It's Spring Break! I've been off since last Friday and don't go back to work until Monday. Easter was so late this year that it seemed like this break would never get here. For the teachers and kids, there's only about four weeks left in the school year. I work all summer (with the exception of a little over a week off around the 4th of July) but as soon as school's out I'll be on "summer hours" and I'm looking forward to that. District employees who work through the summer only have to work 9am-3pm, Monday through Thursday and Fridays off. How sweet is that?
Meanwhile, this week, it's vacation. A much-needed vacation.
Today is Administrative Professionals Day. Since we weren't going to be at school this week, the administration and staff surprised me, Robin (the receptionist) and Ms. Williamson (the data/records/attendance clerk) with all kinds of gifts on Thursday afternoon. We got flowers, chocolate covered strawberries, $50 Walmart gift cards, and a nice card signed by teachers and staff. It was all so thoughtful and lovely!
Pretty pink hydrangea plant!
The strawberries were absolutely delicious!
Today is also St. George's day, which I picked as our George's birthday the first year we had him. He's 12 years old now! He's come a long, long way from the wild, slightly traumatized shelter pup we adopted back in 2013. He's mellowed into a gentle, sweet, loveable old fellow who's always happy. He's also really active and healthy for 12 years old which I'm so thankful for.
Gregg has a special thing he does with George occasionally, just the two of them. He gets up very early and the two of them tiptoe out of the house, jump in the van, and go to the park down the road for an early morning ramble. This morning I woke up at daybreak when I heard George's harness click into place, and I knew they were headed to the park. It made me smile (then Poppy and I went back to sleep).
Later in the morning I went to Sam's, and I found some large, good quality dog beds on sale for a really good price. So Georgie got a new bed for his birthday! He's already taken a nap on it, so I guess he likes it.
We love him to bits. He's a very good boy!
Guess what I caught Marco doing a couple of days ago?
Creeping around on the floor eating dog food out of George's bowl!! That's what!
Little a**hole. He drives me crazy.
Wow, nice AP Day gifts! And happy birthday to George. What a good boy, even sharing his kibble with Marco, that very naughty bird, very naughty indeed.
ReplyDeleteWeren't those gifts nice?! It's a really good staff/school to work for. I'm very lucky.
DeleteSomething tells me George is a little spoiled. It's good to spoil a dog. And I do believe you actually had nice weather for your vacation!
ReplyDeleteIt's been nice, blue skies and very warm temperatures. We need some rain, though.
DeleteOh gawd- I do love Marco, he is so naughty! As parrots ought to be, right?
ReplyDeleteHe's got the parrot mischief gene, that's for sure! A big personality in a small package.
DeleteGeorge looks very contented, he obviously enjoys living with you.
ReplyDeleteHe's a sweet, affable fellow and I think he knows he's loved!
DeleteAppreciation at work is so good for us, isn't it! And in turn, it is good for everyone else who benefits from your work, because well motivated staff is good staff :-)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday George!!
Marco's eating dog food reminds me of Steve's Olga eating bird food - she nicked one or two suet balls the other day, as you may have read on Steve's blog :-D
Enjoy your break, Jennifer!
I did read about Olga and the suet balls! One time a suet cake had dropped on the ground and Poppy found it and buried it and tried to "guard" it from us. We wondered why she was acting so weird and turns out she was hiding the nasty thing.
DeleteI love that little asshole! And I love the photo on the hammock!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could send Marco to Uncle Mitchell for a weekend! I could use the break!
DeleteOh dear god. I love that asshole ... from this distance!
DeleteEnjoy your spring break! It is hard to believe that there are only four weeks left of the school year. That's really sweet that Gregg and George spend some quality time together. Marco is a little rascal!
ReplyDeleteNow that George is getting older, Gregg tries to show him a little bit of special treatment, and we spoil him more than we used to. Old dogs deserve a little spoiling!
DeleteIt is such a joy to be appreciated and makes a difference to how you feel about your work.
ReplyDeleteI'm amazed that you can leave dog food down all day. It wouldn't last longer than two minutes in our house.
Life with Marco must be fun. 😀
We don't normally leave food out, but sometimes lately George doesn't quite finish all of his. Usually we move it before Poppy gets there, because she'll finish it and she doesn't need to gain any weight, but we forgot this time.
DeleteLife with Marco can be fun...but it can also be a giant PITA!!
What a nice gift from the school; it's nice to be appreciated.
ReplyDeleteAnd George looks peaceful in his bed. Happy Birthday Dude.
Marco, with that face, can do no wrong!
Can do no wrong...HA!
DeleteHe does wrong every damn day of his life!!! And doesn't care what we think.
Yay for spring break and 12-year old good boys who are still healthy and happy and go on rambles with their human. And kind co-workers and even a**hole parrots who do whatever they want with no regard whatsoever about the feelings of others.
ReplyDeleteHappy George Day!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your co-workers appreciate you - they are lucky to have you!
Have a restful break.
I hope that Marco does not turn into a dog! As for images of your legs - please desist as this one caused my blood pressure to shoot up.
ReplyDeleteYou certainly do have some adventures with your menagerie. I suppose there are worse things Marco could be up to than eating dog food! How great that your coworkers treated you to gifts for AP day!
ReplyDelete