Mundane Monday.....Or Not!

I knew there was something I disliked about working for a national corporation......DEADLINES!

The end of the month is fast approaching and with the little training I got, my head is spinning.

Not just the deadlines, but due to some unforeseen circumstances, I have to make sure everything gets done, and I also have to hire someone new. My boss was going to do it with me, but due to a family tragedy, she will be unavailable.

And this is my dilemma.

Do you ever wonder just what God's plan is? Why mean, nasty people: thieves, wife abusers, murderers, child abusers live and innocents die? Why does God decide that one can survive to torment others here on Earth and the other, who's life is so valued by many, he takes from us?

My boss has a 19 year old son, who's girlfriend (18) died in a horrific car accident this weekend. She got a call late Friday night that her boyfriend was involved in a fender bender in Tallahassee while he was going to see her. He was not hurt, but the car was, and he was stranded. Being the person that she was, she immediately got in the car for the 7 hour drive to go rescue him. She was just below Gainesville when she encountered some very bad weather, lost control of her car and hit a tree. She was a talented, beautiful and caring young lady. I never had the pleasure of meeting her, but reading about her today made me so sad. Sadder yet (she didn't suffer), for my boss's son who is losing himself in the guilt, thinking this was somehow his fault.

We see so many horrible people in the news and some even in our daily lives. God's way makes so little sense some days.

I will never be so pompous to think that I deserve an explanation, but to see so many people suffer because she was so loved, hardly seems fair.

What think you?

What a Valentines Day!

Have you ever had a day that, at the end of it, you are not sure if it was good or bad?

Wow.

Today I had one of those days. I had to reign someone in and let someone go. I had to allow something new and disallow something old. I had to get decisive and unpopular, and I got to feel empathy and demonstrate all the qualities I hold dear.


I have very few pecadillos. I know I get pissy about 10 pieces of paper being held together with 8 staples, each one of which cut my fingers.............I digress.


I believe the only thing you can believe in is your own integrity.

I believe that a work ethic is something that is either in you, or it's not.

I believe that everyone has "issues" but if you are conscientious, there should be no conflict.

I believe that you should finish the work. Deadlines should never be an issue if you work smart instead of fast..

(Aside, I had an Eight Grade Home-EC teacher who told me something: I am a lazy person, therefore I strive to do things right the first time, because I am just too lazy to do it over again")

I believe that you work as a team. No man is an island, right?



I believe that if you like what you do, and who you work with, life is just easier. It is up to you, however, to be approachable.

I am so optimistic, and surely know that I have so much to learn. I think as long as my head and heart are in the right place. The "corporate" structure is no different.

Will it make me a better accountant/problem solver/supervisor? Not sure yet.


But you, will be the first to know!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(alright, right after "the other half" has the whole diatribe, in three part harmony).

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!!

Change at 40! (alright 42)

As many of you know, I started a new job last week, and since it is the Internet, I obviously cannot tell you exactly where I work. I am an employee in the vast media company known as Freedom Communications.

It's been an adventure, and a time of huge change for me.

I have always been a small business accountant. I never had an ambition to work for a HUGE company like this one, because I always thought that I would get lost in the shuffle, my talents wasted.

Yet, as of last week, here I am.


Getting here was an adventure in itself. I felt like my whole life was under a microscope. I had to have a background check done, a credit check, and a drug screening, just to see if I was even remotely worthy of working for this conglomerate.

Then the interviews, the signing of contracts, the endless manuals I had to read, the policies I had to review, and that was before I even STARTED my first day of work!

I was so nervous. How much was I really sure of myself and my abilities and my knowledge. How could I go from managing finances for a small business to manage a department in a network of thousands of people?

I will tell you, it is much easier to tell the owner of a small business that he just doesn't have the funds for his overinflated ambition, than it is telling countless department managers, Veeps and the like, that I need what they have NOW!

I was thrown to the wolves!

Not really, my boss is patient. Being at a remote office from mine, she has tried desperately to get a handle on things. She is my new lifeline and will probably end up being a good ally.

Intimidation aside (all those "really important people"), I have managed one week. I feel good about it. My talents, my knowledge and my sheer skill seems to be what they really were looking for (they didn't just appeal to my ego).

I will continue to ask you my friends and family to pray. At 42, this has been such a change, and sometimes I think I am just feeling my way instinctively. When my instinct fails, and my ability to "speak"accounting falters, I will count on God to show me the way. I have a talent, after all, only on loan from Him (sorry Rush).


