Scary!!

Charles Barkley was arrested on suspicion of driving drunk. When I first saw his mug shot, I had to quickly avert my eyes. My first thought was "Damn!!". No TV makeup and being drunk can make a person look like they just crawled out from under a rock!!

He'brew

Just had to share...

Mike got a gift certificate from a client to Wine Maestro, a local store in Statesville. Instead of buying wine, he bought 5 different kinds of obscure beer. The funniest one was a beer called He'brew, The Chosen Beer.

As the label says:

Why is this beer different than other beers? As commanded, we at He'brew have been fruitful and multiplied our offerings. Tradition teaches that the Messiah's name is Shalom-Peace. With your first sip of this rich, dark, and delicious libation, we hope to offer a momentary taste of microbrewed bliss. If you feel the sudden urge to beat your swords into ploughshares (Isaiah 2:4) or to picnic with the lion and the lamb (Is. 11:6)...Rejoice!!! Now our award winning brewers can't claim supernatural powers - simply a fanatical commitment to brewing world class beers: A truly scrumptious mitzvah (good deed)! Through the new millennium and beyond, may your cups runneth over with the blessing of great beer and great shtick. To the Future! To a Bold Life! L'Chaim!

I thought this was just hilarious!!

Christmas Day

Well, we thought, one family Christmas gathering just wasn't enough, why not do two!! On Christmas Day we had the Ford Family to the house for our usual Christmas lunch. Since I was the host this year, that meant that I had the 'opportunity' to provide the meat. I was nervous, but really, how bad could I mess up a pre-cooked spiral cut ham?!?! The ham turned out fine and everyone else brought a side dish and dessert. The food was great. I especially loved the candied yams that Susan made. After dinner, we opened presents. I really loved my gifts!! Mike has a reputation of taping every inch of Annette's present, so it's impossible to get into. Kathy got him back this year. She wrapped his present with duct tape. Ha Ha!!! Thanks everyone!! Then Robert and Annette and I took the dogs for a walk. We needed to walk off lunch so we could eat more dessert!!! Isn't that really what exercise is all about!!!

Little did I know, but Susan and Joe had to leave. Poor Joe was not feeling well at all. I hate that we didn't have more time to visit. I talk to or email Susan regularly, but we don't get a lot of face to face time :(. Also, Kathy and Reiggin split during my walk too (maybe the ham wasn't as good as I thought). They needed to go to Reiggin's parents house to visit. I was sad to not get more time with my adorable niece Virginia. I'm sure Kathy was relieved though. I have no kids of my own, so my kid handling skills leave a little to be desired...but I haven't dropped her yet!!

Long story short, I didn't get any pictures of Susan and Kathy. You'll just have to take my word for it that they were there. However, I really enjoyed the opportunity to visit with my Aunt and Uncle, Robert and Annette as well as Mom and Dad and Grandma and Pa. These are the pics...anyone notice any themes with the pictures...all are with the fireplace as a backdrop! I promise to have more 'natural' pictures next year.

Robert and Annette...what a cute couple!!

My adorable and sweet, sweet Grandma and Pa!

And finally, Mom and Dad. I didn't want to break the camera so I took a far away shot. I kid because I love!!!

We loved having everyone over and we look forward to having everyone over again soon!!

Christmas Eve

Since this was our first Christmas in our new house, we wanted to host the annual Wike Family gathering on Christmas Eve. Mike's mom is the usual host of the Christmas Eve party, but she was gracious enough to defer to us for this year. She was also gracious enough to supply the vast majority of the food. I think she was really just scared of what we'd end up with if it was left entirely up to me!! :) The usual suspects were here (Mike's sister and her family, his aunt, his uncle and his family, and one of his cousins and his wife). Conspicuously absent was my niece's fake boyfriend...'he had to work!" Sure, whatever!!! Brandon, my nephew, brought over his Wii and it was the hit of the party. We really had fun playing. I bet here were some folks with sore bowling shoulders on Christmas Day. As usual, everyone was more than generous in their gift giving. We really feel blessed to have such a loving family...we love you all!!! Here are the highlights:

Ashleigh was very excited to get this jacket from her Nana!!

Mike's Mom and Dad and his aunt Linda.

Our nephew Brandon and his sweet girlfriend, Joni.

