Tick Tock!

Ok, so yesterday I was late for a Time Management Seminar. How's that for irony!

This is my favorite place on earth! The Bear Creek Dog Park. You can't tell from this picture, but there is a trail that goes around in a large circle, with several paths in and around it. Along the west side of it is a creek that Rooby loves to bathe in! This place is great, because not only do your dogs get exercise, but you do as well. You aren't just standing there in a dirt pit watching your dogs having a great time. You get to walk too. We have a ritual out here, mostly because I really want my poochies to play with other dogs, and really all Rooby wants to do is chase a ball, and Millie still isn't sure what the deal is here. So, we walk around with no ball thrower in hopes that they will play with dogs. Well, usually it doesn't always go this way. Rooby gets busy trying to steal everyone else's balls, then growls at the dog she just stole the ball from. I am apologizing and trying to reassure the dog owner that Rooby isn't as ferocious as she looks. Mean while, Millie is attacking the dog that just wants it's ball back. I am running around trying to leash Millie before the owner has an aneurysm. Millie gets leashed for awhile as punishment, and we move on. Not much playing with other dogs takes place, just lots of sniffing. If a dog even tries to play with Rooby, Millie goes into protective mode and attacks the poor pooch who was just trying to have fun. Sheesh! Millie leashed again. Well, we do have fun though. They jump in the creek, Rooby lays in it, not caring that it's freezing! Then, once we have gone around one time, I go get the ball thrower, which sends Rooby right into ball mode. It does not matter what is going on around her, all she cares about is that ball. I throw it, and they are off like rockets. It is still amazing that Rooby, age 3, is so fast! Millie doesn't really get the concept of catching and retrieving the ball, she just wants to chase after Rooby. They really do have a blast...except when Millie has to be on her leash, which sadly happened a lot today. Oh well, what can ya do. The last pic is of Rooby and Millie coming back after Rooby caught the ball. Hope you all had great weekends!

I miss my God.

God and I have been on a stand off for quite some time. I am being very stubborn about going to church by myself, so I have not been going. Instead I listen to church radio and drink my coffee on Sunday mornings. I know I am rebelling about going to church by myself. I am soooooo tired of going to church by myself, because I HAVE to. Now, I know it is ridiculous to to not only keep from going to church for this reason, but it is also ridiculous to try and win a stand off with the Lord! But still, I keep trying. Besides the company of my poochies, I do most things alone. God knows I hate being alone all the time. But for some reason, that is my reality. I have no family here, no real close friends, no husband, no one who will go to church with me. I know, wah! I'm really tired of wahing about it too! The truth is, I am really missing God. I miss feeling close to him. I haven't felt him that much at all lately. I feel like my life is at a stand still. I know too that it would be initially a good feeling to be at church with God, but inevitably, that loneliness feeling always creeps in. Seeing all the people there with family or friends. Then there is me, solo. I hate it. I know I know, some of you are say, "well then, get your butt to church!" I know. See, I have done that, I have joined small groups, I have become a member of a church, but that empty feeling remained. Today, I got myself up to go to church, although a half-n-hour late. I was going to go. I had picked out a church I wanted to check out. I made coffee, then went to pick out my clothes. That's when I went blank. I stood in front of my closet forever looking at my clothes. I stood there, and stood there. Until it was clear that I wouldn't have time to make it to church. This was the closest I have gotten in a long time to actually getting to church. But still a no go. I wish I could get past this and just go. Why am I being so, I don't know weird about this. Oh well, maybe next time.

thinkin......SPRING!

I found this at Wal-Mart for $16.95! There are a couple of different ones, so you know I am going back for another one! So, if you can't tell what this really is, it's a flower pot! It will be going in my backyard this spring. I have to say that this giant cup, made me so happy today! Now I really have the Spring Fever!

