I started knitting again! I have like 2 or 3 boxes of yarns. My knitting to do list: 2 rugs and bunch of wash clothes. And possible a hat – though I’m not very good at making hat. I still have to learn how to make socks and leg warmers (I’ll need them living in MI)

But I think my real interested is sewing. I need to find a sewing class and put my sewing machine to use. Then I’ll have a real reason to buy a new sewing machine.

OMG! It’s October and not a single post. I don’t know what’s wrong with me; there are days when I feel good and there are days when I just feel blah. I spent half the day cleaning – I think cleaning helps with my stress. Still trying to de-clutter! Always some sort of drama.

I was going to hit Kolh’s today and do “recreation shopping” (Joe’s term – shopping just to shop) – beside I had a 30% discount coupon. Well, I never made it to the store – I keep thinking, I need to save money. The stock market hasn’t been doing too well.

Work: I’m still waiting to hear back from my boss about our contract. It’s been 3 ½ weeks.

I have no focus… no goal… what do I want out of my life…I’m heading up to VA soon to pick up Joey…

I'm so behind on blogging. It's hard with a broken foot and trying to unpack and working on a dozen other things.

Check out this link - Harvie travel log.

Labor Day weekend - we were in VA (wrapping thing and moving the rest of our things) and then OH (to return mother-in-law hand cart) and now back in MI.

Back from TN/OH – The wedding in Nashville, TN was wonderful. The drive home from Ohio was awful – my poor husband had to drive the entire way. I step on my left foot and ER diagnosis me with a fractured foot. I’m pretty much useless.

I did pack up my craft room. My parents are coming down today and tomorrow to help with packing and moving – such bad timing!

My poor plants are BONE dried! I think my mom has offered to take couple of them off my hand. My tomatoes are turning red. Very juicy but thick skin!

So bad! I brought more stamps from Girl A and on top of that; the other day I was researching ideas for wedding card and somehow I spent $50 on stamps at Target.com. And the sad thing is that I’ll end up buy a wedding card. The stamps will arrive I think on Friday – by then I’m already out of town.

This year – I am going to make holiday cards for my clients! For the last two year, I’ve sent out e-cards. I just need to find a design and just do it.

I also have my new spiral O binder – which I need to play with. I’m thinking a 2009 planner? Mini Notepads?

Garden Updates:

They are doing wonderful – my tomatoes are still green, a few turning yellow and TWO were red. Snip, snip and now the two red tomatoes are sitting on my kitchen counter – hmmm salad might be good for tonight’s dinner! And I have more then enough cucumbers and zucchini (there's more growing). I gave some to my parents and coworker.

I don’t remember how I got interested in gardening. I know that both my parents love to plant/garden. I use to think I don’t have a green thumb – but really it’s not hard. All you need to do is remember to water them and they will stay happy.

Photos of veggies plant late May/ early June (I forgot when I took these)

Results of my hard work:

Vacation is over – now back to reality. I’m back from Colorado Springs, CO – it was great to get away. I’m so tired, took the red eye from Colorado Springs to Las Vegas; Las Vegas to Regan National; and then metro to work.

We did the tourist stuff (COG railway, Pikes Peak, Garden of Gods, etc), visit Joe’s cousin and attended a local festival/crafts fair. Spent $27.00 in junk food!

Couple hours ago, I got a phone call from my mom – my sister and baby (my niece) are both doing well. My parents are so excited! I’m glad everything went well.

Lots to do before the big move – Joe and I have talked but no plans yet. We’ve talked about what to do with the townhouse, health insurance, jobs, will we need storage, how big of a place do we rent in MI, etc… In two weeks we’ll be visiting Lansing, MI.

Our chapter living in Washington, DC will close pretty soon and a new chapter in Lansing, MI will start - a very scary road.

They (whoever they are) say if you have goals, it's best to write it down. So here goes...

