Where Did February Go??

And where did January go?? It's amazing when I remember back to summers when I was young. They seemed so long at one point and then the last 2 weeks went by so fast. And as we get older, time seems to fly by. But then, when you are at work with 10 minutes to go, it DRAGS! It's all in the anticipation I think.

I have so enjoyed living at my place and not having any one in the front of the house. I have spent some time in the hot tub lately. It really helps my feet, as I put them over the jets and they get massaged! (I have my grandmother's feet---sore and tired when I stand a lot, but thank goodness to Dansko shoes, they make it tolerable.) My landlord put the house on the market and had somebody already looking at it. I myself think it is way overpriced, but then you pay for 'the view' in this neighborhood. (And it is quite awesome)

Work has been going well. The new girl, Wendy, is working out really well. She learns fast and retains information, or at least takes notes. She gets frustrated about insurances, as we all do, and not knowing what drugs are for what. But, that all comes with time and experience. She has a great sense of humor too and gets in on the 'let's pick on Julie day' with Kyle. :) She lives on a farm and has horses, dogs, cats, and a couple of chickens. So we get to talk about animals some.

This next month I will be at Walgreen's for 2 years. So, a raise is coming!! I hope the President figures out how to cut our payroll taxes, so that will help all of us too.

I made myself a promise this last week. Let me explain why. This last Sunday about 9 or 10 pm, I had been thinking of Jacque. I was going to call, but then thought it might be too late for her. Well, it turned out that Tango was not doing well. She called the next day to say she had put him down. So, had I called, I could have found out what was going on and helped her through it. So, the promise to myself is---call people when you are thinking of them. There might be a good reason for those thoughts. And so on Wednesday evening I put a call into Jacque to see how she was doing. I timed it so it was during a long commercial and so the couple minute chat was much appreciated by her.
So, I might be calling some of you and only for a short chat. Or you can call me too!!! :)

I am babysitting tonight for the kids of Lora, one of the pharmacists at Walgreens. She has 2 children, ages 5 & 7, girl and boy. Her and Darren are going to a small concert and will drop the kids off at my place about 6:30. The kids are all excited about having a babysitter, seeing me and my animals. It should be a fun-filled night.

Tomorrow I am making macaroni and cheese for the Walgreens people. I found a really good recipe, and no, not the box kind!, and wanted to share with my friends at work. It should be fun to make and eat! I also found a seasoning I like. It is in the boullion section in your store. It is Chipotle cubes that you crumble on top of chicken, like salt and pepper. It is very flavorful, as I had some last night on my chicken. I am really getting into the Southwest flavors! Jacque sent me a recipe for a cowboy pico sauce. Something to consider making in New Mexico and Wisconsin when on my vacation.

I still do not have my tickets to Wisconsin yet, as my travel agent is still searching for that best deal out there. Will be checking in with him this next week.

Can you believe this weather?? We are having 50 - 60 degree days and sunny, and Wisconsin is having snow and cold. Almost all of my snow is melted around the house and no snow to be seen downtown. I keep meaning to ask a local when my snow tires should come off. Don't want to wear off those studs!!

Manley, Kisa and Kalista are doing well. I think I have 2 of the silliest cats around. I play laser light with them and it is so funny to see them chasing/pawing their way across the room after the laser. It is quite entertaining and very funny. You don't even have to have it pitch black to see the laser. Manley just ignores them when they are playing.

Time to go and work. Have a great weekend, and we will blog with you next Saturday, unless my computer gets here!! Take care, be well.
Love,
Julie

Computer Ordered

Just to let you all know, I just pushed the 'submit order' button for my new computer. I will get a confirmation via email in a day or two. The delivery date will be 3-11-09 or there abouts. I guess that tax money was burning a hole in my pocket. :) And I checked on getting my internet access. It is only $50. per month and there is no installation cost, and no payment until they send out the bill at the first of the month. I have called around to several of the computer stores in Durango and could not find a better deal than with Dell.com. I got a good deal plus a couple of free upgrades, so I am happy!! Another 3 weeks and I can be on a computer from home and daily! How novel of an idea is that?? Thank you Jacque for your help and Joyce for your recommendation. I will blog with you next week!
Love, Julie

I Will Never Have A Spokesperson AGAIN!!

I would like to thank Jacque for letting you all know that I was sick and not able to get on a computer until today. (That's all I wanted her to say, but you know how Jacque's imangination works!!) My sister Joyce was the one that tattled on Jacque. I answered the phone to hear someone laughing. Then Joyce read the blog to me and we were both rolling on the floor we were laughing so hard. Then I called Jacque to see if she'd confess, but she was very vague. Anyway, to clarify things, I did not go see Billy Ray Cyrus. I did enjoy a couple of his songs. Can't remember who Banana is so I can't deny that one yet! So next time I am unable to blog on my usual Saturday and am sick, you will just have to miss me for a week!!

