Work Life Balance: It's mostly work for now

I have gotten a promotion at work, and have moved to a new role and a new location within the company. Here I am, with both, my old and new bosses, and all our spouses, celebrating the new journey!  The moment is bittersweet, I'm going to miss my wonderful old boss . . .

My new official photo for the announcement . . .

I've also decided to go back and finish my Master's degree . . .  It's going to take me a long while, since I'll be going to school part-time only.  I'll probably be ready for retirement by the time I finish . . .

I was also selected to participate in this year's leadership development program for high-potential employees. The company is sending me to Atlanta in a couple of weeks for the kick-off.  

It's all work work work for the next while, but I'm very excited.  The head of my new department is a true leader, with a huge vision, and unimpeachable integrity, and my new direct boss is bringing a lot of ideas and energy to our team.  It's going to be a fabulous ride!

After becoming an empty nester, I'm finally catching my second wind!  Wish me luck.

A Tiffany Surprise!

Every woman, at least once in her life, ought to receive a gift from Tiffany's . . .

This one came directly to my office, sent by a thoughtful business acquaintance . . . Nice, huh?  My afternoon tea has just been elevated to a whole new level.  Now, what should I do with that lovely box?

No time for the blues . . .

Boy, it's been a busy few months!  What have I been up to?  Well . . .

January flew by in a blur of activity.  Just at the time of year that my body kept telling me to stay home and sleep, I was super busy at work, planning the 2014 Field Sales & Marketing Kick-Off, which took place on February 4th.  It was a 3-part event consisting of . . .

A large meeting that accommodated 550 . . .

Awards were given to the 2013 Top Performers . . .

I was even surprised with an MVP Award of my very own!

Here I am with the Sr. Director of Direct Sales . . .

There was an Expo, featuring many of our programming partners, like HBO and Showtime . . .

Ending the day with a Casino Night!   The event was a huge success and worth the countless hours of work!  Even the day before, I was holding my breath, worried about having to cancel the whole thing because of the weather.  An 8-inch snowstorm was in the forecast!  Thankfully, Mother Nature held off for one day!

I did do a little hibernating after the event, and took a few days off work to recharge my batteries . . .  I curled up in the Living Room which was in cozy winter mode, with furry pillows and snowy white carnations . . .  February was still busy at work though, and I was still wrapping up loose ends from the event all the way to the beginning of April!

But now that I had stopped working so many hours, I could think about other things . . . like my health.  I've learned the hard way that you cannot take for granted the tremendous gift of health . . .

So I did a little reading . . .

Got an amazing new appliance - a Vitamix that truly lives up to the hype!

And that came with more cookbooks to play with  . . .

I tried a recipe or two from the Internet . . . This was my favorite - Baked Salmon with Blood Oranges and Fennel.  I'll share the recipe soon!

Then I had a new passport photo taken . . .

Because in the Fall we are planning to go to Venice!  La Serenissima - at the top of my bucket list!

And now, unhindered by other “business,” thoughts of the Army consume me, as they have absorbed my every waking moment, regardless of how busy I've been, or how much interest I've pretended to have on other things:  My son, David, has joined the United States Army.  He leaves for Basic Combat Training on May 6th.

And how was your winter?

My first 5K!

It's so true that when we declare an intention, a true, deep desire to do anything, the universe opens up the flood gates and sends us the resources with which to accomplish them. 

The moment I made a commitment to change my lifestyle into one that focuses on health, I have been the recipient of tremendous love and support.  My family has astounded me the most!  They have been there for me every step of the way.  They have changed their eating habits, embraced exercise, learned about diabetes and educated themselves on what makes my glucose spike and how I can avoid it.  Gone are the cookies, and the candy, and the bad carbs.  Everyone has lost weight . . .

At work, suddenly, I find myself surrounded by co-workers who are committed to health!  They have shared their enthusiasm, tips on eating and exercising, and given me their understanding and encouragement.

And that is how I found myself in this photo surrounded by friends, co-workers and family:  My wonderful husband, Leo, and son, David; my friend and boss, Leo and his wife, Angela, and the guy who challenged me to try this, my friend and co-worker, Justin.  This entire group joined me on my biggest challenge to date - a 5K walk.  As a bonus, we also helped raise a little money to help find a cure for Lupus.

When the walk ended and I walked into the finish line, I stopped for a moment and thanked God:  “Thank you for sticking with me.  Thank you for sending me angels to help keep me on the right path.  Thank you for all the grace and love that you have bestowed on me.”  I'm glad I remembered to do that.

I'm joining The Tablescaper for her Seasonal Sundays blog party.  Please stop by.

Work . . . when it's fun . . .

Big event at work . . .  I worked through most of December and January putting it together.  It came with an impossible deadline, and a ridiculous budget, and somehow, we made it work . . . and now it's over . . . beautifully . . .

Here I am, receiving kudos from my boss . . .  Ah . . . now I can begin to hibernate . . .

More birthday fun . . .

I could get so spoiled coming in to work every day and finding roses like these sitting on my desk . . .

Yup.  Cubicle life is made a little more tolerable with some beautiful flowers . . . and it's so nice to be remembered . . .

No animals were killed in the making of this hat!

