The Reunion Adventure: 2013 Edition, part 2

My co-workers immortalized the occasion on my
whiteboard when they head that the COV was dead.

The Crappy Old Van was dead. It was sitting in a rest area in the Middle-of-Nowhere, Wyoming while we were back at my sister's house in Saratoga.

Aaron and Brian went back to the rest area the next morning to meet the tow truck and had the COV towed to Laramie (about 50 miles and $200 away). When the mechanic examined the COV, Aaron learned that it would cost nearly $800 just to fix the immediate problems... and then there would likely be engine damage to be fixed as well. But they couldn't even estimate that until they fixed the radiator. Oh, and it looked like the catalytic converter might be blown as well.

That was the last straw. We were unwilling to put another dime into the COV. So while I sat in Saratoga with my sister and the kids, Aaron and Brian went car shopping. I was a little worried about having no input on the decision, but really, there wasn't another option. So I just had to have faith that they would pick a good one. As it turned out, they did! A good car at a good price and excellent loan terms. I couldn't be happier with it!

 

 It's so pretty! And it runs so well! Here's a brief comparison of the old van and the new:

	Crappy Old Van	Pretty New Van
Engine runs		X
Accelerates without choking and dying in the intersection or onramp		X
Sits quietly at stoplights without jerking like it’s having a seizure		X
Radio/CD player works		X
Cigarette lighters (for charging electronics) work		X
DVD player works		X
All doors open AND close		X
Cruise control functions		X
Spacious seating		X
Automatic sliding doors		X
Lots of cargo area		X
All windshield wipers work		X
Air conditioning!		X
Interior gauges provide accurate information instead of randomly guessing at things like time, temperature, speed, and fuel level		X
Cup holders hold drinks instead of tipping them onto the floor		X

As you can see, the Pretty New Van is far superior in every way. Such an improvement! I wasn't ready to take on a car payment just yet, but since it had to happen, it really turned out pretty well overall.

The Reunion Adventure: 2013 Edition, part 1

So every year I come back from my family reunion with stories to tell - usually involving rain, hail, thundersnow and other weather-related disasters. Because that's a lot of what usually happens at our family reunion. And this year, we had none of that. We had lovely weather. We really had an uneventful and enjoyable trip... for the most part. I even said to my mother: "I don't even have anything to blog about from this trip!" I forgot that you have to be careful what you wish for...

We headed out on July 3... we waited until Aaron got off work because the air conditioning in the van had broken yet again. I'd taken it in to have it looked at, but they said it would cost almost $600 to fix it. We just weren't willing to spend that kind of money on the Crappy Old Van (COV). So instead, we planned to drive at night when possible and bought these:

They actually work really well. We used them in the COV and felt pretty comfortable in spite of the lack of AC.

We drove to my sister Melissa's house in Saratoga, WY - about halfway between our house and my parents' house, so it makes a perfect stopping point to break up the trip. We stayed there Wednesday night (more like Thursday morning, since I think we arrived at 2 a.m.) and went out to play for the 4th of July on Thursday. We missed the community breakfast and the parade because everyone was too slow to get moving. But we were in time for the community BBQ lunch! Except it was cancelled. But no matter. We loaded up the kids and went to a wonderful park by the river. We bought pizza and ate it for lunch at the park. It was great!

Haley's big obsession was with the carnival that was in town. She REALLY wanted to go to the carnival. We kept postponing because it was just so hot. We knew it was out in the open with no shade at the carnival. So we convinced her we would go home, have some dinner, and then go to the carnival. That plan worked perfectly - right up to the moment we pulled into the parking lot and the clouds opened up with pouring rain! Haley was devastated, but I was actually a bit relieved. On checking the prices (by running through the rain to the ticket booth) I discovered that it was REALLY pricey... and there were really only 2 or 3 rides that our kids would have been able to try anyway. Uncle Brian (my brother-in-law, not my identically named brother who is also Uncle Brian - very confusing for the children, who occasionally tell people that my sister is married to my brother) instead made a deal with Haley that he and Melissa would come down to visit us and we'd all go to an amusement park together. And we went home and watched some fireworks from the playroom window (it was still raining, after all).

