Christmas Excitement and Christmas Presents

I have figured out that I Really Love Christmas! I remember trying not to get excited about it when I was little and thinking, at one point, that Christmas music was cheesy. BUT as I have gotten older Christmas has become more and more important to me; and now I LOVE Christmas music! I Love going into stores and hearing the music playing and have a special Christmas mix on my Ipod.:) Despite all my wonderful feelings for Christmas, I still get bogged down a little at times:
The hard part for me is getting all the presents. One, money is still an issues for us as a young couple still paying off our wedding. Two, I really WANT to get everyone awesome presents. Three, I used to have all the time in the world to MAKE awesome presents and put a lot of thought into the gifts I was going to get, but, with work and planning Robert's weekends home and taking EMTP at work and cats and LIFE it seems like it is harder and harder to get it together and be original. PLUS group gifts for parents are hard because some of us can't spend as much as others...I want everyone to know that I put thought into every gift, but sometimes I just wish I didn't have to buy all this stuff and could just MAKE great presents! I want EVERYONE to know I am thinking of them: work, family, friends, far and near!
Also, being separated from family and having to send so many gifts through the mail is another challenge within itself-no matter how much mom might say she doesn't want us to bother with sending anything. And, Oh Yeah, what about Christmas cards and stamps? I Need a whole week off just to get ready for Christmas this year! At least Robert and I have chosen easy presents for each other: NEW TATTOOS! Something to look forward to.:)
Still, I listen to the Christmas music and watch all the Christmas movies and they remind me that Christmas is about love and family and that the gifts don't really matter at all. Right?
I hope no one takes this personally.:)

Updates and things

I can't believe it's been a week since I've written anything. I guess life has just been busy with work and sleep. Our district manager came in the other day and turned my world upside-down, which made me take steps to do things I don't normally do-like take down 50 heaters out of top stock while on a picker I have only driven 4 times. I only ran over one sidestack, though, so I'm getting better.:)

I had a scary night the other night. I woke up to dogs barking. I convinced myself it was a dream and almost fell back asleep, but became awake enough to realize that the dogs really WERE barking and they were in my backyard. Still slightly sleepy, I got up and peeked out the window in the kitchen door. My mind was playing tricks on me, I think, because I saw the one little dog that was barking and then I swear I saw a very big dog tail escape around the corner and almost knock our grill over. I tried to see it through all the other windows (looking out dark windows is one of my biggest fears), but couldn't find it, so my mind started thinking that it might have been a person and that the little dog was barking at a PERSON walking around my house at midnight. I Mean, none of the cats were around, so what else was there for the dog to bark at? And I know that the neighbors in the back have a little dog, but I'm not sure they have a big dog and there really aren't any other dogs around as far as I know. Needless to say, I didn't get very much sleep that night. I am really trying hard not to get worked up about stuff like this, but I AM being cautious, but if I get too cautious I get scared and that's just not good. I'm sure my mind was playing tricks on me and the dog was just being a dog and barking at nothing. I sent him home and I hope he won't come back again in the middle of the night!

The kittens have been coming to the house in singles or pairs, so I've been worried about them in this super cold weather, but they all showed up with Momma this morning and they seem to be fine. Goopy Eyes (Yes, he really needs a better name) seems to be doing better and the others are strong and healthy! I love my cats.

Robert comes home the day before Thanksgiving. I have to work late that night because we must prepare for Super Friday, but he will be home for 5 days and his best friend Monica is coming to visit for the weekend, so I'm totally psyched! 3 more days!

