It's never easy to say goodbye...

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of Heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to the Rainbow Bridge.  

There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.

There is plenty of food, water, and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.    

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance.  His bright eyes are intent.  His eager body quivers.  Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again.  The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together...

~Author unknown

I found this link for pet loss support for anyone who may find it helpful.  

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We all have our favorite blogs, and this was one of mine.  I don't remember how I found Lynne's blog, but I remember thinking it was important to follow since she had chi's too.  I was very saddened to read about Bridget's passing.  My boys and I lit a candle for her the day we found out she had crossed over the Rainbow Bridge.  I think we'll be lighting another for her today.  Lynne told me that Bridge loved whenever anyone made a fuss over her, so it's the least we can do.

All pictures used with permission.

Half Full Friday!

Half Full Friday is a series of weekly posts that Eyegirl originally started in June 2009.  We believe that a lot of our happiness is determined by our attitude about the things that happen to us.  So by participating, I'm deciding to see the glass as half full instead of half empty.  I'm choosing to concentrate on the positives instead of dwelling on the negatives.  The Half Full Friday posts are a way to do just that.  They're a list of the things in my life that have brought me happiness over the past week.  I'm determined to find something good in each day.  Are you?

For the next week, I'd like to challenge each of you to keep a list of at least one thing that brought you happiness each day.  And then come back here and tell me about it!

~I'm happy because...

I've had the past week off from work and school and have done literally absolutely nothing but sit around in my jammies!

The boys have been extra cuddly lately!

I passed all of my classes this semester, including math!

I had a lovely Christmas!  I hope yours was just as lovely!

After losing one follower, I gained two!  Welcome!

The snow has mostly melted!

My mom's beagle didn't get sick from stealing and eating a bunch of Hershey's kisses, wrapper and all!

*****

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Each semester seems to get more and more busy and stressful.  Things got VERY stressful right at the very end in one of my classes.  Fortunately, the girl who made things so difficult and uncomfortable has graduated now, so I won't have to worry about seeing her in other classes.  Hopefully she's misplaced my phone number and won't be calling again!

With the new year comes a new beginning.  I'm always so full of hope as each new year begins, just as I will be for 2014.  I've noticed that this past year, I've lost motivation at work and at school.  I'm hopeful this coming year will be different, and that I'll get back into the swing of things. 

Do you make resolutions?  A girl at work told me about this website where you go take a survey, then visit another website and learn about your personality.  She strongly suggested that I should check it out, and said that I would discover the things I needed to work on in my personality.  It kind of bugged me, the way she pushed me - especially after telling me that I'd find the things I needed to work on.  I later realized it bugged me so much because she's a *HORRIBLE* worker, so who is she to tell me I need to change?  But then it hit me that no one is perfect, and we could all be better, nicer, more selfless...

There are definitely things I've noticed about myself that I should change.  So that's my resolution for 2014 - to be a better person overall!  It won't happen overnight, and I know I can't be perfect.  But I'll figure as long as I'm trying, that's all that matters.  

Merry Christmas!

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Christmas tree on campus

Monday Meme

This is the first of four full weeks off from work and school!  That means I'll have time for regular posts and visits.  YAY!

Took this from here.

1.  How often do you look in the mirror over the course of the day?

I try to avoid it for the most part, if I can.  There's a large one in the bathroom over the sink, so I see myself in that whenever I wash my hands or brush my teeth.  

2.   If you could be anything (other than a person) in the world, what would you be and why?

I would say a butterfly.  They're an ugly caterpillar when they're born, but turn into a beautiful butterfly.

What would you want to be?

3.  What's the most significant secret you've ever discovered about someone?  Did the truth come out?  

Once, I found out someone was pregnant before she officially announced it.  Mommy-to-be told a coworker, who told me.  I didn't say anything about it until she told everyone.  

Earlier this year, a friend of mine got a DUI.  I found out because it was posted in the newspaper.  Called Friend #2 to ask if this was Friend #1, as she has a very common name.  Friend #2 was very insistent that Friend #1 would NEVER do something like that.  Turns out Friend #1 did indeed get the DUI!  

4.  Show and tell.  What comes to mind first when you see this picture?  Or tell a story if it reminds you of one.  

The floors are too clean to be at a movie theater.  It's more likely to be at a place where you'd go to watch a performance of maybe a play or a musical act.  Where ever it is, it looks like it's probably a fun night out!

Wordless Wednesday

Monday Meme

It seems like I was either gone or asleep all weekend, and got pretty much nothing done.  

