Office Art

It's been a bit slow in the office the last few days.  Which essentially means I have had absolutely nothing to do.  Thankfully, that will end tomorrow.  To preoccupy my time, I have been decorating my cubicle with office supplies.  It is amazing what one can come up with, when one is bored.  My medium has been paper clips, t pins, thumtacks, and the boxes the paper clips came in.  Thus far I have made several sculptures and a vase.  As I was exercising the right side of my brain the last few days, it occurred to me that this may not be the best way to demonstrate creativity at work.  Oh, well, too late for that now.  Below are pics of my masterpieces.

 

I actually have a couple of more things in addition to the items in the photograph above.  At the rate I'm going, I might have found a new calling.  Anyway, I can't wait to see the expression on my boss' face tomorrow.  It should be mildly entertaining.  My trip to San Francisco got pushed back to the beginning of next week, so I will update you all on the boss' fear of flying.  I still find that hilarious. I am also visiting my brother and mother in North Carolina this weekend.  We may be taking a trip to the smoky mountains.  If that pans out, there will be pictures galore.  I hope everyone had a productive day in the office (or at home).  If not, I encourage you to exercise you brain and create your own office art :). 

Burgundy...

Today was a perfect summer day: hot during the day, cool at night, sunny and clear skies. I need to remember this when winter arrives with it's short, cold, gray, gloomy days. Work is going well. I will most likely be traveling to the west coast for business next week, so that should be interesting. My boss revealed today that he is not a "fan" of flying, as in he needs a couple of drinks to ease the anxiety before take off. I of course find the irony in that statement to be hilarious. Just for a mental picture, this gentleman is over 6 ft tall, moderately well built, football lover, and very stereotypical in the masculine department (as in has night in shining armor syndrome). It always seems to be the toughest guys who are the biggest babies when it comes to flying. That has never failed to amaze me. I had another colleague, several years ago, big, burly, and manly, who refused to fly anywhere. (For the same anxiety provoking reason.) Go figure. Your night in shining armor is ok coming by horse (or sports car/SUV), but ask him to come via jet plan, well that's just plain crazy talk. I mean there are limits.

Needless to say this little work related adventure should be interesting. There is nothing more entertaining than an inebriated boss. In anticipation of your next question, yes I totally want to see the man in all his anxiety laden, slightly drunk form. That will just make for an even better blog post when I write about it :). So, while I miss my work dad, it appears I'm replacing him with...Well, I haven't yet come up with an appropriate name for him yet. Nothing witty is coming to mind at the moment. Anyway, I wore this burgundy number to work today. I got it from Ross and I think it was only like $3. I bought the shoes after the Mr. insisted it was worth the money at DSW. They are Audrey Brooke. I love how my legs look in this dress. At my short stature, anything that makes my legs look long and sexy is a must have in the wardrobe. The shoes probably help. Granted, this dress might have been a touch inappropriate for the office, but I don't care. Once in awhile, one should dress as hot as the feel. Since that's rare for me, I take advantage of the opportunity when it arises.

Dress: Ross, Shoes: Audrey Brooke, Jewelry: Gift

First Week on the Job

My first official week at the new job is over and I'm still feeling good about it.  I have gotten to know my boss and his sarcastic demeanor seems like it will be a good fit.  In addition to his sarcasm, he also used to work for my old employer and knew my work father.  Which only confirms that one should never burn their bridges at their former place of employment.  I am already working on a project doing some writing, a great thing, since it is one of the reasons I joined this shop.  I am looking forward to the next few months as I get more involved with things.  The work seems interesting and challenging, both great things to keep the mind stimulated.

There are also other stylish women in the office who share a fondness for shoes, another sign from the God's this is totally where I needed to be :).  Today I wore one of my favorite dresses.  This green and black Nine West number fits like a glove and the pattern is just fantastic.  I paired it with some Jessica Simpson heels, chosen by the fashionista in this household: the Mr.

The Professional Adieu

Farewells are always difficult, whether they are professional or personal.  Today marked the end of another chapter in my life as I said goodbye to my colleagues.  I have had a good 2.5 year run.  My work father gave me a big bear hug and was happy with his wine and chocolate.  My boss loved her gift and said it was thoughtful and fitting because she entertained alot.  I was also treated to a lovely lunch.  This is the way I wanted to leave: happy.  I am touched by how many people have told me they enjoyed working with me.  Hermits always assume no one cares about their existence.  One colleague said he learned alot from me, that is always an amazing thing to hear when one is just starting out in their career.  While it was hard, it felt right.

