Stayed Home Sick Today

Last night as I was washing my hands when I got home from work I felt like someone took pliers to my right kidney and began to twist. I doubled over in pain, hit the floor and starting bawling, gritting my teeth and wincing to bear the pain. This was the worst pain I have ever felt in my life and it lasted about 5 minutes.
This morning as I was getting ready for work, it happened again. I couldn't even stand up the pain was so bad. I called work and let them know what was going on.
I have a company van that is used to drive around and pick up dogs. It's not the easiest job to cover when someone is sick. Sonja had to drive from Snohomish to my house, get my van, drive around and pick up my dogs, take them to the ranch, play with them for three hours, drive them all home, then bring my van back to me (I live on Beacon Hill) and then drive home to Mill Creek. Sonja kicks ass for covering me today so I could rush to the doctor's office, sit for an hour while chugging water so I could pee into a cup so they could test it to see what was going on.
Diagnosis: UTI and Kidney infection to be treated with antibiotic Cipro. Worst pain I have ever experienced.
All this to kick off the weekend...fun times ahead.

My Favorite Painting

I was reading Kara's blog about her time in Morocco and it reminded me of my favorite painting that I own. It cost me $10 at a garage sale in Hillsboro, OR about ten years ago.

If anyone happens to know anything about it (long shot, I know), let me know. It's unsigned and I would love to know who painted it.

A little freaked out...

While I was writing the last post I heard gunshots outside my house. It's just me and the dogs here right now and I am a little shakey. I will have to rely on Roxy for safety until Devon returns.
I guess cheap rent comes with a price...

I'm a WINNER!

Devon and I went to the music store today so he could get a bass drum beater and we were told they were having a raffle and we should stick around. The first drawing was for a Gibson t-shirt, and I won it. Pretty exciting! We were told we should come back at 3:00 for the drum kit raffle, so we did and didn't win. We waited in the parking lot in the truck until 3:30 for the raffle of the guitar. When we went back in they drew a number and it wasn't ours so I wasn't paying much attention when they drew the next number. I thought it was probably for a deck of cards or something. Well, they called MY number and I went to front and this guy puts this huge box in front of me with a big smile on his face. Turns out I won a complete guitar pack! Guitar, practice amp, guitar strap, picks, soft guitar case and a little sheet with beginning chords to learn! Can you believe it? Now I just need to learn how to play the damn thing!

TAGGED!!

(Thanks Kara)
So I am supposed to pick 5 songs that I want played at my funeral...Devon is going to disown me after he reads this I'm sure. He has WAY better taste in music than me.

First and foremost my MOST favorite song in the whole wide world:
1. "It Could Be Sweet" by Portishead
Crank it up, close your eyes and get lost in Beth Gibbons' voice.

2. "Rockabye" by Ani DiFranco
Because I love this song

3. "Lie in Our Graves" by Dave Mathews

4. "The Walk" by Frank Outhet and Stephan ?
Because it's a great song and it reminds me of good times, good times...

5. "The Gambler" by Kenny Rogers
Because it reminds me of my dad when I was a kid and it's some good advice for life.

DONE!!!

9th Step

If you know nothing about or lack interest in 12 step programs, stop reading right HERE.

I officially started my 9th step about 3 minutes ago via email. If feels good. Now the ball is rolling...
If you are curious about the steps, here ya go:

The 12 Suggested Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol--that our lives had become unmanageable.

2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

5. Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

It's a tall order, but worth every tear that falls. This is how I keep my sanity.

Miles Needs a Home

If you or someone you know wants a dog, please consider Miles. He is about five years old, great with kids, great with dogs and super sweet to boot! He is past all the craziness of puppyhood/adolescence and is in the prime of his life! His family has a two-year daughter and another baby on the way. They want to find a family that can give Miles the attention he deserves. Please email with any questions you may have. Thank you! roxys.mamaATgmail.com