Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from the pirate and Tinkerbell!

Hope you stay safe and eat lots of candy!!

New puppy

Meet Durango!

My Dad decided out house just wasn't a house without a Golden Retriever in it so last weekend they headed out to a breeder in Illinois and brought this lucky little guy home.

He is adorable!

The story on how they picked him was once at the breeders (which had goldens, labs and one other dog) the two goldens came up but this little fellow was the one who followed Dad and when Dad sat down to pet him, he went straight into Dad's lap and took a little snooze.  That's how Dad knew he was the one.

He is 2 months old and is very tame, quiet and quite lovable!

His name comes from one of our favorite activities in Colorado, the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

I can't wait to see just how big he's going to get!

Book Club Friday

This week I'm sharing with you

Goodreads description:

In the summer of 1991 I was a normal kid. I did normal things. I had friends and a mother who loved me. I was just like you. Until the day my life was stolen.   For eighteen years I was a prisoner. I was an object for someone to use and abuse.   For eighteen years I was not allowed to speak my own name. I became a mother and was forced to be a sister. For eighteen years I survived an impossible situation.  On August 26, 2009, I took my name back. My name is Jaycee Lee Dugard. I don’t think of myself as a victim. I survived.  A Stolen Life is my story—in my own words, in my own way, exactly as I remember it.

My review:

This book was good.  Its set in a diary tone, simply because Jaycee is reflecting and telling it almost day by day.  It is graphic at some parts and might make you uncomfortable but it gives you a glimpse into the life of a someone who was stolen.  I felt like I had read it before, which I hadn't since it was just published last year so it might have been because of all the stories written about her.  

I liked this book and gave it 3 stars.

What are you reading this week?

It's OK Thursday

It's OK

...to be tired and just want to be lazy all day

...to want to smack a certain 27 yr old person who is supposed to be a manager (lord help us all) in the head ask say, "really?"

...to laugh when hubby gave me the look of death when I made him do some things to help me out before he left for work.

...to not want to be my husband's calendar - dude pay attention to our combined gmail calendar please!!

...to be uber excited to see my mini me, aka my almost 4 year old niece this weekend

...to start the Christmas present shopping

...to be frustrated because I have no place to put said presents until I put a tree up and I will not do that until Thanksgiving weekend.

...to wish it were the end of January because I'll be here:

...to not have a lot to blog about this week because I didn't want my readers to think all I was doing was complaining.

...to have a lot to learn still about blogging.

What are you OK with this week?

Book Club Friday

I am soo happy that I reached my goal of reading my 2 books this week.  I know I know what a small goal but because I've been very busy this was kind of hard to accomplish but I did.

The book I'm reviewing this week is:

Goodreads says:

Marian Caldwell is a thirty-six year old television producer, living her dream in New York City. With a fulfilling career and satisfying relationship, she has convinced everyone, including herself, that her life is just as she wants it to be. But one night, Marian answers a knock on the door . . . only to find Kirby Rose, an eighteen-year-old girl with a key to a past that Marian thought she had sealed off forever. From the moment Kirby appears on her doorstep, Marian’s perfectly constructed world—and her very identity—will be shaken to its core, resurrecting ghosts and memories of a passionate young love affair that threaten everything that has come to define her.

 

For the precocious and determined Kirby, the encounter will spur a process of discovery that ushers her across the threshold of adulthood, forcing her to re-evaluate her family and future in a wise and bittersweet light. As the two women embark on a journey to find the one thing missing in their lives, each will come to recognize that where we belong is often where we least expect to find ourselves—a place that we may have willed ourselves to forget, but that the heart remembers forever.

My thoughts:

I loved this book!  I loved everything about it, especially that it was set in St. Louis where I live.  I am very familiar with everything that was named in the book in terms of this area.  This book truly shows you how two worlds can combine and become one for those who work to make it happen.

What are you reading this week?

Fall TV lineup

Everyone has been posting something like this so its only due time that I do it.

Unfortunately my DVR is broken, boo, so I have a lot of catching up to do.  But I'm doing pretty good with keeping up so we shall see.

But my picks for the fall:

Sunday


Monday
  

Tuesday
 

Wednesday
 

Thursday
 
 

Friday


I'm also a fan of:
 


So needless to say I don't get to see every show but I do my best - and if my DVR was working it be better but until then, Hulu it is!

So what are you a fan of?

Friend or frenemy

Last school year, there were 5 teacher assistants at the school I worked at.

One for math enrichment, one for gifted enrichment, two for kindergarten (including me), and two moms who each came in for half a day.

I became acquaintances with the two moms, really good friends with the other KDG TA and the Math TA and I guess an enemy with the gifted one...

