T-minus 12 hours and counting.....

I have a job!!!!!  Super excited....but I start tomorrow.

Its just about here friends.  My first day of work in 5 months.  I happily filed my last unemployment claim...I feel good to not be using up tax payer dollars anymore.  On the other hand, I am going to miss not wearing a bra and making elaborate (for me) meals for hubby.  

I think I got some stuff accomplished.  The closet is cleaned and organized.  The bedroom is spiffed up and laundry all done.  For the most part our whole house is cleaner and more organized than it has been in years.  I tried some new things.  Read some books.  Got some crafting done.  For the most part it has been productive.

I have to say though, I am super excited to be going on to something new.  Separating from my previous job, was probably the best thing that happened to me because I was forced into the unknown.  I am now ready to be a productive, gainfully employed part of society again.  

BTW....side note.  Doctor said I lost 5 pounds from when I saw her last.  Something must be going right.  Now to try and keep up the routine while working.  

Cheesy anniversary gift?

Our 9 year anniversary is coming up on Wednesday.  9 years.  I can barely believe it myself.  I have racked my brain for weeks of what to give hubby.  Finally a FB friend of mine gave me an idea.

A love lock.  We take it to a place that is significant to us, put our names and anniversary date on it, lock it and throw away the key.  I tried to be sneaky about this gift just asking hubby where is a special place to us, but I ended up telling him.  We are no good at keeping secrets from each other.  I'm ok with this.  I am excited to see what he comes up with.  I have asked a friend to come along so we will have pictures of the occasion.  I will post the result....stay tuned.  

To thank Myron and his family for this idea, I would like you to watch his video of playing catch.  Remember to click on the ads in the video to help pay for his much needed anti-seizure meds.

A productive member of society....again?

Friends....it looks like my days of watching crappy TV, washing dishes and talking to cats may be coming to a close.  I got the call today that I passed all the background checks (and believe me, it was many) to now be working again.  I am not sure the start date yet, but I think I am excited.  Wait.  I KNOW I am excited.  I am getting kinda lonely talking to only the kittens all day even though I enjoy their company and the fact they don't talk back.  I think I will pass mentioning where I am being employed for now....just know friends, it is awesome.

I am still working toward my getting in shape goal.  I am now up to about 7 mins on the ellipitcal.  I know it isn't much but I will get there.  With my new found exercise, comes trying new things....or I should say things I haven't tried in a looooooong time.  I think the fact I am moving now gives me motivation to be a better me.  Last weekend I did a little dancing at the club for my friend Ruthie's birthday.  It was lots of fun!  Then Sunday, I actually got up and kinda went roller skating with a friend who is a derby fanatic and a friend who just wanted to give it a try.  I have to say, both of those friends are inspirational to me.  They are ok with my lack of skill, but keep nudging me to keep trying.  I kept the skates on for a while, rolled on the carpet, and held up the wall.  I was ok if I wasn't going to be super fantastic wonderful at it....I was braving my fear and going.  I only did 1/2 a lap on the track, but I loved every minute of it.  I really am proud of myself for trying.  I head to the doctor for a visit tomorrow and will let you know if her scale has anything good to say to me.  LOL

Dead Xbox

I am not completely sure why but I really miss my Xbox.  Hubby won it about 5 years ago from Mountain Dew and sadly about a month ago, it died.  Like red ring of death died.  Ever since then I will randomly hear a song or think of one that is in Rock Band and my heart aches to play.  *sigh*  I think it is because I now have sometime to kill and that is what I like to do.

We took our Rock Band set over to a friends house and never got it out.  We ended up leaving it there....accidentally.  I hear it is going to good use though by my friends son.  I hope he loves it as much as I do.  This is the song that made me miss it today.

I miss you Rock Band.  Please come back soon.

Everyone has to start somewhere....

