I'm back...but barely

Whew...what a whirlwind number of days.

Drove all night Thursday night, to get to Sequim by 1:00 Friday. Picked up U-Haul...Drove to Grandma's. How odd it was to be there without her.

Ticked off cousin's friend...long story...this will be an entirely different blog post when I can think.

Made dump runs and had entire house packed by 4:00 pm on Saturday. Took kids swimming at the hotel pool and went to dinner.

Got up Sunday morning...drove all day...was told that I haven't been a very good friend (not by hubby)...crashed at a hotel....got up today...drove all day...picked up car from dealer (was getting serviced)...raced 20 miles up the hill to get hubby's paycheck...raced 18 miles back down the hill to get to the bank before they closed...was stopped and turned around as the road was closed because of a fire...had to turn around and head home. Logged in to computer to complete my Employment Practices Liability exam...did not pass...wanted to cry...feeling a lot tired and a little overwhelmed by it all.

MUST. BREATHE!!

I'll be back in calmer form tomorrow. I just couldn't go another day without saying HI to all.

By the way, my son is still up in Washington with Mom and Nurse sister. Look at what I traded him in for this week. Yep...it's the face only a mother (or loving aunt and uncle) can love.

I'm not really here...

You don't see me.

I'm not really here. I'm getting distracted supposed to be working on my Employment Practices Liability exam. Stimulating stuff, huh?

I know you're jealous.

Well tomorrow it gets even more interesting. Hubby, son and I leave for Sequim WA. We have to go help my Mom clean out Grandma's place. We're going to go as far as we can tomorrow night, and get there on Friday.

For all of you lurking out there, we WILL have a house sitter to take care of our dogs while we're gone. So don't even think about coming to shop at my house.

I'll have some time to work on my exams during the long drive. To be honest, I'll have to squeeze some naps in while driving sitting as a passenger.

I will try to post some advance posts, so you don't have to go so long without the Grandy. :) In the meantime, we're coming to the end of our Breast Cancer awareness month...Have you all been clicking my banner?

I haven't had a chance to stalk you about this for a while. I think you can even click more than once per day. It doesn't tell me I can't. Just so ya know.

It's not cheating if it's for a good cause, right?

Back to the books. Remember...you never saw me.

Nothing Like the Last Minute

picture courtesy of AEI Claims Law

I'm pretty sure Grandy has mentioned that she is taking a I'll get to it when I can self-study course. I had signed up for it quite a while ago, and then had my lovely health matters. It got put on the back burner.

Well, Grandy has received a letter indicating that I need to get this whole section done by July 7th. See that picture up there? Yep, that's a whole section. Just one binder...all the books fit in one and each binder is a section.

How many books are in this section? 8
+
How many books has Grandy so far completed? 3
+
How LONG do they give you to complete each book? 30 days
=

Grandy is HOSED!!!

Yep...Grandy feels A.L.I.V.E. as she is forced to recall her cram sessions in college. It's been a while, and we have to leave town this week to go pack up Grandma's house, but Grandy is determined to get it done.

Anybody got any cliff notes to "Pleadings and Practice"? No? Oh well...back to studying.

Any other last-minute Charlie's out there? I know there must be. Why don't you de-lurk and share your story. I promise to come back and respond...because let's face it...I'd rather be here anyway and I'm always looking for a way to get out of this.

Things you'd hear at my desk - Take 2

We must find the humor in what we do...right?

Sometimes Grandy finds a little more humor than maybe she should be allowed to. Sometimes Grandy amuses the heck out of herself and has more fun than should be allowed...with clothes on.

Well, although I am still busier than a three-legged cat in a litter box at work, I am either starting to return to my less overwhelmed state, or I'm delirious.

So...the following statements are more things you would hear at Grandy's desk (and of course the plucky commentary that goes along with it).

