Old Friends

Do you have a friend that you don't see or talk to all the time, but when you do get a chance to talk it's like you just saw each other yesterday?

Well I do, and I just got back from having lunch with her. Her name is Vicki. She has been a friend of mine since the first day I started at Commercial Federal, ages ago, Ok well not ages ago, but a good 11 years ago. And from almost the first day we were friends. Maybe not Besties, but still friends. And over the years as we worked at CFB together we planned to work there our whole lives, and live next to each other and raise our kids together. Well the only thing that we have come close to is living next to each other, and even though it isn't in the same neighbor, we live less then 1/4 mile from each other. Her Subdivision is kitty-corner from mine.

We don't get to see each other often, and she can't get emails at work, and she has 2 kids at home so when we do talk it is usually a quick, hey I was thinking of you, and just wanted to make sure everything was going ok, yup, here is a quick 5 minute run down, of what is going on with me, great we have to get together soon. BYE.

So we were texting earlier this week and decided to get together for lunch since it had been a while since we had seen each other. (Oh yeah I should probably mention her husband was my boss when I walked out of my job at the bank. And we are still friends. And her husband doesn't think I'm an too bad after all that. ) So we met half way between her job and mine, and had a good hour lunch where I think we actually talked and laughed more then we ate. She just has the bubbly personality, and has a way of making me feel so good about myself. And we see the world thru similar glasses so we can see where the other coming from.

It put me in a great for the rest of the day. Thank goodness most of the boys are gone now so they can't ruin it.

25 Random Things

This is something going around on Facebook and I got tagged in it by an old friend from High School, and if you are my Facebook friend chances are I tagged you. It was kind of fun to do, and kind of hard to come up with 25 Things. So Please go ahead and try it on your own. I would interested in find out what your 25 Things are.

Rules:
Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

(To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people, then click publish.)

1) I am a big romantic. (The fairy tale, the prince on his white horse all this stuff)
2) I love to watch sports, not big on playing them anymore.
3) My biggest fear in life is that I will never get married and have kids.
4) I couldn't imagine life without my sisters 3 kids.
5) My favorite Alcoholic drink is a raspberry Martini (thank you Cheesecake Factory for introducing me to these)
6) I LOVE to cook and bake, and host dinner parties, (I think I was Betty Crooker in another life)
7) I hate back stabbers, Tell me to my face whatever you have to say about me, and I will do the same to you.
8) I never used to miss the people that I went to high school with, but now that I have reconnected with a lot of them thru Facebook I do. (I am so totally not just saying that because some of you are reading this it is completely true)
9) I have a huge extended family that is completely dysfunctional, but that I absolutely love.
10) I think looking good is more important then being comfortable, unless I am on vacation.
11) I love shoes and purses. Frequent shopper at DSW, and online shoe stores.
12) I have a blog.
13) I still keep in touch with my best friend from high school, Gayle Lenz! And have for many many years.
14) I love playing my Ninetendo DS, and Wii!
15) My dream job would be organizing and planning big events.
16) I miss dressing in business clothes for work. (I work for a concrete company totally casual)
17) I always have music playing.
18) I am a picky eater.
19) My favorite color is purple.
20) I have 3 nicknames Tah- Tah (any kid that knows me and no it isn't because they can't pronounce my name it actually comes from a long time ago), Bear (my mom), and Hank (my dad)
21) My hair is my natural color (very unusual for the women in my family)
22) I love anything with chocolate.
23) My toenails are always painted
24) Other peoples feet freak me out.
25) I love Italian Food.


OK I think that is it, now it's your turn.

In this note: Amber Eckes (notes), Sheri Chrouser (notes), Adrienne Banaszynski (notes), Allie Skelton (notes), Ashley Skelton (notes), Natalie Schuler Felhofer (notes), Paula Schuler Dreyer (notes), Bethany Gorski (notes), Heather Nadolski (notes), Shawn Bauer (notes), Cedrick Dorsey (notes), Gayle Lenz (notes), Todd Andersen (notes), Heidi Schwantes Walker (notes), Candy Spindler (notes), Deanna Schuler (notes), Sara Heike (notes), Theresa Cain (notes), Becky Belmont Klein (notes), Ruth Belmont (notes), Jodi Truchon (notes)

Why I love my mother!!

