Happy New Years Eve

Exactly 5 months from today is our wedding. Wowsa. Can't believe it. Deep breath. Tons to do still. We have enough done that we could get married tomorrow...but still more to do.

Happy New Years Eve to all. I hope you have a wonderful and safe celebration. Todd and I are going to his friend's house for a day-time party (these folks have wee ones...thus a Noon-Years-Eve deal) then downtown for a hotel party. I was able to score free tickets...and a very inexpensive price for hotel room at a swank hotel 1 block from the party. Sweet. I have a massive headache and head cold...and really really have no business going out. But the party machine has left the gate and we have already purchased our tickets. I am supposed to be getting ready to leave....and can sense Todd wishing I would get off of the computer and get into the shower...so I best run friends.

Cheers! So ready for 2008.

Crying

Admittedly I have been in this haze for about a year now. New job. Met the love of my life. Got engaged. Planning a wedding. Moved to a new home. ETC ETC. Just life I guess. I haven't posted to my blog much...and I haven't read my friends blogs enough either. I just read about 4 months of Em P's blog. Cried. Laughed. Hooted. Cheered for her. Wanted to hug her. Wished I was there for her. Love seeing her kids growing. Thanked God she has Peter in her life. Just loved reading about her family and the antics of her 2 kids. They are gorgeous creatures with the charm and intelligence of their parents. Then to Erin's blog. Same feelings. Started in June...and am still reeling from her sweet post on our engagement that I didn't see until today. Click here - Scroll to June 13th. Wow. The last line made tears stream down my face. Sometimes you don't know how much your friends see or feel...until you SEE it in black and white. I feel loved.

Back in the Saddle

I have been missing posting to my blog. It's time to get back in the saddle. I see something or do something and think it would make for a good blog post. For example, I was at a meeting in this building that is supposed to be the most environmentally "green" building in Colorado. Their toilets had 2 flushing options. Pull the handle up to flush if you only went "number 1" and push it down if you went "number 2". Funny. Apparently it flushes with less water for just pee. Ok whatever. Up for 1 and down for 2. Thought that would be a funny blog title. Up for 1 and down for 2. Anyway. I have been away for a while...and tons has happened. Here's the Reader Digest version. The last 1/2 of the year has been full of highs...and low lows.















1. Todd and I got engaged on June 9th. This is one of our engagement photos. We are walking on sunshine. We are getting married on May 31, 2008. Wow...only about 5 months away. We plan to try to start a family after the wedding.

2. My sister had a beautiful baby girl on Nov. 25th. She's a gorgeous & sweet baby and I love her with all of my heart. Nat and Danny are wonderful parents. I can't stop buying stuff for the baby.

3. My brother and Rebecca got engaged last month. Very happy for them both!

4. Both Erin and Emily got married recently. Em in August and Erin in November. You go girls. So amazing to have all 3 of us get marriend within 10 months of each other. Wacky! :)

5. Cherill is preggers with her 4th kid. It's a boy! Three boys and a girl. Hands full!

6. Maria and Brian gave birth to a baby boy named Austin. He was born 13 weeks early on Oct. 14th. He is in the NICU and hopes to come home by his due date of Jan. 11th. I will go stay with their family in Chicago when Austin comes home to be with Maria and help.

7. Both Cherill and Stephanie lost babies recently. Cherill lost a baby at 17 weeks. Steph lost a baby boy at 29 weeks. May you lay in the arms of the King.

That is the basic update. There is more...but all a heart can handle right now.

Christmas was wonderful. I had a tough time dealing with not being at my parent's house on Christmas Day. We decided to split time between our family this year. Christmas Eve at one side. Christmas Day at the other side. We went to my parent's house on the 23rd to open gifts and celebrate together. On Christmas Eve, we went to my Grandma's house. Then on Christmas day we went to his aunt and uncle's house. My heart hurt a little all day yesterday missing my family on Christmas Day. Plus I knew it made my mom and Grandma sad to not have us there. Compromise is good...and a huge part of being together...but I am not going to say it's easy.

OK - enough for now. See you soon.

