Year in Review...2014

Wow. We are at the end of another year and I find that while, overall, the year has been good, I have not done a lot of blogging. It's something I enjoy and hope to do more of next year. There is news though.

 Once again, I have moved. Back to Texas. For a job. I always keep an eye on job postings and when I saw this job, I knew I had to give it a go. I didn't really think I'd get it, but I did! Everything just fell in to place as if this is what I was supposed to do.  I do miss the people I worked with and, surprisingly, I miss Savannah.  Job wise, though, it's been one of the best transitions I have had in a long time. A well run organization and welcoming people. The only drawback for me is it's a large organization. Probably the largest in which I've ever worked. Also, my job is not attached to any one department, which makes it a bit weird, but not a bad weird. It does mean, though, that I've not yet found a "work buddy," which I've usually had at other jobs. I figure that will come in time.

In the meantime, in an effort to get more exercise and meet people, I joined a walking group and have met some wonderful people. It's at 7:30 Saturday mornings, which is a challenge for me, but a good challenge. Right now the weather is windy and cool, but I know if an few months that will change to unbearably hot and I'll be glad for the early morning walk time.

With this move, comes my other piece of news. I am tired of moving. This is a college town, so rentals would be expensive, not too mention no desire to repeat the pitiful renting experience that I had in Georgia.  Plus, I was just ready.  So, I took the plunge (with a little help from a small inheritance) and bought a house. It's a little bigger than I set out to get, but I knew when I walked into it that it was supposed to be mine. It's an almost brand new house in an established neighborhood, but it did need some work. Mainly on the outside - landscaping for the front and some type of porch and patio on the back. The house has a covered porch, but there were no steps down to the yard (and it was about a two foot drop) and no patio. I've done both of those and screened the back porch, something which has been on my wish list for years. The yard is huge and backs up to a wooded area. Fortunately it self maintains itself for the back part and I found a good yard service.

Between the tiny Georgia condo (though the peace and quite was wonderful) and the move and hurting my foot, my exercise routine flew out the window. And, along with it my weight maintenance. My big disappointment in all of this is the weight I gained back after keeping it off for years. I know with some structure and routine I can re-lose it, but my focus has been sporadic. That's one of my goals for the new year - get back to a routine that will allow me to lose the weight and maintain the loss.

I wish everyone nothing but the best in the coming year.

Happy Thanksgiving - 2011

Happy Thanksgiving! For the second year, a friend and I ate Thanksgiving dinner at one of the nicer local restaurants. Last year was somewhat of a disappointment with what appeared to be almost a "line 'em up and knock 'em out" type of experience with a different local restaurant that's very good and very popular. They took reservations for certain times, put out a buffet and there you go. Good, but we sorta felt like we were on a conveyor belt and missed the peacefulness of a meal out in a nice restaurant.

This year, we tried a restaurant recommended by another friend and it was a great recommendation. The atmosphere was great. No buffet. Adding to the dining experience for me was dietary restrictions (low fat) due to surgery last week. (This was only my second true outing since the surgery, so that made for an extra nice day for me). The waiter was awesome when I explained my restrictions. He helped modify the traditional dinner to remove items that wouldn't work and even put my gravy on the side. All this rounded out by a small piece of pumpkin pie for dessert.

In the past, Thanksgiving has been a "me" day -- something I've always enjoyed and many years looked forward to. However, dinner out these past couple of years with my friend has been really enjoyable. Especially this year, with the surgery and having limited contact with people for the past week. Makes one realize just how much there is to be thankful for.

We rounded out the day with a short walk to take advantage of the nice weather and look at the houses in the neighborhood around the restaurant.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.

Welcome 2011

This past Christmas was probably the most disjointed one ever. Even with the craziness, though, it was a good one. I book my airline tickets about 3-4 months out. Late Christmas Eve I learned that Delta had canceled over 500 flights in and out of Atlanta on Christmas Day and mine was one of them. I called Orbitz (who I booked the ticket through) and they almost booked me on a later flight, then assured me that Delta was re-booking me. Delta did re-book me... for the following day. Which would have been okay if the storm front predicted for Atlanta wasn't also coming this way.

For whatever reason, I waited until Christmas Day to see how the weather here would do and I slept in. What I realized when I woke up is that Delta could have made their morning flights (and it appeared that my flight out of Atlanta that morning was on time, which just made me cranky). Realizing that I ran a very big risk of not flying out the next day, I canceled the Delta flight (at no charge, so I am very grateful to Delta for that and to the agents who helped me re-book) and booked on American. The cost was a bit higher, but I wanted to go ahead and fly out on Christmas Day; the little voice was telling me this was the thing to do. So, I did it. Friend WC kindly drove me to the airport. The airport was beyond quiet and the flights were good. While waiting for my connecting flight in Dallas, the shuttle service I use called and canceled my pick-up for the next day, validating my get out of town now feeling. I had canceled the second leg of the shuttle trip but had been unable to cancel online due to the changes to the reservation. At any rate, while I got in much later than I planned, I was in Louisiana on Christmas Day.

The few days there were good. Among other things, we sold my very first car... finally. It was a 1987 Honda Accord Hatchback. I loved that car, probably more than any other car I've had. And, I drove it for 10 years. However, it was time to let it go. We got a good offer for it and took it. The new owner - a young lady who will be starting community college in January. Her dad is a Honda fan and currently works at the dealership we originally bought the car at. I feel like it went to a good home and am glad that we own one less car.

Speaking of cars. Over the past couple of years, I've been monitoring the value of my car, a Toyota Matrix I've driven for 7 years and very much enjoyed. However, car prices are good and Toyota had good incentives. Add this to helping a friend car shop several months ago and I'd done most of the preliminary work. So, the Saturday before Christmas I test drove the Prius. And, I liked it. I hadn't planned on buying that day, but the trade-in on my car had gone down over the past couple of years (expected). Toyota gave me good value for the trade-in, as well as a good discount, in addition to the 0% financing. So, with a little bit of sadness mixed with excitement, I traded in the Matrix. I'm now the proud owner of a Toyota Prius III in Sandy Beach Metallic. I'd have preferred a light shade of blue or the red, but neither was available, so I decided to try a different car color. Not sure about a light interior, but so far I'm enjoying the car. I expected the gas milage to be lower in the winter due to the colder weather and running the heater, but right now I'm getting about 49 mpg and I haven't even used a quarter of tank. Stay tuned for how it goes with the car, because honestly, it just fascinates me.

The year ended on a sad note, with the death of my college roommate. However, overall, 2010 was basically a good year. I've got good vibes coming at me for 2011. I wish everyone nothing but the best in the coming year.

Never take anything for granted...

We all know this. But, sometimes we're reminded in ways we'd rather not be. This past Wednesday, I learned that a friend and former co-worker's son had been killed in a car accident. When my dad died, planning his funeral was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I can't imagine having to plan your child's funeral. Nor can I imagine how hard it will be to celebrate Christmas this year and in future years without him. We naturally expect to outlive our parents, but the sudden death of anyone, especially your child, is particularly hard; unimaginable as a friend said. He had a wife and three small children. We know God has a plan, but when things like this happen, it's hard to see that plan and we never truly understand it. And nothing anyone can say or do will make the hurt go away. A hurt I know will be with them for the rest of their lives.

This time of year, we naturally think about the excitement - Santa Claus, gifts for family and friends,decorating the tree, church activities... This year, I'm reminded that while most of us are celebrating, many families will be struggling with loss. And, there is a strange twist in all this for me - he has the same birthday as my brother (though a different year) and will be buried on my birthday.