All Good Things Come to Those Who WAIT :)!!!!

March Entertainment

2011-04-20T20:50:00.007-05:00

SO, In February, my mom and my sister, Sh'Nell, came to visit me...We had a great weekend.. I felt bad that I had to work, but we went to the Temple on saturday and had a great time talking and just hanging out... and they came to primary with me to watch me at work.... and the same weekend a really good friend of mine moved down from Washington.... Sh'Nell has all the pictures from their trip.. I keep forgetting to ask her to send me some....

Then in March, my niece (Marcy) came to visit for her spring break from college.. Now, the day she got here, I got sick... before she arrived :) :) but she also came down sick.. so the first day she was here, I worked.... all day long... the second day she was here, Dawn, the kids, Marcy and I piled into Dawn's car and went to Galveston to play.... we toured the pirate ship :) :) we took pictures of a Carnival Cruise ship that was loading and getting ready to leave... one day I will be on there.... we took a tour boat of the Harbor... it was so much fun.. saw dolphins... My camera ability did not help me to get a picture of that... went to the beach, relaxed, watched Bailey play in the water....

this is where the water reached during Hurricane Ike

An old oil rig, hanging out in the bay

The Pirate ship

This is the cruise ship that one day I will be on....

So, the next day, day 3, we were both so sick that we didn't even go to church. I could not quit coughing, my head was killing me, sneezing.... you name it I had it... both of us took the day off and slept.... The next day... day 4, we took off for San Antonio... apparently I didn't take any pictures there..... so after hanging there for 5 hours, we headed to Corpus Christie.... stayed the night in a fine Best Western hotel.... day 5--- USS Lexington.... 4 hours ... 1 hour on the flight deck itself... it was so much fun....

this is a jet--don't know what-- on the flight deck.. thought it was cool...

this is a view of the Lexington from the beach

and this is the beach..... had to put my feet in the water.... and then we headed back towards Houston... so we decided to take the long way home and follow the water... For some reason I was talking to Dawn on the phone while I was driving and we hit this bridge.... and all of the sudden... there was NO LAND. ANYWHERE..... I just about lost it.. I could not see the end of the bridge and there was no land on either side.... or up in front... It was hilarious....

this is the bridge

and this is what it looked like on both sides..... and I am not lyin.... ask Marcy :) :)

Then, day 6... another do nothing day... went to Walgreens to buy drugs.... we were so sick....
Day 7.... hhhmmm... let me think....oh yeah..showed up to work for 10 minutes to meat the Big man from Bristow in the UK... he was really nice, then ran out the door, no looking back, drove by the Temple, took pictures, and walked around the grounds while having a good conversation... it was fun, then drove up to Hunstville and toured the Texas Department of Corrections Prison Museum... it was pretty cool... then drove through Hunstville and looked at the Prison I used to work at and a few others.... then home to sleep some more....
Day 8.... slept in, vegitated, then showed and went to have mani's and pedi's and then.... Mexican Food... Mamacitas..... It was sooooo good.... and then back to lay on the couch.....
Day 9, dropped Marcy at the airport.... went to work..... yes, that was a saturday.... Oh well had to catch up....

It was great.. I am glad that she spent her money to come and visit me for her vacation.....

Vacation In January

2011-04-20T20:23:00.005-05:00

December 30, 2010!! So, there I was, sitting at my desk, looking at the clock and counting down the minutes until I am off on a very very COLD adventure... high of like 9...... what was I thinking. But oh when I got there... let me tell you the fun that I had.

This is Max.... he is do dang cute and that thing he is FLYING around is bigger than he is... I am sitting there with Emma going "there is no way he is going to swing around that thing" He can't even get his arms up high enough to do that... Guess he showed me.. He is a star :) :)
This is Ally and she is so cute... and she is so great... look at that form on the beam.... I think I took like 900 pictures the hour and a half we were there... so dang cute....
Ok, so the below picture is how I had to get dressed to go outside.... and that was before I put on Emma's coat... Yes, I took one, but it was not the right kind and I would have frozen more than I did... so there was this DIRT hill up the road from the house that had a "skiff" of ICE and what did we do... we stinking went sledding... oh my gosh how I laughed and how my rear end was bruised when we were done....
This is the "This is the Place" monument with the mountains in the back ground.. I so love the mountains.. That is one thing that I miss tons... They are so beautiful and the view around Kyrk's house is so awesome.... I could wake up to that everyday.. Except... the cold....
this is the lights on Temple Square.... Ok, so smart me... didn't take a coat with me... But oh so Beautiful.. I had not been there forever, so when Dad suggested that we go.... it was awesome.. thanks dad...
This is Kyrk, helping out the kids with their snow cave.... it was huge. I had him lay down and extend his arms and legs all the way out and he still had room......
Kyrk cracks me up.. he says that we are going to dig out the trampoline... I thought he was kidding.... I should have known better... so the first day, he and I start shoveling.... next day... he and I start shoveling and his wife comes out and Kyrk disappears... he is over talking to the neighbor while the WOMEN are doing the manual labor :) :) if I stood in the middle, it was almost over my head...
This has got to be my favorite picture I took the whole week I was there... It was so much fun and I do have to admit that I was having a hard time coming back

But, I can not forget little Kami..... I laughed so hard watching her... she is so cute...

wow, how time flies......

2010-12-08T18:26:00.003-06:00

So, how do you catch up the past 7 months in just a few sentences.... post lots of pictures...
home for my birthday!!! June!!!

this one speaks for itself.....

this one speaks for itself also... My boss thinks that she is sooooo funny :)

There has been tons of things happen in the past 7 months... moving from Conroe, back down into Houston, closer to work. Moving to a new ward... Goods and bads of that one. Halloween with a bunch of crazy people at work.... Thanksgiving at my bosses house.. laughing until our guts hurt and we all thought that Michelle would laugh herself into labor...

All in all life is pretty good... Taking a few days off and just doing nothing.. but looking forward to going to Utah for New Years and hanging out with as much of my family that can be there....

oh yeah.... almost forgot.... got a new calling..... everyone sit down....

Primary Music Leader..... Reaffirms that the Lord DOES have a sense of humor :)

Me Cooking!!!

2010-04-12T18:22:00.003-05:00

I probably should not be telling you all this story, but I can't help but laugh at myself. So, there fore I must share. So, my sister in law is a fabulous cook and when I moved here to Texas, I convinced her to give me a few of her "family secret" recipes. One of them are these brownies that are so fabulous, when she makes them, that you can't just eat one.

SO, today, I decided that I was going to make some and take them to the Lanes' for FHE. I go there just about every Monday. That is another story. Anyway, so I go to the store, get what I need and come home to commence making dessert. I mix it all up, put it in the pan, compensate for the change in climate.. but when I take them out of the oven, they are just still way too gooey. So, I text April and ask her a few questions and as I am asking her I decide to read the recipe again. (which I swear I did like four times) but there is one line that I obviously didn't pay any attention too... it says 1 1/4 cup of FLOUR!!!! I could not believe it. I totally forgot the flour. What a retard!!!!

So, I laugh at myself and I start all over. And it is ok that I wasted all that because tomorrow I am starting my diet again anyway.... So, after READING the recipe the right way, I put them in the oven and they look so much better. They smell great, now I just hope they taste great. I don't think they will taste as good as April's but I hope they come close. :)

And the picture... well my oven door likes to close on its own and if you don't get your arm out of the way, this is what happens. SO, when I get to the Lane's, I will ask if she has anything for burns so that this will stop hurting...

So there I have done it. I have told you my retarded moment. But trust me, this is just one of many. I would be here all day long telling you everything that I do that is retarded.

Go ahead. Laugh. I did!!!

Cool PIctures with Cheap cameras

2010-04-11T20:05:00.002-05:00

I was looking in my mission photo album and remembering. These are pictures that I took with my mission camera. It wasn't any thing spectacular, but these pictures turned out fabulous.

The first one I didn't take, cause that is me in the picture, but my comp took it and it captured the trees all frozen. It never really snowed in England, but when it got cold everything froze. The second one is the Wolverhampton Cathedral. I took that one and it looks like a post card.
This last one is priceless... This is one of our members in the Harborne Ward. I can't believe I captured the water in the air...
I just thought these were cool pictures and wanted to share them with you.

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

2010-03-23T19:54:00.002-05:00

Ok, so it isn't quite my birthday, but I decided to get my present early!!! It is so nice and so much fun to drive. And I might say it is BEAUTIFUL!! The only complaint :) no tinted windows. But I will take care of that one of these days when I got a few more pennies. And I have paid off my debts :)!!!

It is a 2010 Ford Fusion SE. Tuxedo Black, which means it has little sparklies in the paint... black interior. Just fabulous.

I am excited to be back in Houston. My job is going great. There are going to be opportunities for me to move up and learn more. Today I was really busy and it was great. I love to be busy. My apartment is cute. It is small, but it is just me and my puppy and it is all that I need. The ward I am in is fabulous and I am playing my a softball tournament this weekend. well, Friday night and Saturday night. But that is good for me.

Life is going good.... and my new car is FABULOUS!

2010-03-08T16:22:00.001-06:00

By no means is this a recent picture, but for those of you who know me, I have always taken "self portraits"... this one I just came across. It was from Aug, 2008 at mom and dads 50th.... I'm still this retarded, just haven't taken any pictures recently.... just thought I would add this for fun.

7 months update!! :)

2010-03-01T13:33:00.004-06:00

Halloween 2009-- what a nut!!

My Uncle Bill's Funeral... Classic way to go to the cemetery!!!!

Beautiful things God does for us!

Mt Rainer!!!

The view off my sisters deck!!

So, I know, it has been forever and not all of you know what has been going on... Well, I am in Texas now. I was the last time I posted on here, but in between there, I was in Washington. I went back up there in hopes that a good job would pan out and that I would get back into the groove of being there. But, since I am here again, the job thing never really happened. I did have a job, that paid my bills, well kind of, and I worked for a great guy, but it just wasn't what I wanted and or needed. Being near my family was a blast and I had fun, even with Kevin :)!!! It so made me laugh talking about our lack of remembrance of things that may have happened in the past. It is good to laugh about it all... I love my family!!!

But, now, it is time to move on. I am back in the Houston area start work tomorrow at Ceva Logistics. I am excited to be moving forward. I am also working towards that Temple and hope that by the end of April or May, I will be heading back there. Life is good. I am happy with the choices I am making and the direction that every thing is going.

My dog, is not all that happy about being back in an apartment, but he is learning..... poor little thing...
but isn't he cute!!! :)

I will do my best to update more often....

Confused!!

2009-07-21T07:28:00.002-05:00

Ok, there are so many things to play with on my computer that I just can't keep up... There is MySpace, Facebook, and this. And guess which one is lacking the attention... Plus, since I have gradeated from college and got my "BS" degree, I have not had the desire to be on the computer for any amount of time because I DON'T HAVE TOO!!!

it is such a great feeling and now I am thinking about my masters.... Why some of you might ask... well a few reasons... bragging rights in the family... first one to have a masters.... because I can is the second reason... and maybe because if I am in school, I can't get in trouble... HAHAHA.... haven't decided yet, but thinking about it...

Anyway, I will do my best to keep updating here and maybe even take some pictures to put on. Good luck Tif and family in your move to the south...

Happy Birthday to me

2009-06-02T21:40:00.002-05:00

21 years ago I graduated from highschool on my birthday... neat huh.... so yesterday, I was done with college the second time.... got my BA..... and then today, the Washington Huskies women's softball team won the college world series....

Happy birthday to me....

