Awaiting the New Year, and brief rememberance of the old....

Here we are again at the end of a year, and I eagerly look forward to the upcoming one. I must admit that I am not sad to see 2006 leave, and hope that 2007 will be a much better one. This year was a year of major changes for me, and although I do not regret the changes, it was hard dealing with them. I left a position that did pay well but was unsatisfying and now work a job that pays less, is physically demanding, but I am experiencing and learning a lot. My niece moved in with her older sister, and although I was not mentally really for her moving, I am now glad that the transition is over. On the romance side, I dabbled with a potential one that petered out (excuse the pun, I could not help it since we never made it to third base), and finally ended a long term one that was mainly one sided for some time.

As other people who include weight loss on the New Year's resolution, I can only say that I will keep trying. Hard to believe, but this big girl has lost ten pounds in these last two months. A friend indicated that it looks like I am losing weight although I do not feel like it. The scale did agree with them to my surprise. However, I have had some other health issues this year which I think the root cause mainly is from being overweight and my diet. As any person that has dealt with skin abscesses or boils knows what I am talking about, I truly feel that those issues stem from what you eat. So I already know what I need to do: Cut down on sugar, red meats, fried foods, potatoes, predominately white flour based dishes, and No Carbonated Drinks What So Ever! After much reading and doing research online, I definitely see changing my diet to lose the weight, is the start to getting my health in order.

Usually New Year's Eve involves food for me. I do not know what I am going to do. I may go to the New Year's Watch Services at church, attend a party at a relative's house, or keep my behind at home. Since I have to be at work bright and early tomorrow morning, I am leaning toward staying at home. The other two options will be serving food and I already know that I will want to indulge myself. I know that I will have to learn discipline, but I just know that it will be hard to turn folks down. But I do want to see the folks, share a laugh and enjoy their company because you never know what life has in store for you, or better yet, or what is God's plan for you?

Hope you all have a safe and Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays!..................

(Listening to Al Jarreau's album “Tenderness,” and the “Happy Anniversary, Charlie Brown” album that features one of my favorite Christmas songs sung by Patti Austin, “Christmas Time Is Here.”)

I'm back and survived the flea infestation. Still hanging on and finding my way through this life of mines and looking forward to next year. This holiday season finds me childless with a touch of the flu, again a pet owner, and gainfully employed (but still broke). However, I have physically worked harder this week than I have done so in the last ten years working on a job. My knees were crying one morning and I crawled out bed, walking like the TV character, Fred Sanford of NBC's “Sanford and Son.” But I am grateful, happy to be earning my keep, traveling more, meeting new folks weekly and is also learning a lot.

Each day is different, and I like that in a job. Other than dealing with egos, I do not have to deal with stagnation as I have done so in previous employment. I currently work at a group home, and although I am not going into detail to protect the innocent, and I say that loosely regarding some of the folks I deal with, I am learning how to fine tune my interpersonal skills. I feel that I am a very diplomatic person, which I feel I had no choice to learn how to do, being an older sibling whom was the one that the folks required to helm the ship when they were away. I just hope that I do my mother proud, especially since Moms was the one who used her influence to help me get the job.

I have always read and heard gossip about nepotism, but never benefited personally in my twenty years of working, except once via the efforts of a brother of an ex-boyfriend. But my mother's connections surprised me this time, for a senior citizen. At first my pride resisted the ideal of interviewing for the job. I had thoughts of comments like “You got that job through your Mother?” However, reality kicked in because I really needed a job, and my usual reliable efforts and contacts have not been working for me in this current economy that we are dealing with now in Michigan. Also Moms took it on herself to set up the interview. Initially I was embarrassed, which was irrational for my current financial situation, but I decided to drop the pride and at least see what the job was about. I have to be honest that I did not initially want the job, and was surprised that the supervisor wanted to hire me when I assumed that the other applicants were going to get the job.

I must give it to my mother though. Although we butted heads when I was a teenager, she has always been the most supportive and encouraging person in my life. She still tells like it is, even when you don't want to hear it, and I needed that when considering the job. She was very pleased that I took the job, and now although some may think my insecurities my be irrational, I definitely do not want to get fired from this job. I don't worry that she will be a little miffed, but more that her professional relationship with the contact could be damaged. She told me not to worry, but I do not want to be the cause for any friction. In the past, I have heard former coworkers and acquaintances complain about how a sibling or relative screwed up things for them because they messed up an employment opportunity arranged by their parents or other relatives. I just hope that I can benefit from this job, and be able to take what I learned and accomplished to the next (and hopefully much better!) job opportunity that comes my way.

My kids are enjoying themselves in a warmer climate as they visit some of their dad's relatives. I miss them but do enjoy the peace, but......their new dog wants a lot of attention. My pet peeve with her is that she expects me to hold her like my daughter does. But after I decided to teach her how to sit, she gives me a lot of space now. When I tell her to sit, she hides up under the dining room table. Every time I took her outside to take care of business, she refuses to do her business and waits until she is back inside to do so. One day I was ready to drop kick her out the house, so I had to confine her to the cage. I must confess: I was guilted in to accepting this dog by my ex and his brother!

Since the kids' uncle had already told the kids about the dog, and offered to get it for them for Christmas, and I had declined because I could not afford the initial shots and health care, my ex offered to take care of that. He also threw in a cage also to seal the deal, which the sucker in me fell for without really thinking about what I still have to deal with. When the dog refused to do her business outside, I had to call my ex to see if she has spent most of her life inside, which was the case. I may have to force the kids to keep her outside for a while so she can understand where is the right place to do her business. Oh boy, do I miss that other little puppy, who was a sweetie and had easily understood the importance of taking his business outside. May his soul rest in peace, and I hope that everyone has an enjoyable and Peaceful Holiday...............