Getting Them All In A Row...

Duck 1: My Personal Life

• I need a better way to handle the stress and aggravation in my life (noisy neighbors, slow traffic, incompetant people etc)
• I need a healthier relationship with food and the time to create new and different meals
• I need the time and motivation to tackle the ongoing issues with my weight
• I need to continue to nuture the relationships I have with my friends because they are very important to me.

Duck 2: My Family Life

• I want to enjoy my daughter and husband as much as possible without getting so bogged down by the day-to-day issues of what needs to get done.
• I want to give my marriage the time and nuturing it deserves, so we can be good partners as well as good parents.
• I want time spent with my mom, my siblings and my in-laws to be enjoyable and fulfilling for everyone involved.

Duck 3: My Professional Life

• I want more money
• An assistant to help me take care of sales for the entire world (since my coworker is leaving)
• A plan in place for when I am out of the office (because I will be taking a vacation)
• Ultimately a job where I can work part time to spend more time with my daughter and less time with customers who really don't value just how much I do everyday to help them get what they need.

Like Sands Through the Hourglass...

I've worked in my current job for nine years. In that time I have seen everyone who came before me, in the sales department, leave for greener pastures. Now my current sales co-worker tells me she has an interview this week and she may be leaving too. Everytime this happens it makes me question why I'm still here, why I'm still beating my head against the same wall day in and day out. I used to say the money was pretty good, but I don't think the money is going to be good enough for me to handle sales for the whole world by myself. I know I also need insurance coverage for myself and my daughter right now but the insurance they offer here isn't that great either - just ask my pockets which are $15,000 lighter now. I suppose there isn't anything to do about it, it just makes me weary.

I Called it a Train Wreck First...

Friday afternoon I heard Britney Spears was going to open the MTV VMA's and I knew it was something I had to see. On the dot of 9:00 p.m. out she came. Stomping mechanically through innane dance moves wearing a sparkly bikini made for a much thinner person. I was transfixed, sometimes even horrified at the spectical. I kept wondering who thought it was a good idea for her to do this. In addition to the ridiculous dancing she wasn't singing, nor was she even attempting to keep up the charade of lip-synching. At the end I pronouced it a train-wreck and tuned back in to Brett Michaels "Rock of Love". This morning it seemed the AP agreed with me...it was just so awful none of us could look away.

A Sad Day...

Weekly World News is no more. It's 28 year run has come to an end with its final issue hitting news stands this week. Back in the day, when I was in high school, my BFF Tina and I would devour WWN. We'd pick it up at the deli or the "Cumby" along with our king sized Snickers bars and sodas. The stories were always of the utmost craziness, but then again in the late 80's so were we.

The Grind...

Ten weeks off...where did the time go? I'll tell you, it was all that baby tending. It kept me busier then I ever imagined. Granted, nothing about my birth or post partum experiences was what I thought it would be. I didn't expect to labor for 24+ hours or be on mag sulfate so I couldn't get out of bed for 24 + hours after my babies birth. Nor did I expect her to be whisked away from me to the NICU at CHOP. I didn't think my five day old would have surgery, nor did I expect her to have a second surgery before she turned six weeks old. I didn't expect her to cry almost non-stop in the beginning, nor did I expect to have my gall bladder out before my baby was two months old. And just like that - here I am, back at my desk, toiling away like I never left.

I'm now free to send personal emails at will, read or watch TV online (between jobs of course). But part of me sees through the "glamour" of being at work and knows I will miss EJ's fun moments. Her little babbling conversations, her accidentally hitting herself in the face because her hands don't work all that well yet, or her kicking like a crazy ninja on her changing table. You just can't get that type of entertainment here. Thankfully I will also miss the crying and fussing.

For now though I suppose it's just how it is. Perhaps my dear husband will stumble into a fabulous, high-paying gig that will keep all of us in the Kimora Simmons lifestyle I aspire to. But until them I'll punch the clock each day and then head home and hold and squeeze my little baby.

But who decides what's boring...

Some times I think I "suck at life" too, but I'm too lazy to try to hide it. I work then come home and watch TV. I do like to read books and magazines and occasionally I scrapbook. Now that we have a child I imagine we will "do more" as she gets older because we'll have to help her grow in meaningful ways. Maybe she'll help us grow in meaningful ways too....just by being here.

Well it's August 18th now...

