Up, up, and away

We're off! Well, kinda. We made special arrangements to drop our dogs at the kennel at 6:30 this morning. Well no body was there. So, here I sit at 8:21 waiting for the kennel to open so we can be on our way *sigh* I trust we'll be off soon.

1 day to Florida!

Have a happy New Year...

Oh how I love a good cranberry cookie!

I must start out by saying...gee I wonder if we'll have a white Christmas?!?

Here in Illinois we are on the verge of breaking a record for the most snowfall in one month. The current record goes back to 1800 something when they first started recording snowfall amounts. I do love a white Christmas but snow everyday is a little much. AND even though I love a white Christmas I don't love the constant shoveling that goes with it! Oh wait, I haven't shoveled at all, I just traipse through it in my backless shoes and then complain that my feet are cold and wet....yup! That's me! Since we have company coming today, I believe shoveling will be in order...I better get those kids up and now!

My brother's cat Woody sits and stares out the window at the snow...and just watches it come down. What do you think he's thinking?

It's Christmas eve...the day my babies have been waiting for...and I finally feel the need to make a list. There are a few things I don't want to forget, you know important things, like wash the entry way rug, clean out the fridge, etc. etc...all the really important stuff is done. So, I thought I'd take a moment to share some Holiday images with you...Of course, my baby Aubrey... during her first cookie lesson with Auntie :) Make a note here how clean the table is...And then there's Blue...my constant cookie companion. Ever hopeful that a crumb may fall to the floor....or better yet be nudged to the floor...He is a real cookie stalker...Compare previous clean table photo to this one...this is the aftermath of 150 dozen cookies!

After all is said and done...the final product is well worth it, don't you think?

And now...let me share with you my favorite recipe...on the very bottom of that tray...under the cornflake holly, please take note of the most delectable Cranberry walnut cookies of all time. I don't remember where I found this recipe...but if you love cranberries like I do...then this cookie is a must have...

Cranberry Cookies

Yield: about 72 depending how many you eat while they're still warm!

1/2 cup butter

1 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/4 cup milk

2 tablespoons orange juice or 1/2 teaspoon orange extract plus 1-1/2 tablespoon water

1 large egg

3 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

2-1/2 cups coarsely chopped frozen or fresh cranberries, or dried cranberries (I use Craisins)

Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease baking sheets. (I always use airbake sheets) Beat together butter and sugars until creamy. Stir in milk, orange juice and egg. Mix in dry ingredients. Stir in nuts and cranberries.

Drop dough by tablespoons about 2" apart on greased baking sheets. Bake 10 - 15 minutes. Allow to cool for 2 minutes on baking sheet then remove to wire cooling racks to cool completely.

Here's my little known secret to soft chewy cookies...since I love all my readers so much, I'm willing to share it with you! After you bake your cookies and they are cooled, place them in a ziplock bag for safe keeping. Add a slice of bread to the bag (no kidding it really works) and your cookies will stay soft and chewy!

Once completely cooled, or even while still warm...you'll want to enjoy a tasty bite!

Happy baking and Merry Christmas!

2 days til Florida

You ready?

I think I'm pretty ready. I'm surely more ready than I can remember being in a long time! We got so much accomplished today! We finished the final batch of cookies....twice. We got up early and made the batch of corn flake holly. They were all pristinely placed on wax paper on the table. I left to take Brennan to the dentist (no cavities), Stephanie was sleeping, and Kristina was in the shower. When I got home, half the corn flake holly was gone and there was a pile of red hots by the patio door. Evidently dogs don't like red hots, but they do like corn flake holly! I remade the batch and packed up all my cookies to deliver. We made our deliveries, stopped at the mall for one last present which was $29.99 and I got it for 2.14!!!! You can't go wrong with a deal like that, it's nearly free! Finally we stopped at Walmart and bought the Christmas dinner for tomorrow. The house is actually pretty picked up. We'll just need to do flat surface cleaning tomorrow, clean the bathrooms, and scrub the floors. Throughout the day I'll be doing laundry and getting ready to pack. My honey has to work til noon and then I'll get the kids to clean out the truck so we can start packing.