It was Mardi gras time in Manitou Springs this weekend. I have never been to this before, but I have heard that it gets pretty crazy. They have a parade that anyone can be in as long as you are wearing the costume. A lot of people did! I missed the parade, but really had my own parade just walking from my very far away parking spot. I was surprised that it actually was such a big deal. I thought I would see a few people in costume, but really most people dressed up. I will try and post some of the pics if I can so you can get the idea. First of all, those of you from the Black Hills area, Manitou to me has a Sturgis vibe only with Mountain people as opposed to Biker people. I'm really not sure what is going on in this picture, but here is an example of some of the tamer costumes. The next pic below this one gets a little crazier. You can see the Dreadlocks band in the background that is apparently a local favorite. Seriously, I don't want to think what is growing in their hair! Some of them had dreads down past the middle of their backs. The last pic is the creepiest. Where in the world would you get a mask like that! I was surprised I didn't have nightmares after seeing that one!

How many set ups does one have to endure before the right one comes along?! Seriously! Sometimes I wonder exactly what people are thinking when they try to set me up with someone. Do they even know me at all? Come on already! Ok, I know their hearts are in the right place, and the reason they are trying to set me up in the first place is because they like me and want to see me happy. Noted. But why on earth are they not keeping me in mind when they find someone to set me up with? Or maybe they are and I deserve the guys I have gone out with from Blind Dates, I don't know. I know I am not a beauty queen by any means, and I am not looking for the perfect looking guy, but you know when you get set up with a guy that you would not be REMOTELY attracted to, you have to wonder about yourself. Is this the type of guy they see me with? So, all my past set up stories aside, I will talk about a couple others later, I was set up with a guy that I went out with last night. My hair stylist's partner told me a few weeks ago, that he had the perfect guy for me. Now I have been going to my hair lady for the past three years. She has set me up several times, none of which have panned out. James, her partner, has heard me talk about what I want in a guy for a long time now, and has gotten to know me. And I have an open mind, you know, so I agreed to go out with this guy when James told me about him. I talked to this guy, Dale is his name, on the phone a couple of times. He seemed ok. Then I met him for dinner last night. He looked nothing like how he was described to me. He was barely taller than me. Balding, and had a handle-bar mustache. HANDLE-BAR MUSTACHE! Not only that, he was closer to 50 years old if he wasn't in fact 50. Seriously? He was nice though, so I went to dinner. Throughout the whole time I was with him, he swore like a trucker. He actually told me that his favorite word is the F-word. Nice. He also wanted to know what my favorite swear word was. Nice. He talked about himself the WHOLE time. I had to actually tell him to ask ME a question about me. Then when he did, and I attempted to answer, he interrupted me with another tale about...him. Urggg! Why do I even try to date. I have been set up with a cartoon-looking guy who was a workaholic and actually stood me up for a date because of work, and I was suppose to just understand. I once had a friend who tried to set me up with two different guys who were the biggest nerds. She, herself would have never dated either one of them for various reasons, but she thought I would? Should I be looking at this more closely? Maybe I am not very attractive myself, maybe I should be dating these guys. But really it's not just the physical reasons here. These are men that I have nothing at all in common with what-so-ever. What do I do here? I really don't want to discourage people from setting me up, because quite frankly it is the only way I date anymore. But I really don't want another one of these dates! I am so ungrateful, right? Sheesh!

FINALLY, my head shot!:) Now, keep in mind this is after work, so not as cute as it is in the morning when I first do it, but I didn't think to take the pic this morning. So, you are stuck with this. What you can't see is that I no longer have a part, it actually is haphazard or slightly messy. In the morning the sides were flipped up and down. This pic looks a little more plain then what it can actually look like. The back, though still looks cool as you can see: I love the back! Well, there you have it. Like I said, not the best picture to show what it looks like, but at least I got them out finally. I'll send a better one when I get one. Cheers!

