You Can't Take The Honky Tonk Out Of The Girl

Blizzard Aiden Photos

2010-12-12T16:58:00.008-06:00

Here are some pics to go with my past post. A couple of the snow, a couple of my huge hotel room I had all to myself!

Thank you Pontiac!

2010-12-12T14:35:00.002-06:00

Another crazy winter storm hits Wisconsin! Whatever happend to a couple snowfalls that accumulates to a lot of snow? I feel like we now either get a dusting or a downpour! This is a downpour! We probably got at least 12 inches out there. It's crazy windy outside however so you can't really tell how much total we got b/c in one spot there is 3 inches and the next spot a yard over has 3 feet.

Last night was out Christmas party with all my college friends. It was down in West Bend which is about 1hr and 45min from GB. I knew they were calling for strong storms but I sat around for over 6 hours on Saturday and not a drop of precipitation fell so I said screw it and went to the party. It started raining around Fond du lac and rained the whole way to West Bend. It started snowing when we were there and we didn't stay too long, I think I left at like 8:30. Well when I got out and had to scrape 3 inches of heavy snow from my car I knew it was going to be bad. I wanted to get home though so I ventured out through the snow covered streets for the highway. WI-33 from WB to 41 was really bad but it was to the point where I didn't know where to turn around b/c I was so worried I would get stuck and honestly, I have this unrelenting worry of going in the ditch and being stuck. Knock on wood I've only gone in the ditch once and it was right by my moms work. The work crew next door just pulled my car out so no biggy. But the fear of going like 45 down the hwy and losing control and going in the ditch makes me freak out to think about. I have this worry I'll roll over or go into water or something crazy. So I took it slow and eventually got to the hwy.

The hwy wasn't bad and there were actually some cars driving so it was easy to just go behind them and keep going. There were drifts in the road and you couldn't really see where you were going. Then the snow started blowing and it pretty much was a white out. If it wasn't for the vehicles in front of me for the most part, I would have probably driven right into a ditch. From WB to Oshkosh it should probably only take an hour - it took me a good two hours to get there. I had been following one car in particular for quite some distance and when they exited I called it quits and exited too. I was so nervous and my shoulders were so tight from stress I almost cried. I went to the gas station, got a gatorade and some pretzels and asked for the closest hotel. I went through the snow drifts (almost got stuck in the hotel parking lot) and got myself a room. By this time it was after 11:00p and I pretty much didn't car what it was going to cost, I couldn't go another mile.

The hotel was nice and really quiet. I didn't sleep too well b/c all I could think of was trying to get home the next day. The only good part was that I did get to catch up on my cable tv shows. I don't have cable at my apartment (b/c I'm cheap) so I did get to watch a little MTV, HGTV, TLC and History Channel. That was pretty worth the $85 I had to spend for the 12 hours I was in the room!!

The next day wasn't so bad b/c it was light out so you could see when the snow drifted. The worst part was the hotel parking lot! It kept getting drifted in with snow so I waited like 30 min for the snow plow to plow out the main road so I could get out. The last way I wanted to start my day was by getting stuck before I even left!

There were still lots of cars traveling and I just took my time and made it home. The 45 minute drive took me about 1 hr and 20 min so not too bad. The roads were really icy and I just told myself "don't care what others are doing, just take your time and let them pass you." It amazes me how stupid lots of people are and drive like 50-60 mph in the weather we had. Stopping suddenly wasn't an option today. There were only about 2 'fresh' cars in the ditch. (definition of fresh cars - cars that just went in the ditch and still had people in them.) All the rest you could tell had been there for some time b/c they had snow and the orange stickers on them. All I can say is I thank God for the Kia that led me to the exit on Saturday night, the safety of driving home today and my Pontiac for getting me there! Stay safe out there!

New Music - Good Music

2010-10-22T11:41:00.004-05:00

There's a couple new songs that are out now that I am loving! I think you should check them out:

Sunny Sweeney - "From a Table Away"

Tim McGraw - "Felt Good On My Lips"

The Band Perry - "If I Die Young"

Jason Aldean - "My Kinda Party"

Thompson Square - "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not"

Jerrod Niemann - Check out his whole album, it's really good. But my favorites are:
"They Should Have Named You Cocaine" and "What Do You Want"

Methods of Mayhem - "Time Bomb"

Christina Perri - "Jar of Hearts"

What's your favorite 'ear candy'?

Things I Like....

2010-10-13T22:48:00.003-05:00

- waking up and being in a good mood
- feeling grateful for the way my life as been so far
- having family that I'm close to and can depend on (and they can rely on me)
- when a friend invites you to do something
- summer when it's nice and sunny but not too hot out
- having a cookout with all your friends
- getting invited to weddings
- when you get your hair done and it looks great
- the smell of your hair when you get it done (I know, chemicals and all but I love it)
- giving a good tip
- when grocery shopping is done
- a full gas tank
- starting the week with all the clothes washed
- pay day
- puppies
- all the leaves changing on the trees and the gorgeous colors
- people who work hard to make a living
- farms
- sitting at the bar with a cold beer, surrounded by friends
- putting money in the jukebox and playing all the songs you love
- laughing
- street dances
- fireman's picnics
- county fairs
- beer
- people watching
- clean houses (especially mine)
- weekend plans
- high school football games
- mittens
- traveling
- taking pictures of said travels
- anticipation (sometimes the wait is better then the actual event)
- getting a new shirt
- wearing new shirt and getting compliments
- getting compliments in general
- being told you're doing great at work
- the first snowfall of the year
- the first warm day of spring
- putting up the christmas tree
- christmas lights
- Labor day
- when all the family gets together for Thanksgiving
- when a night that you're having a blast drags itself out so it's not over too fast
- going into the bar and having the bartender know you (and your drink)
- when someone says you're pretty
- sunglasses that fit well
- coupons
- seeing other people happy
- sad country love songs
- concerts
- spending time with people you don't get to see much
- giving presents
- planting flowers and having them actually live
- shooting rifles (and hand guns)
- everyone gathering for hunting season and playing cards in the garage
- playing Skip-Bo with my Grandma
- the Saturday after Thanksgiving when we go shopping
- seeing my cousins
- being tall
- heels, sandals and clogs (I love them all)
- jeans that fit great
- going to the movies
- outlet malls
- the feel after you work out and you feel you accomplished something
- cycling classes (I miss this most)
- old barns
- going to the back 40
- cowboys (real cowboys)
- Jordy Nelson
- cooking a meal and it actually turns out great
- fireworks and the 4th of July
- a good tan
- winning at the casino
- Canada
- oversized chairs
- Michael Waddell
- piers and lighthouses
- finding a good book you can't put down
- mad-bomber fur hats
- deep fried mushrooms
- Friday night fish fry's
- finding a new song you can't get enough of
- bonfires + beer + friends
- helping someone
- kit kats
- organizing
- painting
- water (oceans, lakes, rivers, streams, creeks and brooks)
- dreaming of plans to build a house
- farmers markets
- the huge bouquets of flowers from the farmers market

Moving

2010-09-28T08:46:00.004-05:00

Today's my first day in a new cube at work. They are doing a bunch of re-arranging and I'm one of the people that gets moved. I'm excited yet I'm a little upset. Of course when you've been in a desk for 16 months you get a little rythm down, you know where everything is, it's a flow you have going when you do your work. Today I'll have to develop a new flow. It's weird too b/c obviously a cube only has two walls, one on the left or right and one in front of you and a small on that is on the side of the cube w/ the aisle. The cube I've been in was a four person cube. So like the picture above (but without the table in the middle separating the two spaces), two people in the cube w/ their backs to one another and then the aisle and the exact same thing on the other side. So when you walk down the aisle at work it is like two cubes w/ four people that you walk past. Obviously you get to know the people in your 4 square really well. Where I'm moving to is a two person cube, so you have the two people on one side sitting back to back and then across the aisle is a one perosn cube which has a large wall facing the aisle so you can't look into their cube or really talk to them. It's going to be weird and I'm not sure I'll like it! The only good thing is that every person I sat with in my old four person cube is being moved so at least I'm not the only one! Wish me luck in my first new day in the cube!!

The Thank You Note

2010-09-16T09:47:00.002-05:00

Is the rule of a thank you note dead?

Weddings guests can now be invited to the formal day on facebook, twitter and myspace. Heck, we don't get the call anymore that people are engaged, we get the facebook status update. The day of gifting the toaster or blender is dead - now its fresh green cash we're stuffing into cards and throwing in a slit in a box. But with all this informality, is the thank you note being lost too? Can typing thank you on a facebook page or @ someone on twitter make up for receiving that little card in the mail addressed to you and opening it to find a hand written thank you for the gift and attending the wedding? Granted, we don't usually hang on to these notes, frame them, or put them in our memory boxes, but they're still nice to receive. I have been to 4 weddings this year so far and I can count 1 thank you note that I received. Not to mention the graduation parties that I gave money for - 2 - and the thank you notes I got - 0.

Is it an old time thing to write thank you notes now? Is it something that's considered optional and you don't really have to do it? Is standing up at a wedding and saying thank you enough now? Maybe I'm old school but I refuse to believe the thank you note is dead - it still lives on with this girl.

Random Thoughts

2010-08-01T20:59:00.002-05:00

1) Leaving on Wednesday for DENVER!!! I'm so excited to go with two of my good friends! We are there until Sunday and we plan on having a blast checking out the city!

2) I get my stitches out tomorrow - yes! Just in time for the trip.

3) Don't you hate when you find a shirt at a store and you LOVE it but they don't have your size. Then you go online to order it and they don't either! And there is no other store close you can go to check it out - bummer.

4) I CAN NOT believe it's August already?! Where did the summer go?!

5) I'm so ready to have 3 days off of work - hip hip hooray!

6) We had a work bonfire on Friday night and it just solidified my love for friends, fire, beer and good times.

7) Haven't been to a fair in yrs and I am going this year - mark my words!

8) One of my new favorite songs is Farmers Daughter by Rodney Atkins. It makes me wish my dad was a farmer....he's more like a lumberjack though.

9) Half way through my weddings for the year. One thing I think you can do w/o at weddings - the garter/bouquet toss. I refuse to go up for them anymore b/c I am seriously the only one of my friends not married.

10) I hate going on vacation b/c I never know what to pack. Do you pack warm and cold? Do you pack flip flops and shoes? Will I need a swimsuit? I wish I could just back my whole closet b/c I know when I wean something out that's going to the shirt I wish I had to wear!

11) I have a lot to do in two days...and I need to clean this apartment before I leave so I come back and it's not a mess!

12) Sundays are the worst day of the week. I don't like to go to sleep b/c I know when I wake up it's Monday - yuck.

13) My kidney stone bills are all finally paid! Again - hip, hip hooray!

14) The old Pontiac is in desperate need of an oil change but I just don't want to go there. I hate sitting in that waiting room watching CNN while they do it - BORING!

15) The search for new car is stalled. I can't make up my mind. Used vs. New. GMC vs. Ford. Car vs. SUV?

That's about all my randoms for today - have a super week!!

Training Days

2010-06-10T08:43:00.003-05:00

Yes! Two days until the weekend!!!!

Yesterday I was a little nervous b/c I decided I needed to get more involved in work (b/c there are lots of groups you can join) so I signed up w/ my supervisor to do some training with the new hires. I had an hour and a half to talk about a day in our job. I thought, heck, that's not bad at all. Then I realized it's their 3rd day on the job. They just learned how to log into the computer system yesterday! So i started to get nervous. Just like any job, there's lots of lingo or names of systems you use to do your job that it does take some time to learn. Well our whole job is on the computer so how am I suppose to talk to these people and not use lingo. There are no "lam ens terms" for these systems! So it got a little difficult to explain but I love they did learn something!

Oh - second thing. If you don't already know, I'm 25 and single so I'm always looking for a future bf. It's like embedded into me now, I can't get rid of it. Where better then work is there to look for a future "suitor?" So when I walked in the room I saw this cutie. As a habit I always check for a wedding ring. I mean we are that age where everyone is married practically and he just so happened to have that hand where I couldn't see it. To get to know everyone we went around the room and introduced ourselves. Of course he was last!!! The anticipation!!! And guess what - married and just had his first child. crap. When is this company going to hire some single guys my age?!?!

Wondeful Weekends

2010-06-08T09:33:00.001-05:00

Whew - I'm a slacker here....sorry.

I'm going to start with last weekend, Memorial Day weekend. It was a wonderful three day weekend and much needed. After Vegas, work was Hell! I just had no patience for anyone and especially no patience for mean people. So when Friday rolled around, I was already packed and headed north for a great weekend!

My brother lives in a duplex w/ KA (male) and SS (female) in south-eastern WI. KA and my brother went on a bike trip w/ some friends to La Crosse so SS and I were both up on Friday night w/ nothing to do. Usually we go out in a big group but since it was just the two of us, we headed out ourselves. And honestly, Friday nights I usually don't go out at all, those are my nights to "bond" w/ the rents b/c I'm usually not home the rest of the weekend. But my parents were not home - punks - so I headed out! We honestly had a great time, just the two of us! The bar we always go to had a new bartender that we loved to make fun of. She was one of those girls who looks like a bartender so she thinks she's a bar tender. She's a really pretty girl just sucks as a bartender and was pretty cocky and rude for someone we had just met. Anyways, it was a great night and two of our other friends saw my car parked there (small town right!) so they came out with us too. We eventually got sick of the bartender so we went into town to our safe bar. Everyone in here is usually about 60 yrs old so it's usually pretty laid back and...well, empty. All in all a great Friday night!

Saturday we had a bridal shower for our friend JN who's getting married this summer. It was a beautiful day to have a party outside and the food was great. She got lots of cards too which was nice b/c less time for presents! Hey, don't act like you've never thought the same thing when you're at a party and the table is piled high w/ presents and you're there for like 2 hrs watching them open cooking appliances, glasses and bath towels. I even got to talk to one of my friends from high school who I haven't seen probably since we graduated high school! (She's JN's cousin) However, it made me feel old and kind of like a failure. She has two kids w/ her husband and they live in a house they bought. I live in a one bedroom apt and have no kids. Well I guess that's probably good b/c I live in a 1 bedroom apt! haha

Anyways Saturday after the party we went to the creek to cool off. We all met at my friends family camp in P-town and headed out. It was so nice to walk in the creek b/c it was so hot out! Even the cool water on your knees down was refreshing. Below is a pic of the creek we went to. Now this photographer edited this so it's looks way fancier then what it's really like. Not that it's not nice, it's just a creek.

Defintely a place you have to wear shoes in though, it's really rocky. So after that we went back to camp and started a bonfire. My brother and KA were back in P-Town w/ their friends then so SS and I went out to meet them. Needless to say our Favorite! bartender was working again, so we didn't stay long. We headed back to camp and sat around the bonfire for awhile. My friend MD was home so she called me up and we headed out on the town. We went back to our safe bar in town and well, it was safe alright. We mainly go out to catch up on each other's lives and it's so nice to see her.

Onto Sunday! First off - I had my cousins high school graduation. It makes me feel so old b/c I can remember playing barbies w/ him when he was little (and me too I guess since I played w/ barbies) and here he is graduating high school! College later this year - YIKES! It was great to see him graduate (w/ honors!) and complete this stage of his life.

Ok, back to P-Town! On Saturday we decided we were going to have a Sunday Funday! Does anywhere else have Sunday Fundays? I guess it's pretty much just a fun name of partying all day. I know in college we used to call it B&K's Day o' Fun. But it didn't always include alcohol, sometimes we'd go to the casino, sometimes to a park or something. It was fun. Anyways, this Sunday Funday included alcohol and was a blast. We played rodeo golf and bags.

Do you guys call them something different? I know there are lots of names for these games. I think where my friends live in Kentucky it's called corn hole? In Wisconsin we keep it pretty simple and just call them bags or bags boards. Ladder golf however, or rodeo golf, testicle toss, etc, etc. I feel like there are so many names for this one game! FYI neither of these pics are mine. I found them on the internet b/c I was too busy having fun to take pictures on Sunday Funday. We ended up busting out the grill and having some tenderloin steaks, potatoes, pasta salad and watermelon. It was a great, great day w/ friends and family! (Bonfire got cancelled b/c it started to rain at 12:30 am, ohh well!)

