whoops!

well, I tried to keep up on current news - like a weekly update - but somehow I *already* got out of that routine. oh well..

so, I have had issues of pains (I think it's my age catching up to me).

Back in July - the week before we took a "family" vacation.. Friday I was plagued at work by horrible back spasms.. my whole body would tense up in agony.. I lasted through the whole day at work.. then came home and determined things were better if I stood up (no sitting). The problem is I can't stand up forever, my legs get tired, how would I go pee?? I took some pain medicine.. not so much pain-meds, but muscles relaxers.. but that time I was already screaming and crying with every painful spasm. I went to bed 1/2 hour late simply because I was terrified to lie down - if sitting down was agonizing, what would lying down be like?? Once I was down, I was there terrified to move at all. rolling over?? -not a chance. The next morning I was fine, but still so terrified to do anything. It seemed to be gone though.

We made it through our family vacation and life was a breeze - well, for a little while it was..

Jump ahead a few months - here I am at work one Wednesday (last time was a Friday - a weekend to re-coup) and the muscle spasms started again... left side of my body (last time was the right side). The whole day I stressed that I'd be in agony all over again. Somehow (miraculously!) the pain didn't progress too much from them.. but once I came home, I got a good back and shoulder rub before anything could get too extreme.

Few weeks later, I had signed up for 4 walk-a-thons, trying to do my humanitarian deed of raising funds for worthwhile causes.. 2 dog walks, 1 AIDS walk, 1 cancer walk. Here comes the first dog walk - funds are raised, I didn't strain myself so I could walk around Santa Monica Pier.. then *BAMM* - leg cramps in both legs at 2AM, I was basically paralyzed the whole day - no dog-walk for me... I was very disappointed at work that Monday to have to admit to everyone I flaked out.. they still donated money when they heard I was "injured".. but come on now, how out of shape am I???

Jump ahead, 3 days more - *BAMM* *BAMM* double leg cramp in 1 leg.. I woke Ronnie up for that one - clutching the pillow and gritting my teeth just wasn't working... so there I am again 1/2 paralyzed this time - limping around work... I think then people believed me that previous Sunday was a painful day.

3 days later - the next dog walk - no pain!! ..oh, the awesomeness!! I packed up the puppers and went to the park - they were insane! dogs everywhere! dog treats everywhere! people everywhere!! once they calmed down, then I started the hassle of finding where registration/check-in was, finding where raffle tickets go, finding where the start line is... finally 8:20 (20 minutes late!) they let us start.. we're walking, we're walking... Misty's pulling, she's pulling... Whinona's peeing, she's peeing... we're stopping, we're stopping.. will this walk ever just be a "walk"?? After awhile I had to carry Misty - no she's not tired, she's a little freight train!! Nona just couldn't keep up, and Misty was getting impatient... We couldn't wait to get back to the park for water and "sitting down". woo-hoo, a dog pool, some shade from the 90-degrees.. life is great now :)

Once I felt like my legs were back from the dead, we trekked back to the car to head home for a brief moment of "nothingness". After a nice refreshing shower, and some nice clean cool clothes, we're on the road again to Sun Valley (it's about 102 by now). sitting in shade in the car in the parking lot of IMS with the A/C blasting, listening to some tunes.. ignoring the sound of 2 whiney "babies" in the back seat. Then on the road again, weeble-wobbling through San Fern Valley to the 101 freeway.. (yay, we found it!) on the on-ramp, looking for the 405 (yay, found it again!) then grid-lock!! ..the freeway ain't moving no more.. black smoke in the skies ahead - 110 degrees on the "outside" thermometer - we were parked a bad (not good) 45 minutes.. yeah 110-degrees is NOT a comfortable temperature. woo-hoo finally onto the 405, not going 2 mph any more.. life is peaches again :)

We had an awesome bbq at my sister's house - met her doggie Pogo - an awesomely playful 3-legged mutt with gorgeous brown eyes.. the only drawback was Santa Monica is not supposed to be 85 degrees. Oh, and Misty doesn't understand how delicate an 8-lb dog can be. Lucky for her, no one is *that* defensive. That dog is too obnoxious for her own good.

Life goes on

So, it's the weekend yet again. We had an employee recognition day today. I worked my butt off for a whole month and half.. got 21 raffle tickets and didn't win one prize :( Oh well, that's real life as I know it. It was a fun day however. Breakfast at 8:00.. Lunch at 11:45.. Festivities from 1:30-2:30.. who would want to even work at all???

