New job is going well! We are finally moving out of hotel on thursday.  We are so excited! The only big issues have been the computer so many problems.  I had to send out an now it is being reconfrigered.  Technology stinks sometimes.  The new place is so nice an our apartment overlooking a nice brook.

Waiting for the snow to stop..

Well, beginning of my 3rd week, in my new position, new property and new town.  We think we have found a place, which I absolutely love and want!!  We did apply but the husband needs a job in order for us to qualify, one of the jobs would have him out of the home 4pm-11pm 5 days a week, and we would have no full days off together.  I know I am being selfish, I just really want us to have a life together. So part of me, is wondering if we should then look at a less expensive place in order for us to live off my paycheck and use his part time work for fun!!!

Why be married if we do not spend anytime together? When he was at the Tavern, we at least had one whole day together.  He has other options and I am hoping one of those works out, so we do not have to choose between our life together or paying our bills.  I took this new position to move forward in my career, and to make more money so we can actually enjoy our life together and not be living to work, but work to be living..

These past three weeks have been tough, but today, I enjoyed talking to my boss, and getting everything out what I have seen in the last 3 weeks and learning what the expectations of my position are, and how to go forward without over stepping my boundaries.

I am look forward to the new opportunity and to explore more of this part of the state and Vermont.

Yesterday, we looked at 2 different apartments. I really want the 2nd one, and in order to do that, the husband knows and is trying to get a job. It does mean we are in the hotel until March 20th or so.  That is a long time fo be in one room.   This move is so much harder than I thought it would be, tonight it is 5pm and I am working until 11pm. I am MOD.

Yes, the beginning of my 3rd week on the job and I am covering a MOD shift.  This is not making me happy or even  feel as if I am learning anything. Tomorrow I must have a sit down discussion with my DOS/M and find out what exactly my role is here on the property.

I feel as if she thinks I am a glorified CSM, and that is not what I was told during the interview process. there is no job descriptions which I understand, but I need to know what is expected of me and the role I will be fulfilling here.

I have many ideas and I want to implement them the number 1 being getting on the road and trying to build relationships with local businesses!!  I realize everyone is busy but unless we get out there, the leads will eventually stop and we need to plan for that not to happen.

I just want to be a success and useful in this position not taken advantage of , by only having the title but not the responsiblities that I really crave.  I may not like the MOD shift on a Sunday night, but at least I can see the property and how it works and introduce myself to the evening shift people who I do not see all that often. 

I believe in this property and the company, I just want to make sure I am doing what they intended for my role to be and if  I have to act like a bulldog with a bone until someone hears me I will do that too.  It is about the company nothing personal..

We are homeless!! Living in a hotel until we find a place in our new area...

This weekend, started off great, then ended badly. On Saturday, I had the whole day by myself got my hair done and nails,and even had my eyebrows waxed.  Then Stephen came up from Wolfeboro and stayed with me, on Sunday we got up early and here was the plan and then what actually happened.

Sunday- we were going to finish loading truck, according to Stephen 2 hours topped left to load, have our landlord look at the place and hopefully get our deposit back. Then come back to Hanover, and unload truck.

Good plan right? Well, sounds good in theory.  First off, the truck was suppose to come up on Saturday and start unloading and finish Sunday morning. 

We have way too much stuff!!! Stephen started loading on Friday and we did not finish loading until 2pm on Sunday. As, we were driving to Wolfeboro on Sunday morning, the snow was getting worse and worse, and we knew no way could we drive back up to Hanover on Sunday.

It took 3.5 hours to get from Hanover to Wolfeboro on a clear day 2 hours tops..  So, we stayed in Wolfeboro on Sunday night and I did not work on Monday.  Again, we were thinking of leaving around 9an and I could make it to work at noon and leave Stephen alone to unload.  Well, due to only 2nd week and talking to my boss, it would not be fair to Stephen. So I had day off!

