Photo Game

I got this from a daughter's blog. I thought it was kind of fun and thought I would try it. Hope she doesn't mind!

Post the 4th picture from the 4th file on your computer. This picture is of my granddaughter Bug snuggling with Tressy.

One Year with Katy

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Reasons to live for.................

These are the best reasons to live for...

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Multiple Personalities

For some off the wall reason I thought I'd email friends and family to see what song reminded them of me. After just a few people responding, I started feeling like I had a lot of different personalities. I've been given the following so far: 1) Thank You For Being My Friend 2) Changing Lattitudes 3) My Give A Damn Is Busted 4) I'm Alive 5) These Boots Are Made For Walking 6) Personality 7) Peter Cottontail and 8) I will Survive. I haven't heard from everyone yet and can't wait to hear what others say.

Independence Day

This 4th of July was the first time in years that I've done anything to celebrate the holiday. Most times I've just stayed home and watched fireworks from a far with my pet or not watched them at all. The day started out going to Fallon and watching their parade. It was fun watching the parade through children's eyes and watching all the teens who were in the parade. They were there to participate over the weekend in a rodeo in Fallon. There were teens there from Arizona, Wyoming, Utah, Idahoma, Montana and Canada.

After the parade, we headed to my house. We fed the kids lunch and took them to the park nearby to play some free games they were offering. Afterwards, the kids turned in the tickets they'd won to get prizes. They played Wii and watched movies while their mom grilled a tri-tip and cooked corn on the cob. We moved out front while the kids played and once dark watched the fireworks. The fireworks were shot off at the park a couple blocks away so we had an awesome view. Maybe this is a sign of me starting to have a life.

On the road again...

Katy and I will be on the road again in the next 2 days. In less than one year, I'm moving again. Since July 1 2007, I've moved from California to Westminster, CO, then in September 2007 I moved from Westminster, CO to Colorado Springs, CO. After being laid off, the job market has been really bad. I was applying for mortgage, banking and clerical jobs in 12 states for almost 2 months. I have been offered a job in Reno, NV and start the 16th. They offered me a job on Wednesday morning, got drug tested, finger printed that day too. Started house hunting that night. I looked at one home on Thursday and decided that was the place for me. I signed the lease at 10:00 pm that night. The next morning, Katy and I started the drive back to Colorado. We spent the night in River Springs, WY and got home on Saturday at 12:30. I had the entire house packed by Tuesday morning and today, I cleaned carpets.

I'm waiting for the movers to call and let me know when they'll be here. I was told they'd call me 24 hours before they would be here. I was hoping for a call today so I can be out of here and in Nevada on Friday night. I want to go watch Kailee in her first swim meet. I'm also waiting for Federal Express to deliver a check.

I need to take the cable boxes in to Comcast, go to the bank and get cashier's check for the balance on the new house but I can do that tomorrow if I don't hear from the movers today. They'll call my cell phone so I can be out running errands.

Tuesday I have cable coming to install my cable tv, cable internet and my phone. Also have the gas company coming over to check the new place. Not sure when movers will show up but if they're like the last move, I should have my boxes, etc on Monday or Tuesday.

Katy will love it once we're moved. She'll have a backyard to play in and run around in. No more always having to be on a leash when she goes outside. She can also go with me to Denise's or Donna's and play in their back yards without long long long trips in the car.

Oh to be young again...

Oh what it would be like to be young again and see the world through a young person's eyes. While spending time in Nevada with my daughters and grandkids, I had the best time ever. I sat and watched the world through my grandchildren's eyes. There were no worries in the world, everything was some kind of new toy and new adventure. Listening to the stories they told, their giggles and laughs was so refreshing. We all need to take the time to view the world through the eyes of a child. Take time to laugh, have fun and enjoy the simple things in life.

Unemployment Sucks

Being unemployed sucks big time. The one nice thing is my former employer allowed me to work from home for the last 3 weeks. They had no problems with me applying for jobs and interviewing for jobs while still being paid by them. They were both upset that they had to lay me off and are still trying to help me. I have over 200 resumes/applications out. I have had 8 interviews out of those 200 resumes. The large majority don't even respond to my application. I'm currently waiting to hear back from an interview I had on Monday the 21st. She said she was interviewing 8 people and would make a decision by the end of this week. I also am getting my unemployment checks from California which will end July 28th. After that time, I get the thrills of applying with Colorado and their pay is less. It seems that I'm over qualified for most mortgage jobs i've applied for. Two employment agencies told me that they couldn't get me clerical jobs because they couldn't prove I had the skills (WTF). I currently have 4 different employment agencies working to find me a job and no luck.

