Anyone catch the Late Show?

Okay, I am not just trying to bash this man. I think he is a brilliant actor and (when shaven) a very good looking individual... but what the hell is wrong with Joaquin Phoenix??

I saw him on David Letterman tonight and all I can think is that he was higher than a kite and barely realized where he was. I surely hope that he is okay, but for the time being he really ought to stay out of the limelight. There is DEFINITELY something wrong with him.

John Belushi, anyone?

Happy Thoughts...

My silly husband
Food Network
Reminiscing about high school
Google Earth
My amazing children
The health of everyone dear to me
Garth
The roof over our heads
Key Lime Pie
My supportive siblings
Warm socks
My understanding friends
My church community
Sleeping in
Groceries in the kitchen
The return of so many of my favorite characters in the final season of ER
My awesome niece and nephew
Cinnamon Toast Crunch
My loving parents

Okay, so I did NOT get the job with Wells Fargo in Auburn OR the job with Washington Mutual in Auburn. WaMu called me and wants me to interview for a position in Fair Oaks, however, so at least they're still interested. Wells Fargo has another position open in Sacramento for which I applied, and now Wachovia is hiring at their branch in Auburn, so I applied for that as well. I have sent my resume to Bank of the West and Umpqua and someone else... not to mention all the random jobs I've applied for on hotjobs.com.

Jay is still waiting to hear from Roseville Toyota, but we aren't particularly optomistic. He has applied with Lithia Toyota in Vacaville (!) and has interviews next week with Aflac and some healthcare insurance company. He has a bunch of random applications out there, too.

This is nuts. Thank God for family. We are receiving such support from both sides of our clan that I am at a loss for words to thank them. I can definitely tell you we have food in the house, which is amazing.

I'll let you know when something happens!!

I'm starting to freak out a little

I am finding myself to be very anxious lately. Jay and I are both actively looking for work, and I have a few bites, but Jay isn't seeing much action. There aren't many jobs in his field available, and he has not had any luck getting into the field he would like to pursue. The next step is just finding some job, any job, at whatever pay rate he can find.

I am having anxiety attacks again. I haven't had them in a while, but they seem to be back full-force. Thankfully, I still have some of the medication my doctor prescribed last time. I hope this doesn't last long. Stress is a killer, y'know.

Continuing to wish, hope, plan, and pray...

Wow. Really?

Jay got laid off today.

"So everybody get ready to raise your middle finger to 2008 and welcome 2009!" - Radio DJ on New Year's Eve

Okay, I am totally stealing this from Conway (sorry, hun, but I can't change your name after all these years... it's just weird), and it's a little late to be reviewing 2008, I suppose, but I like it and I'm doing it, so there.

The Year in Review...

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Quit my job with no intention of finding a new one

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions and will you make more for next year?
I don't think so. I probably resolved to stop biting my nails, as I do every year, so I definitely did not keep that resolution. Here we go again for 2009!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Hmm... oh yeah! I did!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Sadly, yes.

5. What countries did you visit?
The United States of America - it's beautiful!!

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
MONEY

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
March 13, 2008 - the birth of my daughter, Julianna Marie Joost.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Okay, giving birth has to be mentioned. Besides that, I'd say really truly becoming comfortable with my husband's ex-wife.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I still bite my nails

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Does pregnancy sickness count?

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Everything I bought at Disneyland collectively

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
No one in particular improved their behavior so much that it warranted celebration. I don't know that anyone I know really needs to improve their behavior, except maybe my three-year-old!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
At times, Jacob did bring me down, but he was dealing with becoming a big brother. He's doing MUCH better now.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Bills, moving, and rent.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My new baby, Jay's new job, being able to quit my job

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
I'm Yours by Jason Mraz

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? sadder
ii. thinner or fatter? unfair. I was eight months pregnant at this time last year.
iii. richer or poorer? poorer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
traveling

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
stressing over money

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
We spent it with our families

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
I have to ditto Conway; I stayed in love in 2008.

23. How many one-night stands?
Oh, come now.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Same show for the last fifteen years! ER!
I did discover House and Big Love this year, though, and they are excellent.
Jay and I also watched Six Feet Under on DVD and couldn't get enough.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
no.

26. What was the best book you read?
Two From Gallilee

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Jason Mraz

28. What did you want and get?
another baby

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I really don't watch many movies. I honestly cannot think of a favorite.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 28 and I believe Jay and I went out for dinner and a movie... I don't remember what we saw, though.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More money. I don't mean that in a offhanded, silly, or crass way... it was a seriously difficult year financially.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Stay-At-Home-Mom

34. What kept you sane?
The smiles and laughter of my children. And my mom.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
No one in particular.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The atrocity which is Prop 8.

37. Who did you miss?
Byron, Adam, and Leslie, just like every other year. :(

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Julianna Marie :) :) :)

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
God will provide, somehow.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

"Another day has almost come and gone
Can't imagine what else could go wrong
Sometimes I'd like to hide away somewhere and lock the door
Another battle lost but not the war

'Cause tomorrow's another day
And I'm thirsty anyway
So bring on the rain

It's almost like the hard times circle 'round
A couple drops and they all start coming down
Yeah, I might feel defeated and I might hang my head
I might be barely breathing but I'm not dead

'Cause tomorrow's another day
And I'm thirsty anyway
So bring on the rain"

Jo Dee Messina
Bring On The Rain

To Execute Faithfully... To Faithfully Execute... Oh, Damn It!

I enjoyed the inauguration today quite a bit. I felt sad watching Fmr. President George W. Bush leaving office, but not because I love him so much or anything. I am a supporter of his, but the reason I felt bad is because I know he feels bad. He has been the President during a very tumultuous time and because things aren't hunky-dorey at the end of his time in office, he is bid farewell with a smirk and the occasional rude gesture by the American citizens for whom he has worked so hard. I feel that he has gotten a bad rap and he knows it. But I digress. The inauguration was stirring and exciting, if short on real substance. The poem by Elizabeth Alexander was painful, although I think it might have actually been okay if I had read it on paper; she was just too choppy in her delivery, in my opinion. It was, all in all, an enjoyable event to watch. The Obamas are definitely a breath of fresh air in all their relatively youthful giddiness, and I'm happy to see two smiling little faces in the White House. We haven't had youngsters in that building for quite some time... has it really been since Kennedy?

So, here you go, America. You wanted him, you got him. Let's see what he can do.