Thursday, June 11, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Back to trivia
Today was horrible. I mean it was so bad I hid in my closet during my lunch hour. And it wasn't even the kids... it was the adults. I was snapped at three times by my peers. I know it's the end of the year and everybody is stressed... but really? Don't snap at me!
I've missed the last few weeks of trivia, but tonight I made my return. The usual 2 people were there with one of the floaters. They called me their "lucky charm." I guess they hadn't done well the last few weeks, but we got second place tonight and won a round.
It was just what I needed. When I got home from work I was exhausted, cranky, sad, hot and sweaty (from moving yet more junk) and I was somewhat tempted to just crawl in bed and hide. Instead, I took a quick (but refreshing) shower and headed out to trivia. And I'm SO GLAD I did. It's just what I needed. I laughed until my side hurt. I missed my trivia peeps.
I've missed the last few weeks of trivia, but tonight I made my return. The usual 2 people were there with one of the floaters. They called me their "lucky charm." I guess they hadn't done well the last few weeks, but we got second place tonight and won a round.
It was just what I needed. When I got home from work I was exhausted, cranky, sad, hot and sweaty (from moving yet more junk) and I was somewhat tempted to just crawl in bed and hide. Instead, I took a quick (but refreshing) shower and headed out to trivia. And I'm SO GLAD I did. It's just what I needed. I laughed until my side hurt. I missed my trivia peeps.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Winding Down = Wound Up
This is the last week of school...
Yesterday I had my kids help me move all the stuff from my new classroom to a storage room. It's a huge room and was FULL of stuff - some of it pretty heavy/bulky. They worked so hard! I even had them disassemble things and move stuff around in the classroom.
I was so proud and impressed with them.
They even helped me move some stuff into my new room today.
All those energetic little people... two hands each... what they did would have taken me SO much time.
Awesome!
It worked out well because they're all done with their assignments and have a major case of Spring Fever/End of Year - itis.
Book club at my place tonight - Christopher Moore's Lamb. I'm not quite done with it, but then nobody else was either - crazy days!
On the super-cute side... one of the ladies brought her dog, Monkey (well deserved name). Monkey and Kaylee are the same size and though it took them a while to get along they love playing together now.
At one point Monkey thought she wanted to play with Sheba, but Sheba didn't want anything to do with Monkey. Sheba and Kaylee play together all the time... so maybe Kaylee was marking Sheba as her territory or maybe it was the squawk that Monkey got out of Kaylee, but Kaylee informed Monkey that she was to "stay away from that cat!"
It was cute. Kaylee was protecting Sheba.
They love each other.
/happy momma
Yesterday I had my kids help me move all the stuff from my new classroom to a storage room. It's a huge room and was FULL of stuff - some of it pretty heavy/bulky. They worked so hard! I even had them disassemble things and move stuff around in the classroom.
I was so proud and impressed with them.
They even helped me move some stuff into my new room today.
All those energetic little people... two hands each... what they did would have taken me SO much time.
Awesome!
It worked out well because they're all done with their assignments and have a major case of Spring Fever/End of Year - itis.
Book club at my place tonight - Christopher Moore's Lamb. I'm not quite done with it, but then nobody else was either - crazy days!
On the super-cute side... one of the ladies brought her dog, Monkey (well deserved name). Monkey and Kaylee are the same size and though it took them a while to get along they love playing together now.
At one point Monkey thought she wanted to play with Sheba, but Sheba didn't want anything to do with Monkey. Sheba and Kaylee play together all the time... so maybe Kaylee was marking Sheba as her territory or maybe it was the squawk that Monkey got out of Kaylee, but Kaylee informed Monkey that she was to "stay away from that cat!"
It was cute. Kaylee was protecting Sheba.
They love each other.
/happy momma
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Saturday, June 06, 2009
Productivity
Yesterday:
*Caught up on my grading
*Cleaned out my new classroom a bit
*Chicken Fajitas for lunch
*Walk by the lake with Kaylee
*Bought Kaylee's food
*Got Kaylee's nails done
*Rearranged my bedroom (only took 3 tries)
*Did laundry
*Read
*Watched Rocky
Today:
*Went to arts and craft festival
*Bought thank you gift for mentoring teacher
*Walked Kaylee
*Bought gardening stuff and hummingbird feeder
*Set up hummingbird feeder
*Aerated and weeded the garden boxes
*Weed-eated the back yard
*Did the dishes
*Spun
*Watched 1st disc of How I Met Your Mother Season 1
*Watched Rocky II and Rocky III
*Started preparing for the Blogging Class I'll be teaching in a couple of weeks
*Caught up on my grading
*Cleaned out my new classroom a bit
*Chicken Fajitas for lunch
*Walk by the lake with Kaylee
*Bought Kaylee's food
*Got Kaylee's nails done
*Rearranged my bedroom (only took 3 tries)
*Did laundry
*Read
*Watched Rocky
Today:
*Went to arts and craft festival
*Bought thank you gift for mentoring teacher
*Walked Kaylee
*Bought gardening stuff and hummingbird feeder
*Set up hummingbird feeder
*Aerated and weeded the garden boxes
*Weed-eated the back yard
*Did the dishes
*Spun
*Watched 1st disc of How I Met Your Mother Season 1
*Watched Rocky II and Rocky III
*Started preparing for the Blogging Class I'll be teaching in a couple of weeks
Friday, June 05, 2009
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Oh man... 5 more days
I've got to make it through school tomorrow, concert duty tomorrow night, school Thursday - Wednesday and then next Thursday is our End of the Year Celebration.
So really... just 5 more days, a long night tomorrow and a party next Thursday.
But it is SO the end of the year. The kids are bouncing off the walls and everybody is crazy stressed. All the 8th graders are in a crunch trying to get their end-of-the-year presentations ready (meaning they need lots of technology help) and I'm still trying to run my classes and grade assignments. I've got teachers coming to me with the tech questions and I spent a good part of today signing nearly 300 check-out forms. I also need to fill out comments for 200 students. Oh and the server crashed again during my biggest class. That's always fun!
We're back to the "One Day At A Time" philosophy of life... to keep me sane.
On the plus side - mom will be here in 10 days and we're gonna have a BLAST!
So really... just 5 more days, a long night tomorrow and a party next Thursday.
But it is SO the end of the year. The kids are bouncing off the walls and everybody is crazy stressed. All the 8th graders are in a crunch trying to get their end-of-the-year presentations ready (meaning they need lots of technology help) and I'm still trying to run my classes and grade assignments. I've got teachers coming to me with the tech questions and I spent a good part of today signing nearly 300 check-out forms. I also need to fill out comments for 200 students. Oh and the server crashed again during my biggest class. That's always fun!
We're back to the "One Day At A Time" philosophy of life... to keep me sane.
On the plus side - mom will be here in 10 days and we're gonna have a BLAST!
Monday, June 01, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Springtime in the Rockies
Went to RMNP today. They opened the pass last weekend and the sleepy towns around here have suddenly become not-so-sleepy.
You almost always see elk when you first enter the park (either side):
And my favorite (moose) were everywhere today:
It's hard to see (because he blends in with the grass so well) but there's a coyote behind the moose. He came out of the woods and made a wide path around the moose. The moose stopped eating for a second, looked up at the coyote, then went back to eating - totally unconcerned:
Better look at the coyote:
This guy (a yearling) was right by the road enjoying the new growth:
And last, but not least, the strangest inhabitants of the park... they're seasonal...
Anybody wanna come visit me now?
Huh, huh?
I've got a guest room!
You almost always see elk when you first enter the park (either side):
And my favorite (moose) were everywhere today:
It's hard to see (because he blends in with the grass so well) but there's a coyote behind the moose. He came out of the woods and made a wide path around the moose. The moose stopped eating for a second, looked up at the coyote, then went back to eating - totally unconcerned:
Better look at the coyote:
This guy (a yearling) was right by the road enjoying the new growth:
And last, but not least, the strangest inhabitants of the park... they're seasonal...
Anybody wanna come visit me now?
Huh, huh?
I've got a guest room!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Victory Ranch Alpacas - Memorial Day '09
I drove down on Friday and got there around 4:30pm. They'd just had a baby at 2:40pm and there were two other babies (one a couple of weeks old and one about a week old).
It was rainy Friday and Saturday, but Sunday and Monday were beautiful.
I helped out around the ranch/with the animals (carried the baby around) and on Sunday I spent a large portion of the day sitting in the store doing spinning demonstrations. I even gave an impromptu spinning lesson.
I left Victory Ranch three skeins of my hand spun yarn and they gave me more alpaca to spin! Woot!
I even managed to wrangle the critters on my own on Saturday night when everyone else was gone... even the ones that snuck into the barn and weren't supposed to be there.
Below are pictures of babies, hats, puppies and peeps.
This is the baby that was born right before I got there:
The rest of the babies - they love to run around first thing in the morning:
Zeus - he's one of the older Great Pyrenees, but he was rolling around in the dirt just like a puppy :)
This is Hamsa, my favorite VR doggie:
One of the ladies that works at the store used some of my parents' hand painted yarn to make this hat:
And some of the Victory Ranch Peeps:
Overall, a great weekend.
It was rainy Friday and Saturday, but Sunday and Monday were beautiful.
I helped out around the ranch/with the animals (carried the baby around) and on Sunday I spent a large portion of the day sitting in the store doing spinning demonstrations. I even gave an impromptu spinning lesson.
I left Victory Ranch three skeins of my hand spun yarn and they gave me more alpaca to spin! Woot!
I even managed to wrangle the critters on my own on Saturday night when everyone else was gone... even the ones that snuck into the barn and weren't supposed to be there.
Below are pictures of babies, hats, puppies and peeps.
This is the baby that was born right before I got there:
The rest of the babies - they love to run around first thing in the morning:
Zeus - he's one of the older Great Pyrenees, but he was rolling around in the dirt just like a puppy :)
This is Hamsa, my favorite VR doggie:
One of the ladies that works at the store used some of my parents' hand painted yarn to make this hat:
And some of the Victory Ranch Peeps:
Overall, a great weekend.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Thanks doc
"Your sinuses are a mess."
