HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

WOW! Is it really the last day of October all ready? We probably won't get many kids this year as it's a Wednesday night and a school night. Most of the churches have "Fall Festival's" going on as well to keep the children from going trick-or-treating as it seems safer. Thats OK!

I'm going clothes shopping today! Something I truly HATE! I guess I'm strange for a woman but it's like one of the last things in the world I want to do is buy things for myself. But it's got to be done. So I'm going to pull myself together and then head out.

Catching up!

So far I've caught up with a friend and met his wife and some of his children while helping at his new store. I wish Tim and Carmen and family well and I believe they will be successful with their new endeavor. Their store is THUNDER SPORTS just off I-77 at Exit 85.

Between my two days of helping them I went and visited some of my family in Spartanburg. I got to see Mom and Dad; Jack, Nicoal, Doug and Christina. It was fun playing with the kids and the baby is nearly walking all ready; it won't be long now. I took some pictures and will post them when I am a little more awake.

Nightmares!

I HATE NIGHTMARES! I had one of those nightmares that upset me so bad as it felt so real and I had to get up and do something for awhile. I've made coffee and had a cup all ready. I think I'll swap out laundry next and then try to go back to sleep for a little while.

Watching each other work

That is what Scott and I have done all day today. He watched me deep clean the room we use for an office and then I watched him grout the tile on the front porch. Our 80+ year old neighbor came over to check on our latest project and talk with Scott some. They are the sweetest people and would probably jump in and help if they were in better health. I was able to pull together a trunk load of stuff to donate to either His House or Children's Hospital and in doing so I was able to get all my cookbooks with in easy reach once again. Now to tackle the dining room of disaster. I feel like I'm ME again! And my house is mine once more not just the place I come to crash and wash clothes.

Life's Pathway(s)

Life... how far have YOU come? This photo was taken when I was in New York in September. It's the view of the farm I grew up on from the "lower place". I have memories of summer evenings bringing the cows home from the lower place. Even as a 7 year old little girl it was my job to turn the heard once they reached the lower gate just across the narrow one car bridge. Nothing like having 30 to 50 full grown Gurnsey cows coming at you to build strength. I have come so far since leaving this place and yet the memories stay with me... some good some BAD beyond belief but I choose to remember the good times there anymore as the other is really just a waste of possible positive energy. I need to learn to look at the positives from my recent history as well and move on.

Training location

I'll be training in Fort Mill SC and then in Lebanon TN. It should be very exciting! I've got to go clothes shopping to be appropriate for Cracker Barrel. I've been dressing for Jo-Ann's for so long I have few other clothes. I'll shop some tomorrow afternoon. Goodies is having a blowout clearance sale so I want to check them out for sure.

Today we took Amelia to the River walk and she got to meet some new doggy friends there.We need to get a new leash as the chain one hurts my hands anymore and I want a choke collar to get her to quit pulling on us so hard. Her training has really fallen to the wayside. While I am at the pet supply store I also want to buy a collapsible bowl so we can give her water on hikes.

Scott and I also went to Atlanta Bread for lunch - YUMMY! He was such a trip - TOO many choices! He just couldn't stand the fact that he got a choice on bread and all the different ways you can order a lunch blew his mind. And THEN we decided the cheese cake sounded good but when the girl said, "What kind?" I thought Scott was going to fall over... HUH? he says.... you can tell I don't get him OUT enough. All in all it was just a glorious day together and thats all that really mattered anyway.

Morning walk about...

I just took my magazine order to the mailbox for Kandise's (my niece) school project. On the way back in I discovered the workings of some spiders and decided to grab the camera. I also took a picture of the 117 in broken tiles that Scott did on our front porch. It's that project that I could not resist helping with even after working 13 hours last Sunday. The plants pictured are Resurrection lilies. Their leaves come up now and in the spring you get the beautiful spider like red flowers. They really need to be divided as there are too many bunched together. No wonder I only got 1 or 2 blooms this past Spring. I could move a bunch up to our property while I'm off.

So much for sleeping in this morning

My internal clock says I'm to be up between 6 and 7 AM so here I am! Scott made it home safe and sound last night; it was after 11 when he walked through the door. I was so happy to see him and am looking forward to spending the next couple days with him. Today I've got to focus on laundry and cleaning this house up. It's been neglected for far too long. But for right now I'm going to enjoy a cup of coffee and cruise the web awhile.... MINDLESSLY!

