Disappointments and Delights

I admit it. I am procrastinating. I have to speak at our quarterly Relief Society activity tonight. I am a bit surprised that they even invited me after the doily free brownie incident, let alone asked me to speak. I sat down to prepare, but I don't feel like it so I logged in to ramble to you instead. Don't tell my Ward that I'm not ready yet...oh and definitely don't tell them that I never plan anything until the last minute, not talks, not lessons, not sharing time, nothing. I tried that once but my brain doesn't work until crunch time.

My brain doesn't feel like focusing on much of anything at the moment actually, so I'll just chat for a second about some of the disappointments and delights of this week.

First of all, Wisconsin weather is doing something really weird. November was the warmest ever on record. Hooray! And now we are full swing in to December and only down to 30 degrees, and no snow. It usually snows around Halloween so this is killing my kids. The other day they heard "slight chance of snow" on the TV and 3 minutes later Alex and Alyssa were in snow pants and boots. Chloe wanted to be big too and brought me her hand me down snow pants and boots. The snow never came.

Here they were all dressed and ready for that "slight chance of....psych".


This week we were supposed to get a humdinger of a storm though. Three solid days of 100% chance of snow. It is snowing, but turning to rain before it even hits the ground. I can still see my grass and my driveway, which leaves Seth (shovel man) and me (afraid to drive in snow lady) delighted, but my kids are terribly disappointed. It looks like someone dumped a few slush puppies on my back deck, but other than that there is nothing to play in. Even I felt a hint of disappointment this morning when I didn't see 5 feet of snow and a school cancellation notice. I love keeping all three kids home, but school is in session and we are missing Alyssa.

The other disappointment this week was my (if you don't have something nice to say don't say anything at all) doctor. Remember that awful appointment I told you about? The next one was worse, much worse. At one point I was in tears and they treated me like I was being a senseless moron. In three appointments they managed to do way more blood tests than were necessary for a thyroid check, and hence leave me with a hideous bill to pay, but they somehow neglected to EVER address what I had a concern about. Even as I was crying and asking them to please address my initial concern, they just jotted down a note and proceeded to ask me general questions.

*Don't worry I am fine. I have just had some problems ever since I had Chloe. My body responded poorly to her delivery and has never really bounced back. I promise you don't care to hear details, but I just wanted to assure you all that I am not keeping any secrets, and that I am okay.

After my last visit at the doctor, Seth was fed up and wrote a letter of complaint. We are so not the complaint letter type but he had reached his tolerance limit. The letter that we got back was highly disappointing. The VP of the hospital basically said (in two full pages) that apparently we are just not going to be satisfied with our chosen doctor and that we should transfer. They gave us the names of two doctors they recommended in their clinic and sent a transfer records form. I thought that was so tacky, bordering on crass. Like I am really ever stepping foot in that lousy office again. Nice try!

Sorry to complain, but that really did get on my nerves. That experience was positively delight free.

I am over it now.

On to the next disappointing/delightful set of events. A few weeks ago I was offered a customer service work at home job. I thought that sounded great because I have done sales or collections every time I have worked. This sounded so much easier and less stressful. I spent 21 hours in training meetings (by phone) last week during the evening. Plus, I had homework and practice scenarios that I had to complete during the day. My poor kids have been sitting at the TV, or next to me at the computer, asking when I can come out and play or have a snack. It was heartbreaking but I thought it would all be worth it because when I was done I would have a part time work at home job that wouldn't stress me out. Sounds delightful, right? It did to me.

Yesterday my training was complete and I was scheduled to go live. I hated every minute of it. It caused me nightmares all night. I remembered that one other time I briefly worked in customer service and disliked it so much that I requested to move to collections. No one understood that. Customer service is supposed to be gravy, but it is not my thing. I don't know ahead of time what they want and there are just too many options, all tedious. I like to sell, or collect. I like to be in control. I want to know what the call is going to be about and I like to be the one guiding the caller. I know that seems weird, given my personality, but in a work setting I become competitive and confident, even bold. Not even afraid of the phone. Are you totally confused about who I really am yet? Me too.

Anyhow, now I am disappointed because my stress free job bugs me. Do I go back to the stress of sales? Maybe I just work better with stress and competition. Maybe customer service is just not for me? So again, disappointed.

Luckily while I was stuck in customer service prison, So You Think You Can Dance was being tivo-ed. My favorite show on TV. Sorry American Idol, it was always a matter of time before the Celine Dion butcherings got old. I still love you Simon, and I will still watch this season but SYTYCD is so much better. I have loved it since season 2 (never heard about season 1) but it is usually on during summer time. I usually miss a few weeks while on vacation and have to catch up when I get home and it is not the same as watching live, or slightly tivo delayed, each week. I love that they did a Fall season. I wish they would do a winter one. I knew SYTYCD would bring me some delight.

My favorite choreographer, Travis Wall, was on last night and his routine was DEE-EE-LIGHTFUL! His routines are insane. They are emotionally charged and sexy and just so creative. He was a contestant on the show so it is even more fun to watch his brilliance unfold.

But wouldn't you know it, even SYTYCD had a disappointment in store. My FAVORITE dancer this season, and ever, is Russell. He is a Krump dancer, a street dancer without formal training. He just knows how to dance naturally. I keep thinking he won't be able to do these routines they give him but he can do ANYTHING, and he is the best performer. I also love to see kids from bad neighborhoods find an outlet and stay away from the street life. I have to admit that if I were younger I would have a mad crush on Russell. Don't worry, Seth knows. He suggested as much before I ever said a word. However, I am now too thoroughly Momified and I see him like a son or a little brother, with a hot body. You can say that about your son or brother without being a pervert, right?

So, anyhow, what was the disappointment? Well, Russell's partner was injured and that morning he found out he had to dance with the choreographers assistants. Bummer! He had to do two numbers with people he had never practiced with. This is the second time this has happened to him this season. He pulled it off and managed to dance better than the pros he was dancing with but it was such a disadvantage. I will be so delighted if he makes it through to the finale next week, and disappointed, no devastated, if he goes home. He should win this season, for sure!

GO RUSSELL!

Alright, let's put all of the past few days disappointments aside and talk about today. This morning my work training and debut customer service fiasco were over, no more assignments to complete. My kids regained a mother. It was such a delightful reunion. Another reason I wish Alyssa had been here. We danced to Christmas music and played house with stuffed dogs. Chloe invented a new jump on mommy game where I lie on my back with my knees up and she slides down them tummy first on to my belly. Then we laugh and repeat, and it is a great game because it doesn't make me tired or dizzy like some of her other favorites. Alex built a spook house out of blankets, chairs, a table and a garbage can and took me on a spooky tour. I am so happy to be back and to be reminded of what a gift it is to be here with these sillies each day. As for the part time gig, I will figure that out. What matters is my full time gig.

Today is delightful!

Alright so that was a bunch of jibber jabber. Probably one of those posts that I should delete or move to a journal because it is likely of little value to anyone but me. Don't you love when I use you all as my dumping ground?

And now I really must get to that talk before Chloe wakes up, so that I don't end up being the disappointment of the day.

But for fun, are you a procrastinator or a planner? And what have been your disappointments and delights this week?