Sleet, snow, freezing rain

Wintry weather has me staying home.

I had a mental to do list planned for today, however I hadn't anticipated the inclement weather so here I am typing on my blog. I'm sure they said it was supposed to be sunny today but much like bailouts, weathermen don't have to be responsible for their actions either.

I've been car shopping for about a week now and the process had me reduced to tears today. I knew it wouldn't be easy, I just hadn't realized how difficult it could be. The message scrolling across our screen saver these days is "we conquer by continuing" so I guess that's what I'll have to do.

Jak is curled up in a ball, sleeping on the couch and I think he has the right idea for this dreary day. I should really take this time to fire up the vacuum and do some housework, but Jak doesn't like the vacuum and as the saying goes, let a sleeping dog lie...

To Everyone:

Happy Thanksgiving! Drive safely. Eat well.

It's big block of cheese day...

You may be asking yourself, what is this girl talking about now?!? Well it's another reference to West Wing and if you haven't figured out yet, when there's nothing good to watch on TV, I pop an episode of West Wing in the DVD player. Clarification on the Big Block of Cheese follows:

When Andrew Jackson was President, he would place a Big Block of Cheese in the White House for common citizens to come and partake and discuss their issues with the President. On the West Wing this day of the year was commemorated as "Throw Open Our Office Doors To People Who Want To Discuss Things That We Could Care Less About" Day.

I was thinking since there hasn't been a lot of activity on individuals' blogs lately, today I would throw open the comments section of my blog for anyone that's got an issue they'd like to get off their chest. It doesn't matter how big or how small, my big blog of cheese is here to listen!

Work

New position today. No position tomorrow?

After writing yesterday about learning a new part of my job, we got word that as of July 1, 2009 our program will be absorbed by a larger company. So the ironic part is this, the new smaller part of my job is probably safe but my job as a whole has the potential to be eliminated.

I hope that Obama is really the change all those that voted for him think he is because I'm sitting here feeling the effects of having a democrat in charge of Massachusetts and it doesn't feel so good.

Life

Been too busy to update blog.

And after a quick glance at the family blogs, I don't think I'm the only one. I started a new position at work this week which is in addition to my existing responsibilities so I'm combining new and old and my head is whirring a bit right now. With Thanksgiving already upon us and the Christmas season hot on its heels, I don't see things slowing down for a while. I will try to catch my breath every so often and come up with at least six words to post.

I haven't had time to step foot in the wreath workroom at Pat's Greenhouse, but I did speak with elves this morning and they were hard at work. One of the elves, Kay, asked me to take some pictures of them so when I do that I'll make the effort to post one or two of them here.

I hope everyone is doing well and having fun with whatever is keeping you busy!

Christmas Cards for Soldiers

Please send email with correct information.

I just received an email for the second year in a row about sending Christmas cards to injured American soldiers. And while I think this is a terrific idea, unfortunately the information in the mass email is WRONG! If you send a card directly to Walter Reed Army Medical Center it will be returned unopened. The American Red Cross actually handles the card campaign because the cards have to go through a brief screening process. The correct information is as follows...

Please send cards to this address, following the guidelines listed below:

Holiday Mail for Heroes
PO Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

Card Guidelines

Please follow these guidelines when mailing a card to ensure that your card will quickly reach service members, veterans and their families. Every card received will first be screened for hazardous materials by Pitney Bowes and then reviewed by Red Cross volunteers working in one of 16 sorting stations around the country.

• All cards must be postmarked no later than Wednesday, December 10, 2008. Cards sent after this date will be returned to sender.
• Please ensure that all cards are signed.
• Please send cards as opposed to long letters which delay a quick review process.
• Please do not include email or home addresses on the cards, as the program is not meant to foster pen pal relationships.
• Please do not include inserts of any kind, including photos, as these items will be removed during the reviewing process.
• Participants should limit the number of cards they submit to 25 from any one person or 50 from any one class or group.
• All cards received may be used in program publicity efforts, including appearing in broadcast, print or online mediums.
• For more information go to www.redcross.org/holidaymail

So if you receive the email that's going around that says to send cards directly to Walter Reed Army Medical Center PLEASE take a few moments to send the correct information.

Thank you!

Chicago V. Columbus

What I won't be watching tonight.

The MLS Eastern Conference Championship will be decided tonight between the above two teams. I don't like either so I don't plan to watch. Actually of the four teams left (NY, Salt Lake, Chicago and Columbus) Real Salt Lake is the only one I would cheer for, even if I didn't have the Sandy connection. NY and Chicago have a nasty playing style. Columbus fans shouted racial slurs at the Revvies earlier this season. And even if I didn't dislike the other three teams and didn't have the Sandy thing going, I would still cheer for Real because, well, they have probably the best looking coach in MLS. And with my Revvies out, any reason will do.

Jason Kreis, RSL Head Coach and former RSL player

A big THANK YOU

To those who've served our country.

