Thank you stranger!

Yesterday, Sunday the 21st, I got a flat tire driving to work! Not a blow out or anything, just a nail caught in the tire. Not my first experience with a flat, (2nd time in the last 3 months actually) and I think I handled it just fine.

I was about to enter the freeway on the on-ramp by my house, when I noticed a "flopping" sound. Before I drove up the on-ramp, I pulled over to check the tires. Sure enough, my rear-passenger tire was almost flat. I called Joe and he told me to get off at the next exit and head to a gas station to pump some air in the tire. So naturally, following my husbands advice, I jumped back in the car and headed onto the freeway.

Not even a 1/8 of mile more, the flopping got louder! Got out again and saw it was completely flat. I was still on the phone with Joe and he told me he was on his way to help me change it.

While I was pulled off the freeway, digging in my trunk for the spare/jack/lug-nut wrench, a Good Samaritan driving a Subaru, stopped to assess the situation. He was such a nice guy, helping a damsel in distress. I told him Joe was on his way, but he insisted on starting the process anyway. He got down on his back to put the jack under my car - and by the way, I just HAD to pull off the road next to the biggest, muddy puddle ever!!! - then he proceeded taking off the flat tire.

Of course it was really loud on the freeway, so we didn't talk much. I just stood by in amazement. He finished taking off the flat, before I could comprehend what he was actually doing. Then he threw the spare tire on and had it all tightened before Joe even showed up! This guy was incredible. Fast, experienced and dependable!

Joe got there just as we were shoving the flat into my trunk. He shook my hand and took off before Joe could get out of the car to greet him. I was speechless! Here was my Knight in shining armour - who rode in on his...uh...green Subaru and fixed my problem before I could blink! It was awesome!

I didn't get his name or a proper "thank you" out to him before he was driving away. I then kissed Joe good-bye, said thank you for checking on me and then I headed off to work...only 15 minutes late. (Not an hour!) I am so grateful for this guy. He got dirty, greasy and sweaty all for me. This average "Joe" took time out of his day to assist a helpless hair stylist in her nice work clothes!

Joe has always been my Prince Charming on his white stallion, who rescues me at any sign of distress. But this was a time Joe couldn't get there fast enough and I was lucky enough to have a complete stranger help me out! I will forever be grateful, for such a wonderful person. There should be more people like him in this world. He has completely changed my perspective and the type of people living in Utah. There are some good ones left! I love it!!

Way to go Mr. Green Subaru. You made a skeptical woman, optimistic about her neighbors. Thank you!

So for YOU, who would win? I know who would win for ME!!!

OR...

They're coming!!

My all-time-favorite-band is coming to SLC in 2 weeks!! I'm begging my friend Chris to take me as his date. Only because he already has 2 tickets (its his all-time-favorite-band as well) and his wife doesn't like them. What a perfect match, because Joe doesn't like them either! Me and Chris were destined to see this concert together....

Now, if only I could get him to see it my way. Come on Chris!! Hook Your Sister up and let's Knock Down Drag Out on down to the E-Center!!! I want me some Pork and Beans!! I'm gonna come Undone if you don't Take Control and let me take a Photograph of Rivers Cuomo!!!

Say It Ain't So Chris...Say It Ain't So.

The "slump" is outta here!

My business if finally picking up, since moving to the new salon. It's been a rough couple of months and I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I moved to a newer/slower salon - hoping to take all my clients with me and bring in some business. However 50% of my once faithful clients have deserted me. I'm sure there are a lot of reasons for it, gas prices being one of them. But I was hoping my skills would be worth the extra 5 mintue drive. I do have a few loyal clients that will follow me anywhere and I try to pay extra special attention them!!

I'm pulling myself out of this "slump" that I've been in since the salon-switch. Things are picking up and I have found new clients that have started coming back to me. That's always reassuring. So good-bye old clients and hello new & exciting faces! Plus, this new salon is SO MUCH better than the old place. No drama, flexible hours and a boss that really cares. I couldn't be happier...and now that money is starting to come in, my smile couldn't be bigger.

My thanks really goes out to Joe. For working late nights and some weekends to help pick up my slacking wages. Getting into a house can be quite a struggle financially and he has helped make it possible. I just love him so much. He is so amazingly perfect for me and treats me so well. I know I take him for granted sometimes, especially with my hot-headed temper. But I truly appreciate everything he has done for me and continues to do. And he's put up with my "work slump" and all my anxiety...I couldn't ask for more!

