My Digital Studio

OMG. This software is so much fun!! I haven't made any cards yet, but I have been making postcards and scrapbook layout pages.

Two new cards

I made this card for my sister for her birthday. It's the Happy Moments set, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Certainly Celery patterned, and the Cupcakes wheel stamp.

This is for my cousin, Amy, who is recovering from breast cancer surgery. It's Certainly Celery, Old Olive, and Certainly Celery patterned paper, and a two step Heartfelt Thanks stamp.

Wow, took a couple months off apparently!

Happy New Year!!

I am trying to decide if I want to do any resolutions this year or just skip pretending to make a change and just be me.

I think I will just be me.

In fact, my resolution is to be the best me I can possible be!!

I also resolve to wag more and bark less. Wait, that's Millie.... never mind!!

Surviving!!

I survived my move and am 98% unpacked.
I survived my cold which made my move a living hell.
I survived my trip to Portland.
Heck, I even survived coming home.
I survived finding out the condo closing has been delayed.

Now I am working on...

surviving the holidays
surviving adopting a new dog
surviving two of my employees applying to be agent
surviving unpacking that last 2%

For everything that you do, Phillip, we salute you

Service to self, service to country

Growing up in a military and strong civic minded family, it was always stressed to us how important service to ourselves and service to our country was. As a result, I have always strongly believed in volunteering my time, my words, and my money to important causes, even if I am the only one who finds that cause to be important. I give money to a couple charities through the Combined Federal Campaign, I give my time (and Millie's time) to Furry Friends Pet Assisted Therapy Services and the Wildlife Conservation Network, and I give my voice to a variety of causes who send me emails asking me to speak for them. I vote.

This country is this country for everyone. Black, white, brown, gay, straight, man or woman. You have a voice. You have the ability to make a difference in people's lives. How can you not use that voice. How can you not use that ability. How can you not want to make a difference. You can and you should.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead.

Make that difference. For yourself, for everyone.

Survival of the fittest

I survived the office inspection. Office construction is winding down, my office is finished, everything else is just gravy. I am getting packed up at the condo, this week I am packing up my bedroom and bits and bobs in the living room. This weekend will be the mad crush of panic. Stand by for hysteria.

This weekend was the Wildlife Conservation Network's Wildlife Expo. I LOVE the Expo. Not only is it an excellent opportunity to talk to people about the Wonderful World of Wildlife Law Enforcement, it's also a great opportunity to talk to the other side of the bridge, the biologists. There is this weird divide between biologists and LE people, I don't get it, but I freely admit to contributing to it. We had the great opportunity to have one of the snow leopard biologists from Mongolia translate some Mongolian paperwork we had. How handy is that! We also spoke to researchers from the Saiga Conservation Alliance, we get tons of Saiga products in, so they are going to provide us with some of the photos, both live Saiga and poached Saiga, to add to our outreach materials.

We also had, in addition to the multitudes of public attendees, representatives from the Oakland Zoo, San Francisco Zoo, Animals Asia, Coyote Point Museum, Small Cat Alliance and a host of others stop by and talk to us. It was a great opportunity to see old friends and make new connections.

Working Saturday and Sunday makes for a long weekend, but it was so worth it. Long live the snow leopards!!

When it rains it pours

This has been a very quiet year for me. Nothing huge going on, been taking Millie to the beach and just biding my time with the condo situation... until now.

NOW, the Universe has decided, it's time to get busy.

We started construction on the office a couple weeks ago. My office has to be packed up by tomorrow morning. They are putting down the glue in the hallway and I am about to be trapped in my office for 2 hours.
I finally got the condo sold and have to move in 2 weeks, so I found an apartment and just need to schedule some movers.
I went to Seattle for work, now I have to go to Portland the week after I move, then again sometime before the end of the year. I have to go to San Diego for my brother in law's Change of Command ceremony where he is being awarded the Bronze Star.
Thursday is our big office inspection, which should go well when you refer back to my first point on construction.
Then it's Christmas and time to make my annual cross country trek to the homeland. The only question on this trek will be one dog or two. I guess we'll see.

Gotta love a good time!! Wish me luck!!!

Brags, stats, and YIPPEES!!!

First, the brag. My brother in law Phillip will be receiving a Bronze Star medal for meritirious acheivement in combat. He kicks ass and I couldn't be any prouder of him if he were my own brother. We love you, we thank you for your service, and we are SO very proud of you!!!

