Snippets of LIfe

There hasn't been much of anything going on in my life, no funny stories, no weird people, no trips, nothing. Just work and come home.

I have been filled in on office gossip and if it is to be believed, apparently there's a lot of people sleeping with other people. Some of it is definitely true since the wife showed up at the office looking for "that little slut that's sleeping with my husband." The rest of the stories seem likely given what I observe of their behavior. I can't imagine what these people are thinking. There's no way any of it could turn out well. It doesn't even appear that they are sleeping with co-workers to climb the social ladder.

In other news, I have absolutely no plans for the 4th of July or its preceding weekend. I hate crowds so we won't go anywhere there might be tourists to include malls, lakes, amusement parks, the river, campgrounds, firework displays, etc. My boss wanted to know if I was taking Monday off. While a 4 day weekend sounds fabulous, without any plans and all that together family time, someone might not live. So I'll probably be one of the 10% that show up to work on Monday. Hey its not like I'll be doing any real work.

I'm planning to settle into Summer now. This means hibernating from the 100 degree heat. I'm trying to avoid any trips to the field at work and spending my off time laying around my air conditioned house until the temperature is routinely below 85 degrees. Then I can come back outside! Although I did just today promise to take a day off work and take the princesses to the coast. Why, oh why did I say yes? I much perfer to go to the coast in October when the tourists and the heat have both left the region.

Maybe they won't remember.

The Exact Moment It Happened

Little princess hit puberty on May 27, 2006, approx. 6 pm.

You ask how I know? That’s the last time I saw her. She has retreated to her bedroom anytime either of her parents enter the house. She stays up late and sleeps all day no matter what I do to get her to stick to a reasonable schedule. That and I think the phone has been permanently attached to the side of her head. What could two 12 year olds have to talk about for 11 hours? Seriously.

Adolescent experts talk about the stage kids go through around puberty when they pull away from parents and start to form their own separate identity. It's a crucial part of growing up. Psychologists call it “distancing.”

I feel like the girl I loved is gone, and in her place is a young person who pushes my buttons with her moodiness, sarcastic replies and laziness. What actually happens is testiness, arguing, weeping, temper tantrums, holier-than-thou, parents-don't-have-a-clue behavior.

The ‘Experts” advise parents: Don't take it personally.

How could I not take it personally? My adorable little girl can’t stand to be in the same room with me, disagrees with everything I say, won’t do what she’s supposed to do when she’s supposed to, and I’m not supposed to take that personally. Is this is the same child that said even when she grew up and moved away she would call me every night to say, “Goodnight, I love you.”

But I guess this is what teenagers have to do, otherwise they would never leave home and become productive members of society in their own right. They must push us away and make the parents the villain in their minds so they can break free without it hurting too much. That makes sense.

I’m not really complaining, mind you. I know that she will come out the other side (in 5 or 6 years) and return to me just as Big Princess did. After all, this is what children are supposed to be doing at this age, and wouldn't you feel sad if your child wasn't able to do that? Just ask my friend in Utah who’s son has autism and will never leave home and live on his own.

2nd Career Choice

Well, Big Princess and I are back from Houston, tired and sore.

Monday I was so freaked out. Employees didn't come to work due to the flooding and I was getting emails & calls about "are we canceling the trip?" “Hello? Does the phrase non-refundable mean anything to you?

We got to Houston fine, got the supplies bought (beer, water, soda, snacks), went to dinner with co-workers and spent the evening chatting. Got 2.5 hrs of sleep and loaded the bus by 6:30 am. One guy held the bus up 30 min. because he over slept.

Big Princess stayed in Houston and hung out with her college roommate who lives just outside the city. They checked out some museums and did lunch. She had fun and made out well since my co-workers took us to Saltgrass Steak House and bought her dinner the night before.

I, however, got on a 55 passenger bus at 6 am with 30 employees from the Houston corp. office for a 13 hr bus ride to the field. The tour of the 42" pipeline went really well. The bus driver got lost twice and made 4 u-turns on the highway. We ran late out in the field and didn't get lunch until 3 pm. I got a major freaking blister because the project manager made us walk 2 miles up and down sandy hills. Got sunburned. Discovered that one really needs a support bra for these buses as the hopping left me a little sore. Fell on the bus while standing in the isle when the bus driver made a sharp left.

Arrived Houston at 7:30 pm and had to unload 10 coolers and 30 hardhats and other gear, then sit on the sidewalk and wait for Big Princess to pick us up. I was nasty and couldn't bear to drive home 3 hrs in my condition. I went to a co-workers hotel room and showered before leaving. We finally arrived home at 1 am only to get up the next day and be at work by 8 am.

