This is where I bitch.

So update, been a while.

I moved to this position, in charge of the online order database for the POD department, about 8 months ago now. I left two very capable women in the Collection department. However, the more experienced one is now moving off to the Twin Cities for a new job for her husband. The newer woman isn't quiet to the point where she can train new people. They asked me to split my time between current job and training / shadowing the new Collection Project Managers. One guy is moving internally and we'll hire a third. I will have to get up to speed on all of the projects the person leaving has going on, refresh my memory on how to do that job, and figure out a training/shadowing plan with the new people. I'll probably be doing this for 3-4 months. Stressful and adding a lot to my plate, because it's not like my current job will slow down, but it's another sign of the company's trust in me. And I am wrapping up my latest initiative in my current job, so as long as I don't start a new one, I have some time.

Along with this, the Wear house manager we had hired 6 months ago was let go last week. So I'm taking on some of his responsibilities. They might hire a replacement, but not for a while so we can see if we really need one.

They did reward my willingness to take on all of this with a nice raise, so I'm happy about that.

Otherwise I've been doing art for the Teen Wolf Mating Games fest. It's a 6 week fest, with a new challenge each week. Plus there is a bonus challenge and you get points for voting on the entries. At first I was stressing out about it, both because of the deadlines and the competition part. Seeing some of the art (it's mostly fic) and feeling like a looser because it's better than mine. But I've moved past that, realized it's all for fun and if i can't get an entry in, while it causes my team to loose points, nothing is riding on it, this should be enjoyable. Plus I've met a ton of awesome new online friends.

Other things are figuring out the summer vacation plans and when I can go north to see Laura and her family. Otherwise just trying to keep the weekends fun. Paul and I are exercising and eating healthy again, mostly so he can be fit for seeing his family in California this summer. And I'm really, really missing volleyball. The gay club here has put in two courts and the gay league I was in plays there now. Next summer I'm dropping softball (we've played all of 1 night in 5 weeks due to rain) and doing that instead.

Got through Black Friday at B&N. Not bad. I was at the Nook desk all, day, but only had an 8 hour shift, which was nice. The initial rush at 5am (which I was there for) was pretty anti-climatic. We sold three Nooks. But it picked up through the day, keeping us busy. Customers were pretty nice all day, no crabby ones. Worked Saturday and Sunday as well. Long weekend, was happy to get back to work on Monday, at least I get to sit at my full time job.

The porch has been decorated and we got the tree up this weekend as well. I drove up to Plover on Saturday before work and met mom for lunch. Nice having Christmas things up, last year we didn't since we had moved in right on Thanksgiving and it was just too much.

Thanksgiving meal was fun as always. B had it, we provided potatoes (made in the crock pot, so easy), stuffing, pumpkin muffins and a cake. Went home kind of early, as Paul was feeling sick.

Coming up weekend will be my company holiday party, which was good last year, so here's hoping.

The 4th of July weekend went pretty well. I went up Thursday morning, caught up with the family in Tomahawk as my sister and bro-in-law finished a 10k race. Cora is so big and happy, it was great spending time with her. And Jack is a bit clammer overall now that he is 3.

After meeting up we went to the main street and watched a parade, then headed back to the cabin at the lake. Paul came up that evening and we generally just talked and caught up. Friday Paul and I got in a kayak trip and then I helped Mom watch the kids while Laura and Rob got some shopping done. They really cleaned up their new cabin, looks nice. Paul and I, along with the dogs, stayed in their RV.

Friday night Paul went back to Madison so he could work, so Saturday was just me with the family at the park picnic. I mostly hung out with grandma and talked and also walked around and played with Cora. The family went swimming afterwards, but I volunteered to stay in the cabin with grandma while we played with Cora and watched my cousin's youngest sleep. Saturday night one of the teachers that Laura and Rob know from Saudi came to visit with her 3 teen age kids.

Sunday it rained all morning, so everyone was a bit stir crazy trapped in the cabin. Carol and grandma came back in to the park, so I got to see them for lunch, then I drove back to Madison that afternoon.

It was a pretty good weekend. Went up to the Twin Cities on Thursday night. Our hotel was kind of crappy, at least with services and customer service, but that just means we won't use them again.

Friday I met some of Paul's extended family and then we saw his sister get her commission from the air force (I accidentally said navy on my tweet).

Then Saturday we went to her college graduation.

Sunday we hit up the Mall of America and the Minnesota Science museum.

Yesterday was cleaning and some Teen Wolf art. I have to get that done soonish, due in a few weeks. Then I have the Supernatural Big Bang to get working on (rough draft due this weekend). I should be able to post/link to my HP Horror fest pieces soon, the reveals will be up shortly.

Christmas was low key, as I was hoping. I got to read a lot, watched some movies. Christmas night we went over to Blythe's to hangout, drink wine and play games. I was hoping to talk to my mom or my sister, but we just couldn't make that happen. Pity.

