R*R

Age of Viability

2011-11-28T12:00:00.005-07:00

Vanilla Bean at his 22 week scan!

We made it! Week 25 begins today. I've had in my head that I would finally relax a little once we got to this point. We're now a good way into "Age of Viability", aka the time in fetal development where the baby has a good chance of survival outside momma. *If* Vanilla Bean were to come tomorrow, he'd have a 70-80% chance of making it. Perfect? No. But it certainly makes me feel a lot more secure. The bigger hospital here saved a barely 23 week-er just a few years ago, so that is comforting as well. Not that I want VB here, but its good to know we're safer and safer with each day. :)

Second trimester hasn't been the energy-filled playtime I read about. I've been more exhausted than I was first trimester. More nausea, more puking. It doesn't help that Hot Husband and I both got very sick. Violent coughing is even more unpleasant when you're preggo. Heartburn is terrible. Round ligament pain makes me cry. BUT! I'm still thrilled, though somewhat in denial. This is really happening... Its hard to believe that after so long, so many tears, so much drama, we're really having a baby. However... when its 3am and I can't sleep because SOMEONE won't simmer down and quit punching my bladder, its a lot more believable. ;)

Now we just have to buy a crap-ton of stuff, figure out a name (ACK!), settle on where to deliver, find a pediatrician... Oh, and figure out that whole "parenting" thing. No problems at all..... ;)

Its a...

2011-11-04T21:02:00.002-06:00

Halfway!

2011-10-28T20:42:00.005-06:00

Time sure does fly when you're preggers... This is the end of my 20th week. HOLY CRAP. That means we're halfway! The "big" ultrasound is next week. Still not sure if we'll find out the gender. I don't want to. Hot Husband does. So... We'll see. ;) Can't believe we're nearly to Age of Viability (some medical professionals and advanced hospitals see AoV a few weeks earlier than this, but at 25 weeks, your chances of survival are much better). Obviously I don't want Vanilla Bean here until he's good and baked, but its nice to know that the wonderful 25 week mark is just around the corner now. I keep promising myself I'll chill out a little when that happens... ;)

The little bug seems to be doing well. We had an appointment a week ago and VB's heart rate was at a good strong 160 (its been coming down, but not much 174, 172, 161, 160). Started feeling bubbles and waves around 18 weeks, which have now become full on pokes and rolls. Every once in a while I'll get a good honest kick, which is awesome. I'm sure it won't be as cute when VB is 5+ pounds and in my ribs though.

2nd trimester hasn't been the glorious-ness all my books made it out to be, but I really am doing well. More nausea, but less actual puking. Extreme exhaustion but the fibro is in full remission. Things could have been much, MUCH worse, so I'm very grateful I've gotten off so easy thus far.

I'm also 4 weeks into a wonderful Bradley Method birth class. I'm hoping all will be well on the ultrasound next week and that when I see my OB again at the end of next month he'll confirm things are still peachy. If so, I'm hoping to move over to midwives at the near-by birth center. I may have to be co-managed the whole time, but that's just fine with me. Meds have been under control and reduced to almost nothing. Aside from some nasty heartburn and the occasional migraine I'm pretty much symptom free. Woot, woot, lucky me.

I'm STILL not showing and its my biggest complaint. I WANT to be huge. Obscenely huge. I feel like this all isn't "real" until some stranger on the street can tell I'm knocked up from half a block away. Vanilla Bean is measuring perfectly, but I've only gained 2 pounds so far. Doc isn't worried, so I guess I shouldn't be either. I'm already a "big" girl, but I *really* want to look preggers, not just fatter. Crossing fingers that by the end of 2nd trimester I'll be waddling. ;) Shouldn't be too much longer before Hot Husband will be able to feel VB kick and squirm. Can't wait for that!

Playing Casting Director

2011-09-24T20:17:00.006-06:00

So I hear "The Host" is finally going to be made into a movie. Which I approve of. A lot. I've read it many times and unlike the Twilight series (which I do like), it gets better with each read. Little Sister and I decided to cast our own version of the main cast. Saoirse Ronan as Melanie? PFFFT. We beg to disagree and move to nominate the following. (Obviously this won't be a big budget movie, so some of these choices aren't possible, but we're playing here, so we can do whatever we want. ;) )

Melanie: Mandy Moore

Jaime: Freddie Highmore

Uncle Jeb: Jeff Fahey

Pet: Hayden Panettiere

And most importantly!

Jared: Jake Gyllenhaal

Ian: Josh Duhamel

I'm aware that most, if not all of these actors are older than the characters in the book. But if Stockard Channing can play a high school student at 33, I figure I can get away with just about anything.

What other kinds of shenanigans could I get into?

2011-09-01T18:33:00.005-06:00

Juno and I have a lot more in common these days.

Arriving in late March, 2012, Baby Nielsen.

aka: Vanilla Bean

:D

Four Years (and 100 posts later...)

2011-07-19T00:11:00.005-06:00

Four years ago today was the single best day of my life. I was sealed for time and eternity to my favorite person in the entire world, and he's totally hot to boot. We don't have a perfect life, but I still love it. We don't have human kids, but I love our furry ones as much as any mommy would. I miss Rob a lot. I hate when I do his laundry and run out of "Rob Smell" to get me through his work weeks. On my bad days, he's really the only one that can calm me down. The only one that can really make me believe we live in a land-locked state and there are no scary "sharks" around to get me. The only one that makes me feel safe. I love my husband. I dearly, dearly, LOVE my husband. My patient, understanding, caring, kind, generous, loving, ridiculously gifted, painfully attractive, as near-to-perfect-as-a-man-can-get husband. And I think everyone should know it.

My Review of THE ORIGINAL SNOOPY SNO-CONE MACHINE

2011-05-15T10:30:00.001-06:00

Originally submitted at Perpetual Kid

Yep - your eyes aren't playing games with you... the popular Snoopy Sno-Cone Maker is back! First introduced in America in 1979, you'll remember the Snoopy Sno Cone Maker was a unique product that gave you the ability to transform simple ice cubes into ma

Just Like Sheldon's!

By Freedomshocked from Idaho Falls, Idaho on 5/15/2011

Pros: Cute, fun

Cons: Not the best at crushing

Best Uses: Just like Sheldon's

This was a birthday gift for my little sister who is a huge fan of the TV "The Big Bang Theory". Her favorite character on the show, Sheldon, has this exact item. I knew she'd love it, and she did. It's no industrial strength ice crusher, but we weren't expecting it to be. For what we wanted, absolutely perfect!

(legalese)

My Review of NICE JEWISH GUYS 2011 CALENDAR

2011-05-15T10:26:00.001-06:00

Originally submitted at Perpetual Kid

The highly anticipated 2011 Nice Jewish Guys Calendar featuring 12 of the hottest NICE GUYS has arrived! They're nice, they're Jewish, and they finally have their own calendar! * Hunky front and back cover pages * Perfect holiday gift * Slic

Hilarious Gift Idea for Little Sister

By Freedomshocked from Idaho Falls, Idaho on 5/15/2011

I am entirely happy with this purchase. It was a gift for my little sister who is about to go away to college. It fits right into her sense of humor and she just loved it.

(legalese)

Happy Birthday Bonny Belle!

2011-05-10T12:39:00.003-06:00

My girl is 19 today! I can't believe it!

Kicks and Giggles

2011-05-10T10:38:00.009-06:00

Needed some laughs today. Thank you internets!

Not My Favorite Holiday...

2011-05-08T10:50:00.006-06:00

I'm not a mother. Not really. Yet I do call my dogs my "children", "kids", "babies", etc. I refer to myself/am referred to by my husband and others as "Mommy" or "Momma", or "Mom" all the time... But only when we're talking about or talking to the dogs. Am I less of a woman because I haven't given birth? It certainly feels that way sometimes... Ok... So really all the time for me...

I'd like to make a case. I do so many of the things "real" moms do. I think I should get to celebrate today too...

I love my babies.
I feed my babies.
I shelter my babies.
I buy my babies treats and toys.
I play with my babies.
I cuddle with my babies.
I like to show off my babies.
I love to talk about my babies.
I worry about my babies.
I take my babies to the doctor.
I clean up after my babies.
I miss my babies when I'm away from them.
I love my babies unconditionally.

Now, don't get me wrong. I love my mother. And my mother-in-law. I'm all for honoring and celebrating them today. But as great as that is... Today is still horribly painful for me.

I came across this article today (thanks yet again to StumbleUpon... But I think you're getting to know me a little too well...)

"I am not a mother, and my personal response is to chuckle and move on with my life, but for so many thousands of women, there is a stabbing in the heart... These are women who yearned to have a child, and perhaps are still trying, and have been unable to make it happen."

"Miriam told me that she had always felt like a flawed woman, who never fit in with others who were mothers. She truly experienced a sense of loss with not being a mom that she was unable to fill with other elements of her life."

"There are so many other women who will avoid going to church tomorrow, because they cannot bear the pain of hearing yet another Mother’s Day message. They won’t go out to the stores this weekend, because they don’t want to see the flower, chocolate, and card displays. They will wake up on Monday morning feeling relieved that it’s over for another year."

"Mothering is portrayed in the most positive light on this day, and we have images of children preparing breakfast trays for their moms and making handmade card and presents. When we go out, we see the special women surrounded by their families being lavished with attention. Witnessing and imagining these warm, loving mother/child interactions sometimes causes me to feel tinges of grief for the children I never had."

Yes, yes, yes! That is exactly how I feel today! As much as I love my own mother, my friends that are mothers, and mothers in general, today is painful for me. It can't be avoided or smiled away. I can't pretend like it doesn't bother me. Because it really, really does. I'm not a mother. Not really. But I'd give anything to be one. I loved one of the things the article said in closing...

"I think it helps to keep in mind the most basic definition of mothering, as an action that is nurturing, supportive, and comforting. Think of all the women in your life who have provided these elements for you, and thank them on this day for mothers. Honor yourself as well, whether or not you are a mom, for what you have given and continue to give to others in your life."

Today will still be painful. Today is still going to suck quite a bit. But I take some comfort in knowing that there are at least 7 little lives (Sorry Dagget and Selene for not including you earlier. ;) ) that depend on me. Seven little creatures that love me on my good days. And maybe love me even more on my bad days.

Bronco and Jeep for sale!

2011-05-05T12:09:00.003-06:00

Hot Husband and I are trying to sell two of our vehicles. We just want something bigger and a little newer for me. My scooter was for sale for months and I didn't get one call on it until I blogged about it so... Here's hoping for some more good luck. :)

First up is an ugly but functional 1982 Bronco (351 Windsor rebuilt, rebuilt 4bl carb).

Second is my dear little Jeep: 1990 Cherokee Laredo 4x4. It's nothing fancy, but it runs well. No major issues. I've taken it to Southern Utah and back a few times, so I know it's reliable.

***Asking $1000ish for the Bronco, $2000ish for the Jeep***

Please let me know if you or someone you know is interested! Thanks! :)

xoxo
-r

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

I Wish I Was A Dog Sometimes

2011-04-23T12:00:00.002-06:00

Sissy really knows how to relax and get comfortable. I could learn something from her. ;)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Mobile Blogging

2011-04-23T11:22:00.001-06:00

I'm on my iPod so much, I thought I'd give this mobile blogging thing a shot. Seems all the interesting things in my life happen away from home anyway. So look forward to more blogging, random pictures and video of food, people, and my furry children. ;)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

For Norbert

2011-04-11T14:07:00.006-06:00

Momma, Norbert, and Dagget.
~ Norbert 2006-2011 ~

My Norbert baby passed away during the night. He started having seizures a few weeks ago. There wasn't much I could do for him except try and make him feel as comfortable and safe as possible. I had him longer than I've had Lobo...

He had a crooked little neck that I always thought was adorable. When he was little, the tards at PetCo gave him way too much medication for an ear infection and it caused a permanent twist in his little neck. No one wanted him because of it. He was in a back room all alone, hadn't even been picked up or petted in months. When I heard about him, I rushed over as fast as I could. Because he'd been at the store so long without finding a home, he was going to be put down. Of course, I would have none of that and immediately adopted him. I used to be crooked too, pretty badly. My spine was fused when I was just 19, so I felt a special connection to the little guy. He was my very first rescue and my very first pet that was just mine. He'd run all over my room, "help" with homework, and perch on my shoulder to watch movies.

He spent the last 4 years being loved and spoiled rotten. Piggies can live up to twice that long... But I knew his neck would eventually cause problems... :( He had such a big personality though. Which may sound funny since I'm talking about a guinea pig, but he really did. He knew his name, he would play tug-of-war with carrots, and would "sing" with me nearly everyday.

I know he was just a silly guinea pig, but he was my very first rescue and I loved him dearly. I'm thankful he's not in pain anymore. And that he won't have any more scary seizures. But I'm going to miss his crooked little face singing to me everyday.

I love you my sweet little Norbie Porby. I'm so happy I got to be your Mommy for so long. xoxo, little man. Sleep well. ♥

Dancing Queen (sorta)

2011-03-23T15:45:00.005-06:00

We love our video games around here. We've got multiple systems and a crap ton of games... 90% of which I totally suck at. I have issues when it comes to video games. I can't steer to save my life in racing games, first person shooters make me ill, "Portal", while it was totally cool, made my brain want to explode. I'm just not smart enough for stuff like Portal. "Mario Party" is more my speed. Stupid little mini-games that require little to no skill. Or a good RPG. I adore both "Fable II" and "Fable III". Rob got me "Epic Mickey" for Christmas, and despite the limitations of my retard-ness, I loved it.

However... I have a new favorite.

