Keeping Up With the Joneses...

I Was Here

2011-07-15T15:29:00.003-04:00

I Was Here

You will notice me
I'll be leaving my mark like initials carved
In an old oak tree, you wait and see

Maybe I'll write like Twain wrote
Maybe I'll paint like Van Gogh
Cure the common cold, I don't know
But I'm ready start 'cause I know in my heart

I wanna do something that matters, say something different
Something that sets the whole world on its ear
I wanna do something better with the time I've been given
I wanna try to touch a few hearts in this life
Leave nothing less than something that says I was here

I will prove you wrong
If you think I'm all talk, you're in for a shock
'Cause this dream's too strong and before too long

Maybe I'll compose symphonies
Maybe I'll fight for world peace
'Cause I know it's my destiny
To leave more than a trace of myself in this place!

I wanna do something that matters, say something different
Something that sets the whole world on its ear
I wanna do something better with the time I've been given
I wanna try to touch a few hearts in this life
And leave nothing less than something that says I was here

And I know that I, I will do more than just pass through this life
I'll leave nothing less than something that says I was here
I was here

-Lady Antebellum

I wanna do something that matters, something that says I was here.

Great song.... Great words to aspire to.

My Beauties...

2011-01-25T15:42:00.004-05:00

WARNING: Shameless dog mom post ahead... I just can't help it!

I took the girls to the doggie spa (the groomer) on Saturday and they came home smelling so sweet and looking so pretty that I just had to snap a couple of pictures to share.

My Sweet Petunia (a.k.a. Tunie) - This girl is a little bundle of love and energy. She's the most snuggly dog I've ever had and would be perfectly content just spending the day in your lap. She drools like crazy when she sleeps and has a bit of an underbite, but we love her anyways! She doesn't know the meaning of the word 'fear', and can often be seen running around the house at mach speed as if her hair were on fire (usually with a pair of stolen socks in her mouth). She loves everyone and everything and has been such a fun little addition to our family.

Miss Cookie (a.k.a. The Monster) - This little girl is the best thing that has ever happened to me (right along with Steve, of course). She likes to think she's the Queen of the house, but she's also afraid of her own shadow. She lives to see Steve come walking in the door every day, and I swear there are times when she would flip me "the bird" if she had fingers. She snores like an old man when she sleeps and could sleep 24 hours a day if we let her. She also has Steve absolutely wrapped around her teeny tiny paw. She's been the best dog I've ever had in my life and brings so much joy into our home every single day.

I love these two more than is probably considered normal, but I don't care. I know they're not human kids... But they're OUR kids. They are the center of our world here in the Jones house and we couldn't imagine it without them!

HOMERUN!!!

2011-01-04T17:41:00.002-05:00

Yesterday at 3:00pm, I had a follow-up MRI with my endocrinologist.

At 4:25pm, I was given the "all clear".

For the first time in at least 7 years, I am officially TUMOR FREE!!!!

I cannot even begin to say how relieved and excited I am. I was so beside myself at the doctor's office that I had to sit there for about 15 minutes before I drove home. I honestly didn't know if this day would ever come. There were so many times that I wondered if the headaches and side effects were just something I was going to have to learn to live with. It's scary, but I started to understand why people with chronic conditions sometimes start to lose it. There were so many times that I thought to myself, "I am done!"

It's been one loooooong roller-coaster ride filled with too many ups and downs to count. Seeing as how I've never really been a huge fan of roller-coasters anyway, it sure is nice to say, "See ya later! I'M GETTING OFF!!!"

Thanks so much to my family and friends for listening to me whine, being my cheerleaders, and keeping my spirits up when I needed it. Without you all, I never would have made it through this with my sanity (or whatever is left of it). I can't say it enough... I am a lucky, lucky girl!

I am SO looking forward to 2011 and all it has in store for us!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

A Day of Love and Happiness...

2010-12-22T17:51:00.020-05:00

Some have been asking for more wedding pics... So here are some (ok... a TON) of my favorites from our big day!

Enjoy!!

Seeing each other for the first time!

My bridesmaids, Jennifer (Steve's sister) and Dustin

The Bridal Party... having fun!

Such handsome guys!

Isn't she GORGEOUS?!?!

The cutest little ring bearer in the whole world... Braden

Our beautiful little flower girl, Vivien

Here we go....

Inside the Ohio Statehouse... It's beautiful!

Mr. GQ

Roland and Jennifer

We're legal... WOO HOO!!!

Our beautiful and YUMMY cake

Our guestbook tree complete with fingerprint "leaves" from our guests

Best man giving his speech

Matron of Honor giving her speech

I told Steve that if he shoved cake in my face this would be the shortest marriage in history

First dance with my new hubby!

Father Daughter dance

Dad and I

Dustin and Greg

A great picture of THE shoes!

My In-laws... Steve and Julie

The Sass Ass Bump

Roland and Mom

It Had to Happen Eventually, Right?

2010-12-22T17:12:00.002-05:00

It's official! Today.... I really feel "MARRIED".

A little backstory...

Steve applied for a new position with the company we work for a couple weeks before we got married. He waited and waited to hear back after his interview, but never heard anything. He basically gave up on the job and had pretty much forgotten about it.

Until a couple weeks ago when he got a phone call that HE GOT THE JOB!!! WOO HOO!!!

So today at work, Steve comes by my office to chat for a minute. As he is standing by my desk, a co-worker of ours walks by and says, "Hey... Congratulations!!" in a really loud voice. (I say "really loud" because this person doesn't know the meaning of the term "inside voice".) The two of them chat for a minute by my desk, Steve goes back to his office, and all is said and done.

About 10 minutes later... I get a phone call from another co-worker of mine. She is beyond excited and says, "OMG... CONGRATULATIONS!!" I said, "Oh, thanks! Steve is really excited!"... Kinda wondering why she is congratulating me and not Steve.

Then she says, "And how about you? Aren't you excited?! You guys are going to have such a cute baby!"

This is about the time my jaw hit my desk.

Once I was able to pick my jaw up off my desk, I said, "Um.... WHAT?!?!"

It became quite obvious to me that she had completely misunderstood the "congratulations" she overheard, and I had to spend the next few minutes explaining to my very embarrassed co-worker that we, in fact, were not having a baby.

I've heard stories about this. I've been warned by numerous people about this.

Seriously... I am SOOO not prepared for this!

To Wait, Or not to Wait...

2010-12-14T17:02:00.003-05:00

So... It's been a year. One year since I had Gamma Knife Radiosurgery.

My doctor called this morning and told me to schedule a follow up MRI to see how things look. They told me it would take up to a year to see the full effects of the radiation. Well... that year is up.

And I'm scared.

Part of me wants to call, get the MRI scheduled for next week, go in guns a-blazing, and just get it out of the way. The other of me wants to continue to live in ignorant bliss... Simply ignoring whatever is (or hopefully isn't) living in my head. Why is it that after all the crap I've been through up to this point... This is what freaks me out?? This is supposed to be the easy part!

I have the number to call and schedule. I'm just having a hard time dialing.

To wait, or not to wait... That is the question.

A Visual...

2010-11-23T17:23:00.012-05:00

This is what it looks like when your soon-to-be husband does something super duper sneaky... And really, really sweet!

As we're wrapping up family pictures... In walks Steve...

"Oooh!... What's that?... It's for me?!"

I'm thinking to myself, "Please, please, please.... Don't let this be lingerie."

"Shoes??"

"OMG, my SHOES!!!... How in the world......???"

No words.... Just tears...

... Mixed with a little laughter.

"Yep... you got me good!"

"Thanks babe!!"

What can I say... I'm a lucky, lucky girl!

This Little Piggy...

2010-11-10T16:30:00.011-05:00

Since we are still waiting on the disc that has all of our wedding pictures on it (grrr!), Steve and I have been enjoying looking through our honeymoon pictures. We did SO many fun things during our 10 days in New England!

I came across a few pictures today that just made me giggle.

The pictures below were taken at Shelburne Farms, which is a beautiful, large working farm in Shelburne, Vermont. Our visit to the farm was definitely one of my favorite stops along our way.

This little lady here is Beyonce.

These are Beyonce's ten (count 'em... TEN!) babies.

How cute are these little guys?! If I could've stuffed one into my jacket and brought it home on the plane, I would have. I LOVED them!! I could have stayed there all day.

Yep... I think this little guy would fit in quite well at my house.

This is what happened when all TEN little babies woke up and decided they were hungry. I don't care who you are... Seeing ten little baby piggy butts all lined up in a row... CUUUTE!!

This is Beyonce not even giving a rip. She never even woke up!!

I guess having ten kids really is exhausting.

My Surprise Special Delivery...

2010-10-07T16:10:00.009-04:00

Since I don't have any actual wedding pictures back yet, I will start off by telling you a story about our wedding day. It's a story I will always remember, and one that will always remind me of just how lucky I am.

You know how some brides change dresses? So they wear a big, fancy one for their wedding ceremony, and then they change into something super snazzy for their reception?

Well... I wasn't one of those brides. One dress was expensive enough, thank you!

I was, however, a bride who planned on changing her shoes.

You've all seen my previous post about my Kate Spades that a small army of people helped me locate. Well, those beautiful brown and green shoes are what I was initially planning on wearing under my wedding dress. They were completely non-traditional and loud, but they were our wedding colors (chocolate brown and apple green), and I adored them.

Then I came across a woman by the name of Deborah Thomson. At that point, all initial plans flew right out the window!

Deborah recently started up a business of hand-painting shoes. She takes things that are important to you (dates, places, animals, etc.), and paints them onto shoes. I had seen a picture of the very first pair she had painted for a bride and they were STUNNING!! So... Three weeks before our wedding, I contacted her. My hope was to have a pair of her shoes to wear for our wedding ceremony, and then to change into my Kate Spade's and wear those for the reception.

Deborah said that three weeks time would be tight, but that if we got the process started immediately, she would be able to have my shoes to me in time for the wedding. So, I sent her my list of important items, and she got to work.

I was SOOO excited when Deborah finished them and told me that they were in the mail to me... I COULD NOT WAIT to see them!!!

So, I waited.... And I waited....

She told me that it would take three days for them to get here, so she thought they'd be here the Tuesday before the wedding. When Thursday rolled by and my shoes still hadn't arrived, I e-mailed her. She said that according to the tracking information, they were in the US, and that they should be there the following day. When they didn't arrive on Friday... I was heartbroken.

It turns out... They got stuck at customs!! (They were coming from Canada.)

Now I realize that these were shoes. Just shoes. This wasn't a life or death situation... but it still made me sad that these beautiful shoes (which were sort of a surprise for Steve) weren't going to be here in time for the wedding. I cried.

As we were getting ready for the rehearsal dinner on Friday afternoon, I finally broke down and explain to Steve what was going on with the shoes and why I was so upset. He listened, gave me a big hug, and reminded me that I still had my Kate Spades to wear and that they were the original plan anyways. The shoes from Deborah would still come... They would just be a little late. He made me feel a lot better about the whole thing, so we got dressed up and headed off to our rehearsal dinner at the church.

Saturday morning rolled around and I was READY TO GO!! I was so excited and ready to get married!! All the girls met up at the church for hair and makeup at 11:00am, and then we started pictures around 2:00pm. Steve and I did our pictures first since we wanted to have just a few minutes of alone time before all the craziness started. Then we brought all the family and wedding party outside and did all of the additional pictures.

At one point during the family pictures, Steve walked up to me with a gift bag in his hand. He said he had "a little something" for me and told me to open it.

I hesitated.

Let me explain why.

The gift bag he handed me was black. It had a bunch of hot pink tissue paper spilling out of the top of it. It honestly looked like something that came from Victoria's Secret. Now... Steve's not a lengerie buying kind of guy. His little bald head turns red just walking by the front door of Victoria's Secret. That's why this bag caught me so off guard.

I asked him twice if he was sure he wanted me to open it in front of our ENTIRE family. He said yes. So I went for it.

When I opened the gift bag, there was a black box inside.

A black SHOE box.

It took a few seconds for it to hit me.... SHOES! Then I opened the box and saw that they were THE SHOES!! Steve had somehow managed to get his hands on my beautifully hand-painted shoes from Deborah Thomson!

This is where the tears started. I could NOT believe it! I think it's one of the only moments in my life where I have actually found myself unable to speak. I kept opening my mouth to say something, but all that came out were inaudible squeaks. I seriously think only a dog would've been able to understand the sounds I was making at that point!

As Steve was helping me put on my new, beautiful shoes, I asked him how in the world he managed to pull this off. This is where the story gets really, really good....

After seeing how upset I was that the shoes weren't going to be here in time for the wedding, Steve took it upon himself to contact Deborah directly to see if there was anything she could do. Deborah (who just so happens to be one of the nicest people I have ever worked with), immediately started painting a second pair of shoes for me, and worked all night to have them done by Saturday morning. Early Saturday morning... just hours before our wedding... my soon-to-be-husband rented an airplane and flew to Detroit to meet Deborah (who lives just across the Canadian border in Windsor, Ontario) and pick up the shoes she worked so hard to have finished for me!!

Here is a picture of my shoes on the dash of a Cessna 172, making their way from Detroit back to Columbus...

I know that they are just shoes. But to me, they are so much more than that. Those shoes made my day! Not just because I had gotten something that I was really hoping for... But also because every time I look at them I am reminded of the story behind them. They remind me that I am an extremely lucky girl to have married a man who will go to great lengths to make me happy!

They also give us a great story to share with friends and family!

I know our photographer got some really great, detailed pictures of these shoes. As soon as we get our pictures back, I'll post a few.

If any of you are interested in finding out more about Deborah Thomson's work, you can check out her work at www.figgieshoes.com. She just started her business just weeks ago, (I was the third bride she painted shoes for) and it is already taking off!! She's recently added a few other hand-painted items to her collection... including baby shoes! She is amazing!!

Time for a Facelift!

2010-10-05T16:13:00.003-04:00

Yep... It's time to get this blog back in shape!

It's going to take some time, so please.... be patient!

I have lots to tell and lots of pictures to share. I hope to have some new posts up soon!

A "Flipping-the-Bird" Kind of Day...

2010-08-31T15:11:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was a great day! At least for me it was.

I'm not so sure that everyone in the Columbus area agreed with me though. In fact... I'm positive they didn't.

I was on my way to work yesterday at just after 6:00am. Yes, I realize that is considered "supid early" in most cases. But, it's what I do... so be it. On my way down one of the two-lane side streets, I noticed there was a person right on my tail. Now, I was already going about 5 miles over the speed limit, and I was determined to not push it any further. So, the driver just had to stay behind me until we got to the main road that would take us to the freeway.

As I made the left turn on to the main road, the driver behind me flew past me on the right with her well manicured middle finger proudly displayed out her driver's side window (and a bumper sticker that said "Don't worry... Be happy!" on it... Oh, the irony). I thought, "Ok lady... whatever. You obviously are in a bigger hurry than I am... Have at it!"

And then we came to a red light.

She was in the left hand lane, and I was in the right.

I looked over at her, smiled my biggest smile, and waved like a lunatic. It was awesome!

The light turned green and we made it about two blocks before we came to another red light. She was quite obviously peeved that she didn't make it through the light without me because when I pulled up next to her, I could read the 4-letter words that were just pouring out of her mouth.

I smiled and waved again... This time laughing pretty hard.

She flipped me the bird again!

At that point, I figured I'd turn down another side street and take the back way to work. I had obviously made this woman's commute to work a rough one. And I enjoyed every minute of it!

On my way home from work yesterday, as I was once again attempting to make my way to the freeway, I came upon a older model purple Kia Sportage. The reason I mention the color of the vehicle is because again, the irony just kills me. On the rear window of this purple Kia Sportage was a giant sign that said, "I used to be gay... But then I found Jesus!"

I thought, "Dude. No matter how loud and obnoxious your damn sign is... The color of your vehicle suggests otherwise".

As I was passing the car on the right, admitedly, laughing pretty hard... I took a look at the driver. I'd say he was in his upper 50's and looked like a mix between a Hell's Angel and Santa Clause.

I laughed a little harder.

He too, flipped me the bird.

I guess it was just one of those "flipping-the-bird" kind of days.

The Countdown is On...

2010-07-20T15:20:00.003-04:00

Over the last 16 months, I've been reminded time and time again of just how little I actually know about wedding planning. I now firmly believe that any engagement ring should come with a copy of the book "Wedding Planning for Dummies". Yes... that book exists. Ask me how I know.

Throughout this entire process, I've been asked about things I had never even thought about, picked out things I never knew I wanted, and spent money on things I didn't even know existed. The planning has been long. It's been (mostly) fun. And... it's almost DONE!

We're just under two months out now. Don't ask me how many days that is... I don't want to know. All I know is that the time is flying by! We're down to the nitty gritty now... the details, the RSVPs, the timeline, the confirmations, and the logistics. All of the things I am NO good at. Thankfully, Steve is the King of Detail and has enough patience for the both of us. He has been very good about picking up the pieces I just can't seem to keep a handle on. We make a pretty good team.

Scratch that... We make a GREAT team!!

I've also been trying my best to remember that this day is about so much more than the dress, the flowers, the invitations, and the cake. It is about us. It is about our family and friends coming together to celebrate with us. That is what I am looking forward to the most. That's what means the most to me... family and friends.

The next couple of months are going to be a bit of a blur. I'm working a TON, and we have a looooong list of things that still need to get done. But... we'll make it.

I can't wait!!

For Melissa Jo...

2010-07-20T15:07:00.003-04:00

Ask, and you shall receive... a little late.

Kate Spade.... I WIN!!!

2010-03-29T15:48:00.003-04:00

I've spent the past month or so on a mad search for these shoes.

They're ridiculously expensive (for me), a tad outrageous, and I just HAD to have them!

It figures... The one time I'm willing to splurge on a great pair of shoes... I can't find the darn things! Grrrrrrrrr

I searched high and low. I called stores all across the country. I even recruited a small army of friends to help search with me.

Finally.... On Friday.... They were found (Thanks, Kristi)!!

Kate Spade.... You thought you were sneaky, didn't you??

Well... YOU'RE NOT!

I WIN!!!!!

My Conditional Love for Snow

2010-02-17T16:07:00.006-05:00

I LOVE snow! I really do! I love snow when I can sit inside my toasty warm house with my sweet little kids, bake up a batch of pumpkins spice muffins, and enjoy it's beauty from the inside.

I do NOT particularly care for snow when it's 6:00am and I'm trying to convince my little 4-cylinder Corolla that yes, SHE CAN maneuver her way out of our driveway, into the 10+inches of snow piled up in our cul-de-sac (Thanks for nothing snow plow dude!), and happily continue on her way down our unplowed street to my work.

Nope. Not much fun at that point.

This morning... I almost gave up.

