Friday Wrap-Up (GAHHHH! Edition)

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... and ... it's Friday! WooHoo!!

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My cubical mate Norm, most famous for his "Good morning [insert name], and how are you on this wonderful [current season] day?" - spoken to every coworker each and every day - is on vacation for two weeks. He and his "sweetie" are on a 2-week cruise to ... oh hell ... I don't remember where they went even though he's been telling me of their plans - multiple times a day - for about 6 months (no exaggeration).

Anyway, it's been nice and quite in the accounting department. I didn't realize just how LOUD he is until I experienced how quiet it is without him in the office. The only down side is that I've had to pick up his work load in his absence.

Crunching numbers, although it sounds like you'd do it with a 50 pound sledge hammer, is rarely physical, however it is mentally exhausting. I am just worn out this week and as such, the blog has been quiet.

One more week of quiet and overwhelming mental exhaustion and life as I know it will be back to NORM-al.

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I'm attending a Treatment Strategies for Children and Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum conference at Northern Illinois University all day Saturday. It is being presented by Tim Wahlberg, Ph.D who has published extensively on the subjects of autism and neurological impairments.

The conference will be focusing on strategies and interventions for behavior, social skill development, problem solving and improving flexibility - all issues Cam struggles with.

What?? You think I might benefit from behavior strategies as well?? I would have to agree with you on that.

The only down side? Attending the conference requires I get up at 6AM on Saturday morning, and the on the road by 7AM.

That means early to bed Friday night.

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Sunday night I'm working with the logistics team at church for a high school student ministries event ... because I don't get enough of the crazies on Wednesday nights.

Actually, I need to find a way to bow out of this weekly obligation gracefully. Although I enjoy being there for the kids (you'd be amazed to learn how many upper-middle class, suburban parents "discard" their kids at church Wednesday nights) I'm struggling with the organized religion side of things.

I could always "accidentally" leave my blog up on one of the computers we use for checking in the kids. That would probably do the trick!

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My friend Gina posted her own 1 in 4 story today. Go over there and read it. Really! I'll wait ...

Are you back? I continue to be amazed at how similar the domestic violence stories are. Names change. Places change. The story stays the same.

I'm glad she decided to share her story!

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Friday Wrap-Up

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My co-worker Norm (think Milton from Office Space only without the red stapler) is participating in The American Cancer Society Relay For Life. I do my best to support my co-workers (and their kids ... and their grand kids ... and ...) when they participate in fundraising for anything outside of school fundraising (don't judge me - I pay taxes). But Norm? Well, Norm decided to hold a BAKE SALE at work.

Actually, his "team" held a bake sale at a local grocery store on Sunday to raise funds. Tuesday he brought the leftovers to work. Picture 20 or so ZipLoc bags with food items inside and white stickers on the outside listing suggested donation amounts. Well, no one bought any, so what does Norm do? He brings everything back on Wednesday.

... and I thought my social skills were bad ...

For those of you who follow me on Twitter, this would be the same co-worker who said to me - quite sarcastically - "You are just a frail flower of femininity, aren't you?" Grrrr ...

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On Wednesday's post I mentioned my daily activity of checking airline fares on SkyScanner. Well! A Twit, Tweeterer, someone on Twitter alerted me to MegaBus. Now, I'm not exactly a fan of buses. My experience - limited to Greyhound - is that what should be a 2-hour bus ride turns into a 6-hour small town travel fest. Not only does the trip take FOREVER, but it's still a little pricey. For example, Chicago to ... say Columbus OH is a 9+ hour trip on Greyhound, costing $102 each way. The same trip on MegaBus is $15 each way and less than a 7 hour trip. Hello?? No brainer!

The only down side is that MegaBus has a limited service area, but with Chicago centrally located, MegaBus travels about as far as I would want to travel on a bus!

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It's official! Cam and Rhonda have broken up! I had to wait it out 6 months, but the cougar-in-training is gone! Now, in addition to the things I mentioned in THIS POST, there was one thing Rhonda did that really, REALLY bothered me ... she called me "Mom."

