More Pics of Brooke

I have had a laid back weekend, which is perfectly okay! It has rained on and off, which is the perfect weather to be lazy :). I have some more pics of Brooke -- no kittens yet, but I think she is close. Although, I keep thinking that and I have had her a week! She was very cranky yesterday so maybe that is a sign that cats are about to have kittens?? Who knows. I think she is ready to have to them as well!!!

Everyone have a wonderful Sunday! Later :)

By the Way......

I just registered for that 5K on Sept 12. So, I am locked in and committed! Here we go :).

It's only Thursday

This has been a slow week. All the managers are gone so it has been very quiet as well. Nothing super exciting has happened this week.... I am still on kitten watch. Brooke hasn't had her litter yet but she is doing very well. There is really know way (that I know of) to tell when she will actually deliver. I have towels all set up for her though! She seems to like under the futon chair, so I put some there too. Not sure if that is even enough room to deliver kittens, but just case! And I do have a big box that I should prepare for her as well. I just don't want her to figure out she can get into the closet and then decide to deliver there. I will take more pictures of her and post later on. She is venturing out around the room and is rather playful. And of course, when the babies come, I will post pictures as well.

So, I guess back to work. I have another conference call that is about to start. Everyone have a wonderful Thursday!!!

Adventures in Fosterhood

This is Brooke and she is my new foster cat :). "What!", you say? Foster cat?! I had been thinking about it but knew I couldn't keep a kitten because I wouldn't be able to stay home and take care of it (feed, etc). However, with a pregnant mom, once she has the kittens, she does all the care. I provide the quiet room, towels and food/water. The shelter I volunteer at sent out an email looking for a home and I actually said if nobody else could take her, I would. Guess nobody could take her! Anyway, she is about to pop. Any day I could have kittens. Just hoping she finds those towels I put down for her..... And I think once the kittens arrive, I get to name them. Yay! Simon and Sierra really have no contact with her. The shelter said just put her in the room and let her be. The only time Simon thinks something is up is when I go into the room to talk to her. I think it is due more to the fact that there is a closed door between him and momma. Otherwise, he doesn't really notice.

Hope everyone had a great Monday! I will let everyone know once the kittens get here :).

Legally Blonde

Awesome! It was just a fun musical and we really had a great time. The cast was good, the music was great, the costumes were amazing. All I can say, is I want my own Greek Chorus!!! :). Thanks Mom for the tickets!

The Wadding Pool in the Bathroom

Last night, I went to a wine bar in Plano called 55 Degrees. It was pretty nice and the wine was good. The food was good too. Now, the service was kind of stinky but we were sitting at the bar and he was the only guy serving. So, I actually had to give him a break for that fact. And he apologized for the crappy service and was pretty apologetic. Had he not apologized and been a bonehead, I would be a little harder on him and then told you never to go to this place. However, they try and it is a fun place to hang out with friends.

I got home and stayed up to watch some NCIS (USA keeps playing them and my DVR is set to pick every episode up!). So I watched TV until I got tired. I got tired, got ready for bed and settled in at 1:30. Or so I thought.......

(I will say this story I am about to tell is actually better in person because I can use hand gestures.) At 1:30 I hear this gushing sound -- like when the sprinklers come on outside. However this gushing is coming from my apartment. I jump up from bed, run to the bathroom to find the hose on the toilet detached and water shooting EVERYWHERE!!! By the time I got to the bathroom, the water was ankle deep. It was going fast! And I couldn't get the water shut off. The knob was not budging. I call maintenance (love 24 Hour on call), the dispatcher sends a guy my way. While I was waiting, i finally got the water shut off valve working and the water shut off. All the while, water is seeping onto the carpet. Maintenance gets there, starts cleaning up and I finally get to sit down and just chill (before I was trying to find every towel, sheet and blanket in the place. While I have more than I thought I did, it wasn't enough to keep up with the water.). I am soaking at this point too. Trying to get the water shut off put me into the line of fire!!! The carpet is a little worse for the wear but I got very lucky. There was no damage to the unit below me and my apartment has very minimal damage. And while they had a great response time, I never want to have to test that 24 hour on-call maintenance again!!!

Okay, since I finally got to sleep at 3Am, I am kind of tired today. Tomorrow I am going to see "Legally Blonde" at the Summer Musicals with Jen. Can't wait! I have heard it is great. I will report back :). And a shout out to Jen.... she has been very dedicated to her workouts and eating right. All her efforts have paid off too -- 51 lbs so far in weight loss. Lady, you are an inspiration!!! Keep it up :).

Happy Wednesday!

My first 5K is scheduled for Sept 12. That is 8 weeks to train. Off I go!!! :) I am going run/walk with Jen -- should be fun!! And since I am in a weight loss/mileage challenge with part of the CA family contingent, this will greatly increase my points (I'll explain the whole thing when I get more time). I am currently losing and it isn't good. The contest ends Oct 12, so I will have them beat by then.

The week has been okay. Really, I haven't tried to kill anyone. Well, I haven't seriously thought about it anyway. I had a migraine Monday. That was so lovely. I am over it and at work, happily looking up FOIA training options. Friday is coming, Friday is coming!!! I plan to meet Dawn and some other ladies out at a wine bar in Plano. I really am looking forward to it.

As you know, Mom and Dad are in CO. Mom just called but I only talked to her briefly. For some reason, her call was roaming. I am sure it was just because of my location in the building. My cell acts very odd in this place. They are having a blast and now on the way to the zoo. Lucky, lucky people. The cats haven't maimed each other -- Sierra could care less there is another cat in the house and Simon just gets curious as to what is behind the door.

Okay, back to work. Happy Wednesday!!!

"Noises Off", "Harry Potter" and the visiting kitty

The weekend has been good. Packed and a lot of fun. Friday night I went to see "Noises Off" at the Plano Theater. My friend's cousin was playing in it and she was very good. Live theater is always fun and it was in a small venue. Very fun. "Noises Off" is very funny and if you have a chance to watch anybody perform it, you should go! We met for dinner before hand on 15th Street in Plano. There are some great looking restaurants that I need to go back to - especially this Austrian place that we visited during intermission (the back entrance was accessible from the theater entrance). It smelled so great! And the staff was very nice -- definitely a friendly place.

Harry Potter was last night! It was great -- a very well made movie. I have to say though, Helena Bonham Carter was just creepy in this movie. I guess that was the point, huh. Mia and I went to the Studio Movie Grill and I really thought it was going to be packed. I guess the crowds were thinner because the movie opened earlier in the week. It was nice that it wasn't so packed (the Dark Knight was just crazy!) but I was still very surprised. Go see "Harry Potter". So worth it!!!

Now onto the visiting kitty. My parents went to CO this week to visit my cousin, his gf and the new baby (Zoey -- still soooo cute :)). My aunt is visiting as well, so that will be good for them to see each other. Anyway, to make things easier with cat sitting, they brought their cat to me. She has her own room and my two are pretty much ignoring her. Except at 1:30 AM when Simon decides he wants to hiss and throw a fit. Thanks Simon. So nice to wake up mommy....... So far, so good though. All furry creatures are in their own corner and no major cat fights have occurred.

So that is about it. I am in the middle of an NCIS marathon (my new addiction - so much better than a Real Housewives addiction!). I am so out of whack on my seasons though. I really need to grab the DVDs and watch them in order. Have a great day!!

Twilight

I've heard the book is better. I need to pick that up and read it. I am watching the movie right now. I love Vampires but this isn't cutting it. The lighting and coloring is fairly awesome in the movie but yeah, I am obviously not into it if I am blogging :). Vampires don't glitter...... I want Buffy the Vampire Slayer to come in and save the day. He, he.

This weekend has been pretty good. I met Jen last for dinner at Sweet Tomatoes. Oh, it was so good. It was good to see her too. I haven't seen her in forever and it was nice to catch up. She has a had rough week and my heart has been out to her the entire time. She lost her diva kitty last weekend and the sweet Cleo is now playing on the Rainbow Bridge. Lots of hugs, girl! My little children have been getting lots of love and hugs this week (okay, they always get hugs and kisses but this week it was to the annoyance of them :)).

I am currently in a contest with my Aunt Gail and two cousins, Katie and Kelsey. It is weight loss and mileage (cardio) -- it all counts. I hit the gym today and got in 3.5 miles. I think I pushed it a little too hard though. I feel a little in pain. But its all good. I am starting to get into running and it feels very good. It is nice to push and get additional goals in my fitness routine. I still need to buy new running shoes but other than that, it is all starting off very well.

Okay that is all for now. I am going to finish the movie. Let me make this clear -- I don't think it's bad, I am just not into this kind of vampire lore. I like Buffyverse Vampires better (but heck, Spike and Angel.... just hot....). I will read the book though. I am always up for good books!

Later. And happy Saturday!!!

