Home Ownership

So I've been a home owner for almost 3 years. My house is 3 levels. An unfinished basement, the main floor, and the upstairs. And I haven't had the best of luck with maintenance and repairs etc... In December 2006 Denver got 21 inches of snow in one day, and shut down the city for about 2 days. Well snow some how got in my plumbing. While I was stuck at home, I went to use the upstairs bathroom. Well it overflowed. It overflowed like crazy, and me being very inexperienced in how to turn off the running water, the water flowed down into the floor vent, out of a light fixture in the bathroom on the main floor, and then down into the basement. Not good. So I opened a claim with my home owners insurance and got it fixed and cleaned. I had to give my neighbor a key to get into my house-because I was leaving for NM for the Holidays. Then when my mother and I returned to Denver after the Holidays I had fans blowing everywhere from the guys that came in to dry out the walls. Now going home(to NM) for the holidays is stressful for a few reasons. One of which is my mother. When she comes to visit I want my house to be perfect. Very clean, and nothing cluttered. It is a challenge to make sure this is done BEFORE I go home for the holidays, because my mother comes back home(to CO) with me. So I have to make sure it is up to her standards(it never is) before I leave, and don't have a chance to clean up before she actually comes into my home. Plus I have 2 cats-and who knows what they have been up to while I have been gone. So bringing my Mom into my house with big fans blowing on all 3 levels of my house, is not attractive. ...This was also the first Christmas I had in my house, and I decorate a lot, and was looking forward to my mom seeing all the decorations, and well the fans took away from my over all look. Jump forward one year. Last Christmas(December 2007) when my mom and I landed in Denver it was snowing, cold, and late. ...I think we landed around 7pm, and didn't get home until around 9pm. We walk into my house, and it is FREEZING. I keep my heat on. Mainly so I don't go home to a cold house, and for my cats. I look at the thermostat and it is 54 degrees. I turn on the heat, and I hear it click on to warm up, but then shuts off. We go down to the basement where my heater is, and my mom says "It smells like gas." Not good. We call Xcel Energy-the guy comes out and says "You have a broken hot service ignitor." Well I don't know what that is, and the Xcel guy can't fix it. I have to call an electrician to fix it. By this time it is almost midnight. Thankfully the cats are fine, but my mother and I are super tired, and COLD. So we decide to check into an hotel for the night. I call around the next morning, get it fixed. And warm up. So unfortunately my mother has yet to get a smooth trip without having to help me with household repairs. Well at the beginning of the year I found I had a leak in my kitchen sink. I was in denial about it for a very long time. I wanted to get it fixed, I didn't want to pay for it. It wasn't a bad leak, it never even accumulated any water. But it was a leak. My parents came up in June. And my mother found out I had a leak. I also had a dying garbage disposal. I kept putting it off, then a few weeks ago I finally decided to look underneath my sink. There was a tiny pool of water in my sink, and some water damage. And well my garbage disposal was nonexistent. Afraid of the result(thousands of dollars in repairs-this was what I was seriously thinking) I finally made a call to my mom for help. She gave me the permission I needed-"Go ahead and get it fixed." I called Roto Rooter-the came out in an hour, advised the sprayer on my hose was lose and just needed to be tightened. That was it. That's all. That is what I waited 9+ months for. The guy tightened it, didn't even charge me anything, and advised I replace the garbage disposal. I took his advise, went out a bought a new garbage disposal-$100. My mother (bless her!) paid for the guy to install it-which happened the next day. $218-I had a coupon! What I thought would be a much much much more costly repair turned out to be nothing. Now I have no fear when I run water in my kitchen sink, and I have a very quiet garbage disposal that works! So the lesson here boys and girls-if something is broken, get it fixed! Now when my mother comes to visit again in November we won't have to worry about any repairs that need to be done!, well I hope anyways. And I truly pray that when my mom flies back with me to denver this holiday season, we come home to nice warm, well decorated, clean house!

