So much had changed

Wow, so much has changed since I posted last.

I left the hot dog job after 11 years and now I'm a manager at a photo job. Yep... I've taken a full-time photography job. No, I haven't given up on court reporting, but I have to earn a living while I wait between tests. So, not only have I left the comfort of the hot dog job, I'm actually the boss at the new job.

To tell the truth, I never wanted to be the boss anywhere. I like being a worker bee. However, one thing I've learned as I've looked for a full time job is that I'm over-qualified to just be the worker bee anymore. So, now I'm the manager and I get to learn how to be a boss and run a studio and manage labor and hours and all that stuff.

Beyond the new job, not much is new. Kitties and I still hanging in there. Hopefully now that I'm back to one job, I'll be in the blogosphere more often and keep everyone updated with my ever so exciting life.

Money, money, money...

I know money doesn't buy happiness, but a lack of it surely is depressing.

I've been semi-unemployed for quite a while now. It was originally a choice -- quit my full-time job, cash out the 401(k), and live on the proceeds while I finish school. The money would last about 9 months -- a year if I was really careful. Ah, the best laid plans....

In reality, I didn't pass the test I needed to pass to become a court reporter and the tests are only given twice a year, the money ran out, and the economy sucks. Finding another full-time job has proved quite challenging. At the end of the summer, things looked promising. I went on several job interviews and several second interviews. Unfortunately, I was second choice on all of the positions, so I am still looking and there is really not much out there for an administrative assistant.

I am fortunate that I have the portrait photography to fall back on and I'm doing that part time (in a different, more healthy environment for a different company) and my old job part time. It pays the bills most of the time.

No, I'm not just whining, there is a moral to my pity-fest.

Through it all, I have learned that yes, I really do want to be a court reporter. It's not going as I planned, but the rewards will be so sweet. My perseverance will pay off. I've learned that I have lots of people who are rooting for me (as well as a few who enjoy watching me fail, but I've learned who those people are and have weeded them out of my life). I've realized that God does provide in some pretty amazing ways.

So, nearly a year off from blogging and my life is pretty much the same as it was before. Not what I expected, either. But, I am another year wiser, another year stronger. As an acquaintance of mine is fond of saying... every day above the grass is a blessing.

Day 1: November is here again...

Well, it seems that it's NaBloPoMo again.

So, I'm catching up with blogging. Let's see, since my last post, I took the RPR written exam. I passed it. It wasn't nearly as bad as I expected. I think the bad state exam had me scared that the RPR exam was going to be just as bad.

I've been to Houston. The Women of Faith conference was amazing. As always, it was good to see Moma and Daddy. But, at the conference I got to see Sandi Patty. I love listening to her sing. Daddy took care of the cats... and he didn't even turn them lose.

This morning I took the machine portion of the RPR exam. I kind of just looked at it as the "dress rehearsal" for the machine part of the state exam in January. The lit and jury charge parts were good. The Q&A portion blew me away, but that was honestly expected. I typed up the tests and felt really good about the lit, okay about the jury charge, and not hopeful about the Q&A. So, if the theatre addage of a bad dress rehearsal leading to a great performance, I'm set.

I think tomorrow I go back to work at the photo place for the Christmas season. I think that will be fun again. I've had a break and I miss it. I'll be done with it by the time the end of December, though. I have to qualify for the state machine exam by November 26. Oh, yikes, that is two weeks earlier than I thought. Okay. I guess I have to buckle down even harder.

Busy, busy life I have!

LIfe... or something like it

Wow. I didn't realize it had been so long since I wrote a post. Life is a little nuts right now and unfortunately, blogging has become the last thing on the to-do list and has just not gotten done.

Let's see, since last we spoke, I've had my sister C for a weekend visit, started the new quarter in school, worked a little, gotten over the cold/allergy thing, and probably more things that I can't think of right off the top of my head. Upcoming events are just as hectic. I will take the written portion of the national court reporting exam, go to Houston for the Women of Faith conference, take the machine portion of the national exam, work a little, go back to work at the photo place for the Christmas season, attempt to qualify for the January machine exam for the Texas state court reporting license... Yep, life is crazy right now.

