Getting Fit...

I decided I really need to lose weight and get in shape. I ordered a Treadmill from Bowflex .. see the picture I attached. It's a treadmill, stairstepper and an Elliptical too. I can't wait for it to arrive and then get it set up and calibrated. I also ordered Nutrisystem again. Work will pay up to $500 towards a Wellness plan and Nutrisystem is part of it. I should be able to get at least 2 to 3 months of food from Nutrisystem before I have to stop it. Last time I used Nutrisystem I lost close to about 45 pounds in 3 months. Hopefully with the Bowflex, Nutrisystem, Wii fit and 2 workout DVDS I can get a lot more of this weight off.

Two new things to look forward to in June

The first thing to look foward to the end of May beginning of June is ..... I'm buying a house and it's suppose to close soon. Wish I could get a definite closing date so I can set up tv, internet, phone, security system, etc. Best thing is my payment will be $200.00 less a month than what I pay in rent. Katy will have a fenced backyard and no rocks to run on.. just soft things for her feet... WOOHOO


The second thing is a new puppy. Lilgrape, Bug, Boo and Pickles went with me after Pickles birthday party to look at lab pups. I put a deposit on one and will be able to pick her up June 1st. I came home and told Katy she's getting a new sister and boy was her noses plaster to me to smell the pups.

Job Security .. ???

I sure hate the economy and not having security in my job. My job depends on people's mood swings. Things got great for a while and my loan officer is all friendly. Today, she jumped my case for ordering an appraisal on a loan and "supposedly" not reading the loan approval conditions. I told her she took the loan application after making calls to the lender we use and being told what we wanted to do was ok and would work. She ran the loan through their automated underwriting program, read it then brought the loan to me and told me to order appraisal first the prelims and put the file in order. I did and within 5 days everything was in and it was sent to underwriting. Today we were told the loan was suspended and unless we could get an exception it would be declined. This borrower is one a member who is one of our biggest depositor. I got told by her that I had screwed up and it was my fault the appraisal was ordered and how I shouldn't have done anything until I had read the approval. I asked how it was my fault since she told me I had to stop what I was doing to order the appraisal. She still said it was my fault. I am her scape goat and I know if someone gets written up it will be me. She's even mentioned that neither of us have job security, especially me since she was processing the loans before I was hired. If I get laid off, I don't know what unemployment would be per month but I can't dwell on these insecurities. If worse comes to worse, I will re-adjust my budget and if all fails I can see about pitching a tent in my daughter's backyards .. taking turns in each state.. LOL.

Pets.. they pushed my buttons last night

I got this cute kitten as a birthday present from 3 of my grandkids. She's loveable and cuddly and tolerates being mauled by the dobie. My only problem is dealing with her potty habits. She uses her 2 litter boxes if she's confined to the room I keep her in at night and when I'm at work. However when she's out with me and Katy, if she has to potty she won't go to her litter box. She gets under an end table next to the couch and loveseat and craps. Not the harder kind that would clean up easily... noooo.. the super smelly hard to clean up kind. Any suggestions on how to get her to stop this habit? Last night she had me so upset with her... then after going to bed, sometime during the night, Katy peed on my bed. She's house broken and had gone out before we went to bed. I guess she realized I was upset and it was upsetting her too... who knows.. but I'm doing laundry and having to stretch out comforter and blanket while I'm working so they'll hopefully be dry by the time I go to bed tonight... Sighssssssssssssssssss

Pay It Forward

Pay It Forward

{The Rules}

1. Be one of the first THREE bloggers to leave a comment on this post, which then entitles you to a handmade item from me - something crafty or yummy, who knows?!

2. Winners must post this challenge on your blog, meaning that you will Pay It Forward, creating a handmade gift -anything!- for the first THREE bloggers who leave a comment on YOUR post about this giveaway!

3. The gift that you send to your 3 Friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And, remember: It’s the Spirit and the Thought That Count!

4. When you receive your gift, please feel free to blog about it, sharing appropriate Linky Love! If you are not one of the Top Three Commenters on this post, you can still play along. Go ahead and start your own Pay It Forward chain, and encourage your blogging friends to do the same! SO, REMEMBER...Pay it forward!

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!!!

