What's in a name...PRESSURE!

Instead of going over the past nine months in detail, I'm gonna list it. I will attempt to do this in order of occurrence...follow me if you dare:

1. Phillip accepted a job in Texas. Yee Haw.

2. Found out I'm pregnant. Yeah, jumping up and down followed by holy crap I'm going to be responsible for a human.

3. Turned 30. Fantastic party at my dear friends which was perfect, but we have decided to have a do over since I couldn't partake in the adult beverages.

4. Put our house on the market. AKA:clean out the crap and get the house in better form than it has been in 5 years...funny how we do this for other people to see but not ourselves.

5. Hunted for a house to rent in Texas. FYI: Boxers are considered #3 on the aggressive breed list at most apartments...seriously? Does this look aggressive to you? I didn't think so.

6. Wrapped up the job in Tulsa...bittersweet.

7. Moved to Texas with the help of our amazing parents. I could go my whole life and never do that again however I don't think I'm that lucky.

8. Found a new doctor in Texas...love her.

9. Job hunt. Still hunting and hunting.

10. It's a Girl!

11. House in Tulsa under contract...thank you Jesus!

12. Still job hunting.

Breathe.

So now that you are caught up on our insanity that we call life the past 4 months, it brings me to the topic of this post. A name.

I have never felt more pressure than picking a name for your child! Not only do we both have to agree on it but I don't want a name with bad nicknames, weird spelling or could be a boy or a girl. That combined with the fact that I am one of the last of my friends to have kids, eliminates a lot of options since we already know 4 million kids with this name or that name. And then there's the idea that I want to see her and know her little personality 'cause I don't want to name some spunky little spitfire Bertha, okay so I wouldn't name any child Bertha, but you get the point.

My sister and I both grew up with not insanely common names, which we both loved, so I would like her to have a name that is not super duper common. It would be nice to have her be the only kid in her class with her name, but I'm not about to name her Banana just to prove a point. Seriously, what is wrong with some people and the things they name their children! Would you want to be called Apple...yeah, me neither.

So here we are with 4 1/2 months left and a long list of to dos including that darn name. Oh and before you all start asking, we aren't going to tell people the name until she is here and the birth certificate is signed. Why...well first the names we, well I, like change on a daily basis. Second...once we do make a decision, I don't want anyone trying to convince us otherwise. So check back in 4 1/2 months for that update! Until then...I'm just hangin in Texas...growing a human, who is very active!

Southbound 35

Well, this misplaced Kansan is going to remain that way a while longer.
The hubby took a job in the BIG-D. So apparently that means that this Kansan will soon become a Kan-Texan. For I will never be just a Texan. I will forever be a Kansan and a Wildcat, so non of you Texans get any ideas about horns or Aggie's or guns. I'm a Wildcat, always have been, always will be and I don't need a hand signal to prove it!

And so begins the torturous task of cleaning the house, selling the house, finding a job, finding a new house, and on and on and on! If I let myself think on it...I will break out in hives, which will lead me to the ER to get a big ole shot in my rear and leave me worthless for 2 days. So...I have made my lists, and I look at 1 item at a time..and I don't think about it.

All that being said, we are thrilled for the move and I am so proud of my husband. On to the next adventure! To the land of blue bonnets, Pat Green, "y'all", spurs, cults, two-steppin', outlet malls, and everything BIG.

Out ya go...

Yesterday I ran to the post office over my lunch break to mail a package to Way West Texas. Upon my return I noticed something a smidge odd. As I was parking in our parking garage (which is the bottom 7 stories of the building I work in), I noticed a police car, lights flashing, winding his way up the garage. At first it didn't register, then I was like..."Huh...not sure what the purpose of the light INSIDE the garage are." Brush it off grab and elevator.

The elevator stops on floor 7 (top floor of the garage which also doubles as the smokers paradise...gross). A gaggle of women (who stink of smoke, I tried to hold my breath, but I was not a great swimmer, so I didn't get very far on the breath holding) get on and are chattering away.

"When I heard it I thought it was lower...."

"He was really lucky..."

"I thought I heard a boom but..."

My curiosity peaks and I wait for the first round of ladies to depart.

Side note:

My office is on the 29th floor, so it is a rare occasion that I get to ride an elevator alone. Sometimes I take out a book and catch up on some light reading, because there will be several stops on the way to my destination. My favorite is when the elevator stops and no one is there. That just irks me.

"Excuse me ma'am," I say. "Did something happen in the parking garage?"

"Yeah, someone drove out of it."

I think to myself, "kinda the point of a garage isn't it?"

She continues "Sure was lucky he didn't go all the way out, he was on the 7th floor."

