Snow snow everywhere!

It's snowing! I haven't really seen snow in like 3 years because whenever I am home it doesn't really snow...and right now it is snowing like nobody's business. It's pretty. However, it started snowing while I was driving in Bloomington. I really didn't know if I should drive slow, was it slick? I couldn't remember. But everyone else on the roads started driving like snails imediately. So I did too. I think they were being a little over precautious, but I also thought it wouldn't be good to be cocky and end up in the ditch either. Now the wind is picking up too!

So anyway, my trip home ends in a couple of days. This has been my laziest trip home ever! I saw almost everyone I normally see, just not as much as usual. I was content just sitting at home, being on vacation, and just taking a break from everything. Is that bad? Oh well. Tonight I'm opting to hang with my family and play board games instead of drinking..I need a break from drinking! I've only drank a couple times while I was home, so it's more like I need a break from it because of all the drinking & late hours in Arizona. Maybe that's the difference. When I would come home to visit from California I was socially starved, and now when I come home from Arizona I want a break from being social!!

So, yet again, I've been thinking a lot about South Africa. I go so much back and forth about this-- about whether I should go this year or wait until next year. On the one hand I've been waiting long enough I think. On the other, I know how good I will feel if I pay off all my debt! I dunno. I'm just going to have to wait & see how the saving/bill paying goes. Seems like I write about this all the time, but it's always on my mind. So today I woke up and thought, well if everything is going well and I decide to go, I need a passport. My plan was to get a passport today. Which I didn't. The post office closed early & Walgreens was going to take forever to get a picture done. I might try again on Wednesday. Besides, you need them for even going to Mexico now, so I should just have one.

Well anyway, as I was looking through my 'memory box' to get my birth certificate I looked through all my stuff from my internship in Florida...what a great time that was! It just made me think I needed to get to South Africa even quicker though! Who freakin' knows. I'm so wishy washy. I know I want to go and will go, I just can't figure out when. AHH!

2008 is Gonna Be Great

Yes, yes 2008 is gonna be great! 2007 wasn't a bad year by any means, but I really feel good about 2008. Ivan & I have finally got our money under control, are making headway, and have big plans. Our first year out of college we moved to California and lived like we were on a year long vacation. Our second year in California we got rid of credit cards and struggled for a long while to recover from our 6 weeks off work... we didn't plan well enough for that 'summer break' because I didn't expect it to be that long. And adjusting to living with only the money you make is well, it's really hard. This year in Arizona things have been so much better! It was a rocky start because I had a lot of car troubles but being able to pay for those in cash without any real difficulties is pretty awesome in itself. So, we are now firmly on our feet, 'off' credit cards (because yes, I would say we, as most people are, were addicted, or at the very least dependant on them for some time), and paying off bills, BIG TIME! Financially, 2008 is going to be OUR year!!

So I am just going to look at what I'd like to improve upon in 2008. I refuse to call them resolutions. I don't plan to just magically change my life 3 days from now. These are things I want to change, work towards, learn more about etc. in 2008. And I am completely confident that I will.

1. Obviously number 1 is to pay off old debt and majorly save some money. This should be no problem at all if I just focus. And hell, even if I don't focus 100%, this should still be very feasible now that the holidays are over, I have started my second job, credit cards are out, we already 'binged' on our new TV's and entertainment center, and we're ready to committ to our financial goals. I'm super psyched about this. And it helps that I am at home right now and everywhere I turn everyone is obsessed with Dave Ramsy, this financial guru, and they appear to be doing very well. Anyway, it's great motivation and I really have no excuses left. This is OUR year.

2. As usual I need to get my health in check. I have been on a yo yo weight thing for years and once again I have packed on some pounds. I just need to get more active. I need to find something I enjoy. Ivan just bought me a bike so I do think that will help. I'm not saying I'm going to lose a ton of weight or anything like that, I just need to put more effort into being active and healthy (and ENJOYING being active and healthy).

3. I want to learn more about Buddhism...am I going to be a "Buddhist?" Doubtful! But I think the Buddhist way of life is something that anyone should be trying to live. I think it's a positive way of life...and at the very least, I just want to learn about it. Even more than that I just want to focus on positive thinking. I have 2 Buddhist books right now I'm reading so I can see what it's really all about. I even found a Buddhist group in Surprise. I'm scared of it though...We'll see. Like I said, I just want to learn about it. ***And for those of you worrying and questioning this, I'd just like to lay out the disclaimer that Buddhism really IS NOT a religion.

Those are my biggies for 08, finances, health, and positive thinking. Can't hurt anyone.

My goal had been to get to South Africa this year and I don't know if that is going to happen or not. Seeing as how I'm trying to eliminate my old debt I think I should do that first and next year be able to go to South Africa with complete financial freedom! haha On the other hand I SOOOOO want to go and talk South Africa into the living right & positive thinking category very easily. We shall see. Maybe money will be amazingingly great... :) haha...

