She was a good little grey tabby

RIP Jenny

My mom's cat was put to sleep yesterday. They said she was in the advanced stages of kidney failure. She was close to 12 years old and lived a full life, but still had so much love to give. Mom didn't really notice she was sick until last week when Jenny had stopped eating and then, would barely move. After a trip to the vet late last week, they thought she was having tooth pain. They gave her some medicine and then took many tests just to make sure. It were those test that told us that she was in severe pain and could not be helped.

She was a great cat and I am saddened to see her go, but I am more sad for my mother who has lost her buddy, her comrade and her best friend.

Jenny was a gift from a neighbor in El Dorado for my sister. She was just a little thing back then, with thin grey tabby hair, button nose and tiny little claws that could draw an amazing amount of blood for such a tiny creature. Alicia and her became real good friends. Jenny and I were close too, but I had my good ole' Golden Retriever Rosie, so Jenny and I were never as close as Rosie and I.

Jenny fit our family like a glove. Heck, even Rosie, who was scared of her in the beginning, grew fond of this little bundle of energy. I remember many times Jenny would chase Rosie around or jump out at her trying her best to get big ole Rosie to play with her. Rosie didn't want anything to do with her for a while, she always looked a little disgusted with us in the beginning for ever bringing this creature into HER house. Jenny, as small and young as she was, even treated Rosie like her mom and tried to cuddle and lay with her. Rosie would usually get up and move away all the while giving us that look of disgust. Eventually, they grew close and Rosie and Jenny often played together and even laid together at the top of the basement steps peering down at Alicia and I. That is a sight that I will cherish and remember forever. Even as Rosie's face grew grey, her nose turned black and her health failed, Jenny did her best to keep Rosie engaged, playful and happy. (Sorry I have no pictures, I STILL need to invest in a flatbed scanner cause I have some really cute pics of Jenny and Rosie that I could share)

They say that animals mourn the loss of other animals just like humans do. When Rosie passed away, mom said Jenny felt that loss. She would walk around the house aimlessly as if looking for her big furry pal to come running up to her.

Over the years, the household changed as Alicia and I moved out and moved on to other lives and other pets. But one person was constant, my mom. Mom and Jenny grew incredibly close. In fact, Alicia and I would rarely see Jenny on our trips back home because she would be so scared of ANY company. She was a nice cat, just very cautious and afraid of unknown things. But her and mom got along great. She would cuddle with my mom, be a constant companion and bring humor to her life. I was glad she was around when my dad was gone for work and especially glad she was there to comfort my mom when she lost electricity last year in the huge ice storm that hit Tulsa.

Mom, I think you need to get yourself another little kitty. Maybe a little calico one like Jada! :)

May you rest in peace our cute little tabby Jenny! We love you!

And the Irish come out with a win

barely

Before I get into the ND game, I wanted to thank you guys for some of your advice on my blog from Friday. One of those situations worked itself out later that day and I didn't even have to get involved. Someone else thought it was just as wrong as I did and spoke up. YES... Stacy dodged another bad truth telling situation. :)

Ok, now on to the good stuff, the Fightin' Irish! Jared and I took a cab to campus at about 1 on Saturday (first of all we didn't want to dodge traffic and pay the $20 to park and we knew we may have a few beers before and after the game). We decided to go to the Linebacker Bar, which is right next to campus, to have a few drinks and watch the Ohio vs. Ohio St. game. This bar is a Notre Dame tradition and you could see that when you walked in the door. Fans both young and old and many alumni surrounded by photos and jerseys on the wall of ND players of the past. It was so nostalgic and cool.

As we watched the game we started shootin' the breeze with 2 guys from Fort Wayne (Bo and Larry).

At one point Bo says, " hey you guys wanna go to another bar with us before the game?"

Jared says, "uh, sure but YOU aren't driving and we know we aren't driving."

Then Bo says it is no big deal and tells us to look outside.

There, in front of the Linebacker, sits a white Ford Excursion stretch limo decked out with ND stickers, flag and nicknamed the S.S. Margaritaville!

"Do you rent this," Jared asks him.

"Nope, I own it," Bo says.

You could see the smiles spread across our faces at that point. :)

He then tells us that he likes to go to games and concerts and hates to drive, so one day he just decided to buy a limo. He pays a friend of his to drive him around (that is a driver for FedEx).

Seriously who does that? Who just BUYS a limo? (We found out later he's in pharmaceutical sales and is, somewhat, of an entrepreneur in many other areas)

We thought it was pretty sweet!

So, needless to say, Jared and I had a pretty good time cruisin' around with them in their limo acting like we were VIP. He had it decked out too, with TVs, island type theme items to fit the Jimmy Buffet name, and plenty to drink. Don't worry though, we stayed calm, we knew we had a game to watch and more cool people to meet.

We get to the game and find our seats just in time for kickoff. The game was great and they beat San Diego State, even though they played like crap the first half of the game. And, go figure, our seats were right next to all the San Diego Fans so that got annoying real quick, haha.

The stadium was amazing and this was the 200th consecutive sold out game, so we got to be part of history too.

After the game we realized just how old we were getting when we ate dinner, went home at 10 and were in bed by midnight. I guess we will leave the partying to the college kids.

