The 10th year of me

AAAAAH!NOT SCHOOL!!School is starting in about 2 days and I don't want to go because Tehya moved away.I got new shoes, clothes, and school stuff.I'm shocked that I cleaned my room a week or two ago and its still clean. I think this is going to be a awesome year.(I think)Elvis turned 8 this month.(I think)I'm turning 10 in a month.I already know what I want.Well, if you wanna know what I want here is a list:

Littlest Pet Shop
1.Pets Only Clubhouse
2.Round and Round Pet Town
3.Fitness Center
4.Teeniest Tiniest Pet Shop
5.Digital Pet
6.Pet Bakery
7.V.I.P. Pet
Expensive
1.IPod
2.Zoo Tycoon 2 ultimate collection
3.Deluxe membership on webkinz
Webkinz
1.Duck big kinz
2.Pink Googles big kinz
3.Dolphin big kinz

Journey To The Park

Tonight we went to the concert in the park. The band was called Desert Reign. They were a classic rock band. They were pretty good. They certainly played a lot of Journey. I like Journey and they didn’t suck, so it was a good thing. We met Jackie and Alan and Tabi, Kathy and the kids there. The kids ran around and played with the dog. We got our weekly lemonade. We had a fun time. I got a bunch of new video and pictures for my collection. There are only two concerts left. Next week is a country band and the final week is a salsa band. Then I should have one heck of a video. In the mean time, here are a few pictures I took today.

Gibby getting a drink. He could have chased kids all night.

Kyra, Nikki, and Carolynn. We see Kyra every week. This week Nikki came with us and she is sleeping over.

Ethan and his cheesy grin.

A tiny chihuahua I saw.

Catherine and Chris. I don't know where Chris came from. I was taking a picture of Catherine and he just popped in. Too cute.

Officer Of The Lolz

As most of you know, I like my job. Despite the insanity, the scariness, the fact that I work in a prison… I absolutely love my job. People seem to have noticed. Other staff and inmates as well, have commented on the fact that I am always at work, positive and smiling every day. I guess it paid off. I got my second evaluation today. I got some high marks. From what I understand… quite unheard of for a rookie. When I took this job, I wasn’t sure I could do it. I wasn’t sure I’d like it. I wasn’t sure I would be good at it. But here it has been 7 months and I couldn’t have been more wrong. Just call me Officer Jennifer. (Of course at work… people call me Spin City, Sunshine, and today a lieutenant said he was going to call me Spinach.)

Anyway, school starts on Monday. I know it sounds like it’s way too early, but they get several weeks off in October. The kids are looking forward to getting back to school. I think my sister went back to Hawaii today. Too bad I had to work the whole time.

So I took the car to the tire shop today. Remember I got a flat last week. I finally had time to take it to the shop, while it was open… Anyways, turns out the tire was fine, but my rim was bent. One of us must have hit a pot hole or something. So I got a new rim. Nope it doesn’t match. I now have three different rims on my car. (Some certain ex-husband hit a chair on the freeway and poked a whole through one several years ago and so I already had one that didn’t match.) So what? My new one is the same size and silver, with a lifetime guarantee in case it gets bent again. It makes my car unique.

Tomorrow is another concert in the park. You know, I remember that last summer the concerts were better. I am hoping that tomorrow’s concert will be good. It is a classic rock band. Last week was so terrible. I’ll let you know.

Finally, today is my friend Heather's birthday. She is in Iowa celebrating with her family. I hope she is having a good day.

Friendship

This always makes me think of Trisha.

Last weekend, my friend Tabi and her family were unable to attend my barbecue. They had an emergency come up. So I invited them over for this Sunday. I was very excited. First off, I haven’t seen Tabi since I graduated high school. Second of all, I haven’t got very many friends and certainly none that live nearby, so I was glad to finally have one that lives right here.

