I drove in today, because I brought some of my craft stuff to show the girls at work. I called my friend Susan as soon as I got to work to find out how Andrew was doing. He was doing great and after only three days in the hospital they were releasing him, because they knew he was going back to Susan’s sister in South Carolina, and not going all the way back to NY. They are going to stay with her sister for a few days and then figure out if he should fly back or drive back to NY. He’s doing much better and we are all very relieved.
Get Well Soon, Andrew. We love you and miss you!
So, my boss was in until noon and we really bonded this morning. We had discussed his recent trip to NY and he had gone to see Patti LuPone in GYPSY on Broadway. We talked about what a powerhouse performer she was and I told him I had seen her several times in concert, but had never seen her in a show. We talked about Gypsy and how many different superstars have played the part of Rose – starting with Ethel Merman, Rosalind Russell in the movie, Angela Landsbury, Tyne Daly, Linda Lavin (whom I saw in the late 80s), Bette Midler (in the made-for-TV movie), Bernadette Peters (just a few years ago) and now Patti. It’s a role most divas would die for. Me, I’d much rather play Gypsy Rose Lee!
So, I brought in Patti LuPone’s CD, MATTERS OF THE HEART, which I only have because my dear departed friend, Dick Gallagher, was the musical director, arranger, conductor and pianist for the concert and the CD. I love to listen to it, not because of Patti so much, but because I get to hear Dick play the piano again, which is always a delight. I wanted my boss to hear the CD, since he’s such a big fan of Patti’s and he never heard her sing any of these songs.
He brought in his IPOD and played first Angela Landsbury and then Ethel Merman singing EVERYTHING’S COMING UP ROSES from Gypsy. They’re both fabulous, but I can just picture Patti doing it. I’m sure she brings the house down every single night. If there’s one thing she is, it’s a powerful performer.
The minute my boss left I went down to the car, drove it over to the back of our building, unpacked my jewelry mosaics and decoupaged items and set them up. It actually looked so cute in the back of the PT, and the sunshine made everything really sparkle!
Three or four girls came down to see, and then a few other people just happened to walk outside and came over out of curiosity. Everyone was very complimentary and liked everything a lot. They were intrigued by the decoupage, because some of the girls said they had tried it, but it didn’t look like that! I told them there are a few techniques you have to learn, but it is really easy. I told them I used to teach classes and I would love to teach them. They got SO excited, and I promised them that I would teach them, whether I came back to work after vacation or not!
After a while downstairs a security guard came by in a little cart. He must have been alerted to my presence, because he said you’re not allowed to sell without a vendor’s license. I told him I wasn’t selling and that I worked for Brandes. He apologized and left, but it was almost time to go back to work anyway, so I packed everything up and drove the car back to the lot where I’m allowed to park all day.
I went back to my desk and worked on expense reports for a while, then started back on my special project. I was so tired and my eyes were closing. The work is pretty redundant and boring, so it was no wonder. I had to keep stopping and doing something else, because my eyes were crossing!
I drove my co-worker home and then came home myself. I was so tired that I fell asleep watching Dr. Phil. Eric woke me at 7:30pm. I made us NUTRISYSTEM pizzas and Eric and I worked together to make him chicken cutlets. I made the marinade and he cut the cutlets into thin slices. We added mushrooms and he cooked it in the oven for 15 minutes. Easy and fast! Now, he’ll have chicken to eat for the next few days. We’re trying to eat everything in the fridge since we’ll be gone for 2 weeks!
I watched THE BIGGEST LOSER: COUPLES. That show is so inspiring and I feel VERY guilty sitting in bed eating gelato while they’re running a triathlon in Sydney, Australia! These people have changed their lives so dramatically and I can’t even lose 10 pounds! By the way, I was down to a new low on Saturday – 123.4. Same weight on Sunday, but then I was up to 124.8 on Monday and 125 yesterday and today. I seem to lose a little, gain a little, lose a little, gain a little. Very frustrating.
I don’t know WHAT I’m going to do all day tomorrow. Maybe I’ll do more reorganizing of drawers in one of the guy’s offices. He had me organize two drawers and I really just separated everything into piles and put them into hanging folders, but I could go back and really go through everything more efficiently and get rid of the outdated documents and alphabetize everything for easy access. It’s more fun than the “special project!”
Eric and I are still trying to get our medical benefits, since Eric was dropped by his union since he didn’t put in enough hours in 2007. We got 3 or 4 calls from AETNA (they’re really persistent) wanting to know all our medical histories. Eric has to call our doctor in NY to get blood pressure readings and cholesterol levels. They really make you jump through hoops. I just hope we get accepted!