I Like My Job......

I don’t love it.

I read this article the other day that really irritated me. It was directed at younger people entering the workforce and those who had only been in for less than 10years. There were some good pointers….like if you want people to take you seriously you shouldn’t dress like a ho-bag (you’d be surprised at how scandalous I’ve seen female co-workers dress). However, one statement put me over the edge. It stated something along the lines of, “Be willing to put in the hours if you want to get ahead. Young people these days believe that as soon as the clock hits 5:00 pm, their work day is over. You should be willing to put the time in to get the job done.”

I highly disagree with this statement. Why, you might ask? Well, because I have a fricking life outside of work. I hope that I will always have a life outside of work. I get here at 8, I leave at 5, and if I have to stay 1 minute past 5 o’clock, I start getting pissy. I have 8 hours every day for 5 days in a row to get whatever it is done. Don’t come to me at 4:30 asking me to start something else. I have zero aspirations to become head of the department or CEO of some company. If I wanted to get paid nothing to work all of the time, I’d pursue my PhD.

Right after I graduated college, I was super eager to do whatever. I thought my hard work would pay off, getting me promotions and more pay. This is what I soon discovered: 1) the effort put in doesn’t matter, your longevity matters 2) a promotion doesn’t really get you more money, just more responsibility and more dealings with the bullshit that occurs 3) in order to get promoted, there are lots of asses one must kiss.

Okay, number 3 is a little wrong depending on your boss. Luckily, after a year at my first job, I was passed on to a phenomenal lady who did recognize hard work over ass kissing. I wish I could’ve followed her to the UK.

Another thing that irritated me about the statement was that it had the audacity to not only suggest I deprive time from my social life, but that I should work for free. Okay, I’ve had the opportunity to work both in the industrial and academia setting for my field of expertise. After working 6 years in the industrial setting, I made the switch to academia. My current salary in academia (with 7 years of experience, mind you) is what I started out making RIGHT OUT OF COLLEGE. So you can see my lack of interest in putting in unpaid overtime.

That said, I do get a lot more enjoyment out of my current job. It’s interesting, makes me think, and I don’t dread coming here every day like I had started to do at GSK. Proof that you can’t buy happiness.

Either way, I like my job….I don’t love it. I’m here from 8-5. If you expect anything past that then you can blow me.

A Farewell to Tree Balls

I thought I had blogged about Tree Balls earlier, but I just realized it was in the pictarz blog we had started and ultimately failed to continue updating. The very first time I saw Tree Balls, I was walking with my co-worker and boss to our building. Not yet knowing their sense of humor, I had to contain myself from busting out laughing and saying, "Look y'all, tree balls!"



I would walk past this fella every day, sometimes several times a day, and would always giggle to myself thinking, "Hahaha, that tree has balls."

Sadly, yesterday, my friend Niki and I were greeted by this image:



Farewell, Tree Balls, you've been a real pick me up over the past 9 months and will surely be missed.

Bogue Inlet Pier

When I woke up this past Saturday morning I was greeted with this image of Bogue Inlet Pier.




Before Irene:




This made me sad and extremely sentimental. Over the past 6 years I have created quite a few memories at this pier and the wonderful beach that surrounds it, Emerald Isle.

It all started in 2005 when I was still a newbie at GSK. I was still making the transition from college life to real-world-I-work-full-time life. I still hadn’t really made any deep connections with any of my co-workers. This is when Kim and Lora came along and invited me to a girls’ weekend at Emerald Isle. Thus started my love affair with this strip of earth and the girls that brought me along.

Fortunately for us, our friend Judi bought a place about 300 yards from the pier, enabling us to hold a girls’ beach weekend every summer for the past 6 years. I can’t even begin to describe the bonds I’ve formed with these girls just sitting and talking on a patch of sand. We’ve walked to the pier for the wonderful slurpies served to get a break from the mid-day sun. We’ve walked past the pier and back to wear off the alcohol at the end of the night. We’ve sat there tearing up, comforting each other after arrests, break-ups, divorces, and other life adventures that just didn’t work out as expected. We’ve laughed hysterically and praised/congratulated each other after promotions, new loves, engagements, and other life adventures that one of us were about to embark upon. We’ve people watched, giving us all a boost in self esteem. I’ve had the best advice given to me sitting right by that pier. It has marked so many changes in all of our lives.

