A business Woman I am Not (part 2)

(for part 1, go here)


At this point, I'm all who am I and why am I here, and does whale outta ocean ring a bell??

And I have to go to the bathroom!

They then proceed to PRESENT us with their proposal for the space, complete with fiber and cabinet samples. I am hearing words like elegant and vast, upscale and universal appeal.

How do you ask "where are the facilities" tactfully, in a business meeting?

I was seriously contemplating which would be more embarrassing, peeing right there in their designer showcase space, or interrupting the meeting like some kind of overgrown toddler with a where's the bathroom question, when the builder said "lets talk about paint colors"! Really, paint colors I thought, do you have any idea how many paint colors there are? Then miss size four broke out Martha's paint swatches. "These are unbelievably remarkable" she swooned as she splayed out 5000 shades of wonderful. I squeezed my legs together and started to shake.

Lets review a few of the phrases I used in this meeting with the size four interior designer with six inch heels, shall we?

"That would be great if we wanted it to look like every other commercial space in this area."

"If we want it to be stamped with 2012 for the next 22 years we could do that."

"Eight foot ceilings can not scream elegant, no matter what you do to them."

"No amount of pillows or vases is going to infuse color into beige walls."

Maybe I could get rich if I wrote a book on what not to do or say in a business meeting.

By the time we left, size 4 was cold.

Michael asked me if I thought HE had offended her?? Ummmmmm, "no" I stammered, "I don't think so".

I even asked the builder why there were no fish in the ginormous and conspicuously empty fish tank that was obviously once the centerpiece of his Hoyty toyty lobby. "they died" was his curt reply.

It was not good.

I will not be entering the corporate work force any time soon.
Thank Goodness!

Me, and my not size four white Capri's, slunk to my minivan and back to our Island lair, and got back to wrangling laundry and dog hair.

And guiding young hearts toward a love for Jesus.....lets not forget that one.

After I used the bathroom of course.

A Business Woman I am Not (part 1)

Yesterday I was invited to my first business meeting ... by my husband, but that counts, right??

It kinda sounds lame that at my age I'm having my first business meeting, but what can I say?

I've had meetings at places I worked before....like a hundred years ago, but they were all, you need to do this better, and that should be changed, and this is our new menu, and sell, sell, sell.

Then there were things like meetings with the lawyer to sign the buying a house papers, and I was all, I might as well be just a hand, while I sign my life away.

There were also the countless Doc appointments, and therapist visits for sick baby Crockett, which can be meetingish, but are far more emotionally charged, and more heart cutting outish than anything.

Church meetings every Wednesday night since I was to young to even know it was Wednesday don't count, nor do the committee meetings for this or that woman's groups, which were never really more than taking turns listening to ourselves talk, opened with prayer of course.

Had I known this was a REAL business meeting, I would have stressed more. This was one time I was glad I didn't know ahead of time. No level of beforehand stress and preparation would have made me ready for this.

I quickly changed out of my mom uniform into something that I hoped wouldn't embarrass him, and threw on some make-up, but without a whole lot of forethought. Just after slinging some mac and cheese at the girls, and scarfing down a chicken breast and a gallon of water (don't even ask) I was off.

"Just meeting with the decorator", he said, "just want you there to hear her ideas", he said. Then on the way he mentioned the builder might also be present.

I had to go to the bathroom.

Here's the background:

My man works for a very large corporation as the head of one of their divisions. The building that houses he and his division is soon to be demolished by said corporation for the express purpose of some kind of entertainment rock climby thingama whatcha whoeven cares something. that means he and his staff will be moving into a much smaller, ummmmm can we say  HIDEOUS space. That won't do, cuz we are talking costumers and lots of whosumwhatchits that will see it and need to feel impressed slash comfortable or something. So he, with the help of the people in this meeting, is hoping to transform the space into something.....less hideous.

Cut to meeting.

Upon entering a large impressive building we are ushered into the "meeting". There, we shake hands and introductions fly all around. I may or may not remember even a single name. Then size four with six inch heels and short flirty skirt emerges from behind her bright red apple (the computer not the fruit).
Her once over is excruciating, and my white Capri's want to dig a hole in the slick stained concrete floors and bury us all alive. The builder, and his right hand cabinet maker guy are all.......oh, who really cares what they are all, cuz that size four is still looming ever large and intimidatingly size fourish, Not to mention those six inchers.

