Ok, when you are going to have the flooring redone in your bedrooms, you have to take everything out. And when you live in a place that is only 950 sq ft. for 22 years, you have a lot of STUFF. Needless to say my house has been a wreck as I took everything out of the closet and off the floor and into the front of the house. Now that my floors are glorious, I have been forced to really look at all this stuff I have been storing and making decisions about keeping it or getting rid of it. The other good thing, is that now that I have a smoother surface on the floor, I can actually move the furniture around! So I have been reorganizing and dejunking and it had been so very nice. I have a lot of hobbies and each hobby has bunch of supplies, etc. But I have made several trips to Goodwill and Deseret Industries lately and I think it all good. It's amazing how you can store something for years and yet not miss it a bit when it's gone.
The only thing that makes me a little nervous is my holiday decorations. I have had a tub with decorations for each holiday, Halloween, Easter, etc. I really don't have the room to store all that, especially if I am doing food storage too. So I finally bit the bullet and decided that I could keep ONE tub for holidays and I had to pick what few things I wanted and put them in there and get rid of the rest. Hopefully it will all be good. I haven't tackled Christmas, but everything else is going to go tomorrow after my friend takes what she wants out of there. My front bedroom actually looks like a somewhat normal room for once! I haven't gotten my bike back in there yet, that will change things, but overall, it looks like a spare/office/laundry/hobby room instead of a wall to ceiling junk room.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Oprah and I
Ok, this is kind of funny. Some of you know that about 3 or so years ago, I ended up rescuing Dobbie, a minature pinscher from a puppy mill in North Carolina. The poor dog had lived in a cage for 6 years. He didn't know how to relate to humans. He was really skinny, only about 7 pounds. He was terrified of everything. He was used as a stud dog. He didn't make eye contact. He was afraid of his reflection in the metal garbage can. He didn't know what a toy was. He still doesn't really know how to play with toys, but he will snuggle with the stuffed toys in his bed.
Anyway, when they rescued the animals from the place where he was, there were over 500 dogs. They had to put down over 200 because they were in such bad shape. It was a small rural area and they couldn't accomodate all the rest of the animals. He was in a shelter there for awhile.
Minpin Haven, here in Phoenix, took some of them in to find them homes here. Part of the problem was that, until the case was settled, you could only be a foster parent. And while you were responsible for their medical care and all, you couldn't get them neutered or spay until after the court case was settled because they were evidence for the case. It took around 2 years. Meanwhile, this poor dog who had lived in a cage and was afraid of his shadow, was peeing all over my house. It was awful. And it was hard to discipline a dog with that many issues. Finally, I was able to get him neutered and it made a dramatic improvement. He still sometimes peed in my bedroom and of course that was the only place that I had carpet. It was awful.
I could never get it all the way out and it reeked. So. Just this week, I had the remaining carpet in my house ripped out and pergo put in like in the front of my house. It's wonderful. And he was terrified of the new floor and has been very good. While he has made a lot of progress, he will never be a "normal" dog. And he has gotten quite tubby. We are working on that.
So with all that going on, I got a call a couple of days ago from Pat Daigle who runs MinPin Haven. She asked how Dobbie was doing. I told her. Then she said that because the Woodley case was such a big and important animal rights case, there was a magazine that wanted to do a followup article about 3 of the families that adopted some of the dogs. She said they wanted to come and interview me and see Dobbie next Tuesday. I said I had to go to work. She asked if I could go in late to work. So we kind of worked through that. After we got that all figured out, she said, oh by the way, the magazine is Oprah! (O). How fun is that! I love that magazine and have a subscription.
So I am not quite sure what they will write about my fat dog that ruined my carpeting, but it should be in the June issue! I'll keep you posted.
Anyway, when they rescued the animals from the place where he was, there were over 500 dogs. They had to put down over 200 because they were in such bad shape. It was a small rural area and they couldn't accomodate all the rest of the animals. He was in a shelter there for awhile.
Minpin Haven, here in Phoenix, took some of them in to find them homes here. Part of the problem was that, until the case was settled, you could only be a foster parent. And while you were responsible for their medical care and all, you couldn't get them neutered or spay until after the court case was settled because they were evidence for the case. It took around 2 years. Meanwhile, this poor dog who had lived in a cage and was afraid of his shadow, was peeing all over my house. It was awful. And it was hard to discipline a dog with that many issues. Finally, I was able to get him neutered and it made a dramatic improvement. He still sometimes peed in my bedroom and of course that was the only place that I had carpet. It was awful.
