Nenni's World

Moving

2011-08-03T20:44:00.000-07:00

Okay, because it's been so long...because I've had about 7 months of contemplating what I was going to do...I have decided to start fresh over here, so come join me!

Nenni's World has moved over here:

http://nennisworld.wordpress.com/

Tell your friends, change your reader subscriptions, come on over!

What I’ve been up to

2011-01-21T10:40:00.001-08:00

As many of you know, I know I told you, I had surgery on Wednesday. I came really close to having to have surgery on Sunday, but was able to hold off with pain killers until Wednesday.

It was a successful surgery. Here I am on Friday morning and I am feeling…okay. Better than I expected, but I’m not running laps anytime soon.

The hospital had a computer system that The Husband could track what I was doing…think airport system where it tells you “in flight”; “landed”; etc… This said, “In surgery”; “in recovery”; etc…

We arrived at the hospital at 5:45 in the morning, they got me into surgery at 7:31 am, and I was on my way home around 10:45…well, to the pharmacy first where my husband ran in to fill the prescription and I stayed in the car, opened the car door, vomited all over the parking space next to me, and then leaned back feeling MUCH better.

It seriously amazed me how much better I felt after that. So, then on the way home we went.

Since then, I have taken pain pills the first day, half the second day, and none today so far.

I have taken a shower this morning (which involved going up the stairs…and back down).

The husband got me an eBook. I am SO in love with it. I’ve wanted one for so very long! He has taken very good care of me and I love having him here at my side.

Needless to say, I am feeling better than I expected and I am expect that I will be back at work on Wednesday easily.

So, what have you been up to?

God’s Plans

2011-01-16T18:25:00.001-08:00

I am, in no way, a perfect person. I make my mistakes and try to live the best life that I know how.

I am also, as one of God’s people, a person who has free will. God has made me (as He made all of us) to have the ability to make choices, good or bad, in our life.

I have, many times, made choices that were not in His plans. However, the difference between me and the person in the story I’m about to tell, is that I have never said that my bad choices were in His plans.

Nope, those choices were not in His plans for me; but He is always there.

Why that preface? To let you know that I am not at all judging this person, but using it as a lesson I think many need to hear.

I read many blogs and, at times, I wonder why I read them. Then I realize, have you ever got sucked into a soap opera? Or driven by an accident and tried not to look? You just can’t stop!

So I read this blog and it’s a person who is divorced with 4 children. Until recently, I would not have put her in the soap opera category, mostly because I saw a person who hadn’t necessarily made horrible choices in her life. When she was pregnant with her last child, her husband left her for another woman…a shock to her.

Now, however, this is where it turns into a soap opera. After more than a year of being divorced, she announced that she is, again, pregnant…by her exhusband…who is not going to marry the woman he left her for…

um, yeah!

But wait, where does God’s plan come into all this?

Simple. In the post that she announced her pregnancy, she end with saying that she knows that she shouldn’t have slept with her ex again, she knew she was doing wrong, but (now get this) “God never promised us fair…but He did promise that He has a plan, and it’s for good.”

Seriously! That’s what she said!

Now, do I think God has a plan? YES!

Do I think that my bad choices are in His plan? NO

When I read that I seriously had to laugh in disbelief.

Do I think that I wouldn’t do the same thing in her situation? Nope. I don’t know what I would do. I haven’t lived through her life or situation.

What I do know is that, in all the bad choices I make, I do not pretend to think that it is all part of His plan.

There are things that I do believe are in His plan, but they are things that I don’t choose for myself, but He chooses for me.

The lay off? His plan.

How do I know? Without it, I would have missed out on some great times with my grandmother and I would not be in this job where I truly believe I am doing His work and am in a place that I am making a great difference to children and families.

This surgery? Well, it’s not because of my bad choices, that I can tell of, so is it part of His plan? I don’t know. I’m not fool enough to say it is; but I’m also not fool enough to rule it out.

The fact that I burned my hand in the oven the other day? NOT in His plans…I did something stupid.

Okay, burning my hand is in no way on the level of getting yourself knocked up out of marriage, with a man who is going to marry someone else (even if he was a past husband); but it’s the same basic principle…neither one is in His plan.

(just a side note, I will greatly appreciate prayer for the wisdom and knowledge of the surgeon and all the hospital staff on Wednesday morning as I have my gallbladder removed; and prayers that everything goes the way it is meant to go, hopefully with minimal recovery time.)

My apologies

2011-01-12T19:12:00.001-08:00

I am absolutely disgusted, saddened, and sick to my stomach over the disrespectful display I saw tonight at the memorial service for those who lost their lives in the tragic event last Saturday.

If there was a display like that at my Grandmother’s funeral, I would have been appalled at the lack of respect.

That could in NO WAY be called a memorial service and I, as an American who prayed and mourned for those who were lost and injured, would like to extend my apologies to those families who are grieving. Please know that there are those of us who were not in that room who have said prayers for you and your families in this time of need. There are those of us who have grieved the loss of a beautiful child who should tucked in by her mom tonight, not used in a disgusting play of politics.

It makes me sad the direction this has gone and, the least any of us can do is apologize for the disgusting display tonight, in the days past, and, I’m sure, in the days to come.

I am truly sorry. Your loved ones deserve so much more than this.

This is Just a Test

2011-01-09T11:19:00.001-08:00

I am trying out a new app for my phone. Supposedly I should be able to post to ny Blogger site this way. We'll see!

I have a date

2011-01-08T16:55:00.001-08:00

For surgery that is.

What? I haven’t been around in a while and you have no clue what’s going on? I can’t pick up where I left off?

Sorry. I just haven’t had much motivation to blog lately. Call it laziness, writer’s block, uninspired, or whatever. Life has just been moving forward with nothing great and exciting…

well, except for the surgery aspect.

So, let me get you up to date:

Back in September, I was in the hospital with chest pains. I wasn’t sure what it was and went in. The pain subsided, they ran tests, couldn’t fond anything, and sent me home.

Back in December, I had the pain again…sort of…but this time it was much worse and I knew it wasn’t the heart. On a scale of 1-10 the pain was 120! No Joke!

The pumped me full of anti-nausea medicine and 3 pain killers…then they sent me to a sonogram and found gallstones. The gallstones were NOT blocking ducts nor was there an infection, so they sent me home with THREE painkillers and instructions to follow up with the general surgeon to have surgery at a future date.

I did and I waited for a for a surgery date. When I called the first time, the “scheduler” seemed annoyed that I was calling her and indicated that they were backed up and I wouldn’t get an appointment until February.

The next night/morning I woke up and had to take ALL of my pain killers over the course of about 2 hours before the pain subsided. I was this close (imagine my thumb and first finger about 1 cm apart) in waking my husband and telling him we needed to go before it started to subside.

That day, I called the general surgeon again and explained that I had major pain again, I hadn’t had any foods I shouldn’t have (I actually had eaten roasted vegetables that night for dinner) and, other than going into the ER, was there a way to move the surgery up.

He moved me up on the list, but even then it was going to be 6 weeks before they would call, and that would just be to schedule the date which would be 2-3 weeks out from that! There is no way I could wait that long!

They then called me back and asked if I’d be willing to go to a location that was further away. I would get in much sooner and this location, while a bit further, is actually not too bad. Plus, I don’t have to drive it! Ha!

Anyway, they set me up with a different surgeon and when I called there I was basically shocked at how quickly I could get a date…I have an appointment on the 14th to “meet the surgeon” and then my surgery is scheduled for the 19th…but, he might even do it on the 17th! Whoo hoo! I would LOVE that!

So, now that it’s maybe only a week away, and no more than a week and a half away, I am busy getting things caught up at work so that I don’t have to do a weeks worth of missed work when I return. They say it’s a 1-2 week recovery. I’m aiming for 1 week. I’m sure the second week I will be fine, but I’ll probably work half days anyway, just to ease into it.

Of course, that very night that I go my surgery date I had another huge episode! I did manage the pain with the pills, but I don’t want to go the ER route; however, had I not gotten the surgery date so soon, I probably would have just gone in the next time I had the pain.

So, what have you been up to?

Sonogram

2010-12-19T18:06:00.001-08:00

Yep, I had a sonogram last night somewhere between 3:30 and 8:00.

Oh, you don’t think it’s was for GOOD news do you? Nope, not in the least! The results? Gallstones! BIG ones! 1 centimeter ones!

Hey, if I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it right!

Okay, so here’s how it went down. I had lunch at 12:00 (the bowl of turkey stew) and then I had a small bowl of tortilla chips a bit later…not sure how much later.

Then about 3:00 I started with a bit of, what I thought, was stomach pain. Sometimes when I eat something I find that I need to have a cup of hot tea to aid in digestions. So, I made a cup of hot tea…

It DID…NOT…HELP! As a matter of fact it was quickly getting worse!

The Husband was upstairs taking a nap. He hasn’t been feeling 100% for a while now and so the extra sleep is good for him.

If you recall, in September I was in the hospital with some chest pains. It had turned out to be nothing back then, so I kind of writhed around on the floor in the living room (no, LITERALLY writhed on the ground in every conceivable position to try and relieve the pain) for a while.

I KNEW it wasn’t my heart…this time I could tell that it wasn’t my heart, but the pain was similar to last time…except exponentially worse! But last time after about 45 minutes total the pain subsided with no medication and I was sent away with no diagnosis. I was hoping the pain would just go away…it didn’t.

Sitting hurt, laying down hurt, moving hurt, not moving hurt, I have never felt pain like this in my entire life! After pacing around for a bit, going halfway up the stairs to wake The Husband and then coming back down because, “that’s just silly what is he going to do” and then pacing around some more and then finally going up the stairs and waking him, I was literally in tears by now.

Now, remember my high pain tolerance. I have a SUPER high pain tolerance…to have pain that brings me to tears is MAJOR pain!

I think we were BOTH hesitant to go to the hospital, but after not getting hold of one of our friends with medical background, we figured we might as well go.

On the way to the hospital I was very aware that I was going to be THAT patient. You know the one that is in the hole in the wall room with a curtain who was shouting out to “Just make it go away” and disturbing everyone else? I was SO trying to stop the shouting out in the car because I so didn’t want to be THAT patient…I couldn’t stop.

We got to the hospital, he stopped at the door, I went in and told them at the window that I was having major chest pains…okay, here’s my confession. I KNEW it wasn’t with my heart, I just knew it; but I also knew that if I wanted to get seen sooner I should generalize it to my entire chest.

The one girl at the window wanted to stop and get all my information for insurance…three people standing behind her very quickly said forget that we’ll get it later, bring her back.

So I got immediate attention and, what seemed like FOREVER was probably actually just 10 minutes before the pain medicine got put in and what seemed like forever and was probably less than a minute since it went straight in the iv, the pain began to subside from 120 to a 5…no really, my husband asked me what my pain level was on a scale of 1-10 on the way in and I said 120!

I was in so much pain I just couldn’t lay still and they kept asking me to just lay still so they could get a reading on the EKG. Then I had TWO nurses (one on each side) trying to put an IV in…I’m a hard stick and I know I kind of said “Good Luck” when they told me they were going to put an iv in and so I don’t know if they decided to try one on each side because of that or if they could just see it. Either way, I had a nurse on each side basically playing whoever-gets-the-iv-line-first-is-the-winner.

Then there was the moment when that same person from the front desk who wanted my information before she would let me in and now apparently wanted it before I passed out from pain came in the room and was at the foot of the bed trying to write down the information that she needed and, I’m sure, my husband was at the nurses station answering many of the same questions. I think she realized she needed to leave as my legs were wildly kicking to try and deal with the pain…I probably should have kicked her.

Everyone else was great! At one point one nurse who wasn’t even “my nurse” came in to fix my wires since the machine kept beeping; it was never anything urgent, just basically saying the lead was off.

While I was writhing away on the bed, I even think it was while they were getting the IV in, The Husband came in and asked if I was pregnant…I think I remember just glaring at him and saying, “That’s not funny.” See, I just started on Monday and, well, there’s no possible way and since he IS my husband he should know that…

But then later we had a laugh about it as he said, “Yeah, that could have turned into an episode of House…I would have to figure out what to do.”

I said, “We all would because it would be a sign of the second coming.”

Anyway, once the pain medication kicked in from the IV I was feeling much better. I was really a nervous wreck that they wouldn’t find anything again and then I would just cry because what-the-heck-is-wrong-with-me!

The doctor said that this time he would have a sonogram done because sometimes things won’t show up on the chest x-ray. So I got wheeled down to the sonogram and got all that done.

When I got back the doctor came shortly after and basically said, “I have to wait for the radiologist to verify it, but it looks like gallstones.” And went on to explain that as long as they weren’t blocking any ducts and there were no puss then I could go home with pain pills and then go see the surgeon and would probably be in a couple weeks for surgery.

A bit later he came by and told me that it was definitely gallstones, no blockage, no puss, and he’d send me home.

On one hand, SUCKS! Until I have the surgery I have to cut out all fatty foods and basically red meat as well.

On the other hand, at least we have an answer and, although surgery is never something to be taken lightly, it’s a fairly easy fix. With everything else going on and all the troubles everyone else has, this we can deal with.

So, how was your weekend?

My Speech

2010-12-05T17:41:00.001-08:00

(She was one hot looking lady in her youth…and awfully cute as she aged! Today was harder than I thought it would be in many ways; but I made it through. For those of you who where there in person and in thought, thank you for your support to me and my family. Many who were there requested a copy of my speech; while the original handwritten version is now with my mom, here it is typed out).

Hi, I’m Jennifer, one of her granddaughter. I like to think I’m the favorite, but I’m pretty sure all us grandkids think that. For the past two years I have been fortunate enough to spend every Tuesday night with my Grandma…and more!

Oh, I have so many memories of her throughout my life, much more than these last two years; however, the moments that I will always cherish the most are these last two years. I was blessed enough that the message was made clear to me that I needed to cherish every single one of those moments because, let’s face it, it wasn’t going to last forever. I knew that and took full advantage of it. So much so that on our Tuesday night meals, there were things that became clear to me she would like to either do for the first time ever in her 80 plus years or “just one more time” because it had been too long since her last experience.

On our many adventures, and throughout the years, I would get facebook messages, phone calls, emails, or even face-to-face messages of gratitude from various cousins, aunts, relatives, and even my mom. However, if anyone really knows me (and my Grandma did more than anyone else) you know that I never do anything I don’t want to do and I certainly didn’t do it for the gratitude. As a matter a fact, a part of me hated the gratitude because it implicated, to me, that I was doing it for a reason other than wanting to spend time with a fabulous lady.

I spent all these hours, all these days, going to all these place with her for one reason: We enjoyed each other’s company!

I enjoyed every single second and looked forward to the next time we would get to spend together. We laughed, teased, talked, and remembered the past.

I’ll never forget the last Tuesday night I spent with her. It was October 5^th. I had been at my new job for just about a month at that point and our regular weekly dinners had come to a sad end for a bit. I had been up in the area and made sure to stop by her place for dinner. We seemed to talk more than usual and share more than usual. She was so excited about my new job and expressed again (as she had several times when I talked to her recently) how much she missed having our Tuesday night dinners.

As I was getting ready to head out the door, she gave me a hug and did something that she never did during out times together. I’ll be honest, it worried me and, in some way, hindsight being what it is, gave me insight to what was too soon to come. She hugged me and she began to tear up in front of me. She hugged me tighter than usual and when I asked her why she was crying, she laughed and said, “I don’t know! I guess cause I’m an old lady!”

I think then that I knew that it was going to be our last special dinner…I just didn’t want to believe it. However, I know that October 5^th was, in all the time we spent together, one of the best nights we had spent with each other and I cherish more than any of the others.

I have always been thankful for having her in my life and for the lessons she has taught me, mostly unintended lessons by her.

I have worked with people, much younger than her, who struggle with making the change to this new confounded technology of the computer. My grandma spent hours watching owls on the internet, looked up information she needed or wanted to know, and had her own facebook page. When I told her how I used her as an example to those people I work with she told me, “Well, you tell them that I’m 80 years old and learned how to use the computer, so they should do it, too!” Lesson learned: you are NEVER too old to learn something new, age is never an excuse!

For Christmas one year when I was 9 or 10, I got a bedspread lovingly made by Grandma. I remember eagerly putting it on my bed that night and snuggling up under it. A few hours later, in a sleepy stupor, I awoke to my mom sitting on my bed and my dad hovering over her. They were whispering back and forth to the affect of, “I’ve almost got it”. I remember just closing my eyes and going back to sleep, I don’t even think they realize that I woke up for that short second. I had no clue what they were doing, but I learned the next morning…They were taking a straight pin out of the bedspread as I was wrapped up in it. As usual, she had left a pin in something she made for us. It was her signature. You rarely got a dress, blanket, shirt, any outfit that didn’t have a pin left in it somewhere. You would think that we would all eventually learn to look for those pins first, but we never learned. She hated that she did that, but we all loved it…it was her! It was her signature! Lessons learned: the best signatures are those unintentional ones. I know I’ll never look at a straight pin the same way.

Anyone who has talked to her in the past few years have gotten an earful of who should win, who should get kicked off next, and all the background drama of Dancing with the Stars. As with ice skating, it was a passion of hers. However, about two hospital stays ago, she was coming out of her sleepy state and very much NOT with it. So much so, the nurse who was caring for her felt so bad for her SHE was sneaking her ice chips that Grandma was not supposed to have…but she was just like an adorable child who, with her cute looks, could pretty much get whatever she wanted! At one point the TV was on and there was a commercial for Dancing with the Stars on and she turned to me and said, “I don’t care who wins.” During out dinner together in October, I teased her about that story as she was telling me about who she next wanted to be voted off. She emphatically told me that she most certainly DOES care! Lessons learned: No matter what anyone says, it apparently does matter who wins Dancing with the Stars.

I could go on about the many lessons she has taught me, like how stitching together things with love seems to make them last forever, because that blanket she left the pin in? Well, I still use it every night.

Or that a smile and wave from the window from your Grandma as you drive up, with a greeting at the door in anticipation of good news, is something that is worth more than anything and, I would give about anything to see that just one more time.

Or that having 4 first names in your life is just the right number.

Or perhaps that you should use your talents to bring good to the world as she made innumerable Teddy Bears for those who lost loved ones, just to bring a small smile to those who need it.

However, even in the last week, she has taught me one more, very important, lesson. I don’t think a person here doesn’t know my Grandma makes THE BEST Chocolate Chip cookies! She always had a supply in the cookie jar and if not there, you should check the freezer…and if not there you probably should check with my dad for their whereabouts. When I got married, I asked people to write down recipes for me and she, of course, gave me THE chocolate chip cookie recipe. I made an attempt at making them last weekend; I’m not sure why I never made them before, probably because I didn’t need to. She always had them and was not stingy about sharing them either!