As usual, I backed out of our recently shoveled driveway into the white abyss that is our cul-de-sac. As soon as I hit the bottom of our driveway, I knew that this may not be as easy as I had hoped. I tried to continue backwards, but the tires, which are brand new by the way, just spun. So, I threw it into "drive" and attempted to go forward. I think I achieved a full 12 inches. So again... we try reverse.... and then drive... and then reverse... and then drive again. All the while I'm chanting, "C'MON DIMPLES!!!", hoping and pleading for her to pull through. (My car is named "Dimples" due to some nasty hail damage she suffered about 6 months after I bought her. She's fixed, but the name stuck.)

Finally, after stomping on the gas in every possible direction, and seeing my neighbor peer out his front door at me like I'm some crazed lunatic... Dimples and I were on our way!

As I continued on my drive (and I use the term "drive" loosely because I really don't think I had any form of control over my vehicle until I reached the main street a few miles away), I heard on the radio that Central Ohio is on track to have the snowiest February ever. EV-ER!!!

YA THINK?!?!

It's kind of hard to see just how high the snow is piled up in front of our house because all you see is WHITE!!

Steve finally had to break down and buy a $12 snow shovel at Meijer when this all started. It gets the job done (and will give even the fittest of fit a great workout... trust me), but he's been drooling over our next-door neighbor's snow blower like it was a swimsuit model.

Maybe next year babe!

Poor guy.

There is hope!

2010-02-17T15:59:00.003-05:00

Bringing a new "kid" into our family was a challenge.

Cookie growled at everyone and everything, and I bawled because I swore Cookie hated me and that I'd ruined her happy little life.

I'm surprised Steve didn't throw all three of us out and lock the door!

But...

... Every now and then I catch the girls like this, and I'm reminded of how far they've come and how much better they do together.

There is hope that they'll grow to love each other yet (probably about the time Petunia learns to keep her sharp little teeth to herself)!!

R.I.P. Tootse...

2010-01-26T17:04:00.004-05:00

My sweet little turtle, Tootse, passed away yesterday.

I know, I know... She was just a turtle. But she was MY turtle, and it made me sad.

My mom found Tootse on a dirt road that runs along the family farm in Kansas, and smuggled her back to Arizona for me in an earring box... She was that tiny! That little turtle has been with me ever since... from Arizona, to Indiana, to Ohio. She was even a part of the family before Cookie was.

She was a fun little creature and I'm really going to miss having her around.

Why I Oughta...

2010-01-09T17:02:00.005-05:00

So the other day, I came home from work in a pretty foul mood. Due to the nasty weather across the country and the heavy holiday traffic, the past few weeks at work have been hell. Each day is just one butt kicking after another. I really really try to leave my work frustrations at work. I do. However, this particular day, I think I had just hit my breaking point, and some of my work frustrations traveled home with me. Anyway... I walked in the door loaded for bear.

Poor, unsuspecting Steve decided that this would be the perfect moment to bring up wedding plans. Now... keep in mind please, that I have been asking him for about 3 months now to pick a DJ. This is the one job I have given him, and it has yet to be accomplished. So, needless to say, I was more than a little peeved that Mr. Procrastination picked *NOW* to discuss wedding plans. We had a brief... um... discussion, in which I snippily reminded him that we were about 8 months out now, and that we needed to get some of these things nailed down... SOON!!!

Later that evening, after relaxing a bit and realizing that I had been a bit of a wench, I went over to him and apologized. The brief conversation went something like this...

Me: "Babe... I'm sorry for acting like a mean old hag. I really didn't mean to."

Steve: "Aww... You're not mean. And you're definitely not a hag!"

Oh. No. He. Didn't!!

I am a year older than Steve. And he just LOVES when he stumbles upon the opportunity to remind me that I am a year ''OLD''er than he is. What a turd!

I should've just snatched him bald headed right then and there.

Oh wait..... (he he he he)

It's a good thing he's cute!

What a day...

2009-12-11T11:29:00.013-05:00

Tuesday was quite a day... for everyone. It was long, it was painful, it was exhausting, and (especially for my poor mom who is a couple thousand miles away) it was nerve wracking.

But... IT IS DONE!!!

Steve and I showed up at the James Cancer Hospital at 7:00am... bright eyed and bushy tailed. I was more than ready to get this procedure over with, and I really wasn't all that nervous or scared. Just ready! My nurse, Kathy, came out to get me at about 7:05, and we were off and running. My thoughts: "Bring it on!"

Kathy took Steve and I (thank goodness they let him come with me) back to a small exam room. She asked me a few medical questions, and then said that the next step would be starting an IV that would stay in all day. No biggie... this definitely isn't my first rodeo. Needles used to freak me out, but not anymore. So Kathy leaves for about 10 minutes and then returns with a rolling cart that looked like something straight out of an automotive garage, and began pulling out the supplies she would need. My thoughts: "So that's where they keep all that stuff... interesting."

Kathy then asked which hand I'd rather use for the IV. At that point, I had to throw up my first "weenie" flag. I asked her if there was any way she could do it in my arm or my wrist. Every time I've had an IV in my hand, it swells up and turns black. She said OK, and started checking out my right arm. Her first attempt (yep... you heard me... her *first* attempt) was in my forearm. She dug around for a couple minutes and was unable to get the IV started. Her second attempt (you're seeing a trend here aren't you?) was also in my right forearm, and this time she went straight through my vein. Burned like hell! At this point, I'm starting to sweat like a pig, and the tears are welling up. I had ahold of Steve's hand and I think he was pretty sure I was about to rip two or three of his fingers off. Kathy's third and final attempt was on the inside of my right arm. Finally.... It was done! My thoughts: "Crap... should've just let her stab my hand!"

After the IV was started and flushed, Kathy told us to relax for a bit and that she and Dr. McGregor (the Neurosurgeon who would be performing the surgery) would be back to place the head frame. So Steve whips out his book, and I just sit there and take in my surroundings. Baaaad idea, Kase! I look over and see not only the lovely titanium frame that is going to be attached to my head, but also the syringes they are going to numb my head with, as well as the screws that are going to be used. At that point, things started getting really really REAL. I looked straight at Steve and said, "I'm scared.", and the waterworks started. My thoughts: "They really should NOT leave people sitting in here with this stuff. If it were up to me... I'd have a magician come in with his cape and his wand and magically pull this crap out of his hat or something. At least make this part somewhat entertaining!"

About 25 minutes later, Kathy and Dr. M return. I've mustered up some courage and I'm ready to take on this big, bad head frame that I'd heard so much about. Everyone I'd talked to about this procedure told me that this would be the worst part. If I could make it through this... the rest was smoothe sailing. (I'd later learn that this was a complete and total crock... but we'll get to that later.) Dr. M sets me in a chair with my back to him. He places the frame over my head, and marks the spots where he wants the screws, and then wastes no time getting started with the numbing. Having the two spots in the back of my head numbed wasn't all that bad. It felt like a bee sting, and lasted for about 10 seconds. The spots on the front of my head were a totally different story. I could've swore someone had lit my hair on fire... It burned SO BAD! Then he started in with the screws. One at a time they were inserted. They did not hurt at all... but the pressure I felt was unbelievable. I told Steve that I was waiting for my skull to crack. Luckily (ha ha), that didn't happen... and it was all over and done with. My thoughts: "Too late to run now... I'd never get this damn thing off!"

Shortly after the head frame was attached, Kathy tells me that the next step is to have an MRI done. So, she gets me into a wheelchair and wheels me over into a waiting area. When we get there, she asks me a few questions, like "What's your birthday?" and "What's today's date?", etc. I COULD NOT ANSWER HER!! It was the weirdest feeling... My mind was racing, and I couldn't get it to slow down long enough to form an answer to her questions. Here came the tears again... I felt like such an idiot. At that point, she checked my blood pressure and realized that it was pretty high, so she gave me some medicine to help me relax. My thoughts: "This woman is my hero!"

This is a picture of me with my stylin' head frame... obviously well after the "relaxing" meds had kicked in (hence the glazed over eyes and goofy smile). I'll be looking for this picture in the next issue of Vogue magazine for sure!

The MRI was probably my favorite part of the day. Why??? Because I don't even really remember it. I remember the technician attaching a gigantic metal thing to the metal thing that was already attached to my head. It was so heavy, he had to help me lay down. Then... I was out... Completely and totally down for the count. They had to wake me up when it was over. It was awesome!

After the MRI, I was wheeled back to a waiting room where Steve was. They brought in a recliner and a lap top for us to use, and pretty much let us be... for about 3 hours. I really thought this would be my favorite part of the day as I was looking forward to a nice long nap. However, getting comfortable in a recliner with this piece of metal on my head was just not going to happen. If you look in the above picture... The metal bar that you see that runs around my jaw, runs all the way around the back of my head as well. There are also two more posts back there that made laying down in a recliner impossible. After about 45 minutes of shifting and flopping around, I gave up and pulled out the book of "Brain Games" I had brought with me. Steve decided this was probably a good time for him to grab some lunch and run home and walk the dogs. So I pulled up some Christmas tunes on the laptop and worked on my brain games. My thoughts: "This isn't so bad... I can totally do this!"

After what seemed like FOREVER... Kathy finally returned and told me it was time. I was SO ready to get this show on the road!! So... off we went to Radiology, where they attached a big plastic dome to the top of my head frame, and then snapped me into the Gamma Knife machine. They told me it would be 89 minutes of radiation. My thoughts: "Yay... I get another nap!"

BWAAAAAA HA HA HA HA HA!! I was SO wrong it wasn't even funny.

Seriously.

The radiation treatment basically went in ten 9-minute cycles. The machine would suck me in, do it's thing for about 9 mins, and the spit me back out for about 30 seconds while the machine adjusted the direction of the radiation beams. At the end of each 9-minute cycle, an alarm would go off. Yeah... so much for that nap I was looking forward to. My thoughts: "GRRRRRRR!"

The bright side at this point was that I was able to bring some music to listen to during the radiation. I sat down the night before, picked out 18 songs, and was ready to go. When they told me how long the treatment would be, I knew my CD would be a little short, but I figured it would get me most of the way through (within about 25-30 mins).

When the radiation started, I was quite comfortable just laying there. I figured this was going to be easy as pie. However, as each cycle passed, the pressure in my head would build. By the time my CD ended, I was getting pretty darned uncomfortable. I was doing everything I possibly could to rearrange my legs, my butt, my shoulders, etc., to try to relieve some of the pain, but my head wasn't going anywhere, so nothing was helping. Kathy told me before we got started that if I needed a break at any point, to just let them know since I had a handy dandy microphone attached to my head frame. In between the 7th and 8th cycle, the pressure was so intense that I finally asked if I could have a break. Kathy replied, "You've got 17 minutes left... Do you thing you can make it?" I said I could and back into the machine I went. My thoughts: "You can do this, Kase.... You can do this."

It was the longest 17 minutes of my life.

Torture.

By the time it finally ended, I was bawling and begging them to please get the frame off my head. I couldn't take it anymore. It felt like my head was going to explode. Now... as I said earlier... Everyone told me that getting the frame on would be the worst part. I call Bull *@#%!!! Getting that thing off was so much more painful. With each screw they removed, the pressure just continued to build. I honestly thought I was going to throw up or pass out... I wasn't sure which. Kathy cleaned the holes in my head and wrapped a giant bandage snugly around my head. She kept trying to get me to eat and drink something, but I assured her that anything that went in, was most definitely going to come right back out. My thoughts: "Yeah... I don't think I can do this anymore. My white flag is up!"

Kathy wheeled me back to the waiting room where Steve was, and helped me back into the reclining chair. She assured me that if I just laid back for a little while, I would feel better. So, she reclined the chair... I laid as far back as I could... and all of the sudden I felt a gush of something running down my neck and back, and into the waistband of my pants. I said, "I think there's something running down my back!" Kathy took one look at me and immediately started grabbing towels and holding them to the back of my head. The entire back side of me was covered in blood. I probably would've been a lot more freaked out, but all the pressure that had built up in my head had finally been relieved. It felt SO good!

Finally... at a little after 5:00pm, Steve wheeled me out to the car, and we were on our wy home. I was so exhausted that I couldn't even sit upright, and my hair and clothes were crusty and gross with dried blood. I honestly could not have cared less. I had made it through... I WAS DONE!!

I had a couple of rough days at home and was pretty sore, but I feel so much better today. I finally got to take a hot shower last night (after 48 hours of crusty hair) and it was absolute heaven. I feel like a whole new woman!

I must say... I've had three of the most amazing nurses taking care of me. They've worked hard, and I appreciate every single thing they've done for me. This picture is from last night... I think I wore them out!

I also truly appreciate all the positive thoughts and prayers I've received over the past few days. I am such a lucky girl to have so many people who care about me. A sincere THANK YOU... each and every one of you!

Giving Thanks...

2009-11-23T16:22:00.006-05:00

This year has been a tough one for so many people. That's why this year especially, I am trying to count my blessings. I have a wonderful family, great friends, a warm place to call home, and good food to put on my table.

For me... especially over the last couple of months... it's been really easy to get wrapped up in the negative. Things at work are tough right now, I haven't been feeling the greatest (although, I must say that today my head has not bothered me AT ALL!!), and money.... well.... let's face it. Who couldn't use a little more of that?! I've tried to stay positive, but I have to admit that my attitude hasn't exactly been improving.

Then... with one simple e-mail... I am quickly reminded of just how lucky I am, and just how thankful I should be.

I received the following letter in my e-mail just a few days ago:

Dearest Friends & Loved Ones:

Our triplet daughter, Tonya, had no choice but to undergo another total jaw replacement surgery on March 2, 2009. This was Tonya’s 7^th jaw surgery. Dr. Day, a Maxial Facial Surgeon, one of five surgeons who performs this type of surgery in the world, attempted to pin and put a plate in her left jaw to hold it in place in June of 2008. That surgery failed. The only option was to replace her left jaw with the same titanium parts that he earlier surgically placed in her right jaw in 2006.

Tonya does have health insurance, but no pre-existing condition is covered. The costs have been astronomical and we are still paying for previous surgeries. I am going to do one more raffle. Our friend, Betty Lester, gave me a beautiful “Irish Chain” quilt top to do for the raffle. My little sister, Suzy, put cute borders on it and I quilted it. My friend, Charlene McCutcheon donated a framed quote surrounded by flowers she got in my garden to match the quilt. Also, I have an awesome piece of art done by our friend, Kim Trickey and a hand quilted baby quilt I made for the raffle. So there will be a 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place winner!

A brief history of Tonya's jaw:

Tonya wrecked on her bike and cut her chin open when she was 10 years old. The doctor stitched her chin up, but there was extensive damage done to the growth plates in her jaws - not detected at the time.

Eleven years later, she underwent her first jaw surgery on January 11, 2001, while she was serving a mission in Salt Lake City. The surgeon cut the condyle - the head of the jaw needed for the movement of the jaw – off her right jaw and that just made matters worse. At this time he went in on the left side also. August 16, 2001, while still on her mission, this same surgeon went in again on the right side.

In 2006, Dr. Day analyzed the surgeries done in 2001, not understanding what had been done to either jaw. He informed us that at this point, the only solution was total jaw replacement on her right side, which he performed on November 27, 2006. A follow up surgery was necessary on October 15, 2007, to relieve her locked jaw due to the extensive scar tissue.

Her 5th surgery was on April 3, 2008, an attempt to repair her degenerating left jaw. The 6th surgery on June 2, 2008, was a second attempt by Dr. Day to secure the condyle and disc in her left jaw with screws. Both these surgeries were unsuccessful because of the earlier extensive damage.

Tonya had one option left. She required total replacement of her left jaw in order to be able to talk and eat normally. Tonya is still blending all her food and drinks a lot of protein drinks with her fruits & veggies, but her healing this time around has been astounding. (Thanks to everyone’s fasting and prayers!)

The drawing will be held on December 21^st. If you are interested in this raffle, the tickets are 1 for $1.00 or 6 for $5.00. If you are the winner, you will be contacted right away. If I cannot hand deliver your prize, I will mail it to you immediately!

Please continue to keep Tonya in your thoughts and prayers and thanks!

Love,

Todd & Julie Bosen

P. O. Box 1087

Eagar, Arizona 85925

We all know Tonya, and we all know what a kind person she is. However, I don't think very many of us understand the pain Tonya has been in over the past few years. Honestly... I don't think we want to.

I wasn't asked to post this here, and I'm not trying to make anyone buy raffle tickets. I'm simply posting this to remind you to look around... And be thankful!

HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE THANKSGIVING!!

Here we go again...

2009-11-02T15:52:00.008-05:00

On Decenber 8th... I'll be going under the knife... Again.

Except it's not exactly a knife in the surgical blade sense... and I don't know as though I'll actually be going "under" much of anything.

In a little over a month, I'll be spending a long day at the James Cancer Hospital here in Columbus having Gamma Knife Radiosurgery. I'm not responding to my medications anymore, so this procedure is pretty much my last shot at killing whatever it is that's decided to call my brain "home" for the past few years.

Gamma Knife is basically a precise, high dose of radiation, delivered to abnormal brain tissue... With the hope of killing it. It's also a one shot deal, so I only have to go that one day... and there's not hospital stay... WOO HOO!!

I'm a little nervous because as with most medical procedures, there are some risks. This procedure could possibly damage my pituitary gland, resulting in the need for lifelong hormone replacement therapy (not too huge a deal... I could deal with that). However, because of where my tumor is located, it could also damage my optic nerve which could result in visual impairment (not too thrilled about that). My neurosurgeon says that Gamma Knife has about a 2 millimeter "safe zone". Meaning that only the tissue within 2mm of the radiation beam should receive the radiation. My tumor right now is about 4mm away from my optic nerve. It's a small window... but it's a window.

On the other hand, I am hopeful that this procedure will eliminate the need for me to depend on medication, as well as do away with the horrible headaches I have been living with, day in and day out, for the past few weeks. I consider myself a pretty tough broad... but I just can't handle this pain anymore. I'm just about at the end of my rope. I feel badly for Steve because I can't be a very fun person to live with right now. I'm always tired... I don't feel like doing anything... and lately I've become pretty damn grouchy. He and the girls continue to put up with me and for that I am extremely thankful. He truly is an amazing guy.

My neurosurgeon and radiation oncologist are very optimistic that this will do the trick, and say I have about a 70% chance of a "home run". That is... everything coming out the way we want it to. I'm putting my trust in them and taking the chance.

I'm praying for a home run.

The Bald and The Beautiful...

2009-10-23T14:37:00.003-04:00

They just don't get much prettier than this, folks!!

Saturday is game day at our house. We all dress up to cheer on the home team!

Black Friday

2009-09-14T13:02:00.004-04:00

Friday, September 11, 2009, is a day I will never ever forget. Not just because it was the anniversary of one of the darkest days in our nation's history, but also because of what happened at my place of employment.

As I walked into the Flight Center at 6:15am on Friday morning, I crossed paths with two of my co-workers. One was walking towards me... on his cell phone. I figured he was on a personal call and looking for a quiet place to sit and talk. The other one was walking not too far behind me on her way in to start her shift. I said a quick "Good morning!" and continued on my way.

Neither one of these people ever made it in to work their shifts that day.

Instead, they were stopped at the door by one of our managers, told they were no longer employed, and sent back out of the building.

