And here's the stitched up picture

I would have sent you the original gorey (sp?) photo, but I don't think you can handle it, lol

A Trip to the Hospital

Well, we had our own trip to the hospital yesterday, or at least Dave did. Around 11:30 I got this very lighthearted message from one of the guys that Dave works with that said, "Hey Leigh, just wanted to let you know Dave fell of a ladder and cut his leg. It's just a little cut but we're taking him to the hospital now. He's ok, don't worry." Well, as any woman would know, if it was "just a little cut" they wouldn't have gone to the hospital in the first place, they woulda stuck some glue on it and kept working. This was no little cut. Though, I didn't find out till I got home that night (because Dave kept evading my questions about it on the phone) that it was a 22 stitches kind of "little cut." I've yet to actually see it because there are bandages over the stitches, but from the crusted blood outside it doesn't look like it feels very good. He's off work for the next couple of days and is hobbling around the house and whining about how I won't let him drive (he's not supposed to work machinery with the pain pills he's on). So, Sleepy and I are catering to his every need :). He really is ok though. He was very impressed with the doctor who sewed him up. He's in the bed watching Podcasts on his iPod and reading his climbing magazines...ah the life, lol. Will put up some pictures of the wound when the bandages are off! I bet you can't wait, lol.

Our baby playing

The grandeur of puppyhood

Sleep is escaping us. We are trying to teach Sleepy to stay in his carrier without whining at night. It's progressing, but slowly. If you tell him "no" firmly and walk out again after about twice he quiets down, but then starts back up around 5 a.m. I took him out this morning that time, though he had already pooped AND peed in the bathroom. During the day, on the days I'm not at school, I can usually tell when he needs to go out, or I just go out about every 2 hours or less. He is very good at trying to get to the right place to go but just isn't sure where that is yet. If he does pee inside it's usually close or on the way to the door, although, what isn't close to the door in our little apartment, lol. He's good at going outside when he's out there, but just doesn't know how to TELL us when he needs to go out yet. We're using the bell method. There's a bell at his level by the back door. Every time we take him out to pee or whatever we ring the bell and say, "lets go outside." If he accidentally rings it at any time we immediately take him outside. Eventually he should learn to ring the bell whenever he wants to go out. That way we can just bring the bell wherever we go and put it beside a door. We're hoping it works :-D.

He's such a sweet puppy though. All he wants to do is be loved and be with people. He's just learning to play fetch, a little, and SOMETIMES he brings it back. We were watching a movie last night and were cuddled up together on the couch. But he's not allowed on the couch, so we got down in what is now his chair (he claimed it pretty quickly) and cuddled with him (he looked at us VERY pitifully). He does already know that he's not allowed in our room. I'm allergic to dog hair, though his doesn't generally bother me, but we decided not to start the whole sleeping in the bed with us thing. Even when I leave the door to the bedroom open and am in there, he'll sit in the doorway and watch me. If he starts to step in I say, "no" and he steps back to where he was. Such a smart puppy! We love him to BITS! Well-that's our "baby" update. I think it's good practice for kids in that we are realizing we are NOT ANYWHERE NEAR ready to have kids :-D.

Suprise!

It's a puppy!!!! I know, I'm the biggest hipocrite ever. I fell in love with this dog though, and I just had to have him. Dave jumped at the chance, knowing I might never want another dog, and we picked him up the next day. His name is Sleepy (his brother is Doc and his sister is Snow White), he's a Jack Russell Terrier, and he weighs (guessing here) around 4 lbs. He was the runt of the litter and probably won't weigh more than 12 lbs. as an adult. His name fits him perfectly (he's sleeping right now) because he sleeps at least half the day at the moment, being a puppy. He's only 8 weeks old. Anyway, we're exstatic about having him here. He's a doll! Hope you like the pictures!

Back To School

Well, I'm back at school. I'm taking classes on Tuesdays and Thursday this semester, which really cuts down on the gas bill. It makes for a long day though, as I'm in class from 9:30 in the morning until 6:00 at night with only 15 minutes between each class. After I sit for that long I prefer to stand up for awhile--which is good on Thursdays because I have worship band practice for church on Thursday nights.

I'm really enjoying SOME of my classes at the moment. Those being enjoyed include: Teaching Grammar (suprisingly, good discussions, but hard homework), Appalachian Studies (I figured if I was going to teach here, I should know something about the history, REALLY interesting class), and American Literature II (amazing teacher, hilarious, bright, funny, and she makes us all ponder so much about literature and the society we live in).

