Never Say Never

"I never want to live in an apartment again."  Whoops! And here is my ass, sitting in an apartment, again.  Really though, it's not so bad.  This will be our third night in the apartment. We moved Saturday; it was the loooooooongessssssstttttt day. Ever.  And a small scale debacle of sorts.  The movers were an hour and a half late. When I asked what kind of lunch break they would be taking, the response was, "Well, if the clients buying, we eat whatever."  Mkay. That was not the question but I see what you did. You just insinuated that we buy your lunch and now I feel obligated.  So, what the hell would you like from McDonald's because that's what we're having.  Oh, you don't eat McDonald's because it's unhealthy? Well, your two mover buddies do, so let me take their orders and I guess you're on your own because I'm not making two stops. Fast forward to the part where we all sit down to our unhealthy McDonald's lunch and he pulls out a Powerade and a bag of Funyons. For real. And did I sit silently by and pretend not to notice? Hell no. I smugly said, I'm so glad your eating Funyons instead of McDonald's...it's way better for you! 
Now, these were nice guys. Educated too, not jughead meathead mover guys.  We even discussed theology and conspiracy theories a bit. I liked them. Okay, I liked two of them. Mr. Funyon was just okay.
Now to the part where Funyon gps'd our new address and somehow took our stuff to the ghetto instead of our new address. I was not happy.

Finally they show up at the correct destination and promptly drop and mangle my new upright freezer. I'm not happy. See a theme?  Really, it was like I watched it roll off the dolly in slow motion and saw the three of them not catch it. I clapped my hands to my face as my jaw dropped and I think I made a weird "eeks" type noise.  Now I'm waiting for the company to call me about the damage report. I intend to give them an earful about the three stooges.

On the upside, we're here. Our stuff is here. We officially close on our old house this week. I can almost hear that chapter quietly thump closed like an old dusty book.  I'm really enjoying the apartment so far. It sort of feels like we're on vacation and staying in an awesome hotel suite.  We haven't been to the pool yet, but I plan to as soon as Birdy gets feeling better. Poor thing has had a fever all day with a cough.  Crossing my fingers that the rest of us don't get it.

We will continue our search for a house of property to build a house on, but we're not in a huge hurry
because camping at the apartment might be fun for a bit :)

Say Cheese!

Here's what I've been up to lately.  Last year I started a little photography business called "Pets and the City Photography" which was dedicated to pets and their people.  It was fun and I got to flex my creative muscles again (after a long period of muscle atrophy).  Here's the thing though...even though people are willing to dress their pooches in expensive gear, pay outlandish vet bills (I know!) and include them in final estate planning....they aren't so willing to fork over the cash for some nice photos.  I understand we're in a recession; or coming out of one depending on who you ask.  This mama is looking for consistent cash flow and the pet business just isn't cutting the mustard right now.  So, I'm expanding my services to include humans.  In fact I'm relaunching with a totally new name and website (coming soon).  I'm stoked about the possibilities and even have a surprise in store for you in a few weeks!  It'll knock your socks off!  For now I'm ramping up and that's eating up lots of free time so excuse my spotty bloginess.  So many ideas, so little time to develop them!

Wherefore art thou, new website?

Good Morning internet! It's a rainy cold (I can see my breath!) October day in Indiana. I have just a few things to say:

1. I'm tired of cleaning up dog hork every morning.
2. I debated at 7:30 am about whether or not I should go back to bed. I stayed awake. We'll see how that goes.
3. I'm reading an article in "O" magazine (Oprah's) about how to "Answer the Call." Which you might think is an article about going to the bathroom...but it's not. It's about how to figure out what you really ought to be doing from a career perspective (I think). I just started reading it so I really don't know the details...but I'm curious to see if it will give me any enlightenment.
4. This blog is going to be moving. I don't know when. I thought it would've been a long time ago...like 4 months ago. I'll keep you posted.
5. I'm running my dishwasher.
There! All the important things you needed to know today. :)

