Okay peeps, you might remember I am in a Statistics class in my MBA program!  And, well, Gina waited a bit too long to begin asking people me survey questions and, thus far, my sample is kind of small.  So if you could PLEASE answer the following questions asap, that would totally help me out!

Do you give blood?    Yes    No
If so, how often?    < 1x a year    1 time a year    > 1x a year
If not, why?    It hurts    I don’t like needles    Blood freaks me out    No reason
Are you aware of the requirements for donating to babies?    Yes    No
If you knew, would that change your mind regarding donating?    Yes    No

Demographic Information
Gender    Male    Female
Age    <20    21-35    36-49    >49

Please email your responses to gmdimples33@yahoo.com.

Thanks so much!  Some of you may receive an email from me so sorry if this is duplicated!

Gina

So I haven’t updated this blog for a few days – sorry!  Let me try to get you up-to-date:

• Sea World was FUN!  It was a bit of a cold day at first so we stayed dry…..but then it warmed up and we got silly……so silly we thought we could sit up close at the dolphin show.  I mean really, how much splashing can they do?????  Yeah, we were wrong……especially since they use their tails specifically to splash the crowd and yeah…..a dolphin was right in front of us!  We had great fun though!
• The new job ROCKS!  It is surreal because it has been 10 years since I’ve worked there so things are foggy and “new”, but at the same time I remember enough that it is freaky to be back (in a good way).  I found some documents I had created or worked on…..yeah, weird.  On my first day I was given my old ruler….LOL!  I am kind of anal about rules; they have to be metal with cork.  It had my name on it – and what appears to be Kirstie’s writing for my last name and she was little.  It was cool.
• School is going well.  The new job has made doing homework MUCH better as the commute is way better.  I ALMOST like statistics, but not quite.
• Shoulder still sucks but I am trying to ignore it.

Okay, hope that helps my 2.78 readers out!

Okay, I didn’t want to mention anything sooner, but you HAVE heard that I don’t really like the job that I received at Gretchen Fox.  The drive alone is enough to turn me into Queen Cranky!  But there are real issues with the way they do business – like they want to dock salary peeps if they leave early or lied to me as they don’t offer benefits.

ANYWAY, going back during the summer, I had contacted a company I had worked for 10 years ago.  At the time they no longer needed to fill the Accounting/Office Manager position so I said thanks and let me know.

Well, last Friday, after ending another HORRIBLE week at work, but reminding myself that I am very fortunate to even have a job with this economy, I checked my email.  Bam, there was an email from Corey, a partner from the firm.  He was seeing if I was still interested because things had changed.  It was late, but I replied to his email stating I was still in the market!  Well, he and I met yesterday (Tuesday) and we got each other up to speed on the last 10 years – both professionally and personally.  He was excited to bring me back, but wanted to make sure his partner, Son, was cool as well.  He promised to call me today.

Today was LONG as I waited for his call.  After 4pm I thought maybe he had lost my number and called, but he was unavailable.  He finally called me at about 5:20 and asked, “Why were you calling again?”  I called him a butthead, but to the point I start Monday!  I am SO excited and here is why:

• This job is in Tustin – aka CLOSE TO HOME.  No more 70 mile one way commute!
• This job pays WAY better
• Many of the procedures that were in place when I was the Accounting Supervisor are still in place
• This is a fair company that follows the rules and is fair in compensation and really offers bennies!

There are more things, but that is the gist of it.  Kenny is SOOOOO excited ’cause he was tired of me getting home at 7:30 or later.  And he misses me in the morning, too.  He just plain misses me.  Kirstie is thrilled too because it’s been almost impossible to see each other!

So WOOHOO!  Special thanks to Kenny and Teddi who did extra prayer duty for me!

To check out where I will be working, click here.

Okay – short, sweet, and to the point:

• Shoulder – no tears but I did strain the ligament connecting my collar bone to my shoulder.  However, I have arthritis in my shoulder (!!!) and the addition of the strain is causing my bones to rub.  So I have two causes of pain remaining.  I need to take meds and rest the arm (um, trying but I am left handed!) and in six weeks if I do not feel better, we will be discussion surgery.  Physical therapy will not help me due to the bones rubbing…..
• Job – blah.  I try to look at the bright side, I truly do, but the light and tears don’t mix well.  LOL
• School – made it through the first week but I am not quite yet at the point of liking statistics.  LOL
• Kids – are doing well.  Kirstie got thru her first major tests in college and I am sure she did well.  Kenny is doing very well this year in school and Josh is rocking as well.  They all seem to be these social butterflies too…..not sure where they get that!  LOL

Okay, gotta get ready!  Gina OUT.

Hello peeps – this was a long week for me!  Driving 70 miles one way to work really, really sucks!  I rode my bike two times; the first time was a bit scary, but by yesterday I felt very confident and comfortable.  There were times when I thought, “I was born for this, now I understand what my Dad said about the feeling of riding….the wind in your face, etc.”  Not that riding in traffic is all that fun, but it sure is great to white line when everyone else is stopped!

