Catch Up

Hello! 'Tis me :)

Seems like I'm ALWAYS catching up...catching up on the laundry, catching up on my note writing, catching up with my blog posting...AAAHHH! It's been one month since I started my new job out of the house and I'm still catching up on trying to figure out how to make that work! I always new how fortunate I was to be a telecomuter these last 3+ years but boy...it's really hit home these last 30 days. But, the holidays are over and my immediate supervisor is back from vacation (and he's a big proponent of being on the road and out of the office) so I'm sure we'll work on making a more relaxed schedule. I'm just not quite sure how to take the owners of the station...so as a result, I stay put in my office there and try to make deals via phone and email. But, again, I'm looking forward to starting the week off fresh tomorrow and I hope you are, too.

But, speaking of catching up, I thought I'd share the last of the Christmas photos with you. It really was a treat being with my family and enjoying their company. Since Bran and I have moved from the DC area, it's been a bit of a challenge trying coordinate the holiday gatherings. And while we may not all be together on Christmas morning, we do make the effort to be together just shortly before or after and for that we're all grateful.

Let's see...on Saturday December 27 we spent the evening at my grandparents house in Rockville, MD. That's me, Bran and my dad.

And here I am with my grandmother - the famous "Ma"! I like this photog...

Oh, and here's Daddy and me again!

And this is Christa sporting her new official country concert accessory.

Christa and her Papa...

My brother, Charlie, intent on opening another gift...(he did VERY well - a new Canon digital camera that, if he's not careful, could suddenly come up missing...and they NEVER suspect the little sister...hee, hee, hee...)

And Christmas would not be Christmas - or any other day for that matter - without that little schtoogy giving us a stylin' and profilin' shot!!!

So, I think that catches me up for December '08. I suspect January '09 will be action-packed, too, especially since I start my CNA program this Tuesday! Yep, it's back to school for this middle-aged chick! When I was having such difficulty finding a job, I decided to jump on the bandwagon with Brandi and go back to school. Our community college here is awesome with some cutting edge programs that aren't offered anywhere else in the country (we're very proud). And one of their CNA programs is geared for full-time workers, which works wonderfully. I signed up and paid for the class and then was fortunate enough to be hired by the radio station. The owner has been more than cooperative with me in working out a schedule so that I didn't have to cancel the class. I don't know that I'll ever be a full-time CNA but I'm all about education and learning something new. And, if nothing else, I could do home health care at my convenience or try to get on with UNC hospital a couple weekends a month. We'll see. The program only lasts for 3 months so two late nights per week I think I can handle. And besides, once you have the knowledge, no one can ever take it away from you.

It's been great being with you all in 2008 and I'm looking forward to sharing my 2009, all the ups and downs and in-betweens, with you, too!

Happy New Year!

A quick post to say Happy New Year! No pics as I'm at work and sneaking this little message in quietly...

New Year resolution...be more diligent about posting - despite 9-5 thing...

What We've Been Up To...

First, we did this...

Then we did this...

And because we did that, we made this...(that's actually The Chatham News)

You can check out the full story, along with color photos, here. Just another benefit of living in a tiny town - where everybody knows your name (that is, of course, unless your performing criminal acts. Then, well, it's hard to hide!).

It's been a VERY full week and I don't see things slowing down over the next 7 days. The horizon for me holds last minute shopping (stocking stuffers mostly), a little more baking and travel home to No. VA Friday evening to spend Christmas with my family next weekend. I am so thankful to be able to actually spend Christmas Eve AND Christmas Day with Michael! Turns out his schedule fell so that those were his two days off. We plan on being very lazy, enjoying our home and "Christmas surroundings" here in the house and remembering the true meaning of the season... I was fortunate enough to participate in our church's annual Christmas Caroling Friday night. That is always such a treat. The best part is piling into the trucks to get from house to house. You really get to know your church family members when you're crammed in like clowns in a VW. Pizza and fellowship followed and we called it a night around 11:30. And then last night Mike and I attended his SWAT team captain's annual Christmas party. I always love being involved with these people. I never feel more safe and secure than when I'm surrounded by 13 strapping cops/SWAT specialists packing heat! Ha! Awards were given and recognitions were made and a good time was had by all... I'm very proud of my husband...and all the team members and their wives. This is a group of highly trained men who are called out on a moment's notice. And many times they're creating a surprise situation for a volatile criminal (drug dealers usually). They trust each other implicitly and literally have each others' lives in their hands. But I couldn't ask for a better group of men to help protect my husband or the wives that support them and each other.

Oh, almost forgot. We had our Christmas luncheon at work Friday afternoon. It was held at The Old Granary Restaurant in Fearrington Village. Another lovely way to celebrate the season (and yes, grace was said again before the meal...did I say I think I'm going to like it here?).

So, I think that brings me up to date. This working at an office away from home really affects my ability to blog...and cook decent dinners...and clean my house...and, and, and... But I am grateful and hope to be falling into a less structured pattern soon!

I'm praying that all of you have a full heart and will soon be surrounded by those you love and who love you most. I'm also prayerful that your travels will be safe and that you'll be making more sweet memories with your families and loved ones.

Our Reindeer Weekend

Ask me how much fun we had this weekend...go ahead, ask me!

