Thanksgiving

This year, just as last year, we got to spend Thanksgiving with good friends! It was wonderful. We haven't been able to spend time with J & T since before we moved to TN. Being with them was like we never left! We had a fantastic dinner at J's parent's home (a.k.a. The Compound) and then we saw Stranger Than Fiction afterwards. All in all another wonderful Thanksgiving that left me happy to have such people in my life.

Happy E

Good news! The hubby doesn't have to travel to Florida tomorrow, Sunday, the last day of the "Thanksgiving Holiday" a.k.a. busiest travel time of the year.

I'm so glad he gets to stick around awhile longer before having to do the dreaded depo. Normally he doesn't mind depos, but this particular situation has just been troublesome.

I'm glad he caught a break on this. He was just miserable on Wed. when he first discovered he would have to book a flight to FL the day before Thanksgiving. This in and of itself was quite stressful.

Now... it's all just a distant memory. Yeah. I get to spend the WHOLE weekend with him (just as I did last weekend and the weekend before that). How fabulous. He's such fun to be around. I'm so very thankful to have him in my life. Thanks E for being YOU!

All Done (almost)!

I've got almost all of our holiday gifts under control. Most are already wrapped and just a few still need to be completed. Can't write too much about it since I want it to be a surprise, but I've been having a great time making them! Some of the presents I'm creating I like so much I just may have to make some for myself after the New Year.

P-Pod

I miss you Pam more than these mere words could ever convey. I got your voice mail message and haven't called you back because I suck as a friend. I think of you all the time and can't wait for your return to Cali.

I LOVE your Audrey Hepburn photo - you look fabulous! And on Andrew's blog he's posted some pics of you and my goodness your hair is long. I know E and I moved to Palmdale only 6 months ago but it sure seems like so much longer. Thank goodness for blogs! I look forward to reading more about your school experiences, fun with family and friends, and your thoughts, worries and dreams!

Just some stuff

Last Sunday I started to feel very, very lethargic. I thought perhaps I was just relieved to have one commitment completed so I could focus on the next. However when Monday hit I realized that I had caught the little bug that was flying around the office. Yuck. I still had the parade to contend with and sure as hell didn't want to have to deal with a cold.

I started popping over the counter meds to help alleviate the symptoms and went to bed between 8:00 and 9:00 pm every night. That helped but then Saturday's parade just did me in. The parade committee leaders wanted all the volunteers to show up at 6:00 am. Mind you the parade wasn't scheduled to start until 9:00 am. Anyway, there I was waiting for sun to begin its rise at 6:00 am. Weather was chilly 30-40 degrees. I had on many layers but it was still $#!%$!# cold. Nothing happened until at least 7:00 am. So for an hour all us volunteers just stood around waiting... and waiting... and waiting... I won't bore you with all the details.

Today when I woke up I felt as I did last Monday. Great, another week of feeling like crap. At least this week my hours will return to part-time. Last week we were super busy so I was coming in early, staying late... This week I should be able to recoup much quicker - I hope!

But speaking of work... they like me. They really like me. I took on a part-time temporary job just for some extra holiday cash and well, it turned into permanent work. Apparently the big boss liked me so much he's willing to bring me on as a real employee so as not to lose me. How fabulous! That lifted my spirits a ton. I really enjoy the work and the people. And, the part-time hours really help with that, 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm! These hours still allow me time to enjoy the volunteer activities that keep piling up as well as other endeavors. Anyway, being a real employee gives the hubby and I some much needed health, vision and dental insurance among other things. Yeah for benefits!

Next - AES

Whew, finally most of my big volunteer projects are done... for now. The Fall Conference for Toastmasters is over. The parade is over. Next up is the American Enterprise Speech Contest (AES).

AES is put on by the National Management Association (NMA). NMA is comprised of various chapters throughout the United States. The chapter in my area is working with local Toastmasters groups to sponsor high school students.

The primary purpose of the contest is to promote a better understanding of the American Enterprise System among high school students. Involving youth in researching, writing, and delivering a speech on American's economic system will increase their awareness of economics and serve as a reminder to the audience of the important role that a competitive economy plays in our ability to compete worldwide.

This contest also provides an incentive for the development of communication skills that are so vital to those entering the workforce.

My job is contact local high schools and educate and inform them of this opportunity for their students. There are four competitive levels and prizes of the contest:

1. Chapter - Competition between high school students sponsored by an individual NMA Chapter (in my case local Toastmaster clubs). Prize money is determined by the Chapter but not to exceed $500 for 1st place.
2. Council - Competition of Chapter winners. Prize money to be determined by the Council but not to exceed $750 for 1st place.
3. Area - Competition among Council and Chapter winners. Prizes (Savings Bonds): 1st place = $2,000; 2nd place = $1,500; 3rd place = $1,000.
   
