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August 09 080808I also noticed that I was the eighth customer on the list when Safeway delivered my stuff today. So cool. Then middle of the day my eights were working for me when I got a call and they have an operating slot for me. So I may not die of a massive stroke or heart attack before they can get that cyst off my vascular system after all. I'd feel bad about having a fit about the wait but seriously, I feel bad. I can't imagine living with high blood pressure. It's like when you have that pounding headache but no pain, you can hear your heart in your ears. So the sooner the better. I really truly hope it's my knee doing all this, I am so looking forward to waking up well. I still have to wait until the 28th but much better than October. OMG I LOVE THE OLYMPICS. The opening ceremonies were fabulous. I so need to
go to China. I fell in love all over AGAIN. Asian culture is so gorgeous and old, I love
it.. well I love most cultures, but I'm super fascinated by this Olympic gathering. Lots
of side notes and cool stories like the blood thirsty ex ruler of Zimbabwe
actually tried to attend. China said "no I don't think so", "we don't want no
genocidal maniacs at our party". Well Ms. Stone how is that for a karmic turn? But
truly the highlight of this was the show; it was the most gorgeous epic display of national
pride I've ever seen. This was second only to the pride I felt when our gigantic
team entered this world stage and was cheered. Yes cheered. Our lame ass
president even did a good job at what he does best, being a figure head. thank
god it wasn't our party and he did not speak for us. SO THERE IS A GOD. I am
seriously elated to see that the world does not hold us personally responsible
for his atrocities, they also don't seem to blame him which is very polite in my
estimation. The most fun I have had lately is the opening of H&M at our mall, Teddy took me. She is so sweet to me. We
had kick ass sushi and I bought Jasmine some crocs. I'm going to post a new Jasmine pic, she is so much fun and does so love me and the Frank. I means
what's not to love. I've got the giant lovely dogo and two pools, for said dogo.
Plus here she is having a snack and feeding frank string cheese. Sami is such a sweet mom you can tell by how fearless Jasmine is that she is doing an awesome job with her. She asked to come to me for the first time and sat on my lap to pet frank. Seriously the cutest sweetest baby ever. Life is great! Now last week before the surgury date etc I was a little down.. not gonna lie but just wait a bit and it will turn around or at least in Charlaland! August 03 HEALTH UPDATE Ok so the only good part about seeing the surgeon was that he is very optimistic that this is not the joint replacement in my future. I am missing my ACL and have tear in my PCL. I have two meniscus tears, several bone spurs, and that big old cyst. However, my right knee which as you will recall was fixed in October is so much worse than my left. And that because my left knee was stable before the cyst and pain that he thinks he can tune it up and get me back together. Why on earth would I want to wait? The new joints still have a failure rate of 10 years and since I plan to get very very old, and they tell me i'll never run, or jog or have any improved use; I will wait until I can't. Plus my shoulders already hurt from the limited use of the crutches this time and after the surgery it will be worse. So I'm on a mission to lose as much weight as I can before October and have gone on nutrisystem. I thought I'd over nighted it but I must have blocked that because when I went to check delivery it wasn't even on it's way yet so I'm happily enjoying cobb salads all weekend with bacon and avacado YUM! I super unhappy because my blood pressure is very high due to the cyst pressing on my vascular system. SERIOUSLY my left side is still larger than my right even after a week on water pills and six lbs gone almost over night. This is clearly not a healthy situation yet my insurance thinks it's cool for me to wait until October to be treated. I seriously don't feel well and can't imagine having high blood pressure and thinking it's not symptomatic. I can hear my pulse in my ears A LOT! I'm exhausted doing the laundry and walked the little loop today with Frank and seriously have to rest now. The surgeon is very nice. He was concerned about my blood pressure but ironically when I called my doctor after the ER said it was high. They were like we have no record of you having high blood pressure this is situational and not an emergency. Well ok but OCTOBER?? REALLY?? My surgeon is like you have high blood pressure I don't think I can operate if it's still that high. Well that almost make me cry from frustration.This knee is my service connected injury so it's VA from my disability and VA from Alex so I'm indignant that the solution is to take my employers insurance and impact their plan. I simply can't do that in good conscious. I had too many pre existing conditions to sign up when I was hired I refuse the use the loop hole. THIS SUCKS! So lets review. Lots of government VA insurance yet care is sub par. I have a huge cyst pressing so hard on my vascular system that my blood pressure now