Friday, I attended a network event on campus for people with my major.  It was very unhelpful.  Came home and had a long nap.  Saturday, I went to a Christmas bazaar in the morning.  Came home and had a nap, took some sinus headache meds and slept some more.  Sunday, I went to see Catching Fire, then to dinner at my mom's.  The only homework I managed to accomplish was reading 3 chapters in a boring textbook.  But at least I'm well rested!  lol

What did you do this weekend?

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Took this from here.

1.  Share five things you're thankful for.  

A.  My chihuahuas.  They're my heart and my soul, and I love them with every beat of my heart.

B.  My mom.  I have a much better relationship with her now, and I appreciate her so much more.

C.  My house.  It's nothing fancy, but it's all mine, and I love it!

D.  School.  I was so unhappy before I started, and it's opened up a whole new world for me!

E.  My car.  It's old (2001), but it's my first (and probably only ever!) brand new car.

2.  What companies provide the worst customer service?  

My old health insurance companies!  I had an HMO who said they approved a service when the hospital called prior to performing a procedure, then tried to say they didn't approve it and refused to pay until I hired an attorney.  The insurance company I had with my last job was pretty bad too.  They wouldn't pay anything until I paid $2500 out of pocket.  I finally met that deductible one year when I did physical therapy for my hip.  They paid about $300 on an over $3000 bill - only AFTER I fought and screamed at them almost daily for a couple of weeks.  

3.  About how much storage is in your current home?  Is it enough?   

I live alone in a three bedroom house.   One room is my bedroom, one is my "girly" room that I've decorated with a bunch of girly stuff, and the third room is a messy storage area.  I really should do something with it, but everything is just thrown in there haphazardly.  I also have the garage, with stuff along the sides.  I wish I had a truck so that I could get rid of some junk in there along the sides, but at least I can fit the car in there too.  

4.  Show and tell.  What comes to mind first when you see this picture?  Or tell a story if it reminds you of one.  

Pretty piano keys!

Wordless Wednesday

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Monday Meme

Whew!!!  I just had the past week off for the Thanksgiving holiday, but it sure didn't feel like much of a vacation!  This is just a sample of what I did:

-Wrote four essays
-Put together one presentation, including power point and script
-1.5 sections of math (Supposed to have done 3)
-Caught up on lots of reading for classes

I still have at least one more presentation to put together in the next week, and possibly/probably another - plus whatever other assignments my professors come up with at the last minute.  And once that's all done, I'll still have finals!  I'm ready for another vacation just thinking about it!!!

Took this from here.  

1.  Whose thoughts would you most like to read?

Any genius'!  Hopefully that would allow me better insight into how the world really works.  My luck, they'd be thinking about what to have for dinner, though!

I really like to read my dogs' minds.  I wonder what they think about.  

2.  How do you feel when someone smiles at you?

I don't usually put too much thought into it, unless it's some cute guy.  Then that makes me feel really good!

If I'm having a bad day and someone smiles at me, sometimes it makes things a little better right in that moment.

3.  If you were allowed to teach any course (real or made up) at any university in the world, where would it be and where would you teach?

Long ago, I went to beauty school.  I discovered I didn't really care for doing hair so much, but I loved doing makeup.  We got very little instruction on the proper method of applying it in school though.  Once I began to work in the salon, we would go to various shows to further our education.  I was lucky enough to attend a 3 day class on how to do makeup, and I absolutely loved it!  One of the best parts is that we all had to bring in a model to work on.  Because not everyone's face is the same, we would rotate the models for even more practice.  Unfortunately, there's not a lot of call for makeup application where I live.  I still remember a lot of what we learned there that weekend, and use it today in applying my own makeup.

That's what I would do - teach people how to apply makeup!  Sometimes I wish I could walk up to people and tell them their makeup looks terrible and offer to do a free makeover for them.  That would be rude though, so I never say anything.  As for where I would teach, I don't know.  Maybe I'd teach at the school I currently attend.

4.  If you could be buried or have your ashes spread anywhere at all, where would it be?

Years ago, I had this dream that was kind of like watching a movie.  I was looking down from above - I was far away at first, then got closer.  A young boy and a girl were playing chase in a field of daisies, laughing all the while.  It was fun to watch them, and after awhile, I somehow just knew that that field was my final resting place.  There was no grave marker though, so I'm not sure how I knew this.  

Maybe a field of daisies?!

5.  Show and tell.  What comes to mind first when you see this picture?  Or tell a story if it reminds you of one.  

It doesn't really remind me of anything.  How about you?  It just looks like an old building to me.