Rest in peace, my sweet Jewely

Jewely's the smaller dog

I'm going to do two posts on my poor sweet Jewely, my very Miniature Pinscher, who died Monday night. First the difficult part - how she died.

I was watching my friends' dog Charlie this weekend. He's a young rottweiler and was very good company for my puppy Chase. They really enjoyed spending time together and when the family came to pick up Charlie, I figured Chase would be a little lonely, so I figured I'd take my little min pins out to play with him. Actually, I was only going to take Chloe out, since she's bigger and actually does play somewhat with him (still getting used to another dog in the house), but since they were both in the same kennel, I just picked both of them up and walked outside. And then sweet Jewely slipped from my arms. That didn't happen all of the time, but it had happened before, and no problem. She'd land on her feet and acted like nothing happened. But Monday night she must have landed on her head, because after looking down I realized that she was dead right away. I put Chloe down and quickly picked up Jewely. Thank God my dad was there fixing up the house. I ran in with her and he quickly took her from me. He tried giving CPR chest compressions for about half an hour, and I called my vet at home (sorry Brother K.) and asked if there was anything I could do. He said what my dad was doing was really all that you could do. For awhile it looked like it might be working. Jewely's eyes moved a bit and she's stick her tounge out or yawn, but after awhile, she was gone.

It's so hard for me. She was such a delicate dog and I dropped her. Or let her slip from me. I know it wasn't my fault, but oh how I wish I could go back in time - decide not to take the dogs out, only take Chloe, let them walk out instead of picking them up, hold onto Jewely better like I should have done. On my next post, when I talk more about the life of Jewely, and post pictures, you'll see why she was so delicate. I've prayed for the Lord to give my comfort and help take the guilt away, but it's not completely working yet. My faith isn't strong enough yet. She was just so delicate. The image of her slipping from my arms still goes through my mind.

I'm greatful for the many people who have told me it's not my fault, that accidents happen, not to beat myself up about it, and that it was just her time. I know that's all true. If she hadn't had wriggled out of my arms before with no problems, not even a yelp, I for sure would have held her more securely. Still, it doesn't take the pain away.

OK, I can't talk about this anymore. I need to talk about the good things with Jewely.

A 'Wicked'ly Awesome 4th of July

My mom and dad came up this weekend for my mom to check out my place and to help me clean the condo, and my dad to help me fix up both the house and condo. Mom and I have been wanting to see Wicked for awhile, so I looked up and got some good tickets (Orchestra, Row R, seat 115), so off we went. Rather than facing potentially bad 4th of July traffic, we took BART in and got off at the station right below the Orpheum Theater.


Taking the BART to see Wicked!

Wow, what a great show! I really enjoyed it, and my Mom did too. So let's see, I've now seen Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Lion King, Jersey Boys, A Chorus Line, and Wicked. I've liked all the ones I've seen (well, A Chorus Line only because someone paid for me), and would definitely love to see it again. I'd put Wicked up there with The Lion King and Les Miserables. Ones I will definitely see again in the future (or have already seen a ton - such as with The Lion King). It's such a great experience seeing these great shows with friends and loved ones. I've now see most of those shows with my mom, and it's great. Now, you're not supposed to take pictures inside the theater, so I can't tell you how I came across the photo below. But it's so cool, I had to show you! Oh, and Patty Duke was in it, as Madame Morrible!

Definitely a great way to spend the 4th of July. By the time we got home and got some new window coverings at JC Penney, we were tired and didn't go anywhere for fireworks. Instead, we watched the numerous shows playing them on TV (Boston, D.C., and New York). It was a fantabulous day!

Sometimes it just hits you

I was very excited the other night to go visit some friends in a quadruple (although I think it was actually quintuple) baby shower. It was friends from my old ward at my favorite person's house (that's for you, Shawn). I was enjoying myself when all of a sudden it hit me how alone I felt. I think it was a combination of missing everyone there, realizing I'm not in the same ward as them, and hearing everyone talking about their children and their husbands. Plus I have been thinking of how nice it is to come home to somebody, and if there are any problems with my house or my job, having someone to talk about it that directly affects both of us..... all that stuff just kept coming up.

