Nothing real interesting to talk about

I don't want to say that I have gotten lazy and thats why I have not blogged in 3+ weeks because its really more I don't have anything interesting to talk about.

Life just...is. School is school, job is job, life is life.

In a couple of weeks the Body Combat class I have been team teaching at the gym will officially be just "mine" so I am looking forward to that. Other than that...I'm just trying to get ready for what will be an interesting summer.

I really want to get out and ride more this summer than I have in the past. But as usual, I have just way too much crap on my plate to really be able to dedicate myself to riding. Case in point. This morning was the first really beautiful morning we have had this year. Was I able to go out and ride and enjoy it? No. At 9:30 this morning I had to be at Lourdes hospital to do a couple interviews for a class project, and at 3, I had practice for the upcoming Body Combat new release. Perfect day for riding wasted. Ug.

But this summer should be good. With no race car in the garage I feel like my summer has just completed opened up. Yes I will still have school, and I am going to take 3 classes over the 2 summer sessions, with one of them being my 3 day residency class, but I plan on taking time to ride, and hopefully kayak a bit, and train for a triathlon.

Barking dogs, baby awkwardness and mini-lez fest 09

Now that I think about it....that is a really weird title.

In an attempt to get over my fear of social interaction with people I don't know, I went to a baby shower yesterday where I knew 2 of the 25 people there (one of them was obviously mom). I am still amazed at how I can stand in a room, in a corner and feel totally out of place, when there is no good reason for it. All of these women were around my age, all had jobs, and all were very friendly, and yet it took this monumental amount of effort for me to mingle and make small talk. Oh well...no biggie..it was still fun. Especially since there was wine. Of course the awkwardness I felt around other adults I didn't know pales in comparison to the awkwardness I felt around the new baby (the background here is that "mom" adopted, so the 8 week old baby was at the shower). Yes he's cute, and no, I don't want to hold him. Thanks though.

And so in preparation for attending said baby shower I spent over an hour at Fred Meyer's attempting to pick out a gift. I found myself walking aimlessly up and down the isles hoping to find that perfect something, and I realized I get the same feeling of being lost when I am in the power tool section at the Home Depot. Not too many months ago, I performed this same activity (looking for a baby gift at Fred Meyers) with my new Sister-in-law Sara, and while I was busy trying to figure out the difference between a "bumbo" and a "boppy" she managed to coo over everything, and still wind up with a decent looking gift. Just one more reason I am convinced I am not cut out for this motherhood business.

So let's see...what else. Oh yes. The dogs. I came home from work last Monday to grab Chase to take her to the vet and was greeted by a nice large note taped to our front door. Apparently our dogs have developed a barking problem. And apparently our neighbors now hate us. Brilliant. So after taking her to the vet for a check-up ($50) and talking with Sherman about the right course of action, I went back to our local pet store to purchase a bark collar ($65). Well, after trying said collar on her, Tuesday night our lovely couple from across the street came over to give us a "bark report" and while we were elated to find out that the bark collar quited the female, Newman, our male, let the whole neighborhood know of his presence. All morning long. So Tuesday night I went to a different pet store to purchase a "barking birdhouse" ($50). This ingenious little invention emits a irritating sound only dogs can hear whenever a dog barks near it. It's great (and I think it's working, but I need to get another report). The only problem is, is it only has a fifty foot range, so eventually I will need to buy another one for the other side of the house. So after kenneling Chase on Friday so we could go out of town, it's been an expensive dog week. Good thing she is so friggin cute.

And of course the big news of the week is:

1. Sherman is going out of town for 5 whole days!!!! Blessed solice and the bed all to myself!!
2. My two best friends are coming down for the weekend. Since our yearly "lez fest" usually happens in the fall, I am dubbing this weekend "Mini-lez fest 2009".

I absolutely love spending time with my girls. It is just what my soul and my attitude needs. So I have a feeling it will be a long week as I wait anxiously for their arrival. But once they get here, we are going to tear this town up! Well, maybe not...but I'm sure there will be some wine involved.