So, there I was last week, making Grandma’s chocolate chip cookies. I followed her recipe to the LETTER! I mixed the shortening, sugars, vanilla, and chocolate chips right in and spooned them onto the baking sheets and placed them in the warm oven. When the timer went off I excitedly opened the oven door and pulled them out only to find that they were NOT like Grandmas! I mean…NOT…AT…ALL! I went back to the recipe and checked made sure I did EVERYTHING that it said…I did! Then I turned to the same recipe my mom had written for me…suspiciously her recipe had flour and baking soda in it. Yes, two ingredients that I should have known should be in there, but I was following the recipe! So, even now, she continues to teach me lessons…like apparently FLOUR is a secret ingredient; or maybe it’s just that NO ONE can make chocolate chip cookies like Grandma.

The most important lesson I’ve learned through it all, however, is that even though she’s not here with me anymore, apparently I’ll never be done learning from her.

I thank God that I had two years of dinner with her every week. I thank God that, after being laid off, I had an entire month to spend as much time as I could with her. I have no regrets.

But mostly, I thank God that I had her as my Grandmother.

Again, thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, and support of me and my family during this time. I miss her already!

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

2010-12-04T10:33:00.001-08:00

(Note: Even though it’s been a while since I posted, I am posting a picture every day of my Grandma until her memorial service, this is one of my favorite)

Yesterday (and the past week) have been super busy. Not in a bad way; just busy. I’ve pretty much been coming home, getting dinner made, eating, and then just doing nothing.

Today, I am watching Christmas movies, and getting things done that I’m not going to get done tomorrow…and writing a speech for Grandma’s memorial. I’ve written it, but I’m not sure I’m happy with it; then again, I may never be happy with it.

Tomorrow…well, that’s the memorial service. I’m counting on it being a long day. So, while there might be a post coming tomorrow, don’t count on it.

What are you doing this weekend?

Failed…oh well

2010-11-21T20:24:00.001-08:00

(Note: through the rest of November I will be posting a picture of my grandmother on every post in her memory…I’m going to miss her. I already miss her. This one was taken on a trip to Sea World that The Husband and I took her to last summer. She had such a blast! I am so glad I got to enjoy the day with her, along with all the other times I spent with her)

Well, as you have figured by now, I have completely failed at NaBloPoMo this year…on every one of my blogs…but from November 12th I knew that would be a large probability.

I’m doing okay, just busy and, as usual when someone graduates from this life to the next, spending time in thought. I have committed myself (very gladly and it was my offer, actually my demand) to speak at her memorial service. Writing that speech has proven to be more of a challenge than I anticipated; but in a good way. There is so much I want to say.

On top of that, work has been busier than I anticipated when I first looked at the calendar…boy that thing fills up fast! I know that next year at this time things will still fill up, but they won’t be as time consuming having been through it already; this year, as the first year going through it, things have been a bit more challenging.

How are you doing?

The Countdown has Begun

2010-11-17T19:43:00.001-08:00

(as a tribute to my Grandma, I am posting a picture of her on every post until her memorial service. This is one of her when she was a child; how adorable was she?)

What countdown? The Harry Potter countdown. I am going tomorrow night! Whoo hoo!

Why yes, I DO know that it doesn’t come out until Friday; HOWEVER, we got an awesome deal at work to go see it a day in advanced! YEAH!

My MIL and I are going to see it. I can’t wait! I almost can’t believe that this is the last book, second to last movie. I can’t wait to see it!

I also can’t wait to see my MIL’s reaction when she finds that I really haven’t been lying to her in regards to Dumbledore’s fate…what’s great is that she is convinced she knows what is going to happen even though she hasn’t read the books and she really thinks that I’m just kidding around with her.

I will probably be at work all day tomorrow itching for the time to move faster so I can leave, go home, and change, and get to the movies. I absolutely can’t wait!

What’s even a bit better? We won’t have to wait in a ridiculous line as we already have our tickets. We won’t have to wait ONE MORE NIGHT like everyone else.

I’m so excited! Can you tell?

Are you going to the Harry Potter movie? Are you as excited as I am? Have you ever been this excited for a movie? Which one?

Flipping Potatoes

2010-11-16T20:19:00.001-08:00

(On a quick side note, I plan, as a tribute to my Grandma, to post her picture at the top of each post through the rest of November…I’m going to miss her and our fun times)

Totally on topic today, this is a picture I took the first night I cooked on my new Rachel Ray pots and pans:

It’s blurry because I am actually flipping the potatoes in the air to turn them and shake things up…I show you this because I CAN ACTUALLY FLIP MY POTATOES!

The last pans I had? I couldn’t do this because, well, they SUCKED! When you boil water for pasta and then the pasta actually sticks to the pot…that sucks!

Before I started cooking with the yuck pans, I had gotten pretty adept at flipping items in the pans. I got so good at it that I could actually flip a fried egg this way…kid you not!

I’m not one to brag but…oh, who am I kidding, I am one to brag. I know what I’m good at! Anyway, I could flip pretty much anything without using a spatula.

I plan to quickly get that talent back because (1) it’s fun (b) it’s a time saver (iii) it’s completely awesome and impressive and (four) come on, it’s just plain fun!

Of course, flipping food doesn’t work for things like scrambled eggs…but the spatulas would feel so lonely if they never got used and so, for those I still pull out the proper job.

In short, I am loving my new pans! I’m just wondering, anyone else have the flip and egg talent? What’s your favorite thing to cook for dinner?

I love what I do

2010-11-15T20:08:00.001-08:00

I love my job.

I love what I do.

I love that on my way to my office every morning I am hit with no less than 3 toddler hugs.

I love that all morning, as I sit at my desk, sounds of childhood laughter float up through my windows and doors.

I love that as I walk around my department, I am greeted with more hugs, meaningful smiles, and opportunities to take a trip on a train, have a meal of cookies and coffee (I don’t drink coffee and it’s the most delicious coffee ever) and dance with a beanbag between my knees…all in the span of 1 minutes.

I come home from work and wonder, “How in the heck does the rest of the world do it? How do they enjoy their jobs even in the slightest little bit without all of this”

No more

2010-11-14T21:43:00.001-08:00

Those eight bears up there are the last thing she made. (The bear on the end at the top, number 9, that was made for her and started the teddy bear making). My grandma made teddy bears out of clothes of people who had passed away. A way for families to have something tangible to hold onto from a loved one.

I think it’s symbiotic that this is the last she made. Eight bears for a family.

However, it was a bit bitter sweet as I watched the lady walk out with them today…the last thing she made, and not one of us gets to keep it. I’m sure there is a reason for that. There are so many things that we all have gotten in our life made by her hands. What’s one more?

She didn’t know it would be her last. There was nothing more special to her in these…but to me?

I just wanted that lady to say, “I know your pain, why don’t you just keep them.”

But that wouldn’t be fair to her and her family who are morning a loss in their family. It’s okay…it was meant to be…I’m not sure why, but it was. I’ll understand in time.

There will be no more things made by her hands.

There will be no more chocolate chip cookies.

There will be no more prom dresses.

There will be no more quilts.

There will be no more needles, left in some fold somewhere, that she forget to take out…oh she hated that she did that, but it was an unknown trademark of hers. I loved that about her.

And now…we move forward, remembering her, honoring her, and relishing in every memory that we have; and yes, we may need to cry a bit for those memories we won’t be able to make…but oh, to focus on those memories!

I still am in awe at how blessed I was these last two years. I made sure to make the most of every one of those moments I spent with her. I knew it was inevitable how it would end…and I made sure to make the most of each moment I had…I thank God for that opportunity and the knowledge He gave me in knowing that I needed to cherish every moment with her.

The Best Two Years

2010-11-13T21:17:00.001-08:00

Those knitted squares are for a baby blanket. A baby blanket lovingly knitted by my Grandma. They are sitting right now waiting for her to learn how to crochet so she can sew them together. They are for a baby who hasn’t yet been created. A baby that is a dream in my mind for now. A baby that will never meet the person who so lovingly knitted these squares.

These knitted squares will be lovingly sewn together by someone else now.

This fabulous woman and I have had two years together that I thank God for. For the past two years, I have spent nearly every Tuesday night with having dinner, talking, laughing, and just being together. Until August when I got laid off.

I thank God for August because, had I not been laid off, I would never have been able to have full days of adventures with her.

My Grandma passed away Friday night. It was completely unexpected.

She had been in and out of the hospital so many times in the last year for so many more serious things. I fed her ice chips as she slowly regained consciousness from a very long and extended coma.

I wasn’t sure then if she would be leaving us then…she didn’t.

She stuck around for so much longer…this time, she was admitted for just a routine treatment…I stopped by with my mom Thursday night to see her and she was supposed to come home today…she looked great and, she should have, there really wasn’t anything to be concerned about.

I was shocked when I got a call Friday night, just 24 hours after I had last seen her…joked with her…telling me that she was gone.

What? How can she be gone? I’m not ready this time. I was ready the last time…not this time.

But I am so thankful for the last two years. I know she was, too. Her and I? We had so much fun together. We went to the fair and had her first every funnel cake! Her first! EVER! She loved it!

I loved being the one to be there with her and she it with her. I loved spending the day walking the fair with her. We had a blast!

She was always a hands-on grandma…she was a great grandma…and a great-grandma who was great! Always ready for a good time and a good playing around.

She got me…she really and truly got me and appreciated me and laughed at all my jokes…even the ones that no one else got.

I could tease her and she took it; never got mad or upset, she just smiled and laughed. Oh, and she would tease back.

We had our routines on Tuesday nights. I’d knock on the door and she’d tell me I don’t have to knock…I know, I just do! She’d had dinner ready and waiting. I’d get out the TV trays and set them up, she’d get the dinner served.

We’d sit, eat, talk, and just be together.

Then we’d do dishes together…she’d wash, I’d dry.

I’d fix something on her computer, she’d show me the newest bear she was sewing for someone who had lost a family member through hospice, she’d show me the latest doll clothes she was making for the great-grandchildren, we’d talk, look at pictures, and laugh.

Then, at 7, she’d turn on Judge Judy. Oh we had so much fun laughing at the fools on that show. I’ll never watch the show the same ever again. Sometime during that time, my aunt would call…she’d always forget it was Tuesday until Grandma answered then, remembering, she’d quickly get off the phone and we’d continue laughing.

At 7:56, Judge Judy would be over and I’d leave…usually with something that I didn’t come with (oranges,leftovers from dinner, the occasional kitchen gadget that she had replaced with something new for herself).

We called her Mama…well, most of us…that’s who she was. I don’t know when, but sometime in High School I started calling her grandma…I wanted to be different. I wanted her to know it was me no matter what.

A while back, when The Husband and I were there for dinner, as we were leaving he called her Grandma…she stopped him and told him she was Mama…I had/have to smile because she never corrected me and commented on it as well. She let me be different…she got it!

I thank God that I got laid off. I got to take her to Coronado for the day.

She hadn’t been there since she was pregnant with her youngest daughter.

I got to go with her to Barona, go to the movies, have lunch at her favorite restaurant, and go to the fair (although that was before I got laid off, but it was in that same time frame.

I am so glad for all the memories I have with her. She was there with me when I went to my first Homecoming. She made all but one of my dresses for all my high school dances.

She was a sewer, a knitter, a crafter, and just so talented. She came to my dance recitals, loved to watch ice skating, and loved to watch Dancing with the Stars. I have great memories of her to take me through the rest of my life…

It’s not those memories that make me sad that she’s not here…it’s the ones that she won’t be here for. I’m sad because she won’t be there to see my babies wrapped in the blanket that she lovingly knitted for them. I’m going to miss that…

She was a GREAT Grandma…and I am blessed that I got to make so many memories with her.

Merry Christmas!

2010-11-11T20:40:00.001-08:00

Last year for Christmas my parents bought me an awesome set of pots and pans that I was so excited about…they are a set of cookware that I should have been able to use for the rest of my life with no problem.

The problem? Well, it’s a long story but in a nutshell, everything sticks to them, they are a less quality product than the typical for that company, and the only thing they will do is exchange them for THE EXACT SAME SET which has a 100% probability that I will have the same problem with them…so we will be returning them and, in the mean time, they were very kind and generous enough to get me this years present early…a Rachel Ray set of adonized pots and pans.

I have to say, this is the only thing in my kitchen allowed to NOT have a red theme…they are orange…they don’t come in red.

THESE pots and pans got all 4 and 5 star reviews (and there are more than 230) on amazon and the set that had 4 more items in it had only two 3 star reviews and those were: (1) They do what they say they do; and (2) I bought these used and a piece came to me broken and doesn’t work properly

So, I figure with (1) that unless these things cooked by themselves, which would be MORE than what the product says it does, then in that person’s view, there is no reason to give more than an “average” score.

I take into consideration that the person bought these USED…and probably the person before her (actually obviously as a piece was broken) didn’t use them properly and could be why they don’t work well for her; plus in her review she indicated that the rest of the set works perfectly!

My husband’s cousin also has a set and she loves them!

Lastly, although Rachel Ray is not my favorite tv personality, I do know that the quality of what her name is put onto is very important to her and everything I’ve heard, these pots and pans stand true to that.

So, although I have not yet cooked with them (I mean, come on, it wasn’t until after 7:30 tonight that I got home and I am so not going to make something this late…I mean, I have to weigh in tomorrow morning.

However, tomorrow night? I am so breaking in these new pots and pans.

Anyone have this set? What do you think of them? Ever got a set of cookware that was supposed to be great and ended up sorely disappointed?

There’s a stripper in our house

2010-11-10T20:14:00.001-08:00

No, not me…I would never be a stripper; I just couldn’t do that. I’d end up way too embarrassed.

It’s not my husband either.

Nope, the stripper in our house is that guy pictured above…can you see it?

Every once in a while we’ll look over at him and he’ll be ashy in color…not as bright as usual. If you look away too quickly (meaning the next day while we are at work or as we sleep in the night) he suddenly brightens up again.

Oh, we know why, we just rarely get to witness the in-between stage because it goes quickly…and there is no evidence behind.

Here’s what I’ve learned about Geckos in owning and taking care of one: they shed their skin (as most reptiles do) but the Geckos actually EAT their skin! There is nothing left behind.

The Husband was disappointed that he didn’t get to keep the skin to take to work and show the kids; but I am glad that’s just one less thing that I need to clean up after!

He actually eats it right off of himself! It’s kind of cool to watch. I’ve read that no one really knows for sure about why they do this, but there is a theory that it is for nutritional purposes. Who cares? It’s fun to watch!

The last time we went through this process I didn’t see the beginning or middle of the process, I just saw him with his foot in his mouth and really began to worry because it seemed like he was pulling on his toes…like REALLY worried! Like “Do we need to take him to a vet” worried…until I got closer (like right in front of his tank), then a sigh of relief as I saw just the last bits of skin between his toes.

Although, there again I had to worry a bit because Geckos have lost toes in the skinning process if they don’t get it all off the old skin can cut of circulation to the toes…not to worry, Zach still has all his toes!

He also is nice and bright again! You can leave your dollars in his cage if you want…he doesn’t have a string bikini to slide them into. Heck, he’ll even dance on his back feet for you if you open the top of his cage!

Earning what you get

2010-11-09T19:46:00.001-08:00

I had a light bulb moment the other day. You know, a moment when I thought, “Yes! Exactly! Next time someone tries to argue that point with me, I now know what I’m going to say!”

I have long been arguing against giving high school diplomas to those who don’t deserve it. What I mean is, there are some people because they are “special” or “challenged” or just not able to do the work who get to graduate and get a diploma because “they did their best”.

I think this is completely wrong! I think that if you get a high school diploma you must EARN it! Now, I got in a animated discussion one time over this because it came up about a student who had been very ill for her senior year. While she made every attempt at completing her courses, she ended the year more than a full semester behind in her work. This was NOT something that she would catch up in just a summer…it was going to be something that she would basically have to repeat her senior year.

Because of her health, they graduated her anyway…not even an honorary walk until you finish the work…nope, just here’s your diploma.

Here’s my problem with that…YOU DIDN’T EARN IT!!!

Yes, my heart goes out to the horrible circumstances. I feel for those people who just don’t have it to earn that degree. I do! But don’t cheapen my degree by handing it out to just anyone!

So, my ah-ha, light bulb, moment? I was making a copy of my CPR/1st aid card for work. Could you imagine if they gave those out just because a person showed up? I mean, seriously? If you can’t show that you have learned the proper techniques, you don’t get a card.

Could you imagine if they just handed it out because “well, you tried your hardest.”?

How about the medical degree? The good old doctor you are trusting your life to…well, he gave it his best shot so we gave him the degree anyway.

Sure, a high school degree is in no way up there with a medical degree…but handing it out like Halloween candy, where you just have to show up and stick out your hand, just cheapens all the hard work that everyone else puts into it. It makes that degree worthless…

Some people just aren’t meant to accomplish some things.

I watched a client the other day celebrate HUGE because she passed her GED. She worked her a** off studying, doing the work, and passing that test on her own merit. It took her years to do it and I would never take that moment away from her…but what would happen if we handed that out left and right, it would never have been such a big deal.

No, it’s about time that we stop handing things out that should be EARNED…you should have to EARN it!

No Beauty

2010-11-08T20:18:00.001-08:00

That face my be no beauty, but he has captured my love…I’m not kidding!

How can you not love a face like that? Substrate all over his nose from digging in a whole…look of admiration on his face because he knows that my presence just might mean food…and you should see the excitement when we open the top to drop in some crickets!

Okay, so he loves us for our food…but I love him because he is adorable!

THAT is a face that doesn’t call for immediate love…but it is a face you grow to love.

Plus, it’s just fascinating to watch him and to study every little detail. The shape of his face, the way the light comes through in the bright sun, the way the hands move as he climbs…I could stare at him for hours!

I never thought I would be a reptile lover; but this guy has changed me.

Oh, I don’t love ALL the reptiles, but geckos? And probably other small lizards as well.

You can keep your snakes and large lizards…and although I appreciate turtles, I’ll leave them to my BFF…but Geckos are awesome!

Go ahead, tell me how cute that face is!

Aaaaaaannnnnnnd GO!

2010-11-07T18:29:00.001-08:00

That’s what I feel like is about to happen to the end of the year. Does it feel like it’s is no longer creeping up but quickly coming to a slamming stop?

No, really, that’s what I feel like. I mean, do you realize it is already November 7th?!?

Usually by this time I have my Christmas cards ready to go…well, at least the list of cards I’m sending is ready and the cards are signed and probably addressed; then it’s just a matter of writing a personal note in each one.

What?

Oh yes, I do HAND WRITE a personal message in each and every card I send…I hate those printed letters, not everyone cares about everything! Every message I write is completely different than the next because different people have different roles in our lives and not everyone wants a details account of every move we made this year!

I have to order my Thanksgiving box by Friday! That’s insane! (I ordered it last year and loved it, it has a large turkey, fresh green beans, sweet potatoes, and all the other things you need to make a good dinner…it makes a HEALTHY dinner and not too much but the perfect amount all for less than $40! It even has a pumpkin pie in it!)

Things are somewhat calm at work, but I know for a fact that starting gun is about to go off any minute now! I mean, I work in a homeless shelter where people LOVE to donate things and events…to children…did I mention I run the children’s program? Yeah…it’s going to be a busy time…but good!

I can feel it coming up very quickly…do you feel it?

