You're Not Going to Buhleeve This!

Yesterday morning I was up at the butt-crack of dawn (6am-ish)- had a nice breakfast, piddled around a bit, etc. Since I was a little tired, I took a nap. I woke up to my mobile phone ringing: new boss calling to answer one of my many questions. Then I realized I'd missed a call while napping. Turns out, the Op Mgr from new office called to tell me that I only needed one DEA number. And to tell me to call the Manhattan DEA office because she'd upset them trying to fix the problem.

So, I'm running around collecting all the paperwork when my home phone rings. It's the DEA! And boy, is she pissed. Let me tell you, you haven't lived until you've had to cop some serious attitude with 3 different Manhattan DEA agents, just to get them to lose some of their attitude.

I know the old ditty about catching more flies with honey than vinegar, but really, who wants flies?

I think I finally got things settled.

Definitely not an ideal way to wake up from my lovely mid-morning nap.

New Beginnings

I have a new job! Yippee! Yahoo! I'm so excited. Can't you just picture me doing the happy dance? I start on April 9th. Can you believe it?! I'm going to be a little fish in a medium-sized farm. All the other fish seem nice and found me "delightful" when I interviewed with them.

So now I'm trying to wade through stuff like getting state prescription pads, DEA numbers, etc. The nice thing about having always worked in schools or federal facilities is that one simply used internal numbers because the institution took care of the details. But now I have to do what folks in the real world do. What I really wanna know is why it just cost me $1100 to get permission from the US government to write prescriptions for narcotics. Admittedly, it's for 2 different offices (cuz you have to have a number for each office in New York State) and my employer is reimbursing me, but $1100? Are they kidding?




And speaking of new beginnings, remember when I mentioned that Extreme Makeover Home Edition was in town? Well, the "big reveal" was yesterday afternoon. Alas, I didn't go; I actually forgot all about it. But, the house looks pretty cool.

What I like most is watching everyone scream "Move that bus!" and then seeing the family's reaction. Their whole story is here, by the way.

Congratulations, Oatman Family!

Recap

Well, it looks like my days of watching Maury Povich are coming to an end...

In the last 24 hours, I have gotten 2 different job offers and
been drug tested.

Have you ever been drug tested? I thought I had before today. Surely I did when I worked for the US government, right? Well, I certainly don't remember it being anything like it was today...

After completing paperwork for 5 minutes, the kind nurse tells me to wash my hands. We are still in the exam room, mind you. Then she walks me around the corner to the WC, where there is a toilet, some TP and a shelf. She hands me the biggest specimen bottle I have ever seen, tells me to urinate into it and to put it on the shelf. I am allowed to use the TP, but not to flush (there is pretty blue dye in the toilet water) and once I have finished, I should knock on the door cause she'll be right outside waiting for me.

Huh? I'm inside the WC and I have to knock on the door? Okey dokey.

So here's what happened: when she left she didn't close the door all the way. I do as I'm told with the giant specimen bottle, shelf, TP, etc. When I knock on the door she appears almost instantly, grabbing the big bottle to check its temperature. She then pours some of the contents into a smaller bottle which she seals with 2 different kinds of tape. Then she even let me wash my hands.

Ok, is it just me, or does that seem a little over the top? I mean, I did have the privacy of the door being almost closed. The gf tells me that in the NFL, drug testing is done in full view of the sample takers, who stand there and watch.

Geez, that sounds like a fun job...


Oh, and just for the record, I was drug tested for one of the job offers...

An Apology to Ivory Latta

Yes, I do know that March Madness is just as mad for the grrls as it is for the boys. And usually, I'm just as vocal about it. I'm slipping, I guess. Is that what happens at 40?

Anyway, the women's Final Four is set: UNC, Tennessee, LSU, Rutgers. So on Sunday night Ivory and Erlana and the other Tarheel women go head-to-head with Pat Summitt's Lady Vols. 2 Number One seeds. It'll be a good game.

And we'll win.

Of course, I can't - just can't- resist reminding you when Duke went out- in the Sweet 16, a 53/52 loss to Rutgers. It was an ugly, ugly way to lose. I still feel for Lindsey Harding. Note that Rutgers is still in it: they ran roughshod all over Arizona State. All OVER them.

So, once again: Go Tarheels!

Me? An Odd Child?

Someone in my life recently suggested that I was an "odd" kid. I beg to differ. In fact, I am convinced that I was pretty typical.

And here are some of the things I thought about then:

*naming triplet girls April, May and June
*changing my name to Jayne Dough
*aspiring to be the person in my town who got to name new streets

and the enduring question:
"Why do we say puppy dog and kitty cat but not baby person?"


So decades later I ask, are those the questions of an odd child?

