One Month

Wow! Where have I been? Has it really been a full month since I last had anything silly to say? Naw, I have just been lazy...I always have something to say.

It is almost 0500 and I have been awake for 2 1/2 hours. Scary, huh? I had a nap that started at 2300 and ended abruptly. Don't really know why. Guess I have a lot on my mind. My allergies were also acting up horribly, so that added to my insomnia.

I love this time of morning before the world wakes up. It is quiet and cool outside and all I hear are cars and those (damn Metrolink-lmao) trains occasionally. Many people scurrying off to work. That will be me again, soon enough.

I have a return to work date of August 1. I also may have a new job waiting for me when I go. Can't get a definite answer, but it would be nice to promote and learn something new. Fingers are crossed. Lord knows I worked hard to get through the process and I even rallied the troops when we originally got disqualified. They may have hired others before me, but I bet none of them worked as hard gathering information and contacting people just for the opportunity to test for the job. Fingers are SO VERY crossed.

My crazy dogs are peacefully sleeping right now. Sierra endured another year of terrifying fireworks. I slept three nights with her in the living room just to keep her sanity and prevent the French doors from being clawed. I feel so bad that the doggie Prozac seems to have no effect on her. Next year we may have to opt for tranquilizers. The anxiety is really tough on her. McKenna on the other hand didn't even notice, or if she did, she probably thought there was a party every night being held in her honor. She is just so funny like that.

I have been busy the last few days trying to help dad organize some things for an "injured veterans day out" BBQ. He is on the outside loop of the communication. So tough to ask people for help and have it be so very last minute. BUT, that is how men organize things. If it were me, I would have lists and have specific duties assigned so that everyone knew their responsibilities. There definitely wouldn't be this feeling of not knowing what was going on the day before the event. I just hope it turns out well for the honorable veterans! I got his truck washed and fueled. I also got his Camry gassed up too. That should help him even though he probably won't notice. LOL...

I think I should try to nap before the family wakes up. I have a yoga class tonight that I cannot miss, sleepy or not. My 3 1/2 hour nap last night isn't going to hold me 'til then. And I really need to go for a walk today. Heavy sigh...why does insomnia hit when I can't be lazy and catch up on that missed shut eye????? I'm so tired that I have been watching tv in Spanish for the past hour...I just now realized it. Either my second language skills are improving or I am BEAT. I'm gonna go with the latter.

Hope everyone has a restful, peaceful day! And hopefully, I will have something more exciting about which to write before the next month passes!

Sweet Angel Poopy Paws, aka McKenna

I have an angel sent directly from Heaven above. Okay, so it was kind of a bumpy road to finding her (or her finding me...), but in retrospect, I know it was part of some larger plan. I looked at many dogs, some in person (heartbreaking for me to walk away) and literally hundreds online. And then Sookie...renamed McKenna, found me. I even waited a couple of days before going to see her. OMGosh, when I think of how someone else could have snagged her before I got there, it makes me nauseous. She was destined (doomed?) to live with me.

And so the story started over 6 months ago. If anyone would have told me then how much I would come to love this blond mongrel, I would have told them they were crazy! I had my Minna put to sleep just a month and a half BM (before McKenna). I knew I would wallow in sadness if I didn't get another little dog. On top of all that, I was off of work injured...Nothing worse being at home than being at home missing your "baby". And so it came to be that McKenna needed a home and I needed something little to love and cuddle. A perfect match...

Fast forward to this week. I was driving home from an errand, and my best pal for errand running was in the passenger seat. The weather was cool and breezy. I had my driver's side window down just trying to take in all of the coolness like a mellow beach day. I announced, "McKennnnnna, we're hOOOOOOOme!" She always gets a little bit excited when I say that which typically involves some small barks and a quick jump in the back seat and back to the front seat. Not this time though.

My sweet angel poopy paws leaped from the passenger seat and out of my driver's side window as I drove down my street. I was going about 10 mph. She rolled easily 3 times before hopping up from the gutter and stepping up on the sidewalk. I stopped immediately, called to her as she did three circles as if she was chasing her tail...she was obviously stunned. She stopped and looked at me shocked as I walked over to pick her up. Luckily, it had been so chilly that day that she had been sporting a chenille sweater. I'm certain having that extra bit of padding helped break her fall.

I scooped her up and drove to my house. She seemed okay. No apparent broken bones. Just very shaken. I held her close, still running a gamut of emotions (bad dog mommy...bad dog!) wanting to bonk her on her head once I knew she was alright. As I held her close, I noticed blood on my shirt...her little chin had been scraped and she was missing some hair. She also had a couple of minor scrapes on her rear leg. ARGH...It was 8:30 pm, and I had a homework assignment due by 9 pm. I quickly cleaned her up, comforted her on my bed and typed away rapidly on my laptop. There...done...submitted homework at 8:59 pm! Whew...

