Little Fish- BIG Pond!

You know I thought we'd one day grow out of all of the silly things we did in high school; the rumors, the power trips, the cliques. Nope- turns out that when we enter the work force the games become more intense and sneakier.

Not that I don't still love my job, but I've been here for a year now, and I am just now sorting out the "office politics". Knowing what to say and what not to say can be difficult. I find it's the passive agressive person that drives me the most insane. I mean really, how hard is it to be straight forward with someone? To be fair, I avoid confrontation like the plague, but some how it still finds me.

Any how, it's interesting being the youngest person in "the office" I have less experience in working world diplomacy. I am closer in age to the students and am trying to find the balance between authority figure and collegue. It is especially hard when the students are older than I am or even the same age. I still don't think some people take me seriously- that's ok, for now. I'm not sure I can take myself seriously. :)

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming... right? Well I guess if I stay in the pond long enough, I will understand the currents and not get caught in the under toe. (Look at me using a metaphor! GO me!)
The problem is, in high school I was never very good at swimming- I might end up sushi yet!

(ooh look more metaphor)

Wanna Catch What I've Got?

Somethings in life are contagious- colds, laughter and being unhappy. My Mama has said that, "Divorce is contagious". One friend is unhappy and while trying to be the good "sounding board friend", you find that your husband bugs the heck out of you and maybe you should get divorced too! Now that is just silly- but still very true.

I find that if I am around upbeat people I will be up beat, if I am around complainers I will join in with gusto complaining about my life. Seriously- what is wrong with my life- nothing! I love my husband and he loves me, we have two wonderful kids and all the material crap we could ever need. So why complain? I'm not sure really- I've also found that once someone is "on my s**t list" it is very easy to find fault with everything they do- including breathing in my direction. Yes I know, not fair! Not fair but, again- true.

I came in to work today with a smile on my face ready for the week. Part of my routine is to check my work email first thing. One email was titled simply "Augie Hartung" and out of curiosity I opened it. The short email simply said that Mr. Hartung had passed away unexpectedly this past weekend. He was a member of our campus community. Since that time, there have been several emails expressing great saddness and concern for Augie and his family. Each email remembers him with fondness and appreciation. I didn't know him, but I am very touched by his death. It started me thinking, "How would I like to be remembered should I die suddenly?" Certainly not as Ms. Complain-alot or Ms. Difficult.

So know what do I do about it? Well I figure that if I can resist the complaining and promote goodwill perhaps I can make that contagious.

Peaches and Cream

What a killer smile! Here is Alexander on his first attempt at Peaches. (Well really his 2nd but it is his first in the high chair and his first time holding the spoon by himself) Way more was spit out than went in, but I think it was still a success on the whole. He is now holding his own bottle, which is of great joy to his exasperated and sleep deprived parents- No more holding the bottle at 3 am and being jolted awake by a hungry baby with a bottle up his nose! He has his Daddies dimples and his Grandfather's hair do! Ah the joy of genetics. Luckily he wakes up happy and is starting to sleep in longer chunks at night. As it is I should be sleeping now instead of writing, but I wanted to share.

Darth Vader

Can I just say how much I love my job!?!

This week I had 3 men try on red patent leather pumps with 4 inch heels. I took 2 students to the local "lotions and lace" to purchase fishnets and feather boas- only to have my school credit card declined. I then had to call purchasing to explain my dilemma- luckily they seem to understand our odd needs and approved the purchase. I've also helped my colleague with the "Phallus Canes" mock up, which consisted of a large wooden dowel and hand sculpted phallus. She chose black clay to create the proto type and her first attempt looked like a very large Darth Vader helmet! Her second draft included the shaft! (Sorry it rhymed)

I can't wait for next week!

Out Smarted by a 3 Year-old

My daughter is very sly. The other night she decided that she didn't want to sleep in her bed, she wanted to sleep in her tent, on the ground. Ok no big deal, except that she wouldn't go to sleep. So I decided to crawl in next to her and snuggle up so she would go to sleep. It worked like a charm- I passed right out. However, sometime in the night my daughter must have realized that the floor is actually uncomfortable and moved into my room to the California King size bed. I continued to sleep in a ball on the hard floor only to awake to aches and pains and no Abby! Smart girl- she duped Mommy into sleeping on the floor and scored the big bed! I'm going to have to keep and eye on her.

