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Greeting cards have all been sent...the Christmas rush is through....

Ah...sitting here with my Entenmann's New York Crumb cake slightly warmed with a pat of butter melted on top and my cup of milk, ready to update this thing with what is new in my life.

Just updated the books for Wood Stock and the store has done the best this month than it has any other month ~ as it should being the 'season'. My biggest hope for it is that business doesn't come to a standstill after this week. The positive comments that Steve gets when folks come in makes me hopeful that they will return again soon and not just NEXT Christmas season.

Yesterday was only a half day of work which was nice because I already had my annual 'woman's exam' scheduled for the morning and was glad I wouldn't have to play catch up too badly upon my return. As it was, the work load was light which was a nice Christmas gift from the bosses! But I didn't have a wonderful experience getting my initial vitals from the nurse there at the dr office. While I knew my weight was over 140 lbs, it certainly was NOT the 150 lbs she announced it was! I told her I think that scale was off at least 3 lbs! Oh well. The worst part was after that when she took my blood pressure, she said it was high and that the dr may want me to watch that (by using one of those free blood pressure machines at the drug stores). My blood pressure was 150/80. What is it with the 150!!?? I honestly think she didn't read it correctly. She was talking a little bit when she was taking it and I just am not thinking she read it right. Maybe it was high because I was still peeved at how much she said I weighed? All I know is that my blood pressure historically has been low. When I finally saw the gyno (luckily I took my Good Housekeeping in with me because the wait in that examination room alone was over 30 minutes), I asked her about it. She didn't seem nearly as concerned and mentioned the 2nd number was more important. I told her that is usually in the upper 60's to low 70's...and she said 'then you're fine'. But I am going to find one of those stupid machines this weekend just to see for myself because I need to know. I'm also PMSing it and the tailored shirt I wore yesterday was a bit tight on the arms too, so I dont' know it that might make a difference too. And these dr offices can't fool me anymore into thinking once I'm in the examination room...it won't be long now. They think that they have all the patients fooled by doing this, giving us false hopes that she'll be in here any minute now and I won't have to wait any longer in this stupid excuse for a gown!

Of course I haven't been to see a doctor since oh...I think 4 years or so. But aside from the allergies that I KNOW I have (because when I take the over-the-counter meds for it, they get better), I don't see the need to go to the doctor. I still exercise practically every day if you want to count the play time out back with the dogs (still do my exercise tapes 3 days a week of course). I am not considered overweight and am not keen on a lot of meat. I would eat even less meat if I wasn't married to a 'meat and potatoes' kind of man.

I did venture out to the store last evening and got a bunch of ingredients needed to bake this weekend. So today will be some cookie/bars baking time which I will start on shortly. Also waiting for Dani to get back from college by dinnertime. It will be nice having her home again. That college period is such a weird transition for both kids and adults. They are sort of on their own, making their own daily decisions from what time to get up, to what to make for dinner and all the decisions in between and after. But as a parent, I want to still think of them as my kid who is coming HOME for the holidays...and not just coming for a short visit before returning back to her life of sort of being on her own at college. At any rate, looking forward to her being here and spending some time together.

Hub is at the store already. Hope it is a banner sale day for him as he may catch a lot of last minute husbands buying gifts for their wives. Would like to sell some jewelry !! Off to bake...

Only 8 days until Xmas!

I'm just spending time on here waiting around for Stac to finish getting ready. We're going to hit the new movie theater in town. Woo hoo!  We're going to see Eragon (not to be confused with Aragon  ). I thought that might be the best one to see on the big screen. There are a few others I wouldn't mind seeing either so maybe when our other daughter gets back in town from college, we'll get to see a few more.

I took my mom Xmas shopping this morning to try to help her finish up. I'm not nearly done myself but I like to go by myself so I can dart in and out of stores as I please.  My mom is nearly 80 and so slow as she goes is more her pace.  But she got it done and is happy and is back home now (probably taking a nap).

I did formally end my contract with that going nowhere mortgage outfit.  Too bad that it didn't work out with them because the system was all in tact...it was just the boss and the lack of loans and the lack of direction, and slow pay...that's all.  What was I complaining about? :)  I billed him for one loan that closed but I'll be surprised if I see it.

