Blogging Project - Day 17

Highs & Lows of This Past Year

Funny how this one just happens to fall or at least I get to, right after the drama of Monday. However, at the end of the day, really Monday's drama didn't bother me. Based upon Facebook, I gathered that some people thought I questioned the fact that I was 37, single and no kids. In reality, I don't. Does it bother me some days? Absolutely! Does it define me? Not really. I know that with my history in life, the fact that I stand before you today, right where I am, that is a HUGE win for me. Most would of crumbed and gave up on life a long time ago. I am sure like the rest of the individuals out there, there are going to be good days and there are going to be bad days, but I will get through them. God's plan in there and everything will fall into place when the time is right.

 

So my highs for the past year, I would probably say there are two. First is Maddox. I mean - how can you not LOVE this guy? He is a doll and I can't wait to see him in a few weeks. I hope he still knows who Auntie Jenn is; it has been forever since I have Skyped with them. Then again, he probably wouldn't sit still for it anyway. The other high for me was having all the company at Thanksgiving time at my house. It probably doesn't seem like a big deal to have your parents and brother's family visit, but it was huge for me. It was the first trip that my brother made and hope that I don't have to wait another 3 years for it. It is hard when you move so far away from family and friends. Everyone wants to know when you are coming home and going to see them, but very few have made plans to see me. I am forever grateful to the ones that have come to visit, even multiple times! I can attest that that route from Nebraska to Texas flows both directions. It is hard to hear about how great of vacations everyone takes but then I don't think they realize that in order to honor their request to come see them, it requires me to use my vacation time to go to Nebraska - not some place new that I want to see. I digress - sorry.

I think my biggest low this past year has just been my job. When I started here 4 years ago, I was so happy and loved what I was doing. I was in a proactive position versus reacting. I didn't get someone complain or whining on a daily basis. I won't get into the people that are upset and just plain rude. It wears on a person after awhile and I know that it impacts how I do my job. I was warned about the good 'ole boys club before I moved down here and while I wanted to believe it didn't exist, it has shown its ugly head more and more this past year. I mean, in one week I closed 66 tickets of the teams 73. You do the math. But then, when I assign a ticket to someone because they choose to ignore it for a hour before anyone came in, we get yelled at. Whatever. I am so over this job and ready to move on. I want something that challenges me and not a job that someone with a high school degree could do. Or one where one person does 75% of the work and the rest get promoted and raises because they are in the "guys club".

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I was blessed last night in that it was a "quiet" night. I left work a little bit early so I could run the Soda tabs over to the Ronald McDonald house from work. I love visiting this place and really hope that one day I can do more volunteering there, it is such a great cause. I got home and caught up on Y&R. I had told myself that I wasn't going to watch it to the weekend but I was so exhausted with all the drama from the day before and the weekend, I just needed couch time! I finally headed out for a run around 8:15 with the dogs, when it had finally "cooled" off. I think it was in the low 90s at that point. I do believe that I will freeze when I get to Nebraska in a few weeks. I mean, this morning it was 81 at 7 am. I don't know if the high is that there. LOL. The good news is that I just barely missed my 11 minute mile! So, hopefully tomorrow I can hit that. I was going to try and run this morning but the snooze guy one out! Have a great Wednesday!

Blogging Project - Day 16

Bullet Your Whole Day

5:30 am - First Alarm goes off trying to coax me out of bed.6:05 am - Finally made it out of bed. (Yes - I am not a morning person)
6:55 am - Out the door and on the way to work

7:25 am - Stop at the grocery store for fruit & lunch (I didn't make it to the grocery store this weekend & have I mentioned I LOVE summer traffic?)

7:40 am - First Diet Coke and the work day begins!

8:45 am - I take a break

11:30 am - Enjoyed a Lean Cuisine for lunch.

12:15 pm - Spent 45 minutes teaching an 80(ish) man and his wife how to navigate their computer by using the minimize button and logging into the website.  I just remind myself that I am teaching my grandparents on these calls.

