Beach Scenes and Bosses and CEO's-- OH MY!

Well, as many of you know, I was a little uneasy about how today would turn out, but it was actually pretty interesting so I figured I'd tell you about it!

See, it all started with the floor summer decorating contest at work. And, well, I have a team of 11 salespeople, and if you know salespeople, they are quite the competitive bunch! So, we decided we were going to have some fun with the contest, and, well, anything worth doing is worth doing well. So, off we went. I thought it was pretty funny anyway-- when our director came by and asked us what the prize was we all looked at each other confused like ummm we don't know! We're in sales. it's just all about pride and winning :)

Well, I would just like to say that our section was by FAR the best if I do say so myself. seriously. we take decorating to a whole new level. Here's a pic just to give you an idea-- our trademark is taking pictures of people and then including them in our decorating. Here's the wall outside our section. I don't know how much you can see, but we did have some fun making my 400-pound biker boss into a mermaid... :Þ also included are my director (the lifeguard), our secretary (a hula dancer) and various other managers and VIP's. like I said-- we have WAAAAY too much fun. we even made a 5 foot detailed cutout of our company mascot as a mermaid! (my fave part, but not really post-able.) otherwise, we just had stuff EVERYWHERE including little scenes here and there all set on a COMPLETELY blue backdrop of desks. it was cool. I mean really-- what other company (or even internal department!) could I possibly work for that would be this much fun? :)

So anyway-- we are putting all of this up yesterday when our secretary comes running over with a warning-- our CEO, who has a summer home in VA Beach, is making a surprise visit tomorrow and may be around, so keep everything clean, organized, and appropriate. kind of hard when our section is already a war zone, but we work it out. And then I find out I am one of 3 that will be in the room representing sales when he monitors our teams. I am also told he is pissed at us for some reason and our job is to diffuse him! greeeeeat. a compliment to be picked to be there, but a very 'ummmm thanks?' sort of moment :)

but anyway, all is okay when he gets there this morning. we are listening to calls, all is fine. then CEO gets a call on his cell. his mother is ill, so he takes it. we all just chill for awhile. BUT, I notice when he comes back in he has a rice krispy treat. hmmm... pregnant girl in my section brought in rice krispy treats. odd. but, didn't think much of it til the next time he left. I kept seeing people coming in with rice krispy treats, and I wanted to get one before they were gone! so, I went to my desk, and well... there is the CEO of my 20,000+ person company chilling (of all places) at MY desk on the phone!!!!!!! WTF?! ahhhh! I am freaking! (seriously! he was there for at least like 20 minutes!)

I also noticed my team must have been freaking, because an unusual amount of them all seemed to be on break at the same time :) They told me later that yes, they were shaking and stressing and all sorts of stuff. they have heard the stories of when he hears bad calls. lol. well, almost all were stressing-- the one that gave him the rice krispy treat apparently thought NOTHING of getting up and parading around in his very contest-appropriate but NOT dress code-appropriate board shorts. once again, greeeeat.

so, all ends up okay. I hear stories later of Mr. CEO checking out my pictures (one happens to be of me and him when he gave me a shirt a few years back) and also noticing my random Jon Passavant ad (oops. but c'mon how could I not post that and tell the story of the 2 hours I once spent smooshed up against him in a car?!) :) I have a lot of crap at my desk too. I mean really-- it's my home away from home so I have to put a little bit of me into it! so, now I'm sure he'll remember my face and maybe even my name... I'm just not sure whether that's a good or a bad thing!

but anyway-- he left, things returned to normal, and hopefully all is right with the world. and I have decided not to tell the boss story from the subject line, because, well, it's not even worth it. let's just say though that there are some people at work that make me SO mad! you have to give respect to get it. so, as one last thing before I get to bed (damn super early MSF course!), I'll post the newest addition to the "people who have had their picture taken in the well-traveled coconut bra" club. Here's my friend Andrea during all the insanity today :)

Stay tuned for the after-MSF end of the weekend post: Lisa the Biker! hehehehe. now this is going to be trouble :Þ

Monday Randomness

Today was actually a great Monday for a change! Just some random thoughts...

