YYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!

They're in El Paso...halfway here... will be in Mesa sometime tomorrow afternoon. YAY!

People are so stupid

You can't say you've gone through something until you've finished the process. UGH. Some people seriously disgust me. That's my rant today.

OK OK

So, I'm excited, for those of you who are not able to read my sister Jennifer's blog, because they are moving back to AZ! They will be here next Thursday! I am super excited for it!

Jennifer is requesting an update from our CA trip for Mike's birthday. It was alot of fun! We drove in to CA Thursday night, arriving at about 10:30 pm. So we went to sleep to get ready for a nice long day at the Del Mar Fair! (The San Diego County Fair) Before we went to sleep, Mike's dad asked us what time we wanted to get going for the fair. We said around 9 am. The next morning, we got up at about 8:30, showered and got ready. We sat around for a little while, but left the house at about 9:15. It was a nice, cool, cloudy day, but we expected to get some sun later on. We stopped for Donuts at a place called Mary's, and they were DELICIOUS! mmmmm mmmmm. We ate them on the way because we were so excited to get to the fair. We get there and as we are driving in I see a sign that says something like "Fair hours 11 am-10 pm". 11 am??? that's when we could go in? It was only 10 am! So, we walked up to the fair after parking, because it looked like maybe they were letting people in early. There was a loooooong line of people already. Luckily, they had some benches in front of the gate that still had seats available, so we were able to save our legs for the walking later!

When we finally got in at 11, I immediately headed for the livestock barn. I had to see those cows! There were some really pretty ones there too... if any of you think I'm crazy for saying that, that's ok! I have never been to a fair where the cows were tied up outside of the fences. You could actually walk in to their area and look at them and touch them! I didn't, because I knew if I got stepped on it would so ruin Mike's birthday!

After that fun we started walking around looking at everything.... there was another livestock building that had all of the baby animals- including a calf that had been born a few days before! It also had all of the chickens and roosters. I never knew there were so many different kinds!!!

Then, it was about noon, so we decided to have lunch. We walked around for awhile trying to decide on food, and then saw the Palapa Taco. They had all sorts of tacos but I knew what I wanted right away. I needed a fish taco. And oh, was it good!

After lunch we walked down to the ride area.... I knew if we went into the shopping area we would never make it to the rides. I wanted to go on the Ferris wheel, but it was WAY at the back, so we had no idea how many tickets we needed, and ended up buying 30 tickets. The Ferris Wheel was fun! I always get a little scared, because I hate heights, but when we got to the top I looked to my left- and saw only ocean. Oh, it was so nice, and so COLD up there! ( It didn't get above 65 all day.) While we were up there, Mike convinced me that another ride wouldn't be so bad, so we went to the Pharaoh's Treasure- or something like that. All I am going to say is I screamed so loud the attendant could not stop laughing. I am never going on anything other than the Ferris Wheel again...

Then we got to the vendors.... for some lovely shopping. The first building wasn't too interesting. In the second building, there was a little more... but it was mostly really expensive. We saw a dippin dots vendor, and had to get some. So we ate some ice cream. Then, I saw a makeup brush vendor. I've been wanting some new brushes for awhile, so I stopped to look. OMG they were SOOOO soft! So, I bought a travel set, since it would fit nicely in my makeup bag.

As we were about to leave that building, Mike saw a vendor that had helicopters, cars, planes, etc carved out of mahogany. We walked up to the table because it looked so cool, and Mike instantly saw an Apache Helicopter. And everything was half off. So, as he's about to buy it, his mom comes up waving her credit card and saying," Don't take his money! Mikey, I will buy it for you birthday!" It is really awesome looking, and Mike has it on his desk at work now.

We bought a few more odds and ends, and then we were so exhausted we had to leave. I was not sure I would make it to the car. Halfway home, I told Mike I was passing out when we got back to the house. I was exhausted. we took a nice nap, and then woke up in time for delicious tacos... again! This time it was chicken and carne asada though.

The next day, we got up a little later, and went to the San Diego Natural History Museum to see the Body Worlds exhibit. I have to say, it was cool, but it creeped me out that I was looking at actual dead bodies. They had fetus's too, and that made me very sad, because you are told that all of the bodies are real, but you have no idea why or how they came to be in the exhibit. I had to try really hard not to cry when I saw them. ;-( The rest of it was ok though. Still a little creepy.