Could lateness be a virtue? I really think it should be. I firmly believe it is a personal trait that doesn't need to be such a negative. In our society, being early or on time is revered. Being late is severely frowned upon. It seems like I spend most of my time stressing about this subject. And no matter what I do, I get bit on the BUTT! Case in point. All last week, I was early or on time all week! And I was beginning to feel pretty proud of myself. Then came Friday. I volunteered to drive a group of co-workers to a training that several of us were going to. I was one car of three. There were, I know a few people that didn't want to ride with me because they probably figured that I would be late! Well, I was going to show them. See I get teased quite regularly about my lateness, but they don't know how hard I try not to be. I was determined to prove I would be there on time if not early! So far so good, I got up at 5:30am, and showed up at exactly at 7am to pick up my passengers. They were impressed. I showed up at Starbucks at the exact same time that the people who didn't want to ride with me arrived! Ha! We were right on schedule. Then we arrived in Denver. We hit a few speed bumps such as taking the wrong exit, but we thought we recovered and found the right street. Still early, plenty of time. Until....we had to turn around again and again cuz we weren't finding our right turn. We were lost. I called everyone else in the other cars to get some directions. NO ONE HAD THE CELL PHONES ON! They had turned off their phones already. Vibrate people! I then turned on to a street that I thought I could turn around on and get back on the main road. Well, I ended up in a residential area and of course, the road was blocked off where I needed to get back on, if that makes sense. I had to turn around in someones driveway. As I was inching close to the side of the driveway to turn, slowly and quietly my right side tires sunk into the snow. I was stuck! Not just a little stuck, I was stuck real bad! No matter what tricks I knew to try, I couldn't get out. My passengers jumped out and tried to dig me out, but nothing worked. We stole pieces of cardboard boxes in their back yard, and borrowed a bucket and shovel. Still stuck. I was pretty upset by now. Not only has the training started, but we were now a half hour late! And still no one is picking up their cell phones. Were they worried? No, they just think I am LATE! Thankfully a garbage truck stopped and came to push us out. Good 'ol man power, we were out! Some one did finally call us back, and we got directions. 45 minutes later we showed up to the training. I was mortified. Why oh why, do these things happen to me I ask you!

Ah jeez, I did it. I chopped my hair again. It has actually been several years since I have had short hair, but it is now probably shorter now than I have ever had it before! Yikes! I go between really liking it and wondering what was I thinking? I do think I like it, of course I liked it way more when my stylist styled it yesterday. When I did it today, it looked close to what she did, but not quite as good. Practice makes perfect, right? I still don't have my camera back, so no pic sorry! But I will upload one when I get it. So, for now I will try and describe it if I can. Like I said, it's short...a short bob sort-of. Karen, from the two pics I sent you, she said it is a cross between both pictures. It is shorter than the Sandra Bullock do, but longer than the shag cut. I have a lot of layers, but my hair is longer on the sides than it is in the back. I am trying to do it sorta messy, so up and down curls. My bangs will be growing out a little more, but right now they sweep to one side. So, now that I have made an attempt to describe it, let me ask all you women this: Why oh why must I feel that my hair makes me or breaks me? I still have the same face no matter what I do, but I always feel like if my hair doesn't look good, than I am not as attractive. I wish I didn't care so much, but sadly I do. It probably doesn't matter quite so much anymore since it really has been a long time since someone has hit on me. Ah those drunken college days, how I miss those times! Anyway, I can't help but feel that I lost some mojo along with my locks. Wait for the picture, my camera should be here by Tuesday. You be the judges!

Last night we had our 2nd Annual Girl's Christmas Dinner. This year, it was decided that we would all cook a portion of a very fancy dinner. Now, most of you who know me well, know that though I can cook, I don't like cooking anything with over 5 ingredients and I need to know what things are! I don't do fancy, I just don't. It's too intimidating and expensive. After grumbling at the store over the cost of everything and a call to my Gramma to ask a Garlic Clove question, I decided to get over it. It's not a terrible thing to try something new, move slightly from my comfort zone. So Zucchini with Roasted Red Peppers and Chives, here I come. I do have to confess that I did choose the easiest recipe out of the list. Amy had found a whole dinner on line and sent us the menu to pick from. But even though it was easier, it still was not easy. I actually roasted my peppers myself in the Broiler and had to peel the skins by hand! After a couple minor mishaps, I did it, and it was actually kind of fun. The end result of the whole dinner was well yummy! It was all so good, straight out of a 4 star restaurant, and we made it ourselves. It really was beautiful, I wish I had a picture to share, hopefully I will when someone sends me one. Of course, we also had some really great wine. It was fun to get together and catch up on what's been going on. One out of the group even announced that she is pregnant! Congratulations Kendra!!

