I can't eat another bite!

Well, it's been a few days since I've posted....I've had the last few days off from work and also have tomorrow off.  Tomorrow Ingrid will be holding an Open House from 1300-1600hrs.

Wednesday on my way home I picked up a few more boxes. I bought large "mirror boxes" for all the paintings on the walls and some small boxes for all our books. Thursday I stayed home all day and finished packing the kitchen. Most of the dishes have been placed in nice "china keepers" and put in plastic bins to keep them safe and clean.

Yesterday I spent the morning packing more things from cabinets.  My friend Julia and her cousin drove down from Rocklin and we walked around downtown and had lunch at Alberto's!  It was so good to see Julia...hard to believe we've been friends so long (over 25 years!). Andrew and I had our first date at that restaurant in September of 1998!

Around 1700hrs. Allen, Jackie and Dillon came over. We were able to Skype with Christopher and Arianna while they were here, which was a lot of fun! Denise is in Texas for Recruiter training.  Later, we went out to eat at Casa Orozco in Livermore.  It was nice to spend time with them!  Dillon is "talking" up a storm now...soooo cute!

Last night I woke up (again) in the middle of the night. I was awake for a couple of hours....so I just read my book....When I got up this morning I did a little more packing. I had a painter, Curtis, come in today to paint the family room. He was recommended by Nan who said he's very reliable and trustworthy. He and I had decided on a color that matches the living room and entry so the colors "flow".....While he was painting Tracy came over and we went out for lunch at "Oasis" downtown! Yummm!  I had my all time favorite "Aushak".  It was nice to spend some one on one time with Tracy.....that's a rarity!  When I returned Curtis had pretty much finished painting. It looks great!  He did a great job! He showed up on time, did good work, and cleaned up nicely!

In January I had gone to the Robert Burns Supper with Pat and Mercedes here in town. While there we had our picture taken together. After dinner Pat made me promise to take care of having copies made...soooo, I did that and they've been sitting in my car for weeks. So I called her in the early evening and she said she'd be home, so I said I'd bring the pictures by her house. We ended up going out to dinner at the De La Torre's Restaurant. I had the Smoked Salmon  raviolis, which was delicious! For dessert we both had chocolate gelato, which was to die for!  I ate more in the last two days than I usually eat in a week!  Yiiiiiikes!

Since tomorrow is the Open House I will be packing some more in the morning and making sure the dog is out. I told Allen I would clean out my freezer and bring to their house whatever they'd like. I need to empty the freezer and don't want to throw anything away.

Going to "Neverland"?!?

Yesterday I went to the Credit Union after work. I asked the woman that was helping me if they do international wire transfers. She made a phone call to find out and while on the phone she asked me what country I would be in....I told her "the Netherlands" and she told the woman she was making the inquiry with on the phone I would be in "Neverland"!  I said, just tell the person on the phone "Holland"!

After I left the Credit Union I went over to the Second Harvest Food Bank to donate several bags of food I had taken out of my pantry.

When I got home I had two painters scheduled to come to the house to give me estimates for painting the family room.  It's going to cost $250, and he will do it Saturday. There will be an Open House Sunday!  We just lowered the price of the house again......let's hope it sells now!

Windy day this past Sunday!

Sunday there were some Realtors that wanted to come through the house with their clients after I got home from work on Sunday, so Sammy and I went for a walk in the Sports Park.  It was chilly and windy that day...but not raining, so we were able to walk a bit!

Sunday evening I was invited to go to a nearby church to see Joni Eareckson Tada. She has been a quadriplegic since the age of 17 and speaks all over the world about the power of God. The room was filled almost to capacity.
She was very inspiring! Joni runs a ministry called "Joni and Friends".

This past weekend I started going through the kitchen cabinets and cleaning everything out and packing! Most of my spices I brought to work and gave to Sally.

Yesterday Eileen came over and I gave her a lot of cleaning supplies and some Brita filters. Eileen and I went out to Chilis for dinner. It was nice to spend special time with her!

Today I have a carload of canned goods to bring to Second Harvest. Tracy and Sally are going to go through it to see if they want anything before I bring it over there though!  I  also brought some shampoos, conditioners, etc. for them!  It's amazing how much "stuff" I've accumulated!

Andrew and I have decided to lower the price of the house (again)....sooo hopefully it will sell. Today I have two painters coming to the house to give me estimates on painting the family room a lighter color. Sunday I was able to get the day off, so Ingrid will be holding an Open House again. I am packing, but trying to keep the house looking staged. After Sunday I will start taking things off the walls. We are moving everything out April 3rd!

Reuben sandwiches for lunch!

Soooooo, yesterday I had the crockpot going with corned beef. I put 3-4 bottles of beer in the crockpot with the corned beef and some pickling spices and simmered it all day. Oh my, it's yummy!  Today, I brought the corned beef, some dark rye bread, butter, swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing to work and we made Reuben sandwiches for lunch (we started cooking at 0945hrs, since my lunch is at 1015!).  Oh myyyyy....it's good!!!

I took a picture of one of our work stations here at work......Weird to think I'll only be here a couple more months......

When I got to work today I heard about a fire that occurred a couple of days ago where one of our Fire Engineers was severely injured when he fell through the roof of the burning structure. He is lucky to be alive.....
When the City of San Jose Mayor and City Council talk about taking away our benefits it makes me so angry. Firefighters and Police Officers put their lives on the line to take care of the citizens....and the 911 dispatchers take the citizens calls for help and send the help....and they want to take away the benefits promised to us over the past 22 years!