Yvonne's Birthday Cake

Of course, its purple, of course, its chocolate, and of course, its a fairy!!

Checking in

It has been a high stress situation here, and all I had to say was mope, gripe, and complain, and I seemed to be putting people off with that, and I didn't want to risk losing you guys, so I kept my negative self away. LOL. I still posted in my blog, so your welcome to read the frustrations of the time, lol, but I just didn't want to drown you guys in it. We've been trying to buy a house, but the situation has been a big mess, they freak out about my pay, because its based on production, and then we had a glitch with the bank, and were in a negative balance for 2 weeks, which put everything to a screeching halt, and we actually thought we weren't going to be able to move forward, which was really scary; we thought we were going to be homeless come the end of july, because we had already put our notice in where we are renting. Well, we reevaluated some things, and we talked about it alot, alot alot, and we just couldn't think of what to do to help, to make it better, so I just let it go. I can't explain it other than that; I just gave it up. I didn't give up, I gave up the stress, the worry, and the scheming, plotting, and desperation for a plan. I just threw up my hands and said, you know, basically your will be done, whoever that may be. Whether God or the universe, I don't know, but its all the same. I just said, you know what, it will all work out, no matter what, even if its not what I want, it will be what needs to be at that moment, and nothing I do will fix it or change it or help it along, so just stop. So, everything seemed to fall into place; its been almost miraculous the turn around since I made that decision; almost like I was impeding any advancement with my internal struggles with the matter. So, I am officially declaring July 23 as my lucky day; yesterday, I went in for a job interview for a completely different job; this is what I've wanted to do my whole life practically; I was talked out of it by my mom and grandfather when I graduated high school and was about to start college, so I sort of spent the next 10 years floating in space, occupying but not really knowing what for. I did what I had to do; I went to school for the least amount of time, got my certificate as a transcriptionist and did that because it was the degree that needed the least amount of credit hours/classes based on what I had already taken. Yes, how sad is that. I decided to become a medical transcriptionist because it required the least amount of effort based on what I had already done at that point. And I'm fairly good at it, and can make good money. It has its ups and downs, its pros and cons, but I have been able to be home with my kids while they were growing up, doing this 4 years now, but I was still making money and contributing to the household in that way. I'm not happy; I can't tell you how long its been since I've been happy; sometimes I wonder if I've ever been. But it doesn't matter, does it? You have to do what you have to do, and work was what I needed to do, and there was no way I was going to go out and get a job making the kind of money I was making at transcription, so I was stuck. So I sort of had an epiphany of sorts about a month ago, something just clicked in me, and I went, OH, DUH!! I want to be a vet. For some reason, I had stricken from my thoughts after being told at 17 "try something else, its too hard, you won't last, its too expensive, it takes to long...." and whatever else they told me for a reason not to try. So, here I am, 10 years later, and I've pretty much come full circle; except now I have a family, and I cant just run off to college and sleep on a friend's floor, and live off of those $1 frozen dinner meals. I have to figure out a way to do this without hurting us; I mean, if anything, I need to make more, right? So, I thought I'd try my hand at getting a job in a vet's office, you know, make sure its what I really want before taking any plunges like school or quiting transcription and all that. I applied at 2 pet stores, and then I saw a sign at one of the pet stores for the vet office inside; they were hiring. Oh, I think I know somebody who works there, let me get in touch with her! Turns out she's now the director of nursing;that was pretty much the easiest job interview I've ever had. So, I got the job; I'm now officially a "pet nurse". And they don't care that I don't have experience; they are going to train me. I will learn to draw blood, and give shots, and eventually run the labs, and the xrays, and giving anesthetics, and all that jazz. And I am so pumped right now, OMG. If this is something that I really, truly enjoy, I could see taking correspondence courses to become a vet tech. I already found the school closest to me; I had already looked into it, but I didn't see it as an option before; but if I really like it, yeah, Its doable. The funny thing is, I wasn't even nervous one bit about this job interview!! I mean, I didn't know my friend was going to do it till I got there, but I turned in my application on Friday, and the front desk manager called me back in 1 hour. I couldn't believe it; I wasn't even home yet, they were already calling me back for an interview!! SO, yesterday, I go in for the interview, and I wasn't scared, I mean, I normally just stress myself out, and put it all on my stomach, and then my damn stomach is so messed up I can barely sit there comfortably, but I was fine yesterday, you know? I mean, if I got it, it was meant to be, right? ANd if I didn't, it wasn't and there was something else I needed to try to focus on, right? SO I go in, and its less like an interview and more like, OK, let me show you around, here fill out this paperwork, what size scrubs do you need? Here, go take the drug test. OMG, It was awesome. I did have to take a personality test first, and they said "if you fail it, because alot of people do for some reason, we can hire you on as an assistant pet nurse for the first month, and then you can try again". It was a personality test, you know "Are you more whimsical or introverted" stupid questions that have absolutely nothing to do with vet nursing. BUT I PASSED IT!! Oh, this is so awesome, can you tell I'm still excited about this?!? So, I start my new job next monday.

