Almost Never a Dull Moment

Back in the Saddle again!

2010-10-27T13:48:00.002-04:00

Click the above picture to go to my website!

Did it!

2009-04-14T16:30:00.000-04:00

I've created my craft only blog! Check it out here!

Really funny or just in my head?

2009-04-13T17:37:00.002-04:00

I've been contemplating compling some stories of the kids as they get older that seem to be funny. I think that I'd have to hone my writing skills some, but these kids of mine (jackson mainly at this point) are hilarious.

For example: Last week, sitting on the couch with his daddy he starts "letting 'em fly" like a man. Then he laughs like it's the funniest thing ever. I ask him, "jackson where did you learn that." Not missing a beat, he looks at me and says, "daddy toot."

He always has something!

Update....

2009-03-10T14:16:00.002-04:00

Things, per normal, are never dull around here.

Looking for a new job....again. The previous one didn't work out. It was actually a blessing in many ways. I do have 2 interviews tomorrow though. One is a second interview with a company and the other is a phone interview.

Jackson turned 2 on Sunday. I can't hardly believe it's true!! I need to put some recent photos up. I have done so recently on Facebook though.

After many discussions with Dan, I am going back to Mary Kay for at least a little bit. I already have a new team member, so that is exciting!!

I hope to post more and be better at keeping up!

I am contemplating a craft only blog of mine as well though. I've gotten into making dresses for Kymberlin as well as scrapping of course.

Just when you think it can't get any worse....

2008-11-03T17:31:00.003-05:00

...the light at the end of the tunnel becomes VERY bright!

Last week was a whirlwind of emotions....again. However, the emotions were good ones! Monday morning I had a family appointment. That went way better (and easier) than I could have expected. Jackson and I had to have some blood work done. I was asked who I wanted to go first. So I said I would so that I could hold Jackson and not have to worry about trying toget my blood done. When it came time for Jackson's turn, he just looked at her while she did that with an expression that said, "well isn't that interesting." No face, no tears nothing. Boy was I impressed.

Tuesday morning at 10 I had an intereview at The Kidz Club. I thought it went really well. We talked for over an hour. I felt extremly confident at the end of it all. Then it was just the waiting part.

Wednesday morning at 9:25 I receieved a call offering me the ONLY teaching position at The Kidz Club. I of course accepted. Orientation is Nov 19-21. Nothing the next week which is Thanksgiving week and then our first day the center will be open is Dec. 1. It is currently under construction and we are told that it will be completed by the 17th. We shall see.

Thursday, Dan came home with a small bonus. The gross was smaller than last year's net, but hey, none the less a bonus that we weren't expecting to get at all.

Saturday was my "day off." I went and scrapbooked all day while dan took care of the kids. It was wonderful!!

All in all we had a great week! Things are finally falling into place.

Pictures of the apple orchard and Halloween to come in the near future.

30.

2008-10-21T07:41:00.002-04:00

Today is my wonderful husband's 30th birthday!

I think I'm having a much harder time with it than he is. 30 is very scary for me! I think I'll just stop at 29. Tell everyone no cards, no gifts, no cake nothing after 29.

Anyway....while it's not much I do have a few things planned. The kids and I each got him a little gift. (well, mommy helped Jackson and Kymberlin pick something out). I got the majority of chores done yesterday so I can focus on a few more things today to prepare for when he comes home. I'm not talking any major decorations or anything, but having dinner ready when he gets home (that's a REAL treat!) and an apple pie in the oven.

Yup, I'm going to make an apple pie today. We'll see how that goes.

In other news, I do have a little light at the end of the tunnel on the jobfront hopefully. I had a phone interview yesterday for a pt job and then afterwards got another call as to when would be a good time for the owner of a company to call me and set up an interview.

Jobless in the world today just doesn't work.

2008-10-13T05:01:00.003-04:00

Whew. Where to start.

So the whole checking back for changes...yeah that's kind of been put on hold.

Life around here has been interesting. I had a second interview with a job last week that I was for sure was mine. Friday afternoon....not so good. Got the call with the typical, "We really liked you. You interview great, but we're giving the job to someone else. I know you'll find something. Can I keep your information for if things change?"

I know you'll find something....No, you don't. I don't think this person realized how long I've been looking. I've been looking and keeping my eyes out since I started the job I hated at the hospital. I've been activly looking since the end of August/beginning of September.

Between the economy and me not having a job, there are many nights around here where I wish I could just sleep for a little bit to forget about it all, but I can't. (hence the reason I'm posting at 5 am).

We're at the point of looking in different states and comparing living costs vs. salaries to see if even moving would help at all.

It seems to be that if I were an accountant, engineer or a nurse I could have my pick of jobs in my pick of loactions. However, I'm not one of those things. What it comes down to is that I'm either over qualified because I graduated High School and no one wants to pay more than minimum wage, or I'm under qualified beacuse I don't have a masters.

Prayer, that's all I can do....when I'm able.

Depression has really started to kick in as even though my head knows it's not my fault, I can't help but feel like it is. I'm really trying not to take it out on the family, but I'm not perfect by any definition of the word. I just don't want to loose what we've worked so hard to gain.

...and it looks as if that's a possibility.

Facelift...

2008-09-30T14:47:00.003-04:00

For those that stop by often, I'm giving my little place a facelift. It's about time really!

I'll add some more pictures of the kiddos....change some other things around, and make it a little more "me". So check back as since I don't have a job and I'm getting bored during nap time, it should change quite a bit.

Stay Away from Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington, KY...

2008-09-26T20:03:00.003-04:00

and here's the letter I sent to them as to why:

"It is a shame that Central Baptist doesn't care about the well-being of its patients. Today I put a check in the mail of a small amount towards my bill. I happened to receive a call today as well from your company that is contracted to do billing. I informed them that I put a check in the mail this morning. When asked how much it was for, I was informed that it wasn't enough and that my account would still go to collections because I was "under the limit" of what could be accepted. It's not really my fault that due to FMLA I lost my job after I was in your hospital. I filled out financial assistance, but was told when I called that it couldn't be redone to figure in the fact that I now had no job and my bill was my bill. Any other hospital in the area at least lets a payment be a payment regardless of the size and keeps the bill out of collections. I know this as the job I lost was in the financial area of one of the aforementioned hospitals.

So now, here is a patient with a brand new baby, lost her job and is barely scraping by on the income her husband has and it doesn't matter. I can't pay what you want me to when you want me to so you'll send my bill to collections to further hurt my well-being (credit) in the future.

We don't qualify for government help because we make too much, but we can't pay our bills because we don't make enough.

I will be passing on the information of my treatment in these regards to any and everyone I know. Our family will no longer be using the facility which is a shame as there are several staff members who do everything they can to make your stay as comfortable as it can be while you are there. Unfortunately, they don't know the company that they really work for."

You need to know how they really feel about their patients....they don't feel anything.

New LO and a suprise!

2008-09-19T11:37:00.002-04:00

I just finished this LO this morning! I'm pretty proud of it. Not very complicated, but one more done for our Disney Vacation 2007 album.

And for the surprise!

I went to open the door to let Jackson out of his room from his nap and he was standing there STARK naked! I was totally shocked. I asked him where his diaper was and he pointed over to his bed and then went and got it.....Time to start potty training maybe?!

Free Wii for Dan.

2008-09-18T10:22:00.003-04:00

Ok guys....

Dan has been a saint with everything I put him through! I'm trying to get a Wii for him. You know, his 30th Birthday is just over a month away. If yall could please just fill out one offer on the following link I'd be thrilled.

By the way, once you do so, you'll be given a reference number yourself to work on getting one for free!

Thanks so much I appreciate it!!

Click here to help get Dan a Wii for his birthday.

An update of sorts...

2008-09-12T02:32:00.002-04:00

Well, yes, she came home when we thought she would! My has it been a transition to have 2 small children 17 months apart. It's been great though.

Kymberlin is doing extremly well. Her dr. is VERY pleased with her growth. As of Monday she was up to 8 lbs and 10 oz. That is a growth of 15 oz. in 10 days!

I'll have more pictures to come later.

In other news:
I've been meaning to put this out there for a while. I have 3 sites that offer free things. The free offers are gift cards, savings bonds and pictures. The only thing you pay on any of them is dirt cheap shipping on the pictures. If you'd like me to send you the link for any or all of the three make a comment with your email address in it please! (If you don't want your email posted, please let me know in your comment as I moderate all comments)

Ok, so my real other news.....don't get sick if you work for a hospital! Reader's Digest version: I don't qualify for FMLA. Because I was on bedrest for 2 months before Kymberlin was born plus what would be the 6 weeks after, I no longer have a job.

Don't fret, we have found something that we are trying out to see if we can handle it as a family and I can stay home!

Ok, it's late and I really need to try and get some sleep!

It's ALMOST like having a 2nd child.

2008-08-22T06:51:00.003-04:00

Jackson became a big brother Wednesday August 13th at 15:07. He had a little sister named Kymberlin Opal. She weighed 7 lbs 7 oz ( a small baby for me) and is 20 inches long.

We ALMOST have a 2nd child as she's been hanging out in the NICU since she was born. My darling daghter thought it might be fun to gulp amneotic fluid as she was being taken out by the doctors. That became a problem with her lungs which also brought on some reflux leading to a few small heart rate drops.

I had no clue of what was going on until my pediatrician called me while I was in recovery letting me know that he couldn't get there right away and that one of the neonatologists would be checking her. To be completly honest, I still really had no idea until the doctor came up to my room about 8pm that night as to what was happening to my daughter.

So it's ALMOST like having a 2nd child. I have the pain pills and second beginnings of a scar to prove I birthed a child. I have all of those things that they DON'T tell you that happens after childbirth, but I won't go into the yucky details. Somehow, I just don't have a child at home and I'm sleeping through the night.

Kymberlin is expected to come home Monday. I can't wait!! She'll be sleeping on a wedge for a little bit longer to help with the reflux/heart issue, but she'll be home. I'm excited to see how her big brother reacts as the only time he has seen her is when daddy carried her out of the OR.

Monday will be just as special as last Wednesday was for me. It will be an emoitional day I'm sure.

5 Days!!!

2008-08-08T09:40:00.003-04:00

Whew...it's almost here! In less than a week I will have 2 children! I can hardly beleive it.

It's much different this time. While we are totally excited to be parents again, there's not the anxiouness that there was with Jackson. I'm sure part of it is because there is a scheduled section too. That helps.

I really think Jackson is going to do pretty well with the transition to being a big brother. I'm excited to see his reaction when he comes to the hospital with Grammie and Papa.

In other nrews, I need to get a card done (TODAY) to submit for the Cricut Demonstrator. I'm not a big card maker, so I've been stressing about it. I really just need to get it done and over with.

Once it's done and submitted I will post it here for everyone to see!

Hurry up!!! Post!!

2008-07-24T06:41:00.002-04:00

Heh...well, I'm totally slacking in the posting arena. Good thing that since I said twice a week I still have more than 2 days left in this week.

Not a whole lot on the bedrest front. Go back to the dr. today to make sure everything is still fine and see how big this kiddo is getting. I may have to take a detour to M's and/or HL. I'm also tossing around the idea of running into FFT and stopping at Memories Ala Mode. That'll really depend on timing and how I feel though.

Besides, I need to get home and pick up a little bit as the in-laws are coming into town with my boy!!! I can't wait to see him! It seems as if he grows a foot each week that he's gone....and this time it's been 2 weeks.

We're down to 19 days!! It's going to be no time whatsoever. So far, yet so close. I can't wait though! Not to mention, I know Jackson is going to be a GREAT big brother.

Most Recent LO

2008-07-17T16:05:00.003-04:00

I had a heck of a time trying to get this loaded. My old scanner had a stitch program with it...apparently this one does not. So I had to try and find one that was free and didn't put a watermark across the finished product. FINALLY I found one. It's called Auto stitch. So far, so good...pretty easy to use.

So without any further adieu, here is the newest LO I created for Lasting Legacy.

Keep up!

2008-07-14T08:32:00.002-04:00

You'd think being on bedrest would make it extremly easy to stay on top of my blog. HA! fooled you...okay, well I probably didn't fool you, but I REALLY want to be better about keeping up. Posting once a month, if that, isn't really worth it. So my goal is to post twice a week. We'll see how long that lasts.

I want to be able to share my life with friends and family. I want to share my scrapping as well. With our new computer, I shold be able to do a better job about being able to share current pictures, creative endevours and life in gerneral as it goes here.

My baby turned 16 mos. almost a week ago. I can't beleive it. His Aunt Neen works for Portrait Innovations in Crestview Hills. Since Grandma had him this past week, she took him down to visit Aunt Neen. His pictures are AMAZING!!! I was so shocked to see them.

Here are the ones they got printed:

To view the rest, click HERE.

So that's what's going on for now. The doctors are VERY happy with how Jumping Bean is growing. I'll head back towards the end of the month to make sure everything is still good.

Bedrest

2008-06-28T17:30:00.002-04:00

So I've really had intentions on keeping up better with my blog. Maybe I can now since I've been put on bedrest.

I'm going to go on full maternity leave as well. The dr. keeps saying we'll see in 2 weeks if I can go back to work. Well, there are only so many 2 weeks left before the baby is going to be here.

I have a section scheduled for Aug. 13th. We are so excited!!! It's just in time for all the weddings of our friends and family as well!!

I'm going to try and be better about updating.... and finding a focus for the blog. I need to make myself a schedule for writing.

It's been a while...

