Changes/Snow Summit

Ok so I mentioned in my last post that my hours at the plastic surgeon's office were cut to 2 days a week. That was a pretty big bummer, but it was a blessing too. It got me off my butt to start looking for a new job. It has been no secret that I wasn't to fond of my employment situation for the past 2 years, but I never really did anything about it (except complain). Well Part of the crazy week last week was after we drove home from Lake Havasu I had a job interview on Thursday for a place called millennium Medical Spa. They specialize in weight loss management and hormone replacement therapy. They also have a huge skin care side to them and sell all kinds of products. Good news...I got the job!

My job duites will include answering phones, weighing patients, working with a clinicial study they are running, possibly drawing blood and administering B-12 shots, assisting with Botox and facial fillers (which I do now)...Along with several other tasks. I am really excited because I can already see a HUGE difference between this company and my former employer. Oh...and it doesn't hurt that I got a pay increase. I will let you know a little more about it after I have worked there a while. I told them that I wanted to give my old boss two weeks notice....Only working two days a week, they asked if I could work on the days I wasn't with him. Hence starting on Wednesday. Wish me luck!

The day after my interview we went snow skiing. We decided that would be our valentines day celebration. It is so crazy that you can live 5 minutes from the beach and drive 2 hours to the mountians and snow. It was only my second time skiing but I had a lot of fun. We pretty much stayed to the low intermediate part of the mountain for my sake. I have learned I am less afraid of me falling and more afraid of people hitting me. Once I learn to quit looking backwards and focus on me I think it will be much better. Here are a couple of pictures we took that day.

semi-pro

Ok so this past week was a busy one. My hours at the plastic surgeon's office were cut down to two days a week (yikes). So that gave me some free time. Kevin asked me to go with him to Lake Havasu and be his photographer for the day. He had a couple of boats that he needed to test out. It was a great opportunity to try out my new camera lens and play around with some different settings. I have to admit I was pretty nervous because I knew I had to supply him with pictures that were decent enough to go in the magazine. I took over 900 photos! It was a fun experience, but I definitely think I would like to take some photography classes. Here are some of the pictures I took that day. Not all of them are magazine quality. They are just some that I liked.

New house guest

Some of you may be wondering where Optimus Prime goes when he is not filming his movies. Well....he has moved in with us. Here he is cooking us lunch after church. The meal might not look like much, but it was definitely more than meets the eye ;)

Groundhog's Day

I just want to thank everyone who called, emailed or texted to wish me a happy birthday today. I really appreciate it. I'm sure like everyone else...I have those days where I feel disconnected. I start to feel like I never get to catch up with friends because our lives get in the way. My birthday is one of my favorite days because I am reminded just how many amazing people I know and love. The simpliest card or email makes my day.

I had a rather relaxing (read lazy) day. I woke up, went jogging, ate lunch, watched pretty in pink and ran a couple of errands before Kevin came home. Then we just ate some dinner at home and watched some TV.

This past Saturday our family got together for a little pre-birthday party at the bowling alley. It was a lot of fun and I am so thankful that everyone was able to come. After bowling we went back to our apartment for some cake and ice cream. Linda was so sweet and made me a chocolate chip pound cake (just like my mom

would make). A few couples from church came over to our apartment to join in on the fun and we all stayed up pretty late talking and getting to know each other. It was a really nice night and Kevin and I decided that we need to host more get togethers.

Thanks again for all of your thoughtful gifts and emails. I am so lucky to have such great people in my life. :)

16 Random facts about me

I was tagged to do this on Facebook, but I thought it was kinda neat so I thought I would post it on here as well.

1. My biggest vice would have to be warm chocolate chip cookies or brownies...I can't resist them
2.I have recently given up drinking soda (including diet sodas) in the hopes of becoming more healthy. I am 6 months soda free (except for one or two over the holidays)
3. I have always wanted to learn sign language and I am finally doing it.
4. I am terrified of losing one or the both of my parents. They had me later in life and I envy my older siblings for having more time with them.
5.When I was young my favorite color was neon green. I wore neon green EVERYTHING....my favorite color is blue now, but it was neon green for a long time.
6. If I could pick one song to be banished from the airways forever it would be "Mony Mony" by Billy Idol. It just drives me nuts.
7.I can't stand carrots. I have made myself try them over and over again, but I can't trick myself into liking them.
8. I know people (friends,family or otherwise) that live in 14 different states.
9. I work at a plastic surgeons office and part of my job is taking the before and after photographs.
10.I have only had three boyfriends in my life, including my husband. I guess third time really is a charm.
11. I am seriously scared of snakes.
12. I was born in Hutchinson, Kansas, but I grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. I have also lived in Salt Lake city, Utah, Tampa, Florida and now Los Alamitos, California.
13.I consistently break out into song. It is usually triggered by a word or phrase someone around me has just said. I get this from my mother who I remember doing this all the time at home.
14.I love playing games. Board games, video games...anything. I am competitive, but I try to keep that to myself.
15. My favorite singing in the car at the top of my lungs song is "stay" by Lisa Loeb
16.I am a list maker.....I write daily lists of the things I need to get done as well as things I need to buy. I can thank my parents for this habit. They used to tape a list of chores to my door growing up. Oh how I hated those lists. Now I can stop!