...all because I was apparently stealing her interviews!

"A" was fresh out of college and this assistant job was her first job in the schools.  She would literally tell you that it was a waste of her time, she needed to be in a classroom and she really didn't know what she would do next year if she wasn't given a classroom.  She lives out here by me so we traveled the same distance yet she would complain on a daily basis about how bad the drive was (she opted for the bumper to bumper highway traffic while I smooth sailed on the backroads, usually beating her to work).  She was always on her cell phone, texting, on pinterest, etc and she would answer it with kiddos in the classroom.  She became buddy buddy with one of the secretaries who always covered her butt in situations and every time I'd go somewhere, I'd see her chatting in the office and it made you wonder what exactly she was teaching if she wasn't in the classroom.  She took a lot of days off just because and would get mad when they'd pull her to be a sub because she felt her position was the most important in the school (she would tell people this).

I had kept it on the down low that I was interviewing for classroom positions but A would constantly broadcast it to the world.  I planned mine for after school where as she'd leave school early or take the entire day off to go interview.  She'd come back and boast how she was told the job was pretty much hers and get herself all worked up that she got the job that when she found out she didn't, she'd be severely depressed for the next few days.  There were a few times she'd find out I'd interview at schools she hadn't gotten one for and ask me 24 questions about it, as if she was going to call and try to get one.  She would say that she hadn't gotten a call from them, and maybe she would that day.

Her dad had been diagnosed with lung cancer last year, a result of his too many years of smoking and the doctors hadn't had much of a positive outlook.  Being a cancer widow child of my mom's passing, I told her my family's story and listened to her and helped her the best I could.

She was also going through issues with her then boyfriend.  They had been on and off again for numerous years through high school and college and he was playing with her heart again.  She would talk about guys the way she did with a classroom, how she was very deserving of one and any guy would be lucky to have her and she could always take her pick with guys (which wasn't true).

Its times like those you just nod your head.

By the close of the school year, I had found out that I wouldn't be returning to my same position and A hadn't been offered a classroom.  This past summer I'd get random texts from her, telling me her interviewing status and her telling me that she'd get a job because she's awesome.  I never really texted her back just because I didn't have anything positive on my end in terms of jobs but I would say, "congrats" or something along those lines.

Then, before I knew it, we were no longer friends.  She took me off of Facebook and I found out from another friend at that school that she changed her number and didn't tell me.  No clue, made me wonder why but I never emailed her to question it.

But then I found out.

I logged into my school email (yes I still get email from that school for some reason) randomly one day and saw an email stating that so-and-so would be taking over A's duties at the school.  It made me wonder if she had gotten a last minute teaching job and sure enough she got hired the Friday before Labor Day to start that Tuesday after for a district that needed a KDG teacher because of number overflows for this year only.

Then, I find out at Girls Night, that she's the new teacher of one of my bestie's niece.  Talk about a small world.

Shortly after that, unfortunately, I found out her dad did not overcome his lung cancer and passed away a few weeks ago.  Having been in her situation, I sent her a Facebook message, giving her my condolences and telling her that I truly know what's she's going through so if she needed to talk, she knows she can contact me.  I wished her well with her new job, and told her she's teaching my friend's niece and overall just sent her good vibes.

Didn't hear a word back.

Maybe I'm wrong for thinking that I would have gotten something back, esp her wanting to know which kid she was teaching I knew (unless she already knows).  I would have at least sent something back but maybe that's just the person I am.  Maybe she's just majorly depressed and nothing is helping her.  I know my friend's sister made a comment that her daughter is bored in the classroom and she doesn't seem to be pulling out the extra activities to push those who are advanced so I hope its not affecting her work, because she allowed it to last year big time.

I don't think I'll ever know the answer to this mystery.

Whatever your reasons, A, know that I never had anything against you but apparently it seems you had something against me.  I wish you well in all your future endeavors and I hope that everything you deem great for yourself happens.

...and that's the pouring of my heart

1 picture

For the last day of this 10 Day You Challenge, we are supposed to pick one picture that represents us.  However I am going to break that rule and share the following:

I didn't see this picture until the next day on our way to our mini honeymoon but Ellen captured Keith giving two thumbs up before the wedding.  It still makes my heart smile because that's all I needed to see to know that he was ready for the next chapter of our life.

and the main one for today...

On July 29, 2011

I married my best friend.

The one I laugh with,

Live for,

Dream with,

Love.

We have been through a lot in our relationship, a lot of ups and downs, but they say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.  I'm a firm believer in that.

I hope you enjoyed this challenge and got to know me a bit more :)

This Bud's for You!

One of the best things about St. Louis is a lot of the hometown stuff there is to do around here.

