Wow - I am WAY behind!!

What an eventful month and a half! Finished my 3rd semester marketing class with flying colors, hosted a great Christmas Party and bought a new vehicle (have a good "car" friend who gave me a GREAT deal). . . now I'm getting ready to start classes again; continue with the "one-day-at-a-time" body reshaping plan; and starting my own business in part-time customer service business consulting (i.e. mystery shopping); hopefully moving into bigger and better things within the next 2 years. My home is **hopefully** going to get insulated within the next 2 months so I can start saving on my energy bills (and take advantage of the tax credits or rebates). I am once again volunteering for Smart Energy Living Alliance (SELA) in getting our booth ready for the Colorado Garden and Home Show. I'm pretty proud of it, since I once again came up with the original concept (basing it on feedback/responses we had at the booth last year). Kristin helped to fine tune it and Alex helped by finding the sponsors. It's going to be pretty cool - you know I'm all about energy efficiency in the home. The CGHS is Feb 7-15 this year - I'm pretty excited for it this time, especially since I don't have to be there nearly as much as I was last year. My feet and back will be thanking me. . .soon, I hope!

This will be a challenging, opportunistic year for me - I truly believe that; yet, I really wonder what is in store for me at work. Although my boss is giving me the chance to get out among the customers and do some training, I still feel like I'm being held back. It's been confirmed by the old AND new boss that I am very good at what I do and could excel at whatever else I would choose to take on; sadly, he just isn't ready to give me that sales job yet. Although we filled one territory manager position at work, another one "unfortunately" became available when that TM was let go (he is a VERY smart guy). I told my boss that I would take the territory in a heartbeat, but he just laughed it off. It didn't make me feel very good - I'm not sure how to take it yet. So instead, I am immersing myself in other "related" opportunities by making myself more invaluable in my job - I feel pretty safe in saying that I'm not in danger of being layed off.

I was given the gift of a great compliment from my friend Connie who said that I was one of the reasons (she said "the" reason, but I'm not so sure about that) for her coming out of her funk a couple of years ago. A couple other friends have said that if it weren't for me, they'd probably still be only homebody's. One of my best friends is in a weird spot right now with her mom being sick (mom was moved from El Paso to Denver, but Boots stresses out each time her mom goes into the hospital - each time could be "it"); had my "come to Jesus" with her - I will no longer let her go into the "hermit" phase each time she gets a phone call from her mom or gets done with another bout with the hospital. She's stressed and gets depressed. That's not who she is, she's my "sports buddy" and a good friend - I won't let her get that way anymore. Now, if something happens, I'm kidnapping her to someplace we haven't been yet so she can either talk it out if she wants, or get her mind off of things for awhile (although she ends up talking about stuff and I'm OK with that, too). I don't want my friends to go into that "dark" place - it'll take me with them as I worry for their sakes, too. Life is just too short and there is too much to do and see to be sad all of the time!

So, in contemplating 2009, I have to ask myself. . . what are my goals? 1) As always to lose weight; however, getting myself healthier is more important - it will be the stepping stone to the rest falling into place; 2) get in 18 credit hours (2 classes per semester) this year for school; 3) meet 25 new friends/future networking contacts; 4) don't let the way I think I look keep me from meeting someone special in 2009. We all want to improve our appearance; but there is still a point where we can't let magazines, blogs/posts to other social networking websites or even people's opinions dictate how we feel about ourselves - the biggest caveat I put on myself. 2009 WILL be my year - I can feel it!

Today, I went to Jill and Joel's house for a "First Year Living in the New House" BBQ/game day. It was fun as always hanging out with everyone - I didn't realize that they lived so close to me. . . just south of Hwy 76 off, west of Pecos. Not quite a 10 min drive. They are having the Superbowl Party at their house - that will be a fun day as well. Maybe the temp will be in the 60's like it was today! We also have our Dead Pool Draft next week. . . I better get going on the research!