First of all, after Saturday night's end of the night weirdness (this was AFTER the flowers and dinner), the boy called today, so that made me happy. And he is actually hanging out with my friends this weekend, which I think is pretty cool. we'll see how that goes. But, speaking of the boy, I may have some new "signs"-- for instance-- is it weird that my cat HATES him? Truman likes everyone! He loves to perform! Ooooh but not with the boy... the cat slinked around, looked angry, and even at one point stood right in front of him and had a stare down for a couple minutes! wtf?!

I know Al already blogged about it, but I just have to say-- sometimes it is totally the non-sexual things that are sexier than anything else. Like, I LOVE when a guy puts his arms around me and kisses my forehead. NO idea why, but I just think it is SO sweet! I will totally melt over that. dumb I know. and flowers are always a plus too :) I still feel like I barely know this boy, and yet he already has the important stuff figured out!

Despite all the good stuff though I AM a little skeeved that the one ultra-conservative kid on my team deciphered my mostly non-verbal convo with a fellow supe today about my date. And well, it was not stuff I want anyone on my team knowing anything about!!! we'll see how this turns out.

I would also like to say that whoever designed dresses was NOT thinking about my proportions!!! I went bridesmaid dress shopping with Steph this weekend, and I could not find ANYTHING that fit! it either fit in the hips and was way too tight up top, or it fit the boobs and was a tent everywhere else! grrrrr can you say "mad alterations"?

Also, I had mad Word fun today. It may be stupid, but I LOVE conquering that damn word processor and FINALLY fitting and formatting everything exactly as I want it! WHY is it so hard to make Word cooperate? Is it just me?!

On one last note, I passed my latest CPCU test!!! woooohoooo!!!! Totally thought I failed. So, what did I do to celebrate? Well, I picked up the books for the next one I'm going to start. no rest for the weary... but hey if it means free trip to Hawaii in '07, why rest? :)

Can't wait for this weekend. It is finally MSF time! Yup, I will be learning how to ride a motorcycle! HOW FUN IS THAT?! now, my mother would probably have a heart attack if I actually GOT one, but I think the class will be fun either way. we'll see.

so back to the daily grind... let's hope the rest of the week continues to be great!!! It is supposed to be like 98 tomorrow not even including heat index. Isn't that NUTS?! Stay cool everyone!!!

Weekend Recap: Signs?

What an interesting weekend...

Well, you probably all know by now that I am dating a new boy. And, we have a lot in common, which is always nice. We're both from PA, we like the same music, we're both ridiculously ambitious, we're even both athletic and go to the same gym. But there was one thing he said on our first date that stuck out to me more than most other things. The story follows.

Many of you know how much I love the Phillies. I am your typical Philly sports fan anyway, but there's just something about baseball that's in my family blood. I've been going to games since I was in diapers. Well, some of you might also know that my favorite player of all time is Mike Schmidt, who was the Phillies third baseman in the 70's and 80's and is widely regarded as the best 3B of all time. I've been wearing his number since I was in elementary school, playing his position, and widely regarding #20 as my lucky number throughout most of my life.

But anyway, back to the date. Well, I had only told him that I was from Philly and also that I am a sports fan. Then he mentioned out of nowhere (just to start conversation I'm sure) that he actually was at the game where Mike Schmidt hit his milestone 500th homerun. crazy!!! And yes, I checked. Michael Jack sure enough did hit his 500th in Pittsburgh in 1987. I would kill for that ticket. but, odd coincidence? or sign?

Well, three dates later, we're about to go out Saturday night. In talking to a good friend that day, I had said completely out of the blue that I wanted him to really make an effort, and that he should bring me flowers since he was picking me up this time. It was all totally tongue in cheek. We both know by now not to expect anything like that. But, he picked me up on time, and (you guessed it) he came bearing flowers!

