I am back to my regular schedule...graveyards. Last night was my first night and I must confess today I am dragging. As I look back I realize that I did like working days and being off at night was great! I am going to have to access my scheduled and see if I want to continue on my current shift during the next shift bid. The good thing about being back on my "regular" schedule is that I am back to cooking! The good old days of coming home around five and dinner being ready are gone (*sighy*). Yesterday I cooked a new recipe (I will post it later)! I want to bake something this month and only have 2 days (I hope I can do it!!). Another thing that has changed is blogging. I have not been able to blog as much as I would like but I am hoping that will change.

good times...today was a wonderful day. it was full of family, God and church. good times. we started the day spending time in church. it was a wonderful time of worship. the Lords presence was felt and welcomed. The message was very good and important to the spirit. Making sure you see God in you at all times as a Christian is very important. Having joy and love in the life of a Christian is so vital and necessary. The message made me think(which is always important when listening to a message) about where I am and where I want/need to be. It about CHANGING!!!! Lot's of meat and I love Sunday morning meat!!! teeeehehehehehe
We also went to our favorite Chinese restaurant (yummy). Later on we went to a youth group fundraiser. It was a great time. They did a great job with the spaghetti dinner and the short play they did was a blessing! The LORD was so wonderful and blessed the group with $1,000.00!! He is truley incredible and AWESOME!!

Thinking Warm Thoughts

1. What is your favorite hot beverage? Hot Chocolate
2. Describe your favorite hot food? I love Mexican food and if it is done right it is nice and "hot" (both spicy hot and fresh off the stove top hot). I also love our famous Chile with cornbread on a cold snowy day (it's warm and makes me feel warm inside...teeehehehehe)
3. What piece of clothing makes you feel warm and snugly the moment you put it on?My flannel long pajama's I received one Christmas years ago.
4. Do you warm up your car on cold days? Do you run the heat all the time or just enough to defrost the windows? I use to warm it up but than i read it can be bad on the car to warm up to much so i no longer warm up the car!!
5. What is your ideal warm-weather vacation spot? Cancun or Hawaii!!!

FRIDAY FILL-IN

1. My family makes me happy.

2. I would like to loose 150 lbs, please.

3. Crab legs in hot melted mbutter tastes SO good!

4. Sunday is my favorite day of the week because it is a day for family and relaxation.

5. My eyes are my best feature.

6. We could learn so much from Jesus.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing, tomorrow my plans include Senior pictures for my youngest and Sunday, I want to go to church and eat Chines food!

FINALS ARE DONE! TRAINING IS DONE!! wahoo...our training is done and we are back to our regular schedules next week. gone is the 8-5 Monday - Friday schedule *sighy*. i will miss it... and at the same time i am glad it is finally over. it has been 3 very intense weeks and now that i have passed i can say WAHOO!! it is over. i am also excited because this is the first month of the year and i was able to work on one of my changes...learning new stuff for my job (work related). So...i now have a 3 day weekend and i am planning on chilling tonight and then doing some stuff around the house this weekend and on Monday running errands (which i sooooo hate!!). i would also like to do some "baking" and maybe, just maybe some scrapbooking and some DVR catching up!! On top of that my daughter has pictures and i have to take my other baby girl to buy school books! Wow...it looks like i am going to have a busy weekend....teeehehehehehe. wish me luck!

mid week and wishing it was Friday night!! this week is turning out to be another one of those weeks...it is going fast, nothing is getting done (except shopping for a new silver purse and some cool jewelry), and stress all around. yucko!!! we have a test tomorrow and the final on Friday. it has been so crazy at home, and with this training schedule (this is the last week!) that dinner had been fast food (wendy's, taco bell...). i must confess i think i will be glad when my normal schedule resumes.
teeeehehehe...we just watched AI (we DVR it) and there were a few singers we really liked tonight (they were from San Diego). The girls who was disqualified in season 5 is awesome! and there were 2 guys (the single dad and the 16 year old). time will tell if any of them stay!!! I am so glad AI is back!!!! Love...love...love this show!!!!!!

