Whew...I think they like me.

Well, I'm going to brag a little bit tonight because I'm super excited right now. :)  I've been given two awards this month.  One award was being recognized by the students through their association called "Mortar Board" and it's just a group that strives for good things with their academics.  Anyway, each year they hand out "Tip of the Cap" awards to "honor UW staff who exceptionally contribute to both the University and the students."  This is the second year that they've nominated me for that and it's just SO cool!  I really do appreciate when the students recognize how much work I do for them.  (Really, I do!)  Most of the time they're so caught up in their world of studying and exams that I wonder if they even recognize when I help them, but this reaffirms that some of them definitely do!!  So, I was feeling quite proud of that little award and satisfied with the recognition of my efforts when I received an e-mail from a professor outside of the department.  In this e-mail she indicated that I had been nominated for an award for my College that our department is a part of.  What?!?!

Well, it turns out that my professors nominated me for the "Outstanding Staff Member of 2011" and guess what?  Out of everyone nominated, I was the one who was chosen!!  So, today I went to a big College meeting where professors and staff recognized me for receiving this award and then there was a little reception that followed.  It was so cool!  I received a certificate and then was told that I would get an e-mail that allowed me to see what comments had been written on my behalf by the faculty and students throughout the department.  Wow.  I was floored.  The icing on the cake?  A monetary reward is also involved!!!  Can you believe it?!?!  WOW.  I just feel kind of speechless about ALL of it.  Don't get me wrong...I work hard and I know I work hard, but when students and professors actually publicly recognize you for your hard work...it's just nice.  And a little humbling.  Yett quite encouraging.  It's just really special. :)

So, I wanted to brag a little bit and share a little of the excitement with you!  And boy, oh, boy am I gonna sleep good tonight now, just knowing that they really DO like me at my job!!! :o)

How my mum rolls.

So...my mom decided not to come visit me. She decided that she wanted to buy a new car instead and because she can't afford both...well, I'm the one who loses. :(

JUST KIDDING!!! :o) Well, she DID buy the new car, but she didn't cancel her trip. Instead, she's still going to fly out on the 22nd, BUT she's also going to let my dad take the first long trip in HER new car when he drives out at the beginning of May to come get her (and to see ME!). But that's how strong my parents' marriage is...that mom will let him have the first long trip in HER new car. They're tight like that.

So...this is currently what I'm jealous over...my mom's new wheels. I love my car and all, but someday, I will own a bigger vehicle like this (if you click once on each picture, it will make the image bigger on your screen). For now, though, I'll just be jealous of my mom in her zippy new car. :) Drive careful, mom!! :)

P.S. -- In the second-to-last picture, you can see Buddy (the mostest-specialist-dog-EVAH) running over to our friend Jerry.  I miss Buddy.  Just sayin'.

P.P.S -- Don't mind the bright white spot on the back of her car.  I have to protect her identity, you know, so I had to white out her license plate number. :)

Doing well!

Hi there!  Not much is new since this time last week.  I've been keeping super busy at work and I'm almost finished with school!  Yahoo! :)  I set out this weekend to finish all of my homework for the rest of the semester so that I can just sail on through to the end and I might have accomplished that task had I not started feeling bad.  I'm not sure if I'm fighting a cold or allergies or what, but I know that I'm going to take some medicine and head to bed EARLY tonight!

Remember in the last post that I talked about the eagle's nest?  Well, apparently the whole world picked up on it after that because I saw links to it everywhere!!  What a riot! :)  The third egg finally hatched but it seems like maybe they'll keep the cameras going for awhile.  Who knows.

Dad also pointed out this webcam, too.  It's www.bear.org/ and if you click on the "Ted & Lucky Den Cam" (in the middle of the page), that apparently has the most action.  Every time I check in, the little darlings seem to be sleeping, but dad says that when the two of them are awake, they act like their main mission in life is to clobber each other!  ha! :)  Hope you have fun with that one! :)

So...back to work tomorrow and THREE WEEKS left of the semester!  Yahoo!  Even though I didn't get all my homework done this weekend, I think that if I set my mind to it, I can finish it up tomorrow after work and then be done.  Wish me luck!! :)  Have a great week!

Fun

• Dad shared a website link with me today that I think some of you (or your kiddos!) might enjoy.  If you go to www.raptorresource.org and click on "Bird Cams," on the website that comes up, just push the "play" button and it will give you a live feed of an eagle's nest and the momma with her two (almost three!) babies.  It's kind of neat to watch!  I think some of you and/or your kids might enjoy it, too.  The third baby hasn't hatched yet, but the estimated hatch date was April 1, so...any day now???  Time will tell! :)

• This was shared with me the other day and I thought it was SO cute and wanted to share it on my blog, too.  I just giggle every time I see it.  I love this little girl's effort!!! :)