She had a big ole butt, oh yeah.

I suppose that I should dedicate a blog to my precious..Vega. Of course, it'll be hard to beat Steph's..she's good at blogging. Howeverrrr since the only people that read my blog are pretty much my family and maybe a few close friends..you all know about my lovely Valentines Day. I feel like all of my recent holidays have just been horrible. Not completely horrible..I did spend Christmas with my family..but it just wasn't the way that I wanted things to be. Anyhow, that's another story. Back to VDay. And Vega. The prettiest princess that you ever did see. I feel the urge for a photo montage to go along with my ode sooo try not to cry too much. Ha! (I feel like I can make some little jokes about it now..well, because that's pretty much what I do in horrible situations, because what else can you do? I like to make jokes about things that aren't funny..and also when I'm feeling pretty awkward. So sue

me!)

 

This little precious has been with me for almost 4 years. Before I got married. I trained her and took care of her..after I got married, she was there. It's not a secret that my marriage has been pretty bad from the start..but she was there. Nights where I couldn't go to sleep because I would have nightmares the moment I closed my eyes, nights where I cried my eyes out, nights where I fell asleep alone in a house that I was scared to live in..well..she was there. (Jesus was with me too..but ya knowww what I mean, geez!) She has pretty much been the one constant thing in my life..(besides my family) 

She followed me everywhere I went..to the bathroom..to the kitchen..ev.vry.where. Anytime I'd go to another room..I had this habit of always putting my right arm down and trailing my fingers along her fur beside me when I would walk around the house. She was my right hand lab. I find myself still doing this, but she's not there. There are times where I still feel like I'm in denial that she's gone..If I would have just looked for her for 5 more minutes. Just 5 minutes! (gotta stop saying that..) But overall, I'm doing okay. She was such a crutch for me..Gotta learn to let go of some things that I have no control over. 

I'm hoping to get a new puppy soon..but Vega will always be in my heart..I won't ever forget the horrible times in my life (they are making me who I am supposed to be..right??) when she was there. I'll never forget you, Vega! You had the best velveteen ears and the best soft spot right above your ear. You were the best sunggler of all times. You had the coolest name of all the pets I know. Here are more really cute and sad pictures for you to look at:

(an otter)

(a mother)

(a nervous bunny)

(a sister..very sorry that her brother Molly couldn't be in the picture..)

(a birthday cake)

(a sweetheart)

(a bed/pillow hoarder)

(a bff)

(a party animal)

(a vampire)

(a comedian)

Come on guys..the pictures could go on forever..

(in time out)

(even a cheesehead..)

(more mothering)

(one of the last pictures I took of her, sleeping on her favorite chair :)

Goodbye, Vega! See ya again someday. Fat bottomed girls make the rockin world go round. 

Nothing changes on New Year's Day..

Obviously I only named this entry that ^ because it's lyrics in a U2 song. Obviously.
Because I think that 2013 is going to be one of the most uncomfortable/best/scariest years of my life.
I am so happy that 2012 is over. Good riddance 2012. You were the worst year of my life. 2013 is going to bring so many changes in my life..from my job, to where I'm going to live, to my marriage. Every single thing is changing. 2012 knew that I absolutely HATE change and it let me stay where I was at. 2013 doesn't care what I want, it's throwing everything that was comfortable out of the window. I haven't updated in awhile, and I'm gonna try to do better this year I swear! At least 1-2 posts per month..I'll try my best! Maybe if my fellow bloggers want to do another 30 day blogging challenge it would force me to update more often! hinthint. Goodbye for now!

Will you breathe again?

Who will catch you if the engines fail?
Who will protect you if the train's derailed?
Who will revive you if your oxygen ceases?
Who will provide you with a new heartbeat?

You will catch me if the engines fail.
You'll protect me if the train's derailed.
You'll revive me if my oxygen ceases.
You'll provide me with a new heartbeat.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
-Romans 8:28

Who will catch you if the engines fail..