Swine Flu

Where have I been you ask? About a month ago my husband came home from work feeling fatigued and generally crappy. He'd had a stuffy/runny nose the day before but nothing worth paying attention to. When he came home from work I made him take his temperature and it was 102 degrees. I immediately sent him to the spare bedroom and mandated that he stay there until further notice. In the morning he went to the doctor and had a flu swab done...the results were Flu virus "A" strain. That means it's a 99% probability of being H1N1. When he returned home I banished him to the spare room and called my mom. She told me to pack up and bring the baby to her house.
Wren and I were refugees at her house for nearly a week. It was very difficult for us. There I was, a new mother with a six week old baby away from home. My mom and her husband were very generous to open their home and keep me fed but it still wasn't the same as being home with my husband. I felt like a single parent. My mom tried to help me with Wren but it's been 27 years since she changed my brothers diapers and listened to him cry. And her husband doesn't have kids of his own so I'm sure it was quite an eye opener to have a crying baby in the house.
Poor Boo had to nurse himself back to health alone at home. He said it didn't feel any different than the regular flu. He began taking Tamiflu on the second day of his symptoms and his fever broke in a day. He also missed a milestone in Wren's life; she rolled over for the first time at my moms. I tried to make him feel better saying he would've been at work anyway.
We were so scared that Wren would get it. I felt like all I did was call the pediatrician. Coincidentally she developed a cough while we were at my moms which completely freaked me out because she'd never coughed before. So instead of messing around I took her to the childrens hospital emergency room where they swabbed her for the flu. Her test came back negative but they said the test for "A" strain is very sensitive so she could have a false negative. They prescribed Tamiflu for her. Boo and I decided to wait and see if she developed any other symptoms before giving her the medicine. I took her temperature every other diaper change.
As the week went on and neither she or I developed a fever or other symptoms I became more confident. Did I mention I did a LOT of praying? I prayed. And prayed. And had other folks praying that Wren wouldn't get sick. God protected us because we are one month post-flu and we're both fine. She still has that little cough and her doctor said it's most likely sinus drainage so I shoot saline in her nose about twice a day.
Anywho, that is what I've been dealing with. If I didn't have such a young baby, I wouldn't be worried about this flu. I feel like the media has really scared people about it. I hope you all stay well!

A rag-tag bunch of updates

Thank you internet friends for keeping me on the straight and narrow. I forgot to post an update about Farley and his mystery lameness. Boo and I decided to give him the weekend to improve before we hustled off to the vet. We did give him a couple of low dose childrens aspirin to see if that would help. Apparently, either aspirin is a miracle drug or Farley is a big drama dude. He probably wasn't totally faking it because of the whimpering, but he may have been a little melodramatic. So, he's fine. He wanted to get a rip roaring game of fetch going by Sunday.

In other news, it's a very rainy spring morning in Indiana. I don't mind. The sun is either hiding behind the clouds or has decided to sleep in a bit. Birds are twittering (vocally, not technologically) about in the trees as I gaze out the window at the wet sidewalk. I wish I lived in the country again. *sigh*

In baby news, Boo was finally able to feel our baby girl kick for the first time last night. I've been feeling her for weeks now and I think he was starting to feel left out. I also read that if he puts his ear to my belly he may be able to hear her heartbeat but I'm not sure if that's actually true or not.

In travel news, I'm going to the far westside today to my hometown. I have a doctor appt. for my thyroid (woo hoo.) The great thing about it though is that Dairy Queen is open for the season! DQ will make the whole trip worthwhile. While I'm over there I plan to swing by the tack store and buy my mare a new halter. Poor thing is wearing a dirty black, cracking/peeling leather, "I look like a sale barn horse" kind of halter right now. She really looks like she just came off a crowded trailer of mud caked, sale ring bound, sad eyed horses. She's due for a new halter.
The vet is coming to do spring shots in a couple weeks, and I wouldn't want Dixie to be embarassed about her halter. Good Lawd child! Doesn't your mamma buy you any clothes?

It might be time for me to eat breakfast now.

