Baby's, Puppys, and Dragons.

This last week, Mike and I have had a few interesting experiences, but over all have just had a laid back and relaxing week. My work is launching a new program and for the training, they issued us very high tech manila folders to keep all of our work in. They also said that we could decorate them as we each see fit. I don't think that any one really decorated theirs, except me.

It was last Sunday. I didn't want to do much. I didn't even want to leave the house. So I didn't. While Michael played video games, I drew on my folder. I have always wanted to learn how to draw Japanese or Chinese style dragons, so I did a little research so that I would know what they looked like, and sat down and drew. And drew, and drew.

About seven hours, and a horrible hand cramp later, this is what I came up with.


I think that it is hard to see all the detail, but everything (including each individual scale) is outlined by gold. I think that it turned out rather well and I am very proud of it. Looking back now, there are some things that I will probably change in the future, but over all I think it looks pretty freakin' cool.

Here is a close up of the top half. Everyone at work was very impressed. They wrote a side note in the daily meeting notes that everyone should stop by my desk to take a look. One of my friends, Luke even asked if I would draw a koi fish on his folder for him. I did that, and it didn't take nearly as long. I wish I would have taken a picture of that one too. Oh well.

Here is a close up of the bottom half. After I showed Mike he was all, "I use four folders at my work. Will you decorate them too?" I thought it was funny and agreed. Although I have not started on them as of yet. I will post pics of those when they are all done. Then I thought, man, I should charge for this!

This week is Spring Break. Marti and Jenny went to Seattle to celebrate Jenny graduating from BSU this spring. While they are away, Mike and I are dog sitting her baby pug Loo Loo. I don't know exactly how old she is but I would guess around 6 or 7 months. She is sooo cute. We picked her up last night and she was crazy hyper. Mike thought it would be a good idea to let her loose to explore her new surroundings and to get used to the smells. Not a bad idea, until we had to chase her around our cars in the parking lot trying to catch her again. How would that be? Um Marti we lost your dog on the first night we had her. Needless to say, I am glad that that wasn't the case.

This is Loo Loo. We have to dress her. I know, it is a little Paris Hilton, but it really is important. She gets so cold she will just shake and look miserable. All the clothes that Marti has for her, which include two sweaters, a polo t-shirt, and a raincoat, are all pink. My goal is to find her something that one, isn't pink and two, looks cool.

She slept in our bed last night. Some of you reading this might think that is gross, but I don't. She was so snuggly. The only down side is she is a snorer. Or in the words of Bob and Tom: "Pugs snore like a passed out drunk trucker." I thought that was funny and accurate.

Mike getting cozy with Loo Loo by the fire. So cute.

As most of you probably know from reading Amber's blog, we babysat Ella last Saturday. It was a very interesting experience. We took her to breakfast and then to the park. She enjoyed that.

Here is Mike giving her a "horsey ride". I was surprised that she took to him as well as she did. He hasn't seen her that much. Her right shoe wouldn't stay on her foot for the life of me. So we finally just decided to leave it off. It was a really weird experience to be in public with Mike and a baby since everyone just automatically assumes that you are the parents. I definitely got a taste of what it would be like.

Here we are just being silly. After the park we just took her to our house. To have to watch a child like that all day long, I have really come to the conclusion that I just don't want any. At least not any time soon. I can really see myself being comfortable with just being the aunt. Or if I were to have kids, I don't think I would want my own. I thing I would prefer to adopt one that was like three or four. Already out of the baby stage. I don't know. All I know is that right now is most definitely not the right time for me. But I must give props and recognition to all those parents who are doing that. Especially the single mothers or fathers. It really is hard work and I had no idea. I am just lucky that I got to give her back at the end of the night. :)

I know, I know, I know.

Quote of the day:

Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. - Philip K. Dick

Ok, I have been getting enough grief from everyone about my blog not being updated so I am FINALLY updating it so people will stop complaining. :)

Part of the reason why I haven't updated in so long is that for awhile, Mike and I didn't have a secure Internet connection and then when we did get one the cable only allowed us to plug our laptop in at a certain position in the living room. You have to set the computer on a kitchen chair and then sit on the floor to use it. Not very comfortable. We have yet to get the connection routed to the upstairs office so I have to update at my parents for now. Not an excuse though, I know.

Let's see recently what has happened.... Let's start with work.

I was hired full time with Keynetics took all three of my "Milestone" classes. The last one was the hardest it was about 2 weeks of classes daily for about an hour a day. Then about another 2 weeks of just studying. The test consisted of two parts, the first being over the website and our edit pad responses. The second being over how every part of the company works together to make our business a successful one. Needless to say it was a ton of information to learn, and kind of complicated at times. Especially because it is information that I don't work with on a daily basis. My boss told me that No One passes these tests on the first try, so not to worry if I had to take it two or three times. Well I rock, and DID pass both tests on the first time!!! YAY for me! My boss sent out a mass email to all of the supervisors in the company saying that I was "her shooting star" and that I passed Milestone 3 on the first try and how proud she was of me. I felt very good and am now eligible for promotion when new positions become available. (not to mention the nice raise and bonus I received) Mike was very proud of me. I feel very fortunate to have landed such a cool job that I enjoy going to everyday. I never would have thought that I would be happy in an office job, but here I am.

On other news.... My house is haunted by a very nice entity.

So this is what happened. Mike had been telling me for quite some time that in the mornings after I leave for work he will hear noises, or items will be misplaced in the house. I kept telling him that he was imagining it or that it was our neighbors making noise, etc.

So a few Monday's ago I took the day off to get some things around the house done. It was a typical morning. I woke up, rolled out of bed, put the nearest thing on that I could find, jumped in the car heading for Starbucks. After I had my morning dose of caffeine I took a shower and was getting ready for the day. I was blowing my hair dry when I heard a noise. It was about 10:30, I thought, oh my neighbor is home making noise.

So I continue with my getting ready and I heard it again. I thought, wow that is really loud, kind of sounds like it is in the house. So I went downstairs didn't see anything unusual, go back upstairs to put some clothes on and in the bedroom all of my old books that my dad had given me were off the bookshelf scattered all around the room. It was weird for three reasons.

Reason #1, not all of the books had fallen off the bookshelf just the old ones from my dad, which weren't placed together on the bookshelf they kind of were just shoved where ever they would fit.

Reason #2, they weren't just in a pile on the floor at the foot of the bookshelf, they were all over the room, on the bed, under the bed, in the closet, everywhere.

Reason #3, only Oliver Twist was left on the shelf.

So I think, weird, and just put them back where they were on the shelf and didn't think anything else of it. I gathered up my laundry went downstairs to start a load, went back upstairs to change the sheets on the bed and they were all scattered around again. Same deal, just the old books, and just Oliver Twist was left on the shelf.

So I decided to test my new found friend. I put the books back, all laying flat stacked on top of each other with Oliver Twist in the middle of that stack. Thinking that I had either A. fooled my new friend or B. was totally imagining things.

All I did was turn my back and I hear a crash. I turn around and same thing. All the old books on the floor, Oliver Twist standing vertically on the bookshelf. So I said, out loud mind you, Ok, I will read Oliver Twist if you like. Then I put all the books back on the shelf, except Oliver Twist and that was the end of it.

I didn't ever get a weird uneasy feeling. I actually was just more irritated that I had to keep picking up the mess than anything. But needless to say that I did start the book and haven't heard from my new friend since. But I do feel that who ever or what ever it is, it isn't out to get me. A really crazy experience though, although not my first run in with the paranormal.

Ok guys that is all for now. I promise that I will keep it going and not slack off again. (At least not as bad as not updating for 3 months)

Word.