about being married to kevin

9 years ago I met Kevin. Actually it was about 9 years and one month by now, but who's counting? I saw him across the table during a meeting at my new job. I'd only been there a few weeks, he'd been there a month. His first thought of me was, "damn, she asks a lot of questions." And my first thought about him was, "he's really cute, but so not my type." 9 years later we are still together and have been married for five of those years.

We don't agree on certain things in life. I don't understand his obsession with video games (although I understand they are an outlet for him much as sewing is an outlet for me I just don't understand why one would do something that doesn't produce anything but sore thumbs and dry eyes). He has no clue as to why I obsess about clothing I am either going to wear the next day or the next month (but he offers cute suggestions for shoes every once in a while).

We joke that we really don't feel like marriage is work for us. The thing is, it doesn't feel like work. Sure we have our moments of annoyance (as in, why in the hell doesn't he put his damn cereal bowls in the dishwasher, or even the sink? Why must he leave them on the computer desk?) and he probably is driven crazy by my shoes that are left out (I try to keep them picked up and those that I adore and don't want to donate to Josie as a chew toy I do keep put in their boxes...btw she's not eaten a pair of shoes in a long time...knock on wood).

I know he was annoyed when I insisted that we buy an entire fresh pineapple. He said, "I don't really like pineapple. Are you really going to want to eat that entire thing by yourself?" I have been making a dent and honestly, he likes fresh pineapple much more than that stuff in a can.

But the greatest thing is, we can appreciate our differences. We get pissed off at each other and we tell each other WHY. We don't really scream, but we can always tell when the other is annoyed. In the past I've had to tell him to speak his thoughts because I wasn't hearing his mind. Now, he will tell me without being prompted. I think this is a huge step for us. I love not having to try to read his mind nor ask him to share what he's thinking.

I am rather proud of us and our relationship. We once had someone who was checking out our purchases at Cost Co say, "you two seem like you have a lot of fun together." We looked at each other and started laughing...he was right, we do have a lot of fun together. That's what it is all about.

Namaste

yoga at mt tabor

I spoke with Jill last night and suggested we talk with Diana about taking our yoga practice up to Mt. Tabor this week. She said she'd already been thinking that (gee, ya think we are friends?). I called Diana and left a message saying we thought that and figured we should take advantage of the sun while we still have it. It's starting to get lighter earlier again. :( I didn't hear back from Ms. D so I assume it is a go. I just have to take the #17 to the #70 and get the car from Kev. Then I have to come home, feed everyone and then go over to Diana's. She said it only takes 5 minutes to get to her house from mine. Then she added she liked living only 5 minutes away from me. I like it too. :)

Well, it's off to put my face on before heading to work. I had this brilliant idea of something to write about last night when I was heading to bed and instead of writing the general idea down I thought I'd remember....nope.

what's that in the sky?

Could it truly be? CLOUDS!!! What a glorious site to see...

We slept in late today. Kev got up to feed everyone (I didn't actually hear him but when I got up to go to the bathroom before going back to bed I noticed Chloe had food in her bowl and nobody did the "she's up, we eat" dance). I slept in. And not "in" as in I got up at 7:30 as opposed to my normal waking time of 7:00. I slept until 10:00!!! Kev did too (although that's not a surprise or hard to imagine I am sure). We were rudely awoken by people doing work on the street in front of our house. How DARE they work on a Monday morning!! :)

It feels good to have gotten to sleep in (honestly, I didn't even wake up when Simon decided to tap dance on my head, which he does EVERY morning). We are planning on going somewhere to get our hike on, but we don't want to drive to much. I'm thinking over the the NW so we can hike Forest Park, but not the normal entrance we ALWAYS do. I want something new.

Oh, and we have decided to continue with our Monday weigh in rituals because even though we haven't gained any weight back and our new, smaller sized clothes still fit really well, we are starting to feel slightly mushy. By weighing ourselves we are hoping we will create the atmosphere of not allowing ourselves to become doughy again. :) So far I have butt kicking yoga on Wednesdays to take care of that feeling!!! My arms are now just feeling normal again. LOL

immediate gratification

We sadly live in a world where people are of the "now" mentality. I, too, have fallen into this behavior. I haven't felt that way in a while, perhaps as I continue down the road of becoming the best me I can be I will never have that feeling again. Also, I hope, I may stop feeling the sense of annoyance when others become demanding and "now" about things. But for today, I will be annoyed... :)

Case in point:

Got a pair of shoes back from a customer. They were an 8, she was a size 9.5. My question to her when she called about returning them was "did Jessica try calling the other stores?" Her response, "no, she was adamant about this being the only pair..." When I questioned Jessica about it she said the woman was in a hurry and didn't have time for her to look, but that she offered (which was what I figured already). We have received the sandals back and they are second in the folder of returns. Our policy is when items are shipped back to us to be returned we will do the returns in order of the arrival back to the store and we have 30 days do make said return. This customer just called saying, "I sent the shoes back and you have to return the money to my card, now." I lied and said she was next in the folder and it should be able to be done today. I will do it today, moving her ahead of one other return (which we had only gotten a day or two ahead of hers). I know that I have rewarded her behavior by giving in to her demand of getting the return "now" but I didn't want to have to deal with her any longer.

I wish you all patience and happiness.

very possibly

The best yoga class EVER! Tonight was the first night that Jill and I met with Diana after work to start our private instruction. She kicked our butts and we, loved. every. minute. of. it. I can see where this road is going to lead us and it makes me happy. Yoga has brought a meaning to my life that I never really knew existed. It's brought peace and balance in my world and has given me a whole new appreciation for the human body. I like the idea that if I treat my body well it will do so in return.

I urge everyone whose eyes read my words to do something specifically for yourself. Something that is kind. Something that will not harm yourself or others. But something souly for yourself!

Right now, I'm going to go read and fall into probably the best nights sleep I've had in a long while...

Namaste (love, light, respect)

oh the beauty of it all...

I have received several cases of shoes in today. I covet...COVET...these:

I have them sitting next to me as I type (they are still in the box though). I've worn them around already and they are so damn comfortable! Some may ask, "are these really clogs?" To which I reply...we are clogs-n-MORE!

It is warm here today and I think the suede may not be conducive to this time of year, but they are fall shoes. Yeah, I can also hear the same people who asked if they are clogs make the comment about me living in a rainy climate and suede...

My store room is horrible right now. I had to wear the really cute skirt that I got on Sunday though and I don't want to get all messy. I have done quite a bit of unloading, but I have more to do tomorrow. I am thinking jeans tomorrow. I don't mind if they get dirty. They are jeans. Although can the new shoes be worn now with jeans?

I just had a customer come in and buy the Poppy Suede (red) for her wedding! FOR. HER. WEDDING! I love it when brides come in and buy shoes from me for their weddings! I applaud those who will wear what they want. Me, I couldn't feel my toes for three days after our wedding and although it was a fabulous day I really wish I'd have thought about the whole switching shoes thing after the ceremony, OR just worn silly little sandals. Nobody saw my feet anyway...

quiz time...

http://www.blogthings.com/coffeequiz/

as for me: I'm a soy latte (yeah, right)

"At your best, you are: free spirited, down to earth, and relaxedAt your worst, you are: dogmatic and pickyYou drink coffee when: you need a pick me up, and green tea isn't cutting itYour caffeine addiction level: medium"

today

We decided to go to Fryes (aka Geek City USA). We jumped in the car and whose little face should we see peering at us, longingly, through the front window but Josie. I looked at Kev, who looked back at me. I told him I wished we could take her with. He said "LET'S!" The road to the store goes right by one of the best dog parks (the 2.5 acres) and so I jumped out of the car, got on her collar, grabbed her leash and off we went.

After walking the park a few times we decided it was time to head to the store. On our way through the parking lot there was a woman with her daughter. Her daughter was laid out on the rock drive, having just had a seizure. We get to the car. I look at Kev and tell him I have to go see if the woman needs any help. I sit and chat with both the mother and daughter and BOOM she goes into a grand mal. I just sit there with her mom until she is out of it, it lasted maybe 20 seconds. As soon as the daughter was coming to and talking with us we were hopeful about getting her up and in the car. No going. She couldn't really feel her legs. Her mother called the EMT's and two physicians came up as well. At that point I felt she had it under control and bid my farewell. I told the daughter I wished we could have met under different circumstances, but wished her well.

At Fryes I stayed in the car with Josie so we could have the A/C on. I read a book my Dad sent me as I waited for Kev to finish up inside. We joked that it really was for the best that I stayed outside with Josie. If I'd gone in he'd have felt rushed to get in and get out. As it was, he mulled around a bit and I just sat with my girl reading. He said he felt badly for the guys in the store with their girlfriends who he overheard trying to explain WHY they "needed" x, y and z. He said he thought, "man, leave her out in the car...don't try to explain..." We joked about it together. Heck, I'm glad I stayed in the car with Josie. I got to watch my beautiful dog observe the world around her.