Due to we were not prepared to stay over on Sunday, we had no clean clothes!  As we were ready to leave Wolfeboro, I somehow locked the keys and the back up keys in the car and had to wait 1 hour for someone to come and open the car, which by the way was running. Someone did not want us to leave Wolfeboro. 

We finally made it to Lebanon at the Storage area at 120pm, and then it took a good 40 minutes of paperwork, and tour to finally begin unloading.  We finished at 632pm, so tiring! 3 storage sheds and not next to each other, so after unloading into our big one, then moving to the 2nd one which is in the basement and you need to use a coverter belt to get it down there, scares me to think of how we are going to empty it.  At 5pm we realized we need (1) more shed.   The place closes at 7pm and I did not want to pay for another day of the truck!! 

Came back to hotel took showers and ordered take out.  Came to work today and Stephen went out job hunting, laundry and looking at places to live.  I feel I have let people down for missing a day because of snow if they had driven it and seen 140 they would understand.

So, beginning 2nd week of work and nervous as helll!!! 

Here is my office, I am going to miss the office. Last day..

 

Ok, so this is where we are moving, I am going up on Sunday and Stephen will follow a week later, once he packs up our apartment here in Wolfeboro NH.

 

This is the Upper Valley of New Hampshire, right on the Connecticut River.

 

 

 

This is the Main Street of the Town, the Hotel is right on this street, looking forward to new challenges and meeting new people. I wish we had found a place before I started work, but it is what it is, and now that we will be up here hopefully it will be easier to find a place.

 

 

Here is Dartmouth Green under the Snow, so pretty either way!  Of Course, we are moving in the Snow, we seem to always move either in HOT! August or Dead of Winter.

 

What will our new place bring us? Stephen is excited to find a job, he really wants to either waiter or Bartend and not manage a restaurant again, I am happy to see him out meeting people instead of being in the house all day by himself.

Well, we are moving again.  I have been offered a new job, and a promotion so we are off an running again. We are going up to Hanover, NH area, have not found a place as of yet and I start my new career on February 18, 2013.

So, the husband again will be packing up the house, at this time this is what our living room looks like fun huh?

I am also reading how to be a good manager and sales techniques. When you are in the same position for a while you know the property and what you  need to do to make the sale.  I want to be better, improve our family life and move forward in my career. This seems to be the next step and I am so excited, nervous but ready for the new challenges moving ahead.

Today, is a lovely Storm outside, called "Nemo" since when are they naming blizzards? 

I thought this was a cute way to keep your hands warm, more sexy then gloves.  Today is 4' here in New Hampshire, and suppose to get even colder tonight.  I want to be somewhere warm. We are going to be in Mrytle Beach in April and I know it is a way off, but I just like thinking about it.

Reality Rant:

TOP CHEF:

Last night, I watched the Wednesday, Jan. 16 Top Chef.  So mad that they sent Kristen home, if it is a "cooking " Show, then Josie who it seemed deliberately sabotaged Kristen and completely gave the blame to her, got Kristen offed. I was happy to see Kristen win the Last Chance Kitchen but she is still not back on as of yet.

Josie, should of gone home so many times, I agree with Gail Simmons she is skating by, Kristen did go out with her head held "high" and I am hopeing she will come back and kick butt, but why didn't the other 2 ladies speak up and say how bad Josie's time managment was? The reason the Gelatin was not added was she was so far behind and then she had no idea where it was, really it is your dish shouldn't you have all your ingredients right there for when you are ready for the next step?

I am glad Stefan did not go home for his lack of Front of House behavior, this is a Cooking Show not FOH show, now is it? Brooke is definately someone to watch, she can do it all.   I am really hoping that Josie is off next week and then has to face Kristen in Last Chance Kitchen. Karma will kick you in the butt...