Anniversary

It's crazy how today is a piece of history. What is even crazier is I was a witness to this history. I remember being in H.S. and reading about the Gulf War, and thinking "I was alive when that happened." I still remember my 11th birthday, when the Gulf War just begun, and I felt bad for celebrating my birthday because I knew people were at war. And now thinking about 9/11-and knowing that is a part of history, that will be printed in History books and it will be taught about in our classrooms. Knowing I lived that. I was 21 at the time. Working at Victoria's Secret Catalogue, from 4:30pm-1am. I'm sure the night before I hung out with my friend Shaun-we hung out EVERY day. I slept through everything of course. My Mother is weird about telling me things I think. I was living at home during the time. I wish my Mom-or someone-would have called and woke me up. I'm not too sure what time I woke up, or what I did right when I woke up. At some point in time I did turn on the TV. And of course everything unfolded from there. It still brings tears to my eyes and goose bumps to my skin. Seeing the images again makes me wonder "Was that real? Did that REALLY happen?" I remember hanging the paper American Flags that they put in the Albuquerque Journal in my bedroom-which faces the street. I remember calling into work that day, and going to Gardunos with Shaun, and sitting at the bar having a margarita. I still question, why this happened. What did we do to them to deserve this? I just don't get it. I think of my kids(if I have them) going to school, and learning about this, and talking to them about it. This morning I put my America flag outside of my house. At my work they are doing something really special to remember today. Today at work their were 343 Colorado and Wyoming firefighters in their full uniform running up and down the 52 flights of stairs in the building I work in, as a remembrance of those firefighters that went up the stairs of the World Trade Center in New York City 7 years ago, but didn't come back down. I heard the firefighters while I was walking back and forth going to the bathroom, and it was really cool. Plus I got to see them this morning, and this afternoon when I went out to lunch- it was great eye candy! ;) Today I can't help but feel thankful, for all of the men and women all over this world working hard to keep us safe.

Spark People

Some of you have the knowledge that I am on my way to losing weight. I have told a select few people of the details of this plan, and all of the specifics that go along with it. One of them is my friend Michelle. She referred me to http://www.sparkpeople.com/. It is a great motivational website, and is 100% free. This website is great. It is a like myspace, but for weight loss. I have my own page, and graph to track my progress, and lots of forums and message boards for motivation. It is a great way to make myself accountable(which is one of the new things I'm doing this go round.) Another new thing I am doing, that I have NEVER done in the past was weigh myself. I used to only know how much I weigh by my yearly doctor's office visit. I have now purchased a scale, and have decided to weigh myself every 2 weeks. When I first started this new program(on August 10, 2008) I bought a scale, and decided I would probably weight myself every 3 weeks to a month. My first weigh-in was on August 31, 2008. Unfortunately I didn't get the results I wanted, and while talking to another friend Tina(who knows all of the details of this journey as well.) she decided that my first week doesn't really count. My first week was, well, my first week. I only went to the gym 4x's, and 2 of those workouts weren't my full 45 minute work outs with 15 minutes of toning. Plus I had a daily visit with Ice Cream! For those of you that don't know, ice cream isn't something to eat on a journey of weight loss! Everything in moderation. I've lost weight in the past, and was pretty successful without me even knowing it. I was also pretty successful at keeping it off. My major weight loss came 5 years ago during my training at Qwest and went through the first part of my relationship with Aaron. During my 2 year relationship with Aaron I surprisingly kept it off(I think, again I didn't weigh myself). The major weight gain came with my break up with Aaron. I was depressed, and eatting out just about every day, and just about every single meal. And I was eatting a lot. For the first time ever I had to go shopping for bigger clothes etc...It was very depressing. But it obviously wasn't my wake up call(this was almost 3 years ago). I have never started working out as a "New Year's Resolution". For a couple of reasons. 1. Have you ever gone to the gym in January?! It is CRAZY. Super packed, and busy, and all of your machines unavailable. Everyone goes to the gym in January, because of their New Year's Resolution. All of the times I start any weight loss is in the Summer. Mainly because I want a noticeable difference by the time I see all of my family during the Holidays, and plus that seems to be when I get the motivation. So I started this summer. Well this summer has been crazy. I've been consistently going to the gym, but only while I have been in-town. I've been out of town a lot this summer, and well if I'm on vacation somewhere, I'm not going to the gym. With the expcetion of my second trip to Florida. My friend Tina and her husband Jason 3 weeks prior had just started a 12 week program: Body For Life. (I plan to do Body For Life in January or February of next year.) And this program is strict. It isn't time consuming(it is made for the everyday life in mind), but you do have to follow it. Since Tina and Jason were doing this program, when they went to the gym, I went to gym. And had 3 work outs while I was in Florida! That was a first for ANY vacation, ever. Coming back from FL, I had a solid 3 months of no trips, and the chance to finally get a good routine going. So that is what I have done. I have set myself up with realistic goals as well as a good support group of friends and family.