I could never get it all the way out and it reeked. So. Just this week, I had the remaining carpet in my house ripped out and pergo put in like in the front of my house. It's wonderful. And he was terrified of the new floor and has been very good. While he has made a lot of progress, he will never be a "normal" dog. And he has gotten quite tubby. We are working on that.
So with all that going on, I got a call a couple of days ago from Pat Daigle who runs MinPin Haven. She asked how Dobbie was doing. I told her. Then she said that because the Woodley case was such a big and important animal rights case, there was a magazine that wanted to do a followup article about 3 of the families that adopted some of the dogs. She said they wanted to come and interview me and see Dobbie next Tuesday. I said I had to go to work. She asked if I could go in late to work. So we kind of worked through that. After we got that all figured out, she said, oh by the way, the magazine is Oprah! (O). How fun is that! I love that magazine and have a subscription.
So I am not quite sure what they will write about my fat dog that ruined my carpeting, but it should be in the June issue! I'll keep you posted.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Random posting
I haven't done very well keeping current postings up lately. Here is what I've been doing:
1. Reading! I like to read and I accepted the historical fiction reading challenge on Good Reads. I had to read 3 historical fiction books that take place prior to WWII by the end of March. I also need to read my book club selections. So I'm spending a little more time getting my reading done. I am enjoying it though. I've read 2 of my 3 books for the challenge. I have book club tomorrow and am just finishing the book club book tonight.
2. Church Work! As enrichment counselor in relief society, I've had a lot going on the last little while. We have a big service project going on and several classes and events related to that. It's keeping me pretty busy and will continue to do so for a while.
3. Working! I've started my new evening work schedule. I'm working 2pm to midnight. Because I'm working on the far west side, I have to get ready for work and leave significantly earlier than I used to. I seem to just have way less time on work days than I used to.
4. Canning! I seem to not be able to stop canning. I enjoy trying out the different recipes and seeing all the jars that I've filled add up. I've done meat, dill pickles, pickled beets, pickeled asparagus and pickeled green beans, lemon marmalade, blood orange marmalade, lemon honey jelly, etc. I can't eat most of it, but I do it anyway.
5. I'm getting my nasty carpet torn out of my bedrooms this week and am working trying to clear the rooms out so they can get in there. My place is so small, it's difficult to have anyplace to move things to. It will be so nice having the pergo throughout now. I can hardly wait.
6. Hiking- I don't get in as much as I would like, but I try as often as I can. I go with my friend, Cindy usually.
7. Dr's appt's- For a healthy person, I seem to have an awful lot of Dr.'s appt's. I go to the diet dr. every 2 weeks. I see my PCP monthly. I just went to the eye dr. and the GI to get the 50 year old colonoscopy done. Then there are dentists, endocrinologists, etc. But I"m actually in great shape! Almost at diet goal. I can hardly wait.
8. TV- I get a little tv watching fit in here and there. Two of my favorite shows just restarted, Survivor and the Amazing Race. I usually am crocheting while that is going on.
9. Social engagements- I have the occasional dinner, lunch or other engagement.
It's all good, but I don't seem to get to my blog very often. I will try to do better. I'm thinking I might have some interesting stories now that I am hanging out in emergency rooms so much!
1. Reading! I like to read and I accepted the historical fiction reading challenge on Good Reads. I had to read 3 historical fiction books that take place prior to WWII by the end of March. I also need to read my book club selections. So I'm spending a little more time getting my reading done. I am enjoying it though. I've read 2 of my 3 books for the challenge. I have book club tomorrow and am just finishing the book club book tonight.
2. Church Work! As enrichment counselor in relief society, I've had a lot going on the last little while. We have a big service project going on and several classes and events related to that. It's keeping me pretty busy and will continue to do so for a while.
3. Working! I've started my new evening work schedule. I'm working 2pm to midnight. Because I'm working on the far west side, I have to get ready for work and leave significantly earlier than I used to. I seem to just have way less time on work days than I used to.
4. Canning! I seem to not be able to stop canning. I enjoy trying out the different recipes and seeing all the jars that I've filled add up. I've done meat, dill pickles, pickled beets, pickeled asparagus and pickeled green beans, lemon marmalade, blood orange marmalade, lemon honey jelly, etc. I can't eat most of it, but I do it anyway.
5. I'm getting my nasty carpet torn out of my bedrooms this week and am working trying to clear the rooms out so they can get in there. My place is so small, it's difficult to have anyplace to move things to. It will be so nice having the pergo throughout now. I can hardly wait.
