If you are looking for me

I am now here.

http://hrobs.wordpress.com/


I am still working on making it all nice and cozy for you. I realize I should wait but I have no patience for waiting. So come on over anyway. Maybe you can help me decorate.

Introducing..

The wonders of wifely nudging can accomplish a lot. Lately, what I've been able to accomplish by my nudging is getting Eli to start a blog. He constantly comes home with hilarious stories and I just love his child-like humor on certain subjects. So without further ado, here is Eli's blog.

I hope you enjoy it.

Remove Before Flight

Way overdue

It's been so long, way to long. I am still working on my vacation post--there is so much to cover that it's been a bit time consuming. I promise, it is on it's way. If we are connected on facebook, feel free to check out the pictures. They are amazing--if I do say so myself.

Thanksgiving was wonderful! Eli ended up making it home. He was scheduled on reserve and as luck would have it, he didn't get called. So he flew home. Made it just in time for us to arrive together at his mom's. His mom hosted 16 people! Most were friends of the family. It was terrific. Growing up, my family would just spend it with the 4 of us. It was lovely but I do believe there is something wonderful about opening your home to others outside of your immediate family and sharing the spirit of Thanksgiving. Plus a whole lotta wine that is shared by EVERYONE, kicks up the fun notch as well.

The rest of the weekend was just as wonderful too. We mostly ate and drank ourselves silly. That is my kind of weekend! We opened up a 1000 piece beer puzzle that we some how aquired. It sucked us in on Saturday and Sunday and it is still not finished.

While the weekend was so good, it also was not so good. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, I received a call from my mom about my grandpa (her dad). He ended up in the hospital with a tooth infection that had gone bad. So bad that it caused a blood infection. After numerous efforts to give him a fighting chance on Thursday and the remainder of the weekend, it looked like he was going to pull through. He was out of the ICU and in a private room. Eating food and breathing through an oxygen tube through his nose. I called my mom this morning to check in on when he would be discharged. The light-hearted call I had originally intended to have with my mom did not happen. My grandpa was back in the ICU and his kidney's were failing. Mom, her sisters and brother decided this afternoon that all life sustaining support would cease to continue. As far as I know now, they've pulled the feeding tube. My mom's younger sister is flying in tomorrow. I am not sure when the rest of it will be pulled. I am sure it will only be a matter of days or day.

As I am writing this, I feel a pinch of denial. Denial that this is really happening. It was year ago to this week that we were in a similar situation with my dad's dad. He passed away on December 7th. My dad and I've decided that we are starting a petition with the rest of the family members on not dying during the month of December. I really don't think that this is too much to ask for.

This is just way to hard to stomach--I am not sure that my heart has healed enough from last year to say goodbye again.

Give yourself a big hug from me, dear internet.

Beat

It is only Tuesday and this week is just beating me up. I feel like I need two long days to just sleep. I would go to bed now, but E is flying in and I am picking him up at the airport.

Good news around these parts, is that we FINALLY installed a dog door. OMG! This is truly the best invention EVER. Not only am I enjoying it, I know the massive fur ball called Poppy is enjoying her new found freedom to go inside and outside as she pleases. I am not sure why it took us so long to do us. Probably because Eli and I are the two biggest procrastinators on this planet.

Off to SFO...

Celebrating #2!

Happy Anniversary babe! I am beyond happy that you made it home to celebrate with me. Tonight, we reminisced about our wedding day and what a difference another year makes! We continue to grow as individuals and as a couple. I love you babe with all my heart. I loved that we danced to our wedding song. Just incase we get old and forget the words. I have it documented on my blog..



A Love That Will Last"

I want a little something more
Don't want the middle or the one before
I don't desire a complicated past
I want a love that will last

say that you love me
Say I'm the one
Don't kiss and hug me and then try to run
I don't do drama
My tears don't fall fast
I want a love that will last

[Chorus"]
I don't want a just a memory
give me forever
Don't even think about saying good-bye
'Cause I want just one love to be enough
And remain in my heart till I die

So call me romantic
Oh I guess that's so
There's something more that you oughta know
I'll never leave you
So don't even ask
I want a love that will last

Forever
I want a love that will last
I want a love that will last

[Chorus]

So there's just a little more that I need
I wanna share all the air that you breathe
I'm not the kinda girl to complicate the past
I want a love that will last

Forever
I want a love the love that last
Always
I just want a love that will last
Want a love that will last

my dog ate my homework...no make that my dinner and eli's lunches

yes dear internet..my 110lb dog ate 5 beer brats and two large chicken breasts. All of it raw. She even broke one of my everyday dishes in going after the chicken. Our first dish casualty since we've been married.

