Gonna win this race!

Happy Thursday! There is snow on the ground, it's cold and well, it's cold.

 

Just wanted to backtrack and update anyone who might be reading on what's going on in my world. Exciting stuff!!! I still have not had any news on my musical endeavors and I might just let that go because it is a battle that isn't being won. But, I am moving forward with - moving. Yes, I will finally begin my homebuying process (again). This is not my first time buying a home but I lost my last home in a very ugly divorce. So...this is like a whole new beginning for me, literally.

 

I changed my last name back to my maiden name. That process is almost complete. You have no idea how many things you have to change until you start changing them. Good grief. But it is almost done.

 

I went to a homebuyer workshop last night (even though I have owned 3 homes in the past) and I did get some helpful information. I am excited about this. I absolutely hate renting and the price I have to pay to rent a place that is up to my standards is like paying a mortgage. So, why not reap the benefits, the tax write offs and the ownership rights, right?

 

I am finding that my timetable will be tight to find something and get out of my lease in a timely fashion. But, my Type A/OCD personality will get it done. I will attend one more workshop and then I will begin my physical search of homes in March. Oh, did I tell you? I already began my internet searches last year. I don't play. I have been cyber stalking a few homes to keep up with price drops and any listings that come on the market that match my criteria.

 

My plan is to have at least 3 bedrooms and at least 2.5 baths; 2 car garage; upgraded kitchen with stainless steel appliances, finished lower level, master bath with seperate shower, walk-in closet, hardwood floors and laundry room. These are my must haves. I would love a fireplace and a deck but I won't pass up a house if it does not have those items. A nice-sized pantry would be nice also.

 

I am playing around with the prices depending on how much I want to put down. I will keep you posted on what I find and my feedback once I start physically looking at the homes.

 

Wish me luck!

How Come?

Okay, so I told you guys (even though no one was listening) that I was moving to a new cube. One with a window. Well, I love my new view but there are always some concerns. Let's share, shall we?

 

How come:

 

*The person who sits directly across from me is NEVER here? Like never. I think that might be a good thing so let me shut up.

 

*The people up here are mostly nurses and doctors and they are all walking around hacking and sneezing? Can't they just subscribe something for themselves or each other or something?

 

*The person who sits in front of me is never around when his boss comes looking for him? I wonder what kind of schedule he has? He and I both sit away from our group. Not sure how that is going to work out for him.

 

*There is a mouse trap beside my desk? Is my cube the mouse cube? They just don't realize that it will not go down well if I ever come in and the mouse is on the trap.

 

*Every morning when I come in I remember to go to the third floor but forget which row my cube is in? I mean, I know which row it is but I keep walking past it.

 

*I know this list is going to grow by the day. This is my third day up here and....well, we will see.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Hola! This is going to be a very exciting new year for me. Why? Because I get another year to do things better than last year, my daughter will complete her first year of college and *drum roll* I will be purchasing a home (again).

 

I am so excited and also very anxious. I left my dream home due to a divorce and God made me sit still for a minute or two or three. But now, it is my time! Thank you Father. I have been searching the internet and cyber-stalking homes for sale and watching for the prices to drop. I have my eye on a particular house that I would love to call my own. At one point the house went off of the market and I thought someone bought it. I was bummed but certainly understood because the house is every-single-thing. However, I checked my saved searches and it had magically re-appeared. Those jokers re-listed the house and increased the price!

They are getting major side-eye from me on that BUT, that will not sway me. What goes up must come down. That just means it will be sitting longer and just in time for me to make an offer at a lower price.

 

Of course, I am not putting all of my apples in one cart. I have some other choices but I am watching that particular cart really hard. I really want that one. I really want that one. I really want that one. Can you tell I really want that house? Stay tuned and I will keep you updated.

Secret Santa came to town.