Did you know, you are only as old as you act.....

WOOHOO, I'M DONE!!!!!

2009-05-31T17:47:00.004-05:00

Since I am refusing to even find a place to attend graduation this time, I thought that I would post some pictures from my last one to make ya all feel better :) !! I am so done. I just finished my last team project and we are waiting to turn it in.... then I have one more easy thing to do and

THAT IS IT!!!!!

Can you believe that Kyrk, Sh'Nell, and Reed were ever this little... aren't we cute??

This was my crazy group from Ricks... Man did we have fun and cause a little havoc at the same time....

There is no way I can do this to Reed now... skinny little runt....

The blessed day.... Hope this makes up for having any pictures this year... :)

And this speaks for itself!!!!!!!!!

I am grateful to be finished. I am tired, I am so sick of reading stuff I have to instead of stuff that I want to... But, I have to admit, some of the stuff that I have "had" to read has been pretty interesting...

Now, I am going to take a nap... A really, really long one... Yeah right....

And then.... Tuesday is my Birthday.... WooHoo.....

10 more days

2009-05-22T19:51:00.000-05:00

10 more days!!!!!!!!!

Just wanted to tell you all again....

and Erika... OJT-- On the Job Training..... :)

Almost Done!!

2009-05-21T19:14:00.002-05:00

I know that I have been a little slack on here, but you will just have to give me a break.... I finally got out of the academy and I was .3 behind being top in the class. That means 1 question different. I was a little on the irritated side, cause I should have had that. But I guess being second in the class of 88 will just have to do.... :) And now I am on OJT... Sitting in a classroom again... Do you know how tired I am of sitting in a classroom?????

But on the upside, I only have a few days of school left.... I am so excited to be done. On June first, I will turn in my last assignment, and on June 2nd, that is my birthday... Just thought I would throw that out there... So, after I have taken a break from thinking, I will do my best to post on here a little more. :)

Sick and Tired

2009-05-10T19:07:00.002-05:00

I just wanted you all to know that I have 22 days of school left..... And that means that there are 23 days until my birthday..... So how about that.... And my goal is to not be sick by the time that comes... I have been sick for way over a month and I have had just about enough of it.... and oh yeah, I graduate from the Corrections Academy on the 15th of May.... so, look at me go...

Now if the rest of my life didn't suck, I would be ok.

Busy Busy Busy and sick

2009-04-27T17:17:00.001-05:00

Ok, I know that it has been awhile and I have no pictures... but.. just like the title said... Busy, Busy, Busy and sick... I started the Academy 3 weeks ago and I have been sick the whole time. Do you know how much I hate to be sick? It makes me tired, it makes me grumpy and I want to smack someone.... How is that???

But, the academy is 3 more weeks and school is 5 weeks and I am done with both and living like a normal person. A job, a job, and a job.... that is it... NO MORE SCHOOL... I am so excited. Just wanted you all to know....

I have not dropped off the face of the earth although I would like to sometimes.. this being sick is for the birds....

1st day with TDCJ

2009-04-09T20:03:00.002-05:00

Ok, I am so cotton picken tired!!! Today was the first day of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Academy. I sat on my rear end for eight hours.... Now you know why I am tired.....

Anyway... I think it is going to be great. I am going to get into shape, and learn more for the next 5 and 1/2 weeks. There are 86 people in my class and my Sgt said that he has not graduated a class with all of the people that started, so we shall see if we can be the first. I don't want to be the negative one, but I am not sure that will happen.. First impression can be changed though.

Anyway....my Sgt is pretty cool. There are actually 2 of them. But, for now... class work, PT, and the last week is qualifying on 2 rifles and a pistol.... I will keep you all posted, but right now... I am going to sleep....

No Longer Jobless!!!

2009-04-05T20:36:00.002-05:00

So, my stint of not having a job did not last long..... I have been offered a position with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as a corrections officer at the Wynne Unit in Huntsville Texas. I go into the academy on Thursday April 9th. It is 5 and 1/2 weeks of training and learning and so on.... I am excited... I have been told goods and bads of the area and the job, but everyone has their favorites and stuff..... I really wanted to go juvenile, but this is good for me too. I have an interview on tuesday with the Juvenile department here in Montgomery county, but it is only part time... I will see what they have to say and go from there...

I didn't think it would last long me being unemployeed, but i sure was liking the sleeping in part... Ok, wait.. I didn't sleep in. My house hold decided every day that since they were working, that I needed to be up too.. I don't think that is very fair, but oh well... what do I do. I tried beating them all, but there are too many of them and it wasn't a real fair fight... :)

Life is good.. Today I played 4 games of softball, spent the day in the sun and I am tired as all get out. Tomorrow I will make up for it and watch conference.... I know, kind of in the wrong order...

My body is sore.

NO JOB are you KIDDING ME

2009-04-01T20:42:00.002-05:00

Ok, so I may not have a job, but my room mate is a slave driver!!!!! :) I have done more in the past 3 days since I got laid off than I have in a while... Here is proof... Today, I stacked wood!

I weeded the flower bed in the front yard, not done yet!!!!

Burnt leaves and stuff from the flower beds!!!!

And cleaned these two flower beds out and replanted... Ok mind you, Danni was here doing it with me, but she worked me to the bone....

And then there was the dinners.... Yes, I am learning how to cook more. I know how to cook, but when it is just you and no one else, what is the point. So, in the past few days, I have cooked. I made ribs last night and potato salad and if I do say so my darn self, they were both pretty dang good... And then Monday it was chicken noodle casserole.... and for lunches I made chicken fajita stuff to put in wraps..... and it was good too.... Danni decided that since I was home, I could do the cooking so it would be on the table when everyone got home... so nice of here... :)

So, if anyone says that I am slacking since I have been laid off..... come on and visit me.... there is a lot of yard to be cleaned and work to be done and things to learn to cook... Look at me go.. I even want to try making bread one day.... We shall see though, that is pretty domesticated!!! Not sure if I can handle that one.

I really do like not having a job for the moment... but I am really tired....

NO MORE DHL

2009-03-30T21:51:00.002-05:00

Ok, I have no pictures for this one, but I just wanted everyone to know that I NO longer work for DHL.... I am so excited about that fact... Is that sad or what?!! I am glad to be done and am looking forward to what will come next. I have tested with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for a corrections officer and passed with flying colors.. I have an appointment on the 7th with the Montgomery county Juvenile detention center. And I have been asked to test with Harris County also... So, things are looking good....

Today was my first day home.. and I loved it.... I am kind of glad I don't have to work with this class that I am in.. It is going to take some brain power.... Shoot....

Two classes left... 63 days... That is so cool.. I am so excited to be done with school.... I will not know what to do with myself... Through these last 3 classes, I have met some people that will be life long friends... They are so cool.. We have been on the same learning team and it has been great... We laugh, cut up, teas each other, count chickens... long story... but funny.. one day.... and they are great women... It is great how I can meet people from all over going to school online....

Have a great night....

Long Time, I know!!!

2009-03-13T00:01:00.003-05:00

Ok, so Tif reminded me that it has been a long time since I have written on here. It is amazing how life just flies by when you have so much going on and so many things on your mind. Mine is more of the second one. Too much is going through my mind at the moment and time just got away from me..... OOPS!!!

This fine picture is to let you all know that I have gotten the email from UOP about preparing for graduation.... You can all see the number beside this post.... 81 days... I am so excited. I am so ready to be done. Now, comes the job search.

They extended me for 30 days at DHL, so my last day there is the 27th of this month. It is alright. Still more of the same.. I get paid to do my homework and answer emails and play around. Not bad, except that I am bored out of my ever lovin mind. And it is not a good thing for me to be bored... Hence the too much on my mind. It is not that I am busy at work or anything. But I have been applying for just about everything justice related that I can find around here. I would love to stay here in this area, but if that doesn't work out, I am not opposed to moving.

I have officially changed my plates and my drivers license over to Texas... it only took me 13 months to get it done. I probably wouldn't have done it except that everything state related for jobs wants a Texas license.... Imagine that.... dang it. So, now, I have no idea what my driver's license number is cause it is actually a number... it is so weird.
Isn't he cute??? This is Candice's, my best friend in Washington, nephews new lab... His name is Gunner... and he is so cute, that I wanted to share him with you. Puppies are the cutest and then they grow up... My Taz, he is being banned to sleep in my room mates room, cause he minds her better than me... the little snot... I don't get any sleep when he is in my room, but he is an angel in hers... just don't understand that one... But, I am not complaining, cause she is willing to let him sleep in there....

Anyway..... that is about it... life is going... there are things that are hard and things that are easy and I have pretty much decided that my main goal in life is to be happy and the only way to do that is to make my own decisions and keep myself happy. I am the only one that can make those choices and no one else can do it, as much as I would like someone to go "poof" and everything would be the way that I want it to be.... I would love for it to all just be straightened out, but alas... I do remember that we live in the real world... So, smile I will and work my darnedest to find that solid and stable ground.

Houston

2009-02-08T21:17:00.003-06:00

One year ago, I spent my first weekend here in Houston. I got here, oops sorry Reed, We, got here on Thursday night at midnight or so and spend the first day on Friday finding my apt, and unloading the trailer and getting rid of that annoying thing. Wow, how time has flown by and so much has happened.

My apt.. What a great place.. Ok for while it lasted. I hate apartments. I hate having people that close to me. I like the wide open spaces. So, when the opportunity arose to be room mates with Danni... Nothing else needed to be said. I love her house and the horses, which one of them I have to take to the vet in the morning. And, I love the wide open space and the quiet that it brings too..

I love being in the trees... Yes, one day I hope to have my own place and my own horses, but for now, it is all good and the price is right.

And then their was the weekend after Thanksgiving when mom, dad, and Aunt Lorene came to visit. What a riot we had.

I just can't believe it has been a year already. My how time flies. It has not been all fun, but I have had a good time here. I have learned many things and done many things. And I only have 113 days left of school.....

I am grateful to have learned the things I have and to be here in Houston. I really love it here. Besides the fact that it was in the 70's all weekend.....

What a great place to be.

Memories

2009-01-28T23:04:00.002-06:00

These are hanging in my parents front entrance along with pictures and things from my brothers missions. I had almost forgotten about these and how cool they are. It has been a long time since I was on my mission. And one thing that I have found out recently, was a family that Nelson and I taught 16 years ago is still active and strong in the church. Makes you happy to think that you had an influence in someones life.
I am pretty sure I picked these lace pieces up at the Lace Factory in Nottingham. They are so cool.
And this one.... A dish towel basically... but they are cool... I really like the picture of me in this one.. I wish I knew where those are.. One of the elders took those of me while in England.. they turned out pretty well. ok, oops it is in the second one....

Anyway, I have a lot of time at work to just do nothing..... I don't like it, but I get paid to do nothing.... So in other words, I have a lot of time to think. Recently I have reconnected with tons of people from my mission and a ton of people from my school days. The Internet is a wonderful thing for that. I don't always like having so much time to think, but it is good to think about things that are good in the world or in my life. I have a tendency to fall onto the negative and I was talking to Kyrk today and he made some great comments. If I don't feel I am good enough, look at the situation in which I don't feel I'm good enough for and evaluate what kind of situation it is. That was a good one. I have doubts sometimes about my being good enough for things and as I put this too the test..... why wouldn't you know that I shouldn't have been there anyway!!! What a smart little brother I have..

This week is going fast.. I found out which ward I am in. They split them last week and so Sunday was the first time in the ward I am in. It is a good feeling to know where I am suppose to be. Haven't really met anyone yet, but that takes time. And when you ditch out the back as soon as the last "amen" is said, you can't meet many people that way :)....

