A moniker if you will...

JP and I haven't been thinking of names like we probably should have. After our initial list ended up being all the top names of the year and decade we sort of stopped even talking about it.

Plus JP got this crazy idea that when he sees the baby the name will come it him... uh not if I hate it won't just come to him.

It doesn't help that certain friends are always insisting we tell them the names we're thinking off and trying to put their two cents in... seriously, and it's a guy. I wonder if he wasn't validation for the names he likes (he and his wife are trying, but she just had her second miscarriage so baby talk is awkward to begin with).

Plus, seriously who asks "What do you think of "_____"?" and then when you say it's not for you they get all huffy with, "That's what I want to name my future kid!" Sheesh!

I know people are happy and curious, but some times I just want to say "It's my pregnancy not yours... back off a bit."


Today I was supposed to go for my 10 year anniversary lunch, but the boss lady is out sick. Denied.

I didn't make anything since I thought I was being fed so I'm stuck with trying to come up with a lunch alternative.

Nothing else exciting for the week. We do have dinner plans with the Duncan's and that's always a treat. Everyone is allowed to talk with them, not the usual guys that feel the need to dominate the convo with boring boring talk about work. Yes, it's very dull if that's all you have... I mean, no outside interests? no books? no movies? No opinions? Heck, even going on and on about your kid is better than shop talk. And don't get me started about those who only talk about the "good ol' times" UGH!!!

I'm off on Friday so hopefully I'll get moving enough to take the baby picture of me and my sister to a photo shop. My plan is to flip it to black & white and enlarged slightly. It's to off set the one of JP and his sister, and we'll hang both pictures in the nursery.

Speaking of... the furniture is fully assembled. We just need to figure out the layout before attaching the changing table to the wall. Hopefully we can set it up to move the fouton in as a sofa too. And yes, Smudge has already attempted to take over the chest of drawers so she is banded. Crazy furball has a really obsession with drawers.

10 Years...

At this morning's meeting I was given my 10 year certificate. Yep I have been with the company a full 10 years... whoa.

How much that place has changed... for the good and bad.

I got the award catalog last week, and ordered the Canon printer. Yes, that's one thing that hasn't changed, the awards are pretty impressive.

So on Wednesday the big boss lady and my supervisor are taking me to lunch. I was allowed to invite another person so I invited Romona. It's just a little mexican place down Richmond, but it should be fun.

Weekend was rather busy... Friday night was the farwell dinner. Had a good time, even if yet again people said I hadn't gained enough weight. Suddenly everyone has a medical degree. My doc, being as strict as she is, is all the supervision I need. Sheesh!

I'm sure they mean well, but man it bugs after a while.

Saturday was quiter with me doing all day laundry and JP getting the rest of the nursery furniture together. Much later I'll launder the bedding etc and set up the crib tent and stuff.

Sunday I was very very tired but managed to stay up with JP and watch the football game. He's getting very into the sport...

This is a short week at work, I've got a few things to start organizing for when I leave. I can't even guess who'll take over my area now with all the changes. I was told again today that whatever I decide the big boss is 100% behind me. Good to know taht I won't get a negative response when I turn in my notice... two months to go!

TV and other sad items...

I watched the last episode of Conan's Tonight Show... He's always been more my style of humor, but I can't stay up to watch really any of late night but I'd record him if I knew a good guest or band was gonna be on.

That was a very classy exit show he did... His whole thing about cynisim etc really got to what I found annoying about the whole situation. Here was a person who was always know as being kind and honest (in a slimy industry) and he got shafted... stinks that so often that's the way.

Other sad thing this week, the writer Neil Gaiman's kitty Zoe is terminally ill. I love his writing but his little blog write ups about his fur babies are the best ever. His story of another kitty, Captain Morgan, are just classic if you have a close sleeping cat.

Last year he lost two older kitties who had made it to the incredible age of 18. Those two went peacefully. Zoe, sadly is ill with cancer at 16. He's got several funny stories about her... almost like she's a little fairy cat from one of his novels.

It's so touching to read him pouring out his heart for his cat, especially since so many more people spout mean ugly things about cats more often.

Of course being hormonal doesn't help, but I've been following his blog for like 7 years now and it's just so sad to lose a fur baby like this. You just want them to go in their sleep peacefully with no pain because that's truly what they deserve.


Last night we went to the farewell dinner for Gerry. His wedding was the one we were so lucky to attend in Ireland. He and Evangelia have been the most fun and genuine couple I've know out of all the nice people I've met through Jim.

They are off to Angola for a 3 year work contract. Basically it'll set Gerry up career wise for life... and he 100% deserves this. So yeah, a good honest guy is getting ahead in the slimy world of oil & gas. At least that's something.

Gerry flies out on Friday and then Evangelia heads out in March to join him. They've been doing the whole vaccine & VISA thing which takes awhile. Home base will be London for them... which will be rough on Evangelia since her brother is here but they'll make it work.

JP is banging away upstairs. I think he's trying to put together the crib, so I'm staying downstairs and finishing laundry.

Last Minute, yes. Back handed, dunno...

