Lost in Idaho

Yes, you used to call me lostinutah, but these days I seem to be lostinidaho. Not in the same sense, but I know I've been remiss in trying to write anything whatsoever or comment on others blogs. Though I see some other people are having the same problem. :)

What has been going on? I don't know that it's anything specific...a tad bit of laziness, no doubt, but also just life being life and me ending up watching David Letterman, seeing the Top 10 list and realizing I'm going to be just as tired in the morning as I was the morning of the current day.

The job has been...the job. I've had a couple of nasty surprises in the last week that don't threaten my employment but do seem to confirm that it will lack the thing I like about my field - creativity. Not that I've been allowed to have much anyway, but what I did have is slowly being eliminated by our Corporate structure. (Not at me, mind you, just generally.) I have applied internally for a job that I think I would love, that is a stretch opportunity but one I had some exposure to in Utah. The person I would work for I think I would truly love to be around - she and I have bonded over our children are both going to that fine institution next year I've mentioned previously. We'll see - the recruiter for the job (same guy that was my recruiter for this job) seems to think I'll get an interview at least but the wheels of justice turn slowly.

Memorial Day weekend was a blur. We went to friend Renee's party (lots of fun) but first...we acquired a new family member.

This is Mario, our new evil pet. (Those of you who parent or grandparent Ninentdo addicts will get the name.) He is a 2 year old Beagle, who was a stray at the shelter and we nabbed him. We were going to wait until we got back from our trip to Washington D.C. to celebrate Big Bit's graduation but Beagles don't come through the shelter very often so we nabbed him. Friend Ra will watch him while we're in Reno and a little bit of the D.C. time when Mom is on a Harley ride to Elko.

We also went (late) to my uncles(s) and aunt(s) anniversary party. A supposedly brief lunch at Flatbread Pizza went sadly awry. In addition, I hate really paper-thin crust pizza. Shan't be back. Sorry to the family for showing up for the last 1/2 hour but I did enjoy seeing everyone. Then, we got to go see the new house my dad is having built. It's small, but cute, and when he retires and can't live in his company-provided housing anymore he will have a nice place to live. Sorry, no pics, but once it's done I'll nail some down.

Now - getting ready for graduation (I AM OLD) and our trip to DC. Big Bit has been another distraction (though always welcome) - he was having extreme bouts of senioritis and resenting authority (granted, the authority he was resenting I couldn't live with, so totally understood). To his credit, he got through it all and is great, but I appreciated the fact he wanted to talk to me about it all. I don't take that for granted by any means. Sometimes you see parents and their children grow apart and you wonder - how does that happen? I'm not sure. I don't want to experience it with my kids, so I plan on working hard at appreciating their worlds, even when I don't agree with them.

Back on a Sunday, Big Bit's college orientation on a Monday and then - off to D.C.! We were fortunate enough to score White House tour tickets through Senator Crapo - now if I just see an Obama I'll have a big grin on my face. I know. As if. And I know he's not perfect, okay? Thank you. Looking forward to seeing all the wonderful, inspiring sights that I've seen briefly on work visits to the D.C. area and much more that I've never been exposed to.

I also hope to meet up with Holly and Kris, a couple of ladies met through the blogosphere - we'll see how things shake out but it might be a lot of fun.

So, while I've been totally offline, I haven't been inactive. Hope all is well with everyone's world as well.

Be Careful What You Wish For

Well, the good news is I probably won't be asked to move. That makes me very happy.

The bad news? We got the news that certain programs I am associated with are going out to bid. Without really any forewarning or consulting with any of us. The person who should have called to discuss this didn't- who is a much higher authority than any I work with, in Boise period - had their consultant do that. I will not say what I would like to call these people but it isn't pleasant.

The meaning of all this? Well, let's just say ultimately I'm not thinking it's job security for me and those I work with. In the short-term I think things are fine. Not sure long-term and I like to have people treat me and mine with the respect all humans deserve. Even Brett Favre.

I'm not sorry we left Utah. I'm really not. And while it's been a hard adjustment work-wise, I am starting to appreciate the people I work with for what they bring to the table. I just would like to have a job - even a "job" that would have your ordinary amount of politics, stress and heartache instead of doubt, fear and some loathing. I used to have it, so I know it's possible.

Sigh. Guess it's back to the salt mines.

And I have to come up with a Talk Thursday topic. I warn you, it may be a depressing one.

