Ryan's 18th Birthday

Posted on by May 17, 2004

18 years ago today, Ryan came into the world! It was such a special day for me, personally. I can't believe how much he's grown as a person in the last year. He's such a sensitive, beautiful soul! I hope I can help him see how beautiful he is, and how much he has to offer the world!

He and I saw the new movie – “Troy” – which was GREAT! Then we went out to dinner (Bahama Breeze – relatively new restaurant by Southcenter) yesterday (Sunday). Today he took the day off of school, I went to my last State Programs meeting in the AM and my peers in that group took me out to lunch and gave me a $100 gift certificate at Gene Juarez for a “farewell” celebration. I'll miss each and every one of them! I've worked with almost all of them for over 10 years and I have been blessed to know them!

Then this afternoon Ryan and I went to the Family Fun Center and played miniature golf and air hockey (he cleaned my clock at the latter – I won golf by a stroke!). Then we played some video games and while doing so, it started to rain and I had left the top down on my Saab – wow – I can't believe how it can go from sunny, clear skies to raining in a couple of hours! No harm done though.

Brett came over (so good to see him) and so did Steve. We had cake and sang happy birthday to Ryan. We sure missed having Matt here with us!

It's hard having half my heart in LA all the time!

Mother's Day – 2004

Posted on by March 10, 2012

2004 will go down as the BEST Mother’s Day for me EVER!

First – Matt surprised me with a visit home! I had no idea he was coming – in fact – he told me he was going to New York with some film school buddies to work on a movie and lo and behold – Friday night at about midnight – he shows up!

At first, I was absolutely petrified when the door bell rang at almost midnight! It took me a while to believe it was him – and my knees shook for almost two hours I was so excited!!!

We had a GREAT weekend – he and I caught up with what’s going on and he spent a lot of time with his good friend! Sunday we went to brunch at Red Robin and then he went home!! I love Matt and Ryan with all my heart!

Unfortunately, Ryan had a seizure Saturday – we’re not sure why – he didn’t miss any medication or anything but Friday’s sleep was interrupted so that’s the only thing we can point to. ugh…. I feel so bad for him. He’s such a sweetheart and so sensitive about things. I love him so very much and wish I could make the seizures go away all together. He’s a real trooper though and drove to the Mother’s Day brunch to show his brother how good he can drive.

I got a beautiful Celtic Cross for our Teeko/Rajah Memorial Garden!

The tree from Claudia was killed when a very large branch from the large fir tree fell on it and crushed it completely so it was time to revamp. It’s going to be beautiful when I get the Memorial Garden complete!

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you and may God bless each and every one of you as much as I’ve been blessed!

My New Job

Posted on by April 26, 2004

Good news – I have accepted a position at my same company – “Product Manager”.

Beginning May 3rd, I’ll be working half-time at my new position, and half-time at my current position.

I think I’ll like my new boss – he’s new to the company – from Arkansas and seems very nice.

Back Yard Renovation

Posted on by March 28, 2004

I found a pond for sale through craigslist.org – regularly $198 and they wanted $45. So…… I picked it up Saturday and that gave me the energy to begin working on the back yard renovation.

First thing to do is cut down the two cedar trees that are located right where the waterfall is going. Steve brought over his trusty chain saw and Ryan and I cleaned up after.

pressure cooker

Posted on by March 22, 2004

Going to work now is like going into the heart of a pressure cooker.

One state agency tells us to do something, and the other state agency contradicts that.

I can't recall a time EVER where I have felt so overwhelmed.

I hate going to work now….

I did get a call regarding an Executive Director position at an “assisted living facility” I applied for recently – salary is much less than what I'm making now….

Damn….. what I wouldn't give for a firm job offer at this point…….

ugh….

abandonment

Posted on by March 7, 2004

Someone I love told me recently:

“as life circumstances change, you take that as a person abandoning you.  Life changes.  People don't necessarily change in regard to you.   But you seem to change in regard to them.”

Upon reading this, my first reaction was to wonder why they would tell me that now? Is it because it is Lent and they felt that I could deal with that kind of input now – as well as all the other stuff I'm dealing with? Then I thought about it……….. and I realized that they couldn't have known all the other crap being tossed my way because I have withdrawn from what was once a very close friendship. So I simply responded to their email with an “Ok”.

After thinking about it for a while now, I have come to the understanding that:

Once trust is broken – the wound goes deep, and healing is a life-long process.

If a soul experiences numerous instances of broken trust, the wound goes deeper and the scar tissue thicker with each broken relationship.

That is all I'll say about that right now.

