I forgot!

I am done with that wonderful Rater Curiosity class! They rushed through everything so we could be done today. I am thankful for that. I survived. Now back to work where there seems to be an overflow! =)

I want your love......love, love, love

My Valentines cards and treats are done for work tomorrow. All the bags for Fridays shindig are filled to the top too! That was a fun hour tonight! That is all for today! 

This should surprise no one

Josie's even though she isn't here! Rater Love.

 

All the candy for work and the Par-tay

 

Side note: I couldn't find any that were just Edward. Made me a little sad to buy some with Jacob Black on them. What a waste!

Raise the Roof for the Raters!!!!!

**Disclaimer**

If you are not in the "Rater" joke. I am sorry. I apologize if you have no idea what I am talking about.

This week I get to partake in a lovely class. It's three and a half days of complete and utter boredom. The minutes seem to be going backwards and I want my iPod. I can feel it calling my name in my purse. I want to put my purse on the other side of the room so the feeling of neglect will disappear. We spent an hour and 15 minutes on a website. A website. One that we use everyday, and that I have used for the past 3 years. I think I know it inside and out. Our trainers have us do all these exercises and then are shocked when a few of us know what we are doing. No offense to anyone, but coming from DMRO, we were given leeway to think for ourselves! Also, no offense to our field underwriters but they send quite a few applications over blank. So us "raters" get the opportunity to think outside the box. Being the professional "rater" I am, I take pride in being able to practically underwrite a policy from start to finish without blinking an eyelash! I can't speak for all of us "raters" but I feel that I know everything they are going over. I looked on to see what the next 2 and a half days have in store and snooze fest. We also don't have a very vocal bunch! For a while "rater" Billy Joel and myself were answering all the questions in a monotone voice. I need a caffeine drip! I kept emailing people on my cell. I had to. I wouldn't have survived otherwise. My day brightened when I saw that green blinking light on my phone. I woke up at one point when Billy sneezed. Another when AJ (CJ, BJ, ZJ, etc) moved suddenly, and when I almost poked my eye out on my pen because I had slowly fallen into day dream land. Watching paint dry would have been far more entertaining. Having a professor speak in Latin for a 4 hour lecture would have been more beneficial. I know I should complain, but honestly. I would so be better off just working. Being the outstanding "rater" that I am! During the most exciting training experience in my life, the weather was surely keeping everyone on their toes.

I really need to pay attention to the news. I never do. It snowed all day. It seems to be an occurrence on Mondays. Not fun. Mondays = Snow and Tiredness. In all honestly, the roads were not as bad as I thought they would be. I went about 50mph on the interstate and the average mph on the side streets. Only bad part for me is Meredith. Ugh. That road. It's my downfall in the snow. It was a complete white out. Luckily I am only on it for 2 miles. I am going officially say that I am tired of the snow. I don't usually mind it, but I am so over it. I just wish people would learn to turn on their lights. Especially if they are driving white cars! Seriously, I want to be able to see you when you cut me off!  Oh the days of the sun and flowers. I am ready for Spring. Bring it on!! Of course it is going to snow some more tonight. Think positive Sarah! 

I have written this on every page of our binder so far. I had to take a photo and send it to my fellow "raters". I'll have to remember to send it to B tomorrow morning! =)

Weekend Round Up

Here is a brief rundown of our weekend. Nothing too exciting. Just the life of being a Janzen! =)

Friday. We needed Friday. Michael was home for the first time in 2 weeks. He was so tired so we didn't go out. We had planned a date night but all he wanted to do was make pizza and watch Smallville. I am totally game for that. We cuddled on the couch and had a date night in!

The alarm went off nice and early for another Saturday. Once again, Michael left before the sun came up. He thought it would only take about 4 hours to get the house done. Not! The ground was frozen solid and he didn't get home till like almost 6! Jake and I spent the day reading, playing games, doing laundry, coloring and cleaning up the house. We were suppose to go to HOB to listen to our friends band, but Michael was exhausted. He needed a night to just veg and not even thing about anything that is going on!

Sunday (today) was our insane day. We went to run errands and ended up having car troubles, all to be fixed by a new tank of gas. We were running extremely late and finally got home just in time to babysit. While baking and cooking, we were entertained by 4 kids! We had some detours and eventually made it to the Trimbles house! Sorry to say this, but the Superbowl and commercials were extremely lame. I made it an adventure searching for Kardashians! Kept me on the edge of my seat! After great company and amazing food we made it home to crash.

We are suppose to get snow...how much? I have no clue! Once again, another Monday with snow!

Ready for the weekend!

Well my plan for going to bed early didn't work out like I thought it would. I probably got to bed around 9ish but woke up at 10:30, 1:45, 2:30, and 4:15. What in the world? I fell asleep right away but still. Waking up that many times just makes me feel even more exhausted. I laid in bed till the last possible minute. Oh the days of sleeping in. How I miss thee!

