I saw this while at the gym today. Typical scare tactic to get you to buy a security system, but watch closer:
Is it just me, or did that woman and her daughter break the first rule of surviving a horror movie?
NEVER RUN UPSTAIRS WHEN SOMEONE IS CHASING YOU.
Run out the back door from which you just came in, lady. And don't look behind you as you're running.
Who was the marketing genius who greenlighted this ad?
Thursday, August 13, 2009
TRYING to post more
I don't really have that much to talk about - just working, running, sleeping, eating. I'm like a not-so-well-oiled machine. Since the running is the only thing I HAVE the control over, it's the actual least of my worries these days. I'm running the 10-miler in my hometown on September 28, but I have to figure some stuff out - my schedule says I'm supposed to run 14 that day. The last thing I'll do after crossing the finish line is go run 4 more. 'Specially in the area where the finish line is. Who knows. Anyway, since I don't have much to post about, here's something I stole from Lora Lee.
1. What kind of SOAP is in your bathtub right now?
-A soap from a gift basket from a place in Lynchburg called the Farm Basket. I think my mom gave it to me. It's supposedly margarita-flavored.
2. Do you have watermelon in your refrigerator?
-No. Never bought it in my life, now that I think about it.
3. What would you change about your living room?
-I'd definitely like to paint it, and find a way to make it not one big room. If I buy the house, I'd like to block off half and use it as a sunroom, maybe put my studio in there so clients can feel like it's more professional-looking.
4. Are the dishes in your dishwasher clean or dirty?
-Clean. Pressed Play this morning on my way out the door.
5. What is in your fridge?
-Milk, ketchup, salad dressing, leftover Buffalo Chicken Lasagna, baloney, cheese, and a couple bagels. Not a whole lot.
6. White or wheat bread?
-Yeah, here's where I'm supposed to say wheat. But I was jealous of white bread kids as a kid. So I buy white. Usually the enriched kind though.
7. What is on top of your refrigerator?
-Nothing. I hate having stuff up there and have gotten in the habit of dusting it religiously.
8. What color or design is on your shower curtain?
-Black and white damask.
9. How many plants are in your home?
-Zero. Never been a houseplant person.
10. Is your bed made right now?
-Yes. Gotten better at that too.
11. Comet or Soft Scrub?
-I use that foaming bathroom cleaner.
12. Is your closet organized?
-Actually yes. Not in color order or anything, but all of the hangers match, like items are together, and shoes are all in boxes. Best investment I ever made for my clothes, and it helps with a small closet.
13. Can you describe your flashlight?
-Blue Maglite that can be used as a weapon. It stays near my bed in case the boogeyman gets me.
14. Do you drink out of glass or plastic most of the time at home?
-Glass, I only have a few plastic cups after the great college cup purge.
15. Do you have iced tea made in a pitcher right now?
-No. I actually didn't even drink it until recently, despite being from the South. I drink the snapple stuff or unsweetened tea. Personally, seems like sweet tea would rot your teeth, so I've never really indulged the development of a taste for it.
16. If you have a garage, is it cluttered?
-I do not have a garage, but I do have a storage shed. Not cluttered anymore. It was a wreck when my roommate moved out and I thought someone had robbed it or something. So I took a Saturday and organized it.
17. Curtains or blinds?
-Blinds. Working on the curtains if I stay here.
18. How many pillows do you sleep with?
-At least 2.
19. Do you sleep with any lights on at night?
-No, I'm a dark sleeper.
20. How often do you vacuum?
-At least once a week. I love my dyson.
21. Standard toothbrush or electric?
-I love my sonicare even more.
22. What color is your toothbrush?
-White.
23. Do you have a welcome mat on your front porch?
-yes, but it's going in the trash if my old roomie doesn't want to reclaim it - it's waterlogged from rain.
24. What is in your oven right now?
-Nothing. Finally in a place where I don't have to use it for storage.
25. Is there anything under your bed?
-Boxes, my belts (in a box), flipflops, hangers and some winter clothes.
26. Chore you hate doing the most?
-Putting away laundry.
