It's been relaxing, thus far....

I have taken a week's vacation this week. Yes, an entire 5 days of non-work in between two weekends. It has been relaxing, and I have enjoyed the extra couple hours of sleep (arise 6AM versus 4AM) each day. That has probably helped immensely.

I had a birthday just prior to us taking the time off. In fact, last week was extremely busy... did I write about it?.... I don't remember. If not, then it will do for another post. My birthday was nice. Got a few giftcards for Amazon (and I just can't make a decision on what to buy - but I will!) and one for Crackerbarrel. I refused to use it for our lunch or dinner we ate there - so look through the gift shop - but just haven't made that decision yet on what I want to get so still have the gift card. :-) I also received a Pioneer Woman cookbook from a coworker that I am dearly loving! In fact, today I made a bean soup in the crockpot and is it ever good! Very yummy. Not everyone would enjoy it, but I sure do! Very simply made and in the crockpot on high for 5 hours - and it is so very good. And pinto beans are good for you!

Had a wonderful, relaxing time up in Prescott the past few days. We came back home yesterday. I took my van to get the air checked in the tires this morning, brought the driver's window down to chat with them... and it wouldn't go back up. sigh. It had happened another time and we got it to come back up. I did get it up half-way, but decided since I was already at the service place, if they had time, they may as well look at it - especially since we plan to drive my van to Tucson tomorrow to see our granddaughter (and grand-son-in-law) and our great granddaughter!

Yes, I know my middle child went to you-tube and figured out how to fix the window and get it back on track. However, it is too short of notice to ask him to look at it, and I need it done today. So - am waiting to hear back on the cost... roughly $300 if it is the regulator. I tried to tell them it was the switch - but what do I know. I'm hoping it won't be that much.... that sure cuts into my savings.

But, we are still going to Tucson tomorrow about noon-ish and will come back on Saturday. Have a hotel in Tucson to stay at but plan to spend a few hours with our princess at her house on Friday and a quick visit on Saturday before we head back. Hubby just can't handle unexpected things and is fearful of a dust storm. sigh. We will be on the road by noon, if it is his way.

But it has been a nice week away from work. I think I would go crazy if I didn't have my job to go to starting next week. I've had a relaxing time, enjoyed being up in cooler weather, and doing a lot of knitting, but, I could easily get bored. Today all I've done - other than the car - is cook. :-) Which is a good thing. That bean soup is really good - as is the chicken noodle soup I made as well! I found a BBQ rib recipe that I am anxious to try too. I like to make things and invite people over or give away - I know my boys would love the extra ribs so when I try the recipe, I'll have to let them know.

Today is my little sister's birthday. 63 this year. Yipes - when did she get so old? LOL Of course at 69 I don't consider myself old at all. I'm grateful for every year I have.

One of the pastors at our new church has asked me to teach on Wednesday nights. That is a switch. Where we had been attending, I couldn't get the pastor to LET me teach - unless I taught only what he wanted. We never could agree. I love our new church. There is a lot of love and a lot of worship in our church. The messages are Bible-based and not filtered down to make the congregation feel good about themselves. Hubby isn't happy I was asked and not him.... hopefully it won't create problems as in the past. Another reason why I quit teaching. I don't compare numbers or ability.

And now I'm starting to ramble so will sign off. I need to go knit or something.

Blessings!

Exhausted, but looking ahead....

I am exhausted. Not that I have done anything really stringent or exercise worthy, but I am so tired. Could it be the thought of turning 69 in a couple days? Naw, age doesn't really get to me. But I must admit that I have thought more often of how my mother, at my age, didn't do anything like run a marathon or do any walking, etc.

I started this posting yesterday after my lst annual lunch party here at work. Yeah, I have started those back up again. It was a great success, but I was so tired by the time I left to go home. Then my daughter and granddaughter took me out for my birthday. Unfortunately, I wasn't that hungry, but did enjoy one of my favorite Mexican meals from Don Rubens. My gallbladder has decided to start acting up again.... which brought back memories....

