The kids have a two hour delay today. Freezing rain. I'm not a fan of winter. Or snow. or ice. So, I had to cancel patients at the free clinic where I draw blood on Mondays. I still have to work at the airport, but thankfully, the kids will be going to school before I have to report.

We've had a house guest this weekend. Her name is Nikita and she is a German Shepherd. She is big, but sweet. And she has been very good with the kids. I think Lilly has enjoyed having a play mate around, too. The only one not enthusiastic about her is our kitty, Midnight. She's been hanging out in the basement for most of the weekend. Poor kitty.

So, I worked yesterday. It wasn't too bad. We had to de-ice and I had to drive the truck. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. But, it's hard because you have to make sure you don't drive into the plane, make sure the person in the bucket is safe, keep up with the fluids (making sure they are hot enough), and communicate with the captain in the plane. There is specific verbiage you have to say. That's hard, too! Yes, all that for very little pay. I definitely need an oversees trip to make the job worthwhile!

In other news around here, Joe Paterno died yesterday from metastatic small cell lung cancer. He was diagnosed in November. So sad. This town is in mourning. He did a lot for this area and it's a shame that a lack of judgment a few years ago will taint his legacy. He was only human, after all.

A little down or something

Have you ever been in a funk? Or down or depressed? I've been a little down the past two days. Or maybe a little longer. I'm not sure.

I'm settling into the routine of the new semester (for the kids) and I'm finding that the days I don't work, I feel a little down. I'm busy on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday but the other days of the week are empty. So, I've been thinking I need to make a change. But what change?

I like my job, mostly. Oh yeah, it's a blue-collar job with some rough people, but the benefits are great! I would miss the freedom the job gives me. And I love working with the public. I've always loved it. I loved it in health care and I love it in the airline industry. I think the main frustration I have at work is that coworkers with not-so-good people skills work inside with the customers when they shouldn't. Seriously, a "please" and "thank-you" go a long way and the words hardly are ever muttered from some coworker's lips.

Another frustration is that very young people without life experiences are supervisors. Yeah, unbelievable. The mere fact that they are full-time or have worked at the place 3 months longer than someone else qualifies them to be in charge. (and all that without a please or thank you to the customer).

I'm still volunteering as a phlebotomist once a week at the free clinic. I find I'm happiest when I'm doing that. It's easy work (and I love finding veins!) and the people are so pleasant to work with. I'm sure the paid staff is probably underpaid but wants to be there for all the right reasons. Most of the patients are appreciative. I enjoy seeing return customers! But I'm there for about 2 hrs a week. I'm sure they would let me volunteer more, but after a while I'm sure I would grow to resent it. There is something to getting paid for your services.

And then there's something else. Before Christmas we went to a live, acoustic concert at the public radio facility. They made an announcement they were looking for volunteers to host the folk show on Saturday mornings from 6 to 8 am. It wouldn't be every Saturday. So, I looked into it and met with the guy at the studio. But now I'm feeling a little guilty because I think it will require more commitment than I want to do right now. Not to mention, I really don't want to get up that early on Saturday. Ugh.

I think that's what's weighing on me right now. Decisions to be made. No one said life would be easy...

I work every Sunday. Today, we managed to make it to church (mostly) on time. But, since I work on Sundays, we have to take two cars. I'm tired of that. So after church Pete and the kids usually go to lunch and grocery shop a little and then head home. At least we have our Saturdays.

Today was a very easy day at work and the woman, who I find is very difficult to work with, left early since the schedule was lighter than usual because of the holiday. She's the other reason why I don't like working Sundays. Taking two cars to church and working with a very difficult woman.

I'm itching for a trip! I did fly to Arkansas last week, but I want to go to another country! Australia is on the list. My dad wants to go so I think we might go this spring sometime. I got a travel guide for Christmas, so...who knows? Some other places on the list are Cape Town, South Africa, Dubai (again), and Argentina.

