Brown Eyed Atti

Last fall as we gathered with family for the holidays, I had this foreboding feeling that it would be the last one that looked like that. My heart knew 2022 would come with change and loss and I wanted to be prepared. 

But honestly I thought I had more time....

Once upon a time we adopted a dog. He was a cute little rescue from our local pound. 

We named him Atticus.

 

His other names were Atti, Catticus (baby Alice), sweet boy, nephdog and granddog.

He came housebroken. He hated a crate and he shed like crazy. In the beginning, he got car sick. He buried his bones in the backyard.

He ADORED His Man. He tolerated The Woman. He didn't eat The Child. 

If I was cuddling with my Beloved, he would come and insert himself between us. 

He was a brat. 

He laid on ALL the things not his. He would look you right in the eye as he placed his foot on your [insert item here]. He managed to get a foot on Alice's beloved Kiki whenever he could.

He always knew exactly where you were stepping next and planted himself in that exact spot RIGHT before you stepped there. He also waited until you were perfectly settled in to your seat and about to take your first bite of a meal to scratch on the door to go out.

He was a picky eater and refused to drink out of metal bowls or those auto fill water bowls that go "glug, glug". He could remove any of the tiniest particles of food from his food that he didn't like. He would just carefully take them in his mouth and deposit them next to his bowl. He would devour pizza crust. He knew what time he got a treat at night and would throw a full on fit until he got it. 

He also knew what time His Man got home and he would wait by the door. 

If you ended up in his spot on the couch - he would stand and stare. And when that didn't work, he would climb on your lap until you moved.

He wasn't big on being manhandled but he loved to have his butt scratched. 

He hated the vacuum. He slept on our bed. He loved to be closer to His Man. He begrudgingly let Alice dress him up and then rolled all over her Lego designs. He always needed to be in the middle of all the things. 

We will be cleaning up dog hair for the rest of our lives.

He spent the last several years in my office on the CareBear couch he claimed as his. Moving this out of my office is going to absolutely crush me.

He had expressive eyes that let you know exactly what he was thinking. 

He is all Alice has ever known - there was not a Before Atti time for her.

He was ours for 12 years. 

Today we said good bye.

Letting him go has been absolutely heartbreaking.

He will forever be a part of our lives.

Sweet boy, it was an honor to have you be a part of our family. 

Even when you made our eyes twitch. Or woke us up barking at nothing. Or refused to eat the homemade treats I made you. 

I hope you are whole again and treat time is 24/7. 

We love you.

PS: When you get to where you're going, if you see a black Lab named Woody - tell him we love him too.

Until next time......

Has it been that long?!

I clicked on my blog while I was working on the computer today and noticed my last post was in October. 

OCTOBER!!!

That's SO LONG ago!

I have been so very neglectful. 

So I thought, how do I fix this!? Do I post about holidays? Do I think real hard about something funny or witty that has happened since the start of November? Do I recap 2017? (Let's actually never speak of 2017 again, k, thanks.)

Or do I just pick up from today?

Yes, that seems less stressful. Let's start there....

Health Update. I developed a 4th abscess that FINALLY drained in December. And I hope this is the last time ever in my life I have to type that sentence. REAL TALK! I saw my Boob doctor yesterday and she feels like things are finally looking up. She lowered my steroids and we're going to ride along until the skin heals and I can redo images, however, if the images look good, I might be over this. 

These are my hopes and prayers for the next few months: that the ultrasound and mammogram will be conclusive and that I will NOT need another MRI. They are EXPENSIVE and UNCOMFORTABLE. So I'm praying for conclusive evidence. And I am also hopeful that this will never, ever return. Like, EVER. I would also like to be off the steroids as soon as humanly possible.

It's always sobering when I meet with my Breast Specialist. She's a surgeon so the wait times are always extensive and there's a temptation to be frustrated and annoyed. However, I understand that the woman in the room next to me is there to discuss her recent breast cancer diagnosis and suddenly my time isn't important. Because while what I have been dealing with for the past year (A! YEAR!) isn't fun - it's also not completely life shattering either. So I don't mind waiting. 