Kicks

It's been a long couple of weeks, dear readers. TH is doing well with his face, he can smile and everything, but his "job" has proven to be somewhat rocky (not in the sense of having one, but in the clarity of what having one means) as has mine. Anyone who lives in the greater Boise area may have heard my illustrious employer is moving their divisional headquarters (um, where I work) to Denver.

No, I'm not moving to Denver. I like Denver, lots, but I came home to be home. No, I don't know that this means I have to move to Denver. Or would need to in order to keep my job.

But, I will say, any stupid guy from Australia who happens to be a CEO with a location in Boise who doesn't LIKE Boise, thus feeling the need to change things doesn't have his head on straight.

That's all I'm saying, other than I really don't think things are as drastic as the local media painted them and I knew coming in that the worst could happen, but I wanted to come home. I do not want to be Dooced. So if you want to ask where I work, ask via e-mail.

So, because I needed some stability today, I found this video. Paul Revere and the Raiders have been an essential part of my life. My parents went to see them at the Armory in Twin Falls when they were dating. I was lucky enough to dance at Mr. Revere's club he had in Reno when EHFH and I were married and see him play, but got to meet him later when he played in the casino town in which my Mother was the Postmaster.

I relate the following simply because I'm sure he wanted to kill me. I paraphrase, but only a little.

Paul Revere (PR): Hey, how are you?

Me: Fine, it's very nice to meet you.

PR: Are you from around here? (or it may have been, how does a whippersnapper like you know who I am?)

Me: Yes. I grew up in Twin Falls. My parents used to go dance to your music when they were dating!

PR: Wow. Thanks.

(Me: Didn't get I just made him feel 100 years old. I got it later, um a few hours later, and I wanted to kick myself, because he really is a nice guy).

I now present to you two of the hottest guys who made it out of the state of Idaho - Mark Lindsay and Paul Revere. And these other guys that I think are from Idaho but I can't be firmly sure on that.

And yes, this all reminds me of "That Thing You Do". I think Mark is the guy who they say "sorry girls, he's engaged!" He just has that look about him, doesn't he?

Well, Maybe Not

Well, the Pack is Back may have been premature (but I really wasn't gloating just happy). All I have to say is on 11/1 if the Vikings don't go down the ghost of Vince Lombardi and Curly Lambeau will rise up and crush Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson.

Go Pack.

In other "news", we're just plugging along. Little Bit is doing exceedingly well in school, even if I do say so myself, we're planning our trip to Disneyland for Big Bit's college research at Concordia Irvine (also known as I GET TO GO TO DISNEYLAND FOR MY BIRTHDAY! WOOT!) and work is work for TH and I. We feel a little lost not being part of the Mothership because there was such a sense of purpose in our work; now we just have jobs. That's harder to adjust to than we thought. Our indoctrination was thorough and complete, obviously.

And, yes, Cele, I will get my 99 things post done by October 30. I promised. I keep my promises (Pastor Grumm's comments at the time of my divorce notwithstanding).

Vegas Baby!

So...because I've officially checked out (mentally) at work - with all apologies to my boss (the anti-Sybil) I wish I could focus more, but I can't.

Since I am really not worth much the rest of this week work-wise, Little Bit and I are off to Las Vegas for two days to join TH at his conference/seminar that he gets to attend, though our illustrious employer can't afford to let him work out of Boise permanently. I know, the logic boggles the mind.

He's staying at The Luxor which has a great swimming pool with a bar(!) and the Inclinators (elevators that go up the corners of the pyramid shaped hotel). The weather will be in the 80's and the people watching will be fun. TH won't get to spend a lot of time with us but Little Bit and I will keep each other plenty entertained. Perhaps we'll drive race cars at the NASCAR Cafe.

Plus, JetBlue had tickets for $60 round trip! Little Bit and I have our bags packed and we're ready to go roll with the Rat Pack. I'm sure it's the last time we'll get to go to Vegas for a long time, so I'm pretty excited.

And...it's not Utah. Hee hee.

Progress...or Lack Thereof

So it is now Thursday. I have accomplished almost nothing I wanted to this week.

• Little Bit's room is still a disaster waiting to be packed
• There are still no boxes of books neatly packed
• The back yard is not yet mowed and we have guests coming over Saturday (yes, Yvette, it will be mowed by then and we're glad you're coming)

The only things I've managed to do are shred a big bag of stuff (I've needed to do that for oh...a year), and run the dishwasher about five times (Little Bit and I home all week = too many dirty dishes), oh and one really productive thing, we got our lease signed and the phone and DSL set up to move. I guess that's something.

