Congratulations to Jodi and TGIF!

Congratulations to Jodi on winning Nurse Blog of the Month! Thank you to everyone who reads this blog who voted for her. Congrats again Jodi!

Goodness, is it Friday again? I just love Fridays so much! The anticipation of the weekend is so delicious. I am taking today off from work (the internal stuff) which really means I am "on call" for my customer. Still, I don't have to listen in to some BORING conference calls (take your pick -- there are so many today). I'm in a small, unofficial woman's club, and there are thirteen of us. For the FIRST time ever, we are all going to make it to lunch today! I am so excited! We are having lunch at a historical house with our own private dining room. I love the way they decorate those places. I planned this get together, and even if I do say so myself, I am a great party planner. I'm probably going to do some shopping in the gift shop today too!

Last year, before the windfall, I really didn't have much money to spare. But the these 12 women are all so special to me; I just wanted to give them a little something! I ended up at a local antique market searching around for 12 little remembrances - something tiny. I hit the jackpot when I happened upon a basket of antique handkerchiefs! I went through each one.....they were all so different. I brought the basket and let my friends select one from the group. It was really interesting which one they selected! Of course, I thought they were all beautiful in different ways!

Today I am taking tiny sequined Nutcracker ornaments. They all know that I am very involved in the ballet so they probably won't be surprised. Besides, buying the ornaments from the ballet helped them as the gift shop is a huge fundraising source!

Want to know what we are having for lunch? Yummy chicken salad accompanied by a fruit compote, timbales, cheese straws and french silk pie for dessert! But what I am looking forward to the most is being with all my friends......because isn't that part of what life is all about? Being with those that care about you and loving them back? That's what draws me back here to all of you. I never thought I would feel the affection and closeness to so many of you when I began this blog. I started it to stay "real" in the face of an incredulous, life changing event. What I've ended up with -- it is so much more. It's you.