Sally (Updated 12/5/02)
	Thanksgiving (Updated 12/5/02)
Meanderings	Marcia Does Quilting, TOO!! (Updated 6/30/02)	Netwidows

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Sunday, January 19, 2003

Oblivion

My Saturday just seemed to drop out of nowhere, didn't it?  Well, it was a busy day.  I went to my nail appointment, bright-n-early and then back home.  After laying down for a bit, since I wouldn't have my afternoon nap time because of my sewing class, I made lunch.  No, I never did sleep but it felt good to rest anyway.

I left the house at 12:30pm since I had a little shopping to do once I got to where the sewing class was going to be held.  However, upon arriving at the store and the shop within the store, I realized that they had made a big mistake.  When I signed up for this class in November of last year, I signed up for December 4 and 11 from 6 to 9pm.  A few weeks before that class was to be held, they called to cancel and reschedule due to a death in the family.  Fine, not a problem-- I understand how that can be at times.  I rescheduled for January 18 (yesterday) but they failed to tell me the time so I called a few weeks ago.  When I called in early January, making sure to avoid the Christmas season rush and any inaccuracies due to the fact that they would be too busy to give out accurate information, I was told that my class started at 1pm on the 18th and would run for three hours for two Saturdays.  Not a problem, thought I even with my nail appointment, I could make that timing.

On Thursday morning of this week, I received a voicemail that had been called in on Wednesday evening: My class on Saturday had been changed from 11am to 2pm.  Yes, you're right-- there's a problem there.  I called the store and got their answering machine but I left a message with the detailed explanation that I needed to confirm the class since I was told that the class would start at 1pm.  Even though I left my phone number and asked for confirmation, I never heard back from them.  Yesterday, I arrived at the store at 1pm and found out the class had started at 11am.

Yes, you're right: they will not soon forget me . . . I was not a happy camper and have been rescheduled to a class that is already book as "full" but, since it was their screw-up, they're going to put me in it anyway.  It isn't like this place is around the corner: its in Columbia which is a health 30 mile drive.  Other than messing with my weekend, there was no harm done (we had been asked to attend a function in nearby Philadelphia but had to cancel that because of my schedule this week and this class).

Computer Work

We (Brian and I) think we've resolved most of the problems with my computer and Netscrape 7.x.  First of all, I'm now viewing the world through Netscape 6.x browser and I'm able to once again publish from Netscape 4.x for my posts, my sister's site and any pictures-- yes, I'll get them caught up soon-ish.  My outbound email isn't working but I forgot to remind Brian to check that out so I'm sure he'll get to it later on today.

After some errand running, I'm going to be coming home and continue my ironing-- I've got the fabric for the next set of quilts washed and dried and need to iron them so that I can start cutting, sewing, etc.

I'll probably be back later on . . . thanks for coming by and have a great day!

---

Friday, January 17, 2003

Advantages

One of the reasons that I'm married to the best geek around (yes, that's my opinion and I'm sticking to it!!) is because he is talented when it comes to his brains and intellect and computers.  That comes in very handy since I no longer seem to be as computer literate as I once was prior to meeting him.

While that's the case, I got lucky today and found a version of Netscape 6.x on the web-- I'm not going to install it (no, I'm not feeling THAT lucky) but, I've got it bookmarked so that he and I can do that down-grade I've been wanting to do for several weeks now.  Definitely getting excited about that!!

Snow Day of a Sort

It wasn't so bad this morning that I would've HAD to stay home but, frankly, probably as a result of having the laptop bag a part of my extremties for over a week, once I brought it home last night, I knew I wouldn't be going to the office today.  I am working-- from home but if I bother to carry that laptop home, I am not going to turn around and walk it back to the office the next morning-- noper!!  So, here I am working from home and checking voicemail and answering emails and working on documents. Fun day, eh?  No, but that's okay-- it'll all even out in the wash (which I was also working on).

Amazing Difference!!

My doctor yesterday gave me Vioxx to try to alleviate the pain in my right knee-- it worked!!  Wow!!  My knee doesn't hurt at all-- at this rate, I could put off the surgery indefinitely which would be okay with me, too!!  He only gave me samples but I'll call next week to get a prescription-- this is the human equivalent of Rimadyl!!

