What a bitter-sweet day it was today.

It is finally a beautiful sunny summer day, however a cloud hung over my head while I was listening to good-bye speeches and saying “hasta luego” to my extended family.

It is sometimes hard to believe how attached you become to co-workers.  I guess when you spend 8 hours each day with these people they are bound to leave an impression.

Today was my last day at TIC.  After 11.5 years I find myself unemployed.   The people and the teamwork and the collective dedication we all shared is what I’ll miss.  I know I’ll find another job when I’m ready; but what I really hope is that I’ll be adopted into another loving family as the one I just left.

I didn’t get a chance to say much as I was leaving, but if any of you are reading this… hugs to you all!  Good luck and … we’ll always have Facebook!!

Sweet 16…. 16 more business days and we closed the doors of the TIC claims department behind us.  Bittersweet actually.  I’ll leave behind memories good and bad.  Intriguing claims stories of gore and glee.  I thank them for the knowledge I gained to take forward into my new career… what ever that may me.

Stay tuned for the next chapter…

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Martini recipe

The vanilla vodka lends the cake-like flavor to the juice. The grenadine sinks to the bottom. It even looks like a pineapple up-side-down cake.

2 serving   

2 oz vanilla vodka
4 oz pineapple juice
2 dash grenadine syrup  

Shake pineapple juice and vanilla vodka with ice in a tumbler. Pour into a martini cocktail glass. Add dash of grenadine, and serve.

… or for that matter, demotivates us?

Today is Valentines Day.  

Not even two months past Christmas, and I’m staring at chocolates and treats again.  Well, more like devouring them. Up to the Christmas eating frenzy, I was doing REALLY well on my food and exercise program.  Fantastic even.

My motivation has waned.  I wonder what sparked it in the first place and how the heck do I get it back?!   I haven’t gained any more that 5 pounds back… which is good, but I’m faced with the reality that I need to quit “the sugar” again (said as I finish scarfing down a pretty pink piece of a valentine cake).

I hope by writing this down, and then re-reading it; I will start to get a spark of motivation back.  Months ago when I ate something sweet, I would get a headache and immediately stop.  I felt the pain and knew I didn’t want it again.  But, something changed. 

However, now I’m feeling a stomach ache coming on.  I don’t think I want this feeling again either.

Wow… the years seem to come and go faster.

I hope 2007 was full of special memories.  Tonight we’ll share a toast and welcome 2008