What? Huh?

I hate to admit this. Really hate to admit it.

I have a focus problem.

Ok, those of you who know me well can stop laughing now.

I always have thought of myself (in the past) as a very focused person...if I had a goal, get out of the way. I would drive myself and everyone crazy in striving to be whatever it was at the moment I was striving to be.  And for the most part, I was pretty successful in doing so.

My apologies to anyone I ran over during this process.

I think when your world is falling around you, it is a good thing to focus on the things you can control.  Although you really can't control anything, really.  That I have learned.

It should tell you something about my life now is that one of my secretaries has her ring tone for me the dog from the movie, "Up."

You know....

I will try to defend my self just a bit in the fact that a couple of things are happening in my life that haven't happened before:

1. A LOT of stuff goes on in my job.
2. I AM getting (just a bit) older.

I know that I have mentioned that a lot of my job involves listening. To everyone. And that is a very good thing to do. However, I am not so good at the listening to all that goes on at the same time...and then remembering what in the heck I have said..or what someone has said to me.  

This leads to the following kind of conversations:

 Colinas Staff Member: "Laura, don't you remember that I asked you if I could blow up the biopark and plant eco-friendly plants that would swallow any naughty students"?

Me: Blank look on face. 

Colinas Staff Member: "Laura, don't you remember that I e-mailed you about taking off a month or so to go to Pango- Pango? You said that it would be just fine, and that you would give me all your sick leave."

Me: Blank look on face.

Now this has led (besides the blank look on my face) to taking copious notes about what and who I am talking to during the day. The only issue with this is that I look back at my copious notes and have no idea what I wrote.  And I have pretty good handwriting.

Desperate measures were called for here.  I know that I look befuzzled a great deal of the time, but REALLY being befuzzled isn't good. At all. 

So I decided to take a course on being more organized. Yes, I know. Me, the queen of color coding, sharpies, and the post it notes.  I could lose my membership in the "Happy Organizer"club.

I actually took a day off and went to a Franklin Covey course about Focus...and achieving my highest priorities.  Yes, that was the name of the course.  It was led by a very tall man named Cordell who had a voice like a movie trailer announcer. 

Cordell did have some very good points, however.

One thing that he talked about was a mathematical formula that took the hours during a day that you worked...and the percentage of hours that you could actually get priorities done..versus the hours in which you had interruptions, and calls, and things like that.  It seems as if the percentage of time you can get priorities done is less than the hours you work. For me, it's about 4 hours that I can actually get done what I should get done. 

The other thing that he talked about was the "Big Rocks" theory.  It seems as if there are things that are important in your life: Family, spiritual, physical health, education, etc. But these important things get pushed aside fot the "little pebbles" that crowd into your life. You know, running to the store, phone calls, internet surfing, etc. So he talked about how you actually schedule your week so that the "Big Rocks" of your life are scheduled first..and then the little pebbles around it. 

Now that made sense to me. I am always pushing aside the things (and sometimes the people) that are important to me. So now I have a weekly planning schedule in which I schedule "Big Rocks" priorities for the week....keeping in mind the percentage of time I have to really focus in on it for the day.  And I can do it through my Outlook calendar, in which I can happily color code my "Big Rock" categories.  So I can actually plan my gym time, my family time, my friend time, and realistic goals at work that I can get done.

Oops...will get done. With color coding, of course.  

We Don't Remember Days...We Remember Moments

Sometimes the planets align and the time-space continuum tilts just the right way..perhaps to recognize that every once in a while things need to be...well, well in the world.

Last Saturday was one of those days. 

You may have noticed (or not) that I have not mentioned dating/trying to understand someone who has stopped seeing me lately.  I have decided that it is bad karma or bad ju ju to do so...although this a flawed theory, most likely. It's like you attract what you don't proclaim..or if you proclaim it, it doesn't sustain. (I am always thinking of good T-shirt slogans, I might add).

However, lately I have been seeing this amazing person. He is kind, he is funny, he is smart, he is generous and good at keeping me off balanced and on my toes. That's a very good thing for me, and very rare to find. Trust me. 

