New Years Resolutions-2009

As the final hours and minutes tick away of 2008 I think back on the past year. It was year filled with ups and downs-like any other year-of experiences, challenges and lessons learned.

My nephew Austin with my newborn neice, Riley

A few of the highlights of 2008 include the two beautiful babies we now have in our family. Addison Elizabeth is the daughter of my cousin (who is more like a sister b/c we grew up close) and her husband; she was born in May and is soo gorgeous. And on 12/30 my brother and sister-in-law welcomed their second child, a daughter Riley Claire; my nephew (and buddy) Austin is 6 now (quite the proud big brother). It will be interesting to watch them grow. The Celtic Thunder concert and trip to Houston was a great experience...over much too quickly.

I'm not going to list the challenges of the year-however they do tend to make you think about what you want (or want to change) and how to achieve it. That however is what prompts resolutions or changes for the upcoming year. In no particular order, here are some of mine-(I read an article where goals/plans need to be as specific as possible lol, so going to try that)...

1. lose 75 lbs (I have the planner, work out program, free weights, new running shoes, diet plan) so this will happen-progress reports will be made monthly. This is for me and my health and well being.

2. keep faith and belief in myself and God-sometimes in our struggles or challenges we forget we aren't alone and that we can make it. Life is what you make of it-some things that happen may be out of your control but you can control your attitude and how you deal with it--I'm going to try and remember this more, have a better attitude (even, or rather especially) when things don't go my way.

3. Get a career-even if means going back to school I am going for a career (not just a job-I have two of those now and can barely pay the bills) I want to be able to get in with a company and be able to grow, make enought money to support myself, travel, and get ahead of the bills for once.

4. take at least one trip-either overseas (Ireland/Scotland, England, Italy) are possibilities or just to NY for the St. Patrick's Day parade or go to the CT show with Missy in P'burg..I want to travel again this year! (Last yr went to Philly for Ron's graduation)

5. start a savings account-this way I can take bigger trips (LOL), plan for a new vehicle, a house of my own or I don't have to go to the parents when life gets in the way..this goes with #3...

6. be a better friend-I know when things get rough I tend to withdraw from friends-it's a bad habit, but when friend's go through things I'm always there-try to check on them (without being annoying) to listen or whatever, I tend to be protective of my friends, I don't want them hurt.

Well I think that covers the major ones-I know we all have challenges to face this upcoming year but hopefully it will be a blessed one for all :D......HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!

CELTIC THUNDER-11/25/08-Houston, TX

Well-after the up/down ride of the last three weeks the BIG night was finally here! Jan, Keri (my friend who accompanied me) and myself headed out to The Golden Corral for a pre-show dinner. Denise, the other Thunderhead who was supposed to join us, didn't make it but we met up with her before the show :D Our seats were MUCH better than we had expected, getting tickets barely a week before the show! We were in the second floor section (but the first section only had 10 rows..great view!!) on the second row. We were armed with signs and green glowsticks-we were the ONLY ones there with them...it earned us smiles, chuckles, laughs and waves from each of the guys.
The show was absolutely AMAZING!! No matter how many times you watch the DVD (and as great as it is) to see it LIVE, to see the guys having fun on stage...they were much more relaxed and seemed to enjoy themselves. All were in TOP form, they sounded wonderful! Some of the things that stand out from the include:
-George waving to us and smiling really big during Mull of Kintyre
-Keith waved to us several times, Ryan and Paul kept grinning when they came over to our side of the stage-yes, we yelled and waved at them, they waved back!
-Heartbreaker...Yikes!! Wow...you need a few minutes to recover from THAT one!!!! Very nice LOL
-Danny Boy and Steal Away-the accapella songs were magnificent!!!! Such wonderful harmony!
-That's A Woman-WOOOW..double whammy!! Love the dark suit on Paul and Ryan-wooow has he really figured out how to play up the bad guy..and you still want to cheer for him. Though she isn't Zara, Michelle (her backup) did a wonderful job!!
-During the instrumental part of Lauren and I, Keith yells out "heellooooo Houston!" in his sexy accent
-Paul dancing during Raggle Taggle Gypsy-totally great (YES, we encouraged him, LOL) He's such a showman
-Puppy Love was a great attention getter for the audience, they loved it!! Damian was great!!
-Love Thee Dearest--WOOW Let's just say Paul was absolutely breathtaking!! So was Remember Me, Recurde Me
-Ireland's Call-we were dancing, jumping, yelling, waving our glow sticks, Paul asked...so he got :D..tooo bad all the old people who got the front seats didn't do it too!!!!
-Caledonia-hehehe we got kilt swishes-major ones, Paul's booty shak'n..great craic!! We were the ones standing up pointing back when they turned around.. LOL
The show is over much toooo quickly...leaving you wanting more :D It's a great sadness to see them begin to take down the stage, knowing they'll move on quickly...it was a night to remember forever!

