Brrrrrrrr...winter has hit Texas

Yes it has. Now - I know that my brother sent a text this morning stating the Wind Chill was -30 degrees in Nebraska and that shouldn't compare to here. But - by Texas standards - it is darn cold.

Of course - thinking about this - maybe it is because yesterday was in the 70s and 75 inside my house. Or it could be that I didn't look at the forecast before Guinney & I headed to the Chef's house for the evening. Needless to say - short sleeves for work today was NOT a good idea. How cold is it - it was 34 with a windchill of 24. It will be lucky to hit 41. For some reason I at least grabbed the jean jacket on the way out - THANK GOD!

Of course - I thought you all would appreciate a little humor too...last Tuesday evening we had a sleeting/rain mix complete with Thunder. Anyway - there was some leftover on the windshields in the morning. According to the two *locals* in the department - they had a "Sheet of Ice" on their car. You be the judge.... Never mind one of the "locals" actually admits to wearing long johns when it doesn't get up to 50. Can you imagine what he would do in Nebraska?!?!?!

As for the rest of life - pretty much the same. Still dating the Chefman. Trying to figure out what to get him for his birthday (Thursday) and for Christmas. Still working both Jobs. Had it pretty easy being off the past could of weekends with company staying...but don't worry - this weekend will make up for lost time. Scheduled 5 days in a row at Lowe's - which will translate into 55 hours in 5 days! UGH!

Torture...no other way to say it.

For most - you all know that I love watching BL (Biggest Loser) every week. Of course this year hasn't been the same because Michelle has a Tuesday night class so we can't rant the next morning on the show. All I can say about this year is that I am sick of Vicki...she should of been cut a long time ago and I wish I could call the people and tell them to work their ass off so she doesn't win the big prize.

But, enough of that. For those of you that watch the show - you know that Jillian Michael's is one of the trainers on the show and takes no prisoners. My softball kids thought I could be cruel - they need to watch her. I mean - wall squats suck the way they are let alone having someone stand on your legs while you do it.

Fast forward to me ordering some of her workout videos. I didn't think they could be that bad - I mean they are videos, it is not like she is in my living room screaming at me. Well...she might as well have been. She royally kicked my ass from afar. THANK God that I didn't have the step - I couldn't imagine what that would of been like. Or that I had a break in the middle because I got a little crazy on those kicks and kicked the water glass over. :) It was 20 minutes of hell but in the end - I survived. My ankle survived. Guinney survived the trauma of running in and out of the back door to see what was going on.

And if that DVD was not enough - Guinness still got her walk. I still managed to get all the trim work painted in the spare bedroom done too. The bonus - I'm not really THAT sore this morning. PLEASE don't tell HER that though!

Reasons to be Thankful This Year

Well - as most do on Thanksgiving, I thought I would reflect on the reasons I am thankful:

1. I have a healthy & supportive family!
2. I have friends that support me unconditionally even if I don't see them that often.
3. In the tough economy - I am fortunate to have two jobs - even though I tend to complain about working so much.
4. I am thankful for having a home to call my own.
5. I am thankful for being in a safe and healthy place.
6. I am thankful for Guinness - the dog that never complains!
7. I am thankful for being brought to Texas - I have made some great friends and know there are a lot more things I will do in the coming years.
8. I am thankful for the Chef man - not only for his cooking skills but just for showing me there are good guys out there!

With that - I hope that each of you had a Great Thanksgiving and a safe & Blessed Holiday Season.

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!

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!

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.

The Fight

Well - it was bound to happen sooner than later...chef and I have officially had our first disagreement. I am being girlie and don't understand (his point of view) and he just doesn't get it (my point of view). At the end of the day - it is all just dumb really, but it still sits underneath the skin and I am not doing a good job of letting it go.

So - here is the story - first off - our schedules always clash, it is rare that we both have a day off. So yesterday - he had the day off, I didn't have to work that night (he knew) and in my mind spelled - time we could spend together. Now I respect he has a lot of things going on and is busy. However, I got the text that he couldn't come over because he had too much to drink and had things to do yet that required the Internet. Okay - well first off - it is never going to sit well with me that we can't hang out because you drank too much. I had alcohol dictate the past 3 years - sure in the hell am not going to start another relationship on that foot. Then what you don't know is that he spent half the afternoon laying by the pool. In my mind - time that could of been spent on the Internet doing whatever needs to be done.

Of course - he doesn't get any of that. He just gets that he had too much to drink, couldn't drive, had work to do that he needed the Internet for and I don't have it and I never come over there.

Urrrg - its like beating your head against a wall. I need to keep reminding myself, let it go, let it go. I mean one fight in two months isn't bad is it? Now if this becomes a pattern....Men - can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em.