So, it is true. Labcorp is even MORE incompetent that I first reported. So yesterday they call me and leave a message on my cell phone, "please call us immediately at xxx-xxx-xxxx". I get the message and am, of course, totally freaked out. Do I have TB, HIV, is it EBOLA? Then I think why are they calling me ... wouldn't my doc be calling if there was an issue with the test results? Regardless, I am pregnant and thus not rational. I proceed to call the return number not once, not twice, that's right at least 35 times over the course of the day. NEVER able to get an answer. So finally I call and get a recording. I start hitting 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 until I get a human.
ME: I got a message that I needed to call you asap.
HER: Oh, your doctor requested a urinalysis and you didn't leave a specimen"
ME: Um, yeah I did.
HER: Oh, it must have gotten put in the wrong container.
ME: Um, well I peed in the cup labeled with my NAME.
HER: Well there must have been a mix up. You'll need to come back in.
Now mind you, recapping from Monday, I spent OVER AN HOUR waiting for an imcompetent lab tech to draw my blood. Then I was complaining that they do TWO things...have you pee in a cup and take blood. On Monday, they were 1 for 2. Today ... that's right 0 for 2. I mean COME ON. This is ALL they do.
I can't help but think there is one estatic drug test taker out there who is stoked that his urine was clean, but a bit confused that he is pregnant!
On another note, we are all packed up and ready to head to Indy & Uncle Joe's for the annual Formula 1 Race. We are just waiting on dad to get back from the vet with Butter dog and for Gramma to roll in so we can finish loading up the car and head out. We are experimenting with driving through the night. We plan to leave around 8pm and should arrive in Carmel, In around 6-8 am depending on stops. I figure with 3 drivers we should be ok. Wish me luck & I'll post a report upon our safe return.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Monday, June 26, 2006
Seriously, make it stop...
Is it EVER going to stop raining? I am afraid my house is gonna slide down the hill into the creek. The girl and the dog have seen so much lightening and heard so much thunder they aren't even afraid anymore. They just look at me like "what is going on here mom?"
I hate rain. Under the best of circumstances it makes me cranky. Days on end of it make me homicidal (note I did not say suicidal).
This morning was excellent. Yeah, you all know by now....they closed the beltway. CLOSED it. SHUT. Of course, at morning rush hour. The best part is because I thought it was closed I took a detour out to RT 1. From my house about 3 miles tops. Well it took me 30 minutes. I gave up on North 1 and just headed South. Of course at this point I hear that the beltway is now open. Now, if I had just gone my normal way ... I'd have been at work in under an hour. Maybe 15 -20 minutes longer than my normal commute. BUT NO. I tried to be proactive and joined the throngs of idiots losing their minds. It is RAIN people. They have CLOSED the roads that are flooded. For god's sake just DRIVE. So anyway...I end up taking RT1 S to lorton. Get on 95 N there and crawl to the 495 flyover. Which mercifully is clear. I am at work only 30 minutes late. So much for that 35 minute commute I'd been bragging about. Yes, Washington ... this is all my fault ;)
Oh ... in other news. Today was my 8 week check-up. Baby to be is doing fine. Mama to be is not so good ... constantly nauseated. Yesterday I spent the morning tossing my cookies. NO fun. And then sleeping. It was like a horrendous hangover without the benefit of actually having the fun binge. Total bummer.
They sent me to get bloodwork today. One hour, two arms, 3 sticks, 1 needle feeling like it hit bone, and 5 vials of blood later I escaped. I think they must be testing me for everything from TB to Ebola because they took enough blood to transfuse a baby. I am not kidding. Here's my question of the day. WHY do the people who work at Labcorp not know how to draw blood? The way I see it they do two things ... 1) tell you to pee in a cup (which I had to do twice today) and 2) stick people. WHY WHY WHY should it take 3 sticks and 2 arms to get some blood? Shouldn't they have mastered these simple two skills? Well, I will say she was pretty good at handing me the specimen cup.
I hate rain. Under the best of circumstances it makes me cranky. Days on end of it make me homicidal (note I did not say suicidal).
