tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14682207639506884792024-03-14T05:34:36.951-05:00Malfunction JunctionWhere Paige-asters happen every dayPaigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01552625379617724485noreply@blogger.comBlogger1920125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468220763950688479.post-31441374059820573412014-11-21T14:30:00.000-06:002014-11-21T14:30:00.320-06:00CASA/FOP Ball 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01552625379617724485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468220763950688479.post-84014775300353050642014-11-19T10:25:00.000-06:002014-11-19T10:25:00.840-06:00How things have changed<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Looking back over the last year, much of my life has changed. If you count the last two years, it has changed even more.<br />
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I left a bad relationship that had some of the highest highs I have ever enjoyed, but also brought with it lies, deception, mental illness and more things I cannot even describe, and most definitely could not live with. I was becoming a person I do not want to be, all in the name of saving this poison relationship. I stopped that shit, as hard as it was because of the mental state I had come to, and I went all in on the man I should have been with from the beginning, and now we live in pretty happy bliss. I think that is an oxymoron. "pretty happy" and "bliss". People who know us well would laugh at that, but we really are a pretty good matched set. From my explosive over the top emotional way of seeing and dealing with the world, to his laid back roll with it attitude (not to be mistaken for apathy or passiveness by any stretch, this is a man with opinions and when it matters to him, he makes it known)- we make a pretty formidable couple. He is so smart, and I am so proud of him every day. Having the connection of our careers is really a nice bonus--we can bounce ideas off of each other and actually get somewhere. We are a very low drama but solid couple--he takes care of me when I have surgery, and he folds my clothes when I cant do it, and I make him food that he will actually eat (more often he feeds me), and he buys me shaving cream for my leg shaving obsession. I am over the top affectionate, and he is more hands off, but he is very protective of me, and does so many little things that show me he loves me. I am learning to accept that and not be scared because of my past relationships. Its taken a lot of trust but its there now, and it is a very nice place to be.<br />
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Work has changed so much. A year ago I was still getting my feet under me in private practice, gaining confidence in my new field of law, I was looking for validiation in every case. Today, I am building a pretty solid practice with my current position--I am in pretty good demand and stay super busy, and I realize now that I am what I always was--a pretty damn good lawyer with a fast mind, an ability to see where things will likely fall out and to persuade people to accept facts that need to be accepted. It took a while to climb out of the hole of being slammed in my previous position, but a little success and the respect of other attorneys and especially the judges skewed my view of myself back to what I think or hope is the accurate one. There are some major changes coming soon--within the week, probably-- and I cannot wait to see how those play out.<br />
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In other business---the horses are fine, raising themselves mostly. The dogs are still spoiled brats, especially Yadi, our baby mastiff. Family is good. My brother in law is moving to Singapore for a year, but we probably wont notice any difference since he travels so much. I dont know how he bears to leave his beautiful new house, which we visited in May. Talk about an oasis--I could live there.<br />
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Finally, its almost the holidays. I cannot tell you what a pleasure it is to know I am actually WANTED at Chris' family events. Michelle and I have a blast, and his cousin from England will be here this year--I really enjoy her. There is not once I have thought I was not welcome or even wanted there like I always felt with my ex-husbands family, and even my own family sometimes. Its a nice way to live that may be thawing my hatred toward the holiday season. Last year, we went damn near to Memphis for Thanksgiving night, gambled, then went to Reelfoot Lake to eat, and Chris got to meet all sorts of people in my family. He is still around so I guess it did not ruin him (although to be fair, he did not get Brenda, or crazy Larry). This year will be a little less active so we can recharge from our crazy seasons, and I am so looking forward to being with Chris every day like we are now, and enjoying each other's families at a much more comfortable level now that the new has worn off this relationship. (A little history: we could not be together on our first holiday season--we were too new, I went to Qatar, then we got off track). The second one had other complicating factors and it made me so sad that I swore it would not happen again. And it has not, and I think it won't. We are our own little family now, and we like it.<br />
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Maybe this posting is not so hard after all...</div>
Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01552625379617724485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468220763950688479.post-62869260038819294552014-11-17T20:40:00.000-06:002014-11-17T20:40:01.749-06:00November news<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I am just out of surgery 13 (I think) and back to working like a fiend--and I still love it. I have started selling Rodan + Fields skin care, which is the last thing I ever thought I would be doing, but there you have it. If you are looking for a consultant, hit me up--I run great specials. Email me at paigesrandf@gmail.com<br />
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There are a lot of changes happening in my office, but I cannot really talk about them yet. That is frustrating.<br />
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For some reason, even posting here seems weird. I am not sure I can even make myself do it. </div>
Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01552625379617724485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468220763950688479.post-56319088948129875222014-08-30T13:28:00.004-05:002014-08-30T13:28:52.057-05:00Old friends<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Yesterday was Vanessa's birthday, and that means that 4 out of 5 of the people in this picture have been friends for more than 30 years. That is a LONG time. Sarah (in the middle) is a new addition but she fitw right in with all the rest of us. We celebrated Vanessa's birthday by going to a .38 Special concert Thurday night, then hacing dinner and drinks Friday night. Because I am the good girl, I went home early, but evidently they ended up on a boat before the night was over. <br />
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Evidently, we get older but we do not grow up<br />
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Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01552625379617724485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468220763950688479.post-37259975616125455362014-08-27T20:50:00.001-05:002014-08-27T20:50:31.593-05:00Yadi's birthday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Yadi turned a year old on July 23. He was not thrilled with the hat situation, which is kind of odd for a dog who willingly wore green fairy wings at a bonfire. </div>
Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01552625379617724485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468220763950688479.post-25222642367266696342014-08-25T17:59:00.000-05:002014-08-25T17:59:36.648-05:00Back by request<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Im back again! I am not sure how to catch up from not posting in almost a year, but once again, someone has mentioned it and said they missed it, so maybe I should try to get back to posting.<br />
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Some things have changed since last year when I posted last--we are far down in number of horses. Thank God. There are two babies this year and there will be no more. I have lost interest in it and doing business with horse people makes me hate the world--I am currently waiting for owed money from a prominent trainer who is lying to me all the time. I can get that at work and get paid $200 an hour for it, so there is no reason to put up with it for free from horse people. Thank you, no. I just won't play anymore.<br />
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Work is awesome. We are becoming a pretty serious team, and are getting some great results for our clients. I am doing a lot of family law, but I still do criminal law and appeals, and it is fun to change things up. I like being with the trial court attorneys because they are so quick on their feet and there is a lot of cameraderie. I'm feeling far more comfortable in newer areas of the law than I ever thought I would by this point.<br />
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Yadi, the puppy, is a big ol boy now. He just turned 13 mnonths. The last time I had him weighed was at 10 months and he weighed 109 pounds. He is a funny dude--very lazy, kind of simple, typical Mastiff. He is completely in love with Chris, and could take me or leave me. Tweak and Taser are good too.<br />
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I just had surgery AGAIN. This was number 12, I think. Hopefully I am close to the end, but so many of my surgeries have been from complications, that I am afraid to believe it is almost over. Its been two years since the first surgery. Right now, my boobs are way too big, so that has to be dealt with--boob lipo, who knew there was such a thing? Its been two weeks since my last surgery and I still cannot get through a full day of work without cutting out early, or taking a three hour nap lunch to nap in the middle of the day. BUT I can tell you that I just bought a formal dress for a charity event that is stick straight and fitted and it looks pretty damn good. I never thought I would see that again.<br />
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I will try to start posting more. Right now, I need to go look for Bocephus---its 100 degrees and he has not come for his snacks. That is not Peeg like</div>
Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01552625379617724485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468220763950688479.post-36944110760167678712013-11-06T15:04:00.003-06:002013-11-06T15:04:32.909-06:00Oh so true<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://wittyandpretty.com/2013/10/18/what-a-girls-pet-says-about-her-and-her-dating-style/" target="_blank">A girl's pets</a><br />
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This is a fine look into the brain of a girl and her animals, and what they mean. Looks pretty true to me</div>
Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01552625379617724485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468220763950688479.post-88292524178882311542013-11-04T21:22:00.001-06:002013-11-04T21:22:30.705-06:00Spare jackass<p dir=ltr>This neighborhood donkey has turned up again. His owners came to fetch him but the ol boy does not want to go home. Evidently his horse died, then his pony died and hes all full of the lonely right now.</p>
<p dir=ltr>I heard a rumor that his owners were going to ask if he could just stay Here since hell probably just keep coming back and since they can't catch him anyway.....sure enough, his owner came over yesterday to see if jack can stay.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Yep, that's his name. Jack. </p>
<p dir=ltr>Jack loves Fonzie but Sly wants no part of that. There has been some chasing and snorting at each other, but unless Jack gets too close to Fonzie, all seems OK out there.</p>
<p dir=ltr>I don't want a donkey, let alone an intact one. Looks like i have one though. Cross your fingers it doesn't backfire</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNIEgOOufIRKsC6YLOBIpsqhPmEX7OILPFrTW8N5QnKzT2nM4VhOcfqU9px9JdkADmvdgTcvOM5WXv9hXhgelYt40m09sx3z8Ka7gZU1eMFo5s9nBVrq-UU6V4bEdS-OxRPde1Bj_niY_/s1600/IMG_20131029_075129_350-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNIEgOOufIRKsC6YLOBIpsqhPmEX7OILPFrTW8N5QnKzT2nM4VhOcfqU9px9JdkADmvdgTcvOM5WXv9hXhgelYt40m09sx3z8Ka7gZU1eMFo5s9nBVrq-UU6V4bEdS-OxRPde1Bj_niY_/s640/IMG_20131029_075129_350-1.jpg"> </a> </div>Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01552625379617724485noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468220763950688479.post-54887045987096439172013-11-04T18:49:00.001-06:002013-11-04T18:49:17.336-06:00Idiots<p dir=ltr>This is the biggest pack of idiots I have ever gone around with, but I've never had more fun. We took this photo to blow up for a missing members new apartment because we think we are funny. </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TmDC-OjgjGkysJmDB409WdbG_tYdO9a6sAZyHIt-HGLcyXPwR6smcFuqHFNAp25lcUF5tpU8aK5rG7VsR2ufuu-8WQ3HrThqG9I83UPf4G09RfiK2d2GLVFmmFx8hO7BsFfGLQWlNRpI/s1600/IMG_20131104_184315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TmDC-OjgjGkysJmDB409WdbG_tYdO9a6sAZyHIt-HGLcyXPwR6smcFuqHFNAp25lcUF5tpU8aK5rG7VsR2ufuu-8WQ3HrThqG9I83UPf4G09RfiK2d2GLVFmmFx8hO7BsFfGLQWlNRpI/s640/IMG_20131104_184315.jpg"> </a> </div>Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01552625379617724485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468220763950688479.post-25457487474035747902013-10-06T00:42:00.000-05:002013-11-04T21:43:07.526-06:00More home repair disasters....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
