long time

well, it's been a long time since i've been on here...i don't know that I can fill in everything that has been going on...

the anniversary party was a success. linda, ashley and amy joined steve and i to set things up. it was a long stressful day, but in the end, everyone had a great time including my parents...

we have a lot of wedding plans set. invitations ordered, my whole outfit complete, waiting on earrings for the girls, honeymoon set (maui here I come!) working on showers, favors, deciding on programs. we still need to register, that's the biggest thing really...

steve is wonderful, got me great stuff for my birthday, and spent the entire weekend with me!! it was great!

mom is trying to get grips on the internet, which is not quite as much of a disaster as it was in the beginning...getting better.

my photographer quit!! that sucks bad! his last day is next week. and we are beyond swamped right now. I really need everyone working...getting stressed again...

that's a short update for now

Right Now!

I am one of those people that when there is something to plan, I want to do it RIGHT NOW! I am very impatient. I like doing things myself. I am trying very hard these days to learn patience, learn that not everyone is like me, and learn to work with others. I do fine at work with this concept, but other things are different.

I am planning a 30th Anniversary party with my sister for mom and dad. Nothing too elaborate or anything, just informal dinner and socializing. We are also going to go and get our picture taken for them, we haven't done that since sometime in high school. long time ago.

It's hard to do things with her, don't get me wrong, I'm glad she's helping, but her schedule is so different than mine, and she's much more relaxed on the whole thing. I want every answer for everything right now, and that's just not how it works. It'll turn out great though...hopefully.

I'm also starting to stress about wedding flowers. I know there is like 7 months left, but I would love to get them done, stored away, and not worry about them anymore. That's not how Linda works though. She's a last minute person. I appreciate that she is going to do them, but I KNOW we'll be putting flowers together the day before the wedding, and I am going to flip out!!

That's it for now, I'm trying to learn patience...wish me luck!

Valentine's Day

Happy V-day! I've never really been big into this holiday. I'm not sure why. I think it's really because what in the world do you get a guy? i look at all the websites that have suggestions and think to myself Steve would never want any of the generic "guy" stuff. it's really hard! and i don't want to just buy presents like at Christmas or birthdays, because that's not "romantic" at all. It's really frustrating to me!

This year I ordered him glass beer stines (even though he doesn't drink) that have deer and pine trees etched into them. they are really cool! i don't know if he would ever use them, but I saw this woman in Portland that is amazing at this and had to get them. still not very romantic, but he LOVES deer, so I thought it may be a good idea. we'll see i guess.

You can definitely tell it is V-day at work though, everyone getting flowers delivered, bringing around candy and just being generally happy today. Too bad it's not like this everyday, make the place much more enjoyable!!!!

Let the year begin!

Well,
I'm back in the swing of things. Normal schedule again. I like it. I was on vacation time for a lot of December, then went to Portland OR for work the beginning of January. Don't get my wrong, it's nice to have everything mix up, but it was long enough.

Full wedding planning now. A little frustrating because my mother is trying to move too fast with plans and Steve's mom is moving way too slow for my taste. it'll all get figured out somehow I guess...

Trying a new workout plan that works for Steve. Drinking a gallon of water a day (yes I said a gallon!) and working out on his bowflex three times a week. Plus trying to fit in Curves, my glider and Juliana and I going to Pilates. Oh, along with my normal weekly weight watchers. gotta be thin for my wedding! only nine months away! We'll see how it goes, i'm hopeful right now though.

Nothing really exciting. Work's the same, people are the same. but at least it's predictable.

Talk soon!

Baby Scherler

Tara brought baby Sidney in today for all of us to see. She is 10 days old and SO cute!

Now, I don't want to offend anyone, but newborn babies look like little monkies, they aren't cute. But Sidney was adorable! Her daddy is so proud too, he was holding her when they walked in our room and he's all smiles.

She's very dark complected, and has perfect little ears and lips. Very long feet and hands, tara says she has "rockette" legs! Very cute. And lots of dark hair. Blue eyes, but that could change.

I'm really happy for them!

christmas time is coming!