My brother and his daughter, son-n-law and granddaughter will all be here about 5 or 6 to eat, open presents, and have yummy desserts. The snow is supposed to stop at noon, so hopefully the roads will be clear for my brother to get here from Kenosha. We'll head to church at 10:30 for our peaceful candlelight service...the highlight of Christmas for me.

I have a few presents to wrap and a light dinner to cook tomorrow. I'm thinking there may be a nap in store for me tomorrow! Now that, is a perfect Christmas Eve. Hope you and yours are happy, healthy, and safe this holiday season.

I was pretty sure Christmas is a holiday...

It seems that our Christmas plans get less and less as time goes on. My mom is in Arizona since this weather just doesn't agree with her health at all. My Poppy passed away this year, my grandma Bee and Aunt Ruth last year. I usually end up with my brother's here. This year one is staying home out of state, one is in the hospital and the other has to work. That leaves my nieces: one is staying in Nebraska and the other has to work, so she'll be arriving in time for dinner. It makes me wonder what has happened to the holiday?

On my husband's side, his family seems to overflow with dysfunction during the holidays so this year we committed to travel at Christmas instead of stay home to wallow in dysfunction junction. We planned to leave the day after Christmas, since my children always want to be home for Christmas. [long pause for reflection] but then I wonder what kind of Christmas and merriment there will be with just us, my niece, her husband and baby? It'll be a small gathering, which oddly doesn't require any less planning on my part.

I am grateful I have all my shopping done. I have a very short list this year, so I got it done in two outings. The cookies are baked except for the final ones which used to be cornflake wreaths but have now turned into 'holly' to avoid covering my hands in butter to make wreaths :) EEEWWWWW how I hate sticky! I was laughing today that I think if we weighed all the cookies they would at least weigh 10 lbs! Tomorrow, I get to deliver...a big bunch to my friend Sandi...whom I'm so grateful is not in the hospital this year, a bunch to my friends at work, and then a bunch to ship off to my mama who is recovering from surgery. I'll have a bunch for my brother if he makes it for Christmas, a bunch for my niece and her husband, a bunch complete with special requests for my mother n law, and a bunch for hubby's sister. The rest will ride in zip lock bags to Florida with us :)

My precious one is just finishing up the last batch of dishes-- when it's 'cookie weekend' it seems like we do dishes non stop! The baking of cookie weekend included:

Two new types of peanut blossoms...guess what, we liked last year's better
The wonderful cranberry walnut cookies...returning from last year...our new favorite
Cut out cookies
Pressed sugar cookies (my son's new favorite-more on that later)
pecan sandies
toffee (new this year...still in the testing phase)
raspberry poinsettias (new this year and quite tasty and pretty)
Macadamia nut from a mix - fair at best
chocolate chunk from a mix - if flour was added to it would have been great
chocolate mint - yum.my (my big girl's boyfriends favorite)
strawberry sandwich cookies (returning from last year and a big hit due to their beauty)
corn flake holly (stole the holly idea from a recipe blog and love it!)

There you have it...the top 12 picks for this year. Will they all be returning next year? We'll let the reviews determine that! My precious one and I have sat at the kitchen table baking for two days. My precious one is looking over the list and asking why some were eliminated and some were added. We are especially glad the creme de menth balls that we threw out last year were not relived this year. Gosh they were awful!! Today... we took Lacey to the groomer, so she's all pretty for Christmas and to get some pesky hairballs removed and I completed a 4 hour training class for one of my new part time jobs as a professional development advisor. I do love sitting at home baking cookies, listening to a webinar and getting paid. I'm pretty sure that's as good as it gets!

Tomorrow, oh...I lied...I have one little present to pick up for my mama...then I have to send off her box, my boy has the dentist, Cookie deliveries, my precious one needs a swim suit...and thank God they sell them here in Illinois in the dead of winter, cuz we sure learned the hard way that they don't sell them in the south in December, but that's a blog post for another day. Laundry and packing is on the list, and shopping for Christmas dinner. Did I mention snow? Don't forget the snow 3 - 5" predicted for tomorrow and 4 - 6" predicted for Christmas Eve. I have a few presents to wrap, and then I plan to clean and nap.