27. What retro items are in your home?
-some antique dressers, my grandmother's easel, some old ads from a 1890's fashion magazine.
28. Do you have a separate room that you use as an office?
-Technically, yes. It's my studio.
29. How many mirrors are in your home?
-3 including the one in the bathroom, but one is old and isn't really that great.
30. Do you have any hidden emergency money around your home?
-only the change jar. I don't like keeping money in the house. Leftover from a roommate I had once that stole from me.
31. What color are your walls?
-Renter's white. Trying to cure that.
32. Do you keep any kind of protection weapons in your home?
-The flashlight. The dog has a mean nasty bark as well. Thinking about at least learning how to use a gun because I've never touched one and am really scared of them.
33. What does your home smell like right now?
-Nothing. I don't like potpourri or overly-scented things. I aim for the neutralizers.
34. Favorite candle scent?
-See above. But there was one called Napa Valley Harvest that I dug for a while from illuminations. Which has since closed down.
35. What kind of pickles (if any) are in your refrigerator right now?
-None, I HATE pickles.
36. What color is your favorite Bible?
-I don't own one, though I might buy one soon just because I've never read it from a perspective of where it wasn't in connection with a church. I'd actually like to read it as if it's a historical textbook. Yes, nerd doesn't even begin to describe me.
37. Ever been on your roof?
-No, but I need to, the gutters need cleaning.
38. Do you own a stereo?
-one of those ipod docks, which I need to get rid of. The iPhone doesn't work with it, dammit.
39. How many TVs do you have?
-One. Never gets used. I watch stuff on the computer 99% of the time.
40. How many house phones?
-Zero. Haven't had a house phone since I lived in Atlanta.
41. Do you have a housekeeper?
-No, but if I buy this house and keep this job, definitely investing in one once a week.
42. What style do you decorate in?
-Artsy but never whimsical. Can't stand whimsical. I like really funky and unusual things, but in a semi-classic way. Put it this way - it's like asking someone to define porn. I just know it when I see it.
43. Do you like solid colors in furniture or prints?
-My couch's slipcover is printed. I guess I prefer to mix prints. It gets interesting that way. Don't want my house to look like every OTHER house.
44. Is there a smoke detector in your home?
-One in every room, the law in rentals in NC.
45. In case of fire, what are the items in your house which you’d grab if you only could make one quick trip?
-The dog would probably be out the door already or following me, so I wouldn't have to grab him, so....I don't know. If I had to...probably pictures, maybe my computer. If I could get it out the door, my easel. Artwork from OTHER artists. Maybe paintings, but half the time I hate looking at my own art, so I'd probably let them burn. Then...I don't know. It's just stuff. Took me a long time, but that's honestly how I feel about it now. Stuff comes and goes, and I've never lamented the loss of any material possession for long. It would give me a nice chance to regroup and I'd be blessed with a new-found absence of clutter. I know, how zen of me. Go ahead and hit me upside the head.
1. What kind of SOAP is in your bathtub right now?
-A soap from a gift basket from a place in Lynchburg called the Farm Basket. I think my mom gave it to me. It's supposedly margarita-flavored.
2. Do you have watermelon in your refrigerator?
-No. Never bought it in my life, now that I think about it.
3. What would you change about your living room?
-I'd definitely like to paint it, and find a way to make it not one big room. If I buy the house, I'd like to block off half and use it as a sunroom, maybe put my studio in there so clients can feel like it's more professional-looking.
4. Are the dishes in your dishwasher clean or dirty?
-Clean. Pressed Play this morning on my way out the door.
5. What is in your fridge?
-Milk, ketchup, salad dressing, leftover Buffalo Chicken Lasagna, baloney, cheese, and a couple bagels. Not a whole lot.
6. White or wheat bread?
-Yeah, here's where I'm supposed to say wheat. But I was jealous of white bread kids as a kid. So I buy white. Usually the enriched kind though.
7. What is on top of your refrigerator?
-Nothing. I hate having stuff up there and have gotten in the habit of dusting it religiously.