Whew - after that weekend it was back to work for a crazy week! The four days I had to work were madness! It was a full week packed into four days, that's for sure. So this past weekend I did nothing. Well I did some things like planted flowers (I'll have to post pics later) and re-arranged my living room and even started up the air conditioner. I didn't use it all last summer but for some reason it was so humid the other day I had to turn it on! I also did some apartment searching b/c I"m looking for a new one. I love where I live now, but it's just kind of expensive. I'm looking at getting a cheaper apt so I can have a little extra money to save or so i can get a new car. The less I pay for rent, the more I can pay on the car payment. We'll see. It's nerve wracking to think of moving to another place. What if it looks nice but it's really loud, or a worse area. I love the area I live in now, it's kind of the burbs. It's this apartment complex and a bunch of duplexes, homes of single families. I love it but I also get antsy and ready for a move. We'll see.

Take Care and enjoy the day!

- Stone Free -

2010-05-18T08:54:00.000-05:00

Happy to report as I blog today I'm stone free!! I missed a couple days of work and it definitely wasn't pretty but I did get rid of those bad boys. Tuesday I was just so tired and sore that I missed work and then Wednesday I tried to catch up on sleep so I called in then too. I was back to work on Thursday and I only made it half a day. Turns out there was still one little bugger that wasn't gone yet and it hurt SO bad to sit at my desk that I could only stay half the time. Thursday night was pretty bad again. It hurt the whole night and the Vicadin didn't even help really. I was sobbing by Friday morning and I'm pretty sure that was the first time I cried in the whole thing. Mainly the crying came, I think, too was b/c I was so exhausted. I really hadn't gotten a goods night sleep in a week and it was catching up with me. Luckily right before I had to be to work, the stone passed and it was like almost instant relieve! I was a little sore over the weekend and I did miss my friends wedding but I'm really glad the stones are gone.

Now, onto bigger and better things. Work was NUTS yesterday! Everyone got slammed with work which sometimes makes it better that it's just not you that got busy. Some days do seem to be hit or miss. Some people will get swamped and you'll end up not too bad. Yesterday on the other hand showed it's wrath to everyone across the floor. Busy Mondays make for busy Fridays is my motto. I usually set myself reminders to follow up on my Monday claims on Friday so it just makes for an all around busy week. What you going to do? Job security I guess!

- Hell and Back -

2010-05-11T17:53:00.001-05:00

There are some things I don't like - and I think you'll agree with me. I don't like pain. I don't like dull aches (like toothaches and ear-aches.) I don't really care for needles, especially those that are lodged in somewhere and not coming out. I don't care for hospitals. And last night I got to experience all three in all their glory.

The story goes like this - I was woken up about 11:15pm or so and I had these sharp pains in my side. Sometimes I get these because I eat supper so late (I work until 8:oopm) so I really didn't think anything of it. I went and took three extra strength advil and went to go lay back down. However, the pain started to radiate and I mean radiate through my entire right side. All I could think was holy crap, never eating spaghetti that late again. The pain would not subside at all. It was like a knife being put into my side and then into my back and then moving around. It was probably some of the worst pain if not THE worst pain I've ever felt in my life (right up there with severely spraining my ankle in volleyball and getting a granule in my eye.)

I gave myself a time limit - if this doesn't get better by 1:30 then I think it's time to go see the emergency room. When I started throwing up, I knew it was time to head out. Now before you yell, yes I've lived here two years now and no, I don't know where the closest emergency room is! I knew of an Aurora clinic that was close so I got in my car and drove the 15 minutes there...only to find out there is no emergency room there!!!!! I wanted to cry, throw up and just plain give up and lay on the road all at the same time. So I did what any normal person would do and drove myself home. Then threw up some more...way more. I tried every position known to man and I'm pretty sure I made up some new yoga moves trying to get comfortable. Nothing worked, not even dulled the pain. When 3:00 rolled around I knew I had to get somewhere.

I ended up at the emergency room about 20 minutes away. The sweet girl checking me in probably thought I was crazy but I could barely stand there to answer her questions. Then a sweet nurse - Dennis took me back to my room (#11) and got all my info. He pretty much new right away what was wrong. We did a urine sample (t.m.i. - i know) and he took some blood to run labs. I got an iv for fluids b/c I was dehydrated and something for the nausea and the pain. I could have kissed him when those pains started to dull. The tests came back and I was assigned a CT scan of my abdomen. All I can say is thank God those CT machines aren't those old one's like a tube that you go into. This one was wide open and really fast. I got sent back to my room then for the radiologist to read the report.

A little later my doctor came back....kidney stones. Two of them, one right by the bladder and one still up higher. Now I don't know anyone but my friends dad who's ever had kidney stones. I got some vicadin - thank God - and some pills for the nausea and told to go home, drink lots of fluid, keep moving and they hopefully will be out soon. So as I sit here, still some off and on pain that comes and goes but I really hope it's that dang second stone just working it's way out.

So if anyone ever has kidney stones - call me. I'll drive miles upon miles to be there for you b/c I have never experience pain like that before. He's hoping to fast moving rocks!!

Twista

2010-05-04T22:07:00.001-05:00

Tornado Warning. Pretty sure there are not two other words together in a sentence that scare the crap out of me more. Tonight we had a tornado warning while I was at work. It's probably better it was when I was at work and with 30 other people then when I was alone in my apartment. They made us shut all our computers down and go into a conference room. Get this though, on the second floor! I said, If we have to be in a conference room can we at least be downstairs and not on the second floor? So they let us all go downstairs into a big conference room and we all had to sit there and wait for the warning to be over before they would let any of us leave. Let's just say that 45 minutes in an 80 degree room was 44 minutes too long! Luckily no tornado came, or at least not one that we saw. Not like the particle board door would have saved us. I just hate storms. Well I like thunderstorms but not tornado's. It's probably a good thing I live in WI b/c we don't get too many strong storms like this.

Anyways for Cinco De Mayo tomorrow I entered a salsa competition at work. So when we could finally leave work I had to run to the grocery store. Walking to my car at work I got soaked so I looked like a wet dog in the store. Good thing there weren't that many people there. I got my salsa stuff and I can say right now its completed and hoping I'll win tomorrow.

Ohh and to get from work to my apartment tonight I had to run through the sprinklers. Yeah, we got like an inch of rain in an hour and the sprinklers were on right next to the sidewalk to get to my front door! I was throughly soaked and none to happy about it!! Wish me luck in my salsa competition tomorrow! Happy Cinco De Mayo everyone!

Take Care!

Home Decor/Bedding = Broken Budget

2010-05-03T21:07:00.001-05:00

For this time of my life, I feel like I'm not on a budget. We'll I mean I don't spend like crazy and watch what I spend but I don't really consider myself to be on a strict budget. My bills get paid and I have a place to live so when the paycheck comes, yes, I do probably spend a little more then I should. There's a couple things I think I have a weakness for: 1) bedding or bedding sets, 2) home decor, 3) fabric.

1) Bedding sets and bedding. I have always been addicted to blankets and duvet covers, throws and pillows. I like to mix up my bedroom and the bed spread is fastest way to do that. I have a couple I'm considering right now and one I just bought at Wal-Mart the other day, it is a queen size comforter for only $16, figured you can't go wrong. (For those of you who hate Wal-Mart, I respect you and your decision. But for me - it's quick, close and I can run in and run out get what I need w/o spending an arm and a leg.) My only worry I always have though is after I buy something I always sit and contimplate whether I really need it. I worry that I'll find something better the next week. Here are the one's I like:

Target - DwellStudio® for Target® Mandala Bedding Collection

I love the yellow in this. A yellow bedspread, quilt is what I've been looking for so when I came across this one I was very happy with it.

Wal-Mart - Better Home and Gardens Set

Now this one I love all the colors - not to mention it has some great throw pillows with it! I think it would look super in my bedroom! It's also more affordable then the one at Target. We'll see though, I love them both so much!

2) Home Decor - candle holders, pictures to hang, vases and jars - I love it all!!!! Lately I think I've been able to control myself more b.c I have to keep telling myself that I only have so much room. Living in a one bedroom apartment makes you realize you can't buy too much stuff - there's only so much room to store things! (in reference to #1 though, there is always room for more blankets - I just need to invest in those space saver bags that shrink things so you can store them!)

3) Fabric - When I was unemployed from my previous job I had a lot of time on my hands and had to come up with some hobbies. I started making jewelry and sewing. Jewelry making was really fun and something I've always wanted to learn. I love making earrings and finding great beads to make things with.
My mom had an old sewing machine she got when she was married and I brought it back to my apartment and got some old fabric and made some cute bags. I like to think I've gotten pretty good at sewing - nowhere near quilt making good but I would love to learn to make quilts! Also, I saw this great book with pillows in it and I would love to make some great pillows. I got some great discounted fabric at Jo-Ann's and I've been waiting to find a great pattern to make some throw pillows for my couch.

I'm sure we all have our little quirks and things that draw our attention (and our budgets.) Hopefully I'll be able to send some pics of my new bedding when I finally decide on something! If only I could paint my walls, that would be great! Oh and I need to make some new curtains. Think I'm going to go with a khaki/off white so it goes with all my bed sets. Right now I have brown and it doesn't really match everything. Maybe I'll test my sewing stills on curtains and a bed skirt. Sometimes I feel 80, haha. Saturday night sewing - here I come!

sprinkling showers on spring flowers

2010-04-30T20:53:00.000-05:00

It rained like a banche today! (after I typed that, i had to google it b/c I use it every so often and really have no idea what it means. I can't find it anywhere. Who knows where I got it, but then again who knows where I get half the things I say.) My schedule on Friday has me working until 6:00 and I knew the rain was going to come about that time so I was dreading it. We have a big parking lot and since I start my shift later in the day compared to most, I am usually parked "in the back 40" as I like to refer to it. Today I got pretty lucky and got a closer parking spot. At about 5:20 you could hear the rain pounding on the roof. All I could think of was "I wore the wrong coat today for this!" Luckily by the time I left about 6:15 it was not raining so I was able to dart out quick to my car and didn't get wet....hip hip hooray!

After I was home about 30-45 minutes though, the rain came down! A good spring rain is really what I needed. I was able to open the door to my porch and listen to the rain....and keep my eyes on the weatherman b/c we had a tornano watch. I'm not the best with storms. Now I love me a good thunderstorm but anytime they say it's moving towards tornado weather, I'm out. Luckily it didn't do anything more then rain so I never got too nervous. When I was little I remember sitting in the basement whenever lightening started. I hated it! I would pack all the things away in the yard (my pool toys of course, who wants those sucked up by a tornado!) take my dogs, hampster and fish into the basement and sit with my flashlight. My parents never used to say anything, I wonder if they worried about me? haha

Tomorrow I head south to MKE (Milwaukee) for the MS Walk on Sunday! Turns out that the MS Society contacted our group and we're actually being "spotlighted" at the walk due to our growth and participation over the past 5 years!! It's super exciting because the team really has worked hard to grow and have more people join us. Last I heard we were the largest registered team that was walking on Sunday! That's awesome because there are lots of people that go to the Milwaukee event. One day I hope that they will find a cure for MS. THIS IS WHY WE WALK!

Take Care All ~ Enjoy The Weekend!

Current hit:
Jason Aldean - Wide Open Album
There's something about Jason Aldean that I just love. The songs are great, the lyrics mean something and he's total country. I'd take him up on the offer for a ride on his big green tractor.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

2010-04-27T20:50:00.000-05:00

It's one of those weeks where I'm a little off on my days. Today I thought was Wednesday for half the day and then realized that it was only Tuesday. It's not bad when it's the other way, like you think it's Wednesday but it's really Thursday....but when it's the way I'm feeling, it's a heartbreaker. Yesterday at work, somehow, which still I have no idea how I did it - I kicked the power strip under my desk to my computer and shut the whole thing down. Now my whole job is based on the computer, we have to document everything we do and every call we make. Needless to say, when you're mid-convo with someone and your computer shuts down, you're pretty much screwed. Luckily the lady I was talking to did not ask any questions I had to look up the answer to and I was able to keep talking while I crawled under my desk to flip the switch back on. That is probably one of the only times I was so glad to wear a headset!

I was hoping today would be better....it was if you consider I didn't turn my computer off again but I did get cussed out today, twice. It surprises me the way people treat other people when they are upset. Most of the time I find out that they are upset too b/c they don't understand what we're telling them or have told them. Insurance is a complicated thing and I'll be the first to admit it but we are more then willing to explain the process if you just LISTEN. That seems to be the think that causes the most voicemails to be received and the most time wasted. We explain everything to you on the first call, the next moves yours. Some people just don't listen to what we're saying so they get mad and then they are calling us and cussing us out b/c they don't understand what's going on or they don't think it's going fast enough. I can't do your job and my job for you so you have to put a little effort into the process. The things that make up for the mean people are nice people who really appreciate your help. I love those people, the people who are truly grateful that you explained everything to them and they understand now. I love being able to help those people and make their process easier. I'm really there to help if you let me.

This weekend is the MS Walk in Milwaukee. We've been doing the walk for a couple years now and I look forward to it every year. The walk is on Sunday but Saturday night is when we all get together, go out to dinner and have some fun. Everyone comes for the walk and it's so nice to see everyone. One of the biggest things I miss from Milwaukee are my roomates from college. It's crazy how quickly we all bonded and became friends but they truly will be friends for life, whether they want to be or not! haha Hoping for warm weather so we don't freeze on Sunday! The walk is along the lake too so could be a little chilly.

Here's hoping that the week goes quickly for all!

Take Care

Song of the Moment - Joey and Rory "Sweet Emmylou"

(listen to the lyrics, it's a great heartbreak song. SO maybe don't listen to it if that's you.)

many months later...

2010-03-18T22:44:00.001-05:00

Blizzards have come and passed. The snow has melted now and the grass is all brown and soft. When you walk on it your feet sink in and get all wet right through your shoes. The ugly brown snow piles are gone but I'm sure mother nature hasn't finished her wrath on us yet.

Christmas came and went faster then ever before. College spoiled me - having off weeks before the actual "big day" of fun with family and friends. The first year out of school I had to work but then last year I was unemployed so I had off for 2 months before and 4 months after Christmas. I can honestly say I'll take the shorter Christmas and be employed then anything else.

(note: this picture was not taken by me!)

BABIES!!! Babies, Babies, Babies! I feel like I'm surrounded by babies! Between family, friends, and old friends (who I don't necessarilykeep in touch with anymore), in the last 11 months there have been 14 babies brought into this world. I guess we are "that age" but it just seems crazy. Not to mention I can name 4 people right now who I know are pregnant. (For the record, the tally is: 9 boys, 5 girls)

There was a possible condo purchase that took place. This was one of the kitchens that I loved. I debated and debated but finally decided I am not ready for a condo. The responsibility, the increased electric bill, the water bill, the maintenance fee. Yes I pay too much for rent (for this area, don't pull a mom move on me and tell me how good I have it compared to that dang show she watches on HGTV where rent is like $1500/month) but I am happy w/ my apt. And yes, I am kind of outgrowing it (it's the clothes and home decor, I can't stop!) but right now, it's ok for me. I'll "work up to" the condo/home ownership plateau some day!

For the first time ever, I test drove a new vehicle. Right now I drive a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am SE, Grey (do you know why some people put gray? or am I using the wrong one?), four door. I got it new in 2004. well new to me but used. It had like 12,500 miles on it when I got it in 04. It's been a great car to me, got me through college and had some great times with my little Pontiac. However, I think it's time to get something new. I am purchasing a brand new vehicle and that is a serious matter to me. I made a list (I'm a compulsive list maker, I should invest in post-it notes) and I cut out vehicles one by one until I came down to two; the Ford Edge (above) and a GMC Terrain. The Terrain is brand new however and the first year it was ever produced. That makes me hesitant. You have to work out the bugs and I don't want to be one of those consumers who gets the bugs in my vehicle. It's way too much money to make a purchase and not be happy with it! However, just this past weekend I started looking at Jeep vehicles and the Chevy Equinox. We'll see what I end up with. I'm thinking this summer b/c they bring out the 2011 vehicles and I'm hoping they will be giving discounts on the 2010 vehicles to get them off the lot. I'll be sure to post pics when I make my decision!

SnoW DaY!!!