The next day we headed for Utah. Brian had to work, so my sister packed up her two girls and caravanned with us. Which we were glad of when we got a flat tire along the way. In the end, not a big deal, though, and pretty easily fixed.

We spent a couple of days at the Reunion and had a wonderful time. Almost all of my brothers and sisters were there and lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins. I'm not sure what the official tally of attendees was this year, but it's often around 200. The weather stayed pleasant - not too hot, not too cold, and no rain/hail/etc. during lunch! I did manage to pick up a rather spectacular sunburn. I was able to see my grandparents, who are so special to me. I don't get to see them often enough and they're getting so frail. I worry about them a lot. Grandma has had a few strokes and Grandpa has cancer. They're just not in good health anymore. When it was time for Grandma and Grandpa to leave, Grandpa made a point of talking with each of us and saying a few words. He was pretty intense about it. I hope I'm wrong, but it felt like a goodbye.

And then we headed back to Saratoga. We stayed the night there and headed home the next morning for a nice, easy trip to Denver. We love being able to stop over halfway now, because it just makes the kids so much less restless when we're able to break up the time in the car.

Our nice, easy trip to Denver came to an abrupt halt about 90 minutes into the trip. The COV couldn't climb hills anymore. It was struggling to stay above 50 m.p.h. - which is a problem on I-80. Luckily, Aaron managed to make it to an exit - and even better, an exit with a rest area! As we pulled into the rest area, the COV suddenly died completely. Despite losing the power steering, Aaron managed to coast into a parking spot where, with a dramatic bang and clouds of steam and antifreeze, something under the hood exploded! The COV was dead.

Fortunately, we have roadside assistance. Unfortunately, turns out that this is one of the few rest areas in Wyoming that does not offer free wi-fi. And there's no cell reception. And the payphone was broken. And the onsite caretaker was not willing to let us use her landline. But there were several very kind people stopped at the rest area who tried to help us diagnose/fix the problem, tried to let us use their cellphones (they had no service either), and even gave the kids bubbles to play with to entertain them. Really, there are MUCH worse places we could have been stuck.

A kind couple took my sister's phone number and drove away, promising to call Melissa and tell her where we were. Melissa got the call and came to the rescue with her sister-in-law, who helped us load all our luggage and children into her minivan and took us back to Melissa's house to regroup.

Breaking Up is Hard to Do

I haven’t blogged much lately. That’s not really because nothing is going on. It’s more because I just can’t find the voice to write about it in an upbeat tone. And I don’t want every post on my blog to be whiny and sad… even though that’s mostly what my life feels like right now.

As most of you know, I’ve been going through some struggles at work. There are good days and bad days… more bad than good right now. You know the saying “It can’t hurt to ask”? Yeah, it turns out it actually CAN hurt to ask. I asked for some changes at work and not only did they turn down my request, but they actually took away some perks I had previously enjoyed. (Thus the reason I will be in the office today and tomorrow instead of going to the dentist to get that broken tooth fixed. I’ve apparently lost the flexibility to fit in appointments like that.) I don’t know if they’re punishing me for asking or what, but it makes me wish I hadn’t asked in the first place.

Yet I just can’t find it in me to cut that final cord and leave. It occurred to me as I was obsessing over it all (yet again) this morning that this feels a lot like trying to end a bad relationship. Inside you know that you should go, but there are just so many justifications for staying. All the classic ones that you see in articles aimed at women in a bad relationship:

I won’t find anyone better. / I don’t want to be alone.

Oh, the pessimism that kicks in when I start to browse the job openings. Instead of thinking about how great that new opportunity could be, I find myself thinking: “What makes you think this job will be any better than the one you have?” Since I can’t see the future, I worry that I’ll jump ship only to discover it’s actually no better. Or that it’s even worse. I start to think that it’s safer to just stick with what I already know. At least it’s a paycheck. And Heaven knows I can’t go without a paycheck. What if I go to another job and then something happens to that job and I’m unemployed? I can’t afford to be unemployed.

He needs me.

I’m a sucker for this one. I overvalue myself. I become convinced that things will fall apart without me to take care of things. In reality, I’m sure they could get someone else in here to do my job and never even miss me. But I have this sense of responsibility that tells me I can’t leave when they need me to finish projects X, Y, and Z.