8. What color or design is on your shower curtain?
-Black and white damask.
9. How many plants are in your home?
-Zero. Never been a houseplant person.
10. Is your bed made right now?
-Yes. Gotten better at that too.
11. Comet or Soft Scrub?
-I use that foaming bathroom cleaner.
12. Is your closet organized?
-Actually yes. Not in color order or anything, but all of the hangers match, like items are together, and shoes are all in boxes. Best investment I ever made for my clothes, and it helps with a small closet.
13. Can you describe your flashlight?
-Blue Maglite that can be used as a weapon. It stays near my bed in case the boogeyman gets me.
14. Do you drink out of glass or plastic most of the time at home?
-Glass, I only have a few plastic cups after the great college cup purge.
15. Do you have iced tea made in a pitcher right now?
-No. I actually didn't even drink it until recently, despite being from the South. I drink the snapple stuff or unsweetened tea. Personally, seems like sweet tea would rot your teeth, so I've never really indulged the development of a taste for it.
16. If you have a garage, is it cluttered?
-I do not have a garage, but I do have a storage shed. Not cluttered anymore. It was a wreck when my roommate moved out and I thought someone had robbed it or something. So I took a Saturday and organized it.
17. Curtains or blinds?
-Blinds. Working on the curtains if I stay here.
18. How many pillows do you sleep with?
-At least 2.
19. Do you sleep with any lights on at night?
-No, I'm a dark sleeper.
20. How often do you vacuum?
-At least once a week. I love my dyson.
21. Standard toothbrush or electric?
-I love my sonicare even more.
22. What color is your toothbrush?
-White.
23. Do you have a welcome mat on your front porch?
-yes, but it's going in the trash if my old roomie doesn't want to reclaim it - it's waterlogged from rain.
24. What is in your oven right now?
-Nothing. Finally in a place where I don't have to use it for storage.
25. Is there anything under your bed?
-Boxes, my belts (in a box), flipflops, hangers and some winter clothes.
26. Chore you hate doing the most?
-Putting away laundry.
27. What retro items are in your home?
-some antique dressers, my grandmother's easel, some old ads from a 1890's fashion magazine.
28. Do you have a separate room that you use as an office?
-Technically, yes. It's my studio.
29. How many mirrors are in your home?
-3 including the one in the bathroom, but one is old and isn't really that great.
30. Do you have any hidden emergency money around your home?
-only the change jar. I don't like keeping money in the house. Leftover from a roommate I had once that stole from me.
31. What color are your walls?
-Renter's white. Trying to cure that.
32. Do you keep any kind of protection weapons in your home?
-The flashlight. The dog has a mean nasty bark as well. Thinking about at least learning how to use a gun because I've never touched one and am really scared of them.
33. What does your home smell like right now?
-Nothing. I don't like potpourri or overly-scented things. I aim for the neutralizers.
34. Favorite candle scent?
-See above. But there was one called Napa Valley Harvest that I dug for a while from illuminations. Which has since closed down.
35. What kind of pickles (if any) are in your refrigerator right now?
-None, I HATE pickles.
36. What color is your favorite Bible?
-I don't own one, though I might buy one soon just because I've never read it from a perspective of where it wasn't in connection with a church. I'd actually like to read it as if it's a historical textbook. Yes, nerd doesn't even begin to describe me.
37. Ever been on your roof?
-No, but I need to, the gutters need cleaning.
38. Do you own a stereo?
-one of those ipod docks, which I need to get rid of. The iPhone doesn't work with it, dammit.
39. How many TVs do you have?
-One. Never gets used. I watch stuff on the computer 99% of the time.
40. How many house phones?
-Zero. Haven't had a house phone since I lived in Atlanta.
41. Do you have a housekeeper?
-No, but if I buy this house and keep this job, definitely investing in one once a week.
42. What style do you decorate in?
-Artsy but never whimsical. Can't stand whimsical. I like really funky and unusual things, but in a semi-classic way. Put it this way - it's like asking someone to define porn. I just know it when I see it.