A Little Yeah Me!

As of today 1-3-2006 I have offically worked for CSUSB for 1 year!

Yeah Me!

No One to Blame But Me

Ok I did it. I bought the damn playstation for my husband, in fact I have now purchased 2 playstations over the last 5 years. The first one died and I was stupid enough to buy another one.

It's not like I hate the playstation, in fact I like to try my hand and mind numbing hand eye coordination from time to time.

HOWEVER..... I am beginning to despise the stupid thing. It seems to be some kind of new age siren to my husband. He hears the dulcet tones of Madden 2006 and that's it Game Over for me. Hour upon hour on the couch playing football; a CG Jake Plummer versus the entire NFL cadre. As if 16 weeks of real football isn't enough! For those that love the game I understand that it isn't, however when has a false reality become more interesting or seemingly more important than our true reality.

ARGH!!! In an effort to be an understanding wife I have attempted to try to become more involved in the "game" and understand it's rules. To be fair it is much more complex than I had previously assumed. That said- I still hate the damn thing!

Oh well at least when it is "over" I will have hours of CG dog fights, to look forward to! At least that has some kind of story line.

Me and My Best Girl 

So Why My Aunties Panties?

As we begin 2006- I have decided to start this blog- as many of my friends will tell you, I am no writer, but I've decided to give it a try anyhow.

So... Why My Aunties Panties? Really I think it has something to do with being too big for my own britches (or breeches). It is also a reference to my late Aunt Bevie- she was one swell lady who always encouraged me to "Go for it!" We lost her earlier this year all too quickly.

You see, I have this grand idea- a calendar or photographic survey on the history of women's underwear, entitled "My Aunties Panties!" I have had this idea for ages, I have even begun working out ideas for it with a friend of mine, but I haven't made it a reality. There is no good reason for my procrastination, just the my old pal- laziness. Aunt Bevie's death has forced me to start thinking- life is too short to sit on your butt waiting. I know, I know it's all too cliche for words, but cliches come from truth and this truth hurts.

2005 was not a year I that can be easily summed up with a quick phrase. It was neither hard nor easy- it just was. It was filled with so many ups and downs that I am still trying to recover my balance. What I do know is, 2005 has taught me that there really is no such thing as a "good year" or a "bad year"- it was just a year; just life.

Here are some of the ups and downs-

January 2005-
I was hired as the temporary Costume Shop Manager for CSUSB!
My first show was "Macbeth".
I found out I was pregnant!

April 2005-
Found out I was having a boy- 30 min. later we were told he might have Down Syndrome.

May 2005-
After much testing- including the dreaded amniocentesis- we were told our baby boy was just fine! - except for the fluid on his lungs.
With the help of my Mom and Sister, we finished "Man of La Mancha" with no time to spare. (Those that know me will understand the significance)

June 2005-
After what seemed to be a bout of "Shingles" Aunt Bevie was finally diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer- she died 3 days later.

July 2005-
My father retires and I am hired permanently at CSUSB- on the same day!

August 2005-
We can finally buy my husband a new car, his first ever- a Dodge Magnum!
My son was late in arriving. I was unpleasant to be around!

September 2005-
My Son arrived- finally- 8 lbs. 8 oz.- happy and healthy. Except for the breathing problems.

October 2005-
I went back to work.
My best friend moved to silly ole' Washington.

December 2005-
My father had another stroke- classified as, "not as bad as the last one" How is that reassuring? I mean really.

As you can see, practically every month brought me something new and different to deal with. All is can say is that I am thankful for all of the blessings of 2005, trying to accept all of the trials, praying for a happy and healthy 2006 and hoping that the new trials will not be insurmountable. But mostly I imagine I will be too busy trying to keep up with my 3 year old and infant to focus on the "good, bad and the ugly".

I love you Aunt Bevie, I miss you and I want you to know that I intend to "go for it!"