I couldn't tell you at this point what our relationship (or non-relationship) is like at this point in time. The important thing is that we have fun together,and I need to stay neutral, like Switzerland.  So we are friends that have fun. 

Now on to the amazing day.

If you know anything about me, you know that a big thrill for me is getting a new Sharpie.  I'm pretty easy to please. But my world usually consists of going to school, walking the dogs, visiting Torturous Dave at the gym, trying to ride my bike, doing things with my friends.

Which is not a bad world, I might add.

He had told me a while ago that we should go sometime to the 10,000 Waves Spa place. Now I had heard of this place, which is located outside Santa Fe, but I never had gone there.  So when he called me and asked if I'd like to go with him,  I was very excited. I would be going out of town, to a very neat place, with a very good friend, and have fun.

Bonus.  :)

We drove up to Santa Fe in his little restored Porsche that was born the year Whitney was. It was an absolutely beautiful day...the kind in which the sky is really blue, the weather is absolutely perfect, and my platoon of angels are breathing a sigh of relief...perhaps taking a nap.

These are a little fruity, but hopefully you get the point.

We drove through Santa Fe...which is a treat in itself. Such a mix of funky, eclectic, and different. We stopped at this little store in which I was allowed to buy him a yummy fruit drink, and we browsed around, looking at all the different and unique things to eat. 

As we took the ride up the mountain to the Spa, I caught my breath a bit. The last time I had traveled this road, it was with Reid. I was taking him up to snowboard at Ski Santa Fe.  It was one of those moments that drag you back into grief just a bit, but it quickly passed as we pulled into 10,000 Waves. 

Nice to see that you can burn calories while you walk to the spa.

As we were walking up, he noticed the lights along the path. Now one thing I should mention is that he owns a lighting company...so lights are what he does. He did point out to me that he would have never installed the kind of lights that were on the path...the wires were open in some sort of hole, and the elements could get in.

Behold the stinky lights.

47 calories later, we got to the top of the walk where the spa was located.  When you walk in, there is a little river inside, filled with Koi fish, all waiting to be fed. Unfortunately, there is a very stern sign that tells you not to feed them. Rats. So after waving a sad goodbye to them, we checked in and went into our little spa area.

Wow.

On the way to our little spa..take a right.

This was like our own little private world. The spa guy (named "Buddha Bob") gave us a special key that opened up the the world to the Ichiban spa. It was a little world within the spa.

Double Wow.

When we first entered, there was a little area to the right before the hot tubs that you showered and rinsed off in preparation for entering the hot tubs. And there was a sauna beside it that made me feel like I was living in Georgia again. (hello, humidity). After we changed and I had fun spraying him with the shower nozzle that you could move around..we went into the hot tubs.

Bliss. 

The water was warm..the air outside was cold..and when the wind blew slightly through the pines, it was the most serene feeling in the world. When I heard we had 90 minutes to enjoy this bliss, I was a bit worried it would be too long. But it flew by, and when they called through the intercom to give us a "15 minute warning" I was amazed. 

After checking out the very different Japanese bathroom..it did everything but talk to you..we went back into the shower area, washed off, used the nice warm towels that he had placed so thoughtfully in the sauna...got dressed, and went back into the main building.

My hair was soaked, my face was red, my makeup was smeared, but my heart was happy and peaceful. 

Thanks for the happy day. 

When what is right is wrong.

It's interesting (when you take the time to look at things in the world) how things seem to balance. Sometimes your personal life can be going to pieces, while your professional life is stellar.  And then life can tilt, and your professional life is like climbing uphill, while your personal life is well..is happy.

Scary thing for me to say, really.

I've waited and worked a long time for happy. At first I wasn't sure what happy was anymore. I was so lost in the muck of losing Reid, and ensuing explosion of my marriage, that I couldn't even see happy. It was so  far away and unreachable.

But after a lot of time (still hate that word) and a lot of work, happy is back in my life. If not happy, content works as well.

I kept hearing from friends that as I gained confidence in myself and self esteem that I was a worthwhile person, I would attract the right kind of people. And in my ever ending quest to figure out what the heck was important, and what was not, I found this to be true. You can't give to others until you are content with yourself.

