My Chaotic Realm

Spent a lovely weekend in Vicksburg, MS for the 185th Council of the MS Diocese . Why? Because they let me sing! LOL... St Patrick's choir director was invited to play piano for the convention and so, as part of that choir, a few of us went up to sing with him... and about 35 other choir members from around MS. I had a blast...got there early Saturday so I could walk around the city (in the rain) and after practice went and had some awesome tavern grub (crawfish & shrimp etouffe). Sunday, after we sang, I drove through one of the historic battlefields, saw what was left of the U.S.S. Cairo, and the graveyard.... pretty cool. Now, off to school.

break over.. but got some sleep... got promoted at work, got some stuff done... had terrific weekend... met the Bishop... took some interesting photos... and now I am headed to bed because class starts back up tomorrow morning... bright and early... here is one of my pics on way back home...

So, came back home to Jan 30th, spent New Year's Eve at work, then walked the dog and went to bed... all before 10pm. ZZZZZZZZZZ What can I say? I recognize the joy of everyday, not just when the clock strikes midnight.

I arrived at my childhood home - Bandera, Texas - and have been hanging out with the parental units and friends ... good time, good conversation, good food & wine.... will be attending a friends birthday party tomorrow and then heading back to the beach and back to work.. no school until Jan 9th so may find time to take in a brunch @ Vrazel's next week (YUM!) lovely Christmas filled with, of all things, singing!! I had a terrific day at choir practice, then a brunch, then some shopping and then a 4:30pm service and hope for a movie, dinner and a nap before singing as part of the St Patrick's choir ensemble for midnight mass.... full, busy day and yet a blast! so, limited connection and tired... but happy... see y'all later.

Ever wonder what a "day off" (no school, no work) looks like for me? Callie wakes me up to let her outside at some ungodly DARK hour... NO. Throw her out of bedroom, shut door, go back to bed. Alarm goes off @ 6:30am so I can work on essays before choir practice @ 8am. Hit snooze, ignore essays. Make it to practice almost on time. Church over @ 11am so I head to The Salute Italian Restaurant to hear a friend play piano ( John-Westley Hodges) while I mentally prep for essay writing. Afterwards, pick up free bicycle and, instead of heading home, I detour to this pier I've been eyeballing for last month... take egret, heron & dolphin pics til 3pm. FINALLY write essays to BF will let me watch final Harry Potter movie. But, before starting movie, I start some smothered T-bone steaks in oven and split pea soup on stovetop. Meals for week now prepared & packaged for week, movie ovr, dishes washed. Laundry in dryer and I am heading to bed. Not too bad for a DAY OFF. :-)

So, have just printed off my confirmation reservation info for trip to see folks... am hitching from MS to TX and then renting a car to head west to my eventual destination. Should be there Christmas day. Hurray!! I will be traveling light (as hitchhikers tend to do) with nary but a toothbrush, some flash drives and my laptop...and a change of clothes or two. The laptop is to stay in touch with others... barely. No signal in Parental Unitland, unfortunately. But what I really want it for is to show them all the pics I have been taking of the MS Gulf Coast area. Hence the flash drives :-) Will be seeing a few others in my limited time there, so will be wonderful trip. Have just started 3rd term at school... here is where the REAL homework starts, it seems. ARGH. Have made Christmas card sets to sell but been so busy with school & work & homework that I haven't really been out & about much to vend :-( Promoted to HBA/GM manager at work which has changed up my schedule ...

Well, had to work ALL FREAKIN; WEEKEND.... but December is here and I am READY! Final grade in Patient Care/Clinic Fundamentals I was a 99...can live with that... Have set plans in motion to visit parental units in Texas for Christmas... ride lined up...only bummer is that son will be at work in Carlsbad and not back to Tx until Jan 4th... I will be back here by then.... but other than that.... SHOULD be getting promoted to my own department sometime this week...they have been telling me that for last 6 wks or so so waiting (STILL) to see if it actually comes about... stay tuned. For now, I have a few mins left to rustle up some grub and head out the door to my 8am class... SEASON'S GREETINGS!!