The Good and Bad

We had a great weekend with Nic & Melissa. We gambled, drank, ate, laughed. It was all good. We ended up losing money, but if you think of the entertainment and the free drinks, I think we came out ahead. We saw a hysterical show at "Catch a Rising Star" comedy club. Nic and Ken were weeping from laughing so hard. Definitely a man's comedian, but you all know I have a little bit of a man's sense of humor. Let's just say it, Farting is Funny!

We had a great dinner with some of the board members from the Reno Council on Monday night. It was like a gathering of friends. We laughed and talked for about two and a half hours. I tried my hardest not to be a career killer, but a Ken advocate instead. Ken interviewed great on Tuesday. BUT, you knew that was coming didn't you. But, the job went to the Area Director Marty Baldwin. Ken just couldn't compete with his experience. The personnel guy from the region said Ken did great and made it a tough decision, but he couldn't overcome the experience. So, what next? There are openings all over the country (Michigan, North Carolina...) but nothing that Ken is qualified for in the West. He is hoping that now that the Area Director position is open (thanks to Marty) someone from Eugene, Spokane, Boise might want that job. It would be a promotion without the need for a move for any of these guys, so that is always attractive. We'll do some research on the open positions, talk with the Regional guys and see what is next.

So back to the OC. We'll need to plan some kind of consolation party at my favorite karaoke bar. Becka/Danielle, are you free Friday night?

Nothing much

So the weekend soccer tournament was less than exciting. The boys were struggling. Lost all three games, we didn't score once. Tough to watch. Not really sure what the problem was, we just didn't gel I guess. League play starts this weekend. We will miss the first two games (Sat & Sun) but Jake will handle everything while we are gone. He really did turn out to be a great young man. I'm proud of you Jake!

Ken and I spent the rest of the weekend resting. If all this pans out as we would like, our lives will be thrown into chaos next week. The in between time is really difficult for me. Ken uses the time wisely. He studies and prepares. I on the other hand, worry and fret, go over every "what if" scenario that could possibly play out. It isn't productive, I just can't seem to stop myself. I am really, really, really looking forward to a weekend with Melissa. Girls gone wild in Reno! Can't wait!

Wish I had a funny story or something to share, unfortunately, our weekend was pretty dull. We'll keep you posted on anything exciting that might happen. Don't hold your breath though.

Weekend Events

So, Friday night with the young chicks (minus the one who stood me up, you know who you are) was great fun. Now that we are thinking about a move, I finally have made some friends with the "real" housewives of Orange County, and I'm not talking about Jeana and Vicki. I sang a couple of fabulous hits of the 70's and drank the young chicks under the table.

Saturday with Ken's boss and his wife was interesting. Yes, they did have some fashion advice. She said slacks were ok if I wore heals. I told her I hadn't worn heals in 20 years and wasn't about to start. I will force myself into a pair of panty hose and will try not to embarrass Ken with stories of Karaoke with the young chicks, but I will have to just be myself. Contrary to popular opinion, even though I am outspoken, I can control myself. I will say nice things, compliment my husband and tell them how proud I am of his accomplishments, tell them I'd follow him to the ends of the earth, all that crap.

Nic and Melissa from Vancouver are meeting us in Reno for the weekend. I am so looking forward to a couple days to just relax and have fun. Spent all my vacation days doing not really fun stuff, so this will be my vacation for the summer. Can't wait.

Jake starts school tomorrow. He is working 8-5 at HemoCue M-W-F, and going to school on T-Th. It really should be a good schedule for him, and he'll earn a few bucks. He's working on a plan, just in case we end up moving. Good luck Jake! You know anyone who wants to rent a lovely 4 bedroom house in MV, with one young adult as a boarder? He's kind of loud, and kind of messy, and kind of stinky, but he's pretty nice, and great with kids.

Gotta get back to work. Talk to ya later!

Here & There

So I was thinking our lives might slow down a little after our hectic summer. Not so much. I sent an e-mail to my boss just today explaining all the time off I'll be needing for school registrations, doctor appointments, and an unscheduled trip to Reno (maybe a move, maybe just a nice weekend.) Our friends the Larsons are going to meet us in Reno for the weekend before Ken's interview on Monday and Tuesday. I am REALLY looking forward to spending time with them. She's one of those people who you can just be yourself around, even if yourself is a little bitchy.

We have a soccer tournament over Labor Day weekend, plus practices 3 times a week. Keeps us hopping. Jake starts school next week, Megan registers next week. School for the younger two start on the 4th. Feel kind of like I missed the whole summer experience. But, the young chicks are taking me for Karaoke again on Friday, so that will be fun. Then on Saturday, Ken and I have dinner with his boss and his wife. They want to give us pointers on the interview process, me more than Ken I am thinking. Hope they don't try to give me fashion advice, I might get nasty. I don't want to be a career killer, but I also have trouble NOT being myself. Should be interesting. I never thought I was that bad, honest but fair. But apparently I can alienate both Ken's family and my own without even trying, so maybe I should be careful with strangers. Maybe.

