LIFE

My husband and I bought a new truck this week. It's a 2006 Majestic Blue Nissan Titan 4x4 with chrome detailing. It's beautiful, but BIG. We needed the truck to fit the needs of our family, and to sit high enough off the ground to drive through Houston's flood waters. We are very pleased with the purchase.

I gave it a spin while taking the girls and a friend of Nicolette's out to celebrate her birthday yesterday. They had fun. We saw the movie "Monsters vs. Aliens" in 3-D (pretty funny movie!), and went to dinner at Chili's. I am finding that their $7 menu is, well, quite crappy, except for the Old Timer hamburger, which is too big for me to eat. We would have done better going to a fast-food restaurant, or IHOP. Anyway, the truck rides well, and the girls love it. You ought to see my husband. He's just like a kid who just received his very first red wagon. LOL

We are going to Mississippi this weekend to attend my sister-in-law's graduation from Alcorn State University. The girls and I all have beautiful sundresses to wear, because it's going to be HOT out there (they are going to have a family barbecue and seafood boil after the commencements). We won't have to be back home until Monday. I plan on getting some much-needed sleep during down-time, because we have to leave Friday night right after getting off work, and attending the ceremony Saturday morning at 8 AM. That leaves us very little time to rest, and I am talking about trying to do the girl's hair tonight. I have too much to do, and not enough time to do it. I had to run some errands for mom, who lives in south Houston yesterday before taking the girls out. I'm not tired yet, but winding down fast.

I received my T.C.E.L.O.S.E. certification last week. I am officially state-certified as a Telecommunications Operator. That document gives me the ability to work ANYWHERE in the state of Texas under that classification. It will come in handy in the event that I may ever have to evacuate again because of a catastrophic hurricane or other probable disaster. Let's hope that won't be necessary.

One of my classmates was fired a couple of weeks ago. She was always calling out sick, among other things. They told her that she wasn't "a good fit." I hate hearing about anybody losing their job, especially in this tough economy. Another bad thing to come about her release is that the new people, and that includes me, will have to fill in as a replacement for her until another operator is hired. I am already scheduled to work nights the last week of this month. Oh, well, at least I will be home for Memorial Day. Plus, while working, I will earn DOUBLE time and a half. It's just a lot harder to concentrate on your work when you are fighting sleep. I am going to have to work on a sleep schedule, and stick to it, when having to work nights, so that I will be alert.