Facebook? My Space? Agh

I must be getting old because technologically speaking, I thought I was pretty savvy.

I got invited to join Facebook and My Space this year.

I have no idea what I'm doing and it's all pretty frustrating.

Dink wrote on my "wall" yesterday. I'm pretty sure I shouldn't be offended.

I probably would give up on the entire thing except I found this:

And anyone who knows me knows I LOVE FLAIR!

Can someone explain Facebook to me?

Someone over 12, perhaps?

I'm a tad late in jumping on the Facebook bandwagon.

Jebus, I'm a nerd.

My "Office"

Shannon, who hosts WFMW at http://www.rocksinmydryer.com/ is taking the rest of the summer off. This means I won't be sharing with you any of my wonderful ideas today.

I am, however, going to show you my office.

Why? You ask.

Well, because I like pictures. I like to imagine where people are in the day and what their surroundings look like.

I'm assuming you like the same.
Generally, I'm surprised when I see that the pictures are nothing like I imagined.

If you don't want to see my office. Stop reading now and come back tomorrow.

This is my office. I docorated it myself (my friend Amanda helped). It's on base about 2 blocks from my house. I could ride my bike to work, you know, if I did that sort of thing.

I drive.

I am the Project Director for VAFB Development. I get this entire office to myself.

It's actually a house. It looks a lot like the one I live in. Only this one is smaller...and has office furniture in it.

I can sing loud if I want. No one knows I'm here and my boss works in Rhode Island.

This is my snack area. No office is complete without a plethora of snacks. I expense them. Yum.
The conference area looked like this when I moved in. Now just imagine floor plans all over the table and floor. Oh, and most of the chairs are broken now. Someone bought cheap chairs.

It wasn't me. I don't do cheap. Especially with someone else's money.
This is the outside of my castle/office. Gorgeous - huh?
My office. Again, before the work started. Now it's an absolute disaster of paper and stuff.
My GIRLS ONLY powder room. If you have a tail - use the one down the hall.
And that concludes today's tour.

GratiTuesday

It's time for a little shout out to the Lord, so you know it must be GratiTuesday, where I can be vocally thankful for something in my life.

In light of my recent post, I think today I'm going to be grateful for Modern Medicine.

Not only did I go to the ER for my migraine. The same day I suffered from third degree sunburns. Morphine helped ease the pain of both.

(By the way - when I told my husband that my sunburn still hurt, he told me the Morphine was busy working on my migraine.  When I asked him if he was serious, he had a blank look on his face.  Hilarious!  He thought the Morphine had instruction to work on my head only.  Duh!)

Thanks to modern medicine, many of us can expect to live long and relatively healthy lives. But imagine living before the age of modern medicine and clean drinking water.

Did you know that there was a reason women used to wear black wedding dresses? They also doubled as funeral attire! Only a century ago, the average life expectancy was 50 years old. People died in great numbers of disease that today, we rarely hear of like smallpox, diptheria, typhoid. We now have vaccines for all three. I'm thankful for that.

After my weekend ER visit, I'd have to say I'm most thankful for Morphine. It makes those of us with migraines (or lack of common sense to use sunscreen in the California sun) more comfortable.

Another ER Visit

I'm guest posting for my mommy today.  She's still pretty hopped up on morphine from her hospital visit.  She keeps getting migraines and having to go to the hospital.  They are really bad. She said she's going to see a neurologist in a few weeks.  The doctors are pretty sure it's not a tumor or anything serious, but they want to find out why mommy is so sick.

Pray for my mommy to feel better (she is the only one that can reach the treat jar) and for my daddy not to worry (he can reach the jar too, but he doesn't hand treats out like mommy does).

I'm going to go back outside now.

Love, Divita

My Garden Kicks Ass

Yesterday was HOT!  

I went to Home Depot.

I got some flowers and put them in pots out front.  

I think I'm going to need something for between those two trees.

Yard Art perhaps?

I got that pretty fountain grass too.  It looks better up close/in real life.  Trust me.

I also planted a Plum tree in my back yard and jalapenos in my garden.  

I expect fruit!
I also have this to show for it.  Oops.  Forgot the sunscreen.
Guess what?  My garden can kick your garden's ass.

We Have an Escape Artist on our Hands

I hear from our neighbor that a little black nose has made its way under the fence.

