NOT SO GOOD, JULY 2009

DISCLAIMER :): I have created this post in several pieces, so it’s a little choppy—sorry.

Ever heard of bad things come in 3’s. Well, we are here to tell you they do. July 2009 has been a little slice of joy for us; the bad news just keeps coming our way. Thursday July 2, (the day before we were going to demolish the bathroom to remodel) I was driving home to meet some family to get some free derby tickets for the 4th. I was driving on 31st street behind a jacked up Durango. All of a sudden he swerved over two lanes and TRAFFIC WAS AT A DEAD STOP IN FRONT OF HIM. I did not have enough time to swerve, let alone stop; I rear-ended the back passenger side of a car. I almost missed him, but no quite. The damage was not too bad on the other car--but on mine it was mostly the front fender. Remember the rain that day—the mini typhoon we had??? I wouldn’t have hit him if I wasn’t sliding a bit….and I nearly missed, boo.

I called Clayton to tell him, “no more band practice tonight, I just got in an accident, please come get me”, and he said, “Uhm, do you want more bad news now or later”. I said, “Tell me”. “Our kitchen is flooded”. Hmm, those beautiful new floors we laid in October were flooded and RUINED. Good news about that is that our HOA has to pay for them though because they did not fix a problem that I have warned them about for 2 years. Bad news—we have had to live with ruined floors, peeling and cracking under our feet for three weeks.

Yes, that is water coming up from the seams...
Dried, it left cracks and started peeling up

Despite all of the stress, I still wanted to start our bathroom when we planned, on the 3rd. Changing jobs makes vacation time hard (since I don’t get any for a bit) so we had to plan demo around holidays we got off work, like the 4th.

The bathroom started out well, and then we saw how much water had been leaking…..pretty gross…but not unexpected since they have a window 3 feet up in a shower. It is a stupid design but we cant change the exterior of the building (by changing the window size) in our HOA. There was a small leak behind the wall in pipes that we were unaware of, then we found multiple layers of flooring they had just covered up that we got to peel up. Needless to say, after 1 million trips to Lowes, help from Pops (Gary) and Meow (my brother-in-law Jason) we have a new beautiful tiled bathroom!!!!!!!!! If there was a parade of condos, our bathroom would win. We were without a sink in either bathroom for a few days, had been showering at my Dads each night and working on the bathroom every spare second after work every day. Here are a few pics:

BEFORE:
My handy husband:

Our new beautiful tile!

Finished Product:

It was really fun; I would love re-modeling houses for a living! Obviously we got some expert help from our two-family-handyman’s but I really loved it. I will say, I did not enjoy the constant mess but having it done and working on it ourselves was fun.

WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE HONDA? After 5 different insurance adjusters assigned to my case, my car is totaled. It is actually a blessing because we wouldn’t have been able to sell a Honda that was as “custom” as mine was J--with all of the previous dents, tar on the trunk, fading hood, etc. After a few trips and test drives with a few sleazy salesmen, we got a great deal on a 2001 Toyota Corolla S (off KSL)…more to come on the new car.

Ok, what is the third thing…the leaking pipes? Getting the news the car was totaled? Oh no, we got a call a few days into our bathroom remodel from our HOA president, “When the guys were fixing the gutter (the reason for our kitchen flooding) they noticed your roof was “soft” in a couple of spots”. So Clayton climbed up in the attic and sure enough—we have water that has been sitting and soaking into the wood on our roof for a very long time. We are not sure if the HOA is going to replace it or if we have to yet. It is crazy! It has been a month of NON-STOP CHAOS.

Luckily things weren’t worse—they went pretty smooth considering. After we register the new car, fix the roof and have the floors replaced, we are hoping to remember what it feels like to be bored for one evening.

***Run Down***

It's about time for a new blog post eh? Well, I lost my job on May 1st. To keep myself from going crazy (which I kind of did anyways):

I repainted and decorated our spare room; along with painting all of our ceilings upstairs.
Planted seed which is actually sprouting out back! The pups might finally have some grass!

I got to spend lots of time with my two fav friends....they got walked multiple times a day. This is them resting while I was painting. I planted tomatoes and a few pots of flowers (the first pic). And I re-painted our deck (the pic with Chloe is before it was painted).
(Come on beautiful tomatoes!)

