Happy New Year's!!!

The holidays flew by

Can’t believe they are done

So packed full of excitement

And getting to see everyone

There was a potluck at work

Ugly sweaters galore

My peanut butter pie on the menu

And everyone screamed for more

That night was for the girls

When at Janel’s we did meet

Ornaments, tacos, and laughs

Ending with desserts so sweet

In full force came the Shepard’s

For the annual party so great

Potluck, piñata, and pictures

With Steve along as my date

Thirty or more family members

Ate ham, tamales, and sweets

Drawing numbers for the gift game

Hoping for a present beyond neat

Arriving home after the party

In front of my eyes did appear

But from Nebraska my son Jordan

So awesome it made my eyes tear

Wednesday found me celebrating

Christmas Eve with Steve’s clan

Prime rib, potatoes and pie

Gifted Chanel perfume from my man

Christmas morning was a trio

Just Sam, Jordan and me

Celebrating our blessings

Beneath my little silver tree

That day my eye began to water

Turned red, swollen, and itch

Allergy medicine could not fix it

The pain was a real bitch

But nothing would stop me

From cooking the holiday meal

Homemade clam chowder on the menu

No time for my eye to heal

Christmas night was an evening

Watching movies with my boys

Hanging out eating cookies

And making lots of noise

Now the holiday is over

And New Year’s is at our reach

Can’t wait for the 31st to get here

Since with Steve I’ll be at the beach

This Diva hopes your festivities

Made a memory for you so dear

Hoping you have a great 2015

And a fabulous New Year’s!!  

TGIF!!

Only 9 More Days!!!

Me and my hunter

Oh it's the countdown before Christmas!  This past weekend included wrapping presents, picking up items for the family gift game, getting the oil in my car changed, and spending time with son Sam as well as new beau Steve.  Also squeezed in a bath for Stubbs and cleaning of the fish tank.

This Friday will not only be an Ugly Sweater potluck at work but that evening will be a Blue Jacket shindig at Diva Janel's house, which means the creation of two peanut butter pies!  Sunday is the annual Shepard Family Christmas, which means gifts, food, clothing exchanges, and my family grilling my new guy. Jordan will arrive before Christmas and I've been invited to Steve's for Christmas Eve.  Seriously jam-packed but I'm looking forward to every minute!!

Metro Evolving Into Lumber

Co-worker Samantha yesterday shared a new term with me that I had not yet heard - "Lumbersexual."  Remember the "metrosexual" days, when the Queer Eye for the Straight Guy show was on?  Men going overboard with personal grooming, style, and fashion?  Well, apparently that has now been replaced by "lumbersexual", a 180 degree turn with men wearing flannel shirts, jeans, suspenders, and beards, whether or not they are outdoorsmen.  What's odd is this has been the manly uniform for the Pacific Northwest for years...my new guy Steve fits perfectly into this new phrase, as do the majority of men in Washington and Oregon.

Tuesday Wishin It Was Friday

Sunday was spent with my guy Steve watching Horrible Bosses II (not as funny as the first one), followed by dinner and meeting his mother.  Yep, took one of those big steps.  Actually met his nephew at his work then stopped by to meet his parents. Only his mom was home and she was a sweetheart.  She gave me a hug; when I mentioned she smelled so good she said "Chanel" and I knew she was a diva at heart!  Have cleaned my plate with other suitors and made the official boyfriend/girlfriend move with Steve, which is exciting.  He'll be coming with me to the family Christmas party - I'm not sure whether to be happy for him or pray for him!!

This past weekend my boss's father passed away so I'm be the gal in charge in our department this week.  Yesterday was pretty quiet, which was nice because I'm fighting some sort of allergy/cold issue.  Coughing, sore throat, nasal issue.....ugh.  Plus I'm on the period that won't stop....being on this menopausal roller coaster is getting so old!!

Here's to a week that passes quickly!!!

Christmas High's and Low's

Christmas cards have been mailed today and I'm about to embark on trimming and washing the pup so the weekend has been productive so far.  What I really need to do is put up additional Christmas decor, including my little fake tree.  On one hand, I love the holiday season; on the other hand, it makes me miss my loved ones who passed in December - my mom, my dad, my grandmother.  Last Wednesday before Thanksgiving I struggled through an abs gym ball class, feeling sad.  Once the class ended, I headed to my car then burst into tears, sobbing onto my steering wheel.  Guess it was simply needed.  Doesn't help that, although I'm knocking on menopause's door, my period still occurs, which tends to send me over the edge emotionally.  Ugh.