So now I am on the hunt to get a new client. Someone who needs help with processing and wants an underwriter to look at everything and make sure more loans close than not!  There's got to be someone out there like that.

I did get most of my Xmas cards done by this morning but I ran out of cards so I'll have to get more. And I still have to get my bro's and sis's gifts mailed out to them but that is where I'm not done shopping yet either.  Maybe I'll go tomorrow depending on what's going on.

Well we're headed out here shortly. Later.

 

 

update

Okay it has been a while since I wrote here so I thought I'd catch up a wee bit.

Had the folks over for a crock pot roast beef since I know my dad has really been hankering for it.  They finally just got their oven fixed (needed a new thermostat) but I invited them over anyway.  Just becauses it is fixed, doesn't mean it will be used any time soon.  So anyway it was a pleasant evening and I was glad my Dad finally got his roast beef. 

I can't believe that Xmas is almost here.  I haven't really done much shopping yet but most of the relatives we are going to give something from either the store or my lia sophia stock (except for the kids). So ...shouldn't be too hard this year.  The whole family is coming to town so it will be nice seeing everyone again.

Once again I am waiting to get paid from that part-time work I do since once again I did not get paid by the end of the month.  When (if?) I get paid I think I am going to look for a different broker or banker to underwrite for.  I can't rely on anything in terms of production and it is very difficult to keep putting effort into loans that don't go anywhere.  Anyone out there need an underwriter to process your loans for you?

This weekend is a winter dance concert thing at Stac's school so that will be nice to see her perform.  I think my folks are coming too. It will be nice as I know Stac likes them to see her some times.  They didn't come to any of the football games that she performed at so this will be the first time they see her this year.

Things at Wood Stock finally picked up this past week and thankfully there was enough profits to pay the rent out of for once.  Hopefully it will continue to do well through Christmas.  If it can't do well during this time of the year then when else will it? 

Well that's it for now. 

 

 

Must I always have a TITLE?

Sometimes I sit here for a few minutes just trying to come up with a title for an entry. Since I treat this as more like a diary, a title every time seems rather ridiculous.  So if you start seeing NONE in the title it means I just didn't feel like making one up. 

Let me see if I can catch up on things.  This past week with work was not great because the systems were down most of the time and the only really good work day I got in was Monday.  Tuesday is when the problems started and Wednesday was not much better.  I don't know how much billing time I can put down since I am contract and not an employee, I may not get paid anything for those days since I didn't do the minimum required work - even though I was willing and able to and constantly checking to see if I could work.

So Wednesday I ventured out to buy the ingredients to make an apple pie with Stac to take to Dani's for Thanksgiving. I was going to just buy one but since I was pretty much at a standstill with work I thought it might be fun....forgetting that everyone in town also was going to the grocery that day~!  I was lucky  to find a parking spot and lucky for me I got in line behind someone with only milk to buy at a 'just opened up' register.  So it really wasn't too bad and could have taken me a lot longer.  

The pie turned out wonderfully!  Stac did all the crust work including shaping it very nicely in the pie pan.  I cut up the McIntosh apples and together well like I said it was great.  Looked store bought or even better! 

Turkey day we drove up to visit our college girl Danielle as she took on the challenge of cooking her very first Turkey. I 60000000000000000000000000900o <--- -this was Kaci (dog) typing with her nose.  Anyway I was so proud of Danielle as she cooked a perfect turkey meal!  She did something many first time brides try to get out of as many years as they can.  It was nice seeing her apartment too.  It is cutely decorated.

We let Stac stay and visit her and I'm meeting them later today to pick her up. I did get some bonus work to do over the weekend which I know sounds strange because the systems were down but I decided not to bother doing any yesterday. I will work on that today.  Yesterday I actually relaxed the entire day!  I did not do laundry or any housework (except the dishes) and was on the computer some but mostly watched movies on TV via the free cable internet channels.  I saw Private Benjamin which I hadn't seen in a while and most of Jurasic Park.  I also walked to my folks house to actually sit and visit with them for a while.  I didn't take any of the dogs either to give myself a break from that too.  That felt weird because I am rarely walking outdoors without being attached to a leash that is yanking me this way or that with a dog at the helm.  It was rather nice that I could actually look around without the fear of tripping over a leash!