Now I'm waiting for Kev to finish getting ready so we can go pick up Jill and she and I can take him to work before running around together. It's funny because she had the idea last night to run around with me and when I called her this morning to see if she wanted to do just that she started laughing and told me her story of telling Mark if we went to yoga we could run around together after...I told her I wasn't going to yoga but we could still run around. :) I felt like sleeping in and spending the morning with Kev. It was very very nice.

random ramblings

Man, today has gone by quickly, now that I look at the clock again. For a while it was slugging by, but now it is 4:43 and I have just over an hour before I head home for my weekend. No major plans, it's going to be a bit warmer this weekend so no painting (we still have yet to do the hallway again...) but I am hoping we can get a big trash can for yard debris and work on the back yard a bit. The back corner, which was cleared when we first moved in, now has tree limbs, blackberry vines as well as who knows what living in it. The blackberry vine is the most annoying of them all though. It could easily take over the world. I'm reminded of Still Life With Woodpecker by Tom Robbins whenever I look at the vines. They are mentioned in the book, which takes place in Seattle. They were taking over the yard in the book too...

Last night Jill, Kiley and I went out to dinner. All of our partners in crime were either out with pals, off to LA, or at work. We decided it would be fun to get together and eat Italian at a place not too far from home. Very nice indeed. Pastini. The Cannelloni Fruttie Die Mar is to die for!!! Go to their menu and read what is in it and then tell me you don't want to go there whenever you are in Portland...

I was riding the bus home last night after work and got to chatting with Michael (he's actually someone who works at our bank, which is how we met). We were talking about blogs and he seemed a bit surprised that I had one. I told him it was for freinds and family and complete strangers to see what's going on in our life. We got to talking about how I'd have ideas of things I'd want to write about while doing whatever (I could be drinking coffee and have an idea, or walking up the block to the store and *poof* something would enter my mind...) and as soon as I got to the computer to write about whatever it was it would be gone. I don't have my book in my bag right now. The book I use to write things in as I get ideas.

Kev is giddy right now. Maybe giddy isn't the right word, perhaps he's more loopy than giddy. He called me earlier, I had to call him back. When I did he just sounded like he'd not gotten enough sleep and was feeling a bit slap happy. He told me he indeed did NOT get enough sleep last night and WAS feeling a bit loopy. Sadly we had to cut our conversation short because he had a customer come into the store. When he's loopy, he's also chatty. I like that...

Okay, those are some ramblings to tide you all over. Sorry for the long wait. I know this entry probably doesn't make up for it. :)

oh the joys of hiking

It was a hot day yesterday. We got up early and picked up Jim and Kathy, my father in law and his wife. We decided that we should take them to the Falls Creek Falls. It was nice that we left early because it got up to 100!

Josie loved the water... We are thrilled she's finally finding her water legs. She went in rather far in the creek, river, babbling brook, whatever it was. She had a blast! I wanted to jump in with her by this point because it was on our way back to the car as the heat was climbing.

Today is quite warm as well, but since I'm in the good ol' A/C at work it's not bothering me too much. We just got some darling shoes in and of course I'm trying to justify them already!!! :)

I'm just bad.

sorry, a little (stupid) rant

Bekah, you will appreciate this one...

I "own" a list on yahoo groups. Most of you all know this. The reason I "own" my own list now is because of ill feelings that I had with the original dog list I was part of. It was deemed time to move on (by my gut feelings) and so I did. I started another group, got together with a couple of my online friends and got a great group together.

Now one of those original friends (we will call her C) has decided she needs to totally blast my very good friend (we will call her R) behind her back to me. OMG!! Are we back in flipping high school?!? If C has an issue with R she knows she can talk to her about it, however, C is now saying she's done with R and sees what other people see....I'm still waiting to see what that is because as far as I'm concerned R has been respectful of others and just shared her knowledge (and damn, she's one smart cookie).

(don't worry, I've said these things to both parties so I'm not really going behind backs here)

The truly interesting thing to me throughout this is that C joined both under her name as well as a fake one. Does she think I don't know she's got two identities (and maybe more) at my group? What made her feel compelled to sign up with the other one (I know she does at all the groups she is a member of)?

And then I remember, it's the freaking internet! It doesn't have any affect on me personally. If she wants to be stark raving mad, I have the power to boot, ban, and not let anyone else join...in fact, I can make my list an invite only list. Hmmmm.

surprise!!!

My internet friend Bekah sent me these (I say me, but really they are for Josie). I can't wait until Monday to give her some!! Thank you Auntie Bekah! Josie says her card is in the mail...

Speaking of Monday, we are sharing our sacred day with Kev's dad and step mom. I'm excited about taking them to Falls Creek Falls. It was the hike we did a couple of Mondays ago and forgot the camera. Not this time!!! I will have to try to get a shot of Josie gobbling up her Power Bones! I love the name of them.

I've got something up my sleeve to send Bekah, but it's going to take a little while since I've got other things up there at this moment in time. She'll just have to bide her time and be patient...I hope she'll like it!!! :) I'll let you know how much Josie loves and appreciates her treats after Monday.

i am a medium

Not in the sense that I can speak to the dead or anything creepy like that...

You all know of our weight loss thang (seriously, if you are looking for inspiration watch this falls Biggest Loser!)

Anyway, I was out shopping with Kev this week on Monday and I stopped to look at this great tank by Isaac Mizrahi (I'm so glad he's doing things for Target). There were two left, one was a medium and the other an extra large. I hesitated for a second, but picked up the medium. I figured if I got it home and it was too small I'd take it back (we live a hop, skip and a jump from Target). I did the same thing with a pair of rose colored yoga pants. Only there were larges available, I just decided to take the medium there too. Well what do you know, I'm a medium. It's still hard for me to envision myself wearing medium in clothes that for quite some time I was wearing XL. It boggles my mind a bit quite honestly. But hell, I'll take it!!!

I was thinking the other day, as we were driving home from our trail run/walk. I really enjoy who I (we) have become (or would that be whom?). I like being the outdoor-sy girl. I like getting out in nature and really being there in it, away from the "real" world. I like that we want to do these things together, Kev and me. I wouldn't have thought this when we first moved here that in 5 years after moving to Portland I'd be living in my own home, with my fabulous husband, our wonderful animals and getting out and DOING. We used to watch our old neighbors, Kim and Brad, go out all the time to do things out of doors. I'd long to be like them. Now, I am...sigh.

my dream house...

Will have a room where we have zero furniture, hardwood floors, maybe the free weights, but plenty of room to practice our yoga and meditate.

It will have a well planned and laid out kitchen that is a bit larger than what we have to work with now. I'd love for it to open up into the rest of the house, although not necessary. As long as it is a well thought out and planned kitchen, I'm fine. Oooh, and it has to have a pantry!!!

It will have a large enough "master" bedroom so that all our gorgeous maple bedroom furniture will fit in it and Kev's chest of drawers won't have to reside in the closet.

It will have a cave. I've gotten so accustomed to having a quiet, dark room that I've grown to rather like it...a lot. Especially when the neighbors find themselves needing to set off fireworks. Josie enjoys having a quiet place to go.

It will have a lovely patio where we can entertain our friends and family and Kev can wow them with his culinary skills...he is the true Grill Master!!!

It will have a back yard that Josie ISN'T affraid of.

It will have a spare bedroom as well as a sewing room, that will be used!!!

It will have a garage, two car (not that we will have two cars, but storage baby).

It will have at least one and a half bathrooms. Dood, if we can't both go WHEN WE NEED TO...it isn't our house! As of right now, it gets tricky at times.

It will be in a neighborhood where you know each other and you wave when you see the familiar faces of those you live around. You won't get told stories of home invasions.

I want it to be even closer to Jill and Mark. Not only have they gotten hugs, two bottles of wine, a loaf of homemade bread, but they just recently got...COOKIES! Homemade oatmeal, chocolate chip cookies with a welcome note. I so want to live near them! :)

ahhhh, yoga

So this week I got an email from my yoga instructor Diana. She asked me to give her a call when I had time to chat. We spoke the other evening about her desire to have Sundays off and for herself and Lawrence. I understood completely. I was a bit heartbroken, until she uttered the words "private instruction" to me. She asked if I thought Jill and I would be interested in furthering our learning with her privately if one of her other classes at the other two yoga studios she teaches at wouldn't work. I told her that I was sure that Jill would be interested and I knew that I was interested.

After I got off the phone with her I called Jill. I believe she said something to the effect of YES YES YES to me. We got quite happy about the idea of private instruction, but kept in mind that Diana had mentioned other classes and if we couldn't make any of those then we talk private instruction...

Well, today after class we all went to breakfast and as we were talking she mentioned private instruction again and this time it sounded like she was more into that idea than having us join one of her other classes. When we left Jill and I were giddy because she was talking about going to the park and leading our practice there. My head is spinning and I am all kinds of excited about it! I mean think about how much further we are going to get to go with our practice...YEA!!!!

TAG!!!

I got tagged by Bekah...

What was I doing 10 years ago:
I was turning 22 and wondering when the hell I was going to grow up and know what I wanted to do with my life.
5 years ago:
I was marrying the man of my dreams (actually exactly five years ago we'd been married already for just two months and had just gotten settled in Portland).
1 year ago:
I was working where I work now and enjoying it as much as I do now (which honestly, is a lot!!)
Yesterday:
I was...crap, what the hell was I doing yesterday?!?!? (I was just beginning to start answering these questions...then we had dinner with Kev's dad and step mom.)
5 Snacks I enjoy:
1.almonds
2.grape tomatoes (like cherry but BETTER)
3.baby carrots
4.cheese
5.yogurt (had you asked me this one year ago I'd not have answered the same way)

5 songs I know all the words to:
1.farmhouse, by phish
2.voodoo lady, by ween
3.not alot to do, by the zutons
4.alphabet song, origins unknown
5.1 2 3 4 5 .... 6 7 8 9 10....11 12222222 (you know the one)

5 Things I would do with a $100 million:
1.pay off the house
2.pay off the car
3.pay off the credit cards
4.pay off my family's debts
5.pay off my friends...

