Friday, August 22, 2008

Out of balance...

That is how I am feeling tonight. And for a while now, though I hadn't really taken the time to think about how I've been feeling. Today was my last day of work and I am about to start vacation. My mind is still at work though, and I feel wound very tightly. Normally I am really good about separating work from home. The past month or more I have not succeeded at this. I take alot of pride in the work I do. When it is expected that I perform A, B & C by a certain date, and then they toss in D, E, and F, I will do what it takes to accomplish what needs to be done, because we do have deadlines and if things aren't done in time, it affects everyone else. Unfortunately, some of my coworkers do not share that belief. They instead complain that there is SOOOOO much work to do, and they spend time making excuses as to why they are not getting the work they are assigned done. It makes more work for everyone. Now, I don't mind doing more than my fair share of the work. I do mind though when I have planned out my time a month in advance, and said co-workers repeatedly don't get their work done, and I end up either doing some of their work, or not having enough time to do the final testing in the manner it should be done. The other issue is that we have been without a manager since February, there is division in the department, and going to work every day has become kind of like living having to live with your partner after you've decided to part company until one of you finds a place to live. Only you're getting paid to do it. Don't get me wrong - I really do love what I do. I'm just tired of the system that is in place that doesn't work. I'm tired of working with people who complain, make more work than is necessary, have no concept of how to prioritize and basically act like 5th graders. Hopefully a new manager will help. But there is still the issue of the division, and I don't think that can be easily mended. I just want to not think about that place for the next week and work on finding the balance. For starters, I need to stop coming home and logging into work to work some more. And I really, really, really want to be able to just move out of the office and work from home full time.
So, here's to a much needed vacation. I'm heading to Maine in the morning and then back to NH Wednesday. Not a whole lot planned, my brother is on vacation as well, and then next weekend is getting the kid ready to go back to school...I am craving a few days to myself to do absolutely nothing. I have a big chunk of time off at the end of the year and am definitely scheduling at least a 4 day stretch to myself. But that is months away. I will have to plan a 3 day weekend in the meantime.
Time to find the balance between work and play, activity and rest!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

You can dance...

Went and saw Mama Mia at Chunky's tonight.

Meryl Streep can sing!! And she looks sooooooo hot in the overalls. And then she adds the toolbelt and the power tools...swoooooon!! OK, I admit it. I have always had a thing for Ms. Streep. I kinda forgot about it though. Then I heard about Mamma Mia and thought, yeah, I don't think so. Then I heard Meryl Streep was in it and I watched the trailer. Hmmmm...maybe I should check it out. So, off I went to meet up with the ManchVegas Knitters. The first 5 minutes I'm thinking - sigh - this is going to be one of those musicals that bore me to tears. After those 5 minutes? That there movie picked me up and took me on a feel good ride that had me smiling the whole way through. Yes, it is pure fluff. The story is simple and it is a pure escape from reality. Go see it. I'm going again, you can go with me!

I shouldn't be up. It's late. But I came home and worked for a while. I need to stop doing that!!

p.s. don't beleive a word Laurin says, I behaved myself the entire evening!!!

Sunday, August 3, 2008

All is well...

in Red Sox Nation. Carry on...

Great weekend!! T-dance yesterday, shopping in Ogunquit, got my tires rotated (yes, this was very good!), breakfast with an old friend, some knitting, lot's of baseball...that about sums it up. Oh! And new recipe...kind of a random creation mine and a combination of CSA and Manchester Farmers Market. It needs a name!! I had in mind making a sort of turnip hash, and the obvious name would be - Trash - but who would want to make that??

Ingredients

5 small - medium turnips
1/2 medium sweet onion, diced
1 garlic scape, or 1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 head cabbage, diced
1 tsp thyme
2 tbsp butter
olive oil

Cut up turnip into 1" chunks. Boil until mushy (think: mashed potatoes consistency), about 20 min. Drain. Mash.

In a wok or skillet, heat 1 - 2 tbsp olive oil oil. Saute' onion for 5 minutes or so. Add garlic. Cook a few minutes more. Add cabbage. Add thyme, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook until cabbage is soft. Add butter. Cook a few more minutes.
Add turnip. Smoosh (very technical cooking term) mixture as though you were cooking hash browns. Add more butter, or not, to taste. Cook until browned to your liking.

This was so yummy. i had no idea what to do with turnips, other than make soup, and I don't really eat soup in the summer (except for Friday when I had lunch at the Seedling Cafe in Nashua and had a (huge) cup of pumpkin walnut soup - yummmmmm!) so I just kind of improvised and the results are amazing!!