2007: A Year in Review

Happy New Years' Eve! I first want to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday and if you are going out tonight, make sure to be careful on the roads and if you plan on drinking, make sure to use a designated driver.

This is always the time of year when you sit back and reflect on the year that is coming to an end, and see just how far you have come, and just how good and bad things have been. It is also a time to be grateful that we made it through another year, and are lucky to be able to see another one.

For me, 2007 turned out to be a year of surprises, and full of things I didn't expect. At the first of the year, I was out on the dating scene, meeting a few nice people, but unfortunately, a lot of unsavory fellows. I had truly gotten to the point where I did not think there was any good men out there and figured I would just spend my days being alone. But that all changed on May 9th, when I met a man who in an instant changed my life in so many ways, and that was Phil. Our romance was definitely whirlwind, on our first date we both knew we were meant to be together and fell in love with each other, and exactly a week after our first date, he asked me to marry him, to which I said yes. I know that many thought we were crazy and that our relationship would fizzle out, but next Sunday we will have been together for 8 months and we're still going strong.

2007 also saw me finally being able to move out on my own, as I never had the ability to live on my own financially. Phil and I moved into a small, but cozy apartment that we have made our home, and as much as I miss being able to spend everyday with my parents, especially my mom, since her and I are so close, it is nice to be able to finally start my life and have a home of my own, one where I can decorate how I want and can take care of.

Unfortunately, despite all the good things that have happened this year, there have been some bad. Besides some financial hardships we have encountered, I have dealt with a few medical problems that have put me in the hospital twice. I developed a kidney infection in November and while in the hospital, I had a miscarriage at 7 weeks. It was devastating and it is still something that we are getting over, but everything happens for a reason. Then a month later, the infection came back and I was back in the hospital. For now I am feeling good, and I have a doctor appointment this week to get checked out to make sure the infection is gone or is going away, and hopefully 2008 will be a better one medical wise, and no more hospital visits.

We also welcomed a new addition into the family, our 8 month old Australian Shepard Mix puppy, Brandi. She is definitely a bundle, but she is so adorable and she really is a good puppy.

I hope that on this New Years' Eve, as you reflect about the year that has passed you, that you have had more good times then bad, and that 2008 will be a good year for all of us. For me, I am looking forward to getting married and having a good new year with my family and friends.

Happy New Year blog friends!!!

Christmas Celebrations

Hi there blog friends! I hope you all had a happy and safe Christmas. I don't know about you, but I am glad that it is finally over. As much as I love the season, now we have 11 months to relax before doing it all over again.

This Christmas was the first one that Phil and I spent together, and it was a busy weekend. It started Saturday with dinner at my Grandma Beth's house. She made us dinner and gave us some great gifts, including the fish pen for Phil (now he can fish whenever, where ever), and for me a scrap booking kit that I can't wait to open up and start using as soon as I print out some pictures, and the new Harry Potter movie, which I was so happy to get since I missed seeing it in the theater.

Sunday we spent at my Grandma Joan's house with my mom, where we had another dinner and Phil and I received an amazing gift from her, a 26 inch LCD Flat screen HDTV. It is a Christmas/Wedding Present, and let me tell you, you haven't really watched TV until you have watched it in High Def. I swear, it is like you are right there. When they say you can count blades of grass, they really aren't kidding!

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day we spent at my parent's house. Mom and I made dinner together, just like we used to do when I was living at home, and it was just a fun and relaxed holiday.

So needless to say, Phil and I were happy to be able to spend the holiday with family, but very glad that Wednesday we had no where to go and could just spend the evening at home. Of course, this is when I decided I needed to get a cold, and have been dealing with it for the past few days. It doesn't seem to be a very long cold, seeing as I am feeling a lot better then I was yesterday, and it seems to be just a head cold, but it is never fun. At least I wasn't sick for Christmas like I have been the past few years. And I should be all better by New Years'. We are staying in New Years' Eve, since there are so many drunks out there on the roads, but I am going to make a nice dinner and then some snackie type foods for later in the night while we ring in the new year. It should be fun.

I am also working on a blog, sort of a review of my 2007. A lot has happened in my life over the past year, some good, some bad, so look for that blog to come out in the new few days.

Merry Christmas!

Here is wishing all you blog friends a safe and Merry Christmas!

My Christmas celebration starts today, when Phil and I have dinner over at my Grandma Beth's house. Tomorrow we are meeting with my parents at my Grandma Joan's house for another dinner, and Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will be spent over at my parents house. So it is going to be a busy next four days, but it should be a lot of fun. This is my favorite time of year and there is nothing better then spending it with those you love, and especially better since I am feeling so much better from my latest bout of the kidney infection I have been dealing with.

This will be my last blog until after Christmas, when I will blog about all the holiday fun and wonderful presents I might receive. I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and I hope Santa brings you everything you ask for!

Not Again...

Guess who was back in the hospital again :(

I've been feeling really good and was so glad to be on the mend, when Tuesday night my right side where my kidneys are starting hurting very bad, and kept getting worse through the night. In the middle of the night I starting getting violently sick almost every hour, and I knew then that I was passing another kidney stone. The next day Phil took me into the ER where after a cat scan and ultrasound, they said I passed a stone AND the infection never went away the first time. They sent me home and told me to come back the next day for a checkup, and the next day I felt worse, so I was admitted and put on heavy antibiotics. I was in there for three days and on Sunday, the doctor tried to keep me another day because he said I was anemic, which I always have been since I have arthritis, and it is nothing new. I told him no, I was feeling so much better and would have rather seen the bed go to someone who could have used it instead of me who wasn't even using an IV.

So I am feeling a lot better. The side is still tender, and I even once in awhile will get a little twinge of pain, but the nurse said that is normal until the infection clears up. I am also on the heavy antibiotics for the next seven days, and then the medicine stays in your system for a month, so that gives me enough time to get in and see my primary care doctor and see what we can do about making sure the infection is gone for good, and stays gone.

Luckily, I am home for Christmas! I baked yesterday with my grandma and I was so disappointed. I love baking and my oatmeal raisin cookies are what everyone raves about, but they came out so bad in my oven, flat and ugly and even though they taste good, there is no way I would want to give them to anymore for Christmas. I guess it is just an old stove. So now I have a ton of oatmeal raisin and chocolate chips cookies. I am going to try making some sugar cookies later in the week, maybe they will come out better.

This is going to be a busy weekend for us. Saturday we are going to my Grandma Beth's house for dinner, and during the day we are going to finish up some Christmas shopping. Sunday night it is over to my Grandma Joan's for dinner for her and my parents, and Christmas Eve and Day we are spending it both at my parents. My parents and I always have the tradition of opening our presents on Christmas Eve, and then having a big dinner on Christmas Day. So I am looking forward to it so much, and I will be sure to take lots of pictures!

Merry Christmas!

Video Blog: Brandi and Xmas Decorations

The most wonderful time of year

Wow, I feel like I haven't blogged in such a long time, even though it was just after Thanksgiving. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about you blog friends, I just wasn't feeling like myself. I had no energy after coming home from the hospital and didn't feel like doing much of anything. But I am happy to report that I am doing so much better. I am feeling more like myself, I am able to do more around the house without having to take a nap afterward, and I even feel like cooking again, which makes Phil happy because he loves my cooking more then his.

I am so glad I am feeling better, because this is my favorite time of year: Christmas Time! The weather has been getting really nice and cool here, even downright cold at night, meaning I have been bundling up anytime I go outside. People have Christmas decorations and lights up which I love to look at, and can't wait for when we take a ride around this weekend to different neighborhoods that we know of that have really nicely decorated houses. And Phil bought us our very first Christmas tree. We got a fake tree, because they look nice and last for many Christmas seasons to come. I wanted a 6ft tree, but we have a small apartment and with how our furniture is arranged, there just isn't a place where it would work, plus Brandi is at that age where she chews at things, and we don't need a doggie chewed tree. So Phil went to Wal-Mart and found a cute 3ft tree that fits so nicely on on of our end tables. As soon as he came home with it, we fluffed it up and he put on lights and we put up some ornaments and even tinsel. But the tree isn't done yet. We went over for dinner at my parent's house this past Sunday and my mom gave me some ornaments from the many that she has, so now I need to put those on the tree and finish decorating the house with my many snowmen things that I have. Yup, I love snowmen.

Another thing I love about this time of year is that I get to do all my holiday baking. There is nothing I love more then spending the day in the kitchen baking goodies and then watching people enjoy them.

I hope that all of you out there love the holidays as much as I do, and I am sure you all have your own traditions that you love to do this time of year.

Merry Christmas!

Gobble, Gobble

I hope you all had a happy and safe Turkey day!

Since coming home from the hospital last week, I was so drained of all my energy and could barely take a shower without having to take a nap afterward. So I rested up all week to be able to feel better for Thanksgiving and it worked! Phil and I spent the holiday at my parent's house and dinner was amazing, as always, and we came home with so many leftovers, not to mention a huge apple pie that we haven't even had a piece of yet.

Now, this means it is officially my favorite time of year....Christmas!! I am so excited to have my own place to decorate this year. I was going to get a 6ft tree that I saw at Walmart for $20, but after looking around here, there really isn't a great space for me to put it, so we are going to get a pre-lit 4 or 5ft tree that will fit perfectly on one of our end tables, plus this way we don't have to worry about the dog eating it, since Brandi is at the age where she eats everything. And once my mom goes through her Christmas boxes, she is going to give me my snowman stuff, since I adore snowmen and love this time of year so I can bring them all out.

