As my daughter told my husband on Tuesday night, "I boated" (voted). She proudly wore the sticker she earned. Sure she didn't actually select a candidate, but she waited with me and her sister. That was a bigger commitment to her than choosing the next president of the United States.
Of course, I'm tragically late in talking about this topic, so no need to discuss who I voted for and who won. I will say I didn't have my mind made up until I got into line, so I wasn't in love with anyone. Yet I will say that several people I know have been laid off or lost their jobs completely since Tuesday, so that's a little scary. I pray it's not an indication of what the economy will be like during the next four years.
So anyway, while we waited for roughly 90 minutes, I listened. Everyone around me was making friends with each other. I was on my own as, I guess, I had my children to talk too. Here are snippets of what I heard. Gotta love idle chatter.
"I wasn't sad when my parents sold the house I grew up in. Most of my memories were of getting yelled and grounded there."
"What is dog rescue? I mean, were the animals actually in a threatening situation?"
"Are golden retrievers good with kids?"
"I remember walking through snow that was waist high to school" (uphill both ways, I'm thinking)
"Do you teach them at home?" (said to me)
(said to my girls) "Girls, in my Happy Meal, I have a boy toy. Would you like it?"
(oldest daughter) shakes head
(me) "Mommy would"
"Man the line is long."
"How much longer will we have to wait?"
"We've been waiting for 50 minutes."
"Waiting sucks."
"Waiting, waiting, waiting..."
"Have you ever noticed that Wal-Mart's loud speaker is really loud?"
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Feelings of dread
To say I've been busy is a horrid understatement. Since my last entry, I've spent a week in the Bay Area for work, had my older daughter lose a first tooth, celebrated my 34th birthday, celebrated my younger daughter's 4th birthday (several times, actually), went to two fall festivals, attended a kindergarten field trip to a farm and threw a party. You'd think I'd be spending this weekend in a pretty blissful state of quiet. Nope.
I'm held by a few confidentiality agreements, but without saying too much, it feels like so many of my friends and family are losing their jobs. It's hard to not worry about when our family's "other shoe" will drop. We're doing okay financially. Our Christmas should be good. We're heading down to Disney World. I'm not complaining in the slightest. Though I suddenly feel strongly that I should be dedicating a set amount of time each week to work on the book I've started. There may come a day when I'm desperate for that income.
While one specific friend is trying to keep her spirits high, when I saw her today and she told me her husband was laid off, I could see anxiety and tears just below the surface. I really want to take her out to dinner just to talk, but I wouldn't want to ask her to spend needless money and I don't want it to seem like I'm pitying her by paying. Maybe it should be a cup of coffee, so there's no big expense. I don't know...but I want to hug her. Her kiddos were with her, so I knew she had to put on a strong face. I feel so bad. :-(
While my husband and I have our jobs, I just feel so dreadful. I'm nervous. I'm anxious. I have huge bags of Halloween candy that comfort me in the way of killing me.
Why do these things always happen right around the holidays? I just feel so bad.
I'm held by a few confidentiality agreements, but without saying too much, it feels like so many of my friends and family are losing their jobs. It's hard to not worry about when our family's "other shoe" will drop. We're doing okay financially. Our Christmas should be good. We're heading down to Disney World. I'm not complaining in the slightest. Though I suddenly feel strongly that I should be dedicating a set amount of time each week to work on the book I've started. There may come a day when I'm desperate for that income.
While one specific friend is trying to keep her spirits high, when I saw her today and she told me her husband was laid off, I could see anxiety and tears just below the surface. I really want to take her out to dinner just to talk, but I wouldn't want to ask her to spend needless money and I don't want it to seem like I'm pitying her by paying. Maybe it should be a cup of coffee, so there's no big expense. I don't know...but I want to hug her. Her kiddos were with her, so I knew she had to put on a strong face. I feel so bad. :-(
While my husband and I have our jobs, I just feel so dreadful. I'm nervous. I'm anxious. I have huge bags of Halloween candy that comfort me in the way of killing me.
Why do these things always happen right around the holidays? I just feel so bad.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Anyone else wanting to have a baby for the love of German engineering?
I love Brooke Shields. I'm not a lesbian or anything, but I love her. She's gorgeous. She's smart. And adding to her resume...she's got dry humor under her belt! These commercials for the Volkswagon Routan are cracking me up! And...since I believe we'll be in the market for a new family car in the next year, I'll take it one step forward and give Volkswagon a honest-to-goodness Momorable Mention! I'll always be happy to give a public thumbs up to clever advertising. Brooke is convincing in this role and as luck has it, a quick tour around the Volkswagon website has convinced me she's actually pushing a pretty cool product!