Well, I figured I would start blogging about the crazy cat lady trying to lose some weight.  When I had my back surgery (and over the past year) I have gained back the 30 pounds I lost in order to get the surgery.  I have enjoyed how much less pain I am in, but it is now time to increase my stamina.  We had the opportunity to buy a 'new to us' elliptical.  Yesterday and today I got on it.  It was only 3 minutes and 30 seconds, but not everyone can start at 20 minutes.  My level of activity hasn't been the highest lately.  3 minutes will be good for me until my body will allow me to go to 4.  

Since I have been unemployed we have been working on the eating in.  It is working for about 4 nights a week.  I enjoy being able to cook for my husband.  It has been fun trying new recipes.  My last favorite we had were Turkey Meatballs with cream of mushroom soup and turkey gravy.  It was tasty!  Well, I will try to keep up on my progress.  I am not going to push my body hard and I am not going to buy a scale.  I don't want to get obsessed....I just want to succeed.

Now to type my new years resolution.  I know it is a week or 2 past but I want to write it down and be held accountable for it.  I don't want to have to tie my shoes on the side of my feet anymore.   When you are overweight, often tying shoes is a challenge.  I am ready to change that part.

We are ready and I would like to keep a journal of monthly pictures, successes and struggles.  Be scared of the first picture, but everyone has to start somewhere.

This is the picture that really started my wanting this.....to be continued

Christmas Survey

Stolen from Jenny (of the artists still known as Danny and Jenny).  Thanks!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I like both.  I have many rolls of paper but for oddly shaped things, gift bags are the way to go.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Ours is ceramic.  With a house full of cats, any type of tree would be climbed and destroyed.

3. When do you put up the tree? When I feel the spirit to move me.

4. When do you take the tree down? I am not sure I even want to take it down....its so cute and reminds me of my grandmas.

5. Do you like eggnog? Sure do....nice big glass of it.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Probably the year I got a bike.  I was told to go to the garage for a tool of some sort.  I came back with it and my mom said go back and use the light this time.  I was so surprised!

7. Hardest person to buy for?  Hubby's Dad

8. Easiest person to buy for? My nieces.  All through the year they let me know what they would like

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Nope.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail mail mail!  Who doesn't love getting mail.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Big scary gold underwear.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Christmas Story is a good standby.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? This again depends on when the spirit hits me.  Sometimes early, sometimes not until Christmas Eve.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don't think so.  I might change my answer when I think about it more.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Homemade treats.  You can taste the love in them!

16. Lights on the tree (colored or clear)? Colored here please.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Little Drummer Boy with David Bowie and Bing Crosby.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home home home, in my jammas watching movies.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Sure can....can you.

20. Angel, star or ribbon on top of tree? Any of the 3 look fine.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Depends on which family I am with.  My dad, Christmas Eve.  My mom, Christmas Day.  Hubby's family, Christmas evening.  Me and hubby, whoever can't wait any longer...which is usually me.

22. Favorite children's Christmas song? I dont know....they are all so cute, especially when sung by kids.

23. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?  The music and the commercials.  I am tired of everyone putting their own flair on a classic song.  Just stop already.

24. Favorite ornament theme or color? I like a plethora of colors on the tree.  Handmade and sentimental are good too.

25. Turkey or ham on Christmas day? Ham

26. What do you want for Christmas this year? I don't have any wants this year.

27. Does anyone in your family dress up as Santa? Nope.

28. Age you discovered who Santa was? Not sure....I will ask my mom.  I still believe in the spirit of Santa though.

29. Eggnog, hot chocolate, or apple cider? I like all of them....just not in the same cup.

30. Traditional colors (red and green) or other colors? I like them all!

31. Do you have any Christmas decorations on your roof? Nah....I don't care about having lights on the house.

32. How does Santa get into your house? Chimney or magic key? When we were little, the chimney.  I think we might just leave the window open or a door unlocked.

33. Do you prefer gifts or gift cards? Dont care either way.

34. Favorite children's Christmas Cartoon? How The Grinch Stole Christmas.

Fun questions! Let me see your answers!

Psyfygirl, lets buy a roomba.