43. Do you like solid colors in furniture or prints?
-My couch's slipcover is printed. I guess I prefer to mix prints. It gets interesting that way. Don't want my house to look like every OTHER house.
44. Is there a smoke detector in your home?
-One in every room, the law in rentals in NC.
45. In case of fire, what are the items in your house which you’d grab if you only could make one quick trip?
-The dog would probably be out the door already or following me, so I wouldn't have to grab him, so....I don't know. If I had to...probably pictures, maybe my computer. If I could get it out the door, my easel. Artwork from OTHER artists. Maybe paintings, but half the time I hate looking at my own art, so I'd probably let them burn. Then...I don't know. It's just stuff. Took me a long time, but that's honestly how I feel about it now. Stuff comes and goes, and I've never lamented the loss of any material possession for long. It would give me a nice chance to regroup and I'd be blessed with a new-found absence of clutter. I know, how zen of me. Go ahead and hit me upside the head.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Mothers, turn your children's eyes away. If only because Aunt Molly is extremely vain right now.
No, that's not my butt. And I didn't draw it either, though I wish I did. It's a famous Picasso drawing called "Femme". May not be your taste, and you're probably thinking "um, Oliver/Owen/Charlotte/my newborn could do that" but it's one of my faves purely in it's simplicity. Three lines, yet the subject can instantly be identified even by anyone.Anyway, I post it not because of anything art-related. I'm avoiding putting my vents on here today to give you some happy news. Today, I came home, and like every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, I immediately changed out of my work clothes to get ready for running - if I don't do it right away, I'll talk myself out of it. As I was undressing, I noticed something.
I actually didn't mind my butt.
Seriously, I don't remember once in my LIFE where I thought that. I've looked back at leaner times and thought "I looked way better than I thought I did!", and I know I've never been unfortunate-looking in any department, but my butt and I have had a particularly trying relationship over the years. I don't think I can recall another time when I didn't look in the mirror and think it was either too big or too flat. It was the first of my curves to come in as an awkward teenager, and as any woman knows, it is the body part that's SO hard to get results on, not to mention the fact that jeans shopping alone can put so many people into virtual panic attacks. Even though you won't catch me running around the beach with a thong on any time soon, it was nice to catch a glimpse and go "hey, it's ok-looking!" Maybe it's from age and realizing that I'll NEVER have Elle MacPherson's long legs or Jackie Kennedy's graceful poise, maybe it's from running more, and maybe it's also from the fact that a burned-out lightbulb creates soap-opera-worthy lighting around my mirror.
Butt I'll take it.
Love this idea...
I'm trying to get back into drawing more often for a few reasons:
1. I hate wasting the free time I do have doing stupid stuff like watching entire seasons of horrible TV shows.
2. It's like working out - the longer you're out of it, the harder it is to get back into your form.
3. God, I'm stressed out. I need some sort of reliever. Running only accomplishes so much.
4. I've got all these materials, and they're just cluttering up my space.
5. Drawing is the foundation for painting, and painting is, well, what I'd rather be doing instead of sitting in an office. If I ever expect to start selling again, the only way to accomplish it is to start drawing again.
So I've poked around at how to force myself back into it, and I found this: the 100 drawing challenge. My goal: to post 100 drawings of the following themes. I'll add them as I can and post a link back on here. That is, if I can remember how to edit my website. A friend suggested I sell the drawings for $50 each, but since I have no idea how they'll turn out yet, I'll wait on that.
THE LIST……………………….
