Another Week and a Couple More Books

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There are some things that are simply true, like the above picture. Those of us who have animals truly understand just how it is: It is not we who own the animals, it is the other way around! They own us!

Everything is slowly but surely filtering down into a system and routine for work. The evenings are still weird, but slowly plans are forming and life is proceeding as it should, just somewhat slower than what I would normally prefer. Still, I am pleased with how work is going and how I am easing into my own place there on the outside as well as the inside of me.

Books and reading are becoming my savior for those almost-quiet moments at work. This week I began and finished J.A. Jance's second J.P. Beaumont detective novel, Injustice for All and have begun Hellboy: Emerald Hell by Tom Piccirilli.

This book isn't as good as Bones of Giants because the writer believes himself to understand backwoods Louisiana folk. Yeah, he needs to do just a little bit more research, still, the writing is solid and I am finding myself enjoying it as much as is possible, which is a good deal.

Tomorrow Lent officially begins with Cheesefare Sunday and then with Forgiveness Vespers tomorrow night. This particular vespers' service is important to me, and helps me prepare myself for the next 50 days. Will I make it this year? Who knows. I don't. I have to get myself prepared for work and that means actually preparing my head and body as well as my clothes and food.

This past week has proven problematic as far as sleep is concerned: Sleep has either been difficult to achieve, difficult to keep, or just plain bothersome. It could be I am truly adjusted to the schedule I have to keep now and can add a little extra time into the evenings where it was previously impossible. If this is the case, then I can actually let myself stay up longer and prepare differently in the evenings with a little writing or something of that nature.

Not blogging has really been difficult on me. Normally blogging the day would let me be at peace and order thoughts and the events of the day (yeah, I know, I've said this before), so I am now thinking that I may just start taking the laptop to bed with me and using a small table to write - laying down and typing just doesn't work for me and my weird, arthritic body. Once the office is put to rights it will be easier to just slip into there and do a couple of updates/blog posts and then just head right on over to my bedroom and to bed. If I can do this and still make it into bed by 10:00 p.m. I think it would still be good for me and my body.

Cuteness Alert

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Isn't that just too cute?!

Sunday Sunday

It snowed again yesterday and last night. This time it was a fluffy snow that, according to Hubby, made wonderful snow balls when challenged by a ten year old at Church. At least he got to pitch a few snowballs today and enjoy the cold and snow itself.

For myself, I did not go to Church so I could actually get some extra rest because we have finally come full circle and are releasing and relaxing from the eight month long stress of closing on our house. Finally we have our home. It is ours. It belongs to us and we do not have to move at the end of a year or renew a lease. Can you possibly imagine how much stress these past eight months have been for me and my darling Hubby? Immeasurable!

It started off easy and then we had to start jumping through hoops and having our hopes dashed somewhat repeatedly right when we were told that we would be given a closing date. Each and every time it seemed like it was over another hoop would appear and another danger spoken that we might actually have to move and the bank was suddenly uncertain whether or not we were actually going to get the loan for the house.

Yesterday both me and Hubby had bad headaches and our sinuses were really acting wild and crazy. Today I feel like I have a cold, which does not help me to feel wonderful, but I am doing better than I was yesterday and am determined to go to work tomorrow because there really isn't a chance for me to take off just because I don't feel well or just would like not to have to go. Paychecks are wonderful incentives for going to work.

Ahhhhh!

Work is...work.

Good Sun. Day Off. Better Back.

I did not go to work today. Again. This is the last day I can take off from work. Not going in appears to have been the right choice because I do feel better. However, the paycheck is going to really suffer, but I still have a job and this is wonderful. I still have a job.

The sun is shining beautifully and it isn't horribly cold outside, despite the storms we had yesterday. The sunlight has done wonders to help me feel better about taking the day off and actually let my body rest and recuperate. It looks like it has actually paid off. Work tomorrow is not going to kill me.

Hearts' Day Nears

Can you believe Valentine's Day is so close?


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Really Small Quickie

The work week was long. I feel OK today, but I really slept late and recharged the batteries. More later. With luck.

The Superbowl Nears

The Superbowl nears. Tomorrow. Wow. Tomorrow. The Green Bay Packers did not make it to the big game this year, but there is hope for next. So, who are you rooting for?

