Baby, It's Cold Outside!! Brrrrrrrrrr

It's been since winter 2004 that it's been 3 degrees where I live. The weather in San Diego is the best, but it's been fun staying in, keeping warm, and watching our dog run in and out in the freezing cold. The sun has been out so that really helps, but admit it......3 degrees is cold.

We went to Trader's World today in Monroe, Ohio. It is so much fun - HUGE indoor flea market. When the weather is good, there are tons of outdoor booths as well. Some of the stuff is just junk, but some of it is really good. I bought wood shelves, some unique solar lights for the yard, a small rug for the recliner, and a new thumb ring to replace the one I lost this past week at work. Plus we picked up some small stuff that we needed. It was so much fun. We spent 2 or 2 1/2 hrs there walking, looking and it was great.

Started going to Weight Watchers last Monday - and I have to admit, it's not been that hard to stick to it. I think the one thing that was the most difficult was a party at my bosses house with lots of snacks, great food, wine, desserts - but I did good. I limited myself to 1 glass of wine, no dessert and sensible snacks. I am proud of myself. In fact, the whole week went well. I don't know how much I lost yet, don't go until tomorrow evening after work, but I'm sure it's at least 2 lbs. Maybe I should buy a scale.

"...And in the end
The love you take
is equal to the love you make."
---The Beatles

Thanks for reading my Heavenly Thoughts

Everything happens for a reason

"Everything Happens For A Reason" We've heard this saying, probably repeated it from time to time. I know I have. I believe it. The older I get the more I believe it. How can I not believe it? Think of how many things have happened and how many people we've touched in our lives.

I was driving to work this morning and this popped into my mind. One of my routes to work passes by someone's complex that I used to hang out with. It made me think about past relationships and my life. Pretty deep for first thing in the morning. So here's what I was thinking. I dated this guy for a short time. And for people that really know me, they know I'm an easy going person, I love just about everyone. And I don't apologize for that, because of that I have some very wonderful friends everywhere I worked and lived.

Anyway, this particular person really had some big issues in his life. The issues were pretty overwhelming for him and I think that without my critical and organizational thinking, he wouldn't have gotten through it without imploding! After we got it all put together, we stopped seeing each other. Just in enough time to provide him with a place to live. Mission completed!

Another friend had health issues and didn't want to ask for help. But through numerous conversations and persuasion, she finally did ask for help, told more people about her health and actually got quite a bit of support through her family, close friends and health professionals. She had cancer and she did finally pass on. But when she passed she had so much support and love in her life. I'm so thankful.

Another close friend that I love dearly spent time with me and my family, got his self-esteem boosted quite a bit and has been able to carry that on in his music career. He's an excellent musician, close and very dear person. I haven't spoken to him in over a year, but I am certain that he's doing great.

And in these three examples were the outcomes all for them? NO!! I certainly have gained some experience, love, caring, and life lessons from them too. They have all helped me to grow as a person, to learn from their experiences and to share parts of ourselves with each other. I think that everyone we meet gives us a piece of themselves and vice versa.

I am the sum-total of all the life experiences that I have and they have prepared me for the challenges that I face on a daily basis. I don't always handle everything 100% right, but I do try and I try to learn from others to incorporate improvements to myself. So, for all the folks that I have met in my life, I thank you for leaving a little bit of yourself for me to be a better person.

And now the reward for me is my current life - I have been so blessed. I live with the love of my life and even though I have loved others in my life, none have affected me or touched me the same as he has. His love has never left me all my life. How blessed!!

"...And in the end
The love you take
is equal to the love you make."
---The Beatles

Thanks for reading my Heavenly Thoughts

It's Friday!

Wow, it's already Friday. I love short weeks! Although, I worked on Monday, had holiday on Tuesday, then worked the rest of the week. But having it broken up like this it's great. Plus Friday's are pretty cool for me. I go to work, leave there at 3, head to my company office for the Friday Meeting. All the consultants come in to the office on Friday and we get to see everyone. I love that part of my job. It reinforces the company culture. I love it!!

