This is how life gets away from you...one day you're folding the towels, watching the news and the next thing you know the dog has pooped in the dining room (and for some reason no one in the house but you knows how to clean it up), the soccer uniform needed for the game in 30 minutes is still in the washer, the doorbell is ringing and the daughter is crying that she's sick and has a fever.......
Sound familiar? This was my weekend.
I can say that having a sick child coupled with the ability to work from home to take care of her provides me with the perk of extra time to clean-up the house and generally get caught up.
HOWEVER, when there are 30+ episodes of Criminal Minds taped to watch, and 4 episodes of American Idol Hollywood week to watch my best intentions are instantly derailed.
As of this morning - the laundry is upstairs - though still in baskets (that's an improvement from it being all over the couch downstairs); the downstairs is vacuumed; the new comforters are washed, dried and on the kids beds; the dishes are clean in the dishwasher (let's not talk about the dirty ones stacked window ledge high in the sink).
Remember to stop and smell the flowers....because sometimes they stink and you wouldn't want to miss it!!!
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Friday, February 8, 2013
It was a tremendously long day yesterday, was away from home for over 12 hours!
Finally trying to get to the kids ready and in bed, the dog went out to go potty, as usual he started barking. Our dear son looked out and screamed "there's a possum on the fence". Of course we thought he was joking, as he tends to do a lot of these days. Not this time, a possum truly was walking along the top of our backyard fence behind the bamboo, I think the dog wanted to play with it.
We corralled the dog and got the camera, in 12 years of living in our neighborhood we've never seen a possum, let alone this close up. He became cornered behind the arbor vitae at the corner of the fence and just sat there for a good hour. What poor ugly creatures with red glowing eyes and freakishly long tails that inspire the heebie jeebies.
Finally trying to get to the kids ready and in bed, the dog went out to go potty, as usual he started barking. Our dear son looked out and screamed "there's a possum on the fence". Of course we thought he was joking, as he tends to do a lot of these days. Not this time, a possum truly was walking along the top of our backyard fence behind the bamboo, I think the dog wanted to play with it.
We corralled the dog and got the camera, in 12 years of living in our neighborhood we've never seen a possum, let alone this close up. He became cornered behind the arbor vitae at the corner of the fence and just sat there for a good hour. What poor ugly creatures with red glowing eyes and freakishly long tails that inspire the heebie jeebies.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Stay where you are needed....a story
A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside. "Your son is
here," she said to the old man. She had to repeat the words several
times before the patient's eyes opened.
Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.
The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed. All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile. He refused.
Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients. Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.
Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited.
Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her, "Who was that man?" he asked.
The nurse was startled, "He was your father," she answered.
"No, he wasn't," the Marine replied. "I never saw him before in my life."
"Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?"
"I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn't here. When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed. I came here tonight to find a Mr. William Grey. His Son was killed in Iraq today, and I was sent to inform him. What was this Gentleman's Name? "
The nurse with tears in her eyes answered, "Mr. William Grey........."
The next time someone needs you ... just be there. Stay.
~Story from our friends at Operation Ooh-Rah
Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.
The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed. All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile. He refused.
Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients. Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.
Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited.
Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her, "Who was that man?" he asked.
The nurse was startled, "He was your father," she answered.
"No, he wasn't," the Marine replied. "I never saw him before in my life."
"Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?"
"I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn't here. When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed. I came here tonight to find a Mr. William Grey. His Son was killed in Iraq today, and I was sent to inform him. What was this Gentleman's Name? "
The nurse with tears in her eyes answered, "Mr. William Grey........."
The next time someone needs you ... just be there. Stay.
~Story from our friends at Operation Ooh-Rah
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Complacency
I've become complacent. I've become lazy. I've become boring.
I've been at the same job for 15 years, and when someone says "wow, that's a long time" - they truly have no idea. My actual job has changed only once in the last 15 years, from an Administrative Assistant to an Executive Assistant. While not many people will know what that means - it's easier but harder, rather than supporting a lot (75+) people, I only support one. But at the same time it's a higher level of support as well as having to run interference with our Corporate office and at times play politics.
So I did a little job searching today. Not only am I extremely well paid, I decided I really do have a great job. Flexibility to work from home if my children are sick, or if I am. The ability to meet the appliance repairman, or cable guy during the day if I need to (NOT the Jim Carey type of Cable Guy either!).
Then I realized we all become complacent in our lives, our jobs, our relationships. I think it's an inevitable evolution, but I also think once we become aware of it there are things we can do to reverse direction.
Stop and smell the roses, laugh more, complain less.....try it, I know I'm going to!
I've been at the same job for 15 years, and when someone says "wow, that's a long time" - they truly have no idea. My actual job has changed only once in the last 15 years, from an Administrative Assistant to an Executive Assistant. While not many people will know what that means - it's easier but harder, rather than supporting a lot (75+) people, I only support one. But at the same time it's a higher level of support as well as having to run interference with our Corporate office and at times play politics.
