We'll Miss You!!

Isn't it nice when you meet someone that you automatically "click" with?  Someone who takes care of you and makes sure you are okay? 
This happened to me when I started working for the State of Utah.  I was scared and shy and awkward.  Almost right from the start a lovely older woman called Toni took me under her wing.  She let me bother her with question after question... and always provided me with at safe place to fall at work - along with a drawer full of candy.  She treated me and the other girls on our team like daughters.  And it wasn't just us that she took care of - she seemed to know everyone and everyone LOVED her.  When co-workers would have babies she would shower them with gifts and proudly display their pictures all around her office. 

Toni became a reason to go to work, even when things were horrible.   A few years ago Toni asked me to go on a vacation with her and her husband to Disneyland.  This was quite an offer.  I knew she was scared to death to fly and felt quite flattered that she was going to use me to make her feel more comfortable.  I remember her squeezing my hand as we were taking off.  We got to Disneyland and had a great time.  I felt like a child on a dream trip!

Once our office team was split up and all of us went our different ways - I was sad to loose that daily contact with Toni.  But, was always happy to receive her sweet emails and forwards.  I knew she was always there if I needed her, and I knew she thought about me as well.
Yesterday I got the sad news that Toni passed away.  It is like loosing a family member.  I am sad that I didn't get to see her one last time.  To give her a little hug or to make her laugh. 
There are so many people who's lives she's touched and she will be very, very missed.
I love you Toni!!

Parenting 101

Picture this:  A younger girl comes in to apply for services here at work.  She has a 4 year old with her.  She walks in the building about 8:00 - this is overheard around 9:45 (after TONS of waiting - the child was quite restless -- understandably so).

To her son -

"If you dont get away from those doors I'm going to call the cops and make them come and take you away."

2 minutes of quiet from the boy - then he starts running around again....

"You are such an out of control kid - you'll be that way for the rest of your life and be a bad adult!"

You know you live in Utah if....

I started my new job at a different building.... I worked there for one day, got sick, and am now back and adjusting...

And getting to know my new co-workers....

Yesterday during a rare lull in the work, one of my new co-workers decided it would be a good time to get to know me...

The conversation went as follows....

Her:  So, you're LDS right?  (For those of you who dont know LDS means - Latter-Day Saint -- or Mormon)

Me:  Yep I am... (my appearance must SHOUT mormon...)

Her:  So how old are you??

Me:  25 (when everything inside me screams 23!!!!)

Her:  Did you go on a mission?

Me:  Nope, I didnt

Her:  Oh....  I just figured you did -- since you are so old and not married.

The Worst is Over?

It has been a quite uneventful weekend.  Well... mosty.   I went on Friday with Kim and Daniel bowling (Pics to come).  We had a good time.  Kim managed to slip and fall on her first try... and I managed NOT to slip and fall on my first try.  I acutally play an okay game.... well okay for me - I was just happy to break 100 both games and not break anything else.

I got the new CD of RENT - I love it!!!  I cant wait for the movie....

Saturday was going fine until I got a phone call from my mom that my dad - an amazing cyclist - had gotten into a crash and was on his way down from Park City to SLC in the ambulence.  She was calm... I thought maybe he'd have some broken bones..

We saw him yesterday and he was alright... in lot of pain... it is really hard more me to see my Father like that....  and today it has gotten worse and he'll be in the hospital for a while.

So my mom will be having a hospital here at the house for the next week... with him like he is and me with my wisdom teeth out....

I also start in my new office tomorrow.... am definately not looking forward to that.... 

On the bright side of things... is it is a LOVELY day outside...

Last Waltz for Admin....

Well... I cant believe it... today is my very last day in this office.  It is bittersweet.  I am so glad I can finally throw away my "rule" books about accounting.  I wont miss a lot of the people that I work with.  Most of them could compete professionally if backstabbing were a sport.  I wont miss a lot of things... but it seems like the things I will miss far outweigh the bad, they are the things that have kept me coming back to work after 3 1/2 years - even though I am doing accounting, and got D- throughout school in math.  I will miss my own office.... I will miss working with my brother.... I will miss the freedom I had here (2 hour lunches if needed ;)) and of course, more than anything, the people I call friends now - not co-workers - THEY've kept me coming back and I was lucky for that! 

On a very side note... check out Chris' blog entry http://spaces.msn.com/members/flattley/ - tell me that isnt the sweetest thing ever!!!

Its official....

Yesterday I decided to tell my cute nanny family that I am moving to PA to help them for sure.  I dont know when I leave yet, but it will be soon... within weeks...  I was okay with the decision, until I actually talked to the family and realized what a HUGE job this is going to be - 5 kids and me in charge of all of them - all of the time... ALL of the time...  it just compacted my bad day...  Here is a list of things that made my day bad...

1.   WORKING FOR THE DISHONEST, UNDERHANDED, THOUGHTLESS, THEIFS - I call them my bosses, you call them the Government... I had no idea just how corrupt the government is - now I do and it is worse than anyone thinks...

2.  I went to do piano lessons and finished in 5 minutes with 25 more to fill because she didnt practice... LISTEN to your mother -- practice your piano!

3.  I thought maybe to calm me down I would drive through the canyon -- I got up there and all the leaves had fallen off the tree and, apparently - were no longer as beautiful as they were 2 days ago...

4.  I drove on the skinny road and freaked myself out because there wasnt room for 2 cars so as soon as I got about 2 minutes into the canyon I turned around. I had freaked myself out about falling down the cliff because of the small road...

5.  I decided to try another canyon and got high enough up in the Bountiful mountains to see the entire Davis County... but still no leaves...

6.  I decided to just look at all the HUGE houses and got myself carsick doing that -- I guess there is a first for everything - my friends will understand - its now official I cant even drive and not get carsick. 

7.  I hate the stupid Baseball playoffs -- ruin my FOX program viewing...

8. And then the whole announcement -- come November I'll be a mother of 5 - not a nanny a mother...

And poor Chris and Kim get the brunt of it... let me say publicly... sorry I'm horrible sometimes...

Computer Packing...

Well... the time has come for me to pack up my things and move to my new office.  I have been at this office for almost 3 years!  I move to my new office next Friday.  So I am moving my files and pictures (there are WAY more than I thought there would be)....  and storing some online until they can find a happier home....  so that is the reason for the sudden rush of random pictures....