Cuties Alert

Cuties Alert

Weightloss Update

No loss and no gain. And I'm okay with that. I know that it comes with the territory and it will be okay. I'll be starting exercising this week once I start my new job on Wednesday.

Another weekend

And I only have 2 more days at my yucky job...unfortunately I'm on call all weekend. Keep your fingers crossed that the phone doesn't ring.
Anyone have any big plans out there? I'll be going to Weight Watchers and then visiting a family for one last visit. Tomorrow is NFL. I'm up against Scott in fantasy football...should be an interesting match-up.

My Malibu is Officially History

Finally....almost 10 months after my accident...I got a check for my car...after my lienholder was paid off...so the check isn't big...but my Malibu situation is now officially over and done with. No more car payments for that car. Woohoo!

Writings

I seem to be at a huge roadblock in my writings. I haven't been able to focus on it and then when I do make an attempt, it's crap. This, of course, does not help with my dealing of motivation to actually attempt to get published and preparing for rejections. I know that I wouldn't be that lucky to have something get published its first go around. I've had the perfect opportunity to get some writing done this summer when I've been unemployed and just never took advantage of it. I think now I'm just so frustrated with a lot of things, even though a lot of it is turning around, that I just don't have the mojo to get things accomplished. Depression? I'm not there even though tis' the season. I'm sure that I'll get something accomplished sooner than later...just wish it was already done...now where's that magic wand?

Frustrations abound

Am I really doing something wrong here? Did I do something wrong in moving to NC? It seems that ever since I moved out of NY, my life has been chaotic. Maybe karma is finally biting my ass for what I did...and I accept that but damn...enough is enough. If I haven't done anything, why must I get the blunt of everything? I accept and I get screamed at. Understand that I'm going through a lot right now and I'm trying...just like you. Maybe in a couple of weeks, I'll be better. But damn....stop it already.

Happy Dance

I finished this latch hook while watching football yesterday. It is for sale. Please click on the link for my blog on the side bar if you're interested. Thanks.

Road Trip anyone?

The success continues...

I had another successful weigh-in this morning. Down 2.6 for a total of 6.8 for my first 2 weeks back at Weight Watchers.
Hopefully, I'll be finishing a latch hook project this weekend. I'll be posting it on my selling blog once it is finished. So if you like Peanuts and Winter, think about it.....

Things are looking up...finally

First, I have a new job. I had an interview with someone that I used to work with when I had that temp job and she offered me a position...I start the 15th. It felt so good to hand in my resignation yesterday.
Second, hopefully, my car/insurance situation-the one that I was in the accident in, is being taken care of. The accident was in January...and it's NOW being finalized.

Cutie Alert

Weight Loss Update

For the first week back to Weight Watchers........drum roll.....I've lost 4.2 pounds. Woohoo for me!

Some good looking out

I received a phone call from one of my friends who finally has a job and stated that her supervisor (who I personally know from temporarily working at the same agency) is interested in at least interviewing me for a position that will eventually be going County (government job!). Woohoo! So now I have to send off my resume and fill out a county application. I still haven't heard back from the other agency that I interviewed with this week-should hear next week.
At least things are starting to look better.

Castle anyone?

Update

First, thank you to all who are supporting me with the WW adventure. So far, I think I'm doing okay. We'll find out on Saturday.
I had a job interview yesterday for a company that doesn't do anything like I do now. I'm interested and I should find out by the end of next week if I go onto a second interview.
So until then, I continue with a job I'm really disliking.

Cutie Alert

Einstein Quote

"No problem can be solved from the same consciousness that created it."

And so another journey has begun

I've rejoined Weight Watchers this morning and have had the highest recording of my weight. I knew it was bad. I just didn't realize it was THAT bad. So I have a lot of work ahead of me but I know that I can get it done...just really need to crack down on myself and do what I need to do.

Shocked

I'm in shock from a conversation that I had with one of my best friends last night. I hadn't heard from this friend in about a year and they informed me that they are now a parent! This was a friend, like me, who never really wanted a family and certainly not a year ago when I last spoke with them. So I'm a little hurt that they did not let me know this or even respond with a hi or happy birthday when I attempted to contact them. I certainly wish them the best of luck.

Cool picture

Where I've been

I had the pleasure of dogsitting for my friend Julie this past weekend as she went to Florida to celebrate her birthday. Lucy was absolutely no problem. I managed to get some stitching and latch hooking done while I watched cable (something that I don't have at home).