5 Locations I would like to run away to:
1.Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
2.the mountains here in Oregon
3.anywhere that has no clocks (but I suppose that would be impossible for me...there's a Clock any place I go)
4.a cabin in the woods where we can just sit and relax and enjoy each others company (and by we I mean me, Kev, Josie, Simon and Chloe...)
5.seriously, my Mamasita-in-law's house in Texas...total resort!!!

5 Bad habits I have:
1.picking at my nails
2.obsessing on what clothing I will take on trips (no matter long it is until said trips happen)
3.picking my nose
4.finishing sentences for people that I don't know
5.using "..." waaaay too much

5 Things I like doing:
1.embroidery
2.playing with the animals (simon, chloe and josie)
3.talking on the phone with my Mamasita-in-law
4.eating good food with great friends
5.playing board games!

5 TV shows I like:
1.The OC (I know, I know)
2.The Simpsons
3.Futurama
4.The Biggest Loser
5.The Amazing Race

5 Biggest joys of the moment:
1.Knowing I am married to someone who will tell me what is on his mind (finally!!)
2.NOT the fact that I think Josie just snuck some "snacks" from the bathroom
3.hiking every Monday with Kev and Josie
4.watching the cats play with each other
5.chatting with my online animal list (the ladies are just too funny)

5 Favorite toys:
1.my bernina
2.my serger
3.this here computer
4.if board games count as toys than QUELF!!!
5.my living and breathing toys, the cats and the dawg
5 next victims:
1.Kerri
2.Daddy-O
3.the Female CS GradStudent
4.can't think of 4
5. can't think of 5

i'm getting a girls weekend!!!

Let the obsessing begin! My sister emailed me last week asking if she used her frequent flyer miles would I come down to LA in Septemeber. I told her I had to make sure it was okay with the guy who pays me but I'd let her know. Yesterday Ahmed told me it would be fine and so now I've got a ticket booked!!! Jill might be trying to go with, but I was just looking at the flights and I think she might have to call United to see if she can get the same flight leaving as me. I hope she can go, but if not Julianne and I will have a blast! She has mentioned yoga, dog park, wine bars...

Now, to start figuring out...what ever will I take?!?! I already know that the yoga pants and new yoga tops I'm getting soon from Sierra Trading Co are going. My new jeans. My brown slightly dressy, but not too over the top, top. I mean, Sept is RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!!!! :)

this is my horn...

...and I'm going to toot it!!!

It is just after I have opened the store downtown. I have a customer trying on clogs I'd held for her. I have another woman come in the store and start looking around. She's acting a bit suspicious. I watch her as she kneels down with a pair of clogs. When she stands back up the clogs are gone and there is an empty spot on the rack. I approach her, knowing the clogs are in her big raffia bag. I ask her if she liked the blue clogs she'd seen on the rack. She sheepishly said yes. I tell her softly, "I'm going to need to look in your bag." She pulls out the clogs. At this time my adrenaline is pumping. She says, "I'd like to buy them, how much are they?" I tell her they are $105.95 and that I can get a different bag for her to carry them in. She doesn't have the money (which I knew would be the case) so I tell her I'll hold them (I'm sure she won't be back).

I RAWK!!!!!

My former co-worker just popped in to get her last paycheck so I told her the story. She said it sounded like I was very compassionate and she thanked me for that.

not my energy!

Okay, as I wrote before Josie dislikes fireworks. I don't care for them based on the fact that they make my dog pace, bark, pant, lick the air, just act NOT like herself. I don't do anything out of the ordinary, except turn on loud music to drown out the noise. Then I peacefully sit and read. Nothing new there.

As soon as Kev took over he turned down the music...she started doing the afore mentioned behaviours. Tell me, my energy? My dislike? No, my guess is she could hear the damn things and it freaked her out. As a child I did not like the loud booms because they frightened me, as an adult it is because they frighten my animals. I could give or take fireworks for myself personally. But for the three kids I've got running around my house in a panic every 4th of July, I'll give every time!!! Yes, Simon and Chloe got into the act as well and hid all night...although they would come out every once in a while only to have some loud boom happen and send them back into hiding.

oh how i loathe fireworks

We got home from a long hike (at one point we took our hike books author's suggestion and took the "scramble" up the unmarked trail to the upper falls trail...it's called .2 miles of straight up for about a 400' gain in elevation ALL AT ONCE) and decided we needed to go get some grub to grill. As we turned onto our street we looked in the garage of our newer neighbors and saw a card table FULL of fireworks. I HATE FIREWORKS!

Josie's been doing the bark, pace, pant thing for a little while now and we just have to ignore her. She calms down faster than if we say anything to her, but it's hard to NOT cuddle her and tell her it will be okay. I mean, she's a dog and doesn't speak english and wouldn't understand those words at all. However, I do wish she'd chill the hell out. I also wish the neighbors wouldn't have bought out the entire fireworks booth, but that didn't happen either!

I see Tylenol in my future and possibly ear plugs...

pictures from the game

There are several different cards you have to pick during play. One set is called Roolz. These are things you must do during the game, unless another Roolz card says to discard a current Roole. We had several global Roolz, one of which was we had to keep something that was larger than our fist in our left hand. So, beer. Then I drew a card that made me put one finger in a nostril, yodel while trying to roll three twos. And I had to keep the beer in my left hand...I haven't laughed so hard in a long time!!!!!

oh baby, i'm so tired

Man, I know how to pack a weekend full. Day one of my weekend and I've gone to yoga (such an amazing class today!!!), helped my dear friend Amanda with painting the trim in her kitchen/breakfest nook/mud room (I told Lisel, her beau, it shows how much I love Amanda because I HATE painting trim), took Josie to the dog park (where she only tried to escape once, but was foiled because the woman who came in after me latched the gate after I asked her to), mowed the lawn (which was in need), cleaned the kitchen (which was in dire need after our game night with Shannon and Kiley last night...you all must play Quelf), and now I've finished eating dinner (yummy veggies, almonds, ham and cheese...). I'm pooped. Kev has no clue I've done any of this, other than the yoga and the painting. I told him I'd take Josie somewhere but I don't think he always believes me. :)

Tomorrow we are thinking about getting out of the city. Josie has done much better this year with the fireworks our neighbors have already started setting off (the ignore her while she's barking and reinforcing when she's quiet really is working), but we think we'd still like to get out of town. Hence the lawn work, etc. We had been thinking the coast, but then my friend Reagan sent me and email, as did another friend Kay. It was a link to a story about the Oregon coast being the busiest on the 4th and to expect traffic. We started talking and realized that people will go to the vast expanses of beaches to set of fireworks, watch fireworks, and just be there in general, we think we would like to get up to the mountains instead. So we have been looking online and in our hike book for a place that sounds like it will be the place for us to go and get away from everyone and everything.

We'll let you know how it goes. Please be safe this holiday weekend.

mmmmm

Friday nights our friends Kiley and Shannon go out to eat. On occasion I get to join them. For no other reason then we like each other's company.

We went to a new place called Nuestra Cocina. It was rather tasty, however the desserts...where it is at! The ap we shared was nice, seared scallops over radicho (sp) and some kind of verde sauce. I opted for a main course of little baby tortillas (made there by hand) stuffed with black beans, avocado, grilled poblano peppers and cheese. They were served with a verde salsa. Kiley had some pork dish that was goooood and Shannon got an ap as a meal and they were little pastries stuffed with chorizo and other goodness.

Because we'd not eaten too heavily we opted for dessert. All night we'd seen this plate coming out of the kitchen with chocolate cake on it. Very dense looking, the kind that would kill me if I ate more than a couple bites. Shannon got that. It was served with a cinnamon ice cream and caramel sauce. For all of Kiley's talk of Flan he changed his mind and got the crepes with fried bananas and fresh strawberries. While I had an Empenada Limon. It was a lemon custard filled empenada served with fresh whipped cream on a ribbon of caramel. The custard was warm inside which was a lovely surprise.

The margaritas...they muddle the lemon, lime and orange with ice giving it a burst of citrus. Muddling is when the bartender puts the ice in a cup with slices of orange, lime and lemon, takes something that looks like a pestle (or is it the mortar that is the basher?) and smashes it all together. YUMMY!

Now I am getting ready for my last day of work for the week and when I get home I must run the vacuum quickly as we have a couple people coming over to play a new game called Quelf. Our friend of a friend designed it with two of his friends...just go to their site to get the logistics. :)

one wacky night

So at about 1:00 this morning I notice Kev's not in bed. I hear the dog barking up front and think to myself, "Hmmm, I hope he's not collapsed over the keyboard." Yes, this is truly the way my mind works when I wake in the middle of the night to a barking dog and an empty bed.

I get up and go out front. He's at the computer, fully awake and aware.

"What's she barking at?"

"Oh, some drunk guy outside...I'm hoping he'll just go away."

I go back to bed, Josie comes with and minutes later Kev joins us too. I get some sleep, although it doesn't feel like much when I hear Josie "Ooof oooof oooof" I also hear voices (not THOSE, but ones coming from in front of my house!!). I get up to investigate and find two people standing in front of the neighbor's house to our left (yes, that would be Larry with his two barking dogs...who were silent last night) looking at his house and yelling. I figure Larry has already made contact with the police and go back to bed.