New Baby in the Family

Yipes didn't post this yesterday when it happened! My cousin Steven and his gf had a baby girl - Zoey Kathleen! She is very cute and I keep trolling Facebook to see if more pics have been posted :). Congrats Steven and Christina. Now I have to get to CO so I can visit her.... (and then to CA so I can see Chloe, Colby and Skyler). Any one want to pay for plane tickets.... :)

Day is great. It's almost over -- and then a 3 day weekend. Woohoo!

Later :)

Monday!

Man, I am excited for Monday. Very strange...... No, haven't taken happy pills. Just happy coffee :). Or, also the fact that it is a 4 day work week. Woohoo!!! My project is coming to a close so that is good too. We have a Focus on Construction Campaign being rolled out (yeah, um, figure out the acronym for that one. Just remember the name came from our National Office!). I am working on the logistics of getting people from across the different regions hotels, cars, etc. And making sure they are fully aware it is freaking hot in TX. Hot like nothing they have felt before. It will be interesting. The first tour is the middle of July. It's been fun but its taken awhile to get it all together. Now I need to map out hotels and airports. Yay.....

I visited a friend Friday night I hadn't seen in years. Seriously, at least 2.5/3 years. She is pregnant and I have to tell you, I hope I look that great when I am about to pop. She was just all baby. No big booty, no huge arms. It was a nice visit and I am very glad I took the time to visit with her and her fiance. She took out the onsies I bought for the baby and I just can't believe any human is ever that small!

The game Saturday night was fun. That meaning I just stayed inside at the bar and hung out with my co-workers (the ones that didn't want to sit in the heat). I didn't have a ticket since I decided at the last moment to go. You could see everything from the bar and didn't have to pay a dime to watch the game. I did actually step outside and watch some action so I could say I did see it! Fort Worth Cats won the game 4 to 1 -- at least I know that much :).

Okay, I need to get back to work. Time to google and post directions for these people coming in for the Campaign. Everyone have a great Monday!!!

:)

Just stopping by to say hi! I am out the door in a few minutes to get the hair cut (FINALLY!) and then off to a baseball game. I wasn't planning on going however my friend had to bale out tonight because she is sick. Sooooo.... a group from work is going to a Grand Prairie Air Hog baseball game and i am going to join them. It is actually a group of people from work I like, so I will have fun :). It is more about socializing than watching the Airhogs vs the FW Cats. No idea who is better or what not. Just going to have fun! Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Happy Friday

I am feeling kind of random right now so here goes:

• Okay, really, cube neighbor won't hush. She just talks to herself -- all day. Argh. I try zen, I really do.
• I have this song called "That's Not My Name" by the Ting Tings in my head. I first heard in Denver and then again last night. It's catchy and I like it. I guess it is good that I like the catchy song in my head ...... it's not like the "Umbrella" fiasco a few years ago.
• I still want a cupcake....... (Kroger has very good cupcakes so I might need to make a stop on the way home)
• OSHA is hiring A LOT of people who need to be trained. Job security for me. If you know any engineers or safety people, seriously, send them to usajobs.gov. The government is hiring a lot under the stimulus package. No comments on the plus or minuses of a large govt. At least OSHA does a lot of good and keeps people safe.
• I still don't know when my brother is visiting from South Korea. He never actually answered that question, even when asked directly.
• "How I Met Your Mother" makes me laugh all the time (I've said it before). A new favorite episode is "Woo" (In addition to "Robin Sparkles" and "Swarley"). I might be a "Woo" girl........ sometimes......

That's about it for the randomness today. All is good and it is getting closer to quitting time! Woo...............

It's Wednesday. Party Time

Okay, not really party time -- although I would not turn down a cupcake....... :). I am just in a happy mood. I feel like a bloated fish, but still in a happy mood. Hate water retention. Bleh. But this will not be an entire blog about that. Aren't you glad? :)

Last night, we played trivia at the new location (First and Ten). Our team of 4 really didn't do that great. I can usually answer at least 2 or 3 questions, last night I pretty much died on the vine. Nothing was right. And I didn't even get the TV or Movie question right. It was shocking. We missed the Pez prize though. Another team was worse than we were!!!

Okay, that is the end of my thought provoking, earth shattering blog for today. Everyone have a great day :).

Howdy!

Just checking in to say hi! Denver was awesome. Beautiful, cool weather. They had tornado warnings in all the areas surrounding downtown, but I was spared it all. Definitely missed all the"fun" here in Dallas! Luckily my electricity didn't go out -- I have heard some people being out a few days! Yipes. The meeting was productive and I came away with some great info.

Another chill weekend. Awesome :).

I will check in later!

I've been chilling

And it's been great. Considering the last few weekends have been super packed and injury inducing(!), I decided to take it easy and get some rest. It has been a pretty perfect weekend. My foot is still hurting a bit so I still have to do modified workouts. But at least I am able to get them in. The recumbent bike doesn't do it for the heart rate so I really can't wait until I can get on the elliptical again. Never thought I'd miss that freaking piece of equipment!!! And I haven't been able to box so that stinks too. That is the best therapy ever and I need to get some aggression out :).

Other than that, I have been laying pretty low. I just got back from the shelter - I hadn't been there in awhile and so I wanted to play with the cats. I only spent an hour there, but it was still worth it.

I need to start packing for my trip to Denver but I know I will end up waiting until tomorrow night. I leave Tuesday morning so it isn't like I have to get it done NOW! I hate packing so I will procrastinate that for bit :). The Real Housewives of NJ are running a repeat, so I might just procrastinate with them. I keep saying I won't get sucked into these gals.... but, I do. Bleh.

Later!

Okay, so my doctor thinks I'm crazy. I don't see her very often, however when I do, it is usually a doozy. Hives, random falls.... this time it was a bug bite on my neck. It wasn't going away and I was getting worried. It itched and seemed to be getting bigger! She says it looks like it is going down. Oh, and I fell on Saturday night and sprained my ankle...... yep, pretty and bruised. It still hurts. I wasn't going to see her about it but since I was making the appointment for the bite, I'd show her my foot. I love it when she walks in and goes "what did you do now?". I need to work out though so I told Ryan we have to do super modified tonight. He's cool with it so I will see what he comes up with.

Okay, that is my excitement for the day :). Here is a picture I took of Simon on Friday. It is super cute and I wanted to show him off :).

Friday! Yay!

For a short week, it's been long! I have about an hour left in the day and it has been a busy day. Man, I think at one point I just had to walk away from my desk because there was too much. This job is funny that way. One day it is boring and the next day, I can't breathe. I like the "can't breathe days" but sometimes I end up feeling beat up. At least I feel useful and productive. Can't stand the days where I feel like an idiot. And next week will be busy too -- open enrollment, opening the mentor program, and preparing my presentation for the Training Conference the week after. I can't wait for that -- it's in Denver. Woo hoo!!! I love Denver and I get to see Michelle too. The meeting ends at 4:30 each day, so there is plenty of time to explore and have fun.

Okay, back to it. I want to get some stuff out of the way so I don't have to worry about it Monday. Usually Friday afternoons are spent watching the construction across the street :). You know they love having OSHA right there watching all they do...... :)

Quick Weekend

The weekend went by very fast, but it was a great one. I channeled my inner social butterfly and was out late each night (except last night. I was in bed by 9!). It was a lot of fun. Saturday night I ended up in Frisco with my friend Dawn and that group of people. We were out pretty late but I had planned to stay in Frisco so I was prepared. We went to sleep around 3 am and were up and bright eyed at 9 am for a class at LA Fitness. It was a body work and ab class -- since I had planned to do weights Sunday anyway, I figured why not. It was tough but I made it though :). However, I have never done that many squats in one setting ever. Still kind of sore! I just kept thinking "swimsuit booty!!!". It got me thru the pain.....

This week holds nothing too special. I think all my excitement was concentrated over the last 3 days anyway. I am really okay with that. My big thing will be going to the grocery store and CVS tonight :).

Everyone have a great Tuesday!

The Weekend!

Man, Sunday night and the weekend went too fast. Dang it!

I had a wonderful time at the wedding last night. It was at a little Bed and Breakfast in McKinney called the Bingham House. I am not sure how old it is but it is pretty old. It was absolutely gorgeous. They were planning an outdoor wedding but it rained all day so they moved it is inside. Worked out perfectly though. They just had to kick us out at the end of the ceremony to pull the tables out for the reception. The weather did clear up by the time the ceremony started and it was perfect.

The ceremony was very simple. A Dallas County Judge performed the ceremony so there was no extra fufu stuff -- just sweet and to the point. But that worked, especially for what I know already about the bride. She looked stunning too. I got teary eyed. :)

Now for the food (specifically the CAKE!!!). She had a buffet that was pretty darn good. On the appetizer buffet, there were spoonfuls of MAC and CHEESE. And it was yummy...... The cake was perfect. And she had a regular three tier cake, smaller individual cakes and cake balls! Woo hoo. The cake balls were yummy and easily eaten. I did like the "traditional" wedding cake a tad better though. It might have been because there was lots of frosting. But, I kept my promise.... I ate lots of cake. I worked it all off today though -- it was totally worth it!!! :) I did forget about the woman who stepped on my foot until mid day today. That's when I kept wondering where the heck the bruise on my foot came from. She was totally apologetic and really, it was a total accident and she didn't break my foot. It's all okay :).

