Can't Wait for my 3 Day weekend!

Lately, I don't know if I am coming or going! I know I am always busy- because that is the way I like it... but I have been CRAZY busy the past 2 weeks! Mainly just working a lot of extra hours. But in between, I have been to the Bay Area (what a surprise!) for Brynn's blessing, over to my friends, Rick and Tracy's, house for dinner, out to another play, Hairspray, with Marcia, doing my visiting teaching, then back to the Bay last night to await the birth of one of my adopted "daughters", Brianna's, baby! However, I burned out at midnight and came on home. The baby, Ivy Rose, arrived at 5:09 am this morning! There will definitely be pictures to follow! Oh - and I forgot to mention that I have started an online class for Project Management!!! I am so excited about the class. I decided to take this class mainly for work reasons.... Tonight I once again worked until 8 pm so I am getting to sleep early tonight. I am so excited this is a 3 day week end. I definitely appreciate Labor Day!! I wasn't going to go anywhere this weekend, but I have to go see that new baby! So I'm sure I won't be idle much. That's ok though... Life is too short to sit and watch it go by!


In Menlo Park for Brynn's blessing.

GO USA!

I have been watching the Olympics along with the rest of the world. I can relate as a mom whose kids competed in sports. I love Michael Phelps's story- he was raised by a single mom who taught him a great work ethic. How proud she must be!!! Every parent only wants the best for their children. You want some much for them to succeed- but to succeed they have to experience the pain of the challenges. And what about the athletes that work so hard and then don't medal or hardly get mentioned? My heart goes out to them too. To get to the Olympics is an accomplishment in itself. Another fun story I watched tonight- was Women's Rowing. The coxswain for the USA was Mary Whipple. Brooke rowed at UC Davis with Mary's twin sister, Sarah. UC Davis went on in 2002 to win National Championships. Sarah was their cox. We all knew Mary went to Univ Of Washington and watched her rowing career. Mary was the cox for the USA in Athens in 2004. They took the Silver. This time they won the GOLD!!! I have met the Whipples- and OH, BY THE WAY - They are from Sacramento!!! So Congratulations to Mary - I know Brooke was watching too and probably felt each and every stroke of the race!!!!


Mary Whipple is the one farthest to the right!

On a different note- just because I am a typical proud grandma. I was able to stay with Brynn last night while Brooke went off to her 10 year high school reunion. It is always fun to be with my little granddaughters. It is so special. Last night was no different. And to have Brynn all to myself for 3 hours was great! She is starting to smile- nothing like a precious smile to fill my soul!

All in a Day's Work.......

I thought I would share my work day with you all. I spend more time at work than anywhere else.... so it only figures that I should tell you about my day and show you my great friends at work.... Things have been changing a lot - jobs going away, new systems to learn, greater workload with no training are just a few of the obstacles lately- We are constantly being told: " take care of the customers but for now drop what you are doing and take care of admin", oh yea- "take care of customers" but "where is that report????" "Have you updated your tracking system in the past 15 minutes???" And when you need help from another department: "Call this person, oh- she's on vacation, call this person-oh she was let go, call this person-oh, he is union and has to leave in 1 minute and because they can't work overtime he can't help you." Seems like all we ever deal with these days are road blocks and dead ends..... our job is to figure it out anyhow!!! And you know what??? For the most part- I like my job!! I think though that the reason I like it is because I work with a great group..... We are all in the same situation- overcoming obstacles on a daily basis! When I was in sales- it was a very competitive environment. When I needed help it was hard to find- because everyone had their own quota to worry about and they don't have the time to help anyone else. Now that I am on the support side I am in a totally different world. Everyone is crazy busy but everyone (well, ALMOST everyone....) is willing to help!!! I even get to help others once in awhile but usually I am looking for help rather than giving it!! We had a conference call today to listen to a speaker on the subject of "Constant Change". So it is common knowledge that the company is going through an amazing transition period and it isn't always fun..... SBC bought AT&T but we took on the name of AT&T and are learning their systems. I really wonder who bought who. But with today's economy such as it is and the fact that they let 11 people go in our department in April- I am thankful for my job. I am extremely thankful that I love the people I work with. They manage to keep me laughing through the day.

Every company has it's own language, here are some of the words (mostly acronyms) you hear on a regular basis----- PTS, PRI, ATM, PTS, IMA, DS1, DS3, PTS, OC3, OEM, VOIP, Frame, Centrex, PTS, ISDN, MBOS, Web Mom, PTS, Firm, eCRM, ADN, DID, SLA, ICB, COIS, WOT, and did I mention PTS?????? Needless to say- that is what we are hearing constantly these days!!! That part is a pain. But when I wake up in the morning I never dread going in. I may be exhausted at the end of the day- and I usually work a little later than we are supposed to... but everyone does. It wouldn't get done otherwise. I think about retirement but still not sure when that will happen. I just hope when I leave the company it will be on my terms- not the company's terms! So for now- I will keep on keepin' on!!


