Merry Christmas!!!!

Merry Christmas everyone!! Paul and I had a great Christmas :) We are in Quincy with my mom and step dad. They have a house way up in the mountains and we got about 4 inches of snow today and the power went went out for a few hours. It got down to about 60 degrees in the house and we weren't sure if we'd be able to have Christmas dinner but luckily the power came back on in time. Other than that it's been a pretty mellow day. We had a great dinner and opened presents this evening instead of this morning. It was my idea. I like the fact that you get to look forward to something all day instead of opening the presents in the morning. Anyways, I hope everyone had a great Christmas too!

I missed my old template :(

New addition??

I think that Paul and I should get another dog. It's kind of a scary thought b/c two dogs is a way bigger responsibility than one dog. I was thinking about it and if we had two dogs then taking them on a walk without a leash would be twice as much work, leaving them with friends/parents for a week would be twice as difficult, and any medical care would be twice as expensive. The reason I think that we should get another dog is that I think Daisy is the kind of dog that would love to have another dog around all the time. Zoe was different; I thought that it would be almost unfair to her for us to get another dog b/c she loved being our only child and soaking up every single drop of love we had to give and that was plenty for her. Daisy, for now anyways, is not content with just us. She wanders around the house whining and crying, playing with all of her random toys by herself. We try to give her the amount of attention that will keep her happy but I'm not sure we can. I think that she would absolutely love a brother or sister!

I went to the Longmont Humane Society today as well as a lady's house that had 9 wk old blk lab puppies. The problem is that Paul and I are leaving for almost a week on Tues and I don't think that Paul's dad (his mom will be out of town) is up to the task of taking care of a 9 wk old puppy on his own for that long!

The staff at the Humane Society in Longmont does a terrific job of writing little paragraphs about each dog and his/her personality right on the enclosure they are in. What is unfortunate is that almost every single dog has a problem with either kids, cats, or other dogs. We all know who wears the pants in the Pamber household.....Kitty! So not just any dog will do. Also, Paul's sister has little kids, little kids play out in the park, and little kids are just about everywhere so a dog that likes to eat little kids would not be the best fit for us either. Even though I am a huge proponent for adopting adult dogs, I'm not sure that we would be able to make that work.

The reason I am writing this, other than because I am bored, is because I'd like some feed back. What do you guys think about us getting another dog? and a puppy at that?

I really don't understand why people keep reptiles as pets. Isn't the purpose of a pet to keep you company, become a companion, offer affection or entertain you in some way? Reptiles don't do anything. They barely even move from one spot to another. Just from previous experience, if there is a reptile in a tank or cage of some sort, I am lucky if I can even see it! They're always blending in and hiding...I guess, doing what reptiles do. Anyways, I just don't really get it. Spending the money to feed and house them, cleaning their tank, buying a bigger tank when they out grow the one they are in; it all just seems like a lot of work for not a lot of reward.

The Good and The Bad

In high school and the years following (before moving out to Boulder) my Mom would constantly tell me to slow down, get some rest, take a break, etc.. In high school I was involved in so many activities (including planning keggers for the weekends) that I never had a chance to slow down. Then I got a job that I loved but had to be at for 60 hrs a week just to pay the bills (plus planning the keggers for the weekend :) If I didn't have somewhere to be or something to finish or someplace to go I didn't know what to do with myself. I was always on the go. Then I moved here and settled in. Yes I am going to school but I have never had so much free time in my life and I think there are good things and bad things associated with that.

The good things are: I have gotten really into cooking; something I never would have allowed myself to explore in the olden times. I'm trying to turn our "house" into a "home" which does take a bit of work. I can be somewhat spontaneous when it comes to trips Paul takes and gatherings that occur. I can go home to visit my folks and friends a lot more often than a lot of people get the opportunity to.

The bad things are: I find myself watching more TV than I ever have in my entire life. I have gained 10lbs since moving here. I drink more than I should. I have a lower self esteem b/c I am not as busy which means a poorer self image. I am more anal about certain things which I am not entirely certain comes from my lack of preoccupation....it could just be me getting older and more grumpy :)

Anyways, I truly want to return to the working world someday but I hope to find a happy balance between work and life. I think that feeling like you are a part of something; that you have a purpose everyday is crucial to ones well being. I know that I was happy when I was working 60 hrs a week and barely paying my bills....and I am happy now not working and having no trouble paying my bills...but there is always room for improvement and I will seek out that which will make me even more happy.