Dexter

I have a strange fascination with serial killers. I don't remember exactly when it started, but I feel like I have always been interested in the way they think and what traumatic incident (if anything) happened that warped their minds into the cold creature that they have become.

I asked my mother to reserve a book for me one time at the library. when she had been notified of its arrival she went to pick it up but then came home empty handed. When I asked about the book she said the library made a mistake. They sent a book about serial killers! When I told her that was the book I wanted she made a face that showed her utter discussed for my choice in reading material and said "yuck!" If you want to read about that you can get it yourself!"

Ever since then I quietly wondered to myself if there was something wrong with me for being so curious about this topic. Thanks to the Showtime series, Dexter, I have learned that I am definitely not alone in my intrigue. The show is about Dexter Morgan, a blood splatter analyst that works for the Miami police department. He was adopted by a police officer that found him at a crime scene. Ever since he was young, Dexter had the urge to harm things. Like you hear about most serial killers he started off with animals. When his father caught on to this he tried to coach him on how to control those urges and just in case he couldn't, he wanted to teach him how not to get caught. His father taught him that human life has value, but there are those people out there that are just bad people and hurt people for no reason. Those people become Dexter's victims. Dexter has a "code" he lives by. He only kills those people that have hurt innocent people. I love this show because you get to watch him grow emotionally and have a constant internal struggle. Plus it keeps you on your toes because it can get pretty intense.

Kevin and I don't have Showtime. We caught the show when a few episodes were aired on regular cable. After that we were hooked. We went to Blockbuster and rented the first season. We would come home after work, eat dinner, and then watch a couple of episodes a night. We couldn't get enough. The next thing I know Kevin went out and bought the first and second season. Then I went to work and found out my co-worker was a fan of the show. I get online and see people talking about it on facebook. I even got a good friend of mine (and apparently his room mates) addicted to the series. The latest is that we got Kevin's mother watching the show and she has passed it around her neighborhood. It is safe to say that Dexter has become one of my favorite shows. It's not for everyone though, and that's ok. There is a good amount of cussing and of course violence. So if that offends you then you probably should stay away. For everyone else I would recommend renting it and seeing what you think.

Mark your calendars

Ok so everyone knows about St. Patricks day, Veterans day, Earth day and even flag day, but there are several holidays that get completely over looked. Here is a list of real holidays that you may not have heard of:

Jan. 3rd-Festival of sleep day (ZZZ)
Jan. 4th- Trivia day (What was the name of Tori Spellings character on saved by the bell?)
Jan. 8th- Bubble bath day (Break out the scented candles)
Jan. 11th- Step in a puddle and splash your friend's day (And don't forget your booties cause it's cold outside!)
Jan. 14th- Dress up your pet day
Jan. 25th-Opposite day-(That's right kids..it does exist)
Feb. 8th-Fly a kite day (up to the highest height)
Feb. 11th- White t-shirt day
Feb. 13th-Get a different name day
Feb. 16th-Do a grouch a favor day
Feb. 20th-Hoodie Hoo day (Seriously, Look it up)
Feb. 26th-Tell a fairy tale day
Mar. 3rd- If pets had thumbs day
Mar. 20th- Extraterrestrial Abductions day (ET phone home)
April 7th- No house work day
April 11th- Eight track tape day
April 13th-Dyngus day (Always the monday after easter)
April 30th-Hairstyle appreciation day
May 3rd-Lumpy rug day
May 9th- Lost sock memorial day
May 14th- Dance like a chicken day (How funky is your chicken, How loose is your goose)
July 2nd- I forgot day (Wait, what was I saying)
July 5th- Build a scarecrow day
July 14th- National Nude day
July 20th-Ugly truck day
July 27th-Take your pants for a walk day
Aug. 10th-National S'mores day
Sept. 6th-Fight procrastination day (That's a great idea...I'll start tomorrow)
Sept. 19th-International talk like a pirate day
Oct. 11th -Starts pet peeve week
Oct. 21st-Count your buttons day
Nov. 4th- King tut day
Nov. 29th-Square dance day
Dec. 18th-Bake cookies day

Now go and mark your calendars so we can take full advantage of such awesome holidays!