CoCo's Corner

So, tonight is my last night on the graveyard shift. It's been fun the days I've worked. I have to say, I really enjoy these up-all-nighters immensely. They are on the complete opposite spectrum of the "normal" people. Here are some final notes on my time here: Marla, Corey, Cheryl, Betsy, Nicole, Doug, Cortney, Angie, Natalie, Nathan, Amber, Jessica, Cliff, Leslie: STOP BEING SO DANG QUIET!!! I am not used to hearing NOTHING!!! I am used to people calling me constantly, I am used to having things to do, I am used to not sitting around and doing nothing!!! I have done nothing for an entire month - and my BUTT HURTS!!! My butt hurts from sitting in this chair and staring at the computer for TWELVE HOURS CONSTANTLY!! However, on the up side - I have completely loved being with you this month!! Watching Nicole's face in lineup when Diane is there is priceless. Nathan's litte quips and comments are hilarious. Cortney and his "touche" comment

Ted wrote a Haiku for me. We were entering a sweepstakes that had an awesome trip prize, but, it needed a Haiku. Here it is: My Love Was Lost And Then It Was Found A Silver Lining In A Cloud I am the silver lining. :) I think it's kind of sweet.

The cutest kid in the land is having his sixth birthday today. This kid is so embedded in my heart, I love him so very much. I can't believe how fast time goes. It just seems like we were in the hospital, waiting for him to be born. Now, he is six years old, he's in kindergarten and learning so much!! Just this morning, I wrote on his mom's facebook page and wished him happy birthday. He responded all by himelf - - I can't believe what a little man he is!! I just want Zachary John Walker to know: I love you more than you will ever know. I am so proud of you and how smart you are and I love your desire to learn. You are an awesome big brother and I love how you take care of your little sister. I can't wait to see what an awesome man you become!!!

So, this is my third week of graveyards and I have five more shifts to go, including the one today. Now, I really am enjoying my time here, but I have never felt so discombobulated as I do these last few weeks. I don't know if it's because of everything else that is going on or if it's just the change of hours. I have the added stresses of working days I am not used to - mainly Saturday!! Adjusting my hours come Sundays - I forgot how bad that is, going home at 5:30 in the morning and making yourself wake up after a few hours just so you can go to bed that night and be a real person. Plus, trying to help plan a wedding can really throw you for a loop!! But, alas, that seems to be chugging along really well right now - - and I am getting excited for it (to be done!!). I do have to say that I am loving the people I am working with - - much more laid back, much more accepting of changes, and just plain quiet!! At first, I didn't know how to deal with the quiet. I a

So I made a phone call today. I was calling the father of my future daughter-in-law to make arrangements for the wedding invitations. I was in my car and driving when I did this. Here is the jist of he conversation: RING RING Him: Hello. Me: Hello, is this Russ? Him: Yes. Me: This is Colleen. James' mom. Him: Who? Me: James' mom. Him: Who? Me: James mom. Your daughters fiance. Him: Dane? Me: No, James. Your daughter, Rustie, her fiance's mom. (at this point, I am looking at my daughter KayeLynn, thinking that I am talking to a man with Alzheimers. He doesn't even know his daughters fiance's name) Him: Who? My daughter isn't engaged. Me: Is this Russ? Him: Yes. Me: Russ Rolfe? Him: No, Russ Nay. Me: Oh My Gosh!!!! I called my brother!!!! Crap!! We then talked for a minute, which involved me laughing hysterically for not realizing I had two men named Russ in my phone and could possibly be dialing the wrong number!! Good Lordy!!! It was

So, this last week has been kinda nice. I left work last Tuesday and go back tomorrow. I only took four hours vacation to get this mini vacation, because it's shift change and I am changing shifts. Not just a mild change, but I am going to the graveyard shift. Now, I was a dyed-in-the-wool graveyarder about four years ago. And, I still love the whole different world that the graveyard shift offers; but, I haven't done it for four years. I have become the dreaded morning person. Now, to me, sleeping in is 7:00. I have been trying to adjust a little bit, I have been staying up til around midnight or 1:00, but, I'm back up at 8:00 and tired the rest of the day - not great for accomplishing much. Especially since I thought I could maybe get some painting finished and such. Oh well!! I am really kind of excited about this. It' a whole new world. Maybe a little calmer atmosphere. I get to see daylight, or lighted haze, in my off hours (the reason I hate January i