2009-12-09T11:00:00.000-06:00

Hip Hip Hooray, It's A Snow Day!! No work today and I could not be happier. Well I could be happier if the mailman came through with my Netflix movie or I had gone to the library earlier this week and got new books or if I had detergent and could do more then one wash. Guess I wasn't too prepared for Blizzard Allison! At least we will have snow for Christmas. It seems like in the past we had tons of snow for Thanksgiving and Christmas and in recent years we've gone and had Christmas's with no snow or a light dusting on the ground. I'm happy I don't have to go to work because not sure the little Pontiac could make it through if they didn't plow the roads. Where I live too the snow drifts so bad that it can be nothing on a large stretch of road and then suddenly it's a 2 foot bank in front of you. Pretty sure my next car will be a SUV or some type of higher up/all wheel drive vehicle. We're suppose to get 10-16 inches by the time this storm is over. Glad I'm watching it all unfold from the comfort of my couch! The apt is all decorated! The tree is up, lights in the window and makes the nights just lovely. Here's a little Christmas music for you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYFMVfAbbgU

Many things have happened since I last wrote which was what...September? I'm deep into my job now and I can truly say I like it. I learn something every day and it can be a challenge but I do enjoy talking to most people. Some tips for those of you who are calling your insurance company (I work with auto claims, so when you get into an accident and you need to report it, that's me on the other end of that line): have your policy or claim number ready when you call, have a pen and paper to write things down b/c we will give you names and phone numbers and you won't remember it all, look over all the paperwork you have before you call in (this will make your call go faster and we won't have to sit and wait while you look for info on the police report), do not put two people on the line and argue/discuss every question I asked you (if you weren't there or are unsure on any of the details, please don't call and let the other person do it), don't sit in a room with a screaming child and try to hold a conversation (neither you nor I can hear or concentrate) and finally just listen to what we're saying.

We're trying to help you get your car fixed and the process goes a lot smoother if you just do what we ask! I think the most times I get yelled at on the phone are when it's people who don't understand insurance and I'm right there with you, before this job I didn't really get it either, but please don't yell at me because I'm explaining it to you and you don't like what I'm saying. Insurance is complicated and most of the time, it's not us who make the rules but your state; we just have to enforce them! So if you want to yell, call your state government! I truly do love the claims where I can help people quickly get their car fixed and get this 'bump in the road' smoothed over for them. Those are the claims I love!

Well hope you're all safe and sound inside if you're getting the snow/wind we're getting! Take Care

Where have you been all my life?!?!

2009-09-09T21:49:00.000-05:00

Whew, you thought I fell off the face of the earth didn't you?! I had you going for a minute too but alas, here I am. It was a great summer even though we never got the nice warm weather like normal. I bet we didn't even get close to 100 this summer and we usually get at least a couple days pretty close or at least upper 90's. However the fall is here and I love the fall. The jeans and sweatshirt weather, the crisp air, the colored leaves, everything, just love it!

Work is going well, it's been about 3.5 months since I've been there and I like it. Before I go in I still get that ugh, work feeling. You know, that feeling like I would just love to stay at home today but once I get to work I usually feel pretty good and get into the swing of things. I don't have too heavy of a work load though so it's boring some days but I like it. I learn something pretty much every day so that makes it enjoyable.

Well my current issues I'm having is with my dang cell phone. I don't have a phone line, like the 'old fashioned' home phone, I have my cell phone and that's it. So it's not like I can take it lightly when it doesn't work or is acting up. We had AT&T (I shouldn't name names, but I'm gonna!) and it was good while I was in school. And we never were in roam. But I could sit on my couch and the phone would cut in and out and I had to stand by my window if I was on an important phone call. With Verizon (who I've had for about a week now) I can sit anywhere or be anywhere and it works great, BUT when I go back home it's in 'extended network' and I'm worried I'm being charged roaming fees. I called the main customer service phone number and got a woman who couldn't even tell me if I was going to be charged roaming or not. You're told one thing when you're at the dealer and then when you get the bill it's another. I'm trying to nip the roam charges in the bud before we get the first phone bill.

Now the other thing, I'm worried that if we have to drop the contract, we are out the set up fee, about $110 for the four phones and we will be charged for every minute and text we sent on all four of those phones! That's going to over $200 dollars! How are you suppose to know if the program works or not if you don't use the phone but if you do use the phone and it doesn't work, you're charged for every single thing you did on that phone!? Does that make any sense at all b/c I don't think it does. So right now I'm worried it won't work and we'll have to be just out over $200.00 or if we do like it and stick with it then here comes the first bill and it's like $400 for all the roaming fees!

I feel like it shouldn't be a guess if I'll be charged in roam or not. Don't you think that should be something like a yes or no answer? I can see they can't tell me if I'll get reception or be able to talk when I'm in one place or another, I get that- towers are different- but you can't tell me if I'm going to be billed for something? It's just extremely frustrating b/c we need phones and it's like not one single company has worked great for us and been able either 1) allow us to keep our numbers or 2) worked in all the areas we are. My fingers are crossed that these phones will work w/ no roaming fees! We'll find out tomorrow when I call the Verizon dealer!

Whew....it's hot

2009-06-21T18:07:00.001-05:00

Hello All! So I have started my job already and been at it for about a month so far and it's going well. It's nice to be able to help people and make a very difficult situation better with kindness and helpfulness. Of course I'd like to be way more knowledgeable then what I am, but I know that will come with time. I think back to day one and how much I knew then compared to what I know now...it's not even comparable! If I had to do this on the first day, I would have quit right on the spot!

I can't remember if I wrote about Omaha or not. So I'm writing again about it, and it was so much fun! My mom and I drove down on Tuesday and came back on Sunday and it wasn't that bad of a drive either. Of course the way home felt longer then the way there but that's normal I think. We saw some great sites and it was a very nice city. It was way hotter then WI, about 93 degrees the first full day we were there so I was a little dead on my feet. It definitely was a city that I could see myself living in though. It was pretty easy to navigate and with the river right there it was so nice. Here are some of my favorite pics from the trip!

I would/will defintely go back to the Omaha, Lincoln area!

Summer weather has officially arrived to the area! It was really hot this weekend and I feel like it's been the first consitent hot weather we've had. I was sitting outside on Saturday and it actually got so hot I couldn't stand it anymore! It's hard to believe that today is suppose to be the longest day of the year. Gosh that stinks because I feel like the days haven't been nice and long for that long of time! I love when it's still light out at like 9 o'clock!

Hope everyone had a great Father's Day! Take Care!

Whew...that takes a load off

2009-05-16T21:13:00.001-05:00

Some very good news to announce, I got a job! The interview I had where my friends work, well the interview must have gone well because I got called and offered the job. I'm nervous to be starting in the workplace again and in such a big company but ready to get going again. And to top it off, it's better pay, health benefits from day one, good vacation. The only bad thing is the hours which after training will be 11:30a - 8:00p. Not horrible but it will take some getting used to. But beggers can't be choosers and jobs haven't been thrown at my left and right so I'll take it. If I don't like it I hope I can last at least two years until I'm done with school!

Speaking of school, I found out the day before I was going to take my placement tests that I didn't have to take them! All I have to do is a typing test and get 30 wpm....and you get up to 10 tries. Needless to say I think I'll be able to pass that. All I need to do now is fill out the application and send in the $30 bucks, my transcripts, and sign up for classes. As I said before, I'm nervous yet ready to get back into school. It all starts in the fall so I do get the summer off still!

Hmm, other then that not much going on. I babysat my little cousins for two weeks while their normal babysitter was on vacation. It was so fun and they are the best. The things they say and do just make me laugh all day. My cousin wanted me to start doing it full time but I just couldn't and she understood. It didn't make me feel any better though, I still felt bad when I told her I got a job.

And guess what!?! My mom and I are going on a road trip to celebrate my new job and Omaha, Nebraska is the destination! Everyone laughs when I tell them but I wanted a place where I had never been, a place we could drive to and that was the closest, biggest destination I could find that I actually wanted to go to and has things to do. I'm excited to see all the things there and there is a lot of Lewis and Clark museums/monuments which has always interested me. Not to mention Council Bluffs, Iowa is right across the river and that's a stop on the Oregon Trail. Lots of fun history there. Guess this might be why one of my favorite classes in college was History of the American West!

Hope all is well with everyone! Have a great Sunday!

Times they are a changing....

2009-04-17T10:54:00.000-05:00

Hope all has been well with everyone!! Things are moving along here. I contacted my academic advisor at the tech school and got all the information on taking my placement tests and getting all signed up for the Health Information Technician program. Really scared yet really excited to be doing that. It's going to be beneficial, I think, to be able to get a career in the medical industry which hopefully won't be affected by this economy. But by the time I get out of the program, two years from now, I'm sure the economy will just be booming and you can probably get a job anywhere.

Speaking of economy, I hate these people who are going around saying, "What bad economy? I don't feel anything affecting me!" Well thank your lucky stars you can say those things but don't come to me and say that and act like I'm a whiny, cry baby who is over-reacting. Just because it doesn't affect you doens't mean it's not happening. People like that bug me. You're really fortunate and I wish I could be like you and be stable like that but I'm not so get out of my face!

On a high note, I did get a job interview this week. My friends hooked me up where they work with an interview and I think it went well. The ladies who interviewed me were very nice and I hope I did well. It's not the job I had in mind but I don't think I have a right to get picky when I've been not working for 5 months. And crazy thing, I was watching T.V. and they said it takes on average 4 - 5 months to get a job once you start unemployment. It's been five months here in April so that might be a good sign for me!

I went to Opening Day for the Brewers and it was spectacular just like I thought it would be. There was tons of people of course but my friends were the best! haha The only thing that could have made it better was if it wouldn't have been so windy and the temperature would have been a little higher. We all looked like wind blown floozies by the time the game started because we had hats and hoods and bobbie pins holding our hair out of our faces. I can't wait for the next game!

Hope everyone had a great Easter. Take care and enjoy this great weather!

OpeNiNG DAy!!!

2009-04-09T20:32:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow is a national holiday in Wisconsin....it's Opening Day for the Milwaukee Brewers! This is seriously one of my absolute favorite days of the year. It's drinking starting at 9:00 (if not earlier), tons of baseball fans hopeful for a great season, and party, party, party!! I can't wait for tomorrow, let's hope for a Brewer win!

One of my fav. times of year

2009-03-26T20:20:00.000-05:00

I don't know what it is about this time of year but I love it! Even though things look dirty and dull, the colors seem so great together. This picture is from a back road in my hometown and I just love it. When the water is that dark blue almost black against the brownish grass and the sky is a nice blue. I also love dark, rainy days which makes me an oddity to some people because most love the sunny weather. If you know of a place that doesn't get too hot in the summer, the people are fun and polite and I can get a job, sign me up!

Some fun videos for you...

2009-03-12T20:59:00.000-05:00

This is the cutest story ever. Who would have thought that these two would find each other and become best friends?!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFz-FMj-9Ps

This is the Facebook song. I, like a lot out there, am not addicted to facebook but I do check it more often in a day then I should.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSnXE2791yg

Here is a cool video of Mason Crosby for Fantasy Football.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sI7vFv9REI

It's almost the weekend, enjoy!!!

It's My Birthday!!

2009-03-09T13:08:00.000-05:00

Today's my birthday!! yeah!! I love birthdays, whether it's celebrating my own or someone else's. There is just something special about that day of the year that you can do whatever you want (legally of course) and it's ok because it's your b-day! Unfortuantely today I turn 24 and I had to go to a job interview. My first one in four months but it didn't go well at all. It was rather a waste of time but oh well, it's over with now and I don't have to think about it.

The only downside of today being my birthday is that it's a Monday...who wants to celebrate on a Monday other then the unemployed!? haha Hopefully my old co-workers are meeting me out tonight for drinks. And at all the bars around here you get free drinks on your birthday and sometimes glasses, pins, etc. Can't wait for a weekend birthday!!!

Hope today goes great, because it's my birthday!!!!

Snowstorm Julia Pictures

2009-02-27T09:40:00.000-06:00

Here are some pictures I took for this past snowstorm. I don't think we got the 6 inches that they said we did, but who am I to judge....hahah Here you go:

Above: Snowstorm Julia Arrives and we could still see grass.

------>
The grass quickly disappears and is replaced by snow.

Now it's really gone.

The next day, all the snow is down. Notice only the top of the picnic table is showing now....guess their goes my picnic.

The one thing I really hate here is how the wind drifts the snow so bad. Here it is piled against my patio door. Let's hope I don't have to use it anytime soon.

About Me....

2009-02-26T20:44:00.000-06:00

This is the survey going around, predominately on Facebook but I didn't want to do it on there so I'm doing it on here. I figure less people read this anyways so here you go....

1) I always wanted to be some type of biologist (preferably a wildlife biologist) but didn't go for that in college because I couldn't pass chemistry (and a part of me hates the uniforms they have to wear.)

2) I have the colors for my wedding already picked out.

3) I'd drink every night of the week if I didn't get hangovers.

4) I take it personally when my favorite TV shows get cancelled, which it seems like all the ones I really like do after a short run.

5) I dream of designing/building my own home exactly the way I want so I'm constantly trying to take mental notes of things in houses that I like. Chances of me ever being able to do this are slim however.

6) My dream jobed turned out to be a crock and I hate some people for it and I'm not sure I'll ever forgive them. I realized some people only think about themselves and I pray that karma is real.

7) I would love to live in Canada, Oregon, Kentucky or Texas but I can't even get myself to leave Wisconsin.

8) When I go to restaurants I always order Lemonade, no matter what the season.

9) I make my bedroom messy just so I can clean it later.

10) I have minor obsessive compulsive disorder. When I leave a public place I have to look where I was sitting and count to 8 twice before I can move on and be positive I left nothing behind.

11) Some of the best days of my life were when the playground was flooded in elementary school and they put up road blocks and we got to play in the street.

12) I hate losing touch with people and I still try to find people I was friends with from elementary school.

13) I cryed every day before school from Kindergarten to half way through third grade. I'm not exaggerating either, ask my mother.

14) My biggest fear in elementary school was when we had safety days and you had to jump out the emergency door in the back of the bus.

15) I wish I lived on a farm, or in the country where people really had barn dances. I want to end up in a tiny town where everyone knows everyone and be really happy with my life. That would be wonderful. However I also have a deep love of window shopping and being able to walk down the sidewalks in towns and go into stores, I believe now they're called 'pedestrian friendly cities.'

16) I often buy items and then return them later after I sit and contiplate if I really need it or not. On the same topic, I love getting new clothes but I often have a hard time wearing them. It's like I need a new occasion or something special to break them into my wordrobe.

17) I wish I could go back to the times when almost every weekend was spent with family and friends. When we played in the barn yard at our grandparents or sat in the screen porch playing cards. When the sun was setting and it was beginning to turn to dusk. Even back a couple years ago when I was in college. Only this time, I'd take those times less for granted and realize how special they were.

18) I absolutely love documentaries; especially pertaining to the midwest, the deep south, or the Appalachian Mt area; when they tell the stories about people's lives...their hardships, their triumphs, their every day doings. (David Sutherland is my fav. producer) I can't imagine a better job then being able to make documentaries.

19) I wish the amount of money I had in my bank account didn't matter or make my life an easier. I want to take at least a year of my life and donate it to volunteering for different organizations. I would love to help soldiers coming back with PTSD get reacquainted with the life we live every day; help Native Americans secure everyday necessaties for life such as jobs, transportation, affordable housing and health care. I want to become fluent in ASL and teach it to children. I would build a shelter and take in abandoned animals. I want to be able to actually have the courage to do these things and not just type about them.

20) I would give a lot of things up if I could be fluent in Polish. I want to be able to go overseas one day and view the historical monuments and places involved in WWII.

21) I hate talking on the phone and won't listen to voicemails for days. I'll text you or email you 25 times over 2 hours rather then talk to you for 3 minutes.

22) I have post-its and a pen by my bed because I think of random things at night and I have to write them down or I can't sleep.

23) I love clean hair but I hate wet hair and I love being tan but I hate being in a swimsuit.

24) If I was irresponsible I'd spend all my money on jewelry, purses and shoes. If you had told me this when I was in junior high, I would have called you a liar and punched you.

25) Also if I was irresponsible I'd spend all my money on home decor, which would be like someone lactos-intolerant spending all their money on ice cream cones. I live in a one bedroom apt. with not much decorating space.

26) I love taking pictures! If the market wasn't so saturated as it is, I'd become a professional photographer.

27) I think I lived in a past life in the 50's, 60's and 70's.

28) I absolutely love cloudy and dreary spring/fall days. When things are all kind of muted tones. It reminds me of going outside in high school to practice softball or sitting and watching games in weather like this. I love it.

29) The little things in life are what are the greatest to me. Like all my laundry being done, the garbage emptied, the house cleaned, right after you fill up your gas tank, a new haircut/color.

30) I hope one day I can look back on this list and remember fondly memories from that time and have most of these things happen to me/be living them.