Then I got an interview...I have been applying for jobs since December. Honestly, every week and I only got one interview before May. Then I got this one! A few days later I was offered a position with Transportation Alliance Bank (TAB Bank). It is owned by Flying J--so I work right across the street from Weber State. It is totally different from what I am used to and I get really bored on my lunch. I used to go home each day with the pups to eat...now I just eat in my car and take a nap. My office is now so cold you can hang meat in there so I don't mind eating in a warm car. But we are so thankful I got a job only being unemployed for 2 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now since then, we bought a new GRILL! Clayton and I love to BBQ in the summer. It is quick, easy cleanup and D-E-LICIOUS. We have been using hand-me-downs that worked great until recently. The last few times I grilled, it caught on fire (too much grease on the inside) :). There was a sale Memorial weekend that we couldn't pass up. WE LOVE IT!

My favorite purchase--I got this beautiful mirror at Tai Pan for 1/2 off. I have been wanting to re-do our bathroom since I moved in. So when I found the one we have been looking at on sale, I got it. Then we went and picked out tile, a tub, etc. Luckily we found a shower head set & the tile that we like, ON SALE! So we have purchased the stuff that is on sale and are going to save up for the rest....we should be able to remodel the entire bathroom this summer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bad news???? My car was broken into last weekend and some jerks stole my IPOD. It really bugs me. I work for what I have; I am not lazy and sit around and either have things handed to me or steal! Wastes of space! Boy wouldn't that be nice--just get stuff for free. I really hope they enjoy my playlist entitle "Pervert". It has all of my rap songs on it....that I only listen to every now and then :). I am sure they will enjoy my "run mix", "home grown country mix" and my "Mad Mondays"....jerks!

Life is good though.....it is derby season and we already went to our first one; I have lost a few extra pounds without getting rid of my coke; it is summer and we love being outside!!!!

I guess that is my discombobulated run down.

Swine Flu

Whatever you do....whatever you have heard about swine flu....DON'T DO THIS (even if the little piggy is smiling so happily)

Just Kidding...look at how cute those little farm friends are! I think Izzy wants a pet piggy.And yes, my car finally passed inspection--after paying $58 dollars and having a window tinter remove the stupid tint from my brake light.

Give me a break Davis County

That is right, DO NOT EVER go to the Davis County Emissions and Inspection place. NEVER, don't believe me, well get your car failed there and try to go somewhere else. They can't help after stupid Davis County puts REJECTED on it. Class A idiots. Later did I find out that everyone says, "Oh honey, never go to them, they fail everyone". Too little too late. I tried to take it to another mechanic and they said, once it is rejected....the reason it failed must be remedied.

Why did my car fail? Well, lets see it has passed for 12 years previously with the stock tint. But this year I was told, "the tint covers your back third brake light. You will have to have it removed in order to pass". ARE YOU KIDDING ME! Gee people can't see the other two that are working? Not all cars even have a third brake light so who freakin cares? And as a matter of fact, yes you can see the brake light through the tint. Especially at night...my tint is not that dark.

How do we remedy this you ask? They want me to take a razor and scrape it off--being careful not to hit the filiment (sp?) in my window or my rear defrost won't work. Genius. That sounds like a lot of fun...especially the finished product after removing a 4" by 8" square of tint from my back windshield. Wow you folks are terrific. How about you enforce rules on those people who don't keep their kids in car seats while driving? How about you reject a car that has all brake lights out or who's wipers don't work. All of that works fine on the old Civ. How about you work with the police force and patrol areas that need it...like school zones where you have 500 SUV's doing 50mph and could injure a kid....not enforce a stupid rule on a car that has STOCK TINT COVERING THEIR 3RD BRAKE LIGHT. And since you wasted my time, do I get a discount on the outrageous amount you charge for a 10 minute inspection? Or can I reject my car registration in this state that makes you register every year!

Hey, maybe these jerks could get a job refing for the NBA and make tic-tacy foul calls.....if they do I hope they swallow the whistle.

Walrus

I decided I might want a new pet....

I think this one would do the trick.

What's Up Doc.

I miss bloggers. I miss checking my fav blogs everyday and seeing something new...so to all of you consumed with facebook, or exciting lives away from a computer all day, or for those die hards who still blog...here is what we have been up to:

Happy Easter to us! Clayton and I bought bikes! We have been going to the gym trying to lose the tires of chub that have attached to our bodies....now with bikes we can get outside, take the pups and be exercising!!!!!!! Take the pups? Yes, they got a kid trailer; they love it. I left it out in the living room while I was at work so they could get used to it. I hid a few treats so if by chance they decided to explore it, they got a little treatie. I came home to Chloe taking a nap in it :).