So I did a little job searching today. Not only am I extremely well paid, I decided I really do have a great job. Flexibility to work from home if my children are sick, or if I am. The ability to meet the appliance repairman, or cable guy during the day if I need to (NOT the Jim Carey type of Cable Guy either!).
Then I realized we all become complacent in our lives, our jobs, our relationships. I think it's an inevitable evolution, but I also think once we become aware of it there are things we can do to reverse direction.
Stop and smell the roses, laugh more, complain less.....try it, I know I'm going to!
CHL...what's that?
Today I went in for my concealed handgun license appointment at the County Sheriff's office.
Yes I am getting a license to conceal/carry a handgun. I do not plan on being a gun toting Annie Oakley, but if I want to carry my handgun (my Smith & Wesson 38) then legally I can.
I will not apologize for this decision nor do feel I have to explain or justify this decision to anyone.
What people need to remember is:
This little gem can be applied to a lot of areas of our lives and if we all were to just take a moment to think before we act or say something - the world would be a lot nicer place to live.
So back to my story - I went to the Sheriff's office expecting to have to go through security - like when I had jury duty at the Courthouse - or even the airport. NOPE! nothing - I walked right by the "information officer" and into the building. I need to point out here that it is a beautiful new building with marble stairs and a nice tribute to fallen officers. I went straight to the cashier's office, paid my fee ($65 for those who are curious) and headed upstairs to the Concealed Handgun License office. Once there they pulled my application, confirmed my passport, ID and certificate of CHL class (which is a whole other story), I was photographed, fingerprinted electronically (no more messy ink pad) and sent on my way. My license should arrive in the mail in 3-4 weeks, as long as I pass the background check, which is a bit strange - what if I don't pass? Will they tell me why?
Now the "whole other story". We (the hubby and I) attended the required CHL class offered at a gun show a few Saturday's ago. The class was totally packed (this was after the NewTown school shooting) with about 50 people. Honestly it was not what I expected at all. We paid $35/pp to take the class and were supposed to learn:
In fact there were a few people (based on the questions they asked) that DEFINITELY do not need a concealed handgun permit! They don't even need to own a gun!
Be safe out there my friends~~
Yes I am getting a license to conceal/carry a handgun. I do not plan on being a gun toting Annie Oakley, but if I want to carry my handgun (my Smith & Wesson 38) then legally I can.
I will not apologize for this decision nor do feel I have to explain or justify this decision to anyone.
What people need to remember is:
~ just because you can doesn't mean you should~
This little gem can be applied to a lot of areas of our lives and if we all were to just take a moment to think before we act or say something - the world would be a lot nicer place to live.
So back to my story - I went to the Sheriff's office expecting to have to go through security - like when I had jury duty at the Courthouse - or even the airport. NOPE! nothing - I walked right by the "information officer" and into the building. I need to point out here that it is a beautiful new building with marble stairs and a nice tribute to fallen officers. I went straight to the cashier's office, paid my fee ($65 for those who are curious) and headed upstairs to the Concealed Handgun License office. Once there they pulled my application, confirmed my passport, ID and certificate of CHL class (which is a whole other story), I was photographed, fingerprinted electronically (no more messy ink pad) and sent on my way. My license should arrive in the mail in 3-4 weeks, as long as I pass the background check, which is a bit strange - what if I don't pass? Will they tell me why?
Now the "whole other story". We (the hubby and I) attended the required CHL class offered at a gun show a few Saturday's ago. The class was totally packed (this was after the NewTown school shooting) with about 50 people. Honestly it was not what I expected at all. We paid $35/pp to take the class and were supposed to learn:
- Basic Handgun Safety
- Oregon laws on weapons and deadly force
- Self-defense principles and defensive mindset
- Concealed carry equipment and techniques
In fact there were a few people (based on the questions they asked) that DEFINITELY do not need a concealed handgun permit! They don't even need to own a gun!
Be safe out there my friends~~
Monday, February 4, 2013
Hypocrite
It will never cease to amaze me how becoming a mother can change even the most outspoken person into a hypocrite.
It's very difficult to remain positive and supportive when those who wholly criticized my work schedules after both my babies were born are now taking even more liberties with their work schedule and expecting positive support from me.
I really do want to be as supportive of them as I wished they had been for me....but it sure is difficult.
It's very difficult to remain positive and supportive when those who wholly criticized my work schedules after both my babies were born are now taking even more liberties with their work schedule and expecting positive support from me.
I really do want to be as supportive of them as I wished they had been for me....but it sure is difficult.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Monday...again
I can't believe tomorrow is Monday again already. Another day to make a positive difference in my life and others.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)