Alright, now I have your attention! Today I'm going in for my annual mammogram. No, it's not fun and no I don't enjoy it but it's a must do! Your monthly self breast exam is also a must do! In January I will celebrate my 14th year being free of cervical cancer. My cancer was discovered during a routine annual exam at the OB/GYN. I have a friend who found colon cancer getting a colonoscopy just because he turned 50.
THIS IS IMPORTANT PEOPLE! Whoever you are, whatever you do, please do your screenings!
This reminder comes at a good time while the Movember fund raiser is coming to a close. That campaign not only raises money but also awareness to Men's cancers. I think that's great! Way to go Guys!
It's not just about the Boobies and the Balls, it's about health! I could live without my breasts. I hope not to but my life is worth more to me than any sum of parts.
If you are not up to date with your routine exams, I issue you a challenge: Get up to date by year end. That gives you a month. Hopefully you will be healthy but if not, hopefully you catch it early.
Be safe and take care of your body, it's the only one you will have this time around.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
First Day
This is the first work day of my unemployed journey. I'm sitting in our home office in my brand new office chair. That's a good start!
I'm going to take some time this month to investigate several different avenues for a future. It's an exciting time for me. I'm also going to do some things just for me. I know, selfish right? Sometimes you have to be.
It feels like I should get dressed and head to the office. That will take some getting used to. My plan is to get dressed every morning and begin working in my home office at a normal hour.
I got signed up for unemployment and this is my waiting week. I'm going to call and see if I can start to use the Work Source resources during the wait. I think I can but we'll see. I'm not even sure what they offer but again, it's an opportunity to think outside the box. That's all I want right now.
I had a wonderful quiet weekend and I feel ready for the day. A vendor that I have worked with the past 19 years is taking me to lunch today to celebrate our time together. It is a very fancy restaurant so I'm very excited!
I hope you enjoy your day!
I'm going to take some time this month to investigate several different avenues for a future. It's an exciting time for me. I'm also going to do some things just for me. I know, selfish right? Sometimes you have to be.
It feels like I should get dressed and head to the office. That will take some getting used to. My plan is to get dressed every morning and begin working in my home office at a normal hour.
I got signed up for unemployment and this is my waiting week. I'm going to call and see if I can start to use the Work Source resources during the wait. I think I can but we'll see. I'm not even sure what they offer but again, it's an opportunity to think outside the box. That's all I want right now.
I had a wonderful quiet weekend and I feel ready for the day. A vendor that I have worked with the past 19 years is taking me to lunch today to celebrate our time together. It is a very fancy restaurant so I'm very excited!
I hope you enjoy your day!
Friday, November 25, 2011
Black Friday 101
Some people black Friday and some people don't. It's an investment that not everyone is cut out for. I'm middle of the road in that I would never camp out or fight with anyone over the door buster savings item. I do however use the opportunity to trade some of my time for a lesser amount of money. In fact, it's the hunt that I enjoy. I shop for myself and I Christmas shop all on a mapped out project. It brings me joy, maybe I can pass on a veterans advice!
The first thing I do is venture down to the corner store on Thanksgiving and pick up the daily paper pregnant with fliers and ads. It's so fun just to look through and sorting is easy. Three piles: first round yes, price checking pile and rejects. You break it down from there. I know you could go online and perhaps I will but currently, I love this break from standing on my feet in the kitchen on the big day.
I was going to go at 4am just to slip in behind the others and have guaranteed full stock, but avoid the main items that garner all the attention. The alarm got turned off because I have been on overload lately which I feel zero guilt for. I hit the stores just after 9am. Timing is everything! The discounts have clocks ticking so first off to Bed Bath and Beyond for the 10am deadline on 20% off my whole order (this stop was for me). I then cut over to the store at the mall and scooped up all 4 items I was after and out in 30 minutes.
Now off to the fabric store, I only had until noon to get the $10.99 fabric for $2. This is KEY! Pull your number then shop listening carefully to the announcements. I pulled my ticket, shopped for 10 minutes and waited another 30 minutes before they called my number. They announced that if you were in line past noon you would need a signature on your coupon. Done, don't have to tell me twice. After the cutting table, I waited another 30 minutes in the check out line. There I met more fabulous people that thoroughly entertained me.