I hope all of you have had an amazing New Year so far. May you have new adventures, and people who love an support you as I do.

The *@#&% Flu!

Ok, earlier this year, I had the opportunity to have a flu shot. I didn't take it. My thinking?

"What me? A FLU SHOT? Heck NO! I never get the FLU! I haven't been sick in years!"

Smartie that I was! Aside from my psychotic fear of needles, I don't much care for Doctors either, they HAVE the needles!

I took a nap last Saturday and woke up all out of sorts. I even snapped at Most Handsome! We went to dinner and the steak I was craving tasted like sawdust.

Most Handsome thought it might be a good idea to take my temp. What does he know? He's a (gasp) MAN!!!

Sure enough, Low grade temp (for someone who has a normal temp of 96.8, that is a big deal!). He promptly shuffled me off to bed with two extra strength Tylenol.



I will be starting my new job next week, and since I will be working for a National Corporation, I had a drug test on that Monday. Meaning, I could take NOTHING but Tylenol. Ugh the misery!

I spent Sunday in bed, and Monday morning, first thing, I managed to make it to my drug screening. I told the young lady doing the test that I had the flu. Needless to say (do people our age still use recreational drugs?) my tests were negative except for an abnormal (read higher than normal) glucose level. She eyed me suspiciously over her glasses and asked me if I had been drinking. My eyes misted over, as I sputtered out, OK OK, I CHEATED, I COULDN'T STAND IT ANYMORE I TOOK A NYQUIL.........OK OK, I TOOK TWO!

She took my temp, and for some reason found this very very funny. She gave me the all clear with the very stupid comment, "Drink lots of fluid, take plenty of Advil or Tylenol as you need it, even Nyquil if it helps you feel better, get plenty of rest and come back here if you don't feel better in about three days."

Like I was EVER going back there!

Today I can actually manage to sit up in bed for longer than ten minutes! YAY!!!!!!!!!

Moral of the story: TAKE THE DARNED FLU SHOT!

Julian's Battle

In your prayers today, please include Julian Michael Avery and his parents and siblings.

His little 4 year old body gave up the fight against brain cancer this week. He was with his parents.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Julian's name to:

Cook Children's Medical Center, 801 7th Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76104

Make A Wish Foundation, 1407 Texas St., Fort Worth, TX 76102

Julian's World future foundation, in care of Fellowship Baptist Church, 1600 N. Old Decatur Road, Saginaw, TX 76179.

Please go visit his guest book here.

If you would like to make a personal statement, please wear yellow on Wednesday, January 23, 2008. It was his favorite color.

Mimi, please know all of us out here in the blogging world's hearts are with you today.

New Beginnings ROCK!

For the love of my life Allen, and My Mother, and Mom and Dad, and Shari and Jim and Diana, and Jo, and my new friend Bronie, and John and Diana, and and and.......


I borrowed the headline from Bronie who inspired me this week with this:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)

You..... All of you...........are my inspiration, my friends, my family and my love.

Thank you all for your support. It was a rough time, but it ended well.

I forgot that God's ways are subtle, that He decides what He wants to remind you of, when you need reminding.

It truly is a New Year now. And for all of you, my family and friends, I hope it will be a great New Year, full of promise.


NEW BEGINNINGS...............ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From Childhood to Adulthood via PUBERTY!

Of all of the great events in my life, there are a few that I knew would come, but I wish I could put off like.............FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Feast your eyes on my darling daughter:








She was cute, wasn't she?




Well, as of two days ago, she is now grown. Well, biologically anyway.






I have always been open in speaking with my girls, but I didn't realize I would actually have to give them up to WOMANHOOD (ugh, shudder).



I did all the parental things, I have been open and honest, she is so beautiful, so self possessed, so AMAZING..........





Why couldn't I get to keep her little? Just for a little while longer? I am not ready to give her to this big bad world!




Ah well, like my Super Star would say: "Suck it up Mom, I had to grow up sometime. But I love you, and I will always be your baby".





She's DA BOMB!

Making Peace with the Past

Like most of you know, I went "home" this weekend.

And since this is a New Year, I will be the first to tell you, you may go home again, but don't expect to feel "at home". Let us qualify "home".

You have heard the sayings.....you know the ones.....Home is where the heart is! This is so true. My heart is no longer where I thought my home was. This weekend allowed me to realize that.