Josie's barking becomes more urgent and she's pulling the Lassie going to get mom because Timmy has fallen into the well routine. She comes back to my side of the bed, since clearly I'm the one who is going to get up and look again. I figure I should take a look and make sure they are not trying to break into the house or our car. They've now made their way to the edge of our property and are yelling back down the street. I can't tell if it's two guys or a guy and a girl. Are they fighting with each other? I look online and find what I think is the non-emergency line for the Po Po (yes, it really is what the Portland Police are called). I get "This is Gerry." I feel like crap, have I woken this poor man? I called the number I found online for non-emergencies! I tell him I'm needing to call someone to report people disturbing my peace. He gives me the correct number...

"Umm, yeah, there are two people standing outside my house yelling and my dog has alerted me that I need to call and ask for a squad car to drive through our neighborhood."

"Is it drunken yelling or fighting?"

"I'm pretty sure it's fighting."

"I need to know for sure which it is."

"Okay, fighting..." what, I'm going to stick my head out the door and ask, 'umm, excuse me, are you two trying to instigate a fight with someone in my neighborhood or just wasted off your asses?!?!'

"What's your address?"

I tell her.

"It looks like there is already another call in about this. Someone will be there soon."

YEA!!! Moments later the Po Po show up and in the light of their headlamps I see it is a man and a woman. She's in her pj bottoms and a big poofy winter coat and her hair is dyed bright freaking pink. He's thin and lanky wearing baggy clothes and that's all I got.

I go back to bed and look at the clock. It reads 4:00. Ugh, now I'm supposed to go to work and reformat my hard drive? Yeah, that's another story all unto its own.

nothing exciting

Man, it's been a few days (I can hear Reggie and Russ right now) and I just figured since there was really nothing all that crazy exciting to write about, why write?!?

Okay, maybe I can write about what a wonderful time I had last night with my friends Linsel and Amanda and Linsel's housemate Kevin and his girlfriend K/Cathy. I took Kev to work and really didn't feel like I wanted to spend the evening alone at home. I called Amanda and she didn't answer her phones (mobile or land) so I thought she might be at Linsel's house. Called him and he and I chatted before he said I should try her again later. Within miutes of hanging up with him she called me. We decided to get together at Linsel's house and decide from there where to eat.

I wish I would have called Lins to see if we were going out otherwise I would have brought Josie with. As it was first words out of his mouth were "where's Josie?" I half thought about driving home to get her, but we live about a half hour away...

We ate homemade pizza and artichokes. I've never eaten artichokes without them being involved on pizza, but we boiled them and dipped the leaves in butter....yummy!!! The heart was a bit tricky, but I got that taken care of for me and Amanda, who were sharing one.

Okay, that's about it. :)

serendipity

I'm not going to start making this a blog about fitness, etc. This will be the last one and then I can email people to let them know more if they ask...

When Kev threw the challenge in the ring I was all kinds of excited. I wasn't sure what kind of work out I would do...until I got my Glamour in the mail (I really hate the name of the publication, but it is an amazing source of information!). It was the day after we challenged each other that I received it. There was an article about three different exercise programs they had real women test for 8 weeks to see which one helped them lose the most inches/weight. They then ran the entire work out of the winning program. It was lifting weights, with 10 minutes of prep cardio.

I started doing the routine. It was tough at first, but as I did it longer, it got way easier. There were 8 different movements to do with the weights. Once I got going I would adjust the movements to serve me better. Certain things made my knees hurt so I'd alter it slightly with things we'd done in yoga.

Now I do my own kind of thing, but honestly, that article in Glamour, huge for me!!!

how it was easy for us

We started out with a vengence. We were going to lose weight and we were going to lose it NOW!!! Actually, I don't think the two of us thought we'd lose all that much all that quickly, but at our first weigh in after the first week of our working out (we'd weigh in Monday mornings prior to going hiking...or eating anything) Kev had lost 4 lbs and I had already lost 3lbs. Granted it was mostly water weight, but that was all it took for us to get our grove on.

A basic week of exercise looked like this for me:
Sun- Yoga
Mon- hike with Kev and Josie (usually around 5 miles every week)
Tues- weights (a great routine found in Glamour magazine...more about it and serendipity later)
Wed- Billy Blanks and Tai Bo (I love to hate this man)
Thurs- weights
Fri- cardio (from on demand cable)
Sat- night off

A normal meal for a day would be

Breakfast: half a wheat bagel with a small amount of peanut butter and a small bowl of Smart Start cereal OR a banana.

Lunch: Ham sandwich with no mayo, baked chips

Snack: granola bar or fruit

Dinner: Fish or chicken grilled, potatoes, zuchinni grilled

Dessert: if I had something it was usually about 5 m & m's

Dinner was different each day, but roughly the same idea. I would work out when I got home (still am, but now it's more walking the dog) and then I would eat afterwards.

I've slacked off a small amount of the work outs (had started reining back during the comp really) but will start going to Shannon's "gym" to lift some weights two nights a week.

I don't eat after 9:00 at night and I don't snack anymore (other than the granola bar or fruit during work).

I have gone down two sizes and honestly, am close to a third size lower (which BLOWS MY MIND!). All in all we are happy with where we are at and our bodies seem to be staying where we are now, although I still have a few more pounds that I'd like to shed. However, I am happy with who I am now. I feel better about myself, we both do actually.

The one thing we did is made sure we didn't deprive ourselves of things. If we wanted to eat something less than healthy we would, but we wouldn't (and won't) eat the large amount we used to. When we go out to eat we will sub a salad for fries many times and not finish our meal (mmmmm, lunch the next day).It's all about making the right choices for us.

And about moderation. Life, it's about moderation.

whole lot less

The month is January. We are watching the very last episode of The Biggest Loser Kev looks over at me as we marvel at how wonderful these people look. He says, "I challenge you." I look back at him and say, "Oh yeah?" "Yes, we need to see who can be the biggest loser in this house," he states with authority. I'd already been thinking of this as an idea so I say, "Bring. It. On."

January 10, 2005 our first weigh in date. Not a pretty date at all. The numbers, staggering. We had no idea we were as heavy as we were. I mean we had a pretty good idea we were getting quite big and it didn't thrill us, but until we watched that show, we had no motivation.

Today, we are a combined 60 pounds lighter. The end of the official competition was the Monday prior to our departure to Texas. Kev won by 3%. He got his Nintendo DS because he won. The sweetest thing he said as I gave him his prize was, "But I'm proud of you too and you deserve something because you did really well."

I'm off to Timbuk2 to find Mamma a bag for the gym (well, the room at my friend Shannon's apt complex that has work out machines). I don't have a good bag for that purpose. Shannon and I decided that to keep me on the losing end (Even though I've lost 25lbs, I still have about 10 I'd like to drop) and to get her started we needed to have a buddy. She's got the equipment, I have the motivation for both of us (which actually she sounds quite motivated when we talk about doing it...we just mentioned it last week Thursday and she brought it up a few days later in an email to me that after her parents are here this weekend, we're starting).

I'm proud of Kev and myself for losing the weight. I'm even prouder to be able to say we didn't do the South Beach Diet (wow, I almost said South Park Diet) , we didn't starve, we didn't NOT eat things we love...

We ate in moderation, we exercised (be it weights and cardio, like myself, or hiking and cardio like Kev). We kept ourselves motivated with the knowledge that we would both be winners in the grand scheme of things. We realize this is a lifestyle change, not just a for now diet. We can't go back to our eating habits, we can't eat garbage, we can't eat late at night, etc. But we do allow ourselves a few splurges here and there. Mmmmm, Delta Cafe....

We didn't tell anyone, well hardly anyone. We didn't tell our parents because we wanted to see their jaws drop. Peggy about lost it when we got off the plane and approached her. She asked where half of us went. My folks were quite proud and I got an email from my mom saying she was quite motivated by our change of life. We are thrilled to have that kind of impact on our families. His Dad and Kathy still haven't seen us, but are heading this way soon so...

The fabulous thing, there are customers who will come in and will say that I've become their motivation. They look at me and the look of awe is on their faces. I keep telling them it really is easy, and you know what? IT IS! If anyone wants to know more in depth what we've done, please ask. I'm always willing to share!!!

shoes, the international language

I have a customer who I see every so often. She doesn't speak much English. I get very few words from her when she comes in. Usually she will bring a pair of shoes she wants a second pair of and will point and say "same black" or "same brown." Somehow we muddle through and she ends up with something that is to her liking (or something she will take home to her daughter to say yes or no to). It's amazing because we "speak" in motions and sounds and very few words. Most customers who come in are English speaking people and I can chat them up, but she's different. We smile and laugh and have figured out our own language...the international language of shoes.

why won't blogger remember me?!?!

When you log into Blogger there is a button you can "check" so that it will remember you on the computer you are using. I never check this box except on my computer at home. Alas, Blogger never remembers me and automatically logs me in....sigh.

Work went well yesterday. Got word that my fabulous and wonderful Jessica at work will be leaving. It is an insurance issue and with her being preggers...they must have insurance that will cover the entire time, not just after the baby is born. I am a sad girl.

