I made it through the conference basically unscathed only to return to a minor shit storm at work. I have yet to post about what is going on there, but suffice it to say that it lends itself to copious amounts of drinking and I really don't require any more excuses to do that on a regular...uhum..er... I mean...infrequent basis!
I spent the remainder of my weekend coming down from the time zone change and attempting (poorly I may add) to get my ear to 'un pop'. Now that I think of it I have spent the better part of a week trying to get an ear to un pop! Fuckers! On the way down it was my right, when we were landing back home, it finally 'popped' and the left is currently housing a small aquarium inside. 

I can tell you that I am a rather amusing site jumping up and down with my head all tilted off to one side, finger jammed in there trying to dislodge the fish

I know- the drama... I really need to get out more.


I rather enjoyed being away......from work! I feel I needed to clarify that statement... Hi Honey!!!! 
I am not feeling too bad about this week in general though as I technically only have to be physically present in the office for 3 days because then we are off travelling back home to see the niece and nephew graduate from High School. Oh yes, we will travel 7 1/2 hours through snow capped mountains, artfully dodging wild life of the four and two legged variety in the middle of the night so that we may sit through a 4-5 hour ceremony of overtly hormonal teenagers who are being thrust into adulthood..oh..uhm...er....to see our beautiful niece, and handsome nephew celebrate their rite of passage. Please don't misunderstand.. I love them terribly and I am honored that I get to go and see them graduate and get to see them all dressed to the nines.
 What I am NOT a fan of per see is that the little fuckers aren't little any more and at some point I am going to cease being that cool aunt- oh who am I kidding I have already had that badge removed many moons ago- but a girl can dream can't she? Who said they could grow up? Meh! 
X and I have been compiling a power point  presentation - we are serious geeks get over it- for after the ceremony of pictures of them from when they were small to graduation day. There is a huge family dinner before they go forth and party and we plan on showing it there. We are keeping it on the down low from all the family members, except X's Mom who will be providing the much needed goofy baby pictures, we are snazzing them up and adding  music and the plan is to add pictures of them in their cap and gowns on that day. So we finished as much as we could do last night  and watched it.  I started bawling, full fledged crying so your mascara runs into your eyes and stings kinda crying a whopping 2 seconds into the damn thing. Who does that? I now know that I will be a heaping mess of tears on Friday when I watch these used to be little people walk across the stage and get their diplomas. 
So while they are dressed to the nines, giddy with pre-alcoholic beverage and hormonal anticipation ( not that they would do THAT!) I will be sitting in the stands fighting back proud auntie tears looking for any means to not bawl. 
The current plan  is that  the un popped ear,  won't allow me to  hear anything sappy and my numb ass will distract me long enough so that I don't turn into a sappy mess during the ceremony; I need to save that shit for the dinner!
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So as you all know, I am at a conference. The conference is good, informative and exhausting. The attendees are fun,from all over the country and they are extremly lively and love to drink, so really I am in my element! Did I mention the open bar every night?? That sure makes for not nice mornings let me tell you!
I could get used to living in a hotel, if it wasn't for the missing husband and child thing. But I have to admit, there is something relaxing about only having to worry about getting your own sorry butt out of bed in the morning (no matter the time change- screw that noise- THAT blows). No lunches to make, no food to cook, no cleaning, free bath products...sigh
I am having a few issues while I am here though;
For one, my head and sinuses apparently do not prefer air travel. My ears are still plugged from the plane and I highly doubt they will clear up before I get back on the plane tomorrow. Hopefully my head won't explode!I may end up setting off some sort of snot warning though when I go through security.
I have also done something to the housekeeping staff, they have thrown out my toothpaste and not given me stir sticks for my little coffee pot..Perhaps they do not like that I have clothes all over the spare bed and that I keep packing away the bath products. I know hard life hey?
I am also too close and yet too far to go and visit a special friend. Trust me it is rather hard to have travelled so far and be this close ( and on someone else's dime if I could figure out how to get them to pay for that trip too I'd be on the next flight) and not be able to swing going there..sigh...someday though.
I am missing my Cub and X something fierce. However I know that they will enjoy their guy time together . Little bugger is just fine with Mommy not being around from what I can tell from talking to him on the phone. This tugs at my heart and I get conflicting emotions. I want/don't want him to miss me, but I am happy/sad/proud/disappointed that he doesn't.
The break from work has been good. Well the break from my office, I am still here with one of my coworkers and have talked and gotten into a text fight with my boss (fucker figured that out while I was gone); but the whole not being at work thing is NICE!
Tonight, we are off to the race track for a private track side dinner and horse racing. I am not a gambler, and rather do not care for horse races, but I have never been and well, did I mention the open bar?? Did I mention the free food? So I will go, hob nob a bit more,drink my fair share and my coworkers share of vodka and collapse into bed tonight.
Then tomorrow morning I will haul my hungover ass into the motivational speakers presentation, nod, and search out some eggs and hope my head stays intact for take off.
Keep your fingers crossed could be a rough flight...oh they serve drinks on the plane too!!
*just a little disclaimer, I do not actually drink anything alcohloic on the plane as this does cause my head to near explosion causing me to squeal like a baby pig.
** I don't have access to spell check so if there are spelling mistakes- screw it.
Kisses!
AA