Grandy: Sir, I'm sorry but I didn't get your email. Are you sure you sent it to the right address? Read it back to me.
Pain in the a$$ (PITA) Man #1: I sent it to you alright. You need to check again. Oh wait...I didn't put the dot com on it.
Grandy: Well, there you have it.
PITA Man #1: Well why didn't you tell me that?
**Seriously? I'm supposed to know what the heck your problem is?

Grandy: You hurt yourself on the treadmill?
PITA Man #2: Yes, it was going too fast.
Grandy: You set it too fast?
PITA Man #2: No, it was too fast when I got on.
**Yep...you are reading this right...he got on a moving treadmill and fell right off. HUH

PITA #3: What's the status on this?
Grandy: Do you mean you want a NEWER status?
PITA #3: Yes
Grandy: Newer than yesterday, when I told you it would be 3 weeks before I had an answer?
**You do understand what Grandy really wanted to say here, right? Tell me you know what I wanted to say.

PITA #4: I need you to lean on them for me.
Grandy: I'm sorry, lean on who?
PITA #4: The FBI
Grandy: Huh, yeah, I'm not sure I have that kind of power.
**It's wonder Grandy! I am the all mighty powerful. When I speak, government agencies take notice... NOT!

Please share the craziest thing you've had to say at your desk, or what someone's said to you. Share your fun. It can be quite liberating, really, and it would cheer me up. :)

Rewind & Repeat

How was every one's weekend? Good? Did you Dads have a good Father's Day? I want to thank everyone who stopped by and commented on my note to Dad.

I spent the weekend with my twin sister. She so rocks! I don't know if I had any readers when I wrote this post, but I thought it important to re-post. It was so great to spend time with her and her wonderful family, that I just had to share her with you.

My Twin is Better than Yours
originally posted October 17, 2007

The fact that I only have one child causes me some anxiety sometimes. I never planned it this way. I always assumed after I got married, I'd see how the other half of the Mom's tried it. I was going to see what it was like to have a child WITH my husband. Alas (...sigh...) the health issues (previously mentioned in my other posts) determined that for me, and one is what I get.

When my son was in kindergarten, I was always so afraid for him. He rode the bus by himself, rode his bike in the court by himself (of course I watched, CPS back off), heck he would do so much by himself, or on his own, I am just amazed by his bravery. Knowing he would be an only child, although he seems perfectly fine with it, broke my heart and it took me quite a while to understand why. I never had to do anything by myself!

You see, I am 1/2 of a pretty well balanced twin team. My twin sister is truly my best friend. She is the Yin to my Yang. People always ask, "You mean there's another one just like you out there?" Heck no!! That would be absolutely crazy. You might say we are the same person, in a parallel universe (you Star Trek fans know what I mean).

I like to describe us as:
She's right handed and I am left.
She's got naturally straight hair, whereas mine is fresh from the electrical outlet.
She has brown eyes and I have blue.
She's good at Math & Science, where my interests have always been more Arts & History.
She's a bit more on the reserve side, where I'm kinda out there. (Not a professional diagnosis however).
She's tall and thin...Um...Okay, maybe we do have a lot in common (NOT)!!

We were pretty sure the Wonder Twins had NOTHING on us. Put us on a game show and we would bring home the prizes for sure!!

We're often asked, "What's it like being a twin?" To that, my answer is always "What's it like not being a twin?" I don't know how to be anything else. I have never had to do the whole alone thing. Obviously we had our own interests and did different things from time to time, but I have always had her to lean on. I have no idea where I would be, were it not for her, and I am constantly thankful for that.

There was a well known rule between my twin and I while growing up. If I asked permission from our folks, to do anything, the answer would always be "No!". However, if my sister asked the same darned question, it would inevitably be "Yes!" Oh how she would use that one over me. It was never known why at the time, but I used to do everything...short of physical harm (again, trying to keep CPS off my back)...to get her to ask for permission. We later asked Mom why this would be...and she simply said, "We always trusted her judgment more than yours". DUH!!! Of course you did!! I know I would!!

