It's been a while

I've discovered that it has been quite a while for me since I have updated the blog. 1-I have been wanting to blog when I actually have something good to write about and 2- I have had a busy week.
It has been a busy week for anniversaries. The first was on the 17th. That was the 1 year anniversary of the opening of Bonefish in Deptford. It it nice to look back and see the success of our restaurant. I think that we have a fantastic year and I couldn't be prouder of my staff especially the one's that have been with us since the opening. We have about 33 people still from the opening and I think that is a phenomenal number considering the turnover of most restaurants. We celebrated after work at Fridays with our original managers and several members of the staff. It is weird to think that we have been open for a year now. It still seems like yesterday that Katie and I were excited to move to NJ so that I could be the manager there. The second anniversary came on the 21st when I realized that it was my 4-year anniversary with Bonefish. It was strange to think back to when I first started with Bonefish from the interview process to the first day of training and how far I've come. It was truly a blessing for us and it is difficult to realize that that future I thought I was building for us is a future I'm building for myself. And then to take it so many steps deeper to find myself with my Bonefish family here from my staff to my supervisors and how blessed I am to have had them to take care of us during Katie's last months and even now. I would easily say that few people are as blessed as me when it comes to work. I actually had 3 days off in a row. It was exactly what I needed to start getting the apartment organized. I had a chance to go through some things in the basement and lower the height of that mess. I also went through each room and organized, filed and packed away a lot of Katie's things that I want to keep but don't necessarily need to see everyday. And I finally got my laundry caught up. Kudos! So now my new challenge it to keep up all the hard work I've done! And the biggest accomplishment of all -- I put away the Christmas decorations and took down the tree. I also got the bills organized and made my bed and slept in it for the first time in weeks. So for me, this has all been a huge accomplishment.
I also got caught up on everything I've been recording including American Idol. Martina McBride was the guest coach this past week and I think she is great. I don't listen to much new country anymore but she has always been one of my favorites. On Wednesday, she performed live and the song she sang was "Anyway." From the first line, I was hooked because not only was it beautiful and her voice is amazing, but I knew this song was going to be amazing and it was. I will post the lyrics at the bottom. They stay with me. I think about this song constantly. I heard this song at just the right time.
That's my week in brief. I'm doing OK. I would love to say that I'm doing great. I would love to be doing great. But I'm not sure how to great anymore. I had another dream with Katie in it. It seems that I'm having more and more lately. I wish it were every night, but I won't complain if it is just a couple of times a week. At least I get to see her.

ANYWAY

Martina McBride

You can spend your whole life building something from nothing

One storm can come and blow it all away

Build it anyway

You can chase a dream that seems so out of reach and you know it might not ever come your way

Dream it anyway

Chorus: God is great, but sometimes life ain't good

And when I pray it doesn't always turn out like I think it should

But I do it anyway, I do it anyway

This world's gone crazy and it's hard to believe that tomorrow will be better than today

Believe it anyway

You can love someone with all your heart, for all the right reasons, and in a moment they can choose to walk away

Love 'em anyway

You can pour your soul out singing a song you believe in that tomorrow they'll forget you ever sang

Sing it anyway, sing it anyway

I sing, I dream, I love, anyway,