so this weekend was a wee-bit better

well.. to start on Thursday.. I've been exercising every day walking at lunch.. walking 'nona for 20-30 minutes.. even had a dvd I was doing.. I was doing level 1.. I had a whole schedule planned out including playing piano. but it was already "normal".. Toni give me a new dvd last Monday that I used the first time on Thursday ..that was the end of "normal"

Jillian Michaels is killer.. she IS the toughest trainer. She says you're not supposed to stop.. and I know me, I'll stop for anything. So, I told myself I can't quit when the going gets rough. I made myself keep going.. so much to the point that I was really in pain. My legs were really hurting. All those jumping jacks, and jump ropes, and squats - my legs were dying. Then she had us doing crunches.. cross your legs, and criss-cross crunch up and down.. then switch sides.. she did 5, I did 1.. she did 7, I did 1.. she did 10, I did 1.. then switch sides.. I tried to do 1 and I was in agony. My arms were going numb, my legs were going numb, I couldn't breathe.

I had to sit there (lie there) until my legs started working again. Of course, if you exercise and "rest" your muscles freeze up.. which of course happened. I was there for 20 minutes, and as the night went on, I got more and more stiff.. by Friday, I was in agony. No walking Friday, no exercise of any kind. I wish it could have been the same for Saturday, but I went bike shopping.. which meant bicycle test-driving.

It also was my first time on a bike in 15 years.. it was very scary, but at the same time something I've wanted for a long time. I tried out 3 at a bike shop across town. The first one was too scary for me to really enjoy. Then I treid a 2nd one, that was a little easier.. it was a comfier ride, but I was still on edge - worried of cars in the parking lot, turning too tight and taking a fall. Then I tried a 3rd one.. also comfy, but felt like someone else's bike.. #2 was feeling right.. off to 99c store to think it over.. but as I got across the street to 99c, Ronnie and I decided to continue our quest.. to Rick's where there was no selection ..continue across to the other end of town to the other "popular" bike shop. I found 2 more I liked. I've never chosen my own bike so I had no idea what to look for.. #1 was nice, as nice as #2 at the east shop.. but #2 at west shop was awesome! that was the one!

We then went to pick up Kane & Abbie.. the fun time of the weekend had begun. They were here from 5:30 Saturday until 11:30 Sunday. They were much better than the last time they were here.. Abbie is awfully "barky" but she definitely made it through the night a lot better. I'm sure Jessie will hate me forever; she seemed really short-tempered this time around =P

Sunday.. once the puppy patrol was gone.. I was more relaxed. I was too nervous of what they were getting into, how much they would be tramatizing my Jessie-pie. I let the Lillie-bird out of her cage, watched tv while she wandered herself around the house (then magically appeared back at the top of her cage!) Not a whole lot else went on all day.. watched TV.. read some emails (and responded too) a trip to Big-5 at 3:30.., then to Walmart.. then home for a 1/2 hour bike ride on my new bike.. I was very self-conscious about where every car was, every pot-hole.. it was a tiring trip but definitely worth it.

Now it is time to go back to work again =( where do the weekends go??

a rather uneventful weekend.. depending on your point of view..

so last week was a full 5-day-week of work.. I hate 5-day weeks.. I think I'd feel a lot better if I could work from home.. to satisfy my day, I need to keep busy. And once I start on something, I'm pretty capable to filling my time, and keeping busy.. but there are certain people that distract me - then time ticks by very very slowly. But if I could work from home, I know I'd never be interrupted (okay, so, maybe not "never".. but very very rarely..)



Friday, I was very ecstatic to be free for 3 whole days.. do what I want, when I want, where I want. Saturday morning - laundry, so more organizing of stuff.. some laziness (hey, it's my weekend - "what I want, when I want"). Then waiting on friends to hang out.. we went hiking in Hope Town.. yeah, it was kinda dark, but awesomely fun..



Sunday, more hanging with friends. We had originally planned to go to Frazier Park to play in snow.. but then determined with the 70/80 degree heat we'd had, there probably wouldn't be much snow left.. We went to the park to feed the ducks.. very fun, but very stressful. Whinona would not listen.. she walked up to a husky (luckily he was very friendly), she walked up to a Chihuahua (rather, it ran up to her) and she walked up to a pit-bull (not a good thing). I have no problem with pit-bulls. I don't stereotype them as horrible vicious creatures, not normally.



