Friday, August 29, 2014

FFHT - Fractured Fryday Hairy Tails

We're joining Murphy and Stanley's HHFT today.
Last summer, our mama won some cool drool coupons for Frosty Paws.  We thought our local Walmart still sold them, but after several trips there and nothing to show for it, mama finally asked the store manager about them.  He said that they were having difficulties getting them from the vendor and he wasn't sure when they'd be available again.  What to do, what to do?

Mama made some for us using Sarge's recipe!  She filled up two ice trays with the mixture and had just enough left over to try a taste for herself.  After mixing all the ingredients, she stuck them in the freezer for about 87 hours until they were finally ready to eat.
Mama gave us four cubes each.  I can't believe I ate... the whole thing!  They were small, so mama didn't think too much about giving us so many, but I, Chico, threw up several times that evening and into the next morning.  Several days later, mama gave us each one cube, but Chico wouldn't have anything to do with it.  He remembered that it made him sick, so he stayed away from them.  Shiver still ate them though.  Mama hasn't made any since then.
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Don't furget to vote for Murphy and Stanley for Mayors of Blogville.  

Monday, August 25, 2014

Merry Monday

Today is the first day of the semester.  It's going to be even busier than usual now that I have an internship.  They wanted me to work at least 20 hours a week, but that isn't feasible with my schedule.  I managed to whittle them down to 15 hours, plus I'll have 13 hours of work, 4 classes, homework, studying, and being part of two different campus organizations.  Most nights I'll be home by 6:00 PM which hasn't always been the case in past semesters, but I still feel like I won't really have a life.

I'll be around as often as I can, posting and visiting everyone, but I don't know how often that will be.  This is the start of my last year of school and every year just seems to be more and more crazy busy.  I just keep telling myself to hang on for one more year and then it'll be easier.
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Took this from here.

1.  Have you ever broken something on purpose?

Yes!  When I was in 5th or 6th grade, I got a new pair of glasses.  I didn't necessarily think they were the greatest ever, but I didn't really think they were all that bad either.  One day at school, a kid made fun of them and told me they were the ugliest pair of glasses he'd ever seen.  After that, I hated them!

One day I was riding my bike and decided to take my glasses off, throw them on the ground, and run over them with the bike.  I lied to my mom and said that some girl that who lived around the corner from me and who was often mean to me was the one who broke them.  I'm pretty sure that my mom knew I was lying.  She told me that I needed to go to the girl's house, tell her parents what happened, and ask them to pay for a new pair of glasses.  She wouldn't come with me, and I cried before finally telling her the truth.

2.  What are you afraid of?  Why?

I'm scared of a lot of things - the dark, deep bodies of water, spiders, snakes...

The biggest thing I'm afraid of is what will happen after graduation.  I hope that I'll be able to find a really great job, but there's no guarantee, even with a college education.  Several of the friends I've gone to school with and who have graduated already are now working jobs that have nothing to do with their degrees, and I hope that's not the case with me.  

3.  What's one of the most difficult decisions you've ever had to make?

I finally found a job that I absolutely LOVED!  It paid well, had great hours, most of my coworkers were really friendly, and it was challenging enough to keep my interest.  About 6 months after I was hired, my manager quit and the manager from a different department took over.  Before the new manager started, we all gossiped about how we hoped and prayed he wouldn't be our new manager.  He was rather unpleasant and intimidating.

Unfortunately, that manager did take over our department and brought part of his old department with him.  Right from the start, he let us know who was in charge.  I felt like he was searching for any reason to get rid of me.  I saw a ton of people who had been with the company a lot longer than me either be fired or move to a different department or quit the company altogether just to get away from him.  One day in a one-on-one meeting, he was going on and on about how he was unhappy with my work.  I made the mistake of telling him that I just didn't care anymore.  I'd just had it!  I told him that no matter how hard I tried, it didn't seem to make a difference because it was never good enough.  This was my downfall.  From that point forward, he rode me even harder, and even the slightest mistake was made to seem huge.

