I had a good end to my day today. On Wednesday and Friday afternoons I go to Pullen Park with Eleanor (3) to spend time doing number games, balance exercises and generally just having a good time. No matter how bad my day has been up until this point it always seems to improve when I am outdoors, especially with a child that loves to be outdoors. The weather was cool and crisp today but it was a bright sunny day...perfect to be outdoors (with a jersey on).

I have written 3 exams so far, 2 laughably easy ones and 1 difficult one. I write my last one of this semester next week Wednesday, and I am looking forward to it. I am confident it will go well.

Wolverines (softball) are doing well this season. We won our game on Sunday...the aches on Monday were worth the great game we had. I hope Leslie is okay, I'm sure the bruise is showing by now! She was struck HARD on the leg by a ball hit by one of our strongest male batters! That reminds me I need to get more ice packs for our first aid kit. We play a double header this coming weekend so guys (and girls) don't kill yourselves this week, we need all the energy and talent on the field on Sunday!

On the home front I am really missing my dad and gran. As I work nearly everyday in the mornings, calling them is difficult unless I call after work which is midnight plus there!

I am realizing there is just not enough room for both Chris and my junk in this apartment. I am hoping to find time, sometime soon, to go through the things that have not been used in a while and do some sorting, storing or throwing away. We are not buying a house anytime soon (in the next year), so there is no point hanging on to all the junk. Time to shape up or ship out!

The good news: I have shed the weight I put on through the summer (12 pounds) and am back to a more reasonable 150 pounds. Doc says I am supposed to be 148 so I am not that far off! Working so much, means little time to eat during the day on weekdays and has cut out my continuous "grazing" during the day, the stress of juggling work with home has also contributed I am sure.
I think I ate too well while back in SA. Dad your/our cooking was great! Looking forward to Christmas! Gran gets the Ham we'll do the rest....it's a big one this year, Yay!
We are not certain if Chris will be making it out for Christmas, it all depends on finances, but there is still time to buy tickets so we have some harder work to do.

I really missed being able to experience the fair this year. I went once but 1. it was not a very long visit and 2. I did not get to explore as I like to (also attributed to the time). Kim was kind enough to buy me 2 candy apples and bag of candy floss (cotton candy to you American's), she dropped them by late Sunday night...thanks Kim and Ethan! Oh and thanks for the bug in the candy floss too, he died a very 'sweet' death...Chris has the picture :o)

Oh I have found a new way to stay awake on my drives to and from Norfolk as well as all through my exam....chocolate coated espresso beans, just one and I'm buzzing! Port City Java in the new shopping centre across from Old Dominion University makes the best!

Hmm, what else. Oh does anyone know somewhere I can go rollerblading (safely)? The sidewalks are uneven downtown and the idea of skating in the street playing dodge-ums with cars is not my idea of fun.

I bit my tongue and it really smarts! Why does it take so long for the taste to disappear after it has stopped bleeding? Enough gorey details.

I am working for my first out of town referral tomorrow night at the Crabtree Marriott. I am looking forward to it even if it means a very long day (ending at around 10:30 - 11pm). It is a wonderful ego boost to hear that you are good enough for multi referral's. Grin!

Okay I had better stop now. I hope you are all having a wonderful week and are getting to smile at least 20 times a day!

"She has the voice of gladness and the smile to brighten any day. Keep smiling!" - was the quote under my name in my highschool yearbook (1997) written by my classmate Kirthie Bookhan. It made me smile when I read it so I wanted to share it.

Take care, God Bless you all!

Cheerybyebye.
:o)

I know these survey lists are pretty much useless information, but I find them interesting. This list I found on another person's blog and decided to complete myself. I normally email it to everyone, but I am going to save you the space in your inbox! If you would like to reply with your own answers then copy and paste into an email an change the answers to suit you and email it to me.
Here goes...

