New Horizons...

Well, Dear Reader, it's finally official... in an unofficial way... Yours Truely got the promotion!  Actually it's been kinda anti-climatic around here.  Everyone assumed ages ago that Yours Truely was being earmarked for the position and it has yet to be "officially" announced at large...so there's not much of a congratulatory mood really.  Still, Yours Truely is all excited!

Now the fun really starts!  Yours Truely has a blank slate to play with.... a new plant and a blank system waiting to be created.... literally.  But wait... There's more!  Not one.... Four databases await Yours Truely's  input before the plant starts up.  Can you say "pressure", Dear Reader.  Needless to say that in addition to being excited, Yours Truely is a wee bit nervous.  Luckily I have a lot of support... including from my current team... which will be invaluable.

 

So, Dear Reader, begins the whirlwind as Yours Truely prepares for a new job in a new state with a new team.  Wish me luck!

  

Moving Miscellania

Well, Dear Reader, Yours Truely is spending her free time packing away.... when procrastination techniques run dry at least.  One mustn't rush into these things after all.... Weekend mornings are best savored slowly over a cup (or three) of coffee allowing one to dread contemplate the task ahead at one's leisure.  With gentle prodding from my friends as to the progress of my endevour and encouragement from My Darlin'... boxes are slowly stacking up with the assorted flotsam of my life.

Which leaves me to ponder upon one of life's true mysteries... Just how does one accumulate all this... stuff?!?  Does it multiply when we're not looking?  Does it sneak into the junk drawers/corners/rooms while we're asleep?  Sorting through the odds and ends has lead to several discoveries of things forgotten though... from a T-square... to a picture taken when The Boy was just days old... to a Tickle Me Elmo... How have these things escaped notice in this small apartment?  Truely amazing what emerges from the back of that closet when you dig far enough! 

The task has also lead Yours Truely to wonder... if my domicile is taking this long to sort through, how in the world will we ever cope if something happens to G-Ma?  She is the true Collector Queen in our fractured family.  Spread through her home are collections reflecting her many interests over the years... ranging from ceramics... to reams of information on the family tree... to woven baskets.  She borders on hoarding... filling any space to an overflowing, precariously balanced pile with ease.  At some point, the treasure trove of her life will become my overwhelming task.  Wonder what skeletons memories we'll find in there?

New Year, here I come!

Yours Truely has been waiting in breathless anticipation for this New Year to finally arrive... So much to look forward to!  Let's catch you up on what's in store for the upcoming year, Dear Reader, shall we....

Behind Door Number One....

A brand new job!  This isn't a certainty... yet... But I should find out within the next week or so whether I'm being offered a promotion and position at our new plant.  Yours Truely has been chomping at the bit and gnawing at her nails over this one for awhile now, Dear Reader...Sure it would mean more money, but it also comes with a lot of work to be done before the plant opens and means I'd have to move to another state.  For someone who loves her ruts, this is a wee bit intimidating in and of itself.... Combine that with having to leave The Boy behind and it's enough to give one pause.  Yours Truely has received nothing but encouragement though from all concerned.... including my management.  So here's hoping for good news on the job front to share soon!

Moving On...
Yep, Yours Truely is finally going to crawl out from her personal purgatory of apartment dwelling and become a home owner once again.  My mind's made up... whether the aforementioned job comes through or not, it's on to greener pastures and quieter domiciles!  Though an online comment about having a vibrating couch (due to my downstairs neighbor's cranked up stereo) did lead to a wonderful, unexpected relationship... The ambiance has primarily led to an increased feeling of dis-ease on my part... playing havoc with my bouts of agoraphobia.  (Even harder to convince yourself to walk out that door when someone suddenly starts screaming in the hallway, believe me!)  So regardless of whether its across town or two states away.... UHaul here I come!

What does a Lesbian bring to the second date?....
Couldn't resist... tried... couldn't... forgive me....But speaking of UHauls... as mentioned in a previous post, Yours Truely has become involved recently in a long-distance relationship.  During this New Year, we're hoping to change that however... she says with a huge ear-to-ear grin plastered on her face.  To say Yours Truely is smitten would be a dis-serve to smites the world over... Yours Truely is full-bore head-over-heels in love, Dear Reader... much to The Boy's personal amusement.  He approves completely.... as though he had a say in the matter... She's won him over.. whether it was her sense of humor or how much we obviously care for each other... of course the Christmas gifts didn't hurt either!   Young and naive we're not though... we both realize that the hard work of the relationship lies ahead, but we're looking forward to facing it together.... Oh, and she has a six year old... Yours Truely is looking forward to starting a new family in more ways then one!  This year will be an exciting time indeed!
(Hummmm... will have to think of a good pseudonym for her soon... Any suggestions?)

Stand By Your Man...
That's right... Yours Truely was honored when one of my best online friends requested that I serve as his Best Man... ummm... make that Best Person at his wedding this year.  He and his fiance met and courted each other in the same online forum where I met my own love.  We all excited as many of our online friends will be traveling to help celebrate their new life together.... and, dadgum it, Yours Truely is going to rock a tux!  (I'll post pics too... just for you, Dear Reader) 

So there you have it... the main events of the New Year in a nutshell.  Of course, its yet to be seen what other surprises the New Year has in store as it never comes without a gift or two in hand... being a considerate guest.  The gift isn't always what we asked for... and may appear to be more curse then present... But given the distance of time we usually find the New Year's gift was just what we needed, when we needed it. 

Here's wishing you a wonderful New Year, Dear Reader... filled with surprises and gifts galore!

Cha.. cha.. cha... Changes...

Life rarely stands still.. but this year has been full of change for Yours Truely.  For someone who is much more comfortable on solid land... wallowing in a well-worn rut... it's been a challenge to keep my equilibrium in the midst of the swirling seas.

3 years of spending all my free time working for The Boy's marching band as both a parent and member of the board.... starting and maintaining the website..... setting up a volunteer database.... running fundraisers.... playing band photographer.....  
           Done and over.  Website re-written... database tossed.... no more weekends devoted to band... no trace that I was there....

12 years of The Boy's schooling.... watching him take those first steps away from me into the wider world.... pulling my hair out over last minute projects.... helping him struggling with homework....  cringing at his sometimes embarrassing antics... proudly watching him grow....
           Done and over.  The Boy graduated.... not with honors... but with his dignity intact and a college acceptance in hand....

18 years of playing mother.... and father... the ultimate dicotomy... either kiss away hurts or tell him to suck it up.... showing him how to do his own laundry and how to throw the football in a tight spiral.... teaching him to hold the door open for others and to stand up for yourself.... advising him on work and on women...
           Done and over. The Boy's moved out... stretching out his wings... hesitantly poised on the verge of manhood....
33 years of smoking... sneaking dad's non-filtered Pall Malls cause mom counts hers.... slipping into the restroom of the middle school for a smoke break... loving the habit.... knowing it's killing me... coughing so much it scares me... never wanting to quit....
          Done and over.  Discovering electronic cigarettes.... finding that I've quit without trying.... breathing easily again...
So many changes.  I'll admit I became a bit depressed coping with it all.... my agoraphobia kicked in again as well... but life goes on.... and this too shall pass... is passing.  Friends have stepped in, dragging me out of my cacoon, fussing at me about being the lone Wolf for too long.  I am working on it... as best I can.  Getting used to the empty nest... getting out some.... discovering that I don't want to be alone.... and working on that too.

Change is as inevitable as the wind... blowing through our lives. Hopefully this year's winds of change sail me in a good direction.