I am really excited to be laid off from DHL.. Is that funny? I am excited to not have a job. It is so hard to want to go to work when there is nothing there for you. But as my room mate reminds me, it is a pay check. Dang her.. sometimes she is so smart.... :) I don't have long in school and I am excited for that. There are so many opportunities out there in the world for me. I just have to go and find them. Oh yeah, and I have to learn patience. I thought that I had some... forget it... I don't have very much... ok, for some stuff I have tons, but for things I want, I have absolutely none!!!!! One day....

Good night.

Mental Issues

2009-01-21T18:38:00.002-06:00

Ok, for those of you who are already thinking that I have mental problems that are not able to be helped..... you are right.. but those are not what this is about!!!!

My mental issues today are... well first a good one.. I have 131 days left until I am done with school. And if i make it through this class that I am in... I will be so glad... It is not that it is hard, but there is no text and that is a weird thing.. I guess it is to make me learn more.

The other ones are just continued struggles.. I have to fight every day to not get discouraged and it is starting to weigh on my mind. The things I want are right there, but I can not reach them and the things that I had are right there and no matter how hard I reach for those, they are just out of my reach. And sometimes that is a good thing. I need to move forward and some days it is so hard. Today is one of those days.

I know my blog posts should be enlightening and about things that I have been doing in my life, but right now.. I am fighting and sometimes I just need to share it with my friends. :)

Struggles

2009-01-16T16:53:00.002-06:00

Did you know, that just because you make a decision it does not mean that it will be easy. I know that the decisions that I have made are the right ones and I know that is where I want to be, but with everything else going on in my life right now, it is sometimes tough to keep a positive outlook on things. But, I have a great room mate and we are in this together.. well the worldly part of it anyway. Both of us will be out of a job soon and the one that I had lined up, the company put on a hiring freeze. So, now, we will both be looking. But, even though Danni is not a member, we have both said to the other that our lives are in the Lords hands and as long as we do our part, then everything will be ok. It is really interesting to have a room mate who thinks like you do, but has never been involved in the same church as you. We talk a lot about religion and we do have a lot in common. Whether or not she will ever follow me into the church, I do not know. I am not the one to force anything on any one. But maybe through my example..... Anyway... life is a struggle and it takes a lot of faith to not get discouraged at the things that are happening.

MY HEART IS FULL

2009-01-11T23:26:00.002-06:00

Ok, for those of you who have known me for the past several years, SIT DOWN NOW!!! Mom, that means you. I have some things I want to say and some of you might be a little shocked.
First of all, it was only like 60 here today.. and tonight when I had to work, I wore a sweatshirt!!! Just wanted to share that with all of you. And Erika, come on down. I will make room.

Ok now.... ready.....

My life has been all kinds of crazy the past few months. I moved to Houston for two reasons. One was a job... the usual.. the second was to find out just what I wanted and who I was. Well when I first got here, I went to church for about a month. And no, I didn't tell any of you.. Ok Kyrk, I did talk to him. But then Austin moved down and I went back to what I had done for the past 12 or 13 or 14 years... I don't remember... Then for the past 8 months, I have been doing what I want like normal. I have learned a lot and I have struggled a lot. And no, I didn't tell anyone. Ok, well Kyrk.. Sorry everyone else but Kyrk and I have become so close again and I love him. He has been my rock lately and I needed that. For those of you who don't know him.. that is my brother. One of them. Anyway... during Christmas this year, I went through something that just about tore my heart out. and NO!! I am not going to share that with you. But, my Christmas and new years really kind of sucked in a way. But now that I look at it, it really didn't. What i had to go through I don't wish on anyone, but I needed to go through it. My heart is full because of what I have learned in the past 2 weeks. And more importantly, what I have learned today.

Today, I went to church. Not because anyone told me to. Not because I felt like it, I went to church because I wanted to be there. I have done a lot of soul searching and I have come to realize that I am not where I want to be. Or where I need to be. I have been inactive from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for about 14 years..... I have gone a couple of times, but not really. I have been through a lot in those 14 years... things I don't wish on anyone, and things I needed to learn. Today I went to church, it ended up being the wrong ward mind you, but I firmly believe that my Father in Heaven sent me to that ward today. The talks today were on Coming unto Christ and I do believe that everyone of those men that spoke looked right at me the whole time. I cried in the second verse of the opening song. I cried during the sacrament song. The high councilman that was present, I think he wore a hole in me, cause I know he was staring at me the whole time. I learned something today. As sacrament got over, I had decided to go home... I left the building and got about 300 yards away and turned around and went back. I asked a member of the bishopric if I could have a blessing. Now mind you, I have always believed, but more for others than for myself. Today, I believe for myself. I asked a complete stranger for a blessing. He got the missionaries to help him, and I know that blessing was from my Father in Heaven. He spoke to me through this man I don't even remember his name, and told me He loved me. You all have no idea how much I needed to hear that. And that my friends and family is why my heart is full!!!

Hello

2009-01-09T18:48:00.003-06:00

Hey everyone.. I know "where the mailto:h!@^^ have I been.." Well, let me answer that..

Nah I decided not to... I will post here again soon. The holidays are over and it is time to start a new year. I just wanted to say hi to everyone and let you all know that I am still alive and kicking and it was 78 degrees here today...

Love ya.

It is 71 Degrees here in Houston

2008-12-18T14:16:00.002-06:00

Ok, so last week we had snow... today as I am driving around, it is 71 degrees. And as I send Marcy a picture of a bug, cause I was it, she sends me back a text that says they have 18 inches there in Washington. I know it was mean, but I chuckled. So I made, asked, her to go out and take me a picture. This is how I like the snow. In a picture that I can look at. So... this is out their back door. I don't think anyone went anywhere today.

In the back of my mind I miss it a little, but not this weekend. It will be one year ago on Saturday that I totalled my truck and so for this weekend, I will not miss the snow. And then it made me laugh last night because Reed called me from Vegas and said he was mad at me cause it snowed there too... Now when He called, I openly laughed out loud. That was funny.

On another note, I had a great job interview this morning and it looks like I will be getting a job that is better than the one that I have and for more money and in better shape than the company that I am in. That was a great point of the day.

If I don't post again....

Merry Christmas everyone.

Better late than never!!

2008-12-11T15:38:00.004-06:00

Mom and Dad had their 50th Anniversary this year. I finally got some pictures.

Kevin and Malia... We are wondering what that scare thing in her hands is. DO they still exist?

This picture is the best one I have taken in a while. I think. This is Reed and I. Everyone else was getting pictures with their families, so Reed and I decided to be a family.

The fun part about our family, is we make the rules. We told mom and dad they had to cut the cake and feed each other just like at the wedding. They were good sports.

This is my family, minus 3. Bruce and Anne had just given birth to their first boy, Silas, and were unable to make the trip. We have since gotten some great pictures of Silas and them.

The fun part. We took the family group pictures on the swings at Rob's house. We had such a great time and I am glad that we were all able to be there and share with them their 50 years together.

Last night, this morning and 2pm this afternoon

2008-12-11T15:15:00.002-06:00

Ok, so the pictures in the last post are from last night and early this morning.... Then this one is from this morning and the picture of Danni's truck is this morning. Now last night when I got home it was 31 degrees... this morning it was about 35 degrees and then

this picture of my truck is at 2pm this afternoon at the office and it was 57 degrees. And then just to let you all know, it is suppose to be 75 this weekend... I am so confused. I don't know what to wear when I get out of bed in the morning....

I share this with you all so that you will have something to smile about. And for those of you in Washington, good luck with your buckets you should get this weekend. And Sh'Nell, your winter is there.... build me a snow man and take some pictures... It will be over before you know it.... Love ya sis...

This is just wrong!!!

2008-12-11T15:02:00.002-06:00

Ok, so most of you know that I left Spokane for a couple of reasons. One, I needed a new job. Two, I needed a change in life. Three, I wanted to get away from the dang snow...

Ok, and most of you know that the last time I really drove in the ice, was the night I wrecked my truck along with those fine WSP cars.

So, Imagine my reaction when I am sitting at work....doing my job...

when all of the sudden, my employees go "Niki it's snowing!" They were so excited and just had to drag me out to see it. Why I might ask??? I have no idea. Except that it has been 4 years since in Snowed here in Houston. So, apparently, I didn't run far enough.

Now, Candice says that I deserve it because I made so much fun of her last year while everyone up north had snow and I had 80 degree weather. And the other reason is because one of my previous posts.. Yeah the one making fun of the TEXAS SNOW!!! But, do you think that I learned my lesson? Probably not. I will still make fun of those up north when I am warm and it is cold up there. Second, I am just that way. I can not believe it snowed down here. Cheryl accuses me of bringing it with me. Trust me, I was running from the snow... but, it found me anyway.... Dang it!!!

Monday Morning

2008-12-05T09:37:00.003-06:00

On the last day mom and dad were here, I drove them to the Houston Temple. I have to admit, the temples are always so beautiful. It is a good thing that I learned how to use the timer on my camera, cause we were able to take this picture. It was a beautiful day. No clouds, it had been cloudy, windy, rainy all weekend. But today, no clouds.

We then went to eat at Papps BBQ... hmmhmm good.... Most of us had a backed potato the size of Texas with BBQ on it. Ok, it took me 3 times to eat the whole thing.

And then I dropped them off at the airport, on their way to Puerto Rico. Got a call from dad later that night, its humid here he says. That is usually what I am saying, but it was actually a little nippy here that weekend and is now a little cold today.

I had so much fun with my mom and dad and Aunt Lorene. I am glad they came to visit.

Going Quickly

2008-12-03T18:54:00.002-06:00

Ok, I just wanted to bring all ya all's attention to the right side of my blog.... Today is December 3rd, 2008. I have (officially)

180 days

of school left.

That is it...

That's all I wanted to say!

Texas SNOW!!!

2008-12-02T11:57:00.004-06:00

OK, so, I just about died laughing when I saw this. We are in San Antonio on Saturday the 29th of November..... it is 75 degrees outside, I am wearing shorts and a tee shirt. We are walking around and there is the Houston Street Fair going on right next to the Alamo... I walk up to this slide looking thing, from the back, and bust out laughing... This is Texas' idea of sledding. I almost fell over. They are using tubs that you pull behind a boat, and the kids are in shorts and t-shirts, and sledding down this slide into gales of hay... Now, all laughing aside, I am sure that this is the only snow that some of these kids will ever see and the only time they will get to go sledding, but I could not help it. I was laughing so hard and just had to take pictures.

But, all laughing aside, this is good enough for me this year.!!! I don't need any snow this time around.

I've been Tagged

2008-12-02T11:40:00.005-06:00

Ok, a couple of weeks ago Erika tagged me to post where I do most of my blogging.... Well, I was at work when I read that and didn't have my camera... so here you go, this is where I do most of my blogging...... Yes, that is my corner in the office and most of where I do my blogging from.... And then, there is my room....
Ok, Erika, sorry it took me so long. Things have been a little on the crazy side. But here you go. SO now, I tag anyone who reads my post and wants to add to their blog about where they post... and by the way, you can not clean up before you take the picture....

Laughter is the best medicine

2008-12-02T11:01:00.004-06:00

Thanksgiving day.... 75 degrees playin with my dog. And the best part is NO SNOW!!

The trip to San Antonio with Mom, Dad, and Aunt Lorene... the front of the Alamo. (For those of you who didn't know that!)