Long...way...long

I am almost embarrassed at how long it's been since I posted to my blog. Almost. I had a lot going on...and I was enjoying it. And quite honestly, I had forgotten my password to my blog...and it came to me in a dream last night....so here I sit. I sit looking out the window of our office at the steady stream of airplanes flying into DIA. It's a holiday weekend...and folks are coming home from something fun....I hope. Memorial Day Weekend. A time to give thanks and honor to our vets. Memorial Day always makes me miss my Grandpa A. He was a vet and a very proud American. I miss him. My dad told me a funny story about him that I had never heard before. When my Grandpa was 14 he got sprayed by a skunk. He was so angry about being sprayed...he killed that skunk with his bare hands....even though he was sprayed about 10 more times. You had to know him to see the humor in this....not about the dead animal (that's actually sad)...more about the extend of his temper. I am soooo my Grandpa A on soooo many occasions....but not as many occasions as my brother Bob...he IS my Grandapa A. Ha.

I love living with Todd. I told him the other day that I can barely remember my life without him....and couldn't imagine a time in the future without him by my side. Life is good. We worked 2 days this long weekend at my condo getting it ready to sell. I wish I had done these upgrades when I lived there to enjoy them...oh well.

The weekend was full as usual. Friday night we met some friends out for drinks in celebration of Christine getting out of jail....aka...radio. She starts her new gig next week....congrats my friend. Saturday was Paul and Sharon's wedding in Boulder. It was a lovely evening and a good time was had by all. We stayed at a small cabin just a mile from the wedding...it was perfect. Sunday we had my parents over for a bbq. It was the first time they saw our place...and it made it all very real for me....I actually live here...and I am not just an over night guest anymore. I had to crack up...my parents didn't go into our bedroom during the tour. I wonder if seeing my bedroom with Todd made them uncomfortable?!? Todd played in a golf tournament today (Monday)...and had to get up at 4:30 am....blech. After golf, he met me over at my condo and we painted until around 5 pm. Long day...especially for Todd.

Barkley (Todd's dog) and Sasha (my cat) are getting along fabulously. Well...as fabulously as a dog and cat will. Right now, he is laying at my feet...and Sasha is on her bed (that Susie gave me years ago) glaring at him. Ahhhhh....love is in the air.....totally kidding. Tolerance is in the air. Ha.

My brother moved in with his girlfriend Rebecca. I am super pumped for them. I can't wait to see their place.

Some very sad news. My old dear friend and co-worker Amber P died on May 17th. I don't want to cry right now so that is all I can say...so if you want to know more...ask me.

Expensive Sweatpants

I moved in with Todd. I am putting my condo on the market, so I didn't move my furniture because I will stage the house to help sell it. Folks, looking for furniture, tvs, kitchen stuff...anything? I am sure I have it that you can have. Anything I don't give away to friends and family I am donating to a non-profit...so lemme know. Anyway. Things in my life are grand and moving towards a place that I prayed for a long time. I am a smitten kitten and blessed to have met and fell in love with Todd. He's a peach.

I was talking on the phone with my college roommate Maria tonight. We reminisced and giggled at the fact that we have known each other 1/2 of our lives. I met Maria in August of 1990....I was 17....I am 34 now. She squealed with delight when I told her that Todd and I moved in together. She knows my battle scars and how many frogs I kissed and how long I waited for just the right guy. I kept telling her he was out there...and she believed me. In fact...as a side bar...when I told my Dad the good news...he said, "Well, this one almost deserves you." He laughed and teased me and told me that he and my mom love Todd...no one will really really really EVER deserve me....but Todd is a great guy. Ha. Anyway. Maria and I giggled and caught up on the phone and she started talking about the guys we dated in college. It was funny. All these years later....Maria has 2 boys and has been with her husband for 13 years...Brian (her husband) rocks the casba. Anyway. Maria was saying that she was looking thru old college photos and ran across a box full of pictures of Maria and another college boyfriend, Drew. She admitted that looking back, she didn't think he was all that good looking. I told her that he was a nice guy and had great eyes and a personality that made him adorable...and quite frankly...he was the star of the college soccer team and quite sought after by other susie-co-ed's. Maria said something that is still cracking me up as to why she thought he was great in college.... "Drew lived off campus, was a good dresser as far as athletes went and always had food in the house." Oh my gosh. How our criteria has changed. I can't remember the last time that one of my dates got a good score for living in a dump close to a college campus, who wore expensive sweatpants and had a food in his fridge. Ha. I am laughing my ass off. Maria - you are a funny and fabulous friend.