It was so perfect for her and I am happy that it was. If there were any big issues, they weren't apparent (and I am friends with the MOH so I probably would have heard of the big stuff). The flower girls ran down the aisle instead of dropping the roses, but hey, that's to be expected from 3 year olds. I can totally see Chloe doing that :). Considering I have only known the bride about 3 weeks, it is pretty cool. :)

Later!

TGIF!

Why are all weeks so dang long lately! Argh! Anyway, its Friday and I am very happy. Survived it all :). Tuesday, Taylor and I played trivia at the Tipp -- we didn't win, however we didn't get Pez either. So so sad. It was fun though. Surprise, surprise... the question I got right was a TV question. Shocking, I know :).

Okay, the weirdest thing happened on Wednesday. I ended up staying late at work which meant I caught a later train. I ended up getting to Mockingbird station about 30 minutes later than I normally would. Then I decided to go to the Kroger by the train station instead of going to Tom Thumb. Once there, I went down an aisle I hadn't initially thought to go down. Down this aisle was an old friend I hadn't seen in YEARS, Amy. Seriously, it has to have been at least 2 or 3 years since we even talked. It was pretty darn cool. I need to give her a call so we can go to dinner. Of course that whole thing gets me thinking about all the turns and places we go everyday. It's all very deep and probably should be saved for another blog when I am not rambling :).

Last night, I went to a dinner held in honor of the bride (new friend Jen who is getting married this weekend). It was held at Fuse in Downtown Dallas. It was the first time I had ever been there -- I actually had to circle the block a couple of times because I wasn't sure where exactly it was! I had the right area, but the door is just kind of hidden. I found it because I spotted the valet stand! The food was very yummy and they had a watermelon mojito that was seriously awesome. I am not sure what the other items were on the menu because we did a limited menu type thing (they had set it up for her bacherlette dinner. I guess it was just easier and cheaper to do it that way). I ended up with the red curry dish. Even the edamame was great. It had this spice on it that made it different than any edamame I had before. They went to an Irish pub in Frisco but since it was getting late and I was turning into a pumpkin, I bailed. I told them I would be in full party mode on Saturday. I just had to work today and as it was, I was seriously dragging!!! Still kind of am, but I am getting over it.

Her wedding is Saturday and I am looking forward to it. She is having wedding cake balls at the reception. Pretty much anything can be made of wedding cake and it is awesome. I am really looking forward to them :). I plan to really push is Saturday in the work out so I can enjoy these cake balls guilt free.

So, that is it for now. I need to get some things done this afternoon. Man, Friday afternoon -- and it is kind of pretty outside. I'd rather be running around the lake. In time, I know. :) Later!

RIP - The Tipp :(

The Tipp is closing its doors on May 16th due to the downturn in the economy. It's a sad, sad day :(. Taylor and I are going to do trivia tomorrow night and wish the place a fond farewell (and possibly win Pez for the last time ever). I have to say, I have some good memories of that place. I do wonder what is going to happen to their faithful Poker night players (that was Wednesday night). I am sure they will find another home, but it won't be the same. Good bye Tipperary Inn...........

Happy Mother's Day!

Shoot out to my mom and all the mom's in the world! Happy Mother's Day :).

Saturday!

The week was great. I just got back from working out with Ryan -- we are still boxing and it is still the most wonderful workout ever! Plus, I get practical skills -- I am learning some moves that can be used if I ever need to defend myself. Calories burned and defense moves... what else can a girl ask for :). However my arms really hurt right now. Now I am just chilling, watching some old episodes of "Chuck". I actually need to go vote so I probably should get dressed and out the door. I also need to run to Target. Luckily they are both within a block of each other.

Mom and I are going to see "Rent" tonight. I am looking forward to it. I love "Rent" and seeing it live is a blast. I am making dinner for before hand -- I love my new crock pot. Well, to be honest, it isn't actually new. Jim gave it to me before we broke up -- and he isn't getting it back. So, I am enjoying the joys of the slow cooker :). And I appreciate Jen answering all sorts of dumb questions regarding crock pot cooking. I can come up with some doozies.... he he. Thanks girl! (And, while I am thinking about, shout out to Jen and the awesome work she is doing in the gym. I am so happy for you and you are truly an inspiration!!! Keep it up!).

Austin Re-Cap

Okay, Austin was WONDERFUL. I didn't want to leave. I have more pictures that I will post but I thought I'd give people a taste of some of it here. I went down for a bacherlorette party --- I just met the bride last weekend (the weekend before Austin). I know the Maid of Honor and she asked me to go along. So, along I went. There were only 4 of us -- the bride, Jen; Dawn (the MOH); Barry (yep, a guy at a b-party) and me. The bride had the veil and Dawn is the one obviously not me or a guy :).

(I hope these pictures aren't too dark!)

This one was taken at a tapas restaurant we had dinner at Saturday night. It was incredible. They had a fried goat cheese that rocked my world. Everything else was just super yummy too!

This picture was Halycon. It has the most awesome desserts and apparently great Chocolate Martinis. I took this time though to enjoy Smores and suck up as much water as I could. My cousin KaRyn went here when she was in Austin and told me all about it. So, so yummy! It was also a coffee bar and cigar bar. All these things in a cute, hip place.

We then went to about 4 different places to dance. We went non-stop from 10 -2 AM. One place of note was a club called Qua on 4th Street. There was a dance floor over a shark tank. Yes, a shark tank!!! It got so hot in there though -- I ended the night hanging out by the vent and trying to keep cool :). We also saw two bands (at two different clubs) who were singing the old 80's - 90's metal (think Poison....). With all the dancing, my legs were killing me the next day!!! I sat down for about 10 minutes. Bad move. Once I tried to stand back up, my feet pretty much revolted and said no. And it wasn't a great idea to walk around Austin barefoot. So, while they caught the cab back to the hotel, I sat on the bench at the corner.

It was a short trip and we were on our way back home Sunday around 1:00 (stopped for lunch at Z Southwestern Grille, another great food place). When I got home Sunday night, I pretty much just played with the cats and went to bed. I was still hurting Monday morning! My legs feel a lot better now :). I think all the dancing was good though -- we had a Cinco De Mayo lunch today and I probably ate more than I should have. I didn't get stuffed, but man, I don't think I can eat for a little bit longer.

More pictures to come though! Be on the look out :). (And based on the preview I just did of this blog, I might have to repost the two I did already!!!)

Saturday morning

Yes, I am going to Austin today! No, I am not worried about H1N1 (the official, not fun name for that new flu). I am healthy and wash my hands often. And really, I know what a sick person looks like, so I can stay away from them! I cough often which is annoying, but a side effect of my dang allergies. So, I am sure I will scare a few people in Austin :). There was no more anti- bacterial stuff at CVS but I had some in my car so I will just take that with me today too. Just have good hygiene, stay home when sick and just be vigilant. It is the same advice given during a regular flu outbreak. Just don't freak out! (By the way, www.cdc.gov has very good information about the new flu virus and other issues as well. I trust it way more than information on Yahoo or CNN. Although, I really do like Dr. Gupta.... but that is another blog post for another time :)).

I am just waiting for my friend to pick me up. We will be leaving around 11:30 or 12. So I gotta run and make sure I have everything. I just remembered I need to pack that camera!!! Have a great weekend :).

Well, dang it

I thought the mind crack was over when "Rock of Love Bus" had its season finale. I just watched "Daisy of Love". Now its going to be set on my DVR. It think it will be off-set by my new love of "In Plain Site". If you haven't seen that show, it's on USA and very very good!! Anyway, Sunday night has a new guilty pleasure......

I went to the shelter on Saturday afternoon and enjoyed the cuddles of many cats. I even actually got a kitty hug. I was sitting down and a sweet little black and white kitty crawled into my lap, put his paws on my shoulder and leaned in like he was hugging me. It was the sweetest thing!!!

Speaking of cats, I tried to give Sierra a Benedryl because she has allergies. Yeah, never actually got it in her. I just ended up with a drooling, pissed off cat. She is finally talking to me again. I used tuna and thought that would work. Yeah, no. She isn't sneezing as much now and her eye isn't running anymore so I am not really concerned about giving it to her. But it was kind of funny. If she starts up again, I will try to give it to her again.

That's it. Watching a "How I Met Your Mother" repeat-- the episode "Robin Sparkles" is like my all time favorite of that show. That and "Swarley". Both make me laugh many, many times. Anyway, I have to clean after this is over. And based on this blog entry, I might just watch too much TV!!! :)

Later....

TGIF

It's been a super duper rough week. I am so glad it's over!!! I am meeting some friends tonight for Happy Hour -- a much needed happy hour :). Then tomorrow, I plan to hang out at the shelter. Kitties always make it better.

I won't really go into details, however I wanted to let everyone know I was still alive and kicking! Katie posted some great videos of the girls and it made my week. Seriously, any bad thing melts away when seeing Colby crawl around and Chloe dance like only a 3 year old can :).

