Gotta love corporate America....

Did you make a New Year's Resolution? Are you sticking to it?

I made one. I'm still trying to stick to it. Which, by the way, I think is quite remarkable since most people have long forgotten theirs...

It's actually worked, that NYR. I have felt more at peace at work. My boss might interpret it as "not caring as much"... wait, no. Not that's not true. My boss doesn't notice "touchy feely" things like "feelings"... so I'm pretty sure he's still clueless. Which is good. Because it's not that I don't care at all. I simply don't let it get to me.

Some have a career. I have a job. It's not worth getting worked up over.

BUT...

it is a lot of fun when something goes down and I get a little animated!!! Like today. Typical corporate America stuff:

- lawyer who usually says we can't say anything tells us to say something that we originally thought was across the line. (which we quoted verbatim from lawyers email...) Hey, don't look a gift horse in the mouth, right?

- owner agrees with lawyer ("he who pays the bills has the last word"... or so we thought...)

- we send out to everybody and CC: a few others in our company as an FYI

- one of the "few others" takes issue with what the lawyer had us put in...

here's where it starts getting interesting...

- when confronted, lawyer says "That's not what I approved."

BULLSHIT!!

And lawyers wonder why they have such a shitty reputation...

Ah... just another day in corporate America... I mean, paradise...

Weather

Well - we finally have had some good weather here. As in the NINETIES!!!! We go from 30's to 90's. Explain that?!

We actually turned the A/C on one day this week.

But alas, it was back in the 40's and 50's and raining yesterday. But back in the 60's today.

Can you tell the weather is a bit schizophrenic here??

But if I had to pick my favorite experience at my own house (there aren't many. I'm not really a fan of this house...) I always picture me, on the deck sitting at the patio table, maybe the umbrella is up, depending on where the sun is. It's late in the afternoon or early evening. Relaxing music is playing from inside the house and I'm outside with a beer, a glass of wine or limoncello, reading a book, or just looking out on my backyard.

Well, I was able to do that Saturday. The only thing that intruded on my perfect experience was that the pool isn't open yet. So I was looking out on a big algae infested, shallow pool of water sitting in the pool cover.

Oh well. Things can't always be perfect!

Tragedy

I just found out that someone I knew through work was on the plane that crashed in Buffalo, NY back in February. Her name was Mary.

Mary was a sales rep for a company my company works with in our industry. We had met on several occasions at tradeshows, etc... I did not know her very well but we connected instantly. She was very fun and exciting to talk to - had previously served in the army and had been to Iraq. She was always smiling, full of energy and very dedicated to her job.

We last saw each other in December at a tradeshow. She had told me that next time she was in Syracuse we should get together and go eat BBQ at the famous Dinosaur BBQ. I was looking forward to it.

Update??

Yes, I have been playing the piano. No, I'm not much past "Mary had a little lamb" - but I'll get there eventually. I'm waiting for D to come down and say "enough of that song already! play something else!!" But he hasn't... yet

I need to sell my antique pump organ. I'm trying to figure out the best way to go about it. I plan on putting it on craigslist but I'm not thinking this is where I'll get the best buck. Ebay, probably - but I don't know how to list it with the caveat that the shipping isn't included and that the buyer will be responsible for it - since it will be a lot if they don't live close. Any suggestions?

I'm hittin' the road again soon:
Baltimore
Baltimore again
Orlando
Palm Springs
Savannah
the beach

All of that is for work - except the beach part. My cuz' is getting hitched on a great little island in NC. I'm trying to have a better attitude about work travel since I at least rack up my frequent flier and Marriott points.

I'm really trying to get in a better mood since we're actually starting to see the sun here - but it's not working. Perpetual bummed-ness does not agree with my complexion either. I swear - more breakouts now than when I was 16! What gives?? Speaking of 16...

I have a special note to Sweet T - you really need to join FB if only for the reason to see your husband's adorable prom pictures, circa mid-1990's. It's a hoot!! I had a hard time picking myself out of the group pictures! What memories! (not bad, not necessarily good...) Oh, and I didn't post them - someone else from MYF did.... so don't blame me!

It's Beau-T-ful!!

Here are pictures of my new baby - courtesy my husband.

It's in EXCELLENT condition. Couldn't ask for more from a 33 year old piano!

It occurs to me that I REALLY need to redo the dining/ living room. The white walls and 1980's wallpaper just won't do! Previously I don't go in these rooms often so I've been avoiding any "face lift". However I think it's going to get on my nerves now that I'll be in there playing. Expect me to at least paint the room in the near future. We'll see how long I can stand it the way it is...

A few things...

Sorry - been out of town for essentially two weeks. One week I was in Vegas (for work) and last week I was in Scottsdale, AZ (for work).... But as usual I can still get myself in trouble..

Per the usual - I was sick the entire time I was traveling. Not so much "sick" I guess, but coughing up a lung(s). I always get some kind of sick this time of year and happen to be traveling this time of year. (plane, desert, plane desert again...) Go figure.

Anyway I managed to lock myself out of my room while in Scottsdale. It was actually a bigger deal than it sounds. It took 25 minutes and FOUR different guys to try and open it. Only me...

And my obsession with Rob Pattinson/ Edward Cullen is not waning. Emily - you promised it would go away in a week or two!! It hasn't. I think my husband is starting to get annoyed. (I read all four Twilight books while I was in Vegas - a book a night...)

Completely unrelated to Twilight - I swear - I bought a piano yesterday. I know, I know - most of you (all of you??) reading this are probably wondering why in the hell I did that. I used to play. Like for 6 years or so. I've really been wanting a piano for a few years now - gotta think these things through... So yesterday David and I found a great deal on one. It was more than I wanted to spend but it was definitely a great deal on it. I'll never have to worry about "trading up" for a better one at any point. It's a beautiful black, 48" Yamaha U1. If you know anything about pianos then you'll know this is a pretty good one. I'm very excited. It gets delivered tomorrow!!!!