Blog Before WordPress
This is where I have all my posts from my previous blog site. It gives everyone insight to my life prior to 2010.
My First Cruise!
11/18/2009
Woo Hoo! I finally got to go on my first cruise. I was on The Mariner of the Seas and went to the Mexican Riviera. It was AWESOME! We stopped in Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerta Vallarta. Mom went with me and we saw a show every night, ate and ate and ate, and drank a lot too. There was dancing and singing and even crafts. Sitting on the balcony every morning, watching the ocean was so peaceful. Puerta Vallarta was beautiful, Cabo San Lucas was busy and we chose not to go ashore in Mazatlan; instead we stayed on the ship and had a relaxing day. I am so glad that I got to experience this with Mom and look forward to many more cruises.
Jayden Camlo Cochran
07/17/2009
Finally…My grandson Jayden was born on 7-15-2009. It was a very long pregnancy for Tawneey, filled with some minor and few more major issues. She had a gallbladder attack the other day so they said they needed to induce in case they had to operate. We were not prepared but were totally thrilled. Tawneey handled everything so well and I am so proud of her. Of course, when Jayden was finally ready to come out, he was ready. Tawneey only had to partially push once and he slid right into the doctor’s hands. He was 7 lbs 7 oz and 20 1/2 inches long. He has blond hair and is just simply precious. I got to stay at the hospital with Tawneey so it was truly an amazing experience for me.
Until next time…
What a Week!
06/18/2009
So this past week started off really slow and frustrating. Monday I was just off all day. It was like I was sleepwalking through work. Tawneey was sick and house-sitting for my brother so she was miserable. But as the week progressed, it got better. I got some sleep so I didn’t feel as twitterpated as before. Then on Wednesday, my boss, Linda, surprised with a $1.50 raise. I was so happy and shocked. She said I have been doing a great job and have proven to be a hard and reliable worker. Woo Hoo! Right after that, I had my Weight Watchers meeting and I lost two pounds. Things were definitely looking up.
Now it’s Thursday and it’s just been a kind of ‘yea, I’m here’ day. Nothing to exciting but nothing to terrible either. I am so glad tomorrow is Friday. I am really looking forward to relaxing this weekend and then spending time with the family for Father’s Day.
Well, Until next time…
Premature Labor?!!?
06/14/2009
Had to take Tawneey to the hospital last night. About a week ago, we had to take her as well because she was having contractions. She was only 34 weeks so they gave her a shot to stop labor. She was 1 cm dilated and 20% effaced. So we are back at it last night. She had been having contractions all day and after five hours of consistent contractions every 8 to 10 minutes, we took her in. Once again, they gave her a shot to stop labor and sent us home. This is going to be a long month. She had not dilated any further so we are in for a long haul.
She’s better now, Jayden is fine and we have another week till the shot wears off. Until next time….
Lonesome…
06/01/2009
So Tawneey and Jason moved out this weekend. While I am happy for them, I miss Chandler. The house was so quiet the first night; just me knowing that Chandler was not in his room and I wouldn’t hear him in the morning made the house seem so empty.
For Tawneey I am thrilled. The new house is perfect for their little family and of course its right next door. That’s good for Mammy. It’s a two bedroom, one bath that at first appeared to be very small; now that everything is moved in though, it is bigger than we all originally thought. Nothing seems cramped and it looks great.
Now I have to get a bed and shelving for Chandler’s room here so he can still come visit Mammy. Then after Jayden is born, I will need to have things for him as well. I guess I truly get to be Mammy now.
On a lighter side, I am turning Tawneey’s old room into a craft room for myself and that is very exciting. I just need to do some painting and get a bookcase and then I’ll be good to go. I already have a couple of desks and of course my supplies. A little bit of good out of a lonesome situation. Until next time…
Jayden’s Ultrasound
05/28/2009
So I went with Tawneey to her Ultrasound today. She is now 33 weeks and Jayden is doing great. His heart was beating wonderfully, he has his mommy’s nose, is 4lbs 4 oz and he already has hair. He’s already got his head down and is getting into position so we are very anxiously awaiting his arrival. It was a joy to see everything so clearly and I am glad that he and his mommy are doing well.
Until next time…
Busy Day…
05/28/2009
Today was a very busy day. Tawneey and I had to go to the DES Office and stood in line forever. Unfortunately, we were unable to complete all our tasks because of the long wait and it was off to our second appointment; my Fibromyalgia appointment.
So I saw a Rhuematologist; specializing in muscle and nerve disorders, today. He was very nice and officially diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia. He did say that considering all I have been through the past ten years, I have decent muscle strength and I seem very positive. It was nice to hear. So I am back on the Cyclobenzaprine; no more pain!, and will have regular checkups every three months. I’m just glad to have it officially diagnosed and to know that I will no longer have to live in severe pain.