My secret Santa gave me one of the things I love most....gardening items. I am moving into a new home in the Spring and can't wait to use it all. She also gave me some cozy, cute socks. Good thing cuz I was wearing out the pair I have on now. Thanks Nerd Girl and Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Holly, Jolly Christmas

The Holiday season is upon us. Everytime I think I am done with gifts, I have someone I forgot. And the folks I said I wasn't buying for, I am feeling guilty and want to buy something small. Tis the season.

 

I sent my Secret Santa gift and I hope the recipient likes it.

 

Oh yeah, I had a birthday over the weekend. I am 40... something :). I had a wonderful weekend with friends and family.

 

The college girl is home so the empty nest is not empty for at least a month. BGE and the super market will thank me for her extended visit.

 

I can't wait for my grandkids to see there gifts! I am excited.

 

I am moving to my window seat at work. When I return to work next year, I will have a new seat with a new view, YEAH! Oh, did I mention that tomorrow will be my last day in the office until next year. How wonderful is that?

 

Holla at ya later!

Is it the weather or me?

Something ain't right. I don't know what it is or maybe it's nothing but I have not been feeling all that great lately. Physically, I am fine. Emotionally not so much. I feel like just blah. I am not sure if it is the weather because it has been rainy lately or if it there is really some underlying issue making its way to the top of my subconscious.

 

Anyway, I am all set to move to the cubicle with the window in a week. I guess I should be happy about that. I have not applied for any more positions. I need a break from the disappointments that come with that. I have not heard back about the singing opportunity and suspect that I won't.

 

On another note, my birthday is coming up and I will be 44 years old. That sounds so old and some days I feel so old.

 

I have finished most of my Christmas shopping except for my Secret Santa gift. I guess I could be finished with that but I really want to be creative and not send something boring. At least the search for that great exchange gift is something to look forward to.

 

Alright, enough of this negative mess. I hope I didn't bring anyone down. Anyone out there? Anyone?

Secret Santa

This is my first year participating in the 3rd Annual Christmas in Blogland with Psonya and others. I am excited. I have been reading Psonya's blog for a while and finally decided to "play".

 

Since not many read my blog- okay, nobody reads my blog which means they probably know nothing about me-I am going to help my secret santa out with some things about me. Or you can read my posts from a while ago, that nobody read (11 things about me and 11 more things about me).

 

I love reading books and I am a book club member so I purchase alot of ebooks from Barnes and Noble.

 

I sing with a band and we do cover songs so I am always downloading music from iTunes.

 

I am a shoe addict and most of the time they come from DSW. I also love colorful socks and the fluffy ones, too :).

 

I am a gardener and I love both indoor and outdoor plants so I frequent Home Depot and Lowe's nursery looking for something pretty and low maintenance.

 

I have gotten into Sally Hansen gel nail polishes (the one with the strips). It is economical, they last for about 7 days and I don't mess up my polish before it dries because it goes on dry - awesome!

 

Hmmm, I am trying to offer a bunch of things to choose from or at least some ideas so that my Secret Santa can be as creative as she wants to be.

 

I love taking photos of my family at different events and I have recently began to store them all on sd cards for safe keeping.

 

Oh yeah, if my Secret Santa is feeling extra generous, I collect Lladro Legacy figurines and Swarovski butterflies. Okay, just kidding on that one. Well, I think that is all I can come up with. Happy Shopping!!!

Losing Faith...for a minute

So yesterday was NOT a good day for me. I heard back from a job I applied for. they decided not to interview me. It seems the list of people they had to choose from was quite competitive and I did not rise to the top of that list. This is the 3rd time I was qualified for a position in the last 6 months and referred for an interview that never happened. While I am grateful for a job at all I am so so so so sick of this group and this work. I keep praying for something more fulfilling and more in line with my skills. So far I got nothing, so I wait.