All of my sinuses (cheeks, forehead, and behind the eyes) are... a mess. He wants to operate to straighten my septum and do a sort of "angioplasty" on my sinuses... basically open up my sinuses and make them wider. The problem is the blood vessels in the sinuses don't move the blood fast enough so the linings swell up and mucus accumulates, letting the germs multiply (it's like their own little paradise). The deviated septum doesn't help matters because it also inhibits drainage. Both of these things lead to lots of sinus infections and when you get sick you stay sick longer because the germies can't drain properly, which describes me to a T.
So... sometime this summer I'll go in to have my head Roto-Rootered. Yay.
On the plus side, when it's all said and done, I should be able to breath a LOT better... and while I may still have sinus infections (because of my allergies) they shouldn't last as long or be as severe... plus when I get sick (colds, flus, etc) I shouldn't stay sick as long.
Random: I saw a funny bumper sticker: "Fish tremble at the sound of my name."
hehehe
All of my sinuses (cheeks, forehead, and behind the eyes) are... a mess. He wants to operate to straighten my septum and do a sort of "angioplasty" on my sinuses... basically open up my sinuses and make them wider. The problem is the blood vessels in the sinuses don't move the blood fast enough so the linings swell up and mucus accumulates, letting the germs multiply (it's like their own little paradise). The deviated septum doesn't help matters because it also inhibits drainage. Both of these things lead to lots of sinus infections and when you get sick you stay sick longer because the germies can't drain properly, which describes me to a T.
So... sometime this summer I'll go in to have my head Roto-Rootered. Yay.
On the plus side, when it's all said and done, I should be able to breath a LOT better... and while I may still have sinus infections (because of my allergies) they shouldn't last as long or be as severe... plus when I get sick (colds, flus, etc) I shouldn't stay sick as long.
Random: I saw a funny bumper sticker: "Fish tremble at the sound of my name."
hehehe
Monday, May 18, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Park Pics - as promised
I've lived in CO since July '08 and I've seen several moose since moving here, but I haven't had a camera or I was dodging it with my car.
This first picture is from a few weeks ago when I went down to the alpaca ranch, big horn sheep:
Today's pics, Elk (sorry for the blur, kind of far away):
And finally I had a camera and the opportunity to take pics of a moose:
And my favorite, The Smiling Moose:
This first picture is from a few weeks ago when I went down to the alpaca ranch, big horn sheep:
Today's pics, Elk (sorry for the blur, kind of far away):
And finally I had a camera and the opportunity to take pics of a moose:
And my favorite, The Smiling Moose:
Saturday, May 16, 2009
If I'd only remembered my camera
So the class went well yesterday and I did learn how to do some new things - just by people asking me questions and me having to figure it out.
I had lunch with a friend - the one I went wedding dress shopping with. At the end of my class she invited me over last night to watch Yes Man (funny).
While I was over there last night she and her fiancé invited Kaylee and I to an outing/hike this morning. His family owns quite a bit of property up in the mountains (well it's kinda all mountains around here) and they were taking her guinea pig (Leo) out to graze on some fresh grass (and they the fiancé was going to show us some property he's about to build on).
Leo (the pig) was cute and just sat there and ate grass, but Kaylee was a hoot. She fetched sticks and her tennis ball.
We were out there for 2 hours and we hiked up and down and all around the property/mountain/hill. There's a pond out there and at first Kaylee didn't want to go near it, but she slowly approached it and sniffed and sampled the water, but then she got braver and really hyper and started running around the pond, splashing in and out of the mud and puddles... And out of nowhere she jumped right into the middle of the pond... the pond that was deeper than any of us (including her) thought. She totally disappeared under the water and for 1/2 a second I thought I was going to have to jump in and save her - then she surfaced and started splashing and dog paddling to shore. When she reached land she ran straight to me (sitting on a rock) and jumped in my lap. Wet and muddy! I pushed her off (instinct) and I guess she decided since I wasn't going to save her because she ran as far away from the pond as she could get. I felt kind of bad about pushing her off so I called her back and gave her some good pets, but she didn't try to splash in the water again.
It was hilarious.
We were all laughing hysterically because she was so hyper and ridiculous and funny. If I'd only remembered my camera!
For the rest of the hike she was tamer, but trotted around happily.
I had fun, she had fun, and my friends had fun. I think even the guinea pig had fun.
And it is BEAUTIFUL out there - mountains, animal tracks, aspen groves, a baby pine tree growing out of the old, rotting stump of a dead pine tree... If I'd only remembered my camera!
I had lunch with a friend - the one I went wedding dress shopping with. At the end of my class she invited me over last night to watch Yes Man (funny).
While I was over there last night she and her fiancé invited Kaylee and I to an outing/hike this morning. His family owns quite a bit of property up in the mountains (well it's kinda all mountains around here) and they were taking her guinea pig (Leo) out to graze on some fresh grass (and they the fiancé was going to show us some property he's about to build on).
Leo (the pig) was cute and just sat there and ate grass, but Kaylee was a hoot. She fetched sticks and her tennis ball.
We were out there for 2 hours and we hiked up and down and all around the property/mountain/hill. There's a pond out there and at first Kaylee didn't want to go near it, but she slowly approached it and sniffed and sampled the water, but then she got braver and really hyper and started running around the pond, splashing in and out of the mud and puddles... And out of nowhere she jumped right into the middle of the pond... the pond that was deeper than any of us (including her) thought. She totally disappeared under the water and for 1/2 a second I thought I was going to have to jump in and save her - then she surfaced and started splashing and dog paddling to shore. When she reached land she ran straight to me (sitting on a rock) and jumped in my lap. Wet and muddy! I pushed her off (instinct) and I guess she decided since I wasn't going to save her because she ran as far away from the pond as she could get. I felt kind of bad about pushing her off so I called her back and gave her some good pets, but she didn't try to splash in the water again.
It was hilarious.
We were all laughing hysterically because she was so hyper and ridiculous and funny. If I'd only remembered my camera!
For the rest of the hike she was tamer, but trotted around happily.
I had fun, she had fun, and my friends had fun. I think even the guinea pig had fun.
And it is BEAUTIFUL out there - mountains, animal tracks, aspen groves, a baby pine tree growing out of the old, rotting stump of a dead pine tree... If I'd only remembered my camera!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Baby pics!
Aya posted her sonogram pics!
Say hello to my new little niece or nephew!!!
I'll have to show it to my kids tomorrow - they loved the pics of my head - for the most part. Reactions ranged from "Oh my god that is SO gross!" to "Oh that is AWESOME!"
Say hello to my new little niece or nephew!!!
I'll have to show it to my kids tomorrow - they loved the pics of my head - for the most part. Reactions ranged from "Oh my god that is SO gross!" to "Oh that is AWESOME!"
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Best pictures - ever!
So I'm super excited about this... go figure... but I finally got the CT of my sinuses today. I sort of knew the med tech who gave me a CD to show my class and a 10 minute run-through of all the different views. She even showed me a 3d rendering of my skull... creepy cool. I'm posting the pics here for your viewing pleasure as well. (I'd better get these out here before Aya posts her baby pics and blows my silly old skull right out of the water!)
My skull:
Check out that filling! For shame!
Top of my head/brain:
Down a few layers - looking down from the top:
Side view:
From the bottom - looking up:
My sinuses - the < > section should be all black (air), but you can see all sorts of gunk in there (yuck!):
From the front:
My skull:
Check out that filling! For shame!
Top of my head/brain:
Down a few layers - looking down from the top:
Side view:
From the bottom - looking up:
My sinuses - the < > section should be all black (air), but you can see all sorts of gunk in there (yuck!):
From the front:
Monday, May 11, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
*GROWL*
I just spent half an hour coercing my dog and giving her a multitude of treats just so that I could brush her... and she still flinched every brush stroke.
I'd really like to get my hands on any person who thinks it's ok to beat animals... especially cute, beautiful, sweet, loving puppies like this
I'd really like to get my hands on any person who thinks it's ok to beat animals... especially cute, beautiful, sweet, loving puppies like this
Round 2
Ok, that's it. I'm going back today for a 2nd round.
Once just wasn't enough.
I have to drive 1 hr 10 mins to get to the theater - one way - and that doesn't even phase me.
Yes, it's THAT good.
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Deviant
I went to Denver yesterday to see an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist (Otolaryngologist) to see what's what with my sinuses.
He listened well, but had 3 different phone calls that pulled him away from me so his communication wasn't so great...
He sprayed stuff up my nose and down my throat to "open me up" so he could "take a look up there" and then left me on my own. He warned me before he sprayed that it wouldn't taste or smell nice... he didn't warn me it would make everything numb. It felt like I couldn't swallow. So there I am... sitting in a tiny room, by myself, can't swallow and staring at this "scope" - long freaking instrument - and I'm guessing I had a terrified/comical look on my face because when the nurse walked by she stopped and retraced her steps. She said "Feels like you can't swallow?" I nodded. "You can, it feels like you can't but you can. You're just numb." My reply, "Right now I'm more concerned with where *that* thing is going." She had placed this two foot scope right in front of me. She apologized and closed the case, explained the procedure and assured me that it wouldn't hurt.
After the nurse left - and before the doctor returned - I sent a text message to my mom "You should see the size of the thing he's about to shove up my nose and down my throat."
He came back and when I asked he assured me it wouldn't hurt. Then he started trying to poke that thing up my nose. My response "Owie that kind of hurts." So he tried the other nostril. "Uhm. Ow! That hurts too."
Apparently, I have a "deviated septum," which basically means the septum (cartilidgey-part) between my nostrils is crooked. It also means he couldn't get his scope up there. Apparently deviated septums can cause chronic sinus problems as well. Uh huh.
So now I have to go for a CT so he can get a picture of my sinuses. Once he sees that we'll go from there.
On the plus side the numbing wore off after a couple of hours, but the stuff he sprayed to open up my sinuses lasted until this morning! I was actually able to breath out of my nose!
