Vote for my friend if you would . . .

Hey there folks-

If you have a second, please vote for my friend and her husband's photography business. They are in the run to win a Best of Philly award . . . You do'nt need to live in the area to vote. Check it out below:

Weld Photography http://www.weldphotography.us/ has been nominated as Best of Philly at
My Fox Philly Hotlist. We are in 6th place out of 187 photographers.
It only takes a minute to vote and is super easy. To vote go to: http://myfoxphilly.cityvoter.com/weld-photography/biz/406714
One vote per e-mail address. Pass on the link to anyone you might know
that would take a sec to help out our company.

64 things you've never been asked

1. First thing you wash in the shower? shampoo my hair

2. What color is your favorite hoodie? hunter green

3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again? yes!

4. Do you plan outfits? depends--not usually

5. How are you feeling RIGHT now? excited about vacation

6. What's the closest thing to you that's red? candy cane from xmas

7. Tell me about the last dream you remember having? kayaking with my shrink

8. Did you meet anyone new today? yes, the nice kid from the car place

9. What are you craving right now? iced tea

10. Do you floss? yes--recently started and i love it

11. What comes to mind when I say cabbage? saurkraut

12. Are you emotional? sometimes

13. Have you ever counted to 1,000? Probably not

14. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it? usually let it melt a little then eat it

15. Do you like your hair? yes

17. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush? only if i could poison him!

18. What are you listening to right now? DP listening to "all she wants to do is dance"

19. Are your parents strict? on certain things, but not really

20. Would you go sky diving? NO WAY!

21. Do you like cottage cheese? yes

22. Have you ever met a celebrity? no

23. Do you rent movies often? no

24. Is there anything sparkly in the room you're in? yes, a print on my wall

25. How many countries have you visited? 1

26. Have you made a prank phone call? yes, when i was a kid

27. Ever been on a train? Yes

28. Brown or white eggs? brown

29. Do you have a cell phone? Yes

30. Do you use chap stick? Burts!

31. Do you own a gun? hell no

32. Can you use chop sticks? Nope

33. Who are you going to be with tonight? DP and the kids

34. Are you too forgiving? at times

35. Ever been in love? Yes!

36. What are your best friend(s) doing tomorrow? working and lunch bunch

37. Ever have cream puffs? Yes

38. Last time you cried? a few days ago

39. What was the last question you asked? do we have a deposit slip

40. Favorite time of the year? fall-hands down

41. Do you have any tattoos? yes, two

42. Are you sarcastic? yes!

43. Have you ever seen The Butterfly Effect? nope

44. Ever walked into a wall? more times than i should admit

45. Favorite color? purple

46. Have you ever slapped someone? i am sure

47. Is your hair curly? nope

48. What was the last CD you bought? the new alanis album

49. Do looks matter? more than i would like to admit

50. Could you ever forgive a cheater? nope--i can't stand lying at all

51. Is your phone bill sky high? no, but it is more than i wish

52. Do you like your life right now? it is working and getting better. more improvements are needed but that is good

53. Do you sleep with the TV on? nope

54. Can you handle the truth? Yes, gently given of course

55. Do you have good vision? mostly, i have a slight prescription but can see without them

56. Do you hate or dislike more than 3 people? yes

57. How often do you talk on the phone? all the time

58. The last person you held hands with? DP

59. What are you wearing? pj's

60.What is your favorite animal? dogs

61. Where was your profile picture taken? outside

62. Can you hula hoop? no

63. Do you have a job? Yes-thanks goodness

64. What was the most recent thing you bought? a windsheild

So much going on

1. Went to my first prom--at work they have a prom for the kids. this one guy who is such a mess-i mean his family is a mess, involved with the local children and youth . .i am working so hard with them to get them in home help--he is a day student--well, dad said they weren't coming because they didn't have transportation . . .i vowed to find a way next year to get him there . . .wouldn't you know about 45 minutes in he shows up with his whole family . . .I just about cried. if i wasn't in a room full of people i think i might have. the resilience of families amazes me sometimes. now, if he misses the evaluation i set up for him on Friday again, i might have to go postal . . .

2. Meeting Miss Daily this week and am very excited . . .

3. Got season passes to local water park by my folks . . .I think my mom is sucking up as she is being very nice and I know this sounds weird, but it feels kinda uncomfortable . . .not sure what to do with that.

4. Therapy is kicking my ass. not much more to say other than the fact that sitting still is harder than i ever could have imagined. the journaling thing has been going well and she is being much more strict with me and not letting me get away with shit. good stuff.

