Not doing well.

Titan is not doing well right now. I've taken him to 3 different vets. The latest one is up in Pennsylvania that has done wonders for my sister's dog, Wendy, so I have high hopes for him.

Titan's condition is unexplained. Lab and Rad results are normal, his behavior/eating is normal, yet as you can see from the before and after pictures, he is not normal.

My prayers have been that his body will find peace.



This is how Titan normally looks:






Taken today:

STRESSED is just DESSERTS spelled backwards!

Where to begin?

Monday was my 31st birthday, and Tuesday was Titan's 8th birthday!

Titan is doing much better. He has gained back most of the weight he lost, though he has a bit of a pot-belly now. At the vet today he weighed 97 lbs. He is normally 99-102 lbs and all muscle.

I resigned at work, and my last day was yesterday. Boy, was that scary! I'm packing up my apartment today and tomorrow and moving all my stuff to storage in Georgia this weekend. I'm going to Pennsylvania through the end of the year to visit with my sister before returning to Georgia to start working. I am SO excited about spending time with Whiskey Girl!

So I'm incredibly busy for the next few days, but it's all very exciting and scary stuff.

**Oh, and the new profile pic was taken at White Sands National Monument in New Mexico.

This really happened, folks.

I was down visiting Nate and Dr. Who to see their new digs in Alabama, and during the tour of the house, Dr. Who showed me the master bath, and what did I see in the shower?!?! This from the guy that says men should mount reciprocating saws on the ceiling above the bathtub and put steel wool on the end to scrub with!

Refer to Rule #33 Men don't use loofas on July 14, 2007, from Nate's blog.

Just breathe

Things are crazy busy at work right now. I spent 13 days in Lufkin, TX, at one of our facilities for their computer conversion Go Live. During those 13 days I worked 61 hours OVERtime! I had one week back in the office, last week, and now I'm in Las Cruces, NM, for another conversion! Whew!

For the first three weeks I mentioned, I had a friend and her two little girls staying with me in my apartment. I was grateful to have someone take care of my dog for me while I was gone and to have the company the one week I was home. This past Sunday I helped her move into her first place all on her own with her two daughters!

Other big doin's on Sunday was I convinced yet another coworker to join the motorcycling world!! My friend bought a '97 BMW 650. She is pretty, too, bright red! Barely has 11,000 miles on her. My friend was timid about riding her before buying her because he just took the MSF course on a little 250 bike for one weekend. So he brought me along to do the test ride for him!! Woot! Then after that, he was too timid to ride her all the way home (about 45 min, including time on interstate) so I got to ride her home!! Wooter!!

So, it has been an exhausting, exciting, productive few weeks, with a few more to yet to come! I hope things are going just as well for all y'all!!

Just a few thoughts

I am so tired. I'm very thankful for a weekend at home in a few days.

Work is very busy right now. I gotta get a few projects wrapped up in the next couple weeks because I have a couple trips coming up soon, about 10 days each. I enjoy the travel, though, and am looking forward to these trips in particular, going to Texas and New Mexico. We always get to eat well when we travel, that is when we actually have time to eat!

I've been worried about my dog recently. The vet hasn't figured out what's wrong with him, but we've thankfully ruled out some pretty bad possibilities. He's holding down his food again, and now I just hope he gains some of his weight back.

My oldest niece is now 8 years old...doesn't seem possible! Seems like just yesterday she was born and I was making runs back and forth to the hospital from the house. At the same time it seems like she's always been there, a part of the family. That goes for all my nieces and nephews.

Weekend was a blast!

So most of the campers went Friday night, but three of us were waiting until Saturday morning to leave. One of the two girls showed up around 7am at my apartment to leave. The other was MIA. Never heard from her, and neither of us had her phone number. We left after waiting half an hour for her, 'cause we were on a tight schedule. (That delay ate up all our buffer, and we cut our time close for our reservation for rafting!) Snooze, you lose, I guess.

We met at a little restaurant out in the middle of nowhere for an early lunch. Food was spectacular, and the waitress was really nice. We showed up at the rafting outpost with no time to spare! We immediately jumped on the bus and hitched a ride upstream to enter the Hiwassee River (Class I & II rapids)...dang was that water COLD! I had a 1-person inflatable kayak. I had to sit indian-style, so I ended up with sunburns on the inside of my knees! It looks really weird. We had a great group kayaking, 5 individuals, then a couple in a 2-person kayak. It was so much fun to be able to float alongside my friends and just chat, then go down some rapids, get unstuck from the rocks I inevitably would find, and then have several splash-fests with the paddles! (I was usually the instigator...hehe) I found it interesting that the women were the ones who more readily joined in the splashing...I guess we just have a more vicious spirit!

