A MILESTONE WEEK.....

This week has followed the pattern of the others since my lay-off: I looked for positions, Rus worked, Laura went to class and studied. Dennis has the big news this week! On Tuesday, he was asked if he would consider going to the Nationwide building in downtown Columbus with another of his co-workers to represent Sarcom at the client. That, we thought would be the good news of the week, but, alas NO. By Wednesday, Nationwide decided they didn't want 2 people, only one! He interviewed for the position on Thursday. Thursday afternoon he heard he had been chosen. He was assigned to Nationwide AND was officially hired on and employed as a full-time employee of Sarcom with benefits, 401K and all! YIPPEEE! He is thrilled! He started on Friday morning. Of course, there is no doubt the kid is Irish (if he didn't have bad luck, he wouldn't have any....)On his first day, he couldn't get into the building because he didn't have an ID. He called the numbers he was given from 7:15 till 8, asked the guard, who denied him access because he wasn't notified about his arrival. Finally at 11:30.....they called a VP who allowed him into the facility. One of the fellows he was calling was not in that morning, and the second was in the lab, not by the phone.... So he sat in the lobby for 4 hours waiting for his new position. That, my friends, is a humbling experience. I have to say, I gave him a lot of credit to stick it out for that long. I will repeat, (All you Boy Scouts out there know my mantra but I will reiterate for those not as fortunate to have me as their merit badge counselor).........Communication, the key of life.

On Saturday, I gave Pepper a much needed haircut. Believe me, though I am not an expert, he looks markedly better than the moppy look he was sporting last week. My family took me to dinner at Abuelo's for my birthday. We had a wonderful spot on the veranda where the weather was perfect. We enjoyed some delicious Mexican food and some people watching. Dennis was off and running to the Columbus Crew game with the Hooligans. Laura, Rus and I wandered around the Easton Mall picking up a few goodies along the way. We came home after picking up a video. Laura and I watched the end of the Crew game on tv, seeing a cheering Dennis many times on the big screen. Then we watched a chick flick while Rus rebuilt Laura's laptop that contracted some heavy duty virus. On Sunday, Rus and I took a scenic drive, ending up at Buckeye Lake. It was lovely and reminded me of Long Beach Island. Almost like home. Nice to know for next summer. When we came home, an opaque Laura met us in the foyer. She had played 2 soccer games with her soccer leagues. Having headed a fast, hard ball in the first game, she played a full game in the second. After she came home and showered, she had a headache which escalated into a severe headache, vomiting and dizziness! Congratulations! You won yourself a concussion! I was up a good portion of the night with her. We slept in the living room. She in the recliner because she couldn't put her head down horizontally. (You know that was scary!) She was still queasy, dizzy and had an achy head this morning, so I drove her to class (because she insisted! Not because I was being Mommy Dearest!) She is feeling (and looking) better tonight. Not as lively as usual, but on the road to recovery. Rus is out to dinner with his work team tonight. This week, I am hoping to get into the school districts for subbing positions. It is never ending.