November 1, 2009

November already?  Where did the previous 10 months go? School, work, travel, grandchildren, children, etc. just makes time fly by. Does this mean I'm having fun? In probably 99.8% of it, I am!  The other .2% is when the power is off, traffic is bad, the internet is down or when things don't go according to plan with family, friends or work.  But I can live with .2% not working out all the time.

For others that I know, life has not been so grand. Health issues, marital issues, vehicle and financial issues sometimes inundate their lives and you can see it in their faces. Wishing I could help is not the same as helping yet providing an encouraging word, a daily smile and maybe a pat on the back can help, even if it's a little bit.

As this year winds down, we have to seekout the positive and continue to move forward. If we are constantly looking back, life will continue to be morose and boring with no hope for the future. For me, that means a few changes here and there.

One, get rid of clutter. Have you used that sweater lately? If not, donate it. Somebody can use it. Same thing with books, DVDs, toys, and other items that are taking up space.

Two, clean out the fridge. You will wish you had when Thanksgiving rolls around!

Three, examine your finances. Now is the time to really look hard at Christams and how much you plan to spend. Set an amount and do not go over it.

Four, holiday parties?  Attend if you can, excuse yourself if you cannot. No use in going someplace if you cannot afford it or dislike the people that will be there.

Five, plan more family time. The holidays are time for family.

Lastly, just be happy. You might not be able to change your situation as quickly as you would like, but taking small steps, you will eventually get there.

Time to get back to some school work.

It's a rainy Sunday. It's quiet in the house. Football comes on later. Wait a minute.......I have an extra hour!  YES!  That's the way to start a new week!

Another Week

Greetings from Northern Virginia!  Ok, ok......maybe Quantico and Stafford are not quite Northern Virginia but we're close. 

After a week back at work, I'm pretty much caught up with all work projects. Now if I could only catch up on school work. Just like a fellow blogger, I'm having some difficulty writing 750-1000 words on the US' influence in the world.  It's not a hard subject to write about but I always like to add a little bit of a twist to it. Maybe it's that "twist" that is slowing me down.

By the way, if you didn't know, I am pursuing a BA degree in International Studies through the online college, American Military University. Great classes, great instructors, great access to tons of materials. I have been attending for a little over 18 months and continue to enjoy the classes. My goal is to have a BA by next Summer. 

No major plans for this weekend. School work. Laundry. Dishes. Sorting through a room for Goodwill and charity items. I have a few letters to write and some recorded television programs to watch.

That's it for now. Maybe I'll have more tomorrow. While the office is quiet, I think I'll deleve deeper into the globalization. 

Have a great weekend!