Should have stayed in bed....

My day started out with the realization that it was 7:00am and I was STILL in bed. Our alarm goes off at 6:20. I am generally meticulous about making sure the alarm is set before I go to bed. Apparently, having my husband out of town, and lots of chaos going on makes me forget things. God, I hate being late, too. If I am anything at all, it is punctual. I like schedules, and sticking to them. I am always put off, even slightly angered by people who breeze along, taking their time, and thinking its OK to be somewhere in the general time frame of a set meeting time. No, its NOT ok. If the time to be there is 8am, then BE there at 8am. If you know you can't or won't or have no inclination to be on time, then put that out there for people to know. Say, for instance, lets meet at 8-ish...But I digress into one of my pet peeves.

Today I was the late one, and that makes me crazy. I actually even considered calling in sick when I saw I had overslept. But then I have to be honest and confess that I think about that pretty much every single day that I wake up and think about going to work. My first thought is "Ugh!". My second thought is that with just a quick phone call I can make it go away....LOL.

So, I get to work a little late (maybe 15 minutes, but without coffee or breakfast, double ugh). The first thing I see is that the mail volume is really heavy, stuff is piled up everywhere and its just going to be one of those days. The second thing I see is one of our supervisors chewing out MY sub. You know I got a new sub a couple of months ago...she struggled, and still struggles a little bit but she IS going to make it. I wasn't so sure at first, but now I think she will be ok. If our management could stop picking on her. She's a little shy, nervous, and has a way of giggling if she is not sure about what is going on. I overheard just enough of the conversation....the supervisor was yelling at her for coming in to work just to see if they needed her. ??? She has picked up days that way...like if somebody calls in (like I almost did), then they have her there to cover it. I don't understand why you would want to yell at somebody for being...well...industrious and trying to work. Most of our subs sit at home and refuse to answer the phone. She has bailed them out of a bind on several occasions because she was there, just waiting to make sure everybody showed up. I can't even tell you how angry I got.

Anyway, because this scene was taking place in the middle of everything I walked away. But a few minutes later, I couldn't stand it. My sub had left, probably upset from being yelled at, but I don't know because I didn't get a chance to speak to her. I ended up getting into it with the supervisor over the whole incident. One thing I have figured out about this one particular supervisor, she is one big bad nasty bully....until you stand up to her and then she backs down. When I told her I didn't appreciate her verbally abusing my sub, she started to lay into me. She started with this "Its none of your business when I talk to one of the other employees". I told her I was making it my business if I thought it was someone who might not know the ropes yet, or understand her rights or how to protect herself.
It got ugly. There was yelling. But somehow I managed to stay clear-headed and concise and didn't lose my temper to the point of not being able to see straight.
By the end, with the whole office watching us, she was blubbering about how hard it was to be her, and how everybody blamed everything on her, and how everybody hated her. I said in all brutal honesty that the office was a laid-back pleasant place to be (well, more pleasant, not amazing pleasant) when she was NOT there. It is the truth. Nothing I said was untrue. Somehow we called a truce. Life went on. I got several congratulations from people who overheard us for "saying the truth loud and proud". (I also got a "tell it sister" too which almost made me laugh). By then I was almost an hour late with doing my actual job, but at least now she knows that she can't get away with treating my sub like a dog. I know her style. It will be a while before she tries that sh*t again. She will eventually, but not right away. Why do some people feel like they can get away with picking on the meeker ones who can't or won't get into a confrontation?

So anyway, I am home again finally, and it feels so good. Stephen and Hannia are most likely going to be arriving with all their stuff in a gigantic rental truck sometime tomorrow evening. Her parents might stay the night with us too. I really need to run to the grocery store, but not today. I have had enough for this one day.
I think I am just going to go take a nap and sleep off the bad vibes. I just hope to God I can remember to set that alarm tonight. I really don't want another day to start off like that again.