2008-05-19T21:20:00.002-04:00

Okay. So it's been more than a while. A lot has changed since I've been here last. Not really on the outside, but looking inward. Looking at myself as a woman, a wife, and a mom. Doing those things on my own, with friends I can trust, with my husband, but most importantly with God in the center of it all.

I've wanted to write for sometime now, but nothing has seemed right to put out there. I've been drawing bounderies..lots of them. Some new, some just needed to be reconstructed. Life has seemed to be better now that it has been started.

Family life is wonderful. For those few that don't know, we are adding to our family at the end of August. Once again we are waiting on the sex...and not really sharing names.

There really has been a lot going on in the past 5-6 mos. However, like I mentioned before, most of it really hasn't had the necessity to be shared as we were working through some things as individuals and a couple.

I hope to keep up blogging...at least once a week anyway. No promises though.

OK.....here's the deal.

2007-12-11T12:50:00.000-05:00

It's not that I'm upset about her getting married. Really, I'm happy for mom if that's what she wants. My problem is the phone call. I mean, why couldn't she tell us? She would have killed me if I called her one day and said, mom dan and I got married. Or mom, Jackson has a new sibling. It just doesn't make any sense.

Whew....what a day yesterday was.

2007-12-11T09:07:00.000-05:00

Jackson had a check up....that meant the weather was crappy. It seems like it is always raining the day he goes in. Anyway, I can't believe he's 9 months old already. He did great. Only one shot; the first half of his flu shot. He's 29 1/2 inches long and 21.02 pounds.

So I think it's going to be a normal afternoon. We get home and there is actually some good stuff in the mail!!! YAY!! Including a gift card for dinner.

So we went to Applebee's. Then we finished Christmas shopping. Yes, I said finished. Well, almost. I have to get some pictures printed for a couple things, but then they are done.

We come home and I had forgotten my phone. Mom called and left a voicemail. She sounded devious. When I called her back, I found out why.

She informed me that she had gotten married. WTH?! You just randomly go and get married. What's that all about? So I asked if Janine knew and Aaron (his son) and grandma and grandpa. Well, our family had gotten the same phone calls that I had just received. Aaron on the other hand knew they were getting married, but didn't know when. So why couldn't we know?? AHHH!

I just don't get it sometimes.

Wow....It's Thursday.

2007-12-06T08:45:00.000-05:00

An update in regards to my miscarriage.

The dr. finally called Friday morning. It felt like it was never going to happen. The news was that I had passed everything naturally. So, in this bad event, that was the best news I could have received.

Needless to say, it has been an emotional week. Dan and I had a come to Jesus meeting to fix somethings that had been let go on both of our sides. We really saw how each other was feeling about certain things. So that's good.

It's cold....too cold. It's weeks like this that I wish I could winter in Florida with grandma and grandpa.

So it's December 6. Christmas is almost here and I'm not sure I'm ready for it. Well, I know I'm not ready for it. I'm not ready for some of the family drama. However, I'm going to be the bigger person. We're going to Cincinnati. AND staying at my dad's. So prayers would be appreciated. :)

Get ahold of me....if you can.

2007-11-30T09:08:00.000-05:00

I know I've been rather difficult to call lately. My phone has either been off or just plain unanswered. We've been dealing with something that is so hard....emotionally and physically.

It's kind of ironic that my last post is what it was. Especially on that day too. Why?

It was that afternoon that I learned I was miscarrying. again.

Yesterday afternoon was spent at the hospital/dr office having an ultrasound to make sure that everything had cleared as well as doing bloodwork to try and rule out the possibility of an egtopic pregnancy. I find out today what some of the levels say. From there It may mean more bloodwork on Monday. If that's the case it'll begin a series of discussions I really don't want to have. D&C. I really don't want to go there.

So yeah, if I haven't gotten your phone call...well there's a reason. If I've not responded to something...you know why.

Stop thinking.

2007-11-27T07:18:00.000-05:00

How do you stop thinking about getting pregnant so that it actually happens? I can remember telling other women, that when you stop thinking and stressing over it that it will happen. You can't just stop thinking about it. I've learned that little tidbit recently.

We want to grow our family. It's not a one sided thing at this point. We both want to grow our family. Even though I know it's not the truth, there's a part of me that feels like it's my fault that it's not happening. My body conditions have to be right. No stress. It has to be a perfect physiological moment.

Timing may not be perfect or the right thing. However, if you wait for the right time that's like saying I'm going to wait until all the lights are green to head home from work. You'll never make it home! Not to mention some of the best things in my life have come at the "wrong time."

The other thing I have to throw out is what others say. I've had comments from everybody who thinks they know what's best for me, for Dan, for us as a whole. There's a wall that has been broken down from before so it's a brand new learning experience on how to deal with the comments. And, it's not really even dealing with them as much as not retaining them and playing them over and over until I get so angry. That in turn causes stress on the body.

It's a vicious cycle. How do you stop and put an end to it?

Fun weekend.

2007-11-12T15:10:00.000-05:00

Before I start about the weekend I just wanted to say one thing in regards to comments. Please make the note that we are up to a count of 3 weddings for Thanksgiving.

Now onto your regualrly scheduled post. :)

We just had a great time this weekend as a family. It really doesn't get much better. Friday we spent the day out shopping. It felt like we were running all over Lexington, but hey, it was a blast. From oil change to a fill up to buying Dan a tux for the inagural ball. It was just good to spend the day together. We enjoyed lunch at BD's Mongolian Grille. YUMMY!!! Who would have thought that for $30 you could find a REALLY nice pair of tuxedo shoes to fit a size 15 foot!

Friday evening, I headed to the store for DT. It was good to be with the girls. I didn't stay too late though. Happens when you get old! ha.

Saturday we went and looked at a different tux and ended up getting it instead. It was just a better price and we couldn't pass it up. Then we just came home and napped and hung out together.

Sunday after church we hung out. About 7 my friend Athena who was moving from CA to SC came to stay with us. Oh my gosh!!! It was just a blast!! We didn't go to bed until well after midnight last night. She left this morning for her last leg of her 3 week trip. The end stop: her grandbabies! WOW! Such a journey she's taken.

Otherwise, there's not a whole lot going on around here. We're just working on getting things ready to go see my mom and grandparents and then for me to go back to work full time again.

Oh!!! P.S. a big CONGRATS goes out to Sam!!! I'm so proud of you for winning!

Holiday Weekend Weddings.

2007-11-08T07:39:00.000-05:00

Weddings. Love 'em? or Hate 'em?

That was the icebreaker question last weekend at cg.

I LOVE a good wedding. no really LOVE weddings. I dont' know what it is, I just do. It's a very special day. It's one of the biggest decisions and days in your life. I don't take it lightly.

However, what's up with the trend now to get married on a holiday weekend? Now weekends like Memorial Day and Labor day, not so much a big deal, everyone has that time off. Not to mention the fact that those weekends are made for getting together with friends and family yet aren't exclusive to close family.

But Thanksgiving?! I mean really. Isn't that a little selfish? Not everyone gets the time off to travel that weekend. It's a time to be with your immediate family. I happen to know of not one, but 2 weddings this year Thanksgiving weekend. (and one the weekend between Christmas and New Year's)

Yes, Thanksgiving is about being with your family, but come on....are you really supposed to take everyone else way from their close, immediate family? Now, I guess I should have said, that the 2 Thanksgiving weddings I know about are a couple of brides who have always been pretty selfish. So, maybe it's the perfect weekend for them to get married.

I realize that everyone doesn't think the same way I do. Yes, I believe it's selfish to get married Thanksgiving or Christmas weeken. It's my opionion.

No Baby and headed to Frankfort.

2007-11-07T16:30:00.000-05:00

There has been a lot emotionally going on here in our little part of the world.

First off, just like the title says, there's no baby on the way. Yes, we've been "trying" to get pregnant again. Yes, I know I'm crazy. I've heard it a million times. Yes, I realize 'how close in age' they'll be. Yes, I know I've 'just lost all that weight'. I know. Really. I know.

Neither one of my doctors are worried about it at all. Not even a little bit. So, despite what you may think about how crazy I am, it's okay. And to be perfectly honest, I really don't want to hear how crazy I am any more.
It's what we want.
Thank you. :)

Moving on from that soapbox....

Frankfort. No, we're not moving. My job is though. Having a new govenor elect means a new position for me. Don't worry, I'm not leaving Mary Kay; it's just going to be a sidebar for the time being. My new adventure??

Chief of Staff!!! Yes siree bob, I'm going to be the cheif of staff for one of the cabinet positions. I can't quite disclose which one at this point, but I have been in contact with the person for whom I'll be chief of staff. You don't just get this opportunity; especially when you are 24. So yeah, I'm a slight bit excited.

My family, that knows, is so proud of me. Heck, I am too. It's just a super opportunity.

So I'm a little bit jealous...

2007-10-31T16:42:00.001-04:00

of the fact that my cousin who lives very close to me (he's actually the reason I moved back to KY) pays more attention to a female roommate than he does me. I ask him something and get a one or two word response. She can ask the same thing and get an update on everything. Its just a little frustrating really.

Well, I guess I could update....

2007-10-30T09:47:00.001-04:00

Not this past weekend, but the weekend before Jackson got sick. I mean SICK. He ended up with croupe AND an ear infection at the same time. At least he's like his momma and when he does something, he does it all the way. It liked to kill me, him being sick. How do you not worry when your child has a temperature of 102.1 and it won't break and the nurse you call says, "you don't have to worry until it's about 104 and really not until it's 106 or 107." Yeah right!!! My one and only child who is sick for the first time and I'm not supposed to be worried!

Oh well, he's better. He's himself again.

Onto other news. I may be taking a new position. It's a good one. I can't say a whole lot about it until after Tuesday. You know, secretive stuff. Does it mean I'll be dropping the Mary Kay?! NO! That is one thing I won't let go.

Halloween. It's tomorrow. The things we do for our children (and nephews). Caleb has decided that if he's a fireman for Halloween, that his friends and teachers at school will make fun of him. Crazy!!! He's in a Peter Pan kick. So Sunday, Nancy and I head over to the Disney store and get a costume for Caleb. So then we ran all over Lexington to try and find something for Jackson. Yeah, that was hard. Finally we found a really cute costume for Jackson, but it had nothing to do with Peter Pan....so we thought. We head back to Nancy's to get the boys and surprise Caleb. He was in his glory. Anywho, we're talking about the movie and trying to figure out what Jackson is going to be. Then we get to talking about the lost boys! That's it, the really cute costume WILL work!!! So Jackson will be.....

one of the Lost Boys...the one that's dressed like a skunk!

Other than that, we've just been busy with the life of being a family....and wanting to grow our family. :)

Life Happened Yesterday.

2007-10-16T10:54:00.000-04:00

I was so excited yesterday morning to hop on, check email and write about vacation! Vacation was wonderful. However I'm going to have to wait to post about it.

So I get up early in the morning anxious to get things done and get back to "normal" life after being gone for 11 days on a much needed vacation. I go and turn on the computer when it happens. I smell something burning and then it just quits. My computer blew up on the inside. (I'm borrowing my SIL's laptop). At the same time my phone is beeping at me to charge it. So in the midst of my sobbing over the computer I start to look through the bags and suitcases from vacation. No charger appears. Also, there are 3 messages from the dr.'s office for me that I need to call about.

Once Dan is off to work, Jackson is fed and back down for a nap and I've calmed down, I get my tower and proceed to open it up. I clean out everything I can dustwise and put it all back together again. Plug it up. Nothing. So here come the tears again. I seriously did nothing but cry yesterday.

I call the dr's office. Now mind you, I told him unless it was fatal not to call before the 15th as I was going to be on vacation. He promptly wrote it on my charts. So here I am freaking out. I call. I'm on hold for 10 minutes. She gives me the news that my cholsterol is slightly higher than they want. Not a ton, just a little bit. Are you serious?!?! 3 messages for that? I about went through the phone. I let the nurse give me her spiel about diet, exercise, etc and hung up.

After Jackson's nap, we head out to run a couple of errands. I start out by taking the computer to the repair shop here in town. They moved! I didn't find that out until I had Jackson in the stroller pushing it with one hand and carrying the tower in the other while walking a block up Broadway. It's gone! A lady came out of the Laundromat to ask if I needed any help when I was 3 feet from the bus. Before the tears started, I managed to ask her where the PC repair shop had moved. Load everything back in the car and drive over there.

I finally find the shop...it took a bit as they have very little outside signage from just relocating. They help me to and in the door as there is no ramp and I'm trying to get Jackson and the computer up the steps. I explain to the guy what happens. So after talking to him, he explains that it is a minimum of $100 to fix what is wrong. Tears. I couldn't stop them, they just ran. I had no control over it. He said he'd work on it quicker than normal and call me tomorrow (today) to let me know what was wrong.

So I leave, in tears, and head to Wal-Mart to grab a couple things right quick including a new phone charger. I walk back into the electronics department where they don't have one for the Sony Ericson phone that I have. Now, I have purchased their off brand phone chargers before and the one I bought was not for the same brand of phone I had. So I take it up to the girl and ask. She asks me what kind of phone I have and I tell her Sony to which she promptly points to the label and in that condesending how dumb are you voice says, "no, it says Nokia."

I walk away and you guessed it, cry. So I go grab the couple quick groceries I need and head to the front. The lines were long so I lingered in a couple different areas for a few minutes and head back to line. The aisle next to us was getting ready to open so I start to walk over there. The lady in line in front of me grabs my cart and jerks it to a stop. Mind you Jackson is in the cart. She looks at me and goes, "Oh no you don't. I've waited for 15 minutes now and you are not going to walk in front of me." Not saying a word I just let her go in front. It wasn't worth it. She was horrible. She worked for the Southern Rose Stables....so if that is how they treat people outside of work, what are they doing to your horses?!

