09*03*10

I decided that I needed to get out of this little personal funk I've been in lately. So, I decided to make a quick scrapbook page. Okay, well a scrapbook page is really never quick for me. I take too much time trying to pick my paper and the layout of my pictures. So, this really simple layout took about 3 hours over two days lol. But, honestly, that is pretty fast for me. Especially for a layout with lots of pictures. I have to get it just right or I'll end up taking it all apart again and redoing it later. Yes seriously. And, yes, I do need help.

Anyway, once I picked my pictures, paper, and layout, this all came together pretty quickly. Only a couple little cute embellishments and I was done.

These are pictures of Tabiona Mountain. This is where we go deer hunting every year. These pictures were taken in 2008. I just started thinking about how we'll be up there in a few weeks, so it made me want to scrap about it.

I tried to post a picture of the layout all side by side, but it kept turning it lengthwise. I tried resizing the picture and everything. Not happening. So, anyway, the top picture is the left side, and the bottom is the right side.

I don't usually put the title in the top right of a layout, and I still feel like it looks a little weird. But, I'm not going to change it. I'm not.......

08*30*10

Wow, the job market really sucks right now y'all. I'm just sayin.

8*22*10

This post is going to seem disjointed because I have a couple of things on my mind.

First, Shane's grandma died this last Monday. She was in her late 70's, and she'd been in bad health. But, it was still a little bit of a shock. She had been at her granddaughter, Ginger's, baby shower a couple of weeks ago and seemed to have been fine. She actually quite enjoyed herself. I guess about a week after that she got a bladder infection and was hospitalized. Soon it spread to her blood and invaded her kidneys. She was gone within days of being admitted. It was fast. Shane was sad, but we both felt that she was ready. Her husband died about twenty years ago. I think she was tired of waiting. But she will be missed. I loved her down-to-earth sense of humor. And, I'm really glad Shane and I got to see her a few times in the weeks before her death. She will be missed. Shane's dad spent a lot of time with her, and spent most of his free time at her home. We're pretty worried about him. He seems ok now, but he has some rough patches here and there. We'll need to stop and visit and call him a lot more for the next little while. He feels very alone.

Next, I had a job interview last week. It didn't go so good. I told the guy who was interviewing me that my job was being downsized and that Roberts had offered me a position as an Assistant Manager at a nearby store (they didn't specify which store). But, I didn't feel comfortable taking that position because it would mean kicking someone else out of their position. He told me that he'd received more than 300 applications for the job he was hiring for, and most of the people were good candidates. He told me that I should really consider accepting the position Roberts had offered. I didn't tell him that I can't do that. I prefer not to specify reasons at this time, but I just can't work there any longer. I need to move on.

It was a disconcerting conversation though. I can't believe he got more than 300 applicants! That is scary to me. How am I going to find a job if that many qualified people are out there looking. I'm terrified. What am I going to do? Please pray for me. I don't want to lose everything Shane and I have worked so hard to get. I don't want to let our family down.

07*23*10

So, a few new things have been going on in my life lately. I found out about a month ago that I am going to be losing my job. September 30th is my last day. Unless I can complete the HUGE amount of work that needs to be done before that. Then I'm free to go and be paid through September, which would be nice, right? Plus, if I make it to the finish, I get an additional two months in severance, which will be paid out all at once as a "retention bonus". Which means I can collect unemployment right away.
I have mixed emotions about this whole thing. Most of you know, because I've made it no secret, that I haven't enjoyed my job for at least the last 6 months are so. It lost all of the fun and gained a bunch of stress. Plus, it stole my hobby away from me. The last thing I've wanted to do is look at scrapbook stuff when I get home. And I LOVE to scrap. It was my passion.
So, I think I'm really just ready for the Roberts chapter of my life to be over.
But, I SO need a job--I can't not have a job. We have too many bills and Shane can't cover them all. Unemployment only pays like 60% of what you earn on average, and then you have to pay taxes on that. Some people think you don't, but you do. Either now or at the end of the year, the taxes must be paid on ANY income that you bring in.
The economy sucks right now, so I'm a tad scared about finding a job to be perfectly honest.
On a happier note, we went to Flaming Gorge the weekend after the 4th and had some good old-fashioned family fishing fun.
Shane's dad had booked a guided Mackinaw fishing trip for us in May for Garrett's birthday weekend, but that one didn't go so well. Garrett had broken his arm a couple of week's before we went, so he couldn't really handle a pole. Plus, there was a new law past a couple of years ago that he needed a $5 fishing license that we didn't know about. So, he wasn't allowed to fish anyway, and it was his birthday. And, to top things off, it was FREEZING. So, we cut that weekend short. We only did a half day and decided it would be best to come back and finish it out when Garrett could enjoy it and the weather was better. But, before we left, Shane and Grandpa Terry caught some monster fish. Shane's was 19 lbs, and Terry's was 13. They say Mack's can get up to like 50+ lbs. Wow.
This time, the weather was gorgeous, but the fishing sucked. Ah well, you win some, you lose some. I caught a nice 5 lb Mack, and Garrett caught one that was about 4-1/2 lbs. Shane and Grandpa didn't catch a thing. But, Mack season was over. The guide dude told us that, but they boys still wanted to try.
Here are some pics of both trips. I posted more on facebook if you want to see them all.