5. work changed out insurance coverage and i am afraid i will not qualify as seriously mentally ill anymore--not that this would be bad, but the amount of visits you get with the therapist if you are normal is not a lot. i used to qualify no problem for SMI but we are worried they might question how SMI i could be and not take any meds . . .

6. will have to decide in a few weeks with my doc if i need to take blood pressure medication which is such a bummer for me. she said that even though i was getting healthier, the fact remains that everyone in my family has high BP and it just may be a genetic thing. frustrating though when you are finally on the right track and losing weight.

7. I am up to 20.8 lbs lost . . .this week i think period is coming and i have been a bottomless pit today, but i am trying to be ok with that. got a fancy schmancy pedometer which keeps me motivated!

8. Everything is in the garden now, though something has scurried away with the tops of three of our tomato plants and two whole pepper plants . . .i am pissed . . .don't mess with me and my garden damn it!

9. KAYAKING tomorrow and I am so damn excited I can hardly stand it!!

How is everyone???

What fascinates you?

Ok, back again. Damn facebook for killing my blog . . .Oh well, it is what it is. But I am here to pose this question to you . . .

This came about as I was at a training this week and there were two sign language interpreters. Now when there are interpreters present, I am hard pressed to actually pay attention to what I am supposed to be paying attention to. I am not sure when I became so enthralled by the moving hands, the mouthing of words, the seemingly secret club they were all in. The one the other day even winked a number of times. I wanted to be in the club and I could only watch and pretend I knew what they were expressing.

I have thought in the past that I should utilize this fascination for good and take a class or something, but alas I am limited by the few signs I know.

The same could be said for the guitar. I could watch someone play the guitar for hours . . .and I even bought one from my friend and vowed that I would take lessons from her once I finished graduate school. I bought a dvd and a book for dummies or something. You think I ever did anything with that?

I wonder what gets in our way of following through with the things we'd most like to. Maybe it is lack of time, fear of failure, not being able to do it well enough. Well, maybe one day I will sign up for a class or two . . .

What about you?

I love my mechanic!!

How many people can say they love their mechanic? Well, I do. I have been going to this same Meineke for years now . . .seems that no matter how far I have moved away, I still end up back there. There are three guys that have been there all along with a few gems that have come and gone. There's Eddie who owns the place-and he is rarely around--but when he is, the service times are outstanding--though I have to say that I am a bit sad at the reduced amount of time I got to spend with "my boys"!! There's this guy Jim who is just an overall nice guy who just got married for the first time at age 50 or something like that. Then there's Kenny. Kenny and I hit it off from the start, and he thinks I am just some crazed lesbian woman who has serious OCD issues around her car--which in all honestly used to be very true! He is always very patient, and appreciates me for who I am. He shows me things when he tells me something is wrong or needs to be fixed, he has extended credit to me on occasion, and he is just very funny. We have good laughs together and I enjoy going there. I don't, however, enjoy spending the money to go there. But at least I always know that they are fair and are doing what they need to in order for me to remain safe and to spend the least amount of money overall.

Oh, and they loan me a two toned ancient truck when they need the car longer than expected, and the best part--they let me bring the dog. They feel as if Addie should be their shop dog--which I almost agreed to since sending her there daily would be much cheaper than doggy daycare! They said they would have to change her name to Moe and give her a spiked collar. Wasn't sure how I feel about that now, so for now she'll just go visit.

Everyone should have that kind of mechanic in their lives.

Busy Busy

For the next few months I will be busy. I have gone back to school to see if I can finally finish up my certification to be a school social worker, and so I had the first class tonight. It was nice to be back in school again . . .

Then the clinical supervision that I was doing on Wednesday's has been moved to Thursday for the semester to accommodate me. Every other week I have supervision, and the other Thursday's we have puppy kindergarten with Riley. Monday's is therapy, and Tuesday will be women's group at the church starting next week again.

I would love to find a certification in professional vacationing. I think I would be very good at that. I think it could quite possibly be my calling in life.. . .

Oh so ready!!

I...can't...wait...to...go...on...vacation!!!

We leave soon, and the list of things we have to do seems to grow by the minute!! Tomorrow we will take Addie to daycare to play for a few hours, and then she will get a bath to smell pretty for meeting the new family.

SO much to do, so little time!!! I will blog I am sure while we are gone . . .but until then . . .


See YA!!

oh-and today at work they asked me if I minded going to a conference in San Diego . . .um, let's see . . .HECK no. I haven't been further west than Minnesota. I am very excited. we'll see if it really pans out. a paper we wrote got accepted to the American public health association and we have to do a 12 minute presentation. whoo hoo!

