The last month in review

Like usual my posts come at monthly intervals rather than weekly or daily. That's not to say I haven't tried. I have a lot of drafts and a small notebook with ideas of things I'd like to write about. It's just finding the time in my day to sit down and write. And usually the last thing I want to do at the end of the day is spend anymore time on the computer. Atleast not my work computer. And currently my personal laptop that is going on 6 years old will not charge. Blame it on the puppy chewing on the charger cord. So on top of other things I have to figure out how to get 6 years of documents off my computer....I thankfully have all the photos and music saved already.

In the past month and a week, I've been gone a lot for work it seems. The day of my birthday I had to head to Wichita for a 2 day conference for a grant project. It was an amazing conference, but it made for a very long week. I then did a few other short trips here and there and meetings. It's months like last month and this month that I really wish I had the balls to ask for either a raise or an assistant. I could work 12 hour days all the time if I wanted to, but I also want to be compensated for my work, plus a lot of the things that I put off until the last minute actually involve other people. Needless to say, keeping track and planning for 4 upcoming events, as well as overseeing three projects and working on one grant and consulting entrepreneurs and managing the financials is making me feel like I'm losing my mind. It's also making for one really grouchy Simone. People keep saying that I need to learn to say no or delegate, but a lot of what I'm working on are requirements or things that I would be glad to delegate if I had someone to delegate them to. So just say a little prayer that things finish up and go smoothly without me forgetting important details or have a serious breakdown.

In the past month, I've gotten no where with potty training Miss Charley. Levi and I are trying really hard but it seems near impossible. Especially when we're gone all day long and don't have jobs that we can take her with us. It breaks my heart and makes me feel like a bad puppy mom. It's even worse that Levi's mom got a little puppy who is younger than Charley and she's already got it down pat...but I guess it helps when you have a boss who will let you bring your dog to work. 

To keep from being a completely awful puppy mom I come out to Levi's almost every night to help take care of Charley...and well because frankly I'm pretty fond of being with Levi too. This however leaves my house in town as a turn-around point for me. A place to kick off my shoes and clothes and eat breakfast and shower. But never a place to sit down and relax or clean. On top of the added work stress, this back and forth, which place is my "home", I have a house that's a pig sty is really wearing on me. 

Levi's been my rock, my arm of reason and always there for me with his love and support and I couldn't be more blessed to have a man like him. He's been really busy with work too lately so most evenings we're couch potatoes and have just enough energy to catch either up on our days and cook supper before we veg out with the TV or video games or Pinterest. I can't tell how much I appreciate how hard of a worker he is. He works his arse off to get his job and other jobs around the shop done and done right. And I can't tell you how much more it makes me love him! 

In less whiny news, I went to a Cocktails and Canvas event in Leoti where I painted pumpkins. There were about 18 people there and everyone's pumpkins looked different which I thought was pretty cool! Here's me with the instructor, Pat Norton, who is a legit artist by trade:

I have made a little progress on my birthday list: I've made three new recipes already.

Loaded baked potato dip

Source: sweetpeaskitchen.com via Simone on Pinterest

Lazy Sunday Casserole

Source: kayotic.nl via Simone on Pinterest

Source: budgetgourmetmom.com via Simone on Pinterest

I sent someone a little birthday care package as my first random act of kindness...it wasn't necessarily random in the selection of people, but it wasn't someone I'd normally do that kind of thing for. I knew how much receiving something would mean to this person, and the thank you I received showed that I was right.

I've also booked my flight to go see John in Chicago in January!! I'm so excited! I've never been to Chicago and we're making a list of all the must see/eat/do things! I'm already certain I will put on at least 10 pounds while I'm there. I can't wait to have real Chicago pizza and we've got reservations for The Girl and The Goat. Please let me know if you have any suggestions for things to do in Chicago!

In other news, Levi and I were lumberjacks for Halloween! We help host this community Halloween party with about 10 other couples. My costume was insanely skanky but I guess I missed that phase in college so you have to do it once in your life, right?

Hopefully I'll be back to post again before the end of the month but the next two weeks are booked almost solid with work things and then it's my favorite holiday! :)