So as you can see, I am feeling better. I am starting to feel like myself again, finally, which I wasn't sure was going to happen. I don't have all my energy back, but I find that I can do more things around the house before having to take a rest and I am starting to act more like myself, instead of just sitting around feeling so down in the dumps. I am dealing with the miscarriage well too, I was really sad about it at first, which is to be expected, and it was hard for me to even look at anything that was a baby or was baby-related. And even though I do get sad now when I think about it, I know that it was for the best and that when we try again, we're going to have a happy and healthy baby. But there are times, when I see people with babies who you know shouldn't be parents, I wonder why do they get to have a baby and I couldn't. But I think that is to be expected.

Right now I am just putting all my focus on the upcoming holiday and making it the best ever. Phil hasn't really had a Christmas as an adult, he said he never usually puts up a tree or anything, so I am looking forward to giving him a really Merry Christmas. Oh, and I know that most of you knew that Phil and I were supposed to be getting married this week, but we had to cancel the wedding and the reception since there was no way I was feeling up to both. So I was very disappointed because I was so looking forward to everything, and had been for the past month. But we decided that we are going to get married after the first of the year, this way it is after the holiday, which is always a busy time for everyone. We also decided that we are going to get married and have the reception on the same day, so that our family can see us get married, which is important to us.

Well, that's about all the updates I have for right now, so time for me to get off here and get some dinner started, because this is one hungry Kimbo. Talk to you soon blog friends!

Where I've been and sad news

First off, let me apologize for not being online and blogging, but things have been pretty difficult here around Kimbo Central.

Two weeks ago I started having some pain in my lower right side, where my kidney's are. The pain kept getting worse to the point where I couldn't lay down, sit, and eventually I was unable to keep down any food or liquids. Phil took me into the ER, where it turned out I had a serious, raging kidney infection, to the point where if I had waited a few more days before coming into the hospital, it would have killed me. I was admitted and since I was so dehydrated, I was put on IV fluids and antibiotics.

On Tuesday morning, around 4am, I started bleeding and after an ultrasound and exam, we found out I was having a miscarriage. Luckily, I was still in the hospital at the time, but it was the worst experience I have ever gone through. I spent the entire day cramping and bleeding until that evening, when I was able to get into surgery and have a DNC, where they scrap your uterus.

I finally was able to come home on Thursday, and the doctor said that it is going to take about three weeks for me to get back on my feet again. I have no energy whatsoever and spend most of the time laying on the couch resting and catching a nap or two during the day. Phil has been really good, taking care of me, and I am on antibiotics which are helping the infection in my kidney's go away completely (they think I had a stone that I passed, which caused the infection), and also on iron pills, since I lost so much blood with the miscarriage.

As for that, this has had to be the hardest thing I have ever gone through. Even though I was only 7 weeks along, it was still our child, and we loved it very much. We were so looking forward to being parents and were so happy about being pregnant. It is definitely a loss, and one we are dealing with. We've each had our moments, and even though I went through a period where I thought it was my fault, it wasn't. The doctor said that every women has at least one miscarriage in her life, and that this is the body and nature's way of taking care of something that wasn't right. We will have a baby in the future, we know this. It just wasn't the right time right now, and as hard as it is to deal with, at least our baby is in a better place.

Thank you to everyone who has helped me out through all of this, and been there for me. If you don't see me blogging a lot, it is because I am doing a lot of resting to get better. But I am still here, and getting better everyday.

Peanut

It is truly amazing how your life can change in an instant. How when your least expecting it, things happen in your life that make can either make your world a better place. For me, there are two instances in which I can look back and say my life changed in that instant. The first was the first day Phil and I met, in person. The minute I looked at him and he smiled at me, I knew my life would forever be different and better because he was a part of it and I was right, life hasn't been the same since that day, and I wouldn't change it for the world. The second time that happened to me was Oct. 24, 2007, when the pregnancy test came up positive.

That's right, blog friends, Kimbo is expecting a little one. My cycle was supposed to start on Oct. 23rd, and it isn't rare for me to either be early, or be late. But something felt different this month, and Phil ran off to get me a test, even though I figured I should wait a week before doing so. I took the test, which frankly is sort of degrading, sitting there peeing on a damn stick, but I did it and immediately a plus sign started forming. I sat there, shaking, not believing my eyes. It wasn't a faint line, it was a very visible "Your knocked up" plus sign, and I took the test out to Phil. He looked at it and I saw his eyes water and a shocked, yet happy look on his face and he got up and started dancing around, calling all his family and friends. I called just my mom, and decided to wait to a week and take another test, just to be sure.

A week later, on a Wednesday morning, I took another test, with the same result. It was official. I know people say it is bad luck to tell people during your first trimester, but I am excited and I want to share my news with the people I care about most, because if God forbid something does happen (which I am praying it doesn't), it is those people who I want at my side supporting me.

It seems that there are some people who are not happy about this news. I understand the concern over money and the fact that right now Phil's job isn't always steady, such that happens when working in the construction business. I know some would have liked to see us wait and be married for a year before starting a family, and although that is ideal, sometimes things happen. And I know others worry about my arthritis and whether I am going to be able to care for my child once it is born. And I appreciate every one's worries and concerns, but I wish people seemed to be a little more happy for us. Having a child is truly a blessing in my eyes, and something that I have always wanted. As far back as I can remember it has been my dream to have a family of my own, and I know that not only will I be a good mother, but that Phil is going to be an excellent father. It is at this time that although I know people have concerns, I wish I could get a little more support and happiness and well-wishes, instead of hearing nothing but negative comments, or no comments at all.

At this moment, according to the first day of my last period, I am 6 weeks and 2 days pregnant. My first prenatal visit is Nov. 15th, at which we will have our first ultrasound and get to hear the heartbeat. I am doing pretty well, my breasts are very very tender, and I have had some nausea, and my sense of smell is definitely heightend. And my boobs seems to get bigger by the day (which really isn't a bad thing), and I can cry at the drop of the hat, or turn into the biggest bitch with no notice (which is not a good thing). I am also really tired all the time. Some days I find I have the energy to clean up around here, while other days, like today, I just feel like napping all day long and doing absolutely nothing.

Phil is really getting into the whole thing. There is a website called www.babycenter.com, which when you sign up, it will send you an update each week telling your what week you are in, how your baby is developing that week, and what is going on with you. Each Saturday we get the new email update, and he will sit right next to me with his hand on my tummy while I read what's going on with the development, and also show him the picture they have of what the baby looks like that week. He sits there with a big grin on his face and tears in his eyes. He is a proud and happy daddy already, and I feel so very lucky to have him and have him be so involved.

Now, you might be wondering about the subject line of "Peanut". Well, since it is too soon to tell if it is a boy or a girl, I've been calling the baby Peanut, and Phil has now started calling the baby Peanut as well.

Well, enough of my ramblings for today. I know I haven't blogged in awhile, but it has been quite a busy time around here, and I haven't been online as much as I usually am, but now that things are getting back to normal around here I will be back to regular blogging, and video blogging as well. Until next time, bye blog friends!

Video Blog: Introducing Brandi

Our newest addition

First off, sorry I haven't blogged in a bit. Phil got home Tuesday night and it was so great to see him. Even though he had only been gone for 8 days, it still seemed like longer. He came home with a dozen red roses for me, so sweet.





Other then that, things have been pretty busy around here, we've been out and about running errands and the past two days I have been feeling pretty sicky, so I have been in bed a lot, resting and trying to feel better. Right now Phil is up in Show Low, about 4 hours north of here, camping with his dad, I told him to get even though I didn't feel good because all I am doing it resting and napping and he might as well see his dad, who he hasn't seen in months.





But, during our busy week we did get a new addition to our family...introducing...Brandi....








We adopted her from the Arizona Humane Society. She is a 6 month old Australian Shephard mix, and it also looks like she has some collie in her. When I saw her, all the other dogs in the kennels were barking and she just sat there staring at me. We went around a few times, but we kept getting drawn to her, so we just had to get her. She already knows some basic commands like sit and stay and lay down, and even though they told us she was partially housebroken, she seems completely housebroken to us, hasn't messed in the house once and will go get her leash and bring it to us or scratch at the front door when she needs to go out. Very quiet dog, and very smart, and so sweet. She loves to give us kisses and she really is no trouble at all, at night she will lay at the foot of the bed on the floor, but with Phil being out of town, she slept last night on the bed with me. And she is a heavy sleeper, anytime I moved or got up to go to the bathroom, she never moved, she was dead asleep. Only thing that bugs me is that she will wait forever before going number 2, especially when it is cold outside at night and I am ready for bed. She is a great addition to the family and it is nice to have the company actually. Phil has been wanting a puppy and frankly, while he is at work during the day or if he goes out of town again, it is nice to have her. I planned on doing a video blog of her, but seeing as I have been feeling pretty crappy the since yesterday and have spent most of the weekend sleeping, I will video blog her when I am feeling better.

YAY!!

Guess whose coming home tomorrow!!??

Yes, blog friends, Phil is coming home tomorrow and I am so excited. Turns out his work really screwed him over on the whole deal down there, not sending his check to him on time, and now not paying his per Diem for food and motel cost, meaning that the extra money he makes that we could save away to start our business will go to pay for his motel and food. He might as well come back home and work a normal work week instead of working long hours on the weekend for basically nothing.