That cute little black nose is attached to a Golden Retriever with kangaroo breath and floppy ears.

I put up bricks to distract him but he's too smart. He'll find a way over to see her and her treats eventually.

Carl has started calling Bruiser "Andy DuFresne" (remember the escapee in The Shawshank Redemption?)

Yah. Like that.

Funny Friday

Potato Pancakes

I bet you thought I was going to post a recipe.

I'm not.

I lost my potato pancake recipe and it was my favorite.

I have a 5# bag of potatoes in my cabinet.

No recipe.

No dinner.

Wah.

Works For Me Wednesday

Here's another sneaky WFMW tip regarding cleaning.

Rain - X.

Hear me out on this one.

After I clean my shower (okay, after someone comes to clean my shower) I spray the glass door with Rain - X. The same Rain - X I use on my car windshield. It keeps the water spots off.

Genius, huh?

So you pay to have it cleaned and then you "keep it clean" until your housekeeper comes back.

GratiTuesday

It's time for a little shout out to the Lord, so you know it must be GratiTuesday, where I can be vocally thankful for something in my life.

Today my gratefulness is the joy of having employment that I actually enjoy (most of the time). I can’t be a stay at home Mom to our dogs; my anxiety is such that I must work if we’re going to do fun things… like eat. I know. We’re wild here.

I am constantly amazed that God has given me a wonderful place to work, with two coworkers that I really like, and for a boss who is kind, fun and understanding, especially when it comes to the my personal life. Where else could I have lots of time to read books, blog and still feel as if I’ve accomplished something good in a day, like presenting information to the base command without flubbing it up? Having a job as such takes the sting out of not being at home. Thank you God for this wonderful way to make a living.

Now what about you? Do you have something for which you can be grateful? If you feel like sharing, leave me a comment.

It’s so much easier to be happy when you remember that you have reasons to be!

Hey Look! A Recipe!

Remember when I told you I would share recipes as long as they met my rules?

Well here is one that I Love. Love. Love.


Except that it never turns out quite right because, well, I get to shop at the commissary and they never have ANYTHING *ahem* but I'm very grateful for their good deals.



Since all military wives rotate the same five recipes for every function you have to come up with something fresh and innovative or your five recipe ingredients will not be at the commissary.


So if you make it like the recipe says you get yummy, pretty, pineapple pie.


Yum.


If you make it with commissary ingredients you get yummy, pineapple pie that looks something like chunky vomit but tastes oh so good. I just use extra cool whip to cover the vomit chunks - oh and kids love it when you tell them you brought vomit pie to their parent's BBQ.


Trust me on this one. I'm good with the kids.

Pineapple Cream Cheese Cake (aka Vomit Pie)


Ingredients:


20 oz Crushed Pineapple
6 oz Pineapple Jello (or if you shop at the commissary Orange, Pineapple, Pomegranate Jello)
Block of Cream Cheese
Cool Whip
Graham Cracker Pie Crust


Drain the juice from the pineapple and set the pineapple aside. I give mine a good squeeze so I have plenty of juice.


Empty the Jello packs into the juice and microwave until the Jello dissolves. Add the cream cheese and pineapple pieces to the the Jello and mix it all together.


I imagine if you stick with it long enough it would get smooth and creamy. I'm impatient.


Put Jello mixture in pie crust and place in fridge until it's almost time to go.


Top with the Cool Whip until it looks pretty.


Use extra if you're stuck with orange Jello.

Kangaroo & Oat

The Lord knew I loved dogs when he moved Bruiser in with Carl. He knew Carl and I would be married one day. He also knew Carl needed help with Bruiser and I was just the girl to provide it.

Without going into too much detail (since I tend to go on and on about my furkids) Bruiser has some pretty serious allergies. Enough so that he got a wicked staph infection all over his body. Poor Baby.

We tried some prescription foods (fish & potato was first) and Bruiser, being the stubborn, but so adorable boy he is, staged a hunger strike. He wouldn't eat it. So mommy gave in.

Now he's on new food, Kangaroo & Oat (think about how cheap that must be to get). If this doesn't work, he'll have to go in for allergy testing.

I don't think either one of us will like that. I mean, how can you tell this face to eat his marsupial dinner or he's gonna get pricked all over?

Huh? Could you? I didn't think so.

Happy Anniversary Vita!

Divita was diagnosed with Addisons Disease on 19 July 2007.

