Saturday, December 18, 2010

Texas Weekend

Second full day in Texas!  Yesterday was errands - lunch - movie.  We went to Sam's Club - Walmart - Albertson's.  Then we met K at Five Guys for lunch.  This is a really good hamburger place.  I tried In-N-Out Burger for the first time in October and it was OK - this place was really really good - I would go here over In-N-Out any day.  After lunch it was off to the movies.  C and I went and saw Black Swan . . . different kind of movie . . . . Natalie Portman did a fantastic job she definitely deserves to be nominated for an Oscar - not so sure whether the movie does or not - it was kinda weird - a bit artsy - which is probably why it will get nominated.

Chrissy is not making many friends!  Her and Lexi got in to it this morning - Lexi had had just about enough of her and turned on her with a snarl-snap-and a growl!  She's not getting the hint though - she went right back and tried to play with her!  Bailey even got upset with her this morning too.  T compared her to Rudolph!  No one will let her play any of the puppy games!  Kara likes her - but they start chasing each other around the living room and get in trouble so they are relegated outside.  Chrissy is not a big fan of the outside - which surprises me because back home she is always trying to get outside and here she has a whole backyard to run around in.

Right now we are watching The Ironman on TV that was done back in October and K is in the kitchen making Cake Balls - something new that I am going to have to try when I get home!

De

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Greetings from Texas!

I made it down here safe and sound.  I always thought that if you traveled on an off day things would move quicker at the airport - Nope - took me 45 minutes just to check in with my bag.  I wasn't able to do the self check-in because of Chrissy so I had to get in the Full Service Line - there weren't very many people but then again - there was only one agent working the counter!  Also - this same agent was checking in the First Class Passengers also so every time one of them got in line they got to bypass everyone else!  So unfair!  I finally got everything checked in and then it was off to security - I was a little nervous because they are using the new scanner machines now and if you don't do that then you have a full body pat down - Chrissy saved the day though!!  Because I was traveling with her I was able to go through the old metal detectors!  I guess the new scanners require you to stand with your arms out from your body and I couldn't do that and hold Chrissy at the same time!  Thank You Miss Chrissy!

Miss Chrissy traveled very well - she was quiet on the plane and she stayed sitting in the bag on the drive from the airport to C's House.  She was very excited to see all of the puppies!  It took a few minutes but finally Miss Kara warmed up to her and they started chasing each other around the living room - I am sure the other dogs will warm up to her over the next few days.  Miss Chrissy broke the ice by pooping on the rug!  Stupid dog!  Hopefully she will learn form the other pups that you need to do that outside!  Right now she is back in her travel bag up on the bed next to me going to sleep.  She wasn't thrilled about getting back in it but she has settled down and hopefully will sleep through the night.

OK - Funny plane passenger story!  The gal sitting in the window seat in my row was a first time flier - probably in her mid 20s.  She was pretty quiet the during the ride - towards the end of the flight she was looking through the Sky Mall Magazine.  She pressed the Flight Attendant call button - he came to our row - she held up the magazine pointing to a picture of a necklace and said "I'd like to buy this!"  The attendant said "We don't carry that stuff on the plane" and turned around quickly heading back to the galley! 

We got in a few minutes late and the attendants asked over the PA System for everyone to stay in their seats and to let the people go first who needed to catch a connecting flight as a those people didn't have much time to get to their next gate.  Question:  Why don't people listen to this and do what is asked?  It's not going to make them lose that much time and they still have to wait for their baggage.  People in the front just stood in the aisles blocking the way.  Thing that made me go Hmmmm . . . .really . . . .was the gentleman in the seats in front of me who stood blocking the aisle while texting on his phone was wearing a shirt with an insignia from the group Promise Keepers - Men With Integrity . . .really . . .not showing much integrity right there.

OK - time for sleep - I need to get on Texas time.

De




 

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Rest

Ahhhh . . . . . . . that my dears is a sigh of relaxation!  I have had a very restful weekend.

Yesterday I took care of running some Chrissy errands to get her ready for our trip to TX - vet's for a shot and to get her health certificate then to the groomers for a hair cut.  I took her to Petco as usual but she had a different groomer this time.  I don't think this gal had much patience - I don't think she even tried to comb out Chrissy's fur - just went straight to the clippers and shaved her short.  She really scalped her - shaved her uneven - and now the poor thing is very cold.  Luckily her fur does tend to grow back fast and next time I think I may try a grooming service that comes by your house in a van and does all the grooming right there. 

Besides Chrissy errands I had to go get emissions testing done on my car - I thought it might take a while but I just drove up - had the test done - and was on my way.  My plan was to then come home and do chores but I felt like playing instead.  L had the day off from work so I gave her a call and we went bowling!  We hadn't bowled together for awhile - we had fun!  L won all 3 games but it was still fun.  She then came home with me - I needed her help - I was stuck on a computer game and I needed her to get me past this one puzzle!  She was able to do it - Yay!!!  Now I can finish my game! 

Today I received my calling at Sacrament Meeting - I am now a member of the Relief Society Activity Committee - perfect fit for me - I like planning activities.   After church I came home and have been doing some baking and getting caught up on Fringe - by caught up I mean watching this whole season so far in one night!  It's very good!  If you have never watched it you really must!