An exploded water line can do more damage than one thinks. Quite likely due to hiring people not licensed and bonded--- or for a totally other reason-- all hell has broken loose in the master bath. All the new custom cabinetry must be redone, floor ripped up and rebuilt,....well over 400 s q feet of not cheap materials or labor. We are hoping to save the shower unit and jacuzzi tub,<br>
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What's important is that ITS JUST MONEY......AND THATS WHY IM WELL INSURED. Or so i thought...the adjuster seems to think contractors work for 1982 rates still.<br>
<br></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">From the time I started this post, until now, it has been more than a month. The bedroom floor and closet have been redone with dark hickory hand scraped floors. Nothing has happened in the bathroom yet but at least we are back in the king size bed instead of living in a guest room.<br>
<br></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I hear this should all be done by the end of the week. Six weeks with your house torn up is a long time. Who would have ever thunk I'd care about the house being a disaster but this is making me crazy<br>
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Man, does this hit home! It is posted today on <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kate-bartolotta/happiness-tips_b_3956114.html" target="_blank">Huffington Post</a></div>
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The covers of most men's and women's magazines have similar headlines: "Get Great Abs" and "Have Amazing Sex."</div>
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From the looks of it, these two issues have been recycled over and over (with some other stereotypically gender-relevant articles thrown in) on every <em style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Men's Health</em>,<em style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Maxim</em>,<em style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cosmopolitan</em> and <em style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Glamour</em> cover since the dawn of time. In fact, I'd bet that if we could get a better translation of cave drawings, they would read something like "Grok get flat belly. Make girl Grok moan with joy."</div>
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And we keep buying them. We keep buying this lie that these things will make us happy. I've had washboard abs (past tense) and I've had some pretty phenomenal sex. Neither one made me a better person. Neither one completed me or made my life more fulfilling.</div>
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We chase this idea of "I will be happy when... "</div>
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I will be happy when I have a new car. I will be happy when I get married. I will be happy when I get a better job. I will be happy when I lose five pounds. What if instead we choose to be happy -- right now?</div>
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If you can read this, your life is pretty awesome.</div>
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Setting aside our first-world problems and pettiness, if you are online reading this, you have both electricity and WiFi or access to them. Odds are you are in a shelter of some sort, or on a smart phone (and then kudos to you for reading this on the go). Life might bump and bruise us, it may not always go the way we plan and I know I get frustrated with mine, but here's the thing: You are alive.</div>
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Because you are alive, everything is possible. So about those eight tips...</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1. Stop believing your bullshit.</strong></div>
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All that stuff you tell yourself about how you are a commitment phobe or a coward or lazy or not creative or unlucky? Stop it. It's bullshit, and deep down you know it. We are all insecure 14 year olds at heart. We're all scared. We all have dreams inside of us that we've tucked away because somewhere along the line we tacked on those ideas about who we are that buried that essential brilliant, childlike sense of wonder. The more we stick to these scripts about who we are, the longer we live a fraction of the life we could be living. Let it go. Be who you are beneath the bullshit.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">2. Be happy now.</strong></div>
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Not because <em style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Secret </em>says so. Not because of some shiny happy Oprah crap. But because we can choose to appreciate what is in our lives instead of being angry or regretful about what we lack. It's a small, significant shift in perspective. It's easier to look at what's wrong or missing in our lives and believe that is the big picture -- but it isn't. We can choose to let the beautiful parts set the tone.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">3. Look at the stars.</strong></div>
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It won't fix the economy. It won't stop wars. It won't give you flat abs, or better sex or even help you figure out your relationship and what you want to do with your life. But it's important. It helps you remember that you and your problems are both infinitesimally small and conversely, that you are a piece of an amazing and vast universe. I do it daily -- it helps.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">4. Let people in.</strong></div>
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Truly. Tell people that you trust when you need help, or you're depressed -- or you're happy and you want to share it with them. Acknowledge that you care about them and let yourself feel it. Instead of doing that other thing we sometimes do, which is to play it cool and pretend we only care as much as the other person has admitted to caring, and only open up half way. Go all in -- it's worth it.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">5. Stop with the crazy making.</strong></div>
