Introducing Alexander

This is our newest addition. His name is Alexander and he is a sealed brindle boxer.

He is 14 weeks (25 pounds) and we have managed to complete his house breaking in only 2 days.

He is a smart smart boy. The vet figures he will be about 90 pounds when he is full grown but we love him already. Now, Shelby and Buster are not so sure about the little guy, but we feel sure he will grown on them.......eventually.

Im sure there will be many many picture to follow :)

Off to Arkansas

So college boy is making a trip to Arkansas - he is flying on Southwest so I feel good about that.

He has'nt made very many airplane trips and NEVER one on his own so this is quite the adventure for him :)

I know for the whole weekend I will just be continuously praying for his safety *sigh* its so hard being a mom!

Bonnie

This is not my cat - she belongs to a co worker and you have probably seen her on my blog a couple of times before...the truth is she is so cute that I can hardly stand it.. This is her baby picture - can you STAND IT?

State Fair

Tomorrow our car club will be on display in the car corrals just outside the automobile buildings at the State Fair. This is one of my most favorite days of the entire year. I don't care if it rains or if its cold, its all part of the charm. I love the sights, the sounds, the smells and yes, I suppose, the food. A real life honest to goodness fletchers corn dog....are you KIDDING ME? This year I plan to try the fried frito pie (this years BIG fried thing) and I can't leave without a funnel cake....but its just one day of the whole year and I will be telling myself that through my entire cardio class where I will have to work OFF all that food. Hopefully there will be pictures to post after tomorrow :)

Going Good

So the hubby is on day 4 of the new job. He REALLY LIKES IT - he is, of course, nervous about having to learn a totally new system but he is smart and he can do it. I think the last 2 layoff has kind of done a number on his self confidence but Im sure once he gets in and gets comfortable that will come back :) As for now, its all quite on the home front :)

I have not heard from the kiddos in Italy but I did see on the DIL's page that her flight back from London nearly crashed......they were in turbulence, lost altitude, the oxygen masks dropped and the pilot told them to prepare for a crash landing....thankfully, he regained control of the plane and set her safely back down in Italy. Of course, If I was her, it would be a loooonnnnnggggg time before I got back on another airplane :) (note to DIL - they have SHIPS that make that trip too :)

The younger of the boys - College boy - has a friend in Arkansas - I guess he will be flying to see her in a couple of weeks. He has a great new job working our local hometown Sears store and he just loves it - the people he works with are wonderful people and the man is actually the OWNER of the store......College boy, delivers appliances, puts together grills and lawn mowers and will soon be learning about sales - so good job for him - oh and schools seems to going good for him as well.

As for me, I bought a book, called the Hormone Diet - yes I know Im always looking for that magic bullet that will take all this extra weight AWAY from me, but the two week detox seemed to work.....cravings for sweets and carbs is gone and best of all I have lost 10 pounds! So for now, this is the way I will go :)

FINALLY

Once again, God has blessed us. The hubby finally has a new job. I won't jinx it til he has the offer in hand but he did take his drug test yesterday - so if all goes as planned he will start his new job next week! YAY!!!!!!!!!

The Waiting Game

Well the hubby has a couple of pretty good possibilities (on jobs) hanging out there in the wings.....hopefully good news will come soon. This is probably the worst part of the job search - waiting, wondering what the offer will be, hoping you make the right decision.....but this beat the heck out of NOTHING land where he has been recently. Thanks to all who have kept us in your prayers - don't stop yet :D

IS THIS IT ?

After almost 7 month of relentless, job searching, networking, talking to people and almost giving up - The hubby has an interview. This job fell out of the sky and into his lap - he didn't apply for it.....his resume "caught their attention" - He had a conversation with some higher ups....two hours later HR called to set him up for an assessment and 2 days later they call him to come in for a "face to face"......so - THE Day is Monday and he is sooooo excited - as well are - please continue to pray - this could be IT!

You need the bad to appreciate the good

I walked out of my house this morning and the weather was so wonderful that I just wanted to stand there with the cool breeze blowing watching the clouds as they moved by - it was just gloroious but - it was not to be, so I got into my car and started driving to work - I even had one of my windows down - THATS how nice it was outside. I was filled with joy.

Then I turned onto the highway..............a few miles down the road the traffic came to an abrupt STOP - after twenty minutes of exhaust fumes, slow moving traffic, people cutting over at the last minute and seeing that it was all because of high water in the two left lanes on the highway, my joy was completely gone!

Dear Mr Policeman - we can all drive through a little high water - isn't that what those flashy signs are for to WARN us? Stop shutting down the highway, K? Thanks!

August - Who needs it?

Ok, really? 106 degrees? I live in Texas for crying out loud not Arizona! 90's not so much a big deal to me, I have lived here my whole life. But this 106 business - no thanks! Maybe I need a summer home someplace like, oh I don't know, maybe the mountains of Montana or Wyoming - mmmmm now theres a blissful thought. Of course, to do that one has to have a money and a job that allows for that, right? Yeah, well thats not US!