The Corporate Ladder

I don't know how much I really talk about working at Lowes with people I don't speak to every day, but I know I've been talking about it a lot lately. See, for the past 8 months I have been running the department of Seasonal (which includes Inside Garden, Outdoor Power Equipment and Shelving in my store). The problem with this is that I am a Team Leader, not a Department Manager. I have been fine with this because, ultimately, the Department Manager catches the flack if something goes wrong and all I have to do is go fix it for him without any trouble because everyone is really just glad I'm there, mostly. Recently I have come to realize that my department is running so well that I'm not worried about the little bit of something that I might get in trouble for. Now I am realizing that I damn well deserve the monthly bonus checks and the raise-whatever that might be! SO when my boss (whom I love dearly) was decidedly transfered to the Recieveing Manager position and the Seasonal Department Manager position came open I decided to apply for it because I do it anyway. The problem is that I never finished the Entry Management Training Program when I took it last year (and, technically, it probably would have expired by now anyway) because the store wasn't at a point where it could afford me the extra day off to do my work and I wasn't motivated enough to take the time to go in to work on my off hours. EMTP is required to move up to Department Manager (unless you were Grandfathered over before this policy went forward-like my former Department Manager Lacey who stepped down when she came back from having her baby); and you have to have taken the class within the last year or it will expire. The only way I could get the job is if I was the only applicant for it...and someone else had all ready applied! Obviously I am the most qualified, but because of the damn class and the other applicant I, technically, can't get the job-even though I am starting the new EMTP in December! Sucks, man! So Lacey applied for the job because we don't want this other person to get it and I'm still going to be interviewed just because, but I'm very frustrated that it is happening this way.
The point is, I didn't realize how much I wanted this job until I couldn't (technically) have it and now I am kicking myself for not being more motivated before. I can't believe I even want to move up because I applied to Lowes for a part-time position as a JOKE when we first moved back here...and look where I am now!:)
I really think that our Store Manager has a greater plan for the whole thing, though. See, our Outside Garden Manager is stepping down in December and, therefore, I will be getting out of EMTP just in time to take over out there...and BOY do they need someone like me to organize and get that place running because, although I love David dearly, he sucked at being a People Manager and Organizer. It's a scary task, but I'm willing to take it, I think, because I don't trust anyone else to do it.:) (Both my moms are nodding their heads and laughing right now) The Bright Side is that, if Lacey gets the ISLG/Seasonal Dept. Manager job and I get OSLG Dept. Manager, we can finally start running the departments as SISTER departments instead of warring enemy departments and that will makes things run SO much easier. So, I guess either way will be worth it-I'll just have to wait longer if the Seasonal Dept. Manager position passes me up.
WHEW!

HOME AGAIN!

Well, Robert came home early-Thursday night about 9:30pm. It was so exciting to have him home for an extra night-even if all we did was go straight to bed after he said hi to all the girls.:) And we don't have anything really big planned while he's home...all I want is to keep him with me at all times. I even cooked 3 different meals earlier this week so I wouldn't have to stress about cooking while he is here. The funny thing is that I actually enjoyed cooking the meals in anticipation of his home coming! And they came out GREAT! What's that all about? Of course, now that he's home I feel like there isn't enough time in 3 days, but I'm trying to take a breath and just take moments as they come. I actually found time to workout today while he went to the Pascagoula yard for a little bit to fix something for them...I was afraid I wouldn't do anything good for me because all I wanted to do was be with him.
We have spent most of our time catching up on the TV shows I have recorded on the DVR, watching the new baby kitties play outside, and, well, doing other things. And, of course, he had to come in to Lowes and see everyone because I think they all miss him almost as much as I do. See, he used to come in almost every day to get things for his job or just to visit...so he's definitely a part of my Lowes family. Funny, isn't it?
So here's to hoping Sunday night doesn't come too soon.;)

Georgia Rule

Funny story...how could I love this movie and still hate Lindsay Lohan? I'm not sure. If she could just do movies like this and prove that she is that good person that she looks like on screen (and in the gag reels) then I might actually like her-never forgive her for having that perfect body, but that's beside the point.
GEORGIA RULE is one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. I wasn't sure I would like this after watching Jane Fonda's recent work in MONSTER IN LAW, but I think she fit into this role much better. Also, Felicity Huffman was extremely convincing as the confused mother and Cary Elwes was too frightening as the wily, tricky step-father. Lindsay kept me guessing the whole time-lying or not? Dermot Mulroney was adorable as always and so was new-comer Garrett Hedlund.
Garrett seems to have played roles in some well known movies, but I never would have realized it was him in this movie because his other roles were all so different. He was in FOUR BROTHERS with Mark Whalberg, he was in TROY with Brad Pitt, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS with Billy Bob, and ERAGON with Jeremy Irons. Quite the variety.

Anyway, I really just enjoyed this movie. It was quite realistic, city and country at the same time, made me laugh and cry and hate each of the characters in turn...and, most of all, it made me want to call my mom and tell her I love her-for everything she did to try to make me grow up right-for all the ways I DID grow up right and for all the ways that things could have gone better, but didn't, even. It's hard to explain, but this movie brought a lot out in me that I had forgotten was there-things I dealt with when I was younger, things I helped friends deal with, things that were so very important to me back then. I am waiting for the day when the opportunity presents itself for me to become involved in the prevention and help for these things again.