Report Card

I'm a couple weeks into this "stay at home mom" thing and I thought I'd report how I'm doing thus far. Complete and utter honesty, okay?
First of all, the baby is still in my belly so there is no "momming" to be done yet so I have to find things to fill my day with. The whole idea for leaving my job early was to accomplish a few things before the baby's arrival. I guess I've gotten some things done, just not the meaningful things. We'll get into that in a minute.
Most days I sit on the couch and Facebook/check email/eat breakfast and watch the "Today Show" from about 8 to 10am. At 10 am Hoda and Kathi Lee come on for the final hour of "Today" and I can't stand Kathi Lee. She's just a little melodramatic for me. Basically for two hours I sit on my couch watching the tv or my computer screen. I think this is ridiculous. I expect more from myself and I feel like I'm wasting time.
Then, miraculously and out of a sense of duty I take a shower and get dressed in something other than pajamas. If it's Monday I go to the grocery store. If not I bide my time until it's time for lunch. I have been really good about eating lunch at home. When I worked I ate lunch out everyday. I'm not exaggerating at all either.
My dogs love that I'm home, I think. Mya has a tendency to bark at nothing so I yell at her and Farley doesn't want to hear it so he gets up and goes in the other room. Who can blame him?
Here's what has been accomplished: Home office deconstructed and office desk and chair sold on Craigslist. Score! Spare bedroom moved into former home office. Still needs organized. Pending score! Nursery is starting to take shape in former spare bedroom (pronounced spare-oom in Narnia for you trivia freaks). The rocker/recliner with side table and lamp are in place. Just waiting on furniture to arrive. Color scheme figured out...no matchy matchiness. I hate that. Pending score! Boo built more shelves in hall closet and I put shelf liner on them yesterday. Rearranged both hall closets and threw out old stuff and expired medications that were hiding in the back. Low and behold I found extra space in those closets after the purge session. I have a pile of more stuff to be sold on Craigslist or Freecycled.
So, I've accomplished a few things. But when I began this hiatus I had visions of painting at my easel, taking photos then editing them, or beginning to write that book, or gardening and planting flowers. Nevermind that it's been February and I can't garden yet...maybe when I get the "necessary projects" out of the way I can focus on more fun projects.
Those are the things I had in mind for myself. I have always had a tendency to expect too much too soon. I always hold myself to a high standard. I am 21 weeks pregnant. Maybe I'm doing okay after all. Warmer weather can't hurt my motivation either, c'mon spring!

The other lover....

Dear Blogger and internet people-

I've been cheating on you with Facebook and I apologize for not spending equal amounts of time with you. It's not you, it's me. I don't want to break up or anything, I just need you to be patient until the newness wears off of FB. It's been magical though, getting reacquainted with old friends, college roommates, former classmates, my cousins who live far away and even some folks I never really was friends with. I'm a bit nosy and perhaps voyeuristic because I just browse around peeking into their lives that they've posted on FB. Reading about what they've done with themselves and looking at their photos. Most people either look the same or have put on a few pounds...and most of them have kids in the pics with them so I feel a little behind in my baby brewing endeavors. Frankly, I've been shocked by some of the people that have sent me "friend requests." Seriously, people I never hung out with. Anyway, I promise to make an effort to spend less time there and hopefully more time here. I'd really like to snazz this place up a little bit but I'm not super techy so I don't know how to install a cooler banner or anything.

And, do any of you know how to go about getting a Copyright? Thanks ahead of time!
See you soon internet friends!

12.5 inches of Snow

Today we woke up to the most snow I've seen in one snowfall since 1996. The State Police
wanted people to stay off the roads so I obliged and stayed home from work. I have to admit, since next Wednesday is my last day, I'm not exactly breaking my back in the work department.
I did some things around the house, dusting and whatnot. Then I grabbed my camera and took the dogs outside in the backyard.

Mya stayed on the deck and was having none of it.

Farley on the other hand, dove in head first.

As a Lab, he seems to enjoy all forms of water including

fresh snowfall.

Mya saw Farley having all the fun and decided to get her

fanny off the deck and jump in!

Here she is digging a hole trying to find the snowball I threw.

I'm telling you, Farley is a madman in the snow!

He got so excited bounding around that he miscalculated and mushed

Mya down into the snow. Then it was time to go in because Mya had her

feelings hurt.