You know that old saying if you build it they will come? Perhaps if I plan for Christmas they will come? After all, I was pretty sure Christmas is a holiday...

4 days til Florida

We have secured the vanilla

Ok, so we might be winning the craziest neighbor award...but after much shoveling, pushing, peeling out, etc...we finally resorted to pushing one car out with another. I got out my trusty really old and junky mazda...maneuvered it around in the driveway, and pushed my daughter's car out! The hubby is on his way to the shop to bring home the snow plow...and I made it safely to the grocery store and back---whew!

snowed in and out of vanilla

This is cookie baking weekend...we went shopping on Friday night and bought all of the ingredients....or so I thought. Well, really I did buy all the ingredients...just not enough vanilla :( So...we're baking away...when we ran out of vanilla. Sad...just sad...but here's the rest. There are 30 - 40 mile an hour wind gusts here, and we live up on a ridge. What that means is there are 3 feet drifts throughout our subdivision and we can't get out. My daughter's car is stuck in the middle of a drift in the middle of our driveway. We own a snow blower, but it doesn't start. We own a snow plow, but it isn't here. We also own a four wheel drive truck but it isn't here. Let me finally add that we also own a FRICKIN tow truck, BUT IT ISN'T HERE ALSO!!!!! My husband...where is he? napping...where is all of our snow equipment...at the shop...where are we? STUCK IN THE HOUSE WITH NO VANILLA, TRYING NOT TO SWEAR!!!!

If you're out and about today in your four wheel drive, that you happen to have at home, not at your husband's shop, please feel free to drive slowly by, and throw us a bottle of vanilla.

6 days until Florida...

Close your eyes and remember...

One of the best memories I have as a child was the amazing decorating that went on at my Gramma Stockenburg's house and her sister's house...My Aunt Vi and Uncle Alan. Although they have all passed on...the memories are alive and well in my mind. I believe I've mentioned in a previous post the amazing holidays my Gramma Stockenburg used to host, and although it's not clear to me when we were at Auntie Vi's house (perhaps Christmas Eve at one house and Christmas Day at the other) (or perhaps they alternated every year) I don't recall, however, I do remember Auntie Vi's Christmas Tree. It always sat in front of her floor to ceiling front window, it was always flocked and it always had one of these on it...

A rotating Christmas tree spot light! Imagine if you will a flocked tree that changed colors as the light rotated. I found this light on ebay and man if I had an extra penny, I sure would have bought it along with the flocked tree to go with it! I remember as a little girl watching their tree change color in amazement, as the house was bustling with amazing Swedish cooks, generations of Aunts, Uncles, and cousins, and pure holiday bliss. I also loved to just peek behind the tree and watch the light go round. My Aunt had a full wall limestone fireplace with various bricks that stuck out...on every little brick sat holiday elves: Little tiny ones all in red and green. There were the best Swedish pastries and always an abundance of delicious food. I wonder when they were preparing for the holiday's if they knew it would stick with me 30 years later?!?

What was your favorite childhood holiday memory?

5-4-3-2-1

How many countdowns can one person possibly have? It seems to me I'm always counting down something, yet trying not to wish my life away. Here is a list of the current count downs:

# of working days left at current job: 16

# of days to work until Christmas Break: 3

# of days til Christmas: 9

# of days til I leave on vacation: 10

# of days til graduation: 143

# of weekends left of class: 12

# of days that crazy shoe duckin W has left in office: 34

Hmmmmph...many many countdowns...too many? You decide...whats most important is the enjoyment I gather along the way.

Maybe for me I have so many countdowns because I'm a procrastinator. If I count down, then I can figure the very last minute I can start something. Perhaps. I'm in such a transitional phase in my life right now. So many changes. So challenging, yet so very exciting. Perhaps it's a midlife crisis minus the red car!