Only two more weeks of maternity leave to go. I'm beginning to get a little nervous about what my life is going to be like once it returns to "normal". Right now my dear husband is going to be responsible for the bulk of Miss EJ's care because he is still semi-retired. I know the grandmom's are going to help him out but it will be strange not to be able to sleep in while the other one watches her or watch TV all day while she sleeps on my lap. As my dear husband says I have to get out there and make him some money. So lets see - what's been happening...

• Well we left off with the dear little one having her hernia surgery, she weathered that just fine. She still has the gas which makes her cry but it seems we are now done with the doctors down at CHOP. She had her follow-up appointment on Tuesday (8/14) and all is well.
• I then promptly had my gall bladder out on Wednesday (8/15). The procedure went smoothly and I'm sure as the days progress I will feel more and more like my old self. Or rather my old self without a gall bladder.
• I stopped by work briefly on August 8th to show off the little peanut. Everyone thought she was appropriately adorable. I sensed my co-worker Heidi had somethings she has to tell me but we didn't get any one-on-one time to chat. I have to try to get down for lunch this coming week or next.

Well - I was supposed to shower about an hour ago - so I best get to it. I better figure out how to use the next two weeks in a productive manner - for I fear it will be a while before life settles down again.

Another Ten Days Down...

Wow, where does the time go. I've tried to get a post done on several occasions in the last few days but someone always seems to be awake. Here are some of my latest musings/happenings...

• So Drew Carey is replacing Bob Barker as the host of "The Price is Right". I'm not sure how I feel about that, though it doesn't much matter because I'll be back at work before the new shows begin.
• Last week there was a story about Oscar "The cat of death" on virtually every news/talk show on TV. I thought it rather interesting that he can sense when people are in their final hours better then doctors can.
• My boyfriend blew his engine in the final stages of the Brickyard 400 yesterday to finish in 34th. He had been running in the top five and actually led some laps. He sounded like he was going to pass out in his post blow-up interview...I hope the move to Hendrick next year brings him back to life.
• My baby had her hernia surgery today and she did very well. She's such a little trooper. She's been sleeping for the last three hours...I wonder if she's going to sleep tonight...
• Ingmar Bergman died today (or yesterday). He directed many movies but one mentioned by the news man brought back memories. It's "The Seventh Seal"...I had to watch it in my "Film As Literature" class in college. It's supposedly known for the scene where the knight plays chess with death...I just remember it being boring. I never said I was deep...

I suppose that's it for now. Nothing earth shattering I know. We've had several more visits in the last ten days and expect more in the days and weeks ahead. I have until Tuesday, September 4th to enjoy my "freedom" because then it's back to the grind. Around here it's also the first day of school for the new year. I might just have to go buy myself a new outfit.

Since I've Been Gone...

Let's see, it's been about a month since I've posted on Blogger...let's see what I've been up to.

• Had a baby girl on June 20th at 930pm after 24+ hours of "labor" - 6lbs & 19" long
• Had above mentioned baby girl have to spend a week down at CHOP in the NICU where she had a partial blood transfusion and surgery to remove a cystic mass from her abdomen.
• Brought baby girl home on Thursday, June 26th and spent the next month trying to figure out why she cries ALL THE TIME!!!
• Took baby girl down to CHOP on July 10th for her follow-up appointment. While there we discussed her next surgery to repair bi-lateral hernias that she has. Got the surgery scheduled for Monday, July 30th and her blood taken.
• Had myself to the doctor on Monday, July 16th because of recurrent, exhausting heartburn or possible gall-bladder attack.
• Baby girl went to CHOP's King of Prussia location on Thursday, July 19th for an abdomenal ultrasound to make sure everything was good (CHOP radiologists thought they saw an enlarged adrenal gland which may have indicated a "tumor") Luckily they were wrong on that and her abdomen received a clean bill of health.
• Today, July 20th, I had myself to the local outpatient center for my ultrasound to see if I am the proud owner of gallstones. It will be three days before my doctor gets the results - so I have to wait until Wednesday to call them and find out my fate. I am taking Nexium right now to keep the heartburn at bay and I'm using prayer in hopes of keeping another gallbladder attack away (that is, if it was even one to begin with). If I have gall stones I will likely have to have surgery to have the entire thing removed.

