…and I’m addicted to 20 Questions.

My “friends” Joe & Sarah brought the new electronic game 20 Questions to my house on New Year’s. You think of a thing (like scissors, a peacock, a typewriter, etc) and then the game asks you 20 questions and quesses what you are thinking. It is really quite maddening!!!

I bought one to cheer up David…and had to buy one for myself. So I am sitting here, catching up on email and trying to stump the thing when I should be in BED! So far, it has guessed what I was thinking every time.

AAAAAHHHHH

What a week. Things went well at my new job…I have to admit, I miss my friends from “the old place” a lot. I know I will eventually make friends here, but it is so hard. Everyone is really busy, so I haven’t had a chance to really talk to anyone too much. I’m hoping that will change in the coming weeks.

It was also hard because of everything with David. He has been very sick and spent several days in the ICU. He finally was moved last night but didn’t really show too much improvement until late this afternoon after another procedure. I’m praying that he continues to improve and can come home early in the week – for his sake, and Michelle’s. This has been so hard on her. Not the way to begin the new year. I told him tonight when I visited that we’d have to ring in the new year again when he gets out and start all over again!

I went to the see The Family Stone tonight with Kris. I had heard it was really funny…and parts of it were. But parts of it were sad, too. Overall, though, I’d say it was a good flick. (Roger Ebert I am not, sorry.)

Well, I am exhausted. I am just wrapping up a few things for sunday school tomorrow and then I am off to bed. Much to do again tomorrow!

They say that changing jobs is one of those major life stressors and it definitely is. But couple that with spending yesterday in the ER with Michelle & David, trying to find out what was causing him excruciating pain, him getting admitted, Michelle calling this morning to say they had moved him to ICU because his blood pressure dropped and his heart was racing and he couldn’t breathe…and then calling back to tell me they were taking him into surgery because it was his appendix…wow, what a day.

It is a miracle that his appendix did not burst – they said it was very close and I praise God that they figured it out in time and got it out. He’s in ICU tonight again for monitoring and I’m praying that he is now on the road to recovery.

Besides all that, my first day of work was very good. It was a kind of getting acclimated day but I already have a lot of work to do. I prefer it that way, though – being busy makes the day go faster. I met a lot of people and my supervisor seems very nice. We’re going to have lunch with the rest of our department tomorrow, so hopefully I’ll be able to remember everyone I met so quickly today!

My commute is shorter, which is nice. I had hoped for earlier hours but it didn’t work out. Oh well – I can sleep longer in the morning!

I was glad to see so many emails from my peeps at the old job today. I miss them! I’m glad that my new office is relatively close so we can still lunch sometimes and maybe get together after work now and again. With all my stress there, I really did make a lot of good friends.

Well, my exhaustion is taking over. I need to get some things done around this place…so I am off. Later, gators.

Oh, and GO PENN STATE!

It’s hard to believe another year has flown by. This past week alone has been a whirlwind. I feel like I’ve traveled and visited more people than I did all year!

My friend Kris & I went out to dinner in Olde City on Thursday and then to see my friend Tim

in a singer/songwriter’s circle at a little venue. I hadn’t realized how long it have been since I’d seen Tim – but it has been too long. The show was great – it was wonderful to be out, to see Tim, to meet his wife and to just have fun.

Last night we had a youth group game night for new year’s eve. I don’t usually do anything on new year’s eve because I host an open house on new year’s day and always spend the night getting ready. But this year I decided to try something different. We had a pretty good turnout and I had a good time. Michelle & I especially had fun playing Scattergories as a team…lol. (You’d have had to be there to understand…but we were loony!) I was so exhausted by the time midnight rolled around; I was ready to go home.

Once home though, I still felt like I should do some things to get ready for today so I didn’t get to bed until about 1:30…and boy, did I feel that this morning when I had to be peppy & raring to go to lead teach sunday school. Thankfully, the kids were tired too and we had a quiet craft to work on! Then I rushed out of there to come home and get all the food and stuff ready.

Whoo. It was a nice night – it was good to see friends and relax. Some of the usual suspects weren’t in attendance this year…and I missed them. : ( It is so hard to find time to get together with people these days…and that makes me sad. It shouldn’t be so hard.

Well, now I am totally exhausted. Thankfully, the new job doesn’t start until Tuesday, so I have another day off. I am hoping to sleep in and indulge in some real R&R. We shall see!

I’ve got some thoughts about the new year, resolutions and what not…but that will have to wait until later. Must sleep!

Wishing you all happiness in the new year!

…for me to get sick, fa la la la, la la la la.

I don’t know what it is about the holidays but I truly can’t remember one when I wasn’t sick. I made it through Christmas day ok but now am battling a cold. So much for my time off from work! I hope I can get well enough to do everything I have planned for the rest of the week…

I had planned to post when I got home on Christmas evening but didn’t have the energy. Christmas Eve had been draining for various reasons (though I was glad to have some time to catch up with my friend Matt who was visiting from Colorado) and I was feeling slightly under the weather. But we ate a lot of food, visited with relatives and had a nice time before I headed out. My uncle lives off the beaten path and man, was it foggy! But thankful I made it home without getting lost or having any problems.