I am a big believer in saying goodbye the right way.  Why? Because it may be the last time you say goodbye.  Farewells are important.  They bring closure, peace, and comfort when tragedy strikes (all of us will experience tragedy).  A good farewell, especially in the work world, requires some planning.  Despite the lack of attachment associated with work, people still need time to process loss.  Even if that loss is an employee at the bottom of the organization who has decided to move on (like me).  So give your adieu a week in advance.

Then there is what to say.  Heartfelt, genuine, and positive are the themes that should come through in a written goodbye, no matter how unhappy you are.  Remember, you might cross paths again. Finally, there is the goodbye you give to those that you truly will miss.  That is the hardest of all.  Fortunately in the work world, an end to a work relationship opens the door to a personal one.  As I start the next chapter in my career, I am most looking forward to the new personal relationships that come with a professional adieu.  A top notch goodbye guarantees opportunities for life long friendships.

My last outfit....A little nostalgia from the college years.

Dress: From my college days (over 10 years ago)

Shoes: Madden Girl

Earrings: Self made

The Art of Gift Giving

To give someone a gift is an art.  Gift giving, for it to be truly meaningful, requires thoughtfulness, planning, and good listening skills.  All three are necessary to truly find and give someone a gift that leaves their hearts touched.  I love gift giving.  It is one of my favorite hobbies.  If I had all the money in the world, I would spend the vast majority of my time looking for, purchasing, and giving gifts.  Unfortunately, my bank balance does not allow for this kind of generosity, so I limit my gift giving to the moments that really count.

One of those moments will be tomorrow when I say goodbye to my colleagues.  Among that group will be my boss and my work father.  Two individuals who have made the last two and half years incredibly productive for both my professional and private life.  Given their contribution to my development, a gift was warranted for each of this wonderful people.  I came home a little early to purchase the items I will be giving them (along with thank you cards of course).  I thoroughly enjoyed my experience this afternoon as I mulled through items to select that perfect gift.

For my work father I settled on a bottle of local Pennsylvania wine and a bar of organic dark chocolate.  The man loves food.  On one of our many get-to-know-you moments he shared a story with me about a taste bud experience that involved alcohol and chocolate.  We had recently tasted some local wine at a store, and low and behold, one of them paired very well with chocolate.  It was meant to be.  For my boss, the best boss I have every had in my 17 years in the work world, I bought a decorative glass plate that is painted with purple flowers (purple is her favorite color).  My boss has two sons and I figured she could use something pretty with all the testosterone that runs through her household.  I can't wait to give my gifts tomorrow.  I hope their hearts are touched, that is always my aim.  There is nothing like ending a professional relationship well. 

The gifts for my two favorite people at work:

For my work father

For my boss

This is what I wore yesterday, my outfit today was meh.

Dress: Thrifted
Shoes: Rocket Dog
Earrings: Self made

It. Is. HOT.

It is close to 100 degrees outside and feels like a furnace. The inside of my house feels the same since I don't have air conditioning. I feel for my poor Maya who must be so uncomfortable (she is sitting in between two fans, panting). The new job starts in a little more than a week! I am starting to get excited, but it still doesn't feel real yet. 

I truly believe that things work themselves out. Sometimes it doesn't seem that way in the moment, but when one looks back at the series of circumstances as a whole, it all starts to makes sense. This new job feels the same way. Savoring it is important, because at some point I will feel overworked and under appreciated and at that time, I have to remember how I felt at this moment. That is just the way the work world is sometimes. That shouldn't deter one from doing their best and having personal integrity. At the end of the day you can't change someone else's behavior, you can only change your own and hope other's use that as a guiding example. Influence is a powerful thing, most of the time we don't even know we have it.

I wanted to wear something bright and cheery today. After a week of mostly black outfits (I really love black and as a result, my closet is full of items in that color). I thrifted the skirt some time ago and it is actually purple, for some reason it comes out blue when photographed. The shirt is from JC Penny and the shoes are from Daffy's. This is out of my normal comfort zone, but since I have only a week or so left, I thought I would go out with a bang.