DANCE CENTRAL for the X-Box 360/Kinect

I'm literally wearing myself out everyday playing it. I'm sure I look like a hippo having a seizure, but I just don't care. It's that fun. Seriously. I'm voluntarily working out, and loving it. That alone should say something to you. It's easy to learn the moves, the song choices are fantastic, and the accuracy of the movement/graphics stuff is amazing. It's not like the Wii where you can half-ass the steps and just shake your controllers around. There are no controllers. Its just your body. How freaking COOL is that?! The only part I don't like is the video playback during the "freestyle" section. No one needs to see my lard bouncing around. Even I'd prefer to just not look. ;) I'm over halfway to my weight loss goal now. Woot! If this keeps up, I'll make it by the deadline, easy peasy. My Wii Fit will be so proud. And maybe a little jealous. ;)

xoxo,

I've not done all the songs yet, I have some favorites that I really love doing and repeat them a lot. Of the ones I have done, these are my current favorites. Enjoy!

Ex-Con

2011-03-11T15:58:00.002-07:00

I don't have Lobo (my service dog) out with me as much as I used to... Today was a bad day, but I had to run an errand for a friend, so I grabbed my wolf off we went to Wal-Mart... Always interesting to hear how parents explain a dog in the store to their children. I've heard some good ones over the years, but the one I heard today wins hands down...

‎"Mommy! Look! A doggie! You can't bring dogs in a store! Why does that lady have a dog?"

Now... I was pretty scruffy today... Jeans, sneakers, sweatshirt, and one of Rob's hats, but I did manage to smear some make-up on my face and brush my hair out, so I didn't think it was that bad... This very lovely looking lady, complete with an up-do and pumps said to her daughter...

"Well honey, sometimes when people are let out of prison, part of how they get better is called parole. And sometimes, part of parole is training dogs for other people."

Seriously? Watch out. I'm an ex-con. I wonder what my crime was? ;)

Need advice from techy friends, please! :)

2011-03-03T11:02:00.002-07:00

Item #1: Rachie needs a new lappy. Considering getting a high-powered desktop for video editing, gaming, etc and a netbook for everyday stuff (FB games, browsing, StumbleUpon, Netlflix, doesn't have to do anything super fancy). If you've got a suggestion on either, please share... But particularly the netbooks as I currently know little to nothing about them and CNET reviews have only screwed me in the past. And I'm not getting a Mac, so don't go there. :P (I was the outcast in college for using PCs, and I'm ok with it. You try going to film school and hating Macs. ;) I do know how to use them and have actually spent a ridiculous number of hours on them for various editing jobs. They just aren't my thing.) It was a big enough concession for me to get the iPod thats currently geeking out on me... Speaking of...

Item #2: The issue with my iPod doesn't seem to be going away. I've tried syncing, powering on/off, and defaulting to original settings so far. Haven't gone as far as wiping it yet... But maybe that's going to be my only option... It's spontaneously returning to the home screen in the middle of any application use after only a few seconds to nearly instantly. Trying to go back to the application just results in this weird cycling thing... Half screen with recent apps showing, then home screen again, then search screen, then home... Its even doing it when I'm not touching it... Right now its just off because I was getting too annoyed with it. Its an iPod Touch, bought in late 2009. I can't find a dang thing online that sounds remotely like this problem. If you've got anything, I beg of you, point me in the right direction. :)

2011

2011-01-03T16:11:00.008-07:00

Every year I make the same New Year's Resolution: No trips to the ER.

I've never made that goal. Ever.

The other goal I always make it to work-out more/lose weight. However, that goal always feels like this:

I'm a rhino... Who's just never going to be a unicorn and I'm going to have to learn to live with that. I can be a better rhino though. That goal I can work on.

Since all my usual resolutions fail, I'm making a new one this year. It consists of a few parts:

1.) Sell my adorable scooter.

2.) Use money from said sale to aid in the purchase of a "big-girl" bike. The following would be an acceptable option:

3.) Come up with some stupid name for the new bike involving Star Trek, Alias, Battlestar Galactica, Lost, or Stargate.

4.) Love the new bike unconditionally.

5.) Ride the new bike as often as physically possible.

6.) Take at least one cool day trip with Hot Husband on the new bike. I'm thinking Yellowstone. (Or possibly a quick jaunt to Provo so I can go to Osaka. And yes, I really would go all that way just for their chicken teriyaki donburi and yasai tempura...)

Would you like to help me achieve my goal? You would! Awesome!

Click here.

Happy New Year everyone!!!

xoxo

-r

What We've Been Up To...

2010-12-19T23:52:00.006-07:00

Well, lets see here... I've not blogged for oh.... Five months? Oops.

How about a quick catch-up?

My extremely adorable little sister Miri came up for 4th of July. She was instantly adopted by my Min-Pin mix, Sissy and became the best of friends.

Rob and I both got motorcycles this year for our anniversary! Ok... So mine doesn't really count as a motorcycle, but I LOVE it. Poor baby has been parked in the garage for months now (stupid Idaho winters...) but I got a good 1000 miles on her before then! I even got brave and took the official Idaho Motorcycle Safety class. I was the only person in the class on a scooter. I took lots of crap for it. I also finished at the top of the class, so nanny nanny. ;) I'l be excited to (hopefully) upgrade to a "big girl" bike this spring. I've got my eye on a couple already.

While my dear husband was working his adorable butt off in the arctic tundra of North Dakota, I practiced my airbrushing. This would be an "after" picture... The "before" on this particular day was too horrifying to post. Thankfully, I don't have to worry about bad skin days EVER AGAIN. I can cover it all up now. It goes without saying that I LOVE my Dinair kit. And the husband that got it for me. :D

Rob wasn't here for Halloween, but that didn't keep me from going to an awesome party thrown by my friend Casey! It was fun to be Dorothy for the night... It was even better when someone else showed up as a witch. ;)

Dear Husband also missed out on Thanksgiving. :( So I wouldn't be too lonely, I took a trip down to Southern Utah and spent some time with my family (pictures pending!). Zach and Max were there, as were my Harrison grandparents. I hadn't seen Zach in almost a year! I was so excited to see my Maxy baby too, he was less than excited to see me (I'm still holding on to the hope that he was just angry I'd brought Lobo with me...). It was good to see him so happy though. He just loves Widdle Brudder. While in Cedar, I was able to go see my very favorite stylist, CheyAnne. As usual, she pulled off a miracle and gave me one of my favorite haircuts ever! Behold!

Christmas is almost here and I'm so so so SOOOOOOO happy that Rob is H-O-M-E! I get him for a whole week! :D :D :D Hopefully we'll get some Christmas themed activities in before he has to leave again. Best wishes to everyone! Merry Christmas!

xoxo

-r

A Real Woman

2010-06-14T22:36:00.003-06:00

My most awesome friend Cass and my other besties came out to see me in April (best weekend ever). This past weekend, Rob and I took a quick trip south to kidnap Cass and her youngest daughter for a visit. We've played at home, rolled around with the doggies, watched movies, went to the museum, and also went out on the town with Rob. We had a BBQ on Saturday and afterward went out dancing. While shaking our groove thangs at Chicks, an attractive black man walked by where Cass and I were. He looked something like this. Kind of.

Rob, who knows everyone there is to know in Idaho Falls, was lurking in the shadows this whole time. Apparently "Taye" walked and gave my considerable behind a good long look. He, of course, knew Rob, and walked over to him saying something along the lines of, "Damn! Now there's a real woman!" "Dude, that's my wife." I missed this whole exchange... But I couldn't help but feel a great big boost to my ego. :D

Holy Lack of Blogging Batman!

2010-06-06T22:50:00.005-06:00

Wow... Nothing from me since March huh? I'd like to say I had some great excuse. Maybe I was in Costa Rica helping relocate monkeys or spent the last few months writing the next big bestseller. Yeah.. Not so much. Grad school? Um... Crap. Yeah, that's about it. I've mostly been home alone. A lot. Like a lot a lot. Rob left for work training at the end of March and was gone for two months straight. He's on his normal schedule now: two weeks on, one week off. I think its been rainy here every day since late March too, which might be one reason I've lacked the motivation to blog anything at all- I miss the sun and am too busy moping to blog. One thing I have accomplished though, is getting my sleep schedule *kind* of back to normal. (4 years of film school really can screw your sleep cycle up.) Seeing as how its now almost 11pm, I ish tired and am headed to bed. But, look forward to the following. Soon. Maybe tomorrow, if I remember...
-Update on Hannah
-Update on Rob
-The always thrilling and never short medical update on me
-Grad school and/or lack there of
-Maximus Rattimus -- Leaving Mommy for Brudder
-Projects I'd like to start/finish someday
-Becoming less fat and other difficult personal goals to achieve in the next few months

It's Heeeeeere!

2010-03-12T15:28:00.001-07:00

There was some talk that because a new editor had been brought in that this wasn't going to make it in time. But nay, nay! Lookie lookie lookie!

W-O-O-T

2010-03-11T15:16:00.002-07:00

The most beautiful piece of paper ever:

Rob left yesterday morning for North Dakota for his second interview with Halliburton. Due to his hotness, general awesomeness and mad interview skills, he got to job! Way to go, Dear! I'm so proud. I love you. <3

Cancer Sucks

2010-03-06T14:44:00.004-07:00

Dear Universe,

You and I have always had a difficult relationship. I know that you often get bored and like to frak with my life, just for giggles. But going after my family? Sooooo not cool. My baby sister is 17. SEVEN-FRIGGIN-TEEN. What the HELL is wrong with you? No 17 year old should ever be told they have cancer. So dear Universe, I am declaring open war. You've crossed the line this time, and I fully intend to kick your ass. I mean, I know its thyroid cancer, its one of the most common and easily treated, yadda yadda. Pffffft, like I trust you anymore. That damn thing better not spread. Not even a fraction of an inch. Go find someone else to mess with, leave her alone.

Oh, and Universe?

FRAK YOU!

Barfing Does NOT = Being Preggers So Quit Posting On My FB

2010-01-23T13:04:00.003-07:00

Another vent post. Fair warning. Read on at your own risk.

I have a major issue with what people seem to think is ok to post in a reply to Facebook updates. There are just somethings that people need to shut the frak up about and mind their own business.

Exhibit A: I am often very ill. It gets old fast and sometimes I need to vent about it. You would too if you spend 3 or 4 days a week bent over a toilet bowl most of the day. However, JUST BECAUSE A WOMAN OF CHILDBEARING AGE IS PUKING DOES ***NOT*** MEAN SHE IS PREGNANT. Good hell! Why would you EVER post that on Facebook? Yes, I'm fully aware I may be overreacting a tad. But this is not the first time. Its a sore subject for me. I'd give anything to be pregnant right now. Really, I would. But my body just can't do it "naturally". Not to mention that my husband is 11 hours away and has been for the last month. If I am ever lucky enough to get knocked up, it will be the result of major medical intervention. And fyi, if that ever happens, I'll be screaming it from my roof, putting up fliers around town, skipping around the neighborhood singing about it. aka, if I am preggers and want you to know, you'll know. I just think it is a huge no-no to EVER post something like that on someone's FB. Common courtesy people, come on. I don't care if its my own mother that says something, I'll delete her comment too. At least she has the decency to respect me enough to never ever ever do something like that. And this is not just me. I've had sooooo many friends who can't post anything or simply don't post at all anymore because they are sick to death of the speculation whether its about being pregnant, getting engaged, whatever. So new rule, don't post crap on other people's walls that is non of your effing business. Even FB has some unwritten rules, thats one of them. The end.

Oil Field Widow

2010-01-04T19:39:00.004-07:00

Last October/November Rob heard of a company called Schlumberger (pronounced Slumber-Jay) that was interviewing in Idaho Falls. They are an international oil company. They don't drill the wells (which is the super dangerous job that kills guys all the time), they come in after the well is drilled and do everything to get it ready so that Chevron or whoever can come in and get the goods. Rob and one of his buddies both interviewed and got on a wait list for a job in Williston, North Dakota and we prepared to have him leave after the first of the year. Well 2009 showed up, Schlumberger called and said things were moved back until March/April. Ok, well we need this job, we'll wait. March/April comes, oops, sorry, we meant July. Fine, we'll still wait. July comes, we've given up hope. October/November rolls around again and we hear that the company is finally coming back to town for another round of interviews. Rob gets on the horn with the hiring dude, "You're the big guy who has the wife with the dog that needs all the health insurance right?" Yup, that'd be us (wives came to all the interviews too, so the guy remembered Lobo). Interview one. Interview two. Again, "They'll go at the first of the year". Pfft, sure they will. We've heard this story before. Well, its now just after the first of the year and I'm sitting home alone and Rob is in North Dakota. He left Sunday morning and today was his first day. I guess he got to watch like 30 training videos. Sounds fun. ;) Rob will be in North Dakota for 3 or 4 weeks then he's shipped off to Oklahoma for CDL training for 3 weeks. When he gets back he has to log 1,000 driving hours before Schlumberger will let him drive their big fancy million dollar trucks. What this all adds up to is that I'll be lucky to see Rob by March or April. :( Sucks huh? Yeah, in a huge way. He's not on the Schlumberger pay roll yet. The first 30-45 days are a 'working interview'. Like "The Apprentice", but with less comb overs. The company has him up in a hotel right now, and they will also give him an extra month's salary to find an apartment and sign a lease. If we relocate totally within the first year of his hiring, the company pays for someone to come pack up our house, move all our crap, and unload it in a new place. If they ever want you to move again after the first time, they buy your stinking house from you and send you on your way. So that is pretty cool. We won't have the funds or ability to get the house ready to sell until the spring (aka the snow has to be gone so we can re-do the backyard). I'm guessing the absolute earliest that I'd be up there permanently would be late summer to fall. So, for now, the kids and I are hanging out at home. Lobo seems to be extra watchful right now, like he knows I'm on the verge of tears every two seconds. Stupid perceptive wolf. This is all a good thing (I keep telling myself.). A very good thing. We've been needing this kind of a big break for a dang long time. But that doesn't take away all the suckiness of having my husband in a different effing time zone. If anyone wants to come to Idaho for a visit and comfort me, now would be an ideal time to pop in. ;) *hint hint hint*

Needing To Vent

2009-12-25T23:40:00.005-07:00

Yup, this is going to be a vent post.

