Today

It was the day of the big flood in Saginaw - 24 years ago - the water came up over my ankles on my way into the City Manager's Office that September morning. We had just moved to Saginaw so the girls could start school, hoping that I would be hired in the new Office Support Center at City Hall. There were three of us that would be interviewed and only two jobs available. I had to have this job.

Well, today I retire from the City of Saginaw - it has been a very good career - I have met so many wonderful people and had the chance to work with many of them. These friends have been through everything with me and my life has been enriched by knowing them and loving them.

Thank you so much for being there for me - you all know who you are - if I started naming names I would miss someone and feel awful. I have told you over and over how much you mean to me.

The majority of my career has been at the Police Department - I know without a doubt these men and women go to work every day knowing the danger they face - it means so much to me and it should mean so much to everyone. They laugh and joke and complain and drive me nuts - but I love them - it has been fun. The civilians that make their jobs easier - well - you run the place - and I always appreciated all you have done over the years - you have all become such good friends.

I so enjoyed the Labor Management Leadership Team - the Payroll Team - setting up HTE - learning COGNOS - mentoring - teaching - slapping up the side of the head!!! You know you loved it!!!

Thanks mostly for your friendship - see you tonight at the Junction!

White House Correspondence

The last time I sent a letter to the White House I was 11 years old and I wanted to tell Mrs. Kennedy how sad I was that President Kennedy died.

Last night I sent another letter by email to tell President Obama how proud I was to be an American when he spoke of how we must honor those people slain and injured in Arizona last weekend by treating each other with respect. He said we must live up to newly elected student council representative nine year old Christina Taylor's emerging political dreams when she died as she went to a supermarket to see Rep. Gabrielle Giffords meeting with her constituents. He said "I want our democracy to be as good as she imagined it."

He also said "We may not be able to stop all the evil in the world; but I know how we treat one another is entirely up to us."

I want to believe all of us were touched by these words last evening no matter where we stand politically.

Robbie Bowling

We went to see Robbie bowl yesterday. Bay City Western won and we were proud to see him help the team win. Last week he bowled a 231!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

Dinner Surprise

We were invited to dinner at Jim And Cindy's - and Michael cooked! We had a delicious dinner with homemade noodles. It was so good. And the wonderful visit was a heart warming evening. I just love being with family.

More Friends from the past!

Last evening several of us gathered at Olympia's to visit with a friend from Haiti. He told stories of the people, the culture and the earthquake. We all were so concerned for his safety when the earthquake hit and to hear him talk about that experience was fascinating.

He is a good storyteller and it was very interesting. It was so good to be at Olympia's again.

Visitors from the Past

This morning at our roll call two former deputy chiefs came to visit and they came with donuts. Arnie and Larry came to say goodbye to Robyn and me. We sat talking about old times and how much fun we all had working together. It was so nice of them to come see us.

Friends from the past are so good to see.

What I Will Miss

My friends
Roll Call
Finding solutions with coworkers
Writing Excel spreadsheets
Writing COGNOS reports
LAUGHING WITH, TALKING WITH AND ENJOYING MY COWORKERS

What will I not miss
Don't need that list at all

New Year's Eve

We of course will be home tonight - we leave the roads to the partiers. But we probably will go for a drive today to enjoy the heat wave we are expecting today!

I just sent my brother, Larry an email because we heard they had snow in Phoenix yesterday! This weather is crazy all over this year.

Larry told me about an app called Evernote - I love it. Using Trip Advisor and Evernote I have been planning our tripto Florida. It has been so much fun reading the reviews on Trip Advisor to find things to do and places to eat and stay.

Hope your evening is filled with friends and good sense - do not forget to designate a driver.

Surprises

When I came home from work I expected a nice clean house because today was the day Stephanie cleans our house. But when I opened the door there was a wrapped gift from her. I opened it and it was a beautiful painting she painted for our bedroom. It is a fabulous beach scene. She knows how much I love paintings and this one will fit right in.

Then I walked in the living room and found that Pat had put the Christmas decorations away. Yeah! Can I say how happy that made me?

What a great day.

Last Christmas Celebration for 2010

It was a full house last night. It was fun to have everyone here - even Crystal stopped by for a minute - making it the first time in two years we were all together.

I have to say it is time to get back to "normal" - whatever normal is it better start. Too much food and drink lately!

I finally made an appointment to get a haircut - I always wait too long and go crazy the last few weeks because it is usually a holiday week and I won't call last minute and then my hair REALLY drives me crazy.