1:30 pm  - Everyone is back from lunch and I take my 1/2 hour lunch

3:00 pm - Had an interview for a new job here in the company.  Anything to get me out of an environment of where one person walks on water and can do nothing all day!

4:10 pm - Left NFP for the drive home

4:30 pm - Pit stop at Petco for dog food for the munchinkins

4:50 pm - Pulled into the driveway, gave the dogs some love, some food, changed clothes and then got the two settled on the back porch.  Since Finn's heat stroke, I put up the baby gate so they can't leave the back porch.  It gives them more room to stretch their legs than a crate but ensures Finn can't give himself heat stroke again.

5:25pm - Back out the door for Lowe's.  Pit stopped at McDs for a small bite to eat since I was running late.

5:45 pm - Clocked in at Lowe's

10:40 pm - Finally left Lowe's

11:10 pm - Crawled into bed and made the mistake of check FB and email and so ensued (former) friend drama.

12:30 pm - Finally Crashed

5:30 am - Alarm went off again

6:15 am - Finally got out of bed.  :)

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Life Drama - (HATE it)

So my (now former) friend I went camping with created drama like no other yesterday.  When we got back into town on Sunday - I was not feeling so hot and didn't want to do what I needed to do in her parents bathroom and hurried home.  I didn't get her the money for the camp ground but figured I would catch up with her and get it to her.  The total bill was $33 so not earth shattering.  I sent her a message last night about getting her the money - I pay up - that is what I am suppose to do. 

Well, fast forward to me coming home to find all of these rants on Facebook about her friends take advantage of a single mom and just use her, blah, blah, blah.  I just replied that I was sorry that failing to pay her $7 was me taking advantage of a single mom.  Needless to say - the drama that triggered was really sad. 

I was told "maybe you should examine yourself in the mirror being 37 single and no kids".  Hmmm, I own my own house, have two jobs, own my car and take care of me.  Of course, this is coming from someone who is 27, lives with her parents, has two kids, never been married, does not have a job, has no support from a baby daddy, government provides for her kids, she uses school loan money for going to school part time at night and to maintain her acrylic nails, pedicures and drinking and then complains when she is denied for more aide.  Hmmmm, I think i will keep my life and cut out the drama friend with messed up values.  To quote her "Work for things really....good to know you feel that way.  I've worked my ass off since the day I had my kids and have never asked nor taken money from anyone since."  You be the judge...I have my opinion.

Blogging Project - Day 15

My view on mainstream music

In reality - I love all music.  I'll listen to it all.  My iPod will even attest to that.  Probably the only difference today from a few years ago, is that I listen to less classical music.  In college, that was my choice to study to.  I take that back, it wasn't really a choice.  I couldn't study to quiet, couldn't study while watching tv, and if it was anything other than classical music, I found myself singing along and not really "reading" what I was suppose to.
 
There is some music that I do listen to in moderation, I just can't stand a ton of it.  Heavy metal and heavy rap.  Otherwise, it is all fair game.  At home, my bathroom radio is set to one of the current Country radion stations.  I think I have stuck with this one, more because they have a routine, they do things at certain times and honestly, I can tell if I am running ahead of schedule or behind schedule without even looking at the clock.  The station on the receiver in the living room is set to Top 40.  I have to have something fun to clean to!  The car, well it rotates.  Most mornings I am still half asleep on the way in and do not want to hear anyone talking!  I just want music and to be able to stay in sleep mode as long as possible!
 
 

This is one of my favorite pictures of me.  Of course thank you goes out to my cuz for creatively editing out my Ex.  :)

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I had a pretty awesome weekend!  Saturday morning I headed South to tube the Comal River with some friends.  It has turned into an annual trip that happens around a friends birthday!  Needless to say - there was a LOT of fun had and a lot of alcohol that was drank.  After spending the day on the river, we ended up camping up near Canyon Lake.  I wish we would of had more time up there because we set up shop after it was dark and it was beautiful to see in the morning.  Hopefully I will have some pictures that one can share soon.  Yesterday was a recovery day with some cleaning and yard work thrown in the mix.  Today - I am exhausted and feel like I never slept.  Ugggh....love Monday's.
 