Chicken salad.
I've been craving it all week. But haven't had the time to make it. As easy as it is, I have never made it..I've always loved my maw maw's chicken salad more than anything in the world. She didn't make it often, but when she did, we would put some in some pita bread. It was awesome. Untiiillll I found out that she makes it from.....canned chicken!!!!!! I think I haven't ever made it because ever since then it always grosses me out. I am leery to eat it because when I see it all I think is that it came out of a can. That has a shelf life of like..12 years. Well maybe not that long, but anything that can sit on a shelf for that long and still be edible just disgusts me. Also, just think about what they put in it that makes it stay good for that long!! Ew. The only thing I think I use that is canned is (occasionally) black beans to throw in my chili. That is if I haven't soaked and cooked my own. Every once in awhile I'll use a can of crushed tomatoes..anyway..I'm on a really long bunny trail to say that I made chicken salad. Ha! I looked up so many different recipes and just decided that I would make mine up and see how it turned out. And I love it! I just baked my chicken in the oven..instead of mayo, I used greek yogurt. I threw in some toasted walnuts (I love the texture!), dill seed (I smushed it up-I think dill is one of my favorite tastes!), some juice from half of a lemon, a bell pepper, a little celery, and some onion and garlic seasoning and I think that was about it. I'm not a huge fan of apples (it's a texture thing) or grapes in my chicken salad, so this one turned out awesome!
That's all.
Just wanted to write about chicken salad.
Did I say chicken salad enough times in this post?
chicken salad.
It's grossing me out now.

This I pledge and I'll take it to my death..

Yikes. I can't believe I made it through this past week! It was a cu-ray-zay week. Oh but let me just begin by saying this: Today, I was running on one of the dirt roads by my house and a girl that lives down there stopped me and told me that they saw a black bear down that road this past weekend :-/ Imean, we've been knowing he was back there..but we thought he was about a mile back. Now he's running through the cane fields (um in my back yard..) and on a road where people live..As soon as she told me this..I ran back to my house on the side of the HIGHWAY like a coo coo..but I couldn't help it..I wasn't about to run back through the cane fields (where I ALWAYS go!) because that's where they saw him..scurry. The whole time I was running back I swear I heard that bear following me..I think the men that live down there will probably take care of the situation..they have been mounting deer cameras to keep track of him (her? and maybe cubs?). So annnywayyy I just ran alongside a really busy busy highway with people honking at me and thinking I'm a nutcase because it's almost dark outside and I was by myself..

Back to my crazy week. Well. I think most people that know me, and read this blog, know that my husband and I have some high highs, and some low lows. (Which I'm sure every marriage does!) So last week was the lowest of the low..annnd my work has been crazy and super stressful. One of our therapists just decided to start working part-time..so now basically the rest of us are running around like crazy people who don't even have time to go to the bathroom or take a break..and when we do take a break, we have mountains of paperwork to finish. Blah. I would rather just treat every single patient than have to do the paperwork. It's time consuming AND sometimes by the time I get to it, it's been hours since I've seen that patient and I have to rack my brain to remember what they said and what treatment we did, etc. I didn't mean to go into all of that. So last Monday I went with some of my family/cousins/and friends to see MewithoutYou..a band that I've loved for about 9 or 10 years..well. I loved them at first..and I even saw them play twice. Over the past few years, I haven't enjoyed their music like I used to. I didn't even buy their last album that came out..but who can miss Aaron Weiss when he comes to town to dance around on the stage?? No one. No one should ever miss this! He really has the best time on the stage singing and dancing. Tuesday night I had my boot camp class and came home to cook supper for my husband..Wednesday night I went with my brother and sister in law to see P.O.D. in Lafayette..ummm..Let's just say that I've been trying to see them for almost 15 years and never got to for so many dumb reasons. The venue was the weirdest place ever for them to play, but it was sort of small, so we got a spot right in the front. We had to wait through a really bad band (think Nickelback and Creed having a baby..). But then something awesome happened..P.O.D. came out and they were amazinngggggg. Imean we were so freakin close to the stage that Sonny kept putting the mic down in our faces to sing(scream)..and I almost died a couple times from crazy people, but I didn't even care. I never wanted it to end. How can you not have fun when you are that close to the band and they are awesome and killing it?? (I've never said 'killing it'..but they were!) I'm seriously still on a high from that show and it was like 5 days ago soooo..pretty much I've been listening to them since then and that's about it in my cd player..Afterwards, we stalked the tour bus because we knew where it was. There were only like 5 other people back there, so we got to meet the band and take a picture with them (with really bad lighting, but who cares-I'm touching Sonny!) :

