Pay It Forward winner!

Alicia P. was the first to post for the Pay It Forward challenge. Thanks for playing! I really love the idea of this, and may try to do it once in a while, so be sure to keep an eye out for it. Alicia's blog can be found here:

akporter.blogspot.com

so be sure to check her blog out later for her Pay It Forward. Alicia, check your email.

I have finally gotten a cut of the file that's up on my blog. Here's a picture of it. The download will be up for a few more days and then I'll submit it to cuttersmarket.com.

I've been fighting a migraine all day. I think I'm going to give up and go lay down. Figures, seems like lately I'm always sick on the weekends.

Til next time!

Pay It Forward

I was thrilled to see that I was the first to post to Chris's blog for her Pay It Forward challenge. You can check it out here:

http://visualdesignsbychris.blogspot.com/2008/03/weekend-and-pay-it-forward.html

So, now it's my turn to Pay It Forward.

I think this is such a cool idea. What a nice way to brighten someone's day! The first person to post to my blog that they will Pay It Forward on their blog will get their choice of two of my GSD files from cuttersmarket.com. Since I only have 17 files there to chose from, I'll include a mystery file I'm working on now. The only stipulation is, of course, that you have to pay it forward on your own blog. Be sure to post your blog addy in your post. I will post the winner and ask you to email me with your choice of files. Then, as soon as you post the Pay It Forward on your blog, I'll send you the files. Easy-Peasy.

Stephen put the shock collar on Annabelle last night. It killed me. I bawled like a baby when it shocked her. It is effective tho - she only barked three times before she realized what was going on. So we left it on her and let her sleep out in the fenced yard since it was 60 degrees over night. I don't think she barked once. And I got 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Heaven help me if she barks again with it on, I don't think I can take it.

At least tomorrow is Friday. What a long week it's been. I get my hair cut Saturday. It's long over due. I'm tempted to go super short this time, but I'll probably chicken out.

Til tomorrow! And don't forget to post if you want to Pay It Forward!

file link corrected and shock collars

First, I think the link to the free file is working now. I'm sorry I didn't check it closer last night. I was so wrapped up in the silly dog that I didn't do a very good job with my post. If you have any problems, please let me know. Also, if you use the file on a card or layout, I'd love to see it.

After another sleepless night, Stephen and I have decided we're going to have to do something about the dog. I lost count with how many times she woke me up last night somewhere around the fifth time I let her out. She wants to play. She didn't need to use the potty but once out of all those times. So, after much discussion, we decided to try a shock collar. I've always been totally against them, but I HAVE to get some sleep. I don't know what else we can do. While it's warm, we could leave her outside, but she barks when she's outside at night at the least little thing. And after her jail break stunts last night, I'm not sure I would trust her to still be there in the morning. So I guess we'll see how a collar goes. Wish us luck.

Still fighting this nasty cold. My head is clearer, but I'm fighting a migraine and I have pain in my back near my left lung. I'm guessing the cold is trying to settle in there. Seems any time I get sick, my left ear and or lung is affected and just won't clear out. At least I did get to the gym this morning. I'm finally to the point that I can run 3 miles, non-stop in just under 38 minutes. According to the trainer at the gym, I should be doing it in 30 mins. I have no idea how I'm going to shave 8 mins off 3 miles. Stephen suggested adding an incline to my run, but I'm terrified I'll trash my foot again. I can walk for a limited time on an incline without pain, but I'm afraid running will be too much stress on it. Any suggestions on how to increase my pace by 20%?

update -file

So here's the file. Sorry for the delay getting it to you. I hope you can find some use for it.

EXPIRED


Do not reduce it too much or it will tear. I'm sorry I don't have a preview, I've tried twice now and keep getting interrupted by the dog who has turned in to a houdini hound - she's gotten out twice just since supper.

Tuesday - still sick

I woke up this morning feel worse. I tried but just couldn't drag myself to the gym. So today has been a complete bust. Fighting a headache, sinuses are killing me, chest hurts - I wish I could just go home and go to bed. And I'm starving. I could eat a large DQ blizzard right now and still be hungry for supper. Unfortunately supper doesn't cook itself, and I know Stephen will be too tired from going to the gym after work to cook. I just hope Belle doesn't get up more than once tonight to be let out.

I have a free file ready to cut and then post for you guys. I'll do my best to cut it tonight and add to today's post. I hope some of you will be able to use it.