Oh, and what's the other thing? That made yesterday my lucky day? (Oh, damn I just thought about it; I should have bought a lottery ticket yesterday!!) Anyway, we are still in the process of buying this house, and I was waiting all day to hear from my mortgage guy, and I almost called him, but I knew that if he didn't call me, it was because he hadn't heard anything yet, so I just waited. So last night, I get home about 6, and he had sent me an email at 3; we are closing next Monday. L!@)#@*&!()@*$@)&%@*$&!)(*@# I'm so freaking excited right now, and I'm still holding my breathe, trying not to blow off that one feather that is keeping the scales tipped my way, but oh, man, am I just about to burst I am so excited.

Sorry this has been so long guys! Needless to say, with the stress in my life, I have not been following my plan. I pretty much "gave up", lol, about the first of june, it wasn't working for some reason, I couldn't get back on, my willpower was gone. But, I am still eating sensibly, even if I"m eating more carbs and "bad stuff' like ice cream, lol, but I just got on the scale the other day, and I was down another 7 lbs (I don't know in how long, I don't usually get on the scale anymore, cause I just figured I hadn't lost). So now I'm truly at the lowest weight I've been; I remember I weighed 150 when Jon and I met, and then I had no access to a scale until I got pregnant, and at that point, I was 170. I am 166 right now!!! YEEKE!! I want to start focusing on exercise again; I spent the last 3 months focused on nothing but eating, and its showing; even when I'm eating bad, I"m not gorging myself. Its so funny; yesterday, for lunch, I ate a turkey burger; its pretty much my "Staple" lunch here lately; put a sprinkle of cheese on top and 2 tablespoons of rotel, and that's what I have for lunch. I couldn't eat it all yesterday!! I had like, I don't know, maybe 3 or 4 bites left, and I just couldn't finish it, so I didn't. I didn't force myself. Well, come to find out, my husband had made them bigger this time around, LOL, so I guess technically I still ate the same amount as I normally do, lol, I just didn't know it . So, now that I seem to be on "autopilot" with my eating; even if its not all good eating, I am not forcing it all in my mouth when I don't want it, I need to focus on exercise. I can't tell you how I feel right now; my feet are constantly cramping, my hips are really really hurting, I was doing something the other day and realized how out of shape I've gotten, and I know that doing SOMETHING will make me feel better; I want to start with yoga, or pilates, and now that I have another job, I've really got to figure out a time to do it, because my body needs it. Not to mention I can't stand this flab, lol. There are a couple of areas that are just, oh man, I don't even know how to describe it. Its like, I look good with my clothes on, but.... yuck! Lol. Oh, well, I've had 2 kids in 2 years, and I know that was years ago, but I'm not going to be perfect. But I would like to see what the best me can be.

Sorry this has been such a book, if you've made it this far through it all, that means you truly care . I just wanted to let you know what was going on, and the reason I didn't feel I could post before.

OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG

Current mood: giddy

Ok, I don't want to jinx myself, so knock on wood, and throwing salt over my left shoulder, and all that jazz, but OMGOMGOMG! I am officially declaring July 23rd as my lucky day, because today has been such a great day for me!! Went in for a job interview for a job that I have wanted since I was like, I dunno, 10 maybe!?! Wanted to go to school to be a vet, but was "talked out of it" when I graduated high school, so I've basically floated around the last 10 years or so, not sure what to do, what I wanted to do... and about a month ago I had an epiphany of sorts, and decided that I really did want to be a vet, or at this point in my life, a vet tech, so I thought that I would give it a try, and I applied at a vet office, and it looks like I got the job to be a "pet nurse"!! I'm so freaking exctatically happy right now!! THEN, I come home this afternoon to find out that it looks like we are getting our house!! Closing is next monday, I'm so freaking excited right now, I could probably run a marathon, but I'm just sitting here, packing my house in my mind, and then unpacking it all in its place in my NEW HOUSE!!