GEORGIA RULE is the story of 3 messed up, sad women who don't know how to fix their own lives or the lives of others, but realize that they really DO want to try despite every bit of resistance that they put out there, despite the lies they want to believe because they don't know if they have the strength to get through the truth, and because of the love that they really do have for each other. The men are just the background, but a great supporting cast, none-the-less.

I was a bit sad to see Cary Elwes in another asshole role, but he IS good at playing that character and that seems to be what he is playing in his later life: no more Wesley from THE PRINCESS BRIDE. I guess it's hard to find another great role like that after finding that one so early in life.

Things I have learned about ME

No, mom, I'm not writing this so you can call me and give me advice. I was just thinking today-about the things that I thought bugged me. I got up and realized that I had left my dinner pan on the stove last night (covered, of course), but not put away, not washed, and with other dishes in the sink (just a few). I realized that this doesn't bother me so much as I thought. It also doesn't bother me when the house gets a little dusty; and the cat hair isn't nearly as noticeable when Robert's not around to sneeze at it. I'm realizing that, while I am nowhere near a slob, the little things that I was always worried about around the house were not because I was worried about them, but because I knew Robert was bothered by them...and I'm afraid I'm getting too relaxed for my own good.:) I mean, I dusted today for the first time since Robert left! Crazy, I know. BUT the funny thing is that the dust wasn't nearly as bad as when Robert is here. I really think that 80% of the dirt and dust must come from him. I know I don't need to vaccum or sweep NEARLY as much and the sheets don't smell funny so quickly because it's just my smell (which I suppose I really can't smell) that is on them. Even the cats seem to make less of a mess (although I swear they act crazier). Is it because I just don't care as much as Robert does about those little things? Or does he really make more of a mess? Do the cats really feel like they can run around and have more fun when he's not home? Huh.
Of course, I miss him terribly and wish he was here every moment, but I wonder if I will want to go back to watching every little detail when he comes back home for good. I guess I should just enjoy making my own schedule for now, huh?

When work becomes Fun: Seasonal Living

I was inspired by the fact that my Department Manager was leaving our department and the fact that I had nothing else to do...so I suggested a gathering at my house as a sort of "Goodbye" for Kim and I "Thank You" for everyone else in the department. Everyone was able to come except for Peter, our part-time team member. I was amazed at how much fun we had! I made some AWESOME strawberry daiquiris from scratch and had all kinds of munchy foods and a James and Kim both brought their wives (which made me miss Robert just a little bit). The greatest thing about the night was that I seem to have proven something to Keisha, one of the CSAs in my department. Keisha and I had a really hard time when she first started in my department and we both considered transferring out just to get away from each other, but we have learned to get along as time has passed, still with a little bit of stiffness between us. A lot of this is because we don't understand each others' lives and backgrounds, but Friday night seems to have changed all that because she comes into work with a big smile on her face and a grand hello for ME! I don't know if she just needed to see that I was human or she needed to hear me say that work wasn't everything or she need to see my comfy little house...I'm not sure what it was, but it made me really happy to finally make that connection that needed to be made. She even stopped by my house real quick after she got out of work tonight so that she could see the photos from the party. I'm really lucky to have such a great department of people to work with. We are all so very different, but we all get along so well and I really feel like I have made some great friendships, which, I hope will continue whenever I leave the Pascagoula Lowes. Life is good when you realize that people like you for you, that they aren't just tolerating you because you work together.:)

A little fun with photography

Everyone knows I went to school for photography, but it's just not what I wanted to do with my life. I'm glad I only got an Associates degree instead of a Bachelors.:) BUT I still ENJOY photography and I LOVE doing portraits, so I wanted to share some of the photos I did with my sister-in-law, Laura. She has just gotten into Facebook and re-connected with a lot of friends from home and she wanted some "cool" shots to use for her page...Laura was a great subject and we had fun fooling around in Photoshop to make the photos even more interesting. We shot a LOT of photos, but I'll try to just share my favorites...Yeah, right!

KITTENS!