I can't wait for spring to get here. This warm one day freezing the next BS is getting on my last good nerve.

two sickies: the dog and me

I am so glad I was able to get Annabelle in to see her regular vet Friday. I'm convinced the other lady doesn't have a frakin' clue (yes, we watch Battlestar at our house) what's going on. Jeanine said her kidneys are fine, great for a dog her age, and she has no idea why she's still getting up two to four times a night. But the bad news is, her liver is getting bad. She wants her to take two months of meds and we'll check the liver again to see if the function is improving. 60 pills, $78. Ouch.

And I was sick all day yesterday. Got up, felt fine, when to the grocery, came home, started lunch, ate lunch, then oh no. What a nightmare. I haven't been that sick in a long, long time. I couldn't hold on to anything. I was so weak I could barely get up and down the stairs yesterday. I'm thinking it was a 24 hr bug. At least I'm hoping that's all it is.

So, consequently, I don't have that a file for you. I'm sorry, I'll try my best to get on something tonight, so please check back tomorrow. I'm always open to suggestions, so feel free to let me know what you think or need.

pup still sick

Annabelle is still sick. The vet found a small amount of blood in her urine this morning and traces of "something" else that leads her to believe it's kidney failure. So I have to take her back to the vet tomorrow for a blood draw to see where we go from here. It's not looking good. She is doing a little better at night at least. I just feel so bad for her. Stephen and I have talked and at least we're on the same page. We won't let her suffer. Unlike my mother, who let my childhood dog go blind, deaf, immobile and incontinent and still wouldn't put her to sleep. That dog died the most horrible death, finally seizing to death. There will be none of that for Belle at least.

I had hoped to have a free file up today to celebrate spring. But I didn't get it test cut. I'll try to post it tomorrow, so please check back. I'm trying to decide how best to promote my files. I'm thinking of a mini sale - maybe email me a copy of your receipt from Cuttersmarket and I'll send you a free file. Not sure yet. Suggestions are welcome.

Til Friday!

Any one want a dog and a card to share

First the card. I made this thank you card with the curly frame file from Chris Durnan. I love how versatile these frames are. Thanks so much for another wonderful file, Chris! Oh, and don't forget, you can see all of Chris's files at www.paperthreads.com.

I'm really starting to get worried about our dog. She's soon going to be 14, and she's been having accidents. Last week it had gotten so bad, I took her to the vet. They're not sure if she's just old or if it's an infection or worse. But they gave us antibiotics to put her on. Last night she was horribly sick, twice. I felt so bad for her. And for me too, because I got sick cleaning it up. I talked to the vet's office and they said give it another try tonight, but if she gets sick again they'll change her antibiotic. I swear it's worse than having a child. She whines all the time, barks to wake me up to take her out, and then barks to be let out so we can play at 4am. Any one want a dog?

Monday and a layout and a cake

Well, it's Monday, again. We survived the winter storm with only about 4" of snow. We were very lucky. The roads were almost entirely clear by 3pm Saturday. It could have been a lot worse. I hope that's the last of winter around here.

Here's a layout I did this weekend using Chris Durnan's file Seashells, borders and corners for the Wishblade/Craftrobo. I used glitter chalks for the shells, unfortunately it doesn't show up very well in the photo. This is the place that we had the awesome fish and seafood. I would have loved to have eaten there again before we left, but there was just too much going on. Next time we're in Green Bay, definitely.



Here are a couple of pictures of the cake I made when the Packers made the playoffs this past seaon. I was pretty happy with how it turned out. Altho my hands were cramping from pressing out all those little stars. You'll notice the white frosting I used for the "snow" at Lambeau Field. Anyway, it tasted pretty good, even if it didn't look as good as I had hoped.

Friday

I survived another week. A long week. Hard to get back in to the groove at the gym. I thought that the week off from the gym had helped my foot. I thought too soon. It's been aching all day today. Wishful thinking on my part I guess. I was able to run my full 3 miles today tho, so that was good.

It's snowing tonight. It started about 1 this afternoon. They're saying from 3 to 6" tonight. At least we don't have to go to work in the morning.

I'm working on a layout that I hope to finish tonight. It's from our Green Bay trip. It's pictures of the wonderful restaurant in front of the Lodge called Marty's Boston Crab. I have no idea how I'm going to get all those pictures scrapped.