I'm on Facebook now - didn't think I'd like it all that much, but there are really more adults on it than kids (although I am on the "friend list" of several of my friends kids). I've heard from some people I haven't talked to in a really long time, which is pretty cool. I hope to find more friends as people get onto Facebook. If you haven't tried it, think about it!

Hope this is a long enough post - I'll really try to do more than 7-8 posts a year, I promise! (PS - sorry this seems to run together - now matter how much I edit this, it won't separate my paragraphs out!!!)

Kitchen Pictures

Before . . .

Right now . . . (after is gonna take a few years)

Stay tuned. . . .

After-Thanksgiving

The evening of Thanksgiving, I am normally looking at ads, deciding what I am going to try and "dive" for at 5am. Not this year. Have to hold back and keep the spending down to a VERY dull roar - actually, more like a peep. Announcements came out at work that there is now a salary freeze through next year. That, coupled with the new 401K program in place, my dispensible income went into the negative numbers! That's OK, though. Things will only be like this for a year, so I just need to hang tight and hold my wallet tighter. It's really been tough with Kiel not working right now, its now back to what it was back in October when he first came - I have no money since I have to feed him. The kid gave me some money when he had a job (a months worth), and does know that he will have to pay back rent once he does find a job. That will put a crimp in his spending; however, I have to recoup what I've lost thus far in groceries and higher energy bills. I wish I could be of more help to him - however, even if I did have more to spend, can't say I'd do anything differently. His mom didn't teach him to be responsible for himself. I will say for Kiel, however, that he is somewhat aware of the cost of living - I know he won't stiff me. Guess I'll just wait for a chunk of money to come my way when he does find a job. It'll be money to go into savings when things get REALLY ugly. . .

I spoke with my grandmother on Thanksgiving, as well as a couple of my uncles. Always nice to chat with the fam. It's getting harder and harder to talk to grandma - however, she still has a sense of humor. Each time I ask her how she's doing, and she says the same thing. . . "I can't see, I can't hear and I can't walk - but I'm just fine, honey!" I'm not sure of a tone of voice to use when talking to her on the phone - if I am too loud, it messes with her hearing aid; if I talk too softly, she can't hear a thing. Heck - when I talk normally she can't either hear or understand. Wish someone would come out with a better telephone for the REALLY hard of hearing. Heck, I'm sure there has got to be something out there - I just can't find it because it probably costs an arm AND leg. I keep the cost of legs out of my searches. It's a bummer that I can't afford to get out to see my relatives this year, I've made it a point to go to OH for either Thanksgiving or Christmas each year for awhile, now. Really, I'd like to get out there a couple of times a year, even if it is for a long weekend. I will get to that point soon - just have to be patient.

I'm hosting the Senate Christmas Party this year - Connie and I really want it to come off well. It's been our hope to get more people there; those that wouldn't come in the past due to where it was being held. It has gotten a little expensive for me. Even with the little bit of reimbursement I am getting, it's still quite a bit to come up with. But, if it is a success and we manage to get some old timers there we haven't seen in awhile, then it will be well worth it to get to hang out with my friends during the holidays.

With that being said, I have some phone calls to make. . .

OK, so it's been awhile!

I'd say I've been busy, but it's probably more like lazy in getting my next entry onto this blog. Sorry about that! It's been an interesting couple of months. September was a time to re-evaluate what my priorities are with this new investment. The funds to spend on this place pretty much depleted, I am just collecting items here and there until I collect enough to get Brandon out here to do a day's work and get a bunch of projects done. I still need to get the rest of the outlets changed out - I've tried to electrocute myself a couple of times already. My boss gave me a gift certificate for $250 for helping to do some selling at work, since "technically" I'm not allowed to earn spiffs, bonuses or anything of the sort for sales. Anyway, I'll be using that to purchase a vanity for my bathroom, and hopefully get that thing operational by month-end so I can have my own "bathroom" space again.