Since ATT is in the same area I decide to run in right quick to find a charger. He informs me that they don't have any at all....but I could try Radio Shack. Needless to say, here come the tears. So I head home as I had milk, eggs and cheese in the car and because I can't remember for the life of me where the Radio Shack in town is.

I get home. Jackson is sleeping the car. I run in put the bags in the fridge and try to calmly think of where the Radio Shack is. I remember so I head over there right quick. I take Jackson out of the car and walk him in sleeping on my shoulder. My eyes are puffy and red from crying so much. The guy in there walks over and softly asks if he can help me. I hand him my phone and am able to get out, "I need a new charger." He finds one! Finally.

So I have a new charger and no computer. I"ll see what they say when I get the phone call later.

So that's where I stand. One day I'll get to posting about Disney. Hopefully soon.

William Tell Overture for Moms

2007-09-27T10:14:00.001-04:00

I love it. Really I do. There are times I'm sick of the fussing ALL day, but I still love it. It's fun. It's rewarding. There's not a better job anywhere.

However, I know my days like this are to come.

ATT Customer Service

2007-09-26T08:18:00.000-04:00

We all have had horrible experiences with customer service be it for one company or another. However yesterday, I had a rockin' customer service day.

Dan and I had been discussing direct tv as we are in the stone age and don't have cable. Well the internet choice bundling wouldn't give me an idea of what I wanted. So I called just to see what the price was. Boy am I glad I called!

They haven't been telling anyone, but if you were a Bell South customer call and ask about being 'switched' to ATT's plans. Why? Because for a flat rate of $25 you get your local as well as Unlimited long distance. (need it having an at home business and a cell phone with a different area code). That happens to be cheaper than Bell South's rates with NO long distance. So for switching that over we got a $50 rebate. Well, then I ask about bundling bills. By bundling our (already bundled) internet, we got another $30 rebate. Ok, DUH! She then informs me that for one price I get that phone plan, faster internet and direct tv AND another $50 rebate.

So now I'm up to $130 in rebates. I go on and ask more detailed questions about the direct tv and cost and what extra is going to be added to our bill. Sometimes I ask her to repeat it so that I make sure it's noted in our account. I start asking questions about DVR...well that's a free upgrade with no monthly charge. Ok, add it to my order please! I double check with her again to make sure nothing is going to be added to my bill each month and she lets me know that nothing other than the state taxes. Okay. fine. I restate it again just to make sure that I heard her correctly and to make sure there is record of it.

After I am done speaking with her, she transfers me to wireless as I have a few questions for them.

I had been getting messages from the company saying I was eligible for a phone upgrade. yay! Everytime I went into the store though, they are like the free phone is this and proceed to show me the old Nokia...you know the one. So I thought I'd look online. Well, I found one that I wanted and it's pink!! I add it to my cart and it says "total due today: 0.00 **" Well I saw the astricks and that's what I was wanting to ask about.

So I talk to the guy about what it all meant and he said there is an $18.00 upgrade fee. That's dumb. I've been a customer, with this phone, never having a late bill since I was 19 years old. We're both looking at my account at the same time. I mention the "fee waived" part that I had just noticed on the bill. He checks and sure enough it was so I pay nothing....not even shipping. Yay so now I have a free phone!

But wait, there's more! (man that sounds like a RonCo commercial)

Being a Mary Kay consultant, I knew I was eligible for another discount. So I ask about that and what I need to do in order to receive it. He tells me. I do it and call back. So now, I have a discount on my cell bill. Here's the kicker. By adding the direct TV and taking the discount off my phone. We are spending the SAME amount of money each month.

So as of today, I like ATT customer service. We'll see how much I still like them between 12 and 4 on Friday afternoon.

Moving....

2007-09-20T10:28:00.000-04:00

No we're not moving...not yet anyway, but Jackson is. Sunday he started crawling. So far he has 2 favorite spots to crawl to and try to play. First, he enjoys the VCR (yes, we still have one) with the portible DVD player on top of it. His second favorite spot is my Mary Kay discount basket. I guess he likes the bright colors.

The thing that I really love about his age right now is he LOVES to give me kisses. Sure I have more slobber than a lick from a Saint Bernard would give me, but I love his kisses. You never know when they are coming, but he grabs my cheeks with both hands and just lays them on me.

Other than that, I've been working and getting ready for vacation. Everyday when Dan comes home from work he gives me the offical count down; both in days until we leave, but also how many more days he has to work between now and then. So what are the numbers?? 14 and 7.5 I'm so ready for this vacation. We'll be celebrating a lot while we are there: 3 birthdays, 2 anniversaries and several first-timers to Disney. Dan thinks I haven't done anything for his birthday. Little does he know that there is a cake coming out for him while we are dining with Goofy. My in-laws are also in the dark in regards to their anniversary. This year will be there 42nd one. Dinner that the Coral Reef restaraunt will be so suprising for them when the divers swim by holding a banner that says, "Happy Anniversary Grammie and Papa" I have a few other tricks up my sleeve, but they aren't necessarily for public notation or day time television. Then again, Dan and I are celebrating our anniversary too....

Anyhow, Jackson and I will be off to Richmond later this afternoon. Mom to work; Jackson to chill with Aunt Neen. All should be fun!!

Ready for a Slow Down.

2007-09-10T13:16:00.000-04:00

We've gone non-stop for weeks it feels like. It's been a relativly good busy, but non-stop none the less.

Friday after WW we went to the mall for lunch with my SIL, nephew and a friend. We walked around for a bit and I got 2 new pair of shoes!! :) Aftwerwards, we went over to my SIL's to go swimming. I think we were in the pool for about 3 hours. Since it was after 5 at that point we stayed for dinner which turned into a game of Rummikub.

Saturday we slept in...some of us more than others. Then we went for some fine dining at the Golden Corral. YUMMY! Steak and eggs for breakfast! I was very good with my choices. Not one bisquit or drop of gravy. I really didn't crave it either. Next, we came home and everyone took a nap. Mine happened to be about 3 hours long. Once we got up and ate lunch, we had to clean the house as we had life group at our house that evening.

Sunday we had to wake Jackson up for church. Then we went out and got some groceries for my SIL and had lunch at her place. We left there only to run home for a couple of seconds while I grabbed the birthday gift for the party we were attending. Once home fromt he party it was off to bed for Jackson and then dinner and Big Brother for mom and dad.

So yeah, I'm ready for a slow down.

In other news, I received a phone call today from my dr. Bloodclot is gone!!!

Jackson had his 6 mos. check up. Developmentally he is ahead of at least 90% of kids his age! What momma wouldn't be proud of that?! Physically he is in the 95% for height and 60% for weight. Tall, skinny kid.

Routine

2007-09-05T07:19:00.000-04:00

For some reason, the routine's of this household are on my mind this morning. I guess maybe it's because I'm missing a part of my morning routine. Really bad. It's amaxing to me how one minor thing can change an person's routine in a huge way. The hardest part of that is figuring out what to do to "fill in the gap" and put the part of your routine that you had to take out for one reason or another into a different part of the daily routine.

Change isn't easy for most, yet it's the only constant in life. Change with a baby is even more difficult. When the littlest member of the household gets off routine it takes a week or so to get back into one. However, for me at least, I usually don't have a week where what's routine is the same every day. It may be the same on Mondays or Thursdays, but not the whole week.

I can give Jackson credit though. When we go on vacation in 29 days and he is completly off routine, he shouldn't be too bad fussy or anything.

However, he is fussing; ready to get up. Just like his normal morning routine.

Disney redeemed themselves

2007-08-30T06:58:00.001-04:00

Yup...they did after yesterday. Although, it had nothing to do with yesterday.

So I'm sitting in my office checking email, etc. The phone rings. Caller ID say 407-something something.... I knew right away it was Disney. Well, the restaraunt that Dan and I were going to have a lovely just the two of us (and Jackson) dinner at is being renovated so they had to move our reservations to some place else in Disney. I was a little bummed, but not a ton as it was our chance to eat in Canada since we had to cut out that reservation earlier in the month. Luckily they had an opening for us on that Saturday night...it's one of the hardest places in Epcot to get reservations. So I'm pretty thrilled #1 that they called and #2 we got to eat where we wanted.

But wait, there's more! The girl goes on and says that since we were inconveienced they have a little something for us. She said we're giving you VIP passes for the Illuminations that night. Not completly showing it in my voice, I'm totally excited! I was informed that there would be a cast member waiting for us around 840 to walk us to our area of seating for the 930 show!

Now not only do we have VIP passes, but for us it's a big deal as last year we missed it because we fell asleep after dinner so it was the one show that Dan and I wanted to see! YAY!

I think I'm going to scream

2007-08-28T09:49:00.001-04:00

if I hear one more time, "let me transfer you".

Normally I have no problems when calling Disney. Not the case today. I call to pay the balance on our vacation in October. I go through the automated selections. Finally I get a real person. They say oh you're with a grand gathering let me transfer you. So I get transfered. That person says oh you're making a payment, let me transfer you. It takes me back to the automated selections. I get a 3rd live person and she says, well didn't you call this number? It's the grand gathering number. I said no, they were transfering me there and I got the automated selection. She informs me that if I call the number I'll go straight to a person skipping the stupid menu.

I call.

The automated menu is there. Finally I get a real person that is actually willing to take my money!

UGH!! Maybe it's worse today since we're all sick. I don't know, but I've never had worse service from Disney.

I could..... I can.

2007-08-27T07:40:00.000-04:00

I've had lots to say lately, but no way to say it.

I could talk about how much Jackson has grown or that he is sitting up on his own now or that he talks so much he's a carbon copy of his momma. That just doesn't sit right with me at the present time. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my son and I'm amazed at what he does at his young age. It's just not the right thing for me to discuss.

I could go on about how we are ready for Jackson to be a big brother. I'm already fielding the "you're crazy lady" comments, but whatever.

I could go totally opposite and talk about how it still hurts so bad to know that my mom lives in FLA now. Yeah, I'll get to see her for 2 days at the end of our vacation, but that's it.

I could go even further from that and say how blessed Dan and I are. He isn't thrilled with his job right now. He's talked about changing to Toyota, but is the grass really greener?

I could talk about help; how it's such a difficult thing for me to ask for. I could say that I was told in recent weeks it's probably the #2 (if not #1) reason I'm not married to someone else right now.

None of those is really what is and has been on my heart lately.

What is on my heart is completely different from that. What is on my heart is not meant for one person in particular, but a myriad.

So here it goes.

I'm different. I'm not the same person you knew, dated, or loved. I'm not the same person you lived with, said was your "BFF" and now choose to ignore, or fought with.

I'm a completely different person than I was a year ago, 3 years ago, 5 years ago. Life does that to us. Experience, good and bad, does that too us. Sometimes when the natural ebb and flow of life doesn't allow paths to cross, you have to find a way for them cross.

Becoming a wife teaches you a lot. Becoming a mommy teaches you a lot, but doing them both within a year teaches you even more. I think some people would be pleasantly surprised with changes I've made. Not that I was a bad person or anything before, but I've still changed and bettered myself. I think there are others that would be or are proud of my life changes. I'm sure there are others still that could care less....and I'm okay with that.

In the midst of my thoughts the past couple weeks, I've decided I need to make some personal apologies. I'd like to make them in person, but some just aren't able to be. That's not something I will post publicly other than possibly to say that it was done. One of those will hopefully happen this weekend. We shall see.

My heart and head feel better.

I can go on talking about my son and the mundane things in life.

I can prepare myself mentally, physcially, spiritually and emotionally to become a mommy again.

I can be excited for vacation in October and going to see my mom.

I can be supportive of my husband and the choices he makes as head of the household.

I can ask for help when I need it.

I did it...

2007-08-10T14:25:00.001-04:00

I asked for help.

Bummed.

2007-08-07T17:29:00.000-04:00

So while I was talking to my brother this morning, he mentioned something about Joanne Glasser possibly leaving EKU (it's nice to have close people in the know). Well, on the news tonight it was said that she has resigned. Man, I can't believe it. I hope they find someone that can fill her shoes. As long as they don't put Harry Moberly in there, this too shall pass.

Early Riser.

2007-08-06T05:56:00.000-04:00

yup, that's my son all right.
This morning it was 530. So he's playing.
Friday morning, he thought 430 was a great time to wake up and play...
Dad and I on the other hand, not so much.

I know what you are saying....keep him up later.
Trust me, I wish I could.
But even keeping him up until 715 makes him unbearable for that extra part.

Oh well, extra time with the 2nd love of my life isn't really that bad; especially since I'm working more now.

Speaking of working more....
We're going on target for our car this month!!!
I'm not completly sure on even who reads this anymore, but if you think you might like to try what I do or know someone who would enjoy it, has more month than money, or just wants some girlfriend time....please let me know!!

Baby Fever

2007-08-01T07:08:00.000-04:00

I've got it BAD. People think I'm crazy and I'm okay with that... I've always been a little crazy.
I know Jackson is only 5 months old (well, almost), but still. I'm SOOOOO ready for another one.
We said we'd start trying in October on vacation, but I don't know if I can wait that long. It's not like we have a problem getting pregnant or anything.
I know it'll be crazy in the beginning, but it'll be totally worth it. Plus, when I'm done with diapers, I'm done. I'm not going to have them spaced 3, 4, 5 years apart. It's not for me (or Dan for that matter).
Besides, after this little medical episode, I'm not allowed to go back on the pill ever again. Considering that's the form of B.C. we like, and typically works for me looks like we'll have to try to good ole calendar method. (maybe there is a little catholicism in our blood from way back in our families)

Otherwise, things are on the up and up...somewhat. We're trying to sell the LaBaron too...it's time. We don't REALLY need it. It's a '90. Asking price at the moment is $1000. We'll work with that.
Bills, well, they suck. That's part of growing up and getting older though.