My mom has been in my life for almost 32 years now! And many am I grateful. She is a pretty awesome mom compared to the mom a lot of my friends have and I am well aware of this. Of course she is a little OCD when she has people at her house, (sorry but you are)! We don't always see eye to eye. But come better or worse she has always been there for me. She has said that ever since I could tie my own shoes I didn't have a need for her anymore but the truth is I have always needed her, because she is my mother. I might be independent, but that is because I learned it from her. Every time I went to her with a problem she would try to get me to see the other side, and she has said more times then I can count "Bear, I can't tell you what to do. Only you know what is best for you." Sometimes I just want to scream "But I don't know what to do, otherwise I wouldn't be calling you!" But in the end she is always right. I need to figure things out on my own, and the lessons have been tough, and sometimes painful, sometimes fun, and wild, but she is right in the end I am the one who always has to chose my path.

So she totally blew my mind on Friday. I called her very innocently to talk about a book that I had borrowed from her from one of my favorite authors. And we started to talk about other things, and we happened to get around to Toby! This is a guy who has broken my heart Oh too many times for me to remember the actual number. Now in his defense there was only one that was probably really his fault. And what I mean by this is that most of the time my expectations and emotions where not in line with his, and because of this I got hurt. But last year when he hurt me was not my fault. And when I decided to give him another try in November the one person I was truly afraid to tell was my mother. I knew how much she hated him in her protective motherly way. But she was ok with it. And then when things went south this time she didn't once say I told you so. Instead she completed shocked me! As we were talking first she said she knew when it took me a week to decide to give him another try, she knew I wasn't in love with him anymore, and that maybe I shouldn't complete turn my back on him. (of course I am paraphrasing right now). But I was like what!!! She said she thinks he doesn't know how to be in a relationship (which is true he has had very bad experiences in the past, and didn't see good examples from his mom or day) and that because of that I should give him some help in learning how to be in a relationship. (Mom is that right? That is how I understood it if I wrong please let me know what your really meant).

But see that is what is great about her, even if she isn't happy with our choices as long as we are happy she will be happy. How many other people can say that about their mothers. Most of my friends moms meddle, and bully, and some have even disowned their children. So I guess I am pretty lucky!! Thanks Mama!!

Buddy's Birthday

Buddy turned 1 today!! For his birthday he got a bath, a new toy, and a new t-shirt. The shirt fits him perfectly. I wasn't going to get him anything, but the bath, but when I saw the shirt I couldn't resist. It says HERE COMES TROUBLE!! And yes this says it all about my dog!!

So in honor of his birthday here are some pictures of him





At Papa Kenny's house relaxing with me and & Mo Jo









Hanging out playing with a ball on the back of the couch at home







With Nana Sheri!










Playing in the snow!!







He is a lot of fun and definitely adds a lot of drama to the house. I think he was a actor in another life!!

Thank God

This is a new post I am going to try to do daily, yes daily. I have been in a slump, and a little depressed. Not sad so much as just having no hope, and thinking everything SUCKS! So I have decided that every day I am going to think of 5 things that I am thankful for. If you want to start this too please feel free to add your 5 as the mood hits!!

I am thankful
1) ... that all of my precious family made it to and from my mom's house last weekend for our Christmas.
2) ... I still have a job. (not because I am doing a bad job, but because every day on the news there are stories about more and more companies closing, or layoffs, or higher umemployment.
3) ... that I have more then enough food to eat, when there are many people who don't even have enough food to eat.
4) ... that I have been feeling healthy now for 12 days!
5) ... for blogs, and Facebook, they make it so much easier to keep in touch with the people you care about.

Thank Goodness

This is my first of two posts today. So if you read my previous post you will know what I am talking about, if you didn't for the sake of all that is good and right in this world WHY NOT?

I finally got a little help from a friend today. My buddy Todd, told Deb she can't work overtime anymore, and he made her leave when she hit her 40 hours. Of course I got the pleasure of hearing about this when she left, and then Todd came in and told me about after she left. Todd said he agrees with me about the hours things and he is going to do what he can to keep her at her 40, and if I want to start getting closer to 40 I could. Yeah Todd

R U Kidding Me?

So a year ago, my boss and I were talking about ways to cut costs, so I volunteered to cut my hours, but 5 a week. No big deal. I make enough at 35 hrs a week to live, and when I am sick it really helps out to not have that expectation on me.

