Walking With Nora

Little Man is almost five. I can sense the shift in his excitement when he sees me, how much he needs me as his babysitter and more…

Our dinner conversation:

LM: We wear uniforms!
Nora: Really? That sounds fun. Where do you wear uniforms?
LM: At school. Boys wear belts. Girls wear jumpers.
Nora: Do you like your uniform?
LM: Yes. My pants are golden. We have pockets. Girls have pockets too.
Nora: Very cool.
LM: My pockets are golden… (pause)… I don’t know what color the girls pockets are.
Nora: Golden pockets must be fun. (In my head: thank GOD you don’t know what color this girls’ pockets are.)

While playing a game of Sorry with all of my pawns still in the “start circle,”"

LM: I’m sorry you are still stuck in Start. Those are just the rules. Not my fault.
N: I know! It’s okay.

… a few minutes later I have pawns out on the board. He kicks my butt anyway.

N: Good job, LM! You won.
LM: That is not what you are supposed to say to me.
N: Oh, I’m sorry. What do your parents say?
LM: Daddy says “Good Game, LM!” and then he does this (LM high-fives me).
N: Okay, let’s try again… “Good Game, LM!” Now, should we play again?
LM: No.
N: I’ve never played before. Just one more game?
LM: okay. I go first though.

… this time I have my guys out of “Start,” first.

LM: I should have gotten my pawns on the board first. I won the last game.
N: I agree, but the cards are being difficult. Look! There you go, a card that gets your guys out.

… I proceed to win (not on purpose, I promise, as you know Sorry is a game of cards more than anything). LM gets up to walk away from the table.

N: Where are you going?
LM: I told you we shouldn’t have played another game.
N: Are you going to say anything to me?
LM (with his head down to the floor): Good Game, Nora.

(This is where I see his attitude shifting. Not bad, but definitely more grown-up, struggling with being a good sport. It was pretty darn cute, let me tell you.)

The one that didn’t change? Since I’ve been watching him for over two years (right, Little Man’s mom? At least that, I think) every time I tuck him into bed, I use one of his stuffed animals to give him kisses. I make the ridiculous, overzealous kissing noises as the stuffed animal showers his face with kisses. Little Man loves it. Laughs hysterically. I thought maybe this last time he wouldn’t want me to do it, so I didn’t… and he reminded me of it. Sometimes the best date a girl can have is getting her butt kicked in Sorry, taught the correct way to use a Lightsaber and getting a hug from a five-year old.

(Background: We have an IT Certification Testing Lab onsite at my office. I run it.)

Man: Hi, my name is Mr.X and I’m here for a test.
N: Sir, you aren’t on my list of tests today.
Man: Yes, I know. It’s Monday at 10am. I’m just practicing and making sure I’m in the right place. Here are my two forms of ID.
N: Thank you, yes, those will work. Please bring them with you on Monday.
Man: I have trouble going to the bathroom.
N: BLANK STARE.
Man: I mean, I don’t need your help going to the bathroom, I just can’t sit for more than two hours without having to go the bathroom. I have problems. Bathroom problems.
N: Well, we don’t usually allow people to use the restroom during exams, but if you check with me we’ll make an exception.
Man: Okay. So you’ll help me go to the bathroom. Great. I was worried about that. (He walks off.)

My three year anniversary with my job is coming up on March 1st. Three years. THREE YEARS. That gives me a near panic attack. I mean, seriously, a twenty-something who has had a stable job for three years? Wow.

I never thought of this job as permanent when I walked in to our old location over 1,000 days ago. It wasn’t supposed to be permanent. Answer phones for a living? For a short while, I said. Not for long.

After a few months of answering phones, making coffee and doing random grunt work (yeah, my BS in International Studies is totally getting used… NOT!) I noticed that the family business, start-up company (at the time) needed some assistance. There were some holes in the processes, communication and every day work that I thought I could fill. So, Little Miss Bold Nora talked it over with her boss (aka Dad) and then scheduled a more formal meeting with Dad and the other boss (CFO).

Which brings us to today. I was once a Business Development Administrator. I went to Event Coordinator. Now? Event & Marketing Manager including: computer-based training manager, inside sales/contract coordinator & manager, travel agent, inventory manager and much more. When people ask what I do, it’s hard to explain. An Event Manager at an IT firm? Yup, you got to have one.

And then there’s the whole stigma that goes along with me being boss’ daughter. I work. Hard. Sure, I cut a few corners here and there, ask for an extra day off if I need it, but other than that, being boss’ daughter means more work, more expectations and less room for failure and saying “no,” to a project than the other workers.

It takes a skillful balance to work with a family member. The first months were rough but we adjusted. We know when to speak as employer-employee, father-daughter and even friends. A large part of me still yearns for something more, something bigger, better and maybe not in StL, but walking away from the family business? Well, that might be just as hard as walking away from free hot fudge sundaes. Or leaving those cute puppies at the stupid pet stores at the mall. Or ignoring the 75% off sale at Aldo, BCBG and other awesome shoe stores.

