rESpoNsiBiliTY

So, I did my taxes. I'm getting a $2,500 refund this year, yeaa! I didnt even have to have babies! (Hope Credit for grad school, bitchin). Anyways, so I was psyched at first about the realistic in-reach tropical vacation...until I added up all my credit cards (yes, I had 0 credit cards until last September when Mcgee got sick, and now I have 3). So, I'm about $4 grand in debt on those, including a personal loan (just a wee one). So, with the influence of my very smart and responsible parents always in my head, I decided to pay off the personal loan, the Best Buy card, and the Gap Visa. That will leave me only with my Citi card which has 0% interest. And, I should make it out with a little left over money to put in the savings. Then, when I get $2 grand in savings, I will take a trip to the tropics. In the meantime, I might spend a few hundred to fly down and visit my grandparents in Florida for a week or so (free lodging and food, yea!). We shall see.

Weight Watchers

Hey all! I know Im almost constantly on a diet, but I think Ive finally found one that is practical enough to stick with it! I joined Weight Watchers on January 10. So far, its going awesome. I go weekly for weigh ins, and attend the occasional meeting. The points values are totally available on soooo many foods, that its simple to just eat whatever I want as long as I count it. Me likey. Anyways, my intial goal is to lose about...probably 40+ pounds. So far I am down 11! Yay!

Oh, and in anticipation of a massive tax return, I have decided the carribean is in need of my presence. So, the only thing left is to actually plan the trip, decide when to go, and oh yeah, see if I can get anyone to go with me. No one has any money or vacation time, so that stinks. To be honest, I think it might be tres relaxing to just go by myself (yes, I remember Natalie Halloway)...my Mom probably wouldnt allow that.

Back in school again - Im taking a class on Counseling Groups and Counseling Theories. Good times. Work is pretty good. Overall things are pretty fab.

Check out my myspace for some sweet pictures of when I met Ron Jeremy this weekend! heheh.

Poochie update :)

Hey all - thought I'd post some pictures of the dogs since it's been a while. Mcgee looks pretty normal, and walks around like he has eyes. He looks right at ya when you talk to him, still tries to peek out the window in the car (kind of weird), and can follow other dogs or humans around quite smartly. He definately walks into shit a lot, but its become more comical than tragic. Does that make me a bad mother? Eh.

Here is one of Mcgee outside, with the slide that he bumps into a lot:


This is Mcgee my gay boy trying to hump Jared's dog Beau. Beau is such a trooper to put up with Mcgee's blind gayness.

Here's Mcgee looking through his toybox:

And, here's my babies, pooped and sleepin on the couch, as usual:

My baby.

Mcgee had his second eye taken out on Friday and he is recovering very well. He is sleeping a lot, but is getting around okay and is eating/drinking fine. He doesnt even need that stupid cone on his head, which is nice for him, and for me!

I have begun kenneling him during the day while I am at work (4 hours or so at a time), and it is working nicely!! The first day he pooped in it, but hasn't since. He's doing awesome. And, Im not frustrated coming home having to mop the floor for 30 minutes.

Im hoping he has a full recovery in the next week or so, and we'll be good to go, back to normal! No more medicine. Just blindness to deal with - which he is really a trooper about. :)

Motherhood is tough !!!!

Arrrrgh.

The battle continues with Mcgee. He is having his second surgery probably next Friday, to remove his remaining eye. He is in pain, I think, so it's for the best. The good news is that the price is about half it was for the first one. Why, I don't know. I'm not gonna ask. (Pity?)

The problems continue, having a blind dog. I come home every day to pee and poop like EVERYWHERE in the kitchen/bathroom. It's linoleum so it's cleanable, but I am washing the floors every night, several times. Now, Mcgee wasn't very well trained to begin with, and now he's just saying fuck it, and walking in it, and tracking it ALL over. I took a shower with him and Ellie tonight (good times), because they both smelled like pee and poopies.

Im hoping he gets the hang of the place soon. It will be very discouraging to have to scrape and mop poops every night. The place is starting to smell. Ewww.

In other news...work is a major pain in the ass and Im busy as hell. Im plotting a week off for no reason other than to BREATHE. That should be soon actually...

The car is running smoothly (knock on wood). She's got 189,200 miles as of tonight.

Glaucoma really bites the big one.

So, Mcgee is now blind in his "good" eye. :( The pressure was way up, and did not decrease with some major medications (one of which was a 2.5 ml bottle of eye drops which cost me $81.99). He's medicated to pieces, he's sleepy, and his eye hurts. :( He's basically just laying around all day. He bumps into things, but has really become accustomed to it rather quickly, I think. He can find things via smell and he can come and find you when you call to him. Very sad. Im sure this will get better, and easier for his Mommy to handle!! but for now, he's not very happy. Poor baby.

For about 5 weeks of veterinarian care and medications, I have spent $1200. Oh, and yesterday, I got an estimate for car repair for $1100. (I need to replace part of my muffler, and replace my gas tank!! as if!!!).

So, I'm broke as a joke. Luke's wedding is happening at kind of a bad time because I am putting the dogs in a kennel, BUT kind of a good time because I need a friggin break!! Im really looking forward to the wedding and all the festivities around it. :) Should be very fun times. Yay Luke and Becca!!!

McGee

So..Mcgee had his eye surgery. He got out of it okay, but he is very, very sleepy. His face is sore and he hates that silly plastic cone he has to wear over his neck! I stayed home today to be with him so he could have a big chunk of time without the cone to get some rest. He should have the cone for 2-3 weeks. Keep him in your thoughts as he recovers! :)

South Beach

I have always been skeptical of low/no carb diets because of my imagined dependence on carbohydrates and sugar in my life. I swear to god, if I had to pick only one food to subsist on the rest of my life, it would be bread. So, when my coworker suggested the South Beach diet to me a week and a half ago, I figured I would never be able to do it.

(I am starting to sound like an infomercial, sorry).

Anyways, I am so tired of not fitting into my pants, and winter is coming, so I decided to try it. I started Monday August 27 (any good diet starts on a Monday, after a nice pig out session at TGIF right?). Today is Monday September 3, and I am 9 pounds lighter!!!! I know you skeptics will say, "that's too fast, youre starving yourself, etc." Well, skeptic - I would have been with ya. However, the first 2 weeks are super restrictive for a reason. And I am not starving. I am eating tons of protein, vegetables, and lean meats. No sugars, very few carbs (like, those in the veggies and the occasional glass of skim milk). Ive actually had to force myself to eat as often as they want me to, because frankly the food just isnt tasty (lets keep in mind Im coming from eating pizza and chips and not vegetables and chicken for the past several...um, most of my life).

Anywho - after the first two weeks, you can re-introduce a few good carbs, like multi grain bread, high fiber cereal, and fruits (can you believe that I am excited to be allowed to eat fruit in 6 days? Shit).

Let me tell you. I am not craving carbohydrates and sugar. And yes, I have exposed myself to them. I am missing alcohol, but not physiologically, just socially. ;) That I think has also aided me in my weight loss.

Here's to losing another...hmm.. like 20-25 pounds! Ill keep ya updated.
A

Chelsea Handler's One-Night Stand Etiquette Course

Hilarious.

Victorious!

We had a makeup softball game yesterday against the number one, undefeated team in the league, and WE WON!!!!! 10-8!!! One of the other teams who beat us actually cheered for us when we were walking off the field, and slapped us high fives. It was friggin awesome. And, I actually hit the ball and scored. Fantastic. Yay fun!

4th of July

I finally gathered up the gumption to get my first motorcycle ride on the 4th, with my friend Calvo's Dad. We drove through Winslow and Waterville, and it was absolutely awesome!!


Calvo & I enjoying our beverages on a lovely tour of Messalonskee Lake! We crammed that party boat full of people and beer, and had a blast! Plus I got the fabulous sun burn out there that I've been after all summer!


The two proud Captains. Captain Morgans I mean. (Calvo's boyfriend Chris and his nephew Teddy)


What a beautiful day.

Family

Last week, my cousin Ryan was up from Tennessee, which was a total wonderful surprise! Ryan is in the Army and has served in Afghanistan and Iraq for three tours already...he is returning in the spring. He is a medic, and he is my hero! Here are some pictures of all of us at my grandparents:



The garage sale gang!

Me, the cousins, my sister & my Dad

Me, the cousins, the sister, and my Grandma


Me, Ryan, Lisa & Aunt Helen

Ryan and my Dad enjoying some wingies.

