Christmas Blizzard 2009.....OH NO!

Ok, so let's be honest....I could totally get home. It seems that the few times it snows in Nebraska, people take too many precautions. One of the joys of working where I do is the opportunity to claim a room....I had to find out from other people! haha!! What you do is call the person in charge and request a room, and walah...your very own place. My place had cable tv, a bath tub (I took a bubble bath later that night!), a comfy bed, and a refrigerator. Since I am the operator, I know all of the extensions to the places important if I need anything.....housekeeping and cafeteria! =)My family wasn't doing anything for Christmas, so I spent it exploring an adventure...haha, lots of fun! Many of the other workplaces over Omaha required people to stay there...they would stay in rooms for 12 hours and work 12 hours and repeat....A coworker of mine tried to get a poker game going on later the next day...calling all the people staying over. We were all going to meet in the cafeteria. We didn't have anything worth of value (except a cheeseburger or something), so the game was cancelled....maybe next time! Only me and another person work weekends in our department, so when I was awake, she slept. When I slept, she worked, so we only had to use one room....I have great coworkers. =D

This was the Christmas Eve service at church....seriously, we did the whole "candle-lighting service" thing.....uber fun! So much fun to see everyone having a bright light right by them. This was when everyone had heard about the amazing Christmas blizzard coming....that is why I went to the earliest church service there was. As we were coming out and the next group was coming in, you could sense the tension to get done with the service! haha....good times! SO worried that I was going to drip my candle on something!!

Some of the computer guys wanted to do a computer slide show thing, so they continued to hound for baby pics from us....I finally jumped on the internet, found one, and sent it as me. EVERY time this picture was up, there was somebody that had to comment how cute he was. I eventually had small sects of people clued in, and we were all dying as a person continued to comment on how cute I was. I didn't want to be rude, so I thanked them each time! =D

This was my work Christmas party. Tamara was tired of people thinking our department was dull and boring. She had me meet her at Nobbies, and we went to town! haha....we showed up at this party, and it we were received graciously....I think we definitely livened up the place! =D Jan couldn't come (she had to help her grandchildren?), so I plastered her in from another pic...haha, you almost don't realize it! This picture speaks of so much craziness that day! =D

Black Friday 2009!

Awwwwwww! lol....Too funny!

Fun Times!


Coffee AND Doughnuts?


LOVE this!

Katers being a trooper for fun! =D She was great and did not complain!!




Me and Jay.....staying warm through whatever means possible (notice the kippah!).



So, definitely some great memories. We started the night by arriving late, and we missed the big Christmas lightup celebration downtown Thanksgiving night. That does NOT mean the fun was not going to happen. We had a blast singing Christmas carols to everybody downtown....definitely become a close-friend tradition. Sarah and Katie Brennen came with us. They are great because they are so tolerant of everybody. Tawny brought Tony (He's really becoming a part of the family when we see everybody.), Sara brought Jay (Hy-Vee worker), and the family was together. The story was sad and fun this year......nobody had any money and others didnt want anything, so we waited at Oak View mall for amazing gift cards....haha...these were GREAT! After waiting for many hours, (other parts of the mall had opened prior to 5am!), the staff gave out spatulas....Martha Steward mind you! TOO FUNNY! lol, I'm just glad some great times were made. =)

Thanksgiving 2009!

Boy, Thanksgiving is always a busy time of the year for me! For starters, it is right around my birthday.....I was 23 this year! Secondly, Thanksgiving celebrations.....it seems like EVERYONE has to make a meal, and EVERYBODY wants and demands that you visit and eat.....haha, NOT that I'm complaining! Some year, I am going to have to weight my before and after weight! Thirdly, Thanksgiving means...the Loftus family's most exciting day of the year is happening next, BLACK FRIDAY!


Uncle Roni and Me at my Dad's house celebrating the day....it was great to see him! He is such a sweet man, and it takes very little to please him!

Shabbat with the Brennen's, Korf's, Frye's, Howard's, and Coffman's is always fun! The youth is made up primarily girls, and they are jsut a ball. The others are great also! Here is a pic of Tommy. Joey is also amazing....I should probably get a pic of him, hu?

Edith....a longtime Dollar Tree friend! She comes to many family functions!!






I usually work seasonal at Dollar Tree. This year went well! I started in November, and lasted through December. Many of the customers that come through my line are old time friends!! I have known many of them since 2004. It feels so good to catch up with people again.

People some customers see me as just a Dollar Tree associate, many people try to "offer help" to you offering you jobs at various places. Between you and me, I receive job offers on average of once a week....haha, all over! This year was at cooperate locations for Holiday Inn, Mariatt, and some massage place. I just pass the business cards off to people when I hear they are looking for a job...haha! Hope it helps some of them! I didn't take the part time job because I REALLY needed a night off, and it just wasn't possible....my family was celebrating Christmas, and it was a big deal for them. I hate not being able to meet my obligations! I can only work at places that will work with you when you need certain times off....all of the employees were just simply too busy. =( I WILL be back next year....I love Dollar Tree! I just hope they will become a more flexible organization! =) p.s. I love most of the awesome employees!! They all know how to keep you rolling!! =D

My uncle received the title "Nebraska's Biggest Loser". The whole family is pretty much on the Metabolic Research Diet Programs......you would just die laughing! Family reunion last year....perfect example. Of course, at a family reunion you meet tons of people you have never met, etc. Well, while some people went to use the restroom, you would spot the jelly packets Metabolic people use from about half of the people.....if that wasn't bad enough, on average of once a week for the rest of the summer, when I went into the center only to recognize somebody from the reunion or to find that another cousin joined the team....yeah, too funny! Wedding's are a trip because everytime the bride and groom make it over to the cake, we all text each other encouraging each other to resist tempetation....of course we all usually give in, and pay for it later! haha!

Here is a pic detailing my progress. I have done pretty well. I can't make it past the mark I'm currently at......I'm banking on it being winter, and I hope my walking/hiking trails in the spring and summer will allow the process to resume!