Wandering with Webchyck

My Handsome Boy

Made this one for a special post over on the Studio Matters blog using a Jen Caputo template.  She's had a bad month, so we were just trying to make her smile.  This template was a giveaway through Creating Keepsakes' web site. Mostly Flergs' Psycho Magnet kit.

Hannah just got home and immediately hit the shower.  I did not get too close, but I assume she needed one!  She was wearing a crab hat from Newport.

Cam and I went to Blockbuster and he picked up a Wii game...Kung Fu Panda.  So, he's grunting and moving all over the family room right now.

While volunteering at the church office today, after all my work was done, I was reading back through some of my blog posts, and came across some reminders about letting God defend me.  I should never have gotten defensive about people stalking my blog.  When we try to defend ourselves instead of letting God do it, we do get out of His will. I don't want to make problems for Dan, but I also don't want to have to edit myself any more that I already do naturally.  I like being transparent on my blog, because I know it's helped others and garnered me the support I need as well. Okay...enough said.

All's Well

Ryan was able to get ahold of one of the other girls who was camping with Hannah, and Hannah finally called.  Dan was actually driving over to the campground, I'd called one of the other families...I mean, we were really concerned.  Ryan, too!  He and I had both thought she was coming home Wednesday.  But plans changed, and I'm not sure she even has her phone with her.  Silly girl.  But all is well.  Thanks for your prayers!

Now off to work on that list!

I suppose...

This is all just really amusing to all of you that are coming in here from Belfor (still!).  You're probably all going, "No wonder he's divorcing her!"  Right?  Or maybe it's just entertaining to watch how others have suffered?  Fun watching someone's life blow up, huh?  Are you looking for stuff to use against Dan? Nice. This blog has been around for two years, so you've got a lot of reading to do.

ANYWAY....back to blogging for real.

Today, we're concerned about our daughter.  I thought she said she was coming back from camping yesterday, but she's still not home, and she's not answering her cell.  I know teens and young adults forget that others are concerned about them, but it would be nice to get a call.  So, please pray for Hannah and her three friends, that they are just being kids having fun, and that they would call soon.

Scrap things I need to do:

• July Theme Album
• Scraplift Wendy
• An overlay layout for an assignment
• Studio Jen Play Day Post on the Studio Matters blog

But before I can get to any of that...I've got some obligations.

Cam got home yesterday.  Good to have a little noise in the house.  It gets so quiet with just me and the cat. He tells me he got to ride on a camel at Wildlife Safari and go for a plane ride.  Pretty exciting stuff!

We're sitting here laughing at Sarah's tail.  It is so long and fluffy.  I think it is well over a foot long! I don't have a photo of her tail, but here's one of her lovely little face that brings me such joy and delight:

She's just SO sweet and fun to watch as she's still very kitten-like!  Her birthday is coming up in a week.  Cam wants to give her some turkey with a candle on it. The only people food she will eat is Sara Lee Oven Roasted Turkey...we've tried other turkeys and other meats...nothing but Sara Lee Oven Roasted Turkey will do. We've had a couple of flies and yellow jackets in the house lately and she has enjoyed stalking them, toying with them, and eventually vanquishing them! She loves watching water run, so always hops up on the bar to watch me at the kitchen sink or sits on the side of the tub if I'm taking a bath.  If I'm in the shower, she's always wrapped up in the shower curtain.  If anyone is in the bathroom downstairs, she waits outside for them. She likes to go sit in the garage on the warm floor, but if we shut the door between the garage and the utility room, she comes and scratches at the door.  She's playing with a bouncy ball right now.  She'll bat it around for a while 'til it gets stuck under something.  Oh, and the other day, while Cam was gone, she found a piece of tracing paper that he'd been drawing on, and it made such wonderful crinkly noises when she pounced on it that it entertained her for a half an hour!  We love our Sarah!

He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named

By the way, this is the post you're probably looking for, Belfor employees. The one and only mention of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named on my blog.  Gosh...I was mad because, once again, Belfor's needs came first...right after I'd had major surgery, no less! So, no...I'm not going to be jerked around anymore.  And that's just that.

Wow

You Belfor people really don't have anything better to do than read a silly little scrap blog out in the boondocks of the internet?  Shouldn't you be getting ready for some hurricane, fire or flood somewhere. Sheesh...I can see every single IP Address that is popping in here.  I guess you don't realize they ARE associated with your company...comes right up...Belfor USA. You're all coming in on my "hmmmmm" post, so I know it's the direct link that's being passed around.  Are phone calls being exchanged? Has Dan been contacted again to "do something about this?"  Is my behavior actually affecting his future with you? Why? Seriously...I don't know what more you could want from him.  He's given up his health, his marriage, his family, his enjoyment of life, his faith, being able to be with his youngest son and daughter...all for you. Left it all behind for the sake of the job.  How many other managers with Belfor are doing the same thing?  How many other divorces are taking place because of the unhealthy demands you place on your employees?  Dan is very clear with me...he didn't leave me because of anything I had done, but because of what he knew he could no longer be because of his job.  Even our 9 year old says "It's because of Daddy's job."  Campbell actually told me he had hoped Daddy WOULD lose his job after Dan was summoned to Kansas last week to discuss his future.  He was disappointed that Daddy still has to work for Belfor!!!!  He wants his Daddy back so bad!!!

