It's been a week...

It's been a really weird week. Not being able to sleep well combined with a flu-like illness has taken its toll. I also started working this week doing literature reviews for my research job. I've been trying to read and work at home, which has been a challenge. Josh is home all day, Adam was home sick Tuesday, the boys had a half day of school Wednesday, and today I had a few errands I needed to run. It seems there aren't enough hours in the day to do all the things a person needs to do! We've had interviews, appointments, activities, kids need rides, lessons need to be taught, etc. So it's just been a week! I'm glad it's Friday tomorrow...

Sorry my post is boring! My head is filled with information about the human factors of individuals and teams operating unmanned aerial vehicle flights!

My baby is no baby...

For quite some time, Austin has been looking forward to this day. I remember October 25, 1996 like it was yesterday. When he was born, people thought he was born at 10:10 and weighed 7 lbs 4.3 oz. But no, he was born at 7:43 and weighed 10 lbs 10 oz! That is not something you soon forget. From moment one he has been a great joy. He is a smiler, for sure, and loves to help people. He likes to have fun, is a really good friend to people, and is always up for trying new things. My kids can have whatever they want for breakfast on their birthday, and today Austin asked for scrambled eggs with onions, sweet peppers, and toast (on sprouted grain bread). Mind you, if they asked for cake, doughnuts, pizza, etc. they would get it; they can have ANYTHING...and he chose the healthy stuff! I asked him why and he said "Mooooom, gueeeeeess!" I said "what's her name?" and he just smiled that big smile of his and said that there's not one girl, but three. Uh oh...my baby is no baby anymore! Happiest of all birthdays to you, Austin!

12 great things about Austin:
1. he is so friendly
2. he is really responsible--I know I can count on him
3. he is fun to hang out with
4. he is easy to get along with
5. he is a gentleman
6. he shares really well
7. he has gorgeous eyes
8. his smile lights up my day
9. he is charming
10. he has great character
11. he is honest
12. he is playful

Making backgrounds and headers...

I was up past midnight learning how to make my own blog backgrounds and coordinating headers. While there are glitches in the system, what you see today as my background and header are ones I've made. I spent many hours finding free papers, embellishments, etc. online, then re-learning how to use photoshop to make these. NOW I have the cutest blog on the block...and bags under my eyes!

Here are some other backgrounds I've worked on, which fit this time of year pretty well.

Good singer

Ok, so I heard this guy --Shayne Ward--sing a song on a You Tube video. I like the song and he has a great voice...so here's the link. You'll have to copy and paste because I can't get the link thing to work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcz9VS7IdFI

Yes, it's a sappy ballad. I am a fan of sappy ballads, as it turns out. The sappier, the better! He has another good song called "That's My Goal", which can also be found on You Tube. He was the winner of Britain's version of American Idol called the X Factor.

That's my cultural contribution for the day. Enjoy.

One of those days...

Today was one of those days where several things were happening at once and I kind of needed to be several places at almost the same time. Tuesdays are just like that lately, with piano lessons and two kids in sports. I volunteered to take snacks for Adam's basketball game, which of course I had to shop for. I also said I'd take a cake over to Austin's scout meeting tonight so they could celebrate his birthday with him, which is on Saturday. He will be turning 12 and moving into a different scout group. But thanks to Josh for helping out, it all got done, we got to Adam's game in time to see him be a starter for the first time! Way to go, Adam, and the team won their game! I'm so proud of Adam and love to see the new-found confidence he has. He's doing well in school and seems to be doing well all-around. Yeah!

Our Peticure came in the mail and Zoe's nails have been filed down...she looks and feels much better! I really like it and would recommend it to anyone who is grossed out with the prospect of clipping their dog's or cat's claws like I am.

Sorry my blog isn't very interesting today, but it was a good day.

Until next time!

The end of an era...

With the exception of a few years in the early 1990s when I worked at a travel agency, I have been at home with my children. Yes, I've taught piano lessons, worked part-time jobs, gone to college full-time (including evenings and summers), etc. But for the most part, I have considered myself to be a stay-at-home mom. Now, I have gotten a job that will be full-time, and as I look into the future, I see that once I begin this job (in a week or so), it will mark the end of my days as a stay-at-home mom. I don't know at what point I will be able to-or want to-be at home 24/7 again. With our children well into their school years (and even leaving their school years), it seems like the time is right to use my education and go out into the working world. It's not a nice world all the time, certainly not convenient, comfortable, or cozy like home. I'm really happy and lucky, though, that I found work at ASU East campus, which is really close to my house. It is located on the grounds of an old military base that houses ASU East (Polytechnic), Chandler Gilbert Community College--Williams Campus, and the Williams Gateway Airport (my office will be about 100 feet from the runway). President Bush actually flew into Williams Gateway once because it can handle 747s, it would be really cool if that happened again. Anyway, the campus is small (just my size) so I'm really happy about that. When this 1-year research project is over, I am really hoping to find something permanent on this campus.

For now, I will do my best to enjoy my last few days of time as a "stay-at-home mom".

It's somebody's birthday...

(Roland is the one in the middle)

Today is my brother-in-law's birthday. He is a fun-loving guy I've been friends with since childhood. He is almost always smiling! He loves nature, hiking, biking, taking road trips, and being with his family and friends. He loves to garden and grows most of the food his family eats. Seriously, folks, he has an orchard you wouldn't believe, and a garden to match. He has lots of talents, all of which he's willing to share. He's a health nut...if a report comes out that says something is healthy, he'll down it, even if he hates doing it. He's a great teacher, whether in the classroom or anywhere else. He's also a great story-teller, and lives in such a way that he has some really fun stories, believe me. If you want to laugh until you cry, have Roland tell you about "bear poop" or pulling his friend, Troy, down a hill. He married the perfect girl for him, Jen, and they have two great kids, Olivia and Spencer. He's one of the rare, truly happy people I know. Happy birthday, Roland!

50 things...

Ok, I've been tagged. (Thanks, Rachel!) I'll have to think hard to come up with 50 things you don't know about me or would at least find interesting. I'm a very open book, as they say, so it will be tough to come up with things you don't already know. I'll try, but if I have to cheat and put some things you do know, forgive me!

1. I have some favorite things that make me feel at home no matter where I am. They are some of the items on my "a few things I like" list. Actually, many of the things on there...
2. I collect little things, or have to have certain things without really understanding why. Adam must get this from me! It's not that I'm a pack rat, because I really don't like a lot of "stuff", it's just there are certain things I love and have to have. (Sand from a beach I've visited, a rock from a hike, things like that.)
3. I insist on quality toilet paper. When we are too poor for decent toilet paper, then I know we're in trouble.
4. I love love love love love love going out to eat or eating at someone else's house. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, whatever. You name it, I love when someone else cooks it. (I doubt this is new to anyone.) And I love to eat oustide.
5. I don't like to buy t-shirts when I go somewhere special, I like to buy a towel. I bought one in Florida and one in San Diego at Sea World. I can't believe I didn't find a Hershey's towel in PA last month! They have everything else, why not towels?
6. I love Pixar movies! Cars, A Bug's Life, The Incredibles, etc. These are not kids' movies, they are for adults. If you ever doubt that, watch one and listen for all the things they say that kids wouldn't understand...yet they appeal to kids, too. I wish I could work there, how fun would that be??? Except I don't know that I could ever come up with the cute things they do.
7. I am very cynical about some things, like entering contests. According to "The Secret", this keeps me from winning. I'm cynical about politics. Does it really matter, most of the time, who's in office? For the most part, we're screwed anyway. See what I mean...cyndi=cynical!
8. I really like to travel. For the most part, delays don't even bug me, they're just part of the whole experience.
9. I'm terrified of the ocean. Beyond terrified. I think that I have every reason to be. It's not from watching "JAWS", it's from watching the news! Things really do happen to people out there. I find it pretty interesting that as a kid, I wanted to be a marine biologist when I grew up. I thought they all worked in pools in aquariums. My dream was shattered when I found out they had to go...gulp...into the ocean, too.
10. I really, really, really, really, really don't like back-stabbers. I mean it!!! I'm pretty forgiving, but back-stab me or someone I love and you're DONE in my life. Like Maya Angelou says "When somebody shows you who they are, BELIEVE them. Believe them the first time!" Back-stabbing is a deal-breaker.

Still with me?

11. I am very 'smell' oriented. If I walk into somebody's home, the way it smells speaks to me. There are very few places, actually, that I don't like the smell of...it's just that every home has its signature scent and I could tell you whose home I'm in (pretty accurately, I think) just by smell. To this day I could smell something brought here from Ken's parents' house and know exactly where it came from! I'm sad I'll never smell that house in person again because it was sold and now somebody else lives there. One of my favorite restaurants, Carrabba's Italian Grill, smells odd. As much as I love their food, I can't believe I go back there with the way it smells. It has an odd cheese smell. Cheese does NOT smell good, folks.
12. I like to exercise. I may not always be consistent with it, sometimes I may work out lighter than I should have, but I genuinely like it. It's me-time. I secretly would love to look like Miss Fitness America. NEVER EVER bulky or gross with man-muscles, but insanely fit. I'm an athlete wanna-be.
13. I actually like to cook. I play dumb about it sometimes, but I'm not bad. I just really, really hate to think of WHAT to cook. Sorry, Rachel, I had to use this one, too...it's just so true. Rachel texts me and asks me what's for dinner and I know she's looking for ideas. Sorry to say I'm rarely a help to her. I just text back and say "I don't know, what are YOU making?"
14. I don't like cats. I used to think I did because I loved my Sassy, my childhood cat. She was a siamese-burmese mix. Black cat with gold eyes and she was my best bud. She loved me no matter what I did to her. One time I put her in our mailbox and put up the flag to see what would happen when the mailman came...but took her out a few minutes later. At least I didn't put her in the dryer and turn it on...that was my sister.
15. I really like camping. Campers, camping equipment, camp fires, etc. I love it all! I'm not a fan of sleeping on the ground, however, so when I camp I take a blow up mattress. I also don't like having to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Someday, we'll have a simple, small trailer (maybe a pop-up, I love those) with a bathroom.
16. I have a hard time making conversation. I usually wind up talking about myself simply because it's a topic I know well...but would rather not. To be perfectly honest, I'd rather have something more interesting to talk about. Small talk is agonizing for me. When I don't know what to say I start to just ramble and that's just embarrassing.
17. I edit my texts, emails, blog posts, Facebook posts, etc. I don't want to spell incorrectly, use improper grammar, or look like I'm uneducated--even in those seemingly unimportant areas. It's actually quite annoying, I'd love to just type and not worry about it, but you just never know who will read these things.
18. I am not very politically correct and I don't care. Funny how I think I'd like to work in Human Resources, isn't it? I'm sorry, but the things they waste time and money worrying about in the workplace are ridiculous. And I have a MAILMAN, whether it's a man or woman. If I delivered mail, I'd be a mailman, not a mail person. Ugh.
19. I don't like spicey food, but I'm trying. I don't like when my mouth burns (Polish blood, I guess), but the tastes are great.
20. I don't care much about celebrities. I listen to entertainment news and sort of think of it as fiction writing. It's never really true information, is it? Even if it's true, WHO CARES?? I may talk about it, watch lots of tv and movies, etc., but do NOT care about celebrities. I have to admit that at the Shania Twain concert my husband took me to for Christmas a few years ago, I was awe-struck by her and almost cried when she came out. That was weird for me.

20 down, 30 to go...

21. I, too, have a BEST best friend, Rachel. We started to get to know each other at her brother's 16th birthday party. She was 12 and I was 14. When she had her 13th birthday, she was allowed to take a friend to NYC to see a Broadway show. She chose me and we went to NYC with her dad to see "A Chorus Line". I loved taking the train from Lancaster to NYC, eating at NYC restaurants, and staying in a nice hotel. Her dad is always very thoughtful; when he took her shopping for a birthday gift, he let me pick something out, too. I got a pink "GUESS" sweatshirt. We've been close ever since, though there were a few years we lost touch because we didn't have email and texting. Many of the great times in my life have happened with or because of Rachel. I left her a message once, upset about something, and she returned my call. I hadn't known she was in England, but right in the middle of her trip she took the time to call me back--and she listened without rushing me, even though it was costing her a mint. Another time, she talked with me until the sun came up. Now THAT's a friend! She's just so fun to hang out with, she is smart, funny (I LOVE funny people), never disrespects other people, she's very thoughtful, generous, listens, knows what to say and when, etc. etc. I could go on.
22. I think I can take constructive criticism. Not mean or rude comments intended to hurt, but true constructive criticism. I like to improve myself and sometimes others see things I can't see. Even if it doesn't seem like I'm listening, I do hear it. (don't all start criticizing me, now! I said CONSTRUCTIVE criticism!)
23. I love that I can play the piano. It's a feeling I could never describe to sit and play a really awesome song! And if I play for an audience and know I nailed the song, I know it has an affect on some people the way it affects me when others play. Not all the time, not every time, not every person, but once in a while. It's a cool feeling.
24. I wish I could sing.
25. I wish I could dance.
26. I wish I were a pilot.
27. I wish we were independently wealthy so my husband could be home all the time. He's so burned out working and commuting, and I miss him all day. If we had just enough to cover the basics, I'd be happy. I want him around. And I want him to be free to do things he really wants to do, like volunteer for a Habitat for Humanity project and exercise like crazy. He also cleans the house like a maniac. I could handle more of this! I'm not interested in mansions, fancy cars, or things like that, I just want my husband around and want him to have a freaking break!
28. I get way too excited when I know the answer to a question. I even like to help my kids with their homework because I get excited about knowing that stuff, too. Sad, isn't it? Hey, it's not just me. We all watch tv game shows because we like to answer the questions, solve the puzzles, etc. before the contestants. We're not that happy to watch others win, we watch because we know we could have done it better and faster!
29. I share some things pretty well; with other things I'm VERY territorial. I don't always know what those things are until I have to share them...
30. I think teenagers are great. I don't think you'll ever hear me complaining about the "young kids today"...I think they reflect the failings of the generation before them, which is getting worse all the time in some ways, better in others...but it's not THEM. I like their energy and their fresh outlook. The ones who are REALLY annoying or even dangerous were GROWN that way. But overall, I think we need to be positive about the "young kids today".

That was 10 more!

31. I have a hard time believing we can choose to be happy or choose to be unhappy. Randy Pausch, Carnegie Mellon professor who died from Pancreatic Cancer and wrote "The Last Lecture", said "you choose to be a Tigger or an Eeyore." I've only ever heard "Tiggers" say this! Maybe it's true? I'm trying...I think you can choose how you handle things, that is different.
32. I love sitting around a fire. Campfire, fireplace, it's all the same. It puts me into a trance.
33. I love burned marshmallows; the blacker the better.
34. I like happy endings. In life would be awesome, but in movies and books, too. Come on, how hard is it to write a happy ending when you're the author? I ask ya...
35. I like to be entertained. Again, I don't think this is news.
36. I love all my friends from growing up and feel the most like myself when I visit them or even think about them. If you're out there, I love ya! You know who you are!
37. I'm a Gemini. I think this means nothing at all. It's just a fact. It has been said, though, that Gemini, or the twin, can see more than one side to things. Interestingly enough, I think I do. Many psychologists are also Gemini's, or vice versa, however you look at it. And what did I major in??? Psychology! I still think there's nothing to astrology.
38. I am extremely lucky because my husband has studied reflexology and will give my feet and hands a really good reflexology treatment while we watch tv. Seriously, this is heaven. The man did the Ironman, all 140.6 miles of it, and when we came home he gave MY feet and legs a treatment because I was tired from walking around for 6 hours to see him finish! Who is this angel?
39. I love the smell of food cooking--and especially something baking.
40. I love 3 seasons of the year; fall, spring, and summer. I was born in June and have blonde hair and green eyes, these things scream summer to me. Maybe it's why I love Phoenix, there's no real winter, only fall, spring and summer. I think I miss snow, but I'll bet I really don't.

10 to go! Is this really interesting to anyone? You probably need a potty break by now.

41. I love hot chocolate.
42. I have some great kids. They are kids and I'm an adult; those two go together like oil and water sometimes, but I do have great kids.
43. I watch entirely too much tv. I offer no excuses and make no apologies. I watch decent things, I hate smut. Through tv I've travelled around the world, learned survival-tips in case I'm ever lost in Africa, this will come in handy. I've had many good laughs, watched other people's home movies, and more. It's my connection to the outside world and my way of decompressing. The tv is even on when I'm at home alone all day. It's on when I'm not in the room. Like I said...entirely too much.
44. I have sleep hallucinations; I start to "dream" while I'm still awake but trying to fall asleep. They can be very scary because they are a mix of reality and dreaming. My doctor told me this many years ago and I thought he was making it up. Then I studied a chapter on sleep in my neurological psychology class and it's a real thing. Scary things burst through my windows or doors...falling asleep with the tv on helps. When I use a timer to turn the tv off, I wake up when it turns off and wind up turning it back on anyway...so it's on all night. I'm a lousy sleeper in general, but having sleep hallucinations shoots me with adrenelin and I don't sleep well the entire night! So having the tv on is a medicine for me. Fortunately, my husband likes to sleep with it on, too.
45. I love thoughtful gifts. I'm ALWAYS very grateful for any gift I receive. When they're really nice gifts, I feel a bit guilty for receiving it. I have a bit of an issue with feeling worthy to have nice things. I'm working on that.
46. I don't like shopping. I know this goes against my female genetic code, but I just don't. I would be a clothes horse if I had a decent body, I'll tell you that, though.
47. I believe in life after death. This is not just because I want to believe it, it's because of experiences I've had. I'm not particularly scared to die; just scared of HOW. Because when you know this life isn't the end, dying is a transition. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of death...many people I love have died and it really sucks.
48. I like to read. I read a lot of books, and it doesn't scare me when they're really big. Of course, the tv is on while I read. Like I said, too much tv.
49. When I don't want to do something, I have a really hard time saying no, but try to find ways to get out of doing it. I am trying to improve this, but may struggle with this one until I'm 100 years old. Then, of course, my age will be the perfect excuse...
50. Aaaaaah, last one. I'm at a loss, though. Sorry folks!

Ok, wait...I think 10 years ago this would have been difficult to impossible for me to fill out. I didn't know myself very well and was overwhelmed beyond belief by daily life. But now, I can do it! It was difficult, but here it is. For better or worse, I think I'm getting to know myself. I am a work in progress!

YOUR TURN!

Is it just me?

Ok, so I watched the debate last night. While I'm not the biggest John McCain fan, I certainly want him to be our President over Barack Obama. When asked about his associations, Obama skirted the issue every time. He named some very respected names when talking about who he gets his philosophies from. (Did you notice he kept looking down to read the names from his notes? If they were so influential, why would he have to read them?) One MIGHT believe him...if they hadn't read his books. In his 3 books, 2 of which I've read, he names the very people John McCain was referring to as his mentors, friends, associates, respected colleagues, and people who have been most influential in his life!!! His own books! So how is it that people are so fooled by this man? My thinking is this. John McCain needs to be our President for, if nothing else, these 2 reasons:

1. nobody becomes President without some serious financial backing. Once President, they then have favors to give. Barack Obama will owe favors to some very dangerous people and he will use our country's resources to pay them back...and that's a best-case scenario. Even if Obama has the best of intentions (who knows?), he will owe HUGE favors he won't be able to deny.

2. whether the President is Republican or Democrat, we can't have Congress and the President be from the same party. Too many bad things are passed when that happens, where are the checks and balances then?? President Bush has been seriously ineffective over the past 2 years because Congress has had a Democratic majority...not because he hasn't tried to do good things.

Of course there are MANY other reasons, not the least of which is that John McCain has served our country in the most personal of ways...but that's right, we are the American voters who voted TWICE to put Bill Clinton in office when he admittedly ran to Canada rather than be drafted into military service...is it just me, or are we in trouble?? (By the way, was anyone fooled by Obama's wearing of the American flag pin last night? Geesh, he might as well have stood up and pledged the flag in front of everyone, too...if he could remember the words.) I really hate politics, I really do. Why, oh why didn't we pick my man Mitt?

As far as the school goes, Austin did tell me they offered him granola bars as he sat and watched the clock tick away in the office all day. Their story was they are sorry they missed calling us, they were dealing with 34 other students in the same situation. Austin said there were only 4 kids in the office with him...hmmmmmm, curious...anyway, these are the times I wish he would stand up for himself and ask to call me. I wonder if he thought I was ignoring their phone calls or if I refused to come get him? Poor little guy! Then, after that all day, he got to get 2 shots! It wasn't his best day ever. I'm happy to report he has fully recovered. Report cards came out and except for Jeremy's AP biology grade, we have all A's and B's. Good job, boys!

P90X

I have a friend who is letting me borrow her Power 90 Extreme workout discs. She warned me that the workouts really kick your butt...she wasn't kidding. I just did the first workout, the "Core Synergistics" that is a core workout, but really uses your whole body from head to toe. I may not be able to move tomorrow...it was seriously the toughest workout I've ever done. I don't think today was the hard part, I think either tomorrow or the next day will be the hardest to push myself through, but I'm determined to do this 90 day program. Further, they have a couple different programs and I'm starting with the "P90 Lean" program this is more geared toward fat burning. (Those of you who know and love me know I need this!) You do push ups in many different ways (as if normal ones aren't hard enough), chin-ups (I can't even do 1!) and other things that are just not human. But I will fill you in on my progress as I go through these. One thing for sure...I will sleep tonight! I think this program should be called "the natural cure for insomnia".

Austin was pulled out of classes today for not having his booster shots done for 6th grade. They also didn't let him go to lunch. He sat in the health office ALL DAY. If they'd let me know about this, I would have done it. If they'd called me, I would have picked him up and taken him (and FED THE CHILD.) Did we not have all summer to prepare? Did they not have my cell phone number, home phone number, email address, Ken's work number, Ken's cell number, and our home address?? YES! So tonight on top of everything we have going on, I have to run him to Walgreen's to get his shots...good luck Austin!

Hmmm...

What's with me lately? I'm having a horrible time sleeping, and also have seemed to run out of things to say! After a solid month, at least, of almost constant visiting, lunching, traveling, and talking, I'm talked out. I'm still having the best time reading your blogs! Keep them coming!

The old man that lived in a shoe...

Ok, so there really is a shoe house in Pennsylvania. It's now an ice cream shop. I lived in York for a total of 25 years and I've never once been inside this place~ I hear the rooms are really small. Wait...they sell ice cream and I haven't been there?! Maybe it's all that's going on in the world, but I am homesick for my childhood hometown. I don't really want to move back there, just miss so many things about it. I joined a group on Facebook called "I grew up in York in the 70s and 80s" and it's so funny reading the comments and things people remember.

So who's feeling nostalgic and sentimental lately?


This is typical Pennsylvania in the fall, so pretty! (Talk to me in February, though...)

In memory...

Today marks the 3rd anniversary of the passing of Ken's dad, Heinz Hosch. He was born in Michelstadt, Germany, a beautiful town in the Odenwald area of Germany. He came to the U.S. in 1957 (forgive me if any details aren't correct) and met and married Ken's mom, Susan, while at BYU. He was a college professor at York College of Pennsylvania. He had a lot of personal interests, like an avid love of nature, gardening, writing to pen pals, traveling, stamp-collecting, photography, running, and more. He was a good story-teller, too. While at BYU, he actually played a part in developing a BYU soccer team, and took a class in which he had to design a home. He later built that very home in York and he and Susan raised their children there. It was the kind of home where kids felt welcome and gathered there for big-foot pancakes (with chocolate chips), went swimming, and had some great sleep-overs (myself included). He is missed...

Lunching again...

Well, I went to lunch today. As I said several blogs ago, I am very good at this, if it were a profession, I would be an expert in the field. I love everything about going to lunch...especially the company. Today was no exception, I always have a good time with my friends and go away feeling very lucky to know the people I know. My time of being free to lunch is coming to a close very quickly as I will be working very soon. The job interview I mentioned in my blog on October 2 (Calling all parents...) went pretty well and I was offered the job. This morning, I accepted the offer. I'm really excited about it! I will be a research assistant at the Cognitive Engineering Research Institute (CERI) on ASU's East campus. That's only 2 miles from where we live, so no nasty commute. When I looked at the pros and cons, the pros won by quite a bit. I sure hope I'm as excited after I get into it, but I feel really good about it.

For those of you who don't live in the Phoenix area, it's been really nice out. While the rest of the country is dreading the coming of winter, we are looking forward to it. Winter is why we live here!

Nothing at all...

Today I have nothing at all to say. While this may seem a bit uneventful and even boring, it doesn't happen often, so I deem it a little newsworthy. I've been so chatty lately, as those of you know who have received long emails or have had one of the famous long lunches! I'm busy today scanning hundreds of pictures into my computer. I've included some examples...with pictures like these, how could I not scan them and share them?



Why is it that we often don't see what we have at the time? I'm sure that at the time this picture was taken, I was frustrated by being "stuck" at home with four small boys in a small house (I'd love that small mortgage back!) and no car to use during the day. I should have appreciated the kids and the stages they were in. If I'd only known then what I know now!

Our poor doggie

Ok, so Ken decided it was time to shave Zoe completely, head to toe. She got matted pretty badly while I was away and there was nobody to take the time to comb her out. After he shaved her down, we noticed just how bad her nails were. They were so long they were curling and even growing crooked. Her "toes" were splayed out funny to accomodate the length of her nails, and 2 were so long they were curling under her pads and pushing into them. There's no way she hasn't been in pain! I've taken her to PetSmart because it grosses me out to think I might cut her quick when I cut her nails. They have barely been cutting anything off because her quick is so hard to see, but now I'm sad because there's no way she hasn't been in a lot of pain. I ordered a Peticure last week and it's on its way. It will round off her nails and will also eventually reduce the length of the quick so her nails can be shorter and shorter. Perhaps this pain has been her problem!!!! She has the skinniest legs I've ever seen, I'll try to get a picture and download it, she looks like a rat. We also brushed her teeth. I swear she feels better already. Who wouldn't, after a full day of spa pampering?

No, I'm not one of those people who thinks their dog is a person. I have four kids, not five. I don't dress her up and take her everywhere with me. I just feel like she's in my care and depends on me/us for everything, and we need to do a good job for her sake. I think it says a lot about people how they take care of something/someone helpless in their care. We have two parakeets and one a long time ago jumped off my shoulder and hit the hard tile floor. (With his wings clipped he couldn't fly, or even "fall with style".) He broke his leg and split the skin open on his chest. We took him to the vet, who x-rayed his leg, gave him an antibiotic, and stitched his chest closed. The vet also put a small cast on the bird's leg. This cost over $140. Keep in mind that parakeets cost about $20...and they all look alike! But we just had to take care of him, it was our responsibility. In this picture you can see the "cast" and a little of the stitches on his little chest. His name is Sam and he is still with us. We've decided he needs to live at least 20 more years after what we paid to have him fixed up!

Grrrrrrrr...

...ok, now I'm REALLY ticked. Jeremy had a Homecoming dance tonight and went with a group of friends on a party bus. (Ok, a group of girls, we all know it's true.) We dropped him off at the rendevous point and at midnight were to pick him up at the same place. Around 10 to midnight I went to leave to pick him and up and saw Zoe was still awake. I asked her if she wanted to go bye-bye and she trotted out of the house into the garage right behind me. As I went to lift her into the car (she acts helpless at the car-I know she can jump several feet up and my car is maybe 1 1/2 feet off the ground) and she started to pee again! She managed to get a small puddle on the garage floor, on the side of the car, on both front seats, the center console, and my purse! UGH. If she doesn't have a bladder infection she is in SO MUCH TROUBLE! Freaking dog! My sheepskin seat covers are now in the trash and I was 20 minutes late getting Jeremy, who was "afraid" he was going to have to join the girls' slumber party because he thought we all fell asleep. Lucky for him we were just running behind!

I hope the vet can see Zoe MONDAY! No more peeing!!! Can this really still be because I went away??? Well, she is a girl, maybe she holds a grudge for a good long time? I've read dogs have a memory of 30 seconds. Umm, she must be exceptional.

My parents over the years

SEE SLIDE AT THE BOTTOM OF MY BLOG PAGE


I love pictures, I can't get enough! These are pictures of my parents over the years, wish I had more! During my recent visit back to PA, a long-time friend of my parents recognized me because I look like my dad...I do, don't you think? And my mother looks like Grace Kelly in her graduation photo!

Blogaholics anonymous...

Ok, so I've been writing posts, creating my blog page, making slide shows for the page, etc. for a few days now...and doing little else. I haven't been devouring entire books a day at a time because of this. I've skipped meals, workouts, and tv shows, as well. I may need a group to help me with this. Is there a blogaholics anonymous out there? I blame my best friend, Rachel, for telling me this is fun, for getting me to try it. I blame Mendy for having such fun posts I feel through reading her blogs I can catch up with her life over the past many years and visit with her a bit each day. I blame Amber for having her blog address listed on her Facebook page, which led me to her blog, which led me to Mendy's blog. That leads us back to Rachel, who told me Facebook was fun, I should give it a try.

Rachel is a technology pusher. She is the very reason we got a home computer 15 years ago...so I could email her regularly. Then she told me about IMing. That wasn't all bad, my typing improved 100%, I had to get fast to keep up with her. Last year we started texting on a regular basis (again, her suggestion) so that we could keep in touch when we were not sitting at a computer. I began texting a few times a day at the most. But then I just couldn't help myself...every time thought popped into my head, I had to text her. Every time I was out shopping and wanted someone to discuss my possible purchases with, I texted her. When I woke up in the mornings, I had to text and say good morning. Wouldn't want to be rude. (All that texting was driving me crazy on my antiquated cell phone --circa 2002-- so I just had to go get a cell phone with a qwerty keyboard. They're the only way to text!!) The texting led to a tighter friendship, a stronger bond. Though we're miles apart, we can talk like we're right next to each other. We have actually texted when we WERE right next to each other.

Through blogging and Facebook, I've gotten in touch with many friends from childhood separated by time and/or miles...and that has been great. I see so many good things about this, I will have to learn to live with this the way people live with food. You need SOME each day to survive, but it should be in moderate proportions, possibly spread out throughout the day so as to keep the "blog"sugar levels steady, thus reducing sudden, uncontrollable urges to binge-blog.

Ugh...

Zoe input...

Thank you to those who responded to my need for explanation of Zoe's peeing on Ken and in her kennel. When she pees I worry she's sick or something. Since her nose is cold and wet, her eyes are clear, and she's eating pretty normally (for her, anyway--she eats like a bird, which is not the Hosch way...) I think she's probably ok. We'll keep an eye on her but maybe this is just because she was home alone for 3 weeks, when normally someone has been around all day for months. Could this really just be her way of saying that she missed me? Birds, when they like you, throw up on you. I'm so glad humans can buy a Hallmark card to let you know how they feel!

Calling all parents...

Remember back in the day when we were the teens and did things our parents never found out about? Or did they?? Da da da...Well, here we are, the parents. Don't you wonder what your kids are doing that you don't know about? Or is the truth that we really don't want to know?! For me, at least, gone are the days when we know exactly where are kids are, who they are with, what they are doing, and when they will be back. I mean, we have a pretty good idea, but do we really know? Hmm...

By the way, I never did anything my parents don't know about. Seriously. At this point, I'd tell if I did.

The other night went well; the swim meet, concert, and softball games were a success. The boys had a great time. Ken and I took the opportunity to go out to dinner in the hour prior to the concert while the kids were all at their activities (either early for practice, or still there late) and had a good time. We went to Carabba's Italian Grill (mmm, worth it for the bread, olive oil, and herbs alone...) and got done just in time for me to make it to the concert. Thank you to Josh who gave me a Carabba's gift card for my birthday. I can't believe I waited this long to use it! We saw some friends there and had fun saying hi. Our friends were carrying "to go" boxes and said they just had to take food home to their kids, who also love Carabba's. To be honest, we haven't taken our kids there or had them taste the food because I can't imagine taking a family of 6...$$$.

I had a job interview yesterday for a research position at ASU. I'm so incredibly impressed with the professor running the research I'd be participating in. She is incredibly smart, down to earth, and easy to talk to. I'd be fortunate to work on this project, fortunate to work with her, and fortunate to get my foot in the door at ASU. We'll see how this pans out in the next few weeks.

Apparently, "going to lunch" is my present, part-time career. Tuesday I got to visit with a friend who had a birthday. She also had surgery on her foot and is trying hard to recover so she can resume her usual duties as everything to everyone, as many women are. Today I'm going to lunch with a very good friend of mine who I'm lucky to know. If practice makes perfect, then I'm an expert "luncher". To date, my longest "lunch" spanned just over 8 hours. Yes, 8. A neighbor of mine and I went to a really fun place nearby and sat and talked and talked and talked and talked. We were actually hungry when we left because we'd only had a drink and a muffin! After all that time sitting in a place that sells food, we had to get home to eat. Maybe I'm not as good at this as I think I am. I'm looking forward to lunch with another very good friend of mine, but that will be next week.

If you haven't caught on by now, this blog is more of a fun journaling experience for me, probably for many of you, too. But I love reading my friends' posts. It's like I get to visit with them each time they write something new. So keep them coming!