My weekend with my sister was great and relaxing. I know she was a little disappointed in not getting to see a couple of friends, and honestly, so was I, but we got to spend quite a bit of time just shopping and visiting and just spending time together. I know it's a bit selfish of me, but darn it, a part of me was kind of glad I didn't have to share her. She flew back to Albuquerque early which meant we had to go to the airport at the butt-crack of dawn, but other than that, it was a wonderful few days.

This week, I have to really buckle down and get a bunch of school work done in a short time and prepare for the national written exam. I'm very frustrated about it because I can't seem to find out what is ON the exam. The NCRA website lists the exam as having : reporting (48%), transcript production (44%), operating practices (4%), professional issues and continuing education (4%). I don't think they could be any more vague as to what exactly is going to be on the exam. Oh, wait, I could buy their study guide for a couple hundred dollars. I've talked to others who have and was basically told it is a waste of time and money. Oh, well. I'm pretty sure I have an idea of what to study. If I pass it with a 70, I'll be happy because in the grand scheme of things, if I need to know it, I can look it up when I'm working in the "real world."

So, blog posts may be pretty sparse for a bit, but hopefully, once the craziness that has been October is over, I'll be back to my fun-loving, sarcastic self regaling my 7 readers with tales of singledom and my cats.

Busy, busy week...

It's the last week of school and my written state exam is on Saturday in Austin. I'm nervous, but not overly so. But, because of the test, I'm not going to get weekly winners done for last week. I'm also not going to be able to get many (if any) pictures this week. So, I'm going to cheat a little and show off PJ's little guy and my Miss A and Little B for this upcoming Sunday's Weekly Winners. I promise, I got some really, really cute shots. :)

The visit in Dumas and Amarillo was fun and bittersweet all at once. Friday night, I stayed with Grandmother and Granddaddy B. I had a great visit with them, but also saw how confused and frail Granddaddy B has become. It is heartbreaking to think that the man I've always seen as so strong has become so... old. Grandmother, on the other hand, is feeling better and better with the pacemaker. She said she wants to start walking for exercise even.

Saturday I had breakfast with G&G B and then was off to Dumas to see PJ and A. He is a cutie. It was a good visit with her and her family. It is always surreal to go to her parents' (mom and step-dad) house where I spent so much time as a youngster. The neighborhood looks the same, sort of. The trees are bigger. Her dad and step-mom are still weird and act like I'm an imposition on them. Oh well. I don't have to see them very often.

When A went down for his nap, I headed to Sunray to see G&G B again. Grandmother wanted me to come to the house. She wanted to know the things I wanted from the house. She said things like, "when the house sells..." and "when we move..." which are things she's never said, to me at least. I know she has her hands full with Granddaddy and that the this would come, but it is the bittersweet part of the trip.

Sunday I spent with A&D and their kids. Sis A and I went shopping for an outfit for D's sister's wedding. We found an awesome dress and shoes -- ON SALE. You can't beat that! When Sis A went to handbell practice at church, Miss A and Little B and their daddy and I played at the playground for a while then went to have ice cream. I got to put them (or help put them) to bed. I even got to read Miss A a bedtime story.

Little B and I got to hang out at Gran and Grandaddy C's house while Sis A went to a meeting. We played and played and had a great time. After Miss A got out of school, Sis A, Little B, and I went to pick out Little B's Lighting McQueen cake for his third birthday. Then we went back to Gran and Grandaddy's and shortly thereafter I had to leave to come back home. The trip home was uneventful. I didn't have any unplanned stops this time. (It had been YEARS since my last 'unplanned stop' by the way.)

I so want to move back up that direction. I miss everyone and wish I cold spend more time with them -- especially the grandparents. Well, I guess the test this Saturday is one more step in that direction.

Back to the Same Old Grind

Vacation is over. Back to work. It's Monday. Yuck.