Brandon wanted, and got, an electric drill. We really don't know why he wanted the drill?

Straight From Texas

Well, meet the newest member of the family. We are now the proud owners of THREE cars.Why we need three cars you may ask...I really don't know, ask Mike!

It all started last Sunday when Mike started reading on some online forum about a Chrysler dealership in Dallas, Texas that was practically 'giving away' Crossfires. Well, the deal was just something that 'we' couldn't pass up. He was giddy!!! He made some calls on Monday and he got the last manual transmission they had. He flew to Texas on Saturday morning. Yes, that's right, he flew to Texas to get a car. He drove half way back Saturday and got home Sunday at 7pm.

It is definitely a sports car. It is very low to the ground and I can't see out of the back window. There are only two seat, no back seat at all. But it is fun to drive and we've always liked the Crossfires. We're excited to have it and now, all I have to do is learn how to drive it!!!

Update

Thanks for everyone's concern about Foggy. This is him this past Saturday as we were on the way to the vet. They pulled out his drainage tubes and cleaned him up. He still has his 10 stitches, they will come out on Saturday. He's been having to wear the cone because he keeps trying to lick at the stitches. He's been a good patient, but I think he's getting anxious to get back out in the yard.

As for the two legged member's of the family, we're doing good. I've got the house decorated for Christmas. I love putting the decorations out. I wish I had some nicer decorations and ornaments, but in the end, I'm just too cheap to splurge! We went to Rob and Carla's on Saturday and we played their new Wii. I had a sore right arm on Sunday and my back was a bit tight. Sad, I know. But the Wii was a lot of fun and we were pretty funny playing it. The tennis is my favorite. I have a habit of moving and lunging for the ball, like I'm actually physically playing.

Well, I don't have much to blog about, I guess that's a good thing considering the contents of my most recent posts.

Poor Foggy!

There was some drama on Monday. Mike got home from work and Foggy was not in the yard. He had gotten out of the fence somehow. I got off work (we had a meeting) and headed home at 8pm. I called Mike and he said he had 'terrible news'. He said that Foggy was gone and he'd been looking everywhere for him for 2 hours with no luck. I held it together for a bit but then I crumpled. Just ask Susan...I called her hysterical. Anyway, I got home and still no Foggy. We were making signs to put out in the neigborhood. We'd already discussed the fact that Foggy was probably gone for good. Mike had left all the outside lights on and the garage open in case he came home. Mike went out to the garage to get something to hang the signs with and there Foggy was, in the garage!!! I hadn't been home more than 15 minutes and he showed up.

He'd been in a fight. He had a pretty nice gash in his side and he was feeling pathetic. Mike carried him downstairs and we warmed him by the fire. We cleaned his wound and wrapped him up snuggly. He didn't move a muscle all night. Mike took him to the vet this morning. They put him under and drained the wound. He's going to make it. We feel very fortunate that he came back and he's alive. We have no idea how or why he got out.

Here's poor pathetic Foggy after we found him:

Complete and Total Domination!

I know I've been blogging a lot lately. However, I could not pass up the opportunity to brag on myself and diss on Mike. See above - I killed him when we went shooting on Saturday. Not only did I beat him (45 to 29), but I beat him with his own gun!!! I used his 12 gauge instead of my 28 gauge. I think I'm going to buy a 12 gauge for myself.

I really think I could have had an even better score. I look to shoot over 50% for the first time the next time we go!!! That is if Mike isn't too embarrassed to go shooting with me again.

Near Death Experience

This morning I took the dogs for a walk. I decided to go a different way than usual. I guess this is really where the trouble started. I should have just stuck to the usual path. Anyway, we turned down this cul-da-sac that runs pretty close to our house. We were about half way down the road when this dog comes running out from his open garage and I can tell this is not going to be good. More preciously, my first thought was "Oh, S*%t!!" Foggy doesn't like other dogs so he was going crazy and Yana was oblivious. We've always wondered what Foggy would do when actually confronted with a real fight. Well, I was about to find out. Let it be known, that we were not in crazed dogs yard and were attacked in the yard across the street.