10 things that were better back when...

1/ i could laugh and giggle whenever i wanted...i use to love it when i was able to laugh our loud and giggle all day long. i also was able to giggle at silly things and it was ok because i was young and did not care when others thought.

2/ i could sleep all day and night....my mom use to hate this but ohhhh....those were the best days. i loved to sleep and there was nothing waiting for me so i could sleeeeeeeeep!!!

3/ BattleStar Galactica...Sunday nights were awesome because me and my dad would watch this show and loved it!!!!

4/ traffic...i miss the days when i could drive on the highways and did have to worry about stop and go traffic.

5/ nightly news...the news back when was so much "happier". i don't remember seeing so much crime and ugliness when i use to watch the news. it is so bad lately that i hate to watch the news at night (and the day!!).

6/ 30 minutes tv shows...ohhhhh i use to love watching Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, MASH, Mork and Mindy, Welcome Back Kotter. Those were some awesome shows and I loved them!!!

7/ my hair...it was so think and black and i loved it. i would spend hours on it and *sighy* again, i loved it!!!

8/ trust...there seemed to be more trust way back when. you did not go around watching your back all the time, fearing what your neighbor may do to you. people seemed to trust eachother more back when...

9/ COKE...i know it sounds wierd but i promise COKE seemed to be better way back when. it really did.

10/ Dance Places...there was a time when we were able to go to a few dance places (Thirsty's) and we could dance and dance and dance (we were under 21 so it was so fun to be able to have a place to hang out...).

RANDOM THOUGHTS


* what will this week hold for me? will it be better than last week? i sure hope so.
* if i don't get up and do the laundry who will? I have my clothes i want to wear tomorrow in there and they need to be put in the dryer.
* i am so wanting some butter pecan ice cream...i am soooo going to have some tonight!
* i need to get my Christmas Tree's down (i know...i know...it's the 21st of January and they are still up!!).
* i am so glad i put gas is Boo's car after work...it is cold and snowy and she will not have to worry about that on her first day of a new semester.
* wow! Boo is a Junior in college! Where has the time gone!
* Go Pats!! I am so glad they won but man...they play a boring game so i am hoping with the Giants winning it will be a great and exciting game!
* I found some exciting projects online for beading but wow!! that hobby is not cheap. why do i pick the hobbies that are expensive!
* i need to get with my mom and aunt Virgie to see who has birthdays coming up.
* i am hoping i can have our parents over this weekend but i am not sure...time will tell!
* i am sure glad i was able to work with Dave. I will miss him as my boss.
* learning hsi stuff is sooooo mind boggling! i sure hope i can get it by our final on Friday!
* before leaving for work today i happened to see something on the news. January 21st is the most depressing day of the year. It was not a great way to start my day! I am so glad i did not let that statement own me and my day was a good day! teeeeehehehe!

I saw this Meme and thought it looked fun....

UNCONSCIOUS MUTTERINGS

1/ PRESIDENT......NEW ONE IN NOVEMBER
2/ STARE...EYE TO EYE, STARE DOWN
3/ EMBRACE...LOVE AND HUGS
4/ MOVIE...JUNO (WE JUST SAW IT YESTERDAY!)
5/ EVERYTHING...IMPOSSIBLE TO OWN!!!
6/PROFILE...BLOGGING PROFILE
7/ SATIRE....BLACK COMEDY
8/ ERRATIC...ME BEFORE A MAJOR EVENT
9/ COSTUME...DANCE...DANCE...DANCE!!!!
10/ SECRETARY....HORSE

wahoooo!!!

go pats!!!!!

2Peas challenge: What would you do if you knew you would not fail.

If I knew I would not fail I think I would start a home for girls (runaways, pregnant). I have always wanted to have a place where young girls in trouble can go for assistance. It would be a huge house with lots of rooms and lots of love for the girls. It would be a safe haven for them. The girls would be offered help and assistance and a chance to be successful in life. I have wanted to do this since I was a teenager. We would have a small staff and we would not have to worry about any type of financial woes because we would have money donated on a consistent basis. Yes...if I could do something knowing I would not fail this is what I would do...