After that, I went to two more stores and waltzed in grabbed my items and walked out. Easy breezy. That was good too.
18.7 miles and 5 hours later, I saved a bunch of money. In the past I have double teamed with my daughter and that is a super fun experience. A lot of people go in pairs so one stays in line, that sure helps with time. I didn't mind and now I'm ready to dig out my Christmas ornaments and celebrate!
The first thing I do is venture down to the corner store on Thanksgiving and pick up the daily paper pregnant with fliers and ads. It's so fun just to look through and sorting is easy. Three piles: first round yes, price checking pile and rejects. You break it down from there. I know you could go online and perhaps I will but currently, I love this break from standing on my feet in the kitchen on the big day.
I was going to go at 4am just to slip in behind the others and have guaranteed full stock, but avoid the main items that garner all the attention. The alarm got turned off because I have been on overload lately which I feel zero guilt for. I hit the stores just after 9am. Timing is everything! The discounts have clocks ticking so first off to Bed Bath and Beyond for the 10am deadline on 20% off my whole order (this stop was for me). I then cut over to the store at the mall and scooped up all 4 items I was after and out in 30 minutes.
Now off to the fabric store, I only had until noon to get the $10.99 fabric for $2. This is KEY! Pull your number then shop listening carefully to the announcements. I pulled my ticket, shopped for 10 minutes and waited another 30 minutes before they called my number. They announced that if you were in line past noon you would need a signature on your coupon. Done, don't have to tell me twice. After the cutting table, I waited another 30 minutes in the check out line. There I met more fabulous people that thoroughly entertained me.
After that, I went to two more stores and waltzed in grabbed my items and walked out. Easy breezy. That was good too.
18.7 miles and 5 hours later, I saved a bunch of money. In the past I have double teamed with my daughter and that is a super fun experience. A lot of people go in pairs so one stays in line, that sure helps with time. I didn't mind and now I'm ready to dig out my Christmas ornaments and celebrate!
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Thanksgiving Thoughts
I'm so blessed and it's not hard to find a list of things that I'm thankful for. I know it's cliche' but I can't think of a better way to celebrate the day:
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!
- Mark who's the best friend I've ever had.
- Lafe who always makes me laugh and think.
- Kesa who teaches me and acts as my mirror.
- My birth family who remind me where I came from.
- My friends who accept me exactly as I am.
- My cats who cuddle me a little closer when I'm sad or sick.
- My beautiful home on a nice slice of Bothell.
- My spiritual community that sees right through any BS I might be hiding in.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!
LAST DAY!!
My last day was weird but wonderful. About 25 or 30 people showed up at the local bar to celebrate the night before. It was touching beyond belief! My husband and kids came, that meant the world to me. You know how it goes, everyone is bringing you shots of this or that and you toast and drink. Yikes, I was hung over yesterday! It was worth it though. I didn't cry until my friend Ali cried and then I couldn't turn the water works off.
I met with HR to sign final paperwork and then I was free to go whenever I was ready. My Boss, who is quite shaken by my departure had to escort me to the door. He was very supportive and encouraged me to do it any way I chose. I cleaned my desk and took my stuff to the car. I walked around and signed off with some workmates. When I left the loading dock my good friend Terry walked me back to the stairwell. She cried and once again, on came my water works. I went to the bathroom and tried endlessly to stop crying when I realized that it was not going to happen. I went to my desk as quietly as I could and shut down my computer. I stood up and said "Ok Guys, I'm outta here". Every single person on the whole floor stood in my honor. My closest friends walked out to the aisle way to hug me on my way out. One friend hinted in my ear that it was pre-planned. Wow, that was something else! I'm so blessed and honored. So I cried, who cares!
An ironic side note from the day, Lafe got a new job the day I ended mine. We both agree that the planetary shifts are powerful and wonderful.
This experience seems to have taken forever and dragged on and on. Now it's over. That chapter of my life is closed.