That is its one and only purpose.

You have been warned.

I am a film major. I spent FOUR YEARS studying film. So just to make things perfectly clear, I happen to think I have some credibility when it comes to talking about film. After all those years of study, I did develop one *major* pet peeve. To avoid over-using caps, I'll italicize and bold this next phrase to emphasize its importance: Judging a film based *purely* on its rating is ignorant, close-minded, and judgmental. Someone who has seen "Band of Brothers" can tell you that it its one of the most moving and inspirational films they have ever watched. Oh, and it happens to be rated R. "Schindler's List", "Saving Private Ryan", "Amadeus", "Shawshank Redemption", "Wit" all are rated R and all fantastic films that should be required viewings for each and every person on the planet. However, some people refuse to see these films based only on the rating that the members of the Motion Picture Association of America voted on. Here's a thought... WHO THE FRAK CARES? If you're going to follow the old saying "Don't judge a book by its cover" how about adopting a new one, "Don't judge a movie by its rating". Are some R-rated films total crap that should be burned? Yup. But not all of them. Let's say you are one of those that refuses to see R-rated films. Ok, fine. But don't cast a single judging glance or word at me because I do choose to watch them. I'm not committing a sin with my movie choices. Don't say that these films have no worth- you haven't seen them. And for hell's sake, do NOT try to tell me that your one and only reason for not seeing an R-rated film is some prophetic command. Its not. Discouraged, yeah. Looked down on, yup. Even forbidden in some families, sure. And yet, not a commandment chiseled into stone. If you have a personal aversion to say.... violence, or if blood makes you ill... Yeah, "300" might not be the film for you. But if you want to see a film with mind-blowing affects and a very yummy Gerald Butler, its the way to go. (THIS IS SPARTA! Sorry, just had to. I feel so much better now, lets move on.) But don't refuse to see a spectacular film just because a room full of board members slapped a little letter 'R' on it. [/rantover]

Why I Really Do Hate Facebook Sometimes...

2009-11-19T02:02:00.007-07:00

I hate it because idiots can post bull like this:

A Proclamation to the Dating World

The whole problem started in the beginning, with our first parents, Adam and Eve. Eve wanted what she could not have: the forbidden fruit. I propose that girls are still being beguiled by that same serpent that was in the beginning. Bishop G. S. Nelson once said “Girls think that nice guys are boring and safe.” He acquired this insight during his numerous interviews with girls that attended the BYU ward in which he served as bishop.

The Nice Guy. The guy who is nice, genuine, sincere, and kind. Some girls ask if this guy exists. I am here to tell you that he does. He is that guy that you turned down last week when he asked you out. Yes, that is right. Last week’s rejection fits that description, but why did you reject him? Nice guys are no mystery. They go out of their way to do nice things, compliment girls, and are therefore boring. That’s why nice guys finish last.

Girls. I would like you to stop and think for a second of a nice guy in your life that is always there for you but for some reason you cannot see him as a future companion. Then I want you to think of the way you talk to your friends about this person. Would you not say something to the effect of, “We are just friends; we could never be more than that”? The nice guy is the person you talk to when the mean guy rejects you. When you are not asked out on a date he is the person you call so that you are not alone. He is always there for you because he actually cares about you.

The “Friend Zone.” The nice guy enters into the “friend zone,” which is a zone that is impossibly hard to get out of. Once the nice guy tries to get out of the “friend zone” he becomes awkward and the relationship is never the same. But whose fault is it really? Some would say, “I do not find him attractive”, but I do not believe that to be true. It is not necessarily his appearance that makes him unattractive, it is the fact that he doesn’t play “the game”: there is no chase. Girls, it is just as shallow for you to go for the mysterious, funny, impossible guy, as it is for a guy to just go after looks. You are not unattracted to the nice guy, he just isn’t the mystery man you have imagined yourself dating. We all know the nice guy would treat you better than anyone else, but you still reject him.

The Next Best Thing. Girls fear that they can do better than what they already have, that they can get someone that is just a little better. They let this fear dictate what they do and who they date. Once girls have something, they need the next best thing. They are never satisfied. They think they need something new, something that is just out of reach. This fear that girls have causes them to go for the untouchable, the mean guy that does not want anything to do with them. When a girl pursues that kind of guy and gets rejected she says, “Why can’t I just date a nice guy?” She quickly forgets that just recently she rejected the nice guy who really did care about her. I believe that girls have an inherent quality that makes them honestly believe that if they can already get the guy, then they can get a better one, and that they deserve more.

Victims. An argument that girls often use is that they are victims of guys that take advantage of their emotions, just as the nice guys feel they are victims. Girls need to take into account which kinds of guys are victimizing them. If they would just think about it, they would realize that they are chasing the mean guys. The nice ones do not ever want to upset them, but since they do not go after the nice guy, they are just asking for trouble.

Girls, almost all of your problems and issues would be resolved if you would just stop rejecting nice guys, and give them a chance.

Good Guys, This Is For You. You know you have been treated unfairly in the past, but please take the following information into account and use it the next time you think about asking a girl out. If the good guy finishes last, then that means only one thing: the mean guys finish first. This is because a girl likes a challenge, things that she cannot quite have. Girls know that nice guys are always available. When girls get lonely they know they can always rely on you being there for them. Nice guys, you appear desperate because you go out of your way to be a gentleman. Girls enjoy this game. The mean guy is mysterious… you never know what he will do next. He does not pay attention to the girls, and when he does, it is usually to make fun of them. For some reason girls love that. Everything he says is funny— not sincere or genuine, but funny. Someone has to change, and there are two options.

1. Girls: Give the nice guy a legitimate chance. Stop being beguiled and have an open mind.

2. Guys: Become the mysteriously impossible guy the girls are looking for. Play the game better than they do.

I see... So if I take *one* quote from a general authority and then add my own angst to it, that makes it legitimate. Cool! *EYE ROLL* Read through it again and switch the genders... Funny, it reads EXACTLY THE SAME... And it much more closely resembles my former dating life and the dating lives of 98% of my friends. Tonight, I am EXTREMELY thankful that I am married. There is no way in hell I could deal with guys who have attitudes like that.

Want to get more pissed off? Give this one a read...
http://singleswardhopper.com

I feel for all of my un-married friends. My awesome sister-in-law seems to constantly be finding herself in stupid situations caused by stupid boys. Yeah, yeah, I know the women aren't blameless. But let's just get one thing straight: This in *my* blog, so I get to express any favoritism I want. Nanny nanny. ;)

In other news:
Widdle Brudder is leaving us soon. I'm more sad about it then I thought I'd be. He's going to CA and will be living near family, so I know he'll be okay... But I'll miss having him around. I think. ;)

I now have an office/study/Wii Fit room upstairs. I am in love with it. So are the dogs.

I performed guinea pig surgery last night on Norbert. Went to the vet today because what I found was beyond weird (and rather graphically gross, so I'll save the whole story for another post. You're just dying with anticipation, I know). Vet put him on antibiotics for 3 weeks, but the treatment is literally exactly what I did on my own. It made me feel like a good momma.

I am dreadfully behind in my coursework this term thanks to cold that turned into flu that turned into swine flu that turned into bronchitis. Its been fun... I'm almost caught up. Kind of. ;)

Oh, Up! is one of the most awesome animated movies. Ever. Had Rob not been in the room, I would have been bawling during the whole opening sequence. You must see it.

The end.

More later when/if I catch up in class. ;)

Swine Flu

2009-10-14T23:49:00.002-06:00

Yes, I have out done myself this time. I have H1N1, also known as Swine Flu...

Oh, and even better, I infected Rob and Zach.

Please do yourself a favor and get the vaccine. NOW.

I'm going to go back to coughing and puking...

:(

Catch Up

2009-09-24T16:18:00.013-06:00

My blogging = fail. Really.

Ok... A quick catch up.

To follow up on a previous blog post where I promised all sorts of stories that I never got to:
-Harry Potter movie: Lame, lame, lame. Should have cut it in two. Released the first half at Christmas and the second half at summer blockbuster. Everyone would have gone to both and the story line wouldn't have been so brutally smashed. I hear that this is the plan for #7. I'll wait and see. Not a lot of high hopes though.

-Oh! The weird medical treatment. Teehee. I had a migraine that lasted for FIVE weeks. A new personal record. Tried all sorts of meds, even had a multiple day/night hospital stay to try and get it under control. The hospital stay ended up being a total waste of time. An idiot nurse pushed a medication the wrong way (which I CALLED her on while she was doing it, and she ignored me) and burned out a vein in my left arm. And yes, you can STILL see the damage that was done in JULY. The neurologist I was working with was a total idiot too. I broke my own personal rule by even going to a neuro. I hate them and nothing good has ever come of a visit with a neruo. There is a very simple treatment that my amazing doctor in Provo discovered to treat me when my migraines get like this. Shoot me up with some meds and send me home to sleep for 18-24 hours. An easy fix. A 'system reboot' if you will. During my four years in Provo, we had to do this treatment a lot. And it worked EVERY TIME. Mr. Smarty Pants neuro refused to do the treatment. This angered me. After 3 or 4 days in the hospital with no progress he finally agreed to do it... IF I agreed to be admitted to the ICU. Um, HELL NO. We asked for discharge papers shortly after. I went to my pain management doc (who I really should have had working on this in the first place, but I was trying to be a 'good' patient and go see the neuro first. Remind me not to do that again.) Rob went with me to the appointment and can vouch for this... I told this wonderful doctor what I wanted done (the old treatment from Provo) and what the neuro had said about my needed to be in the ICU for it. I am not kidding he literally started laughing and said (and I quote), "Shit! That's it? I would have done that weeks ago!" Can you see why I love this doc so much? teehee So the next morning we hoofed it down to Blackfoot to his main office, he shot me up with the meds and we waited. Nothing. Great. The migraine had been going on for so long that the treatment just would not work. Not to fear, my doctor of wonderfulness had a back-up plan! This is all VERY true, and I'll even show you the pics to back it up. So you know those reallllllly long medical q-tips? The ones that are a good 8 inches long? Ok, good. Now imagine your doctor laying you down on an exam table and sticking two of those beasts down your nose until only about an inch and half, maybe two inches of the Q-Tips of Doom are still visible. Oh... Did I fail to mention what he had dipped the torture devices in before ramming them up my nose? Cocaine. Cross my heart, gospel truth. Cocaine. The idea was to get the medicine all the way back to the very end of my nasal cavity so it could cross the blood/brain barrier as quickly as possible. So here I lay, scared to death. Doc dips these things in the little bottle, sticks 'em all the way up/down muh nose and LEAVES them for 10-15 min. Fun huh? Oh, and then repeated it 5 or 6 times. I begged to stop after 3 rounds I think. "But there's more left in the bottle..." It hurt too much to laugh with the Q-Tips of Doom in my nose, so I just smirked and told him to go ahead. On a good note, the migraine did finally go away. It's come back, but that's normal. It has yet to ramp up to the level of pain it was for those 5 weeks, thank goodness. But that doesn't stop my dear doctor from asking how my migraine is every time I see him. The weirdo wants to do it again. lol Being a guinea pig is fun. So yes, I now officially count that as the weirdest medical treatment I've ever had. Cocaine up my nose. teehee

-Rob and had our two year anniversary in July. Yay for us! He continues to be patient with me, is supportive even when I'm a mess, and cleans 95% of the time. The man in a saint.

-My birthday/anniversary present to Rob/Us was getting Selene. That's right folks, another furry kid has joined the zoo. She is the cutest little ferret you've ever seen. Hera is her best buddy. She hates to be in her cage and the neighborhood kids love her.

-Ah, we've reached the academic masochism part. I went back to school. Again. Yes, I've done this a few times now. Our circumstances kept changing and I was forced to abandon some of the other programs I've been enrolled in. When I went to register for fall classes for my Marketing program and I got nothing but bull crap back from administration about my medically supported disability, I decided to but my loses and move on. I've now started my master's program and am almost done with my first term. It's been a lot of fun. I'm behind right now due to a nasty flu bug and my old lappy finally crashing on me (RIP Lore), but its still a total blast.

-As for the last section of that promised post... That's a whole other story deserving its own post. In summary at the beginning of the year, lovely Stumble directed me to a little on-line pixel pony game. Go ahead and laugh. I love it and have no shame. I'm now a moderator for the game and the IRC chat (online chat room). It's a total blast and I adore all of my dear PS buddies.

So there's that, caught up. Woot.

Zach, Lobo and I took a trip down to Cedar recently. We were supposed to be there for a week but ended up being there for two. It was a good visit (mostly), but I was anxious to be home by the end.

I have a whole mound of funny, cute, and generally entertaining pictures and video from the trip that need to be posted. I'll get to that. Some day. ;)

For now, enjoy the pics below of the medical experiment mentioned earlier. Luffs to everyone!
-R

I Just Shouldn't Have Bothered To Come Home

2009-08-27T13:04:00.004-06:00

He never changes.

He never will.

Shrek will always be a Shrek. When the fraking hell am I going to figure this out and stop trying? Stop caring? Now would be great. Can someone arrange that?

I wish Rob was here. I miss him terribly. :(

My thought for today. Cheery and joyful, no? I'll be going now. Lobo and I are getting the hell out of here for a few hours. I'll write more later.
The end.

ps... Thank you to Battlestar Galactica for adding 'frak' (and all its wonderful variations) to my vocabulary. Also, I miss you.

I Can't Help Myself

2009-07-17T06:41:00.002-06:00

Yes, I'm posting about my play list. Again.

Idaho Falls is sadly behind the times when it comes to music. I'm buddies with one of the local DJs (in keeping with my long history with having a thing for DJs, lol) and have just been introduced to a 'new' song. 'Beggin' by Madcon.

Ok, so it's not new. But its new to me. And I'm in LOVE.

So listen to it and enjoy my newest obsession.

