Allow myself to introduce...myself!!!

If anyone is actually checking to see if for some miracle that I've actually updated my blog...it's your lucky day! I'm sitting at work, doing case manager on duty duty. Was that right? Was I supposed to write 'duty' twice? Anyway, I have actually found the time to update this thing. I told you this would be like my 4th grade diary!



Alright, where do I start...this is like a huge full day of cleaning, where it takes you half a day to sit down and figure out where you need to start. =(



I'll just highlight the past months for you...



1) Got back from Bangkok last August, didn't post my pictures yet...not sure I'm going to as everytime I do, it takes me 3 hours and then it goes away and I can't find it. =( So, I guess, if you'd like to see them, let me know and I'll email you the link. I so want to go back and visit again. I would love to share that part of my life with Evan...I do by the stories and memories that my family and I share, but it would be so great to be able to actually show him all of those places that I went to as a little girl!

2) Started my new job at the end of October 2006, you knew that already. I can't believe that it's almost been one year already. Time has flown by so quickly. I absolutely LOVE my job! It's a challenge every single day and it seems that more and more it's no longer just a 9 to 5, but it's been so good. My clients are great! I am working with all PLWA's (person living with AIDS) and over 75% of them have alcohol/drug issues or mental health needs, so needless to say, I'm staying busy. Of course, there are the occasional bumps in the road with some of them, but the few that are doing REALLY well are the ones that keep me motivated to keep doing this kind of work!

http://www.aidswalkwis.org/site/PageServer?pagename=awhomepage



3) Family life is keeping me just as busy as work life has lately. My Mom is starting her journey down a new path this year as she has decided to take early retirement. So, this is the first time in over 24 years that she hasn't started preparing to start a new school year. Although my previous statement was that Mom has 'decided' to take early retirement, I should probably preface it with it was 'decided for her'. I won't go into the details, but I will just share a small amount of my personal opinions about the school district that my Mom worked for, as really what else can you expect from me, other than OPINIONS! My Mom has worked for this district for 13 years as an outstanding teacher and an even more outstanding high school music director. Every single day of her life has been devoted towards her love of music and sharing that love with the students in her 24 years of teaching. As the years have gone by, more of an emphasis has been placed on school athletics and college prep classes. As there are only so many hours in a school day, scheduling has become a huge issue as it has been forcing students to decide if they want college prep courses or band or even God-forbid an extra-curricular sport. Don't get me wrong, college prep is important and there is even a time and a place for sports in school, however due to these scheduling conflicts, it has made my Mother choose to have to place more emphasis on keeping the numbers up then actually teaching music. To my teacher friends, I'm sure you have or will at some point in your life experience this and you can probably agree, it's like turning water into wine. To my knowledge there's only been one 'person' who's been able to do that. I will end this little soapbox session now as I said that it would be short, and it really isn't...basically, mixed emotions are shared on a regular basis.





4) ...on a lighter note, my little brother Adam has graduated from middle school and will also be starting his own journey down the path of high school enlightenment. He is looking forward to high school dances with his new girlfriend of 3 months (oh man, I'm gettin old!), continuing to play guitar in his 'garage' band, getting his braces off this week and getting his license in a little over a year! Holy crap, those years went fast...I don't like it, I tell you!



5) Evan is still at his job...whether he likes it or not depends on the day you ask. But, he's doing well and we're doing well! No, we're not getting married, we're not engaged, blah blah blah. That seems to be the only questions we get lately! We've been trying to enjoy the summer months on the eastside with a picnic or bike ride...but, it seems that the summer has gotten away from us very fast! Visits to Port are still fun though and Goosey knows us pretty much by first and last name! =P

6) The kittens, Stella and Lucy are doing very well...crazy as usual...but, they have become the best of friends! =)

Well, time for me to sign off before I bore everyone to a deep sleep! I hope to try to keep up with this a little better than I have, but if you find that I don't you have my permission to email me and yell at me! =)



Hope all is well with all of you!