Even though its only been a week today since he left, it has been a long week for both of us. We are miserable without each other, and the nights around here have been pretty lonely. I was starting to get used to being alone though, I didn't like it, but I was handling it better then the first few days he was gone. But I am so glad he's coming home, now we can go back to our routine, and there is so much we want to do now that the weather is nice that we had to postpone, so now we can do things again. Plus he will be here to help with wedding plans, and I feel better knowing he's here to help me make decision, so it feels like his wedding too.

Speaking of which, I got the invites to the reception done today and they are so adorable! All I have left to do is address then envelopes and then mail them out in the morning. Once we get married then we will do the same thing but as announcements to send out to the rest of our family and friends.

Well, I am off to start some dinner, and also start watching as many shows as I can on the DVR. I have been going through all my shows each night, trying to get caught up, since he doesn't like all the same shows I do, but I was behind a couple weeks because I just didn't have the time to watch. So hopefully I can get caught up so I don't get behind anymore.

Video Blog: Pissy Sunday

Change of Plans and A Milestone

OK...so the wedding plans have changed a bit, but I think for the better.

The original plan was for us to get married on Nov. 24th, with a small reception afterward, with just close family and friends. Well, the reception is still on for the 24th, that hasn't changed, but looking into officiants, it just costs so much and seeing as I am planning this on short notice, and it being a holiday weekend, there really isn't anyone available. And my dad thought of getting ordained online to perform the service, but then, who knows if all those sites out there where you can get ordained are legal, and what if we find out down the road that is wasn't.

So, we decided to do the simple way to get married, and head down to the Justice of the Peace. Really, we just want to get married and this is not only the most cost-effective way to do it, but to us, it doesn't matter where we get married, as long as we do. So I spoke to the women today, who seemed so nice and happy for us, and she put us on her calendar for Nov. 20th after 5pm. My parents will be there and I am going to ask her Monday when I call to confirm if it is OK if we want to say our own vows, since we each have some written. It may not be the way we originally wanted it, but we'll be married and that's all that matters. I'd marry him anywhere, anytime. What will be great is that we'll still have the reception on Nov. 24th with our family and friends, and seeing as we'll already be married, we'll be more relaxed to enjoy ourselves.

Now...what is this milestone I mentioned in the subject line?

We've hit the 1000 mark here at Kimbo Central, which means that my blog has been viewed 1000 times. The counter is at the top of the page, on the left hand side, and I believe as I write this the count is at 1020. I'm pretty excited! I seemed to have a group of readers, mainly family and friends, but still, it is really cool to me that you all come here and check out what is going on with my life. The whole concept of blogging is really great, I think, it is sort of like having a journal or a record of your life events, something you can always come back to and look at and reflect on how you've changed, or how life has changed. I read through some of my old blogs recently, blog upon blog of all the dating struggles I was once going through and how I developed the mentality that I was going to end up alone. Now, I am a month away from getting married to the man that I have been waiting and hoping for. I hope as my blog gets 1000 more hits, that my life will take me in more unexpected and wonderful places that I can share with all of you.

Video Blog: Save The Date!

First Night Alone

Phil left this morning a little after 11am. When we woke up this morning we packed all his things and loaded the truck. I tried to make that time go by slowly, and we just kept looking at each other with that look that meant we knew we were going to have to say goodbye soon, but neither one of us wanted to talk about it. Unfortunately, though, that time came and even though I had tried so hard all morning to not cry, the minute he hugged me goodbye I couldn't help myself. Our goodbye wasn't long, because I don't think either one of us could have handled anymore tears, from both of us, and I think it was better that way. Watching him drive away was so hard though. I knew I wouldn't be seeing him for a month and going back into the house alone just broke my heart. I know, its only a month, 30 days, but it is still so hard. Its amazing how someone can come into your life and just change things for the better and make such a difference on who you are. The days I am actually OK being alone, as I am used to it when he is at work. But it's the night that is hard, when I get lonely, when I look over at his chair to tell him something or laugh over something that is on TV and then I remember he's not there. But the night just means he is one more day closer to coming home. I am thinking positively. And it helps that we talk all the time, he calls and checks in, and I call his motel room to check in. He took my laptop to have Internet so we could email, but there is no Internet in the place he's at, so at least we have phone calls, and we both plan on sending letters to each other.

The good thing is that we are finally going to get the money we need to get our business off the ground. He can get licensed and bonded so he can be an independent contractor and I will run the office end of the business from here. As hard as it is to be away from each other, the payoff is worth it.

I should try to lay down and get some sleep, its after midnight and I am usually in bed by this time, but I can't sleep. I am used to him being here, and its hard sleeping alone. Funny how a few months ago when we moved in together I had a hard time sleeping because he was in the bed and I was used to sleeping alone, now its the opposite. But the sooner I get to sleep, the sooner I can stop missing him at least for a few hours.

I promise tomorrow will be a better, happier blog. I am just sad tonight, but as the days go by and I get used to being alone here, I will be better. But I have some good news to blog about, so check back tomorrow! For now...goodnight!

Last Night Together

Phil leaves tomorrow for his month-long work trip to Morenci, AZ, which is about four hours away. As much as I am very sad that this is our last night together in a month, I am happy that it is going to allow us to start our business, and our life. We'll never have this opportunity again to make this sort of money.

The house is a mess, clothes everywhere, stuff of mine from my parents house littered across the place just waiting for a permanent home. After dinner we're going to start packing up his clothes and stuff, so in the morning we just have to get him loaded up. After that, it is up to me to get everything put away and re-organized (with the help of Grandma Beth), so that when he comes home he has a nice place to come home to once again.

I'm trying not to let him see how sad I am, and how much I am going to miss him, but I am afraid tomorrow when it is time for him to go, I might just break down in tears. But it's only 30 days, and I think I have enough to keep me busy for awhile so the time will go by fast...

...or else I'll just do a ton of weird and pointless video blogs ;)

Sad, Yet Good News

Phil is going to be going out of town for business, leaving Monday around noon. His work told him this was the next assignment they had, and nothing else local. He made a bunch of calls yesterday looking for work around the Valley, but nothing panned out. So he is off to a city called Morenci, AZ, which is almost by the Arizona/New Mexico Border, down near Safford. It is four hours away, and the sad part; He will have to be there a month, working 10 hour days, 7 days a week.

Now, you might be asking,"Where is the good news?" Well, despite the fact that he will be gone for a month and we are going to miss each other like crazy, he is going to make an awesome amount of money, enough so that when he gets home, we'll be able to start our contracting business, so he can do his own thing and not only make a lot more money, but also have stable work, since what he is doing now, he could be working at a job site and then 2 days later, they send him somewhere else, or tell him there is no more work available. As much as I don't want him to go, this is really an opportunity of a lifetime, we will never have this chance to make this much money in a month's time again, and be able to not only start our business, but still have some left in the bank for a rainy day.

It seems, to me, that despite the fact that we're happy to have this chance to finally get on our feet financially and get everything we've wanted to start finally started, that there is an air of sadness in the house. I feel for him, because he is going to be working such long hours, 7 days a week, and I feel so bad that I can't be there with him, so at least at night when he's dog tired, he's got a friendly face to come home to. But I am giving him the laptop to take so we can chat and email, along with phone calls. Yet I feel so proud of him, and so grateful, to have a man who would do anything, even this, to help us have a better life.

I worry about it though, him working so hard like that. It will be so easy for him to get stressed out and burned out, and I worry, what if he gets hurt on the job or something. As much as it sucks for me to have to be alone here for that long, it is really nothing compared to what he is going to have to be doing, working so hard with not even a day off. Frankly, I don't want to see him do it, I don't want him working himself that hard. But then, what choice do you have, when you have to pay the bills and get things done. Its times like these that I wish I was capable of being able to work and bring in more income then I do with my disability. Then maybe he wouldn't have to work so hard for us.

For me, I'm really not sure what I am going to do with myself around here, but then this isn't about me, its about him and all he has to go through the next month. I'm not really worried about having to be along, I am fine being alone, I am a loner by nature so me and alone time actually are pretty good friends. But its going to get old, and fast. Of course, I have people who will come by and visit, like my family and Mindy. Its not like I am going to alone in that aspect, but alone in the fact that my other half won't be here. But I am trying to think of the positives that are going to come out of this, and not focus so much on the negative. Its not easy, but it is just a month right? Geez, that seems like such a long time. I hope it goes by fast.

Birdie Bath Time

One of our lovebirds, Pooh, decided it was time for him to take a bath, and when he takes a bath, he really gets into it. So Phil grabbed the camera and started recording...

Video Blog: Fish Poop

Crabby Kimbo and Halloween Hatred

I've been a crabby Kimbo lately, and I hate Halloween. Here all about it!

Crispy Kimbo

It was a very nice weekend here at Kimbo Central. Since the weather has been really nice, and there is a park about a block from our apartment, with a big fishing lake, Saturday we headed over with our fishing pools and grabbed a prime spot, ready to catch some fish. Mindy even came out with Kiarra and it was so nice to see her, she has gotten so big. As the afternoon went out though, the sun started getting stronger and I got a small sunburn on the back of the neck and a little on my chest and arms. Luckily, my arms tanned and so did my chest, but my neck is still red and hurts a little when my shirt rubs against it. But at least I didn't get too crispy.