Darn these blasted Olympics . . .

i don't think i will sleep for the next week. i don't like that the Olympics are shown at night and i can't resist staying up to watch. It is 2:15 AM and i am still awake . . .wide awake . . .not one ounce of sleepy in me. i can't wait for gymnastics to start-though i am really sad that chellsie memmel is all but out--she worked very hard to get herself back in the game and now she has a sprained ankle . . .

DP is off babysitting tonight and i am so horrible as it is going to bed when she isn't here . . and now i have the Olympics to keep me up even more!

Sheesh . . .

BTW--how freaking cool was the opening ceremony with those tiles things. my dad and i were trying to see what was making them go-he thought people and i said surely it had to be hydraulics. nope, he was right. amazing!

One more thing . . .

We finally got our cable, and after a slight snafu, we have been blissfully provided with hours of entertainment courtesy of Comcast. I can now watch many episodes of random things on HBO, Showtime, the Green Channel--all on demand. I watched a few episodes of In Treatment the other day and am completely hooked.

It is amazing!!

I still think the Tivo was easier to work than the On demand, but I guess I will get used to. Now we don't have to spend money renting Big Love and the L word anymore.

Oh, the little things that bring joy to our lives.

Comments

Ok, so I am noticing that people do different things with comments-and responding to comments. I typically haven't responded to comments, but I thought I might try it and see what happens.

Be sure to check back and maybe I will have had talked back to ya!!

Randomness from a personal day

I took a personal day today. The weather should be 78 degrees, and why the hell not, right??

Here I sit, waiting for the pest control people to come look at the mammoth sized bees we have in our wooden front porch--we suspect carpenter bees, and also to look at the critters that are creating neat little holes ALL OVER OUR FREAKING LAWN!!! I suspect they will tell me that it will cost us about a million dollars to rid us of our pests. Great.

I am also adjusting to the application of new bra. I realized that now that I have lost weight, and can wear some supercute things--like the dress I just bought yesterday at Target for an upcoming event . . .--well, lets just say the girls are not standing up to their full potential. Now, I am no small chested thing, and I might have, should have probably been wearing an underwire type contraption for a long time now, but they were never comfortable. Well, I have delved into another kind of underwire and am giving it a try. The girls are still lifted and separated after 10 minutes of use. I will keep you posted.

Onto other news. DP and I turned up the garden area this past weekend. Who the freaking hell knew it would be so hard to dig up grass and stuff. Well, it was and by the end of the weekend we were sorry, sore fools. My little friend and her family came over to visit and meet Addie, and little did they know they would be put to work!!

We are very excited about the prospects of sugar snap peas, cucumbers, green beans, peppers and tomatoes. We'd like to do some other things, but this is a good start for this year. The plot is about 6 feet by 16 feet--good sized. Very full of clay, but we put some peet moss and soil down. We are also composting, so hopefully once that ripens we can spread that as well. We know the peas should have been planted like a week ago, but hopefully we'll have them in by this weekend. I am really excited . . .last years tomatoes were the first thing that I ever really grew myself, so it is fun.

After all that, I went into full OCD mode with pulling weeds. I am not sure if this is a good condition to have when pulling weeds or not. I finally had to stop Sunday when I couldn't move my fingers anymore. Things are shaping up, though.

Um, I guess that's it for now. Addie goes back to the vet today for a check up, and I need to go get an eye exam and new glasses. The girls are still standing proud and tall . . .and so am I, cause when I slouch I get a rib full of wire.

Wish me luck!


**Update**
The girls stood the test of time and they were so relieved to be released from their bondage tonight. DP says she can definitely tell I have lost weight when they are where they are supposed to be. Tomorrow we will go buy some more torture devices.

Addie got a good bill of health today at the vet, and the visit cost less that $100. I was so relieved about that since this shelter dog is costing us a small fortune-->but we love her soooooo very much. We will have her hips x-rayed soon and deal with that means.

Yes, I know . .

I am becoming one of those people who doesn't update her blog for a really long time. Just when I have record numbers of readers . . .like 10 now . . .and I drop the ball.

I promise one will come this weekend. I am feeling little gremlins in my throat and chest . . .I hope they go away soon. I.don't.like.them!

Hope all is well.

Randomness

Helloooooooo!! I have been missing in action since the vomitous day, but I am back and full of random thoughts which I will now impart onto you.

