It's nice to hear you're doing a good job
A week ago today (geez, I'm always behind on this blog thing), I received my first evaluation at my "new" job. I say "new" because I've been here a year, but compared to my last employment, it seems like only a few months. I will preface this with the explanation that I only received one evaluation at the paper, and that was when the Boss from Hades was reining with terror and insult. So, even though my direct supervisor had given me an overall good evaluation, the main boss had to add his 2 cents in at the end, which was (paraphrasing), "you suck, you effin b*^%!" So, I was a bit nervous about getting an evaluation for the first time in four years.
But I was nervous for nothing. I got a really good evaluation, with my boss reiterating how much I had learned in just a year's time and how she completely trusts me with difficult design jobs from start to finish. She also talked about my social skills with both coworkers and clients and how I had patched a gap with our office and another group of people that works in our department. It was really weird sitting there for a half hour while someone told me good things about myself. I, sadly, felt like I needed to remind her of all my faults! I guess I felt like I didn't deserve such a doting. I mean, granted, I have completely worked hard and tried to learn things I've never done before, but I guess I just want to try to remain humble. I still have so much to learn in this industry... But like the subtitle says, it's nice to hear you're doing a good job.
Birthday boy
Friday the 13th (insert scary music here) was Chris' birthday. Our favorite M&A writer and I took the day off to celebrate. We traveled to Chattanooga where we visited Ruby Falls. Why? Because even though we've lived 30 minutes from the place most of our lives, we had never been there before and thought it might be cool. It was - both visually and in temperature. We got to see lots of stalactite and stalagmite, columns, calcium drips and, of course, the falls. We concluded that Mickey would have loved to climb around in the cave and especially around the waterfall. The temp was about 65 degrees through the whole cave, getting a bit cooler as you approach the falls - an extremely nice break from the 90-degree humidity outside. After visiting the waterfall, we enjoyed a little break at Coolidge Park, overlooking the river. Then we ate a great meal at Big River Grill. Chris got a dark brown stout to drink since the joint is a brewery as well. Everyone head over to Another Way to Waste Time Online and give Chris a belated shout out!
Your average weekend
Saturday brought the usual: Chris working outside on the ever-going project, me inside trying to catch up on house work, the dogs pacing around wondering when we are going to do something fun, an evening of dinner with friends we haven't seen in forever and a round of mini-golf with said friends (and Chris got in the batting cages and hit a few softballs at 60 mph; then he got in the 80 mph baseball cage and hit two, I think?). Sunday included church and a nice hike at Berry with the puppies. Sadie the Swimmer worked that reservoir like there was no tomorrow, and she and Jewels met some new friends while we were up there.
I'm getting fat, and it's OK
It's really weird looking down and seeing my belly pooching out. It's also weird not being able to button most of my pants. But what's the weirdest is that it's OK. Normally if things are getting tight in the pants region, I'm putting in more time on the pavement, the gym or my dance floor (aka my house when Chris is not there). But I'm not suppose to lose weight right now. Nope, I have to gain weight. That's an odd place to be, psychologically, when society is always telling you to lose it. As of the last doctor's appointment, I had gained 2 pounds. Considering I'm 3 months pregnant, that's pretty good. Of course, after a dizzy spell on Monday morning, my breakfast decided it didn't want to occupy my stomach any longer, which just made me spend the day wondering when this morning sickness bull crap is going to be over. I have felt better the rest of the week. Maybe I went out with a bang. We'll see!
The hair up there
The thing about highlights in your hair is that you have to get them touched up when the roots start showing. Considering my hair was also in need of a cut, I made a call to the wonderful hair person I wrote about in this blog. While sitting in a massage chair getting my hair washed (can you tell I love the pampering?), we discussed a former employee of the shop. This employee, who was apparently not very good considering she butchered my friend's head, had recently quit. Her reasoning: "I'm on a path of Christianity and I feel like this place is a hinderance to that path (or something extremely similar)."
In other words: "I'm an awesome Christian, and I don't feel like you all are. You see, I've been judging you ever since I walked in the door and feel like you all aren't as good as me. So I'll move on and find other holier-than-thou people just like me!"
This just makes my blood boil! Why do people feel they have to throw that they are a Christian in someone's face? Shouldn't I be able to tell by the way you live every day? Also, why do these same people feel they have to judge everyone else and make them feel like they aren't Christians, like they aren't good enough to receive the forgiveness that is available to everyone thanks to that Jesus guy they keep talking about (yet obviously know nothing about). I know some of you don't agree with my beliefs, but just know that my personal beliefs include not ridiculing you because you don't agree with me.
I'll leave you with a quote that I still remember from my DC Talk-listening days back in the day (that's old school right there): "The single greatest cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips then walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds so unbelievable."
15 comments:
Thanks for the update! And is it weird if I ask for a belly photo? :)
Yeah, I hate people like that too. Sadly, the people I know who are atheists or just non-Christians are much nicer than many people who wear their WWJD bracelets every day.
But it sounds to me like this lady just realized she sucks at cutting hair and used Jesus as an excuse to quit.
This is a bit of a doozy of a post (in number of topics, not length), so let me break my comments down by topic.
Evaluation: It is good to know you're appreciated, but it doesn't surprise me that you got a good one (or that The Duck made your time miserable). I keep getting really good compliments from my principal, but they just make me uncomfortable because I tend to disagree with her assessment and I dislike what I do.
Birthday: Yay beer. Yay stout. Apparently the seafood place next door is owned by the same restaurant and I've heard good things about it. You can get the beer there too. Happy birthday Chris. As for Ruby Falls, I've got a feeling that given the touristy nature of it, they wouldn't let Mickey climb around in there. It's a shame, though. They could probably sell tickets to the families to watch the nature freak scale the falls.
