A Case of the Mondays

I think I just had the definition of a Monday....after being gone all last week in Charleston, I returned to work to find 14 phone messages and some e-mails (thanks to my Blackberry, it wasn't as many as it could have been). In addition, I also forgot that I had a mountain of client files that had been left on my desk chair, and conference material to unpack. The Jeep's air conditioning wasn't working, the belts were squealing, and the muffler was hanging on just barely. So I had Amanda run me over to the garage to have the Jeep fixed.

It's always painful when you have to have car repairs done, and I am sure you all know the woes the Jeep has caused me over the years. I am looking forward to finally getting a new car in July! Anyhow...at 10:00 the garage called to say they had the parts and give me a quote to fix the Jeep. Included in that quote was a new muffler. I told them I didn't want a new muffler (mine has a HUGE hole in it) but that I just wanted them to reattach the one that is currently on there. After fighting with the guy for 15 minutes, I finally convinced him that it would be OK if they let the Jeep go without a new muffler. He said they were recharging the A/C right then and it should be done soon. I said "Great!" and went on with my day.

At 1:30 I still hadn't heard anything about the Jeep. So I called and was told it was done (to which I thought...well if it's done why didn't anyone call me?!?!). So Amanda and I jumped back in the car and ran out to the garage. When we got there, the Jeep wasn't sitting outside. That's never a good sign. I went in and the guy at the desk said the Jeep wasn't done. I said "Um, I was just told it was done". The woman who runs the garage then came out and said that one of the guys mistakenly put my slip in the "done" file. The guys had ordered the wrong belt for the car. BUT they had the belt and they would put two guys on it and it would only take 10 minutes. So I said I would wait and I sent Amanda back to work.

15 minutes later the Jeep was done. I went to the counter to pay for it, opened my purse, and discovered that my wallet was sitting on my desk AT WORK. I had no way to pay for the Jeep. So I had to call Patrick (and hope he answered the phone). He did and I explained that I needed him to give a credit card over the phone. I was told by the shop that they don't take card numbers over the phone, but they could fax him a paper to fill out. SOOO....they faxed the paper and Patrick said he was going right to the fax machine. We waited, and waited, and waited. After 10 minutes I called Patrick back to see what was going on. He said he just got the paper (apparently he was held up on his way to the fax machine) and he needed help filling it out. We got it filled out, faxed back in, and I was finally able to get in my newly cool, non-squealing, non-rattling car. It was nice.

On my way back to work, I was thinking about all the things that needed to be done. I saw a gas station with gas for $2.89 and decided that I really needed gas AND a soda. So I pulled in and had to parallel park between two cars to get to the pump. I get out of the car and reach for the gas pump. Thank GOODNESS it was a pay at the pump, because, if you remember, I HAD NO WALLET! I had to get back in my car, no gas and no soda, and go back to work.

When I got to work I decided I still needed that soda, so I rummaged around in my desk to find the money (just barely, but I had enough). I walked upstairs to get my Diet Coke, and the machine was OUT of Diet Coke!!! I couldn't believe it. So I got a Mello Yello and went downstairs to drown my crazy day in caffeine!

So that has been my Monday, so far. I hope it doesn't get any worse!

"Let me ask you something, when you come in on Monday, and you're not feeling real well, does anyone ever say to you, sounds like someone has a case of the Mondays?" --Peter Gibbons

A Simple Expression

I don't really want to comment on the recent events that have affected the entire nation, and Blacksburg especially, because frankly, it's overwhelming. You may or may not know that West Virginia University and Virginia Tech are bitter rivals in sports. And I do mean BITTER. However, my brother shared this with me today, and I felt it would be the best expression of sympathy for this post...

Campus Crusade for Christ at Virginia Tech is organizing a prayer day today....please stop by and let them know you are praying!