Today her disease is one year old! Yay! Happy Anniversary!

One year of weekly blood draws and expensive shots behind us. Hopefully many more to go! (Sorry Vita, but the alternative is not good for mommy's heart)

Now everybody, go to the comments section and leave the girl a bone!

Happy Anniversary Lady Bug!

Funny Friday

The California Cell Phone Ban is GENIUS!

I've tried to avoid this rant, but screw it...I'm pissed.

As of July first, California passed a law and now it is illegal to drive with a cell phone to your ear. It's not illegal to use a cell phone while driving mind you; you just can't have it to your ear.

There have been ads and commercials galore here for months, "Get your hands-free device to comply with the law!"

Never mind that there are already laws in place against driving distracted...we needed to have one specifically addressing cell phones, it seems. (That statement was dripping with sarcasm. Can you tell?) Oh, and there aren't any studies indicating that driving distracted by a cell phone is somehow more dangerous than driving distracted by, oh I dunno...kids. Or CD changing. Or fast-food eating. Or make-up application.

Now, let's walk through this, shall we? You're driving, and your cell phone rings. Since it's unlikely you have your little ear thingy in, you need to fumble around and find it.

Distracting.

You need to shove it in your ear.

Distracting.

You check your caller ID.

Distracting.

After that you are as engaged in the conversation as you would be if you were holding the cell to your ear, right?

Still distracted!

Let's say you want to make a call. You can. You can still dial your phone.

Distracting!

And guess what? You can still text while driving. Because that's not at all distracting! Oh no. Not at all. Ask anyone who rides with me and they'll tell you that they not only fear for their life, but make sure their will is in plain view before they get in my car, you know, just in case. See, since I can't talk on the phone anymore while I'm driving and I have to keep working, I email. Yep. From my BlackBerry.

I sure do.

I can also still use the speaker phone function of my cell, and hold it up to my mouth so that the person to whom I am speaking can hear me. Right in front of my face. In my field of vision.

No, not at all distracting.

Furthermore, if I so chose, I can hold a banana to my ear while I drive. That's not illegal. I can hold a latte to my ear, or a flashlight, or a stuffed animal. Just not a cell phone. Because that would be too distracting.

Now don't get me started on digging for my military ID. Because that's not distracting either. You know, while I'm holding the banana to my ear.

And that concludes my rant for today. Thank you for joining me.

Works For Me Wednesday

So here I am again to share another wonderful tip with you on Works For Me Wednesday.

This is a good one. It might even be considered a good money saver, you know, if you like to do that kind of thing.


Chips are yummy. Oh so yummy in all their crunchy, salty, goodness. I could eat chips for every meal.


Oh yes I could, thankyouverymuch.


But sometimes, well, they get a little stale. I haven't noticed it so much in California with their lack of humidity and all, but in Kansas - whoa. Stale chips galore.


Now, if you're like me and you can eat the entire bag in one sitting you don't need this tip. But if you're like my husband and save the same bag, for say, one year, this will help you.


Put the open chip bag in the freezer. The chips don't "freeze", they stay fresh and crunchy. The fridge works too. I keep the tortilla chips in there.


Now go over to Shannon's and get some real advice, would ya?

GratiTuesday

It's time for a little shout out to the Lord, so you know it must be GratiTuesday, where I can be vocally thankful for something in my life.

I am so grateful that I live in a world that accepts believers.

I will not be crucified for my beliefs no matter how similar to or different than yours they may be.

I don't have to know someone to be a member of the believers. I don't have to look the same or even speak the same language to belong. I am accepted as I am.

All I have to do is have a belief in our Lord, Jesus Christ, and He will take care of the rest.

I find that utterly amazing.

Gardening

I'm not sure how I feel about gardening.  I felt some pressure to try it since I finally live in a climate that has a 12 month growing season.  

At my last home, I had a gardener and had mostly green bush-like stuff in the yard.  You know. Easy stuff.

So when mom came to visit and built me a lovely space for a vegetable garden I watched it for a while.  It was intimidating.  

Finally, I attempted tomatoes (any dummie can grow tomatoes, right?), squash (oh how I love zucchini bread) and onions (a girl can never eat enough onions!)  I should have tried carrots, jalapenos, cilantro, sage, and other things I use on a daily basis, but I was new.  Remember?

