Wednesday, June 27, 2007

As I begin my journey...


FREEEEEE!!

I am writing you as I walk out the door from my last day here at my current job. I wish I could say it's sad to leave, but honestly I couldn't be more happy. I am excited to get on with my life and my career as a teacher. It's funny to think at this point in my life, in my relationship and career I am beginning to embark on journey's that could potentially be for the rest of my life. I guess I could sit back and ask myself if I'm sure this is what I am supposed to do, BUT IT IS!! I couldn't be more happy or excited for anything in my life.

I look forward to sharing with you all my journey. Until next time....

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Why??

Why is it that whenever I contact the education department at UNM I get conflicting information. It seems like I get on the right track to start the graduate program and then I get conflicting information and I have to start all over. UGH!!! People...get your facts straight it's frustrating us students.

Monday, June 25, 2007

Daily Dose of Wisdom


It has been quite awhile since I have read a Starbucks cup worth repeating. This morning my amazing boyfriend brought me Starbucks to work and on the cup was a great message. Let me share it with you:

The Way I See It #209

Growing up, my parents always said, "You will leave this world the same way you came into it: with nothing." It made me realize that the only things we do in this world that count are those things that make the world a better place for those who will come behind us.

~Tyrone B. Hayes

I don't know but reading this, I think "HOW TRUE!!" We really need to work to make this a better world, not see what we can gain to make us better. Because in the end...all that will matter is the work we did. Like a great country song says, "I ain't never seen a hearse with a luggage rack," lets remember that!

I got bored

As I was just stating on my beauty blog, I have a hard time sticking to the same book over a long period of time, so, I usually start something new. This happened yesterday. I have not given up on Flags of Our Fathers, I have just put it aside for a week to start a new one. So, here is what I am reading now.


What am I
reading now??


Friday, June 22, 2007

And Vegas Too!

I know it's been awhile, but here are some pictures from Vegas like I promised...

Thursday, June 21, 2007

The Pictures...Finally

Here are some pictures from our AMAZING trip to Montana. ENJOY!

Airlines are IDIOTS!!!


This afternoon was extremely frustrating for Jeremy and Me. We were trying to book our flight to go back to visit his family again. We had it all worked out...when we would leave...when we would come back. The price was right. It all seemed perfect....then it happened, AGAIN!!! Jeremy was able to book his, I was 2 seconds later and didn't get the cheap price. What the heck?? This happened when we went to Oregon too when he got the great price (and got reimbursed) and I had to pay $200 extra. This time is was only $100 extra, but gosh!!!

Needless to say, since I quit my job I don't have the extra money so I called and cancelled my reservation which put us into a whirlwind of what to do. Long story short, we are now flying out 2 hours earlier, 6am, but didn't have to spend any extra money. All I can say right now is I will not fly American Airlines for a long time!!

I'm out for the season...or at least a few days


As it is I am currently on hold for my workout. Seems as though I injured my knee (cause unknown) at work yesterday. It's awful cause here I am going great on the diet...I have had NO sprites and NO white bread....and then I go and bust up my knee. I sure hope it heals QUICK!!!

Sunday, June 17, 2007

What am I missing??


I was sitting down this morning eating some breakfast before Church, and I got to thinking about some of the things I'm missing. You see, it's summer..a time for new adventures and you know what I'm missing? The same old boring things that made my life go 'round. Here are just a few:
  • Tuesday nights at the Porter's. Since it's summer and youth programming has pretty much halted, Jeremy and I are eating at my parents house many nights out of the week. I love this, and I know my parents do too, but it's sad not having that ONE special day.
  • The pressure of school. Now, I know I complained about it a lot and was so glad when I didn't have to worry about school anymore, but it's those pressures that drive me. I think I'm the kind of person who craves stress in order to accomplish goals. Since that is all over I'm really missing it.
  • New episodes of Grey's Anatomy. When the season ended, I felt a part of me did as well. The life lessons that are learned from that great show are enormous. Now, I'm just going to have to find my lessons elsewhere.
  • The anticipation for Montana. Our trip to Montana is something I look forward to EVERY year starting around September. With the trip just recently over, I feel I have a long time to look forward to it again.
  • Wednesday night programming. I know I was always dreading spending time with the kiddos at WEBS, and swore I wouldn't do it again. But I got to thinking the other night, I just might volunteer again. I miss all of those precious kiddos!