After consulting with mom we decided it might have happened when I was on a horse - the horse bucked up and hit my nose. I insisted it hurt, but it only bled a little and then I was fine. So we thought it was fine. No bruising etc. So it was either that incident or it's been that way since birth.
After the doctor I went to see Wolverine. It was ok - goodish. I was slightly disappointed. Thought it had so much more potential.
Back to work today and my kids are still being really nice to me. Told my mentor teacher I should be sick (or fake being sick) more often!
Also - yearbooks are in! All my hard work and stress paid off - they look pretty good!
He listened well, but had 3 different phone calls that pulled him away from me so his communication wasn't so great...
He sprayed stuff up my nose and down my throat to "open me up" so he could "take a look up there" and then left me on my own. He warned me before he sprayed that it wouldn't taste or smell nice... he didn't warn me it would make everything numb. It felt like I couldn't swallow. So there I am... sitting in a tiny room, by myself, can't swallow and staring at this "scope" - long freaking instrument - and I'm guessing I had a terrified/comical look on my face because when the nurse walked by she stopped and retraced her steps. She said "Feels like you can't swallow?" I nodded. "You can, it feels like you can't but you can. You're just numb." My reply, "Right now I'm more concerned with where *that* thing is going." She had placed this two foot scope right in front of me. She apologized and closed the case, explained the procedure and assured me that it wouldn't hurt.
After the nurse left - and before the doctor returned - I sent a text message to my mom "You should see the size of the thing he's about to shove up my nose and down my throat."
He came back and when I asked he assured me it wouldn't hurt. Then he started trying to poke that thing up my nose. My response "Owie that kind of hurts." So he tried the other nostril. "Uhm. Ow! That hurts too."
Apparently, I have a "deviated septum," which basically means the septum (cartilidgey-part) between my nostrils is crooked. It also means he couldn't get his scope up there. Apparently deviated septums can cause chronic sinus problems as well. Uh huh.
So now I have to go for a CT so he can get a picture of my sinuses. Once he sees that we'll go from there.
On the plus side the numbing wore off after a couple of hours, but the stuff he sprayed to open up my sinuses lasted until this morning! I was actually able to breath out of my nose!
After consulting with mom we decided it might have happened when I was on a horse - the horse bucked up and hit my nose. I insisted it hurt, but it only bled a little and then I was fine. So we thought it was fine. No bruising etc. So it was either that incident or it's been that way since birth.
After the doctor I went to see Wolverine. It was ok - goodish. I was slightly disappointed. Thought it had so much more potential.
Back to work today and my kids are still being really nice to me. Told my mentor teacher I should be sick (or fake being sick) more often!
Also - yearbooks are in! All my hard work and stress paid off - they look pretty good!
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
In a good place
I've missed the last two days of work and tomorrow I'm supposed to teach a workshop for my fellow teachers on how to build a website.
I've been worrying about it all week and this evening I got a phone call from some of my fellow teachers asking if I was still up to teaching the class tomorrow and offering to start a phone tree to let the participants know it needed to be rescheduled.
I went down to school for 5 minutes, gave them the list, thanked them, came back home and now I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
Good people.
Good place.
Lucy me.
I've been worrying about it all week and this evening I got a phone call from some of my fellow teachers asking if I was still up to teaching the class tomorrow and offering to start a phone tree to let the participants know it needed to be rescheduled.
I went down to school for 5 minutes, gave them the list, thanked them, came back home and now I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
Good people.
Good place.
Lucy me.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Up and down and all around
Last Friday Kaylee and I drove down to Albuquerque, NM to meet my parents. Mom had a meeting on Saturday for the Wool Festival Board so Dad and I drove around Abq and spent some time down on the old plaza. We met 7 of the Navajo Code Talkers who were there for a book signing. One of the men was the (very) proud grandfather of the actor Adam Beach (from Windtalkers).
Saturday night we drove up to Mora, NM to visit our friends at Victory Ranch Alpacas. They're doing well and so are the critters. I spent some time with the parental units and with the people who run the ranch and work on it.
I even made a new friend.
The people there are really easy to talk to and they always make me feel welcome right away. We played board games, enjoyed half-hazard gun cap gun fire, and went to the hot springs. It almost felt like I was back in MN with my long-time friends. I'm planning a return engagement this summer - where we will take in a drive-in movie (haven't been to one of those in YEARS).
Monday morning I helped out a little around the ranch: weening babies from their mamas, helping to hold down an adult female so they could trim her hooves, letting the alpacas out to pasture, bringing the horses in... I love doing that stuff! If I hadn't just spent 1/3 of my life in school to be a teacher I would be sorely tempted to drop everything and beg for a full-time job at the ranch.
Kaylee and I said goodbye to my parents and our friends and drove back to CO on Monday afternoon. I went to work Tuesday but started feeling ishy - then worse. Called in sick today - went to the doctor - sinus infection is back in action even though I was still on the antibiotic. She prescribed a new, stronger drug and I'm trying it out. Hopefully the 3rd time is the charm. It's really frustrating because I hate missing work, I'm tired of feeling miserable and I reallllllly thought I was finally getting better.
Saturday night we drove up to Mora, NM to visit our friends at Victory Ranch Alpacas. They're doing well and so are the critters. I spent some time with the parental units and with the people who run the ranch and work on it.
I even made a new friend.
The people there are really easy to talk to and they always make me feel welcome right away. We played board games, enjoyed half-hazard gun cap gun fire, and went to the hot springs. It almost felt like I was back in MN with my long-time friends. I'm planning a return engagement this summer - where we will take in a drive-in movie (haven't been to one of those in YEARS).
Monday morning I helped out a little around the ranch: weening babies from their mamas, helping to hold down an adult female so they could trim her hooves, letting the alpacas out to pasture, bringing the horses in... I love doing that stuff! If I hadn't just spent 1/3 of my life in school to be a teacher I would be sorely tempted to drop everything and beg for a full-time job at the ranch.
Kaylee and I said goodbye to my parents and our friends and drove back to CO on Monday afternoon. I went to work Tuesday but started feeling ishy - then worse. Called in sick today - went to the doctor - sinus infection is back in action even though I was still on the antibiotic. She prescribed a new, stronger drug and I'm trying it out. Hopefully the 3rd time is the charm. It's really frustrating because I hate missing work, I'm tired of feeling miserable and I reallllllly thought I was finally getting better.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Ugh. Glad that's over.
It really was "one of those days."
Kids were all over the place and being naughty.
Had a headache for 3/4 of the day.
Had a backache all day.
It's for days like today that I must remember to post on good days - so I don't forget they exist.
Highlight (one and only bright moment): went to the book fair and got a free book!
Kids were all over the place and being naughty.
Had a headache for 3/4 of the day.
Had a backache all day.
It's for days like today that I must remember to post on good days - so I don't forget they exist.
Highlight (one and only bright moment): went to the book fair and got a free book!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Pictures
Started snowing last night - still snowing... only 4 inches here, but they are calling for up to 3 feet in some places.
I'm sure this little guy wasn't expecting this when he decided to fly north for the "Srping"
The aspen in my front yard
I'm sure this little guy wasn't expecting this when he decided to fly north for the "Srping"
The aspen in my front yard
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Twitter - Answer
Twitter: "spring inc! 1st spider in house eep! wonder if kaylee will protect me? sheba is worthless on bug patrol - just sits there & squawks at them."
Answer: I let Kaylee outside to go potty and she ran straight for this pretty little butterfly sitting on the ground. Puppy was giving it a good sniff when it opened its wings quite suddenly. Kaylee's reaction? She jumped back a foot and loooooked at the butterfly. Guess she won't be my fearsome arachnid-killing companion after all.
Answer: I let Kaylee outside to go potty and she ran straight for this pretty little butterfly sitting on the ground. Puppy was giving it a good sniff when it opened its wings quite suddenly. Kaylee's reaction? She jumped back a foot and loooooked at the butterfly. Guess she won't be my fearsome arachnid-killing companion after all.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Personification?
Whenever I leave Kaylee in the car for more than 5 minutes - I come back to find that she's taken her leash from the back and placed it on the driver's seat.
Anyone else thing she might be saying, "Hey, I want to come with you!" ?
Anyone else thing she might be saying, "Hey, I want to come with you!" ?
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
I tried!
"Stop waiting! Buy that ticket and take that special trip!"
The fortune cookie gods are cruel... just cruel.
The fortune cookie gods are cruel... just cruel.
Spring Break '09
I give up... Well, I gave up yesterday...
I called the boarding place and arranged to pick Kaylee up.
I'm not going anywhere this Spring Break.
I'm finally starting to feel human, but it's too late to go anywhere now - and I don't want to push it and get sicker before I'm totally well.
Kaylee was funny yesterday... I picked her up at 4pm and she was very happy to see me, but as soon as we got home she passed out and slept until this morning. Now she's asleep again... They took her for walks twice a day and she had play groups with other puppies three times a day.
It's obvious she had a great time. I'm thinking about sending her there one day a month or so... just so she has a chance to socialize with other puppies - she loves that.
Now I'm looking forward to my big trip this summer - more than ever - seeing as how my Spring Break trip was a no-go. Hoping all my friends will still be there... I know people are graduating, getting new jobs, moving on...
Listening to: Glasvegas - Daddy's Gone
Reading: The Man With The Golden Torc by Simon Green
I called the boarding place and arranged to pick Kaylee up.
I'm not going anywhere this Spring Break.
I'm finally starting to feel human, but it's too late to go anywhere now - and I don't want to push it and get sicker before I'm totally well.
Kaylee was funny yesterday... I picked her up at 4pm and she was very happy to see me, but as soon as we got home she passed out and slept until this morning. Now she's asleep again... They took her for walks twice a day and she had play groups with other puppies three times a day.
It's obvious she had a great time. I'm thinking about sending her there one day a month or so... just so she has a chance to socialize with other puppies - she loves that.
Now I'm looking forward to my big trip this summer - more than ever - seeing as how my Spring Break trip was a no-go. Hoping all my friends will still be there... I know people are graduating, getting new jobs, moving on...
Listening to: Glasvegas - Daddy's Gone
Reading: The Man With The Golden Torc by Simon Green
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Stronger Drugs
I left work 1/2 way through the day yesterday and called in sick today.