But today it was back to the regular routine. Phil was released back to full duty work on Friday after hurting his shoulder last week, so after a week of being home together, he went off to work this morning and I went back to my normal routine of making sure everything was cleaned up around here and then finding things to do until he comes home from work.

I did today, however, start my new diet and exercise plan. Since moving in with Phil in June, I've sort of picked up his eating habits, and gained back some of the weight that I had lost in the beginning of the year. I've started to notice my clothes are fitting a bit tighter and I've gained some weight in my face. So I started back on the morning exercises I was doing before, and cutting way back on what I eat, having just a yogurt for lunch and then dinner, and not snacking during the day. So far, so good, except that I am starving! Funny how when you are consciously trying to watch what you eat, everything in the kitchen looks like something you need to eat right at that moment. But I am drinking water when I get a hunger craving so that has been helping some. I am hoping I can lose about twenty pounds by Thanksgiving, and then maybe another twenty by Christmas. I figure if I give myself small little goals like that, then the weight loss will be more attainable.

Well, it is dinnertime and I am looking forward to eating the leftover spinach pasta I had made for dinner last night. I have been looking forward to it all day.

Video Blog: Our Picnic

Here are the two video's I promised from our picnic trip yesterday.

The first video is of these fish eating a pretzel that we threw into the water. We couldn't believe how they just attacked it until it was all gone. Who knew fish liked pretzels!?

The second one is, brace yourself, mushy, but I love it. He's so sweet to me, I just had to share!

Enjoy!

Picnic

Hey there blog friends!

So yesterday, while Phil was out at his physical therapy appointment, I decided I was going to do a video blog, and then the camera decided to die on me right in the middle of it. Oh well...I didn't have anything important to video blog about, just nonsense.

When Phil got home though, we went on our first picnic. There is a huge park about a block away from us called Desert Breeze. There is a big fishing lake and and a train that runs around the whole park on the weekends. When my cousin JJ was just a little guy we would take him over there and I would ride on the train with him.

So with our cooler packed with sandwiches and goodies, we headed over to the park and found a nice place to sit. The weather was a little hot yesterday, but not too bad, better then it has been this summer. There was also a ton of fish in the lake and I got on video these fishes tearing up a pretzel we threw in the water. It is crazy!! There is also another, very mushy video, that Phil took, which I think is adorable and whether you like mush or not, I am going to post it along with my pretzel-eating fish video shortly, or as soon as I am able to get around to loading the videos.

My parents came by this morning for a little bit, and it was nice to see them, I miss them a lot. Once they left Phil and I had lunch and then were going to head back to the park to go fishing. After we ate, though, I needed to come online to take care a few things, and he was watching some TV. He came here, into the bedroom, when I was almost done, and laid down on the bed talking to me. Next thing I know, he is snoring! Now, I am not sure if I should wake him so we can go fishing, or if I should just let him sleep. Hm...maybe I will just see if he wakes up on his own...

Well, that's about it from my end right now. I need to upload the videos I made yesterday to YouTube so I can post them on here, and I also have some pictures I will share with you. I decided that video blogs don't always have to be me ranting in front of the camera, they can be of anything that I take video off in my daily adventures.

Video Blog: My New Haircut

*Seriously, I think Youtube hates me, which is why they make me look like a boob in the first frame before you click play*

And then there were two...

Last night we lost another one of our lovebirds, Tweety. During dinner she started showing signs that she was going to pass, sitting at the bottom of her cage, all puffed and sleeping, stumbling about when she walked, and her breathing was labored. I had seen the signs before with other birds, so I knew that during the night she would pass. When we went to bed she was still sitting at the bottom of the cage, and this morning when we woke up at 5:30am, she was gone.

So now I am down to just two lovebirds, the original two I had before I started getting others (I've had 7 in all). I've been checking on them today and they seem to be OK, they know their friend is gone, but seeing as they are flock birds, they tend to get over it quickly. I am doing OK with it too, because I had all night to prepare myself that this morning she would be gone. I said my goodbyes before I went to bed.

I've decided as much as I love my lovies, I just don't think I am going to get any new ones. All the lovebirds I've gotten from Petsmart have died, and unless you get them from a breeder, who raised it from birth, you never know what diseases they have, and they show no sign of illness until the last moment. Plus, I get so attached to my pets, that I don't need to get attached to anymore. The two I have left, Baby and Pooh, I have had for 3 years, and Pooh I've had since he was a baby. I just hope that I have a lot of time left with the both of them.

The video blogs stay!

I've gotten some good responses from the video blog I did on Friday. Those who have written me about it seem to say they liked it and wish for me to continue. I even had a few people, that I have known online for awhile, say it was nice to actually hear my voice and put it to the words that I write. So for now, the video blogs will stay. I'll do a combination of both, regular blogs, and video blogs.

I hope your all having a great weekend. I was finally able to get out of the house yesterday. Phil's back door of his Jeep has not been able to go up, meaning that we haven't been able to load my chair back there. Yesterday morning he went back there with all his manly tools and somehow got it working again. So we met up with my parents to get the ramps needed to load my chair into the van, and off we went.

Today we are spending the afternoon at my mom and dad's. I haven't spent a good amount of time with them since we moved, seeing as mom had a terrible infection in one of her teeth, but is not feeling better after having the tooth extracted. It will be fun to hang out with them, and cook with mom again.

Speaking of my mom, her birthday is coming up in Thursday. Originally, I was going to spend the day over at their house, but now I invited mom and dad to come over here for lunch. It will be my first time really entertaining in my new place, and I am looking forward to it. I am going to make a lunch and also a birthday cake (lemon with vanilla frosting, at the birthday girl's request). The only thing I wish I had was a couch, so I could finally get my living room together, so people have a nice place to sit.

Well, I'm off to get started on my day. Phil is sleeping in, so I am going to take this opportunity to look up some recipes for the week, and write down things we need when we store by the store later on the way home from mom and dad's. I am really getting into the cooking, I've always loved to it, and now I can try all sorts of new recipes. Have a great weekend!!

My first video blog....Human Nature

So the newest thing in the blogging world is to create what is called a "Vlog" or video blog. Instead of typing out your thoughts, you sit yourself in from of you video camera and talk to you audience.

Surprisingly, as much as I love technology, and the chance to use the video camera on my digital camera, I have never tried this before. But since I had no work left to do today, and Phil won't be home from work for awhile, and I had an idea for a blog, I decided to try it. This is what happens when your bored and home alone.

So enjoy!!



(Why does Youtube find the most unflattering pose of you and stick that as the first image??)

Back to Work

I've started working for my friend Cindy again. I used to do her bookkeeping for her and her husband (he is an independent contractor), and she needs help getting her invoices organized again. So I spent yesterday getting the system I used set up again, and she faxed me over some work. It was so nice to be working again, it makes me feel productive, instead of just sitting here during the day after my morning chores, bored.

Phil would love to get started being an independent contractor, he is so talented with carpentry, and can do so many things. And we could really make a lot of money doing it. So I have started researching everything he needs to do to get licensed and bonded and get a contracting business up and running. I would love it because while I am here during the day I can run the office part of the business; scheduling appointments, taking calls, keeping track of invoices, and the like. It is fairly simple to do, and I absolutely love office work. I'm not sure why, but when it comes to running an office, I can do it with my eyes closed. I suppose its just a natural talent.

Alone Time

When Phil and I first began apartment hunting, I knew during the work-week I would be home alone while he was out working. During our first week here, I had a lot to do during the day, from unpacking and getting everything organized and put away. I really didn't notice the alone time, it seemed like I was so busy, he would be home from work before I knew it.

Now that the unpacking is done, and we're about settled in, I don't have as much work to do around here. I wake up in the morning, shower, and attend to my little chores, such as making the bed, starting some laundry, and making sure the kitchen is clean and the birdies are cleaned up. Once I finish this, I have the rest of the day free to just do whatever.

I have to admit that I do like my alone time. I spend a lot more time online chatting with my friend Ryan, which I wasn't doing much of before, and her and I have to have our girl time. But I love being online, I don't know what I would do without it. I spend more time online then watching TV during the day, in fact my TV is usually off until Phil comes home from work. But I notice that at times, I get restless. I wish I had a car, so I could run errands or just go visit my parents or even just do a little window shopping. I look forward to when I know Phil will be home because then I have someone to talk to. But this is nice, I have to admit I enjoy having the day to do whatever I like. When Phil gets home from work I get busy cooking dinner and at night we spend time together, so this is like my time to just relax.

I have found though, that I am doing a lot more of those silly myspace bulletin surveys, to pass the time. I think there should be a survey anonymous!

Has it really been ten years?

My ten year high school reunion is going to be on Oct. 6th. I can't believe it has been ten years already. Looking back, I had such a different view of where I would be in my life, and although the grandiose ideals of a 17 year old seemed wonderful, I am very happy with where I am in my life right now, even if I haven't fulfilled any of the goals I had back for myself when I graduated.

I have been wondering though, the past few days, if it is even worth it to attend the reunion. First off, it is $60 per person to attend, meaning I need to fork over $120 for the two of us to go to a four-hour event, where they are only offering appetizers and drinks. If dinner was happening, then maybe I could see paying that price. Plus, I have better things to spend my money on. Unfortunately, I just don't have that amount of money laying around to spend on an event where I may not even care about seeing any of the people that happen to attend. I didn't have much friends outside of the band room frankly. And now, being that I am in a chair and unable to walk, I don't want to deal with an evening full of people asking me why I am in a chair, and getting fake sympathy in return. I'm not sad about it, I just don't need to pay such a large amount of money to discuss my health condition.

