A New Year's A-coming

Well, here it is. The last day of the year 2008. It was my best year to date. I got B this year : D

As far as I know, the plans for this eve are fairly low key. We had talked about going to a movie. Or staying in. We both got toys that we have been enjoying recently.

I got a DS and a new game in the mail the other day. And B got Fallout 3 ( a computer game) from his brother. I am wearing my birthday necklace from J today. It is an amethyst butterfly. It combines our two loves.. amethyst for me and butterflies for her.

I am glad to be feeling better finally. I still have a slight cough but it is very slight. I am hoping to get to make cookies this weekend. With the cold, I thought it would be poor form to send cold germs via cookies to Michigan. Not to mention sharing the cold germs via cookies at our works.

I do think in the next place that I need a nice big kitchen. Though I really like having the passthrough. We have begun to talk about moving. Each place gets better than the next. So by time we buy, we will know exactly what we want and what we do not. Stairs are on the do not list. We both just too clumsy for them : P Plus I can't imagine that they would be good for kids. Not that we are there yet, people but it is a consideration in the next couple of years.

I've got to keep up with working on the weight before that happens. I'll take another look at the community ed paper for that. I need something fun and kind of dancy. Plus T wants to take a look at classes too. I think it would be fun to do something with her. She is beyond awesome. She is definitely in the fantabulous range : )

Good day and best of all years for us all.

Ode to Me

December 22nd. I came into the world and the world has never recovered : P

It was a good day then as now. I was finally feeling a bit better from my horrible cold. I got sung to at least three times including by a lion. My dad told me I was precious. B made me cry.

No, not in a bad way people. Since my birthday was on a Monday and he had me open my gifts last Friday, I asked him to get me flowers.

This is what I got. It was lovely. But the thing that made me cry was the piece of paper. I share most thing with you people but this was my own little treasure.

Overall, a lovely day.

I am 33 if you were wondering. I don't really care about the number. It is just that. I don't feel any oder or wiser. Except now I have to start my next plans after peace on earth (Thanks, T : )

Hmmm.... world domination has a nice ring to it. Maybe I'll start on that.

Good day and bow to my dominion foolish humans.... ummm maybe not....doesn't feel too Evieish.

My meant to be Devotions

We had our Christmas get-together yesterday. I love getting together with my family. Even though part of me wished to crawl under covers and sleep til Monday. I have been blessed with a gnarly cold. I am a stubborn person especially when it comes to being sick. I can not stand when I can not do what I want to do.

I had worked slightly on a devotion for our party. It was something that kind of struck me. I had wanted to do it for Dad. He always get stuck doing the devotions. I think sometimes it is a love to do/hate to do kind of thing. And I know that sometimes he stresses out about them. Even though he always does such a phenomenal job. So I wanted to take a stress off him. But being so sick and somewhat overwrought, I couldn't.

So here's what I had. I was going to have each person read a part. And then put the paper flipped over in the middle of the table. On the back, it would read Ch, ri, s, t, is, h, e, r, e

Mary: I was there, thoughtful and faithful. I went through things none had ever been through then or since. But I believed.

Joseph: I was there, supporting my wife. I believed her and God. We traveled far to come to the land of my birth. I would be there for his birth but his death would give all new life.

Shepherd: I was there, in awe and joyous. Everything that the angel told us came true. How could we stop from praising God for all the wondrous things we saw? And still see to this day.

Angel: I was there, praising and a messenger. Spreading the good news that this day would be born a savior. Even into this mortal flesh with all its pain and sorrow, how could one not but sing to his glory?

Star: I was there, shining a way to the Lord. Much like his Word still shines a way to him too.

Wise Men: I seek what all men seek. Salvation. Love. For all my gifts, his was greater still.

Ass: I was there. What was my burden of his mother to the burden for which he would carry even unto his death?

Innkeeper: I was there. How hectic a time was that? People stuck in every which how and place, only to find more on my doorstep looking for room. Imagine your house full to the gills. A man has to turn someone away. Yet how many more turn from him now?

Christ: I am here.

Christmas. Christ mass.

All those there for this one defining event. All those there to play a part. All crowded and around this singular person. Christ. Everything revolves around him. As it should now.