Quick trip full of fun

Source

This past weekend we made a quick trip to Charleston South Carolina, our former stomping grounds, to see these two beautiful people tie the knot.

While in Charleston we took in some of the cities history at the slave market. This lady is one of many that sit near roadside and make really fantastic sweet grass baskets. The art form goes way back to slave trade days, and today they make very expensive sought after souvenirs for Charlestons visitors.

We also had the privilege of meeting this little chub while we were there as well. He is our latest nephew, Watson .

Michael actually controlled himself, and did not throw him in the air. I could tell he really wanted to, but refrained, to save Watson's new Momma from sure heart failure! I was proud of my man's extreme self control!

Watson LOVED Haven, just as babies always do!

He was VERY about this frozen teething ring, just couldn't get enough of it! So cute!

So it was a quick trip up the road on Saturday to enjoy the nuptials, a bit of play time on Sunday, and then the trip back home to our pretty Island Sunday evening. It was a fantastic trip full of family, fun, and lots of memory making, but we were all glad to be Home Sweet Home.

Funny how no matter where you are, Home is were you want to end up.

Jewelsy

Jewelsy was born into our family almost 12 years ago. And he is very much a part of our routine.

He hates when the girls are doing their school work, and not giving him attention in the morning. He tries to sit as close as he can.

He is an old cat, but can still be playful at times, usually all the wrong times!

The more she tugs, the more he thinks she is playing.

Every time she moves he attacks.

An old fat attack cat,

but he is our old fat attack cat,

and we love him.

biking memories

One of my favorite ways to add miles to my April goal has been to bike around this pretty Island. It is really peaceful when I am alone, and when the girls come it is fun to explore new trails, but when Daddy comes it is really fun, because he already knows all the best places to go.

This golf hole is a peninsula, and just made for a great evening resting place after a good ride.

The views were incredible from every vantage point. God's handiwork is so amazing.

I love that my girls are getting to experience this.

We ran into some really cute bunnies on our way back to the bikes too. The wildlife is unbelievably tame around the golf course!

Falling, only to rise to the top again

It starts on his shoulders.

Then he taps her foot, and that means...

put this foot in my hand.

Then the other one.

Look at that concentration!

Then it is really balancing time.

See the father and daughter in the back ground?

She is saying

"please dad, please, why can't you do that?"

He is thinking

I wish I was as cool of a dad as that guy!

Oh no, her concentration has been thwarted!

Her demise is sure,

and her fall is swift.

A fall is only an excuse to rise to the top again,

and she will, at least 37 more times!

WOW, has a week actually gone by???

So sorry it has been so quiet around here, I don’t know what happened?? all of the sudden it was Sunday again!!

So here are some random thoughts on last week.

Last Sunday we went to the beach. This has become our new routine for Sundays. Church, early service, love the early service, and LOVE our church. We worship, we learn, we fellowship, it’s good! We go home and eat something simple…leftovers, sandwiches, whatever happened to find itself in the crock pot that morning, simple. We hit the beach, or the pool that is on the beach, and we continue our worship, as we marvel over God’s unbelievable creativity! Natives tell us that we will soon tire of the beach, but I’m not thinking that will happen any time soon, LOVE IT!

Monday was pretty much uneventful, sunburn, school, basic Monday!

Tuesday, girls had swimming, and my friend Alicia did her best to kill me on a 3 mile walk. Oh my goodness, we were busting it! It wouldn’t be so bad accept she is 4 months expecting, and pushing a baby carriage! I secretly hate her, not really, I love her, but kinda I hate her.

That was my only mileage for the week, yeah, I know. So, I haven’t been recording much, because I haven't been blogging much, but I now have a grand total of 42 miles. I only have 9 days left to reach my 100 mark goal for April! that is an average of about 6.5 miles per day, but I’m not giving up!

So, can anyone tell me where April went?

Wednesday we made yummy cookies. Basic chocolate chip cookie recipe. By the way, if you have trouble with your cookies spreading out, like I used to, try using real butter (not margarine), and using it straight out of the fridge, also you can up the flour content. I used both tricks, and beautiful cookies came out of the oven.

