...it was daddy/daughter time once again.

The other day I took her shopping for a dress and got her hair cut. Tonight we went to dinner. She insisted on Chinese. Who am I to say no? I love my Asian foods.
I have been spending the last few days with her which took away from writing, but I  think it's fair trade off. This will get back to a more regular posting starting tomorrow night.

...I am now on vacation until monday.

I am on vacation until Monday, but rest assured my faithful followers (all 2 of you) that I will be posting during this time. The kids are on spring break, but the boy got sick. Because of this, I have my daughter for the next four days. I have never had this kind of alone time with her before. I am really looking forward to it. There is so much that we are going to do.

I set up an appointment with Ilana to get her hair done, I'm taking her clothes shopping, and then taking her out to dinner in the new clothes. I'll probably try to find a pretty dress for her. She's my little girl. I'm going to make sure she has a fun day. I know that most girls would have killed for one on one time like this with their father. She's been gone from me for too long, and I think I need this time more than she does.

Other than that, we're going to wing it for the weekend. We already started having really great conversation on the way home. We talked about how the cats have new homes now, what is going to be on the menu for the next few days, and vampire monkeys. You read that right. Vampire...monkeys.

When confronted with questions, I had to call my two best authorities on the situation and we ran her through a litany of questions.

1. Is it more a guy that's a vampire with a monkey tail, or more monkey that happens to be a vampire? A: guy with tail
2. why does he live in a tree? How does this work? There is nothing to protect him from the sun. A: He lives in the trunk
3. How the heck did he get a tail? A: Scientists injected him with goo labeled "monkey"

This conversation went on for about 45 minutes. The rest of tonight might have been the best conversation I've had with her in almost 3 years. It was great. 

I'm going to hate going back to work on Monday. 

Today was better because I love my bug even more now than I already did.

...they like me! They really like me!

I got my review at work today. Usually I am not too thrilled about these, and this is a new format now that I have moved buildings. I had no idea what to expect on it. It's not the usual one that I had over at the prior building. We're all under this one big IT umbrella now, so it can be quite a new adventure at times.

It was sent to me last night, and I read through it. My boss is of the thought that an employee shouldn't be blindsided at a review or come in nervous about things. I've known him for a few years now, and prior to the move we were peers. The new organization saw him as having a higher leadership role, and that I would work for him. It's actually worked out. I've taught him a few things about what I do for a living and he's given me some guidance on how to handle the tough situations.

Don't get me wrong, we've had our differences in the past. Most of the time while at the other building and he was not my boss. But, over here, we have a familiarity with each other that helps us get things done. He has his direction on things from his boss and he hands them down to me and I move forward with those directions. I don't salute and go all the time, but I know when NOT to say the wrong thing as well.

Oh, that review. It was pretty good. As always I scored myself lower than he saw my scores. It's just the way it always goes with me. I see the need for improvement, they think I'm doing a great job. Maybe it's because I don't take mediocrity when it comes to my job. I want to be the best. I also want to help everyone be the best too.

I have to say though, it takes a different type of oddball to do this job. But today, it was fun. Besides it being a good work day, I had dinner brought to me (thanks lady!) so I could do some school work before I posted this and head home.

...there was an end to the madness.

I'm on vacation in a couple days. I have a lot of school work to get done, but there is always something about those last few days prior to a vacation. You have to get everything in order, and set for you to go. It is quite hectic actually. So much to prepare for, what if something goes wrong?

At least I know will have done everything I could to prepare and then some.

I also have a very loving lady in my life and friends who are fantastic. Tonight, after class, they told me to get my ass over to the place where they were doing food night and sit and eat with all of them so I didn't have to do my usual "Monday night fasting" that usually happens thanks to the schedule. It was really nice. I didn't think I'd get to see my girl until around this time NEXT week because of everything that is going on at home. But I got to see her tonight. She's also been keeping tabs on how my knee is doing. I tweaked it pretty bad yesterday to the point of having to get out the old Rebel99 brace (see picture on the side for reference on what this brace looks like). She's looking out for me. Her dad went through some pretty rough stuff with his knees, so she knows what I am possibly heading towards. I want to be able to run around and keep dancing with her. If this knee of mine gives me any more problems, I won't be able to. And that will upset me greatly.

BUT! Today was better, tomorrow should be fantastic as well... and that's the bottom line...

...I found out I did quite well in my classes.

I had two midterm things that I thought I didn't so so well at. Anyone who knows me knows that I have this fear of school because of not really remembering much of high school. So, natually I think doing things like writing papers and taking tests is hard. All results show this is not the case. I actually do quite well in them. I just need to have more confidence when I am doing things like this.

I'm slowly getting better at it, learning to manage my time, relax and not worry so much about it. I have also taken the stance that no matter how hard I try,I might not get an A all the time and I am now ok with it.

Back to class. It's about to start and the weekly "teacher can't get the projector going" is quite amusing.