Snippets

We went up to Iowa City this past weekend to celebrate my 31st birthday.  Yes, I am no longer cutely 30, but now officially, older-sounding, "in my thirties."  It's like entering first grade all over again.

The trip was good.  At one point, two-year-old K. got ahold of our car-starting fob and pushed the panic button, unbeknownst to the six adults in the room who couldn't figure out where the thief was on the street outside attempting to steal our truck right out from under our very noses.  In another memorable moment, the little angel escaped my view for twenty seconds and managed to knock over a full beer can and cover herself with its contents. That earned her a lavender-scented bath, and a good time was had by all. It was a nice trip. Nice to have other kids and other parents around, people who are not surprised by a whining baby with a cold or the fact that yes, she does get up at 6:30 regardless of when you go to bed.  Nice to not have my kid be the only one making noise at the dinner table.  That's the first time Lily has spent more than a few hours with other children, and it was great!

The one thing we did discover is that we should never, ever give her Triminic in the wee hours. It apparently has the effect of crack cocaine on the little angel, giving her boundless energy and the notion that she can hurl herself unscathed through a plate-glass window. Boy, that was fun, from about 1:30 to 4 in the morning on Friday.

Let's see.  What else?  I've reconfirmed that working for a tax-prep company does in fact mean that from about December through about April will really suck every single year. It's unfortunate, these also being the cold, sick-infested, bad-weather months that the general population doesn't like. Working for a tax-prep company gives it a special new suckiness, though, that only those who have experienced it can really appreciate.  It's awesome to have all the hair on the back of your neck stand up for months on end.  Yee-haw!

Oh, on that note - we had one of those 360 degree reviews here at the office. I got all my verbatims back, fearing to see what my co-workers really think of me. I'd already had a fight with a dear friend yesterday morning, so I was NOT looking forward to a little constructive criticism an hour later. Turns out most people think I talk too much - CAN YOU IMAGINE???  This just doesn't seem like something that goes with a budding writer and teacher AT ALL.  Someone who likes to talk?  Someone who tells a lot of stories?  FOR SHAME.  As you can see, I'm less than impressed with my constructive criticism.  At least they didn't say I'm stupid or a slacker who never works. I suppose it could be worse.  Arrogant and chatty are not exactly the stuff of serial killers, after all.