STAFF RETREAT 09

Staff retreat is always a BLAST…it’s incredibly refreshing to get away and laugh with close friends. The weekend was filled with great discussion and encouragement, pumpkin cheesecake, a delicious pre-game breakfast at the Old Fashioned Pancake House, an afternoon in the park, beautiful weather, the unforgettable Pope Room, ice cream for dessert, fireworks, and of course (regrettably…j/k) Disneyland. This year we were divided into two teams for a little “friendly” competition….

2009 Champions = Team Alpha

(congratulations to Greg, Mark, Jimmy, Nikki, Traci, and myself)

Shawn, Matt, Dan, Kari, Korina and Betsey were no match for us in Trivia (thanks in part to: FBC’S Training Center).

Team Beta received their only two wins in volleyball. Korina’s bewildering spike into Jimmy’s face increased their morale. However, team Alpha emerged undefeated in all three games of ultimate Frisbee… Much thanks to Greg, who sprinted across the finish line like he was 20.

Buzz Light Year was team Beta’s last opportunity to catch us.

Alpha plan = victory by any means necessary… (i.e. Operation SABATOGE)

My personal strategy was as follows:

• Establish possession and absolute control of cart’s steering apparatus
• Prevent Matt from locking onto targets with incessant and unpredictable directional shifts.
• Cover opponents eye’s whenever possible
• Continuous elbows, kicking, pushing and shouting for greater distraction
• Attempt to disarm Matt completely and sit on his weapon.
• And finally, a giant hug, solely to inhibit arm movement and breathing.

I make no apologies for my behavior. Team Alpha emerged victorious (even though Matt still managed to beat me in Buzz !?!) and are already training for total domination next year.

MORE HOME DEPO DATES

From now on I’m sending Matt to all the sales by himself! Last week he happened upon Arizona Tile’s tent sale and I came home to an enormous crate of stone (J). Never mind the fact that we had to unload it (and 20 bags of mortar) piece by piece in 105 degree weather; or the other three loads still awaiting pickup.

“Mad Matt” has been in project mode ever since… his “madness” was made official last week when he entered the grocery store in his disheveled “home project” condition. As we were checking out, the cashier tried not to stare, but couldn’t keep from asking: “long day?” “Do I even want to know?” The rips in Matt’s clothes are just the beginning…. they are also covered in stains from various materials like paint, drywall, epoxy, and/or mortar (ok, so @ Hollister you pay more for the “worn look,” but this is worn look gone very wrong). His messy dark hair looks almost completely grey via the backlash of dust from whatever his current tool usage. The world’s ugliest shoes = icing on the cake. Apparently they are “necessary” because they “slip on and off easy” (um, are we 50?).

Needless to say, Matt has now finished laying the hardwood in the game room and master closet. He installed granite, new backsplashes, faucets and top-mount sinks in both of our guest bathrooms. And the tile he just laid in the office and laundry room made for a fantastic birthday surprise (Isn’t he’s da best!).

FYI: Matt, I’ll always love you…. I’m just gonna wait in the car next time.