What a week!

This week just whizzed right by me, leaving me standing there in the dust! It was so incredibly busy, I don't even know how to begin describing what happened this week, but here goes...

I work within a small team comprised of a Team Leader (TL), two Senior Account Managers (SAM)--of which one is part time and the other full time and myself. The PT SAM has been on a leave of absence as her husband was initially diagnosed with menengitis and then he suffered a stroke (all our prayers are with her and her family). She has been off work since the early part of November and as such we've all had to carry a bit more of her workload, not a problem.

Then the other SAM went on holidays this week (thankfully only for a week) but was much deserved. She too has been having some problems with her family (her husband has been struggling with being bi-polar and her uncontrollable daughter one day called her at work to tell her she'd HAD a baby (the crazy part is that the daughter lived at home and nobody even noticed she was pregnant...she hid it well)! So between all these things, this SAM has been extremely stressed out, having to deal with this bi-polar situation since Christmas 2004 and then having to support her daughter and new granddaughter since the latter half of 2005.

Anyways, this week would've been just fine except for the fact that my TL was away sick for 3.5 of the 5 working days this week! So that led me to handle their portfolios along with my own (totaling roughly 500 members)! Now to some of you doctors out there, 500 is probably a really small number, however, in the banking world it's huge (especially since you're having to deal with issues of overdrafts and the like). Plus on top of all this, I had to ensure any referrals from our Contact Centre were also tended to.

Then this week we had our 4th(?) annual member appreciation reception at the Royal Glenora. That was nice but really time consuming (after a day at work, we had to attend this thing that lasted until 830 pm or so). That was nice, until I ran into my "stalker" from many moons ago, but that's another story ;)

I then tried to donate blood on Thursday, but was denied because my iron levels were too low (although the nurse assured me that it was 'normal'?). Shoot, now I have to wait another full cycle (56 days) before I am eligible to try again.

Then last night I went with KEY and our very own "Martha Stewart" to shop for our hot pot evening tonight. It was absolute insanity in T&T...one would've thought everything was free or something as the line ups were absolutely crazy! In total we spent a little over 2 hours there...nutty...!

So that's been my week in a nutshell. As much as I whine and complain about being too busy and stuff, I really am thankful that I am busy (haha, am gainfully employed) and that I have great friends, healthy family and friends and am getting my walk back on track spiritually with God, what more can I ask for as the year of the Dog approaches?

Gong hay fat choy to you all!

Could it get any worse???

Hmmm, they (the superstitious) say bad things happen in three's. Is there truth to it?

First, my performance appraisal was due at the beginning of December. Due to holidays and the like, I didn't submit it until the new year. So I was already 1 month late with it, but that's not so bad given there have been others that were due from before that only was submitted recently. Fine...so just today my immediate supervisor tells me that he submitted my report to the big boss man to sign off on and to determine my raise percentage. My supervisor pulls me aside and asks if the big boss man had yet spoken to me yet...that kinda got me concerned. I said he hadn't and then he goes on to tell me that the big boss man is reluctant to give me another raise as I only received one 6 months ago! Thank goodness my supervisor had the guts to stick up for me and and to remind my big boss that it was requested byHR that I submit my annual performance review and that the previous review conducted in June was for my probationary period that led to my promotion. So the big boss man reluctantly agreed to review my PA. Sheesh...if I were a slacker that would be one thing, but seeing as how my immediate supervisor actually gave me an even better PA report than the one that was submitted for my previous promotion, I don't understand why my big boss was so grouchy about having to review my PA! And besides, my raise doesn't affect his pocket book, so what's the deal???

Secondly, coming home after a long day at work (it's been quite busy all week), I get stuck waiting for the stupid train to cross. That was more of an irritant than bad luck.

Lastly, as I sat there waiting for the train to cross, I hear this thud and it kinda came from no where...sounded like someone had thrown something on my windshield. I quickly checked and at first didn't see anything, but it was only after I started moving again did I see this HUGE crack across the bottom of my windshield!!! It's not like a couple inches long--the crack extends pretty much from one end of the windshield to the other. I know this is a result of a chip I inherited from a previous commute drive to work from a while ago. I think the combination of the cold air and the chip contributed to the crack. I might as well let it keep cracking until it obstructs my view before I get it replaced. Thankfully I think I'll be able to make it through until at least spring. Funny, the 2 cracks I have in my windshield are a result of commuting to work. I had no such 'bad luck' in the previous 3 years that I traveled the highways...

There you have it...does bad luck come in three's??? You decide.

Time to shape up, spiritually!

Remember how I said I was going to go for walks everyday during my noon hour??? So far it's lasted 1 week, and that's about it!!! I have found myself missing my daily walk due to prolonged meetings in the morning and as well in the early afternoons. With so much time spent in these meetings, my days have been completely shot as a result of these scheduled interruptions. I find myself lost in phone calls and with emails piling up in my inbox.

But after meeting with my small (*AWESOME*) ladies group this evening and reflecting on my spiritual walk, I find myself reflecting on the fact that I have not been prioritizing my efforts properly. We did this excercise (which Dr. D led) whereby we had to chart our spiritual journey thus far. I found my chart to be freakishly similar to that of Wacky's (which was of course completed independently of each other) in that my walk peaked during specific periods and dropped off during other times. We each took turns sharing personal and private thoughts with regards to our respective spiritual walks and it turns out even though we're each on a different paths, we all share one common thing, and that is to improve our walks and to keep each other accountable.

