In front of the building I work in, our company has a large LED sign. Mostly used to advertise the current job openings, for this last two weeks of the year - it's impromptu. The lady in charge of it tries to use it to post pleasant messages, etc. And she (NORMALLY) does a great job.
Living in Wisconsin, winter gets cold. We are in quite a cold snap right now - not getting above zero at ALL during the day - wind chills in the negative double digits.
Back to the sign. Being we have no openings right now, the "sign lady" posted a simple greeting: Have a great day!
In normal circumstances, this would not be bad. But you have to get the whole picture:
12:34 pm
-3 degrees
HAVE A GREAT DAY!
Irony? Yes. How does one have a great day at minus three?
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
can it be only the full moon?
Being the thinker I am, I overthink everything. I am trying to figure out what has put me in the funk.
Driving in to work today, the beautiful full moon lit the way. Could it be my funk is a lunar byproduct?
Driving in to work today, the beautiful full moon lit the way. Could it be my funk is a lunar byproduct?
Thursday, December 11, 2008
a FUNK
I'm in a funk. This happens every once in a while. Hard to focus. Cranky. Not my normal self. After talking with a coworker who is also a dear friend, I realized the reason (thank you SB!) She reminded me to find people who fill my bucket. Who make me a BETTER person. Who aid my being.
I try very hard to surround myself with bucket fillers, not bucket drainers. But sometimes life hands you bucket drainers. And you have to deal. That's where I'm at today. I need to either a: find a way to distance myself from the bucket drainers, or b: find a way to deal with it, not letting it pull my entire being down.
MMM
Not insurmountable by any means, but definitely not EASY. Because sometimes, either at work, or school, or church, you are paired with a bucket drainer, and you can't distance yourself. (Although I do shut my door sometimes - and the emails keep coming...and the phone keeps ringing....)
Bucket fillers of the world - UNITE. We need to pull together! For our own benefit!
I try very hard to surround myself with bucket fillers, not bucket drainers. But sometimes life hands you bucket drainers. And you have to deal. That's where I'm at today. I need to either a: find a way to distance myself from the bucket drainers, or b: find a way to deal with it, not letting it pull my entire being down.
MMM
Not insurmountable by any means, but definitely not EASY. Because sometimes, either at work, or school, or church, you are paired with a bucket drainer, and you can't distance yourself. (Although I do shut my door sometimes - and the emails keep coming...and the phone keeps ringing....)
Bucket fillers of the world - UNITE. We need to pull together! For our own benefit!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Christmas letter 2008...
Merry Christmas Everyone!
It seems like I was just sitting down to write last year’s letter… where does the year go? 2008 was another busy year, as we jumbled five sport seasons, plays, family vacations, and of course Harley rides.
Allie continued with volleyball and basketball, making the All Tournament Team at the Cranberry Classic Tourney for basketball. June was a big month - drivers license, sweet sixteen party, and braces off! Life changing to say the least.
William had his first season of football this year, which is something I have been selfishly waiting for. I’ve waited my whole life to have a son play the game, and it was a blast watching him learn. He began playing the saxophone this year, and seems to love it. There is a little of me in him yet!
Ken and I took a long weekend on the Harley - as well as a week in Tomahawk for the fall ride. There just never seems to be enough time on that bike… We’re still active at St. John’s, and working on the house. Made a new garden this year - a tribute garden to my mom, encircling the tree given to us when she died. A true labor of love. Had a tomato jungle take over this year. Ken experimented with starting from seed, and none of the little things would die…. We had a LOT of tomatoes!
We decided to stay close for the family vacation this year, thanks to the (then) 3.00 price on gas. We hauled the camper to Door County and had an awesome time checking out the peninsula. It was one of those things we always talked about doing, but just never got around to. So close, and SO amazing. We also took in a Brewers/Cubs game, but we won’t talk about that…..
It was a tough year on the family side. In October we made the decision to move my dad to the Veteran’s Home in King. It was a horribly difficult transition, for both he and I. He was so confused, and I missed him. But after three weeks, he seemed to adjust, and it’s become the amazing place we had hoped. He plays cribbage, goes to movies, works in the wood shop, and even does ceramics. Yes, he does ceramics. And there is a turkey platter to prove it. He doesn’t ask to leave anymore, it’s become his home. And he has friends that he talks with and eats dinner with. We cleaned out the house on west 6th, which for me was traumatic. I thought about buying it, the thought of not having it too much. But then I realized (thanks to the ladies at Bible study) that I will always have the memories. I could let go of the house. It was just that, a house. So the house is up for sale, weird to see it with a for sale sign. Hopefully it will go to a deserving family who can make it a wonderful home again!
