Lovely Afternoon

I just spent a lovely afternoon at a Garden Party. It was in a backyard garden, but not just any garden, it was the most excellent garden that I currently know of in Plano. My friend Jo has transformed her backyard into the most wonderful place. It's got a pond, a fountain, numerous trees, lovely blooming plants, roses, shrubs and everything. We had a nice gathering of 20 or so ladies that are all quite super to be around. I think I even enjoyed myself. It's been a bit hard to relax lately. Anxiety has struck and it doesn't seem to matter that I have little to be anxious about. It's just with me. Not exactly depression, although I have been sleeping alot. Last night I think I had 12 hours of sleep if you can believe it. That seems like way too much sleep for a normal person. Another thing to be anxious about.

Can You Imagine?

I'm still in shock about the damage to the Texas coastal area from our recent hurricane that struck Texas - Ike. My relatives and friends in the Houston area still have no power after several days without. It's hard to imagine. All the food in your frig/freezer and at the grocery store frig/freezers going bad. No TV, no radio, no COMPUTER, no communication unless you have a cell phone with service. We've been worried about our relatives. Found out that the grandbaby and her mom went to stay with family in Center TX, away from the mess. We haven't heard much from my step-son and step-daughter, but they are OK. Thanks to God everyone we know there is OK.

Seven Short Years!

Tomorrow will mark seven short years of marriage. C & I married 4 days after 9/11. It was an anticlimax to the national disaster. But for us, it was the start of seven years together. I won't say great because we've weathered some big crisis together, but we have weathered them TOGETHER. There's a song that comes to mind but I can't sing... even by keyboard. I'm always off KEY. Why am I so happy? Because love does really grow stronger, at least in our case, as our years together increase. I love him more now than I did on 9/15/2001.
Now, granted, he's no Cary Grant. He doesn't sweep me off my feet but has the capacity to make me LAUGH so hard that I cry. He's a great one to keep around for many more years. I once told him that he better be sure that he wanted to marry me because I didn't intend to get divorced again... I would rather just shoot him if he wanted a divorce. So far it has worked... He's still here and so am I.
Today we shared a pre-anniversary lunch at a big name chain Chinese restaurant. It wasn't a great meal except that we were there together. I think this is what it means to be in love and have a best friend that loves you back.
Happy Anniversary honey!

Number 5, Blogging

I'm guessing that blogging during lunch would be a no-no here. But heck I'm already breaking her rules so I might as well blog too. Nothing about "here" of course. I work in Dilbert land... a cube farm the size of a big ranch, it seems on some days. Acres and acres of cubes broken up by high wall offices for managers and project managers and some analysts. Not me, I've been cubical my entire work life "here". It's been almost 20 years. Hard to imagine! I've had a variety of work assignments all in IT (Information Technology). IT is the moderately new buzz word title for Information Systems, Computer Department or whatever you call us. "Here" is an office dedicated to IT in the "big here" of the corporation. It is ironic that I'm afraid to mention names of people or companies. But I would rather not be "dooced". If you don't know what "dooce" is go use Google and find out.

4 Things Not to Do at Work

According to my supervisor this is her list:
1. Don't talk about religion
2. Don't talk about politics
3. Don't talk about some one's children
4. Don't wear anything someone might object to or against policy

I think I usually break 1, 2 and 3 on occasion.
I love to listen to my former conservative boss Rick talk about his views on religion. He's really a minister in corporate jeans. ;-)
I do bait a real right winger on occasion at the office with my liberal views AND I do by-God put on my liberal bumper stickers even if I can't wear the t-shirt(s) to the office.
And I see nothing wrong with discussing children even though I don't have much experience to draw upon... that's the listeners issue not mine.
Our "Diversity" program at work has embraced religion... We have a Muslim initiative, a Christian Values initiative and probably some others. No Jewish one, no Unitarian Universalist one... I do feel left out, but the number of UUs is small. If I was Jewish, I would start one. It's nice to have a group like the Indian's, African American's, Vietnamese, Chinese and other ethnicity/heritage based diversity groups.
I belong to the Women's Initiative and the Hispanic Employees Initiative Forum (HEIF). I'm hispanic by virtue of having a father born in Mexico and growing up in San Antonio... IMHO. My grandmother was Mexican regardless of her ethnicity.
Why can't we have an initiative for liberals? We're an under served minority in my conservative fortune 500 corporation. Would they agree? I think I'll ask... after the election.

More on Palin, Check out Chuck's Blog

Click the title and go to Chuck's blog....

Is it FALL yet? Not in Texas

I should take a picture of the green / brown outdoors here and show it to the interweb. When you still have to put up the windshield reflector because the sun is shining (very warmly) then it's not FALL. Even though all the stores, even in Texas automatically change clothing seasons. I can get some great Texas winter clothes now from Lands End, because it is FALL in Wisconsin. We never need real WINTER clothes here, only if we travel or it comes a blue norther. My husband isn't "up" with this practice of buying winter (fall) clothes in September because he's a GUY. Guys don't understand that in January when it's cold here, they won't have any winter clothes left as Spring clothes will be coming into the stores. Fashion... I'm not a fashion person, but I've got to have some clothes to wear that aren't too old. Otherwise, the elastic ages and falls apart.... (a long story about my swimming suit). :-)

Funny Only to Women My Age and Older

I just got home awhile ago from seeing Menopause the Musical. It was LOL funny. It was hilarious. And I'm not yet in menopause... maybe peri-menopause (the time just before). But I asked my hubby if he wanted to hear about it... He said NO. It was a musical and just for women. He got it. I wonder what the guy in the audience thought. I recommend it if you haven't seen it. If you live here in the Dallas area, go see it at the Eisemann Center. It was fantastic!!!

Bill Maher: Read This Opinion

This is one hilarious rant. Let's say that I agree.... Obama is smart! We need a smart President for a CHANGE. Yes, We Can!

Totally Awesome Humor

Tonight I had the privilege of listening to three humorous speeches and three funny tall tales at an "area" Toastmasters speech contest. The speakers rocked.
My favorite tall tale was "How the Rio Grande Was Formed". It had something to do with a flatulant cockroach that grew to seven stories tall eating bean burritos with jalapenos, fajitas with jalapenos and enchiladas with you guessed it... jalapenos. That was one awesome FART. It carved the Rio Grande and the kid who owned the cockroach filled it with his tears. This one came in 2nd place in Tall Tales.
I don't think I can write down the 1st place Humorous speech by the same lady, Irene, because it's too reliant on accents, gestures and facial expressions. You will just have to go to the "division" contest and hear her. She was awesome!!!

Good News! Yes, I'm OK... it's OFFICIAL

The cardio doc... Dr. B... said I'm OK. My tests were good with no problems "at this time"... guarantee for 1 year or less. She said the same thing that I already know... need to seriously LOOSE WEIGHT and EXERCISE daily if possible. Hello bottled water, good bye to the Real Thing (Coca-Cola) and Dr. Pepper. Hello gym and water aerobics! Good bye sitting on my butt watching the TV or reading tons. Hello hard work... good bye weight! That's the good part. If I do it, the pounds should diminish... I must do it. But 1st for a bit of dark chocolate to celebrate!!!

Passionately Pink for the Cure

Click my link and donate to the Susan G. Komen foundation via my Passionately Pink for the Cure page. It's fun to wear pink and promote this cause. THANKS in advance.