Happy Birthday Mom

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear mom, Happy Birthday to you!

A Work in Progress

Now that we have finally obtained lights, we are to the final stages of set up for our saltwater tank. Actually we have quite a few fish, but it will be a slow process in getting the corals. What a beautiful but expensive hobby we have gotten into! Funny that we now sit in front of the aquarium a lot more than we do the TV. I am looking forward to seeing things grow and have even noticed quite a few critters that I couldn't see before there was light. You should see my husband though...the way he becomes so giddy. This has been his dream for years and he used to tell me it would never happen, boy he was wrong wasn't he?

The yellow tang loves swimming in the current in the front of the tank. You can barely see the orange of the flame angel to the left of him.

This little fan was a survivor from the selection of live rock we purchased. He must have been missed or in a hard spot for the divers to chip off the rock and sell separately.

New start

So far my job looks like it will be a great challenge! I've already been exposed to some of the public and found that I just wanted to cry because of the things they are going through. Then there are some that you know aren't really going through anything and are good actors and acressess. I get to start my classroom training tomorrow and have my nose buried in the books!

I really like that everyone is so positive, not only about their job, but about the people they work with. Where I've been the last year there has been one particular individual that has created a downer - always complaining about her job, the people around her, and anything else she can think of. In fact she had twice accidentally instant messaged me instead of another with whom she was complaining about me to. Her I don't miss at all. I also don't miss the drive. I am only driving half the distance, it is about 1/3 less of the time but the mileage is great on the gas budget.

It feels good to enjoy going to work again!

"Think not of yourself as the architect of your career but as the sculptor. Expect to have to do a lot of hard hammering and chiseling and scraping and polishing."

--B.C. Forbes (1880-1954) Scottish journalist & founder of Forbes magazine

Happy New Year

Had a good Christmas! Snowed a bit on Christmas Eve but we had a good time at Mom's and managed to be safe. Now if I could just figure out what to do with all the garbage that's leftover, well then maybe I could relax.

I think Savannah's favorite present was her velvet and satin dress...she is constantly wanting to wear dresses these days and like to change her clothes and often. She also got Candyland and a Memory game. We have had a lot of fun playing them together.

My favorite gift was the wall clock and star hangings. My wall has been bare long enough and they fit perfectly! Now I just need to get more to add, it seems once you take down the Christmas stuff down the room looks barer than ever.

Charlie's favorite gift was the Henckel's chef's knife. Luckily none of his fingertips have been sliced as of yet.

Michael got an Mp3 player that is now connected to his head.

Jake well, he had some mishaps this year. Apparently stereo systems come shipped in a box with the picture of the stereo on it. He chose to wait to open it until his birthday and get new items from Santa to open instead. Santa didn't realize how outdated their computer is and failed to pay attention to the cool game he got and whether or not it would work. So unfortunately he will have to wait until a new motherboard and processor is purchased to get to try that out too.

Poor Bear. Apparently puppies are not made to eat Christmas ornaments made out glass. I didn't think he would bother them but I was wrong. Once you see the broken glass all on the floor it's too late to do anything. I don't think the wrapped candy canes hurt him at all. He has once before eaten a whole pan of brownies and didn't get phased by it but not this. He had an abscess and I am not sure if we'll ever find the glass in order for him to heal correctly. Even though it was a $300 vet bill for us it doesn't seem to matter since he is still a happy puppy. Poor guy though. I hope he'll be alright.

...the rest of that story, well I know now not to take Savannah to the vet next time. She had another one of her breathing/fainting spells. This will be #3. The pediatrician stated once again that it is normal and she will grow out of it but if it ever happens out of the blue for no reason, i.e. getting hurt or upset by a dog who is in pain getting stuck with a needle, then she really needs to get some major tests done. So scary though no matter what causes it.

I start my new job tomorrow. I will be processing publicly funded state issued food stamps, medicaid, and childcare benefits. Still accounting based but more people oriented. I'm excited however I am so used to a routine it is hard not knowing what to expect and unable to feel competent. At least there will be no expectations of me right away, after all I will have to have training before they can decide if they made a good choice. I found out that there are a couple of other transfers such as myself, so that is cool. There will be about 10 of us in training and I think we are also going to be the guinea pigs for the new system that will be coming out statewide later on in the year. Kind of cool to see it before everyone else. I hope I can be good in this job, I know it will be hard, but it will be challenging for me.

New Year's resolutions anyone? I never really seem to make them. I tend to always want to change or do something in the back of my mind. I guess if I were to write them down, they'd probably have a better chance of being accomplished. Hmmm...I do know of one, and that is to start blogging on a regular basis again. Another is to get back on track with Weight Watchers or at least with watching my weight in any shape or form. Since Thanksgiving it's been something I have not forced myself to do. I also would like to get my carpet replaced this year, not really a resolution, but it is a goal nonetheless. There are even more resolutions I know, but why overwhelm myself today with them all?