All in Deux Time. The theme for the year.
I can never go into the year thinking "I need to accomplish....... (fill in the blank)" I have to set goals. As mentioned last year, I put something out there, then some how, I end up right where I'm supposed to be. (Of course, we all do).
I'll recap my year, next time, maybe. I'm better looking forward than back.
This year's theme came along on Saturday. In due time. I was having trouble with the word "due". While I'm great with deadlines, if I "have" to do something, not very good. In fact, I usually go the other way. I DON'T. Or my luck, I would end up with a "Due Date". Not in the library book kind of way. No, "due" is not it.
In Due Time?
In Do Time?
In Dew Time?
For some reason the time theme keeps reappearing (pretty funny saying we don't have clocks around here).
We could go with the "do time". As in, "What am I going to DO this year?" I like that. I can start a list. I'm good at crossing things off the list. Or making lists just to look back at how ridiculous I was being.
Dew Time? Mornings? NOOOO. Used to be a morning person. Like life much better without seeing the "dew".
Deux Time. Double time? Time for two?
I set out in 2012 with the 12 theme, but really it was all about "tri...ing". I tried. I met more than 12 fascinating people and had over 12 moments in life. However, that's not what I meant. Is it ever?
So, this year: "All in Deux Time". Truly, I wrote that. My next thought: "Lord help us all".
Can't imagine what we will "deux" this year........
Monday, January 7, 2013
Friday, January 4, 2013
The Ghost in our house
We have a ghost in our house. We think it's a friendly ghost.
This ghost doesn't like clocks. Okay, we don't really like clocks either. That's how we know it's a friendly ghost. The clock in Nolan's room won't stay set. Could be the clock. Could be an electrical problem. We like to blame our ghost.
My laptop will re-boot itself every once in a while. I realize this is normal. It updates itself. Only when my computer updates itself, when it re-starts it plays Bob Marley. And only Bob Marley. Yes, I listen to Pandora, but I shut that down every night. Bob Marley starts playing around 3am. Just when the computer re-boots - not every night.
Our ghost doesn't want to live on a schedule either. The BATTERY OPERATED cube (clock/radio) we have in the kitchen. It's only a couple months old - it stops charging iPhones - it works fine on the devices that only play music.
Can't blame our ghost. We are like our ghost. No wonder it found us.
Of course, the boys tell me the ghost is responsible for the clothes on the floor in their rooms. The unmade beds too. Hmmm..... Not sure I'm believing them.
This ghost doesn't like clocks. Okay, we don't really like clocks either. That's how we know it's a friendly ghost. The clock in Nolan's room won't stay set. Could be the clock. Could be an electrical problem. We like to blame our ghost.
My laptop will re-boot itself every once in a while. I realize this is normal. It updates itself. Only when my computer updates itself, when it re-starts it plays Bob Marley. And only Bob Marley. Yes, I listen to Pandora, but I shut that down every night. Bob Marley starts playing around 3am. Just when the computer re-boots - not every night.
Our ghost doesn't want to live on a schedule either. The BATTERY OPERATED cube (clock/radio) we have in the kitchen. It's only a couple months old - it stops charging iPhones - it works fine on the devices that only play music.
Can't blame our ghost. We are like our ghost. No wonder it found us.
Of course, the boys tell me the ghost is responsible for the clothes on the floor in their rooms. The unmade beds too. Hmmm..... Not sure I'm believing them.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
The bad boy
I've written some about my part-time job.
I'm learning a lot. I'm re-learning the mistakes I made when I owned my own company. What to do. What not to do. Inventory and employees are huge components of any company. I'm NOT a good manager.
Suddenly, I'm running this company. Oh, and I don't like this. He doesn't plan. He says we can do anything. We are going to sell this company. Blah, Blah, Blah.
When I made up my mind to get a part-time job - I was interviewing all over the place. That's not true. I had several phone screens. Three face-to-face interviews, two job offers.
Company #1: There were 7 people, the Owner and the Director of Sales had worked together for 17 or so years. The Owner had gone out on his own about 10 years ago. She went two years later. Casual office out in the industrial area of town.
Company#2" Start-up. Owner is in the USA on an "investment VISA". Everyone has been working together for about a year. Over $1 million in sales since January. Cherry Creek office. (close to home) Casual trendy environment.
Company not even considered: A Market Research company. Hiring technical people. (If you truly get the irony of this company, you know me).
