ALMOST TGIF... :)

A week of changes around here...as monday alan started a new job...in a way a big decision... but his job as an energy manager for the 3 cities was coming to an end...he was working on a 2 year grant and he knew that with money so tight that the odds were slim to none that they could afford to keep him on...although one of the cities did make him a wonderful job offer and it was so great of them...but he loves the HVAC trade....in it for almost 35 years...he really wanted a job that combined the HVAC and the energy management that he had received...and the state energy office was so proud he received certified energy manager status ...that they to wanted him to find this type of position...so april first resumes started going out...all of the job offers came from the east coast...as much as we loved the thought of moving home again...we could not even entertain the thought of leaving our soon to be 2 granddaughters...but you see right now there is a greater need to save on energy cost on the east coast as gas and oil prices are higher there...here we are blessed with natural gas...off topic i know but recently i was going threw an old box of canceled checks...over 15 years ago we were paying choptank electric more than i pay out here now for electric and gas...alan interviewed with a few companies around here...but all involved extensive travel...which is something he did not want to go back to...he became spoiled the last 2 years the farthest of the 3 cities he worked for was only 25 min. away...he was also told for every job he was applying for there were 300 other people applying for it as well....most of them under 26 years of age...after a lot of talking alan decided to accept the position one of the cities had offered and work there until he could retire...and then 2 weeks ago a company in wichita...called...a huge mechanical contracting co. that has a new division of energy management....and they really wanted alan...he had given up hearing from this co. ...it had been several moths since his app. was sent in...an employment agreement was reached...alan spoke to the city where he was employed...they were soo happy for him...which made him feel even better...he loved his 2 years as energy manager...but he was getting restless and it was time to go...and there is a lot better pay  and perks out in the private sector...but there was only one reason for alan...he missed his trade...so he is now...Alan Dykes, Certified Energy Manager and Manager of Service Operation...and last night when he got home...he said i really hate to say this but i so love my job...what a relief...i guess the only bad part is the 1 hour and 20 minute travel time both ways...upside...he is back in a company vehicle and company gas :)

 our middle son mark left his job at the county ...to begin a new career as a graphic design teacher...he has been at his job a couple of weeks ...and been a nervous wreck...driving his wife crazy...she is pregnant and due anytime...i have been afraid she was going to send him back home...hopefully that is behind...at least a little bit...as today is his first day of teaching...wishing him just an awesome day today...yes he is so lucky to get the job he always wanted...the students are the lucky ones...he will be awesome.....wow...what about me...

still working on my 2 edition of a wild game cookbook...working on a book...was it murder in a small kansas town...the second book was part of my therapy and right now...i have not needed that :) well off to plan some weekend menus...bbq with my family sounds good....and waiting on my new granddaughter to arrive...awesome times  ...have a great day everyone :)

This is SERIOUS....:) Wednesday

Was not sure if i was going to address this on here ...but this is MY blog...it is something i chose to do...it has helped me in many ways...and it is something my granddaughters can read...the good the bad and the ugly...lol...who knows what the future will bring...i never intend to make my life look perfect...nothing in life is perfect...but since starting this blog i have come full circle...events have happened ...that i never could have imagined...i have found me again..i have made my little piece of the world as perfect as i can...to make me and the people i love feel perfect...cause they are to me....

yesterday i really had no idea what to blog about...but after going to my facebook page...several of my friends were playing farmville...all discussing jobs i planned to do around my yard...so i took that idea and blogged about it...i could never play it... i have to stay busy...that does not make me perfect or my life perfect...it was just the truth...as i see it...life is too short...for me anyway...i have real stones to move...dirt and leaves to rake...you get my idea...well back to the point of this blog today...

a friend that i have had since 1st grade has been very angry with me since a posted a status on facebook about the Chick-fil-a ...we all stated our feelings that day...but she just could not let it go...no one was mad at anyone...but she took it too far for me...when she became very childish and called a very dear friend of mine a name...i will add to claim at every turn she is a christian ...her remarks did not show that at all that day...i still was not mad ...we all have our moments...i know i do...but that night she decided to add status after status about me....well she stated she was done with me and never wanted to see me again...but she chose to not delete me as a friend...whatever life goes on...

well yesterday...surprise ...surprise...she read my blog...and she is a farmville player...and she thought this blog was about her...no it wasn't...so she started with the statuses about me again...i chose to not comment on them...if she found pleasure in them...i am glad...she thinks i lie on this blog...and i live in a perfect world...she must not pay attention...read all my blogs...i am so proud of my life...is it perfect...no...but it is mine all mine and it is what i work on every single day...i love my family and my friends...thanks to my friends who messaged me as this played out...she did drop me as friend last night..for the second time...i have mixed feelings...i hope she will find peace in the future...anger and temper towards others is just not healthy...sometimes it helps to talk it out...i hope she is blessed with that soon...this chapter is over...and i so wish her all the best...

