Just a Small Town Girl

Tired

2011-06-02T21:11:00.001-07:00

I am tired of searching for answers. Time to look for more inspiration.

Glad to know that I am not the only one

2011-04-10T21:17:00.000-07:00

That has been a total slacker when it comes to posting...... I read all the blogs that I follow on a daily basis..... there was so much going on with the slide a few weeks ago that I think that's all I was focused on. Hubby's job requires him to go south nearly every day, so this put a slight hiccup in delivery schedules. It didn't make it any better that the crazies were all on the backroads while he was trying to make deliveries to the locals either. He just happened to be out yonder the afternoon of the slide, and he said it was frickin crazy!

My new passion is SUSHI!! Call me a sushi bitch, sushi whore, whatever ya want to call it, I love the stuff!
Ok, so it's not the raw stuff, though I am expanding my horizons with some of the "seared" stuff. I am a huge fan of most of the rolls. Blue Lake Casino and Sushi Spot are my two ultimate favorite places. I think BLC's Sunset Roll, and SS's Vegas Roll or Trinidad Roll are my all-time fav's. I have experimented at home a couple of times making a California Roll, or Bay Shrimp Roll as it is called other places.......it was pretty good, not perfect rice. Still worth the experience, but so much work! I have high respect for my sushi chefs!

My year in review (in pictures) Part 2

2011-01-10T20:16:00.000-08:00

July

I started to play with the settings, and multiple frames per second during Eureka's 4th of July fireworks show over the bay......at one point, I was holding down the button and letting the camera get busy!

August

We started residing the next 2 phases of our house.......hubby did 99% of the work ;)

September

The semi-finished product on side 2, just needs paint (which did get done)

My sister from another mister, aka Hollinator, aka Asshol, aka my BFF Holly!! came back to Humboldt to visit since moving away 4 years ago. We spent an afternoon in Ferndale, and had a hat party!

I was also blessed with meeting and making a new friend, Savannah. I felt an immediate connection with her. Our visit was short lived......damn Humboldt County fog and airport construction! The next time we meet up though (all 3 of us), I am more than certain that we will definitely pick up where we left off!

October

Oh Maxwell......you're such a handsome little guy. You've grown up so much in the last year!

I LOVE Pastels on the Plaza! I almost missed out this year, but I saw a post from a friend on Facebook, and hurried down to Arcata around 5 o'clock and snapped some shots....I really enjoyed this little doggie, leash included around the pole!

November

I went out and supported our Lady Corsairs at their first home game of the season. A young team with only 7 players, the have a heart of gold when it comes to the game!

This little dog comes every couple of months and pays a visit along with my mother in law. The cats don't like it AT ALL. Max is still learning that it is ok to assert his dominance. Hopefully on the next visit things will go better. What makes it worse is that it is only for one day, so just when he gets settled, doggie goes home.

December

Max was well behaved with the Christmas tree this year. I have to give him a lot of credit for not bringing it down to the ground. Here he is enjoying his new toy he got from Santa!

Here's to a great 2011! I look forward to sharing many, many more photos of my adventures!

My year in review (in pictures) Part 1

2011-01-03T18:40:00.000-08:00

January

A 4 year old took my camera and proceeded to take many random photos......This one had me cracking up. She did a pretty good job of centering herself!

February Max and I watched the Opening Ceremonies of the Winter Olympics.....he was pretty fascinated with anything that was moving!

MarchMax is now 7 months old, continuing to grow, and terrorize our 14 year old cat Bubbas.

April

I took my mom up to Agate Beach......it was during high tide, but we still enjoyed our time walking along the beach!

May

Another road trip for mom and daughter....this time we went to Founder's Grove....Working on photos of trees and the ocean for my sister, who recently moved to Alaska. She wanted a little bit of home on her walls!

June
I love our California coastline. This little spot that looks back and Moonstone and Clam Beach is one of my favorite spots!

A year in pictures

2010-12-31T14:30:00.001-08:00

My Top 12 moments of this year, coming soon!

Observations for the week

2010-11-17T19:29:00.000-08:00

A new stoplight at Harris and Central in Eureka?! What a surprise when I came up the hill tonight to go to Winco. Seems strange seeing it there, but then so was the stoplight at 5th and M when it was first put in.....
People seem to be really freaked out around the Mad River bridge construction site. So much that I've been frequently caught behind someone going about 20mph.
The crab are coming! I can't wait for crab season to officially start......although a special kitty won't be here to enjoy, I will be sure to "crack a little for her"

Another month down.....AGAIN!

2010-11-17T19:22:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I just don't get where the time goes! Often I will complain that the week is going by way to slow (as I just did while talking with hubby a few minutes ago), and other times the days just fly by.....
I feel pretty settled into my new job, although there are still many, many things that I need to learn. I like to think of myself as a quick learner, so waiting for things to come up (trainings, return emails regarding questions I have)....leave me quite impatient at times! More often than not, I end up exploring more files, creating my own spreadsheets, and labeling more file folders so I can keep everything straight! I miss the days of controlling my own office supply budget, and if we needed something, I'd do a price comparison and get it ordered! These days, the belt is a little too tight (which I realize is not just MY case). I've become more of an Administrative Assistant with a slash of accounting, coming from a job that was 99% accounting. I STILL would not trade my job for my old one AT ALL right now! I am in a much better place =)

Family

2010-10-17T09:28:00.001-07:00

My 2nd cousin from Virginia was here visiting a couple of weeks ago. Her dad grew up in this area, and she'd never been here (except maybe once as a very small child). I spent one afternoon with her, going out for lunch, going to HSU (so she could buy dad a sweatshirt, he attended HSU), and hitting up Trinidad. Even though she's from the "right coast", she knows that the beaches aren't the same. It was a beautiful, warm day, with only the slightest breeze.
I wish that I would have been able to spend more time with her, a few hours just wasn't enough.....I'm thinking that a trip to Virginia is in order!

Back to school!

2010-08-24T21:55:00.000-07:00

AGAIN! I am starting yet another year of school! I have attended college off and on since 1993. I sure wish I would have stuck with it once I got out of high school....but sometimes ya just get burnt out. If I had spent a little more time taking classes that I would need for just the general ed. requirements, I wouldn't be kicking myself right now.......Although, I will admit I am a much better student today than I was back in 1994! Having a few years of real life experience makes things easier, and my study habits are stupendous!
This semester I am taking 2 classes at CR (which also happens to be my employer ;) ) CIS 1 and BT 17 are 2 classes that I should have had out of the way A LONG TIME AGO!! I am more than a few years past both of these classes, just from trial and error life experiences. I know that I will learn something new, so it's ok! Thankfully these classes are both online, so I don't have to worry about taking time off work to sit in a classroom......
However, once again at the rate I'm going, I am still probably about 2 1/2 years off from my A.A. degree. 2 classes at a time..that's about all I can do!

Best of luck to all students heading back to school this fall!

Cancelled out?