Love: My friend, Hippie, has her own t-shirt design company. She made TLo and me shirts that say “Texty McTexterson.” It’s a joke from when I dated NJ (can you call a month dating? I don’t know). Anyway, I look forward to their arrival.
Hate: That boys still insist on texting as their first contact with a girl. Lame-o.

Love: My new book club. Full of twenty somethings with a nice blend of single, engaged and married (no babies… yet) the conversation was intelligent, humorous and a perfect blend of book discussion as well as every day topics.
Hate: Most of the group are lawyers. They use a whole different vocabulary than the rest of us non-law school kids. A bit of deciphering is necessary to understand what the heck they are saying. It was usually as simple as “yes, I liked it,” or “no, i did not.”

Love: Buying new gold heels.
Hate: I can’t wear them until after Siri’s wedding so that I don’t ruin them. I am keeping them in the box, out of sight, out of mind. Hopefully that will work.

Love: Having some time to cook at home.
Hate: The dirty dishes it generates and the absence of a dishwasher. Where is Jeeves when you need him?

Love: Snow, in general.
Hate: Snow, in St. Louis. Dirty snow everywhere. Salt all over the place which inevitably makes its way into your shoes, onto your hardwood floors and all over your car.

Love: Baking cookies.
Hate: Cookie dough as a temptation

Last night Darling hosted the yearly Oscar party which has been a tradition for at least the last five years. After much flurrying about the house, moving furniture, rolling miniature weiners in blankets, mixing cookie dough, stabbing cucumber with toothpicks along with other delicacies and setting the wine out, the gals began to gather. 

I waited patiently for Johnny Depp to pop up on screen and when he did we ooohed and ahhed over his handsomeness and devilish appearance (how he manages to do both at the same time is beyond me). He looked much like this, only in a tuexdo.

We all decided Javier Bardem is much cuter in a tux and with stubble than he was in No Country for Old Men.

We wondered why we can never see Renee Z’s eyes and why Nicole Kidman’s necklace was caddywompus during her time on stage.

We erupted with clapping and cheering when Falling Slowly from Once won the best Original Song (and good news! They really are dating).

While there were no real surprises and no one came close to the 72 points possible on our ballots it was great to gather with Darling and her friends.

Have I mentioned lately that I really like party planning??

And to leave you with my favorite part of last night (if this doesn’t make you want to see the movie, I don’t know what will. It’s only 85 minutes long. You can spare that.)

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Today StL was hit by Jack Frost: several inches of sleet and ice hit the ground sending the town into a tizzy.

If you know the weather is going to be bad and you are aware of the fact that your office will be open unless you are called, one should consider getting up extra early to make it to work on time. It is your job. J-O-B. Sure it sucks that traffic is bad and Midwesterners have no clue how to drive in snow, let alone ice, but part of your job is that you show up, sunny or sleeting. I live closest to the office and am given the decision-making rights on the office being open or closed.

Without getting into too much about what I do, let’s just say that when you run an IT center and you have out-of-town students in your office, it’s nearly impossible to postpone classes due to weather. So, we were open.

Apparently I made an unpopular decision as everyone who walked by my desk had some story to grumble about. And don’t even get me started on their questions about the business owners! (One lives in the country, the other is recovering from the flu. They are business owners for a reason. They are not required to be in the office every day.)

Rant aside… as I was sitting at the office having an unusually busy day considering most of StL was shut down all I could hear was the beating of the ice on the roof and windows. Snow Days. What a distant memory, which reminded me of:

• Back in eighth grade, after waiting at the bus stop with two friends for over 20 minutes, school was canceled. Rather than climbing back into bed, we bundled up and headed for the sledding hill. Followed by hot chocolate and baking cookies. Looking back it’s bizarre that we hung out as we all came from different “Groups,” : I was on the dorkier side then, one chick was super popular and the guy that was with us a complete introvert. We shed our differences that day and acted like we were five.
• Freshman year in high school I was in band (see, I told you I was a dork! I made up for it though by playing flute, and we all know flute players are amazing kissers) which took us to Orlando to march in the New Year’s Eve parade. Upon our return to the StL we were greeted with a blanket of white and wind chills that caused school to be closed an extra four days. Talk about a vacation!
• Our first winter here in StL it must have snowed more than a foot, or what seemed like a foot to me, and my mom took us for a walk down the middle of our street. My brother and I went running and sliding, throwing snow balls, all in the glow that was the street light and snow.
• And today, Mr. Jack paced for a good ten minutes before I finally gave in. He goes outside in the snow and tosses it around with his nose, his nails scrape for traction on the ice and me, well I just pray I won’t fall and break a bone as we glide across the sidewalks and roads.

I should be studying but instead am bundled up in my favorite sweats, Jack’s snoozing on the couch and I’m entertaining myself with “Across the Universe,” which is a great movie for anyone who enjoys Beatle music and political statements in cinema.

Saturday eve was a fiesta for my co-workers 30th birthday complete with a rainbow boa, t-shirts with his face on them and of course, our neighborhood Hippie Bar, The Grateful Inn

Living in MWood over the past year and a half, new trendy bars have sprung up overnight, drawing the young and scantily clad crowd, a whole new rash of drunk driving incidents, economic activity and giving us a new reputation as the up and coming MWood.