I'm feeling much worse, not better. The amoxicillin wasn't cutting it.
I went back to the doctor today and got something stronger and I canceled my Friday flight, but I'm really hoping I can reschedule it for Sunday/Monday...
Right now my entire face is achy and feels like it is about to explode, I've been coughing and sneezing and running a fever.
There is NO way I had any business getting on a plane... no matter how much I desperately want to see my peeps.
I'll get up there as soon as I can though. That's a promise.
I'm feeling much worse, not better. The amoxicillin wasn't cutting it.
I went back to the doctor today and got something stronger and I canceled my Friday flight, but I'm really hoping I can reschedule it for Sunday/Monday...
Right now my entire face is achy and feels like it is about to explode, I've been coughing and sneezing and running a fever.
There is NO way I had any business getting on a plane... no matter how much I desperately want to see my peeps.
I'll get up there as soon as I can though. That's a promise.
Monday, March 30, 2009
I agree with you...
My mentor teacher offered to cover my homeroom class so I could go to the doctor.
Sat in the doctor's office for an hour and will pay who-knows-how-much for him to say: "Yes, I agree with you. You have a sinus infection."
Yep. Thanks doc. Now, can I have my drugs?
Got my prescription and gonna take it faithfully so I can be ok for my trip to MN!
Sat in the doctor's office for an hour and will pay who-knows-how-much for him to say: "Yes, I agree with you. You have a sinus infection."
Yep. Thanks doc. Now, can I have my drugs?
Got my prescription and gonna take it faithfully so I can be ok for my trip to MN!
Friday, March 27, 2009
A Good Week
I mean, there were a couple moments one Weds/Thursday, but overall... it was a really good week.
Then last night I started getting a sore throat... the your-glands-are-swollen kind of sore throat, not the little-bacteria-type-bugs-with-vampire-teeth-are-eating-the-inside-of-your-esophagus kind of sore throat. And that's actually a relief... cuz the second kind is strep and once every fifteen years is enough for me, thank you.
But yeah... I have a cold. Stuffy, sneezy, coughy, sore throaty...
*sigh*
Then last night I started getting a sore throat... the your-glands-are-swollen kind of sore throat, not the little-bacteria-type-bugs-with-vampire-teeth-are-eating-the-inside-of-your-esophagus kind of sore throat. And that's actually a relief... cuz the second kind is strep and once every fifteen years is enough for me, thank you.
But yeah... I have a cold. Stuffy, sneezy, coughy, sore throaty...
*sigh*
Monday, March 23, 2009
A Good Day
Woke up to a light dusting of snow.
Kids had a good day.
I had a good day.
Laughed a lot.
Felt the need to blog about it... make a record of the event... Sometimes I feel like there aren't/will never be any good days...
But. Today WAS a good day. And a Monday at that.
Kids had a good day.
I had a good day.
Laughed a lot.
Felt the need to blog about it... make a record of the event... Sometimes I feel like there aren't/will never be any good days...
But. Today WAS a good day. And a Monday at that.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Living next to a deaf man...
... or if he's not deaf now, he soon will be.
Seriously.
Could he crank his bass any louder?
Probably.
*shudders at the thought*
Seriously.
Could he crank his bass any louder?
Probably.
*shudders at the thought*
Friday, March 20, 2009
Quiet at last
Most talkative Cable Guy ever...
Seriously... he should come with a remote and a MUTE button...
Seriously... he should come with a remote and a MUTE button...
Monday, March 16, 2009
Explaining
So I applied for a three year, initial Colorado teacher's license. When I received my license in the mail, four months later I thought, life was good. However, as I learned last Friday, I received a one year interim license instead.
It expires next week.
Woops.
One massive panic attack, one emergency trip to Denver, one big stack of forms filled out and $60 later I have re-applied for a one-time-only renewal of my one-year license...
Now I have to register, pay and take ANOTHER test.
Ugh.
But... I get to keep my job.
It expires next week.
Woops.
One massive panic attack, one emergency trip to Denver, one big stack of forms filled out and $60 later I have re-applied for a one-time-only renewal of my one-year license...
Now I have to register, pay and take ANOTHER test.
Ugh.
But... I get to keep my job.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Drool Time
You (yeah you... all of you) should check out the quilt Sharon MADE and is selling on her Etsy store.
It's gorgeous!
It's gorgeous!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Monday, March 09, 2009
CSAP
Time for the state-mandated tests...
Last week I was told I would just be monitoring a small class, 3 students, who needed extra time.
I came in today and was told I would be a scribe (writing all the answers) for a student who recently broke her arm. I told the principal I didn't think I'd be able to do that because of my wrist problems.
This afternoon I was switched to a classroom with four students - where I will have to read the ENTIRE test to them.
I started out in a good place... what happened?
Better bring a LOT of water... maybe some hot tea...
Last week I was told I would just be monitoring a small class, 3 students, who needed extra time.
I came in today and was told I would be a scribe (writing all the answers) for a student who recently broke her arm. I told the principal I didn't think I'd be able to do that because of my wrist problems.
This afternoon I was switched to a classroom with four students - where I will have to read the ENTIRE test to them.
I started out in a good place... what happened?
Better bring a LOT of water... maybe some hot tea...
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Clothes
Got some cute new work clothes...
Kaylee handled the day-trip quite well.
Long day though... good to be home.
Kaylee handled the day-trip quite well.
Long day though... good to be home.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Close call...
It took a while for me to get to sleep last night and then Sheba, lovely kitty that she is, woke me up at 2am and continued to bug me constantly until I literally kicked her out of the room at 6am. Then I slept... I vaguely remember my first alarm going off and I hit snooze... but I never heard it go off again... never heard my 2nd alarm... woke up at 8am. I am supposed to be at work at 7:30am and ran into my classroom at 8:09 (3 mins before classes start). CLOSE CALL.
Going to try moving Sheba's food bowl into the bedroom - I'm pretty sure that's what she's crying about. I used to leave the bedroom door open, but I have to keep Kaylee locked in my room with me or she eats everything. Sheba cries at the door if she is locked OUT... and when she is locked IN she head-butts me, walks on me, cries/squawks at me and pretty much makes it impossible to sleep.
I've got to find a compromise. Can NOT have a repeat of this morning - that was like one of my worst nightmares come to life!
Going to try moving Sheba's food bowl into the bedroom - I'm pretty sure that's what she's crying about. I used to leave the bedroom door open, but I have to keep Kaylee locked in my room with me or she eats everything. Sheba cries at the door if she is locked OUT... and when she is locked IN she head-butts me, walks on me, cries/squawks at me and pretty much makes it impossible to sleep.
I've got to find a compromise. Can NOT have a repeat of this morning - that was like one of my worst nightmares come to life!
Monday, March 02, 2009
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Two roads diverged in a wood..
And I took the one most traveled by because I don't have snowshoes and I didn't want to suddenly sink 3-4 feet down in the snow... twist my ankle... face-plant in the snow...
Kaylee and I ran some errands, went to work for a little while, inquired about a summer job, then went for a walk in the woods. It was a bit tricky... there's a good 3.5-4 feet of snow and I don't have snowshoes, but we managed.
On the way back I stopped to look at this canine:
While another canine was in the car checking me out:
Kaylee and I ran some errands, went to work for a little while, inquired about a summer job, then went for a walk in the woods. It was a bit tricky... there's a good 3.5-4 feet of snow and I don't have snowshoes, but we managed.
On the way back I stopped to look at this canine:
While another canine was in the car checking me out:
She found THE dress
As I twittered yesterday she found the perfect dress... it looks vintage/old, which is a good thing. It's simple, yet elegant and she looks amazing in it.
Snowy-blowy trip on the way over. Saw about 10 Rocky Mountain Goats all huddled together, walking along the side of the road. Not where I could stop and take pics though... of course.
Snowy-blowy trip on the way over. Saw about 10 Rocky Mountain Goats all huddled together, walking along the side of the road. Not where I could stop and take pics though... of course.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Busy week
*EDIT* At the beginning of the week I filled out my Form of Intent - telling the school district that I fully intend to return next year in the same position. I didn't even think about it before filling it out. I need another year here. I'm not ready to move again.
Wednesday night went to trivia - got 2nd place again and won a round so we got more bar coins. Also got a line on some possible summer jobs.
Thursday night went to book club. Saw my first Colorado - Bald Eagle on the way there (thank goodness for missed turns!). Just four of us made it, three girls had to miss. Didn't talk much about my book pick - Sabriel - I don't think they really liked it. Guess I'll never get to have an in-depth conversation with someone who has read it. Our next book is one I wanted to read too though: The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. I think it might turn out to be a tear-jerker... bitter sweet?
Went to Denver today to help a friend shop for a wedding dress. She's from New York and is new this year so she doesn't have a lot of friends either. I was really excited when she asked me to join her on a big day! We had fun and managed to narrow it down to a few possibilities (one I really like). Interpreted (fairly well) for a very nice woman named Elaine who was shopping for a dress for a wedding she is going to be in this summer (3 semesters of sign language - and a life-time obsession - were put to good use today!). We had lunch at Ruby Tuesday, watched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and went to Target and Borders. On the way back we saw 2 foxes. Best of all, doggie survived 12 hours in her kennel and didn't even have an accident. I'm so proud and glad I don't have to clean anything up.
May go to a Silpada Jewelry party tomorrow afternoon. Not that I have any money to buy anything, but it's always nice to hang out with adult-type people (and I'm on a roll). I don't usually get much of that during the week as I'm surrounded by 11-14 year olds all day.
Got the bill for my little trip to the emergency room (when I had strep). Anyone have $870 lying around that needs a good home? Cuz that's what the hospital wants and my insurance won't pay.
Wednesday night went to trivia - got 2nd place again and won a round so we got more bar coins. Also got a line on some possible summer jobs.
Thursday night went to book club. Saw my first Colorado - Bald Eagle on the way there (thank goodness for missed turns!). Just four of us made it, three girls had to miss. Didn't talk much about my book pick - Sabriel - I don't think they really liked it. Guess I'll never get to have an in-depth conversation with someone who has read it. Our next book is one I wanted to read too though: The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. I think it might turn out to be a tear-jerker... bitter sweet?