The rain is here AGAIN. We keep having these goregous, sunny days followed by crappy ones. It's a cycle I'd love to see stop so we can just get the summer going! But as that happens, I will probably complain about the heat. There is just no pleasing me. :)

Okay, I'm out. Lunch isn't going to put itself together and I have no ideas as to what it is going to consist of today...hmmm, light yogurt, banana that is almost past it's prime, wheat thins....

Punch Bowl Falls

pbfmeandjosie
Originally uploaded by chlortence.

We went on one of our Monday hikes today. For those of you who don't know, every Monday we take Josie out on a hike. Sometimes they are long and hard (aka Death Marches) and other times they are nice calm ones (like today). It was a gorgeous day in the Pac NW and Josie and I had a great time getting our feet wet!! Kev was the camera man and since he wasn't wearing water shoes didn't wade with us. This is just before you can view the falls...

We also decided to measure out how large we'd like our cobblestone paver patio to be as well as looked into the idea of a portable tent type thing.

Now the dog has been washed and Kev and I are pooped. We're hoping to grill out with our friends Jill and Mark. Got the call out to her and we'll call them again in about an hour, just to make sure she shared the suggestion with her darling husband.

I've got a bottle of hooch (hard cranberry lemonade), Kev's playing his new video game and everyone is anxiously awaiting suppertime.

rainyday

rainyday
Originally uploaded by chlortence.

I am sitting in the family room watching really bad tv and all of a sudden...THUNDER!!!!

I go and look out the window and this is what I see. Rather sunny, pouring rain.

Gotta love Oregon!

is it just me?

Or is there just something creepy about this? The last line of the "story" makes me think eeeuuuuwwww:

"For Holmes, her engagement to Cruise is something of a dream come true. The former Dawson's Creek star has said she grew up with a poster of Cruise on her wall and always fantasized about marrying him. "

He's HOW much older than she? In my mind she's still the girl from Dawson's Creek (a show I luckily did NOT get sucked into, but would glance at it thinking they all looked so young). And why, oh why, does the media have to shorten and combine names like TomKat?!?!?

Jen recently posted a rant about celebrities and I couldn't agree with her more!!! It's the entry from the 12th...

Wow, I'm all kinds of posting today. I guess when the urge hits me...

poooooop!

latch9
Originally uploaded by chlortence.

I don't know why Josie will dive into her favorite snack pack and come out to me with litter all over her nose. She knows I'm going to call her a bad girl, which makes her hold her head low and lay down beside me looking guilty as all sin. Ever since the latch I'd made for our bathroom door to keep the dog out but let the cats in broke we've been trying to clean out the potty box everyday (I'm using the term "we" loosly as it's really been mainly me). This morning I actually had the thought pass throuh my head that I should do a quick scoop before I make my breakfast and my latte. Why did't I listen to that voice?!?!?

I'd better go check to make sure she's not going back in for a second course!!!

photos

If you click on the pictures in my blog you will be taken to Flickr. If you click on more properties you can see just about everything about that photo, when it was taken, what time of day, was there a flash...etc. HOW DOES IT KNOW?!?!?!?

book

I have now finished Carl Hiaasen's "Skinny Dip". It was a great book, like all his others I have read. He takes you on twists and turns that you think might be coming up, but you don't know how he will arrive at that exact moment. And then it starts happening and you can't put the damn thing down! That's pretty much what happened last night, although as it neared 12:30 I couldn't keep my eyes open and I put the book down with FOUR PAGES LEFT!!! Needless to say, the book is done now.

I am always sad when I finish a really good book. I think it's because it's something I'd spent time with and the characters are in my head that when it's time to say bye it's hard. I like authors who have reccuring characters in their books so I can revisit with old friends.

Slowly the time is drawing near for me to get off this computer so that I may make my lunch and wait for my bus to take me to work. I will be doing some training this afternoon. She's coming in at 3 and staying with me until close. Tomorrow she'll come in and open. I figured it would be in her best interest to have her learn how to open and close my shop since she is the floater and may just get called in to work my store...I digress (surprised, aren't you?).

dad's got the bug

I guess I'm an influence on my dad...not sure it it's good or bad. :)

FACE

FACE
Originally uploaded by chlortence.

This is the face of a pain in my ass. EVERY MORNING he is there, walking on my head, breathing his nasty cat breath in my face, knocking stuff of my nightstand...

And every morning I swear I'm going to feed him to the dog. I don't think she'd actually eat him though since she is IN LOVE with him.

josie and the feet

counternoze,
originally uploaded by chlortence.

This is Josie the other night. She couldn't deal with the fact that there were chicken feet in her house and she couldn't find them. This is the ONLY time I've EVER seen her sooooo crazed about a treat. I used to think that the pig skin sticks were the end all be all, but oh no...chicken feet are where it is at!!!

ruffian big head

ruffian big head
Originally uploaded by chlortence.

I think that it's going to work kids...

check out my great friend Reagan's dog Ruffian. I LOVE THIS DOG!!!

welcome back kids

Hey! I'm here, it's great...

I can do things like this . We saw this phenomenan today in P-town. It was amazing. I had to google it immediately. A guy who works in the building above the shop indicated it looked more like a cloud and not an actual ring around the sun, but I still say it was a ring! :)

I am going to play with Flickr tonight. I am going to see if my friend Bekah was right. If she was, you'll soon see photos in this here blog soon!!! If she tells stories, I'll send out the post saying she lies like a rug and I'm going back to blog-city....nah, I wouldn't do that to you again, at least not so soon.

I'm out!

pictures

I've not quite figured out pictures and how to upload here to blogger. I think I have to go through someone other than photobucket, which I've really found to be easy to use. However, blogger uses flickr or some other bloggerbot thing. I've heard great things about flickr so we will see how it goes tonight when I get home. I will play and see if I enjoy it as much as Bekah.

Just at work and finished changing the window. Got some of the cutest things in from Indigo and am deciding if either of the two styles will be coming home with me. Probably not, but it's okay to dream. Sadly the styles we got aren't listed on their site, but you can see what cutie patootie things they have going on there!!

I think I am going to make the change again...don't hate me people...wait, I need to be saying that at my other blog site...too many blogs!!!

don't know if...

Anyone will follow...yeah, right. I know that Reggie, Russ, my parents...they'll all follow...

But I can not find anywhere that allows people to sign up for an email notification when I update through blogger. However, it has had some changes done to it that make it easier to use. I'm not sure I like the photo upload though. It's easier at blog-city. A friend Bekah has told me that Flikr is amazing...we'll see.

As for now, I may just play around before making the grand announcement that I'm changing anything..

bus!

trying to link

Okay, this is just really going to be a test and if I can do it then I may make the change back here again...just to piss people off. :)

Kerri

Holy crap, I think I'm back!!!

damn construction

For the past few weeks we have had builders across the street pounding and sawing and yelling as they build two houses on one lot. Not the perfect world, but at least there will be houses there that will hopefully increase our property value so that when we sell in a few years this house will pay off.

Once that construction is done though there may be one more they work on this year (although I am praying for the rain to come early so they have to wait until next year).

Okay, another annoyance:
The fact that I asked my dear, darling husband last night to take my bowl to the kitchen with his before he came to bed...you'll never guess I'm sure! They are still in the damn family room where they were when he said "okay" to taking care of them. WHY does he not listen to me? Or why is it he doesn't follow through?

okay, done bitching...for now.

i'm back

Thought I would start blogging here again and see if anyone I know checks it anymore. I doubt they do, so this could be perfect!

I am in pain. My back decided that it no longer wanted to help me stand erect, rather I must walk hunched over at a 50 degree angle. I am icing it right now, after having done the exercises that my chiropractor gave me to do four years ago. This, I am sure, is such interesting reading for anyone who stumbles across this link.

I can no longer sit upright...must go arrange myself on the sofa once again. Ugh, I hate not being able to move and function like I know I am capable of!!!

pulling up stakes

I've moved. I have found a blogger that allows me to get comments. Blogger has been great, and very easy to use, but I'm thinking that I'm liking the new place a bit better. Now it will be up to you all to mark it in your favorites and all that jazz. I don't know if I'll be coming back here again...

try me here

I remember now!!!

So, last night as I was going to bed I realized what it was I was going blog about yesterday. And looking at yesterdays entry which states that I want to share "interesting things, revelations...etc." I am a bit nervous about the topic. Personally I think it qualifies as an interesting thing as well as a revelation!!

The making of the bed.

This has been a spot of contention between Kev and myself for some time now. I grew up in a house where I had to make my bed before I could leave for the day. Kev growing up was supposed to, but I think he rarely did. Now, the other night I was going to bed and realized all the covers were falling off my side of the bed, you know getting pulled over by some force. I fancy myself as a bed hog, not a cover hog, and so I realize that the only way the covers can be like this is because as soon as I get out of bed in the morning Kev does the grab and roll to my side of the bed.

I get in and hike the covers up under my chin and think, "he can fight for them since he made them like this in the first place." Which I guess he does since I didn't have all of them the next morning.

My idea is this...had he made the bed that morning he wouldn't have had to fight for the covers. The covers would always be evenly distributed and all would have been right. But, no, he must fight with me about making the bed because he has some theory that everyone has heard, "why make it if you are just going to mess it up again that night?" It does not hold water! Because he complains about me stealing the covers, when it is really himself that morning doing the afore mentioned, grab and roll when I get out of bed. So, if he made the bed he wouldn't have to complain.

