I pulled it off!

Last night I pulled off a surprise party for my dad! He's turning 60 next week. We meet at Sweet Lorraine's at the Detroit Downtown Courtyard. After appetizers and some socializing, we headed to Greektown Casino. I'm not much of a gambler, but I came out $18 ahead! Everyone seemed to have a good time and I know my dad had a lot of fun!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you have a great day with friends and family! Yeah Turkey! It's my favorite!

Happy Birthday to Rachel! It was yesterday. I remember when she was born . . . Gary's sister came home the next day and cooked Thanksgiving dinner! Wow!

Can't he catch a break?

My friend Kevin called me last night to let me know that two of his kids were a bad car accident on Friday. The SUV they were in rolled 3 times. His daughter has a broken pelvis, and his son is messed up as well. When is this guy going to get a break? Please say a prayer for him and his family. Thank you.

Congratulations Beth & Mike!

I was at a wedding last night at The Dearborn Inn (a Marriott Hotel). A friend from work married off her daughter last night. It was a great night! Congratulations Beth & Mike!

We'll Miss You Bo!

What started a fun rivalry between myself and my co-workers in Ohio, ended a sad day for college football history. Bo Schembechler was a coach I first heard about in high school. Our football coach was a Bo fanatic. Then I went to Michigan, sure it was in Dearborn, but I had football tickets! It's sad to know he's gone, but I hope the team has the momentum to bring it home for Bo! Go Blue!

Why?

Why is it that my professor has not posted any grades since week one? (we're in week five right now)?

Why is it that I can't seem to please one of the hotels I represent, no matter what I do?

Why is it that we are in the middle of November and I'm still trying to figure out what happened to June?

Why would someone from the bank call and leave me a message about my consolidation loan (that I have not taken out), cause me to freak out and not sleep last night because I'm thinking that I just moved into phase 2 of my identity theft, only to find out that she was soliciting me for a home equity loan to as a way to consolidate my bills? It took everything in me to remain professional on the phone. That was a very MISLEADING voice mail!

Not much else going on. Could still use some prayers for my family and loved ones.

Get OUT and VOTE!

Don't forget to vote today! If you don't vote, don't complain about what's going on in this country!

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Thanks to the Troy Marriott, a bunch of us from work were treated to the Red Hot Chili Peppers concert at the Palace. We received transportation in the form of a party bus, suite tickets, and a LOT of beverages. The night ended with complimentary accommodations at the hotel. Some of you may have received some text messages and/or photos sent from me. I hope you enjoyed them. I'm starting to get better at typing these text messages!

It was a great time and it was nice to get out. Elijah spent the night with Grandpa S and had fun as well. It was back to the routine on Saturday with a morning karate class.

November?

Say it isn't so! Where has this year gone?

I am reading a book about leadership in my class. It's called "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership" by John C. Maxwell. It's a great, easy to read, book about what makes a great leader. There are so many good quotes, I could go on forever . . .

A great quote is actually a leadership proverb: "He who thinks he leads, but has no followers, is only taking a walk." (Maxwell, 1998, p.20).

I'll try to quote some more as the month goes on.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween! Elijah and his class went on a field trip to a senior citizen home for a Halloween Parade. He was a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. It was his first time riding a schoolbus. He said he had a good time.

Tonight he will be a red Power Ranger. The only reason he was a TMNT was he needed something that was easy to get in and out of while at school.

Happy Birthday Chad

Happy Birthday to my brother Chad. I hope your day gives you what you want from it.

Do What You Have to Do

Once in awhile, I get songs in my head that I can't seem to get out. I once heard them called "earworms." Maybe they should be called something else because that is really gross. I don't know if I am 'allowed' to write down the lyrics, so I'll attach the links.

http://www.geocities.com/riddles_and_rhymes/lyrics/dwyhtd.html
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/petergabriel/igrieve.html

I have cried to this song off and on for many years. It makes me think of my honey and how much I miss him.

Last week Elijah asked if he could play his daddy's guitar. I let him. I showed him how to hold it and I took his picture. It took everything in me not to burst into tears right then and there. I can't do it because Elijah gets upset if he thinks I'm upset. He tells me he misses his Daddy. It breaks my heart that Gary isn't here with us. That's all for now.

Book It!

Elijah's class participates in Book It! with Pizza Hut. If you make your reading goal, you get a coupon for a free personal pan pizza. Elijah earned his for the month of October. He was so excited. He was holding his paper all the way to school and even said "Mommy, I'm so excited!" We went today and got the pizza. He was so cute as he held it up and showed the server.