I'M FREE!!!!!

I turned my keys in today instead of tomorrow. After I found out they are going to rip me off half of my vacation time I didn't feel much like completing my 2 week notice and since I've all ready worked 6 days this week I said ENOUGH!!!! It's really quite sad after working so very hard and trying to learn their never ending game. Hopefully my new position will be better with Cracker Barrel. I'm going to sleep as late as I want tomorrow!

Scott is coming home today!

YEAH! His flight is supposed to arrive late tonight but he said that if he can wrap things up early he will try to catch an earlier flight home. I'll be so glad to see him!

TGIF!!!! And it's RAINING!

Yeah! We are finally getting a nice steady rain. I could SO sleep in this morning! But no I have to be at the store at 8 and today we are to get 512 cartons! UGH! Again I will have to make miracles happen to get it into the building. I don't understand people that can't see progression... or the importance of making things happen in a logical order. Yesterday I was called to ask about something to do with paperwork and I told them the importance needed to be on the freight with such a HUGE truck arriving today... they just didn't get it and when I got there at 1:30 I had to go to the bank as they had decided there wasn't time to get change in the morning and when I got back the AM Manager decided to leave early. NO dedication to work, lack of drive and no sense of urgency at all. I've got to learn to instill these values into my employees or I will continually about kill myself to get the job done.

Morning wake up call!

Scott just called to say good morning as he is waiting for his flight into Corpus Christi from Austin.He is supposed to head home tomorrow and I will be so glad when he gets home as I don't sleep well without him. Business seems to be going well for him but the time difference is messing with his internal clock. He got to the airport about an hour early but thought that he was running late. He said there was good people watching at the airport this morning with a man about his age or older walking by with a 4 foot Mohawk that was bright red... he said either that or he was hallucinating.

I've got to run some errands this morning and then work tonight and try to get the stock room ready for 512 cartons... UGH! It'll be my LAST truck! THANK GOODNESS!

I need to make a list of things to get done around the house while I'm off too. Sleep is going to dominate though as I want to be completely refreshed at the beginning of the following week. I will visit with family and help Tim Monday and Tuesday and the rest of the week I plan to be a homebody doing things around here and recouperating.

We've finally gotten a little rain here; We need so much more though. I think people have forgotten how to drive in the rain as the ambulances have been going past the store 4 to 5 times a day taking accident victims to the various hospitals.

Better get the day started!

Scott made it to Austin!

Yeah! Scott finally got into Austin; poor guy had a horrible travel adventure. Makes me wonder if flying out for training will be worth the aggravation for me. Really long drives about kill my back though so I will still probably take advantage of the air travel.

I've got to work some magic today and tomorrow with shoving freight. LORD help them when I'm gone as I seem to be the only reason any of it moves at all. We are to get 480 cartons Friday... UGH! And this sale is going on and we have a bunch of people out... OH FUN! OH and there is a conference call this morning that I really don't want to be in on as it will cut about an hour out of my stocking time. Oh well it's only 4 more days... I can do this!

Next Monday and Tuesday I'm going up to help Tim with the opening of his new store. It will be nice to work with him again. Monday evening I'm going to drive over and visit with Mom, Dad, Jack, Nichoal, Doug and Christina and whom ever happens to be hanging out at the time. Mom has been selling off her goats as they can't afford hay to feed so many. The drought has really hurt them this year. But I'm sure there will still be new animals to introduce me to... Mom loves her new "kids" and they all get names immediately. : )

Washington Dullus Airport

Scott was stuck in Washington DC at the airport. I am hoping at this point he is nearly in TX by now. I hate when we have to travel apart... that co-dependency I guess. I just hope and pray for his safe return as I'm sure I would be tremendously lost without him.

Greg is looking into joining the Navy. I'm really hoping he will as they would train him and pay for college too. He needs more education so that he can get a job to actually care for himself. Scott and I worry so much about Greg.

It's late and I am beyond exhausted once again and I have to be at the store at 8 AM... 4 more days and then I'm FREE!

NEW HIRE PACKET VIA FEDEX!

Yeah! My hire packet arrived! I will read over everything in the morning and get it sent back in ASAP! I'm so looking forward to this change!