Count Down

2010-11-06T22:40:00.001-07:00

Guess what I did today?

Not enough of a clue? How about this:

My MIL and I had a Harry Potter movie marathon…we made it through 4 movies and will watch the last two next Saturday.

Which really works out well because then we go the following week (the day before the movie is available to the public) to see the new one. SO EXCITED!

Have I mentioned that I have read these books more than 5 times each? I meant to get them read through before the new movie came out again, but that just didn’t happen. It snuck up on me way too fast and there is no way that I can read them all that quickly. I may pull out the last one just because that’s the movie that’s coming out…but no promises.

Now I’m really tired and going to bed…more tomorrow.

My Day

2010-11-05T20:48:00.001-07:00

5:30 alarm goes off

5:45 get up, find weigh in clothes and get dressed; pack work clothes in a bag

6:00 go downstairs, pack bag for snacks, and head out the door

6:20 get to Weight Watchers, weigh in, change clothes to work clothes in the bathroom

6:30 wait for meeting to actually start and eat a breakfast bar and drink my milk for the day

7:00 leave meeting to go to work

7:20 arrive at work and park (it only takes a long time because the spaces are so SMALL and it takes time and patience to park without ruining the paint job on my car

7:30 head up to the center and stop to play with the kids for a bit

7:45 get to office and check emails

8:00 work, what else would I do? Lots of paperwork this time of year

9:30 meet with staff member who works for me and discuss plans to change and improve program

10:30 get Excursion keys to go shopping for the center

10:45 arrive at Home Office to pick up credit cards will need to shop for the day…realize that I really don’t like driving the Excursion in places that I’m going to have to park in small spaces…

11:15 arrive at first shopping location…a teacher’s toy store…no really, it’s a preschool/teacher supply store. I could spend hours in there…oh, yeah, I DID…see

12:50 finish shopping AND checking out. Let me tell you, this store? NOT that big! I had a LOT of things to purchase…nearly $1,000 worth! No, really…glad it’s not actually my money…but it wasn’t wasteful spending, that’s for sure…all necessary items…I don’t buy it unless it’s necessary. When our program triples next year I’m afraid of what the spending will look like…or what my shopping days will look like! YIKES!

1:00 finish loading the Excursion with shopping, get in car and realize it’s ONE O’CLOCK and I still have to stop at WalMart and I am supposed to be in a meeting at 2!!! SO not happening…call up the other meeting people and ask to push the time to 2:30 if possible

1:10 hang up the phone and wonder how in the heck I think I’ll be able to get back in time for the now 2:30 meeting and figure I better step on it…realize the Excursion? Not much for stepping on it…

1:20 arrive at WalMart for my super-speed shopping trip. Realize that somewhere between the toy shopping and WalMart I have LOST MY PEN! Quickly tear the vehicle apart to find a pen and there is NONE to be found! Crud, now I have a HUGE shopping list and no pen to mark things off and I want to go turbo speed…this should be interesting…

1:50 get in line at the shortest line and quickly realize I am in the S L O W E S T checker’s line…kid you not! Plus my order is never simple because of payment on a company account and all that…ugh!

2:00 load up the Excursion with all the WalMart things

2:10 arrive at Home Office to drop off the credit cards

2:20 arrive at the center and, after assuring that car is super locked, leave all the new things locked away and run up to my office for a meeting that I’m hosting…note, it takes about 10 minutes to get from the garage to my office…

2:28 Scarf down an apple from my refrigerator and chug a bottle of water

2:30 Meeting

3:30 meeting ends, get the cart and take it down to the garage to load it up with all the supplies I just bought

4:00 get supplies to an empty classroom, realize that it will quickly be used so I better work fast and begin sorting all the supplies according to classroom and program

4:30 deliver items to different classrooms and programs

4:40 Heading home! Call the husband with the idea of “hey honey, why don’t I pick up a boring, not that great, pizza for $5 because I’m too tired to cook right now and I am STARVING”…he doesn’t answer

4:42 Husband calls back and before I say anything, says, “Hey I was thinking of asking N to meet us at Bollweivel for dinner, what do you think?” (or something to that affect)…my response? “OMG I love you so much because I am so not cooking tonight and that is so much better than $5 pizza!” (That was almost word for word what I said…or how it sounded in my head, I may have been too weak to actually get the words out…did you notice no food all day except for the breakfast snack and the apple I scarffed down?)

5:00 arrive home, change and sit and relax for a bit

5:30 go to dinner

7:00 home…relaxing…ah, the weekend!

Now, I sit here blogging my day because that’s what I got for you! It was a long exhausting day! I scheduled myself for 2 hours of shopping…it took 4! Next time I’m still planning on 2 or less. Why? Because I found out the supply place I shopped at will let me fax my order in the day before and they’ll get it all together for me…all I have to do is pick it up…no charge!

Second, I saw that I can order WalMart on line and have it shipped to the local store for no shipping cost…I can on line order and just pick it up and pay for it!

Shopping is going to get so easy for me now! LOVE IT!

So, how was your day?

Head in the Clouds

2010-11-04T19:27:00.001-07:00

Last month, for my 365 project, I chose the sky to be the theme and took a picture of the sky every single day…now? I can’t help but keep looking at the sky and continue taking picture.

This morning when I walked outside to go to work, I had to stop and look at the scene…it was a gorgeous pink sky this morning. This picture above does NOT do it justice! It was so beautiful!

I find myself constantly staring at the sky in amazement at it’s beauty, it’s every changing, and just wonder about the clouds that are up there.

Yep, last month caused me to keep my head in the clouds!

What’s your favorite sky? Cloudy, clear blue, stormy, what?

We…Are…Screwed!

2010-11-03T19:21:00.001-07:00

Yep, we are screwed in California. It seems that the rest of this country figured out that in order to get this country back on track is to elect those who are going to get the job done…but here in California? Nope! We haven’t figured that out yet.

We think that things are going to be better by having the legislature be able to pass the budget with a SIMPLE MAJORITY!!! You know that every year there has been a budget impasse it’s because we have a few strong members refuse to pass the budget because of the need to raise our taxes and fees…if we had a simple majority those years, we would be paying even more in taxes than we are now!

Did you know that we are the highest taxed state?

Did you know that we are the top 10 money given to schools and THE LOWEST performing schools in the country? How backwards is that?

Why? Because they don’t need more MONEY…they need the money to actually make it into the classrooms and not in spending BILLIONS of dollars on building the school…that includes MILLION DOLLAR SCULPTURES at the front of the school.

Seriously! There are schools that have wasted millions of dollars on sculptures, then have the audacity to tell us they don’t get enough money…maybe if they spend that money on BOOKS and LEARNING MATERIAL!

Did you know that children are supposed to be provided with EVERYTHING they NEED to learn. This includes pencils, paper, books, pens, etc… Why do families need to shop for school supplies every year? Because the money gets misspent and there is not enough money for pencils!

Really, they know that parents will buy them, people will donate them, so why waste money on that when the administrators can have three secretaries and send the teachers on $10,000 trips to Hawaii! (kid you not, and once they were called out on it, suddenly the trip was cancelled…fishy?)

Did you know that people with the EBT card that replaced food stamps can actually use those cards IN VEGAS…AT CASINOS?!?!

All this has been going on with my tax money…that will go on until Californians finally get smart…

WE…ARE….SO….SCREWED!!!

The Lesser of Two Evils…

2010-11-02T19:38:00.001-07:00

…is still evil, right?

Today, as many of you know, was election day. I proudly took part in my right at a citizen…as a proud citizen of this country, I get to take part in the true American process…if you want to participate, become a citizen!

This election, however, was a difficult one for me. We had a horrible choice of who to choose for Governor. We had a choice between a person who, years ago, was Governor and failed miserably and wants to do it all over again…then the other side was a person who is totally full of herself and I don’t believe a word out of her mouth and think that she would just run this state further into the ground.

I looked at the other parties to see if I could support one of them…NOPE!

Then there was the pressure…if you don’t want choice A, you HAVE to vote choice B because B is the lesser of the two evils and we absolutely do NOT want A and then you’ll at least prevent one of the evils.

I have fallen for that line of logic before and we ended up with the Governator…good old Arnold…who has completely contributed further to ruining this fine sate…choice B totally reminded me of him…I already tried that vote and I so wasn’t happy with it last time.

This time, I said I just couldn’t go through with it. I just couldn’t put a mark next to the candidate that was the “lesser of two evils” because they are both evil choices! I just couldn’t in good conscience put a mark next to either of them.

Fast forward to this morning at 7am, there I am, standing at a cardboard pedestal with my ballot in front of me, a black marker in my left hand, and a decision to make…will I make that mark?

Hm, still not completely sure…I’ll come back to that one. I went through all the other offices, went through the judges, went through the propositions, and every one of those marks were VERY easy for me to make…back to number 1…Governor…

My hand hovered…I took a deep breath…I closed the pen, put my ballot in the protective covering, and walked it up to the box…with no mark for Governor…the lesser of two evils?

How do I choose between the lesser of two evils when they are both equally evil? I don’t trust one to think in our best interest as he has proved in the past to be a horrible choice…I don’t trust the other because I can’t believe a word that comes out of her mouth…I don’t like where either of them stand on any of the important issues…

I can’t choose between those two evils…can we have a do over and pick two different candidates for Governor? I’m just saying…

(note: I don’t mean evil in the horribly strong sense of the word, I only mean evil in the spirit of the phrase “the lesser of two evils”…I do not in any way that either of them are actually evil, I just think that neither one of them is the right choice for my state).

Scare Tactics

2010-11-01T18:42:00.001-07:00

Or otherwise titled, “Why I am voting yes on Prop 19”

If you live in California, you know what Prop 19 is about.

If you don’t live in California, you may know what Prop 19 is about.

If you don’t know what Prop 19 is about, let me enlighten you…Prop 19 will make marijuana legal under California state law.

Now, it won’t be legal under Federal law, which will cause all sorts of other problems; however, that’s besides the issue.

Let’s talk scare tactics. There is a commercial that claim you’ll go to the hospital and have a nurse who is high, nothing will stop the airline pilot from flying high, and all sorts of horrible things…

Yeah, because we can all drink and go to work, too, right? NOT!!!

It is the weakest argument against this proposition. Along with the scare tactics of “what about the children?!?!” Well, there are regulations that say children aren’t supposed to drink until 21; guess what? Same regulation with marijuana.

However, these week arguments are NOT the reasons I am voting yes on prop 19.

I am voting yes for many reasons, right up there are my constitutional rights to freedom. I should be allowed to choose what to do with my body. Of course, I don’t expect to be able to go to work high; but if I want to smoke a joint in the privacy of my home (or my friends’ home) that’s my right.

Just as I can smoke cigarettes (way worse on the addiction factor) and drink a beer (WAY worse than either of those two), what I do personally is my business. Of COURSE there are regulations that I can’t infringe on the safety and lives of others!!!

Let me make it real clear…I have NEVER smoke pot, nor do I ever plan on it. Nope, not even in high school. I was (a) too much of a dork and (2) too scared anyway.

The other reason I am voting yes? Because what will the drug lords do now if we take their business away? If I can buy my pot for significantly less money from the store, why am I going to go to my dealer? Nope, just go down to my local liquor store!

I’m not naive enough to not know that there will always be SOME thing that they will do, but let’s take the ammunition away a bit, shall we?

And really? By making it illegal, has it stopped anyone from smoking it now? Nope, now you just need a “doctor’s note” (which can easily be gotten, it’s a whole other business now) and you got your pot and free license to smoke it all you want.

Am I going to let me kids smoke pot? NOPE! But I’m also not going to let the drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes either!

It’s time that we be allowed our constitutional rights to make our own mistakes in life. It’s time to win this “war on drugs” that we are completely losing. It’s time to try a different tactic.

I’m voting yes on prop 19 because I am intelligent enough to NOT fall for the scare tactics that some doctor is going to perform a medical procedure on me while high…yes, they seriously out right say that on the ads!

Give it a go

2010-10-30T17:09:00.001-07:00

Okay, I’ve done it…I’ve signed up for NaBloPoMo again this year. Part of me think, “Really? Seriously? Why are you going for it when there is every likelihood you will NOT finish this year?”

The other part of me thinks, “Yeah, well, maybe this will be what you need to get back on track with everything.”

Either way, I am doing it again…call me crazy! Goodness knows I’m calling myself crazy!

So, are you in? Come on, you know you want to!

Oh, I started a group called the “Repeaters”, too for those of us who have done this more than once…come join me!

Lessons Learned

2010-10-27T19:52:00.001-07:00

I may be getting familiar with the new job and getting into the swing of things; but I am still at the point that I am definitely learning something new everyday. There is so much to learn, that I get the idea that I’ll pretty much learn something new everyday for the next year and might still have more to learn.

There is nothing that horrible that I have had to learn the hard way; just lots of lessons learned.

Some of those lessons also involve creating some change for the department I run because of need. MOST of my changes has been well received by EVERYONE…a FEW of my changes have been well received by everyone but one…I’m actually surprised it’s not more than one, but I am so glad to have the support of everyone there.

Typically, when a new supervisor comes in, there tends to be a pretty high turnover of staff; so far, no one has gone running away and I can pretty much only see one person who may decide that she wants to move on; but I don’t think even she will do that…good news for me!

Oh, and my new job? I still absolutely LOVE it! It keeps me busy, I have many long days, have a few long nights, but I love it. I love what we do, I love what I do, I am enjoying the people who work for me, I am enjoying working with the others in different departments and everything. This is definitely a place I will be at for quite some time.

Do you love your job? How long does it REALLY take you to learn all the nuances of a new job?

The Other Side

2010-10-25T19:17:00.001-07:00

At my last job I was the Program Trainer. My job, well a large part of it, was to train every single new employee that came into the agency. EVERY single one, no matter what department…preschool or somewhere else.

Orientation day (we called it Basic Training) lasted a FULL day! 8 hours…me talking…I imagine it wasn’t very fun on the other side of the table; but I did try and keep it somewhat entertaining. We laughed, told stories, I made sure there was a pretty good exchange of conversation…although, going through the employee handbook for 8 hours…in one room…all day…can make for a long day.

If I were still there, Basic Training would have grown to TWO days because there was just so much more information that I needed to get through. Plus, I was going to break it up with some afternoon on-site activities to break up the monotony.

Last month, I spent a WEEK in orientation at my new job. A WEEK! Now, they were kind enough to break it up with different people for different segments. During that time, especially the first day as that was the most mundane of the information (employee handbook, etc…) I kept thinking, “THIS is what everyone must have felt like during my trainings…man I hope I was more entertaining than this…”

I was on the other side…I know what it’s like.

Today, I jumped back to the other side. I had a segment in Orientation training for new employees. It was only an hour, but it’s good to be back on the other side…and I definitely was more entertaining!

Have you ever had a week long orientation? Have you ever had to give orientation? How do you keep it entertaining?

Participation

2010-10-24T17:53:00.001-07:00

I’ve been contemplating the past few days whether I am going to participate in NaBloPoMo November of this year. It would be my third year, but I don’t know if I have it in me this year.

I mean, look at how spotty my posts have been lately…then again, maybe it would get me back into writing every day…I’m not sure.

I may participate in the one-post-a-day-but-on-different-blogs-each-day kind of way. Still not sure.

I am, however, going to continue to participate in the 365 project with one picture a day. I am really enjoying this project. Go check out my page of pictures.

Like I said before, I’m going to pick a theme every month. This month has been the sky. I have REALLY enjoyed this month so far. The sky has been absolutely amazing!

So far, here are the themes that I have coming up:

October: Sky

November: Food

December: Lights

January: Self-Portrait

February: Red

March: Black and White

April:

May:

June:

July: Sky

August:

September:

So far that’s what I have. The blanks…well, I’m not sure what the themes will be. Any ideas?

Anyone want to participate with me? I’ll be sure to link you up if you want.

So, are you going to participate in NaBloPoMo this year?

Do you floss everyday?

2010-10-24T17:26:00.001-07:00

No?

How about after every meal?

No?

I have a confession to make…me neither.

However, I was given an opportunity to try out a new product: Brytonpick

I was immediately intrigued when it first came because of it’s size, shape, and reusability.

I mean, seriously, who needs extra trash around, right?

This is a perfect size and comes in a little credit card sized pouch. It seriously can be kept in a wallet (I tried it out…it works). It is THAT small.

Let’s say you are out and about on a date, out with friends, whatever and you are eating spinach or some other food that is notorious at getting stuck between your teeth…simple take this out (I would do it in the bathroom because, really, who wants you to pick your teeth at the table) and then simply wipe it off, rinse it if you like, put it back in the pouch and you’re on your way!

They say that this is good for 30 days, and possibly more. It is definitely durable enough.

It is a bit funky to get used to as the ends are a thin metal and, sliding them between your teeth? Kind of like nails on a chalkboard at first…but totally adjustable.

I don’t know that I would use this to replace floss everyday…it seems like a better tooth picker than a tooth cleaner; but it is definitely something that I will be keeping in my wallet!

I also think that this will last much longer than the 30 days they claim as I have already been using it for about 3 weeks and it is still going strong!

(note: I was provided this product to write a review. All opinions in this review are completely mine. I did like this product and would use it occasionally. I was not paid in any way for writing this review)

This Product Was a Free Giveaway

Are you Ready?

2010-10-18T03:00:00.000-07:00

I mean, for another of my rants…are you ready? Here is comes:

You all know by now that I am a preschool teacher. I mean, sure, now I am a Program Manager for a Children’s Program, but it has everything to do with preschool teaching.

I became a preschool teacher for one reason: It’s what I was called to do.

Could I have been anything else? Well, maybe not anything, but I could have been whatever I wanted. I toyed around with computer science, considered architect even at one point, and have always thought that it would be fun to go to culinary school.

However, I was CALLED to be a teacher. Not just any teacher. I thought I was going to teach elementary school…but my last year in college, I discovered that’s not at all what I was supposed to do. I spent a week in a third grade classroom doing activities, teaching the students, kind of a mini student teaching week.

I enjoyed it and I had a good time…but at the end of that week, I knew 100% without a doubt that I was meant to be with the little ones. I could have taught any age group, I really could have. However, I am meant to make a difference with the preschoolers.

That being said, I have always seen teaching as a vocation. Over here I posted an email that’s been around (and you’ve probably seen it) about the rules for teachers in 1915…you should go read it…and then come back because that is what this rant is about.

Do you see all those things that a teacher is supposed to do? Why? Because teachers are adored and admired by their students. Teachers are held in a higher regard and they MUST be an example to their students!

Are teachers today that example? I don’t think so. Now, not ALL teachers, but isn’t it always the few that make it bad for the rest?

We have teachers sleeping with their students. Pregnant teachers who aren’t married and some not even in a committed relationship.

Sure, there is an argument to be said that it’s their personal life and it shouldn’t matter…but it does matter. They are set to a higher standard and unless you are ready to live that higher standard, then you are not ready to take on this vocation.

Sweeping the floors? Scrubbing the floors? When do you think the last time a teacher did that was? Or even cleaned up after a child got sick?

