Christmas Shopping Status

Well, I feel like I'm doing pretty well this year though some days are going pretty quick. I have most of my actual shopping done for gifts that are store bought. Just one or two people left and I know exactly what to get and where to get it, I just gotta get my fanny out the door. Everything else is sitting in a little pile in a corner in my room waiting to be wrapped or is enroute (or better be) to me and should arrive soon. The joys of online shopping.

The things that are left are the time consuming homemade gifts. The gifts that every year as I start to make I think, why do I do this to myself. This year isn't that bad, actually. I've toned it down a little. I realize that in giving homemade gifts that there is a little selfishness going on. As you know I read lots of craft blogs and tutorials are my favorite. I always want to try them all, but never for myself. Even though I would love to have any of the things. No, for me they all have to end up as gifts. So I think of who would like said homemade goodness and set forth to make it. That's my motivation to actually do it. I really want to try all the tutorials, but if it's not gonna be a gift it will never get done.

Like I said this year it's been toned down a bit. I even abandoned a project half way through I was really looking forward to doing because the expense was becoming more than I wanted for the little project. Usually that doesn't deter me, but I only had a day to finish and the thought of going to Walmart for the fifth or sixth time for this project was enough. I'll come back to it again someday and go about it a lot better. Most everyone is still getting some form of homemade present but only a few will have that be their main gift, the rest it's just a fun little addition.

I was hoping this last weekend I would get most done, but distractions got the better of me and although I got one major gift done, there are still three or four more to go. They aren't big but like most of my projects they are time consuming. It always amazes me how much time it takes to finish some things.

I plan on photographing all my projects and I'll post the pictures after Christmas. Mainly for my own documentation but for the conceited side of me I do love the praise which inevitably follows. Isn't that such a conceited thing to say. I actually would find it refreshing if someone told me they didn't like what I made just to keep me in check. And it could very well happen this year. I'm being a little risky on a couple gifts, not sure whether they will be liked. Crossing my fingers. But really you always take that risk when giving gifts unless you get exactly what was asked for. One of my friends is getting just that. I very rarely ask for ideas but this year I did because sometimes people deserve to get exactly what they want even if it isn't the most exciting gift to give and probably won't be remembered. That person will be happy which will make me happy.

Then on to the dreaded wrapping.

I'm Movin on Down to the 3rd Floor

Well, I have finally, officially moved down to my new cubicle at Suburban Land Reserve. It's quite a bit smaller space, but as everyone likes to point out "You've got a Window!" That is nice, not that there is a particularly nice view but it's something. Though I was little worried about the smaller space at first, I think I'm gonna like it. It's kind of cozy actually and everything is within reach. What I like best is the high walls. I'm a type of person who loves privacy when I want it and my cubicle at PRI had high enough walls with a little dip where you enter. My new SLR cubicle has high walls all around and I specifically requested that. So my furniture and the walls look like they came from the eighties but it will do for now. I'm working on a temporary computer that is pretty slow, but hopefully that will get upgraded soon after the new year.

I've been pretty worried about this move even though I've been wishing for it for over a year. I think it would have been somewhat different if I had transferred and PRI had to hire a whole new person because then I could just train that person and be done, but where PRI is merging with another company I have to train several people who already have existing processes and other duties so it will be interesting once that gets started. Until then I'll still be helping PRI out with my things. I think now that I'm officially here I'll get more excited about this move as my new duties present themselves. I know everyone is very excited for me to be here because they really need the help.

I think my new boss is going to be really cool. I've been working with him now for a year. Luckily we already have an established equality, which is really nice because I feel like I can be myself and question his decisions and he'll be okay with that. I have to know a why behind things, it gets me in trouble, but it makes me feel better I guess. And I can tell him when he's being a jerk so that's nice. I don't think he quite gets me yet, but he likes to think he does.

I attended my first major meeting here at SLR. It was a budget meeting, which I have never attended before and Chuck (my old boss) was there too so it was almost satisfying being in there to show him "See these guys think I'm important enough to be here." I didn't say much in the meeting and lots of stuff went over my head, but I still found a lot of it interesting. I still don't know what my role will be with all of that but I liked being involved.

I'm pretty excited and nervous for what the future holds, but it's looking good. There are a great group of guys here and only one other girl (who is super sweet) so a lot less drama. I'll definitely miss seeing my PRI buddies upstairs everyday, but I have made them promise to still invite me on drink runs and our two days a week lunches. Things are looking up in my professional life, now if I can just get control over my personal one things will be awesome.