Have a wonderful weekend. If I get something interesting to say, I will definitely post. This weekend, the plan is just to stay busy.

Later!

Quick Recap

It's been awhile so I wanted to pop in and say hi. Been to Denver and back (AWESOME time!!) and worked a little so I wanted to take a moment to do a brief overview. I have pictures of Denver and I will post them soon. I keep promising that however I just haven't gotten around to it yet.

I arrived in Denver Friday morning very tired but ready to go! I arrived right after a blizzard, but amazingly enough my flight was on time and I had no problems. Michelle picked me up and then we started the trip. Friday was just chilling --we went to the mall. That night we took the train Downtown and hit a Piano Bar named Sing Sing. It was a lot of fun, however I think tiredness, dehydration and altitude got to me because I wasn't feeling all that great during the evening. Saturday we went to the mountains and played in the snow. Michelle's boyfriend has a German Shepard named Chloe and she is the sweetest dog! It was fun watching her play and romp around in the massive snow piles. Sunday was just spent chilling, hanging out and talking. I got home pretty late Sunday night (and the flight was very empty. There were only 28 people on that flight!).

This week hasn't been too eventful. I did have a fun commute Wednesday (April Fool's Day) when the train I boarded pretty much died on the tracks. I got on at Mockingbird, then the train lurched, lurched again and then went backwards. Um, we know that isn't right! During this time I met a gal who graduated from A&M so we chatted from the time they kicked us off the train, we got on a new train and then she got off. I never chat with people on the train however she was a fellow Ag so not a total weirdo :). We just joked that it was a very bad Dart April 1 prank......

This weeked should be fun. Jim's birthday was Thursday so I am having him over Saturday night and I am cooking dinner. I don't get to cook for him very often so it will be a treat. I am looking forward to it :). That is the big thing for the weekend. I do plan to go to the shelter, probably Sunday. I obviously didn't go last weekend so I need to go catch up with Felix and Mr. Pollo.

Okay, that's it -- I have to get back to work. I plan to post the pics soon. Possibly this weekend, but I really don't want to promise anything!!!

Mid Week Wrap-Up

One more work day and I am off to Denver!!! Whoot whoot!!! I talked to Michelle today and she has the weekend planned already. She asked if I had a heavy duty coat..... um, I live in Texas, we don't need that...... and gloves.... apparently I need thicker gloves. I might have to buy a cheapo pair while there. It is snowing and cold and it will be great! I can't wait to go to the mountains Saturday. Her boyfriend's family has a cabin up there and so we get to spend time with them. Can't wait!!!!

Prayers are needed right now. I have a friend who's sister was just diagnosed with thyroid cancer. It is very treatable and she should be fine, however, please keep her in your thoughts and prayers that it resolves it quickly and she goes into remission.

That is about it right now. I am thinking I need to pack soon but I will end up doing it all at the last minute tomorrow night! The bad part is that I have to pack all warm clothes and that takes way too much space! It is much easier to pack for warmer weather! :).

Later!!!

One full week

I was proud -- I didn't fall or bump my head once in the last week. Yes, seriously, that is a feet for me!!!! :). The weekend was great but it was too short.

I started volunteering at the Humane Society in Dallas. It is a no-kill shelter which is why I picked it. They have cats there that have been there for 10 years. A little old man cat named Mr Pollo is my favorite old timer. He has liver cancer, is about 16 years old, but he has a lot of life and love in him. He likes to cuddle and loves to be petted. I look forward to seeing him whenever I go in. I will get a picture of him so you can see him! And then there is a kitten named Felix. He is a solid black cat and very tiny. He is actually smaller than Simon. I believe he is actually over a year old because he is not in the "teenager" room. I sing "Felix the Cat" to him although I only know the first two lines :). There are a lot of other little love bugs in that shelter. If you know of anybody looking for a cat, let me know!!! I have only worked there for 3 hours but I can pinpoint personalities already. There are about 20 dogs also at the shelter (so if you want a dog, let me know that too!). I stick with the kitties because while I love dogs, I really am more comfortable with cat behavior!!! I do have to take my allergy medicine though - with 200 cats in the place, the allergies kind of act up.......

Well, that was the excitement of the weekend. Got to see my wonderful "friend" too and we watched the "Punisher: War Zone". Um, yeah, it was very cheesy but hey, I kind of figured it would be. Jim wasn't feeling well so we pretty much just hung out and watched the movie. It was still a nice evening.

I am heading to Denver this weekend and I can't wait! We are headed to the mountains on Saturday and Michelle said that snow was expected on Thursday and Friday. Yay!! I will have plenty of pictures next week.

Happy Birthday Chloe!!

Today is Chloe's 3rd birthday. Man, to be 3 again!!! I can't wait to see the pictures. Hopefully we will get a hold of them before my Aunt Gail starts photoshopping them. She is having fun however I will not believe there is a cow in her living room for the party :)>.

The weekend was great, very jam packed and even with some clutziness, I managed to escape it in one piece. Last night I was rather exhausted so I was in bed very early. Probably before 9 (Rock of Love Bus was still on so I know it was at least after 8). It was nice however I don't think I am fully recovered just yet. I think that is a function of Monday though. I should be better once I eat my lunch and get in a walk.

Everyone have a great Monday!

It's Cold!!!

I am cold and still wet from this morning's trek from the train station. Puddles tend to accumulate when it rains for awhile. And there were plenty of puddles. Sigh...... My shoes were pretty soaked when I got in so one of my co-workers loaned me a pair to wear so my feet wouldn't be cold. She is a size or two smaller than I am however they are slip ons and they work for the meantime. I now wish I had tea at the office. Something warm and soothing would do me some good!

That is about it today. I did do the Zumba class last night and had a blast! She was an awesome teacher. She even had some moves that weren't Zumba related..... we did a routine to "Mickey" by Toni Basil, complete with invisible pom poms. Had a blast, danced my booty off and I will definitely go back. It was a quick hour :). They have other classes at this studio (Move Studio, btw) so I will have to do more there.

Okay, later!

Zumba!

I haven't gone to a Zumba class in so long and I found one fairly close to me, so I made plans to go tonight. I need a good dance session. I hate cardio and finding fun ways to get it in are always good. I need it too. I have been slacking on my cardio sessions and that is not good. My aim is to get somewhat tight by the time I hit Denver. I won't be in a bathing suit in Denver, however 3 weeks is a good time frame to pump it up.

I know it is a little late for a weekend update but I think I am still being affected by the time change. There was no way I could type it yesterday :). It was a great weekend. My "new friend" and I went to a concert on Friday night at the Granada. Some guy named Derick Trucks. He is a Blues musician and actually very good. I enjoyed the concert... even danced around a little. He doesn't actually sing (he has members of his band that do that), he plays the slide guitar. It is mesmerizing to see the fingers go up and down the guitar. Even from as far back as we were, I could still see that skill. It was fun to hang out on Lower Greenville too. I hadn't done that in awhile. Saturday I just chilled in Keller. It was a lot of fun to just hang and watch movies. I had my choice of "SATC" or "Burn After Reading". I wasn't very impressed by "Burn After Reading" the first time I watched it so I chose my girls.

Onto Sunday. That was spent shopping with Mom for stuff for the apartment. I found lots of things to make my surroundings smell good (candles, etc). I didn't find any wall decorations I just could live without. I am going to try Hobby Lobby some time soon. They have some good stuff there and I have heard I can get it pretty cheap. Cheap is good! I also had dinner with my parents but by the time that was over, I was pretty tired. I just wanted to crawl on my couch and nap. And nap I did. It was rather nice to be lazy after such a productive day.

Okay, that is enough rambling. Time to get back to work!

Friday!

Good Morning! The two Red Bulls are kicking in and I am kind of hyper right now. That will wear off around 2 so might as well enjoy the ride while I have it going.

I have recently made two new goals for myself. I was feeling blocked and stuck and just not really thrilled with stuff (and basically bored out of my skull). I wanted to move but then I realized it was really because I was bored with my space. So, instead of putting energy into looking for a new place, packing, hiring movers, etc, I decided to just re-decorate and spruce things up a bit. I am going to see how cheaply I can design. I might just put ideas out here on occasion for vote/input.

My second goal is some sort of business certification. I have a phone meeting with my new boss to figure out what best suits my future career and the company. I found a program at UTD that looks pretty intense but great. And it will give me what I need without the 2-3 year commitment to another Master's Degree. I just need a brain spurt, and the UTD program will accomplish that. I am getting input from the new manager because I am going to utilize the Tuition Reimbursement benefit. I really wouldn't care what she thought if it was my own money! She is very cool and wants us to have whatever we need to succeed, so I will take her input to heart.

There is of course the on-going goal of weight loss and just getting better and stronger physically. I just need to tighten things up with my eating and I will be fine. I love Cadburry Eggs and have my share. However they came out so early that I am already sick of them. No need to buy and consume any more before Easter.

Okay, time to get to work. I need to get some things done before the weekend hits. Everyone have a great day!!!!

