Bullet Points

A myriad of things going through my mind this morning.  I think a bullet point list is in order:

• Wondering if Leona is remembering the shirt folding trick I taught her. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5AWQ5aBjgE My mom actually sent it to me to see if we could do it.  She said she thought Chris would be able to master it.  He watched it one time and got it, and after a few tries, managed to teach me.  Now, I use it all the time.  Just re-watching that video, I realize that I start out on the right shoulder, and they start on the left shoulder, but oh well, the result is the same.  Leona liked it, and she got it after two tries - so I think maybe she'll stick with it.  She said she makes hospital corners on her bed, so I'm thinking this may be her new thing.  I was thinking about this because I'm in the midst of doing a week's worth of laundry.
• Thinking about Willy a lot this morning because I went back and read through some of my older blog posts.  Of course, I think about him daily.  I would think I'd be further along in the healing process of missing my little boy, but let's face it, I'm just not.  I get sad every day, but I do smile when I think of him too.  If he was here right now, he'd be next to me, because he always was in tune with my moods.  He'd know I was upset and would be loving on me.  Gabby doesn't have the same instinct.  I have to admit that I'm a little disappointed with that.  It was always a comfort to me, and that is one of the things I miss more than anything.  That, and watching his expressive tail.  I could tell his mood by his tail.
• Eminent Domain - read my old post here: http://juleebean.blogspot.com/2009/11/eminent-domain.html - an update.  The county didn't pass the SPLOST last year that was going to pay for the purchase of our building.  This year, they voted to renovate the current courthouse and not put the expansion of the courthouse on the ballot.  So, it looks like we are staying in place.  It's really a relief in some ways, because moving an office is TONS of work that goes on for months in preparation, and months after - getting settled, changing address, etc, etc.  But, on the other hand, it would have been exciting.  But, all in all, it's okay.
• Weight Watchers - I simply have GOT to get back in the right frame of mind!  I've let myself gain 6 pounds back.  While, that's not a horrible amount, it is still a G.A.I.N.  I haven't gone back up a size.  I'm still in a 14 pant (down from size 18, and even bigger than that at different points.)  Heck, I even bought a size 12 recently, a cute little black skort (yes, skort).  It fits, but could fit a tad better.  I'm stoked to be in a size 12 anything!
• The Johns Hopkins Spine Line - my case is on there.  Put there by my neurosurgeon.  You see, I'm having more difficulties relating to my spine.  Turns out EVERY disc in my C-spine is either bulging or degenerating.  One of my thoracic discs is bulging, but none of that significant enough to cause the symptoms I've been having since March or April this year.  I don't want to give TMI, so I'll highlight one of the main symptoms, and that is when I walk any distance, my legs go numb from the waist down, and when I bend my head forward, I get an electric type jolt from my waist running down to my feet.  There is actually a name for that, it's called Lhermitte's Sign - who knew?!  Anyway, my neurosurgeon is at a loss, we've done MRIs, CTs, vascular tests, some ultrasounds... nothing pointing to anything.  I told him that I actually expected that, and realize it's probably something that I'm going to have to learn with.  He told me that HE wasn't satisified with that, and considers himself meticulous.  The Spine Line didn't offer him any help.  So, he's referring me to a different neurosurgeon before we throw our hands up in the air.  He told me that the next test will probably be a lumbar puncture, because there could be an issue with the spinal fluid pressures... stay tuned!
• Favorite music artist right now is Adele.  Recorded the CD to my Music Collection hard drive on my car, and it has been playing constantly ever since, well, except for last night when Chris was riding with me, and it ISN'T his music obsession, so he took control of the channel surfing on XM.
• Loving my new car. I am still a wee bit shocked that I bought myself a brand spanking new 2012 BMW X5

• Chris is building a wonderful storage shed with a ton of help from his Dad.  His mom is also pitching in, and well, so am I a little.  Of course, I'm footing the bill, so that counts as helping, but I've also done some of the manual labor - mostly holding this, and handing that... but it is a contribution.  I'm excited to see the end result.  And, I'm excited to get things moved out there so the X5 can claim her spot in the garage.
• Do you name your cars?  I have had some that I did, and some that didn't get christened with a name.  However, I did name the X5.  I named her Pippa.  I chose that name because she is the sporty hot sister to the luxury cars.  (even though, I have to admit, Pippa is pretty luxurious herself, I'm finding myself very much liking having a BMW).
• Soccer season is here.  Going later today to see my nephew play.
• My Dad and Mom have a new puppy.  Her name is Missy.  She got off to a rough start at their house though when one of the cats took a swipe at her and punctured her eye.  She had to have surgery, but she's recovering nicely, and we're very hopeful that she's not going to lose sight in that eye.  I haven't met her yet, but I'm told she is a very sweet little girl.  My Dad is taking her to obedience classes. He's very excited and already very attached to her according to my Mom.