1. There is a new man in my life. His name is Daniel and I love him. We have only been in a relationship for a few days, but already I feel such intense passion for him. We did have one argument so far, but I profusely apologized to him for not listening to his advice. He didn't even seem to mind, and moved as if it didn't even affect him. He has the most beautiful British accent, though he seems to have some issues with articulation which I am learning to look past. He looks very sleek and svelte . . .He is persistent and anticipates my needs, far before I even know what they are. And when I don't listen to him, he simply restates or finds another way to get his point across. Ah, love has finally come to me and given me the direction I have been longing for.

2. I have gotten my period. Now I know I have absolutely NO right to complain, especially since I get my period like twice a year. But I was going about my day this week, and out of no where body says "Oh, I think I will make you hemorrhage now. Just for fun." Well whoopdeededamndoo. I am a normal girl for a change. I would take being an abnormal girl over this crap.

3. My little friend is still struggling a lot-in an out of the hospital. They sent her home last Friday with a feeding tube, and by Tuesday she was back. She has some gastrointestinal infection going on and she apparently looks like she is 9 months pregnant. They keep sending her home, readmitting her, sending her home. It is driving her family bonkers, and I feel so damn helpless. I don't even know what to say. What do you say to someone who is watching their 4 year old go through this? I have given up saying anything profound and I am at saying "Oh, this really sucks."

4. I am feeling huge sense that the people I work with do not like me-or just don't care to have anything to do with me. I mean, some are nice to me, but others wouldn't say Boo if I stood right in front of them. Not that they have to, but it has been hard to not have co-workers that I see regularly, and I am trying to be self-motivated and such, but sometimes you just want to shoot the breeze with someone, you know. I think there should be a place for folks that work at home to gather periodically. Like a home school club for home workers. Maybe this is what Starbucks is for.

5. The weight loss plan is going very well, though the goal to move more this week hasn't been as fruitful. I did manage to rack up some activity, but not as much as I would have liked. I guess it is ok since I was sick, and I am hemorrhaging after all. We did a mid week weigh in, and I am about 2 lbs away from my bottom weight the last time we did this. I will surely surpass that this week I hope, then I will be smaller than I have ever been in recent history. Which, for those that don't know me is still miles and miles away from where I want to be, but I am proud none the less.

Hmm . . .I guess that is it. I hope this was as good for you as it was for me.

Oh, and a shout out to RHB who has been jonesing for a computer since hers had to be fixed. She is finally breathing better now that she has unadulterated access to the Internet again. That was a long week for her!!

One more day . .

Gee, then I think I will take a month off of blogging to make up for all the blogging I have done this month.

Today was a good day. I had a meeting this morning and did some great networking for my program and got many good questions answered. Then I went to a visit where the mother wasn't there and didn't call . .that's wasn't fun. Oh, this was after I knocked on the wrong person's door, too.

Then I came home and had to deal with more drama about the supervision issue-see yesterday's rant. I then went to the sibling group I co-facilitate with siblings of kids with special needs. They're a really great group of kids and they were really fun tonight.

Now off to shower and bed. Working at home tomorrow-AND we are getting our insulation so that should be fun.

Cold

Today was a very cold, rainy, and yucky day. I am supposed to be going out soon to see Rob Bell, and all I can think about is curling up with my blanket and sleeping.

I know this blog is getting boring, and I apologize for that. The NaBloPoMo challenge is winding down . . .and I am running out of things to say that are exciting. I know some other blogs are doing audience participation-the readers are asking questions. Problem is, I don't have that many readers.

HOWEVER, for those that may be reading, feel free to send a question my way if you have one and I will answer.


***Update***

Rob Bell was fantastic!! I am so glad that we went and saw him. I can't believe how he can bring stories to life and have you sit there, captivated, for 2 hours. That's talent and I am glad he shares it with the rest of us.

Busy day

Included in busy day:

-Making breakfast for family
-Heated discussion about purchase of GPS system
-Trip to mall to browse-need I mention again that I truly do not really like shopping-though the antibacterial soap sale at Bath and Body Works was a treat! I stocked up!! I also did not complain ONCE about shopping!!!
-Home for leftover T-day lunch
-Out again to local town to shop-cut short by mom feeling ill
-Home for lots and lots of pictures from the in-laws trip to Alaska
-While eating pizza, watching White Christmas
-Now off to bed after perusing stacks of catalogs for perfect gifts . . .

I think that might be the gist of the day . . .Good day!

Catching up

I know I have been less than exciting on this blog the last few days, but things have been good-but busy, too.