My marriage rocks though!
My husband is awesome.
Supportive of my dreams and goals.

What more could a girl ask for?!

I made it to yet another weekend.

2007-07-26T19:22:00.000-04:00

Well, I made it. Out of that hellish weekend last weekend to hopefully something a little better.
Things have been totally crazy around here.
LOTS of work things. (a good situation)
An unwanted argument.
Great making up....

Anywho, I'd better get back to it.
Hopefully a little more posting to come.

Long Week.

2007-07-18T06:59:00.000-04:00

Is it over yet???

Ever have one of those weeks when by the time Tuesday hits you are ready for it to be over? It's not that it's been a bad week really. I just am dreading this weekend. I offered to help out at the LSS while the girls are gone at CHA. I'm there open to close Thursday (with Jackson there until Dan gets off work), noon-4 on Friday (and then driving up and back to Cincy) and finally open to close on Saturday. Then I get a phone call YESTERDAY asking if I can come in at 6 so they can leave early. Are you serious?!

Now, a little background. We were trying out a partnership there. However, it was decided that since Dan and I want to have 3 more children right close and the fact she didn't like it when I flat out told her MK was going to come before the store that it wasn't going to work. So yes, I did say origninally that I would come in to close. Here's the issue with that now:
1. I said that when it was a benefit to me and I wouldn't be working other hours.
2. I said that I'd come in at 730 (store closes at 8) to do the closing.

Anywho, I get this "guilt trip" of "well, I guess I'm going to have to call Paul (her husband) to come in. He's not going to be happy since he's watching the store while you won't be there on Friday." That just made me angrier. I wanted to lie to her all together and say I couldn't work at all after she said that to me. When you go into business, especially one like this area, your significant other (who works from home) is going to have to realize that he's going to have to help out sometimes if the store is going to go to the trade shows. That's just how it is.

I feel like she is taking advantage of me... and she probably is. That's okay. I don't have to help out. I'll go in for DT when I need is there and that's about it. I have bigger and better things to do.

Bigger and better things in my life:
1. God
2. Dan
3. Jackson
4. my mom
5. my business (and all that comes with it)
6. my friends
7. my home
8. my health (mental, physical, emotional and spiritual)
(and those are just off the top of my head)

Cousin Caleb watching the fish at the Arboratum (April 29)

Chillin' at Normandy Horse Farm (april 30)

Tired of working Nana's Yard Sale (May 5)

Bath Time (June 8)

Jackson in his bouncy seat (june 29)

Whirlwind

2007-07-16T07:08:00.000-04:00

That is definatly an accurate discription of life lately. It just seems as if every summer gets busier and busier. It never stops! Most days it's fun and exciting as I never know what the day will bring or what new thing Jackson will decide to start doing.

This past weekend was one of those busy ones of which I have been speaking.

Friday:

weighed in with Nancy and my MIL. I lost 5.2 lbs to bring a total of 15. 6 :)
we all went to the mall. Of course we stopped in the Disney store. I think Dan went in 3 times that day. (he took the boys over while we were at WW)
had a wonderful lunch in the food court. A group of deaf families were near us and of course everyone was fascinated by the signing. Of course I was asked several times about what they were saying, etc.
As Dan and I were headed home, Nancy called. They came over and watched Jackson so we could go to dinner at Murray's!!! YUMMY. We were home within an hour and a half of our reservations. We weren't really sure on what else to do.

Saturday:

Slept in some.
Cleaned up a bit.
I blew up the inflatable pool for Caleb to go swimming.
MIL, FIL, Nancy and Caleb show up.
Dave and Donna show up while Caleb is swimming.
We nibbled a bit.
I received a phone call from Amby and RG as they were in stand still traffic on 75S.
Took the boys swimming. Yup, Jackson got in too!
Amby and RG finally showed up. They brought my wedding pictures!!!
Unfortunatly they couldn't stay very long due to their traffic fun.
Nancy had to leave for work. So our family minus Nancy went to dinner.
Everyone headed home and we looked at wedding pictures.
Finally we were tired of doing that so we watched a movie. It was nearly midnight before we went to bed. Dan and I hadn't done that in forever.

Sunday:

church
lunch at Nancy's
quick trip to Sam's. I can't believe how much diapers are....even on sale! We spent $150 and got 2 packages of diapers, 2 cans of formula, a thing of wipes, 1 5x7 photo and picture CD and then some Crystal Light! Lord almighty....and we want 3 more!!
had some family time and then just relaxed.

That was, in a nutshell, my weekend. Jackson had his first dip in the pool. What fun it was!!

I'll leave you with some pics as many have been requesting them.

Jackson with his cousins for Memorial Day.

Jackson eating for the first time. (June 25)

Jackson and Caleb in the yard. (Wednesday)

Jackson and Caleb swimming. (Saturday)

15.15

2007-07-10T07:03:00.000-04:00

I guess I really should update this thing.

Becoming a mommy for the first time (and probably the times thereafter) completly turns your world upside down. I can't believe Jackson was 4 mos. old on Sunday. Time just flies.

He had a visit with the dr. yesterday. Dr. Warner is VERY impressed with his growth and development. He's doing many things that babies several months older than him do.

rolls over from both back to belly and belly to back
getting very close to sitting unsupported
is eating "real" food

He weighed in yesterday at 15 lbs 15 oz and was 26.5 inches long. WOW!!

In other news, I've done a lot to really be building my business. That's another big reason I've not been updating as I'd like to, but you have to get back into the groove. I'm semi-there.

I try to maintain somewhat of a schedule, although it can be difficult.

Oh yeah and before I head out to get ready for the day, I have a new thing that I'm doing with Mary Kay. I now have a product of the month!

This month's product is: The Miracle Set. When you purchase the Miracle set from July 15-Aug. 15 you'll receive a FREE firming Eye Cream!!! Now who couldn't get excited about that?!

It's not fun anymore....

2007-03-01T06:36:00.000-05:00

OK...I'm over it.
I'm ready to be done and have this baby. The contractions are so sparatic.
I'm uncomfortable 24/7.
My feet...oh my feet.
They've taken the name of "elephant feet." Even Old Navy flip flops are too tight across the top because of how swollen my feet are.

That's just not right, not human.

There's no ankle crease anymore...well there is, but it's almost a permanent indentation in the swollen mass.

It takes 3 men and a suction cup to roll over at night. Poor Dan...he gets about 6 inches of the bed and I can't even be comfortable in the rest.
Breathing sounds like a horse...
Heartrate up with all of it.

The baby has dropped to the point to where it feels like it's just going to fall out

...I wish it would.

If nothing happens between now and 445 tomorrow, we'll know something:

An induction
a scheduled c-section....

something.

Almost time

2007-02-19T10:16:00.000-05:00

Well here we are....sitting at 36 and 1..... This time next week I will officially be "full term".

Friday morning at 1130 we go for an ultrasound and cerclage removal. There's a strong possiblilty that I could go from there to the labor and delivery floor. Frankly, I hope that's how it goes...

At the check up this past Friday, peanut HAS dropped and I'm at 0 station....means I'm ready to have the baby, just no dialation yet.

I do have to admit, not feeling peanut inside me will be thouroughly missed; for both Dan and I.

Baby Premintion??

2007-02-10T05:34:00.000-05:00

So my mom called me the other night to tell me about a dream she had.... She dreamed I had the baby. It was a girl...7 lbs 14 oz. And the name, well she couldn't remember but it was a boyish name.

hmm...I wonder?!

In real life though...I'll be 35 weeks tomorrow. Holy cow...where did the time go??? At the dr. yesterday I was measured, per normal...
except one thing:
My measurements = HUGE

45 cm!!

normal = about the number of weeks you are.

I asked about the next ultrasound as this is either one BIG baby, or another is hinding. He didn't seem to say anything when I made the suggestion of twins....
didn't even give me a wierd look.

3:30

2007-01-22T14:54:00.000-05:00

It happens twice a day.
I'll see both times it happens today.
UGH
I hate not being able to sleep because of being pregnant.
Don't get me wrong, I love being pregnant (most the time), but not at 330 in the morning because I'm TOO big to toss and turn!!!!

SO the 2nd 3:30 is coming up soon.
Maybe I'll go take a nap so I only see one of them...

2006 in Review.

2007-01-17T08:52:00.000-05:00

2006 was quite the year. A big year!!! a HUGE year for me!!

JANUARY

Did you have a New Year's resolution this year? Apparently I had several. Looking back in my blog I found some.
Who kissed you at midnight? Notta....I was at a party with a bunch of bar friends.
Did it snow where you live? Nope...it was cold though...real cold.
Have you ever been to Times Square to watch the ball drop? Not yet.

FEBRUARY

Who was your Valentine? Notta. I was kinda depressed about that.
What did your valentine get you? no valentaine = no gift.
When you were little, did you buy valentine's for the whole class? Yup sure did. I saw them the other day at Wally World and thought it might be fun to send them to people. :)

MARCH

Are you Irish? That's ONE of the countries in my line of heritage.
Did you wear green on St. Patty's Day? Of course.
What did you do for St. Patty's Day? My friend Matt came over and we hung out for a bit.

APRIL

Do you like the rain? Yes I do...sometimes...not when it's cold though. I like summer rain.
Did you play an April Fool's joke on anyone this year? I don't think so, but I'm sure I'll have to get Dan this year.
Did you get tons of candy on Easter? actually J got me a tiny little basket and I was with Dan's family so part of his basket was for the both of us.
April 9 I started talking to Dan
April 10 I met Dan
April 11 I could have killed him for inviting me to dinner and not telling his parents I was going to be there...that was awkward.

MAY

What's your favorite kind of flower? Any flower that I actually get.
Do you like the spring? Most the time. Usually it's the beginning of flip flops...not this year though since it's been so warm.
Finish the phrase, "April showers bring..." May flowers and Mayflowers bring pilgrims!
What would you think of as a spring color? baby pastels.
May 6 we told our families we were getting married.
May 13 he actually proposed right here at home.

JUNE

What year did you graduate from school? High School:2001, College: 2005
Did you go on any vacations last June? I don't think we did....we may have gone to Cincinnati for a weekend or two.

JULY

What did you do on the 4th of July? We were in Cincinnati...I think...I honestly can't remember.
Did you go on any vacations this month? No vacations, but I did do some weddings.
July 24 found out we were going to be parents via the pee on a stick test.

AUGUST

Did you do anything special to end off your summer? we were planning our wedding.
What was your favorite summer memory of '06? planning our wedding, helping other friends with their wedding.
Did you go swimming a lot in the summer? one time.
Did you go to the beach a lot? nope...not at all.
August 11ish we found out from the dr. that we needed an early detection ultrasound to find out for sure if we were pregnant.
A week or so later we had that ultrasound.

SEPTEMBER

Did you attend school/college in '06? No I didn't, I wanted to though.
Who was your favorite teacher? No school, no favorite teachers.
Did you like fall better than summer? Yes, I don't do well in the heat.

OCTOBER

What was your favorite Halloween costume ever? I found my care bear costume...that's probably the one.
What's your favorite candy? Chocolate, chocolate or chocolate...maybe even sour patch kids.
What did you dress up like this year?Aunt Katy....Dan, Nancy, Dad and myself took Caleb out...he was a traffic light.
October 13 married the best man in the world!
We went to Disney on our honeymoon....can't wait to go back.

NOVEMBER

Whose house did you go to for Thanksgiving? We were at Dan's Aunt Mayme and Uncle Del's house....in Ohio...about an hour west of Cleveland...and it was 60 degrees!!!
Do you like stuffing? I didn't use to, but I do now
What are you thankful for? The rockin' year I've had and the rest to come!!!

DECEMBER

Do you celebrate Christmas? yes, yes we do.
Have you ever been kissed under the mistletoe? Yes I have...and was this year!
What do you want this year for Christmas? This year was hard I wanted the 2nd season on desperate housewives (thanks Amy), a portable DVD player (thanks dad) and it was hard coming up with other things....DVD's mainly
What's the best present you ever got for Christmas? not sure I can answer that.
Do you like cold weather? If it's a pretty snow, yes...otherwise no way.
How would you rate your year on a scale of 1-10? I'd have to say 10.....fell in love, married the love of my life, and found out I was going to be a mommy. Very cool!!

So that's my year in review. I'm going to TRY to be better about updating my blog.

Busy Busy Busy

2006-12-18T12:14:00.000-05:00

SO things have been totally crazy busy, but not horrible. I'm interested to see how Christmas goes as a married woman. It'll be fun and different...neither one of those things bad in any way!

Business is running.
Baby is getting closer and closer.
Life: continues.

I keep forgeting...

2006-11-30T09:07:00.000-05:00

I'll have all these ideas to post and then I just don't think about writing. It's the pregnancy brain. I swear!!

Thanksgiving was great. It was a KY Thanksgiving in Cleveland...thus being because it was 60 degrees up there! I'm not complaining one bit...especially since my coat doesn't button around my belly anymore.

Amber has posted a few more pictures the past couple days from the wedding. I can't wait until they are all totally done!!

One of the trees is up and decorated. I hope to get the other one up and done today or tomorrow. Should be good stuff!!

Other than that, we've slowed down a bit which is nice. I'm ready to slow down some...the dr. is ready for me to slow down as well.

I know it's choppy, but that's how my brain works these days...