After that, we stopped at McDonalds and had lunch with Chandler and enjoyed ice cream cones together. It was Chandler’s first ever ice cream cone so it was cute to watch. At first, he wasn’t sure what to do with it. He set it on the table and started poking his finger in it so we explained it to him and then he dug in. It was such a joy to see the innocence of childhood.
Then it was off to Tawneey’s Ultrasound, which went very well. Then I was off to Weight Watchers with Mom. It was a good meeting, lots of good weight loss from other members; mom and I did not fair so well but we are sticking through it all and feeling better. That was my busy day.
Until next time…
Bobble Head Elephant
05/28/2009
So this past week has been a real tough one for me as far as pain goes. I have been in a lot of pain from the fibromyalgia and have experienced severe migraines this past weekend. Blythe decided to cheer me up some so she made me this adorable bobble head elephant. It is ceramic and has a purple face, mint green ears and trunk, pink body and gray feet. It is truly a work of art.
So I took my new friend to work and set him on my desk. Now, throughout the day, I find myself giggling at him. The other ladies in the office have even come in for a giggle. Something as simple as this has created so much joy and tension relief for so many. Children sure can be great when they want to be. Thank you Blythe.
Until next time…
Exhausted!
05/23/2009
This has been an exhausting couple of weeks. Last week, I was house, kid, and dog sitting for Bev; my best friend, as well as handling her responsibilities at work while she lounged it up in Las Vegas. It was a lot to do and while I was able to handle everything, it did take a toll on my muscles.
Then, just when I thought things would die down and I could relax some, Tawneey fainted and we had to call 911. It was a terrible ordeal; very hard to see my daughter pale and non responsive. We were very scared and of course worried about Jayden and mommy. It turns out she was severely dehydrated and the baby is fine now as well but it was a long 5 hours at the hospital before all was better.
Two days later, it was Graduation Night for Christina and Jessica; Bev’s girls. It was neat to be back at my alma mater high school but it had been rainy, we got sprinkled on during the ceremony and it made that particular day so much longer than I originally expected. However, it was all worth it. Jessica even graduated 18th in the class and got a full ride scholarship to Pima College. I was so proud of them both.
Now, it’s finally Friday and a long weekend due to Memorial Day so I am very much looking forward to some rest and relaxation. Until next time…
Mother’s Day
05/11/2009
Today is Mother’s Day and I am a mother. It started out wonderfully with me being able to sleep in…that is always a plus where I’m concerned. Then I had a great waffle and eggs breakfast with my sister, daughter, and grandson; all cooked by by niece and my surrogate son. Then, I got to relax and just have some fun playing Farm Town on the computer until it was time for the second half of Celebration.
In the afternoon, I went to Mom and Dads where we all hung out; played Moment of Truth, laughed a lot and had a wonderful dinner of Taco Salad, bread, and a delicious ice cream cake for dessert. Then we did our gifts like a round robin since there were four of us Mother’s there. My mom got all of us other mothers cute mother themed shirts. I also got some really nice cards and my son gave me a great bath/bed set of lavender/vanilla aromatherapy spritzes, lotion and more. Then all four of us got the most precious of gifts; we each got a DVD of pictures of our children that my future son-in-law made. They were all truly beautiful and my cheeks hurt from all the smiling. Since my kids are now adults it was great to see their younger pictures and remember the journey. It’s always great to hang out at Mom and Dads and we always have fun.
Today was a terrific Mother’s Day and I feel very honored to have been able to spend with the people that mean the most to me.
Until next time…
A Proposal
05/09/2009
So my daughter’s boyfriend proposed to her the other day. It was so wonderful and romantic and just want Tawneey has always wanted. I couldn’t be happier for her. As a mother, who has made some mistakes over the years, it is great to see my children thrive and prosper as they grow into adults.
Of course, I knew about the proposal and helped Jason pick out the ring. It’s a spectacular princess cut solitaire with a row of baguettes running down each side and flanked by two rows of circle cut stones. Jason did a wonderful job setting up by putting rose petals all over the room and lighting candles all around. The room looked and smelled terrific. Then he spoke from the heart and told Tawneey that she was the one thing that was always missing from his life. It was a most precious moment.
Now, we get the fun of planning the wedding. It will be May 15th, 2010 and her colors are lilac and sunflower yellow. Tawneey will carry a bouquet of sunflowers; her favorite flower, and roses; Jason’s favorite flowers, and for once, I am the Mother of the Bride and not a bridesmaid. LOL I can’t wait.