It's been a rough week from a work and personal standpoint. Hopefully it will start to get better at work, but I don't know when it will on the other front. If you are one that prays, I ask that you say a few for my family.

Don't forget to change your clocks tonight!

Elijah updates

Elijah is doing very well in his class. He seems to be enjoying school and is learning a lot. He now does number games like "I know what 5 and 6 are: 56!" It's cute to see him figuring things out!

He's also doing well in karate. He did some good deeds and read some books to earn two more stars for his Gi. He now has 5 stars for his Gi!

He's also excited that he's almost met his monthly reading commitment for school. If he makes it he gets a PizzaHut coupon for a free personal pan pizza. At first he wasn't excited because he said he can't read. Finally he realized he doesn't have to know all the words to read the book! (Is that what those pictures are for?!).

Yesterday he went to Carnival Cuts for a "wash and cut." He lets the hairdresser use the electric clippers on him. He looks like such a little man! His pictures from school came in, so I probably owe you a wallet photo!

A month later

It's been a month since my wallet was stolen. Last week I mailed off my last affidavit to indicate that I did not make the fraud charges, I did not benefit from the fraud charges, and I support prosecuting whoever did. So, unofficially, it looks like all the credit card charges have been reversed. What a PITA! Now comes the waiting game: waiting for the police to catch the criminal, and waiting to see if anything else happens as far as stealing my identity. The police said it is not likely they will catch the person. Sometimes they catch the person in the act and then backtrack and solve other cases they couldn't solve. I hope the criminal is dumb enough to use my brother's business card to try and get out of a moving violation. Usually the officer will call the other officer on the card to verify. Wouldn't that be nice if they caught him that way . . .

Help

First off, I found out that my aunt has colon cancer. She's having surgery on October 30. The doctor says they will need to remove half of her colon. Please pray for her. This C word: cancer, is really bringing me down.

Second, I have some loved ones that are still going through a rough time. They could use your prayers as well. I'm sorry I cannot tell you more, but I wouldn't ask you to pray for them if it weren't important.

Modern Technology

My contract was up on my cell phone. I searched around and found my current provider had the best deal, so I renewed with them. The nice thing is that they offer an upgrade program when you sign a new contract. I was able to get a $150 instant rebate toward a new phone! I now have a phone that has a camera (I chose to not have one all these years), and most importantly: Bluetooth! So, I now have one of those wireless earpieces and look modern and sassy! Did I mention that my phone is pink . . . ooooohhhhh!

I got an A in Finance! Seven classes to go (including the one I just started). I'm a little excited, but not so much when I think of paying back those student loans! Yuck!

Other than that, I'm tired and looking forward to the weekend. Bring it on!

Saturday the 14th

I don't know if any of you remember this spoof a movie back in the 80's. It was part comedy, part mild scary movie that made fun of the day after Friday the 13th. Each time the 14th falls on a Saturday, I think of it.

Anyway, not much is going on. Finishing up finance, getting adjusted to having another dog in the house, etc.

Elijah has been learning about the President this week. Yesterday he asked me if I knew that the president lives in a white house? I asked him if it's really big, he said yeah and it's all white! He's also learned about muscles and he told me that our hearts are not shaped like a heart you write on paper.

Today in karate he helped out the teacher and earned another paper star. That was the last on he needed to get another blue star for is Gi. He was very excited!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Stay warm!

The last week of Finance

Today starts the last week of finance. Classes run Tuesday through Monday. I was looking forward to it being over and starting a new class, but as you know, I tend to "freak out" when I review the syllabus for the new class. Today was not exception! It looks like it's going to be a lot of reading and a lot of work. I just keep telling myself three more classes and I move into the specialty of the MBA. I'm just under a year to finish!

Sasha is doing well and starting to get very comfortable in her new home. We've had a few hiccups, but I think in a week or two we will be fine.

On another note, I have some loved ones that are having a tough time. I can't get into any detail, but please say a prayer for them.

What's new

Let's see, I keep realizing things that were in my stolen wallet - membership to The Henry Ford, stamps, you know -- things that you don't think of until you go to use them!

I spoke with a detective in one of the cities -- in fact the one where the most fraudulent charges occurred. One of the stores has video surveillance. They are working on burning it on a disc to show me. I also discovered yesterday that there were more charges on one of my credit cards, than I was originally told. I hope they catch whoever did this.

On a fun note, it looks like we are getting another dog. Her name is Sasha and she comes from a Rottweiller Rescue group in the area. Elijah is very excited. She's a little over a year old and very sweet.

Elijah went to the dentist today and did very well. I was so proud. He also is doing well in karate and earned another stripe!

Have a great weekend!