Ok, so I don't like getting my picture taken and this one really shows just how much weight I have put on. it really isn't as bad as it looks, but it is the position I choose to sit in. This is Mom, Dad, Aunt Lorene, Danni-my roommate, and Angelina- Danni's daughter.

Our carriage ride around the Alamo.

Ok, so mom and dad and Aunt Lorene came to visit this past weekend. I picked them up from the airport and headed for San Antonio. It was so funny. I tried to punch in the address to the hotel in my GPS and guess what, it wouldn't take it. So, I drove blind. No map, no GPS, nothing. Getting to San Antonio was not the issue. That is a straight shot west on I10. It was once we got there and bam... I am so good, I drove right to the hotel!!!! I was so proud of myself and I didn't let them forget it.....

Ok, saturday morning was another story!! I thought I was going to right way.... I was, on the wrong road. We had a great visit to the front gate of Fort Sam Houston Army base.. The guard laughed so hard when I pulled up, Washington plates and all (still) and said... "we're lost!!" He was a great sport and got us in the right direction. Then it was the Alamo. What an interesting place. It was great to see it and watch the little movies and walk around and actually enjoy learning more about history... Didn't like that class either in highschool...

Next it was the river walk. Ya know how great it is to travel with senior citizens?!! Just kidding mom and dad... dad is the one that got the great deals. We rode on the river boat tour and ate lunch on the river walk. It was pretty cool. Then we went on a carriage ride around the alamo. Then we headed back to Houston and home. I was so tired...... and then the laughing commenced.

Sunday, we get up, I go to church with them and we come back home. Now mind you my room mate was the perfect host. She had dinner ready for us when we got back Saturday night, breakfast before church and dinner at noon when we got back... so after dinner, Angelina decided we were playing a game.. It ended up being Uno Attack. Oh my goodness... We laughed so hard that several times we had to run to the bathroom for fear of having to change clothes. It was mom, Angelina, Aunt Lorene and I. Dad and Danni were sitting watching westerns on tv and Danni was cooking cookies.. ok that came a little later... But the best one was my aunt.... oh my goodness.... she picked up her hand of cards... this was bout 2 hours into the 5 hours we played... and one of her cards was backwards... she asks very calmly.... what does it mean when the card says UNO!.... Very calmly I responded with "turn the card over" and then we all lost it. We were laughing so hard none of us could breath. I didn't think I would ever breath again.. Angelina goes flying down the hall to the bathroom and mom and I and auntie were laughing so hard I had tears running down my face. My stomach hurt.... We continued this laughing and playing for most of the day... Finally Angelina pretty much told dad that he was playing by dealing him a hand... And then there were cookies. Danni kept cooking cookies and we were eating them straight out of the oven.... Needless to say, there was no need for dinner that night.

SO, the weekend was a success. We all had a great time and I had not laughed that hard in a while. I am very glad that they stopped here on their way through to Puerto Rico and that we could spend some time together. It was so funny.....

Thanks mom and dad and Aunt Lorene for coming to visit us.

A little clarification

2008-11-17T21:18:00.000-06:00

Yes, everyone wears clothes in Pudding Wrestling. The two in here both had shorts and a tee shirt on. I suppose it can be done in any thing that you want, but this one was clothed. And yes, it was sticky. I personally didn't wrestle, but the pudding gets flipped everywhere. Just think about how much four 5 gallon buckets of chocolate pudding is!! It was fun to watch. And it brings new meaning to wrestling.

Just wanted you all to know.

Crazy Things

2008-11-17T17:13:00.002-06:00

Ok, I am going to share you all a story cause it is funny. But, I do not want any chastisement because of this story!! Ok Tif!!! :)

This was my weekend. I had to work Saturday, but when I work Saturdays, I get the other sup to open up for me at 530 am and I show up around 10am and then I am done by 300pm.. not bad right?! Ok, so this weekend a friend of mine, ok a lot of friends, and I chose to go out on the town. There is this place that we all go to and hang out and dance and visit and stuff and that particular night, and I know this picture is hard to see, but that night it was pudding wrestling. Ok, my first reaction was, I don't want to go, I won't have any fun, blah blah blah, it was the funniest thing. Have you ever seen anyone wrestle with four 5 gallon buckets of pudding in a blow up pool? OMG talk about laughing your tail off. I had so much fun. One of our friends decided to be in the wrestling matches and that made it even more fun. I tell ya, the people here in Houston are a riot. We have a lot of fun. This picture is hard to see because it was so dark and I took it on my phone, but trust me, we were all covered in chocolate pudding cause it made a huge mess. I am not sure I would recommend this at home.

I do have to tell you, Sunday I did nothing. My room mate and her daughter are sick and they decided it is time for me to join in their misery. I disagreed, but my body said otherwise. So now, we are all recuperating.

And can you imagine, me as obnoxious as I am and how much fun I like to have, but NO, I did not join in the wrestling!!

Family

2008-11-14T16:15:00.007-06:00

Ok, OK, so Reed, he is the youngest of us kids.... He's 27.... I get a text from him last night at 1201 asking me if I am still awake. I say not really, but what's up. I feel if I don't answer him, something might really be wrong. So the phone rings and he says.... something happened and none of my Mormon friends want to hear about it... so now I am curious....

So, he commences to tell me that he was doing something... standing I believe, remember I was half asleep.... and he fell on his tennis racket and cut his eye open. So right then he was sitting there with a bag of ice on his face feeling like a real retard.... So of course my first comment, after I got done laughing that is, was You really are related to me huh??? and that made him laugh harder...

So, here he is with a cut on his eye from falling on his tennis racket handle.. and the email he sends to me with these pictures is titled " Is there an extra seat on the shortbus?"

He really is my brother..... I responded to his email with "of course their is, I can't lick all the windows by myself. I have tried and my saliva runs out to fast."

There is always room on the short bus for loved ones.

So for all of you loved ones out there, remember, there is always room on the shortbus!!!

Oh yeah, I didn't ask Reeds permission to share this story!!!!! :)

My Future

2008-11-12T19:56:00.002-06:00

DHL to Halt Express Deliveries in the U.S.
Deutsche Post's U.S. division will also close its 18 main distribution hubs and lay off most of its workers in the country

So, I don't know how many of you have heard.... or if I have said anything about it come to think of it.... DHL is cutting back.... way back..... Does that mean me??? Don't know. This is in some relation to the last post of pulling my hair out. I am not freaking out about this. I am at this point not really caring if they keep me or lay me off. I knew this was not going to be a permanent position when I moved down here. Weird huh?! But I think it was a good thing for me because it made me actually take a look at what I want to do and get it done. I have looked into several of the juvenile justice facilities around here and there are openings that I am interested in. So, if I don't make the cut, I will be fine. I am still not worrying about it. I can't. Gives me a headache and makes me crabby and I hate to be crabby! It takes much more effort for me to laugh when I am crabby and it makes me mad!!! So, I wait and see. But what ever happens, it will be for the best and I will still be laughing and cracking jokes and cracking myself up! That is what I do!!

So, just in case you was wondering, I am just fine and dandy and plan on living for a long time. (Just to send you all retarded emails)!!!!! :)

Pulling my hair out

2008-11-07T19:12:00.003-06:00

Today, I feel like this!!!!! I am so tired of being accused of being naive and too laid back. Ok, my style is to be laid back and take the things as they come. IF I run into a panic and freak out about every little thing, I might as well go buy a pine box and lay down, cause it is going to run me into the ground. I am not the person to be serious all the time and when I am around people who feel that is all life is about, I have a tendency to run as far and as fast as I can in the other direction. Life is too short to concentrate on what "might" happen and dwell on the bad things in life. I can pretty much guarantee you that if the men back in Jesus' time or the guys in the Book of Mormon would have dwelt on the bad things, they would have never made it as far as they did. And by the way, look at the guys that did. They didn't seem to make it to far did they. So, maybe that is why I am single still and that I have not found anyone to put up with me, cause nobody can. I am one of a kind and I love to laugh. I will be serious when I have too, but I promise, it won't last very long, so what ever it is that needs a serious discussion had better be good. No, not everything in life is a joke, or can be laughed at, but come on....

By the way, this picture is awesome!!!! :)

ok, SO NO, I didn't pay attention in Social Studies

2008-11-05T22:55:00.002-06:00

Ok, can I ask a question? I don't pay attention to politics. That is pretty obvious from the last post I wrote. But let me ask a question...... Why does everyone think the world is going to end and that because Barack Obama is president, that the United States is going to Hell!!! Anyone care to try and explain that to me? I know that he has said some things that are a little crazy, but we made it through the Clinton Administration and we are still kicking... someone just please fill me in on why we should prepare for the last days???!!!!

Politics!!!

2008-11-04T20:46:00.002-06:00

I just learned something new! And it explains the reason for why I don't vote. I have never known before, and basically didn't care. But now I know why. Do ya all wanna know? Because it means absolutely nothing. Here we are running to the polls to vote for who we want to be President of this fine country that we live in and I just learned that it doesn't matter. We don't get a say. The Electoral voters make the call. We don't get to vote for who we want. We vote and then our reps vote how ever they want. The reason I learned that, I was looking on the net at some of the results and Obama had less votes by the people, but he still won the state!!! How does that happen? Well the people who get to vote, vote however the hell they want no matter what the people say!!!! So, That is my opinion on this fine country that we live in. Someone explain to me why we bother. I am 38 years old and it is the first time I feel as though this country sucks!!! Do I really feel that way? NO, but the way this voting for president goes, yes, that sucks. We might as well be a dictatorship, cuz that is about how it looks to me now!!!!!

November and 80 degrees

2008-11-04T11:06:00.002-06:00

A picture of the day the Hurricane hit. My room mate checking on the horses!

This is Taz and Lady. For awhile we had to keep Taz on a chain and this is them attempting to get him off of it. It was so cute.

This is my cute puppy. See how much he has grown!

Ok, I don't need to tell you all that I am a slacker. Hopefully that is just a given. Things have been a little crazy. I've been moved to another station again, school is getting tougher and I have to spend more time on that, and life has just been nuts. There is so much to do. School is getting harder, but only because I have just over 200 days left and then I am so finished. Those 400 hundred classes get harder the higher the number goes. I just don't get it!!! :) Work is weird. There are a ton of things going on right now. They are downsizing and changing a lot of things. As of right now, I have been layed off. My last day would be February 27, 2009. Everyone has been layed off. They are going around and either giving you the severance pay, or offering you a permanent job. I used to think it would be a big deal if they layed me off, and now, what ever happens, happens. I am not worried about it. The severance package is a good one and will cover for about 3 and a half months. So, no big deal. I don't know how I feel about it. I don't know if I want to stay or not. It just depends I guess on what they decide.

On that note!!! Things are good. It is November and the sun is still shining, and the warmth is still here. I love it. It is so cool to be going into Thanksgiving and know for a fact that there will be no snow and I will probably be wearing shorts on that day. How cool is that??

Ok, so I haven't taken a picture of myself yet. I am not real fond of photos, so you might just have to wait for a little while!

Other than that!! life is the same. I sleep, work, homework, sleep, work, homework, and sleep, work, homework!! June 1st here I come and then it will be sleep, work, play!!!!!

HOLA!!!! QUE TAL?????

2008-10-14T22:30:00.002-05:00

Ok, So, I AM A SLACKER!!.. I know that I had that posted once before, but sorry, it is the story of my life. I am still waiting for pictures of mom and dads 50th so I can post a few of them, but now Kyrk and Emma are headed to San Diego for a few days. So, hopefully next week.

So a little recap of the past couple of weeks.