Maybe he likes to complain? That topic is for another day. Sorry no pics today kids. Gotta run.

my hurting brain

I woke up with the greatest topic for my post today and when I sat down it was gone. This is frustrating, as I have been finding it hard to come up with things to really chat about.

I know you all don't care what I write as long as I write, but for me it's something more than just that. I want to share interesting things, revalations...etc.

But, there is something good here. I am a member to a dog lovers group online (hush everyone!!) and one of the members told me of a photo hosting site!!

So, here is just a taste of what it really is like to live with Simon. That's it until I regain my brain...

the joy of living with simon

So, we have a fat orange cat named Simon. Most of you know this already, but I do have readers that have never actually met nor heard of my fur children...

Simon becomes a large pest around 4:30 every afternoon. You see, he really truly believes that he is going to starve to death and that if he could get his dinner an hour and a half early this would keep this from happening. So, to get our attention and annoy us to bits he does things from knocking things off tables, dressers, ottomans, where ever we happen to be. He will constantly jump up onto the desk and be deposited back on the floor about 15 times in a row. He will basically just be in the way and want attention to the point of annoyance so that we get fed up and feed him. The crazy thing is, IT'S NEVER WORKED FOR HIM!!!! I don't know why he thinks this tactic will work for him...

This weekend has been what we thought it would be, Super Bowl Sunday at friends. Josie went until half time and was fabulous! She was a super star. Everyone loved her. She was nose level with all the food and didn't even attempt to eat anything. Then things started getting loud and she decided it was time to go home. I took her and missed Janet's boob, but got the low down on it when I got back to the apartment.

Today we got up, ran errands, took Josie out to the dog park where she asserted her independence a bit more (we were all the way on the other side of the 2.5 acre park from where she ran to). We are proud of our little girl. And I have been shredding old documentation and bill stubs that we no longer need in our lives since we got back from the dog park.

That's it, settle down, I've updated. :)

mmmmmm, bagel with strawberry preserves!!!

Boy there is nothing better than a bagel in the morning with strawberry preserves on one half and peanut butter on the other. Pair that with a Stumptown latte and you have breakfast!

On the Josie report, we got a new lead for her. It's called a Halti. It has saved our walks from becoming a pain in the neck chore to something we really enjoy!! She was a tugger, she'd pull so hard on her leash that with her regular collar she'd nearly choke herself. Our arms also got very tired too. So, Naomi suggested we try a Halti. It's like walking a different dog!!! If she starts to walk too fast her head gets pulled around so she is facing us essentially. The lead, as the picture showed, goes over her nose and behind her ears. The lead hooks under her chin, which is a nicer place to pull on. I can't wait to get out there with her for a nice long walk!!! Kev did take her out yesterday and said she was a dream. She also got to play with some neighborhood dogs! It's interesting to see her with other dogs. She generally is quite cautious in the beginning, hackles raised, barking ensues, but after sniffing she settles down (unless the other dogs come too close to Kevin or I and then she starts barking again). However, she doesn't do this with Huskies. We're thinking she had been exposed to them before? She's a nut.

Well, as I have said in the past, my latte is getting cold and that is not a good thing. Since I can't type efficiently with one hand I bid you all adieu!!

the elephants above

i am sitting at my desk at work, updating the inventory on the laptop. i am baffled by the sounds coming from our upstairs neighbors. i thought they were some computer business or something like that, so why does it sound like there are gymnastics going on above my head? i'm going to ask the people when they come down for their next smoke break. i swear they smoke at least every half hour. ugh!!!

it's been a better day today at work, busier than the two previous. this makes me happy. and tomorrow is my "friday" so my weekend begins soon. we have plans to tackle the paperwork and get things filed.

been thinking

so a good friend of mine has been picking my brain and venting a bit about things that are happening, or not happening I should say, in her relationship. It got me to thinking about what I have with Kev. He's a good man, cares for others, loves me to no end and I really wouldn't want to be without him in my life. Sure we've had some troubles, but that comes with any relationship. You simply work through those and move on.

Many women have the issue that their partners are not romantic enough for their taste (with a few exceptions to that rule, I swear Mark should start his own business in teaching men how to woo their women, Jill is one lucky girl!!). I have come to the realization that women, generally speaking, want their mates to want to do the grand things for them. For instance, a woman would love her husband/boyfriend to plan a nice evening for an upcoming Hallmark holiday. She discusses this with said mate to which they reply, "why do I have to plan it?" At this point the woman is getting a bit hurt that her mate wouldn't instantly say, "I've already gotten that taken care of. Don't worry your pretty little head." She continues to say things like, "No, really I want you to make plans." Now, what she really wants is for him to want to make the plans, the plans are truly irrelevant at this point. So, women, instead of making yourselves nutty about it think about the little things he already does for you. Kev picks up things at the grocery store that I haven't even asked for, yet really really like. It's a little thing, but it means that he was thinking of me while shopping. Sure I wish he'd surprise me with a grand gesture, but that's not his style. He thinks, "I be Shannon would really like some _____" and he picks it up.

Know that even if they don't do what we would want to have done for us that they still do love us.

4:30

That's what time my darling husband came to bed "last night." He chalked it up to too much Coca-cola, but when you are still drinking the stuff at 10:30 at night...he should know when to say when. I will have to get a coffee today I am sure. I'm down to the decaf I'd gotten for my Dad when they were here for Xmas. That ain't going to cut it today!! Especially because I have an order that came in yesterday that I have to get put away. I started yesterday, but was wearing a wool sweater and started to overheat. Today I have dressed in layers so that won't be an issue.

Just so you all don't think that I am married to the biggest bum on the face of the earth, he has been applying for work with various employers. It's just I don't like to write about it all that much. I want to wait until he's got a job to write anything.

Had a fabulous girls day on Sunday with two women I have met since moving here. Naomi and Marcy are so damn funny!! I really can't tell you all how wonderful it is to have met some bright women since moving here. I love knowing that Jill and Chaz (both whom I've known a long time) are only a phone call away. But it's nice meeting new people that I really click with. Both Naomi and Marcy have met Jill (not Chaz yet) and really like her, as she does them.

We are going to Marcy and Chucks for the Super Bowl, which I honestly wanted to boycott this year due to the ad from Moveon.org not being shown, but it's more than watching (because who really watches?). It's a social event, getting together with friends...etc. Plus Auntie Marcy said that Josie could come along!!! I am thrilled that I can take her with us because I can focus my attentions on her and not the game.

Okay, that should satisfy you all for a while. :)

really, look at this

This is something my sister alerted me to. If the only thing you do is watch it that is good enough for me. If you feel compelled to email CBS even better. Over 250,000 people have emailed in the four days it's been on Moveon.org's site. Be one of those.

If you don't agree, that's fine, but this is my blog and I post things I believe in. It is a crime what CBS is doing and we as a people need to make them hear our voice.

Okay, off the soap box now...

top ten ways to...

...get rid of or ignore one boring bus buddy.

10. Stare blankly out into space while interjecting a few words here and there.*

9. Leave one headphone in the ear that is furthest from him and just nod along with things he says.

8. Talk nonstop about your pets to the point that you sound manic and you see sweat start beading up on his head.*

7. Ask him what book he's reading and then ask him if you can see it, throw it out the window.

6. When he calls his wife make comments like, "hang up the phone baby, you don't want to talk to her."

5. Pray that another more interesting friend gets on the bus at the same time as you so that you may sit with them.

4. When that friend DOES ride with you have such odd conversations that it makes your "buddy" nervous to the point of squirming and ask if he is scared.* (you must clue the friend in on the situation, they are more likely to go along with your plan then)

3. Carry a ton of extra bags (filled with tissue paper but act as though they weigh a ton) and shrug at him saying that you'll have to sit somewhere else with all your packages tonight.

2. Get on the bus with your headset on, and DON'T take it off when you sit down.

1. Look at him square in the eye and tell him it's over that you can no longer make the attempt to find him interesting anymore.

*things I have attempted but didn't work. Anyone have any ideas? If they are good, I'll share them with the blog group...

school of ROCK!!!

Kev and I had a date last night. Yes, with each other! We went to a local theater called the Bagdad (it serves beer and pizza, nice combo for movie watching). We saw The School of Rock. It was a funny movie. Jack Black makes me giggle, although not as much as the guy sitting behind us who laughed at just about every non funny moment of the movie as well as the really funny. And his laugh wasn't a funny laugh...

Today I have a busy day at work scheduled. I am not sure if there will be a ton of customers, but I have things to organize and reprice. I hope to be a bit busier, customer wise, than yesterday. Although we did get 13 cartons of shoes (144 pairs to be exact) delivered yesterday. So Ahmed and I busted our butts and got it all put away. He and I truly make a damn good team! I was telling Kev that Ahmed started telling me "the plan" of how we were going to tackle all the boxes and I finished telling him. We don't even have to speak half the time.

Tomorrow I have a packed day as well. I am meeting Ahmed's friend who loaned us the laptop so we can tweek it a little bit. Then I have a hair appointment...ahhhh. Then I am picking up Marcy and Naomi (two fab girls I have met since living here who I don't believe I never knew) and we are having a girls afternoon. Lunch and a movie.

I will spend time with the fam too (Kev and the furkids), but that will probably be after the movie and much on Monday. I am hoping the weather cooperates so that we can take Josie to the great dog park. I want to try to get pictures of her out there.