Cutie Alert

In Memory of 9/11

Where can you find me?

Woohoo! NFL season has begun....my Sundays watching football are back! So, yea, you can find me on my couch, most likely with stitching in hand, watching football this Sunday and for the rest of the Sundays through next year.

Tropical Storm Hanna

Well, this is my first official tropical storm/hurricane that I've experienced in my 32 years of life. My cousin yelled at me last night for not being prepared with the alcohol...I'm a newbie...what does she expect? :) So despite the damn moron who called my phone twice and then hung up when I told them to stop calling me without even an apology at 3am and the cats annoying the hell out of me....I could have slept through the storm. Just lots of wind which has died down and we're just getting lots and lots of rain right now. So nothing major.

Cutie Alert (For Cathy)

Cutie Alert (future guide dog)

Labor Day 2008

I headed up to my parents in Kentucky to see them and their new house. I had another surprise waiting me when I got there.....my new "sister." Her name is Teddy and she's about 4 years old. My dad has been wanting a dog since forever. He always wanted my brother and I to have that experience. My mom basically had been putting her foot down against it for 30+ years. So my dad finally took it upon himself to go to the local animal shelter and adopt her. She's so laid back. She hasn't barked once. She loves having her belly rubbed. She has a few quirks like she doesn't like toys?!?!?!?
As for my parents' house, it's nice...certainly not my childhood home but it is nice. But they live sooooo far out into the country, I was shocked. As were they when they bought the place.
Hope everyone else has had a nice Labor Day weekend here in the States.

Cutie Alert

What's been going on?

I would like to say that I'm back in the routine of working but I'm not. Almost every day reinforces why I never wanted to go back to direct care. For example, I didn't get home until 6:30 last night. Now, for those of you out there that know me personally, you know that isn't good for me. I'm trying to hang on though.
Joey has been dealing with some internal issues and it's taking a toll. I'm trying to be there the best that I can for him but it's hard since I'm not happy myself. But he has decided to try to quit smoking. Woohoo! I know how hard it is as I've done it before myself. He has been able to do it in the past so I know that he can do it again. Just need to stock the house up with food! :)
Tiger is doing fantastic along with his mom and sis.
I did some needlepoint last night on a project for my aunt that I've been working on for 5+ years...oops. No pictures as it's a stamped needlepoint.
Finally saw The Dark Knight-opinion is on my movie blog-link is in the sidebar.
Not much else has been going on...still trying to motivate myself to lose weight. I want to start again with Weight Watchers but I need the money and time to go to meetings.

Cutie Alert

Cutie Alert

Double Cutie Alert

Just a cool pic

Einstein Quote

"No problem can be solved from the same consciousness that created it."

Pictures of the Secret Stitching

I heard that Joke received my return gift from the Crazy Exchange. I'm glad that she likes it.

Garfield by Jim Davis

Cutie Alert

It's been a good day

First and foremost, Tiger has his sutures out and no longer has to wear that collar. He's right now giving himself a bath that he probably has been wanting to do for the last couple of weeks. Suzie and Boots are slowly becoming used to having him around again.
Second of all, I started my new job today. It was a typical first day, reading policy and procedure manuals. It was nice to talk to some people about being in the same situation as me (working in a step-down position) but I'm hopeful that it will all work out in the end.
All in all, a pretty good day....topped off with a slice of cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory!

Concert

The concert was good last night. I'm still trying to recover-throat is a little sore. Collective Soul opened up the night and had a decent set-played for an hour and played their bigger hits. They do have a new album. Blues Traveler was next and was better than Collective Soul even though I like Collective Soul better. Blues also played for an hour and have a new album coming out. And then...it was Live. It wasn't as good as on my birthday but I did sing every song and had a good time doing it. This was the closest that I've sat seeing them. Maybe one of these tours it will be front row. In purchasing a t-shirt, I noticed that they have on one of their shirts, the name of where they played last night, misspelled. It amused me and Joey a lot. So now I'm off to get my throat back to normal and keep rotating their songs from last night through my head.

Cutie Alert (For Cathy)

As promised...Happy Dance

Here's the bookmark I finished yesterday for my friend Jeff.

