Happy New Year!

We had a fun time at the party in Tempe on NYE. Kat (bless her once again) was the designated driver. Also, hair and makeup stylist and wardrobe consultant. Boy! I was festooned! Big hair, long crushed velvet dress, rhinestone jewelry. Somewhere, there are pics of me...and her...will post them when I find them.

Back at work, getting back into the groove. Moving my stuff over to the new cubicle and trying to figure out what the new admin will need, what I should take with me, and what is just crap and tossable. I collect a lot of crap, so the job will take more than today.

YS (younger son) was sick for most of the holiday weekend, but is starting to feel better now. It takes something major to make that kid lose a day of school. He sure doesn't get it from Mom. I cut my way through high school, and maxed out sick days whenever I could. If I didn't have a friend in the attendance office, they probably wouldn't have graduated me, even though I had a 98% grade point average.

OS got his bicycle reconditioned in preparation for starting classes at ASU in a couple of weeks. He's going to have to park in locations remote from his classes, so put a bike rack on the back of the car so he can get to class in time. I hope he has a good lock for it...things disappear a lot on that campus!

I've been feeling very well all through the holidays, and thought I'd missed the germ train entirely. Now that everyone's back from their vacations, though, and sharing the ick they picked up from their loved ones, I think I may be coming down with something. Oh great. Well, at least there's PTO in the time bank again. Will stick it out until I can tell whether it's just a passing thing, or am about to be laid low.

It's the last day of work before the holiday weekend. Everyone's feeling really loose and relaxed. Cool.

Last night, Kat and Lizzy and I (friend & her daughter) met some folks from her AOL online group for karaoke at a nearby dive bar. For some reason, I was all wound up, and probably drove everyone nuts all night.

Lizzy and I kept going on laughing jags...we weren't drunk...just feeling silly. The fact that there were several folks in the bar who were really drunk didn't help. They provide much entertainment and fodder for our idiocy.

Karaoke is a whole lot of fun for me. I don't pretend to sing well--simply to be able to generally follow a melody and articulate the words. Some nights I do pretty well, some nights I'm just hopeless. Last night was okay. Especially considering how most of the other singers were doing. Given the fact that I was told all my younger days that I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, there's a lot of pleasure in showing that I can. It's freeing.

Lizzy and I were playing with Kat's digital camera. By the time the evening was over, she had taken about 5 photos of her own cleavage, many of all the junk on the table, and a couple of me. I took a couple of her, and then went all around the table capturing everyone's feet in digital glory. I had some vague idea of creating a collage of footwear and then posting it as a contest on the group website: "Can you identify this member by their feet?" Well, it seemed cleverer with a pitcher of beer inside me.

So, now I'm at work and hoping we get to leave early, because I'm really tired. It was worth it, but a nap would be very nice, now, thank you very much.

Today was the first day back at work after being off for four days. It was really quiet...there were only four of us there, and two work an early schedule...REALLY quiet.

OS and I had an argument yesterday when I got home from a day spent with my friend Kat. He decided to clear off the dining room table because it was very cluttered. He did this by collecting anything that was mine and depositing it on my bed. He needs to understand that curing his anxiety by transferring to me is not a viable solution. I'm a cluttery kind of person. Flotsam and jetsam collects around me like shells on a beach. Eventually everything gets sorted through and put to rights, but I do it in my own time. Which, clearly, is not suitable for him. Oh dear.

We stopped yelling fairly quickly, and everything calmed down. He was depressed about the argument, and life in general, this morning. Says he wants to "talk to me" this evening when he gets home from work. Oh. Goody. A talk. I just want to coast right now. Guess it's time for the parenting part of the brain to kick back in. Darn.

Sue

Wow! I'd forgotten I'd set this up...cool!
Having ignored it for 9 months, I can now see how my life has changed in a relatively short time.

It's the day after Christmas, and I haven't taken a sick day or vacation day in FOUR MONTHS. No one is more surprised than I am. It must be paying off, because on the 23rd my promotion came through! WaHOO! No more secretary! Now! Ever again! Thirty years of one's life is enough in the caring and support of others. I know...it isn't serving the poor of Calcutta...but but but....

A cubicle without a service counter, a window of my own to daydream out of (it only looks out on the top of the palm tree outside, but at least it's OUTSIDE)

There's a raise involved, too. The boys will still need scholarships and grants to get through college, but at least we know the bills will be paid and there'll be food on the table, even if Daddy flakes out on the child support. Since he's on wife number three, and she has one in the first grade, it is not outside the realm of possibility. Fingers crossed that he at least keeps up with the current payments. We have a disagreement about how much back support he owes, and I wouldn't make any bets on whether or not I ever see the rest of the money. At this point, I'd be happy if he just gave the money to OS (older son) to pay for tuition.

The kid is working his butt off to keep his car running and tuition and books paid for. All I can provide is a place to live and food to eat while he makes his way. Associates Degree down, and core curriculum of BS in Industrial Design to go. Either way, I know he can do it, so long as we back him up.