GIRLS DAY!!

Today was our girl's day out. Boo, Gigi and I went to have Boo's nose pierced (we soooo hope it works this time and she has been wanting to do this for awhile). We also went to see a "chick-flick)...JUNO. It was a really wonderful movie and we enjoyed it lots and lots. The story line was great and Juno was such an incredible girl. I admired her character and the decision she made concerning the baby. I would like to say I would do the same things but I am not so sure I could have been as selfless. Great movie!!!!

After the movie we went to McDonalds. It was a fun day and I am so glad the three of us were able to spend the day together. I hope we are able to do this at least once a month.

It is amazing how this new year has already CONFIRMED CHANGE for me in 2008 and just recently it has SHOWN me CHANGE in 2008. In showing me the change it also let me know that the changes that will happen this year will not only happen within me but it will also happen around me. I had a major change occur yesterday that stopped me in my tracks. They were shocking and sad. I cried. And the sad thing the change occurred at work! And I cried at work (of all places!). The good thing is I was ok with that, I was ok with showing my emotions in public (something I normally do not do!!!), I was ok...with being ME!!!! In that I see change, and change is good! (*sighy...David I sure will miss you...)

it is the start of a new week. 2 more weeks of training. tommorrow we have a test so i am going to have to do some studying (yucko!!). i will confess i am liking all the new (and old) stuff i am learning. i was hesitant at first but not i am glad that they decided to put us all through this intense training. GOOD TIMES!! when i am done with this i need to really look into some more classes (i often forget how much i love learning!!)

sunday...it was a good day and i was able to "OWN" it. We as a family went to church together and i feel so blessed that we went. I was so amazed as i sat there listening to my pastor. he started to speak about change in 2008!!! Wow!! i could not believe it... the one word that i wanted to focus on this year and he was speaking about it in the spiritual realm! INCREDIBLE. I really feel this is the LORD speaking to me and confirming that i need to change this year. i do believe the change is within me and i am the only one who can do this. if i do not change than the change will not occur, it will not happen. It is up to me and only me!!

Official Video - Don't Blink by Kenny Chesney

love this video...the words are sooo true!!!

today was a productive day. it started out kind of slow but i was able to get lots of stuff done on my to do list for this weekend. i went shopping (Christmas money) and it was fun...no guilt just plain old spending!!! TEEEHEHEHEHE! i was able to get some fun jewelry (i needed some new necklaces with the tops I bought last month), some books that look like they will be good to read (who does not love to read about the people running for President???), some magazines, scrap booking stuff and the 2008 scrapbook calender (yipee!!!) and last but not least...a cool clear and logo purse from Macy's (it was on sale so i don't feel too guilty about the purchase...teeehehehe) AND to top it off i still have some money left over!!! Good Times!!! i was also able to get my study notes transferred to index cards, pick up Gigi's Screwtape letters book, study and work on my finances and...i am currently watching my Borg play (it is a tie right now and i am doing everything i can to keep calm!!!) and entering this into my blog!!!! You talk about a productive day. I OWNED TODAY!!!!
i am hoping to get some scrapbooking done...i checked some of the challenges and they look so fun!!! here's hoping...

this weekend i need to get somethings done...

* sit down and work on my financial diet plans.
* do some shopping (Christmas money...teehehehehe)
* watch the Borg win!!!!!
* work on my scrapbooking area (yucko!!!)
* study
* catch up on some shows (our DVR is at 90%!!)


if i can get this list done i will feel like i "owned" this weekend.

speaking of "owned"...i do feel like i owned this week at work. I was able to go through my training with a positive attitude (for the most part...sitting around doing nothing still gets to me but i have learned to get beyond the frustration) and i really do believe i am learning some new things and also things that will help me become a better and stronger leader. i am liking that!!!!!

I LOVE IT!!!! This week lots of new reality shows have started and we are in heaven!!! And when you add that with DVR's... WOW!!!!! HEAVEN!!!! We are starting to watch Celebrity Apprentice, Dance Wars, American Gladiator, Project Runway, Biggest Looser and...well, you get the idea. *sighy* lovin it!!!