Are there really such things as signs? Or is this just a way for old world romantics to make sense out of the world? I am not sure what I believe. But, I also know that the same friend had a situation too involving a seat choice that was just as eerie. But, then again, I once dated a boy whose favorite number was also 20. In fact, his birthday was on the 20th and so was our anniversary. And, well, that didn't exactly turn out well. Who knows.

I struggle everyday with breaking through the completely grounded rational side of myself and trying at least sometimes to think in reveries rather than fact. Really, though, as a dreamer I am a complete and utter failure. I think also that in my head I have decided that believing in signs effectually forces me to also believe in the other supernatural hands that I've decided at least for awhile to not dwell on at all.

Is it crazy that I am 25 and I still have no idea what in my life to believe in?

Weekend Recap: all this for a book?!

Yes, it's that time! Woohoo! Harry Potter Year 6! Now, I am not some Potter crazy. I did not wait in line at midnight Friday night just to get a copy. BUT, I did buy it right away, DESPITE my hatred of hardbacks (I know that is totally the opposite of the usual literary person, I just HATE when I can't lie in bed reading with one hand! I only keep hardbacks of my absolute faves & classics, like Pride & Prejudice for example. and wtf is with book jackets?! most annoying things on earth!) Anyway, I also don't want anyone or anything to ruin the plot before I get a chance to read! So, it was off to Wal-Mart today to get my copy.

Some of you may know that this weekend is actually my CPCU study weekend. Well, rather than studying all weekend, I bought new clothes yesterday I don't need (I am not sure what prompted me to fall completely back in love with the GAP), switched my renter's insurance company, spent this morning at the gym, and now, well, I'm typing this post. Not exactly entirely productive. This test, though, is only the 2nd of 8 I have to pass though to go to Hawaii in '07, and it's also the one I failed a year and a half ago when I had my priorities completely out of whack (Ryan induced). So, it's been hard to get back into, especially because it's basic stuff that I feel like I already know a large part of. totally licensing round 2.

So, in the theme of my sort of studying weekend, I decided to go to Super Wal-Mart after the gym today, because although it's a pain in the neck, it's always ridiculously cheap, and I needed some other random stuff I knew I could easily find there too. So, I fought the parking nightmare (think a traffic pattern as poorly designed as the Grove City Outlets), waited behind the ghetto fabulous group of women who seemed like they had nothing better to do but block traffic while they VERY slowly sauntered up to the entrance, even got a decent spot. and on the way in I even managed to avoid rude child #1, who stuck his football helmet right in my face without saying a word, apparently wanting a donation for something to go somewhere.

Anyway, I managed to track down the book, I tracked down new insoles for my shoes (since the last pair is shot after spending all day in NYC in them), and I even found a sport case for my iPod (yes, my episode today where my cord got caught and both me AND the iPod went flying off the back of the treadmill is not something I'd like to repeat!)

So, then to checkout. and whew! the self checkout line is short! So, I pick up my US Weekly (I know, sad addiction) and my Lucky mag and start the process. Well, after I scan the iPod case, it won't scan my insoles. I can't figure out why, til I look up and see that it wants me to touch the iPod case to some non-existent star. I guess it has a security tag. So, I figure it out, scan my insoles, and keep going. everything's fine. Then all of a sudden, "Fran," the Wal-Mart woman is standing over me. Here's the convo:

"Fran": wait, what did you scan after the iPod case? I stopped watching. did it scan?
me: umm I'm not sure-- I guess the insoles. [check bag against screen] yes, everything scanned.
"Fran" (while looking at me suspiciously): [inspects my bag herself] okaaay...
me: [pick up next magazine, go to scan]
"Fran": wait! let me put in my tag to clear you out (despite everything scanning perfectly FINE) [proceeds to have her little tag fun]
me: [pick up next magazine AGAIN, scan, put both in bag]
"Fran": see that's your problem! you have to scan one, put it in the bag, THEN scan the next item
me (after having had absolutely enough of "Fran"): I WAS doing that. I didn't this time because YOU came over and interrupted!
"Fran" (still looking at me suspiciously): fine, carry on.