I called my sister Jill yesterday and left a Happy Birthday message. She called me back and we gabbed for a bit. She turned 50 yesterday and had a small get together for a fish fry and Tuck played/sang at the local hang out.
Her daughter Michelle's birthday is today, so Happy Birthday to Michelle!


All I did last weekend while sick was watch tv and do laundry on Sunday. The front of the house I live in is now vacant and ready to be rented. It is very quiet around there and I am now in charge of feeding the cat, Bandit, that the landlord left behind and then a goldfish that the renters rescued from the pond last fall. Yes, I have an 8' in diameter pond with a waterfall going into it. I actually used the hot tub last Sunday for I think the 2nd time. It was quite nice just to sit in there and soak up the heat, with the sun shining down on you and all around you are snow-capped mountains. Quite breathtaking.

I am feeling better now, even with the slight cold I have. We were quite busy at the pharmacy this week and did over 215 on Thursday. That is a lot with 2 pharmacists and 1 tech. But, we made it through and my work week there is done. Just today working here at the EconoLodge and then Sunday off.

I got my tax refunds back yesterday. I am going to stop downtown and look around for an inexpensive laptop. And then keep my eye out for a digital camera.

I am also earning money this weekend by dog sitting for Misty, the terrier mix. The store manager and his family are going to Albuquerque to visit his sister and didn't want to travel with Misty, who gets sick on long trips.

Talking about trips, I checked on air fare for Manley, as Jacque would really enjoy seeing him at the end of May when I fly up. I thought I could afford maybe a $100. round-trip for him, but it is $150. EACH WAY. So, Manley will be staying in Colorado, sad to say! I even had the required crate available for me to use, but no matter now!

My sister Jacque sewed an apron for her granddaughter. It is very bright!! I love it though!
She uses the talent that she has. Jacque had her birthday this last Monday. She had to wait until I got home and called her before she opened her presents from me. She really liked the suncatchers I got her too!

I just realized the other day that my library has a drive-through book drop off. How neat is that?? You don't even have to get out of your car! They make things very convenient for people now.

I have a really good friend here in Durango who spoils me. Catherine is my boss's wife and we met over a year ago through the pharmacy. She has 2 daughters who are very nice. We go for walks downtown with her German Shepherds and my Golden Retriever. She loves to bake and so Thursday she called the pharmacy and wanted to know if I liked lemon/blueberry muffins. Of course! So she dropped off 2 of them and I shared with Jeff, the pharmacist. I then called her later and thanked her again. They were scrumptious!!! I told her she can drop off anything she wants, and anytime.

I got a recipe from my neighbor last week. It is Penne Pasta, cream of chicken or mushroom soup, breakfast or Italian sausage, green peppers, parmesan cheese and pimentos. Just boil the noodles, fry up the sausage (broken apart) and bake for about 30 minutes. I added green beans into mine just for alittle veggie, and it was quite good! The sausage does all of the flavoring, so you really don't have to add any salt or pepper. Add alittle 1/2 & 1/2 or milk when you reheat it to keep it moist.

I also got a recipe off of the food channel for a salsa verde dipping sauce/chicken rub. It contains olive oil, basil, paprika, cilantro, hot peppers, roasted red chiles (from a jar), lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, onions, and garlic. Just puree, flavor to your taste, rub it on the chicken (under the skin) and pan fry it til crispy/tender and dip pieces in the sauce for even more flavor. Remember, as it sits in the frige, the sauce gets hotter.

And, I now eat my lettuce with tomatoes, fresh mushrooms, green onions and seedless cucumbers soaked in that dressing I make---olive oil, small amount of apple cider vinegar, some ginger, garlic salt and red cayene pepper. No refrigeration needed. I soak the tomatoes the longest, then just add the cucumbers, onions and mushrooms, stir, then put that combination on the lettuce. It is quite tasty!!

The weather is sunny and getting warmer today, like up in the 50's. The same for tomorrow so I will be taking the dogs for a nice hike. I still have a foot or more of snow in some places in my yard. Hopefully it will melt this weekend, so I can have muddy paw prints all over--fun fun!!

Time to go to work and accomplish something. You all have a nice weekend and hope your weather is sunny and warm!
Love you all,
Julie

GUEST SPEAKER Today!

Hi! My name is Jacque. I am Julie's older sister...older by 22 months. You may read my blog HERE. Julie is home sick today, so has no computer access. She phoned me from her sickbed this a.m. and asked me to be a Guest Speaker on her blog! I am honored to do so.

I spent most of the day wondering what to write about. Then, decided I would share some photos with you...and a few fun facts that you, perhaps, did not know about my younger sister.