This morning was excellent. Yeah, you all know by now....they closed the beltway. CLOSED it. SHUT. Of course, at morning rush hour. The best part is because I thought it was closed I took a detour out to RT 1. From my house about 3 miles tops. Well it took me 30 minutes. I gave up on North 1 and just headed South. Of course at this point I hear that the beltway is now open. Now, if I had just gone my normal way ... I'd have been at work in under an hour. Maybe 15 -20 minutes longer than my normal commute. BUT NO. I tried to be proactive and joined the throngs of idiots losing their minds. It is RAIN people. They have CLOSED the roads that are flooded. For god's sake just DRIVE. So anyway...I end up taking RT1 S to lorton. Get on 95 N there and crawl to the 495 flyover. Which mercifully is clear. I am at work only 30 minutes late. So much for that 35 minute commute I'd been bragging about. Yes, Washington ... this is all my fault ;)
Oh ... in other news. Today was my 8 week check-up. Baby to be is doing fine. Mama to be is not so good ... constantly nauseated. Yesterday I spent the morning tossing my cookies. NO fun. And then sleeping. It was like a horrendous hangover without the benefit of actually having the fun binge. Total bummer.
They sent me to get bloodwork today. One hour, two arms, 3 sticks, 1 needle feeling like it hit bone, and 5 vials of blood later I escaped. I think they must be testing me for everything from TB to Ebola because they took enough blood to transfuse a baby. I am not kidding. Here's my question of the day. WHY do the people who work at Labcorp not know how to draw blood? The way I see it they do two things ... 1) tell you to pee in a cup (which I had to do twice today) and 2) stick people. WHY WHY WHY should it take 3 sticks and 2 arms to get some blood? Shouldn't they have mastered these simple two skills? Well, I will say she was pretty good at handing me the specimen cup.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
The Countdowns...
2 days till Dave Matthews
7 days till Juan Pablo & a visit to Indy to see my favorite uncle, Joey
42 days till the annual meeting & Seattle Trip
64 days till the girls getaway to St. Michaels
93 days till Va. Beach & the Neptune Festival
141 days till St. John
211 days till Baby
7 days till Juan Pablo & a visit to Indy to see my favorite uncle, Joey
42 days till the annual meeting & Seattle Trip
64 days till the girls getaway to St. Michaels
93 days till Va. Beach & the Neptune Festival
141 days till St. John
211 days till Baby
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Today I said no to over $20000
I have not written about this because I have kept it pretty much very closely held. Still, not many people read my blog ... so I should not worry, but still you know how rumors are.
I officially declined an offer for employment from a different organization today. I was not/am not seeking a new job. Many get sick of hearing how much I love my boss, how good my benefits are, etc. However, an opportunity presented itself and I was curious.
Having not interviewed or even sent a resume or EVEN updated my resume in over 6 years, I felt it was worth some exploration. So I inquired about the position. Received the description and decided, Nah. So, they followed up with me, having heard from a mutual colleague how great I am :) asking me to please consider applying. So, I updated the old resume and sent it off. It is a more pure marketing position and I really didn't think I'd meet their requirements. Well, they call. Interview? Yes. 2nd interview with executive director? Yes. AHHHHHHH..... So I am in self-inflicted torture. I feel guilty for looking as if I am cheating on my boss, guilty for leading them on because I know it would take a LOT for me to leave my current position.
But really is it so bad to check out alternatives. Then comes the kicker. THEY OFFER ME THE JOB. AHHHHHHHH. A significant chunk of change more than I am making and better pension benefits. When all is said and done, we are talking over 20k+ a year difference. Sure part of that is in pension and I won't see it for years and years but still. And I expected benefits to be my deciding factor. They are not making this easy!
So why did I say no?
1 - I love, truly love, my boss.
2 - I trust him to have my back 100% of the time. (Those of you who know me know this is a huge factor)
3 - I'd lose 12-16 days of leave depending on how you figure it. The leave is a big deal w/ baby on the way. I rarely, if ever, take sick days for me. . . its always for maternity leave or for days when the girl is sick.
4 - Commute. I just don't want to go from 35 minutes each way to 1 hour + each way via train or car. VRE card is $160/month. Parking is $130/month. No thanks.
5 - 2 days of telecommuting! I don't know if I'll ever be able to give that up!
6 - THE KICKER...my pregnancy. I know they can't discriminate and blah blah blah but in my heart I don't feel its right to walk into a position which will require a huge commitment from me knowing 8 months in I'll be taking a 6-8 week hiatus.
