Well, I'm updating, but i wish I could say I was in a better mood. My mood stinks today you see.  The people I work with are morons sometimes, and although I'm glad I'm not working today, I wished they'd have gotten their act together so that I wouldn't have been off today BECAUSE they forgot to put me on the scedule AT ALL. And so here I am, having called twice already (and am looking forward to calling at least one MORE time) in order to find out if in fact I will be working at all this week. Lets hope so, cause we need the money.

Pat was off today and so we would have had a chance for family QT, but he's rushed off to help work on some lady's house with his boss. We do need the extra cash it will bring in, but man am I hoping for the weather man's prediction of afternoon thunder storms to come true! *bites lip*

My mom is gone home after visiting since the 5th. It was nice, but I'm so glad to have my house back. I hated it, but since we have no spare room, she was sleeping in the living room. I wish I woulda thought about her sleeping in my daughters room while she was here. *bites lip again* We did some fun things; went to St. Augustine for a day and saw the fort and had a blast at Ripley's Believe It Or Not! She took me and Maddy shopping. I got some new fae to add to my living room collection. Pat didn't mind! I lub my hubbeh.

Ummm...oh! What do you think of the new layout? Eh, I'm not crazy about it. I love the banner though. Maybe i just need to tweak the text colors to make it better.

Thanks about it for now. Have some grocery shopping to do.

Opps. I forgot about this journal. Haha. My memory is SO bad. I have no excuse. Man, I kinda hate this layout. As soon as I get done with the new website, I'm totally changing it.

What is new, what is new? Well, for one, I think I am allergic to deer flies. Well, maybe I'm not ALLERGIC to them, but I got bit by one and the next day my arm swelled up like twice as big. It was bad enough that when I got to work, they sent me home. Anywhoo, the next day I iced it for about 45  minutes and the swelling finally went down, and I got bit on the other arm in almost the exact same place. The same thing happened! YUCK! Figures we have the most beautiful bouginvillia and it attracts those stinkingg yellow flies. I tell you they draw blood when they bite, too! It itches like crazy.

Oh, how excited am I to have a website open. I was doing so much art, and having no where to display it sucked. Not EVERYTHING is there yet, but I'm working on it.

Speaking of displaying stuff, I am so jealous right now. I've been complaining that I wish I had a subscription to DeviantART and guess what. My very own twinkie gets a surprise subscription donated to her. *bonks* Though, I have to say, I'm glad for her. HER GALLERY  ROCKS! I wish she would fancy it up since she has the subscription, though. *nudges her sista*

Thats it for now y'all. I got things to do today and then work later. *sigh* Man do I miss being a stay-at-home mama. Well, nah, reading back I was so BORED then. Maybe its just I hate my job.

So...yeah. It has been a VERY long time since I updated this thing, huh? *yawns*  Just...theres so much happening , then again, not really. You know how life is.  Where to start... where to start...OH! Okay, well...as our lease is coming to an end soon and we never found a decent house to rent (or buy) we just decided to go ahead and find a suitable apartment for the time being. We DID find a really nice apartment community called the Plantations at Sun Tree in Viera, thought is is quite a bit more than we wanted to pay. Close to $1100.00 for a TWO bedroom! Yeah...you heard me right almost one thousand eleven hundred dollars a month for two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a greatroom/dining room/ kitchen. But I have to say, despite the cost, I really did fall in love with the place. The great room is HUGE so there is plenty of room for us to use our coffee and end tables and tons of room left over for our new dining room table (once we purchase it). The kitchen is so much bigger than the one we have now, and it is actually CUTE! I think the best part about it is the floor plan though. It is the largest 2 bed/ 2 bath so both bedrooms are Master sized...not to mention they are on opposite sides of the apartment! Meaning...hopefully since the rooms aren't so close together, when Pat hits the snooze button three or four times at 5 'o' clock in the morning it won't wake Maddie up and maybe she'll start sleeping in a little. Also...Maddie will have her own bathroom (which I can decorate all adorbable-like with duckies or something) AND...(and this is one of the best parts) our bedroom has its very own little screened in patio. Yay! The apartment actually has two screened in patios. Thee bigger one is accessible through the great room and Maddie's room. Madison is pretty excited about that part. Hehe.  More than anything I'll just be greatful to get out of Titusville and into Viera. Titusville has like...NOTHING HERE! I mean NOTHING! Viera has aTarget...Malls....resturants....the zoo....ugh...so many things. Titusville has the beach and thats it. Oh...and a Walmart. Titusville has a Walmart. Phesh!

