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Christmas 2008

And it was just another indication that 2008 can just end. Joey and I were supposed to head to KY Wednesday morning to go see my parents. Well, Tuesday, Joey's appendix decided that it was more important to cause pain and be removed. So, Tuesday night at about 8:30pm, I brought Joey to the ER. By 1am, his appendix was removed. Needless to say, Joey and I didn't head to KY Wednesday morning. Joey was released from the hospital later on Wednesday afternoon and after trying to find a pharmacy to get his medications, it was Wednesday night. We had our Christmas on Christmas Eve just in case he wasn't going to feel well enough to go to KY for Christmas.
After making sure that Joey was okay, I headed to KY and spent Christmas with my brother and parents. I also called Joey several times to make sure that everything was okay. He kept saying that he was feeling better every time I called. So I left KY Saturday morning to return to NC and now I'm just hoping for a couple of days to relax, a Miami win, and maybe some after Christmas shopping before I head back to work on Tuesday.

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Weight Loss Update

I'm down 0.6. I have absolutely no idea how that happened but I'll take it.

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Frustrations

I haven't posted in a while and I apologize to those who are regular viewers. I've been going through a lot of crap at work. We have a new person who started on the first. How he made it through the interview, I will never understand. My job deals with crises and being able to work quickly. Almost every time this person gets a call, he's like a deer caught in the headlights. Seems to completely forget what he was taught. He claimed that he knew computers. Well, he doesn't and our work is all on the computer. He received more extensive training than my coworkers and me received combined and he still isn't getting it. My job is one where you basically are glued to the phones waiting for calls and doesn't allow for a lot of flexibility. We are supposed to remain logged on the phones for the calls to come through. Our screenings are only supposed to be 5-10 minutes long. He spends about 20 minutes on a screening and then has to log off the phone in order to complete the screening and still fucks it up. Well, idiot boy decides that on the first day he needed to have his schedule changed so he can go ref basketball games. Um...what the hell is more important-your county job or the games? So needless to say, my coworkers and I have had it up to you know where. We've all approached our supervisor on an individual basis AND ended up having a meeting in front of him sharing our frustrations. Nothing is changing and probably won't.
This has been affecting my health, my sleep, and my home life. I'm fed up and it's taking everything within myself not to snap at this idiot. I had to do talk to him yesterday about something and I was shaking so bad. He actually had the audacity to wink at me after I told him what to do. He doesn't understand that he is messing with the wrong people in this unit. So, Jeremy, don't be surprised if someone calls asking you how I can really be when I'm pissed off.

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Happy Dance

I finally finished the last gift for my mom for Christmas. I will post the happy dances after my family receives them.

Weight Loss Update

Drum roll please....down 2 for a total of 20 pounds!

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Weight Loss Update

I forgot to post on Saturday that I lost 3 pounds for a total of 18!

Happy Dance

I do have a happy dance to report but can't show any pictures. I finished another Christmas present. One more to go!

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Stitching

I have been stitching. I even have a happy dance to report. I've been working on Christmas gifts for my family and I finished the one for my brother. I'm almost done with the one for my father-just need to do the back-stitching. That will be my project for today and to also start on my mom's.

Playtime

I'm an Official GOV'T Employee

Scary, scary, scary. Today is my hire date for the county. Had part one of my benefits orientation this morning and I haven't had this type of benefits since I was a union employee back in NYC. And that feels like ages ago despite the fact that it's only been a year. I am happy that after this crazy year to have landed a SECURE job with great benefits. Of course, I'm concerned of possible cuts thanks to the wonderful economy but I should be okay.Keeping my fingers crossed.

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Weight Loss Update

Well, I'm up a pound and I'm fine with it. This is my first gain since I started and I knew that it was going to happen sooner or later. Time to refocus.

I Survived

Yesterday, I met Joey's family for the first time since we started dating back in January. We had Thanksgiving dinner with his dad's side of the family. There was about 30 people there. 30 people! Luckily, there were so many people that I wasn't bombarded by the usual questions. It was kinda strange. And then afterwards, we went to visit with his mother, step-dad, grandmother and his one of his half-brothers came over. Everyone appeared to be nice and I wasn't that anxious about meeting them. Maybe because it's because I've met the boyfriend's family so many times before. Joey had asked me what I thought of his dad's side of the family on the way home and I didn't really have an answer for him since I didn't really get to speak with anyone on a individual basis besides his step-sister. He did tell his aunt, whose house we ate at, that I'd be back...solidified the relationship a little more.