As I sat through my 10 hour shift, doing my best to stay focused on getting my planes from point A to point B safely, I watched as co-worker after co-worker, friend after friend, were tapped on the shoulder, told to gather their purses, back-packs, coats, etc., and escorted out of the building. One by one... they were picked off. I'll never forget the looks on some of their faces... some were angry, some were scared, and some were in tears. Most were just in total shock... Completely blindsided. I'll also never forget the way I felt knowing that each and every one of their lives were being turned upside-down.

One of the people let go from my department was a single mother, about my age. I wondered how she was going to take care of herself and a young son with no job. Another co-worker was a proud new father whose wife was a stay-at-home mother to their daughter. I wondered how on earth he was going to break the news to his wife when he got home.

I also sat there wondering if Steve and/or I would be the next to be tapped. We both work for the same company and therefore both of our jobs were on the line. Every time a manager walked by, I sat there hoping that they weren't going to stop at my desk. As they continued past, I hoped that they wouldn't stop at the desk of one of my friends. Some did, some didn't.

At about 5:30 that evening, I received a call from Steve, letting me know that although his entire department had been eliminated, he had been offered a position in a different department... which he of course took. I was also informed that my job was safe and that I no longer had to worry.

I cried.

It was an awful, horrible day. One that is going to be very difficult for us to overcome as a company... if we ever do.

It's three days later now, and I've gone from being really sad about the whole thing to being really angry. I am very thankful to still be employed... especially considering we just bought our home, and put down a deposit on a wedding venue. However, I am experiencing a sort of "survivor's guilt", knowing that there are well over 200 people here in Columbus who were not so lucky.

In the span of a few days, the company I work for has gone from feeling like a family based institution to a battle ground. It used to be a very easy-going place, and now it's like you constantly have to watch your back. I walk down the hallway, happy to see familiar faces... And sad that there are so many I will no longer see.

I simply cannot believe the number of amazingly intelligent and dedicated people who were terminated on Friday. My heart goes out to them all.

So Proud!

2009-09-03T19:52:00.005-04:00

I posted a couple of months ago about Steve's decision to participate in a local charity bike ride benefitting the James Cancer Research Hospital here in Columbus. Well... The ride was this past weekend, and my sweetie rode his 50 mile ride in 4 hours and 12 minutes (that includes a bathroom break, and a 20 minute rest stop). I am SO proud of him!!

His buns were pretty sore for a couple of days, but he said time and time again that it was totally worth it!

Steve rode with a group of guys from the Schedule Planning department at work. Here are a few of them in their Pelotonia jerseys getting ready for their early morning start (from left: Adam, Steve, and Adam). The entire team raised over $10,000, and the ride itself brought in over $4,000,000! That's great news for the fight against cancer!!

GREAT JOB GUYS!!!

If I get brave... and invest in a bike... I may attempt to join them next year!

We're HOME!!

2009-08-02T20:42:00.003-04:00

It's been an insanely busy couple of weeks, but Petunia, Cookie, Steve and I are finally getting settled into our new home! We still have boxes everywhere... and I suspect we probably will for a while... but we are here!

I'll post more later... just wanted to let everyone know we survived the move... YAY!!!

It's FINALLY Official!!!

2009-07-16T20:49:00.004-04:00

Steve and I signed our lives away today and officially became home owners.

Can I just say WOO FREAKIN' HOO!!!!

I don't care what anyone says... The process of buying a home is not nearly what it's cracked up to be, and I hope to not have to go through it again at anytime in the near future. I am SOOO glad it's over and done!

Funny story (OK, not really, but here goes)... Steve and I were actually supposed to close yesterday at 1:00pm. As we're sitting at lunch at 12:45pm, we get a call from out mortgage company saying there was some kind of name discrepancy. Immediately, I started cursing my parents for naming me Erin and calling me Kasey. But, it turns out it wasn't my name that was the issue... It was Steve!

Steve is named after is dad, and is therefore Steve E. Jones II. He always writes and signs his name as such on legal documents. Well, it turns out that our mortgage company left the "II" off one of the forms they filled out, and the title company was questioning it. So... we were told that it would take up to 24 hours to verify Steve's identity and that we would have to push closing back to today. Grrrrr!!

I was disappointed, and Steve was flat out pissed off! No two ways about it. He spoke with our loan officer a few times, and even ended up talking (loudly) with the branch manager to get things straightened out. The mortgage company ended up giving us a nice little discount off of our closing costs, and rushing things through so that we could close at noon today.

So... we did it!

I can't wait to get moved and finally be HOME!!!

My Sweet Petunia...

2009-07-07T19:30:00.004-04:00

I've written before about the lovey-dovey relationship that Cookie and Steve have. He loves her, and she absolutely lives for him. I'm basically just the lady that feeds her and gives her treats every now and then. I've been telling Steve for the past couple of months that since he stole my dog... he owes me a new one!

Well... This sweet little girl is the newest addition to our family.

Her name is Petunia, she is eight weeks old, and she came to live with us on July 3rd.

Poor Cookie had a rough couple of days... She was simply NOT the least bit thrilled with Miss Petunia being here. She was grouchy, and I was heart broken. I thought for sure my Monster hated me, and that is the last thing I wanted. I cried, I worried, and I didn't sleep for two days.

But, it's been four days now, and the girls are starting to get used to each other. We even caught them napping together on the couch this afternoon.

Everyone I've talked to says to just give them time. They pretty much just have to figure it all out on their own. I'm hoping they are right and that they will eventually be good buddies. I keep telling Cookie that she is still the Queen... She just has a little Princes to boss around now!

I sure do love these furry little creatures!

Home

2009-06-24T16:34:00.006-04:00

We had our home inspection yesterday and it went off without a hitch! With the exception of a couple of shingles that need trimmed, and some metal flashing that needs put up on one part of the roof... We're Good!!

Ahhhhh..... Relief!

Closing is set for the 15th of July, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes according to schedule. The next month is going to be SOOO busy!!

I'll get some decent pictures posted once we've had the chance to get in there and clean things up a bit (the sellers didn't clean anything when they left... grrrr). For now... this picture from Steve's phone will have to do.

Here she is!

I think the yard is going to be our biggest project this year. The neighbors have been nice enough to keep it mowed, but it's really going to need some work.

Those tacky gold light fixtures are going to have to go at some point too, but I have to remember... One thing at a time.

OMG, OMG, OMG...!!!

2009-06-12T19:02:00.002-04:00

As my mom used to say... "I don't know whether to scream... cry... or throw up!"

I am thrilled and terrified all at once.

Steve and I found out today that the bank has accepted our offer on the house we want!!!

So... If all goes well (inspection, closing, etc.), we should officially be homeowners sometime in the next month or so!

Part of me is thinking, "YAY!... I can't wait to get in to my home!!"

The other part of me is thinking, "Holy crap! I'M A GROWN UP!!!"

Keep your fingers crossed for us.

Pedaling for a Cure!

2009-06-04T08:14:00.009-04:00

In this day and age, every single one of us know someone who has been directly affected by Cancer. It's a scary reality. Family members, friends, co-workers... Men and women... Young and old... Cancer does not descriminate.

Luckily, the United States has some of the best cancer research facilities in the world... The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute (a.k.a. "The James") being among them. Despite the fact that groundbreaking research performed at The James is beating cancer every day, a desperate need for additional funds and resources remains. Fortunately, we can all help!

In 2008, NetJets Inc. (the company that Steve and I both work for) joined forces with the director and CEO of The James as well as the LIVESTRONG movement to take a stand against this terrible disease. This is where the idea of Pelotonia was born.

Peloton, by definition, is "a principal group of cyclists in a race". Pelotonia, is a grass roots bike tour with one goal: To end cancer. On August 28th-30th, 2009, a group of NetJets employees (including our President and CEO, Richard Santulli) will join Lance Armstrong and other cyclists from across the country to do just that. This bike tour will start here in Columbus, OH, and will consist of a 2 day, 180 mile round trip ride to Ohio University in Athens, OH.

Now... I haven't spent any good quality time on a bike since I was a kid. I don't even own a bike at this point in my life. The last time I was on a borrowed one, it was ugly. That being said, I do plan on volunteering for the event. On the other hand... Steve has a bike, and I'm proud to say that he will be riding (and I will be cheering him on) in this noble fight for a cure!

At this point, Steve has signed up to ride the 50 mile ride, and has to raise $1000 in order to participate. However, he really wants to be able to participate in the full 180 mile ride, and is hoping to be able to raise the $2000 required to do so. I know that money is tight for all of us, and that many of us already have charities/organizations we contribute to. However, if you're interested in helping Steve, you can click the link below to view his rider profile and make a donation. *No amount is too small!*

Steve Jones Pelotonia Profile

Steve's personal goal for the Pelotonia is to raise $5000. He and a few of his co-workers (who are also riding) are trying to think of something a little crazy they can do if they each reach their personal goals. They were thinking of shaving their heads, but for obvious reasons, that's not a very far fetched idea for Steve. Suggestions are welcome... Let the brainstorming begin!

It's Official... Kinda!

2009-05-05T19:31:00.002-04:00

As of 1:30pm yesterday afternoon... Steve and I are "in contract" on a house we love!

Part of me is really excited, and part of me is really nervous. I don't know which part is bigger right now.

The house we found is a short sale, and if things go our way, we will have gotten a smokin' hot deal on it. It's a newer house in a nice neighborhood, and it's the first house we've been in that actually feels like it could be "home"... That's a really good feeling! I've tried so hard to not get my hopes up, and not let my heart get set on this house. I know this is not the only house in the Columbus area that we could possibly be happy in. But as each day passes... it gets harder and harder to not let my emotions play into it.

The house itself is in phenomenal shape. The interior paint is nice, the carpet is almost brand new... There is not a single thing that would need to be done right off the bat. I already know what my favorite room is... I can imagine the Monster running around in her new back yard... I even know the perfect spot for a great big Christmas tree.

Ugh... This is the pits!!

Since it's a short sale, we still have a few hoops to jump through. The seller has accepted our offer, but it's all in the bank's hands at this point. So for now, we sit and wait.

And wait.

And wait some more.

I feel like a kid at Christmas. Only it's a few months before Christmas, and my parents have just set the biggest present ever right in front of me... unwrapped... and told me that I can't touch it. I can only look at it. And at any point, the nosy neighbor kid could come running through the front door, only to steal the present right in front of me.

Now I know why I've been so content as a renter up to this point in my life.

I Think I'm Weird...

2009-04-24T18:00:00.003-04:00

... Or maybe I'm just..... what's the word..... Atypical, maybe??

Over the past four weeks, Steve and I have had the "Where do you want to get married?" conversation *at least* a half a dozen times. The conversation usually lasts a while... ideas are tossed around... concerns are voiced... and eventually I think we just get a little overwhelmed and give up. After all... we have plenty of time to get this done.

I ask him what he wants.... He says he wants what I want... I lovingly remind him that this IS his wedding, too... and around and around we go. The conversations are fun, but we just end up laughing our butts off, and we don't really get anywhere. Even the date is up in the air at this point!

I think I've realized that the reason it's so hard is because I'm just not a typical bride. Even the word "bride" sounds a little foreign to me. I'm not really into big, poofy dresses... I'm not a fan of ballroom receptions... and I'm not one of those girls who has been planning and dreaming of her wedding day since the age of 10. I'm just not. (Although right now I'm kind of wishing I was because it would make this whole wedding planning thing a heck of a lot easier!)

See. I'm weird.

I know it'll get a little easier once all the dust settles, and I know things will eventually start to fall into place (like I said... we have lots of time). But, right now... I kind of feel like I've just entered the Twilight Zone.

I sure hope they offer tour guides here....

Seriously?... Already??

2009-04-14T19:19:00.002-04:00

I've been engaged for 2.5 weeks...

The stress has begun...

I am overwhelmed...

Enough said.

The Best Birthday... EVER!!!

2009-03-31T19:36:00.020-04:00

My 30th birthday was so much more fun than I ever thought it would be. The trip to Las Vegas was a blast, and I had quite a few surprises along the way.

Here goes.....

Our flight out of Columbus left at 9:30am. Steve and I got checked in, made it through security, and settled in at the gate to wait for our flight to begin boarding. We were both playing around with our iPhones and not really paying attention... And at one point I looked at Steve and said, "I swear I just heard my name called over the intercom." The gate agent didn't seem like she was looking around for anyone, so we both just blew it off and continued to sit there, not paying attention.

They finally started boarding our flight, so we grabbed our carry-ons and started to get in line. Then I hear it again... For sure this time... They were calling "Erin Sass" over the intercom. So I went up to the gate agent and told her who I was. She proceeded to present me with an "I'm turning 30!" trophy, and then announced to the entire gate area that it was my birthday.

This was surprise #1... a little embarrassing.

We had a short layover in Chicago, but got to stay on the same plane, so that really made things easy. We managed to get some great seats right up front on the way from Chicago to Las Vegas,and we had tons of leg room. It was so nice!

About half way through our flight to Vegas, one of the flight attendants came on the intercom and asked everyone to lower their window shades. She said they check them all inflight to make sure they all work. Once again... I was watching "Hairspray" on my iPod and not really paying attention... I just saw Steve put the window shade down. Whatever. Then the fight attendant asked everyone to reach up and turn on their overhead light so they could make sure those were working as well. So we did... Still watching my movie and still only half paying attention. Once the plane was dark (window shades down), and all the little over head lights were on, the flight attendant then announced that it was my birthday. They made me stand up so the whole plane could sing "Happy Birthday" to me. They also gave me a small birthday cake they fashioned out of a roll of toilet paper and drink stirrers, as well as a bottle of champaign to celebrate with!

This was surprise #2... VERY embarrassing!

After finally arriving in Las Vegas, having lunch, and settling into our room at the Luxor, we decided to ride the monorail up to the north end of the strip. We both wanted to see the Stratosphere, so we figured we would start there and work our way back towards the south end of the strip where our hotel was.

When we got to the Stratosphere, we purchased our tickets for the observation deck, and got in line to go through security. I got through security without a problem... yay! Steve however had a little trouble, and had to be wanded by the security guard because he forgot to take his camera batteries out of his pocket. Once he made it through, we had our picture taken and headed up the elevator.

We were really lucky getting up to the top of the Stratosphere when we did because once we got up there, we remembered that Earth Hour was taking place that night. We were told by one of the employees there that Earth Hour would be only the seventh time ever that all the marquis lights and hotel signs on the strip would be shut off. We had great seats on a bench, and got to sit there and watch the lights go off one by one... It was really cool!

When leaving the Stratosphere, we saw that the traffic along the strip was HORRENDOUS!! It turns out that many of the locals had also come down to the strip to watch Earth Hour. Steve and I had planned on using the Deuce (a big double-decker bus that makes multiple stops along the strip) to work our way back to our hotel, but we were actually walking WAY faster than the traffic was moving, so we just decided to keep on walking.

We walked by the Sahara, Circus Circus, The Riviera, and the Wynn before finally making it to Treasure Island to watch the pirate show. Now... Let me just say that the pirate show I remember seeing was really cool. They used to have a mini battle and the pirate ship actually sank down into the water. The show now is called "The Sirens of TI", and it is quite a bit different (to say the least). When the show started, I thought I was watching the Pussycat Dolls on a ship. It was not at all what we were expecting to see, and quite honestly... a little shocking.

By that time, my feet were getting a little sore. I was in flip-flops (again... we weren't planning on pounding the concrete all night) and they probably weren't the best choice for the evening. But, we were still WAY ahead of the bus, so we just kept on trucking. We strolled through the Venetian, and our next stop was at the Mirage to watch the volcano erupt. That was really cool!

By the time we left the Mirage, my feet were starting to really hurt. Steve asked me if I wanted to call it a night and just catch a cab, but we still hadn't seen the Bellagio, and a cab ride back to our hotel would have taken FOREVER. So, we continued past the Flamingo and Caesar's Palace arrived at the Bellagio. Seeing the fountains at the Bellagio was probably #1 on my list of things to do in Vegas. I love the music and I love watching the water. You could leave me there for hours, and I'd be a happy little camper! We found a great spot to stand right up front and settled in to watch the show.

When the show was ending, Steve told me he had one more surprise for me (surprise #3... by far my favorite!). I turned around and there he was on his knee with a beautiful ring... He asked me to marry him. (As it turns out... The "camera batteries" he had trouble going through security with at the Stratosphere were actually my engagement ring!) I just about passed out. Some girls scream... Some girls cry... Not me. I started shaking like I was having some kind of seizure and wrapped my arms around Steve's neck so tight he probably thought his little bald head was going to pop off. The rest of the evening was pretty much a blur. I just know that you couldn't have wiped the giant smile off my face with anything!

On Sunday, Steve and I enjoyed a relaxing and filling champaign brunch at the Luxor, and spent the rest of the morning calling our friends and family to share the news. At 2:15pm, we hopped in a limo and were off on another adventure. We were headed back to the airport where we jumped in a helicopter and took an hour and a half tour of Lake Mead, The Hoover Dam, The Grand Canyon, and a sunset pass over the Las Vegas Strip. It was AMAZING!!! Our pilot (who was also famale :o)) was a great tour guide and knew a lot about the history of the sights we flew over. We had a great time!

On Monday morning, Steve and I met up with Greg and Dustin for breakfast. It was so good to see them, and it was fun to just sit there and catch up for a little bit. We spent the rest of the day checking out Mandalay Bay, Excalibur, and even making a quick trip to the outlet mall. We both ended up with some yummy bath products from Lush, and a couple of great bags from the outlet mall. I had so much fun hanging out with Dustin and enjoying a little girly time!

That night, Dustin, Greg, Steve, and I went to the Tournament of Kings at Excalibur and had a blast! We got to eat dinner with our hands, scream like a bunch of school kids, and just hang out. It was so nice to spend time with my best friend. Thanks again Dust for making the quick trip to hang out with us. It was so good to see you!!

I have tons of pictures.... Here are a few of them!

It was a fabulous trip that I will never ever forget! And I don't think Steve or I will ever be able to hear the song "God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood without laughing. Because... believe it or not... That was the song that played during the fountain show at the Bellagio right before he proposed. Of all the songs they had to play... Steve got that one. LOL!!

As far as wedding plans go... There are none yet! The first order of business for me is to figure out where I am going to live when my lease is up. Steve and I are toying with the idea of house hunting, but nothing is set in stone. Once I have a place to call home... Then I'll start working on a wedding.

And no pictures of the ring because... well... it's really hard to get a good picture of something so sparkly! Take my word for it... He did very well!! I don't think I could have picked a prettier ring if I'd gone shopping for it myself.

I am such a lucky girl!

And We're Off!!!: Volume 2...

2009-03-28T05:58:00.003-04:00

I'm up... I'm 30... and Steve and I are heading to Vegas... WOO HOO!!!

My toes are painted, my bags are packed, and thanks to my family... I have a little extra spending money in my pocket. It's going to be a great trip!

Dust... Drive safely and we'll see you tomorrow night!!

Vegas, Baby!!!