Second, the stats. In Laurie's blog this morning, she talked about checking her stats. I had no idea you could do this!! So apparently, Laurie and I are quite the international phenoms!!

United States 73
India 9
Australia 8
Ukraine 3
Canada 1
France 1
Netherlands 1
Slovakia 1

Viva Slovakia!!! I had a lovely lunch on the Slovakian border, it was delightful.

So now, on to my yippees!! At the risk of jinxing myself, I am posting this for 3 Ukrainians to see, I sold the condo. *HUGE sigh of relief*. Closing is set for October 15, I have rented an apartment, and I am due to move on the 12th. Finally. Once I get past the stress of getting moved, I foresee much better sleep in my future.

Oh, and I have food poisoning. Yay me!!

The one with "stuff"

Laurie and I watch Hoarders together. If you haven't seen Hoarders, it's a sad, scary, eye opening look at how disgusting people can be. And what's sad, is that this hoarding can be seen in the young children in these families. They cry when asked to throw away school projects, that throwing away the project is tantamount to throwing away the effort.

When I was a kid, I was a big ol' slob. My sister and I shared rooms at some of the houses we lived in and my mom would hang Department of Health notices on the doors and threaten us with bodily harm if we didn't clean up. We grew out of this, her more than me. My place is still clean, but it can get cluttered. I live with the clutter for a little while, then I snap and go on a throwing away and cleaning frenzy. She keeps her house (4 kids, 2 dogs, 1 husband) spotless. It's awe inspiring.

Which leads us to today. We're doing construction at the office, building a new evidence room and property room. Since I have one of the only 2 doors that currently lock, my office is filled with evidence. 1 elephant skin, 1 giraffe skull and skin, 1 hippo skin, 5 capiz shell lanterns, 33 cartons of snake wine and other Asian meds, flattened fish boxes, ehrus and pool cues, PLUS all of MY office stuff - shelves, locker, desk, chair, aquarium, etc. For SIX MORE WEEKS.


I am not going to make it. I already had a mini meltdown this morning and shredded a bunch of paperwork. I don't know what else I can throw out, but I am going to have to find something. Maybe I can just take the next six weeks off. Please????

Seattle

I had the joy, once again, of spending a week in the glorious Pacific Northwest. Wow. I had never been to Washington before and it was everything I thought it would be. I spent a couple days in Blaine on the Canadian border (they didn't even talk funny) and 5 days in Seattle. It never once rained, I think the Pacific Northwest people say it rains all the time to keep people like me from wanting to move there!!

Some day, Pacific Northwest, you will be mine....

Making a change

I have always had curly hair. When I was little I would cry and cry as my mom tried to brush it out for pony tails. Even though she was as gentle as could be, my sensitive scalp just couldn't take it. After that, she did what most mothers of curly haired daughters do, she had it all cut off. I remember going to school and my best friend saying, "you look just like a boy" and I just cried. I don't blame my mom at all, as an adult I know curly hair isn't always easy. In 2000, I discovered naturallycurly.com and it was like the skies opened up and the angels sang. Suddenly, my hair was easy, I stopped fighting it, embraced it, and ended up with what I think is pretty amazing hair.

So why am I getting it straightened?

That's right, I am taking the plunge and getting a Brazilian Blowout this weekend. I would not consider a relaxer as I am not interested in having my hair grow out and be all weird. The blowout wears off, much like a demi-permanent color. I am a little apprehensive. It's one thing to get my hair blown out and wear it straight for a couple days, it's another to know that every day, when I wake up, I will have straight hair. Supposedly, you can wear it curly or straight, but I am not the curliest of girls, so I don't know if that will hold true for me or not.

Stay tuned, there will either be cheers or tears. :)

Pay attention!!!

Someone told me about Notes from the Universe and since there is nothing I love more than uplifting emails, I subscribed. Funny thing though, when the Universe started emailing me, I started thinking, I should do these things, because as we all know, when the Universe tells you to do something, it behooves you to sit up and listen. FYI, the Universe also isn't really a big fan of run on sentences like that one. Just sayin'.

Today, amongst other things, the Universe told me

All things are indeed looking possible and you alone decide how your tomorrows
will unfold.

Indeed.

All things are possible and it is up to me to affect the change I desire to see. But what does this mean for me in the trenches? I guess the Universe can't tell me everything and I will have to figure it out for myself. Thanks Universe, who loves ya, baby!!

