From the underbelly of the books...she emerges!

Ok so that was a little dramatic, but it's so nice to be on a break! My spring break started a couple of days early due to the two feet of snow we got and they closed our school down. It's snowing again today, we need the moisture so it's great! I am doing all sorts of fun things like cleaning and organizing my craft room, sleeping in, watching movies with Jason (if you haven't seen Bolt yet, I highly recommend it-it's so cute!) I am going to get together with friends and have lunch, probably do some more sleeping in just because it's THAT wonderful and of course do some of the crafty projects I have put off since the semester has started. I will post pictures of the bracelet I am hoping to make once it is finished.

Jason & I went to have lunch with my dad's uncle yesterday. He is 91 and lives in Denver, I haven't seen him since I was about 10 but since we live so close, it's silly to not see him. We took him out to lunch and went back to his apartment and he shared all kinds of stories about my grandparents with me. It's nice to hear memories of your grandparents from their siblings point of view, the stories made me laugh and some brought tears to my eyes. He's a very sweet man with a heart of gold.

It really makes you think about the things that are truly important in this life and what is worth fighting over.

I hope everyone has been well-happy spring!

The b word

So the day has arrived. I'm in my mid-30's. I'm OK with it. I really don't feel like I'm 34, people tell me that I look younger than I am and I own it! The woman from the optical department called me on my birthday to tell me that my bifocals were in. That stung a little, just confirming that my mid-30's were here. I am able to laugh it off poke fun at myself. I am also wearing fancier shoes(why you ask? WHY NOT?! I say!) The first day wearing them was quite a trip for me. I was very nauseous and dizzy, which I still am. I feel like I'm wearing high platform shoes walking on a tightrope. It's a really weird feeling for me. I'm told this feeling may pass in a couple of weeks (great!) I am a clumsy person by nature so I am moving at a much slower pace. I feel like I should have a sign posted on the back of my car & shirt that says "Caution new bifocal wearer, pass with care."

Volunteering-What a Great Feeling

Yesterday was my first shift volunteering. My time was from 1:00p.m. to 5:00p.m. and I was helping out as an Office Assistant. So I got there, and found out I would be answering phones and stuffing envelopes. I got right to it and it was really easy, but some of the calls were difficult as the organization is a place that brings home cooked meals to people who are terminally ill with diseases like AIDS, cancer, etc. One person called and said that she just moved to Denver and she was starving, didn't have anything in her home and needed us. I got a chill throughout my body and transferred her call to someone who could help her.

I met a lot of the staff who were so great and warm. They got some of their grant money yesterday from different counties and were dancing and elated with joy at the generosity of people from years past.

I left there after my 4 hours thinking...how can people not volunteer? I wish I wouldn't have waited so long to do it. But now that I'm in it-there's no stopping me.

I have warm fuzzies all over.

8 about me

Tagged!
Here are the rules:
1) Post rules on your blog
2) Answer the six '8' items
3) Let each person know by leaving them a comment

8 favorite TV shows:
1. The Office
2. 24
3. The City
4. Ellen
5. LOST
6. American Idol
7. Late night with Jimmy Fallon

8 Things I did yesterday:
1. Went to school
2. took Charlie for a walk
3. blogged
4. got my volunteer assignment (yay!)
5. studied for yet another Spanish test
6. had dinner with great friends
7.
8.

8 Things I'm looking forward to:
1. spring
2. for the spring semester to be over
3. not being so pasty
4. summer
5. Charlie getting older
6. tulips
7. SUNSHINE
8. more time with Jason

8 Favorite restaurants:
1. Whole Foods
2. Johnny's Pizza
3. Noodles & Company
4. Bruegger's Bagels
5. Hacienda Colorado
6. The Melting Pot
7.
8.

8 Things on my wish list:
1. First to get my Associates Degree
2. To get my Bachelor's degree
3. To get my Master's degree!
4. To keep losing weight & feeling great!
5. To stay connected with family
6. To keep negative people & influences out of my life
7. To be a great volunteer & give back
8. To be a great friend

You can choose to do this if you'd like, if not...don't sweat it!

Newest addition

My sister in law had a baby on March 2, 2009 at 12:30p.m. Her name is Kaylen Grace, she was 6 lbs, 2 oz and 20" long, big brother Micah is so sweet with her and Uncle Jason & Aunt Heather are ready to spoil them rotten! Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure...
She squeals just like a newborn...and she smells well like a newborn too!

I think we're going to be great shopping partners one day soon!

All that dark hair, her big brother is a blondie!

She's sooo peaceful!

Updates

Well, I know I vented and VENTED about my Sociology teacher and his cursing & pot smoking ways. I found out that the head of the Soc. department is VERY aware of this and has received numerous complaints about him. I don't think he'll be around for much longer.