This week has been long. David’s truck broke down last weekend. It wasn’t a major issue, but until he could get it fixed, he couldn’t drive it. I got so used to him having his own vehicle. This was also my first full week back to morning watch, also known as the midnight to 8am shift. My sister is visiting from Hawaii and my parents had a little barbecue of their own on Tuesday evening. Then on Thursday my sister and I decided to get some burgers and go to the concert in that park. As I mentioned previously, the concert blew chunks and I got a flat tire. (Pictured- Nathan and Sarah)

Friday and Saturday I called around trying to get a price quote on David’s car repair. It was figuring around $200, if it needed the repair we thought (a new water pump). Plus we would have to have it towed there. Mostly, I hate mechanics. I am afraid that every one of them is trying to rip me off. This was confirmed to me by the large number of mechanics I have met behind bars. I was totally convinced that I would have it towed to a mechanic who would tell me, “Oh no, it’s not the water pump. The whole radiator needs replacing, and while we were in there we found another $500 dollars worth of repairs.” I mentioned this via Twitter which updated my Facebook status. (Yep, you gotta love the technology.) Anyways, my friend Jackie saw my Facebook and left me a message telling me her husband was a mechanic and also worked at an auto part store and perhaps he could help. So I told her the problem and her husband, Alan, agreed to fix it for $120. No tow truck, no rip off mechanics. They said they could come on Sunday. I suggested they come in the late afternoon so it wouldn’t be so hot. And that is when Tabi and her family were coming, so we could all hangout together. (Jackie knew Tabi in school too. As a matter of fact, Jackie and I have known each other since I was in the fifth grade and Jackie was in the fourth grade.)

So Sunday evening, Alan and Jackie came and Alan fixed David’s truck. (It was the water pump and a hose needed replacing.) Not only did he fix it, but David learned a bit about car fixing himself. That wouldn’t have happened from an auto repair shop. Jackie and I hung out while the truck was worked on. Then Tabi and her family came. We had a great time catching up. Tabi has a great family. They have two boys, one is 10 and one is 6. It was so funny… The little one had such a crush on Carolynn. He followed her around. He ate what she ate (even though he would have preferred the hotdog, he took some chicken because Carolynn did.) Later, David ran to the store and Carolynn went with him. The little guys face fell. Tabi said he looked like someone had shot his puppy. When Carolynn was gone, he came and sat by me and I asked him if he liked hanging out with Carolynn. He turned all red and hid behind a napkin. Anyway, we sat around and talked, reminisced and caught up on what has happened since high school. David and Alan fixed the truck and played Wii games. We had a blast. I hadn’t had friends over in years. Not since Trisha came out to visit. And before that, maybe one time Heather came over in Kenosha. We will absolutely have to do that again. I forgot to take any pictures though. Next time.

Yesterday I took Catherine school shopping. Catherine is so much cheaper. For about $170, Carolynn got two pairs of bright pants, three tee shirts, new shoes, a book bag, a necklace, and a bunch of bracelets. For around $150, Catherine got…

This sweats outfit… Including pants, shirt and jacket.

This dress, she calls her cowgirl dress.

This shirt and these jeans. David says she looks like Harry Potter.

She also got two pairs of shoes, a pack of socks, a backpack, and new cables for her computer and a desk chair. Now both girls are all set for school, which starts on Monday. What happened to the summer?

Last night, I went and saw Public Enemies. It was pretty okay. There was a lot of shooting and gun fights. But Johnny Depp was hot, so all is good.

Teenagers

Today I took Carolynn shopping for school. Not only did she order the bag mentioned in the previous post, but we got some outfits and shoes and accessories. Teenagers like the craziest stuff. Check it out.

A couple of cool shirts

You think these pants are bright? Wait until you see the other pair.

Well, we sure will be able to see her coming.

Oh yeah... on a boat.

New Vans

Fabulous Accessories

Epic Fail

So my child just ordered this book bag. Seriously... I just don't know where she gets this. She is so crazy.

In other news, I totally just ordered a bag like this to take to work.


Hmmm... maybe I do know where she gets it.

zazzle.com Cool stuff for noobs. Do it for the lulz.

David Rocks

Yesterday we celebrated David’s Day. For those of you who don’t know, David’s Day is something Catherine created. We have Mother’s Day and Father’s Day… Why not a day for David? He does so much. He watches the kids while I work. Drops them off and picks them up from various places. He runs errands for me. He occasionally cooks, sometimes he even cleans. He helps the girls with homework and takes pictures or videos of things I can’t make it too. All of that, and he works at a terrible McDonald’s job and goes to school too.

So yesterday was David’s Day. We did nothing. Well, I went to work and he went to work. I went to In N Out with my sister. I got a flat tire. A nice man changed it for me. While I was talking to his wife, I learned that her son works where I work.