The only class I'm NOT enjoying is Speech because the teacher treats us like we are children (granted it's a freshman course and granted some of them are children).
The classes I'm still unsure about are Film Adaptions (I don't have the book yet, so when Amazon finally ships it to me and I find out what is really going on in class I may like it more) and Principles and Methods of Teaching (all in all an interesting class, but the teacher has ADD and tends to get off on random bunny trails quite alot).

The other things I'm involved with right now are the Sunday morning worship band (as mentioned), still working here and there for NOC, (soon to be starting back up) 20 something's small group, and youth group. Also trying to do some outdoor stuff around the area this weekend and go to an area where we can cliff jump (hopefully) and a really cool waterfall. Very excited about that.

Sorry it has been such a long time since I posted an actual information post, but here it is! I gotta jet now though, I'm heading to App. Studies class--so swish (lol--trying to adopt Victoria Beckams new word, how's it sound???lol)

hilarious--this is how my nephews are gonna be when they get older--I can just see Wyatt doing this to one of the twins...lol

more putt-putt

putt-putting and the beach

Beach dayz

I'm at the beach with my big sis and her family and kids. The boys are hilarious to watch, especially at the beach. It's great to play with the boys and them realize that just because I'm there doensn't mean their mom is leaving--their much friendlier that way.

Forgot to put up a picture of the picknick table that Dave built me for my birthday, so here it is. Have a great week! I'll put up some pictures of the boys putt-putting later this week! Love!

More Potter

So, as MOST of you know, the LAST Harry Potter book came out yesterday--Saturday 21st (got that wrong on my last blog). And no, I am NOT reading it yet. I'm grinding at the bit to do so, but I haven't made it out to Walmart yet and I know I'm going to have to go Tuesday anyway and--sigh--don't want to waste gas. So, I'm trying VERY VERY hard not to sigh loads and whine too much before then. Though every dream I've had recently has been about Harry Potter or his friends. I'm just afraid SOMEBODY'S going to tell me what happens before I read it! So far I've been extremely careful as to what I look at on the internet and magazines. Anything with even a picture of the books I've stayed away from, and I told my friends that if they told me what happens our friendship is OVER!!! Which, of course, is very understandable giving the dire circumstances (this being the VERY LAST~sniff sniff~ Harry Potter book of the series).

--But, I'm holding out---I'll be ok folks, don't worry about me too much, I'm very strong :')

Tuesday something ELSE very exciting is happening (though not quite as exciting as the Harry Potter book I am going to buy that day--of course). Dave and I are closing on our house! We will be purchasing the duplex we live in a continuing to rent out the other side while we live in the side we're in now. I'm SO exciting about FINALLY getting to do some redecorating (yes we really are quite alike Shannon). We've already been talking about paint colors, a new water heater, reroofing, and possibly cutting down a tree in the front drive. Plus we're possibly going to be adding some counter space! VERY EXCITING!

Oh--and Dave made me a picknick talbe the other day!!! It was supposed to be ready for my birthday but just didn't get all the pieces together by then. We've already eaten on it twice! (post pictures soon).

Also on Tuesday I'll be going in to pay for my tuition at school for this next semester and find out the starting date and all that. AND---drumroll please---I'll finally be getting the art for my second tattoo drawn up that day. This is the tattoo I've wanted for almost 8 years now, of a pheonix. I really can't wait to see what they do with the art. I won't be getting it done on Tuesday, they'll just be getting some pictures I've had drawn up and others I've taken from here or there and combining them and tweaking them a bit to made them exactly how I want them.

Anyway-that's enough excitement for one blog I think. Will keep you posted on how everything goes! Peace!

Dude....SWEET

THE NEW HARRY POTTER MOVIE IS TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY AWESOME!!!! If you like Harry Potter at all you will love this movie. And don't forget:

HARRY POTTER BOOK 7 COMES OUT JULY 23RD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MOVIES MOVIES MOVIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well guys, strap yourself in for a good movie review session. I went to see three movies this weekend. Yeah, I know, that's a litte excessive, but, I LOVE movies--I mean, I have a PASSION for film here. So, here's a little info on the movies I saw.

1) Live Free or Die Hard--one action packed movie!!!! Definately worth seeing if you liked the previous movies, or if you just wanna see a kick-ass action film. All I gotta say is "yippe kiyaa..." you know what comes next ;)

2) Transformers--I grew up with my brother's toys from this cartoon. I never knew the backstory though. And to tell you the truth, I was VERY sceptical of this film, I it blew me away. I wasn't sure they could pull off making the Transformers look real, or even good, but CGI was AMAZING! The action was GREAT, and Shia Lebouf played his part with flourish. A go-see movie that's very kid friendly--action between robots and a little language, but other than that it's clean (no sex at all).