I still haven't learned much from him in that class, I've had to learn it on my own. The one good thing he has done is made us volunteer in the community for 10 hours. We need to choose a group that helps either Veterans, single mothers, homeless shelters, or life threatening illnesses. Which is great because for me, I've always wanted to volunteer, but never knew where to start.

I have chosen to help the life threatening illnesses group. I went last night to an volunteer orientation that brings nutritious, home cooked meals to people and their families who are home bound with life threatening illnesses. I really am excited about volunteering! As a child, I remember saying that I wanted to work with kids who had cancer & aids, but I did not pursue that degree in school.

This is my way to fulfill that need. I left there knowing I would give so much more than "just the required 10 hours". My heart was warmed at the amount of people there doing the same thing I was. I plan on being there a long time. I'll keep you updated as I start my shifts there.

Have a wonderful day!

Trying to make the best of it.

I'm just going to get this out because it has been eating away at me for most of the day. I have been having some eye problems (double vision) for the past couple of days, I called my eye doctor because it is not normal for me and they had me come in immediately. After a myriad of tests, my doctor gently broke the news to me that my eyes are lazy.

I gasped and said "How dare you!" Just teasing. She said they are lazy when I am focusing on things up close. She prescribed B...B..Bifocals for me. I instantly teared up. I have had problems with my eyes for the past 5 years or so that have had me getting brain scans, I have borderline glaucoma, all things of that nature. I should not be surprised in the least that I need bifocals. But I am.

My 34th birthday is coming up and I don't want to get bifocals but alas, I sulked into Target tonight and picked out a cute pair of square fuchsia glasses which will be my 'bifocals' and a second dark purple ones which will be my 'readers'. I still need to maintain some bit of my dignity by at least trying to look my age and not jump into wearing the powder blue leisure suits (yet).

I am grateful that nothing more serious was diagnosed or found, and I am thankful for the vision I have. This just came out of left field, and I needed to get it off my chest.

Thanks for reading.

Be selfish

I feel like I'm doing a lot of things lately. A lot of school, a LOT of homework-focusing on myself. Things like losing weight, taking care of myself, educating myself-being selfish. I haven't done that in a really long time. Jason supports me 100% in my journey through school and weight loss-even becoming a vegetarian! For the first time I don't feel guilty about any of it. Life is too short to short change what you want for yourself.

So get out there and get it! Enjoy the week!!

Can't sleep

Insomnia, too much coffee, wide awake, mind running a mile a minute. Yup. That's me. Right here, right now. A-W-A-K-E. Those of you who know me, know that I go to bed early-like 9:00pm. Here it is 11:30pm and I could clean the entire house. I won't because the puppy & the dear husband are sleeping.

So, I have taken a much needed break from homework and have decided to indulge you with the thoughts rolling around in my head. Charlie starts puppy training tomorrow evening. Jason & I are excited about it and we think Charlie is too. If he's not, too bad-he's going for 6 weeks.

It snowed here today, it was sunny and 50 degrees when I left for school this morning & when I went to go home, it was 25 & snowing like no other. What was I wearing? A tshirt & jeans. Why? I don't check the weather-that's why. I'm ready for spring, to see tulips and baby animals.

I don't know what else to tell you other than I am wired. I am tempted to wake Jason up to tell him I can't sleep, but he works at 7:00am and he won't be pleased with my little scheme...guaranteed.

If you've read this far-congratulations! I wish you all a great day...I'm going to read some Sociology & hopefully that will bore me to sleep. :/

I need to vent...

School is a place of academia, a place where you go to class, you learn a little something, you apply it and you move on. At least that is how I picture it. I am taking 3 classes 2 of which I really enjoy. One I cannot get past is Sociology. The teacher is one year older than me, and please do not be offended by the way I describe him, I am angry and am venting. He is a self-admitted pot smoker and talks openly about smoking pot in class daily, today he spoke about sperm during his lecture about Sociology. We watch a 20 minute clip of the John Stewart show in his class twice a week for the hour and fifteen minutes we meet. Which is completely irrelevant to his lecture.

He is unprofessional, curses like none other, I mean, uses the F *bomb, uses words like D-bag, you get the picture. It is in my opinion extremely unprofessional in a teaching environment. Granted, I am the oldest person in this class by 10 years. Everyone else is fresh out of high school.

I don't mind if people act that way, really it doesn't bother me, but if I'm paying for a class that I need to earn a degree, it does bother me. I don't care if you smoke pot, shoot drugs, get hookers on the weekends...but if you're my teacher, come in and teach me something when I am in class.