I swear we feed her. twice a day!

I have a feeling I am going to have one sick doggie on my hands.

Just another day

It's been pretty quiet around these parts. All I've been doing is battling my back issues. I finally got in to see a back doctor, had xrays done and finally got in for my first visit for physical therapy. Everyone seems to have a different point of view on what is wrong with my back. The only good thing is that it isn't something serious that would require surgery. Whew! So today at PT, I got a little massagy and a list of 6 excercises to do to help stretch and stregthen. I am cleared to do cardio as long as there is no pain. Which is good b/c I've taken a hiatus from working out and it is really starting to show. eek! I can't do yoga just yet. Which is a bummer but hopefuly in a month or so, I can pick that up again.

After a summer of sitting on reserve--E finally got a flight schedule this month. That has made a huge difference in how we manage our life now. Which is now done week to week. It makes things a little easier in terms of planning because now we know when he will be home and when he won't.

Other then my back, there is not a whole lot to report.

Have a good weekend!

33 not 83

I know I said in a previous post that I wasn't that excited for my birthday but I didn't realize I would be spending my birthday in bed. Grant it spending a birthday in bed isn't so bad unless you are laid up because your back decided to give out on you.
That is what happened to me.

It all started Monday morning, when I tried to get up from my chair at work to go get coffee with a co-worker. As soon as I stood up, something pulled and my lower back spasmed. Goodness it hurt so bad. I could barely walk or stand up again. Thankfully Eli was home so I called him to come get me. About 45 minutes later, he arrived and found me hugging the wall in my office. I was trying to head to the bathroom but every step I took, my back freaked out. It is funny to picture this in my head now, as I had my arms wrapped around his neck as he held me vertically to walk me out of my office, in the elevator and out the building, into his car.

I have never experienced pain like this before. I'd like to think I had a tiny peak into what contractions are like. I could just feel myself tighten up as my back shot pains down my left leg and up into my upper back. Breathing certainly helped albeit a tiny bit. 2 hours later in the doctor's office, I left with a prescription of muscle relaxers and advil. We got home and Eli put me straight to bed. The cutie that he is, he set me up in communication central. I had my cell phone, his laptop, ice cream bar, ice pack, magazines, and medicine. He had to leave to work sound at the jazz club he occassionly works at. The bummer part about this, is I was supposed to join him at the jazz club after work to start my birthday celebration.

The next morning, we were praying hard that he wouldn't get called into work. He was sitting reserve yesterday and should have left for Chicago yesterday morning. The state that I was in, there was no way he could leave me alone or alone with our 100lb+ dog. Thankfully he did not get called in. Once we woke up, Eli started in on giving me the best birthday celebration as possible. He made me breakfast in bed and even climbed in bed with me to eat. We opened up my bday cards and his 2nd of two gifts. I made him give me the first one early as I was desparate to have it. It was a franklin planner with the 7 habits of highly effective people planning tools. The 2nd gift was a new bike helmet. It is so cute! I hated my old one and could never get it to fit right. This one is perfect!

As the day wore on, it got hot and sunny out and I was bored. So E helped me into my bathing suit and got me all set up on a lounge chair. He went on his errands and brought back a costco pizza--which if have not tried one their pizza's, you definitely should! They are so good and so cheap!

Later that night, we settled on the couch, opened some wine and chilled. Our neighbor came over for a glass of wine. After she left, we both climbed into bed. I slepted good--thanks to the muscle relaxer and a couple of glasses of wine. Eli left this morning for his 4 day trip. I did manage to take a shower and dress all by myself. Tomorrow I am going to tackle my commute and head into the office.

Not exactly how I pictured my 33rd birthday but despite everything, it still was a good one. I had my hubby with me.

