Sabbatical - Part II: The Not So Fabulous

Where the heck did my font option go?

Anyway, we had a couple of not so fabulous things occur the last 3 weeks but, thankfully, I had to rack my brain to remember what they were. I almost hate to even write about them but...such is life, right? I'll keep it short and to the point so if you're in a good mood while reading this you have a good chance of staying that way.

First, our AC didn't work in the condo for the first week and half! Long story short, there was a mix up and what should have been a 3 day inconvenience turned into 10. I feel a bit wronged here and am thinking about writing a letter to the rental company. It seriously would not have been a big deal except that (a) I had more than one restless night of sleep due to the 747, also known as a portable AC, they installed to keep the master bedroom cold. I mean cool. I mean borderline warm; (b) I missed out on 4 nights of sleeping to the sound of ocean waves; (c) Our guests did not have the benfit of the 747 and really were pretty warm; (d) Meeting the AC techs and coordinating with the rental co. took precious, precious, time; and (e) The rental company just was not that apologetic about the situation. They definitely handled it the best they could but I still feel like I paid for something that I did not receive.

Second, Matt called me the first Monday I was there to let me know that Lola would need surgery on her knee when I got back. She tore a ligament and was limping badly. The vet gave her some pain meds to get her through the past few weeks and Matt and I dropped her off this morning for the surgery. Thankfully, she came through fine and, as Dr. Jon reported, "She is on narcotics and is enjoying the ride." It is VERY weird not having her here. Our shoebox actually seems bigger but the house just seems empty without her. We pick her up tomorrow at which time we will beg Dr. Jon for a 4 month supply of narcotics so that we can keep the Beanster calm during recovery. For those of you who have met Lola, you know that calm is not in her limited vocabulary.

Third, and this is the most freaky although I'm pretty sure it was harmless, I received a message through my Flickr account that someone wanted to add me as a contact. I did not recognize the name so I logged on to check him out. His profile came up "Single" and "Male". And "Child Photographer". If you watch Oprah you know how those 4 words in this context can FREAK YOU OUT. I looked at some of his current contacts and he really did seem harmless but who is he and how did he find my stuff? I thought I had made all my photos for "Friends and Family Only" but apparently not. I denied the request and am now in the process of making sure everything is for "Friends and Family Only". Such a sucky feeling.

So that is a wrap for the Not So Fabulous. Am really thankful that the Not So Fabulous was really not so bad...

Sabbatical - Part 1: The Fabulous

I CANNOT believe that I have only 2.5 more days left at the beach! I seriously tried to slow time down these past 3 weeks and here we are, shocked at the reality of how it has all gone way too fast. Fast but fabulous. For the most part.

Brantley...what can I say? I love that little being with every once of myself. The week that just she, Matt and I were together was perfect. B thinks that Matt is the most hilarious person ever and he LOVES that she thinks that. And I love all of it. Lots of love going on here. The cool part is that we think she is the funniest little thing we've seen. I would say that my biggest joy these past weeks is that I really got to know my baby. That is fabulous and so, so, so sad to me at the same time.

Taylor and Joel came for a visit which was super fun. 2 pitchers of margaritas and watching Joel run from B as she tried to lay kiss after kiss after kiss on him - good times.

Mom and Dad are here to round out the beach vacay. It is great to be with them and have them get to know B. I think she knows they're special people in our lives. Today on the beach, M&D went for a walk and as they were walking back towards us she caught sight of them pretty far out. They were just figures walking but she knew it was them and she wouldn't stop looking at them until they got closer at which point she got up and ran to them. Sweetness.

Matt and Dan fished and we feasted on Mahi Mahi - delicious!

As far as hitting the beach goes, the weather could not have been better. Boating, not so good but we're sticking to the fabulous here.

I cooked! Once...but it was good...

Finished Pillars of the Earth. Great, long read. Some parts were very disturbing to me but overall I would recommend it.

I actually have some color for the first time in years. I know it isn't healthy but IT FEELS SO GOOD.

We're off...to the beach!

In 12 hours I will officially be on sabbatical. Can I get a heck yeah? Alright...

The last month has been a bit crazy - I've had the general feeling of wanting to either (a) run. Run fast and far and furiously. Or (b) drink and drink and drink...and drink. I didn't do either which is good since it would probably take my whole sabbatical to recover from both options. Instead, I just ran around in a general state of tension but it is going, going, almost gone.

Here's the gist:

(1) Had to prepare to be out off of work for 4 weeks. Don't think I've been that on task since nesting with B.

(2) Put an offer on a house.

(3) Got hopes up about said house.

(4) Didn't get house.

(5) Went to dr. for a pain in my side that had been nagging me for about a month.

(6) Dr. said "hmm".

(7) I said "Dr. S. - let me tell you what patients don't want to hear when you have an ultrasound probe up their mo...

(8) Dr. S. thought it was an etopic pregnancy.

(9) Peed in a cup.

(10) Test inconclusive.

(11) Gave blood to make sure I was not pregnant....and to test for cancer.