Weekend/Car

Well, of course, they couldn't find anything wrong with my car...not a pleasant feeling. Lil Lady seems to be running okay-not great but certainly driveable.
Yesterday, my last day of unemployment, I managed to complete a bookmark for a friend from high school. I'll post a picture later (still need to take one). Today, Joey and I are off to see Live, Collective Soul and Blues Traveler. I'm pretty excited. This will probably be about the 7th time I've seen Live and I've always wanted to see Collective Soul. Blues Traveler should be good but I don't NEED to see them.
Tomorrow night is fantasy football draft time....watch out my next victim and you know who you are! :)

If it's not one thing, it's another

Well, as I was out doing errands this morning, my wonderful car decided to die...at a stop light...with two fire trucks behind me. Hopefully, the place where I took it to (it started back up and Joey was able to bring me to the place) will find nothing majorally wrong with it or I'm really screwed.

Cutie Alert

Job Update

I have a job! I start on Monday. It's not QUITE what I want to do but they are offering me more than my minimum requirement and offering great benefits with room to grow so......I will continue to look for state and county positions but I need a job.
On another little update, I've finished a secret stitching and will be sending it out today. Once the person receives it, I'll post a picture.

Einstein Quote

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Crazy Exchange

Here's my first crazy exchange gift that I've received. It's done through a group on Yahoo. I love it!

Happy Dance

Here's the completed square.

As promised

Here are the progress shots of a quilt square that I did for Love Quilts.

Updates

I'll be posting later on with some pictures of stitching that I've done.
Tiger is doing better every day, however yesterday he had a minor setback. Diarrhea. He seems to be okay this morning and anxious to get out of the bedroom. I can tell that he's feeling a lot better because he's becoming extremely feisty when it comes to taking his pills. Only another day of it.
I have a job offer from the interview I had on Thursday. I'm probably going to take it but want to see what the agency that I met with on Friday is going to offer, if anything. I should know by Wednesday.
This upcoming week/weekend should be interesting. The agency that I worked for filed for bankruptcy and there is a meeting of the creditors on Friday. Should be nice and tension filled as it's been reported that several things were stolen by former coworkers and are refusing to give it back. Hope they enjoy jail.
Then, Joey and I are seeing my favorite band, Live, on Saturday. Live is playing with Blues Traveler and Collective Soul. Should be a good concert.
And then finally, I get to bring Tiger back to the vet to get his stitches out. Woohoo!

SBQ

This week's SBQ was suggested by Outi
and is:

What do you do to your thread clippings? Do you just scrap them or do
you use them in something else?

-If it's only a tiny piece, I throw them out. If I can use it, I'll save it for another project

Updates

Tiger came home yesterday afternoon. He isn't happy about wearing a collar but then none of us would be either. Me being the overly cautious when it comes to my cats, noticed some bumps around the sutures that weren't there last night so it was back to the vet this morning. Luckily, they said that it was normal and provided me with some more medication. My concern is now he hasn't eaten all day. I'm about to go in the bedroom and see if I can feed him-he didn't want anything before.
On the job front, I had a horrible interview this afternoon. It was with an agency that has only been around a year. The woman had my resume in front of her so she knew that I supervised the position that I was applying for. Even with that, she wanted to go over and over what the job entails. Uh....I know...I supervised this position...Hello? And then at the very end, she told me that the position was part-time thanks to NC changing their damn minds about services ONCE again. Luckily, I have an interview scheduled for tomorrow and another one scheduled for Friday. So hopefully, something will work out.
Other than that, everything is status quo. Joey continues to go to school and is doing very well. Suzie and Boots are their usual crazy selves. My parents move to Kentucky last week was successful.

I want off of this ride

After a week of Tiger doing fantastic, yesterday was not a good day. I took him to the vet this morning after about 18 hours of him not eating, going to the bathroom, etc. I told the vet my situation and how I could not afford to pay for surgery, etc. He agreed to a payment plan so I can afford to pay for Tiger to have his penis removed. Yes, it sounds aggressive and it is. But this should limit the amount of blockages that he'll have the rest of his life. The vet did not want to put him down as he's only 4 years old. So we will see what happens. Hopefully everything will work out and this rollercoaster will stop.

Happy Dance

Here's the completed bookmark.

Started a new project

This is for a bookmark exchange for a Yahoo group that I belong to.

Stitching Progress

Here are the latest 2 shots from the stitching that I did last weekend.