2009-03-17T18:35:00.005-04:00

WOO HOO!!!

So as I'm sitting at lunch with Steve today, he tells me that I have a decision to make. He tells me that he wants to take me somewhere for my birthday, but that I have to decide where to go... New York, Boston, San Francisco, or Las Vegas.

HUH??? (Insert blank stare here....)

Up until this point, the only exciting plans I had for my birthday were to treat myself to a pedicure, and enjoy a nice dinner out somewhere with Steve. Now I get to pick a city?!?!

So after asking Steve about a hundred times, "Where do YOU want to go?", and realizing that he wasn't going to help me with this decision, I've settled on Las Vegas. Steve and I went to New York for my 28th birthday... We'd rather visit Boston sometime during the fall... And while San Francisco seems like a beautiful city, I think Vegas will be a lot more fun for my 30th birthday!

And to top off the trip out west... Steve and I are going to get to meet up with Dustin, Greg, and possibly Mr. Wonderful (Braden's attendance is yet to be determined). I can't wait!!!

Vegas.... HERE I COME!!!

(I still think I'm going to treat myself to that pedicure... Gotta have pretty toes for the trip!)

What a Lady...

2009-03-10T09:09:00.006-04:00

Edith Irene Hornberger

My Grandma Edith (my mom's mom) passed away this weekend, and we're really going to miss her. Grandma was born on March 22, 1922, and would've celebrated her 87th birthday in just a couple of weeks. She died on March 7th.

Some of my favorite memories of my Grandma are:

1. Picking her up at the airport every summer. I would get so excited... I used to run down the hall to meet her, and she always looked so pretty.

2. She always slept in my room with me when she came to Arizona, and she would hold my hand until I fell asleep.

3. When we got to go see her in Kansas, she would load us up in her car and take us to the Sonic in the next town over. I thought that was so cool!

4. She always used her lipstick for blush... It was a bright pink color.

5. Wherever we went, no matter where we were or who we ran into, Grandma always introduced us to people as her grandkids. She was such a proud Grandma.

6. She always had cold coke in her fridge, and some kind of cookie we could eat!

7. She was so generous. Grandma didn't have a whole lot... yet she always had little treasures she gave to us. (Even as I sit here and type this, I'm looking at this tacky little piggy bank she gave me last summer.) She never sent us away empty-handed!

8. She was always excited to see us. Even in the last couple of years... when I never knew if she was going to remember us or not... her face just lit up as soon as she saw us.

9. Her quilts. Grandma was a very talented, award winning quilter, and her work was (and still is) beautiful. I'm lucky enough to have a few of the things she made.

10. Grandma was a lot like McGuyver. That woman could make just about anything out of just about anything. She was very resourceful, and handier than most men I know.

She really was a neat lady, and she will be missed by us all.

The Countdown...

2009-03-06T18:41:00.005-05:00

To the big 3-0!!

I've had a few people asking me lately how I feel about my upcoming 30th birthday. So... here you have it... my truthful answer...

I CANNOT WAIT!!!

Some people dread saying good-bye to their 20s.

Some people don't like "getting older".

Some people feel like age is a whole lot more than just a number.

Not me.

I say... BRING IT ON!!!

Am I where I always thought I would be at the age of 30? Not exactly.

Am I happy to be where I currently am at the age of 30? You betcha!!

On the 28th of this month, I will turn 30. And while I am saying good-bye to one chapter of my life... I am thrilled to be saying hello to another! My 30s are going to blow my 20s out of the water!!

My New Eyeballs!

2009-02-25T15:20:00.003-05:00

I just picked these babies up at the eye doctor's office, and so far, I am LOVING them!!

I've been a faithful contact wearer for over 15 years, and I now have a whole new outlook on glasses. They are low-maintenance, they are comfy, and best of all... I CAN SEE!!!

(Goodbye tax refund... See you next year!)

Mirror, Mirror, on the...

2009-02-17T18:29:00.008-05:00

Umm... floor.... for now.

This afternoon, I had to go to the hospital to have a test done. Steve had a couple errands to run as well, so he took me to lunch, and then to the hospital. (Such a good guy he is!)

On our way out of my apartment complex, we drove by the dumpster because I had a bag of trash that needed thrown out. Whenever I go to the dumpster, I have a habit of checking out any "oversized" items that have been thrown out. I've seen everything from furniture to appliances sitting out there, so it's always interesting to see what others have decided to pitch.

When we pulled up to the dumpster, I saw this giant mirror sitting out in the grass. I mentioned the mirror to Steve, but figured it was most likely broken/damaged if someone was throwing it out. I almost didn't even get out to look at it. But, Steve said, "I'll throw the trash away... You go check out the mirror." So I did.

As it turns out, it's a really pretty (and super HEAVY) mirror, that apparently used to be attached to a dresser or vanity as it had some pretty hefty brackets on the to the back of it. It was a little dirty, but in decent shape, so Steve and I picked it up and put it in the back of his car.

When we got back to my place this afternoon, Steve helped me carry the mirror in so I could get it cleaned up. He took the brackets off the back, and I whipped out the windex. I have to say... That mirror cleaned up pretty darn well!

Here's a picture of it after a good bath...

Now... my question for all you creative/decorating bloggers is... Where in the world can I put this thing? It's 48.5 inches wide, 34.5 inches tall, it weighs about 40lbs, and I haven't a clue what to do with it.

I'm going to be moving in a few months, so I'm not in a huge hurry to get it hung up in my current apartment. But, I'd love to know if any of you have any brilliant/creative ideas as to what I might be able to do with it in my next place.

I'm open to any suggestions, so let me have 'em!!

Look Out Martha...

2009-02-10T21:11:00.005-05:00

Here I come!!

As far as I'm concerned, Valentine's Day may as well not even exist this year. I'm a little "bah humbug" about the whole thing, myself.

I have to work from 6am-4pm that day, and Steve has to work from 3pm-3am that night (into the following morning). So, our chances of getting to do anything fun (or even seeing each other for that matter) are pretty darn slim.

So... While sitting at home today, I decided to have a Martha Day, and make Steve an early Valentine's Day present. After all... We all know that the way to any man's heart is through his stomach!

Here's the final product. I think they turned out pretty well considering my less-than-stellar culinary skills!

Let me just say that frosting these suckers was no easy feat... I'm still wondering what the secret is. Maybe it's just one of those "practice makes perfect" things... I don't know. My "butter knife and cursing" approach doesn't seem to be working.

Anyways... I hope he likes them!!

Taking a Break...

2009-01-16T12:48:00.002-05:00

... From the blogging world, that is.

I've blogged for a year and a half, and for some reason I feel like I need to take a step back.

I'll catch up again at some point... I'm just not sure when.

I hope everyone is doing well and making the best of 2009!

Happy New Year!!!!

2008-12-31T13:40:00.002-05:00

I don't know about the rest of you, but I can't wait for 2009 to be here! I'm looking forward to a new year, a fresh start, and lots of fun!!!

Steve has to work tonight, so Cookie and I are having a girl's night in. Sex and the City DVDs, a BIG bag of popcorn, and a glass of champagne at midnight...

It doesn't get much better than that!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!!!

Merry Christmas to All...

2008-12-24T12:37:00.002-05:00

... And to all a good night!!

I hope Santa is good to all of you this year!

Here's to a safe, healthy, and happy 2009!!!

My Quest for Amazing Bubbles...

2008-12-19T19:55:00.002-05:00

Has finally.... FINALLY.... come to an end!

Over the past five or six years, I have become quite the bubble bath lover. After a long, stressful day at work (like today), or the occasional day of feeling like pooh at home... A nice, hot bubble bath is just what the doctor ordered!

The problem? Well... until now, my bubble baths weren't very.... um.... bubble-y. I've tried all kinds of soaps, oils, foams,etc., and nothing has been able to produce those big, fluffy, movie star bubbles.

Until now!!!

My mom told me last week that she had one of my Christmas gifts shipped directly to me here in Ohio. She said that since it wasn't wrapped, I could just open the box and enjoy whatever was inside. (I wish she followed this train of thought with all of my Christmas presents, but... no such luck!) I had put the package in the back of my mind and forgotten all about it... until this evening.

Today at work was hell. Plain and simple. I woke up to a ball of ice (a.k.a. My car), thanks to the freezing rain we got last night, that I somehow had to thaw out and drive to work. For those of you who haven't been lucky enough to have any experience with freezing rain, let me give you a little insight. It's like snot. Thick, FROZEN snot. It sticks to anything and everything, and it's a major pain in the butt to get off. Once I actually got to work, I quickly discovered that it might have been a better idea to just let my car remain the ball of ice it was, and hide at home. The flight count was high, the weather was horrible, and those two things combined make for a pretty stressful day in my line of work.

On my way home from work, all I could think about was eating dinner and going to bed. That was it. I didn't want to do ANYTHING! Until... I saw the UPS slip stuck to my door. I had a package... WOO HOO!!!

I got the package home, realized it was from my mom, and ripped it open. Inside were a handful of fabulous LUSH bath products, including shower jelly, a shampoo bar, a bath bomb, and a few bubble bars. I immediately knew that my plans for the evening would include one more hopeful attempt at a real, bubble-y, bubble bath.

It was amazing!!

Those bubble bars smell divine, they make your skin feel so good, and they create top-notch bubbles! For any of you bubble bath lovers out there... I highly recommend the bubble bars. They are so YUMMY!!

Now... All I need is a bath tub with some jets. Hmmmmm....???

Maybe Santa can pick one of those up on his way to my house next week!

Thanks for the surprise, Mom!

In My Next Life...

2008-12-10T22:10:00.004-05:00

I WANNA BE A ROCKETTE!!!

Last night, Steve and I met up with a couple of our friends to see The Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring The Rockettes. It was awesome!! These women are AMAZING!

My mom and I saw this show five or six years ago when they were in the valley, and loved it! Last night was no different. I felt like a little kid again! I don't know if Steve enjoyed it quite as much as I did, but I still think he's glad he went. After all... it's gorgeous women... with great legs... dancing around... What's not for him to like?!?!

At one point towards the end of the show, there's a nativity scene that includes live animals... cows, sheep, camels, etc. Well, the last animal across the stage was this really cute little donkey. Being the animal lover that I am, Steve instantly heard the pitiful "Awww..." that falls out of my mouth anytime we see something furry and cute... be it a dog, a Guinea Pig, a baby elephant... you name it. He immediately turned to me and said, "No... You cannot have a donkey! You already have one ass in your life... I really don't think you need another one!"

Ahhh.... What a guy!

I've already made up my mind... I am going to try my best to catch this show every time it comes to town. It just gets better and better!

Is It Just Me...???

2008-12-04T19:44:00.004-05:00

Or does anyone else feel like the month of December is official "Run Around Like a Chicken With It's Head Cut Off" month? I absolutely LOVE this time of year, but this month is so busy for me. I'm starting to wonder how I'm going to get everything done!

Work, Dr.'s appointments, volunteer work, Christmas parties, gift shopping/wrapping/packing/shipping... It seems like my "To Do" list just keeps getting longer and longer when it should be getting shorter and shorter. And the days seem to be flying by faster and faster.

I'm trying to just take it one thing at a time and I keep telling myself that I still have plenty of time. But deep down... my jealousy for this little Monster is growing...

What I wouldn't give to trade places with this little girl for a couple of days... What a life!!

The Things I'm Thankful For...

2008-11-26T13:12:00.004-05:00

Since Thanksgiving (and the busiest travel day of the year) is right around the corner, I thought I'd take a few minutes to jot down a few of the things I'm thankful for this year.

Here they are in no particular order...

1 - My Job: I am beyond thankful to be gainfully employed... Especially in the industry in which I work. In a time of economic instability and employment insecurity, I am so very lucky to have a stable job, with decent pay, in an industry that I love. (I am going to have to keep reminding myself of this one as I work through this coming weekend. Sunday is by far our toughest day of the year, and I gotta admit... I'm a little bit scared!)

2 - My Health: Even though I've been given a run for my money lately, I am always well aware that I am a VERY lucky girl when it comes to my health!

3 - My Friends and Family: Where on this earth would I be without my friends and family?! I have amazing friends, and a loving and supportive family. There's not much more a girl can ask for in this department.

4 - My Stevie: I've said it before and I'll say it again... I am SOOO lucky to have this guy in my life! I've made a number of mistakes in my life, but he is one thing that I got absolutely, without a doubt, 100% right!

5 - My Monster: She is my dog... She is my world. What more can I say? She ranks right up there with Steve in my book. (Although she has quite a bit more hair, and doesn't usually smell quite as good as he does!)

6 - My Stuff: This includes my apartment, my car, my bank account, etc. My home may not be my dream home, and my wallet may not be as fat as I might like. However, I have a roof over my head, a warm place to sleep, clean clothes to wear, and food on the table. I've worked hard for the things I have and I will always, always be thankful for them.

7 - Days Off: I absolutely treasure my days off work... especially this time of year. Lately, I've been referring to my days off as "Martha Days". This is simply because the past few weeks, I've been channeling my inner Martha Stewart. I've been making Christmas gifts, Christmas cards, Thanksgiving goodies, dog treats (for Christmas), etc. I love these days because I can stay in my pajamas all day, turn up the Christmas tunes, and let my creative juices flow.

8 - Mac: Without him, I wouldn't be in touch with all of you!!

What are you thankful for???

There's No Place Like Home...

2008-11-25T23:36:00.001-05:00

Are you picturing a little black dog and ruby slippers yet??

Well... I have the little black dog already, but getting those ruby slippers has proven a bit tricky!

Our trip to Arizona was uneventful... and wonderful! Steve and I spent a lot of time hanging out with my parents, eating some fabulous home-cooked food (My mom is like Betty Crocker with a hill-billy twist), and catching up with a couple of long-time friends.

I had warned Steve time and time again about Round Valley being a small town, but I don't think my big city guy quite understood what I was talking about. The first day we were there, Steve and I took a drive to just do some looking around. We drove through South Fork and then took a tour through Greer. After our drive, I took Steve to Java Blues for lunch, and saw 5 or 6 people that I knew (i.e. Our waitress was Megan Hamblin). It seemed like every time the door opened, someone I knew from years ago would appear. I thought it was funny. I think Steve was a little bit scared.

We spent a couple of days doing some geocaching with my parents, and my dad also took Steve and I out trap shooting a few times. Most of the time it was freezing cold (thanks to that good 'ol Round Valley wind), but we still had a blast!

After four years, it was nice to be able to spend some time relaxing with my family and friends. It was good to sit and chat with my parents, fun to hang out with Dustin, Greg, BJ, and Ramone, and a blast to finally get to meet Braden and Mollie (BJ's little girl).

While I love Ohio and am really glad that I live here... There really is no place like home!

Long Time, No Blog...

2008-11-22T19:36:00.005-05:00

I know, I know...

I'll have more on my Arizona trip posted later this week. For now this is all you get!

This one is from Dustin... I tag anyone and everyone who wants to play!

High School Tag

1. Did you date someone from your school? I dated a few someones from my school... Not too particularly proud of any of them, thank you!

2. What kind of car did you drive? A Geo Tracker. It kinda looked like a pregnant roller skate, but man did I love that car!

3. What was your most embarrassing moment? I honestly have no idea... (And I'm not asking for any suggestions, Dust!)

4.Were you a party animal? I don't think many of my friends even knew what "partying" was back then. Aside from the occasional visit from the local police, we were pretty good kids!

5. Were you considered a flirt? Nope. I'm no good at it.

6. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? I was in choir for a couple of years... Got to wear some really ugly dresses, too!

7. Were you a nerd? I'm sure I was at times!

8. Were you on any varsity teams? I was on the Varsity Spiritline... Good times!

9. Did you get suspended or expelled? Nope.

10. Can you still sing the fight song? I think so... "Fiiiiiiight boys and never give in, HEY!....."... Yep! *Thanks, Dust!*

11. Who were your favorite teachers? I really liked Mrs. Rawlins. I hated Spanish (except for on Fridays because we got to play "Loteria!"), but she was fun!

12. Where did you sit during lunch? Just about anywhere there was food!

13. What was your school mascot? An Elk

14. Did you go to Homecoming? Yep. A couple of them!

15. If you could go back would you? BWAAAAHAHAHAHA!!!! No no no no no.....

16. What do you remember most about graduation? Shane Rhoton and I were squirting people with water guns from the back row, and Jesse Slade snuck up behind us and hissed, "You two need to start acting like ADULTS!!". Pfffffffffffttt!!!!

17. Where did you go for your Senior Trip? California! It was a blast, too! Who knew you could fit 25 18-year olds in a hotel hot tub?!?!

18. Were you in any clubs? Yeah... There were a few. SADD, NHS... And it's funny that Dustin mentioned being the treasurer for the Spanish club. I was the Secretary and we had NO CLUE what the heck we were supposed to be doing.

19. Have you gained weight since High School? A little bit. I still work out regularly, but my Stevie keeps me well fed!

20. Who was your Prom date? I went to my Junior Prom with Brett Hamblin. It was probably the best date I ever went on in high school. We had a blast!! Senior Prom, I went with Lee Hamblin. Not quite as much fun, that one.

21. Did you go to your 10 year class reunion? Nope. Too much going on here at home! Maybe I'll catch the 20 year one.

22. Looking back, what advice would you give yourself? Forget about the boys, work harder on school, and stop trying to fit the mold!

Meeting Mr. Wonderful...

2008-11-12T15:25:00.003-05:00

While Steve and I were in Arizona, we were lucky enough to meet up with my best friend Dustin and her husband Greg for dinner at Molly Butler's and an evening of spotlighting. It was so good to see them, and it also gave us the opportunity to meet Braden for the first time!

He is such a handsome little guy, and it was really fun to spend a few hours getting to know him. I wish we lived closer to each other... I can't wait to see him again!

Thanks Dust, for driving up the mountain to see us and for re-arranging your schedules to spend time with us. You're a wonderful friend and I appreciate all that you do!!

And thanks to Greg as well for showing Steve his first elk... He had a great time!

And We're Off!!!

2008-11-03T20:31:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow morning at 10:20am, Steve and I are hopping on a plane to Arizona... I can't wait!!

I hope to have lots of pictures and stories to share when we come home!

See you in a week... WOO HOO!!!!!!!!

Finally!!!

2008-10-30T17:27:00.008-04:00

I finally have my printer hooked up to Mac and was able to get our pumpkin carving pictures uploaded.

We had SO much fun this year... Enjoy!

Any Happy Birthday, Mom!!

I hope you have a FUN birthday!

A Mother's Love...

2008-10-20T17:21:00.013-04:00

True story....

In August of 2002, I made a pretty big decision. A decision that would change my career path, and ultimately my personal life, in a major way. I decided that I wanted to be an Aircraft Dispatcher.

Did I know what an Aircraft Dispatcher actually did? Not exactly. Did I have any idea how difficult Dispatch school was going to be? Absolutely not (If I had, there's no way I would have gone)! But, I was a pretty determined 23 year old and there was a class starting in October, so I took a leave of absence from my job at America West Airlines and off I went... on what my mom would call an "adventure". Boy, was it!

