AWOL

Well kiddies...here I am. It is a Monday morning and I'm writing a post. Nope I'm not on vacation. Nope I'm not at work. I'm home!

Friday was my last day at work. No kidding. I'm really done for good this time. It was hard not to mention it or comment, or wank about it this past month. But, I made a vow to myself not to discuss anything until I was done. I haven't had this site for a year yet and have already mentioned quitting my job three times. It was a little much even for me.

So I'm hoping to get back to regularly posting. Hopefully not obsessively. Fortunantely we will be going on vacation here shortly and that should keep me out of trouble for awhile.

For now I'm going to try and pace myself and not freak out that I don't have to go to work. I feel good knowing that I left the property in excellent condition with a well trained staff. So no regrets and no worries there. While I have an immense sense of relief I also have a sense of loss. It's weird to think that I will probably never work again...in the conventional sense of going out to an office anyway. That's a weird feeling to be sure.

For now, school's out, the boys are home. I have stuff to do to get ready for vacation!

Have you missed me?

Let me just say right now that I've been missing all of you. I've been working a bazillion hours. Summer is such a busy time at work. All work and no play makes me cranky. No time to read for crying out loud.

There's a glimmer of light up there at the end of the tunnel. See it? I do! Praise be! In the mean time I'll plug away at work and anticipate the new Linda Howard and Christine Feehan books which are due out on June 27th.

What is everyone reading right now? What's on your night stand?

I'm in the Dark!

Another thr-r-r-illing day at the office today. There was no electricity from 9 am to 3 pm. Which meant no phones, no heat, no lights, no fax, no cash register, no credit card machine, no computer. It also meant there was no light in the bathroom that has no window and no skylight. Pretty freaky!

Interestingly, the Director of our department chose today to bring our new Property Supervisor to show her our property. Yeah...with the lights out!! I just gotta say here. WTF?!!!

What saves the day in these situations? A sense of humor and the absurd. Our tenants were good humored for the most part. Which leads me to believe that someone put some heavy duty tranqs in the drinking water. Or I guess it could be that the electrical outage didn't affect them much because most of them have generators.

On the upside, I spent some time outside in the sunshine because it was warmer outside than in the building without heat. That was nice...and wonderfully rejuvenanting. I have to do that more often...just walk out into the sunshine during the work day. I also made hand written "To Do" lists for my work next week. Of course, I'll be transcribing them into Outlook tomorrow, but it was peaceful to write things out in a leisurely fashion today and collect my thoughts.

Best of all without the phones jangling off the hook it was a tranquil day. A calm day where I could carry on conversations with clients, tenants, and visitors because I wasn't interrupted every 30 seconds with a phone call.

So, I'm never going to complain about being kept in the dark again. You believe me...don't you?

Was it good for you?

Did you feel it? I did and it felt GOOD! I'm dancin'...you read it right. I'm dancin'!! In fact I just twirled--TWICE! I have a new assistant and she starts on Monday. The world is a wonderful place.

The guy I live with goes to days next week, we should be able to get horizontal (*gasp* be in bed at the same time!!) in the very near future so things are definitely looking up.

BTW, I'm going to a bridal shower on Sunday afternoon (who has a shower on a Sunday afternoon for cripes sakes!!) for a 20-something bride. Any survival tips?

Tired? I'll tell you about tired...

I'm so tired I don't have the energy to find a picture online of a really tired and wiped out person to put in this blog. You know it's tough to be up beat and sassy when you are just wrung out.

Having survived my first rent week as Manager, I think I did pretty well. I practically camped out at work, but that's not the point is it? I got the work done. Oh yeah, to us productive minded OCD people it's all about being productive. Oh and responsible...and accountable. Oops, don't want to forget...winning!! That's a big one. So what with all the work and anal obsessing about everything, I'm pretty tired.

I like to just post whatever pops into my head at any given moment. Which might explain why no one hardly ever visits my blog. On the upside I can say pretty much whatever I want because there's nobody to read my ramblings and complain. Also, I say pretty much whatever I want because, well, it IS MY blog after all. There are a few friends and family that love me and out of loyalty dutifully drop by. Hey, like my house, the more the merrier. Just be prepared for me making my point without using Map Quest...it's not going to be the most direct route.

Hey one thing that happened that has me happy as bees knees is that I love taking pictures with my new phone and being able to email them. This is especially handy for work. I'm really loving my new phone.