2010-07-06T20:39:00.000-07:00

Today while driving to work in the 101 Safety Corridor, I was passed on the right hand side (yes, I was in the left lane with a few other cars, and we all appeared to be doing the speed limit). Once the car got passed me, I noticed that it had a bumper sticker that read "I drive 25 in Arcata". Ok good, so you obey the speed limit then, right? So why are you driving at least 55 in the Safety Corridor?

Just a quirky thought for the day................

Lazy

2010-06-13T09:29:00.001-07:00

Darn I have been a slacker yet again! But, I know that I am not the only one. My fellow bloggers have been busy as well, so their posts have slacked off too.
Now then, down to business!
After 3 months of "staying at home", I am once again in the workforce! I am glad to be working again. Although it has only been 1 week...I have to admit that I am loving it so far. I have been welcomed with the greatest open arms! My previous job had me in a dungeon (no windows), and now...I can gaze out my HUGE windows and enjoy the weather each day!!! There's even a small window that OPENS!!

That's it for now.....spending time with the family today!

So many memories......

2010-04-23T15:03:00.001-07:00

...to be made with this little guy. I always wanted a white kitty with blue eyes. Max has become quite photogenic..I always catch him in places and want to take his picture, but the lighting isn't always right.

This morning I was able to catch him laying out by the marigolds, which I have been wanting to do for a few weeks. Glad the sun was out to show his beautiful, bright white (and shiny) coat!

I never realized.....

2010-04-17T09:39:00.000-07:00

How hard it would really be to find a job! Ok, so there are plenty of jobs out there, but most of them don't pay worth a crap. Ok, so yes, they are above minimum wage........but I can't really afford to take that much of a hit. Sure can't make the mortgage payment and eat on those wages. In no way do I live above my means...in fact I've already saved money by not being at the mall everyday, influenced by the food smells and shiny lights showing off the latest wares the retailers are selling.

And what is with Obama's American Recovery Act? How is it that a person who has been shoved out of a job doesn't qualify for the Recovery Act? I have to have a kid or be pregnant? I just don't understand! I am unemployed, need a job, want to work, but I don't qualify for the dozens of "government stimulus" jobs that are out there.......

I spend a couple of hours a day searching for "that job"....newspapers, online (every website you can imagine), out in public, and even word of mouth. In the last month I have officially applied for 4 jobs. They all have "application deadlines", and I applied for them the day they opened up. It's crazy to sit and wait. I am not used to it, but it is definitely strengthening my patience =)

Being at home more has given me the opportunity to spend time with my little man, Max. Here is a recent photo of him. He's 8 months old now, and I can't believe how much he has grown. We're pretty sure he's going to be a big boy....not weight wise, but body wise. When he walks you see nothing but muscle!

Ready!

2010-03-18T12:38:00.000-07:00

Other than Tuesday, this week is shaping up to be really beautiful. I took some time for myself yesterday and went out to the beach in Samoa. I don't even know the last time I went out there. The waves were a crashin, that's for sure. It was pretty windy, but I still enjoyed the quiet time to just walk around. Of course I took a few photos too!
There was this one little spot that was kind of like a blow-hole. It was fun to sit and watch....

I wonder where my adventures will take me today, since I feel the need to get out of the house....

Getting back into it

2010-03-10T23:57:00.001-08:00

Bad blogger bad blogger where have you been?
Out looking for a job, being out of work is a sin!

Wow, after 15 years on the job, I am now in the unemployment line. I now realize that I have a little more time on my hands, and should have no excuse to miss out on blogging. I am staying safe with a goal of 1x per week. BUT...I have 2 blogs going, so that adds a little pressure. I CAN do it though, and I WILL!
Check out my other blog, www.casablahnca.blogspot.com, where I search high and low for those houses that make you go, "Did you do that on purpose?"
Today's posting is a gem, full of "brightness"
Back to the small town girl atmosphere, and what I have been up to lately......

All 3 of my "kids" spending quality time outside

Testing out the camera....

Max finally starts to explore the outside world, but would much rather just sit at the door....

My little man Max and I watched the Opening Ceremonies of the Winter Olympics...

What up?

2010-01-31T12:49:00.000-08:00

1. What time did you get up this morning? 7:30

2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Paul Blart: Mall Cop

4. What is your favorite TV show? Law & Order SVU

5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Nothing....I know, it's bad!

6. What is your middle name? Renee

7. What food do you dislike? tofu

8. What is your favorite CD at moment? don't have one

9. What kind of car do you drive? Honda Accord

10. Favorite sandwich? Tri-tip or crab

11. What characteristic do you despise? flaky

12. Favorite item of clothing? jeans

13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? somewhere warm

14. Favorite brand of clothing? don't have a favortie

15. Where would you retire to? Somewhere warm and peacful

16. What was your most memorable birthday? 21st

17. Favorite sport to watch? Basketball (in person, not on TV)

18. Furthest place you are sending this? no idea??

19. Person you expect to send it back first? probably no one since it's on my blog

20. When is your birthday? February 25th

21. Are you a morning person or a night person? depends on what I am doing

22. What is your shoe size? 7.5

23. Pets? 3 cats

24. Any new and exciting news you 'd like to share with us? Not at this time

25. What did you want to be when you were little? a teacher

26. How are you today? Annoyed that the weekend went by so fast

27. What is your favorite candy? Cadbury Mini Eggs

28. What is your favorite flower? Hmmm....

29. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? I don't know!

30. What's your full name? Tami Renee Engman

31. What are you listening to right now? the pellet stove and the tv

32. What was the last thing you ate? crackers and dip

33. Do you wish on stars? not usually

34. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? purple

35. How is the weather right now? Part sunny / part cloudy

36. What is your natural hair color? brown

37. Favorite soft drink? Diet Dr Pepper

38. Favorite restaurant? Olive Garden

39. Favorite color of nail polish? Deep Dark Red

40. What was your favorite toy as a child? Barbie dolls AND Matchbox cars

41. Summer or winter? Summer!

42. Hugs or kisses? Hugs

43. Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla

44. Coffee or tea? Coffee

45. Do you want your friends to email you back? of course

46. When was the last time you cried? About a week ago....missing Lucy

47. What is under your bed? Cat hair?

48. What did you do last night? Relaxed at home

49. What are you afraid of? losing people I love

50. Salty or sweet? both

51. How many keys on your key ring? which one?

52. How many years at your current job? 14

53. Favorite day of the week? Friday

54. How many towns have you lived in? 2

55. Do you make friends easily? Would like to think so

56. How many people will you send this to? just posting it here

57. How many will respond? Probably no one!

Here we go!

2009-12-31T15:02:00.000-08:00

On to another year....
My last post was when?
August 22? WOW!
Yep, these last few months have been crazy busy, and I lost my "list" of things to blog about.
Terrible, right?
Camping, CASA, work, more work, holiday, birthdays, anniversaries, and here was are at December 31st 2009.

What was your most memorable moment of 2009?

Tragically, we lost of beloved Lucy in September. (another reason for lack of posts)

This is one of the last photos I have of her. We put this new window in this summer, just for her.

We'll never be 100% sure what happened to our "baby girl"....but we know that she will have a place in our hearts FOREVER! She either had an asthma attack, or something happened to her heart.