Vanderpump Rules:

Ok, I can never go to "Sur" I am not sexy enough, but Stassi is a B**** and needs to get a grip. Is she really that way or just to get more air time?  Jax I am thinking is cheating on her what 32 year old man who looks like he does sleeps in his car? Really? She is only breaking up with him, to get him to really committ, she is punishing him and from the looks of the previews he is falling for it, are you really 32 or 12?

Also, where is the manager when the staff is fighting in front of clients? Being in the Hotel/Restaurant business, never would you fight in the FOH, and especially with Clients there, are you kidding me?

Also, really do you need to show that the staff is smoking and crying out back but never seem to wash their hands?   Just saying... I understand the dress code is SEXY, but  really no bra? Do I want the boobs to fall out as you serve my overpriced burger?

RHOBH:

I really like Yolanda, she is so down to earth. Kim is off the deep end.  What the hell is Adrienne's problem?   Ken and Maurico needs to stay out of the fight, best to stay neutral, why say anything? Paul & Adrienne need a clue, why sue Brandy, just to make a point?

CHOPPED:
Love this show, always fun to watch this week was fun to see the (2) Iron Chef' s disagree on almost everything fun!! FUN!!

It is that time of year again, New Years Eve! What the we call "amateur" night in the Restaurant business, because a lot of people that go out on NYE this is the only night of the year, they go out and they feel they need to make the most of it. It is rare that I go out on this day, in 2004 my husband now but was fiance then went to the "Yantic River Inn" in Norwich, CT and had so much fun.

I had won $100 the night before and we were going to blow it, which was so hard. Dinner, Dancing, glass of champagne was $40.00 per couple and a bottle of Wine was $20, so we left the rest for a tip.  The band not so good, but fun to watch, we dressed up, we were 39 and 35 respectfully and the youngest people in the place.   The Husband danced with all the women, and received plenty of kisses at Midnight, we really had a great time.  Since, then we have either had people in or we have had to work. 

This year, I will be working until about 8pm, and then we will have a big dinner at home, and I am sure be in bed before Midnight.   What will everyone out there be doing?

I have been thinking about the last year, it has been a bit tougher than we anticipated, the husband's business has been slow going, the economy does not help, with starting a home based business, I know he is working really hard at it, and I want it to be successful.  I sometimes resent that I have to go out to work, but we talked about this, it is just prices keep going up and I am at the same pay I was in 2009, so it is harder than I thought it would be.  We did pay off the Car loan in November, and of course that means things start to go wrong with the car.  We had to replace the battery, and today, the brakes, and 4 new tires. On the other hand the car is a 2005 and we have had it since 2006 and have never had to put anything besides regular  maintenance in the car, so once all of these are fixed we should be all set, we do need an inspection and registered by 12/31.

My New Years Resolution is to be more optimistic ! Happy New Year Everyone!

I was making our bed today, and I realized our bed looks like a hotel room bed. I had to take some pictures, if you didn't know I work in hotels and judge every hotel room I walk into, this might give everyone a hint.

For Christmas, I would love new bedding for our bed, we have 450 thread count sheets, but I wish we had 600 thread count maybe Santa is listening.. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and gets all their wishes.  We are not exchanging presents this year and I am ok with that, we are together and healthy and wil see the family and that is all I really need.

I have not been able to get the tragedy of last Friday out of my mind.  I believe in God but have been very lax to say the least, but over the past week I have found myself needing something, so I have begun praying and talking to God. Last night, I went to a Candlelight Vigil one of my co-workers asked what is the point of a Candlelight Vigil? I had to think about it, and truly did not know how to answer except to say, people need to feel connected to other people in this crazy world and especially the tragedy that took place in Connecticut. 

I am not sure if I was right or wrong on my answer, but I did feel a bit better standing in a circle and praying to God.  When I got home it just would not leave me this feeling that there is more to this world than the here and now.  I could not sleep well last night, and really not for the end of the world thing for the fact next week is Christmas and the families who have presents that will never be opened, the smiling faces of their children when they see "Santa" has come will not happen no kodak moment, there will be an empty spot at the Christmas dinner table,it is overwhelming to me the grief those families are feeling.