I had my hair done. UGHHHH, apparently when I said brunette it sounded like Elvira-ish, and when I said subtle highlights, she mistakenly heard Cruella Deville look alike???

I cried, I did. I am embarressed, but I cried!

I haven’t cried over hair in like forever, because, well because it’s just hair right?? But sometimes when something goes wrong like hair, every other little thing you have been hurting over seems to bubble up, and apparently I just needed a really good all purpose cry fest.

I smiled at Julia (evil hairdresser) and politely hinted that it was a tad dark, Paid her way more than she deserved, and even tipped her, cuz I'm nice like that, and I walked to the car, and texted Michael. He didn’t answer. I drove to Winn Dixie, and texted my friend, she didn’t answer. I texted my daughter in love, she didn’t answer and I remembered that she and Dakota were out of town. I texted Kartwright (who, I ask you, texts their 19 year old son when she is in hair crisis??) he didn’t answer. “Well”, I said, “Lord, it’s just you and me in the Winn Dixie parking lot, let the water works begin.” And, they did! Then Kartwright texted back and he said he always kinda liked Cruella, and that made me laugh, and Maria texted back and commiserated over stylists that don’t listen, and offered to fix it even though she was like a 1000 miles away, sweet girl. So, that was Wednesday.

Oh, and speaking of Glenn Close (Cruella Deville) she was terrific in The Sarah Plain and Tall series, prettier too I might add. I mentioned those movies the other day to some friends, and they had never seen them! NEVER SEEN THEM??? I yelled!!  I didn't really yell, cuz they are new friends, and I am trying my best not to scare them! have you seen them, the movies, not my new friends?? You MUST see them, they are terrific! So, heads up if you haven't seen them, DO!

Thursday, swimming again, then school, then I cleaned all day because small group was at our house this week. (small groups from our kinda big church, get together, to better connect with people) My house was already clean, but there is just something in me that says you must clean if people are coming. I have issues, I know, and bad hair!

Small group was fun, and crazy! Five families were represented and one was a single man, and we had 15 children! I know. It was really fun though. Boy was I glad I cleaned ! (insert sarcasm) Not one person mentioned my hair. Well, what would you say if you showed up at someones house, and your hostess had Cruella hair?? On second thought I think I can stop worrying about scaring my new friends!

Friday the teacher called off regular school, and declared it craft day. That was fun, and I told them it was because I thought they needed a break, but we all know who really needed one.

Then we had appointments for both Diana the princess of Wales, and Jewels the cat at the vet. Diana was just supposed to get her rabies so she could be cleared at petco for her summer cut. Jewels had an unfortunate skirmish with some other creature and has a significant wound on his side. 300 dollars later we find out Jewels is infected, and Diana has heart worms. Not a good day for the pets, or for us! Now Jewels has a shaved circle on his side with a red wound in the middle (hope no one mistakes it for a bulls eye), and Diana is soon facing some extensive, and might I add expensive, treatment.

The day was finished with pizza, and THIS movie.

Saturday Haven and I went thrifting and I found a few pairs of pants, and she found a super cute brand new dress. I didn’t get a pic, but I will. Liza and Daddy stayed home and did a little yard upkeep (aka, leaf wrangling). Michael says he is beginning to re think his love of Live Oak trees. I said “bite your tongue!!”.

Speaking of trees, we have gotten wind that they (the people) are going to cut down a HUGE oak tree that resides in our back yard because it doesn’t allow enough sunlight to keep the green, green (a golf course). I guess technically it is their tree cuz it is kinda on the golf course, and it isn’t even really our yard cuz we sorta rent, but still. So there you have it, Happy Earth day, see ya 1000 year old cool tree. SAD! That picture isn’t thee tree, but I don’t have a picture of her, she is behind that one, last in the line I believe.
When I call it a her it makes you sadder doesn’t it?? It does me! Her name is Hazel. I know… I will stop now.

We may or may not have a plan that involves an airsoft gun when they come to cut her down.

Now we are back to Sunday, and my week has been literally as exciting as this blog post. Here’s to another week, Thank you Lord!