Average weekend: I got nothing besides Chris would probably beat me in the batting cages.
Belly: Kim had lost 12 lbs by that point, but the doctor wasn't concerned. Apparently, they don't get worried about gaining weight until after this point and she started gaining from then on, although she just put those 12 lbs. back on by delivery. She had some dizzy spells as well. This is about the time that Kim's appetite returned, so you're probably out of it and if not, you're very close.
Hair: Your subtitle sounds dirty, although I can't figure out how. Kim wouldn't get her highlights redone while she was pregnant, although I don't know if she'd read she wasn't supposed to or if she just didn't feel comfortable doing it. It's a shame I couldn't convince her to give up meth during pregnancy though. I totally agree with your opinion on the "Christian" girl. It's always best to remember that those people are always posers. If you use Christianity as an excuse and a bragging point, you're not taking it seriously enough to deserve the descriptor. I've always thought of Chris as what I thought a Christian was supposed to be. You knew he believed and that he wouldn't join you in any orgies or anything, but you also never got the sense that you weren't being judged for your differences in belief. I've never gotten that judgmental vibe from you either, but then I didn't know you that well back in college when I was thinking about this.
And there would be fewer agnostics and atheists if there were fewer people who said they were Christians out loud. It always seems to me that the more obvious the signs a person gives of their religion the more of a dick they are about it. The people I've always thought were the best Christians usually didn't say anything about it. They just lived the way they thought they should.
Of course the vocal atheists are just as annoying as the vocal Christians. If I have to wonder where you stand, you're probably doing it right regardless of your belief.
Hey! You have met your quota for 1 post to my every 20= M:S or 1:20! Anyhoo! So, you are beautiful again? HAHA! That's great! And I am so happy that they got rid of that terrible lady who COULD NOT DO HAIR! I am still rather traumatized by my sad sad experiences with her. Apparently being a holier-than-thou-Christian does not mean that you can cut hair, or listen to people. Both of which are needed to be a good hair stylist or a good Christian ;) Oh well, her loss, definitely not theirs!
I can't wait to have our yard sale this weekend! I am going to make SO. Much. Money!
And BTW, I totally wrote this comment in word first because I didn't want you to take your red pen to my typographical errors! You will probably still find one or two! They need spell check in the comment boxes!
Wait a minute, you don't have to be good at cutting hair to be a good Christian...what I mean to say is that you have to be a good listener to be a good hair stylist and to be a good Christian...dang, and I tried to sound so smart!!!
I was thinking while viewing the falls that they could definitely sell tickets for rock climbing on the walls just beside the water. But I'm pretty sure Mickey wouldn't go.
Regarding the girl who quit the salon, I was thinking the exact same as Courtney: She realized she sucked and used God as an excuse to quit. There's actually a lengthy passage in the Old Testament (Isaiah or Jeremiah, I think; sorry I should look it up) in which God scolds the people for claiming to have messages from God when in reality they made up the messages themselves.
I always think about that passage whenever someone says God told them to do something. It's unfortunate, I guess, because surely somebody really is getting messages from above.
Congratulations on your review. I'm glad to know that I continue to have reasons to be jealous of your job... meaning that I can have faith that some things really are as good as they sound and that supportive work environments really do exist.
Happy Birthday, Chris. Sorry for the delay. I'm as bad with dates as I am with names. Give me another few years as your friend and I'm sure to get it right eventually.
Jacob... in honor of protecting your image of Chris, I shall remain quiet for the remainder of this comment.
Julie: Have you seen Chris naked? Because really, nudity is the only true sin against god.
I also had a friend who was dumped by a girl who told him that god told her to break up with him.
And I didn't say the guy was perfect.
Congrats on your good review! I'm getting the feeling it's not something they're very good about doing where I work...and since they're cutting things everywhere to try to save money, I doubt I'll be getting a raise anytime soon either. Hey, there's a features editor position open in my office!
I'm unclear, Jacob. Are you saying the sight of my naked body is offensive to God?
Never mind. Let's not talk about it.
Nicole: OK, OK, I'll include a belly shot on here! heehee
Courtney: You crack me up! I bet she DID realize how bad she was, and sadly, used Jesus as an excuse.
Jacob: It's OK to get highlights while you're pregers because the caution is in the chemicals absorbing into your skin and you don't get much on your head with highlights. Plus, I didn't smell a thing when she was doing it and my sense of smell is really sensitive right now. They use natural ingredients in all their products, so there's probably less crap in there than in normal coloring.
Oh, and I thought that was sweet what you said about Chris. He IS a good Christian. We all make mistakes, but Chris is genuine. I always think that's something to strive for.
Shannon: Chris was going to correct you until he read that your corrected yourself! BTW, my red pen doesn't come out so much anymore!
Chris: Yeah, I've already told you I only heard something once and so that's why I really know it was Him (plus it was to show love to someone). These people who claim to hear God all the time make me think they are not legit.
Stephanie: I miss you like crazy, but in defense of my sanity, I won't be going back to newspapers if I can help it!
Chris: I'm not going to comment on you being naked. I've already grossed out your friends one too many times!
Wow. You should post more often and get this out a little at a time.
Congrats on the good review!
Tell Chris happy birthday (belated)!
I saw DC Talk at the Billy Graham Crusade in high school. Every once in a while, to express my agreement with something, I still say I'm "down with the DC Talk," and no one (meaning Courtney) has any idea what I'm talking about. I'm not sure I do either.
Hellllllooooooo?? Wheeeerrrrreee aaaarrrreeee yyoooouuuu?
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