busygirl

monday woes.

I'm starting to freak out.  As in, the reality of everything going on in our lives at this moment is setting in.

We have to sell the house.

We have to move.

We have to plan a wedding.

I have to start a new job in TWO weeks.

And worst of all, I have to say goodbye to my current job within two weeks.

Sigh.

It's harder than I thought.  I told some of the higher-ups last week and the reactions were hard to deal with.  Comforting to the fact that they would miss me and it's not like they were at all happy to see me leave.  But sad to the fact that I left each meeting feeling like I was disappointing them.  And I was. 
I wasn't supposed to be leaving this job so soon.  This is a company where people put up roots and just stay forever and ever.  But I'm one of those.  That just packs up and moves on.

It's hard.

I'm just hoping the next couple weeks speed up because this part of getting a new job is the PITS.  The phrase 'this is the last time I will ______' keeps going through my head with each report, each project.

Sigh.  It's just work, why is this so hard?  I just need this chapter to close and the next to open.  And soon.

working hard from the homefront.

It is STILL snowing.  And our street is nowhere near the top of the 'to be plowed' list so we're pretty much stuck at home.

I did at least grab my laptop at the last second before leaving work yesterday - you just never know.  Good thing - now I won't be behind at work.  AND I get to work in my pjs.  And as expected, I did have a little help from a small, furry friend.

Someone's pretty happy that I'm home today.

in the midst of my madness...

...yesterday was one of those days.  Fire after fire after fire.  I didn't accomplish anything I needed to do.  Not one thing.  Since everything I did over winter holiday went kaputz as soon as I walked in the door to work.

Today is not much better.  The problems that I stayed late to correct last night apparently decided to become bigger problems again this morning when I walked in the door.

I've got mounds and mounds of work to do.  Blogging for sanity's sake and while waiting for a program to run.  Did I mention that my computer runs like it was built in the stone age?  It's only a year old and already revolting against me in its disgust at the amount of data I have stored on it.

I did do something mildly entertaining to some of my coworkers yesterday.  My family will read this, shake their head and say 'that's Nicole for ya.'  It's true.  I'm decently smart but I say the STUPIDEST things sometimes.

This one was no exception.

In the midst of fighting the fires at work yesterday, I noticed that there was an appointment on my calendar for a meeting with the subject 'Epiphany' in the conference room 'Germany'.  (Note: our conference rooms are named after countries).  I spent allllll day trying to figure out why this dumb meeting was on my calendar, what on earth it was about and where it came from.  ALLLLLL DAY people.  It was driving me crazy.  I even asked some of my coworkers if they had put it on my calendar.

And then I realized.

That I have European holidays on my calendar.  And that my 'meeting' was just a reminder that tomorrow is 'Epiphany Day' in the country of Germany.

Well gee, happy Epiphany day to you then.  I'm going to spend tomorrow working instead of sitting in the non-existant day-long meeting I thought I had.  Whoops!

twenty2go: tickle your teacher pink!

An apple?  A yardstick?  Extra chalk?  What do you get your child's teacher?  Or even any of your friends that are teaching in the local schools.  I took advantage of my house-mate/sibling/middle-school history teacher/morning coffee maker and asked busyteacheramy what she would like her students to give her for the holidays.

And here's what we came up with...plus a few I threw in on my own:

1. Starbucks anything.  Apparently coffee-related items are always appreciated.  I think our country has a caffeine addiction problem.

2. Journals - a lot of teachers love the write down their thoughts or jot down notes of what worked during their lesson plan.  Not to mention a reminder that they need to pick up milk on the way home.  A cute journal such as this one would be a great gift!

3. A book relating to their teaching interest or a gift certificate to a local bookstore.  Busyteacheramy would LOVE anything to do with World War II that she could share with her student - such as Life: World War 2: History's Greatest Conflict in Pictures.

4. A plant to spruce up their desk.  No wrapping needed and it's something that a teacher can use in the classroom!  My personal favorite is the Jade plant which is not only pretty, but easy to take care of.

5. A planner - help keep your teacher organized with a daily or weekly planner!  How about an cute inspirational planner for the fun-loving teacher or small, pocket version for easy travel.  If you're looking for something a little different, get a mini calendar for their desk or get them something that they can use in the classroom, such as a Teacher's Calendar!

6. Make a donation to the teacher's favorite charity.

7. Gift Cards!  Let the teacher decide what the gift will be.  A gift card to Amazon, Barnes & Noble or a local teaching store can be used to purchase classroom necessities or that book they've been dying to buy!

disclosure: some of the above links are affiliate links which means i will be receiving a penny or two if you click on them and purchase something.  i'd love ya for it.  seriously.

twentyone2go: coworker delights!

