Some things

I've learned over the past few months (post life-altering job change):

You can, in fact take a dump during a conference call

When not dumping, you can clean something

It's better than doing other work, which can be distracting

Best to focus on the voice(s) on the phone and scrub a toilet or sink

A handful of peanuts and a couple Mini Babybels is a good lunch

You've gotta get up and move around a little

15 hour days are good for you - really

If you can take a break and scratch your dog's belly for 5 minutes

Your dog knows when you need a break more often than you do

Someday I will yell "SHUT THE FUCK UP" at the phone

And it won't be on mute

You can get very tired of hearing the word "brethren"

Keep your phone on the charger

Keep your laptop plugged in

The music at Panera seriously sucks

The music at New York Bagel Deli on Wacker at Jackson is way better but they have no wall outlets

(A seriously bad business decision on their part)

Snow days are regular work days when you work from home

Sick days are regular work days when you work from home

Sometimes you just have to work from the couch all day

Just when you think you can't do any more...you can

Nobody knows where you are

And better still, nobody cares

Some days there's just no time to shower

It's bad when you wake up humming the hold music for your company's conference call service

When your Mom brings you a sandwich and tells you to take a break

It's the best sandwich you've ever had in your life

And you wish she could be there every day, reminding you to slow down

That it'll all get done, eventually

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I am listening to (and sort of watching): The Devil Wears Prada

I am reading: The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins (trying again)

And I am: Not working tonight

Vegas

"Vegas is amazing. There are whores EVERYWHERE."

"So you fit in nicely?"

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I am listening to: Gromit lick his butt

I am reading: Fall of Giants by Ken Follett

And I am: A little tired

Simply Human

I've been eye-balling these shower soap dispensers from Simple Human for more than a year now.

Hedy, Hedy, Hedy.

Yep. I know. It's a long story.

There's too much clutter in our shower. Between the Makes Your Ass Smell Perty soap (I swear that's what it's called) and the Makes Your Hair Smell Not Like Your Ass Before the Perty Soap shampoo and the Makes Your Face Look Young Like a Baby's Ass scrubs, there's a lot going on in that relatively small space.

So I want this wall mount woop-di-do soap dispenser.

70 bucks, Hedy?

THAT'S precisely why I've been eye-balling it for a year. It seems like a rather pricey way to de-clutter the shower when I could just get a ginormous bottle of all-purpose Pert and be done with it.

Anyhow. I'm inching ever closer to making the purchase. But we're talking about remodeling the bathroom in the fall and I don't want to buy the wall mount woop-di-do only to have to re-buy the wall mount sticker bracket thingies once we redo the shower.

So I called Simple Human customer support. And that's why I'm writing about this and not myriad other ridiculous activities from the week.

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"I'm looking at the Triple Wall Mount Pump soap dispenser. I want to buy it now but I have a question: We're remodeling the bathroom in 6 months. Will I need to purchase a new thingy to mount it on the wall when we tear down the old shower? Or does it hang with a bracket and screws?"

"You're remodeling when? In six months?"

"Yes."

"Here's what I'd do. Wait to buy it. It's a great product but we're in the middle of redesigning it and you'll really like the new version better than this one."

"Really? You're telling me to wait to buy something from you because a new version is coming soon?"

"Yes."

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Triple Mount Wall Pump?

Yes. I want that. In my shower. Shaddap.

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Isn't that great? A customer service rep tells me to hold off purchasing a product because a newer, better version is on the way.

That, my friends, is reason enough to make a purchase from the kind and thoughtful people at Simple Human.

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I am listening to: The shower running

I am reading: Nothing much although getting the urge again soon

And I am: Surprised & grateful

The other dog

"Peyton died."

That's how I found out about the neighbor's dog: Via text from Jim while I was in Michigan last weekend.

"Lymphoma."

Apparently four weeks prior, the little guy's blood work came back just fine. Then Peyton stopped eating. And he went down hill quickly from there. Two weeks quickly.

So why am I writing about this now after being MIA - lost in the world of Oracle - for more months than I can recall?

Because I learned something from Peyton (something big) and writing about it will help me explain.
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"He's just a dog."

You can't say that to me. So don't.

They're not people - I realize that - but 'just a dog' doesn't apply to these furry little friends we welcome into our lives.

You understand if you know a dog like Gromit. If you don't know, just stay quiet about it. Please.
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As you might imagine, I struggled with how to respond to our neighbors' loss. I imagined what to say. But it was impossible, I always dissolved into tears. Not helpful. And so frustrating.
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Maybe you know this already, if so, good on ya. I'm a slow learner but I've been noodling on this particular issue for a long time and Peyton finally helped me understand.
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Here's the lesson: Part of being strong for other people is letting them feel their grief without making it about YOU. I can mourn Peyton without making it about me. Their sadness is more important than whatever I'm feeling and I need to be strong, especially around their children.

While I share in their sadness over the loss of Peyton, there is no way I can comprehend what they're feeling. And crying is not a helpful response. Being warm and supportive is. That's the lesson from Peyton.

Be strong for people who are experiencing pain. When you cry, it transfers the focus away from them and over to you. It is perhaps one of the most selfish things you can do in that situation.

That's what I learned from Peyton, the sweet fluffy neighbor dog who died way too early.
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I am listening to: Hawaii 5-0, the TV show
I am reading: With reading glasses now, so irritating
And I am: A slow learner