Office Pictures and Friday Updates

That rain was no joke.  A friend of my hubby's got stuck at an event last night.  ALL roads leaving the venue were underwater and no one was able to leave.  Holy cow -- not fun.  Looks like we weathered it okay with some yard overspill on the patio as our only issue.

The leaking roof/siding appears to be fixed.  The wet mark is no bigger and just the old stain.  This was a good test with the downpours and high winds.

Our motorized shade is fixed with a different motor from a different company.  Apparently, there was a 6 month window when the shade company used a motor company with faulty solar charging panels.  These should last a decade (plus) with no charging issue, etc.

I pushed off the call to the insurance company until today.  My day was full and I need to be in the right frame of mind.

Hubby and I worked all day getting closets switched, furniture moved, pictures hung.  I was in the ZONE.  New ideas left and right.  Only thing left to do is the linen closets (they can wait until the weekend).

The result?  I LOVE my new office space.  Hubby LOVES his new space.  Here are some pictures of my new digs (I took them just now -- sorry about the lighting).

My itty bitty desk.

My dog pictures arranged.

The closet with an added bookshelf.

I took out the pen holder to show the liner.

Here are the problem-solving details ...

(1)  I ordered a butt cushion for the chair.  I had one years ago and the rubber shell disintegrated -- I ordered a black mesh covered one that should fix the chair issue.  These work really well for my backside and I expect it will fix the problem.

(2)  Hung a few of the desk pictures on the wall under the posters.  Gives me more surface space and a perfect view of my Parker and a dog drawing my aunt did that includes Parker and Duke.

(3)  Put the monitor on the side to give me more space for my arms when I type.  Works perfectly.

(4)  My BIG idea was removing the half shelf in the closet so I could fit one bookshelf.  Hubby has one in his office and didn't need both.  This lets me have my books and my special things.  The room is crowded and "busy" and I like having it in the closet.

(5)  The closet shelves are filled with office supplies and such.  I got a set of bins from Home Goods to hold the little things that won't fit in my desk now (stapler, extra pens, extra notepads -- things like this)

(6)  I lined the desk drawers with shelf paper since they were unfinished (but clean).  Looks so much prettier now.

(7)  I ordered a HUGE framed cork board from Etsy.  I couldn't figure out how to display my pictures when there's no surface room for them.  Out of frames on onto the board -- PERFECT.  I have another kind I use in the hallway and it makes me HAPPY.  Pictures that aren't necessarily frame worthy, but they're memory worthy and I like to see them.  It'll go on the wall with the round mirror -- plenty of room.  I'll take a picture when it arrives in a few weeks.

Overall, the room is FULL.  Walls are full, lots of furniture, lots of THINGS ... but it works.  Cosy and MINE.  Filled with things I love.  I wouldn't have ordered the framed pictures over my desk if I had know this would become my office -- I would've put the cork board there instead.  Still, it's not bad and I'm feeling good about this decision to give hubby the big office.

Coaching Call:
We chatted about change.  Chatted about boundaries.  Nothing earth shattering, but tweaked some of my thinking and reinforced my resolve on continued "thought" work.

Oh ... looks like my period came last night.  10 days late.  Let the rollercoaster begin.

Today is INSURANCE CALL (bless me) and a trip to Home Goods for hubby's office.  He needs a man picture - hah.  Looking for a map or something office-like to fill a space between the windows.  He's finally run out of sports pictures.

We hung a few other pictures yesterday.  The West Elm backorder came for the gold star burst mirrors.  I hung them on the wall heading from the basement.  It gives it some transition and flow -- like it's not The Basement, but part of our living space.  They are nice, but, a wait of MONTHS was not worth it.

Not much too see, but it looks nice.

Okay, this is a long post.  Time to run -- dogs are up and wanting attention.  Happy Weekend.  Later gators.

Calm During the Storm

It is RAIN and RAIN like crazy.  Everything is flooding.  So much so, people are staying put, canceling plans.

I'm trying to find my calm during this crazy.  Me-made crazy (fostering MiMi) and universe-made crazy (storm).

AND, I have this unexpected change of DOWNSIZING my office to a small desk in a spare bedroom.  To be fair, some of this was my idea.  It's not HORRIBLE, just different ... but guess how well I do different?!?

I have to finish the set-up and reorganize things.  Once that's finished, it will feel better.  What I'm missing right now is the comfort of the desk.  This one is small and nothing feels right.  I'm loosing my view of all MY things.  Pictures, collectables, etc.  This room has no space for most of it.  I'll take a picture when it's set-up (it's in the room we JUST hung the new pictures -- fortunately, they all still work).  I'm using an old dining chair and I might need an actual adjustable desk chair -- I'll give it a go and see if I can get used to it.