Sweet 16

My NCAA March Madness Pool started off....poor....to say the least. I feel that I have rebounded a wee bit (pun intended). I have 10 teams still in for the Sweet 16. I have all of my Final Four and Finals teams still in.....could be interesting. Honestly...kind of a boring year though.... tons of top 5 teams still in. I picked a few good upsets. I don't really like Duke...picked the huge VCU upset....sweet. And I had UCLA too. Fingers crossed. My pool winnings is for work...so it goes into our yearly fundraising for work...but hell...gotta love winning!

She's having a baby

I ripped off the title to this post from one of my favorite silly movies "She's Having a Baby" starring Elizabeth Perkins and Kevin Bacon. Good flick. Well written and has a great soundtrack. I digress. The post was to announce that my (baby) sister NJD and her hubby are expecting a baby. Yes!!! Woo Hoo! The wee one is due on November 20th.

....that deep exhale you hear is.... me....full of relief that the pressure of a grandbaby is off my shoulders....for a year at least.

Wow...I am actually gonna be Auntie EM!

College dear friend and team mate Steph and her hubby Scott are expecting their first baby in November as well. And as I have posted before Cherill is expecting her 4th wee one. Babies galore. Weeeeeee! (Don't drink the water.) Ha.

Gag

I think it's so weird when couples share an email address. Seriously are you so connected at the hip that you can't have your own identity or at least your own email address? I think it's weird. And it leads me to another simple...yet deep question....WHY? Is it a trust thing? Wanting to be able to see and check each other's email? That can't be it. Any person with an IQ over a monkey can make different user name/email address. I just don't get it. Gag.

Not EVERYONE gets a ribbon

I am so pissed about the theory that I see coming out of kids, parents and schools today. OK. NOT EVERY KID GETS A RIBBON. I am gonna start by telling you....yes...field day at school was a BIG day for me. I typically won any and every athletic deal, trophy and ribbon...and had a ton of blue ribbons on field day. I did. Shoot me. I am more going to talk about this freaking mess in everything I see to deal with our next generation. OK. Every kid gets a ribbon at field day....just for showing up. Wha? Are we a socialist society? No. "Everyone is equal." No. I heard on the news today that parents are telling their kids to put down the pencil and not take the CSAP test....because....get this....it's TOO STRESSFUL...and they don't want to expose their kids to "that kind of stress". I want to kick these parent's asses with my yoga mat. You're right...my boss will give me a get-out-of-jail-free-card because turning my work in ON TIME might be "stressfull" for me. NOT EVERY KID GETS A RIBBON. GET OVER IT. Life is tough. People win. People lose. Learn to deal with success and 2nd place. Parents. I am sure if you are reading my post...I LOVE your kids. I am sure of it. However, I am not sure your kids are the smartest kids in the class...the one who should be starting pitcher on the baseball team....star player on the soccer team. Folks. Let's wake up. ACCEPT THE FACT: Your kid(s) are cool. But they are NOT the best at everything they do. They NEED you. Please don't shout at their coach. Think....do "I want to be their coach?" Sure as shit....you don't. Parents....your kids are cool...but I will bet a paycheck...there is a kid...or 75 times cooler than your kid....teach your kids how to win....not how to make mistakes. You AND your KIDS are NOT perfect.

The dick, the dork and the darling

Something I have always always enjoyed is watching the entertainment world use the same formula for the comedy or entertainment shows....the dick, the dork and the darling. Generally it's a dick-head stubborn man...and dorky guy and a sweet or stupid girl...the typical giggle box. Stop and think about the radio show you may listen to. The reality TV show. Think about it. Remember Frosty, Jaime and Frank? Bingo. Watch American Idol? Bingo. Enjoy Deal or No Deal? ANY soap opera. Think about it. It cracks me up.