What else is happening in my ever-so-boring life? Um...my mom came for a visit at the beginning of the month. It was nice. We had a really relaxing time here, and then drove to Marco Island for a little overnight get away. I was so sick though I really couldn't enjoy myself.

Haven't been pixeling that often, though I am working on something for NASA. *giggles* Well...Pat volunteered me to pixel the logo for their department. It will actually go on their memos, letterheads, emails...things like that. I am pretty...well...kinda nervous really. I don't think I'm good enough for a gig like that but Pat has assured me it will be great. *hugs her hubby*  I have been trying my hand at a different kind of art though. Photomanipulation/painting. It is litterally taking a stock photograph and using it as a base for something else. Wanna see a sample?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v151/Miakoda/Tobi_photomanip.jpg                          

It lost a little color information when I saved it, but I'll eventually learn how to NOT do that.  It's supposed to be Tobias Telfair ( Gryffindor Beater on the Quidditch team) thus the sun shiney kinda feeling. Nox Quidditch matches will be starting soon so I'll probably make him another one to show that fact off more. If you can't tell who the gorgeous model is, it's Jensen Ackles of the WB's Supernatural. *Adores that Show*

There's probably more to tell, but as Maddie is tugging on my leg, I gotta get going. So...take it easy yall!

Okay...I am such a journal slacker.  Though I should write more because I feel like it helps me get things off my chest without actually boring people with my feelings and stuff. *huffs*  I guess I am going through one of my phases again.

I feel totally uninspired, restless, bored...yadda yadda yadda. Not to mention I look at my pixels and think they suck and think people think they suck too.  Ugh...

So...what have I been up to? Nothing, nadda, not much and all that. Our house hunting is not going well at all. It is so rediculous what people are asking for piece of shit houses here in Florida. I mean...we know we are going to spend more than we want (or can really afford) and we know that we will most likely have to put alot of work into one if we do find it, but geez! There's no way we are going to pay 250,000 dollars for a three bedroom one bath house with no backyard, freaking all tile flooring and a kitchen from the 1950's. PA-LEASE! People are crazy!  We only have until April to find something and honestly, I don't think it will happen. I guess we'll probably end up findng a house to rent...or...*shudders* another apartment. I'm really tired of living in an apartment. 

I've been doing a little pixeling here and there...nothing worth showing off here I guess (considering that two dolls I spent at least 3 hours only got 8 replies. *frown* I know I'm usually not so worried about things like that, but when I see total CRAP get a million replies and mine only gets a few...it makes me wonder what on earth is wrong with my stuff. )  

I've been here and there at some RP forums...but really only playing at Nox. *shrugs*  I wish that I could get  some more people to join SMC. I'd really like to play there.  I'm losing hope that it will really ever happen. *sighs* Yes...I am in a bad mood today.

So...we are back from our trip to Memphis, and boy is it nice to be home. I wish it were a little cooler here  though...as we went from winter weather there, to 80 degree tempertures here and it is too warm! I got used to wearing my pretty warm weather clothes haha.

Anyways...Memphis was...well...as it always is. It is good to see family, but the drama never fails. And wow...there was ALOT OF DRAMA. *insert Forest Gump impression* Thats all I'm going to say about that.  It wasn't as stressful on me this time going back and forth between Pat's family and mine this time. Usually it really gets me upset and frustrated, but since there weren't alot of "plans" this visit, it was easy for me to relax and just take my time with everyone.  Maddie had alot of fun playing with her cousins too. Taylor and Peyton were so sweet and fun....and little Belle was just so beautiful.   Maddie got some nice things, as did Pat and I...and we able to get a few things that we needed with our Christmas money when we got back.

And I'm so excited to have my site sissy SilverWolf back online! She has been gone for ages and I can't wait to catch up with her. *hugs her sis*

So...now that I am back I have a few things I really need to work on. Haha...this is a never ending process for me.

My To-Do List

• Jenn's magic box for Jake Daron
• Post holiday/winter gift at Eden (late? yeah haha)
• finish SW gift
• Work on SMC 
• work on new website/update old one
• get organized!
• lose weight/get healthy
• save money

Yes...I threw in a few of my New Years resolutions too...which really important.

