My seasonal job is almost over.

Tomorrow is my last day at PetSmart. It makes me sad to leave there and I will miss the people who I got to work with a lot. I will still be shopping there, but the dynamic won't be the same. I will no longer be one of them.
I learned a lot about retail sales and myself in my nearly two months there and I found Rory. That's a huge up point.  I may apply there next October or November if I haven't found something more permanent sooner. I'm very grateful that the manager let me know in advance that my position was ending. My husband says that's rare because most places fear employee retaliation/theft once you know you're out of a job. I like to think it's because she likes and trusts me. Besides, anything I want there I already have, employee discounts rock!
I'm currently searching for a new place to work and I have a peer review coming next week for a job I would really like. If they like me I'm might get it! I would have never had this chance if I wasn't warned in advance. I really hope to get this job, it would suit me great and I have the mad phone skills needed for it. Wish me luck!
Endings are always the hardest, whether in  writing or in life. It really does make me sad to see this very short chapter end, but now it's on to another chapter and adventure!

I'm Back!

Sorry I let life get in the way of blogging again. Summer is always so crazy and I don't even have human kids to blame it on. A ton of things have/are happening, a lot are boring, and some are really awesome.

Boring: I've been working super hard on my novel and a short story. The shorty will be self published by the end of next month on Amazon. After my last rejection I've decided to take matters into my own hands and do it myself. It's exciting for me, but boring to anyone outside my head because watching someone sit and type is blah. I have enjoyed scaring strangers at the store when I get a new idea by whipping out my voice recorder and saying scary things into it. a lot of people move away at that point.
I've been working on cleaning my house, it's not done yet. I don't think it will ever be done. I have decided that pine sol is the best cleaner in the whole world, but it will strip your skin off a bit after 45 min with out gloves. That could be why it works so well. It also get out the cat smell like nobodies business.
Got a new phone that takes better pics in low light than my camera, I hate my new phone for it.

Awesome: It's almost cool enough to go for bike rides again! In a month I'll be back to pedaling like crazy.
I'm finally making progress in learning the ukulele. I've been trying for about 2 years, but I wanted to play notes. I just can't beat into my brain where the notes are on the fret board. I've decided to learn chords instead and can now play 3 songs OK. My animals think I'm funny when I rock out on Polly Wolly Doodle and Hush Little Baby. 21 Songs in 6 Days by Rebecca Bogart and Jenny Peters is my secret weapon. I has however taken me a lot longer than 6 days, but I'm still moving forward.

The most awesome thing of all though. The absolute super excitingest thing in my little universe right now happened last night. A little back story first.
A long time ago I was a runner. I loved running and it was one of my favorite things in the world. Then I got hurt, my knee cap was cracked and there was no more running for Betty. Heck, walking was a pain. So I rode my bike and that was great, but I missed running. Then I hurt my knee again. I'm a dork. I got heavier, walking and biking got harder until I couldn't get my leg over the top tube without lots of pain. I was close to 300 lbs.
In January of this year my husband and I got fitbits. It was incentive for my to try and kick some butt. I lost a little weight and in March we got Sylvia. Thanks to her low step through and comfy ride I lost more and felt better, then summer came. I'm crazy, but not crazy enough to ride in that kind of heat so she sits behind the couch until later this year. I can't wait!
In the mean time I've been walking back and forth in my living room to get my steps in. It was boring, but effective. I started gently jogging in place during commercials and my knee didn't collapse! It felt good even. My ankle hurt though.
Then last week on Sept. 9th my darling husband got me the app Zombies, Run 5k training. It is great! I'm on the first week still, but it has given me back my running. The first workout I ran in place for the intervals. The second I ran back and forth in my living room. Nothing popped or snapped. There was no searing pain or soul crushing throbbing during or after the 15 second sprints. It was rocking!

Then yesterday morning we went outside! My husband and I went to the park for our walk and I ran in the real world for the first time in 3 years! It was the best 15 second sprints ever! I did it and there were no tears! I'm can run again!
It's only 15 seconds and I'm really slow, but dude I'm running!
Here's a screen shot off my Zombies, Run page. I'm so excited!

                                               

Went to a Meet up

Yesterday My husband and I went to a photography meet up so we could learn more about photography.  I was one of two point and shoot cameras there; and I was the only Fuji at all. The two people I talked to hadn't seen my camera make before and I had fun showing it off.

The meet up was full

 They had fun playing with it and I got a lot of good tips on how to get into position for better shots. They laughed at my lizard butt photos and told me to focus before the lizard gets there. Definitely going to try that out. It should work with birds too.

Lizard butt between leaves.

The only annoying thing was everyone asked me when I was going to upgrade. This is my upgrade, and since it had been years before I got this camera I probably won't "upgrade" until 2016. Unless I get one as a present or win the lottery. I love my camera and it's way better than my phone.
 I learned a lot about Photoshop that makes me want to try to do more with my photos than just crop them and mess with the exposure. I always thought that was cheating, but some of the things it could do were just amazing. The downside is they were using something called Lightroom and I have Elements. I did recognize a lot of the features though so that will be fun to play with. Breaking out of my Etsy photo box is fun!

Photoshopped

Not photoshopped

Untouched

               

A very nice construction worker who let me take his picture. His hat is a custom hardhat a friend gave him. I love his smile!

I definitely will be taking more pictures of people as well as plants. It was fun talking to him on his break!

Life Moves at an Amazing Pace!

I can't believe that my salon has been open for a full five months. It feels like I just opened. On the one hand I can't believe I've managed to last this long and I thank Goddess every day for hanging in there with me. On the other hand I keep wondering when I'll have people lining up to get their hair done by me. I know it takes at least a year to get going really strong and I haven't even been open half that, but patience has never been my virtue. It's coming though; this is the first week ever I've had at least one person scheduled every day and that feels great!
  On the flip side my writing is coming along so well I love it. I finally have a relatively quiet place with no animals crawling all over to just write for hours and it's a dream come true. If I keep this pace up I'll be down with the first draft by the end of October. Then I can start putting it into the computer and that's always one of my favorite parts.
   I just wish I could slow time down somehow to really savor this time.