I've been looking back at my blog and I realized that I have been writing about politics for 4 or 5 entries straight! SO unlike me. I need to remember to write about happenings in my life, too. SO, while still struggling with Robert's absence I have had one good thing happen: Big Momma brought her new babies over! They are SO adorable and happy and full of energy. I went out to feed them this morning and they were all jumping up one of the big trees in the yard! CUTE! Sadly, one of the kitties has Sticky Eye Syndrome like PJ did, but, hopefully, he will be able to get over it and grow up nice and healthy like PJ. Here are some photos of my new babies....name suggestions are welcome:

This last photo is of Orange Kitty #2. He wouldn't stand still for me.:)

President Elect...and unnecessary responses

I'm not nearly as excited as all those stanch Obama supporters out there-when I talked to my stepmother yesterday she said, "Were you feeling good on Tuesday night?" I had no idea what she was talking about until she asked me if I had heard any of Obama's speech that night.:) My mind is not geared toward the politics.:) BUT I really AM excited to see what happens as each day goes by. I'm excited because the Democrats are in the majority for the first time in a long time. I'm excited because his speech really WAS good and inspiring and pretty honest, in my opinion.

If you missed the speech I found it on You Tube:
Obama's Speech

The only thing that makes me sad about Obama being elected is that Robert and I don't agree on it. I am so very thankful that Robert isn't like the rest of his family and completely stubborn and unwilling to be wrong. But, in the case of politics, he is just like his family: It's white Republicans or nothing. I hate it. His response when I told him that Obama was elected was, "Well, at least that N***** won't last longer than a few weeks. And the Tree Huggers deserve him anyway." Now, this really makes no sense because Robert has friends who are black and they aren't the N word when he talks about them. And I pointed out to him that I, myself, and my father and stepmother and the true definition of Tree Huggers, but he said, "Well, that's different." All I can think is that his family has ingrained this hatred in him so much that he just can't let it go and it has created this conflict of thoughts. I don't know. BUT, when he said these things I was able to step back from it and realize that this is not a battle I need to fight-I believe in my own Truth and he will believe his and creating an unhealthy home environment because of it is not the way to go-POLITICS are not life. I wonder if, because Robert was able to grow up concerning his anger issues because of me, he will ever be able to grow out of his race issues? But that's a whole other conversation, which I intend to write about sometime because I have been having very interesting conversations with my sister in law about the Harris Family Men.

Anyway, I am so excited about what is going to happen next with this new President and I'm looking forward to the changes that will be made with the first Democratic majority in both the Senate and the House and the presidency!

Finally it's over...

Here I am with my "I Voted" sticker! Yes, it's over for me, anyway. I voted first thing this morning-at a church, which I find strange. I only had to wait in line for 10 minutes! I almost thought I wouldn't be able to vote because I totally forgot to re-register or whatever when I got married, but I just voted by aphidavit (sp?) ballot and everything was fine. I feel good about my choice, despite the fact that every other white person coming out of the church kept saying to each other, "I know ya'll will vote RIGHT now..." meaning McCain, I'm pretty sure. The Black people and Hispanic people didn't really have any verbal opinions happening, which I found very interesting. Anyway, I'm glad I made my choice and put it in writing. I'm glad that the commercials will be over, and I'm glad that I won't have to listen to any more hooha. I will be okay with whoever becomes president and just hope that they will better our country. I AM very curious to see how close the race is, though!:)

Ownership, Censorship, and WHAT?!

THIS is what I found on my front lawn this morning. THAT is my Sunday paper, wrapped in a wrapper that is telling us exactly what to do in this election. I almost choked when I saw this. Does it shock anyone else? I mean, I never thought about it before, but I guess newspapers can be owned privately, so the owners can sell whatever they want...but MY GOD isn't this taking it a little too far? There is nothing subtle here! I just really couldn't believe it. "Vote Freedom First"? There is nothing FREE about being given something like this by an institution you expect to write the TRUTH with an unbiased opinion! LORD! Honestly, I have not seen any Obama signs around, but I didn't realize how truly Republican the South can be! It makes me wonder-is ANYONE down here going to vote for Obama or is it just me and my dad and stepmother? WOW. That's really all I can say is WOW.

Halloween

So, I'm not a big fan of Halloween-never have been. I always hated the scary music and the idea that people were going to jump out at year. One year one of my uncle's best friends played a dead body in a coffin on a neighbor's front porch and scared the crap out of me when I walked up to get my candy. I think I was 10. Then another year one of my mom's boyfriends had a haunted house across the street in our studio/barn and I remember doing homework in the house with all the windows shut trying not to hear the scary music...I think I was 13...oooh it was aweful!
BUT I'm starting to enjoy Halloween a little bit more now that I have adorable nieces and nephews to see dressed up and all excited in their costumes.:) Just wanted to share the youngest ones: Lily June and Eli-having fun with their costumes.:)