So here I am, actually pleased with my little life. I liked going home..I liked spending time with my friends, my girls, my dogs..and liked being by myself. I really did.

By the way, I still do.

And so there I was, happy, figuring things out, the time space continuum was tilted in the right directions, and then it happened.

I met someone.

Now you must realize that I do have standards for what I am looking for in a man. Although I've been told they are too high, I don't think so.  A job and teeth are crucial. Honesty, a good sense of humor, kindness, a focus and a purpose, and integrity are also in there.

That's him.

When we first started talking and e-mailing, we had such a good time with words and wit and humor. When we first met, I remember thinking that once again I would meet someone, and as usual, meeting me would turn into "unmeeting me". However, I was getting used to being rejected, and not as devastated as I was when the world of dating torture began.

He actually still liked me after we met.

We had fun together, and enjoyed teasing each other, and that was exactly where it needed to be for me. I wasn't expecting a relationship...I wasn't expecting exclusivity..it was just enough to get to know him and spend time together.

He is one of the kindest and generous man I have ever met. In fact, he is the kindest and most generous man I ever met. And that is a very rare thing for me. It touched me to my core. I still was very thankful for his attention and friendship, and enjoyed the challenge of wits that he brought to my life. Of course I was hoping our friendship would progress, but I wasn't in a hurry.

But I found out that who I was...was not enough.

The one thing that I have realized that all we have is what is inside of us.  We may be tall, or short, or thin, or wide. We may be a size 8, or overweight, and it can all change in a blink of an eye. The outside can change.

But the inside is the thing.

The one thing that is not enough is when you have criteria that is so tight and structured that it stops you from finding the thing that you really want. As wonderful and great as I told that I was, it wasn't enough.

It was right..but I was wrong.

Now I have to decide if the friendship that we have is enough. I have to decide if I can hope...or not hope for more. I have to decide if a person that I have grown to care for and value as a friend is who I am thinking he is..or wrong.

Today my daughter told me (who is very wise at times for 25) that there is nothing wrong with just having fun. Just fun. and to think of it as, "Ka-Pow". If you know her, that makes perfect sense she would say that.  To enjoy the fun, and the friendship, and the good times together, and just to live in that.

Even when the right is wrong.

All those New Year's resolutions and reflections and stuff

It's January.

The time of fresh starts and new resolve and white sales.

I have never been a big New Year's Eve type of person. Since I've always been one of those annoying early risers, staying up until midnight takes fortitude and other things that usually end up with running out of "umph"..and ending up in comfy pajamas in bed...asleep.

My favorite New Year's Eve story involves my brother -in-law, who was a happy New Year's Eve drinker and partier. He went around blowing those party tooters into people's ears and shouting, "Happy New Year!"

I know. It doesn't take a lot to amuse me.

This year I actually went out for New Year's Eve...and....(drum roll please) had a date.

Aren't you glad you are sitting down reading this?

It was kind of exciting, because most New Year's celebrations in the past 12 years or so have involved going to a friends' house, the Mayor getting upset about something that usually included something I had done wrong (laughed too much, talked too much) and leaving because I had to hear "the lecture" in the yellow chair in our bedroom afterwards.

This was different.

I actually went out and bought these really cute shoes that were high heel like. Now, I don't wear high heels. You would think it would be a good idea, because it would at least make me tall enough to be of an "average" height. But I walk in them like I had been drinking 2,345 margaritas..and they hurt. Owwie.

This wasn't any different either. But they were super cute.

Dena and Jacks were visiting, so I got the "Dena makeover" I found this cute shirt with ruffles, and some hip and trendy jewelry. So I was set to look at least festive.

We went out to eat, and then to the party. We had a great time, with great people, and I stayed up past midnight. Super fun.

So now I am facing a New Year, and thinking about what I need to do to be a better Laura.

I'm not big on resolutions, because it's an easy thing to do..and then not to do. Last year I decided (after listening to Marie, who is wise beyond her years) to do one simple thing as a goal. It was very simple, but hadn't been easy for me to do.

And it was this..The circle thing.

It kind of goes back to the "things you can control" and "things you can let go" deal. If something was outside of my control, I simply let it go. And I have to tell you, it worked really well. After I got the hang of it (had to repeat "not in my circle" a lot) life got so much easier...and much more peaceful.