Hey! By the way, I got another job today...that makes 3. I got a job as a professional development advisor. Imagine me, counseling people on what type of job they want and how to get there. How fun is that? I applied about 6 months ago for this job, but it didn't work out then. Right now the timing is perfect. Again...very exciting. I'm not sure I'll ever be the type of person to only have one job at a time. It's not that I love to work, and I am definitely NOT a work-a-holic, but I love to learn, and the best way to learn is to teach others...and I love to help other people accomplish their dreams. My very final goal in life and something that I would so love, would be to be a motivational speaker. Oh...and write a book. Gee...I wonder if there is room in my life for 2 more jobs. Not today...

Anyway, after a few days down in the dumps, I'm sure feeling a bit better today. There's still some things stuck in my craw that are bothering me, but not so much anymore. I am telling myself "this too shall pass" and it makes it a bit easier.

Today, my mom was scheduled for surgery but they changed it to tomorrow. Makes me wonder if I've been praying for patience. I surely have not. Learned my lesson about that long ago! But I surely seem to need to practice it a lot. Please pray for my mama. She's having some Arteries cleaned out tomorrow. Thanks :)

Today I got my first two Christmas Cards. Two gals on the BFF list. Thanks for the cards :)

Today, my big girl texted me this question...what does written up mean and what is a referral?

Me: Who wants to know?

BG: Me...Sheez

Me: Why?

BG: No reason, just tell me.

Me: Written up is when you've broken a rule and they are telling you so in writing. A referral is something in school that normally means you have some kind of discipline coming.

BG: OIC...I have a story to tell you.

Me: Sounds like you do.

For the rest of the story...visit my big girl's blog here.

Off to commiserate with the laundry and TIVO!

tata!

How am I missing it?

A few of you know that a few weeks ago one of my clients sort of punched me in the face. Really, I was about a foot away from him and I sure didn't see it coming! I asked my supervisor...did I miss something? Did you see it coming? Nope... Huh...me either.

Today...round 2! I was proverbially punched in the gut by the passive aggressive type and I totally didn't see it coming. AGAIN! Here I sat all diligently listening to the question and WHAM!!! Out of the blue came the real purpose of the conversation...which was a personal accusatory slam and I totally missed it. Now...ordinarily I pride myself on navigating the waters of the passive aggressive. Perhaps I am losing my touch. I'm not sure...

I do know that tonight...I will need to ponder. My navigation system is in need of a recall, repair, rethink, re something...cuz it sure ain't helping me out.

So...help me out...if you're gonna punch me in the face literally, or punch me in the gut figuratively...perhaps you could give me a warning until I get my GPS repaired.

Feeling the crunch...bah humbug...

I must say that I'm feeling the crunch this year, and it's making me be a bit bah humbugish. I would like for this food item to not be on our menu next year. Although I would also like for this food item to not be on our menu,

my kids would be a little upset about that. And by the way...those 3 empty boxes and the package of Ramen would be dinner for my 14 year old son. Dear son...could you please just eat one TV dinner, not 3? We're trying to watch our budget!

I've only bought two presents so far and am desperately trying to ensure the kids have presents under the tree. It's tough. We are going to Florida, which is also a struggle, but we are determined to get there. I haven't had an unscheduled day off since January...and I believe a vacation is in order if I am not to lose my mind.

I believe a sure sign of the financial crunch this year, is that I have not received one, not one, Christmas card. Our cards have been cut from my budget this year as well. I felt it was either the cards or the Christmas cookies that had to go, so I chose the cards. Today it is 3 degrees here...actual temp, not wind chill-- so that can only mean one thing...many cars won't start or will break down, which will make my husband's shop busy, which may help the situation some. I have 5 days left to work until I have 2 weeks off. Aaaaaahhhhhh.

I just know that once I get through this week, it'll all be ok. I'll have a few minutes to breath...and some time to get ready for the holiday and to contemplate the true meaning.

Last week was busy as ever...I finished teaching on Wednesday night and finished school on Friday night: my car was in the process of breaking down, my son got in a fight after school, and it generally a downer day. I made it to school, and am super glad to be done for a few weeks. I have my research paper due in January...so I desperately need to get that finished while on the beach :)

Saturday morning, my girls participated in a Breakfast with Santa fund raiser for their girl scout troop. Not many people showed up and I think they may have lost money. Again...a sign of the times?