I, of course, didn't respond correctly. I should have jumped in front of the crazed dog and kicked the crap out of it. But my initial response, other than of course screaming at the top of my lungs like a lunatic, was to try and reel Foggy in on his retractable leash. Well, crazed dog went after sweet, innocent, bewildered Yana. After taking two bites at her rump, Foggy put him in his place. Foggy went after crazed dog and he backed off. By this point, I realized that I may have to kick some dog ass. Luckily crazed dog seemed to be scared of Foggy.

Crazed dog just stood at a bit of a distance and snarled at us while I tried to get Foggy untangled from his leash. Then I proceeded to yell at crazed dog "Where the hell is your owner!!" I waited and no one came running out of the house to get crazed dog or to apologize profusely. So, I started to walk away. Well, I wanted to walk away but my legs were literally shaking like a leaf. Once I got it together we walked away. That's when I realized that Yana's rump had been bitten and she was bleeding. Mind you it was a small puncture wound, but that's when I lost it. I started crying and was super pissed. I was marching home and was going to get in my car and come back and kick some dog owner ass. Then, my knight in shining armor rode up on a white horse (or maybe it was a white Tahoe). Mike had heard the commotion because he was out in the yard blowing leaves. I was really really glad to see him. He went to crazed dogs house but no one was home!!! NO ONE WAS HOME!!! They left crazed dog on the loose while they're gone for the weekend.

This same crazed dog came up to our fence one weekend. This is the exact reason that I wanted an actual fence and not an electric fence like the architectural committe wanted. An electric fence may keep my dogs in but it doesn't keep others out. That would have been really bad if we wouldn't have had a fence.

Anyway, we got home and Yana and I cuddled and I had a good cry over the "what if" scenarios that kept running through my mind. It's not over, we will be having a face to face conversation with crazed dog's owner. We went back later to get a picture of crazed dog outside of his yard.

Thanksgiving

Disclaimer: I realize that this picture is blurry, but it's the only one I've got!

OK, now, let's proceed. Mike and I made the annual trek to Taylorsville for Thanksgiving. It was the usual crowd: Me and Mike, his sister Sharon and her husband Keith and their kids Brandon and Ashleigh. Then there's his mom and dad. Not pictured is Jonie, Brandon's girlfriend. She's the person we can thank for the blurry picture. She's also the one we can thank for the comic relief at lunch. She dumped an entire bowl of corn on her plate and didn't get hardly a thing on herself. Now that's talent!! Also not pictured is Ashleigh's fictitious boyfriend. She supposedly has a boyfriend and they've supposedly been dating for quite a while now but Mike and I have never met him. So, we've jumped to the logical conclusion that he is not real!

Mike's mom always makes almost all of the food and she always goes overboard. But man is it good!!!! I was so disgustingly full at the end of the meal. I thought no way can I eat another bite for the rest of the day. But of course, come about 6:30, I was eating left overs.

Mike and I have a lot to be thankful for this year:

1. Friends and Family
2. A new house

3. My new job (starting Dec 1st)

4. Each other (oh, isn't that sweet)

I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was as good as ours!!

Creosote is the Enemy

Never heard of creosote? Neither had I...until yesterday. Mike has a wood burning stove in the basement. It is his baby and he loves it. Mike's Mom said he has always had a love of the fire. So, we just started to burn it 24/7 on Sunday. It is supposed to help heat the house. Well, I was bringing some wood in from the stack in the backyard yesterday and I noticed a black substance on the chimney. Upon further inspection, there was a ton of this stuff weeping out of the mortar and running down the chimney. Come to find out, this is probably creosote. It is a by product of a wood burning fireplace or stove. However, this product should not be able to seep out of your chimney out onto your brick. It should be contained in the flue liner of the chimney.

Needless to say, we called the builder and of course he'd never heard of such a thing. He called the brick mason and of course there is no way under the sun that this could be happening. Mike's parents made an emergency visit to the house to check it out and they too had never seen such a thing before. Great! Well, this must be fixed. The builder is to come by and look at it today. In the meantime, there will be no more using of Mike's beloved wood stove until this issue is resolved.

This is what our chimney looks like:

Baby Shower #2

Today we had a baby shower for my sister Susan. She is due in January. She is expecting a baby girl, Samantha. Her best friend since forever, Lezlie, hosted the shower. She, Kathy, and I planned the shower. We played some shower games (one went well, the other, not so well) and had some good food. I thought her cake was adorable. It looked like her invitation. She got lots of good gifts that should be put to good use soon. Kathy brought Virginia, her two month old baby girl, and she was a perfect angel. It was fun and that should be the last baby shower for a long time!!

