the big apple was cold

The bitter winter temperatures made this trip to NYC interesting. To compensate for the sub-freezing outside, every inside had the thermostats on extreme!!! Static, nosebleeds, dry pasty skin! How about a more temperate level of balance? I had to wear super, heavy duty winter garb from the room to the office, then I had to strip down to a tank-top in the office. Oh well, the meetings were intense, sales has already promised things that are going to be difficult to deliver, but the customer was excited. I have rallied my team and we are going to put our best effort forth. I just hope the rest of the manufacturing team can as well.

Glad I am home.

Sunny Saturday

Look what I did today! I had taken this pic of the man-cub after the Morganton 'cross race. I had a blast manipulating it. I love this high contrast look. He is my favorite subject, but he rarely lets me photograph him!
He went on the group ride this morning and returned with a bad cough. Hubby and I rode for about 45 min at the Greenway. The wind was wicked, but the sun felt nice. I can't stop grinning when I am on my bike. There is such a sense of freedom pedalling along with the breeze in my hair and the birds over head. I really enjoy it and can't wait for the days to lengthen so I can ride when I get home from work.
I have been packing for my trip tomorrow. I really wish I could stay home, but I am looking forward to the shot of energy NYC gives. And the excellent food!

even in low times, people step on you

It has been a weekus horribilious for me. The very strange gland swelling around my carotid artery started everything off on a very weird note. And as Hunter S. Thompson/Raoul Duke said, "when the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." All the professional weirdness made its way to my place this week. My weird illness brought my mother up to tend to me. While she was here, (and my Dad out of town) we received the news that her baby brother, my uncle had died suddenly. He was only 53. A poor lost soul, ravaged by the excessive drink and drugs he turned to throughout his life. He was a softheart, who wanted everyone to get along and wanted his family to be like a Norman Rockwell painting. This was not the case. My mother's upbringing was so horrific, she has completely blocked much of it out. She is a survivor, she was beaten and abused, but rose above it and became not only a great mother, but a successful woman. Her baby brother was always looking for familial approval, but my grandfather was always evil and my grandmother was so beaten into submission that he never got the true love he so sought. He died peacefully in his sleep.

Dealing with that has been bad enough, but as today's title suggests, in the depth of my morning and illness, more crapped has been heaped upon me. Customers of mine have complained greatly to our sales and marketing group. These particular customers are very high-maintenence. It was not enough that they vilified the efforts of my team, they also hate our yarns and colors and have complaints about our design abilities. But not enough to quit doing business with us. Oh, no. I got word at 6:30 this morning that I am to be in NYC at a meeting Monday morning with this customer to plan a big new collection. Why can they not try some possitive reinforcement? Why must members of the design community be so bitchy?



Normally I leap at the chance to get to the big apple. But trying to heal and mourn have made me long for my own home and hearth. It is Friday night and I am so glad to be here in my pajamas, with my hound at my feet, in front of my warm fire. Al and Jake are watching an old B&W movie, the fire is crackling. I will enoy these moments. Life is fleeting.

At least there will be no alarm in the morning...

how freaky is this

Okay, so I have a good weekend, great bike ride on Sunday, attend my niece's 7Th Birthday party and feel pretty good. I get home and go to bed. Upon awaking this morning, I notice a tenderness under my ear, along with a knot the size of a marble. The pain is intense when I touch it. Okay, so I shouldn't touch it! I make it through to about 2:00 this afternoon. The pain has blossomed. I call the doctor and get to the office at 3:00. I have some sort of freaky infection in the gland around my carotid artery. As the doctor presses it, I see stars and keel over. My blood pressure plummets. I have to call my husband to drive me home. The doctor says not to be surprised if the entire right side of my face is swollen in the morning. Oh joy! Well, my mom is coming over tomorrow to take care of me.

Notes from the week

This past week was full. Full of people: quarterly meetings at my place of employ brought others into my space. This meant many interruptions, lots of banter, way too many hours. I have also discovered that I do not like to be the center of attention or in a loud throng! I had to take a sedative M-Th. Friday was much more relaxed so no additional chemistry was needed. Since I had to put in way too many hours, I had very little time for my family or self. That leaves me cranky!

Also slightly unnerving is the dark mood my precious man-cub has been in lately. I remember how edgy 17 can be. Filled with angst, anger and uncertainty. Wanting to be self-sustaining, yet still insecure. Constantly being asked "what are you doing?", "where are you going to school?", "what do you want to do for the rest of your life?" These are questions that are both invigorating and daunting. And I still ask myself these questions almost every day. How do I let him know that "the rest of your life" comes just one day at a time? And that is the only way to think about it. So much can happen in a day. It is good to think and plan, but it shouldn't be intimidating. Time passes, situations changes, stuff occurs, opportunities arise. I wish for him to look to the future with excitement. He is a beautiful, intelligent, strong person. He will stumble at times, but he will pick himself up and keep going. I have always known there is something light and good within him. He is a much better person than I am.

Well, tomorrow starts a new week. I am not going in super early, nor am I staying late. I must be kind to myself. I do a good job as it is. I am not taking anymore on. There are others, within my organization, who need to step up and do their part. Anyhow, I am attending my niece's 7th birthday party today. I am going to thoroughly enjoy it as well!