No exciting hail storms or any tornadoes on the drive home like last time I came home from Amarillo. The most exciting part of the driving actually came on Saturday night. I hit a coyote and tore up my front bumper. To tell the truth, I felt really bad for the coyote and was upset about killing a living creature until I saw the damage to the front of my car. Stupid coyote.

I'm going to go to the body shop today and a second one on Wednesday (have appointments for the estimates) to see how much damage was done. Then I'll call the insurance company to find out how much my deductible is and then I'll decide what to do about it. Probably nothing until Moma & Daddy get home from the UK. I did run it through a car wash when I filled up this morning to get the fur and remaining blood off. It creeped me out to see it.

It was a relatively uneventful yet educational vacation excluding the coyote. I found out so much about the actual JOB of court reporting and I also found out how much tort reform has hurt the field of court reporting. There are still jobs available and it is still a great career, but not as lucrative as it was say, 15 years ago. It was kind of scary while at the reporting firm in Amarillo because several jobs cancelled and it was a slow week for them. That and with the contract position not coming about, I was a little scared about finding a job when I get finished with school.

I may not get to move to Amarillo immediately, but Boss Reporter told me about a firm in Lubbock that had an opening, so I called them this morning. They had just bought another firm and are looking for at least one full-time reporter and a couple of part-timers. They took my name and phone number and told me to definitely keep in contact. He said that the firm is busy all the time and their reporters are super-busy. So, yay!! It's funny that their full-time scopist is a CRID student also. She's in her 180s.

I've got a million and three things to do at work today and don't feel like doing any of them. I really want to just go and practice on my machine to get my speed up. I really think that my internship, even though not 'official' per the school, has lit a fire under my hiney. It proved to me that I do want to be a reporter. I can do it. I am going to be good at it. I'm excited about it.

On a lighter note, I had fun visiting with all of the grandparents and A & D and the kiddos. Uncle J, as always, was a gracious host and let the kitties and me crash at his house. I got to paint small toenails (and am assured by many friends I've told about it that painting Little B's toenails green won't warp him irreparably). Miss A's toenails now are pink with a purple flower on the big toe.

Monday, Monday...

Weeks tend to just tumble on top of one another these days. Not having any days off makes for a jumble, honestly.

So, to catch up a little... I had my interview last Thursday. It went well. Basically, I have a position for me in January. It can be as a reporter or a scopist, that is up to my ability to get certified. I'm really hoping to qualify and pass the September test, but since they're offering them four times a year now, I can take another one in January, so that wouldn't be so awful. I tell you, it is a huge, huge load off of my shoulders as to what the heck I was going to do in September.

We didn't officially talk money. She does know how much I'm making here and I said I'd have to make that at least as a scopist. Then again, with one job possibly ending, I don't have much choice in the matter, really.

Speaking of September, Boss hasn't really decided what he's going to do with the office when the lease is up. So, I may get to keep working here, I may not. I don't know. I may end up with only a part-time job, in which case, I'd have to do some serious thinking about finances and what the heck I am going to do.

The Photo job boss asked yesterday when I was taking my annual "break" this year. Unfortunately, I don't think I can afford to. What is the deal with the price of everything? Ugh!

So, that is me in a nutshell these days... a cracked nutshell. Nothing profound. Nothing extreme.

The rumors of my demise have been greatly exagerated

Okay, so maybe there haven't really been rumors to that effect, but it did make for a great title. And, since it's been a while since I posted...and well, I just have an odd sense of humor sometimes.

So, I'll start with the haircut. I'm such a chicken. I did get it recut, but I didn't go back to the same person (or even the same salon). I just went to Great Clips because I'd already paid for one expensive haircut and I figured whomever cut it couldn't do anything worse unless she shaved my head. I explained to the lady what my original "vision" had been for my hair. She looked at it and with disbelief said, "Hon, it's not even close to that." So, we cut about 2 inches off of the length to shorten the longest layer, she totally had to re-layer the entire back because I had a straight line across the back of my head where the shortest layer was. She blended the layers to make it look good and blended the back layers into the front. So, it is not at all what I orginally wanted, but it does look much, much better. And, it will grow.