Snowstorm Julia

2009-02-26T20:23:00.000-06:00

Today was snowstorm Julia for Northeastern Wisconsin. It did start with quite the bang too. Right on the dot at 3:00 pm it started to snow and got heavier and blew really hard until a little while ago. Unfortunately I don't think we got anywhere near what we were predicted to get, which was 6 - 8 inches. My guess is we got about 3 or 4 at most. It's so hard to tell here since the snow blows so bad. The cars in the parking lot have snow all over them but then infront of my patio door there is grass. Depending on where you are on the complex it will very on the snow we received.

So this weekend my parents are coming down to celebrate my birthday with me, even though it's not for a couple more weeks. My mom and I are going for manicures tomorrow night and then going to see STOMP on Saturday. I'm so excited because neither of us have ever gotten manicures and I've always wanted to see STOMP. Hope it's a great weekend.

Today I went to the library and got some books and read some magazines. It's way cheaper, well free to go to the library and read People, SI, etc then to buy subscriptions or buy them at stores. I got to catch up on all the gossip of the stars. Then I went to JoAnns Fabrics which I'm pretty sure is my new favorite store. I found some great fabric that I want to make into pillows. I was first looking for fabric to make into a "green bag" but I found this and just had to get it. I even passed it up and went back and got it, with the intentions of making a bag but got the idea for pillows when I was buying it. I'm excited and I'll post some pictures when I get them done. I'm going to do it at home and try to wipe the dust off my moms old sewing machine. It will go way faster that way then by hand! I do need to find some fabric for the backs though. Now I still have to find some fun fabric to make a "green bag." These bags are usually used to put groceries/produce in at the store but I want to make a fun summer bag/purse. It's way cheaper then buying a new purse too. Even though there are a couple at Shopko that I'm looking at. (I've always wanted a bright yellow purse.)

Another thing, I was looking at the home decor there...I know stupid since I live in a one bedroom apartment, but they have such cute stuff there. I never thought I'd ever be into the nautical theme stuff but they have a great section that is nautical but not the red, white and navy blue that I usually associate with that theme. It was almost like a beachy nautical and was really cute stuff. They also had these great turquoise/navy blue type vases and decorations that I loved. Everything usually is like 40% off there but it's still to expensive for my budget now. Maybe someday I can buy that store out! haha

So I'm thinking of going back to school since I'm having such a hard time finding a job. I've found a couple associates programs at local schools that I hope would help me get a job. I'm in the process of setting up meetings with the two schools down here to see what classes I can get taken out because I already took them at UWM. Maybe I could get it down to a year and a summer or something. That would be nice.

Ok well I hope you're not snowed in wherever you are! Take Care and stay warm!

traveling down the road and back again

2009-02-17T20:50:00.000-06:00

After a great weekend I'm back at the apartment for the week. It's suppose to snow tonight and I'm looking forward to it. I'm kind of like an old person and probably would do very well as one. I love it when it snows now because I don't have to go anywhere and I can just watch the snow. However, it does upset me that I have no where to go. Not much longer and my unemployment runs out and I have to apply for a 7 week extension...then what? I've been using an employment agency to help with my search and I got a call from them today saying that they don't have any jobs for me that fit my work history and that they'll be on the look out for me. Well that's nice to have some help but depressing too. When a company who's job it is to find you a job and they can't...it doesn't give one much hope.

My birthday is coming up and I am looking forward to celebrating yet also not. I feel like 24 is so old but yet so young yet. I guess I just never thought that this is where I'd be in my life at 24. It scares me to think of where I could possibly be at 25. This economy needs to turn around soon for myself and thousands of other people.

Dreary Days

2009-02-11T14:55:00.000-06:00

I love dreary days. I'm not sure what it is about them but I just love the rainy, cloudy days outside. Today happens to be one of those days too. Maybe it's because if you don't do anything on days like this you don't feel so bad for yourself? Not sure but I love them. Maybe because it reminds me of the first days of softball practice when it was still wet and kind of crappy out and we'd go outside to finally practice on the field. I love watching games in weather like this too. The snow has melted quite a bit too. The rain definitely did a number on it. I think old Phil might have been wrong on that six more weeks of winter. So far we've had great weather since his prediction.

Yuck

2009-02-02T11:24:00.000-06:00

I'm recovering from the flu and what a flu it was! I haven't been that sick in forever, excluding hangover sickness. I was so tired all I wanted to do was sleep but then when I woke up from sleeping, I'd be sick. My head pounded all day and still hurts today. It was one of those where like your whole head just hurts, I couldn't even put it on the pillow without it hurting. I'm so glad it's over and I hope everyone avoids it because it is NOT nice.

What's a person to do?

2009-01-21T23:08:00.000-06:00

It's been really rough being unemployed and in more ways then one. Of course theres the fact that you don't have any cash coming in except unemployment which is nothing like what you usually made. Theres the fact that there is nothing to do all day except sit and look for jobs and apply for jobs that you don't get and that you don't even get a response from a person for the ones you check on. I can go to the library because that's about the only thing in this town that's free. When you have to watch your nickles and dimes, you can't stop at the fast food restaurant b/c you don't feel like cooking dinner. I can't get bored and say, "Jeez, I need to go to the mall because there's a sale at such and such a store." Yeah it would be great to go get a new top or something but then you have to look at the big picture and say, "Ok can I get a top, or pay my electric bill? Hmm which one will help me in the long run more?" It's tough and I can relate to those who are going through this with me, before me and those who will go through it later.

I think the best way to describe the whole situation is frustrating. I thought that was my dream job, the job I'd have for years and barely 9 months later you're thrown on your tail out the door. Where do you go from here? For me, yes I have a college education but employers look at your work history and see 6 months as this job and 9 months at this job which you were fired from and they don't want to take the risk as having you on their staff. I'm so annoyed with applying to jobs that I am either not completely qualified for so they overlook you or those which I am overqualified for and they over look me. I mean I can't even get a secretary job where the qualifications say "High School Diploma."

My biggest fear/worry is what am I going to do if I don't get a job? The way the whole economy/job market is right now, there are thousands and thousands of people going for jobs. What if I don't get one? What am I going to do, move home? What's for me there, nothing. Home is even worse then here. My next job I have to stay at at least a year...no if, and's or but's about it. So how do I find a job that decent that won't drive me insane? I'm worried because the last job started great and turned into a shit show (pardon the language.) What if the next one does too, and the next, and so on? What if my working career is meant to be bonfire pit of tried and failed occupations? I know worrying gets me no where but when it's nearing the end of week 10 and nothings is in sight, the end looks pretty gloomy.

A related note: I watched this episode of 30 days on hulu.com today. (www.hulu.com is a great site for those of you out there like me who can't afford to rent movies. It's old movies but some of the TV shows are recent that they have....I don't have cable either) The links below. It will give you a good grasp on what many people in this world go through. Maybe this time in my life is to show me that I need to watch my money more closely and I was spending too free-ly before. I guess God only knows. Take care all!

http://www.hulu.com/watch/5287/30-days-minimum-wage

The Difference in Geographical Areas

2009-01-21T19:22:00.000-06:00

On a commercial break from New Adventures of Old Christine, I turned to American Idol because well, I hate commercials. However, after the brief time I watched AI, I now like commercials better. This guy came on and you could tell he was one of those that thought he was good but he obviously only sang to his animals on his farm because he wasn't. You could tell he was a down home,country boy and as he was leaving, all rejected, he told the judges thank you and be careful. Now I thought nothing of it. I was like ohh too bad for him. However, Paula Abdul decided to flip out and go "What did you say? .... That's a threat, don't ever say that to anybody every again!" and all the judges were going crazy. Now seriously, do you think that this guy was going to come back to your hotel, even if he found your hotel and shoot you? Please! He tried to explain himself that he was just saying be careful in your travels and they continued to yell at him. I felt bad for the guy.
Ok so the point was that you can just tell the differences in people and where they live. Here in the midwest, if someone said that to me I'd probably say thanks or same to you...something to that affect (effect?) But people who grow up in cities (hmm, like L.A.) where hospitality and politeness are not very prevelant take this poor guys farewell and blow it into a "I'm coming to get you and shoot you in your head while you sleep." They need to relax and spend some more time around people who are from the midwest.

Comfort Zone

2009-01-16T22:30:00.000-06:00

After a wicked bad cold spell, things seem to be on the upswing. It's been below zero here for a couple days and I am so ready for it to be over with! When you go outside and the instant your face hits that air your eyes start to water and you just want to turn around....yeah, I'm ready for warm weather.

I came back to my apartment today and I need to stay here for awhile! I have been home quite often lately because like I posted before, it's nicer at home being able to watch cable, and talk to people! However, the past week or so I haven't even seen my friends so I thought today was the day I needed to get back to my life and stop sitting at home on my fanny. It was weird to come back down here and I never thought it would ever be like that, ever! My apt. is great and I love it down here but it just is nerve-wracking to me that I have about two and a half more months to find something and then I'm on my own. I don't, I repeat Do Not want to have to move back home and live with my parents. As much as I love home and them, there is nothing there for someone my age; well unless you're married and thats where you live. But that's the problem, all my friends there are married so it's not like we get together all the time and hang out and go out, etc. There just are no jobs up there either and I need to stay down here.

I think one of the hardest things is that I don't have like a best friend here that I do everything with. I have a bunch of really good friends but no roommate or best friend. That's kind of hard sometimes. Sometimes I think my life would be easier if I had that one best friend (or more then one) that you do like everything with, from big to little things. I don't know, I think I just really need to find a job and get back into the grove of work and things. I do appreciate all the great friends and family who have been looking and giving me heads up on positions too. That means a lot to me to have people looking out for me.

Take care everyone, good luck and stay warm!

Is this a sign or something?

2009-01-11T23:19:00.000-06:00

Wait, do I believe in signs? I have no clue but if I did or do, or...whatever, this would be a sign. I was watching Joel Osteen on ABC Family tonight and sometimes he just speaks to me. As you can read, I've been having a tough time with my life plan and how I wanted it to go. I got fired from what I thought was my dream job and it has affected me a lot. Not where I'm a non-functioning depressed person, but that I just have this fear in the back of my head that I'm not going to be good enough for society and I'll just keep getting fired from jobs. I know I have to lose that way of thinking and I'm trying, I am but unless someone's told you you're not good enough you just don't know.

Ok so anyways, the message in the sermon was that God has a plan for us in life and we will face challenges and people who try to stop us but God has something better for us. We can't give up and we just have to keep going. God needs us to say "I'm going to rise up and live a new dream."
We may have a reason to feel sorry for ourselves but we don't have the right. God still has a plan for us. None of our challenges are a surprise to God, he had the solution before you even had the problem. Let it go so you can accept the new path God has for you. If things don't work around the way you hoped, dream a new dream. God would not have let the door close on you if he didn't know a better one would be opening. What you may think is a set-back may be a set-up. God's plan is better then our plan.

I really needed those words and as I said, if that's a sign, then I'll fully accept it and hope that the something better God has planned for me will be coming sooner rather then later.
Good Night All! Take Care

Ugh, floating along....

2009-01-10T20:25:00.000-06:00

I'm in a rut...yup, just like a major league hitter, a three point shooter, or a field goal kicker. I'm in a rut. It's been a little over two months since I got fired and nothing is on the horizon for a job. And to top it all off, the economy is just so super right now that more and more people are losing their jobs and being thrown into the work pool and kids are graduating and looking for work. It's so hard to find anything. I wanted to go back to school for a health care position and I looked it up on the tech college website, I need 1,000 hours in a health related field to even get into the program! So I need to try to get into a health care position, without any health care work background or studies other then Health Communication Courses in college. Yeah so I'm kinda screwed! I also have this fear in the back of my mind about going to work again. I feel like I won't be adequate enough for any company now and that I will get fired again. I'll just die if that happens! I'm so scared that from here on out I'll just be a failure and I won't be able to hold a job, people won't think I'm a good worker, etc. It really scares me. I know I need to get past it but it's really hard to push in the back of my head.

Since I'm so bored at my apartment by myself, I often go back home to hang out because at least then I have the dog and I can go outside and stuff during the day. When I stay at my apt. all I do is watch TV (and I only get like 6 channels), and go shopping and spend money that I don't have. Going home allows me to watch cable for one and just relax.

I just get so frustrated with my friends sometimes. I know that I don't help the problem a lot but my whole situation doesn't help my mood when plans with friends don't pan out. We were suppose to go to that new movie Bride Wars this week (or so I thought) but I never heard anything. I thought we were going to go a benefit tonight, but I never heard anything. I think the thing that hurts the most is that sometimes I think they don't invite me because they don't want me there. Note to everyone, I have one single friend back home...that's right, one. And she's not the most outgoing person. She's shy and doesn't like the bar scene so much. So I understand when they do things with other couples but I think they also need to take into consideration that I'm the only single one (my other single friend often doesn't go out) so if I'm not invited I'm often home watching television. This town isn't so big that I can just go find others to hang with, there is no one else! I get upset because it feels like they leave me behind because I'm single but I can't help that. I also get upset when we get together and do things and it's like playing games and watching TV or just chilling at someones house. That's fun and all but not all the time. I understand you're "saving money" which is always the excuse but you don't have to spend hundreds when you go out! How am I going to meet anyone sitting on the couch in your living room?! Basically I get upset because it hurts. It hurts to be left out, it hurts to be left behind. It hurts to slip from someones mind when their planning something and you don't make the guest list. It really hurts when it's because you're single. Tonight for instance, if they went and I didn't get called, I'll be really hurt. I know I could have called but I didn't because I don't want to look desperate like I'm just aching for something to do. I guess my pride gets in the way and I bring my own hurt upon me. What's a happy balance? I'm not sure if there is one.

Alright, another thing, I have a crush on this guy who bartends at a friends bar in town. He is good friends with our friend who owns the bar and he often spends time with them bartending or just hanging out with them. He's a nice guy and I do like him but I don't think the feelings is mutual. Honestly, I don't blame him, but my friends could go with me there to enjoy some eye candy couldn't they? ;)

Ok, I'm done ranting and raving about all the negative. Hopefully it will turn around soon. Take Care All!

She was pure as snow, but she drifted...

2008-12-30T16:42:00.000-06:00

Here is my pretty Christmas tree in my apartment. I got it on sale, pre-lit...I love it!

It's snowing again...

It really is pretty when it snows. It wasn't as bad as they had said last night. They said it was going to snow all day and into tonight. It didn't start snowing until a couple hours ago and it's suppose to end at 6:00. By my apartment, it's rather hard to see just how much we have gotten this winter. The snow drifts so bad because of the wind around here. It piles up on the sidewalk right in front of our door and then there is grass in the yard right next to the sidewalk. So you can't really tell how much we've gotten. Fr instance, it's piled up about four feet high by the apartment next to us but the pond has a couple inches on it. Ohh well, let is snow!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-29T20:43:00.001-06:00

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends or whoever or where ever you happen to spend the day. Mine was great and was spent with a crazy bunch of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. My little cousins are getting bigger (8, 4, 3, 2, 2) and they had a blast opening presents now. This year they started to get the hang of opening the presents and playing with the toys. Last year they didn't really understand what was going on. My God daughter had such expressions on her face when she opened her presents. Especially when it came to the brown boots she got, and the pink slippers with fur on them. She loved it and wore them around all day! It was a great day and it came and went fast! But, next year will be here before you know it.

I haven't been doing much since I lost the ol' job. I've been applying to jobs but I have yet to get any call back or anything. There are so many people who are looking for jobs now it's nuts. Hopefully something will come along soon, all you can do is apply and keep looking.

This winter sure had been a crazy one! 42.3 inches so far for December! So glad I'm not shoveling and having to clean the drive or the sidewalk. Just think, we still have like 4 more months of this too. It really did look pretty after this past snowfall though. The snow was heavier so it stuck to the trees and looked so nice. Just like a postcard, I'll have to try to get some pictures of it.

Not sure what I'm doing for New Years yet but hopefully it will be a good time! Have fun everyone! Welcome 2009!

a great weekend in the books....

2008-12-14T20:49:00.001-06:00

This weekend I went to MKE to visit with the college roommates and have our 6th annual Christmas party. It is just crazy to me to think that we have known each other for 6 years and I am more comfortable with them then I am with some of my friends I've known since high school! Every time I'm with them we have a great time. It's so hard to be away from them when I'm back home but I just can't bring myself to go back to MKE to live. I love the girls, and most of the time the city, as well as all the things to do down there but I just don't want to go back to living in the city. I kind of want to have my cake and eat it too I guess. I love the city and all it offers, but give me a country field with a sunset anytime.