I wonder if I would regret it though, if I don't go. Then again, I've gone ten years without caring about seeing any of these people, so would I really care if I miss this night? And the people I would like to see, most live out of state and won't be able to attend anyway. And reunions are all about bragging anyway...look at how much money I have, look at my family, my house, my car, look at where I've traveled. I could care less. I'm happy with where I am, engaged to a great man who I just moved into a very nice apartment with, I have a great family. I don't feel the need to brag about it.

Weekend Review

I hope you all had a great weekend!

I saw my parents this weekend, on Saturday, for a few hours. My mom has a terrible toothache and an infected tooth, so we didn't stay for dinner as we had planned because it was more important for her to get her rest, and I wished that I was there to take care of her, but I know my dad is doing a good job with that. Hopefully she is going to the dentist today to have the tooth pulled, because that will bring her so much relief.

Yesterday I was finally able to get my desktop computer hooked up, and also set up the cable modem. I haven't been using my desktop in months because I could never get an Internet connection to it wirelessly, and when I did, it would kick me off after a few minutes. So now I am directly connected to the cable modem and this thing is lightening fast. I am using it now, actually, while downloading music on the laptop. Ahh, how I love my technology.

Things are the apartment are really starting to take shape. My bedroom is pretty much done, except for the closet, which needs to be organized a bit better, and I have a few clothing bags I need to go through and put away. And in the living room all I need is a couch to get everything looking like an actually living room (all I have is a recliner), and then I can put my coffee table and end tables where I want them. Today I am going to finish organized the bookshelves, and unpacking all my fragile things, so I can put them around. It drives me crazy looking at things unorganized. Luckily the kitchen is all done and looking good, thanks to my grandma's coming over last week. It's starting to look like home around here, which is nice.

Kimbo the Housewife

My parents came over yesterday afternoon and it was so nice to see them, and to be able to show them around my new place. I miss them a lot, I am so used to seeing them everyday, so this is definitely an adjustment, but I have to admit, I do like being able to have space to spread out my things. I also find that I can't wait to wake up in the morning so I can putter around here. I have all the boxes unpacked, now I am just working on organizing and decorating. I'm getting into a new routine around here, waking up in the morning and showering, then making sure the kitchen is clean, maybe do some laundry, straighten up anything else from the night before, and then work on getting things put away. I'm like a little housewife, and I have to admit, this is definitely my thing. I have always been a homebody, and a nurturer, so I find being able to have a home of my own and take care of things fulfills a need I have always had.

The one thing I am enjoying is checking out all the different people that live here. I've seen people in very bizarre outfits and behaviors, and I am getting to know which people are my neighbors, even though I haven't met any. Human nature is very fascinating.

Phil should be home from work soon. He had to be at work at 3am today, working all the way our in Avondale, which is about an hour away. So he was up and out the door by 2am. I thought I would have a had time sleeping when he left, being that I am still getting used to the place, but I slept really well. I've been working hard around here, so at night I am very tired. I know that when he gets home he is going to be so tired, so he will most likely take a nap for a few hours. But he was excited to see football will be on tonight, and plans on making his guacamole for the game. Its fun to be able to do that sort of stuff together. Last night, Drum Corp World Championships was on and he watched it with me, so tonight will be football night. We make a good team, I am a very lucky girl.

OK, time to start folding the laundry and working on getting my desk put together and my desktop computer set up. Have a great day!

Settling In

After all the moving we did this weekend, yesterday was the day to tackle the next hurdle: unpacking. Phil stayed home from yesterday, he had pulled some muscles in his chest lifting boxes and furniture for three days, and being that is a carpenter, and his job consists of lifting materials, he knew he would be no good. So he spent most of the morning in our bedroom, putting things away and moving our bed to where we want it and our desk. And both my grandma's come over and helped me unpack all my kitchen boxes and helped organize my kitchen, and get some other living room boxes unpacked. When they left, we looked around and saw just how much we got done, and how much better it looked around here. And I made our first dinner here, since my kitchen was all unpacked, so that was nice.

There is still a lot to be done around here, so while Phil is at work today, I have work to do. Its good to be able to keep busy though, today is the first day I will be here alone and it is actually nice, very quiet. I get a lot of work done when I am alone, not sure why, probably because I don't have someone around to babble too lol.

So I am off now to get in my shower and then start working. Phil will be home after 3pm today, so I have plenty of time to make a dent in some of the unpacking.

Happy Labor Day!

I hope you all had a safe and happy Labor Day, and that you were one of the lucky ones to have the day off.

As for me, this weekend was spent moving into our new apartment. Saturday morning, while Phil was out dove hunting, I packed up the rest of the stuff that was out and then spent the rest of the time moving things from out of my room into the living room to make it easier to pick up things and load them in the truck. Once Phil got home I went over to Cindy's and picked up the kids and brought them back and then it was time to load the cars. It was very hot, but the kids worked hard and so did Phil. It is thirty miles from my house to my parents house, one way, and we made about 3 trips, so that was a lot of driving! Around 7pm we finished unloading the truck and stopped to pick up some dinner for the kids before taking them home. We then picked up dinner for us and came home, ate, and fell asleep.

Sunday morning, I was up early, thinking of all the things we needed to get done, and Phil was up early too, so we headed back over to my parents house to take a few more loads of stuff. This time, we didn't have the kids, so Phil was left to move everything from the house or garage, and into the truck. It was another very hot and miserable day, and after the second load, we headed over the grocery store, as we had no food whatsoever, and did some shopping for the week, and headed over to the $.99 store where we were able to pick up a lot of stuff we needed. Its amazing how much good stuff they have in a store like that. We took the truck back to my parents house and talked to them for a bit, then headed home. It was after 10pm when we got back to this side of town, so we picked up some sandwiches and again ate and went to sleep.

This morning, I was up around 8am and decided to get started on some laundry, and putting away all the groceries that we bought the night before. I was able to get everything into the pantry we have and get it organized, and also unpacked our silverware and dishes and ran them through a dishwasher cycle. Then we headed back over to my parents and took two more loads of stuff, plus stopped by his storage to get some of his kitchen things. We got the truck back around 7pm and since neither of us felt like cooking when we got home around 9pm, we had some pizza delivered. Now, we're just sitting here, relaxing. Its been a long ass weekend and we are both wiped out.

My grandma's are coming over tomorrow, they offered to help me unpack and get my kitchen organized, and I am very happy for any help that I can get. So I will be up again early, but this time I don't have to make any long trips back and forth, I can stay here and start getting this place cleaned up. There is just boxes and bags everywhere and seeing as it is just a 720 sq.ft apartment, its pretty crammed in here. But despite the size, it is actually very nice and spacious, and cozy. We really haven't had a chance to sit back and really enjoy our new place, and we haven't even been able to cook a real meal here yet, but its our place, and its so nice to have a home I can call my own.

Moving Day

When Phil came home from work yesterday, we hopped in the car and drove over to the new apartment and signed the lease and got the keys. It felt good, and it felt right that we were going to be living there. I haven't been to the complex since just the first visit, so this time I was able to look around. The whole place, once you drive in, looks like you are in the mountains, very rustic looking, very cute. The apartment is very nice, albeit on the small side, but it is just the two of us. And the whole area around us is residential, so it is very quiet.

When we got home, we ate a quick dinner, and then I decided to tackle the rest of the packing. Mostly everything is packed, but it just seems that everywhere I look, there is crap that needs to go into a box. And no matter how much stuff I put into a box, there seems to be more crap lurking somewhere else. I am at the point now where I am just throwing whatever is out in a box to deal with later, as now it is just odds and ends. My hope was to get it all done last night, but around 10pm Phil looked at me and said get in this bed and let's get some sleep.

So today is the big day, moving day. I'm showered and dressed and it isn't even 7:30am yet, although I have been up since 4am. Today is the first day of dove hunting season, something that Phil waits for all year, and he had to be at his friend's house by 5am, as they were heading down to Casa Grande. Of course, I started thinking about everything that needed to get done this morning, and couldn't go back to sleep. Frankly, I would have much rather he stayed here today and helped me finish the rest of this packing, and then pick up the boys early from Cindy's and start moving so we can avoid doing a lot of this stuff in the heat of the afternoon, seeing as they are forecasting it to be a high of 113 today. With an extra pair of hands, I wouldn't have to scramble around getting everything done. But then, if I didn't let him go today, then I would have to deal with a crabby man all day and since moving is never fun to begin with, I'd rather him be happy with me then pissed off. Plus he's been waiting for this day all year, and he can only hunt until 10am I believe, so he'll be home early enough (hopefully).

My plan this morning is to finish getting everything into the few empty boxes I have left, unplug all the computer equipment, and get a little box together of all the things we will need tonight and tomorrow morning, like our toothbrushes and shampoo and soap. Then I will go pick up the boys and once back here, load up both cars with as many boxes as we can, and head over to the apartment. Once we get back here, hopefully Phil will be home and he can start loading furniture. Phew, just thinking about everything that needs to be done today has me tired.