This is where my home is:

This is where I grew up:


It's beautiful, isn't it?

It's not home anymore. Let me show you what home means to me.

Home, to me is my Mother:



And My Aunt and Uncle:



And my dearest friend Shari:



And it's about My Most Handsome's Mom and Dad:


And it's about my Babies:




It was so fun to ride in this:



And acting like a tourist (yes, I got up out of the sunroof to take this) like this:



And you know we HAD to do this:


Because we left Harley at home....

But he missed us, so we had to come home and love him and shave him, and love him some more:





You will never know what life brings you, what great thing is just around the corner. Sometimes it kicks you in the teeth, sometimes it sneaks up on you.

In three short days, I made peace with a world I left. A world that was so beautiful, as long as you were either on the water or 6 stories above it. Street level, it just sucked.

I am who I am because of whom I have just shown you, I will always be who I am because I listened to them, instead of the allure of the city I love so much.

I am a tourist in my own home town, because I no longer understand it. I have made peace with my past.

All of you, My friends and my family.
You are my and my children's future.

As beautiful as the past is, it is a past that can only be viewed from 6 stories up.

Happy New Year!~!!!!!!!

Holy Cow!!!!!!!!

For those of you that know me, you know I never pretend, never hide and never shut my mouth.

What a day today.

I ended my job, had to get ready for a new one, worried about my Mother having not seen my babies in years, worried about my friend Sharon, dealt with Christmas, dealt with the kids, etc etc etc.........

Oh what a crock.

Tonight, I drove home in the worst rain storm ever. It was a sad day, and I so do not do sad (what a lie, I cry like a baby).

I had to say goodbye today to good friends, a job I loved, and then when I left work, .....

YUP, you guessed it...........a torrential rain storm. Just what I needed.

All the way home, I prayed. My Prayer:

Dear Jesus, just get me home to my babies safely please.

I finally got home, thanking God, and was about to back into my driveway when my phone rang.

My Most handsome Other half decided I needed a surprise (he is the most awesome). His line:

HONEY! Can you and the girls throw some clothes in a bag? I have to pick up a trailer (boat) from Ft Lauderdale, and I thought you all would like to visit your family for the weekend!!!!!!

Has the man learned ANYTHING in four years?????????

Me, female extraordinaire, Oldest Daughter ...female extraordinaire in the making???? And the Taters.......with Zoe?????????

Ugh, Hilarity at My house........

I am pleased to report that we all are ready to leave at 7:00 Am.

The rest,

My mother has miraculously , managed a whole 1/3rd of our very extenuated family to change their schedule to be there for exactly two hours on Sunday (oh, we are so not going to get done by Monday morning),

Poor HIM! He, being the great son of a great man, brought up in the south where manners reign supreme, is about to clash with my VERY Southern family.................OH TO SAVE THE DAY!

By MY VERY SOUTHERN FAMILY, I mean VERY southern, not just south of the border, I mean almost south of the Equator!

Now, the time line. it is an 11 hour drive from here, we will be lucky (remember we have two daughters) to leave here by 10:00 Am. We will get there by dinnertime. Mother will have the kids (she hasn't seen them in a few years).

I will not bother you all with the time line,Suffice it to say, we are squeezing in a whole three weeks into two days.

Therefore, I will be taking my camera with TONS of batteries!

What man dares to say "can you guys just throw some clothes in a bag (at 6:00 pm), we are leaving at 7:00 AM, and live with it!!!!!!!

The greatest man in the world!

I don't care that the reason we are going home is to pick up a piece for work, I don't care that it was last minute...........

The girls and I haven't been home in years. SuperStar is taller than her grandmother. My best friend who is so inviting into her home (and godmother to my daughters), has had a really hard year and I can't wait to put my arms around her. Tater Tott, well.......none of my family has seen her since she was a baby........

And we have all of that to do in 72 hours!!!!!!! NOW tell me I am not Super Michelle!!!!!!!

I will post pictures, there will be many.

All my friends, pray that this is safe trip, a joyous one is undeniable!!!!!!!!!

Love to you all



M

Harley in desperate need of a shave.

Mom and Dad, this is for you.

Allen wanted to wait until we actually groomed him this weekend (so he can wear his Christmas sweater with pride), but I think we can do "before" shots now and an "after" shots when he decides that we are not horrible parents and we shave his face for his own good.