My nephew Kiel moved in with me on September 29th when I picked him up at the airport. He flew back from Orlando, where his mom and he went after a mere few weeks in Morgan City, LA. They left that place right before Hurricane Gustav's eye went over the town , right on the gulf coast. Kiel doesn't like the humid climates so much and couldn't get the rest of the money he needed for school, so guess he decided to come back, get a job to save some money and get a car and make the rest of the money he would need for his "underwater welding" school. He gives money for rent, but sits around the house too much right now - all he does is watch TV. However, if I give him something to do, he gets it done without question (unless its "how do I do that?"). All around he's a good kid - he has things to learn, so we still have some work to do.

The most significant thing that has happened within the last month is the death of two friends. One was expected, but one was WAY too sudden. My friend Stephanie's dad was diagnosed with cancer of the liver this past spring. Once that diagnoses happens, it is inevitable that the person will not survive. I've known and heard of many people passing anywhere from 1-3 months after that type of diagnosis. He really outlived what the doctors likely predicted. I didn't know Charlie really well, but talked with him many a time when they came down to Denver to visit Steph. A nice guy with strong opinions about politics and life. He and Kay (Steph's mom) were avid hunters - Kay apparently getting the biggest of any elks between the two of them. They had the opportunity to go hunting one last time around a week before he passed away - but didn't get to stay out long as Charlie was getting weaker and weaker by the day. At least he had the opportunity to enjoy his love of the outdoors one more time. I went to that funeral on Oct 10th.

On October 2nd, I learned that my friend Kim was in the hospital via a phone call from our friend Connie. I got there and was told that she had cancer, albeit at the time it wasn't known how bad it really was. She had a mass on her spine and one on her lung. Kim went into the hospital that Monday evening because she couldn't move her leg and her back was hurting so bad that she couldn't sleep. Her daughter Kyrie, who was living with her, took her to the hospital. Apparently, Kim had been having problems for a couple of months; however, she was on Kaiser insurance, so her doctor just sent her home with painkillers and that was all. I guess they did an xray at one point, but the positioning of the masses and how they were taken didn't show anything, and the doctor didn't try to go after it another way. At the hospital, they did a CAT scan and MRI to find the problem. They started her on radiation Thursday and Friday, but since those folks don't work on the weekends, she wasn't going to have treatments then.

I called Kim that Friday to see how she was doing, and she was OK at the time. I traveled to Grand Lake for the weekend with the people I work with to have a relaxing couple of days - I would highly recommend the Rapids Lodge to anyone that decides to go up there, its a great place and inexpensive compared to all of the other places. I took a few hours by myself and traveled past Kremmling to see Monika and Tom Carey. Wow - what a view they have from their home! It's a small place, situated on a hillside next to a grove of aspen trees. They have HUGE windows all the way around the house, so you can really see everything around them - a valley and a beautiful mountain range. I can't imagine what it must look like when its snowing - that has got to be just the prettiest place when there is any type of weather going on.