The Grateful Inn, a smoke-free bar, managed to survive these grand openings, until now. It’s been bought out by one of the other local bar owners and is going to be a small boutique bar with women waitresses instead of the beard-growing, local beer-recommending waiters.

Its last day is March 1st. My little neighborhood bar where you could actually hear yourself think is going to be gone. I’m okay with the new money for the enclave of MWood, the new places to go, the see & be seen crowd but I’m not okay with the first place that welcomed me to MWood.

I guess this is my way of saying that sometimes, just every once in awhile, I wish America didn’t require brand new decor, shiny new beer taps, fresh linens and uncomfortable seats, cigarette smoke blurring your vision and bizarre beats blaring from the speakers. Sometimes I wish America could remember the feeling of having a place- your place- right around the corner from your home.

Instead we are in a constant battle with oursevles for newer, better, faster, stronger, more expensive and forget what some of our foundation is based on.

I’m going to find some Jerry Garcia music…

Last night, for girls’ night out, we enjoyed some fabulous Mexican food – complete with a pitcher of margaritas- and meandered over to the new piano bar in town, Jive n’ Wail.

Considering it took us over two hours to nurse the pitcher of margs, we didn’t get to the Piano Bar until close to 11 where of course there was a line to get in.

“One in, one out.” Declared the overzealous, I am “God,” bald-spot bouncer.

We were cool with waiting. Until 10 people left and he didn’t let us in.

” The fire marshall is here, sweeties, just be tight. I’m sorry for the wait. It’ll be just a few moments. Now, please close this door.”

Left standing in a crowded foyer, knowing full well there was no fire marshall randomly in the building, we waited. Patiently.

Some dude in a pale blue shirt and black slacks rushes through the foyer, throws the door open, hugs the bouncer and is let right in. Along with 10 of his friends. And another five snuck in. I’m sure you can keep up with the math here…

So, TLo, being of Italian descent as well, politely (I promise) asks him if we can go in since he just let 15 people through.

His response: “Thanks for the math help, sweetie, but I can do it on my own. If you don’t settle down and take it easy, I’m not letting you or your friends in at all. Now go stand in the foyer.”

Wow. We finally got in (yes we waited as one of our other friends was furious and snuck past the bouncer) but man, what is up with bouncers who think they are kings? Not cool. Kind of ruined the experience for the first five minutes.

Another quote of the night, while standing by the bar waiting to grab a few beers, the guy next to me who is dressed in a flannel shirt and a stocking cap: “I’m not homeless, I only dress like I am.” We quickly moved on to a new spot at the bar.

Kudos to Byron for doing a “Why Valentine’s is my favorite Day,” week on his blog. Check it out and definitely watch the video that he posted, which I believe is from PostSecret.com.

I booked a super duper spontaneous trip to Vegas in April with some of my friends from Florida. Great rates made it possible, though if anyone needs a nanny or babysitter in the next 63 days and counting, let me know! I’d be glad to have some play money before I get there.

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day (aka Nora wears all Black Day. It’s now a tradition even though I don’t hate the day anymore) and I’m excited as I sent Valentine’s to my friends who hopefully didn’t supsect I would. Hope it makes them smile. And, of course, my yearly date with my single gal pals. On the menu tomorrow? Spinach & feta pizza, salad, fresh-baked cookies, wine and perhaps Sex and the City or another movie yet TBD. And lots of girl talk.

After much thinking… I have decided to stick with grad school. I have only seven classes left. I can get those done, right? (to the tune of Bob the Builder) “Can Nora do it? Yes she can!”  I will, however, be taking the summer off to enjoy the sun and StL Festivities.

And continuing the randomness of this post: the sun is shining today in StL. Probably for the first time in about two weeks. It’s amazing how much better one can feel with the sun shining. Now if the temperature cared to rise above freezing we’d have an even better day.

Happy Sunny “Hump,” Day to you and yours!

Actual Text Message conversation with an old co-worker of mine from today, Tuesday, February 12th:

Old Co-Workwer (OCW): Hey stranger, how have you been?
Nora: Great, busy as usual, how about you?
OCW: Fine, home sick today.
N: That’s a bummer! Hope you feel better soon.
OCW: Thanks. So, is the gang still there? I’m studying for my CDL to become a linemen for Axxxn Company.
N: Yup, they are all here. Good for you, glad to hear things are going well.
OCW: So, I know this is kind of weird, but would you mind if I sent you some nude pictures of myself? I do it to see what I look like and would like someone else’s opinion. (Nora’s note: Her jaw is dropping at this point. She’s also looking around the office to see if she’s being Punk’d by Ashton Kutcher). I know it’s weird that I’m asking, but thought you could help me out.

N: I didn’t respond
OCW: Sorry if I offended you.
N: I still didn’t respond.
OCW: Sorry.
N: I still had NO response.

—-
In hindsight I suppose I can make sense of why he’s no longer working for us.