These were taken at a work event. I love hats, but, seriously, I don't remember this in my job description . . .

Had I known I was going to get a tiger skin-striped western hat, I would have worn different earrings . . .

I've never owned a western hat, but now, I may just have to consider it . . .

My pink birthday card and some feng shui help . . .

I usually prefer an uncluttered refrigerator door, but I couldn't resist putting up the card that my boys got me for my birthday.

 

And then, my son John said I needed a feng shui cure in the "Fame" section of my cubicle at work. Apparently, I needed to introduce more red into the area. Now, I have a bling-y red sign that proclaims how fabulous I am, just in case anyone had any doubt . . .

It's so nice to have a feng shui expert in the family . . .

First day back at work . . . very busy!

On the twelfth day of Christmas (finally, yes!) my true love gave to me twelve drummers drumming . . .

And this is what was waiting for me upon my return from Christmas vacation . . .

. . . at least they stacked it neatly . . .

And, interestingly, I had my camera out of my purse before my coat was off!

Back to work tomorrow . . . but it's still Christmas!

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me . . . eleven pipers piping!

Going back to work tomorrow after a two-week hiatus, but I'm bringing Christmas goodies for my co-workers because . . . just because!

A little chocolate . . . a few cookies . . . One down and . . . a few more to go . . .

About treats and not expecting the unexpected

O.K. So this was a little weird . . . I brought my Thanksgiving treats to work yesterday and everyone thought I had bought them ready-made at a store. Typical exchange:

Me: Here's a little Thanksgiving treat for you.
Co-worker: Oh, this is nice. Where did you get it?

Hmm . . . Better modify my presentation . . .

Me: Hi, there, I put together these treats over the weekend. Here's one for you. Happy Thanksgiving!
Co-worker: Wow! Thank you. I've never seen these before. Where did you get them?

Hmm . . . O.K. Let's try it a little differently . . .

Me: I found this cool website and this one was one of the ideas they had for the holidays. I made a batch to celebrate the holidays. Here's one for you. Happy Thanksgiving!
Co-worker: Cool! This is nice! Thank you! So you ordered them from this website?
Me: No, I just got the idea from the website. I made them.
Co-worker: You made them?
Me: Yup.
Co-worker: Huh. (Now looking over the bag suspiciously). Where did you get the labels? (Sigh)

And on it went all day. I guess on one level I should be flattered that the bags looked nice enough to have been bought at a store. On the other hand, there was a lot of love and attention put into those little bags and I didn't want people to think that I took the easy route and just bought the darn things.

And then when I walked in the house last night I found . . . John! His classes were canceled today so he came home a day early. What an unexpected joy! I really don't feel like going to work today. I want to stay home and play with my boys. But I'll have a special treat waiting for me tonight: John has promised to cook and make his Chicken Fricasee dinner.

The Elephant in the Room

I got an e-mail at work today: "Congrats, I heard you made the cut." No, I didn't get a promotion, what I did was manage to avoid getting cut - cut out of a job, that is. This has been a horrible, sad two weeks at work. It's actually been longer. For months, there have been hints that a "Reduction in Force" was coming and we've lived with Damocles sword hanging over our heads because what else was there to do but wait? That has been the Elephant in the Room of my life for the last few months. I've talked of so many trivial things on this blog, always avoiding mention of the one thing most likely to affect my immediate life.

Well, the time finally arrived and that sword came down and did some bloody damage. Long time employees, sometimes with twenty years or more with the company, have been packaged along with employees that were hired six months ago. People have not been slotted for jobs at the same time that their positions, or very similar ones have been left open. Alternatively, people have been slotted into positions in which they have no interest, thus keeping them from being able to receive a termination package. It's been awful, and no one really knows what criteria was used to decide who goes and who stays.

I've been kept awake at night thinking of a co-worker currently undergoing radiation, who is hoping that her package will last at least as long as her remaining treatment, because that is also the length of time that she will be covered by insurance. I think about another co-worker who has an enormous tumor in her stomach and was waiting for her overall health to stabilize before scheduling further surgery, and whose husband of 13 years just walked out on her. What is she going to do now? There are so many other stories.

Yes, I survived the cut. My job is changing completely, although I'm keeping the same salary and benefits. But it saddens me that when they slotted me they showed so little understanding of where my strengths lie (It's nothing personal, Maria. I know, I know . . . ). I'll do the best I can with the job, it's not in me to give less than my best. And, who knows, maybe it'll be better than I think right now.

I keep telling myself that this job does not define me, that maybe God or the universe has another plan for me and I should go with the flow and let the plan reveal itself. And I'm trying very hard to be grateful that in this economy I have a job.

But right now, it's painful going to work and seeing the living dead: Those that have been told that they will no longer have a job as of next Monday. I think of John Donne's lines:

"Each man's death diminishes me
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
for whom the bell tolls
It tolls for thee."

May God watch over us all.

Howl at the Moon

These were taken at the Naperville Education Foundation, Howl at the Moon Fundraiser, a fun night of dancing, singing and dueling pianos, to benefit the Study Skills Academy, an after-school program to help children struggling academically. Lee and I went with some co-workers and had a great time; and it was so worthwhile.