Who do you think will win Superbowl 2009?
	The Steelers
	The Cardinals
	Don't care - I just enjoy the party.
	Don't care - I won't be watching.
	Don't care - I just like the game.
pollcode.com free polls

A Cute for the Day

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There is still snow out there. One more day off for me. This makes me sad and concerned for my job, but there is nothing I can do at the moment, or at all really. I cannot use a shovel from the wheelchair. However, Hubby has just gotten home from work and has worked some on the front porch and the ramp. There is supposed to be a thaw beginning: Tomorrow it is supposed to be 37*F and 44*F on Sunday, just in time for some more snow on Monday. Hopefully the front that is coming in will not dump too much snow or ice on us.

The emotions of yours truly have been quite up and down today. Perhaps it is an irrational fear of losing my job because of the weather, but it is still there. Maybe if I had been able to work longer it wouldn't be such a big deal for me. There is a plan for Monday and getting out, especially if Hubby and friends can work together to get the ice and snow currently being the thorn in my side out of the way before Monday.

Sister2 said that there was enough of my Daddy in me to figure things out, and likewise reminded me I was indeed quite strong and tough, even though I might not feel it at all times. It was good to hear none-the-less.

In listening and watching the news today I must say Hubby and I are quite lucky in all of this. We have power and heat, as well as cable and Internet service. Many people do not have these creature comforts. We are actually blessed and, in all honesty, I need to concentrate on the blessings instead of the potential bad things. If worse comes to worse I can always find another job if this one does fall through.

According to my niece who lives in Florida, a friend of hers just spoke with her and said that it was already having some freezing rain and snow. With luck it will stop at the river for us. We could really use a break in all of this.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if there was a way of heating driveways and sidewalks to thaw ice and snow in the winter? Maybe someone will discover a way of doing this without hurting the ecology. This is the 21st Century after all.

So happy sounding!

Experiment - Fail

Still at home. Still have ice. Now there is snow. Tried to go down the ramp today to test to see whether or not I can get out to work tomorrow. I slid down the ramp more than actually drove down it, and once on the ground was promptly stuck in snow and ice. Hubby had to get me unstuck and back up the ramp. No work for me tomorrow.

Walk on my friend.

moar funny pictures

Dancing

Today has been a quiet, recuperative Sunday. Last night me and Hubby and some friends went out dancing. I haven't danced like that in years! We closed down the club and yelled and screamed with the best of them.

It feels like I am home for the weekend from college visiting friends and family!

This work this is still taking me a little time to get used to. However, the first full week has been accomplished and we went live on the phones on Wednesday (the 21st). All of us made it. There were a few nerves for myself and the rest, but we soon got used to it and moved from one section to the next until we were answering the telephones like a pro on Thursday and Friday.

The one thing that is causing me problems is not work, but the absence of blogging! I cannot take my laptop with me to work, nor can I actually log in and blog from my phone, which is proving to cause yours truly to have blogging withdrawal which does cause some grumpiness. I guess I am just going to have to buck up and take my laptop into the living room with me of an evening and check e-mails and blog while some of my favorite programs are on and I am getting to sit beside my adorable Hubby.

Yesterday my unit was notified we could bring books to read, and magazines to look through during the down times - when there are no calls coming in. Since everyone knows I knit, I was giving permission to knit! Could this job get any better? Because we have "filler" moments, I am also going to take the new story and work on it during the quiet times. Working, knitting, and writing all in the same vicinity is beyond wonderful. I will know how it is all going to work out next week.

Just...WOW!

It is dark outside my door. It is also quite cold - 12*F; however, me and mine (the dogs and cat currently) are inside and quite warm. I have never been more thankful for the blessings I have received than today, and I can't give you a solid, concrete reason why today more than any other day previously.

For the first time in many, many months everything is genuinely "working out" the way they are supposed to - good. I have not forgotten The News, or any of you, Dear Readers, and I am struggling trying to keep everything in my home moving forward as well as on-line and at the new job. This "working" thing is causing me some stress on the emotional side because I want to succeed and excel, and, at the same time, I am enjoying it to the point I am almost giddy when I get home from training!

Each day I have thought of this or that I would like to share with you all on The News, and by the time I get home and relaxed some, there is supper to fix and husbands to amuse and please, and dogs to play with until before I know it the time has arrived for going to bed! I have not had the day fly passed like this in my life, not even at school did this happen! It is wonderful, and, at the same time, it makes me sad because I really would like to share some things with you as well as preserve the day as it progresses and thus ends. Hopefully this will not become a habit: only updating on Fridays or the weekends.