HOWEVER, the shining spot in all of this blasted heat is that the hubby has interviews today and tomorrow - one he prefers over the other, but at this point he can go wherever they want him the most :)

Believe me, as soon as we know something I will post it :)

Time for Prayers

There could be a job on the horizon for the hubby - a good one! So all my friends out there....pray pray pray :)

Wanderings

Do you ever just look around you and think "what am I doing?" Just kind of in a fog and your life is on auto pilot? I came to that realization this morning as Im driving to work....and I think - this is wayyyyyyyyyyyy to deep of thought for 7 AM so I forgot about it, grabbed some breakfast and went to work.

A few mins later (like now) the nagging thought came back again so I thought ok, Im going to blog my thoughts about this.

The reality is...I don't have any thoughts about it..... I mean, I do wonder what Im doing. I do feel like Im on auto pilot with the same routine every day. I do think about it and wonder about it I mean, maybe its because I haven't had a vacation in like 5 years. Maybe its because Im so danged tired that its all I can handle to get through the day, or maybe it because I have no passions, no goals, no direction.

No....Im not depressed but I am really tired........that must be it - deep thoughts when your this tired are pointless - your never going to resolve them because they aren't mean to be resolved, only pondered. Im sure tomorrow when I get up at the same time I get up every day...follow my morning routine that I follow every morning and get in my car to drive to my same job I go to every day to do the same work I do every day I will forget about all of this and move on to some other topic of thought...like Navy boy's November wedding, College boy's car in for body work (again), College boy's classes starting in a couple of weeks, Hubby still looking for a job, or maybe Saturday's 12.4 mile training walk for the Susan G Komen.......who knows? Tommorrow is another day!

Report from July 2009 - still darned funny

Dear Diary,Just moved to Texas ! Now this is a state that knows how to live!! Beautiful sunny days and warm balmy evenings. What a place! It is beautiful. I've finally found my home. I love it here.June 14th:Really heating up. Got to 100 today. Not a problem. Live in an air-conditioned home, drive an air-conditioned car. What a pleasure to see the sun everyday like this. I'm turning into a sun worshipper.June 30th:Had the backyard landscaped with western plants today. Lots of cactus and rocks. What a breeze to maintain. No more mowing the lawn for me. Another scorcher today, but I love it here.July 10th:The temperature hasn't been below 100 all week. How do people get used to this kind of heat?At least, it's kind of windy though. But getting used to the heat is taking longer than I expected.July 15th:Fell asleep by the community pool. (Got 3rd degree burns over 60% of my body). Missed 3 days of work. What a dumb thing to do. I learned my lesson though. Got to respect the ol' sun in a climate like this.July 20th:I missed Lomita (my cat) sneaking into the car when I left this morning. By the time I got to the hot car at noon, Lomita had died and swollen up to the size of a shopping bag, then popped like a water balloon. I learned my lesson though. No more pets in this heat. Good ol' Mr. Sun strikes again.July 25th:The wind sucks. It feels like a giant blow dryer!! And it's hot as he!!. The home air-conditioner is on the fritz and the AC repairman charged $200 just to drive by and tell me he needed to order parts.July 30th:Been sleeping outside on the patio for 3 nights now, $225,000 house and I can't even go inside. Lomita is the lucky one. Why did I ever come here?Aug. 4th:It's 115 degrees. Finally got the air-conditioner fixed today. It cost $500 and gets the temperature down to 85. I hate this stupid state.Aug. 8th:If another wise a$$ cracks, 'Hot enough for you today?' I'm going to strangle him. Dang heat. By the time I get to work, the radiator is boiling over, my clothes are soaking wet, and I smell like baked cat!!Aug. 9th:Tried to run some errands after work. Wore shorts, and when I sat on the seats in the car, my a$$ caught fire. My skin melted to the seat. I lost 2 layers of flesh and all the hair on the back of my legs. . . Now my car smells like burnt hair, fried a$$, and baked cat.Aug 10th:I’m convinced now that the weather report is a recording. Hot sunny. Hot and sunny. Hot and sunny. It's been too hot to do crap for 2 damn months and the weatherman says it might really warm up next week. Doesn't it ever rain in this damn state? Water rationing will be next, so my $1700 worth of cactus will just dry up and blow over. Even the cactus can't live in this heat.Aug. 14th:Welcome to HELL! Temperature got to 115 today. Cactus are dead. Forgot to crack the window and blew the windshield out of the car. The installer came to fix it and guess what he asked me??? "Hot enough for you today?" My sister had to spend $1,500 to bail me out of jail. Freaking Texas . What kind of a sick demented idiot would want to live here??Will write later to let you know how the trial goes.

Same cat different day

I swear, this cat is possessed.......this is the same cat peeking over the table in my other post.

8 - 9 - 10

Who knew? I almost passed it by without even thinking.

The Wedding

Well wedding plans are back in motion. The Navy kids say Navy Boy will get his leave in November but NOT in December. However, its still plenty of time to pull it all together. Im not comfortable with the amount of money WE are paying for the wedding since we are the groom's family and typically weddings fall to the responsibility of the bride's family except for things like flowers and rehearsal dinner, but oh well - we do what we must to make our children happy. I will do what I can within my limited means and hope that is its good enough (for those wondering yes the Hubby is still laid off -we have just hit the 6 month mark - so much for Networking) anyway...lets not get off on THAT subject.

I think its all under control except for the cakes....and here is why:

a Nintendo grooms cake? Where will I EVER FIND THAT ? Someone please tell me cuz I haven't a single clue who would make that!!!!!

