Shattered Sun

Today was the celebration of one of my coworkers upcoming retirement. She has worked for 35 years with the same company. Isn’t that just amazing? I simply adore her. I hope that some day I’ll be as admired as she is. We had a huge blow out at her favorite restaurant, complete with cake, good food, tons of people (150-200), and even alcohol. Alcohol is not usually sanctioned at a company event, but two of the biggest big wigs came into town just for the occasion and neither seemed to mind the German beers! It was loads of fun. I’m glad it’s over though. It’s just one of those things that you love planning and enjoy doing but look back on it and think “Wow!”. It was a lot of work. I ended up being the last person around as someone had to clean up. Jayson was wonderful all night also. He did the sound, some snap shots, and video recording. I can’t wait to see how the video turns out! It was a really lovely night guys. I’m glad I helped. It really was something to be proud of. Okay, enough rambling. I have to head off to bed, I’m bushed. Have a wonderful day mates!

I’ve been working on this new theme for the website that I really love looking at except that I can’t seem to make the CSS play nice with IE and Firefox at the same time. It’s frustrating me sooooo much! I think I might have to scrap it completely and start over. I just don’t get why it’s not working the way it should be. I’ve stopped looking at it for the moment. I’m hoping that maybe I can step away for a few and then go back to it with a fresh mind to get the job done. Sometimes that works in clearing things up for me and then I can see the error of my ways. I really should go to some classes for CSS. I think that would help me immensely. Guess I’ll have to start looking at the CCs for that. Anyway, have a good Monday!

When it comes to my credit score, I am definitely paying for the sins of my youth. I’ve got a horrible score and I am not afraid to admit it. I’ve thought of going the bankruptcy route but I’m awfully young to throw everything on someone else instead of paying for it myself. So, we’ve been making headway into our credit reports for a while now (I think this is year 3) and have been also making our scores better. The idea is to get the scores up there high enough that we’ll be able to buy a house for little to no money down. I know, it’s a lofty goal. But I think it’s doable. It helps that we have access to the VA loan. By the end of this year, I hope to have my original students loans cut down to half or less so that I can go back to school either next summer or fall. I really wanted to go back this year, but honestly, it just wasn’t practical. I will not, however, be willing to sit beyond next year. I want to have some sort of degree before I’m 30. I’d love to have my bachelor but who knows if that’ll happen. I still have 2.5 years of classes to go. Maybe if I started next year and then hit it hard and not take summer break. That could work. I’ll have to work it out, like everything.

Anyway, I spent the last 3 hours updating the so-called “Five Year Plan” for us. I didn’t really think those kinds of things mattered, but the older I get the more I realize that they do. It’s just one of those things. Everyone tells you that you should do one and that it helps but until you actually do it, I don’t think you believe them. I know that I didn’t.

Anyway, enough babbling. That’s my evening. Boring, eh? But fruitful, I think.

..And I ain’t doing a thing! It’s just too hot to be outside to watch fireworks and the crowds are so outrageous. However, I guess next year I don’t have an option. Both of the Terrors have requested that we go out next year to watch the fireworks, so I guess I better start prepping now. I really want a new camera so that I can take firework pictures. Any suggestions for a good digital that doesn’t cost me $1-2k? As much as I want something like that, I don’t think I’ll be able to afford it within the next year. I’m thinking more in the range of under $1k. And I really do want something that I can use filters and stuff. I better start seriously looking, I guess.

Anyway, have an absolutely wonderful 4th of July!

Not really. Well, sorta. I’ve just been in a state of contemplation. I want to create themes and graphics and be creative and stuff. But it’s takes quite a bit of time. Who knew!? There’s always something else that’s coming up in real life, too. And well, yeah, this site went to the way side. So, I’m trying to make more time (again) and trying to also go back to putting photos up (again). I’ve thought of going to Flickr, but the same items that have stopped me previously stop me now. I just don’t want to pay the money. That’s the thing. I’m cheap. I don’t want to pay even though I know it’s probably a good thing. I like just having everything hosted on one site, too. I guess that’s me.

A pinch of lazy + a splash of cheapiness + a whole chunk of “lack o’ time” = Denise.

However, I am finding a second wind with all this creative stuff and I’m making more time for it. Because frankly, I was starting to miss it. Currently, I’m working on a few items, including my myspace page (yes, it’s boring), my continued screwing with Coppermine, upgrading everyone’s sites that I maintain, creating some themes for WP, and lastly, but not leastly (is that a word?), I’m trying to get into the whole widgets thing with WP. My how WP changes! I’ll keep you posted. Maybe I should put a to-do list back up. Wouldn’t be such a bad idea, I don’t believe.