But enough of that!  This weekend I will be seeing my new guy; I also have to run to Vancouver to pick up fundraiser cookie dough from a friend, which will become the goodies I give away at the annual family Christmas party.  Looking forward to son Jordan visiting this holiday season...haven't seen him since May/June so I'm excited to give him a big hug.

Turkey and Total Fails

Thanksgiving was a great day. The turkey and fixings turned out awesome, Sam and I had a great time eating and watching movies, then after he left I watched the Seahawks beat the 49ers while I downloaded and sang along to a ton of songs. Was also able to chat with Jordan so that was icing on top of the cake!

Ran across the following bad makeup pictures I just had to share!   Hard to believe these gals showed their faces in public!  On a side note, today I went makeup-less and only dried my hair with no straightener.  That's usually reserved for Sundays but it was that kind of day!

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's almost Thanksgiving - can't believe a year has passed so quickly!  There are many things for which I'm thankful this year:

My health and fitness - Losing weight, getting into shape, and simply looking better in my clothes;
My sons - That they learned from their mom and were each able to fly the nest this year;
My job - Still a commute but the people, the atmosphere, and my ability to laugh every day makes up for the salary I wish I was earning;
My family - Don't talk to all of them as much as I would like but they are still the most important people in my life;
My dog - It's just me and Stubbs at home now and he definitely keeps things entertaining;
My friends - new ones and old ones continue to bring a smile to my face;
Optimism - the ability to keep smiling through all the ups and downs in my life.

Hoping everyone has a wonderful, blessed and memorable Thanksgiving!  Before we know it Christmas will be here!

Digging This Statement

Sweater and Spirit

One of my shirts repaired Friday night included a men's basset hound sweater, which had been picked up over a year ago for $4.  It ended up being too small, sleeves too long, and neck was strangling me.  Since losing weight, it now fits; the neckline was changed and the sleeves were cut shorter so yesterday I wore it to work.  The basset hound reminded me of my mom's dog Petey - short, squatty, stinky, blundering Petey.

After work I stopped at the mini mart to get some gas.  After paying at the register, I turned and an older grandmother-type lady was in line and gave me a smile.  I smiled back and made my way back to pump my gas.

As I was standing there in the cold filling up my car , I sensed someone coming close to me.  I looked up and it was the older woman.  She smiled and said "I just wanted to tell you how very pretty you are." Wow...that was unexpected!  She then reached over and gave me a big hug.  I hugged her back, smiled, and thanked her for her kind words.

My hand to God, it felt as if this woman was my mother - an angel - giving  me a compliment here on earth.  I can't explain it - divine intervention, a channeling of spirits - but in my heart when that woman spoke and hugged me, it was my mom's spirit that I felt.  It was a great blessing and resulted in a big cry on my part later in the evening.  Love you and miss you Mom - thanks for the visit!!!

Ode to Petey

Sewing and Saturday Night

It feels like a Sunday today and that's okay with me!

Friday evening I spent finally taking in a few clothing items that had become too big.  One was a white/black tuxedo jacket - I took in the sides and back, shoulders, and made the sleeves short. Turned out much better!  Also had a men's sweater with an adorable basset hound on the front; after turning it into a V-neck with shorter sleeves, I'll be ready to wear it to work.  Also repaired a beige skirt and significantly took in a cool sequined shirt that hadn't been worn for a long time as it was too baggy and loose.  There are a couple more items that I'm going to update tonight - a sweatshirt and a dress.  It's nice to be handy with a sewing machine - thanks Mom!

Saturday was date night; picked up in a shiny red Corvette for dinner at Red Lobster followed by seeing Interstellar at the movies.  It. Was. Long.  Too long - over 2.50 hours.  Plus it was difficult to follow....my mind was wandering and there were a few times I almost nodded off.  Came home and who was there but Sam.  Have barely seen him lately but the night I have a date he shows up!  It was like "oh great, my parents are home!!"

Today one of my other new gentleman callers, as Mom would say, phoned dropping hints to come over, which I gently ignored.  Now is the time for me to be asked out, courted, or dated and not having someone just pop in at the last minute hoping for dinner,TV, and some necking.

This morning after sleeping in, laundry was on the agenda, followed by making a whole wheat crust apple/pear tart, watching the Seahawks game, hitting the gym for an hour, stopping by Goodwill, then home where homemade mac and cheese was on my cooking list.  And now surfing on-line while waiting for 9pm to watch The Walking Dead.