I was just reading my last post and realized just how unhappy I was. I can now say I’m feeling better. Eric’s parents came for a visit last weekend. It was so nice to see them. I felt like we had a great visit. They were down to see the new addition to the family, Greg and Hollie’s baby, Beth. She’s so cute.

Friday night they took us out to dinner at “In Good Taste” it’s the store/restaurant/cooking school place that they got us gift certificates for Christmas. We went to the Malbec tasting and dinner. It was so awesome. We sat there and watched the cook make dinner for us and serve it while enjoying some great wine. The dinner was super. We had a great salad and then dinner. It was HUGE. It was a whole truck load of smoked food. There was sausage, beef, chicken and pork. There was so much I couldn’t eat it. It was so good. It was just nice to sit, meet a whole bunch of different people, have great company and great food. Thanks Bob and Julie… again.

Today has been like any other day at work. Not so much crazy as demanding. I sit here at my desk all day, most of every work day creating web based trainings, working with Photoshop and Dreamweaver with my headphones on. To some I’m sure that sounds rewarding to me ? not so much. I do get to do the occasional project that tests myself in areas I want to improve/ learn but I’m not so sure the level of effort I want to put in. Right now I’m learning a bit about video shooting and editing. Sort of cool but then a LOT of work? SO work is going OK. We just started doing a few things different in my group. At the beginning of each month we look at the projects that are coming in and disposition them within the group for the next month. SO in October we looked at what we had that we’d do in November and assign those projects and due dates. What does this mean for me?…. a lot of work? not a TON but enough that I’ll be working a lot before and after Thanksgiving. So much for an easy end of the year. It’s nice though at the same time to have a clear list of things to do and then knock them off one by one. What a feeling to have something completed. If only men felt the same sense of satisfaction.

As for “the boys” (Eric and Josh) They’re doing OK.. I suppose. Josh was working for a while downtown and then the company told him they didn’t have enough work to keep him busy. He went back to the temp agency that had assigned him the job but I guess right now there aren’t any jobs for him? or so he says?I’m just glad to have him around. I know he’ll find something soon.

Eric’s doing really well in school this quarter and has been such a help around the house. We had a big WSU vs UW party at our house this last weekend and he made sure the house was clean and ready to go. I did mention how nice it is to see such a clean house. We’ll see how long it lasts. We’re both so guilty of creating cluttery messes. I’m going to try harder not to.

I don’t know how many of you know but I’ve been working at Scrapbook Attack one night a week this month. They’re having a heck of a time getting good help (I told Josh and Eric they should apply) so they asked if I could step in for a few hours a week. I don’t mind much. Right now the night I do is Thursday nights 6-9 pm which isn’t the best but OK. It means a higher percentage off when I shop so that’s a bonus.

I haven’t been doing a lot of things for myself lately so I’m trying to do that. I think I feel a lot of the times that I’m the glue that keeps things together. I’m the responsible one and with out me being responsible everything would fall apart in our house. Maybe it’s true, maybe it’s not. Whichever the case, I can’t do it all. And Eric doesn’t expect me to but I have this skewed view in my head that I’ve got to come home, make sure the house is picked up, clean things up and both “the boys” have their list for the next day. I’ve decided that I can’t do everything? and no one expects me to soo?.I’m not going to. I’m going to take time out for myself each day? maybe just an hour? maybe more. In an effort to facilitate this I’ve joined an audio book club. I love to read but don’t often have the time to do it.. and I’m a slow reader. With audio books I can listen and walk, scrapbook or just sit curled up in the chair. SO this weekend, while “the boys” were downstairs watching Football and then Basketball I was in the office, scanning our wedding pictures and listening to a Nicholas Sparks book. I got the whole book done. The time flew by. I didn’t feel left out? I didn’t feel “stuck” upstairs because the boys were watching sports. I could have cared less what they were doing. SO I think I’ll stay with this book club and continue on it.. I’ve also go the sewing machine Julie gave me out and on the table in the office. Just need to buy some material and I think I’ll do some sewing.. nothing big, just PJ,s or table cloth runners and little things? NO quilting? I’ll leave that to both my mom and Julie. Let you know how it goes?

Oh, I’m also working on my creativewebsights.com site. I figured that I’ve got enough going on I’m not going to try and build a business but I want to keep the space to make my own website. I’m working on it now.. trying to get my LJ into it…I’ll let you know when it’s done.

Can I just say I can’t wait for Thanksgiving. It’s going to be so much fun with all the family?

LJ Status:
Ok, so I think I’ve decided to keep my LJ and just post to it with some degree of consistency. I just need to do this for myself more than for anyone else. When I write in here consistently it makes it so much easier. When I scrapbook I can take my comments and journaling right from here for the page. I know that if I really wanted more than just family to read this I could make it happen but this is really just for family and friends. It’s my communication device to you all since I’m so terrible about calling, writing or emailing for that matter. OK, Done with that.

So what have I been up to? Well the reception went off the other weekend without a hitch and now I’m back to the old grind. Work is going well and I’m getting a lot done. It’s amazing when you’re not distracted by things how much you can get done.

