Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Where did November go?

Wow - I can't believe I haven't blogged in almost a month. I would say time flies when you are having fun but that would mean that I am doing something fun and not working.

It is hard to believe that Thursday is Thanksgiving already....I thought I just got back from my brother's wedding...the weeks & days are starting to blur together.

This year is going to be a VERY, very different Thanksgiving and holiday season for me. I am staying in Austin for both just because a) I don't have the extra vacation time and b) don't have the extra $$ to leave. This year marks the second year without Grandma at Thanksgiving. It is hard to believe that she has been gone a year already. I have the constant reminder (well as long as I whind it) of the farm with the clock they had in the living room. My old MotherMu (Mutual of Omaha) carpool will be here for the Thanksgiving. It is doubtful that we will have turkey but in honor of grammy, I will pick up some of that cranberry sauce - complete with the can markings!! It's really sad because I don't even know if my mom is having the traditional Thanksgiving dinner at her house this year with a house full.

Of course - I can say this much - it doesn't feel much of Thanksgiving being here or Christmas being around the corner. The trees are finally turning colors and it feels more "fall" than winter. However, in tradition the tree and Christmas decorations will be hung the day after Thanksgiving as we always did at Grandma Schmidt's.

Check back on Turkey Day as I will have my Thankful List!

Friday, November 7, 2008

Change...

Change is around us. This week big changes happened in the world...the US electing the first black president. While change continues to happen around me, I always was thought it would never really effect me. Well outside of the constant changes happening inside the house as I fix it up.

Monday I went into work thinking our meeting was what it was scheduled as...a debrief from our last training session. Well, seeing my boss' boss in there...I knew it was more than a debrief and it couldn't be good. It was change. The company's budget cuts and restructuring were finally hitting our department. Our department would no longer exist as it does today...I am losing one of my coworkers at the end of the month...no longer reporting to the boss that I have enjoyed working for. As if I didn't have enough to do, I now have more to do. Not sure how to handle that yet. I have a new team to work with and will eventually have a new cube to call home.

But at the end of the day I realize how blessed I am and how easy it has been focusing on the negative of the year. I still have a job. Heck I still have two jobs. I have a house I can call my own - even if it still needs a lot of work. I have a brand new car - even if it is without all the bells and whistles. I have a pretty great boyfriend - and there is no butts about that one! I have a fabulous dog - I won't go into those butts. I have a great family - even if I can't see them as often as I like.

Change is good and I needed it to realize how thankful I should be for all of it that I faced this year!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

We Need Your Help

Hi Friends,

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am totally IN LOVE with my Wheaten Guinness. She is a pure bred Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. So, what Is SCWT like? First off they tend to not shed alot as they only have one coat!! They have wonderfully soft coats like a big stuffed animal. Wheatens have lots of energy and are incredibly smart. They are sweet and playful, staying puppy-like till their senior years.

I am a member of a Wheaten Rescue and currently there are many dogs that need homes. Now until Spring is usually the slow time for dog adoptions, so I am trying to spread the word in order to hopefully help find homes for these furbabies. Although most of them are located in Kansas City, Missouri, they have transport available for the puppymill survivors if you have a fenced in yard. These dogs need a place called home and people to call family. You would be giving them something they very much deserve. There are also dogs located in foster homes in other parts of the country.

Could you be looking to add a dog to your family? If so, might I suggest you go to www.wheatenterrierr escue.org and see if any of these sweet faces speak to your heart. And if you are not looking for a dog at this time, would you please forward this email on to anyone who might be? It is really easy to submit an application and one of the coordinators with the rescue will call you in a timely manner.