Clayt's sweet deal from KSL. A great college kid in Logan looking for some quick cash....PERFECT, we want a nice deal and a cheap price. And then there is my beautiful boys bike from Target (my question is...do they make a cheap bike that is not hot pink or purple for girls....the answer is NO, so boys bike it is). I am sure the burning question is, why not get a womens in some cranberry color..well, I am just too darn short. Thanks for asking.

Have you been missing the dogs? Here is Chloe on her new bed.

Where is Izzy? Well, she is snacking on her new favorite snack:

BEFOREAFTER

They have been doing so good that we don't gate them while we are gone. Today, as usual, I go home for lunch and find several shoes out and something plastic. Our shoes are in cubbies to help them not get into our shoes, but Izzy has been pulling them out and leaving them all over the house...no harm, no foul. But what about that little plastic thing....when my mom was visiting she left a disposable razor in our tub. The wild indian dog likes to hop in the tub sometimes. So she had CHEWED THE RAZOR she found in the tub. The head (with the blade) was missing. I checked her mouth to see if it was cut. Nope, I looked and looked for it but no luck. I started to think I was going to have to take her to the VET. Finally I found it...chewed but on the floor by a flip flop. Thank goodness the shoe distracted her. And lastly, our wonderful new stove! We sold our other one after we found this beaut on KSL. Yes, we have been searching KSL a lot lately....but doesn't it open up our kitchen with the right kind of stove there (remember the old one with the back on it that stood up in the middle of the island)??? We can actually use our bar!

My mom came to visit this weekend. It was so nice to see her. She and Jessie seem to be doing great!

And for now, I guess that is it for my random ramblings of non-exciting lives :).

HAPPY EASTER ON SUNDAY!

My fav's

Here are my two favorite people at work

(well Natalie wasn't here at this time of the pic...so she would be included now as well :) )

Me, Heather & Krysti
I am lucky to work with such fantastic girls--
they make being at work at fun and close to pain-free. I love these two!

P.S. I have posted a few things below that are new--look down.

Whoa Bella!

How can I get a makeover like this?

And P.S. Who knew Rob Pattinson (or whatev) sings my fav song on the soundtrack? I fell in love with that song...I have had a pandora station of him and just thought he was some artist out there.....I had no idea it was EDWARD, until I was reading an article today with his name listed. Wow, I am really stupid. I never remember actors names, unless they are my favorite, like Brad Pitt, Matthew McConnaughey :)

I still have not finished the last book....I just didn't jump into like the others, so I have not read in months! But I am pretty excited for the other movies to come out.

Animals

My friend, Krysti, just sent me this email. It is one of the saddest things I have ever read--be prepared to cry:


A man in Grand Rapids, Michigan incredibly took out a $7000 full page adin the paper to present the following essay to the people of hiscommunity.

HOW COULD YOU? - By Jim Willis, 2001

When I was a puppy, I entertained you with my antics and made you laugh.You called me your child, and despite a number of chewed shoes and acouple of murdered throw pillows, I became your best friend. Whenever Iwas "bad," you'd shake your finger at me and ask "How could you?" -- butthen you'd relent and roll me over for a belly rub.My housebreaking took a little longer than expected, because you wereterribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights ofnuzzling you in bed and listening to your confidences and secret dreams,and I believed that life could not be any more perfect. We went for longwalks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream (I only got thecone because "ice cream is bad for dogs" you said), and I took long napsin the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day.

Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, andmore time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently,comforted you through heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided youabout bad decisions, and romped with glee at your homecomings, and whenyou fell in love. She, now your wife, is not a "dog person" - - still Iwelcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. Iwas happy because you were happy.

Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. I wasfascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to motherthem, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spentmost of my time banished to another room, or to a dog crate. Oh, how Iwanted to love them, but I became a "prisoner of love.." As they began togrow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves upon wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears, and gaveme kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them and their touch --because your touch was now so infrequent -- and I would've defended themwith my life if need be. I would sneak into their beds and listen to theirworries and secret dreams, and together we waited for the sound of yourcar in the driveway.

There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that youproduced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me.These past few years, you just answered "yes" and changed the subject. Ihad gone from being "your dog" to "just a dog ," and you resented everyexpenditure on my behalf.Now, you have a new career opportunity in another city, and you and theywill be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You've made theright decision for your "family," but there was a time when I was youronly family

I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter.It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out thepaperwork and said "I know you will find a good home for her." Theyshrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities facinga middle-aged dog, even one with "papers." You had to pry your son'sfingers loose from my collar as he screamed "No, Daddy! Please don't letthem take my dog!" And I worried for him, and what lessons you had justtaught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility,and about respect for all life. You gave me a good-bye pat on the head,avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash withyou. You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too. After you left,the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move monthsago and made no attempt to find me another good home. They shook theirheads and asked, "How could you?"