I've been pretty much looking around, hyperventilating and waiting to hear if The Husband would be able to continue working for our current employer, cocooned in a cubicle at the Mother Ship, and the answer came back last night. NO. Surprised? Not really. Disappointed? Yes, because it looks like his job, and others who are not moving away, will be sacrificed so we don't have to lay off people in a foreign country. Even though, in this case, that is what makes the most sense.

I love American corporations. No, I don't, I hate most of them.

This sounds like whining, and it probably is, but at the moment, I'm feeling stressed, not grateful. Think I will go read my Martin Luther bible study and get some enlightenment on how ungrateful I am. Honestly, it really will help.

Then I have to drink before the VP debate tonight. That's all I'm going to say on that subject.

Just Because The World Needs a Good Old Song

TH and I got to see "Spamalot" last year here in SLC. It was great, but I sure wish I could have seen Tim Curry in it - LOVE HIM! At any rate, since I've not had time to do the Idaho wedding post (yet), since Sybil's running amok in her last few weeks trying to fire people, screw people out of raises, etc. etc. - since Big Bit's stuck in Hell2, I mean Reno, since our Mom Company (or is it Dad, I can never decide, our company, as with all of us, has two parents and as with many of us they're fighting) is trying to ruin our lives as always due to his/her own bad brand of decisions they can take out on us; etc. etc.

Because of all this I've posted this happy thought, as I do need to remember to always look on the bright side of life. Cheers!

Things I Wish Would Go Differently or Better

I want Brett to report to training camp Friday (he faxed his letter to the NFL Commissioner today) and the Packers are all there to welcome him with open arms (it ain't gonna happen, but it's my blog so there).

I want Little Bit to stay out of the principal's office all the way until his track break starts in October. Yes, he's already been there once in two days, he's got to test this new teacher out. Good news, she seems to have a high level of energy and commitment. She's going to need it. So am I, apparently. I wish track break was more than three weeks.

I wish that The Husband could manage to multi task for once in his life or be on time for once in his life because sometimes I have to work too and I can't manage his life for him. At the same time as keeping up with my job, kids, changing oil on the cars, paying the bills etc.

I wish Big Bit had more of a backbone and could tell his dad (who is NOT TH in case you're keeping track and didn't know) that he thinks the EHFH is psycho and wants to stay here instead of going back because he really doesn't want to live with a psycho. (I knew he was, all along, but Big Bit's finally figured it out on his own).

Argh. Anyway, just had to vent a little, I love all four of the above (three more than the other one of course) but there are days I DO NOT UNDERSTAND MEN. This was one of them.

Bit of an Issue

NOTE: The following is not to brag (unlike some people's Christmas letters). The following is to explain why I will never be able to quit my job because in order to live in Utah, I must leave often and that costs money. Period. (Yes, Mom, I am still saving for retirement and the college fund).

I'm a big Clark W. Griswold type planner (if you see or have seen the first National Lampoon's Vacation, you'll know what I mean) of vacations, activities, etc. Maps are opened, timetables are drawn, point A to point B is painstakingly planned. I think my family is good and sick of it, but I've got that gene in me from someone (interestingly, neither of my parents is like this. Perhaps it's from an aunt who lives in Idaho who shall remain nameless? Or an uncle who lives in Southern Idaho. Not sure, but they seem like real planners too.)

At any rate, I already have the following planned for the next few months:


March - trip to Sonoma County, CA for a long weekend at Easter. Planned family activities include wine drinking (oops, that's the adult activity), the San Francisco Zoo, Jack London State Park, more wine drinking (I AM KIDDING, but definitely some wine buying) and the Sonoma Cheese Factory. Yum.



Early April - Trip to Wendover, NV (wooo!) to see Rick Springfield and hang out with my mom (she will watch Little Bit, while we're at the concert). I know, I know...humor me here, if you know who he is (for my younger cousins). If you don't, you should. I have two funny stories about Big Bit I need to post sometime, and one of them involves sort of meeting Rick Springfield years ago in Las Vegas.



Late April - Trip to Reno, Nevada to see Gin Blossoms in concert (lostinutah's favorite band of ALL time, got me through a divorce, child custody battles, moving with a 2 year old 400 miles, you name it) and hang out with Big Bit and Little Bit in a nice hotel with an indoor pool.

That's not to mention the fact we really want to go to Seattle this summer to see family and friends there, etc. and the normal family visiting that will be done.

As I said, this is not necessarily a good thing, though it will be fun...why? Because if I ever want to quit the stinkin' job, I've got to quit spending money! Argh!