My garden is growing nicely, as evidenced by the photo below.  The only problem is that, well, there is no fruit.  I have a 5ft tall tomato plant (I used fertilizer, it's like steroids apparently) with no tomatoes!  I have a 3 foot wide squash plant with no zucchini!  

So what do I do, you ask, to get fresh veggies on my table?  I cut a whole in my fence and borrow from my neighbor who has managed to grow all of this in only one month.  

Jen - A Design Star!

Do you watch DesignStar, Sunday nights on HGTV?

Well you should.

My friend Jen Bertrand is on and she's a natural! She's wicked cute and has a ton of talent! She also happens to be a dog lover - which is what made her my friend the second time.

Check her out. And if the show ever lets you - vote for her.

Promise me you will. Pinky swear?

I can make it hold up in court if I must.

Rumble In My Tummy

The last week at work has been extremely busy. The days are only made worse by the fact that every afternoon I've left with a terrible stomachache. Almost like an achy-grumbly-yucky pain. I would head to the gym after work and just push through. When I would go home and have dinner, the pain would subside.

I noticed today that I don't have that pain.

And then it hit me. All that "busy" at work and I had forgotten to eat lunch.

That pain was hunger.

I must not be too familiar with that feeling. Now I know why. I don't like it.

Silly me.

An Alphabetical MeMe

It's Friday and I'm taking the bloggity day off.

A good Alphabetical MeMe is just what I needed. So much better than posting more pictures of my cards. Right? Thanks, Maria, for tagging me!

All about Me Me Me Meeeeeee

Accent: It depends how angry I am.
Bible Book that I like: Well of course, Psalms, but doesn't everyone?
Chore that I don't care for: Cleaning bathrooms. Any woman who has to deal with boys and their less-than-perfect "aim" can sympathize.
Dog or Cat: Dog, absolutely. I'm violently allergic to cats--I swell up like a toad!
Essential Electronics: My computer, of course and my cell phone. I can't go a day without texting.
Favorite Cologne: Pure Grace, Philosophy
Gold or Silver: Prefer silver or white gold.
Handbag I Carry most often: I'm a fan of Coach, but I like Kate Spade too.
Insomnia: Never.
Job Title: Referee, nutritionist, coach, teacher, nurse, banker, chauffer, recreational coordinator, housekeeper and occasionally jailer.
Kids: Kids are for people who can't have dogs.

Living Arrangements: In a Government Issued, 45-year-old, ranch style, three-bedroom house in Somewhere, California. I share the space with my husband, two dogs, a fish and an excessive amount of clutter.
Most Admirable Trait: My empathy for others.
Naughtiest childhood behavior: Wasn't particularly naughty as a child.
Overnight hospital stay: Yes but thank the Lord I don't remember.
Phobias: Heights and deep water, meaning that flying over the ocean is essentially OUT for me. Also get a little creeped out driving across super flat, wide-open spaces, like the panhandle of Texas.
Quote: I adore quotes, and one of my most treasured possessions is my "quote book", where I record all my favorites. I suppose if I had to nail down one favorite it would be by Corrie ten Boom: "I have learned to hold all things loosely, so that God will not have to pry them out of my hands." Actually, my favorite quote is anything Corrie ten Boom said, period. Well, and anything my friend John says. Or stuff I find at Uppercase. Okay, basically, I just can't narrow it down. If there are any other quote lovers out there, I highly recommend writing them down or sticking them to your wall.
Religion: I'm a Bible-believin', Jesus-lovin', grace-needin', Holy-Spirit-claimin' member of Queen of Angels Catholic Church. But to me the which isn't nearly as important as the Whom.
Siblings: Hmmmm...not sure.
Time I wake up: At the latest possible second. Usually around 7:35.
Unusual Talent or skill: I can read so fast it freaks out my husband.
Vegetable I refuse to eat: Not wild about okra.
Worst habit: Oh my gosh, way too many to count. Probably poor time-management would be the biggie. As evidenced by the fact that I'm spending waaaay too much time working on this stupid meme.
X-rays: Mostly just dental and brain scans.
Yummy stuff I cook: I can heat up just about anything, but from scratch I'd say Chicken di Scallopine.
Zoo animal I like most: Meer Kat. Hakuna Matata.

RagTime Baby

As if I don't already have enough to do in my life (full time job, full time student, spouses club board member, full time dog mommy, full time stamping fanatic) I have added quilting to my list.  

