So are you still happy?

It's a soggy Sunday morning, the man is on a bike ride, the kids are being hypnotized by their respective screens, so what's a girl to do?

Blog, I guess.

I contemplated participating in Weekly Winners, it would have been easy enough, as I actually have photos, albeit a week late. No videos of course (video camera went MIA on our recent trip, apparently it was a collective "WE" who lost it, and for the sake of my marriage I decided to let it go... which was terribly difficult for me, as you know, as I am nothing if not a superior wife, and maybe I'm still shooting myself that I hadn't personally taken responsibility of it and crazy-glued the thing to my person...did I say I was over it yet...? Honestly, I am.).

Anywhoo, it was a wonderful city vacation. So this will be a wordy Weekly Winners.

Can you guess where we were?









It was great being away from the office for a couple of weeks. Sure, it was right in the middle of major crises but when you think about it, is it ever a good time to take a vacation? But being physically and electronically disconnected (I only checked my e:mail once while away) was critical in keeping everything in proper perspective. Much needed perspective.

I looked back at a post from this time last year. I was posting about Barbie beds, BBQ's and friends turning 40. I was a full time stay at home Mom.

This time THIS year, I unfortunately haven't made the time to renovate Barbie's decor. However, there are still the BBQ's and dinners, and more friends turning 40-plus. In fact, we had a couple over for dinner last night. And I am now a full time work-out of home Mom.

The requisite question came up, from my SAHM friend:

"So Karen, are you still happy with your work?"

How did I answer?

"Yes, I am. Actually as of Friday, rather ecstatic".

I've adjusted fairly well, ya think?

When I was presented the job opportunity last year, the biggest part of my reluctance to move away from doing my own thing and jumping back into the corporate fire was the "people" stuff. And what did I encounter within days of being on the job? People stuff. Big people stuff. As in high frustration and low morale stuff...with no realizable solution in sight. Sort of like staring a corporate Mount Everest in the face.

I was so stressed, so nervous, so "how am I going to do anything about this, I'm the new kid on the block, no one knows me here, the processes are overwhelming and gahhhhhh, I haven't done this sort of thing in five freakin' years!!!!!"

I assigned myself Project Number One. Project number one was to alleviate the pressure. Project number one was to make things happen, for people who saw little hope. I had to put on my thinking hat, brush off my subtle powers of political persuasion ( skills honed by potty training negotiation and perseverance likely helped), put the business case scenario ducks in order...

Project number one, with no realizable solution in sight - is now within a hair's breath of being resolved.

It took me almost a year. But I suppose a year to move a mountain is no small feat.

"Hey Karen, maybe you could move while you talk?" I got a nudge from the hubby as he transitioned our dinner guests into the dining room for the tomato-cucumber-bocconcini salad (oh the powers of Google) that I had literally just thrown together.

I guess I get a bit overly-excited when I talk about work. I always have. And there continue to be mountains to move on the work-life balance front.

So, am I still happy?

There is the next issue, a Mount Vesuvius in the wings ...

But yeah, I'm pretty sure that I am.