Whinona starts walking up to the dog, I called for her, but she ignored me.. The guy yells, "he will attack".. so I ran to get her.. he's kicking her away, he's yelling for me to come get her.. I did, oh, I definitely did. I grabbed her back kicking and screaming.. (yes, kicking.. and screaming).. put her leash on her and tied her to the bench. The guy walked by.. his dog was pulling on the leash, squeezing out breath, growling.. Whinona whined but I told her she was being punished.



Why would you bring an unsocialized dog to a park? Yes, Whinona should have been on her leash (that's my fault), but why would you bring an unsocialized dog to a public place where there are so many other animals and kids everywhere?? I can only hope and pray that the couple with the Chihuahua had her on a leash if they crossed paths.. because that would have been fatal if they didn't..



Monday, was another 1/2-do-nothing day. I washed dishes from our bbq the night before (oh yeah, after the park we had a bbq with short ribs, tri-tip, sausage, garlic bread), I also finished cleaning the bathroom from Saturday/Sunday (yes, it takes me 3 days to clean the bathroom) and vacuumed the living room. Then my sister Toni came over and we sat and talked for about 1/2 hour. She brought me some 2.5 lb weights, and an exercise DVD. She also brought a box of clothes from our sister Karla up in Larkspur (up by San Francisco).. then we met our sister Sab for lunch at Chipotle. It was yummy! I'd never been there before. I know I will definitely be going back again. I had 3 carnitas tacos, flour tortilla, mild sauce, guacamole, sour cream w/a cup of water. After lunch we walked around the mall for a bit so Toni could go shopping.



After that came home to control my mind for going back to work today :( I made dinner, a new recipe of pasta w/sausage and bell pepper. It was okay.. Ronnie loved it.. the sausage didn't sit too well with me (or rather the combination of jalapeno cheese with the sausage) and the onions were very overpowering (..for my taste)



Ronnie and I found a condo-listing for sale Sunday night. I scheduled an showing appointment for Monday afternoon 4:30. I was speaking with the realtors assistant from 12:30 on.. at around 3:45 he said that the listing agent would need to have the homeowner there because they have a dog so we can't just enter the property. So the meeting was scheduled for today 4:30.. then he called today 2:45 that the listing price is incorrect. The homeowner is doing a short sale and they need to meet fair market value with Chase for short sale to be valid. so, the listing price will change sometime next week when market value is determined.. =(

January updates

I'm trying to find a flat magnet (or weight).. kind of rectangle shaped.. I looked on JoAnn's website - they have round magnets.. Michael's has nothing =( tring to "fix" the curtain on our laundry shed, it always just flies wide open, then the rain and wind get in.. I suppose the round magnets will work..

We are also going to recirculate (re-circulate? is that a real word?) our emergency rations.. We had planned it during the week.. buying new supplies and donating the "old" ones to a local food bank. Well, yesterday, while shopping at Smart-N-Final, we were approached by an organization that sends care packages overseas to the military.. so we decided to donate our "old" supplies to them.. and then we can refill the storage bins with new canned goods. There is a list of "please sends" and "do not sends", so whatever is not allowed we can still donate to the food bank here in Simi..

we went back to work last week.. that's always sad when the holidays end, and "real life" begins again. things at work are going good. my boss has been giving me lots of research stuff and other work, letting me prove myself and expand my skills (as well as fully use other skills I have learned but not had the opportunity to really use)

We got another new procedure, plus an addition on an old procedure.. took a bit of time to adjust to the whole new routine. But now it's just common nature.

I've made myself a little schedule. I played piano Monday, Wednesday, Saturday (Monday was 2 hours because time just flew by.. Wednesday and Saturday were 1 hour), Friday, I exercised 45 minutes (a DVD that I think my mom gave me - Denise Austin's Body Makeover Mix) I thought I had more exercise videos/DVDs but whenever I organize this house I always end up hiding things from myself. So, I'm going to go look for more DVDs to give myself some variety.

After Friday's exercise, my stomach was sore!! thighs as well.. and I thought that Saturday I was going to regret myself.. but no, I was actually okay.