When you don't have kids...

You are left to gush about your dogs. Thats right...I said dogs. Plural. As in, two.

So we went ahead and added a new dog to our family. This dog came to us with the name of "Princess" and since I couldn't call her that name without getting a little quesy, we have sinced changed her name to "Chase".

And so I have to say... she is just a darling. She is quite a bit smaller than our other moose of a boxer and has just a sweet personality. It made me smile tonight when Sherman said "she's been a good addition".

So far it's been fun having both of them. Outside of having to buy another dog house today (to the tune of $150) she has been a lot of fun. And I think Newman appreciates her as well.

So anyway....what else? Well, another one bit the dust last weekend. Sherman's brother, Clennon, married his girl Sara in a nice little ceremony in Mt. Vernon. The ceremony was nice, the reception was fun, and I drank way, way too much white wine. I find the older I get, I get a lot smarter about the way I drink. No longer do I think any drink with a "name" (think "Fuzzy Navel" or "Sex on the Beach") is a good idea. Of course that does not stop me from drinking enough wine and beer to regret it the next morning. Oh well, all in the name of fun.

And so one wedding down, two (possibly three) to go. It's a big wedding year for Sherman and I. But that's okay because I love weddings. Especially cake.

I am one week away from finishing my fourth class in my master's program. That would be approx 1/3 the way done. It feels like I should be so much further. Sigh.

A potential new addition to the family

So we are potentially adding a new member to the family tonight. On Saturday I stopped into our neightborhood pet store, Blylee's Animal Health center, to pick up some treats for the pets and on my way out there was a card on their reader board for a female brindle boxer needing a home. Well, I probably should have just walked on, but I didn't. I called the number and talked to the family. They are bringer her over tonight to check out our residence to see if she is a good fit.

I am not so sure we need another dog....but we have always wanted to get Newman a friend, and this might be a good thing. Who knows...we shall see. Will keep you posted.

Super Bowl 43

I am sad to say that yet another great football season is quickly coming to an end. And nothing would make me more happy than to see Arizona kick the living crap out of Pittsburg.

So to my sister living in Mesa, and all who are still bitter over the Hawk/Steeler debalce, GO CARDS!

Can you tell I've started another class?

As it's been nearly 3 weeks since my last post? Sad, very sad. And of course I am now writing this post because I am avoiding having to write a paper.

This has been an interesting week for me. Not in the sense that anything dramatic happened, rather I have just been kind of moody and I don't know why. I theorize that it's because I am in desperate need of some girlfriend time (which I am) but rather I think it's because I'm a tad bit burned out. Even though I am only 1 week into this class, it's got A TON of reading, some of which is a little challenging. Couple that with trying to memorize chorey for my classes at the gym, deal with a new boss at work, and everything else....

And over the next 8 weeks we have 2 trips to Bellingham planned, 1 (possibly 2) trips to Spokane planned, and a trip back to Seattle. We travel this much in the summer. I don't really want to travel this much in the winter as well. Ick...

Ok, if I continue on much more I fear I am going to make myself look like a whiner. I am going to quit now, and post when I'm in a better mood.

Happy New Year!

Wow, 2009 is officially upon us. What do I want to do differently with this year than the past?

I resolve to:

1. Worry less about what I think people think about me (because I'm usually wrong).
2. Spend more time finding the good in people.
3. Be a better wife.
4. Worry less about what I look like below the neck.
5. Quit taking on new projects.
6. Get rid of a few of my projects.
7. Simplify my life.
8. Balance my checkbook regularly (ya right!)

So there you go. Hard to say if in a year I can look back and check off any of those as completed, but I hope I can.

2009 could prove to be an interesting year for us. I plan on contuning to grow in my professional life, embrace a new passion at the gym, and keep plodding along with school. This will be the year we will watch several of our family and friends start new chapters in their lives with wedding, and it may be the year we start a new chapter in ours. Who knows what the future will bring.

May it bring all of you everything that is great and good.