Happy Memorial Day!

First & foremost. Thank you to all those that have served & are serving our country. I come from a family with one grandparent flying B52s in WWII & another grandparent running telecommunications in the Korean war. I am very proud to be from the Red, White, & Blue!

Second, I hope everyone else had a fabulous weekend. Smores, fire, & Bud Light summed up my weekend. Ha! got some working to do on those calories for sure! Paul & I had some good bonding conversations Saturday & Sunday night out by the fire till 3am...everyone was either busy or went home early.

Third, today was such a nice evening & all those home-made cookies I decided I better do something. Leashed up Dallas, stretched & started my Couch-to-5K program. Probably should have turned around at the 'you're half way done' voice but I was just thinking 'eh, what's a little extra walking. Made it through the Day 1 of Week 1 of C25K = 2.14miles at 13.58 a mile. Well, after that we were no where near home. Dallas was wearing out & we had at least 3 good hills in 2.54 miles to go (I didn't know that starting out). 1 hill down & I'm movin pretty good, Dallas is lagging a bit. Then, all the sudden she picks up pace (I have my ear phones in = not hear quiet things), I look to my right & there's this young, sweaty, ripped guy. Smiles & jogs on by. I don't even care to act tough & pick up my pace but apparently my little hussy of a dog wants to show off & gets all perky & jogging... ha! As soon as he's out of sight she's back to the end of the leash. 2 hills later & a third mile to go, I was half tempted to call Paul... Dallas was fighting me on the speed, so I added 30 lunges so she could walk slow. We made it in one piece, her giving me the 'F you' look. So, now I know I can handle the 5 mile jaunt, Dallas on the other hand, at 85 degrees can only go 3 miles.

I would have to say good day for sure! I think Paul & I are even going to sign up for the Color Run in KC on July 1st! I know it's not much time but I have always wanted to do one & it says they're up for ALL types of people. If you would like to join us, please let me know we could be a team... like The Sweaty Balls or ... 5K Virgins or.... ????

A Little Contest :)

Today at work we had a site breakfast with a themed photography contest. Theme: Shining the Light.

I entered the following photo.... and it WON The Judges Choice & Warm & Fuzzy award. Yippy! It's not a huge contest by any means but it was fun & nice to show off my photo. There were lots of other great photos too... So, Congrats to them as well!

Project 365

PHOTO #52/365  Tuesday, May 3rd
Dallas' first day visiting McRite Retirement Plaza for pet therapy

PHOTO #53/365  Wednesday, May 4th
Found this on ebay.... love derby & pin ups

PHOTO #55/365  Thursday, May 5th
For the first time I potted some flowers.... here's to hoping they survive

PHOTO #55/365  Friday, May 6th
Got up to go to work and here's the field accross the street

PHOTO #56/365 Saturday, May 7th
One of my good friends got hitched! Congrats & it was a fabulous time!!!

PHOTO #57/365 Sunday, May 8th
After work I was cruisin' the net and came accross this Derby motivational poster.. :D

First week of May!

This week was filled with some firsts besides just the number one.
On Tuesday, I took Dallas to McRite Retirement Plaza for some 'pet therapy' visits. To do so I had to go through an hour & a half orientation and Dallas had to be up to date on all of her shots. She was not too enthuzed about the vet visit. After we hop out of ole Jetta I attach her purple collar & straighten her purple, paisley, powercat bandana and we head inside. There waiting at the 'fun director's' office in our name tags & my list of ladies & gentlemen who are okay with a dog visit. We make our way around the visiting the verious tennants. Dallas wasn't too sure about everything, all the different smells, temperatures, and voices. People wanted to shake her paw, but the she doesn't understand, "doggie let me have your paw." So, we have a little training to do. It was nice talking to the elderly and seeing some of them lighten up when Dallas strolled in. I had one lady, Helen, who said that this made her day! I hope that Dallas warms up and enjoys it as much as the ladies (mainly the one's who enjoyed her company) did.

Dallas when we got back home

I would also like to mention, when we visited McRite I took notice to my list of occupants; the names stood out. I love it! I love all the 'earlier generation' names, I find them very intriguing. There was a Gertie, Helen, Nola, Betty, Dottie, Glen, Violet, Alta, Pearl, Marcella, Mildred, Sophie, Elwood, Edna, Dorothy, Wilma, Marge, Beulah, and many more! One just doesn't hear those anymore, don't get me started on the names you do hear ;)

Another first this week... I planted flowers in pots. I'm not one to buy flowers and re-plant them. I don't have a green thumb once so ever. Yes, I worked in lawn & garden and studied crop science, but that doesn't mean these flowers will survive. Good news though they are still blooming and standing tall and it's been about four days!!!

