The Shawn Parade

Driving to work with Shawn can be downright depressing. He's a grump. While I on the other hand am a sparkling morning delight. Chattering away. Singing. Talking back to Beth and Friends. He's a "let's just get to work and get it over with" kind of guy, but once I get him in the building he kicks it into gear, turning on the charm with the patients, making me think maybe it's just me. Maybe I'm not worth charming anymore. Lately I've had to put on my nurse/receptionist/phone operator elf hat as my usual crew has rotated in and out, getting their kids' new summer schedules in place. It forces me to be bubbly. Positive. Charming. Then I realized maybe that's why Shawn saves his up on the ride in. Saves it for the people who need it. And as I sit there watching and listening to the parade of people flowing by my window, the parade on the phone, the parade of other doctor's notes on the fax, praising Shawn, telling me how wonderful he is, what a life-saver, literally, I start to think that maybe I can do without a little charm every now and then. So on the way home, somehow now with a shiny halo around his head, Mr. Grump quietly listened as I told him what a great job he did today, how everybody truly appreciates the dedication, the extra miles, the brain power and the hard work. I told him that he's making a difference. Then he turned to me and smiled.

:)

Economics 101

A little Economics 101

The Truth About The Economy

Feel better?

J.O.B.

I read that 47% of Americans can't come up with $2,000 within the next 30 days without selling some of their possessions. It's bad out there. Shana has just one more year of school and not many jobs waiting when she's done, so to get her brain in gear (and since the helicopter parent thing doesn't seem to be waning), a couple of weeks ago I piled the following library books on her bed:

You've got an education, now go get a life
The girl's guide to kicking your career into gear
What flavor is your personality?
Careers and occupations: looking to the future
Career GPS: strategies for women navigating the new corporate landscape
Green careers for dummies
What color is your parachute for teens

I got the "due soon" email from the library today, went to Shana's room and saw the books all neatly stacked in the corner looking lonely and a bit dusty.

I may need to bring the helicopter in a little lower.

Here's a funny essay that started the whole job worry thing for me last year.
Your New College Graduate: A Parent's Guide

Dbacks Wednesday

Semi-retirement half-day Wednesday excitement - let's go Diamondbacks! Good job Giants! The boys of summer, the broken bats, the beer buzz on a perfectly air-conditioned Arizona night.

Summer's Here

A few tips from a native:

Get out early
Get out late
Swim in the middle
And for God's sake, no matter what, under any circumstances - DON'T BITCH

...it's unbecoming

Movie Madness - Tree of Life

I didn't get it. Maybe it's because I'm so doped up on allergy meds due to the smokey air around here these days and all of the coughing and blowing and dosing off I did in the dark that I missed something. All I know is if it wasn't for my hilarious movie madness mavens next to me, I wouldn't have made it through. Was it a movie about a family? Was it a National Geographic documentary? There were moments I felt like I was at an IMAX or on the Soaring Over California ride at Disneyland. Yes, the photography was amazing. The other parts, the non-oceanic, non-wilderness, non-big bang, beginning of time illustrations were good, too. Brad Pitt, come on. Perfect. His lovely wife and kids. Ditto. Sean Penn. Great, great. But we were supposed to decipher the difference between following nature or following God but instead of getting the answer, all we could think about what when it would be over.

Weddings

Last year it was Sophie.

This week it's Shawna.

The friend's kids are starting to get hitched. Makes me wonder - when will it be Shana? Not for a long time, I hope. Hoping she gets through college first. Finds herself. Has some more Charlie's Angels time. 

Last week, decades after I freaked out my parents at nineteen and ran off and got married, I was sitting around with these ladies at the beach (I know, I know, boo hoo).

I watched each one of them walk down the aisle. We reminisced about all of their weddings. The bachelorette parties, the bridesmaid dresses, the Brick House song. Those were all beautiful days and someone asked why we're all still married. Why this crowd has stuck it out so long when so many of our friends have long since parted.

Probably has something to do with having friends like these.

Man Up

The weekend - from high brow - The Music Man - to get low, low, low brow - Eating Raoul.

I saw a preview of The Music Man a few months ago while down in Mesa to see Man of La Mancha (Don Quixote) and knew right away I'd be back.  Next year, they will be celebrating their 75th year, the oldest community theatre in Arizona, and these people know what they're doing. So last night, the cast, the singing, the acting, the costumes, the sets - all perfect - made me want to start playing the trombone.

Then today it was Eating Raoul. The Nearly Naked Theatre crowd is mostly gay, gay, gay so I need to hold on tight to Shawn as the actors crack us up with their always over-the-top, original, hilarious plays. So much fun!

Gabby

It was nice to wake up and see Gabby's smiling face. Then I opened my email (thanks Mrs. Old Wildcat) and saw U2 singing to her - from one spaceship to another.

Twitter Treatment

Weiner's going to rehab. Maybe they'll cut off his Blackberry.