Overdue Update!

Let me start off with my apologies, this update is FAR overdue! I had every intention of posting about my first day on the job, but you know how that goes. You say to yourself, I’ll do it tomorrow, and then tomorrow turns into next week, and then…well, here we are 3 weeks later.

Put simply, I love my job at Patch! I love the people, I love the location, I love the fun relaxed atmosphere, I love that the company is doing REALLY well and growing rapidly, I love it all! I of course have been super busy, but I like to be busy, it makes the days go by fast and makes me feel a sense of accomplishment and productivity! Like I mentioned in one of my previous blogs, I enjoyed my time off, but was feeling a bit stir crazy being unemployed and all. It just felt so bizarre going from being a student for 18 years of my life to NOT. I have to admit, it turned out to be more of an adjustment than I thought. I was so used to either being in class or spending my free time doing homework and preparing for future classes. I know it sounds crazy for anyone to really WANT to work because once you start working, you never stop, but after a month of not working, I was ready to do something worthwhile with my time, and now I am! ;)

On the down side, I am no longer a free woman who doesn’t have to set an alarm and can just wake up whenever. Now that I am a working professional (I like to consider myself a professional for some reason, it makes me feel like an adult, which makes sense because I sort of am, lol) I haven’t had too much time for PERSONAL internet activity. I have obviously slacked off on updating my blog, I only get on Facebook like once or twice a week, and I hardly ever tweet. It’s like I’m on the computer all day at work so the last thing I want to do when I get home is open up my lap top. The good news is now that I have a BlackBerry I can check FB and Twitter from my phone and don’t have to get on my computer, this should help me stay connected to the social media world! ;) As far as my blog goes, I promise to try and post more regularly like I used to. Once a week is ideal, we’ll see how it goes!

Side Note: Getting a BlackBerry was bittersweet. I was really excited when my boss gave me the phone because this meant I was getting a company phone that the company pays for. Who doesn’t love free stuff, right? Plus, it’s exciting to have an NY area code. The bitter part is getting rid of my Kansas City phone. It’s like my 816 area code was all I had left of KC, the only piece of real identity connecting me to Kansas considering that my address, email, everything else has already changed. I know this sounds really silly, but getting a new number (917-484-0808) is a big deal for me, I guess because it makes things so real. I mean I know I have been here for 2 months now, but there is still a small part of me that still thinks of this move as sort of temporary. Things like getting a new number and opening up an NY bank account (which I am in the process of doing) make me realize that this city is indeed my new home. It’s exciting and sad at the same time. I think one of the reasons I am hesitant to think of NY as my home is because my family isn’t here. It’s hard to associate the word home to anything other than family. Those of you reading this who really know me and my family well, totally understand this logic, I’m sure!

Now, this is the part of this post I am most excited about writing – From NYC back to KC: My surprise visit home! Skype dates with my family are great, but there is nothing like the real thing!

Last Friday I left work an hour early to head to the airport for an evening flight to Kansas City. My Dad and sisters knew I was coming, but my mom, she had no idea! You see, her 50th Birthday was Monday, March 29 and my sisters and I wanted to do something special for her. After all, she is the greatest mom in the whole world! We decided to pull a double surprise on her: 1. I would fly in for the weekend and 2. We would throw her a surprise party! And boy did we pull it off!

Now let me backtrack a bit, working that Friday was so difficult because I couldn’t concentrate on anything but the fact that I was visiting home for the first time. Focusing on work was impossible because all I kept thinking about was seeing my family and surprising my mom. I somehow got through the day and when 5:30 rolled around, I was out the door more anxious than ever. Unfortunately, my flight was delayed (surprise surprise, a flight from NYC-LGA delayed!) so I had to wait longer than I wanted to see the kiddos. You see, George (my brother-in-law) was picking me up from the airport and taking me back to the Elmer house to stay the night so I knew that considering I wouldn’t be arriving in KC until after Midnight due to the delay, I wouldn’t get to see the kids until the morning. But, little mister Jaxson woke up when he heard his Dad and me come in, so I did get to see him right away! He was in shock. He stood completely still staring at me for about 30 seconds before he realized he wasn’t dreaming, it was really me. He said, Wesa? I said, hey buddy, come give me a hug, I missed you! He ran down the rest of the stairs and was in my arms in seconds. It was the best hug I’ve had in a very long time! I of course peeked in to see miss Audrina sleeping ever so peacefully before I went to sleep with Jaxson in his room. Needless to say, I slept really well that night! I woke up Saturday morning to the sweetest face ever. Sorry Drea, I’m talking about Audrina! ;) Baby girl was so smiley and happy to see me that I could have cried!

Next order of business, surprise my mom! The whole family went to IHOP for breakfast and once everyone was seated, I strolled in with Jaxson (Dre told my mom that he had a sleepover with his grandma so he wouldn’t be coming to breakfast). My mom started crying, got up from the table and gave me a bear hug! It was perfect! We ate breakfast, went birthday shopping, and spent the rest of the day hanging out at Kim and Michael’s house watching the K-State game and I of course, played with the kids! Then evening came and we headed to the Legends for dinner. Well, that was what we told my mom anyway. We arrived at Wild Bills, headed up the stairs where our table was, and then…SURPRISE, all of my mom’s family and friends were there to wish her a happy birthday! Once again, the tears came a rollin! She was so shocked/surprised/excited/overwhelmed, it was priceless! We spent the rest of the night eating, drinking, dancing, and celebrating a beautiful woman’s 50 years of life!

Mom – You truly are the most amazing woman I know. You have taught me so much about life and how to live it. Your optimism is contagious and all those in your presence can’t help but smile! I’m so glad I was able to share your birthday with you. I love you and miss you!

Although my weekend in Kansas City was great, there was a bit of sadness included. My Abuelo (grandfather) was admitted to the ICU at St. Luke’s Hospital due to a terrible infection. I guess it was destiny that I happened to be in KC that weekend as I was able to go visit him in the hospital. It was difficult to see him week and unhealthy, but I got to see him and that’s the important thing. He is now out of ICU and slowly recovering. I ask God daily to continue to watch over him, and I’m grateful that he has answered my prayers!

I'll leave you with a few pictures from the party!