Made it to Montana

I made it here :) yippee. I will update this weekend sometime or when i next get to the library which just happens to be across the street from where I live. I had orientation Monday/Tuesday and today only had to go up for my TB shot. Why? Because last night it snowed and the facilitator was nice and got me and another lady done so we didn't have to come back.....but i forgot about the TB test read :( that's okay, i went to Walmart to pick up some supplies. So i had my first driving experience in the snow....through the pass in Bozeman-Livingston MT. Quite the new experience.
i'll have to get pictures etc...but for now...I'm here.

Blogging Downtime

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone. I'm very thankful for this past year. For the opportunity to move to Oregon, to have done some personal growth, for having found a really great job, great co-workers, some who i really will miss since i've come to really rely on them, for my parents and all they did for me, for putting up with me, for being their to help out financially when i first moved back, for being there with laundry, internet services without charge, just for being wonderful parents. I look back and see that i have come a long way and this Detour was much needed in my life. I'm ready to hit the road, and savor this new journey I am about to take.

I'm thankful for the internet the ability to stay in better contact via emails and of course the blogs. Unfortunately I won't have much access right off the bat, and i'm not sure for how long. Maybe Santa will bring me a computer, or at least send his Elf to get my man's computer from Utah. With that said...There will be a Blogging Downtime for an unspecified amount of time.

Next Chapter: MONTANA

I fell in Love with Livingston/Bozeman, MT when my main squeeze and I rode the bike up to visit his sister (end of Aug/1st of Sept). Its small town country and that is where I've always wanted to end up. With my own little mini-farm. And now its all happening :) since that trip, i've been applying off and on to different jobs at various locations within the Bozeman/livingston area. I didn't think anything would happen, since i never heard anything. Yet i kept at it. Figuring, what's meant to be will be. Well On Oct 27th, I received a phone call from AMI. She had noticed I applied to a position, yet they had already filled it, she noticed my impressive resume (not my words) and wanted to know if I would be interested in the Tech Aide position, she said some very magical words. Day-time hours, full-time, same rate of pay, no holidays, details/organization yet also a bit of patient care (assisting when needed in biopsy, or whatnot) WOW. So i sent her a detailed resume since she wanted to call back the next day...well I oops and put an "e" in the email direction where there wasn't one. Finally I figured it out and let her know.. I thought I had ruined my chances. Nope, she understood (i did come off a graveyard shift!) and called and set up a phone interview for Nov. 4th with the other manager.
Nov. 4th came and had a good chat with them both (with-holding names since not that important) and just was excited for the possibility of this new job. Sounded like a good fit for me. And so I said I could come out for face to face. That was scheduled for Nov. 11th. Yes I was nervous enough that I got sick in my tummy.
yep, I was nervous, but also confident and at times doubtful. I ended up packing my car with as much stuff as I could. My main squeeze said if i didn't get the job he could always drive it back. So up until i was offered/accepted the job i was a bit nervous. Since then I gave my two week notice. (notice how much i said 'nervous? hahaha) And came back to OR to back up the rest of my stuff. ITs a bit surreal. Its all fallen into place so quickly, and so right. I found a studio apartment off the bat. And no one LIVES UNDER ME!! :) that was a big selling point, and its cheaper than the 1 bedroom. One bad draw is its a 6 month lease. Well, I told my M.S. that if he moves and we aren't married. I'm staying put :)
montana State is also in Bozeman, they have an excellent Nursing program. So i will get started on that, although won't go full-time until after i establish residencey (1 year for university level) since its DANG more expensive than PCC. Maybe i do regret not taking a class or two while i was here...but then i'm big at putting things off sometimes. but that was the last chapter,i've turned the page and looking towards what happens next.

More photos from Yellowstone

This blogging and uploading pictures is a bit tiresome! I guess if i kept up on it, wouldn't be bad. I will stop tonight with these photos. Then resume tomorrow. I gotsome good ones of Jack, my soap-making adventure in Montana, and pics with Jessica. Stay-tuned for more.

My niece Charlotte

I love this picture. It is blurry cuz she moved. But just cute :)

On her bike. She loved it, but had to be careful on the turns, if she didn't do it right, she would fall over. But she's pretty good bike rider.

