Time is going both super fast and super slow. How is it already July 6th? I didn’t do anything exciting this weekend. Danny went to a party our friends held a couple hours away. It is easier for him to spend the night out there. As I am not a partier and don’t even drink, I hung out at home with the puppies. We went up to be as soon as the fireworks started so I could keep Benny calm.

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!

Originally published in my journal, Stephanie's Thoughts. Leave me a comment!

I think I am finally feeling human again… I plan to go back to my normal Tues/Thurs in the office. I’ve missed all the doggies, and I know Benny has missed the attention. I’ll spare you the details from the last week – no one needs to know what goes on in the bathroom! Eek.

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

Originally published in my journal, Stephanie's Thoughts. Leave me a comment!

I’d been feeling kinda under the weather, and this morning while getting packed up for work I started feeling worse. Luckily, the company I work for is very awesome and understanding, so I was able to stay home. I’ll probably just work from home for the rest of the week so I get plenty of rest.

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.

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I need to catch up here!

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.

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Originally published in my journal, Stephanie's Thoughts. Leave me a comment!

So, today’s fun craft was making new tags for the doggies. I used shrinky dink plastic and colored pencils to color them. Benjamin got a sea turtle, because he always lays like one. China got a lotus blossom. I based the art off of tattoos found online because the style went nice with the colored pencils.

No photos of the tags on yet - I have to wait for them to dry. I put a couple layers of varnish on the back side where my colored pencil is (I colored them backwards).

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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.

Originally published in my journal, Stephanie's Thoughts. Leave me a comment!

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…

Originally published in my journal, Stephanie's Thoughts. Leave me a comment!

Our trip to California went way too fast (though, at the same time, I was missing my doggies a whole lot while I was out there!) It is always so wonderful to spend time with Johnathan and Mel and to get to see family.

One highlight of the trip, was when we visited a doggy beach with their dog, Lucy, the sweetest pink-nosed pit in the world! It started out very foggy and grey, but before long, the sun was out and burning me straight through my spf 50! I was out in that sun longer than I should have been, but oh well. Lucy had a great time and it was very relaxing for us all.

Another highlight was getting to visit Venice Beach. I love it there, as I am a hippie at heart. For years, we’ve stopped by on every CA trip to see Master Tony (I stole this photo from Mel!). Tony teaches meditation and make beautiful power bead bracelets and necklaces. In the past, he had a table along the beach walk. But, this is the first time we’ve gotten to visit his new store, Jade! Last year, I got a necklace that he told us changes if you have good energy. He has always told me I have very good energy, but it was still a surprise to return and see just how different my necklace looked from the new ones in his store. My stone is a translucent peachy color and they start out opaque brown/tan. You are supposed to initially wear them for 30 days straight, which I did, but I continued on until the stone broke off the cord after 6 months. I was able to kind of repair it by cutting off extra cord from the back to tie the stone on with, but my main goal in CA was to have Tony restring it. I chose a really pretty cord for it, plus and extra one in case it breaks again. He kindly gave me the extra for free. You can see it here in the lame picture of me. I also got two bracelets: one for love/family and a jade one for luck. Danny got a really pretty Buddha necklace and a new protection bracelet. For Laura, we had Tony help choose a necklace that was good for happiness, love and positive energy.

All of Tony’s stuff is amazing, so stop by his store, Jade, if you are in Venice Beach! You can tell him the girl with the blond braids from the DC area sent you!

I miss Mel and Johnathan already.We had such a nice time with them. I want to steal them and bring them out here for a while…

Originally published in my journal, Stephanie's Thoughts. Leave me a comment!

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Our California vacation was great! For now, I’ll leave you with these photos (since it took forever to get them up here!) But, we had a blast out west! Thanks again to Johnathan and Mel (and Lucy!) for letting up stay with them!!

Originally published in my journal, Stephanie's Thoughts. Leave me a comment!

I’m swinging on the beach, and you’re not!, originally uploaded by punquin.

Originally published in my journal, Stephanie's Thoughts. Leave me a comment!