Last weekend, I halfway planned to go to Amarillo on Saturday to see Granny B since she had been diagnosed the previous week with an aortic anneurism and was not doing well. I spoke with Moma about it and she said it wasn't really necessary, so I just kind-of lounged and enjoyed my Saturday with nothing to do -- a rarity in my life. Sunday morning, however, I got a phone call from her requesting that I come up. A couple of phone calls (one to cancel plans I'd made for Sunday and one to Boss to say that I'd not be in on Monday), a few things tossed in a backpack for me, the kitties stuff packed and them harnessed and leashed into the back seat, and we were on our way to Amarillo.

I unloaded the kitties at Uncle J's house, got them settled and went to Granny's. When I got there, the family had gathered, and as is Southern custom, there was lots and lots of food provided by Aunt C's church. I saw Granny and was a little taken aback by how frail she looked lying in the bed. I hugged her and we visited for a moment. She, at that moment to me just looked tired and done. She was visiting with a friend, so I hugged her again and told her I'd see her later. I hung around with the family for a while longer and then went to Sis A's house to see the kiddos (you thought I was going to go to Amarillo and NOT see the kiddos? Ha!!). I spoke with Moma on the way to Sis A's house and she said I should go back in the morning because Granny is better of a morning.

The next morning I got up, visited with Grandmother and Granddaddy B (who happened to be at Uncle J's because they had doctor's appointments that week) and went to see Granny. Moma was so right. She was up and around and we chatted about nothing over a cup of coffee and an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger. A Bit of normalcy in an anything but normal situation. Still, she had the same look in her eyes I saw so many times when I worked at the nursing home... that tired, finished look.

After an hour or so, she was tired and wanted to rest and I had promised Miss A a game of Pretty Pretty Princess, so I hugged everyone goodbye and headed to Sis A's house. (I went back to Uncle J's loaded the cats into the back seat with a litter box, water, and a blanket to hide under.) We (Sis A, Little B, Miss A, and me)played our game and Miss A won, of course. Then we went to lunch with BIL D. (my car was parked in the garage, so the kitties were fine.)

The drive home was relatively uneventful. As I left Amarillo, I noticed a thunderstorm building in the distance. Since it's spring, I didn't think too much of it. I think I even commented to Moma on the phone that I was heading toward a thunderstorm, but didn't think it would amount to much. Yeah, well, I was wrong. I stopped in Chillicothe (Chill - uh - coth - ee) because Maxie was getting restless and I needed to stop. I gave him a snack and then got on the road again. About Quanah, I needed to stop, so I stopped at the Safety Rest Stop (TXDoT program that's pretty cool, actually that has Wi-Fi access, play grounds, inside bathrooms, etc.) to go potty.

As I got back in the car, I heard a Thunderstorm Warning issued for Willbarger County and Wichita County. Yep, that's right where I was headed. Not five minutes later, a Tornado Warning was issued for Willbarger County, specifically Elektra. Yep, that's the next town I was going to be in. It was still a few minutes away, so I figured I was okay and kept driving. A little further up the highway, I hit the rain. Not bad rain, but thunderstorm rain. No big deal, really. That is, until I started noticing the hailstones along the roadside and then the ones hitting my (relatively) new car. They got bigger and I got scared, so I called my Mommy.

Bless her heart, she calmed me down and told me to keep driving I would be okay as golf ball to baseball sized hail bounced off my car and the highway and I screamed that I was scared and when they hit the car. I was afraid they were going to come through the windshield or at least break it. When I thought I couldn't go any further, she told me it was okay to stop, so I looked over my right shoulder to move to the right lane and then to the right shoulder to stop. That plan was short-lived, however when I noticed the funnel cloud that had been rotating in the clouds was now picking up debris on the ground pretty much right beside my car. Moma's comment? "Well, keep driving, then." So, I did.