We headed back to camp, where the latecomers set up tents. Apparently we missed out on a significant chapter in the story by not being there the previous night because they almost killed some teenagers in the camp next door. I heard those kids must've been drunk, trippin' or both. There was a fire, flammable liquids, and then a gas can caught on fire, big pop, a girl named Melody wailing because her boyfriend (who was there) told her that he had cheated on her with another girl who had better boobs than her...that all lasted until 4am. Then at 6am, some other campers finally woke, still irritated from the commotion of the teens from the night before, and decided to retaliate by blasting country music and making their car alarm go off again and again and again while shouting their mock conversations at each other.

So we're settling in, getting to know the family members of one of the coworkers that came, chattin' up a storm...gettin' the fires going when it got dark. One guy grills a couple steaks...hehe...and just as he's grabbin' one to serve it, it falls on the ground. Oh, I 'bout died laughing. Thankfully he was amused, too, because apparently this wasn't the first time he's done that while camping.

This morning we got up and made breakfast burritos and coffee. We packed up camp before heading down to raft the Ocoee River (Class III & IV rapids). There was a significant rock slide there recently that destroyed a section of the flume that regulates the river volume, and also changing a bit of the rapid landscape. And due to the unregulated water, the water level was really high so the rapids were big, but harder for us to surf in them to play around some. What counts was we got soaked. We got to jump out of the boat and swim one part of the river, and that was a lot of fun, too. The water was cold, but felt great. I wasn't ready to get back in the river when the time came. Finally, we got to offer first aid to a kayaker because he scraped up his hand pretty good.

After this, we loaded up, and headed home. This was a good weekend. Don't ask me for pics 'cause I didn't take any...I was too busy having fun.

Awesome weekend coming up!

I am so stoked about this coming weekend. I'm going camping and rafting with some friends.

8 of us are showing up on the Hiwassee River Saturday to do some lazy river rafting. I'll have a 1-man inflatable kayak thingy. I heard stories that last year people did the 2-man ones, and there was quite a bit of, um, opposition among the rafters, a sight to behold with much laughter nonetheless.

After this, 11 of us will head to camp for some drinkin' and story-tellin' around a fire...I'm leavin' this part to be determined on how it'll turn out.

Sunday afternoon 9 of us are heading over to the Ocoee for some Class III and IV rapids! I did this one last year. It was soooo much fun. The guide kept picking on me...which was hilarious 'cause he kept dumping me under the rapid. I'd scream under the water, then laugh uncontrollably every time I came out...repeat about a dozen times!

It's gonna be a blast!

Sometimes it's good to be single and childless...

Because last night I finally got to catch up on my sleep!! 13 hours, oh yeah! I'm feeling good today!

Man's companion

I went out of town for business, and things were terrific! Everything related to work went right. And on top of that...I got 2 marriage proposals!

I took notice that even though the proposals were joking, they both only did so because I was doing some kind of service or kindness to someone else. One time was because I offered to get drinks for everyone from the kitchen, the other was because I was emptying the trash. I think this is rather telling of the behavior of the modern woman. As I offered to get drinks, the other women in the room were saying the guys could get their own drinks.

When did we as women lose the unction to serve and help? I feel happy when I can do something, even as little as emptying the trash, to make another person's environment better. I think it's a real tragedy that in today's society that women believe we are equal to men in all things. I support gender roles...I personally think we got the better end of the deal!

Flooding in Middle Tennessee

So everyone may be aware by now that Nashville is under water in many places. The rain just won't stop. We have gotten 25% of a year's average in 2 days; 18 inches...in two days...

Fortunately for me, I am still dry with power and clean water. I was wise to cancel all my weekend plans and just stay home. From the time it started raining until the time the rain had pretty much stopped, I only stepped outside enough to walk Titan. When I finally did venture out a short while ago, I saw plenty of areas where there had been high waters, but the water had receded in most of the roads and parking lots leaving behind the debris, sediment, and destroyed pavement.

I have been a bit surprised that CNN and Fox have not covered this story at all, at least not from what I've seen. I understand they are covering the oil spill in the the Gulf and a car bomb that didn't detonate in Times Square. Interesting...I guess they just all know that Tennesseans are resourceful enough to take care of ourselves and don't need to plea to the nation to take care of us.

I chopped it all off!!

Don't hate me...


Over the last 6 months I have cut off about 18-19 inches of my hair. It is now above my shoulders! And I have BANGS!! I've not had bangs in like 15 years, or my hair quite this short in about 20.

I like it though. I needed a change, and this is sufficing for now.