Stop taking my picture!

I love to read just like my Aunt Rachel.

I"m a little Monkey and i don't like you to take my picture.!

Aunt Rachel you are silly, hahaha.

Didn't I say, NO PICTURES :) You are being a paparrazzi, Aunt Rachel.

Little Monkey knows where her nose is.

This is how she watches Curious George and other shows as she eats her food.
AT least she isn't a couch potatoe. I don't know how she can stand soo long. I'm exhausted

just watching her.

No photos, didn't I already tell you? I'm going to hid behind this card. But i'm still lady-like as I cross my legs.

Little Monkey & Mom Trick or Treating 2008

I cut off Jess's head in the last one...sometimes I take after my mom :) Anyway, my mommy helped me get my photos off my camera and on to a nice disk.

Where i'll be living in Livingston

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=415032360&albumId=17068

this is link to what my studio apt looks like. Its very similar: especially the cool tub :)

here is photo of the front of the building. I'm off to the left side. In the back.

Isn't the internet amazing?? I found these through a google search as i searched in vain for photos, and it was on myspace (what i can't see at work) cool huh?

Montana here I come!

I'll be going around the mountain when I go....to Montana. I'm moving to Montana. I accepted a job at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital. I start Dec. 1st. I will have to update when I have more time..i.e. the Story :) and it is quite a story. I'll be living in Livingston, MT. This is a picture of The corner of Main & West Callender Street. I will be living on West Callender Street, in a building called Ebert. Old Historic Building. (top photo taken from flicker, the bottom 2 photos taken from http://www.montanapictures.net/Feedback_1.htm) I will take some good pictures when I get back. More of my adventure soon....

My MainSqueeze, my Halloween Treat.

This is My Man. He's in MT and he sent me a picture of his pumpkin. It was cooler than my sad pumpkin.

I like him, He's the best. We are good for each other. He's my best friend. Enough Mushy Stuff for now.....I could go on and on and on.

Pics from my Camera Phone

"that looks interesting" says Cute Baby Jack.

Cute Little Monkey

Scary stuff following. Close your eyes.

So, i gotta find my adapter so i can take my photos from digital camera to computer!! I got some good ones for Charlotte/Jack when I went to visit Wed. Oct. 29-Nov. 1st. It was a very short trip. I enjoyed being there, seeing Wade/Jessica, playing/reading with Charlotte and getting to know sweet baby Jack. I loved spending Halloween, it was fun to take the Monkey out for treats :)

My Dream Home in MT

Isn't it nice and Cozy? One Bedroom and One Bath. Just perfect for Newlyweds don't you think?? (yes it is a real place, http://www.gallatinrealtors.com/searchResultsRE.cfm if you don't believe me)

Howdy

SO i got my digital camera (my man sent it on his way to Montana) but i haven't uploaded the pictures yet. will have to ask my mom if its okay to do on her computer..then i can put some more pictures up. And take some new ones.

I'm going to visit Jessica next week. A spur of the moment thing, and then i felt bad that I by-passed her on the way to Yellow-stone. Got a very good deal with Southwest, although its a short trip, it will be a good one. I can't wait to see Jack, and of course Charlotte, Jess and Wade. It'll be fun to see them dressed up for Halloween and go trick-or-treating with them.

I need to get to California and visit my older sister and her family, haven't seen her since my mom's 60th party. I'm glad that everyone is now blogging so able to keep up that way!! so thanks Becks,Jess,etc. for letting me into you lifes via pictures and blogs. I love both of yours. And i realize i need more pictures, i love the flash-back fridays and other memories Becky puts on hers. And i love all the pictures of Jess's children/video.

Its also been fun to keep in contact with cousins. See what they are up to. so thanks for letting me into your lives.

I wish i had more fun/interesting things to report. I am just working, sleeping,finishing up my green crocheted blanket (after 5+ years!!), sorting my photos, stuff i have kept around...still gotta get my childhood boxes from my lil bro Stove (he put them into storage, so not in the garage anymore :() so need to arrange a time to get them, and start sorting that. I figure why not now...besides then I can be ready to move anytime soon.

