A Contented New Year

It's the end of 2007. Looking back, I can not believe how much has changed in my life. Some good things, some bad things. I am glad it is over, time to look forward and grow with the changes which have come about. If someone had told me what would have taken place, I certainly would not have put money on it, but it is ok..I made it.

I now have a lot to do. I need to get going with the work on the Kennel. Carol is working on the permits, but we need a name, we need a plan and I need to figure out how much I need to earn each week in order to make ends meet. I know it will be tight at first, but I always succeed somehow. My Guy wants me to get a new car. He hates the Matrix and is right, it is terrible in the snow...to the point of dangerous and probably wasn't a smart purchase at the time. I needed to research it more, but no point to looking at the "woulda/coulda/shouldas". The trouble is, money is really tight, I still have not come back from the money I spent keeping Vaquita alive and this past Christmas put me back more than it should have. Money I was hoping for is not coming, I have accepted that. I just need to be a bit more careful and thrifty.

My damn computer has decided to act up again. Last year I lost everything when my hard drive crashed. I was pissed, I lost a lot of important pictures and files. I can not believe it is happening again, after I bought a pretty damn good drive. There must be something wrong with a component of this computer that causes this problem, so I am done with it. I have backed up my important files and once it goes on me again, I will gladly trash it and buy something new. My Mom is willing to loan me the money to buy a good gaming computer, as I am still silly enough to play my online computer game, so I can't just buy anything. I also have some friends who will help me choose the right machine, as I whole-heartedly admit to knowing nothing of gaming systems. As much as I live on computers for the majority of my day, I really HATE them most of the time. :-)

As for First Night, I am not sure what is up. I was hoping for a quiet dinner with my Guy, like we had last year, but we might be heading to his brother's house for a little shindig. We'll see what happens. I am sure he will be bummed out because it did not snow at all last night, so there's a good $5000 of expected money that will not be coming in this storm. Ah well, I have a feeling there will be plenty of snow for him to play in and squeeze cash out of.

It's Over

Well, after all the worry, excessive money spent and running around..Christmas is over. It went very well. Christmas Eve, we headed to a friends for a few drinks and some good laughs, then My Guy and I brought some Thai to my Mom and we enjoyed a relaxing dinner.

Christmas morning I had to stay out of the bedroom, since my Guy didn't finish wrapping yet, but I gave the dogs their gifts and made him some breakfast. One can't be wrapping on an empty stomach. I got the COOLEST GIFTS EVER!! His brother was making fun of him for the "not so romatic gifts", but I couldn't have been happier. I got an Ipod, gift cert to Victoria's Secret (more for him I wager), a REALLY nice pair of winter boots, a full pair of coveralls to keep me warm at the barn, a few cute stocking stuffers...and....and....A KAYAK!!!!!!!! My very own Kayak!!! I am soo excited. I have wanted one for years, but never had the money to get one nor the means to transport it. I was so excited, I wanted to put it into the hot tub or flood the back yard...both ideas got the cabosh. Hee hee. So this summer, while everyone is flying around in the boats and tubing/water-skiing, I will happily paddle around the lake. Of course, they are planning on tipping me, but I will prevail!! :-) I can't wait!!!

My Mom got me my new exercise bike, which I LOVE. I am so going to be ready for the summer!!

Did I mention I got a KAYAK???!!! hee hee

Well, back to work today. Hopefully it will be a slow week, but even if it isn't, I have 436 songs on my ipod to rock on to and room for nearly 1600 more. Yipppee.

Nervous Breakdown Anyone??

I think I am a wee bit stressed out! Is it the holidays? Maybe. Is it work? Surprisingly not. Is it life in general? Sadly, yes.

I need a goddam vacation! At the rate I am going, my Guy will boot my ass out and change the locks before I can say "but it's Christmas".

I arrived home yesterday to find that the pup had shit in her crate and painted the entire thing in feces. After having a fit, spending an hour and 2 rolls of paper towels trying to clean it, I dragged the crate into the tub to try to rinse it. My Guy was not happy with my not asking for help and hurting my back lugging the damn thing around. The pup then needed a bath, which she has learned to stand still for, or be screamed at.

So, despite the fact that I was stubborn and rude during this whole process and he is annoyed by his $65,000 Bobcat being broken, my kind-hearted boyfriend came with me to the barn to help. He listened to my rant about stupid people filling water buckets to the brim even though the water is so dirty, one can not see the bottom. He cleaned the bucket for me and what did I do? I started cleaning the stall and threw the manure into the newly cleaned water bucket, instead of the wheelbarrow. I then proceeded to have a breakdown, laughing and crying at the same time and whining about losing my goddam mind. He joked it off, cleaned the bucket again and asked me to try tossing it into the big blue wheelbarrow, not the little blue bucket.

I wonder if he will visit me in the padded cell.

That Time of Year

Christmas is fast approaching and once again, I am not ready for it. I have the two major gifts done, which is a huge weight off my shoulders. My Mom is all set and so is my Guy. I have not finished getting the little things or anything for all my friends. I haven't even mailed the damn Christmas cards. Oh well, I get myself into the same predicament every year and the world never ends.

This winter is going to be a doozy. We have already had two bigger storms and I have come to the realization that my car is a piece of shit in the snow, even with new tires. I am NEVER driving in the snow again. I had a terrible time and was petrified. It is time to rethink my ownership of this automobile. The trouble is, what I want/need, cost more money than I think I can spend and money is tight right now. I am going to keep my eyes open, pinch the pennies and crunch the numbers. It will work out. I have a guy in my life who is really smart about vehicle purchases and can wheel and deal with the best of them. He will make sure I am safe and happy.

I am so excited! My Mom got me an exercise bike for Christmas. I did a ton of research, and due to my back problems, a good choice is a recumbent exercise bike. I can not wait for it to arrive!! I have been working hard at sticking to the high protein/low fat diet, stretching and ab-work. Adding the bike to my regimen should really help me get fit and diminish my back pain/weakness greatly. This is going to be a promising/positive New Year...I am determined to make it so!

First Snow!

Well, the Speckled Wonder experienced her first snowfall. It wasn't much, but enough to get her all riled up. First she attempted to catch snowflakes out of the air, then ate some off the road. While Jade, Jasmine and I watched in awe, Vaquita ran up and down the street, perfecting her snow slide. She was having a blast, while the 3 of us "old gals" froze our butts off. Ah..to be a Puppy!

My Honey's Birthday went ok. I should have listened to my Mother and opened the gift I ordered through the mail...because it was broken. I felt terrible as we had to repack it after he opened it. He did love the engraved picture frame with the pic of him and J-bird. He said it was the best gift anyone has ever given him, and he is not one to bullshit, so I was honored. Dinner was good and he LOVED the cake from Coldstone Creamery....chocolate chip cookie dough! Overall, my Guy was happy and therefore I was happy. :-)