After we got our burgers and our tire changed, we went to this week’s concert in the park. It was terrible. The band was two older, grey haired guys, and an older lady dressed like a Donna Summer’s video. However, they were singing newer music. I never want to hear old people rap again. Anyways, we left. Sarah and Carolynn went to a movie.

Not much else is happening. I will be going to work soon.

I am watching Gangland on the History Channel. I was watching it yesterday and I actually saw a person from my place of employment. It is amazing the caliber of people I interact with during the course of my job. I think people should watch that to see what kind of people I have to deal with at my job. Yes, they really do act like that.

Finally, I just would like to send a shout out to all my old friends I have been reconnecting with on Facebook… Technology Rules! So hello again Tabi, Jackie, Angela, Jennifer, Dorine, Sarah, Jamie, Eryn, Eric, and Tammy.

Barbecue Bust

So yesterday we had a barbecue. Too bad just about every person I know was unavailable. They were at work, out of town and otherwise occupied. So I threw a barbecue for myself. Allison was here. She slept over on Saturday night. Nicole came and brought the baby. We had some burgers and the kids tortured toasted marshmallows in the fire pit in the back yard. Then the girls went to sleep over at Joe and Nicole’s. It wasn’t nearly the fabulous barbecue I had in mind, but it certainly had the cutest baby in the world, so it worked. Speaking of the cutest baby in the world…

"HULK MAD! Hulk rolled over and Hulk has no idea how he got there or how to roll back!"

"Rolling is hard work. Think I better rest here and suck this finger."

"Yep, I am the cutest baby boy you will ever see."

Carolynn and Nathan

Nicole, Allison and Nathan

Anyways, today I went over to pick up the girls from Joe and somehow brought Allison back again. I took them to McDonald’s for chicken nuggets and ice cream. Then Allison has been on the computer since we got home. They are installing a new garage door opener in our garage. The old one wasn’t working right. David is making pizza for dinner.

Allison surfing the web

Tomorrow night I go back to work. I have switched back to the midnight to 8 am shift. Fun times!

I Work Hard For The Money

I have been working a lot lately. 6 days a week, sometimes 7 or 8 shifts in a week. My feet hurt. Usually, I work on one of my days off, but this week I decided against it. Yesterday, I ran some errands and got a burger. We watched The Jazz Singer. We did some cleaning and I made some pasta for dinner. It was a nice quiet day. Today, we are doing much of the same.

Since I have been working so much, I really have been missing out on a lot of stuff. The girls are doing fun stuff like hanging out with friends and watching movies. David took the girls to a 4th of July party. All the while I have been working. This weekend is the shift change at work and my days off will change. I will be home on Sunday. So I decided we should celebrate and have a barbecue. We could invite some people; get some burgers, water balloons and other fun stuff. Sound like a plan? Of course it does! Do you want to join in on the fun? Of course you do! So you are invited! Yes, you. Transportation is not provided though. So if you aren’t local, this Sunday I will drink a glass of ice tea in your honor. But if you are local, come on over. We can party like it’s 1999. Or something. Who cares?

Anyway, since I am throwing this fabulous shindig on Sunday, I have a lot of cleaning and stuff to do to prepare. I will return later.

In the meantime, you have got to see my previous post. Seriously. I laughed for hours. I still laugh when I think of it.

Beware of Mega-Shark.

Snakes On A Plane? Nope, Shark Ate It.

Lol'ed til I cried.

And then I did a little research...

THIS IS AN ACTUAL FREAKIN MOVIE!

Oh yes, it came out May 26 and, surprisingly, went direct to DVD. You can get it on NETFLIX. How often do we find movies of such high quality anymore. And the actors... Let me tell you, they got the finest ones money could buy.

Chicks With Guns

Today is David's Dad's birthday. In honor of that, I bring you these lols.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Today I did my over time at the women’s prison at my job. It was my first time there and I wasn’t sure how I’d like it, but I liked it. It’s much more relaxed and open. The women pretty much knew what to do. I would love to go back there. Of course, tomorrow I go back to my regular post. I only have just over a week left in that post before I switch back to the midnight to 8 am shift. Tomorrow is a dress down day at work. I haven’t decided if I am going to do it or not. I just don’t know if I will feel as officer-y in jeans.