Ronnie and I plan to get out and walk or hike on Sundays so that day is planned. Now I need a new "something" for Tuesday and Thursday.. still walking 1/2 hour on lunch Monday-Friday, and I walk Nona after work Tuesdays/Thursday - so maybe I'll make the Tuesday/Thursday longer walks for me.

christmas stress

has there ever been a christmas that wasn't stressful?? i mean maybe as a child, but even then you're stressing that you did something wrong, and santa won't bring you presents, but might put coal in your stocking..

but as adults.. all bets are off and you're stressed beyond belief.. getting the right gift... getting the right gift, in time.. having the money, to get the right gift, in time.. and then there's the planning and travelling.. again, in time.. what about when you get there?? you're still stressed, even after you arrive..

last year, Ronnie and I stayed home. We had moved in together June the year before (so, 18 months before Christmas '09) and from that August things got progressively worse. ((ya see, we'd moved in together June 25th.. but I told my mom he moved in August 30th)) I couldn't call, email, text without getting a God-fearing lecture.. I LOVE God. ((why do people even put the fear of God into thought??))

I got the lecture that we are living in sin.. I got the lecture that I'm pleasing the devil, and once I get married the devil will sabotage my marriage.. I got the lecture that we should rent a 2-bedroom place.. I got every lecture, every kind of lecture you can imagine.

No matter what I called, texted, or emailed about.. that's the direction the conversation went.. half the time my true original question or concern was never answered.. no way was I going to try again!!

SO Ronnie and I stayed home.. yeah it was only my 2nd Christmas away from my family.. but I was trying to make a point.. and I really truly think I failed. I'm quite positive my mom thinks (and led everyone else to believe) that Ronnie wanted me to stay home. I think she was trying to put the blame on him rather than on herself.. and I don't think she knows she's ever done anything wrong - I mean, heck, she's perfect!

So this year, I emailed family to inquire on their travel plans, and to inquire on their Christmas wishes.. no response.. oh wait, they all said around Thanksgiving-time that "I don't plan that far ahead".. and my dad responded shortly thereafter that his Christmas wish was that he wanted a hug.

So Ronnie and I beat the traffic rush and drove up to Big Bear on Christmas Eve morning.. we arrived after 3 short hours.. then next was a 2-hour hike in the forest with Whinona, in the snow!! ..plus some target practice for me with his new..22 air-rifle :) Then we "bucked-up" and drove across the highway to my parents' house.. and that's where Ronnie stayed.. restricted to the downstairs of their 2-story, 4-bedroom house..

I went to church with my parents at 5:30 (actually 5:00 for the Christmas "concert" before mass) while Ronnie stayed home.. during the concert my dad "oh-so-politely" said that I had gotten wider - what's that you say? whiter? - no, wider.. yay dad, way to notice those 12+ lbs I'm already upset about.. I kindly said 'no, it's probably the winter jacket' =(

I got through mass with the priest's sermon about living the Catholic way and being prepared for Jesus' coming (have you sinned today??).. the music at communion was actually very beautiful.. the choir was preparing for communion so no instruments, just acapella singing, very beautiful.. then mass ended and we prepped for the 'happy' trip back home..

my mom had 3 complaints - the choir was horrible (no choir is as good as hers), they butchered Silent Night (the acapella communion song that was beautiful!).. never did hear her 3rd complaint.. my dad said Silent Night was very good and my mom exploded at him. I think she thought he was being sarcastic to start a fight (she always thinks he's picking a fight, but he never actually is) but he was being serious, and I agreed with him.. which was the wrong thing to do!!

I was so happy to get back to their house and check in with Ronnie.. he was happy in the quiet house (don't blame him one bit.. I totally envied him).. we had dinner, and watched a bit of tv (too much tv rots your brain, don'tcha know) then bedtime.. me upstairs in a very dark bedroom and too-tall Ronnie squeezed onto a too-short non-pull-out couch.. took me about 2 hours to fall asleep, and I woke up 2 hours earlier than planned..

next morning, got up just as my parents were shuffling all the gifts under the Christmas tree. my mom had already informed me that breakfast would be around 10:30 after they got home from church.. so they left at 8:00 for Christmas concert before 9:00 mass.. 10:30 came around, they weren't even home yet. they got home at 10:45, with a friend, and my dad took the solidly-frozen omelet out of the freezer.

that went into the oven and Ronnie and I watched more tv.. omelet came out of the oven at 11:30 and I grabbed a plate of food.. getting ready to walk out of the kitchen and my dad nudged my shoulder *check if it's warm enough* - nope, ice cold still.. so into the microwave it goes.. that 10:30 breakfast was at 12:00..

needless to say, Ronnie and I left at 1:00.. my mom was mad.. I was mad.. he was mad (he actually had to come and rescue me from my screaming/yelling mother)..

..and I didn't get to see my brother and my sisters..
like I said..
..Christmas stress..

next year.. I think we'll stay home (..again..)

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.