One day of recognition hardly seems adequate, especially when stores use it as reason to have a sale and kids get to stay home from school but don't really know why. I'm only one person but I try very hard not to take for granted the freedoms that we enjoy everyday at the sacrifice of our military veterans. So to anyone who has served our country that is reading this blog, I say a heartfelt thank you for all you have given, this country owes you a debt of gratitude.

Remembering

Grammie passed one year ago today.

In a lot of ways it seems longer but in other ways it seems like yesterday. A girl I work with has been coping with her ill grandfather so the timing of that has made the significance of today more real. The legacy my grandparents left lives on in our family and in the land they were good stewards of and I hope it will be carried on for years to come.



















Marguerite and Margaret

UPDATE - Hello Sandy!

Re-al wins; onto the conference championship.

In a match that ended close to 1:00 this morning, Real Salt Lake took the win on aggregate over Chivas USA earning their spot in the Western Conference Championship. They will play the winner of the Houston V. New York game today. If Houston wins the conference championship will be played there, if NY wins, the championship will be played at the all new Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy. I don't follow Houston or NY so I don't have an opinion about that game; although from what I understand Houston is the favorite. The winners of the Eastern and Western Conference Championships go on to play for the MLS Cup on November 23rd.

UPDATE - New York won today so the Western Conference Championship will be played in Sandy.

Noel

"You're not talking to the paperboy..."

Huh? What the heck does that mean?
Well, I'm watching an episode of West Wing from season 2 entitled 'Noel'. It's the episode that addressed Josh suffering from PTSD after he was shot in the first season finale. The episode begins with Josh meeting with a representative of ATVA (America Trauma Victim Association). The representative is not forth coming with some information and of course Josh has done his research so he confronts him and tells the representative he's not dealing with the paperboy. The representative knows Josh isn't laying it all out either so he confronts him with the above quote with the addition of a seventh word, "either."

The quote made me think of my auxiliary meeting Thursday night. Several members of the fire department showed up unannounced and uninvited to our meeting to discuss a major topic. I was not pleased with how they handled this and I let that be known. I can't go into specifics but basically what they were suggesting would involve a total restructuring of our organization, you know nothing major to just drop in and discuss. There were times in the conversation that I felt the tone was condescending which obviously I didn't appreciate it. And now what I wish I'd looked them straight in the eye and said is, you're not talking to the paperboy.

Game Over

Revvies lost; will cheer on Real.

A beaten down and beaten up Revolution lost to the Chicago Fire last night. I made it home at half time and got to watch the 2nd half as it happened. Of course I wanted to cheer them on all the way to the MLS Cup, but the reality is even if they had won last night they would have most likely been without two more starters going into the next round. Midfielder Jeff Larentowicz was taken to the hospital in the first half with a possible broken ankle and midfielder/acting team captain Shalrie Joseph was playing with a sprained knee.

After competing in three tournaments outside regular MLS play I feel like the Revvies needed to be done with the season to rest and recouperate. MLS teams just don't have the depth of players to be consistently competitve when there's an onslaught of injuries. They're still my favorite and I'll be right there cheering them on next season!

As for the rest of this season I'll throw my cheering weight behind Real Salt Lake (for non-soccer fans Real is pronounced ray-al, and not like reel). GO RSL!!!

Moving On

Elections are finally done. Onto playoffs...

Whether I'm happy about the outcomes of local, state and national elections, I can say I'm glad the campaigning is over. At least for now. Candidates will probably start making a run for 2012 in a few weeks.

Tonight the Revvies will play the away leg of their two game playoff series against the Chicago Fire. While the match is on TV, I will be sitting in an auxiliary meeting trying to decide if this is the day I make my formal resignation. (Just kidding, well, maybe.) The match will be recorded for my viewing when I get home and somehow it seems less nerve wracking to watch it after it happens, even though I don't want to know the outcome till I watch it.

The Revvies held their ground last week at home and gave themselves a chance tonight. Since the 'audacity to hope' seems to have already worked for some, perhaps it will work for the Revvies too.

Coverage begins at 8:30PM, ET on ESPN2 with kickoff set for 8:50PM. Hey, maybe if I hurry the meeting along I could be home to watch most of the game live. Oh well, a girl can dream.

And don't forget...






PLEASE!!!

One word for the day...

*VOTE!

*One word for the day is subject to change pending the outcome of local, state and national elections.

Taken Saturday before the leaves fell...

November 2nd

The leaves are falling like snow.

I was sipping my coffee this morning while looking out the front window and noticed that the remaining leaves were dropping off the trees in large quantities. It looked like falling snow and reminded me that real snow cannot be far behind.

I have resolved this year to actually get the shaped skis I bought two years ago fitted to my boots and get out on the slopes. If I don't start gaining momentum for ski season now, I have a feeling the skis will stay where they are for another year. I'm not a huge fan of winter and started skiing just to make the best of it, but I can be easily deterred from hitting the slopes. Too cold, too windy, too far, too...