Twitterpated - Weekly Update

Oooh, I love Disney!! This should be required viewing for tweens, right? As I was responding to your comment about romance, Cheski, I had this clip in my head. So glad someone put it up on Youtube. I think the the whole movie is up there...............moving on.

Another eventful week. Well, I guess that is life, right?

HUGE EVENT - My company is changing my supervisor, again. I found out on Friday and it just made my stomach feel queasy. I feel happy in a way....because I was having conflict with my current supervisor. And I feel that the Lord must have been arranging things in the best possible way for both of us. YET, I feel a disappointed that I didn't get to RESOLVE the conflict. I was so determined to work on it and learn from him and prove that I could get through this and be flexible. And I don't get to do that now. On another note, I feel sad for my families. My soon-to-be past/current supervisor has been excellent with the parents and they feel so secure in his hands. I am sure it will be very difficult for them to switch so soon. But, they will do it.

Change is the world of therapy. There is always a lot of change and it is unique that I've been with my kiddos as long as I have. I wish my Supervisor the best and will trust that God has great things in store for me. My new supervisor has been in the field since 2000 and seems to know her stuff. She also seems to understand my questions, which is good.

This is a picture of the team I am leaving. My supervisor/old sup is the one lucky guy in the group of beautiful women. This picture leads in to the..... Company Christmas Party!!!

It was seriously so much fun. They had it at a local restaurant. When I came in our beautiful ladies from administration clapped their hands saying they were so happy I came and gave me a hug (what a GREAT greeting). There was dancing, a Mexican buffet and drinks (though of course I had virgin drinks).

It was really great to see my co-workers who I ONLY see at group trainings or corporate events. The picture to the left (or second photo) is of the team I was originally part of when I started. These ladies were so sweet to accept me in as a friend. I really only met them once or twice while I was in their group, but they treat me as an old friend every time we meet.

Note, their hair. Oscar wants me to grow my hair out again and more and more I am noticing the luscious and large curls women are wearing with longer hair. Even though I look better with short hair. Curling my hair sounds like a fun part of having long hair again.
Mmm, what else has happened this week? I got another giveaway win in the mail which was a cute apron (will post pictures later) and it was exciting.

I received a very generous Christmas gift from one of my families (which I may or may not have to return) still deciding whether I will ask my supervisor or just keep it.

I got six items from the Goodwill store for $20 (pretty exciting). I took pictures Cheski style, but will post later. The outfit I wore for the party was from Goodwill and the shirt BRAND NEW (still tags on it) for only $3.

Oh, and Kyla my friend from college came to visit for a night and morning. It was wonderful to get to see her and talk about life. :)

Other than that, I have just been working a lot, trying to still make food from scratch and wallowing in the fact that I'm not ready for Christmas. This weekend I have made great strides. But, have still not bought all my presents for family members. Oy.

Until Later, Merry Christmas

Weekly Update - Bella (Lost and Found)

It is time for the weekly update. And I've been avoiding it.

**Let me start by addressing my happy/sad posts. :) At least I didn't stay down long, right?

Oscar's clients have been hurt, on vacation and just not training consistently, so our monthly income has decreased dramatically. I was worried about paying for Oscar's school and then he made me feel better about it (as he always does). It was such a weight on my shoulders, such a burden. I still feel it, but it is much better. Oscar has a talent for making things feel better. Love that guy.

So, THIS WEEK... dun, dun, dun.....

- Bella made an escape, through a cracked open window. She was gone for a whole 24 hours. We bought a cat trap and now she's back in our bathroom comfy as can be (picture of her on left).

- My sister bought her ring today, aww, it's so beautiful. (also pictured on the left.) I am completely impressed with her good taste. :)

- Oscar ALMOST made his team win the basketball game today, but ended up losing it for them with some missed shots. Seriously though, he's a total stud and they wouldn't even be close to winning without him.

- I cooked creative, new, completely from scratch meals this whole week and we drank freshly squeezed juice. It was a lot of fun!!

- I got a new phone this week (free with rebates) and I think it is adorable. And exciting because very rarely do I get anything new. Picture up top. That's actually how it comes, in the fun packaging.

Other than that, really, I've just been trying to figure out finances and Christmas gifts. We still haven't decorated our home. Oscar is in the middle of finals which is fun because I get to quiz him, but not fun because I'm not getting as much attention as usual.