i thought my granddaughter may arrive today...she chose not to...which is every girls right...i like that she has a mind of her own...tomorrow is her daddy's first day of teaching..as college starts here tomorrow...so who knows...maybe she will pick tomorrow...have a wonderful  night :)

Cloudy...cooler ...tuesday :)

first let me say...needy men...i think there is a danger that i may be having 1 of my sons returned to me...no not really he is just lucky enough to be married to a wonderful person...that like i, just put up with it....enough said... it is so quiet in this house this morning...michelle is at the gym working out...the housework is all done...and of course laundry is on the line :)...i guess i could be like some of my friends on facebook and turn to games...like farmville...but how do they find time...i can always find something to do...like there are real rocks to move in my yard today...real yard work...i have to stay busy...i have to always get something done everyday...i want something to show for my day...so today...it will be yard work all day...leaves are falling like crazy here ...due to the really hot temps we have had...i am so hoping that everything finds a way to come back next spring...or it looks like i will be doing a lot of landscaping around here... journey may be by later this morning...so she will be my helper girl again today...she came over yesterday and did a chore list...she loves coming over here and helping me clean and do laundry...she even has her own little clothes line...it was all her idea ...she designed it herself and her gaga made it for her...too cute...still waiting for the arrival of my new granddaughter felicity...i know...i know..she will come when she is ready...which is fine...just so excited to see journey with her little sister...she has waited so long.....can't wait to see if she looks like journey...because when journey was born...i had to slap myself...it was a mini mark only wearing a dress...so funny...as journey has grown...i see both mark and kayla in her...she is such a good mix...she loves stuffed animals...dolls..stroller...shopping...dress up...but she also loves legos...star wars...and dinosaurs...well going to cut this blog off...as my granddaughter has arrived and we are going to play store...what a way to start the day...you all have a great day as well :)

Finally Friday :)

yes it is finally friday...been a while ...just enjoying some free time and working on some business plans for the future...we shall see...i will keep you posted...i really meant to post sooner...since some of my readers here are my friends on facebook...i guess last thursday for me took a big turn...when i posted my dislike for chick-fil-a...after receiving many invites to the rally that was to be held on aug. 1...my dislike was not just about the stance on gay marriage...but the amount of money this private company gives to hate groups...yes it is a privately owned co. and they can support any group that they want...but i really think as a christian you would love without judgement..so not the case anymore... i love that we can voice our opinions ...but a friend of mine on facebook ...took it as an insult to her...felt she was picked on...that bothers me...was never meant to be the case...she even called my best friend a name for expressing her feelings...and yes it hit me the wrong way...this was my status....not a place you needed to post or keep coming back to if it bothered you...but when my friend was called a smart ass on my page...it hit me...how dare you... this woman has been my rock...there for me through good and bad...always with the most honest advice...even if sometimes i did not want to hear it... this past year...as most of my friends have heard over and over...was tough...my neighbor terry being murdered...her husband charged...then it went on from there........this friend never left my side....that is a true friend...she has seen me at my best and my worst...she is the only person i can never 1 up...she always does more for me that i can ever do for her... back to the offended friend...when i got defensive on my status to her...she called me out because i had a status a couple of months where i called someone out by using the word b***h and s**t...the difference here was the person i was referring to is not even a friend on facebook...i made a funny status out of someone i really do not care for......it was a status...it was not name calling...the whole thing reminded me of a 6th grade fight between girls...not at all what i had thought would happen....but...life is too short to sweat the small stuff....she and i still remain friends on facebook...for now...she deleted me a couple of years ago for know reason so i guess the ball is in her court....never set out to change anyone's mind....and i value everyone's opinion....just shocked at how some people react...we are grown-ups....and if it is a status you do not like ...just don't go there...but it is my status and i can say what i like... journey is coming over for a play date and lunch today...she is the sweetest thing (most of the time)....and we are all looking so forward to the arrival of miss felicity in the next couple of weeks... my son mark left his job with the county on tuesday...to begin his dream job of teaching graphic design on the college level...so very proud of him...and his students will be so lucky...he will make an awesome teacher...many changes are in store for my family in the next couple weeks...i will keep you posted...i will try and get a post up soon of all the green things we have gotten done here this summer...enjoy your day :) make it a good one...