I can say that the preschool teachers do sweep, mop, and clean up the vomit.

Teachers used to be held to a higher standard and weren’t paid nearly enough. Teachers now are paid much more and are held to a much lower standard…where have we gone wrong?

I’d be willing to give them more of my tax money if they went back to the higher standard…right now? Not so much.

(Please note that I admire teachers who are truly doing this as their calling and I don’t think if we paid them a million dollars that it would be enough…however, politics has ruined so many of them and I would love those teachers to take a look inside and think about why they really do what they do. It’s not about the money…just remember that)

What’s Up?

2010-10-17T18:19:00.001-07:00

Okay, I know I’ve been away and my posting has been spotty. I’m not going to apologize for it one bit.

Why have I been away?

Why won’t I apologize?

Why anything?

Well, I won’t apologize simply because being away has been somewhat of a choice. It’s not that I don’t love blogging, I do; however, I just haven’t been drawn to it like I have in the past. Blogging is a hobby for me and so I am not going to force myself to do it when I don’t feel like it.

I’ve been away for several reasons. A small bit because I haven’t had much to say…well, I probably have a LOT to say (you know, election coming up and all), but not enough to actually put it down in writing.

I’ve also been away because this new job keeps me hopping and busy…but in a good way. I’m not working too many hours…well, except for last week when I was late three out of the five days, but other days I go in at a decent hour, come home at a decent hour, and just comfortably veg out and spend time with The Husband…nothing exciting, just being.

I have, on some level, taken a technology hiatus…well, at least from the computer. My iPhone has been a bit to blame on that. It’s so easy to check email, update facebook, and read everyone’s blogs from there that I find that I don’t have such a need to open the computer. Heck, I can even post my 365 photos from my phone!

So, what’s up? Well, I have settled into a pretty good routine for my new job. I can’t believe I’m going on nearly two months already! In some ways it feels like just a few weeks but in many ways it feels like I’ve been there for a year! I mean, in really getting a handle on the job, I have really gotten into the rhythm.

I have been building and mending bridges with other departments (there had been some damage to them from the person before me) and making changes that have been pretty well received from those I supervise as well as my supervisor.

I am loving my job still! I know that this is where I was meant to be for right now and, had I not been on layoff, I would never have gone this direction…I was happy, well, at least content with where I was. This was not on my radar; any move was not on my radar. Things happen for a reason, and this is the reason for me.

So, what have you been up to?

Head in the Clouds

2010-10-08T03:00:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know I haven’t been around much, and it’s not just because I’ve had my head in the clouds…although I have!

If you haven’t heard, then you are obviously not a facebook follower and should be…but my 365 picture project theme for October is the Sky!

I am really enjoying it! I seriously walk around, drive around, sit at my desk and gaze out the window, and just admire the sky! It is truly amazing how ever changing it is!

I’ve actually had a difficult time choosing WHICH photo to use for the day. Today’s picture is one of the only cloud around at the time. It is just perfectly positioned right about the mountain…totally awesome.

There was one the other day that I had to miss as I was driving 70 miles an hour down the freeway, but everything was overcast except for one little section of a mountain that was literally a golden color where the sun was shining through the clouds…just there, no where else! I really wish I could have gotten that shot!

Anyway, things have been so busy around here. I literally came back from our vacation and hit the ground running…VERY fast! And haven’t had much of a break, even on the weekends.

My new job (which I still absolutely love by the way) keeps me very busy, but in a good way. I am getting to work early, leaving somewhat late (but not too late…well, on most days) and remain busy the entire time.

My weekends? Well, the first weekend back, I went to spend time with my mom and aunt and family up at a campsite. On the way home from there, I got pulled over…for a headlight out…then I quickly discovered I didn’t have my license on me…all I can say is thank God for decent cops. He was totally understanding and totally nice and only gave me a fix it for the light and a ticket that all I have to do is bring my ID into a station and have them sign off on it…or really just find an officer anywhere and have them take care of it…I might speed just so that I can say, here, while you’re writing that one, can you sign off on this one? Okay, I won’t do that, but I thought it was totally cool of him not to harass me.

The next morning, at 4 in the morning, I woke up with MAJOR chest pains. Anyone who knows me knows two things about me:

I have a HIGH pain tolerance
I won’t go to the doctor (no less the hospital) unless I think there is something the doctor can do or I think it’s serious enough

Well, it was serious enough AND painful enough that, had my husband not been in the bathroom, I would have woken him up to take me to the hospital. When he asked about calling 911, I seriously contemplated saying yes to that…that’s how bad it was!

In the end? Not the heart, not a clot, not gall bladder, not anything they could find…so I went home. The pain had subsided about an hour after we got there. I was sore the rest of the day (like my muscles had a good workout) and from where they poked me FIVE TIMES to get a needle in me, but since then I’ve been fine. Don’t know what it was, but it was scary at the time…

The next weekend, I went out with my Grandma for lunch, which I love spending time with her, and the next day I spent replenishing my freezer with all sorts of food items: refried beans, chicken stock, bread, hamburger buns, hot dog buns, and more…ran the dishwasher TWICE!

So, where are we now? Things are still busy, but I like being this busy. I have about 5 reviews waiting for me to get to so you know I’m not going to stay away…I’ll be around, just be patient with me…oh, and keep you heads in the clouds! The sky is an awesome place to gaze!

A Better Review

2010-10-07T19:28:00.001-07:00

I was so excited to get contacted by simplecards.com to do a review on their product.

Why? Well, mostly because I love to send cards and postcards, but mostly because they take a picture of yours and create a fabulous card!

You can choose postcards or greeting cards. And there are many designs to choose from:

fold at the top, fold on the side, full front picture, leave room for a message, different sizes, different shapes, the choices just go on and on!

In addition, for the greeting cards, you can add something on the inside. In other words, it doesn’t have to be blank on the inside. You can choose a poem, a saying, or really whatever you want! it’s like walking into a card store and choosing one right off the shelf…except for this is completely personalized to you and how you want them to be.

I chose mine to look like this:

The picture isn’t very good (lighting and all) but the picture on the card is fabulous! Not just because I took it, but because it is such great quality printing! If I didn’t know it was my own picture, I would think that this was a card somebody bought.

I chose the saying “I’m better because of you” on the front because I think it can be something that I could use for a thank you, birthday, or just because. It really is!

I left the inside blank for the same reason. I want to be able to customize a message for specific things.

This is truly a quality product!

What’s more is the customer service! In the ordering process there was confusion and misunderstanding completely on my part. The issue was completely solved within a week with many emails between me and them to help get everything cleared up.

I can say I was impressed by the quick, thoughtful response.

With the low, reasonable cost, great customer service, and, most of all, the quality of the product, I will definitely be using them again!

(thank you to simplecards.com for providing me with 25 free cards to review for this product; all opinions above are completely my own)

Printable Halloween Party Pack Review

2010-09-28T20:36:00.001-07:00

I was offered a chance to review this product a while back. They have been so patient with me from my vacation time and other slight emergency that came up (more on that later), but let me tell you, I have been so excited to get to this review.

Working with children and teens and coming up with fun, innovative ideas for the holidays can be difficult. Let’s face it, finding innovative ideas in which the family that we get together with during the holidays is also difficult, right? Well, no more!

Python Printable Games has come up with more than 50 solutions for you from matching games to mad libs to charades to so much more!

Upon payment of just $19.95, you will have access to all these printable games with great graphics and great fun!

The mad libs? Well, who doesn’t love mad libs? Where else can a sentence like “Have you ever seen a receptionist on a dark and sunny night” and have it make perfect sense?

The kids? LOVED IT! The adults? LOVED IT! We tried so many of the games and everyone was well received. There are games for people of all aged in this pack; heck, there are even games for those that would rather be watching football as there is an NFL trivia game and others as well!

There will also be a Thanksgiving pack and I can imagine there are more to come!

A great value for what you get for your money, but even more, you get a chance to bond and have fun with family and friends!

This Product Was a Free Giveaway

I’ll be back soon…

2010-09-28T20:14:00.001-07:00

…until then, check over here for an awesome review I did and a possibility of winning a prize!

New Places

2010-09-17T03:00:00.000-07:00

So, we’re in Kansas…well, Kansas/Missouri that is. I have never been to this part of the country.

The weather has been kind to us so far. It’s been fairly decent, not muggy at all, and yesterday it even rained.

We’ve really been taking it kind of easy and just relaxing and not doing much; but yesterday we went to the local comic book store (no, I’m not the geek, The Husband is…plus the cousins and everyone…the cousin is actually a very renowned comic book artist). Anyway, in one way, I am so the odd-man-out because I have no history/connection.desire to be a comic book geek or anything like that.

They did, however, get me to start (and really enjoy) playing Magic. But that’s probably because I usually do fairly well at it and I am a very competitive person by nature (what? you didn’t know that?)

Okay, so we went to the comic book store and I took that picture. Why? Because I think that is exactly what my husband needs in his room. He has so many comic books and this is actually drawers made to fit comic books and they pull out and are awesome. I could totally see these lining his room and really making it a pretty awesome space for him…I might be working on trying to figure out how to get some of these for him…

Driving around here there are so many old and awesome buildings that, no, I haven’t taken picture of yet. I’m pacing myself…acclimating to the environment before I go down that road. I just love all the brick buildings and the houses.

There is nothing really notable in the houses on one hand, but looking at them (especially the older ones) there is a definite “mid-west” feel to them…does that make sense? There is a definite “style” to these homes. I’m really hoping to take an opportunity to just stroll and photo some houses because, although not necessarily anything spectacular, definitely a style for the area.

I wouldn’t see homes and building like this in San Diego…first of all, brick? Yeah, have you ever heard of the earthquakes? Those things that shake the ground? Not so good on the brick buildings.

In college I took a class on Geography and we talked about how different types of homes are built in different areas for different reasons. California homes have one type of roof, more flat and built to keep the sun out. Snowy areas have more slopes, etc…

Of course, then there are the restaurants and things that we just don’t have in our area. Then there are the places we DO have and have their own style.

I love visiting new places just for comparison sake.

Do you like visiting new places? What’s your favorite part?

I’m glad I got laid off…

2010-09-16T03:00:00.000-07:00

No, really! I am! I was telling my husband the other day that exact same thing!

Things happen in life for a reason and often times we don’t know why or what the result will be; but I’m so happy, on this side of things, that I got laid off.

If I hadn’t gotten laid off, I never would have looked for a new job. I truly think that I was meant to be in this position. I am learning so much and I am able to offer so much to the organization; I am glad for this change.

I wasn’t at a place where I would be looking for work.

Now that the new job has started, let me tell you some of the very good things that have fallen into place that are so helpful:

I only work 25 minutes from home (no more than 40 minutes in traffic, but that’s rare). My gas usage has gone WAY down! From my first fill up I worked a WEEK AND A HALF before I needed to fill up again and even then I probably could have gone another day comfortable. Such a HUGE money saver!

I’m making more money (not much, but more) so add the more to the savings in gas! That’s like a HUGE raise!

This job pays every other Friday…last job was bi-monthly (for those that think that means every other week, it doesn’t…it means you get paid TWICE a MONTH…always the same day-for example the 10th and 25th- and sometimes it feels like every other week, but it’s not the same…okay off that soap box). The Husband gets paid every other Friday as well…OPPOSITE FRIDAYS!

You know how nice it is to have a pay check come in EVERY WEEK! I mean, you still have to budget, but it’s so nice to know that money is going to flow in a bit faster.

On top of that, if you’ve ever had an “Every other week” paycheck you know that sometimes you get three checks in a month (typically 2 months a year)…my first 3 paycheck month? OCTOBER!

Add to that, his “3 paycheck months” are DIFFERENT than mine! WHOO HOO!

My new employer is also kind enough to allow me to go into the negative for PTO and earn it back for this trip! NO MONEY LOST! We’re on a roll!

PLUS my old employer, since I gave them my notice, cashed out my PTO and so we have that as well (that was a little more than a week which is what I was saving for this trip anyway).

So, financially, even without a bit of a raise, we are going to be able to catch up and get ahead!

All because I got laid off!

Above all else, everything just FEELS right. Anybody know what I mean? It just feels perfect!

Yes, when the news of the layoff came down, I was a bit stressed and, if you remember, I was a bit stressed even before starting the new job.

I am an optimistic person, so I KNEW things would work out and that, given into God’s hands, things would go the direction they were supposed to go…I’m glad I trusted in Him! I’ve learned through the years to give it up to Him.

Anyway, I just wanted to share all that with everyone…you guys are all so great and so supportive through this time with prayers, comments, and everything; I wanted to share that He did lead me down the right path…most importantly I FOLLOWED HIM! That’s where I went right!

(Note on the picture: This is today’s picture of the day…my husband talking with his nouna (godmother/aunt) when we arrived yesterday…I just loved watching them talking and looking at pictures together)

Today…

2010-09-15T19:36:00.001-07:00

…is my birthday! (Also my sister’s if anyone remembers that story). I’d have to say that this is starting out to be a pretty awesome year already.

I have started a new job that I love more and more every day. The more I learn about this organization, the more I am impressed by everything that they do in order to help people become BETTER…it’s not just a hand out, we are truly working with them so they don’t get into the same situation again.

My husband and I left on a trip this morning to go visit his family. The tickets cost us nothing because, you know, he was teacher of the year…this is from THAT award!

This is our first “real” trip together…aside from our honeymoon. That one we drove, this is our first flying trip together….sitting on the plane together, me at the window, him in the aisle, where we both prefer to be, I can say so far so good! I think we just might travel together again some day! Ha!

We have great things going on in our life together and, I must say, this year is definitely turning out to be a pretty darn good year…and it’s only 9 hours into it!

Oh, WHAT year is it? Hm…let’s go with 20, okay? Hey, if my dad can eternally be 19, I can eternally be 20, right? Anyway, that’s as old as I want to “act”…okay, maybe not.

But how about a guessing game….how old do you all think I am today?

(Note of picture: today’s picture of the day is from our plane window. There was a storm on the one side and the clouds were AWESOME!)

Always and Never

2010-09-11T09:01:00.001-07:00

Always remember what this country went through on this day in 2001

Never forget

Always remember those heroes who, when others ran out, they ran in

Never forget their sacrifice

Always in mind, those who were murdered

Never forgotten those left behind

Always in my thoughts and prayers

Never forgotten

On this day, as American’s, we remember a horrific event that took place on out land. We honor those who gave their lives unwillingly and willingly. We stand together, more united than ever, and say “Never again”

THIS was the first day of the rest of our lives, and I firmly believe that for the majority of us here in this great country, we banded together, no matter our differences, and resolved that this would never happen again

This day doesn’t need to be a holiday, it needs to be a remembrance day, to keep us strong, keep us going, and keep us fighting the good fight!

God Bless America!

And God Bless those that gave (and continue to give) their lives for our freedoms and our security so that we can be safe every day!

Don’t let this day go by as just another day, it’s not, it never will be…I pray that for generations to come, this day is held as Holy

Pictures and Decisions and Changes

2010-09-08T20:44:00.001-07:00

Okay, don’t expect a million pictures just because it mentions pictures in the title; nope, you are getting just this one here.

What is it? Well, I have DECIDED to join the 365 photo project with my iPhone in which I take one picture every day!

So far, I’m two week in and I’m still going! That’s good, right? I’m really going to try and see this one through. I think it’s going to be fun!

Then, as I was thinking about out, I DECIDED that, after this month, I am going to give every month a theme and try and stick to that theme. For example, one month might be FOOD and every day’s picture will involve food in some way.

Sound fun? Anyone want to join me? I might even make another blog dedicated just to it; but then, I thought, nah, I’ll just use my picture of the day at the beginning of the post I write for that day here on this blog.

Changes? Will, those are inevitable, right? Especially when there is a new supervisor at a job, right? It’s to be expected? I’m finding the right balance between making changed and not being THAT person that comes in an upends EVERYTHING they have been doing.

So, changes are coming SLOWLY. I am first addressing one or two things that are safety concerns and huge regulation concerns.

Then, when I get back from my vacation, there might be a few more changes. Trying to go slow, but some things just can’t wait, right?

So, comment love, what decisions have you made lately? Want to join me on my 365 photo journey? Did you ever have a supervisor come in and change everything? Who was your most memorable supervisor and why?

Five Weeks

2010-09-06T20:10:00.001-07:00

This week will be my first FULL week of my new job…nope, wrong again! It’ll be minus one day. Wow! I have to tell you this is a great way to break in a new job:

Week one: Start on WEDNESDAY work 3 full days

Week two: Monday is a holiday, work 4 full days

Week three: Work Monday and Tuesday, leave for vacation for a week

Week four: still vacationing until Wednesday, work 2 full days

Week five: NOW it’s a full week! But it will be spent in New Employee Orientation! So, while still work, not as involved as the other days…although, knowing me, I’ll probably do TWICE the work so I can be in training and then spend more time doing work stuff…eh, it’s okay, I will have gotten to week FIVE before completely stressing myself out, right?

Well, it’s official…

2010-09-04T20:39:00.001-07:00

This man here, in the picture? AMAZING man!

For so many reasons, but most of all because he puts up with me in all that I do and don’t do.

That’s not what’s official, that’s been official for a very long time.

You all know that I have had been on layoff since the last day of July, right? If you don’t, where the heck have you been?

I know that this man knew it would be best for me to cut my losses with my old job during this layoff and, no matter how long it be, find a new job…move on…because, in reality, this layoff could potentially happen every year. Who wants to live with that uncertainty?

Did he nag me to get out there and look for something, anything, just get some money flowing into this home again? Not in the least. Instead, he listened to my insane plans to:

Find a job under-the-table which will supplement my unemployment so that I can go back to my old job when the time comes.

Find a job that I would start and, once the old job reopened, I would just quit the new job.

Find a new job but not tell the old job and then, once I get notice from the old job they were to reopen I would then decide if I was going to go back or not.

It went on and on.

He didn’t nag me once or tell me that every single one of those ideas were insane. Nope, he patiently sat and listened to me…even as I STARTED the new job, he never said a thing, in the negative, about what I was struggling to do…which was to let my old job supervisor know that I wouldn’t be going back.

Thursday, I got an email from my old job supervisor; she actually had sent me a job advertisement because (and I truly believe this of her) she doesn’t want to lose me but she cares about me and knows that this layoff is putting a strain on us…

At that point, I knew that it was time to call her and let her know that I didn’t need that advertisement because I already had something. However, do I call? Do I make a lunch appointment? Do I email (which I would NOT have done because she deserves more than that from me)? And when?

I was going to ask him when I got home Thursday night…but wonderful guy that he is, he knew it was time, and before I could even say anything, just lightly commented, “So, when are you calling her?”

So, yeah, I knew it was time…I called her Friday afternoon after I got off work of my new job…she was sad (said she was going to cry) but was so excited and happy for me as well. She completely understands.

We had a long conversation about this, that, and the other things.

Then, this morning, I emailed all those that I needed to make it official.

So, now it’s official…I’m not going back to the old job…which I really am very okay with; I just feel bad for them, in a completely narcissistic way, that they are losing me. Really, I know that there is so much more I could have contributed to what I was doing there. It’s unfortunate that this whole layoff had to happen because I probably would still be there if not.

