Brenda Birch

Despite all of the New Years traditions to bring good luck in 2012, so far it hasn’t been good. I’ve spent $2,260 on multiple truck repairs including a new transmission. It’s not fun. Well, at least we have AAA and the towing was free. Hopefully, (please,please,please) let that be all the bad stuff that happens this year.

On Wednesday I made another pot of black-eye pea gumbo. Perhaps it’ll bring some good luck.

Thursday, B4 texted ‘COME GET ME’ from school just after I booted my computer at work. Earlier he had a few itchy bumps but by the time I picked him up the rash was all over this face. So it was straight to the doctor’s office for some prednisone. Poison Ivy!

This same day, the layoff happened. I’m not sure of the final headcount but even one “worker bee” lost is one too many. It is obvious to anyone who works there for any length of time that there are too many managers wanting work done but not enough knowledgeable people to do the actual work. Oh well, there’s nothing I can really do about it and even though it is selfish to say, thank goodness my job wasn’t impacted.

B3 began the driving section of Drivers Ed on Thursday. Yay, a $4800 per year insurance bill isn’t nearly high enough!  Thanks B1! Love ya!

I let her drive me around the neighborhood in B2′s car before her first lesson. Eh . . . she’s fourteen-and-a-half and drives like she’s fourteen-and-a-half. There is NO WAY I could ever be a driving instructor. They either have nerves of steel or really potent meds.

The writing has been a slow-go as well. I’m writing almost every day, but the words are flowing as well and I’m editing more.  I’m still counting it as progress.

B1 has decided to pledge a fraternity this spring. He’s paying for it himself. I had to pay my sorority dues when I was in college so I don’t feel bad making him. Hubby says he’s just buying friends and I guess that’s one way to look at it. It’s his money though and I’m okay with it.

B2 had a basketball game this morning but it was a half-hour drive and she had to be there at 9:30. It just wasn’t happening for me. Hubby drove her. We were out pretty late last night and he looked rough this morning. Well, no one forced him to drink so much.  I feel fine today because I drank RESPONSIBLY and in MODERATION. I’m passed the 0-to-60 slam ‘em back like water and feel like shit for two days way of life. 

Well, I’m certain the last load of laundry is done in the machine and I have to pick up B3 from Drivers Ed soon too. Gotta run.

This week was a most unproductive week I’ve had in a while. I only added 198 words to the demon story. I wrote everyday, I just didn’t get it typed until today.  I certainly hope this week will be better.

The kids are off tomorrow for MLK Jr. Day, but both me and hubby have to work. We got so clarification on Friday with regards to the imminent layoffs at work. I don’t think our department is going to get it and when it’s over I’ll blog about it. It’s incompetence run amok. Hysterical but so, so sad.

B2 got the MVP award for volleyball at her banquet last week. Yep, they just got around to it last week. She was really happy.

B1 started his classes last week and is at work right now.

B2 and B3 had exams last week. I’m not sure when grades are coming home but it should be soon. B4 had testing all last week and aced the darned things. That kid just kills me. I can’t remember the last time he brought home any work.

I plan to blog more this week and put last week in the past where it belongs. I hope everyone has a wonderful week.

The weather was absolutely gorgeous today. With the temps in the low 70s, I opened up all the windows and let the breeze blow through the entire house. Then I got a little carried away and thought it would be a good idea to shampoo the living room and hallway carpet and the area rugs and runners. I started around 9:30 am. and finally finished around 3 pm. Saying I’m exhausted is an understatement and I’m a little pissed because I screwed up my manicure.  I had gloves on for a few hours but my hands were sweating badly and I had to take them off.

There are rumblings of downsizing the workforce at the day job. I hate that. Why do they even tell anybody? Now everyone is just a big worried mess. I don’t know if I’ll make it through this round because I’ve had too many run-ins with idiots. Unfortunately those idiots are in charge.  Call it insubordination, lack of cooperation or that I’m just a bitch, I’m not about to do anything that conflicts with my ethics and principles just to keep my job. And, I won’t go along with a stupid idea that won’t work or isn’t in the customer’s best interest just because someone in upper management proposes it. Nor will I throw a competent and dedicated colleague under the bus to make myself look better. I’ll throw an incompetent one under the bus though and I won’t care how it makes me look. A corporate whore I am not. Unemployed I might be.

On Thursday and Friday, I printed off Chapter 1 and rewrote an entire character. As the story progressed he seemed a little stuffy and predictable. I had to change that. I plan to type it all up tomorrow and edit chapters 8 and 9 this week.

B3 started softball practice today and B2 went along to get the rust out of her game before school ball. Then B2 had a basketball game and she scored twenty points and the foul shot that won the game. B1 had to work today and B4 spent last night at a friends house. This friend got a big honkin’ four-wheeler for Christmas and B4 was a filthy mess when I picked him up.  He also brought a bag of muddy clothes back with him. yay.