Three hot mamas!!! Or, two hot mamas and one hot aunt!! BTW, Kathy looks great so soon after having Virginia.

Diaper cake and real cake - both adorable!!!

Susan and her BFF, Lezlie.

The real star of the shower, Virginia!! She's tired after all that entertaining!!

Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures

I wish I had my camera now to show you what I am wearing to work today. First of all, I'm not really sure if I match. I'm wearing a sweater and skirt combo for the first time today. The sweater I usually wear with this skirt has now been switched to being worn with a pair of pants. So, I'm trying this one out with this skirt, but I'm not so sure that it actually matches. Secondly, I'm wearing some God-awful pantyhose. I thought my good pair had a run in them, and sure enough, they did. So, I had to break out a pair of hose that I don't even remember buying. And if I bought them on purpose, what was I thinking!! They have a design on them. Yes, that's right, a design. There is some raised stitching in a crisscross pattern, so I have lots of little squares on my hose. But heck, it was either that or no hose at all.

Then, Mike pulled the Tahoe out of the garage yesterday and didn't pull it back in (thanks bunches!). So, this morning there was frost on the windshield and I just couldn't wait for it to defrost. So, I'm driving through the neighborhood with my head sticking out of the window, like a dog, so I can see where I'm going. Luckily, just as my nose was about to freeze off, a nice spot started to defrost right above the steering wheel. So, I closed the window and hunkered down low to see. Don't judge...you've all done it!!!

This is an Outrage!!

No sooner did I blog about my love for the best new show on TV (My Own Worst Enemy) do I read on CNN today that the show is likely to get the ax mid season!!! This is completely insane!!! I have already emailed NBC and demanded that the show be saved. I would suggest that we all start an email campaign to voice our support for this obviously under appreciated show. Are you with me people?!?!?!? I know that given my vast reading audience, we can get our goal accomplished!!!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to pick up the pieces of my broken heart.

It's Not Just Because...

It's not just because I have had a life long crush on him. It really is an awesome show. My Own Worst Enemy is fan-flipping-tastic!! It stars the ever handsome and talented Christian Slater. Ah, Christian Slater. We go way back. It all started with Gleaming the Cube. A movie that is so well respected and such a masterful piece of work, that even Netflix doesn't offer it (I checked). He was such a debonair and heroic skateboarder back then!!

But I digress. You can imagine my excitement when I discovered that he would be on network TV (NBC, Mondays at 10pm). I can now visit with my favorite hottie weekly! This show is addictive. That says a lot coming from me because I am not one to get easily addicted to any TV show, just ask Mike!! (typed with much sarcasm). My dang DVR has not been cooperating lately and it has not taped the last two episodes. Thank goodness for the internet age. I've been able to catch the episodes I've missed on the internet. I just started watching the latest one on the web this morning at work (sshh!!). My excitement over the latest turn of events on the show led me to share my latest addiction with my reading audience.

Since I haven't been able to watch the two latest shows on the TV, I've lost my viewing partner. Mike refuses to watch TV shows on the internet...he's not as technologically savvy as me! So, please, someone help me out here. If you haven't been watching, please watch the episodes online. We're only up to #4. It is a continuing story, so you must watch all 4. Believe me, you will not be disappointed!!!

A Fate Worse Than Death

This morning was utter chaos!! First, I put my sweater on this morning and it had a huge hole on the shoulder. Weird! I was running late and had to get gas, of course. Then, 77 south was backed up at Exit 36 and it was already 6:50. I have to be at work by 7am. Oh well, no one's there by 7am anyway, no one will know if I'm late. Then, the hammer drops...Mike calls and I have both sets of car keys to the Lexus. Now, to the uninformed reader, one may think this is solely my fault. While yes, I do take partial blame, Mike needs to shoulder some of the blame too. The Lexus has one of those smart keys. You don't have to get it out of your purse, it senses the key and unlocks the door and you can start the motor without inserting the key. Well, the battery in Mike's remote is dead...sorry, has been dead for at least a month. Therefore, we have to switch keys out whenever we need to drive the Lexus. Well, I drove it yesterday and forgot to put his keys back. So, I say it's partly his fault.