I'm going to do some editing to get rid of the "blue" cast in the pics, but I wanted to get them

posted quickly so y'all could see what we've been doing today in Indiana! 8 weeks until spring!

I did it!

I did it. It took all day for me to put on my big girl panties and say what I wanted to say. But in the end, I did it.
I quit my job. Yes, I turned in my two weeks notice today at 5pm. I went out this morning and made sales calls all day as if it were any other day then I came home and called my manager (he lives in Kentucky) and told him I was leaving. He said,"Damn, I hate to lose you, your such a good rep." Which was a nice compliment and the same sort of feedack and reassurance my self image is going to miss.
I really struggled to make this decision. Most people would be thrilled if they had an opportunity to quit their job to pursue things that matter to them. Don't get me wrong, I'm excited. Just sort of a tenuous, nervous excited.
See, I've worked my whole life. I started babysitting when I was 12, began waitressing at 16 and worked a few different jobs thru college. Then I graduated and began working to actually support myself completely on my own, changing jobs a few times to increase my wage. I got married (the first time) and was the breadwinner in that situation. Then I got divorced and had to go out and find my own place again and change jobs to increase my salary. The focus was always money. With each new position I made more money so I could provide for myself. My parents raised me to be self-reliant. I recall my womanizing father training me up to "never put yourself in a position where you're depending on a man." And I never did. I worked hard, moving up the salary scale. I always had a nice apartment, a nice car, boarded my horse, had nice clothes, went out for dinner and drinks with friends. I did pretty well for myself.
For awhile now though my thoughts wander to those talents and interests I had when I was younger. I was always into photography, creative writing, acting, art. The original liberal arts girl. I always wondered if I could earn a living doing something I enjoy. I've never had the chance to pursue any of those dreams because I was always the main source of income and money came first.
Until now. My husband, Boo, told me if I wanted to chase some of those dreams that I should because if I don't, then I may regret when I'm an old woman. He said, we are in a position right now that it would be fine if you want to try some of those ideas.
I have about four and a half months before our baby arrives. I will never have this time to myself again. I feel that I have worked hard for a long time and I'm about to work even harder when the bundle arrives. I should take advantage of this time to chase a dream or two. Boo is behind me all the way, and I trust him. This is a new and wonderful feeling in my life.
I have an underlying fear that I will somehow screw this up and botch the whole thing. I'm worried I will produce nothing from my efforts. It's a little intimidating to be faced with the task of facing your dreams. I don't have a plan yet. But here goes.

Am I really doing this?

I'm freaking out a little bit this morning. If I were a nail-biter, I'd have nubs.
There are nervous/excited butterflys in my belly. I'm on the verge of something that makes me want to A. Make a joyful noise and run out of the house chasing dreams and/or B. Vomit and crawl under the covers.
Pray for me. I'll be back this afternoon to clue you in.

