My Addiction

I have an addiction. There. I've said it. They say admitting it is the first step. Unfortunately no one has ever bothered to share the remaining steps with me.

The building next to mine (as much as I pay for parking, I should own it) is the campus union. The union is home to a coffee shop. I can't get excited about the plain flavored stuff brewed and dumped in a pot. Nope, I need, lattes and frappes with lots of espresso and syrup!

When I need that warm fuzzy feeling it's a Turtle Latte. When I need to chill out it's a Mint Chocolate Frappe (tastes just like a chilled thin mint cookie!). Did I mention this place is right next door?!

I swear they can tell by the look on my face exactly what I want to order. It's pure bliss, sipping one of their caffeine concoctions!! I had a Turtle Latte this morning, can you tell?

PROBLEM:
My office is moving across campus in a couple of weeks. I ran it on the Gmaps Pedometer and it's like half a mile away! I could ride the campus shuttle, but they stole the drivers right out of the nursing home courtyard -- It takes forever!! I suppose I could re-route my commute to the office to include a Starbucks drive thru. That means I would have to leave earlier. Hmmm, 10 minutes of additional zzzz's or a lovely specialty coffee drink? There you have it! I'm officially between a rock and a hard place!
I have pretty good veins, maybe I could set up a caffeine drip via IV in my new office! I'm gonna run to the store and buy some oranges to practice on ...

I'm melting ...

No, no one has thrown water on me. STOP! I know you're thinking witch jokes here. I'll have none of it!

Seriously, for at least (although this would be the place I would normally insert an exaggeration, this is not such a thing) 2 weeks my office has be an average of 87 degrees!!! I have left work on the verge of being ill numerous days.

Don't ask when they will turn the A/C on, because they did already! On Monday night or Tuesday morning they pushed the big blue "send-the-cool-air" button. I know this because the hallway is absolutely delightful, air temperature wise anyway -- the decor is quite hideous!

We e-mailed the head haunch-o of maintenance on Tuesday. We got a nice e-mail back saying they are aware of the problem and we should be patient because it takes up to 3 days for the heating/cooling system to switch from winter to summer.

Well, TODAY is day 3! And it's still 87 degrees in my office!!

I've checked the OSHA website. Although there is no direct regulation there are suggestions for indoor air temperatures. I'm thinking I might have a case.

Okay, I'm gonna go to the little girls room and ring out my bra again!

My other family

I am so fortunate to have an extended family. The students that work for me at the university are like my children. At times they frustrate me, make me laugh, make me feel old, or make me feel very proud. In return I hope that I can be an example, so they see Christ shine through me.

Now, a little about each of my peeps!

J.W. -- He adds words and phrases to my vocabulary like "wigidty womp!" He will be going to Florence for the summer. I keep teasing him, saying he will find the girl of his dreams and never come back!

J.T. -- She is my prim and proper tom-boy! J.T. is so reserved, quiet and serious. Her work ethic is amazing! On the weekend you will find her tearing it up on the paintball field! I'm telling you this girl is fierce (and not in the Project Runway kind of way). I'm losing her in a couple of weeks to grad school, but I know she will do great things everywhere she goes!

M.M. -- Eeyore, as I fondly call him, is starting to lose his negativism a little at a time. Don't get me wrong, he is a great kid and a hard worker. He would walk to the ends of the earth for his little girlfriend, it's quite sweet (okay, okay, so sometimes it's a little much and I have to throw up in my mouth a little). It's very important to M.M. that he do a good job, no matter the cost.

S.G. -- She is my veteran. I'm always trying to challenge her to come up with her own answers and conquer situations that may arise. She will be getting married in a little over a year. She will leave me then to support her future husband in medical school. They have promised me I can live in their pool house one day!

A.D. -- This girl wears me out! Energy beyond belief! She reminds me of my real-life sister. You can give her all the advice you want, but she has to do it her way just to see if it will work or not. She is the Queen of Independence! I am so very proud of A.D., she will be moving to NYC in a few weeks to work for Tommy Hilfiger as the Children's Division Product Development Intern.

These kids are only in my life for a short season. I can only hope I am able to touch their lives as much as they touch mine.