First February Friday!

Hi everyone! It's hard to believe that it's February already! Hope that you and yours are all doing well.

All is going well on our end of the planet. Work's slowed down a bit for me (now that our implementation of the new DoD personnel system is on hold, thank GOD). I didn't get the GS-0201-12 position that I'd applied for. Like an idiot, I only applied externally (via their DEU) and not internally as well. I have it on good authority (namely from one of the HR Specialists staffing the job) that they were hammered with veterans. Vets block non-vets on DEU certs, and, well, that means Jen doesn't get the job. I should have known better than that. Next time, I'll definitely apply externally AND internally. On well, a close friend today summed it up perfectly - "it just wasn't meant to be, Jen." She's right. There's a new job out there for me someplace. I hope. I really want to beat this BRAC before it beats me. This has been a horrendous experience for all of us. I hope and pray that I'll never have to go through this again.

I learned this week that one of my dearest and oldest friends recently suffered a miscarriage. I ask that you, my friends, please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. As potential parents go, it most certainly doesn't get any better than her. My prayer is that she, soon, will become a mother to a very blessed and lucky little one. Please join me in that prayer.

I'm off for a late dinner with my family unit, but before I go, here are some photos to share....

Remember around Christmas-time when I said that I'd soon be taking another stab at Beth's Little Star Afghan? Well, I took my stab, and it actually came out quite well. I am really proud of it.



This time, I stuck to Beth's pattern exactly and didn't do any of the modifications that were posted over at Crochetville. Maybe that was my downfall before. Anyway, it wasn't anywhere near as difficult as I remembered it being, and I'll make one again in a heartbeat the next time I need a special baby gift. I used Red Heart's Super Saver yarns in "Royal" and "Bright Yellow" and, I believe, a "K" hook.

Today, I got my first gift from my new Secret Pal! Check it out!



She made me two gorgeous homemade cards (which are wonderful to get...I'm usually the giver of homemade cards, so it's a nice switch!). She also sent me a gorgeous purple journal and a cute "to do" pad (which I'll put to good use at the office!). And of course, yarn! Two skeins of Lion Brand's Lion Boucle in "Denim" and two skeins of Lion Brand's "Fun Fur Prints" in "Tropical." I am a happy girl who loves her new SP! Thank you, SP! :)

Finally, check out this neat little "wordsmith" I found at my friend Keri's blog:



And that's all, folks! Hope that you have a great Friday night and a wonderful weekend. I've got sorority stuff tomorrow afternoon (and Miss Maggy's got an early vet visit scheduled for the morning), and we're headed off to a little Super Bowl party on Sunday. Be well and healthy, friends.