Christmas Spirit

Yesterday, I saw something that really shows what Christmas should be about. You know how most companies will pick a few angels from the tree, do some gifts and so on? Which is great, if they do it. I am definitely not knocking that custom, as so many kids go without. Well, we started out that way but our CEO decided that just wasn't enough this year. So first we went to DCS, to try and do something for some foster children. You wouldn't believe the rules and stipulations. They practically made it impossible to make the gesture. So one of my co-workers had an idea, and went to the Nashville Mission. The Mission is a homeless shelter, that used to be men only. This past year, they have had to 'add on' due to the large amount of homeless women & children. We approached the Mission, looking for a way to really make a difference in someone's life. Someone who is trying but just can't get back on their feet. And they came through. There was a woman in the Mission, who has just had a snowball effect of bad luck. First her husband left, while she was pregnant with their SEVENTH child. (okay, no comment). And he's a deadbeat, so no help. But she was still doing her thing, working, keeping a roof over the their heads, food in their bellies. She couldn't pay all the bills, but they had food & shelter. Then she got laid off. After that it all went downhill. They lost their home, lived in a van for a while. The van was taken, and she ended up at the shelter. She has her older children split up at friend's homes, and foster care. The shelter will not allow children over ten, so she is getting ready to lose another child to foster care if she can't make other arrangements. It's just a sad, sad story. Anyway, instead of angels, we bought gifts for her family. Shoes, coats, etc. One of our admins took her to get her drivers' license reinstated. (when you live in your van, you get a lot of parking tickets.) Then she got great news, that she is getting her job back! And our CEO bought her a used mini-van, so she wouldn't have to rely on public transit. (if you are in the Nashville area, you know how bad our public transit system is) And one of our admins, that has been working with her all along, is trying to find a place for her to live. The company is going to help her get in, with deposits & such. We'll probably have to co-sign, too. Anyway, our Christmas luncheon was yesterday. Usually we go to the Palm or some other posh expensive restaurant. This year, we had luncheon catered in the office, and invited the family to get their Christmas gifts. Watching those kids, and their mother was just beautiful. She had no idea about the van, and was so touched. The kids were great, so polite and excited. One of the boys was obviously the family spokesperson, and made a huge thank you 'speech' on behalf of the family. He's only ten, and was so cute and sincere. There wasn't a dry eye in the room. Even the men were teary-eyed.

Anyway, I thought I would share that story. How often do you get to work for a company that gives back like that?

Facebook vs a blog

You know what I sincerely dislike about facebook right now? All of my family has found me. Which means I can't always post what I want to say. A comment about happy hour has my 13 year old brother in shock. A comment about money, and the lack thereof, will always result in a fatherly (sometimes brotherly-the other brother) lecture. An a really really bad day brings the whole family in on your personal problems. And relationships? Definitely off limits.

What does all that mean? It means my day really was lousy. That I'm not enjoying the holidays and would like to drown my issues with mucho mas margaritas. And men suck. Well, one in particular. And maybe the twenty years I have invested in that particular relationship is about 19 years too long.

Oh, and I haven't done my Christmas shopping. Any of it. Nada. Zilch. Zip. Sigh...
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

I really am going to try...

------Original Message------
To: Blogspot
Subject: I really am going to try...
Sent: Nov 14, 2009 12:02 PM

I am an awful blogger. I want to. I have things to say. I can even blog from my phone (like now). But I have become quite the blog slacker this year. Especially since discovering facebook. Facebook creeps in slowly. First its the cute little sidenotes into your fb friend's lives. Then that first request from a highschool someone you haven't seen in 20 years (and didn't really hang with but you accept anyway). You check out their pics, see how they've changed. See your old highschool boyfriend finally got rid of the mullet but not the chew (yuk). And then it happens. You get your first neighbor request and a free cow. That's it. All normal activity ceases while you plan crops, arranged in an aesthetic, but profitable view around your pink cottage. Then you open a cafe and have to plan ahead to be sure your customers will have food while you are away on a trip. (Unless you are lucky and a friend can hack in and harvest/cook for you). Then one saturday morning, when your stomach growls and you realize... You've filled your cafe with yummy food, harvested your squash, planted onions and milked the cows ...but not only have you not eaten, there's no food in the house to eat.

That, ladies and gentlemen, is the harsh truth of facebook addiction.

Now I have to go redecorate my cafe and look for new victims. I mean, neighbors.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Wanna See My Swampland?

Yep! I've got some work to do.

Oops! I did it again!I

Fell, that is. People think I'm kidding when I say I fall down a lot. I'm not kidding in the least. I closed on my house on Dec 5th. That day, I fell down a flight of stairs. Bad enough to cause my entire right leg, and left ankle to swell up. (yeah, moving was real fun after that.) Since then I have fallen down my steps at my house, and wiped out on the sidewalk twice. Those are just the big falls, that resulted in blood, band aids or ace bandages. That isn't counting tripping over things, slipping at the store, etc. Graceful, I'm not.



So this time, I slipped on the mud that has accumulated on the sidewalk thanks to all the rain and drainage issues I'm having in the yard, and landed on my right knee AGAIN. I was on my way to the gym though, and decided I would go anyway. Probably not my smartest decision, since I've been on the couch with an icepack all weekend.

I'm back!

Okay, life should calm down now. I keep saying that but it hasn't happened yet. I did see two different oceans in one week though. That was pretty cool. Not something I ever thought I would do! But I think I will stay home for at least a month. Between the trips to California and Florida, I also spent several nights in a hotel while my hardwood floors were installed. (The cats had to be boarded. They were NOT happy about that!) So I am staying in my own bed for a while. Btw, the floors look great!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

I think I'm back!

My big work project should be winding down. We still have some tweaking to do, but the biggest push is OVER. Everyone should get paid on Friday. And I should get a bonus that will pay off the last of the 'divorce debt'. With a little left over for a massage, and pedicure. :) I've been working non-stop and everything has suffered. This last week has been the worst. I've sat at a computer chair so much that my legs have swollen. My knees are actually stiff from swelling. It's awful. The company let me work from home today, and some of the swelling has gone down. Hopefully the rest will go away over the next few days. Otherwise, I'll be visiting the doctor to make sure something isn't wrong.

So, it's a new year and I finally get to think about it. Here's what I'm hoping for personally -

• Pay off the car
• Take a couple of classes, just for fun
• Start taking care of my health. Not just lose weight, but pay more attention to what I eat, exercise, water - the big picture. not just the close up.
• Put hardwood floors in my house.

Point 1 and 4 seem to be at odds with each other. Hmmm.....