Carnival Cruise to Baja California Vacation

Every vacation I take, I make a photo book.  I have one for my trip to New York City in 2006, Europe 2011, Europe 2012, Oregon 2013 and now this Baja California Cruise 2014.  I love making these books and displaying them in my house.  Here is a link to the book I made for vacation this year.  Carnival Cruise to Baja California.  Fabulous time, I can't wait to book my next one.  

Click here to view this photo book larger

Going Back To School At 36 Years Old

So I have been keeping this quiet since January, but I figured now I can announce it.  I am officially enrolled to go back to school.  I started the enrollment at TMCC (Truckee Meadows Community College) in January and not that the tuition is paid and books are bought and enrollment is complete I feel confident that I'm not backing out now.  LOL  I start school for the 1st Summer Session which happens to start the Tuesday after I get back from my cruise. My first day back to work after vacation is also my first day of school.  Eeks!!   Good timing huh??  LOL 

I am feeling pretty good about it.  I have actually already registered for a summer session 1 class, Summer Session 2 class and also registered for my classes for the Fall Semester.  I'm ready to go.  

I was very lucky that all of m credits from my time at University of Phoenix transferred so I have most of my gen-ed credits already.  

The only part that really sucks is now it is required to have 14 credits of a foreign language to receive you AA.  Ugh.  Of course this would happen.  Boys and Girls, This is why it never pays to put things off and procrastinate.  Now I have no chocie but to get through these.  Which of course equals 4 semesters so this is going to take 2 years at the minimum no matter what. They may be the only classes I'm taking those last semsters but it is still going to be what hold me up.  Oh well.  Best to get it started now so I can get it done and transfer back to UNR (University of Nevada, Reno) quicker. 

Here is to learning and becoming educated!!! :)  

Vacation in 12 Days!

It's getting closer.  I am now starting to get excited again for this break from my reality.  In less than 2 weeks I will be on a plane headed down to LAX to then board the cruise ship and escape everything and everyone here at home in Reno, NV. 

Ok, Vacation... Let's Do This!!!

I'm 6 Years Sober!

A gift from my friend, Brandi. Thank you! 

So today I am 6 years sober.  Wow!  6 years!  I can't believe it. Most days I feel like it has flown by, but I will be honest and say the past 6 months has made this journey feel much , much longer.

So today means a little more to me than past anniversaries.  It's been a very difficult 6 months, but I managed to not have a drink through it, so that is saying something, right?  I know I was having a difficult time the beginning of last year too but this year was much harder for me.  I am still recovering from it and just like my sobriety, I am taking it one day at a time.  It's the best I can do, and I'm great with that.

I'm patting myself on the back and giving myself a huge hug.
I think it's about time for my next Tiffany and Co. charm too.  I haven't had one since year 2. Time to treat myself. :)

New Couches!!!

So about 11 years ago I ordered new couches that, when delivered, turned out to be the wrong patter. Unfortunately the company that I ordered them from was going out of business and not able to replace them. So I took them as they were because I needed couches.  They had this flowery pattern, which were sooo NOT me.  I do have to say though, those were the most comfortable couches I have every had.  I mean, INCREDIBLY comfortable.  So I made due with them for the past decade.  Their coloring was very neutral so I was able to over look the flowers.

Well I finally decided to get some new one.

These ones are Brown Leather (well leather blend but close enough).  They will be so much easier to keep clean with my cats and all of their hair, and they too are SOOOO Comfortable.   They were delivered on Saturday. So Excited so I wanted to share how they look in my living room!

Sunday Confessions

Happy Sunday everyone!  I can't believe it's already almost over.  I need to start booking some Mondays off to have some extended weekends.  Since this is the beginning of a no holiday period for a while.    

Well my confession today is that I LOVE and am obsessed with binge watching TV shows.  I spend pretty much all of my free time watching full series of some show beginning to end.  Examples of some favorites are:

Just to name a few.  They have been keeping me pretty busy and keeping my mind distracted for a while.  Which lately is something that I have really been needing.  But now I seem to be caught up on these and need some new shows.  Any suggestions out there?  Don't hesitate to share please. :) Obviously I am a fan of crime dramas.  LOL 

Who else Binge watches?  What are your favorites? 

* Thank you Alyx, for her Sunday Confessions Inspiration.  Check out her confessions here:

My Cute and Sassy Little Munchkin

So I was sitting in the computer yesterday afternoon and I turn around and see my munchkin Cody sitting in the back if the sofa chair with his tongue sticking out. I was sure he would pull it back in any moment but he just kept sitting there like that while looking at me like I was the crazy one acting weird. I grabbed my phone to take a couple of pics. He still kept the tongue out. That is, until I decided to have some fun a I reached over to grab the tongue. He wasn't amused. Lol. Poor Cody. He's so picked on. Then again. HE was the one sticking his tongue out at ME so he may be the doing the picking. Lol. He's still so cute! 