Anyways, the party was great. It was so good to see all the girls again and be able to hear about the married lives and dating lives of all of them. It's going to be interesting to see where we are in the next couple years, and to see when we have to start having babysitters incorporated in the parties for all the babies they're gonna pop out! ha ha As I said, we always have fun and this weekend was no different. We drank too much Brandy Slush and wine, and ate way too much food but we got to catch up and thats the best! Now it's off to another week of unemployment and sitting around. Gosh this stinks but what can you do? I didn't think I'd be here but then again, I never have predicted anything right so far so why change now!

Only a little over a week until Christmas! Maybe tomorrow I can get my Christmas shopping done! Not much left, it will be nice to get it all over with! Take care all!

Snow.

2008-12-09T15:01:00.001-06:00

It called for snow and dang it if they weren't right! We got about 8 inches I'd say, not as much as they called for but a good amount. It's hard to tell here at the apartment because it drifts so bad across the fields and the pond. It's piled against my patio door but over by the post on the patio I can see cement. So as you can imagine, it's hard to tell how much is on the ground really. I love snow and I enjoyed watching it fall all evening and night last night.

However, I was not happy at 3:23 am when I was woken up by VVVVRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!!! The apartment snow removers were hard at work, 4 feet from my bedroom window. I rolled out of bed and poked through the blinds to see 4 men working their hearts out. It was kind of creepy though, they were so bundled up I couldn't see anything but eyes. One was snow blowing, two were shoveling, and another was using a bobcat to remove snow from the parking lot. I let out what could be considered a death growl and crawled back under the covers to try to go back to sleep. I must have because I work up this morning at about 9:30. They did a good job but remember, it drifts and this morning when the UPS man came I had to lean on the door to try to get it through the six inches of snow that drifted against it already. Well, so much for hard work!

It's starting to come together

2008-12-05T21:02:00.000-06:00

Hey All! My goodness gracious is it windy here tonight! I went outside to go move my car into the garage (I had every intention of going to work out but well, I fell asleep on the couch instead) and I thought my ears were going to freeze and blow off my head! Gosh, I hope we don't have another winter like last year. I like snow and stuff but that much snow is just too much. At least we'll have snow for Christmas!

I had a revelation the other day...I guess you could call it that. I decided that my problem is that I always worry about what others think of me. Like what others think of my occupation mainly and other things but I decided I just can't do that to myself anymore. I need to try things that people might not think are right or 'prestigious' and just try things to find out what I want. What if my true happy life is in Idaho, I don't know but not here. This is my chance to find that out and I took the first step and applied to volunteer at a school in Kentucky. Its only 3 months and I feel like anybody can do anything for three months. Look how fast three months goes when you're working or on vacation especially. This will allow me to see the states and pick a home. I might end up here but at least I can say I went other places and found here was my 'home.'

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Mine was great and we had fun. It seems like we always do on holidays! Now I'm getting all ready for Christmas. I'm doing pretty well on getting everyone their gifts and I hope to be done this weekend or early next week! Until next time, stay warm!!

First Day

2008-11-10T18:41:00.000-06:00

Today was a lazy, lazy day. I didn't get up until like 10:30 which I haven't slept that late since I don't know when. Well other then when I get home at like 3:30-4:00 in the morning. I did some job searching, cleaned a little, made out a grocery list, got a couple things off my to-do list. It was a productive day I think.

For the rest of the week; get my hair done, meet to with my new health insurance company, go to dinner with some friends and thats about it! I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving since I'm pretty sure it's my second favorite holiday. Labor day being the first, and yup, Thanksgiving is second. I'm looking forward to Black Friday to go shopping with the family. Yes we're four of those crazy ladies who get up when it's pitch black, before all you hunters even, and go buy tons of presents. We've been doing it for years and I look forward to it every time it comes around!

Have a great week everyone!!

A twisted turn of fate...

2008-11-09T22:07:00.000-06:00

I dreamed of it...it was the thing I worked for. I couldn't have been happier or more proud when I was the chosen one to receive the acceptance letter. And then Wednesday it all came to an end. I was released from my job that day. The job I thought was my dream let me fall to the roadside, crumbled and discouraged. It was one of those surreal experiences. As it was happening I just didn't know what to do. I wanted to prove all the work to her that I had done that she said I hadn't done. The goals she said I had not met that I had. It's crushing feeling to have someone tell you that you're not good enough, that your not right when you thought you were.

I'm trying to be positive and I'm fine now. More then the job I'll miss the people. I met so many great people and I'll miss seeing them every week. It's almost a "be careful what you wish for" situation. I have been battling back and forth in my mind for months on what my life holds for me. I've said, "What if what I've built here isn't as good as what's out there? But what if what's out there isn't as good as what I've built here?" Now I guess God's giving me my chance to find out. I had this job so I wasn't able to go out and explore out there and I wanted to so badly. Now that I can, I'm rather overwhelmed and scared to death! Where do I start? There's so many things that are holding me here that I love, yet what if I will love it more out there? What if my real life is in Montana or West Virginia, or Alabama!?! It's crazy to think that I really could go anywhere and nothing is stopping me. Maybe this is a good thing to be let go from my job and this is the start of my life.....maybe it starts tomorrow....

What's your stress level at work?....

2008-10-09T20:11:00.001-05:00

I went to the chiropractor today for the first time ever. One of the questions on the first timer forms you have to fill out is your stress level at work and your personal stress level. I put my stress level at work a 6, even though at times it's more like a 9. I enjoy work usually, it's when everyone else is in a bad mood that I hate it. Today, was one of those days.

I got this email about a rental that my boss did for a local school. The guy was suppose to call one of the crew workers to set up a pick up time. But that crew worker was gone for a week and when he got into work today, he told me about the rental and suggested that I call the guy to set up a time. I decided I didn't have time to do that and why should I considering that it isn't my rental and I don't know the guy. IN the email she sent to the guy who rented the equipment, it said to contact her assistant to set up a time if she couldn't get a hold of the crew member. So I give her assistant the number and then a little while later I get an email saying that I passed the buck and I shouldn't have passed the name and number to her assistant because everyone is busy and they don't have time to do this and that I need to take initiative and do things when they arise. Also that it's my departments job to handle rentals.

Ok I can find a lot of things wrong with this email from her. First she scheduled the rental and knows the guy, why is it all of a sudden my responsiblity to schedule it after she does? If rentals are my job, why not let me book it? Second, I love how she said everyone is busy and doesn't have time to do it so why don't I. Ohh so I am just sitting around with my thumb up my butt? That's right, I don't have anything to do so I'll handle everything that you 'don't have time to do.' Third, she told the guy in the email to contact her assistant, so when I give her assistant the message from the guy, I'm passing the buck? I just get so pissed with her! She says we need to help one another and yada yada, but when we needed help with something she sat back in her queen chair and stuck her nose up at us and wouldn't lift a finger to help us! It's a lot of double talking at this place I found out pretty quickly.

So other then that, I'm ready for the weekend! I was having a pretty good week too. It was going fast which is always nice! Now tomorrow I'm sure is going to drag on like no other! I have a follow up appt. with the chiropractor tomorrow to go over my x-rays of my spine. It will be interesting to see what is going on back there! ha ha, get it, back there! Alright so hopefully he can get this tension out of my right shoulder, which I would love to use to help my fist punch some people in the face.

Is it Friday at 5:00 yet?

Four Walls

2008-09-28T12:54:00.000-05:00

These four walls
They whisper to me
They know secrets
I knew they would not keep

It didn't take long
For the room to fill with dust
And these four walls
Came down around us

Must have been something
to send me out of my head
With the words so radical
and not what I meant
Now I wait
For a breakin the silence cuz it's all that you left
Just me and these four walls again

It's hard now to let you be
I won't make excuses
I've made my peace
It didn't take long
For me to lose the trust
Cause these four walls
Were not strong enough

It must have been something
to send me out of my head
With the words so radical
and not what I meant
Now I wait
For a breakin the silence
cuz it's all that you left
Just me and these four walls again

Yeah It's difficult
Watching us fade
Knowing it's all my fault
For my mistake
Yeah, it's difficult
Letting you down
Knowing it's all my fault
That you're not around

It must have been something
to send me out of my head
With the words so radical
and not what I meant
Now I wait
For a breakin the silence
cuz it's all that you left
Just me and these four walls again
Again

Finally.....

2008-09-20T22:10:00.000-05:00

After a very stressful week, my first show is in the books!! I'm not sure on the exact numbers of how it went but personally I'm excited and I think it went well. The vendors I talked to seemed really happy and I hope they got some good leads/sales from the show. My boss seemed happy when we left tonight so I hope that doesn't change from today to Monday! It really couldn't have gone so well without all my co-workers who rocked the show! Without them I would have been lost. So now that the first show is over, I'm excited and I feel like the other shows will go better!

Tomorrow's the family reunion....hopefully it goes well. My cousin is picking me up and we're heading up to my aunt and uncle's to see everyone. Fingers crossed my aunt has margarita's or something because I might need it. After an 11 hour day on Friday and a 12 1/2 hour day today...I don't know how long I can handle the family...especially the great aunts and uncles.

Well I'm ready for the Pack to kick some more butt tomorrow! Go Pack Go!

Players to watch, or my favorite:

#87 Jordy Nelson

#35 Korey Hall

new computer!

2008-09-15T20:28:00.000-05:00

This weekend I got my new laptop!! I'm so excited that I can now get on the internet at home! And the best thing is that someone in my apt. complex doesn't have protected internet so I can use theirs and I don't have to buy it. That saves me some money because I am broke. Luckily my dads work hsa this program where you can buy a computer through Dell, they pay for it and then take some much out of your check each pay period to pay themselves back. So it saves you money because you don't have to pay it all at once, and it allows me to make payments to my parents for the cost of this computer. I would never be able to pay for it all at once!

Today I went and bought bar stools for my island in my kitchen, scheduled my apt. for new tires for my car, went to the eye doctor and bought glasses and contacts, and I paid my electric bill and phone bill. Gosh it was an expensive day! It hits you hard how expensive life is. And these are things I need, not extravagent things! I need glasses and contacts ohh and I bought gas! At flippin $3.95 a gallon! Life is expensive and it doesn't help the way this economy is going. Hopefully I get a raise or something soon and then I'll have more moola!

I gotta say it....

2008-09-14T13:29:00.000-05:00

Just have to say I told you so to all those Rodgers non-believers. So far he's proved himself very well and I think he's impressed a lot of people. He's handled the situation he was put into very well and I think he's going to have continued success through the whole season! Go Rodgers!

Labor Day is my FAV. holiday!!

2008-08-27T11:08:00.000-05:00

It's true, I think Labor Day (weekend) is my favorite holiday. It seems like so much more fairs and festivals and picnics go on for Labor Day. Probably why my second favorite holiday is 4th of July. Needless to say, I'm super excited to go home this weekend and celebrate with my friends! A nice 4 day weekend (I'm taking off on Friday) is in order and I think this day is going slow just because it knows I want to be done.

My apt. is super...I really like it. Still some things I need to change/do but I really like it. It's nice to have the place just the way I want it. And my friend moved in across the pond from me! So when I get bored or whatever I can just walk across the yard and there you go, I'm in his apt.! We should coordinate a back yard barbecue party with all the neighbors.....that would be awesome!

Ok everyone, have a super weekend and enjoy the weather!

Just in case you missed it....A-Rod kicked butt the other night in Denver!!

a little sad

2008-08-07T13:35:00.001-05:00

As much as I'm glad it's over, I really am upset that Brett Favre is no longer a Green Bay Packer. I saw him for the first time today in Jets apparel and it just didn't seem right. As much as you made me mad, I wish you luck Brett! Welcome to the start of your new life Rodgers!

Sick of it...

2008-08-06T14:57:00.000-05:00

The girl who had my job before me came to visit today. It's amazing how she doesn't even say hi to me, and my boss can completely ignore me when she's here. I'm not her, when will they accept that?!? When will they learn that I've had this job 6 months compared to her 7 years when she left and the years before that she worked here? I wouldn't care if she never came back again....

new song...

2008-07-31T16:35:00.000-05:00

I heard the new song by Lee Ann Womack today called "Last Call." Just when you can't think of anything else they could sing about they come up with songs like these. It's so catchy and I love it. If you get a chance, go to www.cmt.com and take a listen.

have a super night, it's almost the weekend!!

Roomie Time!

2008-07-25T10:27:00.000-05:00

Drunk on whiskey, drunk on wine, the lord don't like it but the devil don't mind.

Time to go to see the roommates! I can't wait!!

it's over.....

2008-07-22T16:55:00.000-05:00

Softball is officially done for the season! Can you believe it's over already? It seemed like when the season started that it was going to take forever but we succeeded in having a blast each game which made me get excited for Monday's! We didn't have the best season, but we had fun and I think that counts for a lot. And we got way better by the last game then the first. And of course the last game was the most fun. i think it was because we finally said screw the rules and just brought our cooler right up to the bench and cracked the cans open. Ok well Amy and I did, everyone else was a chicken! It was fun though and we went to the bar after and 8 of our co-workers were there! It was a good end to the season, and I actually am looking forward to it next year. Hopefully everyone will join again!

The apt. living is going very well. I like having the place to myself. If i don't feel like changing out of my pajamas in the morning, or afternoon, or all day.....I don't! (Not that it stopped us before in college!) All the messes that are in my place are mine and I can't blame them on anyone else but me. My closet is all mine which I love! It's going well though. Yeah sometimes it sucks but so far I'd say it's good.

Work is crazy like always. It's one thing after another....and I thought summer was our time off! I don't mind it because it does keep me busy, but some days I just want to go crazy on someone because I'm so stressed. I don't think it's going to get better either, considering that my season starts in September, which is coming on faster then I ever thought!

Alright have a super night! Enjoy the rest of your weeks!

Brett Favre is Pissing Me Off!

2008-07-15T10:33:00.000-05:00

This whole saga with Brett not feeling welcome and GB doesn't want him, and he still can play....what a crock of crap! I'm so sick of Brett Favre is the poor old QB who the Pack tried to kick out....yeah right!!! Does that make any sense what-so-ever to think that the Packers would not want their quarterback back who took them to one game from the Super Bowl??? Yeah they probably were pressuring him to make a decision because they can't sit around with their fingers up their nose waiting to see what he's going to do. They had to make a game plan for the whole team! There are more people on the team then you Favre! They needed to know if you were coming back because if you weren't (which you didn't in a tear-full goodbye) they had to start working out plays with Rodgers as their starting QB!!! How can you not understand that?

I'm just fed up with the poor Brett act he's pulling. Now he can't come back as the starter so he doesn't want to come back at all? Wow, what dedication to your team and community. You quit, hem and haw about wanting to come back and then say ok you want to, then they say sorry we are making Rodgers the starter b/c he's been working his butt off to be it, and you throw down your football and run home to mom. Mature Brett, real mature! This whole saga has really changed the way I look at him. Anyone could have told him the first year he is retired is going to be the hardest. Once you get through the first, they become easier as time goes on. Let's see what happens as the soap opera unfolds and #4 either stays on top as the hero, or falls to the valley as a zero.

Yeah for Long Weekends!

2008-07-03T12:55:00.001-05:00

It's along weekend for the 4th of July and it's alright by me! I'm at work now (yeah I know what you're thinking, why are you blogging at work. Well, my response to that is why are you reading this at work....ha ha gotcha!) and there is no one here. It's like a ghost town! I would have taken a day off but then that's one day I don't have later on when I probably could really use a day off. So I saved it and it's not bad really. Since there is no one here I pretty much can play my radio as loud as I want and there is no one to be distracted. These co-workers could go on vacation more often!

I never have a lot of plans for the 4th but it's my favorite holiday. The parades, picnics, fireworks, cook-outs, nice weather. I love it all! I'm ready to go home too. I haven't been home in about two months. I get to see my puppy again!

I got my furniture in my apt. last night. It looks good, it's hard to get it to fit though but once I figure that out I'll be fine. I like it though and it's coming together. Slowly but surely!

Alright everyone! Have a super weekend and enjoy yourselves! Behave!!

a nice change of events

2008-06-27T09:32:00.000-05:00

Remember how I complained about CUSA yesterday, well last night was like 150% better! We didn't wait in any lines....ever! There still were a lot of people there but nothing like the mass congestion that was Wednesday night! Miranda Lambert was absolutely awesome and Dierks Bentley was really good too. We got our chairs a lot closer last night and we still couldn't see them on the stage. That stage must just be huge. It will be interesting to see what Saturday night will be like. We're not going to tonight and fighting the 10 million people who are going to Kenny Chesney. We saw his semi's last night arrive, good enough for me! So a nice change of events from one night to the next!

A little disappointed.....