So about 2 months ago I got nosey and started looking at the other ladies hours. She is working at least 4 hours of overtime a week. A week. She doesn't have anything pressing that she works on, so does not need to work overtime EVER!! I have more pressing things to work on every day, and I have never had overtime. When I was hired 4 1/2 years ago I was told I didn't need to work overtime ever!!

So how come I had to cut my hours and she gets to add to hers? Hmmm. I don't get it. So about a month ago I mentioned something to the general manager. And he said something to her, about it, and told her she didn't need to be working overtime anymore. She is the first one to be watching everyone else hours, and telling them they need to cut back. Why isn't she following her advice. So today I told her I was going to start working 40 hours a week again. At leasts for awhile to make up some money from me being sick for the last 2 months, and she said something about her overtime again. SO I looked she is still working overtime. Her 4 hours of overtime is more then $120 a week. That we don't need to be paying her. You know what she does during that extra 4 hours? Catches up on her shows that she doesn't watch at night. Yup you heard me right!! She watches TV!! She not even working. So we are paying her $120.00 a week to watch TV! Hmm that sounds like a good investment.

Measuring up

Last week my sister gave me an award on her blog, and I haven't gotten a chance to post it on my blog yet so here it goes.

It's about measuring up, and there are some rules to it, but I can't follow all the rules, but I will do the best I can.

Rule 1 - Say a nice thing to a man in your life.
Rule 2 - List at least 6 ways you measure success in your life.
Rule 3 - Assign 5 other worthy blogs

#1 I will pick my work BFF, Steve Cole. I don't know why, but I always call him by his first and last name. He and I just clicked right from the start. It has never been a romantic relationship, but we just like to talk, and have been there for each other when we needed a view from the opposite sex. I help him translate girl, and he helps me translate boy.

So today I told him that I was really happy for him that he found someone that makes him happy. ( He has had some really bad luck with ladies in his life, in the past, and a year ago he found some one really good). And that I was really glad that he and I were friends, because he is a great friend to have.

#2 Ways to measure success.... Wow that is a tough one. I don't really think about measuring the success in my life. A)I know I have a good job that pays the bills and leaves a little left over for fun, when I am not sick. B) I know I have a good relationship with most of my family, including the extended aunts and cousins, which as I grow older I know is a rarity. C) I have good friends, who are there for me when I need them, and I would like to think that is because I am good friend to them when they need. D) I get to do fun things when I want because I work hard. E) I have a cute and sweet puppy that is happy to see me, and would rather spend time with me then anyone else when they are around. I like to think that is because I am a good mama to him. F) And the most important to me.... I have lots of kids who aren't my own, but love to spend time with me, and that I love to pieces, and that love me to pieces. And not just because I am related to them. I have kids that aren't related to me that are the same. Kids are my greatest joy. That is one area where I measure myself as a failure. I don't have a family of my own, but I guess if I did I wouldn't be as close with the kids in my life. Megan, Noah, Morgan, Josie, TJ, Kaylee (not anymore, but at one time) Jace, and Garrison, Spencer, and Lincoln. They all make me smile, and melt my heart every time I get to see them, and laugh with them, and tickle them, and kiss them, and do all the things that make every day worth living. Thank you all for letting me spoil your kids in anyway I can.

#3 This is where I can't follow the rules. I don't have 5 blogger buddies I can give this award to. So I will tell you reasons I think all the blogs I do follow measure up.

Adrienne-- I love seeing the pictures of her little guys. They are so cute, and sweet, and everytime I see them I want to kiss their chubby checks. Oh how much fun it is to have them in my family.

Carrin -- She is my sister, and even though we don't always see eye to eye, and haven't always been friends, we do get along better now that we are older then most sisters I have run across out there. I think this is because we have had awesome role models in my mom and her sisters.

My Mom-- She is more then just a mom to me. She is a friend. She drives me absolutely insane some times (sorry mom), but she has been a great mom. She has taught me to be independent, and has never been over bearing. When ever I ask her for advice, she always tells me... Well it's your life I can't tell you what to do. You have decide on your own. This is something I try to pass on to the people I love in my life. She has been a great teacher, and great mother.