I now feel the need to go take samba lessons or something. That should go well. lol

You CAN look forward to posts on:
-my opinion/review of the new Harry Potter movie
-the weirdest medical treatment I've ever endured. Complete with pictures!
-R&R Two Year Anniversary!
-Meeting the newest Nielsen, Selene!
-academic masochism
-IRC, PS, BBP, and other things that will make no sense to anyone but my most awesome buddies

But as the Lost Skeleton of Cadavra says... "I sleep now."
If you have no idea what/who I'm talking about, redeem yourself by doing a search on your netflix and adding that movie to your queue. ;)

Maybe I Should Blog And Not Just Listen To My Playlist

2009-07-10T22:20:00.002-06:00

But really, it is a rather awesome mix... So can you blame me for getting distracted? ;)

I'm not dead.

I'm not dying.

I really and truly shall get some catch-up blogs on here.

Feel free to take cool points away from me if you must since I took so dang long.

-rachie

For Wilbur

2009-05-22T07:46:00.006-06:00

Hi Boy,
I’m sorry I wasn’t there.

I’m sorry I’m not there to take care of your girls for you right now.

I hope that you’ve found Zeke. Stick with him, he’ll take good care of you. Do me a favor and go run Wilda around a little too. Don’t let her give you a hard time about it. ;)

Wilbur, please don’t leave these girls all alone. They still need you. Promise you will look in on them?

My heart aches for you my good, sweet boy.

Mom is devastated, you need to take care of her too, she may miss you most of all.

Wilbur, I love you. And I won’t be able to say it enough times over.

Please come find me when I’m lost, or sad, or scared. I’ll be looking for you.

You’re a good boy Wilbur. One of the best. I’m not going to forget you. I’ll be waiting to see you again someday.

I know all dogs go to heaven.

I love you over and over a thousand times my precious Wilbur. Miss you ‘till we meet again.

-Your Rachel

Sir Wilbur Wubber of the Wiggles - Passed away Tuesday May 19, 10:57am

This is the same poem/song that I left with Zeke, Wubber. Now it is for you.

With You In Your Dreams

If I'm gone when you wake up
Please don't cry
And if I'm gone when you wake up
It's not goodbye
Don't look back at this time as a time
Of heartbreak and distress
Remember me, remember me
'Cause I'll be with you in your dreams
I'll be with you

But If I'm gone when you wake up
Please don't cry
And if I'm gone when you wake up
Don't ask why
Don't look back at this time
As a time of heartbreak and distress
Remember me, remember me
'Cause I'll be with you in your dreams

Don't cry, I'm with you
Don't cry, I'm by your side
Don't cry, I'm with you
Don't cry, I'm by your side

And though my flesh is gone,
I'll still be with you at all times
And although my body's gone,
I'll be there to comfort you at all times

But If I'm gone when you wake up
Please don't cry
And if I'm gone when you wake up
Don't ask why
Don't look back at this time
As a time of heartbreak and distress
Remember me, remember me
'Cause I'll be with you
I'll be with you in your dreams

I'll be with you
I'll be with you in your dreams
I'll be with you
I'll be with you

I don't want you to cry and weep,
I want you to go on living your life
I'm not sleeping an endless sleep,
'Cause in your heart
You have all of our good times

And if I'm gone when you wake up
Don't ask why
Don't look back at this time
As a time of heartbreak and distress
Remember me, remember me
'Cause I'll be with you in your dreams

I'll be with you in your dreams
I'll be with you
I'll be with you
I'll be with you in your dreams
I'll be with you in your dreams...

Now Stumble, That's Not Very Nice...

2009-03-11T07:06:00.004-06:00

Its so mean! And yet I laughed so hard! ...And I'm laughing again now... I am just a terrible, terrible human being. Oh well. ;) Thanks to Stumble, my best bud, who finds all sorts of interesting and non-interesting things to completely waste my time. :)
I hope you have Firefox. I hope you have Stumble! If you don't, get with it man! My younger brother had to quite literally force it on me. (Well, on to poor Lore... aka my laptop) He ripped it right out of my hands, installed Stumble on it, and we've been best friends since. Stumble and I, not the brother. ;)

Are you impressed that I'm making a blog post at 7am? Don't be. I'm only awake because I haven't been to bed. :) (Lack of sleep induces overuse of smileys.) We're headed down to SLC today, I was going to have to get up at an un-holy hour anyway, so, meh... What's the point? So, here I sit. I played with my new toy, Rosetta Stone for a while. I am attempting Spanish, for some dumb reason. (I tried in high school, it was a complete and utter royal failure.) But we have this cute family we know in Mexico now, and I want to be able to talk to them a little better next year when we go down. I am getting much better at recognizing words and matching them with pictures... But my pronunciation sucks. Wow, I'm back in tenth grade... I should just stick to my ASL and call it good. If the program wasn't so dang cool... It even has Latin! Will anyone be my study buddy?

In other news: On the medical front, my pain management doctor AND spine surgeon have both recommended to re-do the ketamine infusion. So it's off to the loony bin again for me. To re-cap my experience with ketamine so far:
-Attempt #1: 20 minutes in I start posturing, which is a pre-cursor to seizing. I freak everyone out, including myself, but especially the nurses (they'll live), everything is stopped and the procedure is called off.
-Attempt #1: I do pretty good for the first few hours. I know what to expect this time, I come prepared. I bring my mp3 player and start the music before the start the drugs, I mostly listen to musicals, as I have the strongest memories attached to them (Ashley, London, high school, etc) and I know they will keep me grounded. For some reason part way through the procedure I take my headphones out and turn my mp3 player off. Cue all hell breaking loose. To me, the nurse came in, turned off the drip, I got dressed, we drove home, I'm sitting on the couch, watching TV, petting Lobo... Everything around BREAKS APART LIKE GLASS. SOOOO not kidding. Needless to say, I flip a bit. Everything starts over. The stupid scenario runs over and over and over. The lay out of the room is sometimes flip-flopped, sometimes its a different nurse, once it wasn't Rob there at my bed, it was an old boyfriend from high school and wow, did that send me over the edge. It was my own personal Groundhogs Day from hell. I kept screaming, "Are you the real Rob? Are you the real Rob?" to my husband, because every time I'd reach for him, things would break apart again and the record started over. It was great fun for all. I do remember at one point I looked over my shoulder to check my own vitals... (thanks mom, for being a nurse for so long), and my blood pressure was 99/55. Not dead, but low. Anyways... finally got back under control. I had no idea who I was, where I was, why, if we'd started, what was going on, I kept asking the same questions over and over for a while, as my body adjusted. Then there was a really fun headache. BUT for the time I was "under the influence" and for a few hours after, I was in no physical pain, aside from the stupid headache, for possibly the first time, ever... literally. Kind of a big deal for me. And since my feet have felt like they are broken every step I've taken (heck, even when I don't move) since last April... I'm going for it again. My doctors think that enough of these treatments may make the foot pain go away entirely. The only other option is a surgery to severe the nerves that are mis-firing. Heck, my pain management doc wanted me to do it every day for a week.
I told my psychology professor about Attempts #1 and #2. Of course he was fascinated. I also told him under no circumstances would I ever do it again. Well, I changed my mind. A chance to knock out one of my major points of pain, I'll go for it. Anyways... So I informed him last night about the upcoming Attempt #3. He got all excited, eyes lit up, asking all these questions... So I said, "Russ... Do you want to come?" Cause here's the thing, ketamine, noooot something handed out at the local drugstore. Not something most hospitals even carry. The hospital I go to to have it done, has to special order it every time. It's used mostly in veterinary medicine... as a horse tranquilizer... but moving on. It was like I gave him the key to a candy factory and Santa's Workshop. "Really? You'd be okay with that?" "Russ... I've been poked, prodded, exposed, experimented, med-studented, cut open, lab-tested to death. I have no modesty, I have no fear. I would be completely comfortable with you there if you'd like to come." He says that observing a subject under ketamine could be a once-in-a-lifetime for a psychologist. Its not like you can ask people to come to an experiment about it. You have to find someone who is already having it done, and get in on the gig, its called a case study. It's unethical the other way around. Heck, maybe I'll flip out again and he can write a cool paper on it or something. Woo hoo. ;)

I'm gonna go get ready to leave for SLC now.

GO GET STUMBLE!
please?
Or I'll sick that Sasquatch/polar bear/wolverine thing on you....

MARK Give Away

2009-02-09T17:08:00.004-07:00

Mark is a new boutique-like store. I was surprised at the variety of things they have to offer, and how reasonable the prices were. There is also a give-away going on through this website if you'd like to join in too! I am most excited about the 'beauty tools'... as my old Mary Kay brushes are wearing thin (they'll last forever the rep promised... sure sure) and need to be replaced. Mark looks like a great place to go for beauty needs, I'll for sure be trying it! :)

Pay It Forward

2009-02-05T14:51:00.003-07:00

It's the month of love! Play along and pass it on! :) xoxox

The Rules...

1. Be one of the first THREE of my friends or family to leave a comment on this post, which then entitles you to a handmade item from me.

2. Winners, you must post this challenge on your blog, meaning that you will Pay It Forward, creating a handmade gift for the first THREE bloggers who leave a comment on YOUR post about this game!

3. The gift that you send to your Three Friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And, remember: It’s the Spirit and the Thought That Counts!

4. When you receive your gift, please feel free to blog about it, sharing appropriate Linky Love!

If you are not one of the Top Three Commenters on this post, you can still play along and start your own Pay It Forward chain, and encourage your blogging friends to do the same! Thanks to Kirsten for this cute idea!

No Pants Subway Ride

2009-01-29T23:34:00.014-07:00

So my report is a little late... however, I have come across a site that is now a personal favorite. This website made my whole day. I hope you enjoy.

On Saturday, January 10th, 2009 nearly 2,500 people took off their pants on subways in 22 cities around the world. In New York’s 8th Annual No Pants! Subway Ride we had over 1,200 participants, spread out over four subway lines. The video is priceless.

Official Goodbye to 2008

2009-01-24T23:20:00.004-07:00

I saw this on a friend's blog, and thought it was cute and kinda fun... so, here we go!

Where did you begin 2008?
In a cute little condo in Ammon/Idaho Falls, Idaho.

What was your status by Valentine's Day?
Happily hitched

Were you in school (anytime this year)?
Yup... I just can't help myself...

Did you have to go to the hospital?
Let's see... shall we count the times? ...the short answer is yes...

Did you have any encounters with the police?
Nope.

Where did you go on vacation?
A very lovely and wonderful trip to Mexico followed by a short trip to Cedar City to see my family.

What did you purchase that was over $500?
A house, a jeep, another jeep since the first one crapped out on us, stupid books for stupid school...

Did you know anybody who got married?
Freaking everyone got married! People I grew up with, kids from high school, a handful of friends from film school, it was insane!

Did you know anybody who passed away?
My dear friend Elijah was killed in a car accident.

Did you move anywhere?
We bought our house and moved there from our condo.

What sporting events did you attend?
Umm... None that I remember... Sadly I missed all the BYU football games. :(

What concerts/shows did you go to?
I was in a show... does that count?

Where do you live now?
In my little house that I love to death in IF.

Describe your birthday:
I was in Mexico for my birthday. I got to do two completely awesome things for my birthday, on top of being in Mexico for a week. First, I got to go para sailing (twice)! Second, I got to go horse-back riding on the beach. It was a one on one hour and a half little guided tour, which was so cool. If you know me at all, you know I've been riding horses my entire life, and I have wanted to ride on the beach ever since I was a little girl, so for me, it was a dream come true. And my husband got me the most killer HD camera EVER! Woo hoo for Rob! ;)

What's the one thing you thought you would never do but did in 2008?
Para sailing--- very much not my thing... but I LOVED it.

What has been your favorite moment(s)?
I loved Mexico... but it was so very, very cool to come home to a house that was ours that we could do whatever we wanted in and was so comfortable and safe feeling.

What's something you learned about yourself?
That I really can do 'scary' grown up things like sell my beloved little truck and buy something else, buy a house, etc... and that its not as frightening as it looks.

Any new additions to your family?
Yup! Hera joined us in early September-ish at 10 weeks old, she's 6 months old now and is starting to get over her 'I only want Mommy' phase and will cuddle with Rob, and will soon be going out with me more to begin her training.

What was your best month?
June. It was the last month before my current health problem that has made me all but home-bound...

What music will you remember 2008 by?
Soundtracks. I love my soundtracks. And I listened to them a lot last year. Especially Twilight! teehee

Made new friends?
Sure did! hugs and kisses to Meagan, Tabree, Johanna, Andy, etc! ;)

Any regrets?
I should have gone riding on the beach a second time in Mexcio. ;)

What would you change about 2008?
I would like to go back in time and stuff a fist in a certain director's face... But other than that...lol... '08 was ok.

What did you like most about 2008?
BUYING A HOUSE!!! I L-O-V-E having a home of my own. There is so much freedom, peace, privacy. I love having a back yard that I don't have to share with anyone else (unlike at the condo) so the dogs can play until they are worn out. And out house is just so cute... If we just had a couple of acres it would be absolutely perfect.

Other than home, where did you spend most of your time?
Wow...umm... Either at school or rehearsing.

Change your hairstyle?
Sadly... I cut it in desperation because I couldn't find a good wig for a role I was playing in a production... had a health problem come up (and a witchy director), and had to drop out before the show had finished its run... I want my hair back, and I think said nasty director should have to do something about it. ;)

Get a new job?
I went back to school in '08. For now, school is my job.

How old did you turn this year?
23

Do you have a New Year's resolution?
To find out whats been plauging my feet/legs/general health since July. I'll throw all sorts of fits to get it figured out. I'm sick and tired of the constant, never-ending pain... and my goal is to find someone smart enough, or at least driven enough to figure it out... 'cause I've had a gut full.

