Can I tell you something? I am dang tired. I'm not sure I've ever been so tired. Can I tell you something else? My wrists and hands hurt. Dang moving. We moved everything except the desk and kitchen table and chairs to the house and I am so glad it's over with. The thing about it is, it's only just begun (oh, that reminds me of a song). Now we have to unpack. At least I can tackle that at my own pace, no deadline or anything. Is it weird that I can't wait to do yard work? I'm going to have the greenest grass you guys have ever laid your eyes on.

This tree reminded me of Popcorn Popping...

So, last night we finished the floor. I can't believe it's done. After work we went and got some power food. You know, chili cheese dogs from Sonic. We swept and mopped the floor and then went for a walk down to the Greenbelt while it dried. Guess what we saw! Mule deer. Right in the middle of the dang city. Isn't it so weird? It is to me.

Anyway, here is the finished floor. We like how it turned out. The hallway is my favorite part. We are moving everything in tonight after work and after we're all done cleaning and getting out of the apartment, then we'll think about base and paint.

Have I mentioned that I am totally wasted?

So, we're still sanding. Russell went to work way early this morning so he could try to get it all finished tonight. I'll start moving some boxes tonight and start cleaning up the dust. I wanted to do a wax finish but you have to refinish much more frequently when you use wax so we settled on a waterbased finish, no stain. The plus side - each coat only takes two hours to dry. We should be able to move in Wednesday!

It's totally official or as Russell would say, "we've got prospects."

The crappy thing about Russell's job is that we never know what he is going to have to get done in a day until the night before. That makes this whole moving thing kind of hard. We're worried that we're just not going to have enough time to get everything done - this is what we did this weekend...

Here is the kitchen. It's yellow and red and black. Sort of a retro feel. There is oak hardwood under that floor. I can't wait to pull it up.

We have a yard!

Look at this stink face. The dog hates tape. Isn't that weird?

Hallelujah! We are done with that dang class! I cannot even describe for you the torture we were forced to subject ourselves to. Okay, Russell doesn't hate anybody and he could not stand the lady who was in charge. Couldn't stand her. She kept interrupting the guest speakers when people had questions and he just kept saying she's so rude. He was giving her stink the entire three hours for the entire three days. When we left on Wednesday he said, "You can write about this on your blog all you want. I hate this class and I don't care who knows it." I was cracking up.
Anyway, we are going at 1pm today to close and we will officially be homeowners on Monday. The alarm went off this morning and Russell was barely awake saying, "we're buying a house today." Whoa. Weird, huh? Did I tell you that we can't wait to get settled in so we can roast a pig underground in the backyard? I love watching PBS on Saturday mornings. We watched Mexico One Plate at a Time with Rick Bayless and he roasted a pig underground in his backyard and I think it has been our motivation ever since.

Well, I've been talking about packing up my bookcase for awhile now - I guess I'm going to have to start doing that this weekend...

Sorry about the wrinkly old hands comment. Annie and Gramps sent me these and it got me thinking - I really have no room to talk about wrinkly hands, do I?

It's a view that we won't be seeing much longer. It's been really cool living practically downtown. Our new house is on "the bench." I don't really know what that means. I think it's just up higher. Someone at work said, "if terrorists blow up Lucky dam, you won't have to worry." Dark, huh?

Anyway, bummer, I didn't get the driver's license job. I know, for some of you, the thought of me yanking those driver's licenses out of those wrinkly old hands was almost more excitement than you could handle. Sorry to disappoint. It's okay. I know the lady that got it and she's awesome and deserves it.

It's raining today. I thought Spring was here but it was just an area of high pressure. It's cold again and I'm sad.

Okay, I forgot. This week I got in the shower and there was a big black spider in there. So, I tried to coax it down the drain without touching it and then covered the drain with my facecloth to make sure it couldn't come back up. Done, right? Oh, no. This week I have had two spider dreams. Just last night, one was crawling on Russell's face. It was so real it was enough to wake me up and start slapping him to get it off.

