i'm so slack!

good grief! am i slack or what??!! it has been WAY too long since my last update but this isn't going to count as one. i'm at work but just wanted to post a quick hi and that i'll be doing a formal update soon. it's been very busy lately: neil finally finished his Florida job and has "moved" back home and now we're getting ready for our first wedding anniversary and cruise! love to all!!!

january's rolling!

what a busy and fun weekend!  friday, i went to my first hockey game!  it was so much fun - once we finally got there!  i picked up melissa and we went to the MARTA station.  it was the coldest night i believe in prolly 2 years!  so, we're standing in the freeze waiting on the train.  about 10 minutes pass and one comes thru the station - but did not stop!   then, a few minutes later, heres comes another.  it luckily stopped but at the very next station, everyone had to get off - some malfunction with one of the doors - wait again in the cold for another train.  we eventually made it to the arena!  melissa hooked us up with suite seats (via Ray and Natalie - Fox sports folks) and Atlanta won - in overtime; it was great!  Melissa caught one of the chick-fil-a cows that parachuted down from the ceiling.  he was so cute!  after the game, we went to Taco Mac and had some nacho's and closed the place down.  luckily, Natalie drove us to my car  - no MARTA!  i think i made it home about 2am; good times!!

saturday, i ran errands - searching for something for neil to wear to the Bar Mitzvah we attended Saturday night.  if you've never been to a Bar/Bat Mitzvah - they are a ball!  it's like a wedding reception - a VERY fun wedding reception.  they are usually themed - this one was "movies"; we were seated at the Raiders of the Lost Ark table!  the bar mitzvah was for Marc's son, Corey.  i know Marc through my boss, Andy.  we, and of course Debbie - become friends quickly shortly after i started working for Andy about 4 years ago.  marc is a hoot and all of us have had some great fun over the years - our Friday lunches (the lunch bunch) are legendary!  debbie and her husband, chris attended too.  debbie and i were dancin' fools!  we danced right along side all of those 13 year olds!  it was another late night - one that we capped off with a visit to the Waffle House and boy was that a show!  

sunday, neil and i slept in a bit; we were pretty slow due our saturday evening!  we managed to get dressed and grab some lunch then went to the Muppet Exhibit.  i love love love the Muppets so this was a must-see - and sunday was the last day.  it's a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian that goes thru Jim Henson's life and his characters.  it was really cool and i saw some funny drawings and characters that i never knew existed.  did you know that the first Kermit was made from Jim's mom's spring coat and a ping-pong ball?  his life and work spanned SO much more than just the Muppets and it was really neat to see it all.

now, it's monday.  i was off work today for MLK - and very happily so.  i've been in my pj's all day and actually worked.  i took advantage of the day off and slept in - until noon!!  (yes, i'm aware i have a sleeping problem).  but i did manage to get all the work done for 2008 on neil's "old" business which we will do a final return for and close it up.  now, i've got to get started on the new business.  that's gonna be a bear!  

work is kicking my butt a bit.  there is SOOO much work to get accomplished in January.  this past week, i pulled an all-nighter!  wednesday, i went in at 9am and left on thursday at 12:45 pm  crazy, huh?  but i got a TON done.  i finally got in bed on thursday at like 2:45 and slept until friday morning - 16 hours.  it was awesome!  of course, it was back to work friday.  as crazy as it sounds, it de-stresses me to just pull one of those every now and then in order to get certain things done.  it's difficult some days to get anything accomplished -with e-mails, people needing stuff, phone calls and just general interruptions.  i pulled about 5 all-nighters last year.  what's sad is that yes - i have THAT much work to do!!  but, i can get double the work done over the course of a night then i would with the same hours during normal work hours.  it's difficult and i'm usually in some serious pain by the morning - but it's always worth it!  and i'd rather do that then go in on the weekends!!  

neil headed back to florida this morning.  but great news - he should be done with the waterfall project this week or mid next!!  then, he's going to do some more work for them - which is a bummer cuz he won't be coming home but it's like "new" job and we need it!  hopefully his next gig will be in atlanta but who knows.  

