High Five for Friday

If it's Friday you know what that means right?!...

Linking up with Lauren for my top 5 favs from this week!

1.) Started my new job at the Department of Economic Security with the state.

I get to sit in a chair, work on a computer, use my brain, wear office attire, analyze things, wear a badge that opens doors when I swipe it, and bug the other interns with my 100 million questions all day long. ...and do it all and be off before it's dark.

So far, I'm diggin' it.

2.) So You Think You Can Dance season 9 premiere

I'm so excited...and I just can't hide it...I'm about to lose control and I think I like it...

Uh-huh!

3.) Got this bad boy in the mail this week...along with a text book for one of my summer classes

...can you guess which one I started reading first??

I can't figure out how to host a summer party like the totally awesome and professional ones in the magazines without melting in the summer AZ heat....hmmm...I may have to chew on that one a bit longer...

4.) Found these guys 

Totally diggin' 'em

Also check out their song "Top of the World"...so fun and so addicting!

5.) THREE DAY WEEKEND! 

And guess what?! I get to partake in it! AND so does husband! Which means we get to hang out for three whole days!

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend...and don't forget what it's all about!

"...Our first obligation to them and ourselves is plain enough: The United States and the freedom for which it stands, the freedom for which they died, must endure and prosper. Their lives remind us that freedom is not bought cheaply. It has a cost; it imposes a burden. And just as they whom we commemorate were willing to sacrifice, so too must we—in a less final, less heroic way—be willing to give of ourselves."

-Ronald Reagan

Arlington National Cemetery, Memorial Day

 May 31, 1982

Here Come the Water Works

So I'm totally late on posting this (dang you real life things getting in the way of my blog life things) but no one has to know that this happened last weekend right?!...

At any rate, the dogs declared the "official" start of summer by having their first swim of the season! 

Every time I've been over at my parents house with them, for like, the last month, they sit at  the pool gate and whine. I kept telling them that the water was still just too cold, and they'd keep telling me that they're labs and they really don't care...and keep whining.

So dramatic, those labs.

So not only did Maycee and Gunther kick off summer with a good swim, we had a special guest with us last weekend...

My sister-in-law Jessica got a new puppy.

And her name is Daisy.

And she's a black lab.

And she looks like a mini-Maycee.

And she gives me puppy fever.

And she's so cute.

...And she gives me puppy fever.

Jessica had been mentioning how much she loves water so Nate and I suggested she come over and we take her swimming and see how she did.

And I tell ya...girl loves some swimmin'! All it took was a little coaxing, but as soon as Jessica would get in the water Daisy would get in right after her. She was even jumping in off the side! Which is a far cry from the first time we took either of ours swimming.

I was definitely impressed by little Miss Daisy.

I felt kinda bad for her cause Maycee and Gunny were running around the deck like maniacs so Daisy didn't really have time to check things out at her own pace and had to try and avoid being barreled over and knocked into the pool by the big ones.

So dramatic, those labs.

Nate was the one that decided to go in all the way and frolic with the pups cause quite frankly, if you're not a lab, the water was still pretty cold.

However, I did have a change of heart when I went back over the following day to lay out and get my tan on. The water was sounding pretty good as I was laying there baking in the sun...I sure didn't hesitate to jump in then!

The problem, though, with actually going underwater and swimming around, is that Gunther gets this weird separation anxiety thing going on and literally chases after you. And then Maycee chases after Gunny cause...well for no good reason really.

Exhibit A.

This video is good for a number of reasons:

1.) You can see Gunther chase after Nate 

2.) You can see Daisy jump in the water

3.) You can see Gunny try and bite Nate's face off when he comes back up for air at about the 40 second marker

The dogs swam and swam until we made them get out.

Then we went home and the slept for a little...

and started playing again.

Labs, I tell ya.

High Five for Friday

Linking up with Lauren again today for my top five things from this week!

1.) This week concluded my career as a pharmacy tech.

Praise Jesus.

 I won't elaborate much more because I'm sure you all are tired of hearing about it...if not check out my post here

2.) I paid off TWO credit cards

Praise Jesus.

3.) Mckenzie created her blog...it will be live in no time once we get it "pretty" (her words not mine, because I'm sure whatever Mckenzie does or creates is pretty)

4.) I actually cooked dinner one night AND did a workout video once this week

Once.

Baby steps here people, baby steps...

5.) I went shopping at Barnes and Noble my mom's book shelf. 

It's true. Her bedroom contains her own personal Barnes and Noble. BUT since she's now a Nook convert guess who gets first dibs on all those books?!

That's right...this girl!!!

I walked away with a good 11 or so books to start on...and all for free!

...as well they should be, cause if my mom made me pay her to take her books off her hands we may have to have some words...

AND

I finally decided to stop being a Harry Potter snob and read the Hunger Games. I know, I'm giving in. Stephanie Chapman if you're reading this... please don't hate me...Ravenclaw's for life! =)

Happy Friday Everybody!! 

