This could very well be my year!

Every year people all over the world say the same thing, "This is going to be my year!" I know I do it. Well, this year could be that year.

For the last few years at work I have watched one of the people that have been there for years, get away with doing less and less. It seemed he would spend the majority of his time working on his own personal matters and his work load was getting pushed off. So, when he announced that he planned to retire in November, no one was going to stand in his way. He furthered the effort by asking the administration if he could retire and then come back as a part timer. He said he would have no problem doing the job in 15 hours a week. That was the ultimate slap in the face to the municipality. Suddenly everyone was asking why he was being paid full time for a job he now says he could do in less than half the time? This was the chance I needed.

I put together a presentation which showed the municipality how they could save close to $60,000 a year by consolidating several areas in the department. Part of that was by allowing me to take on the other guy's work. I would still do my job, but I would incorporate his into my day as well. I have covered for him in the past when he was on medical leave anyway so I knew I could handle the added load. It took some negotiations, but I am happy to say that as of January 3rd, I am now in the new title of "Senior Inspector" I am keeping up with all of the work and things are actually streamlined more efficiently for the public. And the best part of it all is I got a salary increase of 33% to go with the new title. I have also been promised another $5,000 a year within the next 2 years. This is above and beyond any contractual raises. Sure my day is a little more hectic, but it is all quite worth it.

Since I have more or less relieved my wife of the responsibility of managing the budget, things are looking a lot brighter. Her "creative accounting" methods always had us behind. Of course she is tossing one wrench into the works already but, I refuse to allow it to take away from finally getting ahead. I plan to use some of this new income to take my kids back to Disney in 2012. That should put a smile on their faces! :)

Music 4 My Monday

I have not posted on this theme in awhile. When I heard this song recently I knew I just had to share it. When I heard it I imagined it more as a love song, but having seen this video it made me realize that it is so much more than that.

We tend to take for granted the people that give us that freedom. They are miles from home in places where they are hated just because of the flag they wear on their sleeve. They didn't have to do it. They chose to. Think about that for a minute.....they CHOSE TO! They know the risks involved. They know that freedom is not free. Yet, back home we all just go about our lives without ever so much as a thought to the soldiers until we hear some story on the news.

In the next couple weeks, the son of my best friend will leave his small town in the heartland of America and travel to Iraq. Why? Because he CHOSE to serve his country. Because he CHOSE to give of himself so that the rest of us could be FREE! Free to enjoy our lives. "Free as we'll ever be"

May God be with you Kody. May He be by your side always and protect you as you allow the rest of us to enjoy the freedom you believe so much in. I look forward to the day you return and get to enjoy that freedom with us. I know I am one American that is proud of you and those that have gone before you, and those that will go after you.



"Free" (Official Music Video)

Zac Brown Band | Myspace Music Videos

What's your sign? I used to be a Cancer

I am not one to put much faith in Signs of the Zodiac. I will read my horoscope sometimes or those descriptions of the characteristics of my sign. Purely for fun. I don't live by them. Being born on July 8th, I am a Cancer. Wait, let me correct that. I used to be a Cancer. It seems I am now a Gemini. 

Not being an Astrologer, I will not pretend I understand the reasons for the changes. I just heard that some group has declared that since the Earth has shifted, there is a need to adjust the dates for the Astrological Signs. And as if that was not confusing enough, they added a 13th sign. Boy did that screw things up.

This is the Zodiac as some astrologers believe it should be:

ARIES = APRIL 19 - MAY 13
TAURUS = MAY 14 - JUNE 19
GEMINI = JUNE 20 - JULY 20
CANCER = JULY 21 - AUG 9
LEO = AUGUST 10 - SEPTEMBER 15
VIRGO = SEPTEMBER 16 - OCTOBER 30
LIBRA = OCTOBER 31 - NOVEMBER 22
SCORPIO = NOVEMBER 23 - NOVEMBER 29
OPHIUCHUS = NOVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 17
SAGITTARIUS = DECEMBER 18 - JANUARY 18
CAPRICORN = JANUARY 19 - FEBRUARY 15
AQUARIUS = FEBRUARY 16 - MARCH 11
PISCES = MARCH 12 - APRIL 18

Read more: Ophiuchus - The 13th Sign of the Zodiac 2011

To really confuse things, if you start to look at the date ranges, there is a drastic difference among each sign. Virgo spans 45 days while Scorpio only spans 6 days. If you notice, Ophiuchus is the newest sign. The odd thing about Ophiuchus is that while the other 12 signs are based on a stellar constellation, the 13th is based on a real person from ancient Egypt.

So, what was your sign before and what have you now become?

Wait, you said how much?

Don't get me wrong, I love snow. At least some snow. Tonight we are supposed to get anywhere from 12" to 20" of the white stuff though. That gets to be a bit excessive and hard to cope with. It makes it difficult to get to work. If I was going to  be home tonight I would not care. Just like the day after Christmas when we got about a foot. I was home, work was canceled on Monday, and I had no place important to be. Tonight is a bit different.

Tonight I have to be at the other municipality from 8:30 to 3:30 AM. Then I am due back at the first municipality tomorrow at 8 AM. I normally get home by 4 AM and get about 3 hours sleep in between. This is after working all day Today. Now toss in the snow. I will be lucky to get home by 4:30. Then I will have to be up by about 6 in order to dig out and be on the road. Of course I am assuming the plow will have at least made one pass on my street. Last time it snowed, we did not see a plow until Weds night some time. Luckily most of the neighbors had driven up and down and at least compressed the snow enough to drive on by Tuesday morning.

My choices are this, go home in between and hope for the best. Or, I can leave the night job and drive straight to the day job. I have a key to the building so I am able to get inside. And I could probably get a couple hours sleep on the floor. And while the latter may sound like the better option, I have to consider that work may be canceled tomorrow. If that happens I would be stuck driving the 20 miles home and still unsure if the street was plowed enough for me to get to my house. I guess I will have to wait and make my decision as the night wears on and base it on the weather.

on a side note: My younger son turns 15 today. Happy Birthday MyTy! (Yes it is just a nickname. lol)

Hope this is not too steamy

My Romance Novel, modern day version

   

    He grasped me firmly but gently just above my elbow and guided me into a room, his room. Then he quietly shut the door and we were alone. He approached me soundlessly, from behind, and spoke in a low, reassuring voice close to my ear.

   
    "Just relax."
   
   

    Without warning, he reached down and I felt his strong, calloused hands start at my ankles, gently probing, and moving upward along my calves slowly but steadily. My breath caught in my throat. I knew I should be afraid, but somehow I didn't care. His touch was so experienced, so sure. When his hands moved up onto my thighs, I gave a slight shudder, and partly closed my eyes.

   

    My pulse was pounding. I felt his knowing fingers caress my abdomen, my ribcage. And then, as he cupped my firm, full breasts in his hands, I inhaled sharply. Probing, searching, knowing what he wanted, he brought his hands to my shoulders, slid them down my tingling spine and into my panties. Although I knew nothing about this man, I felt oddly trusting and expectant.

   
    This is a man, I thought. A man used to taking charge. A man not used to taking `no' for an answer. A man who would tell me what he wanted. A man who would look into my soul and say ...







"Okay, ma'am,".

"All done." "You can board your flight now."

(Sorry. I could help but to share this with you. I laughed my @$$ off)