Almost a year!

I don't know if anyone still follows this blog. Ha! Regardless, I'm updating anyway. Even if it has been almost a year.

Oh how things have changed.

Life is hard. But isn't it for everyone? Not sure why I feel like I should get to complain about it, but I will anyway. I'm good at complaining.

The girls are great. They turn 4 in a little more than a month. It completely blows my mind that by this time next year, they'll be in school. Real school. What happened to my babies?!

Marriage. Yeah. It's been better. I guess that's really all I have on that.

Work. Busy? Understatement of the century! :)

School! School is great! I have one more year left! I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. I can't wait to get there.

We now live in Quincy...official Illinois residents. I love it here. I'm so grateful for all the opportunties I was given to get here. Everything usually does work out. I'm starting to really let go a little, let whatever happens...happen. Because me trying to control things isn't working.

Until next time...

I almost forgot my password...

That's how long its been!

Since the last update, of course lots of things have happened and changed, most of which I would have a terrible time attempting to recall!

Work is busy but I feel like I'm making some progress...as far as advancement and the related fun things that come with it. Hard work, lots of stuff to do, drama and gossip...all in a day's work right?!

The girls are great. I feel like we're finally making some progress in the world of potty training. They moved up to a new "home room" at school and since then, we've seen a lot of progress for Lily. Ava is stubborn and I'm not sure how easily it will come for her, but maybe with the push of Lily's praise-getting...we'll see some change for her too. My babies are growing up!

I've started school! I've got one week under my belt, 15 to go! The first class...the teacher didn't show up. And the second class...the online course listing gave the wrong details for the book we were to purchase. Ugh! Here's hoping that the remainder of the term goes well. :)

I suck...

I don't even know where to start with my update! Yikes! How about with the fact that I did not win in my NCAA bracket pool at work. In fact, I think I got like 5th place. I was in first place until the very last game. Talk about a crock of shit. :)

I can't believe it's May already. We have a big upgrade that starts at midnight Sunday, so my upcoming week will be pure hell. My schedule is all whacked, with me starting after 10 most days, which will keep me at the hospital until at least 7 each night. I'm not very excited, but it's only a week and it will be nice to have this project off our list.

I survived my first week of on-call for work. I had a ton of calls from Doctors, who I've found love to call the help desk, leave a message with their issue and then not return my calls when I try and contact them with either follow-up questions or a resolution. It's very rude!

Everyone needs to visit this site, and read the book "I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell". Well, everyone that enjoys crude and slightly disgusting (okay, totally disgusting) man humor.

A few weeks ago, I had my first experience at a strip club. That was interesting. I've always been prudish and critical of strip clubs. I thought I was going to barf as Kristi, Candice, and I sat in the parking lot of the club. I did NOT want to go in. But I learned a lot that night. And it's true what they say, strippers have feelings too. :)

The girls turn three next month. I'm very much on the fence with how I feel about this. They are growing and changing and are smarter each day. But, at the same time...they are growing and changing! I'm not ready for this. I have started to feel little pulls of, "I want another baby"...but usually it's quickly overtaken with the "Why in the HELL would I want to start all over!" feelings.

Hopefully I can get some pictures posted sometime today. And hopefully I can be better about updating my blog. Well, it won't happen this week...maybe next?! :)

March Madness!

And I'm not just talking basketball here, people. As I peek out my window, from the sky falls a mixture of ice and snow. And Monday...it should be a spring-like 60 degrees. WTF, indeed.

But, we can talk about basketball too. Because currently, I am in first place in my work pool. FIRST PLACE. Proof:

That's right folks, just a few more days and I may be the proud winner of around $60 cash money. :)

Other than that, I'm ready for the weather to be nice so the girls can enjoy the park a few days a week and so I can open my windows and not run the heat! Work is going okay. It's busy...that's for sure, but the politics are getting a little tiring. But, I'm of the camp that currently feels like "I'm happy to have a job, even if it sucks sometimes!"

My birthday was great!

And the girls just woke up from a nap so that's all for now! Happy weekending!

I know, I know...

It's been a long time. Oh well.

I feel like crap. I've got something funky growing on the back of my throat and I'm waiting for the employee health nurse to get in so she can tell me to try something over-the-counter like she always does. And then I'll have to make a real doctors appointment and spend another day sick. Awesome.

My birthday is next week...no big deal as usual, though I am going out to dinner with my co-worker/fast friend Alicia and her family. Keith's Cafe. MMMMMmmmmmmMMMMMM!

Also, I'm considering taking St. Patty's Day off to participate in a low-key, 3 person pub crawl.

So that's my life in a nutshell as of late. It's been sucky in the life of Jeana as of recent. Here's to hoping it gets better.

An update from the weekend...

Saturday, we dropped the girls off at Brandon's Mom's house for a day of being spoiled rotten. I believe that was successfully achieved. While they were loved on, Brandon and I picked up his cousin Chris, and went ice fishing.

I, being the type of person that doesn't quite understand how well ice fishing in 68 degree February weather will work, was very skeptical of the whole deal. And nervous. I mean, I love swimming...don't get me wrong. But I don't like falling through ice into a grody pond and swimming for salvation. I started out in the truck, working on my homework. Finally, I got a picture message from Brandon showing me alllllll the fish they'd caught so far. I suddenly became very interested.

