This site will look much better in a browser that supports web standards, but it is accessible to any browser or Internet device.

What a day! I feel as though I had been run though a wringer! This, my friends, was my last day of work at the bank where I have been employed for almost 9 years.
I have recited this so many times, I shoud have just made a recording:
“My husband has been working in Nevada for 8 months and thinks I should join him there. No, I don't have a house there yet. No, I don't know if I am selling my house yet or not. I will be around off and on all summer. It will take me 5 years to go through the things in my current house (ha, ha).”
My unfortunate brother happened to be the lucky winner of the last straw question and was told “I don't want to talk about it. I don't know what I'm doing. Please don't ask me any more questions.”

Yes, I know that people are interested and concerned, and I would probably be asking the same questions myself if the tides were turned. I'm not really upset with the questioners; more in turmoil myself because I have such mixed feelings and I really DON'T know what I am doing!
I DO know it was the right time to quit; in fact I gave notice over a month ago, but agreed to stay until a replacement could be found and hired. Last week, after the replacement had been hired, I had a little panic attack. “What am I doing? If I just worked for the bank for 2 more months, I could get paid for 2 more weeks of vacation! Its too late now; the new employee is halfway thru training.” I am SO wishy washy sometimes.
OKay, about today. I was totally overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support I experienced today. Many, many people came to wish me well and express regret that I was leaving. I received a beautiful vase of flowers from a frequent customer who said she would miss me. Another customer/friend brought me a book and lovely vase and a card bearing this message: “In the theater, when they want to wish someone good luck, they say, “Break a leg.” I want to wish you a LOT of luck, so fracture an ankle! Burst an appendix! Pull a muscle! Pinch a nerve! Dislocate a toe! Get an ulcer!” Wow, she must REALLY love me!
I had told Teri, my long-term coworker and friend that I didn't want a goodbye party; instead I wanted an early birthday party since I wouldn't be there to celebrate my birthday in July. Well, I had balloons, some bearing the logo “Best Wishes” and others with “Happy Birthday”. I had a yummy (huge) cake that read “Happy Birthday, Kathy, and Good Luck.” and I had a birthday present; a really cute flower t-shirt and earrings. On top of that, they bought me lunch! AND I was one of the lucky winners in the Bank monthly drawing, and won $15. What a day.
Of course, it was also a very busy day for bank business, and I was hard pressed to do my job for one more day, talk to and eat cake with all the well-wishers, try to finish up the last minute projects I was trying not to leave for someone else to finish, AND clean out my stuff, which had been accumulating for 8 1/2 years. I finally gave up on sorting it out, and just lumped it in a box to haul home.
I know I will feel good about this really soon and that a whole new chapter of life is opening up before me. UltraDad is home for a few days and is excited about the prospect of having us live near each other again, and so am I. My Murphy dog is excited about the prospect of not being locked in the house all day while I'm gone to work at the bank, and so am I. UltraBob is excited about the prospect of me posting more often, and so am I!
I'm feeling a little sad and nostalgic tonight, though also very loved and appreciated, but tomorrow is a new day.

UltraMom

UltraMom at Work; Notice the cute “aliens”