So...I suppose that's all thats up with me for right now. I'm in good frame of mind and postive now that I've had a bit of a break...woohoo for me!

Yes, I am not feeling awfully creative today. *sighs*

Not a whole helluva lot going here really.  Last week was so dreadfully boring...and then the weekend was a bit of a disappointment. We did have plans to go to a graduation party for the daughter of one of Pat's co-workers...which I was really looking forward to. We drove over to Target (yes...as it is a 40 minute drive, we tend to make a day out of it) and had a nice lunch. Well...I say nice...but what I really meant was the food was nice...the rest of the place sucked. Our waitress was a moron who never refilled our drinks, brought me the wrong food, didn't bring the sauce which we requested...and forgot our appetizer. haha Anywhoo...by th e time we had gotten back home, Pat's boss called and told him they weren't going to the party. Being that we wouldn't know anyone else at the partry..we decided not to go as well. I was pretty bummed because it would have been an excuse to get dressed up real nice and have drinks with some adults. Oh well. We were going to Rick and Helen's the next day for a parade in Orange City and that was gonna be fun....

Only the parade was cancelled. Now it was Maddie's turn to be really disappointed. *sighs again* She had fun playing with Hannah and Hailey though...and we got to echange gifts. That was really nice. Oh..and Helen's vinison stew was really yummy.

I do have some exciting news though... Pat and I have finally come to a decision on what are near future plans are! We talked about it and I think we are going to shoot for buying a house by early May. Since I will be working part time, and we should have my car paid off...we think we can do it. The housing market here in FLorida is so expensive compared to other places here in the US, but with the way it just keeps going up and up ...we figure if we decided to move in a few years, we will make money off the house anyways.

With that being said, Patrick told me that he thinks we should start trying to have another baby too.     Am I excited? Oh hell yeah I am, considering a few months ago he had said he thought Maddie should be an only child.  I am so ready to have another baby it ain't even funny. LOL  I wish we could've had another one closer to Maddie's age...but I don't think a four year difference is too much.

So... I'm kinda tired. My little muchkin Maddie has been waking up so early! It doesn't matter how late we put her to bed, or even if she hasn't had a nap...she has gone back to her nasty habit of waking up at 5 am. *yawns*  I suppose it wouldn't be so bad if she didn't wake in the middle of the night because she's scared of her walls. Yes...she is scared of the walls in her bedroom.  She says it makes noises, but Pat and I have surmised that it is actually our whole apartment shaking when the train passes by. There's nothing we can do about that...the train that is...but I wish there was someway we could get her to sleep in a little. *chuckles* I'm dreaming, I know this. 

The weekend was alright I guess. Well...not really.   We had no money to do anything...so we went and explored a hiking trail near the beach. It was nice...but only took us 40 minutes or so to get back to the start and so we were bound for home again.  *sigh* That is about the only thing we did ALL WEEKEND. Really boring! I woke up with a freaking headache from hell on Sunday morning so I asked Patrick to get up with Maddie (she woke up at a quarter to six) Of course... Pat is really cranky when he gets woke up...so all hell broke loose. It's a shame the one and only time I get to stay in bed in the morning and I can't get back to sleep because I've been hollered and cussed at. After laying there sick and upset, finally got up at around 9:30.  Needly to say I was in a bad mood for teh rest of the day.

Get this...the apartment manager came up and informed me, sorry...the contractor and inspector will be by tomarrow to check the fireplace. I am so freaking sick of this, I did not hide my frustration. I told her thank you and I will be patiently waiting for them to get there. If they decided to come this time. Can she PLEASE call if they decide not to come by this time.   She just smiled. She knew I was pissed.

Anywhoo...thats it for now. I guess I am still in that bad mood today as well. *sigh*

Yeah...I really having been doing much of anything the past few days.

I am getting really irritated by this whole apartment-condo transition. Every other day they are having to come in and work  on something. (I guess planning what will need to be updated/fixed when we move out) Last week the man was here for like 3 hours up in our attic. It was really shitty to be stuck here with a strange man for that long. I think he was Russian by his accent, so when I would ask him how long it would take, or offer him something to drink...he didn't understand me. :/    Wednesday the contractor was supposed to come and inspect the work. Again, another day Maddie and I were stuck here...only this time waiting for someone that never came. I had even called the lady in the office and she assured me "yes, yes...they are coming."   Thursday I called them and they told me..."oh sorry 'bout that." Apparently, the contractor decided to only look at a few of the apartments, ours wasn't one of them.   