So I excused myself for a moment and went outside for a few minutes. As I did, my friend Teresa said, "Oh, I still have Rebecca's Grow a Boyfriend for you in the car." Which is really unfortunate that she said that at the time. Anyway, after coming back in, I wasn't ready yet to go back into the living room, so I sat on the stairs, and when Shawn came by, I said I was looking at pictures of her daughter and daughter-in-law at their weddings. Which I was, but that wasn't why I went over there.

Anyway, after trying to go back to the group, I got a text from Teresa asking why I was down, so I told her, but the feelings were welling up inside, so I had to go back to the stairs. Teresa came by and cried with me, telling me she felt really dumb for her grow a boyfriend comment. But I felt better, and soon some more people came by and we joked around. And the night went on, and I felt better.

It ended up being a great night, and I felt bad about letting my emotions get the best of me. I'm usually OK with not being married and having a family of my own, but sometimes it just really gets to me.

My new ward

So, I finally went to my new ward yesterday. I say finally, but it's only been three Sundays since I could have gone as actually living in the ward. The first Sunday I went to my old ward because I wasn't able to go the week before that to say goodbye, and last week I went to my parents 40th anniversary party. So this was the first week I could really go.

My sister and her children came up this weekend to check out the new place and help me get my condo set up to rent (mostly done, but still have some stuff to do). It was a lot of fun to have the house full. I'm really getting used to this family visiting thing. My condo was too small for family to really come visit - so hopefully this will happen more frequently - although I know not as often as I've had family visit me recently - every weekend. They left about 11:30 Sunday, and then I quickly took a shower and got ready for church. I procrastinated a bit (when do I not), and got to church about 1:05, and they were already into the first song. So I sat in the back.

This building is kind of small. It's kind of a cross between the Vallejo building and Chapel on the Hill. Probably built around the same time. Anyway, the chapel organ reminded me of Vallejo's, but the seating was like Chapel on the Hill (two big rows instead of one really big middle and two small side rows). The chapel opens to the cultural hall, which is where I sat. The missionaries came and sat by me, but didn't talk to me. Someone else grabbed their attention at the end of Sacrament. And before I could leave, the Relief Society President came by and introduced herself. When I introduced myself, she said, "Oh, you're friends with Victor..." When I introduced myself to the counselor who conducted, he also said that - so obviously Victor talked some about me. Dang. I hope my calling is in Young Womens.

Victor's family wasn't there, which filled me with panic (I was set on sitting with them and at least knowing them), but soon found Sherrie B (for those that don't know, I try to withhold last names for privacy), who used to be in my old ward. So it was great to see a familiar face, along with Robert, who I know through Victor's family. Relief Society went well. They have an atrium in the back of the room, which used to be a window opening to a courtyard, before they had to fill in most of that for more space. It's nice and I think I will be looking out during not as exciting RS lessons (although I hope to be in YW). The lesson was great. A woman about my age gave it. I'll have to get to know her. There were quite a bit of kids there, which makes me think there are a lot of people about my age - didn't seem like an old ward. Which is good, as I miss all of my similar age friends from the old ward (Shawn - I include you, not that you should question that).

The counselors are great. I actually talked to one of them before due to work (the building official where I work is LDS, and the second counselor is the building official for one of the towns nearby).

All in all, it should be good. Of course you'll always miss your old ward, but so far I have good first impressions.

Sleeping on the train

I went to my parent's 40th Wedding Anniversary Party this weekend (post to come), and since my Dad was coming up this week to help me on the new house (and the condo), he said to just get a train ticket to come home. So I ran around taking my dogs to their sitters, and made the train (only because it ran about ten minutes late). Then after grabbing something to eat, I took a nice long nap. They're not the most comfortable chairs to sleep on, but when you're tired - they work. And it's so much nicer than driving while tired. I really wish they had a good train to get me from my area down to Disneyland - I'd do it so much more often. Let someone else drive, I'll just sit back and relax!

