Just a thought...

Karma...

Today I had to stand up for myself.  And I did. 

Another's miserable feelings were pushed on to me.

I was surprised and disappointed as I had hoped the effort to open lines of communication would help to resolve the animosity. 

Instead I heard a martyr tell me I was unhappy at my old job and carried it to my new job.  Imagine my surprise.  I loved my old job.  I loved the mobile visits to small town Idaho.  I loved using my Spanish speaking skills to meet delightful little ladies.  I left to improve myself and use the skills I knew I had buried.  I did not close those doors and remain in contact with many on a regular basis.  I was informed the only reason my coworker has been seeking employment elsewhere was to make me happy...  completely overlooking the fact this job hunt has been ongoing since my arrival. Don't put that on me.

Admittedly I was unhappy a couple weeks ago.  The silent treatment will do that to anyone.  After a talk with my boss last week I explained myself somewhat and shared how I felt about the relationship with my coworker.  I shared how upset I was and had considered another job offer...  I shared how after the offer, the reality of my situation was put before me, making it clear where I needed to be. We both knew it was God's hand revealing itself.

Today we agreed to create a means to 'communicate'.  I see it as a way to avoid speaking to one  another.  I tried to share today and it was turned back around denying any negativity.  There seems to be concern about the future for our position.  I guess I don't have that sense of urgency.  Early on I had to seek out opportunities to prove myself and make myself avaialable to everyone in the department.  But in the end whatever happens is out of my control.

We are suppose to be a team and work together. Somehow everything I say is deflected. Instead it's what I say or do and still at the end the day feeling you've been wronged. I'm sorry you feel this way.

I return to my work week tomorrow with the fresh attitude I gained last week.  I have a fine outlook on life and enjoy working with the folks around me.  I've done that on my own.  I have been tasked with finding my own routine, my own niche.  I have great coworkers and friends.  And I have an awesome family to come home to every night. 

Proudly today I stood up for myself. 

Renewing my Cheesehead Status PLUS TWO.

This was the year for our bi-annual trek to the Cheesehead State.  My oldest nephew (and Godson) as well as my oldest niece (and Mike's Ajihada) graduated from college and high school respectively.

After several months of monitoring flights we finally narrowed down our travel plans.  Flying is ridiculously expensive now and we tried to think of how to introduce my family to our newest Grand as well.  My hubby opted to give up his seat and invited our daughter and grandson to join me. 



Deb PLUS Two

Baby C's 1st Flight was uneventful.  We left at oh-dawn-hundred, on three hours of sleep, which enabled him to board, eat his breakfast, play a bit and sleep some more. 

We arrived, collected our rental car and headed north for Milwaukee.  My nephew has an adorable one bedroom apartment just two blocks off of Lake Michigan, very near the Shedd Aquarium - and I love the overall lifestyle in  Milwaukee. 

While others attended the Baccalaureate Mass we wandered around the neighborhood with my brother and our cameras.  Uncle lived in Milwaukee for a few years and happily pointed out different sites for us while we snapped away.  (On a side note those pictures will forever be in my memory as I have managed to completely delete them from any other source...). 

After Mass we joined the extended family down along the river at Water Street Brewery for dinner at a cozy table for 15! It was a delightfully, yummy meal and great chatter with so many I love to be near.

We overnighted in a Brown Deer hotel, sharing a room with my parents.  Think exhausted baby, road-weary travelers and two alternating snorers.  Not sure WHO drew the short straw but it was either a very LONG night or a very SHORT night depending on your perspective. 

Graduation at Marquette University was held in the Bradley Center.  We took advantage of the baby and let everyone go on ahead while Erin fed and dressed him.  We joined up just as the graduate procession was finishing.

  

Bill Cosby was the speaker and did NOT disappoint!

My sister (far right) and her family. I love them all so much.

A little fun with the decor in the Delta Building.

