Two days in a row!

I am updating again so I guess that means you all know I am covering the front desk. It really isn't so bad when there is actually stuff to do. Plus, I dressed rather professional today so I fell a little more comfortable being up here. The big news is that Catharine and Amy had their babies this week. This really doesn't mean much to any of you, but it is very exciting for me; especially about Catharine who had a little girl named Emma. I can't wait to see them both. I also cannot wait until LaBoDrinkie tonight and spending the night with Jessica. Poor Jessica is a little depressed because her work told her she could not go on vacation so her husband went without her. It sounds bad, but the whole thing was paid for and isn't refundable so one on them may as well enjoy it. I think she and I will have a lot of fun tonight. I've missed her lately too. I could go on some more, but I really do have work to do today so I'll end it there. Everyone have a good weekend!J-

So much for updating often...

I had hoped to start updating on a regular basis, but that doesn't seem to have really panned out. I guess you folk will just have to settle for updating more often that I used to. I'm covering the front desk and don't really have a lot of work I can do away from my desk so here I am. I had a surprisingly nice holiday. I had really been crabby and stressed out leading up to the big Christmas celebration, but I pulled out of my funk sometime before New Years. Jesse and I really don't have any religious grounding anymore which just really leaves me feeling guilty and depressed during big religious holidays. I feel like a hypocrite and I hate that. God and I haven't really been getting along. I want to look more at Jewish practices but Jesse isn't at all keen on that. You would be surprised how hard it is to devote yourself to something when you have little support from you spouse. I also really want Emi to find a path that is right and good for her, but I don't really know how to that considering my undecided stance. Sigh. Emi did seem to enjoy the holiday experience and that's what made everything nice. Her little "surprised" face got a great workout. There was adorableness everyday. After Christmas I got to spend a whole week with her. I liked it, but I definitely do not see myself being a stay-at-home mom. I don't think it would be good for either one of us. We ended the year at Hava and Ryan's wedding. It was disorganized but fabulous! Even though I didn't have much to plan, after the last few months of showers and wedding prep, I kind of have post-nuptial depression. I really really miss Hava and Ryan and I even miss the e-mails from the other bridesmaids. I think Michelle and I might stay friends though and that would be cool. I'd like it if Wendy and I could do the same, but I don't think she's the stay in touch type so I'm not sure I can work that out. Now I've got to turn my attention to helping Jesse with his new job and getting myself into college. I am so excited about Jesse's job. It's at a place called UCS. They design software for high-end auto manufacturers and sellers such as Porshe and Ferrari. He has to wear a shirt and tye and it is all very grown up. We both have a really good feeling about this company. I also want to plan something for Mardi Gras so we can invite ourselves over to Hava and Ryan's for a weekend. Did I mention how much I miss them. It'll probably be better when Clarise gets back into town. I might feel better after LaBoDrinkie night tomorrow when I see Jessica for sure and Maybe Dana and Tiffany. So that is my big update. It is early enough in the month that you might even get another one before February. Oooooh, aaaah.

Matters to discuss at Lunchtime

It is lunchtime and my office is soooooo quiet. I should be working but I am updating. I'm a bad employee, I guess. I am so happy to report that my husband got new job!!! He starts Jan 4 unless Microage fires him when he gives his notice. I am a little apprehensive of this new endeavor, but I guess we are al a little nervous when it comes to new things. The pay is better and the benefits are way better so I am very very happy. It's unfortunate this couldn't have happened sooner so that we wouldn't be scrimping through Christmas the way we are, but I really shouldn't even complain. I need to get my butt in motion though and buy Jesse's Christmas gift. I really really want to get him the new Calvin and Hobbes collection, but the price tag is so high... I guess that's what I hate about Christmas. I really do want to use this opportunity to get my friends and family things they want, but it is really hard. I broke the window in my car during the freeze last week and it just blew my budget (well that and the post Thanksgiving paycheck). Sigh. Why am I so whiny today? I should post about Emily and her incredible cuteness. she tried to flirt with Lauren's husband at the office Christmas party and I just about died. Here's a tip: you are defeating the purpose when you flirt while your mouth is overflowingly full of biscuit. Poor Will. He just wasn't as in love with her as Emily had hoped. It was great! I suppose now that I've announced our good news, I should get back to work. Everyone have a good pre-holiday week!J-

Thanksgiving

I'm covering the front desk again so I have a little time to update before the holiday. In reference to may last and slightly depressing post, Lisa's funeral was...weird. I had forgotten how secluded our friendship was. I'm not even sure if secluded is the right word. Soon after we met Lisa changed churches and we never went to the same school so when we were together it was usually just the two of us. I was not ever involved with her extracurricular activities or her other friends. I has no idea she had become a youth director at a nearby Methodist church. I was like being at the funeral for a stranger. I'm glad I went though because it sort alleviated the empty feeling that came in place of mourning. I didn't take advantage of the open casket either because I wasn't sure if she would look all that good after her wreck. There was, however, a large collage of her pictures and quotes. She wrote all sorts of funny and loving things and she had really become so pretty. You absolutely cannot imagine a smile like Lisa's. The little girl I knew was still there in the pictures and sayings too. I'm sure the service was really personal to those that had been with her these last few years, but that board really meant more to me than the funeral. There is really no good segway (sp?) between funerals and other life matters so I will now just blatantly state that I am now on facebook.That's about it for now. Happy Thanksgiving!