Only my Navy boy who also got a 1/2 sleeve tatoo that says Nintendo Generation would request this cake - now come on!!!! Are you THAT addicted to video games?

OH well - if anyone has any suggestions - here is the brides cake as well: However their cake will have red accents and red flowers on the top. Should be beautiful! But need a baker with lots of experience with fondant icing! Oh and not too pricey :( ? We are on an extremely tight budget.

Funniest Cat Picture EVER

Our CFO's son took a picture of one of their cats - and this is quite possibly the funniest cat pictures I have EVER SEEN.

Kids

I guess Im just not meant to understand. My kids are pretty much grown but somehow I still keep getting sucked into these power struggles with them. My oldest, Navy Boy, is the worst. I don't have to DO anything and I get BLASTED for things that someone else said I did....I spend my entire time of talking to him defending myself. My youngest, College Boy, is just a free spirit and no matter what I ask him to do, he can't seem to remember it long enough to actually DO IT.

There really are days when I just want to close my door and tell them both - Mom is officially closed for business until the two of you can learn to be nice!

Great Uncle Don

We lost a very beloved family member on Saturday. He was my Great Uncle Don. He was my grandmother's brother and one of 13 children. There is only one of them left now and that is my Uncle Benny.

Uncle Don was blinded at a young age so he has been blind for the entire time that I knew him. He owned his own business, he travelled, he played a mean game of Texas Hold 'Em and he always dressed so nicely :). His life was full in spite of his disability and his lovely wife Mary Sue is the same way - she too is blind but they are so independent and amazing :)

I was in such awe of him when I was a child because he would work the cash register in the coffee shop that he owned and he could tell the denomination of the bill or coin without anyone standing there to tell him what it was. People never tried to cheat him or trick him and everyone that knew him loved and admired him.

When he got sick (Cancer) - he never complained about the treatment that was so hard on him, or the fact that the rapidly growing cancer was taking such a toll on him. But it was clear to me, that when he was done, and he gave up, that it would not be much longer and I am thankful that his was not long suffering with such a horrible illness. He was a wonderful, loving, respected man and I am proud to say he was my Uncle.

Uncle Don we will all miss you and your wonderful sense of humor. You will NOT be forgotten.

Another One Gone

Well the big "potential Job" went to an internal candidate.......this job search business bites...even when its not YOU doing it! I feel so bad for the hubby....he tries so hard, he is so smart, and so talented and he can't catch a break!

Nothing Yet

Well its Tuesday and no call............is it yet another dead end job trail for the hubby?
I'm so tired of it all and I'm not even the one having to do the looking! However, I suspect if it was, then it wouldn't be so frustrating because THEN I could DO SOMETHING! As it is, I'm having to WATCH and it just makes me crazy!

I would ask for continued prayers but I know you are all out there with me........so thank you!

HOPE HOPE HOPE PRAY PRAY PRAY

Ok so the door was closed on one opportunity for the hubby but the window to another was opened on the same day......so now we hope this is the one for this is the company he has wanted to work for for a long time.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Nuff said

No job.......

FINALLY

After 4 months of searching and struggling the hubby finally got an interview.....so all our friends out there - pray and pray hard - this is a great opportunity and he sure needs it.....I'll keep you posted!

Navy Boy's wife - whom I now Call Navy Girl - leaves for Italy on Sunday. I know Navy Boy is just chompin at the bit for her to be there.......I wish them much happiness...NOW go see the world while your overe there :)

College Boy is just working and hanging out - thats about what he does :)

Thats it for now....remember that prayer :)

Still walking

Im still training for the Susan G Komen 3-day. Since we are 24 weeks out we should be doing a minimum of 3 miles a day (with a couple of days off a week to rest). Saturday I did 4.5 miles just walking my neighborhood but Sunday I did a walk with another group (not my team) and we did 5 miles followed by a one hour yoga class.

I have NEVER been to a yoga class and I must tell you that anyone who says its easy has NEVER done it. I felt pretty good right afteward and most of the day yesterday but this morning ??????? Let me just say there is very little left of me that doesn't have a little bit of soreness. I think I found some muscles that my body forgot that it had.......Its too bad that I don't have a yoga studio in my neck of the woods because I really think I could add that in on one of my NON WALKING days.........and if you get a chance, try some yoga....all I can say is Wow!

Melodrama

Yes the weekend was busy but it was good. On Saturday I did one of my training walks for the Susan G Komen - on Saturday I walked over 9 miles......pretty good for me. I am starting to look forward to these walks -as they are marks of achievement for me!

Monday night I returned to the theatre and auditioned for the Melodrama........I got a part and Im so excited! Community theatre really is one of my passions and to get back into it is a good thing for me.

Still no job on the front for the hubby - and Im beginning to think we have exhausted all of our resources but I am hopeful that SOMETHING will happen - I don't know what will happen when his benefits run out.......I guess whatever we have to do.......sometimes you just need something good to happen, ya know?

Friday

We have a busy weekend coming up so thought I would post a quick blurb. Navy girl (the new DIL) leaves for Norfolk a week from Monday to finish up all her paperwork and get her orders to go join Navy Boy in Italy. I am so happy for them. As a mom it makes me feel good to know that Navy Boy won't be off in a foreign country alone anymore.......I wish the Navy COUPLE all the joy and happiness this world has to offer.