And there was my angel, curled up in her bed.

I slept horribly that night thinking that I should have taken her to the emergency vet just to be safe. Instead, I woke up numerous times during the night to make sure she didn't have a concussion and worrying the whole time that she could have internal bleeding. She made it just fine and the next morning was running around like nothing even happened. What a goofball!

Tonight, as she sneakily "escaped" the confines of her fluffy bed and made her way to my comforter, I told her repeatedly to get in her bed. She curled up, back to me, and then glanced over her shoulder as if to say,"Who me?" Each time I mentioned her bed, she would look out of the corner of her eyes at the bed and then back at me..."That ol' thing? Remember I'm the one that had a rough week, right?" And the more I talked to her, the cuter she was with her expressions.

Aw, heck...what will it hurt? She brings me mostly joy with a few moments of panic. And she has to be the sweetest angel poopy paws ever placed on Earth. Okay, okay, sleep on my bed...but just tonight! Tomorrow, you go back to being a dog.

Relay For Life~I Survived!

YUP. I didn't think I would make it. The night was long, cold (CA version of cold), and drizzly at times. I napped in my car for 45 minutes during the 24 hrs I was at the soccer field of Cerritos College. But I made it! I think I might have walked 12 miles which is no where near the 20 miles I wanted to do. BUT, I did it without training for the event and after several months of being off of work with little physical activity...AND, I only needed my rescue inhaler once!!! There was a person in the parking lot burning Duraflame logs and the fumes were HORRIBLE to me! I seriously thought about giving up every time I caught a whiff halfway around the course. I raised $525 for the American Cancer Society and walked 12 miles. I'm proud of myself.

I'm also very proud of the team's efforts. Cancer Crushers won for Best Spirit Stick (decorated relay baton) which I partially attribute to my "moving speech" interpreting its meaning. LOL...my cousin's husband said he thought I made the stick by how I described it and another cousin said I brought tears to her eyes. After I started to laugh at her, she told me she was being serious! Woops!!! I just stepped in to speak because my Aunt Connie didn't want to. Our team also won an award for most donations raised at the event. Our booth sold sodas, cookies, bracelets, water bottle holders, scarfs, and lap counters. The least expensive item was the lap counter, but many were sold and everyone seemed to enjoy adding a bead each time they completed a lap.

I think if we do it again next year, we will be better prepared. We now know how many EZ-ups we should have and how important hot coffee/hot chocolate is at 0230.

Most important to me was the fact that the weather was not HOT. I was dreading participating if it was going to be toasty. Thank goodness, it was tolerable. It was very cool, and windy, but I am in no way complaining. It was perfect for me even though I only had a hooded sweatshirt, t-shirt, and Capri workout pants to keep me warm.

It was a fun time. I hope Aunt Connie is proud of all her hard work and I hope she got some much needed sleep afterwards. She did a great job!!! And as a cancer survivor, I think it is pretty darn amazing that she has the strength to organize a team. She is in her 70's afterall.

Considering all that she has been through, it seems rather silly to mention that I survived a walk. It just doesn't seem to compare now that I think about it!

Operation Save SGT

My local and absolutely favorite scrapbook store has begun a program to help battle the crazy economy we all seem to be enduring!

Operation Save SGT!!!

In a time when scrapbook stores seem to be disappearing almost every day, my pals at Scrappin' Good Times have decided to combat this phenomenon by not surrendering to the war that is being waged on our wallets. Trish and the girls have come up with many WONDERFUL ideas how to keep the recovery campaign fully engaged.

The ultimate goal is a Mission Accomplished by the beginning of Fall. Look for more scrap kits to make your scrappy life easier and more organized. BOLO (be on the look out) for ways to use new tools and ideas on how to use those things you never thought to ask about when they first came out. And cards, loads of cards, could be available soon.

They will not go down without a fight!!! And if you are committed to the cause, you can help out by visiting SGT (or your favorite LSS) and make a purchase today. If you think about it, just $5 a week (less than what you spend on a drive-thru lunch) adds up to $20 a month. Your $20 could mean the difference of survival or a wounded warrior. Every little bit helps.

As they say, rally the troops!!!

Wet Ones OUTDOORS!

Okay, every once in a while I feel the need to give some product a raving endorsement. Having recently returned from a grimy field trip to Sequoia and Kings Canyon, I feel the need to sing the praises of Wet Ones Outdoors Portable Washcloths. They are like a baby wipe on steroids, but without all the fragrance. LOVE THESE THINGS! I bought a package of 35 Big Moist Wipes last October for my 3 day field trip. They were fabulous, but I was still really sick, so I thought my judgement might have been off. No sir...I was spot on! I used the same package that I bought last October for this trip. Still super moist and very effective. I was even handing them out to other students like I was Momma Bear tending to her cubs. I STILL HAVE SOME LEFT. They work so well that to wipe down my legs and arms only required one. Seriously, some good stuff here. I just wish the company would send me a whole case of them so I could pass them out and convert other outdoor enthusiasts to my new Wet Ones religion!!!

