Embellish Life

Not again

I knew this would happen after getting the flu mist vaccine.Yesterday I decided to get a flu shot since I needed to pick up a prescription at the pharmacy. The side effects of the shot have hit me and now I'm extremely achey, tired, headache -  the whole 9 yards. I'm also very cranky which I'm sure is part of me not feeling well. In the long run, the shot is worth it but I just have to get over all of the effects. Yuck!

No Daschund yet...

I know my last real post rambled on my wish for a weenie dog. I saw a couple of ads in the classifieds, but by the time I reached them, the dogs were already spoken for. Since we do not have very much time left here in Germany, we may wait until we get back to the States to get one. I'm keeping my eye open though, maybe another opportunity will come up that I can't pass up. Until then, I will pet and play with every weenie dog I come across.

I know, it's been a while!

I just don't know why I can't keep up with this blog. Since my last post back in August, I was crazy busy with our vacation to Garmisch, Germany and then the ROSC Bazaar. I think I must have put in over 100 volunteer hours working in it. Then, school started and more activities began. Now, I'm finding a calm point approaching where I can "get back" to blogging and crafting. Horray!

Wishing for a Daschund....

So today when we drove home from the store, we see a woman walking a daschund. He was such a cute doggy, short-haired reddish/brown color. We even stopped to chat with him a bit and he jumped in our car. His owner said he liked to go for rides. When we parked the car, I told the girls that if Mike ever deployed we were getting a daschund.

During dinner, we were talking about dogs in general and I did say that I wanted a daschund. Mike of course, did the whole "no dog" speech, taking care of it, etc...I pointed out that when Logan was over, I was the primary dog caregiver and that I'm the only one that cleans Onge's cat litter, water dish and food dish.

I remembered back a few months ago when Sheri and I saw someone at the golf course with a daschund. The lady said that someone was getting rid of the dog and they got her for free. With my mind spinning after that memory, I immediately scoured the house for newspapers to see if there were any ads for daschunds. I actually found 3, two were already taken and now I'm waiting for an email response on the third.

I'm not sure if this will work out, but I just LOVE weenie dogs and I think we'd do good with one and the cat. Like with anything, there's always an adjustment period but we'll be good. Here's to hoping!!!

Good things happen in 3's!

Are you a believer that good things happen in three's? Well, this week I am. First, I hear from my SU Convention Buddy that she was able to get all the items I wanted from the momental mall. Second, we get the phone call from the Chaplain's office telling us that there is space for us in the retreat. And third? Someone from SCS sent me a PM saying they had the Convention tote bag available for sale. How cool is that? A little more than what I wanted to pay for it, but I probably would've sold it for the same amount anyway. WooHoo!

Good, terrific news!!!

Guess where we are going? Yep, that's right! I received a call yesterday from the retreat organizer. Someone canceled that had our family size so....WE CAN GO!!! Us girls were doing the happy dance around the house yesterday after finding out we were in. I'm actually quite shocked that there was space for us. I can't help but think that maybe they "found" a room for us. But whatever the case may be, we are going!!! All 5 of us can't wait to hit the pool and check out the resort. We finally get to go on that mini vacation. HORRAY!!!

A Little Bit of a Better Day....

I woke up still bummed out about the retreat. Hard to accept that we're not going and nothing can be done about it. Mike said he didn't hear anything more about it today, except that during formation people were reminded of the importance of paperwork. Big deal! That doesn't help us now. Sniff, sniff...

Today I decided we were going to have lunch out - being at home all week had gotten to me. We drove to another base for lunch, shopped a bit at the BX. The girls got new backpacks; Juge, Qwee and I bought new shoes; I found a cute peasant-style top. After we were done, we checked out a new store that opened off base a few weeks ago. I found the ice-crusher I've wanted since we got here. It's noisy, but does the job well. I'm looking forward to using it.

