Tammy’s Fabulous Blog

Tuesday’s are usually my busiest days, these are days everyone feels people are available for meetings and my calendar is back to back booked.

Luckily today there is a two hour block for a luncheon that I will be going to, where I will meet my PC Pal. The PC Pal program is an Intel sponsored program where intel employees volunteer to mentor 5th through 9th grade students. The mentoring is done strictly through email, and is usually about 2 per week.  I have been lucky enough to get a very active 6th grade emailer. She is very funny, and very interactive. It will be fun to meet face to face with her today.  The program will take us through the school year with a party at the end of the cycle to meet up again with your mentor.

I think the kids really have fun with this, as they get to use the computer in class, and email as frequently as their teacher will allow. And I really like it as, my Pal is a 10 yr. old girl, and since Max is 10 I feel like I know the kinds of questions to ask her   Its been fun so far.

The benefit of this program is not only the students getting mentors, but the school also receives $200 for every 20 volunteer hours from an intel employees. So this typically nets the school a pretty decent check at the end of the year.

Well… I’d better get going. ta ta

Had a BBQ invitation yesterday from one of Mady’s friend’s family. They are nice people and we wanted to go. We tried to bring Max, but he was all hung up at the soccer coach’s house having fun with the boys and didnt want to leave, so we left him there, and headed over to the Simpson’s. Of course we’ve met them, and I’ve chatted with Cathy many of times, and they are great people.

Their reason behind having this BBQ was really to get to know their kid’s friend’s families. I think its an old tradition, but a great one (I might have to copy it ).  We met 2 new families, which in itself was awesome, as they were very interesting, alot of different interests, but great information. There was another family that we knew very well already… so it was a comfortable setting.

Mady was in the pool from 3pm until 9pm, out only for 10 minutes to munch down some snacks… and probably 1/2 of a full watermelon!!

I realized, after it was way too late that I had not really eaten all day, and started off with a “Mike’s hard Cranberry Lemonade” it was a pleasant drink, nice flavor, but about 3/4 of the way through it… i was a bit, well, tipsy. Funny for me, as Im not the drinker really. So i thought… best to go get some snacks, and i ate a few things… and grabbed another “Mike’s hard Lime Lemonade” ah… that had the mojito taste to it… very nice! But again… probably should not have finished that, as that really did me in. After that I was nursing a spinning head, an upset stomach and even after 3 bottles of water… and a full night’s sleep, im still feeling the effects.  I guess, an old lesson… and one forgotten easily… eat before you drink!!

But the families were great, one man was from New Zealand and his wife from the heart of Texas, and together their accents were comical!  The other family owns a very successful Used Car lot in Roseville, and they are transports from the Bay Area with many common childhood memories as I have.  And of course all our children got along fabulously.

Today we have nothing on the agenda (thank goodness) made the coffee(most necessary), started the laundry, straightened the house, and the paper sits in front of me, but i decided to journal here first.

Mom and Dad… hope you are having a wonderful fall in Maui, i see the weather showing rain EVERY day there… hopefully that isn’t stopping you from getting out and partying on the beach nightly Take care… see you all in (is it 46 days??).

TaTa

travelled to Oregon this week for a 3 day meeting to meet with the bigger group of my peers and management to discuss what’s next in our working world.
Has been eye opening, to say the least, things seem to rotate full circle, in the grand scheme of things.
Love to see the breakout sessions to solve problems… but will we actually act??

Anyway… on a family note, seems all is going well, kids are eating 3 meals a day, in my absence . D is getting his honey-do list done.. love that! Mady has almost finished her 300 page chapter book, so proud of her, and Max is so excited about buying his own DS game system, with money he saved up on his own.

I guess im off to meet with my immediate team and heading to the air shuttle at 3:00, but not home till 8:30pm…. LONG DAY!

Yesterday was hectic… had to get the kids up and out of here by 7:20, dropped off and to work for a class I was dreading! The class started at 8:00am. As organized as I am, and was for this class, I had all the prework, done, printed out, and ready to go… I forgot it at home. frustrating to say the least, but i was able to run upstairs from the class, and find a printer and re-print it out, not too bad, and the instructor was very laid back…

Class starts, and I made myself a promise, no laptop, just dont do it. Give yourself the chance to actually absorb this new idea. Our company is taking on a new concept – a new way of thinking about your career. Now I am in charge of my development, and its not all about, getting to the next grade level and moving up the ladder, its more about find out what my talents and passions are and how it can work within the organization, and if its not where I am today, then find a latteral move where it can be beneficial to everyone.

It was quite an exciting concept, and I cant wait for it to be filtered throughout the company and for the culture to change, as I know it wont happen overnight.

Im going to do a few strength tests, to really figure out where the best fit for me is. Im excited for the challenge, and the best thing about this is that my manager has taken the class as well, so she “gets” it.

And on a great fun note, my sister sent this video to me, and I just cracked up uncontrollably, it was hillarious, now typically I love this show anyway, but this was extra funny.

take a look

My latest (and its probably been a year now) I’ve been ordering Chai Tea Latte at Starbucks. Its not bad for you, has the caffeine I need in the morning, and I like the spicyness… so I usually get them. $3.65 each (medium, or grande).

Yesterday at Costco, I ran across a three pack of Tazo Chai Tea mix, its a liquid you mix 1/2 and 1/2 with milk. Same product starbucks uses. $7.89/3pk So… when I did the math  18x$3.65=$65.70  I thought… wow, what a great bargain I just made

$65.70 vs. $7.89… which would you rather pay?

With D gone for 9 days, ive had to come up with ways to entertain the kids and not drive myself crazy. weekends are always the hardest.

Friday night they both had friends over till about 9pm, which isnt normal, but hey, they were having fun and i was able to get some things done.

Saturday Max had a soccer game at 8am, yes that’s AM, and i was the snack mom this week, so donuts seemed appropriate for the morning game… and of course oranges and grapes for 1/2 time snack. The team lost, but there were bad calls, and dad’s yelling at refs… it was entertaining at least.

then we went out to get a few things done. I stopped to get scrapbook pages, as i am getting prepared for my crop night in october with Charlyene. We went to Party City and bought the kids Halloween Costumes, Max will be this cool ghost character, and Mady will be a Purple Witch, very cute. Then we went off to buy a few books, cd’s, journal, blanket a few candles to send off in a care package to Charlyene’s MIL’s husband, who is not doing so well. The kids were very happy to help put that package together, understanding why we were doing it.

Then home to change for Soccer pictures, for some reason it was only 85 degrees outside, but it was super HOT, we were all dying out there, it was weird weather. We’ll see the pics this week sometime.

Sunday was a rest day, we hung out till about  noon and then ran a few errands, Michaels for a few Halloween projects, and then Costco to pick up some pics I ordered online (love that service!!), and a few necessities. Then home. Max had Ryan over, and they played Wii for about 2 1/2 hours, and Mady went over to a friends house, and back about 6:30. Then dinner, homework, showers… and viola… Monday morning all over again.

Should be a busy week, Mady has dance tonight, and I need to get to the grocery store… hopefully i can find a way to do that in between work and dance… who knows.

Ta Ta for now!