requires medication. The worst thing is that I feel guilty for complaining because I know there are loads of folks like my mom who need treatment and can't get it period. But I'm feeling like what is the difference if I had no insurance I could go the er and get seen i think, or if I was a guy right? They wouldn't make me wait. See grumpy already... it's going to be a long fall. Oh and i've decided not to move yet. The market is down and further from my work is the wrong way so i'm on hold for now, and thats fine with me. POINT OF JOY? FIVE DAYS UNTIL THE OLYMPICS YALL!!!! July 11 WELL NO WONDER I FEEL LIKE CRAPI have a huge bakers cyst pressing on my vascular system. I noticed my left leg was larger than my right and my left arm not as much but definitely larger. And I knew i had a bakers cyst behind my left knee they found it in September of last year when they repaired my right knee, but usually they don't require any action. well now it's giant and I can feel my pulse in my left foot NOT GOOD. My left calf is an inch and a half larger than my right thats just scary. The good news is that it is the bakers cyst and theoretically easily resolved with a large needle. It seems now the only issue is getting in to see an orthopedic doctor, which is unavailable until the 28th of July. So now it's bed rest until the 28th SHITE SHITE SHITE I have so much I want to do this summer. And the Frank Thank god for Harold walking the Frank!! June 19 OMG
I walk the frank, you can even track my last five walks online; so you know I
am active. Certainly not fit and I know I need a lot more work, but I am
actively working on it. So I was totally surprised when I could barely move on
Monday morning. Who knew that one could feel so close to death due to lactic
acid. Seriously my skin hurt. I had weed eatted, mowed and trimed the Ivy in
about four hours with little though other than wow am I beat. So ever since I
have been slowly trying to finish up the very little I had left so that I can
start the painting. But slowly is the key word. So i'm thinking this is what
they are talking about when they say aging sucks a**! With Junuary now almost
past the projects are a bit backed up, and now i've got a new defining factor
of pain due to old age to add to that time equation. I guess trying to keep
your humor through it all is about the best you can hope for. June 12 JUNUARY SERIOUSLY JUNUARY! They are officially calling it Junuary. Jeeze do you have any idea what this weather is doing to my internal hierarchy for my home? I can't move forward until my yard is in order, I can't work in the yard until the weather will support that so that throws off all the schedules the projects, and the travel; everything! So at least the weather does support some creativity and since I have been creating a bunch of content for work I was feeling a bit behind on the home front, with the teddy engagement needing a photo show, the retrospective needed to tie up her childhood, the may installment of dogo life; well you see how behind I was. So its taken me literally a week to upload the content which proves comcast is limiting my connection. UNTIL tomorrow bitches when I upgrade to a static IP and really get down to business. My favorite aunt, Kay is turning 80. She's a nurse and inspired my mom I think to be one as well. The crazy thing is that once when I was having probably the worst of my surgeries I woke up and there she was. My HMO had done something right and I was in her hospital. What a giant difference she made in my experience. She does the same for our family. She says things like, "You know honey I bet your cousins would be so great full if you brought in the dishes for them to wash." Her use of honey is sincere and so your like of course their washing let me run those in there." I'm a giant loser for just sitting here. She made you want to help. Its a gift. I can't tell you how supportive this branch is for us and she is one of our brightest flowers! HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNT KAY! I'm going to start a wedding page for teddy, omg she is going to regret my love of technology sooner rather than later no? But I want to keep up but not butt in. Famous last words of Mother of the Bride. Her ideas of what a wedding takes is quickly coming into view. I was telling her that I seriously didn't think at 23 that I was ever going to find the one. I know i know. But my point was I hadn't spent loads of time dreaming of how it had to be perfect so what I got was bonus. I loved it it was perfectly me and Alex. Most of all my expectation was very low for that event and it was amazing. Best wedding ever, no best party ever. See and thats how it should be. ENJOY the photoshows it's like one of the last times I'm going to be able to pull off a surprise attach like that. I'm fairly sure my access to family photos will be limited to what they'd like everyone in the world to view. :) Work is going well small baby steps all in the right direction. My new boss is everything he should be including working too much. I wish I could make him take it easy or clone him quickly. Hm... we may be able to make that work actually. May 28 ANNOUNCEMENT OUR FAMILY TREE IS BLOOMING! I am very proud to announce that Teddy And Andrew Lybarger are engaged!