The folks enjoyed the visit and I tried to help my dad with some computer things although I did NOT have my reading glasses with me.  I did a few things but then told him I'd have to have my glasses to help him any more.  I did get a chance to look in the local paper to see if Obi (our newest adopted dog) made it in there from a visit to a pet store last weekend.  There was a reporter there and he did take a picture of him.  I found the shot in the paper but they used a picture of two scotties with Santa instead of Obi.  I was disappointed but maybe that picture didn't turn out...who knows.  At least I didn't miss it altogether since I dont' get the paper.

Well today I will get my work done and tomorrow may go check in at Wood Stock.  Hub had a decent amount of folks in yesterday but NO SALES!  :(   What a bummer.  We thought for sure being Black Friday...but nope.   Maybe today.  Everyone according to him said they'll be back...but we know how that goes.  I told him he may want to tell people that seem to be looking at one thing for a while that it is the only one we have in stock and probably wont' get any more in , so if they want it they should get it today.  Just trying to think of ways to prompt people to buy.  I am not interested in percentage off sales yet either.   We are not Walmart but a specialty store and really can't afford to offer discounts.  Hopefully today he'll get more sales.  

At least by having the store we can do most of our own Christmas shopping there (at our discount)  ;-)  for family and the rest I hope to do online so I don't have to go to crowded malls. 

Another beautiful day out today!   LOVE IT!!

 

Sunny Day!

Even though it is cold out (50 degrees right now) the beautiful blue skies of Texas still amaze me and I will never tire of them!  My mother prefers a few puffy clouds in the sky like huge cotton balls, but ever since I can remember I've liked pure blue sky as far as the eye can see.  That is what I call 'my kind of day'.

Anyway, I should be starting to work on something.  Between my mortgage work and my lia sophia party I'm trying to close out for a nice lady in one of my yahoo groups, and the items I still have to price for Wood Stock, there is always work, work and more work to do.  It amuses me when my hub asks me what I have planned for the day.  I could just play the same tape over and over to him.

But this I do vow.  When the new movie theater opens up here in town I am going to start going more often!  I mean my life can't be about just work and nothing else. It is hard sometimes though because I feel like I am on a mission.  I am on a mission to be the financial fortress for at least the next 6-7 years when Stac has graduated from college and I can finally breathe a financial sigh of relief.  I am trying to take care of my kiddies until they are out on their own so that they don't graduate from college already in tons of student loan debt.  And so although it may appear to anyone who knows me and not really that many do because I dont' get out much...I may appear to be a work-a-holic...the fact of the matter is I am a person who is riddled with responsibility and embrace (don't know that that is the right word for it) the duties that I am bound to and have been ever since the birth of my children.  Even when I was married to their father, I felt like if I wasn't the glue that held everything together, all chaos would break loose. 

This is the reason why the tv programs that I watch are such an important past time for me.  Without them I'd be working all the time, feeling like I had to do something to make some money.  My favorite is Grey's Anatomy. That is just absolutely #1.  Used to be Desperate Housewives but not any more.  That show took on too many twists and turns although I do watch it every Sunday.

My hub does laugh at the fact that I really like Friday Night Lights since I don't really care to watch football although I do enjoy watching Stac's highschool games.  They are actually pretty exciting.  I told my hub that I like the coach in Friday night lights and have liked him ever since an old TV series that didn't last long (that was even before Early Editions). It was something from back I think in the 40's or something. Anyway he is Kyle Chandler and I just always have liked him ever since then.  Found out his birthday is the same as mine too! :)

Next week is Thanksgiving and I actually do have no work on Thursday OR Friday.  So I will be forced to relax (we'll see). We are going up to visit our daughter in college for Thanksgiving. She may be cooking a turkey but I told her anything is fine. We can even go out and eat somewhere that is open.  It will be nice to see her apartment and visit her for the day.  If it weren't for Instant Messenger we'd hardly ever communicate as she doesn't care to talk on the phone and she knows she can generally find me on the computer most of the time. 

Well going to get a bite for breakfast and get to work.

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