Saturday night, was my company Christmas Party...the last party for me...but oddly enough I didn't feel sad. In fact, I had quite a good time, despite not feeling in the Ho Ho mood. My BFF and I both wore make up for the occasion...

For us...that's quite a feat! When you work with puke and snot all day, makeup isn't usually a priority ;) I actually needed a picture of us for a scrapbook I made some time ago, and I finally have one that is decent!

Finally, I wanted to share this picture of my brother's fattest cat of all time...

Notice how he sleeps by the food bag ?! He believes you can never be too close to the food! I believe he has lost at least 5 lbs since living with us. Before when he laid down, his belly was round like a basketball! Now he just looks like a fat sausage!

He was only slightly annoyed by the flash. I do truly love his fatness...he's snow snuggly:) Very good on a cold winter's day.

To the Dope, From the Princess

The names in this post have been changed to protect the innocent. Any reference to any adolescent girls who are part of the Ruchus is purely coincidental.

It is a sure sign of the true Christmas Spirit and also a testament to the fabulous bond of sisterly love we have created in our house when, there, on a neatly wrapped Christmas present, under our lovely tree are these words, written in thick black Sharpie marker...

To: the dope

From: the princess

Gee, don't you just feel the love and warmth of the holiday spreading over every part of your being? I know I do.

Could I pulleeeez go back to work?

Yesterday I had a day off from work. I had visions of a nap, a good magazine read, watching my soap, doing some laundry, and greeting the kids with a June Cleaver smile and clean apron when they walked in the door. Did any of that come to be you ask?

Ummmm. No. Definitely. No.

I left the house at 8 AM for an 8:30 appointment that once again was rescheduled until next week. I had a gazillion errands to run...and while I was running I picked up my first two Christmas presents. Since we are so totally broke this year and going to Florida (that's an odd combination isn't it?) my Christmas shopping will be exceptionally light. I anticipate buying about 12 gifts total this year. Anyway, I digress...

I ran a bunch of errands, had to stop by work at least twice to drop stuff off, attended a retirement party briefly since I had a God-awful meeting with some Upward Bound folks, stopped home for a moment to throw dinner in the crock pot...which was tough and not very good (so much for slow cooking) and then taught class last night until 8:00. I came home and spent a few moments with my big girl, trying to help her make some choices in what things she wants to participate in...and then finally collapsed into bed. Gratefully my bu** isn't as sore from the fall as it was yesterday and I could actually be somewhat comfortable in bed.

So...today I am glad to be back at work. I do believe that my two weeks off during the holidays will be much more restful. Until then, I think the todo list is getting the best of me.

I read Jen the Dust Bunny Hostage' post on shopping, and I feel the same way. Why do I hate shopping so much? I think it's due to the internet. I REALLY prefer to shop from home, when I feel like it, in my jammies while sipping some hot cider. Not fighting the crowds, the lines, the limited selections, the sold outness (is too a word), and the 4 inches of salt melted mushy slow I had to trudge through yesterday. Also, this year there is a lot more list than dollars and that just makes it a bummer.

Here's hoping the new year brings renewed prosperity for the US and for us.

Signing off now, and glad to be back at work :)

Nothin like a good ice storm

Ya gotta love a good ice storm...one where you take teeny tiny steps all the way down the curvy sheet of ice sidewalk, and then when you take the first step into the parking lot...WHAM!!! down you go...shoes flying, papers soakin, pants wet through to the undies, ars hurting, and all the while thinking...OH how I love a good ice storm!

Bruise report to follow...

This isn't the one I was talking about...

Ok, I now on my last post I'd said I'd include pictures, but here's the deal...my weekend is very very quickly slipping away. I have at least 4 loads of laundry that have to be done tonight...That puts me at least at midnight...so I must be quick here.