I now have to look at my next goal for the year. I have found that I am full of good intentions, but my follow through isn't the greatest at times. I heard today someone say, "You can want something, and desire something, but you need a plan to make it happen".

So my goal this year is focus.

I used to be a focused type person. Heaven help you if I had a goal and I wanted something to happen. Now, I didn't always make it happen..but I was a very persistant person and kept at it like...well, like Tila does when she has a tasty bone. Do you notice that many of my analogies involve dogs?

I need to get out more.

The focus left me after Reid died..along with the persistance and the annoyance that I was in making things happen. It was like I would see something going on and think, "Hmmmm, I really should be doing that. Is it time for a nap yet?"

And I don't take naps well.

Now in lots of ways, I am a better person for all that has happened to me..which goes back to my theory in life that things happen as they should. I don't always like the way that things happen, but when I look back, I see why.

Reid's death is the exception to that. I don't think I will ever understand that.

So I have decided for this year that I will focus on the "triangle of me". Good health, good eating habits, and financial diligence.   I need to focus more on making sure those areas intentionally happen. And I also need to be kind to myself if I mess up from time to time.

So I am working with Torturous Dave twice a week, and now going to the gym to do cardio more on my own.  I'm tracking what I eat, and trying to stay within guidelines that make me healthier.  I'm more diligent about where my money goes, and how I take care of finances. It's all about paying attention to the world of me.

Cause I am really am important and special..and although I do forget that a lot at times, focus is what I need to do.

Now if I could just find my notebook....:)

You Sure You Don't Wish To Switch Schools?

It's been a week.

The rule of the time space continuum always seems to tilt to the right..and then slide back to the left after you return from Christmas (oops, excuse me) Winter Break. This year was no exception. Our Social Worker at our school thinks that things started to explode on the day of my fourth Annual Staff Christmas Party. I think that was just a warm up for what has been happening since Christmas. You know, like a pre-game warm up. Or like the Before Sales you get to go to if you are a "preferred customer" before the real sales start. Of course, I would know nothing about being a preferred customer.

But it seems I've been a preferred customer school wise. You know the saying. "If anything can happen, it will happen...and Laura Moore, it's going to happen to you in particular. Oh, and the others that work with you too. " Look it up..I'm sure it's in a wise saying book somewhere.

Well, if it's not, it should be.

This week was tons of fun in particular. I would like to mention for those of you who may be interested (and don't tell me that you are not) that one of my major jobs within the job I have is to evaluate, protect, and defend the teachers on my staff. The protect and defend is really not written in my job description, but I do that anywho.   We are supposed to formally evaluate teachers at least once a year...twice a year if they are new to the school or to their grade level, and do walkthroughs weekly.

There are forces abounding in the time space continuum that are devising an evil plan to make this job an impossible one to accomplish. Really.

If you look at my nice, tidy, color coded (of course) outlook planning calendar for the week, you will see how I have blocked out times to go into classroom and observe. It's one of the best things I do, because it makes my little administrator heart happy to see good teachers doing stellar things with children in the classroom.  And that was one of my major plans to get accomplished this week.

Silly me.

I would tell you all of the nutsy things that happened this week, but I don't think they have that many pages available in this blog. I will say that due to the incident that happened on the day of the Staff Christmas party, a few of us were served with subpoenas this week. It seems as if we have to appear in court, and speak about a case that is too horrific to think about, and still upsets me to this day. I am afraid that I will not look like the witnessers do on the stand on television, and will stand up and declare to the defendants, "You are a Stupid Poopy Diaper Head!"  Robert was called that as we were watching a child fill up his shoes with water (plus his socks) and trying to jump off the counter as if it was a trapeze. We both have decided that this phrase is appropriate for many people that we know.

We also had a child this week that came to our counselor, scared to go home, because his step-father had been drinking, and the step-father and mother got into a fight. After reassuring this child that we would keep him safe, we had the pleasure to speak to a policeman whose only concern was why this child was in our school, since he was not in "our district". I don't get angry often, but I had to stand up and walk out of the room so I wouldn't end up in the papers for choking a police officer.  We did keep him safe, however. This was not due to the police officer, I might add.