Fair

My dear friend Emily lost her father to breast cancer on Friday. My heart burst in a million pieces when I heard. My heart broke for Em. Her mom (they were married for 40 years). Em's husband. Her 2 kids. Her brothers and sisters A-M-E-N. Her nieces and nephews. And oddly, my heart broke for me. That feeling shocked me to the core. I saw my dad a few hours after I learned of Roger's passing...and I teared up a few times when I was talking to him. I realized that I was mourning the fact that I will someday lose my dad too....and it broke my heart. It's not fair. Our parents and grandparents are supposed to stay the same age as the day we met them. They shouldn't age or get sick or die. It's not fair.

I will always remember Em's wedding day and the way her dad looked at her as Em gracefully and elegantly entertained the guests....smiling from ear to ear. He watched her with this proud glow on his face. I took a mental snapshot of that loving look. I won't forget it.

Anna....may you RIP...but

I am floored that I have seen more news coverage on Anna Nicole Smith's death...than the recent death of President Ford. Sick. Even on the actual "credible" news sources are carrying an update on ANS' death every news cast. Stop it. I don't CARE folks. Honestly, besides being a pretty white woman....who was a train wreck of a human...what did this person add to our worlds? I blame these 24-hour news sources from making Americans crave dirt...and lack a thirst for real history.

Long lost blogger

A post from the long lost blogger......

I got a call at 3 pm yesterday at work informing me that I would be giving a 25 minute presentation/speech for an insurance company staff of 75 TODAY. Wha? Gulp. Deep breath. I wrote a speech and practiced it....and all went fine. But oh damn. Public speaking has never been my long suit. I am just like Jerry McQuire - I am the Queen (King) of the Livingroom. I can work a small room. But not a conference room of people. I will get better....even though I know I did an ok job. I set high standards for myself.

I have never been a fan of Valentines Day. Ever. But this year....I enjoyed the perfect amount of Valentines. Todd and I made Valentines cards, exchanged small gifts and had a lovely dinner at his house with a fantastic bottle of wine. Bliss.

I started coaching again a few weeks ago. The girls from last year's team are 7 months older...and it's amazing how much they have grown. They are very adorable and already developing into fantastic softball players. My favorite player from last year, Hannah, is not on the team this year. She wasn't sure if she wanted to play again this year...and the deadline past. I saw her at the softball clinic this past Sunday....what a dolly.

Congratulations to Cherill who is expecting her 4th baby. Holy shit. Four kids. Ha. The baby is due in Sept. She invited me to go with her to her amino....I am honored.

My sister and her husband moved back to Colorado in September....and despite many phone calls wanting to see them and their new place....nuttin. I guess I may never have a close friendship with Natalie. Breaks my heart.

My windshield has an annoying crack that goes from one side to the other. Pisses me off. I know it will be about $200 to get a new windshield. I keep virtually shopping with that $200...thinking of other things I would rather spend my money on. Damn.

That buzzing you hear

That buzzing you hear is me...the busy bee. My new gig is fantastic. I love working in the non-profit world. Today I thought would be a sick busy day. I had 6 interviews scheduled (we are hiring a p/t receptionist) and in the middle of that....a lunch with one of my staffers who works out of her home wayyyy up north. Well. Four of my 6 interviews canceled. Yes. Canceled. And the nutty thing...this job pays really really well for a part time gig. Anyway. And my staffer needed to postpone due to an early morning trip to the emergency room with her small child who has a bad cold (he's ok now). So.... I have actually found a moment to post on my blog. Sadly, I can't even remember the last time I posted.

The other night, Todd and I got into an interesting conversation about a subject that I haven't been able to stop thinking about. The discussion surrounded the topic "If you were able to take a time machine back in history to witness any event (large or small) as a participant or an observer....what would it be? And would you be a participant or an observer?" I was able to come up with some good ones....but nothing that made me say - YES! That is the ONE event I would choose. Many of the ones I came up with that night were historic sporting events, Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, a Beatles performance in a small pub just before they broke it to the big time, several religious occurrences….but nothing that really stood out as the ONE event I would want to see. Since I have been thinking about this for days….as of today…the one event I would want to observe my birth. Is that selfish? Maybe. But I would love to really BE there (other than a squirmey screamy baby) to hear what my family said and did. Humpf. I think that sounds weird. I know I was already there. Again….humpf.

Todd and me at Katie's 30th b-day party...fun...a theme party!