What a face.

Here you go Mom and Dad:

Here is our most handsome little man

I am not sure who is more active, Harley or the kids.

So, Mom and Dad, Here is our boy. He is super smart, in love with the girls, and in bad need of grooming (although this is the second time he has been groomed), he hates his face being done.....(.too bad toots, Mom and Dad want to see your face dagnabit). He will get his this weekend (he has to look handsome in his new cardigan and Polo shirt!!!!)

We love you and wish you were here with us for Christmas!!!!

M & A

Wordless Wednesday

Let us never forget the MIRACLES!

Such a busy weekend, so many pictures!!!

So, I am not writing, am just going to post pictures:

And away we go.........




Taylor's Tremendous B'Day party,

Peyton, Ashley, Taylor, Mia and Taylor


Taylor, Eddie, Cameron, Sanjay, Peyton, Ashley, Jazmine, Mia, Taylor and Megan

The Best Man EVER IN THE WORLD making a gingerbread house!!!!






what I want from Santa..........


I can't actually have it, not at $197,000.00 (I can think of better ways to spend that kind of money), but it sure is nice to dream!


Wow, what a weekend!!!!!!!!!!!

Life in this house is always an adventure. Christmas is THE BEST TIME of the year.......


Taylor had THE BEST B-Day, The Gingerbread house was a kit, but Allen was so intent and made it beautiful, and I didn't get to keep the Benz!!!!!!

It sure was fun though!!!!!!!!!!

We love all of you who come here to see us.

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Taylor!!!!!!!!!!!

Taylor is 9 today.

I woke up this morning and all I could think about was the day she was born.

I was having induced labor, so Cathy and I packed up Ashley, picked up my mother and headed to the hospital. It was a beautiful cool night (rare in Ft Lauderdale) and we were enjoying being together. Cathy and my mom were teasing me, that I didn't LOOK like I was 9 months pregnant, I hadn't gained much weight (Taylor gave me morning sickness for all 9 months, and it wasn't just morning, it was afternoon and evening too!).

About a mile from the hospital, we turned towards the hospital and found a police roadblock. We turned around, and tried another approach and found another roadblock.

I pulled up next to a Broward Sheriff and told him that I had to get to the hospital, His response was :

"Lady, we have an escaped prisoner from the jail in this area somewhere. Whomever you want to visit, you will have to visit tomorrow".

Ummmm.....WHAT??????????????????

Me: Officer, I know it's hard to tell, but I am having a baby!!!!!!!!!

I don't think that poor officer could have been more shocked if I had slapped him.

He asked us to wait a minute, went back to his car and spoke with his partner, his Sgt, not really sure who else.

After about 10 minutes he came back to the car and told us that he had arranged an escort for us to the hospital. And, true to his word, three police cars surrounded us, and (at about 10 mph) we drove the last mile to the hospital.


Once at the hospital, I was made comfortable, all the monitors hooked up, and we were well on our way. After about an hour, the anesthesiologist came in. He was a terribly grumpy and brusque man. He promptly informed me that he was going to give me my epidural early because he was tired and wanted to go home! Of all the NERVE!!!!!!

Funny part about is was, after making me horrible sick for 9 months, Taylor's delivery was a breeze. I pushed a couple of times, while reading a book, and OUT SHE CAME!!!!

All pink and beautiful and PERFECT! All 6 lbs, 9 ounces and 21 inches of her.

I got to take a nap for a few hours while the doctors poked, prodded and cleaned her up. About midmorning, they brought her back to me. I was amazed at those huge brown eyes, they looked so ...Intense!

It hadn't been ten minutes that I got to enjoy my new baby before the nurse told me that I had visitors. I expected my family, but I was surprised.

The door opened and the first thing I saw was this HUGE teddy bear, followed by about 15 uniformed Broward Sheriffs officers. They were all of the officers on duty during our escorted entrance to the hospital. They held her, cooed over her and were so very special.


Taylor had an eventful entrance into this world, and every day is an event with her.





Taylor, you are the most beautiful, funny, sweet, charming, bright, loving child. You have a heart made of gold and a twinkle in your eye that Santa must envy.

Happy Birthday my baby!!!!!!!!!!!

This is how I feel today.

Oooohhhhhhhh I am in TROUBLE now!

I am such a bad mommy/other half for doing this, but I just couldn't help myself!

Turn up the volume and ELF along!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1330517200