Change...
I know this is the month of change and with only 8 into this month I do not feel like I am changing. I know one can say it is only 8 days, give it time...but...if not now when??? Is change something that happens overnight? Is it something that is a process? Well, for me it is something that should happen NOW!! not tomorrow, not next week, not next year...NOW!!!
I know...I need to back off and let things happen. Be open to change. Be willing to change. I know change is a process and it takes so much time. When I look back at major changes that have occurred in my life I know they took time. In fact in almost every case the change occurred when I was not looking. It happened when I least expected it. Those changes were the ones that have "stuck", they have been "real" and yes...life changing.
I want those kind of changes in 2008. *sighy* well...i guess i need to be patient and believe the changes will happen. I also need to keep going forward (have you ever notices how easy it is to want to stop or change roads when something is not going as you want it to?) on my 2008 journey. Go forward and keep working at the changes I want to happen. Go forward and see what the next turn hold for me.

"If we don't change direction soon, we'll end up where we are going" ...Professor Irwin Corey

today starts three weeks if training! yucko! i know it will benefit my team, the company and myself....i know this, but still...yucko!!!! actually it was fun relearning somethings and learning some new things. i am looking forward to learning some things that i have been wanting to learn for awhile. i love learning (even if it is broadband related...teeehehehehe). this is also great for me because one of my changes in 2008 is to gain more technical knowledge! i have had to change my schedule (i am not thrilled about that) and i only had one day off this week and...it just occured to me that i am whining.....(someone want some cheese to go with that wine???? teehehehe). ANYWAY...here is to three weeks of interesting "changes".

dreams....wow! have you ever had one of those nights where you have a horrible dream and it sets the tone for the whole night? Last night i had a horrible horrible dream. My hunny bunny had to wake me up because i was making simpering noises. well...i could not get into any real good sleep after that. it was a very fitful and sleepless night. YUCKO! i hate nightmares!! hate hate hate them (one of the reasons i do not see scary movies). i sure hope this is the only horrible dream i have in 2008!!

monday....i did own some of my day...i was exhausted but i still did a half mile walk (it is a start), i did some laundry and some cleaning. now if i can work on my "thankful" 2008 book it would be a real "productive" day!

random thoughts on a Sunday...

1/ when am i going to learn to keep my mouth shut??? why must i always be the one to make a comment...why of why don't they make lip glue???
2/ where did the first 5 days of January go? This is sick how fast 2008 is going! SICK!!!
3/ why do i have to go to training for 3 weeks? why?
4/ who is going to do the dishes? now me...i have one day off this week and i am not doing the dishes! NOT!!!!
5/ Did my cousin get her flowers for her birthday? she did not call and the week got away from me so i should follow up...
6/ is it proper to follow up on flowers? what if she did not get them? can you ask a flower shop for a refund????
7/ when is Chinese News Years?
8/ *sigh* Who is going to win today and why did the Bronco's have to blow it?
9/ my breakfast was yummy this morning...McDonalds (sausage bagel and coke!!)
10/ darn it!! i missed the last shows of America's Top Model...i wish i had had enough DVR space to record the shows they had on for 4 straight days!!! That show is addictive!!!!
11/ one day off...should i sleep or "OWN MY DAY"...it is going to be a looong week so maybe i need to own my sleepy dreams today!!
12/ Gigi needs a book so I need to make sure I get her to the store today.
13/ I am still feeling the "yuckies"...when will they end???
14/ I have to cut my hair.....

