Meaning of Christmas

I know I am getting old and cranky. Because I feel slightly offended when I heard folks saying the meaning of Christmas is spending quality time with friends and family. So, here I am spending quality time with friends on the 18th

Over the River and Through the Tunnel

We thought it would be nice to spend Thanksgiving in UT this year so we took the dog and went grandma's house. Dinner was at Nikki's house. I don't know what was wrong with my picture taking skills that day. I must have been subconsciously intimidated by Nikki. Anyway here are the 'best' pictures I took that day. As you can see a good time was had by all.

Tree Shopping

I can't believe that it is only three weeks Christmas, where did the time go? So many things to do, so little time. We lost our internet access Friday moning. We tried everything we could to fix it and finally ended up calling Qwest. Qwest was able to do a remote diagnosis and said that our brand new modem was burnt out. They are coming tomorrow to fix it. Paul and I don't feel we use the internet that much, but we really did miss it this week end. We could not look up who was selling trees for the best price, we did not know how cold it was ou side, we could not get to the bank statement, I could not call kitchenaid on an ordered (Paul's Chrismas present) they messed up, I could aimlessly not check out the price of real estate around the country. Debbie showed up on our doorstep around noon on Saturday, she had been trying to call for two days and was unable to reach us, because the phone does not work without the internet. She wanted to know if I wanted to do lunch, which, of course, I did.

We have a a few cold days, but for the most part the weather has been beautiful. We move the big chair downstairs this morning so we would have room for a tree, then Paul and Brandy went tree shopping , while I went in to work, but the work I was planning to do was unavailable. I still have studying to do for Ecelys training. There is always something that I can work on at work.

Gray Hair and Apple Strudel

We have notice that Brandy now has a gray chin. She is only four, she is way to young to be going gray. It really bothers me when folks dye poodles bright colors, think pink or blue, but would it be so wrong to dye her chin back to it's original color. It is hard to accept the fact that she is no longer a puppy.

Now that winter is upon us, Paul has started making his apple strudel. I really miss it and glad to see it again. It is like revisiting an old friend.

Hare Today Goon Tomorrow

The other day a few of us walked over to Sam's No. 3 for lunch. I had a Gryo. It was delicious! Sam’s #3 is a Mexican-Greek restaurant that is across the street from where I work. I am posting a picture of a cute little meadow bunny enjoying his lunch in front of Sam’s. I think Sam’s would be perfect for the food network show “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. What can I say, even little bunny foo foo knows this a good place to hang.

A couple of week’s ago a gal at work decided she wanted to take a ‘work out’ class an outside party was offering at my place of employment. She didn’t want to take it alone, so I agreed to take it with her. I should have known better, because it was called ‘Boot Camp, but as she pointed out, the flyer said it was for “all levels.’ Well, the flyer lied, it is not for all levels and at the last minute my ‘friend’ backed out. So, I ended up taking a class that was way out of my comfort zone all by myself. I don’t have a picture of this so you will have to use your imagination.

The room we are using is about a hundred yards and the instructor was having us take turns sprinting across the room. We were suppose imagine that we were being chased by a bear. When to came my turn (I was last) I started out well, until I lost my balance and fell really hard, face first (think belly flop). I skinned both my knees and the arm with the recovering Shingles vaccine. Six people came running to my aid as I explained that it looked worse than it really was, I heard someone murmur “it looks pretty bad.”

After that I think the instructor realized I was the class’s ‘weakest link.’ because he kind of help me when we did the sit ups (which means I had to do them all). I can truly tell you that the five of six sets of eight of set ups are causing me more physical pain than my skinned elbow and knees, but I fell like such a goon for being so uncoordinated. Get it- ‘Hare Today Goon Tomorrow.’



The first picture is of Leslee and
Lisa, the second is of Lisa, Linda and Donna.

