Life Is Good....

Life is Good these days.  I have a job, my health & sanity, my daughter is doing awesome and I have someone in my life I really care about. It is amazing what timing has to do with relationships. I have known, and been good friends with, this guy for just shy of 30 years and all of a sudden I have seen him through different eyes. Wow...I really didn't see this coming either. Of course, things are still very much in their infancy, but for me to WANT to spend all my FREE time with someone is really, very different than the norm. I gladly helped him paint and move into a new place this weekend, during a damn frickin heat wave, and although a bit on the sore side this morning and probably dropped 5 lbs in sweat alone....I haven't laughed so much and in a long time....I am really very content at the moment.....as I said, "Life is Good!"

Dear Santa....

I was wondering if I could get my Christmas present early this year. I know it's a little early in the year, but I have been a good girl...I promise I have...I am not asking for a lot...I would like it to be between 5'10" - 6'0" tall, with broad shoulders and a six-pack, so obviously in excellent shape. Somewhere between Gerard Butler and Robert Downey Jr (see photos if you need examples). If I could get it now...I would be extremely grateful and promise to take good care of my present forever. I would not forget about it in a few weeks, like what happens with other Christmas gifts. I would hold it and cherish it for as long as it lasts. I won't need any spare parts either. I promise not to break it or abuse it...just love it forever.

If you can do this for me Santa...I won't ask for another present EVER again.

P.S. Thanks in advance for your help!!!

Far, Far Away....

I write more often...in the land far, far away. I have more time to read a good book, watch T.V., surf the Web, give myself a mani - pedicure, take a vacation (of course, that one costs money), visit with my BFFs....you get it, right?

I really don't mind that the days are in warp speed and there is no time to SNACK all the time. Good way for me to trim down...just get a full-time job! haha....I had a great time in Las Vegas. My gambling story goes like this.....

Monday morning I met the new employers in the lobby of the South Point Hotel & Casino. As I was waiting for them to arrive the "Wheel of Fortune" machines were calling out to me. I texted my BFF and asked if I should bet $20 on the machines...she said "Play $40 and Good Luck."

So.......after a long day working and dinner at the Cheesecake Factory...yummy, yum yum... I got back to my room, changed out of my suit and went down to the slot machine that was calling my name so loudly. There were two Wheel of Fortune $1 machines side-by-side and the right one was open. The machine sucked up my $20 literally out of my wallet and I gave her a few pulls (betting all 5 coins). On the fourth pull a got a few bucks back...on the fifth pull I hit a jackpot and Wheel of Fortune was announced. If you've never heard the machine, you are missing out. There is something about the sound that is an incredible turn-on to me! Well, my heart was nearly pounding out of my chest by this time and the dude next to me was just staring.....I pushed on the button and watched as the wheel spun around...praying that I would hit BIG. Well, I didn't hit big...but got a $75 jackpot. I immediately cashed out, grabbed my receipt and left. I was there all of maybe 3 minutes tops....The dude next to me just shook his head in disgust (he looked like he was loosing big-time, so sorry, not).

Yep...that is my big Las Vegas gambling story and I stopped there, resisting the urge to play any more. Yes....I came back a winner with a new job and an extra $55 bucks in my pocket! One hell of a week, if you ask me! 

Vegas Baby...Vegas!!!

The day has FINALLY come. I am on my way to Las Vegas this evening for the big "job interview" and subsequent training. I will be there for several days and I am hoping to have some R&R while there. You know the type "Wheel OF Fortune" my favorite game to play!!! I am not much of a gambler, but that game sucks me in every time I pass one by.

I only hope I have packed enough clothes....right...I have more luggage this trip than went down on the Titanic. My motto...you can never be too prepared. I must have business clothes, casual business clothes, dressy casual clothes, bumming clothes, and of course, dressy clothes in case I get the opportunity to go pick up on some hot stud out on the town.

I haven't gone anywhere for so long...although this is a business trip...I feel very liberated! An adult in an adult world for 4 nights and 4 days...woohoo!!!