Other Projects . . .

Since stopping work for the day, I've been working on the swags for the livingroom-- if only so that I can unbury the exercise bicycle that I've had buried under the fabric since I was working on the quilts for Christmas!  Wow, that makes a huge difference!  I'm almost finished with the sewing part and then will come the stuffing of them-- inserting the filling should be fun to judge with them laying out on the floor.  I hope they look good or I'm going to have a lot of long skinny pillows for the sofas!!

Things to do so I'm going to do them.  Thanks for stopping by and have a great evening.

***************************************************** Thursday, January 16, 2003

Interesting Development

You see, I failed to mention aloud to anyone except Barbara Thompson that my knee hurt in November.  I didn't do anything particular to it-- my right knee just started hurting.  I finally confessed to Brian on Christmas Day that my right knee was hurting-- badly-- and just sucked it up and bore with it while I was in California.  After sitting in meetings, day after day however, it really started to hurt pretty badly so that I would have to straighten my leg periodically.  Then, straightening my leg started hurting.  Hmmm, there didn't seem to be anyway to hold my leg that didn't hurt.  Not a Good Thing.

I decided when I got back from California that I'd look for an orthopedic doctor and, after getting a couple of referrals and recommendations, I went to see one today.  So far, the x-rays have been taken and I'm scheduled for an MRI.  The early, unconfirmed diagnosis is a torn medial meniscus.  That's similar to the injury that I had in April-- apparently, you don't need to have participated in bowling to hurt your meniscus.  This is not a Good Thing.  Oh, argh-- here we go again!

I'll keep you posted as things go on but, it'll be a couple of weeks before the MRI and I won't know anything for sure until after February 6, making any kind of surgery not likely to happen until the last half of February at the earliest.  With the possibility of more business travel looming on the horizon, however, it needs to happen soon-- or at least I think it does.

This Weekend . . .

As far as I'm concerned, I'm sick of trying to figure out Netscape 7.x-- I want it OFF my system.  In amongst everything else that's happening this weekend, Brian has assured me that the Netscape 7.x will be removed from my system.  Among other things, I've got a nail appointment and a sewing class on Saturday.  This is the class that I was scheduled for earlier with regard to learning my new machine that I've now had for two months.  I by no means know everything about this sewing machine, even after two months so therefore, I definitely need the class.

I Paid For This??

Its been that kind of week though, ya know?  Last night I had an appointment after work, tonight I went to the day spa to get my legs ripped -- I mean, waxed (the equivalent of child birth for those of us of a weaker constitution) and a facial.  I had the Vitamin C facial which includes "extractions"-- no, don't ask-- you don't want to know.

The funny thing is, I've once again realized that I _*ASK*_ for this to be done to me-- the worst part is that I _*PAY*_ someone to do this to me!!  Man, I must be completely whacked, ya know?  Yeesh!!

Its way late-- I need to go to bed tonight, even though tomorrow will probably be another snow day.  (Yes, another snow day!)

Have a great evening, night and/or morning!

*****************************************************   Wednesday, January 15, 2003

Jet-Lagged

I fear that I am still jet-lagged.  I slept like crap last night-- I swear I was awake for over an hour at 2am cuz I watched the clock tick off the minutes!! Man, that's not fun!!  Anyway, as a result, there's not much to report here tonight.

I went into the office today and spent the first hour or so re-hashing the sales and legal meetings with the other staff.  Its interesting to compare notes and get different takes on how things are perceived.  Jim, the sales rep with the BIG deal in December brought me my souvenir from his trip to England with his wife and two sons: a Harrod's teaport and tea cups!!  A beautiful set, too-- once we get the publishing thing either figured out or replaced, I'll take a picture for you to see.

Other than that, I'm off for the night-- sorry so short but, you know how it can be sometimes . . . trust me: its that way.

As always, thanks for stopping by-- take care and have a great evening!