So, please...you've already done enough damage to our lives.  Leave us alone.

ETA:  For the record, I was ALWAYS a team player when it was my part to play.  I supported Dan's travels, his crazy schedule, the on-call nature of the business.  I helped him in the Coos Bay office when it was Spectra Systems and then Pacific Catastrophe.  I put up with him being gone for so many of the kids' games and concerts and plays.  We lived without him 1/3-1/2 the time during the years he lived here in Eugene, so he could do his job well. I was understanding when we went out to dinner or on family vacations and he spent most of his time on the phone, especially on that last vacation, Christmas 2005, when he was angling to keep Greg Smith on in Springfield.  I put up with not knowing who he was with all those nights away. I know the temptations he faced, the temptations any man faces. We all put up with getting the dregs of what he had left to give.  So, I know...I know what he's had to do, give up, and become.  And I WAS a good wife through it all...still am. I didn't, and don't, get in his way, try to block his path, take him to task for his absence. I've tried to show him that I will hang in there with him, even the way it is now, because I love him, but he doesn't think it's fair to me to keep me in this awful situation with him.  He wants to spare me from what he's become. So, fine...that's what he's doing. I am out of the picture. And I will carry on because I have my life, too...and it has nothing to do with him or his work or any of you. I just hope someday he'll come to his senses.

Another Day

Not really over the incident from yesterday.  I just keep thinking "How dare they? How dare anyone tell anyone else what they can or can't say on their blog?"  Dan is DIVORCING me...he has no say over my life. Why would his company think he does? ("Hey, Dan-o, tell the little lady to edit that blog, would ya?"  Sheesh!) He doesn't even read my blog. He says he's being respectful of my privacy; I just think he doesn't care enough about me to even find out what I'm doing online. Doesn't care about my work, my take on things, the scrap thing. Anyway, I was irked, but I guess I'll get over it.

Hmmmm..

It's always interesting when you go through your blog stats and find that someone has had undue interest in your archives.  Most of you pop in and read today's post and carry on with your day.  You check the pretty pages, or maybe, if you're a friend who cares about what's going on in my life, you read my updates. But most people don't spend an hour here looking for specific topics of discussion or "evidence."  I know this is a public journal, but that "publicness" goes both ways. I know WHO was going through my blog today, and I just have to say, that you may be able to threaten my soon-to-be ex-husband, but you have no hold over me.  I do not belong to Belfor.  I do not work for Belfor.  I do not care one iota what happens to Belfor or Dan's job.  I know who REALLY takes care of my family, and it is NOT Belfor. If you think I've been unfair with regards to any reference to your company, then man up and write me yourself with specifics.

And to the scrapbooker who alerted her boss to this blog, it wouldn't hurt my feelings if you just moved along now.  Glad to hear you enjoy my scrapping efforts, but really didn't need to be threatened today regarding the content of my blog.

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. (Psalm 18:2-3)

ETA: To all you Belfor people popping in to see this post...I highly recommend checking out the most recent posts, not just THIS one!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

Cam and I went to see the Eugene Ems play tonight!  It was fun!  He got bored so we left during the 5th inning, but I could've stayed all night!  It was so pleasant out.  The other times I've been, for Belfor events, it's been really hot, and we've been out on the deck in the sun.  But we got FRONT ROW SEATS...right behind HOME PLATE!!! And it was only about 78 degrees!  Yay!

See...great seats!

The Knights of Columbus presented the colors.  The Ems were playing the Vancouver Canadians, thus the bi-national colors:

This gentleman played our national anthem and O Canada:

It was Miller Lite Night, so there were lots of young people there taking advantage of the super low prices on beer!  LOL

Loved that during time outs (or whatever they're called in baseball), the guy on 3rd base was chit chatting with the baseman!

I think Cam was more enamored with the food.  He had a cheeseburger and fries, a sno-cone, vanilla ice cream from Prince Pucklers (in a baseball helmet) and, of course, Cracker Jack:

An 11 year old girl sitting next to us, Carly, got picked to play Musical Chairs.  She didn't win, but she put up a good fight! She's the one with the camo hat.

Okay, I know Jill probably won't appreciate this, but I spotted her in the crowd and had to snap a photo!  Jill is the gal who hosted Come Play Eugene last month at her home.  You know, that scrap party I went to with Ali Edwards and my digi pal, Meg. And guess what...I won the Making Memories Passport Collection!  I didn't even know 'til my friend Amy told me!  LOL!  I get to go pick it up Saturday.

As Cam and I were going to get ice cream, Jill spotted me, so we chatted for a bit!  Wonder what she's reading there!?!