So that's it. I'm tired, have no time for reading, and love my new phone. Oh, and Valentine's Day is next week. Don't cop an attitude about the commercialism of Valentine's Day. Do you know how many people Hallmark employs? Well, me neither, but it's alot! And like I wrote in a couple of Valentine cards I sent out this year, what's not to like about a holiday that's all about love and includes ritual gift giving of chocolates and flowers? Sounds like a winner to me!

Okay World...Are you Ready?

Well I did it! It was officially announced yesterday. I'm the new manager. Of course as soon as it was announced the Assistant Manager quit. While I don't wish anyone any ill will seeing as how we have two completely different styles of work, it is for the best.

Of course this is the first time since 1991 that I will be working full time. I cut back to part time work and jobs when the guy I live with started working all sorts of different hours at his job...which paid lots more.

I'm elated, excited, terrified all at once. I'm earning some decent money for the first time in literally years.

I've got lots to do and am a little nervous about how the old bones of mine will hold up. Stress and fatigue ae the enemies of my arthritis. And, of course there is the matter of all the people I have to hire and train. I take comfort in the thought that they will be trained correctly and once I've put in the time I'll have a cracker staff.

So I'm off on a new adventure. I can hardly believe it! Count on me to start wanking about how tired I am! : )

Holy Shit...my job!!!

Okay, for all my regulars, this is a warning that I'm going to talk about my job...again. Unbelievably after all my whining and complaining and countdowns I'm now doing something completely different and taking a NEW job at the SAME place. I'm going to be the BOSS!!! Can you just scream, or what?!!!

Yeah, they are putting an offer letter together for me because they've asked me to be the Manager. I'm crazy and if you knew the whole sordid story over the last six months you'd call me "retarded" which is what my sister Mary called me when I told her this morning. Don't jump my crap about not being PC by putting in that word. I'm a nice person and so is my sister. She was using that word to question my judgement and my ability to make this decision. I have not been particularly skilled or bright over the past few months screwing around back and forth with my management company over all the drama. Again, waaaaay too long to recap here, but my poor sister has listened to me over and over again the last six months so she's entitled to question my judgement. Besides she wanted to get the name calling (PC or not) out of the way so she can be her sweet and sympathetic self when I call to complain, a probability for which there are very high odds.

So, there is always the possibility that the offer won't have all the contingencies I requested...and the money. But barring that, starting Monday I'll have a new job. Unbelievable...really!

The Book that Broke the Block!

TA-DAH!!! This is the book that I culled from the ever expanding TBR pile. I pulled it out on a whim for something light to read.

Normally I hate, loathe, detest anyone mentioning the word "cute" when associated with a book. It's an automatic pass for me. I don't usually like the "oh it was a cute, sweet, funny story" type of a book. I like my characters slightly flawed...not perfect. But I have to admit "cute" is a word that comes to mind with this book.

However, having said that fatal word...I hope it doesn't put you off like it ordinarily would me. What is great about this book is that both people are flawed and yet turn out to be right for each other. Yeah, I know it's been written before, but I think the snappy dialogue between the characters and particularly their internal dialogue makes this book a worthwhile read.

I came to be an Erin McCarthy fan quite by accident. She won a writing contest by Lori Foster and got published. Okay, call me a cynic, but I thought either she was a ringer or the best of some mediocre submissions. Sorry Ms. McCarthy! Anyway, I picked up a couple of her books at the used book store and recently bought PREGNANCY TEST new and really enjoyed it.

Have you ever had the hots for someone...or been infactuated and every time you were around that person you were so nervous and anxious that you did something embarassing? Enter surgical resident Josie Adkins who has a bad case of the dropsies every time she is in the presence of Dr. Houston Hayes, a rising star surgeon who just happens to be her mentor. How many times can you drop a scalpel before they drop you from the surgical rotation altogether?

While the story has it's funny, and even bittersweet moments there is an underlying sexual tension. How much and how often they should give into it is part of the dilemma. They both start out thinking that a one nighter might be the ticket to relieve the sexual tension and put things in perspective. It's amusing to me in life, and this book, how people will rationalize almost anything to get some nooky!

It's one of those mysteries of life why this book did the trick, but it did. The reading drought is over! I also read and enjoyed Christine Feehan's new book, but it didn't grab me the way this one did. For spicier fare I read two books from EC. I liked Annie Windsor's THROWBACK and the second book in the Fallon series by Jory Strong.

Can't believe it's been a week since I posted anything. That's the longest I've gone without posting since I started this page.