Wish me luck on all endeavors ;)

Spring Fashion Trends and Handbags

Although we are NOT having a Spring here, we can still think about dressing for the occasion. Our local stores are full of Spring clothing and the colors are great this year. I really love the soft, sage greens that are out and the vibrant pinks and fuchsias. Things are selling out fast and if you haven't picked up your Spring handbag....you may be out-of-luck. The economy seems to be doing better and people are spending money on non-essentials. (Nice for the retailers!). This is a must-have this Spring....The SAK Artist Circle Cross-Body handbag. You can find it at Amazon.com.

I have been preparing for a, much anticipated, trip next weekend and have had to purchase a few items to supplement my very unprofessional looking wardrobe. What I found while shopping is - sale prices are good and there is lots to choose from on the racks....some of the big retail clothing stores are marking down items, and there are some great bargains to be had! Nordstrom Rack was a goldmine for business attire and the shoe sale at Macy's was awesome too. My two fav places to shop when I have money to spend.

  

Sweetpea did well at the teen stores...Forever 21, Love Culture, Charlotte Russe, and all the other basic hangouts for girls her age. She is definitely a bargain shopper (I've taught her well) and she immediately goes to the sale racks when entering a store...love it!!!

OK...we just love to shop......what girl doesn't????

Fake Nails....

Sweetpea talked me into getting some of those glue-on fake nails for her last night and I ended up putting some on too. Now, I don't usually do fake nails as my own grow quite nicely, but recently my nails have looked pretty trashy. Stress maybe??? Anyway, the damn things are KILLING ME. Every finger hurts like heck and I am unable to complete the simplest of tasks like buttoning and zipping up clothes and other more personal duties without them feeling weird and uncomfortable. 

UGH....I don't think they will come off easy either. I don't know what to do...just wait until the glue wears off or try to pop them off myself? The only good thing about this all is that they do look really, really nice for fake nails and Sweetpea also liked how they felt when I scratched her back last night. Hmmmm, maybe that was the whole devious plot...she wanted me to have nails for her back!!!!

Anyway....Tay, (momma goat) has found a way out of our yard that last few days. Much to our surprise, and I think hers, on Monday afternoon - there she was looking at us from the other side of the fence! Goats have that "deer in the headlights look" too. So, with a little shake of the coffee can full of grain....she slowly followed Sweetpea back to our yard with no problem. I couldn't find a hole in the fence, so I was a bit perplexed. Then, for the next few days we were finding her out at least once a day! A bit of Houdini blood??? But, I fix HER! Another two rows of barbwire and more fencing up in the back and damn...she better NOT be able to escape again. (Seriously, I think it was by accident...she just pushed on the fence and crawled through in a few places.)

If only I could spend this much time and energy with a man, life would be sweet...sigh. I wonder if that will ever happen, but then again I don't have much spare time as it is to even look.....

UPDATE 5/24/10 - The nails are still ON...How do I get them off???? Talk about super glue! Yikes!

When it Rains...it Pours!!!

OK...it HAS been literally raining and pouring around here for months now, but what I am referring to is WORK... I have been besieged by work and all things related to working. That includes the following: 

• House work
• Yard work
• Child work
• Home work
• Cookie Lee work
• Creative Web Solutions 4U website work, and
• the possibility of 40 hour a week Work work!

I have cleaned the outside of my house, the yard, side patio I put in last summer, cleaned off and painted the front porch (all the crap is GONE!), rearranged the living room, put all my western stuff away, hung sheers, cleaned both my closets out (just so you know they are each about maybe 4' wide each...very tiny!), cleaned the top of the kitchen cabinets off and washed all the crap there (putting away the country looking stuff), and finally.....cleaned my office out to ready myself for a new adventure that just might be in the horizon.

The goats are doing a great job of cleaning out the blackberries and any other edible thing in the back yard, 40, whatever you want to call it...That is one place my cleaning services are NOT needed for now. Whew...I'm tired just thinking about it!