Cat Outta Here!!

Well … apparently, abstaining from all those lemon poppyseed muffins for three months was a good thing. Because YAY! I passed my pre-employment drug screen.

As if there was any doubt … well, except maybe for the other prescription meds I’ve been on (good thing I didn’t need that letter). And okay, those two Cokes I had last night … (tee-hee!)

I haven’t told any of my co-workers (except for the three I trust the most) that I’m leaving. And that’s mainly because I wanted to make sure I passed the drug test and the background investigation. Apparently, I should be hearing sometime next week that all is okay. So chances are, the big news will be revealed within the next two weeks.

Late Monday, my supervisor asked me if she could fill our manager in on my impending leave. She was the only leadership person I told, because I fully expected that she’d be getting a call to confirm my employment and ask how I am as one of her direct reports. I just didn’t want her to be blindsided when that phone call came.

Anyhoo … the reason my supervisor asked for my permission is because they wanted to try to get the “OK” from the higher powers that be to fill my position a soon as possible. I told her that it was okay to do so and pushed the thought to the back of my head.

So yesterday, as I’m working furiously at my desk … I suddenly feel this presence over me. And the thing is … I knew who it was before I even turned around. And sure enough, as I swiveled my chair counterclockwise, I’m suddenly facing the VP of our department. The same VP that I have been working closely with on this Process Improvement Workgroup. The same one who asked me personally to reconsider the decision I made to not be part of the workgroup for the second phase.

As I looked up at her face, I saw this very … concerned (for lack of better word) look on her face. And I knew at the moment that the cat was let out of the bag.

Since I didn’t want anyone around us to hear the inevitable conversation, I dragged her into one of the small conference rooms on our floor. As we sat down, she told me that she received an interesting email from my manager about my impending resignation. She wanted to know if it were indeed true … and if the reason I was leaving was because of this job and, in particular, the stress that I had endured while being part of this Process Improvement Workgroup.

So I told her the story. About how this job opportunity came out of the blue. And how it was the perfect time and the right set of circumstances in our lives to make these changes that Hubby & I have been longing to do. And how as the events started to unfold right into our laps, it appeared that this was the natural direction our life would take us on.

And I also told her that no, I wasn’t leaving this company because of the stressor of my current responsibilities. How, if anything I would love to see the things I’ve implemented on this workgroup progress forward. But how could I not follow my instincts? How could I not take this shot at a new path in life?

And my VP was very understanding; expressed happiness for Hubby & me. And she graciously wished us the best of success in my new position.

So there you have it … one of the bigger cats are out of the bag now. All is left is to confirm that I am, indeed a good upstanding citizen. Which, I supposed could be harder then we both might think …

Two Cokes …

… after 10:00 pm is never a good idea. And I know that, yet I still drank them. Grrr.

Last night, Hubby & I had the pleasure of dining at one of our favorite bars/restaurants with one of our good friends. And because it had already been a long day, I needed a little caffeine boost. Not to mention that it helped that tickle in the back of my throat.

When getting home, I knew that I would crash easily. What I didn’t expect was to wake up at 4:45-ish and toss and turn.

Of course, it really could be that I have a lot on my mind right now. Especially with the new job starting in (OMG!!!) about 6 weeks.

Or it could just be that I’m still not feeling as great as I could be. But at least now I’m being properly behind-the-counter medicated (read: prescription antibiotic and expectorant).

Instant HumanOh yeah … so the good news from El Doc is that it’s not pneumonia. (Whew!) But if I don’t get that gunk out of my upper chest and sinuses … it could quickly turn into it. (Crap!)

So yeah. It’s official. I do indeed have snot for brains (and apparently for lungs as well) … !

Now if you excuse me, I must find my next caffeine buzz.

And so the vicious caffeine cycle begins …

Short Week

Well … after three days of not leaving the house (and changing out of my pajamas only so I can answer the front door when the pizza delivery guy came), it’s time for me to go back to work.