What move?? yeah, i know...Utah fell through. Decided to stay put for awhile. Especially now with the economy. My old job in Provo actually had just hired a whole bunch of people so i wouldn't have been able to get back on with them...so staying put in Oregon for awhile.

I'm going to sign up for a jewelry/bead class. I think it would be fun to do.

what else? I've seen some good movies. Beverly Hills chiuaua (?) is cute. I was only one in the movie theater...matinees are the best during the week. And i really enjoyed the movie. Flash of Genius was okay, it kindof was choppy. I love movies..but this one was a bit off..I just wasn't sure what year it was, kindof jumped around. It was okay other than that. I saw the Duchess, that was good.

Starlet Starlet,How many can you fit tonight?

Watch your head!! :) Wow, what memories this brings back. For more info on the Starlet http://www.toyoland.com/cars/starlet.html.

PS I'll write more later....oops..haven't come back til Now. When little going to church, our family was able to cram into this tiny car, but then when you are young your body is small too..soo it all worked out. I know though i loved it when one of the older kids went early or got aride, or what not cuz i got to move up to the middle seat. Poor younger bro and sis...

7 Random Things about the one and only ME

1. RAT WAS MY NICKNAME.


I used to collect Rubber Rats. I would use them to scare my church leaders at camp. I got rats because my best friend when I was little (Krista Nielsen) and i gave each other nicknames. She was Kat and i was Rat. I don't know why i picked Rat. I had the nickname on my 6th grade Basketball shirt. It was 3 letters and so didn't cost my parents a lot of money. So it stuck. My mom then got me a rubber rat, i can't remember if the first one was for halloween, but i know i got rats for christmas. I had a few of them and kept them around. Scaring my roommates in college also was very fun. Alas, i finally got rid of them, but did take a picture of them. I will have to find the picture and post it soon.







2. I'M A CARB-O-HOLIC.


I love bread products. Hmmm...that might be why i got a couple bread loaves hanging off me :) back when i played soccer, i would come home and eat Pasta (my favorite are the 3 color rotini? ones) and put Parmesan cheese on it. that's it. Just the other day, i had a binge and ate 8 whole wheat rolls from Winco. When my mom got us store-bought white bread when we were little, i helped eat it right up. eating the edge then squishing the white center up into a ball. Soooooo yummy! hahaha and sooo very healthy of course *wink*





3. I LOVE TO DRINK WATER.


My siblings would tease me about my sports-bottle filled with water. calling it my Baby-bottle. I carried it Everywhere with me. This was back before it was the IN thing to do. I still prefer nice ice cold water to anything else. I'm a aquarius, so maybe that explains things.





4. I NEVER HAD SWIMMING LESSONS.


So i don't know how to swim swim. I almost drowned when i was little...i remember it was at the Howell's pool. That's a long story i won't go into. I had ear problems and so never able to get swim lessons since it would not be good for my ears. I kindof taught myself how to swim, doggy-paddle is my favorite :) I love water, but i'm also scared of it too....i should say i have a very very healthy respect for it.





5. I HATE MAKING CRAFTS TO LOOK LIKE EVERYONE ELSE'S.


I can't sit and do crafts. I hate it, and so whenever a church activity involved crafts, i would purposely do mine differently. I hated being the same as everyone else. I had to be different. I cut the hair off my barbies, I cut their dresses because I didn't like them being like the others. I even had a black barbie. She was cool! Anyway, all my church and/or girl scout crafts never looked like the sample one :) I hate scrap-booking too! I just can't bring myself to do it. I still have boxes of photos from my mission and from trips...and haven't even arranged them into albums yet! (i'm working on it, i have sorted them!!)





6. I MAKE LISTS, LOTS OF LISTS.

I can't do day-planners. I have one right now. A cheap $1 planner that i never look at. I put everything down on lists. I make lists, sticky-notes. I compile into a big list, you get the point. I even found a site http://www.e2dolist.com/ and it was okay...but then i make notes on the list i printed out. So i'm not giong to be upset that I'm not part of the Franklin Covey world, or the Day-Minder world, or any such planner world. I get them, then never use them, or use it and mess up and have to buy a new $1 one :) I just will stick to my many papers, that once aweek i go through! I don't need a list since most of it is in my head..but i write it down so i don't worry too much about it. I'm doing better though, i'm applying the Card-sort i learned with the career counselor into my list making, and actually into every area of my life. What is the card-sort theory? Well, you have many things you want to do. So put it down on 3x5s (or if its your clothes, put them into piles) go through each card or article and basically put them into groups. The title of the groups vary (at least for me it does)..essentially the old LOVE/LIKE/ SOMEWHAT LIKE/ NEUTRAL /SOMEWHAT DISLIKE/ DISLIKE /HATE. You get the idea.