Working Momma. I started a new job in October. It is what takes up most of my time while Alice is at school so my writing time is limited. It's a scheduling job - I have a client and I contact his clients to book appointments. It's not hard and it's work-from-home and I can set my own hours. I have hesitated in sharing this because it was still so new, however, so far it's going well. Alice is adjusting to mom being on the phone some when she has a day off. This summer will be a challenge but she's old enough to understand and manage on her own. It has been an adjustment transitioning into work mode while not neglecting other responsibilities. Spoiler alert - the house is almost always a mess. Bless. I will learn to be a dignified house keeper one day.....maybe. 

The Holidays. We had a simply wonderful holiday season! Alice loved everything Christmas. We celebrated with family. We ate a lot. We drank a lot. We were merry. It was lovely. 

A Fresh Year. I was so thankful to end 2017. The stress. The anxiety. The frustration. The brokenness. I have high hopes for 2018 but I refuse to put anything in writing. I also refuse to recap stupid 2017. Nope. Let's just skip it, over and over and over again. 

I want to see things with fresh, patient eyes. I want to budget (my least favorite b word ever) better. I want to find time for my creative outlets. I want to lose all the weight I've gained since this medical journey started. I want to be thankful, regardless. 

These are wants and not goals. See - that's less pressure!  Because, as I sing to our usually screaming 5 year old, "you can't always get what you want....." 

I am curious to see what 2018 brings for our little family. I'm hopeful that things will settle down and I can get back to a new normal that doesn't involve weekly doctors visits and all the medical tests in the book. I would LOVE to not receive medical bills for at least 6 months straight! Such hopes......

For now, I will sort of promise that I will attempt to carve out more time to share our world. 

Until next time......

B is for.....

...Boob.

One dumb boob.

A little over a month ago, Alice spent some time under my right arm with her heavy head resting on my right boob. The next morning I woke up and it hurt. I noticed a line of swollen something in my right breast. I thought it was a muscle and tried not to sleep on my right side (which is how I ALWAYS sleep) and I tried not to exercise or upset it more. I even rubbed muscle cream on it to try to help alleviate the pain. 

I googled stuff. I didn't have any of the more usual symptoms of cancer. I worried it could be a blood clot but I'm on blood thinners and I stay therapeutic for the most part. In my world, if it's something not right - it's a blood clot. I questioned whether or not I needed to go to the doctor for it. I thought it was a muscle! Most of my medical charts are substantial - I don't want to have "sprained boob" added to any of them. Seriously. How lame would that be?!

But after a month, it was still there and the panic started to set in so I scheduled an appointment with my OB/GYN. 

I had to wait for over an hour to see her so by the time I get to the room, I'm a complete wreck. While the nurse is checking vitals my doctor comes in and asks why I'm there. I immediately start crying. The nurse said she would come back for the blood pressure. Spoiler alert - it didn't do any good to wait on that. My doctor does an exam and says it's not a muscle and that she's calling her Breast Surgeon to try to get me in that day. 

Enter COMPLETE FREAK MODE. SURGEON! TODAY!

They confirm that the other doctor can see me and they send me down to her floor. I'm sure they told me her name but I heard nothing but "7th floor" so I just walked around until I read something that said 'breast' on the door and went in. 

I picked up a new 'ologist' - Boobologist. Technically 'Surgeon' but 'ologists' are what I collect. New nurse, new vitals check. To say my blood pressure was within normal limits would be a lie. And so I also get orders to go back to my Cardiologist. 

The surgeon looks at things and feels around and orders a mammogram and an ultrasound. She thinks on a scale of 1-10, my Freak Mode level should be at a 1.5. I like her. She's quirky and straightforward and thorough. 

The next week I got to have a baseline mammogram, a diagnostic mammogram, and an ultrasound. And then I bought ice cream and more wine. 

This is my side rant about mammography machines. THEY ARE THE DUMBEST DESIGN EVER!! Seriously! There HAS to be a better way! Forget walls or Russia or other planets. THIS should be what's important!!! FIND A NEW WAY, WORLD!!!  I walked away with 2 sore boobs instead of 1.

Everything looks normal. They just look like boobs. Apparently I have extremely dense breasts. The Radiologist mentioned this several times. I'm not sure if I was supposed to respond with "thanks" or 'I'm sorry." 

While everything on the imaging tests look good, there is still something there so we're scheduling a surgical biopsy to be sure. There is only a 10% chance it is something troublesome. I wish she would have said 2% but we don't know each other that well yet. 

I'm hoping this is a just a really expensive way to find out my dense boobs are extra sensitive and I take longer to heal than others. We'll see.