Family Brag Time

Read the article. Officer Houser is my cousin. Way to go, Officer Houser :).

http://www.mercedsunstar.com/108/story/711567.html

Another Girl!

It makes me laugh that now I find out the gender of my cousin's baby via a Facebook status update and not the usual emails/phone calls of past. My cousin Steven and his gf Christina are having a little girl. He did the right thing and made sure Aunt Gail knew first. Because I believe Gail would have killed him had she not been the 1st to know (or if she had to find out via Facebook). He and I aren't close so it was fine the way I found out. And I am very happy for them! Gotta go find something girly to send their way for the baby. :). I predicted a girl -- only based on the trend of Keen offspring. Forget genetics and XX and XY chromosones :).

Now I am just waiting for the end of the workday. It's been a super long and slow week. And this next hour is just going to crawl by! I don't like to wish the week away, but something more interesting has got to happen! I am having dinner tonight with Mia at this sushi restaurant my co-worker owns with his family (previously mentioned). It is very yummy and I am looking forward to it. I can't really walk right now because I worked out with Ryan last night and he killed my legs. You know how a baby deer wobbles when it is born -- yeah, I looked like that last night. I could barely stand up. It was awesome (I know, but have already established I am a sick girl :)). Tomorrow is upper body -- so I probably won't be able to type. It is all worth it. The workouts totally burn all the cake I am eating (and announcing on Facebook!).

Have a wonderful Friday night. Later!

Not much to say....

I don't have too much to report and most of it would sound like complaining anyway (I have that freaking cough again, my back is killing me, etc) so I will just stop there. I don't want to complain. The weekend was pretty good. It wasn't packed with non-stop adventures but that is okay. They can't all be the best weekend ever :). I ate at the Shuck and Jive around the corner from my house -- I hadn't been there in awhile and it was a lot of fun. Seemed the thing to do since it is Mardi Gras time (and they specialize in Cajun food). I didn't watch the Oscars because I fell into a NyQuil induced sleep. Yeah it was kind of early but it was bothering me and I needed to do something to control it. I apparently need to go find the Tina Fey/Steve Martin presentation because I have read places that is it funny. They are always funny together so it might be worth the effort.

Well, everyone have a wonderful Monday! It is so pretty outside. It is nice to have the sunshine thru my window! Later!

Best Weekend Ever

I had a wonderful weekend! Valentine's Day was perfect. I have just recently met someone and since it is still new, I won't give too many details here. But I will say for Valentine's day he cooked me dinner and we had so much fun. He is a great cook too! It was just a perfect, low stress, laugh filled night. We even watched those cheesy Sci Fi channel movies.

For my birthday, I did nothing until that night when Mom and Dad took me to dinner (Thai food!). So yummy. I was going to get my nails done, but really, I figured I would just chill and watch movies. It was my day :). I may possibly get my nails done today since I am off. Just need to get out and run some errands.

So, today is President's Day and I am off. I have actually been pretty productive this morning. Now I need to dry my hair and run to the grocery store. I have no food in the house. I also need to work out because, man I ate a lot this weekend!!! It was all worth it though :).

Later! Happy President's Day!

random thought

Is it supposed to be 72 degrees during February? I won't complain because I like the fact I don't have to run my heater, but I was just thinking that -- it was 72 ish today! I am the queen of random thoughts today so just ignore me :)>.

I am so happy tomorrow is Friday. It's going to be a good weekend and not just because its my birthday weekend. I want it to get started! Plus, I have Monday off, so hello 3 day weekend!!!

This is short and sweet. Everyone have a great Thursday night/Friday.

Rock Of Love Bus

Still trashtastic. Still love it. Watching it right now...... My mind crack on Sunday nights :).

This weekend was actually pretty productive. I worked out both Saturday and Sunday, balanced my checkbook, filed my taxes, completed benefit paperwork and did some laundry and the dishes. I get a nice refund in about 10 days direct deposited into my account. Love direct deposit into my account :). Sierra, of course, tried to help with all the paperwork. She is such a good cat :).

Nothing completely exciting happened this weekend though. I went to dinner on Saturday night with Mia and some of her co-workers, which was a lot of fun. The restaurant, Parigi, is located on Oak Lawn. It's small and quaint and very, very yummy! I believe they went to a wine bar afterwards but I decided to come on home. I watched Saw V (see Jen, totally figured out those tricky roman numerals :)). Now, I love the Saw films but V wasn't really as good as the others. Saw I is still the best. This installment filled in some holes in the story and did have a scene I didn't see coming. Love those! But, yeah, it still wasn't the BEST. And no, there were no nightmares for Kim last night!

Now I am getting my mind ready to head into the week. It will be long and fun and I am sure will have its ups and downs. They goal is to eat healthy and kick up those work outs. Cardio 4 x this week. One down, 3 to go!

I think this post has turned into some ramblings so I am going to end it :). Later!

The Super Bowl is not supposed to make you cry.....

When Jennifer Hudson came out to sing the National Anthem, I think I almost lost it. To know what horrific things she had to deal with at the end of last year, it was amazing to see her strong and powerful (well, on the outside. I am sure she was mush on the inside, but really who would blame her). I always tear up during the National Anthem anyway, but yeah, I was almost a blubbering idiot yesterday.

The weekend was good for me. I went dancing on Saturday night and had such a blast. I now realize I can't wear my 4 inch strappy sandals dancing because I can't walk in them at the end of the night! However, and yes I know I do sound very conceited here -- my legs looked awesome. I had so much fun, but yeah, at the end of the night I was running around barefoot :).

Okay, gotta run and analyze some Access data regarding Oil and Gas. Woo hoo..........

"Snow" Day!

Actually, its an ice day, but the term snow day takes me back to childhood. He, he. You know, when the weather would get bad and you would wake up early. "Please let IISD (Irving Independent School District) be closed". And the happy dance that occurred when it was! And mom and dads across the city would groan....... I kind of felt that this morning (except I don't think my mom and dad really cared this time around :)). Our office only closes if the DISD closes. That was just the gauge they came up with -- I don't know why. The thing is, it seems like the DISD never closes. You just have to get your booty to school (and in my case, work). I am so close to the office that once it gets daylight and the ice melts, I can get in pretty easily. That is what I was planning to do today. I, for some reason, was wide awake at 4:30. Seriously, that was just annoying. But, i did get the notice that the school district was closed and could just turn off my alarm and head back to happy sleep land!!! I did check 4 sources to make sure it was true :).

Everything with the actual job is going well. Our new contract begin Feb 2. The benefits look good and I am getting a raise in pay. I won't complain because I need to appreciate the abundance I am getting right now. They do have tuition reimbursement and I am back in my "wanting to get some sort of degree or cert" mode. I am a dork, I realize this. Plus, I have CEUs I need to get to maintain that PHR I worked so hard on.

Now it is time for catching up on the DVR stuff! I wasn't able to this weekend and I have a few shows I need to watch :). Have a safe and warm day!!!

Thursday. No Title

Okay, remember yesterday when I said I assume my salary would stay the same, but I have to call the lady to find out. Well, I found out today that it won't be the same...... she is going to bump us up to get us the highest possible starting salary since it will be a new company. She hasn't called back with my new number, but, well, I can be bought :). I am still a little leery but I am sure it will all work out for the best. It has to because I said so :).

That is pretty much all for today. I am tired. Its been busy but that is good. I hate it when it is boring and slow. I only have a few more hours and then I can escape. It is such a beautiful day and I would much rather be outside playing in the sun. People around me are sick and so I am trying to stay away from them -- I DO NOT want whatever it is again. That was no fun!!! Have a wonderful Thursday. Bye!

Boo!

Okay, so everything is still good. Sierra and Simon haven't fought since their scuttle a few weeks ago. She is healing fine and has had no problems. I am still having to give her the antibiotics, but she is taking her medicine pretty well (its in liquid form. Easy breezy.) She does have to go back to the vet on Monday, but that is just a followup to make sure it is all going well.

Now the job.. oh the job. We know I am just so happy to be there. Hey, at least I have a job. I was told today however, that while I may still have a job, it will now be with a different company. They had to go with a smaller contract. I am going to assume my salary is still the same but I am calling the contact tomorrow. I have to complete an application. Yep, have to apply for my own job. Its a weird little situation but I am certain it will all work out for the best. I shall focus on the most important part, which is that I still have income and benefits. I am attending a networking happy hour tomorrow and will try to make some connections. Plus, hey, it will be fun to get out :).

Okay, "Lost" is on. I am watching a recap of the last 4 seasons. I haven't been watching and so I probably won't catch up or understand what the heck is going on. I have fallen in love with "How I Met Your Mother". Oh my, it is funny! Every time Neil Patrick Harris is on the screen, I laugh hysterically. And I loved Alyson Hannigan in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". I really wonder what took me so long to catch on to it. And it isn't complete complete mind crack like "Rock of Love" and "Real Housewives of Orange County". It has a point :).

Okay, later!

Poor Kitty!