Okay, latte is once again getting cold. And nobody should have to drink a cold latte!!

shoe heaven

I met with my favorite rep last night from one of the lines we carry. Ahmed and I spent roughly an hour looking at the styles for next fall. Some were very cute while I thought others lacked. We will order a little bit of everything, and a ton of others.

Missed AI last night, oh well. I did get to see Sam get fired on The Apprentice (wahhaaaahaaaahaaaaaaa). He was nuts.

I am tired and cannot think. Kev came to bed late, I think Josie started barking around that time too, and then Simon is gonig to drive to me to distraction with the constant knocking things over and pulling my hair as he walks across my pillow in the morning. I love the cat, but something has to stop. I think what really gets me is that after he eats he usually climbs back in bed with Kev and snuggles up until who knows. I just want to sleep until I can no longer...I guess that is what the weekends are for, but I find myself getting woken up by them then too. I tried to convince Kev that since I wake up early every other morning during the week he should get up and feed them Sunday and Monday so I can have a lie in. We'll see what he does this weekend.

Having a girls weekend with Naomi and Marcy. We are going to go see a silly movie and have dinner afterwards. I am also getting my hair cut on Sunday too. It should prove to be a nice day overall.

Okay, must get to the rituals of getting ready for work.

Keep sending job stuff you find for Kev!! Everything helps.

i think my head will explode!!

We are gluttons, we are once again getting sucked into the beast that is American Idol. Boy there are some sad people out there who think they are (to use a way outdated phrase) all that and a bag of chips. It is an evening of covering our ears, covering Josie and Simon's ears (Chloe is the only smart one in the family as she is sleeping in the kitchen on her chair), and just feeling all around uncomfortable at times. Yet, we still tune in and watch the damn show.

But now onto better things...

Sunday and Monday were fun. We took Josie to a huge dog park that is only about 20 minutes away. It's 2.5 acres all fenced in so that the dogs can run and play with each other as their owners, I use the term loosly, can stand around and chat or walk the perimeter of the park. She had a good time, although she didn't bond with any of the other dogs (except the little corgi that was orange and waddled like Simon). I think she actually thought the corgi was Simon for a minute. It was quite cute really. She growls at other dogs but not the corgi. She just wanted to play with him.

Today at work was fast. I had much paperwork to get caught up with and my inventory is updated on my computer.

Well, the singers keep getting worse and worse, I must go!!!

why is it...

...that when you are in the shower or otherwise indisposed you have the best ideas come to you only to forget them by the time you get to a piece of paper and a pen?

...that when you are trying to eat healthy everyone around you keeps saying things like "oh, one little _____ won't hurt you?"

...that Simon won't let me sleep past 6:30 (when he now starts waking me up)?

...that Josie's bed has magic powers and as soon as she sits down in it she is down for the count?

...that when I am at work my cell phone rings but rarely rings when I am off?

...that when I am having a cruddy day at work my favorite customers all come in and make it better?

...that I can talk for hours with strangers about what funny and interesting things my animals have done?

...that coffee tastes the best in the morning?

...that when we are motivated there is nothing that can stop us, but once that motivation is gone you couldn't get us to do squat? (the universal we)

...that I always have to be nice? (I know, it's in my nature!)

it's my thursday

So, as my work week is Tues-Sat today is only my Thursday. Not bad though, the week has gone by rather quickly.

Yesterday the electrician came around and fiddled with things in our breaker box, tightened this fixed that and sadly the flicker has not left the building. He suggested that if what he has done has not fixed it that our next step is to call PGE (our provider). Kev was supposed to yesterday, but I don't think he did. I will leave him a note to do so today. Robert (the electrician) said that if it did turn out to be PGE's problem that we can send them the bill for what we had done. I'd love that!!!

My work has a laptop now! It is basically my inventory, photoshop, and what I will create (a data base of our customers so that we know what they buy so when they come in wanting more yet can't remember the names of the styles we have them listed). First things first though. I have one style listed in the inventory and want to learn how to add pages so I can do the entire line from Dansko and then add the other brands. It will take time, but I love having it! It travels with me to and from work everyday, but it is heavy!!! I need to take some extra empty discs in today so that I may load some pictures on it for the ad I have to come up with for a flier for two of Ahmed's kids taekwondo (sp)competition.

Well, my latte is getting cold and my egg sandwich is getting soggy.

my dog the burper

So, every morning my dear little Josie consumes her food in about a minute. After I give her her food I will go to the computer to check the weather, email, etc. She will come to the cave and sit down next to me when she is done, wanting to be pat and loved on. The very first time she did this (when we first got her) I noticed that, well, I burped her. Every morning now she comes to be burped!! Kev said he gave it a try last night after she ate her supper and was stunned by the fact that he did in fact burp her! She gets a funny little look on her face when she burps. Kind of a thank you look. Maybe this is why she is so calm, she doesn't have gas?!

Well, that's all I can muster up this morning. I have eaten a bowl of cereal, but I think I will have a piece of toast as well. Trying to get that balanced meal in...

Caio!

Making my Daddy proud!

Well, I finally called an electrician. Our house has felt like a disco lately, lights (every one in the house) flickering for a couple months now. Some days are better than others, and then there are days where the power has cut out and reset clocks and our dvd/transformer. We decided we should call the man who did the inspection on the house, Paul, since he did a great job with the inspection. Plus he said if there was ever anything we needed we should call. I called and they led me to Doug. I called and have an appointment set up for them to come look at everything on Thursday!!! Dad, I told you we would take care of it!!! I am quite proud of myself really.

It has also been a day of purging. I went through my closet and got rid of things that don't fit anymore, are not in the regular rotation, or are just old and worn looking. I rearranged the room, moved the bed and what not, and then had Kev go through his drawers. It feels great!!! Our friends are going to come for dinner tonight and Marcy is going to go through the bags to see if there is anything she or her sister would use. Nothing that is worn out is there, that usually gets tossed. I have pulled a few things that I know she would like, but I figured she might want to look through the other bags too. I even got rid of shoes!!! Big thing for me to purge. Four pairs are gone.

Well, I must go figure out what I am making with the lasagna tonight.

fat and sassy!!

We just finished up with dinner, Penne pasta with alfredo sauce. YUM! We pulled Josie's bed to the cave so she could lay down with us instead of being back in the bedroom alone. Well, usually we have to push her nose out of our trays as we eat until she lies down and leaves us alone. This time, she didn't even get up, slept in her bed the entire time we ate. I gave her love and kisses and praise for leaving us alone.

Today was the second time I went to the Gresham, Oregon PetCo to help with Second Chance Companions. We had five big dogs and two puppies. Two of the dogs had much interest made in them, one even was getting a house visit as we were closing up for the day. I hope that Silence (she's the one on the visit) gets a forever home!! The couple had been there last month with their dog getting things and the woman fell for Si. Today they were back and as soon as I saw the man I knew he was Toby's daddy! I asked, "you're Toby's dad, right?" Everyone was quite surprised that I remembered his dogs name, but that is just how I am! They took her home and I have an email out to Karen (who fosters many of the dogs) wanting to know how it went.

I am sure my family thinks I have completely lost my mind with the whole dog thing, but it's just so wonderful having Josie as a member of the family.

Tomorrow we have a few things to do, like calling an electrician to come out and help us figure out what is going on with the lights. The entire house flickers. Sometimes it is horrible while other times it doesn't do it at all.

Simpsons are on so I am out!

ahhh saturday!

well, my work week is almost over. tee hee. should i feel silly saying that? especially since it was exactly (including today) two days and 4.5 hours long? i could get used to really short weeks. actually i am looking forward to life returning to normal, but for me that would be a bit more than the weather calming down so i could get to work for my full week. kev would be back in the work force and hopefully by next week he will be getting an offer from a place. but again, as i have said in the past, i don't want to jynx it so i shall stop writing about it.

it stayed above freezing here last night so more and more of the ice and "snow" have melted overnight!! it's supposed to get to roughly 45 today!!

boy, i feel as though i am a bit boring this morning. maybe it is because instead of the alarm i woke to one orange cat working solo this morning. simon did his best to wake me and i did my best to be quiet enough for josie to not hear me and get me with that nose!! actually i should thank my little furry alarm clock because the power went out about 2.5 hours before my alarm was supposed to be and when i looked at the clock when simon started his routine it was flashing.

well, i have to go get ready for work. we are hoping kev can get the car out of the ice and snow today so he can do some grocery shopping and we can really get our lives mobile again...keep your fingers crossed.

okay, last little addition to this...i am watching the news, thankfully it is back on regular news rather than "storm watch" still. after this storm we have heard that there is the potential for floods, if the ice and "snow" melt fast enough. well, on the news the guy is standing at a home depot where they are "selling sand bags for just 12 cents a peice and i've been told that in just a little while a large dump truck of sand will be here and that will be free for the taking." i just get the feeling of overreaction, i don't know...

i made it!

The bus ride this morning was rather uneventful (the way I like them), but the one home was a bit nerve racking. The buses all have chains on their rear tires to give them better traction, well there were several times that they didn't really do much as we were trying to assend a couple of smallish hills. And then one slipped and was just flapping in the breeze (very loudly smacking into the bus with each rotation of the wheel). I told the driver that I appreciated his job and him for doing it.

Got the coolest email ever today! Made me feel very cool indeed. A woman in London reads my blog and thought she'd send me an email telling me that she has been enjoying it. So, a shout out to Wendy in the UK!!

Now, if only some of my friends here in the states would let me know (other than Kerri and my family) what they think...oh pipe dreams.