What was your favorite purchase?
Mi casa

Did you get sick this year?
Dumbest question ever... ;) I'm always sick, its the joy of having multiple chronic illnesses. Woo hoo.

Start a new hobby?
Watching baby shows obsessively. I am baby hungry like you wouldn't even imagine. Not even young children are safe around me... I'll steal them and keep them for myself. ;) Jenna and Bethany each have two... so I think they should share. :)

What are you wishing for in 2009?

A breakthrough in my health, for Rob to get the job he wants, for Hera to get as big as her daddy, for my brother to find some peace in his life, for my little sister to survive high school and home-life, for my Lobo dog to stay healthy and happpy as well as my other babies, and for everyone else I love to be safe and well.
Oh... and for a child to be magically left on my doorstep in the middle of the night with a little note saying, "To Rachel and Rob, hi, please be my mommy and daddy." That'd be great, thanks. ;)
Oh... Almost forgot... and for everything Stephanie Myers has written in the Twilight series to be real... The End.
teehee

ps.... If above last wish is true... I'll be moving to Forks... With Jennette Brown.... Right Jennette? lol

Why My Husband is Better than Your Husband

2009-01-02T19:17:00.008-07:00

So first... the background story:
In 2006 I spent the summer in London on a study abroad program with BYU's theater program. While I was there, my best friend Ashley and I were able to take a trip to Ireland. Going to Ireland had been a dream of mine since I was very little, and I had always been fascinated by Irish music, dance, stories, films, etc. Before we left, I did some research on Celtic history and Celtic symbols. By the time our trip to Ireland came around, I was low on my spending money and knew it would be best if I got myself one really cool thing while I was there instead of a bunch of little things. After all my research I decided to try and find a necklace with a particular Celtic symbol called a Trinity Knot- it symbolizes the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost in Christianity, the feminine powers for the pagans, and mind, body, spirit in the metaphysical arena. I thought all of these things were very cool, and were meaningful for me.
A traditional Trinity Knot

I spent the whole time looking for just the right kind of necklace, but just never found it. On our next to last day there, Ashley and I took a bus tour out to Glendalough and Avoca in County Wicklow. Glendalough turned out to be the single most beautiful place on the planet, at least to me. I would give absolutely anything to go back there and just stay forever. On a last second impulse, Ashley and I ran into the gift shop, and there it was, my necklace. I literally wore it night and day, hardly ever taking it off. It was a reminder of Ireland, it was a reminder of all the adventures I had with Ashley that summer, all the adventures I had had on my own... it just meant a lot to me.

Me headed down to Glendalough Upper Lake

Glendalough Upper Lake

Earlier this year, I was at physical therapy, and was asked to remove the necklace so my neck could be worked on. Not a big deal, it had been done a million times before, and I was always hyper about getting it back on the second I could. But that day something must have happened to distract me, and I didn't put it right back on. I was wearing shorts that day and drove back to Idaho Falls (I was in Blackfoot for PT), went to Wal-Mart, took Rob's car and vacuumed it out, did some other errands, etc... it wasn't until that evening when I went to get in the shower that I realized what had happened... I reached up to take my necklace off, and it wasn't there. I absolutely broke down. I went berserk. I tore the house apart, I tore Rob's car apart, I called Wal-Mart, I called the PT's office, I went to the car wash... it was no where. I looked for it on and off for days and weeks before finally giving up and really believing it was gone. I was heartbroken. I went into research mode again and tried in vain to find the gift shop in Glendalough on-line. I turned to E-bay... I found a ton of Trinity Knot jewellery... But it was all from Florida, or Nevada... and that just wasn't what I wanted. I conceded that I wouldn't ever get the same necklace again, but that I didn't want any necklace at all if it wasn't at least from Ireland... After a few weeks of E-bay research, I gave up and tried to stop thinking about it all together.

This Christmas, Rob and I decided to have our gift exchange on Christmas Eve because we would be spending all Christmas Day at his parents. My first gift was a Slanket. What is this you ask? lol It's a blanket with sleeves. I am always, and I mean always cold. And I am also always whining that I have to take off my blankets to do anything. We've seen the ads on TV for the Snuggie, which is the same thing, and Rob knew how cool I thought it was. Our smallest dog, Chubby, also loves it, because Mommy can cuddle him better now. lol Rob managed to keep all my gifts a surprise (quite the accomplishment if you know me well at all, lol). The next thing he handed me was a huge box (which I has jokingly guessed was a life-size Barbie, tee hee), which turned out to be a new vacuum, which nearly brought tears to my eyes. Its a specially made vacuum for dog hair! Woo hoo! lol

I was happily unpacking all the parts to my new favorite toy (aka the vacuum) when Rob asked if I wanted my last present. I didn't think I had anything else coming, I was more than happy with what I had. So I asked, "I really have something else?" To which Rob replied, "Well yeah, have you cried yet?" Last year Rob made me a collage of our wedding pictures that, of course, made me bawl, so apparently its now a Christmas tradition. Rob's lap top was hooked up to the TV, we were watching some movies he had downloaded, he pulled up a picture of a Trinity Knot necklace. I turned and looked at him, I was still confused. He said, "Shipping from Ireland is really slow." :) I don't know how he found it, but he did, 'cause he's awesome. Rob knew how devastated I was when I lost my necklace. He found, on E-bay, a near-to-exact replica of the one I got at Glendalough. It was actually made in Ireland, shipped from Ireland. And to top it off, it came from a town only an hour or two away from where I got mine. How COOL is that?!
My new necklace!!!

The World Has Come To An End (or will very shortly...)

2008-12-22T01:49:00.006-07:00

I, Rachel Marie Schryver Nielsen, have WON at Monopoly. This is important and noteworthy for the following reasons:
1. I NEVER EVER EVER EVER E-V-E-R win this dumb game
2. I NEVER EVER EVER EVER E-V-E-R win games when I'm playing against Rob
3. I beat Rob

The Apocalypse must be close my friends, for such an event as this to take place. Please have your food storage prepared and bomb shelters ready.

I WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Five Years Changes Everything

2008-12-05T02:09:00.005-07:00

This was the first year when I had to 'come home' from college (I was only in Provo, so it hardly counts...) for Christmas, it was my last Christmas without metal in my spine, and my last Christmas with my little Acura :( .

I had no idea I'd be having my first major car accident (bye bye Acura!) the next summer, 2004, (major for the car, no damage for me lol), followed immediately by the most major and most scary surgery (hopefully) of my entire life (hello metal spine...).

I wouldn't have thought that by April of 2005 I'd be full-force involved in the BYU film program, which I was only dreaming of in this picture, or that summer of 2005 would be my first big film shoot and first very serious romance.

I could not have dreamed that summer 2006 would find me in London (!) of all places for a study abroad program with the theater department. I had been heavily involved in theater in high school (as proof by my wearing of my high school drama club hoodie in the above picture...lol, I'm a geek, I know...), and going to London has always been a dream, but never something I thought I'd get to while I was in college. (Not to mention that I got to go to Ireland too, which was an even bigger dream than London... woo hoo! tee hee) Christmas 2006 found me back at home, against my will... After excitedly getting a mission call, going through the temple, and arriving at the MTC, I had been forced home early because of health problems. After two surgeries (three if you count the oral surgery just before Christmas that year), and more doctors appointments and tests than I care to remember, I finally had a diagnosis: Fibromyalgia. It was relieving to finally know what had been plaguing me, quite literally, my entire life. But it was devastating to find out I had something that had no known cure, and very limited (and basically unsuccessful) treatments.

I headed back to BYU after that Christmas set to graduate that April 2007, and then was going to move to Salt Lake to live in my own apartment while going to vet-tech school for a year and a half before either grad school for film or actual veterinary school. Well...needless to say, I met some silly boy who de-railed all my well-laid plans. ;) I got married summer 2007 to my Rob. :) Really, who wants to live in Salt Lake anyway? ;)

Last Christmas was our first Christmas together... but I had to work, so it totally sucked...lol, so lets not talk about it. ;)

This Christmas we are in our own house, which I adore. (No, really, I LOVE my house.) We've added five to our family since getting married: Merlin and Archimedes immediately after we got married, Chubby about a month later, Maggie the day after Christmas last year, and Hera this year (added to the three kids I already had when we got married: Norbert, Dagget, and Lobo.) I call my pets kids, deal with it. They are all I have right now, so if you have an issue with it, than just shh! ;) I think it's going to be a pretty good Christmas this year. We've up-graded our pathetic Charlie Brown tree from last year, although our decorations are still lacking a little in variety. We have some decorations and outdoor lights, which we didn't have last year. And over all I'm a little more excited for Christmas this year than I was for it last year. Although it might be because of that whole... not having to work thing... ;)

I was just funny to look at this picture today and know that the biggest worries on my mind had been what I'd got on my Humanities final and if American Heritage that I had the next semester, would be as bad as everyone was making it out to be. I just would not have dreamed in my wildest of wild dreams that in five years I'd be graduated from BYU, have spent a summer in Europe, have my own dog (not a family dog, but MY DOG, a childhood dream, don't make fun.), be MARRIED, own my own home, have started another degree.... just so many things!!!!

Wow... What a busy five years. :)
Hope everyone else is as excited for Christmas as I am. xoxo
~r

ps... a certain family member has suggested that I have Alice Cullen hair in this particular picture (I had that haircut for a good two years...) Anyone else think so too?

A Little Late Halloween Report

2008-11-09T01:49:00.026-07:00

Happy November everyone! Sorry I'm a bit late on my Halloween pictures... But, here they are now, so enjoy!

Rob's blank canvas.

Rob's planned pattern

My pumpkin pre-mutilation...

My extensive and later complete waste of time tape job...

My pumpkin post-carving... not bad for my very first non-traditional jack-o-lantern if I do say so myself. :)

Rob's final product... which of course turned out much better than mine and lasted twice as long.

Chubby's Halloween costume! He's our only dog that is good natured enough to let us abuse him so and not try and rip it all off...

Ride 'em cowboy!

Hope you all had a fantastic Halloween!

I know the doggie in the window better than you do!

2008-10-19T19:18:00.012-06:00

This is a German Shepherd:This is a Siberian Husky:

This is an Alaskan Malamute:

This is a North American Timberwolf (or Grey Wolf):

This is an Alaskan Malamute/Tiberwolf Hybrid:

This is my dog, Lobo:
Please note that when comparing the pictures carefully my dog is NOT a German Shepherd, a Siberian Husky, a Malamute, or a wolf. He has a little of each, except the husky... I had four people stop me today in Wal-Mart to tell me he was either a husky or a shepherd and when I told them he wasn't, they proceeded to argue with me... and it was really getting on my nerves by the time I got out of the store. Just needed to clear that up. There, now I feel better. :)

Missing Rob and Not so Crazy Dog Lady

2008-10-15T02:03:00.003-06:00

I was up at 6:30 this morning... a time I'm sure I haven't seen since the MTC... to take Rob to the truck stop to drop him off. He left with his friend Travis on a long-haul truck trip. The same company that Travis is working for now was supposed to hire Rob after he got his CDL permit, but quickly proceeded to screw him over AFTER he got it by saying they couldn't hire him because he had to have at least 3 years driving experience. Funny that in the two months of talking to these people daily they failed to mention that... Anywho... They did decide it was fine if Rob went as a ride-along with Travis. Travis will give Rob a cut of the check just to chill with him for the week long drive to Alabama and back. If he decides he likes it enough, Rob and Travis might ditch these doofuses that messed us up job-wise and go team-drive for another company in town. Rob seemed all giddy and geeky this morning when I was dropping him off... like a kid going to scout camp knowing he's got a box of m-80s hidden in his sleeping bag. Granted... I was tired and unhappy considering how early it was, but I just bawled when it was time for me to go. I hope I didn't ruin Rob's fun in leaving on this little adventure. I told my mom today as I was tearfully driving home that I'm just like the new infant who's parents leave her for the first time and that does nothing but bawl to the baby sitter until they get back. I know... boo hoo, its a whole week, whatever!... I am boo hooing so just sue me! ;) Tonight is the first night we've been apart since we've been married, so yay, it does make me kinda sad and lonely. My mother reminded me its not like he left for a deployment to Iraq or something, and that I have my little brother here, and 8 furry kids to worry about, and a mountain of homework to catch up on... but I countered with these facts: little brothers don't cuddle you to sleep at night and you don't kiss them (among other things... TEE HEE), my furry children kiss and cuddle but they aren't so good at the conversation thing nor do they enjoy watching 'House' with me as much as Rob does, and... I don't feel like doing homework. :) Air-tight arguments, I know. Anyways... so it may be a pretty dang crappy week for me. I hate being alone as it is and still recovering from surgery last week isn't making it any easier. So if anyone has a spare minute to call, or text, or stop by, or whatever this next week... it would mean a great deal to me.

