A question and an unveiling

The question: How is it my daughter understands "Please go and get me the shampoo bottle that you took to the other room" but cannot for the life of her learn to say "thank-you" in sign language?

The unveiling: With a big thank-you to my sister and brother, I would like to introduce my photography website. It will likely still change a bit as time goes on (I'd like to include some non-wedding photography) but this is how it stands for now. I have no idea if any new jobs will come from it but even if they don't I feel completely tickled pink that it's out there.

Christmas

Mine was positively lovely. And yours?

Um? Me too?

Apparently it's a fill in the blank kind of sign. So, have at it, folks.










ccap: "for more lettrs 2 fin the sgn"
J-L: "for kids to quit stealing from me"

New job

On NBC there is a show called The Office (for those of you who watch it regularly you may want to skip this explanation paragraph). And, yes, the title of the show really says it all. It has the stereotypical office personas: the rule follower, the odd boss who thinks too highly of himself, the kissup... and Jim and Pam. They are easily the favorites as they are The Normal Ones. Jim and Pam have a great relationship. (Yes, there is also sexual tension involved but we won't go into that now.) They just get it. They get each other's jokes. They get how odd their coworkers are. Their bond is completely undeniable and wonderful. They play pranks on each other and tease each other constantly but deep down they have the tightest bond that can happen in a work setting. Honestly? A tighter relationship than what a lot of people have outside of a workplace as well.

Years ago I worked at Company #1. I worked with K. And we were tight. We got each other's jokes and we could understand precisely what the other was thinking with a mere look. But, one day she left me. We still kept in touch and to this day she is one of my best friends. But, we didn't work together anymore.

Fast forward to Company #2. Now I work with A. And like K, we just GET each other. And we ate together and we gossiped together and we got frustrated with our coworkers together. And it was A that first drew the comparison to Jim and Pam. She was my Jim. But she left me too. And I was left to sit in meetings and smirk to myself about oddities as there was no-one there who quite understood me.

And now, I am at Company #3. And within mere days I noticed vile office politics and crazy dynamics and unusual people who don't order you a pair of scissors right away because she thinks she can get them cheaper elsewhere.* (Which left me to wonder, is she getting a bonus on money she doesn't spend?) But, know what? I work with K again. And it's just all so okay. I have my Jim back.

* Please note, that was a whiney sentence but seriously, I really do like what I am doing there, it's just some of the people...

Last day

Today is my last day of employment here. I have nothing particularly interesting or profound or sentimental to say about that just now. Unless you find this little tidbit fills one of those criteria*:

I came back from mat leave on November 1st. At that time there were 2 brand new boxes of facial tissue on my desk. 100 per box. I am now down to my last half a dozen or so and am wondering if they will last me until the end of the day. Doesn't really say much about my last day but says a bit about how long I've had this blasted cold.

* and if you do I wonder about your sanity.

Love Thursday

6:45 am. I climb out of the tub. The morning ritual is well underway. Next comes the face cream and then brushing of the teeth. But not this time. I'm not quite ready for that yet. I dry off and wander naked to my daughter's room. She is sleeping still. I know I should just leave her be but sometimes I just can't. Sometimes I need to pause with her. I pick her up. She sleeps. In her red sleeper. The one with the zipper and the white feet. The one we love, her dad and I.

We wander quietly back to our room, her head resting gently on my shoulder. I pull back the blanket. I climb under, lying down with her on top of me. I pull the blanket over us. This big, fluffy blanket made by my mother and me, with the wool from my father's sheep. She continues to rest her head on my bare skin. Her arms down by her side, tucked in between our bodies slightly for warmth. She is starting to get restless. Her eyes remain closed but she begins to stir. First it's just a toss or two of the head. Then she flops the top part of her body off mine. But, eyes still closed she continues to struggle with waking.

But then there's that sound. 7:00 am. On the dot. Every morning, Monday to Friday. That key in the lock. Metal on metal. So familiar to both of us. Her father is home. Back from the gym before heading off to work. Home to help with the preparation of the day. Home to be a dad.

And her head pops up. Now she is awake. The sound woke her. The sound she loves. The sound that means that Papa is home. And up she jumps to bound to the door for their morning greeting.

Who would have ever guessed it? Who would have known that one day my heart would be taken by these two? By this kind man with the gap between his teeth, the short legs and the penchant for 80s music. By this tiny girl with the big brown eyes, the mess of curls and the matching gap between her teeth.

I smile. We kiss. And I head off to restart the morning ritual.

P.S. I just found out about Love Thursday from Jody which I then traced to Chookooloonks and I was feeling just sappy enough to post my own today.

Dear coworker(s)

Today is our Christmas potluck. You've KNOWN that we were to have this Christmas potluck for a week. During that week at some point you should have taken some time out of your life to think about what you were going to bring. I recognize that you may not be organized but surely you had 10 or 15 minutes to think of something. I also recognize that you may not enjoy cooking. I can also appreciate that perhaps last night was very busy for you and you didn't have enough time to cook something.

See? Look at me being all understanding.

But SERIOUSLY... Enough's enough with the understanding side of me. *I* was busy last night too. I was VERY busy actually and barely had any time to read to my daughter let alone play with her. But you know what? Somewhere in that busyness I found the time to make a whole whack of meatballs for today. You couldn't even find the time to mix together a cake or to prepare a salad or ANYTHING? I gotta say I really resent that. It really kind of ticks me off. It's like you're saying your time is more valuable than mine. Know what? It's NOT.

Oh yeah, and while I'm at it: I find it REALLY insulting that you have the NERVE to run out (during work hours I might add) to buy something just before the potluck. 'Cause you know what? Whatever it is you are going to buy it is NOT going to be as good as my meatballs. No, that's not me being proud, that's me being truthful. You're going to get some Safeway cake or a veggie platter or some chips and dip and that just doesn't seem fair. Why should I share my delicious meal with you when that's all you're going to contribute?

Jerk!

Okay, done now.

Think I need a little work on my Christmas spirit?

Just for fun.

One word. No explanation.

1. Yourself: sleepy
2. Your partner: kind
3. Your hair: short
4. Your mother: love
5. Your father: eyebrows
6. Your favorite item: blanket
7. Your dream last night: none
8. Your favorite drink: water
9. Your dream car: mini
10. The room you are in: office
11. Your ex: short
12. Your fear: alone
13. What you want to be in 10 years: content
14. Who you hung out with last night: Abby
15. What you're not: confrontational
16. Muffins: cranberry
17: One of your wish list items: house
18: Time: dragging
19. The last thing you did: lunch
20. What you are wearing: boots
21. Your favorite weather: warm
22. Your favorite book: comfortable
23. The last thing you ate: soup
24. Your life: blessed
25. Your mood: happy
26. Your best friend: laughter
27. What you're thinking about right now: peppermint
28. Your car: blue
29. What you are doing at the moment: typing
30. Your summer: glorious
31. Your relationship status: lucky
32. What is on your TV: movie
33. What is the weather like: bitter
34. When was the last time you laughed: lunch

This one's for you, J-L

He, he.