Not a picture of the kids, but the Adobe photoshop is temporarily out-of-order. So until than, enjoy whatever I find...

This last week as been a bit of a daze for me. Some of you know the main reason why, and then on top of that my days have been work and commute. I am enjoying the majority of the job thus far, but I leave at about 7:30 every morning and get home at about 7 in the evening. And for reasons that I can not seem to understand, I am tired. My job is not that difficult, but I am emotionally drained when I get home. I think it is more because of the drive and all the stupid people on the road. I know that my hours will change a bit when I get to the Albany branch where I am suppose to be, but my training is in Salem. Until than...I spend about $10/day on fuel.

I have two books to read for work, "Eat That Frog!" (about procrastination) and "Cheat to Win". And, we have to write reports on them. The nice thing about this is that I am working (temp-to-hire) with a company that encourages the management team to be successful, and the bad thing? is that I work with a company that expects the management team to be successful.

The kids are looking forward to the camping trip this upcoming weekend. We are going to be somewhere near the base of Mount Hood at a large lake where there will be plenty of swimming, hiking, kayaking, and lots of family. I think there will be an estimated 15-20 people. It is also going to be interesting to see how it goes, on an emotional scale. The last time that the family was all united together like this will have been during Jon's "week". I have a hunch that maybe a couple vital people may choose work over coming, but I hope that they do come. I understand why they would choose work instead, but it won't help them in the long run. But I am just guessing and figuring into something that hasn't even happened yet. :)

The kids and I visited Uncle Andy and Aunt Missy last weekend. Thoroughly had a good time. The kids love them, especially wrestling with Uncle Andy (and he always has a s...-eating grin on his face too) and they love to play with the blind cat, Stevie. I think that the girls believe their dog Willaby is a big hugging "bear", and he seems to like it too. Which is cool because when Andy and Missy first got him, he was nervous and very "barky" about things which made him anxious, i.e kids, men, strangers, knocks on the door, etc. Now, he is totally chilled out and lovable. Well, to most people anyway. :) Andy and Missy also have this big black freaked out cat that I personally find "challenging". Someday that cat will "like" me! ;) (not going to happen because this cat has a total psycho-sysmatic personality disorder!)

Well, I will keep you posted more on what is going on and hopefully the photoshop will clear itself up soon. Adios!

Today I drove to work in a silent car; no radio. On purpose. I let my thoughts come unbidded and watched to see what I would think about. I thought of Jon.

I know that he was not feeling well, and I know that it was for a very long time. And, I know that in his mind he had found the solution. This I know. But, still I wonder...why take such a permanent solution to a temporary problem/space of life? I know, I know...do not need to say it. But, do you not too think that thought? Every now and than?

Than, as I was training with the Supervisor (remember I am mentally/emotionally sensitive about death at this point because of my morning thoughts) a nice lady came in with her daughter and son-in-law to close her husband's account because he had passed away on the 20th. The Supervisor was upset because she felt very fond affection for the 'old' man, and I began to tear because I could not help but see my mom sitting in the chair telling the banker that she needed to close my brother's account. I barely held it together while I took notes on how to handle these sort of things (i.e forms needed, transfer retirement funds, etc.). The nice lady said something that could have come from the mouth of my mom, "He did not need to go and done this." and than she cried. I walked out at this point because I began to cry too.

My kids are MIA (where is Shootgun Creek?), so I am going to go find a creek somewhere and cool down. Liz style. :)

Adios.

Aunt Cindy and Natty G
"Hear me roar!" Grrr...
Something I thought was pretty cool.
Pretty girls
Nothing like popping bubbles on a hot day! (Lee, Mario, and I used to do that when we were young too)
Take that!

Sorry that it has taken me so long to write again. Well, not too sorry. :)

Work started Tuesday at World Headquarters ( I think that is a fancy name because they only have regional offices). I spent the day going over job descriptions, meeting senior staff, meeting the backbone of operations, etc. and finally got to see my "post" in Albany. Wed.-Fri. I've been in Salem working with the Teller Supervisor there; learning about the banking industry. I know nothing. Banking is a very personal business, you can learn alot about people and see alot about them too. And yet, you act like you know nothing every time you see them.