Pretty Women

My new gig rocks friends. Rocks. I love it. I discovered that I needed to expand my Business Barbie wardrobe with some even more grown-up-girl business suits...you know...the classic kind that you buy in fancy stores. (Ha) So my gorgeous beau and I went to the mall in search of a few hot suits. NOT old-lady or super-masculine-not-so-female suits. I am talking H-O-T! I was told by the girls in the know to go to Talbots Petites....so we did. We picked out 2 fantastic pants suits....2 very Jackie O looking suits. I LOVE THEM. As the sales gal was ringing up my small fortune, she slips me a phone number and tells me "call this number if you (I) ever want to shop before the store opens, I (she) would set that up, a private shopping experience." Uh? WHA? I have never been offered THAT kind of shopping perk. Just like Julia Roberts in Pretty Women. If I ever actually do the private shopping day....you bet I will order pizza (just like the movie).

On another subject....I am sick and tired....tired and sick of the freaking cold and snow. I know...I live in Colorado....but damn. For the 5th week in a row, we got more snow. AND...I just heard that we will get more this weekend. Tired. Sick. Tired. Sick.

On yet another subject....I told my sister and her husband that I would put their wedding photos to music on a video slide show as my wedding gift. (Shh....no mention that the wedding was in late June). Anyway. I have made an executive decision to pay someone to get this project off of my desk. Folks. Looking for some extra cash? I have about 100-125 digital photos that I would like put into a slideshow for DVDs with a few transitions and music in the background. Wanna make some extra moolah? Let's chat. I don't have time to do this video. I have tons of good intentions...no time.

I'm Lovin' It

I am 4 days into my new gig....well...in the office (training in Dallas not included). Besides the fact that I think my brain is leaking out of my ear due to too much information...all at once...things are going great.

I have spent my career observing some pretty shitty behavior by management...and making a mental note of it....thinking..."someday...when I am the boss...I will do it different." Well...now I am the boss...and I feel that I am making good on that promise. I was given a list of Dept. Heads to meet with to do an Orientation. I have decided to treat everyone in the office with the same respect...and I am meeting with everyone in the office...even the part time receptionist. If the boss doesn't understand that everyone who walks in the door of the office has importance...then who will? Anyway. To quote a great marketer.... I'm Lovin' It.

I have to add....I am used to being in an industry where people are crude. Where the sexual harrassement flows like the booze. Where some people say FUCK every other word....in meetings. Where other managers have commented that my boobs look good in my new shirt. I NOW work in a world that I have YET to hear even a "shit" or "hell" from a coworker. And no one is commenting on my boobs. Wow. Is this the real world? Ha.

Space Junk

So...the news stations were calling the meteorite that I saw "Space Junk" on the tv last night. I giggled every time. The word JUNK cracks me up. I have heard people use the word junk to describe so many other things other than actual junk...that I crack up.

Out of the wood works

I mentioned that my new job was published in the radio trade mags...well...lemme tell you....old names and blasts from the past are coming out of the wood works. I have gotten so many phone calls and emails full of encouragement....and many....shouting congratulations for getting out of radio. Ha.

Damn...folks!

Well Denver got another freaking snow storm....3rd Friday in a row we have gotten dumped on. Sweet. I AM OVER IT! On the way to work I said "Damn...folks!" about 73 times. People....when it snows...scrape the ice and snow off of your car before driving. People...when it snows...and you don't have a car that can go thru 3 feet of snow...don't try....you WILL get stuck. People...when it snows....4-wheel drive helps you go...but doesn't help you stop. People...when it snows...and you are walking in the street...look UP and watch the cars on the road...they are bigger than you and can kill you if they hit you because they can't stop. People...when it snows or there is any precipitation....turn on your headlights. People...when it snows...and you can't see the lines on the streets....pull your head up and look around and watch the other cars around you and follow them. People...when it snows...don't drive like a total ass hat*.

*Ass hat: (noun) A person who has their head so far up their ass that they wear their ass as a hat. Todd was the first person who ever used that term around me and it cracks me up every time he says it. Em P introduced Asshattery to me and I have never laughed so hard. Good work.