They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedulesallow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first,whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was youthat you had changed your mind -- that this was all a bad dream... or Ihoped it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who might save me.When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for attention ofhappy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far cornerand waited.

I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of theday, and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room. Ablissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table and rubbed my ears, andtold me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was tocome, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had runout of days.As is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which shebears weighs heavily on her, and I know that, the same way I knew yourevery mood. She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear randown her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you somany years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my vein. As Ifelt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay downsleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured, "How could you?"Perhaps because she understood my dog speak, she said, "I'm so sorry." Shehugged me, and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to abetter place, where I wouldn't be ignored or abused or abandoned, or haveto fend for myself -- a place of love and light so very different fromthis earthly place. And with my last bit of energy, I tried to convey toher with a thump of my tail that my "How could you?" was not directed ather. It was directed at you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of you. Iwill think of you and wait for you forever. May everyone in your lifecontinue to show you so much loyalty.

A Note from the Author: If "How Could You?" brought tears to your eyes asyou read it, as it did to mine as I wrote it, it is because it is thecomposite story of the millions of formerly "owned" pets who die each yearin American & Canadian animal shelters. Please use this to help educate,on your websites, in newsletters, on animal shelter and vet officebulletin boards. Tell the public that the decision to add a pet to thefamily is an important one for life, that animals deserve our love andsensible care, that finding another appropriate home for your animal isyour responsibility and any local humane society or animal welfare leaguecan offer you good advice, and that all life is precious. Please do yourpart to stop the killing, and encourage all spay & neuter campaigns inorder to prevent unwanted animals. Please pass this on to everyone, not to hurt them or make them sad, but it could save maybe, even one, unwanted pet. Remember...They love UNCONDITIONALLY.This IS the reality of dogs given up to shelters.

Snorg T-Shirts

This one is for Clayton. He found this t-shirt website that has some dang funny tee's!!!

BOO Red Hanger

Ready for a ranting story....

I took my lovely honeymoon dress (creame and black dress that I am in on the sidebar) to get dry cleaned about 2 weeks ago. I have only worn it twice, on our honey moon and Clayton's birthday. On Saturday I went to pick it up, expecting my favorite dress to be shiny and new; instead it was RUINED BY THESE IDIOTS.

There are large jewl buttons all along the top...well, there were large jewl buttons along the top. I pull up, ask for my dress and they said there is no charge. I am thinking, "what, I have never had anything dry cleaned and I was expecting to pay like $20". There was a note from the manager attached:

"There was no care label. Due to the plastic buttons, they dissolved in the solution. So we took the cleaning charge off".

WOW, really, you ruined my dress and you will credit me $13!!!!!! I was furious. I called the manager at home and let her know she will be replacing the dress. She told me not to get upset and that it is not a big deal. Really, not get upset when there is a CARE LABEL ON THE SIDE SEAM OF MY DRESS THAT YOU CARELESSLY OVERLOOKED and YO U DIDN'T HAVE THE NERVE TO CALL ME ABOUT THE MISTAKE WHEN IT HAPPENED". Not a big deal my butt.

This all could have been avoided, if someone who works there actually had a brain and used it and thought--I ruined this nice piece of clothing, I should let them know. If she apologized and was like, "I am so sorry is there anything I can do?", then I could have been happy with that. But oh no, lie your way out of it and deny that you ruined my favorite dress!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I called her manager, at corporate and almost got the same run-around. Luckily after arguing with her, wasting some more time, they will mail me a check. But they still want to see the dress to see if what I say actually happened. I think I will take pictures and leave them at their front desk....not leave my dress for them to ruin more!

MORAL OF THE STORY--DON'T USE RED HANGER!


P.S. Michelle, my friend, used to work there and I wished I would have had her around for this ordeal!


But after a deep breath, the sun is peaking through the clouds and it looks like it be kind of nice outside...

THE WEDDING

Meet Jesse. He is my mom's new husband!!!! They got married on December 23, 2008. Now they are living happily in Cali right outside of San Fran. I love how happy my Mom looks in these pics. Congrats Mom!

Cutie Niece Hailey as the flower girl...The wedding party...

Happy New Year!

Hope you all have a great holiday!!!!

(posts about Chrsitmas, Mom's wedding & move soon to come)

Snow is coming...

Its not like I am huge fan of any comic; however, Venessa sent these to me at work and I LOVED THEM! I am half tempted to make one in my yard. Wait, I don't really have a yard....maybe in a park :).