Now, maybe I should be flattered that she felt that comfortable with me, but instead it felt creepy - like she honestly believed I was going to be her mother-in-law some day. Hello?? Cam is 14!!

Rhonda's last Facebook update?

its been hard dealin.. hope he comes around sometime.. i still love him.. although he hurt me bad

Well, let me just say that his momma isn't bringing him anywhere near your neck of the woods ... EVER!

Rhonda really is a nice girl ... for a 17 or 18-year old young man. She just had no business with a 14-year old!

Did I mention she texted me, wanting to talk about the break-up?? I know her mom is her friend, but I am a mom, and have no business (IMHO) getting involved in this one! Besides, she wouldn't want to hear what I had to say ...

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I am having a heck of a time keeping up with my Project 365 blog. The problem isn't in taking the pictures - I am quite diligent with that part - it's getting them downloaded and posted that seems to be the challenge. What's odd is I have the time, just not the desire. UGH! I need to work on that attitude.

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A sad thing happened last night. It was Cam's middle school promotion ceremony (they can't call it a "graduation") and Cam didn't want to go. As a mom, I wanted the opportunity to take pictures, to enjoy the moment of (relative) success, but Cam had no interest.

I think that speaks volumes to where he is with school right now ...

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Friday Wrap-Up

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It's another glorious Friday! I know everyone has been complaining about the cold, but for the record? As I type this it is 18 degrees, 5 degrees with the wind chill. I've managed to keep the winter coat in the closet (I wore just a sweater yesterday), but I'm thinking I might need to bring it out soon..

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Work has been interesting these past few weeks. First we were asked to sign a non-compete/confidentiality agreement. I didn't find that too unusual, but things got a bit more intriguing the following week.

Next, it was a phone usage policy limiting ALL phone use (business phone AND personal cell phone) to emergencies only during work hours. In fact, it even dictates that when we receive a call on our personal cell phone, we are to go to a "non-work" area to answer the call. Texting has also been banned.

Yesterday? A new internet usage policy. Personal use of the internet is limited to the lunch hour (noon-1PM) only. We used to have a fairly liberal internet usage policy - a discretionary type policy - not now! In fact, we've been told that reports are now being given to the managers on a weekly basis that include individual usage time and all URL's visited and that disciplinary actions will be taken. Being in a "professional" position, I find this a bit demeaning, but also believe it is likely being used as a tool to weed out "undesirable" employees.

What does that mean for me? In these difficult economic times, I cannot afford to lose my job over internet usage. You'll likely be seeing a bit less of me in the comments as I'll have fewer hours of access. I'll try to catch up on the weekends, but if you don't see me it's nothing personal.

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I think the most important policy my employer seems to have overlooked is the one limiting cubicle loitering. Tuesday, Norm (of "Have a lovely Autumn Day" fame) came to my cubicle and started rehearsing his lines from the play he is performing in next month. Seriously. Just walked up to my cubicle and started rehearsing his lines. Hello? Someone please explain to me why that can't be policy-ed away!

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I came across an interesting blogging dynamic recently. Now, I have quite a few blogs that I read that are husband/wife or "significant other" (I hate that term) written. Another Suburban Mom and Hubman, Kahuna and Babushka, and Matt-Man and Schmoop come to mind. What did I stumble upon these past few weeks? Feuding spouses (actually, kind of one sided feuding) blogs. No, I'm not going to link them here - honestly I think morbid curiosity by a bunch of unknown bloggers might just send one of them over the edge - but it is kind of fascinating to watch.

I'd say, in a nutshell, it's what happens when one spouse starts blogging - developing those blogger relationships - and the other spouse holds on tight to preconceived notions regarding the EVIL internet and those preying women, trolling blogs, trying to steal husbands (DAMN you infidelity bloggers - you've ruined it for the rest of us - *gigglesnort*). She starts following him around, reading his comments, leaving her own snarkiness following his, then decides to publish a blog where she just loses her mind in quite a passive/aggressive manner. And these aren't 20-something folks either - these are grown-ups!

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For those of you heading out of town for the holiday, Have a safe and wonderful trip! I'll be hanging out here - I think - but might just shock everyone and head off somewhere with Cam. We'll see!!

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