This is by far...the HARDEST type of person for me to shop for.  But, even though I work in an office where gift-giving isn't really a big deal, I love leaving a little gift on my fellow workers desks to make their holidays bright.  So year after year I rack my brain for something spectacular to surprise my coworkers with...while not spending TOO much money...

1. 50 Jobs Worse than Yours- for the coworker that is there through it all.  For every rude customer call, every irritating assignment, every sarcastic remark.  Remind them that it could be worse - they could have one of these jobs.

2. Starbucks Gift Basket - Caffeine IVs are a bit too expensive (trust me, I checked) so why not fuel their addiction with a gift card tucked inside a mug?  Or a pack of the new VIA Ready Brew packets?  Or a bag of the Christmas blend?  Or all of them in one box!  Remind me to post my address...

3. Keeping with the coffee-addict theme...how about a USB Heated Travel Mug!  This stainless steel spill-proof mug plugs into your 12V auto adapter and then your computer's USB port to keep coffee hot during the drive to work and while at your desk.

4. Play to their interests.  For those coworkers that you DO know outside of work, get them a gift that is reflective of their favorite hobby.  One of my coworkers is REALLY into photography and showcasing his art in photobooks - so he would LOVE a gift certificate to SeeHere to use for one of his projects!  One of my close friends/coworkers is a baking fanatic and would get a ton of use out of this adorable half-apron!  What about a Hoop Jams basketball game for that sports fanatic?

5. If you really get stuck, you can't go wrong with a tin full of homemade holiday cookies or filled with their favorite munchies!

6. If you're doing some type of secret-santa/white elephant exchange, your gift is sure to be a hit if you go with this Desktop USB Missile Launcher complete with a 10-foot range and sound effects!  What coworker wouldn't get use out of that on a Friday afternoon?

7. Last but not least, regardless of how simple this seems, a gift card to their favorite lunch spot is not only thoughtful but useful.

disclosure: some of the above links are affiliate links which means i will be receiving a penny or two if you click on them and purchase something.  i'd love ya for it.  seriously.

foggy.

That's how my head feels.  I actually did make it into work today after spending yesterday bonding with my couch and DVR.  The dog was thrilled.  I was not.  He kept trying to lay on my head.  I suppose it was his feeble attempt to keep me warm during my case of the chills.

And today isn't going much better.  But it's Friday so I'm attempting to make it through this last day.  My head is killing and I'm obviously not being as productive as I should.  My greatest accomplishment this morning was an hour long conversation with my friend in Switzerland about nothing.  My to-do list hasn't even been touched.

Ugh, I really despise flu season.

too close.

[this is me] [this is tears]

Those two things are way too close together.

I am at a loss for words to describe how frustrated I am right now.  I'm writing this as a sanity break from the random crap that is destroying any enjoyable part of my day.

My coffee spilled on my desk this morning.  Grumble.

I spent eight hours fixing something.  That wasn't my fault.  That I asked the person who is responsible to fix it about six times.  He is currently ordering stuff on amazon.com.  Early Christmas shopping or something.

I am behind on my work because of this.  Therefore, I look bad.  Again, shouldn't be blogging but must for the sake of my sanity.

I am tired of people who are STARVED for attention.  And who will do whatever it takes to make themselves look good to the higher-ups.  Including taking complete credit for a website that I spent two weeks BY MYSELF creating.  And for adding their signature to an email I wrote.  Could you be anymore blatant?

I am FED UP with people who are sneaky, devious, go behind other people's backs at work.  Get a life.

I am THROUGH with people who make up rumors about other coworkers because they have nothing better to do (not about me, but still).  How much more high school can you get?

If you're impatient, don't talk to me.

If you're lazy, don't bother me with your projects.

If you're just not a nice person, remove yourself from my sight.

I just am not having a good day.

on a do-not-need-to-know basis

I really just don't want to know.  About your medical issues.  About your 'extracirricular activities.'  About the fact that you're just so hungover.

I don't want to know.

It's a proven fact that if you place someone at a desk in the middle of the room and ask them to talk on the phone, they'll whisper.  Or at least talk at a polite tone.  Place a half-wall around that desk and BAM!  The volume increases and the topic of conversation ceases to resemble anything related to work.  It's as if a half-wall provides SO much privacy that people think their desk is suddenly sound-proof.

Hello...I can still see the top of your head while you're gabbing away to your buddy on the phone.  And I can definitely still HEAR you.  As in, every single word.

Did I mention that I have my iPod on?

Yup, can still hear the gruesome details of your foot infection.

Sigh...is it Friday yet?