Merry Christmas!

We had our family party on Sunday and Festus thought he was one of the kids. He thought Santa was great, but a was a little disappointed that he didn't get a prize. I guess Santa will have to remember that for next year.

Festus Gets a New Coat

Which is Bigger?

This is Festus with some veggies from our garden. The zucchini was longer than him.

I'm Getting Married

For all of you who don't know. Nate and I got engaged. We are getting married May 6, 2006.

I'm editing this post to include pictures for Momila.

This is Nate & I in Montana.

This is my ring.

I Think We Made Her Year

Yesterday we went to Ace Hardware to pick up a few things. And as most of you know, I'm the crazy lady who brings her dog everywhere. On our way out of the store a grandma like lady stopped me, from her car, to say hi to Festus. He jumped right in her lap and she was so happy her eyes were watering. Eventhough it wasn't me doing it, it felt good to make someone so happy. I find it more amazing each time I take him out how many people he can make smile, just by being him. He is the best!

The New Car

This is just a stock photo, I unfortunately haven't had time to take a picture. But, we (Nate & I) got a new car on Friday. It is basically the car I had, but newer, faster, and cuter except the bumper.

Let's Help Them

So, unless you live under a rock, you know about Hurricane Katrina. I've been watching the reports and it is all very devastating. One of the things that hits me the most, is that the people couldn't take their pets. Some of you will think I am crazy for saying this, but I would die before I left Festus behind. It brings tears to my eyes every time I see a stranded pet or even someone with their pet. To some people, losing a pet is like losing a child. Don't get me wrong, I feel bad for the people, but pets can't do anything without the help of others. There are now a few places that are helping to go rescue the pets and get them back to their owners or another good home. I really like the following organization http://news.bestfriends.org/
Here are a few pictures of pets they have already rescued.

A New Use for a Cat

So, AJ brought home 3 cats on Saturday. They are cute, as long as you ignore the fact that they are cats. I thought of a few uses that most people have already thought of cat stew, cat tacos, and cat tire tread. Well, Sunday night I learned a new use for cats. Alarm clocks. For some reason the one I fondly refer to as "The Bitch" decided that I should be up at 2 A.M. I'm sure my boss liked it, because I got to work over an hour earlier than I usually do. But, I'm still catching up on sleep. Good thing they are outside cats.

Back in the Saddle Again

Congrats to me! I'm no longer married!

Shoes!

I love new shoes!

Vacation Time?

I found a fun link to go and map out where you've been in the US, only discover I've only seen 25% of it. It would seem it is time to go on vacation. I'm thinking New York.



create your own personalized map of the USA
or check out ourCalifornia travel guide

What do you do in your spare time?

Most of you know Festus. He is a sweet and inocent little puppy, until you see what he does in his spare time....

Divorce Meeting

We had our final meeting for the divorce today. It went as smoothly as could be expected. We finally got everything worked out. The papers will be drawn up, hopefully, by the end of the week. And, we have asked the 90 day period to be waived. So, keep your fingers crossed that next week I will no longer be married.

The Garden

I have been keeping a garden. All you who know me, know that is a lie. Nate has been keeping a garden, I could kill a plastic plant. But, we have finally begun to see the "fruit" of his labors...

The first was this lovely zucchini.

The next was this tomato.

Soon, we will be enjoying this cucumber.

And this green pepper.


We also have spicy peppers, green beans, eggplant, and soybeans.

My Tattoo.....s?

For those of you who don't know, I have a tattoo. I personally think it is really cute. It is a butterfly on my right shoulder blade, which hardly anybody ever sees. If I get a chance, I will post a pic. When you get it, it feels like a really rough cats tongue. It doesn't hurt hardley at all. Once you get one you want more. It is an addiction.

Needless to say, I want another one. I think I want a star or three on my right foot above my pinky toe. The delemia I'm having is that I don't know that I want to be the marked up person and what happens in the long run? Does a 90 year old women want a star or three on her foot and a butterfly on her back? I don't know.

My Game of Life

Okay, step two of the process is now done. Step one was selling the house. Sold. Scott and I have now had our bankruptcy filed. Today is officially the last day we have to be married.

One thing I've learned in this process is that the day you file you don't want to have any money in your accounts because they can stake claim to whatever is in your bank accounts that day. So, before you file, you should go on shopping sprees. Okay, so maybe that isn't the right way to go about it. Really, you should just file after you make all your bill payments, you know rent, etc.

The next step is to finalize the divorce. We meet with the mediators on Monday to hopefully finalize everything and get the paperwork to file. Hopefully everything goes smoothly, everyone keep your fingers crossed.

Maybe I can move...

You scored as WASHINGTON. WASHINGTON IS AWESOME FOR YOU! WASHINGTON 67% UTAH 50% FLORIDA 42% NEVADA 42% California 34% NEW YORK 34% LOUISIANA 33% WYOMING 25% What state should you live in? created with QuizFarm.com

Vacation = Tired

Why is it, after going on vacation, that I feel more tired than I did before I left?

School, Are You Sure?

Well, they have finally evaluated my classes and won't except some of them. One, Business Statistics, which I hated by the way. The other, Basic Computers, this one is really fustrating. I took a class that taught more than their version and they won't except it. Oh well, at least I can take it online.