Now we are both grown up, with families of our own (who knew she'd end up with 3 boys) and yet we still talk every day! She lives a couple hours away, but we do try to see each other as often as we can. She has seen me through some very "interesting" (insert any appropriate adjective here) times. Maybe there was something to Mom's idea of judgment? Hmmmm....

Ever since that movie Beaches, my Mom has always she sees those girls as us. I guess to some cheesy/corny degree she is right. She IS "the wind beneath my wings". My hope? That I'm not the hole in her hot air balloon.

One of the best things about my sister? And another thing we don't have really in common, but a good quality I strive to have?? Her ability to NOT take things personally. She doesn't care much about what other people think. She lets things roll off her back pretty well, and amazes me every day. I only wish I had that quality. I'm getting better as I get older, but she stays 3 steps ahead of me.

When I grow up, I want to be like my sister!!

Thanks Cara!!

You ROCK!!!

Another Father's Day

This August it will be 4 years.

I've gotten better on anniversaries and and birthdays. Those are days I can keep to myself, they sneak up quietly and then pass by. Any angst I feel I am able to keep to myself.

This day... this one is difficult. There are constant reminders out there, advertisements, special gifts, balloons, cards, you name it. I try to tune it out, as best I can, but it all reminds me of you.

Happy Father's Day Dad!! I miss you so very much!! We had our challenges, as any father-daughter team does, but we overcame so much in our time together. You never realized how much we all loved you. I don't think it ever sank in...until the end. I'm so very grateful that you did finally realize how important you were to us. It sure took you long enough.

You would be proud of Mom, ya know. She's AMAZING!! Of course, you already knew that. You were married almost 50 years.

Now I'm going to take the day and spend it with Hubby. He's a great father in his own right, and deserves all the credits for doing so. I thank you for seeing that in him during moments I didn't.

Psst...wanna know what I got him? Tickets to Motley Crue Cruefest. Oh yeah...Grandy has scored some SERIOUS points with this gift.

Thanks Dad...Thank you for EVERYTHING!!

I LOVE YOU!!

Happy Dad's Day!!

A Telegram to our Company

Dear Mr. Boss Man STOP

You ask me how it's going and expect my "honest" feedback STOP

I am at work, busting my a$$, and trying not to complain or spew curse words STOP

Please ask nothing more of me at this time STOP

I CAN'T BREATHE STOP IT

Thank you for my 2% more fun STOP

Poison Plant

This plant can be so problematic.

Grandy has never been one to be able to readily point out where these plants differ (I really struggle with the whole identifying thing). My boys can tell me where I can find poison oak, and that's pretty much fine with me.

What I DO know is that if there is something that is going to make Grandy's skin itch, then Grandy will get it...times 10.

I received permission from a friend of mine, who has a son the same age as mine, to post a story about the silliness of her son. I love this kid, he's sweet and smart, but he recently did something I think all kids (and maybe some adults) could learn from.

Well, said son of hers just KNEW that he could not get a reaction to poison oak. Said son was so adamant that he could not get effected, he decided to prove it.

Yep! You guessed it! He took two handfuls of this lovely plant pictured above, and rubbed it allover his face.

Oh yes he did! This sweet boy now looks like he's been been beaten.

Perhaps he's learned his lesson?

If nothing else...perhaps he's taught others...not to do these silly things.

Share what works...

Do you blog for frequency or quality?


Ok, that's a sucky way to ask the question. Of course we post on our blog hoping to engage our readers, to relate to them, and write something that will keep them coming back. (Too cheesy?)


Well, Grandy is obsessed with finding topics she can share with you to keep her audience entertained. I can't tell you how many ideas have been scrapped because maybe I thought it was funny at the time and when looking at it... the idea blew chunks.


You may not know this, and if not I'm truly sorry, but Grandy tries not to force her readers to read crap. Really... I do. I know you can all tell if I've forced a post and "phoned it in", but please know I do understand and I'M SORRY!!



Does your blog have a niche? What sort of theme do you cater to?



