Diploma

My (day job) company was purchased by our insurance company.

February 15 in the last day for our company.

After 43 years.

February 16 we start over again as a new company.

So this week we all had to do "transitional" procedures.

Which basically meant fill out a bunch of papers,

Have a new picture taken for badges,

Give FIVE vials of blood

And a urine sample.

Then provide documentation.

Drivers license.

Social Security card.

Proof of citizenship (or in my case, resident alien card)

And

proof of education.

We are a medical practice,

so it makes sense they would want to see nurses degrees,

doctors licenses,

etc.

Nope.

They want High School Diplomas.

SERIOUSLY???????

Surprisingly, 

Henry Wise Wood High School

in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

does not have a data bank that goes back to 1977.

(I know this, because I spoke with them today.)

So I mailed a request to

Education Alberta.

They promised it would be processed within a week of receipt.

Here's hoping!

The Grass IS Greener on the Other Side!

We put down some winter rye seed in our back pasture a month or so ago.

And then we fenced it off to keep the horses off it until it gets established.

They eye it longingly.

It's pretty and green!

This morning, this is what I found!

 Notice the wire running just above his knees.

I have NO idea how he got out there.

(It's not hot wire, well, it is, but it's not hooked up...)

Little stinker!

Meanwhile.

Bison was running up and down the fence line with the neighbor's horses on Saturday.

We think he pulled a muscle or twisted something.

He's limping.

He's walking, eating and drinking, just not putting lots of weight on his leg.

There's no heat in the leg though.

So we'll just let him rest and see how it goes.

He's really milking it for all it's worth though.

"Look how cute I am!  I think I need bacon!"

SO Spoiled!!!

Yes, I am spoiled.

And I freely admit it.

(and I'm getting more and more spoiled all the time...)

Last year my Mom and Dad gave me an awesome iPod for Christmas.

It has definitely made it on my "favorite things" list.

I love to use it to take pictures.

And I LOVE to have my music with me wherever I go.

Several years ago I bought a little mini speaker thingie.

It zips open so you can put your mp3 player inside.

My iPod fits in there.

And it hangs nicely on my saddle.

But it's getting a little old and the sound is getting crackly.

So this year I got myself (and Rod and Sabrina) a little "Cube".

It looks like a little cube, but plugs into your iPod (etc) and works as a 

pretty good quality speaker.

Great for hanging off your pocket or belt loop or saddle.

But then, for Christmas this year,

Mom and Dad for me (and Rod) a super fabulous docking station/speaker system

for my iPod.

WOW!  What amazing sound!

I put it in the kitchen and rock out the house.

It's portable, so sometimes I take it down to the barn if I'm hanging out watching the chickens.

But BOY did I miss it when I was in my hotel room this weekend!

I've always loved listening to my iPod.

But now I'm so spoiled!

My poor little iPod sounded so tinny!

LOL

Tonight I have it in my bedroom.

I'm listening to John Schmidt's "Hymns Without Words" and

totally rocking (loud) (it has a remote control jobbie)

to "Praise To The Man" and "Come Come Ye Saints".

My two favorites!

Meanwhile, it's probably 75.

I have the window open.

The ceiling fan going.

It's January.

I am SO spoiled.

And I love it!

I'm Hungry, That's Available

So.

I was reading one of the blogs I sort of casually follow.

Marks Daily Apple

It's a Paleo blog.

Now, I don't follow the Paleo method of eating.

I follow the "I'm hungry, that's available" method of eating.

I am certainly educated about what food hits the naughty and the nice lists.

This week.

I pay attention and eat well.

Mostly.

But I also definitely eat at McDonald's.

More than I should.

But remember, I live in a hotel every weekend.

Which means I'm one of those wierdos who eats out 6+ meals each week.

And 4 (or 5) of them are going to be fast food.

So, sometimes, "I'm hungry, that's available".  

Anyhow.

I was reading Marks Daily Apple the other day.

He was talking about food we don't eat often enough and should eat more of.

He mentioned oysters.

Which got my juices flowing.

I knew I was going to eat at Red Lobster tonight.

I'm a creature of habit.

And it's between the school and the hotel.

And it's on the right side of the road.

And it serves a good steamed broccoli.

So it hits lots of my preferences.

I usually have a bowl of soup, a house salad, and 

a pound of crab legs with a side of broccoli.