I guess I am Country

Would you ever guess that a former city girl now living on the west coast would get into country music? Nope, neither did I. In the last few months, I've stumbled upon a local country station that has the best morning show. EVER! They always managed to put a smile on my face and make me laugh until I am about in tears during my 15 drive to the BART station. In between their antics, I started listening to the music, which of course is all country music. I must be getting old because I love how all the songs are either about having fun in bayou, driving a pickup truck, family and going to church (mind you I am jewish and grew up in an interfaith marriage so I know a lot about church.)
While there are tears from laughing so hard, I find myself shedding a tear or two or three on how touching some of these country songs are. I find that it helps me "keep it real" with all yucky stuff going on right now. Listening to some of these songs helps bring me back to reality. Reality in how important family, the love I have for my husband, religon, the way life can be so simple and so fun. That is what life is all about. Eli will even listen to this station now, because if I drive his car, it is the station that I put on the radio. I don't know if appreciates the songs as much as I do. Now don't get me wrong, I will certainly shake my booty to all the hip hop, top 20, brittnay spears kind of music but when it comes to listening to a radio station my first choice has now become the local country station.

I will leave you with a snippet of my favorite part from my latest favorite song. It's by Brad Paisley. "Waiting On A Woman". I think the reason why I like this part so much is that it reminds me of my granddad who past away last December.So many times, he was waiting my grandmother to get ready for wherever they were headed to and she always looked so pretty. I truly believe he is up in heaven, just waiting for her again.

WAITING ON A WOMAN-Brad Paisley

I've read somewhere statistics show
The man's always the first to go
And that makes sense 'cause I know she won't be ready
So when it finally comes my time
And I get to the other side
I'll find myself a bench, if they've got any
I hope she takes her time, 'cause I don't mind
Waitin' on a woman.

Honey, take your time, cause I don't mind
Waitin' on a woman...

Still lost for words so here are some pictures from this past month

So much yet so little

This is how I can describe what's been going on lately. I've thought about many a nights composing a great blog post in my head but when I sit down what comes out is so little. Writer's block maybe?

What is coming up in head is this...

There's been a few milestones since I last blogged and a few more that are coming up.
1)We just celebrated a year living in the bay area! Yay! I am so happy we are here. The decision to move here has been a great one. This weekend, I am going on my first girls weekend since moving here with new girlfriends! Well, two of them aren't new, they are a two girls that I grew up with in OHIO and we were reconnected via facebook. One of them was my best friend in 7th grade! I am excited to head to Tahoo with them. I am so used to my girl trips with my friends from college so this will be different. But I think it different is just what the doctor ordered!

2) Just celebrated a year with my company. Wow! This has been the most challenging position I have ever had. Starting with my little experience recruiting for the creative industry and the differene between creative here vs Chicago creative. It is so vastly different. Couple that with being new to the community and trying to establish myself. It has been on huge up hill climb. I'd like to believe I have crested this hill.

Milestones to come:
1) My 33rd birthday is right around the corner. It is interesting that I am not that crazy about this birthday. I usually am ALL. ABOUT. MY. BIRTHDAY. this time around, I am not. Now it is just a number and a reminder that I am ever so creeping up on my mid 30's. To top it off,I think my body has gone on strike now that we have decided to move forward with TCC. I admit I am harboring some stress which may be causing this strike. I am hoping me and my body can figure out what is going on.

2) our 2nd anniversary is 10/22! I can't believe this is coming up so quickly. We've already purchased our gift to each other, which was a beautiful ceiling fan for our bedroom. We decided to do it a few weeks ago since now is the time for our summer, which is Sept & Oct. And since we don't have AC it would be perfect just in case we get another round of hot weather. Plus it reverses so when we need to turn the heat on, it will bring the heat back down on us since we have an old floor furnace that is only in our living room/hallway. I purchased some curtains for our bedroom to replace the awful blinds. Thanks to my mom for the gift card to BB&B. So, I am happy to say our bedroom is done!

Last weekend E and I went to the Monterey Jazz Fest. Eli worked the show, he is a sound engineer as well. So while he worked I roamed the grounds, stuffing my face with good food and filling my ears with good jazz music. On sunday, we drove to carmel. We walked around this quaint little town by the ocean, marveled at all the art galleries and clothing shops we can't afford to purchase ANTHING in and talked about our "BIG dreams. We settled ourselves at a bar, orderd spicy bloody marys and had lunch. On the way home, eli looks at me and says " the sign of a good lunch is when your burps taste good".

ahh, life is good.

