YaYa Princess

Those that know me rather well are probably aware that I’m all about self growth and learning and all of those fine things.  Sometime in late March/early April I stopped long enough to look up at my calendar and realize that “holy potatoes May is going to be INSANE!”.   Basically, this year’s May is last year’s April…if that makes any sense.

I entered the month of May as I do most things when there is a lot to accomplish, head down and ready to charge.  But I also want to enjoy the fun times, of which there were a lot to be had.  I reconcilled myself to knowing that May 4-June 4 would just basically be a whirlwind and God willing I would enjoy the ride. 

And so I present to you 30 lessons in 30 days…or somwhere around there.

1. Threatening a union worker is never smart, and usually leads to the head union guy coming to the planner (yours truly) to put everyone in “timeout”.
2. Even when it rains fun can be had.  Who says you can’t ride on an open top tour bus in a drizzle?
3. South Street is MUCH farther from the Marriott than it looks when walking back after a long day and a full belly.  That requires stopping along the way at a bar and trying your first Guiness.
4. Guiness (at least I’m told when poured badly) has an aftertaste like blood.
5. As it turns out, PETA is now running the Shennandoah National Campground horsetrails.
6. And yes, that crazy old coot will actually bring out the scale and have you stand on it to see if you are 235lbs or less FULLY CLOTHED.
7. Nothing makes Big Girl want to eat (or drink) like a little humilation.
8. Aunt Sharon gave us the WORLD’S BEST WATERPROOF tent for our wedding!  YAY for mountain-folk!
9. You can still have fun camping when it’s raining, but as it turns out rain on your tent “roof” sounds more like an ambush than something spa-like.
10. Bear poop is HUGE.
11. Blue Moon with an orange is the most deliciousness EVER.  I <3 it.
12. My husband knows me well, and sees me better than I see myself.  I know I mentioned this in yesterday’s post but it’s still true.  Not a day goes by when I’m not thanful for him.
13. Sometimes you just need to turn to your boss, tears in your eyes, and admit that if your schedule stays as crazy as it is you will simply not be able to keep up.  And you need to realize that that is ok to admit.
14. My sister and brother in law are what relaxes me.  I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s as if their presence centers me.
15. They also happen to be very decorator savvy.  I had no idea how cute my front porch could be unti they got their hands on it.
16. As it turns out, one of my favorite places now is my front porch with some good friends, family and beer (apparently LOTS of beer if you saw our trashcan).
17. Finding out you are still over 600 hours over “fully billable” after already having one meeting removed from your calendar is not nearly as glamorous as it sounds and causes you to refer to #13 above.
18. “Sweet little Allie” will in fact bold face lie to the guy, IN THE FACE, who asks if she knows the way to the White House tour when threatened with bodily injury to keep it a secret from SK and Trey by her husband.
19. Karma is also a b*tch and said guy and his wife (who you tried to apologize to) end up following you around every tourist attration in greater DC, giving you the skank eye all the way.
20. Beer is good-especially on my front porch-did I mention that?
21. Having your husband come onsite with you to a meeting is nice in theory, but as it turns out I snap right into work mode. 
22. That state right over the bridge?  Yea, still don’t like it.  Even if it is only 7 mins from my front door. 
23. A reception at the Congressional Visitors Center, while it sounds glamourous, is really a logistical nightmare and much sexier in theory than practice.  Add rain to that and you end up with one wet planner.
24. Apparently it takes house guests to get us to finish our house….but boy is it getting cute!
25. You never know just HOW much like your mother you are until you see her for the first time in 7 months.
26. It’s worse than originally thought-I’m actually a combination of BOTH of my parents!!!  RUN FOR IT!
27. There’s something special about cooking your parents dinner on their 35th wedding anniversary with your husband at your new house.   Makes you wish you were closer to family.
28. My parents still leave me money in random places when they visit.  $20 bucks in the fruit bowl-score!  Somehow it never ceases to make me smile.
29. You never realize how old you are until you go to dinner and a movie with friends at the Tysons mall for an 11:20pm showing and are in the food court.  Oh.My.Gosh. 
30. I am blessed with some amazing friends and family.  But you already knew that didn’t you?

So I’ve survived the month.  Crazy as it was, I wouldn’t change it for the world.

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Last night I was tooling through old posts.  I found one that I never published from when I was in Philly for the site inspection in December.  Tonight I leave for the City of Union Fun Brotherly Love.  Time really is flyin these days.

Anyway, it’s my first onsite of the year…well, for my standard clients.  Sadly one of my shows this spring was cancelled due to that ponzi scheme.  It’s always hard getting back into the swing of things.  Not to mention that apparently at some point the client was promised something called “continuous web registration” but there was a discconect with programming, so reg closed yesterday.  Sadly the originally reg coordinator is no longer with us due to downsizing, so there was a lot of searching through old e-mails to figure out what was going on.