It's also "one of those things" that I'm giving up a space that is really important to me so hubby can use a big office occasionally.  (It might be more than occasionally when he gets a job, but for now, it's not.)  It's like sharing MY CAR since it's the "family" vehicle.  I haven't ONCE driven the last 3 cars my hubby has owned.  He drives my car several times a week.  I feel my things are shared -- his are his own.

Today (and probably tomorrow too) is closet organizing day.  Three closets need to be switched around since we are making this change.  In addition, I finally need to organize the 2 linen closets and figure out what should go where -- everything is willy nilly since the move.  The biggest extra closet is in the basement bedroom and it's becoming a catch all.  That needs a quick redo too.

The motorized shade in our bedroom (hubby's idea) broke a week (plus) ago and is mostly in the down position.  The exact reason I didn't want a motorized shade.  They're coming to fix it this afternoon -- good timing since MiMi isn't here.

I have to spend time on the phone with our insurance company.  For some reason they're denying all my claims -- physical, mammogram and radiology reading.  It's about 2K for all of it.  Honestly, this kind of thing is the biggest pain in the butt to fix.

On a plus for the day, I have my coaching call.  Stay tuned ... I have no idea where it's going.

NOT getting a period this month is kind of freaking me out.  I know it's "normal" and I knew it was coming soon, but now that it happened, I'm like WHAT IS GOING ON IN MY WORLD (!!)  This is uncharted territory and also CHANGE (The Change to be exact) and I can't wrap my head around it.

Oh, boy.  Cue a crash and burn coming on.  Sort of kidding, sort of not.  Guess this should be a topic of my coaching call - hah.

Time to get a workout going and SWEAT -- I need a big sweat session.  I can't seem to cool down -- I'm always a little tacky.  The humid weather isn't helping matters.

Stay dry.  Later gators.

Dog Day

Mimi goes to the vet this morning for her spay and a 9 day boarding to heal and get ready for reintroduction to our Duke.  She and I have bonded (I'm no longer afraid she might bite me).  I'll miss her, but not the isolation due to her heat.  Morning cuddles ... I mean, come on, she's adorable!!

SMILE :)

Bear heads to another foster to get that smooshie face GROOMED!!  We'll take both littles to get out of the house this afternoon for the ride -- Duke would go crazy to be left home.  Monday, Bear is getting adopted.  2 hour drive to AL for a repeat adopter.  It'll be worth the drive -- this should be a fantastic home for him (assuming her dog likes it LOL).

It's muggy as all hell today -- rain for the next 3 days.  Miserable.  Fun with 2 little dogs who hate being wet -- hah!  More on life catch up later.  Early morning to the vet.

Dogs days of winter, for sure.  Later gators.

Monday Updates

(1)  MiMi is a rockstar with people.  She LOVES everyone.  Met the kids and was so stinking sweet.  We think she's starting the first phase of heat -- licking, frequently urination ... and all dogs asking crazy around her.  I rush ordered dog diapers.  We'll find out our plan for the next couple of weeks today.  She slept in my bed most of the night because I'm a sucker.  We spooned all night -- seriously love this girl.

Some of my what-did-I-do has worn off.  I tell everyone -- first 72 hours with all fosters is HARD.  Yet, I was panicking.  For her, for me, for our littles.

I finally posted about Mimi's arrival on social media.  Pittie lovers have come out in such support about what a wonderful breed of dog and how human fear of them is conditioned.  Sadly, some pits were bred and abused to be fighters and now the world is scared of them.  ANY dog has to be trained and socialized.  ANY dog can be aggressive.  And, of course, the larger the dog, the bigger the consequences for a human mistake.  It takes time for both of us to trust each other.  Don't be DUMB (our motto).  We're protecting our little dogs (as we would introducing any dog), but we can't operate from FEAR -- we need to operate from SMART.






(2)  Wish I'd go into heat.  Hello, Menopause (peri, at least).  Guess no period this month.  Guess that's why I'm an emotional hot mess.  Crying, laughing, crying, laughing.  You get the idea.  Hubby is frantically realizing this could be life for the next 5-10 years LOL.  Now he's crying too.

I couldn't wait to start this process to have it FINISHED, but I wanted it to start AFTER I have all my big events this year -- hah.  I thought I was narrowly in the clear to not have a period during the travel and wedding and now it's all willy nilly.  Why can't I have what I want, just as I want? ... it's like I'm not in charge (!!)

