A2 and Happy People

Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE Ann Arbor? Not just because I work downtown now. Not just because I work FOR the City now. Not just because they have an awesome Art Fair in the summer. Not just because they have a great University here. This entire community is just that. A COMMUNITY. People here are helpful. People here are kind. People here are welcoming. People here smile. People here are happy. So - in short order...YES. The new job is wonderful. I am busting my behind getting caught up on so many amazing projects - and they are really a forward-thinking place...which makes me happy. I haven't ventured out to the many eateries here (only becuase it is so darn COLD, and I don't want to go outside). We have a 3-day weekend coming up, and I'm looking forward to a relaxing day of doing nothing with my family. Absolutely nothing. Whoot!! maybe I'll upload photos to the blog or something productive like that. On a side note - I've joined the Ypsilanti Community Choir. Yes - you read that right. It is odd, it is bittersweet, it is sad and happy at the same time. But, I'm enjoying it.

Lonely

How can one be lonely, yet happy? 

 

It’s not that I AM lonely…but right now, I am alone.  But, I don’t think that it is necessarily a bad thing.  Big Joe went on a mini-vacation to the Caribbean, he left this morning at 4AM.  And, not that I’m EXACTLY alone…Little Joe is sleeping in his bunk bed, rather…he is snoring and seeming very restless.  So, technically, I’m not ALONE…and the dog is here with me too.  Not that I could forget her!

 

These weekends when Joe leaves, I miss him like crazy – but it is a little opportunity for me to spend some quality time with my son.  We play.  We read.  I TRY (yes, TRY) to get him to eat something new and different.  I’m thinking of maybe taking him out skiing or snowboarding.  Hmmm…  We also have Valentines to get ready, homework, reading, and he needs to help me go through his toys.  We need to downsize his stuff….majorly.

 

But these weekends are also a little recharge time for me.  I take care of the things I’ve been procrastinating about.  I do some heavy cleaning. (The breezeway is on the list for this weekend, moving everything out so I can wash the carpet!!) Yes, I know…you are thinking I’m CRAZY for getting excited about steam cleaning the carpet in the Dax’s room…but it is good.  It FEELS good.  I get to reconnect with myself, eat what I want, have the whole bed to myself and watch chick flicks all weekend.  Well...I may be a LITTLE more productive than that:

 

So – the agenda is to:

1.       Work my LAST DAY EVER in a job that I truly loved and will immensely miss. (Yes – there will be tears, and a post about it…)

2.       Celebrate my NEW job with my awesome girlfriends whom I am lucky to have in my life!

3.       Clean the house, grocery shopping, laundry, etc.

4.       Get a massage at the spa (YEAH!!)

5.       Maybe visit some friends that we haven’t seen in a while

6.       Maybe go snowboarding?

7.       Go to a Super Bowl Party with family and drink wine.

8.       Start a new batch of wine (just remembered that one…)

9.       Start my new job on Monday.  Start a new chapter of my life.  Start a new journey.  And hopefully find a good parking spot too…

10.   Love my life.

 

Hope you enjoy YOUR weekend and watch a chick flick too!!!  J

 

 

getting back to the positive.

Our lives have been busy for the past few months, and I have not been doing any decent job keeping things caught up with photos, etc. So - I am going to see what photos I have to upload and go from there.

Dax is getting older and older...we caught this great picture of her (with a wizard hat on. What? Your dog doesn't have a wizard hat? SHEESH!!) Look how GREY she is!!!

And I'll bet you are just DYING to know what this is....Joseph made it for me from Legos. It's the ROUGE RIVER with a BRIDGE over it!!! :) (Yes - my kid rocks)


And my new favorite thing: Vodka Martini with a jalapeno-stuffed olive. (Chopin potato vodka!!)


In other news:

I am happy.

I am moving in a direction that I want my life to be.

I have a new job, and I start on Monday. WHOOT!!!

Expect greatness from me!!!! (well...sorta. Give me a chance to get back up to speed!!)

And, just in case you were worried...I can't forget a list:

1. I need to have surgery on my hip. This will be a topic of blogging.

2. Little Joe is growing up WAY too quickly.

3. We are in the midst of SnowPocalypse 2011

4. I love my new IPod

5. I already have a list of plants for the garden - YEAH!!

6. I'm going to miss my friends in Troy, and in the Clinton, and in the Rouge.

7. But I'm not going to miss everyone.

8. I'm thankful for my training buddy!

9. I love Slows BBQ

10. I'm thankful for BK finding an awesome GF Bakery in the Grand Rapids area!!