They come in a resealable package, are fragrance free and antibacterial. Big~Thick~Strong is what it says on the outside of the orange package and they aren't kidding. I bought mine in the outdoors section of my local Walmart last Fall. Not sure if they are still carrying them (Walmart can be so weird about maintaining certain products). BUT, if you see these, pick up a package and test them for yourself. I bet you will love them just as much as I do. Camper-girl, OUT!

How I Ended Up In Jeans and Flip Flops

Last night I was getting ready to go meet friends for dinner. I haven't been out of the house much lately and it has put me into a kind of "funk"! So I masterfully decided that I would dress nicer than I usually do. Everyone that knows me knows that I typically dress casual...very casual. On top of that I have difficulties making myself wear make-up or doing my hair. Anyhow, I thought dressing nicer would make me feel better. Nice thought...in theory!

I pulled five shirts out of the closet, trying each on and then moving to the next. Red one, too snug. Yellow one, too summery and bright, Black and tan, hmmm...reminds me of drinking black and tan ale and my black capris aren't clean so maybe a pass on that. Some black shirts...NO. I always wear black. A-ha...this new medium brown camp shirt. YES, not too dressy, but cute enough. I strutted around in it for a few minutes looking at the pile of clothes on my bed. Yep, this feels right. Now on to pants.

Hmm, I have some new light brown capris. No, that looks funky together, I know what I will wear. Up on the second bar in the top part of my closet I reach for some super groovy light tan, almost bell-bottomed, cuffed pants. I love these things! The pant legs sway as I shuffle around in them. I love that about these pants. The only problem is that they are just a tad bit long so I have to wear a heeled shoe to make them work. No worries. I can manage that.

I dig under my bed and slide out my nicer shoes that are stored in a clear plastic box. I pull out the first pair of brown leather shoes that have a wider, thicker heel. Yep, nice match. The heel is big enough that I won't break my neck trying to keep my balance. I could drink 3 glasses of wine and still stay upright in these things. But, as I walk around in them, I realize that the toe box is narrow. Really narrow. Who the hell used to wear these shoes? It obviously wasn't me! The widest part of my feet are starting to scream at me. Oh no, not going through the pain. Those days are gone. Off they go, gently tossed into a corner of my room reserved for Salvation Army donations. Too bad. They were kinda cute, kinda business-y...and from a time when everything about me was thinner I reckon. Oh well. I grab a pair of brown leather heels that have an almost spiked heel and a peep toe. Cute...toe cleavage looks great. But~ what the heck is that? My two big toes that have been cleverly decorated at my last pedicure have a pink cast on them. I pull my feet out of the shoes and see what looks like dried blood on a few more toes and the side of my foot. Crap...running short on time here people. In my less-flexible state of being, I run to the bathroom for a closer inspection. Still not sure, I determine that it must be the sueded inside from the previous pair of shoes that has rubbed onto my feet. I prop one foot on the vanity in the bathroom (easier said than done these days-not sure when that happened) and begin wiping my feet down with rubbing alcohol. Yay! Big pink toenails disappear. Dried blood looking stuff-GONE! Pedicure still looks great!!! Okay, ugly/dirty toe/foot disaster averted.

I promptly go into my room, put on a second pair of shoes and grab my purse to put in living room as I wipe the sweat from my brow. I hate when there is a wrench thrown into things. I'm okay now. Back on track. Just enough time to go down the hall, put on some make-up, contain my hair, and feel better about me. That was the plan, right?

I don't know how it happened...I think there was a swish in my step, or perhaps the Earth shook a little bit, but on my way back to the bathroom, my ensemble that took several minutes to assemble unraveled! Grace, as I am now calling myself, managed to get the left spikey heel caught in the front cuff of the right pant leg. Without falling, I managed to stumble slightly...and then I heard it. Riiiiiiiiiiiip! As I untangled my legs, I glanced down and realized that I just tore my pants in the big fluffy cuff. There would be no disguising it. It happened right where the cuff is tacked up so that it stays put. OMGosh...I love these pants. I have only worn them maybe 4 times. They actually fit. And now...they will have to become shorts or added to the donation pile for the Salvation Army. DANG IT!

