Sad week to come

I was so excited this year to have a good chunk of money left over of my tax refund after paying off bills. I had all kinds of wishes and dreams coming to mind.

I was having a hard time choosing from so many great things.... flat panel tv? family history vacation to Pennsylvania? down payment on a Camry? Landscaping dreams come true?

Today my choice was made. All fun of talks and wishes were shattered.
Long story short - my precious beloved truck didn't pass inspections and the repairs will suck up any and all savings and will have to be out of commission for a week!

I am however grateful for many things in this.

1. my truck lasted until I had enough savings.
2. a boss who accompanied me to the mechanic to make sure I wasn't getting taken.
3. my friend is on vacation next week and is letting me user her car.
4. my beloved truck is fixable.
5. no plans, needs etc that I have to back out on next week.
6. co workers who willingly take me home, pick me up, cart me around.

I have one hope left. It is that until my truck is fixed and cleared with inspections I don't get pulled over! With the luck I'm having I will pour out my story of trying to get it registered to only be handed a ticket for the balance of my checking account! :)

Another first

Another first in my life last week. I had a discounted price and an opportunity to have the bishopric of my ward teach me to snow ski, so i took it!

I was so nervous to go and two friends from the ward were my encouragment and support.

The boots are the worst comfort I have ever experienced. After I put them on I felt like I had to learn to walk all over again. By the end of my day my muscles were so exhausted that i just 'slumped' into the boots and hardly noticed they were there and I swaggered as well as anyone else.

It was a horrific and fantastic time. I had an emotional break down at the top of a my first real run. I was ready to take off the skiis and walk down. Luckily I knew that it was my one and only chance to try this sport and I decided that I had to ski down that hill, even if it meant that I was going to fall every 10 feet. I did fall - alot - have some nice bruises to show for it, but 1/2 way down my legs figured it out and I enjoyed the rest of the run.

Lucky for me it was a warm day, the only time I got cold was at lunch when i took off my coat to eat and my sweaty shirt was exposed to the mountain air. I was grateful that I didnt feel the cold at any other time.

It was a good experience, a fun day and I can see how people can be addicted to the sport. Would I do it again? you bet! as long as I could stay on the 'first timers' run and not go to a real one.

Peaches

So my first time attempting canning all on my own! Thanks to a good friend who gave me a canning kit for my b-day I was all prepared for the task. I did 14 quarts. they looked amazing! and they all sealed. So the hope now is that they taste good.

Big B-day

I had a great monumental Birthday. It started with 5 men giving me beautiful flowers delivered to my office! What girl has ever been so admired?

A beautiful cake made with love and purple ribbons!

Presents and the Mountain!

And of course Family.

It was a great birthday! Thanks to such a caring, fun, family

survival

So being a dog owner really is an adventure. Sasha is doing great! She has learned shake, stay, free, lay and how to lead (until a dog or cat or person comes around :) ). I am not sure that i will survive though. The last week of July she and i were playing and in the rough play she sunk her tooth into the side of my thumb and tore it right down the edge of my fingernail. It took 2 weeks and kitchen table surgery before it started to heal. After the wound healed for almost a week i bumped the fingernail and it split down in the middle of it where it had been weakend. Just got over that on Sunday and today (Monday) I was out running with her and tripped on an unever sidewalk and jammed the fingers of my other hand. all four fingers are swollen but the middle and ring fingers are bruised and painful. Sasha will live through the long days alone but i am not sure i will live through the fun times we are together.
I went camping with my friend annette last week to Pine Valley. It was beautiful. Camping couldn't have been more perfect. Sasha was tormented every day all day by chipmunks and squirrels who tried to sneak into the campground. At one point they were coming from four different directions and she just didn't know what to do. I loved just being in the mountains, away from phones and email. completley unattached from the everyday life. Work is so busy right now. I come home mentally exauhsted every day. Tension is high and the problems and new products just keep piling up and so the helpdesk is constantly busy. So being away for four days was sure pleasure.
We stopped at the Meadow Mountain Massacre sight. I really dont understand what happened or why in regards to the massacre. But the sight that the Church has created and maintains in a beautiful, peacful, spiritual place. There is the strongest feeling of love and forgivness and healing at the site. it is truly a heavenly place on earth.

New Adventure

I am on to the next adventure. I am a dog owner. I had a 3 day trial which was increadibly difficult and emotionally draining. But we (Sasha and I) survived and now we belong to each other.
Sasha is the Hannah in the last blog. But I think Sasha fits her better and within 2 days she answers to it very well. She is a quick learner of anything that brings love or treats.
Advertised as a Blonde Lab mix. She is probablly more mix than lab. Not sure all what but i love that she is smaller than a lab and has the beautiful blond/red color of a lab. She claimed me just after a day, but it took a few days for me to decide that i would do her good as well. We have walked together, shopped together, hiked together, cried together, been on a doggie play date and eaten together. She will be a great pal!

Hannah

This is Hannah, I just met her today. She is a beautiful girl. She is a yellow lab that is mixed with something else.... no one really knows for sure what. But she is small for a lab and has beautiful white patches and some dark coloring on her tail. I am very seriously considering adopting her. We are going to spend some more time together and get to know each other a bit more, before that decision is made. Don't you love how she poses for a picture? what a girl.