Where am I going with all this you might ask??? I really have no excuse for not spending more time doing devotions and the like as I have been blessed many times over with my carreer being well on track, I have a house in which I can call my own and a great group of friends and of course my family that are a great support system for me...but this evening I'm reminded that there must be certain priorities that must take precedence over other things. Why am I so concerned about returning calls and making sure the little envelope icon does not appear on my desktop and going for my noon hour walk, but it's not a big deal if I don't get around to doing regular devotions and spending time in prayer?

Someone slap me silly as obviously I have everything backwards!!! 2006 is my time to get into shape, both physically as well as spiritually! I would hope that others around me will continue to encourage and keep me accountable...I will reciprocate in return!

Mexico, here I come (well, soon anyways)!

After throwing the idea around of traveling again this year, I actually booked a trip this evening. A girlfriend of mine and I will be heading to Mazatlan in the early part of May! I'm sooooo looking forward to this trip.

We've only booked our flight and accomodations to date and will wait until we arrive in Mazatlan before we book any tours and the like. We're staying at a four star hotel (keeping in mind this is Mexico after all), which is quite nice. But the only part I'm not looking forward to already is the layovers...not just one, but two of them! That's probably why our trip is relatively affordable :)

We fly from Edmonton into Seattle, and from Seattle to LA and from LA into Mazatlan. Talk about losing precious time from just traveling! However, our plan is to check our bags into the Seattle airport and then take the evening to sightsee around Seattle. On our way back, we'll be doing the same in LA.

I'm sooooooo looking forward to this trip, but now the real planning begins...things to do before I get to Mazatlan;

1. Find at least another bathing suit (this whole process does not appeal to me at all!)
2. Lose some weight
3. Research what there is to do in Mazatlan (thank goodness for AMA!)
4. Figure out how to spend out time wisely during our layovers in order to maximize on our trip (I guess this involves a bit of research into Seattle and LA)
5. Remember to pack only the important stuff (in case I go crazy and load up on souveniers)!
6. Get my Hep A and B shots (must book appointment soon)

Hmmm...have I forgotten anything?

Hmmm, already mid January and this is my first entry...

WOW. Where has all the time gone?!? I seem to remember celebrating new year's only a few days ago...have I already been back to work for 2 weeks??? Well I gotta get over it, and catch you up on what's been happening since 2006 started...

Firstly, I joined a small group in which I will be studying Kay Arthur's "Speak To My Heart, God" with a few other lovely ladies. We met for the first time this past Tuesday and I'm definitely looking forward to attending this newly formed group. One of my goals this year is to improve my spiritual walk despite having a much fuller schedule. By meeting with this group, it will force me to make time for myself and to study God's word :)

Secondly, I have started taking lunch hour walks with a fellow co-worker of mine. Some might think I'm copying Superstar's idea, but contrary to that belief, my co-worker approached me to keep her company. How can I pass up that offer, given I have no excuse (I keep a pair of runners at work)! We went Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this past week and we do plan on going regularly Monday through Thursday (Friday is our "treat" day...we go out for lunch)! The tricky part is (and yes, I feel like a big meanie doing this), there is this other co-worker who tends to invite herself to EVERYTHING, and the first lady that I walk with absolutely cannot stand her!!! So this week we've been very bad and we've gotten creative as to when we go for our walks so as to avoid her inviting herself (is it really that selfish to not want to spend time with specific people over our LUNCH hour)? Don't we have a right to choose who we would like to spend time with? If so...please, I'm open to suggestions as to how to uninvite someone who invites herself to everything (including our Friday lunch outings...which we've had to share with her on a few ocassions)! Don't get me wrong, she's a nice enough lady, but boy oh boy, she doesn't know when she's overstayed her welcome! Plus she's one of those types that always has a better story to tell about her or her family after an initial conversation between a group of people that she eavesdrops on! Can you sense I get annoyed with her quite easily??? *SIGH* Patience is a virtue in which I must learn :)

Hmmm...what else??? I guess that's it for now...told you all! I lead a boring life, but I must finish with a comedic story!

Before the new year, my siblings and I were at Southgate taking in some post-Christmas sales. We were in Hallmark browsing around when Mrs. L and The Boy decided to wait outside. Superstar remained with me...and thank goodness for that! We were getting ready to leave the store when I accidently kicked something. I thought maybe I had dropped something on the ground. Much to my utter DISGUST, I looked down to find a retainer on the ground! I immediately thought of The Boy! Why you ask??? It's because this is not the first time I have located The Boy's retainer in weirdo places! So I made a triangle with me feet around this retainer so as to avoid others stepping on it and potentially wrecking this expensive piece of plastic and I sent Superstar out to get The Boy to identify this object. Sure enough, it belonged to him. It fell out of his jacket pocket as he had removed it earler for lunch! Superstar claims it was a "March of the Penguins" moment when she saw me hovering over the retainer. I dunno, haven't watched the movie yet!