I don't think Otis remembers Las Vegas. This weekend got up to 75 and he's panting like it's the middle of the summer. I don't think he remembers. I think most of you guys already know, but Otis isn't sick, he just has allergies. The allergy specialist (yes, I just said allergy specialist) gave us a couple options but both are pretty expensive so I think we're going to try a holistic approach and maybe get a puppy and see if that helps first. At least he's not sick. Look on the bright side, right?

So, Russell and I are going to have an insane week this week. We have a class to go to Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6:30 to 9:30. The crappy thing is that Russell probably won't get all his work done before the class so he'll have to stop, go to class, and then go back to work. That won't be very much fun. It'll be worth it though because hopefully by Friday we'll be homeowners! I am getting so excited. I'm sure we'll have a lot more to tell you guys about once we start getting moved in. Have I mentioned that I can't wait?

I applied for a transfer position at work. Eight other people also applied from within and I have only been there for about 6 months but the interview went well. My job is so boring. I don't have enough work to keep me busy and the day drags on and on and on. It's really terrible. So, I was reading my book for school and my boss' boss came up to me and wanted to make sure I was on a break. Meanwhile, the girl in the cubicle across from me is watching back to back episodes of CSI. Whatever! It made me mad. Anyway, this new job is in driver's services - it's the medical desk and they revoke driver's licenses from people for medical reasons. It sounds interesting and I think it's a lot busier. We'll see.

So, hopefully by the end of the week, I'll have lots of house pictures for you...

Otis is fine. Pretty much back to normal. The vet gave him some antibiotics and some steroids to make him stop itching. Well, the steroids make him crazy (like I said, back to normal). We went to the movies this weekend and while we were gone, Otis ate the belt loops on Russell's jeans to get to the belt that was still around the waist. This is what was left of the belt and I think you can see a big chunk out of the jeans. Russell said it looked like a shark bite.

Anyway, we went and saw 300. It was pretty good. If you are thinking about seeing it, I'll warn you now, read why it's rated R, okay? I was thinking a lot about how these ancient civilizations were so aware of the fact that they could be completely wiped out. I guess that is why they were so serious about writing down/telling their stories. These crazy soldiers weren't afraid to die, they were just afraid that no one would ever know they lived. I just think it's so interesting.

The weather was so nice this weekend. It was crazy! I never thought I would be so excited about it getting into the 60's. Today it was 71! Plus, with Daylight Savings, it is light outside for like 2 hours after work. I love it. Springtime is the best. It smells so good outside, like the garden center at Lowe's or something. The people are so friendly and everyone is cleaning up the leaves and their gardens. I think I'm going to have my own garden soon enough. Russell already has big plans for planting everything we need to make salsa. Do you think we'll have everything to make it by the summer?

This post is for Ned. Otis is at home and he is doing great. The vet took 3 skin biopsies. One above his eye, one under his chin and one under his belly. He has already managed to rip open the stitches under his chin, oh well. The vet's office is just a few blocks down the street but he cried the whole way home. When he got here, he was a little restless but finally settled down and passed out on the couch. When Russell came home, he didn't get up, he just wagged his tail like crazy. One thing I thought was so funny, he has anesthesia breath, just like a human! Anyway, the test results should be back in 2 days. Hopefully, they'll tell us something. Cross your fingers. Thanks for asking, Ned.

I just have to add. I watched Scoop this weekend and I've been dying over this one line. Woody Allen says, "I never gain a pound. My anxiety, it acts like aerobics."

Didn't do a thing this weekend.

Otis is going to the vet first thing tomorrow morning. They are doing a punch test on him so hopefully we'll be able to figure out what is wrong once and for all. They have to knock him out for it. They don't know what they are in for. He is going to be crying. Oh, I can't think about it. Otis is in love with the electric blanket. He LOVES it. Russ and I were in the kitchen and Otis was in bed. I turned on the blanket so it would be warm when we got in and he knew - weird, huh?