However, the highlight of the week was when a child from our behavior program decided to become Bruce Jenner and take off from the school, and off school property. This of course was at the end of the day when everyone is going everywhere, when everyone that is helpful in a situtation such as this is occupied with other situations..as in getting children safely on buses, ducking from cars that can run them over as they supervise crosswalk, you know...usual stuff.

I had the distinct pleasure in this situation in being the first one on the scene to assist. Well, try to help to assist. After we determined that our student was off the school property, we had the secretaries call 911, I headed across the field, Robert stayed with the buses to make sure that more confusion and delay didn't occur there.

Somehow (I didn't ask, and really didn't want to know) the child in question, his teacher, and one of our other teachers who runs the same sort of behavior program (although it isn't called that, it should be called that) were out in the undeveloped subdivision beside our field. The highly agitated student had two long sticks that could at best be called weapons, which he was swinging briskly at both of my teachers. Now before I continue this story, I must add the fact that our behavior teacher got across the field and to him in 3.5 seconds...wearing high heels and nice pants. She does play soccer, which in her job is very helpful. I missed seeing her sprint across the field like...well, like Bruce Jenner, but I understand from our head custodian that it was an amazing thing to see. Keep in mind she is 26, an excellent soccer player, and in very good shape.

Then here I came.

The first obstacle that I faced in trying to assist was the fact that the only way to get to the subdivision field beside our field was to jump off a hill (that was graded at 90 degrees) and covered with goat heads. Now I am not 26, I never played soccer, and I am just a little bit short.

So I jumped...praying that I would not break something, and look fairly dignified while doing so.

 Ashlyn and Erin were too busy evading the sticks to notice that I did not.

It's a good thing that my platoon of angels kept me from serious harm, and I was able to get to the area where the action was going on. The student of course came at me, and I announced in my best principal like voice that it was not a good choice to swing a lethal weapon at me.

This, of course, was not effective.

Fortunately our Social Worker came on the scene (he lifts huge amounts of weights, so I'm sure he got down the hill of doom successfully) and told us that if the student didn't want to pay attention to us, we needed to leave.

So we did.

The four of us walked back toward the hill of doom, with the student yelling behind us (as he followed us back, of course) "Hey, Guys! Look at Me!"

We ignored him, of course.  Attention is a powerful thing. Lack of attention kind of takes away the power.

Erin, Ashlyn, and our Social Worker scaled the hill of doom easily. I, on the other hand, had issues.

I somehow had to get up the hill without landing in the goat heads that were so delightfully covering it. Of course, I couldn't even get my leg on top of it. So I was forced to ask for help in getting up the hill.

How embarrassing.

After my very kind (and tired, I might add) Social Worker grabbed my arm and pulled,  (poor guy) I managed to get up, but not before landing chest first into the goat heads.

No one laughed. I think.

We walked across the field (Well, they walked, I limped because I had goat heads in my socks) and then the police finally showed up.  By this time, the student had followed us across the field, swing the lethal sticks at us again, and then headed back down the goat head hill to grab more weapons. Eventually, the policeman and his mother got him back on the field, and we all got back to the school where I continued fun meetings about students and their problems.

Just a normal week.

Now the best part about the whole thing (well, not the best part, but it was funny) was after I e-mailed a wonderful (yes, I mean wonderful) man that I have been dating. (More about that at another time) I told him the story, and he e-mailed back to me,

"You sure you don't wish to switch schools? Or are all of them like this?"

Why yes, they are.

The grass (or the snow) is always greener on the other side.

I am now on Snow Day...the "Day Two" edition. 

I have always loved snow. Always. To me, it makes the world peaceful, and it makes the world seem like a place where everything is perfect. Growing up in North Carolina, snow days were rare, and definitely a treat. We would get our sleds that were sitting in the closet beside the breezeway getting dusty, and head off to High Point College, where my sisters and my friends would take our lives into our hands as we sped down the hill. The biggest danger was running into people, and occasionally the big oak trees around the hill. In North Carolina, the schools shut down more for ice than they did for snow..but any mention of snow usually paralyzed the city. 

