Nervous Energy

So the time has come which I have dreaded for several months now.

The time where I have to try and figure something out with my work about school. I started the program I am in now, because everything was at night, and I could keep my day job. But, a law has now been in place that any animal put under anesthesia must have an x amount of people monitoring the animal for an x amount of time to make sure nothing bad happens. Because no one is staffed to watch the shelter animals at my school at night, any class you take with anesthesia in it must be taken during the day.

So, sure enough next quarter I am taking an anesthesia class, and a surgery class. Both during the day. Monday and Wednesdays from 10:40am - 3:40pm. Which is now conflicting with work. And of course I am in panic attack mode.

Hopefully my work will work with me into figuring out some type of schedule so that I can still work here, and go to school the days I need to. Although I usually always think the worst - that it will come down to me having to choose to do one or the other. Work or school?

Lets hope I don't have to make that choice, lets hope by the grace of God I'll get to do both still.

Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Thankful Friday

I spaced Thursday, so today will be my Thankful day of the week.

Today I am thankful for having the means to have a place to stay, food to eat, a car to drive, and TV to watch. Lately I've seem to get wrapped up in all of the things that I feel are negatively affecting my life. I let it consume me from day to day in worries. Sometimes I forget that really I am so lucky for the things I do have. So in this next week of Thanksgiving joy, I'm taking this time to remember whats really important.

Crazy Cat Lady

I blog a lot about Reggie, but he isn't my only animal these days. I have married in to two step kitties.


Leonard at first is very shy, but as I've moved in he has embraced me and Reggie into the place. Him and Reg have a mutual understanding that if neither look at each other directly in the eye, then there is no harm done. When I come home after a long day at work after I have petted Reggie, Leonard always patiently waits his turn to come and cuddle with me on the couch. And thats what our relationship is, cuddling on the couch together.


Loki is an entirely different story. I think he forgets who wanted to save him from the pound in the first place. He has always been my cat. I picked him out, and we have a love hate relationship. He isn't taking us living there so well. He constantly picks fights with Reggie, and causes problems. His latest annoying habit... trying to climb in the shower with me every morning. I also have very adorable bruises and scratches over my body which were sort of my fault but still!


I still love him to pieces, even when he looks like this...


I'm not completely sold on cats just yet. I have no idea how anyone can manage more then two. I won't be a crazy cat lady any time soon. I am enjoying these boys in my life though.

I'm No Fool

Lets just say for the sake of time that growing up - I was a bad girl. I lied to my parents, drank, snuck out of the house whenever I could, listened to dirty rap, and was even known to shop lift a thing or two (but thats a story for another time).

The buzz all week around my high school was about my friends party that was happening that Saturday. Everyone I knew was going to be at this party. It was the classic his parents are out of town lets have a big house party situation. I went home and let my mom know my friend was having a small get together and I was invited.

"Do you have his parents phone number?" She asked.

You see, my mom made it a rule that if I were to ever go over to a friends house with out her there, she had to speak with the parents. This became particularly frustrating as I got older. No 17 year old looked cool when their mom called to talk to their mom as though we were still in fourth grade.

"Um, well I don't really have the number" I replied.

"You mean, you don't want me to talk to them. Wait a minute, this isn't the party I've been hearing from other parents right? Where a bunch of kids are going to a house party to get drunk and play ping pong!"

...did she seriously just say ping pong to me?

"Ummm...." I honestly wasn't sure what to say to that.

"Rachel, there is no way you are going to that party. Kids your age have no business doing things like that, I'm sure his parents would disapprove too if they knew what was going on."

"You don't even know him! These are my friends we are talking about! They all invited me, and I am going. Even if you don't like it!" (See, I told you I was a bad girl)

"I'm going to check your bedroom through out the night, and if you are not there when I go down, I will come and find you."

That was the last we talked about it. The weekend was getting closer, and I frequently tried to come up with a plan to get to that party. I've snuck out of the house before, I'm sure I could do it again. I wasn't going to drink while I was there. And as long as I was only gone for an hour and a half she wouldn't find me. So when 11:30 came around Saturday night, I opened up the family room window, and walked to my friends car that was parked several houses down from mine.

Let me tell you - the party was awesome! When I got there people were dancing all over the house, and greeting me as though we were all best friends. Even my secret crush at the time was there, and talking to me. My crush asked if I wanted to go outside to get some air in the backyard. I brought my best friend and a few others and we all had a good time laughing and exchanging silly stories. My crush even held my hand most of the time, and when he said he had to leave, he gave me a kiss on the cheek. I was seriously on cloud nine. When reality started to sink back in, I went into the kitchen to look at the clock. It was flashing 3:47 am.

Immediately I started to panic. Where in the hell had all the time go? I started to franticly search for my purse in the sea of people, when my friend came frantically running towards me.

"Dude, I think your mom is outside!!"

My heart sunk. She actually came I thought to myself. Sure enough when I turned the corner I saw her in the doorway. Once we locked eye contact, I new the party was over. She didn't say one word to me. Not at the party, on the drive home, or when we got home, which meant I was in for a serious punishment the next day.

And yes, I got punished. However I did survive. I remember thinking she was the worst mom in the entire world for embarrassing me like that. But, when I think about this story now I say to msyelf...

Mama didn't raise no fool!

