A week in my life - Monday September 29

So all we loyal Ali Edwards crazy freaks (aka scrapbookers) are working on this project with Ali called "A Week in the Life"...of whoever...so really us.

So Monday, here is the post:
Alarm off at 4:30. Taking the 7:23 train into the city. Woke up to cool over cast skies. Autumn is nearly here. Take a shower. Make coffee. Read email. Forgot to send the new address to my parents. Look at the clock..how can I be running late? Finish email, dry hair, quick makeup. Super quick dog walk...come on Rita...can't you just poop and pee like everyone else on command. My friend Mark Snyder calls when I pull into the station..."I hope it is not too early.."...he makes me laugh. D calls when I am on the train. My boss sends me a text.
So the downtown routine is that I go find my boss, we find a conference room and we work side by side. He goes and gets us lunch at Coozie across the street: Turkey and brie sandwiches with chips and share a cookie. The "deck walk" meeting starts at 1 p.m. It''s pouring rain and dark in the city.....I'm thinking I left my windows open in my studio. Check email, talk to team back at OPC. Finally at 3:30 get a call..the meeting is still on. At 3:45 my boss arrives and we start the rework. Conference call via cell to the finance guys. Yea..they like my graphics! Another director comes in. We commiserate. More walking up and down the stairs. At 5:15 my boss comes down...time to start on the wall charts. We write down all the to dos, brainstorm on things....then it is 6:30. Pack up, my boss drives me to the train station. Dinner at the Corner Bakery. Wait for the train which comes at 6:35. We leave at 6:40. Eat my sandwich. Talk to D. We are both tired..working too long hours. Talk to my dad...his eye treatment is going well. My step mom's is not doing so well. I'm worried. Start a new book. Read my new people mag. Arrive at the station at 9 p.m. No rain, just fog. Home to feed the dog (I'm a bad mom!), walk her around the block..poop and pee. Back upstairs and fire up both laptops. More deck work. Emails and cell phone calls. To bed at 11:15...read a few pages and fall asleep. No more MOnday.

First Red Leaf

Rita and I are walkers. I just have to stand up and say "walk?" and she is at the front door drooling..literally. (Sometimes she interprets that same question as ride because her second most favorite thing is to ride in the car...).
During one of our very early morning walks this past week (AKA average time in to work has been 7 a.m. ) we found our first red leaf..just kind of sitting there glowing at us.) We also love leaves....okay I love leaves. I collect all kinds of leaves every fall (well just the most beautiful ones) and then bring them in and dry them out..and do nothing with them. I have all of these ideas in my head and I do nothing but love them which I guess is just fine. So I posted my first red leaf on my bulletin board at work and just look at it everyday. And that is enough:-)

God Bless Texas

Our hearts and prayers go out to Texas -- especially Galveston and Houston -- during this difficult time. We've heard from most family and friends so we believe most are safe. Texas will rebuild, of course. In the meantime, God Bless Texas.

Five on the Fifth (published on the 13th)

Okay....this is starting to become a little insane. I mean....couldn't I get it close to the 5th? In fairness, September 5th was my birthday and I was in Arizona at Creative Escape..the scrapbooking mega adventure....so I have some excuse. Still, my public awaits. So, without further ado, drum roll please..

Five on the Fifth
5. Birthday Texts ...beginning at 5:30 a.m. (Yes, Amy was thrilled about these..)
4. Cupcakes from Sprinkles..Vanilla, Black and White, Chocolate Marshmallow...YUM (thanks Christa Flook!)
3. Crafting Nirvana..an array of classes including pages with Kelly Goree, an acrylic album with Jessica Gutherie, a cool planner with Heidi and an amazing Gratitude book with Kolette Hall. Paper, scissors and glue rock!
2. Birthday Cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory!
1. Turning 48..clearly I need to go back to the gym but at least I am here and loved!

Thanks to all who were a part of this!!

Five on the Fifth

I think I am actually hitting new lows with this adventure...I almost ..okay actually did ..totally forget about August 5th. This month has been such a blur..I was sitting at my desk at work and suddenly I looked at the calendar and it hit me!! No five on the fifth!! I hate missing those things. Fortunately I took good notes all week so here are my 5 on the 5th (working on the photos..)

5- Dinner at Pappadeux -- I have the greatest friends...two of whom spontaneously invited me to dinner and drinks at Pappadeux. No camera but amazing crab legs, shrimp, pasta and creme' brulee..and fab conversation. Tired, full and happy!
4- Insane Crazy Work -- the dinner and whatever forms of stress relief are needed because work is truly stretching me mentally ...but is also exhausting me. We're working 11-12 hour days plus I have about a hour to an hour and a half total commute. Loving it...and tired.
3 - Day After the Storms -- so to add to our excitement we have had a week of storms here. One during the night and one in the morning. Black skies, lightening, wind, power out, etc. Rita hides in the closet and occasionally comes out...
2- A mess -- all of the insanity means clothes still in the rocker, dishes in the sink, a coffee table full of papers and mail. No idea where things are..very unsettled. Definitely needing a weekend at home with no agenda (not likely to happen for awhile..)
1 -Sleep - or lack thereof. The good news is when I fall into bed I do sleep and sleep like a baby. The bad news is that it is not often. Nice cool evenings, windows open, nice soft sheets...now if only it could be more than a few hours :-)

Still got it

Had a fun experience this morning. Last night we had a big storm...one of those storms that comes through and kind of cleans everything up. This morning, I rode in on 1-90 in traffic a little heavier than usual. Making me realize that the summer is slipping away. (For whatever reason, probably kids out of school, vacations, etc) traffic is significantly lighter on my commute during the summer...)ANYWAY.....
So, I was driving in this morning. The sun was trying to shine. I had my coffee and my new Sugarland CD. I'm tooling down the middle lane..and this shiny black mustang convertible drives by with some cool countryish music rocking out...
I turn my head ever so slightly and make eye contact with a dark skinned hottie boy toy...ooh mama! Unfortunately this incident occurred right around Barrington so our little slow down and speed up and look over and check each other out game only lasted for about another 7 or 8 minutes. Mr Hottie COnvertible got off on I-355 heading off to work and probably a hottie girlfriend (or wife and hottie kids for my luck.) Plus he may have been 30 and I know that whole cougarish thing is very cool right now but well, honestly, he was only a dream boy toy...but darn cute and a fab way to start my morning. When he veered off to I-355 he looked over one more time and I coyly waved as I drove on to work, laughing away. Hey...maybe I still do have it (or maybe it was just the SugarLand music and my dirty SUV...
So, here's to the boy in the convertible...thanks for making my day!

The Charm's in the Mail

Woo hoo!! 75+9=2 charms are in the mail!! Pink and green and black and white and ALL DONE! I may never win an award for them but hey I learned things....so......without further ado...here they are!