My babymomma update

2006-11-20T07:09:00.000-05:00

Well, Friday we went back to the dr. to find out what they think in regards to "the stitch" and the health of the baby and me...

I was released from bedrest!!! YAY!!! To do only the things I was doing before. (because I suck at bedrest) So I'm allowed to be up and moving...no heavy lifting or strechting or housework. I was also told in case of snow that I was not allowed to shovel the sidewalk. So I looked at the dr. and said, "Oh, comeon now! You're breaking my heart." That's when D piped up and said, "no really, you are breaking mine..."

This means we will be heading up to Cleveland for Thanksgiving on the farm with D's family. It should be fun. I'm looking forward to the mini-vacation.

So cool....

2006-11-07T07:57:00.000-05:00

Despite the horrible hospital stay and the being sick all first tri-mester there is one thing that always remains SOOOO cool and I never get tired of it...

The kicks.

Feeling the little one kick.
Just laying there on my back.
Not doing anything.
*Kick.*
SO cool.

Hospitals are NO fun!!

2006-11-05T19:02:00.000-05:00

Wednesday afternoon D and I headed to the hospital for a normal ultrasound....so we expected. After the scan, the dr. wanted to look a little closer and do a second, different type of scan. He did and found that I needed a procedure called a cerclage...and it had to happen right away to prevent an early delivery...like way early as I'm 21 weeks today.

So we were admitted Wed. afternoon and I had my surgery Thursday morning. Not a fun surgery either. Recovery from it pretty much sucks. But they finally let me go yesterday moring since there were no more contractions and healing was going in the right direction.

Baby is great...and was fine throughout the whole thing. Now, I'm good too. I have to slow down, which is going ot be difficult, but I can handle it for a few months...I guess, if I have to.

Why I haven't posted...

2006-10-30T07:32:00.000-05:00

There have been several times in the past few days that I have thought to myself to post. However, they've usually been when I was angry or upset at something small and piddly. Why make an angry post....a lot? not worth it to me. The other reason I've not posted is just being so darn busy. Between work, being a domestic Goddess, and spending time with D and family, we've just been non-stop.

One thing that has struck me as peculiar latly though is this: I got a comment the other day on one of my entries. The person said that I didn't know them, but that they had recently found my blog. There was a couple other things mentioned, and I thanked them but that wasn't it. The thing that struck me was the word recently. That is a vauge word. Very vauge in this case. The reason I say that is because I have a tracker on my blog. Not only does it tell me how many visitors, but it gives me the IP address, the location, the entry page, the exit page, number of viewings, etc. I checked the time of the comment versus the tracker. The IP address that has come up, has followed me for months. In fact, I mentioned the user a few months back in a blog. So I guess the word brought up a couple questions to my mind: How recent is recent? and Why is this person trying to be anonymous??

Cleaning Lady anyone??

2006-10-25T13:06:00.000-04:00

So March really isn't all that far away.....and I've got a TON to do between now and then. The house isn't total caos, but at the same time, I feel like I never catch up on the things that need to be done. There's always something else to finish....AHHHH

By the way....we have an Air Hockey Table that has to go bye bye....anyone want to purchase it?

WOW!!! What a great time!!!

2006-10-24T08:08:00.000-04:00

Well, we're home. The wedding was AMAZING!!! Yes, I was more than stressed out Friday morning, but Friday night went off without a hitch. You know they say that every wedding has that one things that goes wrong...the only thing that I can even think of is that the pastor announced us as Mr. and Mrs. Dan and Katy instead of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel. Oh well. Obviously not major.

The pictures that I have seen are OMG amazing. I've not seen a whole lot. Check out Amber's blog to see some. Hopefully she'll have them done realativly soon. Rob and Amber were a blast to have as photographers!! I'm telling yall....it's WELL worth having them to do your photos for your wedding...or sr. pictures....or family shots...what have you!!

Disney was wonderful!!! We had such a great time that we are already planning on going back next year. We'll probably head back about the same time of year with his family. Should be a GREAT time.

We're both back to work full force. Some of the guys gave him a hard time at work yesterday. One guy went as far as to say, "Dan if you wanted your balls chopped off we would have done it here for you...you didn't have to go out and get married." However this came from a guy who swore he'd never get married again and then comes back after a long weekend where he had run off to Gatlinburg and got married... Most of the guys were happy for him.

There's one other piece of news that we are excited for!!! March 18, 2007 is the due date for our "Peanut." We are so stinkin' excited, but have a lot to get done. We need to get ourselves and the house organized and baby safe as well as turn the "catch all"/game room into a nursery. There's just not enough hours in the day!

This is it....

2006-10-11T07:09:00.000-04:00

I've been slacking on posting due to the craziness that goes on the two weeks prior to a wedding. Trust me it's craziness. My theme these past two weeks, "we should have eloped. It would have been cheaper and less stress."

We're leaving tonight, yeah tonight for Cincinnati. I can't believe it's finally here....and I'm not one of those who took forever to plan her wedding. I can only imagine what that's like. I'm amazed at the number of 'yes's' we've gotten back. 187. That's crazy to me. That defies the odds for the number of guests invited versus the number that actually shows up. It just blows it out of the water. Makes you feel special really.

The next time I post I'll be a married woman with a new last name. The girl in me has been practicing writing my new name. Yeah, I'm a dork. I know. It's exciting. Finally, after all the heartache, the losers, the rebounds, the dead ends I'm marrying the man I'm supposed to be with for the rest of my life. In a way though it sounds kind of scary. I mean look at it. At 23 I've picked out the man I'm going to spend the REST of my life with. It's a lot less scary now then it was at 19.

This will be my last post until we return on the 21st from our honeymoon. Both of us can't wait for a vacation. It's been along time coming.

P.S. In the end of the story with Linda. I called her Thursday and her ass of a husband had told her that I called and said I was too busy to come over and that I'd call her when I wasn't busy anymore. She said, "well I'll just call her real quick before we leave." He replies, "no, she's really busy." He then rushes her out of the house. He purposfully left her phone at their house so I couldn't call her. When they got home, he carried her daughter in the house, grabbed her phone and headed back out to the car. Linda was searching the entire house for it. While he was outside, he deleted my missed calls and voicemails to her. When he came back in, he magically knew where the phone was and when she looked....there was nothing.

No highlights, lowlights or cut.

2006-10-02T07:32:00.000-04:00

Saturday was going to be great. Dan and I headed up to Cincinnati for the day to finalize some music choices as well as get my hair colored, cut and practiced for the wedding. Mom was coming over to Linda's as well to get hers done.

On our way up, mom called to check on a couple quick things since she was at work and was planning on meeting us. No sooner had I hung up, my phone rings again. I see it's Linda's number. I'm definatly excited to answer....I mean comeon, we've been friends since we were 11. No one else has been through as much crap with either one of us. It was her husband*. First thought in my head, "why is he calling me?"

*Ryan and I have NEVER seen eye to eye. In fact,the first time I met him, afterwards I told her no way. Now, they've been married just over a year.

Anyhow, he starts asking if I can change times because she didn't even tell him until that morning that we were coming over. I explained to him that I couldn't for several reasons: I don't just live around the corner anymore, and there is only a small window of time when my mom can be there since she has to work and had plans that evening. Apparently he had something planned and supposedly put a lot of money into it, but didn't tell her even to block the time off for the day. I told him that I had double checked with her and she said that it was no problem, nothing was going on. That's when he got pissed.

The next thing I know, he's using every 4-letter word in the book. Telling me that I use her and that the only time I call her was when I needed my hair done. He then goes, "the past 3 times you've come to see her it's been to get your hair done." I reminded him that we had plans more than once to go out, but they backed out because of something HE had going on. He went on yelling at me while I'm trying to drive on the highway, in the rain. He then says to me, "You know what, I'm going to take her out anyway and you can wait your fat @ss in my driveway until I bring her home." Finally I asked to speak with her. His response, "She's in the shower. What do you want me to do? Go in and make her get out? You can talk to her when she's done." So I replied, "fine." and hung up.

About 10 minutes later, I called back, both her cell and home phone. No answer. Left messages. I tried to call periodically throughout the rest of the morning and into the afternoon. We didn't hurry to leave from the music so they could have more time. We got to their house shortly before 2 (an hour later than scheduled) No one was home. I had told mom what was going on in the process. She met Dan and I over there. I'm, of course, in tears, Dan wasn't really sure how to react, so he stayed pretty quiet. I tried calling her cell again. I know how he is...he wouldn't let her answer the phone.

Mom and I had to make a decision. We have appointments now for the day of my wedding with girls she knows....girls who have never touched my hair before. No coloring, just up-dos.

As far as Linda goes, I hope this isn't the end of such a long friendship of two girls who grew into women together. However, he is not permitted at my wedding. I am not comfortable even being in the same building as him. Should he decide he wants to attend, I know my brother well enough to know that he will ask Ryan to leave.

Ryan is in the army. Served in Iraq, yet comes home and treats his wife's best friend like a dog. He gets no respect from me, mom or Dan whatsoever.

This one is for you Amby!

2006-09-27T08:43:00.000-04:00

So like every bride-to-be as the wedding gets closer, I've been having these dreams about everything going wrong. The one I had last night....the photographers. Last night when I woke up in a cold sweat, I didn't think it was funny....it's a bit humorous to me today as I didn't just pick Joe Shmo to be my photographer....I picked an amazing woman and friend!

So here it goes: The wedding must have been over when they got there. They were sitting in the church lobby in the chairs (we have these tealish/green arm chairs there). I was already out of my dress... my hair was till up due to the HUMONGOUS amount of hairspray in it. I don't remember my veil being in, but the head piece was. I was wearing one of Dan's t-shirts and my favorite pair of "laying around" pants. Yup...you know the ones you'd never go out in public wearing. I was quite the site. Since my hair was done and my flowers for whatever reason had been left at the church, Amby and RG decided that it was more than appropriate to go ahead and do some photos. So there I stood, looking like I was, crying and they were snapping away.
*That would be when I woke up in a cold sweat.

In other news. I was on my way to run some errands yesterday. I'm passing the construction of the house behind us; weaving in and out of the trucks as they don't seem to care that they are blocking all the traffic. It was nice so I have my windows rolled down. I finally get pass the trucks...that's when I heard it. *thump thump thump* I just said to myself, "No, not today. Please not today. Not this early. Dan's nowhere near getting off work." Yup, I had a flat tire. So I turn it around and come home. Call Dan....he's on his way. I thought I'd get things started, especially since he asked if anything was in the tire and I couldn't tell. So I've just pulled the tire off when he gets home. He wasn't too happy that I was working on it....especially at this point in time. Found a roofing nail in the tire. So we are now the proud owners of 2 new rear tires on my car....I love to spend money becasue other people are careless...

Busy, busy and a little bit more busy...

2006-09-26T10:17:00.000-04:00

We're getting to the countdown stages of "days 'til the wedding." October 13 will be here before we know it. Between work and finishing up loose ends for the wedding, I have been one crazy busy girl.

Lots has happened since I last posted. Got to see Amby and RG this past weekend!!! That was so much fun. Made some finalizing phonecalls....those were expensive. Spent some time in Cincinnati making table centerpieces. Decided that we are totally changing how we are going to alter my dress...it's cheaper, easier and quicker that way.

This weekend it's the last cut and color before the wedding....Taking my headpiece and veil up to Linda so she can play and we can halfway decide what we are going to do that lovely day.

Working a lot last week and this week...I hope to carry that all the way up to the wedding...crazy?? maybe a little :)

Other than that....it's eat, sleep and potty...that's about all there is time for!

I know where I was....do you?

2006-09-11T09:05:00.000-04:00

Five years ago today, I was in my dorm room of Palmer Hall getting ready to go to the most dreaded class ever...Honors Rhetoric. Jamie came flying through the door and said a plane hit the WTC. I thought she was joking.
Still though, I flew to my class as her charade was going to make me late.
When I got to the Case Annex, the honors lounge was packed. That was unusual.
On a typical day, there may have been 3 people at most in there. There was a tv that had been pulled in. Everyone staring at the screen not saying a word.
I watched as the second plane hit.
Then we heard it....."This is not important enough to miss class. We are still having Rhetoric."
I couldn't belive what I was hearing. Especially, as we were learning about the plane crash into the pentagon.
I went to class.....pissed. Pissed like I had never been before. I couldn't belive they thought this wasn't important enough to cancel class.
Then it hit me.
My uncle works in the WTC.
I didn't know what to think or do...I couldn't sit in class and cry. I was struggling in the class anyway, so I couldn't leave.
So I sat there....not paying attention, not doing anything, just being. I'm pretty sure most of my other classes were cancelled that day. You didn't really know until you got to the class.
Then it came time for Honors Seminar with Dr. Dave.
He said, "Stay if you want, leave if you want. It's obvious that we're not going to talk about what the syllabus says we will today. If you want to talk about this morning's events and can handle it, stay. If not, I understand and I'll see you next week."
I stayed, as did the majority of us. I don't really remember what all was discussed. I just remember being there...
talking.
venting.
listening.
As the day wore on, I was shocked that we weren't closed....especially since we were right by the army depot.
I recall phoning everyone in my family. Or at least getting ahold of them on messenger.
I'll neer forget that day.
How I felt as a lowly college freshman on a day that would change my life.....
forever.

Alcohol

2006-08-31T17:32:00.000-04:00

My views on the subject at hand have definatly come full circle.

Growing up we had just about any alcohol at hand. I knew right where it was; the kegerator in the garage and the hard stuff underneath the island in the kitchen. Did I touch it?? Hell no. Did I even consider it??? not once.

