Thinking Ahead

As 2011 is wrapping up I have spent some time thinking about the last year and what I would like 2012 to look like. This year was full of experiences—both good and bad—that I had little control over. A couple examples are losing my job in Memphis, house drama, the death of O’Malley, Daly’s epilepsy, the birth of my niece, and a renewed closeness both with and to my family. I have had some wonderful opportunities this year such as attending my first ever Pink Party in New York City, meeting new people, advancing in my studies, and the adoption of Titai into our clan.

I have also seen myself grow more anxious and discontented; things that I do not want to carry into next year. So instead of resolutions for 2012 I have decided to start a list of goals and action items for 2012 that I expect will transform as the days, weeks, and months go by. This list is a mixture of things I want to reduce in my life and those things I want to nurture and grow. Each item should be something that I can directly impact; something that happens because of my choosing. While some things are a variation on resolutions gone by, the reasoning behind them is different. Other items are a result of themes that seem to keep popping up in my life. Here is what I have so far. Let me know how they compare to what is on your list.

Goals and Action Items for 2012

1. Warrior Dash with LadyBoyd - September 2012

- Cardio & Strength training is needed.

2. Reduce Negativity

- Consistent quiet time for devotions and reflections

- Limit contact with negative people

- Limit amount of time/effort spent complaining/discussing/dwelling on hurts/wrongs which not only contribute to my own negativity but to that of others as well

- Exercise (for endorphin release)

3. Declutter

- Physically – reduce possessions

- Monetarily – reduce spending and debt

- Diet – eat more whole foods, less processed foods

- Emotions – along with reducing negativity, setting time aside for journaling/blogging

Spring Has Sprung

The days are getting longer and the roads are lined with blooms. This afternoon when I went to change the church sign I noticed that there were some beautiful pansies and flowering bushes (I'm really bad with flower names) that were begging to be photographed. Too bad my camera batteries are dead. I'll have to fix that tonight. Here is a sampling of what Memphis is showing off these days. They are from the entrance of the Memphis Botanical Gardens. I snapped them as I was running to the airport after setting up for our job fair. Hopefully this Sunday will be nice and I can spend some time soaking in the Vitamin D.

January's Ice Storm

I'm a little late posting these pics. So sue me :)

O'Malley just loves the snow (It's her New England roots). Daly refused to go out.

The ice weighed down this branch. It is usually above the fence.

Almost Christmas?

I'm sure that you, like me, have seen all of the Christmas decorations that have been filling the stores since September. The fact that Christmas is one of my least favorite holidays doesn't help matters. Don't get me wrong, I like gifting and getting gifts and get the whole "Christ"mas idea. But I dislike most Christmas music (some radio stations have already gone to 24 hour Christmas music), the big tacky decorations, the mobbed stores, crazy traffic, traveling, and the cold weather that usually signals the Christmas season. This may be due in part to the fact that Christmas has never been a big holiday for our family. We usually get together at Thanksgiving and New Year's. Since too much family in too short a time can be a bad thing, Christmas is usually a more quiet, non-extended family time. I've spent many a Christmas curled up on a couch alone watching the Godfather trilogy or sleeping in. This December 25th I'll be navigating airports. How about you? Do you like the thrill of the season?

That being said, I have started my Christmas shopping. I always try to get a few things in October in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month. So far I've purchased some beautiful handmade cards to send out (I don't think that I'll have a photo in my cards this year as the girls won't sit still anywhere near each other without an outbreak of claws and hissing.) and a few presents. I have my gifting list started and am waiting to get some of the items. I'm working with a cash budget again this year and don't think I'll have a problem sticking to it. But that means I have to wait for paydays to buy things. I've started my knitted gifts (1 down, many more to go) but need to work on my melt-and-mold soaps and chocolates pretty soon. What's your Christmas plan?

Photo Stories

Like the proud mama of two beautiful furbabies that I am, I thought I'd share some pictures.

Since she was born in March of 2008, this was Daly's first Christmas. She took advantage of the new areas to explore that the Christmas tree provided, as seen above. This is probably how she got the hole in her cornea. At least that's what O'Malley would have us believe.

This morning I awoke to snow flurries. As you can see it actually stuck. Daly was sitting in the bedroom window and trying to figure out why there was white stuff floating around. So, I decided to let the girls out to enjoy the first (and hopefully last) snow of the year.

O'Malley, being a New England born lass, was right at home. She sniffed out the holly trees and put up quite a fight when I decided it was time to go back inside. Next, it was Daly's turn. This is the first time I have ever let her outside. Once she got to the step she was mortified to find out that I closed the door behind us. She started crying like she was on the way to the vet to get her eye stained again.

