FYI

On January 1, 2009 I will be the featured artist on a blog called 365 Days of Etsy. Come check it out!

an extra post for today.

I am sitting here at work, a mere 3 hours into my day, and things have been illuminated for me this morning. I have seen everything that I do NOT want in a job... negativity is swirling around me. People are hateful, and controlling. Generally not nice. These are all things that I do NOT want to spend 40-60 hours a week around. I have really got to get my butt in gear to get out of this place!

I don't mean to whine. That's not what this is about. This is me putting it in black and white, as a reminder to self... to get OUT. Connie was right... time to let go. I will be researching marketing for my shop, and more notably my photography.

New Years Eve

Tomorrow is the beginning of a new year... funny how people mark that. This morning I'm thinking that New Years probably has little meaning for most people I know. A business' fiscal year does not have to be from January to January, in fact, in my experience it usually is not. And many of my friends mark their year by their birthdays... My 37th year is starting today.

I always make resolutions... but they are not always New Years Resolutions...I am pretty arbitrary... I sometimes have March 2nd resolutions, or whatever it may be. Anyway....

Happy New Year to you, whenver that may be. I still have the feeling that this is going to be a most awesome and magical year, my 37th year.

Speaking of magic, something just occurred to me. I've always been a tomboy. A girl raised with 2 brothers (both sisters were older and out of the house), always one of the guys. I've always related to males. However, when I was 19 and first married, my air force husband was a meteorologist. I would go have coffee with the 'weather wives' a few times a week. Nancy, from New York, taught me a lot about interpersonal communication, and I learned how to hang around with females. A few good female friends later, and we've all pretty much dropped out of touch.

So... the magic (chasing rabbits today, I swear)... this blog has brought me to be friends with a group of women, and it seems to be expanding daily. That's not to lessen your importance Geoff, Dad, or Rod (or Dale if you're still here?). But friendships with women is still very new to me. There is a magic involved. That is a side affect I had not expected from this blogging experience, a very nice one.

So, whenever your New Year may be, I hope this one is magical... the power is within.

Lizzie Update

I just spoke with Wanda. Today they tried to take Lizzie off the ventilator. They were unsuccessful, and had to put her back on it. So, they did not make as much progress today as they would have liked. However, they determined with an MRI yesterday that most likely there is no brain damage. yay for that victory! Tomorrow, she will be undergoing surgery to have a halo put in place to isolate her broken vertebra to allow it to heal. Today Lizzie is more awake, and very strong... whether that is good or bad... we'll see.

on my birthday...

I absolutely love this photo. I purposefully focused on the drops of rain on the window and the background is blurring by... taken during a really long road trip. It's called "Life passing by". I added it to my Etsy shop yesterday, though honestly I don't know that it will appeal to anyone but me. But that's ok... I love love love it.

Time has been zooming forward since Christmas. It always does this for me. The space between Christmas and my birthdy seems non-existent. But here we are... the holidays are over, my birthday is here.

I am 37 today. My friend Connie did my numerology and 3+7= 10... 1+0=1, and 1 means... "focus of ones creative energy & to use tools & instruments to manifest ones desires. New beginnings."

How exciting is that??? I'm so there right now... I have my new beginnings and I'm focusing my creative energy! Life is good!

My birthday wish is many faceted. I wish for happiness, I wish for all I need, I wish for health, I wish for love, I wish for deep friendships. And I wish that for all of you as well. Funny thing is... I've already got all that!

Thank you for the amazing, irreplaceable role you play in my life!

Looking Back

I have been looking forward for weeks. Forward to 2009, making plans, being excited about what the future holds. But today, I woke up looking back.

What an amazing year it's been. 2008 was very good to me. In the past year, I've dove head first into journal making and photography. I've committed to blogging. I've made many wonderful friends.

But most of all, 2008 brought my dad and I together. I am so thankful for the times he and I have had. The visits during my trips to Utah, the phone conversations. The discovery that we are very much alike.

And now, my blog takes a bit of a different turn for this post. 5am and 2 phone calls already this morning. The second one was from my dad. He knows my schedule, and that makes me smile. We had a nice little chat and he re-affirmed to me that life is good.

The first phone call I received though was from my oldest sister. I am the youngest of five children, and we are very spread out in age. My oldest sister, her name is Wanda. She and her family are in crisis mode. Wanda's 22 month old grand-daughter was struck by a car yesterday. She darted out in front of a car while her mom was buckling the baby into her car seat. Lizzie is in an medically induced coma. She has a torn liver, a broken vertebra and a bruise on her brain.

My gut feeling from what Wanda told me is that Lizzie is a fighter. I think she will pull through this. But the family is hurting. They all need rest and faith. Any prayers you guys could shoot out to them would be greatly appreciated.

Wordless Weekend

Almost Wordless....

These are pictures of my amazing Secret Santa gift from the wonderful Sandy!!!

I have made so many wonderful friends on here... thank you Sandy! Thank you all!