TGIF!!!

Morning Everyone - FIRST, PLS. SEE MY POST ABOUT SUNDAY! WE'LL STILL GET TOGETHER, WE MAY JUST HAVE TO CHANGE THE VENUE/TIME! I'LL CALL BLUE FINS WHEN THEY OPEN AND POST AGAIN! Okay, back to normal. Hope everyone is well. I'm glad it's Friday, but I have a busy weekend, so it doesn't really matter as far as getting to sleep in this weekend. We have the kids, and I plan to be at ECC at 7 a.m. tomorrow to register them for swim lessons. 10 weekly lessons for $20 per kid - what a deal! The only downside is that you have to get there EARLY, because last year, I got there at 9 when the doors opened, and after standing in line for 1-1/2 hours, everything was gone by the time my turn came. This year, I'm taking a chair and coffee and trying to get there early. After that, I'll pick them up - need to go to the library, car wash, and thrift store to drop stuff off. After that, I told Kaity we'd go to a costume store to look for her costume - she hasn't decided on being a vampire or a pirate. Brian is going to be a Teenage Mutuant Ninja Turtle - he found his costume on the $5 clearance rack and wanted it, so that saved us some $$$! After that, I told them I'd take them to the mall food court for lunch and some shopping and they could ride the carousel. Then back home, where laundry/cleaning/cooking awaits. Going to make a crockpot chicken dish, sloppy joes w/cornbread topping, and inside-out pizza. That should keep them for a couple of days. That way, all Gary has to do is add a salad/veggies. Sunday, of course, is our get together - again, I'll post more when I know more. I don't have any transcribing to do, which is a double-edged sword - I need the money and/or the comp time, but don't want to have my weekends tied up working. Somewhere in there, of course, is my own laundry, but my Dad's always been good about doing it for me, so I won't have to show up nakie on Sunday! You should all be greatful!!!!! Dad's recovery is going well, although until yesterday, he had been in pretty consistent pain, but didn't want to rely on narcotics. Then yesterday morning, he said it was like someone flipped a switch and his knee felt great! So here's hoping it'll continue! Other than that, not much going on! Anything new with anyone? Take care, Tia

Hi Tia. Good morning everyone! Yay, it's Friday. I needed this day to come. One of my guys is not in the office today so I will get a little bit of a repreive; not much though since the other one is just returning from a trip. He'll be sending me lots of emails to followup on for him and his expenses to report. It must sound to y'all like I don't like my job. Actually I enjoy it very much. Just at times, since I am still learning some things, it can be a bit overwhelming. I have printed out a lot of stuff to go over so that while one of my guys is out I can make sure that the Sept/Oct/Nov calendars are up-to-date and make sure that I am doing all the little tasks that have to get done with each event. Then I'll feel more organized. Not much planned so far for the weekend. Although we might go to an orientation for volunteering at a horse rescue farm. None of us have any experience with horses, but we love them and would love to help out. Stephanie, my oldest, also has to get 50 volunteer hours before she graduates so that will be a great place to get some hours. I am also going to check out some other things. If y'all have any ideas of non-profit places that need volunteers, especially on weekends, let me know. Talked to my mom last night. You might remeber that I confronted her on some things that she said and did when my girls were visiting in July. She was just plain mean to them at times and I let her know that it was wrong...etc. Well, she hasn't returned any of my phone calls and won't stay on the phone long with my girls, she cuts them off after like 5 minutes. Of course she is mad but the way I see it is she needs to know that what she did should not have happened and that she can't do it anymore. Boundries. (we talked about that in Ladies bible study the other night) So, I called her last night and she immediately wanted to know what was wrong. I told her nothing that I just wanted to talk. She was a bit defensive to start with but she was willing to talk. We didn't discuss what happened or our last conversation. I figure that she knows where I stand and how we feel so there's no reason to not just move on. Still, she didn't sound too enthused when I asked about the holidays and them coming up here to visit. We shall see. Maybe she'll come around. I made the offer so now the balls in her court. Doing well otherwise. Trying to push the water today since yesterday I didn't have anything to drink all morning and then when I went for a walk I could really tell I was not hydrated properly. Tia, glad you dad's doing better. Hopefully that pain will stay gone! Hugs, Robin

Well, isn't this lovely - my message to you just went bye-bye! Let's try this again! Good morning, Robin! Hang in there with the job - I know you are. Good for you for trying to stay a step ahead of the game. I HATE change, so I'll usually stay put until I become so miserable I can't stand it. Fortunately, I love the man who's in charge here, but actually loathe my job, which I know doesn't make sense. All I can say is CO-WORKERS! So I'm glad you like yours!!! Volunteering at the horse farm sounds like a good way to stay connected as a family. I seem to recall an article in our local paper about service hours for high school students, I'll look into it. It may have even been at KB's elementary school - they have a memorial garden that needs tending - you might want to check at your local elementary schools/libraries, too. I'm glad you're taking the high road with your Mom; you're right - you made your position clear to her, so there's no sense in continually beating a dead horse. Hopefully, she'll think before she speaks again. Unfortunately, if she doesn't want to spend the holidays with you, all of you will suffer (OR MAYBE NOT!) Keep working at it - family is what it's all about! I didn't drink as much yesterday as I do normally because I left at 11 for a luncheon, so I'm back in the saddle again. Yes, thank goodness Dad's pain is much improved - as it goes, so does his attitude! Have a great day, and keep on the lookout for updates about Sunday! Tia