I'm not going to lie, I still to this day belive that if you are old enough to die for your country then you are old enough to drink a beer. Unfortunatly, Americans are dumb and can't handle some freedoms.

With that belief, Not once did I drink in high school, after turning 18 and after the beginning of the first hell I went though called my parents divorce. Maybe it's because I was one of the handful of honest peer counselors who respected the contract I had signed. Didn't even have a drink of real champagne at a wedding the summer in between my jr. and sr. year due to that contract.

Then there was college. I was the DD....until I started dating a cop. It all went downhill from there. Headline reads, "Cop buys drinks for underaged fiance." I used to rag him about how ironic it was. His reply, "If you are in your own house and not planning on going anywhere, it's okay." Drank a few times...like a champion. Started drinking with some girlfriends...like a champion. Sneaked alcohol into the dorm...like a champion. Then there was the break up...didn't eat for several days going into weeks let alone drink anything.

So we move on, I'm over legal age now. I start going to the bars with intention to have a couple and hang out/dance with some friends. Then I celebrate other people's 21st. BAD idea. Mine sucked as they always find out from someone other than me, and you'd think it's mine. Beyond a drunken stouper in Columbus I puke for the first time from alcohol.....in my cousin's bed. Woke up the next morning with NO hangover. This is great I'm thinking.....except the throwing up part.

The next summer I start going to the bar with my mom. Who does that?? I do. The friends there become my friends. After a conversation one night a friend tells me how she tried to do Tracy Byrd's "Ten Rounds with Jose Cuervo" made it to 8 and puked her guts out right then and there. I told her I'd take her on....and I did. After number 10 I was still dancing, in my heels. Slammed a couple White Castle sliders on the way home and went to bed.

Here I am, 23 years old, getting married in 6 weeks and I rarely touch the stuff. Probably because I'm marrying a man who never has touched it. I don't care about having another drink. My choice.

Why bring this up??? Facebook has done it again and made me think. Yes, I have pictures of me with the headshot that I did. One Time. However, I see the pictures of people, even former peer couselors, proudly proclaiming and showing off their drinks. It's not that it bothers me they drink. I prolly still would if I weren't in my current circumstances. (and yes I have had a beer or two in front of Dan, just not as regular as I used to) I guess I'm just a lot more cautious about proudly announcing things where my employers could be looking. It also shocks me to see what people do, yes even on their own time, given different professions they may be holding. I guess if there's one thing I learned while I was in teaching school it was C.Y.A.

Insomnia.....

2006-08-25T03:09:00.000-04:00

There is nothing I hate more than on a day that's going to be UBER busy to not be able to sleep. Here it is 3am (I've already been up for an hour) and I"m wide awake. I can't be like this now!!! On top of it, I think it may have finally stopped, but my wonderful man sounded like a freight train in bed next to me.
We're going to Bristol today for the race tonight. Yup, that's right, I'm once again trying something new. I have mixed feelings about going to Bristol, not because of the race or anything, but because of the past. I'm sure nothing will happen. He's no fan of NASCAR, not to mention the fact that when I just read his blog it stated he's headed to see his mom today. So that's good. It'll still bring back memories though. I just hope I'm able to make new, great, long-lasting memories with D today.

As far as that guy I posted about yesterday. Well, I got a message from him in reply to mine. The exchange looked something like this:
(me)Obviously you have some great hatred towards me for some unknown reason. That's really sad. I've never done anything to deserve such treatment...or at least it's never been brought to my knowledge.
I'm not going to appologize for something I didn't do. I'm also not going to appologize for congratulating you. I truly am happy for you. I hope everything works out for the best and you and your soon-to-be wife have a wonderful life together.
(him) thank u. same to u. :)
What the hell kind of shit is that?! Oh well...Proves once more that guys SUCK at comminication.

Finally, as we were getting ready for bed last night we received some very disturbing phone calls. My SIL had a nasty divorce from a man who there's just not time to get into all of that. Anyhow, he signed over all the rights to my nephew and everything when he left her (my nephew was 10 weeks old). When D first got the house last Oct., my SIL lived with him until she got her last apt. We have an unlisted phone number. Well the phone rang 3 times within half an hour and the caller said, "Is_____ there?" Both of us told him there was no one here by the name. Not a lie by any means. Part of the problem too though is that he knows D is here by his voice....especially since D lived with them for about a year when they were married. It's still creepy though as to how he was able to get our number. So not only am I up now thinking about it, I went to sleep thinking about it. My only fear (and they all beleive he'd never come to this area) is that I'm home one day when D and I have kids; D's at work and he shows up. He was out of the picture before I came into it. I have no idea what he looks like. My thing is, I can only be so nice for so long. I'll take a lot of crap, but once I snap...look out! heh. All I know is this....I know WAY too many cops and the like in this area for him to come messing with me and mine.

Leak and Confused.

2006-08-24T08:24:00.000-04:00

Monday morning I got a call from a friend explaining to me about other people I know from college and the antics that happened over the weekend. hahaha All fine and great then she says this, "You came up in their conversation." She goes on and tells me all about what was said. I couldn't believe what she was telling me. The information known only a handful of select people know at this point in time. Not to mention the fact, I've not even talked to this person in nearly 2 years. How in the hell does she know??? Somewhere there is a person I thought I could trust and apparently I can't. That sucks.

Now for the confused part.

Found out last night that a guy I went to high school with and later dated in college got engaged. Yay for him. I hop on Facebook and leave him a little message of congrats. This morning it had been erased. Only mine.... Not sure what I did to make him mad or have some unnecessary hatred towards me. If anything it should be the other way around due to how he treated me, but I'm over it. I guess it just goes to show you that while some people change, some never do. Some stay that 17yo high school boy that just wants to get in a girl's pants. I truly am happy for him and hope that they are happy....hope it lasts too. So good luck to the both of them.

Finally, for some good news. I had a Dr's appointment yesterday that I had been dreading since it was set. There was going to be some life-threatening news given to me. However at the Dr's appointment, all the tests done showed that everything is ok and there is nothing to worry about. Praise the Lord.

201 and settling down.

2006-08-16T09:01:00.000-04:00

So in the midst of my *wonderful* migriane I neglected to mention the 200th post that was yesterday....fun, wasn't it. Ok, not really I know.

Anyhow, I was looking at some pictures of people that well, I wouldn't call friends, but that I know. I'm not sure that I would even consider them acquaintences, but in a past life I would... It made me realize that I'm glad to be settling down with Dan as we plan our new life together. I never was one to go out and get trashed just for the heck of it (with the exception of the night I did all 10 rounds with Jose). Sure getting a little tipsy every once in a while happened, but not on a regular basis. Then I look at these people (the ones mentioned before) who are out of college, supposedly working a "real" job and out drinking all the time to the point of total drunkness. Then I look at the people I go to the bar with when I go. They all have kids my age or older. What's with that??? I guess it's their "2nd chance" if you will. Although, I belive that they were the same way when their kids lived at home.

The point is this: I'm happy where I am. Not just content, but happy.

I'm glad that I didn't go totally wild in college.

I'm glad that I found the man I'm supposed to marry, not one that will "do."

I'm glad the past is just that....the past.

I'm glad that we write our own future (most days)

I'm glad to be me and live my life.

The headache from hell and lots of presents

2006-08-14T16:20:00.000-04:00

I've got it today...the headache from hell. You know the one....where the only thing that helps is sleep. So that's what I've done most of today....sleep. Not good since my in-laws will be in town starting Wednesday and my house is a WRECK. Oh well, we'll get it done....eventually.

Saturday was my second wedding shower. We had a blast!!! There were nearly 30 people there....and that's small for my family. It was so great to see everyone!! Our trunk and backseat were totally packed. Good thing all the luggage we had was just a carryon. While we were at the shower, grandpa took Dan and Bobby (neen's boyfriend) to Skyline and then Union Terminal where they saw the Onimax. I guess they had fun.....

I'm going to go see if I can't do anything about this headache and mess of a house.

Personal Opinion...you don't have to like it.

2006-08-11T09:52:00.000-04:00

With the exception of a family name that is passed down 17 times and to be able to differentiate between all the generations, I don't get why people name their kids and then call them by their middle name. If that's what you are going to call them....name them that!!!!! If it's a family name that you are just wanting to keep but have no desire to be called that, make it the middle name!!! It drives me up a wall. That's one thing that I don't miss about teaching. You go in call roll... "Henry???" Kid pipes up, "I go by Matt." (just an example not actual names used) What's with that?!?!

I've always felt this way, but it's been on my mind a lot lately!! I feel the same way about shortening names. If you are going to call your child Katy (or Katie) why in the world did you name her Katherine?!?!! I just don't get it. It's dumb!

Just a few thoughts.

2006-08-02T08:50:00.000-04:00

1. Maybe it's just the fact that my background is in teaching, but I'm surprised at how dumb some people are. Especially when these are people who come off at least to be somewhat intelligent. Homonyms: words that sound alike but are spelled differently and have a different meaning. My second graders could tell you 100's of these. The biggest culprits?!?! hear/here and there/they're/their. That's all I'm going to say about it.

2. Some people just don't get a clue. Now, I'll preface this with the fact that there are times I'm slow to start....especially now having a whirlwind of things going on. However, if someone after MONTHS, nearly a year, NEVER responds to you, it's time to quit trying.

3. This heat....it's for the birds. I feel for the women I see who are out in it and they are about 17 months pregnant. That just wouldn't work for me. I hate the heat as it is....

4. Old "friends". I'm not going to lie, I've been hurt recently by a couple of invitations to things that I did not receive. (and surprised by a couple I have) One in particular was to an event where several people I would have considered friends were attending. I guess that's not the case, and it frees up a few of my invitations....

Friday....already?

2006-07-21T07:00:00.000-04:00

On Monday it always seems as if Friday will never be here. However, the next thing I know it is! Week after week after week I feel like this. While Dan and I are childless we will have a special "tradition" on Fridays. I take him lunch at work and hang out for a little bit. It's always a good time! That will be the plan again today!!

In other news....well, I'm not really sure that there is other news. It's been the same as usual..with an exception. I have an AWESOME business and God is ALWAYS faithful. I had a bill that was due yesterday and didn't have the $$ for it. (bad Katy) Well I had a facial. While at my facial another woman walked in and placed an order right then and there. That part that I earned yesterday was what I needed to pay the bill. How awesome is that?!

The past and facebook

2006-07-18T07:22:00.000-04:00

I really try not to dwell on the past in the fact of sitting and thinking "if only I had said that" or "if only I had done it that way." I do look back at my past and try to figure out what I was supposed to get out of it or why that particular person was in my past at that time of my life. Then I start to wonder about others. Kind of a "where are they now" thing.
Thus came the introduction of Facebook into my life. Catch up with those that you called friends in high school or even the kid that moved 17 times in and out of your elementary school. The girl that was so smart and dropped out of college or the big athlete who is an alcoholic now. It's amazing to me how much people can change in a 5 year time span. Going from 18 to 23 may not be a huge difference in age, but the difference in life and maturity is enormous. Those people that swore would be your friends forever you don't even associate with the same type of people anymore. Then there are those that you swore you'd never be and or hang out with and well, look in the mirror.
After a while what's cool doesn't really matter anymore.

86 Days

2006-07-17T07:15:00.000-04:00

86 days from today I'll be married!!!! I can't wait!!

Saturday we went out and had a great morning. Went out to breakfast together and then went and test drove a Vibe since that's what I'll be getting. After that we decided to go to Lexington to look at cars. We'd been talking about his car and such and what to do after the mustang. So went and were just looking.....until we were at our 3rd dealer for the day and he test drove a Mazda 6. He LOVED it. Well, we headed back home as I needed to go to work. All the way crunching numbers and such. He asked what I thought and I said if they give us enough trade it and the payment is at a certain place fine. He still wasn't sure if he was evn going to go back. Well, I get home and there are messages from him on my cell to get our nephew as he is still at the dealer. When he got home.....he had a new car with him. LOVE IT!!

That was our little treat for the weekend....well, don't know how little it is, but it's time. The mustang served it's purpose. Plus there's room in the backseat.

It's Friday??....already???

2006-07-14T07:09:00.000-04:00

Where does the time go?? I swear it was just Monday. Sure I got a lot of stuff completed AND I've worked my tail off, but still I feel like there is so much to do still this week. I guess I need to look at my 168 hours and figure out where they are going. Even big shots and world leaders have the same 168 hours.

This weekend is actually going to be a bit relaxing.....I hope. I think we're watching Caleb for a bit. We're going to test drive a red vibe (since that's what I'll be getting....FREE!!!!) I received a voicemail from my director that said, "When you are test driving it leave me a voicecom about how it smells, drives everything......it'll be powerful." It will be. It's going to be that extra edge that I need.

Other than that....s.o.s. around here.

Oh and BTW..... "qx.net" user out of Lexington....CHILL! I'm lucky to update this once a day.....let alone 5 or 6 or 7 times a day.

Starting fresh....

2006-07-10T07:18:00.000-04:00

Monday is a good day to start/re-do/re-arrange things. That's what I'm all about today.

Dan and I are trying a new thing that'll help me when it comes to business stuff. Last night we sat down together and wrote out a 2 week menu and chore sheet. Being the teacher that I am it is now color coded and everything. I think it is really going to help the both of us so we know what's going on. It helps us when it comes to scheduling things as well as what groceries we need. I'm excited about it....he kind of is too.

Starting with a blank calendar today too. That's kind of nice to look at the things that we know are going on this week and put them down on paper. It's going to be a great week....I just know it is!!!

