Life..

Today has been such a whirlwind of a day. I found out that I won't be offered the position at a University that I interviewed with. This was actually kind of a relief because they made the decision for me. I had been toggling back and forth on what I would do had I been their choice. I have a good job, I don't LOVE my job and I don't HATE coming to it either, so I applied just to see what would happen. 6hrs of an interview, 4 thank you letters, and 2 weeks of waiting later, they let me know that they decided to go with the other candidate that they interviewed. They were impressed with me, praised my strong credentials, and only brought in me and the other person to interview for the position which had been open since June. Even though I wasn't sure what was going to happen with this position, I am somewhat disappointed that I didn't get to make the choice to say yes or no. I was fascinated with the possibilities of the opportunities that would come but at the same time reserved because I have my own business plans for my life. I'm realizing that I'm an entrepreneur at heart. I guess owning and operating a consulting firm and a non-profit organization didn't raise red flags for me..ha ha My life tends to run around my job(s) maybe this door closing was God's way of telling me to be patient where I am..



Sadly today I was informed that one of my good friends that I went to LSU with died yesterday. She was running in the Dallas Marathon collapsed, went into cardiac arrest and was later pronounced dead. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6164680.html

Erin was married and is 29 years old. Today my mind has been remembering all of the fun times I had with her while we were at LSU. We were friends and we were sisters bonded through music. She was super funny man. Always had a smile on her face, full of joy and laughter and life. I was so not prepared to hear that she died, not that we're ever prepared to hear of someone dying, but she had run marathons before, had been doing everything "right", working with a trainer, running coach, nutritionist the whole 9..I've never had a good friend die. I'm not good at emotions and this kinda stuff, today has been so surreal, like seriously, dead, gone. This is one of those things in life that I don't think I'll ever understand. I do know that God is still God and He is still in control. Erin was truly a blessing to me and my life and I know for sure that there are countless others who can say the same. I praise God for Erins life and for the joy that she brought into mine.

Also today I got word from one of my bffs that her daughter Alysha (I've mentioned her before) who has been battling Cancer, body has accepted her cells. She's been going through her last rounds of Chemo and had a bone marrow transplant. Her system accepting her cells is GREAT news!! Her ANC is 900 and when they get to 2000 they get to leave St. Jude in Memphis and finish out treatments at the Ronald McDonald House. She is essentially in remission and can get back to a "normal" life for a 6 year old. Praise God for her healing and her life, through all of this she has been so strong. The last few weeks have been super hard on her and on my friend. I'm thankful that things are starting to turn around.

At one end of the spectrum life was taken so sudden and at the other end Alysha has been fighting for her for months, and there was a time where doctors didn't think she would make it. Life is so short and not promised to any of us, but at the end of the day, God has a plan for us all and He knows why things happen even when we can't grasp it.

Please keep Erin Krielow Lahrs husband Jeff and her parents and brother in your prayers.

Brown...out!

Randomly speaking

I've been incognegro around this joint lately.  Not by choice believe me!  I just have so much on my plate right now that I'm thinking of going on a fast, ha ha..anyway, so I'll just ramble on and we'll see what comes out on the page.  Buckle up folks, I have a feeling this is going to be a random wild ride!

 

After my last post here I actually took the words I was writing to heart and have been grinding and doing some grassroots efforts to get business #2 up and running.  That's right blogland, I'm expanding and going into another area of business.  Business #2 is a non-profit organization The Catalyst Foundation of Louisiana.   

It's an organization that donates instruments and other financial resources to music programs nationwide to students/educators that have access to a music curriculum but lack the resources and support base to adequately keep up with equipment loss due to attrition, depreciation and wear over time.  Music has always been big part of my life and most people are dumbfounded shocked to find out that I have a music degree.  While I don't have the passion to teach music full time it doesn't mean that I don't have the passion to keep the performing arts alive.  Some of my best memories and friendships were forged because of "band"...at any rate, getting this organization operational has been taking up a lot a lot a lot time that I probably would be wasting anyway doing something less productive, so..if you're interested in hearing more info about the organization or would like to donate an instrument or financial resources contact me, tcfofla@hotmail.com Please feel free to pimp the info about this organization and pass it around.  I'm always looking for philantrophists who want to give or even contacts in education who could use our assistance.

Thanksgiving was at my house here in the boot this year.  That was quite interesting and LOUD..all of my immediate family from TX came into town as did some of my aunts/grandma/cousins from Mississippi were there as well.  My mom apparently does know me a little bit since she came bearing all of this.

Of course she had ever reason to bring half of her kitchen because I don't have nearly as many pots as she does, and probably never will.  They were here way longer than I thought they would be for a few days.  We ate, we laughed, we slept, I cleaned..Here are a few pics of the kids

At this point, the kids were STARVING..lol

2 cousins in the middle, 2 neices on the outsides, and 1 nephew..

 They were on lockdown in my backyard, cheering for the "fisherman" that was out there

My siblings having a wii good time.. lol

 What else...ohhh how can I forget.  This morning when I rose, this is what greeted me, in BATON ROUGE..

IT'S A SNEAUX DAY!!!! 

The sneaux wasn't a big hit for Rocky

I took the liberty of working from home today because I know that folks around here have issues driving in the rain and didn't want to risk my life with them on the road driving so here I am warm and comfy on the couch dumping my head as things come into it. (lucky you!) Rocky has taken a moment to stop being all clingy and whiney and is curled up next to me invading my personal space.  I like him sleeping even if it means I'm getting an extra burst of heat, geaux me! School is finally winding down..I'm like a week and half away from Graduation for THEE last time. It seems like I been working on getting this MBA FOREVER..Kenny Chesney said he wanted to know how forever feels, well, he should enroll in a MBA program, take classes part time and work 2.5 jobs full time, that will do the trick.  

Alright folks, there's a glimpse into why I've been so lax on the writing as of late, snap!! My birthday is coming up soon, if you want to get me something I'm accepting rolls of stamps and names/addresses of people who will graciously make a donation to the above mentioned foundation.  Oh, I also would accept a new desktop (tower, not monitor) and printer..lol

Here is what I got me!!

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRADUATION, CHRISTMAS TO ME!!

 

I've had a good year so I figure I may as well go out with a bang!! I've managed to keep this little gem as a secret for about a month and a few days, actually it's still a secret to many folks so shhhh, don't tell anyone.  I plan to put a nice red bow on it and admire it on Christmas morning when its parked in my parents driveway.  Alright, that's all folks, time to finish enjoying this sneaux day..

 

Brown..out!