It was difficult, but it needed to be done…

What’s the hardest decision you’ve had to make?

Starting High School

2010-09-03T06:58:00.000-07:00

Yeah, no, I'm not starting high school, but it's an analogy that R gave me on Tuesday for Wednesday and BOY WAS SHE RIGHT...sort of...because I think it was HARDER than starting high school!

My first day of high school was a bit nerve wracking but I had little problem finding my classes...maybe that's because I went to a high school that wasn't huge and I knew some of the kids already.

Wednesday? Well this place is HUGE and I know NO ONE there! Well, two days in and I can say that I know 3 people now...I'll get there, I know I will.

Do I know where things are yet? Not in the least. I can find my office and children's service (which is my department so I better be able to find that, right?) and I can find R's office. It's a start!

The hardest part, however, isn't the getting around and getting to know the people; no the most difficult part is putting in line all the information that is innundating me! The first day was just information overload and my brain couldn't catagorize everything because I have no clue how to categorize it!

I met I-don't-know-how-many people in FOUR different buildings (including the fabulous, famous, president of this organization...that was like meeting a celebrity! I'm not much in putting celebrities on a pedastool, but I can tell you I got butterflies meeting this man because he does such great work and I want to be able to help continue his work...he was very nice, by the way). Every person I was introduced to was "so-and-so with such-and-such and you will work with them on this-and-that so you'll interact pretty often."

Yeah all those so-an-sos and such-and-suches were just thrown into my brain pool in a big mush pot...like a big pot of stew! My brain can't think like that...it needs files and compartments!

I always get a headache my first day of any new job...I had a headache on Wednesday night.

Thursday morning, more information got dumped in as I had my first meeting with one of my supervisees. She's in charge of literacy, tutoring, mentoring program. WOW! More stuff thrown into the pot! Yikes! Then, I started pulling things out of the pot and putting them into dishes...or started pulling out papers and putting them in different files...or started taking out trinkets and putting them on shelves...whichever analogy works for you!

Things are starting to fall into place and get organized in my brain. I am getting better at filing information in it's rightful place. I have had two fabulous people who have really been great at answering all my questions.

There are still things that are mixed together in that pot, but it's starting to thin out. It will take a bit of time and I am sure more things will get dumped in there again...but it's coming together.

At least in high school I knew that this was math class and so that got filed here in the brain; and this is english class so that gets filed here; and this is science so that goes here...you get the idea.

So, while the analogy of starting high school worked for the SOCIAL aspect of things...not for the information side of things! But I LOVE IT!

The more I learn about this oranization, the more I am so glad to be working here. There is a true, clearly defined, mission and purpose and they work very hard in meeting that goal for every single person that walks in the front doors. I am enjoying it immensly!

Now the hard part is calling my old work and letting them know that after the layoff I won't be coming back...that's going to be tough!

What is the hardest part, for you, in starting a new job?

How it went down…

2010-08-31T20:40:00.001-07:00

Here’s how my day went down…bear with it all because it ends really well!

4:30 Husband’s Alarm goes off

4:35 Back asleep as he gets ready…dead to the world!

5:15 Wake up and say good bye to the husband

5:30 Get up, go pee (TMI?) and decide that it’s best to just go down and be up because, otherwise, I might miss the all important delivery

5:45 Get breakfast (leftover dinner from last night: lamb and broccoli)

6:00 Read blogs, continue to watch Buffy marathon, and wait!

9:25 FedEx truck pulls up and HONKS HIS HORN (let me tell you, the nature of the next 5+ minutes ended up in a not-so-friendly letter to the company)

9:26 Peek out the window and verify that it was indeed the FedEx truck and the driver was ON HIS CELL PHONE

9:27 Continue waiting for him to come up to the door

9:28 Still waiting

9:29 Still waiting, now getting a bit upset, but maybe he’s talking to his supervisor, right?

9:30 He finally comes up and BANGS on my kitchen SLIDING GLASS DOOR (obviously not the front door dude) and SHOUTS, '”HELLO! ARE YOU EXPECTING A PACKAGE?”

I saunter over and politely say yes.

He sarcastically remarks, “Didn’t you hear me honk the horn?”

Me: Nope (sweet smile)

Him: Initial here (thrusts the computer thing at me)

Me: (signs it and hands it back)

Him: Let me make sure it goes through…it did (walks away)

9:32 RIP THAT SUCKER OPEN! Why? Because it is my transcripts that I had over nighted because the school hasn’t verified my education with the new job…that’s what we’ve been waiting for the last week, I could have started so much earlier, so I got the transcripts sent to me so I could bring in the proof to them

9:32 and 30 seconds text The Husband to let him know IT CAME IT CAME IT CAME!

9:33 call the new job and tell them I have the transcripts in my hand

Her: What day works for you to bring it in? Tomorrow? Later?

Me: I can come in today if you want

Her: Great! What time?

Me: (looks at clock, does a bit of math: shower, dress, blow dry hair –so unprofessional to go in with wet hair – get in car and go, drive there, find parking…) I can be there between 11 and 11:30

Her: Okay, see you then! I’ll let R know (note: R is my new supervisor)

9:35 Turn on shower, open closest and decide on the best outfit for this excursion

9:37 Shower

9:55 Get out, brush hair, remember that I’m going to blow dry it, blow dry hair, get dressed and head downstairs

10:15 Make sure I have everything: Transcripts – CHECK; Driver License – check; ooh, probably need SS card, but don’t know where that is, but birth certificate is also verification of legal status (yes, I live and work here legally…ha!) oooh, take a banana too because it might be awhile and I might get hungry…

10:20 Final check of everything and I’m out the door!

10:50 arrive, but where to park? This particular place doesn’t have a parking garage and street parking is a bear

11:00 FINALLY find a spot that I can fit in, park, and lock up

11:05 Get inside, tell them who I’m there for, they call and I think R came RUNNING out to the front…no really, she is as anxious for me to start as I am!

11:06 Walk back with R to the HR person, E, who has been waiting for my last verification (education) to go through.

11:07 E asks us (me and R) what kind of start date:

Me: I’m available ASAP

E: Okay. (looks at R) What does next week look like?

R: Well (turns to me) by ASAP do you mean this week?

Me: I can start TOMORROW if you want

R: Oh, that sounds so good. T will be so relieved!

Me: Sounds good to me

R: (turns to E) Can we get everything done to start tomorrow?

E: Yes

That’s right! I START TOMORROW! For the next 80 minutes I did the following:

Took a pee test for drugs in the office…well, not in the office, in the bathroom, but still…drug test right there!

Signed a million papers (taxes, legal status, all those things PLUS confidentiality, child abuse reporting, blah, blah, blah! All the typical forms that are necessary

Learned about my benefits

All the typical starting a new job so we have to get all our I’s dotted and T’s crossed kind of stuff

Stopped by R’s office once again and met another person I will be working on as they are building an entire building which I WILL HAVE MAJOR INPUT in deciding where we want sinks, bathrooms, WALLS, and everything on THREE of the floors! Seriously exciting!

R walked me out to my car and talked about how excited SHE was to have me starting and how excited everyone else I have met through these interviews are in getting started working with me. I can’t wait for tomorrow!

By 12:30 I was on my way home and stopped at Target to buy a birthday present for a 4 year old girl who is having a Candy Land themed party this weekend…I chose to go with Strawberry Shortcake figurine thing with a waterslide pool and squirting sunflower…too cute! If I were 4 I would SO want this! Oh, and another little figuring to go with it…got to have at least two, right?

Then, found the PERFECT little card for a girl’s birthday…STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE card that, when you press the button, she SINGS a happy birthday rock kind of song…totally cute! I so want to be 4 again!

Except if I were, then I wouldn’t be starting this totally awesome job tomorrow!

Then, I got home, changed into shorts and a t-shirt and WALKED to the dentist…a new dentist for me…for a cleaning…NO CAVITIES! I am very shocked as it has been a VERY long time since I last went to the dentist…like 10 years! AT LEAST! I know, bad, but I must be doing something right because NOTHING!

Anyway, did I mention that after a MONTH of being out of work I have a new job! WHOO HOO!

So, how was your day?

Digital Photo Keychain

2010-08-29T20:25:00.001-07:00

I have the solution

2010-08-27T10:07:00.001-07:00

I have really bad hearing. Like BAD bad. It’s not that I can’t hear (although I have lost some decibels and can’t here my husband talk in the morning because his voice gets so deep in the morning) it’s that my ears don’t filter sounds so I get overwhelmed with too much noise.

I think it’s why I’ve never been one to go to clubs and loud parties. I can never hear anything or anyone talking.

So, especially now with the air conditioner running and fans going, but pretty much all the times, I watch television with the closed captioning turned on. Otherwise, I just get lost and can’t figure out what is going on in the show or I miss important information.

It’s so bad that when I talk to people on the phone, if they have a fan going, I can’t hear them. Seriously!

I’ve gone to the doctor and there really isn’t much they can do about it since it’s a filtering problem and hearing aides tend to intensify the filtering problem…oh well, I adjust. Drives my husband insane at times, but we deal…with closed captioning.

Which brings me to the solution to a universal problem. You know how everyone is always saying, “I wish there were a font for sarcasm?”

I especially hear this from bloggers…sarcastic bloggers…like me!

Well, I have been watching the Buffy the Vampire Slayer DVD series lately since it’s summer and there pretty much isn’t much of anything good (heck, even anything bad) on right now…I resort to our DVD collection at these times…Buffy won out this time. Drives my husband insane (not Buffy, just my way) because I have a marathon and just watch show after show…he gets tired of the same show more than three times in a row.

Okay, a bit off track, sorry. Anyway, if you’ve never watched Buffy, let me tell you that there is a very sarcastic tone of the characters often when they are talking to each other when they have a bad idea. Well, since I watch with closed captioning I know that the way that they show it was said in a sarcastic tone is simple…they use this: (!)

Seriously! An exclamation point with parentheses around them!

So, I say we all adopt that practice! Anytime we say something sarcastic, just put this (!) at the end of the sentence…work for you?

“yes, Jenni! The world will be jumping on that bandwagon any day now (!)

See how that works? Who’s with me?

Odd Memory

2010-08-25T11:01:00.001-07:00

One of my odd-I-don't-know-why-I-remember-it memories is one of a sleepover I had with my best friend, probably about 5th grade, and, for some reason, we began watching QVC...we got stuck on that channel because of the goofy guy on there who was just absolutely hilarious to watch because, thinking he was totally serious, he was the biggest dork ever!

Awhile back, my husband was showing me clips of Mike Rowe before Dirty Jobs…how does that go along with my memory?

Yeah, I am 99% positive that Mike Rowe WAS that dork we watched and now, as an adult, I am 99% sure that he was a dork back then…but more of an intentional dork than the actual dork we thought we were watching.

You want more of that fun? Check out YouTube and put in Mike Rowe QVC…you’ll laugh till you cry!

Do you remember Mike Rowe from QVC? What’s an odd memory you have?

Effects of ONE decision

2010-08-23T18:46:00.001-07:00

Things have been quiet around here…somewhat. In the every day, on the outside of my head, things have been quiet.

If, however, you were to get inside my head, you might see go running and hide in a hole far far away!

As you all know, I have accepted another job. Don’t get me wrong, I am VERY excited about this!

There are, however, many effects of that one ~~teeny tiny inconsequential~~ decision.

See, that job is the COMPLETE OPPOSITE direction of my other job. I have been living my life in one direction in comparison to where I live right now.

What you need to understand is that, although I live in San Diego, I live on the very outskirts in the east area of San Diego. Often times, no matter where I go, people will say, “You live WAY OUT THERE?!?!”

Even though my new job is only a 25 minute drive, they even said the same thing during one of the interviews! From where we live, you can go south west or north west…but to go both directions in one day? Well, that would be quite the adventure!

Did I paint a good enough picture yet? Let me add to that, to go from where we live to the north west and then want to go to, what would be to our home, south west, would take an additional 30 minutes. It’s not a direct route either way.

So, making this decision for this new job, I am literally going a completely different direction to where I typically go. What does this mean? I’ll tell you:

new weight watchers meeting location (go here to learn my thoughts on that)
possible new doctor location
not in the vicinity of my grandmother’s place (actually, would take me as long from the new work to get there as it would from my home…which is about an hour)

and those are just the BIG ones!

Then there are the other decisions going through my head:

when do I tell my other job, I mean, we are laid off; but when is the proper time
how will I make sure I get to see my grandma as often as I have been (once a week) or is that going to be even possible
how will this affect my weight watchers…this is seriously a huge concern for me right now
if something were to happen with our cars before, we could carpool, now we will be going completely different directions…how will this affect that?

Then, there are just the thoughts:

What will my hours be like, will I be working earlier or later? Will I be able to sleep in or will I have extra time after work (really my preference is the later)?
What changes to my routine will be made?
Will I be able to get a workout in everyday like I used to…oh I would love that!
Will I be less stressed? More stressed? Just the right amount?
What will I wear? Is it going to be feasible (or even appropriate) for me to keep my skirts and “pretty” look or am I going to have to go back to slacks?
Is it reasonable to continue on with my new fashion trend to wear hats? We’re talking classy hats, not baseball caps…have I mentioned I LOVE hats?
What about…
What about…
Will I…

It just goes on an on!

I know that change is rough for some. I, however, have always embraced change…this time, though, seems to be driving me a bit crazy! Maybe it’s because I have had all this down time and am anxious about getting started; however, my mind just keeps racing.

Some of these decisions will be easy; others (like the WW meetings) will be tougher. What are some changes/decisions you made that have effected more change in your life?

The Luckiest

2010-08-21T15:05:00.001-07:00

I spent the day yesterday with a Coronado adventure.

Since I am not working right now and not getting up to my Grandma’s area, I have been making day time adventures for us. Last week we went to the movies.

This week, I was getting ready to call and see if she wanted to do something on Friday when my mom called and asked me to do something with Grandma on Friday. Hm, since I was about to make plans with her anyway, I guess I could sacrifice and follow through!

She had mentioned to me several times how she hadn’t been on the ferry to Coronado since her children were really young (as in pregnant with her last one); nor had she ever been on the bridge (we still need to do that one day, but there are only so many adventures in one day, right?

I figured it was a perfect opportunity for us to go…you know, me not working an everything!

So we headed downtown, found a PERFECT parking space directly across from the ferry landing AND handicapped so no cost, and headed over to Coronado where we had a totally awesome lunch of pulled pork sandwiches.

Oh, the views were fabulous as well:

I love this shot! THIS is a perfect San Diego, military town, picture. I mean, look at that fabulous naval ship crossing in front of our fine city.

God bless our men and women who serve our country and keep us safe!

Better than all the things that I did yesterday, better than this great city I live in, I got to spend time with this lady:

We had a blast! She had fun! She told me so herself!

I love that I get to be lucky enough to be the one to bring fun adventures to her!

Have you ever been to Coronado? Who’s the luckiest person you get to spend time with?

What can you handle?

2010-08-15T10:39:00.001-07:00

I took this picture years ago on one of my trips to Hawaii. It’s so old it’s actually one that I have scanned into the computer from an old batch of photos…that, and, it’s been about 10 years since I’ve last been to Hawaii.

My point? Just that I have always loved this picture and it so reminds me of His presence in my life. That’s all.

Have you ever heard the phrase “God doesn’t give you more than you can handle”?

Whenever you hit a tough part in life, someone is bound to tell you this. Now, you know that things are tough for us right now with me not working. Add to the mix the things that happened with my grandma recently (thank God that we seem to be over that hump).

My MIL has also been laid up in bed the last week with a soar back. It’s been really bad. So bad that she barely gets up to go to the bathroom and that’s about it. I’ll probably be taking her back to the doctor tomorrow.

Add more to the mix that there have recently been 3 different people on both sides of our family/friends that have been diagnosed with different forms of cancer. One person was an old past friend of The Husband’s who, just as he was getting back in touch with her, passed away just recently. It’s sad…it sucks!

Back to that phrase: “God doesn’t give you more than you can handle”

I see a huge error in this! See, I don’t think God gives us anything but good. The “bad” that comes is just part of life. Some of it is out doing by the choices we make in life. For example, in retrospect, I could say that I saw this layoff coming long before it happened and maybe I should have started looking for jobs earlier. My choice to “hope” for the best.

Although, I am also a person who believes that some things do happen for a reason and a timing. If I had started looking earlier, maybe I wouldn’t have found this great job that I’m currently chasing after. Who knows?

No, I think a better way of saying this is, “God only lets you handle on your own what He knows you can handle on your own…after that, He helps out or shields you from what you can’t handle at this time.”

Does that make sense? God doesn’t give us bad…life (some might say the Devil) gives us bad; He gets us through it.

I know with a faith and relationship with Him we will get through this rough patch with as few scrapes and bruises as possible; although some scrapes and bruises are necessary in order to learn life’s lessons, right?

Another phrase that gets me through rough times: “That which doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

Yep, not dead yet, but definitely stronger for it all!

What phrases get you through rough times? What do you think of the phrases I mentioned today? Thoughts?

Time for Crafts – Wipe Board Clip Board

2010-08-14T11:56:00.001-07:00

Before I get started, let me tell you to head this way just for a fun game…yes, I love games!

I also love crafts! I found a really cool craft to make a wipe board out of a picture frame; but when I see something I want, I hate having to wait for the proper supplies to make it…so I made my own wipe board with supplies I had on hand and decided I should share it with you.

Actually, I like it a bit better than the picture frame one because I can actually take it with me to the store if I wanted…with my iPhone app for the store, I don’t need to, but I could so see me bringing this with me if I didn’t have the app.

First, gather your supplies:

A clip board, thick wrapping paper, clear contact paper, tape, scissors, sharp knife

You need THICK wrapping paper because you’re going to use the back side and don’t want the printed image to show through. You could just use white butcher paper or any other color, I wanted white, so that’s what I used.

Place the clip board on the wrapping paper and measure where to cut:

You want a little bit of hangover on the bottom edge so you can fold it cleanly.

Did you wonder why I needed a sharp knife? Here’s the trick: fold the wrapping paper where you need to cut and use the knife to slice right through it:

It’s a handy trick I learned from my mom…who, in most people’s opinion, is an AWESOME gift wrapper…I’m just saying!

Okay, now I’m a bit anal and didn’t want any of the clipboard showing , but couldn’t find a good way to make sure I got a clean cut and would have it all white, so I cut out a piece of the wrapping paper so I could slip it under the wrapping paper and tape it down around the clip part:

Did you see how that worked?

Now, you want to wrap the board with the seam and lines on the BACK:

Catch all that? Here’s how it look from the front:

Now for the more difficult part. Cut the contact paper to size. I wanted it completely covers, so I cut enough for the front and back:

Pull back the paper from the contact paper for just a few inches and place on the FRONT of the board, under the clip:

Slowly pull the paper off while pressing down the contact paper, make sure not to get any bubbles, just gently push them out:

Once it’s on the front, flip it to the back:

Until it’s all covered, but you’ll have some on the edges:

Just carefully cut, fold, and press those edges so that they all end up in the back…you’ll hardly ever see the back, right?

