Up For Grabs

Free to a good home: Any or all of my collection (July 1998 to July 2001) of National Geographic Magazines. There simply isn't room on the bookshelf anymore. There isn't really room for the box in the corner that they've been stored in for almost two and half years now. I just can't bring myself to throw them away (ok - recycle, really). And, I don't have any kiddos that might need to use them for a school project or something. And, I don't have any desire to be crafty with them myself. [My mother decided she was going to make gift bags from magazine pages a few years ago - - quite a woman!] Anyone interested?

My Keep

While I'm enjoying the new/old job so far, I don't feel like I'm earning my keep just yet. I'm sure that will come soon. It has been wonderful to be back among a group of people that know and like and respect me. It is an odd group, that's for sure. There is at times this false level of closeness... but at the end of the day, I know that these women really care about eachother. That makes such a difference.

I need to start making myself get up earlier and get to work earlier. The commute is not much different. But b/c of the location, many people choose to go in early and leave early. We live close enough that I don't have to work an altered schedule to avoid traffic. Problem is that when I show up at 8:30, there are some that have been there for two hours already. I'm not about to start getting there at 6:30. Maybe I can at least commit to getting out of bed by 6:30.

Fun news on the blogging front: I spilled the beans about my blog to one (more) of my real-life pals. It went well. She had been keeping a blog, not enabled with comments and not frequently updated. On Wednesday, she added comments and changed templates. Many of our other real-life friends know of her blog, but she understands my hesitancy in coming out of the blog-closet. I don't know quite why I am nervous about it. Anyone out there reading this that has gone through the same decision process? If so, did you ultimately decide to share or not? What were your reasons?

I finished reading a book (Colony Girl) today. I have a whole shelf on the bookshelf in our bedroom of the books I am going to read. It has gotten to the point where I am turning offers of loaned books down. I have great difficulty not finishing books I've started. What are you reading? Would you suggest it to others? How do you decide what to read next?

I'm off to put away the 7 pairs of shoes that were scattered throughout the house earlier today. They had to be picked up so the HUSband could vacuum. But, now they're all on my side of the bed.

Happy Saturday Night!

First Day (and catching up)

Yes, I'm already awake. And I have been for about an hour. I got up about 1/2 hour ago. I suppose I'm anxious about starting the new/old job again. I guarantee that there are going to be some odd moments. Maybe some of them will be worth sharing. I know you're all (ha - like there are enough people reading to say "all") sitting on the edge of your seat waiting.

I really enjoyed last week. I think it was good to take some time off to clear my head. I didn't get everything on the to-do list done, but that's fine. It felt good to check so many things off. I was caught up on the ironing, but then I did more laundry yesterday. There are fewer than ten pieces that I vow to iron tonight. Then I might make it to some closet organizing.

We went to the outlet malls in San Marcos on Saturday. I'm most excited about my shoe purchases. I had intended to get some clothes for work, but was irritated that a particular size didn't fit quite right and didn't buy any new pants. I'm hoping to start going for walks / going to yoga / doing some other sort of cardio again soon. It's gotten to the point where I feel big... not a fun feeling.

Oh - and I seem to have abandoned the September Challenge. I didn't have too much trouble finding an example of kindness each day. I had trouble remembering it to post it. And, I felt like that was all I was posting.

Gonna go try to take a 20 min power nap. Happy Monday!

Mid-Day Movie

I went to see Garden State today. Liked it a lot. Very thought provoking. May have to go see it again. As I was watching it, I was wondering if it will become some sort of cult classic. I think it has that sort of staying power. May have to get the soundtrack as well.

I also watched The Good Girl this morning. Mixed emotions on that one. The story didn't go as I expected it to. Well, not quite. I can almost understand the urge to do something different to break a tedious pattern. And I know that people make similar decisions. But... I just keep saying to myself, "I wouldn't do that." And, that's a good thing. Doesn't necessarily mean I'm a good girl either, but I know I wouldn't do that.

Proof

I got married on November 2, 2002. It has been almost two years, and I thought that I was done with most of this name change crap. After today, I really hope that I am done.

When I renewed my car's registration in 2003, I went with new SS Card and Driver's License in hand and asked to have the name changed on the registration. I learned at that time that I'd have to amend it with the lien holder and then bring proof of that before being able to change it on my registration. I was assured that there was not a problem to have a car registered to a no-longer-valid name. So, knowing that I would pay my car off in 2004 around the same time that the registration would be up for renewal again, I decided to wait to get the original title from the lien holder and mess with it later.

So today (btwn haircut and lunch), I go to the Travis County Tax Assessors office. I have the title, the bill for registration renewal (only 2.5 months overdue), proof of insurance and my DL and SS Card. I wait my five minutes or so. I follow a woman back to her desk and tell her that I want to change the name on the title. I show her my DL and she says she needs the marriage certificate. WTF? I had to show that to get the DL and the SS Card. Those documents should be proof that my name has changed. I even kept my former last name as my current middle name. It's pretty easy to tell that I am who I was. Nope, she needs to know why my name has changed. I don't get it, but she has the power.

I drive home, find the marriage certificate and return... now with only 45 min to spare before I need to meet my friends for lunch. I got it all updated correctly, and even smiled and feigned laughter when the clerk jokingly said "You're lucky you didn't get a ticket with it being expired for so long."

What a mess....

Oh - and why is it that I make my check out to Nelda Wells Spears (the name of the Tax Assessor)? Shouldn't I make it out to the office or something. She could really do some damage if she got ahold of all those checks. I'm sure there are all sorts of checks and balances in place, but it still makes me curious.

To-Do List

in no particular order
for the whole week....