So that's about it for the last 30 days. I have watched a lot of TV and have had some visitors over to the house. Baby girl has had two successful outings (not counting doctor appointments) once for lunch with me, my mom and her aunt and then again today with me, my mom and my dear husband for breakfast. With the crying we never know if we should take her anywhere or not. I have managed to keep up a semi-regular email correspondence with the outside world and I even read some blogs yesterday while on the phone with my ween. I guess it hasn't been too bad of a month. I still can't believe I'm someone's mom. It's still so crazy.

Two Days Past "Due"...

Okay, I know as well as anyone that "due dates" are estimates that doctors give pregnant women so they have an idea of when their babies may come. But over the course of nine months you really become attached to the idea of being "done" by that date. I can't say I've been any more uncomfortable yesterday or today and I'm now getting to be pregnant in the privacy of my own home while I wait for her but it's kind of depressing. Like I some how failed at doing what other women have no problem doing - having their kids before their due date.

Julia Roberts has had her son and I saw online this morning that Tiger Woods wife had her baby. I think that leaves me and Jeff Gordon's wife and who knows when the hell she might be due. If not before, on Thursday, we'll find out when we're going to have her. Then I'll be wishing for one more quiet day before she comes. I've known for the last nine months that I wouldn't have much control over what would be happening to me and this is just an extension of that lack of control. A realization that the rest of my life will not be my own ever again.

No More Mr. Wizard...

Mr. Wizard died...he was 89. I remember watching him in the early 80's on Nickelodeon. His show ran on that channel from 1983 to 1991. He didn't inspire me to a career in science or anything like that, but it was entertaining enough to keep me watching.

Amusing & Timely...

Whitney of PopCandy fame just had an amusing posting about how long we, her loyal readers, keep movies out from Netflix. I find this timely because I had "The Da Vinci Code" for over a month before finally watching it two weeks ago. I don't know what my problem was - I ended up thinking it was a good enough movie. Perhaps I was discouraged by the fact that it was 2hrs and 40 minutes long. Before that, some time last year, I had "The Office: Season 1" for about a month too. Once again, I love the show, I don't know why it took so long to get through it.

Netflix and services like them are rather brilliant. We as the customer don't have to do anything to get the movies and they as the supplier sit and collect money from those of us who just can't seem to "get in the mood" to watch the movie we have on our coffee table. Sounds like everybody wins :):)

Too Good To Be True...

After a visit to the ladies room at work this morning it looks like we are back to the cheap, flimsy TP of old. For about a month we were in the lap of luxury. The paper was soft, bright white, and with a label of "Supreme", it was softer then the tissue I use at home. Some how our boss slipped a case of it under the radar of our cheap-ass owner, and for that short time we didn't have to worry about trying to "clean up" before the paper disintegrated in our hands. It was nice while it lasted.

Well let's see...

1) My baby to come, by June 17th, hopefully.

2) For my boyfriend to win a race this year.

3) For my customers at work to get their heads out of their asses and give me the information they know I need so I can process their projects.

4) Some more of those delicious cupcakes that I had at my baby shower. They would make a perfect "welcome baby gift" for me!!!

Now That's Better...

It's been about a week and a half since I got my car back from the dealership that was actually interested in helping me get the XM fixed. Of course three days after it was fixed XM themselves had a satellite problem that knocked the service out for 24 hours but at least it wasn't just me having the problem this time.

I am now able to enjoy all of my favorite programming virtually interruption free, instead of having interruptions every two seconds. Turns out all it needed was a new antenna, which is what we told the other dealership all along. They swore that wasn't the problem...I hope it was worth it for them to "stick to their guns" instead of making me a satisified customer. I'm sure they won't miss the lifetime of sales that are no longer coming their way either.

26 More Days Until My "Due Date"

It's funny how I check my blog every week to see how much time is "left" before this baby comes. It's not like I don't know how many more days or weeks it is but it puts it into sharper focus when I see those tickers at the bottom counting down. I'm happy to report that by the time I get home from work today (5/21). The room will be largely completed. It has been painted and the furniture will be moved in and the curtains will be hung. Now all that remains is to wash her clothes and bedding and find places for all of it in the room. It's really beginning to seem real now...we're having a baby. I'm trying not to panic!!!! :)

"Record Gas Prices Fail to Alter Driving Habits"

That's one of the headlines of the day on msn.com this morning. My question is how exactly am I supposed to alter my driving habits? My daily routine consists of me driving the 13 miles to my job in the morning and then driving the 13 miles back to my house in the evening. Occasionally at lunch I'll run a few errands near my office so that might add a couple extra miles to my "useage" in a week but for the most part it stays pretty static.