JP got a last minute invite to the fancy Burn's Night at the Omni this weekend.

Since the invite came today,and it was totally to replace a couple that backed out the last minute JP got offended and said "No." This is a huge step for him.

It probably helps that he can't stand this over the top Burn's Night that goes on here. According to him, "It's one thing back home... it's another thing here. It rings false." Because it basically becomes a drunk see & be seen of the expates from what I hear.

To me it also smacks of refusing to be apart of the culture you're living in. It would be like me moving to the UK and having a Fourth of July fireworks display and demanding Bud Light and hot dogs be served.

I'm not impressed enough to be offened about the late invite. I have no desire to try and find a dress, and a fancy dress would be required as the guys are meant to go in as Craig Fergueson calls it, "The Full Brigadoon."

And it's only Tuesday...

For the last three days I've slept solid through the night... but I'm still so tired during the day. Oh well, at least I'm getting some sleep.

The whispering at work continues... until they have a meeting saying how this new arragenment is gonna shake out people are gonna keep whispering.

Last night was JP's first Rodeo meeting, so yep it's that time of year again. I'll go with him to the kick off dinner to see the guys and catch up with them and that's probably all I'll be able to do. I just don't see myself making it through a full trip to the rodeo this year. March is gonna be interesting, but at least JP has never had a problem flipping a shift so it won't mess with any classes.

And it looks like we are finished the painting. I couldn't take the tape off the ceiling, but JP will do that tonight. If you have a paint job coming up I can not recommend Benjamine Moore's Nutura paint highly enough. It's non-toxic and just amazing coverage.

I painted a great shade of green from the Pottery Barn for Kids collection. I picked it because it was between the two shades JP and I picked. Mine probably would have been too dark and JP's too light.

So this weekend JP will assemble the furniture.

All the hub-bub...

And the whispering over last weeks memo continues...

I found out from Theresa that Romona (Lead Tech) and Jim (formerly the only boss in our group after Phyllis) are really not happy with what's going down. But you know if it's cause of her personality... well they had a chance to nip that in the bud but her Mean Girl clan was allowed to flourish and it turned into an US vs THEM situation YEARS ago... but they didn't want to rock the boat. People here seem to think things will never change.

I can see a couple of people for sure will be driven out one way or another. Hey, if I'm wrong then it'll be the first time people don't take revenge when placed in a position of power.

A confirmation... not that I needed one.

I'm home today as I had a sinus headache this morning and didn't want it to turn into a migraine.

Well.. a couple of hours ago while I was stretched out on the sofa, Yolanda from work called. She had to tell me the news regarding a memo that just went out.

Now, I've been waffling, due to comfort, about what the right thing to do work wise is. Well after what I learned today I know for a fact that staying at my present job is not an option.

See, one of the Mean Girls got promoted to a newly created manger postion. She's going to be the "Manager" of the properties and issues in California along with keeping her current position of point man on acquisitions.

Now it's not that I don't think she can do the job or that is should have gone to someone else. She... she's just not a nice person. She's just down right mean and she'd throw ANYONE under the bus to protect herself. If I did stay and her empire continued to grow, which it will, I'd be way more stressed and really no chance of anything positive career wise.

Who am I kidding, if I wasn't preggers I would have taken the Negotiator position and gotten away from the crazy mean girls. Of course i would have been swiming with the a-hole good ol' boys but at least I'd be getting paid a heck of a lot more and learning a very improtant part of the business.

So yeah. I'm 100% comfortable with leaving now as the place I knew for 10 years is now for certain no more. THat woman is angeling for Phyllis' position for sure.

Also, with her new position my fav Mean Girl Laura will for certain come back after maternity leave. She's been polishing Sally's butt for like 7 years now... she can't let that go to waste. So the meanies have one... i know she demanded they do something for her... 7 years of hogging all the special projects and bonus money for her favorite people wasn't enough anymore.

Excellent timing...

Classes, classes, classes!

Much to JP's relief I have signed us up for two classes and a tour of the hospital.

The classes are birthing and newborn care. When JP asked about the care class I explained that it's the basics, how to bathe the baby, diaper change, and first aide. His response, "I knew there had to be a diaper class... those things are tricky!" Obviously he's never changed a baby ever. But the class will do us both good.

I have been looking for a breastfeeding class, at the hospital without the whole La Leche Legue people making you crazy... and there aren't that many available. It's like one a month so I might not get to take that one. The doctor gave me step by step instructions in the massive amount of info she gave me early on so I'm not flying totally blind so I'm not that overly concerned if I can't get in.

The system change is still on going. We can research & browse but still no updating can be done. I believe by now we were supposed to be able too. *Shrug*

Also, a HUGE acquistion (and a messy ugly one at that) is due to go live with Februray production or March check write. Do I have fab-u timing or what. I've talked with a couple people and basically the supervisor is gonna more than likly take my desk over because this asset is like crazy important... but I'm gonna have another lady shadow me. My hope is I can get her up to speed on the day to day of my area and how the negotiators work Mid-continent so she'll get it when I leave. She's a really really sweet wonderful lady and I would love to leave her with a big important area so she feels more secure here.