I have not learned a thing in the month that I have been attending his class. I have tried to ask questions to try and get him back to the subject matter, but I feel he is there to entertain and to show us his life experiences which is NOT what Sociology is!

I feel like he is using the classroom to preach to everyone his views about politics and how the rich man is holding him down, and how he feels he is owed something (I'm not sure if it's a dime bag or what at this point.)

THEN in Spanish class, there is a gentleman who is deaf. He has an interpreter in the class. The teacher was talking about politicians and mentions President-Obama and how he is in the White House. (We were talking about Ser & estar verbs for those who speak Spanish) The interpreter pipes up and speaks on behalf of the deaf gentleman. She says "it isn't the White House anymore, it's the Black House". Everyone in the room gasped. The kid smirked and looked around. I was HIGHLY offended at the ignorance people still have in 2009, whether you're a Democrat, Republican, Liberal or Independent-you're still human. I really thought that we had moved past some of this as a society, I guess not.

Thank you for letting me vent, I am trying to realize that maybe I am asking too much. I am not in an office environment anymore. I quit my professional job to go back to school, so I am trying to adjust and to swim amongst the many school of fishes in this academic Community College sea...but I feel like I'm a fish with a walker amongst a young bunch of marathoners.

I feel like I'm trapped in the body of a 90 yr old woman

I was going to school like a good student should this week. I'm taking 3 classes...Sociology, Spanish and Interpersonal Communications. Three books and 3 binders, should be no big deal, right? Well, you'd think I am carrying around cinder blocks in my backpack because when I pick it up, I have to literally heave it over my shoulder, make this manly grunting sound when I do it and put it on my back.

When I did this on Wednesday, I instantly had a pain in my lower right side. I was limping around and had a huge knot on my lower side as well. I have nursed it with heat, Motrin and rest. I got some muscle relaxers from my doctor and have slept the night away and it is a little better.

I have since lightened the load and have learned to left with my legs and not my back, stop grunting...I'm a girl for goodness sakes! So lesson learned kids...don't go to school...just kidding. Lift properly! OH and by the way, today was weigh in day for me, I'm down another 2 lbs, total of 18 lbs...WOO WOO!!

Hey Target!

So, I quit my full time job back in the fall to pursue going back to school full time. I decided to get a part time job at Target over the holiday season to a) get the discount and b) I worked there for 8 yrs previously, so why not go back? As I was working yesterday, I ran into the restroom during the busiest part of the afternoon to wash my hands. There was a line forming as I was at the sink.

There was a woman watching me (I am very aware when people watch me and don't say anything and can feel them burning into me...weird I know.) As I am foaming up and singing my abc's in Spanish to get all the germs out, this woman who previously has been staring at me says "Hey Target!" I look to my right as she is standing on my left and think 'crap! I'm the only one in here in red & khaki and I know she's talking to me'. Again, she says "HEY TARGET!" Louder this time. I look slowly to my left and she says "Look what I have." She turns to the side and shows me a recyclable Walmart Bag which she is proudly wearing on her right shoulder.

I say "wow, that's a nice bag." and begin rinsing my hands and looking for paper towels. She says "yeah, guess where I went to lunch today?" I say "I don't know, where?" She says "the new McDonalds, and I had a HAMBURGER." I say "Wow, sounds like you've had a pretty good day."

And I exit stage left. So from now on, you can address me as HEY TARGET and apparently I will answer.

Teacher's Pet?

When I was in school back in Jerome, ID...I didn't try very hard to make friends let alone make good grades. I was very quiet, softspoken, and shy. I kept to myself, I think I had a handful of friends. People barely remembered me after school. When I go back to visit or see people that I know, it's like I'm a completely different person. I decided to go back to school this year at age 33 ::gulp:: to finish my Associates degree and maybe even go on to get my Master's degree in Human Resources Management and Spanish.

Call me a complete dork/overachiever/teacher's pet but I am all about school these days! It could be because I am paying for it, which in turn is driving me to try harder, or it is in a field that I truly enjoy and want to have a career in, or maybe age has something to do with it.

Today in my Spanish class, I was being outspoken, cracking jokes and introducing myself to complete strangers in class. I even offered to help a girl with her assignment after class if she needed it; something I would have never done 15 years ago.

Here we go!

So, this is really happening! I'm down a total of 15 pounds since 12/26/08. It's hard for me to believe! Usually by now, I've fallen off the wagon and have visited Cold Stone for some ice cream by now.

I think I've passed the craving stage now and it's now turned into a habit and lifestyle change for me. I have began eating more organically and have started to cut out some of the sugars, and flours, and meat etc. out of my diet which I think is helping me to lose weight. It certainly helps me sleep better, that's for sure. I find myself craving things that are grown vs. processed.