Today we went to lunch for my birthday. It's still a week away but a few people are going to be out next week. Josie is going to visit one of her daughters in AZ and well, tomorrow Sam will have a new baby!!! We went to Drake Diner and it was fabulous! Once again, I did not have room for a malt. We decided we need to go some day just for dessert. I was very thankful for the group around me. We are one big family and I am blessed to have them all in my life! They gave me a very thoughtful gift and I can't wait to use it. There are so many options!! One of the top highlights was watching Mike climb out of the Denali, twice. That was fantastic and I wish I would have had my video camera ready! That made my week! Thank you all for making everyday so great!

I got a little surprise for my parents today. I had to finagle my way and I think it worked. It's not the best it could be, but I tried. I really did. It's the thought and the experience right? I came to a road block right away but after a few phone calls, I got two! Happy late Valentines Day to them! =)

Superbowl weekend is a coming! Last weekend of football till next season. I can hear my heart breaking away. Tennis is going to have to get me through! Michael is rooting for the Colts because that is his #2 team. I, well, I just watched the game and the commercials. I don't really care who wins but if Michael is rooting for the Colts, I hope they win. Then I don't have to hear about it till next season! Haha. 

For the first time in about a week and a half, Michael is home! He has been working on Chad's house forever it seems. After Saturday, it should be done!! He has been working late into the night and Jake hasn't seen him all week. We get up and leave before Michael even gets up! Jake was a little excited to see him tonight. He was a little hyper!

Tomorrow is Friday! This has been a very long week. Why? I have no idea. I think maybe because we were running low on work. The underwriters should be home now, so lets hope we have a full load of work next week! This week has just dragged on and on. The work days felt like days instead of hours. Maybe because this was a full week! With the weather and holidays, I feel like I haven't worked a full week in months!

Speaking of weather, we are about to get another dumping of snow!! They said about 3 inches over 12 hours. That isn't too bad. I would like to go one week with nothing! I can only dream! I am just so excited and ready for the weekend!! =)

All I have to say is...

Is that it's 8:24pm and I am going to bed. Been up since 4am. Good night!

The fire is shooting at us!

First off, I would like to say I locked myself out of my own blog due to using this:

DMRO

********

Now if you work with me, you will realize that this is the log-in for the D&B website. Someone hurt me.

Second, I think we are the only people on the block, in suburbia, in the state, not watching Lost. We have never watched it nor have we had the desire to. Get over it people.

I have a slight addiction. It's called "The Office" and I do need help. I can't stop myself. If I see it's on, I have to keep it on that channel. Whether I am watching it or not. I can nearly recite the episodes word for word. I just can't get enough of it! It's pretty sad that my son stops whatever he is doing and dance and hums to the theme song. He has since he was about 1. I just can't help myself!! Someone needs to break my habit. It's unhealthy.

You know when you don't know the face that goes with the name and you make a picture in your mind? Well I had about 10 of those in my mind. Today, the answers were revealed and I was WAY off. Our field underwriters made a trip to Iowa for some good meetings and training. Sounds like they are having a fantastic time (sarcasm). I finally got to put names with faces. It was quite funny in my mind. Somehow the "raters" managed to sit in the center of the room. Then awkwardly we all just looked at one another while some management gave out some info. Eventually someone (on the underwriting side of course) wanted all the Techs to identify themselves. Kristin came to the rescue and introduced us. The tables were turned and the underwriters ended up standing and announcing themselves. Some of the speeches deserved rewards. Andrews for telling quality it's always him, not us. Too bad quality wasn't there. Joe Schmo that said "I have worked with a lot of raters in the past, and these raters are good". Raters? Honestly? Also, most underwriters thanked us for putting up with them and apologized for anything they had ever done wrong. Once all that funness (totally just made up a word) was over, we finally just got to chat it up. It was good to finally meet the people we work with 5 days a week. I think everyone enjoyed it. We had a few good laughs. Only problem I had was I had to drive home in rush hour. I never work that late!! It was worth it though.

Speaking of working late, Michael is still at it. Hopefully Saturday morning will be the last day! Don't get me wrong, the extra $$ is not bad at all, but I miss my hubby at night! He doesn't get home till about 8:30 or later each night. Jake always wants Michael to come in and give him a kiss before bed. He loves his daddy. This week it hasn't happened and he gets upset. I just explain to him that daddy will wake him up. Ready for this job to be over!

Tomorrow is Wednesday! That means the week is half over! It's been a long week already. I haven't quite put my finger on why. Maybe because the underwriters are not there to IM or just call. I even blasted through the 2nd season of Arrested Development. I might have to break out Glee or The Offi...nope! Not even going to say it. I will stick with Glee or just my musica! I think I won't listen to 4000+ songs in one day but I hope it will speed my day up!

Here's to the rest of the week!