Checking in

Just saying hello and posting some pictures so I don't get too far behind.  Things have been super crazy around here; working in Moon Township has been taking its toll.  Physically I know Dave and I both feel even more exhausted. Mentally, I'm totally drained from working so hard on so many projects. Time just flies at work.  This week I took on another project at work and went out to assist on a job site for the week.  Check out my cool new work clothes; I get to count light bulbs and fixtures and note wattage and ballast type and such for a lighting energy audit for UPMC.

It wasn't been all work and no play. This past weekend Dave and I had a date night - the first in months.  We went to BRGR and had some delicious food before going to see Silver Linings Playbook which was good, but personally I think some other movies are more deserving of the Oscar for best movie this year.

Appetizer of grilled cheese bites with a thick tomato dipping sauce. Mmmm!

burger with homemade chips and "crack" dip - named appropriately as it is highly addictive!

an awful shot of me - arm "claiming" Dave and his "ghostly white" hand - but we are thrilled to be out!

Unfortunately, before our date, the washer drained out all over our hard wood floor. The drainage hose had come out of the wall. We cursed a lot, put the hose back in, cleaned up the floor and headed up. The next morning I went to wash the towels used to mop up the floor; the damned hose came out again and flooded the floor a second time.  And "flood" isn't an exaggeration. The water went through the wall and dripped into living room, peeling a lot of plaster & paint off the wall.  Fortunately our basement isn't finished so the wall of water the poured down through there just went onto the cement floor and didn't ruin any ceiling or carpeting. 

The hose is now duct-taped into the wall drain- stylish AND functional.

This was one of Ben's valentines (from his cousin Ben at daycare) and I just thought it was so adorable! I wish I could be this creative!

 I was finally able to get my hair cut 2 weeks late; unfortunately I had to get it cut at 7 PM which means I came home and went to bed and didn't even get to have "one good hair day'" from it.  With short hair, I have the worst bed head in the mornings!

Tiny Dancer

Tonight I'm a super proud mama of my ballerina girl!She recently had a growth spurt and none of the hand-me-down leotards fit anymore. So I splurged and got her a new leotard at All That Jazz today. She LOVED it and danced all around the house before dance class. When did my girl get so big? Sniff sniff!

I love her initial pose - ha! So dramatic!

Little known "6th position" in ballet

Moving

Happy February everyone! I'm glad it is a short month because I've had enough of this cold weather.

Yesterday I had my review; it went well, but the big news is that my boss asked me to work from our HQ building out in Moon Township.  I can't really say no since I'd like to keep my job, and financially, I need to keep my job.

This is Cherrington, our electrical division HQ.  I used to work here for 6 years from 1999-2005. There are some pluses to this move, aside from the change that a new place brings.

• There is a cafeteria which serves only healthy options, and it has a full salad bar. The meals are discounted too.  
• There is a free small gym and locker facility with showers. The gym equipment is older (it's the same now as it was in 1999!) but the treadmills are decent if I am so inclined.
• There are sidewalks & walking group so I can walk during lunch hour when the weather is warmer.
• The 30 minutes extra driving time will allow me time to decompress on the way home.

If it sounds like I'm trying to pump myself up, I am. I am really going to miss where I work now. Some not so good things are:

• Longer commute means more time away from the kids and waking up even earlier to keep my 7-4 schedule
• I have to wear dress clothes; no more jeans to work.  I now have to spend money on dress shoes and clothes
• Bigger office. 600 people as opposed to the 75 max people (more like 35) that I'd see daily. They are friends, not coworkers.
• Gas money, gas money, and more gas money
• No more random (& frequent) working from home. It was good while it lasted. =(
• No more running errands during lunch hour. I like to stay away from the Robinson Township cluster traffic. (I may make an exception for DSW!)

I'm trying to be positive and am just thankful I am still well employed. But this is going to be a change for sure!