My vent about my county

What to wear to an interview...

...when it looks like you have a basketball shoved under your shirt.

hmmmm...

This is going to be fun.

Oh, yeah...forgot to tell you...I have an interview! Wish me luck!

And on top of the interview, I'm taking a whole day off! I can not wait!

The law of nature and the Maple Festival

Being a Chardon-ite (we actually lived in one of the surrounding townships...but we're all considered Chardon-ites since it's the nearest civilization), I'm completely thrilled and excited that it's time for the Geauga County Maple Festival.

No, I have no investment in the Maple products industry. And I don't particularly enjoy the crowds and noise of the festival itself. But for some inexplicable reason, I can't wait to bundle up the family and walk the streets of Chardon square, sucking on some Maple candy or indulging in a hot maple stir (and yes, I can remember when maple stirs were $0.10 each).

The laws of nature and the Maple Festival dictate that the temperature will be in the 40s and it will rain or snow (or both). But there is something about the heralding-in of spring that makes us Chardon-ites tremble with glee at the mere sight of the sap buckets on the trees...or maybe it's that we're not wearing warm enough coats?

Where is my little baby?

I got an email from Steve the other morning after he had dropped Sam off at daycare. Accustomed to the, "Please don't go Daddy, I want to go with you," Steve was a bit miffed by the send-off he received that morning.

Sam walked into the building and said, "Miss Susan, I want to play in the big kid room."

Ms. Susan, "OK...for a little bit."

Sam, "Bye Dad."

I think this falls into the category of "be careful what you wish for."

The lucky streak

Oh...and on top of getting a promotion/raise...my husband found six dollars in his wallet AND won a free iTune from his Pepsi cap. Think we should try Vegas?

Congratulations to my husband!

Steve won't brag...so I will brag on his behalf. He got the promotion! It's not EXACTLY what he was hoping for...but he's happy that they've recognized and rewarded his hard work nonetheless. AND...he did scare them enough to "find some money" to give him an incentive to stay in his current department. He does such good work that he puts those college-educated pansies he works with to shame. (I know it's not nice to name-call...but it feels so good sometimes...hehe)

On the job front

The latest rumor is that we WILL be paid on time. Perhaps the threat of the sheriff jingling the handcuffs and waiting to throw the auditor in jail for dereliction of duty was just too much pressure. I guess we'll have to wait and see. I am now up to my eyeballs in work...much of it centered around how the county digs out of the multitude of messes it is in surrounding the budget. It's interesting to work in a county where the court clerk's office is only open half days. Note to self...Must remember to file between 8am and noon.

I haven't heard anything back from any of the resumes I sent out. I've got to get cracking and send out another round.

Steve is bucking for a promotion at work. They originally told him he could be promoted in title...but they didn't have any more money to pay him for the promotion. So, being the smart guy he is, he started looking at other jobs posted within the company. He told his manager he was thinking about one in particular, since he really needs more money for the baby to go to daycare, and his manager is now working on finding him more money to stay where he is. I love that guy!

Did I tell you that the county auditor is throwing a temper tantrum about not getting the budget she wanted? She closed her office and is reportedly refusing to run payroll. So I'm essentially working for free right now. I really need to find a new job.

Oh...and thanks Holley! I sent in my resume and HR called to confirm they received it. :o) Keep your fingers crossed for me!

There comes a time in every pregnant woman's life when she realizes she is completely unprepared for a new baby. My time was yesterday. I want this baby boy to feel special. I don't want him to have ALL hand-me-downs for his entire life. Of course, the early years are not THAT important because he won't know what's what. But I WILL. And since I went insane taking picture of Sam in every outfit he ever owned, I will know what is a hand-me-down and what is new...and feel guilty about every one.

SO...I've decided to sort through my baby clothes and have a garage sale. I will reinvest my "profits" in "new" clothes for baby. (I don't buy many truly new clothes...I love consignment shops...how's that for irony?) Anyway...I had it all under control. Then I realized yesterday that this baby has absolutely NO toys of his own. Not one rattle, stuffed bear, link toy. Nothing! eeks! I think I feel the need to go shopping. And Sam is all up for it. He says this morning, "Let's go toy shopping for baby." I think Daddy's been working on it so that he doesn't have to watch me freak out anymore. :o)

What a relief

I'm so glad to know that lawmakers are spending time getting to the root of all our serious problems. I mean, how does our country function until it figures out this problem of steroid use in professional sports??? (/sarcasm)

Happy St. Snowman's Day

Today is the day reserved for the wearing of the green. Other than this day, I don't really know of another holiday that calls for wearing a particular color. Oh sure, you can get carried away and wear red and green for Christmas, or orange and black for Halloween, or red, white and blue for July 4th...but those are the "cutesie" holidays that don't really require any true allegiance. And with a name like "C," you can imagine the fun we could have with an Irish holiday in our household. Of course, I'm a "B" by birth...but I live vicariously through my husband's lineage at times such as these. And it appears that I am the only one in my household who does celebrate that family history.