I’m still not feeling a 100% better, but at least I can stay upright and not be short of breath for more than 15 minutes at a time. I am still planning on heading to my primary doc’s office today (if I can get an appointment), just to make sure that I don’t need antibiotics or something. What sucks the most is that my diaphragm and abdominal muscles hurt so d*mn much from coughing … and I still don’t feel as if I’ve been able to get the gunky stuff out from my lungs. So I guess worse case scenario is that I’ve got reaallly bad bronchitis or early pneumonia. Let’s hope it’s not the latter.

The good thing about this week is that it’s a short work week. And that’s meant both in number of days worked and number of hours. We get Thanksgiving and the day after off (woo-hoo!) as paid company holidays. And since I my normal work week consists of four 10-hour work days, on paid holiday weeks we’re only required to work 8-hr days so the pay equals out. It kinda reminds me of having half-day school days just before the beginning of (in this case) Thanksgiving break. But without the science project or History report that’s due the following Monday after break. (Thank goodness!)

And seeing that next Monday will be December 1st (yeah, I know … can you believe it?!), I will be extra happy. Because this means I would have survived NaBloPoMo!

One more week. One more week … {mutters Emily, under her breath}

Show and Tell: Ring Exchange

showandtellUgh. This … whatever it is, is kicking my butt. Instead of feeling better, after two days I’m feeling worse. Methinks I need to hit my primary doc’s office tomorrow. Anyhoo …

Today’s Show and Tell item is a photo from my cousin’s wedding in London, Ontario this past October. The ceremony was held at the Chapel at Windermere on the Mount, which is a retirement residence not far from the University of Western Ontario. However, prior to becoming this the place was once an all-girls Catholic school, serving also as the convent for the Sisters of St. Joseph. And prior to THAT, the location was actually the Motherhouse for the London Diocese since the mid 1800’s and also served as an orphanage.

I love digital cameras with zoom ...
I love digital cameras with zoom ...

The current chapel was built in 1953 and the decor clearly reflects this. Lots of stained glass, lots of nouveau Art Deco pieces. Oh, and lots of gorgeous tile work and woodwork, too. But what was most beautiful about the chapel, in my humble opinion, was exactly how the sun hit the the center of the altar at a particular time. At my cousin’s wedding , the sun decided to shine as the wedding rings were exchanged.

Lucky for me, I was able to capture it on film.

Well, kiddies. I think that’s it for this episode of Show and Tell. If I were feeling a little better, I might have been inclined to show you more. But alas … these cold medicines have been fogging up my brain.

Make sure you check out the other Show and Tell blogs this week!

Love Actually

I’m in the midst of finally catching up on much blog reading, after having called in sick yesterday. That cold turned out to be another bout of bronchitis, methinks. I’m actually down to some 20 more posts I need to read (most of which are yours, Pam … sorry! I just thoroughly enjoy reading your posts leisurely, as they are so poignant and beautiful).

And as Hubby (who coincidentally was working at home yesterday) and I flipped through the channels last night, we stumbled on the movie “Love Actually.”

Perfect, both of us thought. As coincidentally we had talked about when we should watch that movie this year. It’s been a yearly tradition for us to watch it around the holidays, as it’s listed as one of my most favorite movies of all time.

I love that it’s a myriad of different love stories that are weaved together, almost seemingly. And that it isn’t just the typical romance love story centered around the holidays. It’s certainly is a story about love during the holidays … but a variety of different loves. From unrequited love, to love lost, to love despite language barriers, to the love of friends and family.

The reason I love to watch this movie around the holidays is not only because it manages to get the childless infertile me into the holiday spirit, but it manages to remind me about what love is supposed to be about.

Not the romanticized version of it … not the one where a person wakes up and suddenly realizes that they can’t live without the other. Or the one where the two stars … despite the all that happens throughout the movie … finally get together in the end.

The love that this movie reminds me about is the every day kind of love. The love that endures the hardship and pain. The love that survives despite the every day things. And the not so every day things.

And for me, this movie reminds me about the kind of love that can survive infertility.