My hubby and I raised Lucy from the day she was born. She was tube fed for a few weeks until she would take a bottle. I was up every two hours (for weeks) to feed her and check on her. She slept on a little heating pad, in a blanket filled box, for quite some time.

We had an amazing 7 years with "Goose" (one of our many nicknames). We always knew she was 1/2 human.....so smart...so charming.....such a little love.

I could go on and on, but I'd start crying again and today is not the day to do that.

One of those "signs" came two months after Lucy was sent to heaven. The hubby and I were out at one of our favorite establishments, and we stumbled upon:

A little bundle of dirty white fur and AMAZING blue eyes. Little Man came home with us, and I took him to the vet the next day to get checked out.
Yikes! He had a diaphragmatic hernia. The vet was not 100% sure that it would be repairable until Little Man was put under and opened up. My anxiety was high all day long. The vet called around 8pm that night, and told us that it was a Y shaped that he was able to repair!

Here is Max last week. We kept his name as Little Man until we could judge his personality.

That's enough for now....time to pack up 2009 and open up for 2010!

First-timer

2009-08-22T11:58:00.000-07:00

So a few posts ago I mentioned that I entered photos in the Humboldt County Fair for the 1st time. I was excited, but knew to not get my hopes up. I figured there would be a tremendous amount of "much better" photos entered, and I didn't stand a chance in hell of placing 1st, 2nd or 3rd.
My mom and I anxiously (well maybe just me) entered the fairgrounds and headed straight for the photography room. (after a quick trip to the ladies room that is.....) I started looking for my photos, was surprised at the photos that were awarded ribbons. Some friends of mine on Facebook also mentioned they were puzzled by the judging criteria. I have to add that I was only paritally biased.. There were definitely some that were better than mine, and they did not place!
How does one find out about the criteria? Do they give "scorecards" to you when you pick up your photos? I did not walk away empty handed though.....Here is my 3rd place photo:

Not too shabby for a first-timer, right?

I can't wait to work on photos for next year....

Another month down.....

2009-08-22T11:36:00.001-07:00

Holy crap! How did it get to be another month since my last post?! Talk about being a horrible blogger! The last month has been filled with plenty of busy time!

I went to a picnic for CASA, taking my 3 year old cousin with me since my CASA kid was out of town. Here's a pic of us hanging out eatin' some grub:

And no, we did not coordinate on our colors for the day! After the picnic, we headed off to an All Star Softball game for my cousin Bailey. It was a great sunny day!

The following weekend I spent an afternoon with my CASA Kid. We decided to head down to Fortuna and walk down Main Street, since it was AutoExpo weekend. I have to mention the fact that I've never been to Autorama or AutoExpo! How horrible is that?? Once I was old enough to "go on my own", I worked on Fridays from 4p-10p and Saturdays from 8a-5p, so it seems like I always missed the "fun stuff" Anywho...here are some of our favorite pics from the day:

The weather was beautiful on both of these days. It was a little windy, but it wasn't too much!

Getting the point across

2009-07-22T10:32:00.000-07:00

My friend Sarah, over at Learning Something New Everyday posted something today that has been on my mind since the beginning of June.

WHERE IS OUR SUMMER?

How irritating is this weather? Last weekend, I spent plenty of time outside, attending a picnic for CASA.....All Star softball game that my little cousin was playing in....... visited the zoo....... did a little grocery shopping...... served beer at the annual Fortuna Rodeo BBQ with my momma...... and even watched the cowboys play in the dirt. The weather was absolutely beautiful, there was a breeze when we needed it.

Then comes Monday, and we are sucked back into this wonderful "Humboldt" weather that us natives know all too well. Does anyone really enjoy using their windshield wipers while driving to work in the morning? And what is it with it being so damn cold at night? I was talking with my cousin yesterday, and she mentioned that their heater came on the other night. When I woke up this morning, I noticed the the hubby had turned ours on when he got out of bed this morning. No wonder I woke up late!!

All this depressing weather leads me to believe that a camping trip is finally needed. Normally, we've already been at least once by now.....scheduling conflicts have kept us at home though. I'll tell ya what though....there is nothing like the peace and quiet of our little camping spot. With the exception of the occasional rug-rat running around the campground, it really is a great place for some r&r. I have this great new chair to sit in now, and I can't wait to set it up at the campsite and RECLINE! No more putting my feet on the table or the fire pit!

Time to leave for work, I have a big to-do list to tackle this week!

What are your thoughts on this "summer weather" here in Humboldt?

Being Fair

2009-07-10T19:46:00.000-07:00

Ha! Got you with the title didn't I???
I've got to come up with more things to blog about....going 2 or 3 weeks in between posts just isn't cutting it!
And by the way, I am still looking for your ugly house photos, folks!! Email your photos, with city / state to beancounterincali@sbcglobal.net.
Now on to "fair".....
I finally got my ass in gear and decided to enter some photos in the Humboldt County Fair this year. While they are not my "best", I am still very proud of them. I look forward to someday catching those perfect moments!

Lookin for something....

2009-06-16T21:56:00.000-07:00

How about a little sunshine in Humboldt??? It's June 16th already, and this weather blows! I have these things called flower pots with seeds planted....and I'd really like stuff to grow! But with the lack of warm sunny days, I am losing the battle.

One thing that does not require sun is my brand spankin new BBQ!! I love love love it, and try to cook everything on there!! Next up will be "beer can chicken"

One thing I am looking forward too is more days at the beach to take photos.....

And some photos in the redwoods....

All in all, I am looking to capture every moment possible for the remainder of the year.

I will also be scouting "ugly houses" for my 2nd blog...www.casablahnca.blogspot.com
Special credit goes to my grade school and high school classmate Sean E =)

Fred...I am here again!

2009-05-29T22:40:00.000-07:00

I can't wait for summer to finally get here. I am really anxious to go camping, even though it involves some work (to shop, pack, load up, etc). I dream of the days that we will have a camp trailer of some sort. I look forward to having the majority of the camping necessities always ready to go. Throw in my clothes, the perishable items and some firewood and we're ready to go!
I’m over the days of partying at Ruth Lake. Besides that, the last few times I was there it was windy and not very enjoyable. I don’t have a houseboat, so Trinity Lake is out of the question unless I go up there with my family.
My little piece of heaven is located in the 6 Rivers National Forest between Weitchpec and Orleans. With only about 20 campsites, this place has all the peace and quiet a woman in her mid 30’s can enjoy. I’m talking about Fish Lake. Overall the trip is about 2 hours from my house, so it is not too far out of the way. However, there is no electricity up there so you could consider this place semi “roughing it”. Most of the campsites are tent only. Running water (for showers, washing dishes, etc.) is available at the entrance to the campground. Better than porta-potty toilets are available in 4 locations.
Fish Lake does not allow motor-boats, so you could call it a do-it-yourself type of lake. It’s not the size of Ruth, Trinity, or Shasta, so it won’t take you all day to row to your favorite spot and back to camp!