After graduation we returned to Kevin's apartment and celebrated together.  It was my only opportunity to see my brother again and I hated when we all had to head our separate ways again.  We headed for Janesville to spend a couple of days with the Great-Grandparents.  It was nice to be in one place and rest for awhile.  Until that point the traveling had been nonstop with scheduled events and poor Baby C was all out of sorts.

Erin with her grandparents

Erin and Auntie Di

I was able to spend a couple of hours visiting with my dear friend Shelly.  She still has a daughter in high school and finds herself running ragged with sports and activities.  We've all been there.  I was prepared to attend a soccer game if that was the only way to get in a visit...  not so extreme.  There was one year I joined her in the Suburban driving around Rock county running errands.  We definitely get it done!

Shelly

Baby C gives Raymond a test.  Still a little young for a solo ride.

 Great-grandma Denie and Baby C.

On Tuesday we headed for Chicago.  We tried to spend a few quality days with the great-grandparents, and get to Chicago so that Baby C's grand-pop from Michigan could come visit, as well as think about what is best for Baby C and maybe do something I wanted too - like spend time with my sister.  And it all worked out. 

Wednesday morning Erin's FIL and his fiancee joined us in Chicago for a visit.  We took them out for lunch.  

Thursday was my niece Nicole's graduation from high school.  It's mind boggling to think she is 18 years old and heading off to college in the Fall. 

Nicole (the Flamingo)

And honestly, THIS is how I still think of her...

But alas, she's a beautiful young woman, about to embark on a new life path.  We are so very proud!

And for my sister Di, you are super woman!  How you manage to keep up with everyone is beyond me.  Your oldest graduated from Marquette.  Your second oldest attends Notre Dame.  Now after surviving a year of THREE daughters in high school and THEIR schedules you are sending your oldest daughter off to Marquette.  I'm sure you have mixed emotions right now but know you are doing an amazing job!  I love you.



Doing What You Love.

This weekend I was fortunate to spend the day doing something I truly enjoy, working alongside one of my favorite people.

  

Some time ago our daughter was contacted about taking photos for a wedding.  A friend recommended her to someone.  This couple checked her out on her FB page and liked what her work.  When asked if she had an assistant, without hesitation she responded "yes" and then called Mom - always the ever-able photography assistant...  have camera will travel.

So months pass and suddenly the week after our whirlwind week in Wisconsin and Illinois is here. As soon as my extra long work day was finished Friday we headed north.  Six hours later and a new day (just barely) we arrived to a quiet household, quick shower and into bed. 

Erin and I headed out Saturday for Colfax, WA around 8am.  We scouted out the church property, created a plan to divide and conquer and confirmed our day with the Bride and Groom. 

Not only was it uber special to be spending the day doing something I love, but I was able to do it along side our daughter AND witness two very delightful families merge as one.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our daughter for offering me this opportunity.  And to the families, you are all such very special, loving people.  If our world would live by your example we'd all be in a better place.

Commuting...

I'm a planner... not a big surprise given my OCD tendencies. When we decided the Hubby would drive north to pick up our daughter and her offspring, I made a plan to ride my bicycle to work the same day. Perfect opportunity to break out of my slug-like less-then-training routine. Its less than 6 miles and though its a busier street there is a bike lane the entire way.

As the day approached our children got involved. Son #2 says "its kind of far Mom". Uh yea that's why I'm not going to walk.  DIL and Son #1 chimed in offering a ride because its a busy street with lots of crazy drivers in this town.  I could get hurt.  Yea kind of like how you can get hurt on a motorcycle when you have to drop it in an intersection to avoid hitting a car running a red light... Yet someone in our household still rides a motorcycle and his sons don't fuss at him. Oh and then there was the weather forecast... Mike argued it would be too hot... Son #1 argued it would rain. Then Son #1 said he would accompany Dad on 6 hour trip one-way up and back. 

I am actually very grateful for his offer to keep Dad company. And in his absence he left me his truck.  As it turned out, the skies were not coorperating the morning I'd planned to ride my bicycle to work so I took the truck.

