Peppy's Dream Moving Adventure Blog

I drove to work this morning, because my ride was leaving early and I wanted to work until 5 (and get my 8 hours of pay!).  I had a busy morning in KRM.  It was my boss’ last day (she’s on vacation for 3 weeks, then back for a few weeks, then on sabbatical for a month!), so she was pretty busy and stressed.

I’m kind of relieved she’s going, because – as nice as she is – she’s anxious for me to “take the reins” and start working on my own.  I don’t feel NEARLY ready, and I know that once she’s gone her assistant (who has been training me) will be able to help me without worrying that the boss (who sits right near both of us) is getting annoyed.

There are certain things that I can do – no problem, but there are other things I am very hesitant to do without being “backed up” or reviewed.  I just don’t want to be responsible for anything until I feel comfortable.

Noon rolled around pretty quickly and I went down to HR.  Now, HR, on the other hand, is a dream!  The work is easy, I stay busy, and I feel like I'm really making a contribution.  The 10 girls in the group are SO nice (I’m #11).  They love to laugh and one girl said today, after I had her laughing, “Peppy, I don’t know how we survived without you!”  That made me feel great.

HR is getting a whole new software system to maintain all their information and I got trained today, along with another girl in the group.  We started working on our own and both of us had a lot of problems.  This system was designed specifically for HR.  It’s a custom-made system for the firm, but I already see a lot of problems with it.  It’s very hard to input information.  Instead of tabbing all the way down, or hitting “enter,” you sometimes can tab, but other times have to click on an “x” to close a window and start on the next section.

When you’re done inputting information, if you see an error, instead of easily editing, you have to do about 5 steps in order to get back to the window to edit the work.  It’s ridiculous!  I don’t know how much they paid to have this system created, but I could have done better – and believe me, I don’t know much!

Anyway, I worked on it all afternoon and my tennis elbow was killing me, because I continuously had to go back and forth between the mouse and the keyboard, and the process just doesn’t flow.  When you have to continuously take your hands off the keyboard to click on something, it really slows you down (at least it slows ME down!).  I’ll probably be inputting information for the next few months, so wish me luck!

Since I had my car, I had an idea to go see Gili Anna at her shop after work.  I haven’t seen her in months (since the beginning of April!) and I wanted to see how she’s doing.  I’m pretty sure she hasn’t sold any of my stuff, because I think I would have heard from her.  I was just thinking that she’s such a lovely girl and maybe we’d go out to dinner or something one night.

She had invited me and Eric to these Wednesday night dinners she has with a group of friends, but I could never get Eric to go, and felt funny going by myself.  She’s single, so I’m sure she wouldn’t mind hanging out.  I haven’t thought of her recently, but I’m glad I remembered Gili – because she’s a doll!

I called her, but she closes at 4:00pm on Tuesdays, so I just headed home.  I called Eric on the drive home (even though, as of July 1st, it is now illegal to drive with a hand-held phone in California.  So sue me!).  It was great to talk to him.  He is all the way in Virginia, and was headed towards Washington, D.C.  It’s amazing to me how quickly he got there, considering he was stuck in Oklahoma City for a day and a half!

From Friday morning to tonight he drove almost all the way across the country!  I don’t know how many hours a day he was driving, but he is capable of driving a LONG time, which I witnessed on our trip to/from Florida 10 years ago, and our drive across the country.  He told me he expects to be in New York by Thursday, the latest!

When I got home, I had some errands I wanted to run, so I got changed into my “walking clothes” and headed back out.  I went to CITIBANK to get quarters for the laundry.  It was closed.  Next, I headed up the block to RITE AID to pick up some stuff.  Then, I went a few blocks further and got my eyebrows waxed (they were a disaster).

After that, I walked back to the apartment and kept going, down the hill to the mailbox I walked to yesterday (even though I didn’t have anything to mail).  Then, I turned around and came back.  So, I walked about a quarter mile more today than I did yesterday!

When I got back to the apartment, I took off my shorts and top, and already had my bathing suit underneath.  I grabbed my towel and went downstairs to the pool.  I was really sweating, so the water felt great.  I did THREE laps around (one at a time with about a minute inbetween to rest).  My arms really felt it and it felt great!

I was proud of myself that I actually went out two days in a row, and I was even more proud that I did a little more today than I did yesterday.  When I got back in I took a fast shower and then called my dear friend, Kaja, who is 94 and lives in a nursing home on Long Island.  She lived across the street from us and we’ve been friends for 22 years.

Many of you have met Kaja, or heard of her.  She is a mystical, magical, wonderful, beautiful, glamorous woman.  She’s like a magnet and people are attracted to her wherever she goes.  She is an amazing artist, and an art teacher, and has won many awards for her sculptures, paintings on glass, and ceramics.

She told me she just got back to the nursing home a few minutes before I called.  She had spent 6 days in the hospital.  She has a bad heart and her legs aren’t that great anymore, but she’s sharp as a tack.  She can talk on the phone for hours, and converse on any subject.  She writes me postcards and letters, and sends me interesting articles she reads in magazines and newspapers.  She’s fantastic and I adore her.  Leggett Place became a lot less attractive to me when Kaja left her home to live in the nursing home about 5 years ago.

I told her what was happening with Eric, and she said, “Well, he was depressed when he was in New York.”  I had to agree, and remarked on how perceptive and honest she was.  It’s true.  Eric has always suffered from some depression, but I think he kept it at bay with his work, his mountain biking, and his friends and family.  Having all that taken away at once was just too much for him.  I’m hoping that returning to all that is familiar and beloved (except his house, of course) will help him get back some of his joy.

After I hung up with Kaja I made dinner – leftover salmon and salad.  Nothing fancy, but it was delicious!  Then, I had one of Eric’s HEALTHY CHOICE fudge bars.  They’re really refreshing!

So, Conrad has this new thing where he likes to hide behind his food dish.  He has two dishes that hang on the inside of the cage.  They’re pretty big, and they’re black plastic.  I’ll be watching TV and look over at him and all I can see is the top of his head.  At first, I thought he was eating, but then I realized he’s just sitting there.  He likes it.  I guess it feels cozy and safe and secure for him.  Usually, he’s on his little swing 24/7, so this is a new spot he’s found!  He’s so cute!

I got an email from a dear friend whose partner’s mother is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.  Another friend emailed and told me her friend’s husband had died, after battling colon cancer for 2 years.  They were only married 2-1/2 years and he was only in his early 30s.

It makes me realize that my life is so blessed.  I have so much to be thankful for.  I have had good friends reach out to me over the past week, having heard that Eric was on his way back to New York.  Just knowing that so many good friends care about us, love us and are praying for us means the world.  It gives me strength and makes me happy, even when the future seems so unsure.  I thank you all for your love and support.  You have all made a difference in our lives.  I so appreciate your emails and thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Well, there’s not much on TV tonight.  AMERICA’S GOT TALENT is the only thing I’m interested in, so I’m going to try to go to bed early.  I’m looking forward to lunch with my ex-group tomorrow (the group I used to work with, whom I now work near, but not with).  We’re going to a Mexican restaurant called “Que Pasa.”  Sounds cute, eh?   I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow!