A  post in honor of our kitties!!! Gotta tell you, we really love these cats. How anyone can abuse animals is beyond me. They absolutely enrich our lives and truly do not ask for much except a little food, water, and LOVE!

I figured I could share some photos... these are old ones, but I love them!

Well, Joe and I are moving, again, next week. We decided being homeowners is just not practical for us at this point in our lives. So, back to our old apartment complex... there is just something that draws us back there. We will save money on a LOT of things.. firstly, our rent is way cheaper than our mortgage, the drive is closer for both of us to work (freeway is about 1 minute away, IF we hit the two lights outside the complex and at the on-ramp), we get free cable, don't have to pay for sewer and trash, just a cheap water bill, gee.. what else? There is a great Sprouts store 1/4 mile away, our new gym is a mile away vs. about 5-6 with a TON of traffic lights that we face now, our favorite carwash is 1/4 mile away, our dentist, and credit union are about as close, and our favorite gourmet grocery store is closer. Can't beat it! Plus, the simple life is where it's at, that is for sure!  I will post photos on my blog soon.. just as soon as I can take some new ones. My friend, Jason, who is currently in Korea, has a GREAT blog and the photos he has posted are excellent.

Mom and Dad come to visit from NJ in LESS THAN A MONTH! We are really excited!! It will be nice to spend some quality time with them, sit on the balcony, listening to the fountains and birds in the morning, while having coffee; having breakfast together in the morning, going bowling together; I can go shopping with my mom, which I haven't done in forever; we can chat, play cards together... stuff I miss so dearly. 

I am sure hoping and praying that this year winds down and is less chaotic and more financially stable for us.  Maybe 2009 will be a good year for us.. 2008 certainly has been a bear! 

Until next time...

As you could see from my previous post, I attempted to write this entry, but the damned program kicked me out.

 

Well, I finally made the decision to become a vegetarian. In fact, I know the moment I made the decision… August 26, 2008 while watching a program on WE (Women’s Entertainment). The program featured women with uncommon beliefs and one young woman in particular caught my attention. Most of you know, I am a huge animal lover and have always eaten a rather healthful diet. Over the years, I have struggled internally with the idea of eating the meat I ate.  I have contemplated becoming a vegetarian for many years and it wasn’t until I saw that program that sealed the deal for me.

 

Becoming a vegetarian is a decision I made for health and moral reasons.  A person that consumes a non-meat diet has a LOT lower risk of cancer, high cholesterol, and heart disease.  In fact, a well-balanced vegetarian diet consists of plenty of protein and nutrients a person needs.  More interestingly is the fact that Americans eat way more protein that their bodies need or that their bodies can process.  There is a fascination with eating high protein diets. Well, it is a bunch of crap… I am reading more and more information about the topic and countless studies have revealed just that. There has been great speculation about how Mr. Robert Atkins died in 2003. I truly think the reports that contradicted the initial reports were released to cover up the fact that he just wasn’t healthy.  Note that in 2002 he suffered a cardiac arrest.

 

I will not go into details about the moral issues I have with eating meat because I truly do not want to try to convert anyone, nor do I wish to freak anyone out or offend anyone.  I also do not want to try to sell ideas to anyone as if they were religions. (I really hate when the doorbell rings and someone wants me to join their religion… I have no problems with anyone’s religions, but I just don’t want someone coming to my home to recruit me). Anyway, I have viewed videos and have done a good amount of reading about the meat/poultry/fish industries and I have to say I was just sickened. I actually came to tears watching some of those videos and reading some of the information obtained through investigations.  How depraved can a person be? If you are truly interested, you can visit www.peta.org or www.kentuckyfriedcruelty.com.  Needless to say, I will NEVER step foot into a KFC, nor will my husband in support of my beliefs. Additionally, those industries contribute to the demise of our environment like you would not believe!!

 

Thanks for letting me ramble… I have not eaten meat in 11 days and I honestly feel great.  I have something to focus my energies on and to read about – something I truly believe in.  I have learned that I am the type of person who needs to have something to do with my time outside of work.  Becoming a vegetarian really actually came at a good time, especially since I am still dealing with my internal battle of everything I went through with the academy.  Go figure… I know it sounds kind of odd, but having something to re-focus on really does help. Not to mention, I LOVE to cook, so hey, I have a bigger reason to try more recipes and play with whole food. I have opened up my mind to a whole new world of flavors and alternatives, quite honestly.  It is pretty great!

 

I am so blessed to have the support of my husband. I cannot even put into words how fortunate I am to have him in my life. He is my rock, my love, and my best friend!!! He supports all the new and “crazy” ideas and knows that I am a certain way.. I have a zest for life and enjoy experiencing life… he also helps to keep me grounded when I may get a little too over-zealous with an idea. 

 Final thought (I just thought of adding this into my blogs): Thank God for the love and support of my husband. Thank God for our best friends and their three wonderful kids… Thank God for our families and friends.  Without that kind of love, is life really worth it??

Damn it! I just wrote out a really great, detailed blog about a recent decision and when I went to save it, the server would not accept it. I hit the back button and it erased my info!

Anyway, a real quick one and I will have to try again on my other one... I have a lateral tracking patella and must wear a brace and attend physical therapy 3 x's a week. As for my left leg, nerve testing (an EMG) is scheduled for 9/8.  Gotta go to the dentist.. oh, joy! (Teeth cleaning... which I loathe more than dental work). I will be grasping the dentist's chair with all my might to fight the anxiety with white knuckles and a racing heart....

Well, the transition this week was a LOT harder than I thought it would be.  It was pretty emotionally draining, actually.  I was quite surprised that things would bother me that much, but I guess I wasn't done "grieving" yet with this whole process.  I had worked so hard for something since last year and had dreamed about becoming an officer again, but as I have said, it is just not in God's plans.  He has things mapped out for us, I know this.

I haven't really worked out much this week, as I am STILL not sure what is going on with my knee.  The podiatrist appointment was this past Monday and she told me the tingling in my left foot is from my back.  I am not a doctor, but I touch the tendons or nerves along the Achilles and the top left of my foot and I get pins and needles that shoot through the heel and two small toes. That all started with the Achilles tendonitis and the stress fracture, but she says it it my back??!!  How absurd!  I go back to the Orthopedic PA this coming Monday for my MRI results and I am going to consult with him on the foot thing.  I also was given the name and number of a  GREAT Sports Medicine doctor, so I may just go see him for a second opinion.  I am also considering Acupuncture.

Anyway, back to the week... well, that was part of it I guess. Don't get me wrong, I am NOT complaining. I am so blessed I can't even put it into words. SO many people of all ranks and positions welcomed me back and were so glad to have me back on the radio and up in Communications. One new sergeant, with whom I worked a beat years ago and whom I trained for off-duty work in Communications, personally came up to see how I was doing yesterday.  I was in a meeting with my new supervisor, so I was not able to speak with that sergeant. That was so cool.  I guess I have really made a positive impact on people over the years.  It is truly humbling to have such an amazing internal support system at work.

I know I must re-shift my focus towards becoming and even more well-rounded dispatcher, work on promoting to supervisor, going back to school to finish my degree, and hopefully work my way up to administrator.

Anyway, I am going to get a massage this morning! My best friend, Steve, and I have appointments at this great place in Phoenix. It is my first time there and I hear it is absolutely beautiful and relaxaing.