The difference between a woman on a business trip and a man...
When my husband goes on a business trip he packs, kisses us goodbye, leaves, does his business, eats good food, drinks good beer, sleeps well and returns home, ready for some R&R.
When I go on a business trip I spend weeks prior detailing the ins and outs of our family's days on lists, spreadsheets, narratives and post-its for my husband and mother to use as a guide while I'm gone. I pack for me. I make sure everyone else in the house has appropriate clothing clean for the week I'm away. I clean the house so that the crap these people need on a daily basis is easy to fine. I prepare meal plans. I grocery shop. I barely sleep the night before. Cry as I kiss everyone goodbye and get on the plane absolutely exhausted. When I return, I'm refreshed, having thought my way through everything in the world during the past week uninterrupted. I've gained perspective on how much I love my family and how being so busy all of the time keeps me from just enjoying that. I read two books, both of which (unplanned) dealt with the death of parents and a partner so I'm in a sudden state of true appreciation. I've reaffirmed my relationship with God as we did a lot of talking through a "maintenance" issue on one of the flights that ended with the nervously chatting pilot slamming us into the ground.
When I walk in the door, I'm energized despite being tired. I want to talk about my trip. I wake up the kids so I can kiss them and tell them I'm home. I roll around on the floor for five full minutes when my dog, bless her elderly heart. I kiss my husband confidently. "I missed you so much!" Within minutes, he's asleep on the couch.
Anyone speak martian? Because after this yearly trip, I truly feel like I'm from Venus.
I missed my family despite flirting with the doorman at the hotel. I ate at a restuarant that I know hubby loves and toasted him over jack and gingers. I wandered the levels at Barney's gasping at the price tags on the $2500 Versace "little black dress" and $1200 Manolo Blahnik rhinestone strappy sandal. I saw an amazing show called Beach Blanket Babylon, which was a Plan B after the night tour at Alcatraz was booked. Hubby would have HATED it. I, on the other hand, LOVED it!
I worked hard, thoroughly soaking in the office environment I never get to experience anymore. I argued with a taxi driver who yelled at my friend. I thanked God as He provided a shoe repair shop literally minutes after I broke the strap on my new leather laptop travel bag. I calmed my friend as she grew really nervous about an odd character disrespecting our personal space while waiting for a train. I felt horribly guilty about missing the opportunity to chat with my girlies due to the stupid timezone difference. I left really hoping I'll get to take this trip next year.
When I ask hubby what he does on his trips, he says "nothing". *insert eye roll here*
When I go on a business trip I spend weeks prior detailing the ins and outs of our family's days on lists, spreadsheets, narratives and post-its for my husband and mother to use as a guide while I'm gone. I pack for me. I make sure everyone else in the house has appropriate clothing clean for the week I'm away. I clean the house so that the crap these people need on a daily basis is easy to fine. I prepare meal plans. I grocery shop. I barely sleep the night before. Cry as I kiss everyone goodbye and get on the plane absolutely exhausted. When I return, I'm refreshed, having thought my way through everything in the world during the past week uninterrupted. I've gained perspective on how much I love my family and how being so busy all of the time keeps me from just enjoying that. I read two books, both of which (unplanned) dealt with the death of parents and a partner so I'm in a sudden state of true appreciation. I've reaffirmed my relationship with God as we did a lot of talking through a "maintenance" issue on one of the flights that ended with the nervously chatting pilot slamming us into the ground.
When I walk in the door, I'm energized despite being tired. I want to talk about my trip. I wake up the kids so I can kiss them and tell them I'm home. I roll around on the floor for five full minutes when my dog, bless her elderly heart. I kiss my husband confidently. "I missed you so much!" Within minutes, he's asleep on the couch.
Anyone speak martian? Because after this yearly trip, I truly feel like I'm from Venus.
I missed my family despite flirting with the doorman at the hotel. I ate at a restuarant that I know hubby loves and toasted him over jack and gingers. I wandered the levels at Barney's gasping at the price tags on the $2500 Versace "little black dress" and $1200 Manolo Blahnik rhinestone strappy sandal. I saw an amazing show called Beach Blanket Babylon, which was a Plan B after the night tour at Alcatraz was booked. Hubby would have HATED it. I, on the other hand, LOVED it!
I worked hard, thoroughly soaking in the office environment I never get to experience anymore. I argued with a taxi driver who yelled at my friend. I thanked God as He provided a shoe repair shop literally minutes after I broke the strap on my new leather laptop travel bag. I calmed my friend as she grew really nervous about an odd character disrespecting our personal space while waiting for a train. I felt horribly guilty about missing the opportunity to chat with my girlies due to the stupid timezone difference. I left really hoping I'll get to take this trip next year.