Happy Thanksgiving

Hope that everyone takes some time to give thanks to what they are thankful for. Have a safe holiday!

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Thanks Weasel!

Just wanted to thank my former boss James, aka The Weasel, for giving my current boss a good recommendation for me and not allowing her to ask any questions! :)

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Weight Loss Update

I'm down another 1.4 pounds for a total of 16 in 9 weeks!

My kids...on a Sunday afternoon

Stitching Update

Don't think that my brother will see this so....this is the latest on the progress of his Christmas gift

Winter Weather Advisory...ha

So this morning, there's a winter weather advisory for a big chunk of NC...all because of a few snowflakes...which aren't even sticking. Now, for those of you who don't know where I'm from...I'm from Western NY...land of lake effect snow and ice storms. Where true winter weather advisories are necessary. I laughed through most of last "winter" and I'm sure I'll be laughing through most of this "winter."

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More Changes

Well, I was offered the County position. I was the only one out of three that was offered. So that means for some interesting changes at work. New people starting, better benefits for me. So just call me a government employee.

Weight Loss Update

I'm down another 2.2 pounds for a total of 14.6.

Latest with Jen

Well, first I'll apologize for not really writing anything on here and posting bunch of puppies (aren't they cute).
I've been at my new job for almost a month and I really like it, despite the crazy commute that I have. Even better, the position is going county-so better benefits and an actual government position. Now I just have to make it through the "interview." Shouldn't be a problem as my supervisor is the one doing the interviews and she is always saying that I'm doing a good job.
My kids-Suzie, Tiger and Boots continue to be doing well, despite the changes of food, weather and just overall craziness that they create for themselves.
Joey and I have our ups and downs. We'll see what happens.
I have been working on some latch hook and cross-stitching. I'll hopefully be posting pics soon of some of the stuff that I've been making.
It's been a year that I've been a Southerner and I'm hoping that my future years, where ever they may be, are not as difficult as this one has been.
Weightloss continues to be going well, as people can tell from my quick one-liner posts on Saturdays. No gain in about 8 weeks.
That's about it in the World of Ollie for now

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Weight Loss Update

For those of you keeping score, I lost another pound at my weigh-in yesterday morning.

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RIP Tanya

My cousin passed away yesterday from a long battle with cancer. I'm hoping that she wasn't in too much pain and glad that she will no longer be suffering. We were never really close and I feel bad for her 3 young children (all under the age of 6). Her husband has his hands full. My parents are the godparents of her oldest. She was 2 months younger than me which just reinforces that life is short.

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History has been made

No matter how the election here in the States turned out yesterday, it would have been a historical victory. I am pleased with who won, but anxious to see what the next 4 years will bring to the United States. I'm interested to see how the world reacts. Bear in mind, I'd be just as curious, probably more worried, if McCain had won. So here I am, with my fingers crossed that the United States somehow gets it's feet steady again...and no terrorism hits us.

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Belated

Just a quick Happy Belated Birthday to my mother and my cousin. Their birthdays were yesterday.

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Stitching Progress

I've done a little cross-stitching here and there. Here are a couple of progress shots.

And the losses continue

I'm down 0.8 this week for a total of 11.4. Go me!

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The Past

It seems that ever since Scott told me that he was getting married, I've been learning more and more about what has happened to my exes. Jeremy (ex-husband) just celebrated the one year mark of his daughter's birth. Sal (ex-fiance) just got married this summer. Mike (college sweetheart) finally married the woman that he was with when we broke up 10 years ago. There are still a couple of men I'm curious about but those 3 have been the major relationships in my adult life. I'm genuinely happy for all of them and I sincerely wish them all the luck and happiness in the world.

Einstein Quote (thanks Scott)

"To punish me for my contempt for authority, fate made me an authority myself."

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Weight Loss Update

Down 2.2 for a total of 10.6. Guess the beers I had last night didn't affect my weigh-in!

