The Year in Review

Okay, here is my annual year in review. I started 2012 unemployed and uncertain. Kat and I were getting by but barely. Sammee started her last semester of college. Tori went back to Portland for her second term of college with a myriad of jobs after spending her first term searching continuously. Kat went back to school. By February I had started a new job and Kat got her driver's license. Tori had Spring Break plans to go to Disneyland with her dad, stepmom, and brothers. And of course Kirk. Sammee was all set to go to LA for a technical theatre conference during the same week. Kat and I were getting used to my new work schedule. Sort of.

In March 2/3 of the Wortham girls descended on Los Angeles. Sammee spent a couple of days with my sister, Jenn and Jenn took them to the museum at the Fashion Institute of Design Merchandising. They even met up with Tori and company at Disneyland for lunch one day. It was the first time Sammee had seen her dad in 16 years. Fun was had by all.

Fast forward to May. Sammee graduated from college! And she did it in 4 years! I was still loving my job, Tori finished up her first year of college, and Kat survived her sophomore year of high school. Summer was full of fun and activities. Tori worked at the Popcorn Shop, part time custodian at our church, and played Princess Tiana for Princess parties. Sammee had her hands full stage managing the summer community musical, helping our friend Blair prepare for Theatre school, and teaching theatre school in Billings, MT. Plus preparing for her big move to NYC in the fall. I was busy with work and Kat went job hunting. At the end of the summer, Sammee got to play her dream role, JoAnne in Rent. It was a phenomenal show! And I got to see it twice! I was so happy that her last performance in Pocatello was such a marvelous show! In August Tori and Kirk went to Denver to visit her dad and family for an extended weekend. On September 15 the Wortham Girls drove to Salt Lake City to take Sammee to the airport for her great adventure, and on September 16 Tori and Kirk went back to Portland. There was a lull in my life. But, Kat started online school in September also, so our mornings are full.

Once Sammee got to NYC, her life really took off. Within a week she had 2 jobs. And she hasn't stopped. While in NY she has stage managed 2 shows, ran lights for another show, and worked full time at a coffee shop in Manhattan. She survived Hurricane Sandy, went downtown on election night, saw her first Broadway play as a New Yorker, watched the tree lighting at Rockefeller Center. She has adapted to life in the big city.

Tori continued to work numerous jobs in Portland. She kept working at the bookstore and for student government. She is still selling hats, etc., like hotcakes. And, she started tutoring a 15 year old boy. As usual, she created amazing paintings and got great grades. Neither one was able to come home for Thanksgiving. Tori went to LA and spent the holiday with Jenn, James, and Ava. Sammee stayed in NYC and discovered that her coffee shop was right off the parade route. Here in Poky we had Thanksgiving on Tuesday because Mom and Dad left on Thanksgiving to do an Antique show in Boise. Christmas came quickly, as did Tori from school. Unfortunately, Tori had a falling out with her dad and step mom right after Thanksgiving, but survived. Sammee experienced her first New York Christmas, and got her presents on Christmas Eve.

All in all an eventful year. 2013 promises to also be a great year for the Wortham Girls! Thank you for reading my posts, whether you are my friends, family, frenemies, or strangers who just happen across my blog. Whether you stalk me and my blog, or genuinely are interested in our lives, I do appreciate you! May the New Year bring you prosperity and many blessings!

I'm Late! I Know!

I know, I know, I was supposed to post on Saturday, but I figured I would wait until Christmas. Quite an eventful week for the Wortham girls.

Sammee and Katelyn actually had plans for Christmas Eve. They both worked early in the day, and then went to Christmas Eve services with my friend, Rebecca Pendarvis, then to her house for dinner. Becca's daughter, Brooklyn fell in love with the girls! I think Brooklyn is 9 or 10. She even asked if they could have a sleepover. Then to Midnight Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Sammee got her Christmas presents from us yesterday, and Mom got hers yesterday too. She loved all of her gifts! Through the generosity of a friend from church I was able to get her a Wii so she can watch Netflix streaming on her TV. Today they hung out and went to see a movie. Merry Christmas to my little Sammee Cheeks!

