Good friends!

Tom and I have become really good friends since meeting last December. We've had some great dinners, watched movies and gone for lunches. The amazing thing is that we both worked (at different times) at the same specialty store in Beverly Hills, CA called Bonwit Teller. He in the late 70's and me in the mid 80's. To top it off, we both worked in the cosmetic department selling Estee Lauder! We shared so many memorable stories about the job, especially stories about meeting the Beverly Hills celebrities. Those were fun times! Who would have known that many years later, we should meet and have this in common. And we just live within minutes from each other! I mean, so close we can walk to visit!! Tom has been working for Holland Cruise Lines cruising the Mediterranean. He's away for seven months and then returns home for five months. It will be tough when he has to leave in March. Since he can get Internet on the ship, I told him to get a webcam so we can stay connected. Hopefully he will also take his digital camera to email me photos of the exciting countries he visits like Greece, Italy and Egypt.

Get Together with the Boys

So nice to get together with guys from the men's group. Last night a few of us got together at Mike & Dale's house for our monthly Gay-themed Movie Nights. They are great hosts and put together a really nice spread of refreshments and snacks. Even have a popcorn making machine like at the fairs! We also met a few new guys to our group. Always good to have more friends. The movie was called "Arizona Sky". Good story-line about first love in this romantic drama about two reunited 30-something buddies who fall back in love. This is one of the fun social events that we do. By the end of the evening, the new guys joining our group seemed like longtime friends! Next weekend, I'm hosting our Post Holiday Potluck at my place.

Forward with new promise and hope

I worked yesterday, so did not get a chance to see the inauguration live. I asked a friend to tape it for me and I'd watch it later in the evening. Yesterday at work, one of the clients commented that it was a going to be a good day. That single comment meant many things on different levels as I knew she was talking about our new President taking office. For me, it certainly was a good day as we all move forward in a new direction for promise and hope for our country.

This morning I woke with a feeling that something great was starting to happen. I look forward to what will come and how our country bounces back. We certainly are "remaking America"!

In the thick of it...

Yes, we are getting our share of the thick stuff here. The early mornings are really thick, then much less by the time I leave for work at 7:15am. By 6pm, it starts rolling in again. It's also been leaving frost and really cold. Yippee, scraping off the windshield! Yesterday it stayed pretty much all day. Kinda eerie feeling driving with very little visual distance, then seeing the glowing lights of an on-coming car or the stoplights at the intersection. Today, it seems to be lifting much earlier, so it looks like a reasonably clearer day.

Lunch with great friends

Today was a wonderful day. Enjoyed lunch at a local Hawaiian restaurant in Tacoma with great friends from my men's group. Ok, let me back-up a bit and first tell you about the men's group. I organized an outdoor & social men's group in Tacoma in May 2007. I've been fortunate to meet some great guys in Tacoma and surrounding areas and made some great friendships as a result of starting the group. We started with 5 guys and are now close to 160 guys! Now, back to the lunch. Anyway, a few of us met for lunch today and had a great time. If you are in Tacoma and want to try the best hawaiian food in the area, you have to go to Freighthouse Square by the Tacoma Dome and check-out Ali'i & Sumo's Hawaiian Grill. There are a few so-called "hawaiian" restaurants that just don't compare to this place. The cooking is local hawaiian-style as is the atmosphere and friendly service. They even have a small store with local island goodies from aloha shirts and sarongs to coffee and chocolate covered macadamia nuts. Also, local hawaiian tunes playing to put you in the island mood. Be sure to go hungry because the portions are generous and as they say in Hawaii "ono, brok da mout!!" Translation: tasty, to break the mouth. Okay, that may not make any sense...oh well, that's our island pidgin talk. If you like desserts, Bert makes the best cakes like guava, passion orange and chantilly. I love the guava, but my new favorite in the passion orange...YUM!! So, if you're in Tacoma, call me and I'll join you for hawaiian lunch!

Getting my "work" groove on

It's been wonderful being back to work again! I really like my new job and feel so welcomed by my co-workers. Actually, I feel more appreciated in my 1-1/2 weeks there than I felt at my last job of nearly 9-years! Great potential for growth with this company. You know, I don't think I mentioned the kind of new job I have. Oops! I'm working at a veterinary hospital in downtown Tacoma. My primary position is receptionist and I will also be working with public relations and marketing. I already have ideas that I discussed with the owner. Definately something I am experienced with and enjoy doing. Part of the marketing and public relations will be coordinating community pet events to create awareness for pet health, the human-animal bond, and working with animal rescue and adoption. This is something I did on a regular basis at my last job that really helped build the business on many levels. So as you might guess, I am very passionate about animals and where I'm at now. All good things that were worth waiting for!

Fantastic News!

It's been a very long time, nine months to be exact, unemployed and searching for a new job. Well, yesterday I got a phone call and was offered a great new job! I was so excited and actually emotional because it has been so long. My first day is tomorrow, mainly the usual new hire orientation and paperwork. This new job brings many opportunities for a promising career. Definately growth potential for me within the company and an opportunity for me to use my marketing and promotional skills to help the business grow. Yippee!

More White Stuff!

Walking in a winter wonderland... HELLO, enough already!!! Okay, so I need to vent. Now, I'm fine. My only real concern with all of this winter weather is all the ice. Sure makes it dangerous and difficult to drive and walk in it. I was taking the dogs out this morning and slipped on some ice. Couldn't even tell there was ice. Thank goodness I did not fall. The dogs love to run, but knew how to navigate on the ice. They definately have better sense and just knew there was ice on the patio floor. The weather forecast calls for warmer temperatures which will help to melt the ice and remaining snow. Yippee!!!

Happy New Year!

Yes, we are in a New Year. Full of promise and changes for our country. For me, definately all things new. Last year was a year of difficult life changing experiences. The most significant was joining the group of many people falling victim to corporate down-sizing and budget cutbacks. Yes, for the first time ever, I was sent packing with not so much as a sincere Thank You for my dedication to my job of nearly nine years. This hit me pretty hard. Never would I think it would be so difficult to find another job. As of today, I am still unemployed. I know this won't be for much longer as I remain positive and keep moving forward in search of my new job.

The close of 2008 brought a very heart-warming experience as my ex-partner and I donated much needed items to a family truly in need. This wonderful family, a single mother and her three children did not even have a christmas tree yet were very content with what they did have. Fernando and I searched through our own belongings and found many things that we knew would be better used by this family. We even had an extra artificial christmas tree, decorations & stockings for them. So, Fernando's car became Santa's sleigh as we loaded up and he made the delivery a few days before Christmas. Later that evening, I stayed up late finding yet more things they could use. It's so amazing how many "things" we accumulate and many never even use. Worst of all, some things are new and never used! One of the greatest actions one can do is simply help, from the heart someone else in need. This action should happen anytime, not just during the holidays. So, in some way, we have adopted this family and will do what we are able to help them.

Happy New Year! Peace - Love - Friendships - Happiness