1. I want to lose 5-10 lbs this year
2. Exercise at work (walk 2x a week [mon-fri] for 30mins)
3. Exercise at home (2x a week) -- get husband involved if possible [ have to think about his health too ]
3. Eat a healthy balance diet
4. Meal Plan

Lots will happen in the next couple of months if my husband and I decide to move. I think it will be a good experience for both of us. And if we don't like it, we can always move back. This will be a very BIG change for me since I've been in NOVA forever and moving to another state is kind of scary. It’s a good change – my husband will be going to law school and I will be exploring a new state. It may seem all good, but then we have to think of the financial issue (one less income, temporary unemployment if I can’t find a job, health insurance (cobra is very expensive), what to do with the townhouse, etc)

Mini Trips

• May 23 - May 27; Colorado Springs, CO
  
• June 6 - 8; Lansing, MI
• June 13 - 17; Pawley’s Island, NC
• July 24 - Aug 1; Anchorage, AK (Joe Only)

Update - Last night Joe and I had a talk and we've decide that I should be fixing the house and it's just too expensive to travel to AK.

It’s Friday and raining! It’s so nasty outside. All I want is to be home, on my couch with my fleece blanket and a good chick lit book. And if I had a fireplace – that would be turn on and maybe some soft smooth jazz music. Sigh

Stop dreaming! And get to work.

Its 9:30ish and I’m at work – sitting in front of my pc. I’m going to refresh and sharpen my CSS skills.

No plans for the weekend yet.

There is one thing I need to do this weekend. Start seeding my veggies. I got 5 packets of veggies seeds from this nice lady on freecycle. She used what she wanted and gave the rest to me. Last year I started seeding I think hmm March. I’m so behind – but it’s not too late, I don’t think. I have a plan – I mention to my husband I’m going to build a bench for my container plants to sit on, so that it doesn’t affect the grass too much. I might have to ask my dad to help out with building the bench – but it should be fun!

Etiquette of Reply All

There should be a book on Email Etiquette – maybe there is. I'm so annoyed. It really bugs/annoy me that people reply all and arggg don't even think… hmmm is it necessary to reply all?

I get an email from a friend saying she is engaged. Great news – I send a reply back to my friend not the entire mass mailing saying congrats. Well there is always one person that would reply all – "congrats". ARGGGGG - now think – was that necessary to reply all? HECK NO!

If everybody on the entire mass mailing reply all "congrats" – I will get like gazillion (I think that’s how you spell that world) emails; along with everyone else. And that is a waste of bandwidth and storage space.

Maybe I’m just hungry? So moody or is my friend coming soon? Ugh need to find food.

Email Etiquette Resources:

• Email Netiquette
  


• Email Replies
  
  

It's pretty quiet at work this week - everyone is on the west coast at a conference. It's 11ish and I'm trying to figure out what I want for lunch. I could do Cosi but lately every night; I've been eating salad. Hmmm maybe I should hit McDonald's - hmmm maybe not. I just remember I could have packed a turkey sandwich for lunch today. I did go food shopping yesterday. DUH!

Last Friday was my birthday. Joe and I went to Red Lobster on Thursday to celebrate. We order a 2lbs lobster (2lbs cost $42 – so expensive), coconut shrimp and salad... oh and you can’t forget their yummy cheese biscuits.

Maybe I can get Joe to buy 2 lobsters this weekend - it's so much cheaper cooking at home. Actually we’ve never cooked lobster at home before – it can’t be that hard - wash, steam and serve.

My mom called yesterday to say she got my Mother's Day present - I gave her money. I'm really bad at gift giving. I usually never know what to get people and always afraid that the person receiving may not like it.

Book Reading: The Cinderella Pact by Sarah Strohmeyer – It’s a pretty cute story. I think Sarah Strohmeyer r has been added to my favorite chick lit author.

It's very nice outside today - took a mini walk to the post office. It was great to get out and enjoy the nice weather. I was very very good - stayed away from Starbucks.

My sister called and mention that her baby hasn't turn yet. So she has two options. 1. C-section or 2. Doctor go in and manually turn the baby - but that may stress the baby and if her heart beat goes down, they would need to do an emergency c-section. We're hoping the baby with turn soon! Since my sister is so small, maybe the baby doesn't have room to turn down? My mom is worried.

