It's Been Awhile...

I have been a slacker on my blog. I suppose the entire reason in the beginning was to promote my crafts and then it became somewhat of a journal somewhere along the way... Remembering that October was not only Breast Cancer Awareness month, but also Domestic Abuse Awareness month as well, I thought I would allow my blog to be seen on my Facebook page again JUST in case there may be someone bored that may actually read my blog and find my store of abuse. Again, if I can help one person, or touch one heart, then I would have accomplished why I wrote my story to begin with :)

Much has happened since I wrote last. My husband underwent a gastric bypass surgery, Taylor graduated high school, Morgan started high school and Paige went from being a toddler to a precious little girl. OH!! AND we got a pool. It's not a beautiful inground surrounded by landscape with a waterfall and gorgeous hot tub next to it, but it's a pool. It's an above ground 24' round and I spent the last few weeks figuring out what was best placed around it. My conclusion was scalloped bricks and the area from them to the pool edge I filled with lava rocks.

Of course, the pool (Doughboy) installation seemed easy enough, since we decided to go with a professional pool company, however, the pool wall has slight indentions in it. Fortunately, the pool company gave us a choice of $300 credit or a new wall and we chose the new wall~~ hands down. We also had to get 3 trees taken down, one of which was a gorgeous white oak tree.

Well, my computer play time is now spent on Facebook playing Farm Town and Mafia Wars, and I need to make sure I have harvested all 6 fields (YES 6 FIELDS) and see if any of my mafia family members need help on a war or mission before going to bed shortly. Take care and I'll try to be a little better at updating my blog. Be blessed xox

Holdem!!

A little over a year ago, I joined Facebook. My husband followed and found a game called Texas Holdem that he had been playing on his cell phone. I started playing as well and could not believe that I was going to absolutely LOVE playing it as much as I do. I made a few very nice people and my poker buddy list grew each time I played, now having approximately 900 poker buddies. When I played more often, it was not uncommon for the room to be full and other poker buddies chatting from the "outside". We often said we needed bigger tables :)

A year later, I still love logging onto Texas Holdem and can sit for hours on end playing one game after the other. The thrill of waiting for the cards to flop has only increased with time. Many stories and feelings have been shared during our long evenings and nights at the poker tables and bonds have been made that will always be remembered and cherished.

In December of 2009, our County voted on table games. This was the second time we voted on them and we were thrilled that the they passed. After being laid off of my part time job, I really missed working and even more, I missed socializing. The thought of me becoming a dealer at the track was entertained and I started to seriously consider it. Who wouldn't want to play cards and get paid for it?? ;)

I went for an interview and immediately purchased clay chips to start practicing. A couple of weeks later, I had my background check, credit check and drug test completed. Of course I passed, and I started my Intro to Casino class on 2-1. Four hours for a class sounds like a long time, but the time goes by very quickly for us. While we are practicing, we sit around the table and share bits and pieces of our lives and we help each other out if we figure out ways to explain a technique in a different way that may click better for someone who is having difficulty.

Tomorrow is day 3 of the class, as we were snowed out today. Yesterday, we had to take turns sitting at the table in the dealer spot and we had to riffle, slide and cut our deck and then deal to poker chips (called checks in our casino) placed at each seat. The object was to hit each poker check. I made my way into the back of the others and eventually took my turn. I was 5th from last.

Our instructor told us that we must get used to people staring at us... tournaments, guests, bosses and there was no time like the present :) I sat down and saw nothing but the cards in my hand and the table around me. I spun off the hand of two cards and my instructor nodded in approval and I had to spin off two more cards to join the others. After I finished, he told the class that I was the best at that point and that I deserved a hand. I immediately felt my face turn red and I was bursting inside with such pride and happiness that I simply accomplished what I was asked to do and obviously that time, was better than anyone else.

Wish me luck!! Tomorrow is another day~~~

More Snow :)

Six inches of wet snow fell on us while we were sleeping last night. It's so nice to be home before the snow storms come and roads become slippery and dangerous. Forecast for this weekend is a minimum of one foot. I hope it starts after the girls are home from school and I am home from class... I love to watch the snow fall and even more so, stand outside and feel the silence around me. It is beautiful here, with the mountain views beyond the bare trees... The sunsets kissing the mountain tops with color that no camera could ever capture... I am blessed.

Playlist.com

I apologize I have neglected my blog for months and have not had time to update my Playlist. My music selection is a little outdated, but I hope you enjoy it regardless. I love music and no matter what is going on, turn up the volume to your favorite music and you are certain to be uplifted. If you have a blog and would like to create your own Playlist, you may do so at www.playlist.com.

I Closed My eBay Store...

Can you believe it? After 5 years of selling on eBay, I closed my store. It wasn't a difficult decision. I wanted a change and was simply soooo burned out on eBay and being chained to the computer all day that I got a "real" job. No more working in jammies and sipping coffee at my leisure... I got a job at a craft store called Ben Franklin. After two weeks of working there, the owner announced he was closing the store. It was fun while it lasted. Although there are always people that you work with who are intimidated, jealous or simply haters, it was nice to be out talking to the customers and assisting them in what they were looking for or needed at the moment.

Sprint Bill and Plans...

Just a reminder that if you have Sprint as your cell phone carrier, you most likely have free roaming charges. I have been billed for roaming charges over and over and have to call Sprint to have them removed. They advise me to put my phone on the Sprint only roaming option, but I remind them that I live in a rural area and many times we go into roam and that is a perk in our plan and I will NOT put my phone in Sprint only... *sigh*... So, check your Sprint bill and call and get the credit you deserve and was promised on your plan.

Facebook

Have you tried using Facebook? I have found it to be a perfect place to gather with old friends and meet many new ones. Facebook offers a way to connect and find friends from the past that have also signed up there. There are many games to play, where I have met so many nice people and have become facebook friends with them as well.

Do yourself a favor and take some time to sign up. It's easy and it's free. You will find joy in connecting with high school friends, college friends, friends that you have worked with in the past and past and present coworkers.