2008-06-26T10:39:00.000-05:00

We went to Country USA last night and needless to say, it was nuts! The exit ramp to take was closed so we had to go up one more and back track; which actually ended up being better because there was not as much traffic coming from that way. So we get in and park, wait in line again to get into the grounds and finally get in! We went and found a spot and put our chairs down and waited for Sugarland to start! They were suppose to start at 9:30...well 9:30 came and went. Then 9:45, then 10:00, along comes 10:15, 10:30, ohh look, 10:45...and next thing you know they finally come out at 11:00!!! I was so freakin' pissed! It wouldn't be a big deal normally, if it was like a Friday/Saturday night but it was Wednesday and I still have two days of work ahead of me! They did play their obvious songs so that was cool to hear those. And we were so far back that we couldn't see them....they looked about 4 inches tall. (the funny thing is we thought we were close. The stage is very deceiving because it's so tall so it looks big like you're really close....we were not close) They played until midnight and that was when we decided to leave because we wanted to get out of there and make it home before the sun came up!

We found our car fine and then it was trying to get out of the lot. Last night confirmed to me that the human race is pretty dumb. There were two lanes of traffic going out, because obviously no one was driving in and this car in front of us tries to like make a u-turn and get into the lanes. If she would have backed up and gone, it would have been fine, instead she goes like an inch every five minutes and tries to get in. It was so frustrating! So I backed up (reverse! What a novel thing!) and went around her, and started in the second lane again. Only to go about 20 yards and have some retard stick half her car in the lane to try to get to the opposite lane instead of just pulling into the first lane and keeping both lanes going!!!!!! I was so freakin' pissed it was not funny.

Finally we get the two lanes going again...and these chicks walk right down the lane....in the road! Then they turn and walk in the grass, so I try to go by them, and they turn into the road again! And to top it off, they give me dirty looks and yell "Watch out! Walking here!" I wanted to roll down my window and strangle the chick! It was a night I was ready to have end and I'm tired this morning.

Day One of CUSA, not so hot!

Thankful for the 4th

2008-06-25T09:01:00.000-05:00

I watched the flag pass by one day,
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it,
And then he stood at ease..

I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud.
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil
How many mothers' tears?

How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea?
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom isn't free.

I heard the sound of Taps one night,
When everything was still,
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.

I wondered just how many times
That Taps had meant 'Amen,'
When a flag had draped a coffin.
Of a brother or a friend

I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives.
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard,
At the bottom of the sea.
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, freedom isn't free .

I hope you all remember what July 4th is really about and stop to thank the soldiers who are keeping us free. Your courage and strength are unmatchable and because of you we're safe.

the last time...

2008-06-19T15:10:00.001-05:00

My last session with Hot S. tonight. Man three weeks goes fast...I'm a little depressed about it! I hope my results are good...and I hope I can keep up this regimen. Wait, I need to keep it up...and it' s not too bad after all.

it figures

2008-06-18T15:20:00.000-05:00

Why is it that practically every guy I've ever liked has had a girlfriend? Take a certain someone in my life, we'll call him Hot S. It's more of an infatuation with him now, I'll be honest; but don't all relationships kind of start out like that? I have a crush on him, I like that better then infatuation. Ok so I have a big crush on Hot S. and it's not getting any better since I saw him last night out at a baseball game.
It was his birthday, he's 26. And he was there with his girlfriend. Figures doesn't it? She was pretty, not what I was expecting, but what was I really expecting? I guess some knock-out gorgeous girl and just because this girl wasn't I shouldn't say she was not pretty. She was cute, skinny of course. I mean could a personal trainer have a fat girlfriend? And can any guy have a fat g/f without getting made fun of? Probably not many.
So he was there, and we talked and it was a good time. But all I could keep thinking was how lucky that girl was. How lucky to have Hot S. loyalty and attention and affection. I'm jealous...yes I am. I go to meet with him today. Will my crush end? No time in the near future, that's for sure.
When will a guy choose me, only me like that? And will they be like Hot S. or like me. If I was a guy, I probably wouldn't date myself either.

(I thought I finally met a guy last night that was just nice and liked me. Today, all he can talk about is business. That went down the drain fast. I wish I didn't get excited for things so quickly. That would require my brain not to work though and that's not going to happen.)

My secret: I'm sacred someone will love me like that, and I won't be able to love them back. Or I'll always be looking for someone different to love.
My other secret: I'm scared no one will ever love me like that.

One Week Left....

2008-06-17T11:10:00.000-05:00

Only one week left of my W.R.F. fitness study! Its been really fun and I got to meet some great people. And not to mention Hot S. That was worth it right there! We have three sessions this week and then I'm definitely going to keep going. It's so hard with my schedule, because I have a social life, but I really need to keep going and it's nice to have a schedule like that. I would like to keep meeting with S., my trainer, but I'm not sure how much money or anything that is. We'll have to look into that.

We played softball last night against the crazy team. We're in the bottom division of all the leagues b/c we really just joined for fun. And this team is like hardcore softball players. They wear sliding shorts and the full on softball gear. And they are undefeated, giving each other signs and it's just nuts. They rock everyone they play and it's pretty dumb that they are in our league but whatever, we can't change that. So we ended up losing but it was pretty fun. I sucked at batting but whatever...hopefully I'll get better. Next Monday, we're winning!!

I still haven't heard if I got the apt. I put the money down on so I am just going to assume that I did. I don't want to have to start looking again...no way jose! I already did that once, I'm in for good now. I had to plan my budget and darnit, it looks like shopping excursions and partyin' are weekends need to be held to a minimum. I need to be saving some money so I eventually can get a house and not have to pay for rent. I got some new furniture this past weekend when my mom and I went shopping. They had a floor model brown leather couch and loveseat with recliner's in them on clearance b/c they had some scratches in them! I could care less about a little scratch if I get $2,000 off! So I got them and I'm set with that now! Now, if only I had somewhere to put them!?!?!

as much as I get frustrated, I do believe it

2008-06-12T13:33:00.000-05:00

I seriously do believe that everything happens for a reason and most things will turn out alright in the end. However, in the heat of certain moments, I do not believe this and swear up and down and across that it's God's plan to screw me over. I think sometimes it takes us years and years to see why a certain decision went one way and not the other but eventually we'll figure it out. I also think that it's our adaptability that allows us to flow through tough times and make them ok. I think if something doesn't go one way, and we have to go with it, we can just make ourselves like the situation and make it work.

This is all stemming from the fact that I was so nervous for the cardio. program I was going to do with my trainer. I mean I get nervous over simple things, and this was making me real nervous. So I get there yesterday and he's says, "today we'll do the cardio, and tomorrow the legs" and I almost threw up. We went to the room and did the cardio and I made it through and didn't die so i was happy. And I think that was God's way of springing it on me so I couldn't sit and get nervous about if for two more days and I just had to do it then and there! And I guess I'm ok with that for certain things. It's just going to be a matter of time before I convince myself that it will all be ok.

Oh and another tip, I just keep telling myself that eventually it will be over. It won't last all night, eventually we'll be done and I can leave....that helps too!

workout numero four dunzzo

2008-06-11T13:37:00.000-05:00

so i did arms last night with my trainer....and they aren't as sore today as they were the first time. We tried to do three rounds and man, my arms just like quit! I hate it! I got so frustrated and I even told him that I was mad! He kept telling me not to get frustrated that it takes time but it just gets me pissed when I'm trying so hard and my arms just seriously won't go anymore!

Hopefully I'm not like the worst person he has or anything b/c that would just suck! I actually hope he enjoys working with me, because I enjoy staring at him...ha ha He did ask about a fellow co-worker the other day though, which I was not too happy about. Not that it was a big deal or anything. Like I said, if he was tall, I'd be in a world of hurt because I wouldn't be able to concentrate I'd be so in love!

Wish me luck tonight as I go to do the bottom half workout!

casual......

2008-06-10T12:32:00.001-05:00

Casual has seem to come up a lot this week. First off, all the bosses are gone so it's casual week!! YEAH!!! I'm stoked! Had a super weekend with my family too. We went shopping down to Pleasant Prairie and I got some awesome deals and spent a lot of money! It seems I always hit it big at the outlets or get like one thing. Well this weekend was one of the big ones. It was fun though.

Side Note: I work out again today with Hot S. - Arms.....yikes!!! Let's hope it goes well!! Only 6 sessions left! I'm super nervous again....

Casual also came up in conversation. This girl at work, B.T. has been having casual sex with another guy here at work. It's all fine and dandy until she confronted him and said,"look, I want a relationship and it doesn't seem like you want to give me one so either tell me you only like me for sex, or ask me on a date." Well he did neither but you know girls; we just can't get over someone in a week, sometimes month, sometimes year. I don't know what it is about us but when you see that guy again, your heart speeds up and you get kind of giddy and you just need to find any excuse to talk to him. And it seems like every girl has one....that one guy that no matter what you will never get over. Whenever you see them it's the same feelings, whether five days or five months since the last time you saw them. I have one, I know my roommates had them. They say go out and find someone new to replace them....well that's fine and dandy but it's not always that easy to go out and just get a new guy. So in conclusion, stay strong girls if you're in this situation. You can do it and if he is like this guy at work, you are so much better then him! Do right for yourself and just keep telling yourself you don't need him....which you don't!!!
Now it comes to practicing what I preach.

update!

2008-06-05T13:04:00.001-05:00

Well my workout last night wasn't too bad. Now it wasn't easy but I really got a lot out of it. Good thing I don't have to lift my arms over my head at work b/c....well I wouldn't be able to!
S. and I did all upper body and he showed me how to do all the machines for it. We did a round of 15 reps and then another round of 15 reps. The second round sucked! I could barely finish/didn't finish some of the machines with the 15 reps on the 2nd time! My arms were shaking like crazy and I was trying to get them all the way up and I just couldn't! I felt like a fool but today we shared war stories over lunch and a lot of people couldn't finish the 15 reps the second time around. It's one of those things where it hurts but it feels good b/c you know you did something productive for the pain.

After I did a Body Sculpt class with B.T. and it was pretty good too. However my legs are a little tight today and I have lower body with S. tonight so he might be mad at me. ha ha Let's hope it goes well! I'm rather nervous to do the squats he decided we're going to do...I just hope it goes well!

(Remember how I said S. was hot..well he's freakin' Hot! He played baseball in college, he has facial hair which I love, and his shoulders and hands are gorgeous!...which are my favs...and he's really nice. I just hope he doesn't think like 'man, what did I get myself into with this chick!?" I do try hard and I hope he doesn't dread when I come in. He's easy to make conversation with which is nice. He loves my hometown, exact quote and I was surprised he even knew where it was. Good thing he's not tall....another fav....or I'd have a major crush! not like I don't already!!!)

Ohh and softball got canceled the other night due to rain! No game!

my first day!!!

2008-06-04T15:32:00.000-05:00

So my training for at the fitness center didn't go bad the first day. I like it there, everyone's really nice and helpful. And they have a personal flat screen tv on all cardio equipment! Nice!

However, my trainer is hot...yeah you heard me. The one thing a girl does not want is a hot trainer. I would have taken a girl trainer any day but nope, I get the hot one, S. Dangit!
Tonights my first official workout with him. He says were going to do a lot in the weight room which I'm glad about b/c I thought he was going to like watch me on the treadmill or something. I just have my fingers crossed that it continues to go well! Wish me luck!

feel the burn.....

2008-06-02T15:48:00.000-05:00

I start my workout session at W.R.F. today!! Yikes...I'm a little nervous, let's hope it goes well. Update tomorrow!

Bare bones softball team tonight! We'll see if we can keep up the winning record to fall to .500!

the weekend is here!

2008-05-30T15:19:00.005-05:00

Ok maybe not for another hour or so but close enough! My friend B. and I are going out tonight for dinner and drinks and then to an Blizzard football game. Should be a good time.

I'm so ready for a weekend where I don't have to do anything. There are no obligations to me, I don't have to be at any party/wedding/shower. This summer is just crazy with bachelorette parties, bridal showers, weddings and miscellaneous other events thrown in there. Don't get me wrong, I love my friends and family, but my budget does not like me! $30 here, $50 there....it all adds up. I honestly am glad I'm not in any of these weddings because that's even more money to be spent.
If I just lived in the country in the boonie's and had no obligations, then my life would be easier now wouldn't it?!

The apt. search is going strong. I only have one more to look at and then it's decision time. I need to get a place situated so I can start getting furniture and everything else for my place. Currently I have dishes and cups, a lamp, a nightstand, a futon, a bed and a desk. Super huh? Oh and my friend V. is giving me a kitchen table and chairs. So we're a long way from furnishing an apt.!!

Since I'm writing this and I've been using abbreviations all day in my writing, I thought I'd share some with you that my roommates and I always used.

O.N. = Old Navy sandals
Klot. = the fitness center
Q-dub = Qdoba Mexican Grill
T.S. = Taylor Swift
L.B. = Library
Apt. = Apartment (this is pretty generic)
3020 = our house
MLK = milwaukee

Ok those are the only ones I can think of so far. I know we have more though...they've slipped my mind currently. But we could seriously have long conversations using abbreviations or shortened versions of words. I miss my roomies........

crazy

2008-05-30T10:16:00.000-05:00

I was just on Yahoo and looking at the pictures of the tribe they found in the Amazon or where-ever it was that has never been contacted by civilization. What a crazy thought! I mean I understand that they know nothing different but how does someone just grow up in total isolation and never venture out of their surroundings. How far are these people from a town? It's so weird to think that theirs a group of people out there who only know how to hunt and survive in the wilderness and do you even think they think like we do? Do they think there are other people in the world other then them? Do they know they live in a world where other people can exist?!?! It's amazing how we've been on earth for so long yet we discover new things almost every day. If you have a chance, check it out on CNN too. They say about 100 un-contacted tribes are out there worldwide and about half life in the Peru/Brazil areas.
The pictures show them shooting bows and arrows at the plane taking pictures. I wonder what's going through their heads when this big white thing flies over their homes and they have no clue what it is. I'd probably try to find a bow and arrow to shoot at it too.

I'm pretty much a walking contradiction.....

2008-05-28T09:05:00.000-05:00

Yup thats right. I contradict myself quite often in this wonderful world I live in.

I don't like tail-gaters, yet I have a tendency to follow too closely myself. I hate when people talk to me in the morning, yet I find myself sometimes trying to make conversation with others. I get annoyed with people after a certain amount of time yet I don't feel like people get annoyed with me. (I hate this about me too! I have no clue why this is but after like a 4 month period, I'm sick of people and I need a break from them! Why? I have no clue!) I say I love sports but I don't really like to play them. I talk about people who drink a lot and get trashed, yet I've been known to go on my own binders from time to time. I say I'm not competitive but once I start playing I'm out for blood. I love the outdoors in the summer but hate being outside because when it's hot it ruins my make-up (another big issue I need to get over. Or society could change.....) I'm a hard worker, yet I slack off quite a bit at work. I get upset when people don't' update their blogs, yet I hardly ever update mine. I get mad at indecisive people yet I can rarely make a decision to save my life!

See, like I said, a walking contradiction! There's a resolution for me...stop it!

nope, I'm not gonna do it.......

2008-05-22T12:49:00.001-05:00

Today is one of those days where I said I'd do something.....and now I don't want to. Nothing big or anything. It's not like I said I'd give a kidney and now I'm not....I wouldn't do something like that!! I said I'd go to the grad party that is going on for our intern Aaron but honestly, I don't feel like I want to go anymore. I really didn't work with him...at all really. I just hate having to come up with excuses all the time. Not that it's really a bad thing I think. I always try to think....If he didn't come to something I was having, would I be made upset. The answer to that is a big N-O. So I have to think of some excuse quick.......

UPDATE: I went. Yeah I know, add onto the contradiction that is my life. Some people were going and my attitude got better as the day went on so I went. It was a nice time and I like getting to spend time with people outside of work. Not that they are completely different like some places, but you just get to relax and throw down some beer. Wish I could do that at work!

do you think.......

2008-05-21T14:14:00.000-05:00

Do you think all the beer we drink on Monday nights cancels out the exercise we get from playing softball? I do. It's unfortunate but the two just go hand in hand. We're in WI for gosh sakes! When you're bored with friends, you head to the bar. You get a twelve back and start a fire (in a pit people, I do not promote pyromaniacs!) I could probably say no, but who likes quitter!?!

I fake baked yesterday....and I don't regret it one bit. All 8 minutes were delightful!

I have yet to start my apt. hunt again. I'm rather dreading it and don't have the urge to do anything. Yeah, it's my college procrastination coming out again. Good thing I don't have like a 12 page paper due or something.