Let it snow I say! Well folks, it's another snow day for me! Of course, this time I did not get the final verdict until just before I was leaving the house, but a snow day none-the-less. My perfect snow day is going back to sleep after calling my classrooms for a couple hours, getting up making some yummy coffee that I can actually sit and enjoy, and making cookies. Today, I am only missing the sleep in, but I guess that can wait until tomorrow. I just finished eating 2 fresh from the oven oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, and am still drinking my coffee! Not bad. Out of seriousness though, please say some prayers for the plans communities in Southeast Colorado who are STILL snowed in after the last two storms. It's pretty scary out there, they are having trouble getting food out to a lit of people in really remote places, and there is already some livestock dying. Please pray for them.

I can hear it even now...the squeakers! Now, don't laugh but every year since I got Rooby I have what I call "A Dogs Christmas". Yes, that's what I said. I put up stockings for my pets and fill them with all kinds of goodies. And this was Millie's very first Dogs Christmas. Let me walk you through our night last night. I usually pick a night sometime after I get back from South Dakota for Christmas. It was a perfect night because our 2nd Blizzard was going at full force outside, snowing pretty hard. I made some decaf coffee with Starbucks liquor, yum! Popped some popcorn, and made my dogs dinner. Their dinner is yummy canned food that they don't get on a daily basis since they eat dry food. So, I opened two cans of beef/chicken/liver and gravy. They flip for this stuff! After dinner then it's stocking time! I pulled out a toy each and let them go nuts. Just when they really start getting excited about that toy, I pull out more! Rooby loves Dog Christmas, she really loves toys. She runs from one toy to the next to the next squeaking away! Millie wasn't too sure at first, but she soon caught on. For about an hour or so after they got all their toys, all I heard was the squeaking of various toys. Music to my ears. PS: I couldn't post a picture cuz I left my camera in SD. Sheesh!

How about a little holiday UGLY! My new favorite party concept, the Ugly Christmas Sweater Party. Amy and I were invited to a friends-boyfriends party, so we didn't really know anyone, but everyone had plenty to look at and talk about. I had the best time just picking out my sweater. I went to Goodwill, which had a hole rack devoted to the Christmas sweater! I really had to work hard at not laughing out loud. It was a hard choice as you can imagine, but this look won out over the others. This sweater is hideous! Of course it is hard to tell here since it is on a Hot Babe! The only thing missing from this party was a contest of the ugliest. They didn't do that. We decided that next year we definitely have to have this kind of party of our own with a contest. Maybe the prize will be a Holiday hat like Susan has on her blog! The rest of this story needs to be seen through pics, so I am going to let them do the talking. Enjoy!! This is Amy's friend Jeri (that was for you Karen) and her soon to be fiance Ryan. Notice the Christmas Goose on his leg! Below is a friend of Ryan's, his tree is actually metallic and he is wearing his Grandma's wig under that hat! And lastly the ugly sweater girls, me, Jeri and Amy. Merry Christmas!

I can't keep up! I love every one's blogs so much but I can't seem to keep up with the stream of new posts! I get on one and discover that there are not just one or two to read but 7, and I want to read and respond to as many as possible, but by the time I get done with one blog, I don't have time to read anyone elses let alone write anything on my own. And speaking of my own, I feel that my life is so uninteresting most of the time, so I am struggling to find fun things to write about. You all write about everything from big events to mundane things, but make everything so enjoyable to read. Maybe I have writers block, maybe I just don't think I can spin the simple things into something worth reading about. Maybe I am feeling a tad bit negative today. I am just feeling two things today. 1. that I am missing out on so much cuz I can't seem to keep up with every one's blogs; and 2. my life can feel so like nothing sometimes, like I am not really living. Isn't that so dumb! Why do I feel like this sometimes. I really do try to be a positive person, and really most of the time I am, but I slip every so often. I really wish my life felt more significant. Like I have a real purpose. But truthfully, most of the time I feel like I am just here. Stupid right, when I have so many good things going for me right now. I also know that most everyone I know just wants me to knock it off and just be happy already. I feel like I shouldn't tell people things like this, like they just want to know the good things, but I don't know. I rambling now. I think I will stop writing now, and wait until I am feel like my more likable self before I write again. Sorry to be so negative today. Maybe I need more coffee.

