taking a day for taking the opportunity when I’m on the road to jump on some local sights. Which basically means that I just traded three hours during the day for sightseeing with three hours during the evening for working but it was well worth it.

But hey, when it’s your turn to dance, ya gotta dance.

Easter

What a great Easter. I think the most meaningful thing is that I forced yet another cake upon people. Yep the tangent continues.

It’s still better than my jewelry making kick that I had about a year ago. I bought all these supplies to start creating my own jewelry but after a few pieces that looked like Day Care projects I gave the stuff to Pattye-she’s artistic.

Adam did a real nice representation for the Davis family. Richie didn’t have to work-yay! Nancy brought brownies and Richie brought cookies.

Laura and Robb were there and all pumped up about their new appliances. They donated their old appliances to the Salvation Army. (Not to be confused with the Salivation Army which collects used spit). They got LG appliances and LG makes some cool stuff.

Irm had ham, rolls, veggies, potatoes and other good stuff.

All in all a great time but no one remembered to bring games-Linda where were you on that one? Going to have to call and remind someone next time anyway. Although Eric did try starting a great ‘Guess What Number I’m Thinking Of’ contest before he had to go to work.

I think I have Janet ready to start going to my gym. I hope so. I signed her up on my way to Irms. I had to go work out before eating Easter dinner.

Pat Chuck and the kids came with their Easter baskets. Jenna got a magazine with….oh yes……Justin Bieber pictures. EEEEEEEEKKKKKK!!!!!

On my way out I played a little hopscotch with Muffin and Julia. Lotta fun!

I HATE Fancy Restaurants

In case you hadn’t figured it out by now, I HATE fancy restaurants. I was really tired and hungry today when I left the Jackson office so I went to a place near the hotel.

I knew I was screwed as soon as I walked in the place. There was a person whose job was just to place the cloth napkin on my lap and fill up my water over and over again.

The only thing I recognized (and that I would eat) on the menu was a Filet Mignon but even that came with something called ‘White Truffle Demi-Glace’. And alls I can say about that is WTF is that? So I told the waiter that I didn’t know if I liked that stuff so please put it on the side. Turns out it looked like gravy but….it was brown. And yet the description clearly said ‘White Truffle Demi-Glace’ so I know they were just messing with me.

And if only I had a mechanical engineer with me I could have figured out how to get salt out of the metal contraption on the table that looked like a men’s cologne bottle.

I’m here two more days so tomorrow I’ll be on the hunt for Waffle Houses and Micky D's.

The Spooky Parking Lot

So Jenna and I stopped by Kroger’s tonight on the way back from her doctor’s appointment. After working out really good three days in a row I needed a sugar binge to keep me in balance (thanks Pattye for that excuse). So we stopped and picked up some ice cream.

On a side note Ben and Jerry’s had ‘Steven Colbert’s Americone Dream’ so we had to get it. That and some Edy’s Rocky Road-and yes, Jenna and I sang the Weird Al classic ‘I Love Rocky Road’ at the checkout.

Anyway when we were done at Kroger’s we went out into the parking lot. It was dark but I hit the key chain and the headlights came on. We got right up to the car and Jen was about to open her door to get in and the car drove off. We totally freaked. It was a dark blue Impala, just like mine, which was parked one row over. We laughed ourselves sick on the way home.

Then we got home and overindulged in dairy products.

Drooling Jan-O

So after a few test runs Janet finally got her wisdom teeth pulled this week.
She and Eric pulled up at the dentist bright and early for the 8:00 appointment. Then they turned around and went home when they were told that it really wasn’t until 11:00. I guess Janet was just too excited about the upcoming extractions.

I had to go to my personal training session at the gym so afterwards I told Eric that I’d come take over for him sitting in the lobby at the dentists. When having a mouth job like that they require that you have an adult driver in the lobby at all times.

So I entered the waiting room where Eric sat with his cell phone and Steve Martin book (good choice by the way) and he left. About twelve seconds later they came out to announce that Janet was done. I escorted the nurse back and there was Janet. Swelled up, mouth full of gauze, vacuous eyes and blithering aimlessly. I listened to the instructions such as gargle with salt water, no straws etc. and then the wheeled Janet out in a wheel chair to my car.

The real highlight though was when I was going to help her into the house through the snow covered yard but she insisted she could walk….in fact, through her gauze filled mouth she insisted she could run and then she trotted off in extremely slow motion stumbling running steps.

But by yesterday she seemed just fine. Due, in no small part to her the servant we supplied her with from ‘Rent-A-Jen’.