hodge podge

I wore my first pair of maternity pants today. The only dress pants I have that still fit me are black. I wear them constantly. Over the weekend a friend dropped off a bunch of maternity clothes for me to go thru. I was afraid there would be a sack of disney characters and matronly floral numbers. To my astonishment the sacks
were loaded with nice, modern assortments of cute jeans, khaki's,capri's along with billowy peasant tops and dress shirts. She also threw in a "wet wipe warmer"..say that ten times fast. I wasn't even sure what that was for until she explained that warm wet wipes are supposed to keep little boys from peeing on you. Two important points to note, #1. I don't know the gender of our baby yet. #2. She has a little boy and is giving me the thing because it didn't work. So, maybe my bundle will just have the luxury of a warm wipe whether it serves any other purpose or not.
Anyway, I was so excited this morning because I didn't have to wear black pants. I pulled out a pair of pinstriped dress pants and paired them with a chocolate turtleneck and long sweater coat. I've been looking pretty goth for the past several weeks wearing my only black pants all the time. And I'm too lazy to wear my contacts so I wear my black frames all the time...I do look pretty artsy...but it was nice to have a break from black.
In other news...I have a new manager at work. She rode with me on sales calls the other day and called me "Girlybop" all day. She also smiled and confided that she was a "cool manager" and I could "be real with her." Red flags. Nothing but red flags to me. To me that says," I will use anything you say against you if I have to and I am trying to make you think I'm your friend." She also thought I was 25. Ha ha! She about fell out of my car when I told her I was 33...but continued to call me girlybop anyway. Then she called me Friday evening at 6:30 to rehash our lunch at a doctors office and she wanted to hear about the rest of my day. I was trying to go to dinner with my sister-in-law and never would have answered the phone if I'd known it was her. Oh, apparently I haven't checked my voicemail since Thrusday afternoon so I checked it this morning (monday) and had 30 new messages from her. Not. Even. Kidding. In the great words of the Beatles, Help!
*intermission while I take long, cleansing breaths*
My living room carpet looks as if the area rug pooped on it. There are small balls of reddish brown fiber tumbleweeds defecting across my beige carpet. Boo has not vacuumed in about a week and that is his job. There are shoes and books cluttering the rest of the living room...it's kind of starting to feel like an armpit in here.
I'm trying to keep my head above water in the house cleaning department right now. Tell me I'm not alone. If you are a domestic diva, shut up. I don't want to hear about your dusting dynamics and toilet cleaning magic. What's that? You say you fold your laundry immediately after it comes out of the dryer...I don't believe you. And I certainly don't want to hear about your lemony freshness. So, there.

Thursday night thoughts

I have big plans for this evening. First of all my husband is swinging by Rally's (Checker's to some of you) to pick up a greasy cheeseburger and seasoned fries for me on his way home. I intend to balance that out with a Diet Coke. Right. Then, at 8pm the John Mellencamp BIO will air. After that at 9pm the "Homeward Bound" 90 minute John Mellencamp documentary will air. I will be glued to the television all evening which is not typical of me. As you know though, I am a giant fan of the notoriously grouchy/mouthy rocker. I find depth and reflection in his lyrics...most of them. One song I could do without is "I need a lover." I think the intro is too long and I am sort of a feminist so the lyrics are a bit offensive. Just my opinion though..and you know what "they" say about opinions. This blog is named after his lyrics..Your Life is Now. It's a reflective song. I'm all about reflections tonight I guess...maybe I'll say it one more time.
Reflect. There, I said it.

* Just a side note: I finished watching the Mellencamp special. He sang an acoustic version of "I need a Lover" and changed the offensive lyrics...it was really enjoyable! *

This time of year, the holidays are a good time to reflect though. To consider what's important in our lives, what are our priorities? Especially in these hard times. With the new year just around the bend what will we do to make it a better year? See?...Time to reflect.

Update and Apple Pie

Greetings on this Tuesday night. I just got home from Photoshop class...I think I know enough to be dangerous. I'll post some of my handiwork another time. In other news, my ex-husbands girlfriend emailed me back with useless information. Basically the transaction was handled over the phone and she doesn't have record of his phone number, can't remember his name, but knows he lives on the westside. The registration papers had a pre-signed transfer form with them (I forgot that was there.) So until he transfers the mare into his name I probably won't find my mare. Thank you all for your concern, if anything new transpires, I'll be sure to let you know.

Well, as you know this is not a cooking blog, nor a baking blog or even a pastry chef blog. But last fall I encountered the most sinful apple pie I've ever put my lips on. I wrangled the recipe out of this womans hands, after knocking her down and rolling down a steep incline and pulling her hair...oh well...I'm going to share this great recipe with you. I recently baked this glorious bit of heaven and even took photos. So, off we go...

Here is what you'll need to bake Apple Crumb Pie (It's the "crumb" that makes it extra special)

4 large tart apples (I used Granny Smith's)

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

another 1/2 cup sugar

3/4 cup flour

1/3 cup butter

And a recipe for Pie Crust (I'll give you my recipe at the end)

So first, you need to pare your apples, cut into eighths and arrange in a 9inch pastry-lined pie pan.

Then mix 1/2 cup sugar with cinnamon and sprinkle over the apples. Now, here's where the magic starts to happen...

Sift 1/2 cup sugar (the other one) with the flour, cut the butter in until it's all crumbly.