Bad Blogger

2009-04-16T20:48:00.001-07:00

Wow...it has been a little over 2 weeks since my last post. Too much time spent on Facebook. Oh well. I also spent plenty of time getting my taxes finished, updating files for 2009 expenses, and taking some well deserved time off to be myself. A break from all of the activities is nice every once in a while.

Happy Birthday!

2009-03-31T09:52:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday to my AWESOME husband Vernon!!

He's 36 today. I've got my food ready to make him a quiet dinner tonight, and a small cookie cake from Mrs. Field's Cookies for dessert.

Tasty!!!

2009-03-19T19:17:00.000-07:00

Here’s a menu of the items I’ll be sampling during A Taste of Main Street.
Tickets are $25, and it’s definitely more than a meal by the time you eat everything!
It’s a fun evening (when the weather cooperates), and it is fun to walk around to all the shops!

Ice cream from Humboldt Creamery @ Vanity

Fudge dipped cherries, truffles, fresh roasted coffee @ Old Town Coffee & Chocolates

Spanikopita (a Greek inspired spinach pie) w/feta & Cypress Grove Chevre w/ layers of
phyllo dough @ Oberon Grill

Chicken tostaditas @ Chapala (they also sell margaritas)

BBQ pulled pork, Mama’s homemade soup, assorted spreads, Mojo pudding
@ Bless My Soul Café

Ice cream and a bakery dessert @ Bon Boniere

Pulled pork in a wonton cup w/ blackberry chipotle bbq sauce and lemon curd cookies
from Mad River Farm, hosted @ The Linen Closet

Humboldt grass-fed beef w/BBQ Sauce, Co-Op deli vegan tex-mex chile, salsa fresca w/ chips,
watermelon mojitos, Co-Op bakery rosemary corn cakes @ North Coast Co-oP

Caesar salad from Curley’s Grill hosted @ Eureka Books

Hor d’oeuvres with a twist @ Hurricane Kate’s

Pizza (and usually a cookie and some soda) @ Smug’s Pizza

Red velvet cake, brown sugar shortbread, coffee @ Ramone’s

Deep fried prawns in cocktail sauce @ Gallagher’s Irish Pub

Cheese from Loleta Cheese hosted @ Ciara’s Irish Shop

Pie from Marie Callendar’s hosted @ Shoreline Gallery

Bagels w/ spreads, and an array of sweets @ Los Bagels

Beer, chips and salsa @ Lost Coast Brewery

Fresh hot caramel corn @ Sea Breeze Candle and T’s

A taste of the Looking Glass House small plates @ Holly GoLightly (it’s next to Oberon)

Coffee and a tasty treat @ Starbucks

Fresh baked bread w/ Roy’s Club Basil Vinaigrette hosted @ Bella Baskets

Hors d’oeuvres w/ Diane’s Sweet Heat Habanero Jam hosted @ Bella Baskets

Praline Pecan Baklava and Shrimp fritters @ Café Nooner

What to do

2009-03-07T15:03:00.001-08:00

Sun is out, wind is blowing. Grass needs to be mowed, car needs to be washed. I have homework to do too. I decided to blow it all off, and dream of...

Being my cat. She has such a grand life.

Eat, sleep, poop, clean, and sleep some more. No worries. When I die, I want to come back as one of my cats!

I did decide to get off my arse and wash the car tonight...at 5:30pm...Not the greatest idea in the whole world, but from the looks of it, I think "she" was way overdue!

Well, at least I crossed one thing off of my list today. Tomorrow I am having coffee with a friend that is in town. Can't wait =)

Making a small change......

2009-02-27T21:53:00.000-08:00

Coming next month...my new link will be www.engmangirl.blogspot.com.

Just a short name change as I am dropping out of the Real Estate World for a little while.
I plan on focusing on my role as a Wife and CASA Advocate with more devotion than in previous years.

I will also throw out there that I am a Notary Public and Certified Loan Signing Agent...if you're in need of a Notary, I just may be your gal =). I will travel in the local Humboldt County area for a reasonable fee, meaning that I can come to you to notarize documents for you!!

Racing against time (the sun)

2009-02-18T09:11:00.000-08:00

I was driving home last night, and kept looking at the sun as it was setting. I knew that I could get some amazing pics once I got off the highway and just down the road from my house. I decided to try snapping a few while driving (one hand one the wheel...)

By the time I got to the road to my house, less than 5 minutes later...

GONE! Now I know that when I see something, I will have to safely pull off the road and snap it then!

2009-02-04T16:06:00.000-08:00

I was tagged over on Facebook, and as Sarah suggested, I am posting my 25 Random facts about me here on my blog.. Enjoy!

This was tough, but I probably took it a little too seriously. I guess I wanted to make sure that my 25 things were truly random....

1. I am a total night owl. I love to stay up late, go to bed and read a book and fall asleep reading it. I read books all the time when I was little, but stopped in high school. Once I found John Grisham, I was hooked into reading all the time!

2. My other favorite authors are James Patterson and Sue Grafton. Once I start a book, I cannot wait to get home, climb into bed and read! One weekend camping, I sat in the sun and read 2 books!

3. I really do not like thunder. I can handle the lightning, but thunder makes me want to hide. I think it is because I am part kitty kat! When I was little I would hide under a blanket during thunder storms.

4. I once saw Faith Hill in her Victoria's Secret silk pj's. I went to her concert, and then got to go on the bus for the Warren Brothers, who opened for her. Faith popped in to tell us that she was going to bed. She was so cute!

5. My dad once told someone that I wanted to be a CPA when I got out of school. I told him he was crazy. He said it was all because I worked with numbers when I was a scorekeeper. Well, I am not a CPA now, but I do still work with numbers ALL DAY, every day!

6. My hubby is still irritated that I have been to Las Vegas (all expenses paid), and he has not.

7. I love to buy Christmas presents as early as possible. Working at a mall....makes me crazy sometimes, that's why I like to stay away when the rest of you are scrambling for gifts.

8. My actual career that I had chosen as when I was little was to be a teacher. Too many years of babysitting the town children turned me off it.

9. I wear earplugs to bed. I can still hear the phone ring, the alarm clock, and my husband snore. The last one is the reason why I wear them.

10. I have what I consider to be a crapload of crafting and scrapbooking stuff, with no projects completed. I have a little bit of a shopping problem. (see #7)

11. I make a killer homemade tartar sauce that I don't give out the recipe for. I've given it to one person, and he's never been able to match it. I'll give you all a hint though, it's from the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook, but I have made it my own.

12. I have always had cats. Note that I said catS. I would not have married Vern if he did not like cats!

13. I am a reality tv junkie. I know most of the shows are stupid, but it makes me feel normal to see others act stupid because they are on TV.

14. I am a computer whore. I am sure there is a nicer name for it, but that's all I could think of. I work on the computer all day at work, and then when I get home I turn on my laptop and surf the night away.

15. I miss my bff so much that I have considered running away to see her. I have not seen her in almost 3 years, and it drives me crazy! I am very thankful for our almost daily online chats!

16. I cry at some of the stupidest things. I even cry when I yawn. Ok, so it's not crying, my eyes water something fierce though!