I'm so excited! i love christmas time! i love giving people gifts, i don't really care if i get them myself or not. I didn't go quite as overboard as i usually do this year with everyone though, i think i chose well, but my prices didn't get out of control. I think because usually i start buying gifts at the end of the summer and then even if i'm done i keep buying up to christmas as i see stuff. this year i started later. it drove me a little crazy, but i saved some money.

what else, i have to go to portland this year for work. i'm not excited. i had a good time and learned a lot last year, but i don't really want to go. i'm sure i'll be fine once i get there, it's just the initial trip...

steve got a piece of metal in his eye at work this week. that really has to suck bad. we went to the emergency room on wednesday, and then he went to the doctor today to get the rust ring cut out. i had to go to work after we got home, so i hope he's doing ok!!

the crazy christmas plans start this weekend. we're so busy from now until like the 29th or something. it'll be fun, but at the same time, i really like the idea of sitting at home and doing nothing!! i'm so lazy sometimes, i work too much to keep running and running.

that's about it. i have learned as i've been writing in this blog, that i have a pretty boring life!

bits and pieces

some bits and pieces of the last few weeks...

Thanksgiving went well. I love thanksgiving food! love it. It was fun to go to A. Betty's and see everyone, I wish we could get together more often than we do. Kelly and Joey are great.

Went to Cory's for thanksgiving on Saturday too. Totally a Martha Stewart house and dinner! it was great! It felt like I walked right into a giant Christmas shop...

Steve and I shopped on Black Friday!! Neither one of us had ever done that before, but the paper had such great deals! We got a 6.5' pre-lit tree for $25! how can you beat that!! then we came home and decorated for Christmas and wrapped some presents. It was a really fun day.

Friends and Family is today at work. It's always a crazy day. We are so busy right now though, that I would rather my people didn't go over until after work or at lunch, but there's no guantees that I can really keep them in here. which sucks, because that makes me a shitty boss!

christmas is right around the corner! I'm so excited this year! we are going to be so busy though, between everyone we have to see. My group is coming over our place to celebrate on a friday night, then Linda's on christmas eve, then my mom in the morning and his dad in the afternoon. then A. Cindy's the wednesday after. what a crazy time! then just when it settles down, I have to go to Portland for work!

here we go!!!

Oh, some exciting news...Matthew's about to be a dad!!!! yeah!!

Aaaaaaaaaaauuuuuuuggggggggggggghhhhhhhh!

It's snowing! What a horrible thought! I hate it!
Now it's time to start wishing for May. I went outside yesterday after work, it actually reached 70 yesterday. It was wonderful, you could almost smell spring (ok, so I was dreaming). I stood outside before I got in my car and just breathed it all in. I knew it was supposed to get really cold today and we were supposed to witness some of that white stuff, so I had to enjoy the last day.

I actually am a little sad that I didn't get to enjoy fall. I LOVE BONFIRES! Bonfires, smores, hot dogs, all that good stuff. Oh well, maybe next year...

At least, to look at the bright side, in the winter, nasty, cold weather, I can cuddle up to Steve! He probably hates that thought, but he's my body heat! :)

christmas

it's coming! faster than i had hoped for really. as far as gifts and everything are concerned. I can't believe that this year is almost over! it went so fast!

my mom said that i totally threw a wrench in her christmas shopping this year, because our wedding is all that she can think about. it through a wrench in my shopping too! i'm not usually as far ahead as she is, but i'm usually farther than i am now, which is nowhere!! i'm still excited though.

i have three bridesmaids now. tricia was so excited, which is great, because i was so nervous that she would say no! i feel bad about the other people that i didn't pick, they are great friends, but i know that i made the right decision and i hope that others don't get pissed off.

today is voting day. i really didn't even think about it to be honest. i usually only vote during presidential election years. that is horrible i know, but it's the subject that i usually know the most about. i really couldn't tell you who anyone is in Norton running for anything and i don't think it's right to go vote without all the information. i should have looked into it more, i think the norton school system needs some help! next time i'll make it. plus, i don't think i'm registed in norton yet because of moving...

boring

well, i've decided that my blog is boring! i have nothing of interest to anyone else but myself~i can talk wedding plans forever, but i'm really the only one that cares....