Yesterday while me and the girls were out visiting (on of my changes for 2008!) my baby girl Boo informed us if a dilemma one of her friends is in. She has been dating this boy since high school (4+ years) and she is bored! She is thinking of getting out. She wants a relationship were the "newness" is there. teeehehehehehe! My first response to Boo was "Well, she will be involved in lots of relationships if that is all she is looking for!". (Ok...not such a great answer now that I look back) I tried to tell Boo about relationships and time and yes..boredom (please be honest... every day in a relationship is not roses and candlelight and hot sweaty love!!!). I backed off real fast! I became silent and was thinking...what do you tell someone that young? In my opinion they are young and should not be in "serious" relationships. They should date and have fun (no sex!!!). They should discover what they like in boys/men and learn about what they want in a relationship. 20 years old!!! Live and enjoy some of what life has to offer (no sex!). So I remained silent about that and spoke to her about how her friend needs to go slow and yes, discover what she wants from a relationship and yes it is ok to back off. Their sooo young and have so much time ahead of them! Enjoy (but no sex!!).


Well, this got me thinking about relationships and "newness". "Out of the mouth of babes", Boo's friend is so right in wanting the newness to be there always! I would love for that to be in my relationship. Unfortunately LIFE happens and it starts taking over and the next thing you know you are wondering where the excitement went? The adventure? The Passion??? Life does come on so strong and is so demanding at times you have no choice but to pay 100% of you attention to it or crap happens! It's true. And guess what...you start paying attention to one or two things so much and the other things in life get forgotten and neglected (marriage, self, passions...). WHEW!!! Life is fascinating and so incredible but there are times...times when it can be overwhelming! I think that is where I am in my relationships right now. They (i use a plural because it is not only 1 relationship, there are many) are at places where they need to be tended to, nurtured, loved and cared for. They need my attention and I believe I am at a place where I can do these things. It will not be hard and I know every time I want to do care for a certain relationship I will need to "OWN" it. I am excited about these relationships and I am excited about seeing them "grow". It will be interesting to see how they turn out when the year is over. Hmmmm...do you think I will be surrounded my lots of "newness"????


Today....Boo is performing (opening) at the Denver Nuggets game tonight. She is soooo excited and we are sooo excited for her!!!!

Yesterday....I OWNED my day!!! We went to visit my Grandma G and Aunt Virgie. I also sent flowers to my cousin Shannon for her birthday!!! And to think I wanted to go stay home (after my tests) and sleep.....teeeehehehehe. Good for me!!!!

wow! I had to get up early this morning (on my day off!!) to go into work and take some test (knowledge about our trouble shooting and equipment skills). Wow! What a way to start the new year...feeling stupid! Yes, I said it! For a few minutes, at the beginning of the 1st test, I felt stupid! Man so I hate that feeling. And to be honest I have not felt like that in years and years! I could feel myself becoming insecure and ugly! Well, I had to stop it and stop it quick! I stopped for a minute and went over the test and then I assessed the test and myself. I reminded myself that I have never been "officially" trained on any of this. I went onto my current job and my training was "on the job". I then started to breathe and think..should I mark something down or be honest and not answer if I do not know the answer. Well, since this was an assessment test (to see what I knew) I decided to be honest and not answer if I did not know (why guess and if I get it right I would not even know it!!! what good would that do me in needing to learn what I don't know). So, I answered what I knew (not much) and did not answer what I did not know (lots). Looking back I am glad I did it the way I did. I feel good about being honest about my knowledge in these areas. I also feel excited because we will be training in these areas and when the training is done I will be able to answer those questions I was unable to this morning!! Wahoo!!! I love learning and knowledge (and this is one the areas of change I want in 2008). I also feel this helped me to NOT feel stupid. I was able to assess the situation, throw away my stress and react only after I thought about it!!! I actually feel powerful because of this! Not a bad way to start my first "work" day of 2008!!

I have the morning off so I need to run some errands (including getting my cousin something for her birthday and paying some bills off!!). I am taking the girls with me so they can visit Grandma G and Auntie Virgie. OK...that is the plan...now I just need to OWN THIS DAY and so it!!!! teeehehehehe

HAPPY 2008!!!

