Got 'Nuttin' But Time

I haven't updated in awhile, just taking some time to figure it all out.  I've updated my resume.  Got all the research and details together so when I'm asked about my experience, I can just rattle it off.  It's amazing just how much you forget (especially at this age).  Just yesterday, I finally sat down to file for unemployment and applied for my first job!  Just after hitting "apply" and "search" two GOOD jobs in my neighborhood popped up...so I submitted my first application.  And, it's something I think I would really like.  Cross your fingers.  I might just have some marketable skills...

With all this time on my hands, I find that there are many, many things I've been wanting/meaning to do and just haven't had the time.  First sacrifice we made was to let our housekeeper go.  That was painful.  Seriously, I have not had to clean house for as long as I can remember.  Bill and I tackled the cleaning together.  We started at the top.  I was armed with a dust cloth & Lemon Pledge; Bill came behind me with the vaccum.  Can I just say, that we were awesome?  I'll bet our house has not been cleaned like this for quite some time.  Hmmm...I wonder if I'll think that after the have-to-do-it-myself newness wears off.  Oh, and the dirty clothes hamper is just about empty.

Besides the gory house upkeep, I decided I would like to catch up on many other "some-day" projects.

This first project was to finally get up on our walls a sampling of our Paris trip.  Just three of the 1,000+ gorgeous photos just sitting on my computer.  Three of the best.

These are all 12x12 full-page scrapbook prints that I made on Creative Memories Storybook Creator Plus 3.0.  The photos were sized to a perfect 12x12 canvas, turned to black & white, and sharpened for dramatic contrast.  The titles were added with already-installed fonts from my computer. The Eiffel Tower print has a white vintage frame added for interest around the edges.  I saved each of these as a high-quality .jpg file and uploaded them for one-hour processing at Costco (for just $2.99 per print, since I now watch every penny).  The frames are also 12x12 that I had in my scrapbook stash (each bought with a 30% off coupon @ Archiver's, as I have always been frugal).  I am still blown away by today's technology and the great things that can be made with a simple photo.

See, I had pre-planned this project...but just never got a round 'tuit!

I'm so happy with them!  This wall has been unadorned for over 18 years.  Not anymore!

It Happened

Friday, January 28, 2011

The Colorado Division of Banking closed FirsTier Bank.

Read here for the details.

Bill and I were both employed by FirsTier Bank.

Pause.

Bill and I now find ourselves out of work.

Long pause.

Pink Weekend

My 5-year celebration lasted most of the weekend.   It's been a flurry of pinkness!

Beautiful, and oh so fragrant, roses from Bill.

We had a small family (3 out of 4 kids in attendance, ain't bad) dinner/celebration at my favorite mexican restaurant, La Loma, on Saturday night. 

Cheers to the milestone.  May we never pass through this way again.

Lots of pink loot!

I am so touched by the goodness in our children.  Sometimes I wonder where it is, why it's missing, or what I did wrong in their upbringing...and then, I am reminded that it was there all along, just waiting for the appropriate moment to emerge and overwhelm and surprise the mom!

Thank you for all you do (and all that you are).
Oh, and the guts it took to wear a pink shirt x two!

A big thank you to all who have expressed such kind words.  It touches my heart.

YAY ME!

Sixty-two months ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  It was devastating and scary.  Thanks to my yearly mammogram, it was caught early.  However, due to family history, it would take two agonizing months of tests, appointments, research, and opinions to arrive at a decision.  A decision which would (and still does) cause me some second-guessing (you know what they say about hind-sight).

The outcome: a different Judy. 

Five years later. 

The five-year marker is monumental for many who have battled the disease.  I don’t feel “safe” from recurrence, but I don’t worry about it regularly.  I can rely on the notion that the risk of cancer returning is significantly reduced.   Doctor appointments are now just a yearly routine, even though they still carry a high level of anxiety for me -- my new norm. I just need to take care of myself, find the time to exercise, and eat right.  Someone remind me now and then that trying to protect myself from stress is not selfish.

So, on this day, January 20, 2011, I celebrate my 5-year anniversary of the disease (as it is the anniversary of my surgery). Lots of people (experts included) think the 5-year mark is some magical moment when you can consider yourself “cured.”  It is certainly not that for me.  It is, however, time to let go of the constant dwelling on the uncertainty of it returning. Buh-bye.

So, I share my big day with family and friends.  Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.  Special note to Bill, I couldn’t have gone through it without you.  You were (are) amazing.  I look forward to the rest of our life together.  Let’s get on with it.

1/11/11 (getting a kick out of all these ones!)

Thought I would post some random Gracie pics, as she is officially 13 weeks old today.  I think she's changing every day and I want to enjoy her puppiness for as long as it lasts (now that we are over the 2:00 a.m. potty breaks).  Seriously, puppies are one of life's best little pleasures, and I intend to enjoy every bit of it! 



Ouch!  I forgot how much puppies like to chew hair!

How can you resist that face?

First snow -- loves it!

She's getting sleepy (thank goodness!)

Sweet puppy kisses!

A visit to my office.  Time to put her to work.



Creative Memories - First Ever Album Sale!

There's a first time for everything!

Click anywhere on the photo to get to the sale (or look for the Creative Memories logo on the right hand side above).

Happy shopping!

1/1/11

Reaching far and wide to extend my very best wishes to you and yours on this, the first day of a fresh new year.

Here's wishing you more happiness
than all my words can tell,
not just on this day of celebration,
but for the entire year as well.