Apology and Helping Hands...

It’s been a very stressful month.

First, my employer wanted us to relocate to DFW. All good…I would still handle this area, still keeping my fingers in the Permian Basin pie, still cover the Western US. Then, in the middle of that negotiation, WHILE we’re looking at houses in the Fort Worth area, my employer called and said, “How about moving to Pennsylvania, instead?” After a couple of discussions with ThatManILove, and much prayer and thought, we started investigating Pennsylvania. We'd love to be up there, it's booming, and beautiful - what a way to finish up our careers - how exciting it would be! And I'd get to be close to Vodka Mom and all the great northeast bloggers, which would be a bonus in itself!

In the end, we decided against the move – the houses are some 100% higher, and we’d have to go into debt. And that, we just can’t do. After all the times I've advised people to never turn down a move within a company, I just did it.

All that to tell you why I’ve not been blogging. Hopefully, I’ll get my drive back now and get back to it! Thanks for your patience and not leaving me during this time! And speaking of people, well, here’s yet another way to connect.

Bloggers are amazing people. Bloggers rally together when a friend is in need. Joanie is spending a lot of time out of town at the hospital with John, ThatManSheLoves! John is having chemo treatments, and as you know, hanging out in another town, to be near the hospital and support one you love, well, it’s never cheap.

So we're Paypal-ing to help out Joanie and John. And just this once, if you have $5, $10, $20 or a hundred to spare, you can go to Braja's place and throw some bucks in the Paypal account to help Joanie and John. and make Joanie's days a little easier. Every cent will reach Joanie and be so appreciated. If you’d care to help financially, go on...do it. Please. That's what friends are for...

Have I told you lately that you rock?? Well, you ROCK! And I've missed you all.

Whiny Whiny Whiny

I’m having a hard time blogging these days, for a myriad of reasons.  I even have considered closing the blog, since I’m not being as faithful as I was before.  But I know I'd miss y'all!!

My industry, oil and gas, is taking a hard, hard hit these days, as are lots of industries.  All of my friends and some of my coworkers have been laid off.  The lucky ones have taken reductions in pay.  It’s depressing, and as some of you know, my job is finding people jobs!  Argggggh!  It's hard to do when everyone has basically stopped drilling/completing wells.

I keep a smile on my face, and keep beating the streets (salesman talk!) to try to find opportunities for people.  When I get home, I’m wiped out, and don’t want to go anywhere or visit with anyone.

Workwise, I’m trying to deal with things I can affect.  Industry meetings; introductions; taking care of business to the best of my ability.  Homewise, same thing.  My husband, my family, my wonder dogs.  I really have lots to be thankful for, and I am thankful.

Another thing I’ve taken on is a diet, starting today.  Wish me well.  It’s hard to diet when 1/2 of your job is taking people out for meals!  But I’m determined.

I’ll be in a wedding this weekend in the DFW area.  From all accounts, it’s going to be a beautiful one.  The daughter of my friend, Suzan, is getting married.  And it’s going to be a big shindig.  And I have to speak at the wedding.  I know what I want to say, and I’m trying to put it together in a clear, concise way, keeping it short and sweet.  I plan on fine-tuning it tomorrow.  If I get it down, I’ll share it with you after the wedding.  I believe that what I want to say has been the very foundation for ThatManILove’s and my marriage...though I wasn’t able to identify it until some years ago.  It’s such a God deal.

Anyway, if you wonder why I’ve not been trekking around your blogs as much, now you know I’ve been working myself to exhaustion.

And you know, girls just gotta have fun!!

Awake...Again

I can’t sleep, so you win, Bloggersville. Damn leprechauns.

Well, you win, sort of, since I’m trying to catch up a little on writing. And maybe post twice in two days. There isn't a rule on content, is there? If so, I'm busted. It’s almost 3 a.m., and I’ve slept about 30 minutes tonight. I don’t know what’s going on, except that. work. keeps. cycling. through. my. brain. like. a. maniac. and. will. not. leave. me. alone.

So, each time I think of someone I haven’t called on, or need to visit, I put them on my crackberry calendar. Right then and there. Which insures that my alarm will be going off all day tomorrow, reminding me to do all the things I dreamt about (or thought about when I tried to dream) tonight.

I even took a natural sleeping pill at midnight, which, at the rate it’s going, should probably kick in about 6 a.m., when I should be up getting ready for work.

Zack the Wonderdog has his vasectomy (neuter) appointment later on this morning at 8 a.m. Life should be interesting later this afternoon, when we get him home. I was reading up on what to expect after surgery and found out that you can actually buy prosthetic testicles for your dog. ThatManILove has been teasing about getting them for Zack so that Zack won’t lose his stud dog look, but I think (and hope) he’s teasing.

Anyway, I’m going to go count green sheep now.

Again.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!