Happy Retirement, Favre and a layout

Imagine how sad I was this morning to get the phone call from Stephen. I knew it was coming sooner, rather than later, but I had hoped it wouldn't come this year. Stephen called this morning to tell me Favre was retiring. After 17 yrs in the NFL, 16 with the Packers, he's calling it quits. I was so hoping he would come back for at least one more year, preferably two, since the team is so young and showing so much promise and talent. But I would never begrudge him his retirement. And best of all, we got to see him on opening day of his last season.

Happy retirement, Favre.

I indeed get sick. I missed work last Wednesday and should have probably stayed home at least Thursday, maybe even Friday too. But meetings at work forced me back in. My head has hurt non-stop for over a week now. All last week my left ear hurt so bad I just wanted to cry. But, fingers crossed, other than the headache, I think I'm on the mend.

I have a layout to share. It's using Chris's Workin' Out with Dumbbells file. You can find this file, and all her other awesome files, as well as her steal-of-a-deal membership option at:

http://www.paperthreads.com/store/index.php?manufacturers_id=12&main_page=index

This layout is a congrats to Stephen. He joined the gym two years ago and has since lost over 70 lbs! I am so proud of him. I think Chris's file was perfect for this layout. WTG Stephen!

Nothing else new. Work is work, busy and stressful. It's hard to work when my head has been hurting like this for so long. The weather definitely isn't cooperating. 72 on Sunday, thunderstorms and 65 on Monday, 35 and snow flurries today.

Til next time, happy crafting!

sick?

Say it isn't so! I think I'm getting sick. I woke up, felt like crap, got up, went back to bed, got back up, went to the gym, ran 3 miles, showered, came to work and have felt worse with every passing minute. My head is killing me, my nose is bleeding, and it's hard to breath, plus I'm coughing. I don't have time to be sick. Thank goodness I put a roast in the crock pot before I left this morning.

The weather is crappy today. Cold, wet, drizzle, snow flurries. Please send spring asap I'm sure it's not helping my head any.

Pretty boring today. I keep hoping Favre will announce he's coming back next season, but so far, no such luck. I'm already ready for football season again. I hate that the season is so short.

Monday

Well it's Monday, again. I swear time is just flying by, esp when it comes to time to go back to work. It was a wild day today. The internet was down for almost 3 hrs, so there was a lot of work that I couldn't get to.

I didn't get by the gym this morning and man, can I tell. I'm cranky, tired and just plain miserable. I find it nearly impossible to get up early on Monday's and get to the gym before work. I wonder how covered up it is tonight, and if I dare chance the crowd?

Yesterday was the anniversary of my dad's death. I can't believe it's been 8 years. I still miss him fiercely. I don't think that will ever get any easier, no matter what people say. So many what ifs, so many regrets. I should have went to his grave yesterday and put out fresh flowers, but I was too lazy and selfish to do it. Stephen works Saturday, maybe I can go then. I don't get by there very often, since it's an hour away. I miss you dad!!

Saturday! Saturday! Saaaturday!

Thank goodness it's the weekend! What a long week it's been. I swear they just seem to take longer and longer and the weekends keep flying by faster and faster.

Had a rough work out at the gym yesterday morning before work. It was really hot in there, and I got too hot. My hammy started cramping up, and I just couldn't do the 4 miles I had intended to do. I did get 3 in, but it cost me. My foot hurt all day. We had unexpected guests at lunch. Fridays we go out to our favorite restaurant and relax as a treat for making it thru the week. We had already ordered and started in on our appetizer when my inlaws came in and joined us. It was nice to see them, but it was also rather creepy. They said they drove by to see if we were there, since it's Friday, and when they saw our vehicle they decided to stop. It was nice visiting with them, but even Stephen said it was a little weird that they just showed up unannounced. I gave blood after work last night. Bruising already, but then that's to be expected with me. Got up this morning, cleaned up the kitchen and straightened a little in the house. I had to wait for Stephen to get up before I can run the vacuum. Looks to be another lazy weekend here. Maybe I can work on some projects later.

Happy Saturday all!

Long time no see!

So much for blogging on a regular basis, eh? Well, I'm going to do better from now on. Maybe. Hopefully. Well, at least I'm going to try.

We've been having some wild weather here, 65+ one day, 25 the next. Luckily we missed a huge winter storm last night. We had a little bit of freezing rain and that's it. Thank goodness! While we've had a relatively mild winter, I can't wait for Spring.

