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!

My first blog...ever.

I was never much on writing in my diary growing up or "journaling" or writing down my thoughts, but at this point in time in my life I can probably take a few minutes each week to write about what's going on in my life - especially since it is online. There would be no chance if it was with a pen and paper. I have always wanted to get into scrapbooking too - so this will probably be my best attempt at both!