The Best Thing

The best thing about going back to work is picking up the kids...Jackson lets out a little squeal of delight when he sees me and comes barreling over to me.  Kate gives me her big smile, making sure to show off her dimple.  I just want to inhale them sometimes.  I guess the next best thing would be that more than a few people have said they're REALLY glad I'm back...as in now things will finally start moving again.  Our region is the fastest growing of 9 in the country and we're hiring for tax like crazy.  I just love a good frenzy...So as the 2nd week winds down I have my hands on maybe 30% of what I'll ultimately be doing.  I've been to the DC office twice in two weeks...usually it's that many times in a year that I have to be there, and I've been working from home two days.  Next, I must plan a trip to the Philly office to bond with the partners there.  That's usually a big love-fest.

Ding Ding...Round Two

Day 1 Week 2 and I start it off by turning off the 6 a.m. alarm and sleeping until 7:30.  Not a good thing when I'm due to present at new hire orientation at 8:45.  Then I couldn't find my car keys which also had my office keys...big panic, I'm hot, I'm sweating, I'm yelling, my feet hurt.  I find the keys inside the car.  I move my presentation to later in the a.m. and conduct my 9:30 meeting via cell phone from the car on the way in.  I deliver the 20 min. presentation in 6 minutes.  The new hires must think I'm a total basket case...and I'm holed up in my office for the remainder of the day, emerging only to search for food (luckily we bring in breakfast & lunch on orientation days), go to the ladies room, and do what I have to do in the mother's lounge.  I find it easier not to postpone the pumping if I set certain times that I will go.  I know I need a certain amount for Kate the next day and I have to do it so I just make myself do it.  Otherwise, I could be glued in my chair all day and not do it at all.  So I picked the kids up at 5:00, had a glass of wine, threw together a dinner....the baby fell fast asleep after nursing twice so I escaped to the garden to harvest some roses.  The one rose I have, called Heaven On Earth, is truly divine.  It's really dense like a peony and the scent is, well, it's heavenly.  I watered the hanging baskets with the geraniums, trimmed back the basil, watered the tomatoes, and brought in some black-eyed susans.  Something is going on in that veggie garden that isn't quite right...actually several things.  First, I think there is this stockpile of Miracle Gro or something because the basil and one of the tomato plants are out of control.  Then, apparently Chloe has stomped all over that eggplant that's really a pepper so I had to cut it way back.  Finally, my cucumber plant disappeared.  There is an empty space where it was last time I checked and it had a few little cucumbers.  Now it's gone.  I think I need to get a nanny cam going out there.  I know Chloe (aka big fat bad doggie) helps herself to a green tomato every morning and probably stomped the pepper plant...but the disappearing cukes are a real mystery.

Tomorrow is another boring day in the office (yeah, right!) but the excitement starts again on Wednesday when I'm scheduled to be downtown again for the day....

Ree's Birthday

Kate and I made it to New Jersey and back for the party.  What fun to see a friend from long ago (notice I didn't say old friend...we're the same age) and spend some quality time on her actual birthday, no less.  I think that after 40 everyone should start throwing themselves birthday parties.  It was a fabulous Fall-like day and just a warm and wonderful good time with Ree and her family including sisters and Mom.  Katherine was a big hit as she was an angel baby, gave everyone big big smiles, & had on an adorable outfit right down to the matching sweater and blanket....this is always a big hit in my crowd.  It was a bit of a stretch driving home afterward as I was very tired but my mind was very active after reconnecting with old friends AND two different radio stations had on 70's dance party type programs so Piggers and I did the disco thing all the way back to Virginia. 

New Journal Title

I'm thinking this may be the title of the book I will write one day.  One of those nonsense books a la Erma Bombeck. 

Today Piggers and I are taking a roadtrip to South Jersey to visit my college chum for her birthday.  Jeff and Wonderboy are staying home.  This should be interesting.

Planes, Trains, Automobiles...and Buses

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This falls under the category of "things that make me crazy".  The thing is public transportation.  Don't get me wrong--it's a great thing but it makes me crazy when I have to use it.  Ok, so an automobile isn't public transportation but it factors into the story when you have to drive to make your connection, right?  It's all connected! 

So, on Thursday I had to be in the downtown DC office for training.  For those who don't live in a major metro area like Washington, having the 4th worst traffic IN THE COUNTRY,  remember that show Murphy Brown?  Remember they used to drive into work together?  Well that would be because of HOV restrictions on roads leading into the city and why I had to take public transportation on Thursday. 