I've always been a crafter and I've even made a few quilts, but I'm making this one with a friend and that makes it EXTRA special.  I'm also not giving it away.  Its Pink and it's Mine.

Cassandra and I drove (well Cassandra drove her gas hating PRIUS) all over California to help me find the perfect fabric for the first quilt I will ever make FOR MYSELF! 

Check out this sign outside of the cutest quilt store I've ever visited.  Cute huh??

The shop is owned by a pink haired woman in saddle shoes and her purple haired rocker husband.  

They both quilt.

For reals.

They decorated the inside of the store with vintage items handed down from her grandmother who was a master seamstress.  The place is FUN.  The best part is that every fabric, no matter the size, shape, color, is $5 a yard.  That's all.  $5.  They don't have a ton of choices but I would say they have a better than average selection.

I bought all my fabric there and now I'm off to cut the quilt sandwiches for sewing.  I'll post pictures as I go, but don't get too excited.  

It was for me, remember?  

So just picture a pink quilt.

Works for Me Wednesday

Another works for me Wednesday.

All this useless knowledge and no one to share it with.

Stupid Private Blog.

Lucky you. You got the invite. This also means I'm not talking about you.

At least not here.

Summer makes my feet yucky. I get bi-weekly pedicures but all that flip flop wearing makes a girls heels, well, a little crunchy.

Since it seems Californians wear flip flops to every event (Yes. That includes weddings. They just wear the fancy pair.) and flip flop season is 12 months long, (Yes. Flip flops are worn with jeans and sweatshirts in this land.) I had to do some fast thinkin' to get my feet fancy for the wearin'.

Wanna know the big secret? It's not tested on animals. It's not sold in fancy salons and boutiques. It's not even expensive.

Yes, I still use it.

Flexitol. Yep. I use the diabetes foot curin', geriatric smellin', drug store sold, Flexitol Heel Balm. Why not? It says right on the label "cures cracked heels" and that is exactly what I had. It didn't say MUST HAVE DIABETES. It just suggested that most people with diabetes found it useful.

$4.99 a bottle. Apply twice daily and wah - lah. No more crunchy heels.

Now go to Shannon's and read all the other ideas. Maybe you can leave me a comment about something that works for you. Hint, Hint.

GratiTuesday

It's time for a little shout out to the Lord, so you know it must be GratuiTuesday, where I can be vocally thankful for something in my life.

Currently there are 800 square miles of California burning.  There are 330 fires being furiously fought.  35 minutes from the place I call home burns day and night with no signs of letting up.

Today I am grateful for the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect my home, my family and my safety.

Thank you.  

And even though you aren't fighting California fires, your job is no less important.  So to my favorite cousin, Dink - Thank you too.  For volunteering your life for all of us.

Hey Look! Another recipe!

Summer is full of pot lucks and bar-b-que.  It's also full of neighbors who don't invite you to their "informal get-together" until the very last minute.  This recipe isn't very last minute friendly, but very very popular in my circle.  I also whip it up when my husband comes home at midnight and announces with a smile that the office pot luck is tomorrow.  Panic. Setting. In.  I mean, I only work full time myself.

Therefore, I present you with my version of Fast and Furious Fruit Cake.

See.  It's healthy.  It has Fruit right in the name.

Ingredients:

Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie mix

Whipped Topping (I use Cool Whip)

Cream Cheese frosting

Assorted Fruit

Prepare and bake the sugar cookie dough according to the package instructions.  You will make one large cookie the size of a jelly roll pan.  

Hint: I spray my hands with Pam before patting the dough flat.  

The dough must be relatively even or you will have part crunch/part goo.

Mix a tub of cream cheese frosting with about 2 cups of whipped topping.  When the cookie has cooled top the gigantic cookie with the "frosting" and decorate with assorted fruit.  

I buy frozen berries and keep them on hand for such emergencies.  Like Friday, for instance, when my husband needed one decorated like a flag for work.  

This is the land of milk and honey.  I married its fruit.

No chance

I have been trying to teach this concept since the day we met.  

I have since learned that boys like pictures. Maybe this graph will help Hungry Husband.

Dollar Palace

In 2006 I found this article online.

Carl & I still joke about it.