The part that makes me unsure is, because of the late registration, I will be going MWF from 7am-9am. Now, we all know that I already have a hard enough time being up by 8am. I guess I will have to see how it goes getting up at 5:30am, it is in Ogden. But, I'm still trying to get the 7am class online. I will let you know how it goes.

Sold!

The house is finally sold and out of Scott and I's names.

Home Sweet...Hell?

My little home that was bought a little over two years ago has become somewhat of a hell for me.

First, it was sold. Scott left for vacation and left anything that he didn't want in the garage for me to take care of. It was a full truck load to the DI and four weeks of garbage. Also, since the sale fell through and he was out of town, I had to fully clean the house.

Next, it is for sale again. This time we need to paint the brown and teal walls. Scott is still out of town. So, my parents went and painted it for us. I'm very thankful for that.

Then, it sales again. This lady is a pain. So far, I have recleaned the carpets, tightened every face plate in the kitchen, changed lightbulbs, and swept the garage. It doesn't end here. She wanted the yellow wall painted. So, my mom and Nate helped to get that wall painted.

Finanlly, the closing. Lets just hope that everything goes smoothly with that. Thankfully I have my mom because it wouldn't haven't gotten taken care of without her and I.

So, a short story long, the dream first home has now turned into a thorn in my side.

How old is my boss?

School...Financial Aid...

So, I've played with the idea of going back to school. My new office is about 2 minutes from Weber, so I can go at lunch.

But, let me tell you, it is a pain. First, you have to apply. Then, you have to get transcripts from every school you've gone to. Then, once you've been accepted you dive into financial aid. This is where the pain lies. They look at your 2004 taxes, which I haven't filed, fortunately they just need the information from the worksheets. I have gotten those prepared. Well, then there is the issue that my status has changed from the 2004 taxes. For one, I'm no longer a two income family or a family at all. For two, I have different job. and for three, I'm no longer a home owner(keep your fingers crossed). Well, rather than having a section in the FAFSA form for change of status/income; you have to file a amendment form. Sounds like no big deal. Wrong, you have to do it in person. So, I have to get up at 6:30 tomorrow morning to drive to Ogden to fill out a form. It is all such a pain, I should get money just for my time spent applying for it.

And by the way, I have discovered that financial aid is a word only for those not working or not working a "real world" job. For the rest of the world, the word is student loan. The kicker here, you have to fill out the FAFSA form to get a student loan. They determine how much you should pay out of your pocket and then you can apply for the loans to see if they will cover the rest. The whole process is a little crazy, they take a previous years income and don't count expenses and then they tell you what you can afford to pay.

Big Sky Country...not Lindsey's

So, I went to Big Sky country this weekend, unfortunately not to visit Lindsey. But, I will hopefully do that Labor day weekend.

While there I went on 2 hikes, I know, I'm not usually a hiker. There were promises of some really pretty waterfalls, which there were. In total I hiked 4 miles. Festus is still recovering. This is him trying to navigate the rocks.

Nate's sister, whom we went to visit, does jewelry there. You can check it out at http://www.rubylane.com/shops/arabelle. I really like her stuff. Her husband works for the forrest sevice, which is why they live there.

The best part, or so I thought, is there are casinos in Montana. Okay, not so great, they are full of old people gaming, video poker and keno. No fun slots or even live tables. I did eat some good food and do some good shopping. It was nice to get away for a bit.

House for sale...again

Well, the sale of the house fell through with the original guy. He decided to move to Texas to be with his kid. But, I am getting his mail.

From the time we relisted it, we had someone looking at it at least once a day. It sold again within one week. We should be closing on the 20th of July. So, everyone cross your fingers.

Settling

I have finally started to get settled in my new life. Scott and I have managed to be amicable most of the time. I am mostly moved into my new home. I have gotten used to the "single life" again. I can eat crackers in my bed without getting grief.

I guess the are a few unsettling things...

The sell of our house fell through. The guy decided he is moving to Texas. Good news, we get the earnest money. Bad news, we have start the sell again with an empty house. More bad news, it puts all of our other filings on hold.

Work hasn't moved, so it is still the great unknown Ogden. I will probably move before the rest of the company, at least for half days. Which is okay, but not preferred. My hours will change to 8-5 and I already have problems with 9-6.

When it rains, it pours...

Why is it in life that when one thing happens a million follow? For instance, one day the company I work for decides to move to Ogden and then I end up in the middle of a divorce. It is like I am a plant in a pot and someone thought it would be fun to pick me up shake me out and plant me somewhere else. The only problem is...they haven't gotten around to replanting me. If I don't get replanted soon...

A red house....

I'm thinking of living in a red house. What do you think?

Some really good advice...

I think that this is not only good for someone who is going through what I am, but for someone gong through any major change.

If we concentrate too hard and too long on looking back over the road we have traveled, we often forget that there is a way ahead leading to the future. Before we can fully commit ourselves to that journey into the future, there is one task left to be done: to accept that we have changed and that we aren't the same as we were before the breakup and never will be again.

"There is a flower that blooms out of destruction, loss, and pain of breakdown. It is called Freedom."

first post