 

well, i need to empty the dishwasher, re-load the dishwasher, put fresh sheets on the bed, fold clothes, prep my coffee, put soft-paws on the cats, pay some bills....  the work never ends!!!

have a great week, y'all!

well, it's a new year!

2009 arrived rather quietly for us!  after spending so much time away from home beginning with Thanksgiving and with family and friends, neil and i stayed home.  new year's eve we went to a great Japanese steakhouse and pigged out. came back home, put on our fat pants and flopped our puffy bellies on the sofa and watched the ball drop on tv.  then, went to bed!  neil actually worked most of the weekend but at least he was in town.  new year's day i did not get out of my pj's - which has been thoroughly planned out and anticipated.  i did manage to put something in the crock pot for dinner though and do some random stuff around the apartment.  i set up our Wii and when neil came home we played some bowling (yep - i spanked him!), a little golf, and pool.  what fun!  friday it was time for the tree and trimmings to come down.  boy was that tree crispy!  i made one last batch of Christmas punch, put my Muppets dvd in and got to work.  it was all done by the time neil got home.  we rematched on the Wii - and yep, i beat him again.  (i'm sure the streak will be short lived!)  saturday i did more stuff around the apartment.  it's amazing just how busy i keep myself in this place.  there's always something that needs reorganizing or whatever.  i cleaned out the fridge, under the kitchen sink, steam cleaned a rug, did some dusting.  i'm telling ya - i didn't leave the apartment for 3 days and i was constantly in motion.  i finally ventured out on sunday.  neil had to work some more so i took him to his shop and went to run some errands.  we had a late lunch with clayton and janie.  when i got home, i made Loaded Potato Soup - a Disney recipe - and it was yummy.  we used our new soup bowls holly gave us - they are perfect!

and of course now i'm back at work.  january is always a nightmare and this year i have the added task of getting neil's business stuff done.  so basically, i will have no life for about 2 months!  

neil headed back to florida monday morning.  he's getting very close to finished with that job.  he's down to ordering trees, plants, and sod and needs to do a few things to the waterfall.  i would think he'd be all wrapped up by the end of the month (at least i hope so!!)  he came back Tuesday, re-packed and he and clayton headed to Indianapolis for the ATA Tradeshow.  they are trying to see if they can get in the business of making and selling deer blinds - and a few other things.  the tradeshow is for wholesalers looking to buy product for their retails stores so this should determine if they pursue this thing or not.  they've put a lot of work into it so i hope it pays off!  i don't know squat about this stuff (big surprise) but these guys are all up in this hunting world and say it's just HUGE and folks will spend big money on the right stuff.  neil is so creative; his mind i constantly thinking of stuff to do and how to turn this product and process (his faux rock stuff) into something lucrative.  he's been working on it for over a decade so something just has to break for him soon.   

i hope 2009 will be fabtastic for all of you!  i also hope to spend more time with family and friends this year.  time truly does seem to speed up with each passing year.  may you all be blessed with happy moments in the new year!

where did December go??!!

i can't believe Christmas is already over!  December certainly was a busy month - as usual.  all the shopping and baking and wrapping and traffic and work and play and visiting friends!  neil and i got the perfect tree for our first official Christmas.  as is tradition (since i was a tot), i made Bubbly Christmas Punch when we decorated the tree.  it's not officially Christmas until that first glass of punch!  neil hasn't been home very much so we didn't really get to enjoy the tree much together but the kitties have loved it!  they like to sit under it and Raja really loves playing with the ornaments he can reach.  luckily they've never tried to climb it!  we watched most of the must-see holiday movies:  Charlie Brown, Miracle on 34th Street (the original, of course!), Rudolph, the Grinch and the pinnacle - Christmas Vacation!  i suppose i'll begin the task of taking it down this weekend.  it's always a little sad to pack everything back up and say goodbye to the punch and Rudolph for another year.  neil and i were apparently very good this year; we got loads of great stuff!  my parents gave us the Wii and Wii Fit, neil's parents gave us some crispy cash and holly loaded us up with some of the stuff from my Crate and Barrel registry.  we love it all!  we spent Christmas in Eufaula of course.  we went back and forth from holly's to neil's parents.  it sure is nice that they are still in the same town.  it makes things a bit easier for us plus we get to see everybody!  we went to Winder on saturday and spent the day with the Wacky Wilchers .  this was the first time neil was around all of those fools; it could be his last!  i think they made quite and impression on him - haha!  we laughed til we cried with that bunch.  neil and i came home saturday night; neil had not been home in 2.5 weeks!  it was nice to finally be at home together.  

