Merry Christmas

I love this time of year. I know it sounds cliche, but it is great to see my family and friends. It makes me wish we had special holidays more often. 

I really enjoy taking time at the end of the year to reflect on myself and surroundings, and also take the opportunity to revisit my goals and areas for improvement.  

I love the "cold" weather, rather cooler weather, at least for a few days. (It was about 70 today). 

This season also brings about great football (well besides the Cowboys) and fun match ups in bowl games.

The sweet smell of candles, pinecones, and crisp cool air make me melt.

It also reminds me to be more giving and grateful for all that I have. Every year I am more and more blessed, especially this year and it felt so good to be able to contribute and share more than I have been able to in the past. What an indescribable and momentous feeling. Thanks to all of my close friends and family that have stood by me to find this happiness and greatness in my life.

Now that Christmas is over...its time to work on my resolutions so next Christmas I will have even greater accomplishments and good fortune to reflect upon.  

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

Back to the Basics

I once heard, "You can never run your business like the government" but now I really think you can. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122969367595121563.html

It's amazing now that companies are no longer being held responsible to stay within their budget.

But honestly if I were CEO of a struggling business, the last thing I would want is for a failing government to bail me out. This does not even sound good in theory.

Budgets are so simple, spend less than you make. If you want to take it 1 step further, PLAN AHEAD! These are elementary ideas. It's time to go Back to the Basics.

Oil Giants and the price of Gas

To start, I am partially biased in this blog since I am an employee of the company. But I hope to offer some insight into the corporation. Also note I work in a cost center of the corporation (IT) not a money making company.

First, when gas went up to $4+ a barrel, the news targeted XOM for being a GIANT OIL company, and made it look like they were the reason for the price. This is completely wrong!  The market is the reason for the price. If you have graduated high school, you've taken basic economics.  SUPPLY vs DEMAND.  Its simple, the more demand, the less supply, the higher the price.

Side note: Our country was not in a recession when gas prices were at this level.

Obviously a market cannot continue to go up, there is a model called a business cycle, basically what goes up must come down before it can go up again.  With that being said, the price of a barrel of oil went from $160 to $45 in just a few short months. That's so ridiculous and unheard of.  But did XOM ask for a bailout???  Did XOM layoff thousands of people???  NO, because XOM does not base business decisions on the market.  All projects ROI is stated with oil at $26 a barrel.  Therefore when it is MORE XOM makes MORE, but when it trades at a lower value than anticipated ($50) XOM is still making money.

It is amazing how ignorant many business models are, yet a conservative model that has proved success for over 125 years is hated because it works.  It just does not make much sense to me.  Also, if you look at the price of gas now, its $1.59 or so, but we as Americans are also in a recession.  You can draw your own conclusions.  

By the way, we are still hiring, that's right, no hire freeze, or layoffs.  Just business as usual.  Its so sad how uninformed the media makes us.

Cats for Change

So most of my friends know that I was never a fan of pets. Surprise right????  Well, I had a cat in elementary and middle school, but I don't think I played with him much.  Its pretty sad I hardly remember the little guy.  Then in High School I didnt have any pets plus I didnt really like going to friends houses that had them.  Especially dogs....whew did I really get nervous around dogs.  Same thing went for college.

Then I moved to Houston 1 year ago....and some friends gave me a kitten.  I named HER Rugby, since it is the best name for a cat.  (Thanks Courtney).

Honestly, I didnt think I'd keep the cat, cause I dont like pets, and I really had no interest in owning one.  Well it took about 22 hours and I was IN LOVE!  WOW what a cute kitten!!!!  

This past year Rugby and became super close. I taught her tricks and she even slept at the foot of my bed!  I had really come a LONG way with animals.  (At times I was the crazy cat lady.)

At some point in the madness of my new pet, I realize that I have a secret obsession with kittens and cats.  I love them, ALL of them, they are all cute.  I honestly do not think I would have figured it out if it hadn't of been for Rugby.

So to fast forward to my life now....I live with 3 cats: Raider, Rugby, and Ranger and 2 Dogs: Memphis and Tampa, and then down the road we have a horse: Eliza.  So I now am a partial owner of 5 pets, when on July 15 2007 I had ZERO.  

I'm a believer in change  =)   and love  <3