1. Introduction
2. Love –
3.Light –
4.Dark
5. Seeking Solace
6. Break Away
7. Heaven
8. Innocence
9. Drive –
10. Breathe Again –
11. Memory –
12. Insanity
13. Misfortune
14. Smile
15. Silence
16. Questioning
17. Blood –
18. Rainbow –
19. Gray –
20. Fortitude
21. Vacation
22. Mother Nature
23. Cat
24. No Time
25. Trouble Lurking
26. Tears
27. Foreign
28. Sorrow
29. Happiness
30. Under the Rain –
31. Flowers
32. Night
33. Expectations
34. Stars –
35. Hold My Hand –
36. Precious Treasure
37. Eyes
38. Abandoned
39. Dreams
40. Rated
41. Teamwork
42. Standing Still
43. Dying
44. Two Roads
45. Illusion
46. Family
47. Creation
48. Childhood
49. Stripes
50. Breaking the Rules
51. Sport
52. Deep in Thought –
53. Keeping a Secret
54. Tower
55. Waiting –
56. Danger Ahead
57. Sacrifice
58. Kick in the Head
59. No Way Out
60. Rejection
61. Fairy Tale
62. Magic
63. Do Not Disturb
64. Multitasking
65. Horror –
66. Traps –
67. Playing the Melody
68. Hero –
69. Annoyance
70. 67%
71. Obsession –
72. Mischief Managed
73. I Can’t
74. Are You Challenging Me?
75. Mirror
76. Broken Pieces –
77. Test
78. Drink
79. Starvation
80. Words –
81. Pen and Paper
82. Can You Hear Me?
83. Heal
84. Out Cold
85. Spiral
86. Seeing Red –
87. Food
88. Pain
89. Through the Fire
90. Triangle –
91. Drowning
92. All That I Have
93. Give Up
94. Last Hope
95. Advertisement –
96. In the Storm
97. Safety First
98. Puzzle
99. Solitude
100. Relaxation
*Note: I copied and pasted this onto a word document a long time ago and since have NO idea where I got it from. If you were the original author of this list, please leave a comment and I'll be happy to credit you. Free drawing to the author.
1. I hate wasting the free time I do have doing stupid stuff like watching entire seasons of horrible TV shows.
2. It's like working out - the longer you're out of it, the harder it is to get back into your form.
3. God, I'm stressed out. I need some sort of reliever. Running only accomplishes so much.
4. I've got all these materials, and they're just cluttering up my space.
5. Drawing is the foundation for painting, and painting is, well, what I'd rather be doing instead of sitting in an office. If I ever expect to start selling again, the only way to accomplish it is to start drawing again.
So I've poked around at how to force myself back into it, and I found this: the 100 drawing challenge. My goal: to post 100 drawings of the following themes. I'll add them as I can and post a link back on here. That is, if I can remember how to edit my website. A friend suggested I sell the drawings for $50 each, but since I have no idea how they'll turn out yet, I'll wait on that.
THE LIST……………………….
1. Introduction
2. Love –
3.Light –
4.Dark
5. Seeking Solace
6. Break Away
7. Heaven
8. Innocence
9. Drive –
10. Breathe Again –
11. Memory –
12. Insanity
13. Misfortune
14. Smile
15. Silence
16. Questioning
17. Blood –
18. Rainbow –
19. Gray –
20. Fortitude
21. Vacation
22. Mother Nature
23. Cat
24. No Time
25. Trouble Lurking
26. Tears
27. Foreign
28. Sorrow
29. Happiness
30. Under the Rain –
31. Flowers
32. Night
33. Expectations
34. Stars –
35. Hold My Hand –
36. Precious Treasure
37. Eyes
38. Abandoned
39. Dreams
40. Rated
41. Teamwork
42. Standing Still
43. Dying
44. Two Roads
45. Illusion
46. Family
47. Creation
48. Childhood
49. Stripes
50. Breaking the Rules
51. Sport
52. Deep in Thought –
53. Keeping a Secret
54. Tower
55. Waiting –
56. Danger Ahead
57. Sacrifice
58. Kick in the Head
59. No Way Out
60. Rejection
61. Fairy Tale
62. Magic
63. Do Not Disturb
64. Multitasking
65. Horror –
66. Traps –
67. Playing the Melody
68. Hero –
69. Annoyance
70. 67%
71. Obsession –
72. Mischief Managed
73. I Can’t
74. Are You Challenging Me?
75. Mirror
76. Broken Pieces –
77. Test
78. Drink
79. Starvation
80. Words –
81. Pen and Paper
82. Can You Hear Me?
83. Heal
84. Out Cold
85. Spiral
86. Seeing Red –
87. Food
88. Pain
89. Through the Fire
90. Triangle –
91. Drowning
92. All That I Have
93. Give Up
94. Last Hope
95. Advertisement –
96. In the Storm
97. Safety First
98. Puzzle
99. Solitude
100. Relaxation
*Note: I copied and pasted this onto a word document a long time ago and since have NO idea where I got it from. If you were the original author of this list, please leave a comment and I'll be happy to credit you. Free drawing to the author.