Summer '08

Summer of 2008 has had it unofficial end. And I have had a crazy summer. That is the way I like it. It started with a brand new job, which I now know was a great career move. I work with a group of great people. I've done lots of traveling. Which I feel so blessed to be able to do. I've been to Florida-twice. To Rhode Island and New Mexico. And I have a fall trip planned to Chicago. I have seen different parts of my past, at my 10 year High School Reunion, and a more recent past, my ex. I've done more swimming this year since my first summer here-which I love. I have gained a stronger friendship in a friend I never thought I would be close to, again. I went to baby shower, and a wedding. I had my parents here for a Rockies game. I experienced yet another birth into this world, as well as another tragedy of death for my family. The beginning of a bunch of babies turning 1 has started, and will continue for what seems like forever! I experienced history with the DNC and new memories with wonderful friends. I worked hard at the gym and focusing on being healthy, and put in some labor into a new bathroom. The summer was filled with a lot of firsts, and I hope that the firsts keep coming. I enjoy and feel so blessed with all the new experiences coming into my life. I am open and looking forward to what the rest of the year will bring.

Every summer I have a summer song. And well I don't really have one this summer. I've been thinking of what could be my summer song for awhile now. And well, no new dance song comes to mind. But one of my new favorite songs is "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis. It is a beautiful song, but not a song I would classify as a summer song. But one of my favorite memories of this summer has to do with that song. On my second trip to Florida this summer, my friend Tina, her two boys(that I've known since they were born) Max, and Jakob were driving home one day. And "Bleeding Love" came on the radio. Well all 4 of us starting singing along with this song at the top of our lungs. We were really screaming this song, not really singing. Well at the end of this song it has 2 very long notes of "and IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII keep bleeding, I keep keep bleeding..." well in the "I...." we all screamed as loud as we could. It was one of the moments where I wished so much I could take an aerial picture of that moment. The 4 of us, having the time of our lives. It was a beautiful moment, and now every single time I hear that song, I can't help but life and remember that moment with Tina and her boys, Max and Jakob, and laugh out loud.

DNC

I often question why I live in Denver. And this week made me realize one of the reasons. Things happen here-Historical things. I love being apart of things, even though I'm not really apart of them. But the fact that I live in Denver makes me apart of SO many things, without really being apart of them. I've seen record snow storms, days of consecutive snow on the ground, days of consecutive 90 degree heat, Professional football, Professional Hockey, Professional Basketball, Professional Baseball. All of which I have seen. I have seen the World Series and now today I have seen the creation of the Democratic National Convention and the official nomination of the first ever African American Presidential nomination of Barack Obama. It is amazing. That all of this going on about 20 miles away from my house. Ben Affleck is even in town! I work downtown-where all of this is happening. But am working from home-Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, because of the events. But even going downtown on Saturday to meet a girlfriend for lunch, and going to work on Monday you could tell the sense of urgency. Police officers just about on every corner. Being apart of all of these major events makes me feels so proud to live in Denver. Even better for me because I support Barack. I think he will be a very positive change for the United States of America. It is all so excited. Seeing all eyes on Denver is amazing. Seeing the Pepsi Center on TV, thinking "I've been there!". Tomorrow night seeing Invesco Field-thinking "I've been there too!" It is great to be apart of the big picture!