• Last night was Chris's aunt's birthday dinner at his Grandmother's house.  The person of honor (and any other family members who had a birthday in that same month) get a red You Are Special Spode plate to eat on, and gets to go first in line.

• I'm still praying for my friends facing health issues.  My friend with breast cancer is having a tough time,  I'm going to stop by for a quick visit with her today.
• I went to Emory Hospital to the Transplant Center with my friend who is on the list to get a liver transplant.  His appointment was this past Monday.  The doctor feels like he will get a liver within the next month or two.  He said if he hasn't gotten one by the end of September, he's going to write a letter to the committee to try to get him moved up higher on the list.  Praying for his liver has at times to me seemed so odd, because when he gets a liver, that means someone died.  What will be happy for us, will be devastating to someone else.
• Another friend's daughter is expecting again.  Okay, so my friends are grandparents now!  Yikes!
• Work has been keeping me VERY busy lately.  It seems though, the hardest part of my job is having to deal with OTHER people's moods.  Come on people, we all have to be there 8 hours a day (at least, even though mine are usuallly 9 or 10...), getting along makes the day so much easier!  Constant interruptions to deal with this problem or that problem really hampers my productivity.  I am very thankful to have a job, and a job that I like.  A job that affords me the capability of having Pippa... and health insurance, and a house, and food... you know, stuff like that.
• There are tons more things swirling through my mind, I'll think of something and by the time I get to the next bullet point, something else has put itself in the forefront of my thoughts, and pushing the other thoughts back... and these days, it's hard to retrieve those thoughts that aren't first and foremost in line.  I am looking at the time though, and I need to start getting ready to leave for the soccer game and visit to my friend.

Random things

There's been so much going on lately that I've neglected the blog, so I'm going to take a page out of my friend Ashley's book and do a bullet list:

• Decided I really don't need that Estee Lauder moisturizer for $60 a bottle after I spilled it on the floor mat, I must confess, I scooped up what was on the top and didn't actually touch the mat.  My wallet can't take my random clumsiness.
• Found out the hard way that having your brows done at "The Brow Line" is much more painful than having them ripped off with wax.  I really didn't want to cry right there in the mall with all of those people walking by, it was hard not to, but I managed.  Vowed to myself that it is wax for me.  Watching those women trimming brows with thread looks so innocent... take my word for it, keep right on walking.
• Pampered myself and bought a kindle.  Loving it!
• Feeling a tad bit old because my nephew turned 16.
• Had to buy a new laptop, my monitor was going out on my Gateway even though it wasn't quite two years old, our IT guy told me it'd cost nearly as much to fix it as it would be to get a new one.  I ended up getting a Toshiba with an extended 8 1/2 hour battery.  Feeling a little spoiled not having to keep it plugged up as much as I had to charge my Gateway.
• Thought I was going to get the go ahead to quit wearing my back brace, no such luck, although I don't have to wear it as much. 
• Feeling so very grateful to all of the people who have so generously supported our fund raising efforts.
• Taking better care of myself, will post more on it later, when I have so much more to post about.  But let's just say things are going well.
• Happy that the repair on the A/C at my rental property only set me back $300.  It could have been much worse.
• We took a long weekend trip to Florida to rally with other Ural owners.  Had a great time.
• Got to see my friend Dee while we were in Florida, good to get to spend a few hours with her.
• Took an airboat ride while in Florida - saw several gators.
• Boarded Gabby while we were gone.  I am really having a problem knowing that she was in a cage the entire time we were gone.  So... to get ready for our next trip, my Mom said she'll Gabby-sit.  I'm very grateful for that.  I took her for a playdate so she and Lucy (my mom's dog) could get to know each other.  It was going okay, until I was walking by and they both decided to run and I ended up stepping on Gabby's foot.  She thinks Lucy hurt her, and wouldn't come near her the rest of the night.  We had another play date last night when we went for Thanksgiving.  Gabby wound up in the back room and didn't venture out.  My two nieces were very good watching her and making sure she was okay while we were there.
• Went shopping today - my AmEx card is smokin'!
• Watching a very close GA/Ga Tech football game, so far, the Dawgs are winning! Go Dawgs!  Shocked to learn tonight that Chris pulls for Tech when they play GA, not sure how THAT slipped by me.  Oh crap, it's tied again!
• Tech missed the PAT, so UGA is winning again...

So, that pretty much catches me up.

Better

Feeling better this morning. Chris brought me some Tylenol Severe Multi-Symptom cold medicine which I took last night and was able to sleep the entire night.