Once I return to my office I peer out the East windows to the parking lot 29 stories below and sure enough...there are cops, fire engines & caution tape everywhere with 3 smooshed cars.


And why you may ask were the 3 cars smooshed? The falling brick of course!
From this little incident...she wasn't kidding...he drove OUT of the building, just not the marked exit.

It's not goodbye, it's see you later

First I must start with a non-apology. In my last post I apologized for my lack of posting. Now I realize I can't and won't do that again, because it creates a black hole for me to slip into and my next post is never speedy. So, my non-apology is this...don't expect a timely post from my little fingers until I am employed as a stay-at-home mom, it is winter and I have a closet with a light in it. (More on the closet thing in the future and no we are not remodeling. In a nut shell...my 1 DEMAND for any future abodes...a light in my closet. Really is that too much to ask.) Now of the less than 10 people who read this...several are stay at home moms and are laughing until they pee a little that I intend to post MORE once I am a mom. I know..."I have no idea, just wait little grasshopper, talk to me when you have one" Yada yada yada. Don't pee in my cheerios people...it's just a dream. Oh and before I get any further...No, I am not prego. Believe me when that happens, you won't have to read it in a blog or guess if that is what I am saying...it'll be written in the sky with a sky writer plane. So, there...my non-apology...deal with it.

On to the reason for this post...Tis the Season. Not Christmas, but oh how I wish it were...I love Christmas, the lights, the harmonized music, the excessive baking, shiny wrapping paper...sorry...I have shiny ball syndrome which causes me to get off track a smidge. It is April which means, showers, flowers, sunshine, blue skies, and Golf Season. I am a fan of all but the last little gem. While the golf season does pay my bills, it also makes me a "golf widow" 7 months out of the year. So on Easter Sunday I journeyed to the hubby's place of work and said my goodbyes. While I was there we took a ride and he did a little practicing, so I took some photos so I could recognize him in the fall when he enters my house in the daylight and I don't try to pummel him because I assume he is a burglar...with a key...blonde hair and piercing baby blues.

After the last picture I said..."oh I got a good picture of your back swing."

"Let me see" he replied.

Looking at the phone a little smile spreads across his face and as he is putting is club away...

"That's follow through...not my back swing."

So much to learn. Not really losing sleep over it.

Until November my love...we will only pass in the night. Maybe I'm a little dramatic...no, no I am not!

oops

Well, again, I have totally slacked in the blogging department...my bad. Since I last blogged the following things have occurred:
1. Continued chaos at work = The rest of December.

2. January at work = normally a slowing and regathering period. January 2010 = not so much on the slowing and regathering...basically continued insanity.

3. Due to #2 (see above)...I have been on the hunt for an assistant to yes, you guessed it...assist. Both myself and other co-workers who are currently buried in the remains of December and are in dire need for air.

4. The parents hit a milestone in January...60 years of wonder...individually, not together, not yet anyway...which they will do, I am sure. Anywho...my nut ball sister and I, both fueled by the other, decided months back to throw a Surprise Dinner Party for their big days. (Their birthdays are just a day apart.) This was a stroke of genius in November. However in January when things didn't so much slow down as anticipated, I was cursing myself and my loving sister. But, we pulled through...had an amazing night...tears...laughs...shocked faces...good food...great wine. All in all a fantastic night. Once we get photos back I will do a post on just that. At least that is my intent at this time.

5. We flew on a Private plane...3 times! Sounds glorious right? My husbands grandfather became ill and we needed to go see him. However, they live 13 hours away in Way West Texas and there is no easy way to get there. Not having a week to take off work to drive...nor the pocket book for the $1500 last minute flights...we were saved by the generous and kind hearts of the people of Texas. Being from Kansas and never having lived in Texas, I don't quite get the whole "Texas is the GREATEST place EVER" thing that I continually hear. Don't get me wrong...it is great, and I do love it...just not gonna tattoo it on myself or anything. However after the experiences I had this month...I am beginning to learn. But as I was saying, a family friend offered to fly us and my husband's cousins from Dallas to their tiny town. And for this I will be ever thankful to this kind soul. My husband was able to have no regrets, see his grandfather prior to his passing & be a support to his dad during this most difficult time. Truly amazing.

6. Welcomed a new niece into our family. Little Gracie graced the world with her presence a few weeks early and is all sorts of fantastic. Little Gracie and her sister Faith live in Way West Texas too and we were able to see them, love on them and soak them up during our time visiting Grandpa. What an experience to hold a new born, full of hope and life and wonder while saying our good byes to an amazing man who lived a life of laughter, faith, family, love and complete honor.