Then as now, there are so many things pulling away from Christ. Mothers, husbands, things to be gotten and given, messages to receive and get, seekers, burdens and hectic times.

But in the end, all that falls away and he is left. He is the pure grain when all the chaff is worn away. The Messiah. The Savior. That which all men seek and all may find. Amen.

Good night and find him.

Whisper Quiet

That is me right now. I lost my voice yesterday and am feeling a bit better now. I am up for no voice to whisper.

But plus side, I did get a flu shot back about a month ago. Where is my cold shot though?

B. stayed home with me yesterday. He took me to the doctor too. He is really sweet about me being sick. Every time I tried to talk, he would stop me and hand me a pad of paper and a pen.

My kids and I got to go to the Jags game the other day. They had a blast. I am so glad for them. Overall they are really good kids and they deserve good things.

We decorated the tree on Saturday. We had gotten a faux one because I was concerned about the cats. I was sure that Henri would have drunk all the water out of the bottom. But outside of some sniffing, they haven't paid it too much mind. Which is a bit of a relief. They were much more interested in the step ladder I pulled out to put the star on the top. One would sit under it and bat at the person on the top of it. LOL

We also put up all of the stockings. Okay, so we just happen to have kitty stockings. And two people ones. There is a plain red stocking and a Hello Kitty one. I bet you can't guess which one is mine : )

Good day and here's to a hopefully speech filled tomorrow.

Hard Week

And it was. We only have five staff ( three fulltime and two partime). But we were down a full time and a parttime all week and the remaining parttime only came in two hours at the end of the night. So for six hours every day, it was just L and I. The worst day was Monday. I was still feeling the effects of being sick on Sunday. And if I left it would just be L and I just couldn't do that if possible.

I made it through.

I have a couple of errands to run today but mainly I get to stay home. It is a nice play to be. I have one more CSI book and several more Anne of Green Gables to read. Huzzah.

Good day and happy homes.

House of Capone and Mouse

Pluto
Show at Capone's

Miss Jewel and Bunny

A show at the local speakeasy

Mouse ears on my head and a cat shirt: D

Beloved and I in front of the Haunted Mansion

Cinderella's Castle

Beloved in front of Cinderella's place

Me in front of Cinderella's

Pipe band

Mickey is just everywhere including the wreaths... sheesh!

Daisy

Brass Walt with Minnie

In front of Capone's

We had such a great time spending time with our extended family of Capone and Disney : P B had never been so it was really cool getting to show him around. We kept it really low key and just wandered. It was a bit busy but not insane. And we now have a new oranament from it. That has been our tradition since we started becoming serious. Anywhere we go, we always pick up an oranament. LOL But I didn't pull them out until yesterday. The only Christmas thing I have done before Thanksgiving was buy presents. I even refused to listen to the one station that has been playing Christmas music since Halloween.

Good day and good day : P

Moments

Yesterday I did a storytime for some preschoolers. As I left, I reminded them to remember their wobble. We had just done a rhyme about a turkey whose head goes wobble, wobble. So I told them bye and some of them yelled back "Bye Mrs. Wobble" : D

I never left a gas station so fast the other night coming home. I left even before putting on my seatbelt. Which is so not me. But a truck had pulled up at the next pumping station. The guy got out and he was the reason I left so fast. Not only was he smoking a cigerette while pumping but the car was on. I thought why not be talking on your cell so you can for sure blow us all up. Craziness.

B and I are heading down state to the house of Mouse for Turkey day. I am looking forward to just kicking back and relaxing. He has never been to any of the Disney theme parks and would like to visit them before we leave Florida. We have a little while on that front.

Good day and Happy Thanksgiving all you turkeys.

I was Electrocuted

Voluntarily I might add. I have been having some numbness in my foot recently and so my doctor scheduled a nerve study. Basically they test both legs by shocking the nerve to test its timing.


Thank goodness I had J and T around for it. T drove us there and back and knew what I was going through. J went in with me and let me hold onto her for support. I don't think I would have made it through but for those two.