They plan on a semi long engagement and to be married once Teddy
graduates. He's.... dare I say it? semi perfect! For a human. In a
nutshell. He is from Spokane. They met at SU working on the human
powered car project. He's a year ahead of Teddy so he graduated last
year and is now working as an engineer for Global Energy Solutions on
wind power. How cool is that? Cute, smart and with a mission. But most
of all he will put up with Teddy. I mean really really loves our Teddy.
I knew before they did to be honest. They are just so cute together
and I could not be happier. So please join me in welcoming Andrew to
our family. Big Love, Charla March 15 I AM HAVING THE BEST DAY EVER It started out so crappy and turned around and turned into the most awesome day. First I have not been able to validate my data. That's an issue for an analyst. I was having flashback from when they launched the portal and I suddenly couldn't get a return. That actually ended up being the version of internet explorer I had. But what a huge fiasco time suck that was. So then I heard we had an error and it's the perfect amount to make me a good employee. Not crazy analyst unable to validate data. Then I got a great bid on a new roof like everything else the dread was worse than the actual number, that's a serious lesson. Also Hayley turned me on to this place: http://www.2goservices.com/cuisine.htm which makes this officially as cool as NYC. Well ok in my dreams, but this is for sure so cool. I love this when I travel and will now love it at home. Yipee!! Having lots of work done to the house getting it ready to sell. It is bitter sweet. I love this house but can not afford to retire here nor do I want to pay this mortgage much longer. It is a struggle on my own and without the Teddy I have no motivation or even feel like I have the right to maintain this shangri la, I'm so over it. Love the house, hate the struggle so I opt not to. Done and done. So I'm watching CNN, This housing thing is my issue completely, they're basically talking about me and my mortgage the high prepayment penalty, the adjustable bate and switch etc. But I know how I got here. I got here from not having any fall back because I'm a single parent, and my extended family has never been in a position to help. I didn't see any other choice. But had I had two incomes? please how could you not make it. I know it's not easy when you feel like life or the American dream is leaving you behind, I so get that. But I haven't been on a family vacation (that I paid for) or driven a new car in over two decades since I was married really. So I'm sick when I see that I'm in this position just trying to get my family a basics quality of life and the jones are doing the same thing but for the big screen tv's, to drive two new cars and the yearly family vacations and it looks like we're all going to bailed out the same way yes? It does give me pause. I have been trying to train in the AM. I heard that if you get your metabolism going in the am it goes all day long. What is not to love about that? Anyway then I got sick and it started to rain not the light normal seattle drizzle but serious Frankie won't go outside rain. So we took almost a week off but did the big spring clean instead. My brother Bill, who is finally cleaning up thank god has built me people friendly front stairs. In this past week I have faced three serious house dreads and lived through them all. New front stairs, a nightmare due to the old semi circular railroad tie crap that was there. Done and Done really it was a nightmare on a hill over crap but they are so awesome I'll put up final shots soon. I cleaned out the crawls space which was packed with