Here in good old Idaho, I had to work yesterday until 8 pm, so Christmas was delayed a day. Wandered up to mom and dad's mid morning. Opened presents, hung out, and ate a wonderful dinner, mostly courtesy of the Food Network's website. And, Kat got her Mac & Cheese! Thank you Alton Brown for the recipe. I got some wonderful gifts. A funny wire pig container, maybe for eggs or something. Debating about taking it to work. A pig calendar which is definitely going to work. Coffee and a grinder, a bag of those Hickory Farms mints, some cook books, a Marylhurst coffee mug, and new shoes! Tori got a new French Press coffee pot (hers shattered when she came home from Portland), cook books, and a Crock Pot! Kirk will be eating well next year! Kat got clothes, fuzzy slippers, cook books (do you see a theme here) and a McDonald's gift card! Sammee sent me a NYC hoodie, Tori a pretty cameo choker on a ribbon, and Kat a beautiful music box. You can actually watch it play. A wonderful Christmas was had by all, all over the country.

Merry Christmas to you and yours! I am so blessed to have the most amazing family, and lots of friends! I hope your day was as magical and fun filled as mine was. May you all enter 2013 with happy hearts and prosperity!

Christmas Bells Are Ringing!

Sorry this post is so late. I had to wait to talk to Sammee to get the weekly update.

She had a busy week. She was working the barista job, the light board job, and the stage managing job all week. And, she has come down with a cold. Poor baby. Sam, Derek, and Katelyn went downtown yesterday and had a blast. Christmas shopping and ending the day with a musical. After this weekend, Sammee will just be working at the coffee shop for a bit. She is now training new baristas, serving coffee, and hostessing. She won't be home for Christmas, but Mom is sending out her gifts on Monday. And we will Skype on Christmas. It will be weird not having her here, but she is well taken care of and has lots of friends in the City.

Tori has also been busy. She is working 6 days a week at the Popcorn Shop, and is doing a Christmas Variety show this week and next. I'm going to see it next Saturday night. Plus church, her hats, and just general cuteness! Had lunch with her and coffee later tonight. I love spending time with that girl. We put together Mom's Christmas present. I love Christmas! Even though our time together is limited due to our work schedules, I love having her home!

Kat is having a blast bowling for Poky High this year! I have to miss her meets, but it is fun watching her practice. School is still going well. We are preparing for Christmas. Oh, by the way, I hate shopping. I live by the words of the Jeff Dunham character, Walter (and apologies in advance for the profanity). "Git yer shit and get out!" I am not the type to go to the mall and wander for hours looking in every store. That sort of stuff is annoying. Okay, if I am visiting somewhere, I will wander and look around, but at home, just get in and get out. Mom and I are going shopping on Tuesday and I think it may take a half hour tops.

Now, for your viewing pleasure, a picture of Sammee and Derek in Manhattan yesterday. Such native New Yorkers!

Up To The Date!

So a short post this week.

Sammee is just plugging on with her jobs and such, living the NYC fast life. She and her friends are preparing for Christmas, and she is still working 2-3 jobs. If anyone wants to send her a card or anything I have her address. Toss me a Face Book message or email me wortandr@gmail,com.

Tori finished her fall trimester with astounding grades, again! She is on her way home right now. Made it to Boise with a small scare of snowy roads outside Pendleton, OR. Bobi and I will drive to Boise tomorrow to pick her up, and then she will jump right back into her routine. She will be at the Popcorn Shop every day working, and will go back to Praise Team on Tuesday! And she is still making and selling her crocheted items. I get her for a whole month! I foresee lots of coffee dates!

Kat has started High School bowling. She is playing for Pocatello High School this year. I got to watch her bowl on Tuesday, and even though she hasn't bowled since last spring, she still has it. She also took her ISAT tests on Wednesday. I really hate that students have to pass a standardized state test just to graduate from High School. But I digress. She has her first meet next Wednesday. I will be at work, but will get updates from her.

At work I am continuing to work towards a promotion. Two new departments are opening up the beginning of next year and Allstate is hiring more trainers, etc., to help with the new departments. So keep me in your good thoughts as I work towards this new goal.

There's only 2 weeks until Christmas. I am ready, and so are the girls! Until next Saturday, my friends.

Another Week!

Wow! It's December already! What a year! And now for the weekly update.

Sammee, Derek and Katelynn moved into their new apartment this week. They are still in Brooklyn, but a bit closer to Manhattan. Work and stage managing still going well. The kids are preparing for Christmas, and all that New York has to offer for the season. They have already been down to Rockefeller Center to see the Christmas tree. I am hoping for pictures, but they are so busy, who knows?