7. I TOOK ABOUT 8987 STEPS 10/13/08:
I'm wearing pedometer. This is my second day. Don't ask about yesterday! it was very pathetic. I'm going to increase my activity level since last 3 weeks it hasn't existed. I'm on weight watchers again, this time its different. I have someone to go with from work and i'm sticking to it. My goal is to lose 1-2lbs a week. Not the insane 5 lbs a week that i sooo wish to see on the scale. I'm just aiming to be better every week. I'm doing the points. And each week i do better than week before...granted only 2 weeks, but i'm improving. And i have really learned i can not have any bread products or cold cereal since i gobble it all up in just a few days.

8. I DIDN"T FOLLOW THE RULES.
I guess you have to say where you got it and who you tag for this 7 random stuff...but i didn't. So there!!

i'm alive and well

just taking a sabbatical from phone calls, emails, and blogging. No need to call the police or where I work.

Go to a Salon if you wanna go Blonde

i think i look really pretty in the picture...you can't see the rest of me maybe is why, and also..I took sooo many pictures, until i got it just perfect..Something I couldn't really do with a 35mm. THis was taken on one of my camera phones. I love the blonde hair, and it was long...and my lips are just 'perfect'

Anyway..i'm going to go back to blonde..right now i have highlights..and i'm going to grow my hair out once again! :) hair is the easiest and usually fastest thing to change. Ya'll now of me and my hair dying...one time BLACKER than Black. Yep, i have evidence..I should find one of the pictures and get mom to scan it in....I've done so its RED. I remember one time on BYU campus after i done it like AUBURN/RED...my older sister becky didn't recognize me!! !*****I've changed it too many times, that i don't even remember what color it was!! Thanks for the correction Becky, It was BLACK not RED.

I loved changing my color. It was sooo freeing and just something you could do right away. I have learned though..never ever try to go blonde at home. The one and only attempt...I went FLOURESCENT ORANGE...Well...i went out and got ASH BROWN...and It covered it..but it was horrible :) I cant remember what i did after that....but i do know...Go to a Salon if you wanna go Blonde :) Hey that rhymes..

Pearly shells...by the ocean...da da da...

Growing up my sisters and I took Hula lessons from ?? down the street. I just blanked on her name! Anyway, I loved it, i loved the cool grass skirts, i felt very exotic. I know I was like 6-8 years old..but i remember how cool it was to be dressed up, i think we even might've put a little makeup on for the performances. I know i always was jealous of Becky, she got the black/white flower dress, kindof mumu like. And she was soo pretty, and she knew how to dance. She also had taken ballet, i remember going to the studio, i think it was the Elsie Sturr Center and watching her. I wish I was able to do that too....i just liked the pink tutu's and tights, and they all looked like they were having fun. Anyway back to the Hula...we had a performance at a member of the church's house, i believe the Howells. They had a pool. It was awesome. Being soo young I remember it was enchanting, lights, food, a pool!! Wow..and the food..we got to eat some and I remember the rolls. They were sweet. Years later, i finally found them. The Hawaiian sweet rolls. Usually found by the deli meats, with orange packaging. It was fun time. I learned a few moves :) and still remember parts of the songs. "Pearly Shells" "Little Grass shack" and i think something about a Brown Girl?? I ended up taking class or two later as community dance classes..It was fun to do so...i still had the moves...and hula helps with Belly Dancing :)

Here is a picture of just me in my outfit...I know Mom has more somewhere. She is in the process of scanning all them in and distributing to us. What a task! I have a HUGE box..well now i should say little photo boxes, that i've put my photos in. I'm actually in the process of sorting through them. Now that the digital age, we can be choosy about what photos to keep. We delete the ones right away we don't like. I know i do!! Raise your hand if you are guilty of it too...but with the old 35 mm, develop at the photolab...we get surprises! Anyway, i am keeping all my negatives. Iplan to get a fire-box and put those in...anyway i'm just blagging...I need to learn how to really write...maybe i'll work on that, or take a creative class...

