Friday, January 1, 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!



I hope you made it into 2010  safe and sound. 

I have been off work since December 23rd.  While I had big thoughts, I really didn't accomplish anything other than get through the holidays.  It was nice to have the time off and to do what I wanted, when I wanted.  I really hate to think that I will have to return to work on Monday.  But I am not able to retire yet and we do have bills to pay.

As we were nearing the new year I thought about the previous year.  It was a very good year.  In the wake of folks losing jobs, I still have a job. So far the worst that has happened has been our mandatory 10 days off without pay.  While I don't like it, it's a cutback I can learn to live with for a while.  C & I celebrated our first full year in our new house.  I hate moving and it seemed like it took an entire year before we finally quit looking in boxes for our belongings.  But we are finally there!  I was reunited with a very, dear old friend this summer. I had lost track of her for a very long time,  much to my surprise she had been right under my nose. I am glad we never stopped wondering about each other and I am so happy we found each other again. I turned 50 this past year. OMG! I never thought I would make it this far.   Yes, it was a fabulous year.

Now as I face 2010... I want it to be as good of a year, if not better. I hate making resolutions because I usually break them before I get them all made. But I have to set some sort of boundary - so I guess resolutions are the best format.  

I need to improve myself this year.  After many years of living in hell, I am finally at a very good place in life.  But, if I don't make some other changes I may not be able to enjoy it for as long as I'd like. So I need to lose some weight.  I'm not greedy - 50 lbs (though that's just the tip of the iceberg) would get me back into most of the clothes in my closet.  So I'd take that if I can get it (then I'll think about chipping more off the iceberg).

I want to complete at least one  project each month, whether it be a craft project or housey project.  I have so many things to get done (remember the mountain of jewelry making stuff?).   So one thing doesn't seem too unreasonable.

I want to be a better blogger.  I started this back in September.  Writing is harder than I thought.  But I want to post at least 3 times a week and make my presence known on other blogs that I read and enjoy.  I have made some awesome friends and want to keep them.

I need to be a better aunt.  I know at least onbe person is thinking - but you're an only child.  I am, but when my mom got remarried her hubby had 2 sons.  We were all adults when our parents married, so we never got the opportunity to be a true family and we weren't that close when we were younger.  But after my mother,  their father and then my grandparents passed away these guys knew I didn't have any other family and they unofficially adopted me.  I don't get down to see my nephews and neice as much as I'd like and I felt some distance at Christmas. They are growing up so fast it is amazing.   I love them all and am greatful for them.  They were there for me during the darkest part of my life - I want to be there during the best parts of theirs.  So, I need to make sure I am visiting as often as possible and I'm not above taking lavishing gifts. 

And finally, I want show C, every single day, how glad I am to have him in my life. He has been a true blessing  to me.  I never knew what a truly good relationship was before him.  I love him and cherish every minute we have together.

Some of those will be easy, others not so much.  But all I can do is try.  What did you resolve to do this year?

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Merry Christmas!

Ok, I know that Christmas comes the exact time every year. It should not be any surprise to me.  So why am I always running around at the last moment getting stuff done?  I had big plans not to procrastinate this year - but I put that off until next year!  We barely got the tree up, I put out a few other decorations and called the house done.  Sunday I was Betty Friggin' Crocker.  I made caramel corn, chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter fudge and Bailey's fudge.  I have absolutely nothing wrapped.  Late Monday night I was wrapping a few things that I had to take into the office.  One of my spare bedrooms looks like Santa's workshop - that's where all the gifts are.  Tonight I will start sorting and wrapping.  C's family celebration will be Christmas Eve, so I will need to get all of their presents wrapped.  I am still relatively new to that family - so I better not try and get by with just putting each item in a WalMart bag.  Somewhere there is another unwritten female rule about that. 

So, wanna see our tree?  We got it up last weekend.  One of the cats has eaten all the garland off the bottom.



Most of the ornaments on it are either handmade, Hallmark Keepsakes, or antique.  So we are careful not to put too much around the bottom because shiny things hanging down are just too much for little cat paws or they don't faire too well when a dog decides to plow through between the tree and the table.  So we make it easy on everyone.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Remember This?

Gee, they don't make commercials like this anymore.


I remember this. It's not loud enough or flashy enough for commercials nowadays.  It's simple, yet effective.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Tiger

Even though I am tired of the whole TigerWoods thing already - I can't stand it -I have to offer an opinion.  Our local paper sends emails out occasionally when something big happens.  Yesterday they felt compelled to send out a "breaking news" e-mail to announce Tiger's one sentance comment about his situation.  One stinking sentance!!  It  said something to the effect that he was sorry his transgressions hurt his family.  Did I really need a breaking  news bulletin on that??  I'm thinkin' not!  I'm not really interested in all the fine details of his trysts.  I say it's bullshit anyway.  If he truly sorry was he wouldn't have done it in the first place.  What he's sorry about is that he got caught.  Did he really think that it could go on forever  You can't be fucking around with.... not one... not two...but possibly THREE other women and it not be discovered. For Christ sake, Tiger, you've only been married for 5 years!!  I hate it that we tend to put famous people up on such high pedestals and then are so upset when they fall off.  And they usually do!  We are all human and no one is perfect (I'm certainly not). They have all the money and fame anyone could ever want, yet they do the dumbest things.  If you are going to be in the public eye - don't be a MORON!!!!!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

The Holiday Season

Like it or not - the holiday season is upon us!!  For all the hustle and bustle that is involved, it really doesn't last all that long.  I know I have had all year to prepare, but still here I am with nothing done and wondering how I am going to get everything completed that I need to.  Even so, I love the holidays! I think I got that from my mother - she loved Christmas.  I miss her everyday, but I think I miss her more during the holidays. Everyone just seems to be nicer to each other during the holidays.  I hope this week I can begin to get my decorations and tree up. 

Monday, November 30, 2009

End of the Rainbow!


Just My Luck!!!

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Thanksgiving


Thanksgiving is a time for togetherness... it's an occasion to be spent in the warm and loving company of family and friends. Thanksgiving is also an opportunity to renew the ties that bind us with the ones we love... it is a time for remembering, cherishing and being thankful for all the things you have been blessed with.  I am SO thankful for the life that I now have.  I have a wonderful BF, fantastic friends and a job that I love.  Who could ask for more!?
May your stuffing be tasty 
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!

Happy Thanksgiving!!