So that's what I've been doing for the past 2 months. And now my friends...I am off. TO MEXICO! WAHOO. It is currently 27 degrees out my window and it is 80 in Mexico. So the hubby and I along with some fantabulous friends...will be hitting the beach, soaking up as much sun & fruity umbrella drinks as possible and gearing up for the next 2 months...whatever that may bring. Happy Tuesday!

I need to plant a tree

Dear Trees of the World,

I hope that you will accept my deepest apologies for the harm I have caused your kind. My job forces me to print a sheet for every event we hold at our facility and make 9 copies of said sheet. December is a specifically brutal month for my position and thus your kind suffers in the process. I apologize for my actions and in an attempt to right my wrongs, I will be planting a tree in your honor.

Most Sincerely Yours,

A sorrowful tree harmer

This is proof of my transgressions...this is just Dec. 1- Dec. 11 and just one copy...I did this 9 times. I am so ashamed.

Suicide Knives & Black Tie Domino's

For those of you who are not aware, I am an "event planner". No, I am not J Lo in The Wedding Planner, nor am I one of those crazy planners from TV, like on Bridezillas, etc. Granted, I have my moments of insanity, but for the most part (depending on who you ask) I am not a crazy person. I plan all private events for a dinner club downtown and we have 3 floors with 15 private rooms. So we do anything from business meetings for 4 to weddings for 300 to caterings for 500. December is my time of utter lunacy. From about November 15th (beginning of finalizing plans) to December 24th (last party) some may compare me to a chihuahua (little spastic trying to be in 400 places at once) or a switch board operator as that is what I am doing 90% of the time...answering calls, returning calls, having meetings, emails, texts, faxes, sky writing. Sometimes I wish advancements in technology would cease, cause if these people have one more way to get in touch with me, I may need to find the cave Jesus rose from and rent it for a spell.
December is lots of Starbucks, head down push through, sleep, work, smile, "Happy Holidays" (never Merry Christmas, learned that one the hard way), mac & cheese at midnight...fun times people!

So Friday we had probably our busiest day and it consisted of the following:

6 lunch events (nothing huge)

3 dinner events totalling 200 people at the club

1 catering for 450 at The Tulsa Public Library, a seated 3 course dinner at the library.

Now, let me explain to you that no, the library does not have a kitchen. So we create a make shift kitchen BETWEEN ROWS OF BOOKS. No lie. We are dishing up 450 appetizers, entrees and desserts in between "Curious George" and "Pride & Prejudice". It is quite a feet...but we do it every year. So at 9am we begin to transport all that is needed. Place settings (china, silver, glasses, coffee cups, etc.), kitchen set up, bar set up, wine, liquor, ice, sugar, salt & pepper, everything. The library is located roughly 3 blocks from our building, so many items we load on carts and push through downtown. Cobble stone streets...caused this:

Yep, that's us on 7th Street, picking up the 250 knives that attempted suicide at 9:15am, I assume they were boycotting this catering as we wish we could. In the process of picking up, I gracefully kicked, like a soccer ball, a 32 oz. cup of coffee and it landed on the bottom 1/4 of my pants...pretty. So once the hemorrhaging ceased we headed on to our duties of transforming the Library from this:

To this:

Not too shabby. The evening went off with no fires, lack of food, passed out drunk people or injuries, so in my book, that is a success. The only time I had to restrain myself from punching someone in the neck involved a server, who was on rent from a local staffing firm. With the insanity of the season, we will "rent" people for the evening to have warm bodies. This event begins at 7pm and is pretty much balls to the wall until 10pm when the guests leave. So I inform staff that there are no breaks, smoking or otherwise from 6:00pm until 10pm...because I am not responsible for the pain inflicted if someone asks me in the midst of dishing up steak & lobster for 450 between the Dewey decimal system, if they can have a 10 minute break to attempt to catch lung cancer. No you moron you can not!

So for the safety of those working with us, we give them 20 minutes before our pre-shift meeting to go smoke or do whatever they must. Of course the place cleared out like someone just yelled in a crowd of teenage girls that Robert Pattinson was outside. At this point a "rented" server approaches and following was our conversation:

Rented "Do you have the number for Domino's?"

Me "I'm sorry?"

Rented "Pizza, do you have the number for Domino's?"

Me "For what?"

Rented "I'm hungry and they deliver"

Me "So you want Domino's to deliver pizza to a black tie formal dinner at the Tulsa Public Library?"

Rented "Yeah, I'm hungry"

Me...being restrained by my banquet supervisor as my eyes glaze over and I turn green..."NO...YOU CAN NOT HAVE DOMINO'S DELIVER YOU PIZZA!"

I am happy to report that no one was harmed, thanks in part to my banquet supervisor...he saved that girl's life. And on we continue...22 more days. I love my job!