College boy managed to pass all of his classes - with 1 b and 3 Cs - so his GPA is sorely lacking but my hope is that he will continue to improve as he starts to take classes in his major.

A dear friend of ours has a son thats 24 - he is very shy and introverted and has no focus or direction except that he is very mechanically minded and very good with his hands....we discussed schooling but our friend was in a terrible car accident a few years ago and now on top of his disability, he has been laid off - so there is not much ability to do that......Im trying to help but I have very few avenues on that line....but maybe something good will happen. God is GOOD.

My great Uncle has been battling bone cancer and is going through another round of chemo - last time it was really bad for him but now they kind of know how to treat him so I am hopeful that this round will go much better - with big prayers that this time it shrinks those tumors and makes him feel better :)

7 mile training walk tomorrow for the Susan G......still trying to raise money - Im over 1/2 way to my goal of 2300 - hopefully I can pull that together too!

Thats about it from A Day In The Life - Happy Friday everyone!

Sometimes it just a poem

Let us not worry
About the future.
Let us only do the right thing
Today,
At this moment,
Here and Now.
Let the future take care of Itself.

- Sri Chinmoy

April 30th!

Well thats it....the oldest boy is officially married. Navy boy finally jumped off the ole single bridge. We are still having a ceremony for all us people who NEED TO HAVE A WEDDING - when they come home for Christmas in December. I am really very excited - Navy Girl-in-law is wonderful and I adore her - I am very blessed for my first daughter in law to be so exceptionally great! I just hate having to send her off to Italy - so that she AND Navy Boy are gone - but I wish I had spent my first married years living in Italy - I mean Wow!

In other news, we are refinancing our house - which is good because the lower interest rate brings our payment down. Now, if the hubby could just get a job, life would be great!

College boy is about to finish his semester at TCC it will be interesting to see what the grades are versus what they were at UNT where we pretty much FLUSHED $7K - *note to all* make sure your kids are REALLY READY for college before you send them off!

So....thats the update for now - stay tuned :)

So it begins

We are officially 27 weeks from the Susan G Komen, 3-day Breast Cancer Event. My team - Boobs, Sweat and Tears, is beginning to actively train with training walks scheduled every Saturday in May: 8th - 6 miles, 15th - 8 miles, 22nd - 8 miles and 29th - 10 miles. We also have a Texas Hold em event happening in Grapevine:

I am a team member of “Boobs, Sweat and Tears” and each team member is required to raise a minimum of $2,300.00. We are not permitted to walk if we don’t individually raise the minimum $2,300.00. To raise money this year, we are having a Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament and we would love for you to attend. Team BOOBS, SWEAT and TEARSTEXAS HOLD’EM POKER TOURNAMENT BENEFITTING THE FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER! Saturday, June 5th Happy Hour & hors d'oeuvre at 6:00 pmTournament Starts at 7:00 pm Back Porch Grill 210 N. Main StreetGrapevine, TX 76051

The tournament will be held in the Lone Star Room. $100.00 Buy-in Unlimited $50.00 re-buys for the first 90 minutes $50.00 add-on at 90 minutesWe will also have professional dealers. Prizes Include:HD Flat Panel TV$300 Gift Card from Dick’s Sporting Goods$200 Gift Card from Academy Sports$50 Gift Card from Best Buy Raffle Items Include:Crown Royal Gift PackageRound of Golf for Four (4)Dallas Cowboy DeMarcus Ware AutographedThrow Back Jersey, Bobble Heads and Baseball Card Please RSVP to jayne3day@gmail.com or 817.229.1032 no later than May 15th! I hppe you will join us and help us out. (the link to my personal donation page is at the top of this blog)

I need to buy some new walking shoes to get them broken in but I guess that has to wait. I am hopeful that maybe the hubby will get a new job at some point and I can afford to go get some specially fitted for the walk. As I understand it, on long walks, your feet swell so you want the shoes a little big and you want to wear well padded socks that wick away moisture to prevent blisters.

Im actually pretty excited about the walk this year....it has long been a goal of mine but I admit Im a little saddened that more people do not donate to this cause. I can't help but think of a good friend whose daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer (in her twenties) and another friend whose daughter was diagnosed and has 2 young children. We need to find a cure for this disease and the only way to do that is through research and the only way to fund research is through donations...........I guess people think that if you can't donate hundred of dollars then why bother but the truth is, ever little bit counts.

So here is to training for the walk, raising money for the cause and hoping to someday help people BEAT Breast Cancer.

2 months and 5 days :(

Well its been 2 months and 5 days since the hubby was laid off. He has not had so much as a call or an interview. I don't understand why its so hard .........he has applied to ALOT of jobs and he was qualified for most of them but not so much as a peep of interest out of anyone. It is discouraging for him and I feel bad for him too. I keep hoping and praying that this won't turn into another 7 months of no job but its not looking any better than last time. Everyone keeps saying that the economy is turning around but I'm sure not seeing any improvement yet. So keep those prayers going.....there has to be something out there for him. Hopefully this time it won't be consulting and he can finally find a place to be happy at work. Don't we all wish for that?