So we’re ending the year in such a good place. My dad is taken care of, and happy. We all have our health and happiness too. We have so much to be thankful for in 2008, and much to look forward to in 2009. Our best wishes for a healthy and happy new year, surrounded by family and friends.
It seems like I was just sitting down to write last year’s letter… where does the year go? 2008 was another busy year, as we jumbled five sport seasons, plays, family vacations, and of course Harley rides.
Allie continued with volleyball and basketball, making the All Tournament Team at the Cranberry Classic Tourney for basketball. June was a big month - drivers license, sweet sixteen party, and braces off! Life changing to say the least.
William had his first season of football this year, which is something I have been selfishly waiting for. I’ve waited my whole life to have a son play the game, and it was a blast watching him learn. He began playing the saxophone this year, and seems to love it. There is a little of me in him yet!
Ken and I took a long weekend on the Harley - as well as a week in Tomahawk for the fall ride. There just never seems to be enough time on that bike… We’re still active at St. John’s, and working on the house. Made a new garden this year - a tribute garden to my mom, encircling the tree given to us when she died. A true labor of love. Had a tomato jungle take over this year. Ken experimented with starting from seed, and none of the little things would die…. We had a LOT of tomatoes!
We decided to stay close for the family vacation this year, thanks to the (then) 3.00 price on gas. We hauled the camper to Door County and had an awesome time checking out the peninsula. It was one of those things we always talked about doing, but just never got around to. So close, and SO amazing. We also took in a Brewers/Cubs game, but we won’t talk about that…..
It was a tough year on the family side. In October we made the decision to move my dad to the Veteran’s Home in King. It was a horribly difficult transition, for both he and I. He was so confused, and I missed him. But after three weeks, he seemed to adjust, and it’s become the amazing place we had hoped. He plays cribbage, goes to movies, works in the wood shop, and even does ceramics. Yes, he does ceramics. And there is a turkey platter to prove it. He doesn’t ask to leave anymore, it’s become his home. And he has friends that he talks with and eats dinner with. We cleaned out the house on west 6th, which for me was traumatic. I thought about buying it, the thought of not having it too much. But then I realized (thanks to the ladies at Bible study) that I will always have the memories. I could let go of the house. It was just that, a house. So the house is up for sale, weird to see it with a for sale sign. Hopefully it will go to a deserving family who can make it a wonderful home again!
So we’re ending the year in such a good place. My dad is taken care of, and happy. We all have our health and happiness too. We have so much to be thankful for in 2008, and much to look forward to in 2009. Our best wishes for a healthy and happy new year, surrounded by family and friends.
a brave face...
Today I have a brave face on. Most days I have a brave face on.. and it's not easy - I wear my heart on my sleeve.
It's the holiday season. We are having a wonderful month. Working at a 4th quarter business, that isn't always the case. But I'm more prioritized toward my family. I let things go that aren't important. We don't have the decorations up yet, we put up what we want when we decide. My home isn't a showplace, it's a home. I'll send cards out this weekend, but won't stress - they get sent when they are sent. It's a welcome treat no matter when it arrives. At night we take time out to have popcorn or cocoa and watch our favorite Christmas classics.
On the outward appearance, my life is in control. My dad is doing GREAT at the home, and I'm really doing well. Honestly, it's the first in three years that I am completely looking forward to the new year, and thankful for all the Blessings of 2008.
But I still miss my mom. It's that simple. I can be doing so well, when all of a sudden, I miss her. Her favorite Christmas song just came on and I'm crying. It is such a huge empty spot in my life, in my heart, in our family. She was the heart of so much. She was amazing. And some days I just miss her.
But I'll cry with my door closed, and by the time lunch is over, no one will be the wiser. Because I can put on my brave face.
It's the holiday season. We are having a wonderful month. Working at a 4th quarter business, that isn't always the case. But I'm more prioritized toward my family. I let things go that aren't important. We don't have the decorations up yet, we put up what we want when we decide. My home isn't a showplace, it's a home. I'll send cards out this weekend, but won't stress - they get sent when they are sent. It's a welcome treat no matter when it arrives. At night we take time out to have popcorn or cocoa and watch our favorite Christmas classics.
On the outward appearance, my life is in control. My dad is doing GREAT at the home, and I'm really doing well. Honestly, it's the first in three years that I am completely looking forward to the new year, and thankful for all the Blessings of 2008.
But I still miss my mom. It's that simple. I can be doing so well, when all of a sudden, I miss her. Her favorite Christmas song just came on and I'm crying. It is such a huge empty spot in my life, in my heart, in our family. She was the heart of so much. She was amazing. And some days I just miss her.
But I'll cry with my door closed, and by the time lunch is over, no one will be the wiser. Because I can put on my brave face.
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