For dinner, Carolynn wanted to try and make beer battered chicken. Her friend Alex’s mom made some. I couldn’t find a recipe so I adapted a fish one. Basically it is beer, spices, and flour. Dip the chicken in it and fry it up. Easy and yummy. After dinner we went to this week’s concert in the park. It was an 80’s band. They were okay. We didn’t stay for the whole thing.

Well, that is all for today. It is almost time for So You Think You Can Dance.

Saved By The Bell

When I was a teenager, I was a totally different person. We all probably were. Once I completed high school, frankly, I left it behind. I didn’t keep in touch with people, though I have a yearbook full of promises to be friends forever and keep in touch. In the 14 years since I graduated high school, I have learned a lot… about myself and about life. I have grown into a person I like. I really don’t think I liked myself in high school. Of course, at the time, I probably thought I was too cool for words. But now, at 32 instead of 18 I can look back at that time more objectively. I am proud of what I am now. I was not proud of anything I was at 18.

Of course, it didn’t matter. My parents were basically the only ones who knew me then and still know me now. Like I said, I didn’t make it a point to see people from high school. But then came technology. Recently, I have reconnected with some old high school friends. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. What could I have in common with people I haven't seen in over a decade? What would they remember about me? Would they hold that against me? What would I remember about them? Could I remember my own growth in life and not hold stuff against them? Did I really want to travel a backward path?

Traveling on this path of life has taught me a lot. I try not to take things for granted. I do what I can to keep an upbeat attitude, despite what may happen. Many of you may remember the hard times when I was out of a job, yet I tried to remain positive. Now I keep my positive, upbeat look out as I do my job, which is not the easiest thing to do. Besides my family, I really have few friends. I work with mostly men, and though I enjoy working with them and they are nice people, I really haven’t found any I would call friends. I couldn’t really let go of a chance to reconnect with people I may have once known.

So far, it has been a treat. It was nice to catch up with some people. I got to see where other people have traveled through life, the things they have done, where they work, and who had kids. It is weird because I end up having to explain about the ex-husband, who most of them knew from high school. But overall the experience has been worth it.

This week I have been busy at work. I have today and tomorrow off. However, tomorrow I am working overtime, like last week. But, since I am working my first day at the women’s camp, I seriously doubt it will be as eventful at last Thursday. (No penis days there... I hope.) Today I am relaxing. I am making meatloaf for dinner. Tomorrow after work we are going to the concert in the park. It is going to be an 80’s tribute band. I bet they play plenty of Michael Jackson.

David is at Joe and Nicole’s giving them a hand with their computer. Catherine is playing Webkinz. Carolynn is in her room. We hardly see her. She comes out to eat. She has TV, computer, and cell phone in there.

Yesterday was my parents’ anniversary. I think they celebrated in Big Bear at a concert. Trisha’s oldest daughter turned the BIG 13. I remembered to buy her present weeks ago. Too bad I forgot to mail it. Well, I will mail it out and she will get it a little late.

That is all for now.

Happy 4th Of July!

Happy 4th of July! I hope everyone had a better day than me. I worked. I did see some fireworks. We could see the fireworks from Maverick Stadium from work. David and the girls went to a barbecue at some friends house. They aren't home yet. I called and they said they saw fireworks and were having a good time.

Some Random Pictures

Some of best friends Nikki, Merissa, Serena.
Me and Nikki . Nikki on bottom
Me and my friend Nikki shes a ghost in the back round

Taking Care Of Business

So I worked another overtime today. Today is my regular day off, but did a 6 to 2 shift for the overtime. That makes 2 extra shifts this week. My vacation fund is happy. Today I was at the penitentiary. However, today’s shift had some issues. Yep, it was another penis day. Why are men such pigs? Unfortunately, in my line of work that wasn’t the first, nor will it be the last time I have to deal with this. Luckily, I have learned to deal. I believe my exact words were “Oh HELL no” which is what I put in my report and made my superiors laugh. Tomorrow I go back to my regular schedule.

We made homemade pizza tonight and I watched the results of So You Think You Can Dance.(Thanks Red Lotus Mama.)

Well, that is it. I know it wasn’t much, but I thought I would share it with you.

Good Book

I finished the book in a day and a half I liked it. Its about a girl name Davey and her father dies in a holdup and she has to stay with her aunt and uncle in New Mexico. when she gos exploring on her aunts bike she meets Wolf from the canyon she climbed in and he understands her and what shes going threw and she makes another friend named Jane who has a drinking problem. My favorite parts was when she meets Wolf in the canyon and when she got the part for the play. Most of the book was sad like when Mr.Ortiz died and when she tell the story of the day or when her dad died.