You see, I'm very much a fair-weather fisherwoman. If the fish aren't biting...I'll read, or sit on bank, or nap. Being outdoors is generally enough entertainment for me. But as soon as someone starts catching lots of fish, I'll take over their spot...essentially pushing them out of their honey-hole and catching all the fish they had just found!

So, in honor of the overtaking of the hole through the ice that was catching the most fish...I have picture for you:

This was the first of many fish I caught on Saturday. Such a pretty crappie. Tasted good too! :)

And today...I made these:

(credit to Pioneer Woman for the photo...)

Mmmm...Spreads. Basically, a deconstructed chocolate chip cookie. You take the chocolate chip cookie dough (minus the chocolate chips), flop it down on a cookie sheet and spread it out...bake it...then pour the chocolate chips on top and allow them to melt. Then you spread the chocolate over the cookies.

And they are really, really good.

Like, really.

I didn't make the baked fudge because no where in our miserable town seems to sell ramekins. What the fudge?! (Literally!)

Back to the "real world" tomorrow. Ugh.

The weekend ahead...

I'm making these:

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/delicious-baked-fudge.pdf

And will try and only eat one. Because I'm on a diet and all. And it really is going well. I'm down nearly 2 lbs this week. I'd set a goal of 20 lbs in a month (since Jillian says it can be done, and her word is frickin' gospel), but I think that goal was probably a little lofty. I'm okay with that...because even if I don't lose 20, I could lose 15 in the pursuit of it.

And really, at this point...a loss is a loss to me!

I've done 4 days (tonight will be 5) of the 30 Day Shred. I really enjoy it. I've turned a couple of co-workers on to it. I can't wait to hear their reviews when they get in today.

I hope everyone has an awesome weekend!

Up-diz-ate...

1. We went to Omaha this past weekend, to take the girls to the Children's Museum and the zoo. Good times were had by all. I think we need to install a slide like the one at the museum. Ava and Lily could have easily spent the entire day going down the slide, back up the stairs, down the slide, etc etc. It was so great seeing everyone. It made Brandon and I miss Omaha even more, I think. The kids all had so much fun playing together. We ate tons of good food and by the time we got home on Sunday were were past pooped and just plain worn out.

2. I started 30 Day Shred last night. OMG.

3. I finally got to meet Sarah the slutface. She's adorable and dresses way too cute. So I kind of hate her. Additionally, you should have had a look at the waffle she at at FarmHouse. Yeesh. Don't let that chick fool ya, she can put some food away.

4. Kristi and I are gearing up for the DREAM Bowling event on March 7th. I have such fabulous ideas for my costume. It will be full-on hilarious.

More to come...

I'm glad I got tagged...

I needed a blog topic. ;) Thanks, Niki!

First:
1. Five names I go by:
Jeana, Jeana Rae, Sis, Mom, "Hey you", and "computer girl"...

2. Three things I am wearing right now:
French Blue Eddie Bauer wrinkle resistant shirt (don't you love the detail), black pants, and killer heels. Not killer because they are awesome or anything...but just because they are heels and I am wearing them at all.

3. Two things I want very badly at the moment:
A phone call, and a million dollars!

4. Three people who will probably fill this out:
Kristi, Sarah, and Beth. Because I SAY SO!

5. Two things I did last night:
Watched American Idol and encouraged my nephew to spew profanity.

6. Two things I ate today:
So far, Diet Cherry Pepsi and spit. :)

7. Two people I talked last to on the phone:
Two people at work.

8. Two things I am going to do tomorrow:
Work, and work...

9. Two longest car rides:
To Colorado and to Canada. Ew. Long car rides blow.

10. Two favorite beverages:
Sweet tea and lemonade

Second:
4 favorite memories from 2008:
Parts of my trip to Canada, Girls weekend in Omaha in October, Christmas with my family, Ava and Lily's second birthday

4 favorite movies in 2008:
Stepbrothers, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, 21, and Stepbrothers again because it is THAT good.

4 favorite foods in 2008:
Pioneer Woman's apple dumplings, mashed potatoes with homemade noodles, string cheese, Holiday Grapes

4 places I loved in 2008:
I didn't go anywhere really so Dryden, Ontario...Omaha, Nebraska...and that's about it!

4 things I liked in 2008:
Dotti-Cab, seeing my BFF for a weekend, Top Chef, losing weight

4 things I am looking forward to in 2009:
Losing more weight, seeing my friends more, another girls weekend, more growing and changing from my girls.

4 people I tag:
Sarah, Kristi, Beth, Amber

Monday...

Guess what, oh faithful followers of all things Jeana...

AMERICAN IDOL STARTS TOMORROW!

Yeah, I'm excited. I have accepted the fact that it makes me a complete loser. And I'm okay with that. Mainly because I know Kristi is a loser too. The plan is to have my brother and his family over for dinner in true "American Idol loser family" tradition. We like to heckle and mock. It suits us.

I spent the first part of my morning making my to-do list for work today. I'm over halfway down the first page of a legal pad. That's never a good sign. We had a decent weekend...didn't do much of anything really. I did help my Dad set up an automatic deer feeder. It kicks out food at set times. Nothing like baiting the furry little critters.

Oh, and we have definitely NOT made the switch from Nemo to Horton. Nope. Nemo is going to have to get lost, I think.

Here's to hoping this week is fast and fairly painless.