Now sprinkle the crumblies all over the apples. This is the reason for the season, the big cheese, the bees knees...the crumblies are the key to this creation. For you underacheivers out there, this could be a stopping point and you could pop it in the oven at 400 degrees for 40-50 minutes.

But I really really really love pie crust. Seriously, I love it. So I add lattice to the top of my pie. Lattice, not lettuce. Please.

By the way, my dog really really likes apples...or anything else that falls off the kitchen counter.

Oh, I forgot, I put lattice on one and a full top crust on the other, with fancy schmancy autumn leaf cut outs. That was a big deal for me...I felt like I should win a ribbon for knowing how to do that. I just used a christmas cookie cutter, it's actually a holly leaf cutter, but they sell the autumn shaped ones at places like Michaels or Hobby Lobby. So, be careful not to burn your top crusts, watch and when they are golden brown, pull those puppies out of the oven...and put on the vintage apron that you bought at a garage sale for your finished photo...

The recipe for the crust is easy...

For a double crust 9 inch pie: 1 and 1/2 cups sifted flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup shortening (I like butter flavor crisco) and 4-5 tablespoons cold water.

Sift flour and salt, cut in shortening until size of peas. Mix in water with fork until consistency to roll out. There, easy squeezy.

So go forth to your local apple orchards and bake something from scratch.

Here she is!

There's my mare! She came home from Purdue and is slowly healing from surgery. She's just hanging out in the pasture in her fly mask. They removed the tumor with a CO2 laser and kept her in the large animal hospital for three weeks. A student called me everyday to tell me her progress. I am so glad to have her home.
Here she is hanging with her girls. All the boys are over in the other field. They flirt with her. And she teases them. They find her fly mask very mysterious and intriguing. Probably because
the other girls aren't wearing one. That's my girl, she's a horse of a different color, literally and figuratively. Yay Dixie! Welcome home!

Random Thoughts

Wow. I just want to tell you a few unrelated things.
I was supposed to get a needle stuck in my neck this week to biopsy a couple of suspicious thyroid nodules. Just got a call from the doc saying they were nixing the biopsy because the radiologist who looked at my ultrasound photos thinks we should just re-ultrasound in 6 months to see if the nodules change size. There were no calcification's on the nodules, which means my nodules are leaning to the benign category. Hooray! I was not looking forward to being stabbed in the neck! Maybe some of you have had a thyroid issue? Any tips?

Also, I am so excited! I just signed up for a "Photoshop Basics" class! It's an eight week class for, get this, $139! 6:30-9pm every Tuesday. I went to Half-Price Books and bought all the Photoshop books/bibles I could get my hands on. It's going to be awesome!

My mare is having her final cisplatin injection this week and she gets to come home! Yay! My farrier graciously offered to haul her home on his way to a cutting show. It's really a big pain in the rear that we don't own a pick-up or horse trailer. It seems like she goes to Purdue for treatment once a year, at least. I hate wrangling rides and inconveniencing other people.

That's about it for today. Prepare yourselves for State Fair photos..next time.

Hello, room service, in-room dining! Hello!

I am exhausted. But before you feel sorry for me, let me tell you why. I am back up in Chicago for more job training. The training has been pretty stress-free, just time consuming. Nothing like the last trip. This time I have to pretend to be giving the doctor my schpeil while a trainer evaluates me...for four different drugs...so I have to practice a lot and learn what I'm allowed to say and such.
I am missing home. Boo was scheduled to come visit me this weekend, but it really doesn't make sense from a logistical standpoint. I have to prepare for my next role play certification, we'd have to pay to board the dogs, gas (nuff said!), and money to entertain the two of us over the weekend. So, we decided he would stay home, save money, time and fuel. The dogs won't get bent out to shape, and I can be focused on the task at hand. But that doesn't keep me from missing Boo and my critters and my bed. I will be going home a week from tomorrow. Yay!
Right now my hotel room smells like black beans and rice, I have Baja Fresh trash in my room. I am tired of take-out food and living in a hotel. I do however enjoy the fact that my room is cleaned daily, my toiletpaper is crisply folded into a little point each day, I get a wake-up call everyday and my meals are prepared for me. :) I also leave wet towels on the floor and they are magically whisked away with fresh ones hung in their place.
Some of my counterparts are characters. There is a wide variety of people here from all over. Most of them are interesting and likeable...I hope I fall into that catagory for them. Although today I was a little testy so I mostly kept quiet and to myself.
The company threw a little reception for us in the lobby last night; there were crudites, fancy cheeses and chicken satays...and an open bar. So, being salesfolks, we're a pretty social bunch. After three glasses of wine, Allison and Carol began mixing vodka with crystal light water. I hate vodka, but apparently I thought it was a good idea because I had a couple of those. I was a social bbutterfly, mixing and mingling with people I didn't even know. Eventually I went to bed and woke up at 5:45am with a headache and a sick feeling in my tummy. Somehow I muddled thru the day, but as mentioned, I was not happy about it. So now, I am blogging because I have been delinquent with my blogs. My eyelids are being propped open with toothpicks and I am going to have to hit the hay. So, good night blog friends.

