The Story of a Tree...

WOO HOO!!! Thanksgiving is over and now we've officially entered into the Christmas season!! Not that I'm overlooking Turkey Day or anything... but I love Christmas and I love this time of the year. I love the Christmas music playing on the radio... I love buying gifts for my loved ones... I love decorating my house... I just LOVE it!!

Yesterday was Thanksgiving and I had the day off work. Steve had to work until about 4:30, so I spent the earlier part of the day setting up my Christmas tree, pulling out my snowman decorations, making Christmas cards, wrapping a few presents, etc. I didn't spend much time relaxing (you know... what you're supposed to do on your only day off), but it was a day away from work and I got a lot done. Besides... I really wanted to get my Christmas tree set up!

I thought about getting a bigger Christmas tree this year. I've seen so many pretty trees at Target and Michaels... and I have a bigger place now, so I thought it would be a good idea. I thought maybe this year I would take a step up in the tree department. But when I really started thinking about it, I just couldn't do it! This may sound crazy to some, but my little fake Christmas tree has a bit of sentimental value to it.

A few years ago, shortly before Thanksgiving, a friend of mine from work came to take me out to lunch. Marcel knew that I hadn't been feeling well, I was facing a major surgery, and I was just having a really rough time. He took me to Bob Evans for lunch where I had French toast (I know... not really a lunchy thing). I remember craving it!! After lunch, we decided to hit this flea market that we had heard horror stories about. It was in a grungy part of town and was a little creepy looking, but we decided to go for it anyways.

Marcel and I shopped for a little over an hour and found some of the strangest things in that flea market. I think Marcel found a jacket that he bought and a blanket for his daughter and I didn't find anything I couldn't live without. I was all set to leave empty handed when I looked over near the door and saw it.... A CHRISTMAS TREE!! I had wanted one for so long! The box said it was a 6 foot tree and it was only $10. It was the only one there and I decided it needed a home, so I bought it.

When I got the tree home and put it together, I was a little disappointed. It was a really sad looking little tree. However, I didn't have the money to buy a bigger one, so I had to make do with the one I'd purchased. I had a couple of strings of clear lights, and 2 boxes of ornaments that I picked up at the flea market for $1/box. So, I turned on some Christmas music and started decorating my new tree.

Every year when I pull out my tree and put it together, I still get that same sad little feeling. I think to myself, "Good grief, this tree looks sad!" But, every year, after I add the lights and hang the ornaments, I'm always pleasantly surprised at how pretty my little tree turns out.

Now I know that my little tree is nothing spectacular... and I know I'll never find it in the middle of Rockafeller Center. But this tree has been through a lot with me, and with a few decorations, I think it looks pretty darned good!!

I hope everyone had a happy and safe Thanksgiving and I hope you all are enjoying the beginning of the Christmas season as much as I am!

Baby Shower...

This past week, I flew to Arizona for my best friend Dustin's baby shower. I haven't seen Dustin in FOREVER, so it was really nice to be able spend a couple of days with her and catch up a bit. Technically, Dustin was on bed rest, so we kinda had to take things easy... However, we broke a few rules and snuck out of the house for a pedicure, lunch, a movie, and a couple of quick errands. After all this time, it was really nice to have a girls day out with my best friend!

The baby shower itself was a lot of fun too. The food was amazing, Dustin got a lot of great baby gifts, and I got to meet a lot of her friends and family members. A couple of good friends from high school were there, so we got to spend a few hours in the Arizona sunshine and catch up... It was great!!

GOOD LUCK DUST-A-ROONIE!!

I can't wait to see pictures of the little guy!

I've Been Tagged.....

I've been tagged by my best friend, Dustin!!

For those of you who don't know how this works, here are the rules...

1. Each player lists 6 facts / habits about themselves.

2. At the end of the post, the player tags 6 people and posts their names.

3. If you see your name posted, it's your turn to continue the game.

Here we go...

Fact #1: I am a fighter! From the day I was born, 2 months early, I've always been a strong-willed and determined person. I'm not one to give up on anything easily and if you tell me I can't do something, I'll do my best to prove you wrong! I believe this trait can be a curse or a blessing depending on the sutuation. It's made me stick to my guns when I've made some not-so-bright decisions in my life, but it's also gotten me through some very difficult times over the past few years. I believe I get this trait from my mom's side of the family. My Grandma Hornberger is as stubborn as an ox, and my mom and I are no different!

Fact #2: I am very independent. I moved across the country at the age of 23 to a state I'd never been to before, where I knew no one, for a job I had never done. It's probably one of the scariest things I've ever chosen to do, but also one of the best decisions I've ever made. I live alone and I enjoy doing things on my own. Just like Fact #1, this can be a curse and a blessing. It's a blessing because I've learned to take care of myself and deal with things on my own. However, it's also taught me that there are certain times when I have more on my plate than I can handle and I have to ask for help... Something I'm not very good at.

Fact #3: I love pictures!! I love taking pictures, I love looking at pictures... I just love pictures! Photography is more of a hobby for me, but if I could pick a different job right now, I'd probably be a photographer. I love the way pictures tell stories of where we come from and share the memories of where we've been and what we've done. To me, a picture really is worth a thousand words.

Fact #4: I LOVE my dog!! I know a lot of people think I'm crazy, and that's fine. I love my dog as though she were my child! To me, she's like a little person with a speech impediment. My furry little Monster has been through so much with me, and even on the worst of days, she gives me a reason to smile. She knows when I'm upset, she knows when I'm happy, she knows when I don't feel well... She just knows. If I come home in a crappy mood after a bad day at work, all it takes is one look at her and it's all gone. I truly believe that animals are theraputic... And my little girl is no different!


Fact #5: I have an amazing boyfriend!! I met Steve almost two years ago, and he (along with Cookie) is the best thing that could've happened to me. He's a very driven person who goes after what he wants... and gets it! He's helped me find my way back to that fun person I used to be and he's given me back some of the confidence that I lost somewhere along the way. He treats me better than I've ever been treated, and the best part is that he treats Cookie the same way. I've always said that if a guy planned to stick around with me, he'd have to have the Monster's approval. In this case... She not only approves, I think she's competing for him!!

Fact #6: I love my job! At any point in my childhood, if you had asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, the words "Aircraft Dispatcher" would never even have entered my mind... Much less, come out of my mouth. I have no idea how or why I ended up in the industry of aviation, but here I am. While I can't stand the office politics, and I often question my sanity, I love what I do! I love that every day is different, I love that every flight I plan is a challenge, and I love that I often know more about airplanes than a lot of the boys I work with do! :o) I work hard to do what I do and I work hard to be good at it! This industry has provided me with a lot of great opportunities and a lot of wonderful friends. I am lucky to be a part of it!

I TAG MOM (hopefully she'll start a blog), MELISSA JO, JEFF.... and that's it because I don't know anyone else with a blog!!