Friday, June 15, 2007

Keeping you Updated

What am I
reading now??


Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket



I just wanted to let you all know of a little feature I added to my page. Over there on the left under that wonderful Monet of the bridge and lilies and the link to my other blog, you will find out what I am reading at this point in time. I figure since it is my summer of reading you all should know how that's going and part of doing this is letting you know exactly what I'm reading. Feel free to leave me a message asking me how each book is going. I would love to hear from you!

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Summer Reading - part 2

After compiling some great suggestions from my dear friends, here are the books I plan on picking up for my summer reading. If you know of any others I am still taking suggestions!

At the Heart of this panoramic, multidimensional narrative is the compelling struggle of a young woman to lift her body and soul out of the gutter. Michel Faber leads us back to 1870s London, where Sugar, a nineteen-year-old whore in the brothel of the terrifying Mrs. Castaway, yearns for escape into a better life. Her ascent through the strata of Victorian society offers us intimacy with a host of lovable, maddening, unforgettable characters.**What struck me most after reading this synopsis was the review from PEOPLE magazine. ~Readers...are in for a lasting love affair; the intimate relationship one develops with the characters after reading for 834 pages is much more satisfying than the mere one-night-stand promised by most novels.Who wouldn't read a book after that amazing review??**




Few stories can evoke a time and place as vividly as Anita Diamant's compelling tale sprung from the pages of the Old Testament. The Red Tent is the story of Jacob's daughter, Dinah, and Jacob's four wives, who all served as Dinah's mother at some point in time. Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah all bring their own unique gifts and influences to bear on Dinah's life. As Diamant explores the trials and triumphs of ancient women, she brings a foreign yet beautiful world to life as seen through the emotional filter of Dinah's eyes. This lush, evocative tale transcends time and brings new life to the Old Testament, lending a feminine touch to the mighty word of God.


See's engrossing novel set in remote 19th-century China details the deeply affecting story of lifelong, intimate friends Lily and Snow Flower, their imprisonment by rigid codes of conduct for women and their betrayal by pride and love. While granting immediacy to Lily's voice, See adroitly transmits historical background in graceful prose. Her in-depth research into women's ceremonies and duties in China's rural interior brings fascinating revelations about arranged marriages, women's inferior status in both their natal and married homes, and the Confucian proverbs and myriad superstitions that informed daily life.


Despite their class differences, Amir, the son of a wealthy businessman, and Hassan, his devoted sidekick and the son of Amir's household servant, play together, cause mischief together, and compete in the annual kite-fighting tournament -- Amir flying the kite, and Hassan running down the kites they fell. But one day, Amir betrays Hassan, and his betrayal grows increasingly devastating as their tale continues. Amir will spend much of his life coming to terms with his initial and subsequent acts of cowardice, and finally seek to make reparations.
Hosseini's depiction of the cruelty children suffer at the hands of their "friends" will break your heart. And his descriptions of Afghanistan both before and after the war will haunt readers long after they've read the last page. The Kite Runner is a stunning reminder that the dark hearts of adults are made, step-by-step, by the hatred they learn as children, and that all it takes for evil to triumph is for a good man to stand back and do nothing.



Five years ago the world was introduced to Ishmael - a gorilla with a revolutionary story to tell, a story no human had ever heard before. A book of resounding truth and hope, and one that is arguably more important now than when it was first published, Ishmael offers readers an entirely new perspective on humanity's relationship to the world. Now, once again, Ishmael is available in hardcover in this very special Fifth Anniversary Edition, containing many revisions and additions to the original. This edition also includes a fascinating preface in which Daniel Quinn offers his own explanation as to why Ishmael has become such a beloved and controversial book.


Meet Pi Patel, a young man on the cusp of adulthood when fate steps in and hastens his lessons in maturity. En route with his family from their home in India to Canada, their cargo ship sinks, and Pi finds himself adrift in a lifeboat -- alone, save for a few surviving animals, some of the very same animals Pi's zookeeper father warned him would tear him to pieces if they got a chance. But Pi's seafaring journey is about much more than a struggle for survival. It becomes a test of everything he's learned -- about both man and beast, their creator, and the nature of truth itself.