Speaking of which, I better get a move on. My mom came home from work not too long ago and is taking a nap, so when she gets up I want to be all ready to head out and pick up the boys. I am hoping that I will be able to pick up a WiFi signal at the apartment tonight, so I can at least come online, since we won't have cable until tomorrow afternoon. If I can't though, then I won't be back online until sometime tomorrow afternoon. So wish me luck and next time I blog to you, I'll be blogging from Chandler!

Almost ready to move!

Its been a few days since I last blogged, but I have just been so busy packing and getting ready to move this weekend. Most of my bedroom is now packed up, and yesterday my mom went through her kitchen and gave me a ton of stuff that she hasn't used forever, so she was very happy to give it to me, and I was very willing to take it, seeing as I am starting out with practically nothing. So all the kitchen stuff and dishes got packed up today. Tomorrow I will do a final go through of the house, seeing if I have anything left that I haven't packed, and get a box together for loose odds and ends.

For Saturday I was able to get my friend Cindy's two oldest boys to help Phil with moving furniture and boxes, which will make the day go a lot smoother. We first have to go sign the lease and get the keys. I have the electricity being turned on as of tomorrow, and Sunday afternoon the cable guy is coming to set up the cable, phone, and Internet, meaning unless I can pick up a wireless signal from a neighboring apartment, I won't have Internet until Sunday afternoon. So you know I will be going crazy, and as soon as the cable guy leaves and I get the modem set up, I will be up and running, ready to blog about our moving adventures.

So I am very excited about moving, even though it will be sad. But I found that last week, as sad as I was about leaving, I have come to terms with me and it is going to be such a great change for me, and it really is about time for me to be get out on my own, and for Phil and I to start our life together in our own place. So wish me luck with the move, and I will be back here on Sunday!

My first night alone...

In two months, that is....

Tomorrow is Phil's 29th birthday, and his brother invited him up to Lake Pleasant to go fishing overnight. How anyone can sit on a boat in the middle of the night and fish is beyond me, but he loves it, and since I love him, I told him to go and have a good time. Funny thing is, in the two months we have been living together, we have spent every night together, no matter what. So as much as I am going to enjoy having the entire bed to myself (although I love him, he is a bed hog), I am missing snuggling up together in bed watching TV and making each other laugh, and yes, I am even going to miss him hogging the bed. I guess we've gotten into a routine, we have dinner, watch TV together, go to bed. Tonight though, I find myself back where I was before he moved in, alone in bed, watching TV with my trusty laptop on my lap, bored. Amazing how one person can just come into your life and turn it upside down and change it for the better. I miss him terribly, and I know I am going to have a hard time sleeping without him next to me, but it will all be worth it in the morning when he comes home and we can celebrate his birthday in style.

We did start packing some this morning before he left. It was strange, though, packing up my things. I sort of always have the idea that I was going to be here forever, that I was never going to find the person I was meant to spend the rest of my life with. I never really thought that one day I would be moving out on my own. But the day has come and as much as I am looking forward to it and I am excited, I am also feelings a little sad, and nervous. Sad to be leaving the home I know, and moving to a home of my own, where I am in charge of everything for the first time in a long time. And nervous, hoping I do well on my own. But this is good, for us to have a place of our own, and to start our life together, just he and I.

Well, I think its time for me to put away this laptop and relax here in bed, maybe watch a movie or two that I have on the Tivo that Phil doesn't want to watch with me. I suppose it is good for us to have some time away from each other, doing our own thing, but I am hoping that morning comes soon.

Yucky Saturday

My fibromyalgia has been acting up the past couple days, and as much as I hoped I would feel better today, when I woke up I knew I was no good to go out. Unfortunately, Phil and I had errands to run today, and I knew he really wanted me to go, and I even got myself dressed and put on makeup, but I just couldn't conjure up the energy and we knew that if I pushed myself and went out today, tomorrow I would feel even worse. So as much as I would love being out and about today, after Phil left I got back in my jammies, got into bed and decided to rest up so that tomorrow I will feel better and we can go out. Plus, he said he wants to take me on a date this weekend, so I want to feel better so we can do that tomorrow. We usually just run out to do grocery shopping and whatnot, so it will be nice to do something different.

So while I sit here and rest, I decided why not have a little fun, and do a blog survey...have a great weekend!

101. My name is: Kim

100. I was born in: Fullerton, CA

99. I am really: Sore and sicky feeling

98. My cell phone company is: Sprint

97. My eye color is: Brown

96. My shoe size is: Depending on the shoe, either a 9 or 10

95. My ring size is: 7

94. My height is: 5'5

93. I am allergic to: Codeine and the purple flowers blooming around the neighborhood

92. I was born: 28 yrs ago

91. I am annoyed by: My fibromyalgia acting up

90. Last book you read: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

89. My bed is: Very comfy, but seeing as Phil is a bed hog, we are going to have to get a king size bed lol

88: One thing you hate about yourself: My arthritis

87. My favorite Holiday is: Christmas

86. The perfect kiss: Was the first kiss I ever shared with Phil, on our first date

85. The last three cd's I bought were: Its been awhile, I always just download music and make my own cds

84. Are you living at home: I am right now, but we just got approved for our apartment, so we will be moving on Sept. 1st

83. Do you have any siblings: No, I am an only child

82. Are your parents divorced: Yes, and remarried to other people

81. What did you do yesterday: Took a shower, straightened up things around here, watched a movie, made dinner, and then snuggled with Phil in bed and watched tv until bedtime

:::I Believe In:::
80. Love at first sight: I believe there is lust at first sight

79. Luck: At times

78. Fate: Yes, but I believe God has a lot to do with it

77. Yourself: Most of the time

76. Aliens: Bring me to the mothership lol

75. Heaven: Most definitely

74. Hell: Yes

73. Ghosts: Yup, I've had a few encounters

72. Horoscopes: They are fun to read, but I don't actually believe them

71. Soulmates: Yes, and I found mine

:::Which is Better:::
70. Hugs or Kisses: Both!

69. Drunk or High: I have never been drunk or high

68. Phone or Online: Online

67. Red heads or Black haired: Well, seeing as I am a red head...:)

66. Blondes or Brunettes: Brunettes

65. Hot or cold: Cold

64. Summer or winter: Winter

63. Fall or Spring: Fall is my favorite time of year

62. Chocolate or vanilla: Chocolate is my weakness

61. Night or Day: I am a total night owl

60. Oranges or Apples: Apples.

59. Curly or Straight hair: Mine is more wavy, although I wish it were straighter

:::Here's What I Think About:::
58. Abortion: Something I could never, ever do

57. Backstabbers: No room for them in my life.

:::Last time I:::
56.Had food? About 20 mins ago, I had some crackers

55. Saw someone I haven't seen in awhile: I saw Mindy a few weekends ago, I don't see her as much as I used to

54. Cried in front of someone: This morning, because I was hurting so bad

53. Who is the ditziest person you know: I know a few

52. Who makes you laugh the most: My mom and Phil

51. The last movie I saw: Little Miss Sunshine

50. What I don't understand is: Why people are so stupid these days

49. Something I always really miss when I leave home is: I am going to miss not having to cook dinner every night

48. The thing that I'm looking forward to the most: Moving on Sept. 1st into our new apartment

47. The thing that I'm not looking forward to is: Packing and moving, and then unpacking

46. Tomorrow: is Sunday, and hopefully I will feel better so that I can go out with Phil

45. Today: I feel yucky, and feel bad that Phil had to go out and run errands without me

44. Next Summer: Will be hot

43. Next Weekend: I am not sure what we are doing yet

42. People call me: Kimbo

41. The person who knows the most about me is: My mom, Mindy, and Phil

40. The most difficult thing to do is: having to cancel plans because I am not feeling good

39. I have gotten a speeding ticket: A few times, my last one was about 5 yrs ago

38.My zodiac sign is: Cancer

37. The first person i talked to today was: Phil

36. First time you had a crush: 4th grade

35. The one person who i can't hide things from: Mindy and Phil

34. Last time someone said something you were thinking: The other night, Phil and I have a habit of either saying the same thing at the same time, or saying something aloud that the other person was thinking

33. Right now I am talking to: No one, I am home alone for the time being

32. What is your dream job? I've always wanted to be a lawyer, I am fascinated by the criminal justice system

31. First real job: I worked at a movie theater

30. I have/will get a job: I am no longer able to work

29. I have these pets: 4 lovebirds: Baby, Lovie, Pooh, and Tweety

28. I wish: I felt better so I could be out with my Pooh :)

27. The worst sound in the world: Car crash

26. The person that makes me cry the most is? Phil, but only because he knows just the way to look at me and knows just the right things to say that shows just how much he loves me

25. Best sound in the world: Laughter

24. Person[s] that makes you happy: Phil, my family, and friends

23. Florida or Hawaii: Well, I have lived in Florida, and I didn't like it there, so I'll go with Hawaii

22. My favorite piece of clothing: My light cotton blue shirt

21. Last time I cried: This morning

20. My friends are: wonderful!
19. My computer is: new, I just got this laptop for Christmas

18. The school I go to is: I am no longer in school, I got my Associates Degree from University of Phoenix

17. Last person I got mad at: I got peeved at Phil the other day

16. The all-time best movie is: 16 Candles

15. The all-time best feeling in the world is: Being in love

14. I lose all respect for people who: lie and cheat.

13. The movie I cried at was: The Notebook

12. TV channels you watch: ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, TLC, E!, MSNBC, History Channel, Weather Channel, HBO...just to name a few

11. Favorite web site: Myspace

10. I like/love: My family and Phil

9. The worst pain I was ever in was: when I shattered my elbow

8. My favorite word is: Whore or fuck (don't ask why, they are just good words lol)

7. My room is: Lived in

6. My favorite celebrity is: Johnny Depp

5. My weakness is: chocolate
4. What I like about the opposite sex is: Lips and Eyes

3. Who broke your heart: A lot of people over the years

2. One thing that makes you feel great is: snuggling with Phil

1. One person that you wish you could see right now: Phil, because I don't feel well and he always makes me feel better

Friday Afternoon Pondering...