Pat called in sick to work. He had a tummy ache. Ahem.  We went to Blockbuster and rented War of the Worlds.  Great movie.

I wanted to get some things done ths week, but only got to a couple. I did finish my last shop order. Yeah. I am taking a break from ChynaCat's Curios for a week (or two) Got offered to do an art trade at Eden...so I've got a little project. I finished my Rita Skeeter doll!

Not one of my best dolls, but I am really proud of her. Pixel shaded again. Base is by Xandorra  I think I may change my technique a bit though. Sometimes I am not liking the scratchy shading.

Oh! And I joined a new HP rp forum! It may be fun. I'll write more once the bio is approved. *nods*

This past weekend was absolutely one of the best ones we've had in ages!

Thursday was Thanksgiving and it was really really nice. Maddie woke me up around 5:30am...so I was able to pre-cook a couple of dishes so that I wouldn't be all rushed for lunch. Everything turned out so yummy! I made homemade cornbread stuffing, turkey, deviled eggs, mashed potatoes and cream corn. It was nice and relaxing. We ran over to Blockbuster and rented a bunch of movies and a PS2 game for Patrick.

On Friday we went to Rick and Helen's for lasagne.  Maddie got to play with another child and had alot of fun. (plus the food was awesome and Rick and Helen and their family are some of the best people you'll ever meet)  The rest of the weekend we didn't do much...but it was relaxing. Pat was hooked on this game he rented so Maddie and I played the SIMS 2 alot. (yes...she actually sits next to me and tells me what she wants them to do, what to buy for them...its so funny) I saw yet another sim'esqe' kind of game that I am dying to have now. Its called The Movies. <------link for ya there so ya can take a peek at it. Maybe I'll get it for my birthday haha.

I am really needing to catch up on some things this week. I have severely neglected my email...that is something one should never never do. I need to update my website (though that is such a chore now that I am determined to start a new fresh site) I have one outstanding shop order to finish, a contest doll that I am half done with, get Silver Moon City up and at 'em, and I really really want to put up some new merchandise in my Eden shoppe.   Ahhh...It will all work itself out I know.

Guess thats it for now I suppose.

Well...as I am sitting here typing, my three year old daughter is literally hanging onto my leg under the desk. The dog (Samson) sits under there when I get on...and she usually will try to weasel her way under too...which leads to growling, tail pulling, and the occational yelp( from Samson) or cry (from Maddie). I know some people are thinking "Awe, thats so cute!" but it is truly getting me more and more frustrated everyday. She is so dependant of my attention that the child seriously will not play on her own. I know its my fault because I was always there to be her playmate when she was an infant and gaining her independance, but now it makes me sad for her.  I'm not complaining about having to play with her from time to time during the day. Don't get me wrong...This kitty loves to have a good tea party just as much as the next girl, but when she won't play on her own EVER...thats when it becomes a problem! I have to lock the door when I go to the bathroom just so she won't follow me in, and then hear her banging on the door and throwing a temper tantrum the whole time I'm in there. If I am folding laundry or cleaning the kitchen she will sit in the middle of the floor and pick on Samson just to get my attention. Lo' and behold I wanted to watch a tv show or read a book while she is awake. It just doesn't happen. I just wish she would act like a three year old and play in her room sometimes. I will NOT stick her in front of the television all day, either. *sighs*  Everyone says it would do us both some good to put her in a "Mother's Day Out" kinda program a couple of days a week, but darnnit...we just don't have the money to do that right now. I have been thinking how it will help us financially for me to get a part time job, and it would be nice to have a little money to spend on us after bills are paid...but I gosh...maybe we really do need to get her into some kind of pre-kindergarden or something.

Ugh. All I do is bitch, bitch, bitch, huh? *laughing* I don't care. Thats real life people!

So I have decided I am going to move my doll website to another address and start over. My webspace now is just too cluttered and the navigation is terrible. No...I won't go on a year long hiatus. I'm talking about working on it a little here and there...all the while updating the old site. *nods*

Oh yeah...it's only about 62 degrees here in Florida right now. Wow! The weather is amazing!