Happy Mother's Day

Love you Momsie!

Settling In

I feel like I have been moving for weeks... but finally things are coming together at my new apartment. My furniture (after the delivery truck ran out of gas and was delayed) was finally delivered last night around 10 pm. Unfortunately two pieces were damaged and so now I have to wait on another truck to replace them, but for now at least I have what is beginning to feel like a home. Here is a sneak peak...

An original artwork in the kitchen...finally a place to hang it!

The eggies also keep watch over the kitchen!Moxie tested the new couch to make sure it was comfy. I think it passed - she is sleeping there now!

The bedroom: I lost storage by moving to a smaller apartment, so the bedroom is pretty packed. I may move the crate eventually, but I haven't decided exactly where it will go. *Ignore the unmade bed and the missing comforter, Moxie isn't allowed to sleep on the good stuff!The entertainment center: Again a little cluttered for my taste, but without storage options I am just trying to find a place to put things for now. *Also note the expensive dog bed that Moxie is not sleeping in right now!

This is the painting for above the couch - it should arrive this week. The reviews on the trueness of the color were good, so cross my fingers it will lighten up the living room with the dark couches.Dining Room: Finally there is room for visitors to eat here now! So anyone who wants to come to dinner night once a month to try out random recipes... *And the new couch is a sofa sleeper, so even though I only have a one bedroom apartment, guests are welcome!
I have always wanted a hallway with random frames of family, but there isn't much of a hallway here for a huge gallery, but I made it work. **Note the empty frame, and the fact that some need to be updated. Hint for anyone who wants to email a recent picture of nephews you would like to see here...And of course, it wouldn't be home if Moxie didn't destroy the blinds in the first week!

Hello Again

I think I am still in denial that the new year has already started. After a whirlwind fall full of visits, trips, holiday prep and celebration, shopping, and the requisite holiday cold/sickness, I am still recuperating on the couch. I am off of work today though so I guess it is time to stop hibernating and rejoin the rest of the world in making my new year’s resolutions. As evidenced in last year’s new years post, I am horrible in not only making resolutions, but in keeping them as well. But I suppose everyone has the same problem based on the fact that we all keep making the same ones every year. So I am hoping to make a list of reasonable goals for this year and put them in writing so my faithful five readers can keep me on track (hint, hint). 2012 is actually looking to be a fun year: ski day planned this month, trip to New York in February, long weekend in Atlanta in March (and hopefully Vegas as well), a new apartment in April, and some time this summer a California tour. So I think that is a good start to the year! So here is my list...

1. Blog more. I am going to write one full length blog a month. Plus a picture post once a week. Text/FB/email reminders are welcome.
2. Be active. I have been going to the gym off and on for the past year, but not with any regularity, so my goal this year is to no excuses, go two days a week every week. I hope to go more and often do, but then there will be sometimes be a two week period when I don’t go at all. So this way, I have two days planned every week so I can’t fall off the wagon.
3. Cook more. I really do like to cook, but I just get sick of leftovers so I often just eat out. I am hoping to start eating at home more often. My friends and I tried to start a once a week rotating dinner night, but with the holidays, we didn’t get into a routine. I think I am going to try to jump start that idea again. It is always more fun to cook for others!
4. Do something. Okay that is vague, but I am hoping to find at least regular activity that I have been missing lately. I miss singing, but as an adult there aren't a lot of opportunities other than church choirs for that. But there is an adult chorus in Columbia. Or maybe a charity that needs a volunteer on one Saturday a month, or possibly an ultimate frisbee team in the spring. My idea is to find something that I enjoy where I can meet other people. I have decided to stay here for at least another year, so I want to take advantage of the benefits of my job (flexibility, days off, set hours, minimal stress, etc.)
5. Try new things. Snowboarding will be first this year. I’ll let you know how that goes in my next post. Any ideas are welcome. Whether it is a new food, a new look, a book I wouldn’t normally read, or an activity. Time to explore my thirties...
6. Organize my past. I have slowly brought all of my pictures and journals and random memories here from mom’s house, but there is no sort of organization. Plus I have five years of digital photos on my computer that have never been printed. So I want to consolidate to a manageable amount of meaningful, documented, date ordered files/books. This may take longer than one year...
7. Learn. I keep tossing around this idea of going back to school, but then the pro/con list always leans heavier on the con list due to finances and responsibilities. I really do miss studying and learning new things and discussing with other people that are interested in the same ideas, but graduate school just seems a little out of reach. So I was thinking about on online course or continuing ed class at the school here. I’ll see what I find and keep you all posted.