I tried looking for other jobs, but didn't seem to be getting anywhere.  My work began to suffer because I couldn't sleep at night.  I was constantly wracked with anxiety.  My boss called me for yet another meeting to yell at me, and I decided that was it!  I packed up my stuff, walked out, and never came back.  I knew that I could either walk away or be fired, and felt it was better to go out on my own terms.  

I asked my manager in that last meeting why they didn't just fire me.  I was told that they don't like to fire people.  Such a lie, because they'd fired a TON of people before me!!!  

It wasn't difficult to make the decision, but the aftereffects were very difficult.  Employers questioned me repeatedly about why I would leave a job before finding another.  It took me 8 long months to find another job, which ended up being even worse.

4.  Show and Tell.  What comes to mind first when you see this picture?  Or tell a story if it reminds you of one.
That's one very old truck!  It kind of reminds me of my father, who used to tell me that Ford vehicles were no good.  I don't really know what he ever had against Ford, but he really didn't like them.  

Friday, August 22, 2014

Oz's Bad Poetry Contest

We're pawticipating in Oz The Terrier's 2nd Annual Bad Poetry Day Contest today.  
There was once a big chihuahua named Shiver
Whenever he got excited or nervous, he would quiver
When it comes to his toys, he is NOT a giver

There was once an itty bitty chihuahua named Chico
Who was suave and rico
His personality is super neato

They both lived together with sprinkles
Who thought she had lots of wrinkles
And who liked to go out at night to watch the stars twinkle

Ugh, what an awful poem!  But it's supposed to be, so I don't have to feel bad that I didn't come up with something a little better.  
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So...  I got offered two internships!!!  So exciting!  I wish I could have taken them both, but my school schedule really wouldn't permit it.  I think they would both be excellent experience, but I chose the one that I think will most likely help give me the background I'll need once I finally graduate from college.  Very exciting, yet oh so scary!

The first day of school is next Monday, August 25th.  Where did the summer go?  I'm so ready to go back to school in some ways, and not at all in others.  I'll miss the chi's soooooo much, and I know they'll miss me just as much!  Luckily, I'll only have one really long day every other week this semester.  Most days I'll get home by 6 PM or before.  That has not always been the case in past semesters.  

It's going to be one crazy busy semester with classes, work, an internship, and homework.  I don't know how often I'll be able to post or come visit everyone, but I'll be around as often as I can.  I've got a few posts pre-scheduled, so I'll be around a little bit at least.

I can't believe that school hasn't even officially started yet, and I have homework in 3 of my classes already.  And of course it's all due before Monday!  It's been a crazy week and today will be a crazy busy day.  At least I'll still have the weekend to enjoy my last bit of freedom!

Monday, August 18, 2014

Chewy.com and Stuff and Things

Chewy.com had a really good selection of items for review this month.  Shiver and Chico had a hard time deciding on which one to try, and finally settled on the Good Buddy Pumpkin & Apple Flavor Dog Cookies.  We're always surprised at just how quickly their goodies arrive once we put the order in.
We received a 16 oz. bag, which is currently on sale for only $3.79, a $1.00 (21%) savings.  Even at full price, that's very reasonable.  Here's a little information about them taken directly from the website:

Castor & Pollux Good Buddy Pumpkin & Apple Flavor Cookies Dog Treats, 16-oz bag

Good dogs deserve good treats! Good Buddy Dog Cookies include natural ingredients that are not only healthy, but delicious too. The cookies are oven-baked to a golden, crunchy texture and have an aroma dogs love.
Key Benefits
  • All-natural ingredients
  • Made with real pumpkin and apple
  • Oven-baked
  • Made in the USA!