Monday, August 3, 2009
House woes and Artistic throes...
I feel bad about not posting. Not much going on except work, running and now, the house. What about my house? Well...it's a long story. My cousin had been living with me since late October, and we signed a year-long lease. She had a harder time finding a job than she anticipated, and finally found one with a firm that has her in a territory up to 2 hours away every day. The commute was killing her, so she moved into a house out in one of those random NC counties. Seems good for her, and her company bought out her half of the lease, so her rent is paid here until the lease expires November 1. I thought I had another place lined up, but it fell through and I was having second thoughts anyway - I love having a yard (the new place didn't have one), and I love the old-school charm to this house as well as the awesome location - less than a mile from work. I WANT to stay here, but can't afford it on my own. To top it all off, the landlord REALLY wants to sell the place. I think he anticipated flipping it for a huge profit, then the market just dried up after he had sunk $100k worth of repairs into the place. Beautiful, up-to-date house...but there's a glut of them on the market in Charlotte. I'd buy it myself, but I'm not in a position to do so. So the guy just basically gave the realtor/management company the go-ahead to sell the house at a loss if I don't sign a lease. If I go month-to-month, I risk the rent going up or getting kicked out on my tail at closing if it sells. So I have to look around for another place. It REALLY just stinks. I love this house, and I won't find another fitting my needs so close to work for such a great price. Threw a hail mary pass tonight in desperation, but I don't think I'll be here after November.
Worst part? Well, it's leaving a house that I really like. But the second worst part is that I AM SO SICK OF MOVING. I have moved FIFTEEN TIMES in 13 years. I'm ready to NOT be a nomad for once. Guess it might just take another move.
As Colonel Mustard would say...hauur!
I also started painting again this weekend, which made me realize how much I'll miss having a studio. I've been a bit spoiled with one for the past two years, even if I didn't use it much when I started working corporate again. I'm hoping to use it every day until I move now...just to get my money's worth, I guess. I found this website and it looks interesting. I think I'm going to take the challenge and see what I can get out of it. Won't sell any work, but it'll be interesting to see what comes out. I really like those kinds of assignments, the "variations on a theme" rather than "let's see who can make their painting look exactly like the photograph." Sadly, I'm actually better at making it look like a photograph, so I'm hoping this will expand my repertoire a bit. I've realized that the work I've done where it LEAST looked like a photograph seems to get the most praise...while I don't do it for praise, I think I might heed that kind of direction more in the future.
Worst part? Well, it's leaving a house that I really like. But the second worst part is that I AM SO SICK OF MOVING. I have moved FIFTEEN TIMES in 13 years. I'm ready to NOT be a nomad for once. Guess it might just take another move.
As Colonel Mustard would say...hauur!
I also started painting again this weekend, which made me realize how much I'll miss having a studio. I've been a bit spoiled with one for the past two years, even if I didn't use it much when I started working corporate again. I'm hoping to use it every day until I move now...just to get my money's worth, I guess. I found this website and it looks interesting. I think I'm going to take the challenge and see what I can get out of it. Won't sell any work, but it'll be interesting to see what comes out. I really like those kinds of assignments, the "variations on a theme" rather than "let's see who can make their painting look exactly like the photograph." Sadly, I'm actually better at making it look like a photograph, so I'm hoping this will expand my repertoire a bit. I've realized that the work I've done where it LEAST looked like a photograph seems to get the most praise...while I don't do it for praise, I think I might heed that kind of direction more in the future.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Sad post, but I'm trying for hope...