The light is shining through and I'm making money again. (Hopefully I'm not jinxing myself!)

I LOVE ALL OF MY LOYAL CLIENTS/FRIENDS. SOME OF YOU ARE READING THIS - THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT! ~ Much love!!!

We're home!

As most of you know, the move is final. We have our new house!! Its been so great and we are already enjoying the space. I got a call from my step-dad the other day and he asked me what I was doing and I said "just chillin' in the garage." He said, "Wow, sounds like a good place to chill." And I replied with, "I've never had one before and I'm enjoying every minute of it!" So, I'm a dork...what's new?

We've bought a rambler with a finished basement, complete with a kitchenette. Joe and I have taken over the downstairs, while Andee and Kelly dwell in the floor above. So far everything has been great; lots of upgrading and decorating. Andee has already started taking down wallpaper in her kitchen and repainting. I'm not there yet. I want to get settled in a little more and take time deciding what I want to do. I don't want to have to redo it in a year or so, so I hope to make the right choice. I want to repaint our family room, bedroom and kitchen, but they are all covered in old 70's wallpaper and seeing what Andee is going through right now, I'm not sure I'm ready for that task!! I guess we'll see.

We've had a few mishaps since we've owned the house. All happening in one day actually!! First, Kelly was de-weeding the backyard and accidentally dug too far in the ground and broke a sprinkler pipe, flooding the west side of the house. Then, I broke the blinds in our room trying to close the window, to keep the water from pouring into our room. Plus, Joe and I couldn't get our couch into our family room, because the doorway was too narrow, so I had my stepdad Kelly come over and widen it for us. So he basically cut up our walls and there was sheet-rock everywhere! All within 2 hours of each other! Oh the joys of owning a home! We love it though!!!!

Our backyard is amazing. Its so wonderful having a place outside, where we can just hang out and still have privacy. We had a dinky patio in our apartment, but it was next to a walkway that led to a very crowded parking lot, so there was constant foot traffic. NO PRIVACY! Plus our 2 dogs are loving the space to run around. They are both outside dogs now and we've only had a few instances of whining and rashes on Lucas. (He's allergic to pollen and some kinds of grass...actually very common and since his belly is so low to the ground, he rashes very easily. Hives sometimes.) But we got him a medication and have a rash spray that has kept him a happy dog.

Its been an awesome experience and I want to thank our family and friends that helped us pack up and move. Who likes to move boxes up and down stairs? No one, but there were so many people who came to help us out and we are very grateful. You guys are the best!!! THANK YOU!!

We plan on having sort of a house warming party. No gifts necessary, we just want to show everyone the house. Of course we want to wait until we are completely rid of boxes and some of the major projects are done.

I actually love being home now. Before, we were always trying to find a reason to get out; movies, dinner, family events. But now we just enjoying "being" at home. Keeping things cleaned and organized has been our goal since we moved in and I'm noticing I have more motivation to do it! I just wanted everyone to know how happy we are in our new home and so far living with Andee and Kelly has been awesome. We've had a few dinners together and enjoy each others company, but its nice to have our seperate space to be alone. They are great roommates and are doing incredible things to make our house look freaking awesome!

Thanks everyone again for helping us move and for all the support! Yay!!, we are homeowners and the boxes are almost gone!!! Anyone need 245 cardboard boxes of all shapes and sizes??? Okay, there wasn't 245, but I'm sure to everyone that helped us move, it seemed like it!!! :)

Boxes, boxes and more boxes

We are closing on the house this week. The exact date has yet to be determined. (Either Thursday or Friday) Whatever the day may be - we are moving this weekend!! I can't believe its finally here. Joe slowly started packing over a week ago...and we are still packing this week!?! I can't believe how much stuff we have. I am literally up to my knees in boxes and there are still more to come.

We've decided to pack EVERYTHING, even clothes and dishes. We are using plastic ware in the kitchen and living out of a suitcase in the bedroom & bathroom. The big moving day is Saturday and I have to work in the morning, so I'm counting on my husband, roommates and my family to move everything for me. Therefore, it all needs to be neat and organized for easy pack-up. We are piling everything up in our front 2 rooms and now we can't even walk through there very well! Plus, we still have this computer and the desk surrounding it to pack up! I think that will be Joe's project this evening, so I may not be blogging or checking my blog until the computer is set up in the new place.

