Yes, today is my birthday, my born day, my “earth” day, etc.

I have no concrete plans. Well, should I say the planning has been stripped from my hands. I’m about to head off for breakfast followed a couple of hours later by a most decadent massage. Yum! (Note to self: more massages in 2009) Let’s see, then there’s the maincure/pedicure, brow-shaping.

After that, I believe I’m in for a bit of a “road trip”…I just don’t know exactly when we’re leaving or where we’re going (though I do have my suspicions). LOL Nevertheless, I know the end result will be fun, fine & fabulous.

Actually, I’m looking forward to some quiet time. I’m relatively introspective by nature but I become even moreso this time of year as I look back at what the past year was like, what worked (and what worked well), what didn’t work and plan for the year ahead. There is much work to do in the New Year, starting with making myself my #1 priority. I’m stepping up my game health-wise. You heard it here first!

Anywho, I hear the rattle of pans and smell waffles and syrup. I’m out.

Enjoy your day!

I’ll be back to wish you “Happy New Year”. Well, that’s my plan at the moment. But er’ruh, don’t hold it against me if I miss the mark by a few hours…or days. *snicker*

Smooches!

Live DELICIOUSLY!
*~* MsJayy *~*

I love the holiday season. I really do. Yes, in many ways it is overly commercial. So what? That’s 5th Avenue’s version and if it works for them, (HA!), let them do their thing. As much as I love this time of year, I’m glad that Christmas is behind us if for no other

Over the years, I’ve learned how to make the holiday season matter to me, to keep the authenticity of Christmas front and center. I enjoy the décor (though I’m likely to enjoy it more if it’s not displayed before we’re carved the first piece of turkey). Love finding great gifts for friends/family. Love wrapping said gift in pretty paper and bows. Rushing the little ones off to bed early. Having them wake up the whole house so we can open presents. I love seeing the look of surprise and happiness on the face of the recipient when they open the box and find something lovingly picked just for them.

While I love all of that and more, I’m glad to see this Christmas wind down. Why? Part of it is so that we can get folks to stop grousing about it being so commercial and going on about what they spent (and shouldn’t have). More importantly, so that people can really sit back, sift through all the crumbled wrapping paper, the mangled bows, and boxes turn beyond repair to find what really matters.

Ever since I became a member of the workforce some many years ago, I’ve always shopped with a budget. Haven’t always stayed within that budget but hey, I had one. LOL This year, I managed to be well under that budget. My list of recipients was shorter this year. By design.

I think I’m a good gift giver. I listen to people, hearing what they say (and what they don’t), really trying to think about what our relationship is and then fit their gift around that information. For some people, it’s easier said than done.

I did manage to give something very special to every person on my list this year. It’s not an unusual gift and I work to be sure they get it during the course of the year but during the holiday season, I try to go a bit deeper with it. It truly is the gift that keeps on giving.

The gift of time.

Time spent creating memories in the midst of all the commercialization of the season, in between the Christmas movies and favorite cartoons, in the pauses between opening that next gift. I managed to steal a little quiet time with each member of my family, from the little babies to the big ones. LOL

There were piles and piles of gifts to be opened. And we tackled them like the champs that we are. But long after my niece Punkin has lost the pencil to her drawing game, long after the wheels stop turning on P-nut’s race car, after Princess So Fabulous has finished those new books, after my sister-in-law has sampled all her perfume, after BigBro#4 has put together that great Obama puzzle, after my mom has used her new handbag, after the phone calls to and from other friends & family….they will remember the time we spent together, laughing, playing, reminiscing…the memories we revisited and the ones that we created anew.

Baking cookies. Singing silly songs. Laughing at folks playing Wii Fit. Beating folks at the new board games. Telling tales of Christmas past.

In the midst of all the gifts that you gave, in the midst of all that you received, I pray that you received the gift of quality time from and with someone special.

Just think of the joy you’ll have next holiday season as you trim the tree and those memories tumble out of the box.

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays to you & yours!

I’ve been a bit remiss in my blogging as of late. No excuses…no explanations. (Some times the lines tend to blur between the two. LOL) My goal is to do better in 2009.

Anywho, just dropped by to wish a quick “HAPPY HOLIDAYS” to you before dunking the kids…er…giving the kids a bath and wading through the gifts they received. Can you believe those little munchkins had three shifts of gift bringing and opening? Yep, the fam started around 7am. Around 3pm, members of their extended fam dropped by with mo’ stuff. And then around 7pm, more extended fam with even mo’ stuff. No clue as to where all these goodies will be stored but um, since it’s not MY house, I don’t need to worry about it. Whoo-hoo!

I hope that you had an enjoyable Christmas and that the rest of your holiday season is filled with laughter and good times.

Here’s to a New Year filled with opportunities and beautiful moments. May you be blessed beyond measure.

Live DELICIOUSLY!
*~* MsJayy *~*

Sometimes you just have to “pause for the cause”
…and sometimes?
That “cause” needs to be YOU.

*~* MsJayy *~*

The “JOB” market that is.

Yes, once again, I am a full-time employee in the Corporate America arena.

*Hush….listen……can you hear my mother shouting “Halleluiah!!”? *

Not sure of my official hire date as there’s much paperwork and corporate gobbledy-gook to work through in bringing this temporary situation to an end. I’m guessing I’m be “official” in January. Works for me.

I had a few qualms about accepting the position. There was the loss of pay involved in moving from contracting to full-time but I went in knowing that was going to happen. The weakened economy and loss of jobs didn’t help me when it came to negotiating salary. Starting salary is decent…a little less than I made as a contractor, but more than I was making with the employer that “divorced” me.

There’s the on-call rotation that I’m soooo not looking forward to.

But all in all, I think it’s a great opportunity. Small team of people. Everyone gets along, supports each other whenever they can…all the things you want in a work environment.

There’s a lot to learn – it’s a whole new world for me in terms of industries. Lot to learn but I see great opportunities for my skillset. In a lot of ways, it feels like I’m part of a “start-up” company although the department has existed for some time. My manager actually WAS the department for 8-months prior to bringing in two contractors before me.

Yeah, I had a few qualms but….the US lost 533,000 jobs in November, unemployment is around 1.2 million to date.

Kinda puts those qualms into perspective, huh?

Did I take the job out of fear, being afraid I wouldn’t find another job? Nope. Contracting positions are still rather plentiful for my skillset in this area; as a matter of fact, I just spoke with three companies last week.

Did I think I would find anything with this combination of people that I gelled with right away AND work that I enjoy? Not so sure but I tell you – for the right opportunity, I would have been willing to find out.

Am I bummed because of the loss of money? No. I stopped chasing money years ago. I want to be fairly compensated for the work I do but I’m honest enough to know that at a certain level of salary, your life is no longer your own so to speak. Been there, done that…and without the pay.
My experience in the working world taught me many things, for which I’m grateful no matter how big or how small the lesson was.

The primary thing it taught me? The thing I’m most grateful for:

I don’t need to chase PAPER – I’m pursuing PURPOSE.

When it comes to work – whether it’s in Corporate America or my own entrepreneurial endeavors – that works for me.

Today is World AIDS Day.

Check ya self.