Barcelona, 1945-A great world city lies shrouded in secrets after the war, and a boy mourning the loss of his mother finds solace in his love for an extraordinary book called The Shadow of the Wind, by an author named Julian Carax. When the boy searches for Carax's other books, it begins to dawn on him, to his horror, that someone has been systematically destroying every copy of every book the man has ever written. Soon the boy realizes that The Shadow of the Wind is as dangerous to own as it is impossible to forget, for the mystery of its author's identity holds the key to an epic story of murder, madness, and doomed love that someone will go to any lengths to keep secret.









Hold your horses...no pun intended

I know you're aching to see the Montana pictures, but you're just going to have to wait a little while longer. The disposable water proof camera we took rafting is at the photo shop as we speak. As soon as they're done they're yours!!!

Here I sit again...and it's good to be 'back'


As most of you may know, I worked for a few months for an equine vet here in town. I was offered a different job and accepted which is where I have been the past six months. This week both the girls at the vet office are out of town so I am filling in. So here I sit in the vet office once again, and you know what?? I miss it here. Let me tell you why:


  • It's just me here...no catty girls, no office politics...just ME!

  • A great boss who listens and understands what is going on with you.

  • Looking out the window at the wonderful Sandia Mountains

  • Not being stuck in a cubicle

  • Quiet time where I can write blogs

  • Feeling in charge

  • Happiness

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

What a great 10 days

All I can say about my time in Montana is WHAT A BEAUTIFUL STATE. It's kind of funny, often I hear people tell me how beautiful Albuquerque is. My thought on that is "have you been anywhere else?" I can honestly say, however, that Montana is the most beautiful place I have ever been.

Jeremy and I flew out on Friday with my family to follow behind on Saturday. It's not how we planned it, but it's how things worked out. Once Jeremy and I got settled into the Chalet we headed up into Glacier National Park. It was a bit late so we didn't make it far but we had dinner at a lodge in the park which was nice to do. We were so tired by 9 pm that we wanted to go to bed, but it was hard. You see, it was still light outside. I have trouble falling asleep as it is, but when it's as bright as the afternoon outside it's extremely difficult. So, I shut all the blinds and made it to sleep.

Since we went to bed so early, we were up early....4 am to be exact. We decided only crazy people get out of bed at that time so we went back to sleep for a few more hours. We decided to drive up into the north end of Glacier and go hiking. What I didn't realize is how far it was. It was a 2.5 hour drive...BUT WORTH IT. We hiked into St. Mary and Victoria Falls which were incredible. We weren't prepared for the hike (we didn't even have water), but after the 3 mile hike it was worth all the sweat and tired muscles to see the majesty and force in those falls. Saturday night my parents got in. So after going to the best po-dunk movie theatre to see 'Knocked Up' we were finally all together.

Sunday was a fun filled day of white water rafting. I have been rafting up there before, so I knew the fun adventure I was getting into, and I was excited. After we sucked in all our gut and squeezed into wet suits we were all ready to go. It was a great day on the river...and when we pulled out half way to have a steak lunch I knew it was a great day!!

I was so excited when Monday rolled around. It was finally time to head to Flathead Lake Lodge...and the reason we went to Montana. Every year my Dad takes continuing education classes to keep his CPA and we always go to the Lodge for him to do that. We have met some great friends we see up there every year...and that's what I was excited for. These people are a second family to me and I wait an impatient year to see them.

The lodge was full off all the wonderful activities I look forward to. Horseback riding, waves crashing against the lake shore, happy hour and dinner filled with laughter and fun times. The lodge was everything it has always been. Although a few of my favorite people weren't there, due to illness, it was a great time in the South Lodge around the fire with those I treasure.

I can honestly say, I WAS NOT WANTING TO COME HOME. I even think I left a piece of my heart and who I am up there. I guess that just means I need to make sure to go back again to pick them up!

Monday, June 11, 2007

Montana

THE TRIP WAS AMAZING!!!! I will post pictures and stories later in the week.

All this time...

I was going through some of my old posts and I had no clue had atrocious of a speller I was. I spelled Raggedy Ann with "d"'s in the place of the "g"'s. Not only that, I only realized it after checking the google searches that brought up my blog...ugh. I guess this is what 6 years and tens of thousands of dollars got me!!