Dear BFF Psyfygirl,

This here is the very best reason, that I know of to own a Roomba.  I am an avid advocate for the Roomba products for this very reason......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4enwctMKlbU 

Enjoy friend.  :-)

Newest member of our family!

After a year of heartbreak and losing beloved pets, we decided to add to our family!!!  This is our new kitty Deuce.  I know silly name for a girl cat, but there is a story behind it.  The very first night she came to my house from being in the Midvale shelter, she pooped on my rug, twice, in the same spot.  She named herself kids.  She has been a light in our life for the past few months and couldn't bare parting with her.  She has had lots of sickness, but we have taken good care of her and decided she would be ours.  Deuce, get a long with Grandpa Bill and Grandma Gracie cause they are getting old and cranky and welcome to our family....to stay!

Snow....we cant be friends.

 This is my backyard.  The wind blew the snow all over and it is piled everywhere and pulling my trees down!  ARGH!

This one shows how serene it all can look before people get up and do shopping and churching and junk. If it is gonna snow, dont touch my snow!

 I just thought this shot was cool.  I am no photog by far but it looked neat.

Well, welcome to winter in Utah!  Its pretty until someone touches it.  Get off my snow you damned kids!

Things always get better.

I know that is a cheesy thing to say because everyone has been saying it, but after a few months of being jobless and sad at times, I have 2 interviews on Monday!  Human interaction here I come!  I am quite excited at both of them, and nervous.  Then again who isn't nervous when they are being interrogated....I mean interviewed.  

 

Last night I hung out with one of my friends from my ex-job....that was much needed!  She is fun to talk to and I miss her face a lot.  After an evening with a dumb discussion with hubby that I drag out too long, I needed a chatty girl talk.

 

Also, thank you Sesame Street for being around for 41 years.  These guys are my favorite and who cares if they are gay or not.  They will always be in my heart as one of my favorites.

 

Last, but certainly not least, I started up my crafty craft blog.  Please follow if you are interested, but I will warn you, there are some saucy words that may be in it.   :-)  Enjoy my craft blog and please feel free to comment, chat etc.  Would love to hear it!  Kthnxbai.

My Gracie girl

This is my grandma kitteh, Gracie.  I just enjoyed how this turned out and I don't talk about her enough.  She really is a girly girl cat.  The only people she comes out for, beside us, is my brother and his wife.  Anyway....I heart my Gracie.

Interviews are SCARY!

Wow....after a couple of months being unemployed and many years of not having to do interviews, I have forgotten how intimidating they can be.  

I applied for a few jobs over the weekend.  I think I need to be out of the house for a few hours a week no matter what it is doing.  I applied at Joann's crafts, so I could buy more crafty craft stuff.  Then I found a job that sounded really intriguing....monitoring people with ankle bracelets.  I am not sure why that sounds like such an interesting job, but it does.  It is probably because I am a non-sexual voyeur.  I like to be in peoples life without saying anything.  That is probably why I enjoy reality TV so much.  Anyway, back to the topic at hand.  The last one I applied for, was a job with the American Red Cross calling people to come donate blood.  For the last one, I was contacted for a phone interview!!!  I had it just now, and I feel it went pretty well.  I think I was well spoken enough to show that I am capable and willing.  I really detest all those questions when they ask you to say awesome things about yourself.  Well friends, wish me well and I will post an update Monday after the interview.

P.S.  I think I am going to start a crafty craft blog about what I have been creating over the past little while.  I stole the idea from my awesome Niki B.  :-)

Heaven wanted you sooner than I wanted to let you go....

Marshmellow, our fun white kitty, who is secretly our favorite, went to heaven to be with Inka (pictured) and hubby's nephew Zack.  He left us on October 29th, 2010 at 5pm.  

We really weren't sure what brought his sickness on.  Whether it was stress from the kittens I brought in, or the fact that they gave him a cold he didn't want or if he was just done doing his duties with our family.  I am sad that he went so quickly, but unlike Inka, we had a few days to prepare for the worst.