Yesterday we had a ‘team building’ lunch. Our supervisor, Linda, took us to Red Robin and then we went across the street to a nail saloon for manicures and pedicures. I had both. I feel so rested. The pedicure chairs are mechanical massage chairs, so while the technican is working on getting rid of your callous, your back is being massaged. See, here is a picture of my freshly painted hands and feet.


Saturday, Terrie and John are having a Halloween party. I was going to get a red sweat shirt and put black dots on it and call myself a lady bug, but Sarah had a better idea. So, now I am going to wear all black and then pin spice names (nutmeg, cinnamon, fennel)on my shirt and call myself a ‘spice girl.’ Cute, huh?

Change is in the Air

Well, the changing weather has brought both good and bad changes. The view from the backyard is at it's best. No need for Paul and I to go to the mountains when the view of the leaves changing colors is more diversified from our own backyard.

The Craft Fairs are upon us now, so my former bar buddies and I have changed our evil ways and now get together to prowl overprices bazaars. Here is Debbie lurking about for something special at the Gateway High School Craft Fair. Can't say what she got, it's a secret.

Here is a picture of Paula, June and Terrie waiting for Debbie to finish shopping. In the background you can see a picture of Bonnie. Bonnie is one of the new trainers, it was a surpise to see her at the craft show. This Craft Show was in the Air Museum of the Rockies, so we got to see the museum stuff as part of the admission fee ($5.00). The museum is pretty cool.

Can't say I got a lot of gifts, but I did but stuff I normally wouldn't. Here is a picture of what I picked up. Home made sausages and garlic sauce for Paul, the honey collected by local bees is for me.


I am not sure this is good change or a bad change, but the city left us a note on the door letting us know even in my redneck slash blue collar neighborhood we are not allowed to park a small pop-up camper on the side yard. So, we posted this morning and within two hours it was gone. I suppose it is a good thing for me and a bad thing for Paul. Paul is depressed because he sold it for $150.00 less than he paid for it. Never the less, I am happy it is gone.

Paul did not like the fire pit we got last year and wanted to put in on line, but my friend, Sarah wanted it so we are taking it to her house this afternoon. Good change for Paul, not so good for me. Then we will take Brandy to the puppie park, good change for her, not so good (boring) for Paul and me. And, if we have time we plan on moving the Rosemary Plant indoors when we get home. Good change for the Rosemary plant, if Brandy leaves it alone.

Blogger's Bloc

I have a bit to say, but I wanted to post photograghs of Mom and Ed's recent visit so I had been putting it off until I was in a postion to put the picture on the blog. But it looks like those pictures will have to be posted later, it has already been a week since they returned to UT, and I left my camera cord at home. Because my new camera is small I can always carry it and if the is a shot that even looks half way interesting I can take a picture.
Anyway, we had a nice visit with Mom and Ed and because we were the last place they stay before returning home we got to see the pictures they took in the last two weeks. We put them on the big TV so we could all watch at the same time. It was a lot of fun. I felt I got to travel, but did not have to suffer any of the inconviniences involved with travel. No hunting hotel rooms or gas stations, no traffice jams, no gastric issues from questionable sources, no bug bites, no sore feet, it was a wonderful trip. I feel so rested.

KP has started calling member's to make sure that we get in a see an MD at least once a year, and because the PV visit is free employees were offered $25 to be up to date with all of our visits, I went. The nurse did state she hope I wasn't doing this just for the $25. I, of course thought but did not say, "well then you shouldn't have called." Anyway, they gave me a Shingle vaccine and a flu shot while I was there. I had been told that since I had already had Shingles I could not get the vaccine. Turns out that is not true. The good news is the Shingles vaccine(zoster) is good for life, the bad news is my arm looks like someone stuck a base ball under it.

Weather here has been beautiful. Autumn is my favorite time of the year. We have been getting so really great sunsets. Paul says he is going back to Salidalia this weekend for more firewood. This winters is suppose to slightly warmer than normal, but natural gas is suppose to increase. I think he just likes to camp.
Looks like you can edit and add pictures after you have posted. Looks like I mis-spelled "shingles." Oopsy.