Funny how that works... I get offered a Negotiator position the summer I get preggers... and now my work area is gonna be crazy important and I'm leaving. Oh well. It's always been just a job, a way to fund my life not the meaning of my life. On to something new and completely different, if but for a time.

Oh my...

Where I sit on the floor I'm nearly directly across from the door to the conference room. Usually nothing interesting is going on in there...


But right now... oh boy. See there is this very Good Ol' Boy Land Negotiator who is one lazy sonofasoandso... he's caused no end of trouble for different people in this group by his laziness. It's like he thinks because he knows something that's enough... and he knows how to bullsh*t. Problem comes when he's being asked questions because of a potential issue and he just disappears...

sounds like they're holding his feet to the fire. Don't know if there really is a problem or if the problem is really he's been too lazy to just send an email stating what's what.

So wrong when you have to involve supervisors and call a meeting with the Land Chief to get an answer. Sheesh. That is some thing I will not miss.

Still haven't dropped the bomb, I'm just evasive saying I haven't committed myself yet to any one option that I'm still researching. ANd I do waffle on some days, so it's not untrue.

Why do people think they can steamroll me?!

Seriously! These new accoutants that pop up in JIB and Revenue come at you like a pit bull thinking they're just gonna bully you...

And it's NEVER a good idea to send some one an urgent email and them call the person as soon as you send it. NEVER. You will be moved to the Total Wanker list and not come off it.

ARRGH!

Sick and tired of the steamrollers. All of them.

In Laws are booking their flights for May/June. I'm trying not to get stressed about it already, but I can't help myself in some ways. People don't mean to do or say things that offend... it just sort of happens. And the culture clash doesn't help. I have learned I can not confide in my Mom about such fears... so it's gonna be an interesting visit. Hoping for the best but ready for anything.

It's getting crazy windy here. I can't believe it's gonna get so cold. We wrapped the more fragile palm trees and we're hoping for the best. I think we've already lost a shrub or two from the snow... but really there is no way to tell until Spring.

I don't think the HOA goes mental about the number of shrubs you have to have... like they do about the trees. If they do... well they'll be writting tons of letters soon enough.

So we decided to have an actual winter this year...

I am so glad I bought that maternity coat... this has been one cold winter in H-town. Shocklingly so, we are headed for yet more freezing temps. With luck it'll just be a hard freeze with no sleet/snow/ice.

Went yesterday for my glucose test, and as usual there were shenanigans as always. Oy vey!

The doctor did go on and on about how GD wasn't caused by gaining too much weight etc etc etc, and it seemed like she was trying to say "Basically assume I'm gonna classify you as diabetic blah blah blah because I like to be super cautious." Ugh. So unless my numbers come back stellar she's gonna do this to me. Not what I consider fair... how is that going to effect my insurance I have to wonder.

Glucouse drink was nasty and I had my usual reaction to refined sugar, heart palpatations and red cheeked. Is it possible to have a sugar allergy? The drink also gave me heartburn and my 7pm I was crawling upstairs for bed, crashing from the drink and the stress the doctor suddenly created.

I've decided though I ain't calling in early. She said they only call for bad results so if I make it to TUesday morning I'm in the clear.

She did say my iron was like a 12, which isn't bad but ain't great. So I guess I'll have to eat more of something with iron. *sigh*

Today it's Hobbit Cafe for a belated office birthday lunch. Mmmmmm!

Another year older...

Today is my B-day and alas I am so far in the vacation time hole that I had to work today.

But it was crazy nice to have a week and a half off from work with holiday & vacation time.

Week of Christmas was busy but great. I really didn't have the energy to do everything I wanted to do. But people need to cut me some massive slack, and most are willing too.

The one thing, only when out with JP's peeps, people kept telling me I was "too small" for how far along I am. Whatever people. My sister was right, everyone judges what the pregnant girl eats/does. Hello, for once genetics are in my favor and I'm not over indulging in food... besides I can't stuff myself, there isn't much room and I hate feeling too full.

Sad to say though, my carpal tunnel is flaring up something awful. The book says that's to increased pressure on nerves from fluid & tissues... and I'm sure sleeping posistion doesnt help. I haven't had a flare up in like two years... today is better though.

Let's see fun stuff... I got a Kindle from JP for Christmas and while I only have one book (got a bunch for Christmas & birthday) I love it and love that I won't been using all that paper with book buying. Someone told me I'm contributing to downfall of liturature by using a Kindle... puh-lease. Books like music are simply being sold differently. I am into to reading for the stories, the escape... not for holding a chunk of pulped tree in my hands.

For my birthday JP got me this crazy video Ipod dock that has a 7" screen. It's pretty cool. My mom is going to schedule me for a mani/pedi as she said that she figured I couldn't reach my toes anymore. I'll just do a clean buffing one and that'll be fine. My fingernails are growing crazy these days.

So yeah, back at the office only to be gone tomorrow afternoon for my glucose testing. It'll take up my whole afternoon, just hope I'm out of there before the going home traffic gets bad.