The Annual Review

I got my review the other day and I was really shocked. I have worked harder this year at work than any previous year but still the glowing review was completely unexpected. I had given myself a better than average rating and felt that it was reasonable [I've done a lot of significant, high-impact projects that i'm very happy with]. My boss however, marked my work this year as beyond stellar -wow! The bigger suprise yet was that this 'rating' went up the company chain and back down again without being adjusted. Again, there must be some snow in hell somewhere. Fewer than 5% of the company folks will receive this level of recognition. And, wait, there is still some snow falling somewhere in a warm spot...I also got a grade level increase [ie a promotion]. I just got bumped up less than six months ago. I'm told that this never happens where I work - not two grade jumps in less than 12 months - and I didn't even push for this one. There are rules that must be followed but apparently not this year. I'm extremely happy that my hard work was noticed. But, (you knew there was a but coming) where do you go when you're at the top? No where to go but down - lets hope it's a short run with a gentle slope.... wheeeeeeeee

My Name Is

DD and AB received a chest of dress-up clothes for christmas. The costumes and their accesories been strewn all over the house on a daily basis, driving me a little batty. Tonight, DD dressed up as a princess. She created the outfit from a variety of other costumes to make it her own. She then explained to me that she was a princess and that she was going to get married by daddy; so very cute. Later she announced that her name was now 'Japanese' and that she was going to dance with Daddy before bathtime. She then only listened when we called her by the name Japanese. Z guy who was not paying attention the entire time, looked at me like i was crazy when i called her by that name. It was pretty funny. I aksed if I could talke a picture of her royal highness, but I was told no because I was the Dr's mommy (AB was dressing up as a doctor at the time), so I have posted a dress up picture from Christmas day.

Raiding the Cabinet

For Christmas, my brother and his girlfriend gave me a book of hot holiday drink recipes. I gave them a hard time because i thought they were making fun of me and the fact that I don't like 'spicy hot' things (they both really love 'spicy hot'). Instead the book is about warm to hot drinks that one might serve in the cold weather. Most of these drink recipes include some type of liquor. So, on new years eve, I raided my liquor cabinet to see what I could make. The only recipe that I had all the ingredients for was called the Praline Prancer. I made 1/2 a recipe and warmed it up in the microwave. I lovingly handed z guy a glass and said cheers. We both took a sip and about fell on our backsides (except that we were already sitting). Dad-gum! That sucker was strong. We pushed through and finished our glasses, shaking our heads as each gulp went down. It was good, but it is definitely a sipper - whaaaaaoooaaoaaa!! The hairs on your arms stand up - more like a chilling kind of drink. So in between the hacking and coughing of being sick, we were also coughing from the strength of the alcohol. And after all that, we didn't even catch a buzz.

Tonight, I tried another one, called Cookies and Cream. Once again, it is a little strong; not as much as the first one, but still a sipper. I'm writing in the book (evil, I know) as I try each one and noting my reactions to each. Definite fun although no buzz.