My husband will sometimes question my attire (yes - sometimes my crown is crooked) before we head out to the commissary (market/grocery for those of you not in the military know) and usually I respond by saying, "It's not like we're going to Wal-Mart!"

Ha ha. I wonder what Debra Jackson's best Wal-Mart shopping outfit looks like. I wonder if a knee-length t-shirt and stretch-pants are involved.

Happy Birthday America!

My husband has to work today. Of course he does. I mean, it's only the Fourth of July. So I cased this adorable idea from here and intended to make them for his staff. I bought everything at Michaels to make them in time for the Fourth.


Too bad no one in California sells LifeSavers in a roll anymore. When did that happen? Now they come in a tin? Who in the world wants a firecracker tin? I had to scratch the idea. The closest thing I could find was a tube of breath mints. You can't hardly spend a day sucking on breath mints and feeling very good about it so I scrapped the idea. Does anyone need a million yards of red, white, and blue stars?

On another note (haha) check out this classic performance. It gives me goosepimples EVERY TIME.

Stamping Out Loud

Carl is back to working nights which means I have to stay quiet in the day while he sleeps. Not an easy task. Thankyouverymuch. Over the weekend I went over to my friend Laura's (the Queen of all that is stamping) to do what almost every military wife does. Stamp. We cased this card from http://www.stampwithjill.com/ and had a marvelous time being loud and silly.

It only took us a few hours to make one set each. Well, it probably took less time than that since we started by clearing out space in her cabinet for all my stamping stuff. I hate dragging it all over there every time and since Laura is one of the nicest girls I know, she promptly stuffed all of her neat and organized things into a box so I could mess up a shelf in her house. Move over sista, I'm moving in!

Works For Me Wednesday

I can't "officially" participate in Works for me Wednesday since I have a private blog, but I visit every week. You can go there too. WFMW is a "blog carnival" that my friend Shannon hosts. Basically, the idea is that on Wednesday you post a little tip you've learned on any (G-rated) topic--anything that has "worked for you" in making your life easier.

Oh my, and if you have the time (and you can always link back later) you will learn so much.

Now that the bloggity business of explaining WFMW has been handled, here is my contribution:

Microwave Cleaning.

Possibly the nastiest job on the planet. My husband never uses a cover.

Ever.

Splatter abounds in the microwave. Eck.

Since we no longer have a housekeeper I had to tackle this one on my own. Since I HATE cleaning, I, of course, had to come up with a "work smarter, not harder" plan.

Some company used to make wet paper towels in a package that you could cook and they cleaned your microwave. I thought it was genius but I've never been able to find them again. Apparently, someone thought they could do it better.

And there it was.

I soaked an old rag in water and placed it in a dish in the microwave. I cooked it on HIGH for about 4 minutes. After the timer went off I let it set for about 2 more minutes. The steam took action! I put on a glove and used the HOT (hot hot hot- be careful) rag to wipe down the microwave and - wah lah- sparkly clean.

That's all I did. I'm on cleaning vacation now and it's Hungry Husband's turn. Only one of us can look good. It's either me or the house.

GratuiTuesday

It's time for a little shout out to the Lord, so you know it must be GratuiTuesday, where I can be vocally thankful for something in my life.

Almost exactly one year ago, my sweet baby Divita was diagnosed with Addison's disease. It is a disease that causes the Adrenal Glands to atrophy and can be fatal. It's a tough disease to get under control, in part because very few Veterinarians understand it and because of the massive financial commitment required to treat it. All too often the beloved family pet dies before the diagnosis can be made. We were lucky.

Now we are in California and we haven't had much luck finding a Vet that understands the disease. We have cycled through 7 Vets and one serious crash that landed us in the Santa Barbara ER. I have a hard time getting my fears about this disease under control but there is one person that really helps me.

So today I am thankful for my friend Elizabeth. She has a dog, Raider, that also has Addison's Disease. She is an amazing canine lover that understands the disease like no one else I've met. She lets me email her all of the crazy questions I come up with and I can call her in the middle of the night from the ER with all my worries. She understands my undying love for Divita (and Bruiser) and doesn't think I'm crazy for it. We talk about our dogs and have built a wonderful friendship. She might be in California this year and I'm going to drive 7 hours each way to meet her. She's worth it!

She is my angel and today I am thankful for her knowledge and friendship. I hope that someday I can repay her for all that she has done for me.