So now I'm waiting on medication instructions from my Hematologist and the surgery schedule from my Boobologist. 

Ironically enough, my blood pressure was decent at today's Rheumatologist appointment! So either I've come to terms with things or my anti anxiety essential oil regimen is working today. Whichever, I'll take it! 

Fun side story. I had my follow up appointment yesterday and while I was in the waiting room, the news was on. They were doing a story on some HPD officers who were involved in a shooting. They were talking about how one of their daughters was flown down to be with him. She was escorted to the airport by Boston PD, flew free thanks to American Airlines, and picked up and escorted to her dad by HPD. Y'all. My eyes are filling and I'm looking EVERYWHERE for the stupid remote thinking, "SHHHHHHH!!!!!! They haven't checked my blood pressure yet!! I DO NOT NEED THESE EXTRA FEELINGS!!!" Cops and their kids - they get me every time. 

So now we wait. 

And this isn't meant to scare or incite sympathy. That's not my goal. This is just my outlet. My way of organizing my thoughts and remembering the details. My way to find the funny amidst the stress. 

I'm thankful I finally went in. I'm thankful Dr. Miltenburg is being extremely thorough and hasn't diminished my feelings or my thoughts. And I'm hopeful this will be over soon. 

Until next time......

PS: Never in a million years did I think I would be blogging about boobs. Yeesh. It's just so unladylike! ;)

Out with the Old, In with the New

2016 seemed like the longest year in the history of ever. 

We lost some weight!
My baby brother graduated COLLEGE!
My baby sister GOT MARRIED! 
My Beloved had a health scare. 
We watched Alice grow and learn. Everything she does is magic. Except maybe the fits or her dogged determination to get her way. But even that makes us kind of proud. 
We booked her 5th birthday trip to meet the Mouse. WE ARE SO EXCITED! 
We lost some people we loved. 
We lost some people we admired. 
We lost some people we grew up watching on screens and while we didn't know them personally, they still hurt. 
We watched the world seem to fall apart.
We lived through the WORST PRESIDENTIAL RACE EVER. 
We were disappointed with the state of affairs and 'people' in general.
The hate was disgusting. The indifference was disturbing.
Our hearts hurt for the hurting. 
We gained some weight. 
I was discouraged. And sad. And stressed. And scared.
Lots of doctor visits.
Money doesn't grow on trees. 
Adulting is hard. And lame. 
I didn't finish the certification program I feel like I've been working on for FOREVER.
I got a part-time job at a church as their Wedding Church Lady.
I booked a big wedding for 2018 and will get to help plan from start to finish. I AM SO EXCITED.

And I am hopeful. 

My 'word' for the new year is "FOCUS'. 

I have spent soooooo much of 2016 so very distracted. I want to spend this year more focused. 

Focused on house keeping.

Focused on finishing my program. (Seriously, Mamaw, pray for me! I NEED TO FINISH BEFORE MAY!) 

Focused on health.

Focused on happiness.

Focused on just being present for Alice. And my Beloved. And my loved ones. 

Focused on sharing on this little space a bit more. I know, I say that a lot. I miss the outlet, I miss the creativity, I need it.

Just focused. 

So, Goodbye, 2016 and all your drama and nonsense!! 

And, Hello, 2017, we're so happy to see you! We are hopeful that you will bring newness and peace and that we can remain friends. 

Real talk, though. We're not playing. 

Until next time.....

Backyard Shenanigans

You know, we do not live in a particularly rural area and we have a dog that spends quite a bit of time in our backyard. And YET our fenced in area seems to call to all the creatures in the area - "Come! Come and you will make her crazy!"

I do not do nature. And sometimes this house involves WAY TOO MUCH NATURE.

So far since living in this house:
* I have had to break up 3 cat fights (we do not have any cats).
* We've had to save cats from our dog 3 times. One of those times required a call to animal control.
* We have witnessed several birds get taken down by hawks. Several. One on our front porch. While we watched helplessly.
* We've had a turtle 'knock' on our front door. My Beloved relocated it to the bayou behind our house.
* We've had to run off opossums after they've been spotted by the dog.
* We've had a raccoon in our trees in the backyard. 
* There were the rats...
* I had to run a little yippy dog out of our backyard who spent the entire time barking at ME, the homeowner. 

And that brings us to this weekend. 