Okay, okay...what to do now...I detour from the bathroom to the bedroom. I look through the pants sadly hanging way up high. No...those won't match. I look at the folded jeans stacked neatly in my closet. Yuck...too dark, too light, too tight... I dig through the pile of shirts I just unloaded onto my bed and there they are. The most comfortable jeans in the world. They are the wrong shade of denim if you watch "What Not To Wear", but I don't care. It is apparent that my attempts at getting dressed in something acceptable by their standards isn't working out. Stick to what you know. I grab them and magically, they seem to work nicely with my brown camp shirt. I spin around because now I am running late, and I look for shoes. Woo-hoo...brand new brown sandals are a welcome sight. Who likes wearing heels anyhow?!?!

And that my friends, is how I ended up in jeans and flip flops. No one can ever claim that I don't try!

Good Morning...

Buenos dias or bom dia, or you pick. Fact is: it is morning! I have been awake for over an hour now which means I awoke somewhere in the 0400 time frame. My eyes are still goopy and I am drinking coffee! Whaaaat? Yes, much out of character for me ~ I am drinking coffee...and sneezing...and blowing my runny nose...and "thinking about" trying to get better organized. But, so far, I have taken vitamins and meds, drinking toasty coffee prepped with creamer, I straightened up the bathroom, and am thinking about organizing. Isn't that just like getting it done? Sure feels like it, without all the joy of tidiness or accomplishment.

My sweet angel dog is snoozing peacefully next to me. I am convinced that she is an angel sent directly from Heaven to save my sorry, sad self, after losing Minna. She is so sweet and cuddly and so much more lovable than any of my other dogs have been. I ADORE HER. My mom calls her Angel Paws. Come to think of it, I have a few names for her now that she has been part of the family for over 5 months now. McKenna McKoo which becomes Kenna Koo is probably my favorite. I sing a new version of Scooby Doo which goes "Kenna Kenna Koo, full of poo, you've got some work to do now!" I also sing to her "ohhhh yes you're myyyyyy, angel baby!" I ask her "quieres a-go bye-bye conmigo" or "quieres a-go potty". She understands (which is kinda funny in itself). She even understands Minna's old routine of "two three" which kinda means "let's go". It stems from when I was trying to build excitement as one does with a child by counting, "one, two, three!" With Minna, it became our signature way of communicating. Now, if McKenna is on my lap and I say the magic words, she is immediately jumping down. She really saved me from being down in the dumps for too long over Minna. I was able to channel that love to her and I thank her every single day for it!

Been spending money on non-essential things lately. Bought myself a Garmin which will be really handy when I'm finally off of house arrest and can go somewhere fun again. I bought two new outdoor chaise lounge chairs yesterday from Costco that are super nice. Oh, and I also bought two large square pots ('cause I'm a square...duh) to re-plant a sago palm and some callas in the back yard. Once I get those re-planted, my pot replacement project will officially be over for the big stuff. I think I have easily spent $300-$400 just in pots, and I was buying most of them at Big Lots. Crazy, huh? But, it is much nicer to have the matchy-matchy thing going on. I hope that when I buy a place of my own, I will inherit some of those plants since I will probably be too broke to buy any of my own!!! LOL.

Soooo, my birthday came and went without much fanfare. My parents and I went to dinner at Red Lobster. I was craving seafood and after chowing down on three different types of shrimp, I was happily full. I think my parents enjoyed having a reason to go too. The next night I got to slip away to a Dodger game with my pal Rebecca, and her mom and sister. We totally had fun! Lots and lots of laughs A~N~D the Dodgers won. Woo-hoo. BTW, the city of LA looked gorgeous that night. I tried to snap a picture from my car, but I think it came out a little blurry. I was too lazy to get out of line in the parking lot to get a pro shot. Just saying, if you ever catch a night game on the hill, be sure to take your camera.



Okay, so to get me motivated, I'm gonna go online and read a few articles on organizing things. That typically helps me feel a little umph. Then, the game plan is to tackle small things like the mess of magazines, pens/pencils, candles, trinkets, etc., on my dresser. Once that micro-area is done, I will move on to the nightstand...which btw, is different than a one night stand! (Okay~ so I was talking to my pal Rebecca about how I went to my neighbors house where they were giving away some furniture. I have an old maple set from my great-gma and there was a nightstand there that matched...not perfectly, but the style/wood type/drawer pulls were a match. Soooo, I tells my pal Rebecca "I got me one nightstand...and as the words left my lips, I realized what it sounded like. We both started laughing. So, it is one nightstand, not a one night stand!)

Time to wake Angel Paws up so she can go potty. Of course, this will involve at least 5 minutes of stretching/belly rubs (on her, not me!) as she flutters those long eyelashes and looks at me as if to say, "are ya crazy...it is waaaaaay too early for me to get up!"

And she is right, it is waaaaaaay to early to get up...but a good morning just the same!