Well, really, only one job offer. The first place was e-mailed. I let them know I had accepted another position. I was REALLY excited about that opportunity. I didn't let the first give me an offer. They got delayed. They wanted me back for a second interview, but the second place gave me an offer first. I jumped. I took the offer immediately.
Something is wrong with me.
I was SO excited about my part-time job in the industrial environment. That's the whole point of a part-time job. I have recruiting. It's faithful. It's loyal. I'm loyal. This part-time job was supposed to get me out of the house. A distraction
Then, well, the bad boy came along. Stock-options. Manufacturing (I get that). An idea. Also an entrepreneaur willing to take a risk. Never mind you that the other guy also took a risk. That was ten years ago or so. Heaven forbid it's actually up and running.
I WANT TO TAKE A CHANCE.
Where did that girl appear from? She was alive for years. She did it all. She's supposed to be gone.
I work - but work doesn't define my life. My kids. My summers in Hawaii define my life. Not some job. That girl left us long time ago.
Friday we had a crazy day. Insane. Packing, shipping, manufacturing. I'm running to the road to meet the trucking company to pull off something that could make or break this company.
Yes, I nicely asked them to come back the next day.
Do I really need this drama in my life???? Really?
No, I don't need this. I do want drama in my life. It always arrives in some shape or form: my boys, guys I like or work. Right now, two are settled down. Two out of three ain't bad....
I'm learning a lot. I'm re-learning the mistakes I made when I owned my own company. What to do. What not to do. Inventory and employees are huge components of any company. I'm NOT a good manager.
Suddenly, I'm running this company. Oh, and I don't like this. He doesn't plan. He says we can do anything. We are going to sell this company. Blah, Blah, Blah.
When I made up my mind to get a part-time job - I was interviewing all over the place. That's not true. I had several phone screens. Three face-to-face interviews, two job offers.
Company #1: There were 7 people, the Owner and the Director of Sales had worked together for 17 or so years. The Owner had gone out on his own about 10 years ago. She went two years later. Casual office out in the industrial area of town.
Company#2" Start-up. Owner is in the USA on an "investment VISA". Everyone has been working together for about a year. Over $1 million in sales since January. Cherry Creek office. (close to home) Casual trendy environment.
Company not even considered: A Market Research company. Hiring technical people. (If you truly get the irony of this company, you know me).
Well, really, only one job offer. The first place was e-mailed. I let them know I had accepted another position. I was REALLY excited about that opportunity. I didn't let the first give me an offer. They got delayed. They wanted me back for a second interview, but the second place gave me an offer first. I jumped. I took the offer immediately.
Something is wrong with me.
I was SO excited about my part-time job in the industrial environment. That's the whole point of a part-time job. I have recruiting. It's faithful. It's loyal. I'm loyal. This part-time job was supposed to get me out of the house. A distraction
Then, well, the bad boy came along. Stock-options. Manufacturing (I get that). An idea. Also an entrepreneaur willing to take a risk. Never mind you that the other guy also took a risk. That was ten years ago or so. Heaven forbid it's actually up and running.
I WANT TO TAKE A CHANCE.
Where did that girl appear from? She was alive for years. She did it all. She's supposed to be gone.
I work - but work doesn't define my life. My kids. My summers in Hawaii define my life. Not some job. That girl left us long time ago.
Friday we had a crazy day. Insane. Packing, shipping, manufacturing. I'm running to the road to meet the trucking company to pull off something that could make or break this company.
Yes, I nicely asked them to come back the next day.
Do I really need this drama in my life???? Really?
No, I don't need this. I do want drama in my life. It always arrives in some shape or form: my boys, guys I like or work. Right now, two are settled down. Two out of three ain't bad....
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Open me
I was at Target today. The Target by the club where I work out. I don't really like to go to this particular Target. It's nice, but the parking lot is always crowded - no matter when you go. I do end up at this Target quite a bit because it is convenient. I just try to go to other ones.
Today, though, I'm glad I went to this one.
The boys former hockey coach is in town and what started as "hey, coaches, come over for lasagna" has turned into 18 people coming over for lasagna. Which is fine. In fact, it's more than fine. I love it when this happens. The more the merrier. I'm going to need to make a couple of lasagnas. More stuff needed.
This is a Super Target. Groceries, Alcohol, Household goods, etc, you know the drill. I also needed some stocking stuffers. Then I'm done.
I've done all the grocery shopping. The stocking stuffers are in the basket and I'm headed to the check out. I stop at the little section at the front of the store (the $1.00 area) to see if I need a couple of more things. On the opposite side of where I entered the store. This is the section designed for you to stop at on your way in. Oh well.
