My Girls

I had a great weekend... I got to spend time with both my girls - My daughter-in-law Lindsey and I went out to lunch on Saturday and then spent time at SummerFest. My daughter Katie and I talked on the phone for over an hour on Saturday night and then on Sunday helped her to rearrange her living room and plan on what we were going to do for our niece/cousin Sarah's shower on Friday. I am so blessed to have two outstanding, kind hearted, smart women in my life. I'm so glad they both live close by and we can spend time together. I look forward to one day being a grandma, having a son-in-law, and watching our family grow. My son is pretty terrific too... but really enjoyed my time with just the girls this weekend.

Lauren and Patterson

Today was my first day back to work after vacation. I was actually excited to go back today... mainly because Lauren came back to work... finally after being off since May on maternity leave. Lauren is like my lifesaver at work. I have two great supervisors who help me... Michelle takes care of the clinical side, and Lauren takes care of the clerical side. As a manager, my job is mainly administrative, so, having my clerical supervisor off for three months really added to my work load. Now that Lauren is back, I can concentrate more of my time on special projects and marketing our practice.

I was also excited because Patterson - between 28th Street and Burton which has been closed since the beginning of April is finally open. I hate having to drive on East Paris and 28th Street because it is so busy and there are a ton of stop lights... and the road is full of holes. I was happily driving home on the new Patterson... until I got close to airport when I saw the "Recovery Project" road sign - and the orange barrells... meaning they are now going to be working on the other end of Patterson...aauugghh!!! So... guess it means I will be back on the East Paris/28th Street route... again! At least I don't have to drive all the way to Hastings!!

Rough time of things

I turn 50 this year. I am a healthy, vibrant woman with a successful career. I have a wonderful husband, great kids, good friends, and a great church family. I have never had a problem going into that next decade, and actually looked forward to my 20's, 30's and 40's. For some reason, turning 50 is making me face my mortality. I look at myself in the mirror, and I am not liking what I see. Its not so much the fact that I am carrying around extra weight... I have done that my entire life... but now I am seeing more wrinkles, sagging around my eyes, and I just look...well... old. I look in the mirror and more than ever... I see my mom staring back. I have always been told I look like my mom, but truthfully.. I never really saw it until now. My mother was a wonderful person, and if my life in any way shape or form resembles her, then that is a blessing... I'm just not ready to be old or to look old. My clothes even look old. I have to dress up for my job... and I HATE going clothes shopping. I will go with credit card in hand, ready and able to spend whatever it takes... and I can't find anything I like. I either look like a frumpy old woman, or look like I am dressing to go out for a night on the town... not a day in the office. I guess I need to do a couple of things. One... stop feeling sorry myself. I am what I am... I can't turn back the clock. Two... piss or get off the pot. I have been trying to lose weight my entire life. For every two pounds I lose, I gain one back... I exercise like crazy for a few weeks, then miss going for a week. I need to be consistent in my weight loss, my exercise, and my attitude. Lastly... I need to hire a personal shopper... someone who will help me pick out clothes that actually fit me, look good on me, and be brutally honest as to how they really look on me... not how I "wish" they looked on me. Gordie suggested I ask the sales ladies in the store... but like I told him... they are out to make sales... they will tell me whatever I want to hear. Two of my staff are professional shoppers. Those girls eat, breathe and drink going shopping... they love it. When I tell them I will spend hours walking aimlessly from store to store, and never purchase anything... they can't believe it. They would never dream of leaving a store without making a purchase. Of course... when you are a size 6.... shopping is much easier. So this afternoon, Gordie and I are going to spend our last afternoon in California, driving through the mountains and down the coast admiring the beautiful landscape of Southern California, and stopping at a few outlet malls along the way. I'm not real hopeful I will find anything, but I am going to look. Who knows... maybe I will get lucky!