Friday night we went out to dinner and then to a concert with RHB and some friends. It was fun to hang out-and we even started up an impromptu game of scrabble while we waited--since we'd gotten there early to get good seats. The concert was ok, but it was even more fun to be with friends. I was reminded again about how I lust over those who can play the guitar, and yearn for the day I, too, can play. Though I never do much about it-I even have a guitar, but I lack the motivation. I think because it seems so impossible that I could actually play anything good. Maybe that will be a new year's resolution.

Then Saturday we had a guy over to give us an estimate on putting glass block windows in our basement. The windows down there now are scary and have a few holey spots in them, and energy wise it makes sense. The I went to an autism support group meeting to promote my program. Then DP and I were both providing childcare to different families, so I went to see her and her charge for a bit, then went to mine.

My two girls are by far the coolest kids ever. The younger one, age 3, has down syndrome and I met them about 2 years ago. This little girl has made so many strides and is just the cutest thing possible. They were excited to see me-it has been about 6 months since I have seen them, and it was just a fun time. Great parents, great kids, and some cash to throw in the pot.

Today I went to church and then ran around preparing for the in-laws to visit this week. We did the Thanksgiving shopping, and ordered the stuffing and mashed potatoes from Whole Foods-hope they are good. I don't think I realized how expensive a Thanksgiving meal can be . . .I will attempt to make sweet potato casserole. I'll keep you posted on how that goes since I am NOT known for my cooking!!

I got my hair cut today, as well. I am one that really could care less about what my hair looks like, I just don't want it to take a lot of time to have to do. So today I trotted off the hair place and got it cut short again. I think it looks cute-but then it always does the day you get it cut . . .

Should be a very busy week, and I hope to be able to enjoy the upcoming visits and such. I hope you are all doing well and finding time to remember what it is that you are thankful for.

Random thoughts . .

OK, so I am jumbled today and so I thought I would let you know about the randomness going on in my head about my latest activities and such . . .

1. I am now triple checking to be sure I am posting on the right blog . . .
   
2. I am feeling much better today, though my nose is still all cracked from blowing it so much. OUCH! I had to give in and use the lotion-y issues my DP got me. Thanks!
3. I took the train to work today and was feeling very directionally challenged. I thought I could get the broad street line right from Market East, which apparently you cannot, and people were telling me to go this way and that way and by the time I gt to the conference I was a sweaty mess ready to cry . . .45 minutes after I got off the first train . . .
   
4. I almost cried this morning-I have been on the verge of tears for a few days-not sure why-->(though I should have gotten my period and I haven't . . .first time since off the pill that I haven't gotten it. I thought I was going to be a normal girl for a chance), but I have kept it together, but this morning was challenging. It turns out I should have just gone to my normal stop and walked a few blocks and I would have been there. I hate feeling like I don't know where I am.
5. Went to a conference today and it was very interesting . ..talked about the racial disparities in low birth weight babies . . .I was asked to go by the folks I work with-mostly nurses. I met some people and it was very interesting. Tomorrow is a seminar on autism interventions/assessments. Close to home so I can sleep in a bit and drive there.
6. Had a meeting tonight at my church. They are gathering with women to talk about what kinds of things women might be interested in as far as outreach, ministry, activities, fun, etc. It was great to met some new people and I look forward to getting to know them.
7. My cousin had gastric bypass surgery, and while visiting her this weekend my mother proclaimed that she and I should get this done together. I have so many things to say about this, and it is too late to say them now, but I needed to get that out. I know this is not something I should be thinking about obsessively, but I am and I can't seem to get the vision of my once fluffy cousin turned skinny out of my head.
8. I have an official bio on the website of the place I work. Of course I cannot share that, cause then y'all would know who I was and that would be very, very bad! But it is neato anyways!
9. While visiting a health center last week for work-I was observing the clinic-, one of the np's told me-matter of factly that I had rosacia, bad acne, and needed to lose weight. She gave me a script for this lotion stuff-two actually and I used them for about two days when I stopped. Why did I stop you ask? Well, my face got all red and bumpy and itchy. Then it sort of turned leathery. Today was the first day it did not itch horribly and burn. I ditched the potions and went back to the Aveda All Sensitive . . .I should have known better as I have a history of reacting this way to things on my face, but my face was breaking out horribly and I was feeling some type of way about that.
   
10. hmm, I guess that is it. I have therapy tomorrow. That has been going relatively well, except she keeps going away and that has caused some breaks in sessions and I feel like we start over each time we have a break . . .it is getting better, but I wish she'd stay put. Doesn't she know I have issues?

Night-until tomorrow!