Tarheel Sadness

Another ugly game. Ok, an ugly second half. And an uglier overtime. I'm still in shock. What were they doing out there?! Random 3 point attempts that looked like I was playing (I'm nearly 5'2" and have the skills of someone who has never, ever played the game).

So (hanging head) yesterday we, hmm, lost. To Georgetown. In overtime.


And we found out that a young man who dresses up at Rameses, the UNC mascot, had been hit by a car in NJ. Jason Ray was in Jersey for the NCAA tourney and was in critical condition then.

He passed away this morning.
My condolences to his family and friends.

Bracketology

Don't you just love it when you're right?

A guy who works for my girlfriend is always giving me a hard time about my Tarheels. I guess he figures that cuz he's a boy, he'd naturally know more than I do about college ball. Unfortunately for him, it just ain't so.

Again, I remind you: I am a girl who grew up in ACC country during the James Worthy/Michael Jordan era at UNC, when our biggest rival was NC State. Duke smuke.

He wanted to put a little wager on the UNC-USC match-up tonight. I'm not big on betting, so I declined. But rest assured that when I pick the gf up from work tomorrow evening, I will have on a lovely Carolina blue baseball cap.

Who cares if it was an ugly, ugly game? Ok, I care, but still WE WON. Admittedly, we had some trouble in the first half, but really, how beautiful was that 18-0 run in the second half? Gotta love how deep our bench is, especially with freshmen like Brendan Wright.

Go Tarheels!

Whaddaya Know?

Heard today, on the local news:
The Extreme Home Makeover folks are in town. I've half a mind to drive over and watch. Not really, but how cool would it be to be in the crowd screaming "Move that bus! Move that bus!"? Ok, again, not really, but the thought does amuse me.

The newscaster said the show'll air on May 20^th- it'll be the 2 hour season finale.


Another interview today. Community health center. One practitioner. Right now, they have someone "filling in" a few days a week. Imagine my surprise when I walked in and actually saw someone I know. It was nice to see a familiar face. Maybe she'll put in a good word...

Same Stuff, Different Day

Another job interview today: 3 hours, in 2 different offices. One is essentially a solo practice and the other is a part of a large group. Went well, I think. I liked both places, and they seemed to like me well enough.

Question: do I wanna be one of several, or out on my own?

Another interview Thursday. Still waiting to hear from the first folks I met with. Keep your fingers crossed!

Wanna hire me?


So far, it's not a good year for me and the Men's NCAAs:
We're down to the Sweet 16 and yeah, I've still got teams in all 4 regions, but just barely.
Little Winthrop couldn't hold out against Oregon.
And Butler beat Maryland?! Come ON! I'm not (I repeat, NOT) a Terrapin fan, but I have my loyalties. After all, I grew up in ACC country. Besides, I honestly thought they'd win.
And don't even get me started on Wisconsin and UNLV.

But all is not lost. My Tarheels are holding strong, especially now that Mr. Hanbrough has taken off his mask.

Why Blog (a Public Thank You)

The simple answer:
'cuz I wanna.

The real answer:
Because my mom died. Suddenly and unexpectedly. And my heart is completely and utterly broken.
(read: It's an outlet- paper journaling has been big in my life, but it's not working right now. So maybe this will.)

Because I know that I am loved and well cared for. By amazing people- lots of 'em. And I need to remind myself of that.

Because those folks need to know that even in the midst of my (on-going) grief, I recognize and am grateful, even when I don't say so.

Because 6 weeks after traveling to help me celebrate turning 40, my friends traveled to help me bury my mom. Hundreds of miles. For one: thousands of miles the first time, then sent her mom since she couldn't travel all the way across the country again so soon.

Now that's love.

And this is what love looks like:

Snow for St. Patty

Snow, snow, snow --
and lots of it.
One car dug out.
One more to go.

It's just not right.


At least my NCAA brackets have recovered some. Duke losing to VCU in the first round, while amusing, was costly. I'm cheering little Winthrop on: Notre Dame yesterday; Oregon tomorrow!

And course, GO TARHEELS!

Q: How do you know God is a UNC fan?
A: Cuz the sky is Carolina Blue!

Public Privacy

Today is the 21st day of Lent. And I've finally decided that it's okay that I'm not telling anyone what I'm doing to "observe." I sorta feel like it's supposed to be private. You know- the whole notion of those who pray in public get their reward in public.

So, I'm "in private" this time. Although I have to admit it is a little harder to stay focused now that I don't have the world as my witness. That's probably part of the point, huh?

I'm in the midst of a (seemingly endless) job search. Task for today: finishing a 7 page job application. Yes, 7 pages. For a dentist. But then again, it is kind of nice to be asked how best to manage me.