That's a Wrap

I'm not sure if anyone else heard it today, but all day long I kept hearing the sound of angels singing, and choruses of hallelujah, and melodious harp music coming from the sky. 

No?

Just me?

Well in case you heard it too I'm pretty sure it was because today was my last day at the pharmacy.

Yes, I said last. day. at. the. pharmacy.

And as such I did the following:
-Called the last insurance company for the last override for someone's mail order prescription that hasn't arrived yet.

-Mixed my last bottle of amoxicillin and successfully made it through 3 years without having one explode on me as I mix it

-Had my last argument with the last patient that I don't know why they keep getting phone calls that say they have a prescription ready. There is nothing here for you.
...I dunno, try deleting your voicemail messages maybe? Just a thought.

-Called the last Dr.'s office for the last time to see if the last Oxycontin script I took is fake

-Exchanged the last prescription from a 30 day supply to a 90 day supply for the last time because chatty cathy was too busy yackin' on her cell phone to pay attention to what she was getting

-Tried (in vain) for the last time to explain to the last patient what a prior authorization is

-Sold the last prescription for Viagra to the last creepy old man that smells as if he hasn't showered in 3 days
Eew.

-Called the last Dr.'s office for the last time to see if John Doe can fill his Oxycodone prescription early because he's "going out of town" and needs it right away because he's in so much paaaaiiiinnnnnn


I should stop there. Thinking about all of this again is starting to put me in a bad mood.
Anyway, I had to clean out my drawer and collect my belongings on the way out. I ended up walking out of the doors with a bag that included:
-2 coffee tumblers
-bag of carrots
-neosporin
-antacid tablets
-bottle of caesar dressing
-tube of cortisone lotion
-2 packs of gum
-AZ State Board of Pharmacy requirements for continuing education credits
-3 name tags
-bag of cough drops
-couple spoons
-few packs of crystal light drink mix
-and a small unicorn

Just kidding about that last part.
But everything else is true.
 ...although a small unicorn would be a pretty good consolation prize, no?

Oh and some flowers that Tanya dropped off for me for my last day via drive-through. She asked for me by name when I picked up the phone to lane 1. I didn't recognize her voice and she got me all scared like, "Oh here we go, what did I do now?" When I walked over there only did I find her lovely face ready to pass me these lovely sunflowers through the drive-through drawer

What a nice gal that Tanya is. She's going to pharmacy school to be a pharmacist..cause she's braver than me.
And smarter.
And braver.

So I can now say that my career as a pharmacy technician has ended. After 3 years I am officially retired.
I sarcastically asked out loud today to one of my co-workers, "what am I gonna do without the pharmacy in my life?" and he replied with:
"be a little happier."

Why yes, no pharmacy in my life I think is just the trick to be a little bit happier

Come Monday, it's Big girl job or bust!!!!!

High Five for Friday

Time for another edition of High Five for Friday over at Lauren's blog!

Here are my 5 favorite things from this week in no particular order...

1.) It rained...yes, sometimes it does that in AZ. 

But Wednesday it like, RAINED rained if you know what I mean. Like monsoon rains! And it came out of nowhere and lasted longer than 5 seconds (cause Arizona rain tends to do that) and smelled fresh and rainy for the next 24 hours and made me really happy.

2.) I found this bad boy at Wally World:

.

..Bazinga!

3.) Happy hour at Valle Luna with my dear friend Mckenzie

Often times when we have our dinner/happy hour dates we talk about how she needs to start a blog...but it just hasn't happened yet. So I thought I didn't want to be annoying and keep bugging her about it... but then when I brought it up again she said the only way it will happen is if I AM annoying about it and make sure she does it. So I figure, what better way to be annoying about it than to put her on blast on the world wide web?! So Mckenzie...I hope you're reading this =) And I hope it inspires you to start your blog. ...or else I may have to lay down a whoopin'...

4.) So my father-in-law Carl randomly texted me this week to ask if I knew that Ricky Nelson went to a garden party. 

Remember my garden party I had last weekend? ...Check it out here

I had no idea what he was talking about until Nate and I googled it.

Turns out I totally could've played this song at my garden party and I didn't even know it existed.

  

Whatever Carl. 

I told him he was holding out on me and this song could've made our dinner in the garden THAT much better. So from now on whenever I decide to throw a themed dinner party I'm gonna run it by him first and see if he can find me a theme song for it.

He replied with, and I quote:

"You the boss apple sauce."

...I think we're on to something.   

5.) I only have to go to work at the pharmacy for 5 more days. Why you ask?!

...Cause I went and found me a big girl job!!

5 days and counting.

I feel like I should make a paper chain or something... 

Hope everyone else's weeks were just FAB!