Missing in Yellowstone

Here are some pictures that Will sent me (my camera got left behind in the bike bag, it was a gift from Will, he's the greatest!) This is when I was missing end of Aug/First of Sept. I was in God's Country. It was beautiful, the pictures don't do it justice. Here are pictures of "GASP" ME ... the bike by itself is when it hit 8000 miles, somewhere in idaho. Notice the Cow on the Barn. I had a wonderful time. We both did. It was a true Bike Adventure. And I wouldn't trade it for the world. next time, i'll just let someone know where i'm going. Bottom picture is the start :) Will looks great in his pic! he's the biker man, and now I'm a certified Hot Biker Mama. My butt sure has earned that right. We went up through South Yellowstone, passed the Tetons. Sooo many places to stop...we figured next time we'll take a week or two. The buffalo, was causing a traffic jam! Cars stopped, took us at least 1/2 hr (at least it felt like that) to get past...it was in arms reach. I guess they are just used to ambling along...and to people.

Hope you enjoy the pictures. now i feel like a bonafide blogger...Got pics to go with the blog.

just doing some spring-cleaning

cleaning up my dumb blogs...don't need all that blahing stuff. Need pictures to keep it interesting.
Doing okay. Just trying to be happy where i'm at...

the adventure is the journey not the destination

That road might take us many places, might be a dead-end so need to backtrac, or fork, so have to choose one way or the other, might have pot-holes, could be smooth sailing...etc. you get my drift.
i've been focused on the desintation, i forgot how to enjoy the journey, the adventures along the way. im now enjoying it and wish i had taken time to appreciate where i was along the way...but hindsight is 20/20 right?
With that said....is Utah the end destination for me? We do need to have a goal in sight...so we just don't keep going in circles....right?

i'll keep posted...i might just be on a scenic by-way and will get back on the road...or i might just keep going and find a better route to where i'm headed which has nothing to do with a final resting place (i.e. moving back to utah, staying in oregon, or moving to another state like MT)...i'm sooo poetic. probably doesn't make sense to anyone but me...but it makes sense.

To all you travelers....ENJOY THE JOURNEY

This is me with shorter hair. i did it myself last weekend. The lady that did my bangs had swooped them to one side...and it really bugged me i couldn't swoop them to the other side, nor wear them straight. So i took it upon myself to fix that mistake, that i didn't realize was a mistake til later. Never again will i go to supercuts! i rather go to the Beauty school (which i loved doing in provo, i felt RICH cuz i tipped really well since it was so inexpensive!)
Anyway, so i cut the bangs a LITTLE tooo short...then it was a very very hot day...and just decided heck why not...and cut off my hair. I've done it in the past, and i really don't care that much...since my hair will grow back. And i can always get it shaped up...It was very late at night or early morning...and there aren't any hair places open. YEs, i am impulsive at times. I took this picture, and like this side...the other side of my hair was flipped out...wasn't sooo flattering :) Thus the ONE SIDE! And i do have makeup on..and these are my new glasses, although my hair is covering the 'cat eye' look.