Well, speaking of work, I need to go to bed. I've got two more days for this week. Not to mention tomorrow I have to be at Centre Volunteers in Medicine at 8:30 am. It will feel so early.

Later.

I flew to Arkansas last Wednesday to hang out with my sister for the day and then go see the Blue Man Group. We had a blast! I got first class out of Detroit (I love it when that happens).

We (the plane) were going to arrive about 30 min early to the airport but because of the fog, we had to go into a holding pattern. Once we landed, I waited for my sister to show up to pick me up. I think I waited about 10 minutes. The sun started to peak out from the clouds. It was only 10:30 am.

Once my sister and I got to her house, I put my back pack in the guest room and we started planning our day. She recommended we drive around Fayetteville in her 1963 MGB. So, off we went, with no seat belts (yikes) to Hugo's for lunch. Alan went separately and got us a table. After that, Kim and I drove to the office of an old friend of mine to say hi. Then we shopped a little. I bought some clearance chocolate at TJMaxx. Alan sent a text to Kim to say he got us two tickets to the Blue Man Group (not together, but it was all good), so we drove by the Walton Arts Center to pick them up. It was a sold out show but someone had just called in to give up their seats. Alan was working the show so it was lucky for us he was up there at the time! We went back to Alan and Kim's house to freshen up and get ready for the show.

Oh my gosh! The Blue Man Group is so much fun. I wish we had been on the floor because that's where all the action is. But, the balcony seats were good and the show was awesome from up there, too. The show was 95 minutes with no intermission.

After the show, I had this surreal experience. Behind me was the theater where we had enjoyed the show and in front of us was a cargo train. The train goes through town and I can remember hearing it when I was a kid. It seemed like a throw back in time.

On Thursday, I decided to fly home on the 4 pm flight. It meant only two flights to get home but I would get home close to midnight. Kim was back at work so Alan and I went to the new museum in Bentonville that Alice Walton was instrumental in building. It's called Crystal Bridges and it houses American art. It's an impressive collection and it's free to the public. I can't wait to go back to it in the spring and take the kids and the husband.

So, it was a quick trip, but well worth it.

12 years ago...

I met Pete on an American Airlines flight from Chicago to Fayetteville, Arkansas. I can't believe it has been that long but it also seems like yesterday (sometimes). 10+ years and two kids later, we're still plugging away. Both his labs are gone that he had when I met him as well as my cat, Buddy. We are on to our new dog, Lilly, and our new kitten, Midnight. Happy Anniversary, Pete.

I am the master of procrastination. I have so much to do around here that I feel paralyzed. It doesn't help that I've had a cold and am just now feeling human again.

I will try to recap the last few weeks. Here goes nothing: I felt overwhelmed by Christmas. I always do. I guess if money were no object, it would make things easier. I had to work Christmas day so the kids and my husband flew down to my parents. I followed the next day since I was able to get someone to work for me on the 26th and 27th. My job has the great perk of flying for free (space available). Luckily, the flights weren't full those days. The visit in Arkansas was short, but sweet. The kids and I went to an Arkansas Razorback basketball game with my sister and her husband. It had been a while since I had been to a game. It was a first for the kiddos. They were even "Calling the Hogs." I saw by bff from high school and her family briefly. Pete flew home to PA to work a couple days before we met in NYC at his sister's place.

The kids and I flew to NYC on Thursday of that week. Again, no problems getting there standby. This trip was so we could meet my father-in-law's lady friend. She is a president of a university in Australia. For now, they have a long distance relationship. She was very down to earth and I enjoyed meeting her. Her daughter was there, also. I liked her, too. My sister-in-law wasn't as enamored, but that is to be expected.

I also met up with one of my blogging friends, Auburn Kat. It was great to see her and her new town seems to agree with her! We opted for a glass of wine instead of coffee. So what if it wasn't 5 o'clock yet!

So, I better stop procrastinating and attack my daughter's room. Wish me luck! I hope to come out of it alive.....