After the museum, we headed to Belmont Park, which is a little amusement park on Mission Beach. There is a place called the Sand Bar there that has fabulous... tacos. Yeah, apparently our theme was Mexican Food most of the weekend. I had the Sea Bass tacos and mmmm were they good. Mike had the Mahi Mahi I think. After that we headed back to the house, and I tried to nap, but found myself unable to for some reason, so I just read my magazines for about an hour and then went into the house ( we sleep in the motor home when we go) to see how the party prep was going. The family party was that night. There were what seemed like 100 lbs of ribs waiting to be cooked. There were beef ribs, venison ribs, and elk ribs. MMMM those elk ribs were good. And the beef ones. I didn't like the venison ones. Anyway, it was a good dinner, and Mike's friend Mike was there to make it even more so. That guy cracks me up! Amazingly the party broke up at like 7:30, which never happens. So we went to Mike's house to watch a movie.

Sunday was father's day, and we woke up, got ready and went to Point Loma Seafood for some fabulous crab sandwiches and clam chowder. We got some smoked wahoo to bring home to make fish dip with, and some tuna sandwiches for dinner and lunch the next day. Nummy! Then we headed back to the house to retrieve our bags and Mocha, and were on our way home.

It was a thoroughly fun but exhausting weekend, and I am super tired just from recounting it all! Since we got back, we've tried to take Mocha for walks, swims, etc. Tonight we have a beautiful storm rolling in with lots of lightening, so hopefully we get some rain. It cooled down quite a bit after it started coming towards us. Cross your fingers!!!

I can't tell you why

because I don't think I am supposed to, but right now I am really excited, overjoyed, practically in tears excited. Yeah, that's good excited. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! And it's not even anything to do with Mike and I so don't go there, even though things are great there too!

So, I am going to apply for a different department at work. It has openings, I am ready to move on, etc. It's not where I want to be in 5 years, but it is a different side of the business from where I am now, so it will be a good learning experience. Cross your fingers for me!!!

The San Diego trip was alot of fun, but I'm too tired- despite all my excitement- to write about it right now. My eyes won't even focus right. And I think I have an ear infection. It's my own fault, but that doesn't make it hurt less. Oh well...

More San Diego Please!

So, Friday is Mike's birthday, and he wanted to go to the Del Mar fair, so off we head to San Diego tomorrow night! Very excited to spend some time at the fair and hopefully the beach as well! I really want to take Mocha to the dog beach this time! She loved the water, so I think she'd have a blast. This will be Ginger and Oreo's first time being alone together for more than 8 or 9 hours while we are at work. It's a good thing Chris is going to check on them!

I better get to bed. I have to be to work at 7 tomorrow so I can leave by 3:30 and we can get to San Diego before midnight... ;-)

MR Kitty!

So, Oreo has fast established a routine... he LOVES to jump up on my chest and settle down right about on top of my collarbone, and fall promptly asleep, purring the whole time. Sometimes this is relaxing, others not. Apparently he loves me, which I don't want to discourage, but at times, it is just too hot for him to do this! He is a little heat wave, let me tell you.

Another thing he likes to do is lay on the floor with Mocha, front paws touching. We've discovered them like this several times in the last few weeks. It's pretty cute! Every time I try to get a picture, I fail. I'll keep trying though!

I'm thinking about taking my blog private. It isn't something I really wanted to ever do, but I want to make sure that only people I want to read it are... so send me your email addresses and I will keep you posted with what I decide!

Stinking Cox

So, Cox has been really screwy again lately and we haven't had an internet connection long enough to blog lately... even though it worked pretty much all day when I was sick... well, I was sick and didn't want to blog. So, update time.

Last Saturday we took Mocha in for some booster shots and Oreo to his FIRST Vet visit ever. He had some weird looking sores on his ears, and the Dr took notice right away. Let me preface by saying his brothers and sister bit him and each other ALOT when playing, so he had scratches when we brought him home that we thought would heal. Well, it turns out he got some sort of bacterial infection so they never really got better. So, the Dr wanted to keep him for a few hours and run alot of tests. Needless to say, you do not want to know how much we ended up spending on the tests and medicines, and it was less than HALF what it would have been had we not started a health plan (since he is getting snipped ASAP) if we had not. He had an inner ear infection as well as the bacterial stuff. So, I had to put ear cleaner in his ears twice a day all week, an ointment in his ears twice a day ( not at the same time I cleaned them either!) and Amoxicillan twice a day. Then I had to do something I hope never to have to do again- I had to LimeDip him. This does not smell like Limes. That would have been pleasant. This is a sulferous compund that kills bacteria and parasites should you happen to have them. It smells awful. Anyway, I had to give him a bath first, so I bought some baby shampoo (makes cats soooo soft) and bathed him. Well, he is MOSTLY white with black spots on his back, so you could see his pink skin underneath. He looked like a little rat. I couldn't help it, it was funny to see. Holding him in the tub while laughing was quite the feat! He survived and so did I.

