Good Riddance 2009

2009 sucked ass!  Yes, mom, I just said it and I'm not taking it back.  To say I had job troubles would be an understatement.  In October of 2008 I got my hours cut in half, in April of 2009 I realized that I would be paying more money out in childcare over the summer than I would bring in so I turned in my notice.  I've been out of work except for a few people in my office that have given me contract work.  I thank them from the bottom of my heart.  I have had a real estate license since 1998.  It expires tonight and I'm not renewing it.  The real estate market will get no better this year and I've never wanted to be a salesperson, I wanted to do my job better.  My husband got screwed from his previous employer as well, but thankfully he is newly employed by a fabulous company with great benefits and things are looking up.

I have been hurt by what has occurred over the past year.  My ego has been wounded.  My confidence has dropped to nothing.  But this is the end.  THE END.  2009 is over in a little under 7 hours and from midnight forward, I am going to do something that is incredibly hard for me and I'm going to let it go.  I'm only going to look forward and to the positive.  My kids, my husband and I deserve that.  So if I get all down-in-the-mouth - I want you to knock me around and point me in the right direction.

However, don't mess with my self-deprecating sense of humor.  That isn't going anywhere.

Dear Mike Rowe:

Back on the 9th of December I posted a little ditty about being able to buy a Mike Rowe cardboard cut-out from the Discovery Channel.  This was one of the responses.  Ever since then after a million and one laughs, I threatened my husband with doing just that every night before I went to bed.

I'll wait while you watch......

Well, last night I was this close..... when one of the kids came in and woke me up.

Sigh.....I'm going to try again tonight.

I need some justification

Saturday - tickets go on sale for two of my favorite bands.  TWO.  Yes!!!  Wait for it....


SILVERSUN PICKUPS IS OPENING UP FOR MUSE.  AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE IN MY TOWN!


Ok, so technically its the town next to me, but I'm willing to drive 1/2 an hour.  I'm also willing to spend money I don't have to see the BEST LIVE BAND EVER.   The only problem is justifying it.  I don't think I actually can, so if the ticket fairy is out there anywhere.....I need to see MUSE.  Seriously.

Did you know I like wine?

If you've read my blog at all you know I like wine.  Red wine.  I also like margaritas and vodka and NO, I am not a total lush, but I play one on TV.  HAHAHA!  Guess what?  I have an empty liquor cabinet/wine cellar.  OK, I don't have a wine cellar.  I WISH I had a wine cellar, but I do have a place where I put the bottles.  

Anyway, we never go anywhere for New Year's Eve.  I hate, Hate, HATE crowds and drunk people (unless they are me).  And it never fails that the time I draw designated driver its the worst possible party on the face of the planet with a bunch of drunk people who can't talk or has any form of intelligence what-so-ever.  Its also next to impossible to get a babysitter.

So I'm thinking of killing two birds with one stone, and possibly my sanity at the same time.  A kids sleepover.  Yes, on New Year's eve.    The genius in my plan:  Admission to the New Year's Eve Sleepover at my house - a bottle of your finest ______.  One - parents get to go out with no kids and I get to restock the liquor cabinet/wine closet.

I haven't run it by the husband yet, but I think its a winner.  Dang, I'm inventive.  

These didn't make the grade.

I've been concentrating on art. Yes, Art. I tend to get weird when I'm doing that. Loose focus on the every day matters. Its hard to be creative when its busy around you. Kids especially. Don't get me wrong. THEY COME FIRST, but when you are on a roll....

I've gotten some good feedback, no feedback - that's the hard part the no feedback. I like feedback. Good or Bad. Comments means people are looking.

Lately I've gotten more good photos than bad. That means I'm improving so any feedback anyone gives me good or bad will help me improve more. These are some of the pictures I liked, but didn't quite make the grade for the photo blog. Let me know what you think.

Enjoy!