I stopped again a bit later to calm down and relax my shoulders and to look back at this HUGE thunderstorm I'd just driven through. I got a couple (four to be exact) of dents from the hailstones, but otherwise came through unscathed. The rest of the trip was boring in comparison, thank goodness.

Then on Tuesday, I started back to school. This quarter, I'm back to full-time and I'm doing it online. I'm not so sure I really did anything right as far as reporting my hours last week, but hopefully it will get easier and I'll be qualified for the State Exam soon. The only problem with online is that I really now have no free time. I just keep telling myself it is a means to an end and it is what I really want to be doing. And it is.

Daddy stayed in Amarillo with Granny and his family into last week. Hospice care and a hospice nurse comes and helps with the medications, etc. Come to find out, Granny's COPD medications were not being administered correctly. By the time he left, she was feeling better and was up and eating more again. So, I don't know what is going to happen there in the short term. Hopefully, nothing.

That is my life for the past week. Basically, it's as boring as ever punctuated by moments of high excitement. And, wow, if you've made it this far, I'm impressed.

Finally, I want to say a special Hello and Thank you to my Sis A. She happened to be the 1500th visitor to my little piece of the internet!

Happy April Fools' Day!

Actually, this post won't have anything to do with April Fools'. I'm catching up on the weekend and the post I planned to write yesterday, but just didn't get done.

My sister C came to visit over the weekend. I think it's safe to say that a fun time was had by all. We visited friends, ate, visited with more friends, shopped, visited with friends, ate... well, you get the idea. It was a two-day shopping, eating, and visiting extravaganza.

Let's see, on Friday we met an artist friend of C's. She is super nice and after looking at her website, super, super talented. Then we shopped downtown Grapevine and went for pedicures.

Saturday we went to Ft. Worth to visit friends, then to lunch at the Magic Time Machine with S, S & Little H. I can't believe how fast Little H is growing. He's nearly 2! We bonded over Giant Crayons and "more lights" while C and S&S visited. Then, after lunch, we shopped some more at Southlake Town Square. I even bought a super-cute new linen skirt for spring and summer.

Finally, we went to dinner with R, A and their daughter, A at Babe's Chicken in Roanoke. It's the original and, in my opinion, the best of the Babe's Restaurants. Last year, the four adults stood in the street in front of Babe's and did the Hokey Pokey (a tradition at the restaurant) while R&A's daughter looked on (at the age of 4) with embarrased horror. She claimed this year to not remember it. Fortunately/unfortunately, it didn't play while we were there this year, but there was a baloon guy there who made A a little pink poodle from a balloon.

I always enjoy when C comes to visit. We get to chat and catch up on things, but I also get to see her friends. It's funny, but I'm only acquainted with these folks because C comes to visit them, and generally, I only see them once a year, but it's fun to watch their kiddos grow up and change. There's even one couple that I've "known" since their wedding day to now having a *gasp* six-year-old! I do really enjoy these folks and a couple of them really wish I got to see more often. Then again, I wish I could see C more often too!

So, now I just have to figure out how to get A & D and their two down here... let's see. There are two zoos in the area. There are amusement parks and water parks. We have a mediocre baseball team, but games are still fun. (Hey, A, I know you're reading this... hint, hint!)

Twas the night before Christmas...

Home again for the holidays. I actually got to the Panhandle on Saturday after driving in a headwind the whole way... ugh. The kitties and I made it fine... tired from the trip but glad to be here. Went immediately to see the kiddos. Little B and Miss A are just too cute. Little B is talking so much more now than Thanksgiving. They do grow up so fast.

Every year since I was a small child, I've gotten to basically celebrate the 12 days of Christmas. With 3 sets of grandparents and family, all holidays were/are generally whirlwind affairs with lots of food, fun, and presents. Yesterday I had Christmas with my sisters and parents in the afternoon and with 2 of my three brothers, both sisters, parents and the spouses and children that belong to each. Sometimes it amazes me how truly redneck my family (that part of it, anyway) really is. You never know where the conversation will go when my brother G is around. Yesterday, his girlfriend/significant other/common-law spouse-type person, L, was telling us of G's latest -- showering with his shotgun. Yes, naked in the shower with his shotgun. He swears it is the only way to go, cause it is completely clean now. Yes, you can laugh and roll your eyes, we all did (including L!).