9 years ago last night (on a special grandson's birthday)a surprise 60th birthday party was thrown for me. I had had a lunch party at a former company that day. On a Friday, though. Late that afternoon my stomach (I thought) started hurting - until my entire chest was hurting. I didn't know but that I was having a heart attack, it hurt so badly. I remember praying that I would just get home, taking deep breaths all the way. On the way home, my daughter had called to see if we could meet them for dinner. Even though I was in severe pain, I said yes, we would.

When I got home that day, I told hubby I just wanted to lay down for a little while before heading out to dinner. He wanted me to change clothes, but I refused, stating my jeans and t-shirt would just have to do. I was still in a lot of pain, but we went to the dinner. ONLY to find it was a surprise birthday party for me! And I hadn't changed clothes. sigh. I should learn from that experience.

Anyway, I had an ultrasound after that episode and discovered I did have gallstones. I was told that if it bothered me again, to just go to the hospital and tell them and have them take it out. It has hurt off and on over the years, but never like it did that first time. I've awakened in the middle of the night nauseated, but shrug it off. Last night was close to the first time, but after I got home from dinner I went to bed and prayed myself to sleep. I don't have any pain this morning so guess that episode is past.

I was still tired when I woke this morning but am looking forward to next week when I am on vacation all week. Running up to Prescott for a few days. Want to check with out granddaughter in Tucson to see if she is going to be home that weekend.... thinking of doing a day trip to see her and our great-granddaughter if they are not driving up. Need to touch base with her yet.

And I need to get to work. So much to get done before I take time off!

Blessings!

Ugh. I'm bored. I don't want to be here!

It's really quiet here today at work. My one boss is working from home as it is their anniversary. Another boss is in Tucson today, and my third boss is always in Tucson. I came up with a headache and got a bigger one when I arrived at work. Seems - without proper notification - specific websites that I use got transported to a new location. I have to send out several links on the first day of the month - and yesterday I worked on my letters and had the links attached. This morning I decided to verify I attached the right link when it sent me to a blank site which said that my SharePoint site had been moved to a new location. YIPES!

I had to search, but I finally found where they had put it - and I do NOT like the new format at all. The person who had created our last SharePoint site received an email from me early this morning telling him what had happened. He had just gotten me trained on the SharePoint site he had created. He was NOT happy.... he was in the middle of making changes to the SharePoint site for the month of August when he said his screen disappeared and he couldn't find where it went. He says he did not get any notification they were moving it. Now this guy was a professor, so I'm pretty sure he stays on top of things. If he didn't expect it to get moved to another site, I'd say he didn't get notified for he would have made sure it was fixed right.

And this new SharePoint site is NOT fixed real well. It's as though an amateur who thought they knew something about SharePoint sites created it. It has things on it that I can't move so it blocks things I need to get to. It's going to be very frustrating to figure this all out. And I don't have much time to figure it out! Rick is working on it today - and will be up early next week, probably, to show me what he has figured out to make it easier for me. It's frustrating because I just learned how to use the SharePoint site he had created for this report. Now I have to learn all over again - and I don't want to!

I wonder if my Tucson boss realizes that her SharePoint sites have been moved as well. She is NOT going to be happy about that either because it changes how they look. Ohhhh she is NOT going to be happy at all!

All of my bosses will be in Tucson tomorrow so it will be another long day. Oh, I have work to do, but I don't want to do it. If I could get rid of the headache, I probably could do better at it. But for now, am only doing what I have to do.

But, I do need to get something done... and I have nothing to write about. Just thought I'd add a couple lines. Vacation in about 10 days - I can't wait. A whole week off work!

Blessings!

Reminded....

My middle child reminded me over the weekend that I had not posted since July 6th. And he is right. Sorta. I DID create a post one day.... but after leaving it up on the blog for a day, I decided I needed to withdraw it, so I threw it back into draft format. What I said was true, but I was angry, so no one else needs to read about it. We ALL know the source of my anger and frustration.