Went to Denver today to help a friend shop for a wedding dress. She's from New York and is new this year so she doesn't have a lot of friends either. I was really excited when she asked me to join her on a big day! We had fun and managed to narrow it down to a few possibilities (one I really like). Interpreted (fairly well) for a very nice woman named Elaine who was shopping for a dress for a wedding she is going to be in this summer (3 semesters of sign language - and a life-time obsession - were put to good use today!). We had lunch at Ruby Tuesday, watched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and went to Target and Borders. On the way back we saw 2 foxes. Best of all, doggie survived 12 hours in her kennel and didn't even have an accident. I'm so proud and glad I don't have to clean anything up.
May go to a Silpada Jewelry party tomorrow afternoon. Not that I have any money to buy anything, but it's always nice to hang out with adult-type people (and I'm on a roll). I don't usually get much of that during the week as I'm surrounded by 11-14 year olds all day.
Got the bill for my little trip to the emergency room (when I had strep). Anyone have $870 lying around that needs a good home? Cuz that's what the hospital wants and my insurance won't pay.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Time for a change
I really want to change up my blog template. I have an awesome pic for the header that will liven things up a bit.
I just need to remember how to do it... and get my old computer that has Dreamweaver up and running again - that's the hard part.
Hmmmmmm....
I just need to remember how to do it... and get my old computer that has Dreamweaver up and running again - that's the hard part.
Hmmmmmm....
Monday, February 16, 2009
Return of the Devil Dog
Kaylee has been doing much better. She's coming to terms with having to go into her kennel - I think the doggie treat I throw in helps.
I've been balancing Sheba's loathing of being locked up with Kaylees need to be with me at ALL times when she's not in the kennel.
Last night Kaylee got through the barricade - I heard nothing - and devoured a bunch of stuff (including the back of a picture frame).
I'm not sure what to do.
I'm going to call the lady I got her from and see if she has any ideas...
I could still give her up. I'm still not madly in love with her. A lot of the time she still feels like the wrong dog - not figuring in the damage she's doing - just her.
*sigh*
I've been balancing Sheba's loathing of being locked up with Kaylees need to be with me at ALL times when she's not in the kennel.
Last night Kaylee got through the barricade - I heard nothing - and devoured a bunch of stuff (including the back of a picture frame).
I'm not sure what to do.
I'm going to call the lady I got her from and see if she has any ideas...
I could still give her up. I'm still not madly in love with her. A lot of the time she still feels like the wrong dog - not figuring in the damage she's doing - just her.
*sigh*
Friday, February 13, 2009
Happy Friday the 13th
Friday the thirteenths are usually normal to lucky for me... so I actually look forward to them. There's another one next month = sweet.
Not sure what to do with myself this weekend as I actually have 3 days off.
*ponder*
Need to go shopping, grade papers and plan for next week...
But it's Friday! I want to do something fun.
I could go see a movie, but there's not really anything out that I desperately want to see.
Dilemma.
I should probably finish this dinky book that it's taken me weeks to plod through... due to time issues.
hmmmmmmmm......
Not sure what to do with myself this weekend as I actually have 3 days off.
*ponder*
Need to go shopping, grade papers and plan for next week...
But it's Friday! I want to do something fun.
I could go see a movie, but there's not really anything out that I desperately want to see.
Dilemma.
I should probably finish this dinky book that it's taken me weeks to plod through... due to time issues.
hmmmmmmmm......
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Festival
Had a lot of fun. The team I was rooting for lost the first race, won the next three and then lost the finals. They placed second. These are my trivia friends and it was fun to have somebody to cheer for!
Kaylee was a little nervous entering the crowds at first, but soon overcame her fear as more and more people came over to pet her. There were two Burnese Mountain Dogs there and their owners were nice enough to let them pose with Kaylee. She's got her coat on because it was cold, otherwise you'd see how her coloring is pretty much exactly the same as theirs.
Kaylee was a little nervous entering the crowds at first, but soon overcame her fear as more and more people came over to pet her. There were two Burnese Mountain Dogs there and their owners were nice enough to let them pose with Kaylee. She's got her coat on because it was cold, otherwise you'd see how her coloring is pretty much exactly the same as theirs.
Papers and Races
I spent 8.5 yesterday (including a working lunch) grading JUST 36 papers. The district administered a writing assessment to every kid K-12 in preparation for the CSAP (state mandated test). As a result, somebody has to grade them. The papers must be graded by the NLC rubric which takes about 15-10 mins for each Middle Schoo/High School paper, which is what I was grading. It was exhausting and by about 2pm EVERYBODY'S eyes were wigging out on them. However, the 29 of us (volunteers) got quite a bit done. We made a good dent, but there's still a lot left to do. They have another day scheduled of that, but I am NOT volunteering for that again. Once a year is enough, thank you very much.
On the brighter side, I'm going to a Winter Festival today held in a small town a ways from here. I've been making some new friends and they're participating in a race, so I'm going to take Kaylee out there to watch the race - and see how she does with big crowds.
I'll try to post some pictures, if I take any worth sharing.
On the brighter side, I'm going to a Winter Festival today held in a small town a ways from here. I've been making some new friends and they're participating in a race, so I'm going to take Kaylee out there to watch the race - and see how she does with big crowds.
I'll try to post some pictures, if I take any worth sharing.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Night Owl
The kids made up for their good day with a challenging day yesterday.
I was in bed by 8:30pm and asleep by 9pm.
*boggle*
I used to be a night owl.
Honest.
Hoot hoot baby.
I was in bed by 8:30pm and asleep by 9pm.
*boggle*
I used to be a night owl.
Honest.
Hoot hoot baby.
Monday, February 02, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Separation Anxiety?
Ok... so I had a couple of ladies over tonight and one brought her two dogs (a boxer and a lab). We let all three dogs out and they ran around and played like crazy. We came back inside for 45 mins or so, then the ladies left. I walked out with them, was gone maybe 3 minutes and came back to find that Kaylee had gotten into all sorts of mischief.
It's like the second I walk out the door she goes ballistic. I'm thinking it's not just an energy issue. I'm thinking it's separation anxiety - she freaks when I leave her.
Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?
I'm reading Cesar Millan's book: Cesar's Way, but I haven't gotten to the "good stuff" yet.
It's like the second I walk out the door she goes ballistic. I'm thinking it's not just an energy issue. I'm thinking it's separation anxiety - she freaks when I leave her.
Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?
I'm reading Cesar Millan's book: Cesar's Way, but I haven't gotten to the "good stuff" yet.
Devil Dog
Oh sure... she's got that "I'm SOOOO cute and perfect and lovable" face... but I'm on to her little game. That halo is held up by a set of horns.
I got REALLLLY frustrated with my "devil dog" yesterday and was to the point where I thought I was going to have to take her back. I've been holding off on getting too attached to her because I wasn't sure she was going to work out. Then, this week, she proved my worst fears were valid.
I left her out of her cage - free to rampage through my home - yesterday morning. When I came home during lunch I found a MESS. Aside from gnawing on various pieces of furniture, pillows, hangers, etc. She had pulled up a big section of my carpet - ripped it right up from the nails and from underneath the little runner that connects it to the linoleum. I managed to fix the carpet and the other stuff wasn't too terrible, but I won't be leaving her out again. This makes me sad. I don't want her life to consist of solitary confinement 9 hours a day 4-5 days a week, but I don't see any other choice.
Mom says she needs more exercise, which I'm sure is true. I've been so sick I didn't want to walk her in that weather with strep throat... But I took her for a short walk this morning without a leash and she stayed fairly close. She did run out a bit, but always came back when I called her.
AND the snow-covered face thing, well that's become a habit. She buries her entire face in the snow drift - sniffing I guess - then when she comes up for air she snorts and shakes her head and is a complete dork.
She's a silly devil dog.
Here's the other thing. I'm not madly in love with this dog. I'm not even sure if I love her. I feel like a horrible mom, but she's not what I expected - not what I thought I was getting. And worst of all... she's not Jake. We had Jake from the time I was 10 years old until I was 27. 17 years. Over half my life. Granted I was up in MN for the last few years, but he was always there. I could always go home to him and when I made the decision Thanksgiving of '05 to have him put to sleep - because it WAS time - I knew I would never have him with me again. Up until that point I always thought he'd come live with me - wishful thinking. Jake was my baby. We connected instantly and were together for YEARS. He was always there for me and snuggled with me through my horrible teens, the deaths of my loved ones... He was just always there. Now he's not. I thought having a dog would help heal this hole in my heart, but it hasn't. Kaylee's not Jake. I know that with my head, my heart is just a little slow in catching on.
As for Sheba's reaction... she REALLLLLLY liked being an only child and she isn't too happy with having to share me. Kaylee acts like Sheba doesn't exist - until I'm loving Sheba and then she butts in - and Sheba looks at Kaylee and then at me like "Mom!? Did you really have to?"
My hope is that Kaylee will find her niche. That she and Sheba will discover they can play together and snuggle together and be friends. And that my longing for my dead puppy will gently ease and Kaylee will take up at least some of the hole that's still there.
I got REALLLLY frustrated with my "devil dog" yesterday and was to the point where I thought I was going to have to take her back. I've been holding off on getting too attached to her because I wasn't sure she was going to work out. Then, this week, she proved my worst fears were valid.
I left her out of her cage - free to rampage through my home - yesterday morning. When I came home during lunch I found a MESS. Aside from gnawing on various pieces of furniture, pillows, hangers, etc. She had pulled up a big section of my carpet - ripped it right up from the nails and from underneath the little runner that connects it to the linoleum. I managed to fix the carpet and the other stuff wasn't too terrible, but I won't be leaving her out again. This makes me sad. I don't want her life to consist of solitary confinement 9 hours a day 4-5 days a week, but I don't see any other choice.
Mom says she needs more exercise, which I'm sure is true. I've been so sick I didn't want to walk her in that weather with strep throat... But I took her for a short walk this morning without a leash and she stayed fairly close. She did run out a bit, but always came back when I called her.