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for

Veterans

Who every day give every part of their mind, body, and soul to keep me and you free. Where would we be without these courageous men and women?

My Husband

I couldn't have made it, or be the person I am now if it wasn't for him. He constantly supports me, and is there when I feel like I won't make it. I feel so privileged to have him forever.

Music

Songs like this lift me up, and inspire me to be better. I love when you hear that song for the first time and your heart races. One of the best feelings in the world

New Ink

I said a while ago I was working on a new tattoo. Actually I have several in my mind, and slowly but surely they are becoming reality. The Yates tattoo came to be because of my new name, and what I was leaving behind. It really is in memory of the relationship my dad and I have. In fact, he actually tattooed the heart on me. I still can't believe I let him come within four feet of me with a needle.


Over all it turned out better then I could imagine.


I will always have a piece of my dad with me wherever I go.

Where The Wild Things Are

The last two weeks I've been working on animals out in Eagle Mountain (which by the way, is ridiculously far away from civilization). I've done all sorts of things like

• Almost getting my head smashed in by a horse (twice, actually)
• Rounding up horses, llamas, and goats
• Getting blood samples
• Wrapping legs
• ...and trying not to get my head smashed in.

Maybe working in the Equine field is not where I'm headed. I love these animals, but it is a little scary to try and take blood from a 2 ton lb animal. It is cool to say however that I've done it, and was successful my first time. I think I was the only one last night who got blood from this horse.


This is Kinick, and although she made me pretty nervous a few times, we ended up bonding and she let me do almost anything to her without moving around. Except, she doesn't really like to be given oral meds. But who really loves a massive syringe being shoved in their mouth?

I mostly worked with the horses, but this farm had a lot other animals.



Bulls, goats, sheep, ducks, pigs, and llamas (I really didn't like the llamas - yuck!) and that isn't even all of them. I had a great time trying something new and working with different animals. It really is a passion of mine to work with all sorts of animals, I'm really working towards my dream. I need to remind myself of that when things get hard.

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for Coke.



How did people ever survive without it?

Dear Mom,

I was listening to a song on the way to work, and sometimes thats all it takes. I burst into a crazy sob fest right in the middle of I-15. I can't explain how one moment I feel like life is great, and in a split second feel like dying. Grief just comes in waves, and today I am missing you. Really, really bad.

I have this co-worker who lost his brother not too long after I lost you. We bond over our loss, in a way no one else understands until it happens to them. My desk phone started ringing when I first got here, and it was him. He asked me how I was, and I couldn't hide from him the pain in my voice. But, when he talked it was the same voice too. We both are having a hard day today. It's his brother's birthday.

I never have words to comfort people, or at least I feel that way. But, I told him how I started a tradition that when its your birthday I buy at least one balloon. I sing happy birthday (even if I have to cry through the entire song), and then let the balloon go. I like this idea, because no matter where I am at, I can do this. Every year. I think he is going to do this for his brother tonight. But, we couldn't speak for much longer, because we both were starting to cry - at work. After hanging up the phone I just can't seem to think straight here at work. I just keep thinking about you, and missing you.

I really wish that people really knew how I felt. That they wake up one morning and feel this huge pain in their soul that won't go away. Knowing they will never hug, or talk on the phone with their mom ever again. You can try to imagine it all you want, but I really want them to know. I think that would make me feel better. Although in the same breath, I feel like no one my age should live a life without their mom. Life shouldn't be that way.

Wherever you are know I'm loving and missing you - even more so today.

With love,

Rachel

Halloween Madness

Thank the good Lord Halloween is officially over! I almost never say that, but this year I packed in so many Halloween events that I was so tired by Halloween day. Although, I did go out with a bang. It started on Friday where my crazy work held their annual Halloween party. I dressed up as a witch for the day. We saw crazy costumes as always. Here are a few of my favorite.

Cop, waldo, wheaties box, and the witch

iphone

Ursala and a shower? I don't get it.

Man on giant bird - he won 1st prize

old spice guy

Davey Jones carved pumpkin - amazing!

Another cool pumpkin

Tetris

Pretty creative right? I couldn't help myself and through my second Halloween party on Saturday night. I was feeling sick all last week, so I took it easy at the party and more observed then partied with everyone else. I did get a good dance in to Thriller, and took a few good pictures. I was Snow White, and my fabulous husband was Spock. I am so grateful to all my fun friends who came and dressed up. Everyone complemented me on the party, but really its the people who make the party not me. Oh, and I couldn't have done it without my dad. He let me trash his house, and helped me out the entire day. I owe him one.

The budget ninja, and Snow White

Robot

Naughty officer, and the fire fighter

Spock, and the scare crow (she made that herself!)

Prince of Persia, and his lady

Serious drag queen, and kitty

Robin woman, and Lady GaGa

Married with Children couple

Banana and penguin I couldn't stop laughing at these costumes

A warrior and the doctor

Spock and Snow White

Bat woman, dirty pirate, and an 80s dude

Snow white and Peg

Sexy Spock

Lady Gaga and Snow White

Warrior, Mummy, Dirty Pirate and Robin woman

Some dancing of course

Now it is November. How did that happen? I'm sort of looking forward to the holiday season coming up. Although, you know how I feel about Thanksgiving.

Hope you Halloween was as scary as mine!