Friday while my Beloved is getting ready for work, Atticus starts barking at something with dedication. Daniel heads out to the fence line and discovers the offender.

A turtle.

Of all the fence lines in all the neighborhood, this turtle had to pick ours. We assumed with it digging a hole and planting it's back end in it, she was probably laying eggs. Alice was very excited about seeing the turtle. "He's soooo cute!! I wub him!"

We come back in and eat, which only takes 30 minutes, and when we go out to check on her again, she's gone! The hole is covered back up and the turtle has vanished. And it's all my fault because I made Alice go inside the first time. Obviously. 

Now what?! I feel like these potential eggs are our responsibility! Do they need a warming light? I'm googling gestation periods of turtles, which according to the Internet could be anywhere from 60 - 90 days. I can barely remember if I fed the dog. This is not going to work.....


Now let's talk about Saturday....

Daniel had graduation so he was out of the house early. I get up and let the dog out. As I'm looking over things, I notice a dead adolescent opossum on our porch. 

Sweet baby Jesus, why does this keep happening?!?? 

I keep my eye on the dog and as soon as he gets to the porch I open the door and rush him in. Luckily he isn't the most observant and didn't seem to notice it at all. I text my Beloved and send him a picture because it's one of those things that if there wasn't a picture you might be tempted to think it's made up.

Nope. 

From my vantage point (INSIDE), it doesn't look like it's hurt. It looks like it got a third of the way across our back porch, which is not easy for a little dude, and decided, "nope, that was just too much" and keeled over. 

I am positive it was not there the day before, however, it is already attracting flies. 

NOPE!! 

Daniel calls between ceremonies and as we're talking I mention it's hair looks funny. It's either wet or mangy, I can't tell. He suggests calling Animal Control to check to see if they want to handle it. So I call the weekend non-emergency number and explain what's going on. I ask if that's something they would prefer to handle and she says 'yes ma'am'. Hallelujah. I tell her exactly where it is and how he can get into the backyard. She says the guy has two previous stops and will hit ours last. 

Cool.

I open the front door to watch for him. I see his truck pull up and I go the bedroom to put on some shoes so I can go out to talk to him. The dog is barking at the truck. I look out and don't see him so I head to the back porch and the dead thing is gone!! I turn around to see the truck drive off. He was like a dead animal scooping Ninja. 

Side observation: This is yet another example of my doubt in Atticus's ability to be a beneficial guard dog. He spent the entire time barking at the set of tires he could see from the front door and completely ignored the shovel carrying man on our back porch. Seriously. 

I appreciate them coming so swiftly, however, I have some questions that would be nice to get answered. How did it die? Should we be concerned? 

What is it about our back porch that screams to the dying animals, "this. This is where I want to die." It's a lot of work to get on our porch!! The lady next door has no challenging obstacles!! Why can't they die there!?!? 

I just can't.

Until next time......

Distractions

Sorry it's been a while. 

Every time I've had a quiet moment (which are VERY few these days) and meant to blog I would get distracted and then I would shower or do a chore or work on a knitting project I needed to have finished by this weekend and it got away from me. It has been a rough few weeks and I'm exhausted. Right now I'm keeping my fingers crossed she'll finally give up and go to sleep so I can eat a few cookies with my Dr. Pepper and put up some clothes without her help. 

This is what it looks likes when she helps with the laundry.

That was all clean....yep.

She also loves helping with the dishes.

Those were clean too.

And this happened Monday all before 8am. She settled on this after we told her we couldn't go outside at 7:15 in the morning. Instead she gleefully moved on to her tambourine. At 7 in the morning. We ended up going to Nana's. 

It's been a very busy few weeks.

Alice is in to EVERYTHING. She is CONSTANTLY moving. ALL. DAY.

And she thinks she's old enough to drink and drive! Such a mess.

We spend a lot of time on the floor playing or exploring. And her new favorite thing is exploring outside. More on that later. 

With her being very mobile, trips out to eat are becoming a challenge. She is no longer content with sitting still. We decided to try crayons this past weekend. They were a hit! 

I can't wait to color with her.

She's a very busy, busy child. And in quiet moments, I've had a few other obligations that took precedent over the blog. I'll try to do better.

March is promising to be much of the same so I'm not sure it will be an every day thing but I'll try my best. It's Spring Break so we will have some family time! That'll be nice. 