Saturday the 13th was our local YMCA's Reindeer Run. This is a beautiful 5k run through the rolling streets of downtown Pittsboro, NC. And this year, I wasn't in it alone. Nope, Michael and Brandi both got to participate! We made quite the impression with our antler "ears"...

and Michael's race day pose, this one known as "Reindeer Man".

We think we may be famous. There was a man hanging around the event with a big camera around his neck taking names. We can only assume he was with the Chatham News (?).

I mean, who wouldn't want to report on two "reindeer" running through the streets of our quaint little town? Stay tuned. The paper comes out Thursday and the mystery will be solved - we'll either be featured as runners or will be looking to track this man down and turn him into the law! Later that day, Mom, Brandi and I went to the Garden Supply Center in Cary. You simply MUST visit this place at Christmas if you're ever in Central NC! BEAUTIFUL!!! Mom had us doing silly poses in front of all the different Christmas trees. This one included top hats as ornaments. We carefully borrowed two to pretend we were with the Rockettes and showed off our "jazz hands". It's okay, you can say we're dorks.

We really did have a great weekend together. It was really like an early Christmas for me having my folks and Bran with me. There's really nothing left on my list...

I Think I'm Going To Like It Here...

Friday December 5th was my first day with WLHC-FM "Life 103.1". Officially I'm a "Marketing Consultant". And I'm very excited. I'm based in Sanford, NC in a small, historic, 4-story brick building with tons of character. The office is very small, warm and inviting.

When I arrived Friday morning, there was music piped throughout the office (103.1 of course) playing at just the right level, the owners' dog "Scout" was resting comfortably in her bed in Mary's office and when Alan took me to lunch to further discuss my role and responsibilites...he said grace before we had our meal.

Yeah, I think I'm going to like it here...

Our Maiden Voyage

Remember me mentioning my birthday gift from my parents here? Well, let me elaborate...

First, I hail from the great state of Virginia.
More importantly, Northern Virginia - not twelve miles from Washington, DC. I LOVED IT!!! I had EVERY convenience I could ever want. From our neighborhood, I could drive 1 mile east and hit Giant (the grocery store), Szechuan Star (the best Chinese restaurant EVER), Sally Beauty, Advance Auto Parts, Gold's Gym, The UPS store, Starbucks, etc., etc., etc. Or, I could drive 1 mile west and be at one of the best rec centers in Fairfax County, the Safeway (another grocery store), the post office, CVS (the drugstore), Mobile gas station, etc., etc, etc. And on Sunday nights and Wednesday nights, I could put my Waste Management-provided trash bins on my curb and, like magic, when I awoke Monday mornings and Thursday mornings my garbage was gone! I loved this, too!

Then, I agreed to move to Bear Creek, North Carolina, where the only thing within a mile of me east or west (or north or south for that matter) are more old houses, chicken barns, cows and horses. And, needless to say, there is no Waste Management coming to collect my garbage or recycles.

I would not be intimidated by this little inconvenience. After all, I had a pick up truck! Yep, that's right...big city girl driving a Ford F150...okay, so it was so I could haul my horse around in our younger years but nonetheless, I still had a truck and was prepared for this "do-it-yourself" trash delivery system. What I failed to realize was, my 1986 pick up with close to 200,000 HARD miles on it would not last forever.

Bringing us to my recent birthday present - and my Calvary (once again).

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine my Mercury Grand Marquis would be transporting my dirties! But, you gotta' do what 'cha gotta' do to get by in the country. And like I've said before, the country will make you tough or bring you to your knees! I am prevailing (although a little embarrassed) - I am winning this country war!

And Sadie dog - well, going to the dump/recycle center is the event of the month for her! And this is one smart dog. She knew that when the truck was started, she was hitting the road! And even yesterday, as Mike hooked up the trailer, Sadie WENT OFF!!! She knew mom was going to make an exception and she'd be allowed in the "big car" and she was road bound. I figured what the heck? I'm hauling trash, might as well let the dog in the car, too! Ha!

Oh, this little life in the country. Always a story to share...

Thanksgiving '08

You all know the feeling. "Turkey" overload. When, despite how hard you try, you can't keep your eyes open or your head from bobbing like one of those dolls on the dashboard of a '77 Fairlane.

That's how it was here in the woods last Thursday afternoon. Not long after the dishtowel was hung up to dry, we all headed to our respective resting places for a much needed, and deserved, mid-day nap.

And it was no different for even the dog... (can we say "rotten"?)

A QUICK MUNCHIE UPDATE

Crunchie Munch came home from ICU last Wednesday, Thanksgiving eve. Yes, he's sporting a new do, too. That hair was just simply too much for the vet techs to handle. Plus, we can't afford for Munchie to get "backed up" with his own hair (he's an obsessive groomer)! So, he got a standard military buzz. We're pretty sure he's over the initial humiliation of it all.

As for his health, overall he seems to be doing "okay". I'm still cautiously optimistic. He continues to be on two antibiotics, which we'll be wrapping up soon. He's also on a compounding serum that helps his little system do what it's supposed to do. I suspect he'll be on that for the rest of his life. He's also eating on his own - what little he does eat. The mornings are the best for that. He actually waits with the others for his bowl to be filled. The evenings, I have to hunt him down (not sure what that's all about). And during the day he simply finds a warm, sunny spot to sleep.

I'm still concerned about his behavior because he's not like he was before. Maybe in time... He may be getting his staples out this weekend so we'll see what the docs have to say then. In the meantime, we just keep plugging along - 'cause we grow 'em tough here in the country!