Craig got a new job!!!

Yay, Craig gots a new job!! Still in the restaurant industry doing machine maintenance, but he's waiting to hear back from the electrical company about a job he tested for. But for now this is a lot better: better pay, better hours, 401(k), etc. So now with the better pay we can not only pay off our bills (which is what we've been doing) but now really kick our savings into high gear. It's a good start to the weekend!

Peace out.

Another reason why my nephew is so awesome...

So on Valentine's Day I was at work, and when the receptionist told me that I had flowers, I assumed that they were from Craig. Instead I opened up this note:

"Happy Valentine's Day Auntie! Here are a hundred blooms for the hundreds of things you do for me. Thank you for being you! I love you so much! Love, Maximo"







And here are pics of the flowers, first one taken straight-on and the second is a shot from the top so you can see the blooms:















He's so awesome. : ) And yes, Craig did in fact send me flowers as well. I had to take one bunch home since the rumor around the office was that I had a boyfriend. Seriously.

Cheers!

One more resolution...

Since it seems that I'm doing pretty well by posting my resolutions here, I forgot to add one. One of my resolutions was to learn something new this year, so I'm going to be teaching myself how to play the piano. It was either that or learn how to speak Italian. There was a piano that came with our house, so I'm going to get it tuned up and start practicing. I have some instruction booklets and hopefully they'll help. I've always wanted to learn how to play either the piano or drums, so hopefully I can get the basics down. I'm banking on the fact that I played trumpet in grade school will help me learn a bit quicker.

Wish me and my spirit fingers good luck. ; )

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears,
Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not strait the gate,
How charged with punishment the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

"Invictus" by William Ernest Henley

I love this poem, and I've carried it around with me since high school. That's 10 years, 5 moves, and numerous life events ago. Everywhere I've lived I've tacked it onto my fridge, so I can be reminded of no matter how bad things can be, I am the only one in charge of my fate. No matter how broken, bloody, or beaten I may have been I've kept my head up and soldiered on.

Just thought I'd share it in case anyone needed some inspiration. :)

How lucky I am...

I'm sitting here in Dallas (here for a 2 day work conference), and I've just been thinking about how lucky I am. It's like things are FINALLY going right and there is no major drama going on (knock on wood). Craig and I are doing better than ever, my mom is doing so much better, Maximo is just the definition of awesomeness, bills are getting paid, and I am one of those few individuals who actually love their job.

I say that I love my job because I sometimes take for granted the great things my firm provides: tons of professional development opportunities, really cool conferences like the one I'm at now (tonight we were at a kickoff event at a Dave & Buster's type of place, but with laser tag and bowling), first class status on Continental : ) and the chance to stay at the Westin (BEST HOTEL EVER. I told Craig that the next mattress we buy is the Westin Heavenly Bed.), and just a hugely fun and talented group of people I'm surrounded by. Plus the benefits are phenomenal. Seriously. Put it this way: with the vacation time I've rolled over from last year, I can take 2 MONTHS of vacation this year if I wanted.

Anyhoo, I'm just laying in my Heavenly bed updating my blog, so I was just thinking about how lucky I am in general. I haven't said that a lot over the past few years, but hopefully that's all in the past and only more good things are to come. : )

G'night!

P.S. I always forget how lonely it is to sleep by yourself, no matter how Heavenly your bed is. : (