Well, I was get’n all geared up for the cold season the past week and a half until I woke up this morning! It was 60 degrees outside!!! Last Monday I got to experience my first very cold morning as I got ready for work. It was 26 degrees outside, my truck’s battery was completely dead (my fault) and my other car was layered with ice! I had to use what the easterners call an “ice scraper” on my windshield! It was very cool! The huge blessing was that I got to drive my Acura to work instead of my truck, which has heated seats! I also got to wear a long sleeve shirt and a jacket! Wow! I almost forgot what those things were collecting dust in my closet! All of this past week, it was too cold to wear a short sleeve shirt so I figured the fall and early winter was set’n in! This morning I found myself talking on the phone to my mom outside on my front porch with a short sleeve shirt on again! This Maryland weather is rather confusing!

Besides the crazy weather situation, the kids and all of us are doing just dandy! Joli is off to deliver some delicious white chili to the Hjembo’s house. She’s hav’n to guard it from me (it is amazing stuff). Alyssa and Karl were just blessed with a beautiful baby girl, #3 for them! Joel, Chalice and myself are hang’n at the house await’n our next adventure…hmmm…still trying to be creative this morning. Unfortunately, I have some manly “chores” to take care of first before I can have fun with the kiddies. I have to get an oil change and a flat tire fixed on Joli’s Honda. I am then headed to a few baby shops to look for some more train gear for Mr. Joel. This evening, if it is not raining, which is currently is, I hope to find a cool little town our family can walk through and be tourists. I drove through several beautiful old towns on Thursday on my way up to Hanover, PA for a sales presentation for Christmas lights and just was fall’n in love with the old towns I saw! I could not believe how old and historical things looked to me. I can’t wait to take my family to some of those places!

Work is going well, though I need to start bringing some closure to some of my sales calls. I’ve been working 100% of my time on marketing and selling Christmas lights for Christmas Decor. I had never done it before, but I am really enjoying it. I have had some big accounts this week, the biggest being 9 shopping centers! I was surprised to hear from the property manager, as I just called a listing in a parking lot and got a call back saying, “we are interested in not just one but in 10 other properties! So, I will find out next Tuesday how much the shopping centers want to do for Christmas. We don’t just hang lights but get to help with anything related to decorating for Christmas: banners, signs, wreaths, bows, garland, reindeer, anything! It already feels like Christmas to me! So, things are well but I’m a little frustrated that I have not sold more. I think I need a few more leads to see some fruit as it is still a little slow. It is also October with halloween and a big election coming up! I’ll be glad when those events have passed so we can focus on Christmas, Christmas, Christmas!

Drop us a line when you have time. We miss all of our west coast family and friends! Please come and visit us anytime!!!!