 

On another note, I had been asking for over a year for a cubicle with a window. We have lots of people retiring and people being moved around. You would think 22 years in service and I could at least get a window when one of those folks leave, right? Well, new people came in. I am talking people from off of the streets, not transferring from another group within and they are getting window seats. Really? Anyway, my director calls me Monday morning and it seems we have a new person that started on Monday and guess what? She has a cube with a window. Now, y'all know this was not going to go well. But, he must have known the kind of look he was going to get from me because he offered me her cube and she could take mine. Perfect idea, right? So, I go into full on coordination mode and start making the necessary calls to get my stuff moved. Well, apparently there is a person whose job is to arrange moves but I did not know that. She gets wind of this and asks me to cancel all of my arrangements because she is supposed to do it and it will take a couple of weeks. Mind you, they were all set to do this thing for me in 2 days. What the hell does she need 2 weeks for? So, that has been put off and who knows if she will actually do it in 2 weeks. Sigh.

 

So, my day was not great at all. I had a moment where I was all in my feelings about constantly having doors close in my face. No to this, wait for that. I had a talk with my God and I told Him I am grateful, I really am. But you know the desires of my heart. I am not asking for a handout. I am willing to work hard. I just want it to be something I enjoy doing. That isn't a bad thing to ask for is it?

 

In the meantime, I am still crossing my fingers and praying about this music opportunity.

 

He is going to do something special for me. I just have to keep the faith and pray for MORE patience while I grow wearier in the wait.

Happy Holidays

Ho, Ho, Ho. Looks like Christmas is around the corner and most of my shopping is done. How about you?

 

Follow up from my last post: I have done a few things. Searched for a few tracks, still searching. Did some home recording in preparation for studio recording. Sent some recordings out for a possible opportunity. We will see what happens.

 

Follow up on another post: I have been searching and searching for a new position at work. I have made the best qualified list for a few jobs I applied for but so far I am still where I was :(.

 

Follow up from another, 'nother post: I am going to try to post more, AGAIN.

 

I am praying and waiting on God for changes.

Dream or Reality?

Somewhere in the early morning hours, just before my alarm went off I found myself dreaming an odd dream. Hours later and it is still on my mind.

 

I am a vocalist in a band and singing is something I absolutely love. It started way back in High School and never stopped. I did Amatuer Night At The Appollo and countless local competitions. I've even considered auditioning for The Voice, but I haven't. But I digress. In this dream, I was watching myself interacting with people at a talent competition. I was watching a girl perform while being accompanied by a pianist (who was also judging the competition). The pianist was singing along with her. I couldn't hear the girl singing but I could hear the pianist singing. Yet, she was being told that she sound great??? There was another young lady standing with us. I told them that I could not hear the girl singing because the pianist was singing louder so the other young lady said she would sing with her and I would hear her better. So, they start singing again, without the pianist and now I can only hear the young lady singing but not the girl who I am supposed to hear. The crazy thing is that both the young lady and the pianist still smiled at the girl as if she was doing a great job.

 

So, now I am tripping. Am I the only one who does not hear her? Anyway, while they are discussing the process of the competition, a video clip comes on (I have no idea why) and I hear myself singing from a previous season of this competition. I didn't win. I was singing the Star Spangled Banner? Why on earth would I have picked that song for a talent competition?

 

Now, here is where the dream gets odd. The ME that was watching this whole scene began to cry. The ME that was watching began to think of all of the times she tried to find ways to put herself out there vocally and never made it. And then, the "real" ME woke up in tears. I was literally crying my heart out. I was crying for dreams that never came true. I was crying for all of the unprofessional folks I worked with who pretended they had an interest in my singing career who suddenly lost interest when I wouldn't go on a date. I was crying for so many false starts. I was crying because I have lost the will to try anymore. So, I sing with a band because I don't think I could ever stop singing. But, I can't put myself out there for disappointments anymore. I feel like my time has passed and I never got the chance to do what I really wanted to do.

 

I am thinking as I type this that the girl in the dream that I couldn't hear was ME.

