Good News - Bad News... blatantly stolen from Lindsay

• Bad News: (yes - this is a Monday, we begin with Bad) My ipod was stolen from work.
• Bad News again: The president of our company's ipod was also stolen.
• Good News: He has clout - since his was stolen too, something will be done. I will either get the replacement value out of it, or I will get it back. The man will settle for nothing less, and he has lawyers to back him.
• Bad News: I've been without music in my office for 4 days now. Totally not cool.
• Good News: I've finally been changed to a salaried position.
• Bad News: This was supposed to happen months ago when I got my promotion... therefore I won't receive a raise to compensate the difference because HR screwed up to begin with.
• Good News: It doesn't take effect until today, so all the overtime I got this weekend - is still valid!

Being Positive!

Obama is President today - that's what prompted this post... Along with the fact that I have been trying my damnedest to do just that: Think Positive.

It's hokey. It's cliche. It's so not me. That's the thing though, it is these days. This goal is one that I've officially been following through with for 20 days. It has made a difference. Really it has.

I actually like my job - genuinely like it. It's been so long since I've been able to say that that I was caught off guard by it when I actually started to enjoy it. Things in the department have changed, and they are allowing me to use my degree and to go out and network. They actually value me and my input. I won a President's Award at our annual conference a couple weeks ago, which was a huge boost. It's a big deal award and not many people are honored with them, so I must be doing something right!

Also along with this thinking positive business I've been eating better and trying to be more healthy. These are part of the being positive. I only have one body and I need to treat it well and keep it how I want it. Turns out - I want it to be about 30 pounds skinnier, but this is unrealistic and possibly retarded, so I'll aim for 15 pounds so I can fit into jeans I haven't worn in 2 years. So far I'm down 4 since 12/30/2008. The Wii Fit was the greatest invention ever. Rediculously accurate scale that mocks you when you gain and praises you when you lose... great motivation. Being mocked by the TV is about as low as it gets. So that's going well

There will be more to come, and hopefully some pictures in the near future.

Much love!

The Holidays are over...

... and Hooray for that. They were good, but so rediculously busy it's not even funny. Five Christmases in 2 states, 3 cities and five days...

We had a good time though. Got to see all the parents, neices and newphew. Christmas with the Norvells was a riot - the booze was flowing and along with it the banter and insults. I got to know a couple of my second and third cousins better. I really wish I lived closer to all of my family. There are some really cool people involved.

I got to hold my baby neice and play with her some more, and there's even photographic evidence of it, but it's on my parents' camera. I'm holding some of the pictures they want that I took ransom for that picture. I doubt either of us will send the other the pics they want before February. That's how we roll. Speaking of the neice... I hope I'm as calm and collected as her parents are. My cousin was the least likely of us to have kids, and he had an accident/surprise/gift, what ever you want to call it, and he and his fiance are just fantastic with Jordyn. When I have kids I'll be calling them (yes I did just say when, not if - you may start breathing again).

We also pulled in a lot of goodies this year. I can't believe how generous our parents are. Here we are - full grown, completely independent adults, and they are still spoiling the shit out of us.

From my parents: Surround sound to make the music and movie experience in our house fantastic!

From Nick's Dad: Video games to make us blind, deaf, and fit!

Nick and I tinted each other's car windows, which totally makes for a freaking awesome Camry. I feel like I'm in a Lexus or some equally snooty car now!

Nick's mom spent days and probably months sorting through all of her pictures and put together packages and frames of pictures from our childhood, which was so incredibly special. I can't imagine how much time and pain that took and caused.

Christmas was good.

New Year's Eve was also good. We had a house full of people and a lot of liquor. There were fireworks. There was dancing. There was air hockey, Mario Kart, and Guitar Hero. Mostly there were friends and lots of love!

Finally: This year's resolution: To be more positive. If I can figure this one out, I think that some of the other things I'm interested in will fall into place, or at least wedge in easier.

Much love in the new year!