Let's begin with the bus (btw, there is no plane in this story, that's just the title)  I start out by falling back to sleep after the alarm went off thereby cutting my getting ready for work time in half and let me mention that when I researched this wonderful new county bus that picks you up within a half mile of my house and takes you to the train station I found two different pick up times listed.  Let's just say that I should have believed it was the earier time AND that the bus would be right on the dot.  So there I am caught at the light across the street from the shopping center where the bus pulls in, I'm pulled up so far my FRIGGING MINIVAN doesn't trip the light, and the the bus departs.  For a brief time I am behind, then in front of, then next to the FRIGGING BUS on the road to the train station.  Let me take a step back.  I was preparing to take the bus because the new thing at the Metro stations is that you need a smartcard to park there.  They no longer accept cash.  But I can't get a smartcard because SOME MORON underordered smartcards and there are none to be had.  So I decide to take a chance that some Metro parking lots are taking cash so folks without smartcards can park. Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong.  So I head to the Merrifield Metro station and learn that they are not accepting cash.  Why didn't I borrow Fern's smartcard when she offered it?  Why did I go to Merrifield instead of W. Falls?  Because I had the bus thing all figured out, that's why.  Now I develop my Plan C right there on the spot.  Plan C was to drive to my office, located midway between the Merrifield station and the West Falls Metro, park there & take a taxi to the station.  Do I need to tell you upon arrival at W. Falls I learn they are accepting cash?  No?  You figured that out already?  Finally I'm on the right track, literally and figuratively.  Everything is right with hhe world excluding my feet. The shoes I wore chewed blisters into my heels while I hustled to the train platform.  That's what I get for running around barefoot for the past 3 months, right?  So now I'm hobbling down the hill from Metro Center to the office, dragging my computer in a rollie bag behind me (thank God for rollie bags), with my purse and breast pump (Medela Pump In Style, btw) banging against my hip.  Let's summarize what I've learned:

1.  RecruitSoft - that's what I was there for, after all

2.  The bus really does come at 6:50 a.m.

3.  Do not look a gift smartcard in the mouth.  Borrow Fern's for next time

4.  It's time to throw those black flats in the trash

5.  I'm not smart enough to take public transportation?

6.  The receptionist at 12th St is new but she does have a first aid kit at her desk

7.  I can now get to the ladies room AND the mother's lounge without getting lost.

I am all ready to try it again on Wednesday!

 

 

 

Beauty Rest

Last night Jackson did not want to go to sleep.  Just before 10:00 pm I left him in his room saying I was going to change into my p.j.'s and go to sleep myself....I came downstairs for a popcicle and to talk to Jeff.  Next thing I knew Jackson was calling me from the top of the stairs.  We had an exchange about him needing to go to sleep.  A short time later it got quiet and I went upstairs to find........

Jackson on my bed, comforter drawn back, sitting amongst the pillows, watching t.v. and PAINTING HIS TOENAILS!!!  It was so amazing--his technique was so good--tht I could not be upset with him.  He did not get one drop on the sheets, go figure.  If ever there was a reason to go around with the video camera in my hand this was it!  Oh, and he looks up and says "Hi Mom!"  His big toe was totally pale pink!

 

Anticlimactic

I am so digging this blue font these days. 

Got up this a.m., got the kids & myself ready to roll, dropped them off at daycare, and got to the office at a reasonable hour....no knot in my stomach, no dry mouth, no anxious feeling.  I did what I had to do in the office, had lunch with a new colleague, pumped twice, and picked up the kids at daycare by 3:30.  I was exhausted shortly after hitting home but caught a mini 2nd wind.  Kate must have exhausted herself being cute all day because she has nursed twice but fell asleep shortly after coming home and is out like a light.  I think Jeff fell asleep in Jackson's bed during the snuggling that follows the story reading.  I'm glad for a little quiet but awake time.  This going back to work after maternity leave is much less stressful the second time around.  I did miss angel baby but had her picture hung right above my computer before I did anything else today.  Jackson's mug is already plastered all over my office.  I am one proud Momma!

Work will be making me crazy by week's end, no doubt about it.  Maybe I am already crazy because I told the boss today that I am not getting spun up about things anymore because no matter how much I put into what I do it's always too little too late and I have no control over whether people we hire turn out to be giant assholes after they look so good on paper and interview well, etc., nor do I have control of whether they're happy once they get here....no my yob!  Anyway, I said I'm letting this get to me anymore.  If I get so upset that I think I'm going to lose it I'll just quit.  To put it into context recruiting is crazy busy right now for us, I've been out 14 weeks and he's been doing my job, plus his own, plus, plus, plus...  He knows I'm a true blue loyal person and love the firm and just said that for effect.  ha ha @@

Anyway, it was nice to come back to an uncluttered office.  The time I took to really clean house before I left has paid off!  I also feel like the slate is clean and I can make a fresh start before things get bogged down in the inevitable messes they do that it is my job to sort out as the recruiter.  People actually think this stuff is easy.  Hah!  The process looks fine on paper but you have to remember those are human beings behind the "interviewer" and "interviewee" and the "hiring manager".  People change their minds, they cancel, they have unreasonable expectations, they get (I just love this term) squirrely.  Why do I love what I do?  It's in my blood, I guess.  Maybe that's why my friend Kathy calls me Clarke the Shark?