Grandy is kind of all across the map (ya think?) and so I wonder if I'm maybe just speaking to similar nutcases like me? How many of those are out there anyway?


Well, I just want you to know that Grandy is working on something BIG. It's bigger than big, and I hope to have it launched by July.


I ask you all to share with me your thoughts on what you like to see in particular blogs. Do you have any words of wisdom for what NOT to do? That's just as helpful, you know, if not more.


Grandy needs all the help she can get for this uber secretive project. I'm not going to tell until it's time, but I thought now would be an EXCELLENT time for me to pick your brains, while of course reminding you all to click my button over there on the right. Did you??


Alright, I'm done for now (just with the reminding you to click...which you better do) but I encourage all you blogging pros out there to show this challenged girl what comes next. In the meantime...anyone got a spare copy of this??

Grandy Can't Complain

Photograph courtesy of photobucket.com

Grandy typically makes jokes about what goes on at her desk.

It's what I do to cope with the craziness. Who couldn't make fun of some of the silly things that come my way.

Remember my post, Things You'd Hear at My Desk? I really do have fun sometimes because it's just easier to make fun than it is to wig out.

I've really been doing well with my new "NO STRESS" mantra. I remind myself to be POSITIVE and PRODUCTIVE every morning, and it seems to help. I've been working "normal" hours, and have managed to really approach work in a positive light...for the most part.

Well, Grandy has fewer things to to be positive about, but will be working ever harder at her mantra. We have unfortunately been hit by the down-size bug. I have had to say good-bye to some very dear friends, and we didn't see it coming.

Why is it that it feels like such a loss even for the people that remain? There's an awkwardness in the office because no one seems to want to talk about it. These were good people, who were good at their jobs, and were it not for the difficult times would still be with us. They were our friends.

When the announcements came down about who it was (and they were not in the room) there were sincere tears. Not tears of relief in those that worried it would be them, but rather tears for the loss to the company, and of their friends. We truly were a tight knit group.

We are now left to absorb the work of the others, where we weren't sure how we could get our own work done before. But Grandy can't complain...because Grandy was spared.

Grandy has a job. It's now the job of 3 people...but it is a job, and a job she is good at. She will no longer take her job for granted. She may complain, and maybe just to you readers, but she will not do so with anyone who knows the full story. I did not understand, before Wednesday, the true magnitude of how her job was on the line.

To my friends, all of whom are wonderfully, beautiful, talented women, may you kick ass and take names at your next adventure very soon.

I love you!! And I'm sorry!!

EntreCard Top Droppers

Some of you may remember that I participate in EntreCard which is a community that introduces you to something like a gazillion other blogs. People put their ad in my little spot over there, and I put my ad out there on other blogs too.

Grandy's ad looks like this:

Well, people come and drop their cards on my site. Whether they stay to read, I don't know. I know I've met some new bloggers out there, and am grateful for that.

Well, I thought I would link to my "top droppers". You can only drop once a day, and these people are the top people that have come to drop their cards on me in the last 30 days.

Dropper: # of drops
Obscure History: 26
Aakaash Ganga: 25
Delta's Dark Den of Destruction: 24
CONQUER the universe: 24
Meltwater. Torrents. Meanderings. Delta.: 23
Found Shit: 21
nofaceberg: 21
Modern Glam: 20
tenForty: 17
First Door on the Left: 17

Thanks readers... and welcome newbies. :)

p.s. When you dropped your card... did you click my button over there? You really should. :)

Click My Button for Cancer

In my pursuit of the all mighty EntreCard today I came across Mommy's Little Corner, who had posted about this as a meme. As I read more about it, I thought it most appropriate to steal the idea contribute to the cause.

You all know how important this cause is to me, and so many others. Cancer is a horrible disease, and I'm all about raising awareness along with a little fundage for the cause.

See the button at the bottom of the page? It should be over in my sidebar too. See it??

Well click it! I know, Grandy has told you to do so many things associated with it, but for this one I will send some subtle (and not so subtle) hints so you'll remember.