saw steve's grandma today. she is the cutest thing. 81 years old and full of spunk. she said "so you're going to be my future granddaugter!" and i showed her my ring. i said i don't have any grandmas and she said she would try to be a great grandma for me. she's so cute!

it's friday, 3:30ish, and the week is almost over! steve dad is coming over sometime tomorrow, although i don't know when. he's not a big planner like i am. i like to know where i have to be and when, and he doesn't. which is fine, to each there own.

again, nothing of interest to anyone else! So.... i'll talk wedding!

meeting with a minister next week, and a photographer after that. if all goes well, those can be done. 19th going to a cake tasting with mom. i don't know if steve wants to go to that or not. then we can pick out of 3 bakeries and have that set. then i think the major things that need the date held can be done. then on to the fun stuff!

i'm going to ask tricia to be my 3rd bridesmaid on monday. i'm really nervous about that! i don't know why that is such a hard question to ask, but it is! what if she says no!!

Anyway, since i'm boring i'll go back to work.

secret "cleaning" agents...

Halloween at OWI

The catalog team was dressed this year as "Secret Cleaning Agents" and it was pretty cool. We took the idea of secret fbi agents, all dressed in black and added cleaning supplies.
Matthew's idea. I think James came up with the wearing black thing. Anyway, we won third place, although
I think we should have gotten 2nd, we were pretty good.

The photo you see is our "serious" pose. I actually look thinner in this photo, I like it!

Jeff and Ricki were rednecks. Perfect rednecks. Beer cans of bad beer and all. It was really impressive!

we have a hall!!!

We have a hall! i'm very excited!!! it's hard to plan these things when you can only talk to your fiance a few days a week!!
Now, we still need to find a place to get married at. I would love to get married outside, but you can't trust September weather can you? I'm not sure what to do. If we don't do that, then we need to find a non-denominational church (small) to get married at.....that's a tough one.
We also need a DJ and a Photographer. I've sent some emails out to people, so we'll see what happens with that.
After those things, I think we're in the clear until after the holidays. Those are the big things.

I love this! there's so much to it though!!

we're working on it!

Well, I think that it's time to get this wedding moving! We talked this weekend about what we'd like to do and now I'm really getting excited.
We're shooting for Sept. 30 or Oct. 7th, whichever ends up working out as far as places are concerned.
We are going to do just a small wedding, immediate family only, and a huge reception. I think the immediate family only is already going to cause problems with his mom because she wants her sister there. If my father can't have his, I don't think she should have hers, but I'll leave that up to Steve to decide. I guess if I am going to have Juliana and Lane that wouldn't matter.
We also would rather have a party room rather than a formal hall. Much cheaper! We could decorate a party center to look beautiful I think, although I don't think that my father thinks so.
Mom is going to be great, she's so excited already!

Anyway, all I have to say for now is ~ I'm the bride!

It's Friday!!

I can't say enough how happy I am about that! I hope this is a good weekend.

Mom, Steve and I are going to Ashland University tonight to see the "Who's Line is it Anyway" guys at AU's homecoming. Then tomorrow I need to run a few errands and then Steve and I are going to finish setting up our apartment. Sunday he goes back to night shift, so I think Sunday is going to be a relaxing day. Watch football, lay around, all that good stuff.

We're moved in, our apartment feels like a hotel to me. I love it, but I need more storage in my bathroom I think. Steve started me on his Bowflex, and I hope it goes good for me. All I know right now is that I'm sore!!

I need to sleep in, but Thank God it's Friday!

we're on the move!

well, this is moving weekend.

I am working half a day today because I have five billion calls to make to give my new address. My school loan, insurance, etc. all the places that close before 5:00.

Steve is staying at his mom's tonight, hunting season starts tomorrow morning. Then we'll sign our lease at 10:30 and then let the moving begin. It's going to be a long hard weekend, but I'm very excited to get all settled in at our new place!!!

