Oh, What I'd Do for a Life of Leisure

It has been crazy busy at work lately. I think I've worked 10 hours nearly every day for the past two weeks. Would be ok, if I was an hourly employee, the salary thing sucks when you are working crazy overtime and getting nothing extra in the paycheck!

When I started working it was a part time assistant position. The General Manager at the time was pretty self-sufficient, and I found myself wondering what to do a lot of the time. Because I didn't enjoy being bored at work, and I really wanted to work up to full time (full paid benefits!) I started asking for other areas where I could be of assistance. That grew and grew and suddenly it appears I have my hands in just about every department. Now we have a new GM, who actually wants me to assist him, and all the little time filling tasks that I took on are overwhelming me. I guess I should have kept my mouth shut back when I was bored....

Another funny story from work....
I often go to lunch with a group of ladies from the office. Only problem, they are all in their 20's or early 30's. I like to call it Jodi and the young chicks. So, now the "young chicks" are planning a girls weekend to Vegas. I looked at the invitation list and noticed again, I was the only one over 30 invited! I thought how fun, me and the girls hanging out, then I thought again. Clubs, dancing, flirting with guys, staying up late, getting drunk.....I passed that stage before most of these girls were born! So, either I'll have to plan an "old chick" trip to Vegas or I'll just stay home and bask in the glory of at least being cool enough to get the invitation.

Guess I would miss all that fun if I didn't have to work. Glass half full, right? I'm working on it (not really.)

A Right of Passage

Many of you may remember my tale of the 16th birthday bash from our Christmas letter. I'll go deeper....

I turned 16 once, even one of my kids had turned 16, so what's the big deal? If you've ever seen "My Super Sweet Sixteen" on MTV you'll know, it's not what it used to be. It's not about the innocence of that first kiss or even the thrill of the driver's license. If you're a girl in So. Cal, it's ALL ABOUT THE PARTY!

While we tried very hard to make Megan's day special, it pales in comparison to some of the thousands (an exaggeration of course) of parties she's been to this year. It appears that every weekend someone or another is having a party. She's at one right now and there is an invitation sitting on the table next to my chair. They range lavishness, but all are a big deal, trust me. We've probably spent more on gifts, make up, hair accessories, etc. this last year than most boys spend on a lifetime of birthdays.

One girl from school invited her and a bunch of her friends to a party on a yacht in Newport Harbor. Now this isn't one of Megan's good friends, just someone she knows. Apparently this particular girl wanted to make sure her party was big enough, so she invited half the school. A stretch limo hummer picked up Megan and about 10 other people. There were at least 3 others around town picking up other kids all over town. There was a DJ, a full buffet dinner, sparkling cider was flowing all night. The guest of honor changed at least three times.

Here's the double standard. Jake turned 16 while we were here in the OC. He went to two parties (and they were for girls!) Why do the girls get the big Sweet 16 parties? They get the wedding later on that is pretty much all about them, right? What do the guys get? Don't tell Jake that I noticed this inequality or he'll be hell bent to right the wrong. But I was just thinking what is the right of passage for the non-Jewish boy? But then again, maybe I don't want to know. Sometimes guy things gross me out.

A Match Made.....Near Heaven

I remember when Sweetie used to follow me around wherever I would go. If I was in the living room, she was on my lap, if I was at the computer, she was laying on a rug near my feet, if I was in the kitchen....just kidding, I'm never in the kitchen! You get the point. Anyway, it appears that Sweetie now has a shadow of her own. Our new Ginger LOVES Sweetie! She is warming up to the humans in the house, but she took immediately to Sweetie. It's comical to watch.

