Friday Rants, Raves, and Updates

It feels like forever since I've posted something. So much has happened the past couple of weeks that it is almost hard to think straight!
For those of you who are praying for Lisa, please keep praying. I had an update from her last Friday letting me know that they should have the results of the biopsy today. Ultimately, she will probably be coming to MD Anderson. Please keep her and her family in your prayers. They are nervous to be here at Anderson and away from their family, friends, and church family. As soon as I know more, I will post. It seems like it takes forever to get biopsy results. In the world of fast paced technology, you would think they would be able to expedite that process.

On another note...something I've been wanting to share but was not able to for quite some time. I've been working at Waste Management since June of 2007. I landed there while looking for a teaching job. Things worked out for me to stay, but I wasn't a full time employee. By title, I was an intern. By scope of work, I definitely wasn't. Last January I was given a raise and was told that it shouldn't be too long before the department had approval to add head count...then I waited, and waited, and waited. My boss waited and waited and waited too. As the economy got worse, it became clear that they would not be granting any requestion requests...so there I was, a 25 year old intern....In November, one of the ladies on my team was fired for performance. We were all sad for her, but knew the integrity of our work required her to be gone. It was approved to fill the position, after the first of the year. I had applied for the job and was qualified and had the experience needed to do the job. In January, the company announced lay offs. Everyone was sweating it big time, especially the intern! I thought "this is it...they are going to see my title and get me out." Our team hadn't heard anything, so we thought we were good to go. As soon as we had let our guard down, they terminated our VP (a member of the Senior Leadership Team). That was a HUGE deal. Some were sad to see him go, others were not. Our department, Ethics and Diversity was split up into three other groups. Three of my co-workers and I are now in the Legal Department. The ball started rolling to bring me on full time and my OFFICIAL first day at Waste was Monday. Almost 21 months as an intern. It has been a crazy ride, but I'm really excited and insanely relieved. Not that my new status protects me from anything, but at least now I can work toward things like bonuses, raises, more vacation time, and a severance package should I need it! It was a busy week at work, and I totally enjoyed every minute of it. The only down side is going to be that I will be working more than 40 hours each week. I won't get to leave early on Fridays anymore-but I'll take that any day!

Joe and I were going to go out for a celebratory dinner last night. I'd been looking forward to it all day. What is better than dinner and dessert out with the hub??? Instead, I spent my whole commute home on the bus PRAYING I wouldn't toss my cookies on the lady next to me. Luckily, I was able to control things. I think I got food poisioning at lunch at the Four Seasons yesterday and ended up getting sick last night and running a fever. I've been teasing all week that I was going to find a way out of yard work this weekend...this was NOT what I had in mind! Ick!