I can’t walk China anymore – she is bad on leash and the pulling hurts me. So, I was in the side yard with them picking up her poo (diarrhea, no less). Benny was with us. When I went to open the storm door, it wouldn’t open! It felt locked, though I didn’t even know it *could* lock. I had been in and out of it a couple times while China was out there, so it was a surprise.

After pounding to see if I could loosen it, I tried all the house doors. Of course we keep everything locked. I put the dogs in the back yard and walked a few blocks to our friends house. They have a key. But, no one was home. I walked back, having sharp intestinal cramps from the stress. I tried the storm door one more time, then started trying neighbors. Next door, no one answered. The cop’s house on our street – no one was home. One house had their inner door open so I tried that. The wife answered and kindly let me use their phone to call Danny. While I was telling him what happened, she was listening and offered to get her husband – she said he did handyman work. I was so grateful! I’m 5 months pg and have eaten nor drank nothing today and was crampy and freaking out.

The both came over after I got the dogs back into the backyard (I had let them in the side again so they could get out of the rain on the porch. China was mad and wanted inside. She wanted nothing to do with me herding her back out in the rain, but I got her there. It took only 30 seconds for the neighbor to jimmy the door open with a screw driver. What a relief! There turned out to be a little metal bar you can slide back and forth to lock. I guess it locked itself…

I am ready to curl up in fetal position at this point. Ugh.

I worked as usual today, though from home due to office construction. Danny let me pick where to eat dinner tonight, and I chose Cheesecake Factory. I got a smoothie and a delicious grilled cheese. I got cake to-go that is down in the fridge right now.

I got 3 birthday cards that made me smile. One from my grandparents(-in-law), from my aunt and from Danny’s brother and his wife. My daddy called me in the evening and my brother sent birthday wishes via IM. I got a present -Danny’s grandparents sent me a check. They are so kind!

I am pooped and am going to read in bed for a while. I am re-reading The Crimson Petal and the White by Michael Faber.

Thank you all again!

China currently has a UTI. She has had one before, poor girl. It is a struggle to get her to take her pills. I had to use cottage cheese when I gave them to her. Last night it was Danny’s turn and Benny ended up eating her pills! Ugh! They aren’t cheap – $60 for 15 of them. He managed to get her to take most of a dose eventually. Looks like it is back to cottage cheese tonight.

My birthday is just 8 days away! If you want to send me a birthday card (or presents! ) you can send it here: 43300-116 Southern Walk Plaza #234, Broadlands, VA 20148-4463. I don’t know if we’ll end up doing  party or anything this year. I was thinking of doing a cookout, but I’m not sure. My birthday is on a Tuesday and I have a work even the weekend following it, so we’d either have to do it this weekend coming up, or the end of the month. I’m not sure.

I am currently working from home 24-7. The are doing construction at work and it will involve my office door moving walls. I am a little bummed that I will lose the natural light I used to get through my door, but oh well. Im just glad I’ll still have an office to go to! I am going to be rather lonely and stir-crazy after all this time at home.

How are you guys doing? I just figured ut how to get my LiveJournal friend list in my feed reader so I can catch up. However, I still won’t see our entries if it is protected. I just haven’t have time to read a million websites a day!

I can’t believe it is alomost July and my birthday is just around the corner. It feels like it was just here. I won’t complain too much if it means I get presents

I can’t believe it is already summer and almost July! I haven’t even thought about whether I’d throw myself a birthday party next month like I did last year. I’m not sure I have it in me (I certainly don’t today!). You can just shower me with gifts instead! ‘Cause I know you’re all rolling in money right now!

That’s all I’ve got right now. I’m already ready for bed and hoping the tv will be able to entertan me for a while.

As you’ve read, we traded my car in for a 2007 Santa Fe. It had the most basic of basic stereos, so we went last week to Charlottesville to have Crutchfield install and navigation/stereo combo. We were happy to get to see friends who moved out there as well. Initially, Crutchfield called us to say they didn’t have the unit they were supposed to reserve for us, but we ended up with a lower model (at a discount) that suited us better. We also installed a back-up camera which makes me feel a lot safer. I was having a hard time seeing out the back when I reversed. In the end, they weren’t able to finish the install – the unit is in place and works, but they didn’t have what they needed to get my steering wheel controls hooked in. Right now I have to lean a lot to change stations and fix the volume. We’ll have to go back again to get the rest done when they get the parts in.

On Tuesday night I finally got to see Nine Inch Nails!! I’d been wanting to see them forever. Back on our wedding anniversary, Danny bought really great tickets. I didn’t realize until we got there that we’d been in the first row of seats! The show was so, so great! I enjoyed all three bands: Street Sweeper Social Club (with RAtM’s guitarist), NIN, and Jane’s Addiction. I’m not a huge JA fan, but the singer was just so happy to be there entertaining us that it couldn’t help but rub of on us. And, Dave Navarro is so good and playing the aloof, douchey guitar-guy that it was a lot of fun to watch. I took photos on my cell phone, which would have been fine, but I kept turning on the keyboard lock while it was saving them. Apparently, this makes the photos save at a much lower size and quality. Bummer.

