A Blessing

It’s Christmas Eve. We’ll hopefully be headed towards home soon, and I’ve been reflecting. Remembering the ups and downs of the last year, the tears and thankfully, the laughter. The blessings that have been showered down upon my life - my husband, my sons and my crazy dogs. Woven between all those strands of the tapestry that is Mi Vida Loca are each of you, my bloggy friends.

I have laughed with you, travailed for you, and cried with you. I’ve celebrated with you, and for you. I’ve prayed with you, and sometimes, have screamed out your name to the Heavenlies because I didn't know what else to do and thought the good Lord might need a little reminder that you needed a miracle. (I know, He gets a kick out of me, He has to - he designed me!)

And you, my friends? You’ve been with me, every step of the way. Traveling with me on my many trips across this nation, making calls with me. Having adventures beyond compare. Never will I forget the support you showed me when I experienced the layoff, or the the way you celebrated when I took another job. Or how you support me when ThatManILove is working away from town. Or how you encouraged me to go away with ThatManILove and take much needed time for ourselves - time that changed us and melded us.

I have been greatly blessed by the gifts I’ve received. Never could have I imagined making friends like you - some of you, I’ve not even met in real life - but God, The Lord Almighty, is good. He gives great gifts...and you are a such gift to me.

Merry Christmas to you and yours. May you be blessed beyond compare in this next year. As for me? I bless you. I bless you with love, life, health, friends - and laughter.

May you hear the music specifically designed for your life...and dance. Baby, dance!!

Much love. Much much love,

Sayonara, Twitter!! I Won't Miss You When You're Gone

I did it.

I deleted my Twitter account. Twitter did nothing wrong, seriously. I just couldn’t hack it, and didn’t have any more energy to put into Twitter. Because, you know, Mi Vida Loca. My life is not my own.

So shoot me.

Eric likes Twitter. Suzy loves Twitter. VodkaMom freakin’ rocks at Twitter. Of course, that heifer rocks at everything. But I enjoy her blog posts so much more.

Me? I can’t figure it out, this Twitter thing. And I got tired of being followed by wanna-be porn stars. I had to block them all the time. (Get a freakin’ room and leave me alone already. I got me some man, I promise! And he's awesome!)

I admit it...though I work for one of the greatest technologically savvy companies of all time, I’m just not Twitter-savvy. I don’t think I want to invest the time to be Twitter-savvy. Though my friends consider me the queen of one-liners, I just can’t make it work on Twitter. I don’t really have the time.

I prefer the story. The written word. The funny anecdote that’s more than a sentence long. Something I can savor. Taste for a while on my tongue before I digest it. I don’t think a Twitter post will ever make me wanna go read it again and again...or cry. Or laugh until I cry. Or circle in my brain for hours. Or cause me to cry out your name to God because you're hurting, or to praise Him.

But bloggers, now, that's another story! The Irish at Irish Gumbo? He's a prolific writer - blows me away. He's been through it lately, and he keeps on going. I like that. Braja at Lost and Found in India? She constantly amazes me, and has shown tremendous strength through the last year as well. And that Jilly at JillJillBoBill? She is one seriously funny chick (when she blogs, ahem, Jill??) and she's become like a sister to me. There are many more of you I'd list, but...I have an early breakfast date!

As for my personal posts, well, that’s just how I debrief. Breathe. Heal. And ThatManILove likes “my voice”, as he calls it, in my posts and in my more serious writing. Good enough for me.

Throughout my day, as things occur, I wonder how I can translate them into the written word, and keep my life as entertaining for you as it is for me.

So call me old. Decrepit. Behind the times. I barely watch television or listen to the radio. I get my news on...(gasp!) blogs! Seriously. The news got so depressing, and their perspective so twisted, it was killing me. And if something truly newsworthy happens, I can count on bloggers to let me know. Music? On XM Radio or iTunes.