Hollow

My friend died. Or she used to be my friend and we grew up and apart in that gradual painless way that's kind of rare. In any case, she died and there is just this emptiness in place of where I didn't think of her anymore. Some people wish they could cry because that would mean the knot in their stomach or chest or throat would melt and wash away and some of the pain would go with it. But there's no knot or pain or tears. Just empty. It's so empty that I actually feel like it would be fruitless to cry; like there wouldn't be enough tears to fill the space. Emily is in bed and Jesse is gone. And my friend who was only 23 died when she swerved to miss a cow. Her mom died in August and I cried as soon as I heard the news. Why don't I cry for Lisa? She really was someone who deserves to have people cry for her too, you know? When we were 12 we exchanged little gold bracelet broken hearts that said "Best" and "Friend" and I can't even cry. In middle school we wrote little story lines about horses named Flash and Kali and Blazer and Stacy. They were quit silly. My mom wants to go the funeral and I think I might want to go too, but not with her. That's probably not very nice, but I just don't think she'll understand. She'll want to hug me and I don't want to be touched. I just want to be able to cry and feel whole.

And the days go by

It is Monday and thus another fabulously busy weekend has passed. Thursday was mine and Jesse's 4 year anniversary. I was spoiled rotten with a fabulous dinner at Cafe Capri and a very very nice gift. He thinks of everything. Friday we celebrated Grandma's birthday at Oxford Street (not my favorite, but it wasn't my birthday). Grandma loved the necklace and earrings we had made for her. I was so relieved. They are really beautiful and will look so nice on her. She's a lady who really knows how to accessorize. Saturday I took Grandma and Emily to a horse show. They were both soooo cute! Grandma knows everything about horses and would tell me all kinds of things about their personalities and the ones she used to own. Emily would clap whenever anybody else clapped so every team was represented equally in the Emi Gatlin section of the bleachers We walked around and looked at the horses in their stalls which Emily loved until one horse sneezed near her and scared the wapoo out of her. Grandma would blow in the horses face so they could get her scent and it was so cute to watch Emily clutch my shoulder for dear life and blow at the horses from 4 feet away. She is such a little mimic! In the evening we got to go to the Men's Basketball game for an hour before bedtime. It's nice that SOME of our teams are winning. That was tacky, but it's true. The game was fun, especially since Clarise came with. We had nowhere near enough time to catch up, but we had fun anyway. Sunday was Catharine's baby shower. It was a huge success in my book. Everyone had fun and the cake was just gorgeous! I love when things go well. Catharine seemed to enjoy herself and she got a lot of really really nice gifts. The only downside was getting the rejection letter from A&M. I guess I'll try again in the fall. It's just means we'll have to wait that much longer before we can have another kid. In the meantime we're going to try to move so I've started working on that. My neighborhood was just too creepy on Halloween night. It's time to get into a more family neighborhood. I'm nervous about talking to the real estate agent because the market is starting to change. The timing isn't ideal, but we need to get into a different house before interest rates go any higher. We can make payments for a good nine months before we have to pay for school if I get in for the fall. We'll see. Have a great week! J-

Loads of Fun

The first weekend of November has come and gone bringing with it the month of endless planning and fun! Friday night was La BoDrinkie night. After missing a month, it felt even better than usual despite me wanting to hurry home and see Emi before bedtime at 8. Clare came with her friend Wendy. It is always fun to have new recruits at La BoDrinkie. Saturday morning brought an early rise and getting ready for my trip to Dallas for Hava's bridal shower (the first of 3)! I only got lost like 3 times and arrived shortly after the party began. It was a nice little party, just the way Hava wanted it since it was being thrown by her sister, mother and future moth-in-law. My team won the toilet paper wedding dress competition thanks, in part, to my toilet paper rosettes. I know, you wish you had mad skills like me. After chilling at the Rollo's house for a while (where I discovered how much I love the other bridesmaids - Michelle, Wendy and Tracey). I met up with Sarah in Denton (got lost once). I love Sarah more every time I see her. She is just a cool gal, with good hair to boot! I had no idea she had such a flair for decorating, but her apartment looks fantastic. It's decorated perfectly for two single co-eds finishing up school. We had dinner at Red Lobster (so yummy), dessert at Beth Marie's (homemade egg-nog ice cream) and then it was party party party. We went to Gilley's in Dallas and yes, I conquered the mechanical bull! Okay, so I got thrown over it's horns after a few seconds...I still looked good while I stayed on and I think I stayed on longer than most. I feel sorry for those Dallas girls though because all the cowboys at the club that night were of the strictly urban variety. Why wear a cowboy hat if you can't even two step? I only slept about 5 hours before getting ready for Sunday. I took Sarah and her roomie Kathryn to a late breakfast at Cracker Barrel (mmm, blueberry pancakes). Afterwords I headed to Grapevine (got lost twice) to watch Hava get ready for her brial portraits and then we went to Las Colinas in Irving for the actual portraits. Of course my girl looked fabulous and it was more fun times with the other bridesmaids (except Michelle, who I missed). We ended the day with a wonderful dinner at Uncle Ira's in Plano (got lost once) where I got to partake in his unbelievable iced tea! That tea is so addictive it isn't even funny. I LOVE it! Then I drove home (no getting lost), slept all day Monday and was back at work Tuesday. I felt bad taking off Monday but I had this cold and sounded like a teenage boy going through puberty. It was just sad. I'm mostly better now. Now I can get on with the rest of my busy month. Tomorrow is my 4 year wedding anniversary and my Grandma's birthday. Friday we're actually celebrating my Grandma's birthday. We can finally give her the custom necklace and earrings I designed and had made for her. They are so pretty, I can't wait. Sunday is Catharine's baby shower which I am helping to host and then I can concentrate more on Hava's second bridal shower the weekend of the 19th. Then Thanksgiving, then Christmas, then wedding! Whew!