Looking Glass

  The following Tuesday after mine and Derek's discussions over the weekend, I was debating about attending my Toastmaster meeting. I was tired from work, and my normal enthusiasm was not apparent. Derek, (the President of the club this year), had emailed the officers that we would hold an Officers Meeting after the regular, club meeting. Really? Really? So, I pulled my big girl panties up and attended. The regular meeting ensued as normal, but the officer's meeting was, a bit more  lively.  Derek handed out the copies of the budget and agenda, and convened the meeting like a pro. Our area governor happened to be there as an observer. Right off the bat, I could tell this was not going to be short and sweet as promised by the pres, as he was rambling on, co officers were discussing non important items. I got unsettled and grouchy, quickly. Hey, I was tired! During the meeting, it became questionable if Derek was under the influence of alcohol. (I thought he was overcompen...

A Strong Man Derek, Derek, with a heart of gold, You chose a woman who was more than bold. You chose a woman of strength, you knew, You chose a woman, who you found true. Derek, Derek, with spring in your walk, You chose a woman, of whom you could talk. You chose this woman to have nearby, You chose her to fill, an unknown why. Derek, Derek, with kind regard, You eased some moments, when they were hard. You took her sadness, she held for a year, You took her sadness and turned it to cheer. Derek, Derek, with arms so strong, You held her tight, when things were wrong. Because of you, she has some space, Because of you and your warm embrace. Derek, Derek,with a spirit of light, This woman you chose, confused what's right. This woman's path was not concrete, This woman's timing, missed a beat. Derek, Derek,with eyes of brown, Your shining smile is upside down. Your heart is heavy, because you dared. Your heart is heavy, because you cared. Derek, De...

  Labor Day Weekend has come shortly after my vacation, which was nice. The week back to work was busy, as usual, though my co workers did a great job managing the office. I guess they only had a couple of mishaps with caregivers and scheduling, which, when you are staffing 80+ shifts of care to clients in a month, it happens. Even to the best of us.   It is surprising to think, when on vacation, I didn't stress about money, the job, my living situation or anything, but when I went back to work, all the old stresses resumed. I guess that is reality. I spent a few hours yesterday morning applying for jobs on line. I applied for four, to be exact. I need to do that at least once a week or more. Then, my odds increase of at least getting an interview, right? Right. At the very least, I will, hopefully, gain some interview experience. Now, the tricky part will be taking time away from the office for interviews. I am not too concerned of this, as I have shared with my director in ...

   I am now on my seventh day of vacation. I am brown and freckly from the sun. I am relaxed more than I can remember. Guilt is almost a secondary feeling, as I am not accustomed to this way of relaxation nor have had many a time to be this exposed to the sun and laziness. I have had thoughts of , "What should I be doing?" "I haven't started one single project I brought with me to accomplish." But the guilt subsides quickly. I am on vacation. I am revitalizing myself to return to work. Typing of work, I have not received one email, text or phone call from my coworkers at the office. Good for them. Good for me. I am dispensable. They are worthy of tasks I have trained them to manage. The happenings in the office are not my concern. They are my Director's concern. I  have certainly deserved this space away from it all. Thank goodness my friends invited me to be their caretaker of the pets, home and plants.   Derek came a day early, per my invitation, on Tuesd...

  I am on my fourth day of no work. I am on my fourth day of  no concern to a clock or calendar.  I am on my fourth day of doing absolutely nothing. I am on my fourth day of little interruption. I am on my fourth day of being a pet care taker and house sitter. I am on my fourth day of reading a book I started four days ago. I am on my fourth day of having lots of thoughts filter through my brain. I am on my fourth day of nothingness. I am on my fourth day of vacation. I am, indeed, on my fourth day of serenity.   The original reason for this vacation, was to house sit and pet sit for my dear friends in that small ole' town from hence I moved. They are on an Alaskan Cruise, and due to the nice house, plants and pets needing care, they asked me to fulfill this dubious honor. My friends would not consider "just" anybody. Flattery will get you somewhere. (smile here.) So here I am.   My friend, KP, drove the hour and half yesterday from Olympia, to spend the day w...

  Again, time has slithered away and I have not been on my blogging site. I have thought of it often, have even missed it, but it seems the evenings after work leave me with depleted energy and the need to take naps, upon my arrival home. My emotional state has been quite good lately, other than a rare peak at a link of the ex when someone posts to Twitter. (Of course, his falseness jerks my chains every time. I can't help but peek, sometimes.) What is more shameful... sending him one liner emails contradicting his written statements and such. One sentence in the subject line like; "Disloyalty 101 should be a chapter in your next book."  "You couldn't even say hi to my mom when she came to visit your dieing dad."  "You will always have loose morals and be a bit dishonest". "Your article in the Sun Newspaper is so phony". One of his paragraphs written from the interviewer stated  him saying, he started his tour but ended up, unexpectedly f...

 After that last post, I have continued to keep busy and am surprised by the weeks that have slipped away without my reading my friends' posts, or writing on my own blog.  The night after my last post, I met with my daughter and her boyfriend who arrived from Houston for a short visit. We met with my son and his girlfriend in Seattle, and a lone friend of my son's at my son's pad. We went for a lovely dinner at a harbor side restaurant on the piers of Seattle. My daughter picked up the tab which I know was over $200. Really? Really? Bless her heart. We had a great time and I got to know her boyfriend a bit better. Their next chapter in life is moving into together when they return to Houston. During a quiet conversation she and I had, she reminded me, this is the first time she lived with a guy, she's always had female housemates...true...so, I only felt it fair to ask him at one point, as an upcoming medical student with future student loan debts and many years of fin...