I just wanted all you readers, friends, (readers are friends too, just not face to face friends) and family afar that I GOT THE JOB!!!! After 8 weeks, 4 interviews and two observations later I finally finally finally have been hired. Whew! My kids seem to be adjusting with trepidation to the change. Although it will be SO SO SO good for my family, it will be SO SO SO hard for them. You see, they have gone to work with me all summer long and on no school days for the past 8 years. So...it will be an adjustment. The big difference is that now...on most of their no school days I'll be home with them. Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus! Merry Christmas to me. I also have 4 weeks off in the summer. That thought alone almost brings tears to my eyes. I have worked so hard for so long in my life that the thought of working less and making more money seems actually beyond my comprehension. I guess I thought all through grad school, that gee I hope I really do make more and work less, but what if that doesn't really happen? Well, I'm breathing a sigh of relief. I'll work 6.5 hours instead of 9, have double the sick time, double the personal time, and double the vacation time. It's a dream come true...AND I'll be working with some really challenging children, so there will be a lot to learn. I don't have my start date yet, but I'm looking at the end of Jan. Keep a good thought for me on my new journey. I couldn't be more thrilled.

Gotta love a good meme...

Ok, I have a lot to say and a few pics to post...but I'll have to get to that later...but first...I stole this Meme from Givinya who is either a former stalker turned commenter or a new reader...not sure which yet, but glad to have her aboard! Anyway...a good Sunday Meme...here goes...

Ten years ago I:

*was 32. Hmmmm 32.
*Working for a big corporation...on call 24/7 loving and hating it
*Had been married 8 years
*Had just moved in to this our dream home. The same home I want to change 400 things about
*Was mama to a 6, 4, and 3 year old. Whew! That makes me tired all over again!

Five things on Tomorrow's To-Do List:

*Work at COL
*Work at UIC
*Turn in my written resignation
*Laundry (is there a to do list that doesn't include laundry?)
*Order my Christmas cards before it's too late

Five snacks I enjoy:
* Rootbeer (is too a snack)
*Candy
*Pie
*Cake
*Cheese

(The above is why I am so thin I can barely cast a good shadow!)

Five things I would do if I were a millionaire:

*Pay off every bill and then some (the some would be donate to my church)
*Save... a lot
*Buy a beach house
*Buy the MIL a new house
*Pay back my mama what I really owe her

Five places I have lived:

*Machesney Park, IL
*Roscoe, IL
*Rockford, IL
*Loves Park, IL
*Roswell, GA

Five jobs I've had:

This was already compiled in this post... plus I hate to type that much be redundant.

Your turn...I'm not taggin ya but join me if you'd like...

The job market...or not...

There's been a lot of talk on this ole blog about new jobs, old jobs, etc. etc...so today, I thought I'd share a bit, some random bits, about various jobs. Let me digress and tell you how I got there...the other night I was at my precious one's band concert. There I saw an amazing woman with whom I used to work. As she introduced me to her boyfriend, she explained that we used to work in hell together. (I know this is a family G rated blog, but really, it was hell!) Anyway...she went on to say how dumb it was, how unchristian, how crazy, and I replied yeah...and we all had to really stick together to not lose our minds! Aaaaaahhhhhh, the good ole days! So...here's some job related things you may not know about me...

#1 the very first job...waitressing in the back poker room at a local night club for special events. Yup I was about 13 I think and the old Italian men tipped very well :)

#2 the first regularly scheduled job...Pork Chop Alley...grill cook...yuck! The terrific thing about eating at Pork Chop Alley was that everything was covered in grilled onions. The terrific thing about working at Pork Chop Alley was that everything was covered in grilled onions....NOT!!!! Even after washing, my work clothes still smelled like onions! As did my boyfriends car after I rode home in it from work...sorry dude!

#3 Next on the agenda...Hardees...I was the quality control chick there. Someone saw some management potential in me :) I loved that job for about 2 months...I remember calling home one night to ask my mom if I could quit! Today the thought of asking my mom that question cracks me up! I'm pretty sure she said no, since I had a car payment to make, and I'm pretty sure I quit anyway. Gee, wonder why I bothered to ask.