I normally never ask for these things, but whatever it is you do for a bit of human compassion - prayers, karma, good thoughts, lighting candles, what have you - please take some time and send an extra one out, if you could. I can't get into specifics of who or what, but I found out this weekend that a very dear friend of over ten years is going through a rough time, a rougher time than 90% of us will ever face. It tears my heart to pieces to see it happening, and I'm still quite in shock.
So yes, I'd love it if any of y'all could help with just some positive vibes or whatever it is that you do, and while you're at it, help someone out today that you know is having a tough go at life lately. You never know how much it will be appreciated.
So yes, I'd love it if any of y'all could help with just some positive vibes or whatever it is that you do, and while you're at it, help someone out today that you know is having a tough go at life lately. You never know how much it will be appreciated.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Warning: venting about work WAY too much.
Bonus points if you can find the movie reference in today's post.
I have had exactly zero time lately. My day is like this:
-Hit Snooze.
-Hit Snooze.
-Hit Snooze.
-Hit Snooze.
-Get dressed for work and make it there by 8:30. My company's hours are 8-5, but since I rarely take a lunch, stay late, and I work my arse off, they don't really mind. I'll miss this if I have to go somewhere else, I admit.
-Answer about 50 emails.
-Work until my eyes are starting to burn into the computer.
-Take a 5 minute lunch: vending machine food, something I threw in my bag, or a sandwich from downstairs. Or nothing. All consumed at my desk.
-Check my personal email on my phone. Forward it to my work email if I need to respond.
-Talk to whatever people are screaming at my team that day. I don't take it personally, but I've noticed that the field only calls me when something's REALLY wrong. And then they all let me know.
-Meetings/conference calls.
-Read and possibly answer 50-100 more emails.
-Work again until I look like a "before" picture in a Visine ad.
-Sometime between 5:30 and 7, leave the building.
-Drive home, let the dog out, and change clothes.
-Go running (on the treadmill, since it's too hot)
-Come home, check my personal email, facebook, shower and eat whatever heats up in 90 seconds or less.
-Get in bed. Watch an episode of "How I Met Your Mother"
-Sleep.
Yeah, so that's why 20 minutes to write a blog entry is tough to come by. I can't even go grocery shopping unless its a "rest" day on my running plan. All I can hope for is that SOMEthing gives soon. I had a meeting with my boss on Monday because NO ONE could handle the workload we have right now, and I needed her to just cut me a little slack on some things that she was going to be expecting of me in the future. She agreed, and she asked me about the status of the biggest project I'm on. This is one where I've had to be the bad guy to property managers in 6 states, and I'm getting literally 250 emails a day with URGENT problems that I need to solve NOW. I told my boss the status, and she said she sensed I was stressed and wanted me to be very frank with her, and not to hide how I'm feeling.
CUE MOLLY CRYING. I rarely cry at work. This was an all out UGLY cry. I said I was physically exhausted, I've had one day off in 9 months where I'm not either deathly ill or working from home, and that the expectations are too high - me and one other person are doing what used to be the work of five people, and we have almost double the volume that those five people had. My boss was supportive and said that I was doing a great job and better than any other person they had brought in for my work, and that I needed to go home and get some rest. I did, four hours later after my meeting, and I did feel a bit better just having gotten it out. But I HATE crying at work. I don't, as a rule, do it. It's not professional. But I'm just glad it happened in a conference room, not in front of people. To top it all off, though, I had an outright panic attack on Wednesday because I realized that I couldn't find an email. Yep, it's the little things that push you over the edge! Some days, I'm about thisclose to taking Erin and/or Carrie up on the idea of being a nanny for their kids. While I realize that caring for kids has its own set of stresses and lack of time issues, hey, at least at the end of the day, even if they were sick and crying all day, they go back to their parents. And I think it'd be highly unlikely in that sort of job for Charlotte, Ella or Emma to call me and scream that they have an "EMERGENCY" because, horror of all horrors, the lawn didn't get cut today at a bank branch. I swear, I am convinced that spreadsheets and data analysis workflows were solely created by drug companies trying to push the high-blood pressure and anti-anxiety meds that are necessitated by working with Excel. Anyway, yeah, it's been a rough couple of weeks at work. I'm going to a DG sister's bridal shower tomorrow in Athens, and I'm very excited to see people where I can talk about something OTHER than facilities management.