This weekend we are going to head out to do a few things: Cincinnati Museum Center; Showcase Cinemas to see I Am Legend in IMAX; and get our new (to us) pick-up truck on Sunday! Will be a fun weekend!

Oh yea, I'll try to rake leaves as well.

I hope you have a wonderful Friday!

"...And in the end
The love you take
is equal to the love you make."
---The Beatles

Thanks for reading my Heavenly Thoughts

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!

How does snow and 20 mph winds and 8 degrees F (wind chill –12 degrees) grab ya? Brrrrr! It’s cold!

Poor little Snicker didn’t know what to think this morning. He went out when we first got up and just stood on the porch not wanting to venture down into the snow and wind. But I shut the door and he didn’t have a choice. He got down into the snow (a couple of inches at our house) and ran around it in, every once in a while stepping into a deep spot, finally found a suitable spot for his business, then ran back into the house. He was COLD when he came back in – his poor ears were frozen and he was only out there for a few minutes.

The thing that always gets me about Cincinnati is the traffic when it snows (and sometimes rains). I mean, people act like they have never seen snow and never driven in it. They crawl along even if the roads are ok. In fact, the roads were ok by the time we left and the traffic was still crawling. It took me a little longer than normal to get to work because we didn’t get on the Interstate. They were parking lots for miles and miles. Luckily, I can get to work on surface streets.

It’s cold at work. I need a heater! I am sitting next to some office space reconstruction. The workers are yakking, the heat doesn’t stay in this part of the building. I still have on my wool hat!! Could use gloves if I could type with them on, I would. Besides being cold, the construction workers are annoying. The foreman or supervisor (whatever he is) talks non-stop about politics, Iraq, George Bush, immigration and his views are ultra-liberal so he’s driving me crazy. He is advocating that Pres Bush should be tried in a global court for ‘crimes against humanity’. Believes that the Bush’s and the Bin Laden’s are good pals and their families talk all the time. Says that “terrorism” is just a distraction for the real reason we’re in Iraq – OIL.

You know the type; you hear them. I just don’t want to hear them while I’m trying to work without turning into an ice cube!! I know he totally believes what he’s saying. I don’t care to express an opinion right now, but I do know that he is at work to work, so he should just do that – work!

Happy New Year!

"...And in the end
The love you take
is equal to the love you make."
---The Beatles

Thanks for reading my Heavenly Thoughts

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Wow, it's a new year already! I guess it's true that time flies when you're having fun. And boy did I have fun in 2007!!

• Visited tons of places in southern California - beaches, mountains, trails, sites
• Welcomed Snicker into our family
• Made a couple really good friendships - Hi Terry - Hi Damian!!
  
• Got laid-off
  
• Accepted a position and learned hardware manufacturing AND telecom industry.
• Road the Coaster to work
  
• Ate at some of the best restaurants in San Diego
• My Significant Other retired on a disability retirement
  
• Visited Cincinnati a few times
• Went out house hunting
• Bought a house!!
  
• Moved to Cincinnati
  
• Spent Christmas and New Year's with our family and friends.
  

It's a great year and I am sure that 2008 will be even greater!! Some of the things that I want to accomplish in 2008:

• Pay off my bills
• Get the few things that we need fo rthe house
• Get married????!!!!!!!!!???????? Could it really happen??????
• Rake the tons of leaves on our acre!!
  
• Get in shape by raking, shoveling, walking
• Go to Weight Watchers - this week!!!
• Take a vacation to Estes Park, Colorado
• Take another vacation to San Diego to see Tamara and friends
• Take another vacation to Florida by the beach, maybe Tampa / St. Pete
• Enjoy my kids, my family and of course my crazy friends!!
  

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

"...And in the end
The love you take
is equal to the love you make."
---The Beatles

Thanks for reading my Heavenly Thoughts