Karen's (link on sidebar) got a beautiful new page done up. Under her new profile comments she says she doesn't like wankers. Well, Karen I don't either as a rule, but I do have a quick update about my countdown to my job being done which involves a bit of a wank...so I beg your indulgence everyone!

The great candidate for my job didn't pass the background check. Yikes!!!! Of course we aren't allowed to know what it was that prevented his approval, but I can say...WTF? I'm beginning to think fate conspires against me leaving this job.

Sure, you can say, "You gave your notice moron! Move on!" My dilemma is that I promised to train someone. Currently no one else in the joint knows how. The flaw in my thinking was believing they'd hire someone and that I would be doing the training on a consulting basis about 8 hours a week for maybe a month. Now they're back to square one. So next, I guess I have to give them a deadline for a new hire because otherwise I'll never get out of that place!

There, wanking is officially over. For now I'm on vacation this week. I'm going to go see what else I can dig out of my TBR pile! BTW, have you caught Jennifer Crusie's latest blog. Funny!

Books, Vets, Vegas & why I need a break!!

First of all I want to thank all of you who have left suggestions for books. I've actually written a couple of them down to check out and lucky for me the Katherine Allred book DID come out Thursday at Cerridwen Press so I bought that already. I'm going to print it out and take it with me on my trip this weekend.

Today is Veterans Day. I think about and say a prayer for the families who are separated and have someone serving overseas in Afghanistan or Iraq. I can't imagine living with the worry and fear for your loved one who is serving.

My Dad was a fighter pilot in the USAF and served during the Vietnam War, two of his brothers fought in WW II, I have a brother and nephew who are U.S. Navy vets and my brother-in-law is in missles in the USAF now, so the day has some significance to our family. Growing up a military brat and now seeing my sister Mary and her husband living a nomadic life in the military I'm reminded that like serving in our communities as fire fighters and police officers, it is a noble profession. One we take for granted.

Recently I watched A FEW GOOD MEN again with the guy I live with. You know that while the Jack Nicholson character turns out to be the bad guy, he makes a valid point in his monologue about serving. We do take our military and the security they provide us for granted. I'm not talking about the war in Iraq either. I am talking about serving without complaint and being prepared to defend your country and its' citizens even unto death. It ain't no small thing. I lift my glass to all who serve their communities whether as teachers, fire fighters, police officers or in the armed forces.

Which brings me to this weekend. GG and I are off to fabulous LAS VEGAS!! All I can say is "What happens in Vegas...stays in Vegas!" I'll clue you in on Monday, but needless to say I'm soooooo looking forward to the break.

As to why I need the break...what else...the effing job!! However, I go on my trip with a lighter heart because we truly received a gift from God today. The perfect candidate for the job sent in a resume and has already gone through preliminary interviews. So I'm breathing easier knowing they have an almost cookie cutter perfect person to take my place with a minimum of stress and training due to his extensive experience. Talk about taking a load off my mind! Whew! Now I have even more reason to live it up in Sin City.

I'll fill you in on the goings on next week. Now all I have to worry about is the two child units not burning down the house or killing each other while I'm gone.

8 calendar days and 5 work days until LIBERATION!

A Stolen Idea!!!

So, I'm talking to my sister on the phone and she tells me of a post she's read SMART SOCRATICS. In the post it suggests you google your first name followed by the word NEEDS.

My sister had tried it and got some interesting and funny results, so I figure why not give it a whirl? Of course there were a few drawbacks for me. My first name is Rosie, which means I'd be typing in "Rosie needs". You know as in "Rosie the Riveter" if you are over 70; or Rosie O'Donnell if you aren't. I modestly mention this because a few (only a very few) people have a link to my page listed as 'Rosie's Blog'. Visitors are frequently disappointed that it is only little ole me and not someone famous.

Anyway, I figured that I would get some really cool stuff because of having the same first name as someone famous. *Insert heavy sigh here* After I weed out the critical slams (What Rosie (O'Donnell) needs is a new PR person). And of course, the poignant pleas for help for a special needs dog named Rosie. (Rosie has special needs) I do too...have special needs, but they don't involve a yard to run in or a special dog food diet.

I'm listing 5 of the more interesting ones I culled out between celebrity slams and doggie delights...well the first one is still about the dog, but it was a really good one so I'm keeping it!

Rosie needs...

a forever family. Who doesn't need this? I would only add low maintenance, well mannered and grateful to to be sure if I'm going to spend forever with these people they don't drive me crazy.

to fuck. Yes, yes, and yes. I may be middle aged, but I'm not dead.

all our encouragement and moral support. Bring it on!