Three days of work this week then it's off to Texas.  :-)

De

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Good Morning

Yes - I am really up this early.  In fact - not just up but ready to head out the door.  I am just waiting for Chrissy to run off some energy because it is going to be a late night tonight - Day 1 of Payroll!  Yeah - I now have 3 Day 1's in a month - 2 Payroll and 1 Month End.  This time around lets hope it doesn't snow!  I would like to be able to get most of this done on Day 1. 

Brother Bennett and his wife came by last night - to start my New Member lessons.  It was really nice.  Brother Bennett is so knowledgeable on so many things. I like listening to him speak.  His wife was nice too - she completely understands being overwhelmed with everything - the people, the suddenly not having Sunday to yourself, trying to remember names, getting your first calling.  Yup - I am meeting with Brother Lyman before church on Sunday to get my first calling - I am hoping for something like working with the little kids or being on the activity committee but we shall see.  I keep telling myself that I won't be given more than I can handle.

Had a "little" disagreement with L last night - she was being rather selfish.  I tested her yesterday to find out when would be a good time to do Christmas before I leave for TX.  She called and said that last night was the only night both her and E had off together so let's do it then.  I said I couldn't because I had people coming over and she said I should cancel - that if it was her she would cancel plans if that was the only night she could do Christmas with her daughter.  I told her it wasn't the only night and started giving her options - none of those were good enough.  I also was leaving work early last night so I could pick her up to take her to get her paycheck and to go cash it.  She got in the car and said the E was mad that we weren't doing dinner last night and might have to do it without him.  Yeah - not sad but mad!  This just kinda set me off and then she said - what kind of people are you having over.  She is rather upset that I am getting a life and not going to be her beck and call girl anymore. 

So question - If you had plans with people - who you had already had to change once before because of snow - would you have called them last minute and canceled just to do dinner with L and E - remember, there are going to be other opportunities to do Christmas and we could always do it after I get back from TX. 

OK - time to head on out to work.

De

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Home By 6

Tonight was the first night since Thanksgiving that I was home by 6:00 . . . . . of course I got to work at 630 this morning.  still - it was a nice feeling to have some time in the house before bedtime!  I got some things straightened up around the house - ran the dishwasher in preperation for a whole lot of baking coming up.

I know I keep saying how Chrissy cracks me up - but really - you have got to picture this very cute small dog with a sock stuffed in her mouth running around trying to find the perfect spot to "hide" it.  Tonight she has run back and forth down the hall - to the front door - up on the couch - a chair - looked at her toy box - she has been doing this for 5 minutes now and has yet to find her spot!  OK - sock has been put down and she wasn't out here in the living room - I am thinking I will find it in my bed when I go to sleep!

So I have been having some little nagging doubts about my decision to be Mormon - I think it's because I have been overwhelmed by everything I still need to learn and my head is getting so full of information - and honestly - I'm not used to seeing the same group of people every weekend.  So anyway - I have been talking to God and letting him know my struggles.  Tonight when I got home form work there was a small gift and an envelope leaning against my door.  It was some Peppermint smelling soap (I love the smell of peppermint), an ornament that says Faith, and a Christmas card with a hand written note inside from one of my ward sisters.  It said - 
Dear D -
I am so glad you are a member of our ward and I look forward to 
getting to know you better and hope you have a wonderful Christmas.

Love M


Exactly what I needed today.  God is amazing - miracles and signs don't have to be grand gestures with bright lights - they can be something as small and simple as a note letting you know that someone was thinking about you.  

De

PS - Chrissy just killed our Christmas Teddy Bear!!

 

Monday, December 6, 2010

Pretty Lights

Friday I had dinner with Jason and his family - needed to pick up the candles I had ordered at Angie's party. So instead of making Jason carry it all on the bus and bring it up to me I just picked him up from his office and drove him home to pick everything up.  Angie made her homemade pizzas - Love Them!  I really like the crust - she even made an apple dessert pizza.  Lots of the houses in Jason's neighborhood had their lights on their houses.  When I was leaving Jason told me about a house that was up around the corner from his - I decided to make a quick detour just to see if I could see it.  It was amazing!  They have a sign in their front yard telling you what station to turn your radio too and then magically the music coming from your speakers goes with the flashing lights on the house.

Pretty!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Party - Work - Socks

Whew . . . . another late night . . . . . . . not because of work this time it was because of my first Relief Society Activity - Christmas Dinner.  There were a lot of ladies there!  It was a bit overwhelming but I had fun.  Everyone was very nice - a lot of names to try and remember.  I'm sure that after I have been in the ward longer I will get to know more people.  They all joked around with each other and laughed - I look forward to having that too.

Poor Chrissy was in the kitchen for quite awhile today so I am up late letting her run around for a bit before I put her in her crate - it will probably be another late night tomorrow because of Month End and then Friday will be late because I am going down to the hood - that's Kent - to have dinner with Jason and Ang.  Next week I will get a couple days to try and take a deep breath and get things organized again on my desk - then it's back to payroll Thursday and Friday.

I just keep reminding myself that I will be on vacation in 2 weeks!!  Texas here we come - Chrissy gets to go back to her home state!  She is so going to love having all those pups to play with and having a backyard.  It will definitely be different form last year when it was Muppet coming down to visit.

Hahahahahaha - I just found 4 socks buried behind a pillow and three buried in the cushions on the couch!  And I just saw her run back down the hall with another sock in her mouth!  Last night I found 3 socks and a chew stick buried under the covers on my bed!  She just cracks me up!

De