Cam at the game (had fun tweaking this one!  Used one of my friend Kelly Byrom's photo overlays.

Cam took this photo of me...

Had fun playing with this action shot:

Hey, batter, batter!!!

So, yep, a really fun evening.  I had a photo opp, and Cam got to eat some summer goodies.  Speaking of which, tomorrow's Studio Starts Challenge is List It: Favorite Summer Foods!  And here's my page for it:

I'll be posting that challenge at about 10 a.m. Pacific.

Here's my layout for this week's We Can Build It challenge, Goats!  Took these photos out at Lone Pines Farm on the 5th. 

CREDITS

I'm glad we took in a game.  I didn't think we'd get to see one this summer as the Ems' schedule and Cam's weren't meshing very well, but since Dan had to cancel out on picking Cam up on Wednesday, we got to go.  The Ems won't be playing here much longer, at Civic Stadium.  They will move to the UO's baseball stadium once it's built over by Autzen.  I'm sure that will be cool, too, but Cam thinks that old stadium is really cool...he said, "all baseball stadiums should be like this!  It's very nice!"  I said, "You should have your dad take you to a Mariner's game some time!" LOL

Hope you all have a great weekend...I've got a busy one planned.  Dan is coming to get Cam tomorrow (yay...he still has his job as regional manager...he sent me an email earlier today...whew!), and I'm taking my friend Lori out for her birthday and will take in Hannah's performance in Hair this weekend, as well. Going with my friend Lee.  Sunday will be busy...church, an E-Team meeting, and my Bible study. 

Dang...I'd better get to bed.  Can't believe it's almost midnight!

The Bunco Girls

Here are 10 of the 12 girls I play Bunco with each month!  I actually got my camera out, much to their dismay, while we were getting ready to play last night.  They turned out pretty good, I think, considering I was getting a lot of goofy faces and frowns, too!

Janie wasn't there as her mom was having surgery today...bummer!

So, yesterday was our last sit-down mediation session. To discuss support. It only took about an hour.  Not bad.  There's only so much to go around, and well, everyone's going to have to sacrifice to make this work once Dan has to pay rent on his place.  But, once the house sells, everything will be fine, fine, fine!  Wish we could just do it now, but we've promised Hannah no changes while she's in high school.  Once the mediator gets the papers drawn up, we get to look at them via email, approve them over the phone, come in and sign stuff, I assume, and then they get submitted to the court. 

Dan's still sending mixed messages, but what can I do about that, except keep my boundaries clear until and unless he decides to back it up with the real deal?  I know his self-esteem is rock-bottom right now.  I know he's scared about his job.  I know he feels like a failure. But I also know all he needs to do is turn to God, and his life would turn around.  Maybe not instantaneously, but it surely would.  God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.  I know.  I've been there.

He has to have a skin biopsy.  Not surprising for my fair-skinned, redheaded husband...we knew the day would come.  But, of course, it's concerning, because he's not only dealing with that, he's been having chest pains so has a stress test scheduled.  I just want him to be well.  Healthy spiritually, emotionally, physically...because I still love him and want him to be around to watch our kids finish growing up!  He always says "I'm worth more dead than alive," which is so disheartening...a total cry for help, if you ask me.  Only, I don't know how else to help him!  And I no longer think it's for me to do.

He has meetings in Kansas this week...and his future with Belfor is at stake.  All I can do is wish him well and pray.  We should know by Thursday what's going to happen. I just hope it's what he wants/needs right now.  I want God's will in this.  Part of me feels like God is trying to rescue Dan from this unhealthy environment, but we'll see.

Gosh...I was going to try to do some hybrid cards today, but I never did get around to it.  Where does the day go?

A Slow Week

Wow, this week took it's own sweet time going by!  What's up with that?  Cam had golf lessons this week...he's really loving them.

Well, despite that face! Here's his group wrapping up for the day:

Checking out with my friend Linda's daughter, Emma:

Emma's the same age as Hannah and loves golf!

What else did we do this week?  Not much.  Hannah's been sick, and I finally went to the doctor to ask about this bruise-like rash I've had on my shins for over a month.  Not sure what's causing it, but it wasn't strep (which can cause a rash, too) or pneumonia.  Waiting on blood tests and taking an antibiotic in the meantime.

Cam and I went to see Journey to the Center of the Earth yesterday!  Oh yeah!  Two thumbs WAY up!  We had a great time.  Lots o' squealing and jumping in surprise.  I told Maya I was like a jack-in-the-box!  The suspense is the good, fun kind.  Not super scary.  Cam is 9, and so I say, it's good for that age group.

Don't have a lot of scrap stuff to show off, but here you go:

Fourth of July pics scrapped for our blue and orange challenge at SBG.

And this is from the same weekend, out at Lone Pine Farms:

Hope your summer is going well!  I'm starting to think about Goodwill trips, purging and moving.  Ugh.  But I'm not thinking too far in the future because things are really up in the air with Dan's job.