So I am sitting here at my desk, and I look up, and there is a plastic Dove sitting on top of my desk, with its tail and behind facing me. Now, you ask, why is there a plastic Dove on my desk? Well, the answer is quite simple: My fiance, who loves to hunt, is excited that Dove hunting season starts on Sept. 1st, and like any good Dove hunter, you must have Dove decoys. So I have two of them living in my room now. But on this fine day, as I stare up at this one decoy, with its fine plastic tale hanging over the desk, I ask myself....

"Why does the plastic decoy have a poop hole?"

Finally!!!

We got an apartment!!!!

I haven't been blogging about it, because it seemed as though every time I blogged about an apartment that I liked, we didn't get it, so I have been keeping quiet (yes, I know its silly, but hey, I am a silly girl).

Last week my parents took me out to look at a few places while Phil was at work. The first place totally lied to me over the phone as to what they had available, just to get me into the place, and from there it was off to the second place.

When you first enter into the complex, the main thing I noticed is that it is surrounded by residential homes, and is very quiet. I liked that a lot, plus the complex almost looks like it belongs in the mountains, with lots of trees and such, very quaint. The staff was super friendly, which many of the places I called were not, and the apartment, although they had no handicap-accessible units available for rent now, will suit me and my chair just fine. It is a one bedroom apartment and although it is on the smaller side (720 sq. ft.), for the two of us for the next year, that will be fine. I filled out the applications, put down the holding deposits, and have been waiting since last week to find out if we got it or not.

Today, finally, the women called and let me know that the manager signed off on everything and we are set to move in as of the 1st! I am very excited, but also nervous. It has been a long time since I last had my own apartment when I lived in Florida, and it will be hard not seeing my mom everyday, since her and I are so close, but this is a great opportunity to finally get out on my own. And my Grandma lives maybe 5-10 mins down the road, so I feel better knowing that if I even run into an emergency, there is someone who could be there to help me.

Now just comes the part I hate....packing and unpacking....

My night in the ER

If there is one place in this world I hate going to, its the emergency room. You have no idea what people are in for, and what type of contagious disease or illness they might have, and you normally have to sit in the waiting room for hours before an overworked nurse and doctor will take a look at you. Needless to say, last night's trip to the emergency was not one I wanted to take.

It all started about a week and a half ago, when I was bite by a mosquito on the top of my left foot. For some reason, those pesky insects are attracted to me, whenever I go outside, I come back in with more bites then anyone else. A few days later, last Saturday, Phil and I went shopping, and that morning the bite was itching so much that I had to scratch it. As the day went out, my foot felt painful in the spot of the bite, underneath the strap of my flip-flop. I took my shoe off to see that the site was red and puffy, and was definitely infected. For the past week I have been keeping it as clean as I can, putting peroxide on it, bandaging it with antibacterial band-aids...the works. Yet, the thing kept getting worse. Yesterday at Walmart, Phil bought some Neosporin, and that just made it angry. So after dinner, with this thing hurting and throbbing and swollen, plus hot to the touch, I was told I was going to the ER.

Of course, I got crabby and bitchy, because even though I knew I had to go, I just didn't want to. But in the car we went and luckily, there is a new smaller hospital nearby that did not have a wait or very many people. And it turns out, I was not the only one in there with an infected bite, I guess it just must be that time of year.

The diagnosis: I have Cellulitis, which is an infection in the tissue underneath the skin, that if left untreated, could go to the bone, meaning a hospital stay, with IV antibiotic. Luckily, its not that bad, so I have to take oral antibiotics twice a day for ten days, keep a warm compress on it a few times a day, and they gave me a shot in my butt of a stronger antibiotic to get in my system and start working.

So I woke up this morning and to my surprise, it wasn't as painful as it was last night, and even though it is still red, it is not as bright red as it was last night, and it looks better, so I am very happy to see that. The dr. said if it doesn't get better then I need to go in and get IV meds, which I really don't want to be admitted into the hospital, so I am going to follow all of the dr.'s orders.

*Sigh*

Well, looks like we are still on the apartment search. Saturday we headed over to the complex that Mindy lives in, which we found has some strict qualification guidelines, the one upsetting me the most was that each of us, individually, has to make 3x the rent in income each month. Now, being on Disability, I make just enough to pay the rent, with absolutely nothing left over, yet Phil makes very good money, so we just combine our two incomes. This complex wouldn't have that though, so because I make so little each month, we're not able to get the apartment. I was upset about it, but after seeing the apartment, as much as there was a lot of room for me to get around (it was a handicap unit), there was a few things I didn't like, such as I would have to be constantly backing in and out of the kitchen to get to the stove and fridge and sink, and the bedroom was big, but narrow, and I wasn't able to get my chair into the closet.

So the search continues. It's just going to keep taking legwork to find the right place, and I am trying to be optimistic, but it just seems we keep hitting roadblocks. I guess I figured since things have come so easy to us so far, this would be easy as well. So I will be spending this week making calls and getting all the information on places, so this weekend we know which ones to look at.

Oh...people have been writing to me asking when we are headed off to Vegas. Well, looks like that trip isn't going to happen. His work seems to be wishy-washy on the whole thing, pushing the time they need to be there back, and he is under the impression it just isn't going to happen. So that's why we've decided to start looking for a place to rent, since before we weren't going to until after we got back from Vegas. As for getting married, we'll probably do something very simple here, and spend a weekend in Vegas as a honeymoon. But right now, our first priority is finding an apartment and getting settled in, and from there we'll figure out when we'll get married.

Sick Day

The monsoon's are in full swing here, meaning we've been getting rain and the dew point and humidity have been way up there. For me, this means my arthritis has not been a very happy camper, and today it has decided that I needed to stop and take a rest. I am really cold and my temp. is up, meaning I am having a flare up, so before it got too bad, I took a bunch of Advil, got in my warm jammies, and am now curled up in bed. I am hoping by resting today, I can avoid a full blown flare up, where I can't move at all, and get past this and start feeling better by this weekend, since we have a lot of things to do, including looking and hopefully leasing that new apartment.

I feel like such a bum though. I have laundry to do that I couldn't get done, except for a tiny load so Phil had some clean pants to wear to work tomorrow. But I can't even get them out of the washer to dry them, he will have to do it when he gets home. He has never seen me have a flare up like this, so I guess today he is going to see first hand just what I go through. I know he will help me though, he's a good guy and he understands I have trouble like this which is out of my control. I just hate feeling this way, and wish I had something stronger I could take to get me past this and back to feeling better again. I suppose there is also another part of me that worries that this all might be too much for him, that he'll start thinking he doesn't want to deal with loading my chair in and out of the car every time we go out, and deal with me having days like this, and one day tell me he just can't do it. But he has assured me time and time again that will never happens, he knows this is just part of being with me, and he is fine with it. I guess its just my own insecurities, after being in relationships in the past where I have been told my arthritis is a burden. No matter how much things are different this time, I still have those thoughts in my head, which I guess is normal.

Well, I think I am going to sit back here on my pillows and watch a little TV while I try to relax. Phil will be home very soon, and I know he will make me feel better.

Updates

So the apartment hunt continues, after the fiasco of the place we went to last week, bringing out a huge sheet of hidden fees. I had called around places, trying to find a place that is affordable, has a handicap accessible apartment, and is in a nice neighborhood. Well, Mindy lives in a nice complex that is in the same area of the apartment complex I used to live in before we moved to Queen Creek. She went down to her leasing office and they have a 900 sq. ft one bedroom handicap accessible apartment, ready to rent now. I saw the flood plan and prices, and it is what we are looking for, so she let the leasing women know we will be in Saturday to look and possibly lease if we like it. So that would be nice, I love the neighborhood, close to the freeway for Phil to get to work, and good shopping, including a Barnes and Noble which I am so happy with, and its in Gilbert, which is a nice city. And it will be nice to be close to Mindy, if I need anything she can come over and help me, and it will be nice to see each other more often, and also I can see her little girl Kiarra, which I haven't seen since December, and she has gotten so big.

Besides that, everything has been going well. The monsoon is in full swing here and every night we have been getting dust storms and rain and thunderstorms, which is nice, but my arthritis hasn't been too happy with it. And Phil got a raise at work yesterday, which is going to help a lot, I am so proud of him. He really does work very hard, and his job is very demanding, working on these job sites in the blazing Arizona summer heat, poor thing comes home everyday covered in sweat. I hope he knows just how much I appreciate all the hard work he does to support us.

So, that's about all the news I have going on right now. I'll keep you posted on apartment news this weekend.