What people don't seem to realize is that it doesn't matter how much gas, we as a country, use or don't use. Because our "useage" has nothing to do with pricing. How much money oil companies want to make governs how much we're all going to pay for the stuff. It doesn't matter if it's summer, when they raise prices because it's the "summer driving season" or if it's winter when supply is low because more needs to be diverted to make heating oil for all of us selfish assholes in the North who want to heat our homes.

All we have to do is look at what happened after Hurricane Katrina. That storm comes through, levels most of the oil platforms in the Gulf and gas prices shoot up before the lack of supply was even able to be felt...those prices were high but they weren't this high so what's going on now? Smells like greed to me...plain and simple.

So no, I won't be altering my driving habits any time soon and I'm glad I'm "flush" enough to absorb the expense because Lord knows I'm not giving up my magazines and my Starbucks Blueberry Muffins to the man.

I've Been Told it's Easy, Because I Believe Whatever They Tell Me..

This past Saturday my mother and my ween threw a FABULOUS baby shower for me. It seems it was all very easy to orchestrate because I believe whatever people tell me. They even got my dear husband and his grandparents in on the act, and everyone played their parts well and carried it off right til the end.

I can't believe the TONS of wonderful presents BGH (Baby Girl Hercek) received. It's just a shame I didn't have more time to spend talking to everyone - gift unwrapping takes a lot of time. Though it seems that this "slow opener" did a better job at it this time around. With everything we received our little princess isn't going to know what to do with herself.

All Done...

Last night was our last childbirth/labor class. It seems funny that five weeks have passed relatively unnoticed and that in another five weeks our darling could feasibly be here - that is if she's a little on the impatient side. While I feel I received a lot of information during our classes I don't necessarily feel any more "prepared" for what's going to come next.

During one of the exercises last night the "dads" were supposed to write down the "mom's" birth plans and then run them by us. Well, it seems my well meaning husband really needs a more detailed list or discussion about "what I want". Granted the exercise was done in only a few minutes but it seems we need to get on the same page...just in case he needs to speak up at an important moment. I'm hoping our tour of the hospital's maternity ward this weekend will help me focus a bit more on what I'd like or what is available to me.

I guess there isn't really anything more that can be done that will make me any less apprehensive about the events of the next month and a half. I just have to take it as it comes and see how I do.

A Ray of Hope...

In October 2005 I bought a brand new, shiny 2006 Chevy Malibu to replace my previous Chevy Malibu. This new car came loaded with bells and whistles, including XM Satellite Radio, and I was jazzed. The service seemed okay at first but I would soon get a sinking feeling that there was something wrong with my radio. For roughly the last year, if not longer, I have been telling the dealership where I bought the car this...to no avail. No one wanted to ride with me to hear the products shortcomings, no one would entertain the notion that there was something wrong with the antenna...nothing. One of the service tech's even told us that the reason the satellite radio didn't work in my car but worked flawlessly in my mother's 2006 Chevy Equinox, was that her car was "taller" then mine which put it closer to the sky. Well, that was kind of the straw that broke the camels back.

Tuesday (4.24) I called another Chevy dealership and told them of my woes. They told me they would be happy to ride along in my car with me and I should just call back and set it up at my convenience. I called them on Wednesday (4/25) and set up my "ride along" for Thursday morning (4/26). The radio performed as poorly as I expected it to and the tech said he would talk to the service manager and they would get back to me. True to their word the service manager called me back today (4/27) and said they took a Malibu from their lot and drove the same drive the tech and I had taken and that radio performed flawlessly so my car definitely has a problem. He asked if I could bring it in on May 15th - that they would give me a loaner and hopefully be able to remedy the problem in a few short days. I was dumbfounded and rather giddy at the thought that I might be coming to the end of this long road of frustration. If they are able to make things work for me General Motors will be on the receiving end of a scathing email, phone call or letter or perhaps all three. Then I'll be sure to tell the dealership where I bought the car to stick it up their ass - and when my husband wants to buy his $40,000 pickup truck - that he won't be getting it from them.