Crazy Dream

For the most part I have very detailed dreams. Sometimes when I wake up and the dream just happened I'll tell myself to remember it, so I can write it down. Majority of the time that doesn't happen. But this morning I woke up from a very crazy dream. And it hasn't gone away. I keep thinking about it, and thought I would share it. I'm hoping I can remember all of the details.
I was in my parents house in Albuquerque. But it was there house on Snow Heights. This is weird because I myself have never been in this house. The house on Snow Heights was there first house, before they moved into the house they live now, and the house that I grew up in. Anyways, I was driving with my friend Ginny, and we went down a wrong turn. We couldn't see very well because all around the neighborhood there were fires going on EVERYWHERE. Almost every house was on fire, but in different parts. So it wasn't like one big fire, it was a bunch of small fires. The street we went down was a cul-de-sac and I was terrified when I found out there was no exit, except for the way we came in. Well Ginny decided she wanted to go into one of the houses at the end of the street(she was the one driving.) I can't remember exactly, but I think the house she went into wasn't on fire, but I do know all the houses around that house were on fire. I went into the house with her-and the house was filled with people going along there day. There were a couple of firemen in the house, doing there "putting fires out" thing. And one of the firemen I knew. It was Matt Waltstrom who I went to HS with. This is weird because I don't keep in touch with Matt. I did see him, and talk to him and his wife at my 10 year high school reunion though. Anyways, the next thing I remember was walking to I-40 @ Juan Tabo(again everyone doing there normal daily thing, even though there are fires going on) to catch the bus, because Ginny wanted to stay in the house. Once I was at the bus stop, it was exactly like the Thornton bus stop(a stop that is on my way to work). I go to get in the bus, and I see that the bus driver has ran over this woman who is laying on the road, right behind one of the buses tires. And for some reason the bus driver was outside of the bus. When I sat down in the bus, I was telling everyone about this girl that is run over, and looks dead. And nobody cared. So I called 911. And well, 911 was like an advertisement. It had all of these weird prompts for non-emergencies. But no option for a real emergency. I personally hate dialing 911. For a couple of reasons. One if you do dial it, it is because a major emergency is going on, and that is really scary. Two, the 2 times in my life I have had to dial 911, the operator's transferred me 2 or 3 times because where I was calling from wasn't in there "jurisdiction". ...whether you are on the North side of the road or the South side of the road is a huge deal, in determining what ambulance is going to come! So I think I had this anxiety in the dream about calling 911, because I am always scared that if I ever have to dial 911 again I'll be transferred again and again, but won't be able to stay on the call, because I'm dealing with an emergency! Well I think that is all from my dream. I am welcome to any interpretations!

Book Review II

I recently finished "Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal" by Christopher Moore. It is a great book and I highly recommend it. I got this recommendation from my Mother. And well, my Mother and I have completely different tastes in just about everything. Mainly because I have good taste! ...Sorry Mom! (It's ok, she knows I love her.) So when my Mom was describing this book to me, I thought I'll read it just to make her happy, because I could tell she really wanted me to read this book. So on my parents annual summer trip to Denver, my mother bought me this book-the Special Edition version-with Gold trimmed pages, fancy leather cover, and with a red ribbon book mark-which is what makes this book look like a Bible. Needless to say, when I finished this book I was pleasantly surprised. It is very funny. I think regardless of what religion you belong to, practicing or not, if you Believe or not, how well you know the story of Bible or not, you'll enjoy this book. For me, it made me more curious about the Bible. The book is a fictional story of Christ during his childhood, teen, and young adult years. Up to the time he was crucified. Basically, what is in this book, is not in the Bible. The story is told by Biff-his childhood friend, his best friend. For example, you learn that what once was the "Divine Spark" is now the Holy Ghost. The book takes you on a journey of Christ meeting the Three Wise Men, and how it is that Christ learned all of the skills He has. He even has Biff do a lot of sinning for him, just so Biff can explain it to Christ. And Biff is a GREAT sinner! It is a very funny book, and has some modern twists told in today's time. Check it out, I think you will enjoy it.