Eric n Josh:
Josh is living with Eric and I and supposedly they’re both looking for jobs but I’m not sure they’re looking too hard. I find it hard to fathom not putting 100% into looking for a job. Both of them are like two peas in a pod sometimes. I’ll be so glad when they both are working a bit just so things can get a little looser with the money. Being the sole support for the whole house is getting overwhelming. I’m in that space where I’m not mad, but irritated that I’m the only one working. I am lucky though in that I don’t have to worry about things around the house. Between Eric and Josh things get done and I don’t have to do them which is nice and won’t be the case once they’re both working. It’s interesting though that when we first started this agreement they were both so good about taking care of the house and then they slack off. What’s up with that?

WAIT! I do the same thing. Actually Eric and I had a chat the other day about how we wanted to change this and that and I had to stop us and recognize the fact that we say we’re going to do all these things all the time but then, for whatever reason, they don’t happen. I don’t thing that we don’t try I think it’s competing priorities. So Eric and I have decided to make Monday nights our date night. We’ll see how this goes. Maybe when we get this down we can tackle something else.

Anniversary:
Speaking of Monday. This Monday was our 1 month anniversary. I couldn’t believe that it’s been a month. Eric made an awesome dinner with steak and couscous but the best part was the cr?me Brule at the end. He even made two for me. It was the best! He’s the best. He spoils me so much I don’t deserve it. Every day that goes by I realize just how wonderful this is?. Married life?. In a way things are still the same for us both but in a very real way they are DIFFERENT.. We’re married! I realize every day just how lucky I am to have found Eric and that he and I are together forever. What a wonderful thing to know??How lucky am I?

Work:
Work is going well. It’s the same old, same old. I’m not sure if you all knew this but recently I had applied for a job at Xerox. I just don’t always feel valued where I work now and I wanted to see what other opportunities there were for me. It was great to get a call back from Xerox and make it to the final interview. Unfortunately they couldn’t offer me the same salary I currently have or better so I had to decline the offer but I was glad to know that I do have professional value and there are other opportunities out there.

Speaking of opportunities, my business, www.creativewebsights.com is coming along nicely. I’ve got a few clients and I’m getting my business website done finally. I think I’ve decided I’ll get all the business licensing done this month, get the website done and the template for all contracts done before the end of the year and then I can hit the ground running next year. In fact I’m going to the NW Women’s convention here in Portland next weekend to work and hand out my business cards and flyers. I’m hoping to get a bit of business. If I do Josh will have a great opportunity to work at home and make money and I’ll make a cut of what he does. So it could be a win-win.

Sorry if this sounds random? I’m at work and as always I’ve got tons of things going on in my head.

Well, I’ve got to get back to work so I’ll write more later?..

I know it’s been forever since I wrote in here. Why? Well part of the reason is that I got crazy busy with the wedding plans, part of the reason is that this blog has lost it’s luster. I thought this would be a great way for family and friends to know what we’re up to and how things are going. Originally it was a great idea. The bad part is that no one responds to them so I feel like I’m taking the time to write down thoughts and things to no one. SO maybe I’ll get rid of this blog, I haven’t decided yet. Who knows…..

It’s been forever since I last wrote and I’m seriously considering dropping it. It’s not as fun as I thought and often I feel like I’m either ranting of offering too much information into my life on this public post. So. I’m not sure how much longer you’ll see me on here.

I found out from the Dr. that I didn’t have anemia or a thyroid problem. He said I “need regular exercise”. What a thing to say. I’m morally opposed to exercise and having the dr. tell me it would help didn’t make me feel good. SO I did take his advice and started working out. Actually Eric and I both are working out. We’ve even got a bet riding on it. Eric’s grandfather gave us his treadmill. Thanks Jim! Eric and I have agreed to walk the treadmill for 30 minutes each day, Monday through Friday. If either of us misses a day during the week we have to watch a movie of the other person’s choosing. For me the consequence is watching an anime movie, for Eric it’s chick flicks. So far we’re a week and half into the bet and Eric owes me two movies and I owe him nothing. At this point any activity is good.

On another note and WAY off topic… have you ever had a friend that you trusted and thought they trusted you but come to find out they don’t. I don’t know how many times in my life I feel like I’ve been a great friend to others and it’s not always reciprocated. I don’t know why. I mean are there tons of people out there being nice to people “just because”? In the last week I’ve had someone in my department go to my manager about me rather than come talk to me and I’ve been snubbed by a friend thinking we were great friends. When these things happen I’m inclined to go into my cave and not want to have anything to do with the other person but I know that’s not always the right thing to do. I guess I’m just writing this because it’s on my mind. Not sure if there is a solution to this one.

My brother’s birthday was on Sunday. He’s 24 now. I can’t hardly believe it because i remember the day he was born like it was yesterday. Wish the turkey would call me… Josh… CALL ME! I’d like to know how he is and what he’s up to.

Work continues on my business. I’ve got to get my business cards made and finish registering and start with the IRS stuff. Oh the joys. Well, better get back to work.