Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!
Not going to do a full update, as, when I do, it will be a rather lengthy one. A few quick summaries, though:
* JOB: My contract was extended -- quite the surprise to me -- and I will be continuing my work with Washington County and the Sheriff's Department until next May. Yay! Project's over, and all the other contractors were released. I'm being kept to help with, basically, continuing my old job at a lesser capacity, plus picking up some of the tasks the other contractors had. Going to make me busy, I'm sure, but I'm good with that. Paychecks are a good thing.
* RATS: Doing well! Babies are gone, with most going back to the pet store, two going to a good friend in the area -- thank you, Amanda! -- and one staying because she had a birth defect that could have made it so that no one would adopt her. Named this little addition to the duo-now-trio "Maddie", short for "Mad Eye". Very shy little one, but she's slowly opening up.
* PARENTS: Shocked Mom. *grin* I conspired with Dad, and flew out here on Tuesday for Thanksgiving, without Mom knowing until I showed up and he woke her up. Was supposed to get in at 9:30, but, thanks to Chicago, wound up getting in three hours late, so it was after midnight. Made it in safe, though. My Aunt Marcia and Uncle Terry are also up here, and I haven't seen them in about 13 years. Uncle Terry was one of my inspirations to get into computers and technology, way back when. Met Grandpa's new wife, who is an absolute hoot and has gone out of her way to make me feel welcome with her family, who hosted the Thanksgiving festivities today.
* THANKSGIVING: In addition to the above, have found I have a lot to be thankful for. Hit a bit of a rough spot around the beginning of the month, the first anniversary of my big move to Portland. I've lost a ton in the last year, sad to say. Turned it around, though, and realized just how much I still have, and, in a few areas, I've made some gains. So, found I have a lot to be thankful for on this day of thanks. It's been a bad year on the surface, but, you know what? It's given me several sharp kicks in the backside that I just might have needed. Time'll tell.
Anyway . . . Yeah, that was quick. Hey, compared to my usual rambling nonsense! :) Thank you all, everyone reading this, for caring enough to read what's going on over here, offering words of support or advice over this past year, and just plain sticking around.
I hope that everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving! :)
* JOB: My contract was extended -- quite the surprise to me -- and I will be continuing my work with Washington County and the Sheriff's Department until next May. Yay! Project's over, and all the other contractors were released. I'm being kept to help with, basically, continuing my old job at a lesser capacity, plus picking up some of the tasks the other contractors had. Going to make me busy, I'm sure, but I'm good with that. Paychecks are a good thing.
* RATS: Doing well! Babies are gone, with most going back to the pet store, two going to a good friend in the area -- thank you, Amanda! -- and one staying because she had a birth defect that could have made it so that no one would adopt her. Named this little addition to the duo-now-trio "Maddie", short for "Mad Eye". Very shy little one, but she's slowly opening up.
* PARENTS: Shocked Mom. *grin* I conspired with Dad, and flew out here on Tuesday for Thanksgiving, without Mom knowing until I showed up and he woke her up. Was supposed to get in at 9:30, but, thanks to Chicago, wound up getting in three hours late, so it was after midnight. Made it in safe, though. My Aunt Marcia and Uncle Terry are also up here, and I haven't seen them in about 13 years. Uncle Terry was one of my inspirations to get into computers and technology, way back when. Met Grandpa's new wife, who is an absolute hoot and has gone out of her way to make me feel welcome with her family, who hosted the Thanksgiving festivities today.
* THANKSGIVING: In addition to the above, have found I have a lot to be thankful for. Hit a bit of a rough spot around the beginning of the month, the first anniversary of my big move to Portland. I've lost a ton in the last year, sad to say. Turned it around, though, and realized just how much I still have, and, in a few areas, I've made some gains. So, found I have a lot to be thankful for on this day of thanks. It's been a bad year on the surface, but, you know what? It's given me several sharp kicks in the backside that I just might have needed. Time'll tell.
Anyway . . . Yeah, that was quick. Hey, compared to my usual rambling nonsense! :) Thank you all, everyone reading this, for caring enough to read what's going on over here, offering words of support or advice over this past year, and just plain sticking around.
I hope that everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving! :)