It's always sunny above the clouds.

So, as I was flying to Virginia I thought of the above statement. Ofcourse the statement is only true during the day. :0) I left austin and it was really foggy and cloudy, I landed in Atlanta and Richmond and it was still cloudy. I actually didn't see the sun until today. After a few days of temps in the teens I am enjoying the warm mid-thirty's. ha. But while flying above the clouds it was very blue and sunny.

Before I get into what I've been up to in VA, I'll tell ya the latest UT work news. Remember - its always sunny above the clouds. I feel like work has been pretty cloudy, dreary, and cold the last few months. My new boss is trying to be civil but we just don't click - well, not so much not "click" - but her personality is way extrovert, fly by the seat of her pants, change directions on a dime kindof person. I am pretty much the opposite. Especially at work. I like plans, goals, clear directions, being grounded, introverted. Yes, I know I'll never actually make it in the corporate business world. I can think out of the box but even then I stay too rational. Rational is not a trait either one of my bosses above me excel in. I couple weeks ago I was told to type up my position description for a job reclassification and then was immediately told my position would most likely be constantly changing anyway. I might have a 3 month project that will be taking video and doing video editing, I might be doing all the big boss' (head of HR) powerpoints, I might be creating a buttload of different annual reports, I might be creating graphics, or I might be doing something totally different. Day to day. I don't know. This isn't really how my brain is wired but I am trying really hard. Some friends think too hard. Also right before I left for vacation I was told that "they" need my office and are moving me to a receptionist alcove outside the big bosses office. Nice thing is it has windows. Sad thing is its out in the open and I've been in an office with walls and a door for 10 years and enjoy working in a confined space. Plus I have really sensitive allergies so if someone walks by with perfume it can greatly affect me for an hour or so. So, I am not thrilled with the move but maybe it will be ok. I will be on the total opposite side of the building as my boss. But I will also be far away from Elida who I've worked beside for 10 years now. I am not sure the big boss understands how moving someones work environment can really affect them. Oh well. I doubt he really cares. Overall work is stressful but I am hesitant to leave as I doubt anything out there is actually any better.

Enough about work. I flew home to VA last thursday and will fly back to TX Christmas day. The week has gone by quickly. I've seen Rachel, Travis, and the baby (lily) a bunch. We did a photoshoot with Lily Saturday and a little family shoot Sunday. They have come out to the house a few times and I've been to their townhouse a couple times. I think today was the first day I didn't see them. Yesterday Daniel came home and is here for the week. I went out with him today for breakfast (bodo's bagels) and then went christmas shopping with him as he hadn't gone yet. It wasn't as crazy out there as I expected. The mall is small and wasn't that packed, and target was fine too. I refused to go to walmart as THAT was totally packed. I was hoping to meet up with my friend Barbara today but that didn't work. Oh and I did I photoshoot of Daniel today too. Yes, Urs - he's still calendar boy. Tomorrow we are celebrating Christmas but its sounding a little complicated timewise. Dad has to work 10-2pm, Kayli my niece is arriving at 6:30am, candlelight service is at 5, food has to be put out at some point, Rachel, Travis, and Lily will arrive somewhere between 3-5pm, Mike and Kristi will arrive sometime. I am looking forward to seeing Kayli though as I haven't seen her all year. It's been good to visit family and I am also looking forward to getting back to my routine in austin. I will miss all the good cooking and cookies though.


I shall leave you with a couple quick pictures of lily.

yes, she is too sweet.

new pics

New pics are up on my photoblog for those interested. woohoo.
http://m-photodesign.blogspot.com

today

Todays thoughts

Jenni wrote recently about wanting to hand in in person their adoption application and how she really wanted to do it and it was a big step – so I kindof feel like that on a smaller scale about my vehicle registration. Yes, I am weird. But actually going to the tax assessor’s office and getting my little sticker in person AND not having to pay the extra dollar to have them mail it to me… I don’t know … it’s just something I do. And writing out the check to Nelda Wells Spears … I almost feel like I know her. I voted for her again this year just so I wouldn’t have to learn a new tax assessor’s name. I haven’t heard of her swindling any money so I guess she’s doing fine in her role.

I went to Big Lots at lunch today to buy some tissue paper for the festival this weekend. Gotta have something to wrap around all the pottery I’ll hopefully be selling. So I acquired the tissue paper AND found some mini tootsie roll pops! Those are the bomb. I don’t know why I like them so much but since Halloween and a co-worker brought me some I’ve totally been hooked on them. Next to Big Lots is a new store (atleast to me) some discount something or another. I went in briefly as I’ve been looking for a winter coat for my niece Kayli. I went in and it was PACKED with cheap new clothes. I looked around and just felt sick. I just *knew* that all these clothes were most likely made in a sweatshop. They were all off brands and the whole store just felt weird. Now I do buy clothes and spend money at regular stores. I do buy both organic and regular food at the grocery store. I do drink A LOT of Dr Pepper and eat at fast food places and consume way too much high fructose corn syrup. Anyway. I have been thinking a lot more this year about where my “stuff” comes from. I read Liz and Blanca’s blog (and listen to NPR) and know that there is a whole world out there that is hungry and hurting. Is it wrong to have bought those tootsie roll pops? I am trying to find balance in it all. I can’t ignore whats happening in the world. I find myself getting all frustrated with traffic or my job or that my chic-fil-a fries are cold (Rudy likes cold fries – weird,eh?) and then I have to stop and be thankful for all that I do have.