As I approached the truck I realized it was very HIGH in the air.  I stopped and gauged a graceful entrance strategy, briefly driveway, propelled my 6' self with my 36" inseam through the open door and onto the seat...  SUCCESS!  I even rated myself an 8 for the dismount (it was a little wobbly on the release).  

Once inside I became aware that the previous owner of #1 son's truck must have been a 350lb man.  The lack of springs in the seat was the first give-away.  The next clue was the view.  I found myself peering through the steering wheel, over the dash, to the great outdoors.  Yes.Me.  Struggling to even have the slightest opening.

I have an entirely new outlook on short people. 

Once underway I thought "this is a breeze".  I learned to drive with my dad's van, a 3 speed on the column and have been driving stick shifts ever since.  How hard could six speeds be?  Ok so that's a rhetorical question.  Turns out my son may or may not have mentioned to start the truck out in second gear because it was easier.  Fortunately there aren't many corners for the trip to work.  At one light I honestly gave myself whiplash, chugga, chugga, chugga, head and neck struggling to keep an eye on the road.  (Turns out it's harder to describe that motion in words than I first realized...)

The last corner into my work parking lot in view...  feeling confident I'd made it safe and sound.  To my horror I see a man parked in the empty area, which would be my destination, with a small dog pacing back and forth next to his vehicle.  I carefully rounded the corner, very aware of the gear I was shifting down into...  and managed to avoid the need for a neck brace but going into a much higher-lower speed, coasting the corner feeling out of control.  The only thing left to do was hang on, close my eyes and yell "Run Doggie Run"!

Thankfully I had twelve hours of work to recover before my trip home. 

Lucy and Ethel... the Reunion

When we moved to Puerto Rico I was faced with a challenge.  Living on base, close quarters for anyone who wanted to scrutinize.  Think fish bowl.  Women my age, with young children were generally wives of junior officers.  Women who were married to my husband's peers were older.  The younger women felt intimidated.  Heavens I might run and tell my husband something they shared (as if he would care).  This was part of the deal when I married a man with a past.  Oh well. 

One day I was out walking near the pool and saw this woman with a little boy.  I knew we had a new family joining the Staff and where in housing they were moving.  I walked over and introduced myself.  The rest is history. 

Virginia and I enjoyed one another's company.  We walked our dogs at night along the mangroves. We sat pool side or in the sand with our kids.  Her son Joshua was aged right between Matt and Krieg.  When Erin headed off to school on the bus, we would jump in the car with the 3 boys and drive to San Juan, 2 hours away, for our Taco Bell fix, arriving back on base in time to meet Erin's bus on it's return trip.

After we retired from the Navy, Virginia and family visited us in Wisconsin a few times.  We met in Indianapolis for a long holiday weekend.  They moved from Virginia to Tennessee to Georgia.  We moved from Wisconsin to Idaho.  We have always stayed in touch.  When her daughter Jena was born we became proud Godparents. 

At one point her son told us when we sat with our heads together, giggling and scheming, or headed out on one of our antics, he was reminded of Lucy and Ethel.  For whatever reason it stuck. 

This year Ethel decided she was going to spend her 50th birthday with us.  Our Hawaiian option didn't develop but she took advantage of way cheap tickets to fly to Boise.

Mike took her out to Birds of Prey on Friday while I worked.  She got the whole tour. 

Saturday morning we got up and took in the Boise Farmer's Market.  Believe it or not I've never been.  I'm not a big visitor to downtown.  I may have to change this... 

Saturday night we had a Cuatro de Mayo fiesta - to celebrate both Virginia's 50th birthday as well as Krieg's father-in-law Mike Haxby.   We shared dinner with Karissa's folks, Kristen and Mike as well as her grandparents, Donna and Gary.

Our very creative DIL Britnee made both birthday cakes!

Tate and Karissa took advantage of the fire pit to make some smores.

