Lovely things

Today is my sweet Melissa's birthday. Happy, happy, happy day, my friend.
I am grateful for her laugh and her optimism and her heart and her friendship.




Yesterday I came into work and found an envelope with my mother's handwriting on it. Inside was a graduation gift from some friends of theirs. A couple that has befriended them. And while the gift is rather perfect (seriously, just kind of awesomely perfect) it is their kindness that makes me a little teary. He is a retired minster, She is a professor at my dad's school. They get together with my parents to play games and go out for lunch after church. In fact She was the person who helped lure my mom to the place where we had her surprise birthday party last year. I'm happy that my parents have friends who care about their kid's graduation. Not because it benefits me, but because it's good for my parents.

And there were s'mores too...

Kind of exciting?

So I got a promotion at work.

But I'm not getting a raise. Not yet anyway. I'll have to wait until December and then, maaaaybe, there might be some additional compensation for this additional work I'll be doing.

I'm feeling a little underwhelmed I must admit.

Reading Material

I'm looking for a few good books to read or listen to. Any suggestions out there? I do love me a good book.

Thanks for all the encouraging thoughts. My head has been in a not so great place the last few days - obviously. But I'm hoping to pull out of it soon.

Suze Orman screws with your head

I was up late working on a new skirt from old sheets that I hope to wear to a wedding coming up soon. I made the mistake of watching Oprah after Nightline finished. Oprah is not a normal part of my evening routine. Law and Order? Yes. Reno 9-1-1? Sadly, yes. (stupid funny is sooo much funnier at 11 pm) Oprah? Not so much. But it was Suze Orman and she was addressing debt concerns during the recession. I don't know that I've felt quite so bad about money in a really, really long time. At one point I felt like I was going to throw up. She said we need to live on half of what we are making now. And wants people to have an eight month emergency fund because realistically, that's what it's going to take for someone that's been laid off, to find another job. Anyone else out there feeling nauseous?

I think that is compounded by the fact that I did just have to empty out my savings account to cover all of my car stuff that I needed to get done. And because of some charges from back in September that didn't get put through to my account until about 10 days ago which then put my checking account into overdraft and then added on lots of fun overdraft fees for each little, piddly $3 or $5 charge. I had been planning to put more into my savings that I normally do but with the added fun of an overdraft, I don't think that's going to happen. It's really frustrating. And it's really scary.

Two or three nights ago I had someone ringing my buzzer at about 2:30 in the morning. It persisted for a while. I didn't answer it of course and just dismissed it as someone that was confused. But then, about two hours later I woke up with the thought that maybe it had been the police and they had found me because of the car registration and something had happened to it or my wallet was found somewhere (that actually happened to me once) or something had happened to my parents and the police were making a housecall to let me know. Panic much? And despite telling myself that I was being ridiculous it was still really scary. Part of my thoughts were "I don't have money to take care of my car right now if something happened to it." I suppose that's why I'm paying for car insurance with a pretty low deductable. But it's scary. And then Suze Orman weighs in and I'm scared even more. I have nowhere near eight months socked away.

And this is why I'm making a skirt out of sheets to wear to my brother's wedding.

wordless wednesday

Beautiful Day

On my way to work this morning I was struck with the beauty of the sky and the clouds and the moon still up in the sky. I took some time this afternoon to sit outside and bask. It's just so happy-making. And I thought about a good God who made the whole of creation and I was full of awe. If an afternoon like this makes me so happy I wonder what the new heaven and new earth will be like.

Those things that get you through

There was a point when I knew things were not good between my parents. My brother and I hadn't been told anything yet but I knew something was wrong. Eventually we were taken to a parade by my mom and a friend and she told us what was going on. I think my dad moved out while we were gone. They did counseling. He moved back in. He found a new job in a new state. We moved. Somewhere during that time we went to Kansas for a family visit. My brother and I stayed with relatives while my parents spent some time in the car together driving back to wherever we lived at the time. I knew it was some sort of last-ditch effort to try and salvage the marriage.

What I also remember about that particular vacation was that I had a new book, The Black Stallion. And with reading this book began my obsession with horses. I think almost every girl goes through this horse phase. I drew them and dreamed of being a horse trainer. When we moved to that new state there was a nearby horse stable. Most days after school I would ride off on my bike and pet velvety soft noses and scratch necks. I read all of the books. There are a few. It was one of those things that would get me through the moves and fights and sadness and craziness of the life I was experiencing at the time.

This past year I've found a few Walter Farley books including a copy of the The Black Stallion and The Island Stallion. A few weeks ago, in a box of library discards at my local Salvation Army store, I saw those books up there and got really excited. But thinking about that time in my life also makes me a little sad.

More fireworks

Fast and Furious

I'm back at work. It's really OK. For the most part.

But, sadly, the annoying folks at work? They're still here. But to balance that out, fun co-workers who have been gone are back from vacation too. So, you know, not horrible. Just the same stuff.

Also? Odd charges are showing up on my debit card. Charges from a place that has been closed for the summer (since mid-May) and are dated 6/30 - 7/2. And it's running my account into the negative numbers and could be super expensive in regards to those special fees. It makes me wonder why they would approve a charge this morning if my account is $20 in the hole supposedly. It makes my head hurt a little and then I get angry. I've made phone calls and sent emails and contacted my bank to get another card and put a claim through. Except I have to call back in a few days because a few of these hinky charges haven't gone through yet, they're just pending. But once they do go through, then I can file another claim for those two items. It's happening to a co-worker of mine too. I suppose this is what I get for never carrying enough cash.

Enough whining. I declare that the rest of this post shall be whining-free!

I think it's pretty obvious that I did make it to the butterfly sanctuary and spent some time there taking pictures. Folks, butterflies are hard to capture in photographs.
The rest of the vacation was nice.

The time in WI was relaxing for a day or two and then it got boring. There's just not a whole heck of a lot to do in that area unless you have a boat or jet ski. I have neither. I went to the nearby lake for about 30 minutes and decided it wasn't my type of lake. Apparently I like quiet lakes. I visited a few antique shops in the area but didn't make any purchases. I actually left a day early because I got bored and the fireworks in the little town where I was staying had happened the week before. On my way home I stopped at the Bahai Temple and took some pictures of this gorgeous structure. I got home in time to meet up with friends and watch fireworks in their traditional spot.

Sunday I saw some folks I hadn't seen for a long time, met a new baby, and went to see Jersey Boys. Overall, a good week. Enough so that I woke myself up twice because I was laughing so hard in my dreams that I was sleep-laughing. That, my friends, is a happy way to wake up.