Skirt: Pat Argenti (thrifted)
Shirt: St. John's Bay
Belt: Thrifted
Shoes: Boutique 58
Earrings: Made by me

The Human Touch

On most days I consider myself to be a solitary person. Solitude seems to be essential in my ability to function. When people ask me to describe myself, I say that I am a modern day hermit, someone who doesn't really enjoy people. Humans, in general, are complicated, and too often unpleasant. Sometimes though, that same calming solitude, can be torture. It is a fine balance between serenity and loneliness.

This past weekend and today are fine examples of when the human touch can be nourishing to both the mind and soul. There are times when all of us need the company of friends and the appreciation of colleagues. We humans are social creatures after all. Interaction with other sentient beings is essential to our way of being.

The Mr. and I went to a potluck on Saturday where we spent several hours eating good food and having an engaging conversation with a physicist and former dancer (get your mind out of the gutter, she was not that kind of dancer). We talked about our families, the problems that ail our society, relationships, careers, but most of all we laughed. One cannot laugh and feel the full joy of that activity without the company of others. This brief moment was so perfect, I wish I could have bottled it up so I could bring it out in trying times. It never fails to amaze me how such pleasure can be had doing the simplest of activities.

Saturday Outfit to Potluck
Dress: Kohls
Purse: Wilsons Leather
Shoes: DSW
Necklace and Earrings: Made by me

            

Chickpea Dish Ingredients: Organic garbanzo beans, organic onions,organic potatoes, organic pasta sauce, Himalayan sea salt, Organic cayan pepper, Organic black pepper, grapeseed oil, Organic turmeric, allspice, curry  powder, organic ginger.
Riata (yogurt dish): Organic yogurt, organic cucumbers, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, organic cayan pepper, black
pepper, tamarind sauce

The perfection of that moment was followed by spending time with Maya on the beach the following day. My baby girl was unsure of the water at first, but with a little coaxing, she seemed to recognize its potential. She also thoroughly enjoyed chasing an inky black great dane that looked a bit like Marmaduke (albeit smaller). Needless to say, the weekend was pretty perfect. God, how I love having a dog. Hermits, it turns out, really enjoy pets.

Maya frolicking at the beach....

Enjoying the view

Splashing around

Making new friends

Playing with daddy

Posing with mommy

Finally, we come to today. I emailed my farewell note to everyone today. The response was overwhelming in a positive direction. I had no idea that so many people thought so highly of me, or would miss me for that matter. I always assumed no one noticed, it turns out I was wrong. No matter how awkward one is, or how reserved, we all want to be noticed. It is a shame we wait so long to tell people the things we think are great about them. Imagine what the world would be like if we spent half our time telling those we interact with everyday how their presence makes a difference in our lives. While I always say please and thank you, I don't tell people often enough how great they are. At this next job, I resolve to do this more. With those I care about, I resolve to do this half the time at minimum. After I tell people that I am a modern day hermit, I always point out, that hermits have hearts too. Ours are just more more prone to break than regular folks. So we have to spend a little more effort protecting them.

Outfit today.... 

100% Thrifted
Top: Urban Behavior
Skirt: The Limited
Shoes: BCBG

I Made My Decision

I made my decision Tuesday night and decided to accept the offer at the other company.  After staying up till 4:30 in the morning and not getting so much as a thank you, I had, had enough.  It is time to start afresh while I still like everyone at my current job.  My boss told me I would have to continue to work on a team that I don't especially care for.  Working with them essentially means career suicide, since I am rarely able to meet my deadlines when I work on their projects.  (They also don't seem to have the words "thank" and "you" in their vocabulary.)  So now with that wrenching decision complete, I can look forward to a new job in a new month (I start August 1st).  This the first place I am going where I actually know people (who I also like), so the transition should be nice.  I told my work dad yesterday, that was very difficult.  You know what this sweet, wonderful man's reaction was?  He said, and I quote "Well, I'm going to miss you."  How wonderful is that?  I am looking forward to the evolution in our relationship as it transitions from a professional one to a personal one.  I think I am going to get him and my boss thank you gifts for being so wonderful.  In a world where people are so unpleasant, it is important to recognize those who are not. 