Have you ever...........
Graduated High School. Yes, 1997
Kissed someone. Yes
Smoked cigarettes. No.
Got so drunk you passed out. No.
Rode every ride at an amusement park. Yes, except the kiddy ones as they would not let me on them.
Collected something really stupid. Yes, money...I'm a "squirreler"
Gone to a rock concert. Yes.
Helped someone. Yes.
Gone fishing. Yes. Thanks Dad.
Spun turn tables. No
Watched four movies in one night. Yes.
Gone long periods of time with out sleep. Yes.
Lied to someone. Yes, not something to be proud of!
Been dumped. Yes.
Snorted cocaine. No.
Failed a class. Yes.
Smoked weed. No.
Dealt drugs. No.
Taken a college level course. Yes.
Been in a car accident. Yes. Not my fault. I was, a designated driver, asleep in the back of a parked car!
Been in a tornado. No.
Done hard drugs (i.e. ecstasy, heroin, crack, meth, acid). No.
Watched someone die. Yes, Grandpa Blakeman on my 16th birthday. I miss him sometimes, even now.
Been to a funeral. Yes.
Burned yourself. Not intentionally.
Ran a marathon. No.
Had an eating disorder. No.
Lost your virginity. Yes.
Your parents got divorced. Yes.
Cried yourself to sleep. Yes.
Spent over $200 in one day.Yes.
Flown on a plane. Yes, I LOVE flying except when I am sandwiched between two smelly men!
Been cheated on. Yes.
Written a 10 page letter. Yes, a long time ago.
Gone skiing. Yes, water and snow, although I am not good at the water variety...perhaps I need more practice.
Been sailing. Yes.
Ever sky dived. No, but want to.
Cut yourself. Not intentionally.
Had a best friend. Yes and still do.
Lost someone you loved. Yes.
Been to jail. No.
Had detention. No.
Skipped school. No.
Got in trouble for something you didn't do. Yes.
Stolen books from the library. No.
Gone to a different country. Yes.
Dropped out of school. No.
Been in a mental hospital. No.
Watched the "Harry Potter" movies. Yes.
Ever cooked a meal from scratch? Yes, frequently.
Had an online diary. Yes, your reading it.
Fired a gun. Yes.
Gambled in a casino. No, I have always been the observer/lucky charm.
Had a yard sale. Yes.
And a lemonade stand. No.
Actually made money at the lemonade stand. N/A.
Been in a school play. Yes.
Been fired from a job. No.
Taken a lie detector test. No.
Swam with dolphins. Yes.
Gone to sea world. In SA, yes.
Attempted suicide. No.
Voted for American/Australian Idol. Does South African Idol count...still the answer is no.
Written poetry. Yes.
Read more than 20 books a year. Yes, but not this year unless I start doing some serious reading!
Gone to Europe. Yes.
Loved someone you couldn't have. Yes.
Wondered about your sexuality. No.
Used a coloring book over age 12. Yes...I'm a Nanny what do you expect? And they are SO much nicer now than when I was a kid!
Had surgery. Yes.
Had stitches. No.
Taken a taxi. Yes.
Seen the Washington Monument. Yes.
Had more than 5 IM's/online conversations going at once. No, 3 max and that was more than 2 years ago. I'm hardly online anymore.
Overdosed. No.
Had a drug or alcohol problem. No.
Been in a fist fight. Tam?....does the fights we had as kids count? No fists, but teeth, nails and hairbrushes were involved!
Suffered any form of abuse. Yes.
Had a hamster. Yes.
Petted a wild animal. Yes.
Driven somewhere without thinking it through. Yes.
Used a credit card. Yes.
Gone surfing in California. No. Gone surfing in SA?...still no, but I have heard the waves are better in SA! You just have the sharks to contend with!
Did "spirit day" at school. Huh? I have no idea what this is.
Dyed your hair. No.
Got a tattoo. No.
Had something pierced. Yes...my ears in 4 places.
Got straight A's. Yes.
Been on the Honor Roll. Yes.
Your parents sent you to a shrink. Yes. My mom sent me once, it was most enjoyable, I remember drawing bicycle for him and asking him to analyze it. Turns out I wasn't a fruitcake!
Been handcuffed. No.
Known someone with HIV or AIDS. Yes.
Taken pictures with a webcam. Yes...nothing dirty.
Started a fire. If bon fires/braai's etc are included then yes.
Had a party while your parents weren't home. No.
Gotten caught having a party while they were gone. N/A

Okay I have just found out that instead of having a day off tomorrow I need to be at work by 6:45am! Eeek. Tomorrow is going to be a very very long day. I am hoping to be able to go work in the garden tomorrow after work. But I also need to get studying done...oh well I am sure it will all work out fine.

Got to go. Chris needs his food....Mmmmmmrrraaaaarrrrrrr
I hope all is well. Until I write again, Cheerybyebye.
O:o)

Okay I have been chased enough! Here is a post!

I have been extremely busy lately, having little to no time to actually relax, let alone study for my exams, which begin tomorrow! I am sleep deprived, not that I have any difficulty getting to sleep just I have a problem staying in a deep sleep.
One good thing has come from working so hard...Debts are being/going to be paid off...at long last! Hard work has it's rewards and it feels good.

I am driving to Norfolk (Virginia, about a 3 hour drive for those who are not familiar with the geographics of the area) and back tomorrow to write an exam in Entrepreneurship (a management subject) which I am not 100% prepared for, but will be by the time I go to bed. I am confident the exam will go well.

I am missing SA, particularly my Dad, Gran and brother, but know I will see them again in a few months. I am slowly running out of my stash of Snacker's, Slim Slab's, PS Bar's and Five Roses Tea.
:o(

In other news the Wolverines (our softball team) won both games played on Sunday...twice in one day, it's a record! We had not won a game in a long time! It felt good to win, we celebrated by going to our old haunt Mo Joes for dinner and celebratory beers (milkshake for me...I still have not found a taste for beer!). I have suffered since playing though...migraines have returned with vengeance (day 3 and counting). I am trying not to let them bother me, although this computer screen is proving to be harsh.

Okay I need to go study again, I got this evening off so I could do so, so I had better go and do something productive with it!

So much for "just 5 lines" eh?
Cheerybyebye.