Today was the first full day of SU Convention in SLC. There has been a ton of chatter on SCS about the new catty, Momental Mall, announcements, new products, etc....I'm so glad I signed up for a Convention Buddy. Her name is Elaine and she is such a sweetie to be picking up stuff for me and sharing info. I'm hoping she will be able to buy me the absolute cutest project tote. No guarantees it will be available after convention, so here's hoping she gets it! I soooo wish I was there! I've decided that next year I'm going to register when it's time and then buy an airline ticket later. I'll make my hotel reservation in a few weeks after they announce the dates for next year's convention. After being stuck in Germany for 3 years, I think I'm entitled to a bit of happiness with stamps. I'm going and that is the end of it!

I am sooo bummed!!!

I usually don't post about normal everyday stuff, but I just had to on this one. Mike told me about a Marriage Seminar in early August sponsored by the Chaplain's office. It was actually titled a "Family Retreat", so you could bring kids. I told him okay, since the kiddos could come. He sent me the registration stuff and I completed the form, sent it back to him - all in the same day! Mike signs the form and forwards it to the correct person on the chain.

Today, 29 days later, Mike gets the form back signed, but never submitted to the correct office. We find out that we are NOT on the list for the retreat and that there is no more space available. My heart sinks into my stomach at this point. Someone else screwed up, leaving the form in limbo for 3 weeks! So what is the end result? Our family gets penalized because someone else didn't care enough to complete the task at hand. Mike had recruited 2 other couples from his section to go as well. They will be attending without us, now.

I feel so terrible and depressed about this. We (the family) were looking forward to this trip so much. It was going to be fun for all of us and now it's a complete disappointment to our summer. This was our fun time together to connect without stresses of home, school and work.

I sent an email to the Chaplain and his wife, but I'm not sure what good it will do. I guess I should have hope that things will work out about this, but I'm doubtful. There's nothing to look forward to now. It makes me sad.

SCS Enables Me!!!

I've finally broken down and taken the plunge to the Copic Marker side! I see so many cards in the galleries on SCS that have used the expensive markers, that I must now try them for myself. I first asked my very best friend, Sheri, to pick some up for me while she was in the states. But you know me, I can't wait that long! So, I've been surfing the 'Bay looking for some. There's a small pastel set that is ending today that I'm going to try to win, though I have to stay up until midnight for it. Then while I was choosing some DP for a scrapbook page, I came across some unopened SU paper packs that I could part with. I put them on SCS in the B/S/T forum, asking for COPICS in return. Not more that 3 hours later, I got an inquiry. Trade successful! The colors she had I can definitely use. Now, I'm going to have to learn how to use these famous, expensive, refillable markers from Japan.

What else did I find today? A cute little owl stamp from a place called Pink Cat Studio. I took one look and knew I had to have him, too. So I ordred the set from the Canadian company that I hope, will ship to me at an APO. I know that little guy will look so cute colored in with Copics! Here's a picture of the set of them!

He went back to work!!!

After what seemed like 2 extremely long weeks, Mike finally went back to work. Because Sheri and her family went back to the states, we were unable to plan a trip with them during Mike's leave. So, we ended up staying home the entire time. Now, it wouldn't have been that bad if Mike had done some house chores or maybe had a hobby other than computer games. I don't know exactly why, but the last few days I was literally going crazy with him home. I guess because mostly he would just mope around, lighting candles, read his book a little. I'm like, why don't you clean off the balcony or let's go straighten up the basement. Those ideas were a no go in his eyes.

My nerves are much calmer now, thank goodness. I'm able to clean the house, straighten up to my liking. When everyone is home from school/work, it seems like the house is a total disaster zone. I can't stand it! And I can go back to my routine - check email during coffee, housework, shower and then time to stamp, internet, tv or nap. Maybe I'm a little like Andrew, I prefer to have a routine and when it is disrupted (because Mike was home from work) I go bonkers!

Now, off to do more blogging and time to stamp.