Now, considering all that’s going on in the world, it’s really not THAT big of a deal.  But it’s just one more fun hurdle to conquor.  Luckily I set days like this aside for the eminent choas that occurs when people remember the 7200 things they forgot to do over the course of the last few weeks.  Product of being human and all.

Meanwhile, I have to admit that I’m nervous about this onsite.  Not just b/c I have been dormant for a whopping 2 weeks either.  I tend to watch a lot of news as it pertains to scares of any sort.  What can I say, I’m a drama queen and the news media certainly helps me fulfill that quotent.  Normally I’m not really all that concerned about whatever catastrophe of the week they are reporting on, but I cannot lie, this swine flu thing has gotten to me.

I was in Texas when I first really heard about it, and when they started reported about it coming over the boarder from Mexico.  I need not remind you of the proximity of Mexico to Texas.  On my return trip there were people in masks in the airport…a little too close for comfort.

And now?  Well, now it’s spread through out fine country.  New York has the largest outbreak in the US, which let’s face it is not surprising concidering that mass amounts of people that come through that state/city on an hourly basis.

Tuesday morning I will be faced with 1400 registered attendees from all over the country.  Attendees who are executives that travel all over the world themselves.  I’ve taken to washing my hands and carrying my Purell, but none the less, I have an uneasy feeling. Perhap b/c it is basically a convulted flu and not SARS or the Bird Flu or something. 

I suppose the fact that I’m a rather healthy individual should calm my nerves, knowing that while the flu would suck beyond all suckiness, I’d be ok.  And if not ok, I live in a major city with some good hospitals.  And beyond that, I have a friend whose husband does medical research, so I’m pretty well connected

Perhaps what really got me though, was the mass industry e-mails that came through on Monday about the effects of this on my industry, or the fact that by Monday night my company had created literature on how to deal with the swine flu as it pertians to events, planning and the like…literature that I have printed out in my binder.

It’s uneasy I suppose.  In reality I’m sure I’ll be fine, but in truth I’m nervous.  And Lord help any single person, VIP attendee or not, who has the sniffles and comes around me.  I may just have to sic the union on them.

Now, off to cross the border…err, uhh, Mason Dixon line.

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If you’ve seen my “Thankful Thursdays”, you know that I’ve begun following the journey of this little boy .  His name is Stellan, and right now he is in surgery in Boston trying to repair his little heart.  If you’re the praying kind, I know he and those around him could use a good word right now.

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Tonight, shortly before 9:30pm on my way to pick up the boy my phone rang. It was one of my oldest friends, Andi. The first thing she said to me was “I’m sorry to call so late” and it was with those words that I knew whatever she had to say wasn’t good.

And it wasn’t.

Last Sunday a high school friend of ours was riding her bike and was struck from behind by a car. She was pronounced dead at the scene. She had been married 8 months and 2 days.

The last time I saw Jess was at our 10 year high school reunion. The other two home office employees wouldn’t step foot back “there”, so I went alone. I was nervous, being alone, despite knowing most of my class–there weren’t that many of us. I saw Jess fairly quickly, and as always she was welcoming and friendly.

And boisterous, God that woman was always so….Loud

I can still remember, when they had all the women get on the dance floor that were no longer single, her yelling jokingly how they had sold out. She was always right there, in your face.

Even sadder still, we only found out by a fluke. One of our other high school classmates manages a hotel where most of the funeral guests are staying-one of them told her by happenstance. Now it’s a rush to try to let the rest of our class know, or at least try to. While Jess and I were never exceptionally close, it’s still breaks my heart to think that others wouldn’t know, that they wouldn’t be extending their thoughts and prayers at her funeral on Sat. So I will be making the trek home, to pay my respects. It’s the least I can do.
I won’t claim to have been her closest friend, and yet somehow this one hits home in a way that even surprises me.

And if there’s a small fire in heaven, started by…say…a candle centerpiece…then we will know for sure it was Jess

Rest in Peace

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Today the boy and I celebrate 2 years together. Two years ago right now we were sitting in P.J. Skadoo’s smoking, drinking and talking. Actually, if you deal with the whole “Memorial Day” then 2 years ago today we were hanging out on my couch after going to Arlington Cemetary and then having the boy cook dinner and watching “The Family Stone”.

Last year we celebrated in NYC, where I met Lea Salonga. Tonight though, I’m by myself in Orlando. I can’t really complain, we had a truly fabulous weekend with our moms and a kick butt bridal shower. More of that later though.

Right now, right now I’m busy lamenting about the last two years. I’m a truly lucky woman. And I’ll admit to being sad and a little pouty this evening. I can’t help it, I’m in love. Poor She She–after this emotional weekend I’m pretty sure she thinks I’m a nut job (no comments from the peanut gallery ). But we’ll get to celebrate some more at the beach next week. In the meantime, I’m allowing myself to be a bit pouty tonight, and realizing that no matter what I think, anniversary’s do, in fact, need some special attention. I’m also realizing that do-overs are a great thing.

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