Way too busy...

It has been a couple of months since I've had time to post here.  But, I have to say that the holidays were wonderful this year.  A bit melancholy as they usually are...especially when we have lost loved ones during the previous year.  Yet, we managed to honor those memories and continue our traditions this holiday season by having special time with our family and friends.

I had a last minute trip to Boston on business the Sunday before Christmas.  It was definitely cold there, but I enjoyed getting to travel there.  It had been more than 20 years since I was previously in Boston, but honestly...it hasn't changed all that much.  Still a beautiful city and I got to see some decent snow while I was there.  I got home the Wednesday afternoon before Christmas and managed to finish last minute shopping in time to cook the traditional Christmas dinner.  My mom wasn't able to join us from the east coast this year, but we spoke on the phone.  It's not the same by any means, but just knowing that she was doing well, in good health, and spending Christmas with other family was enough to make it a good holiday.

The new year has brought changes at my company.  Teleplan is being acquired by a company called Gilde from Germany.  We're being told that there are no expected changes to our organization or to our jobs here in Roseville, but it is nerve-wracking as usual when uncertainty enters your world.  I've been through so many reorgs and mergers over the last 10 years and it's difficult when you think your job could be in jeopardy.  Just keep your fingers crossed for us, please!

I'm hoping to finally make a trip home to NC in April.  This trip will also include a 3-day romp through Atlanta to which I haven't been since 1991.  I'm very much looking forward to hunting down some old friends and paying my respects to the grave of my former employer, Rex Nelon.  Also hoping to catch a drag show somewhere while we're there...and when I say 'we', I mean that the lovely and talented Anne-Marie Trout will be meeting me in ATL for some R&R.  As she put it, "I have a feeling that we'll be so drunk one night that we can't feel our feet."

I tend to agree!

Blessings to you all!

Happy New Year!

Yes, it is 2010...how the hell did I live to be this old?  I'll never know!  HA!  So, this is the year we're supposed to make contact according to the Kubrick film.  I just hope it's a year I'll survive as I will turn 50 in November!  CRAP!

On a serious note, I had an incredible holiday this year.  Christmas and New Year's were extra special having my family with me.  It wasn't an overly commercialized year of buying extravagant gifts, but it was one filled a lot of love and laughter.  Just as they all should be.

So, here's my plans for 2010:

• Continue paying down debt and move into a "cash only" existence.  I'm tired of being in debt.  I no longer carry credit cards and will work to pay cash for any purchase that we make.  Part of this endeavor will be to build my real estate business and look for new promotional opportunities in my day job.
• Pray and meditate on a daily basis to continue my spiritual growth.  2009 was an intense year for me in that arena.
• Find a creative outlet to fit into my hectic schedule.  More to come on this in the next couple of weeks.  Filming begins this weekend on my new project.  The music was recorded over the holidays for the first 5 webisodes.
• Re-connect with friends and family.  I need to find more time to be social as I have lost touch with many friends since I gave up theater.  This is also due in part to the fact that many of my friends are constantly in rehearsals, so it's hard to mesh up with their schedule as well.  And honestly, I have accepted invites to parties and the like over the last year, but I tend to flake because I have so much on my plate and things pop up last minute.  So, if you're among those people I have flaked on, forgive me as I will try and be better about that in 2010.
• Finally but most importantly...I need to spend more time with my husband.  One of the reasons I gave up theater was because I wanted to put focus on my career and my relationship.  Now that James is working full time and working mostly nights and weekends, it is hard for us to find quality time. 

These are not necessarily resolutions for the New Year...but more like guidelines that have already been in place for some time.  I am just reminding myself of the path I put myself on and I need to stick to the plan to re-focus those efforts for the next year.

More info is forthcoming on my webseries in the next few weeks.  This is a joint writing effort between me and Anne-Marie Trout.  Hoping it will turn out well!  Stay tuned!

Much love to you all!

Ray