Embarassing Moment

From 1993 - 1998, Jim and I lived in Eastern Washington where we both attended Washington State University. Jim was working on his Masters and PhD while I finished up a BS degree. I had an excellent job on campus working for the WSU Foundation - the Development Office - the Fundraising arm of the University. The office was located on the fourth floor of the Administration building where the University President was as well. We were often teased about "working on the fourth floor" as if we were a part of some special club working with the big wigs.

The President of the Foundation was a key person on campus as well. She had a lot of contacts with very influential and rich people all over the US but mainly in the Northwest. Her name was Connie and she was an extremely nice person. It was common when making her travel arrangements for me to set up appointments with people like Paul Allen or the President of Costco where she would show up to ask for millions of dollars. My third day in the office, I opened the mail to find a 3 million dollar check from Boeing. She focused on raising money while the office staff focussed on the details of her travel. Many times, I would drive out to the little airport there in the middle of some wheat fields to pick her up and bring her back to the office.

One summer afternoon, my supervisor, Sharon, asked me if I was available to pick up Connie and I said I would if I could but had not driven my car in that day. Sharon assured me that was no problem; she would lend me her car. She then started to give me tons of details about the make, the model, the color, the location in the parking lot, etc... I admit, I was half listening and really thought I would find the car very easily. Keep in mind, I am one of those people that does not notice cars. I could never tell you who drove what kind of car or even the color. I know there are "cars" "trucks" "SUVs" and "motorcycles." I just don't pay much attention beyond that.

I headed out to row two of the parking lot and found nothing that looked like Sharon's car. I looked down at the keys in my hand and it said "Toyota." I went up and down the second row and found the only Toyota there. It was a worn, red, wagon with lots of fishing gear in the back. Now Sharon's husband could have easily put that fishing gear back there, but he was a neat freak and this stuff was sort of tossed in the back. I was very unsure about this car.

My thought was, try the key! If the key fits, surely I'm in the right place. It fit - I got in.

As I sat there, I became more and more uncomfortable with the vehicle, thinking that there was no way Sharon's husband Philip would allow that mess or smell to be in his vehicle. I had a second key for the ignition.

My thought was, if it starts, surely I'm in the right car. I turned the key, it started and I was convinced.

I pulled out of the lot and headed off of campus out a back road to the airport. The further I got down the road, the more uncertain I became. I just had this awful feeling I was not in Sharon's car. I pulled into the airport right as the plane should have been landing but it was a few minutes behind schedule. I called Sharon on the payphone (no such thing as cell phones yet) and she just screamed with laughter as I described the red Toyota wagon. She drove a light grey Chevy Nova!!!!

I WAS IN THE WRONG CAR!!!! I HAD STOLEN SOMEONES CAR!!! I was 8 miles from campus and 15 minutes into my crime and had to wait for Connie.

We drove back, sitting in almost silence as I had to tell her what I had done. She was very calm but asked me to please stop speeding. We pulled into the lot - and OF COURSE - the space I vacated was no longer available. I had to park the car in a different row facing the opposite direction. Now I may not notice cars but I am very spacially aware. If I had parked my car in the morning in row two facing one building and came out that night with the car in row three facing the opposite direction - I WOULD NOTICE!

I put a very brief note on the car and asked the owner to please call me because I had some information about their vehicle.

Those were the longest two days of my life! The teasing in the office was relentless. Well deserved I might add! Who takes the wrong car!?! Everytime my phone rang at my desk, all my co-workers were like little ground hogs, popping up their heads above the cubicle walls, peeking over and craning their necks to listen in on my phone conversation. The call never came.

Then it happened. One of my co-workers - Sue - who was notorious for her elaborate practical jokes came up to me with a letter. She started in with a very serious tone about a request for a donation receipt. You see - it was her husband's car that I stole! The letter was very cleverly written to Connie's attention asking for donation credit for the use of their vehicle.

Sue worked just two office doors down from Sharon. We are talking Pullman, Washington here! A very small university town. One person drove a Chevy Nova - the other a Toyota wagon. BOTH cars had the same EXACT KEYS and I somehow discovered this all through a fluke accident. Do you realize how many stars in the sky would have to be lined up just perfectly for this type of thing to happen!?! Needless to say, I was embarassed.

Kisses for Everyone!

Every Day is Mothers Day

As my first Mothers Day is coming to an end, I'm typing this post with one hand while feeding Daniel with the other. He is on my lap drinking milk and cooing. He's also kicking the computer closet door and trying to grab everything on the table top.