The drive from Arizona to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida was a lot of fun. My mom went with me and we had a blast... well... at least most of the time we did. There was that really, really, REALLY long drive through the state of Texas (They really should split that state up... 800 miles is just too dang far to drive and still be in the same state!). And then there was the afternoon where we were completely stopped, on a shaking bridge, between two 18-wheelers, in rush hour traffic, in Baton Rouge (Absolutely terrifying!). But then there was our fabulous overnight stay in the French Quarter of New Orleans (I even got some beads!). And we also got to stop off in Orlando for a quick visit with some great family friends. All-in-all, it was a great trip!

Dispatch school itself was six weeks of hell. There's really no other way to put it. It's truly one of the most challenging things I have ever done in my life. I was one of five Americans in the entire class of 26 (only 16 of us made it through), and it was non-stop cramming. My instructor likened the experience to attempting to drink from a fire hose, and that's exactly what it felt like! I met some amazingly intelligent people though, from all over the world, and today I wouldn't trade the experience or the friendships I made for anything.

After surviving the six week course, earning my license, and throwing my manuals into my instructor's swimming pool in a celebratory fashion, It was back to Arizona for me. My mom flew back to Florida from Arizona to make the 3-day trek back across the country with me. By that time, I was SO ready to be back home, and I wasn't really in the mood for many tourist stops along the way. However, my mom and I did make it a point to stop off in Pensacola to check out the "white sand" beaches we had been hearing so much about. We spent the better part of an afternoon/evening just hanging out in Pensacola. It was beautiful. The beaches were gorgeous, the shops were fun, and the seafood was to die for. We had such a good time!

As we were leaving Pensacola, to get back on the road, I grabbed a small plastic bucket (tacky souvenir from Sloppy Joe's bar in Ft. Lauderdale) and filled it with some of the sugary white sand from the beach. I'm very much a souvenir person and this is just one more thing that just HAD to make the trip home with me.

Now... You might be asking yourself, "Kasey... What on earth were you going to do with a bucket of sand?"

Well.... Absolutely, positively NOTHING!

That bucket of sand made it's way into my parent's garage, and remained there for the next six years. Out of sight, out of mind, right? Well...

My mom was e-mailing me yesterday telling me how she was cleaning up at home to prepare for Steve and I. She was going through drawers, cleaning off counters, organizing shelves, etc. At one point in our conversation, she briefly mentioned that she had just tossed out my 6-year old tacky plastic bucket that was filled with sugary white sand from Pensacola. I felt a little twinge.

I responded to my mom by telling her that it would have been nice if there was a small bottle or jar lying around that she could put just a little bit of the sand in so I could keep it. She then responded by asking me if I wanted her to go get some of the sand OUT OF THE DUMPSTER for me. I responded with "Only if you want to.", which we all know meant "YES!!!".

At that point, I realized once again that my mom just had to love me. Why??? Because only a truly loving mom would offer to go dumpster diving to retrieve a little bit of 6-year old dirt for her kid that hasn't even been in the same state as said dirt for four years.

Yep... That's my mom.

And needless to say... I have a sandwich baggie of sugary white sand from Pensacola, Florida sitting on a counter in Eagar, Arizona with my name on it!

Thanks mom... You're my hero!

HA HA HA!!

2008-10-19T11:41:00.006-04:00

Totally random post, but I simply can't help it!

The picture below showed up in an e-mail from our friend Chas yesterday morning, and I think it's hilarious! I had to share.

Every time I look at it I just bust out laughing.

Steve thinks I'm weird, but I'm hoping some of you will get a kick out of it... Especially you Fergie fans!

AAAAHH HA HA HA HA!!!

This Little Piggy...

2008-10-15T17:48:00.009-04:00

... Is hatin' life right about now!

Since I have no human children, my furry 4-legged kid gets to be the one I dress up every year for Halloween. Yes, I put a costume on my dog... Judge all you want. Last year she was a lady bug, and the year before that she was a butterfly. She absolutely hates it... And I know it. She reminds me of her hatred every year as I am cramming her growling little body into some ridiculous miniature get-up.

She's a really good sport though, and the torture typically only lasts long enough for me to grab my camera and get a few pictures. I think she's learned that it's best to just humor me.

Last week, I was at the pet store to get Cookie some dog food and I saw this really cool dinosaur costume. I thought, "This will be something different for Halloween... Not quite so girly". So I bought it and brought it home. However, my little girl suffers from the same body type that many of us do. She's.... um... "well padded", and she's got short little legs. The costume simply didn't fit, so I returned it.

Today I was at Easton Town Center, where they have this great little dog store called Moochie & Co, which carries just about everything that any spoiled rotten dog could ever possibly need or want. So I stopped in to see what they had left for Halloween costumes. They had a skunk, a lobster, a frog, a dinosaur, a tiger, a bee, a giraffe.... They had EVERYTHING! But, the only costume they had in the Monster's size was this....

That's right... My gorgeous little girl gets to be a pig this year! I don't think she's all that thrilled about it, and it's probably not the greatest choice for her self esteem. But after a little bit of therapy (snuggle time with Steve), I'm sure she'll be fine.

Besides... This face makes anything look cute!!

I love Halloween!!

P.S. I know this post was supposed to have pictures of our pumpkin carving in it, but I'm having some trouble getting those pics onto my computer (I used my old camera that has not been connected to Mac yet). Steve is going to hook me up and I should have them up in a few days!

A Day at the Pumpkin Patch!

2008-10-10T18:41:00.005-04:00

I had an extra floating holiday that I needed to use up before the holiday rush, so I took Monday off work and Steve and I went to Circle S Farms, about 30 minutes south of here, to pick ourselves a few pumpkins.

It was such a perfect day for pumpkin picking too! The weather was gorgeous... high 60s, sun shining... and we were just about the only ones there. We had free donuts and apple cider, and we even got our own little private hay ride out to the pumpkin patch. It was a blast!

Here are a few pictures...

Steve with his pick

My pick of the patch (which was bigger than Steve's)!

Steve singing "She thinks my tractor's sexy...."

Love that guy!

Sunday is carving day... I'm looking forward to it!!

My Adventurous In-10-tions...

2008-10-04T13:33:00.033-04:00

I know that most of us (myself included) have a list of things we'd like to do before we die... a.k.a a "Bucket List". I'd post mine here, but it's quite long and it's everchanging as I get older. Never-the-less, it still exists... just for me... and I hope to accomplish at least a few of the things on it while I have the chance.

In addition to my "Bucket List", I have a long list of places I'd like to travel to while I'm still here. Dustin and I kindof started this list together when we lived in Tucson. We sat down one night and tried to think of all the places we wanted to go. I think #1 on our list at the time was Hershey, PA! Not surprising... what 19 year old girl wouldn't love a trip to the hometown of Hershey Kisses???

My traveling list is also plenty long (I do want to make a stop in all 50 states, eventually), but I've put together a "short list" of the top 10 places I want to go. As of now, I want to visit (in no particular order)...

1 - Alaska: If I had the chance to go on a cruise... This is where I would go. It looks so beautiful!

I realize I'd probably be the youngest person on the boat, but so be it. I respect my elders!

2 - Northern, CA: From San Francisco all the way up to the Redwoods in Humboldt County. I'm all for a day on the beach in the southern part of California, but as a logger's daughter, I'm all about the trees!

I have an incurable fascination for BIG trees... It's in my blood.

3 - Boston, Mass.: From the Freedom Trail to the fabulous seafood to whale watching (something that's on my Bucket List)... How could I go wrong with a trip to Beantown?

And as someone who can't stand the New York Yankees, I'd love to catch a Boston Red Sox game!

4 - Venice, Italy: My mom has been to Venice... I've seen the pictures... what more can I say?

I really want to know how they built this city on water!

5 - Paris, France: Although I've heard that the people aren't the nicest, I'd still LOVE to see Paris. I like to take a stroll along the Seine... Take a tour of the Louvre...

And what girl wouldn't want to see this! (Sigh....)

6 - Missoula, MT: Dustin is probably going to laugh at this one, but I can't help it. Ever since seeing "A River Runs Through It" years ago, I have wanted to visit Missoula, MT and learn to fly fish.

I think a pair of rubber waders would suit me well!

7 - Turtle Island, Fiji: Forget Hawaii! This would be my private island getaway of choice if I came across a small fortune any time in the near future.

Plus, it's named after turtles... Count me in!

8 - Aspen, CO: My brother and I drove through the area with my mom once as kids, and I still remember how gorgeous it was. I'd love to check out the local shops and maybe spend a day on the slopes.

Again... I think the trees are calling to me!

9 - Ireland: Castles... I want to see some castles!! Maybe a round of golf and a trip to an Irish pub...

Oh yeah... Did I meantion there were CASTLES?!?!

10 - Niagara Falls: There's a casino... a Butterfly Conservatory... The Skylon Tower...

And I'd do just about anything for a helicopter tour!

There you have it... My short list of Adventurous In-10-tions! Let the packing (and lottery winning) begin!!

Getting to Know Me...

2008-09-29T19:39:00.004-04:00

... Again!

I know these lists find their way into our inboxes a little too often, but this one had some new/different questions on it, so I thought I'd post it.

I TAG ALL OF YOU!!! (Insert evil laugh here)

1 - Is it easier to forgive or forget? Probably forgive... I think most people have a harder time forgetting.

2 - Would you date a co-worker? 3 years ago, I would have responded with, "No way! Don't dip your pen in the company ink!" But Steve and I do work for the same company (different departments), so I can't really say that anymore.

3 - All expenses paid... Where would you go on vacation? I'd love to go to Italy.

4 - On the way to the electric chair, what would your last meal be? SHRIMP!... and LOTS of it!!

5 - Water parks... love 'em or hate 'em? HATE THEM!!

6 - Would you rather have one great friend or 10 pals? One great friend.

7 - Is toilet paper hung over the roll or under? Over!

8 - Friends with benefits? Um... No. At 16, maybe, but at nearly 30 I just don't think it's possible.

9 - Would you rather take pictures or be in them? I'd rather take them.

10 - What color looks best on you? Whatever color is clean!

11 - If you could play any sport professionally, what would it be? Beach volleyball! But only if it came with the guarantee of having legs like Carrie Walsh. (Hey... If I'm a pro, I can have a few demands.)

12 - Ever kissed a random person and then walked away? Nope.

13 - Ever break-up with someone and then regret it? Not really.

14 - Are you a jealous person? Not usually... But I might be if you hit on my man!

15 - Would you ever have plastic surgery? I don't think so.

16 - When do you want to get married? What?... You want a specific date??

17 - Next concert/show you're attending? We just saw Jeff Dunham on Thursday night, and Ilene and I are going to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in December. I can't wait!

18 - What is your occupation? I am an Aircraft Dispatcher.

19 - What's your sign? Aries. I'm a rebel like that!

20 - Are you a beach, country, or city person? Definitely a country person. Give me some dirt to play in and I'm a happy girl!

21 - If you could own a non-traditional pet, what would it be? A baby elephant. (Yes... I know it would eventually grow into a non-baby elephant)

22 - Favorite summer drink? A frozen margarita!

23 - Can you change a car tire? I have a AAA membership... does that count?

24 - Favorite cologne/perfume? Just about anything Chanel.

25 - Would you sing karaoke in front of a group of co-workers? Um... probably if there were a few margaritas involved.

26 - Can you drive a stick? Yes. (Thanks, Dad!)

27 - Have you ever sat and hoped for a phone call? Who hasn't??

28 - Have you ever skipped school and spent the day at the beach? Skipped school? Yes. Spent the day at the beach? Yes. Not simultaneously.

29 - In what store would you choose to max out your credit card? Probably either Macy's or Vicky's Secret.

30 - What's on your Christmas list this year? I really want one of those remote car starter thingies. It sure would make the early winter mornings here in Ohio a little less painful!

31 - Would you sky dive? Not only no... but hell no!

32 - What's your favorite rainy day activity? Probably snuggling up on the couch with my furry kid and a good book.

33 - How many kids do you want to have? At this point... Not really sure I want any. That may change in the future.

34 - How do you feel about tanning booths? I allow myself to get too much sun as it is. My dad would kick my perfectly tanned butt if I got into a tanning booth.

35 - Do you squeeze toothpaste from the middle or end of the tube? Seriously?? It's toothpaste... Who cares!!

See.... Don't you feel like you know me just a little bit better???

Guess Who...

2008-09-21T11:33:00.005-04:00

... Is a closet Celine Dion Fan???

I'll tell you in a minute, but first you have to read a little back story...

The company that Steve and I work for flies the rich and the famous all over the world. Most days we don't have time to research who is on each plane, therefor, we don't really care. We just do our jobs and go home.

Part of the perk of flying the rich and the famous around is that they often take tours of our building and or/ donate things to the employees (i.e. autographed items, game tickets, concert tickets, etc.). There is usually something every week or two that you can enter your name into a drawing to win.

I usually forget to even look at what is available to win, but my Steve... That boy enters every single drawing that is posted! He keeps hoping to snag some Ohio State football tickets, but so far, no luck!

This past week, there were 10 pairs of tickets in the company suite to see Celine Dion in concert. Now, if I had been paying attention... I might have entered my name for the drawing. I'm not a huge Celine Dion fan or anything, but I do like some of her songs and wouldn't mind going to see her show for free. Steve on the other hand is not a fan of hers in any way, shape, or form... Or so I thought!

As it turns out, Steve won a pair of tickets! When I saw his name posted, I called to tease him about it... He couldn't believe he'd actually won. We had a good laugh about it and then hung up.

Shortly after that announcement was posted, we got the following picture in an e-mail from our good friend/co-worker Chas with the caption "Guess who's a closet Celine Dion fan??"

"Steve Jones rushes stage at Ceasar's Palace, Las Vegas"

That's right... That tall skinny, bald dude in the middle of the stage, staring lovingly at Celine, is my Stevie!!

As it turns out, Chas is not just our friend and co-worker... He is also a master of Photo Shop. He took a picture of Steve from our Washington D.C. trip and somehow added him into the Celine Dion picture. I about died laughing! Steve, although he did laugh, didn't think it was quite as funny.

What Chas seems to forget from time to time is that Steve is the King of Photo Shop! He has made some of the most hilarious pictures. Steve responded to the picture by reminding Chas that he should never ever start a war that he WILL NOT win! The next few days at work should be a lot of fun... I can only imagine what these two are going to come up with!

And No... Steve and I won't be going to the concert. He is simply not interested, and I am already attending a "Girl's Night" at my friend's house. Steve gave the tickets to his mom and she is thrilled!

Better luck next time, babe!

Step 1: Admitting There's a Problem...

2008-09-15T18:27:00.006-04:00

Alright... I admit it!

I have a problem.

I swore it would never happen...

I promised myself I would know when to quit...

I didn't think I'd lose control so quickly...

I never ever saw it coming...

Until today.

This afternoon, I realized........

I AM ADDICTED TO MAC!!!!!

I am having an absolute BLAST with my new friend Mac... He is AMAZING!!

I discovered a little program called "Photo Booth" today after work, and I don't think I've stopped laughing since! Seriously. I'm talking full out "I think I might pee my pants" belly laughing!! The tears are rolling...

Cookie keeps looking at me as though I've sprouted an extra head... and I simply DO. NOT. CARE. I am having a ball!!

It's SO ADDICTING!!

Do you think there's a 12-step program for girls like me???

Technical Foul....

2008-09-10T21:29:00.003-04:00

Sorry guys... No real blog update this week.

My good friend Dell bit the dust this week (for the third time... stupid, stupid viruses... grrrrrr), and after Steve's many unsuccessful attempts to revive her... I had to just let her go. It was a sad, sad day at my house. We've been SO close the past few years.... chatting, e-mailing, surfing, blogging... I'm not sure what I'm going to do without her.

The good news is that my new friend Mac is on his way to my house as I type this... WOO HOO!!! I can't wait! I look forward to spending many late nights with him. I hear he's AMAZING!

I hope to be up and running sometime next week... I'll post an update as soon as I can!

I hope everyone is having a great September!

We are Women...

2008-09-07T10:02:00.004-04:00

Hear us ROAR!!

... And... Watch us VOTE!!

I received the following e-mail and felt that it would be a good one to share. Please pass it along!

The Right to Vote...

This is the story of our Grandmothers and Great-grandmothers, as they lived only 90 years ago. Remember, it was not until 1920 that women were granted the right to go to the polls and vote.

The women were innocent and defenseless, but they were jailed nonetheless for picketing the White House, carrying signs asking for the vote. And by the end of the night, they were barely
alive. Forty prison guards wielding clubs and their warden's blessing went on a rampage against the 33 women wrongly convicted of 'obstructing sidewalk traffic.'

They beat Lucy Burn, chained her hands to the cell bars above her head and left her hanging for the night, bleeding and gasping for air. They hurled Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her head against an iron bed and knocked her out cold. Her cellmate, Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead and suffered a heart attack. Additional affidavits describe the guards grabbing, dragging, beating, choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking the women.

Thus unfolded the 'Night of Terror' on Nov. 15, 1917, when the warden at the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia ordered his guards to teach a lesson to the suffragists imprisoned there because they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson 's White House for the right to vote.

For weeks, the women's only water came from an open pail. Their food--all of it colorless slop--was infested with worms. When one of the leaders, Alice Paul, embarked on a hunger strike, they tied her to a chair, forced a tube Down her throat and poured liquid into her until she vomited. She was tortured like this for weeks until word was smuggled out to the press.

So, refresh my memory. Some women won't vote this year because--why, exactly? We have carpool duties? We have to get to work? Our vote doesn't matter? It's raining?

Last week, I went to a sparsely attended screening of HBO's new movie 'Iron Jawed Angels.' It is a graphic depiction of the battle these women waged so that I could pull the curtain at the polling booth and have my say. I am ashamed to say I needed the reminder.

All these years later, voter registration is still my passion. But the actual act of voting had become less personal for me, more rote. Frankly, voting often felt more like an obligation than a privilege. Sometimes it was inconvenient.

My friend Wendy, who is my age and studied women's history, saw the HBO movie, too. When she stopped by my desk to talk about it, she looked angry. She was--with herself. 'One thought kept coming back to me as I watched that movie,' she said. 'What would those women think of the way I use--or don't use--my right to vote? All of us take it for granted now, not just younger women, but those of us who did seek to learn.' The right to vote, she said, had become valuable to her 'all over again.'

HBO released the movie on video and DVD. I wish all history, social studies and government teachers would include the movie in their curriculum I want it shown on Bunco night, too, and anywhere else women gather. I realize this isn't our usual idea of socializing, but we are not voting in the numbers that we should be, and I think a little shock therapy is in order.

It is jarring to watch Woodrow Wilson and his cronies try to persuade a psychiatrist to declare Alice Paul insane so that she could be permanently institutionalized. And it is inspiring to watch the doctor refuse. Alice Paul was strong, he said, and brave. That didn't make her crazy.

The doctor admonished the men: 'Courage in women is often mistaken for insanity.'

