November birthdays rock!

Right, Maddy??

I hope that you had a great Birthday weekend! Happy Birthday to you!

Twilight Hits the Big Screen

Don't worry, no spoilers here!!

I saw this movie "Twilight" this past weekend. It was good . . . that part wasn't a surprise! I have to say, originally, Edward was a disappointment, because apparently the gorgeous guy in my head has a lot more "wow" power than this actor. But, as the story went on, he grew on me!

I will say this - there were 2 six-year old little girls in the row in front of us, to see this movie. I don't know any six year olds who would be able to follow this story, but, whatever! The only thing about that is . . . one of the previews that they showed was SO disturbing that I was closing my eyes for most of it! My friend, Nancy, said she started praying after the first 30 seconds, because of the evil that she felt. SCARY!!! I can tell you that there probably wasn't anything nightmare-inspiring about "Twilight", but that preview was enough to give ME nightmares, and I am quite a few years older than 6!!!!

Maybe they got some complaints, because my sister said that when she went to the same theater on Saturday night, that preview wasn't shown. Who knows! I don't really get into the horror genre, so I can't be . . . appreciative, I guess is the word, of the gory, scary, violent crap that is a horror preview! Obviously not a lot of thought went into placing that preview. Yes, "Twilight" does deal with vampires, but NO!!! "Twilight" is NOT about scary, violent vampires. In my mind, NOT the same as a horror film!!

SOME IDIOT KEPT TAKING PHOTOS WITH THEIR DIGITAL CAMERA! THAT'S ANNOYING! PEOPLE, HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF THE INTERNET? THEY ACTUALLY PUT PICTURES ON THERE, THAT YOU CAN PRINT OUT, OF THE CHARACTERS FROM MOVIES!!

Anyway, it was good . . . and it was cool to see the author, Stephenie Meyer, doin' a little cameo!

Golden Birthday!!

Today is Kayla's 19th Birthday, on November 19th . . . that is what it means to have a golden birthday, to have your age be the same number as the date you were born.

Happy Birthday, Lollipop! I can still remember so well the day that you were born! We were all so excited for you to arrive, even though your mom totally ditched Grammy and Grumpy's 25th anniversary party to be in labor! (The enitre time we were planning the party, I told her that she was going to have you that day . . . and I was right!)

I hope that the next 19 years of your life bring you the joys and accomplishments that you want and deserve! I love you! ♥

Part 2 about the Chu

So, I finally got my photos of my cute pup loaded onto my computer. Unfortunately, she is no longer my pup! (As previously mentioned, our rental agreement says "NO PETS!")

So, we were going along, looking for her former owners. Even thought we found them, but, no. So, Jorge and I talked about keeping her, but finding a different place to live. In the meantime, if anything came up, she could live at Grammy and Grumpy's house.

But then . . . I was speaking to the landlord, about a different matter. Then he said, "your neighbors want a dog." "oh?" I replied.

"I reminded them that we don't allow pets here, " he said. "And then they said, 'Well, the Zapatas have a chihuahua!"

I quickly began to explain, "we found her . . . we're looking for her owner . . . we're trying to find her a new home . . . "
His response, "So, she doesn't live there anymore??"

"well, we are trying to find . . ."

" SHE DOESN'T LIVE THERE ANYMORE???"

"no, she doesn't live here anymore!"

Then, the search was on for a new home. Suddenly Jorge decided he wanted to GIVE her to my parents, but they aren't so much the dog grandparents. (As my dog-crazy sister reminded me more than once!) So, I started talking to people that I know.

Sure enough, Saturday morning, my visiting teacher's daughter, Deana, called me up. "Are you still trying to find a home for your puppy??"

"yes we are!"

"Are you home, can we come and see her?" And an hour later, we had no dog in our apartment. I will admit that I got choked up . . . I get attached easily! And she was my walking buddy at night. . .

But, she has moved on to a bigger and better life, and now, her name is Tizzy! It's cute, don't you think?

Life as we know it

By "we" I mean employees at my job. On October 31, 2008 we were all given a letter, announcing the closing of the company. We were all told that we would be employed, should we choose to, until December 29, 2008.
Now, this was a LITTLE bit of a surprise, because while we knew that the Memphis location was closing as of November 7, 2008, we had been told that some investors were going to buy us out, and keep most of us gainfully employed. Then, on Halloween, we got that scary letter!
So then, 3 days letter, the rumor mill was rumbling again, "the buyers are back on board"; "we're gonna be a new company" and so on. I'm hearing about things that I, as the Human Resources Administrator, have not even heard from the prospective buyers, and I can't do anything to dispell the rumors.
To sum this all up, I'm a tad frustrated! If we are going to close (which after a weekend to wrap my brain around, I was almost perfectly fine with finding a new job!) then bring it on! Let me box up my endless amount of files and prepare them to ship to Memphis. I understand very well that I will probably be the last one out the door - that's the nature of my job! But this not knowing and being too busy to focus on finding something else, just in case they decide they don't want me, either, that is enough to drive me CRAZY!!!!!!
Having no information, and nothing to calm the masses with, is only throwing us all into a state of "Well, I'm not hanging around to find out!" And that, my friends, IS NO WAY TO INCREASE EMPLOYEE MORALE!
Let that be a lesson for ya! :)

And, just to end on a more cheerful note . . . scrappy things are happening in my neck of the woods! I'm lovin' that! Photos later!

Another year older . . .

. . . and deeper in debt" So the song goes! Wish it weren't true for me! LOL

So, it doesn't matter HOW old I get, the world (and people in it!) never cease to amaze me! I am amazed that people have opened their minds enough to elect a man of color to be the president. For me, although he wasn't my choice, this is HUGE, because even 20 years ago, when I lived in South Carolina, there were still 2 sides of every little town, the white side and the black side, and the two DID NOT mix.

I just hope that this can help us all to look past skin color and religious differences and choice of cothes to want to unite in ideals, morals, values and support of the Constitution of the United States of America.

So, as I usually do, I took the day off for my birthday. I didn't do anything too exciting - the whole point is that I didn't HAVE to do anything! Jorge and I went to Dunkin Donuts for breakfast, because I apparently share my day with "National Doughnut Day". When I heard that on the news yesterday morning, and as the rumbly in my tumbly grew louder, we made the "snap" decision to have some for breakfast. YUMMY!! And, they have a seasonal doughnut . . . Pumpkin! Even better!

Then we ran some errands, had some lunch at Matta's Grill, and then I took a nap, when Jorge went to work. Ah, the decadance! Then my friend, Nancy, and I went to Cold Stone Creamery for my free birthday ice cream. (Yep, there's lots of stuff that you can get for free on your birthday . . . check it out online!) Then it was scrappin' time! My favorite! Woo hoo!

The only bad part? I have to go to bed early, to be at work early, tomorrow! That's the bummer of middle of the week birthdays! Oh well, next year it will be Thursday, and maybe I'll take Thursday AND Friday, and go to Disneyland!

I've Got ONE Thing to Say Today . . .

VOTE!!!
It doesn't matter how popular or unpopular your favorite candidate is . . . JUST USE YOUR POWER TO VOTE! It is important to make your vote count!
And, remember, he who does NOT vote has nothing over those who CANNOT vote. In other words, if you don't vote, you can't complain about the outcome!
I'm out!