Tori had her last week of classes, and has finals next week. She will be home for Christmas break one week from tomorrow. A whole month of Tori!She is very excited to get back to work at the Popcorn Shop! She was going to bring home her paintings next week, but her professor wants to display them next term. I guess I can share with Marylhurst for a bit. Yesterday she did a craft show on campus that she organized. She sold $139 worth of crocheted stuff! Don't worry, if you still want a Tori original, she has more inventory, and will do custom orders.

I am still working at moving up at work. Still plugging along and helping whoever needs it. I still love my job and love the people I work with.

Since this is a short update, I thought I would share a video of Sammee and Derek waiting for their train. Enjoy the silliness!

Quick Update

I'm going to try to finish this post before I go to work. It may happen, and it might not.

The Wortham girls had a great Thanksgiving week on all ends of the country, and in between! On the East Coast, Sammee worked on Thanksgiving morning. The coffee shop is right off the parade route, so they were super busy until the parade started, and completely dead during the parade. Sam loved the whole day! After Sammee and Derek got off work, they went home and had dinner with Katelyn and Shasta. Then they went out for Karaoke with another friend, Erick! I am very grateful for all of the friends they already have in the city, and the new ones they are making! The stage managing job Sam initially turned down she was able to take after all! So she is working full time at Le Poin (or however you spell it), doing a little bit of manager training there, and running light board for one show and stage managing another show. No wonder she was bored after the hurricane when she was stuck at home for 2 days!

Tori flew to LA on Wednesday to spend Thanksgiving with my sister, Jenn, my niece Ava, and James, Jenn's other half. Much fun was had by all, and I think mostly by Ava. Instead of Black Friday shopping, they went to Disneyland for the day. And yesterday, they met our friend Jessica for lunch and a little beach time. She heads back to Portland today and will meet Kirk at the airport. I am so grateful to have friends and relatives who make sure that my girls aren't lonely for holidays when they can't make it home. What a blessed family I belong to!

We did Thanksgiving here on Tuesday, my day off, since mom and dad went to an Antique show in the Boise area on Thursday. My plan to spend all day Thursday in my jammies was thwarted when Kat's best friend's family invited us over. Games, laughter, and lots of food! All in all, a very good holiday weekend.

Here is my wish for a safe and happy holiday season to all of my friends and family! Until next time!

Slacker!

So, after much prodding from Sammee, I am finally posting for the week. Happy now, kiddo?

Last week in NYC, Sammee got the chance to be hostess at the coffee shop she works at. Yesterday she got her schedule for this week, and she is hostessing 2 days! They were considering making her a hostess full time, but they don't want to lose their best barista! The show she is stage managing closed last night, so it's time to move on. Next week she starts her next job. Running the light board for a show. She even had to turn down a stage managing job because it conflicted with the light board operator gig. This week she will have her first Thanksgiving away from home. Luckily she has lots of friends to spend the holiday with. Watch for her on TV on Thursday. I'm sure she will be downtown for the Parade. Next month Sammee, Derek, and Katelyn will be moving into their new apartment. They are still in Brooklyn, but actually closer to Manhattan. If anyone wants her address, let me know. She would love letters, cards, money (just kidding), care packages,

On the other end of the country, Tori is cruising right along. She is still tutoring, still working at the bookstore on campus, and still doing Student Government stuff. She leaves on Wednesday for Los Angeles for Thanksgiving with my sister. And in only 3 weeks, she will be home for Christmas break! She is making and selling her crocheted wares like hotcakes! She will custom make just about anything! check her out on Face Book at Jamaican Me Crochet! I will have more news on Tori when she comes back from Los Angeles.

Here at home, Kat is plugging along with school, and submitting job applications left and right. We are getting ready for Thanksgiving. This year we are having the big dinner on Tuesday. I am off on Tuesday, and mom and dad are going to Nampa, ID for an antique show during the weekend. We tried the whole "rush through dinner so mom and dad can leave by noon" thing, and it was not fun. So Thursday Kat and I will have the day to ourselves. And I plan on lounging, and maybe not getting out of my jammies all day! Work has been full of changes over the past week. I had a presentation a little over a week ago in front of top management. My former transition manager suggested that since I am so good at billing, I need to start developing training sessions on billing issues. I did my first training at our team meeting last Monday, and am now the official billing trainer for another team. This is probably the best way for me to get started on becoming a trainer here.

So for my blog stalkers, near and far, here you go! Another update on the Wortham girls. Until next week!