Please, if you are so inclined, pass this on to all the women you know.

We need to get out and vote and use this right that was fought so hard for by these very courageous women. Whether you vote Democratic, Republican or Independant - remember to vote.

History is being made.

Monster Kisses...

2008-08-26T22:25:00.010-04:00

As most of you know... I love my dog.

I mean, I reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally love my dog!

Cookie is like a child to me. A furry child... with four legs... and a speech impediment. But, whatever.

I know that she loves me in return, too. She runs to me when she's scared, she watches me like a hawk when I'm sick, and she loves to snuggle with me at night. It's kind of a two way street!

However... The love this little girl has for Steve is on a completely different level. I've posted before about the twisted little relationship the two of them have. It's a special bond... almost like a secret language or a special code. It's something that only the two of them fully understand. It's been like that since day one, and I'm pretty sure it'll always be that way.

Every time Steve comes through my front door, Cookie greets him with kisses. At that point, Steve usually drops whateve he has in his hands, he flops down on the floor, and he allows Cookie her own little "make-out" session. She licks his nose, his face, his ears, his neck, and his head... And Steve just lets her. I think it's a little disturbing, but the two of them seem to enjoy it. I truly believe that the Monster lives just for these moments.

The other day, I was sitting in my back room surfing for airline tickets online. Steve came in and laid on the floor, and Cookie followed right behind him. A few minuteslater, the kisses started....

I grabbed my camera and started shooting... This is one of the better ones I got. I love how you can see her tongue just licking away. Such concentration in those little eyes.

Cookie would kiss on Steve all day long if she could...

Such a smart little girl!

Saving Thanksgiving...

2008-08-23T07:14:00.004-04:00

… One gently used cell phone at a time!!

I know what you’re thinking right now… Really, I do! You’re wondering how much time I’ve been spending with my super cool margarita machine!

Trust me. The above statement will all make sense in just a few minutes.

A little back story…

About a year and a half ago, the department I work in decided that we wanted to start giving a little bit back to our community. After doing some research and taking a vote, we chose to contact our local Ronald McDonald House (http://www.colrmhc.org/) to see what we could do to help them out. Every 2-3 months since, we have made a delivery to the House of donated items such as baked goods, cleaning supplies, bathroom tissue, toys/books for the kids, etc. It’s been a lot of fun and it's nice to know we’re helping… even if it’s just a little bit.

Last October, we decided to do a “treat” delivery to the House. This delivery included TONS of baked goodies, candy, trick-or-treat bags, coloring books, and crayons. The volunteers at the House were so excited to see us! While we were there putting away the donated items, Pete (the volunteer coordinator for the House) came to us with quite a situation on his hands. He told us that due to some financial difficulty, the vendor that normally provides the House with their Thanksgiving turkeys was not going to be able to donate. He was pretty stressed and asked if there was anything we could do to help. I told him to give us a couple of days and I’d see what we could do.

As it turns out, we had been collecting gently used cell phones at work, and were planning to send them in to a company by the name of PaceButler (http://www.pacebutler.com/) for cash. We were planning on using any money we received from the cell phones towards supplies for the House for Christmas. Instead, we just sped our plans up a bit and were able to provide 20 turkeys for the Thanksgiving dinner which fed 44 families and a few volunteers!

This year, we are hoping to be able to do the same thing again! The only catch this year is that the Ronald McDonald House has moved to a brand new, much larger facility which now houses 86 families!! That’s more than double what they had last year.

This is where you come in!

If you, or someone you know, have a gently used cell phone laying around that you would like to get rid of… Please let me know! We are collecting the phones through October 14th, and will ship them to PaceButler on October 15th. It’s going to take quite a few phones to feed 86 families, so the more we’re able to send in, the better!

If you’re interested, please leave me a comment with your e-mail address and I will provide you with a mailing address to which you can send your phone.

**Every penny we receive from PaceButler will go directly toward the Ronald McDonald House.**

In The Words of Ozzy Osbourne...

2008-08-19T12:54:00.005-04:00

Mama... I'm coming home!!

That's right. After nearly for years... I am going to finally make a trip home to good ol' Eagar, AZ!

The last time I was at my parents' house was December of 2004. I had just had surgery in Indianapolis, and wasn't allowed to return to work for about six weeks. So, I flew to Arizona and spent some time with my family. Since then, a combination of the distance and my work schedule has made getting home nearly impossible. My parents and I have done our best to split the difference and meet at the family farm in Kansas whenever we get the chance.

Well... Steve and I will be heading to the great southwest in early November for some time with my family and friends. I'm really looking forward to it! It should be fun showing Steve around Round Valley... I don't think he quite comprehends just how "small town" this girl really is. I figure if he sticks around after this, I've pretty much got him hooked!

We're not sure yet whether we'll be flying into Phoenix or Albuquerque yet as that will depend on the price of the tickets. But, we're planning on flying out on either the 4th or 5th of November and returning home to Ohio around the 11th or 12th. That should give us a little bit of time to do some sight seeing and to relax with family and friends.

I'm really looking forward to the trip and hope to be able to run into a few of you while I'm there!

My Newfound Fear...

2008-08-12T16:16:00.002-04:00

I think most of us... even the big, burly, men in our lives... have our own personal list of things we are afraid of. Some people are afraid of snakes, some are afraid of needles, and some are afraid of flying. I myself am not at all a fan of heights, the smell of a dentist office makes me weak in the knees, and I start sweating and want to throw up at the sight of a spider crawling up the wall. No... I've never fallen from anything high, I've never had an awful experience at the dentist, and I've never been bitten and/or almost killed by a poisonous spider.

There is no reason for them. They are simply my fears. And yesterday, I added a new one to the list.

I have an extreme fear of unusually long objects being stuck up my nose!

I had another post op appointment witn my ENT surgeon at 2:20pm. When he did my sinus surgery, he cleaned A LOT of infected gunk out of my head. However, there was still more in there that would need to drain, so he place a sponge in my sinus cavity that was supposed to absorb the rest of the gunk, break down, and eventually fall out on its own. At my first post op appointment, he gave me a sinus rinse bottle that has really helped to keep my nose cleaned out and to rinse out any loose pieces of the sponge. It's not a great thought... I know.

Well yesterday, my super nice surgeon man comes in and tells me that he wants to look up my nose to see how things are going. No problem... I've done this a few times before... piece of cake. He shoots this numbing spray up my nose, leaves me for about 10 minutes, and then comes back. He takes this really long light (looks like a long pencil, only really skinny), sticks it up my nose, and goes to looking. No big deal... a little weird feeling, but I'm good!

Then he tells me that he wants to try to get the rest of the sponge out, but he wants to put more of the numbing stuff up there to make me more comfortable. Ok... Cool. I'm all in favor of the numbing stuff! He takes a small cotton ball soaked in this stuff and uses a really long pair of tweezers to stick it somewhere up my nose. He tells me to lay my head back and he'll be back in a few minutes.

So as I'm sitting there with a cotton ball stuffed up my nose, this numbing crap is starting to run down the back of my throat, making it numb as well. It feels almost like it's closing up, but I can still breathe fine. It's a little unnerving, but I let it go.

Dr. L comes back and is ready to get down to business... little dorky headlamp strapped on and everything. So I lean back and close my eyes... And dang it to heck, I should've kept them CLOSED!! I quickly opened them right as he was stuffing this really long metal object up my nose... And this thing just kept going farther and farther and farther in. Then, I hear this sickening sucking noise (very similar to the dentist) and felt a really weird pressure somewhere in my head. Dr. L was very nice and kept saying "I'm sorry... I'm sorry... Are you ok?" I assured him that I was fine, but I did not like it AT ALL.

I did my best to stay calm, but after about the 3rd time he stuffed that thing up my nose... I HAD HAD ENOUGH!! I had tears running down my face (not at all from pain), I was sweating like you wouldn't believe and I was breathing like I had just run a marathon. I told him I was done! Dr. L said that was fine. He gave me a few minutes to calm down and then handed me my paperwork.... With a note at the bottome to schedule another appointment for next week. I HAVE TO GO BACK!!

I got up to leave and left puddles of sweat in the chair where my legs and back were. I walked out of the waiting room with my shorts and shirt clinging to the back of me and my flip-flops making "farty" noises because my feet were all sweaty. It was awful!

I came home, had a pain pill, made myself an apple juice slushy in my super cool margarita machine, and hit the couch. That appointment was the only thing I did all day... and it was exhausting!!

I'm already dreading next week...

Just Checking In...

2008-08-09T11:01:00.004-04:00

*** Disclaimer: I am still on some pretty hefty pain meds, so there is a good chance that some portions of this post (big or small) may not make complete sense. Please bare with me!***

From what I understand and remember... My surgery was a success! WOO HOO!!!

I had an amazing pre-op nurse who was probably the nicest person I have ever met in my entire life. I was a little nervous going in, but she talked and joked with me the whole time she was getting me ready, and she really helped calm my nerves. She was awesome! She called me "party girl" the whole time because apparently after the initial round of medication she gave me, I started to tell her all about my super cool margarita machine and about how Steve can do the "sprinkler"! (She tried to get him to demonstrate, but was unsuccessful.)

Steve also went back with me and he really helped as well. He rubbed my feet the whole time I was laying there on that table and he kept me laughing. I don't know if what we were talking about was really all that funny, but it sure did seem like it at the time! I'm so glad he was able to take the day off to go with me.

I remember absolutely nothgin from the surgery itself... which is probably a good thing. My surgeon told Steve that even he was impressed at all the gunk that was crammed in my head. He also did some chiseling and cutting back in there to open things up, so I'm really glad that I wasn't really "around" to experience that part of it.

I do remember waking up after surgery though... And that was not fun. My throat was on fire (I'm assuming from the breathing tube they had in during surgery), and the right side of my face was killing me! All I could say was "Ow!... Ow!", and then I started crying. My sweet little nurse came over and immediately gave me some pain medication which really helped. I really liked that lady!

After a couple more hours in recovery, making sure that I could walk around a bit and that I wasn't going to toss my cookies... I was allowed to go home. I was SO happy! I don't even remember the ride home because I think I was out cold once my butt hit the car seat.

I have to say... Over the past few days, I have had two of the most amazing helpers a girl could ever ask for! Steve had to work on Wednesday, so it was just Cookie and I here alone. That little dog did not leave my side for one second! If I got up to go to the bathroom, she went with me (and she hates the bathroom because it brings back bathtime memories). If I went into the kitchen, she went with me (another room she doesn't particularly care for because of the cold tile floor). As I've posted so many times before... This little girl KNOWS when something is not right. She knows when I don't feel well, and she's always *thisclose* to me when it happens. I love her!

My other helper, Steve, has also been pretty amazing this week. He got my prescriptions after surgery. He stayed with me to make sure that I took them and that I was ok. He has gotten so many meals for me this week (including a box of cheese crackers and some icecream sandwiches that I was craving) that I can't even count. He's made all kinds of (non-alcoholic) slushy concoctions in my margarita maker for me. He hasn't once made a crack about my wild, frizzy, unkempt hair (Dust, you know what I'm talking about). He's just been amazing! I don't think I'll ever know what I did to deserve such a good man in my life... but I love this one and I'm NOT letting him go!

Ok... I feel like I have rambled on enough for one day. I don't know how much of this will make sense and I don't really care. It's about time for some tortilla soup for lunch and another pain pill. Then, Cookie and I have a hot date with the couch.

I'm off work until next Friday, so I think we're just going to hang out, watch the olympics, read, maybe do a little scrapbooking, and probably take a few walks. That sounds like a really good week to me!

I hope you all have a nice, relaxing week as well... I'll keep you posted!!

Just a quick update...

2008-08-06T08:09:00.002-04:00

It's done... it's over... and I survived!

I'm in a little bit of pain today, so I'm not going to post much. Just thought I'd let you know that things went well.

I'll update again in a day or two.

Saying "Sayonara" to Snot!!

2008-08-04T14:10:00.007-04:00

(Terrible title... I know. Just roll with it!)

Tomorrow, at 1:00pm... I am going under the knife. Well... it's actually and endoscope... but you get the idea.

Tomorrow... I am having sinus surgery.

When I had my original surgery a few years ago, my neurosurgeon told me that sinus issues could occur afterwards. I did really well for a couple of years... but the past two have been a little rough. It seems like every few months, I end up dealing with a sinus/ear infection. I go to the doctor... take the antibiotics... and it goes away. Then it rears it's ugly head again!

I finally went to see an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor in May to see if he could help me. He dug around in my ears, shoved a long probe thingy up my nose (that was fun), did a series of allergy tests, and couldn't come up with anything. Then he sent me for a CAT scan and found out what was going on.

It turns out I have some scar tissue from my original surgery that is blocking my sinuses and not allowing them to drain. So, all the gunk that's in them has no way to get out. So instead, it sits there and my sinuses repeatedly become inflamed and infected. It's not been fun.

But tomorrow is it! Tomorrow... all that gunk that has been hanging out in my oh-so-lovely sinuses will no longer have a place to call "home". It, along with all of its belongings, is being evicted once and for all!!

I won't say that I'm excited for the surgery... That's not the right word. I'm actually a little nervous about it, and know that the next few days probably won't be all that fun. However, I am SOOO ready to be rid of the pain and pressure. It will also be nice to be able to smell things normally again, and to not feel as though there's a big, fat sumo wrestler standing on my face.

I am off work for the rest of the week (Woo Hoo for paid medical leave!), so as soon as I'm somewhat coherant I'll let you know how it went.

Wish me luck!!

Happy Birthday, Uncle Roland!!!

2008-07-29T12:06:00.004-04:00

My big brother... the city slicker - turned - farm boy... turns 31 years old today!

While I was out in Kansas last month, I took him to a Kansas City Royals baseball game as an early birthday present. I don't think either of us had been to that ball park since we were kids... We had a blast!

Love ya, Rollie! I hope you and "the kids" have a great day!!

There's nothing better...

2008-07-27T17:00:00.008-04:00

... Than a good man and a great margarita!!

Last night, Steve's boss had a tiki party at his house and invited us over to enjoy the food, drinks, and time with a few friends. Scott and Angie made all kinds of yummy food, and they had some of the best margaritas there as well!

Now, anyone who knows me knows that I cannot pass up a good margarita... They are my very favorite "adult" beverage. When I mentioned this to Scott , he immediately had to show me his heavy duty "Margaritaville" margarita maker that was probably one of the coolest things I have seen in a long time. All you had to do was pour some margarita mix, dump in some ice, and the machine did the rest. They were SOOO yummy!! I told Steve he could put a margarita machine on my Christmas list this year.

Well... when I got home from work today, this is what I found...

At first I thought, "Ewww... What in the world is that?!?!"... But then I looked over and saw this...

I now have MY VERY OWN super cool margarita maker!!.... WOO HOO!!!

I also have THE BEST BOYFRIEND that was ever invented!!!

No Boys Allowed!!

2008-07-21T19:08:00.006-04:00

It is officially "Girls' Week" here in Ohio... I am so excited!!

Steve is in Mississippi for the week with a group of Civil Air Patrol cadets, so the Monster and I are on our own! Don't get me wrong... I'd rather Steve were here. But, if he has to be gone, then we'd might as well make the most of it... right?

I got home from work at about 5:00pm. It was an absolute ZOO in the flight center today. The American Idols came through on a tour (they fly on our planes) and there were about a zillion people there for a company sponsored meet and greet/private concert. It was fun to see how excited all the kids were to see them, but at the end of the day, I was SOOO ready to get out of there! When I got home, I figured that Cookie and I could both use some fresh air, so I scooped her up and we hit the park!

After about an hour at the park, the Monster was wiped out!! It wasn't more than 10 minutes after we got home that I found this...

I think she has reached her "fun" quota for today!

For the first time in a really long time... I have absolutely nothing that I need to do tonight. No errands. No cleaning. No work homework. NOTHING!! Ahhh... That's a good feeling! I plan on having a bubble bath, a glass of wine, and then I'm curling up on my couch with Cookie and the new book I picked up yesterday at Target. It's going to be a good night!

Tomorrow... I'm meeting a couple of my friends for a homemade sushi lunch (I've never had sushi, so that could be interesting), and then we're going to catch "Mama Mia!" at the mall. I can't wait!!

On Wednesday, my friend Jen and I are going to meet up for lunch and get a manicure/pedicure. Her sister works at one of the best spas in town and is giving us a killer deal. Manis/pedis are not typically something that I do for myself, so Wednesday is going to be a real treat!

On Thursday, my friend Malinda and I are going to hit the outlet mall that's about 45 minutes south of Columbus. There are SO many fun stores down there... and we usually find some pretty good deals there!

So that's my itinerary for "Girls' Week"... in a nutshell. It should be a nice, relaxing, FUN week!

I hope you all have a great week as well!

Memories of Me...

2008-07-14T15:39:00.000-04:00

I saw this on Dustin's blog... It looked like fun!

Here are the directions...

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

**Keep it clean, Dust!**

Our 4th of July!

2008-07-08T20:06:00.009-04:00

Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely LOVE the 4th of July! I love the BBQs, the fireworks, that gatherings with friends and family... I just love it! I grew up in a town that celebrated the 4th in a major way, and I think that has just stuck with me through the years.

Here in Ohio, we have what is called "Red, White and Boom". It takes place in downtown Columbus right on the river and It's by far the most AMAZING fireworks display I have ever seen!! Every year, our friend Dave has a big BBQ at his house and then we all caravan downtown to find a seat for the show. This year it rained most of the day, so we weren't sure we were going to get to see the fireworks or not. But at about 8:30pm the rain quit... and we jumped in our cars!

This is what we got to see...

It really is a breathtaking display... I look forward to it ever year!!

I saw the following posted on my friend Jeff's blog, so I thought I would share it here (Hope you don't mind, Jeff!). I think it is a great reminder of what the 4th of July stands for.

I Am the Nation

I was born on July 4, 1776, and the Declaration of Independence is my birth certificate. The bloodlines of the world run in my veins, because I offered freedom to the oppressed. To many things, and many people. I am the nation.

I am 213 million living souls-and the ghost of millions who have lived and died for me.

I am Nathan Hale and Paul Revere. I stood at Lexington and fired the shot heard around the world. I am Washington, Jefferson and Patrick Henry I am John Paul Jones, the Green Mountain Boys and Davy Crockett. I am Lee and Grant and Abe Lincoln.

I remember the Alamo, the Maine and Pearl Harbor. When freedom called I answered and stayed until it was over, over there. I left my heroic dead in Flanders Fields, on the rock of Corregidor, on the bleak slopes of Korea, in the steaming jungle of Vietnam and on the sands of Iraq.

I am the Brooklyn Bridge, the wheat lands of Kansas and the granite hills of Vermont. I am the coalfields of the Virginias and Pennsylvania, the fertile lands of the West, the Golden Gate and the Grand Canyon. I am Independence Hall, the Monitor and the Merrimac.

I am big. I sprawl from the Atlantic to the Pacific - my arms reach out to embrace Alaska and Hawaii - 3 million square miles throbbing with industry. I am more than 5 million farms. I am forest, field, mountain and desert. I am quiet villages-and cities that never sleep.