And So It Continues…

Three years ago today, I started this blog. At the time, I had just moved into my first apartment after my marriage ended and I had just started a new job at a basket warehouse. Things certainly have changed since then. We have had many great adventures. We have done some traveling. We’ve had ups and downs. But mostly, I have enjoyed it.

One year ago today, I began a new life. I left my job in San Diego, left my apartment and moved to my home town of Apple Valley. I rented my first house and after a long and sometimes painful period of joblessness, I began a new career in a field I don’t think anyone would have thought I would have done. Mostly, it’s pretty good. Here is an update…

Like I said, we moved to Apple Valley. I looked for jobs like a mad woman. I worked briefly as a fish tank cleaner at a pet store. I spent a lot of time stressed. But in December, I finally found just the right thing. I was hired as a federal correctional officer. Yep, me. Tiny old me. I now go to work every day in a uniform and enter a place grown men fear, and spend my day with men who have done things most of us couldn’t imagine. And I like my job. I like the feeling that I am doing something to make the world a little better. That perhaps something I might do might help these men change their ways when they exit. And for those who will never leave, I am protecting the community by keeping secure these men who cannot be part of normal society. I am happy now. I don’t spend a lot of time worrying about bills, as I know I can pay them. Plus I still have a little left over to enjoy. This March I spent 3 weeks in Georgia for training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. I learned a lot, met some great people and had a great time. While I was there, my dearest friend in the world, Trisha, and her whole entire family, came and we went to Savannah. It was so pretty and I had a great time. Since I have been back, I have been working a lot of hours and am hoping we can take a fun vacation this fall to San Francisco. Last year, we went to Las Vegas. Plus I made a few trips to Palm Springs.

Carolynn has also had a big year. She turned 13 this year. She did her first year of school in Apple Valley. She made some new friends, ditched some classes, got caught, got grounded… Made some different new friends and learned to play the saxophone. She dyed her hair, went to Hawaii, and ran cross country on her school team.

Catherine spent her year being Catherine. She is going to a school here that is geared for kids with her special needs. She is a little bit of an overachiever. Only at school though. At home, she can’t manage to wear clothes that match, clean her room or remember to brush her teeth. She also went to Hawaii this past year. She played softball in the town Little League. Her team won the city championship. At th end of the year, she won an award for perfect attendance at her school, as well as a physical fitness award. And as usual, she got all A’s.

David has had the toughest year I think. After we moved, he has had a hard time finding a job. He got a job right away at McDonald’s, but they don’t schedule him consistently. There were weeks last fall, when he got no hours at all. Then in the winter, the McDonald’s was robbed while he was there. As a matter of fact, he has to go to court for that on Monday. He still works there part time, while continually looking for something better. Unfortunately, in this current economic condition, there are just way more people looking and fewer jobs to find. He did begin going to college since we moved here. Also, in the past year, he took a trip to Texas to visit his family and he returned with a vehicle of his own. I am glad he is here. Without his help, there is no way I could have been gone for three weeks to Georgia, no way I could work the crazy hours, no way I could work midnight to 8… He may not be the tidiest person, but he is always there when I need a back up.

This year was a big year for pets. When we moved here last year, we brought our two cats, Kitty and Cleo, as well as our turtle, Little Dude. Soon after, we were joined by our dog, Elvis, who had been staying with my mom. Then there was Gibby. Gibby was a gift from my mom. He is Chihuahua and Pomeranian. He just had his first birthday and he is filled of energy. He wears clothes, follows me everywhere, and loves to ride in the car. He was the mascot for Catherine’s softball team. Then sadly, we lost out cat Cleo. She got out one night and we never saw her again. Unfortunately, we live in an area with a lot of coyotes. We did get a new cat, Betty.

But the best thing of all, this past April we welcomed a new family member. Nathan Joseph joined us on April 6. I have a nephew. He is too cute. As a matter of fact, I was playing with him earlier today and he was giggling and grinning and I wished I had a camera.

This next year of blogging is going to be great. I hope all my readers hang in there with me. We are about to embark on a great new adventure. Until then, enjoy a look back on this year in pictures.