Thursday, April 21, 2016

Home is the 2nd Happiest Place on Earth

We had a lot of fun at Disneyland - visited the new Cars Land which wasn't there last time we were there.  We road the Radiator Springs ride twice and loved it!  And of course, Soaring Over California is always a hit.  We heard last night on TV they are re-doing Soaring over the Summer so that's something we will look forward to next time.

The drive home was uneventful - J. drove through the populated parts and over the Grapevine and I drove from this side of the Grapevine home.  Instead of going I-5 all the way - which takes you through LA and is really, really, ALWAYS trafficky - we headed north on 57 and then west on 210 - much easier drive though slightly a bit longer miles wise.  We were still home just after 5 and considering we stopped a couple times, that's pretty good.  Left hotel parking lot close to 11:15 so not a bad drive at all.  Made us think we should visit more often.

Missed the boys, of course - think of them the entire time we are there - remembering other times we were all there together.  H.'s request was a new hat so he has a pirate hat complete with dreadlocks hanging down.  It's a good addition to his jester hat.  He loves Disneyland hats...except Mickey ears...no interest in those.

I did two loads of laundry this morning and opened a weeks worth of mail.  J. got Chloe from the puppy spa - she isn't feeling too well.  Stomach issues.  We called the vet to check in since we aren't sure what might be diabetes related - they suggested keeping her on a rice and boiled chicken diet for a couple days to see if her stomach calms down.  Could be she picked up something at the kennel? She's pretty lethargic but then again, she almost always comes home from the puppy spa and sleeps a lot.  All the excitement of all those friends to play with usually wears her out.  She's still got a wagging tail so she's probably fine.  Still, I worry.

I also wedged in my yearly mammogram so crossed that off the list.  I'm working on some work stuff and need to get back to it - I put it off until the bitter end and I'm kicking myself for not working on it more in Pasadena - 'cuz it's like I've had just enough time away to be totally discombobulated about this project.  It was all fresh a week ago - but it's mush now.

I'll un-mush it.  Right now.

It's great to be home.

Friday, April 15, 2016

Lovely Pasadena

Made the drive down to Pasadena in a brisk 4.5 hours - one stop in Castaic for bathroom break. Should have also fueled the car but made it to Pasadena with the gas light on from the minute I pulled onto the freeway again post-bathroom break.

The freeways are like I remember them from living down here - the lanes are narrow and people pretty much don't pay attention to them anyway so..  .  White knuckle driving in a lot of traffic but it's the norm here so - when in Rome, do as the Romans and just chill, baby.  It all felt 'familiar' and 'home-like' all the way into Pasadena - and I really love this city and think it would be so great to live here. Maybe someday.  The area I'm in is 'old downtown' which is having a renaissance - lots of newer condos going in - totally able to survive without a car, I think -

The first night, I found a Whole Foods - SIX STORIES - I pulled in thinking 'no parking' but there were three stories of parking underground and three stories of groceries above.  It was AWESOME! Procured healthier snacks, lots of water and some fruit to keep me hydrated and non-growly-stomach. Loved shopping there and sure wish we had one closer to home than San Ramon.

Hotel is nice though slow Internet.  Likely because there are people like me - with a work computer, and a 'play' (home) computer and an iPad.  Trying to simultaneously connect to the same connection. Some parts of the day are hopelessly bad but it's OK.  It gripes me but oh well.  It is what it is.

The first day, I got a little lost and walked way out of my way to get back to my hotel from the conference center.  I've learned a lot of short cuts since then and it's been pretty manageable so far. Last night, we went to the Carnegie Observatory for dinner and beverages - fascinating place.  It's in the middle of an old residential area and the telescope is 40 minutes away - and not used anymore. Too much light pollution.  I got to see and touch a meteorite that landed in Mexico in 1776.  I will try to post the picture later.  Carnegie is building a new telescope in the hills of Chile.  You can read about it here:

http://obs.carnegiescience.edu/content/giant-magellan-telescope-organization-breaks-ground-chile

I have a picture of a picture of Albert Einstein and others (including Hubble, the inventor of the Hubble Telescope) in the room we were in last night - a library filled with astronomical newsletters from centuries ago.  An engineer who left today for Chile spent time with us talking about the project and another astronomer (nicest lady ever) spent tons of time with us in the library as well.  It was a really fun evening - great food, good friends, wonderful learnings.  Considering I wouldn't have even considered going if my friend hadn't dragged me there - it was such a great time.

My introvert tendencies come out on trips like this - it takes so much energy and focus to spend all day with people - networking, chatting.  I know I should be 'good' at it, but honestly, I'm not - and I have no intention of improving, so here it is.  I am what I am.  One more day of constant activities...then off to the happiest place on earth with my best beloved.  This time tomorrow, I'll be looking forward to a good night's sleep and no alarm on Sunday!