I'm looking through the bins. And in one, is a light green envelope marked "Happy Holidays" (Open Me) both hand-written in red ink. I pick it up. I turn it over. It's sealed. I look around. Puzzled. Hmm? I wonder what this is? It doesn't match anything in the bin and it was facing out. I open it. Thinking, well, if I wasn't supposed to open it, I'll pay for it if I made a mistake. It's a note card. Opening the card, printed is "Season's Greetings with all good wishes for the New Year". Hand-written below in the same red ink: "In honor of Charlotte Bacon". There was a $10 gift card inside.
Smile. First thought "How sweet. What a nice thing for someone to do in memory of someone." Maybe I'll go buy me a little something extra. Just for me. Thank you.
Oh wait, there is a typed folded over slip in here too. "In honor of the lives of the 26 children and adults that were just taken from us in Connecticut, I offer you this random act of kindness in hopes of bringing a smile to your face this Holiday season."
It didn't bring a smile. I started crying. There ARE good people in this world. We think sometimes there is more evil, than good. BUT, we are wrong. Good will always win. Then, I smiled.
On the back, the cards were produced by the "Child Welfare League of America" Whomever our random act of kindness person is/was, really went out of the way - not only to purchase cards contributing to children (I haven't looked up what the organization is about), but then purchased the gift cards. Then randomly placed them.
Thank you random person in Glendale, Colorado for taking the time from your hectic life to spread good and happy thoughts. I looked around to see if anyone was watching a grown woman cry in the middle of the aisle, but if you were there, you didn't let me know it.
I don't know if there were more throughout the store. I don't know if you spent a total of $260 honoring each and every victim or $10 honoring Charlotte Bacon. Either way, it's all good. There ARE angels among us.
Thank you for showing this little piece of the world, there is still good. Lots of good.
To the family of Charlotte Bacon - she is touching lives still. Her life wasn't in vain. Her memory won't be either.
I didn't spend the $10. We might have to buy an ornament with the name Charlotte on it, to honor her. Someone thought she needed to be our angel. Or maybe, I need to read what she liked and buy another little girl a random gift to donate.
Or maybe, random act of kindness person, we might just take your lead: we start sharing the joy of life in random little ways too.......
Thank you.
Today, though, I'm glad I went to this one.
The boys former hockey coach is in town and what started as "hey, coaches, come over for lasagna" has turned into 18 people coming over for lasagna. Which is fine. In fact, it's more than fine. I love it when this happens. The more the merrier. I'm going to need to make a couple of lasagnas. More stuff needed.
This is a Super Target. Groceries, Alcohol, Household goods, etc, you know the drill. I also needed some stocking stuffers. Then I'm done.
I've done all the grocery shopping. The stocking stuffers are in the basket and I'm headed to the check out. I stop at the little section at the front of the store (the $1.00 area) to see if I need a couple of more things. On the opposite side of where I entered the store. This is the section designed for you to stop at on your way in. Oh well.
I'm looking through the bins. And in one, is a light green envelope marked "Happy Holidays" (Open Me) both hand-written in red ink. I pick it up. I turn it over. It's sealed. I look around. Puzzled. Hmm? I wonder what this is? It doesn't match anything in the bin and it was facing out. I open it. Thinking, well, if I wasn't supposed to open it, I'll pay for it if I made a mistake. It's a note card. Opening the card, printed is "Season's Greetings with all good wishes for the New Year". Hand-written below in the same red ink: "In honor of Charlotte Bacon". There was a $10 gift card inside.
Smile. First thought "How sweet. What a nice thing for someone to do in memory of someone." Maybe I'll go buy me a little something extra. Just for me. Thank you.
Oh wait, there is a typed folded over slip in here too. "In honor of the lives of the 26 children and adults that were just taken from us in Connecticut, I offer you this random act of kindness in hopes of bringing a smile to your face this Holiday season."
It didn't bring a smile. I started crying. There ARE good people in this world. We think sometimes there is more evil, than good. BUT, we are wrong. Good will always win. Then, I smiled.
On the back, the cards were produced by the "Child Welfare League of America" Whomever our random act of kindness person is/was, really went out of the way - not only to purchase cards contributing to children (I haven't looked up what the organization is about), but then purchased the gift cards. Then randomly placed them.