You can look at me and see Ben Franklin walking down the streets of Philadelphia with his breadloaf under his arm. You can see Betsy Ross with her needle. You can see the lights of Christmas, and hear the strains of "Auld Lang Syne" as the calendar turns.

I am Babe Ruth and the World Series. I am 110,000 schools and colleges, and 330,000 churches where my people worship God as they think best. I am a ballot dropped in a box, the roar of a crowd in a stadium and the voice of a choir in a cathedral. I am an editorial in a newspaper and a letter to a Congressman.

I am Eli Whitney and Stephen Foster. I am Tom Edison, Albert Einstein and Billy Graham. I am Horace Greeley, Will Rogers and the Wright brothers. I am George Washington Carver, Jonas Salk, and Martin Luther King.

I am Longfellow, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Walt Whitman and Thomas Paine.

Yes, I am the nation, and these are the things that I am. I was conceived in freedom and, God willing, in freedom I will spend the rest of my days. May I possess always the integrity, the courage and the strength to keep myself unshackled, to remain a citadel of freedom and a beacon of hope to the world.

This is my wish, my goal, my prayer in this year of 1976-two hundred years after I was born.

I HOPE YOU ALL HAD A SAFE AND HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!

Tag...

2008-06-27T21:30:00.003-04:00

TAG

I...

I am: SOOOO happy to be back in Ohio! 11 hours in a car is rough!!
I think: Um... No I don't.
I know: That I have the most amazing boyfriend in the world!
I want: Steve to come home from Dayton... I haven't seen him for a week!
I have: To un-pack. YUCK!!
I wish: I knew what my future had in store for me... kinda.
I hate: Spiders. I seriously have no idea why they were ever invented!
I miss: Dust-a-roonie! We need to get together again SOON!!!!
I fear: Losing someone that I love.
I feel: Like I've finally figured out who I am.
I hear: Cookie snoring. She's had a long day.
I smell: Rain.
I crave: Diet Coke.
I search: For my remote control...
I wonder: Where I'm going to be in 5 years.
I regret: Some of the not-so-smart decisions I have made.
I love: Steve!
I care: About what people think of me... probably too much.
I always: Have to have lip stuff!
I am not: A very good kickball player.
I believe: That everything happens for a reason.
I dance: At weddings!... A LOT!!!
I sing: In the car all the time!
I dont always: Do what I'm supposed to, when I'm supposed to. I'm the world's greatest procrastinator.
I fight: The tumor that has taken up residence in my brain.
I write: Letters to people that I never send.
I lose: Sun glasses... ALL THE TIME!
I win: Rarely. But I'm a kick-a$$ loser!! :o)
I never: Thought I would be where I am today.
I listen: To any type of music other than rap.
I can usually be found: At work, or hanging out with Steve and the Monster.
I am scared: Of heights. I prefer my feet planted on the ground.
I need: To be better about staying in contact with my friends.
I am happy that: I only have one more day until I see Steve!
I tag: Anyone reading this who wants to play along!

Ahhhh.... (that's a sigh of relief)

2008-06-20T12:04:00.004-04:00

Once again... It's time for a road trip to Kansas. And once again... It was also time for me to have bloodwork done. I hate having it done right before I go on vacation... I worry about the results until the Dr.s office calls me... and if the news is less than great, then it can really put a damper on things.

I had been putting off getting it done for a few days... I am SOOO good at talking myself out of things! But on Wednesday, I finally bit the bullet and drove to the hospital. I figured it would be better to know if anything had changed, one way or the other, than to worry about having to come home and still get it all done. I wanted it out of the way!

Donna (Dr. C's nurse) called me on Thursday afternoon to let me know that my prolactin level has dropped to 54.2!! It's still about double where it should be, but my meds are working for now, and I'm not complaining one bit! I can't even tell you what a relief it was to hear that number come out of her mouth... I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Cookie and Steve BOTH got big hugs after that phone call!

Anyways... That's the latest update on me! Cookie and I are off to Kansas this weekend to visit Uncle Roland on the farm... I ABSOLUTELY CANNOT WAIT!!! I'm sure I'll have plenty of pics to post when I get home!

I hope everyone is well. HAPPY SUMMER!!!

Geocaching!!

2008-06-04T15:52:00.003-04:00

A Perfect Day for Treasure Hunting...

2008-06-01T17:26:00.005-04:00

This past Thursday, Steve, Cookie and I spent the day outside in the absolutely GORGEOUS weather treasure hungting. Ok... so technically... it's called "geocaching"... but I like treasure hunting better. We had such a good time... and we had some great finds!!

I had been reading online about geocaching (http://www.geocaching.com/) and since Steve and I both like the outdoors, I thought it was something we might enjoy. It's alot like treasure hunting in that you need a "treasure" map (lat/long coordinates are provided on the website), and you kinda need to know what your looking for. Basically... all you need is a GPS unit, a pair of gloves, some bug spray, and some cheap little trinkets to trade. Once you find the "cache" using your GPS unit, you log the time/date you found it, and also what items you traded.

For example... We set out with a list of 5 caches that we wanted to find. The first one was located about a half mile from my place and was titled "Ball Exchange" ... so we knew we need to take some kind of ball with us to trade. We entered the lat/long coordinates into the GPS, and realized that the cache was located somewhere behind the local library. We parked and the library and followed a paved walkway back into a small wooded park area. Once we got to where our GPS unit told us we needed to be, we started looking around. Steve saw a large tree and figured it had to be somewhere around there. Turs out... He was right! He found the cache down inside the trunk of the tree, and it had been covered by a large piece of tree bark.

I wasn't about to stick my hands down inside that tree... I DON'T DO BUGS!!! (This is where the gloves and bug spray will come in handy.) Steve had no problems with it though. Once we got the medium sized plastic container out and opened it up, we knew exactly what they meant by "Ball Exchange". Inside, we found a pen and small notebook to write in, and a bunch of different balls to choose from. We took out a squishy ball that we thought Cookie might enjoy playing with, and we put our small bouncy ball inside. We wrote down our names, the date and time, and what items were traded. I was SO excited to have our first find!!!

We did this 4 more times that day and only had one cache that we could not find. We looked and looked for that one, but the only thing we came up with were a bazillion mosquitos. We figured we'd just move on and try that particular one again another day. Throughout our day... we found all kinds of little treasures, enjoyed exploring our local parks, and just had an all-around great time!

If any of you are outdoorsy people and this sounds like something you might like to try, check out http://www.geocaching.com/ . You do have to create an account in order to get the coordinates to the caches listed, but it's free. You can enter your zipcode and find pages and pages of caches in your area. I have already looked up Steve's zipcode, my parents' zipcode, and also my brother's zipcode, and I was amazed at the number of these things that are out there! They are all over the world!!

If the weather clears up a bit tomorrow, we're going to head back out to see what we can find... I'M HOOKED!!!

Jazzercise!!

2008-05-18T18:17:00.006-04:00

A few weeks ago, my friend (and fellow dispatcher) Ilene and I were talking about working out and the different things we like to do. I told her that I really wanted to get into an aerobics class somewhere, but that I wasn't sure where to go. She started telling me all about the aerobic classes she had been taking. She was telling me how much fun she was having, all the people she was meeting, and listing to all the great songs they worked out to. I used to LOVE aerobics back in the day, so I was interested and asked her where she attended classes. When she said "Jazzercise"... I about died laughing!

As you all know... Jazzercise has been around for a looooong time. When I hear the word "Jazzercise", I think of little old ladies with poofy 80's hair, wearing spandex, leg-warmers, and those awful headbands... Not my cup of tea at all! I never in a million years though that it was something that someone my age would enjoy doing. Ilene invited me to attend a free class with her in Pickerington, where she lives, to see what the classes were like. So I thought "What the heck!"... and went. Holy cow, was I in for a surprise...

It was SOOOO much fun!! The music is awesome, the people are really friendly, and the workout... well... let's just say my butt muscles were sore for about 3 days! Our instructor was like a drill sargeant and Kelly Rippa all rolled together.... She was awesome! We had so much fun that day, we actually stayed and did back-to-back classes. By the time we left, I was exhausted!

After that class, Ilene gave me a coupon for a month's free membership, so I joined the Jazzercise location where I live last week. I LOVE IT!! I went three days last week, and I'm planning on going 4-5 days a week from here on out. I am not a gym person... and I don't run unless someone is chasing me. This is SO perfect for me! It kindof takes me back to my cheerleading days. Although, let me tell you... My coordination is NOT what it used to be!

So... If any of you are looking for something fun, and energizing to do, check it out! It's a BLAST!!

Well.... %*@#!!!!!

2008-05-07T16:42:00.007-04:00

Today started out as a fantastic day. I had the day off work, so Cookie and I slept in until 9:15. I scarfed down a banana and some yogurt and then we headed out for a walk. The sun was out, there was a little bit of a breeze, the baby ducks were out swimming on the pond... Things were good.

I didn't really have anything big to do today, so I figured it would just be a girls day for The Monster and I. I finished up a couple of Mother's Day gifts I was making, got showered, and then plopped down on the couch with my sweet little dog and my new Sophie Kinsella book that I picked up the other day at Target. And that's where I stayed until about 15 minutes ago when my phone rang.

Every time I see My Dr.'s phone number come up on my caller ID, the fear of God runs through me. Is it good news? Is it bad news? What is she going to tell me? I almost don't even want to answer the phone. At the same time, I know that if I don't, it just means that I'll have to call her office back and leave a message for her to return my call... It's a complete waste of time.

I knew the call was about to roll over to my voicemail, so I took a deep breath and answered... It was Dr. C. As soon as I heard her voice, I knew that this was not going to be what I wanted to hear. When the news is good, Dr. C's nurse will call me. When the news is less than pleasant, Dr. C calls me herself. I had a check-up with Dr. C this past week, along with routine blood work and MRI. I've been feeling pretty well, so I really wasn't expecting there to be much of a change. Well... Dr. C told me that my prolactin level has gone from 43.4 up to 137.2, and that my MRI showed that my tumor is once again beginning to grow.

Part of me is unbelievably ticked off. Over the past 4 years, I have done everything that my Dr.s have asked me to do... nasty medications, surgery, radiation... you name it and I've done it. Things seem to get better for a while and I actually start to feel like I have control over my body. Then it seems like this stupid tumor in my head has to remind me that it is in there, and that it is the one in charge (insert evil laugh here).

The other part of me just wants to laugh. Seriously... What else can I do? So I have a tumor in my head... Big deal! Maybe I should name it... Herman? Ralph?? Maybe it's a girl tumor. How does Beula sound? I know it's ridiculous... Really, I do. But, maybe it likes being in there. It's obvious that I have a nice brain... It seems to be quite content. It's kindof like I have this really annoying (stinky, dirty, ugly, fat) house guest that just WILL NOT GO AWAY!! Maybe my brain is just too nice of a home to pass up!

So anyways... There goes my fantastic day. Right out the flippin' window! Maybe tomorrow will be a better one.

Happy Birthday, Steve!!!

2008-05-02T19:57:00.003-04:00

Happy 28th birthday, Babe!!!

Thanks for being such an amazing person... And for making robbing the cradle so much fun!

The Monster and I love ya!

Patient or Science Exhibit??

2008-05-02T18:00:00.008-04:00

Yesterday morning I had an appointment with my Endocrinologist. It was just a routine appointment for a check-up and to get some blood work done. Yesterday was also Steve's birthday, so I made sure that the appointment was relatively early (9:30 am). The appointments are usually pretty quick, so I figured that I would be home before 11:00am and we would have the rest of the day to spend together. This is how my morning went...

9:30 am: I show up at Dr. C's office and check-in with the front desk girl who is all of about 19 years old and has *almost* as much personality as a wet dish rag. I take a seat in the over-crowded waiting area.

9:45 am: I hear an Asian woman call out "Ewin... Ewin Sass!" (No, I'm not kidding) I get registered, pay my co-pay, and once again take a seat in the over-crowded waiting area.

10:15 am: Medical Assistant calls me over to take my blood pressure, temperature, and weight. He tells me to go have a seat back in the waiting area, but by now it's so full there are no more chairs.

10:35 am: Medical Assistant finally calls me back to Dr. C's room. Silence.... Ahhhhhh....

10:50 am: Nurse Practitioner comes into room to ask a zillion quesions, see how I've been feeling, and take a bunch of notes. She also informs me that Dr. C is running a few minutes behind and that there will be an endocrinology resident with her today. Oh, joy... A party!

11: 20 am: Resident, who is probably about 23-24, comes into the room. She is blonde, perky, very nice and probably smarter than I'll ever hope to be. However, she proceeds to ask me the same exact list of questions the nurse had already asked me. A little annoying... whatever. She says Dr. C should be right along.

11:45 am: Dr. C finally arrives. Filing into the room behind her like little nerdy ducks in a row are the resident and an additional 4 med students!! This is where I start to lose track of time...

As the appointment continues, Dr. C runs me through a list of tests. She listens to my lungs, she checks my skin, she checks my legs for swelling, and the list goes on. Now, I've been to enough Dr.s appointments over the past few years to know how they go and the tests have become a bit of a routine for me. This time however, was a bit different.

As Dr. C went through the list of tests, she also has each of the 5 people with her perform the same test. She listens to my lungs... and then the other 5 take turns listening to my lungs. She checks my thyroid (which is a little uncomfortable)... and then the other 5 take turns checking my thyroid. At this point I'm starting to feel like some kind of science exhibit.

The worst part of the whole exam was at the end when Dr. C whips out her trusty little light thing-a-ma-jig and decides to check my optic nerves and discs. Apparently, due to the location of my tumor, I have a small amount of damage to the disc in my right eye. Dr. C turns off the lights in the room, gets within about an inch of my face, and shines this super bright light directly in my left eye. I'm blinking like crazy... My eye is watering... It's all I can do to keep it open. She says thigns look good... Woo Hoo!!

Then, she moves over to the right eye. Again... there's that stupid light... Arrrrrgh!!! Both eyes are watering now and I'm starting to see neon blue spots. In my mind I'm thinking, "It's almost over... It's almost over..." Oh how wrong I was! Due to the damage to the disc in my right eye, there is a bit of a "dull spot" on it. Once she mentions this aloud, everyone wants to take a look! So I get to sit there for the next 15 minutes or so as each of these future medical professionals get *thisclose* to me to get a look at my spot. Ugh...

Finally!... That part of the appointment was over!! All that was left to do was get a re-fill for my prescription and a lab slip for my blood work. When the nurse handed me what I needed, I practically sprinted down to the lab. I don't think I've ever been so excited to go get a blood test in all my life.

About 15 minutes later, at 12:45 pm, the test was done and I was finally on my way home! I felt bad because it was such a wasted morning, but Steve and I grabbed lunch and a movie and had a great time. I also took him to dinner, so I think I made up for it!

Lesson learned: Next time I have a Dr.s appointment, have a strong drink before hand and plan on it being and all day event!

Happy Birthday, Monster!!

2008-04-18T13:17:00.002-04:00

My sweet little Monster turned 5 years old today!!!

It's hard to believe I have had her for that long. I was going to make her some homemade treats this week, but I've been fighting a sinus/ear infection... She'll have to wait until next week. So far today, we've had a walk, a nap, and we've played with Buddy (one of her favorite toys). It's been a good day!

I am so lucky to have this furry little girl in my life... She ranks right up there with Steve in my book!

Florida... WOO HOO!!

2008-04-11T19:39:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday to Me...

2008-03-29T13:05:00.004-04:00

My 29th birthday turned out to be quite a treat! Steve told me not to make any plans for the evening, so I knew he was up to something. The hard part was getting him to tell me what it was. I bugged him and bugged him all week long, trying to get him to tell me what we were doing. But... He wouldn't budge!

At about 5:00pm, we got in the car and headed downtown. At that point, he told me we were going to Martini's for dinner. I LOVE Martini's!! We had been there once before and the food was amazing! On the way to dinner, I continued to pester Steve, thinking that I would get something out of him. Still... he wouldn't tell me anything.

When our waitress dropped off our check at the end of dinner, I noticed that Steve was trying really hard to make sure I couldn't see the check. I finally got it away from him and saw that along with our check was an advertisement for shows at The Ohio Theater. The show that happened to be playing that night was "STOMP"... A show that I've wanted to see ever since we went to New York! We had tickets for the 8:00 show!!

This show was AWESOME!! It was quite different from what I had expected and I was amazed at how these people created music with "instruments" such as push brooms, sand, garbage can lids, plastic barrels, metal buckets, PVC pipe, trash bags, paper drinking cups, newspapers, folding chairs, and of course... STOMPING! It was insane to watch!!

I was really worried that Steve wasn't going to have fun because he's not really a Broadway show kind of guy. But, this show was a good one for everyone (including the guy sitting two rows behind us with the Nascar hat on)! The kids in the audience had as much fun as the adults did and the performers were hilarious!

If any of you get the chance to see this show... DO IT!! This one is definitely worth the price of admission!

Learning to Be an Auntie...

2008-03-18T20:23:00.009-04:00

I have to admit... My fear of babies just about ranks up there with my fear of spiders, minus the nausea. That is why I have a dog! However, I do feel that I can be a pretty good Auntie if given the chance.

When I found out that Braden (Dustin's little one) was going to be born right before Christmas, I jumped into action! I was DETERMINED!!

I got all my Christmas shopping done by Thanksgiving (I don't do crazy crowds of shoppers... sorry), and I had everyone's presents wrapped, packaged, and in the mail about two and a half weeks before the big day. I wanted everything to get where I needed it to be ON TIME!!

I got Dustin and her husband a gift card to Blockbuster and a big box of popcorn... I thought that would be a nice gift for new parents. I also got Braden this REALLY cute pair of pajamas from Red Envelope that had "My First Christmas" embroidered on the butt. They were adorable and I was SO excited for Braden to have them at Christmas. I guess I should've known...

The last week in January, I received a notice that I had a package at my apartment office. I hadn't ordered anything, so I was a little excited to see what it was. When I saw the package... my heart sank! I had sent the package to her physical address rather than her mailing address (which is at a UPS Store), so the postal service ended up not being able to deliver it. It wouldn't have been so bad, but it took SIX WEEKS for the package to get back to me.... GRRRRRRR!!!!!

Anyways... After screwing up her mailing address one more time (Yup... I did it again) and re-mailing the package again... It FINALLY got there! WOO HOO!!! I got the following picture in my e-mail just a couple of days ago...

As it turns out... It's a good thing they were late! The PJs fit him really well now at three months, but he would have been swimming in them if he'd gotten them at Christmas.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, BRADEN!! (A little late...)

Love,
Auntie Kasey

P.S. I'll get better at this "Auntie" stuff... I promise!

Snow, Snow, and MORE Snow...

2008-03-10T17:00:00.003-04:00

I love winter... and I LOVE snow... However, even I have my limits!!