Yesterday we were playing in her room. She's figured out her ball/hammer game. Although her enthusiasm with the hammer is a little troubling. ;)

Until next time....

DISH Don't

A few months ago we started receiving bills from DISH network for someone who obviously doesn't live here. It's our address plus an apartment number. We've returned the bills with "not at this address". We've even called customer service to tell them only DISH customer service is RIDICULOUSLY unhelpful.

First, there are only two options. 
1 - Do you have service?
2 - Do you want service?

And when you dial 0 - it just sends you back to the original choices. None of which will help our problem.

When I try 1 or 2 (which we've tried NUMEROUS times) and I DO get a person, after telling them my issue they SAY they're going to transfer me to an agent who can help me. Only they transfer me right back to 1 or 2. 

Ridiculously unhelpful. 

The past few bills we've received have been red with "this is the last notice- your service will end!" bills. If only they would try CALLING Brenda and getting her REAL address. 

We've had such issues attempting to tell DISH they have the wrong address that we've given up. Now we just throw them away. 

And then today this arrived.

@%$ $@**&^!!

Since we don't know Brenda & she isn't living in our attic, they will get a very well worded note clearly stating the issue and how much we've gone through in an attempt to help DISH with this issue. But no dish. 

This is an awfully expensive way to send a letter but it isn't costing us anything. Silly, Dish. 

Into the Sun

This is the view from her room.

Her Oleanders are in bloom!

Now for a different view. 

My blogging buddy and Eddy's Momma shared her story today on her blog and it brought tears to my eyes. I'm still crying actually, I might need a nap or come ice cream. To imagine the heartbreak of what she and her family had to go through staggers me. 

This is why I don't think abortion is a black and white issue. I think sometimes it's medically necessary and that isn't anyone's fault. And people shouldn't be made to suffer when their choice is the hardest one they've ever had to make. 

As I type this, I'm watching Alice sleeping in her swing and I'm thankful that's not something we had to face. 

Until next time....

Brachiosaur Sauropod, Our Brachiosaur Sauropod!

Did you know the Texas state dinosaur is the Brachiosaur Sauropod? Yeah, I didn't either.

Last night my Beloved came home with a booklet from the state senator's office on the Lee campus. In it  lists the official Texas state symbols. And there are plenty!

The list entertains my Beloved but also frustrates him. He's annoyed at the fact we need a state gem AND a state gemstone cut. He is also put out with our "flying mammal" which happens to be the Mexican Free-tailed Bat. He's put out because he's pretty sure bats are the only flying mammal with the exception of the Flying Squirrel which "as we all know - glides!"

He is also annoyed with the fact that the list of 33 - including everything from dish (chili) to grass (Sideoats Grama) to pepper (Jalapeno) to native pepper (Chiltepin) to seashell (Lightening Welk) - required legislation. EACH. ONE.

Yep, our tax dollars at work. 

He is very passionate about this even before my second cup of coffee on an early morning after about 3 hours of sleep. ;)

I go on to say everyone in our house is crazy. (This is after we had to pretend to put a scoop of the dog's 'new food' in his old food so he would eat it. It's the same food. He's retarded.) Daniel claims if everyone in the house is at 100% crazy - he's only like 20%. 

To which my reply was "ummm no, you're about 98.5%."

And he laughed. Mostly because he knows it's true. ;)

Here's the list just in case you were wondering what the Texas State Folk Dance was. Spoiler alert! It's the Square Dance! 

Until next time....

Day 12 - Where You Ate Lunch

Right next to this girl!

She loves to sit up although she's not able to sit up for very long. This only lasted a few minutes before she was tired. 

I've enjoyed being home with her. Even on days when she's fussy or needy - being home with her makes me happy.

And I'll get to stay home longer! 

For the second time - I've been laid off. My last day is Friday. And I'm so stinking excited. It's probably unhealthy to be so happy to be let go.  

The first time I got let go it took me out of a really bad situation - which was nice!

This time, I get to stay home with Little Bitty which is SUPER nice! 

I'm thankful I won't have to miss a thing when it comes to our girl. 

Until next time...

The Thunder Rolls

**And now I have Garth Brooks stuck in my head. Way to go T.

Atticus has moved in to teenagerdom. He rolls his eyes, sighs and refuses to sleep in his bed or smile for pictures. He now prefers MY spot on the couch - sometimes refusing to move even when I sit on him. Seriously. I SIT on him and he stays put. Hardheaded beast.