And the 365 posts challenge thing? A personal number, set merely to keep me writing regularly...and mostly reading your blogs. I’m almost a month into it, and I’m just now catching up enough to read your blogs on a regular basis again. Getting back into the drill of it. Because I’ve found this blogging thing is all about relationships. A give and take type of deal. And I like that.

I treasure your comments, relish your stories...but mostly, it’s all about friendship. Your friendship.

I love having you for friends. So shoot me.

Community of Bloggerly Love

It’s been a week since I posted. The week has blown by.

When I was laid off, though I had some warning of the possibility, I was in shock. And then I guess I went through maybe a period of anger. I’m a producer - a rainmaker; to think that I would ever make anyone’s RIF list was devastating to me.

I don’t yet have a job, but companies have started contacting me and negotiations are beginning. That’s exciting, and I’m so blessed. It seems that in this market, none of the jobs possibilities have come through recruiters...they have come through connections. None are posted on a job board, and it seems that a couple have even been custom fit for me. Is that crazy? Nah. That, my friends, would be God.

By my side remains ThatManILove. And from him, and other people who speak into our lives, came wisdom.

“We need to be quiet,” he said. After consulting with our friends, we decided on a period of two weeks. And then he said, “We need to get out of here for a bit.” And as you know, we did such. And it was the very best thing.

The talk concerning my layoff was rampant within my industry. The fact that I got laid off actually scared some of my peers - if it could happen to me, it could happen to them. I pray that is not the case. Anyway, I kept away from industry events, fundraisers, etc., in order to stay quiet.

While we were gone to Ruidoso, ThatManILove said, “Don’t be surprised if it takes 3-4 weeks for the right opportunity to rise up around us - let’s just wait and see.” He is so wise. Because that is exactly what is happening.

And you all - you have been so supporting. E-mailing and calling me, checking up on me, being faithful to comment, making me laugh and letting me cry. Also, you've reminded me that this is no big deal and that there are certainly worse things that this storm! I'm blessed with and without a "job", and that I am NOT a "job". Thank you so much - you continue to be my friends throughout.

I will not forget.

The Prey

In the past, we have seen a couple of mice in this house. I’ve not seen any lately, but I’m always looking, because I hate the wee furry creatures!

Last night, ThatManILove left the TV room and went into the bedroom to get his book. We always keep the dogs in the same room with us, so when TMIL left the TV room, he shut the dogs back into the room with me.

I was blogging and watching TV, and realized Zanna was way too still. I looked around the room, and found her...on point.

She was looking at something behind the TV.

I thought, “Great. TMIL is in the other room. Whatever it is, if it’s a mouse, when I move, it’s going to run, and Zanna will probably try to catch it, and we’ll have a wreck in this room!”

I quietly ease off the couch. She doesn’t even flinch, that Zanna-girl is on a hard point. I ease onto the rug, trying to be as quiet as I can. Creeping up to the TV, I take a peek behind the TV, right where Zanna’s nose is pointing.

Thank God it’s not a mouse. Or a snake. Not even a lizard.

It’s a housefly, and i try to kill it. (Yes, I missed.)

A teeny, tiny, common housefly. And I bet with all those eyes the nasty things have, that fly was scared to death. Because you know it’s gotta be seeing about a million spots on a hard-pointing quivering in her footprints out of pure excitement wonder pup ticked German Shorthair.

I had to say “No bird, Zanna! No bird!” three times to get her to break point.

I laughed so hard, I cried. Her trainers will be so proud.

Rain and God

I love the rain. We live in the desert, so rain isn't something I take for granted.

What do I like most about the rain? I see it as a gift from God. Though I know it's not just for me, I consider it a washing, blessing time from Him, and I always feel refreshed. It's a cleansing time, and He knows the timing of that, just when I need it most. One of my favorite songs..."Let it rain, rain, rain, rain." I sing it anytime I see the faintest whisper of what might be a rain cloud.

Thanks, Lord.