OMG! WILL IT EVER END!!!!????

This has got to be THE LONGEST work week of my life! It's ONLY MONDAY!..... UGH!!!!!!! Only 5 more days to go!

Last Week

Today starts my last week with Jo-Ann's! YEAH! I walked in there yesterday to pick up a magazine on cottages and bungalows to find Barbara the only one up front with lines everywhere. I got on the PA and started calling for back-up. Barbara just won't do it and when I did I found out why... a bunch of sour faced people came out from where ever they were with bad attitudes. LORD HELP THEM! Amanda needs to learn some kinder gentler methods soon! And they all need to learn to loose the sour attitudes; I dread how things will go without me there to turn them around when sour attitudes appear and they just build on each other. No wonder I feel so exhausted... there sure is a lot of negative vibes there. OH WELL... one more week and it won't matter! Well it's off to work now!

Mother/Julia's 80th birthday party

We just got back in from my mother-in-laws 80th birthday party. There was a banquet hall full of people there to help us celebrate at her church (State Street Baptist). The birthday girl cutting her cake and Scott and I as seen by our son across the table.

This Old Shack

This is a picture of the old shack... errrrr house thats on our property. It's been empty for years but you can tell that it once had a nice front porch. There are all sorts of bulbs and such around this house and I am looking forward to the day we move up there and I can "harvest" some of the bulbs and take them back to sunshine and a chance to bloom again.

Greg's Opposum!

Greg came out of his room this morning to report a opposum had climb up into his window and scared the daylights out of him last night. I'm surprised he didn't wake us up but both Scott and I were just exhausted. Scott is preparing for the Texas trip and is working LONG days trying to get all the traveling plans together. I wish that I could go with him as I have always wanted to visit Texas; maybe another time.

I'm working long days trying to get the store in tip top shape before I leave so the girls aren't struggling completely with catching up. Hopefully they will develop the skills to get it done without me there. They may all just up and move on too. I feel really bad leaving but I've got to make a change for my family and myself. I'm just so exhausted and stretched so thin; sometimes I feel like one more thing will make me snap and send me into a nervous breakdown and that is not good at all. I have made some wonderful friends at Jo-Ann's and I will miss them all immensely.

COFFEE... I NEED COFFEE!

It's one of those mornings that I'm going to REALLY need coffee to get moving. I feel like I'm dragging bad... I think it has to do with the allergic reaction to those cinnamon scented pine cones that came in. Yesterday I worked nearly all day right next to them and my head is killing me! I took an Alavert but that was after the congestion started. AH... COFFEE is READY!

Trying to empty the stock room out before I leave and cleaning it up some... it won't stay that way though; I've tried and tried but it's like what I say falls on deaf ears. I look at all situations like they are huge puzzles... all the pieces are there you just have to find the ones that fit together best. It seems that it is not easy for everyone; and anyone under 30 can't seem to clean properly either. I worry where the earth will be in another 20 to 30 years if the young people aren't taught respect again and soon. Everyone is given TOO much these days and they feel it's a RIGHT to have more things and to do whatever it takes to have MORE THINGS! For crying out loud it's just THINGS and CLUTTER and it will eventually take over and become out of control. Having people in our lives to share adventures and like interests is much more important than things. What's that old saying... "Money can't buy you happiness!" A person can live "simply" with few things and be much happier than a Millionaire. I've lived at different levels of income and I think I was happiest when I had more "time" than money.

Enough on that rant! Scott is to travel to Texas next week so my final week at Jo-Ann's won't disrupt our comings and goings much. I'm looking forward to some time off the week after that.

Fun Afternoon!

Yesterday when I got off from work Scott and I went up to our property and then visited with Michael McGinnis. He took us up to see his new "camp" back in the woods and it was SO QUIET and peaceful! Such a beautiful spot. It was fun walking about the property. I was so tired that I wasn't very verbal but that seemed ok with Scott and Michael. Every time we go up to our property we see something different in the animal world. This time it was a tiny woodpecker working on a tree in the edge of our woods. I am SO ready to build up there! While I am home I plan to start on the down sizing of belongings and will haul a bunch of stuff over to His House to donate. Or I may just call Children's Hospital to come pick it all up; either way I can get a tax write off slip. I would try to have a yard sale but we have never made much at them for all the work involved in putting it together. Well.... time to throw some clothes on and get over to the store... day 2 of my two weeks notice.. only 13 more to go!