I crave water, walking and exercise (which I can't believe I just said). I find myself searching for the furthest parking spot away when we go to the mall, etc. It's the little changes that are making a huge difference!

I am excited about this people! I am fitting into my clothes much better and can't wait to see how much weight I lose next week...stay tuned!! WOO HOO!!!!!!!!

New Year-New me

For Christmas, I asked for a BodyBugg. It is a device that you wear around your upper left arm near the bicept area. It tracks your steps and calories (and a lot more) burned in a day. I input what I eat onto a computer program and upload what the bugg calculates I burned during that day. The goal is to burn more than what I eat. Simple concept, right? Well, it has worked for me. Since December 26, 2008, I am down 13 lbs and falling.

I make it my goal every day to beat that bugg. It's like a game! Jason got one too. We work out together, we are eating healthier and overall are feeling much better. So, I didn't make a New Year's resolution this year, but rather a commitment to me. Cheers!

Happy New Year!

Well, I'd like to say that I made it to midnight with a drink in my hand toasting in 2009. The truth is, Jason and I watched Iron Man snuggled up in our pj's on the couch and called it a night at 11pm. Today has been a lazy day spent mostly in our pajamas, I ventured out to some craft stores to spend some Christmas money and giftcards I received.

I hope you had a wonderful New Year and wish you a blessed 2009!!

Poor Charlie!

My poor little guy got to go to the vet today which he normally loves. Well, he usually wakes up, goes outside and goes to the bathroom, jets back inside to eat and goes about his day. HOLD ON! Not today.

Today, my little 6 month old turned into a man. He got neutered. Charlie is a complete ball of sheer unadulterterated energy ALL-THE-TIME! Today was no exception on the way to the vet.* We drove Charlie to the vet this morning at 7:30 am, he was all fired up and excited to see everyone, sniffing everything, you know...Mr. Popular!

When Jason & I went to pick him up at 5:00pm tonight, he came out with a bandage on his paw from where the iv was (sorry, at his request, he asked for no pictures) his ears lay down as he was severely doped up, as today, he got neutered, chipped, and many other final shots he needed to be out in the big bad world.

We got him in the car, and as I was driving, Jason sat in the back with him. I am not kidding when I tell you that Jason was sitting directly behind me and Charlie was sitting on the opposite side of Jason, staring away from him. It's like he knew what had happened. We know he hates us for doing what we did. We don't want to be grandparents at our age. Can you blame us?!

Charlie is recovering well and has a large stocking from Santa waiting for him...

Scenes of Christmas

I decorated for Christmas a few weeks ago and have just now taken pictures to post on the blog! This picture of Charlie we used for our Christmas card with the caption "Got any treats?" He is such a good boy and really has been a joy in our lives. Jason went to take him for a walk the other day and when Charlie went out the front door, he saw the reindeer in the second picture and began growling and being aggressive towards them. Once he got closer and realized they were wood; he backed off. He's going to be a GREAT guard dog one day. :P These reindeer Jason and I purchased at the one and only Klaas Auction in Jerome, ID while we were visiting there this summer. Charlie is not friendly with these reindeer as noted above.

This is a view of the front of our home in about 10 degree weather...brr!

And here is a table where an elf has vomitted...

Our lovely Christmas tree where our cats love to sleep underneath and drink the water. There are pine neetles everywhere.

Finally, the stockings were hung by the faux chimney with care.

We wish you a very Merry Christmas and hope that you're surrounded by the ones you love this year!

xo

It's been awhile

I've been bogged down with finals of my English 2 class but now that it's over and I've gotten an A, I'm feeling very excited about the holiday season upon us. We've had a lot of snow in December which has pushed me along in getting the Christmas decorations out and baking more than I usually do.

I am grateful for the friends and family in our life and am excited to see what 2009 has in store for us.

From our snowglobe to yours; we wish you a very Merry Christmas.

My man...

1. What's your husband's name?
Jason

2. How long have you been married?
5 1/2 wonderful years!

3. How long did you date?
4 months, then we got engaged.

4. How old is he?
32

5. Who eats more sweets?
I'd say we both eat our share...

6. Who is the better singer?
Probably me

7. Who is smarter?
He is. He's taught me a thing or two!

8. Who does the laundry?
I wash & dry, he folds and we both put away, what a system huh?

9. Who pays the bills?
Jason, he likes to have that control. Just kiddin' ;)

10. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?
Jason, he has the "closest to the bathroom" route

11. Who mows the lawn?
Jason, he's good to me like that!

12. Who drives?
I do, I always drive Ms. Daisy around.

13. Who asked who out first?
I think Jason asked me out first.

14. Who kissed who first?
I think Jason made the first move, but it was a joint effort.