ROAD TRIP!!!

Two years ago this May, I made my first trek to the AWESOME town of Forks, Washington.  I have since been back on two glorious occasions.  (Both with my Twi peeps.) I had an amazing time each visit.  I would even really like to move there, if only I could find a way to support my family (and if my family wouldn't trow a huge fit!).  At this time, I have no idea when I will be able to take the long trip back. I was hoping to talk hubs into camping and hiking there this summer, but no go.  Maybe next year.
 So, I have decided that I am going to take myself on a tour of all of the filming locations for Twilight that are in the Portland area this year.  I am planning it for the weekend after Mother's Day as this will be the 2nd anniversary of my first trip to Forks.  I have been watching the Twilight movies again and there are so many places that I want to go and see!  So many of them are far away though, like Italy, and Canada.  So I am going to start with the local ones.  I have already been to Kalama High School.  I wandered all around the parking lot and the covered walk ways and the common grassy area.  (Can you figure out the movie scenes?) While the View Point Inn has had a major fire, they are trying to rebuild and I am still going!  I will even be donating a small amount of money toward the restoration and have my name put on a brick!  (If you would also like to donate toward this cause, you can go to their web site.)  I have two friends who want to come with me and I am thinking about throwing an invite out on Facebook for anyone local and we can caravan or something.  Wanna come?  If you are unable, I will post pics of the trip.  I hope all of you are having a great evening! TTFN.

Disappointed

It has always been a dream of mine to be someone who reads stories and gives the writers' feed back.  I had heard about Project Team Beta and thought this was the answer!  Finally I could make my dream a reality.  I quickly filled out the application and sent it in. I waited with baited breath for them to send me the test that I needed to take to show that I was worthy. Two days later, they sent me the test.  I had to download new (to me) software to even get the options it said I needed to take it.  No problem, I know how to do this.  I downloaded the software.  Then I couldn't get the test to open in the newly installed software.  I am not the most  computer friendly person I know, (my husband programs computers, as well as building them and modifying electronic gadgets that he has to make them do what he wants).  I sent an e-mail to Project Team Beta asking if there was another version of the test that went with my spiffy new software.  I got my response tonight.  I rushed right in to the software and then the test.  Then I noticed that the instructions talked about an option in the software that I couldn't find.  I went to the home page for the software and scoured the FAQs for the answer I needed, had I gotten the wrong version?  Was there some radial button I needed to click?  What would take me where I needed to go?  There was nothing on their website about what I needed.  So, I then searched the internet, maybe someone else had had the same problem as I and someone else had answered them. Nope.  So I anxiously wrote another e-mail to Project Team Beta asking if they knew anything about why this option wasn't there, all the while still searching the software in case I had missed something.  I finally noticed something that looked promising.  I clicked on it and HALLELUJAH it was what I needed! Just called something else for some reason.  So, immediately started in on the test, making many trips to the Project Team Beta's grammar section of the website to confirm that the answers I was giving seemed correct.  Each example problem was a bit harder than the last, but I strained my brain the best I could.  then I made it to page 4 (there are 8 pages).  This sounds much better than it really was as the first two pages are instructions.  They stopped putting next to the questions.  Suddenly, I knew that my dream of being a beta reader, would have to stay that.  I am sure you can tell by my own writing that I am not the best person to be editing someone else's efforts.  Oh well.  Maybe I can lose 70 pounds and make Rob forget all about Kstew (does anyone else think that sounds like some kind of disease?)

Writer's block

So, why is it that all day long I can think of things to write about on my blog, but as soon as I sit down, I can't think of a single thing?
Maybe I will just update you on what has been happening in my life.  My husband has decided that changing shifts at work from swing to graveyard will allow him more time with his family.  He will get home just before I need to leave for work, take our daughter to school and then sleep while she is there.  Then he will get up when it is time for her to come home and be up with her until I get home from work.  At that time he may need to take a nap but might just be able to stay up until he has to go to work, allowing for some time with both myself and our daughter. My husband and I haven't really spent more than five minutes with each other a day for seven years.  We have had a couple of chances to spend two days together.  When we do spend even that much time together, we end up fighting.  Now he wants to hours together every day? On purpose?  Well, ok, I guess.

Next, I have finally gotten a new job.  I start on the 19th.  It has awesome benefits and great pay.I can't wait for the first paycheck!And the first vacation!

So, that's what I've got for ya today.  I promise to start carrying around a notebook to jot down my ideas for the future.

Night night world!

Greetings from the Dark Side ;-)

My Loves!  I have missed you all so much!  I have been trying to figure out why I don't really post very often.  I have finally figured it out!  I made the mistake of telling my mil about my other blog AND SHE ACTUALLY FOLLOWED IT!!!  Can't rant and/or rave with my mil watching, it would just be to wierd.  So, I have created another blog with a similar name (so it is easy for me to remember) AND I'M NOT TELLING HER ABOUT IT!  Now I can feel free to be me and there's nothing she will say about it.

So, it's been awhile since I talked to any of you (I've decided to move in under my sparkly rock) but there have been/ will be a few changes in my life lately. 

First, my daughter has decided that she wants to take a break from gymnastics (she has been taking lessons for the last 5 1/2 years) to take up the piano.  It's not a major deal, I have no problem with this.  In fact, I'm kinda happy that I don't have to sit in a gym that smells like the inside a marathon runner's running shoe for an hour every week.  (My daughter really was just doing gymnastics for fun, no talent at all.  Way to tall.)  Now, however, I have her banging away on my keyboard each night for at least half an hour.  She only has 5 songs to practice and they either only have one key she presses or three.  I've started hearing these songs as background music in my dreams.  She's enjoying herself though so I'm just going to let her continue and find myself some good ear plugs.

Next, I am getting a new job! YEAH!  I will be doing the same thing I do now, mental health insurance billing, but I will get paid a lot more and actually get benefits! BENEFITS! Real ones, like health insurance and retirement and vacations!  I can't wait.

And last but in no way least, I have always wanted to be a beta reader.  Years ago, I even sent away for a kit that was supposed to tell you how to become a test reader for publishers.  I ended up with an expensive book with a listing of all of the publishers in the US and their address, along with a one page letter saying to write a resume' and send it to the different publishers and maybe on of them would hire me.  It was rather disappointing.  Today, I am talking so someone about being a beta reader!  I'm so excited!

Well, my lunch break is pretty much over (meaning that it was done a little while ago and no I will not be giving my blog info to any co-workers!) so I will end for now and go tweet about my new blog!