Waiting For It...

We"ve been at storm prep for a few days... as soon as the storm was announced and we started tracking it, we went into "prep" mode. The biggest thing for us is the rainfall... and how many inches can fall in an hour. We are the only people around that sought out sandbags. We practically cleaned out Big Red of "tubesand". DH told me he bought almost all of what they had. We wanted to make sure we didn't flood the garage and basement and our front landing. Our front neighbors also have an issue with rain run-off... so DH purchased sand bags for them as well.

We have our spot set up in the basement... and we have our foodstuffs ready to down. We are really worried about trees falling because of ground saturation. We are also concerned with power being out. We are prepared for that, but don't like the thought of having power being out for days or even weeks.

So... we are praying it won't be as bad as predicted. Irene is on her way here... and I know she's not bringing dessert with her! Makes me wish I had remembered to buy something sweet! (I always want something sweet or salty when I'm stressed. Ice Cream sandwiches!) Hoping to get some sleep tonite... and wake up on the other side of this thing... with our home and yard mostly intact!

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

Rainy Saturdays and Good Books

I have been working my way through the book "The Help". I have spent every spare moment I had reading it. I finish it this morning since it was raining and I didn't want to go anywhere. I loved the book... and I  was totally engaged in it. I read until I fell asleep last night... I can't wait until Wednesday for the movie to come out!

Since it was a rainy Saturday... DH and I worked at going through old boxes of "stuff" that we had left stacked up since moving (3 years ago!). It was mostly paperwork or old clothing... lots of things to be donated to Goodwill and lots of stuff that needed to be tossed out. It felt great to get that done and make more room! As a reward, DH took me out to dinner... we stayed local as the weather was turning a bit crazy...with heavy rains and wind. I didn't feel like being gone too long and having dinner too late. It was an enjoyable meal and we had a great time.

Tomorrow will be a day filled with grocery shopping and laundry... another day at home. I do love being at home!

Thanks for reading! Be blessed!
~Suzanne

How Did It Get to be August???

I cannot begin to fathom that it's August 3rd! How did that happen? I haven't posted as I've been busy with work and trying to keep up with everything. Fatigue regularly kicks my tail... and before I know it, another week has passed with stuff getting piled up to do!

We really haven't done too much this summer with DH being out of work. We've done one fun day trip to the west... one day of yard sales... and we went out to a minor league ballgame with a wonderful luxury box on my company. We had a ball!

We've spent time at home... enjoying our flowers and working around here. DH has spent time working on his truck... but that's about it. We've really had a very uneventful Summer so far. We kind of "hid out" during some of the heat waves we have had...  I still don't adjust well to high temperatures or humidity... one of those "great" side effect hold overs from thyroid cancer.

I can't tell you when I will be back to blog again. It depends on my energy level and time available. Punky is doing well and thriving with being an only dog. We are still grieving the loss of Nolli-dog. I guess the most exciting around here lately besides going to the ball game, is that I backed into a low sign and scraped the right rear quarter panel of my new car from the bumper to the back door! Ouch!

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

A Door has closed... On to a New Chapter!

This past Friday... we received a huge surprise! DH was summoned to his Supervisors house and was told that his position was being terminated. He sent me a text message as he was driven back home with his tools. I was at work and luckily I only had to "hold it together" for about an hour before I left for the day.

We have often discussed whether DH should quit, go looking for another job or just wait. We choose to wait and pray on God's timing... that either DH would come across another job or God would close the door. We have both prayed and truly believe that God has another job and great things waiting for my husband. I know that DH has worked diligently for his former company and has always gone above and beyond in his daily duties. He has given hours and hours of his time in travel and in admin work that someone else who had paid admin time should have been doing.

We know that this "situatuion" has many factors that played into the decision made. Travel time, gas prices, and contract issues with customers are just some of the factors. We also know that when we said "no" to moving closer to Philadelphia at our own expense was a factor as well. The company has had other issues with capital and not having enough trucks for all employees... so what better way to fix that problem then to eliminate the position of the one who works farthest away.