I feel like getting out and doing some things today, I was a total couch potato yesterday. Willy needs some more food, it's getting really low and I know he'd appreciate me restocking the pantry.

We finally went and picked Chris's bed up from his cousin's house where it has been stored for the past two years. Thanks John for storing it and helping Chris load it. He was able to get it in the house by himself. Sometimes I'm amazed by the strength of that man. So, I want to get the guest room set up - finally!

I need to find something red to go with the blue and white I'm wearing to the 4th of July BBQ.

Busy days

Our days have been very busy lately - so much so that we are eating out every night. We always seem to do that when we are running at full speed.

I made it through the end of the fiscal year closing of the books! Yay! Always a stressful day for me.

Scheduled a few vacation days around the holiday to extend the weekend - ended up with a cold, so my vacation day turned into a sick day - b.u.m.m.e.r (Ashley if you're reading this, I always think it is cute when you do that, and I've never really had a place it would work before)

Had to get my XM radio signal reset in my car. I was having a bit of withdrawal while it was out of commission. I love listening to the comedy channels. Sometimes I am laughing hysterically, and I wonder what the other drivers are thinking if they see me. (Ashley, this might help your road rage...)

Upgraded my iPhone to the new operating system - liking texting MUCH better now. Still encounter typos, but not nearly as many. I was spending more time correcting my typos than texting, so I'm happier now with the wide keyboard text feature. Also found out you can slide your finger and the letter you stop on when you lift your finger is the letter that is typed. (that works on the old O.S. if you haven't upgraded yet) The texting was the one thing I really disliked about the iPhone, and now I can use both hands to type, so my speed has improved. You can also forward a text now which was something that was sorely lacking.

I'm hoping the voice memos will come in handy - I think it just might.

While sitting home on the sofa all day, I was channel surfing and stopped on Bravo TV and got interested in "The Fashion Show" and ended up watching a 5 or 6 hour marathon. They are down to the final four, and of course I'm hooked now.

Other than sitting on the sofa, I managed to get 2 loads of laundry done.

I missed a get together with Chris's family tonight because of the cold. He brought food and medicine home with him. He takes such good care of me.

Going out for a girls night out tomorrow night with Susan, Gina and Tonya.

Randomness

It's been a while since I've posted much other than photos, so I thought I'd catch up a little. It's going to be random and in no particular order.

Tomorrow, Susan, Tonya and I are going to Tennessee to our friend Gina's wedding. Leaving early in the morning, making a day trip of it. I'll be taking the photos of the wedding. Hope I do a good job for her. Weather should be good for both a day trip and a wedding.

I decided to finally set up Quicken on my new laptop. So, I was entering my savings account, and the math didn't make sense, and since those of you who know me know that it isn't my strongest area, I asked Chris to take a look. Well, did you know, that when you add $14.66 in interest, your account balance goes down by $10? And then, you deposit your regular amount out of your paycheck, that it shows up as there, but doesn't add into the balance. So, I have to give them a call and hope they can figure it out. If not, Aunt Sally might have to go up there for me and give a math 101 lesson.

I started to twitter at the request from a few friends. Having fun with it. Kinda cool. Hope I don't turn out to be a total bore for my "followers".

Also, transferred my iTunes library from one laptop to another, and successfully synced it to my iPhone, so all is good.

Bought tickets to the Gordon Lightfoot concert.

Bought tickets to Sesame Street Live; When Elmo Grows Up. I thought it'd be fun for an Aunt Jules and Katie Beth outing. Her dad said it would be okay and that we'd work out the mid-week transportation somehow.

Yanni concert was GREAT! I still prefer his music over the Yanni Voices concert which is his new direction. Of the four singers, I liked Nathan the best. I was a little surprised by the Chloe dance on the piano. But, he played some of his music without Voices, and I got to hear my all time favorites.

Got my car detailed today by the dealership. It was raining the day I bought it and off and on ever since. When it hasn't been raining, I've either had a meeting or an appointment, or work has just been too busy to get by there. She's all shiny! By the way, I've gotten into the habit of naming my cars... somehow, this one got the name Abigail. It just suited her. I tried several, and this one stuck for some reason. So, if you hear me refer to Abby, I'm talking about my car.

Chris has been down in his back. Poor guy... but he is better today than he has been. He's gone to visit the chiropractor and gotten two adjustments.

I started following my friend Ashley's blog, Kindredly.

Wordjong has become my favorite iPhone game app. I also downloaded the Dictionary.com app, and I am going to try to be able to spell that word every day in Wordjong. Chris and I also talk about the word of the day every morning now when we are getting ready for work. Gainsay is the word of the day today. I haven't played Wordjong today because I've been so busy with everything else.

Well, it's after midnight now, so I should quit blogging and head for bed since I have to get up early tomorrow for the road trip.