17. I love it when my husband and I go camping by ourselves. He fishes on the lake all day, and I have 100% quiet time to sit in the sun sipping cocktails and reading. Naps in the middle of the day are frequent and absolutely mandatory when camping.

18. I am still looking for that "1 thing" that I am a master of.

19. I hated crab until I was around 21 years old, and now I kick myself for not eating it sooner. My calico cat likes crab more than most people.

20. The job I have had for the last 11 years requires a degree. But I have had the job for 11 years without the degree (and the pay associated with a degree). Thus my reason for going back to school.

21. I LOVE office supplies. I hate the layout at Staples, it drives me nuts. Giving me the Office Max catalog is like giving a little kid the Sears Wish book.

22. I have had a total of 3 new cars since I have been married. My husband has had 1. He likes to remind me how lucky I am.

23. I have become extremely close with some of my family members over the last 3 years. I love every moment that I spend with them!

24. Being a CASA advocate has been one of the most eye opening experiences I have ever had. It makes you appreciate what you have, and want to give your "kids" everything they don't have.

25. I have a blog that I have been bad about updating. I have found myself spending more time on Facebook, and exploring other people's blogs...they are more interesting than me!

Prayers, Love, & Support

2009-01-27T22:16:00.000-08:00

A fellow Fortuna High School alum of mine is in need of prayers, love and support. His name is Shawn Craig. Shawn and his wife Stacy have two beautiful kids, Ethan and Kayla.

4 year old Ethan, is a very active, sweet boy who loves transformers, star wars, and sports. Ethan was diagnosed with Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma on December 22, 2008 and has been back and forth to Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto ever since. He is receiving treatment at Lucille Packard Children's Hospital.

Two fundraisers have been set to help cover costs for Ethan's family to travel back and forth to Stanford.

The 1st is a the Ethan Craig Medical Fund Fundraiser on February 28 th @ Belotti Hall in Ferndale. Details are posted below:

The 2 nd event is a Walk / Run on April 25 th. Friends and family will be coming together to support the Craig family. Get pledges to run 2, 5, or 10 miles. If you aren't running, you can sponsor someone who is. Pledge sheets will be available by February 1st at Like Nobody Else, Ferndale and Shaw Computers, Fortuna or by email. Contact Nicole Foley at rnfoley@gmail.com or Trina Pockett @ pockettmom@hotmail.com for more information.

I have also been told that a bank account has been set up at US Bank in Ferndale.

And... you can check in on Ethan at http://www.carepages.com/carepages/EthanCraigandFamily

Thank you in advance for anything / everything!

~Tami~

It triggered a happy moment....

2009-01-27T19:44:00.001-08:00

Digging in my purse today I found the pack of gum I bought last week. Gum keeps me from eating everything in sight, so when I don't have any I get mad!

As soon as I opened the pack and smelled the fabulous minty smell, it brought back a cute little memory from last year...

Yes, Lucy is licking, or shall I say trying to eat some Trident gum. I cannot tell you how many times I have caught her digging in my purse! Any cat I have ever had would squint their eyes at the smell of anything mint....

But not our Lucy. If I'd let her, she'd eat it. I started leaving my gum in the car, just to keep her out of my purse!

Another ummm...yeah....ok...Who's to blame here?

2009-01-07T15:42:00.000-08:00

WARSAW (Reuters) - A Polish man got the shock of his life when he visited a brothel and spotted his wife among the establishment's employees.
Polish tabloid Super Express said the woman had been making some extra money on the side while telling her husband she worked at a store in a nearby town.
"I was dumfounded. I thought I was dreaming," the husband told the newspaper on Wednesday.
The couple, married for 14 years, are now divorcing, the newspaper reported.

Well poop...I missed the first notice!

2009-01-05T09:41:00.000-08:00

Mr.Ben [ack@telefonica.net]
ben_mark1230@hotmail.com

SECOND NOTICE.

Greetings,
Happy new year ahead. I understand that through Internet is not the best way to link up with you because of the confidentiality which my proposal demands.
However, I have already sent you this same letter one month ago, but I am not sure if it did get to you since I have not heard from you, hence i am constrain to reach you through the Internet which has been abused over the years.
I wish to notify you again that You were listed as a Heir to the total sum of (Three Million Six Hundred Thousand British Pounds) in the codicil and last testament of the deceased.(Name now withheld since this is our second letter to you). I contacted you because you bear the surname identity and therefore can present you as the Heir to the inheritance funds.
I therefore reckoned that you could receive these funds as you are qualified by your name identity. All the legal papers will be processed in your acceptance. In your acceptance of this deal, we request that you kindly forward to us your letter of acceptance; your current telephone and fax numbers and a forwarding address to enable us file necessary documents at our high court probate division for the release of this sum of money.
Please indicate your interest immediately for us to proceed. I shall feed you with full details of this transaction upon receipt of your reply towards this proposal.

I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Ben Mark (Barrister)
Telephone +447024058780.

Um, yeah, ok...

2009-01-04T20:51:00.000-08:00

From the Associated Press:

Detroit lawyer gets 5-cent IRS bill, 4-cent refund

DETROIT – James Howarth is a little confused by two letters he has received from the Internal Revenue Service.

The Detroit defense lawyer received one letter in November that said he owed the IRS money — five cents.

He was warned that he should pay "to avoid additional penalty and/or interest," the Detroit Free Press reported Saturday.

Howarth says he then received a second letter telling him the government owes him money — four cents.

He was told he would have to request the refund since it's less than $1.

"When I owe them a nickel, I must pay them. It's not optional," he said. "But when they owe me, I have to ask for it."

Howarth says he's not sure if there is a connection between the two notices, or if the refund represents a recalculation of the original bill.

The perplexed lawyer says he called an IRS 800 telephone number but gave up after spending a long time on hold.

IRS spokesman Luis D. Garcia says the agency doesn't comment on individual accounts.
___
Information from: Detroit Free Press, http://www.freep.com

Grateful

2008-12-30T21:16:00.001-08:00

Since moving to M-Town a little over 12 years ago, I have had the pleasure of being able to look at the ocean when I come home each night. Growing up in Scotia, the only time I saw the ocean was on the occasional trip to Crescent City for a basketball tournament, or on a random excursion with my grandma. I didn't travel with my parents as a child because....we just didn't. I guess they left that up to my grandma. Sometimes I think I went everywhere with her. After all, she was only 1 SMALL block away from us until I was about 12. I could see her garage door from my front yard, and it was always closed when she was home.

Anyway, back to the point of the post. The ocean. I often wonder what it's like to live in a land-locked state, like Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, etc. No "beach" to go to. What's that like?

When I've had a bad day....and I make that turn down the road and see the ocean, I remember how lucky I am to see that everyday.

One bright summer day, it popped into my mind that I was looking at the "coast" of California. Hell, it's the EDGE of the United States! How cool is that??

Just wondering......again

2008-12-22T22:53:00.000-08:00

What is with the crosswalks on 4th street in Eureka? They're like little speed bumps.
And no, I am not going over them fast, I am actually going the posted speed limit. It just seems like they are a little "built up" maybe? I haven't noticed them on 5th street or anywhere else in town.
I joked to myself the other day that they were like that so we'd know they were there......

