Archive of Marcia's Musings March 25-April 1, 2001
Sunday, April 1, 2001
Time to Slow Down
For me, its moving into the time where I am being forced into a slow-down time. I've been going on over-drive and double-time for about two weeks now. Between work and bicycling and being a social creature, I'm starting to feel the effects and, with the dental surgery tomorrow, being put into a situation of forced shut down is probably a good thing.
Thank you to all of you who have expressed your concerns over my upcoming dental surgery-- I appreciate it, more than you can know. I have baked potatoes and low-fat sour cream and low-fat shredded cheese and low-fat tapioca pudding and Sweet Success and low-fat yogurt and just about everything one could need going into a week on a "soft food diet" and not blow the dieting part of your diet!!
I'll be okay cuz I've got the my favorite nurse to take care of me tomorrow, too!!
The Weekend in Review
Well, shopping was a success even if I didn't get to spend very much money-- I spent what I had to spend from birthday gifts but I wasn't really on a budget-- I just couldn't find anything else to buy.
We had a wonderful time with Pat and Nathan last night, as usual-- we went to a different Chinese food restaurant than we usually go to and it was good food and good conversation, as well. We went back to their house afterward and had an outrageously rich dessert, of which I only ate half because I was certain that the points value was just as outrageous!! As it turns out, I was wise to be wary-- the points value on one serving was 11!!! Since I had "earned" 7 points walking around shopping and only ate half of the dessert, the two of them cancelled each other out and I got to taste a bit of it, too!! Brian, naturally, finished the other half. I just realized that I failed to mention that it was a fudge brownie cake-- 470 calories per serving!! Yowza!!
We also had a tour of their renovation-- they've been remodeling the house that Pat has lived in for nearly 30 years. They figure the new master suite will be finished by May 1-- I can't wait to see the whole thing!!
This morning I went over to my friend, Myrna's and picked through her DVD collection-- all together, I've got 17 DVDs to watch over the course of the week so I should be "okay" in the entertainment arena while I'm recuperating.
Then, I went to the grocery store and came home; I've been cooking and picking up and trying to get organized. I wrote the check for rent and now, I'm just trying to avoid cleaning off the mess sometimes fondly referred to as "my desk". I am so incredibly neat at work but at home? That's a whole 'nother story!!
I'd better get to it!! I hope you have something fun planned and a nice evening!!!
PS: Don't forget that I won't be posting tomorrow-- we'll see how I'm doing on Tuesday then, okay?
Saturday, March 31, 2001Good Wifey!
Some of my co-workers and I were going to head to the outlets in Gilroy today. Our day started with breakfast at Myrna's house where we met her dog, Laddie. Sweet doggie!! He appears to be a Border Collie mix of some sort and boy, did he and I hit it off! If I understand Myrna, I am now his new favorite "auntie" as could be seen by the immediate adopting he made of me and my lap. After a sumptuous breakfast, we headed to the outlets where we promptly split up! How are you going to organize six women, with individual agendas for shopping?? I couldn't get it myself so off we all went in our separate directions.
After two hours of shopping, we all met up again at Applebee's for lunch and bragged of our conquests: Cindy had a couple of sweaters and two pairs of pants, Joyce a dress, Lanie a skirt and Myrna a dress and a pants outfit. Me? I had a skirt, top, and jammies as well as a much needed, highly sought after and oft shopped for pair of navy blue pumps!! I swear, I've been looking for a pair of navy pumps for a year but couldn't find them anywhere!! Brian and I spoke on the phone a couple of times as I tried to decide which of the glassware sets I found should earn the right to be called "everyday glassware at Hovel Bilbrey". Finally I made up my mind and, bought a set that would fit the bill.
All in all, however, and the reason for the headline on this bit, I spent only the money that I received as gifts for my birthday!! I actually told myself that I wasn't going to worry about how much money I spent. I was going to get certain clothing items and not worry about how much it cost but, even though I tried on a bunch of dresses, I couldn't find one dress that I liked!! So, like it or not, I was a Good Wifey and stayed within my gift range! Bummer!!
Thanks!!
Just a quick note to thank you all for coming by this month!! My page reads are almost at 6,000 for the month which I find both flattering and fun at the same time!! I'm glad you enjoy the time you spend here enough so that you come on a regular basis. I know I've enjoyed the relationships that have been struck through this writing. Thanks again-- take care and . . .