My love affair doesn’t end there. In addition to these girls’ weekends I’ve been down for sisterhood retreats where the house got toilet papered and someone may have threatened to slit our cab driver’s throat if “you bring that fat bastard back here.” This girl is going to be in my wedding, haha. I’ve rung in New Year’s at the E Club with a bff from Colorado. I’ve watched as another friend got married with the ocean in the background.

Ben and I had only been dating a couple of months when he invited me to his dad’s beach house in NC (we were both still up north then). We arrived and I exclaimed, “OMG, my friend Judi has a place about a quarter of a mile from here! We should call her!” So began our history with the pier. We’ve hung out at the end of Bogue Inlet Pier so many times late at night I lose count. Not to mention, on top of this pier is where we held our first serious discussion about getting married. Upon seeing the pictures of Irene’s aftermath all I could say was, “I’m glad we spent some time on the pier while we were there in July.” I hope they decide to rebuild.

These are my girls:

Long Time no Hear From

Once again it’s been awhile since my last entry. Back off, we’ve been busy. I haven’t had as much time to goof at work which is primarily when I like to make these entries. AND as of late my evenings have gone a little like this: get home from work at 6 pm, play with dogs, relax for 30 minutes, go to gym, come home, start watering yard while Ben makes a delicious dinner, clean up, shower, at this point in time it is usually around 10:30 and time to head to bed. As you can see, there is not much goof off on computer time left. The time I do get, has been spent doing wedding planning, or annoying Ben with the details of wedding planning. Yay weddings.

So what have I been up to lately? You know, the usual. Working, playing, planning, trying to lose weight. I was able to take my first vacation in 7 months a few weeks ago. Right now it seems like that was so long ago. We went to NC and it was everything I hoped it would be. Spent about 7 nights at Emerald Isle, was able to squeeze in a Girl’s Weekend, booked some vendors for our wedding, and got to spend some time with my family. Bojangles and NC bbq were also consumed. Pretty solid trip, I might say. We only spent about 3 hours in Raleigh, so we weren’t able to see our friends there. This brings up a good point. When you live far away, coming home tends to be stressful. Why, you might ask? Because it’s hard to see everyone that you want to see. Then the people who we don’t get to see, or spend just as much time with get their feelings hurt and it’s like, “Aaaarrrggghhh, I just want to relax and be on vacation!!!” So yeah, there’s that aspect. Regardless, it was a good time.

I’ve started reading A Song of Fire and Ice series by George RR Martin. There are so many pages! Very good read though….I recommend it if you have hours upon hours to read (which I am lacking unless I ignore all housework and everything else that needs to be done…..which has been happening. Ben hasn’t complained yet, but it might be coming on soon). I digress.

We moved to Texas just in time to experience the worst drought of all time. OF ALL TIME! We’ve lost a tree and three shrubs but have managed to keep our grass alive. Upside, no mosquitoes.

I gave a fellow commuter the finger on my way to work Monday. Oh Mondays, they bring out the best in everyone. This person totally deserved it, though, along with me mouthing the words that go along with said finger to emphasize my point. Made me feel better instantly.

We go out from time to time. Ate at a wonderful restaurant in downtown Houston during restaurant week. Had an amazing 4 course dinner. Our friends keep us busy. We’re having to nip socializing in the bud a bit due to money restraints. We broke!
I’m sure I’m leaving out lots of things. I think of blogs to write all of the time, but never get to them. Then when I finally sit down to write them, the moment has passed and they just don’t seem to hold the same punch. That leaves you guys with entries like these. We are about to start doggie boot camp. I’m sure that in itself will deserve its own entry. Until next time…..