6. Hiking- I don't get in as much as I would like, but I try as often as I can. I go with my friend, Cindy usually.
7. Dr's appt's- For a healthy person, I seem to have an awful lot of Dr.'s appt's. I go to the diet dr. every 2 weeks. I see my PCP monthly. I just went to the eye dr. and the GI to get the 50 year old colonoscopy done. Then there are dentists, endocrinologists, etc. But I"m actually in great shape! Almost at diet goal. I can hardly wait.
8. TV- I get a little tv watching fit in here and there. Two of my favorite shows just restarted, Survivor and the Amazing Race. I usually am crocheting while that is going on.
9. Social engagements- I have the occasional dinner, lunch or other engagement.
It's all good, but I don't seem to get to my blog very often. I will try to do better. I'm thinking I might have some interesting stories now that I am hanging out in emergency rooms so much!
Sunday, January 18, 2009
The Diet and Progress
I have finally lost enough weight that I have started counted down the other way. When people ask me how I'm doing, I've always told them how much I've lost. In just the last couple of days, I've been telling them how much I have left to lose. It seems significant to me, if not to anyone else. I've lost 153lb and have only 35 left to lose. It is amazing to me. And I am feeling so thin. A couple of people have thought I was already at goal. That's great! And I can really believe that I can reach the goal Dr. Fountis set for me now. It took me a while to believe it. It's all good! It probably will still take at least a couple of months, but that's not that far off after almost a year of doine this. I really like the new me and what I can do. I was just thinking the other day that I need to start thinking about things I want to do, that I wouldn't do before. I would like to take some dance lessons. But I don't really want to go alone. Anyone want to go dancing?
Things I've done
Ok, I got this from Cynthia and Lezlee. I copy this whole list and then bold the things on the list that I've done. I thought it would be fun! Here goes:
1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar or escargot
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Been to a foreign country
Some of them may be a little bit of a stretch. The "book" I published was a genology book that I wrote about some of my family. I self published at Kinkos and sold it to extended family at cost. Kind of fun to look at the list though.
1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar or escargot
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Been to a foreign country
Some of them may be a little bit of a stretch. The "book" I published was a genology book that I wrote about some of my family. I self published at Kinkos and sold it to extended family at cost. Kind of fun to look at the list though.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
The big five OH!!
This year I turned the big five Oh!! I can hardly believe it. I had lots of friends to support me through the whole thing and had quite a good time. Penny, Mark and Cecelia threw me a really nice party and I enjoyed seeing lots of friends there. I don't have pics to publish from that yet, but it was really nice, dinner, visiting, pink roses, cake.
I managed to fit it enough things to kind of have a birthday week. The night before my birthday, I caught my friend Kathleen decorating my parking space. I am glad I caught her. It was fun to say thanks for thinking of me.
On New Year's Eve, 8 of us went out to celebrate both Birthday and the New Year. I do have a few pics of that!
Thanks everybody for all your love, support a
nd fun!
nd fun!
The BIG Hike
Yikes! I have been really delinquent in getting to my blog. I hope I can get a few posts up to make up for it.
First, a few of us had been plotting to take the 100 trail through the Phoenix Mountain Preserve for a while. I guess I was in denial or something, but when Cynthia and I first talked about it, I thought she said it was 7 miles. Then I heard 10. It ended up being 11. I was the slowest of the four of us. (Penny, Cynthia, Melanie and I) At first, I was doing so bad, but as the day progressed and I got more tired and sore, I seemed to lag farther and farther behind. Penny wasn't doing too bad, but she was wearing a new pair of shoes and when we reached her car at the 9.5 mile mark, had to drop out due to blisters. Melanie was way out in front like any rocking 14 year old would be, but somehow she was the one most effected by the sun. She got a little dizzy and wasn't feeling so good. Cynthia was just the rock of consistency that she always is and hiked easily through the whole thing. We figure we had about 5 hours and 40 minutes of actual hiking time. We took one morning break and a lunch break. It was a cool day and yet I was hot by afternoon. That convinced me that I am going to have to pretty early when it just gets a little warmer.
I am just glad I met my goal of finishing. I don't think it's a distance that I feel a need to do very often!
I am just glad I met my goal of finishing. I don't think it's a distance that I feel a need to do very often!
The photos to prove we did it! The top photo is when we started. It's Cynthia, Melanie and Penny.
This one shows that I went too!Here is our morning break. We still look pretty good.
Some of our yummy picnic.
Some of our yummy picnic.
iss Melanie at lunch.And Penny without a hair out of place, but leaning a little to take the weight off of her blisters!
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