Have a nice evening!!
Friday, March 30, 2001
Updated at 9:45pmQuarter Closed!
Well, this is going to be a short post but I'm alive and have survived my sixth quarter-end!! We closed a HUGE deal today along with a couple of smaller ones. All together an entirely productive day!!
I'll probably post more later-- I'm on my way to the department barbecue to celebrate surviving the close as a group. More when I get home.
In the meantime, have a nice evening!!
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Well, I'm back from our little barbecue-- we had a LOT of food and only six of us to eat it originally but then, one of the women I work with called for her family to come and join us. I called Brian, too but he was working on the tutorial so he couldn't come. We had a nice time socializing and laughing and getting over the quarter end.
On that note, I'm tired and I'm going to go off to find a blanket to pull over my head-- I've gotta get up and go shopping in the morning!
For what's left of it, have a nice evening!
Thursday, March 29, 2001If you'll recall, I'm having a dental surgery on Monday. This is an intense dental surgery; I won't be put unconscious but it will not be pleasant. So, a few weeks ago, I think to myself and I decide that I probably won't be able to bend over to shave my legs for a few weeks after this surgery. Thus, the headline:
"I don't have to have a baby to be a 'complete' woman: I've had my legs waxed-- I know pain."
"I am strong . . . I am woman . . . I am waxed . . . I am invincible!!!"
"_*I*_ have had my legs waxed. Yes, I do pay for people to torture me!!"
I must mention that this experience was suggested by Leah. Now the fact that she has had babies and had her legs waxed does not make her more of a woman and me less of a woman-- all things are equal when it comes to the pain of childbirth and leg waxing.
End-o-Quarter Update
All but one of my agreements came in today-- that means we closed four today and a total of nine for the week. I've still got one more coming in tomorrow that we know of and of course, there's always the possibility for another to sneak into the numbers for the quarter. That would be fine-- I enjoy a last minute scramble!!
I stopped by to bring Grammy a tape tonight-- it was so nice to see her!! It is so often so long between our visits and I really regret that. She's so much fun to talk with; she tells me stories of when she and Papa Phil were married and from when she was growing up. I enjoy hearing them and I think she enjoys telling them.
Miscellany
I have a busy night tomorrow night as well-- our end-o-quarter celebration is not going to be held at the office for a change but at a pool club where one of my co-workers is a member. We're going to grill steaks or chicken and I'm bringing potatoes for baking (since we have another 20 pound bag-- don't get me started!!) in the grill.
On Saturday, a bunch of us are going to meet at another co-workers's house for breakfast afterwhich, we'll move on to the outlets in Gilroy. It was originally our intent to participate in a San Francisco designer warehouse "Shop-til-You-Drop" but it got cancelled on us so we couldn't do that. Shopping is shopping so we're going to Gilroy instead-- should be fun!!
Anyway, I'll pop in here tomorrow night when I get back from the QOE Celebration and update you on how we came out-- well, as much as I can update you!
Have a nice evening!
Wednesday, March 28, 2001Oh, the things I could tell you . . .
. . . but then I'd have to kill you so instead, I'll talk around things, okay? Okay!!
Well, let's see-- I've decided that my Director is the Queen of Decisive after I spent two hours and two customer phone calls with the Queen of Waffling!! Yeesh!! This woman is the same level as my Director and cannot, for the life of ME, make a decision to save either of our souls!! If she does make a decision, within minutes she'll change her mind causing the customer to even question her intentions!! Yowza!!! When the customer starts questioning your intentions, you've pretty much screwed up, let me tell ya!!
Talk about people who should not be allowed near the world!!! I was so frustrated it was unbelievable!! She muted the phone at one point and asked if there was a problem-- well, dah!!! You've just changed your mind AGAIN and now the customer doesn't know what you want!!! (This is NOT a good thing!!) [NO, I thought it but I didn't say it-- I just said that I had a lot of work and needed to be finished with this call soon.]
At one point this afternoon, I was working four agreements on my Word screen at once, I had three phone calls going and my AVP making demands. He's never done that before-- as I told one of the women I work with today, this was the busiest day I've ever had with the company! I liked that!!
The best part: Not only did my AVP tell me at the end of the day that he appreciated my help but, his boss told me that he appreciated my efforts, too!! That's unusual!!! (And, as I told him, very appreciated!!!)