Hello Franklin Covey!

Gonna make a list for ya.

• I've been in Chicago for the past two weeks training for my new job.
• My new job is pharmaceutical sales; I've been working my ass off to break into the industry for five years.
• Training was brutal, but I felt triumphant at the end of the two weeks.
• I am home for two weeks during which I have two bridal showers (one of which I'm the hostess!), one rehearsal dinner, one wedding, 4th of July, two evenings planned with friends, one hair appointment, one dentist appointment, get the dog groomed, guests staying at my home for four nights, shopping for new work clothes, trying to find/see an new OBGYN, study for and take an entrance exam for another drug I'll be selling. Did I mention that I'm still working during the days?
• The guests are my brother-in-law C and his fiancee A. They are getting married July 5th.
• I have to leave to go back to Chicago on Sunday July 6th...for three weeks straight.
• Under pressure? Actually, I am scary efficient when this kind of chaos rears it's head. (Note the bullet points.)
• Oh yea, the new OBGYN...we're going to try to get pregnant starting in August. Ha ha! They say there's no good time, so away we go! Luckily I'll actually be home for most of August and September.

Groundhog Day

I guess I've been pretty busy since it's been one month since my last post. I'm so sorry to neglect you that way. Let me get you up to speed....

New Years Eve: Lots of fun, low key at moms house. We got a call that night that Boo's gran was going to the ER.

In the next week or so gran got progressively worse and had to eventually be moved into the Hospice center. Gran had a living Will that said very clearly she didn't want any artificial forms of life support. Boo's brother and A flew in town and we all hunkered down taking shifts at her bedside. Well, Gran hung in a little longer than we though she would. So, we all disbanded for a day or so and sure enough, after the last person went home Gran decided she would slip quietly away. She never wanted anyone to make a fuss over her. The funeral was in her hometown on a very cold and blustery day but most of Boo's family made it in town for the event. It was nice to meet them although not on great terms. I am happy for Gran. Only the people left behind are broken hearted.

So, now it's the first of February and I am looking forward to spring soon. Boo and I are taking our honeymoon in exactly one week. I've been shopping buying new sunglasses and shorts. I even bought a new bikini. Yep, a bikini! I've been doing Pilates and interval training on the treadmill. I am not where I'd like to be, but I'm close enough that I feel qualified to wear a bikini. I'm always going to have wide hips which makes my ass look wide ...and flat. And I've made my peace with my hips. One of these days they will serve me well.

The horse is fat and sassy. I haven't ridden in months because I am a cold weather weenie. The dogs are hairy and never seem to have enough attention. They are both laying at my feet below the dining room table right now. Farley is going through a stage with his nose. He has to smell everything, and not just smell it, but put his nose right on it. If you are on the receiving end of his wet cold snoot, beware. Boo got out of the shower and bent over to get something out of bottom cabinet one day. He let out a yelp that startled me so much I came to see what happened. Apparently, Farley's nose came up from behind and tried to root around Boo's man parts. I never laughed so hard!

Today I am trying to get caught up on housework which always seems to include extra work. I get overwhelmed and I don't know where to start so I just don't start.