Sunday, January 25, 2009

new family member

i'd LOVE to introduce you to the newest member of the family... mom's new puppy...


SKIPPY!


is he not the cutest stinkin' thing you've ever seen?

and he's a lover, not a fighter.
just what mom needed. :)

worky-work

hello to my blog-readin'-friends! so i have my mildly fun updates to share. last thursday my district manager (selena) came for our monthly store visit. well she told me about some fun "stretch assignments" for me for 2009.
first off, i'm going to be part of the "building the bench" program in the district. basically it's for managers who are secure in their current positions and show the potential to do a lot more in the future. there are meetings, mentoring for others in the district, special assignments, etc. it's a kinda big deal, and i'm pretty honored to be included.
secondly, my assignment for 2009 is over all the "grade 2"s. first here's a breakdown of our core management structure:
1. store manager
2. assistant store manager <----ME :)
3. operations manager, service & training manager
4. pricing associate, merchandise associates <----GRADE 2's
the 11 stores in the district all have between 2-3 of these grade 2's. i'll be responsible for them. for helping to train and develop them, for coming up with classes, conference calls, additional materials that will help them do their jobs.... it's whatever i want to make it, and my dm has high hopes for me.
thirly, i'm going to midland, texas! whooo! just for a week (not a transfer--not to lonely west texas, no ma'am!) with another manager to help train 4 brand-new leaders. it's my first real business trip, and i'm stoked. my only concern is if they have a hotel bar. lol. just kidding.

so yeah, work is going well. it's much better than it was during the holiday season. the other managers are back in the store and i've had TWO four-day weekends this month. what what!

Thursday, January 8, 2009

so funny...

I received this in an email from my Aunt Karen... I thought it was hilarious and wanted to share... Please know that I do respect the office; I do not however, respect the man who holds that office today. (Can't wait 1/20/09!)

The President George W. Bush Library is now in the planning stages and accepting donations.

The Library will include:
1. The Hurricane Katrina Room, which is still under construction.
2. The Alberto Gonzales Room, where you won't be able to remember anything.
3. The Texas Air National Guard Room, where you don't even have to show up.
4. The Walter Reed Hospital Room, where they don't let you in.
5. The Guantanamo Bay Room, where they don't let you out.
6. The Weapons of Mass Destruction Room, which no one has been able to find.
7. The National Debt Room, which is huge and has no ceiling.
8. The Tax Cut Room, with entry only to the wealthy.
9. The Economy Room, which is in the toilet.
10. The Iraq War Room. (After you complete your first visit, they make you go back for a second, third, fourth, and sometimes fifth visit.)
11. The Dick Cheney Room, in the famous undisclosed location, complete with shooting gallery.
12. The Environmental Conservation Room, still empty.
13. The Supreme Gift Shop, where you can buy an election.
14. The Airport Men's Room, where you can meet some of your favorite Republican Senators.
15. The Decider Room, complete with dart board, magic 8-ball, Ouija board, dice, coins, and straws.
Note: The library will feature an electron microscope to help you locate and view the President's accomplishments.

The library will also include many famous Quotes by George W. Bush:
1. 'The vast majority of our imports come from outside the country.'
2. 'If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure.'
3. 'Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and child.'
4. 'No senior citizen should ever have to choose between prescription drugs and medicine.'
5. 'I believe we are on an irreversible trend toward more freedom and democracy - but that could change.'
6. 'One word sums up probably the responsibility of any Governor, and that one word is 'to be prepared'.'
7. 'Verbosity leads to unclear, inarticulate things.'
8. 'I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future.'
9. 'The future will be better tomorrow.'
10. 'We're going to have the best educated American people in the world.'
11. 'One of the great things about books is sometimes there are some fantastic pictures.' (during an education photo-op)
12. 'Illegitimacy is something we should talk about in terms of not having it.'
13. 'We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur.'
14. 'It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it.'
15. 'I stand by all the misstatements that I've made.' - George W. Bush to Sam Donaldson

Saturday, January 3, 2009

out with oh-eight

in honor of the end of 2008, i'm giving you a list of some great top 8's!

8 TV shows I watch:
1. CSI
2. 90210
3. Absolutely Fabulous
4. Will & Grave
5. Friends
6. Sex & The City

8 favorite restaurants (in no special order)
1. Village Burger (American)
2. Uncle Julios (Mexican)
3. Texas Land & Cattle (Steakhouse)
4. Casa Blanca (Mexican)
5. Jake's (American)
6. Ghengis Grill (Mongolian)
7. Maggianos (Italian)
8. Tom Tom (sushi)

8 things that happened yesterday:
1. I bought a new deep freeze.
2. Did laundry.
3. Ate at Ghengis Grill with Frank/Jake.
4. Went to Target and didn't spend money.
5. Enjoyed some Chopin Vodka.
6. Went to Panda's at 3 in the morning with Frank, Onyx, Mike D., Ben, Michelle, Chanel and some other people I don't know.
7. Got a kiss on the cheek from a drag queen.

8 things I'm looking forward to
1. MY BIRTHDAY WEEKEND EXTRAVAGANZA!
2. Vacation to Washington DC
3. Sleeping in my bed tonight (I got new bedding for Christmas and just got around to getting it set up today)
4. Meeting my mom's new puppy, Skippy
5. The other two managers coming back to work after their maturnitity leaves (I'll be working lots of 4-day weeks in January since they'll be back!)
6. Cooking dinner tomorrow (Taco Salad-watch out-tasty!)
7. Finishing reloading my iPod with all the music that I lost when I had to restore the damn thing a week ago.
8. Spending time with my friends (I'm always into that)


8 things I love:
1. Mom & Family - Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins - I have the best
2. My roommates, Frank & Jake
3. Making things pretty
4. A good bartender
5. Long books/series of books
6. Movies that entertain and/or make me think
7. Music that fits exactly into my life like a soundtrack
8. Cheese. No seriously.

8 things I can't stand:
1. Those who are jerks, self-rightous, hypocritical and hateful.
2. Carolyn.
3. When people complain and do nothing to solve the problem.
4. Tuna. The smell. The taste. The texture. Eww.
5. Running late
6. Not having money to do things I'd like to
7. Workloads that require more payroll than what is funded. Ugh.
8. People that don't drive as well as I do.

8 things I think are beautiful
1. Yellow roses
2. Baby animals
3. Sunsets - no matter where; the beach, city, mountains
4. Children laughing - not screaming is always a good thing to see
5. People in love - straight, gay - if everybody would backup and see the love, it's beautiful.
6. The face of a family member after a long time apart
7. Air conditioning in Texas.
8. Kids (especially teenagers) who are learning something

So here's to a FABULOUS 2009. I've got high hopes for this one. :)

wrap up

so christmas eve didn't turn out the way anybody really hoped/wanted. suffice it to say, divorce is ugly, especially during the holidays. my mom's heart is not the only one that has been destroyed. at any rate, christmas day was great--really special sharing it with mom and grandma in our cutesy matching pj's. christmas night i celebrated with my dallas family and it too was great.