She did venture off the step very briefly. When I knelt down to get a pic, she jumped (literally) at the chance to get off of the cold ground. She quickly made her way up my leg and onto my shoulder, crying all the way. That was our cue to head back inside. Something tells me my Memphis born girl won't be begging to go outside anytime soon.

Happy Holidays!

It's That Time of Year

I knew it was coming. There's a chill in the air. I've started my shopping. I even plugged in and turned on the electric blanket last night. And now I have my tree up. I came home (after a very long 4 day work week) tonight to a box of goodies sitting by the front door. My WIR Secret Santa sent me lots of Christmas goodies which got me in a festive mood.

I also pulled out my Irish Nativity. As you can see, this is only part of the set. The shepherds, goats, more lambs, another angel, donkey, and the little drummer boy are still at my mom's house. (Nanny started the subscription for me so all of the items ship to her.) I was able to look them over Thanksgiving day and am quite pleased. Now I just need to convince my mother to ship them out to me before Christmas! And imagine my surprise at the three nails poking out of my mantle. Back when my parents came for Christmas in 2005, I had purchased three stockings. True, it's two years later and they've never been used. But I do have a stocking for all of the house's residents. The fact that the other two are quadrupeds and have slightly more fur than I do is irrelevant.

(Pirate) Christmas Comes Early

Here is my pretty Christmas tree. I have a few more ornaments coming via LadyBoyd. She wisely once used the same colors as I do for her tree :).

Anyway, things have been rather hectic lately with 2008 Youth planning (I can't wait until the church finds a new leader; I want to be a helper not a leader.) and the 2008 Plan for work. I've started my Christmas cards and hope to have them all out by the end of the week. I also found time to help out with the Women's Ministry blanket making project. Two Sundays ago, I went to the church and was able to complete a blanket with two other accountants. Then I decided after prayer meeting last week that I would have time to make a blanket before the 12/8 deadline since I had Friday off. Well, it ended up that my Friday was just as busy as any other day, so I finished up the blanket around 11p. I did have a good time rocking out to Day Of Fire while tying the blanket. I don't think that I could do another full size blanket by myself in one day, but I think I could tackle a lap blanket.



Back to the point: Christmas has come early. On Sunday LadyBoyd brought over her husband to help me patch the hole in my kitchen ceiling. (I got a patch for Christmas. See the pirate-ness of it now?) And by help me, I mean that he did all of the work and I held the dustpan while he swept up. Then, last night Mom called to tell me that I would be getting a beautiful Irish Nativity set for Christmas. I had seen it in the catalog and forgot about it because I knew it was out of my price range and I had requested BB gift cards for a new computer. Well, the Nativity set got ordered not knowing that it came in installments so once it arrived there were some second thoughts. But Mom & Nanny loved it so much they are going to get it for me anyway. (I've been told that it will become an heirloom and that Mom is first on that list!) The last little bit of Christmas to arrive this week is in the form of information I received this morning. I can't really go into it right now, but this will make my life easier in the long run.

Feeling Festive

Most of you may know that I am not big on winter. There is all of that snow, gaudy decorations, and annoying Christmas music playing EVERYWHERE! When it comes to decorations I'm all about simple. No non-Christmas related holiday decorations--the simplest of all--is the norm. I enjoy a tastefully decorated tree (small white lights are preferred) and that is about all I can take. This may be my way of rebelling against the plentiful decorations I grew up with in both my mother's and grandmother's houses. They both decorate themselves and their houses for Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving (beware of the multiplying Pilgrims!), Christmas, birthdays, etc. Heck, if they could find the right decorations for Mondays, they would be all over it. I'm not saying that this is a bad way to live; it's just not for me. So when E sent me a picture on Saturday of her fully decorated live tree, I started feeling festive. I spent Sunday night dragging out the pre-lit tree I bought a few years ago. I got all of the ribbon and ornaments on in short order. I even hung a few stockings from the mantle. O'Malley was very intrigued by the whole process and is in love with the tree box (and that is the excuse I'm using for the fact that it is still in the living room). I even spent last night wrapping some presents for under the tree. So pretty! I tried to take a picture of my tree with my cell phone but it has some weird color issues. I'll try again later with my camera.

Positively Glowing

I think it is safe to assume that fall has come to Memphis. The days are shorter and the nights are cooler. The view from my office window usually boasts nothing more interesting than a yellow generator, satellite dish, AC unit, and the neighboring building. Most of the non-evergreen trees in my view are sporting dried up red and brown leaves. But today I couldn't help noticing that one tree has gone from dull green to a radiant orange-red-gold. Every time I look up, I smile. Now all I can think about is curling up with O'Malley and some hot cocoa in front of a fire...