(12) Not pregnant. Not cancer.

(13) Went back for 3rd ultrasound last week - cyst? bi-lobal ovary? Hmmm...

(14) Don't know but hopefully Duke Obgyn will. We'll find out when I get back. But I'M NOT WORRIED. We've ruled out the bad so...

(15) Talk with boss. Things are changing...more on that later.

(16) B's nanny's dad passed away after a long illness. Very sad for Jackie.

(17) Would have celebrated Jamie's 9th birthday on the 14th. 9 years. 9 years...

(18) Somehow I did it. Brantley, Matt and I got to the beach yesterday and we are settled into our home for the next 3 weeks. Cheers to that!

In just 24 hours I feel like a different person. Matt has been traveling so much this past month and this disconnect was beginning to get to me. We needed the past 24 hours like Lola needs her tennis balls.

So, our biggest plan for the next 3 weeks is to not have a plan! I'm real excited about that but a little nervous at the same time. I am a person that operates on plans and schedules. The Known is my friend. I'm comfortable with her. The only known I know right now is that I am really geeked to be able to soak up every minute of Brantley. She is growing up so fast and I feel like I'm just holding on to every piece of her I can because tomorrow that piece is going to be something different - bigger, smarter, funnier. Just different.

I am really, really thankful for this sabbatical. It could not have come at a better time. God hit the nail on the head with this one. Not only am I am thankful for this time off, this 4 week paid time off!, I'm really thankful that I work for company that values their employees. I know a lot of companies tout the work/home balance but SP literally puts their money where their mouth is. More companies should do this - can you imagine how happy all the worker bees would be?

Pictures from our first day coming soon...

Piece de Resistance

She arrived. I've been waiting for weeks and she was finally delivered. I see a lot of things happening here - paying bills, which doesn't sound fun, but in addition to that, getting control of our finances, writing, getting some ideas into something more than ideas, maybe getting a baby book done for my now toddler, getting organized. It's all going down right here and I can't be more pleased.

There are a few key items to note in photo #1: the Vaseline Intensive Care Lip Therapy and the Banana Republic credit card next to the tube. We'll start with the BR CC. I am a BR fan. I'd say 99% of the time I walk into their store, I spot something I would like to purchase. Their clothes just fit me (although, something is going on with their Martin pants b/c the last couple pairs I bought, I could stuff socks down the sides into the hip area to fill them out. Now I KNOW it is not my hips that have slimmed down so it definitely is the way they are sewing those puppies up. Not a fan. But I have yet to find a suitable replacement.) So, I am such a faithful BR shopper that I am a LUXE card carrying member. Cream of the Banana Republic credit crop. Up until Friday I have enjoyed my card and the privileges that come with it. Then came my lunch hour on Friday when I decided to buy B some spring clothes from Old Navy (BR and ON are sister companies...along with Gap and Piperlime - which, if you haven't heard of Piperlime, I suggest checking them out.) I painstakingly went through the site and picked out some cute dresses for my B. Was satisfied with my Shopping Cart and excited about the 30% discount I was receiving and proceeded to Checkout.

That is when it all went wrong. My card would not work. The LUXE was denied. And I was all WHOA. NOT GOOD. I tried the whole process again thinking it was a technical glitch but alas, it was not. Something was up. I promptly logged on to my account and found everything seemed to be in order. What the heck? That night I received an automated phone call wanting to confirm that the activity on my card today was legit and there was no fraudulent activity going on. Uh, yeah, there was not only no fraudulent activity going on - there was NO ACTIVITY going on.

I try to give it another go this morning and once again, nothing. So I call customer service and she said to let's place the order over the phone. After 20 minutes of giving her the item numbers of the 12 things in my shopping cart - while Brantley is intermittently crying and feeding Gunner Cheerios - the card is denied again. ^%$@*!!! She then tells me that I won't be able to use my 30% discount b/c it is a one time only deal. Fuming, I tried in my most polite voice to inform her that I HAD NOT USED THE DISCOUNT!! Then Sophia the supervisor came on. Very professionally she said that she created a draft purchase of my items, she would transfer me to the CC department, I could get it straightened out and then they would transfer me back to her and we could complete the order. I said that sounds like a wonderful plan. But, I told her I had tried calling the CC department on Friday and was either (1) cut off or (2) not able to even get through so what was going to happen if by chance (1) or (1) were to happen again. She assured me that she would stay on the line until I was talking to a live person. I said ok. I'm ready. I wait....and wait...I ask B to please stop crying for just 5 minutes...I wait...I tell Gunner for the umpteenth time to GET OUT of the playroom...I wait...and then...BEEP - BEEP - BEEP. Oh you blankety blank blank. Earmuffs Brantley.

Screw you LUXE card. I'm not sure what it is going to take to win me back but I suggest you get your gameplan together. If is wasn't for this piece de resistance I'm sitting at, I would be so HOT.

And the Vaseline Intensive Care Lip Therapy - that, I just can't live without and have them stocked everywhere.