Anyway, I'm very excited about 2008 and am sure it will be a fantastic year!

Checked Out!

Dude I am so checked out! I'm at work and I cannot focus on anything. I don't have many kids on Friday mornings anyway, and they are only in school a half day today, so it's going to be a long day! Yes, I have stuff I need to do. But I'm so tired, and just checked out! I'm ready for a break from work. I'm ready to come home. Mostly I am just ready to be done for today!! SOOOOO Ready!!!!!!!!

Our New Entertainment Center

So this was long overdue. This weekend I finally got an entertainment center. Before our stuff was just sitting on a coffee table and just looked sloppy!! I'm so happy! Next we need somewhere else to put the computer. This'll do for now though.

Me & my bike!!

I Am Legend

So, I started my second job, and it's good. At the moment I'm just seeing one kid because I have to wait for more information on the other kids. I have to tell you though, I am not really looking forward to more kids ya know? Ah well. It won't kill me.

Ivan gave me my Christmas present Friday...well he was going to give it to me Friday and then I walked in while he was hiding it and so I got it a few hours early :) He got me a bike!! I've been wanting one and he got me a better one than I would have bought myself. So it's a beach cruiser---think old school looking bike with a big seat, fenders, and it's all pink. I'm so excited! When I got it I felt like I was 5 years old again. It was awesome.
Friday night we had a Christmas party at my coworkers house, Karen & Bob. Karen is a hearing impaired teacher that I share an office with and Bob is the school psychologist at my school. It was a good time. Our first adult party I guess. Bob, Karen, their kids, and a lot of the friends are musical, so they sang & played the guitar & drums all night. They were good too. It was a lot of fun.

Saturday morning I had to get up for practice. This week was the longest practice of the season before we taper down, 20 miles for the people doing the full marathon, and 10 miles for the people doing the half marathon. I didn't run, instead I hlped set up the fuel stations (orange slices, PB&J, gatorade) and cheer everyone else on. It was fun because it wasn't just our team, we practiced with the East Valley as well. I met the director for Team in Training here who also was the cycle coach for 6 years. She just about has me convinced to sign up for the century ride, which is a 100 mile bike ride. Eventually I'd like to do the century ride & a triathlon with them to earn the "triple crown" award. So, we'll see :)

All day Saturday Ivan was in a charity golf tournament (which his team placed 2nd by the way) so I went out to lunch with Jeff & his girlfriend Janice who was in town from Vegas. Then we went & saw "I Am Legend." Which I thought was awesome!!! It's weird because all the guys (Jeff, Johnathan & our neighbor Jared) didn't like it nearly as well as me & Janice did. Either way, it was good, and worth seeing. Not to mention, Will Smith is getting better & better looking the older he gets, and his body is outta control!!!

I'll be home in a week, on the 23rd!! YAY! See ya soon!

New Tattoo!

Hey there! Been awhile I guess. Let's re-cap.

I'm starting my second job doing home therapy this week. Right now I'm starting with just two kids. I'm scared! These kids might be more severe that I've been working with, probably more work!, and having the parents there can be an added stress you know? Normally I don't care but when I'm getting to know a child then yes, I would rather work with them one on one to get to know them. Oh well. I will survive. And the money will be nice too.

I'll be home in 3 weeks! I can't believe Christmas is only 3 weeks away. It's gone soooo fast. Time is just flying.

Ivan & I went and looked at furniture so I think we might be buying our own before next year! (you know my furniture is provided right now through the travel company). It's pretty dang exciting actually.
And now the fun stuff. Holly came out to visit for the weekend. We had such a great time. It was so nice to have a girl around! And someone from home! Friday night we went out to dinner and then just drank here with Katie from downstairs. Saturday we went & got tattoos!!! It was a good time. I've wanted another one for like two years so I finally got it. It's another small one on my left wrist. The definition/description is:

"The home to the Akan is a special place. A home which has a fence around it is considered to be an ideal residence.The fence symbolically separates and secures the family from the outside. Because of the security and the protection that a fence affords, the symbol is also associated with the security and safety one finds in love."

I'm very happy with it. Holly's is pretty awesome. It's a good sized one but the picture makes it look bigger than it really is. So that was super fun.

That night we went out for eat & drinks at the Yard House, which as usually was flipping fabulous. The food was awesome and they make a bomb ass appletini!!!

After that we went to this bar in Surprise called Coyote Alley. We danced there all night. I have not danced in forever! It was so much fun and like old times.

This morning Holly had requested Jeff's french toast since I talked it up so much. (It is almost a religious experience I think...haha...I asked Holly if for her first time she would like to be along with the french toast :)
Then it was time for Holly to go. It was so good to have here here! And next time she will come for longer!!

So I guess that's it. Head over to my pics to check out the tats.
Later