Oh, and also, Erica heard back from York. They would like her to start sometime around Dec. 1. Damn it I was really hoping it would be after Christmas but I guess not. The date is not set in stone, but the only reason it might would change is if her visa takes longer than usual to get. Everything is apparently completely dependent on the visa, so....can I bribe somebody in that office to "lose" it until after New Years? LOL....But anyway, having an actual date set Erica's mind at ease that the University hadn't suddenly changed its mind. She really really is going to live in England for reals. :)

My head is spinning

I haven't forgotten my blog, but I've been so overwhelmed these past few weeks. First of all, Bruce's Dad has been awfully sick and in Duke Hospital for almost a month now. I won't even go in to all the details, but it has taken a very long time to finally get a diagnosis. And even now...we don't have a firm diagnosis. The Dr.s THINK he has a type of neuroendocrine cancer. But all the tests seem to be inconclusive. He just had another biopsy today, which will require waiting until at least Thursday. And that is something I just don't understand....why does it take so long to get results? Obviously I don't know the lab procedures....but damn it, people are sick, families are anxious...seems like it could be done in a quicker way. But what do I know? Anyway, Bruce, Jeanne and Greg have all been trying to schedule it so that at least one of them can be there every day to follow what the Dr.s are saying. Barb has been there pretty much the whole time. It hasn't been easy for any of us, but its necessary. We hope Dad can get his strength back and start feeling better soon. There is still a long way to go but we are all feeling optimistic.

And while Dad is stuck in the hospital, Erica was offered a job, a post doc position at York University in Yorkshire England. She accepted it and is now waiting on the paperwork to make it officially official. Its been less than a week, but she hasn't heard anything in a couple of days and is feeling uneasy that somehow the opportunity will be ripped away from her. I doubt that. But she won't be comfortable until documents are signed. I am both thrilled and devastated. Well, devastated is probably too strong of a word, because I will be fine. Just like every other time the kids have left...for college, for grad school...I was really sad for a while but then managed to adjust. And the fact that I will get to plan visits, AND the fact that this has a 3 year limit will all help make it easier for me. I just need to figure out things like the best way to make international calls, and if we can still text, and those kinds of things. Apparently we can use skype on our computers for free, but it looks like skype-international for mobile phones has some kind of monthly fee. And maybe I am misunderstanding it, but it seemed like I could use skype only to call a UK landline, which I am fairly sure my daughter won't want to have. So, yeah....gotta get myself informed about all the options. If anybody has any suggestions as to the best ways to stay connected internationally, by all means, lay it on me.

And as if all of this wasn't enough to have going on, Stephen and Hannia are moving back to NC THIS weekend. They have been trying to find a subletter for their place in Lafayette. They finally found a good fit, but the guy needs it right away. Like Saturday right away because he is starting a new job there on Monday. Somehow, they are going to pack up their whole entire house in 3 days, get it loaded on a truck and move it all here to our house. It seems like a tremendous feat to accomplish, but the truth is that it makes me really happy. I wasn't thrilled with Indiana, and they REALLY weren't thrilled with it either. They will be here until they can find the right place for them in Durham...or Raleigh...or Chapel Hill. But it will be someplace in that area for sure. And when they move there, I won't even have to be sad because its close enough that we can drive there in about 2 hours. Hopefully the whole move will be smooth and easy. Well, it won't be exactly easy, packing, moving and driving 14 hours...but smooth and uneventful is more like it. Hannia's parents are flying up to help them and drive the rental truck so the kids can get both of their cars home at the same time.

So, say a prayer for us if you can spare it. A prayer for Dad's recovery, for Erica's new start in England and for safe travels for Stephen and Hannia. Its all going to be just fine. I know that. It is just a lot to take in all at one time.

Seriously?

Pop up pre-measured tape strips? Are you kidding me? Because tearing off a piece from a regular roll of scotch tape is just too difficult? Sometimes the ridiculousness (is that a word?) of certain useless products just amazes me. Like the Batter Blaster, because spooning or pouring pancake batter is just too inconvenient.
Or baby wipe warmers....maybe I suck as a Mom, but my babies had to endured room temperature wipes. Sorry darlings, I hope it hasn't scarred you for life. Who buys this junk? Did anybody actually buy the brownie pan with the compartments because cutting a pan of brownies is just way too hard? LOL. Who knows, maybe people said the same thing when pre-sliced bread hit the market.

Insane

Too much worrying and too few answers right now. Bruce's dad is still in the hospital, and not many answers forthcoming from there. I don't know what to do.
Well, I KNOW what we have to do but I don't like it....wait. And wait...and wait.
Wait for Dr.s to come around and give out some small shred of information. Wait on another test, another Dr. to explain the test....etc. I know its just the way it is, but patience is unfortunately NOT one of my virtues. We are just trying to remain hopeful and not let all the waiting wear down our optimism. If there was even some kind of Dr.s schedule we could count on. Some way of knowing that if nothing else, at 10am someone would be around to give us something. Even an "I don't know, but we are trying this, or that..." Right now its absolutely random. A Dr. might pop in at 8am or 10pm. Maybe once a day, maybe twice, who knows. The nurses, while wonderful, know nothing either. Stephen said he had read recently of hospitals trying to figure out ways to improve Dr./patient communication, and that would be fantastic if they can work it out.

