Too Much

Sometimes I think my day is just too much with 10 people vying for my attention at any given point of the day. It seems like every day I'm in back to back meetings and when I'm not, there is always someone at my desk asking for help. Now, I know I'm a manager and responsible for my team and their issues, however, most of the time I can never get my own work done! As a result, I spend many days in the office until 8 or 9 in the evening. Since I arrive to work normally around 8:30-8:45ish, that is a twelve hour day. Multiple twelve hour days in a week equals EXHAUSTION!

In addition, some people apparently feel it is perfectly fine to do a half-ass job and get rewarded for it. When just about everyone in the office doesn't want to work with you some would think you would catch on. It also must be nice to sit all day at your desk and surf the Internet when members of your own team feel they cannot come to you for help. In this economy people should be working their asses off to keep the job they have and be grateful they have a job.

Thank God it's almost Friday and I got to come home to this today...





~AKO

SHOW US YOUR LIFE - Wedding Dress

Kelly's Korner is hosting a weekly "Show Us Your Life" blog and last week was Show Us Your Wedding Dress. Granted I'm a week behind but better late than never :)

We are still only 89 days away from our 1st Anniversary as a married couple. We were married on October 25, 2008.

I loved my dress. It was an Alfred Angelo strapless with a sky blue colored panel on the train. There was also beading on the bodice and on the trim. It was weirdly comfortable and I couldn't believe how well it fit. I originally tried it on at a Bridal Shop in Mt. Pleasant, MI with my mom and my sister. It was the last one I tried in the second store that we visited. The only reason I tried it on was because the color panel in the sample was green, which is my sister's favorite color. So she and her friend pulled it out just for fun and it ended up being "The One" :) I purchased it at Russell Bridals & Tuxedos in Linden, NJ. The staff there was so nice and helpful through the entire process.


Before the ceremony with my Daddy. He just made it into New York the night before and could only stay until Sunday, but I was so happy that he was able to make it in.



JUST MARRIED... SSG & Mrs. Fredd Olvera!










Next week will be the Wedding Party and Flowers!

~AKO

Jealous Thoughts...

Today marks the half way point for Freddy's AT. On the various forums that I frequent as well as with people I interact with everyday the question comes up "Does it get easier?" While he has not been deployed while we've been together, this is the 5th AT he's been on in addition to the random 2 - 3 week training courses he attends throughout the year. I can tell you it does not get any easier. The lonliness is still there. The weariness from being responsible for all of the things we normally share is still there. Even the kitties know something is not the way it should be.

Yesterday, I was walking behind a couple who couldn't detach themselves from each other to walk up the subway stairs. As a result they sort of stumbled up the stairs. Of course, my first thought was "For God's sake, it won't kill you to let go for the two minutes it takes to walk up the stairs!" Then the familiar twinge of jealousy set in. While they looked rediculous, they were still together.

Of course we all knew what we were getting into when we said "I do", as we are told by those who will never be able to share in the same experiences.

The following photo was sent to me as I was contemplating all of this the other night. My Army boy and his guidon.





~AKO

Wordless Wednesday

My first Wordless Wednesday!!!







~AKO

*Cough, Cough*

SO... that was me coughing through the dust that has accumulated on this blog over the past three weeks. I have been a very bad blogger this month, but not for lack of wanting. It seems like there is so much to do just to get through a day and not enough hours to get it done. As a result my poor house has suffered greatly in the cleanliness department :(

I've got some pictures to upload, which I will do soon, but in the meantime, here are some hilights of the past few weeks...

1. I finally saw 4th of July fireworks live for the first time since moving to NYC in 2000! We had a nice evening relaxing at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, NJ.

2. We've started the house hunting process for our first home purchase.

3. I got a WII Active and have started the 30 day challenge. I completed workout #6 today and am starting to feel the soreness.

4. I continue to be irritated by the ever-growing inconsiderate people who live in my neighborhood. Seriously! Who lets their kids run around in someone else's yard without knowing them. And why does everyone feel that everyone on the street needs to share in their bad taste in music? The only consolation was the cops arriving and breaking up the little block party that was happening right in front of my house last night. And I didn't even call the cops this time!!!

5. SSG Olvera started his 16 day AT yesterday. The positive is he is state-side, which makes the phone calls a little easier. Navigating the time difference when he was in Germany a few years back was not fun.

6. And what is up with this weather??? Not that I'm not enjoying low 70's and only 40% humidity in July, but when is the other shoe going to drop? Does this mean that August and September are going to be melting on the pavement disgustingly hot???

And, with that, I will try to write more often and leave you with the following pics...



The fireworks from Liberty State Park in Jersey City, NJ:



My little helper, Hadley:



And... buddies when they think no one is looking, C-Lo and Hadley:




~AKO