This morning, Steve dressed in a gray shirt and blue jeans. Not a speck of green on him. When I questioned his not wearing green he said, "Do I even have anything green?" Now, we have been through this every year on this holiday for the past, oh, ten years or so. And since I didn't sleep well last night my reply was less than understanding this year. My comeback? "I don't know...I'm not in charge of your wardrobe inventory." I know it was lame...but what can you do when you're pregnant and hoping for a little enthusiasm from anyone in your house?

So, of course, my next step after a nice relaxing shower, was to convince my husband that he should dress our son in green. Our son...who normally could care less what he wears. Our son...who has apparently developed a mind of his own. Our son...who adamantly refused to wear the green clothes today in favor of "the snowman" sweatshirt I bought him for Christmas pictures.

I give up.

Happy St. Snowman's Day!

Pregnancy update

Did I tell you I passed my early glucose tolerance test? I was so happy!

Of course, the doc thinks I should take it again in case it's just later developing gestational diabetes. I don't mind...it's an hour or two I can take off work and spend reading a good book.

What is my role here?

I'm college-educated...in fact, I have a law school degree. I'm a licensed attorney. I'm 33 years old. And now I can proudly say that I have been reduced to the role of beggar. But I prefer to put my own politically correct spin on it and say that I've unwittingly become a fundraiser.

You see, in the face of becoming unemployed, I started telling my clients that they would no longer be able to rely on my services. Then something interesting happened. My clients started sending checks...BIG checks...to my office. They sent checks such that I could remain employed and many others in my office could also remain employed.

I have so many things to be proud of in this scenario that I feel a bit like tooting my own horn. My clients think enough of me that they want to retain my services. I was honest enough with people that I was able to help the entire office out of what was a very bleak budget situation. I was humble enough to tell people that yes, I would take their money if it meant maintaining my job.

Mom and Dad...thanks for teaching me the lessons that got me here...and giving me the brains enough to use those lessons effectively.

We're no longer shutting down the office. At last count, only four people will be laid off and some others will be forced to take shorter work weeks. But that's a far sight better than shutting the doors and turning off the lights.

In this instance, I don't mind being a beggar--err--fundraiser.

OH...but I'm still looking. :o)

Liberation

There is something very liberating about telling clients you don't like that you can no longer help them because you've been laid off.

"Should we seek other counsel?"

"yes" Here's your sign.

A record year for ABWA scholarships in my county

The ------ Chapter of the American Business Women's Association has had their annual fundraiser and they will be awarding $7000 worth of scholarships this year! I LOVE those ladies!

You all should be the first to know

The boss had a full staff meeting this morning. Everyone is laid off but himself and the chief criminal assistant prosecutor. As of March 21st, the office is to be considered closed except for essential services. He will try to stagger layoffs...don't know what that means exactly...but the entire staff layoffs are inevitable.

Start bailing folks...this ship is sinking fast.

Please...

...cross your fingers or say a prayer or whatever you do for luck (and no, I do not want to know what that is in some cases). I just sent out a half dozen resumes.

Finally! Someone to blame!

Just as I suspected...there IS someone to blame for my losing my job!!!

eBay humor

If you have a few minutes and want to be entertained...read this eBay feedback list. I don't know what's wrong with this guy...but he cracks me up with some of these.

You've got to be kidding me?

So last night Sam and I were snuggled in bed watching Count with Maisy. There is a segment on there where Maisy is rowing a rowboat and Talulah and Charlie race her to the finish line (all the while the three voice round version of "Row, Row, Row your boat" plays in the background). I started singing along...

Row, Row, Row your boat...
Gently down the stream...

When Sam sits up and says, "No mommy...(garbled) a tree!"

I laughed and said, "You're so silly," and kept on singing.

Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily...
Life is but a dream.

Sam laughs uncontrollably and says, "No mommy...life is up a tree!"

I said, "No Sam, life is but a dream."

Sam shakes his head in disbelief and says, "You've got to be kidding me."

So now the great debate continues on at our house...because I was laughing too much at the little adult comment to argue with him any more.

Some days I HATE Blogger

Those days when you get a really thoughtful post all ready, hit publish, and the damn program loses every word. It's useless to try to re-create the same post. You know you'll never be that witty again. So, in disgust, you close down your computer and go eat a couple cookies.

That was yesterday. :o)