But, the good news is that I only have two more Monday's and then VACATION.  So excited to just have time off!  Momma keeps asking me what my plans are and I just want to enjoy some down time!!  No alarms.  No meetings.  Just Maddox time, family time and friend time.  I don't care about the particulars, let's just enjoy it!

Blogging Project - Day 14

Your Favorite Tumblrs

Does anyone know what a Tumblr(s) is?  Not me. 

Wikipedia defines Tumblr as "is a microblogging platform that allows users to post text, images, videos, links, quotes and audio to their tumblelog, a short-form blog. Users can follow other users, or choose to make their tumblelog private. The service emphasizes ease of use.[5]" 

I guess it is another blogging site like blogspot.com.  What I can tell you is that I have never used it or realized that as of May 1, 2011, Tumblr included more than 5 billion total posts and over 17.5 million total blogs. 

So, if I assume Tumblrs means bloggers, than I would have to say that Runner is my favorite blogger.  However, I don't think she blogs much anymore.  I do read a few others as well.  One is about a ladies giant weight loss journey.  It is nice because they post reviews of videos, etc.  That blog is Lynn's Weigh.  There are a few others but none that I go to on a regular basis.

Enjoying the lake with friends.

Just a early glimps of the boats gathering.  Yes - that is my house on the hill. :)

Blogging Project - Day 13

Funny how life gets in the way sometimes.  Of course - I find in fun when my mom points out I haven't been blogging.  At least I know someone is reading it - right?

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Somewhere you'd like to move or visit

I find this one interesting because five years ago, I would of told you me moving would be from one apartment to another or to a house; never would it be to a new city or state.  But, I did take a leap and moved to Texas and while there will always be some doubt about the move based upon how things have worked out, I couldn't imagine not living here.  Is there a move in my future?  I don't have the answer to that question and it isn't something that I will ever rule out.  Life presents new opportunities at any time and sometimes you just need to take them and enjoy the ride.

As for where I would like to visit?  I honestly want to say that I have vacationed in all 50 states by the time that I die.  Will that happen?  I don't know.  I know there is plenty to see and do in the US that most take for granted.  It would not be appropriate to live life without camping in Yellowstone National Park!  I also know that I would like to visit some luxury vacation spots as well - I mean The Virigin Islands, Costa Rica, Australia - I'm not greedy.  Of course - we do have a tenative schedule to go to an all-inclusive resort in Mexico in order to celebrate my parents 40th Wedding Anniversary, my 40th Birthday and my brother's 5 year wedding anniversary.  It only means one thing people - start saving - you have 2 1/2 years before we party!!

But in reality - as much as I would like those vacation spots, in reality most of my vacation is spent with the important people in my life - my family & friends.  Maybe one of these days I can get my family to pick one of those vacation spots like camping in Yellowstone versus me driving back to Nebraska.  However, until that happens, I am perfectly content with a 12 hour drive to see my awesome peeps!

Auntie Jenn & Maddox on his first Birthday!

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Life Note - In reality just a lot of the same old, same old.  I had a fabulous memorial weekend!  The highlight was spending Monday at Lake Travis with some friends.  Of course, it didn't matter how much sunscreen one puts on when you spend four hours in the water - you still end up fried!  We were out on the water for 7 hours and you haven't seen anything until you see 100's of boats tying off to each other.

The big pieces I dug up!

This past weekend was spent "installing" my new purchase, a 10 foot Bradford Pear tree.  Let's just say one thing - this sucks in Texas.  Any digging requires at least an axe of some sort.  Apparently there is a bar of some sort that would of made life easier too.  In the end I don't recommend doing this when it is a 100 degrees out and you are digging through lime stone - it sucks.  But, if you didn't see the pics on facebook, here are the most important three:

My new tree & mound of dirt & rock!

Yup - this is me still smiling after it all!