We are also in limbo with Stephen and Hannia trying to get out of their apartment lease to follow through with plans to move back to NC. Right now, the rental agency is being rude and unhelpful. The kids MAY be able to sublet the place....but everything is unhappy and tense and so far the news hasn't been encouraging. Just as it is with Dad being sick, my hands are tied and I am unable to help the situation any. I hate feeling helpless when family/friends are going through something tough. Stephen is still job searching and as everybody knows, thats a tough market at the moment.....

We are a family in dire need of good news right now. Something uplifting and wonderful. Somebody, somewhere HAS to have something fabulous to say....right?
Anybody? I am sick of the heat wave and the drought and the federal government and their stupidity. Unemployment, defaulting on loans, hospital rooms, and rental agents with bad attitudes can all go straight to hell. I will even provide the implied handbasket, just let me know.....LOL. I know, I know....this too shall pass.
It has to. I need to vent a little but it will all be fine eventually. I really do believe that, no matter how much I whine and complain.

Right now

Right now its all about Bruce's Dad and getting him well and home from the hospital.
Seriously, its all we have done or thought about since he went into the emergency room at Duke last Friday. And right now, we still don't have any concrete answers. The doctors know what the problem is (chronic diarrhea), but not why it is happening. So....? We wait. And hope.

We did take a break last night because we had tickets to the 'American Idol season 10' concert in Raleigh. We spent the afternoon at the hospital and then drove over to the RBC center. We had a good time. I'm glad we went. I didn't have any specific favorites this year, and the winner, Scotty, was total country. I don't really get in to country music, but if you like it, then I suppose he IS good. Pia, a ballad ala Celine Dion kind of singer, and Casey a bass-playing jazz singer were more to my liking. But all of the top 11 were extremely talented. So talented it required a top 11 instead of the usual top 10. We both had to work today, so we sneaked out a little early. They saved Scotty for last and the crowd went wild when he came out. We listened to a couple of his songs, and then made a break for it so we could get out of the parking lot and impending snarl of traffic....whatever, we are old and late nights on work nights are tough. LOL.

Anyway, besides this oppressive heat and Dad's being sick, there is not a lot on my mind. But we are hanging in there and feeling optimistic that things will look up soon. :)

Insomnia

I can't sleep. Me! The woman who is such a talented sleeper that its practically a legend. It is driving me crazy, because God knows, sleeping is one of life's BEST simple pleasures. Its not a happy feeling...I am tired, exhausted from being out in the heat. And yet, I can NOT sleep. Well, I won't say I am up all night long, because I seem to eventually, in the wee hours of the morning, not terribly long before the damned alarm clock goes off, finally drift off. At least there's that. An hour or 2 of sleep is better than nothing. But still....I can feel it taking a toll. My brain is foggier than normal (yeah, I know. Scary, huh?). The last time this happened, a couple of months ago, I finally figured out it was a new allergy medication (Zyrtec to be exact...I was taking it at night and that just didn't work). This time, I am clueless.

But anyway, if I can make it through the rest of this week, hopefully I can catch up a little this weekend. I always sleep better when there is no deadline. No alarm clock ticking down the minutes. And its probably this heat throwing me off. Our heat index was over 110 degrees today. My body has a broken thermostat....always running hot. And tonight, I am thinking about taking a Unisom. We keep a small bottle of over the counter sleeping aids for when we travel.....I think we still have some somewhere....

Nothing much

Nothing much is going on right now. Seriously its difficult to even conjure up enough of something to even write about. Its hot. Too hot! I want to hibernate and wait the rest of summer out. Unfortunately life gets in the way of my hibernation, and I have to go out there and do that pesky inconvenient thing called work. How awful.
Beyond that, work and hibernating, that is, nothing much is happening. Its dreary and boring and I don't even care. When the temperature rises I am content with boring. I can't even muster the interest to go shopping. Summer clothes are picked over and besides, I tend to hate them anyway. I think that maybe some new fall fashions are hitting the stores, but its too hot to be interested yet. I don't even want to look at sweaters and jackets when the mercury is hovering around 100 degrees. Yuck.

But anyway, I am just trying to hang in there with the idea that fall has to be here soon.....