Today is the first day of the new year!!! Wow!! It is amazing to see how fast 2007 came and went! So much happened in 2007 and I will be honest when I say I am glad it is over. There is so much I will remember and not all of it was bad! We saw and fell in love with Chicago, Boo had a great year with so much excitement (concerts, meeting band members!), and it snowed and snowed! I was able to spend more time with my mom and grandma ruiz and i was able to visit my grandma g! I learned that family is soooo important and i must cherish and nourish it (something i want to work on in 2008). I also learned I am important and i need to focus on me a little more (ok a lot more!!). I also fell in love with challenges, the "blog" world and scrapbooking! Not bad, i guess...
I am excited about 2008 and i feel like it is a brand new canvas ready to be explored and created! I am looking forward to that! I want to enjoy 2008 more and make it a great year to remember!
Last night we celebrated the new year with just us four ( i really wanted it to only be us this year!). It was fun (we played Disney Scenic) and toasted the new year. I still get a kick out of Gigi and how much she LOVES to celebrate! She had her confetti (we have to buy this for her every year and every year she uses most of the bag!). I hope she never looses that love of life and excitement to celebrate! Good Times.
This morning we will open our gifts (that is our tradition here in our home) and Daddy will make his yummy breakfast and we will start the new year as a family enjoying the day! Being lazy! Keeping our pajamas on all day and not brushing our hair!! Good times...together!

I hope you and yours have a wonderful 2008! I hope it is a year to celebrate and own! And remember always love, laugh and live!!!

FUN THOUGHTS FOR 2008...

One habit you'd like to break totally: Drinking so much coke!!! I am a cokeaholic and I need help!!!
One person you'd like to get to know better: This sounds so odd but there are several family members I would like to get to know better this year. I am an introvert at heart so I don't "reach" out like I should. Hopefully 2008 will change that!
One random act of kindness that you'd like to make a habit this year: I hope to "interact" more...call, have people over, send a card or email...
Something that you'd like to own by the end of 2008: A wide angle lense (big money!!). It would be awesome when we travel!!!!
Something that you'd like to get rid of by the end of 2008: DEPT!!!! I would also like to get rid of some "issues" I have been lugging around.
One change you'd like to see in your life in 2008: More organized with my home, life, work...
One thing you'd like to memorize in 2008: Work related...technical steps
Something that you'd like to improve on: Wow!!! I wold love to improve my people skills. People are important to me and I want to know how to relate better. This includes reaching out more.
Something you'd like to learn in 2008: Knitting (i know but one year i will!!) and beading.
Something you're looking forward to this year: My baby girl's school year. I a not sure how it will end but I am looking forward to her working her way through it and seeing the results and...she turns 18 this year and my other baby girl turns 21!!!
One thing you're going to make sure does NOT happen in 2008: I will not give up on myself and those around me!!!
Will you try to eat healthier?: Hmmmm..I can always TRY!!! tehehehehe...
Will you take up some form of exercise?: YES!!!!! That is one of my changes this year!
Will you try to improve your financial situation?: That is one of my wishes this year and I am currently working on it so...YES!
Will there be any lifelong goals you'll try to accomplish?: Lifelong? Hmmmmm...maybe one or two...time will tell...
Will you move to a new place?: In the past I would have said no...but if the opportunity came up for me and mine I think I would!
What new things will you try for fun and adventure?: OWN EACH DAY AND CELEBRATE EVERYDAY LIFE!!!!!
Will you try a new look?: Yes...I am ready and in the mood!!!
Will you try to eat something you've never had before?: Yes...I think I am going to try lamb this year!!!
Will you be getting any tattoo's?: *sighy* One day but I am not sure about this year!!!
Will you be getting any piercings: again...*sighy*
Will you try a new hairstyle or color?: YES!!!!!
Will there be any charities you'll be active in?: I would like to volunteer this year but am unsure if I will....again...time will tell on this one...
Top 5 Places to go in 08: Las Vegas, a weekend trip to the mountains, Waterworld, road trip and the Denver Mint!
Top 5 Things to do in 08: OWN EACH DAY! Love more! Laugh more! Create More! Appreciate more!
Top 5 Ways to improve yourself in 08:Focus on ME a little more! Exercise more! Seek God more! Slow down and enjoy life more! Focus on relationships more.
One new years wish to make your 08 truly happy: That my family and friends will be healthy and blessed this year!

This was fun to try and I can't wait to see how it all turns out! I found the questions here...