Gonna be a weird week at work, not a lot of people here, so I will be jumping around a lot helping where needed. Case in point, spent the day today assembling books for a late rush order.

I'm hoping to still get to see the Hobbit this week, but we will see,

Gonna be a busy "holiday" for us. Today I work at Omnipress like normal, till 5. Then I work 6 to "midnight" (or 1-2am like I expect) setting Best Buy up for Black Friday. Which means stocking the shelves as much as we can, and setting up "kill alleys" or traffic flow with larger, slower selling product to keep the crowds in control.

Thursday we are picking up a UHaul to move the furniture to the new apartment, because Paul and I are off from all of our jobs/school. Hoping we will get a few friends willing to help for a few hours. My aunts offered to come down and help, which is awesome, but to have them drive 4.5 hours down and 4.5 hours back to help us move for 5 hours is crazy. Nice thought though.

After moving we are over to exairian's for T-day dinner. Nice of them to have us over to share a meal with their families.

Then is the 12 hour, 9am to 9pm Black Friday shift at Best Buy. Probably one of the best shifts I could get. Then like 2-10:30 on Saturday. And then a normal shift on Sunday.

I'll probably hate exairian for getting me into this by the end of the weekend, but that will be quickly forgotten after I get paid. Plus we can commiserate with booze.

Had a good two days up north at mom and dad's this week. Laura and the family head back to Saudi Arabia next week, so this was the last chance to see them. The best time was me, Jack and Cora all at the beach, while Laura and Rob were off boating. It's great to know I'm that trusted. It was awesome playing in the sand and water with Jack, building castles and houses for his toys. And Cora just slept in the shade. They bought a cabin at Somo Lake, so now the family has two. It's actually a trailer, and very old and needs to TLC. But lots of potential, and will be a great place for them.

Miss them already.

I got up north this week to see/meet my new niece. Picture:

New niece is awesome twitter.com/jasonkivela/st…

— Jason Kivela (@jasonkivela) July 24, 2012

She's pretty awesome, though all she did was sleep and eat, as 1 week old babies are prone to do. So tiny though. Lots of black hair. It was nice just sitting on the couch with her resting in my arms on my chest. Peaceful.

Jack is in full on jealous mode. He likes his sister, but he's just in an acting out stage. Laura and Rob were told he's too smart for his age, and acting out is a common result. But I spent time with him playing when he wasn't being naughty. I got to take him to his last day of swimming lessons with grandma too.

Laura looks pretty tired, since Cora needs to eat so often. Hopefully she can start to get some rest soon.

Life in Madison is kinda sad and scary now. Money issues. One of those time we have to just bare through it as best we can and hope for some relief to come soon.

Last weekend was pretty good. Not restful in the least, but that is OK.

Paul and I headed up early Saturday morning and arrived at the family cabin at the lake around noon. We relaxed mostly, with a brief visit by my mom. The dogs seemed to like it up there, even if they both did pick up some wood ticks. (And they had been dipped too!) They did not seem to enjoy swimming. We got them life vests, but it did not seem like a fun time. I have videos and will post them after I get them to YouTube.

Sunday we helped grandma put together a new cabinet and did a few other house chores. Then we spent the afternoon with my sister and Jack. She's pretty big, due in a few weeks with baby number two. Jack is 3 and as energetic and sassy as that age is. Fun to play with still.

We came back Monday afternoon in time to play softball. Lost, and probably shouldn't have, but oh well. And this week has just been crazy busy at work. Not sure if it's cause I had a vacation day on Monday, or it was just a bad week. But I've been putting in overtime everyday.

Tuesday was Paul and my 5 year anniversary, and last night we went out for dinner for it. I had a gift certificate to the Mariner's Inn from work for my last birthday, so we tried that. The food was OK and the service was pretty bad. Which is odd, since we had heard quiet a bit that it was supposed to be good. Maybe it was an off night.

The conference is going well. Saturday was long, I was up at 4am to make my 6am flight. I got to the hotel at noon (8 hours later, with the time zones) and then worked until 7pm. Whatever I did to my leg last week caused the top of it and my ankle to be bruised, and there was a lot of swelling when I flew. The hotel is nice, the weather is lovely and the convention center if pretty cool. The hotel is a Hilton, and right across the street form Disney (I won't have time to go).

It's not been too stressful. People keep telling me it's going very smoothly. I have no comaprison, so I'll take their word on it. Today I was up at 7, at work by 9 and done by 7pm.

But then I got to met up with my cousin Kelsey and her husband for dinner. It was nice talking to them. They've been in LA a year now. She's a nurse and he work on the camera side of Hollywood. It was fun hearing about their adventures. He actually got stiung by a jelly fish today at the beach.

Won't get to see my other cousin, Amanda though. She's a lawyer and pretty busy.

Three more days, all 6am starts. The conference actually starts tomorrow. The weekend was all set up. Pretty tired every day, so this is not a relaxing trip. But it's been pretty fun so far.