So. Here are some interesting tidbits:


*At some point in her teenage years, she decided that she wanted to be called Julia. Not sure how long that lasted, but it was a pain in the butt, as she wouldn't answer you unless you called her Julia.

*Her Confirmation name is Bernadette (it's a Catholic thing).

*Julie used to work as a cow milker. Yup, that means she actually milked cows for money! She also once worked as a gas station attendant...pumping gas for people (remember those days?).

*On her 18th birthday, she became very sick from the alcohol she consumed...shots, weren't they?

*When I was 18 years old, Julie told me that I am an angel. (I believe she's right about that!)

*Julie once owned a German Shepherd Dog named Rebel.

*She went to see Billy Ray Cyrus perform when he was popular with "Achy Breaky Heart" (I think she did, anyway. At the very least, she was hot for him!)

*She once had a fling with a guy named 'Banana'.

Though there are many more interesting tidbits I could share with you, I am out of time. Perhaps Julie will ask me to be a Guest Speaker again!

Thank you for reading!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here are some adorable photos from Julie's early years...

Julie will be back next Saturday.

Enrique and Tag E. Butt

I have to thank my sister Jacque for turning off my snow effect and adding Enrique. I just love him , ya know! I have a few of his cd's. In fact, Manley's full registered name is Hyline's I'm Your Man. I'm Your Man is one of Enrique's songs from about 8 or 9 years ago. And seeing the breeder and I were expecting Manley to be a champion show dog/stud, it seemed appropriate. (Hyline is the kennel name, for those unaware.)
And thank you for adding pictures of Tag. I was laughing so hard I was crying, especially the water bowl one! Such good memories of little Tag. Thanks again Jacque!
Love,
Julie

Lights out at the EconoLodge

Good morning all! The lights over my desk are not working, so it seems like I am sitting in the dark to those who come in for the continental breakfast. Some would say that I am always in the dark. :) Thought I'd put that out there before you all can make the comment!!

So, how is everyone's week going?? It has been an okay week. Work was busy on Monday and Tuesday, then slowed waaaayyyy down the next 3 days. I got a few extra things done that are the Senior Techs jobs--recalls from the manufacturer, ups, checking expiration dates.....

Funny story. I had left work about 15 minutes early yesterday. So at 5:20 I drove in my driveway and into the garage. I got groceries unloaded and started walking up to the house, just minding my own business. There is a hot tub on my way to the back door which leads into the laundry room. So there sat the hot tub, 1/2 open and empty, with 2 glasses sitting on the rim, and 2 robes on the ground next to it. So guess who must have jumped out of the hot tub and run inside so I wouldn't see them or talk to them. Surprise!! Surprise!!


Last Saturday I left here and went home and just veged in front of the tv. I was so exhausted that I had no energy. I was in bed sleeping by 9:00 and got out of bed at 7:00. I took the dogs for a hike, then I cleaned my place, started my 6 loads of wash at 11:00 and got done at 5:00. I watched most of the Super Bowl entertainment and then the Super Bowl. Too bad the Cardinals lost, as Joyce had a bet on the game, and I didn't really care to have Pittsburg win again.

By this time next week the people who live in the front of the house that I do will be gone. I guess he got a job in Phoenix. My landlord has put the house on the market, but may already have a buyer---a friend of his who would like me to stay, then they can draw the income from me. Joe is looking out for me and knows I do not want to move. Either today or tomorrow he will be hanging a new door on the north side of the house for me. I have a hard time keeping it latched, as I think the house has settled. I put the dog food can in front of it, just in case!!

You should have seen Manley the other night. He was next to the recliner that I was in and just minding his own business. Misty was playing with a toy, which happened to roll onto the end of his tail. (Remember, he does not like his butt or tail monkeyed with by other animals.) So he gave a low growl and looked at me. I told him that it was ok to let her know she was in his space, so the next time the toy touched his tail, he snapped at her, and then she really backed off. Good girl! He has learned a lot of patience since we have moved down here, with all of the kittens, and with me taking care of other dogs.

Pretty soon Tag E. Butt will be Manley's age---like tomorrow! Happy Birthday Tag!!

I have been looking up airfare prices to Wisconsin for the last week in May. I'm not sure where I will be flying into but will let you all know when I do! So please don't make too many plans for that last week, as I want to visit with my family in Eau Claire, Wausau and Madison, and with my friends in Madison. I will be going to Los Alamos for Memorial Day weekend, as Jenni, Trent and Joyce will be there at that time too. I hope Jody will have me! I have not make my reservation with her yet. Best call and do that soon, as I hear the place is filling up. It should be a fun time! I hope we go out to eat at Gabriel's, as that is THE best place for Mexican food. Their avocado dip is fantastic, as are their margarita's.

Lots of plans to make and arrange with you all for the end of May. Any suggestions are welcome.

Time to get to running some reports here at work. Have a great day and stay warm.
Love, Julie