www.andyberke.com

Well I have truly fallen behind this time.
NOt only have I been neglecting my blog I have not caught up with all you! Been a GOOD busy time!
I have the day off tomorrow and plan on catching up with you and catching you up with me!

Take Care everyone!
mhc

Feathers hit the ground before the weight can leave the air

Did I tell you I cut all my hair off again....

...and today is Tommy's 3rd Birthday!!! Happy Birthday buddy!

I had a nice relaxing time yesterday at his party with the whole fam' (minus Scott who has the crud) including little Jimmy....

who I blogged about being born!

Koz is doing great! His meds are being tapered and he is a little more like "himself" every day. I know that his tummy troubles are a lot better and that makes me happy!

Fall has almost hit the air here in TN. Makes me want to get my knitting needles out again. I am ready for a hobby that I can leave and come back too. My poor garden has really suffered from my long hours at work and two weeks of hot temps and no rain. I literally drug six pots of "burnt" plants away from the house yesterday! It made me realize that gardening can not simply be something that you love to do - you also HAVE to have the time to do it! Knitting I can love it AND leave it, a true hobby.

The new post at work requires Saturday work which really bummed me out b/c I would miss a lot of Vols football, but my team ain't looking too good! I still think the TN v. GA game will be good, b/c we both SUCK!

Finally i have yet another question for you. I am afraid that hours upon hours of working might have fried my brain. I was doing some online window shopping and saw this...

an argyle sweater vest and (gasp) I LIKE IT! It is one of the only "winter" pieces J Crew has put on sale, but I'm liking it. Y'all tell me...am I loosing it or could this be cute (Matt your opinion means the most!)

Take Care
Molly

Fall on me (what is it up in the air for) (it's gonna fall)
Fall on me (if it's there for long) (it's gonna fall)
Fall on me (it's over it's over me) (it's gonna fall)
(REM)

Are you with me so far?

Before the long overdue Molly update I want to congratulate Iron Pol, Court and Steven on being IRON! I am so proud of all of you and I really enjoyed reading all of your race reports.

Things are going 100 miles an hour right now. I have been working really hard and really enjoying it. I am not working out like I would like to be. Still living vicariously through all of you and your work outs. I got a physical on Thursday an I have put on 5 lbs, that will be the motivation that I need to get going! My anxiety level has not been level. A lot of that has to do with my schedule being unpredictable and so busy and stressful, leading to moments of doubt and anxiety. On a positive note I have "learned" to power through those moments and move on through the day without letting the anxiety paralyze me for any length of time.

During my physical my doc gave me the name of a orthopedist in town that he really likes and I will probably go see him at the end of the year. My knee does not bother my continuously but at least once a week I will get up from a chair or be going up stairs and feel a sharp pinch on the inside of my knee.

The Koz is doing well, his intestinal issues are really clearing up! However, the steroids that he is taking to help his condition have changed his personality some. He is much more food oriented and has become whiny when he does not get what he wants. He is also a lot more low key, he has not wanted to play in the yard and when he sees Percy he does not seem up to their normal romping. As you all know he has always come to work with me, and he still does. He adjusted well to the new office in the beginning, but recently he has been barking a lot, which I do not like! But, we are close to another dose reduction in the steroids so I am hoping that he will adjust once that happens.

Finally, a while a go I was tagged by Andra and will share eight random things about me with you:

1. One of my worst days at work ever happened when I was working at the TN Aquarium as the Preschool educator and doing an outreach program at a Preschool. The snake would travel in a pillowcase. I opened the bag and was confronted with snake poop, which is one of the smelliest things in the world. I had to leave and collect myself because the smell hid the gag reflex hard!

2. Without thought I will eat something I love until I make myself sick!

3. I have had two knee surgeries, but my most painful injury was a badly sprained ankle. I was jumping around excited because TN beat Florida (the National Championship year) and rolled my ankle. I was in a boot for two weeks.

4. I really want a new washer and dryer. A red set from Kenmore that is front loading.

5. I will watch episodes of Law and Order that I have already seen...over and over and see something new every time!

6. I am going crazy waiting for my new quilt to get in. I have gotten the sheets and a pillow cover with the quilt fabric, but the quilt is still about 20 days away.

7. I am too excited about Dancing with the Stars starting soon.

8. I really miss blogging daily. Even more I really miss having the time to read every one's blogs every day.

OK I tag:

Johnny
Randy
Allez
Bill

Take Care
Molly

Life in the fast lane
Surely make you lose your mind
Life in the fast lane (Eagles)

I gotta roll, cant stand still

You Are: 70% Dog, 30% Cat

You and dogs definitely have a lot in common. You're both goofy, happy, and content with the small things in life. However, you're definitely not as needy as the average dog. You need your down time occasionally.

Are You More Cat or Dog?

Got a flame in my heart, cant get my fill,

Eyes that shine burning red,

Dreams of you all thru my head.

Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah.

(Led Zeppelin)

Here comes the Hotstepper

Koz update:

Well, the baby was doing really well until yesterday. Ironically enough he went in for his check-up yesterday doing great. He got a good report and they tapered some of his meds. Well, he got home with Scott and threw up. He seemed fine the rest of the night and then...this morning I woke up at 6:15 to the smell of poop. I thought Koz had farted and I started to roll over and the smell got stronger, then I felt Koz bumping into my legs. He was "scooting" (for those of you who have dogs, you know what I mean, for others think of the dog on the Stanley Steamer Commercial) and leaking poop all over my blanket (more on this later). Needless to say I took him to the vet and dropped him off at the vet to get checked again by his specialist. He had a stool sample and they found two parasite eggs...YUCK!!! So, more meds for the Koz!

OK, so the blanket that got "scooted" was our back-up blanket because Monday night Scott laid on a pen and get ink stains all over our quilt.

So, now our quilt and our back-up blanket are both (probably) ruined. I can find some humor in the fact that Koz's incident was the second blanket incident AND I have been thinking about getting a new quilt.

So, you all were so much fun with the shirt selection;

By the way this one went back because it fit weird.

I have worn both of these and love 'em

So, I decided to ask for your help picking out a new bedding set. Here are the options:

I really like #1 the best (in the far left pic, it is the middle of the three, the purple and green) ...BUT it is on back order, so I have to wait, which I don't like! Our room is a light green and would go well with any of these options. So, let me know what you like, what you think and what you don't like!

Molly Update:

I am doing better. Adjusting to the hours and the work. I think the long and the short of it is I think my body is adjusting to less sleep! Being busy has really seemed to spell my anxiety, I simply don;t have time for it or I am too tired to deal with it. Still not exercising enough...unless running around at work all day counts. I feel like I miss you all, I wish I had more time to post, comment and read. Know that I am thinking about you, especially Court and Iron Pol as you head to Louisville!

Take Care
Molly

I'm the lyrical gangster
I'm a live in-a me danger
Still love you like that
Hey, da da da da... (Kamoze Ini)

I'm alive, but I'm sinking in

I am not sure what to say.

I have been working eating and sleeping and struggling to keep my plants alive and food in the house!

Koz is doing well. His meds make him very tired and make him have to pee a lot. I hope that we will be going to the vet next week to taper back some of the meds.

Today I am still working and doing laundry. Hope to spend some time with Scott's family tomorrow!

Sorry to be so boring...I have been living my exercise life vicariously through you all lately!

Take Care
Molly

I can't go outside
I'm scared I might not make it home. (Counting Crows)

You think posin' Will save the day

The first step has been taken. It was not a giant leap and it was not really a step at all, more of a pose...It was a yoga class. And it was the first thing that I have done since seeing the knee doctor. It was a great class and my knee was fine. I was really tired going into the class but felt much better once it was over.

Thursday and Friday were crazy days...8 to 8 days to be exact. The kind of days when you come home and try to decide it you should eat anything before you fall into bed.

Saturday morning I got up for and 8:30 meeting and after the meeting walked to my yoga class. Our city is celebrating the re-opening of a major bridge which has been closed for a year for repairs (all the complaining we all did over the last year was really put into perspective with the bridge collapse this week) and I walked through the heart of the festivities. Saturday afternoon was spent napping and trying to save my poor garden that was terrible neglected (somehow watering did not make it to the sleeping or eating level of importance). Scott and I went to Carrabba's Saturday night which was quite wonderful! There is not much that beats a Carrabba's Margarita pizza and a glass of red wine, in my book!

Koz is doing well. he is on all new meds in an attempt to try and get rid of all the infection and inflammation. He is on prednizone, which makes him drink a lot of water and therefore pee a lot. He had peed on the mat by the back door when we got home from dinner. I felt so sorry for him because he knew he had done something he was not supposed to do and instead of happily greeting us when we got home he ran to his bed and gave us sad eyes. Otherwise he is doing really well.

Today Scott and I hit the mall. I got some black heels that I needed for a new suit that I got at Banana, along with my new shirts. I went with these Sofft shoes, which can't be beat for all day wear!

Tonight we went to Fran and Kit's house to celebrate the 40th wedding anniversary of Scott's parents! Scott and I are really lucky that we both have parents who have stuck together through thick and thin!

So, I am thinking that a new plan is in order. I am thinking that I am going to get some yoga DVDs and do them in the morning...that class really energized me and I am hoping that I will find a DVD that will do the same (ideas anyone?). The next stop of the plan is to make sure that I get home before 7:00 three days a week and get my cardio in. I have not been sleeping all that well and I really think that not doing cardio has a lot to do with that!

Take Care
Molly

You have to plenty of time

There was no rush

But it was your dream to be like us

You're in dreamland so you don't care

And as you wait

I'm standing there (N.E.R.D.)