Where I live

Its an older building, I have the only one that has wood floor. But I want the carpet! At first I thought cool. Wood Floor, i can do some exercises. Awesome. Well, after living there a few days...not so great. Creak Creak Creak. The floor goes. It isn't a traditional wood floor, just what was left under the carpet when someone decided they didn't want carpet anymore. WEll, the dude below me doesn't like that I WALK around. I always try to take off my shoes, cuz its louder...but you know what? I live there too! So i've stopped walking on egg-shells. I even asked the Managers if i could get carpet. And they said it wasn't in the budget. Well, then its not my problem. I'm not super noisy, and ihavne't exercised like i've wanted...but that's okay. I go to the gym anyway.
It just made me mad when my dad and his workers moved the bed into my apt. You have to make noise! It was about 10:30AM and our quiet hours are between 10pm and 6am. So shouldn't be a problem...wRONG, the dude below bangs on the ceiling. I really got mad, and called the landlord! So things have been okay, haven't tried to be tooo loud, and haven't heard anything.
WEll its been hot these last few days. Living upstairs, and its not a normal apt building, so i feel its even hotter! i have a ceiling fan that came with the place..but i needed more output. So i had boughten a cheap little fan. It was loud, but i figure all fans are pretty loud...especially the inexpensive kind. Well, i put it on a table, on top of a rug! I get a message from my landlord today, saying the dude below is feeling vibrations, etc. etc. and if i had a fan, to put it on a table on top of a rug. Kindof ticked me off...because i asked for CARPET and was told NO. So i cooled down a bit. Then called the landlord back and said. I have a fan, it is on a tableon top of a rug. And That looks like i'll have to go buy a new fan. She of course was like...no don't buy a new fan...blah blah blah...
WEll, i bought the fan because of the price! I'm living at this apt because of the price. Just kindof irks me! i dont' complain about the noise i hear from downstairs or next doors when i'm trying to sleep. I just put in my EAR plugs!
So if i had the money to move out, i would! I wouldn't mind moving back with my parents for a bit. But since my bro is there...i don't want to be added hassle.
The wind is shifting in the universe...change is in the air...and i'm excited, nervous, scared, anticipating those changes.

MY LEGS ARE SKINNY!!!

Friday I had my personal training session with great Trainer. She really pushes me, but also motivates, encourages, and holds me accountable, responsible.

Its been a love-hate relationship, because I love how i feel after i work hard, but i hate going...and i was sabotaging my own efforts by not going to my appts. Anyway...that is in the past....and its better now.

So anyway, she really is helping me discover my own strength and my own motivation. SO today we were doing legs and glutes. And I was doing the lovely squats with the ball, and i look down and i shouted out "MY LEGS ARE SKINNY", she said YEP. I'm noticing a difference. That felt good. She was like "its all the cardio you are doing" and then when i was doing a form of leg lifts..I'm like...MY LEG IS SKINNY!! its just flabbergasted, because I don't feel like i'm losing. The pounds are coming off..but that MIDDLE section...anyway, my extremetiies. I'm seeing it more and more the definition, my face, i don't recognize.

But now My legs are SKINNY!!! Can't wait to get the waist down...focus focus focus.

oops: forgot to mention the Frames

I have a picture now up :) It was taken 6/19 with my new frames. Yep its that Cat eye Frame. They are lite metallic purple. I think it lifts my face up...But i think they are fun! I don't recognize myself, i'm losing weight in my face, and its just weird!! Its good, but kindof weird to see how i'm changing...in the weight area :) I'm getting my hair done next week. The last place i went the lady didn't do what i wanted. I said Bangs, and she SWOOPED them to the side....i want Straight, so i can go to EITHER Side or leave them Center! lol Oh Well..that what goes to show, going to super-cuts!

I'm behind the times.....

but then I don't have cute pictures of my own chilren (yet) nor fun exciting adventures.
I have lost weight. I like to say REMOVE it now...someone said it once at a weight loss class (?) and it stuck with me..I don't ever want to FIND what i LOST. I want to completely REMOVE it.
Anyway its the 3rd weigh in and I'm down total 8.2. I'm doing it with the help of MONARCH MEDICAL. www.monarchmedical.net
also a gym membership through LA FITNESS, and a strength trainer 2x a week through Pro Results (service of La Fitness) and a DESIRE and a new attitude.
It feels good.
I have a picture or two i will post. I cut bangs. And i'm loving my look. Reminds me when I was in Spain. I feel better about myself and that radiates. Everyone at work remarks i look good, happy, skinner, etc. So tis nice.
I sure do miss utah though. I've been here almost a year! I can't believe its flying by. Its going to be Christmas before I know it.
Anyway..nothing much! Will hopefully post more and wean off myspace :)

First Day on Blogger

Of course I have a myspace blog.....but i think this is where i'll set up a weight loss blog, or something?? lol I don't know...i don't have time...need to eat then go to personal trainer...so i'll be bacK!!