Free at last!!!

2008-12-22T22:42:00.000-08:00

Two weeks of vacation from University of Phoenix Online....
I thought the time would never come. I have been going to school non-stop since April 22nd. I really mean non-stop. The week runs Tuesday thru Monday; weekends ARE included. No summer break, no Thanksgiving break, no weekends off.
Part of the payoff is that I have completed 7 classes / and 21 units. It is a little pricey, but I will have my Bachelor's Degree in Accounting in August of 2010. If I was going to College of the Redwoods, it would take me another 10 years to finish! I really can't take more than 1 class a semester at CR.

I love winter break!

Just wondering......

2008-12-16T18:37:00.000-08:00

...how many accidents have their been at 5th and L in Eureka since the installation of that fabulous stoplight??? In the last week I have seen 2. And if I remember correctly, the 2 I saw before that, the cars ended up in Stanton's parking lot.

What's the frickin deal? Are people not paying attention? Do they not know there is a stoplight there??

I sure would love it if someone could come up with some stats!!

Have you seen me?

2008-12-14T16:40:00.001-08:00

My tabby is missing. My cats are my children. All 4 are inside cats 90% of the time, so for Doo-dah to take off means something really scared her. It was enough that she did not run in the house and hide under the bed.

Doo is probably the most skittish out of all of my cats. We rescued her off the streets a little over 6 years ago, and she gave our most precious gift, Lucy. Doo spent the 1st few months under the tv in the spare bedroom and under our bed. She only came out at night when we were sleeping. Let's just say that the 2 other cats were not very friendly towards her.

She quickly won my heart; from her mid-air jumps in the middle of the living room, to the way we communicate via whistles, I sure do love that girl!

I have left info at the animal shelter, on craigslist, made posters, and walked the neighborhood. Since she's shy, I am not sure that she would come to anyone else. There have been times I've been looking for her in the house, calling her name, whistling, and she won't budge.

Doo-dah, come home girl....we miss you!

I just want her to come home. The streets around here are crazy. I know animals can take care of themselves. It's cold and rainy, so I can't stop thinking about her.

It's about time...

2008-11-22T20:38:00.000-08:00

That Lucy finally got some fresh crab. Our buddy R brought 1 over on Thursday, and the hubby cracked it up for the kitty today.

This girl will eat crab like nothing you have ever seen! She'll sit right next to us at the table and wait for her share. We had to put her in the room today so that hubby could get the whole thing cracked without interruption.

Here she is, trying to help...

And then, after patiently waiting....the final product:

You'll notice that there's not a lot on her plate. We do try to limit how much she has at one time.
She ate this like she'd waited year to have it! Later, when hubby was eating an open face crab and jack sandwich, she sat with her back to us because her plate was empty!

After my own heart

2008-11-18T22:34:00.000-08:00

Checked out this local blog lately??
http://compulsiveproofreader.blogspot.com

Makes you pay better attention to things when you are out and about.
My new name is Compulsively Anal about grammer errrr grammar. Lol

The future

2008-11-18T22:15:00.000-08:00

Check out this video.............

My kid will be like this at 3.

That is when I have a kid!

I've been tagged

2008-11-13T22:11:00.000-08:00

So now that I am getting out a little more in the blogger world, I've officially been tagged, by Mommazilla over at Cheaper Than Therapy .. http://www.tsblogs.com/cheaperthantherapy
Here are 7 things you might not know about me:

1. I've never been in a fist fight...not once!

2. I have never left my husband (or broke up with him when he was my bf)

3. I've had more brand new cars than the hubby. He must really love me!

4. I wanted to be a teacher when I was little.

5. My new dream job is to be a private investigator.

6. I won't give away my recipie for my homemade tartar sauce. I already gave it to one person, and he's it!

7. I hate paying bills!

Now that I have put these all down, I think they are kind of lame. I am a pretty basic girl though, so there is not a lot out there to tell

I hate to say this but....

2008-11-10T11:36:00.000-08:00

Women are sometimes just as bad as men. I am so sick and tired of going to the bathroom at work and finding nasty stalls. Why can't we clean up after ourselves? What makes you think that it's ok to piss all over the toilet and then leave it? Grab a wad of TP and clean it for goodness sake!! I won't even mention the things that are even worse than good ol pee-pee on the toilet....it makes my stomach turn.

I love it when I am the only one in the restroom. I finish my business, and as I am washing my hands, someone else walks in. She goes to the first chosen toilet and its nasty as hell. Why is her first assumption that I must have done it???? Give me a break.

It's a very rare occurence that I will catch Regis and Kelly. It's not my favorite....however, I can remember being home one day flipping thru channels when I caught Kelly talking about nasty women's rooms. It got my attention for sure.

Just a rant for today....take care of yourself, would ya?

Special Thanks......

2008-11-07T00:09:00.000-08:00

Special thanks to my friend Sandi over at Cheaper than Therapy! I just did a little midnight shopping at Sephora and Amazon, and will be checking out Yankee Candle this weekend.
Did you know that you can buy groceries at Amazon.com??? I just picked up my cats favorite treats for about 10 cents cheaper than I can find at any store around here, and I got free shipping!!
This is from the last time I stocked up on treats that were on clearance at Walgreens

And Lucy took it upon herself to dive in when we were not looking...

You see, she loves to sit out in the garage with her "daddy". This is where they share their special time and she gets treats. Apparently she felt she could just go get them herself that time!!

Almost a year ago....

2008-10-29T19:58:00.000-07:00

Halloween 07 was supposed to be fun. It started out okay, then lunchtime hit. I got a phone call from the hubby. He tells me that EPD is out in the parking lot, and thay my car got hit. Funny ha ha hubby, nice joke. Then he tells me again. I freak out, slam down the phone, tell my buddy Robert (the Security Director), and go running out to the parking lot. Robert comes with me, because he parked next to me that day. We'd been parking buddys for the last few months. Here is what we come outside and find...

Nice, huh?? The cops are there (I already mentioned that)...and they are asking me all sorts of questions like...do you know of anyone who would do this? Hell no I don't! Do you know anyone that owns a white Sportrac? NO!! I wanted to cry but couldn't...

I am so pissed I can't see straight, and I call my aunts house to scream and yell, and VENT...I am all frazzled about where my car is going, how I am going to get home, what am I going to do!!!

So Robert and I give all our info to EPD, we call our insurance companies, and arrangements are made for my car to go to the body shop, and for me to get a rental car.

I spent the next few days on a witch-hunt looking for this damn bastard that hit me. A quick review of surveillance footage pulls up nothing. Oh, that's just great!! But, alas, I was not there to help review footage! I help, and look what we find:
Here is the suspect WITH A CHILD, crossing the road to enter Mervyn's. The vehicle, a white Ford Sport-trac, can be seen in plain view:

Now the vehicle is leaving. Since the camera pans, we do not see him get back in the vehicle...

Here's the vehicle a couple of seconds later...he's at the right of the screen, and has started to make a turn. In the video footage, it was a sharp left turn over 3 rows of the parking lot

and now, the moment you have been waiting for...........

is not all there!! The camera panned down just seconds before impact. How perfect!!
But here is the next frame...when the camera comes back...

