Valentine's things

I received a sweet surprise on Thursday when a Valentine's package was delivered to me at work. I love my in-laws. Thank you Kaylene and Dave! We feel so loved!



Also among this week's surprises, the doc gave us all Valentine's gifts: cute pink boxes with lipstick and perfume inside. I like my boss, he's a nice guy. And the gift made for a very entertaining lunch hour when all the girls decided to wear the lipstick for the afternoon and discovered that it was a very shocking shade of "old lady pink", accompanied by a strong "old lady perfume" smell. Everyone was laughing so hard at each other looking like old ladies.

I finally got to watch The Time Traveler's Wife with Klane last night. V-day weekend means we can finally watch a romance movie without objections! (Klane would interject here to explain that there is an important difference between a "romance" and a "chick flick", and tell you that he is only universally opposed to the latter. Husband: defended.) I read the book last summer and was interested to see how the tricky time travel concept was portrayed on film. I actually loved it. I think they stayed true to the original story and still created an entertaining movie. Klane liked it too.

After the movie we had a serious conversation about Einstein's theory on time travel and whether it might actually be possible. (Is that totally nerdy?) I think it's incredible to live in a world that's so technologically and scientifically advanced that time travel seems like an eventual realistic possibility. I mean, I was actually considering it last night. That is crazy.

And here's a fun fact: as of Friday afternoon, snow covered part of every state in our nation, except Hawaii. Even the Florida panhandle received a light dusting of the white stuff. Isn't that just magical? I think so. Okay, now spring can come. :) (via USA Today.)

Hope you all enjoy a Valentine's Day weekend full of love!

I DID IT!!!!!!

Remember my Tuesday job?

The one at the office where I had my very first interview in the city?

The one that seemed really nice, then as soon as I got hired, started going downhill?

The one I've wanted to quit since the first month I started, but I thought I should be positive and stick it out?

Well, I gave it a fair shot. I gave it over five months. I think that is plenty of time. But it wasn't really getting better. I still felt the anxiety start creeping in on Sunday afternoons knowing Tuesday was coming. I still woke up at 3:00 am every Tuesday morning and couldn't sleep. I still had to hold my tongue and respond sweetly when coworkers were downright rude.

In accordance with this year's theme of HAPPINESS, I decided that I don't have to put myself through this anymore.

Tonight, I finally got up the courage to quit.

And I feel SO GOOD!!! I was so pumped when I walked out of the office that I ran up 3rd Avenue in my dress clothes for a block and a half, just to get out some of my excitement. I even jumped around a little bit. I feel like I've turned a page. Now I'll have a free day every week to do whatever I want! (Explore the city? Play with friends? Be a better wife? Yes, yes, yes!) I'm so excited!! FREEDOM!

Designer Braces

Going back to work this morning was hard since it seemed like everyone else had the day off. But I still really enjoy my job at the orthodontic office.

An example: the cutest thing happened the other day. I put on a little girl's braces, and when I asked her if she knew what colors she wanted, she pulled out this picture she had created to show just how she wanted her braces. Her mom said she had been so excited, and had "designed her mouth" days earlier. It was so adorable. She drew all the teeth and wrote what color she wanted on each one (a different color on each tooth!). I almost died of cuteness. Working with kids is so entertaining.


Don't worry, her mom gave me permission and was standing right there when I took the photo. But check out that drawing! Isn't that just so cute?!

After hours at the office

I love my job. One of my coworkers has a connection with Bobbi Brown and somehow managed to get a team of makeup artists to give us all free makeovers after work! We transformed the clinic into a makeup salon. It was a party! There was music and food and even wine, which seemed so fancy to me. ;) Of course I skipped that part. Anyway, the evening was so much fun.

Learning about all the expensive products I supposedly need, like under-eye cream. Who knew?


Who would've thought a dental chair would make such a great place for a makeover?


Even Dr. Salzer stayed after for a makeover (she's the blonde one in the chair)


Me, Andrea and Meaghan with our finished faces. Look at these beautiful ladies I work with! I love these girls.



The finished product. Rosy cheeks and sort-of smoky eyes.



Another fun "after hours" moment at Dr. Lemchen's office: Spontaneous karaoke with Annie and Meaghan after work in the records room. Yes, we have a karaoke machine there. Just in case.



Fun times with good friends from work. Did I mention I love my job?

sunrise in midtown

I saw the sunrise on my walk to work this morning.

It was almost a nice moment.

Then I realized I was outside, walking to work,
early enough in the morning that I was watching the sun rise.

Not okay, kids. Not okay.

I also almost quit today. But then I didn't. But I really almost did.

I just have to stick it out, give it a fair chance. I can do this, I can do this, I can do this!

I did enjoy working with the patients. Especially this guy who is really picky and usually gives the hygienists a really hard time and tells them everything they do wrong. But he loved me! He even told the doc what a great job I did. That felt good. I really do feel like I'm a good hygienist. Doing the actual work at this job is the best part.

See? I can see the positive side! I can have a good attitude! I can do this!!

he's HIRED!!!

That's right. This handsome devil officially has a real live JOB.

I've been waiting for the right time to do this post, and today is the day. Today is Klane's first official day as an Art Director at DDB New York! That is right, he got the job. We are thrilled and feel so blessed to have this opportunity! I'm so proud of my handsome hubby.

ohhhhhhh tuesday. i kind of hate you.

Tuesdays are not my favorite lately. My job at the dental office stresses me out. The office manager is evil (really), and I worry about not knowing everything or getting behind my schedule, and I tell myself I hate cleaning teeth. Most of the stress is in my head. I psych myself up for it all week, and by Monday night I'm a total mess. I wake up at 3:00 am and can't sleep. There are usually tears. I decide I'm going to quit, then decide I'm not a quitter, I need dental office experience and I have to stick it out.

But Klane always meets me for lunch, and he makes me laugh, and sometimes takes silly pictures of us while we're waiting for our food at a street cart (I give myself a break from packing us lunches on Tuesday). He's a good husband.

I also usually talk to my mom a bit, and her voice always cheers me up. She's a good mom.



And by the end of the day, I realize that I really can do this. The job really isn't that bad. The doc is super nice. And it's fun meeting all the patients, seeing them come in apprehensive or dubious about the "new girl" and then leave happy.

Actually, I might kind of sort of like it. Just a little.

Until next week, Tuesday. Good riddance.