Well, that’s about all I have to say. I hope everyone has a wonderful rest of the weekend.

I have to go back to work tomorrow and then there’s no more vacation until Easter (I think). This morning I had to go and return a shirt B4 bought at the Polo Store that was the wrong size. Why don’t teenage boys try clothes on before they buy them? And while I’m on the subject of teenage boys, why do I get the feeling I sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher when I talk to B1? Ya know wa wa, wa wa wa wa. I feel like all I do is nag that poor boy until I realize that if he’d do things when I first ask him, I wouldn’t have to nag.

I treated myself to a manicure today. I figured today would be a good day since I was off and my nails were pretty much the same length. I might even spring for B2 and B3 to get one, if they want.

When I got back I headed straight to my WIP and added over 1200 words. They’re clunky, chunky and rough, but I’ll get them smoothed out. I just need to get them in there.

I purchased my first e-book for my Nook today. ONE KNIGHT ONLY by Michelle Miles. I have $22.92 left on my gift card. I’m sure the kids will have use for it.

We took down all the Christmas decorations tonight so now we just have a bare tree in the living room. I dusted everything but there’s no need to vacuum until the tree is out of there. It’s heavy. Sure I could move it but why should I when I have a strapping eighteen-year-old who loves helping me out. (umm that’s a joke). I’m sure he’ll piss and moan when he gets home, but he’ll do it.

Well, now that the holidays are officially over, here’s to an early spring in the south. That’s all for now.

and welcome to 2012. I’m still trying to figure out what happened to November and December of 2011 but I believe many other people are as well. Time goes by so fast as do the holidays.

Tomorrow it’s back to school for B2, B3 and B4.  I’m not sure when B1′s classes start. I do know that I’ve already paid for them though. I have tomorrow off and then it’s back to to work for me as well.

Today I made the best pot of black-eyed pea gumbo ever. Actually I’ve never tasted black-eyed pea gumbo before let alone make it, but it was pretty good. I baked a pan of cornbread to go with it and that was dinner. Black-eyed peas are a New Year’s Day tradition in the South along with collard greens. I’m not a fan of collards, so this family stuck with the gumbo for a little 2012 good luck.

Along with good luck food, I also made some resolutions for 2012. The first one is to relax and quit worrying – about my day job and the workload, money, the economy and all the crap that goes along with it.  There’s nothing I can do about it anyway. To do this I’ll have to decrease the amount of talk radio I listen to. No sweat on this one.

Another one is to keep working out on a regular basis. I think it’s harder for me in the winter time because I hate getting out of a warm bed so early. I’ll have to take it one day at a time. If I happen to skip a morning session, I’ll have to make it up in the evening (when all I want to do is lay around).

Last but certainly not least is my intention to USE COUPONS! It’s my motto in 2012. Department store coupons, grocery store coupons, drug sore coupons. Coupons, coupons and coupons! In fact today I started when I went to clearance sale at one of my favorite stores and saved another 30% on top of the stuff already being marked down 40%. I got two jackets at 70% off.

These two, in addition to my writing goals on the right will be about it. Have you made your resolutions yet???

Well, I’d better go fold the last load of towels in the dryer and make the sandwiches for tomorrow. I hope everyone has a wonderful evening.

It was a pretty good Christmas at the Birch household. Everyone got what they wanted, even B1, and everyone was happy. Christmas dinner was a success as well. No one got sick . I got some lovely jewelry and a B&N gift card from my MIL, cash from my mom, an Amazon gift card from my BIL, some perfume from my girls and hubby bought me a NOOK Tablet. I haven’t had a ton of time to play with it yet, but I should have time this weekend if I can pry it out of B3′s hands. My BIL and my two nephews came for a visit. It was fun. My nephews are pretty cool kids.

My mini-vacation was over too soon.

Looking back, 2011 has been a pretty productive year, despite my ghost story dying in the query process.  I got quite a few requests and some great feedback from successful agents, but sadly no offers. I wrote more on a regular basis than I have since writing the serial years ago.  My WIP didn’t sit neglected for weeks at at time while I was busy doing other things. I made time to write.  That’s probably my biggest accomplishment.

I posted some 2012 goals in the sidebar. The dates are aggressive but I think I’ll be okay.

The day job got more hectic and I don’t see it getting better anytime soon. I’ll just continue to do the best I can and not worry about it. This week we received a business update email from the big man in charge and as with the typical “shit sandwich” hard times are ahead and he even stated headcount reduction. I’m not going to sweat it. Who was almost the last person out of the building yesterday because I didn’t get the upload files until after 2 pm. IT WAS ME! Just bring it on big man, because I’m not sure which is worse – being the head being reduced or getting to stay and take on another person’s full-time job. I’ll leave it all to a higher power.