J. took Chloe to the vet yesterday and what we thought was wrong is:  she has diabetes.  She's been ravenous for weeks - making us absolutely crazy with her constant begging for food.  And then she started drinking two or more HUGE bowls of water - and then piddling everywhere 'cuz she's drinking so much, she can't hold it.  So we enter into the world of giving injections to her twice a day - and a couple hundred $ in monthly expenses.  It did not go at all well with Snow but we are hopeful that Chloe will be 'easier' - she doesn't avoid us like the sick cat did.  We will do our very best to get her feeling better and keep her that way - for as long as we can.

H.'s scans are scheduled for Tuesday and he'll get blood work next week, too.  Then an appointment the week after.

I've got mountains of work piling up in my office and brought a bunch with me that I will need to take a stab at doing eventually - sooner rather than later.

Successfully filed B.'s taxes so we are all 'done' with days to spare.

I think I'm going to get my car out of valet ($21 a day vs. $19 a day for self park) and head to The Hat - great pastrami, they say!  Then a quiet night in my room with an early bed time to get caught up from my not so early bed time last night.

Can't wait to pick up J. on Sunday - I miss him!

OK - off for pastrami!!

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Biggest Storm Ever

We had at least 12 hours straight of steady rain yesterday and into last night.  The water on our patio was deep enough to cover our feet and we did go out in it to check the drains.  No clogs - there was just so much water, they couldn't keep up.  The drenching continued into the early morning hours and every time I got up to go to the bathroom in the night, I was tempted to go check outside to be sure we weren't completely flooded.  The drenching was GREAT but the aftermath is messy.  The spa is muddy; the pool is dirty and there's stuff sticking to the tile in both.  I think we'll do a good brushing and run the spa all day (no heat - but it filters better when it's running) and the pool pump, too.

There were pictures of our neighborhood posted on Facebook showing the streets full all the way up to people's lawns - so sidewalks completely covered with water, too.  It was the most rain I've ever seen fall in a short time and it was sort of fun!  And awesome since we appreciate every single drop we get these days.

I managed to wind up two of the three sets of taxes last night and am kicking myself for not having done a little more on Friday night - 'cuz if I had, I would have realized that we need B.'s driver's license info to finalize his e-filing.  Dang it!  He's not available until probably next weekend and that's OK - my laptop will be accompanying me to Pasadena so I can always e-file from there.  Or from the Grand Californian on Sunday or Monday.  It will get done.

On my way to work today, I will stop at the bank and move the $ needed to cover the tax payments coming out next Friday.  We're paying H.'s taxes for him since we got a $4,000 deduction by claiming him as a dependent (which he totally is at the moment).  Feels good to have them done -

I'm hopping into the shower - gave myself a leisurely morning but it's time to head to the office - I have seven days out of the office and I need to get many, many projects ready for my assistant to work through.

On Friday, we discovered a gazillion 'mistakes' made in the past month - doing the monthly financials that go to our board often reveal things that are out of balance and there were many of those types of issues this month.  We spent all day Friday digging through the details and making corrections - identified a couple changes in our process that we will implement immediately so it won't happen again.  Some of the issues were just not noticing specific details - and that's what I always stress about the type of work we do - there is no such thing as a 'rote task'.  Yes, there are things you do over and over and repeat daily/weekly/monthly - but every single thing we touch requires careful thought and consideration before you jump in and do it.  Good reminders for her to double check her work; look at the account you just entered something on and see if it's 'right' before you move on to the next thing.  Unraveling a month worth of 'oops' with a board packet deadline breathing down our necks was not the most pleasant way to spend a Friday, but we survived.

Off to the Sunday races - add extensive packing to the list of Monday and Tuesday evening activities. Work clothes for the conference and fun clothes for Disneyland is going to be interesting while trying to pack light.  Packing light is not my strength.

Saturday, April 09, 2016

In This Week's News

Chloe turned 11 on Thursday.  I played with her when I got home and she got a late evening treat of a scrambled egg on a plate.  Shortly after, she was 'dead dog' on her side sleeping it off.  She's 11 and an 'old lady' now, sort of, though she still runs us ragged so I think she's doing pretty well.

I've spent the day cleaning my desk (at home) and have made some pretty darn great progress.  Now, though, I really need to dig in to finalizing three sets of taxes 'cuz I leave for Pasadena on Wednesday and won't return home until a week later - so it's this weekend or die trying.  Sure, J. could finish them up - but I'm pretty close to being done so I'm going to regroup and recheck, then file.  B. is getting refunds; H. owes (investment income is a nice thing to have until you have to pay capital gains at the age of 22).  He will soon be 23.  Geez.... time flies.  We owe as we always do and while I should take any and all raise this year and apply it to our taxes (again - didn't see a dime of the last raise, either), I'm not going to.