Its TIME

This weekend I will embark on my next version of the Square Foot Garden (thank you Mel Bartholomew) I have decided to try Topsy Turvy Tomatoes and Strawberries but in the Sq Ft garden I will do Zucchini again (it was very successful last year) I might try red bell peppers again - last year was no good.....and then I really have to evaluate what else to put. My chocolate mint and Rosemary not only survived the winter, but seemed to thrive and I may have to cut them back a bit but they are doing well. Maybe I will convert a couple more squares to herbs......I have started using different fresh herbs alot more. Anyway, I will post pics when Im all planted and growing :) Happy Growing!

Things

Well...yes, the car did finally get put back together and the brakes work now so the future DIL is out in the world stopping safely (we hope). It only took the poor hubby THREE days to get it all figured out.....

The proxy marriage (required by the US Navy) should be complete in about 1 week so my Navy boy and Future DIL will be legally married. She leaves for Italy the end of June. It really stinks to get a brand new DIL in a family full of boys, only to send her off to Italy :( But we are still having the "real wedding" in December when they come home for Christmas.

Now if we can just get the hubby back to work so I can actually HELP with this wedding - things would be wonderful!

I have a training walk on Saturday for the Susan G Komen...its sneaking up fast and I still have quite a bit more money to raise, but thats ok.....I'm determined to do this.

College boy is going to school and working two jobs..I know he is ready for summer to be here and cut out at least ONE of those for a little while. I hope he gets moved to the kitchen at VG's pretty soon - he is really looking forward to that!

And at least its almost Friday.....I can use the break!

The first glimmer of hope

The hubby has had a glimmer of hope on a job. He recieved an email asking him to take an online assessment for a manager's position with Texas Health Resources. When you look at his status on line it says "considering" so maybe he will get an interview - if they will just talk to him they will see what a GREAT FIT he would be for this job. But keep the prayers going :)

*&^@ Cars!

Poor hubby - he kinda sorta got volunteered to fix the future DIL's car. It needs brakes and rotors.....he thinks, no sweat! HOWEVER there are two kinds of cars that you don't want to do brakes on - Hondas and Mazdas.......Im sure no one cares about the intricisies of WHY that is....but suffice it to say its a huge and quite royal pain in the backside thanks to 2 bolts that have no other function in life than to make a brake person's life miserable!

He started bright and early yesterday - and at about 8PM last night he FINALLY got the bolts off of the DRIVERS SIDE. Hopefully this morning he will get the dreaded bolts off the passenger side but I think he has decided that he will not offer to do brakes on any more cars until he knows what kind of car it is. I remember trying to do the brakes on Navy son's VW........it took both of us and ALOT of finagling to get that thing back together - darned German engineerging! :) Anyway.....cross your fingers that it goes well and keep praying cuz he still has no job and no current prospects.........its tough out there....thank the GOOD LORD that I still have my job!

I don't get it

I will never understand human behavior. I will never understand why people behave in a way this is akin to cutting off your nose to spite your face. I will never understand why 2 people can't just TALK to each other and work things out between them instead of involving about 100 other people to "call so and so", "talk to so and so", "so and so is soooo upset" - STOP DOING THAT. If you need to talk to me -pick up the phone or heck, come by and see me - I don't care just don't have other people do your bidding !?!?!?! Im pretty sure I left high school about 30 years go (Oh man, Im soo telling my age right now). I don't like the games......lets just talk - ok?

The Furniture

So one of my good friends got new furniture -the benefit to that is that I got the old furniture - it is only about 4 years old and its a beautiful red plaid. There is a couch and rocker loveseat that are the plaid and an overstuffed chair and ottoman that are a matching floral. The throw pillows are the same floral and it just made all the difference in the world. The best part is that it so matches the brick around my fireplace (which is the same brick on the outside of the house). If I remember I will take pictures and post them later.

The hubby is still job hunting.....since we have not reached the point of wanting to relocate - he is still applying. The sad part is, he has not had ONE call.....I guess its because he is applying to big companies and the big companies aren't hiring without an internal recommendation. It is so frustrating for him and Im doing my best to encourage. I just hope something comes along for him soon.

Navy son and soon-t0-be DIL are doing well and the long distance wedding planning seems to be coming right along ;hopefully, we will get it all lined out so that even with her in Italy (with him) we can have things ready for December. I just know it will be beautiful.

College boy is still attending college and so far, his grades seem to be doing well - I think the summer off will be a good break for him. He has started his job and Aeropostale and I guess its going ok but with him you never really know. The girlfriend is good and she comes over occasionally and we enjoy visiting with her.

Other than that, all the extended family seems to be doing well and with Easter coming up this weekend Im sure I'll have some fun to document for posterity *grin*

Happy Easter everyone!

Lemonade anyone?

I have heard it my whole life....when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Well I guess I now have about 500 gallons of lemonade. And really, Im SICK of making lemonade.

So I guess now Im going to try the whole gratitude thing.......

I was reading a book my mom gave me and this quote is why I wrote today's blog "Being grateful no matter what is going on around you puts you in position to keep you life moving forward, in the best direction possible, given your current circumstances." and also "The pessimist complains about the wind; the optomist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails" I guess Im a realist, cuz I plan to adjust my sails and keep on going, whether I like whats happening or not.

Thank you Mr William Ward - There is no way to avoid life's storms - they come and go whether we want them or not. The best thing each of us can do is learn how to dance in the rain! When I was little is used to be so much fun.......how come it isn't anymore?

Almost April

Well we are still enduring the "lay off" - I sure hope Craig finds something soon!