Thank you random person in Glendale, Colorado for taking the time from your hectic life to spread good and happy thoughts. I looked around to see if anyone was watching a grown woman cry in the middle of the aisle, but if you were there, you didn't let me know it.
I don't know if there were more throughout the store. I don't know if you spent a total of $260 honoring each and every victim or $10 honoring Charlotte Bacon. Either way, it's all good. There ARE angels among us.
Thank you for showing this little piece of the world, there is still good. Lots of good.
To the family of Charlotte Bacon - she is touching lives still. Her life wasn't in vain. Her memory won't be either.
I didn't spend the $10. We might have to buy an ornament with the name Charlotte on it, to honor her. Someone thought she needed to be our angel. Or maybe, I need to read what she liked and buy another little girl a random gift to donate.
Or maybe, random act of kindness person, we might just take your lead: we start sharing the joy of life in random little ways too.......
Thank you.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Oh Christams Tree
Our Christmas Tree looks like something out of a bad tourist town drug store. Tacky. Musty. Missing Lights. Leaning towards the front door. We LOVE our Christmas Tree. - it's EVERYTHING we are not.
It's fake. It's probably 8 years old. I bought the wrong one - 8 years ago. And every year, I say "we are throwing this tree away. Buying a new one while they are on sale AFTER Christmas". Only every year, I don't really want to spend any money on a tree that is going to go in the crawl space for the next 11 months. I meant to buy the "pre-lit" tree. The ones with the lights on it. Only I purchased the tree with fiber optic lights. The ends of the tree will light up. We quit using those lights 3 years ago and now hang real lights back on the tree. So much for a "pre-lit" tree.
Tree skirt: Something from when I owned the gift company. Plaid, with lace, and a "Merry Christmas" embroidery. Nothing about this tree skirt belongs in our house. Only, I have it. I should use it and I'm not going to buy another one.
Decorations: There is no "theme". No color scheme. Here is where the "drug store" look REALLY takes over.
Every year I really think "Oh, we don't really need to put up a tree - it's a lot of hassle". As I write this though, I can feel the love that our crooked, drug-store looking tree emits. All the way up to the cracked "Star"fish on top.
It's fake. It's probably 8 years old. I bought the wrong one - 8 years ago. And every year, I say "we are throwing this tree away. Buying a new one while they are on sale AFTER Christmas". Only every year, I don't really want to spend any money on a tree that is going to go in the crawl space for the next 11 months. I meant to buy the "pre-lit" tree. The ones with the lights on it. Only I purchased the tree with fiber optic lights. The ends of the tree will light up. We quit using those lights 3 years ago and now hang real lights back on the tree. So much for a "pre-lit" tree.
Tree skirt: Something from when I owned the gift company. Plaid, with lace, and a "Merry Christmas" embroidery. Nothing about this tree skirt belongs in our house. Only, I have it. I should use it and I'm not going to buy another one.
Decorations: There is no "theme". No color scheme. Here is where the "drug store" look REALLY takes over.
- Handmade ornaments: Those from preschool. Music classes. Ski ticket holders, all looped in a chain from a weekend in Vail when the boys were little. Beaded "bells" that go on some of the lights from a great Aunt whom is no longer with us.
- Collector ornaments: Nice "Old Worlde Ornaments". "Real" ornaments. Mostly gifts from family members. Some family members have given ornaments over the years - a pickle, an American flag, musical shadow balls, a bird, hockey players, an angel. Usually in pairs (one for each boy to later take to their homes). Also, gifts from friends are hanging there too. Personalized. Special.
- Swarovski crystal ornaments: All in one section. One every year from I think 1999. From my Granny. Every year I think I really should keep them out year round. They are so pretty. But then I would have to dust them and I know that won't happen. Instead they go back in their individual boxes to be stored until next Christmas.
- My medals: The "medal" section. 8 Tri for the Cure medals. Several half-marathon. Several more triathlon medals. A couple of 5k's. (Most races only give medals for "distances" - a lesson learned the hard way). A few years ago, they were all hanging on the back of my bedroom door. I like hanging them on the Christmas tree every year. The "First" of every class (first half marathon, first triathlon, first marathon, etc) - those are framed and are out year around. The rest of them enjoy the limelight for the month of December. So, no, there isn't a new one this year - the half-marathon I did with Nolan, it's being framed with his. (I guess - I haven't done this yet, maybe I need to ask - he might want his own medal framed without mine) In which case, mine will still be framed. It was my first with him. The boys medals stay out year around.
