Wow, crazy weekend

So, after writing my little PSA on Friday, I headed to work. Talk about INSANE. I am reminded each year why I won't go out on Black Friday and go shopping, sheesh!

Kind of a sad weekend for me, as one of our technicians got promoted to another position within the company, and yesterday was not only his last day with us, but also his going away party. I rarely make close friends quickly (as most people that know me can attest to), however this particular coworker and I became good friends very quickly. Was very difficult to see him leave the going away party yesterday, but at least he's only a phone call away, and I have an open invite to go hang out whenever I need or want to.

So, this makes us shorthanded at work... right before Christmas. I've figured up my hours for the next 4 weeks (I already have my work schedule, thank goodness), and I'm going to be averaging 45 hours a week or so. Will be nice for the paycheck, but will also be a bit of a drain on me physically. We also have the option to go in and work basically whenever we want outside of the normal schedule, and I am already planning on taking advantage of that, at least on the 9th. We'll see how I feel after doing that once to determine if I do it again.

Also coming up on the 9th is the Nine Inch Nails concert here, which I am going to. Went to a very good concert this month on the 17th, Jet Black Stare, Tantric, Drowning Pool, and Saliva. All of the bands were excellent, and I hadn't ever heard of Jet Black Stare prior to this show, and I was very impressed. If you like rock music, check them out. Saliva is basically the band I went to the concert to see, and they were fabulous.

Hoping I won't slack up on my updates over the next few weeks, but with as busy as I am going to be, we'll see what happens. The other good news for me is that I have ordered a Blackberry Storm, and it should be here prior to the 8th of December. I've already gotten to play with a few at work, but it will be nice to have one of my own. Also seriously considering taking the test from Research in Motion (RIM) to become a RIM certified Blackberry technician. Work probably won't pay for it, but it's something I want for my own knowledge and to assist me in doing my job every day. The test is 150.00, and I will have to see where the closest testing center is to where I live.

So, that's all I've got for now. Catch y'all on the flip!

If you're a "Black Friday" shopper, please read this...

Please remember to be kind to the people you encounter that work in the store you're shopping in.

Chances are, they had to get up earlier than you this morning to prep the store for your arrival, and they're the ones that have to stay afterwards to clean up after the onslaught of people.

Chances are, they're missing out on their own holiday shopping to be at the store so you can get yours done.

Chances are, if you're that one bad transaction for the employee, you're going to ruin their whole day, and be the type of person that they associate Black Friday with as an example for their reason for disliking it. DON'T BE THAT PERSON!!

Just a little PSA from me to you. Thanks and have a great shopping day.

Storm release, and other random thoughts.

Last Friday, Verizon Wireless released the new Blackberry Storm. Talk about one SEXY phone. I want one very badly. Hoping to have enough money after Christmas to purchase one for myself.

Still working quite a bit, and we're losing one of our technicians at the end of the month due to a promotion, so that means in December I'll be pulling 45-47 hour weeks. I'm not going to complain about the overtime, especially before the holidays. Spending the holidays with family, as per usual. Should be good times. I am very blessed to have such a large and wonderful family that enjoys spending the holidays together.

Already figured out my new years resolutions, and I'm already putting plans in motion to get them started. Going to keep working on my weight loss, I've already lost nearly 70 pounds since July (no, I wasn't trying, it just happened, but now I'm actually working at it), and I am going to quit smoking again, hopefully this time I won't relapse like I did in May. I am also going to get back on track financially, unfortunately these past 4 months have wreaked a bit of havoc on my finances, and I'm a little behind on a few things. Going to work on getting caught up, and get some savings built as I have another business trip coming up at some point after the first of the year where I will again spend 2 weeks in Denver, Colorado, and rather than some costs being paid up front, I will have to cover them and submit an expense report.

Still single, although there are some prospects on the horizon. I've definitely learned a considerable amount about myself in the past few months, and it's been healthy and good.