It's OFFICIAL!

I've turned in my two weeks notice and once it's completed I'm taking a week off to rest and recuperate so I can go into my new job fresh and clear. It's all very exciting and scary! I'm sure I will spend a good bit of time this week fielding calls and trying to calm employees. I've just got to do something for me right now.

TWO WEEKS.... NEW JOB!

Yeah! I got the job and will start next month! YEAH! I'll be the Retail Manager at one of the new Cracker Barrel stores in Columbia. It's all very exciting and I am expecting some final paper work and such from the recruiter today or tomorrow. I hate to leave my co-workers but this is just too good a job to pass on. And I will have more time for family, friends and hobbies.

My talented sister, Robin has been at it again. Here is her last commissioned piece a pelican aquamanile.

Day after Day!

Thats life.. one day after another. I have been thinking a lot about the days as they come and go and if what I am doing is truly validating. Do I really come away with a sense of accomplishment and joy or is it all just drudgery with one day just following the next with no true value or meaning. Will my memories of this time in my life hold any value or will they be the years I just wasted away.

Organizing and using

Yesterday I swept and mopped the den and kitchen and dusted like crazy... it looks so much better. Then I started organizing my crafting supplies. I got a bunch of beads into the storage boxes that I bought for them and I sorted a bunch of yarn so all my specialty yarns are in one big tub and regular worsted is in another and kitchen cotton is in yet another. I also came across some tatting thread and size 10 cotton thread for doilies. I have got to use some of this stuff up before I buy anymore thats for sure.It's like a treasure hunt every time I work in sewing room.

I could not wind down last night so it was after 11 when we went to bed and now I'm dragging. I will need to jump in the shower if I'm to get ready for work on time this morning. SO SLEEPY!

24 years and my heart still leaps!

These days it's hard watching couples break up and go there separate ways especially since my heart still jumps for joy seeing Scott. I wish everyone could find such lasting love and passion. It's not always a bed of roses but with out the thorns occasionally we would forget that red rose of love.

A SILLY DOG PICTURE!

Amelia goes along on her tummy when she is extremely happy.

My garden of WEEDEN!

This is the beauty that arose along with it's weedy nature... morning glories! Some type of red flower - need to look that one up. And then there are the marigolds that self seeded themselves from last years blooms. The cat I bought at the end of Summer last year at Jo-Anns.

Up earlier than I expected

My back was giving me fits so I just got up; I've taken an Advil and am just waiting on it to start working. I may go back to bed in a bit as I don't have to be over to the store until 1 today... YEAH!

There is laundry... EVERYWHERE! It is a never ending battle to stay ahead of the laundry and housework when I am working so many hours. I'll start on it all in a little while as I don't want to wake Scott gathering it all up right now.

Tomorrow I am off from work and I have plans to complete some scrapbook pages for Julia's album and then I may work out in the garden as it is so overgrown right now that it's depressing. I would love to clean it out and then beef up the beds for winter and re-do the walkways with mulch. That way next Spring we could focus on having a nice garden. Tomorrow we may also pull down more paneling and put up some more sheet-rock... LOTS of ideas on ways to use a day off and get this place closer to selling.

I'm thinking I could sleep again so I'm going back to bed!

Twists and TURNS!

I have a second Interview Tuesday! You never know where life will lead you do you? If I get this I will be training for 6 weeks... 2 in TN! WOW! REAL TRAINING! That'll be GREAT! I'm not going to post anymore about this until AFTER that next interview.

Interesting day!

I went to that job interview at 10 this morning as was in it until about 11:45. The Interviewer seemed quite interested in me and said he would call if I was deemed "recommended" by his little quiz that I took. Once I left there I went to work and found a lot had run amok while I was away and it frustrated me so! I spent the afternoon/evening cleaning up after everyone that had let things slide.

On a brighter note I brought a bunch of merchandise back from Cary NC to "beef" up my Thanksgiving section and people were shopping it today. I heard quite a few ohhs and awhsss. Well time to hit the hay!

Shhhhhhh...

Don't tell anyone but I have a job interview on Thursday morning. I put my resume on Monster.com and I'm getting bites! It's to see how much I'm REALLY worth!~