I keep listening to the debate about Gun Control Laws, no offense to anyone but when someone has it in their mind to committ this horrible act and they have a gun, they are going to do it no matter what the law says.  He was mentally ill, so why not instead of putting more gun laws on the books, we put money into Mental Health?  I read that his mom was planning on moving across the country to get him help, was there no place closer?  Was he ever on medication and then due to being "20" in the minds of the law means he can make his own decisions?   I know this debate will keep going on, but I feel our resources should be to help this unstable people more then gun laws.

A few years ago, I wrote a letter to the editor of a local paper in regards to more laws and boy was I naive, I got lambasted on the subject.  I truly believed all the senseless killings would stop with more gun laws.  I now see the issue is more deep, and we must look at what makes these young people snap and committ such horrible crimes.

Should children be so medicated from the time they start school that when they reach the age of 18 they can now make their own decisions and do not want to feel a bit off, or out of it, they go off their meds and how do you treat and "adult" who feels they know themselves best?  I am not pretending to know the answers to any of this, I am just trying to find a  meaning to these senseless acts.

My open prayer to God:
Dear God,
There are no words to say  how saddened the world is from the Tragedy of December 14, 2013 at 930am in Newtown,CT.  I ask that you embrace all these angels who were just living their lives an they were cut down too early, they need your love right now.  They will be scared and not understanding why they can not see their parents any longer.  We still here are trying to grasp how to go on and figure it out, which may never happen.  We love all these lost souls, and pray they are in your loving arms. 

Amen.

Ever since Friday, I have been thinking so much about the families who lost their beautiful, children and what is a senseless act of violence.  I have been listening to the debate on gun control which I am all for, but on the other hand do we think more gun control would of stopped this boy? I do not mean to be disrespectful to anyone, but he was going to do this no matter if there was gun control or not.  We should look into what is being done for the mentally disabled. Could this boy have been treated if we knew exactly what was wrong in his head?

Can we put money into helping the mentally disabled?  Below is an article that breaks your heart, on how this single mother is dealing with her son who has signs of anger that is not in the normal range.  For a child to admit it scares him too, is it treatable? Why is there not government money going toward mental health? President Obama says, "we need to do better." Exactly, what is he referring to?

I wonder is mental illness hereditary?  How do we treat the people who have mental disorders? What are the signs?   There are so many questions, and not a lot of answers.  I am just asking how do we help these young people?


(CNN) -- Liza Long didn't think anyone would notice her blog outside of a small circle of friends. But she was wrong, way wrong. Millions of people were keenly interested in the Idaho mother's struggles with the 13-year-old son she loves and fears.

A 40-year-old single mother of four, Long teaches English at a small college in Boise. On Friday she posted a brutally honest essay on her blog, The Anarchist Soccer Mom. It struck a nerve in the wake of the mass shooting in which 20 children died at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

http://anarchistsoccermom.blogspot.com/2012/12/thinking-unthinkable.html?m=1

 

 

Over the weekend, it seemed, everybody was sharing the post and talking about The Anarchist Soccer Mom. Then came the backlash, as others criticized her for committing her son and writing about it publicly.

 

Read more: The backlash against 'I am Adam Lanza's Mother'

 

For Long, the blog post was "a cry for help, a real gut-check article," she said, a way to articulate for friends the cold, gripping fear she has been living with for so long. She finally came to terms with an issue she'd been avoiding: Something serious is up with this boy. He goes into uncontrollable rages, he threatens violence and he is getting harder to control.

She doesn't yet have a specific diagnosis, and she doesn't know what to do.

"He's in a good mood most of the time," she wrote. "But when he's not, watch out. And it's impossible to predict what will set him off."

Read the complete blog post

 

On Wednesday, Long followed a social worker's advice and committed her son to an acute care psychiatric facility. During an argument over whether he could wear blue pants to school, he had threatened to kill himself by jumping out of the car. It was a line she'd warned him not to cross.