• wash make-up brushes
• list some stuff on eBay
• finish books in progress (colony girl and bridegroom)
• ironing
• plan 1st week of clothes for new (old) job
• hem the HUSband's pants
• dust bedroom
• work on Granny's scrapbook
• get oil changed
• change name on car title
• renew car registration
• get car inspected
• haircut on wednesday
• balance checkbook
• pay bills
• order wedding gift for B&L
• order wedding gift for M&K
• lunch with EM on wednesday
• lunch with RM on friday
• see at least one more mid-day movie
• return movies to Blockbuster before noon on thursday
• order birthday gift for ELF
• clean master bath
• break down and take cardboard boxes to recyling place

Week of Leisure

It's official - I'm between jobs. The best part is that there really is a second job lined up. That phrase is often used for someone out of work and looking for the next job.

Friday was a much more difficult day than I'd expected. I may or may not write more about all that later.

I'm still not sleeping all that well. I think I need to start exercising or doing yoga again. That might help. Just need to do something to truly get my brain into relaxation mode.

I have a huge list of things to accomplish this week that I'll post later. It will feel good to be able to update that list as I complete my chores.

Sorry this particular post is so choppy - - just getting some of my thoughts down - - will write more (and with more detail) later today.

September Kindness 9/8

Unless the insurance plans have changed drastically in the last year and a half at Old Company, my birth control will no longer be covered by my insurance. So, I went in today to get my Depo shot one week early, but before my benes end. I told the nurse that I'd likely be changing insurance soon and she told me that they offer a 20% discount on services not covered by insurance. So, my $95 shot will only be $76, which is essentially the same price as three months worth of pills. How cool (and kind) is that?

Zzzzzz

Not sure why I can't sleep. I think I'm getting nervous about wrapping things up at Current Company.... I only have three days left. I've actually been sorting through resumes for the last hour or so. I think I'm going cross-eyed. Gonna try to go back to sleep for a bit.

September Kindness 9/7

Tuesday's Kind Moment is brought to you by MS, a manager in the manufacturing group at Current Company. He stopped by to see when I might be available for lunch and then scheduled a thank you/farewell lunch with the Mfg mgmt team (and my manager too) for Friday. The Mfg group is the one I really do enjoy working with. It will be hard to leave.

September Kindness 9/5 and 9/6

Saturday 9/5: I know it is part of a realtor's job to be kind and likeable, but the realtor that showed us around Kerrville on Saturday was amazingly kind. My MIL didn't want to limit herself by creating a plan for the day, so she didn't even call him until 3:50 on Saturday afternoon. Turns out that he was already booked for Sunday, but agreed to come out and meet us. He spent two hours driving us around a community and pointing out available lots and the pros and cons of each. What a kind man!

Sunday 9/6: My HUSband is rather kind to me to put up with all the crap involved with changing jobs. He's been very supportive. When we got back today and were trying to figure out what to do for the rest of the day/evening, he said that he figured I'd have some work I needed to do. I've been logged on from home for the last couple of hours... have deleted over 700 emails so far and will likely move on to cleaning out folders on the network and copying things I think I may need in the future to the home computer. I can't believe I only have four more days at Current Company!

September Kindness 9/4

We spent the bulk of the day tooling around outlying areas looking for a place for the in-laws to buy for a retirement place. Yes, that means we were with the in-laws. The kind moment was probably when the woman at the Lake Buchanan Info Center pointed out all kinds of free crap. Brochures, Calendars, Real Estate info... we've got it all! Hooray. She was really nice and seemed genuinely interested in encouraging people to spend more time in (if not move to) the area.

We're headed into the Hill Country tomorrow night and will likely stay the night in Kerrville. I'm loving this long weekend.

Yesterday's Challenge

Yesterday was a great day. Unfortunately, nothing comes to mind as a random act of kindness. This is going to be a tough challenge!

Some good things about yesterday:

• I went to a new dentist that I LIKE! And, I'm going to do the teeth whitening thing. They took the impressions for the molds.
• A friend called just as I was leaving the dentist's office and we were able to meet up for lunch.
• Dinner and drinks on the patio with another friend last night was spectacular!

September Kindness

Today's kindness was greatly appreciated. The receptionist took today off so she could have an even longer weekend. So, I asked a co-worker to meet the temp at 8 to show her how to log on and access the phone book.

Said co-worker is one that also reports to me, but I try very hard not to call "my assistant," we'll call her P. So, P hasn't been feeling well this week and went home early yesterday and apparently didn't remember that the receptionist was going to be out.

I actually didn't remember myself, but I sorta thought I'd already done my part since I arranged for the temp to be there and asked P to meet her. HUSband is out of town, I had the house all to myself this morning and rather enjoyed getting ready on my own time and not worrying that he wouldn't have any hot water left or that I might be making too much noise while finishing up some dishes. I even stopped for a Soy Chai Latte (I've finally gotten the word order right) at Starbucks on my way in.

Anyway - - as I come strollin' in at 8:45, I realize that someone else is sitting there smiling, ready to greet me. HOLY SHIT - I think to myself. Then the goofy security guard sticks his head around the column that separates his work area from the receptionist area and tells me good morning. He had helped get the temp set up. Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Goofy Security Guard!

Challenges

So, this has all started from Dana.... August was a happy moment each day and September will be an observation of an act of kindness each day.

August 31st: A happy moment yesterday was a co-worker giving me a compliment. She is sad I'm leaving and essentially said that I've been a bit of a role model to her. What an ego boost it has been to leave this company. Who knew? Must admit that I feel a little selfish about posting that as a happy moment....

September 1st: The act of kindness displayed to me today was a friend buying me a glass of wine. Good friends. Good times.