I met with HR to sign final paperwork and then I was free to go whenever I was ready. My Boss, who is quite shaken by my departure had to escort me to the door. He was very supportive and encouraged me to do it any way I chose. I cleaned my desk and took my stuff to the car. I walked around and signed off with some workmates. When I left the loading dock my good friend Terry walked me back to the stairwell. She cried and once again, on came my water works. I went to the bathroom and tried endlessly to stop crying when I realized that it was not going to happen. I went to my desk as quietly as I could and shut down my computer. I stood up and said "Ok Guys, I'm outta here". Every single person on the whole floor stood in my honor. My closest friends walked out to the aisle way to hug me on my way out. One friend hinted in my ear that it was pre-planned. Wow, that was something else! I'm so blessed and honored. So I cried, who cares!
An ironic side note from the day, Lafe got a new job the day I ended mine. We both agree that the planetary shifts are powerful and wonderful.
This experience seems to have taken forever and dragged on and on. Now it's over. That chapter of my life is closed.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
T-Minus 1 Day
I'm writing this one early in the morning because I'm going to the bar at 3pm with a bunch of workmates. I know I won't be in blogging shape after that.
I'm so thrilled to be able to share this creative project with you! As I mentioned, my daughter is one of my best teachers. We made two blankets to give to our good friends Sean and Brad. They are moving across country and they now have something warm and cozy to remind them of us. So awesome! Here's the pictures!
It was such a perfect gift, a great way to spend an afternoon and an awesome distraction from the thing that has been consuming my thoughts. Creative energy is the best!!
I'm so thrilled to be able to share this creative project with you! As I mentioned, my daughter is one of my best teachers. We made two blankets to give to our good friends Sean and Brad. They are moving across country and they now have something warm and cozy to remind them of us. So awesome! Here's the pictures!
Here's Kesa getting the corner tied just right. That pool table has served as a place to lay fabric out on more than one occasion!
Here we are tying our brains out. There's a particular way to tie it so that all the patterned sides of the bows come up to the plain side and vice versa. That takes some getting used to but then you just tie and tie and tie! And talk and laugh and be together. Oh yea and sip some wine.
The finished product!! They are quite beautiful!
The guys love them as you can see!
It was such a perfect gift, a great way to spend an afternoon and an awesome distraction from the thing that has been consuming my thoughts. Creative energy is the best!!
Monday, November 21, 2011
T-Minus 2 Days
2 days to unemployment!
This is bizarre in a ways I never imagined. I think it's going well. HA! Pretty cool news, an e-mail went out to a ton of people who all wore purple in my honor. Not so uncommonly I stroll in wearing purple corduroy pants, white top, green sweater and of course, purple scarf and jewelry!
The all company good bye party was great. I don't know how many people but a few dozen for sure. We didn't all fit in the conference room and I couldn't see who was outside. Lovely purple theme as well. I'm crazy, they all know it!
My final meeting with Boss and HR went well. The one realization I had is that I will be escorted to the door. Not surprising and totally appropriate but it hadn't entered my mind. Oh well. It's an interesting experience.
Off to celebrate dinner with our friends that are leaving. So sad but so excited for them! We'll never lose touch. Then I can post the pics of the gifts we made for them! ; )
FAITH, FAMILY AND FRIENDS are the three things that are MOST important and valuable in this lifetime! It's a bonus that they are all F-words! Cheers!
This is bizarre in a ways I never imagined. I think it's going well. HA! Pretty cool news, an e-mail went out to a ton of people who all wore purple in my honor. Not so uncommonly I stroll in wearing purple corduroy pants, white top, green sweater and of course, purple scarf and jewelry!
The all company good bye party was great. I don't know how many people but a few dozen for sure. We didn't all fit in the conference room and I couldn't see who was outside. Lovely purple theme as well. I'm crazy, they all know it!
My final meeting with Boss and HR went well. The one realization I had is that I will be escorted to the door. Not surprising and totally appropriate but it hadn't entered my mind. Oh well. It's an interesting experience.
Off to celebrate dinner with our friends that are leaving. So sad but so excited for them! We'll never lose touch. Then I can post the pics of the gifts we made for them! ; )
FAITH, FAMILY AND FRIENDS are the three things that are MOST important and valuable in this lifetime! It's a bonus that they are all F-words! Cheers!
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