Paula-- The youngest of the aunts. She was more like a cousin then aunt to me. She took me in and let me live with her when I first moved away from home. She has 2 adorable boys, who crack me up. GB for some reason always wants to know if I will be at the family functions. because I have missed so many... And he doesn't know my name. He just knows me as Tah-Tah (this is the offically spelling now). He as great hugs, and a great little personality. Jace is a little less huggy, but he is a great kid too. Smart, and active, and always ready with a hug when I see him. She doesn't blog as much as the others, but I am sure she has just as much to say as the rest of us.

And I guess that is all. I would like to give a shout out to Anderson Coopers Blog on CNN. com. I read this every day, and I will tell if you are looking for a little humor, check it out. For the most part it isn't funny, but a couple of times a week Jack Gray writes a post, and he is very funny. I look forward to hearing about him and his dog Sammy who like to drink and smoke. Even if you don't read any of the other post look for his. I know you won't regret it.

New Year

It's the start of 2009. I have to say I'm not sorry that 2008 is over. It wasn't exactly the greatest year for me. There are a few things that I am thankful as the new year starts.

I am thankful that I still have a job. The world hasn't exactly been a stable place this last year. Lots of people are without jobs, and I am in an industry that doesn't fair too well in these times. Somehow we are surviving. At beginning of last year nobody was sure that we would still be around at the end of the year, and things haven't exactly been calm at work. I have been feeling like the lady I work with has been trying to intentionally cause trouble for me.

I am thankful that I now have the cutest, sweetest, naughtiest puppy I have ever met. Yes he is all three. He is so sweet. He loves to give kisses, and play. He crawls under the covers with me every night when we go to bed. He loves to take naps with me, on my day off. Every morning he loves to watch me get ready, and when I am done, and he knows it is time to go in the kennel, which he hates, he will walk half across the room, and give me this look that says "Please, please don't put me that place again." As I walk over to pick him up, and does this little I give thing, where he gradually goes from standing, to sitting, to laying on his side, to laying on his back so I can rub his belly. Then after I rub his belly for a couple of seconds, and pick him up, and he lays his head on my shoulder as one last attempt to talk in me to not putting him in the kennel. As for the naughty. Well he will do things that he knows he isn't supposed to do. And sometimes he will look at me right before he does them just to make sure I am watching. This morning he woke me up at 6 am. Not to go potty, but to move out to the TV room downstairs. I thought he wanted to get up so he could play, so I moved to the couch turned the TV, and he laid down on my stomach and fell asleep. Are you kidding me. We couldn't do this in bed? Then when he finally did wake up and started to play he went over to his water bowl, and must have been playing it, because he came over by me a couple of minutes later, and his paw was wet, and his face, was all wet. It was so hard to yell at him, because it was so stinking cute.

I am thankful that for the first time since I have lived in Iowa/Nebraska, I had a family holdiay. I have always felt like I got a raw deal, because my sister could never go home for the holidays, since she worked at the casino. And my mom always did Thanksgiving at her house, so we did things different then other familys. Last year I told everyone that I wanted a family holiday, and since it couldn't be Christmas, I want everyone to get together on Thanksgiving. And it actually happened.

Some of the things that happened that I am not so thankful for, are that I was sick. Really sick 2 times this year. I lost hope. I lost hope that all the things that I have been praying and wishing for would come true. Because of this I have taking steps away from my faith. The thing that has kept me ground. The thing that pulled me thru the darkest times in my battle with my illness. One of my favorite verses, has been Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for declares the Lord, "Plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope, and a future." Somewhere along the way I feel like God has forgotten the parts about not harming me, and giving me hope. Where are the promises He made coming true for me. I see them coming true for other people around me, but not for me. That makes it really hard to continue to believe He is on my side. It has been very lonely to walk thru this year without relying on Him, like I have in the past. Without talking with Him. Without seeing Him in all the little things from day to day. It has only been in the last month that I have been trying to walk out my faith again. I have been trying to recongize Him in my daily activities. I am trying to see His love for me again. I am trying to have hope again.

I do think God has been trying to help me grow thru all this. I think He let me throw my tantrum, but I think He and I both knew I would be back eventually. In 2009, I will try to have hope. I will try to get off my ass more, and be more active. I will try to get back to church. I will try to be the person I was meant to be.