When I headed back down the mountain that Sunday morning, I encountered a combination of sunshine when leaving Grand Lake to cloudy and snowy going over the pass (and then sunny again) downhill from Winterpark. There wasn't more than a dusting of the white stuff on anything, no accumulations as was originally predicted. I stopped by the hospital for a couple of hours to spend some time with Kim - she was having a hard time breathing, gasping for breath constantly. While I was there, her "main" doctor (he called himself the organizer) told her that the mass on her lung was stage 4 cancer and inoperable. They would still do the radiation if she wanted to see if they could keep shrinking the mass. She had to mull over it. I had to go, since my mom was in town and coming to my house that evening. Kim had told me earlier during my visit that she didn't like being along, so I felt bad for having to leave at that time. I came home, did some cleaning and got my mom settled in. No more than a few minutes after we got home from having a quick bite to eat (around 7pm), I received a phone call saying that Kim had gotten worse and that I should come back to the hospital. I went down there and stayed with the girls and Connie and visited with Kim until around 11:30pm. I had taken Monday the 13th off, so I was back at the hospital by 7am that morning. Kim's mom and sisters flew in during the early hours of Monday morning, so I had the chance to meet them. Several things took place during the day that were hard to deal with. . . a lot of tenseness between Bob (Kim's soon to be ex-husband) and the rest her family. I stayed until around 7pm that night then went home to spend a little more time with my mom. I went back immediately after work on Tuesday - they had moved her to the hospice area of the hospital. She was pretty much out of it, having difficulty sleeping comfortably, but still sleeping the entire time. Bob's mom got in that night and spent some time with her, and Kyrie decided she was sleeping next to her mom and not leaving her side for the rest of the time she was in there. Kim passed away about 2:30am on Wednesday morning, almost exactly 12 hours after Charlie died. Wow - hadn't had that ever happen before. I met Connie and Kim's sisters and mom at the hospital that morning - they were going to have a "last goodbye" with Kim. I couldn't bring myself to do that, it's not the last thing I want to remember about her. So we went to breakfast and then I went back to work.

Now I take something that Connie told me to heart - live like you only have 7 days left on earth. I can't say I've been good about doing that, though, but I keep that saying with me and work slowly to aspire to it. Everyone should.

Almost Labor Day Weekend

And boy - will I be laboring! I have had some work done today to my abode, things that have needed to get done for weeks. My new countertop, sink and garbage disposal went in today, which was the BIG event. Now I can finish getting my kitchen done! Also getting some other things done like a few outlets and switches replaced, light fixtures replaced, and some minor plumbing done. Saturday morning I'm painting and moving stuff out of the living and dining room so carpets can get cleaned and I can move furniture in - FINALLY!! Getting tired of eating dinner either while sitting on living room floor, at desk or in bedroom on tray in my chair.

Boots and I are going to the "Taste of Colorado" tomorrow night. We learned last year that Friday night is the time to go to see all of the booths and such - its not nearly as crowded and everyone is in a good mood. By mid-day Saturday, workers are hot, tired and grumpy! It'll be fun, then we might go again later in the weekend to see a couple of bands we'd like to listen to. I have a BBQ to go to Saturday evening, then Sunday and Monday will be spent organizing and going through more containers/boxes.

Pics will be forth coming soon - I promise! So stay tuned. . .

The DNC - Why, Oh Why?

You know, I have to admit that having the DNC here isn't a bad thing, no matter how much I don't believe completely in the Democratic Party's belief system. It is actually quite fascinating to see all of the people, the celebrities and mostly how folks think of our Mile High City.

Last night, I hung out with Boots and Sharon to watch the "going's on" of the 16th Street Mall. We sat at the Capital Grill at the Sheraton (formerly Adams Mark) hotel, which was just southeast of all the action. The only celeb site-ing I had was of Carlos Mencia - and I only recognized him as he was wearing that blue and black tunic length soccor jersey he always wears. He was across the street and my camera phone wasn't working, so couldn't get a picture of him. Anyway, I sat and listened to stories that Boots was telling and their Friend Paula (who used to work for the Denver Business Journal, but moved away around 3 years ago) were sharing - Paula was here for another media outlet she works for in another city, I think she said in Wisconsin. It was very interesting to hear first hand from journalists what they saw and experienced - and the things they REALLY saw that haven't been portrayed quite truthfully by the News/Post.