And they were super nice. And when I got home I started stalking them online (duh) and I found out that Sonny, along with a former member of the band Korn, Brian Welch (aka "Head"), and the singer from Flyleaf (Lacey Sturm), and a few other awesome dudes (Ryan Ries, Ronnie Faisst) started this thing called the Whosoevers..and they basically just have these big shows and they all talk and share about all of the crazy stuff that they came out of..because honestly, a lot of the kids that would go to this aren't the kind of kids that would ever go to a church..but they would go to see some of these bands play. And then they can hear everyone's stories about how they came out of drugs, depression, self mutilation..Imean how cool is that. And they got their name from a scripture that we all know.."that Whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish"..you know the rest :) Their website says, "This is a threat to formalized religion" which I'm sure a lot of people get offended by..but..I agree with what they're saying. I'm not the best at explaining things, especially when I need to. ha! I just think it's cool.

Annnywayyy. The rest of the week went by pretty fast..Friday night I had a quick date with the hubby at the Renaissance hotel's restaurant..the food was SO good. I got scallops and he got sea bass..the food was excellent! But pricey. Afterwards, I went to meet some gals for a girl's night. Got to see a long lost cousin that I haven't seen in about 2 years. The next day I went to a birthday party for my good friend's son, (that was hard to say..my friend's son's birthday?) and then ran a million errands. Then went to eat at Coyote Blues with my husband. When Sunday came around, I wasn't up for anything. I slept LATE. Spent time with the kiddos..then went to ANOTHER girl's night at Zea's with my friends from college..we had a great time catching up. They all have kids except for one..who has one on the way. So we pretty much just talked about babies the ENTIRE time.. 

So that was my crazy week! I'm glad it's over! This post was long! I hope the bear doesn't eat my dogs! Or come in my trailer at night and eat all my honey!

That's all. I'm going relax.

I'm lost in forever..

Bloggie! I have abandoned you. I have been pretty busy lately-not doing anything exciting. Just with life. I have been going to my camp down in Grand Isle A LOT. Like probably every other weekend. I'm actually going again this weekend! But I love it. I can't get enough of it. It's away from home, and that's all that matters to me. My job has been super stressful lately, so any getaway is really nice.
It's really hard to stay positive working in a stressful environment every day..so I have to constantly remind myself of all of the blessings in my life..and exciting things that are going on and gonna happen!
I am excited about Grand Isle this weekend..and I think J and I are going to see Batman on Sunday night. Yes! I have only seen 2 previews for it..and I just can't wait. I didn't really get excited about it until this week. Annnnd next month, I think J and I are going to try to go to Destin or some beach in Florida for a long weekend to relax. I always get excited for fall..I love all of the holidays and also we get to see family that we don't see all year. And next May, I'm going to Disney World!! For the very first time! I always wanted to go..I mean I never like begged to go there or anything. But now that I'm going, I'm superrrr excited about it. I don't even care that we have to drive like 87 hours to get there.
So there.
Lots of things to be excited about and thankful for.
I decided to get back on pinterest yesterday because I'm helping with a baby shower for a friend of mine and I wanted to get some ideas. Bad idea. Now I can't stop again :-/ I post so many random things..so tonight I decided to actually make a dessert from one of my pins..I made lemon blueberry bars. Which pretty much is key lime pie, but with lemons instead of limes, and blueberries added. Actually, that's exactly what it is. We have to chill it overnight before we eat it, but it looks really good! (and not healthy whatsoever, yes!) That reminds me, I'm also excited about planning and having this baby shower ("sprinkle") next month..I've never really helped this much in planning something, and I kind of like it! Only because she is one of my close friends, and I really do love making people happy. I love to do things for other people. It's also kind of intimidating because this girl can plan a party. Like down to every last detail..so I feel like the pressure is on! I'm sure she'll love anything that we do.
Anywaaaay. My bed is calling my name :)