Confession...

Dear Internet,
I am shameless. I admit I can't stand being stopped on the street to hear about the latest save the whatever or to sign a petition for green*peace. These people are usually camped out on my walk to and from the office. I respect their deal and what they are trying to do however, it just interferes with my purpose of either trying to get into work on time or trying to catch the train to head back home. My patience runs thin when I get randomly stopped for these things and then I feel like a bone head when I am stammering for an excuse on why I can't talk to them.

So, I've figured out the perfect plan. When I see one these people, with their clip board in hand, smiling and waving their hands to flag me down. I quickly pull out my cell phone and start talking. As soon as they see I am talking on my phone, they quickly seek out their next innocent person to stop. Ahhh, conversation averted and I am happily on my way to my destination.

so bad, I know.

It never fails

Sunday and Monday evenings are the two days where I really feel like an adult. Adult with responsibilities weighing on my shoulders. The choices I make are ones I have to carefully think about now versuses when I was in my twenties or younger. Or the amount of hours I put in for searches for open positions, the closes I make, or the counseling I provide to candidates and clients matter so much more now then they ever did before. The desire to pursue something new but knowing I need to stay put and pursure the dream on the side. Keeping it going while E is flying every week or sitting reserve in my old home town.

Who knew taking out the trash, recycling or the green bins to the curb for pick-up and back up to the house every week would have so much symbolism attach to it.

I've always wondered ***updated**

***many of you asked what test I took to find out what personality type I am. Since I don't like to withhold information. Here is the link to the site. http://discoveryhealth.queendom.com/type_a_personality_access.html
I have no idea how "legit" this is, since I just googled personality type and found this site. For me, I think it is spot on. As I like to think I am even keeled but do like a good competitve contest and challenge every now and then.
If you take the test, I'd love to hear if it was spot on for you too!!


Results of Your Type A Personality Test
Personality Type

Your score = 50

What does your score mean?
You seem to be in the middle between the Type A and Type B personality. In this case, the middle ground is good. Your attitude to life is more of the "smell the roses" kind and you know how and when to relax. Nonetheless, you realize that picking up a challenge and competing a little bit for your place in the sun can add some spice to your life. The equilibrium is important, so don't let your hostile, aggressive, and competitive alter ego take over too often. Generally, you are easy to be around, and people tend to feel relaxed and comfortable in your presence. Yours is a very healthy attitude towards life.

One of my favorite sounds

is hearing Poppy's wagging tail hit our wood floors when she is laying down. It is this continuous thumping sound. thump, thump, thump. It never fails to make me smile as I know she knows her name and the sound of my voice. Even though she is too lazy to pick her head or giant body up, her way of telling me how happy she is to let her tail go thump against the floor.

Gets me everytime.

adventures in dog sitting

This weekend I went to Chicago for a friend's wedding. I hired a dog/house sitter who was the younger sister of the girl who I normally hire to watch Poppy and our house. This girl was 18. As I look back, that was mistake #1. I met younger sis and introduced her to P and walked her through everything I needed her to do. I felt comfortable. Second mistake was to say that I didn't mind if she had someone over as long as she respected the house as it was her parent's house and to not have a party. That night, I typed out a page's worth of what I spoke to younger sis regarding the care of Poppy.

I left Thursday night. Friday morning I get a call at 830 PST time from a random person asking if I am missing a dog. I ask him twice to repeat this sentence because for the life of me I cannot process that my dog is out of my house without proper supervision. He backs up and introduces himself, where he lives and that Poppy is in his back yard. Thankfully, it was only a street above us. During this conversation, all I can think about is what f**cking happened this morning and please tell me that the younger sis is okay. I tell E, which at the time, we were in the car dropping off my friend and her husband at Midway airport. They were catching a flight to Ohio for a wedding on Friday night. E and I get back in the car. He is calling our neighbors (t&M because they rock!!) and I am trying to get a hold of younger sis. Her phone is off so I call A. A is her older sister who normally our sitter.

