The Lo.Co. is slated to relocate its physical office location, so why not do the same in cyberspace? The Manager misses posting more regularly and is looking for new inspiration. Welcome to "The Lo.Co. Meeting Minutes," where you'll see shorter, but more frequent, updates on our workday.

• It’s been a bit rainy this week – so rainy that J!m C@ntore might have come to town. Mostly this has been all right regarding Cabin Fever issues, although the Outsourcer was canceled on Thursday. The Wednesday Night Shift was probably the worst of the storm, with a few power surges in the office. K.Lo woke up screaming a few times, and continued to wake up on the Thursday Night Shift, still a bit traumatized and skeptical that the wind was really gone.

• N.Lo has a night light in his room, but lately wants his door all but completely open at night with the hall bathroom lights on. Management has tried turning them off after he is fully asleep, but early-morning complaints about the light ensue.

• K.Lo and I braved Target yesterday morning – and actually, it was basically just raining outside, and not very hard, for that matter. The store was pleasantly un-crowded, and K.Lo enjoyed some popcorn while wearing a witch hat from the dollar bin. She also asked for just about everything in the store that was shiny, cute or adorned with Hello Kitty. Her latest costume idea evolved from a butterfly cheerleader to a cheerleader witch, and later, back at the office, she practiced her best cackle and the line, “Give me back my shoes!”

• Each morning we fuss at work with K.Lo for chatting too much and too loudly before everyone in the office is fully awake – particularly N.Lo, who with his door wide open, tends to wake up before he is ready, which then affects the rest of his work day. This morning, K.Lo popped right in to N.Lo’s room to see if he was awake, and N.Lo complained, “No, I’m not done sleeping.” Sigh.

• A main objective of our Target trip, aside from refilling the office pantry, was obtaining cake mix and icing for a birthday cake. Whose birthday cake? Benny Baby, who apparently turned 4 yesterday. And Benny Baby, in case you didn’t know, likes pink icing and Jasmine. Our office likes cake, so why argue? We lit candles and sang, too.

• Currently, K.Lo has a yellow sheet of paper taped to her TV. I’m not really sure what this is all about, although K.Lo seems to like seeing the colorful “shadows” at night. Who is the Manager to argue with an employee’s creativity.

• K.Lo likes to say about certain songs, “It has a good beat!”

• N.Lo is mainly oblivious to the upcoming relocation, as he should be. However, as some days at the now well-familiar Outsourcer are still difficult, the Manager has a bit of nerves about starting all. over. again. At a new Outsourcer. Which we will hopefully find.

• K.Lo, having an active imagination as well as access to television commercials and water-cooler talk at the Outsourcer, comes up with new items every day for her Christmas/Birthday Wish List. (It’s a collective entity, at this point.) She practices what she’ll tell Santa, and likes to actually see the list that’s stored on the Manager’s computer. Recent additions were a scooter, roller skates, Beauty and the Beast a Lalaloopsy Doll and a backscratcher.

• N.Lo lately does things on his own time, in his own way, and it’s best not to mess with him – which is why training in the Employee Rest Room has all but come to a halt. Although recently, he did randomly discover the art of peeing in the potty while standing up.

• The Manager realizes N.Lo’s 3rd Date of Hire Anniversary is fast approaching, but don’t ask her about it, please. She has no idea, on anything.

• In the cafeteria, N.Lo has overtaken the Manager’s chair. Seems to be a permanent restructuring.

• N.Lo’s also had a vague cold for the past few days, or maybe it’s been the past few weeks. Symptoms are mainly a cough and crankiness.

• K.Lo matter-of-factly pointed out said crankiness this morning to the Manager, after observing N.Lo grumbling to the CEO, “No, don’t talk to me,” in an otherwise upbeat conversation.