I'm back in to the gym routine, in spite of my foot still hurting. I'm not losing any weight, in fact I've gained 2 lbs. But I'm going to pretend it's muscle mass in my legs - I've gone from being able to run 2 miles at a time to running 3 to 4 miles at a time. My speed has increased a little, but my endurance has really gone up. I can run non-stop for 50 mins now. And while that's not terribly impressive, I'm darn happy with it considering how old I am and how over weight I am still.

I'm on a design team for a wonderful lady who makes the most fabulous cutter files for the Wishblade and CraftRobo. You can check out her website here:

http://visualdesignsbychris.blogspot.com/

I'll post a few of the things I've made with some of her great files for you to see.












Nothing really new here. Work, eat, sleep, go to the gym, work, eat, sleep....getting older and older and I have no idea where the time has gone.

a few more pics

thought I might post a few more pictures from our trip.




This is of Favre coming out of the tunnel. Can I just say one more time how much I love our camera? LOVE the zoom on that puppy. The tunnel that the players come out of is at the opposite end of the stadium from where we were sitting. I think if we're lucky enough to go back to another game sometime, we need to get the additional zoom lense to use with it.



This is a picture of the jets that flew over the stadium as the Banner was ending. I think it gave everyone chills. I've never heard anything so loud as when they flew over. Stephen and I talked about it and of all the games we've been to, none have had more impressive flyovers than this one. The jets were lower than we've ever seen before and flying faster than any other game we've been to.



As we were walking over to the stadium from the tail gate party, we saw this vehicle. It belongs to the "Packer Pope". This is a man who dresses up in Green and Gold "robes". I have a picture at home, somewhere, from our first trip to Green Bay that I'll post later. He and his wife were so cool, they posed for us to take their picture. The "Pope" was at the player autograph signing too.


This is at the tailgate party. After we'd walked back to get warmer clothes since it was drizzling and the temp was dropping. If only we'd known it was going to clear off by the end of the first quarter and be so warm and sunny that our faces would get sunburned! As it was, Stephen ended up burning up in his sweatshirt. I had a jacket on, thank goodness, so I didn't get too terribly hot. A little about the tailgate parties put on by Packer Fan Tours - they're awesome! All the food you can eat and all the drinks you care to drink. Music, including special tailgate tunes like "the Bears Still Suck" and "Our Favre". A great time, absolutely great.

And the last one for today. This is Stephen with William Henderson at the players autograph party the night before the game. Stephen has been a huge fan of Henderson's for ever, and we were thrilled to find out he was at the party even tho he was no longer a team member.

It was a sad night in our house Sunday with the Packers collapsing and getting beat by the Bears. I hope that wasn't a sign of things to come this season. Oh, and my new co-worker that just started Monday? She's a Bears fan who moved her from just outside Chicago. Oops!

reports of my demise were premature

I AM still here and among the land of the living. Just super swamped, both at work and at home. Can't seem to find time to do much of anything. I can't even find time to decide on the first batch of pictures I want to scrap.

But boy did we have a great time! The game was wonderful, the weather was fallish, and the great citizens of Green Bay, well, they were great as usual. You know they have to be sick of Cheeseheads and tourists and fans, but everyone was super nice to us. Here are some pictures:

This is during the game, obviously. LOVE our new camera. The zoom on it is amazing. We were 16 rows back so we were pretty close to begin with, but even at the far end of the stadium the pictures turned out great.





This is from our lunch at Curly's Pub. The absolutely best nachos I've ever had. We really wanted to try the O-Line burger, but it was 40 oz and we didn't think even on an empty stomach we could handle it and the "bucket of fries" it came with.







A nice couple a few rows behind us agreed to take this picture. I didn't even realize at the time that I was standing on a row of bleachers and that Stephen wasn't. Oops! Well, at least we're not totally mutt and jeff in this picture.







This is while we were waiting in line to get in to the tailgate party. A nice couple from Southern Mississippi snapped this pic for us. We ended up seeing them in the hotel bar on Monday night and had a really nice chat with them, while Stephen discovered the Green Monkey (I'll post the recipe tomorrow). LOVE the new jersey that Stephen bought me at the Packers Pro Shop. He bought me a black one at The Jersey Store the next day. I'll have to model it later and post a pic this weekend maybe.