Rick. I don't know who this is, but hell I've never met a Rick I didn't like! So a movie, dinner and I have a new friend. Of course the guy I live with might have something to say about this, but I say you can never have too many friends.

help with her school work. Despite my sister Joy's best efforts to convince me I want to go back to school, I'm currently unenrolled. However, I do have a 15 year old in high school and I'd defer the help to him.

So all in all this was an interesting exercise. But just so you know, what I REALLY need is a cabana boy. A cabana boy could help me with all my needs, and if his name is Rick...

15 Calendar Days and 10 work days to go to liberation.

The Countdown Begins!

17 calendar days and 13 work days to go. Yes, I know I've said I quit before, but that was before "the diagnosis". This time I really, really am quitting. November 18th is the goal!

I'm crossing the days off the calendar one by one! One would have to wonder why I've stayed at a job so long that I'm so eager to leave. As with most things in life it is a mixed bag. It hasn't been all bad. I think my greatest challenge and difficulty at work is the work environment itself.

On another subject, completely unrelated to work, I've missed posting the last couple of Sundays. As a result I haven't done my health update and attitude of gratitude thought. It's sort of a cleansing experience so bear with me and my meanderings. While I would like to do this on a specific day of the week so I have a good comparison...that hasn't exactly worked out well for me so far has it? : ) I hate when that happens. Anyway, here's my update.

My eating has been pretty good. While my walking had been excellent, it has sucked the big one this past week. No walking at all. My Catholic guilt is now relieved...I've confessed. Now all I need is some really good penance and I can be cleansed and guilt free.

Of course, since my last post and my sister's comments about that new HBDS (Husband By Default Syndrome) I could always lay blame at the altar of the guy I live with. His dry reply is usually, "Yeah, it's me. I know it is." Of course he doesn't REALLY believe it is, but come on, we all know that they plot and plan while we are sleeping to come up with things to drive us crazy. GG says he finds it amusing to get me "all worked up" and then stand back and watch.

I know what you're thinking. No, I'm not sooooo stupid that I haven't figured out what he's doing. It just usually sends me into a rant that he finds it so amusing to try and get me to rant. I don't usually take the bait on whatever subject he's using to yank my chain. No, I'm the dork who gets worked up because I know that he's trying to set me off which usually ends up with me in a rant anyway. Pretty picture isn't it?

What was my point? I hate when I have to scroll back in the post and figure out what it was I started out to say. Free associating is better. Right? It's how I talk most of the time. I have to concentrate to stay on subject.

Which is...oh yeah, what I'm thankful for. Let me digress for one more momemt. I love the few seconds before I actually type what I'm grateful for because just before I actually type something I have one more second to remember that I had a list of things to chose from and I'm filled with a feeling of gratitude just for the fact that I have so MUCH to be thankful for.

But this week I'm particularly thankful for my sister Mary. Now I love all my sisters dearly, I really do. And, lucky, lucky me I have some wonderful friends. Each of my sisters has her own special place in my life that is for sure, but Mary Angela is my happy place. She is the sweetest, most precious of friends. I don't know what I would do without her. Of all my sisters there are the most years between us...17. She was born when I was a senior in high school. Yet, she and I, of all my sisters, have the most in common.

I don't think I have another friend or family member who would send me a greeting card with a free pass to whine and complain about my spondylitis...but she did.

So, Mary...here's to YOU... the champagne in a family of fine wines. I love you and am so grateful to have you in my life.

BTW, thanks for the free pass.

Lots of Stuff...

Have you ever been in a situation where your employer keeps offering you a promotion to a job that while you are flattered to be asked, you really don't want the job? It's been happening to me for a couple of months now. It actually began when I turned in the ill fated two week notice and got sucked back into my original job, albeit with a lot more money.

As for the promotion, I have emailed, phoned and had face to face conversations being as polite and firm as I can refusing. I've finally gotten blunt. It's heady stuff that ego boosting "we can't do it without you" pitch. But I think they finally know I really, really, NO REALLY don't want the job. In fact, I'm holding on to my original agreement to leave in another 5 months (of the 6 month term I agreed to come back for).

