We get by with a little help from our friends

It is amazing what talking to your best friend on the phone will do for your spirits and mood.

PJ and I have been friends since the third grade. We had a few years apart after high school when we'd gone our separate ways, but since our 10 year reunion, have rekindled a friendship that I don't think ever really went away. We'd be closer if we lived closer, but we do the best we can with her in California and me in Texas. All I can say is thank goodness for free nights and weekend cell phone minutes and mobile to mobile calling!

Since she got married and I got busy, we don't talk as much as either of us would like, so generally our conversations are between things when we can fit them in or marathon two and a half hour conversations like last night. It's funny, when we have the marathon calls, we discuss/vent issues in our lives, then we solve all the problems in the world (if only the world would listen to us).

We always end the phone calls smiling and feeling better for having talked to one another. It's nice to have a best friend.

The Camel Revisited

A while back, I mentioned that there is a camel in with a small herd of buffalo in a pasture on my drive to and from work. The camel just showed up one day and it seemed so out of place that it was funny and I began making up stories about the camel and his life with the buffalo.

It seems I'm not the only one who noticed him. Just a few days ago I saw a news story as I was getting ready for school. He got his 15 minutes of TV fame.

The camel actually has a name and his own story. His name is Teddy. He was a gift to the ranch. He's been at the ranch for about four years and they moved him into the pen with the buffalo so he could have some company.

Hmmmm.... so if I'm really following the lead of the Camel, I should be interacting more with the Buffalo... err, other people. I'll have to give that some thought.

I think it's the Winter Doldrums

I haven't forgotten about the blog... I've even come here a few times and stared at the computer screen looking for inspiration and a post. But, alas, none has come.

Life has returned to it's pre-holiday pattern: work/school/work/work/school/work...work/school/work. I don't want to sound as if I'm complaining. I have a job (two actually) and I'm grateful for that for the time being. It's just that it's likely my main job will be ending come September. It's a little scary. No, it's a lot scary to know that your job is ending especially when you hear all of the dire economic news and talk of recession and no jobs. I HAVE to get out of school. I HAVE to. I HAVE to do it by September. It is doable. I am practicing more (shhh... don't tell my boss, but when he's not in the office, I practice there sometimes when I've finished my work.) It's just I don't do well with unknowns and with change. It seems that is all that I have right now.

I am trying to look at the positives, though. As soon as I get out of school I get to move home to be closer to Miss A and Little B. That is just about as positive as it comes!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Okay, so I'm a couple of days late. Better late than never.

I actually had a very relaxing and peaceful New Year's Eve. I decided that I was going to have my own party and so the cats and I sat in front of a roaring fire (okay, so roaring is exageraging just a bit... but once I finally got it going, it was pretty), drank a glass of wine and watched TV until about 12:30 (that's what time the movie ended) and fell asleep on the couch in front of the fire with both kitties curled up near me. It was a peaceful end to a pretty good year.

New Year's Day was just as uneventful. I pretty much was a lump on the couch and loved every second of it. I did make a pork roast and had turnip greens and black-eyed peas and a salad for a late lunch/early dinner around 4:00-ish. So, I should have wealth and health in abundance this year... hey, I'll settle for health in abundance and wealth in "just over enoughs" if the truth be told!

I didn't really make any resolutions. I've got some goals for things I want to accomplish, but not really any resolutions.

So, for those who are my regulars, I hope you will spend the next year with me... I fully expect some big happenings and I'd love to have you along for the ride.

For those who may stumble on my little corner of the internet, welcome. I hope you find something interesting.