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I got to a friend's doorstep the other day, slightly breathless and nearly in tears after getting a little lost, physically and existentially. She asked what was wrong and I started to explain and then stopped myself and admitted, "I'm being stupid and have decided to invent lots of problems in my head." Life is full of obstacles; we don't need to create extra ones. A great corollary to this one is from <em style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Four-Agreements-Practical-Personal/dp/1878424319" style="border: 0px; color: #6aa3b1; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">The Four Agreements</a></em>, by Don Miguel Ruiz: Don't take things personally. Most of the time, other people's choices and attitudes have absolutely nothing to do with you. Unless you've been behaving like a jerk, in which case...</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">6. Learn to apologize.</strong><br style="border: 0px; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;" />Not the ridiculous, self-deprecating apologizing for who you are and for existing that some people seem to do (what's up with that, anyway?). The ability to sincerely apologize -- without ever interjecting the word "but" -- is an essential skill for living around other human beings. If you are going to be around other people, eventually you will need to apologize. It's an important practice.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">7. Practice gratitude.</strong></div>
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Practice it out loud to the people around you. Practice it silently when you bless your food. Practice it often. Gratitude is not a first world only virtue. I saw a photo recently, of a girl in abject poverty, surrounded by filth and destruction. Her face was completely lit up with joy and gratitude as she played with a hula hoop she'd been given. Gratitude is what makes what we have enough. Gratitude is the most basic way to connect with that sense of being an integral part of the vastness of the universe; as I mentioned with looking up at the stars, it's that sense of wonder and humility, contrasted with celebrating our connection to all of life.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">8. Be kind.</strong></div>
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Kurt Vonnegut said it best (though admittedly, and somewhat ashamedly -- I am not a Vonnegut fan): "There's only one rule that I know of, babies -- 'God damn it, you've got to be kind.'"</div>
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Kindness costs us nothing and pays exponential dividends. I can't save the whole world. I can't bring peace to Syria. I can't fix the environment or the health care system, and from the looks of it, I may end up burning my dinner.</div>
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But I can be kind.</div>
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If the biggest thing we do in life is to extend love and kindness to even one other human being, we have changed the world for the better.</div>
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That's a hell of a lot more important than flat abs in my book.</div>
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Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01552625379617724485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468220763950688479.post-51568958378992576262013-09-23T19:37:00.001-05:002013-09-23T19:37:15.590-05:00Our new baby...Yadi<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is our new baby boy the first day he came home, about a week ago. He is an English mastiff, born on July 23. We are having so much fun with him, even though I am way out of practice with puppy raising. Of course, he loves Chris the most, but so does everyone else, so I'm getting used to it<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLI9HjAXmiK2WBnCTJF7ub89trLt5Lla_J1Hjxy8TBufUVVAELU_k91FkW0_LgKsXr8MChBeZCO9hVQlOwBmyyJz0MJkeR4zXiGlySP6MTs2UkIxXSdG6oMlhRvNmFBPgrcKIPjLXxsNlm/s640/blogger-image-1639341178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLI9HjAXmiK2WBnCTJF7ub89trLt5Lla_J1Hjxy8TBufUVVAELU_k91FkW0_LgKsXr8MChBeZCO9hVQlOwBmyyJz0MJkeR4zXiGlySP6MTs2UkIxXSdG6oMlhRvNmFBPgrcKIPjLXxsNlm/s640/blogger-image-1639341178.jpg"></a></div></div>Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01552625379617724485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468220763950688479.post-33668900826099573182013-09-14T03:20:00.001-05:002013-09-14T03:20:48.272-05:00GratefulWe had a great week...friends to hang with, extra time spent with Chris, and a bonfire at Teri's tonight. Perfectly relaxed evening until the boys got into it over who knows the best gob pile to climb in the jeeps. That led to whose jeep is best and next thing you know, we are off roading through some seriously shocking terrain.<div><br></div><div>And yes it was fun. But we went from Wednesday pool-palooza, which was awesome and likely our farewell to summer, to freezing our asses off in jeeps with no windows atop a gob pile. And is that something only southern Illinois people know about, or is it more universal? How bout some train trestle action? We had all that, including getting lost on the gob pile, which is likely better suited to 4 wheelers than new jeeps, and then we had a techno dance party in the middle of a creek bed in BFE. It's possible I started getting fussy around then.... That's the sort of stuff we did in high school, long before we had houses, yards, mortgages, etc. and I loved it then. Had it not been 50 degrees and me improperly dressed for it, I would have been in better humor, and better able to appreciate the reminiscing and reenactments of 25 years ago. Now that I am warm in bed listening to him snore, i am reminded it was another experience for us and I can be a little more gracious and allow that it was fun, even if we got beat up in the jeeps, and I almost froze to death .</div><div><br></div><div>In all, though, Friday the 13th was good to me again, short of a few dilemmas I don't want to deal with right now. I'm happy, I'm cared for, I'm amused and I love the characters that have become stock in my life. I love that Chris enjoys it with me, so it's something we can share. That is priceless.</div><div><br></div><div>I am grateful that compared to this time last year, or the year before, that my world is filled with so much amazing. And I see no sign of it doing anything but improving every day. How bout that for amazing?</div><div><br></div><div>Stay tuned for more adventures I have to chronicle for you.....</div>Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01552625379617724485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468220763950688479.post-75035164114467986522013-09-12T18:47:00.000-05:002013-09-12T18:47:10.810-05:00Labor Day Adventure<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Michelle had this big idea that what we needed to do more than anything in the world was go ziplining. So we did--Chris, his sister and his niece Rayne.<br />