Mom's hold everything together

Have you ever wondered what the "glue" is that holds families together. Well, after my recent loss, I'd have to say it's MOM. Dad's are great, but the emotional connection of a family (in my case anyway) seems to rest pretty heavily on MOM, and when that is gone, there is a disconnect that is hard to explain. It's like we are all separate pieces, and that one individual was holding us all together as one. Now, we're a bunch of pieces again trying to find our way back together.

It was almost always my MOM who called each week to check in, even when her mind was gone and she thought she was calling my brother, she still called. I am really missing that. When we "kids" would argue with each other, it was MOM that reminded us that no matter what we are always family. Even though my dad values family, it is more often than not, his family, the emotional connection created by his mom that he is valuing. Now, don't go thinking that I am mad at my dad, or that I think he doesn't love and value us. I know that he does, it's just different, that is what I am saying. I'm lonely.

Here is another observation. Mom's understand what we're trying to say, when we're saying other things. Dad's not so much. Let's say we're talking about money or things (which comes up when someone dies and it is usually very complicated.) Dad's seem to think we're talking about money and things. How do you communicate that the money and the things are symbols of unspoken things, the memories, the love, the glue? So, yeah, I don't want one of my siblings to clean Dad's house of all my mom's things, but it's not because of the things. Does that make sense? When one sibling is treated differently, it's not that they are getting the things and the money, but the love and attention that we are all looking for. My mom was always one who valued equality. It's because she understood, it wasn't the money or the things, it was a tangible expression of love, and she loved us all, differently but equally.

Yikes! I'm a MOM and I now have a whole new understanding of what that means. I'm the glue. I guess the secret is to put enough of yourself into your kids and your spouse so that when you're gone, there is still enough "sticky" in them to keep things together. Hope I can do that.

Ken, Jake, Megan, Michael....I LOVE YOU ALL VERY MUCH! (that is me, pouring "sticky" all over you.)

Nothin Much

Nothing much to write about. I LOVE my new Clay Aiken CD. Sometimes you have to treat yourself to something only you know you'll love. However, lots of people know I love him.....I was just quicker at treating myself than they were at thinking of me. If that makes any sense at all.

Had a busy week at work. We like to call it "Honcho Week." About one week a month all the managers from all over the country come into town, and that includes my favorite Swedish boss. So, Yodi has been yust owerwhelmed with work. We spent about 7 hours today in one big meeting, yawn. It is really difficult to take notes when you really want to be taking a nap. But, overall things at work are going pretty smoothly. Our sales are up and turnover seems to have slowed down, so maybe we're on the right track again. I still hear from the old guy (previous boss) every month or two. He was a great guy to work with and I miss him. The Swede is all business, and he says my name wrong. How can you bond with someone who can't say your name (I guess I did it with the kids when they were little....)

I am trying hard to connect with "regular" women here. I am going to dinner with a friend from church. We are getting ready for a Women's retreat next month. That ought to be interesting. No bunks and sleeping bags for the OC girls, we are at a Marriott on the beach somewhere. I do like a lot of the people here, even though I call it Hell. They have been very supportive this last couple of months. I have to look at things more positively.

Good news, I'm sleeping without the aid of medications and the bad dreams seem to have stopped. I just told mom, "Hey, if you want to come to me in my dreams that is great, but leave zombie mom behind. Just come in regular mom attire and say nice things about how much you loved me." Next thing you know, bad dreams are gone. Confront your problems directly and they might get better. That's my advice du jour.

Hope everyone has a good weekend. I'll let you know. We have two beach gatherings planned, and really, I hate the beach. It is either too hot, too cold, too sandy, too windy. But, I am embarrassing my positive self and thinking that we might just have some fun anyway (especially if we pack some margaritas!)

Can't belive no one told me!

I was just surfing....the web....and discovered some shocking news. I am out of commission for a month and no one bothers to tell me.....CLAY AIKEN HAS A NEW CD! Seriously, I thought you were my friends. I immediately ran out and bought the WalMart version (with the bonus track I might add.) Then, I learn that he has "fathered" a child! When did all of this happen?

Michael had/has a soccer tournament this weekend. They had two games today, we lost =( It is the tournament for our club so we also had some "mandatory volunteer hours." Even under the umbrella most of the day I managed to get a little sun burn.

Kids had a blast at houseboats. Look at Jake's blog later (because he is not as up to date as I am) to check out some details and maybe a picture or two. They have Youth Sunday tomorrow where they show the movie of the trip and Jake's band leads worship for the whole church. We are dropping Michael off at his game, then running to church for the other kids, then running back, hoping to catch a few minutes of the game, then no more running, maybe a nap.