I think that sums up the basic goals for this year. I think the basic theme is to stop letting time pass by and start living life. I know that is a pretty common and trite statement, but this is where I am at right now, so... here’s to 2012!

And because cute animal pictures make anyone smile...

More days off please...

Everyone on FB kept commenting on how bored they were after two snow days, but I found plenty to do... a little fitness (or just fun). Tried a new recipe: Chopped Veggie Salad with Lemon-Cumin Vinaigrette

Watched a movie (well this was just one of several we watched).

And what day at home would be complete without a puzzle.

I also made pickles Tuan style, but after eating some, decided to try frying the rest. Very good!

Too bad I had to go back to work today. There was so much more to do!

Snow Day

No work today! Lots of snow... and still coming down right now. Pretty, but very cold for us southerners!Moxie did not want to have any part of the snow. I had to drag her outside to take a picture.

Yes, these are on FB, but posted just for Momsie!

It's a dog's life...

Life in SC according to the guest blogger....

First these silly humans dress me up in their clothes. Don't they know I have a fur coat?!?


Then they make me share my apartment with this little thing they call a dog. I haven't decided if he really is a dog, but I guess he can share... for now...


I am not sure if he is trustworthy though, so I have to sleep with one eye open while I guard my precious wubba... no one else can have my toy!


Eventually though I can have a few moments of peace in my recliner!!

I guess I can stay for the time being...

More from my person later...

Keeping up with the Dogsburgers

Since I have arrived at the Dogsburgers, I suppose I have to blog as often as Jenn to keep up. So…

Before I left, I had a mini-celebration with m&d before I left. We had good food down the street from my house, then opened a few presents, and played a new game! Well mom and I played and dad watched sports on my tv with more than 5 channels.

Mom made a present for me: see below. With sleeves and a foot pocket! Moxie decided she liked it too.So the next morning when I woke up it was 35 degrees in my house. Seems the igniter on my heater had gone out. So while I waited for the repairman, I stayed cozy and warm in my new blanket!

Today, I left for the winter wonderland. My flight was overbooked, so I tried to get a free ticket by volunteering for the next flight, but I was too late. I guess everyone else wanted free tickets too!

So now I am toasty and warm inside with cat number one (Titan).Outside … Not so warm!

More to follow!

Staying Dry

So I had today off – and it was a good thing as the monsoon-like rains continued. Several roads and schools were closed today due to flooding and it seems like the rain will continue all week. I didn't manage to stay completely dry, since Moxie has to go out. She isn't a big fan of the rain though, so we only stayed outside for a minute. What better time to update the blog, than the absolutlely lazy day I had today. I managed to do one load of laundry and the dishes, but other than that, Moxie and I relaxed on the couch.

This past weekend I went to the wedding of my best friend’s little sister. Seems like just the other day she was only twelve and trying to get us in trouble! Luckily the rain stopped at 5pm just before the wedding and held off all night. The bride was beautiful... and the flower girl (little S) adorable.
The event was held at an inn in North Georgia and even with the rain, the views were definitely very scenic. The drive back in the pouring rain, however, not so scenic!

Now tomorrow – back to work!

No more bump!

So Moxie went to the vet today. It was supposed to be a routine mass removal, but… nothing is ever routine with her!

Before:

They ended up not putting her under, due to her now worsening heart murmur. The vet gave her a local anesthesia, and with the help of some vet techs holding her, was able to cut off the ear bump and cauterize the ear. So no funny cut out on her ear and it looks much better.