Anyway, nothing really new here. Russell and I have to take a class about buying a home before we can actually buy a home. I'm sure it will be enough to bore us to death. That's all we're waiting for.

I think I need to go home and get a little snack before lunch. I'm starved.

Gramps e-mailed me this picture and it just cracks me up! I went and visited Annie and Gramps when they lived in Florida and they took me to Disney World. I don't think I remember this specific trip but I do remember one time that all the younger kids got to go. We were in the Disney store and Annie told us that we could each pick something out and I was looking around FOREVER! So indecisive. Cut me some slack, there was a lot of stuff to choose from in there. I ended up picking a bag shaped like Goofy's face. It had ears. I used it as my book bag for school.

As long as we are reminiscing, the cute little house (I don't want to say "ours" yet) has a screened patio on the side. It reminds me of a patio that Annie and Gramps used to have. I think it was green but I'm not sure. All I remember is being scared to go into the yard because of the snakes.

Everything is good here. I can't wait for the Spring already! It has snowed every night this week. It seems like it's too late for it to still be snowing. It's March now. March, to me, means St. Paddy's Day! I love it! I will make green everything. I thought they quit making the Shamrock Shake at McDonalds (my Mom would take us for one every year) but I just saw a commercial. I might have to go have one. You know, in honor of St. Patrick.

100 Things

1. I'm a happy person
2. except after work, I'm usually crabby
3. unless I hear a good song on the way home
4. I drink a cup of herbal tea every morning
5. it’s very relaxing
6. I would recommend it
7. I think I might have ADD
8. I don't talk on the phone very much
9. I like it that way
10. I have chronic dry skin
11. I think it's really the only thing I am self conscious about
12. that and the sound of my voice on the answering machine (is that really what I sound like?)
13. I love my dog
14. in a sickening kind of way
15. I love candy
16. also in a sickening kind of way
17. Russell is my best friend
18. he cracks me up
19. I like camping
20. I love camp fire
21. Spring is my favorite season
22. because it is shorts and sweatshirt weather
23. I'm excited to run a half marathon this year
24. I'm also a little scared
25. I am a list maker
26. I like grocery shopping late at night
27. because no one else is there
28. I hate grocery shopping after work
29. I hate grocery shopping without a list
30. I am competitive
31. I like fishing
32. I don't like touching the fish after it's caught
33. I keep a calendar
34. It makes me feel not so crazy
35. I love stationary
36. I love to cook Italian
37. I like being able to throw in the spices
38. I like trying new recipes
39. but I like tweaking old ones more
40. we only go to Costco for steak
41. I have never gotten flowers
42. I'm really okay with that
43. I can't wait to have a garden
44. someday I want to have speakers in every room of my house
45. so I can hear the music wherever I am cleaning up
46. I own a pair of ropers
47. I still have a pair of Dr. Martin boots that I got for Christmas when I was in 8th grade
48. I still wear them
49. I wore them yesterday in fact
50. I love my car
51. I'm selling my car
52. I'm okay with it
53. I take Otis with me pretty much everywhere
54. unless Russell is home
55. I love having a big family
56. I've never broken a bone
57. I have given myself a black eye
58. I hate the smell of vanilla candles
59. They make me feel sick to my stomach
60. like I ate too much candy
61. I always shared a room with Bride
62. Sometimes I feel bad about how I used to boss her
63. not very often though
64. I forced her to learn cursive at a very young age
65. forced her
66. It has been said that one time I threw Bridget in the air and kneed her in the back when she came down
67. When Bride would get hurt and start to cry, I would try to talk her out of it
68. I would say, tough it out, tough it out, tough it out
69. and she would
70. when we lived in Chicago, we used to tip our bikes over and pretend they were cars
71. I also used to have a reoccurring dream that I would get in the car and it would start rolling down the driveway
72. Our driveway was really steep
73. One time it was covered in ice and our van couldn't get up and Dad was out of town
74. Zach and I tried to shovel it
75. I don't think we were successful
76. I like to vacuum
77. I love to empty the container and see all the crap it picks up
78. I hate sweeping
79. I like to make sandwiches for Russell
80. because he likes everything on it
81. I like to pour my soda in a tall glass with ice
82. only because it makes me drink slower
83. I always hiccup after my first drink of soda
84. I think I breathe it in or something
85. I pay all the bills
86. and I like it that way
87. I can't wait to finish school
88. I love bologna
89. I love fresh Parmesan cheese
90. none of that powdered stuff
91. is that even real?
92. I love Kraft Mac & Cheese
93. I love the library
94. I love museums
95. I would like to live in the city
96. not permanently (because I can't have a cow) but for a while
97. I'm serious about the cow
98. I like to give blood
99. I love having an iPod
100. I can't believe I thought of 100 things