RIP Joe R Dunham 12/24/53-2/18/03

Today is a day that is always difficult for me to get through.  Today is the anniversary of my Uncle Joe's passing.  He died 11 years ago today.  February 18, 2003.  I miss him everyday.  He died far too young and before his time. His memory never leaves me though.  I think of him daily and imagine the sound of his laugh whenever I do something silly, knowing he is watching me and laughing his heart out at it.  He always found humor in everything in life no matter how good or bad the situation was.  He didn't worry about the things in life that he couldn't change.  He enjoyed the simple things that made him happy.  I love you Uncle Joe and I love you and miss you ever single day.  Xoxo

My Uncle Joe and my Mom

My Memorial tattoo for Uncle Joe

My Cousin's matching Memorial tattoo for his Dad

RIP Joe Robert Dunham I

You are loved and you are forever remembered.

XOXO

Sunday Confessions

Well It's that time again.  Sunday....  How does Sunday always sneak up on me so fast.  Well I am here to do another Sunday Confession (Thank you Alyx for the great idea).

I am quite the Hermit. I AM an Introvert.  I love to stay home and chill out by myself rather than going out among-st the world of people.  I am not much of a people person.  Really, I am pretty anti social.  People drive me crazy.  They are always creating drama out of nothing or acting like fools.  Yes I am very much an Introvert and really need my quiet alone time to re-energize myself.  If I don't get it I feel like I am climbing the walls from frustration, exhaustion and agitation.   On the bright side though,  Life is MUCH less stressful than it could be this way.  Not to mention, I really can't remember the last time I was actually bored, because I don't get bored  hanging out with myself. 

Introverts can be really misunderstood and misrepresented.  We aren't afraid of the world or necessarily shy.  We don't lock ourselves up in our houses and refuse to interact with anyone.  We just prefer time alone over time around large groups.  I don't completely avoid the world.  I just prefer it in small doses and I prefer not being around large groups.  Too many people around just exhausts me.  I like small gatherings.  2-3 people at most.  Quiet evenings with close friends or alone.  The silence and time alone will energize me where the time around a lot of people will exhaust me.  

So here I am, this quiet Sunday, at home watching TV and doing odds and ends chores around the house enjoying the peace and the day.

how every you like spending you time I hope you are all having a fantastic Sunday.  I am grateful for tomorrow being Presidents Day and getting the extra day off.

Thank you Alyx, for your Sunday Confessions inspiration.

I'm Ready!

I'm Ready, I'm Ready!!!  Yeah Yeah, I know.  Just because I say I'm ready a million times doesn't make it get here any faster...  I just wish it I did. LOL.  Ok.  So Here we go!  New Countdown.  


Countdown Clocks

Countdown to Vacation

Source

I am in serious need to get out of town and away from everyone here for a while.  Vacation couldn't get here fast enough.  I am hating everyone right now and just want to sit on the ship and stare out into the ocean and forget the rest of the world exists.  95 days till the ship sails.  Hurry Hurry Hurry.  You can't get here fast enough!

Sunday Confessions - Football Withdrawals

I am obsessed with Football and I am already counting down for the 2014 season to start. I'm not ready to let go of Football Season yet. :(  It's the first Sunday of off-season and I am lost and don't know what to do with myself.  It's gonna be a long 6 months. Who else is missing Football right now??



Countdown Clocks

Sardina's, Sardina's, Sardina's.

So my friend took me to dinner for a late bday dinner Friday night. We are late with each other's bday dinners every year. Lol

You may or may not remember this post from a while back but I'm here to talk about this place again.

Well we went to my favorite restaurant, Sardina's Italian Resaurant, and enjoyed the yummiest meal ever. 

Arctic char with lump crab and avocado topping starved over a lemon cream sauce. On the side was a mashed butternut squash with spinach and cranberry sauce.  Soooo good and worth every calorie. And I am definitely gonna try making that butternut squash myself. It was amazing.

Everything I have at Sardina's is always absolutely amazing.  I have never been disappointed.  If you live in the Reno, NV area or visit here I HIGHLY recommend giving this place a try.  

New Vacation!!!!!

Source

New vacation has been scheduled.  I am booked to go on a 4 day cruise to Baja in May.  We stop at catalina Island and Ensenada.  I'm so excited because I have never been on a cruise before.  So this will be my first and I am sooo excited.  For some strange reason I seem to be most excited about the Serenity Area.  I guess that means I 'm in some serious need of rest and relaxation with a calming view.  I'm checking out the Expeditions offered now to see what extras i want to sign up for when we dock.  The kayaking looks fun.  So does the Zip-lining. And also the Horseback Riding.  I'm excited.  I can't wait!

While writing this, it occurred to me that I never wrote a post about my trip to the Oregon Coast last June.  Well I guess I better get my pictures put together and write a post about that trip soon.  LOL

For now though...  I'm ready for a fun filled Cruise to Mexico!!!!