(Bob says, parenthetically...)
As Julie was posting the post you're about to read, I was posting the post you'll find below THIS post -- the latest update from my pal Joe in Kuwait. Consider today a twofer-Tuesday. Unless you're reading it on Monday. Or Wednesday.)
Julie sez...
The body is an amazing organism. What makes it even more amazing to me is that it can function on a somewhat 'normal' level with what amounts to approximately 6 hours of sleep over the past 3 nights. Don't get me wrong, I physically look as if I have only had 6 hours of sleep, but I was able to come into work today and perform my job responsibilities with the same level of care and diligence as I usually do.
To prove my point, I have been able to complete most of my year-end Individual Performance Management ("IPM") worksheet with glowing self-reviews of my past performance, my current compentencies and any future career development aspirations I may want to pursue. Got out the thesauraus and a list of the hot corporate buzz words and I was in business. I am sure that the folks who read it will react like Ralphie's teacher, Miss Shields: "The IPM I've been waiting for all my life. Listen to this sentence: "A Contracts Manager with a client-centered attitude and this thing which leverages paradigms". Poetry. Sheer poetry, Julie! An A+++++!" Okay, well I totally made that last part up.
But I digress. What, you may ask, is keepng me from my beloved sleep? I'll tell you. It is a sick and very cranky 20 month old little girl. We're not sure what exactly is wrong with her, but whatever it is better run its course and get the hell out of our house. I'll spare you the details; for those that have kids you can just imagine it and for those that are considering kids, well, you're just going to have to learn the hard way.
In some ways I wish Kate could just tell us what is wrong, that would certainly make things a bit easier. Although with the kids you tend to get all kinds of strange and obviously incorrect answers e.g Adam told me this morning that his pee-pee hurt and when I asked why he said it was because he didn't eat breakfast. Kate's lack of linguistic skills can be very trying, especially at 4 o'clock in the morning.
- Does your tummy hurt? -- Yeah.
- Does your head hurt? -- Yeah.
- Does your throat hurt? -- Yeah.
- Are you tired? -- Yeah.
- Are you mad at the President for deciding to send more troops to Iraq? -- Yeah.
- Do you want to go to sleep? -- Yeah.
- Me too.
I've raised 2 sons and have worked as a pediatrician's nurse for 14 years. Name a sick kid's orifice and I can tell you what comes out! Ears, nose, mouth, bum-bum..... Parenting isn't for the weak of heart, and especially not for the weak of stomach!
Hang in there - I've learned if you survive their childhoods, you can sleep when they go to college.
Posted by: Culli | January 16, 2007 at 07:16 AM
I could've gotten you a good deal on an IPM that I might've had on file.
Posted by: Chris | January 16, 2007 at 05:30 PM