Remind me Again why I took this Position

Two weeks before I had surgery I accepted a position in Long-Term Care as their financial analyst. One week before surgery I was closing the books on two business segments - count them two - Primary Care and LTC (old job, new job). Coming back from surgery three weeks later and now working ~50-70 hours per week. Remind me again why I changed jobs???? To be able to own a business segment fully and to have experience in another line of business, right?

Dear God, please give me the strength and patience to get through this transition time with this new job and still enjoy Christmas.

At Laaaaast!

At Last! First day back to the gym since tearing the ligaments in my foot - and it felt GREAT I might add. I have certainly been feeling quite the frump over these last few weeks, watching my thighs and gut expand and not being able to do anything about it to prevent it. Okay, well I could have ate less, but hey. So, I did 15 minutes walking on the treadmill and 10 on the elliptical and then lifted some weights - light weights. I feel rejuvenated and so glad to get back. So here's to being able to work, here's to feeling the "high" after a workout, and here's to staying healthy! Now once I start running again I will know I have made my full circle back to where I was before this clumsy accident.

VACATION!!!

Vacation was GREAT! We (Steve, Lila, and I), my brother and his dog Dude, sister, mom and her husband, and Logan, Donnie's roommate and childhood friend all went to Corolla last week. The weather was fantastic. Just what this sungirl had in mind. Sunny, hot and perfect for getting a good tan.

We were only 6 miles from the 4x4 beach area, so we got to drive on the beach several times during the trip. THIS time I actually felt comfortable driving on the beach too. I don't know what it was about driving on the sand that made me nervous, but I do know that the Tundra is one tough truck. I also caught 5 fish! First time that I have ever caught a fish in my life. They were croakers - Steve made me fell where the croaker croaks too - creepy. So, now I can finally knock that one off of my things to do before I die list.

Some of the more memorable moments were catching the fish, watching the sunset on the beach, laying on the raft for HOURS talking with my mom about everything and nothing at all, Reading my fantastic book, which I finally finished this morning - repeatedly declaring "I'm on Vacation - I can do what I want" (you had to be there). Swimming in the ocean late at night, playing a "new" game of ball with Lila. She thought it was so fun to nose the ball into the pool - then we would throw it to the other side and she would try to get it. She did fall in twice, it was hilarious. Watching Dude and Lila box and Dude bite at Lila's legs. Watching Dude and Lila take the toy in both of the their mouths at the same time and walk around until finally one of them gave up. Opening the door at any point in time and hearing 8 little canine legs running down several flights of stairs to greet us. Taking Lila for a walk with my husband - (that never happens in Richmond) and was so nice. He ended up being the poop bag holder :) hehe. Swimming laps in the pool while Lila walked back and forth thinking it was funny or a game of some sort and by the end of the week barking at me as I was swimming laps. Taking a fabulous bike ride on my new awesome bike. Running with my brother and taking a walk on the beach with him and mom and even Christina. Getting a pedicure for my birthday and eating a TON of crabs. Eating ice cream with Steve and then running from store to store in between the slow parts of a thunderstorm. Playing pool and ladder golf and falling asleep in the chair while the rays beamed on my.

It was great! More pictures to come too! The Saturday we had to leave we woke up to an overcast drizzly day - which made it much easier to say goodbye to the beach. Traffic was great coming back too. Now...back to reality.

I had a GREAT day!

I usually do not say this, but really - I had a great day. Not because anything in particular happened. It isn't a Friday or Saturday or even a holiday - I was just HAPPY! I think all of the stress of the neighbor situation has subsided - it's been a beautiful summer and spring, work has been fairly relaxing over the past two weeks and I was just in a darn good mood. I wish these days and moods lasted longer! Anyway - happy Wednesday everyone - I am going outside to play ball with my dog and hang out with my man. It's a beautiful evening.

VICTORY AT LAST!

So after 5 months of worrying and stressing about Michael's outrageous lies and accusations of Steve trespassing onto the property...actually jumping the fence late at night in 8 degree weather to throw rocks at the house - what???? like we would REALLY want to do that! We have victory today and I have to say - it feels SOOOO good! I am so glad that is over and resolved!!! So, for those who don't know, due to our pesky neighbors we had to get a video camera to protect ourselves. Well, it finally did its magic by proving to the court who the instigator/problem in this whole situation is, Michael Smith!!! After four long years of living next door to these crazy people, the court finally ruled in our favor as the prosecutor was able to see through there crazy lies and finally see the truth. So, the outcome...we all agreed to have no contact for one year (which we don't do anyway, but Michael may have a problem with it as he likes to randomly scream obscenities to Steve every now and again). If we have a problem with them we are to call our lawyer as they are to do the same. Of course, they could make up another story, but I think when Denny saw the pictures of Michael trespassing on our property and his mouth dropped, he is less likely to believe Michael and probably does not want to be put through something like this again. The prosecutor actually has recommended to Denny that Michael should move out!!! It would be the best day ever to see that moving truck in their driveway again.

Next steps...I do have to go to court when Michael has his trespassing court date and ensure that he receives the same stipulations as what Steve received.