in case you haven't heard, hannah got a spunky new puppy for Christmas.  and my goodness, he sure is cute and sweet.  he's a Border Collie and i think they named him Payton - i can't quite figure what they're doing on the name thing.  i'm not so sure they know!  dad took a shine to him; they became buddies pretty quick.  their kitty, Daisy, is not so happy.  hopefully Daisy will work thru her issues and not scratch up the puppy too bad.  we shall see!

We are so fortunate to have wonderful, loving families and true, lifelong friends.  all of whom we hope to see more of in 2009.

Love and Peace to everyone!  

busy days

i hope everyone's Thanksgiving was grand!  we had a wonderful, yet busy, holiday.  i started out Wednesday night at my cousin's house.  her sister, mom, and the Canadian in-laws were in town and i just had to see everyone!  i do love those Canadians!  i missed seeing the new baby (she wasn't feeling so spiffy) but i enjoyed the evening chatting with them.  they are sooo nice and fun.  sure wished they lived closer!  

thursday morning, i packed up and headed to Eufaula.  i met neil at his parent's house and we had a nice, slow day that led to a big, fat dinner.  neil and i went out to the Wildlife Refuge - one of the many places we would go when we were dating in high school.  it's always a hoot being in eufaula with neil.  we have so much history there 

and it always brings back some incredible memories.  

friday we both packed up and headed further south to Seacrest Beach, FL.  my sister and husband are now part owners in a beach house and this was our first visit.  my parent's were there too.  we rode bikes and scooters - trying to dodge the rain.  then had yet another feast.  saturday was pretty icky with rain again but the g

als managed to get a tad of shopping in.  the cutest shops are down there!  we watched some football (BOTH of my teams lost - very sad) then all went out for movie night.  mom and dad saw the new 007 - which they said was great.  holly, eddy, hannah, neil and i saw Bolt.  LOVED it!!  Disney and Pixar:  a beautiful duo! the best part of the evening was when Eddy - a huge Alabama fan (who had just beaten Auburn for the first time in 6 years  - badly) decided he should yell (well, almost) ROLL TIDE just as the movie was getting started.  note to self: never go see a movie with Eddy after a day of Alabama winning and drinking Screwdrivers.   

on our way home sunday, neil and stopped at his job-site and i got to see the waterfall in progress.  it's come a LONG way since i saw it last.  it's going to be amazing!  i just don't get how he has the vision for that stuff.  it's quite jaw-dropping.  i had to leave him in eufaula as i had to come back to atlanta and he back down t

o florida for his job.  have i mentioned how much i'm ready for him to come home??!!  

now, it's a new month and what a busy one it's going to be!  only 22 shopping days left before Santa arrives!  

*i'm thankful for:

  Tonia, Greg and Morgan:   i met tonia soon after i moved to myrtle beach way back in 1995.  (wow - i just realized how long ago that was!)  we worked together at a resort and at the Crab House - GOOD TIMES!  something about her just made me love her quickly.  she's a very honest person - she's just as sweet as she can be but she doesn't sugar-coat anything.  one of my favorite things about her is that she's not timid about calling people out and confronting them if they're being stupid and ridiculous.  ahhh - i love to hear her stories!!  but she's also gorgeous, fun, easy to talk to, thoughtful, respectful, smart as hell.  and of course, her husband Greg - he's just as awesome.  he's the true southern gentleman, a person everyone is at ease around, laid back (partly due to all the Jimmy Buffett concerts he's been to!); everybody loves Squeeky!! and then came Miss Morgan.  good grief - what a beautiful child!!  i remember the day tonia called to tell me she was pregnant.  i was in my office at work and she called during the middle of the day - which she never does - and i knew something major was up!  i remember trying not to scream - as i would've disrupted the whole accounting department!  Morgan is so funny; she started separating her peas and carrots very early like every little accountant-to-be should (tonia is also an accountant).  i don't get to see them but once a year if i'm lucky and i hope they know how much i miss them and love them!!