Sunday, I walk at the Santa Monica Pier for Best Friends Animal Society. I had 2 friends that were going to go with me, but then they had to back out for other reasons.. 2 other friends were thinking to participate, but may have to back out as well.. I'll see what happens next..

Things with parents haven't been so good.. It's been a tough time since May.. still a long road ahead.

The world is my oyster..

It's been eons since I posted.. nothing much happens around here really. Then something happens and I can't update about it fast enough.. oh well, c'est la vie.. I took a break from pet-rescue posting.. it got to be too much emotionally.. then I was in such a rush to post 'em all that it lost it's purpose.. became more of a chore, then a responsibility. Someday I may come back, but for now enjoying my 'normal' life for the moment..

We recently took a vacation. I had taken off work Thursday thru Monday.. Thursday morning, I took Whinona to the "baby sitter's" house, then met a friend for coffee (had to postpone that one 2-1/2 hours because I thought Whinona would be an afternoon trip), then went shopping for a 4th-birthday present for another friend's daughter. Then home for a bit to start packing and prepping.

When Ronnie got home, we diddle-daddled to waste some time. Lillie couldn't be dropped off until after 6:00. I got to meet Beaky though =) Then we were on the road, car all packed. When we got to Yosemite mountains, there was road construction -- we were actually "parked" for 45 minutes at one point. We (he) drove and drove, got to Yosemite valley at around 1:15 am! I was in such a blur, I had to wait until morning to actually see where we really were. We drove to one campground to discover it was completely full and NO car-camping - tent-camping only. Drove back to the rest stop at the entrance of Yosemite... unpacked the car and rolled out the beds. I could not sleep, too excited to actually be on vacation and to be camping again (first time in almost 7 years).

Next morning - oh boy, the view! We woke and stretched our legs a bit. Then off to another rest-stop for a bathroom break. It was Bridalview Falls, we took a short hike for some gorgeous pictures. Then breakfast - yummy, yummy eggs-and-spam breakfast. Off to drive around and see the view, looking for open campgrounds on the way. After lots and lots of driving, we left Yosemite for gas, then came back to "desperately" look for a place to stay for the night. After 5 "full" campgrounds, we finally came across a place that was available. No sooner did we stake our claim, and all camp spots were full. We made it in the nick of time. We didn't want to leave, after seeing 2 other spots get 'stolen'. It was okay, we made friends with the neighbors and enjoyed the remainder of our day.

Next morning, we cleaned up and hit the road. Next stop - Gilroy. It took nearly 5-1/2 hours to reach our destination... then parked and walked to the Garlic Festival. It was awesome! 2 wine coolers, garlic ice cream, garlic fries.. it was too hot to really do all I wanted to.. but I had fun none-the-less, definitely would go again if I get the chance. We left at 7:00, just as the Festival was closing for the night. We drove across the parking lot and set-up camp at the RV parking lot.. knowing full-well we'd never make it to anywhere else so late in the night. We were in a midget mini-van amongst all the ginormous RVs. It was loads of fun though. I'm easy-peesy. It's the fun things like that I enjoy. I don't need a luxury hotel (never even had one)... just a happy RV parking lot with my baby and I'm in heaven =)

Next morning, on the road again. packed up camp and found our way to the 101... more gorgeous driving views to Solvang. A whole day of fun to finish off a whole weekend of fun. Fudge, cheese & salami, retro candy, yummy yummy ice cream.

I love cows! (cows & horses) Did I ever mention that I love cows? Ronnie even picked up on my ritual: "Hello cows! Moooo!" or "harses, harses, harses". I'm a strange one I know... but that's me.

Ronnie and I had 2 very interesting (translation: hilariously funny) conversations.
1) I have come to the conclusion that I might be 'special'. I mean, really, would my mother ever tell me otherwise?? Throughout the weekend, I definitely proved to Ronnie that I might in fact be special.. (like I said, that's me)

2) I had a guy I was dating once tell me I had excellent hygiene - what are other Simi Valley girls like?? ( I don't WANT to know the answer to that question) Now it's an on-going compliment I receive =)

It was an awesome weekend that flew by in a snap - but we have another fun weekend planned for October - we gotta get out and experience the real California... and I will attempt to post pictures of our next adventure.