I've been working at home for about 5 years now and I will never again work anywhere that doesn't offer a pajama clause in my contract.  There are certain drawbacks, however, many of which include lengthy conference calls and a new puppy.  Besides the obvious conflict (D1 has forbidden me to discuss Fairfax' bodily functions in this blog), a new wrinkle developed yesterday. 

Our department had a team meeting and I somehow missed the fact that I was this week's team meeting leader.  Being the only off-site person in our tiny sub-department (which is, of course, related to a large, large, large umbrella department), my boss gathers the rest of the team in a conference call and then places a call to me.  Typically, I pick up with a cheerful hello and immediately put the phone on mute.  This is mostly due to the Aussies.  Joe and Louis are the ultimate barkers.  If there were gold medals for "barking without reason", Louis would win hands down.

My boss asked for the team leader to begin the meeting.  Nothing happened.  Dead silence.  Someone checked the agenda from the previous meeting and noticed my name as the next leader.  Oh dear.  My boss said, "Looks like you're the leader" as I was reaching for the mute button.  Mustering up an authoritative tone, I said, "Well, if I'm the leader, I say 'meeting adjourned.'"  Several people cackled.  Not sure one of them was my boss. 

That is how I ended up on a conference call with my boss and all of my immediate co-workers with an unmuted phone.  I suggested they go around the table and give updates.  They suggested I go first.  I did and then they did their thing and then my boss gave a lengthy talk on a pertinent topic and I completely and totally forget the phone was not on mute and right while he was speaking, I shouted "LEAVE IT" in a terribly stern manner as the puppy grabbed a mouthful of my favorite sweater.

If you ever want to know how humans react to puppy commands, this is not the forum in which to explore the concept.

We have also learned that little puppies from Virginia shiver like crazy outside during a Cleveland winter.

First coat, a fleece hoodie which was too big 3 weeks ago and is now too small:




Latest fashionwear:
 


                 


Check out more pictures on Google's Picasa; click "View as Slideshow" for the best images:

http://picasaweb.google.com/michaelellen/FairfaxAt9Weeks

http://picasaweb.google.com/michaelellen/FairfaxAt12To13Weeks

http://picasaweb.google.com/michaelellen/FairfaxAt14Weeks