I am home in the warmth of my house and need sustenance from a short day at work (I think I was there a whole 4.5 hours today).

Hey, let me know how you found my blog (if you aren't a friend who I emailed begging to read it). Address is at the top.

prayers

Well, I am supposed to be going in to work today. I have not spoken to Ahmed yet this morning, but yesterday he was set on opening the shop. I guess 0-3 people in? I am a bit nervous about getting on the bus today (both ways). The major street we live off of has not even been plowed. This city is not prepared for what nature has handed it. Personally, I think they should have plans set for these types of weather events. This city does not use salt (which would have the snow and ice melted on all the streets) they use sand (which sort of slides around on top of the ice making it slicker). The local news channels have been reporting on it non-stop, just about 24 hours straight, for the past few days. It's getting old. Yes, it's cold, it's snowy and icy, WE KNOW!!! All we need are the regular weather updates we get throughout the day. I understand wanting to beef it up a bit in the morning as people are deciding if they are heading to work or not, but ALL DAY of reports on the weather!?!?

So, I need your prayers as I make my treck into the city (assuming Ahmed is still going to make me go in). I will call him to verify that he does still want me there, but I'm sure he will.

More later...

figured it out

So, not only was blogger being funny for me but now I have figured out the photo mystery. I guess that the host I was using no longer allows people to link their photos in such things as blogs, emails, etc. As Kev said while leaving the room, WHAT'S THE POINT OF IT THEN!?!?

The link to the geocities site is this. If that doesn't work cut and copy this link to your address bar... http://www.geocities.com/chlortence/shanspage.html

You will be able to see pictures I have posted there.

bah!~

blogger is acting up

So the post with my geocities site (if you all can see it) isn't supposed to be there anymore. I deleted it yesterday and it still is there when I check the blog. I have started a web "page" through geocities, but I may be finding another host because their template is really hard to use (maybe they make it hard for you when it is free but when you pay it gets way easier!!?

We have day two of snow and ice, which makes me think that I will be getting another snow day. Although I am going to wait until 8:30 and then I will call Ahmed and find out if I'm supposed to go in...can we say doubtful. The mall that is only a few blocks away has closed. I can't see us being open if the mall is closed.

If that is the case and I am staying home once more I think I want to try to use my time better. Maybe do a little vacuuming, finish up the laundry, dust, etc. I did read The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood yesteray. I love that book. I have never seen the movie, nor do I think I will. I like the way the scenes play out in my mind and would be sad to see them do it wrong. :)

Okay, going to go eat some breakfast and get a latte (I drink them even when they are decaf!!).

Maybe I'll post later. I am going to poke around online for more photo sites to use. Since you all probably can't see my photos anymore.

Bu-bye

snow day!!!

I just got off the phone with Ahmed who says when he answers, "are you on your way to work?" I simply laugh and tell him that I am calling to get his verdict. He then says that I should go in...to which I reply, "what did you say? I get a snow day?!" And he laughs saying that is exactly what he said.

Josie has been out twice, although she was not so thrilled the first time out. But seeing as she only did #2 at that time and it'd been since the night before that she did #1 I knew that when she was smelling around the house it was time to go potty. Actually if you ask her if she has to go potty she will get excited and give you a look that says yes.

Joy, I know you are all excited about the intricate details of my dog's potty situation...

I am still not sure why the photos are acting goofy, I checked and could open one more of the three I posted, but the third is still acting stoopid. I am going to go put on my flannel pants!!

about the pics

I guess I only get 5mgb a day (I swear I have uploaded more than one picture at a time before). Kev says for you all to keep checking back, something about people downloading or whatever...

keep trying!! They are worth it.

dog bed

Well, yesterday we decided we needed to get Josie a bed. She was trying to use the sofa for a little while, and we knew we needed to nip that one in the bud. So, we went to CostCo and got her a bed. She does get to use it.

We also went to our friends house to have a play date with Edgar. The seemed to have a good time, what do you think?

It is soooo cold here today. I think it is only in the 20s!! It's like we are back in Kansas. I am guessing that the only reason we go outside today is to let the dog out, take out the trash and recycling and bring the bins back in once the trash is collected. I took Josie out once, and the trash to the curb, it's Kev's turn to take her out again and bring in the bins!!

I have laundry going and tlc on the tv. I think I may go make another latte!!

Peace out!

quick addition

My friend Kerri sent me this. I have signed, will you?

why?

It is Sunday, which is like my Saturday. It is 7:28 in the morning. I am awake. I'm not sure how I came to be except all I remember is having a dream I was drinking orange soda in the back seat of our car with our former neighbor Kerri, Kevin was driving and I'm not sure who was in the passenger seat. Then I realized I had to pee (in the dream which always is an indication you have to in real life). Before I could get up on my own though I had a cat jump onto my dresser and play with something that I was sure I'd hidden so he could not play with it. I stood up, tossed him down and laid back down. Now I knew that when I got up I would surly have to feed our menagerie. Then that same cat decided to jump on the bed, which is something you feel since he weighs approx. 16lbs. He walked across my pillow, pulling my hair and then went and curled up with Kev. This is not the norm and I thought to myself, "wow, I am getting a moments peace from the critters on what is my Saturday morning." But then the pesky bladder reared it's head again and I knew I couldn't stay in my warm cozy bed any longer. As soon as I stood up the critters all came to life. Josie, with her cold wet nose, excited that I am awake is just a ball of waggingness (yes, I make up words when awake at 7:30 in the morning on my day off). Her entire body wags when she is excited. She's always excited in the morning. Simon jumps down from the bed with an audible thud as he lands and a little tiny meow, so small for such a large cat. I feed the beasts, use the loo, and go back to bed. Josie finishs her breakfast in her usual breakneck speed and I can hear the clicking of her nails as she makes her way to the computer (that is usually where I am after I feed her during my work week). Realizing I am not there she makes her way to the back of the house and peaks in the sewing room, although I should really let myself call it the cats' room. She looks around in there, because there are so many places I could hide...yeah right, and then she sees me in bed. I know I have to get up again to let her outside so she can do her business. I grab my robe, because when I was feeding them I noticed there was an ever so light dusting of what the people here would call snow. I lay down the ground rules "we are going out, you are doing your peep and/or poop and we are inside fast." She follows them. She is a good dog. So, why, you ask am I still awake? Because my body won't let me go back to bed. Now that the critters are all fed they are back in their respective beds I am wide awake. My eyes just pop back open. I have heard that you should get up when your body tells you, and if it is 7:10 in the morning on your day off, so be it. We have a play date set up with our friends and their dog Edgar later. I hope Josie gets as excited as I am.

Maybe I'll go lie down on the couch and check my eyelids for light leaks.

and the winner is...

me!! I was 100% correct, we got zero snow last night!! I figured that we wouldn't, I'd hoped we would, but knew that it was not in our forcast (even though the forcasters forcast that forcast).

I am getting ready for work, although today is a bit different than normal days. I have new student orientation at the culinary school up the road from the store. We go ever 6 weeks to show the "kids" what they should wear on their feet. Some walk on by and think that they would never be caught dead in clogs, while others ask questions and stop by the shop later. This is my second orientation. I have everything ready at the shop and Kevin will have to wake up early to take me. Which he should have remembered as he was drinking his beer and staying up until 2:30/3? I did remind him that he was getting up early when he came to bed (although I'm sad that I was wakened so I could remind him).

So, my latte is getting cold and as much as I love updating the blog I love warm coffee even more. So that is that. Chaio!

bored bored bored

Thought I would do some stocking of shelves at work, but I have run out of energy. So instead I update the blog for the second time in one day!!! The weatherman is calling for more snow tonight and into tomorrow. I don't see it happening, just because he is calling for it. Since they didn't see this front coming through (the one that dumped a fair amount of the white stuff on us yesterday) I am not sure I trust what they say. :)

I am trying to think of anything I have not told you all, my dear readers.

Nothing is coming to mind at the moment. And I am expecting a friend to drop by the store anytime now. She is in from Urbana, IL. We are sad that she is not here anymore and we are plotting ways to make her come back here. She says it is the plan, but not until she is finished with Grad school, in 3.5 years!!! Well, the woman does have to do what she has to do.

Linsel just walked in (a friend)...so latah!!

let it snow

you know how the rest of the song goes. it was a winter wonderland yesterday! the entire city pretty much shut down (although it was already since it was new years day). i had been hoping for more of the white stuff overnight, but no such luck. i had visions of ahmed calling me and telling me that i needent come in. oh well, such is life.

happy new year! i hope everyone was safe this year. we ended up going to dinner, out for one drink and then over to jill and mark's to ring in the new year. at about 12:07 we hit the road. when we got home the cats were both alive and some of our things were scattered in the living room. it's funny, josie has not yet destroyed anything (the clogs are not destroyed, only altered) she just pulls things to the floor.

the girl came in right after 5 so i could leave a little early (yea!!!). by the time mark had showered though all we had time for was catching the street car and heading for sushi. i did manage to have a drink with my friend tanya who is visiting from urbana, il.

and then the snow came. and it was snow!! none of the crunchy white stuff that we have had years past, but full on snow. great packing snow! we played and played with josie (who adores the snow) and of course didn't get any pictures. we took the camera, kev just forgot to take any.

well, the shower is calling and i must get a latte in me before heading out to work today. maybe he'll tell me to close early...(wishful thinking)