So, at 6:50, I have to turn around and head back to Troutman. Here's where the 'Fate Worse Than Death' part comes in...I had to drive 77S with all the other mindless losers trying to get to work by 8am. It was bumper to bumper traffic from Exit 28 all the way to work (Exit 10). I seriously contemplated ramming my car into the truck in front of me and ending it all. I would be even less stable if I had to do that everyday. You can't pick a fast lane. You get in the left lane, the right lane is faster and visa versa. It must be the devil at work!!! Now, lucky me, since I got here late, I have to stay until 5pm and experience torture even Jack Bauer couldn't endure twice in one day!!!!

Election Day

Today's the big day. Today we find out who our next president will be. As Dan Ramirez (Charlotte City Council Member) told me at the Edifice Fall Festival, "Vote early and vote often!" If you're unsure of who to vote for, I have a few suggestions:

Packing Day!

Just taking a break from packing. Moving is the pits...but finally moving into my new house is great! I better not goof off too much, I've got to turn in a timesheet to my 'boss'!!

Edifice Fall Festival

Last Saturday was our annual Fall Festival at work. It is held in our parking lot. This year's festival was much more enjoyable than last year's. For starters, I'd only been working here for about a month last year and really didn't know anyone that well. This year we had a Ferris Wheel (Eric, the owner was giddy about that). I'm not a fan of the Ferris Wheel in general, much less one that is toted from place to place on the back of a truck. However, Mike wore me down and we rode it and I lived to blog about it. It did have a nice view of uptown at night.

All the employees and many owners and subs came along with their kids. The kids had a bouncy slide thing and there was face and pumpkin painting. There were two video game consoles set up. The kids (and many uncoordinated adults) played Guitar Hero and the Wii Sports games. There was a cake walk for prizes and a best beard contest. The fellas at the office grew beards for about a month in preparation. There were clowns, magicians, and a bluegrass band. It had all the Fall Festival 'musts'. This is a picture of my co-worker, Candace, and her adorable little boy, Lance:

And finally, there, of course, was food. Eric and a co-worker stay the night in Eric's RV in the parking lot tending to two whole pigs on the BBQ. There was BBQ, thanks to the two pigs, chicken and all the fixings. Mike loves the grilled corn-on-the-cob...yuck!! There were lots of hungry guests. This is all that was left of the pigs...warning...not for the vegetarian reader...

Edifice Tribe "Run for the Hills"

Eric, the owner of Edifice, put together a motorcycle ride that included any employee that wanted to go and a few subcontractors. We left from work on Friday morning and rode to Hiawassee, GA. We stayed two nights in Hiawassee and came home on Sunday. Friday was pretty much spent getting to GA. Saturday we rode all around the area and enjoyed the scenery and the views!!

We went to the famous 'Dragon's Tail' at Deal's Gap. It's NC/TN best known motorcycle road. It claims to have 318 curves in 11 miles. We rode it and I'm not sure I counted 318 curves?? But now we can all say we've 'ridden the dragon!'

We also stopped at NC's last virgin forest. There were some HUGE poplar trees. The only thing was we had to walk a LONG ways to get to these trees!! Let's just say, once you've seen one big tree, you've seen them all...maybe except for the Redwoods, which I have yet to see.

On Friday, after we arrived in Hiawassee, Mike and I took a little side trip before dinner. We rode to Helen, GA. It was about 30 minutes away. I read a story in the Observer a few years ago about Helen, GA and I've always remembered it and wanted to go. So, this was my chance. It is basically a tourist trap, but the town looks like an Alpine Village.

Edifice built a church about 2 years ago in Hiawassee so we attended services on Sunday morning before we headed for home.

There were a few 'incidents' along the way, we were only the cause of one. The shield for my helmet blew off on Hwy 74 going towards Hendersonville. Mike and I turned around and we saw it on the road. However, before we were able to get turned back around to get it, a big 18-wheeler came along and needless to say, the shield was no more. No biggie, I bought another helmet in Hendersonville (I needed a new one anyway!). One guy dropped his bike and then tried to ride off with another group of riders (we got him back though). Then on Saturday one of our group set the fire alarm off at the hotel. He burnt his toast, but he likes it burnt!!