So, I finally pay, I still get stopped by the security guy on the way out, but all fine-- I am finally on my way home. I'm hurrying too, because there's actually softball on TV! then, after searching a good 5 minutes for my car (damn big parking lot), I go to pull out. random group of teenagers decides to walk right behind my car as I am about to pull out. had not seen them. but, although walking behind a moving car without even hesitating is just DUMB, they give ME the dirty look.

so, now I am home, and I am back to studying. AND, I just realized I will have to go to work tomorrow despite the study day off because I have to get all the files off my computer before the LAN team re-images it Monday night. and I might have gone today, except now I am too annoyed to go out again. So all I have to say is, after today, THIS BOOK BETTER BE WORTH IT! :)

Anyway, hope everyone else's weekend was good (other than poor Al's-- 1000 times worse than my day!)
'til next post, be good! :)

Weekend Randomness (don't say I didn't warn you!)

Sometimes I think I hate my job. Because after all, work inherently means dealing with all kinds of crap. But, then I tell people about my day and it includes things like Laser Tag, racing games, spray painting, and the latest, water balloon fights, and I realize comparatively I really have a lot of fun at work! The pic to the right is the latest proof-- all I did was fill water balloons, but I got caught in the crossfire, and thanks to Mel, BOTH sets of my clothing got soaked on Friday! So anyway, here we are after the war of the bathroom... :)

Contrary to my awful typo on Friday, I do NOT wear black jeans and have not since probably 8th grade. And if I ever even think about it, one of you out there had better stop me by force!

I don't think I have EVER seen the Tides win a game! How is that possible?! I am minor league baseball bad luck! Then again, maybe, being from Philly and all, I am cursed and am just destined to root for losing teams.

Along the same line on Friday night, though, things are still good with the new boy. I have decided, though, that I do not have him figured out yet, and I usually get people right away. This may be good or bad... stay tuned. I should be seeing him again tomorrow...

So as this post winds down, I'll leave you with my aboslute favorite new quote-- simple, pointed, and always relevant: "In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on." --Robert Frost

So anyway-- for god's sake kids-- be safe out there! And don't forget to pray for Omarion!

Weekend Recap: July 4th Edition

Hi all! Ahhh it's good to be back in good ol' Virginia Beach. Except, I had a fabulous weekend, and it's hard not to be living it anymore! But, you can ALWAYS relive good times through blogging and pictures, so here it is-- my weekend recap (complete with pics of course!) :)

The Usual Trip

I drove home Friday to Philly-- the usual drive. Everything was fine-- Virginia Beach still has terrible traffic, the Eastern Shore continues to be the scariest place on earth, and the whole thing still takes too long, BUT as always it's all okay when I see my Philly skyline, which always puts a smile on my face. I was so mad about all the dumb holiday drivers (new biggest pet peave: TAILGATERS who almost hit me multiple times!) that I even yelled at poor Carl! more about Carl (the voice-- real name: Awleurgzdxjhgd) later though :) (yeah if you don't get that, don't ask! :Þ)

But, the usual trip ended up being great-- I shopped with my Dad for backpacking stuff, did lunch with the whole family, and even managed to hit up my favorite bagel shop on earth a great new Ice Cream shop (think Coldstone with old town charm and character) in Newtown. I even learned how to sew. hehehe. So then Sunday...

"It was all nice except the SUBMIT part!" --K :)

...was the wedding! After heading up to North Jersey, I managed to find the church and went in. It was then that I dscovered that I didn't know ANYONE except the people in the bridal party!!!! Totally weird. But, I guess that's what I get for transferring and becoming the black sheep of the family. Anyway, though, the wedding was of course sweet, and I can't believe that after 6 years D and Dave are actually married! They added totally cute touches, too-- like doing sparklers when they came out of the church instead of bubbles (hey it WAS July 4th weekend!)

Luckily there was plenty of time after the ceremony before the reception, so I was able to go to the hotel, check in, chill the cheap champagne in the sink (TOTALLY ghetto) , and even relax a little after an already long day. Then onto the reception.