I promise, more happy posts next time, just had to vent a bit. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a lunch meeting in 20 minutes with Cliff Huxtable at the Four Seasons.
I have had exactly zero time lately. My day is like this:
-Hit Snooze.
-Hit Snooze.
-Hit Snooze.
-Hit Snooze.
-Get dressed for work and make it there by 8:30. My company's hours are 8-5, but since I rarely take a lunch, stay late, and I work my arse off, they don't really mind. I'll miss this if I have to go somewhere else, I admit.
-Answer about 50 emails.
-Work until my eyes are starting to burn into the computer.
-Take a 5 minute lunch: vending machine food, something I threw in my bag, or a sandwich from downstairs. Or nothing. All consumed at my desk.
-Check my personal email on my phone. Forward it to my work email if I need to respond.
-Talk to whatever people are screaming at my team that day. I don't take it personally, but I've noticed that the field only calls me when something's REALLY wrong. And then they all let me know.
-Meetings/conference calls.
-Read and possibly answer 50-100 more emails.
-Work again until I look like a "before" picture in a Visine ad.
-Sometime between 5:30 and 7, leave the building.
-Drive home, let the dog out, and change clothes.
-Go running (on the treadmill, since it's too hot)
-Come home, check my personal email, facebook, shower and eat whatever heats up in 90 seconds or less.
-Get in bed. Watch an episode of "How I Met Your Mother"
-Sleep.
Yeah, so that's why 20 minutes to write a blog entry is tough to come by. I can't even go grocery shopping unless its a "rest" day on my running plan. All I can hope for is that SOMEthing gives soon. I had a meeting with my boss on Monday because NO ONE could handle the workload we have right now, and I needed her to just cut me a little slack on some things that she was going to be expecting of me in the future. She agreed, and she asked me about the status of the biggest project I'm on. This is one where I've had to be the bad guy to property managers in 6 states, and I'm getting literally 250 emails a day with URGENT problems that I need to solve NOW. I told my boss the status, and she said she sensed I was stressed and wanted me to be very frank with her, and not to hide how I'm feeling.
CUE MOLLY CRYING. I rarely cry at work. This was an all out UGLY cry. I said I was physically exhausted, I've had one day off in 9 months where I'm not either deathly ill or working from home, and that the expectations are too high - me and one other person are doing what used to be the work of five people, and we have almost double the volume that those five people had. My boss was supportive and said that I was doing a great job and better than any other person they had brought in for my work, and that I needed to go home and get some rest. I did, four hours later after my meeting, and I did feel a bit better just having gotten it out. But I HATE crying at work. I don't, as a rule, do it. It's not professional. But I'm just glad it happened in a conference room, not in front of people. To top it all off, though, I had an outright panic attack on Wednesday because I realized that I couldn't find an email. Yep, it's the little things that push you over the edge! Some days, I'm about thisclose to taking Erin and/or Carrie up on the idea of being a nanny for their kids. While I realize that caring for kids has its own set of stresses and lack of time issues, hey, at least at the end of the day, even if they were sick and crying all day, they go back to their parents. And I think it'd be highly unlikely in that sort of job for Charlotte, Ella or Emma to call me and scream that they have an "EMERGENCY" because, horror of all horrors, the lawn didn't get cut today at a bank branch. I swear, I am convinced that spreadsheets and data analysis workflows were solely created by drug companies trying to push the high-blood pressure and anti-anxiety meds that are necessitated by working with Excel. Anyway, yeah, it's been a rough couple of weeks at work. I'm going to a DG sister's bridal shower tomorrow in Athens, and I'm very excited to see people where I can talk about something OTHER than facilities management.
I promise, more happy posts next time, just had to vent a bit. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a lunch meeting in 20 minutes with Cliff Huxtable at the Four Seasons.
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