I was about to avoid taxes again to run out to the bank to get our weekly cash; the liquor store where I buy Scratchers to cash in some winners and maybe get a Frappucino when it started pouring buckets of rain!  We've had light drizzles today, rain off and on all night and the last hour has been pouring! It's so great!!  They showed pics on the news a few nights ago of the change in Folsom lake and it's filling up!  We're far from over the drought but it's getting better. We're going to keep mightily conserving (buckets in the shower forever, baby!).

B. called this morning briefly to say 'hi and bye' as he heads out for a week of maneuvers - no contact allowed.  It looks like his friend A. won't make the ball - not because of any mom issue but because she is going to Japan to teach English and she has to be in Los Angeles on the 6th...the day of the ball.  Bummer.  He is surprising her with flowers this week since he can't talk to her.

Our backyard patio is a lake!  The water is covering J.'s feet!  All the drains are draining as fast as they can but it's just too overwhelming.  The pool has gone up 2 inches or more in the last hour and the spa is filled with muddy water from the draining from the yard onto the patio and then into the spa.  It's going to be a mess to clean when it's done.  We've both taken off our shoes to go out and make sure the drains aren't clogged - they aren't.  They're just overwhelmed.  It's fairly warm so we're damp but not freezing.

H.'s oncologist has had to go through hoops with our insurance company to get scans approved.  He ordered them with and without contrast and the authorization we received in the mail today is only without.  That worries me.  J. is going to call on Monday.  I think he has lost more weight (which he denies).  I'm very worried.  More worried than I've ever been since his cancer journey began two years ago.  I try not to be but something is seriously wrong.  I feel it.

Still raining hard.  Street drains overwhelmed, too.  Front flower beds are flooded, too.  Love it!! (While I simultaneously worry about the standing water reaching the foundation of the house).  It's like a hundred year storm.

Alright, I must get to taxes.  No more stalling.  They are close to being done and by dinner time, they will be.  I'll feel a zillion times lighter when that massive 'to do' is off my list.  Our bank account will be a zillion times lighter as well....but oh well.

American President is on!! Taxes will be much easier with my favorite movie on while I finish them up.

Sunday, April 03, 2016

Another Month - Already

Happy April!  March was a blur.  April, May & June will likely be much more of the same.

Chloe is protecting me from the sound emanating from the kitchen which is sweet J. chopping my carrots and celery for my lunch/snack bag...it's Sunday and sadly, I need to head into the office for a good chunk of the day.  She's growling low every time the knife hits the cutting board.  Silly puppy.

Everything at work feels miles 'behind' and I fear what April, May & June will bring.  I know I can do it - I always end up getting everything done but this year is really, uberly cray cray.  New payroll person who is not in the office 60% of the time (because she's at our County Office training).  Her sole focus right now is just learning how to pay people - which is her #1 priority for the foreseeable future.  But positions control, etc. are all now resting squarely on my shoulders and as we approach budget, it's mind boggling.  Not to mention that we are still not settled for this year (re: negotiations) and those activities will be thrown in the mix as well.

B. phoned me at work earlier this past week to share that there now appears to be an issue with his friend A. joining him in May for the Battalion Ball.  Her previously enthusiastic mother has decided that she shouldn't travel to attend with B. - and honestly, the only 'reason' is it appears she (the mom) has decided that B. isn't 'good enough' for her daughter.  B. felt hurt at some of the things the daughter has shared - and even knowing (because her daughter told me at dinner) that her mom is a major helicopter parent doesn't help.  B. is attracted to girls who are very smart and talented and going places - and there's no denying that right this minute, he is a soldier.  He has all kinds of plans for the future but at this moment in time, he is 25 years old and a soldier.  So I 'get' when a mom might think he isn't the 'catch' she envisioned for her daughter.  But I'm his mom and I can unequivocally say that he's been raised right; he's smart and gifted; he's kind and thoughtful; he is a great listener and communicator and he's been raised to cherish whomever he falls in love with - 'cuz that's how his dad treats me.  A girl could do far worse, in my opinion.

I told B. that the issue is truly between A. and her mom and that for the most part, he needs to stay out of it.  A. will need to decide and as it stands now, she appears to be planning to 'defy' her mom and get to the ball in El Paso as planned.  Fingers crossed.

H. is still skinnier than he should be though he keeps trying to convince me he's gained weight.  He says the medication seems to be increasing his appetite a bit and he's been drinking plenty of protein smoothies because he doesn't have issues keeping those down.  We await scans which will be scheduled this week, most likely -

Last week was Spring Break and I wedged in one day off - which is pathetic.  Oh well.

Off to the trenches.....grrr.  I'm imitating Chloe now.


March

I'm starting to think maybe I will just do a monthly post and call it what it is - whatever month we're in.  Here we are winding dow...