To sum up the rest, I thought I found the truck, the cops said No. I had a brand new vehicle with $6000 in damage. On a scale of 1-10 for help, EPD gave me 5. I paid my $500 deductible, and waited 5 weeks to get my car back.
I still look for the bastard that did this. They will be found, I won't rest until they are! I only wish that I was some high-fi techie that could magically zoom in and clear up the photo of the license plate to nail the fucker!
Oh, did I mention there was a witness?? He called 911 and reported the vehicle, but did not get a plate. He told the dispatcher that the guy got to the curb, gunned it, hit me, then backed up and took off. Nice! If I saw something like that, I'd follow the jackass until I could get a plate #, or at least a partial! I know that's not what they want you to do because it's not safe, but come'on!

Are you.........?

2008-10-19T23:23:00.000-07:00

Registered to vote?
The November 4, 2008 election is almost here. The last day to register to vote, to be eligible for this election is Monday, October 20th.

Info for the Humboldt County Elections office:
Address:
3033 H Street Eureka, CA 95501
Phone: 707 445-7678
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to Noon/1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

You may register to vote in California if:
You are a United States citizen
You are a resident of California
You are at least 18 years of age (or will be by the date of the next election)
You are not in prison or on parole for a felony conviction.
For more information on the rights of people who have been incarcerated, please see the Secretary of State’s Voting Guide for Inmates.
You have not been judged by a court to be mentally incompetent

Reckless Drivers

2008-10-07T21:27:00.000-07:00

So, we've lost an innocent 9 year old in Humboldt County. All because of stupidity and reckless drivers.

Here's the story from the Times Standard:

ARCATA -- The California Highway Patrol was looking Monday night for a newer model silver Mustang with a black top that was reportedly racing another car when a third uninvolved vehicle was clipped, killing an 8-year-old girl.
Sgt. Brett Fabbri said the silver Mustang may have collision damage, or may be a witness to the accident. Leaving the scene of a crash is considered a hit-and-run, Fabbri said.
The crash occurred at about 4:30 p.m. on U.S. Highway 299, with two of the cars ending up off the highway at Boyd Road off of Giuntoli Lane, taking out a highway sign and a telephone pole.
The car that was allegedly being raced landed in a ditch on Boyd Road, while the uninvolved SUV was flipped on the other side of the road.
Parties in both vehicles suffered moderate injuries, Fabbri said. The 8-year-old girl was in the SUV, along with a couple and two other young girls, who all were able to walk away from the accident, he said.
Bill McLaughlin, who lives half a mile down the street, said he could hear the crash from his house.
”It was loud,” he said, adding that he was about to call 911 when he heard sirens heading toward the crash site. McLaughlin came down to the site to make sure his father, who had gone out for a walk, hadn't been involved.
Trucks trying to get through on Boyd Road were stopped before officers began re-routing traffic around the scene.
Fabbri said officers had wanted to clear the site as soon as possible, so witnesses had their information taken down before leaving. He said CHP will continue to investigate the accident. Anyone who may have information is asked to call the California Highway Patrol at 268-2000.

What type of person flees the scene of an accident. Were they high? Drunk? Unlicensed? Uninsured?

Just tonight as I was driving home, I was almost clipped by a reckless driver in a BMW. This after seeing fender benders on 101 at the Slough Bridge, and just off 101 on Central Ave. Does it take something happening to "someone you know" before you wake up and take control of your actions?

My heart goes out to the family who has suffered this tragic loss. I know many people in the community that have been affected by Nicole's death.

Donate to my CASA Kid Walk team!!

2008-09-26T22:04:00.000-07:00

I am hoping that by posting a blog out here that I can help raise money for CASA of Humboldt!
Even $10.00 would be so greatly appreciated!
Please visit our website, www.humboldtcasa.org for more information on what CASA is about, and what I do for abused and neglected children in Humboldt County.

Track how well I am doing by going to http://www.firstgiving.com/kittyloversforcasa

Ignoring Negativity

2008-09-22T19:16:00.000-07:00

Why is this such a hard thing to do sometimes? Negativity of others does nothing but bring you down. There are also times that another person's negativity starts to rub off on you, and you then become a negative person. Bottom line, it sucks!

I have blogged about negativity before, just not on here. A great book that I always try to keep handy is Richard Carlson's "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff at Work". Much of his book talks about things that most of us already know. But it also serves as a reminder that we are not the only one that gets pissed off at coworkers, has a frustrating boss, deals with customers that are irrational, or has to do reports all the time. It's a handy, almost pocket size little book, and I love to keep it on my desk. When I first bought it over 5 years ago, I spent my lunch hour highlighting sections that had a lot of meaning. Carlson says talks about the fact that you have to be honest with yourself that you can't make everyone happy every day...there is always going to be someone, somewhere that is mad at you. I love the story he tells about the coworkers he overheard complaining about a report they had to do. It was due in a couple of hours. Instead of "getting to it" and getting the report done, they complained for over a 1/2 hour! Then they complained because they had such a short time period to "get it all done"...How funny is that?

I guess I just get tired off it. When it affects my day to day things is when it is depressing. Times like these remind me how grateful I am to have an ipod that I can listen to, with earbuds!

School Daze

2008-09-16T21:37:00.000-07:00

I continue to give myself a hard time about school. I will complain to anyone who will listen that I can't stand some of the people in my classes. Actually there's been 2 people who I have wanted to punch. Problem is, I never see their faces. As previously posted, I have been attending University of Phoenix since May 15th. For those of you that don't know, University of Phoenix is an online university that is very fast paced. Classes are 5 weeks long. All work and contact with other human beings is online only. Should a situation arise where you need to actually speak to someone, it is ok to pick up the phone.
Everytime I stress out about an assignment the outcome has been more than rewarding.
From taking 4 classes, I have 3 A's and one B-. The B- came in the first class, and it was more about overlooking things that anything else. During my 2nd week of school I had to travel for 2 days. and things got a little screwed up. I lost some huge points. Chalk it up to a learning experience though. I've got a 3.67 GPA, and that's better than anything I ever carried in high school.
If I'd only been smarter 10 years ago, I would already be done with school.

What happened to Summer?

2008-09-03T16:31:00.000-07:00

As I sit in the office this afternoon, I can see a beautiful blue sky. It's a little hazy at the mountain ridge, little to no breeze.
What I can't figure out is why it is so damn cold?! Last night we had the heater on 68*, and it was still cold!
I just don't feel like summer was ever really here. There were a couple of days where the sunshine was enjoyable in the backyard, but not many.
What's in store for the winter??? Only time will tell

Is it 2010 yet?

2008-08-24T17:24:00.000-07:00

So I have been attending University of Phoenix online since the middle of May. I am working on my Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, so that I can get that big fat raise and job title I have been waiting for.
When I first thought about UOP, I figured it would be a perfect fit, simply because it's ONLINE, and I am little internet geek. It's not that easy though. There's alot of reading, papers to write almost every week, and they put you into groups, in which you must complete 2-3 assignments as well. It's frustrating, and I have gone through a lot of ups and downs already. What keeps me going is that each of these classes are only 5 weeks long. You just get comfortable in a group setting, and class is over. You just have to set your little quirks aside and get the job done!