In other news... My parents are constantly making fun of me taking my dogs everywhere with me. To clarify though: technically only Lobo goes with me everywhere, and that's medically mandated in the whole 'service dog' thing. And, I happen to get a kick of taking everyone else with me when I can. I took the whole gang out last week to PetCo, it was Hera's first outing. It helps them get exposed (aka not afraid of or aggressive toward) to other people, animals, smells, sounds...etc, but more importantly it makes me feel like I'm a real mommy. The car ride sounded something like this: 'Lobo sit down', 'Chubby, stop rubbing your nose all over the windows, 'Maggie, don't chew on that!', 'Hera! Not in the car!' I l-o-v-e-d it. teehee Anyways... so back to the opening statement... I'm always getting made fun of! They claim no one takes their pets with them places, and anyone that does it stupid or crazy. Well, I now have definitive proof otherwise.
#1: I won a contest on the radio a while back by correctly answering the following trivia question: What percentage of Americans take their pets with them on family trips or outings, 10%, 35%, or 65%. The right answer was 65%. I called my parents to tell them this, but they still said I was stupid, so I have been looking for further proof. This morning after dropping Rob off I had a few errands to run, and had both Lobo and Chubby with me. (Chubby loves car rides so much, its just cruel to leave him home anytime I can manage to take him with me.) Stop #1: Wells Fargo drive up. I did take both dogs with me because I know that a few months ago Wells Fargo started carrying doggie treats at the drive up, and Chubby is eternally entertained by it. They only have ever had the cheap kind though, but still, a free treat and a happy Chubby. Doggie treat count:2. After the bank stop it was off to my fav. Java Hut drive-up for some much needed toasted marshmallow hot chocolate after having cried all morning. After the very flirty owner took my order he asked if I'd like some free doggie treats for my passengers. Well of course! And you should know, these weren't any cheap buy it in 50 pound bag Costco for 8 bucks treats... these babies were home-made, still warm from the oven, and HUGE. Lobo got the peanut butter one and was in heaven. Doggie treat count: 4. Last stop before home was the finale of my missing husband already breakfast, a stop at McDonalds for those biscuit chicken finger sandwich things that are way way way too good. First window where we pay: Offered a handful of kids meal/hamburger shaped treats for the boys. Second window where we get the food: Yet another handful of the same! Final doggie treat count: 10+ ! So mom and dad... apparently I'm not the only crazy dog lady that takes her 'children' with her everywhere. Local shops AND international chain business have clearly found it a good customer care move to invest the time and funds to have doggie treats available ... so it can't be just me. So :P. :)
The End!

Tagged!

2008-09-25T17:43:00.004-06:00

What's going on between you and the last person you kissed?
He's right here, in his chair, in our house, stuck with me forever...

What was your worst mistake in your life?
Worst mistake? Umm... Dunno. Ya, I've done some stupid things, but I would be a different person now if I hadn't learned from them... So... not spending more money in London? Not staying in Ireland when I had the chance? lol

What friend do you tell the most to?
Ashley and/or Meagan

Name 3 thoughts you have at this exact moment?
I want chocolate.
I wouldn't mind some taffy.
I want to be able to go on a walk with my dogs.

What's something you really want right now, be honest?
To be able to work in a cool job that would be accommodating to my health problems.

Three feelings at the moment?
Tired
In pain
Wanting a hug

Last time you had butterflies in your stomach.
Wow... been a long time... Umm, when I had to walk out on stage last year to collect my bachelors degree. I thought maybe they would yell 'Gotcha!' and take it away...

Does anything hurt on your body?
Everything

Who was the last person to disappoint you?
Ronnie The Uber-Wench

Do you still talk to that person?
Hell no.

Who was the last person you had a deep conversation with?
Zach

What are you listening to right now?
Zach playing his damned Grand Theft Auto game...

Have you ever punched a hole in the wall?
I've kicked a hole in a door... does that count?

Do you know anybody in jail?
Sure don't!

Where were you at 2:00 this morning?
Reading the latest book to take over my life.

Where's the weirdest place you've changed clothes?
Standing at the back of my jeep with Meagan, getting semi-naked behind the Virginia Theater with half the cast standing around and people driving by the alley.

Do you wear glasses?
Only when my eyes get tired from my contacts. I hate wearing glasses, I really only use them as back up.

Who do you love?
Rob, Zach, Lobo, Chubby, Maggie, Hera, Norbert, Dagget, Archemedies, Merlin, my family, my horses... thats a long list...

What's the cd in your player?
I don't have a CD player anymore.... However, I was most recently listening to The Lion King with the original broadway cast...

Anything annoying you right now?
Grand Theft Auto, and Zach

Who was the last person to make you cry?
Me having an asthma attack.

Anybody you're looking forward to seeing soon?
I'd really really like to see my family and my horses, dog, and cats at home.

Is there a friend particularly that you miss?
Ashely... she won't be back until next summer...

What will you be doing in a half hour?
Homework... if I can get my butt in gear...

Anywhere you'd rather be right now?
Cedar City... as twisted as that sounds...

Are you going anywhere for the next summer?
Very doubtful.

Do you have plans tomorrow?
Class. Joy.

When was the last time you really loved someone?
Today.

What color shirt were you wearing during your last kiss?
Brown, and I'm still wearing it.. tee hee...

Who's your best friend?
Ashley Rader

How many kid's are you longing for?
At this point any would be a miracle... I'll take as many as I can get...

A New Nielsen!

2008-09-01T15:17:00.003-06:00

No, I'm not pregnant, so chill out. ;)

Sometime soon, hopefully very soon, a new arrival will be joining our family. She doesn't have a name yet, she is very tall for her age, seven weeks if I remember correctly, is the only girl left from her litter, has a very sweet personality and is a little shy, but very mello, so she will fit in perfectly. She is almost all black, with just a little star of white on her chest, and her back toes. Her daddy and mommy are both Gladiator Danes. An awesome cross between a Great Dane and a Mastiff. She should be a very tall girl. I love the personalities and look of both her mom, Penny, and her dad, Cash. We had really wanted a puppy from this litter, but didn't have the monies to get one. The owner/breeder is a friend of Rob's, so as per usual, he was able to get a 'homie hook-up'... lol We'll get the little puppy for half of the sale price because Rob and his dad are going to hang a couple doors in the owner's house. Score for us!!! I am way, way, way excited, but am trying to keep myself under control so that I don't annoy Rob. lol This will be the big, tall, monster dog that Rob has always wanted, and is going to be his baby. It's the last litter that this owner is going to breed, so I feel lucky that we're going to be able to get one.

On other fronts... the play is going well, despite my latest health hurtle. Both my feet are broken. Yeah, I know, how the hell could I have managed that... it's a loooong story, so I'll spare you the details. I broke my feet summer 2003 in an accident where I was being stupid. Since then, both feet have turned up broken more than once. There could be a couple reasons why: The original break never healed because I wasn't patient enough to lay low long enough for it to, it might be that some medication I have is, or in the past, messed with my bone density (like one of the steroids for my upper respiratory disease), and the break can't heal, or lastly, I'm cursed.... Anyways... my doctors told me in no uncertain terms to drop out of the play cold last week... Ha ha, like that was going to happen... So I took myself out of all the major dance intensive scenes, and am only doing Poitophar's Wife now. (I had been a chorus dancer for some of the other numbers). I'm taking loads of drugs, pressure wrapping my feet, icing them, and staying off them as much as possible, especially on performance days. Hopefully that will be enough... And hopefully my doctor won't show up to a show before I see him again or I'm totally busted. He'll put me in two casts, non-weight bearing, in a wheel chair again just to spite me. lol

Hope everyone has a splendid Labor Day. Ours is pouring rain, lightening and thunder... meaning my big brave wolf dog is crying and hiding behind mommy on the couch... ;)

This is where I've been for the last month... On the Stage Again!!!!!

2008-08-27T19:27:00.006-06:00

Sorry to have not been posting very diligently the last while... Between rehearsals and opening for 'Joseph' and classes just starting again, I've been crazy busy... Here are some pictures though from opening night that Rob took. Just to impress you, these were taken from the absolute last row of the theater and he never used a flash. :)

R&R - - Our First Anniversary

2008-07-19T03:20:00.007-06:00

To my Rob,
Hey honey. It's been one whole year today that we've been married. I can't believe it. How fast a year goes by. I can't recall a single word that was said to us while we were being sealed in the temple that day. All I could see was you and I, going on in the reflecting mirrors forever and ever. For all I can remember, there was no one else in the sealing room that day but you. I've never been one to subscribe to the 'one and only' bit... But I am fairly certain you are the one and only man on the earth that could put up with my crap, and love me through it anyways. It's been an interesting year. We started out with one dog and two guinea pigs in a tiny Salt Lake apartment... Were quickly joined by Merlin and Archimedes, then Chubby... Returned back to Idaho to a bigger apartment and added another dog... lol... Now here we are in our third move of the last year. Our own home with all our furry children happy and, aside from me, pretty healthy. I love that you let my little brother come live with us. I love that you allow me some insanity and silliness. I love that you don't make too much fun of my Disney obsession. I love that you indulge me with letting all these furry creatures that I adore live with us. I love that you call me 'dear' and 'babe'. I love that you are always doing everything in your power to take care of me, as challenging as that is sometimes. I love that even thought I'm sick, and might be for a long, long time, you stay with me, even when I'm being mean and ornery. I love that you love to cuddle. I love that you'll watch chick flicks with me. I love playing Guitar Hero with you, even though I suck. I love the way the hairs right at your forehead and right behind your ears get all curly if your hair grows too long. I love the way you look in your pink shirt. I love the way you smell. I love the way your blue eyes get all mischievous and sparkly when you know you've told a good joke, or are just waiting to get me with a great come-back that I totally walked into. I love that you were upfront and bold from the moment I met you. I love that you protect me. I love the way you proposed to me. I love the way it felt to be sealed to you forever. I love that we are best friends, even on bad days. Rob, I just love you. Always and forever. Happy Anniversary.

xoxo
--r

July 19th, 2007

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-07-17T22:07:00.001-06:00

Went to rehearsal tonight and TOTALLY GOT THE PART!!!!!! I GET TO BE A HUSSY AGAIN!!!!!! teehee.... I'm so excited!

I'm May Be a Total Freak... But Today it TOTALLY Paid Off!!!!

2008-07-17T12:09:00.003-06:00

So... I did a totally stupid, completely Rachel-esque thing yesterday. I was driving back from Shelly where I have physical therapy. It's a little town about 15 min or so from our house in Idaho Falls on the back road highways. As I'm driving... I see the little Virginia Theater marquee says "Joseph Auditions July 7-8th" something or other. Little break in the story for a quick background... "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat" is possibly my favorite stage production... but for good reason. I was in the play in high school, cast as Potiphar's Wife, and it was the best thing I ever did. I was really into drama in high school, and even considered it for my major in college before I decided on film instead. I was in a lot of productions in high school, but never had as much fun in any of them as I did in Joseph. Over the years I've seen many other productions of Joseph and have loved every one of them. But as much fun as I had watching them, part of me was sad because of how much I wanted to be in the production again myself. Anywho... back to the story... I see that there were auditions for Joseph, and that I missed them, again. I promised myself if I ever had the chance to be in the show again, I'd do it. So here's the Rachel-esque part. I got home and spent the next half an hour researching and looking for information online about the Virginia Theater, hoping I could find contact info for the director of the show... I finally did, and in a sudden burst of courage, called her. Got voice mail and left a message "Hi, my name is Rachel Nielsen, I'm new to the area and was driving through Shelly today when I saw on the marquee at the theater that you had auditions for Joseph a few weeks ago. I know I missed the main auditions but was hoping there was some chance you might have a cast opening still. I was actually in the production in high school and have always loved it. I recently graduated from BYU with a degree in film and am living in Idaho Falls pursuing another degree right now. If you have any openings in the cast I'd appreciate a call back..." yadda yadda yadda... So that was early yesterday. I'm waiting by my cell all day for this woman to call back and she never does. So I figure I lost yet another opportunity to be in Joseph and am totally bummed. My cell rang at 11am this morning... guess who it was? :) :) :) I will be headed to Shelly tonight to start rehearsals. I have a guaranteed spot in the cast as one of the wives/chorus members, which would be a total blast and has me tickled pink. HOWEVER!!!! The woman they cast as Potiphar's wife had to move out of town unexpectedly... So they have to re-cast that role. Ronnie, the stage director that called me this morning, said they were talking last night about what to do and were considering just casting one of their current female members in the role... but she said she had had a call from a woman (she probably said some crazy woman..lol) that really wanted to be in the production, and would like to invite her to come in and consider her in the role before making an decisions. SO!!!! I have the chance to be possibly be cast as Potiphar's Wife again... I called Rob at work to ask him what he thought of the whole deal, he said it was cool. I just started bawling. I am so excited. Zach says I'm a freak. But I don't care. :) So I go tonight... I still know all the songs, which will make this time around much easier for me and much more enjoyable. lol Well, at least less stressful. lol The show will open at the end of August and run three weekends, closing September 8th or something. To summarize...

I GET TO BE IN JOSEPH AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll post more details on show dates and time when I have them. I hope anyone that can will come, I am so excited about this I can hardly contain myself. I'm still giggling uncontrollably at the thought of it. :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

The End!

Ode to Alias

2008-07-07T23:23:00.005-06:00

I love Alias. The last few days I've started watching it again. I've already blasted through season 1, and will soon be on to disc two of season two. I just can't get enough of it. I've watched this entire series, oh I dunno... like half a dozen times. And that doesn't count the times I've just watched favorite episodes. The story is so complicated and intricate. The characters are fantastic. I was trying to tell my brother Zach why I love it so much. I told him I've watched the series so many times the characters feel like friends, they are comforting and familiar. Zach said I was crazy... but let's not dwell on that. This TV series is mind-blowingly awesome. There is one particular reason I have such a devotion to this show... even after it ended... Michael Vaughn. aka actor Michael Vartan. I have a list... of particular celebrities or characters that I will forever be in love with... One list is the males I happen to favor, the other is my list of girl crushes, and I'm not ashamed of it. lol Anywho... I'm going to get back to my dear sweet Alias. Irina has already turned herself in, Sydney is about to go after Rambaldi's music box buried in the arctic that holds the key to zero point energy, and then tell her mom she was the turkey in her school play. Oh... and later she'll disappear for 2 years, Vaughn will turn up married, and she'll give him the single best dressing down ever. Alias, I heart you forever. Vaughn, come to my house and knock on my door, please. Rob already knows about us, and he'll be fine with it. ;) lol

Yeah baby, yeah!!! Vaughn is super-uber-dooper-hotness! Sorry honey... ;)

A Sliver of Hope

2008-07-02T11:53:00.002-06:00

I had a visit with my pain management doctor the other day. I told him how miserable I've been the past few months. How out of it I am all the time because I'm just in so much pain... I've just kinda felt like everything is spiraling out of control and I'm losing it. So, we talked for a good long while about symptoms, frequency, etc. He decided to re-do everything. I got pulled off a lot of the meds I've been taking for years, put on new ones or ones I haven't been on since high school. I was pretty unsure about it, cause the combination he put me on is kinda weird. Not even exaggerating... like the next day I was back. I am me again. Now granted, I'm far from cured. I still have all my symptoms, and they are all still very severe... but for some reason, the new combination is doing something good for me. My only worry is that with my history and the way my body reacts to medication, I'll just build up a tolerance so fast that the drugs will no longer be effective. But to out this all in perspective, to try and get across how dramatic the change has been... the other night we were in the kitchen and Rob asked 'Can I tell you something without offending you?' I said "Maybe, depends on what it is...'. So Rob says... "I feel like I finally have my wife back.". And its true. So all I can do is hope and pray that the effects of the new meds will last, and I can start to feel better more often. Until the day comes that there's a cure... which could be a very very very long time... this is my only hope. Wish me luck. :)

WE FINALLY CLOSED

2008-06-11T21:52:00.003-06:00

We FINALLY closed on our house...