***************************************************** Tuesday, January 14, 2003

Home Again, Home Again

Jiggety-Jig!! I'm really glad to be home and Brian's glad to have me home! Of course, you know, Sally had to do a "Happy Dance" when I came in the house-- I missed her, too!  I was able to keep track for a couple of days and "journal" my activities to a certain degree but, once the official meetings (legal and then sales), all of that went away.  I was lucky to remember my name after all of that information was crammed into my brain.  Good, productive meetings were held for four days so you'll understand why I didn't keep a "journal" once those started.

More later . . . I will be back quicker than ten days-- at most, 10 hours!!

From Monday and Tuesday of last week . . .

Reluctant Business Traveler

Years ago when I was a secretary (we weren't called "admins" then), I remember being extremely envious of my managers because they got to "travel the world" in the name of business.  Yeah, right!!  They were drinking and carousing and having a good time on our collective company nickle-- I was sure of it!!

Well with the passage of time and an increase in intelligence, I've come to realize that they were not to be envied.  I hate waiting in lines and waiting in lines for 45 minutes to get boarding passes and luggage x-rayed is no easier when there's a 9-day/8-night, business-required, attendance-mandatory trip on it even if it is all the way across the country.

By 4pm yesterdy, we were only above Colorado and I was sure we had to be in California-- THEN!!!!! I wanted to be on the ground and at my final destination and out of airports and airplanes and rental car shuttles and ALLLLLLLLL of it!!

Eventually, we landed and, eventually (more than an hour after our plane landed!) we got our luggage and got on the rental car shuttle and got the rental car and got on the freeway and drove to Saratoga and FINALLY, I was stopped for the day!!  More than 12 hours had passed in time zones and baggage delays and I was tired, wound-up (lousy combination, let me tell ya!) and ready to be HOME in Maryland with my husband and dog.

Oh, yeah and I have eight more days of this!!

No NOBS

Pat & Nathan have a wonderful guest bedroom that they have graciously allowed me stay in while I'm here for the first four days.  It has a wonderfully hard bed (which is, of course, my favorite) with flannel sheets BUT it is lacking an essential part of my life.  So, while I am not suffering from back pains and loss of sleep because of strange noises (again, the blessings of being deaf in one ear!), I am lonely in this bed.  I miss my husband.  I miss not having Sally on the floor next to our bed-- regardless of which side she's on.  I miss my husband.  Yes, I know I said that and I know that it is only the first night and there are many more but that doesn't make it easier.  It just makes it seem longer til I go home!!

Hugs Abound

The Good News is that being in California feels like a visit-- this doesn't feel like home anymore which, I'm pretty sure, is a Good Thing.  When coming in the office, everyone gives everyone else hugs-- Nina has won out by having all of us successfully "bond".  When she first started in our department nearly three years ago, her goal was to create a team-like atmosphere where we were all friends and friendly.  There were those of us who fought that-- personally, I prefer my friends to be outside of the office, not in the office-- but we finally gave up fighting her cheerful smile and warm hugs.  Now, when we come and go, we all give hugs cuz you never know how long it will be before seeing you again-- especially these days.

Typical Style

As is usual with Pat and I, we went shopping after dinner last night.  As is my usual style, I found a number of things that HAVE to come home with me.  I found two sweaters and two skirts and, of course, some fabric that came a callin', too.  Half of the fun of shopping with Pat is that we talk at the same time, solving the various energy crises, Iraqi conflict, and of course, save the US economy all in one fell swoop.  I never cease to be amazed by what two women can do when they put their minds (and plastic!) to it!

On the Second Business Day of Travel . . .

Lee came to town.  Judy and I went to the airport to pick her up and of course, we all talked up a storm as we drove back.  I went to lunch with Nina and Judy went with another group-- fun is had all around today.

Lee was having computer problems so I went over to the hotel to help her get set up.  Then, due to a lack of sleep, she was ordered to finish that ONE contract and go to sleep-- she's been up for very nearly 36 hours in preparation of traveling here.

Tonight are more plans followed by organized events for the rest of the week-- I don't know what if anything I will be able to recite to you on this journal but, if I have time, I will do so.

*****************************************************

 
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