A few highlights from 2007 by month + a bit more about me. January - I enrolled in our local college evening photography class. There were 4 of us that started the class and finished together after a total of 4 classes in August. I also became the Treasurer for the Kentucky Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) group. This is a two year position (which I found out about at the first meeting in January). February - Attended my first American Society for Training & Development (ASTD) Chapter meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. The meeting took place at the YUM! Headquarters. Maybe I’ll go to another meeting some day. I am a member of SHRM & ASTD. March - My Mom turned 60 and we attended a small surprise party for her at a restaurant in Bowling Green where she lives. I went to watch my Son play golf in Bardstown and London Kentucky. He played OK but not as well as he thought he should. April - More golf tournaments in April in Georgetown and Bardstown Kentucky. I celebrated by 22nd wedding anniversary on the 20th and attended the wedding of the flower girl for my wedding on the 21st. May - It has been 3 years since my boss, Mr. Hammann, passed away from lung, throat, and liver cancer. I think of him just about everyday. He was my boss from July 1998 until May 2004. He was the man who convinced me to finish college and acquire initials after my name. I graduated college with my BS in Business with a focus in Management in September 2002 and became a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR) in 2003. Thanks Mr. Hammann. June - Went to the Goodrum Family reunion in June. Goodrum’s are on my Mom’s Mom side. Mom rents a large tent (top only - no sides) and everything was going well until a brief rain storm. We really didn’t care because we had been experiencing a long period without rain. We still had fun. July - The photo class went to Bernheim Forest on the 2nd. Another place I had not been to and really enjoyed the day taking pictures and just enjoying the beauty of Kentucky. I joined Flickr in July because one of my photo class mates had joined and said I should too. Thank you bluegrassboy1968! August - The last photo class meeting was on the 1st. I had recently joined the local photo club and we went to the Speed Museum in Louisville to see the Eastman Exhibit. I had always wanted to go to the Speed and had a really good day. September - Attended a meeting in Frankfort, Kentucky. After the meeting, I toured our State Capitol and took lots of pictures then drove on over to Georgetown, Kentucky to watch my Son play golf the next day. October - I turned 44 on the 5th of October. I just happened to be at a KY SHRM meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. November - My son calls to say he is applying to attend the University of Kentucky in January. He was in his 3rd semester at a small college attending on academic and golf scholarships. Yes we were paying for some of the cost. He says he just can’t play golf anymore. We will probably be paying about the same amount for him to attend UK. December - I was off from work on leave or at a conference more days than worked in December. There were 20 work days and I was off 11 of them. I have been working for the same company since May 1985 and now receive 26 days off a year. There were a few days I still needed to use or lose before December 21st. In December, I had a conference to attend (2 days away from the office) and took off 7 days and enjoyed 2 holidays. And the personal days off I went no where special because my husband had to work. Extra - I enjoy walking 3 miles each day with some other ladies living in the area. This year I walked mostly alone because of their schedules. We get to start in March or April on a regular basis and continue until October. I’m not real faithful using the treadmill but will try from time to time. It has not been a good year for me weight wise either. I have gained 10 pounds this year. That is something I don’t want to do each year!!!! Thanks for reading about my 2007! Happy New Year and ready to enjoy your pictures and stories and share mine in 2008!

"It is just a matter of getting that fourth foot up off the concrete floor," elephant trainer Rob Smith said. Maggie arrived at the zoo in 1983 as a calf when her herd in Kruger National Park in South Africa was culled. She has been alone since December 14, 1997, when the zoo's other elephant died at age 33 of a foot infection. The treadmill is part of a $1 million program the zoo launched two years ago to improve Maggie's life after deciding to keep Alaska's only elephant instead of placing her at another facility, perhaps in a warmer climate, with more elephants. The zoo's program for Maggie included doubling the size of the elephant house and installing new heating, light and ventilation systems, including upgraded radiant heat in the concrete floor. Her outdoor paddock was doubled in size. Feeding stations were placed high so that she now stretches for her food. Treats are hidden around her enclosure to help keep her busy. She's provided birch logs to strip the bark off. The extra activity and a diet have helped Maggie shed about 1,000 pounds. "We think she's at a good weight now. It is just a matter of maintaining that," Lampi said. The Alaska Zoo is letting Maggie call the shots. Trainers can tell just by looking at her that some days she wants to train. Other days not. "They learn every day of their lives. They're like people," Smith said. "Just like in school, there were days you didn't want to be in the lecture hall." The treadmill, made with the help of a company that designs heavy-duty conveyor systems used in mining, was delivered to the zoo in September. Lampi said they originally hoped to have Maggie taking walks on it by the end of November. But Maggie, it turned out, has needed a little more time. "I think probably there is a lot going on in Maggie's mind right now," said Mike Keele, deputy director of the Oregon Zoo in Portland, Oregon, and chairman of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' species survival program for elephants. "I think she is probably trying to build a level of confidence. I think in time she will use it."