Let it Rain, let it rain, let it rain!

Well, here in Southern AZ, that's as close as we get to snow, so we have to be happy with it! I understand EVERYONE up north will be getting the white stuff this weekend, while those of us in the Phoenix area just drive behind idiots who PRETEND they can drive in percipitation!
I don't really understand it -- many people that live here are migrants from other, COLDER states. They, on average, have probably driven in LOTS of snow before!! But, since the weather here is almost always ANYTHING but frightful, they act like they have no need for caution, when driving in the rain.
Water is water, people!! Frozen, partially frozen, warm - whatever form it is in, as it falls from the sky, is STILL water! Therefore, stop trying to pretend that your car is a surfboard!
Okay, I'm done . . . I'm just bitter because my lunch time errands that should've taken 45 minutes MAX, kept me away from the office for an hour and a half, instead!
Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out.

Labor of Love

I have a very good friend that I used to have the hardest time picking an appropriate birthday gift for. So, 2 years ago, I decided that hand-made Christmas cards would be a great suggestion. She loves to send cards, and she appreciates hand-made cards the best.

So, this year I decided to make her cards a little more detailed, AND she needed more than she has the last 2 years!

Anyway, due to the vision in my head not matching the tools that I was able to find, to use, the finished product looks a LOT different than the originally proposed design. And, a LOT more time than I had guesstimated.

However, the end result is pleasing . . . tell me if you agree!! (The red is the card and the other patterned paper is just a background for the photo) The reflective item on top of the snowflake is some bling that I couldn't resist adding!

Happy Birthday, Tina -- I hope that you love them!

I'm STILL thankful . . . 5 days later!

I have to explain something about my blogging habits; I don't have the internet at home yet, and so I have to blog when I happen to have a lunch break, at work, or from the computer of a loving friend or family member. So, therefore, with this disclaimer **cough, Maddy, cough, cough!** I need to have a little compassion when it comes to NOT blogging every day or even every 2 days! AND . . . I was away from work for 5 days, for Thanksgiving break, so . . . there you go!

Anyway - I am thankful for many things. Although I don't have fabulous photos for each thing that I am thankful for, like Angie (yes, that IS blog envy you hear in my words!!) I am still thankful!
I am thankful for:
my job AND for days OFF from my job! LOL
Family --the best of friends and the worst of enemies all under one roof! Ha ha
Holidays and traditions
Christmas lights
Getting back up, whenever I fall
The scriptures and the power that they wield
The Gospel of Jesus Christ
Friends who are really "family by affection" ( you KNOW who you are!!)
Ice cream
MUSIC!!!!!!!!!!!
Christmas . . . okay, anything about it, but especially music!
Knowing that I am loved
Humor
Movies
Children (and someday my OWN children!!)
Learning --even though I seem to learn best "the hard way"!
Friendship
Memories and making them
God's beautiful creation that is this world
Spanish
Word games
Sisters
Talents
Opportunities to grow
I could go on and on . . . I just really needed to remind myself that there are MANY things to be thankful for. And, making this list will help me remember!

Good Intentions

I really have intended to post before now, but . . . I don't have the internet at home, I can't upload my photos from my camera on my own computer, and I actually have to WORK, while at work!

Anyway, enough excuses! Now, I have to tell you about Olivia. She turned 3 on Thursday, November 15th. She is the quite precocious sister of Wyatt . . . (refer to previous posts!)
Anyway, her uncle, on her mother's side, asked her, "Olivia, what does it mean to be 3?"
Olivia's response? "Now I can get married in the temple!"

It's true, everyone has to pass the age of 3 before they can get married in the temple!! Cute girl!

A Birthday Tradition

So, my MAS (mutual admiration society) friends started this INTERESTING tradition, long before they ever met me! Anyway, it goes like this:Anything that one may have said, done, made fun of, or forgotten, over the last year, they make public, by attacking one's yard with sticks and some sort of paper shape, with those things written on them.Well, apparently, since I moved in May, I have neglected to share my new address with any of them. So, they didn't get to trash, er, I mean, decorate, my yard last week! So, on Friday night, when we all got together, they took advantage of that time, to wish me a happy birthday, in their own special way!

So, the post-its that they attacked my CAR with, had lots of lovely sayings on them. And since this blog spot is rated "G", I will share the acceptable ones here:

"Say "no" to Crack!"

"When in doubt, check snopes.com"

"you do realize no one knows where you live, right?"

"You Rawk!"

"Here's looking at you kid!"

"Crack is Whack!"

"Are you calling me fat??"

"sing it, girl!"

"Be more pacific when talking to me!"

"comma queen"

"I know you are, but what am I?"

"bingo rules!"

"We are the champions!"

"Taco grande -- that means big!"

"Say what?"

"Can I get directions to your house, hooker?"

"Crack ho!"

"Nice hair color, copy cat!"

"Snickerdoodles rawk!"

"B 15; I 24"

"Bite me!"

"I'm lost!"

"Did you move, or something?"

"Bingo tonight?"

"meet my latin lover!"

"Are you stalking me??"

"Commas are our friends!"

"Stop touching me!"

"Music rocks!"

"Screwous youous!"

"Bingo rocks!"

"una cerveza, por favor -- yeah, that's all I got!"

"Comma, comma, comma, comma, comma chameleon!"

"What are you talking about Willis??"

"Who's a hooker now???"

"To add a comma or not, add, a, comma -- that is the question!"

"we rock!"

I'm thankful for music!

As I sit here at my desk, at work, surrounded by all this paperwork that I struggle to tackle every day, I've decided to find something to be thankful for.
My thankfulness, today, goes toward music. It is the background for life, and it can serve many purposes. I currently am listening to Josh Groban -- his first album.
Not only does hearing this music soothe me in my hectic work day, but it also brings back many memories of when I first came to own this album, back in 2002, I believe. That was another time and another place, in my life. And I have come so far from that person that I was then, both figuratively and literally!
I was living in Utah, just getting to know a few people, working 3 jobs, and feeling like I would have to accept being single as my lot in life.
Now, five plus years and MANY heartbreaks later, I am back in my home state of Arizona, married to a wonderful man, and GLAD!!!!!!! that my single days are done!
But, to quote a good country song, "the song remembers when . . ."
I'm thankful for music -- that soothes, that motivates, that inspires, that makes me want to dance, that helps me remember what is important and that lifts me up.

The thing with birthdays . . . .

Is that usually you don't FEEL another year older, just because one day you actually ARE another year older! But for me, this year has been a little different!
As mentioned in previous entries, Jorge and I got married this year -- the thing that is so significant about that and my birthday is that I've never shared my birthday with a husband before!
I started a tradtion, about 13 years ago, of taking the day off of work, when my birthday comes around. I think it is a great little gift to myself! And, in years past, I have spent the day getting a massage, a pedicure, seeing a movie, or scrapbooking the day away!
This year, I spent the day with Jorge . . . and that is a good thing, just a big change from previous years, obviously! (Can you believe that he didn't JUMP at the opportunity to spend the day at Scrapbooks Etc.???)
So, we started with running errands, and taking care of average, every day stuff, like we do on Saturdays. But, all in all it was a good day, and Hey, I did get lunch at Matta's with my mom and sister.
Next year, I will plan a little better, and the husband will be used to my birthday off, too!