many thanks.

It always feels good when your hard work is recognized and complimented. I am a graphic designer and at times you can be highly complimented, and in the next breath get your knees cut out from under you. With this up and down feeling at times it's always a great thing when someone take the time to say thank you and praise you for a job well done.

One of our salesmen did just that the other day. I've been working really hard on an account we want to land here locally and I put my best foot and creative brain forward in designing a new brochure booklet for this client.  After seeing the proof I put together he emailed this message to me:

Many Thanks!
I just wanted to let you know how excited I am to take this proof to our customer tomorrow.  I think that this is a great piece and I know we will definitely impress.  Talented folks like you make selling printing very easy.  I’ll let you know feedback as soon as I hear any.  Thanks again for all that you have done so far.    - AW

It warms my heart. Add to this my raise I've been hoping for and it's been a great week. (Minus the Steelers loss which I will NOT discuss any further, my heart and blood pressure can't take it). *wink*

• • • • • •

In other fun news - M scored us two tickets to watch the NCAA Division II National Championship Game through his work. The game is being held tomorrow at The University of North Alabama's Stadium (truth be told it's actually the local High School's stadium, they just let UNA use it as well as a few of the other local schools - as I've said before football is serious business here in the South! So even when you're a Pee-Wee you get a big ole' stadium to play in). I believe the Division II Football Championships have been hosted here twice now and the town is signed up through 2012. I wish the University of North Alabama could have made it into the Championships - they almost made it - we'll get them next year!

Braly Municipal Stadium • Alabama

I'm excited! I don't know a lot about the two teams playing - Northwest Missouri State & Grand Valley State but I'm trilled to get a chance to attend a college football game. In all the years that I attended college I never once went to a game. Truth be told my college team wasn't really that good but I could have supported them none the less. I think I'm going to root for Northwest Missouri State, why? They are the Bearcats and I like that not to mention their team color is green and I like that even more. Yes, I'm a girl so I'm going to choose like a girl, deal with it. Honestly both teams are 13-1 for their records so I hope it will be an exciting game. M informed me that I should be rooting for Grand Valley State because they are the team that knocked UNA out of the running for a Championship Game. I get his reasoning, if they win it makes our region look better and thus props up all our teams in our division, but honestly I'm sort of upset at them for that (girl response). I'm going to freeze my butt off without a doubt (they are calling for freezing rain tomorrow as well) - but in the end I've got a voucher for a sandwich, drink and chips and tickets none of which cost me a single dime!  If my fingers haven't frozen off I may tell you all about it. This game will be the tip of the iceburg - next year I'm bound and determined to get my hands on some tickets to an Alabama game and maybe if I'm savvy enough I might be able to score some tickets to a Steelers game. We shall see. In the meantime I'll deal with this lucky hand I've been dealt and enjoy a weekend of football with no stress over which team wins in the end it will be for the love of the game for me. Even if I want to already say GO BEARCATS!!!

I hope you all have a great weekend planned - I'm heading forward with more birthday parties and holiday baking, it's only Friday afternoon and I'm already slammed for the weekend! Wish me luck!

HAPPY WEEKEND EVERYONE!!! ox