Big Texas Hair

When I first started telling people I was moving to Texas, they exclaimed, "Well it's hot, but they have that dry heat." What these misinformed people did not know was that I was moving to a coastal town in a very humid part of southeast Texas. It's 100 degrees and humid as balls. Don't get me wrong, I love it. I love never being cold (except for inside the frigid buildings they keep at 32 degrees). My hair, however, is not so pleased with this newly formed relationship.


My hair's day typically goes like this:


8 am. Looking good, yeah!


11 am. Hmm, driving to work and walking between buildings has added some lift.


3 pm. Dude, really? I've just been sitting at my desk.


7 pm. Glad Ben thinks Medusa is sexy.





Oh well, this is why they make hair clips and ties.

Wedding Planning Woes

Can someone tell me what exactly it is that a wedding planner is supposed to do? Maybe I've conjured up the wrong ideas of what exactly she should be doing for me, because I thought a wedding planner should help with finding vendors, do cost comparisons, and just make it easier for the bride and groom to plan their big day. Am I totally off base here? I need some feedback from those of you who have used one.

I have spoken with her a few times and she acts as if we have all of the time in the world. By the way, the next person that tells me, "You have plenty of time," is going to get an ear full. If I still lived in North Carolina and could spend my evenings meeting with vendors in person, looking at flowers, and tasting cakes, then I WOULD have all of the time in the world. Seeing as how we plan on making two, yes, two trips back to NC prior to our wedding, then that doesn't leave much time for a run around.

On a lighter note, I think we've decided on a place for our honeymoon. We haven't actually made reservations yet, so this could change, but I'm super excited! Ko Phi Phi, Thailand =)

Things I'd Like to Bitch About

I've been trying my best to not be one of those people who constantly updates their Facebook status with complaints, but I am about to bust at the seams, so here is a blog filled to the T....

My top complaints for the first half of May:

1) Foreign people who take it upon themselves to point out the fact I am doing something wrong when I AM NOT. This has happened to me twice in the past week. I have consulted with others to ensure I am not an idiot. Now I have to decide if I should point out that they've been doing it wrong, or just let it slide. Either way, we can all take something away from this.....make sure you are 100% correct before you go pointing out someone else's mistakes.

2) Motorcyclists. Grrr. I'm getting to the point I see red if I even speak the word. They now have this sign up on the freeway that says, "Look twice for motorcyclists." I'd like to get up there and change the sign to say, "If motorcyclists didn't drive like assholes, you wouldn't have to look twice for them." Just this morning I witnessed a motorcyclist tailgate me as I was doing 8 mph over the speed limit, then weave in and out of traffic, causing other cars on the road to hit their brakes, just to end up at the same stoplight as me. This wasn't even on the interstate. Sorry, but I have lost my sympathy bone for the next time I see a motorcyclist splattered on the highway....it was probably their fault. Stop weaving in and out of traffic, driving 20 mph faster than the speed limit, and driving between cars on the dotted line in the road. How should I explain this last one better? You know, when you are in the left lane, and there is a car in the right lane, then the motorcycle prick creates their own lane between the two of you, scaring the crap out of everyone? That is what I'm talking about. This is why you die, not because I didn't look twice.

3) Our grass can suck it. Seriously. You know, I hope it never rains here again. There, I said it. That way the grass will be put out of its misery and we can start doing something else with our evenings.

4) I'd like to stay home on an upcoming trash day and throw our trash can lid at the garbage men. Throw it like a frisbee and hit them square in the face. Then say, "This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't broken our trash can." Why our trash can? We must have pissed them off b/c no one else's lid is broken in the neighborhood.

5) If you can't take 5 seconds to label your samples/tubes/vials in the lab, they deserve to be destroyed.

6) Gmail, all I wanted to do was set my theme to Super Mario Brothers. Why could you not let this happen?

7) Learn the difference between your and you're. It'll make me hate you less.

8) Why do some people think it's okay to interrupt other people while they are talking? Are you just that oblivious or just that much of a self-centered asshole?

Alright, I think I'm done.