Back to being unemployed

Sigh...today was my last day at the temp job. I haven't been able to discuss the job offer with the people that offered me the job and I haven't gotten anything else. Soooooooo frustrating.

Anybody wanna go diving?

Ansel Adams

Cutie Alert

Confusion

Well, I'm basically sitting here with a dilemma on my mind. I have a job offer but it's for a job that I don't want. I told them that I would let them know tomorrow what I had decided. I'm still waiting to see about the other agency that I interviewed with last week. I was told that the position that I wanted was being restructed or something. I haven't gotten a confirmation about salary yet for a position with that agency. I know that they are interested in me. But it's not for something that I really want to do. Part of me is like take the offered job. But I don't want to take it to only turn around and leave. It's not fair to the agency or the families that I would begin working with. Part of me wouldn't mind a couple days off-especially since it's supposed to hit 100+ next week. Decisions, decisions. Any opinions are welcomed.

Update

Thank God that I didn't have to put Tiger down yesterday. At around 5am, he peed and started eating. Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep Friday night. Thank you Dawn and Tammy for your kind words and your hugs. Right now, he's doing a lot better and chasing his sister and mom around.
Yesterday, my brother came to look at my car. My car has been acting up and has a loud noise and vibration going on. He says that my car won't fall apart on me on the highway so I'm okay. He did change the brake pads and is willing to come over again to fix something else if the mechanic I confer with agrees. It's nice to know that I have his support when I need it.

Devastation

That's how I feel...devastated. I'm probably going to have to put Tiger down today as I cannot afford to pay for what he needs. He again hasn't been able to use the bathroom, eat, etc. I don't know what else to do. I cannot stand to see him struggle for 10-15 in the litter box trying to go to the bathroom.
And to make matters worse, there is something very wrong with my car. I'm hoping that my brother can fix it when he comes to see me today.

Cutie Alert

Cutie Alert

Work Update

I do have a job offer. However it's for a job that I really don't want to do and I could find the same job much closer to home.
I was supposed to have an interview yesterday but I got very lost and no one could really provide me with directions. And, of course, the person that I was supposed to interview with never responded to my phone calls. I did however, receive a phone call from one of her colleagues this morning stating that the person that I was supposed to interview with was sick...so maybe fate played it's hand again.

Ansel Adams

Einstein Quote

"Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom."

Reflective

I've been more reflective lately. Why you might ask. Well just over a year ago, my heart was broken. Extremely broken. More than when my marriage fell apart. More than when I lost my first love. More than when my fiancee and I called it quits...over and over again. Just over a year ago, Scott and I broke up. My life was shattered and the only thing I could hold onto was work and my cats. I cried for 10 days straight. Just cried. Tried to figure out where the hell I went wrong. Did I push too hard to leave NYC? Did I try to keep him at home too much? Did I not give him enough Scott time? Scott has always said, and still does as we are still friends, that I didn't really do anything to push him away. He states that the love for me died. How does love die? About a month or so ago, he admitted something that I knew was the case over a year ago. It hurts to know that he finally realizes that something. Something that I had told him and asked for him to try to change so it would stop interfering with us. Something that if it was dealt with then, we might not be where we are now.
A lot has happened in the past year. I left the security of NYC and my union job with excellent benefits to come to NC where my life has been turned 180 degrees. I've almost lost one of my best friends through this process. I've gained a good friendship and relationship with Joey. I've broken a heart that never deserved to be broken. I've lost my job and a sense of security that I've had since I was 22. And I still continue to speak with Scott on a regular basis-odd I know. I still have my wonderful pain-in-the-butt cats.
I believe that everything happens for a reason. I'm happy that Scott is giddy in his new relationship-reminds me how we were 3 years ago. I'm happy that things have settled down for him. I know that he never meant to hurt me. Maybe that's why it has hurt all the more. I'm glad that I have Joey in my life. If I didn't move down here, I never would have met him. I'm happy to be out of NYC...even though I miss my wacky friends, the wonderful benefits, the stability, and the commute I had so I could read.
I'm hoping that this year's challenges will soon stop and I can move forward in a healthy way. And then I can be reflective of how much of a survivor I am dealing with a different type of crisis.

Progress

I finally took a picture of the cross-stitch project that I started about a year ago. Here's what it looked like after last Sunday. I worked on it yesterday afternoon/evening.