I just brought Sierra home from the vet and she is not happy with me right now. I had to leave her at the vet today and I hate doing that! I was good though, I only called them 2x to check on her :). I guess she hit something Saturday night and split her nail so they removed it.

Poor thing is trying to figure how to walk, use the litter pan, and eat with this thing on her leg. That is food you see in the picture is what I put out next to her so she'd have something to munch on. Simon just wants to play with her and she wants nothing to do with him. I get this feeling she won't be moving much over the next 24 hours while the bandage is still on!

Cat Fight

Oh my goodness. I have no idea what has gotten into my two furbabies lately but they have been fighting and hissing on and off for the last few weeks. Well, last night, they got into a knock out, drag out fight! It was a pretty horrible sound. I break it up and notice a little scratch on Simon's nose. He wasn't bleeding but I decided I might need to check Sierra for any injuries too. Well, she was bleeding from her nail - I think somehow it broke in the fight. I cleaned her up and ran to PetsMart to get some feline first aid spray. I got her cleaned up and she wasn't bleeding anymore. She is fine today, just limping a little. So a trip to vet is going to be in order tomorrow. I decided that it wasn't an emergency and she isn't in pain so we can wait. She is chilling next to me on the couch and I am trying to keep Simon from messing with her. Although she can still knock him out, I am sure.

So that is it for now. It's been a low key weekend and I have totally enjoyed it! Have a great Sunday.

Finally feel alive!

I have been sick for the last few days and luckily this weekend I feel much better! Still somewhat stuffy, but since I can actually function, I am not going to complain. I really don't know why the cold hit me so hard. A lot of people have been sick, I just think the travel allowed my body to be a tad weaker and therefore I got hit hard. That is why you have had little insight into the fabulous trip to Cali :). They are mad I left my Texas germs but well, I am sorry they got sick. At least they got to see me :).

Here are a couple of pictures from Cali:

Chloe and me at Fairy Tale Town. Fairy Town Town is just what it sounds like, a place where all fairy tales come to life. There are little sections dedicated to certain fairy tales - Cinderella's Carriage, Sherwood Forest (with a great play set that we ran around on for 20 minutes!), and even the cheese, that stands alone. It is a great place for kiddos, right across the street from the zoo.

Dr. Chloe! The best doctor visit I had all December (and I had a few!). And she made sure I had several doctor's appointments, all in one day. Still, I got sick. Oh well :). My favorite part was that she always made sure I got a treat for being good during my appointment. However one time I didn't eat my candy cane in what she thought was the appropriate amount of time, and she ate it for me.......

The Christmas tree at my Aunt Gail's house. We really did cut back this year.......

Cheater....

I am back from Cali and it was awesome!!! I didn't get to spend as much time there but the time I did have was a lot of fun. I will reveal little stories over the next few posts and get some pics up once I download them. It will be kind of random as I remember them!

Now to explain the title of this blog... well, little Chloe, it turns out, likes to cheat at Candyland. Yes Candyland. We only played twice and she tried to cheat both times. It really made me laugh, but you can't let her get away with cheating, especially since it was so obvious. So I corrected her, she straightened up and then she decided the game was over. So she says to me "okay cheater you can pack the box". Okay, I kid you not, I laughed for a good 5 minutes. Her grandma (my Aunt Gail) was in the room when she said it and she laughed too. It was hard to explain to Chloe why I was laughing so much. I was relieved to find out her dad calls her cheater all the time too. (BTW, we never finished a game of Candyland. She has a shorter attention span than I do :)). I tell you what though, she is a genius child. And she is a total ham. I still have the "The Last Unicorn" stuck in my brain. (Another story)

The Nyquil is kicking in and I need to log off and lay down. I picked up some California germs and have been coughing like crazy for 2 days. I am fine for awhile and then just hit a coughing fit. So, I ran to CVS for Nyquil and am very happy now. I will tell you about the zoo, Fairy Tale Town and the winery at a later time!

Finally Warm

The heating in the building today was a little wonky and it was soooo cold in the office today. The bathroom on our floor was seriously too cold to use. I went to the first floor once I realized it was the warmest place. In our Regional Administrator's office, it registered 61 degrees. He is luckily out of the office and didn't have to endure it. I would guess that it was about 69 in my cube. Someone on the elevator asked if anyone worked for OSHA. Ha, ha. We told them we were suffering too. I hope tomorrow it is much better!

That is about it. I am getting ready for my trip to CA! Leave Wednesday and I can't wait. I made a trip to Target today for a few last minute things. The toy aisle was kind of nuts but the rest of the store really wasn't that bad. The check out lines weren't awful. I know had I gone Saturday, I would have tried to kill someone. It was a good thing I waited. Now I am just chilling. I am sore and tired. Ryan beat me up again tonight but I did get to hit the punching bag. We know I love that. Time to go lay down and read. Maybe dreamy land soon. Hopefully :).

Oops, Sorry!

I realized it has been awhile since i wrote anything. Not that I have been boring and sitting at home, I just haven't wanted to log in and think of anything to write. :) 1 week and I am off to CA. I can't wait. I only get 4.5 days there this year, but it will still be good. Mom and Dad will be there this year too, so it might just be like when I was younger and we'd go to visit Grandma and the family. Grandma is no longer with us but I know she is always there in Spirit. But I don't want to get all weepy and sentimental just yet in a blog post, so I will move on. I received Katie and Kenneth's Christmas card yesterday and it has picks of the kids. It is pretty much the cutest Christmas card ever :).

So, the big mystery for me now is where the heck my ice scrapper went. I didn't think I would need it so early (weird to say since it is Dec, but true) but alas, last night I get to the train station and my car is covered in ice. No ice scrapper. I sat in my car for a good 20 minutes just defrosting. I found some sort of scrappy thing however it wasn't as effective. The important part is that I got home safely. Now I have to go buy one for the next cold snap. This morning was fun too but I warned my boss I wasn't going to be in until about 9. More for the fact I needed to let the back window melt. Even if I was taking the train, I still needed to see to drive to the train station. And let me tell you, I am very glad I took the train. Even with just the little ice we got, there were accidents all over the place. It is foggy and cold and I guess it is good because it gets me in the Christmas mood. As long as I get where I need to be safely, I am good!

Okay, that is it for now. I need to get some stuff done. It is slow now that it is the end of the year, but I do have projects to work on.

Later!!! Stay warm :)>

3 Weeks and Counting.....

A little more than 3 weeks and I will be in CA. That also means it is about 3 weeks until Christmas. Since I refused to get in the Christmas spirit until after Thanksgiving, that means I have 3 weeks to sing and enjoy the season :). I just want to be with my extended family. Chloe hugs just cure all. I can't wait. I have a cat sitter and a ride to the airport, so I am all set. Just need to buy the kids' gifts, and ship them to CA. Thats easy..... Shopping online rocks! There is no way I am going to try to haul that stuff in my luggage. I will be lucky enough to get my own clothes in the suitcase without overflowing (dang it, just remembered I need to buy a new backpack to carry on the plane. I killed my zipper a few months ago and so it is pretty much non-functioning.....).

Okay rest time. Trivia is tonight and I want to be all refreshed and happy. Hopefully, this time we won't get last place (although, I kind of like getting the Pez...... It might be a Christmas one this time!)

Later! Have a good night :).

No Thanksgiving Football Miracle

A&M lost. :( I do have to admit that I thought tu would pull 60+ points but it ended up 49-9. Still bad but not as bad as I really thought. I got mad at the amount of flags A&M got. Seriously guys, those were stupid mistakes!!! Michelle was very sweet and didn't completely rub it in. Her last text was "You know I love you, but...". Yeah, I know.....

So now onto next season. We will come back, like a phoenix from the ashes, we will compete with the OUs, Texas', and Tech's. While it is nice to see the Big 12 South dominate the top 10, I would like A&M to be a part of it. Gig Em Aggies!!!!!

The food was awesome yesterday. My "friend" even said that my pumpkin pie was probably the best he ever tasted. It was pretty dang good. I love making Pumpkin Pie.... it is very easy to make and can be used to impress :). My Cooking Light recipes were very good as well. I have now found a great source of goodness. I did have some sink issues (clogged kitchen sink on Thanksgiving is probably not the best news there is! But hey, I still had water... I just have to wait to do dishes until tomorrow night.). I need to go to bed now. It is way too late (or early, depending on your perspective. He, he).

Bye for now.

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

I am briefly on to say hi and Happy Thanksgiving. Mom and Dad are coming here for dinner and I have 2 more dishes to prepare. Just did the mashed potatoes and the pumpkin pie was made last night. Cooking Light Magazine has some great recipes -- I am using 3 of them this year. Goat Cheese Mashed potatoes. Oh my goodness, they are heaven. I don't think I used enough Goat Cheese though, but they still taste good. I am resisting the urge to nosh on them before the parents get here :).

Anyway, everyone have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving! And NOW we can start thinking about Christmas! And go Aggies!!! The A&M/tu game has been moved back to Thanksgiving and I am happy about that. My entire college career, we had that game Thanksgiving. I am not sure why they moved it -- but glad its back! Okay, now, let me clear things up.... I know we have had a challenging year, to say the least. But maybe, by some Thanksgiving miracle, we can pull an upset. Maybe....... I am just expecting us to show up to the game and show some Aggie pride. :). I will be rooting for my team though.