#4 Chuck E Cheese. I worked this job the rest of high school and loved it. I was a birthday party hostess and Chuck E. himself. I got a lot of hours there (which at 3.15 an hour equated to a lot of money in my book!) and I worked with great people and of course children...I never could get enough of children :)

Hmmmm....then I moved to Georgia

#5 Richway...kind of like Target...loved that job too...hated the customers...I worked as a cashier and at the Service Desk...it was like shopping all day long!

Hmmmmm....then I moved back to Illinois

#6 Lawrences...I was a nail technician there...I loved that job too...although the money...not so much.

Finally

#7 Hell...oops I mean Illinois Bell. I was there for 9 years. Really good money, really good, really good friends, awful awful awful job and an awful company to work for. Working there required a lot of therapy.

#8 opened my day care home...the real beginning of my work with children :) Got to stay home with my babies for a time...

#9 E. Riverside Learning Center...infant teacher. I went to school with my kids and I loved this job. If this job paid well, it is the job I would be doing today. I do not think there is any more important position than giving a baby a firm secure foothold in life!

#10 West...back to the corporate world. I loved this job since I was very successful at it...it was also a wonderful income compared to daycare, but being on call 24/7 wasn't for me. I also loved the client entertainment portion :) Fine dining, sports events, etc. etc. AND, I made some wonderful life long friends there.

#11 Back to the children...where I'm at now...I do love this job...but I have a desire to have my skill and talent better utilized...and I want to continue to learn. I have worked with some amazing people during my time here, and learned a lot.

#12? Time will tell

Now, let's just say that you'd be here reading all day if I listed all the part time jobs...bartender, waitress, pet store, teacher, multi level marketing...oh yes there have been many!

It's been quite a journey. I hope to have about 25 years of work left in me...there's a great need, and a whole lot of help that can be given in that amount of time...

Now it's your turn...take a minute and comment what your favorite job was...I'd like to know

Have I lost my mind, or is it gone?

I have been monitoring the ole blog for the 10,000th hit. So today like any other day, I scroll down to see if I hit 9,000 yet, which really I should have, and I scroll and I scroll and I scroll, and I go back up and scroll again...and WHERE HAS IT GONE???!????!???? Where is my 'counter' The very essence of my blog-- and knowing how many folks have stopped by...do me a favor...scroll down my blog and see if you can find it. There is a chance I've lost my mind...and if so, please let me know...

The brave new haircut

Without a photo...

Don't look for a photo here, there isn't one....but do know this...I finally, finally, finally after over 20 years of complaining...took the plunge and changed hairdressers. I struggled with my hair dude for the past year trying to get this certain concave bob hair cut, to no avail. Everytime I left, I had the same haircut I had the time before and it was not the cut I wanted. So...I finally got brave and started asking people where they got their hair cut...even strangers in restaurants! I finally realized that I not only had to know the where, I had to know the who.

There's a gal at my internship who had a haircut similar to the one I want...so I asked her, and she told me, and I finally called to make an appointment with 'John'. Weeeeeeelllll, John is evidently out for the next few weeks, maybe longer. WHAT?!? I've waited a year to take the plunge and now he's out for how long?!? "But Joiya can help you", they said. OK, Whatever, be brave, or not, hope she doesn't screw it up too badly. Finally the appointment arrives. The.longest.haircut.of.all.time. One hour and a half...I kid you not. Here's the thing: I think she only cut off about 1/4 of an inch. Really I wished for about 3 inches to be cut off. But...as the days wore on...I believe I have found a new hairdresser...I think I like this haircut...only shorter. Perhaps she was afraid that I was 'short phobic' which I am not! The shorter the better for me...So...I'm giving her another chance, after the first of the year...and I'm allowing a lot of time...if 1/4 inch took an hour and a half, 3 inches may take all of 2 days!

The kicker is my kids say..."What? You got your hair cut? I can't tell!" What? Who asked you?...I'm certain I got it cut, and I'm certain I like it better. So...stay tuned for January and if I actually get more than 1/4 inch cut off, I might even include a photo!