Block #39 For Lisa J.

Most nights I have a hard time deciding who to dedicate the block to. I debate, do I have a really good story to tell, is it too personal, is it too boring, is the block to girlie for a guy, is it not ridonkulous enough for this person… It’s exhausting. But tonight – Easy Peasy.

Lisa J. and I went to school together, we didn’t hang out back then. In fact, she tells this story of a recess altercation of which I have no recollection… I plead the fifth. But, I am much nicer now and we have become good Facebook buddies.

Earlier today she messaged me telling me of a dream she had. She and I and one of our other schoolmates were meeting with Bill Gates. Lisa was trying to donate some money to him to help him with his new business. And I had a tattoo of a bird on my right ankle. I immediately said “Well, what was it” and she said she thinks it was a bird. Figures…

What is really funny about this, is that years ago I was a programmer of the Microsoft variety (VB.NET, ASP, TSQL). I used to joke “Uncle Bill Pays My Bills”. Apparently, in this dream we were trying to pay his.

I’m Back In Charge
I am back in charge of all bird operations for awhile. The bird factory was a good idea but I am now out of pre-made birds/bird parts. Starting tomorrow, we are back to a bird a night. I am super busy at work, so I imagine one or two of the “Test Birds” will get promoted to “Real Birds” this week.

Date Made: February 8th, 2015  
Block #39
Days on Project: 39
Blocks Made: 42

For Lisa J.

Block #38 for Fahima

This block is dedicated to a very special lady, Fahima. Today is her birthday and this is my way of saying “Happy birthday pretty lady!”

Fahima is the amazing mother of three beautiful children. For my husband’s birthday we invited several of our friends and their kids to go bowling with us. She had a baby at home and couldn’t come but her husband came out and brought her two oldest. Everyone at the party commented on how well behaved and polite his kids were. His response, “Oh thank you, but it’s not me, my wife runs a pretty tight ship”.

Credits:
My husband picked these fabrics.

Date Made: February 7th, 2015  
Block #38
Days on Project: 38
Blocks Made: 41
Husband’s Picks: #17

For Fahima

Block #37 For Cullen

This block is dedicated to Cullen. He is a great project manager and a great person. We were briefly on the same team and I learned so much from him during those few months. Mostly, I learned how to play nice with others.

Cullen used to live out in the country (I think) and he always had great stories and pictures of the critters he trapped. He hung them up in his cube. I always thought of them as the closest thing you could get to mounting a dear on your wall in the office. Instead of a big buck, he had possums and raccoons on display in all their ugly glory.

To Cullen – may you have far less of an issue with wildlife where you live now.

Credits:
My husband picked these fabrics.

Date Made: February 1st, 2015  
Block #37
Days on Project: 37
Blocks Made: 40
Husband’s Picks: #16

For Cullen

Block #36 For Fauzan

This block is dedicated to my very good friend Fauzan. Fauzan and I joined the same company at the same time (it was my second time, truth be told). Later he left that company and then I followed him soon after to his next company. Then he left me again! Honestly, I am beginning to think its me…

At that first company we were put on the same project pretty early on. It was my first time working with him and I didn’t realize the extent of his awesomeness. I was ALWAYS questioning whether or not he could do something he was proposing. At one point, he stopped me and said “Don’t worry Paula, I’m smart enough”. And to this day, I have never let him live that one down… Can a joke still be funny 7 years later? Yes, yes it can.

Credits:
My husband picked these fabrics.

Date Made: February 5th, 2015  
Block #36
Days on Project: 36
Blocks Made: 40
Husband’s Picks: #15

For Fauzan

Block #34 for Mala

Yesterday was for Uma so today has to be for MALA!! Uma and Mala were the dynamic duo working together and being most excellent developers. While Uma has moved on, I still get to hang out with Mala. We don’t work on projects together anymore but we do get to go to lunch and let off some steam.

Mala is a great developer and has a knack for building relationships; earning a customers trust and keeping it. And believe me, in our world, that is not always easy to do.

Our company likes to mix things up, and because of that Mala and I have worked together, not worked together, and I have personally had 4 managers in 3 years. I wouldn’t be surprised if we end up working together again. It certainly never gets boring, and thats good, right?

Credits:
My husband picked these fabrics.

Date Made: February 1st, 2015  
Block #34
Days on Project: 34
Blocks Made: 38
Husband’s Picks: #13

For Mala

Block #33 For Uma

This block is dedicated to my former co-worker Uma. Uma was great, she was a very nice, quiet lady. Almost never said a bad word about anybody; never hurt a fly. I truly miss working with her.

Short story tonight:

One day at work a group of my co-workers came out of a meeting and they were all upset. They were venting and I was listening. I keep a canister of york peppermint patties on my desks for times like these. Chocolate tends to make everything better. Right?

But Uma, she was mad. Frankly, I had never seen her mad before. She took her peppermint patty, unwrapped it and took a bite, then ceremoniously threw it on the ground in protest during a rant. It was the funniest thing. I had only ever seen people in movies do that. It is one of my fondest memories of our time together.

The other funny thing she would do, is that she would take one or two of these home to her kids occasionally. She didn’t let them have sweets very often, so she didn’t do it every day. Come to find out, when she didn’t bring them home she would tell them that I (Ms. Paula) didn’t give them any today. Blamed it on me!

Credits:
My husband picked these fabrics.

Date Made: February 1st, 2015  
Block #33
Days on Project: 33
Blocks Made: 38
Husband’s Picks: #12

For Uma