I had thought it wouldn't be so painful. Man, was I wrong. Parts of it were tolerable but others... shiver... And the thing about the numbness is that there really isn't any pain : P

LOL I just kept thinking of this thing I had read in a science book when I was younger. It was about this French guy who applied current to frog's leg. Not to a frog just to their legs and how he thought he was bringing them to life because they kept twitching. The thought of "I'm just like that frog" kept popping in my head. Plus J made me laugh with her idea of a cheap version of a Cabbage Patch doll. She wants to call it Baby Coleslaw.

She may have questionable ideas. But she was wonderful yesterday. She even offered to beat the guy up who was causing my pain. Just like we were growing up. I am so lucky to have a great sis.

Good day and J and T rock.!

Yesterday

Yesterday, I told B that I wasn't sure what to write. It had been a really nice day off but we really hadn't done much. So he asked me to write about my wonderful husband.... It's kind of like a love letter the whole world might read : P


B is the man I prayed for. I used to pray to God that I would finally find someone who would get me. I am one strange and crazy person so God sent me B. I love him more than an infinity of words. I love being with him and ye Gods, do we laugh. I love how he loves me even with all my insanity and silliness. One time, I decided to test myself. I tried to imagine how I would feel if he weren't in my life. I felt like someone had ripped my heart out of my chest. Or like I could never smile again. In a way, it surprised me. I had known that I loved him but not realized how intensely. He is the only man I wanted to marry and could see myself with at 90. I think about how I love him all throughout the day. And every morning I receive a hug and a kiss. He is so incredibly smart but he knows how to be silly too. I could write I love you a trillion times and that wouldn't say even a tenth of how much I love my husband. It is still so strange to be man and wife... I am not used to it yet. But a lot of the time it feels just right. In his arms, it feels like home. It is amazing.

Good day and je t'adore Marc!

More Pics

The scariest gift of the night.... Xmas Kitties!
Totally a look of horror on both our faces : D

The Three Stooges

Elise and Mel

Either you pay the fines or we send you to these two....

I am reminded of Job

Everywhere I look are troubles. Everyone is worried. But I see God. And blessings from him.

My sight, my breath, my heart, my husband, my cats, my family, my brains, my reading ability, my humor.....and so much more.

There is so much to be thankful for. Troubles like the stock market go up and down. Sometimes you have lots but sometimes you have less.

I thought to myself yesterday on the drive home that I can not think of a day where I didn't laugh at least once during the day. Of course, on that same drive I screamed aloud too. I was trying out a new stress reliever. LOL It just made me laugh even more : )

Do I have worries and troubles? Who doesn't? But I have faith and God too.

I normally keep it pretty close to heart though. But today, I came into a heated discussion of the country, the troubles and religion.

Good day and why did the duck cross the road?

Once upon a midnight

I had to pay fines today. Now, yes, I still work at a library. Every day pretty much. But somehow in all my doings during the day, I forget to turn in or renew my stuff.

This is why I switched to Netflix. I love my library but Netflix I can keep out for as long as I need to.

There was a big debate about Christmas presents this year. We have in years past just gotten presents for everyone. But this year, the debate was on no presents or presents for just one person. I can see it from both sides. But I love giving gifts. And it isn't a quid pro quo issue. It is a I like to see their expression and see their (hopefully) joy. I don't know but this year we are going with the one gift exchange.

We are a work in progress : D

Good day and Merry freaking Christmas : P

And the photos came...

The Addams (Morticia and Gomez)

Aaaaarrrrrrr! It be a Mr. Pumkinhead Pirate.

Tricia and Laura (Library Lasses)

The Executioner and his wife (bka Brad and Sharon)

So a Geek and Little Red Riding Hood are at a party.... (Elise is the geek and Mel is.. well you can guess)

Who knows the number to Crimestoppers'?? (Wes, Mel's husband)

Military Man and Gomez (i.e. Warren and Mark)

Sig and Savannah as two awesome teens...

Guys and Ghouls of the party

Scariest moment of the night... Donald doing a piourette

Sarah, Amy and Greg

The Spread

Mandy and Nita (JaNene's Girls)

Tricia, Helen, JaNene (obviously playing the part of the Witness Protection Agency applicant) and Warren

Demon Kitty aka Simba

I will do my best to post the all the pics on Flickr. It will be under Evert1222 if you just do a search. There were about six or so more pics beyond these. Plus I will try to get with the other phototags at the party and snag those pics as well. It was a fun night as you can see.