Sometimes and Always

Sometimes I think "every time" is one word and type it as such, everytime

Always spell check says: Nay! Split those words up girlfriend!

Sometimes I see people mention that "blogger protocol" means posting only once a day

Always: ...who made up that rule, firstly? And secondly...I break it all the time

Oopsie.

Sometimes I get freaked out about starting a new job

Always: Remember how miserable you are in your current job, tell yourself you're 25 years old and it's time to stop being afraid of change.

Boo-ya.

Sometimes I can't bring myself to take out more student loans

Always: close my eyes, hold my breath, and click the "accept" button 'cause you ain't got thousands of dollars sittin' in the bank to pay for it yourself!

Phew!

Sometimes I feel like a bad @$$ when I kill a fly

Always: Remind yourself that...it was just a fly

But really, to whack a fly right off of the wall with my shoe, when they're usually all fast and quick and stuff...you need some skill for that right?! 

Sometimes I think Justin Bieber looks like a girl

Always: ...I think Justin Bieber looks like a girl

Sometimes I think Hunter Hayes is the country version of Justin Bieber

Always: Hunter Hayes is way cuter, a little bit older, looks like an actual dude, way more talented and I may just have a bit of a crush on him.

...I'm gonna wish I had a storm warnin'...

Sometimes I can't read the crazy letter combo's that blogger makes you type in order to leave a comment on a blog

Always: wonder, does this mean I'm a robot? I mean, the disclaimer reads, "to make sure you're not a robot" please enter the following...

Hmm...

A to the Z Weekend

I decided to tag along with Nate this weekend since he was headed up North to go check his game cameras for his hunt next weekend. I was off for the weekend and a trip out of town combined with some nice weather and some quality "husband" time was sounding pretty perfect!...Although I would hardly call it "quality" time when Nate's in hunting mode AND with one of his hunting buddies...then it's like, double hunting mode, turkey on the brain, can't-think-of-anything-else-to-talk-about mode.

But whatevs, I don't mind. And like I've said before...I know who I married!

We spent most of Saturday afternoon driving around kingdom come to check each of Nate's 2 cameras and his buddy Jake's 5 cameras...each in a different spot. For those of you unfamiliar with hunting, a hunter can attach a camera to a tree that is motion censored and thus, takes a picture every time something moves...namely animals. The idea is that the hunter can see if the animal they're hunting frequents their spot often enough. 

It's actually kinda cool to look at all the pictures. It's like, you're spying on the wilderness or something. Gotta let them animals know big brother is always watching right?!

Jake had a bobcat on one of his cameras and Nate had a big 'ol bear on one of his!

 Anyway, we drove from spot to spot, hiking out to where the camera's were last left, they laid down some feed and off we went to the next spot.

 Jake's daughter Marissa was totally keeping Nate in check. She was all like, "be careful!! That is my dad's only bag!" as he was laying down the corn.

 The weather was so nice, driving around the back roads with the windows down, the unpaved roads and cool breeze almost kind of like, lulled me to sleep. I dozed off a few times in the truck, it was so relaxing. ...Is that weird?!

Whenever Nate is driving around up North he's always looking for animals...cause that's what he does. But whenever he spots something I can never seem to find it. He tells me it's cause I have bad eye sight and can't follow direction, but clearly it's because he can't give clear directions.

At any rate, Saturday I saw a total of 6 deer and 5 elk and I was pretty dang pumped about it! Jake's girlfriend Stormy was able to get a couple pics from the truck. Can you find the deer?

One of Jake's cameras was down in a canyon of sorts, and I won't even lie...as we were hiking down I felt a little bit like I was in the Forbidden Forest, a la Harry Potter...

Sunday morning Nate and I took the dogs on a walk to the creek not far from the cabin we stayed at. 

Nate and Maycee

..seriously guys, could you BE any cuter?!

It's a little impossible for the dogs to look at the camera on a self-timer shot, so we'll take what we can get...

Before we left to head back down to the Valley some fishing was in order...or rather, for Nathan...I didn't wanna fork out the money for the license and the trout stamp that seems to have doubled in price, just for the weekend.

We cut across the football field at Camp Tontozona, to which Jake justified simply because I was wearing an ASU shirt...which must grant us special privileges, in order to get to our fishing spot. 

Go Devils!!

I don't know how these boys always find the coolest places to go, but it was seriously...so cool!

Jake getting Marissa's Dora the Explorer fishing pole ready

 Would you believe me if I told you were were still in Arizona?!

Believe it.

Cause were.

Cause AZ is pretty dang awesome if you ask me.

Doing a little relaxing by the water

Fishing hole #2

The weather was so perfect, with the perfect cool breeze, and the perfect sound of the running water...it made me take a perfect nap...on the rocks...in the sun...and it was perfect. And I liked it.

I haven't had a weekend filled with as many perfect-weather-induced naps in a long time.

And I better not get too comfy cause the triple digits are-a-comin!!