There you go! It’s that simple!

I chose a clipboard because it can easily be hung on my refrigerator with a magnetic hook, then I can add things right to it:

Write and wipe! It works beautifully!

So, what are you waiting for! Go make yourself a wipe board!

Another Day…Another Dollar…

2010-08-13T10:38:00.001-07:00

…well, not really! Being on layoff means that the money isn’t rolling in! However, I am busy enough, that’s for sure.

It’s amazing how I thought it would be kind of like a vacation at first…I WAS WRONG! I have done more since being on layoff than I do in times when I am working! It’s kind of nice since the house is staying more organized, chores are getting done in a less frantic way, and I don’t have to feel bad when someone says, “hey can you take X to the doctor?” because I CAN and I DO!

It’s nice to be helpful and I have found more ways to do just that!

It would be nicer if it paid, but that’s another story.

A big part of my enjoys this lifestyle; but the other part of me knows that this can’t be sustained and I am hoping and praying that this job that has been interviewing me pulls through…

I thought after a week I would be bored out of my mind! Turns out…not so much!

I have gotten tons of things done around the house that I had been planning on getting done, but more so, this layoff has come at a pretty opportune time. My MIL has thrown out her back…BAD…I mean, she hasn’t been out of bed since Tuesday except to pee. If I weren’t able to be there, she would be alone all day and not have anyone to help her.

I have also been able to help take my grandma to doctor appointment and just for a fun day out. It really happens that these things happening when they have is perfect timing because, if I hadn’t been on layoff, then what? Would there be other options? Possibly, but this is the best option.

This is one of those times that I think, “Everything happens for a reason” and I really know that it does.

What has ever happened that you realized, “Wow, if I hadn’t been …. things would be way different?”

Jobless

2010-08-12T11:34:00.000-07:00

Yeah, you all know that I am without work as of right now. What have I been doing about it other than spending time at Disneyland with my nephew, at Disneyland with Mindy, 44 hours worth with my goddaughters, having fun with the cousins-in-law, and swimming?

I’ve been looking for work. I’m not sure what I am looking for because, as I think I’ve mentioned, once this fine state of California actually gets a budget passed, I should have my job back.

However, until then, I will only get full pay through the end of August, since I can use PTO up to August 15th…which means that if I don’t work from August 15th on, I won’t be earning any money…except through unemployment.

Did I mention how UNHELPFUL unemployment is? And some people want to live off of it for more than 99 weeks? Seriously? I just want to know HOW!

I won’t even be getting HALF of what I make and, to make matters worse, I will have to be putting it as income when we file taxes in April and so do you think that we won’t be taxed? Yeah, so not only will I be receiving LESS THAN HALF of what I usually get, I will be getting even less than that so that we don’t get hit with a HUGE tax again at the end of the year!

ARG!

So, I’ve been looking for work. By the time you are reading this (I wrote this Tuesday morning and have it posting Thursday) I will have had a second interview at one place that I am pretty excited about; but then I feel a bit weird because I feel a bit like a traitor.

I mean, I LOVE my position at where I’m at; taking this position may mean leaving them for good. I would hate to do that; but what else am I supposed to do?

I’ve looked for jobs that might supplement my income from unemployment (such as nannying); but really? The ones that I have found and responded to have NOT answered me back…think I might be over qualified?

Anything else is just not working out. Is there NOTHING out there? No, there are things; I just have to make a decision as to whether what I find is worth giving up some of my unemployment…the little amount that I get from them…there just isn’t.

However, I can say that I am out there, trying my best to NOT bleed the system dry on unemployment. I am doing what I can to make sure that the money flow doesn’t stop in our household.

Hopefully it will be good news by the time you read this…cross your fingers!

So, have you ever been laid off? How did you handle it? What did you do to pull things through in your household?

(ETA: Okay, it is now Wednesday night and this is what I know on the job front: I have been called in for a THIRD interview at this place where I will meet those people who I can potentially be supervising. I think that’s a very good sign, right? It’s either a “yes, we really want to hire you” or a “well, we like you, but can’t put our finger just yet on wanting to hire you or not, so let’s have another look until we’re 100% sure” either way, at least I’m making moves in the right direction…maybe?)

44 hours of fun!

2010-08-11T10:25:00.000-07:00

Two weekends ago (as I mentioned yesterday) I had the best visitors ever…sorry everyone else who comes to visit, but when you are my goddaughters, you’ll beat them out as well).

I only had 44 hours with them; enough to do so many fun things, but not enough to fit in all the fun I wish I could have with them every day of the year! I did my best though.

As soon as I picked them up at noon on Saturday, we drove up to Julian (with a stop by Dudley’s bakery of course) and went panning for gold!

It was more fun than I expected and they had a blast! Each of them got a pan of dirt that was guaranteed to have some gold in it; and then you could continue to pan for longer in the dirt there.

They both found plenty of gold!

Then we drove home and stopped off at their grandma’s for a bit. They had both been sad when leaving her the week before that we stopped in for one last goodbye.

When we got home, we tried out our pool (so much better than the last time, still cold, but this was a refreshing cool, rather than the ridiculously freezing cold of last time).

We raced, did tricks, splashed, and had a great time!

Until the sun started going down, then it got cold and we walked to the grocery store for a few items. When we got back, we decided to make pizza for dinner…pizza Nenni-style! (home made dough, homemade sauce, that kind)

Some had a blast helping…

Others? Let’s just say that more fun was had on the Wii!

Pizzas? Delicious! Then they decided to watch a movie…and were THRILLED when they discovered that I had Snuggies!

See? I’m not too crazy to actually own three snuggies! I mean, if I only had one there would be tears, and fighting, and that just wouldn’t be good!

Then we settled in to watch Willy Wonka…the Gene Wilder version

They so did NOT like all the singing! Oh well, no musicals for them! They don’t know what they’re missing out on!

After about 1:30 in the morning, I insisted that they go to bed because, well, Nenni’s old and just can’t do the party-all-the-night like she used to (and yes, I did once have a slumber party with them were my goal was to keep them up until sunrise…they lasted pretty long and that was about 7 years ago…they’re better than me at this now).

In the morning, goofiness ensued…some of us fell down the stairs for fun:

Yeah, fun? Hm…I’ll leave that to them!

Then breakfast and games until the afternoon:

Oh, don’t forget playing with the gecko:

And then we went to go take the ferry to Coronado. With a little time to spare we had our photo shoot and my very mature eight-months-from-being-a-teenager goddaughter thought it would be hilarious to take a picture of her looking up the girl’s dress…

I hope she remains as immature as her godmother…after all, I thought it was a great idea and did take the picture!

When we got off the ferry, the first thing they wanted to do was go in the water:

They were enthralled by our sand. The phrase “oh my gosh it is SO soft! Fell that!” was heard several times over and over!

Followed by, “The water is so cold!”

Love the look on her face there!

After getting ice cream (which I love Cold Stone ice cream, but when you go to a touristy destination like Coronado, wouldn’t you expect a home-grown type of ice cream shop? I’m just saying…we enjoyed our ice cream, but so not happy to find that it was no longer a one-shop ice cream place anymore…ugh!)

After playing there for a couple hours, we now had time against us and, if they wanted to go to a REAL beach, we would have to book it…after a quick obligatory picture with San Diego in the back ground:

Back onto the ferry, where they were SO excited to get the very front of the boat! They didn’t budge the entire way back:

Then, beach time! The sun was literally on the water line, but we made the best of the light that we could:

Plus, with the sun were it was, it made for some AWESOME photos

After the beach, I looked at the clock and wondered how in the heck I was going to do it all! I was already 830 at night and we still needed to make dinner, buy their mom and dad Carne Asada burritos (trust me, if you ever tasted them, you’ll understand why people buy them, freeze them, and ship them home), pack everything up, squeeze in a bit more fun, and wake up to be on the road by 6:00 at the latest to get to the airport in time to check in, go through security, and say good bye…oh, and they HAD to shower…I mean, the SAND was everywhere!

I designated The Husband to getting the burritos…check one thing off my plate…

After a bit of a debate as to who HAD to take a shower first (seriously, it was a huge deal), they hopped into showers and packed as I made dinner…we played a bit more Wii, and I forced them to bed by 11…hated doing it because I so wanted to spend more time with them, but at some point I do have to be a responsible adult (what? Don’t look at me like that! I can play the responsible adult act…but only for short bits of time ;) )

They were so good about getting up early. I make them biscuit and egg sandwiches for breakfast (letting them sleep in a bit) and they gobbled them up!

One last check around the place to make sure we had EVERYTHING, and out the door…

It was good we got there when we did. The line was LONG to check in and OH MY GOSH it was eternal for security! Seriously! It did go fairly fast, but it was so long!

Of course, their carry on was the one that had something suspicious in it and made them pull it apart to check it out. I think it was the rocks that they brought with them, who knows; the guy was nice enough and did his thing and wasn’t a jerk like you hear so many stories; but then again, it could be because we didn’t give him attitude and just let him do his job.

We hung out playing a few games, got some water, and then, they were gone:

Yes, I was a baby and shed a few tears quietly as I stood by the window and waved to the plane backing up…I’m not as cold hearted as people often think…

Then, I came home and found the vile of gold that had been left behind and got that into the mail just yesterday…I had a blast, I hope they did, too!

So, what’s your favorite touristy thing to do in San Diego? Have you ever had to be screened further at the airport? Were they cool about it or jerks…were you cool about it or a jerk?

My girls

2010-08-10T09:30:00.001-07:00

A couple years ago, I took this picture that is my absolute favorite picture of my girls (for those who don’t know, they are my girls by baptism, my goddaughters):

I love the smiles, the framing, EVERYTHING about this shot! It’s my absolute favorite.

They were out here two weekends ago. I had 44 hours to fit in a whole bunch of fun before setting them on a plane back home. I really didn’t think it was going to be possible, but the lucky chance that we got to the ferry landing 10 minutes after the ferry left (meaning that it was 50 minutes before it left again) we were able to make it back to that same spot for this picture:

I so dug that they actually completely remembered that picture and totally wanted to pose for it again! I love them!

They know that Nenni (that’s me) is a total picture taker and totally put up with it…actually, I think they kind of encourage me…I mean, look:

They totally eat it up and don’t complain at all when the camera is out!

Oh, and we had a blast! More about our adventures to come; I just couldn’t wait to show off some of my favorite pictures from the weekend…oh and this one is going on my nightstand!

The First Time

2010-07-28T18:34:00.001-07:00

I saw this the other day and just had to share the laughs with you! Enjoy!

Oh, and let me know how much you enjoyed it as well…in the comments…yes, this is me begging for comment love!

Review – Neutrogena UltraSheer Liquid

2010-07-26T19:31:00.000-07:00

I have been reviewing a new sunscreen and wanted to share my thoughts with you. I wrote this a few weeks ago and, well, you know, I’ve been busy and never got a chance to repost it. But, here it is:

I live in San Diego. Newsflash: It is sunny almost EVERY day here! We don't call it Sunny San Diego for nothing!

We also know how important it is to protect ourselves in the sun everyday. Typically, it's the tourists that you see walking around looking like lobsters. Sorry, but it's true.

For many of us who were born and raised here, putting on sunscreen every day is part of the routine. You know: shower, shave, brush teeth, get dressed, and SUNSCREEN!

Yes, I put on sunscreen ever...single...day. Even the rainy ones. Why? Because, typically, the rainy day burns off and the sun comes out. When it doesn't, it stays overcast but those are the worst days for getting sunburned! You don't feel the sun and yet those bad rays are still there cooking your up.

When I was given the opportunity to review Neutrogena UltraSheer Liquid, I was figuring it was just going to be "another sun screen". Before I got this product I usually went to the store and bought whichever was on sale.

As a matter of fact, I was bit disappointed that it hadn't arrived for a day at Sea World. I went out and bought a bottle of a different sun screen. Turns out this was perfect opportunity for me to compare because, while I was enjoying the day at Sea World, my package came.

The next day I went to the San Diego Fair. Two days out in the sun with very similar weather patterns...it's time to compare.

Let me say, there is no comparison. I was shocked at the first drops that come out...it looks like white out! Seriously! That was my first reaction (just ask The Husband). It's the same consistency, color, and texture.

Then, I rubbed that small little two drops into my ENTIRE FACE! Yes! It only took two drops! I got great coverage for that two drops.

My favorite part? You know that "I'm wearing sunscreen" feeling you get after rubbing in a healthy dose of the stuff? Yeah, you don't get that with this product. I love it!

I didn't burn at all through the day and only put it on once as I was getting ready to leave (although, with any sunscreen, I would suggest you re-apply after a few hours).

I never got that "feeling". Those of you who live in hotter climates, you know what I mean. That if-I-don't-get-out-of-the-sun-or-put-more-lotion-on-soon-I'm-going-to-be-sorry feeling. I was very impressed on my first outing with this product and look forward to the future use to see how it works on a day-to-day basis.

********************************************************************************

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the product mentioned above for free for review purposes from Tidal Labs. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Disneyland repeated!

2010-07-25T19:10:00.001-07:00

Remember last week? When I spent the weekend with at Disneyland?

Well, there was one day left on all the passes and so my mom offered them to me and I took Mindy and her two girls.

I got up there Friday after work and as Mindy and I were packing lunch and snacks for the day, a friend of hers was there with her 10 year old boy. He wanted to go, too. He was a good kid, so I commented to Mindy that I did have one more ticket I wasn’t going to use.

She was contemplating it, then Seth came in and Mindy slyly asked what he was doing the next day…”going to a baby shower with my mom of someone I don’t know”. Seriously! You can’t let a 10 year old boy go to a baby shower when you know very well you can be taking him to Disneyland…so he went with us.

What had planned to be a “girls day out” was now a “girls day out with Seth”. (Oh, fyi, the reason that Mindy’s older two boys didn’t get invited with us was simply because they weren’t there…they are visiting their mom for the summer…sort of…long complicated story, but they aren’t there). We had also decided to leave her youngest just because it would be easier and, he’s 3, it would have been a completely different kind of day trying to do the kid shuffle on all the rides.

Plus, without him going, I was able coerce her to not bring the wagon. We put everything into a backpack and walked the day. She’s still convinced we should have brought it, I’m still convinced it was a perfect day without it.

Why? On my side, I hate having strollers at theme parks because all you end up doing is pushing and parking and taking the kids out, the bags, etc… so they don’t get taken, and then, well, repeat after EVERY ride! It’s a hassle and that’s just my opinion. And no I don’t have children, but yes I do know as I nannied for toddler and took her to theme parks BY MYSELF and NEVER ONCE brought a stroller.

I put everything in a backpack or my pockets (depending on the length of stay) and, come nap time, I found a place to sit, and she’d nap while I read a book, and then we’d be back on our way. If I had a stroller, sure she could nap in it, but that’s about all she would do and then it was just a hassle.

On Mindy’s side? At the VERY END (I’m talking as we were walking out of the park) her girls began whining about their legs being tired. However, they were at the point that if it wasn’t the legs it would have been something else. Even with a wagon, they would have been whining about being tired, or cold, or hungry, or thirsty, or something. They were just that worn out.

We did try to get into the Jedi show because we thought one of them would do it. THREE kids! All of them excited about the idea when we talked to them about it! EVERY ONE OF THEM chickened out when the time came! Seriously!

So we went on some rides (Fast passes really are the way to go). Autopia was a blast…you can see how much Heaven is concentrating. While standing in line she kept telling me she didn’t want to drive because she didn’t know how…I kept telling her I’d help her…she drove and loved every minute of it!

Then we headed over to the fairyland. I didn’t even see this last week when we were there. I was expecting it to be a bit more, but it was still a blast for the girls. We waited in line and, when we got in, got to take a picture with this fairy: Anyone know who that is? Because we don’t have a clue. But, then she told them to go around the corner to see her friend Tink…

They were so excited. Look at those faces…then they got a glimpse of her!

Is that excitement, or what?!?

They were so excited to meet her:

See Alyssa hanging on to her? So in love!

Of course, we had a 10 year old boy…we HAD to get a picture of him with her. He didn’t want to do it…Tink was fabulous and struck an attitude pose for him…he caved!

The girls were excited to go on so many rides and when we got Fast Passes for Space Mountain, they were very excited. They had never been on it.

They had no clue what they were in for. I so wish I had thought to take a picture of the picture that was taken of us on the ride. Alyssa, though smiling in this picture:

was clinging to me for dear life in the picture! It was classic! She loved it! But clung on for dear life.

Heaven:

Well, she kept telling Mindy, “Mommy take me off this ride! I just want to get off!”

I think we pretty much rode most of the rides. Not all of them, but a good chunk of them. It really was about the girls having fun and they did!

We went on Splash Mountain and, did you know everyone sits in their own seat?!?! Yeah, so Alyssa ended up in the very front, yeah another classic picture I didn’t get, but totally fun!

On the way out, we passed the Materhorn and the line was like 20 minutes so we HAD to go on it! Because we had just gotten over a literal break down from Heaven over the little roller coaster in Toon Town, we didn’t tell them it was a roller coaster. Mindy swore they would love it (and they did).

They got off the ride with HUGE smiles on their faces. With a smile on her face, Heaven turned to Mindy and said, “Mommy, why didn’t you tell me it was going to be like that?”

We got to the car, got seat belts on, programmed my map to get to Seth’s house (literally 10 minutes from Disneyland) turned on the car and, this is what the back seat looked like:

Yep, crashed out! Not Seth, but the girls!

THAT is the definition of a successful day at Disneyland!

We got to Mindy’s house a little before midnight, put the girls in bed and I left to come home. I got home at exactly 2 in the morning and crawled into bed…

When I got up at 11, there was a text from Mindy that Heaven had just woken up (about 10:50) and Alyssa was still asleep!

Yep, I did my job! Wore those girls out!

We had a blast and I am so thankful to my parents for giving me the opportunity to give them this day. I know it’s a rare treat and it is something that we will all remember for a long time!

How was your weekend? Do you bring strollers to theme parks? Or are you like me, it’s too much trouble…or somewhere in the middle?

Bulleted crazies!

