Some Sleep

I actually got some sleep last night. Jim was working an overtime shift from 3:30-11:30. I was going to wait up for him but then I thought, no I need to get some sleep. I tried to go to bed around 10:15 but couldn't sleep so I read until about 11:00. James called me at 11:00 and told me his bird had died. I think he was pretty upset about it. He must have been to call me at 11:00. I went to sleep shortly after I got off the phone with him. I woke up briefly when Jim came home a little before midnight and then again at 3:30 when Jordan came up and got in bed with us. But even with these interuptions I still got more sleep than I usually do. I also took my regular morning nap this morning too so I am feeling great today!

Our storm Saturday night ended up being around 5 inches. I drove home from work at 2 am. I did fine driving all the way home but then got stuck in our driveway! We have a fairly long driveway and I couldn't get up to the garage to park. Oh well at least I was out of the road. Jim used the snow blower on Sun. morning to clean off the driveway and I shoveled the decks. We're supposed to maybe get more snow Wed. night into Thurs. I'm just ready for winter to be over.

In a Funk

I've just been in a funk lately. I'm not sure how to pull myself out of it. I know part of it is I'm just too dang tired. I get about 4 1/2 hours of sleep a night and if I'm lucky I might get a total of one hour more with little mini naps through out the day. Erica used to sleep until around 8:00 each morning so after I fed Parker breakfast around 6:30 I would put him in the playpen and he would play while I napped on the couch. But Erica has given up on that early morning nap now. I try to get a short nap in during the afternoon while they take their naps but again it's not enough. Erica is a short napper now and will only sleep a maximum of 45 minutes. By the time I get lunch dishes done and maybe spend a little time with my daughter, Erica is awake again and I can't take a nap. Yesterday I got 20 minutes. Today I got 15. I'm still working 6 days a week at Marriott. During the week I'm there 30 hours and I try to pick up at least 3-4 hours on the weekend. Tomorrow I'm working an 8 1/2 hour shift. They are offering an extra $2 per hour incentive from 7-midnight though so I will get a little more money. I just hope I can keep doing this. I only have Erica and Parker until the end of May but then I will have to pick up more hours at Marriott to make up for loosing the income from them. I just hope the next 2 years goes by fast. Once we are done with this freakin, outrageous child support our life might be a little more normal again.

Before all of you who get child support jump on me, I know child support is a necessity but it just pisses me off so much that she got away with only being ordered to pay us $50 a month for the last 6 years and didn't always pay that and we are stuck with having to pay her $580 a month. In Nebraska you are a minor until you are 19 years old so we will have to pay her for 2 more years. I won't stay on my soap box about this. I just get so angry and frustrated with it.

I've also got to look at other means to get out to Washington this summer. We don't have the money to get my car fixed. I don't want to risk driving 2000 miles with the check engine light on. I will probably just end up renting a car. I've got an entertainment card and can get a discount through a couple of car rental places. The train, plane and bus are all around the same price and I would still need a car to get around once I got out there so it just makes sense to rent one. Not going to Washington isn't an option. My grandfather is doing worse and I'm just hoping he holds on until I get out there to see him again. Both of my grandma's are in poor health too. Plus my niece is getting married.

We are supposed to get a big snow storm Sat. night. I may end up having to stay at work if we get the 7-12 inches they are predicting. I'm scheduled to work until 2:30 am and I won't risk driving home if it's too bad. There are some booths in the lunch room so I will just pack a blanket in my car in case it gets too bad.

I did take the kids to the zoo for an hour and a half the other day. They really enjoyed it, so did I :)

Alright I've got to get off here now. I've been on too long as it is. Erica is in the living room in the bouncy seat getting mad at me and I need to get Parker up because his dad will be here in about 20 minutes to get them.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

JORDAN SAYS HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

We're Back!

We made it back from Des Moines around 3:15 today. It was productive scrapbooking weekend. I got three 2-page spreads done and 3 single pages done. I still have a stack of scrapbook pages to put together though. Someday I will be caught up. Jordan had a good time playing with our scraps and using grandma's punches. She made a couple of cards while we scrapped.

We're off!

Jordan and I are leaving this morning to go meet my mom in Des Moines for a day and night of scrapbooking. It will be a short but fun trip. Have a great weekend everyone.

Woo Hoo!

I was quite surprised to find a letter from our General Manager in my mailbox at work yesterday that said the following:

Congratulations, your outstanding success in total sales of $1,053,929.98 in 2006 has earned you a place in the Million Dollar Club.

Your sales expertise, product knowledge and high level of customer service have made you a leader in the sales department. In honor of your accomplishment, you will be receiving $100. This will be on your paycheck you receive on March 15, 2007. Additionally your name will be added to the Million Dollar Club plaque.

Laura, thank you for all your efforts in 2006. You have truly made a difference to the success of our operation.

Woo Hoo! I can't believe it. Now I need to find this million dollar club plaque in the building so I can see how many other names are on it. I know at least one other OJT got it also because she was talking about it yesterday too.

8 hours of scrapbooking

I went to Archivers yesterday for an 8 hour crop. It was alot of fun. They gave us a free 4 X 6 album and a CD with different fonts plus had a make and take valentines page for us to do as well as a cute little valentines box. I got four 2-page spreads done and one 1-page spread done. I've still got a stack of them to do. Hopefully I will get more done this weekend. I'm meeting my mom in Des Moines to work on scrapbooking on Saturday. It will be a quick trip, just the one night but otherwise we won't be able to see my mom before they leave on their next big trip--to China this time.

I'm now an OJT

It's official! I'm now an On the Job Trainer. Yipeee! I graduated from training tonight. I'm not sure when we will actually have trainees come out on the phones with us yet. There are 2 new hire classes going on right now and one or two more scheduled to start in the next week or two. I'm still nervous about monitoring and grading them right but I will survive.