Ultimately my relationship with my boss and general stability and happiness in the near term is more important to me than the big bucks. Long story short ... it came down to purely $$ vs. overall lifestyle & happiness. And honestly I can't even say how much money it would take for me to give up what I have here. SO, all in all, it was a good test! If I were really under compensated or unhappy things would be very different. I mean its is not an offer to just dismiss out of hand. I did impress myself though - 1 resume, 2 interviews, & an offer. I mean that says everything I need to know. Sure it could have been a total fluke, but I don't think so.
I officially declined an offer for employment from a different organization today. I was not/am not seeking a new job. Many get sick of hearing how much I love my boss, how good my benefits are, etc. However, an opportunity presented itself and I was curious.
Having not interviewed or even sent a resume or EVEN updated my resume in over 6 years, I felt it was worth some exploration. So I inquired about the position. Received the description and decided, Nah. So, they followed up with me, having heard from a mutual colleague how great I am :) asking me to please consider applying. So, I updated the old resume and sent it off. It is a more pure marketing position and I really didn't think I'd meet their requirements. Well, they call. Interview? Yes. 2nd interview with executive director? Yes. AHHHHHHH..... So I am in self-inflicted torture. I feel guilty for looking as if I am cheating on my boss, guilty for leading them on because I know it would take a LOT for me to leave my current position.
But really is it so bad to check out alternatives. Then comes the kicker. THEY OFFER ME THE JOB. AHHHHHHHH. A significant chunk of change more than I am making and better pension benefits. When all is said and done, we are talking over 20k+ a year difference. Sure part of that is in pension and I won't see it for years and years but still. And I expected benefits to be my deciding factor. They are not making this easy!
So why did I say no?
1 - I love, truly love, my boss.
2 - I trust him to have my back 100% of the time. (Those of you who know me know this is a huge factor)
3 - I'd lose 12-16 days of leave depending on how you figure it. The leave is a big deal w/ baby on the way. I rarely, if ever, take sick days for me. . . its always for maternity leave or for days when the girl is sick.
4 - Commute. I just don't want to go from 35 minutes each way to 1 hour + each way via train or car. VRE card is $160/month. Parking is $130/month. No thanks.
5 - 2 days of telecommuting! I don't know if I'll ever be able to give that up!
6 - THE KICKER...my pregnancy. I know they can't discriminate and blah blah blah but in my heart I don't feel its right to walk into a position which will require a huge commitment from me knowing 8 months in I'll be taking a 6-8 week hiatus.
Ultimately my relationship with my boss and general stability and happiness in the near term is more important to me than the big bucks. Long story short ... it came down to purely $$ vs. overall lifestyle & happiness. And honestly I can't even say how much money it would take for me to give up what I have here. SO, all in all, it was a good test! If I were really under compensated or unhappy things would be very different. I mean its is not an offer to just dismiss out of hand. I did impress myself though - 1 resume, 2 interviews, & an offer. I mean that says everything I need to know. Sure it could have been a total fluke, but I don't think so.
3 Days to Dave
3 days until the Dave Matthews concert. Hopefully it won't be 1000 degrees at Nissan. I went 2 years ago and was on the lawn. Last year, I skipped & ultimately regretted it. So this summer I got tickets in the Pavillion. Please let there be a breeze. No cold beer to cool me off this year with the little pea in utero.
So, I am not sure what's up but I have never been so tired and intermittently nauseated in my life. With the girl I was the usual slightly nauseated in the am, ate some crackers & it went away. In general my appetite was low until around 14-15 weeks. This time, I am randomly throughout the day on the verge of hurling, tired as hell, and RAVENOUSLY hungry. Nauseated and Hungry. Yeah, I know ... makes no sense.
Of course, no one who I tell this hesitates to say either: 1) This means it is a boy - damn boys are always TROUBLE or 2) Its going to be the bad child. Everyone says ... look at the girl, she's so good, you are in for it!
Oh ... and also I am not sleeping well. I wake up every night at about 2 am ... get back to sleep about an hour later after tossing and turning.
So, I am not sure what's up but I have never been so tired and intermittently nauseated in my life. With the girl I was the usual slightly nauseated in the am, ate some crackers & it went away. In general my appetite was low until around 14-15 weeks. This time, I am randomly throughout the day on the verge of hurling, tired as hell, and RAVENOUSLY hungry. Nauseated and Hungry. Yeah, I know ... makes no sense.
