Just checking in. We are in Portland, Maine now. It is so nice to be back in the USA, no offense to all you Canadians. Quebec, Halifax and the Bay of Fundy were fun, but I felt like I was cut off from the world.

I didn't do a lot of shopping in Canada, but I plan on doing a lot here in Maine. Outlets, LL Bean, more outlets.

I'll be back in Alabama on Sunday.

My bags are packed, the house is somewhat clean and the cooler is ready to be packed. At 1:00 AM tomorrow morning, BFF MAB will show up and off we'll go to Quebec, Halifax and Maine. I can't wait. I think I will enjoy the trip more now that I am more confident in my staying at the bank. In between sightseeing, we'll do some shopping. There are many Brooks Brothers outlets on our route and we plan to hit all of them. When I get back, I'll report on my finds.

I hope everyone has a good Friday.

I have gotten some of my clothes for my trip folded. Our family is a firm believer in the Flip N' Fold. I don't know if I am going to be able to get all of my stuff in a large Vera Bradley duffel, small Vera Bradley duffel and Vera Bradley hanging bag. I'm going to try.

I decided to take the position in the Commercial Real Estate department. The head of the department told me if it didn't work out he'd help me find another position either in the bank or elsewhere.. I was honest with him and told him that I had been looking for jobs elsewhere. He seemed to understand and appreciate my honesty.

Today, I'm wearing my Lilly Pulitzer khaki shirtdress, silver monogrammed pendant, hot pink Fitz & Frannie silk knot earrings and...my new A. Tierney hot pink bamboo bangle. It gives the khaki dress a new pop of color.

I hope everyone has a good day.

Last night I positioned my ironing board and a chair in front of the TV. I ironed as I watched a recording of Drop Dead Diva and Mad Men. Two hours of ironing. I'm leaving this weekend to go on vacation. I ironed 20 tops. I think that may be too many for a 15 day trip, but I'm packing them anyway. Now to pack all of this stuff. I'm getting everything organized. After a good night's sleep, I'm still tired.

Have a good Wednesday.

Today was a busy day at work. It's the busiest day that I have had in a long time. I had to fill in for the mail guy today. I dressed real casual because I thought we would get the remnants of Tropical Storm Claudette, but it did not start raining until after 5:00. It only sprinkled.

I have a predicament at work that I need some advice on. As you all know, my position is pretty much eliminated. I'm just waiting on September 30 for them to decide what to do with me. The man that is over the Commercial Real Estate department called me into his office the other day. He was inquiring about my status. He told me that there was the possibility that he would need me for his department. I was very flattered. I figured that he could care less about my future at the bank. He said that I would be his assistant and would do reports and some of the clerical tasks in the department. The pros to the job are that I would get to hang on for a while, I would get to learn something new, and I would get to work with nice people. The cons are that it would be almost a demotion, I would be working with Queenie, and I'm afraid that she would assume that she was my supervisor. I'm also afraid that if a good position comes available somewhere else, I would feel like a heel leaving. If I take this position, I would have to have loan training. I would hate for them to waste time training me and then I would be leaving. Of course, that is a big "IF". I have until Friday to decide. I really don't know what to do.

I hope everyone has a good Tuesday.

I had a very busy weekend. Thursday, I drove to my mother's house. We got up early Friday and went to Atlanta. Two of her friends went with us. We all had a good time.

At Morgan & Company, I bought a silver monogrammed square pendant, a pair of silver monogrammed square earrings on hoops, a 16" silver snake chain, an 18" silver snake chain, and a pair of green earrings. At Jewelry Max, I bought a silver charm bracelet and a pair of silver cross earrings. When I got home, I discovered that I had a pair of silver cross earrings identical to the ones that I bought. Oh well, I'll give them to my sister. At Lenox Square, I went to Kiehl's and stocked up on what I needed. On the way home, we stopped at Trader Joe's and bought wine and snacks. It was a long day, but we accomplished a lot.

Saturday, I helped my mother get her house back together after having construction going on for 3 weeks. There was dust and sawdust everywhere.

Today, we tried to relax, but we had a few things to do.

Tomorrow, I have to work for the mail guy. It's supposed to pour down rain all day. I think I'll wear khakis, a tee and topsiders.

I hope everyone has a good Monday.

Yesterday when I got to work, I got an alert message that my computer had viruses...multiple viruses. I called IT at 8:02. 27 hours and 3 minutes later, the computer guy came to rid my computer of viruses. And, it was urgent.

This morning, when I was eating breakfast, a blueberry exploded and landed on my skirt. I didn't have anything else ironed to wear, so I went to work with blueberry stains on the lap of my skirt. As I was driving in, I noticed that I had on a monogrammed cardigan with a monogrammed pendant. I have a rule that I only wear one monogrammed item at a time. Even if I didn't have the rule, they were two different patterns. The cardigan had circle pattern and the pendant had Old English. I don't think anyone noticed.

I'm taking a vacation day on Friday so that my mother and I can go to Atlanta shopping. I want to go to Morgan & Co. in the Atlanta Mart. After that, it's on to Lenox Square for some real shopping. While in Atlanta, BFF MAB wants me to stop by a store and buy a bottle of that wine that has a picture of the naked nymph on the label. You know, "the wine that you can't buy in Alabama". I'm also going to buy some Two Buck Chuck for some hostess gifts.

I hope everyone has a good Thursday.