2010-07-22T06:46:00.001-07:00

Last weekend, Disneyland with parents, brother, and nephew…all weekend!
Week prior, put on notice that we may be “ceasing operation” until the state passes it’s budget…VERY REAL reality! Probably, not possible!
Monday night, BAD weigh in…not sure why, but leader thinks I’m dehydrated
Monday night later…husband tells me they cut his hours in half (from 8 to 4 a day) until their enrollments go up
Monday night, after discussing for about 30 minutes how insane this is and we’ll get it figured out and etc…husband tells me that he’s one of the one’s who is not getting hours cut
Monday night half a second after that…I call him an a**…he grins at me…man I love him!
Tuesday night, cousins-in-law (is that a term?) fly in for the San Diego comicon (if you don’t know, it’s a HUGE comic book convention here in San Diego that is way popular and sells out every year pretty much a year in advanced…cousin-in-law is a comic book artist (a pretty popular one, has several autograph times at a major company *cough*DC*cough* with a major character)
Tuesday night, I go to dinner at my grandma’s…my aunts, mom, and nephew are all there…grandma just got out of the hospital that morning…my poor 5 year old nephew is about coming out of his skin stuck in a house with 3 “old” women all day…but he’s a trooper
Wednesday (and rest of the week) my husband has off to attend the comicon…lucky guy…only kind of…I don’t go to the con…way too many people…I HATE crowds!
Wednesday afternoon, I have a meeting at work…it’s all about how this massive temporary layoff will work…yep, it’s for sure, we will be working a skeletal crew from August 1st until further notice…I am NOT part of the skeletal crew…that sucks in some way, but at least I can use my PTO for the first 2 weeks…let’s hope the state get’s budget signed by then
Thursday…meeting my mom, aunt, and nephew down at Sea World after work…poor nephew needs something fun to do! So we’ll go down in the afternoon for nighttime Sea World…until 11 at night!
Friday…work then drive up to Upland (an hour from work) to spend the night at Mindy’s…
Saturday, Mindy and I are taking her girls for a “girls day out” at Disneyland! Should be a very fun day!
Saturday night OR Sunday first thing in the morning…drive home (2-3 hours drive) from Upland
Monday…prepare for work closure, hopefully have a better weigh in, maybe see my husband, and possibly the cousins-in-law (oh, have I mentioned that I haven’t even seen them yet?)
Tuesday? Dinner with grandma…again, hopefully see the above parties
Wednesday? Thursday? Friday? Prepare more for the big closure; hang with the husband and in-laws
Saturday, pick up my goddaughters from their grandpa. Did I mention that they were in town and I haven’t even been able to see them? It’s killing me! I wish I had more hours in my days right now…they are enjoying time with their grandma
Saturday afternoon, after picking up the goddaughters, find something totally fun and different to do…I’m thinking either gold mining or wolf tours in Julian (what do you think? they are 10 and 12)
Saturday evening, play play play!
Sunday…again, not sure, but I’m thinking the fairy to Coronado with a surrey bike ride around and picnic on the beach…not positive, but sounds fun, yeah?
Monday morning, first day of layoff, take my girls to the airport…double sad day, but maybe I can breathe a bit easier after that…maybe

So, now you understand why posts may be few and far between? What are your plans?

Jedi Magic!

2010-07-19T00:01:00.000-07:00

If you haven’t been following me on Facebook…why not!?! That’s how you can find out why I have been unseen around here for a few days!

Okay, so I’ve been at Disneyland courtesy of my parents and lucky enough to spend the time with my brother and nephew. It was awesome!

He got to train with the Jedi’s and fight Darth Vader! We learned the trick about getting picked…I’ll let you know later.

Let me tell you, I experience Disneyland like I never imagined, and it was fun. My nephew was not too keen on many of the rides so we spent lots of time exploring…like on Pirates Cove (used to be Tom Sawyer’s island) where he and my brother claimed all the treasure of the island:

Oh yeah!

I love Disneyland! It’s just so awesome! We were able to go at a slow pace as we had 5 day passes (they used 4 of the 5 days and I used 3 of the 5…don’t worry, they won’t go to waste…more on that later).

Since we went at such a slow pace, we didn’t feel rushed, got to enjoy shows, and really just had a blast!

What was most awesome is that we went and stopped at the Jedi show where kids were picked to train with the Jedi’s. We were late to the show so only got to watch from a distance…the next day, though…

Let’s just say that we got there early for the second show…and we brought an AWESOME sign with a Yoda quote on it (that’s the secret…the lady the day before who knew what was what, told us that he would almost definitely get chosen if we had a sign!

I didn’t get a picture of the sign as I was video taping, taking pictures with my phone, and jumping up and down like a maniac trying to get the attention on him to get picked!

IT WORKED!

I think at first he was scared out of his mind at first…he had seen the show the day before and knew that scary guys were coming up…but he did it! I was so proud!

He was the first to fight Darth Vader! SO COOL! There was another guy to fight, but I am so glad he got to fight the big guy! Oh it was awesome! He made an awesome Jedi!

I would highly recommend that if you have kids who like Star Wars that you make it to this show! Bring a sign! And they’ll get to actually fight the bad guys! (note, the sign doesn’t have to be huge, we had a paper about legal size (maybe a bit larger)…and of course, the jumping up and down probably helped! But they do pick a TON of kids!

We also got to do one other thing that I know everyone dreams about doing…can you guess:

We ate in the restaurant that you float past on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride! The food? SO GOOD!

It was really hard to take pictures in there, but I got a few:

Want to know the hint for success there? MAKE RESERVATIONS! We had gone on Saturday to check it out and there was a long wait…so we made reservations for 2 the next day. I’m almost positive you can call ahead am make reservations if you are going for one day or, just head straight there in the morning and make reservations for later.

Either way? SO WORTH IT!

Kind of had to do a double take at the prices of the items, but I can tell you without a doubt that it’s not just the experience of eating there or the ambiance (although that is a HUGE plus), the food was awesome!

I had the Portobello mushroom with spinach and couscous. Yeah, I’m drooling thinking about it!

After a full day at the park, we kind of broke my nephew…in that he CRASHED at dinner one night…literally, laid down on the seats and fell asleep as we ate.

The good part about having many days is when someone crashes out like that, it’s okay, because there’s another day!

We had a blast!

So, what’s your favorite Disneyland ride?

She’s watching you!

2010-07-18T20:10:00.001-07:00

We went to Disneyland this weekend courtesy of my parents. I couldn’t be more grateful for the experience they gave us. It was my nephew’s very first time and it was awesome!

He is apparently in LOVE with Jessie from Toy Story. After getting to see the real live Jessie, he needed to have the doll…he carried her around everywhere! I had to look at this face all the time:

I’m sorry, but is that the absolute freakiest face you’ve ever seen?

THOSE EYES! They just about scare me!

I can’t figure out if it’s the placement of the eyes or their size…

Or maybe it’s the angle of the eyebrows…

Sometimes I think it’s the shape of the lips…

I don’t know what it is, but she is FREAKY!

Right? Tell me I’m right! I so would NOT want her sleeping in my bed!

But he loves her! It’s awesome!

So, go ahead, tell me I’m right, she’s scary, right?

You’ve just achieved (fill in the blank) now what are you going to do?

2010-07-15T19:43:00.001-07:00

I’M GOING TO DISNEYLAND!!!

Okay, I got no award nor did I win the Super Bowl or anything like that…all I did was have an adorable nephew fly in from Hawaii with his dad and have his grandparents fly in from Colorado and, well, leave work early tomorrow…it’s that simple!

Heck, I really don’t have to do anything but make the drive up there after work tomorrow!

So, needless to say, I may or may not be checking in tomorrow or the rest of the weekend…but I am sure there will be pictures and fun to be shared! I’m just saying!

I love so many things about Disneyland, but I’m not sure what is my favorite. I love the old classic rides, I love the roller coaster type rides, I love the small details in every corner of the park! If I had to choose ONE RIDE to go on over and over? I don’t think I could, but probably Pirates…the OLD ONE with the politically INcorrect pirates chasing women and all that…

Or maybe it’s Space Mountain! Oh, and then there’s the Tea Cups! Oh, I just can’t decide!

But, inquiring minds want to know have you ever been to Disneyland? What is your favorite part?

Can this be right?

2010-07-14T21:05:00.001-07:00

Before I begin with today’s commentary by none other than me, I’d like to start with a commentary by non other than me!

See that picture there? THAT is why I love this husband of mine. Why? Because he still loves me when I do things like make him smile for a picture he very clearly doesn’t want me to be taking. He will wear colored beads for 4th of July, too!

He’s a pretty great guy because, after I take that picture, he will then oblige me and take a picture like this:

Then, later that night, he will take his ashtray full of coins to the local store where they have one of those machines where you can put those coins in and get cash out for it so that I can go to the drive-in with his mom.

Okay, I know it’s really his secret way of getting rid of me for the night…but I’m okay with that (note: he doesn’t really try to get rid of me like that).

That brings me to what my MIL and I saw on our outing to the drive in:

Do you see that? Do you see what’s wrong with this sign?

That sign says, “Customer & Employee parking only. NO OVERNIGHT PARKING”

Really? You are a DRIVE IN THEATER! The entire idea is that you go AT NIGHT…IN THE DARK…the parking STARTS at 7:30 pm and the LAST MOVIE starts at 12:30 am…meaning it doesn’t end until 3 or so depending on the movie.

I’m just wondering, at what point is it considered “over night” parking?

Does anyone else see the error of their ways?

What’s been going on

2010-07-13T20:40:00.001-07:00

I’ve been a bit cryptic here and on facebook about what’s been going on; mostly because family reads my facebook and, often, these posts get shown on facebook and it’s only fair everyone else knows what’s going on before strangers around here.

Here’s the deal with all the prayer requests: my grandma is in the hospital (yes again) and it was VERY BAD on Sunday!

How bad? Well, I got a text on Sunday midday from my mom that said Grandma was in the hospital, she’d be flying out tonight, and she’d call me later…

TYPICALLY (sad that there would be a typically in this) I would get a text that said Grandma in in the hospital and to call when I get a chance.

Panic immediately hit! I knew it had to be bad…and was it EVER!

Were talking CPR until the ambulance got there, CPR when they got there, paddles twice, injections, and all sorts of effort to get things going!

This is the grandma that just had a pace maker put in recently! YES! A PACE MAKER! Kind of goes against what should have been going on, don’t ya think?

Well, amazingly, by the time my mom and aunt both flew in and we got to the hospital at 1015 that night, she still had tubes everywhere, but she was definitely alert and knew we were there. I even got a look of “stop making me laugh because I have a TUBE DOWN MY THROAT favorite grandchild of mine” as I said something funny.

Okay, she may or may not have insinuated the “favorite” part, but let’s assume she did and NOT tell the others, okay?

When I went to see her on Monday night, she was definitely better. No tubes at all!

Now? Less than 72 hours later, she is fully awake, in bed, laughing ~~with~~ at me, and getting ready for another surgery…this time she’s getting like the Cadillac model of pace makers…hopefully this one will keep her out of the hospital.

So, while we aren’t out of the woods yet, we are closer.

Personally? I think this is just her way of getting out of cooking dinner for me on Tuesday nights because, really? This always happens just before we’re scheduled for Tuesday night dinner! I’m just saying!

Hey, I don’t like take the whip out and make her make dinner…she offers! And when I DO try and bring or make dinner she doesn’t let me! So, there you have it!

(note: those last two paragraphs were written in pure sarcasm, ‘kay? I love my grandmother and she gets my humor and would be laughing at that…if it didn’t hurt her to laugh that is. Apparently, having grown men and women pounding on your chest to keep you alive in CPR efforts really makes you sore; go figure!)

So, I want to thank you all for answering my calls to prayers and for your interest and care. She could still use prayers, but, you know, you can spread the prayer love around now, too ;)

How I got an iPhone

2010-07-12T11:19:00.000-07:00

With the new iPhone coming out, I knew that my husband would be getting one…he just can’t resist new technology.

Now, he has not gotten the iPad yet but that is completely 100% because I have already set my claim to getting one before he said anything and I am determined to not get one until the second generation comes out because I know it will be better than the first one and I have a little bit of patience.

The way we’re going to work it is I am going to give up my Smartphone and get the iPad so that I can use my data plan on that and not have to worry about wifi- . I have such troubles with it in my netbook not having it available when I want it that this way I’ll always be able to get on line with the iPad this way and I’ll just get a regular phone with texting and all will be right with the world, right?

Well, in the mean time, I knew my husband was getting a new iPhone and the original plan was to sell his old one, but then I put dibs on it. Having had a Smartphone that was just alright, I was excited about getting an iPhone…even if it was on old one…it still works, right?

Friday night I got home after work and saw the paper that had been hanging on the door when the husband got home…the paper that said FedEx had been there and no one was home so they couldn’t deliver the package. Then I looked at the time the actual office was open until…only 30 minutes and it would take just that amount of time to get there…I was willing to give it a shot.

My husband decided to be a butthead, stubborn a** about it and was ticked off that he missed getting his new phone and would have to wait until Monday in order to get it…

Then, he decided that we should go to the ATT store and I-don’t-know-what! Silly me actually got in the car with him as he drove to the store. Me? I was trying to figure out what in Heaven’s Name he thought he was going to do when we got there because, really? Do you think there’s anything they can do?

I, in the mean time, got on the phone with FedEx hoping that I could beg them to please please please stay open or let us know about the secret entrance in which they would really let us come get our package anyway…I know if it were a real urgent thing they would find a way to let us in; so I was hoping.

As I was on the phone with FedEx, The Husband realized what I was doing and decided to pull MAJOR ATTITUDE! I figured that all this was stemming from his pi**iness and disappointment in having to wait while his phone sat through the weekend just waiting to be played with.

So, I stayed on the phone anyway and the lady told me something about the package being picked up at four eleven. What? No it hadn’t! What is she talking about?

Just as she was telling me this, we pulled into the ATT parking lot and so I hung up the phone and said it’s okay, we’d figure it out.

We walked into the store and my husband tells the guy, “We need to find out how to transfer my wife’s phone to my old iPhone and what the process will be.”

The guy says, “Okay, I can help you with that, we can do that right now, come on over here.”

My first thought? Why the heck is he doing this now when he won’t have his phone all weekend this way?

My second thought? That booger! He actually DID get his phone and wanted to surprised me! Good thing he did that because I had every intention of waking up early and driving to FedEx and trying to pick up the package for him in the morning. Ha! That would have been hilarious, wouldn’t it?

So, all his pi**iness was an act he was putting on to try to throw me off the scent of actually getting my iPhone…job well done!

What I find funny in all of this is that, in our own minds, both of us had ever intention of surprising the other with the phone…crazy, right?

Needless to say I spent this weekend downloading apps (he has had the phone for years so he has a lot of apps that I was able to download onto my phone) and then I played!

I am so glad we made the change! I just have to get used to the typing on the screen in small spaces, but I’m doing pretty good…thanks to the automatic spell check and changing!

So, has your spouse ever done anything that just made you so mad at him and then had everything turn around and find out it was all an act?

Attack of the Killer Tomato

2010-07-11T10:05:00.001-07:00

Okay, I have been really bad about updating posts lately. I think part of it is that I look at the day and think, “eh, I don’t have that topic today” or “well, that will have to be for the next day” and so, I am still going to do things like “Monday memories” just might not be on Monday. Or, I’ll do things like “wacky Wednesday” but it might actually be on Friday…now wouldn’t that be wacky!

In the mean time, I’m going to get back to talking about things that are just going on around here. I think that will get me back into doing this on a more regular basis…what do you think?

Oh, did I tell you all that I moved my cooking blog over here?

Or that I moved my weight loss blog over here?

Or that I started another blog that relies heavily on your participation? I need you to send me all those chain emails that we all hate to get…go check it out and then send me those emails! Those emails can get sent to fwddonotdelete at gmail dot com

Okay, now that I got that out of the way, let me tell you about something big that’s been going on around here…not big in the sense of this is big news and our lives will never be the same kind of thing…no big as in the actual SIZE of the thing!

See that? That is literally ONE tomato plant…one in our garden. Did I mention we have a garden?

Well, I know I mentioned to you all that I wanted to start a garden now that we have this fabulous space; however, we did not PLANT a garden this year. By the time we got moved in and by the time we get the soil ready, it’ll be too late and so we will plant in the fall.

However, apparently the old tomato plants/seeds/SOMETHING didn’t get the message because, shortly after moving, two new small little teeny tiny plants started sprouting and we were pretty happy about that because, hey, what’s a couple of tomato plants?

One is a NORMAL plant. It’s growing up, staying a reasonable size, has some good sized tomatoes on it that are just getting ready to turn red, and is doing what it’s supposed to do.

Then we have this monstrosity…it has taken over the front walk way. It CAN NOT BE TAMED!

Although it has a TON of these:

I am NOT a huge tomato lover, but I do make a mean spaghetti sauce from fresh tomatoes…I haven’t mastered these yet, I am still trying to figure something new to do with these…any ideas?

In the mean time, there are a TON of these babies getting ready to turn yellow so I am hoping I get some great ideas soon; oh, and we will just maybe get TRAPPED inside our house from this thing. I’ll send out an SOS when it happens.

Have you ever been held hostage by a plant? I’m just wondering what it’s like. If you have any ideas of what to do in a hostage situation such as this, please let me know!

Oh, and don’t forget to send me those emails!

What I would do

2010-07-03T12:07:00.001-07:00

On random weeks, a motorcycle place that I pass by on my long trek to and from work, they’ll hang this banner up and I always get a kick out of it:

It says, “YOUR WIFE CALLED, SHE SAID IT’S OK!”

I think it’s awesome! If I were to want to tell my husband that I was okay with him getting a motorcycle (which that is a HUGE IF, I’m not going to do that) than I would call them up and ask them to hang that sign with a sign right in front of it with his name on it…that’s how I would tell him.

Now, I’m not going to do that, but if anyone wants to tell their husbands, I think this is an awesome way to do it.

What is the most creative advertising you’ve seen?

Thursday Thoughts – Call me a Prude

2010-07-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

I know that I can be a bit prudish in my thoughts and beliefs. I’m not going to lie and say that I have always been like this; I have NOT…but I have developed into a person who is sometimes shocked at what I see and hear.

Okay, on occasion, I will say some things that will make someone blush; however, here’s the thing. I say them in front of people and an audience in which it is appropriate (husband, best friend, etc…). I NEVER make these comments in front of children.

My mother-in-law and I went to the drive-in the other day and, since the movie I had wanted to see was no longer playing, we were stuck with different options. We chose Toy Story 3.

Well, let’s just say within the first 20 minutes I was completely shocked, jaw on the floor, and promising that my children would never see this movie.

By the end of the movie I was completely appalled and swore I would warn others.

Oh, there were funny parts to the movie; like when Mr. Potato Head needed to get out of a box and used a tortilla in order to remake himself. Hilarious! I laughed a whole bunch! Especially when the pigeon then proceeded to peck at him and tear him into pieces.

However, that was a small part on the movie. I was appalled with the sort of mafia storyline, the toys who were clearly playing poker, and then the story of Ken and Barbie.

What? Ken and Barbie as dolls themselves are inappropriate? Yeah, I know, but what for it.

See, within the first 20 minutes of the movie, Ken sees Barbie for the first time (cue dramatic “love music” as their eyes meet for the first time…I kid you not). Then, Barbie is to be left in a room away from Ken. I kid you not again, about TWO MINUTES AFTER THEY MET, Ken dramatically says, to the effect, “I can’t leave you here, come live in my mansion with me”. (note the only reason it’s ‘to the effect’ is because I don’t remember exactly, but it was not “implied” it was straight out said clear as day.)

WHAT?!?!

So, now our children who will watch this movie about 10 times a day when it comes out on DVD/iPod/etc… children will learn that you meet someone, lust after them, and think that you must move in with them. Really?

My jaw literally hit the floor! I was shocked!

So, call me a prude, but what are your thoughts?