◄ Back

Next ►

Picture 1 of 24

(Click for the gallery)

◄ Back

Next ►

2007 Santa Fe Limited in dark blue

Picture 1 of 4

(Click to view the gallery)

We had a busy weekend! We’ve been going over our budget lately and Dan has been doing a great job lowering all of our costs and payments. Since the Murano we got for me last year turned out to not be the best fit (purely because of the age), we started looking into trading in for something less expensive.

I’ll spare you all the drawn-out details, but a lot of thought and reseach went in to our decision to get a 2007 or newer Hyundai Santa Fe Limited. While we did have a dealer run the numbers on a lease of a brand new one, ultimately we had to go with a used one. The price was great – lower payments than my ’05 Murano and less miles on it.

I did have to compromise a lot… I gave up keyless ignition, a sunroof, backup camera and navigation. I had no choice in the color, though it is fine. Just not what I’d choose. While the Santa Fe plays MP3 CDs, it only has a single tray. The Murano had a 6-cd changer. When we saw that (and the fact that it isn’t the best sound quality), Dan said we’d swap it out for a in-dash double-din nav/stereo. He’s unsure now… It could cost a lot after install is added in. We’ll see.

If you can believe it, I haven’t driven it yet! I hate driving, and it takes me a couple weeks to be comfortable in any car I’m unfamiliar with. So Dan does the test drive, and I just try out the driver’s seat – making sure I can adjust everything to my liking and checking out any blind spots. Once I’ve driven it for a while, I’ll be fine. Hopefully, the rain will let up and I can take it around the neighborhood for my first drive. For now, I am working from home.

I am so in love with these shoes I saw at the mall this past weekend! We were on a mission and a tight schedule so all I could do is pause to check the brand and price on my way past. I’ve been dreaming of them ever since! Early birthday gift to me, anyone? Hah!

I love every color they come in, though my brown everyday sandals are in need of replacement, so brown is the sensible choice. I think I would be a sad puppy if they sold out in all the stores and I didn’t get them. I may have to go back to the mall… They are just so “me”!

When did I become such a shoe girl? Seriously, just posting the photo makes me want them more! Haha…

I made it to 29 braids left to redo by the time I went to bed last night. I could ahve done more, but my nails keep getting these rips in the side halfway down my nail bed – too far down for me to be able to cut them for a couple weeks. I try my best to cut off the rips from the side and file the rest of the way in, but I’m filing into raw flesh and can’t get all of it. Leaves my nails lopsided and misshapen, but at least it stops the constant snagging on things (hair especially).

This morning I only got one braid redone before work because I got cause up in pulling out potential clothes for our trip. I never know what to pack. Can I just have a portal installed in my bag that opens up to my closet at home while I’m away? Oohh! Then I’d be able to bring the puppies!

I let myself get stressed out this morning looking at my work and thinking of all I have to do before Saturday. An optic migraine started instantly at the thought. Ugh! I talked through all my upcoming projects with my wonderful marketing manager coworker and I’m feeling a lot better about it all now. Still, my time will be short. 28 braids to redo, a standing commitment tonight to practice Rock Band 2 with 3 others, helping out at the front desk of work 5 -7 tomorrow… *breath and relax*

Work work work…

As usual, I am redoing my braids for the trip. But, this time, I am 1.5 months later in doing so and the itch is driving me nuts! I didn’t want to redo them in March only to have to re-redo them in April, so I’ve suffered through the wait. Also, I’ve kept my hair strawberry blond with a bit of red mixed in since autumn, so I am switching back to my natural blond. I have 29/106 done so far and want to get to at least 70/106 by the end of the weekend.

Tonight we are heading to the mall (fun, fun) in hopes of finding me a sweater for the trip. All I want is a long-sleeve, button-down, brown (and maybe black) cardigan sweater for chilly nights on the beach. Is that too much to ask? Apparently it is, because everything I find is either not brown (brown matches most of my clothes, black would match the rest), not long-sleeved (why bother? sweaters are supposed to warm you!) or they are zip-up hoodies (too casual – I need something that can be dressed up too). Hopefully I’ll find something before we leave for California, but I’m not holding my breath that I’ll find something tonight. If you have any suggestions as to wear I should look, leave a comment or send me a twitter tweet thingie to @punquin.

Speaking of cardigans, I decided to do an upcycle/remake project. I took an old K-mart crew neck sweater from my donation pile and refashioned it into a cardigan. I think I will move the button slightly, but I’m too lazy to do it right now. I wore it yesterday, and it turned out really cute. The sweater had been way too short on me (like 7″ above my belly button!) and the neckline unflattering. Now it is really fun to wear.

It’s going to be really hot this weekend – around 90° F on Sunday. I don’t mind warm/hot weather, but our heater/air conditioner wasn’t working and I was worried about the dogs. Luckily it turned out to just be a power switch that was shorting out. The price they charged to replace it was kinda rediculous, but at least we are ready for the heat wave.