Anniversary

Today I got a 2-year service award at work. April 7 will mark two years I've been with my company and moved back to Tennessee.

I'm really please with what I have accomplished while at work. I won't take this opportunity to list examples as that would be conceited, but I am pleased.

I've been asked to leave my job and move these last few months, with family moving away, and whatnot, but I really just enjoy my job too much to give it up.

A quick "thanks" to my boss for giving me a shot, putting up with me for 2 years, and encouraging me to do better.

Opportunity lost.

Even though opportunity was lost, it can still be redeemed. Repent for the cause of the loss, and God can redeem.

Just a reminder.

HaloScan

With HaloScan failing, I was forced to change things up a bit. I'm just gonna stick with blogger commenting for now.

Snow/Ice storm!!

I'm certain everyone knows by now that Tennessee has been hit with some snow, then ice. I walk outside on the snow, not in the snow, but on top of the snow. It's 4-5 inches thick in some places and with a layer of ice on top, I just walk right over the top of it, no footprints left behind.

Anyway, I was out letting Titan run around, sliding into cars and snowbanks, and I notice someone trying to back out of a parking space. I questioned whether I should assist as a good neighbor would, or let them stay stuck so they wouldn't be out driving in this mess. Well, I decided to help. After a few minutes of digging out the snow from behind the tires and pushing the car to get it going, the car gets unstuck. The driver, from Michigan, is extremely thankful, and comments that neighbors just aren't that "friendly" anymore. I was glad I could help change that perception! Later that afternoon, she stops by my apartment and gives me a gift certificate to Starbucks! Score two!

So, I've been sitting in front of a fire all weekend, at home staying warm. Thankfully I was able to get the food I need (hot chocolate included), and rent a couple movies, and make a great weekend of it.

I am sorry to have missed playing with the nephews, but driving an hour when it was not required, I figured it was best to stay home, especially after hearing about 2 ambulances and 1 mailtruck flipping.

So, how was your weekend?

Still good.

I just got back from a trip to Hobbs, NM. I had very interesting experiences there, but most importantly, the job I went to do flowed seamlessly. We were converting the hospital there from one computer system to another one that we can support. I'm thankful for my first transition to have gone so well.

In my personal life, things are still going pretty well. I'm enjoying time with friends and family. I'm happy to have my dog back upon returning from my business trip. And on top of everything I think I'm coming to a personal realization about releasing self-condemnation about making mistakes...Praise God!

All is well.

Just checking in.

I hope everyone has all their Christmas shopping done, 'cause the stores are chaos now. If you're travelling this holiday, as I am, I pray you have a safe trip.

Anyway, I hope everything is as well with y'all as it is with me!

Wow....time flies!

I have been so busy! Lots of change going on in my life.

The most significant change is tomorrow is my last day at my job!! I got a new position in a different department. I'll get to do some travel, which is AWESOME! I'm completely stoked about the job. The best part is that I'm not leaving my current job because I'm unhappy. I've been in a great job with great coworkers and manager. I'm simply moving on because the opportunity is difficult to pass up. I think that is the best way to leave a job...no burned bridges!

Yeah, plans are fluid.

Oh ye of little faith. The pictures from the cruise are posted!


Check out those hues of blue!! So beautiful that a camera can't possibly do it justice.

On the way back to the ship in Cozumel.

Dr. Who, the chef! The Mexican Cooking Class was the bestest excursion ever! If you go on a cruise and have the opportunity...DO IT!!!

View from the aft.

Check out sexy Dr. Who!!! (That's my dress, btw)

Dr. Who and I went on a cruise through the Caribbean instead of going on the motorcycle ride. We had a blast!! We did my all time favorite shore excursion of a Mexican Cuisine Cooking Class, alcohol included. Oh man....did we have fun!! If I get to it soon enough, I'll attempt to post some pics again.

9 days on the motorcycle!!!

Starting out first thing Saturday morning we're taking off for 9 days on the motorcycles!! Nate and hopefully Dr. Who on their bike and me on Little Red. The destination is the road...eventually leading us to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. What I'm learning though that the trip isn't so much about the destination as it is about the road that gets you there. I'm SO STOKED!

I finally bought myself some proper motorcycles boots and pants, too!! I'm getting Diadora (Italian leather) boots and Fieldsheer pants. The boots speak for themselves with the word "Diadora". The pants are kickbutt! They have protection for the shins, knees, kidney areas, and hips! Plus the material is abrasion resistant and waterproof!! They're going to look awesome with my Scorpian jacket! Can you tell I'm excited?

So...send us your prayers for safety while we're on the road. It's appreciated.