I have been relocated at work AGAIN!!!! Oh well. This station is way better than the last one that they moved me too. This one we actually work as a team. The one problem with this station is that the air conditioner has been blown since the hurricane. Ok, if you remember, that was on September 12th. Get the picture? It is 88 degrees in front of my desk right now. And not to give you a visual or anything, ya know how you have to peel your wet clothes off when you get out of the pool or get in a water fight, we have to do that just to go to the restroom. The difference, it is all SWEAT!!!! Can you say "aaaahhhh that is sick and wrong?"

Anyway, home life is cool. I know live with a friend of mine and her very spoiled rotten brat of a 15 year old. Remember, those of you who have known me forever, how I have never wanted kids. Well, this just reaffirms it!!!! But on the up side, it is in the country and I like it.

School is going good. I have 6 classes left and just under 7 months. I am so excited. I am so ready to be done. My advisor the other day was trying to convince me to go get my masters. I laughed at him. I would like a vacation...

Work is good, life is good, school is good, I am sleepy, but other than that.... Mom and dad are coming to visit the end of November. Should be fun. Trying to find things to do unless we just relax and vegetate. Which I am always good at.

Oh yeah, got my hair cut. Not that any of you have seen it lately. I will try to remember to take pictures and let ya all see just how I look these days.

Till then.....

WOOHOO!!!!!

2008-09-26T23:06:00.001-05:00

I have less that 250 days of school left... I have 6 classes after the one I am in right now... and 8 months until graduation which is the day before my

BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!

I just wanted everyone to know that!!!!!

Pictures of downed trees- Hurricane IKE

2008-09-22T12:03:00.004-05:00

This is the biggest tree that went across the road for us to get out of our house. It was across the road, but someone was nice enough to cut it so we could all get through and go exploring.
Some of them broke, but there was a lot of them that were ripped right out of the ground. Roots and all.
OK, click on this one and see what the clearance is for this bridge. That is water and it is still there. I took that road to get to work at the GLS station two weeks ago.. Not on Saturday I didn't.
This is one of the ones ripped out of the ground. Some of these trees are huge and they just came right out of the ground. There is one in our back yard, but I am just a little lazy and haven't walked out there to take a picture. But I will, cause when I do, we get to fix the fence. That is why I am neglecting it..

Anyway, just thought I would share a few pics with you.

And we have LIGHTS

2008-09-19T18:33:00.006-05:00

Did you know just how much you miss something that you take for granted until you don't have it any more????

My roommate just called and WE HAVE POWER!!!! I am so excited to take a shower in the morning in the real shower and not in the garage out of a bucket!!!! ALthough, I wasn't really complaining, but i was getting tired of eating things that took effort and not just something I could grab out of the fridge and reheat!!! :) Little things you take for granted.

So now, we are alive, we are well, and we have power... So, for the next week we get to fix fences and repair the barn and CLEAN THE FRIDGE!!!!!

WOOHOO!!!!! I got LIGHTS!!!!!

Information

2008-09-19T18:33:00.003-05:00

OK, so a few of you have pointed out that I have neglected to update you on a few events in my life. So, here you go!!!! :)

When I went home for vacation, Austin decided that he was going home for good. So he left a couple of days before me. And when he left that meant I could no longer afford to live in the duplex by myself. So I was talking to some friends and one of them has a house with an extra room that I could rent. The only problem with that is I had to get out of my lease. Well, that shouldn't have been that hard, so I sent the leasing company a certified letter stating the issues and all of that and then left for vacation. OK, the problem, they decided that we abandoned the duplex and evicted us. Even though I told them that Austin was leaving and I was going on vacation. So, while I was on vacation I get a note on my door saying all this stupid stuff. Well, by the time I got home, I was tired of dealing with them, so I let them kick me out. WHATEVER!!!

So anyway, I moved into my friends extra room and she is the one with horses. It is out in the country and about 45 minutes from work. Which that part sucks, but I like being out in the country and ya all know how much I love horses. SO it works out good. Plus, it is helping her with money and helping me get some stuff paid off.

So that is my story and I am sticking to it.!!!!! That is how I have horses to step on my toes..... So, there are 3 of us living there, 2 horses, soon to be 3, and 3 dogs!! I am back to the animal life and I love it. Now we just need to get things a little organized. She has a full house of stuff and I have enough to fill a house. So, you can see our dilemma! But, it is her house, so mine will most likely be in the garage as storage. No big deal... Save some money and get my own place again.

Back to work I go!!!

Update on Hurricane IKE

2008-09-18T17:56:00.002-05:00

Ok, I don't have any pictures yet, but I just wanted to let everyone know that I am alive and well. And even my puppy Taz is alive and well. Although, today if I could have reached him, he might have been a little bruised. Another story though.
The hurricane came right through right on time and knock us all around. We had 4 trees fall and 2 of them are on the fences for the horses. So that will be a fun fixing time. The problem, and this is the other story, one of the horses likes to find its way out and today while I was putting him back in the pasture, Taz got under his feet and he stutter stepped or something and came down on the toes of my right foot. So, I broke 2 of them this afternoon. I have yelled at him and spanked his behind for chasing the horses and I think he just laughs at me.... Wait until I can walk and he does it again. He won't be laughing......
So anyway, we are without power. The only time I have internet is at work and we are running off a generator there. So it is still a little touchy. It is slowly but surely coming together. Every day more and more stores are open and more and more gas stations. The first 3 days the lines for gas were anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours to get gas. Now it is a little closer to normal. All the stores are empty though. They haven't had a chance to stock them back up. The power is on for about 50 percent of the people in both Harris County and Montgomery County. Galveston and Bolivar Islands are pretty much a wash out...

But, I am alive and well. I am learning patience not having lights or running water, but it is not that bad. It is like camping but I get to sleep in my own bed. I have to admit though, you never realize just how much you miss something til you don't have it....

Anyway, I have taken some pictures, but just don't have the capability to download them just yet. So.....

Till next time.

Hurricane IKE

2008-09-11T12:41:00.003-05:00

Ok so I have been diligently waiting for my family to send me copies of the pictures we took at the big shin dig... but ..... they must be busy too. The only thing I can tell you right now was that it was a lot of fun. They were taking pictures of the families and so Reed and I decided that we are a family. I don't know what I will do if one of us really does get married. I like being Reed's family. Anyway. I heard they turned out good. So, when Emma gets a chance she will send them to us and i can post some......

So the next item of business. It is September 11th! It is so weird to think that it has been 7 years since I stood in the mechanics shack on the tarmack at the Spokane international airport and watched the 2nd plane hit the trade centers. And all that we have gone through since then. It really didn't hit me as hard the past years, cause I was in Washington and the minority population there was small compared to here. Now that I am in Houston and the whites are a minority, it has made me think more. There are so many issues with minorities here, and it makes you wonder who really is the minority? I have never been mad at a person because of their race, but here, there are many people that are. IT is kind of sad. But today, Americans should remember those that died that day. We should also remember, that not everyone from that nationality was in on the attacks...

Ok, off my box!!!!!

Guess what I get to experience for the first time this week? Like Tomorrow... You guessed it. Hurricane IKE is going to hit the coast between Galveston and Freeport. I am about 70 miles, give or take from Galveston. It is 38 miles south of Houston and I am about 30 miles north of Houston... So, tomorrow around noon it is going to hit land and start to rain and rain and rain ok, wait it won't hit till tomorrow night, but at noon it will start to show us what it is up to.. I have always watched and read about this, but never been involved in it. Makes you think a little sometimes. But all will be well. 90 mile an hour winds is not something that I have ever experienced!! Should be fun.. Oh and Kyrk said that I can't fly a kite in it!! Dang it... :)

So, as soon as I get back on line, I will let you all know how it goes... I am hoping to take some pictures.!!!

Fun at State Finals

2008-09-01T20:12:00.002-05:00

Keyhole, not suppose to step on the lines.. oops

I'm so retarded!! It was hot!!

Look at that turn!!

Aint she cute? She did so well!!

Ok, so for the first five days of my vacation, I spent it with Candice and Tyler. I flew in on Wednesday night and Thursday morning we drove to Wenatchee for state finals. Same as every year, but this was the first year for the new organization. PSHA... It was so much fun. Most of the same people that we always ride with, minus a few! Candice rode all the events, well most of them, and because a lot of the juniors didn't come, Tyler got to ride too. She did so good and I think that she had fun. Me, well all I did was goof off. That is what I am good at. Besides, I was on vacation. I did clean out the stalls at the end of the weekend though. That is my job. I always do that for them while they are getting the horses ready and stuff. We had such a blast. We laughed, we joked, we drank, but not a lot, we played, we slept, a little. But it was so much fun. I hope that I am able to go back next year. That is my goal. I want to take those 5 days off every year.

So the second half of my 10 days was spent with my family. It was Mom and Dads 50th anniversary, and most of the family was there. Bruce and Ann were not able to make it, but I guess they had an excuse. Silas was born like 3 weeks before. Mom said that he is really cute. So they were unable to make it. But that was fun too. I stayed and Rob and Cori's on Marcy's floor. I could have had a real bed at mom's but sometimes it is just more fun to crash and have a sleep over. Anyway, I am waiting for Emma to send out all the pictures she took, so when that happens, I will add them to the blog. I heard they turned out really good. So, we shall see.

Anyway, now I am back home and back into work. I moved again. You should hear about the crap I have gone through... Goodness. I think I just want to sleep for a little bit... Anyway... next post....

I'm on Vacation!!!!!

2008-08-12T12:04:00.004-05:00

As of 1100pm last night, I am officially on vacation. I so need to take some time off and the most cool part about it all, I am goin home!!!! It is once again time for state finals and I get to go with Candice again this year. I don't ride, but I have just as much fun working in the arena and laughing and goofing around!
This team will not be together this year, but I have heard the new team is just as good if not better. I am so excited. And then, it is mom and dads 50th. Wow, 50 years is a long time to put up with the same person. No wonder I am not married. There is no one the would put up with me for that long. I would either kill them by making them laugh to hard, or they would get sick of me. :) Oh well, I am still happy with where I am at.

I am so excited!!!!! I will hopefully be able to get some good pictures to post on here and have some good stories...

Headache!!

2008-08-07T18:15:00.002-05:00

I wish I had a picture for this one. Ok, mental image..... close your eyes and picture the cartoon character the Tazmanian Devil. See him going around destroying everything he sees and now picture his buddy, whoever, sitting there pulling his hair out not sure what to do about it and actually having to admit that there is nothing he can do about it. Taz is going to destroy what ever is in its path. Ok, now, picture me being the one sitting on the side of the road pulling my hair out.

Life sometimes has its way of beating the crap out of you and there seems to be no answer for how you are going to handle it. And then someone reminds me that God never gives us anything that we can't handle! Today is one of those days that I would love to just beat the person senseless that said that to me. I don't know if I can handle this one. Ever had those days where you think that God forgot about you? I know he didn't, but there are times it feels like that. I know that what doesn't kill me is suppose to make me stronger. But, come on! When I feel like all I want to do is lay down and go to sleep, I think that I have just about had it.

Ok, so those are my negative issues. I know this should be a happy outgoing blog, but sometimes a person just needs to vent!

LIfe as we know it!!

2008-08-06T19:21:00.002-05:00

Ok, so yes, I got all the stuff off of my old lap top and my new laptop has arrived and let me just tell you..... It is so awesome!! I love it.. IT is well worth the money I am paying for it.

