OOPS!

It must be a common theme amongst managers to make people go to meetings that they don't need to attend. Yesterday I was asked by my boss to attend a 1.5 hour meeting on a machine that I will never write about at work. I guess he just thinks one can't spend enough time in meetings. Next week I'm in another one similar that has nothing to do with my job; I'd better take some No Doz beforehand.

Because, this one yesterday was so dull that--get this--I fell asleep in my chair right there at the table of the executive conference room! For a full hour! Oh, I woke up periodically, like when I dropped my pad of paper and pen on the floor. I opened my eyes a couple of times, trying my damndest to stay awake, I swear on my grandmother's grave I did. But when the presenter started going through line by line of programming code on the projector screen, then showed us part by part from the machine each sensor and gadget in there, it had the effect of strong sleeping pills. I remember waking up when nearly everyone was out of the room, I kid you not. My contact lenses were all dry from having my eyes closed that long.

Funny, as soon as the meeting was over, I was no longer tired. This has happened twice before to me. The last time was over a year ago when we were in that same room and the presenter went through our new electronic expense report sheets line by line on the projector. The other time was a one-on-one training session with a tech support rep about modeming results into our software. I came close one other time whilst visiting with my boss during a conference call to put together that Visio doc for workflow process, but managed to pinch myself a few times to stay alert.

When my old boss left, we were promised fewer meetings. We actually have doubled them I think, except they are not CALLED meetings--instead it's: a "powow," a "gathering," "training session," "group huddle," a "discussion," or some other euphamism. But it all means the same: a frigging meeting that is going to put me to sleep!

New Pool & Potty Training Update

I'll spare you all the pictures of the flat and dead pool I bought last year and tried to resurrect this year to no avail. You can kind of see off to the left the dead ring it left in the grass beside this new pool. The part at the top needed to be inflated with an air pump and there was a leak we never could find. I pd $50 for the damn thing and they got almost no use out of it. It was all dirty and gross despite the chlorine. Saturday I got all the water out and my dad helped me load it in the back of his truck to take to the dump. I kept the filter and gave it away on Free*cycle today.

At Walmart there was a pool that simply snaps open for $15. No filter or air pump needed. I just laid it out, filled it with water, put the chlorine in and they were good to go! Next year I will do the same and get an 8 footer if this one fails me...

Here Lm seems to be deep sea fishing with Grandma's strainer as Lk rides his boat.

They only have one boat and even if I had 2, they wouldn't fit in the pool. Naturally they fought like 2 cats in a bag over it so I had to keep making them take turns.

Their aunt and uncle gave them a "spider" sprinkler for their birthdays too.

"Beep, beep!" Lm shouts as he rides around in his boat.

I wish I had as good news to report about the potty training as I do about the new pool. Unfortunately, despite 2 weekends of intense training, Lk has gotten exactly 8 drops of urine into his potty. Yup, that's it. He did better over Christmas and I should've stuck with it then. He IS ready, he announces he has to go and knows what it means. The problem is that from the time of his announcement to the time we race to the potty, the deed is done. Then he keeps saying he has to go and when he gets there, he either doesn't really have to or else says he does not want to.

Believe me I have tried every trick in the book, from pleading, begging, threatening, bribing, peeing on the big potty next to him, the pull ups, new underwear that he likes, taking him there regularly. He's a tough nut to crack!

HS Reunion!

Here is a HILARIOUS pic that Heather captured at the bar after our HS reunion on Saturday night. This is me and my frenemy, G. G and I were best friends in HS, and remained in touch through college and beyond. We had a falling out in 2002 and had not spoken since. Other than a brief exchange of words when I was pg and had to go to the pharmacy for Z/ofr*an in 2006 and she filled the prescription. We were both pg at that time though she didn't know I was.

So, Sat night was the first time we had spoken other than that exchange, since 2002. It went okay, kind of broke the ice. I almost got the feeling that, as we all were leaving, she wanted to ask to get together sometime--because, though falsely, it felt like it had all those years talking to her; we were friends for 17 years, after all. But she didn't and I didn't, because our lives are just too different now. I hold no grudge against her but it doesn't mean a friendship would be possible.



YES, I should've stopped after the 5th cocktail...

Heather thought I had quite a bit...but what's that biblical saying...something about don't pluck the splinter from your brother's eye if you have a piece of wood in your own? Or maybe just, It takes one to know one. (Evidence below...)

Alright, one of the reasons H rode me for drinking was that G told her the next day at the 2nd half of our reunion (which I did not make as I was trying to potty train Lk--who did not get even a drop in the potty ALL DAY despite my pleas, threats, promises, and begging--but I'll save that story for later), that I didn't recognize Scott, the guy on the left of the picture below.

Well, excuse me, but the last time I saw him he was a scrawny kid with hair; as you can see now he looks about 8 months pregnant with twins, as this was about my girth in the front at that stage. Stone cold sober, I would not have known who he was!

At one point in HS, I had a crush on Wayne and for a brief, insane period, on Glenn. Then Mike (on right) and I corresponded and became close. Thankfully, none of it ever panned out...sweet guys, though.

Of course I had a huge crush on Wayne in HS. He was a professional model afterward AND he restored his own Victorian home--who wouldn't love that about a guy. But he only teased me, and we danced a few songs at the soc hops (yes, they were called that!) and that's as far as it went. He's been married twice since HS and has no kids but I guess he's having a lot of fun now.

Below is Mr. "High Sperm Count." "No fertility problems here," he bragged at the planning meeting for the reunion. He has 6 kids. Yikes. Married himself a good Catholic woman whose family has a minimum of 6. I didn't ask if he was planning to have more or not...or maybe I did...can't remember much after that 6th drink...