Don't tick off the elderly

2010-06-30T06:47:00.000-07:00

I've seen this video several different places...it's hilarious!

What do you think?

Two Things

2010-06-29T00:01:00.000-07:00

You all know I went to the fair this weekend. I was so good! By so good I mean that I resisted many temptations to buy things that I would later wonder what I was thinking when I bought that.

I got TWO things at the fair. First, do you see that tile up there? Yep, I got that. Why? Well, for the Coke kitchen, of course! It was calling out to me…literally! It was sitting front and center right smack dab in the middle of a display shelf where you had to flip through the tiles to see them. There were no other coke tiles, this was the only one…it was meant to be.

Next was a big one that I have actually been looking for and was going to get, but my Grandma, wonderful Grandma that she is, bought it for me…I thanked her profusely. I love this thing!

What is it? Well, I’ll give you a hint…see this:

That is the innocent back of my car…my trunk/back hatch/whatever you want to call it. It is was hiding something horrible:

Wait, want a better look? Let me take off the cover for you:

Wait! Before you judge, and I KNOW you are because I judge it all the time…that’s why I make the effort to keep the cover over it so at least no one can see it as they walk past…and so I can pretend it’s not there.

ALSO in my defense, I work out of my car…literally! I have NO OFFICE. I keep my papers, research, books, etc… in my room in my house and in my car.

ALSO in my defense, see that cardboard box on the right? Let’s take a closer look:

Yeah, a last week that box was in ONE PIECE and neatly held the current papers, articles, and binders I am using for some projects. Then, diving around, I turned a corner and must have put too much strain on the edge and…well, you see the result.

I might have screamed a tiny scream of frustration when I opened the trunk that day. I knew I was going to have to quickly find a solution and was just going to pick up an extra crate from one of the centers and reorganize.

Then at the fair, we found something better. Like I said, my grandma was kind enough to purchase it for me so I really wanted to get it in and set before I see her tonight. When I got home Monday night, I took all those things out:

Let me just say, I LOVE my car because that back part is HUGE! When I was a nanny, I fit her stroller (not small) and Costco, Target, and Vons shopping in there with plenty of space left over…I easily get Costco in there and then the seats fold down and it’s like a full size bed…well, without the cushioning; but enough about my car…

This is what I got:

What’s that? How does that help me with my work? Well, that’s just it folded up…here’s what happens when I stretch it out:

That is a trunk organizer! The ULTIMATE trunk organizer! I LOVE it! I first set it up towards the back of the car and thought, nah, I don’t think that’s going to work.

So I moved it to the front end…so much better. Then, even though I knew the end result, I played for a bit as to the various set ups I can use with this thing.

The pyramid:

The pyramid with one big compartment (versus two compartments):

The open box:

The box with two compartments:

The caddy:

Open with one big compartment:

Why would you want the big compartment in the middle? Because it perfectly fits the cooler bag that comes with it:

It’s meant to hold things like milk and other perishables if you use this to go grocery shopping and have a few other stops. I LOVE this organizer.

After I played for a bit, I then put EVERYTHING back into the trunk of my car:

Yep! That is literally everything but the basket (which was coming inside anyway as I am done with it for now) and three catalogs that are trash. EVERYTHING else is back there…look how much more space!

I even put the cooler on the right hand side there so that I can use it if I need to and so I always know where to find it. On the left are my tripods. I have needed to use those at work lately for some videos I’m creating.

You can see I even was able to put my work laptop in a space (on the right) and my work projector (on the left) in it as well. Now, the laptop goes with me everywhere. The projector will get locked in the cabinet at one center, I just have to get back there before I can drop it off there (not until Monday). So that will come out eventually (although BOTH come in the house every night because, well, yeah…don’t want those sitting in the car.

Then, I put the cover back. This time not because I’m embarrassed of the mess; but because I don’t want people to see what I have!

AH! Sweet bliss! There is nothing like an organized trunk with plenty more space. I could easily fit another one of those in front of this one (that’s how big my trunk it)…which might not be a bad idea…I might be onto something.

That is most definitely the best find from the fair this year. What does your trunk look like?

Monday Memories – Totally worth it!

2010-06-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

Can you tell where I went this weekend?

No? Well, go over here and you’ll hear all about my adventures for the weekend. There was A LOT of them!

Sea World AND the San Diego Fair! It was a great weekend, but tiring.

While at the fair, I was reminded of an awesome memory. One that I’m sure my mom will shake her head in disbelief that one of her children would be completely stupid and insane enough to actually do.

I think she knows about this; if not, she will now because I know she is an avid reader.

This memory involves one of my dear friends…you know her…Mindy.

Well, during college, the local fair was held in September. It was PERFECT for me since my birthday is smack dab in the middle of September and we would go on my birthday…it was how I loved to celebrate it up there.

Actually, some year I will probably go up there for my birthday just to go to the fair again. It’s always so much fun.

Since I worked at the children’s center that was located on the fair grounds (yes, it’s a great place to be located because we had run of the grounds throughout the year and then had free access to the fair during fair time.

Basically, I LIVED at the fair. Mindy didn’t live there as much as me, but being she lived so close to it, she was there several times each year as well.

Growing up, my parents were smart and never let us ride those fair rides. I mean, seriously, have you ever seen how fast they take those things apart? Ferris wheels go from tall and awesome to flat and piles of steel in less than a day!

So, in my college years I took advantage of EVERY ride I was never allowed to go on…I will never let my children on those rides…but I fully expect them to go on them without my knowledge (I only pray that they come out alive like I did.

I rode the Ferris wheel, went in the fun houses, the upside down crazy wheels, and so many more!

Then, there was the bungee chair! THE RIDE! This was not like any other ride. Nope! This was the ride that you had to pay AN ADDITIONAL ridiculous amount of money MORE. It’s that ride that everyone is afraid to go on but oh so tempted until they see the price.

I don’t remember how much it cost back then; but I DO remember Mindy saying to me, “For your birthday we’re going on that!”

Yep…we went on it…she paid for it…later that year we heard about somebody falling out of it or something crazy like that…we didn’t fall out of it.

The ride? TOTALLY WORTH IT! Actually, as we were pulling back waiting for the unknown time where we were to be released, Mindy said something to the effect of, “I can’t believe you’re making me do this!”

Me? SHE paid for it!

Then we went flying through the air, feeling like we were going to be launched to the moon! Screams of delight!

Flung backwards, upside down, every which way! Awesome!

Then, as we slowed down and came slowly back to Earth, I said, “That was TOTALLY worth every cent you paid…if anyone ever wanted to pay for me to do that again, I would!”

She concurred. Yep, if anyone came to us and said, "Hey Jenni, I’ll pay the exorbitant amount of money for you to ride that” I’d be all for it.

Yep, even 11 years later, I’d still do it again!

We stopped by to watch some crazy people to it at the fair this year, my Grandma and me. I told her I had done that. She told me I was crazy.

Yeah, but it was SO worth it!

What was the craziest thing you ever did?

You’ll laugh and then you’ll cry…seriously!

2010-06-25T18:51:00.001-07:00

What do you see?

2010-06-21T00:01:00.000-07:00

I have had a fasination with trees lately. Seriously! I drive around (which I do a lot of to and from work) and I get completely mesmorized with trees. Is that weird?

I mean, I just get mesmorized by them!

It’s one of those things that I wonder and awe when I think about. Did you ever notice that trees always grow UP?

Seriously, think about it. I figured that I can’t base that on the trees I see on the side of the road as they were most likely planted by a person and they most likely planted it so that it would grow straight up…but then I got to thinking, if you go to the forest or a high, steep mountain, the trees are never growing out perpendicular to the ground, they are growing perfectly straight up and down according to gravitational pull…I find that fascinating!

There are some trees, however, that I just laugh at every time:

Do you see what I see?

No, not the traffic in front of those trees…look at the trees.

Don’t they look like huge broccoli? I swear, every time I drive by one of those trees (twice a day and several trees on the way) I wonder who planted the broccoli years ago and left it to grow.

Am I right?

So, what fascinates you about trees?

Spread the Prayers

2010-06-20T18:40:00.000-07:00

I don’t know how I came across it…but I have been completely pulled in by the story of this amazing little girl and her family. Have you heard about her?

Her name is Avalon and she has been given a rotten deal in life and all at the hands of an incompetent doctor. Go read her story. You’ll be stunned, angry, laughing, crying, and just wanting to embrace this family.

Her mom has a way of writing her story that makes you truly understand the agony they go through; but also understand that they do the best with what they have been given. They sincerely amaze me.

They’ve had another step-back and could really use your prayer, your words of encouragement, and just knowing that you are there.

Please, go read her story…wrap your internet arms around them…show them that Avalon isn’t going through this for nothing…she is touching lives! Many, many lives!

Monday Memories – Laundry

2010-06-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

Remember how much I used to HATE doing laundry?

Remember how much I love doing laundry now that I’ve moved?

Okay, I don’t LOVE it, but I don’t hate it anymore. I’ve got a system now that makes it easier and I am able to do laundry on a daily pace and getting it out of the way rather than wasting a full day at home “laundry watching”.

So, while I wouldn’t say no to anyone who wants to come and take laundry off my hands; I also don’t go running screaming when it’s time to do laundry any more…just ask my husband!

I got one of those Purex 3-in-1 laundry sheets as a free sample this weekend and it got me thinking about laundry.

(FYI, this is one of the sheets once laundry was done…it worked fabulously by the way. I won’t waste my money on them, but if someone gave them to me I wouldn’t say no)

Anyway, they got me thinking about the first time I started doing laundry. I was in junior high…my mom had pretty much had enough of me not getting my clothes into the hamper and her having to hunt the clothes down so she pretty much gave me an ultimatum:

Put the clothes in the hamper or do it yourself!

Little did she know that I was secretly wanting to do my own laundry. Yes, I really was that strange (what? yes, I said WAS…I’m not strange anymore…well, okay, a little).

Either way, I looked forward to doing laundry for some reason. I got my very own hamper for my room, a quick little lesson in doing laundry, and basically the only rule was that I couldn’t do it at the time that she was doing hers.

(I’d just like to note here that had I been her, I would have made the exact same ultimatum)

I used to drive her crazy because, although I would make sure that I was doing laundry at a time that she wasn’t, I had a horrible habit of leaving clothes in the dryer. I would literally wake up in the morning, stumble out to the garage (where the washer and dryer was) and pick out my clothes for the day then stumble into the shower.

I’m better now…a little. There are very rare occasions that laundry gets left in the dryer; it never gets left in the washer. I blame my bad memory and selfishness on this.

See, if I go to bed with clothes just starting in the dryer, by the next morning I forget that it’s there…unless it’s MY clothes. That’s where I get a bit selfish. See, if it’s just his shirts or something, I will seriously forget about it until he asks.

Is that bad? Anyone else with me on this? Or can I just chalk this one up to points in the “bad wife” column? When did you start doing laundry?

Funny Thing

2010-06-11T00:01:00.000-07:00

Funny thing happened at dinner last night...My husband and I were talking (no, that's not the funny thing. we talk at dinner all the time). I commented that I was surprised that a guy I met the other day wasn't gay. Please note, I don't have any prejudice against people's sexual orientation, just the mannerisms and conversation with this one particular guy I thought he might be gay.

Then I found out that he was married...to a woman (yes I know, that may not mean anything, but go with my story here).

Then my husband made a comment and gesture that I commented, "yes, honey, sometimes I worry about you being gay, too" Yes, I was kidding; it's all in jest.

Then he says, "If I am gay, I'm a lesbian"

I admit it, I laughed...very hard...that's just funny!

While that's not the funniest thing he's ever done in our marriage, it's right up there with funny things he has said.

What's the funniest thing your spouse/significant other/etc... has said?

Thursday Thoughts – Conflicted

2010-06-10T00:01:00.000-07:00

I’ve been conflicted over an issue for a long while. Since it’s been a LONG while, you can guess that it has nothing to do with the BP oil spill, although I do have thoughts about that…I’m a bit conflicted in those as well, but that’s not what I want to discuss today.

Nor do I want to talk about how my husband FELL OUT OF HIS CHAIR while at the computer a while back. I’m only slightly conflicted that I STILL laugh about it…I mean, should a wife REALLY get that much laughter over her husband’s injury?

No, that’s not what I want to discuss today; although it is funny. What I want to discuss today is an issue that I bet many of you struggle with as well. Heck, I bet some of you may actually have a solution. I’d really love to hear it!

Do I have you curious yet? Do you want to know what has been weighing heavily on my mind? Do you want to know what has seriously been trying my conscience?

I really mean that! TRYING MY CONSCIENCE!

I think about it often, almost daily! What is it?

Homelessness and people in need.

Not about ME being homeless or in need. I am thankful to God that we are neither. We may struggle, but, like I tell my husband, we have a lot to be thankful for. We have a roof over our heads, two cars, food in our belly (and pantry/refrigerator/etc…), Sea World passes, and the ability to buy things, occasionally, on whim.

Sure, we struggle from time to time, but those are things that I look at as our CHOICE to struggle with. We could do without the Sea World passes, I guess we could do without one car (it would be inconvenient, but it could be done…it HAS been done), and there are other things as well.

What’s weighing on my conscience is what to DO about people who are homeless or in need.

I am a Christian and I one of the things that always weighs on my mind is the story about judgment day that and the man in judgment says, “Lord, when did I see you and not give you food.” and the response is, to the effect, "The beggar on the street was me”…okay, that’s not an exact quote but, for you who are Christian, I bet you know exactly the part in the Bible I’m talking about and those who aren’t Christian, you understand, right?

So, where I struggle is, I see a person on the street and I want to help, but I know that if I give them money, they’ll probably by alcohol with it. Then I figure, well, I can go into the closest store and buy him/her something to eat.

Then I think, “But what will giving them food do? Will it really help them? Or will it be a crutch for them and they’ll still be sitting there at the end of the day and probably the next day.

I mean, doesn’t it also say, “God helps those who helps themselves”?

Then I think, well, I could give them a card with a number and location of a local homeless shelter or place to get help. But, really? Don’t they have that? Okay, maybe not.

I see someone standing on the off ramp of the freeway with a sign that says, “Will work for food” which is fine, I could find you a job…but are you going to MURDER ME on the way there?

I see a car broken down on the side of the road and everything in me wants to pull to the side and say, “Hey, can I help you? Want to use my cell phone for help?”

But then the rational (fearful?) side of me thinks, “But what if this person is going to rape or murder me?”

I hate thinking the worst of people, but I think that we have to be cautious and careful these days. Plus, I’m a WOMAN! Is that just a huge target on my back?

I seriously WANT to help people I see in need. Heck, I’m the person who, when lining up at the store, will let the person behind me go just to be nice. Not all the time, but yes, even when they have MORE than me, I’ll offer…only to the person DIRECTLY behind me, otherwise, that would allow someone to cut in front of more than just me which wouldn’t be fair to those behind me.

I’m the person who, when seeing someone finish with their grocery cart outside empty walking to the rack, I’ll offer to take theirs with mine.

I’m the person who will go out of my way to thank police officers, fire fighters, and military folks (including military wives) for their service to me and my country.

I’m the person who, when the girl scouts or boy scouts are outside selling things (or school groups, etc…) I will pay them the amount of the product they are selling and NOT TAKE THE PRODUCT and count it as a donation (sometimes I leave more than that).

I’m the person who bought a fire fighter the things in his basket during the fires because it was the LEAST I could do while he was out there, working to the bone, making sure that my house didn’t go up in flames.

I’m the person who will give coupons to someone if I see they are buying that product.

But in the grand scheme of things, the things I do don’t make much of an impact. I mean, they are nice gestures for the moment and maybe make that person’s day a bit brighter; but for the most part they aren’t people in NEED…I shy away from those who TRULY have a need for money, food, or supplies.

So, I ask you, do you struggle with how to help the homeless and people in need? How do you handle it? Do you give money to a homeless person on the street? Do you give the guy at the off ramp your lunch? Do you think there is more you can do?

Please, DISCUSS! Call other’s over to discuss. I really want to hear how people handle this and everyone’s thoughts.

Wacky Wednesday – Mother’s Day

2010-06-09T00:01:00.000-07:00

Nope, it’s not mother’s day, but I’m not sure why it wasn’t made for it:

I mean, really, how cute is that?

Post it note Tuesday – Can’t win with them!

2010-06-08T00:01:00.000-07:00

Did you enjoy that? Check out more over at suppahmommy

Monday Memories – Shoes

2010-06-07T00:01:00.000-07:00

I have never really liked shoes. The first thing I do when I get in my car? Kick my shoes under the seat!

True! Whether I am on my way home from work or on my way TOO work, I kick them off under my seat.

I’m not as bad if they are shoes with laces. You know, tennis shoes, things like that? Sometimes flip-flops stay on as well since they really don’t feel like I have anything on anyway, if just depends on my mood.

It’s bad, I know it, but I hate shoes! When kids at the centers take their shoes off, I have to reluctantly tell them to put their shoes back on because it’s a whole liability issue with us; but I know that feeling of wanting to run around barefoot so I hate having to say it.

I always loved summer because I could run around with no shoes all summer long! Well, for the most part. When I was working, obviously, I couldn’t. Except when I worked at the Home Day Care where there really weren’t many rules.

That’s where I got into trouble going barefoot once.

See, that center was within walking distance from my home. I walked there all the time. I walked it all the time both with shoes and without.

The majority of the trip was on concrete so the heat of the black top was never really a problem, but then again, the heat from the black top didn’t often bother me either…until one day.

It was a very hot day! How hot? Well, let me tell you that I made that walk to the day care…barefoot! Not unusual, but not a smart move.

Why? Well, the CONCRETE was hot! By the time I got there my BLISTERS HAD BLISTERS!

That’s not even a joke! Oh, I still managed to work some, then I had my mom come get me. I couldn’t walk much for that day and it was not fun!

Do you think I learned my lesson? Well, only sort of.

My feet are much more sensitive now; but I think that’s mostly because I wear shoes most of the day. But oh how I wish I could walk around barefoot.

How about you? Did you ever burn the bottoms of your feet? Do you like shoes?

What it was…

2010-06-06T15:59:00.001-07:00

That, my dear readers, was not on ice cream sandwich, although that would be mighty tasty and I just might try that next time, but a peanut butter s’more that I made for over here.

So I have a question, do you pronounce that as smore; like and s sound then the word more

OR do you say: samora as in sah, more, ah

I’m just wondering…our marriage may depend on your answer ;)

Friday Photo Fun – Been a while

2010-06-03T20:29:00.001-07:00

Okay, it’s been a while since we played, but what do you think this is:

Leave a comment and let me know. I’ll answer later this week. I’ll give you a hint: if you search around, you might actually find the answer.

Post it Note Tuesday – It FINALLY happened! Oh Yes it DID!

2010-06-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

All Give Some…Some Gave All

2010-05-31T00:01:00.000-07:00

A friends of mine gave me this quote the other day and I can’t get it out of my head. It is meant for today…please, as you enjoy your family and friends, remember! Remember what this day truly means.

God Bless America! And most important, God Bless those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our protection and freedom!