Navy Boy and The Fiance are moving right along - looks like they are going to actually be married by May (by Proxy) because the Navy needs all this paperwork for her to be able to come live there. However, we will still have a formal ceremony in December, when they come home for Christmas. They are both very excited and she is looking forward to living in Italy for a while (duh, I would just like to VISIT)!

College Boy is going to TCC and he is starting a new job, at the mall. Its not culinary work but at least its a job. He had a girl friend now and they are doing fine.

Even our fur kids are fine - its very different with Pete gone.......just having Buster and Shelby - it really seems almost quiet. We finally took the box from the MIL - she picked it up from the vet and hung onto it....I was not quite ready to take it...but we have it now and it sits on a shelf with all my boxer figurines.......its still hard...but each day gets a little easier.

Other than that not much changes around our house - each day is the same - at least until Craig gets another job......

U.S.S.A

Yes, you read that right. I guess we are now the United Socialist States of America. With the passing of the so called "health care reform" bill - The President has successfully taken over - the car manufacturers, the banks, and now health care. I guess we are slowly going to lose control over everything as along as Obama is in charge. It just kills me to hear Democrats say "you don't understand the bill" - Ok, explain it to me - my bet is BEFORE THE VOTE, the Dems didn't understand it either since Pelosi (in her infinite wisdom said) "You have to pass the bill to know whats in it".......um excuse me Ms. Pelosi, but THATS not how America works! All the meetings and forums on this bill were supposed to be public and they were not.....do you know all the arm twising and deal making that went on to get people to vote for this bill?

The Republicans will now begin the process of lawsuits that will bog down, slow down and maybe SOMEHOW defeat this thing but who knows how long it will take? Hopefully long enough for Obama to be voted out of office !!

If your an Obama supporter, all I can is, Im sorry for you - I think you have been duped!

God Help Us ALL !!!!!

Same Song Second Verse

*sigh* yes we did this before......about 1 year ago to be exact. Here we are in Week 4 since the hubby was laid off and not a sign of life on a new job. Again, he has applied for about 40 positions at Alcon, Radio Shack (where he spent 13 years of his life), Lockheed, Texas Health Resources, Omni American (where we have been loyal customers for 20 years) and the list is longer but the short story is he has not even been so much as called for more info or an interview or anything. He has only recieved 2 emails saying no thanks but the rest is just floating out there in the world of electronic applications and I fear we are in for another seven months of no job for the hubby! The sad part is we were just recovering from the last seven month stretch of being unemployed (of course thats why I told him -no more consulting for you pal).

So.....any and all prayers are appreciated and in the meantime, if you hear of something, send me an email - hopefully something will come along soon!

So Long Johnny High

Yesterday Mr. Johnny High passed away at the age of 80. If you are not familiar with him - he has a country music revue show that started up the likes of Leann Rhymes, the Dixie Chicks and a few others. It is located in the old Arlington Theatre near "downtown" Arlington.

I was on his show with a girl that I used to sing with, many years ago - we were told on many occassions that we were the next Judds. We were as good as they were - but when your lead singer (me) has ridiculously bad stage fright, I guess you have no real future in "the Biz".

I know several people that still perform there and a couple are even regulars. His grandaughter Ashley Smith will continue to run the show and Im sure it will do well.

So, fair well and God Speed Mr. High, I know God is just waiting for you to sing him a song!

Spring Break

Well at least ONE member of the family is going on Spring Break......College Boy is going with his best bud and family to Arizona - who knew there was skiing there? My mind says Arizona is all desert but apparently not. They will stop at Roswell at several other places along the way and it sounds really fun. As for me, I will be working and home same as every other spring break.....but I guess thats my lot in life huh? Someone has to take care of those rotten dogs ;)

Waiting, Praying and Hoping

College boy filled out applications at the mall yesterday....allllll afternoon - he is hopeful to have a job by early next week. The hubby on the other hand is not having that much luck. He has probably applied for 2 dozen jobs and not so much as a nibble on ANY of them......of course, I say, give it time it has only been a little over a week - but I remember a few months ago saying, give it time, its only been 6 months! Its amazing to me that he has a bachelor's degree, over 13 years of IT experience and is very well like at all of his jobs and yet he can't find anything. Do people understand that when your a consultant and you get laid off its not because your not a good employee its because the works isn't there to sustain your position.......I just want to say COME ON PEOPLE your missing out on a GOOD EMPLOYEE HERE!!! Oh well, I keep waiting, praying and hoping for that one job to come along, after all I have a wedding to help pay for....now granted we only have the groom's expenses but thats quite enough.

Riding the Rollercoaster

I guess if you look at life like a rollercoaster we are in one of those very low spots where not much is happening but you know the next loop is coming up very soon. Now for some that might be exciting but for me its just plain scarey.

JUST STOP

Do things ever get to you the point where you just want to find a quiet, secluded place where no one can find you EVER and just stay there - stay where its quiet and there is no talking and no thinking and no reminders of everything thats wrong with the world around you - when you just can't find one positive thought or one positive thing to say - when you want to scream JUST STOP, not to anyone in particular but just the bad path you seem to be on? Just stop dropping bricks onto my head one by one - just stop the negative tape recorder in my head playing nothing but bad messages - just stop the stupid merry go round that ceased being fun a LONG TIME ago and LET ME OFF!