Monday of the week Mushy started to not eat and sleep a whole lot more and just wasn't convinced he should move out of the spot he was sleeping in.  By Wednesday he was no longer using the bathroom and no food or water at all.  I was concerned.  The vet didn't seem quite as worried as we were.  He wanted to do all sorts of expensive tests which all may back to come inconclusive.  So we took a conservative approach with just giving him antibiotics and if we didn't get him to eat, we were to force feed him this smelly, sticky, gross goop.  I did that once every hour on Thursday.  By the end of the day I was emotionally spent.  I couldn't handle another day alone of this.  Luckily hubby was able to stay home and help me look after Mushy and do what we needed to.  He had his antibiotics and a syringe of the goo and thought we would just let him be.  About 2pm came around and he was climbing into the tub, crying, and wanted to be left alone.  Everytime I would go find him, he would cry and cry and move away from me.  The final straw came at about 4pm when he deficated on our floor and didn't even move an inch.  We knew we had to see the vet.  We got him in there but there was a long long wait.  We finally got in to see the so gentle, older doctor and he examined Mush and weighed him.  Before Mushy got sick he weighed 18 pounds.  Wednesday when we got him in he was down to 15.5.  Just 2 days later......14 pounds of Mush was all that was left.  He wouldn't stand on the scale and wouldnt come out of the carrier without being pulled out.  After the exam was over, we knew Mush was being called to be Angel Zack's new kitty.  The doctor and the nurse we had helping our cat, we so quiet and friendly and understanding.  They shaved his leg and put the medicine in and he was gone.  Me and hubby cried, hugged, kissed Mushy, cried more.  We were heartbroken.  What comes after you let go your favorite pet?

That picture I posted on the top of Mushy and Inka always reminds me of a song in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.  "There's one more angel in heaven. There's one more star in the sky."

We told Chris sister and she said that she would tell them.  The nieces loved coming over and playing with Mushy.  They asked us how old he was and if we chose to put him to sleep.  Then they said that Zack (their brother who died when he was 6 and 1/2) would be taking care of Mushy now.  Somehow the small comment of a child lifted a great deal of pain from my heart.

Mushy, you will be greatly missed by everyone you ever snotted on.  We are finding ourselves calling your name, feeling for your body and just hoping you will be around the corning.  I am so thankful you allowed us to take you in and there is a hole in our hearts where you once were.  We will never forget you.....but we have to move to the little kitten lives to make happy healthy and adoptable.  They keep my spirits up.  Don't worry little buddy....we will be ok.

Foster kittens and unemployment....

Wow...its been a while since I posted.  Some things happened.  What should I start with? 

Oh I know!  I have had 2 more surgeries one left me with some pretty cool scars.  That was the gallbladder removal.  I did that on July 13th.  Then on the Sunday right after I got a fever and was wearing a sweat shirt/sweat pants and hiding under all the blankets cause I was shivering to death.  Hmmm....wonder if I had an infection.  Went to the ER and found out I sure did.  I had to have my belly button opened up far enough that they could clean out the infection.  I can't even tell you what it smelled like.  All I knew is I stunk, it was getting worse and Hubby now had to put packing in the hole so it would heal from the inside out.  Back in to visit with the surgeon who did it and he opened up more!  I smelled worse!  Eventually after almost a month of packing it 2 times a day, we didnt have to anymore.  I dont know how hubby did it 2 times a day at the beginning because I would scream and cry and require a sock in my mouth not to yell enough for the neighbors to hear.  Finally it healed....went back to work.

End of August comes and I wake up one night and go into the restroom and I can't pee.  I woke up hubby and told him I couldn't pee and my back hurt.  We run into the ER and they hook me up to a catheter and take me to the CT.  I was in a lot of pain and the meds they had me on werent helping.  Found out I had a stone that was in my ureter.  I opted to be admitted and pass it on my own because I didnt need anymore unneccessary surgeries.  I waited and waited and finally about 36 hours of trying and pushing the pain pump button I had enough.  I had surgery to get the stone out and put a straw like thing in my pee hole. 