Come on, everyone is doing it.

I'm sorry this is going to be a boring post.

At the beginning of the week I always have such lofty goals. Some weeks I do everything on my list. Some weeks, well, not even close. It's okay though. I like having a direction, whether I get where I wanted to go or not. Anyway, I just wanted to write down a couple of my things for this week. I'm joining the rec center at school again this semester. It's cheap and it's close to home so I really have no excuse. I wasn't going before because I feel bad running on a treadmill when I could do it outside for free and bring Otis along (have I told you this before? it feels like I have). It doesn't matter anymore. I'm going to have to make time to go to the rec center and take Otis to the school to run around. I have a plan for accomplishing this task. I am going to the rec center right after work. It's the only way. If I go home first, especially if Russ is already home, forget it. Then straight to the school, right after the workout. I hate feeling like I am in a rush and I will be rushing a little but then the rest of my evening will be free to, well, to study. It's only Monday but I've already gotten a lot done. I returned our library books and (drum roll, please) I turned in my application to Boise State's Nursing program. I should hear from them May/June. Cross your fingers for me, will ya? On Wednesday we have an inspection on the house, make sure it's all good. On Thursday we have a meeting with some debt councilor (condition of our loan). And I have a test on Tuesday so I really need to get to studying.

Like I said, boring.

Sorry for being away so long. We've been pretty busy around here lately. We found a house that we really like. This is the picture posted online. It's a little dreary but you get the idea. We went and looked at it and we've made an offer on it. It's not a totally done deal yet but it's getting close. It's two bedrooms and one bathroom. There is a little patio on the side. It's about 3 miles away from school and it's really close to the Greenbelt around the river. The seller says that when he runs along the river in the morning, he sees deer. He also says that it's faster to bike to school than it is to drive. He is desperate to sell before the end of March so we should know what's up for sure by Monday.

Eric and Paola came all the way up from Las Vegas just to visit us for the long weekend. It was so much fun. They got here just in time for dinner on Thursday night. Otis was pretty psyched to see Max, you can tell in picture number 1. I don't think I truly captured Max's size in any pictures all weekend. He is so big.

On Friday we went up to Bogus Basin to go tubing. We planned on snowboarding but it rained that night so conditions were not ideal. Paola and I had really gotten excited about tubing. In the end, it was sort of a bummer. Russell and I decided we need to open up a grown up tubing hill.

On Saturday Paola and I walked around downtown and went out for lunch and we went and saw Music and Lyrics. Saturday night we all went and saw a hockey game. It was actually very entertaining plus I had a pretzel with some of that fake cheese, doesn't get any better than that.

We had a nice relaxing vacation. Fun but not too busy. I hope Eric and Paola had a good time too.

So, Sunday we took the dogs up to Idaho City. Don't be fooled. Idaho City is no city, it's hardly a town. Anyway, we just wanted to take Max up to the snow. We were headed down the highway and Max and Otis were in the back of the truck. We have never put Otis in the back of the truck. He was a little, well, worried. A loud motorcycle drove by and Otis jumped in the back window and was trying to hide under our feet. What a baby.

Paola was so happy. It started to snow while we were up there. She admitted that she had never seen snow fall in real life. Can you believe that? I think Max had fun. You should have seen this 180 lb. dog galloping in the snow. It was fun.