I don't know why I felt compelled to write this except that its how I feel and I know I can't be the only one who ever feels this way. I think people can only take so much - can only be pushed so far until everything becomes like a battle to them and they start to push back - unless your one of those people that just throws in the towel. Im not one of those people - I don't ever wave the white flag (people that know me are probably laughing right about now). I think circumstances have just made me angry - being at the mercy of other people makes me angry and feeling like THIS battle, no matter how I fight it, I can't win - makes me angry.

Ok...people say this too shall pass, you guys made it through this same thing last year (duh maybe thats why Im so mad), that which doesn't kill you makes you stronger, you can throw cliches at it all day long but that fixes nothing, it doesn't make any of it easier and as much as I tell myself worry fixes NOTHING, to preach from my own advice - its is TEMPORARY - at the very bottom of it all I just want to say JUST STOP!

Ummmm Well......Ok......Wow

I think I might possibly still be in shock as I type this, but my Navy Boy.....scratch that, Navy MAN - my 24 year old son, is getting married. Yep, they decided on December since he will be home on leave for Christmas. They have asked me to help plan it - I think the bride's mom has too much going on - so I get the job. I would probably be considerably happier about this task had the hubby not just been laid off at the beginning of this week (for the 2nd time in 13 months) .....but we are hopeful that something new will come up for him soon. He has applied for about 11 positions at Alcon but unless you know someone there, its hard to get in - so if you any of you blog friends know someone at Alcon, shoot me an email (mailto:selita.sprunger@gmail.com)%20....in this economy you need all the help you can get! Anyway, I can't say enough good things about the future daughter in law....I adore her and I think she will be very good for my son. They will spend the first 6-10 months of married life, living in Italy - away from family - while my son finishes his tour there...then they should be headed back to the states and I will be so glad for that day......but anyway....prayer and well wishes and cost cutting suggestions currently being accepted :) Life is about to get even MORE crazy.

UnReal!

It took FOUR WEEKS to fix the Subaru. We picked it up on Saturday morning - College Boy left in it to go get his hair cut....when he got back I noticed the left headlight kinda hanging out of the spot where it goes.........the hubby discovers it doesn't fit right, has a stripped out screw AND they bored out the hole where the screw GOES to make it fit......THEN as he backed out of the driveway last night I notice that his foglight on that same side (the previously wrecked side) has burnt out...and the bumper doesn't line up correctly on the UNwrecked side.......yeah....tomorrow, it goes BACK to the shop!

No I didn't fall off the planet

I have been here - I have just been busy. The subaru is STILL in the paint/body shop - as cool as this little car is, we have found out that they are 1. rare, 2. sought after, 3. harder than heck to get parts for , but College boy is anxiously awaiting its return (hopefully Saturday).

Navy boy arrived on February 5th and is heading back to Italy on the 21st (yes, this Sunday) - its going to be hard for him and his GF to tear themselves apart for him to get on that airplane but this trip, they bought promise rings for each other - so now to make the long distance relationship work - its hard, but if you want it bad enough and you have enough trust in each other, you can make it work :)

I have been walking a little more regularly and really gearing up for the 3 day - now granted its not until November but remember I have another 30 pounds to lose to be where I wanted to be for this event......so back to working on that :) AND I have raised almost $1000 of my $2300 so I am making good progress.

I have a pampered chef party coming up on March 6th and then a bachelorette party Im co-hosting on March 20th so its just busy busy busy. I'll try to post some pics soon of College Boy and his g/f and Navy Boy and his promise' (like fiance' ? Get it?) - posting up again soon!

Update on the Subaru

As most of you know the Subaru was in a little "altercation" - not college boys fault and the offender left a little piece of his bumper that just happened to have a VIN on it (which our insurance investigators have now taken possession of) - anyway its almost fixed - the body shop calls and says "we need the key fob to turn the alarm off" - hmmmmmm - we didn't even get KEYS that worked so how were we to know it had an alarm and NOW how do we make it STOP working? I told the guy to disarm it somehow - he said ok, we will take out the battery . . . . . so what happens when we get the car back?

Navy Boy

Its almost Friday - the day when Navy Boy will be home for a 16 day visit! I know that he wishes he were coming back home for good - he is a little tired of Italy and the Navy in general but we all have our burdens to bear :)

However, I will be glad to see him and I will be sad when he leaves but for now.......its all good!

Pete

It has taken me over a week to be able to write this - I have lost pets before but none that affected me as deeply as this one. He was much more like a child with fur - a child that we raised for 10 1/2 years only to lose him to Lymphoma and if that had not taken him the severe heart murmur would have.

He was 11 1/2 when he died and a joy to everyone who met him.

Pete was our first boxer and a rescue. We got him at the ripe old age of 1 and when we went to see him - to see if we connected with him, he ran out of the house, leash on and in his mouth, all set to take himself for a walk. The beautiful prancing trot and that boxer face - I was sold, and told the hubby "he is coming home with us today" and he did.

He was an in-the-house dog and pretty much house broken - in the 10 1/2 years that we had him, I think he only had 2 problems in the house and 1 of those was because he was sick. He helped to teach Shelby and Buster who was boss and it was never questioned. As he got older he learned to communicate with us. There are witnesses who heard him say mama more than once. When he was hungry there was a pattern of looking at you with "that look" and then a gentle paw on the lap and then if all of that was ignored - he would bark in that woowoo way that only a boxer can.

