Happy Weekend!

Photo 78 - December 10

Some people don't understand how much Dale and I get to talk to each other. I have become a huge fan of Skype and Oovoo, and Dale gets better and better at the computer as the days go by. He laughed at me when I picked up my camera this morning when we were chatting. You can see that he's just as goofy long distance - and that's said very lovingly, honey!




This week at work I got a very nice surprise delivered by the UPS man. Thanks for the wine and caramels, Dad! Like I told you, it's hard to decide which one I was more excited about. And you can stay here any time - no strings attached.



Dinner tonight was very exciting, too. Actually, any homemade meal is exciting for me! I find it very hard cooking just for one. Laura brought me an amazing bowl of Italian wedding soup - made by her at the store. It was absolutely wonderful...and even though I probably could have stretched it out for two meals, I killed it in one. Good stuff!

A little bit of Christmas

Photo 77 - December 9

My very sweet boss and friend, Cindy, followed me out after work today telling me she had to give me something. She knows that in all of the chaos at my house, Dale being gone, and other missing family, that I wasn't planning on putting up a Christmas tree. So she got me one. It's about 2 feet tall, has battery operated lights so I don't even have to find a place to plug it in, and is decorated. It even has an ornament with my name on it. Thanks, Cindy...in the middle of her chaos she finds time to try to brighten mine. Friends like her are priceless.

It's Me!

Photo 76 - December 8

I've never liked pictures of myself...I guess it's probably human nature that we're the most critical of ourselves. I'm not sure what specifically I don't like - I know my smile is part of it. One day I will get those crooked teeth fixed and then maybe I'll be a little happier with the look. I am also not able to make myself look my best because I don't have my lighting or my backgrounds. I'm not sure that would help since I'm still shooting the same face, right? But I decided to do the best I could with what I had available. Plus I have a new haircut and I figured I could show it off.

The Birds

Photo 75 - December 7

I almost felt like I was in a Hitchcock movie today. Cindy's yard was overrun with crows. And these are not the small variety of crows - these are big and black...almost as big as chickens. I think you could probably make a meal out of one of them. If you like crow, that is.





The Worship Committee was also in charge of the Advent meal tonight. Dennis was busily stirring the gravy, John was preparing for his reading, and the Christmas tree was just too pretty to not take a picture of.

Hello, Santa

Photo 74 - December 6

In all of her busyness, my boss found time to put up Christmas decorations this past weekend. She has a wonderful collection of Santa Claus figurines scattered throughout her house, and in all the years that I've worked there, I've gotten different ones to look at, because she doesn't put them in the same places every Christmas season. I'll have to include more in future blogs, because some of them are a lot of fun.

Japanese!

Photo 73 - December 5

It's going to start to look like all I do is eat! Tonight I got to spend some time with one of my Army wife friends, Cindy, whose husband is deployed with Dale. We decided to try the food at Ninja, a new Japanese hibachi restaurant in West Bend. She said she had heard good things about it, and we were not disappointed. Our chef, Michael, was a little crazy with the sake bottle, and the poor guy next to us was subjected to quite a few mouthfuls as Michael practiced his aiming skills with the bottle. The food was good, the show was fun...and Dale will love dinner here when he gets home!

Consecration Sunday

Photo 72 - December 4

Today was the culmination of our Stewardship drive at church. Besides making our contribution pledges for giving for next year, we were also treated to a very nice lunch. I got to spend my time with Anita and her granddaughter, Stephanie. Always a pleasure, ladies!