Conclusion: we paid a LOT of money to get a court to tell them to have NO contact with us and finally they are seeing thru the lies and who is the problem. It took a while and a lot of stress and money, but now it is over. Hopefully, the bad dreams and stressful nights will quickly subside so we can go on to living a normal life in our neighborhood!

What a difference some carpet makes!

For any of you who have been to our lovely home - there was always one not so lovely thing about our house. The 1970s UGLY orange carpet. At first it was "ok" - we just moved in and were saving for a wedding. Then we got Lila - so it was okay since e had a puppy, then Steve wanted to get the kitchen remodeled - so it was okay, because we did that first - which by the way is another amazing transformation in the Wright household. But, I have always hated that carpet - and I think everyone else would agree - it was BAAAAD. So, we got new carpet the other day and we all LOVE it. The new carpet smell, how it brightens up the room, etc. It's amazing how happy a piece of carpet can make someone!!! YAHHH!

I Feel LIBERATED!!!

So, Today was the day of our wonderful neighbors appeal to the county for allowing them to have 5 adult dogs in a residential area in which the law states that a property is only allowed to have 2 adult dogs. Of course we file the complaint as we are TIRED of the LOUD and OBNOXIOUS yapping of the dogs after MANY years of trying to nicely ask them to keep their dogs quiet, etc.


So, today at the Chesterfield County Meeting Room they hear all sorts of different disputes regarding zoning issues with fences or complaints about the number of dogs in an area, etc...

Well I feel like we WON today. They basically gave everyone the approval for whatever they wanted, but the applicant had to pay a $1000 fine and instead of a 3 year allowance, this issue will be up again one year from today. Seeing how the other cases go - I think we won today and if we were not there, they would've probably been allowed to have the exception for 3 years.. WhoooHooo.

I feel liberated though because I was able to speak in front of a panel today clearly and with forethought about the situation. It was liberating to know that our truth came out and that the board was hearing it. Basically afterwards one board member said to Denny, if this sort of actions continue, it WILL be denied for the following year. I feel very good about this! He talked to him as if he understood our frustration according to the law.

Unfortunately we are scared and worried about what is to come with us. We still have the pending trespassing case with Steve - which I have faith we will win, but what have the little guys come up with for their next move????? We all know that they are.

In any event - it was good to speak the truth, the board thanked us for being there to let them know what was going on, and good to have an official person listen to us today as well.

Friends

I miss my friends ALL of the time, so on the rare occasions that I get to see them now they are great. Stace, Karm, and Noelle came down this past weekend to spend the night at the Wright's house. We went to Breakers- our favorite "dive" bar and played a bunch of darts - had a blast and then came back to the homestead for more fun. The visits ALWAYS go by way too quickly and the next thing I knew, it was Monday morning. ARrrghh another Monday. I have to say - I am NOT complaining because there are sooo many people out there that do not havea job and need one desperately (my husband being one of them), but I am absolutely 100% burned out at work. I need a vacation - or at least some warm weather to warm my spirits. I love my job, but geez - I NEED a break!

Possibly all of the stress at home with our neighbors and my grandfather have been creeping into my work stress making EVERYthing one big stress ball. We had court case #1 today. It is continued until March 9th - great just when we were looking forward to getting one thing DONE, it continues - it's like a bad sequel. In any event - it is what it is. I guess the thing that bothered me so much is from what our lawyer had told us about what the neighbors had mentioned to the prosecutor - that we have bothered them for years due to our hatred for their sexual preference. Rack up the lies Michael and Denny - rack em up. We could CARE less about anyone's sexual preference - it is one's character that we are concerned with or lack there of. Stupid! The never cease to amaze me with their deviance and stupidity.

Feeling Grown-Up

So Steve is at school tonight and what do I end up doing - laundry and vaccuuming. Trying to be extra - efficient with my "alone time" so I won't have to do it this weekend. Cleaning on a Friday night? Whoa - 10 years ago I would not be caught DEAD doing that.

Was initally going to be going home to celebrate Sarah's birthday this weekend. Unfortunately, that's not going to workout, so at least I can do some "winter cleaning" and run lots of errands tomorrow so that I can devote my FULL afternoon/evening on Sunday night to watching Pittsburgh kick some Baltimore butt and hopefully the Cardinals and Eagles game will be a good one as well. Has anyone noticed that three of the final four are birds??? Go Steelers!!!

Life in Reverse

Do you ever have days that you feel like your life is going in reverse? That's how I feel today. In all actuality life is not going in reverse at all, but going at the speed of light. Or 59mph as some guy in Steve's class proudly announced - that was how fast light travels. So I try to look at what is moving forward. I'd like to think my career is - and definitely my relationship with my husband. It seems as we get older though some of our friendships dwindle away - go in reverse. Today I had that moment. When you actually get a clear sign that the friendship is totally over, was totally over and you wanted it to be over, but then - smack dab in your face is that sign that it is actually over.

Now I will take this time to be very thankful for the bestest and truest friends that I have and visit them to celebrate the beginning of our new decade this year...the 30s!