Looking Up



The barn at the family farm --
symbolic and relevant

 As a testament to the philosophy that, if you just keep grinding in life, good things will eventually happen or at the very least turn around for the better, I give you the first quarter of 2012.
After a completely horrible 2010, I never would have thought 2011 would be even worse but it, in fact, was, having spent the entire year unemployed.  While there is a certain freedom in not working, it is not something I recommend.  Not knowing when that job will finally come is a harrowing experience.
So enough of the past, which I've never had much problem forgetting luckily, and on to the future.  The turnaround began with finding a job I could afford to take, which was doubly lucky given the fact I would've had to take it anyway since my WC was running out; but other than the fact I had to drive 60 plus miles to get to this job, it paid enough to pay my bills.  In the midst of that happening I got the love of my life back and that relationship has never been better.  If you know me, you know how important to my happiness that development is.
Those of you who know me know the bitter details of all the things that happened over the last couple years (and you all deserve thanks for the support) and so you know how far down that was and how far back up it is with just those two things happening.  Now add to that that two weeks ago a much better job fell in my lap, which I will start tomorrow.  Not only does it have a significant pay increase, it does not involve selling anything.  I'm very much looking forward to it.
The icing on the cake is that I became a grandfather for the first time a few days ago (yes, I'm still not sure how I feel about that LOL), though I suspect I'll warm up to the idea -- having a grandson, that is, not the getting old part.  Also, my daughter, son-in-law and grandson will soon be moving into the family farm that has been in my family for generations.  Knowing that your children are healthy, happy and grounded in the family tradition is arguably the most important of all.

Me and PJ, taken at the family farm.

If you look to the left of the barn, you'll see a canopy of sumac trees.  That was cut down last fall and yesterday I threw it all into one brush pile to burn later.  I'll try to use this blog a little more often to update on my projects around the farm, which will include a family get-together area using the foundation of the old silo that used to sit where you see that canopy, and the progress of the next generation moving in.