seriously everything from the past 20 years that went into storage. And I have plans to replace the roof and gutters that have been on my last nerve since that last big storm that sent that maple limb into the roof and made it leak that season. Every year I worry it will suddenly start leaking all over. Really part of my issue with this house is the overwhelming responsibility of maintaining it on my own. At first I didn't know what I needed to do, then I didn't have the money and now it's like not even for me as I'm only even doing it to sell so it's weird and refreshing and liberating. I just never thought at 47 I'd still be paycheck to paycheck just to afford barely middle class in the serious ghetto of suburbia. But this is a major change. We are so at home here, in this physical house. We grew up here Teddy and I. And I'm seriously afraid I wont' ever feel this way again. And I'm aware it's only a house, but you should have seen when we lost power for three days and my house felt dead. I was kind of young but seriously traumatized by that. And when my car was wrecked. I hate that about humans. Seriously our ability to anthropomorphize everything we come in contact with sucks. So this is for sure a leap of faith and investment in my future and a step toward freeing myself of my earthly bounds or so says his holiness the 14th dalai lama. Who btw was in town yesterday and I highly suspect has all pottery barn furniture in the place he calls home, because isn't that after all nirvana? Perfectly appointed sparseness? February 22 Karma comes calling When I was in high school my best friend was 21 and drove a bitchen camero. It was a blast, we ruled hollywood. And if we were slighted in any way we'd do a little rough justice in the form of smashing car glass. Mostly windshields but lights, back and side all game. Rozi carried a red man bat under her drivers seat mostly for protection we told ourselves but we used it alot to even the score. The Beverly Hills High Smith not inviting us to their party. Avenging Bobby Verdugo or a cheating boyfriend. All game. So today when my dog walker Rose came to tell me my back window of my Lexus was smashed I knew instantly that it was no coincidence that Rose was telling me. Again another sign from the universe that you reap what you sew. Oh well who needs and iphone when you can pay a deductible you didn't know you had?? February 09 Amazing photo's
SEE EVEN POLAR BEARS KNOW...
DOGS RULE!! bla bla bla
ok so a couple of years ago I got this great offer it was like $100.00 you sign up for coffee home delivery of four cans a month for two years and you get this kick ass machine. It's literally like regularly $600.00 or something crazy anyway so then I just got this e-mail saying it's now 150.00 still kick ass deal but then when you go to the website there are literally three different prices for the same package so if your paying over 150.00 your paying too much even for this great machine which I love btw. But I hate crap like that because what if I was in a hurry and didn't take the time to look for the best deal or what if I'd bought it for 495 I' d be so pissed really!!
Screen clipping taken: 1/30/2008, 6:52 PM
Screen clipping taken: 1/30/2008, 6:49 PM
Screen clipping taken: 1/30/2008, 6:50 PM Then I was looking at my nike gadget which I don't use in the winter really because of the shoes required and miss tracking it so I'm going to start again this next week I love watching my progress. Hey come challenge me lets keep track together!! Lee any takers? Hayley? Anyone ok let me know it's super fun to track it online and connect with that community. Oh I think I'll challenge my company. That will be so much fun!!
