Holiday Party from December 2006

Hey... I know I'm awful at putting things off - as my roommate pointed out. She was picking on me to get the pictures from the Holiday Party that we hosted last December out to the people who were there. And since there were a LOT of pictures, I figured that if I sent them as attachments, for sure, it would exceed a lot of people's limits and make your emails run a lot slower, so I told Katie that I'd post it on my blog and just simply send the attendees the link to this blog, that way everyone's happy. *grins*

That party was a blast! And here we go with all of the pictures, we're going to start with the group picture (even though it was taken LATER in the night - *smiles*)

Here is an "attempt" at a group picture with the timers on Heidi and Sonny's cameras! You can see that this one we weren't exactly ready - with Heidi's hair flying through the left part of the picture and we're all looking at her husband, Jeff, talking, well, most of us!

Ahh, now here we're all set! Front, from L-R: Heidi, Jeff, Katie, moi, Jenna, Angela, Sonny. Back, from L-R: Willie, Tom, Lori, Tony, Megan, Amy, Samantha and Curt. (I had a choice between two pictures, Heidi's and Sonny's) This one is Sonny's - as for some strange reason, when I scanned Heidi's picture, a white spot appeared where Jenna was - hmm... have to take a look at Katie's scanner to make sure it's not dirty!

This is a bunch of us sitting around the dining table, just talking, and eating, and enjoying our drinks, of course! (Willie, Amy, Megan and me) at the beginning of the night. See the little tree in the middle of the table - that was our christmas tree! Seriously...

Here's a bird's eye view of the living room - through the back sliding doors, therefore you see the flash in the top part of the picture! Here's people hanging out in the living room. Looks warm and cozy doesn't it? (It sure did to the person taking this picture - *raising hand* which was, umm, me. Why would I be outside? Of course, having a cigarette!)

Curt and Jeff watching TV - of course, what were they watching? SPORTS! (It was Football I believe, college football) Men, they will never cease to surprise us will they? *grins*

Tony and me in the kitchen, I was showing him Amy's pager that she left behind when she went to visit another party going on the same night. Of course she came back, she missed us too much! *winks*

Those above were just the candids - now you can really get a close up of who were there at the party with those good pictures!

Lori, Angela, Katie & Jenna

Megan, Heidi, me & Amy.

Lori & Tom

Willie & Jenna

Jeff & Heidi

Sonny & Angela

Curt & Samantha

Amy & June

Willie & Megan

Amy & Heidi

June & Megan

Jenna & June

Hope you enjoyed these pictures as much as we all enjoyed the party itself!

Now Katie can stop picking on me *winks*

'Til next time!

-j

Me good girl...

Now I'm being a good girl - posting in here a little more often than I did between October 2006 and January 2007!

Right now my roommate's out of town until Sunday, and I have to make sure the house stays clean because there's an open house tomorrow from 3 to 4. Yes my roommate put the condo up for sale, she's in grad school and she finishes in May. It's her desire to move after she finishes her MBA. She's been in Sioux Falls for 4 years, and ever since she was laid off last April, she's been restless, anxious to leave Sioux Falls, but the only things holding her back were this house and the MBA program.

As for me, I've been in Sioux Falls for 4 1/2 years, however, I won't be in Sioux Falls for much longer. Nothing official yet, so I want to make one big announcement soon, with an exact location of where I'm moving to and why! Look out for that email from me y'all! Hint: Will be so much warmer than South Dakota, that's for sure! But will be moving about 2 months shy of my 5 year anniversary of living in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Don't get me wrong, Sioux Falls has been wonderful to me, it was my first real home after high school, after college, and it was where I found my happiness, where I found myself. It will be strange not living here anymore after I leave, but it's a life-altering change, brought upon by my career, which has good potential where I'm going.

If you had told me a few years ago that I would be leaving Sioux Falls, I would have stood my ground and told you that you were crazy! Because a few years ago, I absolutely refused to leave Sioux Falls even though I was going through a lot of situations with my tendonitis and my job at that time, but I stuck it out with the support of my circle of friends, and look at where I am today, the support of my friends here in Sioux Falls enabled me to be along for the ride for this move and this career broadening opportunity. A few years ago I said this, "Leaving Sioux Falls would make me feel like I left my heart and my soul here." I stood by this strongly a few years ago, but now as my move out of state approaches, I don't feel as strongly about this anymore. My roommate and I have both agreed that Sioux Falls was merely a "stepping-stone" in our lives, where we established ourselves, got a lot of experience, and started our careers, steering ourselves into the direction of where we want to go in our careers. Hers into the education field where she is working towards her MBA, and mine into the direction of warmer weather. Change is terrifying, yes, and admittedly, I'm nervous, who wouldn't be? But knowing that I will still have my circle of friends who will continue to support me, makes everything a whole lot easier.

I wanted to close with this quote - it's my favorite and it's one I created, but I know it has absolutely nothing to do with the post above... but I just had to share... With Valentine's Day coming upon us this might be quite fitting...

To tell someone they can't love is to deny them the right to be human. ~me

I'm in the basement of the house with a dysfunctional heater, and my fingers are just about ready to FALL off! Plus I'm supposed to go and get ready for work!

'Til next time!

-j