The family who takes shots together stays together.

Still kickin'

Ch-ch-ch-changes

Do do do.

Some things have changed since I was last on here. Firstly, there will be no more posts of me and Matt having a grand old time, because we're not. So! It's okay though. I truthfully feel quite relieved and less stressed being out of the relationship.

Work's going really well. Maybe it's the nice weather, but it's fun with my coworkers, things on my caseload are going on without a hitch...it's quite pleasant.

I have reached a major milestone - I owe less than $2 grand on my Saab! Woo hoo!

I bought a new lap top yesterday at Best Buy. It's a Gateway, it's wireless, it's fabulous. It's so much faster than my 2002 Compaq piece or crap, it's amazing. I was blaming time warner, and should have been blaming the machine for that wicked slowness. Im amused that my meez on myspace actually moves freely without freezing now. Yes, its the important things, like my meez, that makes this $800 purchase worth while.

We've missed the last couple softball games - holiday and weather. Looking forward to Monday's game. Am enjoying things, and again, the bonding with coworkers is really quite nice.

As for like...fun trips or whatever...not really. Though I am scheduled to go to Hot-Lanta in a couple weeks for work, and when down there will meet up with my cousin JR and it should be a really good time. Havent seen him in several years. Also, am plotting a trip to VEGAS BABY in October. Actually tagging along with a friend. Who cares man. Opportunity knocks. Am taking 4th of July week off, and will be the first vacation since Christmas! I am in desperate need for this one. No plans, and I like it that way.

School goes well. It's brutal actually. There's tons of work involved, projects, etc. Its sort of a pain in the ass. But, hey. Im learning some new things and only going into half as much debt as I did for undergrad. So. Thats good I think.

Enough of this babbling. Especially since I think Im the only one who reads these. And I already have a good idea of what's going on in my life. ;)

Oops.

So its been a while since Ive posted. I suck at this, truely. But here's some recent photos to keep you entertained:

Here's me go-karting, kicking major ass:


Here's a sweet one of little Eleanor:



Here's a lovely shot of us doing Irish Car Bombs on St. Patty's Day at Grittys:



A lovely one of Matt and his family and Me (parents, brother, sister in law, neices) at his Change of Command promotion Ceremony in Bangor at the ARMY reserve base:



Good times in the snowbank:



Matt's neices Zoe and Melinda, and his nephew Buddy :)

SO Smaht

I got into graduate school, everyone. *clap clap* hehe.

Good times!

I feel validated, I have to admit. I know lots of people out there get into grad school no problemo, but I actually know a lot of people who dont get into USM for some programs because theyre so small and selective. Yay for me.

I did unfortunately learn that to be vested in Maine State Retirement for 100% health care benefits, you only have to work 10 years where I work already...and once I am done with school, I will have vested 9 YEARS. So...Im thinking I mis-stepped a bit. But...I can always work another year before venturing out into guidance counselor land.

Then again, 3-4 years from now...I could have like...a kid or be poppin one, and live in a house with a white picket fence and change all my plans??? Holy crap.

Im getting old!

:D

update!

Hey all!

It's been a long time since I updated this thang, so here it is, the scary details of the past 9 weeks:

-I had my USM grad school interview last week. It was very brief! Frighteningly so. I did a little writing sample too. I find out at the end of this month. If I get in, it will help determine a couple of things:
-where more specifically, to look for a house with Matt
-if I should transfer to the Portland office

-There have been a couple of upper management changes around the office, so I'm awaiting how that will affect me. My unit is startilingly stable, which I love..and my boss is awesome. So I dont anticipate major troubles, but who knows. My caseload continues to increase. :(

-Got the dogs groomed again, and I hadn't done so since November! (Coincidentally, this was the last time I got my hair cut!!). They were looking so scroungy. Ive decided to do it every other month...just have to remember to plan ahead because this lady is booked solid.

-Me and Matt joined my family for some sledding and snow shoeing this weekend. It was just me and Matt that did the snow shoeing, across my parents' lake. Turns out it was very slushy! We thought we might fall in, which was scary in light of all of the fatalities with lakes this winter!

-My sister's birthday is today, and for those of you who don't know, she is the Heather on my myspace! She has finally joined that fabulous community. Her page is coming along nicely. :)

-My parents 27th anniversary was Wednesday!