Last one for today. This is us in front of the statue of Curly Lambeau in front of the stadium, right outside the Atrium and the Pro Shop. A really sweet man that lives in Green Bay offered to take our picture. Of course he said "eh, you two aren't from around here are you?" and we all had a good laugh. After taking this one, he offered to take a picture of us in front of Vince Lombardi's statue (I'll post that later too) so we of course took him up on that as well. This was from Friday afternoon, about 30 mins after we hit town. We checked in to the hotel and went straight over to the stadium and Pro Shop. It was very nice, cool, windy and sunny. I swear the whole trip my hair was in my eyes more than where it belonged. I finally gave up trying to keep it behind my ears even.

Well, that's enough for today. I'll try to post more tomorrow. I figure I have enough stories and pictures to fill up the blog from now til the end of the year.

Happy Labor Day, foot, football, and shorttime-ing

Happy Labor Day weekend everyone! I hope you have a safe, happy holiday!

We went to the football game last night. We had a nice time, even tho the Packers got beat. The starting offense only played for two series, and the starting defense only played one series. When you take in to consideration that the Titans played their starters in to the Third Quarter, it's no surprise the Pack got beat. It tried to rain a time or two, drizzling for a few minutes then stopping, but there was an incredible breeze blowing. By the time we got home (12:40am) my foot was killing me, again. It's been hurting for a couple of weeks, but the 1 1/2 mile walk one way to and from the parking lot to the stadium trashed it. Why 3 miles walked outside should be all that different from the 2 1/2 miles I run and the 1 mile I walk in the gym at least 3-4 times a week is beyond me. Thank goodness I made an appt two weeks ago to see the podiatrist this next week before we leave on vacation. I'm hoping and praying that he'll give me another shot.

Shorttime-ing. That's me for sure. I'm soooo ready for vacation. I can't wait to get away, from people, from work, from this town. I've been having a hard time staying focused, and I find myself thinking of all the things I need to pack and be sure are ready to grab the moment we can leave.

I frequent a site called sparkpeople.com. It's for weight loss, healthy living, exercise and support. I found a blurb on there that really hit home today. I'm always crushed any time someone asks me when my baby is due or if I just gave birth. I need to try to remember this instead:

Reading your own thoughts into someone else’s words
Example: Someone made a mildly critical or unsupportive remark to you, and you feel completely devastated. Reality: The more bothered you are by such remarks, the more likely it is that you are being overly critical of yourself. When you treat yourself with respect, what others say won’t matter nearly so much.

migraines and rain and football

It shouldn't come as any surprise that I spent all of last night huddled on the couch in agony with a migraine. My eyes were so messed up from the weaker contacts that I had a headache inside a half hour and a migraine inside of 45 minutes. I took everything I could think of and couldn't get rid of it. Jerk doctor.

We did wake up to a nice surprise. We got a little bit of rain. Not much, and not nearly what we needed, but at least we got some. Maybe a quarter of an inch. Never mind we're over 10 inches below normal and in a severe drought. The rain also brought some cooler temps, which is a welcome relief to the 4+ straight WEEKS of 100+ degree temps.

Tomorrow night we're going to the Packers vs Titans pre-season game. We weren't expecting to go, and it was a wonderful surprise when the owner of our favorite restaurant called us to ask if we needed tickets. Gotta love that! I hope no one gets hurt tomorrow night. The Packers already have several dinged up players, so I'm hoping that nothing else goes wrong. Go Pack!!

I hate doctors!

Can I just scream now? For about a month now, I've noticed I have trouble reading street signs and seeing distances. It's been about 18 months since I've last been in for a new script, so I figured my eyes were getting worse and I needed stronger contacts. Imagine my total disbelief when the eye dr tells me my script is too STRONG and reduced my script by .50 in each eye! I said, so even tho I can't see distant NOW you think I need weaker lenses? Yup, that's what he said. So then I have to write him a check for $75 and feel like I've been robbed. I told him I never would have come in to see him if my eyes weren't WORSE and I needed to see better. Oh, and his answer to me not being able to see my computer monitor was "just take your contacts out". Hello? He expects me to take my contacts out a dozen or more times a day? Or else wear glasses, which I hate. I could have snapped his scrawny butt in half right then and there. I should have refused to pay for that BS. Oh I'm so mad!!

So I've had these "better" contacts in for an hour and of course I have a horrible migraine now. Can I just say I hate men?!