AND the snow-covered face thing, well that's become a habit. She buries her entire face in the snow drift - sniffing I guess - then when she comes up for air she snorts and shakes her head and is a complete dork.
She's a silly devil dog.
Here's the other thing. I'm not madly in love with this dog. I'm not even sure if I love her. I feel like a horrible mom, but she's not what I expected - not what I thought I was getting. And worst of all... she's not Jake. We had Jake from the time I was 10 years old until I was 27. 17 years. Over half my life. Granted I was up in MN for the last few years, but he was always there. I could always go home to him and when I made the decision Thanksgiving of '05 to have him put to sleep - because it WAS time - I knew I would never have him with me again. Up until that point I always thought he'd come live with me - wishful thinking. Jake was my baby. We connected instantly and were together for YEARS. He was always there for me and snuggled with me through my horrible teens, the deaths of my loved ones... He was just always there. Now he's not. I thought having a dog would help heal this hole in my heart, but it hasn't. Kaylee's not Jake. I know that with my head, my heart is just a little slow in catching on.
As for Sheba's reaction... she REALLLLLLY liked being an only child and she isn't too happy with having to share me. Kaylee acts like Sheba doesn't exist - until I'm loving Sheba and then she butts in - and Sheba looks at Kaylee and then at me like "Mom!? Did you really have to?"
My hope is that Kaylee will find her niche. That she and Sheba will discover they can play together and snuggle together and be friends. And that my longing for my dead puppy will gently ease and Kaylee will take up at least some of the hole that's still there.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Scooby Doo Trivia!
I went to trivia again last night and we did quite well, tying for 2nd place. It almost felt like I was back at Brigid's - just me and three guys.
As if finding a trivia night and team weren't good enough, each round of last nights trivia started with a question about Scooby Doo. If you don't know this about me - I'm kind of a fan. I have a HUGE collection and have loved the show since I was little. I (heart) Scooby Doo. I'm proud to say I got all three questions right. How would you do?
1. What is the name of the van/vehicle they drive in Scooby Doo?
2. What cartoon character's real name is Norville Rogers? (They didn't reference Scooby Doo in the question, but I knew it!)
3. Which Scooby Doo character says "Jeepers!"?
As if finding a trivia night and team weren't good enough, each round of last nights trivia started with a question about Scooby Doo. If you don't know this about me - I'm kind of a fan. I have a HUGE collection and have loved the show since I was little. I (heart) Scooby Doo. I'm proud to say I got all three questions right. How would you do?
1. What is the name of the van/vehicle they drive in Scooby Doo?
2. What cartoon character's real name is Norville Rogers? (They didn't reference Scooby Doo in the question, but I knew it!)
3. Which Scooby Doo character says "Jeepers!"?
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Achew!
Couldn't think of a title and just sneezed a couple of times...
Still sinusy and tired, but my throat pain seems to be gone and I NEED to get back to work.
Puppy updates:
She woke me up the other morning growling. I rolled over to see what the problem was and she was growling at that other doggie in the mirror. Silly puppy.
It was snowing last night and when I let her in she had a snow beard and snow all over her paws. It was a sight to see.
Currently reading: The Power of One by Bryce Courtney AND Sabriel by Garth Nix.
Still sinusy and tired, but my throat pain seems to be gone and I NEED to get back to work.
Puppy updates:
She woke me up the other morning growling. I rolled over to see what the problem was and she was growling at that other doggie in the mirror. Silly puppy.
It was snowing last night and when I let her in she had a snow beard and snow all over her paws. It was a sight to see.
Currently reading: The Power of One by Bryce Courtney AND Sabriel by Garth Nix.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Sore (not Soar) Throat
I *knew* it! I've only had a soar throat THAT bad once - when I had strep.
I'm glad I went in Thursday night to the emergency clinic. I was struggling with the decision, but I felt so miserable and thought it must be strep... They just called me with the test results and sure enough, strep.
I'm so glad I went in, even if it was 11:30 at night, because I feel a lot better.
Just trying to decide if I'm ready to go back to school tomorrow...
I'm glad I went in Thursday night to the emergency clinic. I was struggling with the decision, but I felt so miserable and thought it must be strep... They just called me with the test results and sure enough, strep.
I'm so glad I went in, even if it was 11:30 at night, because I feel a lot better.
Just trying to decide if I'm ready to go back to school tomorrow...
Friday, January 23, 2009
Introducing Kaylee
Finally got official permission to have a dog, so I was able to bring this little girl home!
I'm still learning her quirks and she's still learning the rules, but she's really sweet and she and Sheba are getting along well.
Managed to get all of my grading and 192 student comments done today (in between the napping).
Throat still hurts a lot, but it's better than it was last night/this morning.
I'm still learning her quirks and she's still learning the rules, but she's really sweet and she and Sheba are getting along well.
Managed to get all of my grading and 192 student comments done today (in between the napping).
Throat still hurts a lot, but it's better than it was last night/this morning.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Trivia'ing it up
Let me start by saying I absolutely miss my MN peeps and I LOVED going to trivia every Monday night. Now, let me follow that up with a "Woot!" because I was invited to attend a local trivia team last night. They meet every Wednesday night at a bar 20 mins away. While the bar feels completely different from Brigid's and the people are more laid back about the scores, it has a similar vibe to Brigid's... in the sense that the people are lots of fun. They invited me to join them next week and I am SO there! This trivia event even plays 1 song per round and you have to give them the song name and artist.
In other news... I haven't been sick since the middle of last February, which I think might be a record for me. I totally expected to get every germ the kids threw at me as a first year teacher, but we're through the first semester and I'm JUST NOW feeling it. Soar throat. Stuffy nose. Tired. Wanna crawl back in bed and pass out for the next 12-24 hours.
In other news... I haven't been sick since the middle of last February, which I think might be a record for me. I totally expected to get every germ the kids threw at me as a first year teacher, but we're through the first semester and I'm JUST NOW feeling it. Soar throat. Stuffy nose. Tired. Wanna crawl back in bed and pass out for the next 12-24 hours.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Book Club @ My Place
was interesting... There are a couple of people who... how can I say this... have differing opinions about... everything - which makes for some interesting conversations.
BUT - they're all nice people and I think they had a really good time (overall).
Plus, my chicken parmigiana and creme brulee were both big hits!
The book we read this last month was Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher.
We all pitched in ideas for the next book and drew it from a bowl. Next month's pick was mine - Sabriel by Garth Nix. I read this trilogy 5 years ago for a Young Adult Literature class and I've been TRYING to get somebody to read it since - so I'd have someone to discuss it with. *eyes Aya and Mom* Now I'll have 7 ladies to discuss it with! I think this'll be the 4th time I've read it. Something about it just clicks with me.
Gotta have my car at the windshield repair place (20 mins away) at 7am tomorrow morning. Then spending 45 mins to get to a 5 hour class on Podcasting (that I found out I get paid to attend, but was gonna attend anyway = sweet!).
Now... sleep.
BUT - they're all nice people and I think they had a really good time (overall).
Plus, my chicken parmigiana and creme brulee were both big hits!
The book we read this last month was Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher.
We all pitched in ideas for the next book and drew it from a bowl. Next month's pick was mine - Sabriel by Garth Nix. I read this trilogy 5 years ago for a Young Adult Literature class and I've been TRYING to get somebody to read it since - so I'd have someone to discuss it with. *eyes Aya and Mom* Now I'll have 7 ladies to discuss it with! I think this'll be the 4th time I've read it. Something about it just clicks with me.
Gotta have my car at the windshield repair place (20 mins away) at 7am tomorrow morning. Then spending 45 mins to get to a 5 hour class on Podcasting (that I found out I get paid to attend, but was gonna attend anyway = sweet!).
Now... sleep.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
I have heat!
Finally! After 13 days my furnace is back in working order.
I spent this evening cleaning house, making 3 batches of creme brulee for my book club (tomorrow night) and reading my book.
And I did it all without fretting about my heat, tripping over a repair man or freezing to death!
I spent this evening cleaning house, making 3 batches of creme brulee for my book club (tomorrow night) and reading my book.
And I did it all without fretting about my heat, tripping over a repair man or freezing to death!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Comedy of Errors MINUS the Comedy
Where to begin...
No, seriously...
Let's start with the beginning... I came home on New Years Eve to find no hot water. My landlord tried to fix it, but had to resort to a repair man who, through no fault of his own, caused the gas valve on my furnace to get stuck open. I had a gas leak for two days until the second repair man figured out it was the gas valve and shut down the gas going to the furnace. That was on Jan 2nd and I've been without a furnace since then. That's 12 days, if you're counting.
The part FINALLY came in yesterday, but the furnace still wouldn't get going. The repair man said it must be some electrical thingy. He picked up that part this morning and was going to install it tonight. Unfortunately, his grandmother died. So he hopped on a plane this afternoon to go be with his family. This is something I understand, having lost 3 grandparents in the course of 2 years while I was living in MN.
So... my landlord (who came over again tonight) has contacted a different company and someone should be coming out tomorrow morning to fix my furnace.
In the meantime I'm working with two borrowed heaters and one purchased heater (my landlord reimbursed me for that one) and keeping my house around 55-60 degrees. It's HARD to get up in the morning, but I'm managing aside from dreading next months electric bill. It's just been ridiculously frustrating and I let my landlord know tonight exactly how frustrated I am (I did it in a nice way).
In other news... I used my garbage disposal for maybe the 2nd or 3rd time ever last night and it got all plugged up. I tried to fix it without success, but my landlord was able to get it fixed tonight. Thank goodness. He says the guy before me must have shoved a bunch of stuff down there because it was backed up way in the pipes.
SO... I have a working garbage disposal and water heater, but my furnace is still broken. With me?
The kicker? This Thursday I'm having my book club ladies over for dinner and discussion. I don't want them to freeze to death and I don't want to have to reschedule or switch houses because I'm really looking forward to them coming over!