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It was surprisingly fun, and I did not even get almost pitched out of a moving vehicle on the way like when I went with AmyB in Belize.<br />
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I am no kind of afraid of heights and love this stuff. That wiggly bridge though was a little hairy when someone else got on it and bounced like hell.<br />
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Isnt there some saying about this? The couple that swings from trees together, stays together? No? Well, there should be.<br />
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Suffice it to say, he was way better at climbing that damn wall than I was.<br />
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This one rope bridge was pretty cool too.<br />
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I fell off of here. Twice. I blamed it on my fingernails being too long and my feet being too big, but I am pretty sure no one believed that bullshit<br />
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Michelle was really good at it too.<br />
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This was a little wall that you just scramble over--maybe 10-12 feet tall. That I could do<br />
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I knew better than to try this tight rope business. No one was great at that<br />
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Dumb things that kept crossing my mind during this adventure---I am pretty sure when Dr Brandt said I could get back to my normal activities SLOWLY, he did not mean to climb a wall, swing through the trees and jump off stuff---and thank you sweet baby Jesus I no longer have a belly that gets in the way of everything! But I better get back to work, because these legs are getting weak and jiggly--not okay at all</div>
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It was a good day--but now Michelle is talking about jumping out of airplanes. I guess I can do that, even if the thought has crossed my mind that someone in this family may well push me out. Its almost like being with my own family! </div>
Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01552625379617724485noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468220763950688479.post-8834514579596094522013-08-14T21:48:00.001-05:002013-09-12T15:24:59.580-05:00Is there such a thing as being TOO self-aware?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I am not one of those people who does not know what is going on in her head or why it is going on. I am sure there are some people who would disagree but this is not something I question--I TRY really hard to understand how my brain works. My counselor says there are people with issues, and people with insight into their issues and I am the second kind. However, knowing WHY I feel the way I do, and do the things I do is not helping me change things that I need to change.<br />
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For example, today I am having one of those days where being in pain is causing me to crack a little bit. I know it will be gone by tomorrow, so I should not indulge it or let it bother me much, but all I want to do is cry. <br />
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And about WHAT? My life is awesome. I have good things happening in my family--Dad is cancer free as of yesterday, Mandy moves in her new house tomorrow, and mom is going to Houston to see her grandchildren. I love my job, more all the time and actually enjoy being there, although I am struggling to get through the days especially if it is not super busy, because I just do not have the stamina to stay upright, wearing clothes, for nine hours. I have good friends who are fun to be around and are good people that I am proud to know. I have a brilliant boyfriend who cares about me and makes me laugh about the most absurd things, but that gets me in lots of ways that really matter. So life is good.<br />
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Its got to be these damn pain meds that are making me crazy.<br />
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It better just hurry up and get over, because I am losing patience with myself, I cannot imagine the rest of the world must feel!</div>
Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01552625379617724485noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468220763950688479.post-74617135419374583292013-08-09T00:38:00.001-05:002013-08-09T00:38:06.640-05:00Getting better every day<p dir=ltr>Its been a rough couple of weeks, since I had surgery again at the end of July, but I'm getting stronger every day.</p>
<p dir=ltr>More importantly, and way more fun, work is great. Im learning new things every day, and then learning how much more I need to learn.</p>
<p dir=ltr> Chris is even more swell. We have such a good time together, on so many levels. I may have gotten it right finally. I'm very content and satisfied with how we are growing into a team. </p>
<p dir=ltr>Because everything else has changed, so has our circle of friends. The old standbys are still here but we have also added some fun people. Most are job related people which makes me even more sure that trial court is where I belong. Its not often you get such clear confirmation of a decision, but I'm getting it.</p>
<p dir=ltr>Finally. My sister has moved back to re US and bought a house in cypress, Texas. Its still under construction but will be done next week. </p>
<p dir=ltr>So all is well here in the world. </p>
Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01552625379617724485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468220763950688479.post-7790147691226751582013-07-07T21:42:00.001-05:002013-07-07T21:42:07.811-05:00What a great summer so far<p dir=ltr>This has been a whirlwind summer. We have had company all the time, run all over the Midwest playing and generally had a blast. </p>
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I have had a lot of help around here lately to get things fixed up. This weekend, the whole place finally got properly weedeated and mowed, the house pasture got mowed, tree branches were cut off the roof of my house and fence lines, trees were cut out of the fence line, all of the landscaping was ripped out of the back because it was out of control, the pool got clean, brush got burned, you name it, it happened. I have had a great bunch of guys helping me and it has actually been pretty fun. I love coming home and seeing what happened when I was gone.</div>