Shaved the dog...

A few weeks ago, we shaved poor Asher; he was so fluffy, we knew he was hot.  Here's the B&A...

We didn't take an official before, we didn't think about it at the time.  This one is at Christmas time; he's playing with Shadow (big ol wolf dog).


and here he is, all shaved, and he loved it.  He looks totally different...still can't figure out what he is, though...







And just for S&Gs, here are a few puppy pictures; he thought he was a lap dog, lol. 

Amber's birthday cake

Amber's birthday cake... my attempt at a topsy turvey, hannah montana theme....

So, Jon finally decided to get a tattoo ;). Of course, its huge, and he has to be difficult (love you honey) and get the bamboo, so its taking a REALLY long time to finish, so I was going to wait until it was finished but I can't wait anymore, here are a few pics to show it off ....I'll post again when its finished...

..

Jon's tat

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Bad days

Dancing Baby...

My little baby niece...

Dancing baby

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Shaved the dog...

A few weeks ago, we shaved poor Asher; he was so fluffy, we knew he was hot. Here's the B&A...

We didn't take an official before, we didn't think about it at the time. This one is at Christmas time; he's playing with Shadow (big ol wolf dog).



and here he is, all shaved, and he loved it. He looks totally different...still can't figure out what he is, though...







And just for S&Gs, here are a few puppy pictures; he thought he was a lap dog, lol.


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Hey baby, what's your sign?

Hey, baby, what's your sign?

OK, I can agree with most of this, but not the "hates to be alone", and not the "beauty and charm" lol.

It would seem like the seventh sign of the zodiac – the Libra – has been taking some pointers from its ruling planet Venus, the ancient goddess of love. Both Venus and Libra are the objects of much affection. In fact, Venus was so beautiful and admired, that many great works of art were inspired by her. A Libra may not garner as much inspiration as an ancient Roman goddess, but a Libra has certainly cultivated a great appreciation for art, as well as for luxury and elegance. To find out more about this graceful sign and its other dominant traits, read on. Plus: Does your marriage need some extra spice?

Libra in a Nutshell

Born: September 23 – October 22
Element: Air – communicative and logical
Quality: Cardinal, the quality that signifies change and movement
Symbol: The Scales
Lucky Day: Friday
Lucky Number: 6 and 9
Special Color: Blue and lavender, the colors of harmony and refinement
Libra Traits: Charming, indecisive, diplomatic, easy-going, vulnerable, idealistic

Nobody will ever accuse a Libra of not being fair. With the Libra symbol of the Scales on your side, you are a seeker of balance, justice and order. You are objective, always able to see both sides of every story, and you are good at handling a crisis. You avoid conflict at all costs, which is why you try to be so peaceful. Striking a harmonic balance in all areas of your life is a continuous goal of yours. But don't think just yet that every Libra should enroll in law school to become a judge, because your ever-present indecisiveness would get in the way of making rulings. Because you are always striving to do what's best and most fair for all parties, you make it difficult for yourself to ever make an actual decision. In part, you are extremely idealistic.

You have an aura of beauty that surrounds you, probably passed on to you by your ruling planet, Venus, the goddess of love, and it begins with your physical looks. Librans are noted to be exceptionally beautiful, and you are probably used to getting a good degree of attention for it. Not only do Libras themselves tend to be pleasing to the eye, but you also indulge in everything that is beautiful. Your good taste and elegance influences your affinity for all things luxurious, and most of your money is spent toward the finer things in life, often with a frivolous abandon.
Being beautiful doesn't hurt your social status either. A hermit you are not, dear Libra. You'll never be the last to be picked on a team, and not necessarily because of your great skills, but because you are just so likeable. You are the poster child for being socially graceful and you have every angle covered: charm, allure, exceptional manners, and elegance.