Now we come to the dog situation. When I left for break I was under the impression that everything was fine, a letter would reach my landlords any day, and I would receive the OK to get a dog. Well... I've never dealt with an HOA (Home Owner's Assoc.) and in fact, before I moved here, I never really knew what their purpose was or anything about them. Let's just say they move at their own pace. My neighbor, the president of the HOA works a full time job and is a volunteer fireman, so he's extremely busy. What he didn't tell me before break was that he was going to have to talk to every single owner to get their okay and I guess not all of the Townhouse owners are easy to get a hold of. However, my landlord said that all he needs is a majority vote and it's good enough for him. Plus both he and the HOA president agreed that the law about renters not having pets is outdated and ridiculous and needs to go. So someday... one way or another... In the mean time I am waiting on the HOA president to get in touch with one more person - the swing vote - before he'll give my landlord the official okay (SO not what my understanding was before Christmas).
I reached peak frustration today. You know when you reach the point where you've really just had quite enough, thank you? Yeah. That was me today.
There are some positives:
1. I fell on New Years Eve day and this past Sunday was the first day I was primarily pain-free. I've been taking it easy this week and other than the occasional twinge I'm doing much better. Plus my bruise is almost gone.
2. My landlord has been pursuing both the doggie and the furnace issues AND he fixed my garbage disposal.
3. I'm thinking positive that the furnace will be fixed tomorrow morning so that when the ladies from the book club come over we will have a warm and cozy evening.
Recap:
Still waiting for a working furnace and still waiting to get my doggie.
Reading Agnus and the Hitman by Jennifer Cruise and Bob Mayer (recommended by my aunt) and it is a good one.
No, seriously...
Let's start with the beginning... I came home on New Years Eve to find no hot water. My landlord tried to fix it, but had to resort to a repair man who, through no fault of his own, caused the gas valve on my furnace to get stuck open. I had a gas leak for two days until the second repair man figured out it was the gas valve and shut down the gas going to the furnace. That was on Jan 2nd and I've been without a furnace since then. That's 12 days, if you're counting.
The part FINALLY came in yesterday, but the furnace still wouldn't get going. The repair man said it must be some electrical thingy. He picked up that part this morning and was going to install it tonight. Unfortunately, his grandmother died. So he hopped on a plane this afternoon to go be with his family. This is something I understand, having lost 3 grandparents in the course of 2 years while I was living in MN.
So... my landlord (who came over again tonight) has contacted a different company and someone should be coming out tomorrow morning to fix my furnace.
In the meantime I'm working with two borrowed heaters and one purchased heater (my landlord reimbursed me for that one) and keeping my house around 55-60 degrees. It's HARD to get up in the morning, but I'm managing aside from dreading next months electric bill. It's just been ridiculously frustrating and I let my landlord know tonight exactly how frustrated I am (I did it in a nice way).
In other news... I used my garbage disposal for maybe the 2nd or 3rd time ever last night and it got all plugged up. I tried to fix it without success, but my landlord was able to get it fixed tonight. Thank goodness. He says the guy before me must have shoved a bunch of stuff down there because it was backed up way in the pipes.
SO... I have a working garbage disposal and water heater, but my furnace is still broken. With me?
The kicker? This Thursday I'm having my book club ladies over for dinner and discussion. I don't want them to freeze to death and I don't want to have to reschedule or switch houses because I'm really looking forward to them coming over!
Now we come to the dog situation. When I left for break I was under the impression that everything was fine, a letter would reach my landlords any day, and I would receive the OK to get a dog. Well... I've never dealt with an HOA (Home Owner's Assoc.) and in fact, before I moved here, I never really knew what their purpose was or anything about them. Let's just say they move at their own pace. My neighbor, the president of the HOA works a full time job and is a volunteer fireman, so he's extremely busy. What he didn't tell me before break was that he was going to have to talk to every single owner to get their okay and I guess not all of the Townhouse owners are easy to get a hold of. However, my landlord said that all he needs is a majority vote and it's good enough for him. Plus both he and the HOA president agreed that the law about renters not having pets is outdated and ridiculous and needs to go. So someday... one way or another... In the mean time I am waiting on the HOA president to get in touch with one more person - the swing vote - before he'll give my landlord the official okay (SO not what my understanding was before Christmas).
I reached peak frustration today. You know when you reach the point where you've really just had quite enough, thank you? Yeah. That was me today.
There are some positives:
1. I fell on New Years Eve day and this past Sunday was the first day I was primarily pain-free. I've been taking it easy this week and other than the occasional twinge I'm doing much better. Plus my bruise is almost gone.
2. My landlord has been pursuing both the doggie and the furnace issues AND he fixed my garbage disposal.
3. I'm thinking positive that the furnace will be fixed tomorrow morning so that when the ladies from the book club come over we will have a warm and cozy evening.
Recap:
Still waiting for a working furnace and still waiting to get my doggie.
Reading Agnus and the Hitman by Jennifer Cruise and Bob Mayer (recommended by my aunt) and it is a good one.
Friday, January 09, 2009
The way things are...
I'm sorry I didn't wish everyone a "Happy New Year" - I really do hope it's going well for everyone.
I've been extremely frustrated lately because it seems like nothing is going the way I wanted/expected it to.
You know how they say bad things happen in threes?
Well nothing super terrible has happened, but 3 frustrating things are happening.
1. The president of the HOA still has to talk with one more person (a part-timer so who knows when they'll be back here) before he will write the letter to my landlords saying it's ok for me to have a dog. NOT what he told me before I left for the break. I'll go into more details later once everything has been sorted out. But this has been a source of major stress for me...
2. I've been without a furnace for 8 days, but supposedly the part will be here (and installed) on Monday. Not that I haven't heard that twice already. My landlord doesn't seem overly concerned by the fact that I'm without heat. His attitude is fairly nonchalant over the phone - though he has been bugging the heating and air conditioning repair place about when the part will get here. Also, he and his wife are discussing what they can do for next months rent as compensation for all this mess. I'm thinking $20 a day... at 11 days... $220 off the rent? (A girl can dream) I'm kind of dreading my electric bill this month... maybe I should be dreading the gas bill too... a 2 day leak... *ponder* *cringe* *sigh*
3. I'm still not healed from my fall. The bruise on the side of my leg wound up being softball size. That area is still tender, but the bruise seems to be healing. I can't walk or stand or ride in a car for very long without my hip and/or lower back starting to hurt. I'm afraid I might need to go see a doctor if it doesn't heal on its own. I don't want to face this daily pain for an extended period of time. I've talked to local people and they've recommended a certain chiropractor and a certain pt. We'll see.
I'm really looking forward to each and every one of these issues being resolved. It'll be nice to watch TV without shivering, snuggled up with a puppy dog, pain free.
I've been extremely frustrated lately because it seems like nothing is going the way I wanted/expected it to.
You know how they say bad things happen in threes?
Well nothing super terrible has happened, but 3 frustrating things are happening.
1. The president of the HOA still has to talk with one more person (a part-timer so who knows when they'll be back here) before he will write the letter to my landlords saying it's ok for me to have a dog. NOT what he told me before I left for the break. I'll go into more details later once everything has been sorted out. But this has been a source of major stress for me...
2. I've been without a furnace for 8 days, but supposedly the part will be here (and installed) on Monday. Not that I haven't heard that twice already. My landlord doesn't seem overly concerned by the fact that I'm without heat. His attitude is fairly nonchalant over the phone - though he has been bugging the heating and air conditioning repair place about when the part will get here. Also, he and his wife are discussing what they can do for next months rent as compensation for all this mess. I'm thinking $20 a day... at 11 days... $220 off the rent? (A girl can dream) I'm kind of dreading my electric bill this month... maybe I should be dreading the gas bill too... a 2 day leak... *ponder* *cringe* *sigh*
3. I'm still not healed from my fall. The bruise on the side of my leg wound up being softball size. That area is still tender, but the bruise seems to be healing. I can't walk or stand or ride in a car for very long without my hip and/or lower back starting to hurt. I'm afraid I might need to go see a doctor if it doesn't heal on its own. I don't want to face this daily pain for an extended period of time. I've talked to local people and they've recommended a certain chiropractor and a certain pt. We'll see.
I'm really looking forward to each and every one of these issues being resolved. It'll be nice to watch TV without shivering, snuggled up with a puppy dog, pain free.
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Sunday
Took dad to airport today and he called to say he made it home safely. House seems emptier when he leaves.
I'm feeling better... just have a big sore spot on my leg (where I hit the cement step) and my left knee twinges a bit, but I'm not walking like a little old lady now - the only thing that was missing was my walker. I actually used the electric wheelchair at Target the other day...
My apartment is really cold. -19 outside and my 2 borrowed and 1 purchased heaters aren't keeping up. I'm trying to keep it warm enough that the pipes don't freeze and wearing multiple layers so I don't freeze.
Back to teaching tomorrow. Least it's warm there.
I'm feeling better... just have a big sore spot on my leg (where I hit the cement step) and my left knee twinges a bit, but I'm not walking like a little old lady now - the only thing that was missing was my walker. I actually used the electric wheelchair at Target the other day...
My apartment is really cold. -19 outside and my 2 borrowed and 1 purchased heaters aren't keeping up. I'm trying to keep it warm enough that the pipes don't freeze and wearing multiple layers so I don't freeze.
Back to teaching tomorrow. Least it's warm there.
Friday, January 02, 2009
Falling is bad...
Slipping and falling on ice is painful, especially when you land on the corner of a cement step.
Deep bruise on my right outer thigh and pain in both hips, left knee, right wrist, lower back, etc.
Not my smoothest moment.
Did it on Wednesday and I could barely walk yesterday. I'm somewhat better today, but still VERY sore.
No more of that. Ever.
Deep bruise on my right outer thigh and pain in both hips, left knee, right wrist, lower back, etc.
Not my smoothest moment.
Did it on Wednesday and I could barely walk yesterday. I'm somewhat better today, but still VERY sore.
No more of that. Ever.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Still waiting...
Was sposed to meet this doggie yesterday... but never got a call.
Super duper impatient.
/sigh
I reallllllly want to meet this doggie. I think she might be the right one...
Please send positive thoughts my way... if you're so inclined.
