Finally.........

I haven't been able to update this blog as often as before. I just completed week two of my new job and and it's going good, so far. I quite enjoy it. Working from home has it's up side and down side. One of the up sides is that I'm home alone for most of my day. No office, no other people, no phones ringing, no customers, just me. I like it because I find I can really focus on my work and the day goes by pretty fast. Once I came home from the training class in Gainesville, I started working on "auto-review". That means every file (search) I do automatically goes to a "reviewer" who checks it, edits it if necessary and then sends it to the customer. Said reviewer then sends me an email to let me know what changes were made, if any, or that none were made. I was on auto review for my first week and about half of the day Monday of this week. Monday, I had an aweful day. Computer issues!!! My brand new computer is awesome, however it has Windows Vista, which apparently doesn't play nice with Internet Explorer. I fixed the problem, though (Karen, please let Mike know I didn't need him, I did it all by myself!). Well, I did have my brother on the phone with me for a bit for some support, but I actually did it myself. So, in and amongst my trials and tribulations, I check my email and I get one that says, "Congratulations, you're off auto review". I couldn't believe it. So for the rest of the week this week I was on my own. If we have an issue or are unsure about anything we can still "request review", so I did do that for a few of my files, as I am still learning their processes and procedures. All in all I like it. Anyway, enough about work. Rogie and I went on our monthly "date night" last weekend. We decided not to go out on Valentine's Day due to the crowds and all and went last Saturday. We just went to Longhorn, but it was great! We waited for our table in the bar and had a drinkypoo, then we had a wonderful dinner, just the two of us. I had the filet and lobster and Rogie had the filet and salmon. I loved being able to spend time just us and talk and laugh. We both needed it. Ryan bowled good last weekend. He was very consistant, 126, 125, 132. He is doing great! I took the boys for a visit with their mom and sister on Saturday after bowling. Tina and Nicole had just moved into a two bedroom house Tina is renting in St. Pete. The visit went good and everyone got along. The boys played with the animals mostly, since there are some new additions to Tina's house now, kitties. Andrew and Roger started working on the mini-bikes that have been rotting in our garage for a year and a half. Andrew has been working on them mostly while Roger is working during the week. He and Roger got one running last weekend, but the tires needed air. Andrew took the tires off, took them to get air and put them back on this week. Tonight I was cooking and I heard....rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr outside the window. I went downstairs and Ryan told me Andrew was riding the mini-bike and quick to tell me that he was also wearing a helmut. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pics of him riding (didn't want to leave cooking food), but I will this weekend and post them next time. Happy Friday to all!

Experiments

The the few moments during the day that Ryan isn't completely obsesses with playing X-Box live, he has managed to find an interest in a book he is reading. The book is about science and at-home type experiements. Today we had to pour syrup, water and oil in a glass so we could see how they layer and don't mix with each other. He also set up an experiment with 2 parts sugar to 1 part hot water. That one is going to take a few days, but it has a string in it and it's should crystalize or something. I don't know and I'm not sure he really even knows, but we'll see in a few days. I love that he has such an interest in these things. I wish I could get him less interested in the gaming.

Just Call Me The Tooth Fairy!

O.k., so Ryan is too old for the tooth fairy, but not too old, of course, for the money. Actually, he has lost 5 teeth in the past few months, and I've just kept them. No tooth fairy, no money. So, since he lost the 5th one today, I thought I'd suprise him with some change for his bank. I told him, " I know you're too old for the tooth fairy, but I thought I'd put some money in your bank for all those teeth I have now." I only gave him $.50 per tooth, so $2.50 total in change right into his bank, but he was cool with that. :) Today, I survived my first day. It was pretty cool. I got the boys off to school and while still in my jammies, sat down and went to work. I think I did pretty good today. Running the searches and such is actually quite enjoyable, since it is what I do and I do miss it when I haven't done it for a while. I have to keep track of my time, which is going to take some getting used to, but I think I did pretty good with that, too. It was a long day, though, and I almost put off blogging for sleep. No more taking a nap if I need one. :( And, Karen, no more eating bonbons and watching Oprah. LOL I did get dressed on my lunch break, just in case anyone is wondering. Only because I had to run out to the store, though. I had Bay News 9 on behind me all day, so I got to keep up with the latest news including the President's big signing and the shooting at the Publix Distribution Center in Lakeland, at which Roger was supposed to be, but was delayed (thank God). All in all it was a good first day back to work. :)

Last Day Of Being Unemployed.....

Today was pretty uneventful. I just caught up on household chores and ran some errands. The boys hung out most of day playing video games or hanging outside. Tomorrow is my first day at my new job. So we will see how it goes. I'm a little anxious, but feeling o.k. I do get to work from home, so I can work in my jammies if I want to and don't have to put make-up on or drive in traffic, so that part is pretty cool. I'll get up with the boys early and get them off to school, by then I will have had at least my first cup of coffee and then I can just sit right here and start my day. I'm going to try to get some sleep here soon. Good night!

No Place Like Home......

Man, being away sucked! Well, not all of it. Being there with one of my closest friends, Denise was great. She and I got to hang out together, train together, laugh uncontrollably together, stress out together, eat together and most importantly.....drink together. We kept each other sane. Denise had a smoking room, but I did not. So, we spent our evenings hanging out in her room, comfortable smoking, watching t.v., having some wine and doing crossword puzzles. But, being away from the fam and home, that part sucked. I was sooooo happy to be home Friday. This job starts Tuesday, b/c we're off for President's day, so I'm happy about that. It gives me one more day to take care of some things around the house and some personal stuff I need to tend to. When I was home last weekend, Roger and I went grocery shopping at Walmart. We came home with a box that we used to put some of groceries in to make it easier and quicker to bring them up stairs. Ryan asked me for the box, so I gave it to him. Later I was putting some clothes away and heard Ryan call my name from his room. The picture above is what I found. I just about died laughing and, of course, ran to get the camera. That kid flippin' kills me!! Andrew is just about finished with his drawing I posted previously. Above are the most recent pics I took of it. The doors look like the creepy skeleton guys is ripping through them. The second pic is close up of just that part. It's pretty cool. He amazes me with his artistic talent. Yesterday, we went to bowling and Ryan bowled another 160+ game, I believe it was a 162. He received a badge for his last 160+ game and a pin for a 400 series. After bowling we took the boys for haircuts, then over to the mall so Andrew could buy a couple of t-shirts at Hot Topic. Yes, t-shirts, but we're making progress......neither are black, nor do they have skulls. :) The four of us ate a little dinner at the Food Court......Hibachi San.....yummy, then we headed over to Best Buy. Ryan spent his "good report card" money on Call of Duty World At War and Andrew got a CD. From there we headed over to Mom and Dad's to try to find the router I bought when I lived there, but it is nowhere to be found. So, I'm going to check my storage closet just to be sure, but I think I'm going to have to buy another one. :( Once we were home, I did mine and Roger's taxes and we will both be getting a refund!!!! Well, barring the government rejecting them, we should get refunds. Anyway, so those of you who we are in debt to, and that's pretty much everyone we're related to and a few others, you should be getting at least a payment towards what we owe you. Whooo Hoooo! On a side note, thank you all very very much and believe me, I feel blessed every day to have family and friends like you. So, on that note, that's all the news that's fit to print on this end. Until tomorrow.......