Frustrated Rant

I'm currently very frustrated with the rhetoric of some people around the country. Can we please just support and give the president-elect a chance to do a good job, before we assume he will fail. I mean, come-on it's pretty much fact (not just opinion) that the last 8 years have been a downward spiral. AND! The current president is still in power, so lets give a new administration and everyone a chance. I know I'm liberal on some issues, but even if Mr. McCain was elected, I too would hope that everyone would expect me to give him a chance to see what he could do with his power, and if I didn't at first, tell me too, just as I am saying here. Some times we just need to see it in writing, or hear it. While I may not share all the same views as McCain, he is a fine man and would deserve my respect and support as my president, can we as a country not do it vice versa?

No one's saying you have to share the same views as him, no one is saying you can't question him, but assuming a new administration will fail, well that's just not ok. We are all American's, we vote and elect by majority, this year a majority has spoken, again you don't have to like it, but he will be everyone's president. We need opposition, and different views, or there wouldn't be balance in anyone's life let alone a government. So please, I'm not asking you to change your views or even like it, just give everyone a chance. I feel is is a human and kind and Christian thing to do.

My rant for the day! I apologize if I have offended anyone, that's not my intent...just to bring out a topic that I've been thinking about.

Much love.

The Beautiful Emily and me prior to her Wedding!

Election Night and History has been made!

It's 10pm and Barack Obama has just been announced as the President-Elect This makes me very happy! I'm happy that this is all over though, I'm sick of all of it and ready for something new.

I have tears in my eyes... to believe that our country has actually done something so historic and wonderful and AMAZING!!!!

I'm so excited and wish great things for this country!!! We have the chance now, we can get out of this place that Bush has taken us to.

Love to you all, and God Bless this Wonderful USA!

It's been a while....life goes on.

I do exist! See...

I hadn't planned on writing this tonight, and frankly I've gotten really bad about even checking my friends blogs, so no hard feelings if you've stopped checking mine. I'm not all that interesting anywho.

I can't quite believe it's November already. 52 weeks ago today, I was offered my job, and by Wednesday it will be 366 days since I was offered my job. It's hard to believe that it's been a year, an amazing year, but a year nonetheless. I'm anxiously awaiting my 1st anniversary and all the good that comes with it.

At my wonderful job, I have been full swing into training for the last couple months. My whole life is training, but it's hard core since mid September. I've got DLOC (radar training and certification), local office Winter weather training, and on the job training. I'm LOVING it all! DLOC is fun, I've had one teletraining course, and many hours on the WES(weather event simulator) and many many many hours on the Learning Center (web training modules). I have my next Teletraining next Wednesday and I have about 12 hours of training to do before that...and only 4 shifts to get it done. Plenty of time eh? Yea, it will get done. I'm registered in the first residency course (go to Norman for a week of Radar training and final certification) for the last week in January, and then I will officially be able to issue warnings! Lots to do that's for sure, and I'm keeping plenty busy, it will be January before I know it!

On the "on the job training" side of the house, I just finished a 7 day stretch of Midnight shifts. As I expected, I loved them! The 7 days didn't feel at all like 7 days, and I learned so so much. I did the forecast for 4 days, and actually felt like I knew what I was doing. It's crazy...my education is useful! I wrote the AFD 4 times...all me, which is by far the most intimidating part of the process, that and the deadlines. I do feel that, while I'm far from good, but I do feel comfortable doing it myself, and the continued training will just keep that going! I am working the short term desk on Friday this week which will be interesting as we are backing up an office and I will be doing two office's work. Will make it interesting for sure! Christmas day is my big reveal...well not really, but it is the first shift that I am on where I am the person doing the job without any "trainer" on the same shift. It's just Mary-Beth, the DAPM and myself that day till the evening shift comes in. It will be a blast!

I will try to post more in the upcoming days about my life the past few months....a week in NJ/NYC....Tory, my kitten of fury...and life as it goes for the next few months.

Love

New little one

Well a week ago, a new little sweet thing came into my life...he doesn't have a name yet, but he's sweet as can be. A new little kitten. Mary-Beth (who is holding him in the picture above) found him at work last week as she was walking outside. He walked right up to her.. He's just the tiniest thing. He was absolutely starving. Mary-Beth called me, and I had just gotten back from Kearney about 5 min earlier. She asked me what she should do (she's a cat lover herself), and I said I couldn't keep him, but that I'd bring my carrier and some milk so that there was a place to put him. The poor thing was just so so hungry. I decided that I'd take him home until I figured out what to do with him. I just knew Pumpkin wouldn't take kindly to a new little thing in the apt.

He spent the first couple nights in a box in my closet, because I didn't know what to do with him, if he could eat by lapping up milk...or just by the bottle we'd tried earlier, and if he knew the litter box. I made a makeshift little box with some shredded credit card statements...take that credit card companies!!!...and he used it perfectly. So I put him in the bathroom for the night. I had Thursday off and I went and got some food and a bowl and some clay non-clumping litter. He ate his milk out of a dish and knew the litter box. Wonderful!!

Now here we are a week later, I feed him 3 times a day...which is difficult when I'm used to just giving pumpkin food when he wants... He uses the litter box great, and tonight, he's been out of his room all afternoon.