He was polite to visitors, even getting on his tummy for children visitors and as spoiled as any dog on this planet can be. He hated going out in the rain, to do his business, so sometimes we had to take an umbrella to keep him dry. He had his own bed and toys and we fed him the best food we could buy (with the occasional Frito), he loved to go in the car so sometimes he got to go for a ride - we took very very good care of him and loved him so much and in return he loved us in that unconditional way that dogs love their people. He was never really a dog to us...just a person in different skin :).

I won't write all about his illness and what happend because his life was not about "the end" - it was about the joy, the laughter, the silliness and the fun that comes with being the parent of a boxer. Yes, we have 2 more at home - Shelby who is 8 1/2 and Buster who is 3. I posted a picture of the trio at Christmas, and Im glad that I did because that was the last picture that I took of Pete.

I know that dogs have souls and I know where Pete's loving soul is and because of that I know that I will see him again someday and I will hug him and let him know how much I missed him for he is missed more than he could ever imagine! But for now, he is following Jesus around trying to get HIM to give him a treat :) (Im not trying to be sacrilegious, the thought made me smile).

Im just SO MAD

$3900 is what its gonna take to fix that car - which is fine, insurance is covering it ;however, Im just so mad that someone can cause THAT kind of damage to someone else's car and then drive off and never have to account for what they did. And there is Travis, a college kid, working a part time job, trying to get back and forth to school and work and his car will not be ready for like 2 weeks! We are making it work but there again, I don't blame him for being angry as well. Some irresponsible person, inconvenienced us, cost us money (we had to cover the deductible) and almost caused an injury and then just left the scene! My one HOPE is that SOMEDAY the get what is coming to them!

Hmmm

Somehow I guessed that more people would be interested in donating to cancer research but so far I have big fat Zero in donations - but oh well....the walk is several months away.

I have about had it with 2010 already - Last Sunday night we had to put our 10 1/2 year old boxer to sleep - I have never endured anything that broke my heart as much as that did. I have lost relatives and other pets but Pete was different, he was like a child - it will take a very long time to get over losing him.

Travis got hit on Friday night coming home from work - GREATFULLY he was not injured but his car was rendered undriveable and the JERK who hit him drove off - so now OUR insurance gets to pay an no rental car. School just started back for him AND he works downtown so we are having to trade and juggle cars to get everyone where they need to be.

Between the compressor on our a/c and my car breaking down - that cost us a LARGE SUM and now at the tail end of all this - Our Navy Boy is ready to take leave and come home from Italy and since its for R&R the Navy doesn't have to pay so NOW we are all trying to come up with $800 to get him home from Naples!

It feels like a never ending cycle and NOT a good one! Keep us in your prayers friends - it really needs to get better :/

Susan G. Komen

So this year is the year that I am going to do it. 3 days, 60 miles - this is a big deal. Its one of the things on my "bucket-list" *LOL* I have wanted to do it for a long time so I have committed and now Im in. I hope those of you who read this blog, I know there are not many of you - will pass it on to your friends, especially those who have been touched by Breast Cancer and let me know, and if your able to, donate. Its a great cause, its alot of hard work, and it means alot to me. The event is in November and the fund raising must be completed by August (all $2300 of it, or else I have to commit to pay it) :( In the meantime, I will be training and participating in training walks of anywhere from 10-15 miles.......so this is not just an easy 3 days....there is alot that goes into ahead of time. So I hope you will join with me, through support, donations or whatever so we can be a part of wiping out Breast Cancer!

January *ugh*

It is past Christmas, its been really really cold , school is fixing to start back (for the college crew) and Im feeling kinda BLAH. Things didn't go so well for College Boy so he will be attending the local community college - he really wants to go into Culinary Arts so I figured, why not? At least its something! He is a pretty darned good cook :)

Navy Boy is supposed get leave on Feb 5th but they keep on rejecting it for random and various reasons so when they finally DO approve it, Im sure the airline ticket will cost a small fortune :( and guess what? The Navy doesn't pay for it so Im sure they really don't care.

I keep searching but can't really find a reason to be cheery and positive so I guess I'll just be BLAH til that reason comes along.

Happy 2010!

Simply Fondue

So yes College Boy got the job - making more than I figured he would for a "server assistant" however, I suspect he has a lot to learn about working in a "high end" restaurant. His first day he was late - his 2nd day he was almost an hour early (to make up for being late) and then he works again on Friday and I think Saturday. Anyway, this should be interesting to watch - I hope he does well but he is going to have to become MUCH MORE conscientous I think.

SIGH

Ok, Im a slacker - I made it two days on the 30 day shred and now I have to start over....the good news is Im not as sore from starting over. So last night was Day 1 repeat - and yes, its still hard but I think after a week I might be ready for level 2 - we will see.

I think college boy might have a job.....he enjoyed simply fondue so much that he wants to work there. He went yesterday and spoke to the owner, the owner has to speak to the manager and then he is in! Yayyyyy

Navy boy has a serious girlfriend - she is here at home and he is off in Italy. Long distance relationships can be hard....but hopefully they can make it work.

Craig and I have a big goal of paying off our credit card debt and we are very close - I would say 7 months and DONE - and we will not do that again - we will save UP when we want to buy something!

All in all we are off to a good 2010 :)