- Ornaments from Carolyn: We stopped exchanging Christmas presents years ago. Each year now for, gosh, at least 20 years, we have sent each other a Christmas ornament. One year, we went to London in November, that year we sent each other the EXACT same Christmas ornament - a snowflake with a picture in the middle picture. We were in a "bike taxi" in London at midnight after a play. We were stuck in traffic. The people in the car next to us took the picture. We both put that picture in the ornament and sent it to each other. Smile. For the next two years, we actually sent each other very similar ornaments to the one each had sent the other.
- The drugstore ornaments: Scattered throughout the tree. Ornaments from all over the world. When I first got married, we started the tradition. Instead of a souvenir, we purchase a Christmas ornament. Or something that would work as an ornament. I've continued the tradition with the boys. We always buy a Christmas ornament to remember once a year our journey's. Vail, Myrtle Beach, Port Aranasas, Hawaii, San Diego, etc. Greece, Germany, London, Mexico and on and on and on. I think we can stop buying ornaments now. Only I won't.
- Then there is "special section". Only we call it the "Handicap Section". Smile now. And please don't tell the politically correct police that we segregate around here. The "Handicap Section" is well, for the broken ornaments. (It is okay if you are laughing). With boys, of course, every year, we break a couple. Some are too bad to salvage and they go in the trash. HOWEVER, the ones, well, let's put it this way: we have a ballerina with no legs. A Sponge Bob with only leg. A snowball with only half of one ski. A surfer with a black eye (only that was intentional). A martini glass with no stem. They get hung on the tree. So, we have a "Handicap Section" of the Christmas tree.
Every year I really think "Oh, we don't really need to put up a tree - it's a lot of hassle". As I write this though, I can feel the love that our crooked, drug-store looking tree emits. All the way up to the cracked "Star"fish on top.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Moments
As mentioned in the previous post, it's the moments that get me through this time of year. So, this is going to be like November - only you have to check this post on a daily basis and these are moments that we forget to notice in the scheme of things.
I'm going to post my moment each day, that is getting me through the "organization" of it all.
My moments so far, this month that are getting me through:
I'm going to post my moment each day, that is getting me through the "organization" of it all.
My moments so far, this month that are getting me through:
- Attending the Broncos game
- Doing an errand for my "husband" (he's the guy I work for, only he's not really a boss, so I call him "my husband") - and he's great about saying thank you. In fact, he left me a bottle of wine on my desk.
- Watching Nolan roll his eyes when I asked him a silly question
- Telling Duncan I was taking him to lunch at school for his birthday. You see, he doesn't want me too. I told him I would call Kyle (his friend) and take Kyle and Duncan. Kyle would say it's okay. Duncan's response? Please don't call Kyle, you know he will let you take us to lunch. ;) Okay, maybe I'll let you win this one. Although secretly, I wonder if he really wants me to show up to take the guys to lunch.
- Having such good friends whom drive from Vail to go to a Christmas party with you. And they are such good friends, the wife decided not to come at the last minute and she trusts her husband can attend the party with me only. Such dear friends. And I had a really cute date to a party.
- Watching Duncan's arms shake as I let him drive the car down the street. (I may need some Xanax for this next portion of my life).
- Girlfriends having drinks and texting Joe in Hawaii, telling him we were coming for a girls weekend. Him calling twice to confirm our dates. Wants to us to know we are always welcome. He only pretends to be ornery.
- Christmas cards in the mailbox every day for the entire month.
- One of my girlfriends has the most adorable husband - he's been trying to set me up with a guy at the fire station for about a year. This is the text I receive the other day: "You and Lynda go work out on Christmas Day then come by the station". Not sure why we have to go work out first, but it's pretty cute how he's trying to set me up.
- The guy at the liquor store whom last year told me "You are really cute, for your age" - that he still flirts with me when I go into the store - even if I have sweats on.
- A text from Duncan saying: "I miss Hawaii. I miss the blue water. I miss the stupid coral that I cut my feet on! I miss the stupid lava rocks that I step on. I miss the sand! Even the sand with the rocks in it. I miss Joe and his jokes towards me! I miss the dog! Mom, I miss Hawaii everything about it and everything right now seems to be about it" Granted, the sun is setting at 5pm and it was cold yesterday, and he had a cold. I'm not sure he misses Hawaii or our unscheduled way of life.
- Standing in line at the post office. Auld Lang Syne comes on. For some reason it was magical - only it wasn't snowing and I didn't run into an old lover. Other than that, it was just like the song. ;-)
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