Once in a lifetime

This morning I had a meeting at 8 am. Yuck. I spent the night out at Todd's....so to make it on time I had to get up at 6 am. I rolled out of bed and into my car and started my 45 minute trek home to get ready for work. At about 6:15 am I see this huge ball of reddish fire with a tail of white sparkly light...that looked like what I would guess that stardust looks like. I pull the car over, flip on my hazards and turn off my lights to see it better. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Then the ball broke into about 4 or 5 smaller red balls of fire with a white sparkly stardust tail....then it burned out. NUTS! It was awesome. I was driving west...and the thing (that was later determined as a SL-4 rocket body that re-entered the atmosphere over Colorado and Wyoming) was traveling north to south in a horizontal line. At first a million things ran thru my head.... "Dang, is that a plane crashing?" "What in the HELL is that?" "Holy shit." I flipped the radio on...and within a few minutes every station in town was taking phone calls on the "meteorite." NUTS! I was pissed off that I had an 8 am meeting...but thankful that I did because I witnessed a once in a lifetime experience.

I got it!

I have been on pins and needles for a couple weeks now hopin' and prayin' that I would get the job I had been interviewing for....well folks..... I got it. Whew! Hoorah! This is a huge gig for me and I am sooo happy! I am leaving radio after 12 years to enter the non-profit world.

I had to laugh....the national radio publications had my departure from radio as a freaking headline today. Must have been a slow news day!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! Here is a rambling of many things to share.

Gina and Steve welcomed their baby boy to the world on Dec. 29th at 9 pm. His name is Ian James and is 7 lbs 7 oz and 21 inches long. I can't wait to meet you Ian!

With the 2 blizzards (yes 2) we had over the holidays in Denver...I was out of the office pretty much for 2 weeks. Getting back into the swing of things today was tough...but I am finding time to post on my blog...so it must not be THAT tough. Ha.

The holidays were blissful. I loved the snow...even though I fully admit to being SICK of driving in this crap. I have never seen a storm stick around so long here.

We went to Katie's 30th birthday party on Saturday night...the night before New Years Eve. It was a masquerade party...and all guests were to wear Venetian Masks. Very fun. I love theme parties. I will post pictures soon. The party was at our friend's house wayyyyy out west...so we rented a hotel room with the plan to take a cab to the room. We couldn't get a cab all night. Todd tucked me in on the couch saying he would wake me up when the cab got there.... he was up until 4 am trying to get a cab. He's such a peach. We ended up sleeping/laying wide awake on the couch until 7 am...then drug our tired asses to the hotel. I had to work a radio station event on New Years Eve morning...so I left the room and went straight to the event. Sweet. It was worth the lack of sleep...because the party was super fun.

New Years Eve was fun...just my kind of NYE. Todd, Bob and I walked over to our favorite pizza joint. I had my mouth all set for our fav pizza "Fat Brando" and much to my chagrin, they were out of several of the toppings due to the storm and slow delivery trucks. Dang! Regardless...still had a good time. We played video games and drank a few beers. I brought along "Crackers" for the celebration. They are a tradition started by my old room mate Jennifer...her mom was from England. I love 'em. Anyway. The boys were sports and wore the paper crowns (from inside the Crackers) for a few fun pictures. I will post those later too. We went home around 10:30 pm...and Todd and I were in bed for the New Year. Kiss kiss. Happy New Year. Click (off went the tv)......slleeeeep.

The next morning I clicked the tv on to find out that Darrent Williams, one of our beloved Denver Broncos was murdered at 2 am. He was 24. One of his teammates Javon Walker held Darrent in his arms as he died. What an horrific thing to happen. My prayers go out to Darrent, his 2 small children, his mom, all of this friends, family, Denver Broncos, Javon Walker and any one else involved. Heartbreaking.

On New Years Day, Todd and I went for Sushi then to go see "A Night at the Museum". Cute. Predictable. Funny. After the movie we went back to his house...made some dinner and watched another movie.... "The Last Kiss" with Zach Braff (one of my favs). The movie was about relationships....period. The message I got from the movie was that no matter how perfect a relationship seems from the outside....no relationship is perfect. That saying you love someone is nice....but SHOWING someone you love them is most important. Parts of the movie were tough to watch....but all in all...it was entertaining and I would suggest others see it.

....and today....back at work....waiting for some good news.