Advent Begins

Today is the first day of Advent.

We went to 7AM mass so that we could be at home for PawPaw, who drove out here for a meal. He is watching the Texans game while to food cooks.

Father Sean challenged us to find a situation where we can grow during this season of preparation.

Amazing how the Lord finds just how to get me focused on what is important. I am not going to get a raise. Not now and if I do get one in 6 months when I am re-evaluated it will not be retroactive. Nope, not even going to bring me up to the first quartile of pay for my position. Needless to say, I was pissed and disappointed.

But now what to do? I have put in an application for the Methodist Oncology unit. That position will start interviewing in December and the position starts in March. I am looking at what else it out there.

And most importantly, I am leaving the angst and worry to God. It is really hard, to stop thinking about how the perceptions of me as a hard-ass got out there. I mean I know there are people I don't like to work with but I have always been courteous. Not happy, "how are ya'" in your face joyfulness but pleasant and cooperative.
I keep finding myself searching for that moment where I let my emotions go overboard when I was at memorial City and cannot locate one item. So frustrating to be held to a perception you didn't even know about.

I am going o really apply myself to the image that they want. For me to be 'engaged' with the administrative staff. I am going to take the classes on communication. I wall bend over backward to be friendly and personable. And I will try to do it knowing God and my family loves me and that this is just a small moment in the world. Remind myself that it could be worse and be grateful for the many blessing that I do have in my life.

I think that this is an opportune moment to work on those things that can bring us closer to finding God's will in the world.

Where will you grow towards God this Advent Season?

Heaven, I'm In Heaven....

It is official I am a geek, nerd, dork, whatever.

The highlight of my weekend and week was going to Barnes & Noble Bookstore this evening.

Totally bad move on my part because I can never get out without dropping some cash on these people. I mean, seriously, my kids need to get a job at this place for me. Not that they aren't half the reason why I have no money. They usually end up with more than half of the financial blame. There are two of them to the one of me. And Vernon doesn't count since he doesn't read.

I simply wanted to stop by to get two very specific books. And I had coupons for 50% off one and 30% off the other. Kindred in Death by JD Robb and Echo in the Bone by Diane Gabaldon. I made the mistake of bringing my brood with me.

Almost 1 hour and many dollars later, we walked out. Everyone with a smile on their face. Looking forward to some good reading. Although I think Vernon got the short straw as he got What Color Is My Parachute 2010 version.

Now we are waiting for the chief bean counter to log in our purchases so we can all get our grubby little hands on some good reading.

I guess it was a good thing we were only in there an hour, more could have brought us to the brink of financial ruin. I've got to start using that library card I've got!!

p.s. we have been given our respective stashes and off we go!!

Shopping For An Acquaintance

I find it incredibly difficult to shop for people. I feel like, yes, I know something about them, so I should base my gift off of that, but then I feel like it'll be lame.

Here's my top-five-things-to-buy-for-someone-that-you-don't-know-what-to-get-for-them list (yeah, that name is long.... We'll shorten it to TFTTBFSTYDKWTGFT...):
1) A gift card; If you know little details about that person and you feel like you know the perfect store for them, see if you can get them a gift card for that store.
2) One of those 20Questions thing-a-mah-roo's; NO ONE CAN DENY IT'S POWERS!!!
3) This is if you're OK with spending a little money, I guess: An MP3 player. No one can possibly hate music. If they do.... get them to a loony bin ASAP!
4) I know it sounds lame, and this is really for someone you know a little better, but one of those cheesy Coupon Books. You know, the ones that say cute things like a free massage and silly things like that. Or one of those mega coupon books that's got everything in it!
5) This last one can go either way I guess. If you know someone that's busy: A PLANNER. If you know someone that likes candy: ONE OF THOSE BIG VARIETY BAGS AT WALGREENS.

I just thought of this because we were discussing what to get people. I remember some Christmases where I seriously thought: "What on earth was [Insert Name] thinking?"

Truthfully, I have a general idea of what I want for Christmas:
Life Starts Now CD by Three Days Grace
Full Circle CD by Creed
Brand New Eyes CD by Paramore
A new MP3 player that's bigger and has more space on it with new headphones (preferably skullcandy), cuz mine suck!
And maybe a brother that doesn't steal my sh**. That's right. He wants my Paramore jacket constantly and today he wore my pyramid belt. Ugh! WHY??? I understand very much that I'm cool and I have awesome stuff, but I'm mean, JEEZ!!