Disappointment-

I know this will absolutely sound silly but I was heartbroken, disappointed and devastated to learn that the concert I had been looking forward to and had tickets for since July- Celtic Thunder in Baton Rouge was cancelled due to poor ticket sales. I had FRONT ROW center seats and backstage (meet and greet) passes through the local PBS affiliate...I am going to try to get tickets to another show-which will be about a 5 hour drive, but won't be front row and the meet and greets...
OK, first off- what's so special about CT? They are four guys from Ireland, one from Scotland-they range in age from 16-40, are all very talented singers/musicians/songwriters (not to mention all very handsome, down to earth, really truly nice guys-they are the ONLY artists I know of who take the time to answer questions in their forum and go into their chat room to visit with fans). Each of their own musical styles shows through in their solos and they come together to sing some group songs in amazing harmony. They were brought together by the creator/first producer of Celtic Woman, Sharon Browne and Phil Coultier (he wrote "My Boy" for Elvis and many other hits...so there is a good chance you've heard his work). I saw commercials for them on FOX news and had to check them out...it was a search but finally found their first CD, then their DVD-they are awesome! I joined and have become involved in the forum/chat room-I haven't done that for ANY other artist, and I haven't been this excited over a musical group since New Kids On the Block (NKOTB) and I was a freshman in high school...lol If you don't know who I'm talking about..www.celticthunder.ie check it out for yourself.

An Introduction-

OK so since I've decided to "blog" ,my first will be an introduction of myself. I am 32 years old, live in a very small town in Louisiana where I was born and raised but had the opportunity to leave to attend college at Northwestern State University where I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism (public relations) emphasis and a minor in criminal justice. I work two jobs now-the first is as case manager for the local school board in the homeless children program-no, it isn't necessarily children living on the street but staying with grandparents or other family or even friends. We help these children to succeed as well as the ones who have a steady home. My second job is as a program director for the Boys and Girls Club local unit. I can lots of good things about the BGC program in general-it is a great place for children ages 6-18 to come and get help with studying or homework or to come play/have a good time with other kids in a safe, fun environment. The only downside is that we have only been open to the children since Sept. 30 so we are still kind of disorganized and getting the kinks out, but it is getting better!
If I have any free time-not like I do-I love to read and write stories. I am nearly finished with WICKED-The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire-it is a wonderful book, tells the story of Elphaba, the "Wicked Witch of the West" from the 'Wizard of Oz'. Can't wait to get started on the sequel "Son of a Witch" Haha-no, it's about her son Liir.
I was written by the "writing" bug in 6th grade when the school librarian had all of the classes write and illustrate a "skinny book"-we each had to write a story and 1st, 2nd and 3rd places were selected from each class-from the 1st place entries a 1st, 2nd and 3rd overall was chosen. I placed 1st in my class and was selected as the overall winner. Ms. Brodnax (the librarian) encouraged me to keep writing..so I did. I have placed in the statewide Young Author's Competition a couple of times. Throughout the years as life interfered writing was placed on the back burner. I chose to start this blog to get back in the habit of writing, because I hope to have something published. I have written for newspapers, both in college and on the professional level-there is nothing like seeing your name in print. That's just a little about me, more to come as I have time...