Hi Teresa, I curious where is the ECC? I would love for my daughter to learn how to swim. Thanks Vicky

Hey Vicky - ECC is Essex Community College on Rossville Boulevard in Rosedale. Actually, for web site purposes, it's the Community College of Baltimore County - Essex Campus. It's a Red Cross accredited program, too, so the kids get completion cards. It's actually run by Rosedale Department of Recreation & Parks. Like I said, get there early! There's always a HUGE line, and hopefully, it won't be raining. BTW, where do you live in Pikesville? I work in Pikesville. If you feel more comfortable, you can email me privately. Inquiring minds..... Take care, Teresa

Good morning Tia! After 3 days of struggling to even MAKE it to work I was actually in the parking garage by my 7:30 (theorectical) start time. I consider being in the garage by 7:30 a success and actually in my office my 7:30 a miracle!!! I am working on setting up an employee's personal laptop to be able to access the network and her desktop from home. Her husband is very ill and we are making an accomodation to allow her to work from home. I have set myself up at home without a problem and have talked a few people through it, but for some reason I am struggling with this laptop. I've called the Help Desk for assistance and I am not really sure they should be helping me since it is a 'personal' laptop but I'll take help where ever I can find it. I am wondering if it won't let me in because I'm trying to connect from an internal connection here This is going to be CRABBY weekend!!! We are headed to Dundalk for the NAPS crab feast at the VVA tomorrow. This will be the first time I am meeting a lot of Mr Mo's co-workers. There is a crowd that I have met and we have socialized with for a few years, but I've never met the guys/gals he works with on Fayette Street. His 'partner' is threatening him that he's going to tell tales .. and I've said that after 28 years of marriage there isn't much that Russ can tell me that I don't know I am looking forward to Sunday. I hope that Blue Fins is still the choice, I've got my head into two days of crabs, but I'll understand if we have to change it. Well, I think while I am waiting on help from the Help Desk I had better work on readin these proposals I need to get through by next week too. Have a wonderful TGIF!!! Hugs, Mo

Hey Mo - Yup, I'm hoping for Blue Fins, too - we'll see! How wonderful of your powers-that-be that they're accommodating your co-worker. I'm sure it eases her mind - one less thing to worry about. HELP DESK is an oxymoron! Have some crabs for me tomorrow! I've got a hankering for them, too!!! Have fun with the postal people - Gary's friends at Dundalk are a good bunch - they recently collected several thousand $$$$ to help one of their own. Okey-dokey, have a great day! Tia

The Help Desk was actually HELPFUL rather than helpless in this event!!!! It took a while and she went over much the same ground that I had already traveled but we FINALLY have the laptop connecting to the network!!! Yeah! Now Linda is on her way in so I can explain to her what to do and hope it all works right for her when she gets it home. I think of the 'offices' Mr Mo was in he liked the Dundalk gang best. Hugs, Mo

Good Morning Everybody! I'm getting a late start today. This is my Friday off and I'm usually up and at 'em fairly early. Well I didn't have any appointments early this morning so I actually slept until 9:00am. I'm moving slow this morning. I worked out again last night and then did 40 minutes on the elliptical trainer...kicked my butt! But I feel great! I too have a busy weekend planned. My sister and I are taking my Mom for a surgical consultation today at 12:15. She had something come back on her mammogram and then they did a needle biopsy. The cells are cancerous, but according to the Dr. they haven't spread. So my Mom has a decision to make: lumpectomy with radiation or mastectomy. Having been down this road many, many years ago, I think she's leaning toward the mastectomy. Tonight and tomorrow I'm helping a friend out with catering his nephew's wedding. That should be fun, I haven't helped with catering anything (other than things at my church) for about 2 years now. Then our get together on Sunday. I'm game with whatever the group decides to do (stay there but go later or go somewhere else), although 2 or 2:30 is better for me. After talking to Tia yesterday I asked my Mom about joining us and she's going to. She's a riot, I love her dearly Well, now that I've slept in and dawdled with my protein drink, I need to shake a leg and hit the ground running. Have a great day everybody! Terry

Can't wait to see your Mom on Sunday. Let her know I'll be thinking of her. Give me a call if you feel like it and let me know how the appt. goes. I'll be in the office until 4! The Purple Princess