The worst is over.

So we have had the winter solstice, Christmas is over, and friends and family are returning to town. Now I can look forward to work kicking into high gear, longer days and my birthday.

I'm never sure why, but even though I get older every year, I still love my birthday. It's like my whole life I never felt like I was special enough for a fuss, but my birthday was always my day. My ex-husband used to joke that it was my birthday season because I started celebrating two weeks before and it lasted until a week after.

I also got asked out on a date by a very interesting man from match yesterday. We can't see each other until after the new year because of our schedules, but I am really looking forward to meeting him.

The diet continues, but I will be going off it for the new years weekend since I will have a guest in town and I want to show him a good time.

I think this is going to be a very good year.

Christmas... it's the little things

So here I was sitting at home all alone feeling sad because it's christmas and I don't have a tree or presents or anyone to spend it with and then I get this email.

See, I got myself new dishes for christmas and so I had a full set of my old ones including a bunch of matching extras. So I decided to give them to someone who needed them. A young mother answered my ad and yesterday I delivered the dishes to her. Today I got this email.

Hello Ms.Elliott, this is micah the one who you gave the dishes to, i just wanted to thank you again for blessing me with the beautiful dish set, its truley more than i hoped for. So Thank you and you , your family and friends have a very Merry Christmas and holidays thereafter.

It definitely made me feel so much better that someone out there was helped by me, even if it was in a small way.

It really is about what you give, not what you get.

Tookie

I am so wishy washy when it comes to the death penalty. In general, I am for it. If you are immoral enough to take a life, then you should pay with your own.

But Tookie Williams is giving me a very real reason to think that the death penalty is wrong. This man has done all he can to reverse the damage he has caused. He has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. He has written books against gang violence. He is being judged based on something he did when he was young and foolish. Today Arnold Schwarzenegger denied his clemency.

When I was young I was a very bad person. Well at least I appeared that way from the outside. In reality I was very hurt and scared and really didn't care if I lived or died. But I never purposely tried to hurt anyone. I was just thoughtless and careless and the drugs and the people that I was surrounded by put me into bad situations.

I have turned my life around and now I am a very moral responsible person. I think that Tookie is trying to be as well. If he is being judged based on what he did when he was young and stupid and surrounded by drugs and bad people, then why shouldn't I also be judged that way?

Isn't life itself important enough to give everyone at least some chance to redeem themselves?

I am an atheist. That means that I firmly believe there is no god and no afterlife. This life is all we get. If we blow it, then we blow it. So that means that the harshest thing you can do to someone is to take away their chance. Life becomes the ultimate possession one can have.

Happy Holidays!

I can't believe the holidays are going by so quickly. Thanksgiving was fun, though I totally wore the wrong shoes. We had to do quite a bit of walking and my feet were killing me by the end of the night. Thankfully, when we got to JP's we took our shoes off and I got some relief.

Now that Christmas is coming, I guess I should get motivated to send out my cards. I am not doing gift exchange this year because of the financial situation. Hopefully next year will be better.

I miss noodle. My house is much cleaner and I don't have to vacuum or pick up any accidents, but I really miss her happy little face and her cute bark. I miss her fluffiness and watching her wrestle with Bailey. I hope she is happy and is being taken care of.

Dating life is getting semi interesting. I've gone on a couple of good dates and am having a good time.

I am starting on Nutisystem next week and hopefully I can finally drop some weight.

Work has picked up and any day now we will start billing again. On Tuesday we are heading up to New York for a conference. It should be fun.

Where did the year go?

I can't believe next week is already Thanksgiving. Work has kicked in and money is tight right now while we get the next contract in place, but I am in pretty good financial shape and should be able to save a lot of money this year if I can control my spending.

Kelly and I found a new park and took the girls there for some hiking. They loved it of course, except for the part where noodle fell off a cliff and couldn't figure out how to get back up to us.

I love that little girl. My carpets do not. She will be going back to her mom on Tuesday and I think Bailey and I will miss her terribly. I don't know what her life is going to be like without me to baby her. I hope she lives a long and happy life with her mom. I hope she gets hugs and cuddles every day. I hope she gets a treat when she is being good and doesn't get in too much trouble when she is being bad. I love her.

House Guests

Fostering dogs has it's benefits and it's drawbacks. I love Noodle (ok, her real name is Skyler, but let's be serious. She's a Noodle). She has been with me for almost two months and will be here for at least another 3 weeks. I would love to keep her. Bailey likes her and she is adorable.

However, she doesn't want to be house trained and my carpets are taking a beating. Everytime I have to clean the carpet, I say a little prayer of thanks that she will go to a new home one day.

But I am sure it will be a very sad day.

Kelly's Party

We had a wonderful time. The limo arrived early but we ran late. Got to the restaurant and had a fantastic meal. I think Kelly enjoyed herself. Afterwards we went to the strip club/drag bar. I have never seen so many healthy, gorgeous naked men. It was pretty shocking at first, but after a while it was really fun! Nene told me to steal one of the dancers underwear for Kelly. Hehehe! He never even noticed until he had to get down. Poor guy.

Afterwards we went over to Nene's and relaxed. What a great night!

Summer...

Well, I am back from Vegas and trying to get back into work. Not having a lot of success. The trip was fun, but man is it hot out everywhere! I can't wait for fall. I hope it cools down a lot but is still nice enough to go out.

Kelly's wedding plans are moving along and I am planning a party for her. I can't wait!

Started the new diet. I can only have leek soup for two days (except I did have a latte, I know... cheating!).

Still seeing Rod. I am finding myself upset over the incident between Jack and Bailey. He doesn't think it was a big deal that Jack attacked her. I think it is a huge deal! Anyway, we will be going on the cruise in three weeks. So we will see how things go.

So Happy! 

Still life with dog 

New Backyard - Maple and lantern 

New Backyard - Cherry Tree 

New Backyard - View from the deck 

New Backyard - View from the gate. 

Life is like a box of chocolates...

A new and different man in my life. He is sweet and handsome and very good to me. He does want a bit more from me then I can give, but if I can slow him down, he might work out very well. I think we are well matched. He specializes in physical security and also loves dogs. Over all, I am very happy.

If I wasn't dating him, I don't think I would be interested in dating anyone else right now. I am so happy with my life that I can't believe it. The new business is doing great, I just finished my japanese garden, I love my dog and my friends, I love my new boyfriend, and over all I feel loved.

Life is very good to me and I am grateful to whatever it is in the universe that has granted me such a great life after such a rough start.

Happy Birthday to Me!

"Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more,
Men were deceivers ever,
One foot in sea and one on shore,
To one thing constant never."
~William Shakespeare

Ain't that the truth!

Karen, Kelly and I at the park. 

Rich and I giving each other hell at the dog park party. 

New Year...

The new business is going very well, I am happy to say. We are getting along fine and the money is rolling in.

I've had some trouble with my diet. The winter months have taken their toll on the amount of exercise I am getting. I can't wait til spring.

Dating sucks and I still haven't met anyone that really rocks my world. But hope springs eternal.

At least I still have Bailey!