What's so great about Turkey anyway?

271 million turkeys have been raised this year for the Thanksgiving season... In 2007, the total weight of all turkeys raised specifically for this holiday was 7.9 billion pounds!!! These figures are astonishing, along with figures of other Thanksgiving Day favorites- Cranberries: 689 million lbs., 1.1 billion lbs. of sweet potatoes, over 769,000 lbs. of green beans. WOW.

What is the purpose of Thanksgiving again? Oh yeah! GIVING THANKS for our families, friends, etc. I think this year, especially with the economic crisis we've found ourselves in, it's time we all took a count of our blessings. The first Thanksgiving was quite a remarkable happening, if one stops to contemplate it. It happened in September of... well, a long time ago. It happened in St. Augustine, Florida. It featured many of the dishes we still find on the traditional Thanksgiving spread. What was it's purpose? Giving thanks for a harvest, for friends, for new beginnings. Sometimes, I think we forget the important details that made this holiday what it is. I had forgotten myself. I think a lot of times we take this holiday for granted, as we take many other things in our lives for granted.

This year it would probably be easy to have a bitter attitude. "What do I have to be thankful for? This has been the hardest year of my life." Many have lost money in the stock market, have been laid off, are struggling to pay the bills. Many of us are going through hard times.... health issues have been prevalent as well. Through all these trials though, I know there are many things we can be thankful for. We opened our eyes this morning. We have opportunities in this country that individuals elsewhere cannot fathom. I know it sounds simplistic but, we have a place to take a hot shower and most of us have a backyard to enjoy.

I have to say that personally, this has not been an easy year. It sure hasn't been my most difficult though and for that, I am thankful. I find myself needing to switch schools (again) and not sure of what that school will be. I think any time there is uncertainty, it's scary. But hey, I have the opportunity to attend school. And, I am thankful for that. I am thankful for the support system that I have in place in my life. God has blessed me with an amazing man and I am so thankful for that new development. Most importantly, I am thankful that God is in control.

So, this year as I sit down to our non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner which will consist of turkey sandwiches, and watch football and chat it up with relatives I haven't seen in awhile, I will be dwelling on all I have to be thankful for. So, Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!

If the economy continues at this rate....perhaps we should all go into turkey farming?! Seems pretty lucrative.

the answer to all our econmic woes

Dinosaurs.... that's the answer. I don't know how or why but that's it.

I haven't babbled in this thing in ages! The convention got entirely too emotional and chaotic to record. It would have been R-rated for sure. Can't let you people see that side of me. The Doll World is a crazy, sad place. Not that anyone in the real world cares, but we had a net loss of over $200,000.00 as an organization this fiscal year. Good thing I still have my Mcdonalds uniform. Hahaha... that's a joke. Sort of.

Well, the purpose of this post was not to tell you about how depressing my career at UFDC looks but to announce that I'm going to try to blog more. Mainly for Cynthia...my long lost friend.

Love you all.

((does anyone really read this?))

Fear and loathing....

Life's been extremely busy the past few days. Since we arrived, the whole staff has been working a good, solid 17 hours each day. These ladies are high maintinance and life is staying really, really interesting.



The sales room opened last night. Everything had been set up and tested but, of course, Heather had to have computer issues. I rung up my first sale, printed the receipt and wow...... the receipt printed backwards! For instance, if I held it up to a mirror you would have been able to read it. How about that? So, the night ensued with customer after customer from 7:30-11:30 P.M.! I've never been so exhausted!!



I'm disappointed with the hotel staff. I've never been so dissatisfied, in fact. It's no Drury. There's something so inefficient about a staff of 23,000.



I would love to go on and on about the adventures I am having. BUT- I have some work to do. And, the internet connection in my room costs something like $1.00/min. No Joke.



_________________________



My Aunt is undergoing a double-mascetomy surgery this morning. All prayers would be appreciated!! Scary.



Love,

HR

Vegas...

Viva Las Vegas my friends...


In a short time, something like sixteen hours, I'll be boarding a plane with some of my closest friends to head to Las Vegas. "Sin City" if you will. The purpose for our journey is the United Federation of Doll Clubs doll convention. No, I am not making this up. UFDC is my employer and I am getting paid to attend a doll convention. Believe you me, I wouldn't do this of my own accord :0)


It promises to be an interesting journey. Judy, our convention manager and Teresa, our corporate administrator left this morning. It's a miracle that Judy has held on this long. She was new to FUDC last fall and with all the hooplah she's had to deal with the past few months, it's an absolute wonder that she boarded that plane this morning.



Here at FUDC we are obligated to take orders and perform impossible tasks in unbelievable time constraints. It's what we do. The thing that makes me most nervous about all this is that I know how poorly organized our volunteers have been planning these events. This falls completely outside of the office. In fact, had we tried to control any aspect of it, we probably would have lost our jobs. It is going to be very interesting to see how these old women react under pressure. Time will only tell.



My main task will be selling merchandise in our sales booth. My days will begin at 7AM and will not end most nights until at least midnight. It's Las Vegas and I know that it will be an exciting time.


I don't really know why I am beginning this blog. Perhaps I've been inspired by Pastor Jeff Ferguson, or Cynthia Malone... At any rate, it will be a good way to record my thoughts, dreams, fears and share some of my experiences with you all. (who ever "you all" is)



I always said I would never blog. Look at me now. Stay tuned for Vegas updates. It's gonna be a bumpy ride.



With Love,

HR