Some girls try too hard to impress, with the way that they dress..

Blink 182. Ever since I discovered what Pandora was, I have been listening to their station. It's the best! It reminds me of when I was a teenager, and I had to ride in my older brother's car. And we had a Blink tape that we kind of had to hide..but we listened to it, speakers blaring (duh). I also love when my Ipod is on random and one of those old songs comes on. The best!
This weekend I had my continuing education course in New Orleans. Well of course, I was running late (my alarm was set to pm instead of am :0 ) so I had to speed the whole way there..and then when I got there, the garage was full..so I had to park 7 blocks down the street and pay $20. Awesome.
I made it RIGHT on time. The course was given by the International Weightlifting Association and it was about functional exercise..It was pretty vague, but I did get to learn a few things. The instructor runs a rehab center in Ohio (I forgot the name of it, but he treats mostly athletes) and was super laid back and awesome. He also has a master's degree in nutrition, which he didn't really go into, but that plays a huge role in the healing process, so it's definitely a plus. Also, a lot of the patients that we see really need guidance in this area! Anyway, he basically believes that every single patient should begin therapy with doing functional movements and patterns that they will need in every day life, and we should focus less on doing exercises that isolate certain muscles/muscle groups. Or, at the very least, give those as home exercises for patients. I most definitely agreed with most things that he was talking about..I mean..our goal is to get the patient back to doing their everyday activities..so it's only logical. It's very hard to get out of a certain mindset that has been around for years and years. It's also very hard for someone (like me) who has to work with multiple therapists, who all basically have their own way of doing things..So if a certain patient sees a different therapist 3 times per week..they could be doing a totally different program every time they come in. So even if you try to change something up, or do something a little bit different, the next therapist that works with them may change their program back to the old plan or do something else! Sorry, that's a little boring and monotonous, but I'm just gettin stuff off my chest :) For the second part of the day, we basically just exercised. We learned different movement patterns (which we all learned way back when, in school..but it's so nice for the refresher :) and stretches. It's really very hard to get people to exercise these days! It really frustrates me. The elderly people don't really understand, because in their day, they didn't need to exercise..they basically exercised all day long working outside, walking instead of driving everywhere, just basically doing physical work. No video games, TVs, computers to play/watch all day long. I don't know where I was going with that..I was just thinking about it. The younger generation (for the most part) cringe at the word exercise. People say to me all of the time, "You don't NEED to exercise, you are thin!" This annoys me to no end people! EVERYONE needs to exercise! I don't care who you are! Unless you are bending, lifting, running..you know, doing hardcore labor all day long, you need to exercise.

Wow..that was a tangent. Sorry! I'm sitting here halfway watching The Game Of Thrones season finale with hubs..he is so sad that it's the last one. He looovvves it.
Oh! Today, I went to American Eagle (shudder) to get my hubs some Father's Day stuff, and thought to myself, "since when did AE get cute clothes??" I haven't been in there in FOREVER and it reminds me of high school for some reason. I may have bought a few items for myself..and they weren't khaki's for work! Although, I do need to find some more shorts for work soon..

This entry has run far too long..I apologize!

P.S. I played a 3 hour game of monopoly today was an 11 and an 8 year old. I don't think I have to expound on that.

Goodnight.