I was totally surprised when I moved to New Mexico that it was so cold here. The only reference I ever had to New Mexico, however, were the Bugs Bunny or Roadrunner cartoons. They showed a barren desert..and no one wore coats in the cartoons, I might add. So it was a delightful shock when I moved here, and it was cold, and there was snow on top of it. Bonus.

(My backyard yesterday in the snow..even the birdhouse is covered).

Rio Rancho got hit with a big snow storm yesterday..and it was a really big one. We got a half a foot of snow. It was strange, for parts of Albuquerque (which is less than 15 minutes away) got none. Absolutely nothing. I understand this happens a lot because of the winds that whip in from the mountain, and drive the snow to other places. In this case, the other place was Rio Rancho. I will mention that other years Albuquerque has gotten a butt load of snow, while Rio Rancho got nothing. So fair is fair. 

So Monday I woke up to a lot of falling snow, and many calls that informed me that we were delayed..and then school was called off. So I had a day that was total bliss..snuggling up in a blanket, watching Christmas movies, drinking hot coffee and Russian tea, and....

Taking Kitty for a walk. Several times, in fact. Some things in your life NEVER change. 

It was fun to walk, however. Nothing clears your mind and makes you appreciate the world more than walking in fresh snow that is sparkling like a field of diamonds, and watching a 12 year old dog frolic and prance like a puppy in it.  Loved it...just loved it.

As you may know, I have a lot of time to think, since it's just usually me and the dogs..and this past four days, it's just been me and Kitty..cause Tila is on her "shared custody" weekend with Whitney. And that gives me even more time to think because I am not on watch from the snatching jaws of Tila..or throwing her wubba for hours on end while trying to read a book or work at the same time. So double thinking time was involved.  

So here it is. We all want things that we do not have..and when we have them, we want the things we didn't have.

The snow day(s) are a perfect example. Everyone wants a day off of school, but when you get them off, then you start thinking about all the things you need to do at school, so then you start wishing you didn't have the snow day, and were back at school. And THEN when you are back at school, you start wishing you had a snow day off from all the stuff that is going on at school. 

It's just the nature of us humans.

Families are another example. I remember thinking when I had four children at home that a day in you know where for me would be at a Pizza Hut, washing clothes constantly. And a day in heaven would be an afternoon all to myself, instead of spending 5 minutes in the bathroom, and hearing the word "Mom?" constantly.  Of course, now that I have lots of minutes to myself, I miss the chatter of a thousand voices (perhaps I exaggerate a bit, but you get the picture) around me.

It's human nature once again. 

So in my new "Learning Life Lessons" of life, I try to keep in mind that whatever situation I am in, I need to enjoy the situation of what the "now" is, and not worry about the "what ifs" and the "I need tos". Because school and the stuff you need to do will always be there...your family and the things you "should do" will always be there. But the unexpected moments where you have a chance to sled with your children, and walk with your dog will not always come..so be in them when they're here. 

Cause it's the "now" that matters most of all. 

Wonder where my sled is now?  :-)

The Very Simple Christmas of Me.

I am amazed.

Now to be honest, it doesn't take much to amaze and make me happy. I had a student give me a "Professional Sharpie" yesterday, and you would have thought I got a new Coach purse.

Mine even had yellow grips on the side. I know, I'm pathetic.

Besides the fact that it doesn't take much to please me, I have continued to be amazed about Christmas this year.  In fact, I have stopped at times today to just feel the feelings that surge through me...kind of like finding a great sweater at Ann Taylor Loft. You are tickled and amazed that you got such a wonderful sweater that not only feels and looks good on you, but it's also on sale. Bonus.

That's what Christmas is continuing to feel like for me.

I wasn't sure really what getting ready for Christmas would look like this year. After all, I have been used all my life to have people involved in getting ready for Christmas, My mother, my sisters, my children, my husbands. And although Whitney helped me get all the Christmas tubs into the house, this year it has been all me. I wasn't sure how I would feel about that.

It's been wonderful.