Caviar, Tarts, and a Table Full of Cleveland

Okay let me just say that the Madison Hotel is GORGEOUS!!! The cocktail hour was amazing, the food was wonderful, but the Conservatory setting definitely took the cake. And at first I thought it was weird that we danced and hung out between every course , but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that was the first reception that no one left early or wondered how in the world 5 hours were going to pass. What a great time!!! This had to have been my favorite reception ever. And it was made even better when we convinced Kate to skip her bar class and come to New York with us!!! So, the Save Kate fund was established and we were on our way.

Cheap Champagne + The Conspiracy + Cathedral Ceilings= Great Laughs!!!

Yeah our hotel was a little bit ghetto, but it was nice enough, it was clean, and for some reason we had a huge room with a high ceiling. And even though we got back late already, Kate, Al, & I got right to work. Actually, we were pretty much passed out by 2:30am, but then came the phone call-- Al's way cute groomsman wanted to come over! So, poor Todd (see towards the bottom of this link for my last memory of Dave's friend Todd) drove Nick to our hotel at 3am so he could shmooze with Al for a little bit before he flew back to Chicago the next day. But, well, we had no real plan, Kate had a lot of champagne, Todd was NOT having a good time, and so it didn't really go as planned. But Nick was so cute and just the idea that he made Todd drive him over so he could see Al again was adorable! Now for him to move to Pittsburgh... :)

"We are NOT going to TGI Fridays when we are in NEW YORK CITY! That's RIDICULOUS!" --K to Lab :)
yes, we totally did The City. We didn't have too much time, though, so we ended up just staying in Manhattan for awhile-- especially because Kate had never been on 5th avenue and the boys couldn't steer themselves away from Times Square. But, we did lots of good shopping (despite my oddly indecisive mood), and we even managed to find some good food and of course have a good time. The definite highlight, though, was the fireworks show that night-- there were synchronized fireworks in 3 places along the river that night and the show seemed to go on forever! Definitely worth the wait and the crowd battling. And the train ride wasn't so bad-- especially since by that point we were reliving like every inside joke we had from college :) gotta love old friends!

I need to get some pirate's booty! ARRRRRRR (and P.S.-- Labby's a Ho! :Þ)

As you can imagine, after getting home late and then waiting for Lab to come over (he was taking Al home early and the boys were staying far away-- much easier this way), we were pretty tired. But of course we were still in a crazy mood, hence the subtitle, which of course refers to my Trader Joe's Pirate's Booty... ummm yeah... so much fun ensued. And THEN I had to share a bed with Al, who is the BIGGEST BED HOG EVER!!! (come on, you know you are! :Þ) yes, all 90 pounds of her managed somehow to monopolize the bed the entire night! I even had to take it back by force at one point so I didn't fall off! I got about 4 and a half hours of completely restless sleep. and even though we got up really late, Kate made her flight and everyone got home without a problem... except for ME! grrrr

Why Carl is Not the Most Perfect Man on Earth

Sure, he got me home, to the reception and the hotel, and found a Starbucks and train station, but on Tuesday I realized his biggest flaw: Carl does NOT know the Jersey Shore. And thanks to his mistake, my 7 hour drive turned into 10.5-- all on NO sleep. I should NOT have been driving, and when it took me 6 hours just to get to 95 South in Delaware, I just about cried. It was so frustrating! lesson: DO NOT think that there's a bridge from Cape May to Delaware! It's a ferry and if you don't make a reservation ahead of time, LIFE'S A BITCH! grrrrrr it was actually quicker to retrace my steps, join the holiday shore traffic, and go alllll the way around the coast. That may have been the worst drive ever in my life.

So anyway, I am back, I am rested, and I am ready to go back to the daily grind. Enjoy the pics!

the happy couple :)

Kate and Al get down!

the first new pic of the four of us in years... not my fave ever but still cute :)

Labby and the absolutely adorable flower girl-- so cute!

the boys waiting for us outside St. Patrick's while we shopped :) how bored do they look?!

a great end to an awesome weekend!