Hold the cheddar bay biscuits.

(I love them, but they make my face swell.)

But tonight I REALLY wanted raw oysters.

How is it that 6 raw oysters costs $8.99.

While nearly 2 dozen breaded cooked ranch shrimp, 

another 2 dozen grilled with mango/jalapeno, 

wild rice pilaf,

a large pile of broccoli,

and a house salad costs $11.99?????

All the "diet gurus" recommend instead of ordering an entree at a restaurant,

you order 2 appetizers.

Yeah right.

Most appetizers cost the same or just slightly less than an entree.

So you can have dinner for $12

Or 2 appetizers for $18.

I wanted raw oysters, jumbo shrimp cocktail, a small house salad and a bowl of soup.

I'm on an expense account.

But REALLY?

$9 for the oysters, another $9 for the shrimp, another $5 for the soup and $3 for a salad.

Crazy.

The oysters were EXCELLENT.

The shrimp was probably good.

But after I ordered it, I remembered I don't really like "hot" shrimp.

I love "peel 'n eats" or shrimp cocktail.

Cold shrimp is tasty!

Hot shrimp - not as much.

I ate enough to get full.

The brocolli was really good.

The wild rice pilaf was really good.

And, yes, I ate a biscuit.

It was excellent.

I'll be sorry tomorrow.

What Ever.

This post had nothing to do with anything.

But, there you go!

Resolutions

I don't often do the whole "new year resolutions" thing.

I prefer to do shorter goal setting.

More likely to succeed.

A number of years ago, I set a couple of goals

And then at the end of each month I would journal on my progress.

That seemed to work pretty well for me.

So this year I'm resurrecting my journal.

I haven't done one in quite some time.

I got lazy and started using my daytimer as my "journal".

Recording my daily activity, but no thoughts.

I'm shooting for a quick nightly entry.

Including ONE gratitude thought.

I have so much to be thankful for.

I find myself tossing quick "Thank You" prayers throughout the day.

But it can't hurt to write them down!

Especially as we head into some challenging times.

Today I am grateful for the opportunity to brighten another's day.

As I was leaving WalMart this evening,

there was a traffic snarl in the parking lot.

A truck trying to leave possibly bumped a customer's cart, or maybe 

the customer himself.

I didn't see it.

Just the aftermath.

The gentleman was VERY upset.

Yelling at the truck as it drove away.

Tossing his last few bags into the back of his vehicle.

Shoving the basket out of the way.

Harumphing into his seat.

As I passed, I glanced into his basket and noticed a bank bag.

I grabbed it and waited for him to open his door.

(It felt like it had quite a bit of cash/papers in it...)

He was SO thankful to have it back!

I was grateful to be able to change what had been a bad experience for him,

into one that put a smile on his face.

One down.

362 left to go.

Sondra

Today is my big sister's birthday.

I have two sisters older than me

And I have one sister younger than me.

(And a sister-in-law younger too...)

Our family is a little "girl heavy".

Sorry Gary!

Anyhow - today is my big sister's birthday.

(It's not polite to say my Biggest, since she's pretty darn svelte, nor is it 

ok to say my Oldest, since... well... whatever.)

Anyhow.

She sent me some GORGEOUS pictures today.

So I'm sharing them with you.

She lives at the polar opposite end of the world from me.

In a beautiful, winter wonderland.

She has taken up snow shoeing!

In the SNOW.

It really is beautiful.

I like it best just like this.

In a photo.

I can look at, while sitting under a ceiling fan.

Cuz it's hot in here. 

LOL

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONI!

Happy New Year!

2013 is here.

It came in quietly.

Rod was working.

Jim and Sabrina were at a party.

Kyle and I were sitting on the couch watching TV.

Kyle went outside at midnight and let off a couple of firecrackers.

Rod called to wish us Happy New Year.

Jim and Sabrina came home.

And we went to bed.

This morning I'm making some bacon in the oven.

*The BEST way to cook bacon.

Then I'll fry up some fresh eggs.

And bake some biscuits.

Then I think Kyle and I (and anybody else who is up) are going for a walk in the woods.

We might ride the horses,

but it's a beautiful day,

so there will probably be a bunch of bikes out there.

So maybe we'll just take a dog (or 2) for a walk.

Have a WONDERFUL day

And a Fabulous New year!

2013 - Bring it on!