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As I write the above, I've just gotten home from work (at 5:24pm) and, I have a few minor projects to work on tonight. I've also got a tape to finish for Grammy tonight and a chat session with my sister. No, there is no rest for the wicked or the weary but you knew that!!
I hope you have a nice, restful evening-- wish one for me, too, okay?
Tuesday, March 27, 2001Not Today!!
Yesterday, due to a conflict for the sales rep, a conference call was scheduled for 7am. As I've mentioned before, I'm not a "get-in-the-office-late" kinda person-- I can't get organized if I arrive at 8am and feel like I've lost my momentum before I've even gotten started. As a result, Brian was kind enough to get up early and take me to work (our truck, it is rumored, may be finished this week, just in time for my dental surgery or in other words, at a time when it isn't needed!!) early. I actually made my first call from home at 6:10am today but didn't arrive at the office until 6:45am. The call started at 7 and ended around 8:30-- but we finished the document this time!! The draft has been returned to the customer as well so now it is a waiting game.
As a result of needing to be at the office at 7 however, I couldn't ride my bike. With my new route, I would've had to leave at 5am in order to be at the office, cooled down and showered by 7am. I'm quite sure I would've been exhausted before I even got there!!
Busy Bee
There were at least four or five other customer calls today-- a lot!! In between those unscheduled conference calls were at least 20 or so calls from reps and customers alike trying to find out different bits of information. I have one of the least busy regions and I'm swamped so I am sure my co-workers are going nuts!! Ah, well, only three days to go!!
Deepest Sympathies
Jan Swijsen's father passed away yesterday. Brian and I send him our deepest sympathies-- you are in our thoughts and prayers, Friend. Please feel free to use this link to send Jan an email expressing your condolences.
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I'm going to try to find some trouble to occupy my time . . . hope you have a nice evening, too!!
Monday, March 26, 2001Back at it!!
Indeed I was-- back at riding my bike to work bright-n-early this morning! I took my new route which, being a new route, is unfamiliar to me so it took me nearly an hour to get to work. I also found myself waiting on redlights which is a pain cuz, being a person on a bike isn't a big enough "vehicle" to kick-off the sensors in the street or in front of the boulevards so that the light will kick over. I now know that I have to just watch traffic and avoid getting hit, rather than relying on the light to change for me. I made both overpasses (not, Killer Hill!!) this morning with little or no problem but, on the way home, I was tired-- I'd put in a longer day than normal, it was stressful and, frankly, I'm old so I ended up walking from about half-way up both of the overpasses. But I got home a little quicker than it took me to get to work and that's after stopping a little more than half way because I remembered that I'd forgotten to call Brian to tell him I'd left late from the office. I didn't want him to worry so I stopped to tell him that I'd make it home within about 20 minutes-- which I did.
Things to note: Bananas really do travel better inside a backpack than in a bag on the handle bars!! Ah, life's little lessons . . .
Weerrrk!!!
Remember the television show "Dobie Gillis"? Of course, I don't (Brian: don't do that-- you'll choke again!!!) but I remember my sisters telling me that they watched a show where Bob Denver played a character named "Maynard" who would say the word "work" like "weerrrrk" as if in fear of the very concept.
I can relate to that this week, I think!! It is true and utter madness!! Yowza!!! I got to work at 6:50am and was on the phone with my AVP by 6:52, finished with him at 6:55 and on the phone with a customer. Three hours later, I was back on the phone with my AVP, the customer, and the sales rep hammering out the details of the contract. We got as far as Paragraph 9.4 in an hour and a half and then, the customer had to go-- another conference call was waiting for him.
I went back to my office, worked on the document again (in between the first and second set of phone calls, I worked on the document, too!) and, by this afternoon, I got another draft out to the customer. In the meantime, I answered about a dozen phone calls with various questions posed and situations presented. WOW-- I think this is the busiest quarter end ever!! It seems I say that every quarter but, man-o-man-- this is unreal!!! No, I'm not complaining-- just amazed!!! I love being busy so I'm having a blast!!
Tomorrow morning will start out with a phone call at 7 so I'm not going to ride my bike in-- I won't have time to take a shower later in the morning so I'm going to ride into work with Brian and then, get on the call with the customer. Tomorrow will be another busy, busy day-- I'm tired already!!!
More to do so I'd better get to it!! Have a nice evening!!
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