That we've been living in since the first of April...

I now know more about mortgages and loans than I ever cared too. If you're in the housing market in Idaho Falls or nearby and want some hints... we've got the process down pat. :)

I'm so relieved we finally closed. There were a good half dozen moments when we were on the brink of having to move out, the people we bought it from were going to lose their house, yadda yadda yadda.... And I love this house, so I'm reallyI love excited that now its officially ours.

Shrek, Fiona, Dork-Dork, and Stinky, aka Dad, Mom, Hannah, and Miriam Schryver got here tonight. They are headed to Yellowstone on Friday for the Schryver Family Reunion. I am thinking I don't want to go to Yellowstone/Island Park in sub-zero temperatures. It SNOWED this morning. JUNE freaking 11th, and is SNOWS. Whatever. I love my extended family, but not enough to freeze to death with them.

Mom and Dad are staying at a hotel in town. The girls are staying at the house. The dogs think Miri and Hannah are their new play things. Lobo has already fallen asleep in the corner. All and all, a good day.
--r

ps... I had exam #2 for my algebra class today and am pretty sure I aced it again, which would be totally awesome. However, I am fearful for my life should the rest of my classmates figure out its me that's screwing up the curve.... We shall see tomorrow. :)

What Would They Look Like If...

2008-06-02T18:09:00.006-06:00

What celebrities would look like if they moved to East Texas...

David Beckham and Posh Spice

Scarlett Johanson

Tom Cruise

John Travolta

Jennifer Aniston

Jessica Simpson

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Richie

Oprah

Johnny Depp

Ellen DeGeneres

Gwen Stefani

Hilton Sisters

J.Lo and Mark Anthony

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck

Ashely Simpson

Brittany Spears

Cameron Diaz

Matthew Perry

2008-05-29T22:55:00.001-06:00

A Year Ago This Week

2008-05-23T12:03:00.002-06:00

May 21st, 2007:

Blog Needed Updating

2008-05-10T22:22:00.003-06:00

So... the past couple days have kinda sucked. I've been sick, as per usual. Yesterday was particularly unpleasant. The muscles in my neck that were butchered during the surgery a few weeks ago are trying to heal... but are having a hard time. Consequently... a terrible, completely debilitating migraine has been building up for days, it finally hit yesterday. I was so out of it, I couldn't think straight enough to even go get my drugs that would have helped. When I finally did get the drugs rolling, the migraine had progressed to the point of making my vision blurry, spotty, dark, I was terribly nauseated, dizzy, and otherwise in some of the most intense pain ever... It was like the MTC all over again.... Anyways, cause I waited so long to take anything, I was forced to take medications I've spent the last 2 months weaning myself off of. But...whatever... the migraine was mostly contained. Although I haven't felt much better today, and spent the majority of the day sleeping. Some days I can fight all of my chronic health stuff with a fairly good attitude. Other days I just can't. The past week or so has been the not able to fight back kind of days. Its just hard. I sometimes struggle with everything. Chronic health problems suck. Hard, or impossible to manage. No cures. Constant- they never take a day off- like I've had an ongoing migraine, every single stinking day for over a year and half now... my only 'treatment' option being narcotics. I don't get good days. I get days that are a little less terrible than others. New drugs are rare and hard to get, doctors aren't familiar with them anyways, research is slow. Sorry to vent--- guess I'm just having another one of those days where I feel like I can't handle being sick every day anymore. *sigh*

On a more positive note: one of my best friends got married today. Sadly I missed it... which I hate. But I am so proud of him, and excited for him to start his married life. Dallin is second only to Rob as one of the greatest men I've ever been blessed to know and be friends with. Even though we've lost contact on and off over the years, we seem to always find each other again somehow. The girl he married today is absolutely beautiful. I haven't had the chance to meet her, but I can see from their pictures, and from talking to Dallin, that Katie is a spectacular woman and that he loves her dearly. Congrats to Dallin and his new bride. Love you so much my dear friend.

The odyssey of buying our house looks like it might finally have an end in sight. We've been living here since the beginning of April... and still haven't closed. Luckily we're buying the house from friends of Rob, so living here hasn't been a problem. Unfortunately, it was one loser mortgage guy that just about lost us the house, as well as the couple we are buying from. They are trying to close on this one so they can purchase their new home, the dude was a total goober and screwed everyone up. We have a new guy now, who is actually with it, and our worries have been resolved.

I bit the bullet and sold my little white Nissan pick up two weekends ago. :( It had like 220,000 miles on it (or there abouts), I'm not entirely sure because the odometer stopped working for a long time, and even though it occasionally turns over now, its not on every mile. :) It was like a 1994... rear wheel drive only (which is NOT fun in the winter), and a punched in front bumper from a fender bender last summer. It maybe had 5 good driving years left on it, but it would have required that we sink a whole bunch of money into it... Anywho... I sold it to the little Mexican dude that installed our cable/internet. I suspect its a good two or 3oo miles south of the boarder by now... or in pieces. I cried when they drove it away... mexican pop music already blaring from the rolled down windows. To replace my dear 'Scotty' (named after James Dohann who played Scotty on the original Star Trek series, my first car was named 'Bones' after Dr. McCoy from the original series as well), we drove down to American Falls, near Pocatello, and got me a sweet little 1986 Red Jeep Cherokee. I've decided to graduate from the Star Trek names and have moved on to Battlestar Galactica, since that's the newest nerd sci-fi series Rob has me totally hooked on. And I mean the new series, not the original. I've decided the Jeep is my first girl vehicle, and shall be known as Starbuck. In the show the character of Starbuck is a fighter pilot thats just a little off in the head... and doesn't work quite right all the time. The Jeep rightly earned this new name as we were driving home, and it over-heated and died on the freeway less than 10 minutes from the body shop/repair place we got it from. :) So they came to get her off the side of the road, towed her back to the garage, and have been working on her for the last week. Hopefully they'll be able to bring her back to me in the next week or so.
So...I guess thats all for the moment. Sorry for the endlessly long blog. :)

Ow!!! :(

2008-04-28T22:06:00.004-06:00

I'm in pain, but alive. I don't have much energy to write at the moment. Just wanted to let anyone reading know that the surgery went okay today. We won't know the results of the biopsy until later this week, or early next. Here's a gruesome picture of the wound... I'm a FrankenRachelStein! (ps... the faint 'yes' near the inscision was to make sure they butchered the correct side of my neck...lol)

So much at once

2008-04-23T22:12:00.002-06:00

So we're back from Mexico and in the house. It's still weird... but its getting better every day. Zach came back with us. He'll be living with us for a while.

I got another unfortunate doctor call this week. Apparently theres some problem with one of my yearly womanly health checks. Who knows what it is this time.

Surgery next week Monday... neck surgery... yeah...

My poor baby Maggie is getting spayed tomorrow. She seems to have really mellowed out since we picked her up from the kennel. Rob is hoping it will last...lol I keep telling him it will. She's a basset hound... once she gets out of adolescent into adulthood, she'll be a sleepy dog rug just like Lobo.

I had a visit with my physical therapist this morning. He is very very very worried about my feet/legs. When we got to Mexico, my feet/ankles/calves were severely swollen and excruciatingly painful. While we were there it only got worse. I chalked it up to my many health problems combined with airplane flight. Anyways... it got a little better when we were in Cedar when I got some anti-inflammatory meds. But... my PT is extremely concerned about it still. I thought it had got better, but apparently not so much. I've been sentenced to 3 or 4 days on the couch with my feet above my head, lots of fluid, and very little salt. aka: I'll be even less helpful unpacking the house than before. I am less than pleased. Whatever. I keep saying I got made from left over parts... this is a bunch of crap. :(

Thats basically all for the moment. More in a few days when I know whats wrong with my legs, or if they can even get better on their own. I'm worried about celluitis- an infection of the skin, or a blood clot. Neither would be good... so I've got to make sure I'm really careful over the next few days.

Getting Ready to Move!

2008-04-06T15:49:00.004-06:00

So we're packing up our little apartment today to move to the house! It feels so weird. Part of me is still scared to death and I'm not entirely sure why. Probably just because I haven't done this before. Granted, I've move a thousand and one times in and around Provo over the years... but I guess this is just scarier cause we're moving into a house that we'll own. Rob keeps telling me everything will be fine. He's never been wrong yet, so I'll just trust him. :) It will be fun though. We're essentially just moving into the upstairs, 'cause the downstairs isn't done yet, except the bathroom and the office. The living room upstairs is so cute, and my couch is so ugly... lol, I'm embarrassed for it to even be seen. On the upside, it is super super comfy, so I'll just have to be crafty and get a slip cover or something for it.

We're headed to Mexico this week for our long-delayed honeymoon. Rob's parents retired a few years ago, and ever since they've had a hard time staying in the country. They go down for 6 weeks or more at a time, rent some little apartment or condo, sit on the beach, and buy jewelry. Well, Tammy buys jewelry. Last year she came home with 7 pounds of it. We'll be in Mexico for my birthday, so that will be kinda fun. I've always been really into horse-back riding, and made two of my life goals to ride a horse in Hyde Park in London, and to ride a horse on the beach. When I was in London/Ireland a few summers ago, I had the chance to go ride in Hyde Park, but it was like 180 pounds... aka over $350 at the time... So I didn't do it, and now I regret it. BUT, when we're in Mazatlan, Jim and Tammy know of a good place to go ride on the beach!!! YAY! :) So I'll finally get to ride on the beach for my birthday. I wish it was my Bonny horse... but she's stuck in Cedar.

When we fly home, we're coming into Salt Lake, so we're going to head down to Cedar too. I haven't been home since before Christmas. Unfortunately Hannah will be in Disneyland with her band geeks for a field trip thing. But at least I won't have to listen to her and Miriam fight all weekend... Zach is going to come back to Idaho Falls with us. I've been inviting him to come live with/visit us forever now. He's gonna come up for a week or two, see what he thinks, check out the area...etc... Then decide if he wants to stay for a couple months or something. I'm excited, cause I'll have my little brother around, and he's freaking awesome, and he'll get out of Cedar, even if its only for a little while, and I think it will do him a world of good.

The week after we get back from Mexico/Cedar, I have to have yet another surgery. Like I haven't had enough as it is... I've just got to stop going to see surgeons... every time I do they just have to get their little scalpels into me... This time they're going in to remove one of the lymph nodes in my neck. They don't know whats going on... but they are all inflamed, and have been for sometime. Who knows what it is this time. It's always something with me... They talked about taking out the axillary (armpit) ones just before I left for London, but I told them to get lost. teehee Even in the worst case scenario, aka cancer or a tumor, its more than likely not the deadly kind, or I'd be gone already. So... whoopee... yay for me... blah. I hate surgeries. At least its not another back surgery... or another abdominal surgery... I don't know that I could handle my guts getting cut into for a 4th time... Maybe I'll get a cool scar this time. All my other surgical scars are kinda lame. lol

Anywho... the end. :) Prob won't get another blog off before we leave. Look for pictures when we get home!

xoxo
--r

Losing an Old Friend

2008-03-21T23:06:00.003-06:00

I got an e-mail today from the sister of a very old friend, Elijah McCausland. He was killed Thursday night in a car accident in Southern Utah. Tragically, 'Lijah was thrown from the vehicle because he was not wearing his seatbelt. This is not meant as a black mark to his memory, but a desperate plea for everyone reading to always, under all circumstances, no exceptions, please please wear your seat belts. Make it a priority to ensure your loved ones and children are always buckled correctly and securely. Elijah was one of the most honest, loyal, sweetest people I've ever had the blessing of being friends with. He was talented and charming. He was truly a gift to all those who have been in his presence over his short time on Earth. To my Lijah-Butt, as I lovingly referred to him, I know your family misses you terribly already, we all do. Keep an eye on us who have been left behind as often as you can. I'll be looking forward to meeting your smiling face when I too get to the other side some day. There are so many friends and family that love you, and are grieving your untimely passing. Love you always my friend. xoxo

Doing Grown Up Things!

