Oh, what an interesting night out in Louisville!

What started out as a normal evening of pizza and beer, with this group, ANYTHING can happen!! Joan, Dan, Bob, Jane, James, Laura and I went out to dinner to Wick's Pizza in Louisville tonight. The evening started out sane enough. As we were seated at Wick's, Bob nudged Joan to let her know there was a tattoo/piercing shop across the street. Joan has been wanting an industrial bar in her ear for 3-4 years now. She finally got the gumption to go and get it done. So, across the street all 7 of us marched. We walked into Electric Devil Tattoos. I think we startled the guy in the front with 7 of us trooping in for one piercing. Talk about a support group! Jane had been thinking about redoing her ear as well. The hole had reclosed.



Joan went first. Here are the photos of her getting the bar.

Jane went next. Her piercing is called a snug. Here she is getting hers done.

And, last but not least, I succumed to the peer pressure and had a snug piercing done too.

Talk about OUCH!!! When you get your ears pierced, they use a gun. The lobe of the ear, the flesh, is more elastic. It moves with the earring as it is shot into the lobe. With piercings of the cartlidge, the guns don't work.They just move it aside. John, our piercing guide, explained that what he does is basicly a punch biopsy. A small piece of the cartlidge is actually removed. It should take about 6 weeks to completely heal and we can all change the bars/hoops that we got tonight. Joan got a 14 gauge bar. Jane and myself got a 16 gauge hoop, though her hoop is bigger than mine. Mine is more petite..LOL the only thing that is petite about me! =)

Digital Scrapbooking Experimentation

Well, I've been collecting digital scrapbooking supplies for several years now. I figured I should start putting them to use. I have been a part of the Scrap Girls (http://www.scrapgirls.com/) e-newsletter for many-a-year. With each edition (up to 6 times a week), they have a freebie. I finally broke down and purchased thier Secrets of Scrapbooking using Photoshop Elements. Boy, it's much easier having someone show you how to do it than trying to figure it out on my own. LOL Here is my first layout after seeing the first part of the teaching movies. Hope you like!


Next thing to learn is how to add journaling and titles to my layouts. hehe =)

Card-making Fool

For as big of a scrapbooker that I am, I've not done many layouts this year. Now, cards on the other hand, I've been making them out the wazoo. Everyone at work gets a hand-made card for their birthday, Mother's Day, Father's Day and sympahy cards. And I've got more holidays and birthdays and a wedding yet to go...

Here are some of the ones that I have made this year. Well, the ones I actually remembered to photograph before I mailed/gave them away. hehe

Sympathy card for Simon

Panda's Birthday Card

Mother's Day 09

Deanna's Birthday...the inside read "Party until the cows come home!"

Father's Day 09

Me Lately

Wow, it's been awhile since I've been here. Not since I posted about Clover's passing. That in itself has been hard. Even after almost 6 months, I still find myself wandering down the dog isle, thinking I need to pick up some treats. And just tonight, I came across the video I had taken of her after her bath. Smiling through tears can be a good thing.

Let's see, the newest stuff with me.....I've become obsessed with True Blood. I had read the Sookie Stackhouse Vampire series by Charlaine Harris, that the HBO tv series True Blood is based on. LOVE LOVE LOVE these books. I need to start buying them. I am really enjoying the tv series also. Stephen Moyer, who plays Bill Compton, has this young Elvis thing going on. And when he says "Sookie" I want MY name to be Sookie! *hot flash* =) I can totally see why the women went nuts over Elvis. hehe OMG, that look! He can glamour me anytime!!! Hubba Hubba! *hot flashes*

Even though I know what happens, I am going to enjoy the show as it comes along. The show has done a good job going along with the books. As always, some things are different. They have "beefed up" some character's roles, made them more of the story. So far, it seems like each season is a book. "I want to do bad things with you!" That line from the theme song gets stuck in my head.

Sad day here in Southern Indiana.....

I have just gotten home from doing one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do. I had to euthanize my beagle, Clover, today. We were coming home Friday from work and she had a little trouble jumping into the car the 1st time. She jumped up again, made it up but with a little yelp of pain. I thought she had hit her knee since she was holding that leg up. She had done that once before on the stairs. We got home, I gave her some pain medication, hoping that would help. She got worse through the evening. The next morning, she could barely stand on her back legs. She couldn't get up the stairs without her back legs going out from underneath her. I carried her up and out so she could pee then we headed to work. Dr E had me take some radiographs of her spine. She had some disc disease/arthritis in the middle of her back, though she never showed any signs that it bothered her. She was always rolling on her back. Silly beagle.

Her condition continued to decline. I wrestled with the idea of euthanisia all night last night. I woke up this morning and it was snowing. It was snowing for her. She loved running and playing in the snow. Seeing the big flakes coming down made me feel at ease with my decision, like God was saying "It's ok, I'll take care of her for you." I spoke with Todd and he agreed to meet me at work. I held her and talked to her the entire time. It was so peaceful. I decided to have her cremated with her ashes returned to me so that next time I go home to VA, I'll take her with me. Maybe I will see if they can put her ashes into two containers and send part of her to Colorado. Dad can spread her ashes up in the Rockies. She loved the deep snow up there.

Clover and I have been together for 13 years now. She leaves a huge hole in my heart. My little Snort-Snort Girl. You are missed.

Adoption

I rescued a human today.

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knewI had to help her. I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn't be afraid. As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn't want her to know that I hadn't been walked today. Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn't want her to think poorly of them. As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn't feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone's life. She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well. Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms. I would promise to keep her safe. Iwould promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes. I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven't walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.

I Rescued a human today...

Getting my rear in gear

I've SO gotta do this. My 20th high school reunion is this year. ACK!! TWENTY YEARS!! How can that much time go by and I don't feel that much older than I did at my 10 year? I need to get some weight off...partly for the reunion, partly for my health...mostly just for me. Hopefully, losing some weight will bring some self-confidence. Oh, when it comes to my veterinary technician abilities, I'm VERY self-confident. I know what I can do and what I can't, my weaknesses and my strengths. But personal self-confidence, HA! It does not exist. And with the events of the past year, what tiny bit of confidence I had went running and screaming out the window. I've already started trying to eat healthier. Lots of salads for lunch and dinner. Bought lite items instead of the "full flavor" ones. I've been perusing the exercise dvd's, trying to find something. At payday, I'll head back over and see what I can see.

Wish me luck! =)