When I ask hubby what he does on his trips, he says "nothing". *insert eye roll here*
Thursday, October 23, 2008
What *is* the deal with airlines these days?
I've had to wackiest experiences with airlines lately.
My parents booked a flight from Wilmington to Orlando on Allegiant Air a few months ago. Their ticket price seemed pretty reasonable until we went through the checkout process. There is a fee per bag starting at the first. I believe it was $15 for the bag if you purchased the right to check it at the time you bought your ticket and $25 if you do it at the airport. Then when you attempted to choose a seat, each of them had an additional price. Those closer to the front were more. Seriously, if your ticket price isn't paying for your seat, what exactly does it pay for. Sure there's the gas, but without a seat to sit in, what good is the gas?
So this week I've been on the west coast for work. On my first flight, the crew kept telling us how limited overhead cabin space was. Folks were getting a little nutty about shoving crap in. Ladies and gentleman, if it doesn't fit, pushing it in harder won't change that. What humored me, though, is that the two first class compartments I could see were completely empty. I advised the guy sitting next to me to just go ahead and put it in there. He sounded confident when he said, "they usually get a little testy about that." And indeed they did. That was just before they pulled the little mesh curtain. *insert eye roll here*
On my second flight I was placed in a row of seats that were obviously not part of the original design. Imagine that there is about 10 inches of clearance between the seat's cushion edge to the back of the seat in front of it. That's enough room to slide in, perhaps move a bit to place your belongings below your seat and that's about it. In my seat, there was about 6 inches and let me tell ya folks...there barely enough room for sliding and certainly not enough room for moving at all. Niiiiiiiiiiiiice.
I was supposed to sit with a friend who was pregnant. Oddly she and I ended up separated and I'm envious! She was on the end, two rows from the bathroom. I was forced to become very close with my seatmates for five and a half hours as I was by the window. Can anyone say blot clot in the leg?
I suppose the bottom line is that I arrived safely and I shouldn't really complain. But it's hard when now I'm charged $2 for a beverage service, $7 for a boxed (and not-so-great) lunch, and no pretzels or peanuts whatsoever. Again people...five and a half hours!
I was charged $15 for a checked back and I'm sure to be charged for it again on the way home. I guess to make air travel economical in the future I will need to stand without taking anything along with me. That should be a fun trip!
*sigh*
My parents booked a flight from Wilmington to Orlando on Allegiant Air a few months ago. Their ticket price seemed pretty reasonable until we went through the checkout process. There is a fee per bag starting at the first. I believe it was $15 for the bag if you purchased the right to check it at the time you bought your ticket and $25 if you do it at the airport. Then when you attempted to choose a seat, each of them had an additional price. Those closer to the front were more. Seriously, if your ticket price isn't paying for your seat, what exactly does it pay for. Sure there's the gas, but without a seat to sit in, what good is the gas?
So this week I've been on the west coast for work. On my first flight, the crew kept telling us how limited overhead cabin space was. Folks were getting a little nutty about shoving crap in. Ladies and gentleman, if it doesn't fit, pushing it in harder won't change that. What humored me, though, is that the two first class compartments I could see were completely empty. I advised the guy sitting next to me to just go ahead and put it in there. He sounded confident when he said, "they usually get a little testy about that." And indeed they did. That was just before they pulled the little mesh curtain. *insert eye roll here*
On my second flight I was placed in a row of seats that were obviously not part of the original design. Imagine that there is about 10 inches of clearance between the seat's cushion edge to the back of the seat in front of it. That's enough room to slide in, perhaps move a bit to place your belongings below your seat and that's about it. In my seat, there was about 6 inches and let me tell ya folks...there barely enough room for sliding and certainly not enough room for moving at all. Niiiiiiiiiiiiice.
I was supposed to sit with a friend who was pregnant. Oddly she and I ended up separated and I'm envious! She was on the end, two rows from the bathroom. I was forced to become very close with my seatmates for five and a half hours as I was by the window. Can anyone say blot clot in the leg?
I suppose the bottom line is that I arrived safely and I shouldn't really complain. But it's hard when now I'm charged $2 for a beverage service, $7 for a boxed (and not-so-great) lunch, and no pretzels or peanuts whatsoever. Again people...five and a half hours!
I was charged $15 for a checked back and I'm sure to be charged for it again on the way home. I guess to make air travel economical in the future I will need to stand without taking anything along with me. That should be a fun trip!
*sigh*
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