These things listed are just part of many parts... and we are not bitter in any way. It's time for a new chapter in our lives and will only serve to make us closer to each other and reinforce our trust in our loving Father and claim our favorite scripture of Jeremiah 29:11 that He knows the plans He has for us; they are plans for good and not for disaster, to give us a future and a hope.

I write this to simply ask you to keep us in your prayers for wisdom and peace in this new chapter of our lives. Thanks for reading... be blessed.

~Suzanne

Well... What Do You Know!

I haven't fallen off the face of the earth... just into a huge pit of work, and trying to keep up with everything else. I have also been fighting a double ear infection, sore throat and bronchitis. I've been on lots of antibiotics and have 2 new medications added to my regular regimen, one being a bronchial inhaler. I've been working through all of it... and it makes me extremely tired by the end of the day.

I've also been dealing with DH traveling more. He's was gone all of last week, and worked yesterday. We have spent most of today getting him repacked to be gone this week as well. It makes for a tough week for me with extra trips up and down the stairs to walk to the dog (which is fabulous when you can't breathe!)

I did manage to get lots of work done in getting my closet organized while DH was gone. And I did get a little bit of shopping and found some great maxi-dresses for work this summer.

We have yet to get all the flowers planted that we usually do... I don't seem to have the stamina to do all the watering that I did last year. I am not doing nearly as much as I did last year now that I am working full time. I am hoping to add having a weekly housekeeper this summer so that I have more time for the things we want to do. We shall see if the does infact happen, as it depends on how much travel DH will have this summer.

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

Friday List

1. It's officially the last day of the month at work... I didn't quite make my goal... but I did beat last month by 2 points!

2. The dreaded Nor'easter we suppose to get last night... ended up going farther east! Yay! No snow to plow!

3. I started working this morning and started to get a panic attack. Luckily, my friend Janie had a xanax as I had left mine at home. (Holy Cow!)

4. I was able to go to lunch with my "condo-buddy" and my friend Tammy today. We went to the sweetest little diner... and the food was to "die for!" And they had a "pickle bar"... with lots of different kinds of pickled things and it comes as a side for your meal!

5. DH is not feeling all that well... but it also means that I don't have to cook anything for dinner.

6. I got good news from my auto insurance this week... they are covering me on my uninsured motorist coverage for all my lost work while being off from my car accident.

7. The house is fairly picked up... so cleaning will be a breeze this weekend.

8. I discovered a mexican eatery north of where I work... and it's a grill type restaurant, much like my so-beloved Chipotle... can't wait to eat there! (I crave good guacamole all the time!)

9. My Darling Husband gave me a wonderful gift this last week... he bought me a Kindle... with a great cover! My first book was "Water for Elephants"... and I loved it! Finished it in 2 days.

10. I am still deciding if I am going to keep XM radio on my car... I only really listen to just a few stations. I have to make that decision soon!

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

5.

Weary... Bone Weary.

This past couple of weeks has gone by in a blur. My DH traveled out of town last week, so the week before was spent getting ready for that trip. Making sure that all the needed laundry was done, all the snacks and lunch staples were acquired along with things like gatorade and iced tea. Making sure that all prescriptions were filled for the trip as well.

Then it was all assembled and packed, lists crossed off, and he was on his way in the midst of an pretty good "winter snow event." I was left at home to take care of the dogs and keep the home fires burning in between working. Work it's self has been quite stressful for me, with numbers not moving in the proper direction and the pressure to "work my magic" as I have in the past was intensified.

We spent a busy last weekend doing things like getting Nolli-dog groomed and spending a little bit of money at the "electronics store"... and getting everything charged up and set up. I've been trying to grocery shop, get my own prescriptions, get some cooking done... and still get to work on time and find time for all the things that need to be done around here.

Tonite... I am very bone-weary tired. While at the pharmacy, the clerk asked me my birthday... and I gave her my best friend Lizzy's birthday instead of my own! (Her's is the day before mine!) DH was laughing at me and told the clerk that I was really quite tired... that I was not my usual self! So, here I sit after running errands tonite, having dinner at the Chinese buffet.... and I still need to make lunches for tomorrow. I think I will fall into bed now and make lunches when I get up in the morning. It's been over 5 years... and I still have the same fatigue... oh, how I miss my thyroid!

Thanks for reading... be blessed!