Wonderful Winter Weather

These were the scenes from our home yesterday...

Need I say more?

For Prosperity

As the cold settles in, some of my other blogger friends/family have posted "warm" photos to remind them of the seasons to come... therefore I shall join them. Enjoy!

Just A Little Chatter

So as it goes I'm up to my eyeballs in work already. I printed over a thousand pages on the printer this evening and then it broke. I called the service man at 7pm and thus my day of work came to an end abruptly. Ugh - I get annoyed when the equipment can't handle the job!

I think today's winter weather is about as wintery as it has been all year. Snow is about a couple inches deep. Salt trucks are out. The car gets all yucky. I'm so blessed to have a garage and that Keith lets me park in it all the time. It's also a plus to have a parking garage at work; however today I had to park on the roof. Why? Because when it snows all the people that usually don't park in there... DO! It's annoying!

Well folks, the day is pressing on. I need some time for my devotions. It's almost bed time. Funny... the house is so entirely quiet when Keith is not home. Night.

Protect Your Family

I recieved this information in a forwarded e-mail. I may take this information for granted because I actually query the Megan's Law sight regularly as part of my job duties; however, this Family Watchdog site is also very interesting.

I would encourage everyone to look into this information regularly, and especially if you have children. Increased awareness is the first step in protecting yourself and others.

Ahhhhhh Sweet Relief

I think I blog about this every single month. Tonight was my Credentials Committee meeting. You know... the thing I look forward to every month. There was a lot of preparation done early for this, some that my co-workers pitched in on, and it came to a close with a few final touches today. By 3PM I announced that I was just 'waiting' for 5:15 and had no desire to start any new tasks. It always feels good to get to this point. I feel like I can relax even though my To Do list for tomorrow is already about a dozen items long.

Having recently attended an educational conference, I find that I have developed about 20 ideas for improvements in my position. One of the things that is swirling around in my head is the idea of taking my Credentials meetings to a new level... using electronics. It seems to me that we should be able to scan pertinent data from the files, which could easily be saved in a PDF type format for viewing at the member's leisure via secure electronic log in. Likewise, it should easily convert to PowerPoint slides for viewing at the actual meetings instead of making a dozen copies of everything. It's conservation! Save some trees!

I'm not sure how my guys will respond to such an idea, but I will approach them tenderly. You have to handle these high-tech doctors with very special care. They can be tempermental and stubborn at times. I want to mold them into this style of credentialing. It may be a long way off, but that's a direction I'm definitely leaning.

To start the project we have spent about a year examining all sorts of new software that would automate a lot of what I do. We have found a product that we like and are currently petitioning the appropriate administrators to support such an expense. Once this element is in place, it should pave the way for my electronic ideas as described above. I love change!!!! I thrive on it!!!

Palm Springs

Ahhh the desert in January...

Good Times With Family

Some of the highlights of our trip include:

• Good food prepared by Rob. We were even treated to a fancy dinner with fine china and wine one night. We really appreciated the meals.


• Mini-golf and arcade games at Boomers. We traded our $20 worth of winnings in for a cheesey keychain souvenier and a tiny princess notebook.


• Trip to downtown Palm Springs... See's Candy - a sinful delight... chocolates!!! Coffee at Starbucks and browsing through an art store.


• Visiting our nephew's grave - Robert Louis Hubler would have been three years old this year.


• Wine Tasting and buying and Chocolate beer at The Yard House


• Board games and movies

• Driving a BRAND NEW Dodge Charger - SAWEET!!! It only had 5 miles on it when we picked it up!

I'm Infatuated With The Sun

I don't know why, but I have taken a liking to snapping pictures of the sun. Most of the time I'm looking for the rays burning through the offset of a tree or reflecting off of water. It's odd, but I love these kinds of photos. I love how the rays beam out in the pictures. Here are some of my "Sun Photos" from Palm Springs.

Home Again Home Again Jiggity Jig

Our trip to the West Coast was delightful. Tammy and Rob have a fabulous place and are wonderful hosts. We really appreciate their hospitality. Some highlights of our trip are on the way...

Palm Springs is a desert surrounded my mountains. It was unseasonably cold there, freezing at night and up in the 60's during the day. Despite the chill, the sun shined brightly every day.

It was too chilly to swim, but I sat by the pool in the sun regardless, just so I can say that I sat by the pool. They also have a hot tub. NICE!

Tammy and their dog. Angel is very well behaved and rather spoiled. We enjoyed her too. We fed her doggy biscuits and fussed over her plenty. She would curl up on the couch beside us in the evening and play doggy games when antagonized by Keith.

Over The Hump Day

Morning. It's Wednesday. YIPPIE and YIKES! Yippie because the week is rounding the point where we hit the downhill slide. Yikes because I'm not far enough ahead yet and I need to be ahead by tomorrow!

It looks like the weather is following suit for winter. The snow is falling very peacefully outside. I just wonder how this will affect the confused vegetation.

Well... here goes another day... I best get it started. Have a good one!

Another Standard Morning

Oh wow... winter is coming. Where has it been? It has finally found a freezing temperature. I wonder how long that will last? It's actually snowing! Now there's something we have hardly seen all winter. There is but a dusting of it out there. I have been carrying around my studded tires in the trunk, awaiting the fluffy white stuff. I hate to have them put on before I actually need them. I mean really... they are not good for the bare roads, and why wear them down if I don't need to. So, if it keeps coming, then perhaps I'll venture to the tire store to have them put on. Until then... I'll just keep plugging along.