Relationships
Partnerships with friends and lovers bring out the best in you. You are emotionally driven in all of your relationships and possess the gift of understanding others' feelings and needs. Part of your charm is having a knack for making other people feel important. It's a good thing you are so socially inclined since you despise being alone. One relationship technique native to the Libra sign is giving in during an argument just for the sake of not ruffling any feathers, even when you know you're right. This is where the diplomatic side of you comes in. You are also very empathetic and are more willing to look past a partner's flaws than most.

As an air sign, your best romantic matches are also air signs – Gemini and Aquarius. A true romantic, you are in love with being in love. To you, love represents the beauty and pleasure which you strongly associate with. In a relationship, you want to be admired, and you are neither overly dominant nor overly dependant.
Health
Every zodiac sign has a part of the body which they govern. Libra rules the lower back, called the lumbar region, buttocks and kidneys. Libra women may have a lovely small of the back and curvaceous buttocks and Libra men may have a well-defined back. However, these attractive parts are also susceptible to health problems. You may be cursed with a bad lower back, especially when you overexert yourself. Practice good posture and always wear a back brace when lifting weights or heavy objects. You may also suffer from kidney problems like kidney stones, so avoid heavy drinking. Exercising with a partner or in a group is a good way to maximize your fitness potential.

Career
Any kind of job where you get to channel your creativity and be among a lot of people is the right job for you. You are a great team player but not exactly a great leader because you are too indecisive. You always boost the group morale and serve as the calming influence; you won't partake in gossip in the office either. Your laid-back nature is often mistaken for being lazy, and while you aren't the most ambitious of people, you simply get things done with a little more ease than others. Occupations that a Libra should consider include a lawyer, artist, interior decorator, banker, social worker, beautician, antiques dealer, administrator, mediator, landscaper, and academic counselor.

So very frustrated

I feel like I'm going crazy, lol. I need the little smiley face with the eyes rolling around in its head, like its dizzy or something, ha. I can't stick to this, something always comes up; there is stuff in the house I need to get rid of; I'm highly stressed at the moment with trying to buy a house, at the same time my job decided to be low on work (I get paid production, so no work means no pay for me). ARGGG! I feel so hopeless sometimes, and helpless to do anything about it. Everyone here thinks I'm such a strong person, but I don't feel that way. It amazes me sometimes to hear people's opinions of me; they don't think I'm scared of anything, and I'm scared of everything! I'm scared of not getting this house; it will be my fault if we don't because the production pay is hard to prove, and then I'm scared if we DO get the house; OMG, we are struggling right now! And then to add a house payment on top of that! OOHH. And then it seems like, when it rains, it pours. My husband's work hsa been lacking, as well, to the point where we are both out there applying for part time jobs just about anywhere, and of course, no one is calling us back, so that just stresses out more! But could you imagine the stress if one or both of us were to get another job?! LIke I don't get enough sleep as it were.

So sorry for the rant, I have to put it somewhere. I am so frustrated with myself; I do really good for a week, and then the weekend seems to negate that, or its "negative" time, or something, you know, the vacuum where nothing counts?! Ha. and to save money, we are looking at where to cut in our budget; guess which is the most obvious and easiest to cut?! Food. So, yeah, buying healthy has been more expensive for us; it seems like we're going back to live on mac and cheese and ramen noodles for a while. YUCK I HATE THIS! I know the economy is going bad; nearly everyone I know is hurting in some way right now, and ALOT of people here have second jobs to pay for the damn gas and electricity, but JEEZE, can we catch a break SOMEWHERE?!

IT's finished!!! (sort of....)

So, I went yesterday and *finally* finished this butterfly on my back with "tribal" (I don't really consider it tribal, but its the general idea). I like the way it looks, and after having it done, of course I see the potential to add on lots more stuff (right, like I *really* need more, huh ;). I could add leaves or flowers, like rose buds or something; and a friend even suggested thorns, which would be way cool, too, so long as they weren't huge, you know. Here's a pic; I've already got my next one picked out, ha ha, but its huge, and its going to have to wait; I think I'm getting even more and more chicken in my old age, ha ha. BUT, I have decided on another one I want, smaller, just for me, ha. A black widow spider, probably somewhere around my ankle/foot area. I saw something somewhere that was talking about it, and I've decided I want that to be my mascot!! "Deadlier than the male" HAHA. Ok, maybe makes no sense to you, but if you knew me, it would ;)

So, here's the "finished" product; let me know what you think!!