Me and G being tourists lol

19 lb Mack

13 lb Mack

Sunrise on 2nd trip-wish I would have took the date stamp off

Garrett and Shane with G's 4 pounder

Enjoying the sunshine

My 5 pounder---Ewwwwwwww

The Jill-E-Fish (Captain Kory named the boat after his wife--cute huh?)

06*21*10

Just wanted to share a couple of cards I've made over the last week or so. The first one is my friend, Briana's, birthday card. The second one is my dad's Father's Day card, and the last one is Shane's dad's Father's Day card.

5*27*10

Just wanted to share some pictures I took on my cell phone on Monday. Is it seriously almost summer? Look at the snow on those mountains! It's not even just on the tips. It goes all the way to the houses at the bottom. I'm so sick of snow.

5*18*10

I am still alive. Life is just really hectic and busy right now. Especially my job. The last thing I want to do when I get home these days is look at yet another computer screen. Someday maybe I'll be able to do things that I enjoy again lol.
Love til later.
Shell

4*30*10

I SHOULD NOT go to pizza buffets. I am a pizza addict, and it's a very bad idea.
Especially when I'm trying to follow a weight loss program.
Especially if I am going to walk a 5K in June.
Don't have much else to say so.......

The End

4*21*10

I try not to be negative on my blog, but I'm frustrated. Why is it that no one else in this house can set-up their own damn electronic gadgets? Why, everytime that we buy a new little gizmo, such as a cell phone or game system, pedometer, or what have you, must I be the one who has to spend 4-5 hours trying to learn how to get the software set-up, hardware updated, synchronizing going, etc...?
Why? There are directions. Specific step-by-step directions.
Grrrr................

3*19*10

This is a card that I made for my boss. She is the best. Seriously. She totally gets it. I wanted to do something fun for her birthday, and everyone calls her "The Queen". So, this is what I came up with. I think it totally suits her personality.

3*14*10

Lacy and I went to a scrap camp this weekend. We had a total blast. You can go on Friday at 4:00 pm and stay over til Saturday at 9:00 pm, but we just did Saturday. I think that was a good decision. Because by 8:00 pm, I was totally out of steam. Not to mention delirious. It was so worth it though. We never get to scrap together because there just isn't enough room. We had a whole table to ourselves, so there was plenty of room to spread out. Lacy got 29 layouts done. Holy cow! I only did 15. But, Lacy's approach is cleaner than mine. I like my layouts all junked up lol. I did do some simpler ones toward the end though. I was too tired to pretty them up any more.

Anyway, we loved it, and we plan on doing it again in April at a different event.

Here are the pages I got done.

My niece, Jordyn's, school pic this year

My nephew, Ryan's, school pic this year
My nephew graduating from preschool 2 years ago

Trinity Church and St Paul's Chapel in NYC (journaling is too long and will be on a separate insert page to the scrapbook)

Central Park in NYC

Heartland Brewery at the bottom of the Empire State Building (we needed a little break after flying and walking all day lol)

Empire State Building

Bowling Green Park. I wasn't going to include the second pic by the bull, but after reading a bit of the history, I knew I needed to. (journaling is too long and will be on a separate insert page to the scrapbook)

My tattoo!--I need to reprint the pic that I wrote on. I messed up a word and scribbled on it. Not pretty.

My fave layout of the night. One of the ladies told me that I should submit it for "best of show" next time we come.

3*6*10

I made this page a couple of weeks ago. Just never got around to posting it on my blog.

This is my niece, Nicki, and I. This photo was taken about 14 years ago. My niece died at 3 months old. Her mother has very few photos of her, so I cherish this one and only of Nicki and I that my sister happened across while cleaning up some storage at her home. She has very few photos of Nicki, and even less with anyone else in them. I think this is the only one with a full view of anyone else, so it is really special to me (even though my hair is a little out of control lol).