I am getting a lot of positive responses from those that went and top management is impressed. I could have a future as a party planner. I have at least 2, possibly 3, more of these trips to plan for the CEO.

I might, no, I definitely will hate buses by the time this is over.

And the Award goes to... the jerk

I had a Lions Club meeting that I wasn't looking forward to last week. It was the annual installation of officers dinner. I've been travelling alot for work and hadn't made several of the last meetings. I tried to get out of it by asking a friend at work if he wanted to get some dinner before he headed back to Dallas. But he finished his meeting at 3 pm and wanted to get on the road. I left work at 5 pm and headed towards the meeting but I was still not feeling it. I just didn't feel like making small talk with 30 men in their 70's and 80's (3 are in their 90's).

I called my old boss and asked if he wanted to get a drink and chat but he was already home. Left with no options I went to the meeting. The first hour was drinks and that did make me feel a little better. On my 3rd gin and tonic I saw why. The bartender was filling the glasses almost all the way to the top with gin. I thought "Holy Crap, she's getting these old men plastered."

Dinner wasn't bad, kind of low grade prime rib. Due to my lack of date I was placed at the single table. It was just one of those nights when you'd rather be somewhere else, anywhere else. All thru dinner I was plotting my escape. Should I just go to the bathroom and slip out? I could fake a call from the kids and make my apologies. Or the old stand by about an early morning meeting usually works. Dinner wrapped up and they started the installation of officers and annual awards.

I waited as long as I could and was reaching for my purse under the table to make my escape, when suddenly I hear, "and the award goes to...ME!"

I felt like a real jerk for trying to avoid the whole meeting and then plotting my early departure.

Overheard on TV this morning

"I'm riding Alberto without protection."

Floridian's response to reporter asking if she was ready for the storm.

Wedding Wisdom

We attended a friend's wedding this weekend and I think the minister gave us the answer to how to get an unromantic man to buy flowers. The minister said to the groom "If you think candy and flowers are expensive and a waste of time, price a divorce attorney."

Aren't These Beautiful?

For the record I did not get these.














Or these.















Not even these.

How do you convince an unromantic man that the cost of flowers IS worth it?

Officially the Coolest Mom Ever

So Saturday I threw a bachelorette party for a friend from work. Gathered up the girls and made Big Princess the designated driver. Hey, she's 19 so she can't drink but can get in.

We picked people up and headed to play bingo. Had to show the new bride-to-be what to expect after next week's nuptuals. We told her she could substitute her choice of tupperware, pampered chef, or Mary Kay parties for bingo after she says I Do. Then we stopped off to eat and get margaritas before heading to Hardbodies.

Yes, I took my daughter to Hardbodies.

We got there early enough to get a table right up next to the stage. We bought the guest of honor several lap dances. She was appropriately embarrassed while loving it. Before leaving we all agreed that the designated driver deserved a lap dance. We all pretended we were going with her, then stuffed the money in her clevage (the dancers will remove it with their mouth) and ran. Big Princess was distressed upon returning and learning that no one had hand sanitizer. "He made me touch him and he's all oily. Ick"

So what's good for the goose is good for the gander. No matter what time you get home Saturday, church is manditory.

We arrived and Big Princess' best friend runs up to get the scoop. She then promptly runs to the rest of the girl group to dish. I'm just sitting there watching the hands fly to the mouth and the giggling. After church they come to me to confirm the truth of the story. "Wow, I wish you were my mom."

I'm so excited I could pee myself

I realize no one else will be as excited as I am by the news but I'm doing a little dance, I'm so over joyed.

Last week I was chatting with the CEO of my company and mentioned that I'd just returned from the field and I had pictures of the 42" project I was putting into a presention because everyone wanted to see the project. Then the CEO said I did such a great job of putting the Management Conference together 2 months ago that he'd like me to put together a corporate tour to the 42" pipeline we're laying in northern Texas. For the record, it will be the largest natural gas pipeline in Texas. Come on... that's exciting in its self. Dance with me people.
So I meet with him today to give him some estimates and he love's what I'm showing him. He says, "I want you to do 4 tours, 2 out of the San Antonio office and 2 from the Houston office." That's 120 people for me to get from San Antonio to approximately the wilderness of nothern Texas and another 120 from Houston to northern Texas. Oh, there's hard hats and safety glasses to purchase and tour buses to charter, lunches to work out, invitations to send. I'm in Heaven!