Aloha!

Somehow this morning, I reset my alarm in my sleep. Thankfully, it wasn't for noon. Unfortunately, it was for much later than I had wanted to get up, and it was late enough to wake me with a start, and immediately cause me to be in panic-get-ready-get-out-the-door-mode.

Technically, I made it to work with plenty of time to spare. I was just frustrated that I didn't get in as early as I had hoped. All personal brow-beating ceased when I walked into my office.

There was a beautiful crepe paper flower banner draped across the front of my desk. Streamers hung from the sides of my desk, and in between my computer screens. A "good luck" banner was behind my chair, flanked by more streamers. "Good Luck" confetti was sprinkled over my desk...and two presents waited for me.

This round of presents (the first of many, I was told) was from Linda...my friend and source of sanity at work. She gave me a hilarious card (that threatened temper tantrums in lieu of crying at my departure) with a sweet note that had me tearing up...a beautiful pair of dangle earrings, a bag full of Laffy Taffy (we helped each other endure long days by sharing bad Laffy Taffy jokes with each other), a joke book, and Laughing Cow cheese and crackers. Oh! And there was a beautiful Hibiscus hair pin that is now perched atop my head...and it lights up. ^_^

At eight o'clock, my office was swarmed with office staff, as our campus nurse, Jan, presented me with a gift basket that would make me an honorary Italian (she's Italian, if you hadn't caught on yet). She said, "Every Italian needs a gun [presented me with water guns], and sunglasses to wear for when they use said gun [handed me sunglasses]. Everyone needs pepperoni [you get the idea]. Here's a nice Italian dinner [canned spaghetti and meat balls], and an Italian dessert [Italian ice]. And, to relax after a nice, long day [insert wine goblet and grape juice]..."

I'm so unbelievably touched by my co-workers' kindness, generosity, and love that I can scarcely contain myself. I just continue to be SO grateful that I didn't wear mascara today.

I'll update with more later, as well as pictures that I've taken as the day progressed.

OH MY...just as I was about to post this, the 9 0'clock hour hit.
Again, my office cohorts came into my office...this time they all whooped. It was like a very strange flock of birds whoop-whooping in my office. This time Terry, one of our counselors, presented me with a poetry reading. Here is what she read:

"Ode to Jennifer
We know you've given us your best
and now it's time you take a rest
We also know your greatest need
is that you really love to read [she handed me a gift card to Borders]
To devour a book about a vampire- [she handed me a really cool Twilight cup]
Nothing could ever take you higher
Since Edward can't visit you tonight,
You'll have to enjoy these cherry 'bites.' " [the cup was filled with Twizzler bites]

I am so grateful, I can't even stand it. I wonder what the rest of the day will bring.


*Well, the 10 o'clock hour just hit...more whooping ensued.
I was descended upon yet again by my wonderful office friends. Debbie brought me Caprisun drinks, and we all had one and they toasted me. I also got a bright orange lei, and as she put it around my neck, she said, "Now you can't say that you were never laid at work." Those of you who know me can imagine the exact shade of red my face turned. Oh my.
I also received pretty blue Hawaiian flip flops to enjoy the summer with.



* The 11 o'clock hour has come and gone -- with more excitement, of course. We were delayed by a few phone calls (seriously, having to work in the middle of a celebration of me -- how dare they!), but Grace (our AP secretary) apparently noted my love of peanut butter, so she made a customized RHS label for a jar of peanut butter. She also brought in a bag of Reese's peanut butter cups, and we all had one and "toasted" again. She wrote me a poem to go along with the gifts:

"Roses are red, peanut butter is brown,
You have been a great receptionist this side of town.
So on with your journey,
You will be missed.
Those teens you are helping
so spiritually lifted,
Will receive Rouse's finest,
and truly gifted."



*I suppose 12 and 1 were combined into one. Everyone brought a type of salad, and we sat together in the break room and ate a leisurely lunch. It was very nice. In the process of our meal, I discovered HEB's Raspberry Chipotle Ranch Dip -- I am in love! It's dangerous how tasty that stuff is! Also, one of our coaches and his kids made me a football shaped cake :) It was the funfetti cake, with vanilla frosting, surrounded by strawberries, with blueberries on top as the seam :D



* 2 o'clock, and all is well! They came over again...whooping like crazy people. This time, with a giant bucket of cheese balls in tow. Be still my heart! I think we had some left over before from a banquet, and they realized just how abnormally huge my love for cheese puffs were. So now, I have my own personal tub of cheese balls. Also, I got a poster from The Office, that is like a collage of all of the characters, with their "character trait" below them, and quotes. It's awesome.


* 3 o'clock came 'round, and we had what was commonplace by this point - all of my office coworkers in my office, whooping. I have decided now that it sounded a lot like zebras. Kinda funny. This time, I got another creative writing piece. I don't have it handy right now, so I can't post it. But it came along with a white chocolate raspberry Nothing But Bundt cake. Also, more Laffy Taffy :) Can't go wrong there.