My craft room is completely painted.  It looks bright, green, and awesome :).  I have been so busy with work I haven't had much time to work on it. Since I am no longer young and spry an almost all nighter takes longer to recuperate from.  I think tomorrow I will work on painting the trim, and then it will be ready for decoration.  I am also getting new glasses tomorrow. Yay!  It's been three years, and my eyes are begging for something stylish.  I wore the outfit below Monday.  I bought it from the juniors section and it is still to big.  <sigh>

Dress: Kohls
Belt: Thrifted
Shoes: Michael Kors (Thrifted)

The Joys of Being an Employee

It finally rained after some scorching weather.  The veggie garden is going to be appreciative of that.  I was supposed to find out the details of my promotion today, so I could make my decision.  Unfortunately, the powers that be decided not to honor their commitment to tell us today and delay the info dispersing another two weeks.  Needless to say, I am "disappointed" with my employer.  I personally feel that if you make a commitment (especially on something as important as someone's livelihood), you should honor it.  Especially, if you espouse that you value your employees.  On another note, my boss has been incredibly kind about the whole thing, and that makes me think that maybe I don't want to move.  My work father is not making it any easier by being so awesome.

This weekend's plan is to complete the craft room so that I can get to creating.  On the creating front, I have gotten a head start by adding tags to all my posts (it turns out I own alot of purple clothes).  Maya has been a trip lately.  She showed her displeasure to the hubs (for being late) by tearing up mail (nothing important).  It was pretty funny.  She also now barks at things that are only visible to her (that is not so funny).  All in all I have an awesome dog.  Pets add such fullness to one's life: joy, humor, and love.  Regardless of how bad my day has been, I come home to a welcome that screams "I am so HAPPY to see.  I LOVE YOU."  I recommend a pet for everyone, it will at the very least cure you of glumness (I'm not a fan of the word depressed, I think glum is more accurate).  Oh, and below is what I wore today.  Orange is another fantastic color.

Dress: Banana Republic (outlet)
Shoes: Moda
Earrings: self made

A Very Bad Week

I'm using today's post to update the week of the Jan. 10th.  It was an incredibly bad week.  They laid of 6 people at work.  Two of those folks I worked with directly, so this only adds more to my already full plate.  Thankfully, I didn't have to go into work for two days that week.  Things have calmed somewhat and it looks like the organization will be ok.  We shall see, they sang that same optimistic tune before the layoffs (which came out of the blue).  Well, I suppose it could be worse.  Fortunately, the job market is a wee bit better.  So here are my outfits for the remainder of that awful week.  I will post last weeks outfits tomorrow.

Thursday                                                Friday

Saturday (went to hang out with family)           Sunday

                            

Velvet Time - Day 45

I hit an all time record in terms of how late I stayed up for work yesterday: 4 a.m.  That's right 4 a.m.  My previous record was 3 a.m.  Next time, I'm going to shoot for the all nighter just like the good old college days (and graduate school days). Now this information begs the question:  Did I finish what I needed to?  Answer: No, not really.  I actually had to finish up this morning.  Ahhh, how I love work weeks like this.  The most awesome part of this week is I actually have to be at work at 7:30 am tomorrow.  Now with my commute that means I have to leave the house at 6:30 a.m.  (Just as a side note: I'm not a morning person.)  I just can't wait for tomorrow.  And yes, I have work tonight as well.  (No I'm not likely to get a bonus or a raise for this kind of craziness, oh well, at least I'm employed.  Gotta count your blessings.)  So with that, here is my outfit for today:  the jacket is Tahari, the top is from Target, the shoes are Nine West, and I don't know what brand the skirt is (the label has fallen off).

Black and White - Day 28 (Week 4)

Today was a very long day (walked in the house door at 11 pm).  I had some deadlines to meet, and thus stayed at work longer than anyone should.  What was really bad is that it started thundering and lightening at around 10, so it sounded like armageddon outside.  Fortunately, by the time I was on the road the rain had stopped.  However, I was treated with dinner made by the hubs, so that was a pleasant suprise.  With that, here is my outfit: the skirt is Willi Smith, the shirt is from Target, the belt is thrifted, and the shoes are MRKT.