Frustrated like no other

2006-07-08T17:29:00.000-04:00

Today was wonderful..untilI got home. Today was one of my best friend's wedding. It was wonderful. Her make up looked great! (I did it.) We got lost on the way to the receoption because downtown Lexington sucks.

Well we left early as Dan's parents, sister, nephew, brother and sister-in-law were coming over to our house for dinner. We get home and no one is there. So we call his mom to see what was going on and firgured they'd be on their way. NO....NOT the case. They decided to come over earlier so his brother and sister-in-law could get back home. We were told they were coming over and would wait for us to get home before eating or anything.

NOT ONCE was anything mentioned prior to our phone call that plans had changed. I HATE when people do that. Especially when it's our house being used and when they knew we would be leaving something early to get back. It pisses me off to no end. Have some consideration people.

Make friends with you banker....

2006-07-07T09:13:00.000-04:00

If there's one thing I've learned in life when dealing with customer service is to start off nice. If you still aren't getting what you want/need/deserve that's when you turn into bitch mode. Thankfully I didn't have to go into bitch mode today with 5/3. They reversed the fees and reconnected my debit card. It was their mistake and they made it right....Praise the Lord. Honestly, I hate it when I have to bust out the fact that I'm a redhead and need to be a bitch. I really do.

On my mind....

2006-07-07T07:42:00.000-04:00

I'd really love to post about the busy, yet wonderful events of the weekend, but that's not what's weighing heavy on my mind.

It's car dealers and banks.
I took Dan's car in nearly 3 weeks ago to find out why the engine light was showing up on the dash. I was informed after sitting in the waiting room that they didn't have the part but it was ok to drive it. They went on to say, we'll call you when the part gets here...and yes it is covered by the warranty. Well it had better be.
After all this time no phone calls had been made in our direction. Keeping my cool, I call them on Wednesday. "Oh yeah, the part is here..... When can you bring it in??" Trying to keep my cool I explain that Thrusday morning will work just fine. (especially since my in-laws are in town and they are able to follow me, take me home and then get me when it's done) So at 9am yesterday I take the car in...."Mrs. Masino it'll be done in about 2 hours....we'll give you a call" Yeah right, I think.
So mom, dad, Caleb and I go out to breakfast and head to the park for a while. We come home and still nothing so about 1230 I give them a call. "Oh yeah, the black mustang.....well after that was replaced there was still something wrong so we're going on and changing and fixing things." I was told 2 hours. "well yes ma'am it was 2 hours for that part and now it's more for the rest of it." I hang up the phone pissed. Sure I want the car to be fixed and all, but it's a bit on the illegal side to do any more work than was originally 'contracted' with at least an oral agreement.
Mom and dad take Caleb home and I chill out for a while. Dan calls at his break.....no honey, I've not heard anything let me call again and then I'll call you back. It's now 315.
"Mrs. Masino...we're going to have to get you a rental car so we can keep your car and work on it some more." I kindly say, "this is covered by our warranty....right?" He says yes. So now I have an extended cap Chevy Silverado in the driveway that I'm really digging right now.

Well the bank comes in on a whole different level. I realized that I had a bill aft from my account that I had forgotten about so I took $$ to the ATM to deposit it yesterday morning. I put my ATM card in there and it says checking account not found, please call. I call. They say well, your account is overdrawn. I'm like I know, that's why I'm at the bank trying to put in this cash (which is supposed to be available same day) She says well the bank has disconnected that debit card. Did I EVER receive a phone call, note, fire signal, anything about this??? NO. I thank her and inform her that I will be closing all my accounts with 5/3.
So I go and deposit the $$ in my other account and transfer it. (This was before the bank was open so I HAD to go to the ATM and couldn't close the accounts yesterday)
Well when we got home from the park yesterday there was a message from the bank at home wanting me to call. I call and of course she's not available and doesn't call me back yesterday.
This morning I check everything and I'm charged for overdraft!!! I'm like WTF. So when the branch at home opens they will be getting a phone call from one pissed off redhead......and EVERYONE knows not to piss off a redhead.

So that's what's on my mind today....that and the fact it's Friday and Dan is off at 330 today!

Have a happy day!!

SO I just realized.....

2006-07-02T08:26:00.000-04:00

that I don't update very well right now. It's probably due to the fact that I'm working like crazy, preparing to be a "Stay At Home Wife/Aunt" and planning a wedding. Does that make a person busy?? Sometimes....but then again, there are days that it's the most boring, mundane 'job' ever. I think all jobs are like that and those days are a rareity.

I love when my sister sits down and let her pen speak. I found something this morning and want to share it.

sometimes my stomach aches with empty. and i like that feeling, to be true. sometimes it feels much better than satisfied. or too full. sometimes i'm unconcsious of rhyme.i just want to write and sometimes it comes out.
and sometimes my nose runs and i have to sniffle and snuffle a lot. and sometimes my feet get cold and i have dry skin. but that's better than no feet at all. and sometimes i forget what i'm writing and what i'm saying... and i forget who called and who i told i would call back and i forget my assignments and i forget people who are important to me and i forget to feed my fish and i forget to call home and i forget to say thank you and i forget i forget i forget. i'm certainly no elephant.
sometimes i like when my hair is messy. sometimes i like to dress up. sometimes. sometimes i wish my hair would grow over night and it would be back to where it was. and sometimes i'm happy that it's short and growing slowly. sometimes i feel like a mooch. mostly because i hardly ever have money for things. and sometimes i realize that people really do want to help me. but sometimes not. and sometimes i pride myself in reading and sometimes i get mad at myself for not. and sometimes i'm messy sometimes i'm clean. and sometimes i'm just janine.
but mostly i eat when i'm hungryand mostly i make my bed and clean the roomand mostly my hair really is messy. and mostly i like what's in my head and mostly i'm considerate of the people around me. i think. and mostly i forget.
sometimes i remember.

mostly. i forget

There you have it folks....an original Janine.

The Best Man ever....

2006-06-27T09:06:00.000-04:00

I'm not going to go into all the nitty gritty details of the events that took place last night, but I will say this. I've got the best man there is.

After I came home from my meeting I sat down to have something to eat (you know ladies...a day where you CAN'T get full....no matter what) Dan says he is ready to go to bed. We have this thing where we try our absolute hardest not to go to bed without one another....99% of the time it works for us. I told him I wasn't tired and he says that's ok we can talk. Well we did that for a while and we were joking around when something snapped. I got pissed. Don't ask me what or why or any of that becuase I honestly don't know.
I then got up and started doing things around the house that needed to get done...and not very quietly so my love could try to go to sleep. (it wasn't excessivly loud, just didn't take any steps to make sure I was quiet)
To make a long story short, he finally gets up and finds me in my office about to clean it. He stops me and asks me what's wrong....the only thing I can say is "I don't know" and then burst into tears. I seriously didn't know what was up. All that kept racing through my mind was all the stuff I needed to do and get done. He then leads me back to our bedroom (I'm just totally sobbing at this point) and sits with me and talks with me until I fall asleep.

I don't know what I did to deserve him, but I'm sure glad I got him.

Dreaming....

2006-06-23T08:10:00.000-04:00

I'm at the point where I'm considering going to a "dream expert." Just about every morning when I get up, I'm startled awake froma crazy, weird dream. Not the kind where you wake up and go, "Wow. That was weird," but the kind you remember and play back in your head throughout the entire day.

The other day it was about a wedding. This morning I was being chased. I really just need to sit and write them down.

Could it be the change in the bed?? I know that changes in sleeping and what not can affect your dreams/dreaming. Is it becuase of the new bed and I'm actually getting real sleep at night that is casuing this? I'm not sure, but it's crazy. I'm not sure if I want to have anymore dreams like the ones I've been having.

No need to worry that I'm going on some sleep strike though....I'll never give up my sleep!

...Something New.....

2006-06-20T09:56:00.000-04:00

something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue:

I got my something new for the wedding yesterday. Bought it for myself as a little gift while I was getting his band picked out. It's a necklace that will be perfect with my dress. Simply gorgeous!

Another something new will be here tomorrow!!! Our beautiful new bed!!! Thanks mom and dad! It's our wedding gift from his parents.

There is something new on the walls of my office....we painted it last week!!!

This weekend I got a cute new bag from my step-grandma....it says "BTB" and underneath it "Bride To Be." Super cute!!!

I think that is the majority of the newness around here!!!

The Past

2006-06-15T14:20:00.000-04:00

For some reason unbeknownst to me I've been thinking A LOT about the past lately....past boyfriends, past friends, past schools, past dreams. Maybe that's becuase I turned down a teaching interview today. Maybe it's because I'm getting married in less than 4 months. Maybe it's because of the damned Facebook where I look at people I grew up with having "real" jobs. I don't know.

Don't read into this anymore than it's just got me thinking about people and where they are and what they are doing now...who they are marrying and all of that stuff.

I'm excited to be married and be a wife and a mommy and a rockin' Mary Kay director all in the near future!!!

I will say that the past does have me thinking and wondering about my future. I LOVE DAN!!! I love who I am with and without him. I'm totally excited for the future we will have together. I can't wait....for the near future and the distant future.

Oh!! Our invitations came today!! WOO HOO They look SOOO good!!!!

Well I think that's all....peace.

P.S. To Alex (if you even read this): I'm glad you are happy with your life. I've been wanting to say that for sometime now and just haven't gotten around to it. I still have that "gift" and have every intention on mailing it to you...as soon as time and $$ allows. (slowly but surely things are getting cleaned out of my dad's house where it is) Enjoy Michigan while you are there with Kristy. I've seen a lot of change in you in the past 2.5 years....good change. Even if we had never been thru our past together the you and I now still aren't right for one another and never will be. I will say this though....the past we shared has made me a stronger, smarter, wiser, and even a bit more stubborn woman.

Much Needed Update

2006-06-07T06:49:00.000-04:00

I've looked and thought that I've updated I don't know how many times. Well, Thursday I FINALLY got my ring back from the jewlers. I was SO excited to play that message on the answering machine....I didn't even drop anything, I just turned around and walked out the door.

D and I had a GREAT weekend not having ANYWHERE to go. It was so nice to be on our own schedule. Yet at the same time where we've been SO stinkin' busy it almost felt like we were wasting the time. This weekend we are hoping to go bed shopping and pick out our gift from his mom and dad.

I talked to the people doing our invitations yesterday and asked if they by chance knew when they'd be complete. (had to call to let them know the proof was fine) The woman said, "well they are scheduled to ship on the 14th." I said, "Of this month?!" I was SO shocked and excited at the same time.

Other than wedding planning it's been birthdays and working for the both of us.

What's today???

2006-05-31T09:12:00.000-04:00

I love a long weekend.....everyone does. I love them for the reason though that it means D is home!! This long weekend we went up to Cleveland where he grew up! It was a lot of fun. His sister and nephew that live down here did too. We had a 3rd bday party for Caleb, I saw the smallest parade in my life, met my other sister-in-law and her family, hand lots of laughs and got some news about a rockin' wedding gift his parents are giving us.....A NEW BED!!!!!

The only problem with a long weekend is that it throws me off schedule and it takes me a couple days before I figure out what day it is. It's even more difficult b.c I don't have a "traditional" day job. It's all good though.

I'm seriously hoping the jewlry store calls and has my rings back today. I'm missing my engagement ring. I keep teasing D that I think I remember what it looks like.... Also, I got a couple more things set for the wedding yesterday. Invitations are ordered and DJ is booked. Rock on! With the exception of flowers and finishing up discusions with the photographer (my wonderful friend Amby)the big pieces are pretty much done!! YAY!

It's sinking in....

2006-05-25T16:18:00.000-04:00

Of course it's not like I didn't know I was getting married, but come on! Things are really starting to sink in. NonRefundable deposits are being made, details with the pastor at church and how the ceremony will go are in the works, registries are almost complete. It's not that we didn't know we were getting married, but it just seems to be sinking in a bit more and things are becoming a reality as it gets closer. Sure we have 4.5 months until the wedding. Yes, we have a lot done, but somehow at the same time it doesn't feel like enough time.....now granted I'll get it all done....no worries there.

Last night we worked on our Registry at one store. Tonight it's the other. Why 2 stores?? Well, we didn't find everything we liked at one store. Another one of the stores where we did find almost everything (or at least I did) is too expensive for our taste. The two stores we are looking at are EVERYWHERE and you can order online from them. It just seemed right. Plus that way we are able to price match between the two and make sure everyone is getting a good deal for their money.

Not too much other than house cleaning and wedding planning today. I guess that's enough though!!!

Big Dreams = Big Goals

2006-05-24T05:13:00.000-04:00

There's nothing like a double dog dare. We got one the other day from our National Sales Director the other day to order and sell 20 of the brand new satin hands sets by the end of the month. WOW...Can you believe it??? 20 of them!! I have a big dream to earn my car by my wedding.....therefore I need to take this huge challenge. Can you help?? Of course you can!!! All you have to do is click on my website and place an order. It's THAT easy.

The Proposal

2006-05-16T08:46:00.000-04:00

Ok OK OK.....So D and I may have done things a little bit backwards, but we had to in order to be able to tell our parents and get the ball rolling on the wedding planning. D officially proposed to me on Sunday.

Saturday we had plans to go to the jewelry store. We went....I tried on what seemed like hundreds of rings and combinations. Everytime I tried one on I asked him, "what do you think?" (knowing full well he wasn't going to answer) After a while I asked him if he wanted me to leave...and I did....went shopping at a couple of the stores in the same place. He came home with the rings that day! It killed me to know they were in the house. We actually came home to clean out the garage (so we can fit 2 cars in the 2 car garage!) and he just put them inside the door so they'd be out of the way. When I opened the door he said to me, "Look at them and you don't get them." Man that's hard to take!