Going shopping tonight with mom when I get all my stuff done. She's feeling left out because she and I never do anything together. That's not why we're shopping tonight though, I had planned to ask her to go before I got this info. Truth is, I hate the mall. I don't really like shopping unless it's small, particular stores, and I usually have a goal in mind. We're different like that. That's why she and my sister do so well, they both love it. Plus, I work at least 50 hrs. per week, so when I get home, I have no desire to go out and shop all evening. I'm tired. I'm a lot like dad.

Anyway, I need a winter coat, I sold one at the garage sale, and gave the other to Good Will. So, that's tonight's plan. We'll have fun.

work sucks

Thank God home is going great, I don't think I could take it if it wasn't!
Work Sucks!
I can not win!
I have managed to piss off my employees, but we have work to do! I don't know how to change my attitude, because I realize that I am not fun anymore, but we have to get stuff done. I feel bad that I am horrible, but I don't know what to do! I can't do all this stuff myself.
I hate getting up in the morning with the horrible feeling that I have to go to work. I would do just about anything to not have to be at this job anymore! I just can't seem to find a new one.
I would love to stay friends with these people, but I think that I have to leave the company in order to do that...

my last name

I've been Jennie B. for as long as I can remember. Everyone calls me that. All of my friends do because there are so many Jennies around. In Juliana's wedding there were 4 of us! Work calls me that because Badalamenti is too hard/long to say.

I'm going to be Jennie James now. Well, not now, but sometime in the next year or two. That's so strange. Not that it's a bad thing, I love Steve and I'm very excited, but it's strange that I won't be Jennie B. any longer.

When I was little I couldn't wait to get married. I always said as a child that I was going to marry someone with the smallest last name possible. Well, 27 years later, I'm proud of that name and a little attached (which isn't surprising because I get attached to everything!). It's going to be sad to lose the Badalamenti name. Is that wierd that I think that?

I'm excited to marry Steve though. I feel very lucky and happy at the same time. I'm still kind of shocked, I thought we would end up together, but now that it's a reality, I'm just shocked that it really happened. Two years ago, I was saying forget it, now look!

Jennie James, huh. Just call me JJ!

bocce ball

ok, so we still haven't gotten any work done, but I am a little happier this afternoon. My last post was at a really stressed time and I vented it all out. We played bocce ball as a "work function" today, and I didn't want to take the time to do it, but it really ended up being pretty fun. Matthew and I did terribly. We lost in the first round 7-6,
to two girls that never have played.
Go figure!
We each got 3 pts. at least...

i need patience

I need to gain some patience. Actually that's probably not quite accurate. I went about this management thing wrong in the beginning. I'm friends with my group. Now, that's not at all a bad thing, and I'm glad that I am, but sometimes it completely bites me.

I am a person that gets deadlines and wants to make them. That's normal I think. I also realize though, that in this department our deadlines are insane! A lot of the time, they just aren't possible. The problem is, most of my group doesn't seem to care. They work, until something more fun comes around and then they slack off. They don't understand, or maybe they do, that regardless of whether they work or not, I have to meet these deadlines. I am responsible whether my team comes through or not. That sucks.

It's not all of them. There is one that works and works and works, and although it's not always perfect, it is definitely appreciated. I just wish that this could always be an entire group effort. I know that they are just mad that we have so much to do, and we really need a break, but these are our jobs. We don't have to like them.

Someone once said, well, if we don't make it on time they'll realize that they have to give us more time. Let me tell you, no they won't. And the only one that it hurts is me. Because then I have to come in on the weekends and work late, and when review time comes around I get points deducted because we didn't hit deadlines for the year, and some of them make more than I do anyway which really hits hard. I don't do that to my team, I just take the responsibility because that's my job. And I hate it.

drama

I can't stand "drama queens." I'm not referring to any sexual preference when I say that either. I know both gay and straight drama queens. I just can't stand that! You can't have any sort of meaningful conversation with these people without having to hear the "whoa me" comments that follow. That is so irritating!

It's not that I don't care what is going on in their lives. I do. I want everyone to be happy and healthy, but sometimes I just can't come up with the energy to deal.

You try to share good news and all you get is their story is the same but more important, more exciting, more upsetting, bigger, longer, better than ever etc....

Had to get that off my chest, irritated, but feeling better... thanks!