This is a short tale of how I got my Christmas tree this year. A friend of mine from work decided that it would be much cheaper, and more fun to chop our own trees down this year. So, we packed up Liz's daughter, grabbed Yvonne, who wanted to come along for the ride, and we were off for Woodland Park. First, was a quick stop to Starbucks for some tummy warming refreshments. $20 later, that was just for me mind you, we were ready to get going. You should also know that it is only $10 for a permit to cut your tree. It was suppose to be a CHEAP tree trip, remember. Not when I needed coffee, water, a sandwich for later, and a Christmas Cranberry bar. The rest of this story I am going to mostly illustrate with pictures. I will say, this was a great experience and I would do it again. Ok minus the $20 Starbucks bill.

Here you see my little forest tree, just sitting there awaiting me. It was the second tree I laid eyes on and I knew this one was the one for me. Below, I am sawing away.....yes me, by myself. I cut down my very first Christmas Tree. The next step was for Liz to get her tree. So, as she went looking for her perfect tree, I had to take over pulling Nika on the sled. Poor girl, she didn't know what she was in for. This is Nika in the ditch. Not once but twice I did this to her. At least she was laughing. Anyway, we did have a great time and it was so beautiful up there. I highly recommend this way of getting your tree if you are able. Your kids would love it. Merry Christmas everyone.

I'm back fellow bloggers. I have been missing in action, I know and have a lot to catch up on I know. I feel like time has stood still for me cuz I couldn't keep up on your lives. So, bare with me while I catch up on all your lives and write a few blogs myself. Glad to be back. Have Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Here I sit next to my little pooch, Millie. She is laying next to me like she is in this picture next to the Teddy. She is what I am most thankful right now. This is Millie's first Thanksgiving with us, and I couldn't be happier about it. It just makes me feel so good that she is in a warm happy place now, as oppose to where she was just a year ago. This is what her day was like: much playing in the backyard with Rooby; barking at the neighbors; digging a forbidden hole; game of chase-Rooby-as-she-catches -all-the-balls; canned turkey and beef dinner; and a pig ear for dessert. I just love my dogs and I am so thankful for them. They make my life sweet! I am also thankful for all my friends, blog friends and family. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! And here is to many more for Millie!!

The power of prayer.