For Laurie

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

You know

it's been a while since you blogged when your blogging account doesn't remember you.

I haven't blogged as I have had nothing to blog about, really. I went to Oregon - amazing!

Millie and I had a fabulous time!

Next on my list is Seattle. Even though it's a work trip and not vacation, I still won't have to get up at 530 every morning, so it will seem like a vacation!! Plus, I get to see Alida and Michaela, and that's the best part!!

The condo is back on the market, the buyer backed out. I wasn't surprised, short sales are a bitch and I don't think they really knew what they were in for. They started getting antsy, I think they thought short sale meant short time. C'est la vie! I think we are having another open house this weekend. I am buying vodka.

The buyer backed out

and my condo is back on the market. I figured they would, only crazy people are willing to go through the headache of buying a short sale.

I had a fantabulous trip to Oregon. I miss hanging out with KA and it's hard to believe we have been friends for 15 years. Time flies.

Seeing Millie playing with her dog makes me realize that Millie needs a friend and Millie really needs a yard. The latter probably won't happen, given that I live in CA, but the former will definitely happen. I will just have to dog hunt with her in mind, she needs a specific kind of personality in order for this to work.

We made jewelry while I was there, always fun, I haven't done that since I left FL in '98.

I also have to say, given a chance to move to OR, I would go tomorrow. GORGEOUS!!!! I think my next road trip will be to WA and BC. I love the Pacific Northwest.

First Creepy

then Facebook, now nc.com.

Slowly but surely, TPTB are cutting me off from my online world. I won't really miss nc.com, yeah, I will. I love the crazies. I admit it.

Slowly, but surely my time wasters are being taken away from me. I don't understand it, I work hard(ish), give me my online reading!!!

This is why I need a field job, I am not good at utilizing my time wisely when I am chained to a desk.

Bah!

I am headed to Oregon tomorrow morning. Have a good week!!

Shake Shake Shake

Notes from the Universe (thanks Booyah!!!) told me to shake shake shake this morning. While I do tend to dance around my condo ESPECIALLY when KC and the Sunshine Band are on, there is someone in my household who does it so much better than I ever could -

This weekend also included some stellar card making!!

Birthday card for Jody - shhh, don't tell her!!

Birthday card for NA -

I can see clearly now....

the whine has gone.

Periodically, I like to indulge in whining. Generally speaking, this whining is kept between me and Mom or me and the people I chat on messenger with. With the advent of this blog, the whining has become more public and for that, I would like to apologize.

I am not (usually) a whiny person. I am a pull yourself up by your boot straps, put on your big girl pants, and deal with it kind of girl. I realized, looking back at some of my blogs, that I am allowing my inner whiner to replace my outer kickasser and I don't want all of you avid readers of my blog (you know you're out there) to think that is who I am. So, I apologize. Not for the whining, but for the repeated whining, everyone deserves a down day. However, repeated whining gets you no where, the squeaky wheel doesn't get the grease, it gets off its squeaky ass and gets its own grease.

I have a metaphorical lemon drop martini and I know how to use it.

This weekend is shaping up to be busy, I have to go to the gym tonight (and gym, I will). Tomorrow, I have to drop Millie off for beauty parlor day, pick her up for therapy day at the old folks' home, then I am off to a birthday cookout, finishing up my day at an NMSU alumni Mexican and Margarita potluck. I have been assured that my presence at the potluck will allow me to try the "perfect margarita". I certainly hope so. Sunday, I will gym again (that's how I roll) and get all my errands run.

I hope everyone has a good weekend and I leave you with this utter cuteness -

The whining

OMG, the endless whining.

Yes, I am talking about me.

Recently, I have whining and and eeyoring ALOT.

This morning, I read Booyah's blog. She has been handed some serious shit recently and yet, she is bouncing back and I am, well, whiny. Then I see the difference between her blog and mine and she is all about going out with her friends and doing things and I am all about sitting on my couch and whining about how my life sucks. Do we see a problem here? I know I do!!

So, here in lies the issue.

How does one motivate one's self to go out when one is whiny. How does one make themselves more like the inimitable Booyah, out there taking lemons and turning them into lemon drop martinis.

This is my challenge.

Accept invitations from friends, stop being so freakin' WHINY, and recognize that sometimes life sucks and when it does, you can't let it get you down, you slam your lemon drop martini and yell YEE HAW.

This blog brought to you by the makers of a slap upside the back of the head. Thanks, Booyah, you are just what I need these days!!