Today I actually got out a ladder and put things up outside. Now anyone who knows me (even slightly) knows that I am not the most graceful person in the world. I did take ballet, but I don't think it taught me anything except my best look is not in a tutu. And my experiences with ladders since I've been on my own have been less than stellar. In fact, a lot less than stellar. In my "Recovery House" I was trying to replace something in the ceiling of the hallway...most likely a smoke detector battery. They are sneaky..they beep at you just enough to annoy you, but if you have more than one, it takes skill to figure out which one beeped.  Highly annoying.

(The Evil Ladder)

Anyway, I was up on the ladder when I slipped, and somehow managed to bump down on my feet on every rung of the ladder, so that when I hit the carpet, my feet were bloody and quite owwie. And the carpet was light beige, so I hopped quickly to the guest bathroom, where I stood for a bit, trying to figure out how I was going to fix my feet when there was blood gushing out of them. You can't get blood on the carpet you know..that would be a big time disaster.  So I found some towels in the cabinet, and hopped like a deranged rabbit to my bathroom, where I found gauze and stuff to repair the cuts. (Another tricky thing about living alone).

There have also been other incidents that would make you laugh, but that I will not mention at this time about the evil ladder that is out to destroy me. Most of my friends (well, in fact all my friends) have told me in no certain terms to stay off ladders. This is all well and good, but I can not contact my friends all the time so that they can stand on a ladder to do something that a normal graceful person could do.

I decided today would be a good day to get all the Christmas things up, and get the house decorated. To be honest, it is an essential thing to do since the Colinas Staff is invited to a Christmas party at my house on Friday. I have been told sternly by my Site Specialist that it "better be decorated". Who am I to question a Site Specialist, especially one who gives you "the look". So I took my life and feet into my own hands, and used the evil ladder...outside..and by a tree.  I actually got the wreaths on the garage door lights, and somehow managed to wrap Christmas lights on a tall evergreen (well, taller than me) beside my house. I didn't fall off at all. Although I did somehow manage to squish a couple of the bulbs on the strand. Who know they were so delicate? So if they don't work out tonight, I will have to go back and buy new strands, for it seems as if the Christmas tree light people are in a conspiracy to make you buy new strands when bulbs get accidentally squished by a certain someone who loses her balance and steps on them. They simply don't sell them...so this means you have to buy new strands if you want Christmas lights. Wrong on many levels.

(This is what my outside tree would look like if it was taller, there was snow outside, and my bulbs actually worked...)

Then I tackled the Christmas tubs. This is a perilous task for me, because in the past, bringing out Christmas ornaments left me like a puddle of jello, and on the sofa for the rest of the day. I also had to be strategic about it, because I can not put delicate and keepsake ornaments anywhere near Tila's reach. Because if she destroys them, she will be ...well, dead. And that is not a pleasant thing to do to a dog..especially at Christmas time. 

(She looks so innocent, doesn't she? Do not be deceived). 

This year, I actually had fun. I went through the Christmas ornaments, picking the ones that would survive Tila to be on the lower branches, and the ones that need to stay out of her reach on the top of the tree. A lot of the ornaments stayed in the boxes.  I apologized silently to them, but they just didn't need to be exposed to the "Tilanator" this year. For example, my Hummel Manager scene figurines. They are worth more than all the medical bills for Tila, and it is best to leave them resting in their boxes this year.  Perhaps next year they can make an appearance.

(The manager scene cow thanks me).

So I am happily putting out all the Christmas things that make me happy, and protecting the ones that wouldn't make it through a Christmas season with Tila.  For example, my snowmen plethora.  For some years, I was very fond of collecting snowmen, although at this time I do not know what in the world was wrong with me that I had such an obsession about them. Because I am becoming suspicious that they get together and multiple each year. There seem to be more coming out of the tubs every  year. And it's very hard to keep them in the tubs..they look so happy when you pull them out. One can't disappoint a happy snowman.  So they will perch here and there throughout my house...out of you know who's reach, you know. 

Believe it or not, I have these....

And these.....

And this one as well.

Serious snowmen intervention are in order for me. Wonder if there is a support group? 

So now I am happily putting up small Christmas trees in the rest of the house, and the rest of the things that will make my house like Christmas. And it's simple, it's just me, and it's more than ok.

Tra la la la la.  :-)