Podigal Sister

Judy stopped by on her way back to Maryland.

We havested the tomatoes,

and baked cookies rather than butchering the fatted calf. But alas, it was not enough, she is leaving in the morning.

We also took the puppy to the dog park so that she would behave. Alas, the puppy was so excited to see her Aunt without this picture you would never guess how exhausted she was right before Auntie's arrival.

And here she is ten minutes later, charming her way into Judy's heart.

We watch conference, Okay I mostly listened. We talked.

We took pictures way into the night

and then we went our seperate ways, so that we could get our blogging done.
We may be a tad bit obessive/compulsive. Weirdly, Conference was all about addictive behaviors.

Iconic Aurora

Every city has some icon that is unique to that city. Billings has the Rims, Bratislava has Devin, Provo has Timpanogos and Aurora has giant golf balls.

I got up early this morning and took pictures. I could not decide which I like the best so I posting a couple of options.

Please, let me know which you like the best. We are planing a decopoupage of sorts of all of the places we have lived for the living room. I would like to have one small picture of something the represents Aurora.

Craft Room

There is so many projects I wanted to get done this week. I especially wanted to get my 'work at home' station set up. If I don't get it set up by November 1st I will be in serious jeopardy of losing access. But at least I made a point of using my dedicated craft room. I am changing the frame around the mirror from peach (Paul call's it pink) to walnut so that it matches the living room better. Using the craft room was seriously a lot easier than setting up work access and that is why this project is now completed (except for the drying).

Bookie in the Making

Of course, I have managed to read a couple of books this week. The first was, "True Blood." by David Baldacci. I got it Costco, so I thought it couldn't be too bad. But frankly, I did not like it. There were to many lose ends, and it was a bit contrived. The second is "The Lacuna" by Barbara Kingsolver. I say 'is' because I am only on page 133. But so far I like it, but NPR did not give it a very good review. It maybe not be the authors best, but then that is not a fair rating against her best, when it is still better than the less gifted.

Stairway to Heaven

I am posting a few of Paul's Project. The first picture is that of the finished stairwell. Finally, it is one step closer to being done.

The second is for the logs he has been stacking in the back yard. Arapahoe Nat'l Forest has cut down the trees and now anyone can go there and collect firewood. Paul still thinks using the fireplace is cheaper than natural gas.

Last year it smelled like we had been camping everytime he used the fireplace. I am not excited about having that smell again this Year. On the other hand, I do like the new stair case.

Hairy Situation

So, on Monday I got my hair cut. I have been playing with hair styles for the last few days, maybe that is why it took me two days to finish the closet. The first shot is of me, straight out of the shower, letting my hair dry naturally. The second picture of of the same hair, curled and with a tad bit of makeup. When I show up to work on Monday, it will be the first style.

Bolo ties and Birenstocks

There are always a little rewards to cleaning. This time it was finding my birenstocks and Bolo ties.

Birenstocks look better with feet, thats because they are fifteen years old, but new ones are so expensive so I am keeping the old ones. I may not be able to wear until next year, but at least I now know where they are.



I never wear my bolo ties, so I am bequeathing them to Brittany's friend, John. I put them on an old log so they will look more masculine. Hopefully, John will find a way to make them into something that reflects his style. Maybe I should paint a small cat one one them...Just a thought.

Good Behavior and Time off

I have been off all week and it has been wonderful. Paul did want to spend a couple days camping, but we never got it organized. So, I went and got my hair cut.

Bought a couple of cushions for the kitchen chairs. My plan is make sure than not of the new cushions are the same and the unmatching will make them a matched set.

I also picked up a curtian to put in Paul's man cave.


I spent two days cleaning out my closet. I told my supervisor I was going to organize my closet and she told me she organized her clothes by color, so I tried, but it's not that easy. Over 200 hangers were used in this small closet. I would probably make a good candidate for Hoarder's Anonymous.