I'm a Mom.

Daniel gave me the best gift ever this year! Just on Saturday, he started saying "Mama" for the first time. Jim and I have been having a blast getting him to repeat it over and over. He begins by opening and closing his mouth like a fish - no sound - just the mouth - THEN, he puts his voice behind it and it starts to come... "Ma ma mum mama mum" It's a wonder! He's just brilliant!

I didn't wake up with my annual anxiety and nausea today - what a change that was. For the first time, I began Mothers Day with joy and expectation. But I couldn't help but remember my sorrow from years past. They taught me a lot about myself but also about the hurts that others endure on Mothers Day.

I pray for those today who have lost their Mother or lost a child. I pray for those that long to be a Mom and somehow its just not happening yet. I pray for those that are out of relationship with their Mom and this day amplifies that rift. I pray specifically for Daniel's birthmother and all those birthmothers that first, choose life for their child, and then place them with a family to love and care for them because they are not able.

All that God has poured into us and how we are marked by His very image brings hope, peace and joy to all of us. Pray that Gods image in your life shines today and always.

P.S. Thank you God for making one of my dreams come true. My cup runneth over.

Rub-a-Dub-Dub

Where is March?

March!? Where is it? Did it already pass? I never saw it! How could that be.

Time just keeps "marching" on (I am married to the greatest punster that ever lived so I had to throw that one in) and I can not keep up. My mother used to tell me how fast time will go by once I am older. I never believed. In my high school years, I started to notice it. Summers were just never long enough. Then in my 20's, they got ever shorter - I would blink and it was time for school again. When I entered the workforce, I lived for Fridays - payday and the weekend! Thursdays went by slowly but everything else was warp-speed. Time has sped up at a consistant rate every year of my life.

Then I became a parent - I'm so confused. What day is it? Is it Tuesday? The 5th? No - Thursday the 3rd - yeah, thats it. Thursday the 3rd - of May, yes May - I do know we are in May!

My whole reference for time and schedule has been stripped away. I went to an office of some sort every day from 8am to 5pm for about 20 years (yes I'm serious, 20 years). You stare at a computer all day long jumping in and out of your calendar system, looking at the date constantly. Of course you know what day it is - you stare at it all day long. You surely know the time because every phone message you write has the date and time filled in. You look at your watch or a clock about 25 times a day. NOW - I don't know anything. I have no point of reference. I just do what needs to be done. Do you know, I am having trouble remembering my daily medications (thyroid - not prosac as some of you might think - although that would be fine if it was) because I get up at a different time almost every day and do something different each morning. It just depends on the needs.

For example, today, I woke up around 5am because my husband who said he was cold the previous night put an extra blanket on last night. We sleep with a down comforter and he added another. Yes, another DOWN COMFORTER. Well, by about 4:30 or 5am, he was too warm and I woke up to a HUGE wad a blankets all stacked up between us. I couldn't move too well and my back felt 10 degrees warmer than my front. Sweating was the next step and I wanted out of the pile of blankets before that started. Of course, then I had to pee. It was all over then. I was awake and loading the washer! (I need some undees!)

Now - I'm learning about this blog thing. Sharon helped me with adding music! Yeah! I love it. I wanted to learn how to add "friends" and started that the other day. I just added a few and thought, some of my friends are going to visit and not see a link to their blog and be sad. I think I got everyone this morning! I had trouble with one - I don't have permission. So, if you don't see your link on my blog, let me know but be sure I'm invited. I want to learn how to have my picture post with my comments - like Sharon and Becca!

I am becoming more accustomed to this new lifestyle and look forward to the day I don't have the go in to the office at all (for those who don't know, I have still been working part-time and bringing Daniel into the offic with me). I go in 3 to 5 days a week depending upon the needs. It's been such a blessing and my employers are jewels but it's time to take the plunge - the full-body plunge into my new job - Stay-at-home-Mom! It's a job I have always wanted and I am so glad to have it!

Back to the topic! (that's another thing by the way I am struggling with, staying on task) Time. Who can fully understand it and/or master it? Not me. I do want to continue to grow in the area of using it wisely. I loved hearing about Leslie's new schedule and her daily focus. I have a great appreciation for good plans but am in awe of those who actually follow their plans. Pray for me to come up with a plan that I can and will follow. I need help getting a little bit of a handle on my days and try to stick to a schedule.

Any and all ideas are much appreciated.

I had to throw in these pictures to prove my point - time is marching on!