A few weeks earlier, she called police when he pulled a knife, threatening to kill her and himself when he was asked to return overdue library books. He was strapped to a gurney and taken to a hospital emergency room, where he eventually calmed down.

During the argument over the pants, he threw yet another "full-blown fit," complete with screaming and hitting. "I hugged him close, so he couldn't escape from the car," she wrote. "He bit me several times and repeatedly jabbed his elbows into my rib cage. I'm still stronger than he is, but I won't be for much longer."

 

A psychiatric commitment is Idaho's temporary solution, lasting 10 to 14 days. After that, she says, her only other option is jail or juvenile detention.

 

A leap of faith is required when listening to Long's heart-wrenching story because confidentiality laws surrounding mental health issues make it difficult if not impossible to verify. But Long provided details, including the names of the hospital and her son's school program, and offered to make copies of ambulance and hospital bills available.

 

Shooter's mother struggled to raise son, relative says

"No one wants to send a 13-year-old genius who loves Harry Potter and his snuggle animal collection to jail," she wrote in her blog. "But our society, with its stigma on mental illness and its broken health care system, does not provide us with other options. Then another tortured soul shoots up a fast food restaurant. A mall. A kindergarten classroom. And we wring our hands and say, 'Something must be done.'"

 

Long says she has been told that her best option is to file criminal charges and build a paper trail.

"It's just total, total frustration," she said over the phone. "Why are we doing this to the mentally ill? He's not a bad kid. He's a troubled kid. I just want to get help for my son."

"Michael," as she calls him on the blog, is exceptionally bright, with an "off-the-charts IQ." But his temper had always gone far beyond the usual childhood tantrums. And his behavior grew stranger as he entered middle school.

 

"If I could, I would wish my son into normalcy by sheer force of will," Long said. "I realized I was doing my family a disservice by thinking we were managing it. It's been so hard on them. These kids are just so hurt. It's really hurting our whole family. Frankly, I think my son is scared of himself."

Since committing him, she has visited her son daily. After the first day, Michael was angry and vengeful. After the second day, he started to calm down. By the third day "he totally owned all the behavior," tearfully telling her, "Mom, I'm scared, too."

In school shootings, patterns and warning signs

"He does tend to forget about when he's violent," she explained. "He sees red and then he's gone."

She added that she has told him about her viral blog post, which she titled "Thinking the Unthinkable." Others who picked it up, including the Huffington Post and Gawker, changed the headline to "I am Adam Lanza's mother."

Long wrote that she thinks about her son every time there is a mass shooting. She fears that he might someday be capable of such explosive violence.

"I love my son. But he terrifies me," Long wrote. "I am sharing this story because I am Adam Lanza's mother. I am Dylan Klebold's mother and Eric Harris' mother. I am James Holmes' mother. I am Jared Loughner's mother. I am Seun-Hui Cho's mother, " she wrote, rattling off the names behind some of the nation's most notorious mass shootings: Sandy Hook Elementary School; Columbine High School; a crowded movie theater in Aurora, Colorado; a shopping center near Tucson, Arizona; Virginia Tech.

 

"And these boys -- and their mothers -- need help," she added. "In the wake of another horrific national tragedy, it's easy to talk about guns. But it's time to talk about mental illness."

Long says Michael is a sweet boy most of the time. When he throws fits, he is so scary that she gathers up the knives, scissors and other sharp implements and keeps them with her in a plastic container. She says her other kids -- ages 15, 9 and 7 -- know the "safety drill" by heart: When Michael starts to go off, they run into the car and lock the doors.

Thousands of people have posted comments on her blog -- nearly 3,000 by Monday night. Many of them thanked her, and said they were in similar situations.

"I am moved to tears because this is my story, too," one woman posted under the name "Michigan Miss."

"I can't believe it. You just described my brother!" wrote "Rachel."