Spending time here has been nice. Today I was driving back from Salem and the air was ripe with the smell of juicy blackberries. Than as I drove on Hwy.20 I smelt the rich smell of thrashed hay, and clover. As I drove along river road the smell of the river and the cottonwoods filled the car and brought a smile to my face. North Dakota has nice smells too. Have you ever stood outside in a field and smelled the sweet, sweet grass under a bed of stars? Or, smelled the sweet peas?

I'm going to go watch the sunset with Noah.

adios.

Accepted!

I have been accepted into OSU's online Liberal Arts Program! Yeh!!

My plans for the future are moving forward! :)

Gracias

Got a job!

Just a few (LOL) things to say:

Got a job! The first two weeks of my time out here was creating resumes, doing skills tests, and having screening interviews and client interviews. One day I had just gotten out of an interview with a bank (1.5 hr) when I noticed a message on my cell. Turned out that a company that I had briefly worked with last summer had wanted me to come and talk with them about a job. (They had searched my name on the internet; called my home phone, got my cell number off it; and called my cell) I drove over and we had a small meeting about what each of us were looking over, etc. and than they said they call me if they were more interested. Meanwhile, I am thinking the bank is a flop...how could I have passed the interview? Next day the other company calls me in and we have a more detailed meeting and they tell me that they want to hire me for this and this and that my pay would be this. I indicate that I am interested, but may I discuss the job with the others that I would rely on for support? They agree and I say I'll call them back. I get out of that interview and whoa! I get info that the bank has done a criminal background check on me and than I start seriously weighing out the jobs. Obviously I have passed the interview! Back and forth my mind goes; should I go for this or should I go for that? Talk, talk, talk is what I do and think, think, think; but it is all so tough. Though, my decision gets made for me. I get a call on Thursday that says the bank is offering me the job at such and such a $/hr, and I say 'Great! Can I think about it?' They say 'yes.' By Friday I am thinking that I should go with the other company and that maybe they would increase their offer by $1.00 or $1.50; I call and I can not talk with the owner because he is in an interview. I tell my mom that they are interviewing my position and she says 'nay!' Later the owner calls me I tell him that I am very seriously considering their offer but that there is also another offer, would they be willing to increase my pay by such and such an amount? He says he'll get back to me...later he called and told my mom (I'm gone in PDX for a meeting) that they were going to hire a project manager (sort of what my title would have been) and that the new 'project manager' said to relinquish the entire position. Basically, they don't want me nor do they need me anymore. thankfully, my mom calls the bank rep. and acts as my secretary and tells them I'll accept the position. So, now I am a Teller Supervisor for a local credit union.


Yesterday was the race. It was fun. Lee wasn't able to run but for 45 min. because of her soccer training (she has a personal trainer that had kicked her ass and so hills were VERY bad for her) and plus, she was leaving for a week of training camp at the end of the day. It was nice to be there. The hills sucked, but were not too hellish (unless it is your last 1.5 mile) and I learned a couple of things:
1) If you are wearing black and white: I have to run past you...it annoys me to look at your black shorts and white shirt!
2) Walking on a steep uphill can be and IS faster than running. (Yeh, I just passed you you black shorts and white shirt woman, and don't even think I'll let you pass ME)
3)NEVER say to a runner on their last mile, "You're almost there! Good job!" Because, I want to run up and bitch slap you! You walking nazi!
4)"Breathe, you heavy foot-stomping boy. You've only gone 1 mile and already you sound like a Kentucky derby horse"
5) Repeat and repeat: "Breathe. Relax. It's all about having fun, it's all about having fun."
6)Smile when you're done...because you had a good time and enjoyed every minute it!