My building- I think it looks like a prison!!


My cube


Everyone has something to help you find their cube- mine is the Swedish flag!


Part of my picture gallery in my cube!


More of my picture gallery


Lynn getting started for the day!


Good morning Lisa!


Roni working away...


Judy hard at work.


Anna is the youngest of our group!


Going on our daily walk with Roni and Collene


Roni helping me with frame relay issues.


Eating lunch at my desk


Lynn taking a break


Chris is still there as I leave next to last!


Whose messy cube is this????


This is right above my computer- great words to live by!

Two Weddings and a Baby (showers, that is...)

Is it just me or is it that time of year for showers???? This weekend I went to THREE showers. I had fun connecting with friends and family.... I am so fortunate to have the friends and family that I have. Because of them I am never lacking for something to do!! I started off Saturday going to a shower for a friend from Pleasanton's daughter, Cheryl. I taught Cheryl in Young Women in church. Hard to believe she is grown up enough to get married!! I couldn't stay for the whole shower- I was off to San Jose for my cousin, Mike's, daughter, Lyda's bridal shower. That was fun too- Lyda is so cute- her mom came out from Houston for the shower so I enjoyed seeing Zulma too. I also knew Lyda's step-mom, Ming, and her sister-in-law, Nicole. There were a lot of people and I had a great time even though I only knew 4 people there. After the shower I drove up to Brooke's to get a visit in with McKenzie and Brynn. There is no way I could go to the peninsula without driving up to see the girls. They were getting ready to go out of town so I didn't stay long... but long enough to build a few Leggo houses, watch an episode of Little Einsteins, and fix Kenzie some dinner! Brooke and Evan even had a chance to go out for some sushi! So then I drove over to Chris and Bill's for the night. It was great to see them too. We watched some of the Olympics! Sunday afternoon I was off again-this time to a baby shower for Monica. That baby will not need anything for the next year at least!! She got so many great things! Her husband was there too- it was fun to see them opening some of the gifts together. I also felt like Cami was there in spirit so it was comforting for me to be there with Monica. Many of my friends asked me again why I don't just move back to the Bay Area- I am there so much.... good question....


Cheryl and her mom, Sue


Friends at Cheryl's shower


Lyda and her mom, Zulma


Lyda and friends at the shower


Visiting McKenzie and Brynn!


Monica opening gifts at her shower


More goodies for Moni!

It Was Loverly!!

I went see My Fair Lady last night at Music Circus in Sacramento!! It was so fun... Every year my friend , Marcia, shares her theater tickets with me for a play or two. So I treated her to dinner before the play and we had a great time. Dinner was fabulous at a great restaurant about 2 blocks from the theater. We ate outside and it was a beautiful summer evening.

We walked over to the pavilion after dinner for the play. I have seen My Fair Lady before but it has been many years. This was a fantastic show... and I loved listening to the classic songs that I sang when I was in high school choir! They are timeless classics. The costumes were amazing too. Marcia works for Music Circus in the costume department with her sister, Nila, for a summer job (She is a high school teacher). So that made it even more fun knowing she had sewed on many of the dresses and suits that were on the stage. I couldn't take pictures in the theater, of course, or I would have. But there were so many great lines in the play....Very fun- thanks Marica for a great girls night out!


Marcia at the restaurant, Chanterelle.


We both had the skirt steak with portobello mushroom.


Can you tell that we didn't like the dessert- berry cobbler???

Happy Birthday McKenzie!!!

McKenzie turned 3 years old yesterday!! She is a great big sister and such a big girl! She is a whirlwind, that's for sure. From the second she opens her eyes till the moment she goes to sleep this girl never stops moving!!!! She has so much energy as most little ones do, but she seems to have even more than usual. I call her my Jumping Bean! She loves to do puzzles, play with Playdough, paint, color, sing songs, play her guitar, play with her baby dolls, and read her books. Needless to say, when I go over there, she keeps me occupied!!! I love it! She knows how to work Grandma but I don't mind! For her birthday Evan's parents and 3 of his brothers came over too. We had a fun family birthday party. She was so excited! My favorite part was when we sang Happy Birthday to her she sang right along!! It was precious!! So Happy Third Birthday Kenz. Love You!!!!!


McKenzie as a newborn


Her first birthday


Her second birthday




Her third birthday!!