Sometimes, ok often, I forget how powerful prayer can be. We all know that many times God is answering, but it isn't the answer we want quite often. But when what you have been praying for actually happens.....it's nothing short of amazing. I have been praying for my mom & brother for years. I really started praying hard for my brother in college. I have always prayed for my mom, but more so in recent years. Back in college, Brook was nearing the bottom of the rock. Ok, so he found the rock at the bottom! My brother has really work his way up from there. He is almost finished with an Engineering Degree from the School of Mines. He will graduate this Spring!! We were afraid he would never go to college, but thank God, he did! Brook has accepted a job in Boise, Idaho!!! He also gets married to a great girl, Allison in June! I am so proud of my baby brother, he really has come along way. As for my mom, sometimes I think that my mom believes that she isn't suppose to receive good things. She has had a lot of disappointments in life, and it seems to me that she more likely than not passes on her dreams. In recent years, I have seen my mom change towards a more positive outlook. She has been allowing herself to be happy in her own life. This past year, my mom bought a new horse, Mudd. He is beautiful and so sweet. unfortunately, because of some family issues, she was unable to keep Mudd at our Grandparents. So, mom had to drive in opposite directions to take care of her two horses. This was taking a tole to say the least. Mom started to dream more & more about finding her own property big enough for a house & a barn to keep her horses on. She really wants to be self sufficient in this way. For quite awhile, she looked at properties and did fall in love with a few places. She came to realize, however, that it was going to be more difficult to afford her dream. At a certain point, she did give up on it. Through this whole time, I kept encouraging her, and told her that I would pray about it. Those of you who know me well, know how hard it is for me to even say that to people, say anything spiritual. But, I am trying. Mom is respectful of my spiritual views, but does not believe God has good things for her. This is my perception, just to be clear. Anyway, I told mom that I believed that something good was going to happen whether that means that she is suppose to buy her property or something else was going to happen, and that I would keep praying. I encouraged her to not give up, but I didn't know what she would do after this conversation. Well, she called me this week with some news. She made a bid for a property & it was accepted!!!! Now, it isn't perfect. Mom had to re-evaluate what she was looking for. She settled on 6 acres of land with a run down trailer & a shed. Clearly it is going to take some work, but mom's got it all worked out. Her plan is to put a barn on the property and fix the fencing. Also to fix up the trailer to make it livable before she sells her house and moves in. Then she is going to sell the trailer as she is building her house. She has it all worked out, and I think she is very smart about it all! The power of prayer!!!!!!!

You Are An ISFJ

The Nurturer You have a strong need to belong, and you very loyal.A good listener, you excell at helping others in practical ways.In your spare time, you enjoy engaging your senses through art, cooking, and music.You find it easy to be devoted to one person, who you do special things for. You would make a good interior designer, chef, or child psychologist.

What's" Your Personality Type?

Not a great pic of me, I don't have very many pictures of myself! Oh well, I'll get over it. I have been putting off writing about this subject cuz I feel like such a baby when I talk about this. Mostly because I know I have a good life. But unfortunatley this is something that I deal with on a daily basis. I am pretty much the only single person I know anymore. And truth be known, I hate it. I feel like I am on the outside looking in all the time. I can't participate in many conversations with my friends because I don't have anything to contribute to the subject matter. This is my worst fear come true over and over again. I can be alone, I have done it for a long time, but I have NEVER wanted to be alone. My best friends know where this comes from. I see the big picture as fars at what God wants for me, but I still don't appreciate it. Why does it have to be me that has to learn the "joys" of learning how to stand on my own two feet. Why can't I belong to a team like so many of my friends. Why is it that I have to go through life all on my own when all my friends have someone to go through life with. Someone to grow spiritually with. Someone to lean on, to cry with, to laugh with. Now I know that relationships are hard and it is no fairy tale. I also know I am suppose to learn to be happy on my own, that God wants me to lean on him right now. I get that, but I don't have to like it. I feel so isolated much of the time. My friends have families or boyfriends that come first, and I feel like I have to wait around sometimes for people to want to hang out with me. I sit at home way to often because everyone is busy living their lives. I don't have any single friends, so what I go out by myself? I'm sorry but I would rather stay home than do that. I am not a dine-out-alone type of girl. I don't go to movies by myself either, Can't do it. I know how pathetic this all sounds, and I am not looking for sympathy. I just need to get it out once in awhile. Most of the time I am ok with my situation, but it does get the best of me sometimes. I hate that my friends sometimes feel sorry for me, so when we do go out they feel the need to push me onto guys. They don't even know how obvious they are. I feel embarrassed that I can't get a guy on my own apparently, and when things like this happens I just feel like a loser. I know that my friends love me & they want me to be happy, but this doesn't help. I just hate being left behind, and that is truthfully how I feel quite often. Wow, I guess I let the flood gates open here. Sorry, don't mean to bum anyone out here. I just get so angry sometimes that I have to be the only one alone. That is how I feel. I know everyone feels alone at times even when they are married, I know that. I just...... I guess I don't know what else to say. I'm frustrated that's all. I want to walk through life with someone who is truly meant for me. I don't want to sit at the kids table anymore. I don't want to be on the outside looking in.