Just a dozen workdays left until I RETIRE!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

Ayva Stole the Show

We had Pat's family over for Christmas - Ayva stole the show! Being the only child she got to help everyone open their present. She had such fun. She found the stuffed animal dogs and Sweet William doll and then Great Great Grandma and Grandpa got her a set of horses she can brush their tales - she was so fun.

She kept going upstairs and peeking through the shelves on the way up - she kept calling Caroline NuNu and Robbie Bee and Sheala Gee it was a great night.

It was nice to have everyone here - we usually go to Pat's sisters so it was nice to have them all here.

Delightful Christmas Morning

Pat and I went to Detroit to have breakfast with my sister, Kathy and her son, Brandon. We drove to their house and sat and chatted a bit -we even Skyped to Egypt to talk with Bryant's family. Then we went downtown to the Westin and ate at the Boulevard Room. It was very enjoyable. Then Brandon took us on a tour of his production company - Star Factory -it has a recording studio and a dance studio. We got to hear music he has written, recorded and produced. He has several artists he is working with that have great talent.

We were so happy to see his work and hear his recordings.

It was such a nice Christmas Morning.

Merry Christmas

Good morning and Merry Christmas to everyone. We went visiting yesterday and got to see all the Conklins. It was such a nice visit. We went to church last evening and it was very beautiful - everything gold and white - even though we helped decorate we were so focused on getting our job done that I never noticed how beautiful everything looked together. The music was niceand the people were overjoyed to see each other.

I hope you have a wonderful day filled with family and friends.

Christmas Begins!

I love beginning our Christmas celebrations. I even like the light dusting of snow - it makes everything look fresh and clean. Tonight we are going to help decorate church. Pat went over yesterday to use a lift we borrowed from St. Helen's and he put up hooks in the ceiling to hang stars from that church bought last year at Pier 1for 75% off. I can't wait to see it.

Taco Night mmmmmm. . .

Jesse and Caroline invited us over for taco night -it was delicious food. Rice, beans, tacos and the most yummy salsa. And we got to play with the kiddos! What a nice night.

Caroline, Sheala and Robbie and I went shopping earlier in the day. We had a nice time.

Swan Creek Road Lightshow

We went out to Swan Creek Road to see the lightshow. Homeowners put music to Christmas lights and we decided to stop by tonight to see it. Our friends, BIll and Amy told us about it -but they had not seen it yet. It was so much fun they did a great job. You can park in Boehler.'s parking lot, too.

Nice evening

Such a nice evening – Our nephew, Michael was in town and we went out to dinner at Outback with him and his parents. We had such a nice time chatting – he will be on his way to spend time with his wife in Budapest – they are both looking forward to a beautiful Christmas together.

We actually got most of our Christmas shopping done yesterday – YEAH! A few things haven’t made it by mail yet, however, Amazon said it would be here before Christmas – and I love Amazon.

We have a very busy week next week – decorating at church, eye appointment, dentist appointment, Pat’s choir party, baking, – lots going on – but then I think it will quiet down for the rest of the holiday season.

Team Ra-Ras Kicks Breast Cancer - Susan G. Komen for the Cure Philadelph...

Every time someone views this video United Healthcare donates money to the Susan G. Komen Foundation to fight breast cancer. Thanks for sharing Elise - even though it took me forever to find time to look at this.

Winter Weather

Wow – Winter hit with a slam dunk! We didn’t get it as bad as some places but 9 inches with blowing and drifting. The wind chill is -10 this morning and Pat went out and cleared the drive, scraped the windows and then drove me to work – what a nice guy!

Robbie called to say his JV Bowling Team took first place on Sunday in the playoffs. He bowled 177 – we are so proud of him.

It was really nice being snowed in yesterday. We went to church on Saturday so we never left the house. We got the Christmas decorations up and vegged out watching Hallmark and Lifetime schmooze all day – then CSI reruns – if that isn’t the opposite end of the spectrum.

shopping?

So some of the people at the craft show were buying for NEXT year. I have not even thought about Christmas! I think I will have to get serious this week!

Our lives are so busy we haven't been able to even find a time to celebrate Christmas with our own families. I think we all have to slow down a bit.

OK Maybe this week won't be crazy while we BEGIN shopping with all the other last minute shoppers. Maybe a prayer to Mom and Patsy - Master Shoppers of all times (you should have seen the buys they would come home with after the George Washington Day sales in downtown Saginaw back in the day where everything was. 22¢ or $2.22): I'm sure with the households filled with family they both did there share of last minute shopping!

So I'll whisper a prayer and get going today.