CLICK the button. Come on...You know you want to!!

You see, if the Breast Cancer Site receives 8 million clicks on the pink button in June, their premier sponsor -Bare Necessities- will donate $10,000 for more free mammograms.

CLICK the pink button today and EVERY DAY in June. You have to come see the Grandy anyway, so why not click. It's free and shouldn't contribute to your carpel tunnel...too bad.

Tell all your friends about it...put it on your site, or just send them this way (I would love that) and have them CLICK.

Go ahead...everyone is doing it.

CLICK

Perhaps I could start a business?

One thing you have to understand about Grandy is that she is very much the diplomat when it comes to confrontational issues. All day long she must take information from people, and turn it into something that makes sense. She crafts the language in a way that people don't realize there is an issue, or it takes them a while to figure out they've been told off.

It's truly an art. I used to be told that when I was on the phone arguing discussing important issues with someone, I could have told them to F-Off and they wouldn't have figured it out for about 10 minutes, or well after I was off the phone with them.

When a message needs to be delivered, Grany is looked upon to craft the message in a way that it is as painless as possible, without losing the purpose in the process. It's a fine line.

One must think of statements they currently use and translate them. For example:

Instead of: Can you believe this sh!t? You might say: Really?

Instead of: You really screwed this up. You might say: How can we fix this?

And if someone is just not getting it, you might try the ever important: Please explain to me what your next action is so I know we're on the same page.

Grandy has been called upon to draft emails and letters for friends and family alike, when they don't want to craft the difficult message.

Got a letter you need sent to the editor?

Opposing a direction being taken by the school board and you want to raise awareness?

Need to clarify something with your boss to cover your ass confirm an understanding?

Have you got a family member making you nuts and you need a succinct way to let them know they bite?

Need to tell a customer no?

There is no license for this skill, nor a certificate. Grandy just thinks that everyone should have a proof-reader in their corner to clean things up and make sure your actual point is heard.

It's quite liberating...really!

This will avoid messy emails like this: We are going to have a mandatory meeting for everyone on Wednesday afternoon. You will find out the time of the meeting early Wednesday afternoon. Make sure you all attend.

I could have SO helped this man avoid anxiety in the ranks.

So...if you've got a need, please tell Grandy how she can fill it. Want me to write a letter for you? An Email? Need to bounce something off Grandy?

I may struggle in my computer and technical skills...but I've got the communication thing down.

Come on, lay it on me. :)

A Long-Awaited Biased Review

Sorry folks...There were two performances of the play and Grandy doesn't have a camcorder. I did take some pictures of the little Grandy during the show...but not all of them turned out so great. I'm still learning about the settings on the camera, and am trying to learn even more about editing pictures.

Without further ado...here is my completely biased take on the play.


Ty played the part of Deputy Dudley DooWrong. What a dolt indeed. He really played it with conviction, having tons-o-fun playing silly (far stretch I know).


This picture is a scene where he walks in on two bank robbers holding up the bank, and doesn't even realize it.



Here he is onstage with the hero of the story, Sherriff Wayne John. See him on the ground there? He does this a lot in the play. He's a regular "Jack Tripper" with his prat-falls. He seems to have fun with it.

I was really pretty impressed with the entire cast. It's amazing to see these kids now, having watched so many of them grow over the years. I was so proud...of all of them.

It took the first 5-10 minutes for them all to settle down and speak at a pace slower than Speedy Gonzales, and about that long for me to realize I was watching it as a MOM and to let go of technical things, and it was smooth sailing from there.

So, then here I am, I logged on to my laptop to write a wonderful review for you all, and somehow the photo program is different. I permanently changed one of the better pictures of the curtain call, by trying to clean up a red-eye. That scared me from doing anything further.

Just know that my little guy kicked some bad-guys' butts. Okay, Sherriff Wayne John did, for the love of his Polly Wanda Cracker (go ahead, say it out loud, it really does sound like that).

Thanks for your well wishes and support!!