Did you know O.K. stands for "our kind"?? Me neither. I learned it in safety class today. Just thought you might like to know.

another day, another dollar

2008-05-19T12:56:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure why, but that saying always seems to sum up Monday's. No one wants to be to work on Monday. It's like your brain doesn't function completely and you say dumb things and make mistakes...and that just makes your day go even better! So my Monday is going, slowly but going.

Tonight we have softball at 7:15 again. We won last week which was super great and I hope we can win again this week. However, people are skipping out tonight, which is kind of upsetting. I think we have like 12 games total, counting a practice game before the season officially started. Anyways, our games last an hour, that's it. So they could come, play the hour and leave immediately after that. It's frustrating because we need so many girls on the team as well as guys (due to rules) and the girls are the ones missing! If it's because you have work, we don't start until 7:15...what is going to take you from 8:30 in the morning to 7:00 at night!?!?! I will kind of be glad when it's done for this reason.

I'm getting sick of this dumb apartment search I've been on for two months now. Something needs to come soon or I'll go crazy!

disappointment reigns again

2008-05-15T10:42:00.000-05:00

I'm sick of people saying, "it happened for a reason." Maybe it didn't. Maybe it was just someone's way so saying hey, screw you!! I feel like only so many times can it go wrong for it to be 'meant to be' and then after that, it's just shitty. I lost my apartment. Well I never really had it...or I thought I had it but I never really had it. I signed an application which I thought was a lease on a place (like my 10th one I looked at) and was all excited I got the call saying i got the place and then whoops, no you didn't. Sorry it was already rented. Well the girl who 'supposedly' is renting it has yet to sign the lease....and she looked at the place on April 21st! I was like, "ok so i have to wait for this girl to sign a lease or not, when I'm sitting here, willing to sign a lease today?" Yup, sorry, first come first serve! How long does she get to sit on it!?! I was told I had 30 days to decide if I wanted it or not. It's going on day 24 for this chick...30 days and I'm calling there to give them a piece of my mind. I don't even want to give them money after this whole scenario, but I liked the place and I can't think of trying to find another place again!!! I'm sick of looking, I just want to find a place and be done with it!! When will "everything happens for a reason" just be done and let me live my life!?!?!

Wonderful Weekend

2008-05-12T11:28:00.001-05:00

It was a nice weekend for Mother's Day, other then being a little cold on Sunday. My brother and I pitched in and got my mom and dad a new digital camera for the event. We combined Mother's Day and Father's Day because, lets be honest, I'm not made out of money to spend that much on each of them for their 'special day.' I picked it out at Best Buy and I hope I picked a good one. And the woman at the photo department said it would be easy to use so that's a bonus! Now let's hope they start taking some pictures!

My allergies have been acting up lately. I know, you probably don't care about my sneezing and coughing and itchy eyes but I feel like sharing. I need someone to feel sympathy for me. They got really bad on Sat. night and it may have been because I let the dog sleep on my bed with me and she was outside all day....probably rolling in pollen and just getting coated in the stuff to come share with me. I was pretty useless on Sunday and slept most of the day. And I still didn't want to get up today to get the kids off to school/grandma's. But I did and got to work at 8:20....those kids are getting faster and faster!! Now if I could only get H.M. clothes on and off without taking off her ears........

the future looks grim

2008-05-07T12:29:00.001-05:00

I'm not sure what it is, but I can't find a guy. Or I find one, only to discover he's way older or younger. Which I realize shouldn't matter but you can't tell me that it doesn't have a little weight in your decisions. Like at work, there is a guy who's 36. When you see that from the eyes of me, who's 23, it's hard to think of a relationship with someone who is like 13 years older then you. He's great and real nice and fun but 13 years is kind of a long time. Why can't I find someone my age range? Am I in the wrong town, wrong state? I heard in Alaska that the ratio is 2:1 guys for girls. Maybe I should invest in some boots and a parka and head north to Juneau. It bothers me that I can't just find someone my age...or close even. No I fall for the 35-40 year age range. Maybe someday, but for now, the future looks grim.

Update

2008-05-06T13:11:00.000-05:00

"Easter Madness"

Everything is going well with my Grandma. The brain tumor is something that is not cancerous so they chose not to mess with it. And the spots from her MRI on her shoulder and spine are arthritis and not bone cancer! Thank you Lord for answering prayers!! Now she can enjoy her grandchildren and great-grandchildren!

mistakes/new found love

2008-05-06T12:58:00.000-05:00

I signed up for a class that was video tapes to learn Medical Terminology last fall through a community college that has branches close by. When I signed up for the class initially, it was with the intention that would some day use the class for a job in a hospital as a unit coordinator. I always thought it would be interesting to work in a hospital and help people. My mom is a nurse and I know I couldn't do that but being a u.c. would be about as close as I could get! Anyways, I never took the course. I payed $250 or $300 I can't remember to get a packet of papers i never filled out and a schedule of videotapes I never watched. What a waste huh!? I'm upset that I haven't done anything with it...well did anything with it, the class is over now. I signed up when I had a job I didn't like and I just wanted any way to get out of there. Now I like my job. I'm upset with myself that I wasted that money!

So with J.A. in recovery, we are taking turns getting the kids to school. Today I got there and everyone was wide awake! And to top it off, both were sick!! Not like puke sick but poor little H.M. just layed in her crib and whimpered and cried. She helped me get her dressed by cooperating but you could just tell she didn't feel good. I felt so bad!! And W.J. was sick too. He was quiet and you could tell he didn't want to go to Grandma's, he just wanted to stay home with mom. But since J.A. can't lift anything, we can't leave the kids home alone with her in case something happened. And she still gets tired pretty easy so she takes naps throughout the day. H.M. sat and snuggled with me this morning for quite some time and J.A. said she must be sick b/c she's not a snuggler that often. And when we took them to Grandma's she didn't want to leave me. It was so cute and I'm so attached to those little punks. Honestly, in a weird way, I'm glad J.A.'s heart problem was detected so 1) she could get better and 2) I'm getting even closer to my god-daughter/cousins then ever before. I'm really more of an aunt then I am a cousin to them.
Here is a picture of us playing the other day when I babysat....now you can see the cuteness!

week one

2008-04-28T18:49:00.001-05:00

Today's our first softball game for the co-ed team for work. It's just a practice but I'm still mega nervous! I wish I didn't get so nervous for things but I can't help that. I was nervous for women's volleyball and that turned out good so I hope this does too. Just don't let any of us get hurt!! Good Luck Team!!

more rain...

2008-04-25T10:21:00.000-05:00

Hello again. So JA is back home and doing pretty well. She gets tired by the smallest chores and sleeps a lot, but that's good since she didn't sleep well for the week she was in the hospital. Let's hope it continues to get better and she'll be better then her old self in no time.

When you go through something like that, and then another thing gets added on, it really tests the human strength to endure hardships. My Grandma's doctor found a tumor in her head the other week at the doctors office. She got a brain scan on yesterday to see what it is. They said it's not cancer and they think she's had it for a long, long time. Yet again, I hope they are right and it's really nothing. She already told us that she's not doing anything about it. She said she's too old to fight it now, and if the doctor said don't worry, she's not going to worry.

I hope this is the last of the bad news for our family. We need something good to happen soon!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is just a eulogy that I found that a man wrote for his brother. It's such a touching letter and I thought I'd share it.

Darren Opicka’s eulogy for his older brother, Dean Opicka, killed in action in Iraq April 14, 2008:

Good morning. My name is Darren and I am Deano’s little brother currently stationed in Camp Pendleton, California. I’ve completed two successful combat tours. I’ve walked in the same soil that took Dean from us.

My parents always told us how many people are praying for you every single day and that’s always meant so much to me.

But looking back, me and Deano, the youngest two of four boys, and I believe the best looking, we always spent a lot of time singing karaoke, singing in the car or playing some kind of sport. It always seemed it was so convenient, every single day, come chore time, it was the fourth quarter in our front yard football game in which me and Dean took turns being Brett Favre trying to throw the winning touchdown pass against the Bears. You know we always won.

Come baseball season, me and Dean would spend many hours throwing the baseball around the front yard until one day there was a nearly perfect circle in one of the barn windows. It soon became obvious to mom and dad, and yet still to this day, no one threw it.

I’m sure the past week of everybody rekindling memories of Deano, everybody’s come to know something. I came to learn that my brother was the most organized packrat – ever. (He was) so meticulous that he sent himself letters from Iraq with receipts in them and he kept these organized forever. I don’t understand how he did it, but he did.

I know when Dean finally made it to heaven and he met God, he continued exactly where left off. When God got to him, he said, “Dean, here’s your receipt.”

People always wonder through their actions and what they’ve done, if they’ll affect people and change lives. Everyone knew Dean as a giver in all aspects of life. It never mattered what Dean had, but rather what you needed. Me and Dean were both very proud not just to be brothers, but also United States Marines – to serve the great nation, to serve an outstanding tradition and freedom. Dean’s passion and what he believed in led him to the greatest sacrifice for freedom – his life which he gave honorably.

We all have guardian angels. But I know on that fourteenth day of April, I got another one. One I could never have imagined nor asked for. Dean’s going to be the best guardian angel to walk by my side and to watch over me. Dean, you’re going to be missed by all. You’ve been an amazing Marine, a tremendous friend of all and the most incredible finacee, son and brother anyone could ever have asked for and will forever be in our hearts.

We love you Dean, it’s time for you to get some rest. Brother, you not only earned it, but deserve it. Your mission’s over. You’re home now.

and then the rain came pouring down.....

2008-04-15T14:25:00.000-05:00

We were doing well. J.A. was moved to a regular room, and her pace-maker came off Saturday early-evening. It was great...we all were so relieved, I think I slept the best ever. (It probably helped that I babysat for a 7 year old, 3 1/2 year old and 20 month old that day too. I would like to send a personal thank-you to the inventor of Play-Doh and SpongeBob Square Pants....you saved me. I am forever grateful.)

I awoke to a note on the kitchen counter, "J.A. got moved back to ICU around midnight when her heart rate dropped to the 30's. She has the pace-maker attached again. I will call you if I get any updates." I felt sick, like I might black-out. How could this happen?!?! I just couldn't concentrate all day. She was doing so well and then BAM, back to step one. She will be in ICU for 48 hours so they can monitor her. I guess I'm sad it happened but glad it happened. What if that went on after she got home? She could have died! The nurses who watch all the patients monitors are the ones who caught it and came into the room to check on her. I really hope she doesn't have to get the pacemaker but if it keeps her alive, there really is no choice is there. It's just so crazy because she's only 28! I pray every night for her full recovery, please do the same if you can.

So far, So good

2008-04-11T10:03:00.000-05:00

Hello All! Yesterday was a very stressful day for my family (well my second immediate family since I live with my aunt, uncle and cousin.) My cousin, their daughter and sister respectively, had to have open heart surgery yesterday. She had it about 4 years ago I think and the temporary valve that was put in was working, but another leak showed up in a different spot. So a new permanent aortic valve had to be put in yesterday. We woke at 4:30 am to get to the hospital by 6:00. We arrived and JA (my cousin) and JW (her husband) were already there. We talked a little, said a little prayer and off to the 2nd floor for the surgery. It was all going ok until JA started crying a little. Then my aunt was crying and I was trying not to. She's so strong it's unbelievable. I really look up to her for being 28 and having two heart surgeries already and taking everything in stride. I'm happy to say that all went well, or as well as a second heart surgery can go. We were at the hospital from 6 am - 6 pm when we went home. She is doing well and we're just waiting and praying for her to get off the pace-maker and have her heart fire properly on it's own. It's so used to having to 'fire' more then the normal heart that it was going a little faster then they wanted it to yesterday. The pace-maker should help it go to a normal rate and then the pace-maker will come off. She should be better then ever once she is fully recovered! YEAH!!!

In the meantime, we are all taking turns watching their 3 children (one from a previous marriage of JW) They are so adorable and I'm happy to say that the little girl HM is my god-daughter! They are always a hoot and I look forward to spending more time with them! Take Care all!!

The Times They Are A Changin'

2008-04-08T14:56:00.001-05:00

My cousin is 16. The girl he likes is 18. When they hang out, it's just like I'm back in junior high all over again. They hit one another, say mean (dumb) things, keep moving closer to eventually they are sitting by each other. And then their is the other stages that I never experienced in my younger days. The texting, phone calls, Facebook pokes! We didn't have cell phones for one....we had bag phones. Yup, you remember the huge phone in a bag you plugged into your cigarette lighter. We had those and you definitely didn't whip them out in social gatherings to make a call.
Texting...now there's another one. We didn't even have phones, let alone the ability to text. I didn't get into texting until college!! Now little kids like 12 are texting! And the parents!! They text each others parents too! What!??!! I can't imagine texting my friends mom! It's just so foreign to me!

This day and age, Facebook is a regular everyday word. "facebook pic" "that's going on facebook" "facebook quote!" It's crazy how like everyone can say it and everyone else knows what that person is talking about. I still think facebook should be for college students only though. If a high school principal or someone got on there....yikes! These high school kids are a little riskier then my social circle ever was. The drinking and drugs! I mean you should never do drugs but the drinking, wait until college. Actually don't start at all! All it does is eat up your money. I was on my cousin's facebook and his friends had messages about needing to get drunk this weekend. I was shocked! I like to think I'm not naive but I guess I didn't realize how many kids do it.

Also, the pictures from the halloween parties!! They are dressed like slutty everything! Yet again, not until college did we get 'slutty' and even then it was too cold for me to go prancing around Water Street in thigh highs with my butt hanging out. I guess our children need to mature faster then ever these days which makes me a little scared. What will it be like by the time I have kids?

Now I understand why people always said, "Back in my day....."

annoyed....

2008-04-03T10:26:00.001-05:00

So I get kind of annoyed at the tech department here at work. We are suppose to have private email folders but they check them and they check all of our emails. Ok I understand you need to monitor the server and computers and what-not. But do you need to go through all of our folders and check them? Do you need to read all of our emails? Umm no!! They can check what websites we go on and everything. As a matter of fact, they probably could be reading this as I type it! I understand to a certain extent yet where does the invasion of privacy line get crossed?

I'm Kinda A Big Deal

2008-04-02T12:44:00.000-05:00

Wouldn't it be cool to have a famous friend? Not like reality show famous where you get taped every time you are with them, but like musician famous or athlete famous. I think it would be pretty fun. Probably if you stayed inside or out on your own property though otherwise you could be hounded by fans and the media (depending on how big of a star). I think I would want to be friends with like a person who is a star, but not super famous that they can't leave their home without being mobbed. Like some country music stars are just regular people in their hometown's. That would be cool to hang with someone like that...to get to live the life for a little while but not like 'completely' live the life!
Ok this was a totally random thought but I figured I'd shoot it out there.

___________________________-
Right when I think it's going well....here I am again. My boss just got back from lunch with V.P. - PR. Great! I really don't know why she doesn't want to go to lunch with me or anyone. God people, get over the fact that I'm like at least 8 years younger then all of you! Is that it? Otherwise I have no clue what it is. Am I suppose to be more talkative? I don't know what to talk to you about?! I don't want to have my only interactions with you be about work. I wish someone would just tell me what the deal is!! It's like I'm the last one picked for dodge ball. I seriously feel like I'm back in high school!

my new job.....

2008-04-02T09:24:00.001-05:00

So my new job gives me the luxury of getting the first chance at tickets for events. No I don't get a discount and I can't get as many as I want but I also can talk to our ticket-person who can hook me up with the best seats available once they are on sale. Ok last night we saw Carrie Underwood and Josh Turner....I'm not even a big fan of either and I thought it was a really good concert. I'm not a fan of the costume changes all the time but they weren't that long so it was ok. But what I wanted to share was an awesome song I had never heard from Carrie Underwood and another song from Josh Gracin that's his new release that I love! Below are the lyrics and I recommend you go to rhapsody.com and listen for yourselves!