He’ll change.

I think is really what keeps me hanging in at my current job. I just keep hoping that things will change. When upper management makes promises about making this a more employee-friendly workplace and hanging on to valuable employees, I want to believe them! I really want to believe that they’re going to change. So I hang on, waiting for the changes that were promised. And then I slowly grow disillusioned again when the changes fall by the wayside – again.

I construct elaborate scenarios in my head wherein certain executives realize the error of their ways and don’t want to lose me. If this was a boyfriend I’d be dreaming of flowers and jewelry and protestations of undying love. Instead, in my fantasies they come to me offering perks and bonuses if only I’ll stay. Yet just like a bad boyfriend, I need at accept that I can’t change the corporate culture. If it’s not good for me, I need to let go.

He loves me.

They tell me over and over that I’m a valuable employee. That they need me. That they wouldn’t be as successful without me. Who can resist that kind of gratifying and flattering praise? Of course, if they really loved me, perhaps they would be more concerned with my needs. It’s hard to believe the words when their actions say just the opposite.

I love him.

I do. I love this company. I LOVE the cause and the clients and the reason this company exists. I believe in the mission. And I remember the good times. When I started here everything was so wonderful. I worked 60 hour weeks every week to ensure that everything was ready on schedule or ahead of schedule. I felt appreciated. I loved what I was doing. I loved the people I worked with.

And as time has gone by, we’ve grown apart. I’m not as willing to work the extra hours for no recognition (actually, I still do it; I’m just bitter about it). I’m not as blind to the faults. And the company isn’t as appreciative or friendly.

But I still love the mission. I still love most of the people I work with. I still love this cause and this company… but I don’t think they really love me. And I think I deserve to go somewhere that I can be loved (you know, in a businesslike, corporate-appropriate way).

Company!

We have company coming to visit!

On one hand, I am terribly excited. Because we never get company! And it's about time we repayed my sister's hospitality for the several times we've stayed with her recently. And hoepfully fun with company will help pull me out of this depressed funk that I am in.

And on the other hand... panic! My house is not clean enough for company! If you know me at all, you know that I can kick off an anxiety attack just by thinking about letting someone in to see my cluttered house. Oh sure, you could try - as my husband does - to be all logical and point out that my sister doesn't care if my house is a mess. To remind me that we have 4 kids and I work all the time. To reassure me that it doesn't matter.

To this I say, BAH! Your logic has no effect on me! I know all of these things and yet I will still freak out over it. It's probably a good thing that they will be here in just two days so that I don't have much time to stress over it. :) In a very short time they will be here already and I can quit freaking out and start having fun!

Silly Songs

I was reading a post from a blogger I read (Binkies and Briefcases) and she mentioned a silly song she sings to her kids about diaper changes.

I sing a lot of silly songs to the kids. Most of them I just make up on the spot and forget about just as quickly, but I do have a couple of standards that I have been singing during diaper changes for many years now...

There's Super Pooper (sung to the tune of Super Trouper, by ABBA)...

Super pooper, I don't want to change you.
Wow this smells so bad.
Why don't you find your dad?
Can't wait 'til you're potty trained!




And then there's the I Dreamed a Dream song from Les Miserables...

I dreamed a dream in time gone by,
When hopes were high and life worth living.
I dreamed the diapers would stay dry...
I dreamed they never needed changing...
 
But the baby poops at night.
In the morning... afternoon-time.
And it tears my hopes apart.
For the diaper must be cha-a-a-a-anged!



Finally, for those times that the child decides he does not WANT to be changed and goes Running Away (sung to the tune of Rawhide theme song)...

Running, running, running

Why do you keep running?
Why must you go running - Away?
 
Don't try to get away here
You're going to have to stay here
Soon you'll be nice and clean and dry
 
I've got the diaper sitting here
There's wipes and ointment waiting here
They're ready to clean up your little hide
 
Over here, over there,
run away, come over here,
grab him quick, run away,
Stop that!
 
Over here, over there,
run away, come over here,
grab him quick, run away,
Stop that!
 
It's diaper time, RIGHT NOW!