You know I've had some tough employers, nice employers...all whom have given me great reviews and references, but I don't think I've ever had an employer seem so genuinely anxious to retain my services. Like I said...very heady stuff. Have to keep your eyes or your personal goals and ideals or you end up prostituting yourself for more money and hating your life. Okay I totally said that to remind myself of same. ; )

Next on the agenda...book news.
I'm pretty excited about some recent book purchases. First of all I'm a Lisa Kleypas fan and her latest IT HAPPENED ONE AUTUMN was a fine read. I admit that I try to refrain from having too high expectations with authors I like because it never seems to fail that as soon as I get hyped they pen a real clunker. This was good though.

OTOH, I usually enjoy Christina Dodd's books and her latest which was a part of her governess series was, to borrow Karen's phrase, a real snooze fest. Bummer!

Off and on I read Erin McCarthy books which to date have pretty much fallen into the "okay" category. However, I really enjoyed THE PREGNANCY TEST. For those of you who don't know, Erin won a writing contest put on by Lori Foster and that's how she started her publishing career.

Right now I'm anxious to read the second Lynn Viehl book in the Darkyn series, PRIVATE DEMON. I'm anxious to see if she can continue the intrigue and uniqueness she created in the first book.

Lastly I just purchased Emma Holly's COURTING MIDNIGHT. I've read Emma Holly books that I absolutely love and other's I've finished scratching my head and saying WTF? So I've got my fingers crossed on that one.

By the way since I know I haven't mentioned it before. I think Suzanne Brockmann did an awesome job with the Gina and Max story line in her last release BREAKING POINT. If you go to the Amazon link it only show 3 1/2 stars with a lot of complaints about how she handled the age difference, etc. If you are a fan I think she did a great job. Most people would be conflicted if they were Max about the circumstances of their meeting. If you don't know the history and haven't read the book that set their story up I think you may have a problem with the book, but as a fan with high expectations, I thought she did a great job with their story line.

Don't be fooled by this paltry list. I've got a TBR pile that is shameful, but I just can't stop buying a new release that catches my fancy. I'm damn lucky I have such a generous book allowance and a very indulgent husbink.

Remember waaaaay back last week?

I do!! I remember how much I was looking forward to new releases this week by Karen Marie Moning and Sarah McCarty. Rhapsodizing over the idea of getting the books and reading them the same day...all day long if I wanted to.

Alas, I've been sucked back into the abyss called employment by a large increase in my pay (code for "you'll pay me how much? Uh, er, umm... OK!) and by some pretty heady strokes to my ego. Yeah, I fell for the ole "We can't do it without you" schtick.

So I'm back at the salt mines. Still part-time and with even more flexible hours and option of doing as much work as I want from home. Pretty cool...huh? I've only agreed to help with some training and transitioning for the next 6 months.

Of course the guy I live with is a bit disappointed. He was looking forward to me not working any more. As with most of those with the "Y" chromosone there were/are ulterior motives voiced by said "Y" with thinly disguised concern for me which is really about comfort for him. He cracks me up. Some day, I will devote an entire post to the wacky, wonderful and convoluted thinking of the male species.

Until then...

HI-HO...HI-HO...it's off to work I go!

Hear those heels clicking?

It's me dancing and clickin' my heels because today was my last day at work!!! Yeah I know I said I'd be there another week, but my stomach and the guy I live with said to call it a day already!

So I'll have some extra time to check out what everyone is doing. Maybe do something a little more...exciting with my blog page which is DULL!

Let the games begin!!

FREE AT LAST...FREE AT LAST!

It's official. Today I gave my two-week notice that I'm quitting my job. Yippee skippy doo-dah day!!!

August 30th is my target date for release. Although to be quite honest, and I must admit not all that surprising, the higher ups want to offer me an "incentive package" to stick around a bit longer and be sure my replacement is trained.

I told 'em it would have to be a VERY BIG INCENTIVE. One of my co-workers suggested a new car would be a VERY BIG INCENTIVE. Well, yes it would but perhaps not as big an incentive as freedom from the insanity.

Please understand, this is not the "good, creative we are all cranking on the same cylinders being incredibly productive while having loads of fun" kind of insanity either. This insanity is more like the..."if I have to work there much longer I will either commit a capital crime or become a raging alcoholic" kind of insanity.

But once I'm home with my thoughts all I can think about is getting out of the toxic environment. So who knows? An email from the director of our department is in my in box requesting I call first thing in the morning.

That guy I live with has it all figured out for me. Never darken their doors again. Easy for him to say...he loves his job. No one is throwing VERY BIG INCENTIVE packages at him.

Now I've got two things to buy at the store. A brand new shiny shovel and a VERY BIG INCENTIVE bottle of gin.