We had a great weekend. A son and his wife of my very bestest friend came out to Arizona. I was "allowed" to invite all the kids and grandchildren over to swim and cookout. All in all, it was a good day. In spite of the first batch of burgers being burnt to a crisp. Hubby was sure he had it on low and it was the grease from the hamburgers that was causing the flare-up .... but, it was reported to me by someone who does know how to grill, that he had the fire up too high. Heaven help the person who tells him that - cause it ain't gonna be me.

We still fight over that grill. It is MY grill, and I told him it was MY grill when I bought it. Yep, I bought it, I picked it out, I paid for it. He was miff'd, of course, but since I have bought him two grills over the years and he lets them set out and rust, I was not going to buy him another one. He hates to grill. So why in the world does he fuss at me so much because I want to grill. Sigh. I need to make him let me grill ... it's just something else we fight about that I choose my battles. He doesn't grill well, he burns everything. If I want it burnt, then let me burn it!

All in all, Saturday was a good day. And I'm glad. I told him that if he didn't "allow" me to entertain the people I want to entertain, never ask me to entertain HIS (and mine) friends cause the answer is no. I love having my children and grandchildren over - and they are my priority. Friends are down the row.

Ok - it's time to clock out and go home now - took all day to get here! I'm beat! At least I have something written now!

Blessings!

How many Mondays are there in one week?

With July 4th being on Wednesday this year, when we came back to work on Thursday, it seemed like Monday again. Unfortunately, today, even though really Friday, is also a Monday. Maybe I'm just in a 'don't wanna do it' mood. Or I'm overwhelmed. Or it could be a bit of both. But, that's my job, and I have to do it.

With one of my bosses getting this big promotion my work load has increased immensely. I tell myself to just take it one day at a time. That's all I can do. Each day brings me more and more work, and trying to schedule meetings is next to impossible most days. I love it when an outside group will email me that they need two different times with one of my bosses - so I look and find it - and send back to them. Sigh. They just sent me back a note that "9am on 7/11 is perfect for Lisa". So what does that mean? I'm not the one asking for the meeting. Does she expect ME to schedule the meeting for HER? Sigh. I'm going to leave it sit for awhile. I just don't want to deal with it right now.

I went to the chiropractor last night. Hadn't been in probably 18-20 years, but I've had this tingling in my upper back for awhile. My doctor keeps telling me "it's arthritis" although they have not done any checking on it. So the chiropractor started popping my spine all up and down, I tell you what I sure felt good after she got done. The tightness in my back was gone. Right now it is starting to tingle, but I'm guess my posture, sitting in front of the computer' has been slouchy. They also put me on a hot pad and did stimulation on my neck and upper back for about 15 minutes. I really enjoyed that. I go back next Thursday. I'm hoping my insurance will pick up most of this. I mentioned my two sisters have arthritis - and her comment to me was to keep moving because if you have it and don't keep moving, it will make you miserable. I refuse to allow something to slow me down! Some ONE does, but it isn't ME. I wouldn't mind going back every month to get popped if it makes me feel better.

Decided to keep my desktop rather than trying to sell it. But, I'm getting rid of a laptop that I don't use. I went through it last night and deleted several folders. My middle child is going to help me transfer data from it to my desktop so that I don't lose anything. I did send myself emails last night, but the laptop is a bit slow when I'm loading it down with attachments. It never was real fast, but it was always much faster than hubby's. 'nuff said.

Two of the grandsons are in town from ShowLow. I haven't gotten to see them yet; maybe this weekend we can get over there. I do have my 'needles of hope' knitting group on Saturday morning and my middle child coming over Saturday afternoon. Maybe Saturday evening we can take a run over. It will be good to see them.

Don't know any news and I need to get back to work. Just needed to take a break from reports. Some parts of my job just aren't things I enjoy doing - but it's part of the job and I gotta do it. It's not that it's so bad...

Hope you had a great 4th and your Thursday and Friday wasn't a Monday all over! Best part is I got to wear jeans both days. :-)

Blessings!