Event: Sister Baby Shower
Date: April 27, 2008

Let me just say, planning a baby shower is hard work. You have to make invitations, send email reminder, figure out what to do at the shower, theme, decorations, party favors, what to eat, etc..... In the end – we had a wonderful shower. We had fun playing Pictionary, eating lots of yummy food and oehhhh/ahhhhing the cute gifts baby gifts.

Enjoy the photos!

A friend sent me this via email and I though I'd post this. It's pretty good. Read - enjoy!

• Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
  


• Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.
  


• When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement - "My purpose is to __________ today."
  


• Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants, and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
  


• Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
  


• Try to make at least three people smile each day.
  


• Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, iss ues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
  


• Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
  


• Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
  


• Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
  


• Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
  


• You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
  


• Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
  


• Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
  


• No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
  


• Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
  


• Forgive everyone for everything. (hmmm is that possible?)
  


• What other people think of you is none of your business.
  


• GOD heals almost everything . . . and He can heal everything if it's in His plan. We just need to trust His bigger picture.
  


• However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
  


• Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch!!!
  


• Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
  


• Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: "I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________."
  


• Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
  

Let's talk about food. I love to eat and I kind of sort of like to cook (when I'm in the mood). If the recipes are easy, simple, and quick - that's my kind of recipes. And it must, I repeat must have a photo. I can't handle recipes without photos. I need to see how it’s supposed to turn out.

I'm going to attempt homemade bread sometime this week.

Green Thumb - Is it to late to garden? The question is do I have time? I might give it a try and if the plants produce fruits then great, if not, oh well. Maybe my parents will come over and help? Gotta start seeding soon - I'm so behind.

So much to do! We did pull it off - the baby shower went very well. I hope my sister thank my mom for all the cooking she did. We started at 8am and got everything done by 2pm. When the last guest left, I stayed a bit to help clean up and then heading home. A very long day!

Will post what little pictures I took soon.

Joey Update:
Joey, I think it getting use to his new environment. He was very excited and bouncy - like he was on a sugar rush! But it was good to see him like that - makes me feel a bit better. I worry too much about him.

Well Joe and I did ZERO cleaning over the weekend. So tonight is clean night. Not fun at all!

Is it time yet? I'm so ready for the weekend.

Baby shower this weekend - still lots of prep work and I'm still trying to put together a baby diaper cake. It looks so easy to make, but oh so hard.

Joey has officially been away a whole week. Man - I still miss him.

I am going to do it and buy that scale at Costco and start tracking my weight and exercising. I think my goal is to lose 5-10 lbs, tone up and live a healthier lifestyle.

Saturday afternoon, Joe and I took little Joey to my sister's house - where my parents will be taking care of him for awhile. Told my parents to keep training him – gave them the do’s and don’t – when to walk him, when to feed him, give him this when he is good, give him this when you leave the house, etc… It was very hard and sad to leave him. As we were heading out, he followed Joe and I. I told him to sit and stay - he was sitting on the top stair, looking down at us and then out the window - as we drove away. I wonder what is going through his little mind - why are you leaving without me? when are you coming back? Is this my new home? Ohhhh so sad!

It was very quiet Sunday morning w/o Joey around. I look around the family room and notice his crate isn't near the TV. No dog food or treats on the kitchen table. All of his random balls/toys are gone too. I miss him already!

My parents are back in town to help my sister out when the baby comes along in a couple months. We're going to have a family gathering/meeting tomorrow. Joey will be moving back to my sister's house, where my parents can take care of him. Hopefully he won't forget his training. And hopefully he will be okie. I'll miss him. I really want him to stay with me, but I rather he stay with my parents, where they can watch him and he gets to run around. If he stay with me, he's stuck in his crate while Joe and I are at work. Also I spend $300-$325 a month for having a dog walker.

I need a job where I can work from home! Living in this area is expensive.

I'm still budgeting - trying not to spend money on unnecessary expense.

On top of everything Joe is sick! Gotta get home and take care of my hubby!