(3)  I've had no appetite for the last 2 days.  The first day we got Mimi I didn't eat at all -- not one bite.  Yesterday I had a few bites at lunch and a few bites of dinner.  My monthly issue?  My emotional issue?  I have no idea.  I have a cold sore the size of Alaska -- maybe I'm sick?

BTW, not complaining.  I have 2 sizes (or about 1.5 sizes) to move through to fit into my clothes.  As long as I'm not seriously ill -- I'll take it!  It can get me off the eating train.  I cooked lots of great food for the Super Bowl and didn't eat any of it.  Wow -- menopause ME is a whole new woman LOL.

(4)  I have a HUGE list of books I want to read and I haven't read in days.  Not sure what's up with that since I'm sequestered with MiMi in my bedroom or office.  Perfect time to read.  I'm going to figure that out this week.  Possibly, I'm not in the mood for the book I chose.  Stay tuned ... I'll share the list.


That's all from this land of brain crazy.  2020 is proving to be a powerful year of NOTHING AS I EXPECTED.  Yet, somehow, I remember asking for an adventure (although, to be fair, I meant a spa weekend).  Happy Monday.  Later gators.

MiMi

We thought we picked a nickname proof name -- after all, MiMi IS a nickname.

Nope, we call her Memes.

Here she is ... crazy, beautiful, powerful and loving (knock wood lots of times).

I was getting out Parker's toys for her and I started crying -- she doesn't know how to play.  Parker was the king of playing "squeaka."  Memes jumped on my lap and gave me the sweetest hug.  Now, as long as she doesn't kill our Duke, we're going to survive.

I Did a THING

We went to the shelter and brought home a pittie mix to foster and maybe adopt.

This is the dog the shelter uses to temp test other dogs for adoption or rescue.  She has saved about 15 lives and not one bit of interest in her.

54 lbs.  She is suppose to be 2 years old -- nope, on closer inspection she's a puppy and still growing.
She was suppose to be spayed this week -- nope, she has a respiratory infection.
She is heading into HEAT.

Our boy dogs are going crazy.  Dogs fighting -- not her initiating though.  We have to keep them separated.  We are afraid one bite from her massive jaw could kill either of them.

I screwed up.

The shelter was HELL and broke my heart.  We saved her -- no doubt.  She was living a disgusting existence.

Every night there is a dog fight that leads to a death.  Every single night.  There are 6-8 dogs in each kennel.  Mostly bully breeds.

Spray or neuter your dog.  Period.

This is our rescue EVEREST.  We won't do this again.  Back to easier and littler and fluffier.  Please let us get through this unscathed.

That said, she is RESCUED.  We named her MiMi.  I'll get pictures as soon as I can download from my phone.

Mimi and I went to bed around 6 o'clock and so "we" were up at 3 o'clock.  She is out of the crate on sleeping next to me on the bed.  Boys are in another room.

I STILL do not have my period.  My cold sore is the size of a quarter.  We canceled our spa day this week (weather and I feel crappy) -- and, of course, Mimi.

She is a ball of UNTRAINED energy.  Mouthing, chewing -- all puppy things.  She is sweet and wags her tail constantly.  She's smart and wants to please.  I pray we can handle her.  She needs a strong leader.

I need to figure this out by Saturday.  Hubby leaves for skiing for 5 days.  I'm scared to handle them with her all hormonal.

Problem solving EVEREST too.  Please send good vibes my way.

Hello, February

Hello, COLD SORE (!!)
Hello, STILL PMS (!!)

Hmmmm, maybe January wasn't so bad.

I "found" a dog I want to adopt -- now to convince hubby.  She's bigger than we wanted (55 lbs), short-hair (i.e. sheds) and is a pittie mix.  We'd foster to adopt, so no risk.  I LOVE her.  The second I saw her.  I have a list of names -- it's that bad.

Stay tuned.  This will take some convincing.

In other news ... I need to commit to a Whole30 sooner than later.  My waistline is not changing.  I'm not being consistent enough.

Come to Jesus month.

Shopping for a desk for my new office.  Hubby wants to get moving on moving into my old office.  Trying hard to get something used.  I have some feelers out -- stay tuned on that front too.  It would be a huge savings and, like books, I enjoy a well used desk.  Not sure why ... it seems RIGHT.  Scratches, dings, fades ... no problem.  My only particularity is that the drawers work smoothly and it's not wobbly.

Saturday updates.

P.S.  I still have a new goodie I want to share (it's a lip gloss BTW), but I haven't tried them all yet -- now with a cold sore, that's on hold.  They're all different so I'll wait until I've tried them to show and actually remember to take a picture.

Have a great day -- later gators.