Brit, Matt and Mike

Ethel and Lucy 

Karissa, Ethel, Krieg and Stanley

Ethel, Britnee, Matt and a very tired Taten

Sunday afternoon we took advantage of everyone being in town and went to Ste. Chapelle for the wine tasting. 

Belly up to the bar folks... 

Krieg, Ethel, Matt & Britnee

Britnee, Ethel, Karissa, Deb, Grandma Donna, Kristen and Shelbea

Tate didn't think much of the wine tasting... 

This is one landmark I knew she would love to visit!

View from Ste. Chapelle

Monday morning we headed north to meet up with our favorite Moscow-ites for lunch in McCall.

Along the river

Lunch date.  Ethel finally got to meet the youngest Grandchild.

Bear love

Chris, Erin, Calder and Ethel

And since Ethel is a Virginia Tech alumni she wanted to see the infamous Smurf Turf, where the team that beat the Hokies plays...  whatever... and I'm such a great hostess I went dispite my misgivings.  Even dragged our family Bronco fan.  

Taten and Ethel

Go Broncos Drahma!

From BSU we headed up to Table Rock where we could share a view of the city.  I think my last visit up there was 2006...  where did all those cell towers come from!? 

So now the reunion has come and gone. I'm sad but happy to have had so much time with  my 'forever friend'.  We are already discussing options for our next get-together.  Perhaps we'll be in a town near you?



Home Sweet Home

So true story... 

I was sitting at work one day talking to a RN Anesthesist about bike trails.  There are a plethera of green belt trails in the City of Trees but to get from our home (Point A) to said trails (Point B) you have to dodge traffic.  I was being instructed on the safest route to take through neighborhoods, which dogs to avoid and where I can get a coffee.

Another coworker, I'll call her A,  overhead this conversation and asked "Where do you live?"  I answered and turned back to back to my navigational instructions.  After a bit the A asked where in the neighborhood and I told her which street we lived on.  She looked at me bewildered and rattled off an address - which coincidentally was OUR address.  I honestly thought I was being punked. I laughed sarcastically, determined NOT to be pulled into the joke, and said yes.   Stunned, she looked at me and said "I grew up in that house."

Her family dynamics changed and while her brother was away on Mission, they moved out. She told me she felt bad that her brother didn't have the closure.

Over the period of this last year she's often asks if we are going to sell our house and move.  She wants it back.  We've talked about the projects we've done and the changes we've made, especially the additions to the yard last summer.  I told her she could come by and see the house any time.

This month I am updating the hall bathroom.  What started with a couple gallons of new paint has led us down the path of new counter top, sink, hardware, refinishing the cabinets, new stain color and resurfacing some of the walls.  After 3 weeks we've yet to crack the cans of paint.  But I digress...

When I had the cabinet torn apart I found a small ring inside the cabinet shell below the drawers.  Just for grins I brought it in to work and asked A if she had ever lost a small ring.  She had two in mind and actually described the one in my pocket.  She was so shocked to see it again. 

The next day A brought me in this picture of the house when they lived here.  Her dad had just planted the weeping cherry tree in the front yard. 

Vintage 1994

Today

This past weekend her brothers were in town visiting.  Two of them stayed over until Tuesday. We made arrangements for A to bring them over Monday night.  Imagine being asked by your sibling to get in the car, be blindfolded and driven to an unknown destination.  Talk about trust!  They arrived a little leary of their location but nonetheless made it safely into the house without a face plant in the yard or on the front step.  When she told them it was ok to take off the blindfolds they stood in the entry way, looking dazed and confused...  until the recognition hit.

They were speechless.  A just grinned.  Her brothers couldn't believe they were back in their old home.  For the next hour they walked through the house and yard.  Mike and I enjoyed hearing their stories as they shared their memories of family life in our home.  They admired our changes.  We felt they truly appreciated the work we've put into our home so far.  (OUR home being the collective group of people in the room at the time). It was surprisingly very special to have shared this small moment with A and her brothers. 

As we closed the door and they pulled away we smiled, feeling very good about our evening knowing two families have grown up in our home creating very special memories.