I had an appt. with a therapist/aura reader Friday. It was neat. I felt very focused afterwards, and I just have to remind myself the things I said...but I have to check the tape because I already forgot. :)


Yesterday I went into the garage at Lee's place, for the first time. Jon's sandels are still lying there. I just stood there for a moment imagining what Lee might have seen, and I had to walk away. I sometimes am caught unaware by a thought I'll have, "Did you have to?', or an emotion. But, honestly there is no time to think or feel such things when there are kids around.


Tonight the kids' and I will go back to Lebanon and on Tuesday I start my job.

Adios!

oh, what fun it is to play on a hot hot day in July

After Mom, Jennie, and I went and got Noah from dad's "International" rig fair, we joined the rest of the crew on the middle North Fork of the Santiam river in the Opal Creek Recreation Area. This was our swimming hole.

Aunt CJ contemplating ... Look at how crystal clear the water is! And, there were numerous fingerling trout...mom caught a 8.5". I think Mario is building her phenomenal kiddie pool; it was awesome and perfect for kids.
Aunt Mario posing in her beauty (that's her daughter Jennie next to her)
"One does not need to be thin to be graceful "
This is sooo cute! Lee and Aunt Cindy said that she kept telling everyone that they looked 'blue'
Lee taking a sun-break.
Aunt Mario and Aunt CJ balancing on the innertube...
And, than not balancing on the tube. :)
These were our "babysitters" while "mom(s)" played in the water. Lee discovered that one should NOT use river rock to build a fire pit with...it explodes. :) *Noah thought that was cool though.

I took some fun pictures at Dad's "International" rig fair, and I will post them once I learn more history on all the old rigs I saw. My dad shared with me a lot of neat and interesting things, but I want to make sure I remember them straight before posting them. Helps me from looking like an idiot...but for all the ND folks, a lot of the rigs I saw were old steam tractors that evidently were what made farming the plains possible. Guess without them tilling the soil would not have been possible. (neat)

Sunday, Dad and I, went for a little mild "off-roading" with his Scout to the top of Bald Butte. You can see it from my parent's house. This day was way too hazy for any pics to turn out well, but I hope you enjoy them nonetheless.

This is at the top of Bald Butte, looking at Green Peter Butte and in the valley, Sweet Home and Foster Lake.
This direction is looking down into the valley at McDowell Creek Park.
On the horizon sits majestic Mt. Jefferson, but it was covered in a thick blanket of billowing clouds and somewhere over in the hills is Detroit Lake.This is Green Peter Resv. From Bald Butte we could hear the hum of the motorboats and see lots of block dots on the water. :)
Do not know if this rock has a name or not, but I just liked the majestic feel of it. Imagine, without the logging I never would have seen it.
On the ridge are these amazing rock formations. They look like stacked marshmallows!

On another note: my sis had told me that we would not be doing the Triathlon thing, but a 15k instead because bro, Aaron, is not able to take time off from work. Well, a 15K is about 10 miles. So, earlier this week I ran a loop and discovered it was 8 miles and I felt good. So today I ran another loop and discovered...it was slightly over 12. I do not feel so good. My muscles hurt! I have never ran this far! It'll be interesting to see what my body brings to me tomorrow...

B-day weekend

Noah turned 8 this Sunday. A big man! Saturday Mario and mom made a dinner and delicious homemade cake (even homemade frosting!) for Noah and cousin, Lilliana. Than on Sunday some of us
bigger kids took the younger ones
for a float down the Santiam. Other than that, things have been quiet.

I have job interviews this week. I hope for a job by Friday.


Make a wish!

Yummy homemade dessert!

Water fight!

Gotcha! (but you should have seen Uncle Derek and Aunt CJ)

Quality time together...

We listened to Noah as he told us about the vastness of space, and the battle of God and the Devil for our souls. (PS he does not attend Sunday school, he said he figured this out on his own)

At the end of our 2 hr river trip. :)

"Strike a pose"

Noah's 4-legged best friend, and he is VERY protective too. (lol)