Anyways, life is good and life continues. I am hopeful about where our future will lead us.

Sending out love!!!

Francine

Weekly Update - Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving went well!!

In fact, better than expected. My Aunt hosted it at a house they were renting. There is nothing like being with family! Especially when you are all getting along. :)

My favorite moments were: a toast, my Cousin Shelly made highlighting the wonderful events of this year: My mom's cousin's getting married and my sister getting engaged; my Uncle Phil flying in from Connecticut and Cousin David flying in from Chicago; my Grandma doing excellent; Baby Samantha (now two) being adorable.

Before our actual Thanksgiving Dinner, a friend hosted Thanksgiving at her apartment. It was wonderful! Home cooked and filled with love!

In other news: the Feral Kitty, who we are calling Bella is doing really well. She is eating up a storm, so we started "Tough Love." She can only eat in our presence now. When I leave, the food leaves. I expect she will stop eating for a day or more and then come out while I'm here. That will be quite a step forward. We came home from SM to find a bag filled with cat foods and $120 of cash for Veterinary bills. God is good.

On another note, it is rainy and cozy and pretty wonderful here. We have a radio station on for the kitty playing Christmas music, and boy we are in the mood.

I saw Kristen yesterday, another blessing. We went to the Melting Pot and I met her new car, Mathilda Thogbort (sp?)

I have more pictures, but don't want to post/upload them all now.

Happy Holidays!

Kitties & Music - Update of the Week

A lot has happened this week. A lot.

Oscar's surprise for me ended up being tickets to go see his University's performance of Evita. Oooh, what a wonderful evening we had. It just felt very romantic and adventurous and fun!! I loved it.

I already told you guys about my sick kiddos (who are both feeling better now), but I haven't updated you on a huge development - which has caused me some anxiety.

This development concerns the feral kitty who were feeding. ::deep breath:: It is now in our bathroom. In a cage. My heart beats quickly just writing this.

Our neighbors irresponsibly trapped the kitty thinking a neighbor would take it, without confirming with them first. (I can't even imagine). Being the kind and loving people we are, we ended up taking it in. This poor kitty is scared out of its mind. I have a lot of support online through certain agencies in how to socialize it. But... it is a big project.

The wonderful news is that OUR kitties have been wonderful. They haven't tried to get in the bathroom or anything. This makes it so much easier.

I don't know what we are doing with the kitty after we socialize it. We are taking this one step at a time. Tomorrow, it is going to the vet. Right now, it is just acclimating to its new environment.

What a stress. But, honestly, it is an adventure and I will feel really good if in the end we help out this kitty.

I guess, that wasn't such a big update.

Cheers!! Francine

Home, Sweet, Home

At one time, I thought Oscar and I would buy a house before having kids. My plan was marriage, house, dog, kids. That's not really the plan anymore. Dog still comes after house, but kids, I don't know.

When Oscar gets out of school, he will start working (for at least a year) before heading off to grad school. With that and hopefully increased eHow earnings, we should def. be able to afford a nicer apartment.

Although, I'm not sure if I want to be in a complex (we may go for a 2 br cottage), if I did, this one is available now, and I like it. And I could imagine us there. It is fun to imagine. I wonder where we will end up? :)







Lots of storage, washer dryer, kitty friendly, on a tree lined road. Oh man. I like. :) Its only a few hundred more. Almost within reach right now. But, we will wait, maybe next year, I'll be letting you know where we end up. Hopefully it is somewhere as beautiful as this apartment.

Boston in the Fall - Update of the Week

So much has happened this last week, I barely know where to start.

I explored Boston with a good friend, lost my voice, saw the Blue Man Group, jumped in a pile of leaves, ate at an authentic Italian restaurant, got sick, almost got better, discovered slack lines, read a book, flew on an airplane, slept for 13 hours straight and played a new board game named Settlers.

PS. Oscar survived a whole weekend without me!

Fighting off a Cold and Working Hard

2 of my kiddos were sick this past week. And now here I am with a pile of kleenex, 2 cuddly cats snuggled around my legs and a helpful husband making sure I feel just right.

My mind is working hard, despite my weak condition and I will probably spend the day sleeping, working on my 101 in 1001 and writing ehow articles. blah, it even sounds disgusting.

oh and drinking LOTS of water. So, I can go back to play tomorrow.

toodles, Francine

oh. p.s. I am all excited about this blog thing now. Thanks Cheski. :)