Other than that, I haven't been up to much. Spent the last weekend re-arranging my apartment, as I am turning my second (spare) bedroom into a dressing room. Going to spend next weekend stripping down an old hardwood desk that I used to have, re-staining it, and then I am going to use that as a vanity table. I figure if I am going to live alone, I might as well enjoy my apartment, so I'm setting it up so it is comfortable for me. It's been fun, and I've done a lot of it fairly inexpensively, just by being creative with how I am doing things.

Hope everyone has a fabulous holiday season, my best wishes to you and yours.

Over the hills and through the woods to grandmother's house...

...and beyond.

What a long and emotionally exhausting weekend. I drove over to my grandma's house on Thursday, and we continued from here (I am still currently at my grandma's house, going back home tomorrow) to Omak, Washington. Itty bitty little town in north central Washington, home of the Omak Stampede and Suicide Race.

Got to Omak, and we found out that there was going to be a potluck dinner at the Grange Hall in Okanogan (another little town, just outside Omak), so Grammie and I headed over there. We got there, and there was probably 35 people there, most of which are family. Let me sidetrack here and explain that my grandmother is the oldest of 13 children, so my family is HUGE. Got to see aunts and uncles and cousins that I haven't laid eyes on in over 10 years. Was difficult to see my uncle Kenny, as he is the twin brother of my uncle Pete whom passed away, and was the purpose of me being in Omak. I walked up and he gave me a hug, and I was half expecting to hear when asked how he was "Gooder n' snuff and not near as dusty", which is a classic uncle Pete-ism.

Got to visit with my uncle Lyn for quite a while, my favorite memory of him was when he let me drive his 1998 Ford Cobra, candy apple red with a tan ragtop when I was about 17 years old. We had a great visit, and then we headed out to my uncle Danny and aunt Cynthia's house. Got to see my cousin (whom I've always called Aunt) Bert, and I haven't seen her in a VERY long time.

The next day was the funeral, and I managed to hold it together until they started doing the military honors. The first report of the rifles for the 21 gun salute hit my ears, the tears began falling, and when Taps was beginning to be played, that was it, I completely lost it. I watched as they folded a flag with the utmost precise movements, and present it to my aunt Margie on behalf of the president, to thank uncle Pete for his service in the US Navy. Talk about a gut wrenching experience.

As I was walking out of the church, my uncle Lyn gave me a huge hug, and told me that the entire family knew how I felt about my uncle Pete, knew he was one of my favorites, and that he just wanted me to know that he loved me very much. After the funeral, we headed back to the Grange Hall for a huge dinner.

One of the things that struck a chord with me was watching my cousin Adam, in his dress greens, speak about uncle Pete (his dad). He pointed out that the best way to describe my uncle Pete was the term "love in motion", and more true words were never spoken about that man. Uncle Pete loved everyone, the way he figured it is if you were alive, you were worth loving, regardless of anything else. Adam mentioned "If you want to honor my dad, be a person like he was."

The dinner at the Grange Hall was full of hilarious stories about my uncle Pete, and the evening was spent laughing and joking around, just like uncle Pete would have wanted. The next morning a bunch of us got together for breakfast (pancakes and chili, a family tradition), and my aunt Bert gave me a gorgeous silver necklace. The pendant is a silver mobius, and on it is engraved the following:

"Count your blessings, instead of your crosses, count your gains instead of your losses; count your joys instead of your woes, count your friends instead of your foes; count your smiles instead of your tears, count your courage instead of your fears; count your health instead of your wealth, and love your neighbor as much as yourself."

Very true words, and albeit simple, they are so easily forgotten. This necklace is exactly what I needed yesterday, and I have been thinking about those words since she gave it to me.

I'm taking a lot away from this weekend, and while I am still very sad about my uncle Pete's passing, I am happy for the fact he was able to do it on his own terms, surrounded by family and friends that love him so very much.

RIP uncle Pete. Fifteen two, fifteen four, and a pair of socks... I love you.