Back to cooking. Love it!!!

Top Chef!

Okay, so I was wanting to sew during Project Runway and now Top Chef is back on! I am going to be in a serious cooking mood soon. I recorded the season premiere and I am watching it now. Hopefully I can get into it and the new chefs. They are in NY and I am loving the backdrop of the show! I miss NY. I think it will take me a few shows to get my favorites in mind. It always takes a few episodes.

That is all. It is close to midnight (and something evil's lurking in the dark).... oh sorry, I channeled "Thriller" there for a second. Anyway, I really need to think about going to sleep now!

:(

Okay, I didn't expect A&M to actually beat OU. But, 3rd Quarter and OU is ahead 52 to 14. I guess to good news is that we scored....... It isn't over yet. I just expect more carnage now. Be nice Sooners. I rooted for you against Texas. (A&M just scored. 52 to 21. It was a beautiful run too!!!). Now, we might not pull off an upset -- but still watching and rooting for my Ags. There is talent there. We have to rebuild! As long as we stay somewhat proportionate to their growing score, I will be happy. GIG EM Aggies!!!

Has anybody watched "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" on Bravo? I avoided TRHW of Orange County and New York. But I have gotten SUCKED into these Atlanta Housewives. The drama is amazing. I highly doubt these ladies actually represent real Housewives anywhere. But it is such mind candy, I can't look away. They are replaying the marathon on Bravo today and I flipped over during halftime. Its a trainwreck. It's over the top. And it is kind of fun.

Well, f***. In the time I started this post, OU scored a few more times. 66 to 21 now. Still 3rd Quarter. I might need to hit my mind candy for a few minutes......

Everyone have a great Saturday.

Word of Advice

So, when you are changing the litter boxes and you must take a break from this task for a brief moment, you should put the lid back on the bucket of Fresh Step (or whatever brand you are using). If you don't, you shouldn't be surprised when your little one decides that he wants to use this very fresh litter to pee. Even when there is a completely clean litter box just inches away in the bathroom.

I haven't laughed that hard in a few days.

Everyone have a great weekend!

Vote!

You are going to read it everywhere, so no big long speech about it. I just voted and it feels pretty dang awesome. I swear, there is something about putting that ballot in the machine. I was going to do it this morning and the line was super long. Now, I don't mind the lines for voting, but I would have been waiting outside, in heals, and really, this is no time to be a martyr. I knew I could get off early, go back home, change into sweats for the wait. I had no wait, 5 minutes, in and out. I can guess though that the line will get longer as people get off work. But who cares. This is our right and responsibility as an American Citizen. This is our voice. I just heard that 537 votes decided the election in 2000. So, if you don't think your vote counts, you are wrong. (Did I say at the beginning I wasn't going to do a speech? well, I said long speech, so.... :)).

Have a great day!

Jury Duty and other random stuff

I had jury duty today. I got a lot of reading done...... Actually, I was sent to another court off of I 30 (Justice of the Peace) and it was supposed to be a small claims case. It ended up being postponed because the lady (representing herself) wanted a change in venue. And he had to give it to her based on some law in Texas code that I can't tell you because I am not a lawyer. So, we were dismissed. I will say I did get some work done at the main court house, just a little, but hey, I was proud of myself!

I have Ryan in an hour. We keep having to reschedule but tonight I plan to get my booty kicked. I need it. Maybe I should go early and get some cardio in. I need to look into Krav again. It is good cardio, I need that outlet, and truthfully, I think it will make me feel stronger. The ability to kick someone's a** is such a good reason start!!

My trip to CA has been scheduled. I get to go Dec 24. I can't wait. I have seen pics of Colby and Skyler and can't wait to meet them. And I get to take Ms. Chloe to the zoo (at least I hope I do!) and I can't wait for the cuteness that is Chloe. Oh, yeah, and I get to see the rest of the family :).

Later!

Baby News!

Skylar Addison Younger was born yesterday afternoon! Congrats to my cousin Kelly and her husband George. I saw the pictures, she is a cutie. I believe she was 7 lbs and 19 inches long. Now I have two babies to visit -- have to get my act together and get some plane tickets to CA!!!

I am just chilling today. I am currently watching the Texas A&M/ Tech Game. I am not going to jinx it with commentary. They just started the 2nd Quarter. I am waiting for Mia and then we are going to head out and find a place to watch it. Okay, off we go!

Later!


update: Dang it..... Tech pulled thru and beat A&M.....

Stuff From Around

There is a thing in the Federal Government called the Combined Federal Campaign. This is yearly thing and they give you a book load of charities that you can donate to (payroll deductions if you chose. I can't do that though since my paycheck does not come from the government. At least not directly.). There are plenty of charities to chose from as well (anyone heard of the International Potato Center? Yep, that is an actual charity. Promotes sweet potatoes for vitamin A in Africa. Learn something new everyday!). I do have a point for bringing this all up, I promise! Today, in order to promote animal charities, there was a small 'open house' for lack of a better word. And people, they brought puppies!!!! Puppy kisses in the middle of the day at work is the best thing ever! Actually, having kittens there would have just made it heaven but I understand why they chose not to bring them. A lady was giving a demonstration with a yellow lab who was trained as a guide/helper dog. This dog was gorgeous! And it was amazing to see what he could do. There was even an apparatus the dog could pull to help open heavy doors. There was also baby chihuahuas and a couple of other mutts. I was very happy playing with the dogs, even if it was only a few minutes.

That is about it for today. It was Bosses Day so we went to Thai food and I am still stuffed. Love that stuff. My cousin Kelly went into labor about 2 or 3 hours ago so I should be announcing her baby's birth soon. Hopefully she has a smooth labor, especially since this is her first kiddo.

Everyone have a great evening!

???

So, do babies need legwarmers and toddlers yoga mats??? Target seems to think so. I am looking up baby gifts for this family growth spurt we are experiencing and I swear, they have some of the most interesting items for the wee ones. They do have some of the cutest items though. I might have a hard time picking!

The week is good so far. I got called to Jury Duty on Oct. 30. I don't even get to go to a different location in the city. I can see the Court House from my office window. But it is the first time I am actually doing jury duty at this location (several courthouses across Dallas. I usually end up at the one by the jail). I have no idea where to go, etc. I know I have time! Just writing/thinking out loud.

Okay, time for lunch. I am very hungry! Later!

Welcome Colby Elizabeth Durham!

My cousin Katie (Chloe's mom) had her second baby yesterday morning around 1:45 AM. She is so beautiful. And very big! The kid was 9 lbs 8.5 ounces. That just hurts thinking about it. Anyway, congrats to Kenneth and Katie (and of course big sister Chloe :)).

That's it -- ready for the weekend!

Kim

The Week in a paragraph

Well, maybe more than a paragraph.....

Last Tuesday I went to trivia with Taylor and well, we didn't do to well! Last place. I now have a Piglet Pez dispenser (the prize for last place). We really were just there to have a few beers and chat, so our -4 points really didn't phase us. Yeah, -4! He, he. I don't think I actually got any of the questions right. There is nothing like Bar Trivia to make you feel like an idiot :)>. It was good to see Taylor though -- hadn't seen him in a long time.

Last Wednesday, I had the migraine from heck. I stayed at work but really should have gone home to sleep. I had to teach an Aqua class that night too and was trying to feverishly find a sub for my sub gig. No luck. So, the headache somewhat subsided and I taught anyway. You know, it wasn't half bad actually. I did end up reconnecting with someone I lost touch with and that has been nice. No details now, but I am happy this person is back in my life.

Thursday and Friday were pretty much business as usual and the weekend was good. Saturday I did my volunteer voter registration drive at the Planned Parenthood in Garland. It is a low traffic clinic and I actually was only able to register 2 people (everyone else was already registered to vote, which was good). So, while it was kind of disappointing, I did at least get 2 people registered. That is two more than before! So, anyway, the deadline to register to vote for the Nov 4th election is OCT 6!!! Remember!!

This week so far has been pretty good. I am caught up on sleep, I am catching up on the DVR recordings and I am happily waiting for my friend to come over. Everyone have a great evening!!!

Monday, bleh

Allergies are kicking my booty today. I did discover that Tylenol Sinus Severe medicine is the greatest thing ever. Love the stuff.

I went to register today as a Volunteer Deputy Registrar. I can register people to vote. Yes, there is a reason I went to do this! I am volunteering this weekend at a Voter Registration Drive. I am very excited - it is one way to help get out the vote (for whomever you chose to vote for!!). The deadline to register to vote for the Nov. 4 election is October 6. So, if you haven't done so, go and register. If you need any info, just let me know. I have a list of the registration offices for other counties (I can only register people who live in Dallas County). This website is very helpful for those registered in Dallas County: http://www.dalcoelections.org/. So, no matter the candidate of your choice, you must get registered and more importantly, you must actually go vote! (I was given all sorts of information - early polling locations, etc - so if you have any questions, please ask!!) And I will definitely let you know how the voter registration drive goes this weekend. It is a non-partisan event, which is actually a good thing.

