Holiday Weekend

I've had the last 3 day holiday that we get at MPOW until Memorial Day in May and I managed to get a cold and spend most of the time sick.  *sigh* 

I was at work on Friday and didn't feel great but certainly not sick - figured it was more sinus problem brought on by weather going from 30+ to 60 in a couple of days.  By Saturday I had a tickle cough but went to the grocery story (careful to cough into my elbow when I had to cough) but by Saturday night there was no doubt!

Coughing commenced and by Monday my ribs were sore!  Luckily I could sleep and I think that's why I'm feeling better so fast - still coughing (not nearly as much but still violently at times) but feeling much better.  I did stay home today but have a full day of meetings tomorrow.  The rooms are large enough for me to sit away from other team members!

Here's hoping the rest of the week goes better than the beginning!

Farewell 2009

It's the last week of the year - and a lot has happened - much of it fine - some of it just ok - and some of it just plain yucky.  But that which doesn't doesn't kill us makes us stronger or so Nietzsche says (and you know with a name like Nietzsche it must be so!!). 

Work, Life - everything is combined and yet separate - work causes some stress (talk about understatement!) and this year has been no exception.  There have been high points but, for the most part, things are status quo and that's not a particularly good thing.  Life - I miss my mother very much - and although I never wanted her to suffer, I certainly wasn't ready for her to go.  It's very strange and sad to see her name on the back of my father's tombstone in Arlington. Someday I might get used to it.  You never stop worrying about your children - even when they're really not children anymore - I'm certain that they'll be ok in the long run but there are always bumps along the way and, as their Mom, it hurts me whenever they are hurting.

So - I'm not sorry to see 2009 end - but I'm not certain about 2010.  For one thing, I'll be 60 in 2010 - now there's something I wasn't anticipating!! Funny how I could see myself as "grown up", married and even a mother when I was younger but I never saw myself as a "senior citizen".  I know that things are harder for me to do now - the body doesn't allow for bending, stretching and particularly stooping as easily as it used to - getting up from the floor is a REAL effort!  I get tired much faster than I ever used to and I find that naps are much nicer than I ever used to think they were and I look forward to them on a lazy Sunday. 

All in all, I have a very good life - I have a job I enjoy (most of the time!), family that I love and friends that are terrific and help me deal with all the chaos going on all around.  So I guess I'll bid 2009 a farewell (not a fond one that's for sure) and say hello to 2010 with anticipation - things are always changing and sometimes, just sometimes, that's a VERY good thing!

I hope everyone has a terrific New Year's Eve (mine will be a glass of wine and a good night's sleep!!) and a Joyful New Year. 

(And make a toast to "auld lang syne" while bidding 2009 goodbye)

Tweenmas . . . Between Christmas and New Year's

Christmas was a good day - both sons (and grand dog) came over - lots of food, good video, lots of laughing - it was fun!  Cats weren't as happy with the visit from the Granddog - one went upstairs under the bed not to be coaxed out until long after puppy went home!  The other one - Cleo - staked out her "hair couch" ottoman and dared the dog to come close - she did one time and got swatted for her efforts!

Back to work today - not a bad day - busy at times but not overwhelming.  A few calls asking if we were open - uh - YES! Next week should be pretty good too - several people on vacation but it's another short week (YAY holidays!) so we'll be fine. 

All in all a pretty good day - met a new baby in the family (Welcome IZZY - you're beautiful!! and you're the third December baby!!) and saw a good friend.  Now - I think a nice glass of wine is in order!!

Sigh . . .

A stressful day today - I'm finding it difficult to get into the holiday spirit - but feel compelled to buck up and get started with decorating and purchasing, etc.

I have Christmas cards (if I get them addressed and mailed!!) and I've gotten some gifts but there are more to get - DOUBLE SIGH!!  


Today is World Aids Day 2009.  I never thought I would

1. see the Berlin Wall come down
2. see the "end" of the Soviet Union
3. see an African-American elected President

and I've seen all those things - so maybe, just maybe I'll see the cure for aids in my lifetime.

Insanity helps!!

Rainy days and Mondays . . .

It was a rainy Labor Day today with NCIS and Criminal Minds marathons.  Both good things - although I've seen the NCIS episodes many times!

For some reason I couldn't sleep last night - it was about 3:30 when I got to sleep and then I woke up again- once about 6 (fed the cats) and later about 8:30.  Short night!  Small nap this afternoon but all that did was make me groggy - SIGH.  Hopefully tonight will be better - I'm really looking forward to a good night's sleep!

I'm looking forward to a few days off this week - not as long as I'd hoped - but better than nothing.  I hope.

3 Days Off

I hope everyone has a wonderful 4th of July celebration - I'm going to totally enjoy the fact that we're getting Friday off as well as Saturday!!

ENJOY and be safe!

Working after the Holiday . . .

Actually for being closed almost 3 days (we closed at noon on the 24th and reopened this morning) we weren't faced with as large a bookdrop backlog as expected.  Our fantastic ILS people changed the due dates so that things that would normally have been due on the 24th or today are due on the 29th and 30th - that might have been part of the reason for the light load - but whatever the reason we had everything checked in and sorted for deliveries in a little over 1/2 hour!  Amazing!

We were busy with people who were suffering computer withdrawal after 3 days - and some people who were just having a really bad day themselves and trying to foist their ill-will off on us - to no avail!  Two hours of IM reference netted NO questions - but it did allow me to update my calendar for January and get the schedule set up for the new year.

It's going to be different next year (next week) since my boss of 8 years is retiring and a new one will be starting in March.  Goodbyes are never easy especially after 8 years and a new building - but I know we'll be ok - and we wish only the very best for our retiring boss - and hope that she enjoys every minute of her well-deserved retirement!

Post Thanksgiving.

I have a great deal to be thankful for this (and most) years and I try to remember that every day not just on Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving was a nice day - we had a good dinner with good company - all the usual fixings and I easily resisted Black Friday.  There is NOTHING that I want badly enough to get up at 4 a.m. to buy.  I don't like crowds and I don't like mornings well enough I guess!

Today was busy at work and everyone pitched in to get things done - lots in the bookdrops (drive up and walk up) and lots of deliveries too.  We didn't get all the back issues of the newspapers out but we did manage today's papers! 

Now I can look forward to the next two days off - I get Monday because Friday was my normal day off!  It really doesn't matter why, I'm just glad there are two more days!  Lots to do in December - and even more in January but that's what makes life interesting!