Yesterday was shopping day – I got up early and redeemed my gift cards and stocked up on Christmas supplies for next year. But by one o’clock the cold was kicking in and I took a siesta. Watched Polar Express last night – very good! I highly recommend it. I may have to add it to my holiday movie repetoire!

Today I had lunch with my mom and her best friend Rose. It was nice to get together and catch up but I was really feeling crummy by the time I got home. So back to bed with me again until now. I feel like I’m not accomplishing anything I wanted to get done this week and it’s bugging me! At least I have Adventure Theater planned for Sunday – that’s a BIG something, I guess.

Well, I’m off to try to get some other things done around here. TTFN!

Yesterday was my last day at my job. It feels so strange to think I won’t be going back there in the new year, that I’ll be completely starting over somewhere new. I’m nervous, but excited at the same time.

Last night, we had a little Christmas party over at a friend’s house. It was a great time and I got to meet my friend’s buddy, Ron. Ron has been serving in Iraq since this summer and is home for the holidays. It’s funny – I couldn’t stop thinking about him last night when I got home and today. As much as many of us (myself definitely included) complain about our jobs…Ron’s got a job where people are literally shooting at him while he does it. The whole thing is really hard for me to get my brain around. I pray that he will be safe when he returns to Iraq and that he’ll make it through his tour over there unscathed. If you think of it, say a prayer for Ron…and for all the other men & women involved in this war. It doesn’t matter what your politics are or how you feel about the President or the war…these are people, away from their loved ones, facing danger every day.

Kind of puts other things in perspective…

I know I haven’t posted in a while. I’ll use the age old busyness at the holidays excuse, topped by the busyness of trying to wrap up projects and close out six and a half years of working for one company. It’s odd to be leaving at the holidays, in so many ways. I’m looking forward to having next week off to catch up with people and relax…hopefully my nerves about starting a new job will be held at bay at least until the new year!

On a more festive note, I present the holiday meme, courtesy of Anisa

and Cheryl

!

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? I do enjoy the nog this time of year but peppermint hot chocolate from Starbucks is my favorite holiday treat
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? He’s got elves to do the wrapping!
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? I like white on both…I only like colored on houses if they are the really large old fashioned looking bulbs. Those are cool.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? I haven’t in a few years…seems like a waste when there’s no one you want to kiss under it!
5. When do you put your decorations up? Usually the weekend after Thanksgiving
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? I don’t think I have one.
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Watching the yule log on tv at the Asay’s house – the parents would all be drinking, the kids would be playing, and once in a while the news would cut in with sightings of Santa
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I think I knew when I was like 10 but I kept up the ruse until I was 12 for my parents sake.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Not usually, unless it’s from a friend.
10. What kind of cookies does Santa get set out for him? Sugar cookies.
11. Snow: love it or dread it? I love it when I don’t have to shovel it.
12. Can you ice skate? Never tried.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? My Barbie Dream House with the elevator.
14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Trying to focus on the reason for the season instead of all the commercial hubbub.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? David’s chocolate pecan pie
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Christmas eve service at church
17. What tops your tree? I don’t have a tree but I have a cute Boyds Bear angel that would top it if I did
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?: Definitely giving
19. What is your favorite Christmas carol? “Do You Hear What I Hear”, with “The Little Drummer Boy” as a close second
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or yum? They’re ok. I usually have about one a year.

And there you have it, folks!

The other day, I got a letter in the mail thanking me for the money I raised this year for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk. Volunteers who raised a certain amount are eligible for thank you gifts and you have to go on their website by a certain date and choose.

I went on and one of the gifts is an iPod. Oh my gosh! But here is my dilemma. I can accept the gift or I can donate it back to the society. On one hand, I feel like I should donate it back. On the other, I’ll never be able to afford an iPod on my own….

So, what should I do? Cast your votes…

We took the youth to see The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe last night. I read it long ago and didn’t remember much of it – but the movie was great. I was really impressed with how well done it was. I feel like I need to see it again, for I’m sure there was a lot I missed!

Ok, I rescind my previous comments about snow! It is a wonderful, beautiful thing, which allowed me a glorious day off from work yesterday. I was able to wrap Christmas presents, do some organizing around the house and, thanks to it ending mid-morning, get out to finish my Christmas shopping. And oh, the three day weekend is marvelous too!

I’ve been running around literally ALL day today. And now I am quickly baking a cake for my church Leadership Christmas party. The party is always a lot of fun and we do a white elephant. I will say, however, that I get the WORST white elephant each time (although some would dispute that, claiming that THEY always get the worst gift). The last two years, I actually came home with nothing because I gave my gifts to someone who actually wanted them. We’ll see if tonight is any different!