It was so painful I cant even tell you.  I rest at home a couple of days cause peeing was a joke and go back to work.  ***most of the details will be left out of this next part for internet purposes***  I made it for a half of a day.  After this me and hubby had to go to the airport to fly to Rhode Island for his sisters wedding.  We made it!  And lemme tell you those potties are not made for anyone but people 10 pounds under their weight limit.  We had a great time with neices and family.  The wedding was beautiful and amazing!  Then I had to fly home on Monday (Labor Day).  This is how the bride and groom rode back from the beach to the house....

Well, that brings me to almost to current.  I saw a post on FB asking if someone was able to transport some kitties from the shelter to SL Spay and Neuter then on to Super Adoption.  I wasn't doing anything and I offered!  Well, taking 5 kittens and 2 adults was a lot but I could do it.  Load them all into the building and we find out 1 adult is fixed and the 5 kittens are severely under weight.  To be fixed they needed to be 2 pounds....none of them were.  The adults made it to Super Adoption.  The kittens ended up at my house.  Hubby wasn't home so they were keeping me perfect company.  The company I worked for and I separated ways and this was the perfect way for me to keep busy and sane....

Unfortunately, about a week and a half we lost the littlest one.  Her name was Kaylee and she was all grey.  She had won my heart and was convinced we were keeping her.  I was very sad over her passing.  I took her little body to the vet and they told me there was no charge for her because she was only 1 pound.  Well, the other 4 have kept me on my toes.  They have had colds, eye boogers, fixing and giving them medicine.  I have been thrown in to being a mom and housewife all in one shot.  I am learning that it is ok if I am domesticated.  Its been a change but I am handling it with the help of hubby.  I will post more pictures of the super cute foster kittens I have.

Please feel free to browse the site of the rescue group I go threw and make a donation, a foster or even an adoption if you can!  www.caws.org

Lately....in my mind.....

Lately I have been thinking a lot about what is important in my life, how I can make it better and how to purge the things that pull me down.  It really came to the front of my mind after watching what an effect a pet has on your life.  This made me want to write and express my gratitude to my cat Marshmellow. 
That Friday in December I may not have exactly known what I was going to endure or what the outcome was but I had a significant support system around me.  One of which I didnt even acknowledge until today.  Sometimes it takes a weepy show on PBS for me to remember.
I got lucky after surgery and my mom allowed me to stay with her at her home.  All one level, hospital bed, raised toilet seat, shower chair.  All of this left over when my grandma and great grandma passed away.  The first night home was the most pain filled and sleepless.  I tried but I grunted and groaned and got through it.  The next day, with my moms permission, Hubby brought Mushy.  I was extatic to have something so familiar from my own home that I can love and hug and call him kitteh. 

During the next few days he would follow me from room to room, sit on my lap as well as jumping on my mom to show her it was ok to hug him too.  At night he would follow me to my room, jump on the bed, and just watch as I played on the computer or struggled with pain he was right by my side.  He probably kept my need for pain meds way down.   We snuggled on pillows and shared the same blankets and probably talked more than we should have.  He is a very good cat, an amazing listener.
I also know that at my house our cats recognize different emotions.  Gracie is our emotional cat.  She comes around when you are sad or lonely.  She needs a doctorate in psychology because she knows it.  Bill is just a cat who wants your attention.  He would prefer if there was no break it but if he could just sit on your belly and purr at you, he would be content.  Marshmellow knows when I am hurting physically.  I have had times where he will come for a visit and he will sit on the part of me that is hurting.  Marshmellow's physical intuition is amazing.   I know the dog people are gonna rant and rave about how their pet is better.  Well, your pet is good for you....my 3 cats are perfect for me. 

Mushy,
Thanks for the comfort, friendship and just warmth in general you gave me during my healing process....I dont think I could have healed as well as I did, going back to work when I did, without you,  Thank you for being such a wonderful purring companion.  We love you Mush.