I went to bed earlier last night – 11:00pm. Eric watched TV in the living room, because I was determined to get more sleep. Ideally, I would go to bed at 10:00pm, because that would give me a nice 8 hours, but I just can’t manage it.
My boss was in and out of meetings all day. I had scheduled a meeting for 1:00pm today and invited about 30 people. We had a conference room that held 18 and I was all worried that we wouldn’t have enough room, but it turned out that only 7 or 8 people RSVP’d that they could actually attend.
We had 3 people from a company in Boston coming to give a presentation on some kind of year-end review. All I was told to do was reserve the conference room, send the email invitation, make bound copies of the presentation to hand out, and follow up afterwards by sending email copies of the presentation to all those invited.
When I went up to reception to greet the visitors and take them to the conference room, I asked them if they would like some coffee (which is free and is available on every floor). They said they’d just like some water. Unfortunately, the only water we have is sold in a vending machine, or there’s tap water in tiny Styrofoam cups. I realized I should have had bottled water in the room – it just makes sense, but I’m kind of “out of practice” on this sort of thing and don’t plan many meetings. I’ve done breakfast meetings – and had food and drink, but it was a 1:00pm meeting and I just didn’t think of it and no one told me to make sure it was available.
I wandered the floor, looking for someone to ask, because I assumed there was a way to get bottled water, but I couldn’t find anyone, so I just brought three small syrofoam cups of tap water in there. It was pitiful. I didn’t have anything for the firm attendees, but a lot of them appeared with their coffee mugs, so they obviously know the drill (that nothing is offered). I was so embarrassed and was happy I prefaced my introduction to the Boston group with the fact that I was a temp and didn’t even know where the conference room was! At least my lack of hostess skills didn’t reflect badly on the firm!
Anyway, my trainee and I had a great afternoon. We worked on a couple of PowerPoint presentations we’ll need for the end of June and then we sat in this guy’s office and gossiped with him. We found out that a girl who just moved from one department to our department had quit after a week – saying she was taking “early retirement.” She’s probably about 25 years old! Turns out she got married last year and wants to complete her hours for her pilot’s license! Pretty exciting, but we can’t figure out why she moved departments – packing up her desk and settling into a new job, training for weeks – only to quit the firm a week later! Mysterious!
After my trainee left at 3:00pm I read my book and finished it. This one was particularly exciting. I really enjoyed it. This is the second book I’ve read with this one particular character. I am hoping there are more, because this guy is such a great character and I think the author could write story after story of cases he gets involved with and they’d all be just as great!
The way he writes is so funny and so conversational. It’s like the guy is on the other side of a table telling you this great story and you just can’t believe all the stuff he’s been through! Here’s one line from the book that I thought was so funny, and is typical of DICK FRANCIS’ writing. The lead character has been taken hostage in his apartment by a madman with a gun and the guy takes him by gunpoint into the bathroom. Remember – he’s English (and all the books take place in England), so their words for things are different than ours (flat = apartment, etc.):
“He turned on the light and the extractor fan began to whine. I wished it could extract me from this situation.”
Now, I know it’s not side-slappingly funny, but when you’re reading, and he’s being held at gunpoint and then he comes out with something like that, it just relieves the tension and lets you know he’s going to be okay. His writing is always like that. Anyway, I still have my Dick Francis short stories (I started another short story after I finished the book – I know, I’m obsessed), and I have another novel to read, which I will start on Monday. My boss has Jury Duty, but he has to start calling on Sunday night, so he may or may not be in on Monday.
The week flew by, because it was only four days, but I was still exhausted by the end of the week!My ride and I were able to sneak out a little early, so I was home by 5:15pm. Eric was out on his bicycle, so I just changed my clothes, grabbed a fast snack and left to get a manicure/pedicure. My nails were a mess and we’re seeing a friend this weekend, so I wanted to look great.
Our friend, Scott, who I worked with for years at PwC has business in Scottsdale, AZ on Tuesday. He decided to fly to San Diego on Saturday, spend a few days visiting with us, and then fly to Scottsdale on Monday.
I’m so excited. Scott is a great guy, and a lot of fun. I’m picking him up at the airport at 12:30pm and we’re going to Coronado Island for lunch. I’ll drive him around, showing him the sights, and then I’ll take him to his hotel to check in.
Eric and I will pick him up for dinner. We’re taking him to HAIKU – our favorite sushi restaurant. Scott and I used to go for sushi a lot in NYC when we worked together, and I know he’ll love their food.
Saturday night his friend is coming down from L.A. We’ll probably leave him with her (because she’s not even getting to SD until after 10:00pm), and we’ll take them to the zoo on Sunday. Eric said he’s not sure he wants to go to the zoo, because we were already there. First of all, that was last November. Second of all, who doesn’t love the zoo? I can’t wait to go back!
When I got home from my mani/pedi, Eric was home – working out. I told him about my experience at the nail salon. I had two girls working on me as I sat in the fancy pedicure chair. One girl did my pedicure, and the other did my manicure, going back and forth from one side to the other, doing one hand at a time.
The only thing that bothers me about this place is that they try to "upgrade" your manicure or pedicure by getting you to spend more money on deluxe treatments or special designs on your nails. First, the pedicurist asked if I wanted to have my calluses treated. I don't really have calluses on my feet, but I just told them that I'm on a budget and can only get a basic manicure/pedicure -- no specials.
So, she said, "It only five dollah!" So, I apologized and said I just couldn't. Then, she asked if I wanted a flower painted on my big toe. I told her, no, I couldn't afford any extras. So, she looks up at me and in the funniest way -- actually making fun of her own accent -- says "Five dollah!!!!" I just burst out laughing and then she and the other woman started laughing and the rest of the time she kept saying every few minutes, in different intonations and with different inflections, "Five dollah!" knowing that each time she said it I would burst out laughing.
When I charged the services (while still sitting in the chair), they looked at the tip (I had given each of them five dollars) and said, "Thank you!" So, I said, "Five dollah!" and they burst out laughing! It was really fun and they were adorable.
While Eric continued to work out, I made myself a NUTRISYSTEM entrée and watched TV. I want to go to bed early tonight, because I’m hoping to have the energy to get up, go food shopping, return my book to the library, and then pick Scott up at 12:30pm. Wish me luck!