Carrie Underwood "Just a Dream"

It was two weeks after the day she turned 18
all dressed in white
going to the church that night
She had his box of letters in the passenger seat
A six pence in her shoe
Something borrowed, something blue
And when the church doors opened up wide
She put her veil down trying to hide the tears
Oh she just couldn't believe it
She heard the trumpets from the military band
And the flowers fell out of her hands

Baby why'd you leave me
Why'd you have to go
I was counting on forever
Now I'll never know
I can't even breathe
It's like I'm looking from a distance
Standing in the background
Everybody's saying he's not coming home now
This can't be happening to me
This is just a dream

The preacher man said "Let us bow our heads and pray"
"Lord please lift his soul and heal this hurt"
Then the congregation all stood up and sang
The saddest song that she ever heard
Then they handed her a folded up flag
And she held on to all she had left of him
oh and what could've been
Then the guns rang one last shot
And it felt like a bullet in her heart

Baby why'd you leave me
Why'd you have to go
I was counting on forever
Now I'll never know
I can't even breathe
It's like I'm looking from a distance
Standing in the background
Everybody's saying he's not coming home now
This can't be happening to me
This is just a dream

Baby why'd you leave me
Why'd you have to go
I was counting on forever
Now I'll never know
oh I'll never know
It's like I'm looking from a distance
Standing in the background
Everybody's saying he's not coming home now
This can't be happening to me
This is just a dream
Oh this is just a dream
Just a dream
Yeah
Yeah

Josh Turner "Another Try"

All the things I felt and never shared
All the times that she was lonely with me there
The tears I wouldn't let fall from my eyes
And how I let her go without a fight

The reasons I'm alone I know by heart
But I don't want to spend forever in the dark
I swear next time I'll hang on for dear life
If love ever gives me another try

There's no changing things that we regret
The best that we can hope for is one more chance
If the hands of time could just move in reverse
I wouldn't make the same mistake again with her

The reasons I'm alone I know by heart
But I don't want to spend forever in the dark
I swear next time I'll hang on for dear life
If love ever gives me another try

The reasons I'm alone I know by heart
But I don't want to spend forever in the dark
I swear next time I'll hang on for dear life
If love ever gives me another try

2008-03-27T10:09:00.000-05:00

sometimes I want to leave here so bad and discover other places I feel I might go crazy; but I'm scared to leave the life that I've built here.

but is the life I built here better, then what I might discover out there?

horrible...

2008-03-25T14:14:00.000-05:00

I have realized I am a horrible judge of age!! There are people here are work that I can not believe how old they are because they do not look that old!!! After I find out their age I guess I can kind of see it but man, for some of these people I don't think they look nearly as old as they are. Wait, that came out kinda rude. What I mean is they look damn good for their age!

"How come all the cute boys keep getting younger and younger and I don't age one bit?!" - Lea

this isn't going as planned.....at all!

2008-03-25T08:45:00.000-05:00

So I'm beginning to wonder if this whole life I had imagined in GB is really going to happen. I wanted this job so bad and now I'm kind of contemplating it. I love it, I really do and it's what I wanted to do but the rest of my life isn't turning out quite like I had expected! My future 'roommate' (or the girl who was suppose to be my roommate) can't get a job in GB so she is going to move back home since her lease is up June 1st. Well that leaves me living alone, which I don't really want to do; and it leaves me with a huge a*# rent bill I have to pay all on my own. The cheapest rent I can find for a decent place is like $650.00. That's almost two weeks of pay on what I bring home.

I don't know what I expected to happen but more and more I'm thinking I need to leave WI and go travel somewhere else. Sometimes I want to leave here so bad I feel like I'm going to burst out of my skin. And other times I'm so content I can't see myself anywhere else. I want to travel the U.S. and visit other places to see if WI is really right for me. What if Oregon is right? Or Wyoming? Or Ohio? How will I ever know if I don't try other things out?

Maybe I have this impossible dream in my head that I have made that could never come true. I don't know why I can't just be all around happy. A great deal of it is because I feel so alone sometimes. I wish I could just be happy by myself and deal with life. I guess things just aren't working out like I thought they would and it sucks. I don't want to live alone....I like people. Something needs to change here or I might lose it all.

Happy Easter!

2008-03-21T09:57:00.000-05:00

Hello Everyone!! Just wanted to wish you a Happy Easter before the weekend! Celebrate with family and friends and eat lots of jello eggs! ha ha....did you ever eat those? we used to make them all the time and they were gross, yet so good! Ohh how I miss those jello jiggler easter eggs!

Sarah Johns

2008-03-20T09:45:00.000-05:00

It's Hard To Be A Girl....

I don't mean to appear too forward.
Then again I wanna say so much.
I don't want to scare him off,
cause we're off to such a good start...
such a good start.

So I don't think I'll even leave a message.
He's had my number all along.
And if he hasn't got the message by now,
as to what this girl wants, what my heart wants...

I've been known to speak my mind,
but with him I melt, forget every line.
It's hard to be a girl in a young man's world.

I can't think straight, I'm confused.
This dress don't go with these shoes.
What's wrong with me?
Am I were he wants to be?
Should I go to work or go back to bed?
Pull the covers over my head, and scream?

I've been known, to speak my mind.
But with him I melt, forget every line.
It's hard to be a girl in a young man's world.
Ohh it's hard to be a girl, in a young man's world.

*If you like country....or even if you don't, give Sarah Johns a try. She's really great and co-wrote every song on her album!

will i...

2008-03-19T16:18:00.000-05:00

will i ever be the one included in on the secrets? the one who people turn to to tell their frustrations or the one to help others out? will people ever bring their good news to me? will i ever be one of the girls in this office? it stinks when people yell over the cubicle to one another, asking if everyone is in and your gets bypassed. i know it's only been a couple months but when will my inclusion time come....or will i never be able to catch up to it?

it just comes natural

2008-03-19T12:29:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I get really upset that I'm not naturally beautiful like some people. I have to struggle with weight and self-confidence probably more then the average girl. It sucks when you see these girls who I believe are pretty dang close to perfect and they complain about this and that. I just want to shake them and say "you have no idea how lucky you are"

I realize to them they are not perfect but jeez, how could you look in the mirror and think that? I often think that if I did change, I would be happy....but would I? Or would I be just like that girl who everyone thinks is well on her way to perfect but to her, she's far from it?

This comes on the heals of seeing the most gorgeous guy ever. And I think....my God, he is so attractive and in the back of my mind, I know I'll never stand a chance to get a look from this guy. I'm not the natural beauty he looks for. I'm the girl who "she's kind of pretty" and that's it. No second glance or smile and a hello. I just get so pissed because of this and I don't know how to just stop! It sometimes consumes my thoughts and lately it's been really bad. I need to just be content with who I am or change myself. If only 'changing myself' was easy and not so dang hard.

why aren't you gone yet??

2008-03-17T11:54:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I get really, really frustrated with this job. I understand that the girl who had this position before me was here for along time. *Pam had my position for 6 or 7 years and it's only two people in our department. Ok, I understand that you got close over the years since it' s just you two but now I have your position, you can leave now. Pam just keeps hanging around and granted, it has been helpful when certain situations arrive and I need to get the answer to a question. But when I keep hearing that Pam did this and Pam got asked to stay by the boss and Pam did it this way.....ok good for Pam. I'M NOT PAM!!!!!

It's so frustrating to have her constantly here! Sometimes I wonder if my boss wishes Pam was still here and she is kind of upset that I am here instead of Pam. I'm sorry that you feel that way but you have to understand we have only known each other for about a month and a half....not nearly long enough to get extremely comfortable with each other. My boss and Pam just left for a day at the spa....wow, thanks for inviting me. It hurts when she goes off with Pam and leaves me here. Sometimes in this workplace I feel so alone and sometimes it's great. Lots of people know each other b/c they've been working together for years and I'm the new girl they don't really know yet. And the age thing plays into it as well I think. Everyone here is in their upper 20's to early/mid 30's. I'm 23. They have babies and husbands and bills...I'm just getting my life started! I feel like I don't fit in a lot. Not that they don't make an effort to include me but when your boss goes off with Pam and you are left in the office, it kind of stings. Sometimes I just want to say to Pam, GO AWAY!!! YOU DON'T WORK HERE ANYMORE!!! But I know that she'll be here later in the week, or possibly this weekend.

Will I ever be able to 'replace' her or am I constantly going to be taking a backseat to Pam? Is she always going to be around and overshadow me or will people ever start to know me for me and not "the new Pam"?

the end of an era.....

2008-03-05T12:18:00.000-06:00

Today is a sad day in Wisconsin athletic history. Today, you said goodbye to the game you made famous. Everyone who knows anything about football knows your name associated with an indescribable feat. You risked it all and took the route not traveled, the sacrifice dive, or the famous "hail-mary" pass. Often coming out on top, victorious. You took challenges and risks and no matter what happened, we were behind you all the way. You Mr. Favre, were our shining light. Our hopes, dreams, and secret goals lived through you. Each of us threw a ball hoping some day it would leave our hand with the power like yours...never did, it but we wished it all the same. Tears were brought to our eyes during many games. The way you and the team poured their hearts out on the field; leaving tired and bruised. The night you played the game after your fathers death made many of question whether you were best friends with God. Your adversity to overcome obstacles has been outstanding. Our hearts went out to you and your family. To them you may be just an average guy who happens to have a heck of an arm. To us, you're our hero.

You showed children that football is fun. No matter how much money you have made from start to finish, you have given it one hundred percent. Your smile on the field has made us smile in our homes. The way you celebrate touchdowns like it's your first one ever. You ran around with you helmet in your hand raised above your head, showing the world what great things were to come. The way you pat players on the backs, give them a wink, crack a joke, or snap a towel you do it all with vigor. You have adopted Green Bay as your second home and we have adopted you as our second son. Through thick and thin, we have stood by you and you by us. Your devotion to the green and gold has almost out shined your best plays. Green Bay has changed since you have arrived here some sixteen years ago. You gave us something to look forward to in the fall and a reason for us to enjoy the winter. Families planned their vacations around Green Bay now, hoping to catch a glimpse of the "great one" during practice. The game will never be the same without you in it. Many have said you're so modest and kind and that's what makes you loved. Not a single player has spoke negative words about you which says even more about you then your gunslinging arm.

We first saw a fierce football player. Little by little the layers came away and we see now a great man as well. Your private life has become more in the public eye then maybe you have wanted, but with your disclosure of your private life, you have lifted many others up. Your fight with addiction helped others get back on track. Deanna's fight with breast cancer showed others that life is worth fighting for. Money and fame have not gone to Deanna's or your head. This shows a lot about your roots and family upbringing. You taught our children how to behave off the field as well as on. Tell your family thank you from us as you spend your upcoming years with them. They have been patiently waiting for you.

Your family has continued to donate their time, faith, and love to children to brighten their day. Little did we know it also brightens yours. We see you on a pedestal...you see yourself as an average guy. Neither of us are right, but we can't say neither is wrong as well. How could we have known a boy from Mississippi could turn into a magnificent man right before our eyes? You fit in better in Wisconsin with your hospitality and charm then even some Wisconsinites do. You have stayed true to yourself and also honest with us, which makes us even more proud to call you 'ours.'

Great days are ahead of us. When Lambeau Field adds your number to the retired jersey's of legends hanging on their sacred walls; and the day you are forever recognized as a record breaking quarterback in the National Football Hall of Fame. Both are well deserved and you have worked so hard to earn the titles.

We are all preparing on how to tell our children of the days we watched the great Brett Favre make the incredible pass and then pat his teammates on the back. The joy you had as you ran around the field, celebrating every play from year number one to year seventeen. We will teach them to be like you, more then we will ask them to mirror us.

We're sorry we often got carried away and didn't let you live your life outside of football. Sometimes we get so caught up, we forget there is more to you then your football legacy. Even though some say it, you don't owe us anything. You already made it seventeen years longer then some pets, some jobs, and some loves. We knew you'd be there for us year after year and for that we're happy. It's great to have "known" you for so long and like all good things, this must come to an end too. We wish you well. Have fun hunting, spending time with family and friends, and when football season comes around, we'll all be thinking of you.

We'll forever remember the day this announcement was made. You may think you don't deserve it, to us you couldn't deserve more. There's not much we can say Mr. Favre to tell you how much you have impacted all of our lives. Most for better, other NFL fans for worse. From now on, most of us when given a choice to choose a number will choose number four; knowing in the back of our minds that if forever belongs to you. Thank you for your heart, your dedication to Green Bay and the fans, and your love for life. On the field and off you have helped many of us see the joys in life. You will forever be Deanna's Brett...and forever in our hearts, our Favre.

"But I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, his greatest fulfillment of all he holds dear, is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious." - Vince Lombardi

I know this is wrong....

2008-02-26T14:32:00.000-06:00

I know I shouldn't but I am.....I'm jealous of my friends who are married or those who are with the one they will marry. It's rather discouraging to be here with all my friends and they all are 'not looking'. Who knew a little rock on your left hand could be so significant huh?!

Now I don't want you to think I hate these people because of this....I really am happy for them that they found someone who loves them and they love to spend the rest of their life with. I truly have not found that person (well I have but they don't know they're that person! ha) and I hope one day soon I will. But there is the little voice in the back of my head that goes, "Do you really want that now or no?" I truly don't know b/c my mind shifts back and forth on the topic so much. Do I want to get married, heck yes! Do I want it to be in the next 2 years....I'm not sure. I think about being with someone for the rest of my life and I get kinda freaked out. I am assuming this is because I have yet to meet the perfect person that I want to spend the rest of my life with that this feeling coincides with that thought. I don't' want to be jealous of them but I am.

I'm almost......23!!!

2008-02-26T11:35:00.001-06:00

It's hard to believe it's almost my birthday already! The year of 2008 is going pretty quickly. Honestly, I know 23 is young compared to well, 63 but I just hate being one year older....especially this year. I love telling people I am only 22 and that I was born in 1985. I understand that the '85 won't change but to tell people I'm 23 is going to be so weird. So many people have talked to me and been like wow I thought I was young! I like that feeling that they view me as a young person. Not if it would hinder their view of me as being capable of something but just that I'm young. It's hard to explain I guess. I just am looking forward to it because it's my birthday but not because I'm a year older.

Started looking for apartments! There are some nice one's out there....hopefully we can find something! Take Care all!!

It's A Girl!!!!

2008-02-18T19:36:00.000-06:00

That's right...it's a girl!! My best friend had her baby on Friday and it's a little girl! 6lbs. 14 oz. Her name is Jolie. I can't wait to see her and hold her! It's hard to believe that my best frined is now a mother! It seems like only yesterday we were on the field playing softball and goofing around and now she's a full blown adult! I wish her the best of luck and I know she's going to rock at being a mom!

Well my job is going super. It's so much better then my last job it isn't even funny! I love it and the people are really nice....especially my department....considering it's only two of us. We get along great though and I feel like we mesh well. We often are thinking the same things which helps. I love going to all the trade shows and just watching the building change. One day it's full of boats, then one day people are hitting drives with golf balls, and now it's going to be full of deer this coming weekend! It's so much fun and so cool to see the people come too. It's a different crowd for each show and they all are so unique. It's tons of fun thought and I'm so glad I got the job!

Hopefully this snow stops coming down soon. Yes it's beautiful and when you don't have to drive in it it's nice but man, when you do have to go out in it....it sucks! It's almost like there is no where else to shovel it! The banks are so high I don't remember them being like this for years! This is definitely a winter to remember.

Brrrrrrr........

2008-01-28T11:22:00.000-06:00

It has been mighty cold lately and I'm getting rather sick of it! It is way warmer today then it has been in quite some time but it is suppose to snow/rain tonight and tomorrow so forget about this warm weather!!! Not that I don't like winter, I just hate driving in snow and slush and ice! Hopefully it won't be bad tomorrow like driving and such.

Ok, well I am now in my second week as my new job as an event coordinator! I really like it and I think it's better then what I thought. I hope that it keeps getting better and better. I think that once I really figure out what I'm doing I will really like it. I still am learning a lot of stuff now but I have learned a lot in Expocad (this computer program where you create layouts for the events) and I can hold my own in there. I am really glad the girl who I replaced is coming in to help me because it's easier for her to tell me what's where and what everything means then for me to try to figure it out on my own! My first show that I work is on March 2nd so I need to learn a lot by then!

Living with my family isn't going too bad. It's nice to see more of my little cousin because he's growing up so fast! He has a home basketball game tomorrow so I hopefully will be able to leave work and make it. The nice thing about work is that I am salary so I'm not punching a clock. I get to come in when I want and leave when I want and if I have to adjust my schedule for some reason, I can! So that's pretty cool.

I went home this past weekend to get some of the things I left behind in the move. My friend Jenny and I went out on Friday night, just the two of us. It was pretty good but there were some weird people out at our normal bar. Diane our friend was bartending so we always go there on Friday but that bar is getting sketchier and sketchier! Diane even commented "You girls seem out of your element tonight" We were like "hell yeah we are! We don't have our safety circle and there are creepy people in here tonight!" We usually go with a group of people so to only have us two was a little un-nerving to fight off the creeps! It was a great night though we had a good time!

Saturday I saw "27 Dresses" and it is a really good movie! I would recommend it to anyone!!

Take Care everyone, stay warm and have great week!!