On that note, I have found that the majority of drivers are kind to bikes – they move over, etc.  I was surprised, however, to find that there are a minority of drivers that not only are oblivious to us bikers, but purposely move to block our way!  What is THAT about?  I don’t understand what the issue is – are they mad because I don’t have to stop?  Hello!  I am one less car filling the freeway with congestion!  Do they think it is wrong for me to pass in between?  It is totally legal.  And most of all, do they really want to be in an accident with a bike?  Sheesh.

Also on that subject – I hate when people clean their windows on the freeway, even when I am in my car.  I mean seriously, hello peeps the water goes behind you for hundreds of feet, getting everyone behind you wet.  What if someone just got their car washed?  What if someone had just cleaned their window and now you messed it up?  And finally, what if there is a motorcyclist behind you and they are getting plummeted with water??  I am just asking people to think about it…..clean your windows when you are stopped.

And throwing cigs out the window when you’re driving…..not only is this illegal as it is littering, but it is very dangerous to have a burning object plummet you when you are on a bike……..

I don’t like my job much.  Won’t get into the details, but most days I just want to cry on the way home.  But it’s a job and I am thankful that I have income coming in.

The kids are doing great – don’t see them nearly as much with the commute, but I spent some time with them Thursday night.  Ken also spends the night several times during the week so that is nice, too.

School started Wednesday – Statistics! – and so far, so good.  Will be spending lots of time on this during the weekend!

Okay, must have more coffee.  Will write more later.

Just kidding, I am not really writing about our economy, the failed buy out for credit, etc. I am thinking most of you have heard ENOUGH about that stuff lately! Althouhg, admittedly, not everyone has! Yesterday at lunch I was catching up on the news on my beautiful iPhone and saw that the House didn’t pass the $700billion deal…..I was like, “Oh my gosh, the buy out plan didn’t pass!” My co-worker was totally clueless! I really didn’t know what to say but hey, who am I to judge?

Yesterday was a much better day at work. Vernon is gone and that helped mucho. The drive was a bit better too – not sure if I am getting used to it or what. It’s still a long day. Hopefully soon I will take the plunge on my scooter and get comfortable on the freeway and then maybe the commute will be even better. We shall see.

My kids, however, sure make it great to come home! Kirstie had been texting me throughout the day and wanted to come over as she hadn’t really spent much time with me lately. Kenny was going to spend the night, which is something he begs to do pretty much everyday. I get concerned that I will get home too late, but was able to get home around 6:30. Yippee!

But the blessings don’t stop there – Kirstie went and got dinner for us! She has such a great attitude, never really gives me grief and has been VERY sweet about things like that especially lately. It warms my heart that she calls or texts just to see if work is okay and stuff. And Kenny, who has been missing me a lot, is always very kind. He asks about my day, just sits with me, we connect. Just hanging with them is such a blessing! I love it.

It’s a bit more tough with Josh – Kenny walks to my house after school, but Josh is too small so his Dad picks him up. So it’s more difficult to arrange this during the week. I miss him desperately but we had a blast Sunday!

Hey, is anyone watching Dancing with the Stars this season? I am partial to Lance Bass……aka former band partner with Justin…….and also very cute! LOL I loved his dance this week. But I also am rooting for Cloris Leachman……she is in great shape for her age, especially! Learn more about this special lady here.

Oh, and I am also starting my MBA program TOMORROW! I was able to test out of Business Writing, but miserably failed my statistics test……I couldn’t find my Biola textbooks and notes! Dun dun dun! Oh well, it should be fun. And I look forward to getting this brain filled with silly information again! I will let you know how it goes, especially with the long commute now!

Special shout out to my Aunt Kay, who is on my mind and in my heart more than usual lately. Someday I will have to tell you all more about this amazing lady! As for now, I need to get ready for work! (and YES, it is 4:39am!)

Gina OUT

Just some random occurrences that really bug me……

• The guy who I am replacing at my new job, Vernon, noticed I was left handed.  He said to me, “Oh, my son was born left handed, but I didn’t allow me to write with his left hand and punished him so that he would write with his right hand.”  “Why did you do that?” I asked nicely.  “Well, I just didn’t want him to be left handed.”  I let it go.  Later, he asked, “Does it feel natural to write with your left hand?”  I looked at him and said, “Well, does it feel natural for you to write with your right hand?  How would you like it if your parent punished you every time you wrote with it and said you had to use your left hand?”  He just looked at me.
• When I would get the boys from school before my job, we would often go to Weinerschnitzel ’cause Ken was addicted to chili cheese dogs.  They have a sign there showing they accept credit cards and the slogan it, “Eat now, pay later”.  That is a true concept, but boy it bugs me every time!  This society is so credit entrenched and this just adds to the philosophy of this!  Eat now, pay later!  Yeah, that chili cheese dog is gonna cost you way more than the $3 you just gave them when you finally pay it off (if you have a running balance and pay minimum payments, etc.)  Or better yet, why don’t you pay off those credit card balances by refinancing your house and consolidating your debt?  Woohoo, pay for that hot dog over 30 years!  YES!
• How come people (male or female) look at you as you’re both walking into a store, open the door, and then let if fall closed behind them?  I mean, seriously, they KNOW you’re right behind them!  Hold the freaking door behind you!  Have some courtesy people!

Okay, that’s all for now!