-My friend Kelly found out she, too, is having a baby boy (too as in, like Barbie, not like as in I am !!!!) and she is excited.

-I had the flu on Tuesday this week, and it was the first time Ive vomited from a non-alcohol reason since childhood. It was miserable!!! I actually threw up in the Saab!!!!! I had to go to work that morning for court, and I barely made it out of the court parking lot before hurling onto my dash. *sigh* That was gross.

-I have not been keeping up with any reality tv, but have been deeply engrossed in some recent "True Life"s on MTV. Ive become a fan of the silly design shows on Bravo as well.

-Things are pretty good...moving along...I'm happy. So, there's the big update!!

The Creeping Crud!

Last night was one of those nights when I remember why I do the job that I do. And I am proud.

We took in 5 siblings under the age of 3, because of severe neglect. I helped play with them, distract them, and most of all hug and hold them, because they were desperate for affection. They were infested with head lice and impetigo, and one of them peed on my leg, BUT...I was smiling the entire time. True, I said a lot of "ew!" like when being peed on, or when the little triplets were picking their noses and waving boogers at me, but they weren't real ews. Well, the pee was kind of gross actually.

And, when I got home I stripped bare on the porch, marched directly into a hot shower, and gave myself a lice treatment.

But I have a home. I have a safe home. And I am proud to do what I do. (Remind me when I develop impetigo after the 2 week incubation period).

Bah Habah!

Matt and I spent a lovely mini-vacation in Bar Harbor last week. We stayed in this really cute B & B, and climbed a small mountain at Acadia National Park. The only problem ... it was 14 degrees and windy!! Here are some nice pictures:

Christmas

Christmas this year was very busy for me. I was invited to be part of Matt's family Christmas, and of course to my own family's...unfortunately his family lives in NH, and mine lives in the woods of Maine. I had some driving to do!

On Christmas Eve-Eve, Matt and I headed down to NH for a nice dinner and Angela present fest with Matt's parents and aunt and uncle. After some serious drinking, we convinced everyone to a pool tournament, which...unfortunately through some serious repeat bad luck (8 ball style)...Matt and I lost to his Dad and Uncle Pete. Here's me taking a shot at Chuck and Pete, after they beat us the third time (well, technically after we let them win):

I headed back to Maine the morning of Christmas Eve, with a strong headache going on. I furiously did my best to cook baked macaroni and cheese (harder than you would think), and also to make chocolate chip cookies. I burned both batches of cookies, and ended up scraping them into the sink in disgust. The macaroni seemed good, and I left around 2:30 to head to Oxford to my Aunt's house.

Christmas Eve at Aunt Judy's was very nice. I got to meet 6 brand new bulldog puppies (6 days old!), and spend time with relatives I had not seen in a while. I got some good compliments on the mac & cheese too!

Here are some pictures of the little ones. This is my cousin Kendra's daughter Zoe, she is almost 3:
And this is my cousin Buddy's son, David, who just turned 1:

And here is one of my nephew Tyler and his Dad, Jon: After we had Santa greetings in Oxford, my sister, Jon, Tyler and I headed over to my Grampie's house in Minot, and spent some time with him which was very nice. After that, we headed to my house to grab the dogs and head to my parents' house.

I spent time at Heather and Jon's wrapping some final gifts, and did some laundry. I was finally in bed at my parents' around 12:30am. By this time, I was grouchy and tired, and not looking forward to getting only 6 hours of sleep!

I slept soundly, and woke up for the traditional Christmas Morning thing with my immediate family. Tyler was bombarded by gifts, most noteably this very cute hand-built barn that my parents made for him. He loves animals, and was very excited about it!

Also, I got my new iPod shuffle, which was a complete and happy surprise! More importantly, I got my AAA-Plus membership renewed, woo hoo! We had a nice Christmas, and Tyler actually got so tired of opening gifts he left like 5 of them wrapped under the tree!

I left at 10:00am to head down to NH, to join Matt's family for their afternoon gathering. I got there slightly late, around 1:15pm. We had a nice time, and some tasty rum punch! We did a Yankee Swap and only two people ended up swapping! Very quick! ha ha. It was nice spending time with and getting to know more of Matt's extended family.

I zonked out that night at 6:30pm!!! I slept for a beautiful 13 hours...ahhh, the holidays.