Project 365

PHOTO #39/365  Wednesday, April 20th

Today we celebrated my little girl's 9th birthday!!! I've had this fluff ball since I was a junior in high school & she was just a mere 5 1/2 week old fluff ball on my family's front driveway. I love her SO much and am not sure what I'd do without her 'know it all' looks & soft morning hello's



PHOTO # 40/365 Thursday, April 21st

And bringing on the rainy days



PHOTO #41/365  Friday, April 22nd

The dandilions are flying





PHOTO #42/365  Saturday, April 23rd

My friend, Tyler's new adoption .... Gunner

 

PHOTO #43/365  Sunday, April 24th

Bruiser's bucket time in the yard



PHOTO #44/365 Monday, April 25th

'All twisted up in you'



Project 365

PHOTO #34/365  Friday April 15th. 
A different door that I have driven by

PHOTO #35/365  Saturday April 16th
One of my good friends, Misty, with her sister for her bachlorette party!!! Good times!!!

  

PHOTO #36/365  Sunday April 17th
Before my FIRST Rollerderby Bout, Family Feud

PHOTO #37/365  Monday April 18th
Actually, didn't take a picture BUT I was looking at some from when I went home in March & thought this one taken at mom & dad's was worthy of the project. I love the colors!

PHOTO #38/365  Tuesday April 19th
Someone got a bath.....

Project 365...

 PHOTO #20/ 365 
Dallas & I just finished a 4mile outdoor skate! With some gnarly hills & with my dog dallas! WOOHOO!!! I also would like to say thank you to those people who move over while driving. My neighborhood doesn't have sidewalks so I skate/walk in the road & common curtosy is always nice.

 PHOTO #21/365
Paul & I took a trip to Kansas City Saturday night. We enjoyed dinner at Cheesecake Factory (it was his 1st time!) & it was AMAZING! Then we headed downtown to enjoy some KC Roller derby. Their bouts are usually a good time... and these were even better! First the Knock Outs played the Black Eyed Susans, which it came down to the second to who won... AWESOME! Then the Dorothys played the Vixons... another great match!

PHOTO #22/365
Some derby girls (& extras) headed out to Shunga park Sunday afternoon for an outside skate. We ended up cruisin 8 miles... it was a little hairy for me in the end. But, all-in-all it was an excellent skate!

phew! Long time....

Sheesh, It's been a while! Let's see since July......
Not much has gone on. I've taken a lot of pictures (which I posted some of my favs). Cooper is growing like a weed. He's something else that's for sure. Him and Bruiser are "my boys" they are always pickin' & playin' with stuffed animals together. Cooper also likes to follow Dallas on her little "walks" but hopefully he'll listen a little better than her. Cooper comes up to just above my knee now, and he's only 4 months old! He's going to the vet on friday though... he's all itchy & bloodshot eyes... my fingers are crossed that he's not allergic to anything.
August.... not much went on. Oh! started practicing with the women's rugby team again. Won't touch on that in this message.... It's getting it's
own!


September...... Oh! My BIRTHDAY! A whopping 25 years!! holly cow, right? Jorge, our Pomeroy buddies, and myself all went to eat then pre-drank at Pomeroy house, then headed to the bars. Went around to the bars.... didn't drink too hard because I had the Alumni rugby game in the morning. Met up with some of the ruggers.... Steph even came into town from Oregon to play! Gotta love ole Nippy! I was very proud of myself, went to bed at a decent time.
Then Saturday.... ALUMNI GAME!! Woohoo! All the oldies back in town (well, most of 'um anyway). We played, my heels hurt! oh did they hurt... so i was pissed because i didn't do my best. But we got the rookies in for some playing time. Alumni lost. Then we went to the rugby house for the social.... songs, beergames, fun! Dinner then back out for round 2!

Meanwhile I couldn't walk! My ankles were swollen and I hobbled around the whole night. It sucked! So, the rest of Labor day weekend summed up with me hobbling and some fishing up at Kramers pond by Corning (or some little town NorthEast of here).

Rest of September.... Work. Went and watched rugby since I couldn't play. Then mid-month I had planned to go home to CO to visit & see one of my good friends get hitched! However, my feet got worse, I couldn't walk! had to take vacation & sick time (which I don't have much left. So.... needless to say I was unable to take the time to get home... plus I didn't have the gas money. I feel horrible not making her wedding. I'm sure she was beautiful along with the ceremony!!

The last weekend I tagged along with the team to OK for a tourney. (i'll cover later).

October..... feet are getting better. Tried working out some. Still hurt, but I have got to do some kind of working out.... I'm going crazy! Cooper's getting big and being a little nut. The weather is cooling down. OH! last Saturday we went to Ottawa to a friend of our's farm and camped. Supposed to "catch our dinner" only we didn't catch anything. Luckily we brought brauts & other accutramal. Then we sleplt under the stars, next to the fire, like John Wayne. You're prolly like, "shit! wasn't it cold!" and yes it was chilly but the fire kept us more dry than those in the tent. (hehe).

Other than that not much has been going on. Happy Birthday to my Mother!! .... Big 50!! I wish I was there to embarrass her at her work or resturant or something. I will plan something and get her when I do come home.