The Lemonade is Delicious

I never would have wished to lose my job in November, or find out my boyfriend was engaged in some interesting extracurriculars. But in that brutal cleaning out (and it was brutal) new things came come in. Things better than I imagined, more than I would have bargained for, and much more than I feel I deserve. I am waking up excited about what I'm doing and grateful for a paycheck I still can't quite believe.
Please cue the violins and enter my dream man. I'm ready.

When Life Gives You Lemons

Life has been tough lately. I was laid off from my state job in November. I ended my relationship in early December only to find out later that month he'd had another girlfriend for five months. These outside events have triggered some inside events that are shall I say... less than fun.
The job and the boy needed to go. I am clear on that. Knowing that hasn't made the transition smooth or less scary, but it has brought some clarity.
I believe some good things are in store for me. I also know that the growth (and it's associated pain) is not over. I have great support in many forms to get me through. As always, during these times, I have tremendous appreciation for my friends. My best friends, casual friends, online friends, my family: they carry me, listen to me, pray for me, and encourage me. I couldn't be more lucky to have them all.

Ready, Set, Hoop!

I miss my hooping friends.
I miss my hooping classes.
It's too cold most days to hoop outside.
So I signed up for the next round of classes AND I signed up to hoop the half marathon in April. I wonder if I will have time to learn new tricks with all of this endurance hooping?

On Being Grown Up and Assisted Living

I thought that perhaps because I lost my mom when I was 29 that I would not be dealing with anymore death and sickness for a very long time. But you never really know when it's coming. I know that it is just another part of life, but I choose to pretend it's not most of the time.

One of the collateral events of  losing my uncle was that my Granma's care had to be re-arranged. She is not in the best of health (she will not give up those cigarettes) but her main issue is that she is in early stages of Alzheimers. Since I am her closest living (and functional) relative, I am her "agent". I have learned all sorts of fun things about Medicare, VA benefits, Social Security, and assisted living in the last couple of months. Thankfully my stepmom and my brothers are also here to help and my Uncle Ronnie helped move Granma's things here from New Orleans. She is beginning to get settled and besides complaining about how cold it is here, she seems relatively happy. If you know my granma, this makes perfect sense. Happy for her is a diferent state than for most of us. 

At any rate I am glad that she can be just down the street from my house and that she has a safe place to be with her own things around her. She has been through a lot in the last few years, not the least of which is losing her home in Hurricane Katrina. She tells great stories, and even though she tells them over and over, I still like to hear them. I'll post some of her good ones.

Sad News

Many of you have heard me speak about my wonderful Uncle Lew. I wrote about him in this blog last year. Sadly, he died last week; at a rather young age, and way too soon for me. 

He was fantastic with a capital "F" in more ways than I could ever adequately express. I'd like to think that it is from him that I get my extreme silly streak, biting sarcasm, and penchant for placing things on my head.

There was a lovely article about him in the New Orleans Times-Picayune.