After piecing the events of the morning together..this is what happened. younger sis woke up to late to take Poppy for her morning walk. She also did not take the dog out to at least relieve herself. She left this to her boyfriend who was staying at our place. She left at 8am. Boyfriend had the door to our spare bedroom closed and did not hear P at all. This dog will whine if she needs go out. P needing to go out, which I find out later why she had to go so bad, will not go in the house. At All. So what P did to get herself out, is to unlatch our far window that overlooks the outside of the house. She pushed the window open and jumped 8 feet down. Meanwhile the boyfriend was fast asleep. As I mentioned before, I received a call at 830 PST that my dog was sitting in someone's backyard.
Our neighbors and A found Poppy, fixed the window and A took P to the vet. We found out that she has having diarehha and there was blood. Which explains why this dog had to get out.
The vet experience is what has me upset now. Our vet who has seen Poppy 3 times now is saying that she is overweight. I question this because she saw Poppy right after we adopted her, which was back in April. She weighed in a 109lbs. The last time we took her in, she weighed 100lbs.NOW she is telling us she is overweight? Secondly, the vet prescriped a $42 dollar bottle of sedatives along with the $20 bottle of anitbiotices because apparently our dog has colitis. I am okay with the antibiotics. But what concerns me is that she precribed sedatives without consulting me or E about whether or not Poppy really has anxiety. We mentioned to A and the younger sis that we think she does have anxiety but we are managing it by taking her out for walks twice a day. Which, I am sure that A mentioned the anxiety only because we brought it up but A is not the dog owner. I ask those of you who are dog owners, what do you think? Should the vet have prescribe the sedatives? I really hate the idea of sedating my dog. I don't think she needs it. What I have come to realize is that we do have a dog that really needs to stick to her schedule that E and I are working hard to maintain for her because she is a rescue dog. When she doesn't feel safe, she takes care of the situation to do so,which means to flee. That is my 3rd mistake, in not stressing the fact that this is the situation with our dog and this is what you must do in order to make sure she feels safe and secure when E and I are not there.
All in all, I have learned many, many lessons from this adventure. My doggie is okay, luckily she did not break anything by jumping out the open window. My window sills and blinds are another story but hopefully I can at least replace the blinds soon and we will figure out how to fix the window sills that are so torn up. It sickens me to look at them. I will never, ever hire an 18 year old to watch my house or my dog no matter how responsible they or the person who is recommending them think that they are. I also have a call into the vet to discuss her rationale on the overweight issue and most importantly her call in prescribing a $42 bottle of sedatives. That is what I am most pissed off about.

The things that make me happy at this moment

1) My hubby is home for another day and a half
2) Checking my email/blog with my hubby's mac while sitting in bed (this is what I am doing RIGHT NOW!!!)
3) My coconut oil lip balm and coconut milk cleansing lotion--both made by Alba and the smell instantly takes me to the beach.
4) This "gentle leader". We purchased this today. Today on our morning walk, E was able to witness how P can pull me when another dog is around. P and I did well tonight on our evening walk. I am hoping that this is the answer to help keep her under control when other dogs are around.
5) The bubble bath I took tonight
6) The sleepytime tea I am drinking right now

Randomness..

So, if I had to rate this week on a scale from 1-10. I think I would give it a 7.
Overall, I had a good week. Work is going well. I am rereading 7 habits of highly effective people. I've also decided to check out toastmasters in order to gain more confidence in public speaking. My first meeting is next Thursday. I am nervous, but I figure everyone that goes there is nervous for the same reasons, so I will be in good company.

Poppy training is going well. E and I are finally on the same page with training Poppy. We are totally buying into Cesar Milan aka Dog whisper's method of dog training. I do have to say it is working! I fully believe in the power of the walk. We are now walking her twice a day for at least 30 minutes. It has made a huge improvement. We still need to overcome her aggresiveness with other dogs when she is on leash but I am more confident then over that we will be able to fix it.

E is doing well with his flying. He is on reserve this month, which can sometime suck in terms of not getting flight hours. However, E is managing quite well. He is flying a ton, which is fantastic. Not only for the extra $$ we are getting but more importantly he is building his flight time. For a pilot, flight hours are EVERYTHING. I am just so proud of him and how proactive he is. It totally blows having him home only give or take 3 1/2 days a week. I do know that this isn't forever him commuting to his base in Chicago. Hopefully in the next few years, he will get picked up by another airline and be based here on the left coast.

