Reflections

I found out Sunday around noon that the plans we had made (with my ex) to get my girls out here for a belated Christmas was not going to happen as planned. The plan was he was going to drive them out here on the 31st. So he tells me on the 30th that he wasn't able to come until the 7th. That was not going to work for me, since my whole family had changed their holiday to spend it together. So I decided to go there and get them. It is a 12 hour drive to Boone, Iowa. I left my house at 2:31pm Sunday and got there at 1:50am Monday morning. I left Iowa at about 2:30am and got home at 4:45pm. We stopped a few times along the way including the
Archway monument in Kearney, Neb. Which is unbelievably awesome! For me and the girls it cost about $22, but I quick decided it was worth it. And the girls really enjoyed it.

Last night we had a nice suprise. My Dad called and wanted to know if we'd like to go to the Nuggets vs Lakers game. (My Aunt Audrey owns a Suite at the Pepsi Center) So we went to the game. I was rooting for the Lakers, it was awesome. I am not a basketball fan but I really enjoyed myself. The girls really had a great time too. It is always a treat when we get to go there.

Today, the girls and I took my Mom to Flatiron Crossings Mall. One of our Christmas gifts to her was to spend the day together and go to the Build a Bear Workshop. It is a really fabulous store where you pick out an unstuffed Teddy Bear, stuff it, fluff it, dress it and name it. (and of course, pay for it and take it home) We also toured Celestial Seasonings.

And to top off a couple of busy days, Erik was in a car accident this evening, He wasn't injured, just extremly shooken up. Someone making a left hand turn ran into him. His light was green and the other person "had a green arrow." Hmmm? Anyway we should get it all worked out with the insurance.

Friday, we hung around the house. Erik stayed home from work to deal with the insurance people. (That took nearly all day, and he got nowhere) I worked that evening and Erik took the girls over to Titus' for an "after Christmas, Christmas Party." They all were still up at 2am when Erik came to pick me up from work.

Saturday, I worked from 12:30-9:00. Erik took the girls to see "Monsters Inc." They enjoyed it.

Today, we are meeting my parents for Brunch. After that we (parents to) are going to go take a look and take pictures of his car. It doesn't sound like an exciting weekend, but since the girls are here I am loving the time I get to just hang out with them.

Notice the changes here. Scott has added a page for my DVDs and added links to them. He has been working hard on it. The DVD page actually belongs to him, he likes to keep up with our "Featured Presentations" Thanks Scott!!

Ok, Ever feel like someone is trying to tell you something? Everyone knows that I hate mornings. Morning is what keeps night and noon from bumping into each other. Since Erik and I are down to one car, I had to get up at 6:30 to take him to work so that I could have the car today. When I came back home I went back to bed. So from 8:59 to 9:22 this morning I recieved 5 phone calls. Finially I got out of bed, because it was obvious to me that I wasn't going to be getting to sleep in any longer. So now that I am up, if you want to call me, go ahead...

How "Ghetto" am I? The oven door handle broke and I actually "fixed" it with Duct Tape.

I have just recieved good news. Peter Forsberg is coming back!!! "He spoke with Pierre LaCroix last night and could be back in Denver as early as tomorrow." I am now the happiest AVS Fan right now!!

Well, my heart has been completly broken. (again) Peter Forsberg won't be coming back to the Avalanche. Due to new found injuries. (some popping of the tendons around his ankles) And he won't be able to go to the Olympics. I am truely sorry, Peter. I was so much looking forward to watching him play again. But he will always be my favorite Avalanche player.

B1 d t k- s u f i- o x-- e+ l c (link via Gnubee )

Ok, I know it has been a few days, but I haven't had enough time. My girls were here visiting. They left on Saturday around 3:00pm.

And we have been dealing with Erik's car. That has been alittle stressful. Yesterday I had to do the simple task of going to the courthouse and getting a duplicate car title. There was nothing simple about it. After I took a number and waited only about 5 minutes they called my number and I went to see Val. Val tells me that she can't get it for me because my name isn't on the title and gives me a yellow form to take to Erik to give me temporary Power of Attorney. So I drive to Erik's work and he went to lunch. I drive to 3 fast food places before I found him, get the form filled out, and go back to the courthouse. I wait about 10 minutes this time and go to talk to Sue. Sue says that I have to go to the bank to get a form that releases the lein on the title. Aparently when you pay off an auto loan the lein remains "in the system" for 8 years. (Then why did we pay off the loan) At this point I was so frustrated that I was in tears by the time I got to my car. I got to the bank and got what I needed and went back to the courthouse got the title and had to go back to the bank so they could sign the title. So after 3 trips to the courthouse and 2 to the bank, the moral of the story is--- Don't ever loose you title! But now that we have gotten the duplicate, I'm positive that we will come across the first copy.

Today has been a pretty swell day. (It is actually tomorrow but since I just got off work and haven't gone to bed yet, to me it is still today) So, anyway. Erik settled with the insurance company today and after he got off work we went to State Farm and got a FAT check. We decided to go to Saturn and look at cars. They were very helpful. (of course, they want our business.) We were able to get a new (to us) car. It is a white 1996 Saturn SL2 with the power package and we added a luggage/bike rack. It is VERY nice!!! We put down $3000 so that made our payments really reasonable. We won't be able to pick it up until Thursday because they actually just got it it like 2 days ago so they have to have it detailed and add the rack. We are going to put the remander of the settlement into savings because we have this little dream of owning a house someday.

I miss my girls, and the house is so quiet...

Ok, this is some scary stuff. (scary to us because we still don't "view" ourselves as "grown ups" and this is grown up stuff) Erik and I are seriously thinking about homeownership. There, I said it... Today we had brunch with my parents and they told us about their next door neighbors. (who are selling their house) Later we went over and looked at it. It is a decent 3BDRM/1Bath ranch style house with a nice big back yard. So, to take the grown up step alittle further, Thursday we are going to talk with my cousin who does real estate, morgages and financing. Please say a prayer for us!

The news said 1-2 inches of snow tonight, I went to work at 7:30 and there was already about 4. Now there is about 6 or 7. So....well...whatever.

Last week's meeting with my cousin went ok. We were told we needed to save up for the next 6 months for a down, and they could help more then. He gave us A LOT of useful info and a goal to work towards. Then on Monday night he called and told Erik that he may have a house in Windsor that we can "rent to own" for a year and some of the rent amount would go towards our down and we would also get the equity earned during the year. So this Thursday we are going to meet with him again. Wish us luck!! I am really excited about this. I have a good feeling about it.

Today the Olympic Torch passed through Ft. Collins. They stopped at the mall, (about 3 blocks from our house) It was a big deal. There is also a big deal in Denver tonight at the Civic Center with fireworks. 9 NEWS has full coverage on TV and online.

On a depressing note, I went and had our taxes done today. We owe on our Fed. I have never ever had to pay in. I almost cried in front of the tax guy. We had big plans for that money. I haven't told Erik yet and I don't want to.