"The Office" is back on the Thursday!!! I can't stand how excited I am :). Don't try to call 8-9 pm on Thursday. You know I won't answer! And "Grey's Anatomy" comes back too. I can't wait to see what happens with Meredith and Derek. I never thought I'd care about them, but I really do :).

Have a great evening! (I got my sewing machine yesterday so time to get started on a project! Halloween is coming up, so we will see what I can make for that.)

Happy Birthday Mom

Happy Birthday Mom! Have a great day :)>.

The Weekend is Over. Bleh.

I saw Mama Mia today at the Bass Hall in Fort Worth today. It was still awesome. Loved it!!! And the cast was great. I will be singing "Dancing Queen" at least until Wednesday :). Thanks for taking me Mom!

I found this kitty video over on Cuteoverload. It is good for a laugh or two. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG_IcgVb-WM

Everyone have a great Sunday night!!!

Note to Channel 5

Um, the storm isn't that bad in the DFW area. You don't need to keep doing weather coverage at the expense of showing "Chuck". Thank you, that is all. I am sure there was nothing on before to delay the news coverage. They are just doing overkill.

On the brighter note, it is so nice outside. Love the wind and rain and happy coolness it brought :).

Good night.

Friday night chill out

Don't worry, I did go out tonight. I just got back pretty early. I am sitting here at 11:30 watching CNN and the Hurricane coverage. I don't know why, but Ike is scaring the bejeebies out of me!!! This hurricane just seems like it is getting bigger and bigger. I mean, we are even supposed to feel the winds and rain in Dallas tomorrow. That is a big ass storm. I don't even remember following Katrina this closely. Maybe because of Katrina I am more intrigued, I don't know. I just know I am following it a lot more. I just pray that the damage and devastation they predict coming, doesn't. But this darn storm looks like an angry Pacman wanting to eat up Texas and LA. Good luck and God keep safe the folks on the Texas Coast!!! We have an office in Corpus and two in Houston so I hope those employees got out or at least hunkered down well. I guess we will find out next week.

Sarah Palin. Geesh. I still don't think this woman is qualified to be VP. I think I am more qualified to be VP. I really think she is fascinating and I would love to meet her. She would be fun to debate and just talk to over a drink in a bar. But the lady does not need to be a heart beat away from the presidency. And I seem to meet people who love her. Man, I don't like arguing (well, not twice in one day, which I did today :)). But, the idea that Tina Fey will play her on SNL just makes me giddy. Tina Fey is one truly talented woman and I love everything she does. That will be awesome.

Okay, back to CNN and the Weather Channel. Really nothing interesting happened this week. It was long and I am glad its Friday. I am looking forward to a relaxing weekend. I get to go see "Mama Mia" on the stage again with my mom on Sunday! Can't wait. It will be fun.

Weekend Wrap up

Nothing too big happened this weekend. I went for a facial yesterday, slept a lot and watched scary movies on the Sci Fi Channel. I ended up getting sucked into one called "Unrest". The lead looked like Britney Spears. It wasn't a bad movie, not Oscar worthy for sure! It had an interesting premise but like any cheesy scary movie, had major holes.

All in all it was a good weekend. I got a lot of sleep and that was one of the goals! There are no huge stories to tell :). Yeah, I guess I need to schedule the delivery of my sewing machine so I can start sticking myself with needles :).

Everyone have a great week!!!

No Title

No Krav tonight. I did bills today and realized, if I wanted to eat, I might need to start next pay period. So the week of the 15th, I promise, a report of the butt whiping people will get. Trust me, I will probably still be in "Kick you in the head mode".

Now off to search sewing projects on-line. I am obsessesed :)>.

Happy Thursday! Good night.

Happy Wednesday

I have decided to learn how to sew. I think it is all these Project Runway episodes. Mom has a sewing machine I am going to take from my parent's house. She said Dad will be very happy :). We'll see where this experiment goes. I really need curtains and hey, might as well try it out on that. People, I don't even have a needle in my apartment, so this will be fun!!!

I am going to Krav tomorrow. I swore to Ryan I would go -- and while he won't kill me if I don't go, I made a promise to try it out. I will report back tomorrow. This past week has produced some "I want to kick you in the head" moments and I need an outlet. Yoga would not do it this time. I don't need calming, I need kicking in a controlled, productive environment.

"America's Next Top Model" started tonight. I am interested to see where this season goes with Isis, the first Transgendered contestant. And it is really my guilty pleasure. I love this show. I have to study the girls and see who my favorite is, although my girl always gets kicked off early on. Maybe I shouldn't root for someone.

Lets see, these are the most random things I can think of right now. I am too tired to write anything on Ms. Palin. Not sure what she brings to the table. I am all for a woman in office, we all know that. I won't be voting for McCain, but I am willing to research her more to find out what he saw in her. I just hope it wasn't because she had boobs.

Good night and special thoughts and prayers to my friend and her family tonight. When the time is right, I will reveal more, but now is not it. God knows who is in need of the prayers. He will take it from there.

I'm Here

Life is still good in the land of Kim. I still rock and I am still pretty happy :). I made it back from lunch before the rain started again. This weather has been pretty nice. I really like walking to the Bank of America building without fear of bursting into flames. I know it won't last but I am enjoying a few days of somewhat cool weather before we ride out the rest of summer.

Tonight I am playing poker at the Tipp Inn. I love that place but I hardly ever go play there on Wednesday night. Something always comes up. Well, tonight I am going. I am so bad at playing but I probably would get better if I actually made an effort to go and consistently play. I am in HR, I know how to bluff :)>. I am usually not the first one out, so I find that to be an encouraging sigh.

Okay, back to work. I was on my lunch break and now I need to get some work done. Woohoo. I'd rather daydream about cute new boy. But I can do that between projects. :)

I kind of rock :)

My first Aqua class was a success. I had fun teaching it and I think they enjoyed it. Jen and Mia came to the class and I am so glad they did. I was going into someone else's class and I loved having that moral support. Once I got going, man, I loved it. Genius me left my notes for the class on the kitchen counter but luckily I had reviewed them enough to know the flow of what I wanted to do. And to tell the truth, it was rush :). Okay, I am tired and want to go to sleep. It's been a long day!

One of the Best Weekends on Record!

I know I am a few days late on reporting, but hey, better late than never.

Mia and I went to dinner after yoga on Friday night and I just wanted low key and easy. We ended up going to the Humperdinks around the corner from me. We sit down and are soon approached by a nice man who asks us to join he and his friend for dinner. We decided to just eat at our table and then join them for a drink at the bar. They finished first and parked it at our table while we were finishing up. We ended up chatting with the guys and well, come to find out these guys are nice and our initial approacher actually had the hots for me. Woo hoo :). The more I talked to him, the more I liked him. So, based on that I gave the stranger my phone number :). We went to dinner the next night and ended up talking for hours. And then I hung out at the pool with him on Sunday. I got a tad too much sun but it was still a lot of fun! No news on the next date, but I do see us going out again. If we do, I will reveal more tidbits about him :). Mia thought he was nice so that counts for something.

Tonight I am working on my Aqua routine. I think since it is the first class, I am a little nervous but I know it will be great. I am the teacher, it is my class, I need to just keep my energy up and love it for them. But, yeah, I am still nervous. It has also been along time since I was hired till now. Just guess I never thought it would come. I am still just a sub, but hey, its a start!!! I can tell you there will be a lot of cardio and a lot of core :).

Ryan announced a contest for his clients for the month of Sept. It will include him too. So, I will want to beat him and therefore I will totally stick to my workout and eating schedule. There is a diet that Christian Bale did for the Batman movie that he and another client will be following. I am actually going to look it up too and just modify it to my portion and calorie needs. I will definitely share it once I look it up and get it started! I am looking forward to this all. It is something I need to mix things up.

Okay, well this post is kind of long so I will end it now. Plus, I need to make sure I have my plan of attack for the class tomorrow night. And the endorphins from working out will wear off soon and I will be sleepy in a minute.

My DVR makes a statement

So, I am not sure what comes on when during the Olympic coverage so I decided to just set my DVR to record it all and I would just watch and delete what I wanted. Or so I thought. The first time I tried to set it, my DVR went crazy and my cable went out. Yep, I know it was just a coincidence, but dang it was funny timing. Who knew the DVR was so political??

I hope everyone is having a great Friday. Now it is time to go get ready for yoga class. I think a Friday yoga class is perfect for me. I tend to get pretty high strung by the end of the week and the relaxation is good for me. This needs to become a habit (I did it last Friday too).

Later!

Forgot to mention

I accidentally turned my hair dark. I was trying to color my hair on my own. Well, I ended up with a reddish, brown looking color. I kind of like it -- and my head isn't orange. I think once this wears off though I will get it professionally done. And I might just stay in the red family. I kind of like it. :)