Wednesday, September 21, 2011

My not-so Baby Girl

Delilah has this cell phone that was used as a model in the stores. When we were getting our phones, they gave it to her to keep her busy. Her model has a slide out keyboard. She walked into the kitchen the other day and was busily pushing buttons on the keyboard. She said, "Mama, I tecting. I tecting." So cute and funny.

This morning I was getting her up out of bed and she was very interested in the built in necklaces my shirt has. "What's that?" "It's part of my shirt, see?" "Oh, I lub it."

*Sigh* I lub her.

Monday, September 19, 2011

So I didn't watch the Emmys

But I have watched some clips this morning and read up on what happened. Sounds like I didn't miss much. :P



I want to talk about Christina Hendrick's boobs. So unoriginal, I know. I think that is all that people talk about when she comes up in conversation. I think it is lovely that a beautiful, curvy woman can exist in Hollywood. And the show Mad Men supposedly encourages women there to not be super toned or super skinny so that it sticks with a more realistic portrayal. Which is great.



But this does not look comfortable. This also looks like someone who wants to make her boobs the subject of every watercooler conversation the day after the Emmys. These boobies are screaming for help!

(photo from The Superficial)

IIB or not IIB

So, I got promoted. I am now a Band IIB (as opposed to a IIA). It means very little except that I am now officially a supervisor (even though I have been supervising for 5 years), that I have a chance at an office (everyone in HQ has an office after BandII, but not everyone in my field office does). It also means a small increase in pay, and that I can ultimately cap out at higher number at some distant year in the future. It still feels nice to be recognized by my bosses.

But here we all are, still terrified that we are going to lose our jobs. The House passed their appropriation and our numbers for FY12 were $36 million less than this year. They were talking about reductions in staff then. Normally, the Senate appropriations are a little more kind...historically, we usually get a little bit more money from them. But this year, they are recommending $42 million less than this year. Ugh. I am sure this hit our agency's heads hard. Our agency isn't like DOD in that it can just quick making a jet or something and save $1 billion. We are 85% people costs. So people are going to lose their jobs. The calculation into who and what offices are way more complicated than we are privy to. But there is a lot of fear and worry here in my office.

I just hope that I get an opportunity to try this promotion on for more than a couple of months. :(

Friday, September 2, 2011

Bittersweet

I traveled with two of my sisters and my dad to my aunt's funeral this week. We left on Saturday and flew to California. It was lovely seeing everyone that we hadn't seen in so long. It was really bittersweet knowing how much my aunt Nan would have loved to have everyone there with her. We told stories. My dad played his guitar and sang. We looked at pictures. It was really touching to see that while we didn't get our families together often, Aunt Nan meticulously saved each photo we shared with her. There were pictures of us as kids, senior photos, photos of my kids... I got to meet my cousin's kids. They were a delight and reminded me of the ones I left at home. Family then...
Family now...



Saturday was a travel day and a little party at my uncle's house. Sunday, we went to the yacht club and beach. Monday, was Nan's day. It was a sad day. We had the funeral mass and then went to the cemetary. My heart really broke for my dad.
We flew home on Tuesday.


I am exhausted just thinking of my next month. James and I fly to Hawaii next week. Then my cousin's wedding in Albuquerque is at the end of the month. With a trip to DC likely before the month is over. Whew!