Of course, no one who I tell this hesitates to say either: 1) This means it is a boy - damn boys are always TROUBLE or 2) Its going to be the bad child. Everyone says ... look at the girl, she's so good, you are in for it!
Oh ... and also I am not sleeping well. I wake up every night at about 2 am ... get back to sleep about an hour later after tossing and turning.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Brit Brit Commentary
Ok, I have linked up to my friend Barbolicious' blog & it is so good. Anyway, I had to share a direct link to her commentary on the whole Britney Interview. She's killing me! I haven't seen it yet, but it looks to be the trainwreck we all anticipated. Thank goodness for TIVO!
Britney Commentary here.
Britney Commentary here.
Graduation
My oldest nephew - the first of 13 nephews and nieces - graduated from High School last night. Unreal. This is one of the 10 by marriage -- hubby has 5 brothers. Still, when I met my hubby in 1991 he was only 4! Time truly does fly.
The plan was to leave our house by 6 sharp to make it to graduation by 7:30. First, hubby decides he needs to go downtown (that's to DC from Bethesda) before coming home. WHY he chose this particular day I am not sure. Regardless, I rush home, get the girl ready & the doggie fed, walked and set. We are ready. Waiting. Waiting. 230 "Where's Daddy?"'s later, Daddy pulls up. We load up & are good to go.
Then He says, "we have to go get my mom" - which prompts my hormonal (I'm sure) response "I am not going" I get out and go back in the house. He follows, "Ok ok ... we won't go get my mom, she's not even home yet. Let's just go."
Ok so normally I am not this much of a beeeotch. I really truly don't mind my mother in law so much. What I mind is waiting, and waiting, and waiting for her. There is NO way we'd make it to the graduation on time, because 1) she's not home and 2) when she does get home she has to get "ready". "Getting Ready" includes outfit selection, make-up, hair, camera locating, shoe selection, finding various random things to bring, etc.
I am tired .. I am cranky .. I am IN NO MOOD. In fact, all I want is to lay on the couch and sleep. But I rally. Things are back on track. Straight to the Patriot Center, do not pass go, do not stop in Fairfax Station, do not go to jail.
On the way, his mom calls and though the conversation is mostly in Vietnamese I know he is getting (& giving) an earfull. I hear Vietnamese Vietnamese Vietnamese words "navigation system" surrounded by more Vietnamese words & I know he is saying "THIS IS WHY I BOUGHT YOU THAT NAVIGATION SYSTEM." This simultaneous to his OWN navigation system (why is it on? cause its a new toy) YELLING (because the volume is turned all the way up) "TURN LEFT, TURN RIGHT" AND the girl in the back "Mama, why are leaves green?" "Mama, why do leaves turn brown?" "Mama, why do they fall down?" "Mama, what is autumn?" Mama, MAMA, MAMMMMMAAA!" She did also add "I am not graduating today. I will graduate tomorrow. I am all done with High School" ;)
He finally hangs up ... my head is about to explode. He takes over answering of questions and I try to pretend I am asleep or dead. Anything to stop the barrage of questions
We make it to the graduation. Gramma arrives around 30 minutes late.
The plan was to leave our house by 6 sharp to make it to graduation by 7:30. First, hubby decides he needs to go downtown (that's to DC from Bethesda) before coming home. WHY he chose this particular day I am not sure. Regardless, I rush home, get the girl ready & the doggie fed, walked and set. We are ready. Waiting. Waiting. 230 "Where's Daddy?"'s later, Daddy pulls up. We load up & are good to go.
Then He says, "we have to go get my mom" - which prompts my hormonal (I'm sure) response "I am not going" I get out and go back in the house. He follows, "Ok ok ... we won't go get my mom, she's not even home yet. Let's just go."
Ok so normally I am not this much of a beeeotch. I really truly don't mind my mother in law so much. What I mind is waiting, and waiting, and waiting for her. There is NO way we'd make it to the graduation on time, because 1) she's not home and 2) when she does get home she has to get "ready". "Getting Ready" includes outfit selection, make-up, hair, camera locating, shoe selection, finding various random things to bring, etc.
I am tired .. I am cranky .. I am IN NO MOOD. In fact, all I want is to lay on the couch and sleep. But I rally. Things are back on track. Straight to the Patriot Center, do not pass go, do not stop in Fairfax Station, do not go to jail.