Sight Seeing in Colorado

I've lived here in Colorado since July 1st and in Colorado Springs since the end of September. There is a lot to see and do here but even though I may have an outgoing personality with strangers, I don't like to go places alone. I recently had a friend from Kansas come over for a weekend and show me a few things to see. Thanks Gary for being such a good friend and showing me so many things. We went to a glass blowing company in Manitou Springs and spent 2 hours looking and I'm sure I didn't see everything. We then took the cog ride to the top of Pike's Peak. Unfortunately, the weather at the top was bad with winds and snow so we didn't get to have a clear view of the surrounding area. We took so many pictures and spent a couple hours that night uploading to a website and to my pc. Sunday, we went to Garden of the Gods and spent over 4 hour driving around as well as walking on some of the pathways. We then went to the Manitou Cliff Dwellings and spent about an hour or so there. Next stop we went to Cave of the Winds and enjoyed it the tour guide and the tours. We didn't have enough time to go to Seven Falls or the Zoo. Those are things I will go to alone. I can't wait for family and friends come visit and see all there is to see. This summer, my best friend is coming and we're going to go fishing and camping again only this time in Colorado and not in Wyoming. I bought a fly fishing rod and need to learn how to fly fish before he comes here. Guess I need to get a Colorado driver's license too so I can get a fishing license.

2007 in brief......

Wow.. here it is January 1, 2008. The time has flown and trying to remember events of 2007. January I started a diet and was able to lose 45 pounds but unfornuately have gained 20 of it back (sighs). February and March were nothing special, just below average cold temps for a few weeks. April started talking with my best friend about trying to meet for camping in June. May I got an annual review and $1,000 a year raise (whoopie). It was also spent getting camping items put together, making reservations, etc. June Tressy and I spent the most wonderful 10 days with Merrill camping in Wyoming. Both of us were sad to say good bye to him and head back to California. Upon return to get told I was getting a transfer to either Anahiem, CA, Westminster, CO or New Orleans, LA. I choose Colorado and thought I'd have plenty of time to find a place to move to, pack, etc. NOT!!! I was given less than a week to get to Colorado to work. I do have to say Colorado is a cheaper place to live and people seem to be friendlier. I know it's more pet/dog friendly. August was a month of turmoil. After 30 days on the job in Westminster, the company deccided to close 32 branches and Colorado was one. Two weeks later, Tressy got very ill and after $1600 in vet bills, I ended up having to put her down. I was completely crushed. Five days after putting her down, I bought Toto. September I was able to obtain a new job. This job was in Colorado Springs so another move was in store. I lucked out and found a nice townhouse to rent just 2 1/2 miles from work. On my 2nd day in the new place, Toto got sick. Unfortunately, I ended up losing him to Parvo on September 27th. This was 1 day short of having him a month. I'm still trying to recover the price of Toto and vet bills from the breeder but it appears I'll have to file a small claims court against him. October started out a quiet, plain month. I did find a doberman to adopt from a rescue organization. However, she was in Texas and they were only going to let people in Oklahoma or Texas adopt her. Merrill started the adoption process and was going to get her for me. I got lucky and found a breeder in California I had gotten Trooper from in 1991. She knew the person in charge of the Oklahoma Doberman Rescue and contacted her to ask for an exception to the adoption rule. My guardian angels were looking out for me. From the time I filed online to adopt Katy to the time I was told I was approved was 30 min. Her foster mom and dad are incredible people. Her foster dad flew with her to the Denver International Airport to deliver her to me. Katy has been a really special pet and I'd recommend adoptiong from a rescue organization to everyone. November quietly passed by with Katy getting her first exposure to snow and loving it. December was spent making Cookies, Candies, Breads, Jams and Jellies to ship to Merrill. It also meant another birthday. I will admit it was the first birthday of no cards, no gifts but it didn't matter. Christmas Day, Katy and I spent the day watching movies at home in front of the fireplace. I did go to a neighbors for a couple hours. I made fresh pumpking/cranberry bread and a pecan pie to take over. Another first of no gifts and this year I mailed out 30 Christmas cards and got 9 from friends. Out of the cards only 2 were from friends outside of chat friends I've made over the year. I got to work from home from December 24th through today. It spoiled me and now I don't want to go back to the office tomorrow. Last night, I saw the New Year in talking to Angela in Texas and Louise in the UK. We used voice chat on Yahoo and had a lot of fun and laughs. Looking forward to a wonderful 2008 and another (hopefully) camping trip with Merrill. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!