Next, I am back at IAH. Remember my favorite saying "God must love stupid people cause he sure did make a lot of them," well, here I am faced with it again. I feel as though I am in high school and my best friend stole my boy friend and we are fighting about it. I thought that I left that behind. Nothing has happened for me to even feel this way, so don't get excited anyone, NO I don't have a boy friend, and my best friend is still my best friend. I was just using that as an example! I didn't think with it being 95 degrees outside that the "air" could be so cold. But apparantly when someone thinks you have done something wrong in this town, they don't hide their feelings about you. But you know what I have learned through all of this? It doesn't matter what other people think. I am who I am and I am going to be who I want to be and if they don't like me.... well, oh darn. SUE ME!!!!! No one has to be happy with me but me!

So, life is still a little crazy. It is funny though, we found a house over by EFD and now both of us will be working at IAH. Yeah, Austin quit his job and is going to work for one of the contractors here. It will all be good and we still like where we live, and so does Taz, so it is all well.

On a good note, next week I am going home for 10 days. I am so excited. I am going to go to state finals with Candice and then it is my parents 50th wedding anniversary. Most of the family will be there and it is going to be fun. So, I am taking 8 days off from work. It is funny, I have only been here for 6 months, but I need a break!

SO, since I am at work right now, I will post more later.. One day I will get my camera back and I can take some more pictures.

Til then!!!!

Crazy Life

2008-07-24T19:41:00.002-05:00

Ok, so life is so crazy, I don't even know how to handle it sometimes. I did however find out that I can get all my stuff of my hard drive of the computer that TAZ felt the need to spill ice tea on and so when my new computer gets here, I can transfer it to that and have everything. That made me so happy, I just wasn't sure what to do with myself.

Then next, well it is back to IAH for me. So, they moved me to EFD to help out and then said it was permanent, and now, they have decided that they want me back at IAH. Ok, that is not how it really happened. But let me put it to you this way, this is my favorite new saying

"GOD MUST LOVE STUPID PEOPLE, CAUSE HE SURE DID MAKE A LOT OF THEM!"

There are people in this company that have made me ashamed to be a part of DHL at the EFD station. I can not believe that there are people that get away with the things that they say and do and no one does anything. I have never been associated with anyone that has been as rude as our office ops agent to anyone. She is amazing and when I, as the supervisor, stepped in to put a stop to it, she goes off on me and eventually it leads to me begging to get out of EFD. I tell you, it is better for me to go back to my original station, but the way things went down here was not cool. But I tell you what, the email that Nate sent out to my bosses and the bosses at IAH, was a total slap in everyone's face at EFD who have decided to make a sport out of going after me. For a few minutes I began to wonder if I had done anything to bring this on and then I read that this afternoon. He told me that he wanted me here for one reason and that was to turn this stations night sort around. He then told me that I did that and had accomplished that task with flying colors and he promised me it wouldn't be forever and it was all good.

So, I just found a house across town closer to EFD and I now find myself driving back across town to my old station. But oh well. Another saying I like is "everything happens for a reason."

SO, on that note.... Holy Cow! has anyone been watching the weather down this way? I have just been through my first hurricane warning. It didn't get close to us, but we did get some great thunderstorms and lightning and rain and oh it was cool. I love the rain and I love thunderstorms. And the cool part is that when it rains here, like today, it accumulates like snow. Ok, so when you are driving it is not cool. But, it is cool. I just want to run around outside in it. But nope, I am being responsible and sitting at my desk at work. Notice I didn't say working!!! :)

Slacker!!!

2008-07-18T17:44:00.002-05:00

Ok, I am a slacker. I know this cause I check into this just about every day and I don't take the time to post more. I have been really busy and since Taz decided it would be funny to spill ice tea on my laptop, the only place I check in is at work. So, here I don't have pictures to add and I don't have a whole lot of time. But today, I am taking the time.....

It has been busy. We found a duplex to rent. 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, back yard... it is way cool. It is so nice to have the space and be able to shut our doors and be quiet. It is about 10 minutes from work and that is nice too. I push that limit a little too much some times. I know it is closer, so I wait to get ready longer. Duh, I still have to get there.

I finished another class. Now I have just less than 10 1/2 months left and I am done. Still have my beautiful straight "A" average. It is so cool. I am now taking a class called juvenile justice and I love it. That is where I want to head when I am done with school. Don't get me wrong, I like my job, but sometimes.......

My puppy is good. As obnoxious as he usually is.... and I have been debating on trading in my truck. I don't really need it and the gas is getting high... we shall see. Plus, it could end up being cheaper.

But for now... HI everyone. I will do better.

Update on Taz!

2008-07-02T15:50:00.002-05:00

So, I am so excited that we got to bring Taz home a couple of weeks ago and I thank my father for the help he gave me to be able to have him in the puppy hospital. But now, I regret to inform you that he may not live long enough to help me pay my father back! You see, he is back to normal. Rowdy, out of control and living up to his name. If you have noticed, I don't have pictures on here recently. One reason is that my laptop has been having issues and I finally got it fixed last week. Well, so I was about to put a post up and I went to grab my computer and Taz is licking it. I grab it from him and realized that he has spilled a glass of ice tea on it. SO!!! It is now dead for life. The only thing I am hoping is that I will be able to have someone get the info from my hard drive or I have lost all my pictures and all my school stuff for the past two years.. I am so happy with him. Oh wait, this morning, he aparantly is mad at me, he peed on my bed. I love him I do, but let me tell you, if we had not just found a bigger house that has a fenced yard for him to run around in, he would be going out to foster care for awhile. :)!!

So, anyway, I will update you all more when I figure out what to do about my computer and post pictures of our house when I get my camera fixed and all that stuff. Life of having a puppy!

OK, OK, OK

2008-06-22T16:44:00.002-05:00

Today is sunday and we get to go pick up TAZ at 600pm. We are so excited. I have cleaned the house from one side to the other, we have done the laundry and we even think that we found a new place that has 3 bedrooms and a fenced back yard for the little man to run free in. We are so excited. We will each have our ouwn rooms and our own space and extra space for our friends when they come to have the BBQ's!!! It is so exciting. Things are going great and I am so excited to go get my puppy and bring him home.

There was something else I was going to tell you all, but right now, it just left my brain. The problem with that is my brain isn't that big or that developed, so if I lost it, it is gone!!!! and I mean for GOOD!!!. Shoot... what was it.. It was good too. That is all I remember about it. Wow, they do call me shortbus for a reason.

Oh well, maybe at some point in my life time it will come back to me.... For now, TAZ IS COMING HOME!!!!!! Thanks Dad. Love ya.

Update on Taz!!

2008-06-20T21:15:00.002-05:00

He has a 60% chance that my little baby is going to make it. We have been praying hard and hoping and hoping and today he is more responsive and all that stuff. He is still not eating, but he has an IV, so he is getting what he needs. So, it is time to fumigate the house and clean everything that he has ever thought about touching so that when we get to go get him next week, he will be able to come home and not get sick.

WOOHOO!!!!! I am being positive and hoping more and more each day!!

EFD

2008-06-19T23:26:00.003-05:00

SO, remember me going to EFD for just a short time to help pull the station out of the depths of despair??? Well, Nate and I have yet to come to an understanding, but it looks as though this will be my home for awhile. Until he rips me from here to send me somewhere else. It is nice to know that he has that much faith in me to send me to the stations that are the problems and let me take them over. Remember, I am just a supervisor, but he pretty much lets me have the night sort and all that. And, all the hard work that Chad and I have put in, is starting to pay off. I think. We went through and integration of dock workers and contractors, well we are still going through it, but I think, once the IC owner gets of his high horse and learns a little, that they will actually be ok. But there have been a couple of times that we have all wanted to lock him in a can and send him to somewhere like Malaysia. Anywhere but here.

So, EFD is slowly changing it's name from Every F!(@&^*&@#in Day, to .... I don't know.. something a little more positive. When I figure it out, I will let you know.

I like my job and what I do and it is fun to get to know new people and try to figure them out and get them on your side. It is also been proven to me in the past few days, sorry men, but some men just have crappy attitudes. I want to beat a few of them. But, if you keep the positive one and don't let them get to you, they will eventually change to the way you think!

Poor Taz

2008-06-18T22:36:00.002-05:00

So, you have all seen pictures of my puppy. I am sad, because he is in the puppy hospital with a 30% chance of coming home. We are being very optimistic and saying he is going to pull through. He got sick with parvo and I don't know how yet, but because he is a little older than most puppies that get it, he has a little better chance. He is still attentive and responsive too, so that is a good sign also. I didn't realize just how attached to him I was until the doctor told me that today and I had to leave him there. Sometimes it just sucks. And with the week that I am having, it is just one more thing and I am having a hard time dealing. It is a good thing that I have friends I can talk to and friends that I can count on to be there for me. Without my friends, I would be no where.
So thank you for being my friends.

E.F.D.

2008-06-07T18:28:00.002-05:00

So, I don't have pictures for this one, but I just had to tell you a story.

When I moved here to this great place called Houston, it was on the recommendation from Nate Reed. He was the District Manager in Spokane for DHL when I worked for the franchise there for 12 and 1/2 years. Well he is here in Houston as the reginal manager and he gave me this glowing recommendation. Which I have thanked him for many times.. Until now.... Knowing him is not always a good thing. He is a great guy, don't get me wrong.. but because he has known me for 10 years and knows that I do not like to fail and that what ever he gives me I will not do it half heartedly and will fight to the DEATH to make it work.. Jerk!!!! So my original station here is called IAH! And I love it there. It runs itself. I have a great crew and the IC's there are for the most part decent. And I have made some friends there. So, I guess he decided that I needed a challenge..

So, EFD was slowly but surely going to hell! Literally. They fired the two night supervisors and they were losing dell laptops all the time and it was just a mess. So, he tells them to send me. At first I was going to smack him into next week. Then when I got here, he sits me down and says, "I need you to be my eyes and ears." He explained the situation and I felt a little better. He said it wasn't permanent, but he needed me here. So, what the jerk, said in the nicest possible way, didn't tell me was that the next week I would be on my own at night because they fired the other night supervisor. So here we are in "HELL" with one sup in the morning and one in the evening. ME!!!!! Ok, here is the problem with this... there is no ventilation in this fine building.. I have not had a full crew yet which puts me out in the warehouse sweating my tail off every night and working harder than I have in a while, and it puts me doing things that I have never done before and have had to learn the hard way....

Ok, did you know that one person or staion for DHL can tank the region every night in one week in a different aspect??? I had thought about it, but now I know for a fact. And it sucks... But let me tell you, I am so frustrated with the things that we have failed on that I won't let them send me back to my own station until this one is so perfect you will be able to eat off the floor of the building!!!!!!! I hate to fail. And Nate knows that and that is why he put me here in the first place. It is a great compliment for him to send me some where that is falling into the pits of dispair with the knowledge of knowing that I can do it. And after all of his emails this week that said "what in the heck happened last night for you to fail the entire region again on this part," He send me one today that said, "thanks, you are doing a great job!" and the guy under him sent me what is called a "rapid Rewards" which is basically a thanks also but in the form of me ordering something from the company. So, all the sweat and tears and yes, sorry, cussing under my breath, is starting to pay off and one day, this place will not be known as Every F*&^)*&^ing Day!

Happy Birthday to me!!!!!!!!