He is grown and he no longer needs us. This makes me sad.

In the wee hours of the morning, the heavens opened and thunder shook the house. I counted two more claps of thunder before I heard little puppy feet on our wood floor.

And then he was snuggled between us on the bed.

And I smiled...

....because maybe he does still need us.

And I realized - if we ever have children....

.....we're going to need a bigger bed. :)

Until next time....

Just a Tuesday

There are moments in life where you will always remember where you were when.

It was a Tuesday. We got up to get ready for class, turned on our TV and watched the world change. It looked like a movie - hijacked planes, burning buildings. I remember thinking Will Smith was going to come swiftly to the rescue and get the girl. Only he didn't. And it wasn't.

We watched the world change live on every channel. We were glued to our TV sets for days watching the destruction over and over and over again until we thought we couldn't cry any more. Only we could because 9/11 is a wound that should never heal. It left a massive scar that will never go away.

We stopped as a nation and cried together. Then we got angry together. Then we came together. This horrible act changed my nation but it also brought my nation together.

And now its been 10 years. A decade. Just crazy.

I was watching a little bit of the ceremony this morning and listened to the names being read. A girl was reading names and ended with her dad's name, she lost him when she was nine making her 19 now. That's a lot of life! That's Junior High, High School, College - all without her dad because some wack-a-doo's had a 'mission'. And it still doesn't make any sense.

10 years later the footage still makes me cry. 10 years later the stories still break my heart.

And I hope it always will.

Until next time....

Day 21 - Faceless Self-Portrait

Today we got to visit with Daniel's family in Huntsville and celebrate his Granny's 84th birthday. I love being in the car with my Beloved. We talk and laugh and sing and sometimes I get to read. :) This is today.

Note the green purse - this is the one I need shoes for. See! It totally makes sense! ;)

Until next time...

Day 5 & 6 - High and Low!

This weekend Tami and I are going on a Road Trip!!! Since I will be without my computer, I thought I'd post High Angle and Low Angle together.

This is our Garden Gnome. His name is Gneil (the G is silent).

Until next time...

Sinking Sand

Owning a home is a blessing and a curse. It's fun to decorate and have a space that's YOURS. But cleaning it all the time isn't all that enjoyable. And eventually the fun place to decorate falls apart. Right now I fear our house is slowly sinking. The house had foundation issues corrected with the previous homeowners with the exception of one section of the house. That would be the sinking section. Our Kitchen. So there's cracks in the floor, the walls are shifting and an entire cabinet section is coming down (which means my dishes are now on the floor of our guest room). And I'm trying to handle it with patience. But patience isn't my strong point. And I don't do well with living in chaos. This is an expense we are expecting to have to come up with soon.

So last week when our bathroom sink started leaking in to our bedroom, we were a little unprepared. It soaked some of our carpet and popped tiles in our middle bathroom. We didn't know where the water was coming from and had to spend some time searching. Daniel comes in to the kitchen on Saturday morning and says "I think I'm going to have to take the mirror down". Again, I don't live well in chaos. And by this time our bedroom looks like our bathroom threw up all over it. And now he wants to take the mirror down. It's a REALLY big mirror which means lots of bad luck if it breaks.

There's a scene in Turner and Hooch where Tom Hanks comes home to a DISASTER and in his shock he just starts scrubbing a counter top. I kind of felt a lot like that. I just picked up a rag and started cleaning the kitchen.

Luckily they located the leak and the mirror didn't have to come down. It was an easy fix. But now we have to fix a tile floor we didn't plan on having to fix and decide what to do about the carpet that has seen better days.

And I need to vacuum. And there are weeds in the flowerbeds. And our house is still sinking. And.....

What's in a Name

Today I'm getting to work from home due to our office being without Internet. It's nice to sit in my dinning room and work while the dog sleeps on the couch and rain is falling outside. Such a lovely afternoon!

I'm thinking about making a change to my little blog. I feel "Daily Dose of Crazy" might be false advertisement and the guilt is getting to me. While I am crazy...daily, I don't always post daily.

So here are some ideas:

"Was that my Outside Voice?" - this seems a bit too long to me.
"Helmet Not Included" - if you know me at all, you know I'm a TOTAL calamity and should probably wear a helmet or be in a bubble at all times. I'm currently covered in bruises resulting from a recent car accident. Lovely.
"Until Next Time" - this is how I usually end my blog postings. It's simple and true!
"Daily Dose of Crazy" - or I could always stay the same and you, the reader (all 12 of you) will have to be forgiving about it not always being 'daily'.