I am facing unemployment soon – and am frightened. We love our house – it is my priority and I will do whatever I can to keep it. My boss is a nice person but she has shown me that she cannot deal with all of this in a professional, compassionate manner. She is sending me very mixed messages – on the one hand, she told me the CFO said they would “take care of me”. On the other hand, she tells me she “thinks I'll be OK”. HR says I have to submit an application and resume for each position I may be interested in – which isn't very supportive at all.

I wonder what a nervous breakdown feels like?

Shadow

Posted on by February 29, 2004

As I prepare myself for tomorrow – I am struck by the feud unfolding amongst a few of Matt's friends. The idea of one's “shadow” or “dark side” has come up and I find myself confronting my own.

My “shadow” is painful to even contemplate. It has caused considerable emotional pain for those I have loved the most – especially Matt & Ryan.

I will not go into that any further at the moment. I need more time to consider it.

Just know that I love Matt & Ryan more than life itself. Anything I have done, or said, that has caused either of them pain is my cross to bare as I know it cannot be undone, or unsaid.

Change

Posted on by February 28, 2004

First thing Monday – when approximately 50 people get to work – they will be told the programs they support are being sold. I work with these people every day – they are GOOD people. My heart aches with knowing this – I wish I could do something to make it all end but it is a “done deal” so to speak. All that's left is for the state agencies to approve the sale – and there's no reason to believe they won't. It's been done before – much in the same manner. I am now turning my focus to making the transition as easy as possible for our members.

My boss's new boss had a meeting last week in which he presented his “vision” for the future for the department. All the same BS I've heard before – nothing new at all. However he did have one thing I wrote down:

Life is change — change is opportunity

I have to add that the above is ONLY true if Life is approached with an ATTITUDE that supports that view. All too often my attitude has interfered with seeing the “opportunity” in a situation – for that awareness, I am grateful to him. However, I introduced myself to him at the break – remember he was suppose to meet with my boss and I when she told me about the sale. What I came away with was the blackness in his eyes (and his soul). I don't know how to explain it but there was something very dark about him. I will keep my guard up with respect to him – hear that Angels dear??

There's a lot of emotional pain and drama going on with my son's friends right now. Unfortunately politics has a way of doing that if we don't accept each other just as they are. Our human nature is one of needing acceptance – when political ideologies make that difficult among FRIENDS – our love and compassion for each other MUST take over.

FRIENDS ACCEPT EACH OTHER FOR WHO THEY ARE – NOT WHO WE WANT OR BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE.

You CANNOT change anyone but YOU.

When you try to change how someone feels or believes – you send a message that who they are is somehow not good enough – thus the emotional pain begins. Then our ego gets in the way and won't allow the healing power of humility and love to intervene. That's all I'll say about that.

My prayer is that a battalion of Angels will descend and guide us all.

Trust – Perception

Posted on by February 24, 2004

Okay. My stomach has hurt all day, every day, since last Thursday. My boss (Lyn) asked me today how I was doing and I told her I felt better after the weekend but that my stomach had hurt all day, every day since. She said that will go away once we get resolution on a new position. hmmmmmmm That sounds positive doesn't yet?

And yet, I can't help but wonder why:

1. On February 12th, after she shared a 3 year plan in a staff meeting that showed HO/BH going away, I asked her point blank during a special appointment I set up the next day – should I be looking for a job? Her very prompt response was “no” – even though she knew about all of this at that time.

2. When she had to tell me about this because they were going to announce it any day now last Thursday – she set up an “Important Meeting” with her, me, and her new boss – Frank – who's been there all of one month and who I've never met.

3. I arrive at the meeting last Thursday – and we wait for Frank – and he doesn't show up for 20 minutes so she takes me in his office and closes the door. She looked at me and said “this is one of the hardest things I've had to do and I came prepared”. She then brought out some Kleenux. As she proceeded to tell me, of course I started to tear up and cry. Now why in the hell would she want her new boss – who I have never met – to experience me for the first time in that situation, under those circumstances?????

4. She also emphasized numerous times in the conversation that I should go talk to Nancy in HR. I asked her specifically if it was to formalize my new position or “just to talk”. She said “just to have someone to talk to”.

Why? Why did she look me straight in the eye and lie about looking for a job after the staff meeting??? I get the feeling she's trying to cover her bases – like maybe she would be in trouble for answering my question about looking for a job with a “no” under the circumstances???? That's probably why she wanted her boss there when she told me – to be a witness to what was said??? I can't figure out why she would want him to meet me for the first time under those circumstances. It doesn't make any sense if she is serious about wanting me to get another job in the company. It does make sense if she's trying to cover her bases. I don't know.

All I know is I'm sick to my stomach, every day, all day, and it feels just like it did when Mark and I separated. The anxiety is overwhelming. Woke up at 2:45 AM and couldn't get back to sleep. ugh…… I never thought I would feel this way again……..