Being Professional...

...is not,

flailing your arms to get a chance to speak.

yelling, "I see your hand and we know you're next, but you need to wait".

trying to be louder instead of talking one at a time, as the group norm states.

giving your complete personal background, so that you beat the dead horse more than it already has been.

answering questions FOR the subject matter expert...assuming you know more than he does.

AND

doing your make-up at the round-table...just sayin'!

This week's conference is TASKING, to say the least. To be fair...while the room and the power hungry, rude people in it are sometimes unprofessional, I guess opening this blog up and a sudden blast of Poison's "I Won't Forget You" filling the room wasn't too savvy either :o) In my defense, it did cause them to simmer down and jam out for 1/2 a second. How's that for professionalism? 2 more days......

Today I feel...

Today I feel like nothing can take away my serenity. I feel at peace. My Family is healthy, happy...my schedule is falling back into balance...the weather is fantastic...all the makings of a thumbs up day :o)

Mother's Day

So... We spent the day pretty low-key and my fam made it fabulous for me. I woke up to a collage of me and the three kids with a homemade card that read like butter. After that, we headed to brunch with Rhea and all the kids...and had a nice meal. We had hoped to take the kids to the park, but to our disappointment the rain took over. So, George decided to snatch up my grocery list and drop me off at home while he and the kids battled the C word (it's called the C word because nobody likes to go to the Commissary...so we mask its name). After that, he ventured off the BX with the kids while I watched Marley & Me (why I decided to watch a tear-jerker alone is beyond me...actually, I got stuck as I flipped through the AFN channels). The kids walked in and what a surprise! Teage had a shirt I had been eying hanging around his neck, Saige had a cute, brown summer purse in her hands and JD entered the threshold with a box of Russel Stover's (mmmm). As if that weren't enough...my honey got me a gift that far surpassed any previous gifts in the past. A new wide angle lens for my Canon....CHYA!! He really knows the way to my heart :o) I have the best Family.EVER!

As you can imagine, Mother's Day for us this year was quite different than year's past. I was thinking about how George would feel on this day and hoped I could make it as "normal" as possible for him. I had decided early on that I would send Maria some flowers for Mother's Day and I didn't tell him til the day before...with the hopes to not make him think too much about it. They arrived and we asked G-Pa to swing by and take a picture of her with the flowers. They were beautiful and they kind of encompassed the niche. But I know she would have loved them.


We also sat down to dinner (thanks to my awesome Saigie...she makes the best pasta) and went around the table as everyone said a few words to express their Happy Mother's Day to Grandma and Popo. Their words meant a lot to George, I could tell...we are starting a tradition where we will get Maria a card each Mother's Day and have the kids write what they want to say to her. I think it will be a great memory to look back on in years to come. In the meantime...we will continue to keep her in our hearts and remember her always!!

Día Siempre una madre para todos nosotros ... Feliz de la Madre!

Soapy Saturday

The days have been long lately and I just have a few things I wouldn't mind slipping by you on my soapbox...it's therapy for me.

Don't eat Turkish tacos and then pound 8 beers...somehow it doesn't work out.

Be a good listener, not just a talker...it's one of the best traits a person can possess. I love to listen...but, I certainly don't have time to repeat myself or school you on manners.

2 year olds in gymnastics have far different methods than 3 year olds in gymnastics.

Taking a photography class online is like reading the Pioneer Woman's website (photog section)...I wonder if she could start passing out grades in the Home and Garden dept.

Don't terrorists know by now that trying to blow up the American people has long passed. We aren't taking your shit anymore...and P.S. New York again, really? Fugheddaboutit...somebody take care of that a$$hole already!

Teenage boys can be needy and co-dependent...and come out a stud.

Teenage girls can be independent...and get a bad rep, instantly.

There's more to life than labels and keeping up with the Jones'.

If I could have a raspberry cobbler IV drip, I would.

If anyone wants to visit Legoland, JD charges either 5 cents or a Pokemon card to check out his bedroom.

Liars need to check themselves at my door...all the days.

Nothing says I love you like, "You might get cut".

Chicken wire and cats have an established bond that goes way back.

Wall decals and crack....sisters!

Staples in your head are not easily detached when you are given a "suture removal" kit by a Doc.

Wubzy has a hypnotic way about him that entrances toddlers...I think it's the pipeline effect in his shows.

Brett Michaels needs to marry his baby momma already. The days of passing women and tequila shots around need to come to an end.

I think it's funny when people say I have an attitude. DUH!! Sorry I don't have a dry, sneaky way about me. I say it proud...I HAVE AN ATTITUDE....both good and bad, you decide which one you wanna see today :o)

I find cotton plants to be beautiful.

Lastly, my littlest informed me the other day when he was investigating the inside of my nose that I had spiderwebs in there and to be careful. I guess it could have been worse...spiderwebs with 'food' in them sounds much more insulting :o)

Here's to another Fall day in Spring...Bavarian style.

Today I feel...

Keep calm and carry on they say, right?

(but, mostly I just want to say carry yo ass on!!)