After:

But then she had some blood work done and some x-rays of her heart, so now I can go visit the animal cardiologist. Boxers are prone to some technical sounding disease meaning enlarged hearts. The x-rays were promising, though, no obvious enlargement. So possible, the murmur is just caused by one of many other less threatening reasons. Of course, she is getting to be a very expensive pet. But I guess you all know, she is my little baby, and I will do whatever I can. I couldn’t imagine a day without her, even though she is now 6 ½ years old and I know that day will come. It does take away some of the loneliness to have her to come home to at night! She sleeps with me, cuddles on the couch, and always listens to me… and she doesn’t mind my crazy routines and organizational habits. Being the eternally single sister is easier with Mox!

Of course none of this seems to bother her – here she is watching out the window at the neighbor’s cat! Happy as always!

The Usual

So don't let the previous post fool you... this is what dinner normally looks like!
Not quite as exciting as the other, but still tastes pretty good. And Moxie likes to lick the dish!

On the Couch

So I am sick again! I started feeling a little under the weather yesterday, and a girl in the office had bronchitis, so I was a little concerned. I went to bed at 8:30 last night (a record for me I think!), but still didn’t feel better this morning. I even had a fever! So I went to work for a few hours but couldn’t stay longer. Than I drove to three minute clinics before I could be seen (and it was longer than a minute!). The prognosis was the flu. So no medicine to help, but mom made some home made chicken noodle soup and acai tea for me. Now I am in the best spot to be sick – the comfy couch with more soup and the moxie dog. So I figured blogging would be a good idea. I found a dog walker for moxie – she is coming over tomorrow to meet us. I hope we pass the test. She would come over twice during the week to take Mox for a 30 minute walk. I am sure Moxie would be a lot happier to get out every now and then. My treadmill has been getting a little use, but not as much as I would like. I did get Moxie to run for a few minutes though! I also went to the store to buy healthier food, but eating out is still so easy. So slow going on the lifestyle changes – hopefully being sick won’t keep me down too long!

Only Fifteen

So it has been too long, but I don’t have too much to tell. So taking my cue from the ubiquitous trend circling social network trends, here are my “25 Things” for now…well narrowed down to only fifteen because I have to go to bed. (see http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2009-02-04-facebook-25random_N.htm?csp=usat.me for more information).

1. Moxie likes tofu. So if I could figure out how to cook it maybe I would eat more at home. Any ideas?
2. I bought a treadmill, or as everyone else likes to refer to it – an expensive clothes hanger. So far it is perfect. Running in a climate controlled environment with the tv on is my kind of running!
3. We hired a new person in my office – with no experience. So hopefully she will be a blessing in the long run, but until I can get her somewhat trained, more work for me! Yay! (Please note sarcasm here).
4. I am looking forward to Swiss Days and seeing the whole family, but I have to decide this week what days to fly. My credit with a certain airline expires on Saturday. So I was thinking Wed to Tues?
5. I really hate getting up in the morning – can I pretend tomorrow isn’t Monday?!
6. When I fixed my tv, I had to renew my subscription and now get movie channels free for three months. I have so much stored on my dvr, I don’t know if I will ever catch up! Right now I am watching The Lake House, so far so good.
7. Today was nice – warm and sunny. Moxie and I say on the back porch for awhile – until I got bored reading of reading The Grapes of Wrath.
8. Related to #7, maybe my goal of reading books I should have read already needs to be narrowed to books that are actually interesting!
9. My favorite teacher is retiring this year. Some past and present students are putting together a memory book, so I am attempting to write a letter. That and the eminent ten year reunion this summer have me thinking a lot about the past. Some really funny memories! And maybe some not so good. But I guess that is how we get to the now…
10. I really am ready for summer. I hate cold weather, I love flip flops, and I hate never seeing the sun. I leave for work in the dark and get home in the dark. Maybe I need to live in southern California with the growing Burli family!
11. Lately, I have been hanging out with my friend that lives in the city. It makes me realize how isolated I am in suburbia. I don’t even know my neighbors’ names. I get home late and leave early. I don’t have anything to talk to them about, and when I want to go somewhere, it is usually in the city. So hopefully I can sell my house this year!
12. This week I am going to attempt to exercise in the morning before work – we’ll have to see how I actually do. The snooze button is my friend!
13. I have absolutely no food in my house - and I am not exaggerating. I am trying to make a list of healthy foods I can manage to cook, but than every night it is just easier to stop somewhere. Does anyone have some links to quick, healthy recipes?
14. This Saturday, I am not working! For the first Saturday in four weeks! I am thinking sleeping in and catching up on all those movies!
15. So that’s all I have for now – hopefully my computer stays in good shape and I can update more often!