The next morning however, I woke up at about 5ish not feeling great, thought I was going to puke, but nothing happened. So I took the dog out, gave Oreo his first Amox dose, and went back to sleep. Woke up at 6 feeling even worse, and ended up feeling like I was in that lovely scene on Scary Movie that mimics the Excorcist when the girl projectile vomits everywhere... it would NOT stop. I hate throwing up more than just about anything. I immediately called in to work. I do not go if I puke. It happened a few more times that way during the day, and then by dinner time I felt a little better so I ate dinner. Not a good idea. All night I was so worried about not going to work that I could hardly get any rest, and probably made myself sicker. It all started over again Tuesday morning when I took the dog out. Sigh. I really hate missing work, not because I like it so much, but because even if I'm sick it makes me feel irresponsible. Seriously.

Wednesday morning I felt MUCH better, so I went to work, but then wished I hadn't. I felt worse and worse all day. But by Wednesday night I felt pretty much like myself again. Thursday and Friday I was totally fine!

I have been super stressed at work though, which is probably why I got sick. It usually is. I've been running in 6 different directions because I have been on SO many projects that were ALL different! I actually asked to be taken off of several of them, and 3 are ending with our company food drive that starts this week. Whew! Then I will only be on one committee and have a few team projects to work on. Those are the easiest because they take MAYBE half an hour a day, if that, whereas for the past month I've only averaged about 2-3 hours a day on my actual WORK because of these projects. I am very much relieved to pass some on to other people.

Saturday we took Oreo to his follow up visit and the Dr was impressed by how different he looked! The entire infection is GONE! and his ears look great!

Ginger has been a little moody, but I think she may think that she's being replaced, which she's not. I get something different from each animal. Ginger is always going to be my first baby at this house. She is a fierce little hunter who brings occasional bugs as presents and will always play with a scorpion until it's dead. She's not too cuddly, but she LOVES to be brushed and she loves to SMELL my food but she won't touch it. I just love my beautiful girl... Mocha will always be my protector. If the wind so much as blows something over in the yard she is checking it out until she's sure the danger is gone. You can't walk up the front step without her knowing it. And she LOVES to play fetch and swim. I love my little otter dog.... Oreo is such a little lover right now. I am sure he will grow out of it- Ginger sure did- but he loves to come up and cuddle and he has the loudest purr ever. He is growing like a weed. He loves Mocha too- I have caught them laying down on the floor with their front paws touching asleep, or looking at each other. He jumps on Mocha's face and plays with her... it is really funny to watch. And he's brought some kitten back out in Ginger. It's SO fun to watch them play!

That's pretty much all that's happened lately!

I am yelling alot...

Mocha loves Oreo. This is a problem, because she loves him TOO much, and now I have scratches almost everywhere from Oreo trying to escape/being wound up. And then I feel bad for yelling, because he is just so damn cute. His pics really don't do his little face justice. I just want to kiss it all the time... I love that his little belly is all white.... but I really think I may lose it if Mocha doesn't stop pacing/chasing Oreo.

Heeeere's OREO!

So, we made it to and from CA safely last weekend! We had alot of fun celebrating Mike's Uncle's 80th Birthday with alot of the family, and enjoyed some really great food. YUM! I haven't downloaded anything from the camcorder yet- most of the pics from the weekend are on there...

It seems that someone really wanted to see some pics of the new kitty, so I've downloaded a few.

Here is Mocha. You can't tell from this picture, but she is intently watching Uncle Phil playing with Oreo.
Mocha decided to interrupt Oreo's bath.
Here is the best full body pic I could get of him. I forgot that Kim named her black and white kitty Oreo. He may look a little more like an Oreo than mine, but the top of his little head has a cute little white stripe, and when we were driving and I looked down at him ( I held him a a little while during the drive) it looked like a little Oreo.
Here is Oreo today, watching Mike. He generally lays on my shoulder or chest when I am sitting on the couch- when he's not attacking the cursor on the laptop...

Well, that's my new little cutie. Miss Kitty adjusted to him really quickly and even plays with him and gives him a little bit of a bath when he lets her. Mocha is very attentive to him. She's also a little rougher than she should be but so far that only amounts to her licking him everywhere and one sopping wet kitten afterward. I was very amazed that there were no major fights in here. Oreo's little nose looks a little roughed up- but it has since we brought him home so I don't know if it just has really pink spots or is scratched.

That's all!

California, again

I am SO glad we are going to Cali this weekend.... Santee has been a good 20 degrees cooler than AZ for the past week so I am looking forward to maybe having to wear my sweater at night and a nice cool day Saturday!!