What's your vote? Is it totally inappropriate to change the name of your blog at random? Got any ideas yourself? Let me know, I'm easily distracted. Hey!! That would be another one!! "Easily Distracted" See - it's totally appropriate.

Until next time....

Big Girl Job 2.0

I got a job! YAY! I'm the new Education Event Planner for SkinMedica. I will be responsible for planning their training seminars all over the nation. It's a new position so there is lots of potential and I'm so thrilled. I'm stationed in Houston and will get to do some traveling which is exciting! And the New Boss doesn't scoff when I check a bag! SCORE!

I was really surprised they offered me the job. I'm not always good in interviews; I get nervous and say things I probably shouldn't. For instance, one of the questions they asked me was what 4 words would my previous boss use to describe me and the first word that came to mind was 'strange' so I went with that. Seriously. I started with 'strange'. I then went on to explain why and apparently sold it well because they hired the Strange One. Yay!

So now I have a new commute (SHORTER! Thank you Lord!) to a new office with new responsibilities. And while I have to get used to going to work every day, it'll totally be worth it.

Although I'm not sure Atticus agrees. :)

Until next time......

My 20's were so Last Week

I turn 30 in three days. Three. Days. My twenties will be completely over and I'm trying to be okay with it. It has made me think of the difference 10 years can make. I was only in my twenties for 10 years and in those 10 years, a lot of life happened!

(*this is in the order they come to mind, events will skip around)

I graduated college, met a boy, got in a car accident, took a cruise, switched jobs 3 times, got engaged, was hospitalized for blood clots, was diagnosed with a MTHFR mutation, got married, moved in with a boy, found a career, learned to like beer, found my Point of Enough and moved it, bought a house, learned to sew, got laid off, rescued an animal, said good bye to people I love, learned some relationships aren't worth it, made a quilt...

And while 30 might be 'grown', there are still some things I hold on to. I recently retrieved my stuffed animals from my mother's house and I still love them! I can still fall asleep on a pile of blankets on my Mom's kitchen floor. Rain puddles still ask to be stomped in and sliding down our hall in socks still makes me giggle. And I'm okay with that! Believing in magic keeps the wrinkles away. ;)

So I'm facing 30 and another 10 years of milestones, heartaches and growth. People keep telling me they'll be the best years yet. I guess we'll see!

Until next time.....when I'm a whole year older.

My first birthday cake.

Et tu, Brute?

I love books. I love pages - the way they smell and feel! My Beloved asks that I wait to get in the car before I smell my new book - he doesn't want the people of Barnes and Noble to think I'm crazy. He's so sweet. :) And I love to 'rescue' books from half price book stores. It brings me joy to give them a good home. I'm a nerd and I'm okay with that.

Here's where my guilt comes in. I have an Ereader. GASP!

Daniel got me a Nook last year for our anniversary and I love it. I can download books and carry them with me everywhere. LOTS of books!!! In my purse! It's SWEET. I struggled with this decision but after having to pack three books to get through a flight, I was sold.

Purists might call me a traitor but I can live with that. I still LOVE printed books. I still buy books! I still love a good lived in spine. I still smell the pages. But it's lovely to have access to hundreds of books at my fingertips. Absolutely lovely. Just sayin'.

Until next time....

Progress Report #2

So I've been in denial and have managed to avoid posting an update regarding my 20x30 Progress. So here goes.....

It's not going. I should have set the goal to GAIN 20 by 30. THAT I could do.

I haven't actually gained anything but I haven't lost anything either. I'm walking on my Treadmill and I'm trying to eat better but nothing is changing weight wise. This is my problem, (I know what you're thinking, "girl, you have way more problems then that" Whatever. I know my issues and I almost always embrace them!) I am an instant results kind of girl. If I walk two miles a day - I should lose 2 pounds a day. It's simple math. ;) But that's not the way life works (and I was never good with math). It goes back to why my Beloved won't let me have a garden - I expect growth the next day. And apparently that's just irrational. Who knew?!

I need to refocus.

So I'm going home today to try out our new EA Active Sports game for the Wii - and hopefully I won't die. I'll let you know.

Until next time....