My MySpace blogs in review

2008-03-02T14:44:00.001-08:00

The beginning of a new month, new things to come….
I was a little bored, and needed a break from working on tax stuff, so I figured that I would review my blogs that I have posted, and see where I am now. Kind if like opening a time capsule.
*** This time last year, I had a little rant about my birthday, and how Vern was not really paying attention to what day it was. This year, my birthday was the best that I’ve had in years, with only two minor exceptions. As most of you know, I have been working part time at Prudential Redwood Realty in Arcata since July. It has been refreshing to be around a new group of people. 3 of them took me to dinner on my birthday at Sea Grill (yummy), and we had so much fun. I also got a $50 Bed Bath and Beyond gift card from them!!! How awesome is that?
Earlier, I had started off the day as the lucky winner of the Power 96.3 / Arcata Florist Birthday Club winner!! Flowers delivered to me!! I opened my package from my best friend Holly (a chocolate fondue pot and chocolates!!) I had a great lunch with my mom, and capped of my afternoon with a visit to my aunt’s house. It was a good day overall.
Now for the exceptions; missing from my celebration were 3 of my greatest friends, Holly, and Robert & Tracy. Holly’s in Tahoe, and was not able to come out; Robert & Tracy were on their way back to Eureka from Keizer, Oregon. (They just moved back to Oregon after being in Eureka for 2 years). I know that they were all with my “in spirit”.
*** At the end of September, I talked about the negativity surrounding me, and that I was ready to change. I have changed a little, but I am no where near where I want to be. It’s March 2nd, and I am still taking baby steps to be where I belong. I have been able to block out most of the negativity, since that is the majority of what has been brining me down. Those that have been supplying it are still around; I guess you could just say that I have been channeling it differently. I must admit that it works very well!
*** From about the beginning of September, to the end of November, there were times I felt like my personal life was falling apart. I did not want to be “one of those people” that walked around talking about how terrible their lives were, that everything happened to them. Most people around me knew about “everything” that happened, but they probably did not add it all up together. So, to do a little venting...here goes: My grandma fell down at the beginning of September and needed to have surgery on her hip. When she went in the next morning for surgery, her pacemaker stopped. Then we spent until about 8pm that night trying to get her to “wake up” I had made up my mind that I was not leaving the hospital until she opened her eyes and looked at me. This was a very long, tiring day. She stayed at the hospital in Fortuna for another week I think, and then was transferred to St Joe’s for another try at the surgery.
So, I get along my merry way that next Saturday morning, and I get pulled over by the CHP for the illegal window tint on my front windows.
I was so pissed the only thing I could think about doing was calling my cousin Stacy to vent on her!! The guy was a total prick. I was more ticked off about the amount of times that I have been up and down these roads since buying my car in February. Now because this guy wanted to start his Saturday off with a bang, he decides to turn around and pull me over for flippin window tint. I have had every single law enforcement agency from here to Sacramento actually pass by me, and keep going! So, grandma pulls out of surgery fine, and starts her rehab process. After a couple of weeks, I start to feel calm and comfortable again. October comes without any hitches, that is until Halloween. I am excited because I am going to help hand out candy in Arcata later in my cool wizard costume.
I am getting ready to eat my lunch, and Vern calls me to tell me that someone hit my car, and the cops are out in the parking lot waiting for me? What???? I thought he was kidding, and when I listened to the tone of his voice, I knew it was not a joke. I threw the phone down, told Robert, our Security Director what was going on and ran out to the parking lot. Sure enough, my car is a mess! To cut to the chase, I’ve got about 98% of the event on surveillance, I’ve turned the info over to the police, and they have nothing. I’ll tell you what I’ve got: a car with $6000 in damage to it, and a $500 deductible that I have to come up with out of MY POCKET! My car is fixed now, but of course it will never be the same!
*** November always begins the holidays….the crazy time at the mall. There’s Thanksgiving, yummy turkey and good times with our families. Vern and I abandoned the traditional times (which was ok with my mom…=) )and headed to the casino. Robert and Tracy were going to be there too, so fun would be in store!! We actually did enjoy ourselves, and I made sure to call my parents on out way there to wish them a Happy Thanksgiving. My dad sounded really weird. His voice was funny. Mom said that he just had a sore throat. Black Friday comes, and I actually participate in the door buster sales at a few of the retailers. I go about my day at the mall, watching every one else look for that “good deal” As I am leaving the mall, my cell phone rings and its my mom telling me that my dad is on his way to the hospital because he fell down twice at the store. Great. To the hospital again. I feel like I was just there. To cut to the chase again, my dad dies the next day. November 25th. Two days after Thanksgiving, one month before Christmas, and two months before my birthday. My kids will never know either one of their papas in person, because they are both gone.
Fuck I hate this. What else could possibly go wrong? Come forward to the last three weeks. Now I’ve got a sick cat. My 12 year old male cat, “Bubbas” is having a hard time going to the bathroom. I take him to the emergency vet, leave him overnight, and find out nothing! Thanks a bunch guys! Other than consoling me when I was bawling, you did nothing for me. I take my cat to his normal vet first thing Monday morning, and they get him to pee. We get him on antibiotics for a possible bladder infection, and I figure he’s on the road to recovery, and another 12 years of life. Yeah right. He’s still having problems, and he keeps me up all night one day this week. Back to the vet I go on Thursday, and I leave him there. They want to do blood work, x-rays, and another urinalysis. I lose my mind again, thinking that it would just be cheaper to send him to kitty heaven. Fortunately, there’s nothing. We just need a second round of antibiotics to cure this bladder infection. I thought about the couple of times that I’ve had a sinus infection and needed 2 z-packs, so it made sense.
*** And now we are at today. Today is March 2nd, 2008, and I have told you what my life has been like the last few months. I can also throw into this mess that a friend of the family has been in and out of the hospital since new years. Ash, she’s a great girl with CF, and the whole entire month of February has been a struggle for not only her, but her family as well. Her mom’s bulletins were constantly getting the better of my emotions. She’s out the hospital right now, but not home. She’s started taking some new medicine that a fellow myspace / cf gal has used. It looks like it is going to help deal with the mysterious pain that Ash has been dealing with, that the doctors cannot find. Ash is one of the strongest girls I know. Everyone should be able to look at her, and take some hints.

***Congratulations, you have made it to the end of my blog. If I have lost anyone along the way, I apologize. If you think that this is nothing, please do not judge me. We all deal with what happens in our individual lives VERY DIFFERENTLY, so please try to remember that. One persons’ mountain is another’s molehill.
The bar is now open, and the first round is on the house. Pull up a barstool, and let’s celebrate to the rest of 2008 being the best year yet!
~Tami~

Just another day

2007-12-26T23:39:00.000-08:00

Today is the start of my blogging. We will see how many times a month I can get on here. I hope to be able to do some general venting!