I always thought these guys would end up at the altar, she was Valedictorian and he was smart too. They were kind of a version of Diane and Frasier on Cheers, minus many of the laughs. Looking back though, I think it would have been War of the Roses if they ever had married.

I sat at the single moms table with Heather and Mary.

My 3rd cousin Ann. But I've only seen her twice since graduation.

At the bar afterward...

Gee, is that Heather with a drink?

G's husband is now old enough to drink...think he turned 21 a couple years ago now...

And the spouses/companions took group pictures...

About half the class showed up. It was a good time. Heather says the next day was even better but I had a headache...guess why. Plus I didn't feel comfortable going without someone else along to help me watch the boys while there. It was a potluck. I guess they also played the video of a spoof play we did senior year in English AP on Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. I played the "whore" in fishnets and fought onstage with the valedictorian while also in a dual role as one of the natives. It is an absolute scream, with the guys in full war paint rapping the story of the book. Apparently they are putting this thing on You Tube--hopefully none of us ever run for high office--if so, it would be worse than watching Sarah Palin play the flute on SNL.

I put the last photo in sepia tone b/c it reminded me of a scene in Dead Poet's Society when they all look at a photo of a class that was taken 100 years ago and Robin Williams tells them they are all now dead and food for worms. That is what we will be to some future classes, my friends! So enjoy the ride while you can...it's a short one. 20 years has passed in a jiffy.

3rd Birthday Party for L&L!

Since the 8th fell on a Wed this year, I took that day off and Mom and I took them to the local zoo. Then they had their town parade on Friday (see previous post), then their big party on Saturday the 11th! "Birthday cake and balloons?" Lk kept asking. They were very pumped up this year about their birthday and getting to have their friends over.

Here was the guest list this year: us, my folks, aunt and uncle, my cousin and his wife and 3 kids, Heather and her daughter Z and mom, Mary and her 2 girls and her dad, and their friend Jacob from daycare and his dad, plus K, so around 22 people! My kids were very pumped!

Once again, the pics are out of order but below we have 2 of the individual cakes that Heather made for my boys! I didn't let anyone eat these because they are too pretty and I have saved them in the freezer for now.
They got cowboy hats as one of their gifts and wore them most of the day.

Lk and Z on the swings...

Mary and her girls...

More fun on the swingset which I gave them last year for their birthday.

Lk really cracks me up. He had to wear his hat pulled up all day long...

Heather not only made the individual star cakes, she make a moon and a square cake as well. I think she should quit her dull job here and go into party planning and cake baking.

My guys LOVE stars and moons so I asked for a stars and moon cake...you guessed it, I wouldn't let any of the guests touch the moon cake either and I have that in the freezer along with the stars...

I think this part was the highlight of their day, you can tell they were just dying to dig into that cake!

Time to blow out the candles...Mommy had to help a little bit and I made a good wish for them too.

Z "driving" the tractor mower...

They loved opening presents but to be honest, Lm always just wants to open the first one and play with it and ignore everything that comes later.

You can tell this is a post-cake picture! They got trains from my cousin Joe and just loved them.

Heather, my cousin's daughter Helen and Z.

Victorious, Lm has ripped off some of the paper! He insisted on wearing his cowboy hat sideways.

Mommy and Lky share a special moment with his new train. I wore my "got twins?" T-shirt. Twins are so special and it's my subtle way of bragging!

Mommy gives Lky a kiss...Heather took this picture and captured this moment. He is my little sweetie pie!

Fight a-brewing already over the toys...

Silly birds in the living room...

For lunch we had tons of food! Val's pizza, salads, potato salad, pulled pork, hot dogs, beans, fruit and more. My guys' faves were all there. But I couldn't get them to eat much of anything! (See Lk on the right looking bored with the food). Frankly all they cared about to eat was the cake and ice cream. I normally don't allow dessert until they've had enough good stuff but it was a special occasion.

Lm found my hair tie somewhere and wanted to wear it as a bracelet all day...

For Fr's Day this year I got my dad a T-shirt that says Grandfather of Twins. I ordered it at the same place I got my own shirt and plan to get my mom one too. Thanks Jenn for that website!

Here are all of the cakes in their glory! Truly astounding! I owe Heather BIG TIME. I don't think I've ever seen more beautiful cakes (except at her daughter's b-day of course.)

God help me if I should ever decide to get married, but if I did, I would be hiring Heather to make my cake...

My cousin Joe obliged and took the kids 'round on the tractor mower and wagon.

Their loot before they opened it...the big bags are from Mary.

"I'm a cowboy!" Lm announced.

Lm clapped when his candles were blown out! "Yay!" he cried.

Me and my precious boys! I'm so glad I have them, they are my world! I remember feeling so overwhelmed when I was first told I was having twins but now I can't imagine life without both of them, though they drive me crazy much of the time, there are so many precious moments with them.

When he thought no one was looking, after he'd already eaten his piece of cake and ice cream, Lm went in for the kill...and tried to pull a fast one by sneaking more out of the ice cream tub! He is a crafty one, just like his brother.

There was some cake left over from the large square one and later I found a forkful of frosting scooped out of the corner...hmmm...wonder who did that...

And it's not like we gave them chincy pieces either, they had generous portions to begin with!

We dug out my old trampoline from under the basement stairs and the kids play on it.

All in all a great day. I even got them down for naps at quarter to 4 so I could clean up and have a much-needed glass of wine on my front porch.