Sunday after church and running around with his sister and nephew I was exhasuted. He told me to go ahead and lay down for a nap because he was going to go out and get some gas and go to the grocery store. I knew he wasn't going to the grocery store...he HATES going grocery shopping by himself. PLus, he left the list on the table. Knowing him, and the fact he's got a horrible poker face, I knew he was up to something regarding the rings. Well, I was watching a movie and fell asleep.I half woke up when I heard him come home, but I didn't open my eyes or anything. A few minutes later he asks, "Do you want some ice cream?" I reply, "no." The stinker had driven all the way to Lexington to get us pints of Greater's ice cream as that's where we had our very first date. Well then after some quick thinking, he comes over to the side of the counch where I'm still half asleep. He looks at me and says, "Well you may not want any ice cream, but I think you might want this." I roll over and there he is on one knee in front of me with a pint of Greater's ice cream, spoon in the ice cream standing up and my ring around the spoon. He then looks at me and says, "so, will you marry me?" I said, "You betcha!" And the rest as they say is history.

Yesterday I took my rings to be sized....4 weeks!!!!! UGH!!! I'm SO bummed out that they will be gone for 4 weeks.

OH! You are probably wondering what they look like.... My engagement ring is a colorless, round diamond in a white gold cathedral setting. My wedding band is so cool and different! My engagement ring actually "snaps" into the center of it. Both sides are the same. On either side of the center are chanel set diamonds and then in the center is a heart that has a little bit of a yellow gold "ribbon" coming off of it. Otherwise the rest of the ring is white gold as well.

Hope I don't jinx myself....

2006-05-12T08:28:00.000-04:00

So far so good.......wedding planning is going great. We got an AWESOME gift from my mom the other night. She's setting up an account for wedding stuff and is putting 5K in it!!! I just started to cry when she told me. As far as the other things go:

we have the church booked
I'm ordering my dress this weekend as I have it all picked out,
invitations are pretty much done
photographer is scheduled (thanks Amby!!!)
cake maker is picked
florist is picked (just need to go and make final decisions as to what we want)
Honeymoon destination picked...actually, it's what helped determine our wedding date.

Things are well on their way. I went to see my "brother" the other day and he was starting to ask if I could pull off a wedding in 5 months......Then he goes, "What am I asking....If anyone can pull off a wedding in 5 months it's you!" So that's what I've been busy doing.....pulling together a wedding in 5 months.

BIG NEWS!!!!

2006-05-08T10:11:00.000-04:00

OK....so I know it's been a while since I've posted but that would be because D and I have been gone spending time with family to let them in on some very big, very exciting news!!!! That news would be.....

WE'RE GETTING MARRIED!!!!!

Yes, it's true. We are so excited and can't wait. Why put off what you know is right??? So we're not....well not totally. We will be getting married Friday, Oct. 13. YAY!!!!

Slackin...

2006-05-01T07:09:00.000-04:00

on posting that is...not on life! Things have been crazy busy this last week. Working tons! We painted the bedroom...it's GORGEOUS!!! LOVE IT!!! D's parents came in town this weekend. While he was working on Friday, I spent the day with his mom, dad, aunt, uncle, sister and nephew. Now, you know you're "in good" when you can spend an entire day with your significant other's family while he's not there. Not to mention, some of the comments that his dad makes! lol

*funny story* so we spent the day Friday at the Shaker Village in Harrodsburg. It was a fun day! OK, so you know that I don't know a stranger and can talk to anyone....well, his dad makes me look shy in that respect. Nancy (D's sister) and Caleb (nephew) and I are walking outside to let Caleb run. We over hear dad talking about not expecting to be back in KY ever again ( he was stationed at Ft. Knox back in the 50's). As we're walking out, you hear him say, "That's my daughter and grandson." We thought nothing of it until he says, "And that's *long pause* (I'm expecting to hear my son's girlfriend) my future daughter in law." Nancy and I about split a gut when we got outside. There has never been any mention of any kind of marriage to anyone in his family. I guess that his dad likes me and approves of me! LOL

Moving on, It was a long work week for D as he had inventory this week. It made getting up this morning a pain even though it was totally over. Our weekends just seem to fly by anymore. I know this coming one will too as we are going to Cincinnati to spend time with my family.....Does the craziness ever stop?? Well, in all actuality though, it's really not that bad and we do get to take some time to ourselves. Plus every night this week isn't booked solid as it was last week.

Ok...that's all for now. Catch ya later....maybe!

Ahhh, Life

2006-04-25T12:29:00.000-04:00

So yeah....I picked up D on Sunday afternoon after both of us missing each other terribly. We ran some errands: picked up paint and necessities for the bedroom, groceries and then because neither of us felt like cooking we picked up some dinner. It was a great evening together just doing the normal "routine" and things that needed to be done. We ate dinner, cut the grass, cleaned the kitchen, did some laundry and finished preparing the bedroom walls to be painted.

Yesterday while he was working, I worked as well. Got several appointments booked, had a conference call, all good things. After I had fixed dinner and cleaned up, it was time to paint the walls. Now believe me I loved the color as we were picking it out and everything, but as it started to dry on the wall it seemed a LOT darker. Well as it became drier and on all four walls, I liked it more and more. This morning, I looked in the room as I headed to the bathroom to shower....it was BEAUTIFUL!!! I LOVE the color of the room!!! It's magnificent!! Since the blinds are still down, the sunlight was just pouring in and lit up the room. I can't wait until that's OUR bedroom!

Today is spent working and tutoring (I'm in between appointments) and then watching his nephew and cleaning up as his family will be at the house Thursday night.

Have a great one!! I'll catch ya on the flip side!

P.S. I checked my appointment book that was left open last night and when I looked at today to double check who I had coming over it said, "I love you Katy - D" How sweet is that?!

I miss him....

2006-04-21T23:24:00.000-04:00

Tonight D took off work early do go on a post-grad retreat with church that he had signed up for before we started our relationship. I honestly had considered going myself, but never actually did anything other than think about it for about 2 seconds. Well, I knew we were going to be pressed for time so I got to the house before he got off work. Little did he know I was going to be there starting dinner so he could finish up the things he needed to do before leaving for the weekend.

So cute....when he opened the door he says, "honey I'm home...I just wanted to see what that felt like to say."

Anyway, I dropped him off at church before they left for the retreat that was more difficult than I had anticipated....for the both of us. Once he got his things into the car he'd be riding in, he came back to give me a hug, several kisses and to tell me he loves me.

I didn't shed any tears (rare for me) but I came close.

Tomorrow I have a facial and then I'm headed up to G-town. I'll prolly go out with D's sister and hang out or something. If I go up there, I'll just stay at the house....it'll be kind of lonely, but I'll manage.

See yall later!!

Gifts from the heart.

2006-04-20T13:23:00.000-04:00

The other night I got to the house and dinner was ready. MMM...Chicken Parmesean. D walked into the laundry room. I'm thinking he is going and switching loads that we had put in the night before. He comes out with these:
I'd NEVER gotten flowers in my life (from a guy) before. He did it 'just becuase.' I hadn't mentioned anything about it before.

Last night while we were sanding and preparing the bedroom walls to be painted, he was out in the kitchen looking for something. I was SO confused as to what it was. I tried asking him, in case it was something that I had moved, and he wouldn't say so I dropped it and went back to work. He comes into the bedroom and hands me this:
This was a big deal. He'd told me before that he'd never give anyone a key to the house until he married her. (with good reason I don't blame him at all)

We both keep little tricks up our sleeves which I love. Yesterday morning I snuck a love note and some of his favorite candy in his lunch box while he was in the shower. This morning he comes in to the room where I'm sleeping as he's ready to leave for work to kiss me goodbye. It's the little things that matter.....one of my key phrases. However, not only the little things, but the big things we have in common too! It's just right!!!

Busy being in love.

2006-04-19T13:41:00.000-04:00

If you've not been able to catch up with me...well, there's good reason. I'm in love. The best man in the world and I are totally, wonderfully in love. It's just wonderful!!! I've NEVER been in as much love as I am right now....and it grows; everyday.

This weekend we'll be apart. I'm not thrilled about it, and neither is he. However, it'll be good for both of us. We both need it for various reasons.

Do you know how good a redhead looks in a black mustang??? hehehe.....ask D. He'll tell you. Apparently at work the guys talk about dating redheads vs. blondes and brunettes. I guess his foreman is married to a redhead. Well D's comment to him the other day was, "well, I got myself a redhead. They say blondes have more fun, but redheads...HO-LY COW!" His foreman replies with, "yeah, I know. Hang on for the ride."

We've been busy though planting flowers and getting walls in the house ready to paint and all that other house kind of stuff. I really enjoy it....so does he. YAY!

Well, I'm off to do some more work. I'll check in when I can!

Hoppy Easter!!!!

2006-04-16T22:26:00.000-04:00

What a great weekend!!!! I spent the weekend at D's house in Georgetown. It was spent being together and with his family. Funny thing was his nephew, who will be 3 in June, came over at one point in time. They were asking where him where everyone in the family lived and they asked him where I lived. He answered, "D's house." Well, while the answer is no....not yet, that will be changing sometime this year.

He and I had a great Easter together. Friday we spent a good part of the day with his mom, dad, sister, nephew, brother and sister-in-law. Saturday was mostly the two of us. We ran errands, procrastinated finishing getting the bedroom ready to paint, went to church and then ate dinner with the family. Today we drove to Louisville to hear his sister-in-law sing at church. Then we all went over to her sister's house for Easter lunch. What a blast we all had!!

I'm so totally happy I can't stand it!

Love is in the air!!

2006-04-13T07:52:00.000-04:00

I just LOVE spring time. There's nothing better than warmer weather to break out the flip flops and capris or the middle of the night storm when you are cuddling with the man you love.

That's right yall, along with the rabbits and birds and all the other animals out there, I'm in love. I'm TOTALLY happy!!! It's wonderful. No pictures or anything yet, but met and hung out with part of his family last night....met the parents the night before. Wonderful people!!

I'll update more, as I have time, and as I'm in my apartment as opposed to the house in Georgetown.

Blast from the Past

2006-04-09T07:59:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I spent a good portion of the day at my dad's house going through things that are mine both in his basement and what used to be my room. WOW....I never knew that in 23 years someone could accumulate so much random crap....not to mention breaking the chunk of it down to just the past 5 years when I was in college. I found some great memmories....as well as some not so great memories

I found:

old tapes - New Kids On the Block, MC Hammer, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Rainbow Brite Christmas
My gameboy....and the games
various items from various trips
clothes I had forgotten about
notes....handwritten, snail mailed notes
old emails

Now it's the notes and emails that really get me. Back in September of 02 I was talking to this wonderful guy, Neil Soto. Right as Neil and I were starting to have feeligns for each other, Alex walked into my life. Due to the immense feelings that I had for Alex, I abruptly ended things with Neil. DUMB KATY! Why is that so dumb?? Well, I found the letters that Neil had written me. He's an artist so there were drawings in there with them. I found the pictures he had sent me. As well as the poetry he had written for me. Here's one of the poems:

IN A DREAM

There is no place

Deep inside my heart

No one knows but me

So full of light

It burns with love

There an angel waits

Her wings are soft

And white as snow

They hold me in their warmth

Her gentle arms

Brush tears away

As I look up

Deep in her eyes

I know

We have met someplace before

In a dream

Or in heaven

For I know

We have found each other

And true love once again

He then added this note at the end: For you Katy, may your heart shine bright as all the stars in the sky.

This got me curious....curious as to what he's up to, and what else I might find. Well, I found the proof that I had that Alex was cheating on me. I found the emails that I had printed off from his email account. Ironically, after his failed marriage, it has been brought to my attention that he is dating that same woman currently. *As a sidenote, he gave me the password for that long before I ever started checking anything....he started acting funny, so I persued my gut feeling and checked. I just didn't want to believe it.*

That was not the end of my curiosity though. I was still curious as to how Neil was and what he was doing. So I happened to have his email address still (I for some reason just couldn't delete it). Yep, I emailed him. I waited for the email to be sent back saying it was an old email and didn't work. It never got sent back....by yahoo. When I checked my email this morning, I had a reply. He was glad to hear from me, still has the letters and things that I sent him as well, and he is engaged now. I'm happy for him!!

My blast from the past was fun. I threw plenty of just garbage away, have several things to consign and even some things that are going to make their way to the apartment when I head back.

Retreat!!!

2006-04-07T10:26:00.000-04:00

I'm headed to Cincinnati for the weekend later today. I don't think it could come at a better time. I need to go be at "home." I need to go to a place where I can think about other things while I'm driving and still get to where I'm headed without a hitch. I don't know what it is...I just need it.

As of right now there isn't too much scheudled. I don't know yet if I'm coming back Sunday or Monday. However I do know this: I'll work for Josette a little bit today, I'll prolly go out with Andrea and others tonight....if I don't head over to Rick's, I'm thinking tomorrow will be a good day to head over to my dad's and just go through a bunch of stuff that I have...some to pitch, some to sell and the rest...well, store at dad's some more! Sunday I'll prolly go to church and hear the contata. My not-so-little little cousin has a solo as he did in the Chirstmas contata...that and I've not been back but one time since I graduated. Not to mention the fact that there are some family issues that other people would like to talk about with me. Nothing major....on my part...thank God.

SO yeah, I'm retreating this weekend and it'll be a good thing. The only thing I don't like about it is the fact that my mother will be headed to Chi-town so I won't get to see her this weekend.