I been around

I guess you're wondering where I've been? Not really? Okay, well I will tell you anyway. Nowhere. I have one reader and I just know she isn't biting her nails waiting for the next post. Anyways, here are some things that's going on in my world. Kayla leaves for college in August. Yep, empty nest for me. I will begin the home buyer's process AGAIN early next year. Don't ask, long, stupid story. But my rent right now is a mortgage. Please God deliver me from the evils of renter-ship. My job just sent a solicitation for a 4 month work at home pilot. I already work 2 days at home, wonder how 5 days would feel? Only thing is you have to give up your cubicle space and take all personal items home. BOO. I guess I will have to suffer that if they approve my request. I have also been applying for promotions and this pilot may not go over well if I get a new job. Since the government does not want to give any financial aid for my daughter's college tuition they should at least give me a raise so she won't get kicked out when we can no longer afford it. Wadaya think? You still here? Okay, so what else? How come BGE read my meter on June 22 and they say I don't owe them anything? Something ain't right. Something ain't right. Something is also not right with Blogger today so I need to stop before I scream. Plus....I'm finished anyway. :-)

One mo gin

If Comcast raises my bill one mo gin, I am going to be watching nothing but Redbox! Seriously. Last month I noticed my bill had increased by $15 and then this month by another $18. Who do they think they are playing with? I call and they tell me oh last month your promotion ended on your package and then they tell me this month my promotion ended for the DVR. Funny, I get a letter in the mail saying that they should have been charging me for the DVR and they wasn't but (since I am a sucker valued customer) they are not going to charge me for those months. Instead they are going to rob me for the coming months and oh yeah, here are 2 coupons for free on demand movies. FIOS, where are you?

Checking In

I know, I know. I am slacking, but I have a good excuse. See, my daughter is a senior in high school so we are busily running around for Prom, graduation, college prepping. Alladat stuff. Did I tell you that she was accepted at George Mason? Yep. So I will have an empty nest in the Fall. Some things I noticed about my baby girl lately. She has always been very conservative, no low rise jeans, nothing that reveals cleavage, nothing see through without a tank top underneath, etc., etc. Well, home girl has flipped the script and I am just being a quiet observer. She has not started wearing midriff tops, low rise jeans, form fitting dresses and skirts. What's this about? I am so not ready! This is also the busy time for my band. You know everybody gets married in the Spring and Summer months so we have been singing our hearts out while folks promise to love, honor and obey. I always say a prayer for each couple that their love lasts beyond the wedding day. I have seen alot of beautiful venues for wedding receptions. Engaged folks...y'all need to look into those vineyards. Gorgeous backdrop for photos. Taking my two grandkids to see the Universoul Circus. I ain't ready. They love to dance and I am going to have to try to keep them in their seats/space. We will have fun though and my pockets will be much emptier when it's all said and done. I NEED A VACATION! What's new with you?

MPAD - Breakfast

Bacon & Fried Egg White on Honey Wheat bread. YUMMY.

MPAD - Delicious

Um, um, um.

Spring Fever in March

I don't know what the weather is like out by you but it has been gorgeous here in the DC, MD, Va area. the sun has been shining and temps have been in the upper 70s as much as 80 for the last few days. It is March for crying out loud and my toes are out. No, I do not have on sandals or flip flops but I am bumping peep toes. Something about this weather puts me in a really great mood even when things aren't going quite the way I would like for them to. My allergies are off the chart (sneezing, itchy eyes, itchy nose, you name it) and it isn't even Spring yet. What's the weather like where you are? Do you have allergy issues? Do you prefer warm weather or cold weather? Holla at me....PLEASE???!!!??!!!

MPAD - Car

Clean - for now.

MPAD

LOUD!!!!!!

MPAD - Red

My home girl's Red shoes. This picture does not accurately display how hawt they are!

MPAD - Window

The window closest to my cubicle.