Here are some photos from our first Notre Dame Football adventure! I hope we get more tickets so we can do it again!

A MUST read for all KU Basketball fans

Rock Chalk

My friend Brad posted a letter written by Darnell Jackson as he accepted his 3 year contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Anyone who knows Darnell's story will be touched by this letter to fans (that was published in the Journal-World). He had a rough time, but through the fans and his determination he was able to succeed.

Click here to read the letter

I may be a Sooner at heart, but those gosh darn Jayhawks like to pull at my heart strings once in a while. ROCK CHALK BABY!

Ouch, Ouch, Ouch

that fitness trainer kicked my butt

I know I needed it though, I just HATE working out. We joined a gym last week and part of the package is a personalized workout plan with a fitness trainer. They measure and weigh you (I hate that part. Nothing makes you feel more like a cow than seeing the numbers on that damn measuring tape), then they go over any health issues (let's see, asthma, allergies, bad neck and back, the list goes on), then they ask you how much you want to lose (I said 30 lbs was a good start, but I know I need to lose even more than that, haha) and then she put me to work. We started with the Elliptical Machine for 10 minutes since I had already done the treadmill for 10 min. as a warm up. Then we started weight and strength training. The ab workout was so difficult for me. I was struggling. At one point I asked her if people ever cussed at her. She said it happens all the time. LOL. I'll have to keep that in mind the next time she kicks my butt. :) Needless to say it was a good workout and I am sore all over today. I can't wait to go again!

Ok, I am random and all over the place today so here's some other little diddys for ya:

1. We got tix to Notre Dame tomorrow and we are pretty excited! Just the atmosphere of a Division 1 game will be surreal. I have never been to a D1 football game... hard to believe huh? I am pumped to see the stadium and even root for ND. At least they don't play my Sooners so I don't have to worry about that! haha

2. I am still slightly unhappy at my new job. Some days it is good, but other days I feel worthless. I still look to see what is out there, but with the way the economy is right now, I should be thankful I have a job. I think the jewelry thing will be good for me and I am still pumped about that.

3. Have I mentioned how much I hate friends of convenience? I do. I have decided that I do not have time for people who do not have time for me and when they actually DO have time for me it is like they do it out of pitty or something. I am too old for this crap and I have many more friends that like me all the time, not only when it is convenient for them.

4. Is honesty all its cracked up to be if it just hurts people in the long run? I have strived to always tell people things if I know if it is something that I would want to know if the tables were turned, but it always ends up coming back to bite me in the you know what. I have a big mouth, no big shocker there, but the few times I have actually chosen to keep quiet or not get involved in something I feel horrible cause deep down inside I feel I should be honest. Does that make sense? I am struggling with a few situations.... and I need advice my bloggie friends.

Ok, I think that is all for now, another random post from Stacy. Get used to it folks, being random isn't so random for me anymore. :)

Have a great weekend everyone!!!!!

Jewelry anyone?

my new business adventure

I am so excited I just can't contain myself! I have decided to become a Premier Designs Jeweler and I can't wait to get started.

I first became involved with Premier when I lived in Girard and, in fact, I really wasn't much of a jewelry person AT ALL until I was introduced to Premier. I hosted a party and got a TON of free and discounted stuff. I was hooked from there, haha.

Well, Amy (I liked to call her my jewelry lady) asked me about 2 years ago if I wanted to start selling it. I declined due to the number of people in the area already selling it (I mean, I was attending parties about every week for a while... it did get kinda old) and I have never really pictured myself as a saleperson ( I HATE being pushy to people). Since then I haven't really thought out it much.

When we moved up here I started looking into ways to make some extra cash to help pay for our ever-lasting (house that won't sell) mortgage payment UUGGHHHH and to have some extra cash to help with some credit card debt we still have from our wedding and college.

I started looking around on the Premier website and asking colleagues around my work if they had ever heard of it. NO ONE HAD (which was good news for me!!!!) and my co workers all love jewelry and have attended other types of jewelry parties, so I figured they might be my best bet to help me get started.
So, I have contacted Amy and she said she will sponsor me even way up here in lil' ole Indiana and help me get started... INCLUDING helping me host my first party! Amy has been very successful at her business and is very creative and I look forward to getting all the tips, strategies and advice I can from her! Even BETTER news is that I don't have to put much money it to start this (unlike some other direct selling and home party businesses). I will need to buy some samples and some items to get marketing going (but all of it will be a write off on taxes) BAD news... I am new to this area so it might be a little more difficult to get parties booked :( I am really relying on my co-workers and my friend Julie to help me get started. Hopefully from there I will begin getting more party bookings from each additional party that is hosted.
Cross your fingers, say a lil' prayer and keep me in your thoughts as I take the first real "financial leap of faith" I have ever taken. I hope it pays off. :)

Weekend getaway to Chicago

i am really starting to love this city

Jared and I headed to Chicago this weekend with Marla and Jeremy and Hicks. Marla and Jeremy came all the way from South Carolina to hang out with us and we had a wonderful time showing them South Bend and hanging out in Chicago. It was a great time filled with awesome pizza, beautiful weather and gorgeous city views, a Cubs game, and quality time with friends.

Hope you all had a great Labor Day weekend too.