it's almost friday!

and that means it's almost Twilight time!  the much-anticipated movie, Twilight, comes out tomorrow and i'll be joining a crew of gals going to see it.  LOVED the book(s) and can't wait to see it come to life!

it's been a busy week as usual.  worked til about 11pm monday night, concert Tuesday night (Kings of Leon!!!!), took wednesday off to get new social security card, notary and business license for neil's company, back to work today, and happy the weekend is almost here.

not much to report really.  neil's still in florida - and i'm VERY ready for that job to be finished.  it was supposed to be 4 months but now it looks like it'll be 6 and i'm really ready for him to come home.  he was barely here two months after we were married so i'm anxious to have him back home.

i'm thankful for:

*my aunt anna:  a single gal who loves to laugh!  she's heavy in my thoughts today as i've just been informed that she's sick - and has been sick for about a week and half.  currently there is only speculation as to her diagnosis and i'm channeling all of the positive energy and thoughts i have in her direction.  she's awesome and i love her like crazy.  she's so much fun to be around; she's like one of the girls.  a southern girl loaded with spark, spirit and faith - all of which will get her through whatever this illness turns out to be. 

where did the week go?

geez, i can't believe it's been a week since my last post!  it's been a busy week...

monday:  hate 'em.  the weekend went by WAY too fast.  i didn't feel so spiffy monday - didn't have a fever but felt like i did all day.  when i got home from work, i could only gather up enough energy to set-up my Playstation 3 and watched about 30 minutes of the first Pirates of the Caribbean.  oh my gosh - it's gorgeous!  neil - who was out in kansas hunting - killed a deer! on his first day!!  so he was trying to decide when he would come home; he was supposed to be out there until saturday.  he hasn't been hunting in 2 years so he was excited to be out there.

tuesday:  neil decided to come on home so i picked him up from the airport about 8pm.  we went directly to Taqueria del Sol  - one of our favorite places to eat.  one of the their specials this week was Shrimp & Grits - the best EVER!  since i still wasn't feeling so spiffy, i chugged some nyquil and decided to sleep in and go in to work a little late.  

wednesday:  after the nyquil and some sleep, i felt much better.  had my salon appointment at 6pm then headed home to pick neil up - back to Taqueria for more shrimp and grits!!  after dinner, we went to best buy and looked at surround systems.  i want one but it'll probably have to wait.  after getting the skinny from the pro, it'll prolly cost about $1500.00 to do what i want.  oh well!  

thursday:  neil thought he might head back to florida today but the weather wasn't going to be ideal so he decided to stay home; plus he just misses me!  we went to pick up his truck from his mechanic and chatted with him for quite a while.  cool, nice guy; from argentina - neat accent and quite funny.  when we got home, we played Monopoly on the PS3 - very fun!  however, we lost about 2.5 hours of our lives!

friday:  TGIF!  this week at work has been incredibly aggravating.  i won't go into details cuz my blood pressure will probably rise if i do!  let's just say, i'm ready for the week to be over.  neil was still here so he had lunch with all of us from work.  for dinner we went to Maggiano's and spent some time at Borders.  we LOVE the bookstores!  

saturday: neil left this morning about 5am.  :(  i had much to do around the apartment; my to-do list is out of control.  so i did not leave the apartment all day.  watched the GA/AU game; don't really have much to say about it!  it's rare that i get a weekend with nothing planned so it's been great.  and i really get to see what my cats do all day.  i've determined that should reincarnation be true, i want to come back as a house cat.  they have the best lives!!  i could provide a video, but i feel that the still picture captures everything!

i'm thankful for:

*amy, wade and morgan:  Tigger, Pooh and Piglet!  i met amy and wade thru my ex-bf, michael.  he and amy were the best of friends.  well, i just loved 'em! and the best part - i got them in the break-up - HAHA!!  two of THE nicest people - individually and as a couple.  amy has an infectious laugh; she just has a glow about her.  wade is such calm and gentle soul.  they are both funny, rational, fun-loving, easy-going, and make parent-hood look like a breeze.  morgan - their daughter - what a little lady.  she's such sweet little thing - and smart, quiet, polite, and oh so pretty!