Christmas Eve Eve

Moxie and I had company today! Mom & Dad came over to celebrate before their trip. I put up a few decorations and cooked a few things. Mom brought dessert and helped prep the appetizers. The food was good, the company excellent - and the B0ggle game intense! To keep up with family tradition -I brought out the antlers...

Bark and Hi

Time for bed, but a quick picture...

barks and hello for now...

Savannah

I went to Savannah for the weekend. It was a quick trip, but still fun. A friend from work was getting married so a bunch of us traveled down together. We got a chance to eat a wonderful seafood dinner Friday night, walk around downtown Saturday morning, and then off to the wedding. The sun came out just in time for the wedding. The wedding was large – 10 groomsmen and 10 bridesmaids, junior groomsman & bridesmaid, ring bearer, a miniature bride and groom, plus a wedding crier?? Not sure what that meant, but she was about ten and her job appeared to direct the two children (mini bride & groom) down the aisle. The reception was fun also – a lot of family, friends and dancing! While I was gone, Moxie went to the “pet resort.” She was tired when I picked her up, so I guess she had fun too. She was able to stay next door to Scooter, so I hope that made her feel less abandoned. Now back to work again!

Just a neat church we walked by - the architechure and history in the city is so rich - I wish I could have spent more time there getting to see more and learn about the biuldings - and ghosts they say live there too (referring to a great book...)


The Bride and the ring bearer( the couple's 20 month old son) were having a goodtime dancing!

The Newlyweds pose with the motley Global crew!

Guest Blogger

My mom has been really busy lately so I am filling in… Not much has been going on around here lately… walking, sleeping, eating, and chasing my orange octopus, eating ice cubes, sleeping, barking at the kids in the cul-de-sac… the usual. I had to go to the doctor a couple of weeks ago for my check up. Uncle Andy was really nice to me. He gave me treats and I got a pedicure! The nice ladies weighed me and I gained five pounds in the past year. But I don’t need to diet which is good because I really l like those treats. I had an infection on my chin from scratching so much, but the pills aren’t bad. Mom puts them in a spoon with peanut butter and then lets me lick the spoon. Yummy! I have been exhausted lately so I have found some new places to sleep… on my couch – but boy I look old with that grey hair! And the top of the stairs is good too! The step allows me to hang my head upside down – it is a lot more comfy than it looks! My other favorite spot is in front of the window and that’s where I am going right now… I’ll have my mom get back on track with this blog thing – after all it is pretty fun! Barks to everyone - Moxie

Exhausted

Sorry for the lag in blog world. Things are good here, but I am exhausted. And so is Moxie. The summer has been a whirlwind, between work, work, and work, there is not a lot left of me when I get home! I luckily still have had a few chances to get to the lake and relax, but other than that, I don’t have any exciting stories or pictures. Hopefully something good soon...

Too much, but still missing something.

Ok, so quick catch up…I really haven’t fallen off the face of the earth, just been… well quiet. I guess I needed a little regrouping lately. I still can’t figure out what I am looking for I guess (see Resolution post). I keep trying new things and hanging out with more people, but I just feel overwhelmed. This weekend, I turned off my phone and spent the weekend with Moxie. I think it was definitely the right thing to do, but still no direction. I have a clean house, a clean dog, a mowed yard, completed work, and now a new blog post, to show for this weekend though! Just to keep you updated for the past few weeks: I went to the lake with the triplets,-the normal summer spot, celebrated some birthdays, went to a funeral, caught up with mom when she passed through, went to Florida for a work conference, broke up with my boyfriend, had a new nephew, took scuba diving lessons, saw my goddaughter eat cake for her first birthday, lost a good friend, went to a club, bought some stuff at the fun Swedish furniture store, saw some fun creatures, worked, and well worked! I promise more to come soon… birthday adventures and another beach trip…