2008-06-02T12:35:00.002-05:00

SO, today is my birthday.... And it is a good thing that no one had a camera yesturday. We went to dinner at the Texas Roadhouse with some friends of ours and it was really good. So we are eating and my friend gives me a present. Well, she thought it was funny. It was a GPS! Did I tell you guys about the amount of times I have gotten lost here? I used to be so good at finding places and now it is getting better, but that was just funny. OK, but the next thing.... Her daughter thought this was great and it was the reason that they picked the place. Here come all the waitress' with a saddle on a saddle stand.. And I have to sit in the saddle and wave a towel around like it was my lasso every time that they screamed... Talk about embarrassing. But very funny.
So on Saturday we went and floated on the Guadalupe's (?) river. It was a total blast. But a little too long. 8 hours is a long time to be stuck in the water with no way out but float to the end. But, it was a lot of fun. And I am not the one that is the most burnt this time. I learned my lesson. Austin got it the worst. He bit it on the first rapids and tore up his body. And he didn't use sunscreen this time, so he is burnt to a crisp. But, we still had fun.

And, Today, I have 364 days of school left. That is less than a year.... WOOHOO!!!!!!!

Sunday!!!

2008-05-22T13:40:00.003-05:00

So, saturday I check my posts and Tifani says "hey you are in Spokane".. So I call and make a plan to go see here and meet her family! For those of you who know her, she put the "respectable" picture on her blog, so I chose the one that shows who we really are. This is us and the way I have always known us to be. So I have known Tifani since I was 20. She was a missionary in our ward when I was in college and I hung out with her and her companion Sister Elizabeth DeWitt all the time... It has been since they went home that I have seen them. Pretty much 19 years ago and it took me moving to Houston to find out that she was in Spokane and has been for the past 6 years. How crazy is that?! Anyway, I get to her house about 630 or so and they have a house hold. Their BFF's were there and they are a riot also. The ODonnells, I can't spell.. not sure how that is. And then she has a meeting, so I play a game with Ben, Rachel, Larry, and I am a loser and can't remember their friends first name... I am a loser.. sorry guys!!! But it was funny. I don't even remember the name of the game, but it was a blast. I laughed so hard. That is what I did this weekend. And then here is the kicker.....

Their home teachers walk in. Husband and wife... so I am sitting at the table and I lean back to say hi and look at the wife. I say hi, sit back up and then lean back again. Here stands a girl that I knew from the island. When we lived on Bainbridge Island, her family lived on the penisula and her sister was dating my brother. There in front of me stood Lisa Smith. IT was so funny. Tifani goes.. you do not know each other. I said. well yeah we do. It was so funny. It is a small world.

Needless to say, I didn't leave their house until 10pm, got to my hotel about 11pm, and you guessed it, my alarm went off at 400 am and my plane left at 550am. It wouldn't be all that bad, but I had to work that night and got off the plane at 130 to be to work at 300!! I got home that night about 1230am.. ok the next morning.... I am not as young as I used to be. But that was ok, cause I thought I could sleep the next day. What ever.. you guys see that thing on the side of my blog that says "I must be crazy?" Well, yeah, school does not wait for me to sleep. Then they sent me to another station on tuesday night and I didn't get home til 130am to get up at 500 am and go to work with Austin so that I could take him to the airport.. Yeah, we didn't coordinate our vacations very well.

So, all in all. I had a great weekend and I had a blast surprising people and seeing people I hadn't seen in the past 20 years. It is great that friendships last forever... Love you Tif!!!

more adventure of last weekend! Saturday!

2008-05-22T13:28:00.002-05:00

Mom's brothers and sisters

My older sister... we think so much alike

The moon from my brothers house

Ok, so I left Colville about 200pm and headed to Spokane for the next surprise on my list. I was excited. Kevin knew that I was there, but no one else. So I drive down to mom and dad's and as I pull in the drive I see this small ugly red car. Not thinking much about it, I park and they are all outside and I get out and go to the top of the stairs and say " can I use the bathroom?" I thought my mom was going to die. And as I look down, there sits Sherlyn. The oldest of us kids and she says.. "good thing we showed up first!!!" Her and Bob had the same idea and didn't tell anyone and just showed up at the house. Look at us go. We are so funny. So that was a blast. Not only did I get to see my family, but I got to see my sister that i had no idea I was going to get to see. My uncles and aunts are a riot and it was so much fun. I laughed and laughed til my guts started to hurt. And then, it was on to do some homework. Life still goes on whether i am home or not.

I spent the afternoon with them and then migrated the 100 yards up the hill to take over my niece's bed. She is so awesome about letting me just move in whenever I want to.

Then sunday morning.. so I get to bed about 1200 midnight and I told mom to call me and I would come to breakfast. Ok, so I am still a kid and I am thinking like 900am.. Oh HELL NO! it was 700am!! it was so funny. I was sound asleep and she woke me up and reminded me I told her to. SO I roll out of bed, fall down the stairs, grab my keys and tell Rob, in a very sleepy voice, "i'm going to moms for breakfast." He is laughing and then I tell him that I am to lazy to walk, so I am driving the 100 yards. Which made him laugh harder. So I get to moms and I fall up their stairs. My eyes are not even open yet.. I go into the kitchen and tell them they get me how I am and they will like it. My uncle gives it a few minutes and says " I really wish you would have combed your hair before you came here!" He is such a retard... I told him he was lucky I brushed my teeth. It was too funny.

So while everyone went to church, I did my home work. And them came sunday afternoon.!!!!

How to Cram 10 days into 3!!!

2008-05-22T13:04:00.007-05:00

Ok, so here we go. It is Thursday night the 15th and I am at work in Houston. I finally get done about 1100pm.. I fly home, jump into bed thinking, "sweet" I will get at least 41/2 hours of sleep. That alarm going off at 330am was not something to be excited about. Well, except for the fact that when that alram goes off, I am on my way outta here and headed to Washington to cram as much into 3 days as I can. SO, thinking 4 hours will be good.. of course with the excitement of seeing Candice and Tyler and surprising my mother and father, I DID NOT get those 4 hours. In fact, I saw the clock turn 130 and I think I was going to scream.. So when 330 came and my alarm went off... I got up just fine, cause I was so excited... but as soon as I hit the plane, that left at 630am... I was out like a light. I had homework to read on the flight, and HAHAHA, that didn't even get opened. I slept on the first leg to Denver, and then changed planes and slept the rest of the way to Spokane. When I landed in Spokane, it was only 1030 am and since I am 2 hours ahead of them, that meant I had been awake since 130am. Oh goodness was it going to be a long day. But, I didn't care.

So, I get off the plane, grab my rental and I am off to the north to go to lunch with Candice and Shannon, to get my hair cut and highlighted and to surprise Tyler. She had no idea I was coming home. It was so cute. Shannon went and picked her up from school and brought her to where I was getting my hair cut. She came in and immediately went to talk to her cousin that was there and I snuck up and said "hey"! She grabbed me and held on for dear life and cried. She is 9.. it was so cute. just about everyone in there had tears in their eyes. That night, I spent with them watching Tylers softball game and the next day we went to the Arden Oldtimers Rodeo which Cnadice competes in every year... I didn't get to watch much of that because it wa time to surprise my family!

Saturday at the BEACH!!!!

2008-05-15T14:10:00.004-05:00

So, here we are, late friday night. I have just come home from work and it is like midnight... Austin asks me what time we are leaving for the beach in the morning. Well, my answer was that Carla and Danni would be here at 830. We both just about died. I was so tired. The plan was to leave by 900am, but Danni has a problem being late, so we lied!!! :) Anyway, the 900am turned out to be for us. They call and say they are here and we aren't even ready. It was too funny. Then the laughter begins. We pile into my truck. 2 coolers, 4 chairs, Taz's Kennel, and Taz with the threat that if he pees on someone, that is it for him. He will ride all the way in the kennel in the back. He must have listened, cause he was a good boy. So, off we go. It is about an hour and a half to Galveston and had we not stopped twice, it would have been a little faster, but for some reason, we can't hold it that long. We are getting old or something. Anyway, we get there and the first thing we do is get on the ferry to Bolivar Island. No real reason, just to say we did. It was cool. I have been on many ferries before, but this one was like ant size compared to the ones in Seattle. But it was fun anyway. And even more fun when the seagull pooped on Austin's head. I was trying not to laugh, but I couldn't. And then everyone joined in, including him. Then it was off to east beach. Backed into a spot, dropped the tailgate and set up our spot. It was way fun. We parked about 3 miles from the bathroom and of course about every 30 minutes one of us had to go. You would think we learned. But, um that is a big I don't think so. Anyway, we spent the day laughing and playing catch with the football and taking Taz in the water, which by the way he loved, and just hanging out with friends. It was awesome. I am paying the price though. The sunscreen I bought, well I guess you have to use it to make it work!!! Ooopss.. I knew there was something wrong. But, oh well, it was a great day.
Just wanted to share my saturday with you all.

School woes!!!

2008-05-05T13:45:00.002-05:00

So, right now I am working full time, and going to school full time. I am getting my Bachelors online with the University of Phoenix. It is tough. I have a new class every 5 weeks. That is the awesome part. It goes by so fast. I can't believe that last week I ended one class and today I am starting week 2 in another class. In some ways, it is very cool and makes the time fly, in other ways, I want to just about pull my hair out. There are days that I struggle wondering if I should just keep going or if I should take a break. A long break. Right now, I have just over a year left. And then, I get my grade from the class I just finished. I always stress about my papers that I write, cause I just suck at english and that kind of stuff... So, I always wonder if I will be able to keep up the grades that I am getting. I procrastinate on writing my papers, usually til the day they are due and then the comment that comes out of my mouth is "well it is done, don't know if that is what they want and it isn't very good, but it is done." And then like I said, I get my grades. Believe me, I spent a little time in class everyday, but I still take breaks and play on the weekends and all that. And I must brag a bit now.... I have been going to school since September of '06 and I have a straight "A" average. A few A-'s, but it is still in the "a" bracket. WOOHOO!!!! So once I get my grades, I relax a little and realize that in 392 days, I will be done!!! And a little in debt, but done! So, in the end of the day, it is all worth it. I think!!!

More Laughter

2008-05-03T12:21:00.002-05:00

Ok, so this is kind of funny. I work nights and Austin works days. So, he gets home long before I do and is usually asleep by the time I get here. So the other night, I get home. It is 1220 am, I am tired and it has been a long night. I get to the door and it is locked. NO big deal. Right. I put the key in and turn and nothing. We have two locks on our door and one can be opened from the outside and one can not. Get the picture. I spend half hour calling him on his two different phones and I get no response. I could be mad about this time, but I am not. I am actually laughing at the whole situation. I think the tired part was playing a big part in that. So, I knock on the windows and the door and call some more and finally I leave him a message that says, "if you can't find me when you wake up, I am asleep in my truck." About 3am I get a phone call. He can not believe that he locked me out. I was laughing. He felt so bad, was apologizing all day. And then, last night, he did it again. Poor guy. It was pretty funny. He woke up pretty quick last night though. I have to give him a hard time about it. Usually when he goes to sleep, he is out! Life is too short to be mad at the little things and if we didn't get along so well, I would have been mad, but nah.... He just owes me big time. :)

Have I told you guys just how much I love it down here?

Talk about Retarded!!!