Screen clipping taken: 2/9/2008, 7:07 AM
Screen clipping taken: 2/9/2008, 7:07 AM
Screen clipping taken: 2/9/2008, 7:07 AM
ok now I must go caucus for Hilary. I know I know I love Barack. Truly I simply don't think he has enough experience to dig us out of the hole we're in. So I do hope that everyone is out there doing their bit as mine included going to a place that needs armed guards and that is against my core values hanging out in place with guns so this is a very important time for us all and I hope that I see you there!! January 26 EVOLUTION REVOLUTIONEVOLUTION REVOLUTION is the order of the day. After a really tough year I've set in motion a new five year plan that will allow me to put my life into a better balance. Teddy and I really grew out of this lifestyle after high school and now with the chick out the nest it's time to downsize and look for a more appropriate place for house of Rupp HQ right now number one on my list is Spokane WA. Teddy does call it SpoCompton but every city has it's depressed areas and no one would live in LA if that stopped people. Anyway I'm still in the getting used to it phase and Hayley is looking at houses this weekend. She is clearly further ahead than I am in the process but that part of the beauty of this. She is the advance party and will have our spots all staked out already. She will finish her teaching credentials and I will get my MBA or drop out completely and do some kind of Art the other beauty of the situation is that if we do move to Spokane we can buy outright and not have to worry and have even more choices. I'm giddy with the possibilities. And although it seems like a retreat or surrender to a certain "lifestyle" we consider it our launching pad. Jim onces asked me if I was done yet. I've not yet started my friend, I certainly hope not. Teddy is doing really well. Ok lets qualify that. She is still in school but on academic probation. And after the time we've had, I'm elated. It's been such a hard few years. But truly she is well and happy. Really happy. A lot of that has to do with her new living arrangements. Teddy moved out when she got back from her internship which went very well also. She has moved in with a boy named Andrew who is an ex classmate and flew out to drive home with her when she returned. They met working on a human powered car project or something like that. He's an engineer as well and works downtown for a company that does wind power. How cool is that?? The light rail traffic was making teddy's commute hell and since she didn't have the baby incentive I did to do that commute she opted to move in with Andrew. The two have an apartment in the University district which is 45 minutes away but far closer to her school. She lived in a frat down there last summer. I could not be happier for them they seem really happy. He has brought out the side of Teddy that I didn't think existed. The planning, cleaning and communicating maternal side, wow I love who she has becoming. It's like the teen crap that drove me crazy is all falling away. The best part is it's kind of like my relationship with Alex you never get bored of them because they aren't around all the time. It's win win all around. Now I've turned into that woman looking for grandchildren. Sorry Teddy I hate that I'm a cliche' as well!! I've been really enjoying my time on my own. Besides I'm not on my own, with the dog the size of a backstreet boy you simply do not feel alone. Plus the cat, as if on que has really stepped up her neediness. Possibly to make me feel needed; but there is no danger of that with Frank making me get back up to let him out two minutes after returning to bed frozen due to open door that I closed when I was down there moments before. It is making me rethink his whole position in the house. That and if you keep him up to late as a guest he'll eat your shoes. Sorry Hayley!! or kick you off the couch sorry Teddy and mom. Teddy had one thing to say upon my return from a business trip last week. You can tell he is not treated like a dog? Really how? JK I'm working on it! I watch Caesar I know! Lots of change this year starting with the loss of Ali, she was the third of close young adults to pass in the last four years and it just seemed like to much. I didn't think I'd be in such a good place right now. Alot of that is due to the new position at work and my ability to block it out. I get so much of my self esteem from work when that's not going well I'm not happy. I've got to learn better balance to be sure. I'd had such a hard time with my last boss I was ready to pack it in. Although I've loved corporate and military life there is a time and a place and I thought I was done with corp life until the big turn around. Which although just happened in December formally it was almost a year coming and is the difference between night and day. For those who don't know I'm still with the same company which kicks ass; I'm now An International Finance Analyst which must be like an executive transvestite way more excited sounding than in actuality. The funny thing about being a data geek is that you don't your own data. You have to work to have great sets to play with. My new position has added citrix and Hyperion to my SAP and Pacifica systems knowledge