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I Survived My First Heavy Metal Show

Last night, Joey and I went to see his favorite metal band, Opeth at Lincoln Theater. Joey had introduced me to their music back in January when we met. They are much harder than let's say, Metallica and much more musically talented. I can understand and appreciate their musical talent.
So, as a concert goer and never having been to a true metal show, I was slightly nervous. Mob pits, body surfing, just people being stupid. Luckily, the way that the theater is set up, there is an upstairs where people who don't want to be injured can enjoy the show...that's where Joey and I were. Baroness was the first opening band and I enjoyed them a lot. They were more instrumental than demonic screaming. High on Fire came on next. Much too much screaming for my enjoyment but the crowd was into it.
Now let me take a moment and describe this crowd. Actually let me take you back to 1993 when I met Ken and had my first exposure to a true hard rock/metal fan. Ken has the long hair, "rough" look to him. Most of the crowd were male...a lot of unshaved men. I don't think that I had seen so many beards, and long beards at that, in one spot. I have to admit, I did have some redneck comments running through my head. And they ranged in age from under 21 to 40's. From my vantage point, I think that I spent about half the show watching waves of people as they were being pushed about. Every once in a while a mob pit would open up-wonder how those guys are feeling this morning. At times, it looked like people were going to fight. You know, the non mob pit participants vs the mob pit idiots. There were some people body surfing. More women than men which I was a little surprised at. No one was dropped on their heads which it looked like it would happen soon. Idiots.
Anyway, Opeth, after a very long technical set-up (mikes weren't working), came on. I have to say, I was impressed. I had recognized most of the songs that were played thanks to Joey. The skills that these men have...quite amazing. To play as fast as they do, it's not an easy task.
So with that, I survived and off to my regular life.

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The NC State Fair

I guess I've been spoiled by The Great New York State Fair because I was disappointed in NC's State Fair. Julie, Joey and I were done with it in about 2 hours. We don't do rides so we saved money and time. There were a lot of similar things between both State Fairs but NY is just on a much grander scale. Still ate some good kettle corn though.

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Happy Dance from last week

I completed this while watching football last Sunday.

Made Me Smile

Weight Loss Update

And the losing continues....down 1.6 for the week. Guess all that walking helped! Now if I could only get some damn sleep.

So What's Wrong with Me?

Scott gave me some news yesterday...he's engaged...to a woman he's only been dating a few months....the same time frame when we had first started talking about us getting married....and look what happened to us. I'm trying my best to be happy for him. He's a good guy and deserves to be happy but wtf is wrong with me that we couldn't have taken it the next level? It's not that we hadn't discussed it. We had. We spoke about the where, kinda the when and it just didn't happen. We had spoken about leaving the City and moving out West. Never happened. It hurts to see the man that I left not even a year ago be engaged to someone he's only known a few months. Makes me feel that our almost 2-year relationship was for nothing. I know Scott will read this and tell me that the relationship wasn't for nothing. Scott, I know this. I know that you have appreciated and still appreciate me in your life. His sister and sister-in-law continue to send me pictures of their kids. I love seeing them but at the same time it hurts because I miss them and wish that I could see them in person to give them the hugs that I want to give them.
And then things have been rocky with Joey and I lately. And from both of them, I've always heard that it's not me, it's them type of thing. Well, what the hell. If it's not me, then why do I keep going through this crap?
So I'm through with 2008. This has been such a shitty year. It seems like anytime something was starting to go my way, something else just falls apart. How I've managed to not become severely depressed or suicidal, I'll never understand because that's what the old Jen would have done. As I told Scott yesterday, 2008 has been a shitty cake and his news was the icing on top of it. So can we just fast forward the calendar to 2009 and hope that it's a helluva lot better than 2008?

My First Day

It went well. It was good to be with my friend all day like we used to be. The job doesn't seem too bad...of course, it would be nice to be able to log into all the computer programs I'll need...maybe today. I'm not crazy about the shift but that's okay. I'll adjust and it could always be a lot worse.

And So it Begins

Another new day at a new job. At least the one I'm starting today, I know most of the people that work there. I am pretty excited since I'll be working directly with one of my friends and I won't have to be driving all around the county seeing families.

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A Place that I've Always Wanted to Go.