Lesson Learned.....

The first lesson learned for the new year.....

NEVER, EVER go shopping for new pillows on a windy day.

Found this out the hard way today, at Walmart. Purchased 2 new bed pillows for me and Mr. Dizzy, and put them in the cart with the rest of my groceries. Since it is WINDY and SNOWY and only 25 FREAKIN' DEGREES out today, stopped in the entry area, bundled up, and headed out the door. Barely got out the door when the wind gusted up (gusts are averaging around 40 MPH today) and there went the pillows. I was able to grab one and stop it from flying off out of the cart, but the other one? Well.....first it stopped under the wheel of a minivan that was stopped by the doors, then another gust of wind grabbed it again, and it was off down the aisle of the parking lot. A lady came up to me and said she would watch my cart for me if i wanted to go after it, and I agreed; but before I could take a step, the guy driving the minivan got out and ran after it, retrieving it for me. What an embarrassing thing.....

But, one thing positive about it - - it restored my faith in my fellow humans a bit. I mean, everyone could have just ignored the whole situation and left me to fend for myself, but two - - not one, but TWO - - total strangers came up and offered their help.

Maybe this is going to be a decent year after all. *fingers crossed*

Welcome, 2012!!

It's the start of a new year. And, as usual, I take this time to reflect on the past year and everything that happened.....and there has been a LOT, both good and bad:

~ The early part of 2011 found me going to the doctor with some "issues" that I was not sure of the cause - - heartburn, weight gain in my abdomen area, and other "female" things. After a series of tests, it was decided that the only way to find out was through surgery, and so a hysterectomy was scheduled for mid-June. This resulted in not only 8 weeks off work for recuperation, but also in a complete turn-around in how I was feeling - - ALL of the symptoms I had been experiencing previously disappeared. ALL of them. And, I feel wonderful! Even though it was difficult to go through, I am so glad I did it. The difference is like night and day!

~ In August, on my very first day back to work full-time following my surgery - - and just one week prior to the start of Fall Semester classes (and fall is always our "Nightmare Semester") - - my coworker went on medical leave due to a high-risk pregnancy. For the ENTIRE semester. This was an extremely difficult time, since I was still recovering from major surgery and my energy level was still very low.....but somehow I made it through the entire semester without her. This would NOT have been possible without the help of my two wonderful and capable student workers, Chris and Zach. Without them, there is NO way I could have done it, and I will be forever grateful to them! Chris has now graduated and gone on to a four-year university, but Zach is staying on for a few more semesters. And that is a very, very good thing.

~ In early February, we had to take one of our kitty-kids, Squeak, to the vet, because she had been acting a big strangely in a few way that were just not normal. Unfortunately, after quite a few tests, that there was signs of a malignancy, more than likely in her bone marrow, and there was really not much we could do except try to stem the symptoms and give her a few more months of "normal" life. It went well, and for the next six months she was happy and able to play with her two brother kitty-kids, as long as we made sure to give her medicine twice a day. We did this until mid-August, when her kidneys started shutting down, and we knew it was time. So on August 18th, we lost our dear baby girl. She is terribly missed, and this has left a giant hole in our lives. (In fact, I am tearing up now just trying to type this.) Fortunately, Carmichael and Lil Dude still have each other, so they are able to cope pretty well.....better than me and Mr. Dizzy have been able to. She was definitely "Daddy's Little Girl" and the Mister took it very hard when we lost her. At first we were pretty worried about Dude, since he came to us when he was only 6 weeks old, and immediately attached himself to her. So, the entire 2 years he has been with us, she has always been there with him - - playing, sleeping together, always with each other. But he has handled it well, thanks to big brother Carmichael. Goodbye, our dear little Squeaky Girl. You will always be in our hearts. Love you.....

~ The end of the year found my coworker and her husband successfully making it through her high-risk pregnancy, and are now the proud parents of a very sweet little baby girl! And even though there were times this semester when I felt - - was absolutely, 100% POSITIVE - - that I would NOT be able to make it through the entire semester, in the end it was all worth it. Congratulations, you two! I am very happy for both of you!

So 2011 is now ended and it is the first day of 2012. Out with the old and in with the new - - here's hoping for a GOOD, POSITIVE year for me, my family, and my dear friends.

Happy New Year!