Life is good…
Good Day
04/30/2009
So today was a pretty good day. Work was long and I was very busy but in the scheme of things, that’s great. I’m working with a new client getting all past data set up properly and running smoothly. It’s always nice when things seem to go right.
Then I had a massage. I go monthly and am so thrilled to have found my massage therapist; One On One Massage; She is so understanding about my fibromyalgia and always seems to know just how much pressure to apply and what areas need more work than others. Aside from that, she found out she is pregnant. She has been trying so hard over the past year that it was so exciting to see her happy and yes, glowing. We hugged and jumped a bit before getting down to business but it was a wonderful feeling.
After that, I had to go to my weekly Weight Watchers Meeting. Also a successful venture; I lost 3.2 pounds. I love going to the meetings because I get to hang out with Mom for a little bit every week and we can catch up on what’s happening in our lives. Anyway, we will reach our 16 week mark next week and that is apparently a special point in Weight Watchers so we will get special recognition. It’s pretty cool.
Now I’m home, relaxing and am going to crawl into bed here soon and sleep well, relaxed and all. Until Next Time…
Happy Sunday
04/26/2009
Happy Sunday to all! It’s a sunny day here in Tucson but I feel like hanging out inside, away from the sun. Yesterday was a bad day for me health wise, so now the muscles in my back are very stiff and sore. Other than that, it’s a great day for lounging and watching TV.
I am currently watching a Criminal Intent Marathon and anxiously awaiting the premiere of Jeff Goldblum tonight. I have always admired Jeff Goldblum and think that his acting talents will fit right into the Criminal Intent family. I absolutely adore Vincent D’Onfrio’s character and truly think that Jeff may be able to rival him while remaining his own character. I think it’s wonderful to see more and more quirky, unique characters on television these days.
Sidebar: Boo Boo Bear has just jumped up onto my lap so I guess he wants to share in the blogging for today. For those who don’t know; he is one of my four cats and is a big cuddly bear. When he wants some lovin’, he just takes it. He’s three years old now, maybe four — it’s sometimes hard to keep track and he still acts like a kitten from time to time.
On days like this; lounging days, it’s wonderful to have the cats lovin’ up to me. We can all cuddle up and watch a movie, play games on the computer or whatever catches our fancy. One thing’s for sure; when it is time to lounge around, the cats are all for it.
Well, time to head back to real life. I think it’s time to clean out my closet, so Until Next Time…
Whatever Happened to Common Sense?
04/23/2009
I work in an Accounting Office that specializes in Forensic Accounting. That means really dissecting Income Statements, Balance Sheets and general bookkeeping for a multitude of clients. My nickname; given to me by a co-worker who has been my best friend for over 25 years, is ‘goo-be-gone’ because a client will bring in what we lovingly refer to as ‘goo’ which is basically receipts, paperwork and so on that is not organized in any fashion, and it is my job to make sense of it all, set up proper accounting software and then complete all the necessary data entry.
So as I spent the day riffling through this ‘goo’ I couldn’t help but wonder, “Does anyone use common sense anymore?” It seems to me that an awful lot of people are running their businesses in a manner that makes things more complicated when, if they just used a little common sense, things would be easier. Of course, the up side to this is that it enables me to keep my job, which I appreciate so I say, “Keep bringing on the goo!”
Baby News!
04/23/2009
So I found out today that my niece gave birth to her third child; a little boy named Jacob Ryan. Mom and son are doing well and I look forward to seeing pictures.
This of course, makes me think how I can’t wait for my second grandson to join us. He is due this July and as I watch my daughter grow bigger, I get so excited thinking about our new family addition. My first grandchild, Chandler, is a joy to be around and we all just love to sit and watch him play. I can’t wait till his little brother is here and old enough to play along with Chandler.
Jayden, Mammy is anxiously awaiting your arrival.
Stamp and Scrapbooking Expo
03/22/2009
So yesterday I went to the Stamp and Scrapbooking Expo with my mother, sister, daughter and niece. My mother works for the Parks and Recreation Department so our family is very craftsy and we all enjoy doing crafts together. So the Expo was phenomenal. It’s the first one that I have been to and we had a blast. There were so many supplies and examples of cards, scrapbooks and more. Of course we all spent too much money but since crafting is one of our pastimes that is most relaxing, it was money well spent. It was great to spend the day with four generations of women in our family.
After the Expo we all had a nice lunch and then went our separate ways to rest. In the evening, after we were all rested up, my daughter, sister, niece and I all hung out and made cards for hours. Again, it was great to hang out together and we all took inspiration from each other while making our cards. Even my daughter’s boyfriend was fascinated at the prospects of crafting and the cards that we made.
