Half-Mast

As a result of the shooting in Arizona, this week has been so upsetting and sparked so many discussions. Quite often living in this right-wing community is frustrating for me. My husband and I have had many discussions over the last two years about this very thing happening--I'm almost surprised that it hasn't happened before now. The sinking feeling I get in my gut now is in response to my fear that it's going to trigger copy-cats. I'm not sure this is going to be a lone tragedy. But I can hope.

A Picture a Day

I decided at the beginning that I would try to write positive things here. Once in a while something negative slips in, but for the most part I try to stay with the good things in my life. But some days there just doesn't seem to be much positive going on! For the last few weeks I've been dealing with the IRS for my son, and SallieMae for my daughter. Doesn't leave much time for me! Then I noticed that my niece is doing "a picture a day" on Facebook. Which gives me a thought--maybe even if things don't seem to be going well, I bet I can take a picture everyday, even if it's just a pile of snow, a flower or even a new product at the store. So I guess I'm starting my "New Year" resolution in the middle of the month, instead of on the first! And my picture today is the little frog that has ridden in my 1985 Ford Escort that I bought in 2000. My daughter has been driving the car since she turned 16, and somewhere down the line he got a friend. Lately I've been driving that car again, and once she moves to San Francisco, it's getting passed down to my son. It's been a good little car, hope it lasts a few more years!

Fun at Work

Our Debit/Credit Card machine at work is on the fritz again today. It seems that this is becoming a normal occurrence. Not a pleasant one, I might add. We put a big orange sign on the door announcing said inconvenience, but it's amazing how many people pay absolutely no attention. They get to the register and see the second sign I have posted there and seem so surprised. Then they hand me their card like I can do some magic with it. Machine's down means machine's down, folks! I can't do anything with it! More and more people rely on their cards alone--no cash, no checks. I admit, I'm one of those people myself. We lose business. Something needs done--a different system, a different tech. I don't know, but something!

Happy New Year!

Well, 2011 is here. 2010 didn't leave with a bang, mostly just a bit of a whimper. I can't say I'm sorry to see it go--it just wasn't much of a good year. One or two high points--our trip to Walt Disney World, certainly--but mainly a year I would like to forget. No resolutions this year, just hoping to find a new direction. Somehow, I'm not where I want to be. 50 is approaching fast, and I don't want this to be my life. Work and home. Almost non-existent social life. I've never felt like much of a whiner, I try to take things as they come and I try not to have regrets. You can't change the past so why cry about it. I have some ideas about where I would like to be but no idea how to get there! And, unfortunately, everything takes money, which I don't have and don't see coming. Plus I have responsibilities that I can't just up and leave. I try to stay positive, especially here, but this might give you an idea of where my head is right now. Here's to 2011---may it be a year worth remembering!

White Christmas!

We got a white Christmas! It actually started snowing on Christmas Eve. I had to work that day, but we weren't as busy as some previous years and the boss let me leave early. I got to have Christmas Eve afternoon with my family. I made sweet rolls for the next morning's breakfast, watched a little TV, played with my new Flip camera, fixed some supper, drove around town with my husband and kids and looked at Christmas lights, and even watched Prep and Landing, all together. It was the perfect afternoon. And then to get up on Christmas morning to fresh, clean snow! Usually, if we have a "white" Christmas, it's left over from a previous snow. Or maybe some flurries floating around. This was real Christmas snow! Christmas was sitting around the tree, watching each other open our gifts, breakfast here, too much dinner at Mom's with extended family, then home in the evening. It was a good day.

Merry Christmas!

Fat Cat found himself a good spot under the Christmas tree! I remember as a child laying under the tree and looking up through the branches at the lights. I miss having the time to do that! Everything is hustle and bustle. I called Mom last night and we went to Walmart and stopped and got something to eat. I didn't really need anything, but it was a chance to spend some time with just her. With Dad gone and my brother and his family living 4 states away, the Holidays are just a little melancholy. I have a great step-family, and my step-brother and his daughter are coming for Christmas dinner, but it's just not quite the same. Today is going to be one of those nutty days at work. Every Christmas Eve the boss has everyone come in. We will have more help than we actually need. It's fun and tedious at the same time! We have a pot-luck dinner and people pop in and out just to visit. The boss starts indulging in a little Holiday Spirit early in the afternoon. We close early (we close at 4 every year, but they can't seem to remember that from year to year) and some of the grown-ups stay and share a drink and see how many times the phone rings to see if we are still open. Usually I do, but I think today I'm coming home to be with my family. Right now, I'm just hoping for a little snow this afternoon! Merry Christmas, everyone!

Christmas Hassles

My maniacal urge to bake cookies in December was just as strong this year as it always has been. I've spent the last 4 weeks baking, baking, baking. I have a freezer full of cookies. I'll give some away, but we'll be eating Christmas cookies into February! I've told myself "enough" but I'm still mentally planning what to bake next. The madness has to stop! I just wish my Holiday urges were the worst of my problems right now. We've having some trouble getting my daughter's financial aid worked out (that can wait until after Christmas, I think). And the IRS has just notified us that my son's taxes were figured wrong and he owes almost $700. This can't wait. I'm pretty sure it's wrong. It all has to do with a small trust fund my Mom set up that got rolled over into another account last year. My guess is something got inputted wrong somewhere down the line and I'll be pulling out my hair (what little I have) trying to straighten it all out. I'm going to spend my whole week on this instead of enjoying the last week of Christmas. I get so tired of the hassle that seems to go with everything any more!