• Crankiness comes in the form of Twoville Tactics, usually regarding order of operations. In other words, Management requests employee action, and employee firmly states, “No,” followed by a condition (“I’ll put on my shoes/color this paper/finish my breakfast first.”). Then, he might or might not follow up on his own condition, and basically it is a very long tug-of-war process to get anything accomplished, much less get out the office door…

• N.Lo continues to sustain regular injuries, the latest of which have been two badly skinned knees from falling on the concrete outside, as well as a face scrape incurred during a light-sabre fight at a party. (True story. He held his own.)

• He’s very aware of rules and whether K.Lo is following them, particularly if she uses a “bathroom word,” or if she interrupts Management. He will note firmly, or wearily, depending on the situation, “No, don’t say that, that’s a bathroom word.” Or, “K.Lo, Daddy’s talking right now.”

• Said interruptions of Managerial convos happen regularly. Frequently. All the time. We might be working on that one for awhile with our little chatterbox. 

• K.Lo and the CEO had worked out a deal last week regarding Good Behavior and the purchase of a certain black dress from Kohl’s. She earned said dress last Thursday and has been wearing it ever since.

• The CEO also picked up a few shirts for N.Lo, who insisted on wearing both at the same time.

It’s September, and K.Lo’s excited about the prospect of Sunday school starting up again. “It’s September?? That means I get to do the PRAYER TABLE! And the ALTAR TABLE!” etc. (These are learning stations, of sorts, in our Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program, which she clearly loves very much.)

 

• K.Lo is and always has been a “What are we doing tomorrow?” kind of girl. She likes having something to look forward to, as well as understanding what day it is in the normal routine. Lately, she asks what we’re doing not just tomorrow, but also the day after, and the day after that, and the day after that, until the Manager really has no idea what we’re doing anymore, at least not so far in advance…

 

• She continues to like to write names, mostly her own, and sometimes remembers all the letters. They might or might not appear in order, but they are usually all on the page, somewhere. Progress!

 

• Today the Manager asked, exasperated, “How many times do I have to ask?” And she very cheekily replied, “Three.” Sigh.

 

When the Regional Manager comes along to pick up the employees from the Outsourcer, you get pictures! I never think to take any.

N.Lo in the hallway next to his cubby. He brought not only his two blankies that day, but also Bear and Kitty Cat.

K.Lo was in the middle of a game with her friend when we arrived. It involved snapping this black elastic band that they found somewhere. In this picture, her friend was just about to snap.

Much better picture! Please note the Manager nearby attempting to gather up and sort out the approximately ten thousand school-gear items. (It’s a daily struggle.)

The employees and Manager love the Outsourcer!

• “Mommy, I’m brave of thunder now.” She is definitely not as sensitive to the thundering. She also likes to ask whether you’re scared of the thunder. (The correct answer is, “No, of course not!”)

• “I don’t cry at preschool anymore. And I’m not shy of people.” This is sometimes – dare I say mostly – true.

• On the first day of school: “And I saw my friends x, y, and z! They all came back! Just like two months ago! It was like a big party!” I’m not sure how long the excitement will last, but today was a good day.

• I hadn’t pushed the issue of a new school year with the employees, as K.Lo seemed puzzled over a “new” situation, when she was already established in the 4-year-old room through summer camp. Didn’t want to stress out the employee needlessly. But with new backpacks (K.Lo’s wish) and some old faces returned, I think she “got” it. And was much more pleased than expected!

• “Mommy, you like my new dress?” “I love your new dress. You look like you could be on Fashion Show [which is what we call ProjectRunway].” “Whaaat? Fashion Show! Mommy, Fashion Show doesn’t exist on the earth.” Since it was on TV, K.Lo assumed “pretend.” Which is not necessarily a bad thing. However, I explained that ProjectRunway does indeed exist on this earth. She said, “Where?” And I told her, “In New York City, where your cousin lives.” She said, “Oh!”

• Also, I love when she says, “Whaaat?” like you are saying the craziest thing ever.

• A recent outdoor art project, completely devised by K.Lo, was “painting” the deck with a bucket of water and a broom, like it’s a giant canvas. Love it. Made me think of our trip to the zoo, with the giant chalkboard wall.