This was one of the most relaxing days I have had in a long time and it was definitely needed. I cannot wait to go shopping to get more stamps and supplies. It’s official…I am hooked as is my daughter, sister and niece. Mom is so proud.
Well, Chandler is getting ready for bed so until next time…
Goodnight.
Chandler
03/19/2009
Okay, so as time goes on and I get more used to the idea of blogging, there will definitely be many more posts about my grandson, Chandler. On any given day I can say “I love that little boy!” He is truly a joy to be around and I feel so lucky that I get to see him every day. He is growing so quickly… it really seems like I was just witnessing his birth yesterday and here is, now almost 21 months old. He is starting to say more and more sentences and is truly a polite, well behaved little boy. It really is the simple things in life that bring the most joy and Chandler does just that.
Chandler
He calls me ‘mammy’ and is so adorable when he says it. I can have the worst day at work and as soon as I walk in the door at home and hear his sweet, little voice I can’t help but smile. He gives the best kisses and hugs and is becoming so animated in everything he does.
One of his favorite things to do is to jump on the trampoline. Let me tell you, at 21 months, he probably has the best balance I have ever seen. He is turning into quite the little gymnast. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll be watching him win gold in the Olympics. Oh, the dreams of a grandma.
Enough about Chandler for now. It’s time to get back to reality. Until next time…
Unappreciated!
03/17/2009
Okay, so now a couple of days after my boss was unexcited about the scheduling program I found, he comes into the office and says that he can’t afford me anymore. Business is slow and he has lost quite a few commercial accounts due to the economy so he needs me to cut my hours to like only 2 hours a day but he wants me to train his wife so she can do my job.
Now let me tell you, this is the stupidest thing he can do. Before I started working for him, he and his wife were handling all the office/administration duties and they screwed everything up, went into serious debt and both said they hated having to do this stuff; so then they hired me. What on earth makes them think that they can run everything again? My boss also wants me to write a very detailed manual of everything I do so they can refer back to it if need be.
Since I am the only office employee, that is a very large request. I do the scheduling and everything that goes along with that, the advertising, the bank reconciliations, deposits, pay the bills, run payroll, run quarterly and annual reports for the IRS, State of Arizona and DES including running W2′s at the end of every year as well as job costing reports, answering phones and emails, maintaining and updating the website and basically everything that goes along with running a small business office. So he expects me to do this while training his wife and keeping my hours down to only 2 hours a day. Is he mad?
It just doesn’t make sense to me at all. So I am very frustrated. Today he wanted me to take a letter to the post office to mail it certified and pay for it with my own money and all of this was after 1:30 in the afternoon. Needless to say, I was off the clock and told him so and he actually had the audacity to be upset.
I truly don’t understand his behavior. I know the economy sucks right now but… well, I don’t know… I give up. He will end up being sorry for letting me go.
That’s enough venting for today. Until next time…
Online Scheduling Program
07/09/2007
So today my boss asked if I could figure out a way for our customers to schedule their own appointments. To my surprise, I found a service that allows just that. I signed up, set up the entire process and then did a test run. This service is phenomenal. I am so excited about this because it really opens up a whole new world for our business.
So when I sent my daily email with tomorrows route sheet to my boss, I included the link and told him to go check it out thinking that I would know when he went through the process because I have it set up to send me a text message as soon as someone requests an appointment. Well, now here it is, almost 10 p.m. and no text. It’s frustrating that I spent time creating this service because of the request from my boss and he didn’t even take the time to check it out. Is it just me or does that seem inconsiderate? I know, life’s not fair, it’s just a job, yada, yada, yada. In reality, I love my job and the work I do. I mean, I run the entire office, it’s just me and that gives me a lot of freedom to learn and grow. I just wish I was more appreciated but, as my mother says, “it is what it is.”
I had a Weight Watchers meeting tonight. I am getting so frustrated because I have hypo thyroid so I am not able to lose any weight. I’m still doing what is needed, tracking what I eat, eating better and going to meetings even though I know until my thyroid issues are corrected I won’t be able to really lose any weight. However, as I sit in the meetings, I take comfort in knowing that I am not alone. There is a wonderful group of people that can give me support including my mother, whom I joined with. We are gearing up for a Fun and Fitness Cruise in November. I know, I will get through it and when my health issues improve, I’ll start to lose the weight.
On a lighter note, I had a field day hanging out with my grandson, Chandler this evening. He is so special and I just love watching how he is growing. He is 19 months old right now and it never ceases to amaze me how much he learns and grows every day. It’s been a while since my kids were young and it nice to have the innocence in the house again. And in a few more months, we will welcome home Chandler’s baby brother and I will get to experience all the joy again. I simply love being a grandma.
Well, that’s it for now. Time to get some rest. Until next time…