and I so love learning new things. But the best thing is a new boss that is a people whisperer and a numbers guy. So I have loads to learn from him on both fronts. It's time to take some responsibility for the way that I am perceived. I used to not care really what people thought about me and that shows in my personal dealings that is truly for the young if you wish to remain employed. So this is a really good fit. The holidays were really great. We went to my cousin Matt's again this year. God what a blast that white elephant is. I think we brought the best thing which was the impaling unicorn kit. Too funny. See the sock creature I made for his 50th birthday. How crazy is that?? He's 50 I hang out with 50 year olds who would have thought?? Her name is Christmastina in honor of his hosting the christmas event the past few years. Check out the christmas album! I've been doing a lot of sewing and house stuff now that I'm not constantly worried about my job I feel free to do so much more and I've gone a bit crazy. First with the dog coats, then the stupid sock monsters. I forgot how much fun life is when your not struggling to survive. It's made me realize I want that sweet spot all the time. Hence the five year plan. Oh and the best of all .... Teddy's here. I have to go. She and Andrew went to Costco for me.. ok now I'm just bragging!!! October 14 How old are you?? How old are you?? I get that alot when I see orthopedic surgeons. I look relatively young in person but look at my knee films or MRI and my joints are shockingly old. Which is always a joy to hear. Since I have little or no pain usually and am fairly active. I am really lucky. They found some material floating around in the joint that was causing my knee to dislocate and the removed it as well as a few bone spurs. It was also getting stuck in the bent position and that is also fixed so it feels great and I hopefully will be back at work tomorrow. I will catch this blog up completely in the next few days. Teddy is back and doing really well but she has lots of news that I don't have the energy for today. October 01 I totally thought I had the market on supercute dogo pics but no apparently the dog of the future is omni present in just three short years. BRAVO DOGO! September 09 from the pig
>>>>Test for Smart People. May 16 Frank emergency
Frankie got his ear torn yesterday by this little rat dog, he was so good. He didn't try and snack on it or anything. 500 clams later you know I love this dug. May 02 The Teddy Turn and BurnSo glad spring is here and Teddy got through last quarter, her grades took a hit but who cares. she's in one piece. It was touch and go for a bit but all is well in the House of Rupp. We're still limping but we are well and it's still one of the toughest periods of our lives but I'm so proud of Teddy, she went back to work, and completed the quarter. She had been working at school but since she got home from Japan she has not been working or contributing. Including the usual treating home like a luxury hotel with maid and cuddling dog service. But who can get angry with all that we've been through, and truthfully I'm just glad she's home. But I swear I was about to have to get all midevil on her ass when she stepped it up.
Then it all became clear our Teddy wanted to spend her 21st in Vegas, after her cheer compatitian, and you so can't do that poor, and after supporting the dear one all fall she knew I couldn't help her. Again who cares she at least got off her butt and went after it. But I'm so onto her, and its a good thing shes my daughter and we have that bond, because I hate being tricked and this was a bit like the move into the frat.
First it was a cheer competition, no co-ed rooms, and no time to party. Then they added some days and it's co-ed rooms those days. But still very busy but now with tickets to the playboy bunny sleep over (it's hugh heffners birthday). And last but not least Teddy is getting at tatoo. I'm personally not happy about the tatoo. i don't think you should make decisions for your life when your 21 but that's just me and I am merely the financier. I no longer have any control and for a control freak like me this is the very definition of torture.
So lets recap we have: hotels with boys, drinking, gambling, tatoo's and a playboy party. SHOOT ME NOW!
Teddy is getting the missing man formation on her hip, ancle?? I say hidden, she's all no. We'll see who ends up on Vegas cheerleaders gone wild. And hopefully not showing her tatoo. Oh and Teddys cheer squad just won Nationals they are now the nation cheerleading champions. She got a coat and a medal she's very happy. This is the pinacle of cheer really, well that and say the raiderettes or the dallas cowboy cheerleaders. Thank god she doesn't want to make that her profession. As you all know her grand father was a cheerleader at westpoint so she must and probably will always in some way participate. But hopefully as a coach and not actually wearing the booty shorts in a stadium.
the best part is she does not sound the least bit imparied or hung over so looks like she wasn't lying when she said she wasn't a big drinker, but then again her birthday isn't until tueday so we'll see.
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