Last Day of Fall

I can't believe today is the last day of fall. The picture here is the same place shown in a previous blog. It's amazing in just a couple months how the trees have lost all their trees, snow everywhere. It's a depressing time of year. My first Christmas of being alone in 7 years. I don't receive gifts except from my one daughter and I've told her to save her money and spend on her kids. I have Katy to keep me company and she's giving me reasons to go outside and walk. Better end this before I get all sappy...

Where has this year gone?

It's been a month since I've posted. I can't believe how fast this year has gone by. It seems like it was just yesterday I was in Sonoma with part of my family celebrating Christmas. Time seemed to drag when I had a camping trip planned in June. But once we met and started our camping trip the time flew by again. I turned around and looked and it went from July to December, hot weather to snow. It would be better if I had someone besides a pet to share the days with. Doubt that will ever happen so I'm going to start working on my 2008 resolutions and see how many I can keep and how fast I can break others in 2008.

Signs of Fall

Fall in Colorado is so different from Fall in California or Nevada. I've lived in other states but never had the opportunity to be there when Fall has arrived. While walking Katy, I've noticed the changes in the tress along the one pathway. They've gone from solid green to shades of yellow and red. Many have lost their leaves completely while others are holding tight to those bright yellow leaves. It's even surprising to see some olive trees here. They have tiny olives hanging from the branches. The tree in my front lawn lost it's leaves in October when our first mild snow fell. The tree in my patio was full of green leaves but now within weeks lost all. I was told it would be beautiful here seeing all the different seasons. I should take Katy and go for a drive and take more pictures of the changing leaves and other signs of fall.

Will Rogers Shrine

Being new to Colorado Springs, I'm slowly learning about the things to see and do here. Looking out towards Cheyenne Mountain from the Townhouse Complex I live in, I've seen a building far in the distance up on Cheyenne Mountain. I got a new camera and zoomed in to capture a picture of it Sunday after a snow storm here. I talked to my boss about it today and he said it's Will Roger's Shrine. It peeked my curiousity so I came home to do a "google" search for the Shrine. If you want to learn more about it, http://www.cmzoo.org/shrine.html is a site that gives you a little information about the building and it's history.

Doberman Rescue

After spending a lot of time talking with my best friend, I decided to do an adoption for a rescued Doberman. I applied to adopt one here in Colorado but never heard from anyone regarding my application. I also saw the ones they offered for adoption here in Colorado were 1 1/2 yrs at the youngest. I saw one I really wanted but she was listed with Oklahoma Doberman Rescue. I asked my friend if he'd adopt her for me and I almost leaped through the monitor to hug him when I found out he had filled out the application. He had an immediate response asking for a little more information about the dogs he already has. I in the mean time was trying to find some Doberman Associations to contact to pass the word to not buy any Doberman pup from Michael Bennett in Rush Center, KS. I found a breeder in California I had bought a Doberman from in 1991. She was listed also as doing Doberman Rescue.. I called her and we talked for over 2 1/2 hours. She is on the National Board of Doberman Association and a couple of forums. She asked me to email her information about Michael and the Doberman pup, Toto he sold me. She also knows the woman in Oklahoma well and forwarded and email putting in a reference for me to adopt the 5 month old pup I'd found. Two days later I got a call at work and was told to fill out an online application and they would get started approving me. I did so immediately.

Within 30 minutes, I recieved a call back saying I had been approved and would be getting Katy by the end of October. Katy is in a foster home in Houston, TX. The foster mom said her husband works for Continental Airlines and he was going to fly here to Colorado with Katy. I still don't know which airport but I'll be getting them in the next day or two. I may end up driving to Denver International Airport or hoping.. I'll be able to drive to the one here in Colorado Springs.

Katy is being shipped with several of her favorite toys since I had to get rid of all the new toys I had just bought for Toto. She also is being sent with a brand new fleece coat to wear on cold days and nights. Her foster mom grew up in Colorado and wanted to make sure Katy had a coat. I have everything ready for Katy and can't wait for Saturday to come. She'll be 6 months old, spayed, current on all her shots and up to date and on heart worm preventative meds.

I want to thank Dana Johnson, from Danjo Dobies for all her help. Thank you Keisha for your support and the biggest thank you and hugs to Merrill for being an incredible friend.