3) License to Wedd--skip this film until it comes out on DVD--it's really not that funny, sorry to say. Definately not a best choice for Robin Williams who's usually pretty hilarious. Mandy Moore is obviously not a comedian. John Krasinski (from The Office) is the ONLY redeeming quality about this film and really is the only funny thing about it.


More movie news:!!!!

Harry Potter 5 comes out WEDNESDAY at 12:01 am (i will be seeing it at this time)! Heck YEAH!!! SO STINKIN EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

that's all for now.

Half a day for the 4th

I convinced a guide to take my place on the river today folks. So, I have HALF a day off on the 4th of July!!! YAY!! I must say, it is much needed. I was getting pretty down and weary of endless work. Especially, when I realized it was already July 4th and I go back to school in a month and half!!! Very sad. I need to do some more exciting things with my summer for sure! More movies. More weekend vacations. More hanging at the pub with friends. All these things need to happen for me to complete my summer on a good note. Well, I'm outta here. I'm going to take a nap on my half day off...WUHOO! HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY EVERYONE!!!!

Fun pic of me in fountain at the Biltmore--aren't I cute??? lol

up to...

Had a birthday party on Saturday night. We had a blast. Went to Asheville Pizza and Brewing company and had a great time. They have THE best pizza and the MOST AMAZING rasberry beer. Some of my work friends came and a few people from Bryson as well. Then we stayed and watched a movie there (they do $2 movies on the weekends). Watched "Hot Fuzz." It was funny, I'll admit that, but it was REALLY gory, I was really suprised at all the gore. It was a good time though, very much appreciated.

I feel like I've been working forever. I thought to myself the other day--"I've only been working 5 days....but MOST people only work 5 days in row, I need a day OFF!" But, I don't get a day off till Saturday, so then I'll have worked 10 days in a row w/0 a day off. Oh Well, so goes summer work when you work in the tourist industry. I'm still enjoying it, but I'm DOG tired at the end of the day.

I'm working on the 4th of course, I mean, you can't exactly get off that day when it's gonna be a HUGE rafting day. Plus my department has several groups in this week. But, I'm only working till 5:30 that day, so it won't be too bad. I can celebrate afterwards.

Well, I'm outta here. I gotta plan some stuff for work tomorrow. Peace!

Good birthday so far!

I'm having a good birthday so far. Just sitting in a coffee shop seeing what everyone is up to and using my amazon gift card Helen got me (thanks Helen!). Just thought I would post a picture from the Builtmoore (sp?) Estate from last weekend, I love this pic of B and I. Well, I gotta get to work. My bday party isn't till Saturday, so I gotta work till then :). Thanks for all the birthday wishes (I loved the voicemails Mom and Dad, VERY CUTE!) Love you all!

~L~

memories

Home again at the parents'. Grandfather not doing so well. Just really waiting on him now. Wondering if he's going to get better, but knowing this is probably not. It's difficult. Hard to see him like this. He was always such a strong man, always working in the garden or playing golf or going to Vagas. Please pray for our family during this time.

Relaxin in the sun

Went home for Father's Day weekend and have been spending some quality time with my Mom and Dad. It's been really nice. Sunday the whole family got together at my grandparent's house and all the great-grandkids swam in the pool and played together. It was fun to see them all together. Then Monday Mom and I went shopping and to a movie. We saw The Waitress (I fully recommend it to any woman, it was REALLY good) and had some great conversation on the way home from the mall. Monday evening the kids came back over to the pool (right across the street from my parent's house) and we all hung out again. But the best part about yesterday was my amazing conversation with my older brother. We always joked and talked together when we were around each other, but I have never felt like we've had a real, serious conversation about what's real in our lives. It was a little scary, but I couldn't believe we were even FINALLY talking about some things that had been on my heart for YEARS! Shaun, if you're reading this, you have no idea what that conversation meant to me, thank you so much. I love you Bro! :)
This morning (Tues) I went to breakfast with my Dad and that was great too. We always have good conversation. He's an amazing listener. Now I'm about to go get my haircut at the beautician that did my hair since I was little!
Anyway-just thought I would tell you about my weekend. I had a great trip to see my family, less stressful than usual amazingly, and some great times.

See ya!

Fun times at camp

Had an amazing week last week at Camp Westminister. Met some amazing people and had some good laughs. We worked hard to set up the camp for the wedding but it was all worth it. For the bachlorette party we went to a place where we could dance and had an absolute BLAST! GREAT times that night. The wedding was beautiful and the day was perfect. It was great to meet all the people that had such a huge impact on Dave's life and finally put faces to the stories. Here's a few pictures from the wedding, enjoy!