One of our favorite stops on occasion is the Anheuser Busch Brewery.  We hadn't been since In-Bev took over back in 2008 so we were due to see if they had changed anything.

Luckily they have not!

I love the beginning of the tour where they introduce the Clydesdale horses to you and tell you how much food they eat and how much beer they drink a day ;)  I am not a horse fan but I love love love the Clydesdales.  There is just something about the majestic creature that has been a St. Louis staple for as long as I have been living.  I would love to own one someday:

I know I know I'm dreaming!

(but I do own stock in the company so that has to account for something, right?)

At the end of the tour you get a visit to the hospitality area where you can choose from their vast variety of products that are brewed there.  I'm very happy that they started marketing their Lime-A-Rita because that was my drink of choice:

And if you're interested in seeing the mighty Clydesdales in action:

Cheers!

31 while 31

Now that my birthday has come and gone, I thought I'd follow suit of everyone else and post a list of goals for the year.  Now I know many of these may not get accomplished BUT I know I can try!

31 things while 31

1)  Go to the Lake of the Ozarks

Hands down, I love the Lake.  There's just something about it.  Last time I went was for my bachelorette party in 2011.

2)  Apply for my first passport

I'm hoping to country hop soon so this is a necessity

3)  Travel out of the country

This very well could be happening in July if the price is right.  However its looking more to be another summer with a better deal.  We'll see.

4)  Read half of the books on my goodreads list

This could get hard - esp since I'm adding books to it daily!

5)  Scrapbook our Memphis and Disney trips

I just need a day and this is all I do and I know Memphis would be done.  Disney is going to take longer.

6)  Go camping

For some reason summer just got busy and this didn't happen in 2012 but I'm definitely aiming for 2013.

7)  Try something new or do something I haven't done in a long time

I'm thinking ziplining...haven't done that in a LONG time and hubby keeps talking about it

8)  Take hubby skiing for the first time

He keeps mentioning this and it might happen over going to Mexico this summer because nothing says winter like a Colorado winter!

9)  Buy a new car

This will be happening soon, just not sure of the year yet.  I'm not outright going to buy one, but green honda is getting up there so we'll see when it happens.  I'm hoping not for a few years.

10)  Lose some pounds and maintain

I think this will be forever on a list as a woman gets older

11)  See a show at the Fox

I go to the Muny every summer but I have not been to the Fox in ages so I'm hoping to see Wicked this winter or one that might be a Disney next year.

12)  Run/walk in some run that will be in St. Louis this year

I'm aiming for Color Run - who's with me?

13)  Go to a Rams game

I have not been since 2003 and since I go to the other STL team games, I might as well go to another Rams

14)  Clean the house once a month

Hubby and I slack on this a lot so my goal is to pick a day and just get 'er done!

15)  Get my own classroom again

I hope I'm being pro-active in my steps of doing this and this will become reality

16)  Clean out my friends list on facebook

You know, that girl who friended you because she wanted to date your hubby's friend - yeah, those people, I need to update and delete people like that.

17)  Visit Hermann, MO

Have never been to this wine part of Missouri so I'm hoping, wishing and praying.

18)  Go to an adults only Halloween party

Lemp Mansion throws a huge party yearly and we're thinking about it.

19)  Ring in 2013 in style!

Last year we rang in 2013 at a party at a restaurant and I'm hoping to do the same again this year.

20)  Buy something just because

I need to do this because life is short!

21)  Own a designer purse

Coach maybe?

22)  Repaint a room in my condo

I don't see us moving too soon so I think some of this condo needs touch ups

23)  Visit a new home community just to see the show house

I use to do this with back when, it was fun just to get ideas.  Maybe the ideas will turn into something more.

24)  Buy a pair of heels

By this I mean a good pair of heels, sexy heels to go out in.  I honestly don't own a good pair anymore.  My shoe collection needs major updating.

25)  Combine all accounts

We are getting to this slowly but surely!

26)  Attend a cooking class

I always hear about this gourmet classes you can take, and I'd like to take one to see what its about and what new things I can come up with.

27)  Have a spa day

I need some major pampering!

28)  Make homemade bread...from scratch

I have a breadmaker and don't use it enough...and I want to branch out.

29)  Attend my workout classes but in the morning

With my new schedule I cannot attend any night time classes at the gym HOWEVER they have the same ones in the morning so I just got to get my butt moving.

30)  Eat a cupcake from Jilly's Cupcake bar or The Cup

STL has some great gourmet places, gotta try them

31)  Make myself happy before everyone else.

This is a biggie.  I tend to put everyone's needs and happiness before mine and that just needs to change.

I will try to highlight these through the year when the goals are reached.  Let's see if I can at least do half - what do you think?