End of 2008 & Beginning of 2009

So 2008 has come to an end and 2009 has begun.
2008 for the Burnetts included the following events (that I can remember):

• Daniel grew his hair out for Locks of Love, in honor of colleague Mrs. Dowd, and then shaved his head
• We hosted several exchange students
• We painted the house
• We replaced all the windows in the house
• I passed the first part of my Enrolled Agent's exams & became a partner in my business
• I traveled to Grapevine, Texas and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Daniel and I became even bigger Blazer fans
• Rocco turned 4

So all in all, it was a busy year, though perhaps not the most exciting.

2009 looks promising so far, with trips to Las Vegas, possibly Europe, and hopefully the Blazers in the playoffs.

Emily's Texas Adventure - Days One & Two

Have arrived in Grapevine, Texas for the Thomson Reuters CS Users Conference. Am staying at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center with Rebecca. Everything here is of "Texan" proportions, i.e., everything is bigger in Texas. Unfortunately, we have arrived during the middle of the transition to the Christmas season, so everything is being redone as Christmas on a ranch, which is about as ridiculous as it sounds. The atrium has three giant white christmas trees decorated in peppers and cacti, as well as several flags.The hallway to our part of the hotel, with nutcrackers lining the walls.

Mosaic on the floor of the atrium, celebrating the Lonestar state.

Main restaurant in the atrium, where we watched election converage on a 100 foot TV screen.

Stuffed buffalo - there's stuffed wildlife everywhere

feeling the blahs

Have been feeling the blahs today. No idea why. Good job, good husband, good life. Just feeling blah.

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It's official. I am now a 10% shareholder with my company. No turning back now.

economic paniç

When I was in middle school I had to research the great depression, which included interviewing someone who had lived through it. I interviewed my grandmother. The family thinks that part of her crazy, stubborn ways are a direct effect of surviving the depression. So I'm a little worried that if the us devolves into another depression, I'm going to become the mirror image of my grandmother.

We are at Rivercrest Church today. Daniel is leading worship. As friendly as this church is i still feel out of place. Everyone smiles here

The bus is such a love/hate relationship for me - a mix of disgust, horror and fascination surrounds each ride.