I Survived Back To Work Day!!

Well...day one back at work is behind me (and I was worried). I guess I jumped in with both feet and didn't land on my rear. For the following reasons I will be keeping tonight's post as short and sweet as possible:
6:00 am - Up & attem (I get to sleep late because of Dr. appt)
7:30 am - Drop son off at school
8:00 am - Shoot...forgot I had 1pm massage scheduled...luckily, opening at 5pm.
8:15 am - Get lab work done (gotta love that fasting)...no one is in line? My luck ROCKS today.
8:30 am - Get some food in me (still loving the fasting)
9:30 am - Neurology appointment (How many ways do I not sleep?)
11:00 am - Drive the 35 miles from MD to Office..."Breathing" all the way.
11:45 am - Get to the office - arrived to some nice flowers, a welcome back sign, and some lovely smiling faces (still thinking positive).
11:50 am - Get call from client...who didn't know I was out? She somehow overlooked my out of office greeting when she sent me an email 6 weeks ago?? How is it the very last problem she had was the day before my temporary exit? Was she waiting for me???? (So much for easing into it)
11:55 am - Reset all passwords, and try to remember how to maneuver the system, while taking into consideration what changes have been made.

By 12noon it all started to come back to me, and BLURRRRRR. I definitely hit the ground running, but I escaped by 4:15 (yes, I know you're proud), made it to a massage (thank goodness for luck), drove to son's basketball tryouts (Oh my, 25 boys trying out for 14 positions), picked up dinner, made it home by 8:30pm. Got son cleaned up, checked homework, and am now posting my blog to hurry in bed by 10, so I can get up at 4:30 tomorrow. BREATHE DAMMIT!!!!

All in all...It was a GREAT DAY!!!

Tomorrow...no more honeymoon. :)

One Step At A Time

Breathe...1.2.3.

Must...

NOT...

PANIC!!!!

(What you are witnessing is an inner conversation I am currently having as I am preparing to go back to work tomorrow.)

For those of you who have read my blog before, you may know I have been on a MIS (Medically Induced Sabbatical) for a couple months. This work-a-holic's health had pushed her into the doctors saying enough!! Well, originally it was to be until 1/1/08. Now I get to go back tomorrow.

I have my reasons for convincing the doctor to allow me to go back (too many to fit on this blog) but to sum it up, it's time I try putting some of these stress management matters to good use. I've learned there have been some significant changes with respects to my job, but I'm trying not to panic (way easier said than done).

Anxiety is a funny thing. I love the rush I get when I pace and can't control racing thoughts that only sabotage my "relaxation". Oh...and how can I forget the warmth I feel in my cheeks as they begin to flush. At least, as I look on the bright side, I burn calories while I randomly pace from one room to the other, trying to be productive, but not really accomplishing anything. **Fold t-shirt here...relocate mail there...put spoon in dishwasher...REPEAT**

I almost didn't post anything about this, because I'm not feeling very funny at the moment. Then I realized...um...Mary?? I hate to break it to you, but...You're not always funny!!! No big surprise to some of you, I'm sure. However, as I try to be "Impeccable with my word" I am not actually meaning that I'm not a funny person...I'm just sometimes not in the mood to be funny.

I should look on the bright side, I can break things down into positives about going back to work earlier than expected:

Positives:

1. I will get to go back to the office and see my many friends there. - Even though many of those people will be giving me "The Look".
2. My son will no longer feel like I'm "suffocating" him at home - HA!! Could he be any farther off?
3. I will no longer be reliant on the State of California for my pay check. - And to them, can I say...Seriously people?? Can I really change my voicemail to say, "We're sorry but we have the maximum number of callers on hold...call back later" ????? Not to mention that only in California do you have the option to press 1 for English, 2 for Spanish, and so on. THEN when you press 1 they tell you they have an 800# for Spanish speakers! I speak some Spanish (that's right, I rock) but did I not just press 1???
4. I am returning at a good time because I'm excited that we're moving in to a new office building. - Some of the current neighbors were beginning to bug the crap out of me (you know who you are Matthew).
5. All this week I get to wear JEANS!!! - Not bad since I haven't bothered to try on any of my business clothes to see if they still fit...have been working out...but not really eating less. Maybe there's a trade off and I'm the same.