2008-04-30T17:19:00.002-05:00

Ok, so on saturday I was hanging out with a friend of mine. And for those of you who know me, I can be a little retarded and I love to laugh and make fun. So, we were out running errands and my friend has been telling me since I met her that she is a true redneck and loves to live in the sticks. Which, since I have gotten to know her, that is the truth. So anyway. We are at home depot. And you all know about those self check out lanes right?! Well, I have never used one. Not cause I can't, just cause I'm lazy probably. Anyway, I decided to make fun of her when she walked over to the self check out lane. Mind you, this girl has a computer, but it is not hooked up, doesn't really know how to use it, has to ask questions about her cel phone, and just a little computer illiterate. So, I commence to tease her about knowing how to use the self check out lane. Well, she gets up there and the lady from the store has to come over and get it started for her. So of course I am laughing hysterically behind her and she is about ready to slap me. (just so you know, there was something screwed up with the machine, but I didn't allow that to be the problem, I just kept teasing her). Anyway we get done and she is just so --oh whats the word--- she couldn't believe I was laughing at her. So as we are walking out, I finally admit that I have never used one and would have to read the instructions to be able to and she did hit me then. But what is the kicker... as we were walking out, I tripped over the speed bump as we were crossing the lane outside the front door. Now, because I was laughing so hard and her hitting me for never using the self check out lanes, I was laughing so hard when I tripped, that i had to go sit down before I wet myself. I sat there laughing for about 5 minutes. People were walking by trying to figure out if I was ok. I had tears in my eyes from laughing so hard. Those of you who know me... well, ok, most of you haven't seen me in awhile... I have a tendency to drag my feet and not pick them up when I walk.... That is all that needs to be said about that.

I love to laugh.

AHHH IT'S HOT

2008-04-24T12:52:00.002-05:00

Ok, so it isn't what you are thinking.. I know the weather is hot, but that is not what I am talking about. Most of you know that I was forced into menopause a few years earlier than the normal female, through surgery. For those of you who didn't, well now you do. Anyway, one of those downfalls is hot flashes.. My shot I get once a month usually does pretty good, but not this week. At first I thought I was sick. And yes, the weather outside has take a turn for the hotter, which I am having to get used to, but the hot flashes... holy cow.. IT really does suck to wake up and realize that your hair is standing on end because of how much I was sweating during the night. And right now, my hair is getting pretty long. So you can just imagine what that looked like.. And no, I won't be adding a picture, use your imagination.

Anyway, just felt that need to share that.. It is hot.. even with the air in the house on. Can you imagine what July and August are going to bring me!!! Hopefully by then I will be used to the heat.... HAHA

The little Monster!!!

2008-04-22T13:50:00.003-05:00

So, This is what Taz does for fun. He is worse than a 2 year old. Ok, how would I know that? Just remembering my younger brothers and sisters when they would get into anything and everything and frustrate me to no end. But I do have to say one thing in their behalf... at least they didn't pee on the floor, the bed, my pillows, chew on our shoes, chew on anything he can find that isn't his..... I think I may have to call in the experts... I know he is still a puppy and he is so cute... but that is our problem. We spoil him and he knows it. What to do!?

SUN!!!

2008-04-20T20:39:00.003-05:00

ok, so I told you a little about the crawfish festival we went to yesterday. I just thought I would add a little bit. It is in Old Spring and they close down one of the streets, should do both, but just one, and there are booths with drinks, crawfish, all kinds of food, and it was a blast. There are motorcycles all up and down the streets. Some really cool bikes. Some friends that I met here live close to there and we all just met up and started walking around. I love the sun. It was like 95 degrees yesterday, but it wasn't really humid, so we got some good sun and was able to have fun without being too muggy and hot.

I have been here for a little over 2 months and I love it. This picture is not from yesterday, but this was the cool view of downtown one morning way earlier than I normally get up. This day also turned into a beautiful one. I have got to take more pictures. Things here are cool. Definitely what I needed. A change, a new start, and a new place. I never thought that I would ever have the guts to actually pack up and move, and I did it and I am glad that I did it. It hasn't always been that easy, but it is the right decision. Yesterday taught me just how cool my new friends are and just how much I miss the ones back home. But no matter where I am, they are always going to be there for me.

The little man

2008-04-20T18:58:00.004-05:00

Ok, so Taz is a little spoiled. He has a hard time whenever we get ready to go anywhere and the plans are not to take him. We take him most places, but there are some places, like work, that he just can't go. Once he learns how not to mark his territory everywhere, then maybe we will think about it again. :)

So anyway, I was getting ready to go to work and this is what he did, thinking that it was going to stop me from getting out of the house. He is so cute. Thinks he owns the place.

So yesturday we went to what is called the Crawfish Festival in Spring Tx with some friends of ours. As we were getting ready to leave, Carla called and said that we could bring Taz as long as he is on a lease. Holly, her daughter was bringing her dog, so we took him. He was is such heaven. We were out there for about 4 hours and he was so wiped out when we brought him home. He had a blast and at one point, I had to carry him because he is so spoiled. We got more attention having him with us. It was a blast. He is so cute. The festival was fun too. I tried crawfish. It isn't bad...

Right now, he is going nuts... running back and forth, crewing on everything that he can get his hands on. But, he is so much fun.

Taz!! And boy does he live up to his name

2008-04-13T22:03:00.003-05:00

Look at him. He has taken over the bean bag chair. He thinks it is his. He is so cute. But now he has to learn that he is not aloud to mark his territory all ove the house. Come on now. I think that part of his job here is to teach me more patience. Or teach me some at all. He is so cute. Oh wait I already said that. He makes me laugh. Loves to lick and bite and we are teaching him that his toys are ok with that but our hands and toes don't like it so much. He is already spoiled rotten and he's only been here since monday night.

I am glad that he is part of the house hold now and everyone that has seen him says he is so cute. No wonder he gets away with everything. It is so hard to be mad at him very long because of that. But that does not mean I condone the peeing in the house...

Oh how sweet it is!!!

2008-04-07T13:55:00.002-05:00

Do you know just how much I love the sun? It is the beginning of April and I am outside riding my bike and playing basketball. The high is like 84 today. I would never have known just how much I love the sun and being able to be outside all the time if I had not moved here. Yes, I knew I loved being outside, but it is just so much better if my nose hairs aren't frozen as soon as I step outside. And yes, I know that come the summer and it is 100 degrees with 100% humidity that you all up north are going to be just laughing at me... But, for now, I love it.

And, my puppy will be here tonight!!! WOOHOO!!!

New Addition to my Family

2008-04-03T11:02:00.003-05:00

I am so excited. This little man is joining my family. I have missed Candice's dogs since I have been gone from Washington, but here is one of the babies from McCoy and our friend Missy's jack Russell. Isn't he cute? I named him Taz. They say that he has a little spunk and he runs and jumps into Missy's arms. I'm so excited. He will be here Monday night. A really good friend of mine is bringing him down on the the plane with him. Tyler, Candice's daughter is holding another one in the background. I miss these guys. Tyler is funny. She chews me out every time she calls me and tells me she is mad at me for moving away. Candice has always told me that if I feel like I need to have kids, I can just borrow Tyler. I am excited to see them when I go and visit. Moving away from everyone and everything you know is hard. But my friends are still there for me and I talk to them all the time. I am so excited to get my puppy. Can we count how many times I have said that now?! Well, it is off to work.

Challenges

2008-03-30T15:43:00.003-05:00

Did you know that no matter how HARD you try or how hard you think you are trying, that everything is not that easy? I doesn't matter if you think you are doing the right things and trying to do the right things, there is always going to be things that get in the way and side track you and make you think it is ok when deep down, you know that it is not. I guess that is when I need to sit back and remember all that has been given to me and to everyone else and be grateful for the freedom of choice that I have and also the ability to recognize the stupid things that I do and change them and learn from them. I need to remember the beauty that God has given us here on the earth and remember His statement of He never said it would be easy, but He did say it would be worth it.

Missing from home!

2008-03-28T10:26:00.000-05:00

One of the things I miss the most from back home is my best friends puppy. Well ok, when I lived at her place, she has 5 horses, one which was at her moms and the rest at her place, and 4 dogs. One that neither of us owned, he just inherited us one day. But, having moved here to the big city and into an apartment, I miss having the wide open spaces and the animals. So, I decided that I wanted a puppy of my own. So here is the father when he was a baby. He was and is so cute. I went with them when Candice bought him and he fit right in. While I was in Colville, he lived with me while Candice was somewhere else and we had such a great time. I miss all the animals. Who would have known that all animals have their own little personalities. Even her horses have senses of humor. I miss the baby, now named junior cause he looks just like his mama, had a funny personality. I miss him following me around while I was in the pasture and laying his head on my shoulder while I was trying to fix the fence. He was so funny. I'd smack him to get him from knocking me over and he'd keep trying.

So, in a couple of weeks I am having one of McCoy's puppy's flown down here. He is a pure bred mini Australian Sheppard (and yes, I flunked spelling) and Candice bred him with a jack russell. I am so excited. The animals have been my kids and sometimes, I think they want more than kids. But the one big difference.... They can't talk back. I am sure they try, but for some reason, I just don't have to listen.!!! :)

Eplanation to the title

2008-03-24T13:11:00.000-05:00

I thought maybe I would explain why I am called "Shortbus" Most of you know what that

stands for right? Well if you don't think of this quote "Mom says I ride the shortbus cause I'm Special!" Now, there are a lot of different ways that can be taken, but don't think to hard on it and take it the way it sounds. I used to drive for DHL Express. Notice the picture and the color. Well, when I was getting ready to move to Colville, I was driving back and forth from Spokane to there doing that route. So, I drove a bright yellow Chevy Astro Van. The guys in Colville started calling me shortbus, one because I was wearing yellow, two the van, and three, I have a tendency to act a little retarded. No I take that back, I have a tendency to act a lot retarded. (and please don't anyone take that the wrong way, I am not trying to be mean to anyone.) that is the way I am. I love to laugh and have a good time and sometimes, well more often than not, I need to be on the short bus, getting kept from licking the windows. Ask my best friend, she will back me up. Or just confirm that I am telling the truth. SO when my brother went to Hawaii, he calls me and says, I found something for you in Hawaii. I thought cool, then he said it has nothing to do with Hawaii. He sent me a key chain that says "Mom says I ride the shortbus cause I'm Special." What are families for.

Moving

2008-03-24T12:45:00.000-05:00

Somtimes family is the best thing to have. Well, I might think that, but I am sure my younger brother could use some time away.

Reed, 26, is the baby of the family and since he didn't have a "real" job at the time, I convinced him it would be tons of fun to drive cross the country in February. I am so funny. I knew that once we got through Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and the corner of Colorado and into New Mexico, we would be set to go. But, boy did I not ever think about the stress that I would feel knowing that someone else was driving my truck with all of my stuff in a trailer behind us. But I have to say, he did a fine job. And he didn't do all the driving. And I was right, once we made it into New Mexico, ok, the day after we made it to New Mexico, things were fine.

I will have to say, if I ever move again, it better be close or I am hiring someone to do it all and flying. Talk about having a sore butt for a few days.

I think I learned something though. I learned that God wanted us to make it here safetly and if you ask Him, He will be there to help. We had relatively good roads the whole way down and made good time.

Merry Christmas to me

2008-03-24T12:32:00.001-05:00

Thought maybe I would post about my fine Christmas present. It will help to understand a little about why I am in Houston and not in Washington state. Things had been getting a little tense at work. So, on Friday the 21st of December, I quit my job. Then on Saturday the 22nd, I was in a little accident.

Now when I say "little" there is a huge amount of sarcasm in that statement.

I was headed east and the kid in front of me decided to hit his brakes. I don't blame him, but I sometimes wonder what the outcome would be if he hadn't don't that. Anyway, on the side of the road two FINE Washington State Patrol officers were parked. Yup you guessed it. I totalled all three.. Now does this have any reason as to why I left the state. Well...... no just kidding. No it didn't. But I do think it slapped me back into reality a little bit. I had two others in my truck and one of the officers was in his car. We all lived with minor injuries and for that I am grateful. So, I guess you could say that in a way Christmas this year was good and bad for me.

But with all this, I am still smilin'!!!