Best part of today....

July 4th is a day off work for me and for many others. But, just as many are called to work. My daughter-in-law for one. The medical field makes it hard to get holidays off in their entirety because if we are in a hospital or in rehab, we still need our food, our baths, our rehab. Could you just imagine if everyone in the medical field got the day off, what would they come back to the next day?! I am thankful for each one who has to work today. Then there are grocery stores, gas stations, and other things that we take for granted because they are always there.

But today. I'm grateful to live in the United States where I have the freedom I do have. So, today we celebrate as well. My daughter contacted us last night and invited us over for BBQ and swim. Going over around 11AM and plan to leave around 3-ish, if possible. After eating and swimming - and neither of those for very long with our hot weather! - I'm ready to pack up and leave. Then there is a possibility that my middle child and some of his family will be able to come over to swim in our pool and we'll figure out dinner.

My youngest son came back from Army duty in Wisconsin last Monday night. Yesterday his two boys were brought down from ShowLow to spend the month here. He sent me a couple photos of them. They are so tall!! And skinny! He and his family are going to his wife's sister's house for lunch and swim. I would not be surprised if he shows up at his sister's house later! I think his wife is mad at me.... and she can play the victim if she wants... ;-x

What is the best part of today, besides being off work? I get to be with some of my children and grandchildren. This is what I miss the most and makes me so sad. I told hubby I want to start having at least one family a month over for dinner. He finally agreed. He will have to share me. That's the part he doesn't like. A whole nother story.

I decided last night this desk is being moved out of my room. The only chair in here is the desk chair, and if I sit in it an hour or so, it becomes uncomfortable. I want the recliner I have in the alcove in here. Maybe this weekend we will get it moved back. I'd like to sell my new desktop.... I really don't know why I bought it - other than I bought hubby one and figured daggone it, I deserve one too! Actually, I may use it more this fall when I need to type out messages for the RV park churches. But I still have my laptop too. During the week, and most times, I use my ipad for paying bills and everything else. I'm rarely on the desktop - or laptop - anymore for that matter.

Well, I need to get out of this room and get dressed, and figure out what I'm taking for today. and what I need for later. Hope that you have a happy 4th of July!

Blessings!

We're on Mission!

We had an awesome service this morning. I feel this is one of the top sermons I've heard for awhile. Our pastor doesn't make you feel bored as a rule, anyway, but this one - wow. Three things - or was it four - that he touched on. But, just a bit of background....

Our church - rather 11 of the people including our pastor and his family, are leaving next weekend for Jamaica to do a VBS (vacation Bible school) there and to help some of the people there. It's been amazing preparing for it. Everyone has chipped in and bought supplies for them to take and serve the people there. I wish I could go. Maybe, someday. They were to have gone to St. Thomas, but something happened that they were unable to go there, so changed it to Jamaica.

Since we are coming off a week of prayer and fasting, Pastor Paul shared things about fasting. Some I hadn't really thought about - at least not for awhile. Then he went on in to his message.

For one thing, Fasting helps our Spiritual disciplines so the enemy can't tap us and we fall over. One of those Spiritual Disciplines is Forgiveness. He read through Colossians 3:12-21 and really went over 'Forgive as God forgave you'. I don't know who else that affects, but I know I have some unforgiveness I have found hard to let go of. Yeah, I'm being vulnerable here.

To be like Jesus Christ, inside and out, we have to know that we are chosen by God, and put on Compassion. We are to strengthen each other in Christ. When you don't feel like you are being the person you think you should be, Christ says you are, because I am. Wow. Powerful message there.

Gratitude changes attitude. Do everything with gratitude because it covers everything. Christ lives in us and through us and our gratitude in that alone, should live out in our lives.

Examination..... do I fail? Yes, I'm afraid I do. I do more whining and complaining - albeit internally most times - than not. Goal.... to live with gratitude in all things, to be like Jesus.

What's your goal?

Blessings!