An example...yesterday Ken and I were heading to bed, where Sweetie usually joins us. She usually starts the evening in a little basket we have in the room, but sometime in the night she jumps up and ends up between us under the covers. So Sweetie went to her basket, and Ginger followed. Sweetie layed down, and Ginger circled and squeezed until there was enough room for her to lay next to (on top of) Sweetie. After a few minutes, Sweetie was done with the doggy bonding and jumped up on the bed. The problem, dachshunds don't jump well. Ginger circled the bed and tried several times to get up but just couldn't. So in pity, I leaned over and lifted her up. She immediately sought out her BFF Sweetie. Sweetie looked at me, and then jumped down and went back to the basket. Ginger, immediately followed. Then I think I heard an audible sigh from Sweetie as she jumped back up on the bed. You guessed it. Ginger started the frantic pacing around the bed trying to get up. Knowing that the alarm was still going to ring at 5:45, I picked up Ginger.....and put her in bed with Megan.

So what is happening right now as I am sitting at the computer typing? Is my loyal pug Sweetie sitting at my feet waiting for my next move? No, the two of them are curled up together on the couch watching Wheel of Fortune.

Feeling that need to Mother something....

You may have noticed from my last post that I'm feeling a little old and un-needed. The kids are all pretty self-sufficient. Sweetie is even bonding with the kids and won't hardly come to me except for bedtime. So, I was feeling like a mother without a child. Maybe some of the Grandma's in our life can appreciate that feeling. The kids are old and independent, but no grand kids yet.

So I did it. Ken was.....tolerant of the idea. No, I'm not pregnant. We got another dog. The boys and I went to the Pet Expo yesterday at the fairgrounds. There were hundreds of homeless dogs. Row after row of cute, cuddly, we need a mommy dogs! It was like the commercial section of the fair where you can get a chamis or get your ring cleaned, only all of the booths were various rescue shelters exhibiting their "wares." Ken can really consider himself lucky that we only have one new dog, don't you think?

Anyway, her name is Ginger (I think that's what we decided on.) She is a 1 year old dachshund/chihuahua mix. She is just about Sweetie's size, very light tan with some white markings. She is very calm, doesn't bark (yet), doesn't jump, doesn't beg and appears to be house trained. Sweetie like Ken is tolerant of the whole thing. I will post a picture when we get some downloaded.

Old...your perspective matters

We were in the elevator on the cruise ship talking to Megan about some pranks that some of the "other kids" were playing. When they are in the elevator they pry open the doors, yes on purpose. This causes the elevator to quickly drop a couple of floors and then head to the bottom floor. I guess it's some type of emergency mechanism. She said they even did it when some "old guy, in his twenties" was in the elevator. There was another gentleman in the elevator while she was talking and actually laughed out loud at her definition of "older guy."

This weekend one of Ken's co-workers had an 80's party. We were talking about what to wear and making arrangements for the kids and again Megan said, "You are too old to go to a theme party."

I have a vague recollection of a day when I thought 21 was a "raisin." But now, I look at someone who is twenty one and think they look like someone fresh out of Jr. High. It is amazing how our perspective changes our view of the world.

Am I old? Some days I would agree, others...not so much.

My new favorite word.....

So....you might have noticed in reading this, that my new favorite word is.....so. It used to be apparently, which I still use frequently, but "so" has moved into a prominent position in my vocabulary. Possibly because I am so busy, I don't have time for four syllable words anymore. So, apparently "so" is my new favorite word.

Jodi...A Lesson in Bartering

You may know that bartering is pretty much the way to do business in Mexico. Since, I like to experience the culture, I thought I'd give it a try one day while we were at a little marketplace. I was looking for some "thingys" to take to my friends at work, nothing special, just a little something. I found these cute little turtles with the heads that bobble and thought they'd be great. So I boldly approached the proprietor of the particular vending booth (I'm guessing she was about 10-12 years old.) "Quanto Es?" I say in my very best Spanish (from,you guessed it, Spanish Dos!) She said they were $1 each or 3 for $2.50. After counting all of my close friends I decided I needed....4 (pitiful I know, but it's hard to make new friends here!) I tried to do some quick math in my head, but I apparently forgot to engage the brain. I turned to her slyly and said, "I'll take 4 for $5!" She looked at me with a funny look and said, "Si." Megan just walked away saying somthing that sounded like, "Mi Madre es muy loca!"