tis the season

it's been crazy, intense two months. since the boss has sanctioned working overtime last month, i've been steadily racking up the hours. workload-wise, it feels like even 50hrs/wk isn't enough to get everything done anymore. people have been commenting on the change in the pace and intensity within the urbana team. tempers are shorter, stress levels are high and chocolate intake has skyrocketed. it's so easy to take all the problems- present, foreseen and possibly imagined- on my shoulders and think that urbana can't go on without me solving all of them. but in the last few weeks i've gotten gentle and not so subtle reminders that God is bigger than what i can and cannot accomplish. it's not meant to be an excuse for the missed deadlines or the mistakes i've made along the way, but an invitation to love more what i am doing and come out the other end a whole person. but that's a topic for another entry.

on the bright side, i've been thinking more about a crucial piece to my work at urbana- my onsite wardrobe! it's been one of those topics i digress to daydreaming about when work gets too stressful. since i'll be nikki's right hand woman, i figure i have to look presentable. every time i think about what i should wear and what i'll need at hand, i think of j.lo in the wedding planner with her belt of weaponry inside her suit jacket. but since i don't have a secret lining in my suit jacket, i'm thinking about hooking a chalk bag used for rock climbing onto my belt. not as discreet, but it'll hold most of what i need to have on hand (nik's iphone, my phone, pens, cough drops, etc).
my biggest problem right now are shoes. apparently staff walk 5-10 miles everyday just getting to and from places, which makes sense considering the america's center has a football field and about a gazillion meeting rooms. some of the suggestions that have been tossed out to remedy this painful problem are: heelys (risk management probably won't let us), segweys (impractical) and golf carts (too expensive and impossible to maneuver in crowded hallways). i'm hoping that some solid padding by dr. scholl's will prevent my feet from screaming in pain at the end of each day. one thing i refuse to do though, is wear sneakers with a suit. i'm no fashionista, but i can't bear to see myself in my nikes with my black banana trousers and jacket. i may eat my words come day 4 onsite, but for now, i'm going to bed thinking of other chic yet comfy possibilities to trek back and forth with between the football field at the edward jones dome.