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Friday night, I conned Chris into helping me burn brush, and we ended up having a pile of people over for a bonfire. It was a lot of fun and work got done too.</div>
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Saturday morning, my garage door openers got replaced, and who would think a girl could be so excited to be able to open and close garage doors like a normal human being.</div>
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Saturday evening, we went to a grown up party at a friends' house and caught up with some people who we do not see very often and who are planning their destination wedding. It is so cute to watch them plan and be excited....and now we are halfway-seriously considering going to Jamaica in February for the festivities. We will see--a lot can change in that much time, but it is on the list of possibilities</div>
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Today I am catching up on more yard work, house work, and a little farm stuff---took new pics of the babies and doctored Trouble's ouchie. Spent some time in the pool and gossiped with some girlfriends.</div>
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I think this is how life is supposed to be---</div>
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Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01552625379617724485noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468220763950688479.post-69581008598130845962013-06-06T15:32:00.002-05:002013-06-06T15:32:35.078-05:00Justice delayed--from the Trib<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Restitution payouts slated for victims </h1>
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<tr><td style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img alt="Frank J. Calabrese" border="0" height="510" src="http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2013-06/76187369.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; width: auto;" title="Frank J. Calabrese" width="363" /><div class="small" style="color: #757575; font-family: 'Helevetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.3; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">
Frank Calabrese Sr. <span class="credit">(<span class="photographer">FBI photo</span> / <span class="dateMonth">January </span><span class="dateDay">20</span><span class="dateYear">, 2005</span>)</span></div>
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<span class="byline" style="display: block; font-weight: bold;">By Annie Sweeney, Chicago Tribune reporter</span><div class="date" style="color: #757575; font-family: 'Helevetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.8em; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 2px; padding: 0px;">
<span class="timeString" style="display: inline;">12:05 a.m. CDT</span><span class="dateTimeSeparator" style="display: inline;">, </span><span class="dateString" style="display: inline;">June 6, 2013</span></div>
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Decades after the Chicago Outfit carried out gruesome slayings by remote-control bomb, strangulation and shotgun blasts, the many victims' relatives are finally receiving $1.7 million in restitution.</div>
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The money is coming from the assets of Chicago Outfit boss Frank Calabrese Sr., who died in December in federal prison while serving a life sentence for his conviction in the landmark Operation Family Secrets trial. He was found responsible for 13 murders dating to the 1970s.</div>
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Much of the loot was discovered by federal agents in 2010 hidden in a secret compartment behind a family portrait on the wood-paneled basement wall of Calabrese's Oak Brook home. Agents found envelopes stuffed with $644,000 — mostly $500 and $1,000 bills — and hundreds of pieces of jewelry, many still in display boxes or containing store tags.</div>
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Victims are expected to receive the money in the next month after U.S. District Judge James Zagel recently approved the payout, according to court filings.</div>
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Veteran law enforcement officials said they can't recall such a large amount of restitution being released to victims' families in an organized crime case.</div>
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"They never find the money, and if you find the money, are never able to get your hands on it," said U.S. Attorney Gary Shapiro, who said the restitution was another remarkable step in the Family Secrets investigation, a massive takedown of Chicago's mob that resulted in solving 18 murders. "Just solving all these cold cases … Then to be able to prove it. To be able to find assets of mobsters. Every step of this is something that I never thought I would see."</div>
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The federal trial in summer 2007 riveted Chicago with lurid testimony about some of the most notorious gangland slayings in the last four decades, 18 in all. The tales read more like Hollywood scripts, and a mob turncoat — Calabrese's brother, Nick — gave chilling inside details of 14 of the murders.</div>
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Top mob bosses James Marcello and Joseph "Joey the Clown" Lombardo were among those convicted in connection with the gangland slayings.</div>
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The $1.7 million is coming from the assets of Calabrese alone — although he was not the only mobster ordered to pay restitution.</div>
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Shapiro credited the collection of the money to prosecutors and agents who followed it.</div>
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The proposed payout hit a snag this week. Prosecutors want to block a $30,000 payout to Michael Morawski, whose father, Arthur, was among Calabrese's victims. Prosecutors believe the money instead should go to the victims of Morawski's Ponzi scheme in which hundreds of investors lost $18 million. Morawski pleaded guilty to the fraud in federal court in Chicago and was sentenced in April to 10 years in prison.</div>
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In recordings played at trial, Calabrese told his son — who was secretly taping his father in one of the investigation's most intriguing twists — that he and two others test-fired shotguns in the west suburbs before using them to kill Arthur Morawski and his friend Richard Ortiz outside a Cicero tavern in 1983. Calabrese also explained that the hit was ordered on Ortiz, a drug dealer who had at one time paid street tax to the mob but had started making juice loans without approval.</div>
