Ramblings

Time for some updates.

I had a very big important meeting at Job #1 to deal with that misinformed volunteer's accusations (this is what I was referring to in my last post where I said I'd been stabbed in the back). Well let's just say, I think I made it incredibly clear that we are no longer friends.... I more or less slaughtered her in our meeting. Sorry. She asked for it. I went into that meeting with guns blazing, and my boss had my back the entire time. As unfortunate (and unnecessary) as the whole situation was, I'm glad I finally had a chance to speak my mind, and I suppose the takeaway is that there's no question of whether or not my boss supports me. So that's good.

My attempt to quit my Saturday shift at Job #2 is still limping along. I have the next two weeks covered - which is very good because I have a wedding and a concert for Job #1 - but 10/17 and 10/24 are still up in the air (meaning I might have to work them). I gave my notice in August!!!!! The whole thing has been so frustrating it just makes me want to quit completely (although I still need the money so I'd just have to find something else). But... Last night was our 5+ year anniversary party for Job #2. Looking around and seeing all of the faces I've spent the last 7 years with made me realize how much I really care for the people I've met their. Here's a picture from last night of the front desk crew that's worked 5 or more years.

The friends I've made at Job #2 really are some of my favorite people.

So all of that to say... Job #1's drama has calmed down, although I am incredibly busy with 4 concerts I'm running next week, and a lot of things to square away before then. And Job #2 is still really bothering me. I want that Saturday shift out of my life!

I am also in my friend Lani's wedding on Sunday. I really love weddings - they're probably one of my favorite events to attend. Her venue is a winery that Andy and I actually considered (we didn't go with it because it's really made for more people than we were planning to invite), so I'm especially curious to see what it will be like. Now, if I were a "normal" person I would just be excited for Sunday to come. However, I am not normal, and instead am freaking out about looking gross in my bridesmaid dress, and of course handling that stress by eating all the food everywhere. Ugh. Why can't I be normal!?!?

And so.... besides my planner, which I still love, my favorite things are still Birdie and Andy and spending time with both of them at home. Here are pictures of my happy things. :-)


Birdie as my bedtime hat...

Family photo...

She's started "burying" her treats. Usually under her bed, but this was a new spot...

Coming after my bowl of ice cream!

She's so lazy in the morning. :-)

Over the weekend I also decorated for fall. I planted some things we got at the farmers' market and made a nice little fall tablescape. I'm pretty pleased with both!

That's about it! I'm also really homesick. I haven't been to WA in 11 months. That's just too long. My homesickness led me to order this shirt online...

Oh what I would do to see some evergreen trees right about now.

Planner and Puppy Love

Hello! I am sorry for the delay - honestly I have been TRYING to update my blog for awhile, but for some reason the photos on my phone would not transfer over to my computer. This morning, after trying for days, they magically appeared. Oh technology... Anyway, back to our regularly scheduled program!

Now, it should be no surprise to you all that I love lists. If you are surprised, you are dumb... look at the title of my blog!! Anyway, a love of planners seems totally natural for someone who has a love of lists. And so it is true. I also love planners.

Each year (year meaning Sept 1 - the start of the new year at Job #1), I start a new planner. For the last 3 years I have used a Vera Bradley planner, and I have really enjoyed it. They are colorful, well organized... everything I could ask for in a planner. Or is it...?

For some unknown reason, I decided to do a Google search for planners at the end of August. And low and behold.... I found...

THE ERIN CONDREN LIFE PLANNER!!!!!

Making the switch caused a lot of anxiety, primarily because the format was so unlike what I was used to. Instead of a horizontal weekly layout with lines, this had a vertical layout with NO lines. You may all think I'm crazy (except Sheena, she understands), but this is a very. big. deal.

What attracted me to the ECLP was the prospect of decorating it. I watched a number of YouTube videos before making my final decision (yes, people post videos of their planners), and I fell in love with the way people turned their planners into a day-by-day scrapbook.

So, I caved.

And I couldn't be happier with it!!!!!

And here is an example of how I'm using it!

I find decorating each day to be very therapeutic. :-)

You know what else I find to be therapeutic? Spending time with Birdie. Here are some recent pics of my precious puppy gurl.

She's made a few trips to the office...

She went swimming (that did not go well)....

She read part of my magazine... 

She escaped while we were at work...

She licked my face after I finished a workout dvd....

But mostly we just snuggle. :-) Also, when I say snuggle I mean she tries to eat my hands and lick my face and ears until she wears herself out and gets sleepy.

I sure do love her.

And then there's Job #1 and Job #2. I must admit, I am 10,000 times miserable with both right now. Job #1 is a nightmare.... let's just say I feel like I was stabbed in the back by someone I thought of as a friend.... and it just so happens that it happened in front of our new CEO... who I have not met yet. Thank you for making my first impression for me. I am angry, worried, and hurt. Job #1 has been so draining that I decided to quit my Saturday shift at Job #2. As much as I need the money and like having the membership, I just need more time for myself to recharge. But instead of 2 weeks notice like a normal person would give, I told my boss I could be a little flexible to be nice. She is having me work 9 more weeks. I could vomit. But as I will still work there on Tuesdays, I don't know how hard to push because at the end of all of this... she will still be my boss. And I also consider her a friend too. It's all really hard. 

All of that to say... thank goodness for my planner and Birdie because I really don't like anything else in my life right now. I'm not happy. I feel emotionally drained (honestly more like emotionally raped - sounds harsh but it's really how I feel). And so, I eat all the things. And then I hate myself. Fun times!