I need to take a brief moment to say just how generous Eric is. When he said he wanted to get a bike ride together, I thought, OK, this has been a slow vacation year, Mike and I can afford to go. Well, I underestimated Eric. He paid for EVERYTHING but the gas!! How fantastic was that!! I really do work for a great company with a great owner. He really does try to take care of his employees and is very generous with his money!!

Here are a few more scenic pics:

Cabinets are Here!!

Well, our cabinets were installed about a week ago. I was very happy with how they turned out. The granite should be installed this week. Loser Builder says that he hopes to be done by next Friday, the 17th. I wouldn't bet on it, but we are getting very close. He better be done by the end of the month because I'll be homeless then. But I can't worry about that now...I'm sure our friends Rob and Carla will let us sleep on their couch for a while :)

The green cabinet is in the guest bathroom and the other cabinet is in the master bathroom. There are two of the same cabinets in the master bathroom, one for me and one for Mike.

These are the kitchen cabinets. I must say that the dining room paint looks really neon green in the kitchen cabinets picture number two. Hmm, it doesn't look that green in person. Anyway, the cabinet maker said we shouldn't put them in so early. He said we needed to wait until the floor was sanded and finished. Of course, Loser Builder didn't agree so they were put in before the floors were finished. Well, after a week of being in the house, the corners of the island have been scuffed and scratched so bad that they are going to have to be repaired. I think someone draped an electrical cord around the island. All this damage and the floors haven't even been finished yet. I'm trying to not worry too much about it. I've told Loser Builder that his loser subs have already damaged my pretty cabinets. So, we'll see how much damage there is when it's all said and done.

New Fall TV Schedule

Well, some new shows and some returning shows have premiered in the recent weeks. Since I am a fairly big TV watcher, I thought I give you my opinion on the shows I'm watching.

Fringe
This is a new show on Fox from the creators of Lost. I am really loving this show. The storyline is a continuing mystery with a different mini mystery to solve each week. The characters are enjoyable and easily likable. It only makes since that I'd like this show since I love Lost. My only complaint so far is that the over-riding mystery of the show is still a little vague and is very slow to be explained.

The Mentalist
I have only watched one episode and I'd say it was only so-so. I really like Simon Baker's character, but I really don't like the female lead detective. She was on the first season of Prison Break, she was a lawyer. Anyway, her voice is too whiny and she seems to be too frail to be a tough, hard core detective. So, she isn't very believable. The Mentalist's 'talents' seems to be a bit lame right now too. He is supposed to be very observant and can thus pass as a psychic, but so far, that hasn't been too convincing. I taped last night's episode, so I'll give it another shot.

Prison Break
I am no longer a die hard fan. Last season was the beginning of the end. I really thought the storyline was lame and the way they broke out of prison #2 was just too corny. The start of this season put the nail in the coffin. When Scofield had all the tattoos on his chest and arms removed in one sitting without anesthesia, that was the end for me. Come on, how stupid can you get?!?!? The whole first episode was just dumb in my opinion, not to mention that I thought the acting was just terrible. I'm really tired of the 'whisper talking' that Scofield does. So, although Mike still watches, I no longer pay it any attention.

Finally, my tried and true reality shows are back, The Amazing Race and Survivor. Although I swore off 24 toward the end of last season (I didn't even watch the last couple of episodes), I may have to give it another shot. The commercials look intriguing and the storyline appears to be very different from the 24 standard. Jack doesn't appear to be running around L.A. in record time saving America from impending doom.