This past weekend, the state of Ohio got the biggest snow storm they've seen in a really long time. The city of Columbus received 20.5 inches... It was actually really fun to see! I haven't seen snow like this since I was a kid!

I just wanted to share some pictures...

These pictures were taken on Saturday afternoon as the snow was FINALLY starting to let up. The storm moved in on Friday, and My car stayed burried until this morning!

I am SOOOOOO ready for spring to be here!!

A Good Surprise...

2008-03-02T06:20:00.005-05:00

The past couple of weeks have been really busy for me. I worked an extra day last week, so that cut my weekend down to two days. And this week, I didn't really get a weekend at all. On Tuesday, I had to be at work for 8 hours to do Matrix training (basically shadowing different departments) for the promotion I've applied for. Wednesday, We had a mandatory department meeting (3 hours of boredom), and then volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House. And Thursday, I had to be back at work to finish up a class and wrap up my Matrix training. My work week started again on Friday morning, so my weekend was SHOT!

Just yesterday morning, my mom and I were e-mailing back and forth about all of the things we needed to get done. I had two weeks of laundry to get done, piles of mail to go through, a stack of dishes to get washed, floors that needed vacuumed, work manuals that needed read/updated... And the list goes on. I was telling my mom that I wished that I could be five years old again... just for a little bit. That list of things to do can seem never-ending at times and a couple weeks of no worries other than what Barbie I was going to play with sounded SO nice!!

Well... Yesterday afternoon, when I got home from work, I got one of the best surprises I've had in a long time. Steve was sitting on my couch snuggled up with Cookie and watching TV! That alone was a good surprise... but it got even better. First, I noticed that my living room had been picked up and vacuumed... Then I walked into my kitchen and found that the pile of dishes in the sink had been washed and put away... Then I headed into my bedroom and saw that my bed had been made (No, I don't usually make my bed), and that all of the laundry I thought I was going to have to do when I got home had been washed, folded, and stacked on my bed. I couldn't believe it!

When I asked Steve about it, he gave me his best sweet and innocent look, pointed directly at Cookie and said, "It was all her... I had nothing to do with it.. Did you know she could vacuum?!?!". I couldn't help but laugh!

I don't know how he does it, but Steve always seems to know just what I need... right when I need it. My apartment and the chores that come along with it are in no way Steve's responsibility. Yet, he does little things to help me out all the time.

He is such a sweet guy... I'm still trying to figure out what I did to deserve him!

An interesting drive home...

2008-02-24T18:00:00.007-05:00

I got off work at 4:00 this afternoon. It had been a long and busy day, but a relatively good one compared to the previous two. I wrapped up my end-of-the-day paperwork, hopped into my frozen car, and started my routine and usually uneventful drive home... Yee haw!!

As I'm driving north on one of the surface streets, I came to a red light... I stopped. This light is always a really long one, so I just put my head back and relaxed for a few seconds. The next thing I know... The car in the lane next to me (which happened to be filled with 3 rather large African American women who were laughing like hyenas) started honking like you wouldn't believe. I looked over to see what was so funny and absolutely could not believe my eyes...

A thin, pale white man, with long, frizzy red hair (balding on top) was running from east to west across the crosswalk in front of us. What's so odd about this, you ask???... I'll tell you. This freakishly white man was running (happily it seemed) across the street wearing nothing but a pair of saggy tighty-whities and some purple striped tube socks! No shoes, no pants, no shirt, no coat... NADA!! Zip, zero, zilch. I was STUNNED!!! It's about 25 degrees here today, snow on the ground, and this dude was running as if he were out for a leasurely summer jog.

Being the picture lover that I am...I immediately reached for my phone to try and capture this moment in time. But, by the time I dug my phone out of the bag-o-crap that is my purse, Mr. Fruit of the Loom was too far away. However... I did notice that two of the three ladies in the car next to me had their phones held up high trying to capture forever this unbelievable Kodak moment. The third lady??... Well, she was hanging half way out the back driver's side window yelling "Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey!!".

What an interesting, interesting drive home.

The ABCs of Me...

2008-02-17T16:53:00.005-05:00

A - Attached or single: Attached

B - Best friend: Dustin

C - Cake or pie: Depends on what kind of cake or pie... lol

D - Day of choice: Thursday... It's my day off with Steve!

E - Essential item: Lip stuff!

F - Favorite color: Blue

G - Gummy bears or worms: I don't really do "gummy"

H - Hometown: Eagar, AZ

I - Indulgence(s): Chocolate, bubble baths, and good books!

J - January or July: July... I love the 4th out here!

K - Kids: My dog is my child!

L - Life is incomplete without: Loved ones

M - Marriage date: No idea... and I'm OK with that!

N - Number of siblings: 1 big brother

O - Oranges or apples: BOTH!

P - Phobias or fears: Spiders make me want to throw up!

Q - Quotes: This one used to hang on my mom's fridge... "There have been no dragons in my life... Only small spiders and stepping in gum. I could've coped with the dragons."

R - Reason to smile: I have a week of vacation coming up...WOO HOO!!

S - Season of choice: Fall is beautiful in this part of the country

T - Tag three friends: Dustin, Melissa Jo, Jeff

U - Unknown fact about me: I'm a crappy cook! (I'm working on it though)

V - Very favorite store: Archiver's

W - Worst habit: Right now... It's clenching my teeth!

X - X-ray or ultrasound: Huh???

Y - Your favorite food: Shrimp!

Z - Zodiac sign: Aries... I'm a rebel!

A Challenge...

2008-02-05T17:28:00.001-05:00

The past week (my work week begins on Friday and goes through Monday) at work has been a week from hell... There's really no other way to put it!

A typical day in my line of work includes dealing with computer malfunctions, weather issues, air traffic control problems, broken airplanes, unhappy Owner Services reps, and pilots that are less than thrilled about where they are or where they are going. It's just the nature of the beast.

I consider myself a people person and most of the time I really enjoy the challenge of what I do (in a "bang-my-head-against-a-wall" kind of way). However... there are a few times a year when my people skills and "How may I help you?" attitude pretty much fly out the window. One of those times is Super Bowl week. I absolutely dread it!

First of all... I don't understand what is so special about the Super Bowl anyways. It's a football game. We see them all the time. Same big guys, same spandex pants, and they're STILL running around trying to tackle the dude with the ball. (Can you tell I am not a football fan?) Secondly... Even if you are a football fan, why on earth would you spend thousands upon thousands of dollars to watch (possibly from the nosebleed section) something that you could easily enjoy from the comfort of your own living room? I don't understand it...

So as I'm driving home from work yesterday... mind racing, blood boiling, and exhausted... I decided that I needed to shake it off and turn things around. After all... It was my Friday. So, when I got home, I started writing a list of all the little things that make me happy. Here's what I have...

1 - Steve (OK... so he's not exactly "little", but he still makes me happy)
2 - Cookie greeting me at the door every afternoon with "bed head"
3 - Green traffic lights
4 - Warm towels fresh from the dryer
5 - E-mails from friends
6 - Chocolate
7 - Paydays (Who doesn't enjoy these?)
8 - New posts on my friends' blogs
9 - Pictures
10 - Diet Coke
11 - Turning on the TV just in time to catch a good show
12 - Finding money in the washing machine
13 - Bubble baths
14 - Scrapbooking (it's cheap therapy)
15 - A good book
16 - Oranges (YUM!!)
17 - Best friends
18 - Mail that isn't a bill
19 - Cookie's snores (My favorite sound EVER!)
20 - Days off!!

This is just a short list... Something to get me started. However, I've challenged myself to come up with at least one more thing to add every day. So, next time I post, I should have a few more to add to the list!

What a Trio!!

2008-01-25T17:38:00.000-05:00

Steve and I were sitting on my couch last night watching TV, and I got to thinking...

I have a ton of pictures of Cookie... I have pictures of Steve with Cookie... I have a few pictures of myself with Cookie... and I have picture of Steve and I. However... I didn't have a single picture of all three of us! (Don't ask me why... It has been 2 years!) So since I have this fabulous new camera, I thought I'd grab it and see what kind of magic I could create.

I wasn't sure how to set the timer (I'm really not one for reading directions... I need to be better about that), so Steve took charge! He's the "Techie" in my life. If it's got buttons, cords, lights, switches, dials, wires or knobs... Steve knows how to work it! Anyways, after a few shots, we got one that was pretty cute !

I think we make quite the trio!

I hope all is well with everyone. For those of you out west... Send some sunshine my way!! IT'S COLD!!!

Decisions... Decisions...

2008-01-20T17:24:00.000-05:00

I'll be the first to admit that I've made some questionable choices and some not-so-smart decisions in my life. Part of them I can chalk up to being "young and dumb"... The others? Well... I have no excuses.

I am a firm believer in that everything in life happens for a reason. I've learned a lesson from each one of those poor choices I've made... And I truly believe that they've made me the person I am today.

Two years ago (almost to date), I made what has been and what will probably ever be the best decision I have ever made. I decided to go on a date with someone I knew nothing about. It was terrifying...

Thinking back... I remember how nervous and scared I was. I almost called to cancel about 10 times that day! Then I decided that I needed to just go for it and give the guy a chance... I thought, "What's the worst that could happen?".

Words cannot tell you how glad I am today that I took that chance two years ago...

Steve has been a part of my life ever since and has been the best thing to happen to me since Cookie came along! He's an AMAZING person and the Monster and I couldn't be happier!!

We are a couple of lucky, lucky girls...

Monster in Da Hood!!

2008-01-09T15:15:00.000-05:00

As you all know... Cookie got a brand new sweater for Christmas! She actually doesn't mind wearing it (especially when it's cold), and she looks so stinkin' cute in it... I LOVE IT!!

She was snoozing on the couch today while I was playing with my camera, so I thought I'd see if I could get a good picture of her. I took a few pictures of her... And then I remembered that her sweater has a hood on it. So, I pulled the hood up and got a couple pictures... This one was my favorite!

Happy 2008!!

2008-01-02T12:26:00.001-05:00

I can't believe 2007 is over... I still feel like I'm somewhere back at the end of October! The past few months have been SO busy and have flown by SO quickly! I love the holiday season and all that comes with it, but this year I felt like I had a ton to do and never really got the chance to slow down. I'm kinda glad I won't have to think about it again for a while ...

I had a wonderful Christmas this year. I got to have a Christmas with Steve and Cookie, a Christmas with Steve's family, and also a Christmas with my Mom, Dad, and Brother! I got really lucky this year!!

For Christmas this year, Steve bought me a fabulous new digital camera and all the goodies that go along with it! When I opened it, I about died!! I've been looking at new cameras for a while and was trying to put aside a little money here and there to save up for a nice one. He got me a Canon Digital Rebel XTi... It's AMAZING!! It is really easy to use and takes the clearest pictures. I find myself taking pictures of everything now... I LOVE IT!!

I had a few days off over the holidays, so on Christmas Day I flew to Kansas to see Roland and my parents. When I got to the airport here in Columbus, I learned that my flight had been cancelled (Thanks, Skybus!) ... I was so upset, I just started bawling! Thank goodness for Steve... He got online and booked a ticket for me on another airline and I was able to fly out a few hours later. He is so good to me!

I had a great time at the farm with my family. I hadn't seen my dad since last Christmas, so it was good to see him. I got to see my brother and meet my new furry nephew, Jake (who is so stinkin' cute!), and I got to see my mom and Grandma as well. It was a really good trip home and I'm SO glad I made it out there to see everyone!

I hope you all had a safe and happy holiday season and that you have a happy and healthy 2008!!

Naughty Little Monster.....

2007-12-13T12:57:00.000-05:00

Since the only child I have is of the 4-legged furry nature, I do my best to make sure that her Christmas is just as special as ours is. This year, I got Cookie a new shirt (which she actually doesn't mind wearing), a new ID tag, a couple bags of treats, some chewy bones, and a toy to put in her stocking. I think she did pretty well!

I finally got her new ID tag in the mail yesterday evening and it's really cute. This morning I put everything in a box, wrapped it, and put it under the tree with Steve's presents. After doing that, I got in the shower so that I could get cleaned up for the day. When I got out of the shower (about 15min. later) this is what I found...

... My rotten little Monster had pulled her present out from under the tree, unwrapped it, torn the box open, and had a great time!! The pink and black thing you see in the picture is her new shirt... The small brown box has her new ID tag in it... She's standing next to her package of chewy bones... And one whole package of treats is completely gone. SHE ATE THE WHOLE THING!!!

I really wanted to be mad at her, but all I could do was laugh and grab my camera. The best part was that she knew she was in trouble when I walked out there... She wouldn't even look at me!

It's a good thing I take care of Cookie's presents every year. She'd be on Santa's "Naughty" list this year for sure!!

Wow.... Just, WOW!!!

2007-12-01T09:44:00.000-05:00

I know it's only December 1st, but I feel like I've just recieved the best Christmas present ever!!

As most of you know... I've been dealing with this stupid tumor again. I was on a fairly mild medication called Parlodel and seemed to be doing pretty well on it. However, at the beginning of the year, my Prolactin level started it's old familiar climb once again... At one point reaching 186 (the normal range is 19-24). My Endocrinologist tried upping the dose of medication a couple of times and didn't see any improvement. My body had built up a tolerance to it. So, she switched me over to a medication called Dostinex which is much stronger and comes with all the nasty side effects.

Although it made me feel crappy for a few weeks, the Dostinex seemed like it was going to do the trick. My Prolactin level dropped about 10 points after the first round of blood work, so my Dr. upped to dose again in hopes that it would drop even more. It dropped a few points the next round and then seemed to stabilize in the 150-160 area. I was beyond frustrated!! I felt like I had been doing everything I was told to do but was still not seeing the improvements I was hoping for.

A co-worker of mine brought me a bottle of a product called Monavie one day. He told me that he and his wife had gone to a couple of meetings and had done a lot of research on it. He gave me the bottle for free and begged me to just give it a try... No strings attached. I figured I had nothing to lose, so I started taking it.

The first thing I notice was that within a few days of starting the Monavie, I was sleeping so much better! I've never been a good sleeper... you can ask my mom. But I noticed I was falling asleep easily and I was STAYING asleep! The next thing I noticed was that my bottle of Excedrin was no longer my best friend. I hadn't taken any... NOT A SINGLE PILL... since starting the Monavie! I decided I would continue to take the product until I got the results from my next round of blood work which was scheduled to be done at my Dr.'s appointment on November 29th.

When my Dr. walked into the room at my appointment the other day, the first thing she said to me was, "Wow! Your hair looks so healthy... and you're skin looks great!" Now that kind of a comment wouldn't even have phased a lot of people. But I can tell you right now that I have NEVER had ANYONE tell me that my skin looked good. I was shocked! She checked a few other things, wrapped up the appointment and sent me to the lab for bloodwork. The lab told me it would be 3-4 days for the results, so all I could do at that point was wait for a phone call.

Well... It turns out it only took 1 day because the nurse practitioner called me yesterday afternoon to give me my lab results. My Prolactin leven has dropped to..... (drumroll, please)..... 43.4!!!

I was absolutely floored!! I was hoping to see a little improvement, but was definitely not expecting anything like that! 116 points in 6 weeks was unbelievable! My response to her (I'm a little embarassed to say) was, "NO SH*T!!". I haven't seen numbers that low since right after I had surgery... Almost 3 years ago!! I was, and still am, SOOOO excited!! Steve even took me to the Rusty Bucket last night for a celebratory cheeseburger... WOO HOO!!

If you want to read more about the product itself, visit http://www.monavie.com/ .

I'M STICKING WITH IT!!!

The Story of a Tree...

2007-11-23T18:47:00.000-05:00

WOO HOO!!! Thanksgiving is over and now we've officially entered into the Christmas season!! Not that I'm overlooking Turkey Day or anything... but I love Christmas and I love this time of the year. I love the Christmas music playing on the radio... I love buying gifts for my loved ones... I love decorating my house... I just LOVE it!!

Yesterday was Thanksgiving and I had the day off work. Steve had to work until about 4:30, so I spent the earlier part of the day setting up my Christmas tree, pulling out my snowman decorations, making Christmas cards, wrapping a few presents, etc. I didn't spend much time relaxing (you know... what you're supposed to do on your only day off), but it was a day away from work and I got a lot done. Besides... I really wanted to get my Christmas tree set up!

I thought about getting a bigger Christmas tree this year. I've seen so many pretty trees at Target and Michaels... and I have a bigger place now, so I thought it would be a good idea. I thought maybe this year I would take a step up in the tree department. But when I really started thinking about it, I just couldn't do it! This may sound crazy to some, but my little fake Christmas tree has a bit of sentimental value to it.

A few years ago, shortly before Thanksgiving, a friend of mine from work came to take me out to lunch. Marcel knew that I hadn't been feeling well, I was facing a major surgery, and I was just having a really rough time. He took me to Bob Evans for lunch where I had French toast (I know... not really a lunchy thing). I remember craving it!! After lunch, we decided to hit this flea market that we had heard horror stories about. It was in a grungy part of town and was a little creepy looking, but we decided to go for it anyways.

Marcel and I shopped for a little over an hour and found some of the strangest things in that flea market. I think Marcel found a jacket that he bought and a blanket for his daughter and I didn't find anything I couldn't live without. I was all set to leave empty handed when I looked over near the door and saw it.... A CHRISTMAS TREE!! I had wanted one for so long! The box said it was a 6 foot tree and it was only $10. It was the only one there and I decided it needed a home, so I bought it.

When I got the tree home and put it together, I was a little disappointed. It was a really sad looking little tree. However, I didn't have the money to buy a bigger one, so I had to make do with the one I'd purchased. I had a couple of strings of clear lights, and 2 boxes of ornaments that I picked up at the flea market for $1/box. So, I turned on some Christmas music and started decorating my new tree.

Every year when I pull out my tree and put it together, I still get that same sad little feeling. I think to myself, "Good grief, this tree looks sad!" But, every year, after I add the lights and hang the ornaments, I'm always pleasantly surprised at how pretty my little tree turns out.

Now I know that my little tree is nothing spectacular... and I know I'll never find it in the middle of Rockafeller Center. But this tree has been through a lot with me, and with a few decorations, I think it looks pretty darned good!!

I hope everyone had a happy and safe Thanksgiving and I hope you all are enjoying the beginning of the Christmas season as much as I am!

Baby Shower...

2007-11-12T17:23:00.000-05:00

This past week, I flew to Arizona for my best friend Dustin's baby shower. I haven't seen Dustin in FOREVER, so it was really nice to be able spend a couple of days with her and catch up a bit. Technically, Dustin was on bed rest, so we kinda had to take things easy... However, we broke a few rules and snuck out of the house for a pedicure, lunch, a movie, and a couple of quick errands. After all this time, it was really nice to have a girls day out with my best friend!

The baby shower itself was a lot of fun too. The food was amazing, Dustin got a lot of great baby gifts, and I got to meet a lot of her friends and family members. A couple of good friends from high school were there, so we got to spend a few hours in the Arizona sunshine and catch up... It was great!!

GOOD LUCK DUST-A-ROONIE!!

I can't wait to see pictures of the little guy!