On the way, his mom calls and though the conversation is mostly in Vietnamese I know he is getting (& giving) an earfull. I hear Vietnamese Vietnamese Vietnamese words "navigation system" surrounded by more Vietnamese words & I know he is saying "THIS IS WHY I BOUGHT YOU THAT NAVIGATION SYSTEM." This simultaneous to his OWN navigation system (why is it on? cause its a new toy) YELLING (because the volume is turned all the way up) "TURN LEFT, TURN RIGHT" AND the girl in the back "Mama, why are leaves green?" "Mama, why do leaves turn brown?" "Mama, why do they fall down?" "Mama, what is autumn?" Mama, MAMA, MAMMMMMAAA!" She did also add "I am not graduating today. I will graduate tomorrow. I am all done with High School" ;)
He finally hangs up ... my head is about to explode. He takes over answering of questions and I try to pretend I am asleep or dead. Anything to stop the barrage of questions
We make it to the graduation. Gramma arrives around 30 minutes late.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Our Fine President...
Watch the video and wait for the smirk...
Taken from the Dlisted blog:
"George Bush gave a press conference this morning and tried to be funny about a reporter wearing shades. He asked Peter Wallstein if he was going to ask his question with sunglasses on. Dumbass didn't realize that Peter is legally blind! Doh! Dumb bitch needs to stop trying to be funny, because that's another thing he's not good at."
See the video.
Taken from the Dlisted blog:
"George Bush gave a press conference this morning and tried to be funny about a reporter wearing shades. He asked Peter Wallstein if he was going to ask his question with sunglasses on. Dumbass didn't realize that Peter is legally blind! Doh! Dumb bitch needs to stop trying to be funny, because that's another thing he's not good at."
See the video.
I am tired!
Boy do I miss the days where I could just pass out on the floor whenever I wanted to without a care in the world for what is going on around me!Is it wrong that I just sent my hubby and daughter away? 1) Because I wanted them to go away for a little while & 2) Because I wanted a strawberry milkshake. Is that so wrong? I didn't think so...
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
The Zoo & a Baby Panda
We decided to take a little trip to the zoo 2 Saturdays ago. I am a little behind (or just out of order) on the blogging. Dad took the girl to the zoo back in the fall when the cheetahs were just fuzzy babies. So we got to see them a bit more grown up. We enjoyed popcorn, nachos (which required a 30 minute wait in line while all the other lines just moved smoothly), and ice cream (twice). We managed to see the baby panda. Oh so cute. The baby is up in that tree sleeping while mama sprawls out below him across a rock. Quite a cute sight.
The girl LOVES the zoo. Even though the DC Zoo isn't all that great, its fun for her. I can't wait to someday introduce her to the likes of the San Diego Zoo!
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Goggles anyone?
So the girl has decided she is all about the showering now. YAY. Much easier on mama's back. The deciding factor. Goggles.
Tire-es-ly
No not tirelessly, tire-es-ly. I only caught part of the speech taking credit for the elimination of Al Zarqawi but I swear he said "the troops have worked tireesly." Probably using strategery to find him.
He also slipped and referred to the "United Naaa (as in Nations) United States" ohhhh big slip.
Sorry I don't care who they capture or kill, I find no joy while this guy is in office. It is so dismaying to know that the president, the commander in chief, has such a loose grasp of the english language. It is clear that this is not a case of knowing the issues and useing the teleprompter to stay on message, he's literally a trick monkey reading cue cards!
He also slipped and referred to the "United Naaa (as in Nations) United States" ohhhh big slip.
Sorry I don't care who they capture or kill, I find no joy while this guy is in office. It is so dismaying to know that the president, the commander in chief, has such a loose grasp of the english language. It is clear that this is not a case of knowing the issues and useing the teleprompter to stay on message, he's literally a trick monkey reading cue cards!
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
And baby makes 4...
4 years and 1 month ago this little one came into the world. Well, in 8 months or so, a baby will make 4! Yes, just found out we are expecting a new little one. I figure its pretty safe to post here since NO one reads my blog anyway :) Seriously, if you are reading this ... it is still way early, so mum is the word! For now.
Priorities
Seriously, gay marriage ban. Come on. Really? This is the new top priority. Is there not enough OTHER stuff that should be taking precedence right now? Maybe gettting out of Iraq. Maybe gas prices. Maybe you know ANYTHING else! Gay marriage. Yes, this is the downfall of civilization.
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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