2008-03-17T15:02:00.002-06:00

We're buying our first house! It's kinda scary... and I don't feel like I'm quite grown up enough to be doing stuff like this... but hey, I guess I have to leave Neverland sometime. Bethany- maybe you can give me some survival tips on how to best deal with a house under construction. The basement is only partially finished. Rob assures me that its really not a very big project... lol Isn't that what husbands always say? LOL Anywho, here's the pictures.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2168519&l=2232b&id=17805580

My Adventures with Photobucket and Other Such Applications

2008-03-06T15:27:00.004-07:00

So the moral of this story is I am too much of a dork, and can't successfully manipulate Photobucket or any other similar program to do what I want when posting pictures. The root of the problem however... is that I have way too many stinking pictures. All of which are already loaded onto my Facebook page. And the interface on Facebook for uploading pictures is simple enough for my limited abilities... Meaning... I'm just going to post links to the photo albums I have already painstakingly made on Facebook here, and hope that will be sufficient for anyone that really wanted to see them.
--r

R&R: Our Story in Pictures

Rob's First Visit:
http://byu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2100977&l=76ee8&id=17805580

Summer in Cedar, Rob Meets the Fam:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2166974&l=b0f2a&id=17805580

The Proposal:
Theres a few albums, I couldn't fit them all in one... They all kind of work together best as a flip book type thing:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2166977&l=1c243&id=17805580
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2166987&l=2bc4e&id=17805580
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2166990&l=a86ba&id=17805580
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2166992&l=ab9b1&id=17805580

Wedding Announcements:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2112247&l=a7426&id=17805580

The Dress:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2110819&l=62fd7&id=17805580

Bridal Photos:
I have a number of albums of the 'professional' ones we had done. We had these ones done a week before the wedding without worry, time constraints, or pressure, most certainly the way to go. The first link is for the ones the photographer liked the best and touched up. The rest are the other ones from the time we spent with the photographer that I liked. :)
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2124794&l=084b3&id=17805580
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2124808&l=61417&id=17805580
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2124812&l=023ff&id=17805580
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2124818&l=528ed&id=17805580

Wedding Day Photos:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2122529&l=ca0c2&id=17805580

Shortly After We Got Married, Visit to IF:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2131625&l=900e9&id=17805580

Rob and I go Wild Wild West:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2131398&l=a354c&id=17805580

Chubby Joins the Family:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2127358&l=11685&id=17805580

Puppy Pee and Sleeping on the Couch

2008-03-04T19:16:00.002-07:00

So, I have a story about what happened to me last night. But to fully appreciate it, I have to tell you another story that happened a few months ago. Cue New Years Eve. Rob had to work that night. He's a bouncer one night a week or so. He got home from work around 2 or 3. I was dead asleep of course. He came upstairs after showering, etc to go to bed... but had a major problem. We have a little weenie dog, Chubbs. He used to sleep with us in our bed every night. Chubbs is very potty trained (or used to be...continue reading for more explanation)... but if you wait too long to take him outside, he'll have an accident, BUT he always goes and hides in a corner downstairs by the door to go outside. For some reason, New Years Eve, Chubby peed on Rob's side of the bed. And not just a little piddle or something, I mean he PEED on Robs side of the bed. It being so late, and Rob being so tired, and me already in bed dead asleep, he didn't want to go to all the effort to change the bedding and such. So... he grabbed his pillow and a blanket and headed downstairs to sleep in his huge recliner. Which, as a side note... is possibly even more comfortable than our bed. Around 5 or 6am, Rob wakes up coughing and his eyes burning. The living room, and all of downstairs was full of smoke. Rob jumped out of the chair and ran to investigate. Nothing in the kitchen or laundry room or anywhere else he looked. When he got back into the living room, he finally found the source. My electric blanket was accidentally left on, which might not be a big deal, except it was folded up, and the wires inside had overloaded. It had a safety feature to stop such a problem, but apparently it didn't work. It had ignited two throw pillows that were on top of it, and the over sized cushion under it. The whole thing was smoldering and smoking, but not in flames yet. Rob grabbed the pillows to get to the blanket and put it out, but moving the pillows gave the whole mess just enough oxygen to burst into flames. Being a calm, quick thinker, he folded the cushion with everything else in half, got it out the front door and onto the porch. He got some water on it, and assumed it was out. He settled back down in his chair and started to try and go back to sleep. During this whole adventure, Chubby had jumped back onto the bed and was trying desperately to wake me up. I didn't get downstairs until the whole thing was over and Rob was nearly asleep again. I got him to wake up and he told me what happened. I started bawling because had he not woke up, we would very more than likely have died from smoke inhalation or CO2. Everyone got back to sleep, and when we got up a few hours later, we went outside to examine what was left of the cushion, blanket, and pillows. I assumed it wasn't all that bad, and I might be able to salvage at least the cushion. Yeah... that wasn't the case. The huge cushion, like 3 feet long, 2 feet wide, 4 inches deep, the twin sized blanket, and the two pillows had been reduced to a very small pile of ash. The thing had burned down into nothing. Luckily Rob took it all outside to put it out... cause obviously it would have kept going in the house. The moral of the story... puppy pee saved us. Had Chubby not peed all over the bed, Rob wouldn't have had go downstairs to sleep, and he wouldn't have caught the smoking couch of death. A side note... we hated that couch, it was uncomfortable and ugly beyond all reason... it was a donation from my parents basement..... aka, we wanted to get a new couch, but had no justification to. So the new years fire wasn't all that bad. We got a new couch at the DI, $25 bucks, two pillows, and it is COMFY BEYOND ALL REASON. I doth love it soooo much.

So now for my story... Last night we're in bed pretty asleep. Chubby now sleeps in a crate right next to my side of the bed. He loves his box, to the point that he goes in it all on his own, and sometimes has to be coaxed to come out. Its hilarious. Rob was rubbing his foot on the sheets/bed, and it was making a low rumble kind of sound. Chubby, being the paranoid protector of the house, started growling and barking at the sound Rob's foot was making. We tried to get him to shut up a few times.. but the retard kept growling. So I decided that if I took him out of the box and showed him there was nothing to bark at, he'd be quiet and go to sleep. I should have known something was up when Rob threw the covers over his head and scrunched over to the far side of the bed. Chubby has developed an issue lately with peeing everywhere when he is disciplined, excited, happy, or for seemingly no particular reason. Its getting annoying... ;) I opened the door to his box, called him out, and invited him to jump onto the bed. I wasn't going to pick him up, cause I didn't want him to get excited and pee on me, I figured if he jumped up himself it'd be fine. Well, that was dumb. He peed EVERYWHERE. While he was trying to jump on the bed he was peeing, when he finally got up on the bed he was peeing, when he was crawling up to cuddle with me he was peeing. I nearly killed him. It was late, and I was so tired, I just changed pajammies, threw, and I mean THREW Chubbs back in his box, then picked up his box, angrily walked across the hall and tossed the box into the office where Maggie and the rodents all sleep. I did the best I could to roll up the peed soaked bedding so it didn't get in Rob's way or wake him up, snatched my pillows that didn't get wet, and stomped downstairs to sleep on the couch. However... in Chubbs defense, I was very grateful to sleep on the comfy, non burned couch, rather than the one we lost on New Years to the fire, but didn't die from because Chubby peed on the bed. So, today I'm thankful for new couches and puppy pee. The End. :)

Writing my first blog, and about my family

2008-02-27T16:10:00.005-07:00

Well... after finding a reading blogs from old friends, I thought I'd try my own. I enjoyed reading everyone's news a ton. While I don't see my life's adventures as particularly noteworthy or entertaining, someone else just might. :)

I guess I'll start will a short intro to the Rob and Rachel Nielsen family. When Rob and I are asked how we met, we generally avoid a very long and complicated story by saying "we met through a friend". To summarize: Rob was at one point dating my friend Chelsea, when they broke up, Rob and I got together and started dating in April 2007. On May 21st, with the single greatest proposal of all time, Rob asked me to marry him. July 19th 2007 we took a little trip to the Idaho Falls LDS Temple and were married for time and all eternity. Our little family is happy and healthy, currently living in Idaho Falls near the Nielsen in-laws.

My non-human children, the joys of my life:

Daggs and Norby:
I adopted Dagget and Norbert, two of the sweetest little guinea pigs ever last January. They fight like any good brothers do, but will sing little piggy songs with me anytime, and aren't afraid of the dogs at all. They both have distinctive personalities and quirks. Norbert loves red peppers and will do just about anything for one. Norbs is the quieter one. He and I are special buddies for a lot of reasons. Firstly, he was my first 'real' pet as an adult. (Aside from my beta fish Bruce that went belly up last February.) Adopting Norbert was unique because I had researched for months to decide on what little animal would fit me the best, learning about their care and needs, etc and finally decided on guinea pigs. I've always been a strong supporter of adopting pets from shelters or rescue groups. I'm completely opposed to buying an animal from a breeder or pet store. (Except for some dog breeds, such as Rob wants a big big dog someday. Like a Bernard or a Dane, that I can accept as a pure bred puppy... you get the idea) Anyways... you'd think finding an abandoned guinea pig would be easy. Well, it is not so. It took me months to find one. Finally, I got a call from Pet Co. They sell piggies, which I wasn't interested in, but every once in a while they hear about one that needs to be adopted for one reason or another. Norbert was a piggy originally for sale at Pet Co, but when he was a little baby, he got an severe ear infection, and the loser employee they had give him the medicine to put in his ear to fight the infection, put way way too much in, and damaged the little guy's head and neck, giving him a permanent crook in his neck that looked really funny. The story being no one would adopt him. He'd been there for 4 months, and no one ever even wanted to pick him up. I hung up with Pet Co after hearing this, skipped taking a mid-term in a class, and high tailed it to the store to rescue the little guy, knowing he would be my soul buddy. I had severe back problems that required me to have a major, major, MAJOR surgery in 2004. My back was as crooked as a cockroach leg, but the surgery saved me, quite literally. Hence, I have a soft spot forever in my heart for uneven or malformed creatures. :) Dagget on the other hand is anything but quiet. He knows his name, and responds to it when you yell at him. If you put him on the floor with the dogs, not only is he not afraid of them, he'll fight back if they get too close or start pushing him around. Its hilarious to watch. Dagget also demands things. Like if I open the closet door where he knows I keep his food, he starts to cry and squeal. And I mean he makes NOISE. Its hilarious beyond all reason. Rob hates it, and I find it funnier than just about anything. Daggs other unique trait is his OBSESSION for carrots. You might think a guinea pig is a pretty weak little thing...but you are so wrong. Not even Rob can beat Daggs in a tug of war over a carrot. That little sucker bites down on it and locks his little stub legs in place. There is no getting it away from him. I love my Daggs and my Norby.

Lobo:
In May, just before Rob and I got engaged, I met the single greatest blessing in my life so far, second only to Rob. Lobo is my constant companion, best friend, guardian, and nurse. He was a rescue from an arctic breed dog rescue group in Provo. He's a wonderful mutt, his dominant breed though, is wolf, but he doesn't know it, not a single mean or aggressive bone in him. He's scared to death of the vacuum cleaner, and is the most gentle, eager to please dog you've ever met. Lobo is so special and dear to me because he is my service dog. In the the fall of 2006, I was in the MTC after receiving and accepting an LDS mission call. However, I quickly became very very ill, and was forced to go home in hopes of recovering and meeting my district back out in the field. However, after a number of surgeries, tests, and medications, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, among other things, and ended up being released. (In the end it turned out to be a good thing, because I wouldn't have met my Rob. :) ) Fibromyalgia is is difficult to treat, and there is no cure. A couple of my doctors suggested that I get a service animal to help me and hopefully give me some escape from the mountain of pills that were my only other option. Lobo comes with me just about everywhere. He's got a pack he carries so people won't run in fear from what looks like a very serious wolf. :)

The rat-a-tat Rats:
About a week after we got married and moved into our apartment in Salt Lake, Rob had a desire for his own little pair of pattering little feet, Merlin and Archimedes, two sister rats came home to join the family, making us a family of 7. Rob won't handle the rats anymore because they 'bite him all the time'. But, I'm buddies with them, and they don't bite me. :) So I still love them.

Chubby Bunny!
A few weeks later, we decided Lobo needed his own little buddy, so darling little Chubby, the hilarious weenie dog, joined the Nielsen Family. He is the most adorable, loving, sensitive little guy ever. He's a little over a year old now, and is my little baby. Chubbs has no idea he is a dog, and will cuddle on your lap like an infant for as long as you'll let him. I basically treat him like he's my little infant, so that probably encourages his identity crisis. He endures all forms of torture Rob and I imagine up. Tammy, Rob's mom, is scared for us to have kids because she thinks we'll torture them too. We don't ever hurt Chubby... but just try to tell me that tossing a short little weenie dog in a fresh snow bank and seeing just the tip of his tail wagging above it wouldn't make your day. Most recently I bought a little pink puppy shirt for our last family member, Maggie, but it was too small for her. So, of course, in my wisdom of being a mommy... I put it on Chubby. What makes it extra great is that the little pink shirt has stitched on it in sparkly silver girl lettering, 'Supermodel in Training'. To top it all off... Chubby likes it.! He doesn't appreciate at all when I try to take it off him. The only thing he loves more than his little pink shirt is the red and green stripped Christmas sweater Grandma Schryver got for him. (My mother hates when I refer to her as a grandmother of my furry children... so I do it as often as possible to annoy her. :) )

Maggie May
The last member to join our family is little basset hound Maggie. We got her as a 10 week old puppy just a few days after Christmas. She's still not potty trained... but we're working on it. She has gotten pretty good at staying quiet in her kennel, so its a small consolation. She's got the most to die for little doll-like face, and I love having my little girl around to coddle and spoil.

We've pretty much reached the max capacity of non-human kids our little two bedroom townhome in Idaho can hold, so I think we're done for the time being. :)

Rob works full time at Qwest and loves it. I've been chilling at home since January. I was working at a local news station as a producer, but the work environment was dysfunctional and unhealthy, so I quit. I've been looking for some little part time something to get me out of the house every once in a while. I just got home from spending a few hours at my sister-in-law's house doing paper work for her truck/shipping business... we'll see how that works out. At least its something.

I'll be going back to school in May for an associates degree in Marketing/Management. I think it will be a nice addition to my bachelors in film. I always knew I was going to have to add something to my degree to be more employable. I've sent out a million and a half resumes, but when people see 'bachelors of art'... emphasis on the ART part... they tend to turn and run. Understandable, us art people are classically weird and well...artsy.... :) My most frequent response is 'thanks for applying, you've got a great resume and some good experience, but you're over qualified and we cant pay you enough'. So bah. lol :)

Rob and I are in the midst of watching a Stargate SG1 episode. I know...I know... its geeky beyond all reason. But honestly, would you really expect anything less of me? :)

Pictures to follow soon!