Week 16: A Recent Success

Photo Credit

There are many points along my journey I would consider successes.  By the way, it's ok to be happy for ourselves.  We celebrate each other, so let's give ourselves some props.  We deserve it!  I talked about enjoying the little things in this post, but let me reiterate we have to celebrate the small steps we reach along our road to greatness.  Every little step counts… EVERY ONE.

Our life is made up of many successes, so why focus on one.  Here are a few of the things I'm proud of…

1. I'm figuring out how to build and maintain my own website.  This is HUGE!!  I'm not a technical person, and often have to turn to Brandi and Laura for help.  I'm putting on my big girl britches, and taking it on myself.

2. I haven't had another breakdown, since this one.  I set a schedule for myself, and I'm making it work.  The schedule isn't set in stone.. it's adaptable to the craziness that is my life.  We have to be willing to bend to life's will because there will be days when we can't stand to do anything, but sleep.  So sleep, tomorrow is another day.

3. I'm making tremendous headway with the Preemie clothing line.  There are times we get excited about little opportunities that cross our paths, and when the high starts to fade, so does the project.  The preemie line is NOT the case.  My heart and soul is in this project, and it's going to be incredible!!

4. My backyard is finally getting a facelift.  The weeds are being pulled as I type, we planted 11 plants this weekend, and have plans next weekend to start laying down bark.  Now I need a chaise lounge to enjoy my hard work.

What are you proud of?

Tickle time and massages...

This was part of my birthday present... tickle and massage time... two of my favorite things, and for fear that Joseph would find it and throw it away (he hates tickle time), I took a picture... it lasts longer...



Ok, so I’ve been neglecting my blog… It’s been insanely busy at work, and since I now have the mortgage monkey on my back… duty calls. Averaging 60 hours a week I’m sure has taken a couple years off my life, but my down payment is just about covered, and then it’s on to the furniture. Yes, I’m a workaholic… thanks mom!!! I feel like I’m neglecting the apartment, but more importantly I’m neglecting my Joseph… sorry, my love… I hate coming home to find him asleep, and I’m sure he’s not happy about spending every evening by himself, or kissing me goodbye at 6 in the morning, when I’m barely alive. These are the sacrifices we make for adulthood… well, I hate it!!! I miss my days off, cuddling with Joseph while we watch trashy television, and I miss our nightly massages…. ahhh… those were the good ‘ol days, when life was simple, and I only had to furnish 800 square feet. But here I am on day 6 of a 12 day stretch at work, and just as money hungry as ever… damn the man!!!

My garden is moving along… I’ve eaten two beefsteak tomatoes (delicious!!), the Purple Cherokee’s are setting fruit, and the Schefflera clippling I stole from my mother has successfully set its roots and is now growing babies… YAY FOR ME!!!

On the flip side my gladiolus never grew flowers, just grew leaves and died… and my persian buttercups have yet to grow flowers, only leaves as of now. My friend, Sharlotte, gave me an orchid for my birthday, which I’ll probably kill before the month is over… I don’t do well with finicky plants…

Our house is still being built... Joseph and I visit every couple weeks and take pictures… here’s what it looks like as of a week ago… Do you notice something new in the front window… yes, it’s the SOLD sign. Yep, it’s all ours.

We had our family’s 2nd annual pool party at my parents last weekend and it was a huge success thanks to 6 different kinds of beer, an electric wine bottle opener, and the Margarita Machine... No, it wasn’t all about the alcohol. Did I mention Joseph and I kicked some serious butt in volleyball (you too, Dave)… yes, Dad, you can have a rematch next year… better bring your “A” game, or do the smart thing and switch teams...

Anna

Dad, Joseph, and Me

Kelley

Lexi

Cora, Stu, and Trish

Me and Joseph... Damn, I love this man...

Exercising my green thumb...

Well, well, well... this was quite a weekend... Breakfast at Abuela's (ate way too much), art gallery showing in Woodland (amazing!!!), and Drive-in movie for the first time in I don't know how long. Joseph and I figured out a foam mattress, a couple pillows and a quilt add up to a bed conveniently located in the back of my SUV... it was so perfect and I almost fell asleep during the movie... ahhhhh!!!

Sunday we drove with my parents down to Sunnyvale for my Uncle Al and Aunt Ruth's 70th wedding anniversary brunch... 70 years!!! and they're as spunky as ever... HILARIOUS!!! The ride to and from was very... ummm... entertaining... My mom was dancing to "Love Shack" while Joseph and I were hysterically laughing and my dad was rolling his eyes...

This morning I had the gardening bug, so I watched Martha Stewart's On Demand annual planting videos and then headed off to Home Depot. I bought some Ranunculus (mixed colors) and Gladiolus bulbs (a deep red color... gorgeous), and a beefy red tomato plant... home grown tomatoes with salt and pepper is heavenly in the summertime. I even made little tags for the flower pots... so stinkin cute!!!

I WANT A HOUSE!!!

I am so determined to get the hell out of my apt... My upstairs neighbors have decided to allow another family to squeeze into their two bedroom apt (that makes a total of two husbands, two wives and three kids... oh, and one on the way... and from the look of the wife, she's due any moment... can't wait for another screaming baby)... they also allow their kids to stomp around the apartment at 8 o'clock in the morning... When did parents completely lose control of their kids?

So once again I worked OT last night until 430am, got to sleep around 530am and was at work by 2pm the same day... I can't stress how much I want a house... unfortunately it is at the expense of my health, sanity and patience... My apt lease ends in March, and damn it, I don't think I can stand living here any longer than that.. 9 months and counting...