And NO, Froyd, I am NOT going to EAT the dog. You are one sick... puppy!
Super duper impatient.
/sigh
I reallllllly want to meet this doggie. I think she might be the right one...
Please send positive thoughts my way... if you're so inclined.
And NO, Froyd, I am NOT going to EAT the dog. You are one sick... puppy!
Monday, December 22, 2008
The Waiting
I'm trying so hard to be patient.
Really.
Seriously.
But, it's difficult.
I'm waiting for the HOA to send my landlords a letter saying it's ok with them for me to have a dog. Once they receive the letter, my landlords are going to call me and tell me it is alright for me to start looking for a dog.
I've waited so long... you wouldn't think a little while longer would be such a big deal... right?
Well, it shouldn't be. Except for the fact that I want a doggie so bad!
Patience.
Really.
Seriously.
But, it's difficult.
I'm waiting for the HOA to send my landlords a letter saying it's ok with them for me to have a dog. Once they receive the letter, my landlords are going to call me and tell me it is alright for me to start looking for a dog.
I've waited so long... you wouldn't think a little while longer would be such a big deal... right?
Well, it shouldn't be. Except for the fact that I want a doggie so bad!
Patience.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Homeward bound
Home where my thoughts escaping...
I've got a couple of people to take care of kitty. I'm doing laundry right now and the house is clean. I need to make it through the last day of school, pack and go to the Staff Holiday Party. Then, first thing Friday morning, I'll be on the (14 hour) road home... to Texas... Where it's gonna be in the 70s.
Hmph.
That probably sounds good to you. Right? As for me, I'll be breaking out my summer clothes again and missing the snow :(
Ah well, I'll get to see my family! And that always makes for a happy Aspen!
And when I get back... PUPPPPPPY!
*bounce*dance*cheer*celebrate*
I've got a couple of people to take care of kitty. I'm doing laundry right now and the house is clean. I need to make it through the last day of school, pack and go to the Staff Holiday Party. Then, first thing Friday morning, I'll be on the (14 hour) road home... to Texas... Where it's gonna be in the 70s.
Hmph.
That probably sounds good to you. Right? As for me, I'll be breaking out my summer clothes again and missing the snow :(
Ah well, I'll get to see my family! And that always makes for a happy Aspen!
And when I get back... PUPPPPPPY!
*bounce*dance*cheer*celebrate*
Friday, December 12, 2008
This news is so good...
I'm twittering it AND putting it directly in a blog link.
Can you guess what it is?
I just received permission from my landlords - I'm getting a dog!
*tee hee*
Can you guess what it is?
I just received permission from my landlords - I'm getting a dog!
*tee hee*
Field Trip
Yesterday I went along with the 7th graders on a field trip to Denver. LOOOONG day, but also a LOT of fun.
We went to see the Miracle Worker and it was my first experience with a theater in the round. I don't think there was a bad seat in the house and I was in a box, another first.
The kids were really well behaved, the play was awesome, and we were able to participate in a talk-back with the actors. The kids asked some good (and some funny) questions.
Last night I went to a holiday party hosted by the lady I hung out with in Denver. It was fun, but I didn't know many people. I'm such a chicken. I just hung out with the people I knew. Ah well. White elephant exchange got me a cool little candle-holding-vase thing.
We went to see the Miracle Worker and it was my first experience with a theater in the round. I don't think there was a bad seat in the house and I was in a box, another first.
The kids were really well behaved, the play was awesome, and we were able to participate in a talk-back with the actors. The kids asked some good (and some funny) questions.
Last night I went to a holiday party hosted by the lady I hung out with in Denver. It was fun, but I didn't know many people. I'm such a chicken. I just hung out with the people I knew. Ah well. White elephant exchange got me a cool little candle-holding-vase thing.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Last Saturday...
I went to Denver to get new tires for my Element. (Ouchie expensive!)
One of the teachers from school was going to be in Denver on the same day and she told me to call her and she'd pick me up for lunch.
Well... she did pick me up for lunch. Then we went shopping for Christmas gifts for her entire family. And since we were having so much fun we went to go see a movie, Four Christmases. By then it was time for dinner, so we went out for a bite.
It was the first time since moving here that I've spent an entire day hanging out with someone (outside of work). She's just a year older than me and she's had an incredibly interesting life thus far. I was really excited to meet someone that I think I could be friends with!
One of the teachers from school was going to be in Denver on the same day and she told me to call her and she'd pick me up for lunch.
Well... she did pick me up for lunch. Then we went shopping for Christmas gifts for her entire family. And since we were having so much fun we went to go see a movie, Four Christmases. By then it was time for dinner, so we went out for a bite.
It was the first time since moving here that I've spent an entire day hanging out with someone (outside of work). She's just a year older than me and she's had an incredibly interesting life thus far. I was really excited to meet someone that I think I could be friends with!
Sunday, December 07, 2008
A billionaire and his wife...
Back in July, I wrote about the Mustang Sanctuary I visited with my father: Mustangs
Last week, while we were in New Mexico, my parents told me of a story they'd heard about Madeleine Pickens, wife of billionaire T. Boone Pickens. Mrs. Pickens...
"... dramatically stepped in to come to the aid of the animals. She offered to adopt not only the 2,000 mustangs and burros, but the entire herd of 30,000 unwanted horses that were rounded up by BLM and are kept on federal land. The BLM agreed to work with Mrs. Pickens to locate an area of federal land that she could rent or purchase for the animals. The Pickens are lifelong animal lovers and advocates who are responsible for ending the slaughterhouse industry for horses in the United States."
Thank you Mrs. Pickens. On behalf of myself and all the other people who desperately wanted to help but were not able to, thank you.
I could hug that woman.
Last week, while we were in New Mexico, my parents told me of a story they'd heard about Madeleine Pickens, wife of billionaire T. Boone Pickens. Mrs. Pickens...
"... dramatically stepped in to come to the aid of the animals. She offered to adopt not only the 2,000 mustangs and burros, but the entire herd of 30,000 unwanted horses that were rounded up by BLM and are kept on federal land. The BLM agreed to work with Mrs. Pickens to locate an area of federal land that she could rent or purchase for the animals. The Pickens are lifelong animal lovers and advocates who are responsible for ending the slaughterhouse industry for horses in the United States."
Thank you Mrs. Pickens. On behalf of myself and all the other people who desperately wanted to help but were not able to, thank you.
I could hug that woman.
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Let's Say Thanks
With the holidays now in full-swing I think this is the perfect time to send support to our military personnel posted overseas.
Let's Say Thanks
http://www.letssaythanks.com
Let's Say Thanks
http://www.letssaythanks.com
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Thanksgiving at Victory Ranch
We had an awesome time at Victory Ranch.
We played Scrabble, spun, crocheted, spent time with the animals, etc. Mom and I taught three of the people who work there how to spin and one of them, a genuine cowgirl, taught me how to make creme brulee. Nummy!
This is the adobe we stayed - Thanksgiving night - we were getting 5 inches of snow.
One of the babies...
When they ring the breakfast bell the alpacas go running...
One of the many barn cats
And this is Elvis. He may be half the size of the other horses, but he's got twice the appetite and when his dinner bell is rung he's a blur - racing around the other horses
to get to his stall first.
Gringo - one of the many Great Pyrenees.
Zeus - who is VERY protective of his food bowl - he sits like this all the time.
Shamu - this is his bed and breakfast...
We played Scrabble, spun, crocheted, spent time with the animals, etc. Mom and I taught three of the people who work there how to spin and one of them, a genuine cowgirl, taught me how to make creme brulee. Nummy!
This is the adobe we stayed - Thanksgiving night - we were getting 5 inches of snow.
One of the babies...
When they ring the breakfast bell the alpacas go running...
One of the many barn cats
And this is Elvis. He may be half the size of the other horses, but he's got twice the appetite and when his dinner bell is rung he's a blur - racing around the other horses
to get to his stall first.
Gringo - one of the many Great Pyrenees.
Zeus - who is VERY protective of his food bowl - he sits like this all the time.
Shamu - this is his bed and breakfast...
Monday, November 24, 2008
Happy 40th Anniversary Mom & Dad!
Yesterday we celebrated their 40th year together as husband and wife.
Pretty awesome!
Pretty awesome!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Guard Kitty
To say that I am not the biggest fan of spiders would be an understatement. They give me the willies. I would go so far as to say I despise them. They are UBER creepy. That stop – go – stop – go… all those legs… you know what I’m talking about.
Needless to say I was not comforted when, as the movers were hauling my stuff in, I discovered the BIGGEST non-tarantula spider that I’ve ever seen. Thankfully one of the manly-mover-men disposed of it for me.
This evening I was sitting in my recliner when Sheba darted from my lap to the wall where a relatively large spider was crawling.
She then proceeded to plop down on her furry behind and stare at it.
No spider is safe from her inspection!
Needless to say I was not comforted when, as the movers were hauling my stuff in, I discovered the BIGGEST non-tarantula spider that I’ve ever seen. Thankfully one of the manly-mover-men disposed of it for me.
This evening I was sitting in my recliner when Sheba darted from my lap to the wall where a relatively large spider was crawling.
She then proceeded to plop down on her furry behind and stare at it.
No spider is safe from her inspection!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Birthday Party
The party went well. 7 people (plus myself), but that's not bad considering I've only lived here 4 months. And it seemed like everyone had fun. Lots of food (just like MN parties).
Odd to think I will be 30 in 2 days. Just 2 days left of life in my 20's.
*ponder*
Well it has been getting better and better over the last 6 years so I'm thinking positive. And besides... I'm still young at heart... so I really feel more like 25.
Odd to think I will be 30 in 2 days. Just 2 days left of life in my 20's.
*ponder*
Well it has been getting better and better over the last 6 years so I'm thinking positive. And besides... I'm still young at heart... so I really feel more like 25.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
This week
Had a rough week. It got progressively rougher as it wore on. By the end of they day today I was ready to crawl under the covers and not come up for a month.
At home now. Snuggling with kitty.
In-service tomorrow.
At home now. Snuggling with kitty.
In-service tomorrow.
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