4. National - Competition among the six area winners. Prize (Savings Bonds): 1st place = $10,000; 2nd place = $5,000; 3rd place = $3,000. $500 cash will be given to the 4th through 6th place winners.

This all started in 1988 (and I was a high school student at the time) but had never heard of it till now. It's doubtful that even if I had known of this when I was eligible that I would have entered. But all the same, I'm excited to be a part of it now. I think it's a fabulous opportunity for America's youth. I can't wait to see how this unfolds.

The Toastmaters club that I belong to already has a young member who is interested in participating in AES. I'm sure I'll get to work close with her to assist, guide and mentor in anyway I can. But I also want to be sure that other young adults in the area are able to be a part of this too.

What a chance for me to be more involved in my community! I'm sure I'll make a lot of great contacts along the way, maybe even some new friends.

Busy Day

This morning the hubby and I had a lot of errands to run so we decided to enjoy some breakfast first to get us through the day. I like Denny's so asked to go there. Erik is not as fond of it, but he agreed. We got our name on the waiting list and discovered that some friends of ours were already seated and had invited us to join them. How fabulous! Had a great breakfast: good food, great friends.

From there we went to check out Erik's office. New paint and carpet have given the whole office a fresh look. Erik choose a nice sage green. The lobby and hallways are white and most of the other offices are various earth tones.

Next we headed to Target for some sundry items. What a fantastic experience. Parking was easy and close to the door, only one screaming child that we were able to get away from quickly, and Target had the items we wanted, except for spray paint. Oh well, I'll take 2 of 3. But wait, we were able to get a ton of Greenies (really good doggie treats) for dirt cheap! They were on clearance?! Happy, happy critters.

PetSmart was next on the agenda. Since we were able to get all the greenies we could store and more, we only had to pick up some doggie food.

On to TJ's. There we got milk and other basic necessities. Finally homeward bound so Erik could watch football.

I headed back out to get the spray paint I needed for the table centerpieces I'm doing for Toastmasters. Wal-Mart, in comparison, to Target, was pure hell. LOTS of screaming kids, long, long lines, more screaming kids, small children running about as if Wal-Mart was their own personal playground. I sought out an employee to open the locked spray paint cabinet so I could purchase blue and silver paint. From there I went to wait, and wait, and wait some more in the check out line. Finally I paid my $4 bucks cash and change and ran for my life. Ugh, I do not like Wal-Mart.

My hand still hurts from all the spray painting I did yesterday - and that was with the hubby's help! I took today off from painting, but I will need to finish it up by this weekend.

This afternoon I worked on the various spreadsheets for the volunteer project I'm helping with. Still have lots to do. The friend I'm helping out gave me a very disorganized list of names and information that needs to be put into spreadsheet form. I'm doing the best I can but unfortunately I don't quite understand the thought process of how the information was sent to me. It was haphazard at best.

This evening the hubby and I walked the dogs. We walked about 3 miles. It was wonderful. No wind and the temperature was perfect. If only our mutts were leash trained. Hopefully if we continue to walk them they'll get better.

Now I'm blogging on Erik's laptop and hanging out in front of the TV just taking it easy. What a nice end to a busy day.

Just Say No

While I like volunteering and helping out... I can see I'm going to need to start using the word "No" more often. Yesterday someone asked for help in creating a spreadsheet and now I'm suddenly responsible for this person's work, in addition to my own responsibilities for this particular volunteer project.

Then today someone wanted me to help out with another event that I've already contributed a lot of time and money too. I was able to say "no" to that, so hopefully it will be easier and easier to continue saying no. I haven't made time to do the things I enjoy like stamping, reading, or being with friends. I need to find balance between good works, regular work, and some good ol' R&R.

Loving the AV

I figured by now I'd be bored with the desert landscape, but I'm not?! It is still very beautiful. The sun sets are amazing, as are the big open expanses of desert and the surrounding mountains. I like being enveloped by scenes unlike anything I ever experienced in Wisconsin, Missouri, or Tennessee.

The dryness here is quite handy too, especially on laundry day, when cleaning paint brushes, etc. as these items dry in just mere hours or less.

Now that fall is upon us it has cooled off quite nicely. The day time temps are in the 70s and just fabulous.

Life in the AV is better than I ever imagined, who'd have thought it?

Italy please take note

If only toilet seats and toilet paper were available in most tourist places in Italy. These are items not to be overlooked. A hole in the floor with tread marks on either side is NOT a toilet. Oh and while I'm at it... hot about a sink with hot running water AND soap! You are Italians not French!