This morning is a lonely one. Keith is still in bed. I did not want to wake him this morning on account of his having to close the store this evening. He's going to be up until after midnight, so I may as well let him rest. He did bring home a new coffee that we have got to try. Perhaps he will post a tasting on his blog sometime this week?

I'm feeling much better now. I still have the sniffles and a cough. The congestion is breaking up - finally. I hope that I can get to see Annabelle before long. I wonder if it is safe yet?

Well, I best get on my way to work. I will have several long days this week as I'm trying to get ahead. As usual, I'm trying to balance more than what is comfortable, but it has to be done.... THIS WEEK.

Have a nice day!

Monday's Madness

Morning Friends and Family...

This mornings brew.... KENYA

I'm up and at it with my cup of coffee... going to enjoy a few minutes of coffee conversation with Keith before I head out to work. I have LOTS on my plate this week. We shall be heading to the West Coast very soon, so this week I MUST get ahead of my game at work.

As luck would have it, I have two temps wanting to be credentialed in a flash... meanwhile I have about 20 files that are also due. What a headache. I must keep my focus there. It is likely that I will be putting in some extra time this week.

Well... better get going!

New Beginnings

Ok, so I'm a little behind in posting my "New Years Resolutions" and such. I've been so under the weather that I just haven't been up to anything, much less internet stuff.

So today I'm feeling better than I have felt for a whole week. I'm still a little clogged and I have a cough, but I finally feel like the medicine is starting to work. (after almost 6 days of treatment)

So what will this new year bring? What are my aspirations? I like to keep it simple. Here are the top items, in no particular order:

1) Spiritual Dedication - More listening in my prayers instead of asking so much. More digging in the Word and applying it and not so much just reading over it. More involvement at church. We have been faithful attendees, but need to join in on some activities to get to know some more people a little better.

2) Health Related - Back on the "Kick The Pig" journal. Watch my cholesterol and such. Get moving! The goal is not so much to lose weight, but just eat healthier and move more.

3) Budget - Budget - Budget - We did a preliminary budget the other night and realize that we are wasting A LOT! Unless I made a serious miscalculation or mistake... we are wasting! I have prayed consistently for the means to give more generously as my heart desires... and now I see that maybe all along I could be doing that if I only stuck to the budget. So - we are off to a good start with a fresh budget. We are eager to reap the benefits.

So hats off to another year of blessings.

Trying To Catch Up

I have been under the weather for almost a week. On New Year's Eve I came down with this nasty cold and have been miserable ever since. On Tuesday I went to the doctor and got some medicine, but so far it's only making very minimal improvements. I feel as if I need a nose transplant and maybe a couple of lungs too. OUCH... my nose is chapped and even the lotion kleenexes hurt. This sickness is so annoying. One minute my head and chest are heavy with congestion and no way to relieve it. The next minute my sinuses are running like a faucet with no way to stop it. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! Frustration!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just hope that Keith doesn't get this, especially as we are approaching our trip to the West Coast!

The week was full of excitement with the Blairs... Congratulations are in order! We have a new niece - Annabelle Louise. See Mom's blog for more lovely pictures. We haven't been able to meet her yet due to the germs that we are unwilling to share. Hopefully I'll be better soon so I can hold her. Rumor has it that her big sister is the proudest of all! What a precious blessing!

In other news, Dad finally retired. After I don't know how many years of hard work, he's finally able to hang the old hat. Well, he keeps a collection of other hats for every day wear. Many thanks to my dad for all those years of supporting the family and making sure we had everything we needed. My most vivid memory of his work was when we were able to go on his trucking runs with him. I didn't always stay awake for the entire trip, but I had a good time riding in the big truck. Maybe that's why I've always wanted to be a dump truck driver? I hope that he is able to get healthier and enjoy life for years to come.

This week is the Pennsylvania State Farm Show. Oh how I wish I could go. There is so much to see there. I have been watching snipits of it on the PCN (cable) this morning. I saw the high school rodeo and even recognized some kids that are locals. I would be most interested in seeing the tractor square dance, which is scheduled for Friday. I hope they have it on cable. Neat! When I was in high school we went there for annual FFA field trips. There is a state FFA convention during the same week. Also the state Dairy Princess has a part in some of the celebrations at the Show. There is a giant butter sculpture that is always an eye catcher. Here is a picture of the 2006 sculpture.

So maybe I'll be able to go in years to come? Who knows? I don't know if Keith would enjoy it like I would, but one day I will go visit the State Farm Show again. For now, I'm enjoying it via cable. That shall suffice.

Just One More

Somebody please confirm that THIS one would have won if I had been able to find it!!! It got lost in the move last year... Click on it to enlarge it to get the full effect!

The Results Are In

There was only a minor variation between our Christmas Day contest and our Online contest. Thank you to all who participated.

Christmas Day Results

Ugliest - Filthy Pig




Prettiest - Topiary

Online Contest Results

Ugliest - Filthy Pig

Prettiest - TIE between the bird with the wandering eye and...

the shooting star.