Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Snow in Maryland

So, I wouldn't have believed it, but here is proof that it DID snow in Maryland! (Sorry they are a little fuzzy - had to take them through the dog snot and baby hand smeared window to keep said dogs and baby contained...)
Marianna shovelling
Neighborhood shovel out

Nick and Marianna shovelling


Our sidewalk




Sunday, December 13, 2009

pretty pretties

Finally got the tree up and it's looking so cute! Belle is taking a nap now, so she hasn't had the opportunity to pull anything off yet! I'll let you know how that goes! :) But Jake sure thinks it was hard work decorating... he's been here all day...

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Oh my freaking lord!!!!

What a day! Can I just tell you that I had THE WORST day! Sometimes I really REALLY hate the people I work with... and by "the people", I generally mean about one or two people... today, it was two. First, I have never had to work with "professionals" so incompetent as some of these that I work with and the complete lack of ownership just baffles me. I know I have said this before, but I was warned about the different (or lack of) work ethic on the east coast - but how was I really to expect this? Seriously??? I can honestly say, I have never worked with people like some of these... It REALLY makes me wonder just how the hell they grew up because, clearly, people who consistently blame others for EVERYTHING have to have been brought up completely different than me. I am so very happy to say that my family instilled a sense of honesty in me and I really hope that I can bring my children up the same way (another reason I can't wait to get home and out of this area...)

Today, for about the fifth day in a row, I have been proud of myself for figuring out how to do things that are not even close to part of my job, but the person whose responsibility it is, either a) has no idea how to do what I'm asking for or b) has no desire to help. Given this persons personality, I'm thinking it's more likely option a. This person is, generally, a very nice person and I really like them, as a person... but as a coworker, I just want to beat some heads in!!! Anyway, today, I figured out how to do a couple new things that I probably shouldn't have taken the time to learn (again, out of my arena), but it needed to be done and I wasn't getting the help I needed. I'm sure it will come back to bite me in the ass when someone figures out I spent two hours on something that I shouldn't even have been doing, but I guess I'll just burn - I mean, cross - that bridge when I get there... So, by lunch time, I was about ready for a drink because of this person...

Then comes after lunch... a little bit of background - last week I was asked to do 3 site plans for a project, even though we had 4 building options (I know some of you won't completely know what I'm talking about, but that's okay... this is just me blowing off steam). Anyway, I didn't really know what this person was asking for (honestly, the ONLY direction I got was an email saying prepare 3 site plans), so when I was ready to start working on it, I went to talk to this person to see exactly what they were looking for... Oh - by the way, this person is supposed to be the PM on the job and didn't bother to show up to the kick-off meeting last week, so that was awesome - anyway, I went to ask what exactly they were looking for and we discussed the three options. I was told one of the building plans was basically going to be tossed out - we just did it to show the client that we looked at it, but it wasn't going to be used, so we discussed the three other options and those were the three site plans I did. So this person - who, btw, shows up around 10:30 every day and leaves around 6 - I'm not sure how I get on that schedule, but I'm thinking if I become an alcoholic, it will help get me there... anyway, so yesterday, I finished my three plans and left them on his chair because he wasn't around and today I tried to find him twice to see if he had any comments on them, but he still wasn't around... So, about 4:30 today, this person comes to me and asks me where the other option is. And I said "I gave you all 3." And he said, "Well, there are 4 building options" so I told him, yes, I know that there are 4 and that I was told that one was a wash and that I did the three he asked me to do. And he told me "I need to use my head and we need to provide a site plan for every option." So I told him "if you wanted a site plan for all 4 options, I need you to tell me that you need 4, not that you need 3" and that I can do the other one too, that's not a problem, but I might need a little more time. Then he went on to say that I am being passive aggressive and that I need "to communicate with him." And when I told him that I need HIM to communicate with ME what he ACTUALLY wants, he said "I guess I'm going to have to write everything down for you since you don't get it. It's always like this with you." Yeah, it was awesome... I was HOT!!! I don't think I have ever wanted to punch someone's face in more!!! I just didn't even know what to say to that... So later, he sends me another email telling me I need to complete the fourth site plan, within the time that he allotted me originally and that it needs to be done ASAP. Well, guess what, F***er! it's probably NOT going to be done in the original time and if it is, it's because I'm a ROCK STAR not because of any sort of management skills on your part!!! How's THAT for passive aggressive??? Needless to say, it might be time to polish up the old resume and/or win the lotto...

And then I got to go pick up my precious baby girl from daycare and got a giant hug from her and everything was all better. :)

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

stuff

So, for all of you who DON'T know this story already... our little Belle has been sick for a couple months with a cough and a runny nose. We have been to the doctor repeatedly... This is the same thing that happened this spring and so the first time we went in, I asked about getting allergy meds since that is what finally got rid of it in the spring. And do you THINK they would just listen to me back in September??? NO!!! First it was an ear infection (this is sounding vaguely familiar... huh... EXACT SAME AS IN THE SPRING!) then when the antibiotic for that didn't help the nose or the cough, we went back... and then it was a sinus infection... Now I'll give them this one - that antibiotic worked for about 8 days... then back with the cough and runny nose. So back to the doc we went Monday and found out that she is starting to get another ear infection... and i asked about the allergy meds again and lo and behold! they gave them to us!!! And we have been on the meds for three days now (including today) and SWEET LORD we have had TWO FULL NIGHTS OF SLEEP!!!!!!!!!!! damn these doctors!!! If they would have just listened to me TWO MONTHS AGO we might have been getting some sleep all along!!! grrrrr. Frustration! Anyway, HOPEFULLY this is the end of the coughing and runny nose until spring!

Today, I thought I would try out some little pig tails and it was just too dang cute not to take a million pictures! :) Here are some for you!
She was crying until Daddy gave her a cookie...
Snuggling up on my feet.
Her new favorite past time - climbing on the pack-n-play.
New favorite place!
Eating a cookie and watching TV
This is what she was doing before she got the cookie... Not sure what happened, she just suddenly started crying when the dogs went to the basement (like she was missing them) and just kept crying until she got a cookie...
So, anyway, we can't wait to see everyone at Christmas! It's going to be so much fun! :)