Perfect place for Cathy

Last night Joey and I went for some NC BBQ. We went to a little place where there were pigs EVERYWHERE. Little pigs, big pigs. A huge collection of pigs-ceremics and other materials. I immediately thought of Cathy when I saw all the pigs. So Cathy, if you EVER come down here (maybe after a funeral?), I'll have to take you there.

Cutie Alert

Updates

The interview went fine...however salary and benefits was not part of the discussion. The guy I interviewed with didn't have the information. I did get a call from them today wanting me back this afternoon but I was already on the way home so I called them back and asked for sometime next week. I also have another interview scheduled for next Wednesday.
Found out that I'm not getting paid next week like I had expected....not until the 8th sigh....the bills are just piling. Fortunately for me, my fantastic cousin loaned me some money earlier this week and the bank of my brother opened up. Thank God for family.
Now I'm home for a relaxing weekend-have to go to the library and return a book and I'm not sure what else I'll be doing. Joey has to work tomorrow.

Rollercoaster

Tiger decided that this morning would be a great time to go back and not feel well...have trouble going to the bathroom...not eat. I was able to help clear some stuff around his penis to hopefully clear it out so he could urinate...it worked and he has definitely been eating. I did call the vet this morning and picked up some meds on the way home. When I came home this afternoon, he was doing a lot better so hopefully, this morning was just a fluke.

Latest on Life

Well, the couch is in and the cats seem to enjoy it. I've spent my first night on it. Pretty comfortable to sleep on when necessary.
I have an interview Thursday morning. I hope that something works out for me. Would be nice if it was closer to home but...I have the interview.
The temp job is just that...a temp job. Not sure how much longer they really expect us to be needed but oh well...

Weekend update

No papasan chair. Jen and I couldn't get the door open...and because I had to wait all day for Jen, I didn't go with Joey. Which ended up being okay because Jeff couldn't make it (the bass player) so they didn't end up playing AND the puppies weren't there. Hopefully the couch will be a different situation today.

Einstein Quote

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage - to move in the opposite direction."

Sigh

Still no real job prospects...not even a phone call from Michael's or JoAnn Fabrics or the several other places I filled out an application for. I have a small chance of working with adults in Durham...not really my thing...but I need a job.
Yesterday all the files went bye-bye to the governing agency. They had sent over a crew of about 10 people-mostly kids doing community service and three nasty supervisors. They acted like they didn't want to be there...I didn't want them there either. We weren't ready for them to be there and certainly not for a crew of 10. So they basically stood around staring at us while we were finishing up. Very nerve-wracking to say the least.
Tiger is doing much better. He took his last dose of medication this morning. Thank you for your kind words and thoughts.
Not 100% sure what this weekend is going to bring me other than a free couch that Joey and his coworker Otis are picking up tomorrow and hopefully today a free papasan chair that my friend Jen and I are getting today (if we can get into the building). Joey is supposed to be getting together with his former bandmates to play and hang out. I'll probably go...at least to see and play with the puppies. I do want to get some stitching done. I did work on an older piece last week. I need to take a picture and post it.
Hope you all have a good weekend.

Einstein Quote

"Any fool can know. The point is to understand."

Cutie Alert

Ansel Adams

SBQ

This week's SBQ

How do you balance your stitching time with your other obligations
such as work, household chores, etc.?

-Balance? What does that mean? I have been doing a very poor job of that lately...to the point that I'm barely stitching once a week.

Update on Tiger

He seems to be doing better. Much more talkative and affectionate. It's obvious that he wants out of the bedroom. He still hasn't had a bowel movement that I can find or smell so it will be another call to the vet this morning to find out what I should do. He continues to eat, hasn't been vomiting, and is urinating so......

Morning laugh (At least I thought it was funny)

Thank you Jim Davis.

Einstein Quote

"A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it."

Just when things can't get worse

I came home yesterday to three piles of vomit and Tiger hiding away. I tried to give him a treat, as he loves to eat, and he refused. So I took him to the vet. 2.5 hours later and a bill that costs more than I can afford, he might have a bladder/kidney illness that is common in male cats and could even be fatal. Needless to say, I haven't really slept as Tiger was locked up in the bedroom so I could monitor his eating, drinking, and bathroom movements. I have a feeling I'll have to take him back in this morning as he still isn't urinating a lot and he hasn't had a bowel movement. Just wish I had the money. Anybody want to loan me some?