January 28, 2008

Momma It's Cold Outside

Momma, its cold out here...Annabelle in her satin jacket shivering while out on a much needed walk

It's nearly 1 am and I have fired up the gas log and am huddling in the living room. We have discovered that our nights are much more pleasant if we turn the heat pump off and use a space heater in each of our bedrooms. We also have one in the marble tiled master bath where Annabelle's crate is. We bought new ones with extra safety features and have them situated very carefully to avoid a fire danger... Mak and Nani prefere to sleep with Woody and the smallest of our bedrooms is comfortably warm. The previous owners of our home slept in there in the winter months. The gas log has a system that pulls heat into the house. Smells like a Cummins diesel but it warms the Front part of our house. The Master bedroom never warmed up in winter. The sliding glass door to the enclosed lanai is a cold sink and sucks up heat, The heat pump register is right outside the door and creates a powerful sucking draft that pulls cold air through that room like a nor'easter. To add insult to injury the blessed thing never shuts off and is situated on the master bedroom exterior wall so you hear it all night. So we are trying this experiment of turning the heat pump off at night, and its working. Our electric bills are half of what they were last year...The fire is nice, Makoa is out here with me snoozing on a "purrpad" a fuzzy pad that reflects a cats body heat back up to the sleeping furball or in this case, a meat loaf shaped fur blob. He loves the fireplace. I have some hot cocoa and am enjoying the blissful quiet.

The last two weeks have been so filled with stuff and the stuff of life that I havent had a chance to blog. Woody and I are well but we looked at each other over dinner tonight and "Whew, we need a vacation!" So we are headed for LA next week. We were hoping for warmer weather there but sadly we are watching the news with dismy at the cold and heavy rains that are pounding SoCal. I am praying for sunny days as we have some major outdoor business to take care of while we are there.

In the wake of the storm two weeks ago, we put off some medical tests Woody was to have at the VA. We didnt have power in the house and thought that we might need to go some place to get a room ect... But we had them done this past week. All negative, no cancer no high readings with sugar or colestorol ect. Just lose weight... Im with you, brother...I need to get back on the wagon myself.

But its not just portions and substance I need to get a handle on, its excercise I need and am craving. My foot has healed reasonable well. I dont have a lot of "spring" in it especially by the end of my long day. It has been cold and icy on the walking paths and so I have stayed on the side streets here near the house. Annabelle loves to go walking and is a trooper, will go along quite awhile, then will stop finally and turn and give a little "hop" sort of move that we have taught her to help us pick her up. I will carry her a bit then put her down. The longest we have walked is 3/4 of a mile on the walking track and perhaps a mile total on a sunny afternoon a few weeks ago when we hated to go in the house. But it has been so cold, in the low twenties with the wind blowing that we have forgone the walk in favor of the pee pad which she hates using. She fully preferes the out of doors for that business for which I am glad.

Work has been more difficult over the past few weeks with the reorganization of the office that resulted in nearly everyone having the joy of switching desks. This Chinese fire drill of an operation took place last tuesday and the reverberations are still being felt. No way could everyone be happy and those of us low on the totem pole found ourselves needing to be flexible, ie, the lovely large desk I was assigned was coveted by a manager who had most of her people on that side of the cube so I had to move...and because I had to move my night partner had to move as well. Now she is in a place she doesnt want to be. I know that it will only be a short time and we will have to move again as our account is for sure leaving us March 1. There will be thirteen of us that wont have anything to do at that point. Slowly people are being absorbed into the work force at thisplace, but the apprehension creates such turmoil that you just want it to be over.

We got our Annual bonuses. It was nearly 10% of my annual gross pay, and will make a huge difference as far as the finances for the next stage of my life is concerned. I have been stuffing excess cash into the bank as fast as I can to be prepared for my quitting my job, likely 3-3. This will give them two weeks notice. They dont need to replace me so who knows if they will let me stay the two weeks or what. I am trying not to get too far ahead of God

My mental outlook has gotten quite a bit better the past few weeks. I am asking myself all of the time, "Why am I thrashing about like this? dont you trust God?" I do trust God, I just dont trust my own abilities, my fortitude, and skills. I fear for what might happen while I am gone, but God knows about that too and I need to trust Him and "Woody to do the right things and to care about the situation while I am away

God is making a way for me in this situation. We received a call from our landlord last week. He is a great guy, always thinking. He had a space open up in the building next door to the place where we were going to have our shop. More square footage, more windows, more secure, and more traffic, not much more money. I have had to rework all of my layouts and such, and have all of the contractors out again, but that is ok. I feel very good about the situation, and feel that I am being placed in the perfect spot. So many people have encouraged me to go forward, and my business plan looks good. So what am I afraid of...

The unknown of course...

God is good He is placing me in a good situation. The next few months are going to be so exciting. Thank you God for setting this up like this. Yes its cold, the world that is and I often feel chilled to the bone. I know though that God is able to warm me up through the power of His love. I just need to receive it and hang on for the ride

Labels: Artisans Fine Jewelry Repair, Business start up, Dreams, Faith, working