Good day and have a boo-tiful day : P

Photos coming soon

We finally did it. B and I had our very first party at our house. : ) It was so wicked cool.

I have only been planning it for months (or at least it feels like it). But it was great to have everyone here and Halloween rocks. We were Morticia and Gomez. Everyone seemed to have a good time. It lasted until about 11 pm. There were so many people here : )

And his friends came. Major coup for me. I had only met maybe three before that night and all of them were new faces. Oh huzzah!

The only drawback to hosting a party though is I felt like I didn't get to mingle as much. I was trying to make sure that the food stayed plentiful and that everyone had what they needed. I did get to talk with Amy, Greg's wife for a bit. She has a really caring side for a vampire : )" Okay so my vampire smiley needs work. She is a CNA working on her LPN and is currently working in a nursing home.

It was super nice to put names to faces. Now I can finally picture Greg, Warren, and Carl in my head when Mark mentions them. They are his gaming buddies.

It was a great party. One in which our two sides met and survived : P

Good day and there was no fighting for a right to party but someone did bring a lightsaber just in case.

Seeing clearly

Today I noticed the good in the neighborhood I work in. There was an accident in front of the library today. A police car ran into (or was hit by I didn't see exactly what happened) a handicapped van. The collision was so great that the van flipped over. But once we heard the bam, people came out of the library. All these people went from focusing on themselves and playing on the computers to running outside to check on both cars. They got the number of the cop car, they checked on both drivers, others came out to offer CPR if needed, a guy in a mechanic shirt reached in the car to shut off the horn which was blaring on a constant loop. Others asked around and made sure that witnesses didn't leave.

I was impressed. Everyone rallied around to help in some way or another. Then later that day, I noticed that a car had stopped mid a bunch of traffic. There was a crowd of people who pulled over to help the poor driver push it into a side street. Even though I hear daily from my customers about the crime and troubles, I saw the kindness of strangers today.

Good night and thank god for kindness.

I am giving up on Explemary

Well, so I give up. I got my annual evaluation today. I got a Full once again. Every since they put this evaluation system in place, that is all I have ever gotten. It is like always getting a C. Average. To me that is someone who just comes in and does their job.

I do. But I feel like I do so much more. I mean I set up five programs to fill in for the summer programs that the committee didn't schedule. I went out and got all sorts of donations from the community to supplement the prizes for summer reading that never came. I ran the branch for a month doing both children's and management duties for the third time. I increased the volunteer hours by like 200%. I have planned an afterschool program that includes reading activties, scavenger hunts, science projects and arts and crafts activities. I feel like I kick library butt.

i know it is silly but just once I would like to get an Explemary. And that isn't even the highest I could get.

I know that the people and children I work with do appreciate it. But just once a little recogntion would be nice. As a motivational tool, this evaluation thing stinks.

Good night and I think you are doing a wonderful job.

A good day or the day I washed a cat

Today I went crazy.

Okay so technically I took a mental health day. Same difference. I take them every now and again. It is a day to take a break from my life as I know it.

I lucked out. B was able to take it with me. It turned into a really good day. We started it by eating breakfast for lunch. He had my Cowart egg sandwich. Which is just an egg sandwich with mayo. Then people came over and cleaned the house. Sweet. As I normally end up doing that on my days off.

I had already decided not to clean and instead do fun stuff so it was bonus time when the cleaning people showed. After they left, I decided we should go minature golfing. We didn't keep score. Probably a good thing for B as that last hole was a kicker. They have this high slanted ramp and he would hit it so hard that it would roll back or too soft and it wouldn't make it up the ramp. I tried ONCE to "help" and attempted to stop the ball before it rolled back down the ramp. Needless to say, I sent it flying off of the course all together LMAO. It was just fun to do with him.

Then we headed off to see Clone Wars the movie. It was decent. I liked it best when we would laugh together. After lunch, we stopped at a local pet store and got a new fountain. Not for us. For the cats. : ) I had also picked up a new comb. We'd been having a problem with fleas. Or not us exactly... the cats. And I wanted to make sure the flea stuff we put on them was working. Well, it was a 75 % success. Simba's wasn't working. Plus she had started sneezing after we put it on her.