Now, I referenced "The Look". I'm afraid it may only be something one can read about but not truly appreciate. Imagine a co-worker coming up to you, looking you up and down, head tilted, eyes squinted, and half smile..."How ARE you??" The eyes are squinted because they are flinching for what you are about to tell them, they are checking you out to see if they can notice any distinguishing changes. These people really do care about asking the question, but I'm not so sure many of them really want the answer.

Well, we'll find out tomorrow!! At least, if nothing else, it will give me PLENTY of topics for the blog!! More to follow...

If I were a Carnival Ride...

These random tests are kinda fun!!

What Kind of Carnival Ride am I??????????

You Are a Carousel

You are young at heart and a truly playful person. No one would ever accuse you of taking life too seriously.You are definitely in things for the fun. You find joy easily, and you are often building up anticipation for your next adventure.In relationships, you tend to want to be babied and taken care of.And while you may be a bit high maintenance, you are incredibly loyal. Your life is simple and satisfying. Each day you treat yourself to something you enjoy.You have a lot of emotional attachments, and experiences are extra vivid to you.You tend to be nostalgic and sentimental. The past is important to you.Comfortable around all living things, you have a special connection to animals and children. At your best, you are whimsical, free spirited, and creative.Even if your schemes seem a bit strange, they usually work out wonderfully.At your worst, you are spoiled, demanding, and impossible to satisfy.You've been known to act like a brat if you aren't getting your way!

What Carnival Ride Are You?

Where has my lid gone??

Oh plastic lid, where could you be?

Why you have left me, I cannot see.

The others, they tell me they know my plight;

I need you to cover me and hold me tight;

I need you with me, morning, noon and night.

Please return to me, my lovely lid;

Please protect my insides, as no other lid did.

So here I sit, waiting for your return;

My lovely lid, who protects me from freezer burn.

What's My Line??

Rrrrollll In Zee Hay!!


Put Ze Candle Beck!!!


Abby somethin'



But I was going to make some Espresso!!!






I have a real quirky habit (alright, more than one) where I tend to recite lines from a movie, or break out in song, whenever something sounds familiar. I'm the only one I know that will be sitting in a bar with some friends, hear the waitress say "We've only just begun cooking your food" and I break out into...Yep...are you hearin' the music now?? Here's a hint...

It's not a habit I can control, and it usually cracks me up quite regularly. It's even better when the person delivering the line gives me the WTF look. It really doesn't take much to amuse me, really...It's really fun to live in my head sometimes. Oops, back to subject.

Recently, a friend of mine asked where this came from (i.e. why must you embarrass me so?) and I guess I have my father to thank. Ever since I can remember, Dad was always reciting lines from his favorite movie of all time, "Young Frankenstein" (Mel Brooks is a friggin genius). If he was telling us to put something away it was "Put zeh candle beck". While he nursed me back from my injuries from my car accident (long story/different blog) he had a knack for hurting me on accident, to which he would always follow up with, "But I was going to make some espresso!" And...please don't even get me started on the Frau Blücher sound effects he would make.

If anyone reads my bio they will find that I am a self appointed SUCK at "Name That Tune". I could even say that I suck worse at "Name That Band". I could sing you an entire song, word for word, and not be able to tell you who sings it or what it's called. It's truly a skill (I know you're jealous).

The ability to quote applicable movie lines and lyrics to songs in a single beat, not my strongest of my Wonder Twin Powers, but a skill nonetheless (The power of knowing the number one song at the time of any one's date of birth was already taken by a guy from college). It's also a genetic skill...my brother is WAY faster and funnier than I am. I consider it a true honor if we end up with the same line at the same time.

Dad would have been 74 last Friday. And as a man who had an uncanny resemblance to Frank Barone (yet another Peter Boyle Character), I can think of no better way to honor his memory than to say...

Poo -- tmmm anngh ma Ritz!