Breast Cancer Awareness Walk

Saturday was the three mile walk. Edifice, my employer, was a sponsor of the walk and we also formed a team to raise money and awareness. Thanks to all my friends and family that were kind enough to donate to the cause. There were a few employees from work that made it to the walk on Saturday. I took my dog, Yana. I know, many of you who know Yana may be wondering why I took her and not Foggy. Well, it's simple, Foggy would have tried to kill any other four legged creature he came across. Yana loves attention and I figured with all the other people that she'd be able to make it 3 miles. Plus, it was overcast and a little rainy that morning. Well, she did beautifully, at first. There were a lot of pink balloons around and she desperately wanted a balloon. We started the walk and she immediately had to 'lighten her load', if you get my drift. Luckily, I had thought ahead and brought a plastic bag to scoop the poop. But then I had to carry said poop for about a mile and a half. Yana continued to be a trooper. At about the two mile mark she started to fade. I stopped and let my group go on so that Yana could have a little break and I gave her some much appreciated water. The next half mile she was slow but we were making progress. Then, with about a half mile left, she just refused to walk. We were on the sidewalk out of peoples way at least. So, I'd go squat beside her and tell her how great she was doing and we'd start walking again. She'd walk for a few more blocks and then stop again and the whole cycle would repeat. She did get a lot of encouragement from passing walkers (that wasn't embarrassing!)! Then we came upon a big hill and Yana does not like hills. So, about half way up she stopped and there was no restarting her this time. So, yes, I had to carry my fifty pound dog up the hill (again, not embarrassing at all)! But after that I could see the end and she must have sensed it too because she didn't stop again and we made it, thank goodness we made it!!!!! I was super proud of her. Here she is at the end, recuperating...


On a more serious note, it was inspiring to see all the many breast cancer survivors and all the people that came out to support them. I saw a former client of mine, and breast cancer survivor, as well. It was great to see her again. Also, Rose, our office manager, walked with her sister, who is a two time survivor. Those two had the best time together and boy do they look alike.

It was a fun time and Yana has gotten her walking in for the rest of the year!!

Baby Pictures!!

What a cutie!!!! My sister Susan and I met our niece Virginia for the first time on Monday night. She is just too adorable for words!! I mean, look at that face!! She's so tiny, you just want to snuggle her close to you.

As soon as she was born she was taken to the nursery to receive oxygen. She was having some trouble breathing. While Susan and I were visiting the new parents, new mom Kathy was able to hold her precious new baby for the first time in the nursery. It was a very sweet moment and I feel honored that we were able to be there.

Only parents and grandparents are allowed in the nursery so Susan and I were bummed! We were really wanting to hold the little cutie!! Lucky for us, soon after Kathy was able to hold her, she was able to come off the oxygen and was brought to the room for the first time. Then new dad Reiggin was able to hold her for the first time also. The family will be going home today to start their new lives together...

First family photo!

Mom and Virginia...how sweet!!!

Proud new aunts...Susan and Lisa (I look like a natural, I know)!

Kathy is such a loving and forgiving person, Virginia is lucky to have her as her mother! Kathy may miss sleeping in but I know she wouldn't trade being a mother for anything in the world.

Not much longer and sister #2 (Susan) will be a new Mom too...only 3 1/2 more months and there will be more newborn pictures to post!! Can't wait!!

Baby Virginia has arrived!!!

Just a quick post to announce that at 5:50am this morning, I became an aunt for the first time!!! My sister Kathy had her first baby, Virginia Lee Hilderbrand. She weighted 6lbs. and 9oz. Kathy started having contractions yesterday around 3 pm. She went to the hospital at about 5:30pm and didn't have Virginia until this morning. So, she is very tired after a long labor. I will go visit this evening after work. I will post pictures tomorrow!!

CPE at the Grove Park Inn

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday I had CPE at The Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC. I had never been there before and it is very nice. However, I did not get to enjoy all that the Grove Park has to offer. I couldn't afford any of the luxurious spa treatments offered. I couldn't even afford to use the pool!

The CPE classes were painfully boring, as always. There were two former client's of mine there, so I had a few people to buddy up to.

One of my former clients, Chris Hyder, wanted to go to dinner on Thursday night. I was cool with that. I thought maybe we'd splurge on dinner at the Inn or eat at a nice restaurant in town. But no, Chris wanted to get pizza. I eat pizza once a week at home, so that would not have been my first choice. But, fine. So we ate pizza and Chris had two beers. Well, Chris drove and he couldn't find his way back to the Inn. He, for whatever reason, didn't go back the way he came. He finally stopped at a convenience store to ask directions and freaked out because a cop was in there and he'd had two whole beers!! He ended up having to talk to the cop to get directions. We finally get headed in the right direction and make it back to the hotel. Then, brilliant Chris, decides that he needs to find the closest possible parking spot. This entails driving the wrong way up a one lane bridge. And of course, there are no parking spots any closer. So, we drove around the parking lot for an additional 5 minutes. I was so irritated by then. Luckily I was able to avoid Chris for the entire day on Friday!! Now, it's back to work today.