I love that the ingredients are all natural too!
Whole Wheat Flour, Dried Pumpkin, Dried Organic Apples, Rolled Oats, Canola Oil naturally preserved with Mixed Tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), Whey Powder, Cinnamon, Rosemary Extract

When I first opened the bag, the yummy aroma wafted up into my nose and I was tempted to try one of these cookies myself ~ that's how good they smell!  I didn't actually eat one, but I always take a deep sniff whenever I open the bag.  The quarter is to show the scale of the cookies.
Shiver always hides his treats, then tries to go steal Chico's.  This time he was unsuccessful in swiping Chico's, so he went to his hiding place to grab his cookie.  Once he finished it, he went back looking for more - not just once, but several times!  Just goes to show how much he enjoyed it!  Here's Chico eating his underneath the kitchen table.  I tried to get Shiver with his cookie, but he ran off too quickly.  I can never seem to get pix of them both, it's always one or the other...
I really want to order this bed for the boys from Chewy.com.  It's a Coolaroo Steel-Framed Elevated Dog Bed.  They offer several different colors and sizes. 
We were not compensated financially for this post, but were provided free samples of dog treats in return for our honest opinions.
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I was offered an internship last week!  Yay!  I have an interview for a different internship this morning, which I set up prior to being offered the other one.  I also had a job interview last Monday, which went really well.  The lady was really nice.  It seems like it would be a lot less stressful than my current job, but I'd have to dress up.  They offer more hours, but less pay.  I haven't been offered that job yet, but I'd have to really think about it if I was.  I was also called last week to set up another job interview for next week.  

Monday, August 11, 2014

Random Ramblings

School starts in exactly two weeks.  In some ways, I'm ready for it.  And in others, I'm soooo not!
I have a job interview tomorrow!  I'm feeling pretty good about it, since they lady who set the appointment with me said that she was "struck by your excellent prior experience."
A friend messaged me on facebook and asked me to meet up with her after the interview so that she can give me some free skincare samples.  Can't get much better than free!
As hot as it's been and as much as I've been covered in sweat this summer, I'm shocked that my suddenly over-excessively oily face hasn't broken out more!  I've always had combination skin, but this summer my hair and face have been extremely oily.
I'm slowly but surely getting my heavy spring cleaning housework done before school starts.

Friday, August 8, 2014

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...  

My mom and I took our boys for a lovely walk on Monday, and they were all so well behaved!

I went to the aquarium on Tuesday!

I FINALLY went grocery shopping!  I don't know why I always seem to wait until I'm down to nothing before I go.

The weather was cooler earlier this week, and brought some much needed rain with it!

I have a job interview next week!
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Shiver
Chico
I have to brag on my boys a little bit. This past Saturday, two different friends were holding yard sales, and I told them both I'd stop by and check them out.  One friend had never met Shiver or Chico before, and this seemed like an opportune time to introduce everyone.  They did bark a little bit at each yard sale, but they didn't pull or act obnoxious like they often do.  

As stated above, they were also well behaved and didn't pull or act obnoxious on our walk this past Monday.  I was sooooo proud of them.  It helped that we didn't see any other doggies on our walk, which was surprising because we usually see lots of other doggies on that trail.  

Monday, August 4, 2014

Monday Musings

School starts exactly three weeks from today.  Summer has just flown by, and I don't know where it's gone.  I'm hoping to get in a few more fun things before then.  And some not so fun things, like scrubbing the house down.
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Took this from here.    

1.  What would you say to your 16-year-old self and why?

I'd tell myself that it gets better.  I was extremely unhappy as a 16 year old for many different reasons.  I stayed unhappy in early adulthood, but things eventually got better.  I made better choices for myself and realized life isn't always so bad.  I still struggle with depression sometimes though.

2.  What scent (candle, soap, perfume) do you think should be banned because it's just so annoying?

I'm probably the only person in the world who doesn't like vanilla, but that's what I would choose.  If it's very strong scented, it makes me nauseous after awhile.

3.  Who do you hope remembers you fondly?  

I would like to hope that everyone remembers me fondly!  I know won't not true because no matter who you are, there will always be someone who doesn't like you.

4.  Show and tell.  What comes to mind first when you see this picture?  Or tell a story if it reminds you of one.  
It reminds me of my yard.  I have a crazy rosebush on the side of my house.  No matter how much I cut on it, it just seems to grow out of control.  Hopefully one day I can afford to hire someone to cut it and tame it a bit.  I recently trimmed it and threw the branches down in my yard.  Because I'm lazy, I haven't picked them up yet, so my yard is full of branches and leaves.
 

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