While we were sitting there, we saw several protestors just walking the mall; even protestors that protested protestors. Now THAT was funny. . . after an hour and a half, we decided to mosey on down the mall, getting blockaded by a bunch of SWAT members in full gear. They were apparently expecting a nasty mess with some protestors, but everything actually came off peacefully. I tell you, these guys were ready for anything! While we were waiting for Boots (she was trying to take pictures with a dead battery in her camera), Sharon and I met this guy from WDC. He was looking for change to put in the meter. Told us that Denver is by far the nicest city he has been in; said he attends some huge security conferences, and the facilities here are far superior to most he's been to. That was a nice thing to say - for a democrat. . . just kidding :)

Let me again say that although I'm not a Democrat, you can't help but kind of get caught up in the pageantry of this event. Those that are smart will truly emerse themselves in knowledge and learning why they believe what they believe - whether Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Green Party, etc. Having a vast knowledge of all areas can only enhance your current belief system that much more. I've actually thought about attending Ralph Nader's Rally tomorrow night just to say I went. Although I'm a Sean Penn fan in the sense of his acting, I'm not a fan of him on a personal level. It seems as though he thinks he can affect current foreign dignitaries - even though they have openly laughed behind his back. Anywhoo, he will be there with Val Kilmer - haven't heard him try to speak - it would be interesting to hear their reasons for supporting Nader.

Near the end of the evening, Boots, Sharon and I walked to the MSNBC makeshift studio where Michelle Obama's speech was being televised. The sound was WAY off of the video, but in a different way -you heard the words BEFORE she said them. Kind of weird. It's just ironic that she "is proud of America" when she apparently only became that way a mere few months ago. Sorry, but no matter WHO has been President of our country - I've always been proud of America. We are still the power center of the world, even though we have things that we need to work on. So "blah, blah, blah. . . " and that's all I have to say about that (in a Forest Gump voice).

I'm hoping that Boots will have some pictures that I can post on here (since, again, my camera wasn't working right) to show you some of the things we saw that YOU won't see in the news. Again, have to say that decorations were cool - Denver really did a great job in showing off our city. Just hope that doesn't equate to more permanent guests - although I can live with the occasional part-time resident. In the meantime, check out http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/ to see some different pics, stories and blogs. I'm going to get ready to watch The Daily Show - his first taping was today (wish I could have been there).

A Dreary Day

I took the day off from work to go to WaterWorld with Kirsten - of all days, when we've had 90+ temps, it was around 65 and rainy. . . BIG bummer. Was really looking forward to using my "Hyland Hills" card, which gives me a large discount on going there since I live so close (4 blocks). So instead, went and got my new driver's license then we went to see the movie Momma Mia! It was really a cute movie, but I'm sure even Pierce Brosnan has decided this is the last time he's ever singing publicly like that. Not only does it not fit his persona, but it just didn't sound right. Doesn't make me like him any less, he's still one sexy hunka man! Just don't sing :) I'm really a Colin Firth fan as well - most of the characters he has played have been pretty humble, un-assuming types. Don't know why I like that about him, but he's a cutie as well. It's that dreaming thing that gets in the way I guess.

After the movie, went to the Scandanavian Furniture store - they sent me a postcard to get a free pillow, I was in the area, so what the heck? Moving into a new home and new neighborhood gets you lots of coupons and the once-in-a-while freebie, so who am I to not take advantage of their kindness? I'll use it for the spare bedroom. I also went to the Homegoods Store (part of TJ Maxx) - it's my new favorite home store! They had an original picture that just screamed "put me on your wall!!!" So that's what I did - bought it, and I'll hopefully get it on a wall soon. It has the perfect color combination to compliment my bedroom, so it'll be my first piece of art I put up. They had tons of great looking mirrors and other pics that were very reasonable - even some lamps that I liked (missing light in this place - gotta fix that soon!).

I've been looking for a plum-colored bedspread, but it's just not in any store's color selection this year. Bought a comforter set last weekend, but I haven't taken it out of the bag yet - not convinced that I like it yet. Waiting for Shannon to come over and let me know if it will work out with the whole color scheme. In reality, if I'm not thrilled about it, really need to just take it back. Maybe I'll do that tomorrow after I get my books for school.

Y'all have been asking about seeing pictures of the place, so I do promise to take some more and get them posted very soon. I expect to get some done tomorrow. Again, still a lot to get done, but at least you'll see some progress.