Hot Chocolate

Yesterday morning Amy made a cup of hot chocolate, but it was so hot she did not have time for it to cool off before she could drink it before she left for the bus.

Some wonderful mother transferred the drink into a disposable cup for Amy to take with her to the bus stop. Nice and steamy, keeping her hands warm in the 40 degree weather. And a BIG smile on her face.

This morning Amy made the hot chocolate, leaving room for some cool water to make it drinkable. Oops, she then added too much cool water so the hot was more like tepid chocolate.

No surprise, she drank it anyway. Really now, it was chocolate. And this is Amy we are talking about.

Shoes

Now, I know you're expecting me to start talking about how much I love shoes or something similar to that.

Wrong-o.

Shoes is my version of the S-word when I'm not completely angry. You know, just one of those moments where you realize that you're in a little trouble.

Yeah. Guess what that moment is.

If you said something with WHAP in it, you're pretty spot on.
I just looked. I have a 76 in that class for the beginning of semester because I made a 70 on the test. SHOES! Not funny. I know you're probably extremely bored with this crap-ola and you probably won't want to read any further now that I've brought that monster into play. And along with not finishing reading this post, you won't comment. Which I completely understand. :) I get it--I'm boring and consistent. Thanks.

I took a Julius Caesar Test today (thank GOD that thing people call a play is over with!!!). I think it went OK. Of course, that's what I said about the WHAP test that I failed. I also took a The Once And Future King quiz today right after the test and that wasn't as bad.

I have a test tomorrow in Chemistry. Oh, boy, Charlie. Oh boy.

I don't understand what's wrong with me. I thought that test was gonna help me. But it just dragged me back under the water. Crap. She's insane. That's all I have to say. I studied. She's insane.

Not Gonna' Happen Today!!

I am not going to forget to take the deposit to the bank that I keep forgetting since Monday.

I am not going to forget to call my mom and wish her a super birthday!! Happy Birthday, Mom!! (that doesn't count)

I am not going to forget to leave work on time, so I can get to the bank for the deposit before it closes.

I am not going to forget to keep my spouse awake so we can update his resume.

I am not going to forget to get my grocery list together so I can gracefully pop into the store this weekend and grab what I need in a jiffy. (well maybe more than a jiffy)

And if I were realistic I would let the spouse matter just pass quietly under the radar. **sigh**


What is not going to happen in your world today?

Little Things That Piss Me Off

I'm sitting at my desk at ten o'clock at night, finally finishing my Power Notes. I get into class this morning and guess what.

NO FLIPPING POWER NOTE QUIZ! >:(

In fact, we're not having one all this week. I spent my entire Sunday save Church and Confirmation and breakfast at Denny's, doing the idiotic Power Notes that she doesn't even want. What. A. Flipping. Retard.
I just looked though. I have an 82 in that class as opposed to a 77.

I spilled some juice on my shirt and it's stained it as far as I can see. I really don't mind spilling stuff on me (well, OK, maybe a little cuz I feel like a hobo sometimes), but the fact that it's on my boob and makes me look like I'm emo on my boob bothers me.

This one doesn't piss me off as much, but our AP, Mr. Orsak, is EXTREMELY awkward over the announcements. By the end of the announcements, my entire Health class has laughed at least 5 times at him.

I also really hate the fact that I wake up with different bruises and miscellaneous cuts all over me and DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY CAME FROM. I don't know how one can be that unconscious, but apparently, it's possible.

You know when you're opening a bag of chips? And then that horrible squeaking overcomes the opening process and that's all you can listen to until you open the dang thing? HATE THAT! That and the fact that they give us Styrofoam trays at lunch and metal rows to scoot them along. When I hear that, it's like I'm eating Styrofoam and it drives me insane.

When you go to push the Tab button or the dash button on the keyboard and end up pushing Caps Lock or a random number or equal sign. GRRR.....

Oh, and have you noticed that if you go to a public bathroom, the floor always seems to be wet or the counter space next to the sinks is wet or there's at least ONE paper towel that didn't get to the trashcan. Cleanliness should be a law....

People that talk while someone else is talking...

UGH, SHLEEMS! Or people that think they know what they're talking about or what someone else is talking about AND THEY REALLY DON'T!!! *cough cough KIM cough* >:(

HAPPY TIME:
I love the song Check Yes, Juliet by We The Kings. That and Metro Station has really gotten in my head. They're great, though, so it's OK.

Ashley will be coming with us to the Renaissance Festival!!!! WOOO!

That's all I can really think of, so....
Hope YOU'RE having a good day (not that I'm not, just a little annoyed at certain things). :)