And the most shocking thing to me, is that while Pumpkin was none to happy with this little kitten a week ago, he's now playing with it (for the most part). He keeps a watchful eye on the kitten and plays nice. I'm very pleased, seeing as he wants to kill cat that is of any size. So this just might work out, and I just might end up keeping him. I'd wanted a second cat, but figured it was never going to be an option with pumpkin the way he was. Now I just might have one. It's a complete lifestyle change though, I'm used to pumpkin and his lazy style. I've had him almost 4 years now.

(check out that size difference) Pumpkin's watching from a safe height.

The kitten doesn't have a name yet, I want to name him something Meteorology related because he was found at the NWS office, but I don't want it to be to terribly corny..so we'll see what I come up with. Some people suggested NOAH (NOAA) but I'm not all over a "human's" name. I like pet names for pets, those that aren't as normal names. If you have any great suggestions, I'm open to them. He's cute and lovable and sweet as can be. A new addition to my life, maybe when I needed it the most!

Action shot...he's got crazy energy!!! Pumpkin's not to let him out of his eye for a moment. Cute eh?

Much Love

A Lunde, Habash Wedding

My dear friend Emily Lunde is ready to head to the Chapel in a few months!! I'm so very happy for her and Michael. Her wedding is in Staten Island, NYC and I have been honored to be asked to be a bridesmaid. I am so very excited to head to NYC in October for this blessed occasion.

I got the invitation yesterday and it was beautiful, the colors are brown and turquoise, the bridesmaids are wearing tea length strapless dresses, 2 in brown, 2 in teal(turquoise). They are beautiful and I can't wait to be able to wear it. The wedding and reception will be beautiful. My only wish is that I was closer to her, to be able to help, or just be around her in this exciting time. We've talked about it forever, and it's happening. So excited for her and Michael!

After the wedding Morgan and I are going to stay in NYC for a few days, to have some fun in the city. I was able to take 3 days off, all of which I needed for the weekend, and that gave me 8 full days off for the two weeks. Very happy at how it worked out. I think it will be great fun to go to NYC again. It's is just about 3 times in just as many years...a pretty good record, but one that will be very hard to keep up with.

An exciting count down till October! Congrats!!

Love all!

Jury Duty

I was summons for Jury Duty this week, only catch is...it's in Buffalo County, Nebraska. That tends to be a problem, when I'm no longer a resident of Kearney. I was called a couple years ago, but I got it deferred since I was in North Carolina as a student. My guess is that this time is just when I came back up in the pile from when I was deferred, who knows. I am kinda disappointed, I think it'd be fun to be on a jury. I sent back my information. No where on the form does it say...I'm no longer a resident of this county, so I included my very own letter stating the fact. Also when you had to list your current address, there wasn't any place for a state, just city and zip code. So I had to add in Kansas. I'm sure it won't be a problem, but I just find it entertaining. I've sent the letter back and I'll stop by the courthouse when I'm home next week to make sure everything is kosher.

Being selected for Jury duty is based on your voters registration, I've been registered to vote in Kansas since February, since the Democratic Caucus. Crazy times. Maybe I'll be selected sometime in Kansas....then I can actually serve my jury duty that I've been called for twice and never been able to actually serve.

Love

The Summer and The Olympics

First things first...

Happy Birthday Kristen!

And next.....

Why hello, it's been a while eh? Well life in the fast lane that was the month of June, consisted of work....more work...and driving to Nebraska. I was finally happy to have some time off at the end of the month where I didn't drive anywhere. I finally got caught up on 18 hours of So you think you can dance...good thing, it was a good season. My first season, but good!

I'm realizing that life is different in my "real" life compared to school life. I'm use to summers being the time when you actually get everything done and fall/winter (school) to be the time when life slows down and you can't get extra things done. Well life is a bit different in the heart of the Great Plains as an NWS meteorologist. With work and overtime, and my many 3 to midnight shifts...I just didn't get anything accomplished. It was 2 months before I was even able to look at my work in progress journal article. By mid July things started to slow down, and I'm finally able to work on things that aren't related to calling people to see if they've got quarter sized hail or severe wind gusts. I've been working on my journal article for the last few weeks...running new model runs. I'm just not sure where I stand. I keep hoping I can get it done sooner than it actually ends up happening. I've got a new goal, so we'll see how that works out.

I loved my first convective season in Kansas, and I can't wait until next year when I'll be radar certified and actually get to do more. I'm loving my job and I cannot believe that it's been 8 months already...life is flying fast!!!

June and July turned out to be an engagement and expecting hot spot...two of my couple friends got engaged, and another one is expecting her first baby and another is expecting her second! On top of the one wedding that I went to. What's next?

Now...08/08/08 was a day that I had been looking forward to for MONTHS!!! I first saw the date of the start of the olympics sometime back in February when they were promoting it. I counted down the days and I had an absolute blast watching the opening ceremony last friday night!!! Since then I've spent every night watching the olympics, and if I've been home during the day...then too. They just might be the death of me though, as I wanted to watch the outcomes, and when it doesn't finish up until midnight...getting to bed after 1230am or close to 1am and having to be up and getting ready for work at 5am, makes for a short night! I loved every minute of it, and I'm now back to nights for the next 2 weeks. So the end of the olympics shouldn't cut into my sleep. I love the Swimming, Gymnastics and Diving. Track and Field takes a second in my favs to watch, but that's next week, so that will do. It's been amazing! Go USA!

I'm off to bed now. Hopefully I can get back to blogging more often!

Love