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Arthur Morawski was just a bystander, Calabrese said on the recording.</div>
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On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Gary Feinerman listened to brief arguments from prosecutors and Michael Morawski's attorney, who maintains that his client is due the money as a victim of Calabrese's murder of his father. Feinerman held off on ruling, telling both sides he had much to weigh, including the financial hardship to Morawski's fraud victims but also "the extremely unique nature of why Mr. Morawski is getting this money."</div>
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The sensitive nature of the issue was evident at the hearing when Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Wilson noted for the record that the restitution was formally ordered for Arthur Morawski's widow, not his son.</div>
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"That's kind of cruel," countered Morawski's attorney, Jeffrey Levine. "His father was gunned down with a shotgun."</div>
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Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01552625379617724485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468220763950688479.post-20213751846215440632013-06-02T23:24:00.001-05:002013-06-02T23:24:46.126-05:00Fundraiser--they can be fun<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We go to a lot of fundraiser/political/community events lately. This weekend was a softball game pitting a bunch of Prosecutors against Defense attorneys. It was held before a minor league baseball game at their field, which was way nicer than I thought it would be. I knew a whole pile of people playing, but it was particularly good to see a bunch of people I went to law school with and never see anymore. Also, it was hysterical to watch my boss, and a bunch of State's Attorneys, reliving the old days when they spent more time on the baseball field than in the court room.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiglydTjNbSQymNHKtrbcgGl2hK_w4Nwn0iSl6G6MKCP3hwhP5KVKKziiyzXfMt3lpEE93ugNU3e7drcRrLfTQQRkclWSRDgplfbYMg9hmzQmpQkosM9HQneVxzUV-SqL318aq4wZQ0-c5/s1600/neals+home+run.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiglydTjNbSQymNHKtrbcgGl2hK_w4Nwn0iSl6G6MKCP3hwhP5KVKKziiyzXfMt3lpEE93ugNU3e7drcRrLfTQQRkclWSRDgplfbYMg9hmzQmpQkosM9HQneVxzUV-SqL318aq4wZQ0-c5/s320/neals+home+run.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Chris did great though--especially considering we were up late late late Friday night for his birthday celebration. His first at-bat, he hit a home run. It was very cute.<br />
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I might be the only one who thought it was cute. But I will freely admit I am biased.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeYzvodv9C8k7L8TmKVlLOTa8m_gbeOvXnoSKsZ9URN7A4iD3RyhZ9QzPIvFO6ZPXUCEfA3Ouw9wyPNY3vR92rJ-y_fyBz5Q_38KJzeYSY8SEGJZyqd2TjIjXp06YSPbWdR5ZjRYobdhoM/s1600/neal+smiles+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeYzvodv9C8k7L8TmKVlLOTa8m_gbeOvXnoSKsZ9URN7A4iD3RyhZ9QzPIvFO6ZPXUCEfA3Ouw9wyPNY3vR92rJ-y_fyBz5Q_38KJzeYSY8SEGJZyqd2TjIjXp06YSPbWdR5ZjRYobdhoM/s320/neal+smiles+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdKpNnAifporF_7xzxFUrtk12NyDWFnpIne99kTKrmGhvNQcctFvIujBVtMXTIthlFWjVTfCbtCUL8uXwaLY4fdZgEknnMGoWrQpojVTy7AgEWT-4VGV4zWOrqPc4DA_8yfLT2Pwi3e2L/s1600/neal+close+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdKpNnAifporF_7xzxFUrtk12NyDWFnpIne99kTKrmGhvNQcctFvIujBVtMXTIthlFWjVTfCbtCUL8uXwaLY4fdZgEknnMGoWrQpojVTy7AgEWT-4VGV4zWOrqPc4DA_8yfLT2Pwi3e2L/s320/neal+close+up.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I am guessing that in this picture, he has finally realized I have been sitting by the other dugout taking pictures of him all day. That is kind of embarrassing, because he was right. That is what he gets for hiding from the camera all the time.<br />
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We got back after the regular baseball game by ten p.m. and barely made it in the house before he was snoring away. His birthday party on Friday was rowdy and kept us up late, so it is a wonder we made it that long before crashing. And you could certainly tell we are getting old when I slept til noon today then laid on the couch reading all afternoon. Even I will get up when I know someone is cooking for me!<br />
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Not a bad way to start what is going to be a crazy busy week. <br /><br />
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Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01552625379617724485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468220763950688479.post-26949304635047523452013-06-01T13:14:00.000-05:002013-06-01T13:14:11.455-05:00Babies are growing up<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01552625379617724485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468220763950688479.post-5274190923640670432013-05-30T00:05:00.002-05:002013-05-30T00:05:42.680-05:00The prettiest of them all<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I am sure I am biased, but I think it would be hard to out-pretty this little man. He is almost two weeks old----look at that face!</div>
Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01552625379617724485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468220763950688479.post-67883729764443817722013-05-20T22:41:00.001-05:002013-05-20T22:41:05.322-05:00Maybe there is a light at the end of the tunnel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
By the time I left for work before 8 this morning, there had been a couple hours of weedeating, and tree trimming at my house. It is a beautiful thing. This friend of mine is not available all the time, but what he did in a couple of hours was amazing. At lunch, I met with someone else who is also going to do some work around here so it will catch up. He starts tomorrow if it is not raining, and I cannot wait to see the results of a full day of work out there.<br />
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Its amazing how just turning down the driveway and seeing how much work there is to do was putting a damper on my attitude. Half the time I just wanted to get it bed and pretend it was not so out of control. And yes, I could stay home more and do more, but that is equally depressing. Maybe I have found a solution!</div>
Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01552625379617724485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468220763950688479.post-49115875194318280772013-05-20T07:25:00.000-05:002013-05-20T07:25:00.829-05:00Work hard play hard<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I worked my tail off last week--the whole week was spent running from one hearing or appointment or another. I am not complaining, I love it that way because it puts me on the spot to learn something right that minute. We also got some clients that have very unique fact patterns so that is very exciting.</div>
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I also spoke as the keynote speaker at a local graduation ceremony. Ponder on that for a while. That is quite a choice that school made wasnt it?</div>
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When you work that hard, you have to play hard too, just to keep the balance. Fortunately there are not photos of every stage of this play part. Thursday night, I went to see Tracy, Les, Jill and Hank, who I have not spent any time with in a year, There is no excuse for that as I love every minute of it. Chris and I intended to hang with our friend Bullard but he got caught up in something and bailed on us. That left us to just hang out and shoot the shit for a few hours until it was time to go to Open Mic night that Crystal was hosting. A good time and something different for us.</div>
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Friday I worked until time to go to the surgeon. Got back and caught up on my manicure and pedicure needs, then joined Chris and his friends for dinner and a night out. We entertained until late. It was a good time actually. In a strange turn of events, I did not sleep til noon on Saturday, even though we stayed up late talking and acting silly.</div>
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Saturday morning, I did some work and we left for the REO concert around 2.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLcKDOXzp4MDP6QCW-2uHh8KaMlp3jFa9vyTYHlYUWl6nm2K0vZ0YP5SwKdQSAtxIxvTQD3mWYXNxlpSdQIT7wmY2KqYpwHEmkr2hyphenhyphenTKxUuKNHH3bZgqZ_i-gjhTB5_em1ZgKTuPnqtiJ/s1600/reo+girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLcKDOXzp4MDP6QCW-2uHh8KaMlp3jFa9vyTYHlYUWl6nm2K0vZ0YP5SwKdQSAtxIxvTQD3mWYXNxlpSdQIT7wmY2KqYpwHEmkr2hyphenhyphenTKxUuKNHH3bZgqZ_i-gjhTB5_em1ZgKTuPnqtiJ/s320/reo+girls.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is Vanessa, Stacey, me and Christy</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfm04RiRXN4N24HO41dvTroFhrl2sognfWVmlFW4Iej5GKwG_FGXD16h2j-bCamX1CIxE7_qznF4GQuRgAhiStOQjCEeof72g8yHypaNpQmxr5CSgsL_aOcdi5J1nNF7FPVWqrNXANte0h/s1600/reo+christy+and+adam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfm04RiRXN4N24HO41dvTroFhrl2sognfWVmlFW4Iej5GKwG_FGXD16h2j-bCamX1CIxE7_qznF4GQuRgAhiStOQjCEeof72g8yHypaNpQmxr5CSgsL_aOcdi5J1nNF7FPVWqrNXANte0h/s320/reo+christy+and+adam.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Adam and Christy, demonstrating her assets.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC48nlibjjPPnHbYNr2gn59fOjXF6IGpYka3ImhiM3tBj4Junluc2TtYE8kALFzu2h1LruiHdeUOgBPCHaxyv7odCYwk8U7rXIJVJCEpSo4ca2KhWu69UOS2jsKpmj1GogEj76b_I014UX/s1600/teri+at+reo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC48nlibjjPPnHbYNr2gn59fOjXF6IGpYka3ImhiM3tBj4Junluc2TtYE8kALFzu2h1LruiHdeUOgBPCHaxyv7odCYwk8U7rXIJVJCEpSo4ca2KhWu69UOS2jsKpmj1GogEj76b_I014UX/s320/teri+at+reo.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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Teri is babysitting everyone else's assets---she seems confused as to why</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8ZTdygS4Vz9RMlYcj85PTX3czTb6ASU9DDql7PcIBEAnM-w4FvIQ0eWgqs5N4-b7NDzQV6vIlYfgl4gnJS_TmMBQkDEUqMmR8EJFrdbZtLpSNsjHcuXiyWDMHh-f9sIbkaJekugh5Bh7/s1600/reo+crystal+and+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8ZTdygS4Vz9RMlYcj85PTX3czTb6ASU9DDql7PcIBEAnM-w4FvIQ0eWgqs5N4-b7NDzQV6vIlYfgl4gnJS_TmMBQkDEUqMmR8EJFrdbZtLpSNsjHcuXiyWDMHh-f9sIbkaJekugh5Bh7/s320/reo+crystal+and+me.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This was one of Crystal's first real concerts, and her first at this venue. She had fun, I think<br />
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We all stayed at the same hotel and laughed late in the night about how funny the whole night had been. One of those "you had to be there" to really appreciate it, but it was fun. The girls headed back to town Sunday morning, and I went back to sleep. Chris came to get me at the hotel at noon (how is that a sign of things turned on their head---he didnt TAKE me to a hotel, he GOT me from one) and we headed to the Cardinals game. That is number 3 of the season so far and we are just a little over a month into the baseball season.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJh_xRq_u-sJJrDoD8kHry2Kuz02YVmsTmqFYjNZAWzN22l1CWarKpLRBrvJAhHV9wfbstYhLhhJW7yyUo85QGH5PYwOnyhM0p03OOpWI9Ai-Ezek27AMa75VEVeUzvtAL6fRlxMOv9B6/s1600/redbird+club+with+neal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJh_xRq_u-sJJrDoD8kHry2Kuz02YVmsTmqFYjNZAWzN22l1CWarKpLRBrvJAhHV9wfbstYhLhhJW7yyUo85QGH5PYwOnyhM0p03OOpWI9Ai-Ezek27AMa75VEVeUzvtAL6fRlxMOv9B6/s320/redbird+club+with+neal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We had pretty good seats, compliments of my friends who are season ticket holders but were out of the country, And as usual, we saw half the town there. And we even won, which always makes it even better.</div>
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Finally got home--after bypassing shopping despite multiple offers to take me shopping if I wanted to go, and I got a jump on some house work--mowing, laundry, list making, etc. There is just too much to do around here, and it is overwhelming. I am lining up people to help me with some projects, and hopefully they turn out to be good reliable solid people.</div>
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Ready to start this new week---bring it on.</div>
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Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01552625379617724485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1468220763950688479.post-65047212882914341902013-05-19T21:39:00.000-05:002013-05-19T21:39:02.364-05:00I am a regular Annie Oakley<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbmgiXinwhWUr-7qISizlnE7BW5LvLV2priuaErk2swvhDPlrSLFpVuqrfm31DBvN5GYfCVofOSm1OLDNv5jtgZAO88zV4Fb2uRpCrG0yBEGzVJGqBW7jLqQc_F7XvFkXvT9PudtO4btK/s1600/target.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbmgiXinwhWUr-7qISizlnE7BW5LvLV2priuaErk2swvhDPlrSLFpVuqrfm31DBvN5GYfCVofOSm1OLDNv5jtgZAO88zV4Fb2uRpCrG0yBEGzVJGqBW7jLqQc_F7XvFkXvT9PudtO4btK/s320/target.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
This is one of my targets from the first day I learned how to shoot things, last Saturday. Not bad for a rookie, huh?<br />
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Paigehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01552625379617724485noreply@blogger.com1