I love it when I get my way

So, I called Dish Network to see about moving my service to the new house. Now for those that don't know, Dish Network has been losing a lot of subscribers recently. Knowing that, I went into this conversation (approximate dialogue):

DN: "Hello Dish Network, how may I help you?"

Me: "I'm moving, and I'd like to know more about your DishMover program"

DN: "OK, you just leave your satellite dish at the old place and bring your receiver and remotes to the new one."

Me: "Do I have to sign up for a commitement again?"

DN:.... "It looks like they're going to have you commit for 24 months."

Me: "Then I think I'm switching providers [and I would have - either AT&T Uverse or DirectTV)"

DN: "Let me see if I can get around that. OK, I'll do a no commitment service. There's normally a charge for that [$99, I checked it out], but I'll waive that."

Me: "Thank you!"

I had a feeling they'd say that when I called. I didn't want to commit to them for two years because (1) with potential job loses where I work, I think it would be foolish to commit for something that long - you just never know, and I'd hate to be stuck paying an expensive satellite bill when I could just watch things on regular TV if worse came to worse, and (2) I might want to sign up for DirecTV before that - and get to see my Cougars on the mtn. For now, I'll just have to see if my favorite people in the world (I know you might be reading this, Shawn) will invite me over to watch Cougar football.

I got the house

The house is mine now! I'm responsible for two mortgages (gulp!). Hopefully the condo will rent out once I have the place cleaned up. It's really a nice condo - it should rent out quickly. I'll update with more photos when I get a chance

I hate packing

So I'm still in the middle of packing, as I'm getting ready to hopefully move into my new house (it's supposed to close on the 29th - my dad is coming up this weekend to do some repairs needed for the the FHA appraisal - and the bank is paying him!) My condo was so full of boxes that I couldn't move around much, especially when I need to finish painting my kitchen. So I went and rented a storage space. I just need to get these boxes out of my condo. Tonight I filled my my little Honda Civic with about 10 boxes. I still have about 10 boxes packed, and then another 10 probably to finish the job (hopefully only 10). I'm so sick of boxes!!! Packing sucks!

I miss my Momo

I was at the store tonight and remembering what my mom told me my grandmother used to say - don't get the first item on the shelf. As I was thinking of that, and getting the item behind the front item on the shelf, I started getting really sad. All I can think of is that I was thinking of my grandmother, whom we called 'Momo', about her perhaps doing the same thing. Life goes on, but I was sad to think she'll never do that again. Oh, I know she'll live again! But I just can't quite imagine we'll have grocery stores after we're resurrected. OK, maybe we will, but still... It reminds me of when my Grampa died, I knew he'd live again, but I realized how much I'm going to miss my old man Grampa. All of his stories, his white silvery hair. It made me just think of how much I miss all of my grandparents. I know I'll see them again, but I hate how long it takes sometimes.

I don't know how parents do it...

This weekend I went to visit my parents and set up their computer and watch some of my nephews baseball games. It made for a very busy Saturday, since of course we had to check out the Gottschalks liquidation :(

After all the games and shopping, my nephews came over (with my brother and sister-in-law). My two nephews were playing in the living room. My older nephew hit with his noggin into the mouth of the younger one. It knocked a tooth loose. There was blood coming from it and my brother took him to the kitchen sink to clean him up. Seeing him cry made me realize the contrast between that moment and when my nephew first got to my parents.

When my nephew arrived, he opened the door and yelled very loudly, "Auntie Kirsten!" in such a sweet voice. It made me cry thinking of how happy he was to see me versus crying for his pain.

I really can't imagine how parents do that, seeing the joy in their children and the pain when they're hurt. Luckily, he's all ok. I guess that's where it gets better, when you see them happy again it makes it all better.

That's my favorite ever 'Auntie Kirsten'!