For the first time in ages, losing weight and getting fit isn’t on my New Years Resolutions. I tried acupuncture for the first time in 2011 and with that, lost over 30 lbs. I’ve also maintained a pretty regular exercise schedule so hello slim and trim summer!

Today, I dropped B4 and a friend off at one mall while me and the girls went to another mall that had a Sephora in it. Spent too much money, but the makeup will last six months or more.  Okay I got some lip color that I really didn’t need but whatever.

B1 came home from work around 3:30 and promptly left before I got back from Target. I had to get a new bathroom scale. Our current one told the girls they weighed over 200 lbs and told B4 we weighed 190 lbs. I kept getting an EE which I translated into TILT. It was shot so I went for a new one.

Hubby is playing golf today and I have a mountain of laundry.  Other than that, I’m just staying home. Hubby and I haven’t went out since 2008. It was a bad one and I’ve had residual hangovers on New Years Day since.

Well, hubby just called and I’m joining him for dinner. Gotta run.  

I’m trying out some new blog looks for the New Year.  Please pardon the construction dust.

Wishing all of you a very Happy Christmas.

I’m not a fan of cold weather and darkness and today marks the worst of the darkness. So one down and one to go. Who knows if we’ll even see snow this winter. I don’t mind a little as long as its no more than three to five inches and it melts within a few days. It’s fun for the kids to have a snow day or two and long as I can get to work.  And please . . . no ice storms. Those just suck.

Yesterday was a busy day.  I had to go to the periodontitis for a laser procedure on the right side of my mouth. I had about six needles and I thought I was going to pass out on the fifth one. It took longer to get the needles than the laser procedure. My mouth was still puffy and sore when I and the girls left for our little shopping jaunt. One of the syringes must have had a touch of morphine or some derivative of it because my head itched off and on all day. I recognized the itch immediately and still feel it today.

This little adventure took about five hours, but the COACH store at Concord Mills mall is having a heck of a sale if you’re close by. The girls each picked out a wristlet big enough for their phones and they were only $15.00 each (normally $40).  B2 got some Nikes and B3 picked out all of her Christmas gifts. No surprises Christmas morning, but no gift returns either.

Today, B3 has an orthodontist appointment at 11:10 and then I have to run to the mall and get one last gift. I also have to pick up two prescriptions the doctor gave me yesterday. One for an antibiotic and another for a pain-killer. I usually don’t take the pain-killers when first prescribed. I hoard them for future migraines.

And later today, it’s wrapping, wrapping, wrapping! I like wrapping the gifts ahead of time and just putting them under the tree. I never liked having to wait until the kids went to bed and then dragging everything out.  I also don’t miss those “some assembly required” gifts they used to ask for.  I think my biggest nightmare was all the stickers for the gigantic Barbie house I thought would be a great gift and there was another nightmare with a racetrack B1 got when he was little.

I finally decided on a tentative title for the demon story – HOUSE OF SCOUNDRELS. Whatcha think???  Also, I figured out the IRIS pen. It’s struggling to read my messy handwriting, but it’s doing better than I thought it would and importing to Word is simple.

Well, B4 finally woke up and I guess I’ll go make some breakfast for him.  I hope everyone has a wonderful day.

Today I passed the 50% complete mark on the demon story and added over 1400 words. I also figured out what I was doing wrong on the IRIS pen and will be testing it again tomorrow. Of course, it was user error.

I have actually bought a few Christmas gifts since I last posted. I also got a memory-foam mattress cover for me and hubby. I slept like a baby last night.

I’m not sure what to get B1. Hubby nixed what he wanted so it’s back to square one. B2′s list is done and I’ll make up the balance with cash. B3′s list wasn’t much to begin with and cammo shoes are out of season. Can you tell I’m just all tore up about it? I might have to take her shopping while I’m off just so she’ll have something Christmas morning on Christmas morning.  B4 is done, except for one gift and hubby will have to pick that one out.

I still have to get my nephews something as well as my brother-in-law.

I’ve got the obligatory socks, camis, lacrosse balls, and lip balm for the stockings and most of the food for Christmas day. I still need to get the celery and the heat and serve rolls.

Today I took some brownies into work. They were gone by 10 am. The day pretty much sucked the moment I sat down. Actually, it sucked the moment I woke up, but at least I slept well.  It’s the time of year when people send me half-assed or confusing information, go on vacation and I’m left with a bazillion questions on things that have to be done before the first of the year. Plus the upload software I’m supposed to use completely crapped out on me. I hand-keyed a few things then I said to hell with it. Gaw, I hate this time of year at work. 

I have one more day in the office, then I’m outta there until 12/27. I can’t wait. Have a wonderful evening everyone.