What's been troubling me is that my two grandmothers' have been in & out of the hospital this month. It's been a revolving door between the two of them. Tonight I found out that my grandma morris is at the ER. She had a pacemaker put in a week ago and then had gallbladder surgery on Monday of this week. She was released on Wednesday but now is back in the ER tonight. We aren't sure what is going on. My other grandma, has been in and out for various reasons, but on Wednesday night, she fell at home, and broke her hip. She had surgery today and I heard she is doing well. My poor Grandpa finally got to see her today. He hasn't seen her since Wednesday night when they took her to the ER. I am worried, sad and just plain lonely. I couldn't get a hold of any of my girls to talk and E is in Chicago tonight.

Another thing that happened this week is that I was late. It was the first experience I ever had on being late. Mainly because since I was 18, I've been on BC. When I went off the pill, I missed the first month, but that was to be expected. Ever since that month, I've been right on schedule. While we aren't fully trying right now, we've also just decided what ever happens, happens. So what got me this week, is that finding out that I was late and looking at the calendar, realizing that there is really no way I could be pregnant, made me worry why I was late. Of course from the first day on that I was late all sorts of emotions kicked in. I will admit I did take a few HPTs and all of them were negative. After the 4th day, "it" showed. When it did. I will admit I was relieved but at the same time I was sad.

Maybe I am more ready then I give myself credit for. One thing is for sure, I hope my two grandmothers' and my one grandpa that is still alive will be around to see their great-grandchildren. That is my ultimate wish.





This is me with my grandmothers' at my wedding shower in Iowa.

love thy neighbor--and I do!

After a hard week at work and E being gone for almost a week, I was ready to just chill and relax tonight. I even told my co-worker how I had planned to purchase a bunch of magazines and take a bubble bath and just RELAX.

I arrived at home and to my surprise, our dog Poppy was not at the window (which she usually is) nor was she there to greet me at the door when I walk in. This kicked off the alarm bells. I looked all around the house and mind you my house is NOT THAT BIG. I noticed that the bathroom door was shut. Which is never closed. I tried to open the door and it was locked! A million thoughts ran through my head. I realized that my DOG WAS LOCKED IN THE BATHROOM! My Panic button kicked in. Poppy wasn't whinning but I could hear her moving around. Having no idea if she was hurt, I made a panic call to E who of course is sitting in Chicago. There on reserve, chilling at his brother's house. I am panicked. He is laughing. I hang up on him. Try to find a paper clip to try to jimmy the lock--not working at all.

Think about calling the fire department but decided my across the street neighbors would be better. I call T asking if her husband M was around, she said no and that was ever wrong we would put our two female brains to work. She could tell I was crying. I told her what was up. Her having two little girls of her own and dealing with many locked doors, she had what I needed...a skeleton key. Immediately she ran over and unlocked the door.

As soon as the door opens Poppy runs out. We look in and the bathroom is covered with Sh**T EVERYWHERE!! Poor thing. I think she got so scared, she literally pooped herself.

I gave T a huge hug,thanked her a million times over and told her I am so getting a bottle of wine after all this craziness. She says no you are not (after offering to help me clean my sh**t covered bathroom, I declined this offer of help). You are coming over and having wine with me. GOD LOVE HER!

I cleaned Poppy and the bathroom. I even managed to surpress the gagging while spraying the tub down the outside hose that I pulled through the tiny window. I am sad to say the bathroom rug didn't make it but I am pleased that the shower curtain and liner did.


Afterwards, I went across the street. T fed me a yummy dinner, wine and we had wonderful conversation. T & M are the best!

Midwestern work ethic..

My uncle from Iowa sent me this link tonight. It showcases the heartbreaking ordeal that the folks from IA, MO, IL are experiencing with the latest flood. Despite the fact these folks' homes, business and overall way of life were destroyed does not break their spirit one bit. I am proud to say that I am a midwestern girl. I moved around quite a bit as a child and finally settled in OHIO when I was in 6th grade and went on to college in OHIO. Spent 8 years in Chicago and now have moved to the left coast.Even though I now call California home, I will always be proud of my midwestern roots.

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/gallery/2008/w080611_midwest_flooding/flash.htm