Frustration

Phil and I went Friday to look at the apartment we found that we really liked and also had a nice handicap accessible apartment available. Once we got there, though, the woman that I spoke to over the phone, who quoted me her move-in price, brought out a cost sheet full of other hidden deposit and administrative fees that she never told me about. To move into this place, it would require us to basically have to pay a months rent twice, plus more. And she wouldn't show us the place until we put down money for the non-refundable admin. fee and application fee. It was ridiculous. We could have ended up hating the place and been out $218 from the start. So our search continues. We spent yesterday morning calling around several different complexes, getting prices and such, and drove around yesterday while running errands seeing different places and the neighborhoods they are in. So this week my job is to call as many places as I can, get prices and all move in costs, and then from there, Saturday will be the day we visit the places we like the best, and then hopefully put in an application at the best one.

So I was pretty bummed, and frustrated, to say the least, this weekend. I really wanted to get into this place, and was upset that when I had asked the women for all the possible fees, she assured me all we had to pay to move in was $218 and then the first month and a half was free. Once we get in there, the whole story changed. It was almost as thought she just figured we were going to want the place that bad, that we'd do anything to get in, including plunking down hundreds of dollars. Of course, I am fully aware that moving into an apartment is going to cost some money, but this place was just outrageous. I have no doubt that we are going to find a place just as nice, with an affordable move in, but I was really hoping on that place, because it seemed so perfect with the handicap accessibility. But other complexes have the same thing, and I have to realize that when it comes to finding a place to live, sometimes it is going to take a lot of legwork. In the end though, once we get moved in somewhere and have a place to call our own, this will all be worth it.

Put your shoes on, its time for dinner

We all have our own unique quirks, things we do that others around us might think are weird or downright strange and odd. One of the interesting things about living with someone, is learning all about their different quirks, and discovering whether or not you can live with those habits, and if you find them endearing or not.

For me, I have a thing with the bathroom. I cannot, under any circumstance, bring food or a drink into the bathroom, and then eat or drink it. It will automatically go in the trash. I am convinced that once said food item or drink is placed on the counter it will be attacked by nasty bathroom germs.

Now, I've noticed a few things about my fiance, little habits, that are nothing as retarded as my fear of the almighty nasty bathroom germ Nazis, but last night I discovered something I never knew before:

Me: "Dinner is on the table, baby"
Him: "OK" (Gets up and slips on his shoes)
Me: (Looking perplexed) "Um, why are we putting on our shoes?"
Him: "Don't you know, I can't eat without my shoes on"
Me: (Laughter)

Looking back, I realize now that his shoes have been on for every meal we've ever had, even if he is eating something in bed. When asked if he can ever eat without his shoes on, he says he can, but he feels weird. Of course I gave him a hard time about it, in a joking, loving manner, because it is kinda cute, and really, I can't say much after my bathroom phobia. It just goes to show that no matter how weird you are, there is someone out there just as weird.

A new home for Kimbo?

Phil and I found a really nice apartment in Mesa, not too far from where my parents live, that we have a hold on and will be viewing tomorrow, as well as giving them our application and seeing if we are approved. It is a two-bedroom apartment, that is also handicap-accessible. There are bars in the bathroom and wide doorways, and under the sink in the kitchen has been gutted so I can roll right up under it, which is going to make life so much easier. It is a very nice complex, pretty big, with four pools and 6 different lakes which I was told even though fishing is not allowed, they don't police it, so as long as we release what we catch, we can do it as much as we want. The rent each month is very affordable for us, in fact it is normally higher but we are getting a special deal, which is even better. So today I am filling out the application that I downloaded and printed from their website, and getting together the necessary proof of income for both of us, so we are all set tomorrow. So keep your fingers crossed!

I am looking forward to us getting our own place, even though there is a part of me that knows it is going to be hard for me to pack up from here and leave. I have only spent a short time on my own when I lived in Florida and had my own apartment, and then once we moved back here I moved back home for financial reasons, then had to go on disability, which does not make me enough to live on my own. I have become accustomed to living at home and having certain things done for me, and with my mom and I being so close, I am going to miss not seeing her on a daily basis. But it is good for me, it is time for me to be in my own home. I find that there are times I get frustrated living here, not because I don't like being with my family, but because I long to have my own space, and do things they way I want to do them. At 28, I should have been out of the house a long time ago, but life throws you curves and you have to roll with it, and being at home has been something that I have been grateful for, because at least I have a nice place to live. But it is time for me to be on my own, and Phil and I are looking forward to having a home of our own. It is just another step for us, and something I can't wait to take. I just am hoping and praying we get approved for this apartment tomorrow, although I really don't think there is going to be a problem. I suppose because I want it so much, I just worry. But I will let you all know tomorrow what the outcome is.

You thought you knew Kimbo....

Well, now here is some more stuff to know. I don't have anything to really blog about right now, so I found this on a blog I subscribe to, and thought it might be fun...

1. The phone rings, who do you want it to be?
Well, if Phil isn't home, then I would definitely like it to be him. If he's with me though, then anyone else besides the pesky telemarketer recording that calls all the time.

2. When shopping at the grocery store, do you return your cart?
I usually do, its only nice so that the kids who go out there and collect them don't have to wonder around the parking lot in this hot weather.

3. If you had to kiss the last person you kissed again, would you?
Why of course, and I plan on kissing him again very soon!

4. Do you take compliments well?
I try to, after all, the person didn't have to compliment me, so I always appreciate it

5. Do you play Sudoku?
No, I am definitely not a numbers person

6. If abandoned alone in the wilderness would you survive?
Hell no, I feel very confident in my non-wilderness survival skills, although if Phil were with me, I might do OK, seeing as he was in the Army and had to take survival training.

7. If your house were on fire, what would be the first thing you would save?
My lovebirds

8. Who was the last person you slept in the bed with?
Phil

9. Who do you text the most?
Mainly Phil, on a daily basis, followed by a few occasional texts here and there with Mindy when we aren't emailing each other all day while she is at work

10. Favorite children's book? I'm not sure what was my favorite when I was a little kid, but I know growing up, I loved the Babysitter Club books, I used to go to the bookstore all the time waiting to see if any new ones had come out

11. Eye color?
Brown

12. How tall are you?
About 5'5

13. If you could do it over again, start from scratch, would you?
I assume we are talking about life here...which if that is the case, then hell fucking no! I made it this far, and it hasn't been easy, why start all over again and rehash the bad stuff!?

14. Any secret admirers?
Naw

15. When was the last time you were at Olive Garden?
Oh hell, its been awhile. I really don't like their food, if I want Italian, real Italian food, then I know a few other places that are much better and authentic

16. Favorite color..?
Purple

17. Where was the furthest place you traveled?
Florida

18. Do you like mustard?
French's Honey Mustard is the shit!

19. Do you prefer to sleep or eat?
Seeing as we get up very early to get Phil off to work (3:30am is definitely not a time when Kimbo is friendly), I would like an abundance of sleep

20:Do you miss anyone?
A few people, I suppose.

22. Can you do splits?
Ahahahahahaha!!!!

23. What movie do you want to see right now?
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. We should be seeing that on Friday, hopefully.

24. What did you do for New Year's Eve?
I sat at home and watched TV, and then rang in the new year with Dick Clark and his rockin new year, and then went to bed shortly after. Exciting, I know...

25. Do you think The Grudge was crappy?
I don't watch those types of movies, therefore I am sure it was crappy

26. Do you own a camera phone?
Yes, and it does video too, cause its fancy like that

27. Was your mom a cheerleader?
Uh, no

28. What's the last letter of your middle name?
N

29. Are you Hispanic?
Nopers

31. Do you like care bears?
I did when I was a kid, but then who didn't love those damn bears!

32. What do you buy at the Movies?
Usually a drink, and some sort of chocolaty goodness

33. Do you know how to play poker?
Seven Card Stud

34. Do you wear your seat belt?
Every time I get in a car

35. What do you wear to sleep?
Some sort of jammies, sometimes naked

36. Anything big ever happen in your CITY?
Well, the Super Bowl is coming here, that's kinda big. But in Queen Creek..I think the biggest excitement was when the first stoplight was put in...yeah....its that small of a town

37. Is your hair straight or curly?
It used to be pretty curly when I was growing up, but now as an adult its settled down a lot, and is just a little wavy if I grow it out

38. Is your tongue pierced?
No, I am not weird

39. Do you like Liver and Onions?
Oh nasty!

40. Do you like funny or serious people better?
If you can make me laugh, your my friend

41. Ever been to L.A.?
Yes, but I was a wee Kimbo and don't remember

42. Who is on your mind right now?
Phil...I left him alone in the living room and I wonder what he's watching in there...

43. Any plans 4 tonight?
Read a little more of my 7th Harry Potter book, watch a little TV and cuddle with my Philly for a bit, and then go to bed

44. Whats your fav. song at the moment?
I am loving the entire new Maroon 5 album!

45. Do you hate chocolate?
I adore chocolate, I love it so much I'd marry it and have its babies. OK...well maybe that's going a little far..but I love it!

46. What do you and your parents fight about the most?
My mom and I get on each other's nerves because we're so much alike

47. Are you a gullible person?
I used to be, but life experiences has changed that. I tend to be very cynical, actually

48. Do you need a boyfriend/girlfriend to be happy?No, I am quite content being on my own actually, but life is much better with someone in it

49. If you could have any job what would it be?
I'd love to be a writer

50.Are you easy to get along with?
Very much so

51. What is your favorite time of day?
I am definitely a night owl. I actually do my best writing and get my best ideas late at night.