What Works for Me Wednesday...a safety tip

I was reading in one of my parenting magazines a few weeks ago about this really good idea for safety for your child in crowds. In the age of camera phones and digital cameras, most people have a picture-taking device on hand at all times (for those of you who know me, you KNOW I do!). The mother suggested right before going into a crowded place (mall, fair, park, or amusement park) to take a picture of your child. That way should the child get lost, you have a CURRENT picture, and a picture of your child in the clothing they are wearing that day. And if you are in the mall, you will probably have access to a photo development shop to have pictures printed and handed out to police, mall security, and search teams.

Although it's super scary to think about Morgan or one of her friends getting lost, we all know that it can and does happen every day. I thought this was a great idea and I plan to start doing that on a regular basis now so it's a habit when she is old enough to walk.

Please visit Rocks In My Dryer for more Works for Me Wednesday tips!

Child Prodigy

Last night while giving Morgan a bath, we were reviewing letters that spell her name and her initials with the foam bath letters Uncle Jeff and Aunt Cecelia bought for her for Christmas. Morgan had multiple letters in her hand and saw the brightly colored letter "E" floating innocently in the water (E for Elisabeth). She dropped all the other letters, snatched the orange "E" from the water and let out a very loud "Eeeeeehh"! I said to her "Yes, that is right!!! That's the letter E!!!" Obviously I should be calling Mensa to sign her up.






Naysayers may insist that it was simple coincidence since she makes that noise all the time....but I choose to think that she is a genius and knew exactly what she was talking about! :)

What Works for Me Wednesday

Inspired by my friend Catherine's occasional Wednesdays post on what works for her, I decided to go a guest spot on What Works for Me today. I was talking to a colleague who recently had a baby about doing laundry and how, as we all know, the washing machine will mysteriously eat socks. What has worked for me regarding Morgan's socks (which are so little the washing machine needed to eat more than one to be satisfied) is to take a sectioned mesh bag normally used for lingere and pin it on the lining of Morgan's laundry basket. When her socks come off, they go right into this zippered pouch, and when laundry day comes, the entire pouch (sans safety pin) goes right in the wash with her clothes. I haven't lost a sock since. So, that's what works for me this Wednesday!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone! Christ is risen...Hallelujah! It is absolutely frigid today. However, I risked frostbite and wore my Easter dress and SANDALS to church this morning. I refused to wear close-toed shoes to church on Easter! Morgan also wore her lovely Easter dress, and was wrapped in a blanket and an afghan.

Over the weekend we have laughed and laughed over Morgan and my niece, Julia. With only a 3 month difference in age it was like having twins around all weekend. They are so funny. They had a double bath in Nannie's sink, played together, and opened Easter baskets together. I think they got more for Easter than they did for Christmas!!! Check out their websites for some really great pictures and video from the weekend.

Shouldn't it be April RAIN Showers?!?!

This has got to be the craziest weather week on record for West Virgnina. Tuesday it was sunny, and 81 degrees....yesterday we had a more normal 50 degree day, and this morning, this was the scene we woke up to....




Snow, snow, snow. That's right folks....it's currently 28 degrees outside. (For those of you who can't do math in public, that's a 53 degree downward swing in under 48 hours!!! Granted, it's not the blizzard other parts of the country are getting, but I NEVER expected snow in April, especially after an 80 degree shorts and T-shirt day two days ago! It's supposed to KEEP snowing all the way through next week! I guess Easter egg hunting is out of the question this year! Below is a current view from my office window (don't you just love my retaining wall view?!)...

The First of Many

Morgan's first Boo Boo (straight up from her temple)

Morgan fell the other night and hit her head on the baby gate, creating a lovely boo boo (her first one!). She was standing at the baby gate, shaking away, and stepped back onto a DVD case she had been playing with. The case slid on the carpet, Morgan's foot went with it, and her head went right into the gate. Poor thing....it doesn't look bad on the pictures, but it was really red and slightly purple only minutes after it happened. After many cuddles and kisses she got down and went right back to the gate (sans DVD cases which Mama picked up while cuddling her).