Just Another Day at the Office

Today was a special day at work. It's the day we gather all our key executives, share vision and strategy for the upcoming year and recognize outstanding performances. It means eight hours in an auditorium listening to speeches (which I should take credit on supporting two of them) and then being surprised and delighted with entertainment sprinkled throughout.

So, the meeting was kicked off with a little extreme sports action, including Shaun White, Matt Hoffman and a few other Xtremist athletes. It was very cool. Much cooler than I would normally admit. As they did their flips in the air, you heard the collective breathe-holding and the release when they safely landed. My colleague next to me asked me what I would do if K decided he wanted to become an extreme athlete -- I just smiled and nodded.

The next sparkle of entertainment was none other than the mystical tenor of Josh Groban. While it was not the most upbeat of performances, and he did sing Paul Simon's "America" which seemed a little outdated with all it's references of cigarettes ... it was a beautiful performance. He spoke a few kind words and received great amounts of applause.

The next performer received an even louder sound of appreciation from the audience. The talented, sultry John Legend. I have to say, he's a very beautiful man, with delicate features and a voice like velvet. Smooth as chocolate melting in your mouth. He sang a song that will be on his new album -- and it sold me as something I might need to go get. (Perhaps one day I will get an iPOD!)

Of course, the applause was deafening for the third act ... none other than the Jonas Brothers. Is it wrong to think their wholesome music, catchy beats and innocent smiles are actually good. I'm sure to some who think there above a good pop melody will say so. But you know what, it made me want to dance, so I don't care. I even got my co-worker to clap along to one of their songs. Of course, as any act, the masses couldn't stay on beat, so we graciously quit clapping when we knew it had gone astray.

The finale to the day was none other than divalicious Christina Aguilera. The girl can dance and still provide one of the top vocal performances I've ever heard. She was astounding ... and little Max even got to enjoy his mama's show. She also previewed a song from her upcoming album ... she's back and sounding better than ever.

So, all in all, it was just another day at the office (at least the first part of the day.) Now, I'm ready for the weather to start cooling off and my favorite season to arrive. But more about that in a future entry.

Presenting ...

This morning I got to sleep in a little. But ... that's only because I so graciously agreed to present an overview of my department at our northern campus. Which is nice, because it's less than a 15 minute drive from my house. Now, it's kind of funny that I was presenting to a department meeting of 100+ people. I remember when I first started out, and we'd attend department meetings and have guest speakers. Now, I've become one of those guest speakers. It was a little surreal. Of course, I don't think I knocked anyone's socks off with my 20 minute spiel, but it was good to wipe of my old dusty presenting cobwebs and have to speak on my feet for a bit.

Of course, I wasn't prepared for the whole ordeal from a technical standpoint. Due to the departments having team members in our Bangalore office, I had to put on a special microphone, and make sure I stayed standing on an X the whole time so that I was always in the camera. They handed me a mic initially for the rest of the room, but there was no way I could use a mic and a clicker to advance my slides ... I like to gesture way too much! So I had to talk slightly louder than normal, but it was okay. Because through it all, I just remembered what one of my good friends told me:

"No one's really listening to you anyway!"

It's so true, so you have to know how to interject and throw in a few laughs, but then stay serious, too. Alas, it's over, and I'm sure I will get called up to do another one sometime in the near future now that I agreed to do this one. Who knows, maybe I should charge a speaker fee?

The Littlest Creatures

Lately, I've been asking myself some religious-based questions. Most recently it's been -- so why did Noah take the mosquitoes and the mice on the ark? I guess I understand the whole equality, every animal gets it chance... but how did he not smack the mosquitoes ... and how did his wife not convince him to banish the mice?

I guess I should be upfront and explain that I just do not do well with vermin or bugs - of any kind. Earlier this spring, I found a dead rabbit in our backyard. It was completely rigamortis, but I couldn't touch it. I yelled at D and explained that he needed to dispose of it. Of course, I had to explain to him that I felt it was one of those special duties that come with the job description of a husband. Then later, I found a dead mouse in our basement, and again had to explain why I was incapable of putting it to rest and that D was ultimately responsible.

Well... this morning (you knew I was going somewhere with this) I was greeted as I entered my garage by one of Mickey's country cousins. The little rodent scurried across my garage. I realize it was more frightened by me and the sudden light that spilled into the garage. I also realize I'm like 1500 times the size of the creature. But in a face off -- the mouse would win.

Of course, D doesn't get this. He thinks I should think that mice are cute, adorable, friendly Disney-like creatures. That's why rodent-control is in his job description as husband and not mine. Because frankly, they will never look like this to me:

Brilliance

I am sure that most every parent thinks their child is brilliant. And your heart explodes with love at the simplest things. This morning as I was driving K to "school" (because that is what you must call daycare these days ...) I pointed out the car window to two rabbits and said "Look, a bunny." My two-year-old quickly corrected me and said, "Mommy, two rabbits." I was so excited because a) he knows two when he sees it, and b) he decided to correct me and call them rabbits (they clearly weren't bunnies any more.)

When I picked him up in the afternoon, he wanted to sing his ABCs and I would say he got almost 75% of it down beautiful. But perhaps the most impressive lately is his amazing dialogue. Oh, I think parents long for those days when their child is still immobile for when they can tell you exactly what they want. It's a blessing. Of course, I occasionally have to deal with a little sassafras and defiance, but there is nothing more delightful than having an earnest conversation with a toddler.

His smile breaks me the most joy, but his laugh knocks me out of the world. He's just so enjoyable. I think D and I look at him every day and are still in shock that we are responsible for bringing such a miracle to life. You want just the best for them, and I completely get how parents have sacrificed their lives for their children. It's the most noble gift you could give them if you needed to.

When You Feel Like a Jerk

Okay, so I have to send out this public apology, because I did something so horrible today... and I don't know how to get an apology out to the person who deserves it.

Today was a horrible, horrible day. First, my car didn't start appropriately (or at all really) so I had to wake my darling husband from his slumber and ask him to be all manly and get the car to work. After examining the oil level in the car, and realizing we don't know when we last got the oil changed... we added some oil. Miracle, the car started -- but I was now running an hour late.

Work was crazy hectic ... I didn't even get time to eat lunch. Which meant my work spilled into the evening and I'm now just finishing. I've been pondering what my next career move will be from a development perspective, and let's just say that today presented me a lot to ponder. To quote a dear friend of mine, it was one of those "tears in my cube" days. Again, just not a good day. One of our co-workers is leaving to move to DC, so there was a farewell fiesta for her. I wanted to say goodbye, but also catch one of our other mutual friends. But, I had a meeting run long, so I got there and only had 5 minutes I could spare... and our other friend didn't show up (at least not for the 5 minutes I was there (ha ha)).

So, on this most sweltering day, I run to catch my bus ... only to get to the parking lot and the car won't start again!! Tragedy. I'm dripping giant balls of sweat, it's truly disgusting. So, while I'm on the phone with the mechanic setting up a pick-up of the car, this very kind soul comes over to ask me if I need a jump start. I abruptly shake my head at her and mouth "no." What an a__hole I am. I should have taken the phone away from my ear and told her that I was on the phone with the mechanic, but thank her for her kind offer. Oh, I feel like scum of the earth. Wretched. Here a kind, compassionate human being was reaching out to me and I pushed them aside.

Tonight I wallow in a cesspool of misery!