Really?

I went to lunch with my friend, K, yesterday. She works for the same company, but is lucky to have off this entire week, so we planned lunch for yesterday.

Last week, I posted about my co-worker's son who passed away after losing his battle with AML. Calling hours were yesterday and the funeral is today. Our group is carpooling to the funeral this morning.

K knows this co-worker and made a point to say she refuses to go to calling hours or the funeral because attending a funeral for a child is "not her thing." She isn't the first one to make a such a comment. I have heard similar ones.

Well, really, then what is "your thing?" It drives me insane when people make these comments and I don't understand why this is acceptable. Seriously... I can't think of anyone who enjoys going to calling hours/funerals. I get it, it's especially awful when it's for a child. But get over it already. It's a part of life and it's about paying your respect and being supportive to the people you care about who are going through an extremely difficult time. Especially in this case. I cannot possibly imagine what it is like to lose a child... I hope I never find myself in that situation. But the reality is that some people do and it's the support of family and friends that helps get them through it. For just a few minutes think about THAT instead of simply saying it's "not your thing" to attend calling hours/funerals.

Weekend & Thanksgiving

This past weekend was not a good one. Our family is in shock and major disappointment over some news we recently received. So many emotions going on right now and this is not something I feel comfortable blogging about. It seems that we are headed for some twists and turns, but it's nothing I can talk about. At least not right now.

Due to recent events mentioned above, this will be one uncomfortable Thanksgiving, so I'm not really looking forward to that, either.

However, I don't want this to be a pity party, so I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I will be catching up with your blogs, soon. I'm excited that this is only a 3 day work week, and having Monday off as well will be very nice. On a side note, I am totally loving the new gym I just joined last week.

After visiting three different houses for Thanksgiving, (yes three, can you say holy overeating?! I will definitely need that workout on Friday!!) me and my sister in law are going to the Lodi Station Outlets to go shopping at midnight. We've done this the last couple of years and they have had some great deals. After that, I should pretty much be done with my Christmas shopping... hopefully.

What are your plans this Thanksgiving?

Cleveland, You Disappoint Me

Yes, I'm a Cleveland sports fan. At times, I really have no idea why... but for some reason, I remain loyal. I get made fun of a lot for this. And sometimes I think the people making fun are a-holes. But I have to admit that sometimes, I'm just jealous of people rooting for other teams. I am so disgusted with the Browns this year, but still, I continue to watch them. At the beginning of the season, I told M I wanted to go to a Browns game this year but he flat out refused, saying we are not spending $90+ on tickets to watch them be pathetic. Now, I can't blame him for that.

The Cleveland Browns Dawg Pound is arguably one of the most recognized groups of fans in the NFL... they're passionate and loyal to a fault. At what point should Cleveland fans stop supporting their teams? I mean, prices for tickets are not cheap. Tailgating is fun and all, but it's not worth the money for the tickets to watch your team constantly lose. Since this is football season, I'm mostly directing this towards the Browns. (The Cavs are our best hope, but I've never really been a basketball fan). Anyway, even during past seasons when the Browns were always losing, I still wanted to go to the games. I think I've really just had it this year. Maybe it's time to start withholding salaries? Maybe that will kick their butts into gear a little bit. Because let's face it... really, I don't think think the players even care at this point. They play terribly and still get paid a ridiculous amount of money for it. If the fans are still spending money on the tickets... the team doesn't care. I think it's about time for Browns fans to stop shelling out the money to go to games only to continually be disappointed.

And don't even get me started on LeBron James. He is so overrated.
But I digress.

Back to the Browns. Randy Lerner and Coach Mangini... awful. Hopefully Mangini will be gone soon. He is no leader. He makes bad decisions and his communication skills pretty much suck. Mangini simply lives off his reputation that he was a coordinator for Bill Belichick.

The Browns are completely mismanaged. Randy Lerner should consider selling the team to someone who cares a little bit more. I mean, if this were a company, you would be looking at the CEO, right? Lerner is a joke.

Well fuckadoodledoo... it's not rocket science.
Come on already, the Browns aren't even competitive anymore, and they are almost impossible to watch. I say the fans need to boycott.

On another note... TGIfreakingF!! M and I are headed to happy hour to meet up with some co-workers after this crazy week.
Have a fabulous weekend.

Thirty Five And Some Bad News

Christmas is only 35 days away. Crap. I have a lot to do. Not because of Christmas, but because of the moving in situation. Nothing is packed. M and I have already decided we aren't going do much in the decorating department since I will be in the process of moving in with him then.

Also new for this year, we have decided to just buy gifts for the kids. As in, my nieces. This is a big deal and has helped make Christmas much less stressful. As much as I like buying gifts for people, it was just too much... you see, I have a big family. I have 3 brothers and a sister, my parents are also divorced, so I have my stepmom to buy for as well... then add in my nieces and my siblings' significant others. It was just getting out of hand. Not to mention, my wallet can use a break this year. Christmas is all about the kids anyway.

Soo... I have barely started Christmas shopping, but I'm realizing that's ok since I have a lot fewer people to buy gifts for this year.

Other than that, it has been a bad week at work, I can't wait for it to be over. A girl in our department, K, has a son who has been battling Acute Myeloid Leukemia for some time now. He is 4 and it has been heartbreaking. Everyone has been praying for a miracle, but we received news this morning that her son passed away yesterday evening.

www.caringbridge.org/visit/kylestewart

My little cousin was diagnosed with AML a few years ago, he was 3 at the time. I am happy to say that he is currently in remission after a bone marrow transplant. I know first hand how devastating it is for a family to watch such a small child have to suffer in this way. It just doesn't seem fair.

If you are of the praying kind, please keep this sweet boy, Kyle Stewart, and his family in your prayers during this difficult time. It really puts things into perspective and makes you realize everything you have to be thankful for.

God Bless.

Come ON Already, Friday

Happy Hump Day, everyone.

Friday can't come soon enough... I can't believe it's only Wednesday. I'm definitely paying for the vacation I took last week, as I am crazy busy at work. I am also having a severe case of sarcasm that I'm really trying to keep to myself. I'm just in a bad mood. Mostly, I'm sick of everyone complaining about their jobs (um, hello... be thankful you have one!) and trying to get everyone else to do their jobs for them. Project managers are the worst offenders. They think they are the most important people in the world and THEIR issues should come first. Oh really? Yeah, I have about 6 or 7 other PM's who think the same thing as you do Mr. Iamsoimportant. So kindly, stand in line, shut your mouth and wait your turn. Also, you get paid way more than I do... don't expect me to do your job for you. P.S. I am also not your secretary. K, thanks.
I wanted to send out a memo along these lines today, but figured it wouldn't go over so well and since my perfomance appraisal is next week, I decided against it.

Speaking of work, we have a lot of people taking voluntary early retirement (in order to avoid future layoffs, our company offered incentives for early retirement) and several people within our group are taking advantage of this. This means the holidays are starting early... as in parties. You know what that means, bad food choices. This is not good. While I haven't gained weight (which is a miracle, I assure you), I certainly haven't lost any. This is a problem.

SO... I'm headed after work to join a new gym that is 2 minutes away. My friend and co-worker is doing this with me, so that makes it even better. I hate, hate, hate the gym and exercising (except for maybe kickboxing). Nothing about it is fun and I have a hard time staying motivated. Since this new gym is close to work and I will have a workout buddy, I'm hoping this will help.

Wish me luck.