 

"I raised a boy like your 'Michael.' I get it. I so get it," wrote "Lynne."

 

But there were critics as well, including an equally passionate, equally viral blog by writer Sarah Kendzior, who accused Long of invading "Michael's" privacy with "vindictive and cruel posts about her children in which she fantasizes about beating them, locking them up and giving them away." In many of the posts, Kendzior notes, Long's "allegedly insane and violent son is portrayed as a normal boy who incites her wrath by being messy, buying too many Apple products and supporting Obama."

Kendzior did not respond to an e-mail requesting comment, and by midafternoon it appeared the two bloggers had reached a truce. They posted a joint statement on both of their blogs: "Whatever disagreements we have had, we both believe that the stigma attached to mental illness needs to end. We need to provide affordable, quality mental health care for families. We need to provide support for families who have a relative who is struggling."

Both agreed that privacy is paramount for family members, especially children.

"Neither of us anticipated the viral response to our posts," the statement continued. "We are not interested in being part of a 'mommy war.' We are interested in opening a serious conversation on what can be done for families in need."

Long, who says she's "kind of an introvert," hasn't owned a television set since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. She didn't go looking for fame, but one viral blog post later, fame found her.

She began making the rounds at the television networks before dawn on Monday, appearing on NBC's "Today" show, then chatting with Diane Sawyer over at ABC and again with CNN's Erin Burnett. And then she put it all behind her, pleased that she was able to get the conversation started.

  The Wolfeboro Inn Lobby

 Ballroom

 NH Boat Museum Tree - Wright Museum

 Tank all dresed up for Holidays- Wright Musuem

 Our Festival of Tree

 Santa

 Holiday Wreath 1812 Room

 Breakfast with Santa & Mrs. Claus

Our First Holiday Party this year, getting ready in 1812 Room

 

The Holiday Season is upon us, as you can see the Wolfeboro Inn is in full swing!! I am so down about Christmas and trying to get in the mood so taking pictures and passing them along.

 

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Holiday Season!1

I thought this was such a pretty centerpiece for a Winter Wedding, I felt the need to share..

 

Christmas is coming!  We have set up our Tree, and lights in the Gazebo and it is so pretty.  I do not decorate my home until Dec. 2 out of respect for my husband, who's birthday is on Dec. 1. 

We are going down to CT again this year, which hopefully will be as much fun as it was last year!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season...

Stuffed Shells on Sunday !

Cheese Platter on Saturday night !

Lake Winnipesaukee on Monday 11-26-12

Look at the Sky over Wolfeboro 11-26-12

Sunday afternoon Lunch - Turkey Soup and Grilled Cheese with a Lemonade.

Monday night dinner Meatloaf~

 

I am so lucky my husband cooks, we have had some great meals lately...

We received this beautiful china for our wedding in 2005, and basically only use on special occassions, so I broke it out for Thanksgiving, here is our table.  Why do we save china?

Just a question for the universe.

About 35 years ago, ( I can not believe it) my church group with parents would come up to New Hampshire and go skiing for the weekend. We would leave after school and work on Friday and then stay until Monday.  We would stay in a building like this one ( It could be it), and have a common room downstairs, it was always so much fun.

When my husband I moved to New Hampshire in 2009, I have often thought of this, and yesterday, I decided to drive out and see if the building is still there.  The resort is the King Pine Ski area, and this building in picture I believe is the same building or just a new building in the same spot.  The resort has definately grown up! 

I just remember this time always being something to look forward too and a giant slumber party, I wonder if the parents were downstairs with some wine in front of the fireplace while us kids were upstairs jumping from room to room and rough housing?  I would like to think they enjoyed it as much as we did. I really have not skiied much in the last 30 years, here or there but will always have great memories of these ski trips with the church.

The Husband made Fish & Chips, with Onion Rings and Shrimp.  So good!

My yearly treat to my husband, I made dinner, my mexican chicken, basically that an pasta is all I know how to make...