It is my deepest hope that, as the work weeks progress and schedules are developed, I will be able to update daily, or semi-daily.

I have not told anyone at work I blog. I am not ashamed, of course, we all know this, but I do not know these strangers yet, although I believe we all will work together quite well. Plus, the manager is a stickler for "not giving out company information" and since I don't exactly know what is considered "company information" I am quite reluctant to let it out that I blog to them, or tell all of you very much of what is happening at work as far as training is concerned.

Nicknames have not yet presented themselves for my co-workers yet either. Each of them is interesting and as different as night and day from each other. The only thing we have in common for the most part is that we work together, but we also tend to get along quite well and laugh freely with one another. And, to be honest, my supervisors are my favorite people, mostly because I have spoken with them more as my ride gets me to work exceptionally early and it is usually just me and them. I hesitate there is a "bond" forming between us, but there is a familiarity with them I do not quite yet have with the others, except for one woman, a girl compared to me. She is quite sweet and so enthusiastic about life and living in general. She is very refreshing and just plain makes you happy to be around her!

I had forgotten, until today, the freedom being employed gives you. It is as if you have everything and nothing all at the same time. The job is a thankless one, true (call center), but it is necessary in today's society and business world, and, it finally hit me today that this is my job and I can either love it or hate it: I chose to love it.

The consciousness of the decision was actually quite subtle, but once it was made it was quite a serious one and it affected my entire being positively. Energy returned to my body and my mind became more alert, and my shoulders relaxed. It was a fantastic feeling.

So, I will update and I will share with you all, but I must first and foremost take care of this fragile health of mine and try and keep the stubborn streak as much under control as possible. Yeah, right. We'll see how long that lasts! But there is peace for once in a very long time, and I am enjoying it.

Fringemas

Feeling Like a Load is Off the Shoulders

I don't know why, but 2008 was a bitch of a year for me. My health suddenly declined. I had to leave school. I had to start looking for a job. My health didn't rebound like it used to; and I am stuck taking more medicine. The economy sucked huge big hairy monkey balls. Life was heavy. You know?

However, when 2009 chimed in with a kiss from Hubby and our dear friend Haro hanging out with us, the weight of 2008 went away. I felt lighter. Happier. I even felt more hopeful than all of 2008 rolled into one huge mass of hope!

I have actually been so hopeful and so filled with peaceful acceptance of a new year of trials, hardships, successes and happinesses that I made a list of New Year's Resolutions and, so far, after three days, have kept them all rolling. Yes, I know, I am teasing by not listing them here, but I really do want to succeed on those 21 little ideas about myself I would like to see change and be better.

Today, on January 3rd I look out upon the sunshine in my back yard and still feel as if that huge weight of what was has been lifted. What is feels lighter and brighter; what will be is still out there and still looking bright and hopeful and far more peaceful than all of 2008. You know how it is - some years are just easier than others, no matter how hard the hardships are and what happens in the middle. Some years it is just easier to accept and roll with the punches than others, and 2008 was filled with a lot of punches that landed on their mark - me.

2009 is going to be a much better year. I feel it in all of my achy bones and knitting fingers! 2009 is going to be wonderful! It already is!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

2009

The year 2009 is quickly approaching. It is deeply hoped in this heart of mine it is going to be better than 2008. So much has happened in this year to me personally that it feels good to look at the majority of this portion of the road that is behind me and muster up enough courage to hope that the next year is actually going to be better for me, my family, friends, and everyone else in the world.

Part of me is extremely worried about what this new year is going to bring. There is so much turmoil in the world right now where nothing is certain. Yes, I understand the uncertainty has been there all along and will continue into the future, but this time the uncertainty is almost palpable.

It may be wrong of me, but I am hoping President Obama can indeed make a positive change for this country which will in the trickle down affect me in the positive as well.

Hope is hard to come by these days with all that is going on.

2008 wasn't all bad. There were some bright spots in there, but, for the life of me, right now I cannot think of one single one to use as an illustration other than I have a job now and am employed.

Um....

The Christmas ill has arrived.

I am still knitting.

The shopping is NOT done.

The presents are NOT wrapped.

Yes, there is panic mixed in with the death-warmed-over feelings.