Professional Wrestling

We got free tickets to see a professional wrestling match this evening (AEW).

Nate convinced me it was an important family bonding experience so even I went. Korra and Nate loved it. I enjoyed it for the first hour or so but after that… I just felt tired and wanted to be in my bed. It's definitely an experience!

Exit Interview

Today I conducted my third exit interview in 3 weeks.  The amount of turn-over at work is a bummer (as are the more frequent glimpses of the behind-the-scenes relationships and decision-making), but I've enjoyed having honest conversations with my coworkers about why they are leaving.

Feeling Forty

I'm in the process of firming up plans for my birthday weekend (two dinners with friends and Easter brunch with my brother).  Feeling excited (yay for celebrations!) but also a little stunned- am I really almost 40?  Officially middle-aged.  Definitely not a young adult.  

I know it's just a number, but that number has me reflecting on what I've done, who I am, what I want, what's to come... Lots of thoughts and feelings.

Creepy Book, Dreary Weather

My new audiobook is a spooky murder mystery. Combine that with the very rainy, dark weather and I'm in a funky mood this afternoon. 

Assembling Furniture

The thing I'm looking forward to most today at work: putting together 7 new office chairs and a new table while listening to my audiobook book. 

Mario Kart

This afternoon we went over to Kathryn and Rachel's house for lunch and to play a couple rounds of Mario Kart. It was lovely to catch up and play together. 

And just to make it cooler

She decided to add a purple streak.

Spider Gwen Haircut

For over a year, Korra has been debating getting an asymmetrical haircut like the one Gwen has in the SpiderVerse movies and today she finally did it!

Double Date

This evening we went on double date with our friends Matt and Katie. Korra stayed at their house with their daughters and the babysitter. We started out the night by getting dinner at Victory. Next we had tickets to see improv Dungeons and Dragons at Dad's Garage and the we finished the night with cake at Apres Diem. It was a really fun night. 

Passed!

I got my High School English certification test scores today.  I passed both sections with a score of 282/300 (you have to score 250 to pass).  YAY!

Burgers and Bowling

Today was our February staff event.  First we went to lunch at Grindhouse burgers.  I love their cheese fries and milkshakes so much that it almost was enough to take away the stress I was feeling over being in charge of this event. After lunch we went bowling. I am absolutely terrible at bowling but I put myself on a lane with other untalented and uncompetitive coworkers and so it was generally pretty fun. I think everyone has a good time. Even though I had a good time, it was exhausting so I'm glad to be home and in my sweatpants. 

I've Dated Myself

Coworker: I'm surprised you use two spaces after periods
Me: I'm older than you think I am.
Coworker: LOL not typewriter old though

Pizza Huts

On a brighter note, a coworker and I had a lovely exchange about Pizza Huts- how much we loved our Book-It personal pizzas, how few dine-in restaurants there still are, and all the things the buildings have been turned into.  A lovely palate cleanser from thinking about American Beauty.

American Beauty

We're doing March Movie Madness again this year so I've started taking suggestions from my coworkers as to which movie we should watch in the theater together at the end of the month.  One suggestion stood out to me- American Beauty.  It's not exactly work-friendly.  In fact, even thinking about watching it with my coworkers makes me very uncomfortable.  The problem: this movie was suggested by the executive director.  Ugh.  Now I have to either pick a different movie or let it go through- both situations make me feel yucky.  

Vivid Dreams

I had a couple of very vivid dreams last night.  Not only do I remember what happened but the feelings in them were so strong.  

In the first one, I was driving a neighbor I'd just met to the airport but I was a terrible driver. I kept missing turns and exits, swerving all over, and I felt incredibly embarrassed and frustrated. I had to turn the car around in a parking lot and I accidentally scraped another car. The driver was yelling at me and I was crying and I had that stomach dropping feeling of having made a huge mistake, especially as I realized how much money the repairs were going to cost. 

In the second dream, I was on a trip with Donald Glover and Will Ferrell (they weren't famous people in my dream). We were walking the whole way, wherever we were going. We stopped at a restaurant and were just talking and sharing music with each other. The feeling I got from this dream was really close, comfortable friendship. 

Dreams are weird.  

Vickery Creek Trail

 We went on another hike today as the weather continues to be gorgeous. We barely did a mile and a half of the Vickery Creek Trail with the Sniders (the kids were way too interested in climbing rocks and digging in the river bed to go very far or fast) but it was still lovely. 

Race Watcher

A few times a year, marathons, half marathons, and 5 Ks go pas our balcony on a weekend morning. This morning I'm watching the Publix Marathon go by, while drinking my coffee in my pajamas. It's truly incredible how many runners there are- I've been watching for over 30 minutes and they're still coming. 

East Palisades Trail

This afternoon we went on a hike with friends. 

The weather was beautiful and afterwards we went to get BBQ. 

Overwhelmed, but not really

After being off work yesterday, I'm feeling very overwhelmed this morning.  I know logically that there's not more to do than I can get done and that almost none of it is extremely pressing, but there's something about 32 emails in my inbox and a long To Do list that makes me feel overwhelmed.  Taking some deep breaths and focusing on one task at a time and planning to take a walk outside at lunchtime.  It's a gorgeous 65 degrees and sunny.  

Moms Demand Action

Did you know that firearms are the number one cause of death of children and teens in the United States?  I spent the morning attending the Moms Demand Action Advocacy Day at the state capitol. My work gives me 8 hours of PTO each year to use for volunteering and I was able to get approval to use it today. We met at a church across the street from the capitol building and I helped set up breakfast, then we heard speakers and prepared post cards to deliver to our representatives.  The primary goal today was to move HB 161 and HB 1111 forward- both bills are about keeping guns in secure locations away from children. At the capitol, I saw one of my representatives and went to speak with him. He spent 10 minutes talking to some fraternity boys about fishing and then gave me less than 30 seconds to talk about ways to prevent accidental gun deaths before he said he had to go. It was incredibly frustrating (as is the fact that the majority of voters want some common sense gun safety laws but our elected officials are beholden to the NRA donors) but I learned a lot and am glad I went. 

Hunger Games

Korra is reading Hunger Games.  She sent me the following message:

Peeta's in love with her???

Unbelievable!!!!

Where the heck did that come from??

This is not supposed to be a heartfelt love story.

I love getting to experience her reading one of my favorite series.

Cookie Delivery and a Friend

Korra is on "Late Winter Break" this week.  She went to work with me today so she could deliver all the Girl Scout cookies that my coworkers ordered.  

After lunch, Nate came and got her and together they picked up one of her friends for an afternoon playdate.  

Even though Nate and I can't take off work and we can't take a big vacation, I hope we're making the best of a week off school.  

Greenville

 Today we drove up to Greenville to meet Brian, Anna, and Lily. We got a hotel with an indoor pool so the kids could have some fun even if the weather was yucky (and it turned out to be rather cold and windy today). 

We also went on a brisk walk down Main Street to look for mice, eat pizza for dinner, and buy some cookies for dessert. 

Appetizers and Masters of Air

For dinner tonight we went to Todd and Sarah's where we shared appetizers (7 layer dip and fried green beans) and watched the newest episode of Masters of Air. It was wonderful to see them and catch up- especially since we'd had to cancel the last 2 get-togethers due to sickness. 

Exit Interview

Today was my favorite work friend's last day and since I've been taking on more responsibilities in HR, I got to do her exit interview. It was interesting and I think I did a good job (she said I did) and it was nice to get some one-on-one time with her.