Through the food and laughter, presents were opened. I am a hero to Miss A because of the Bunny Slippers. Aunt C is also a hero. She got Miss A a tutu that plays a portion of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake when she moves. Miss A immediately changed into her tutu and bunny slippers and we were regaled to her fairy dance with Tchaikovsky's accompaniment. Little B got lots of presents and seemed thrilled with everything you got him and a bit surprised that things were for him. I love Christmas with children around. Their absolute joy and wonder at gifts and the need to try it on immediately or play with it immediately. You can't beat it.

Today, Christmas Eve has been a bit more subdued. C, her hubby P, my parents and Moma's parents spent the day together and visited and ate (yes, lots of food around during the holidays in my family) and went to the candlelight Christmas Eve service at G&G C's church. It is always a fun thing to do. We did make Grandaddy take off the oxygen during the candlelight portion of the service. Blowing up the church didn't sound like a very Christmassy thing to do.

Now, I'm back at Uncle J's house with him, C&P and G&G B. A quiet evening is planned. Tomorrow will be more food and family and a few presents, I'm sure.

But, I want to take this few moments to say to everyone, Merry Christmas.

King James Version (KJV)
Luke 2
1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

A new day.... a new blog.

Since the other blog was all about the wedding and getting ready for it, I decided to start all over.

The title pretty much sums up how I feel about being a grown up. Sometimes it amazes me that I'm closer to 40 than 20 now, but time marches on. I really am an awful grown-up. I would do much better, I sometimes think, if someone still told me what to do and how to do it like when I was a kid. But, if I remember correctly, when I was a kid, I resented being told what to do and how to do it. And so that is the dichotomy of life: Kids want to be adults, rushing headlong into the adult world and all that that entails, while adults wish life were "simple" like when they were kids and strive endlessley to hold on to youth and all the things that that world entails.

I am not really trying to hold on to my youth ... although I do plan to fight the signs of aging tooth and nail (moisturize, moisturize, moisturize and wear sunscreen!!) ... I just really suck at being a grown-up with all the bill paying and the working and the day-to-day stuff that being a grown-up means you have to do.

I guess for those who read my old blog, I should update what happened..... P got married to M. They went to Fiji for their honeymoon. Live in California and are very happy. I can't believe it has been a year already since they got married, but alas, time flies. And no, I didn't go out there and meet a great single guy at the wedding. Actually, I worked my butt off helping P get ready for the wedding for the week prior. The wedding was beautiful. The reception was full of life and excitement. Step-monster didn't create any scenes at the (or events leading up to the) wedding. All-in-all, everyone was very well behaved. A beautiful wedding in a beautiful vinyard. Happily ever after.......


What has been going on with me.... well, not much and a whole bunch. I no longer share a house with roomie.... she's ex-roomie now. It was strange, she stopped talking to me in November, moved in with her parents and was very hostile toward me. I got the heck out of Dodge (no offense to my family members who actually DO live in Dodge) as soon as my lease was up. Funny thing is, she actually got mad at me for moving out! She hadn't spoken a civil word to me since November and was pissy when I said I was moving out. I don't know. She hasn't spoken to me since. End of that chapter, I guess.

I now have a great apartment that I share with my "guys" (two cats) and we are relatively happy. Well, I'm happy and since the guys know where I sleep and they haven't smothered me in my bed, I'm assuming they are happy.

I'm still in court reporting school. I have gotten to the next speed level, so I'm closer to my goal. (Please don't ask when I'll be getting out of school.... I don't know.) Still working for the same company.

Still not dating anyone. Gave up on eHarmony. And that is basically my life for the past year in a really quick nutshell.