I'm just so worn out; tired of boxing things up and taping everything closed. Its never ending!!! Joe and I will be keeping our apartment until the end of October, so there are some things that don't need to be moved RIGHT away. But if we have the man power and the trucks for hauling, we might as well take advantage of it. I'm just done with it?!? I can't take it anymore...all the stuff left, can we just throw it away, so I don't have to pack it?! Don't get me wrong, I'm stoked for the house and our new living situation. I just wish we were already there, living. This week just needs to be over!?!?

I'm a basket case this week guys. Looking around this room and seeing all the "miscellaneous" things that I need to find a box for, just kills me. Guess we'll see if I can make it through. Wish me luck!

BTW, Andee and Kelly started packing on Friday and were done yesterday. Do-gooders!! Do I really want to move in with people who are "too" organized & motivated. I spit at you! I'm drowning in chaos and they're kickin' back relaxin'. How have you not accumulated as much s*** as we have?!!?

R&B anyone?

I'm falling for R&B!! Holy potato I never listen to R&B, rap, hip-hop...whatever you want to call it. But as of a week ago, I can't get enough!!! Especially because I'm an insomniac that is having too much fun surfing the web at 2:30am and watching stellar dance videos and downloading i-tunes.

I'm liking Chris Brown right now, only because his music makes my hips jiggle a lil' bit!. I guess I'm going through a music-phase. I'm also listening to Rihanna, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Lil' Mama, Ciara, Danity Kane. Oh my hell...this is strange.

However I'm embracing this phase. Its so different than what I'm used too and its driving Joe a little crazy. I even downloaded ringtones!?!?!? My i-tunes is now full of music I never cared about before.

So heres to hip-hop and shakin' that ass! I guess if it makes me smile and puts me in a good mood, who really cares if they are singing about sex, dancin', shawty's, boo's, or 'bouncin at da club'. Music is music....right? Holla!

"Villa de Nelda"

Here's a story about Roland and Nelda Jensen. A house was built in 1977 and they bought it in 1979. They shared their life together in this happy home. Creating an awesome deck/patio oustide, finishing the basement and even adding a 2nd kitchen downstairs. Unfortunately as years pass and people grow older, Roland passed away, leaving Nelda to live in this 2500 sq ft home by herself. Years continue to pass and she was diagnosed with Dementia. She was moved out of this beautifuly aged home in March 2008, by her daughter Judy and was put in a nursing home to spend the rest of her days. Judy then cleaned up the place and put the house on the market. Fast forward 2 months and you have our current situation.

Joe and I are buying this old-fashioned home with my sister Andee and her husband Kelly.

This process has happend so fast, I can't even believe how busy we have been. We went "house shopping" last wednesday, July 30th, and this home was the 3rd one we saw. (It was quite an experience shopping, let me tell you - but that's a whole other blog!!) We signed a buyer/realtor agreement on Thursday, made an offer on Friday, signed a contract on Saturday, finished the loan application on Monday, had the inspection Tuesday and here it is one week later. We've reached an agreement on price, inspection suggestions and a closing date. Next up is the appraisal - and if everything goes well, we will close on this house, August 28th.

Luckily, this evening, we had the chance to meet Judy (Nelda's daughter). She shared some great memories she had in this home and some her children also share. Its awesome knowing, this wonderful women lead such an amazing life and took such good care of this home. And even in her unfortunate circumstances, she is selling her house of memories, to us.

This house is old and still has some original wall-paper, fire places, counters and light fixutres. Knowing that it was built in the '70s, you can only imagine the "passe" feeling we get walking about this magnificent home. Most of the wall-paper and decor will stay. Only because we want to keep Nelda and her flair alive. I can't wait to post pictures, so you can see what I mean!!

Thank you Nelda for giving us this great gift and choosing us as your homebuyers. We're getting a sign to put above the fireplace that will help us remember your life and be grateful for ours.

"Villa de Nelda"

P.S. Through inspection of this house we found "Roland (heart) Nelda" written in chalk on a wall in a storage closet. Too freakin' cute for words!!