As expected, work picked up just after New Year's. I've been able to fill in a bit with help from my old friend, temp agency C2, who was able to get me in quite a few days at Core Creative downtown. Columbia St. Mary's has hired replacements for the two individuals that funneled all the work my way, so that will pick up as they ease into their positions. I was grateful for the time off over the holidays while Abby and Bryn were home on break.
Jeff's been out in Virginia this week. Then he's back and is thrown into the fire. The president of his company resigned and apparently is more than ready to delegate all his duties before he leaves the end of the month. The ex-president scheduled Jeff into a meeting as soon as Jeff's off the plane. And Jeff has no background info going in. That nonsense will soon end. Hoping for a boost in employee morale and emphasis on more social activity with the new president.
Abby was a personal attendant on Dec 15th to UWL friend, Becca, at the first of many weddings in Abby's calendar. Look what Abby created over break for Becca's wedding present: it's Becca's and her huband's vows, their last name and lyrics to the song as she came down the aisle. So cool. So Abby. (Abby hasn't given it to them yet, so please don't share on Facebook.) Abby went off to her annual TCX conference in Minneapolis right after Christmas, but as an organizer – not attendee – this year. She said it wasn't all too different an experience for her – still very positive, as always. However she did pick up a nasty cold or flu virus being huddled with those 500+ attendees in one hotel. It took Abby down for 2 full days and lingered over a week. And of course, she shared with Jeff and I – luckily it wasn't as severe.
Twice over break, Bryn took off to Chicago to visit her good friend Ashley: once for Ashley's birthday and again for New Year's Eve. Bryn also spent a good portion of her break looking into her future. She met with a Hospital Ethicist to inquire about his daily job duties and schooling as that is a possible career path for her. She also applied for the high school coaching position for distance running and a research internship with Dow in Indy. Currently we're in the midst of setting up a meeting with my old college roomie, Polly, and her husband to pick their brains about where Bryn could/should go with her chemistry/philosophy/writing interests. Polly and her husband are research department heads at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Bryn's already working that networking web! Bryn's back at Carroll, not for classes, but for indoor track practice. Her first meet was this Saturday.
Paige was also out and about alot. AJ got her tickets to the Bucks v Heat game. Paige wore her Heat jersey to AJ's Bucks jersey, but soon had to hide her allegiance. As they walked to their nosebleed seats, someone asked if they'd like to upgrade their seats. AJ agreed on the spot to enter a contest and before the game started, Paige and AJ were escorted down on the sidelines as the players were stretching out. There, AJ was given a cookie and 45 seconds on the clock. He had to wiggle the cookie from his forehead to his mouth and HE DID IT! Paige and AJ got to watch the game from box seats! On New Year's Eve Paige took AJ to the Harlem Globetrotters game.
We fit a lot in over the holidays: Christmas in Appleton with Jeff's Mom and sisters and their families, Christmas at the Cabin with my parents, one sister, brother and their families, Christmas in Kimberly with Jeff's sister and Dad, Transiberian Orchestra concert and finally dinner at Maggiano's in Milwaukee to celebrate my Dad's 80th birthday.