Simba on a better day

So I washed a cat today. I figured it might help with the fleas and the sneezing. So far, yes on the fleas and a little on the sneezing. But she did a lot better than other kitties I have washed. Now before you go calling the ASPCA because I obviously love torturing my kitties with cold bathes. I don't. The last time I washed a cat was because he climbed up into a fireplace and was covered in soot. LOL He wasn't happy at the end and neither was I.

Good night and may you never have to wash a cat.

JaNene's Wish

I have just gotten back a bit ago from a run to the store. It wasn't my typical menu planned, list written trip to the store. It was all non-perishables to make sure we have enough during the storm. We are expecting a pretty bad hit from Fay.

It has been the storm that thinks it can, thinks it can, thinks it can. When I got to work today, that seemed to be the major topic of conversation.

One of my co-workers, JaNene, really wanted us to close. I thought for sure that we wouldn't. Maybe she'd get her wish on Thursday but certainly not tomorrow.

Well, I was wrong. They closed city office Wednesday and Thursday. Friday is a wait and see day. Every couple of minutes she mentioned closing and her wish. But she always seemed to amend it with a "but not for anyone to get hurt.". She is a very sweet person but a pistol. She is very funny and giving too. All the children that come through the doors of the library are her kids.

Everytime I turn around she is telling another person about Dad and his writing. She has three of his books and they are really treasured possessions. I wouldn't be surprised if she went into work just to get them so they would be safe from the storm.

I feel mostly prepared but a little fearful too. LOL Much like my wedding : D

I picked up something for P's birthday while at the store. Fear and preparing aside, life goes on. It is plastic and buggy and I hope she will like it. I have also been collecting things for B's birthday. September 13th. He'll be 35 the same as D's age. He wants turkey and stuffing and my homemade cookies : ) We had talked about doing more than that. But he wants to keep it low key. I really like giving him stuff. Just recently I worked on addding to his graphic novel collection. He has been reading a series called Exiles. But because he doesn't have any ones in a particular order, it makes it difficult to remember which ones he has. I have bought one the other day for a birthday present but he already had that one. So back into the Chamblin's pile it goes.

Speaking of Chamblin, B and I visited their new location downtown. It was super cooliness. We went on a Sunday and it was so quiet. Normally I have to fight through several people in varying sections. But here, I saw maybe four or five people in the whole place. It was awesome. We should have those last couple of bookshelf shelves filled in in no time.

Good day and stay dry.

Gomez

I know it is like 2 and 1/2 half away but I already know who I am going to be for Halloween. And what I'll be doing for Halloween.

I'm going to be Mortica Addams and we'll be having a Halloween House warming party. The Mortica ties in quite nicely with my current nickname for B. He kisses my hand and keeps going up. So of course I called him Gomez. I love the Addams cartoons.

If you can't tell, the view is of a grave yard. They are just so darkly funny.

I've always liked Halloween. My favorite costume (well, wittiest) was the year I dressed up with a Santa hat, red shirt, white skirt and white fur collar. I had everyone guess first and they would all guess Mrs. Claus. I wasn't. I was Christmas.... Eve : D LOL

B and I were talking about showing scary movies that night. I think it would be a good idea to show all the ones related to house. Tie it back into the housewarming part and I've got a castle cake form so I can make a scary house cake. It should be fun. You might have an inkling that I am a wee bit excited about it. : )

Good day and boo!

Again with the 7:00

It's like weirdly morphing into a person who actually gets up in the morning. I am trying to get used to it. I'd actually like to make it a habit again with the exercising.

So right now there is a cat on either side of the door I almost closed to keep the noise down. One wanting to get in and the other out. But they both keep batting at the door and usually at the same time. Crazy kitties.

Last night was interesting. I met up with the dean and alums from FSU College of IS. It was very cool to meet everyone. But it was more like networking meeting. But it was pretty much what I expected. We ate at a restaurant at the new mall. It was my first experience there and I wasn't thrilled. It was like a main street section and a mall. Okay so it was my first time seeing valet parking at a mall. What uber craziness is this?

Good day and me-ow!