My Brain Hurts

Holy cats! (I told you I was going to try to use that phrase more often.) I just used my lunch hour to complete a job application for a job that sounds pretty interesting. But I tell you, after what I just went through, I'd better at least get an interview. I deserve that much just for making it through the application process.

To begin with, I despise applications that ask you to upload your resume and then proceed to have you enter everything that is in your resume into their online form. It takes FOREVER. And it's all right there in the resume that you already asked me to upload. But finally, I had that all entered and hit Submit... only to receive an error message. I had to reload the page. And then I had to enter everything all over again.

I hit Submit again and this time it went through successfully! But wait, what is this? Another step to the application process? The site informed me that I needed to answer some assessment questions and anyone who didn't take the assessment would not be considered for the position. I assumed it would be a few questions about your attitudes about this and that... some sort of personality test, basically, designed to see if you would fit into the corporate culture.

As it turns out, it was a test. A long test. It did indeed include a section with the personality test questions. Those are always annoying... they want you to provide black and white answers to situations that have many shades of gray (at least 50 ;) ). And then came the vocabulary test. No problems there. I can rock a vocabulary test. It was long, but kind of fun because I knew all the answers. Even when the next section was full of A is to B as C is to D questions, it wasn't bad. After all, I took the GRE a few (many) years ago and it was full of questions like that. I scored in the 99th percentile back then, surely I can still do this. (The high score on the GRE was mostly gratifying because I took it at the same time as someone else I knew and didn't especially like because he was always trying to show me up at everything. I finished in 30 minutes and left. Then when scores came back, this person - who had spent much longer working on the test - was bragging about his score somewhere in the 80s. It was awesome to be able to share my score and see the look on his face.) As it turns out, it wasn't quite as easy as I found the GRE - probably because it's been a few (many) years since then. But still, not TOO bad.

And then came the last two sections. Math. So much math. Algebra. Patterns and sequences. Fractions. STORY PROBLEMS! Seriously, what are they trying to do to me here? I have never been a huge fan of math, but I did ok with it until I reached trigonometry and calculus. I hated them so much that they forever ruined my relationship with math. And I never did like story problems. All year long Haley brought home pages of story problems every week and I had to grit my teeth and deal with them. (And let me tell you, it's humbling when you really have to stop and think to figure out a 3rd grade math problem.) 6 pages - 20 questions per page - of math problems. I'm not a math whiz, I'm a writer. And I'm applying for a writing position. Why would you torture me with math? In the end, I think I did ok. I came up with an answer - hopefully the right answer - for all but one question. I had to give up and flat out guess on the 3rd to last question.

That was just painful. I'm so glad lunch hour is over so I can go back to my regular - no math required! - work.

Isn't That Pinteresting: Applesauce Muffins

Now that school is out, we actually have to feed the kids breakfast again. During the school year, they had breakfast at school every day, which was really nice. Since summer started, we have gone through pretty much every breakfast item in the house. So since I was working from home today, I took a 15 minute break to whip up a batch of muffins for the kids to eat for breakfast over the next few mornings.

I had a Pinterest recipe for applesauce muffins that I wanted to try - mostly because I had applesauce on hand.


http://spoonful.com/recipes/easy-applesauce-muffins

It was so easy that it took me less than 15 minutes to make the batter, spoon it into the muffin cups, and pop the muffins in the oven. The wonderful smell of these muffins baking made my whole house smell good. 20 minutes later, they were perfect.

They even seem a little healthy, since they use applesauce as a sweetener - along with some brown sugar. Of course, I counteracted that by dipping the muffins into a powdered sugar glaze. :)

• 3 tablespoons butter; melted
• 1 cup confectioners’ sugar; sifted
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 tablespoons hot water

I had to taste one, of course. Just to make sure they were good enough for the kids. And then I had to taste another one... just to be sure I was right about the first one. :) They are really delicious. And this is coming from someone who does not like to actually eat applesauce.

The only change I would make next time is to be sure I spray the inside of the muffin liners with a little cooking spray. The liners stuck to the muffins pretty badly. But that's a very minor problem!

This is definitely a successful Pin. Really, I'll be lucky if there are enough of these left to use for breakfasts... I have a feeling they'll disappear pretty quick once the kids get home!